So it occurred to me, just, you know, on a whim--

[ The voice currently on the fantasy network is not one that's really showed up very much at all, save for some scraps of reporting during all of that Nevarran nastiness. It's clean and prim sounding the point of affectation, perpetually lazy, like everything is being said with a glass of wine in hand. It just well might be. ]

--that wouldn't it be a good idea to come up with some sort of unified stance around the problem of Rifters?

I am very certain I'm the first ever person to think of it, and that there's been absolutely no effort to organise previously, because no doubt it would have gone very well had the attempt been made. Though it was very good of officials to declare us legally people, so, well done, whoever did that.

But we don't seem to be going away, and I can't help but wonder what the future holds if that continues to be the case.

My name is Loxley, by the by, purportedly with Diplomacy. Lovely to meet you all.

I am sure this will sound invasive—and it is, and I am sorry—but I am doing an inventory of sorts. An inventory of personal connections.

[ Bastien sounds faintly embarrassed, to be prying so directly, but after a moment to soothe his Orlesian nerves he soldiers on. ]

Mapping out where we might find friendly faces. Whose names might open doors that are otherwise barred. Not that we will storm through every door just because we could. I promise [ unilaterally ] I will not ask anyone’s family for money. Or not without talking to you about it first. But ah… For the sake of knowing what resources might exist if we need them, as issues arise, it would be helpful.

And I am not speaking only to our nobility. If you were raised by a Chantry Sister who is now a Revered Mother or if your childhood sweetheart runs a smuggling ring, by all means, I would love to hear about it. Or if our charming rifters are owed any favors. And if there are people we should absolutely never mention your name around if we want to live, that would be good to know, too.

All optional, of course, to the extent anything is these days. And if you would prefer to speak in private that is [ way less fun for gossipy threadjacking but ] obviously possible.

[ A pause, as if to check notes and be sure that was everything, even though he doesn't have notes. ]

Merci.