crystal; ota

[aberratic]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Ness Tavane (tadfool)
RECIPIENT: Errbody

[ the sending crystal comes on, and a feminine voice clears their throat; she is clearly entirely new to this, and perhaps to public speaking in general, but she wants to make a good impression!! ]

Hello, Riftwatch. My name is Ennaris Tavane, I'm a recent arrival to your organization. If Ennaris is a mouthful, Ness will also do! I wanted to introduce myself, and I also have a request, should anyone be willing to assist me.

I've joined the Diplomacy division [ cuz damn do y'all seem to be the most in need of bodies ] and am eager to get my feet beneath me as far as work there goes. I can read and write with proficiency, and am an excellent note taker, should those skills be of use to anyone. I... can scribe, [ said with all the enthusiasm of someone admitting to being physically capable of mucking out the stables, yes, but— ] though my real skill lies in research and compilation of disparate sources of information. I'm happy to offer my assistance to anyone who needs it while I suss out what jobs need doing and where my skills would best be applied.

As for my request, I was hoping there might be someone—or even multiple someones—who would be willing to tutor me in history. I have several gaps in my knowledge, and would prefer to fill them in as quickly as possible. Please feel free to reply back to me here, on the crystal, or to get with me privately if you're interested. We can discuss compensation, though I admit I've not got a terribly deep purse at the moment.

Erm. Thank you for your attention. Have a good day? Binder's knots, feels like I'm talking to air...

Comments

[bouchonne]

Well, I'd be most pleased to help where I can. Byerly Rutyer; a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Tell me, from where do you hail?

[ c'mon, out with it. ]

[aberratic]

Nowhere you'd have heard of, certainly. Though we did have an excellent library.

[ her inability to avoid talking up candlekeep will be her undoing, but also candlekeep is the fucking best and every other library wishes they were as complete and cool as candlekeep. ]

[bouchonne]

[ gIRL ]

Ah, so you're a Rifter, perhaps?

[aberratic]

Must everyone from somewhere you've never heard of be a Rifter?

[ how long can she get away with this, this is turning out to be fun. ]

[bouchonne]

[ giRL ]

If it's cosmopolitan enough to have a library of any size, I've heard of it.

[aberratic]

[ what, she can do this all day. ]

A library of any size? You know all the local libraries in Nevarra, then? Rivain? That's very impressive, I wonder if you would know mine.

[bouchonne]

I certainly know of all the individuals wealthy enough to keep a library, yes. There aren't that many of them.

[aberratic]

[ hold on a second here, just taking some notes, and... ]

If you would name them, I might tell you which I'm from.

[bouchonne]

Which family you're from?

[aberratic]

Which family, which cosmopolitan city with its own library. Whichever is the truth.

[bouchonne]

Well, I've heard rumor that there's a library in the remote hamlet of Val Royeaux. Are you Royan?

[aberratic]

[ please, sir, what do you take her for? ]

Are we sure you're not a Rifter?

[bouchonne]

You know - Maker. Now that you mention it, I don't think we are sure. Quick, ask me some questions only a Thedosian would know.

[aberratic]

Perhaps I would, if I were approaching this conversation as a game to be won. I don't feel the need, though.

Messere Rutyer, was it? I'd be very interested to hear more of your family's experiences in the occupation of Fereldan.

[bouchonne]

[ sure jan ]

Very well. As you will. I would be quite pleased to speak of the famed Rutyer atrocities.

[aberratic]

[ how famed can they be if i've never heard of them— girl, quit it, as if you wouldn't be absolutely beside yourself if you actually managed to bother somebody. ]

Are we being hyperbolic or entirely literal with that descriptor? I'm guessing the latter, with the aforementioned ears.

[bouchonne]

Oh, quite literal. Grandfather fought alongside Moira Theirin, who - family lore has it - described him as unsettling. And she was a hard woman to unsettle.

[aberratic]

[ oh hells, did she read something about a moira theirin, is he trying to catch her out again... racking the brain, racking the brain, come on...

with a natural one, there's no way of knowing. ]

That certainly sounds impressive, [ ever so slowly, waiting for the trap to spring. ]

[bouchonne]

[ c'mON GIRL if you're gonna be a liar be a subtle liar! ]

Quite so, quite so. The Rebel Queen, Moira, mother of Meric, whom as you mentioned killed the pretender Meghren, was a formidable warrior. As you're well aware.

[aberratic]

[ look when you roll a one you don't get to be subtle!!! but now that more detail has been provided she does remember the rebel queen. hells!! ]

We're all well aware, [ attempting to recover, ] it's your story I'm not sure of. That's the kind of self-aggrandizing thing that gets turned into family legend without ever having been true in the first place.

[bouchonne]

True enough. But, again, the ears.

[aberratic]

The ears that were found in your uncle's attic, yes. He kept your grandfather's trophy ears?

[bouchonne]

Oh, no. Sorry for any confusion. The ears were collected by a different Rutyer. I’m merely attesting to the character of my clan.

[aberratic]

Ah, yes. Certainly illustrative.

Is that a ruthlessness that you'd say you share, do you think?

[bouchonne]

Oh, without question.

[ And then Bastien’s voice rings in his mind, reminding him how miserable he becomes when he gets treated like a villain, and he amends: ]

Though I aim to flay only with sharp wits, rather than knives. So perhaps a touch less ruthless.