crystal;

[satinet]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Cassius Black
RECIPIENT: Everyone
NOTES: Mid-way through the invasion; further ill omens.

Salutations, Riftwatch. This is Senior Enchanter Black speaking. Given how busy we all are, I will make this brief.

As of this point forward, I have assumed the duties of the Gallows Seneschal. My predecessor having been unexpectedly called back to his service with the Inquisition, I volunteered to oversee the work rather than allow the role to go unoccupied during a time of crisis.

[Did he arrange to have an old friend among the Inquisition send Salvio Pizzicagnolo an invitation-nay-demand to return during a most inopportune time? Did he encourage the man in question to go, reassuring him that all would be tended to in Kirkwall despite the chaos plaguing the Free Marches? Did he maybe graciously time this to take advantage of the fact that currently the Gallows is down two division heads and everyone was likely to agree just for the sake of solving one problem?

Of course not! That would all be ridiculous! There's a war on, you know. Best keep that base speculation and slanderous gossip to yourself.]

Given that we all have our hands full, I am for the time being making only a few minor cosmetic changes. To wit:

[In the tone of a man who has a list and no intention of being succinct—]

All expenses which you believe reimbursable by Riftwatch during the course of a mission must be filed within a fortnight, and the expenditure is not to exceed the discretionary spending guidelines which have been posted on the bulletin board in the main dining hall. For those currently abroad, a copy has been noted in your books for reference. Please review them at your leisure.

Next. The old complaints box seems to have been misplaced or destroyed during Seneschal Pizzicagnolo's departure. Happily, I have found a suitable replacement for it. Henceforth, this box is meant for both your grievances and whatever compliments you might have, be it for either the organization as a whole or an individual within it. I understand that morale has on occasion been delicate and see no reason why we should not take equal opportunity to praise one another as we do to purge our various biles.

Last. I have reallocated a very small portion of Riftwatch's personal equipment budget to fund the start of a charitable account which will seek to raise money from among the Hightown elite in support of subsidizing the care of whatever refugees inevitably arrive at Kirkwall's doorstep. If you would like to assist in the operation of this modest project, please volunteer your name. If you have no care for the paperwork, all you need know is that going forward any personal equipment or gear which is to be permanently among an individual's sole possessions—swords, shirts, pairs of socks, and so on—, which Riftwatch provides to that individual will come at the cost of a modest deduction from the said person's bi-monthly stipend and shall be spread out over the course of a few reasonably scheduled installments. I trust most of you have your own socks, and so the effects are unlikely to be felt by any one person in the company to whom I am currently speaking.

[A pause. He reflects. There was something else, wasn't there...?]

—Oh yes. And Seneschal Pizzicagnolo heartily endorsed continued correspondence. He has left the appropriate forwarding information on file in the office of Base Operations should you feel moved to write.

Comments

[indissection]

I'd be more than happy to offer my aid, should you want it.

[satinet]

Happily and heartily. With whom am I speaking?

[indissection]

Lady Sidony Venaras Rutyer, once of Nevarra City and lately of Riftwatch.

[satinet]

Ah the wife of my illustrious superior, I presume. My sympathies for the state of your home city.. Your family is all well, I trust?

[indissection]

Indeed, and the luckiest of Riftwatch for it. [ She will never miss a chance to talk fondly of her husband. ] I've not heard from them, which I take for good news.

[satinet]

[Yes, he supposes the tragic deaths of lords and ladies might generally be well circulated gossip; what a funny instance in which no news in a disaster can genuinely be taken as good news. Ah, the little luxuries of the rich and titled!]

I'm pleased to hear it.

Now tell me, what is it that you do for our illustrious company? I don't recall seeing you at any of the division meets. [If mandatory Le Chats viewings can be counted as such.] But don't say that you're in Forces. I couldn't bear it.

[indissection]

[ Alas, it is more that not hearing from her family is a gift, but she'll take it however he might be willing to offer it, for now. ]

Do I sound the type? [ She laughs softly. ] No, for all my want to know other uses for a dagger I am a surgeon.

[satinet]

A Nevarran Lady with a fascination for the knife. How delightful.

[Sure; everyone needs a hobby.]

And how long have you been with Riftwatch, Lady Rutyer?

[indissection]

It's not strictly unusual in my homeland, of course.

[ You know. Mortalitasi. ]

Three years, I believe, come this autumn.

[satinet]

Three years? Why, that practically makes you leadership.

[Yes, is does laugh a little at his own joke. But nevermind that.]

I don't suppose you've had any opportunity in those three years to make many rich, well connected friend in Hightown, have you? That would certainly grease the wheels on this scheme, as it were.

[indissection]

Oh, don't darling, please. Perish the thought.

[ She's married to it, isn't that enough?

Humming, she considers. ]

I might have a few names I could call upon.

[satinet]

Excellent. Whatever pennies we manage to pinch for relief efforts will likely pale in comparison to what a few members of Kirkwall's so-called elite might find between their divan cushions. Let's the two of us have dinner together this evening. We can discuss the particulars of our proposal to them then.

[indissection]

I would be more than happy to. [ And she sounds it, genuinely. ] Anything that I might offer to help, beyond my usual work.

[satinet]

Then I'll make all the appropriate arrangements for yourself and Brother Gideon to join me this evening. Usually I might suggest my office for the thing, but I'm afraid it's currently in a minor state of disarray. I trust you'll not be too offended if we take our meal in, say, the shade off the Chapel Garden? I trust Andraste will understand.

[indissection]

Consider me entirely at your service in this, darling, tonight and onwards.

[justashotaway]

How will compliments be used?

[satinet]

I suppose that will depend on the compliment.

I have been informed that my predecessor was providing monthly reports to address the contents of the box. I mean to continue the tradition.

[justashotaway]

What if someone wrote that they did not wish to have it included in a report?

[satinet]

Then I would respect the request. Though I might be duty bound to act on it in some small personal way which would preserve the anonymity of the author.

[Yes, everyone. He will heroically carry your secret admirer notes to their intended target and only closely peruse the contents first. You're welcome.]

[justashotaway]

[ wow, who needs a secret admirer ]

It does not have to be kept secret from the person it is about. But some people might prefer not to have their compliments read to all.

[satinet]

Well I doubt anyone particularly cares to hear their associated complaints read aloud either.

[justashotaway]

Some people might.

[ Dryly. ]

[satinet]

My point being [is spoken at the pitch and volume of a man ascending to some higher plane of reasoning in which they will ideally dispense with uselessly turning over semantics.] That the box should be used responsibly, or not at all. If anyone is concerned that someone might take their message in some spirit which it was not originally intended, perhaps it would be best to discuss the matter in a more personal setting.

[bouchonne]

Such industry, good Senior Enchanter.

[satinet]

I like to consider myself perfectly spry when the occasion calls for it.

[bouchonne]

Spry? You'd make a golem blush!

[satinet]

Well.

[Said in that helpless, spread hands way of a person who has no choice but to accept the obvious truth.]

[bouchonne]

Perhaps I should write that down. Put it in your little box.

[satinet]

And force me to read it aloud in front of the entire company? I couldn't.

[Yes he could.]

might as well introduce himself

[venenifer]

I am involved in the distribution of charitable donations to the poor and, more recently, refugees.
Brother Gideon.

[satinet]

Charmed. I trust you're familiar with the relevant people attached to the Viscount, yes? You can join myself and Lady Rutyer this evening and we can coordinate the finer points of the effort to see that whatever funds we raise travel in the correct direction.

[venenifer]

I look forward to it. [he extremely doesn't]