therookery | crystal

Entry tags:

crystal

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Mobius
RECIPIENT: Out there, to you, the people
NOTES: Post-circlejerk (that's what we're calling it right) and back in lovely Kirkwall. Oh hey, remember those nightmares?

I need a little help, particularly from maybe a scout, or anyone that's good with maps. Better with maps than I am, anyway, which is probably most people.

[This is how he starts. Not 'so you may have heard a terrible rumor', or 'I acknowledge there's information that might be pertinent about me', or 'hey you heard right now let's move on'. Just not addressing it at all.]

These nightmares and this shit sleep are both gonna be the death of us if we don't all move to Antiva to party all the time or out in the countryside to get eaten by bears for want of an uninterrupted nights sleep. I've been asking around when out and about, and questioning those who are from other areas of the Marches or have been traveling, like sailors. I think I'm starting to get an idea of the kind of area this is all impacting, but...frankly, I don't know what it all means. If anything at all. I'm thinking someone with an eye for maps might see a pattern I sure can't.

Don't know if it'll get us any closer to an answer, but it might point us in the right direction. For whatever it's worth, seems like pretty much all the Free Marches are experiencing some symptoms or another, but the severity is all over the place.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm still working with about a years' worth of the being in Thedas thing, but. I can work a map.

I think you're onto something here. If we know where it's strongest we might know where to look for something weird.

[Because of course there will be something obviously weird.]

We keep a large map in the Division Heads' meeting room. If the effects are as wide reaching as all that, the pair of you may have better luck noting it down there.

Cool. Got any time to help?

[Like she believes for one second that the Division heads haven't been looking into it, too.]

If it's done in the next hour.

You bet. Mobius?

Well damn, I'll grab my notes and be there soon then.

[In short order, they are three people around the expansive table set in the Gallows' 'War Room.' It's ordinarily a space reserved for use by the Division Heads—a fact which shows clearly in the various wooden markers and pinned scraps of parchment scattered about the large map of Thedas spread nearly the full length of the table.

There's a stack of cups. A sweating pitcher of water. From Flint, where he's posted up in one of the heavy chairs—]

If you move a marker, see that you return it.

[That's not quite 'Don't touch anything,' but it's close.]

Oh, this is nice.

[Mobius has a bunch of parchment under an arm. Lots of scribbled notes, trying to make the most of space. He starts to sift through them, trying to find the most relevant bits first, and then sets out a very crude hand-drawn version of a map of Thedas. Small, obviously, in comparison, and lumpy and undetailed, but the divisions and general shapes are there to suggest the right countries. There are X's dotting around the area of the Free Marches, some in dark clusters and others just scattered.]

I tried to mark down the general locations of each person I've talked to about it that reported nightmares or particularly bad sleep. People came from all over at the College, so that was a great help, and traveling merchants always have intel for a bit of coin. Covers some ground, but obviously that's just a small pool of people.

[More shuffling through sheets, glancing at fronts and backs.]

Still finding out plenty, though. Like there are some areas that don't seem to have much in the way of disturbances, restless sleep, the occasional bad dream, not much else. And areas that do. [He points to right around where Kirkwall is on his map--which, frankly, is just a dark circled area. And then decides to instead point to where Kirkwall super actually is on The Big Map.] So that's what I mean by severity being all over the place.

[Ellie turns up with her own journal on tow- she's got a few notes she's pulled from various things she's jotted down. She doesn't talk about her missions in detail, but personal stuff? Sure.

Mobius and Silver aren't the only ones who have been talking to sailors and merchants in town, in Rialto, in Cumberland, and Ellie's gone all over the place.

And of course, she's slept there too.]

Kirkwall seems like it's thick with it.

[Ellie taps a larger point on the map with a fingertip.]

Do we have some markers to use? Stuff that won't get mixed up with what you've got? We could do ours, then ask anybody else who's traveled put in what they've got.

Edited (FOR! MAT!) 2022-08-08 03:21 (UTC)

[From the immediate cut of Flint's attention, he clearly expects to find some cache of markers readily to hand in a familiar place and instead finds himself forced to grudgingly scrape up and out of his chair in order to go rummaging through the bulky furniture forced to the margins of the room. He eventually simply removes an entire drawer from one of the cabinets and deposits it over a large swath of the Tevinter Imperium.

From the drawer's contents there is enough miscellany—chess pieces and a sachet of pale river rocks, wooden toggles, and a half dozen other bits and pieces surrendered to the altar of map marking and subsequently never returned to where they'd originated from—to get them moving in the right direction.]

And outside of the Marches? Rialto may not have been effected, but how was your sleep in Cumberland? Any rumors from out of Orlais?

I had no complaints in Cumberland, and I didn't find any complaints likewise from people who live in the city. And it seems there's sound sleep in Orlais. Lucky bastards.

