therookery | crystal;

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Richard Dickerson & Wysteria de Foncé
RECIPIENT: You All
NOTES: The highly scientific results from studying a not-so-recent amputation, and a call for volunteers (don't worry, it's not volunteering to get your limbs chopped off). Wysteria is in blue. Richard is in green.

Hello everyone. This is Madame de Foncé speaking, accompanied by Mister Dickerson. There is a whole report written up on the matter which we wish to discuss today. Anyone curious will find it filed among the Project Felandaris records. However, we agreed [sure that's the word for 'Wysteria bullied Richard into it'] that discussing the broad points in a more public venue might do some good.

Go ahead, Mister Dickerson.

Dissection of Madame de Foncé’s arm revealed extensions of the anchor growing outward along the vascular system, confirming the existing supposition that as much of the affected limb should be taken as possible to ensure an anchor is truly separated from its host.

[ There is an odd beat where it seems likely Mister Dickerson is hoping for Wysteria to chirp back in before he continues: ]

It further appears that lyrium has an affinity for -- [ more quietly ] Rifter flesh, for lack of a more delicate distinction. When exposed to Madame de Foncé’s arm it made a fleeting attempt to regrow the parts of her that were missing. [ So the rest of the Wysteria? Another pause. He doesn’t deign to specify. ]

We believe it may hold promise as a healing agent for Rifters if applied topically.

[Which brings them to the true aim of this whole endeavor, the enthusiasm for which has Wysteria's clipping in so briskly after him that there's almost no pause at all between 'if applied topically,' and—]

And so Mister Dickerson and I would like to make a request for volunteers from among the Rifter population. We would like to make a more thorough study of the effects of lyrium on us. I have prepared a sort of sign up form and have posted it on the door of Project Felandaris' office. If you would please add your name to it, Mister Dickerson, and myself, and indeed the general record would be most grateful.

That's all. Thank you. Ask whatever questions you wish to.

[Slightly muffled then, as if the crystal has been lowered away from the general nexus of conversation, Wysteria continues on in the same breath, 'You see, Mister Dickerson? That wasn't painful in the slightest. I hardly see why you were so hesitant—']

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

So that's-

[Don't think about how they prevented THAT from happening ha ha ha]

Not how it usually works, I'm guessing.

The lyrium seemed to be drawing focus from the magic within the anchor.

[...]

Any way we can test whether the lyrium reacts to somebody with an anchor who isn't a Rifter? To see if it's the anchor itself?

[She's got a little note in her voice that says this is a smaller question leading into a bigger question.]

It would be worthwhile to investigate, should we come upon the disembodied arm of a native anchor-bearer. Or, once we've determined there to be an aspect to exposure worth exploring further.

Good call, but yeah, not something I wanna put anyone through. Not if we have any choice.

[Ellie pauses, weighing something invisibly, but then pushes through.]

I'm wondering if it's actually the anchor that's calling the lyrium. Or if it's us.

I believe it's possible our material forms were sculpted in whole or in part from lyrium deposits around the Rifts we were ejected from.

Yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking.

[Which is NOT fucking encouraging.]

Okay.

Hey- when you're done scaring the shit out of the new kids, can you send up some of the reports? Most of us are on the field, so we're not up to date.

[She sounds tired, not testy.]

Especially what happened with the person who died, and what we know about the situation with Wysteria's arm, older anchors, what happens when you're far away from the Gallows...

And Tevinter's history with experimentation.

[Fucksake, Holden. If she has to be you, now that you're gone-]

I will consolidate what research we have here in the Felandaris offices with our notes for you to study at your leisure.

[ Lest one of their more excitable friends shovel their work into a hearth somewhere. The break here for a thoughtful breath puts a very fine point on the possibility, Wysteria faintly audible across the room in a row with Astarion or a Gecko or who even knows, anymore.

He continues, reasonably: ]

As you may imagine, we haven’t systematically tested the limits of anchor discomfort caused by isolation. The longest I’ve managed personally before being driven to return to Riftwatch was approximately two weeks.

We also have very little insight into what Tevinter is doing with any Rifters they possess. Their use of captives and slaves for ritual sacrifice with which to fuel blood magic is better documented.

[IT'S NOT A ROW IT'S AN AGGRESSIVELY PERSUASIVE DEBATE.]

That'll work. The rest they can get from reports. Most of 'em aren't sealed. It'll give people a better idea of what's up.

[There's more of a report buried deeper, but she makes a low noise instead. Talking about somebody's history with being tortured without their say-so isn't cool.]

The Crows tried to kidnap at least one of us in Rialto. They're trying to watch the Rifts too.

[That, too, has the air of Ellie saying something for the sake of anyone listening rather than Dick himself.

But here's the real bit:]

You thinking of using raw lyrium, or processed?

Given what we know of the Venatori’s penchant for atrocity I’d strongly advise against being captured.

[ In case she was entertaining that as an option, in her haste to be experimented on unethically. ]

Both. We’ll start with processed doses to gauge volatility before moving onto the raw sample.

[Ellie scoffs aloud.]

No way. Way too many people have already cut me open without my say-so.

If that shit can kill a mage if it's raw, maybe be really careful about not touching Rifter magic-users until we can figure out what the fuck the lyrium considers a mage.

Of course. The ideal progression would be to begin on a Rifter with no magic.

[ Neutrality comes to him very easily. His agreement is easy also.

In the Felandaris office with Wysteria, he has paused in his notetaking. ]

Mmm.

[She's paused over here, too. There's a lot she wants to say.]

You're gonna get volunteers. There are always volunteers.

Make sure you remember they're people, not nugs.

With the majority’s inclination towards contempt and or vocal outrage I’m less certain.

[ He resumes scratching at his list. ]

Given the option I would prefer to use nugs.

[ They have better temperaments. ]

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