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

[bunko]

Well. I am a very good secret-keeper, at least. But if this is the reason, then I do not know why we stay at all. To make use of these fine Inquisition resources? These are only so good as we are free to use them.

And they are not so fine as that. I have seen far finer, in Antiva City.

[where we could all go. come on. it's warm.]

A new disguise, for our friend. A new disguise for us.

[byblow]

Do you know someone in Antiva with an army we can borrow?

[bunko]

Ah...

Part, maybe.

[byblow]

You should write them for us.

[bunko]

Well, they can't... read.

[byblow]

We could send a runner.

[bunko]

Well, that would take a very long time, yes? It is a far distance. Perhaps, if we have the direst need...

[byblow]

Can you think of something that would make this more dire? I'm trying—

[bunko]

Well, I hardly know what is considered dire, and what is not, yes? Standards, they are so different, and I am but inexperienced. Surely these things must be left to those with more understanding and--

[um]

And, besides, we can hardly spare a man to run all the way to Antiva, yes? But you may have a word, that if we should find so dire a cause, that you think of what it might be--I will personally run this path.

[paperwing]

[that could be a valid option. there's just one, itsy little problem.]

And we leave those out west to their fates?

[the only force strong enough, with enough resources, is the inquisition. they all know that.]

They were our fates too, once. Had we not found you and Rafael, what then?

[bunko]

I suppose-- that we would have kept running.

[Although... that would have ended quickly. Depressing thought.]

But you see, if we stay, and they demand some justice of our friend, and we tell them to go and-- [searching for words] --kiss an ass, will they let us use these resources, to save those in the west? Or will they refuse us?

[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?

[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]

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.

[paperwing]

The more ways we think of, the better we are able to negotiate. The sooner, the better.

[justice_is_blond]

First the goals and their priorities should likely be decided. Clarel should be highest on that list. My survival or welcome, if that is agreed upon, would therefore need to be lower.

[bunko]

['Complicates'. Such a dirty word.]

There is always Antiva, bella.

[paperwing]

Someday, I would love to see her.

[bunko]

You will. I will take you myself, and show you all that there is to see. On this, you have my word.

[paperwing]

I would like that very much, I think.

We should skip Nevarra.

[bunko]

What is wrong with Nevarra? It is not as good as Antiva, yes, this is true. But to skip?

[paperwing]

I care for Nevarra very much, but there are parts of what she is that can be... our beliefs, what is practiced in the larger cities. Even I am not so fond of those things.

[bunko]

I see.

[not really. but.]

But then, you are fortunate, that I am Antivan, and really wish to take you only to see my most beloved Antiva City. We need think on Nevarra no longer. We can forget its name.

[unbrokenoath]

I think Ferelden is pretty great, personally.

[ Sorry was this a private public discussion. ]

[paperwing]

[she will explain it some other time he'll get that story eventually]

It is good that I am willing to leave her be [for a time] to go by your side to Antiva City, it seems.