I've heard sailors say the seas give them some fitful sleep and dreams, and then proceed to list every superstition known to man to explain it. I stopped jotting down ideas after hearing that cats are demons attracted to crystals to increase their power.

[He looks at his map, then at the big one. Reaches for--a king piece, to set on Kirkwall. Seems safe enough to indicate There's Big Fucking Trouble Here.]

It sounds as though it reaches as far as the northern shores of Ferelden, but I did hear a report over the crystal that Highever is clear, and it definitely doesn't reach as far south as Lothering either. So maybe just the bits closest to us?

But I don't think it originated here, else it'd be concentrated just here. It dips off going north but then picks back up [with a few stones in something of a line from west to east] further on. I don't know if there's going to be some kind of...magical current it's following, underground lyrium deposits, magical--I don't know, ley lines. Bad vibes.

[Ellie listens to the others first, frowning at the board in an excellent unconscious imitation of Joel, one arm across her middle, her thumb against her chin as she considers the way the pieces come together. She adds a few here and there, mostly reinforcing the established trends.

When she finally speaks, it's lower, halting, because she's working through it as she says it.]

... ley lines.

It could be two points, resonating. Or more. That would explain a pathway. Or has it changed over time? Moved?

[She pauses again.]

Do we have Eluvians that reach out there? I know there's some stuff looking fucked up in the Crossroads, I still haven't ruled out that being connected.

The closest eluvians we have on record are in Skyhold and near Hunter Fell, [warrants a gesture to two out of a set of triangle markers positioned about the map, all of them faintly dusty from lack of movement and significantly farther abroad than the effected area in question.] Though that doesn't rule out the possibility of there being others.

[Thoughtful squinting intensifies.]

Research's vanes, the system used for tracking Rifter arrivals. They record disturbances in the Veil. It's possible Provost Stark keeps some record that might prove insightful were we to plot those points as well.

I wouldn't even begin to know if any of this has moved. But we know it hasn't moved from Kirkwall since this thing started, that we're aware of it starting. So I'm gonna hazard to guess no.

We're gonna need...even more points to work off of, I think. But, [with an excited point to Flint] if we can find some kind of connection, even vague, maybe connected to where rifts tend to open, and we can chat up some dwarves and see about lyrium deposits, and maybe we want to send a group of scouts and researchers out, do some more looking? If there's something wrong with the Veil that we can't perceive except all these bad dreams leaking through, that's something we might be able to do something about, at least.

Not sure why it would be only around the Marches, though. [He glances at Ellie.] Unless it's definitely the weird Crossroads shit. Which, far as I know, is for Grey Wardens to figure out.

[Ellie's only listening with half an ear, biting the inside of her cheek. If she were an actual mage, maybe she'd understand this. Maybe she'd see something. Maybe she'd know.

But she can't make sense of it.

She reaches out as if to touch a marker, pulls her hand back.]

... we need more reports for the dreams. Location, intensity. It could be a side effect, an area effect or something. But it also could be like... a really big... [She draws a circle in the air, enclosing all the data points.]

Spell.

[It's fine. The implications for that aren't terrifying.]

Edited 2022-08-12 18:05 (UTC)

It's possible.

[Probably isn't reassuring.

Yet the Venatori had exploited a device and complimenting enchantments to shroud the Emprise du Lion in a false winter for a considerable length of time. How dissimilar would this be from that, really?

Flint considers the map and its pieces a moment more. Then, with the brisk attitude of a man who has other things to do and has heard enough to satisfy himself for the time being:]

Finish laying out what you know. See that anyone else who's been interested in asking similar questions does the same. If you've any notes, have copies delivered to Matthias. We'll address whatever has been put down and determine how best to proceed when the division heads convene next.

Yesser, [prim and promptly, though his gaze remains on the map, consulting a few more stray pieces to form...well, it's still an incoherent enough picture, but. It's a picture of some kind.]

I don't know about a spell, though. [Murmured to Ellie, in thought.] I mean, sure, entirely possible, but when it comes to spells with certain areas of effect, they tend to encompass...a whole of an area. This seems too random, too inconsistent. Could be multiple groups trying to pull something in different areas at the same time, but then you have to think about which areas would be most advantageous. Every major city. Other countries.

And I've never read of anything like this before... [A bemused shake of his head. This is exciting but for awful reasons.] Looks like I'm about to cramp my hand up, though. You wanna help me copy things, maybe you'll see some kind of pattern I don't?

Okay.

[There's a lot of relief wrapped up in that word. It can still be anything, but Mobius does know magic and how it works, and how it can be used to hurt. She nods to herself.]

I like that idea. About the Vanes. We can pull a map from Tony, see if this gets worse around where there's rift activity.

[As she speaks Ellie reaches into her pack, pulls out a small carved box- it has various colored pencils inside. It was a gift from Derrica, and she uses them for her drawings, but this is as good of a reason. She sets the box on the table, gestures for Mobius to put his map down, so they can start to color-code where it's most intense. Most of the red dots immediately end up around Kirkwall, clustered together. It goes to orange, then to yellow in other places. There are epicenters, deeper areas where the dreams are bad, but they do seem to flow outward.

