Crystal + Book; On The Nature of Rifters and Rift Anchors and Et Cetera

[heirring]

FORM: Sending Crystal + Book Survey
SENDER: Fitz & Wysteria
RECIPIENT: Riftwatch
NOTES: A most important scientific inquiry

This is Fitz and Wysteria with— [ Fitz' voice, interrupted by a sudden muffled wooshing as the crystal's covered. A beat later and audibly resigned, ] — on behalf of Project Felandaris. We've been studying Rifters' connection to the Fade and possible connections between magic across worlds, but the information on record's a bit piecemeal and outdated. We need volunteers to help us gather more data.

You'll find a set of questions in your books shortly. Rifters, anyone with a rift shard or experience with Lyrium or magic, you'll be the most helpful. Anyone's welcome to discuss if they've got something useful to add, obviously, just— please stay on topic.

[ By which he means the useful topics and not the completely ridiculous ones that somehow made it to the final draft of the survey, but also: please don't draw dicks.

The survey, blessedly transcribed in Wysteria's pristine hand, instantly begins its tidy trek across the books' pages. ]

Questionnaire Section A
Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches)

Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar is the Fade and the Veil to you? Is there any similar thing (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?

Question 1A.(i). If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from it? Cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on)?
Question 2A.(i). Does "magic" exist in your world?

Question 2A.(ii).(a). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by that other space?
Question 2A.(i).(b). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?

Question 3A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)?

Questionnaire Section B
Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them

Question 4B. How long have you had your rift shard?

Question 5B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities.

Question 6B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?

Question 7B. Have you experienced discomfort from your rift anchor being separated from others like it (such as on an extended mission, et cetera)?

Question 7B.(i). If yes, how long did this discomfort take to manifest?
Question 7B.(ii). What caused the discomfort to be alleviated? Being near a Rift, the presence of other rift shards?

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?

Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?
Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?

(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)

Questionnaire Section C
Magical Miscellany

Question 9C. Please define and describe Lyrium.

Question 10C. Please describe how Lyrium is refined, by whom, and for what purpose.

Question 11C. Specific to Thedas native mages: Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of Thedas where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average)?

Comments

[ipseite]

Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar is the Fade and the Veil to you? Is there any similar thing (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?
I am familiar with it only through Thedas, and there is no equivalent that I'm aware of in Sulleciel.
Question 1A.(i). If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from it? Cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on)?
Question 2A.(i). Does "magic" exist in your world?
Yes.
Question 2A.(ii).(a). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by that other space?
Question 2A.(i).(b). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?
It is as asking where music originates, or the concept of sound, or winter. It is simply a force that exists in the world that one might harness or navigate around.

Question 3A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)?
I don't believe I understand the relevance of the query.

Question 4B. How long have you had your rift shard?
In the vicinity of three years.

Question 5B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities.
No. Nor have I ever contributed to the closing of a rift.

Question 6B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?
I am capable of performing magic, and though its practise has altered through Thedas, I am not aware of the rift shard itself having specific impact.

Question 7B. Have you experienced discomfort from your rift anchor being separated from others like it (such as on an extended mission, et cetera)?
Question 7B.(i). If yes, how long did this discomfort take to manifest?
Question 7B.(ii). What caused the discomfort to be alleviated? Being near a Rift, the presence of other rift shards?

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?
If it were considered medically necessary.
Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?
Yes.
Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?
Yes.

MME DE CEDOUX.

[heirring]

Madame,

Might I be so bold as to ask that you elaborate on how your magical practices have been altered since your arrival in Thedas?

Kind Regards,
Miss Wysteria Poppell

[overharrowed]

...in all seriousness, though, why 3A and 11C?

[You don't need him to list more books and Jos has already drawn a map to the library.]

[elegiaque]

Question 4B. How long have you had your rift shard?
Four years or thereabouts.

Question 5B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities.
I can use it to create a physical blast or a shield. I also have a focus for it designed by Stark that does exactly what "focus" sounds like it would. And it's become more powerful in the last year or so; I can close a rift by myself now, and the abilities I have are stronger even without the focus.

Question 6B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?
No. My uncle's a mage, though. No word on if me having a shard makes him more impressive.

Question 7B. Have you experienced discomfort from your rift anchor being separated from others like it (such as on an extended mission, et cetera)?
Question 7B.(i). If yes, how long did this discomfort take to manifest?
Question 7B.(ii). What caused the discomfort to be alleviated? Being near a Rift, the presence of other rift shards?

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?
If I had literally no alternatives.
Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?
I'd get my uncle to do it and the rest of you can fuck off.
Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?
I refer you back to fuck off.

& I'm not a rifter but I'm a 10.
GB.

[heirring]

[Only two fuck offs; it could be worse.]

Madame Baudin,

At what point did these additional abilities begin to manifest? Could you describe the first instances in which you noticed a change and ant relevant stimuli which may have triggered the expansion, if you will, of the anchor's capabilities.

Additionally, have you noticed any untoward side effects as a result?

Kind Regards,
Miss Wysteria Poppell

[windyvoice]

[ a little arrow is drawn to the last statement and underlined. ]

fuck yeah!!!

