The HANGMAN'S PAPERS, Numb. 5

[cozen]

FORM: Printed, on paper of noticeably poorer quality than last time
SENDER: THE HANGMAN'S PAPERS
RECIPIENT: Everyone, via its appearance overnight in their pigeonholes in the dining hall
NOTES: Feel free to use this as a crystal/enchanted book catch-all post for anything your character wants to say or write in response! (Or make your own post. That's also fine.)

Numb. 5
THE HANGMAN'S PAPERS
Published for Riftwatch, in the Gallows of Kirkwall
Summer 9:50

---

CONTAINING,


NOTES FROM KIRKWALL, Ed.: A brief-as-possible update on the state of reconstruction in the city, including comments on the recent or expected reopenings of a handful of popular establishments that suffered extensive damage or fatalities, instructions for those who might wish to make a donation to Perky Perkins' family in light of his death, and the relaying of some brief words of gratitude for Riftwatch's assistance with the attack and subsequent clean-up from the locals, including the Guard Captain and new acting Viscount Tethras.


MONSIEUR FARNON'S EQUINE ADVICE, Siegfried Farnon: Siegfried's submission was clearly meant to be a notice of the services he offers, and that's included, but it represents about 15% of the piece. The remaining 85% ends up being an explainer about how horses react to stress and why it's important not to subject them to it more than absolutely necessary. It's accessible and reasonably interesting (assuming you care about horses), if presumably not what he started off planning to write about. The editor has rearranged this submission to make the notice of his services a coda rather than an introduction and to heavily imply this will be a regular feature in future editions.


IN THE FIRST PLACE, Anonymous. Ed. note: Answers will be posted to the bulletin board in one week.

ACROSS 4. Wilds 5. A mountain and a 'round' tower 8. Direction of coming 9. Restless waters 10. Bottomless ravine 13. The end of the world? 16. Everywhere, but no one's destination 17. Not Briala's 20. Graves' green

DOWN 1. Vints' drink 2. Dumat's domain 3. Stinking pools 6. Witches' marshes 7. Cartographer's dream 11. Broken ice 12. Whispering sands 14. Counted mounts 15. Damned rises 18. Untamed gorges 19. Where 1 Down watches

ARE YOU COMPATIBLE? A TEST OF YOUR CHEMISTRY!, La Moore: This quick, six-question quiz will help you determine whether or not you and somebody of your choosing are compatible. It is not restricted to people you are already in a romantic relationship with, or are pursuing romantically! You can test the bond between yourself and whomever you please. If you answer the questions truthfully, you will discover the true meaning of the time that you spend to-gether.

PLEASE NOTE: This quiz was made all in good fun and is not encouraging the quiz-taker toward anything in particular. But at the same time, if you do find that you and your companion have actually been madly in love with each other all along, please, celebrate it!

BEFORE YOU START: Sit quietly for a moment and hold a picture of your companion in your mind's eye. Think very hard about them. Rotate this mental image of them carefully. Examine it from all angles! After you have achieved this, you may proceed. Good luck!

Here is the quiz.

Question one: What do you think of your companion?

A. They are terrible and I loathe to share this organization with them (+0)
B. I hold them in tender regard (+2)
C. I am secretly in love with them! (+3)
D. They don't much cross my mind at all (+1)

Question two: How do you spend the bulk of your time together?

A. Getting to know each-other (+2)
B. Working closely at our desks (+1)
C. Doing work-related things, only speaking when necessary (+0)
D. Sharing food and fun conversation! (+3)

Question three: Do your political views match those of your companion?

A. Our political views are the same (+3)
B. Sometimes we have disagreements but we more or less agree on the same things (+2)
C. We have shouted at each-other over politics before and we will do it again! (+0)
D. Politics has never come up between us and I hope it never will (+1)

Question four: Have you ever shared laughter?

A. Our senses of humor are not similar (+1)
B. We share laughter commonly and it strengthens our bond! (+3)
C. What is there to laugh about? (+0)
D. Every so often we will giggle in unison (+2)

Question five: What will you get them for Satinalia?

A. I will ask them what they would like and then get that (+2)
B. I'll say happy Satinalia to them in passing. Or I will mean to, but forget (+0)
C. A small, forgettable token so as not to be rude (+1)
D. A meaningful and beautiful gift, obtained in advance (+3)

Question six: If you and your companion are friends, would you consider taking things a step further?

A. We are not friends (+0)
B. Yes and I dream of it! (+3)
C. I would end our friendship if they tried to pursue me (+1)
D. I am not trying to further things, but I would not say no if they ended up heading in that direction (+2)

RESULTS

0 – 3: MORTAL ENEMIES!

Oh no! You really don't like this person at all and maybe even hate them. That's okay; we can't be expected to get along with everybody in the world. Is there a particular reason you dislike them so strongly? Perhaps you should take a moment to sit and think about it very carefully and see if you can reach an understanding. If you can't: oh well. You tried!

4 – 8: STEADY ACQUAINTANCES!

Most people feel this way about their work colleagues. You work well in tandem but do not know each other very well outside of Riftwatch's context. It is perfectly fine to think of somebody this way but may I suggest: ask your companion some questions about themselves to get to know them better! You may find that you have things in common and it could be very fun.

9 – 14: WARM FRIENDS!

How lovely! You are friends, maybe even very good friends. You like each other and spend time to-gether. This is a very happy place to be with another person and I commend you for it but have you considered that you could be more? For fun, you could entertain it and see what happens. If you don't like the thought of it, you can stop right away and no harm is done.

15 – 18: ETERNAL LOVERS!

They have written books about the kind of love you experience! Congratulations! How lucky! Not only are you and your companion completely inseparable but you are the envy of your peers and everybody loves to hear about your shared feelings. You should talk about them more. It could make somebody's day!’

A CIPHER, Anonymous: 15-7-7-14-16-23-17

With instructions for submitting material for future publications.

Comments

@ teren.

[exequy]

[ Moody assholes need entertainment, too. This is why Kostos is holding the tract in one hand while he eats porridge with the other, sitting on a rock in the ruined Gallows while his raven hops around nearby, and periodically glancing at Teren.

They're long glances. Evaluative glances. Making up his mind about his answers glances. ]

[doneisdone]

[She notices before she lets on, and it takes a little time for her to determine that this is the Acceptable Averesch-- but that doesn't excuse the looks he's giving her.

She finally meets his eyes after one too many, her own slightly narrowing. What.]

[exequy]

[ He nods. Not to her, exactly. To himself, already looking back down to add the correct number—zero—to his current running tally of two.

What is there to laugh about? indeed. ]

[doneisdone]

[She rises from her seat and, innocuously, makes as though to leave-- but rather than do so, as soon as she leaves Kostos' sightline, she cuts a path toward him from behind, footfalls silent.]

[exequy]

[ Kostos frowns at the Satinalia question. The obvious answer is the one that doesn't involve giving a gift, but he also won't mean to say anything to her. Should he count a negative point or something instead? When he looks up, Teren isn't there for consideration, so that's no help.

Her footfalls are silent. He's not looking.

But the raven is. It watches her approach in wary silence before flapping noisily to perch beside Kostos on the rock, croaking irritably, and Kostos puts his spoon down to strokes his feathers with his fingertips. ]

[doneisdone]

[She offers a respectful nod to the raven on her quiet approach, and as soon as Teren is within striking range, her hand darts out to snatch the offending parchment so she can get a look at it.

...the result of which is a confused, slightly suspicious glower from the newspaper to Kostos.]