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FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Adelaide LeBlanc
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: Questions for Shardbearers
WHEN: Guardian 22
WHERE: Emprise Du Lion, heard by all
NOTES: Research Questionnaire for people that have shiny things on/in their person.

This message is for anyone that has a shard in their hand, their chest, or otherwise on their person; Rifter or Thedosian or otherwise. If you are so fortunate or unfortunate depending upon your view of the shard as to have one I've questions for you in the interest of better understanding that which you have and what it means for your health, the world around you, and how likely it is you might attract demons in your sleep. At my current best estimate the odds are high in on last but I tend to err on assuming the worst and being pleasantly surprised when the world doesn't rain down fire, death, and the undead.

If you would rather speak in person and are in Emprise du Lion- I can be found in my healing tent. If not? I will return to Skyhold at the end of Guardian if you would prefer to wait to speak face to face or am available at all hours on the crystals.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Have you noticed any loss of sensation in your hand otherwise? A numbness to your fingertips, a tingling in your wrist- anything outside of the ordinary?

No, my lady. Nothing like that.

It hurt for a few hours after I arrived, but otherwise, it's been innocuous.

Have you been exposed to rifts or veilfire since your arrival? [ Sina's had reacted to veilfire and Jamie had mentioned something of pain when working the rifts- but other than that she has little to go on. ]

I'm not entirely sure what veilfire is, my lady.

I knew I should have asked for a copy of Pel's notes- mysterious green fire that seems to resonate with magic and the shards from what I know of it. But you would know it were you near.

Oh, I haven't been near anything like that.

[She would definitely remember.]

It seems less common outside the Mire. I have not seen the like since.

[ The scratching of her pen, a few more notes. ]

Have you had any strange dreams since you arrived?

Um...nightmares, I suppose.

But... I've always had nightmares.

Are you comfortable describing them?

I could but...

Well, without the context of my world, I doubt they would mean much.

I suppose the better question would be is if there are any pointed differences or changes in your nightmares since your arrival in Thedas.

[Ariadne considers it a moment...]

I dream about my friends back home. About what's going to become of them if I never make it back.

Are there any strange beings in these dreams? Offering perhaps comfort or power or a way to return home? Attempts at bartering?

I suppose that depends on how you define "strange beings."

[After all, Ariadne knows she would technically qualify as one.

But she doubts that's what the lady is looking for.]

No offers or promises. Just sometimes taunting.

Creatures similar to those that fall through the rift. Demons. They are able to change their appearance based upon perception and intent and because of this? Describing them is difficult.

[ More notes- taunting. That is how it usually starts. ]

[Ariadne's quiet for a moment.]

So you're wondering if we Rifters have been in league with demons.

Approached by does not mean 'in league with', otherwise I myself would have been 'in league with' demons since I was a child. Demons like to talk, they like to taunt, they like to offer. Learning to ignore or move past them is a large part of he training a mage is given.

I am wondering if it is possible for them to come to you- or if you are spared that particular nuance of living and dreaming in Thedas. If you are hearing them- it is possible and I had best sort out a way to offer the required background so that those of you from other worlds are able to dream safely.

[Ariadne wants to believe that, but without a heartbeat to verify, she has to try to be skeptical. It's what Aunt Lysia would want.]

I see.

[She pauses.]

It seems to me that there should be some sort of process to introduce Rifters to Thedas. Including warning us of something like that.

The simplest option would be a written pamphlet- but as much as I am unable to understand the native tongues and letters of worlds beyond so too does it seem that those of you from other worlds, while your languages may be similar, cannot parse our written world easily. That is a gross generalization of a remarkably nuanced issue I would work more on had I the resources and time.

[ As it stands? She has too little of both. ]

Perhaps an introductory lecture. 'Welcome to Thedas, here is what is, here is what could be, please don't say yes to demons.'

What answers would you find most useful?

Well, it would have been nice to know that demons might invade my dreams...

[She's quiet a moment.]

There are a lot of people who won't talk to us, my lady. Who treat us like pariahs. When many of us want to be useful. Want to understand this situation.

As it is, we have to cobble together what little we know from conversations and hearsay.

And sometimes we get it wrong.

It is not something many people care to discuss even among those from this world.

[ A sad fact of life- everyone is aware of the risk, precious few are willing to discuss it. ]

Ask whatever you like, and I will answer to the best of my ability. For now that is the only promise that I can make; at the next meeting of the Mage Council I will see what we cannot put together specifically on demons and fade dreams.; and what more from that of Thedas in particular.

A lot of us don't know a Mage from a Templar.

We can't point to Skyhold on a map.

We don't know the most basic facts of life.

[She sighs softly.]

And a lot of us are scared and just want to go home. I don't want you to think I'm blaming you. It's just that...a lot of people don't see us as people. We're a problem.

Mages do magic. Templars prevent magic- they also tend to wear plate mail, carry swords and shields, and pray a fair bit. Without the armor and without the robes and staves, put one next to the other and there is no way to truly pick out which is which. We are people that happen to have particular skills.

To be perfectly honest I still have trouble finding it on a map either, we truly ought to do something about that. Telling someone 'north west and climb until your feet are about to fall off' is not terribly helpful.

[ Adelaide's voice warms a bit. Gentles, in so much that she has some capacity for gentleness. ]

I know the feeling. Not quite so viscerally as you and the others like you do- but to some extent, I understand. This is not your home.

No. It isn't.

[She pauses. One can almost hear the frown in her tone.]

But if there's no way for us to return, we need to make it our home. As much as it's yours. And I think it would be wise to view us as neighbors, rather than invaders or miscreants.

Is there anything in what I have said to cause you to think I see Rifters in such a way?

Public opinion is a fickle and nuanced thing. Ask anyone neither mage nor templar after mages and you will find their opinions wide, varied, and equally frightened. We might offer rifters our support but that may damn you as much as aid you.