[nonvenomous]

1A - I understand it as well as reading material and local accounts from residents of the Gallows allow for. My home plane is one of many inner planes delicately balanced between law and chaos that inhabit the outer planes, where deities, devils, demons and celestials reside. The ethereal plane most closely resembles the “Fade,” as an intangible, imperceivable, all-encompassing veil superimposed over the prime material plane to separate it from Elysium, Hades, etc. It can be seen, entered and transversed with the use of certain magics, but not -- to my knowledge -- through the act of dreaming. Native flora and fauna inhabit the ethereal plane, but I’ve never read any accounts of sapient life. If ether constitutes energy, it might be said to flow invisibly through the same channels. As a matter of faith, its study and manipulation is largely taboo.

2A - Yes. Magic is fueled by and flows through channels of ether. Some are born with great wells of innate ether to expend, others must rely on deities and other entities to provide them with reserves of ether, typically in exchange for commitment or servitude. This is considered normal.

3A - 10

4B - I have had it since I arrived.

5B - No.

6B - No.

7B - No.

8B - At no point, but I would be very interested to learn what would happen to someone else.

9C - Magical ore that has unpredictable and potentially lethal effects when contacted or consumed, but seems to grant power. Have you considered feeding it to test animals?

10C - Are you hoping to con a dwarf into telling you this through a survey?

11C - Not applicable.

crystal;

[heirring]

1A & 2A & 6B. As you have no magic talent of your own, have you had any direct contact with either the ether or ethereal plane which you describe? Further, as it sounds you have done quite a bit of reading as well, would you say that these "deities and other entities" as bearing any similarity to the spirits of the Fade which might possess a mage here?

9C. I believe similar testing was done and recorded in Beauclark's accounts prior to his unfortunate madness.

10C. Why, are you acquainted with a relevant contact?

Kind Regards,
Miss Wysteria Poppell
on behalf of Project Felandaris

crystal

[technologist]

[ actual science incoming but fiRST ]

Ten? Really?

[sumptus]

Question 9C. Please define and describe Lyrium.

See:

• Lyrium: An Introduction to Its Known and Unknown Qualities, Ducalis Marshak
  
  
• Observable Properties of Lyrium in Its Natural State, Vyrantium Circle of Magi
  
  
• Observable Properties of Lyrium in Its Refined State, Vyrantium Circle of Magi
  
  
• Observable Properties of Lyrium Upon Ingestion by Altus and Laetan Mages of Varying Lineage Strength for the Purpose of Independent Casting, Vyrantium Circle of Magi

Question 10C. Please describe how Lyrium is refined, by whom, and for what purpose.

See:

• A Limited History of the Lyrium Trade, Corinius Celus
  
  
• Mind Your Own Business: A Guide to Dwarven Embassy Etiquette, Orla Stoneshell

Question 11C. Specific to Thedas native mages: Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of Thedas where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average)?

Accurate assessment requires the input of an objective secondary party to avoid innate bias in accordance with the Rank Me Yourself principle, Cravenus et. al.

crystal

[heirring]

The 'Rank Me Yourself principle'? Surely not.

[obdurata]

( in response to questions 9C and 10C, Jos has helpfully drawn a map to the Gallows library. )

Question 11C. Specific to Thedas native mages: Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of Thedas where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average)?
We're at least an 8.

book

[technologist]

[ By the maps: ]

That's cute, thank you. :)

[ If she has the Sense, the smiley will feel very insincere. ]

Really. You've never met a substandard mage.

book.

[tender]

11C - Why is this
Is this related to the lyrium que
Did you mean t

Do you really think people are able to be objective about their own appearances?

[heirring]

No. However, as Rifters cannot be expected to be objective either and there is unlikely to be anyone who can confirm or deny their estimates, it would be unethical to compare personal assessments for one group versus objective evaluations for another.

book

[assistente]

This effort is appreciated.

Questionnaire Section C - Magical Miscellany
9C, 10C: Lyrium is akin to a mineral. Valuable, extremely dangerous. Known to explode without cause or reason, safest if managed or treated as a volatile substance. Physical contact with lyrium in its raw form (lyrium ore) causes serious injury, trauma in humans, elves, Qunari. Known to kill or severely degrade the state of mages. Dwarves are not immune to these effects but have an innate and admirable resiliance; proven best equipped to handle, process the ore into a managable form. Speculated that this resiliance derives from their origin. Richest lyrium veins are located beneath the Frostback Mountains. Greatest use post mining and refinement is in enchantments and related exercises, explosives, Templars. Lyrium exists in both the Fade and in the physical world. There is heretical speculation that lyrium is "alive"; no proof to substantiate this speculation.

Riftwatch would advise officially that any interest in lyrium be thoroughly approved and vetted prior to use, research, or planning.

A great deal has been written about each aspect of the above inadaquate summary and is available for research; Riftwatch might be required to make a formal request from a larger library or insitution to access the greatest of the writings. Our own supply is rather small.

11C: 4.

-Seneschal Salvio Pizzicagnolo

[rathercommon]

You're not a 4.

