Crystal.

[youwonscience]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Cosima Niehaus
RECIPIENT: Riftwatch at large
NOTES: Backdated slightly to a week and a half after the attack, maybe edging on two, time is fake.

Hey all. It's the Provost. I'm reaching out so everyone's aware and rumors don't go wild: Commander Flint is, indeed, absent from the Gallows. He's pursuing a time-sensitive action against Corypheus, and it's going to keep him out of pocket for a while.

In the meantime, Captain Rowntree will be stepping in to oversee the work of the Forces division. He's served ably as Captain of the Watch for some time, and the Scoutmaster and I will get him up to speed quickly with his new responsibilities. Most of you have been here long enough to experience changes in division leadership before [this a little wry, considering Cosima's relatively new position, but she's serious again for], and we expect you'll continue with your duties with minimal interruption.

[The previous statement sounds fluid but scripted, mainly because this last part feels more off-the-cuff:]

Everyone's been really pulling hard for the rebuilding effort, we know. It's appreciated. And if you've got any questions or concerns, you can speak to me or the Scoutmaster. Privately, if you want. Speaking for myself, I can't promise every question will have an answer, but I'd rather know what's on your mind than have it preoccupying you. Uh, that's it for now. Thanks.

Comments

[extortionate]

Diplomacy’s still empty, if anyone wants a skive.

[cozen]

It’s true. All we do is party. Everyone should join us.

[overharrowed]

[Deadpan:]

Don't tell me I got busy and missed the party yet again.

[extortionate]

Dunno how busy you can be, this war's been on ages.

[ diplomacy it already? ]

[ipseite]

A key element in the old saw that is all wars resolved about a negotiation table is the removal of those most significant impediments to the table itself.

( get to killing corypheus then and they will, buddy. )

[extortionate]

With Flint gone reckon that's one of 'em.

[ that guy hated talking. probably not only to lazar. ]

[succise]

Is this place falling apart already? I just arrived.

[extortionate]

You been here longer than some Rifters now.

[succise]

You should stop employing such flighty people.

[extortionate]

Could put yourself for Ambassador, be the change.

[succise]

I could, couldn't I?

[extortionate]

Don't see why not. Rutyer managed it.

[succise]

Precisely.

I'll think about it.

[atonally]

What's a while?

[youwonscience]

Long enough that he agreed with us about the need for someone to take over in his absence.

[atonally]

[ In lieu of a string of curses and/or complaints: ]

Understood.

[thereneverwas]

[oh]

[armd]

Why aren't we pursuing a time-sensitive action against Corypheus? Did he say why he's doing that alone?

[youwonscience]

I'd argue that all of Riftwatch is a time-sensitive action against Corypheus, but we don't have the resources to treat them all equally. We've trusted Commander Flint to balance competing priorities for a long time. If he'd thought taking others with him would have increased his chances of success, I'm pretty confident he would have done that.

[armd]

Right.

It just feels like — we're sitting here, waiting for them to come back and attack us again while we're still picking up the pieces.

[youwonscience]

If this sounds glib, I don't mean it to, but if you have a suggestion for what Riftwatch should be doing that doesn't involve some degree of rebuilding, I'm genuinely glad to hear it. Or if it's Forces-oriented and you don't think my hearing it is helpful, Rowntree is stepping in, in part, to field that kind of idea.

I'm not disagreeing that this doesn't feel great. But I don't see away around picking up those pieces.

[armd]

(Abby exhales in a rush.)

No, it's — you're right. (What could they possibly do instead? They're small, they have a few, new holes in the leadership. A lot of holes in the Gallows. She mutters,) Sorry. I don't like standing around like this.

Do we have any contacts outside of Kirkwall that would help us rebuild?

[youwonscience]

A good question. I'm sure members of diplomacy who aren't busy partying [ha] have already started reaching out, though it's especially rough that the Venatori hit so many places our allies are at the same time.

But Riftwatch has done a lot of people some good over the years. If there was a time to ask for some support in turn.

[armd]

... It's now. Exactly. We could treat it like a regroup.

[elegiaque]

The Walrus is gone, so he wasn't alone.

( he just left all of them behind, )

[armd]

I guess.

[elegiaque]

I don't know why whatever this is had to be him, but I can understand why it wasn't us.

( that doesn't make either half of the equation less frustrating. )

[armd]

(She makes a grouchy sound in lieu of replying.)

[hassaran]

The Fancy as well. Flint has the personnel he needs.

[elegiaque]

The note he left said he'd "gone hunting". I figured that meant the sort that pirate crews would be more useful for than gutting half of Riftwatch when we've already been kicked down.