therookery | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Val de Foncé
RECIPIENT: Riftwatch
NOTES: unrelated to anything

A question of great importance: who is the most interesting person in Riftwatch?

I am composing a list, which I very easily could make alone. But that is not amusing. So, the winner of the list will of course receive a prize. An extra point will be awarded to a Rifter, quite obviously. Points deducted for, hm, [totally at random here,] let us say.... Wardens. I have nothing against them. Once I admired them! Then I had my sixth birthday, and I grew bored with them.

All suggestions will be considered.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Without hesitation:]

Brother Mercier and the Baroness Haut-Brion.

[ ??? ]

Who?

[And with this, Ahessa opens the floodgates.]

Oh, you must get to know them, mademoiselle. They are the best people--not just of our company, but of any company whose company they deign to keep.

The Baroness is a brilliant mind and a wit and she is very fashionable, of course, but not in the silly stupid ways that so many ladies of Orlais are. She is very progressive of mind and opinion and her cleverness is unmatched. And Brother Mercier is sharp of mind as well, and the very soul of kindness and charity itself. It is he that keeps us with our minds clear. His sound and sage advice cannot be matched.

But truly, even these descriptions fall short of them. One must be in their company to understand. They are the best, simply the best.

You're sure these are members of Riftwatch?

[ Not that Athessa is familiar with all their company, but— ]

What are their given names? I only know a select few by their surnames.

But of course they are members, we three joined together, Freddie and Jeannot and myself.

[More Orlesian, in case that helps--] Frédérique and Jehan. Now, Jehan is only recently returned, having been back in Orlais to attend to our countrymen so affected by the war. And Freddie is very occupied with her own projects and things, and she has her familial vineyards and estate to manage, which is exceedingly difficult for one to do from a distance, no matter how reliable one's solicitors and representatives are.

Ah— [ But her recognition is cut short because he continues, and continues, and continues. She does know Freddie in passing, but has never met Jehan. Are Jeannot and Jehan the same person? ]

Well. You sound like a busy lot. When would any of you find the time to even sit down, much less have dinner?

[ Not that she's inviting them, or that she wants to have dinner with them. She imagines they'd all be far too...loquacious. ]

[HONEY you should BE so lucky to have dinner with them]

Even the cleverest and busiest of scholars must dine, mademoiselle. Sometimes at hours most strange, yes, and usually we are working or at least conversing during dinner--if not both--but we take the time.

Truly, the chiefest difficulty is finding a chef or a cook who can recreate dishes specific to Orlais. Of course we are adventurous and will eat anything at all. But one does miss the food of home, especially if we were to host a dinner party. Of course, you are of this land, yes? So you might have any food and think yourself home. This is a blessing, mademoiselle. Do not discount it.

I am of this land as you say, but the food here doesn't smack of home. It'd take a Rivaini curry or simple hearth cakes for that. Too much of the food here is Ferelden and tastes like the color brown.

On that we are agreed. But, a moment. What country are you of?

I'm Dalish. I was born in the Free Marches but it's not the same as being born in Kirkwall or some other Marcher town.

No, of course it is not! Nor is it Rivain.

Nope. But I lived in Rivain for far longer than I've lived in Kirkwall. This city isn't home to me.

I do not think anyone is from Kirkwall. Everyone that I meet has some clause that they add afterward. I am of Kirkwall but my mother stepped from the Waking Sea. I am of Kirkwall but my conception was in the Frostbacks, it was very cold. I am of Kirkwall but my cradle was carved in the Anderfels because my parents had little taste, but at least I have claim outside of Kirkwall.

But I do not think of Dalish when I think of Rivain. That is very interesting.

Nobody thinks of Dalish if they don't have to. Easy to overlook 'em until someone needs a convenient bogeyman for their bedtime stories. Be a good little girl, or else the wild elves in the woods will come and take you away and eat you. Don't stray from the path, or the wild elves in the woods will hang you from your ears until you're one of them.

[ It sounds light enough, but she is forever bitter about those stories. ]

Oh, we heard ear transplants. Taking one and trading for the other. Very stupid.

I only mean that when one thinks of the Dalish, one thinks of the wood. And when one thinks of Rivain, one does not think of the wood. Of course they must have some there. And do. I have seen it. But the image prevails of the coast and the beaches, as if this were all that the country is. What the mind boils it to, it is fascinating.

And to say nothing that I suppose the Dalish might live upon a beach just as well as in a wood.

Sure, though in general there's not as many resources to use on a beach. Better to live near one than on one. Tides could cause problems, too, if you're not careful.

But the woods tend to be better defensible, [ with certain exceptions. ] especially against attackers who are unfamiliar with the terrain.

Yes, that is why you never find a beach village outside of storybooks. They washed away the moment they were built, and their people--fools, all of them--drowned. This is what I told my nanny when I was quite small, and she was not happy with me.

You know, I have studied much of the guerrilla tactics employed by those who fight upon such terrains--essays, articles, the study of battlegrounds and the artifacts discovered--indeed I have discovered some of my own, and conducted plenty of site analysis-- but if you have a firsthand account that you might share, I would be very pleased to hear it.

[ She has the sneaking suspicion that his first bit there was sarcasm, but...eh. Whatever. ]

A firsthand account? Of what?

The guerrilla tactics employed by those who fight upon such terrains.

[Clarifying--]

Forests.

Uhh yeaaaah, no offense, Val, but... I don't really feel comfortable detailing the ways that elves protect their camps from outsiders to...well.

To--? A scholar? Mademoiselle, do not be afraid. I would not write such things idly or in anything other than the most well-researched papers. My work is of superior quality. Your words will be very safe with me.

Maybe if you let me read what you've already written, first.

So long as it's not in Orlesian, 'cos I can't read that yet.

Some of my writing has been translated. Inexpertly, at times, but I have written corrections and suggestions and made war on the publications that have not considered my letters. And not everything that I have written has been for an Orlesian publication. The best things, by their nature, have, but the very best have been translated. It would be my pleasure to provide you some examples of my work.

I think I am meant to be modest, but what scholar does not want to be read?

I don't know enough scholars to say one way or the other, but I'd appreciate the examples and if I feel like I can give an account without undermining the safety of my people, [ which feels weird to say ngl ] I'll...do my best.

Ah, bon. Then it is decided and as good as done. And I will be the example of scholars for you. A pity for those that you meet after, for I am a paragon.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only