[bouchonne]

[ In large, bold letters, triple-underlined: ]

I am a 10.

-Lord Ambassador Byerly Vlad Rutyer

[heirring]

Ambassador,

I was unaware you are a mage. Imagine my very sincere surprise!

[sohighandwild]

4B. Roughly 10 months

5B. No, but if there's someone teaching this, I would be extremely interested.

7B. It aches sometimes. I haven't measured proximity to others with anchor shards to check if that's why. Sometimes body parts just hurt without it being supernatural, I didn't really think about it.

8B. ...do not cut off my hand.

[heirring]

5B. Evidently Madame Baudin is quite educated.

8B. I very much doubt anyone will cut off your hand without your consent. Unless you find yourself engaged in an altercation with enemy forces, I suppose. I cannot say what they will or will not do.

I should say, that no one in Riftwatch is likely to.

4B. Would you be willing to write down or dictate your account of the acquisition of the anchor shard?

[charmoffensive]

1A. It was explained to me through hand gestures and metaphor upon arrival. If we have something similar back where I come from, no one had told me.

2A(i). Yes!
2A(i)(a). Much like your Mages, some people can do magic and others cannot. Magic comes from Refer to all answers by Richard Dickerson hence-forth regarding magic for we hail from the same plane.

3A. 10.

4B. Since I got here.

5B. I can use the glow of it to read at night.

6B. I have some minor magics known as Sorcery. I have noticed no change re rift shard.

7B. Not yet.

8B. When it becomes dangerous to my life to not do that.
8B(i). If it were done in a medical context and not spontaneously in a Panic; perhaps.
8B(ii). Why not?

The rest do not Apply to me.

Kindest regards,
Loxley

[technologist]

[ wow look at that, a whole plane of adonises.............. ]

Did you and Richard Dickerson

[ noticeable pause after he actually writes that out. is that a real name or ]

know each other before your arrival here?

[fripon]

4B. Three weeks

5B. It supernaturally draws attention.

6B. Many abilities, none of which it has affected.

7B. It wasn't precisely comfortable to acquire, but if you mean would I consider lopping my arm off, then no.

8B. I've use for both hands, thank you very much.

[heirring]

Dear Sir,

Would you be willing to provide a brief summary of the aforementioned 'many abilities'?

Regards,
Miss Wysteria Poppell

[rowancrowned]

1A. No
2A.(i). Approximately.
2A.(ii).(a). Will.
2A.(i).(b). Creation Itself.

[heirring]

Provost,

Thank you for taking the time to reflect upon this survey. Regarding 2A.ii.a) In the world from which you came, is any individual with sufficient intention able to perform magic? Is there a methodology for measuring one's willingness? Does this extend to magical (or enchanted) artifacts, or is magic only capable of being sustained by individuals in your realm and cannot be transferred into or conducted by objects?

Regards,
Miss Wysteria Poppell

[windyvoice]

Question 1A. Sort of. Mostly it's fae shit but u dont wanna mess with that unless u wanna get winkled
Question 1A.(i). SERIOUSLY DO NOT MESS WITH FAE SHIT
Question 2A.(i). Yeah
Question 2A.(ii).(a). Nah
Question 2A.(i).(b). Fuck if I know.

Question 3A. bro u wanna smash?????

[heirring]

[She has questions. But first: a circle around 'smash.']

Please clarify this statement.

Crystal

[okayimin]

Under no circumstances should you lot be fucking around with anything to do with unrefined lyrium.

[heirring]

One might have cause to wonder whether the rules which govern the handling of raw lyrium apply to Rifters - not that I would suggest attempting such a thing without serious trials done beforehand, of course.

Have there been studies done regarding the effect of unrefined lyrium on spirits that you know of?

[hacker]

To: Doctors Fitz and Wysteria
From: Lady Daisy Johnson of Los Angeles

1. THE FADE QUESTIONS

It sounds kinda like Hell, if I'm being honest. Which is generally considered a one-way trip, and not a happy one. Some people think you'd find creatures like what came through the Rift there, but that's pretty much extreme superstition only.

2. MAGIC QUESTIONS

I don't know, Fitz, does magic exist in our world? :) [ she's been bored in quarantine, cut her some slack and let her get him riled up ]

3.BLAH BLAH BLAH ... HOT OR NOT

Are you sure this is for science?

SECTION B
4. HOW LONG?

Couple days.

5. NEW POWERS?

No data.

6. OLD POWERS?

It doesn't seem to be interfering with the powers I had before I got here, but I don't think Rifwatch would be happy if I tested that fully in the Gallows.

7. DISCOMFORT?

It itches. Is it supposed to itch? I haven't really been around anybody. They quarantined me. But it's not painful.

8. SURGERY

I think we should talk about No

SECTION C
9. LYRIUM

Magic coke from Hell.

10. REFINEMENT

Dwarves, I guess? Look, the Gallows is super boring, but not that boring.

crystal;

[heirring]

[Someone has dived for her crystal in the interest of beating Fitz to whatever he might or might not say.]

Pardon the interruption, Lady Johnson. Are you and Mr. Fitz acquainted?