therookery | crystal; ota

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...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I should be happy to act reference for any gaps in Circle history.

That would be very much appreciated, I'm not terribly clear on their history—I'm only 20, so.

[ conceivably, she could have come into her magic in a world after the circles fell and never had need to learn too much about them. she didn't! but she could have. ]

Of course. It's been a tumultuous decade, I imagine that scholarship will ask several more to settle.

[ the survivors tell the story. there will be fewer of those. if he's yet to take her for a mage at all —

well. he's spent the past several years about the idle rich, they don't universally flock for university. riftwatch has never owned a shortage of would-be academics. ]

What particularly draws you study?

[ ah, see—speaking to someone who's not trying to catch her out (unlike some others who shall not be named), ness is less invested in carrying on the obfuscation. ]

Well, as a Rifter, everything. I've laid a good base for myself, but I don't think just reading about the history is going to be as edifying as hearing about it from people who lived it, or who have been immersed in its effects.

[ the pause that ensues isn't not for finally paying attention to whatever rutyer's on about,

(what's that phrase the children use? lol, lmao?) ]

It's certainly an effective way to sort the bias. However, you'll find our accounts and libraries alike overwhelmed by the shade of war. If your historical focus draws you toward the domestic, the industrial, the artistic, anything without a sword dangling overhead —

Well, we may wish to connect you with those beyond these walls.

[ still to mage extremists. he's not wasteful ]

Much as I'd be interested in all of that, [ she really, really would, this is painful— ] it'd be the work of a lifetime to learn everything I would be interested in. Versing myself in the history of this continent and its geopolitics seems the best use of my time, even were it not my particular interest.

I prefer to be well-read, wherever possible—most of what I've read in our own archives thus far is from a Chantry perspective. Are there secular histories available?

Occasionally. The University of Orlais has seen some success in not being burned down —

[ the empress saved that for her cities ]

And I understand Orzammar keeps its own scholars, though I've not been. You will find the Chantry dominant in most studies. Between the Brothers and the Circles, they simply fund the most.

[ and smother the rest. ]

[ hmm. this not, shall we say, ideal. ]

I see. Well, I must hope then that their histories are accurate.

[ they are absolutely not—and wouldn't be even if she wasn't assuming malice in what is reported and what is not, anyone loyal enough to an organization to record its history is going to write in favor of their loyalties. ]

Is there anything in particular you would suggest I focus on, other than Circle histories? Which I am still very interested in, to be clear. We have places of magical learning where I'm from, but they are not run by the church.

[ it'd be hard in faerûn; there's no one church to run anything, what with the polytheism. ]

The Circles are a prudent focus primarily because every Rifter here will join us in them.

[ that's not said entirely for her benefit. any charming eavesdroppers would do to recall the stakes. ]

But in the interim, I should not overlook the city beyond our docks, in subject or methodology. The common man seldom makes it to an archive, but he prints plenty. You might speak with Mssr. Bastien.

[ THIS IS NOT, SHALL WE SAY, IDEAL. ]

Well. I certainly wouldn't want to be ignorant of my future home, then.

[ she read something about a mage rebellion somewhere, didn't she, more research needed. ]

Mssr. Bastien...? [ no last name? ] Is he in charge of the broadsheet here?

He distributes an internal tract. More to the point, he lives in the city, owns a press, and keeps any number of interesting friends,

[ "the poors" ]

Who I am certain he'd be pleased to add to.

I don't know that I qualify as interesting, but perhaps I'll clear Mssr. Bastien's bar nonetheless. He has a crystal of his own, or shall I seek him out the old fashioned way?

Oh, forgive me, goodsir—I don't believe I got your name.

Enchanter Isaac. A pleasure, etcetera —

Bastien has a crystal, and an office here; I recommend either before hunting him down at home, unless your interests extend to architectural deconstruction. Lowtown has looked prettier.

[ like, not by a lot. kirkwall before the attacks was still kirkwall ]

[ oh, "et cetera", okay. pleasantries optional with the enchanter, noted. ]

Well, anything can be interesting when approached from the right perspective... But I do take your point, I'll try the crystals and his office first.

As to the Circles, would you happen to have any free time available in the next, er, [ hang on, you don't say tenday here, what was the word— ] week or two? I would very much like to hear about them, both their history and the conditions I might expect to be subject to after the war.

Quite. Drop by any evening between — oh, ten and six, I'll be in the Infirmary, or the Acquisitions office. Or dead in a ditch, I suppose, but I'm trying this new thing called optimism. Très avant-gardiste.

[ more notes, tray ahvawn'-gahrd-eestuh. spelling is almost certainly wrong, but perhaps repeating it to someone else will at least get her a language family to look to for meaning. ]

There is a philosophy that envisioning a future can help make it so; we will envision you alive in the ditch, if you must find yourself in one. Thank you for your time, Enchanter, I'll seek you out before too long.

crystal; ota

crystals;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject