Hello, Riftwatch.

This is Warden Adrasteia, your morale officer. I wanted to let those of you know who might not otherwise (and remind those that do) that Satinalia is coming up in roughly thirty-one, thirty-two days. It is on the first of Firstfall, which is not the month that begins the day after tomorrow but the month following, when winter truly gets started.

Satinalia is marked by feasting, revelry, the naming of a ruler for the day, and the exchange of gifts between friends and otherwise. Considering the state of trade at the moment, and the state of everything else, I thought that perhaps a head start on the obtaining of gifts might be considered a good thing.

Let me know if you do have any questions; there will definitely be a banquet for Riftwatch, but it seems likely that all of Kirkwall will celebrate as well.

Dear members of Riftwatch, this is Byerly speaking. Your head of diplomacy. I fear this shall be a message without wit, charm, or ironic deliciousness, so you know it's a serious matter. It hurts me to not charm my listeners.

[ A noise like a cup is being adjusted. ]

Corypheus is an evil man. He claims to be one of the Magisters Sidereal: this was the group that, in ages past, slaughtered countless enslaved men, women, and children in a blood ritual to open the Fade. I personally think that story is the height of bullshit, but whether it's true or not it speaks to the corruption deep at his soul, that he admires the deeds of those men. And he draws on the taint, and on darkspawn - which, believe me, is a sign of someone truly without conscience.

If he takes control, he will bloody our lands. He will kill the defenseless and the vulnerable for more power. And as you all are aware, he is winning this war. The odds are against us - quite literally; in the gambling halls in Lowtown, you will see that the oddsmakers see our victory as a losing proposition. Which begs the question, of course, of what they'll do with the money if they turn out to be right - but that's neither here nor there.

It is worth it to remember that we are all here to stand against an evil man. No matter what we think of one another, no matter our past hurts and our angers, no matter how big an asshole your neighbor is, playing his violin in the middle of the night - that's the most important thing. The men and women that stand beside you are shedding their blood and risking their lives and sanity and safety to stop the advance of a man who would wreck the world. As are you. As am I. We're all damned heroes, lads.

Personally, I've put several gold - several of my own gold, I'm not embezzling, I swear it - on the long odds in that gambling hall. I think that in five years, Kirkwall will be a free city, and my own Denerim will be free, and even Minrathous will be a free place. In the meantime, keep fighting, keep your spirits up, and if anyone is gasping for a mouthful of wine in the face of our most dreadful shortages, I have some bottles stocked up.