do you want the bad news or the bad news.

[ipseite]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Petrana de Cedoux, Marcus Rowntree
RECIPIENT: All y'all
NOTES: News from the rest of the South; including deaths. If your character knows somebody in Skyhold who might send something back to them, Petrana and Marcus can absolutely carry a within reason amount of letters or keepsakes.

If I may take a moment of your time, Riftwatch.

This is Madame de Cedoux. In my capacity as chief cryptographer and a member of our diplomacy division, I have been dispatched to Skyhold to exchange intelligence with the Inquisition, and it is my purpose now to share what I may from my discussion with Spymaster Leliana. Captain Rowntree has accompanied me, and has continued to the front to gather further information upon which he will elaborate, likewise by crystal.

Grave news, I'm afraid, has abounded across Thedas. Kirkwall — and, indeed, Minrathous — was not alone in either the strike or the severity of what was recently experienced. Skyhold itself has not been penetrated, though dracolisks were sighted and their riders believed to have been seeking the stronghold—these same riders may have been responsible for a dracolisk attack upon Orzammar's main known entrance. It appears to have been in the vein of a — impulse decision, perhaps driven by their inability to access their chosen target. The entrance is expected to take some weeks to dig out anew, and trade is expected to be impacted.

I regret to report that Griffon Wing Keep suffered grievous losses to their number under an attack led by an unidentified, speaking darkspawn. Many of the Wardens were compelled to take arms against one another, and we mourn the losses among others of Wardens Nathaniel and Anders Howe, and the Wardens Alistair and Oghren, as well as, once of our Research division, one Casimir Lyov.

( it has been a long time since she had been at ease with the howes— but that there will be no further opportunities, not ever, is a bitter thing to sit with as they had left things. )

Val Royeaux and Val Chevin are both among the cities struck. The Divine has ( regrettably, though her voice has returned to the level and matter of fact recounting, ) survived the attack on her Grand Cathedral, but both the Chantry there and the harbour in Val Chevin have taken great damage, and heavy loss. Melys, representing our Scouting division further afield,

( it is much harder to keep her voice steady now, that old letter ringing in her ears, miss you darkly, darling, but she does, )

was among the fatalities.

Captain Rowntree, if you would.

The Imperium launched an attack against the encampment of the Exalted March. There were many casualties. I'm told there was a targetted strike that took the lives of Cassandra Pentaghast and Cullen Rutherford, of the Inquisition.

[ A pause, before diverting. ]

Word, too, of an attack in Ostwick. As with the assault on the front, and that in Kirkwall, the enemy rode in dracolisks and sought to cause damage with magical explosives. The harbour and its fortress and stockhouses were destroyed. There is some report of skirmishing in east Nevarra, Van Markham territory, but no word of heavy losses.

There are those of our number who had departed to the front—those that also fell. Joselyn Smythe and Tsenka Abendroth, [ and if there was more to say, which there wasn't, the rough twist at this last syllable, a hard, dry edge in his voice, means he stops there. ]

( softly, she says: ) Thank you, Captain.

I will remain in Skyhold through the evening meal, and from here, the captain and I will return to Kirkwall. If there are brief messages you would have me carry to those you know within Skyhold, I will do what I am able before we depart.

Comments

[luaithre]

[ There is much he might say, wants to say, wants to let out in a rush, but he has never much liked trying to have a serious conversation over crystal. Or a frivolous one. But particularly one like this, where the clever enchantments embedded into stone feel too delicate to bear the weight of it.

And yet, he dreads the moment that the crystal dims for the evening. So it isn't a deflection, that he says, ]

I'm sorry for Melys,

[ but accommodating the medium. ]

[ipseite]

( somewhere in a cold castle, petrana breathes out. )

I had very much hoped to introduce the two of you one day, under better circumstance.

[luaithre]

[ A thought comes, a few connections necessary to form but at rapidfire pace, that it was good he had managed to introduce Tsenka to some of his blood family—less that she know them, more that they know her.

The thought closes his throat (and how joyous that day in Cumberland, her true family embracing her, finding her alive) and the shuddered breath over the line is distinct for what it is. He is somewhere alone, no castles out here, a dark field and his back to where rebel mages mill around fires.

Fine. Maybe it is deflection. He asks, ]

Tell me more of her, if you like,

[ voice thicker. ]

[ipseite]

She was the first constant that I knew, in Thedas. Beyond words dear to me. We had an ease that was—

something I had not had. Perhaps ever. She was brusque and coarse and I remember once some errand of hers was paid in discard jewels, and how we shut ourselves away with them and. Foolishness, you know. Draping absurd gems about ourselves and swanning around the room.

( it is well, remembering the laughter. )

She came the night I remembered my death. I suppose I had it in my mind that she would always, of course, return.

[luaithre]

Ah, love.

[ His tone hasn't improved, and why should it, that isn't the point of any of this, but there's fondness as well. It's charming, that image. ]

[ipseite]

She would be glad, I think, to know that Monster remains in such good and capable hands. I hope it would likewise bring your sister some peace to know that you are, as well.

[luaithre]

[ A harsh breath, something closer to mirth, unbidden. ]

I think she knew more peace when I was suffering some.

[ Isn't true, of course, save for the specific way it is for a sibling. ]

We were ill-behaved when we were young. On the turn of a coin, we might have been enemies. But I think we both needed— [ Swallows, silent, thinking. ] We needed someone. Something the Mothers couldn't cultivate, wouldn't encourage. I would forever be in trouble for her. I would have—

I should have been here.

[ipseite]

It is easy to say should, after. You were here. If she thought you not meant to be, I have gained no impression from you or from her that she would have hesitated to tell you so—

you could not be everywhere.

[luaithre]

[ It's true, of course. And he himself would not be anywhere he didn't feel he had to be, hadn't already contended and negotiated around the occasional grasping feeling that says he should be at the front, he should be here in this encampment, or with those he'd named family after the Circles, or before. He cannot be everywhere. He is certain that if he has a place, his place is with Petrana and Julius, and that he is better suited to service in Riftwatch than anywhere else.

But Tsenka is dead. He has failed her twice, and this time for good. This hard, cold wall cannot be scaled today. ]

I love you, [ is something he is sure about. ]

[ipseite]

And I, you.

We will be home with Julius, tomorrow.

[luaithre]

Good.

[ There may not be much either can say that he would be able to absorb, much he can do to explain; but he would like to touch them, hold their hands, be near. That much can be done.

Some rallying to get his tone into order, as he asks, ]

You're taken care of, there?

[ipseite]

I am. I'll join their evening meal, and a bed has been promised me. Some time to see Skyhold when it is less acutely aware of my observation will serve us well, I think, and I wish to speak a little with a man here that Julius and I met, in Halamshiral. He and his daughter.

( a quiet sigh. )

I should rather be with you. You know. But I am here.

( and it's— fine. )