therookery | Crystal;

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Cosima Niehaus
RECIPIENT: Meant to be directed at people currently in Kirkwall, though if you want to say your out-of-town character gets it by accident, feel free to assume she accidentally cc'ed them.
NOTES: In reference to the research plot with OOC details over here. This is backdated to Justinian, circa week one of the current modplot. (Actual fieldwork, handwaved or otherwise, contingent on modplot fallout; don't worry about volunteering for actual RP time before September at the soonest.)

Hey, so I know everyone's hands are really full right now, and mine are too but I also think finding and protecting Rifters is still a, uh, priority. What with Venatori in our backyard and all. I'm in the middle of collating some reports and I think we really need to take some field measurements, but field work just got ... complicated.

When I'm eventually ready to go out, could I get some help? Measurement help is great, researchers welcome, but it's maybe more pressing to. Um. I guess I'm looking for a bodyguard, maybe? Wow, that sounds stupid, but getting captured by the Venatori once was more than enough for a lifetime, so. Any volunteers appreciated.

I'd just wait, but the Venatori have already made clear they're interested in experimenting on whatever Rifters they can get their hands on. If we had a system for being sure we could beat them to the punch, it'd help the war effort. Besides, you know, being the humane thing to do.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His voice grows just slightly warmer, humored.] Correct.

Is that why the Venatori wanted you, besides your nature? Your... research?

[A brief hesitation.]

Yes and no. They weren't targeting me in particular, they didn't know who we were as individuals. We were attacked because we were an Inquisition party including shard-bearers. But, I um. When they got more information out of me under ... interrogation. And they figured out I had a science background, they were way more interested. I hadn't been in Thedas long enough to have done much research here, at the time. But they were eager to pump me for what I knew from home.

Despicable. It won't happen again.

You have, you said... a 'science background'? What does this mean.

Oh, sure. So, where I'm from, my specialty is the study of living things. Specifically, I look at the way different organisms, um, creatures develop. The field as a whole tries to use observations about development to infer things about whether different organisms developed from a common ancestor, and when and how they did.

My specific study back home was how identical cells react to different environment influences. I'm simplifying a lot but, uh, let's see. Imagine a pair of identical twins separated at birth. You'd expect a lot of things about them to be the same, but not everything, even though they're starting from exactly the same place, biologically speaking. I want to know what things their surroundings can influence and what things are more set.

Sorry, is this making sense? You think I'd be better at explaining this in Thedosian terms by now.

I think I understand, but-...

What is a cell?

[The barest laugh, clearly at herself.]

I always try not to use any jargon and I never make it. Cells make up living things, but they're too small for humans and, I assume, most human-sized species to see. It's one of the main things the instrument in the Research office called a microscope is for, actually. It magnifies most kinds of cells enough so you can get a look at them. If you're ever curious, stop by with a leaf or something and I can show you.

...I will. I- how does this device work?

It's clever. Mainly to do with really specifically ground mirrors arranged a certain way. Like ... if you've ever used a spyglass, think like that, but shaped to make small things bigger instead of far things closer.

And anyone can use this device? Not just mages?

Totally. My world doesn't have magic the way Thedas does. All the microscope needs is a light source. I usually use a little mirror and sunlight, but you could also use a candle or a glowlight or whatever, really.

How- no magic? You-... You are very lucky.

I'd like to know of much of it as I can. About your world. Whatever you are willing to share.

I'm always happy to talk about it. I mean, I don't always bring it up if people don't ask because Thedas already has a lot on its plate, you know? But I'm always interested in other Rifters' worlds, and I don't begrudge anyone interested in mine.

I'm never sure where to start, though. Is there anything in particular that you're interested in?

Thedas has a lot on its plate, but a world without magic sounds very calming.

How does one... [An annoyed sigh. He hasn't the words for all he wants to know.] what is it like?

Oh believe me, we find plenty of ways to fuck things up in the absence of magic.

OK let me think. Well, I can work backward; big differences I noticed when I came here. The first one is a lot fewer machines. We built machines to do a lot of things back. Transportation, chores, health care, keeping places warm or cool. It means my world is a lot noisier than this one. And the air and water is less clean, too. The stuff we use to power a lot of those machines makes some pretty nasty by-products, but it's slow to transition to better, new options because a lot of rich people are still getting rich selling the old, dirty option.

What are they rich in, if not magic? Land and slaves? ...Machines?

What are Blights like?

No Darkspawn, so no Thedas-style blights. I mean, we've definitely had epidemics and pandemics of deadly diseases, which share some properties. And wars, and sometimes one at the same time as the other. But humans fighting humans, and diseases that kill you but don't make you come back to fight for the other side.

As for your first question ... historically, all three of those, but right now mostly they control the means of extracting the natural resources necessary to power the machines. And they've got enough money and influence as a result to do a lot to block alternatives before they can get off the ground. Influencing political leaders, acquiring and crushing smaller enterprises, that kind of thing.

Crystal;

no subject

cw for a very oblique reference to torture

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject