therookery | Report: The Hard Way Home

SUBJECT: Rescue of a Nevarran family who were eager to get out of Hasmal
PARTICIPANTS: Vanya Orlov, Gwenaëlle Baudin, Marcus Rowntree, Gela Baynrac
CLASSIFICATION: Private to the division heads
DATE FILED: Roughly late Wintermarch
STATUS: Log ongoing, but result agreed-upon and canon
SUMMARY: Tatiana Baumer reached out to Vanya when she and her family got trapped in Hasmal, banking on his lingering sense of obligation over her estranged brother having saved his life. (It worked.) The small team of Riftwatch agents got the Baumers out of Hasmal sneakily. They then escorted the family to Kirkwall, from whence they could catch a boat to Rivain, where Baumer hopes to reestablish his mercantile endeavors with a newly fostered appreciation for Riftwatch.

REPORT:

Commander Flint,

My thanks for allowing me the time and support necessary to retrieve the Baumers from Hasmal. The infiltration and extraction from the city itself was relatively simple; Tevene occupiers in the city do not seem especially vigilant or concerned about the population’s movement (at least to a point). I understand that Felix Baumer, the patriarch, is hoping to reestablish a trade in furniture once his family is established in Rivain, and wished me to convey to Riftwatch’s leadership that he would be eager to work with us on very favorable terms once he is properly settled in.

Tatiana Baumer, who wrote to me originally, also asked me to pass along this letter. The Baumers were eager to get underway and not to linger in Kirkwall, but she did also impress upon me the importance of my passing on her gratitude for Riftwatch’s assistance.

Respectfully,
V. Orlov.

The enclosed letter is comprised of multiple pages, folded and sealed with what looks like a bit of candle wax rather than proper sealing wax. The handwriting on the letter is fine but not ornate; the hand on the pages that follow, while legible, is much less refined.

Commander,

I wish to extend my thanks. While my knowledge of Vanya Orlov, second-hand as it was, made me bold enough to write to him, I am aware of his character. Without your permission, he would not have come, much less brought several of his fellows. Thus I owe you, and Riftwatch, a debt.

As I suspect Orlov has said, once my husband is established in Rivain, he will happily give Riftwatch advantaged trading to the extent he is able. He would do this without my prodding; he is not an ungenerous man. That said, I know it will take him some time to rebuild, and I wish to add my own portion to the repayment if I am able. I do not know how much good any of the following will do, but if there is anything of use to you, I will be glad.

First, I suspect Orlov is too discreet to say: My brother was a member of the Inquisition before he defected to the Venatori. I have not been in contact with him since that time, nor do I expect to be again. I have no love for Tevinter. But after my brother initially departed for Skyhold, I cleaned out the cabin where he was living as an apostate mage. I found a few notes on some magical theories and experiments that he did not bother to take with him. As I am not a mage myself, I do not know if they are of any value, but I kept them for sentiment’s sake. I am passing them on here for any of Riftwatch’s mages to make use of, if they can.

Second, my first husband died, in part, because of a miscalculation in his assessment of Nevarran politics. I will not bore you with the entire story. Suffice it to say that I think it prudent that my children continue to use their step-father’s surname. However, my late husband was a supporter of Van Markham. I assume you have your own means of intelligence-gathering that likely outstrip anything I have heard. But I can tell you, from lingering contact with my late husband’s former associates, that the focus in Van Markham’s camp remains very much on re-taking Perendale, in large part to prevent Aurelia from taking credit for its liberation. My apologies that I do not have newer or more useful information to contribute; I am not a political creature myself, and we have been on the move for long enough that the situation may have shifted.

I know this is very little, set against the safety of my family. If there is good I can do Riftwatch in the future, know that I do not consider the scales balanced, and will act accordingly.

Most sincerely,
Tatiana Baumer

NEXT STEPS: While no major loose ends remain, Riftwatch mages who are interested may study the notes (assuming the division heads make them fair game). Baumer may be drawn upon as an NPC asset in the future, should an appropriate plot opportunity arise.

NOTES & LINKS: IC log; OOC info