It will only get better, the more dots get added.]

Thanks, Flint. We'll get it moving.

Edited 2022-08-13 01:10 (UTC)

[He splits a look between them, measuring. If there is an extraordinarily small impulse to say his farewells by way of a perfunctory Williams. Knight-Lieutenant, it hardly registers. Instead he raps his knuckles once on the heavy, map shrouded tabletop. The click of Flint's assorted rings provides a sharp, crisp edge to the sound.]

Good work.

[And then, with the requisite rattle and creak from his various buckles and leathers, he leaves them to it.]

Uh, I've been here about a year, but I'm okay with maps I guess? Not a scout, but if I can help make it so I can sleep then count me in.

Please.

[ She is so tired. ]

I'm still not opposed to suggesting we all just move to Antiva. But then the rest of the people here would still be suffering.

Which division are you?

Forces. I'm a mage.

[ It's really easy to just use the local word these days, which is a weird thought in itself. ]

And I'm sure if there was some obvious magical solution to this, you and other mages would've solved this. I know I'm not any closer to finding a cause, unfortunately. Or even any particular central location, except just...this country, probably.

Right, yeah. I'm not saying it's obvious or anything. I just... I want to help, you know?

Yeah. I get that. I...probably should've gone to others and tried to make a coordinated effort, but who's able to think fully straight these days?

Not me, that's for sure...

[ Her head hurts. ]

[He makes an agreeing noise of acknowledgement.]

I don't have anything to necessarily help, but if you find yourself up in the middle of the night or don't want to sleep, there's always space in the library. I'll be around to chat, more often than not. Drink some tea or something else to soothe.

Yeah. I usually just... go make some tea or something. Maybe I'll come beg you next time, read a book.

[ Sigh. ]

I dunno.

Hello, new, forgive me for it– (this sounds rehearsed,) but I came in from Highever and Lotherin'. Wasn't happenin' out there at all, if you'd like to note it down.

[Flatly:] What, how dare you be new, unforgiven. [And brighter again:] Welcome to the chaos; sorry about the terrible sleep and plague of nightmares.

That is helpful though, thank you.

(A sputter of laughter heralds her reply. Gela loves it when someone will play the game,) I'm at your mercy, truly.

I didn't realise the nightmares came with the room an' board, otherwise I might have stayed in Kirkwall a little longer. Have they been goin' on for long?

Yeah, it's a free upgrade someone's been trying out for the past couple months. Unfortunately, no one's seen fit to put up a complaint box for it, else I'm sure it'd be stuffed.

For months, (she echoes in distaste,) Is that how it usually is around here? I was told somethin' quite different.

Ooo, and what were you told? Because I was told this place is full of weirdos, outcasts, fuck ups, demons and blood mages that align with demons, and [disdainful sniff] poor Orlesians.

(Innocently,) That's what they told me too; only I run in the same crowd, so that was the appeal.

M' Gela, by the way. What should I call you?

Right, good job making it sound exactly where I want to be. It sure made finding this place a lot easier from the directions people glared and spat in.

Pleasure's mine, Gela. You should call me Mobius. [Because some are taking to call him Knight-Lieutenant, and the faster he can nip that in the bud with newbies, the better.]

The one I gleaned directions from told me I was better off headin' into the woods an' never lookin' back.

(Cheerful, right. She's still smiling though, it's more than audible in her tone.) Well met, Mobius. Have you been here long? In this pit of outcasts?

Less than a year. And yet still long enough to think maybe living out in the woods is a pretty good idea. [Said with affection. Leave this band of assholes? Not likely.] But then, how would I ever live without regularly provided meals? Even if they loosen up the tongue occasionally, I feel a bit pampered.

The woods aren't all they're really cracked up to be, (is both obviously a joke, and secretly not at all.

And,) Yessss, I heard about the soup. Didn't even realise it until after the fact... but I guess that means I didn't spill my guts all too much? (She's very lucky. Very, very lucky.) That kinda stuff doesn't happen around here often, does it?

I don't think so--or, at least, Maker's breath, I hope not. I've got enough things I plan on leaving in my chest and taking to my pyre, thanks. If we could have only one emotionally fraught event like that a year, or less, that would be more ideal.

Exactly. (Ha ha ha,) And if that was the emotionally fraught event, I don't have to worry for the rest of the year! I like the sound of that.

What do you do here, Mobius?

I've made myself something of a librarian. If there's a genre you fancy or have a certain author or book you want to find, let me know, and I can put it aside for you.

Super exciting, my life.

If you like books it’s plenty excitin’. I’m not much of a reader, though. Takes too long.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

crystal

crystal;

eye of sauron.gif

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

--> action;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

crystal;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

crystal

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