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

[overharrowed]

Of course. I can't imagine.

[is a wild thing for a man with a dead brother to say]

How is he holding up so far? I would ... I don't know whether he would rather closeness or space, just now.

[ipseite]

He had the news direct— he has not yet returned to Skyhold.

( so it's difficult to say. )

[overharrowed]

Ah. [It's not clear whether that's better or worse, under the circumstances.] I wish I were there. With either of you.

[ipseite]

Home to you, tomorrow.

I fear I am failing to appreciate Skyhold, under the circumstances.

[overharrowed]

No one could blame you.

I'm not sure I've been back since ... Maker, it may be since the phylactery negotiations.

[ipseite]

I suppose, at this point, this was always the likeliest way that I might know it.

( a crisis, and not a social call. )

[overharrowed]

Unfortunate, but probably true. My memories of it are so heightened, given the stress at the time, but it seems in hindsight very ... [He sighs.] I'm glad it's still standing, at least. Better than the alternative.

[ipseite]

A useful thing to know that they couldn't find it. Would that we were so difficult to put hands upon.

[overharrowed]

I'm not sure how many of us would have picked the Gallows if we'd been starting fresh, rather than breaking off from the Inquisition, but who can say now?

[Too much of a counterfactual to be much use picking apart. Softer:]

Come back safe, the both of you.

[ipseite]

We shall.

( nothing's promised, of course, especially with marcus having sallied forth to the front where anything could happen in the span of hours, but— )

Before I leave, I shall see our young friend from Orlais.

[overharrowed]

[She can hear a small smile.]

Well thought. I hope she and her father were settled in enough not to be too shaken. Though given the state of Orlais in the past few years, perhaps they're more accustomed than they might be. Give her my regards, in any case.