therookery | report | tales from the rifts

SUBJECT: Tales from the Rifts
PARTICIPANTS: Bastien, Cosima, Ellie, Jude, Wysteria, Tony (ish), Gwenaëlle, Abby
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Cloudreach 9:49
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Bastien compiled some stories and legends from rifters' homeworlds (on his own time and dime, but relevant to Riftwatch) and politely bullied his way into having them published.

REPORT:

Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,

As we've discussed at terrible and oppressive length, the anthology of rifter legends has been published in Orlais as Tales from the Rifts and should be making its way out of Val Royeaux and into shops throughout Thedas in the coming months.

The early responses are I think the best we could hope for. Critical responses vary. A handful are predictably disappointed by how tame the stories are. Annas Ménard wrote, to quote, "How disappointing that even beings from other worlds can provide us with nothing new! Art is dead." Another handful are scandalized on principle and claim that we are trying to influence the minds of children.

Which of course we are. That is why I added the carriage bear.

Critics aside, though, it is selling well and I understand talk on the street is mostly positive. The publisher has received a few complaints about the inclusion of somewhat scandalous poetry alongside stories that children might enjoy, but that was their choice, and some minor controversy will only help it spread. There has been some discussion of extracting a few of the stories, dear carriage bear in particular, to expand and publish separately as works specifically for children.

I've asked that the royalties be paid to Riftwatch, and of you I ask that they be set aside for the rifters—either to help them now, if there is a need, or to put somewhere they can grow a bit and be paid out after the war. I suspect the total sum will be nothing a person could live on for long, let alone a dozen people. But it could be good for something. It is theirs, so you can ask them what they would like to do with it.

And as a last note, I may have overestimated how difficult it would be to convince a publisher to do this. Between Mlle Baudin's introductions and my holding-hostage of Servana de Montfort's journals, I barely had to explain the idea at all before they agreed, and I think there will be plenty of interest in the future if anyone finds it beneficial to do a second volume or something in a similar vein.

— Bastien

P.S. Servana's journals will be published in a few months. I refused to allow it until this had adequate attention first. Those royalties will come to Riftwatch until it disbands or until Corypheus is dead, whichever happens first. After that they come to me.

NEXT STEPS: None required! Volume II next year maybe.

NOTES & LINKS: Crystal announcement, OOC submissions post. For the OOC record, the contents include:

"The Adventures of Brave Ivanhoe," three parabolic stories about an affable errant knight named Ivanhoe, who duels himself, fails to trick a fish, and is rewarded by a witch for being kind to horses at risk of his own life. Related by Wysteria.
"The Carriage Bear," included to read aloud to small children: a summary of several stories about a small talking bear cub who rides a carriage into a city and is adopted by a human family there. He eats marmalade and has charming adventures. Collected by Bastien during rifter field trips.
A mostly-accurately-remembered version of "The Happy Prince," with the angels and God and his city left intact due to their obvious resemblance to theology about joining the Maker. Collected by Bastien during rifter field trips.
"The Iron Man," an extremely fictional legend about a kidnapped king who builds enchanted iron armor to save himself and then uses it to defend the common folk. Illustrations depict him as a knight. Related by Tony.
"Pride and Prejudice," a story of manners and romance that follows the Bennet family as they navigate marriages for their several daughters, especially the clever Elizabeth. Related by Abby.
An abbreviated version of "Robin Hood." (If the plot of this retelling bears the most direct resemblance to the Disney animated version, then—shhhhh.) Collected by Bastien during rifter field trips.
The story of the beginning of the Wolfenoot holiday, its adoption by shapeshifters and its spread among others, including its traditional toast and other customs. Related by Jude.
"The Wrath of Khan," a legend about the crew of an enchanted ship facing off against an evil blood-mage-like entity. They triumph, but only with the tragic loss of one of their crew members. Related by Cosima.
Poetry by Ilde Sauvageon concerning her liaisons with rifters.
Illustrations throughout, by Ellie.

Names/details have been changed or can be retconned as necessary to protect the fourth wall if anyone ever apps from these canons.

report | tales from the rifts

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