REPORT: Madmen Drummers Bummers

[satinet]

SUBJECT: Madmen Drummers Bummers
PARTICIPANTS: Loki, Isaac, Cassius & Julius
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Now-ish
STATUS: Ongoing Mysteries, Complete for Now
SUMMARY: In search of clues that might lead them to the identities and whereabouts of the talking darkspawn who appeared in Nevarra City, two teams investigate promising leads with mixed results.

REPORT:

Enchanter Julius (and to Whomever Else it May Concern),

I'm pleased to report that a few hours soaking in a hot bath has more or less restored me to my former state as a person generally not riddled with saddle sores or streaked with mud collected from across a half dozen Orlesian leagues. With that in mind, I absolve you and Project Sashamiri of a great deal of responsibility when it comes to my personal injury. I have however taken a small measure of restitution from the project's funds in recompense for the replacement of one (1) riding habit, the hems of which were irrevocably damaged in the line of duty. Should you have any questions regarding the nature of these charges, then you are more than welcome to take it up with the Seneschal's office directly.

However, allow me to commit the remainder of this record to more pressing matters. While these notes will be unimportant to yourself, Enchanter, given that you were present to experience first hand what I'm about to discuss I have noted them down for posterity and you are welcome to give them your co-signature or to make any note you might wash to in the margins. I believe I've left ample room for you to do so.

With all that in mind, let me begin by saying that I cannot recommend travel across the Waking Sea prior to mid-Justinian. In a brief discussion with our captain, I was assured that Cloudreach is one of the least fortuitous months in which to embark by ship. If one must journey south (or any generally in any direction) at this time, my recommendation is to delay, or to appoint yourself to a ship which will stay always within sight of the shore so one might have some chance to reconcile themselves with some landmark every now and again.

Neither can I advocate for traveling by horse through southern Orlais at this time. The roads are miserable and the peasantry ghoulish to look at. Through no fault of their own, of course. I've taken the liberty of writing to a Sister in a Chantry south of Val Foret regarding the general destitution of the population, and have implored for all the usual things.

The accommodations otherwise were dreary nearly to the point of inspiring paralysis. But, seeing as that is the default state of our own morose little fortress, it's hardly worth noting save perhaps to say how novel it is to view the world through a proper window. We should consider investing in a few of those.

As to the reward for all this relentless labor (which again I write less for your benefit and more for the Whomever Else): Warden Tallis informed of a patrol through the Deep Roads which sighted what appeared to be a band of darkspawn being led in worship of some kind. Initially, this was guessed to be either a joke or derangement. But evidently an additional report corroborating this little bit of madness has surfaced (literally, I can only assume) only a few weeks ago. In exchange for this wealth of information which absolutely might have been communicated by raven if not for the obligation that all Grey Wardens be obtuse, Warden Tallis has requested that we keep Griffon Keep informed should we discover anything further related to this line of inquiry.

I would kindly suggest that, should we indeed stumble across any additional information, we send her a cryptic note requesting she travel halfway across Thedas to a grimy Lowtown tavern where we may pass along only the whisper of workable intelligence. Better yet—let's feed this information to Master Rollins, that fine man south of Ansburg who Isaac and Loki met with and whose barn was not in fact haunted for a talkative undead corpse, but rather his wife's shambling lover. I suspect the two of them, Rollins and Tallis, would get on like two paranoid houses. It's clearly our noble duty to see them introduced.

Of grudging note, I will say that I think there's some merit in chasing down that rumor from the Blasted Hills. While I can't imagine a mining town is any more scenic at this time of year than what I have heretofore described, that stableboy seemed adamant that we were meeting with a Warden to investigate 'All that strange talk' from that region. So long as we are chasing spirits and hearsay...

Yours in Humble Service,
First Enchanter Cassius Black

NEXT STEPS: Check out those Blasted Hills rumors.

NOTES & LINKS: OOC Info | IC Log