this is my first network post in this game oh god i hope i don't ruin it

[twelvelabours]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Hercules Hansen
RECIPIENT: locked to Grey Wardens! Grey Wardens only club!!!
WHAT: Anders & what do with him: a Grey Warden opinions discussion
WHEN: late Guardian /mumbles vaguely - set after Anders turns himself into Herc, before Leliana deduces is identity
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES:
This is regarding the Anders reveal plot, as discussed in this ooc post and as a follow-on from this log thread.
Threadjacking and hopping around encouraged!
If you'd like a thread with Herc to turn to actionspam for characters in Skyhold, go for it.

Wardens. We’ve got something important to discuss. If you’re not someplace private, stop listening now, drop whatever it is you’re doing, and get somewhere suitable. This is strictly Warden business.

( This is not the happy and friendly Herc. This is tense and angry Herc, even with his temper very carefully kept in check.

He leaves a pause to allow them to either stop listening without him accidentally unveiling something, if they need to, takes a breath, and carries on. There might be the sound of wind whipping behind him as he stands on the ramparts - what you can’t hear is the sound of him trying to reduce Anders to ash with his gaze. )

A Grey Warden who left our numbers has handed himself in to answer for crimes committed. Not against the Grey Wardens, but against Kirkwall and the Chantry. Some of you already know this man. Some of you knew him by the adopted name ‘Detlef.’ Others will just know the crimes of the mage Anders.

( Considering how to continue, what to say next, Herc exhales a moment. What a day. )

Anders has turned himself into us of his own free will, ( which unfortunately denied Herc the chance to tackle-slam him face first into a wall, ho hum ) and confessed to blowing up the Kirkwall Chantry, an act he claims was for the sake of mage freedom.

( He pauses, there. )

I don’t have much of a personal stake in that. I’m not a man of the Chantry, and I’m not a mage. Far as I’m concerned, there’s mages and there’s mages. The likes of Bethany and Kaiden have saved my life more times than I can count. Others can be dangerous, and I reckon the same goes for Templars, same as any other person. You’ve got honourable ones, and you’ve got monstrosities.

Now, I don’t even know all about what was happening in Kirkwall, back then, but I can’t say I’m a fan of killing some innocent people for the sake of saving other innocent people, one way or the other.
( Sounds like a pile of crap to him, personally. ) And as Grey Wardens, our roles is to try and protect all of Thedas. From the Blight and darkspawn, usually, but I don’t think innocent lives being lost, no matter who they belong to, sits well with any of us.

( Still. )

But Nathaniel reminded me that we all know how much someone can change, and that we all come to the Wardens for different reasons. Atonement is one, but Anders’ fate isn’t something any one of us can decide. He’s one of our own, and he’s our responsibility. Speak up with your thoughts.

Whatever our decision is, we are telling the Inquisition. The Wardens integrity isn’t going to be compromised any further.

Comments

[pinprick]

[At least he's thinking about it?]

There's a difference between planning for contingencies and arguing with yourself. What's unique about Anders?

[paperwing]

Very well, Nathaniel. [His faith in Anders is doing much for her opinion of their returning brother.] I shall, when the time comes.

I just hope it will be enough.

[paperwing]

[Kirkwall has always been a story to her, really; it's different hearing an account from someone who was there. She's a mage. She knows how - not positive, but, what a Circle could be, what it should be. She's a mage, so it's easier to imagine Perendale in such a state. The strain that wold put unto someone. The thought of seeing everyone she knew, Tranquil, just because they could. Her mother might have shared that fate, had she not been in Perendale.

Sabriel exhales.]

I understand. Thank you.

I'm sorry for having made you relive that, Bethany.

[She is, truly.]

[paperwing]

They will refuse. [No need to think about that.] They will stop harbouring us. All of this- it complicates things a great deal. But is the only way, isn't it?

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Then that is good enough for me for now.

[unbrokenoath]

Maybe we should start thinking about alternate ways to achieve our goals. Just in case. Maybe not right now, while we're dealing with this problem. But...just in case.

[bunko]

Perhaps not simple, no. But it is easier to help a man who does not look to die. So will this be.

[bunko]

This is how I think!

[Since, usually he's thinking only half the thoughts.]

I do not know Anders. I know why it is that I would save his life, but if it is a question of value, I can only guess. He is a Warden, but this may not have all the value that it should. Perhaps those that know him best should make this part of our negotiation.

[bunko]

['Complicates'. Such a dirty word.]

There is always Antiva, bella.

[bunko]

If it is a goal that we are all agreed on, then it is one that we should think much sooner instead of the later. For I think that Sabriel has the right. We may keep some of this integrity, but our causes will be of less value. Already they do not listen.

[justice_is_blond]

True. It works much the same with healing. If someone desires no future, there is nothing that can be done in the end.

[bunko]

To say that this is Warden business, perhaps this is true. To think that this Inquisition will take this answer as acceptable--this is foolish.

You say that the cost will be high, and perhaps it will. Yet when you go to make a negotiation, you go knowing what you are willing to accept, what you are willing to pay, and what you are willing to lose. We know what it is that we want: the life of our friend, in our tending. So we must decide what it is we will offer to this Inquisition, and to any who question us, to let us have that.

They may demand a price of justice. They may choose another price. But there will be a price. I have bargained for much in my life, so this much, I know.

[bunko]

[ew orlesians]

Such madness comes early in Orlais. The work of those terrible Orlesian wines.



[can we start making jokes yet or]

[justice_is_blond]

And the masks. When you can only see a small portion of the world, you're bound to lose some grasp on reality.

[He'd like for there to be light jokes now please...]

[pinprick]

You were willing to leave the negotiation to those who know him better before. Let it be, boy.

[doneisdone]

Bearing this in mind, I am favor of mercy. But not without consequences.

[pinprick]

There you are. That's an excellent idea.

[bunko]

She asked! I did not say I wanted to negotiate!

[bunko]

[done and done bro]

It would perhaps help if the designs of these masks were not so terrible. But alas: the designs are terrible. Taste, she is dead.

[pinprick]

Ah.

Well, you're right. Bargaining involves prices. Kaisa was speaking...hyperbolically, I think.

[paperwing]

Someday, I would love to see her.

[justice_is_blond]

...Nate, be nice. There are better ways to flirt.

[paperwing]

That was flirting?

[u n s u r e]

[pinprick]

Don't be vulgar, Anders. I'm picking on the new blood, not robbing cradles.

[justice_is_blond]

Perhaps you should design masks, if your fingers are recovered from playing so many songs a few weeks back. You could recommend Orlais start incorporating them come their next season.