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[degenere]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Val de Foncé (and with him, as always, is Jehan Mercier)
RECIPIENT: e v e r y o n e
WHAT: the scholars of Orlais have something to say.
WHEN: now, right now
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: aren't they charming.


Inquisition, we are confused.

[Melodious, Orlesian, flirtatious (somehow even in this most simple of sentences): these are three words one might use to describe the sound of Val's voice. It makes confused sound kind of fun, if a bit puzzling.]

My friend and I have come all this way to be an asset to you. And now we have arrived here, to your Skyhold, and we find so much to be in want. How have you all managed so far, with these conditions? I am a man used to the roughness of a camp, a life of travel. I love this life. You'll find no one loves it more than me. But a camp, that is one thing, and this? It is meant to be a city, of a sort. Yet there is no apartment for us. There is barely a work space, in your library--we have been, my friend and I. We have seen the conditions. There is barely a book there.

I am sorry for you, Inquisition.

[So sincere. A pause, in which he has pressed a hand to his chest, in a deep show of pity. And then, briskly, cheerfully:]

But we will not leave you there, in sorrow. The good news. You now have, among your numbers, me. An introduction: Valentine de Foncé, a master architect, among many other masteries, too numerous to name. If you ask sweetly, I'll tell you them all. If you ask very sweetly, I'll give demonstration. And for the Inquisition, I will offer my services, and my knowledge--and so, too, does my friend. If only so we can get a decent space in which we can do our work. And believe me: you want this. We have arrived to be your greatest blessing.

Now, tell me. With business sorted: what does anyone do for fun around here?

Comments

[degenere]

The University of Orlais. That's where.

[So.]

Of course, I did not expect so great a library here as we have there. But I did expect a little something beyond a small and moldy cupboard. You've been?

[el_tybs]

To the 'small and moldy cupboard'? Yes, though it's hardly that small or that moldy. It's in quite good shape considering this was an abandoned fortress.

But if you're speaking of the university, then no. I've only been as far as Emprise du Lion and the Western Approach when it comes to Orlais.

[degenere]

I have seen cupboards that have larger cupboards than that library. I have seen mould that has a larger library than that library.

But. Your point is well taken, on the abandonment. I had set my sights low. I should have set them even lower. What did you see in the Western Approach?

[el_tybs]

What kind of place would have cupboards in cupboards?

[Guess they were talking about Orlais though so- they were weird.

A sigh. Just what did this man expect to find here?]

Sand. Some wildlife. Sand. A dragon. More sand. The Fade.

[He mentioned sand, right?]

[degenere]

A question that could only be asked by the worryingly literal-minded. You're not by some chance Ferelden, are you?

[Actually, wait--far more important:]

A dragon?

[el_tybs]

That's a question from the practical-minded. Being Fereldan has nothing to do with it.

[Oh, he was curious about that?]

Did my worryingly literal-mind make that too literal for you?

[degenere]

It has much to do with it. Blunt, clumsy. You know the paste that is made with mud and hay? Like a mortar. Literal, in that way.

Now, dragons, I would call literal first. And then a few other adjectives, and then, eventually, worrying. But my inflection was more to do with incredulity. You saw a dragon.

[el_tybs]

Uh-... huuuh.

[Clearly not impressed. He must be making so many 'friends' already.]

Technically I've seen dragons. There was only one in the Western Approach though.

[degenere]

Really.

[who needs friends when there's dragons, man!]

How long ago was this?

[el_tybs]

Give or take a month and a half ago - back in Bloomingtide.

[degenere]

Not very long ago at all. Not for a dragon.

Just what was the Inquisition doing in the Western Approach? Or were you there on a holiday?

[el_tybs]

Probably not considering the size.

[If it was still there of course.]

If that was holiday then someone was terrible at picking a location.

[Who in their right mind would holiday there?]

Like any reason we go anywhere. Hear about an issue, take the army, set up posts, take out enemy forces. Had a great time in the Fade there.

[He's being sarcastic when he says great. That was anything but.]

[degenere]

[Briskly, impatiently:]

Yes, yes, yes, the Fade, hard work, the Inquisition, you are a hero and a credit to your name, we are impressed, you deserve a sack of gold. Well done.

But the dragon. How large of a dragon was it, that you speak of its size? Was the dragon the issue that you were called to? What became of it?

[el_tybs]

Nooo, the dragon wasn't why we were called out there.

[Well someone got impatient quickly. And bossy.]

One of the largest we've seen. Believe they called it an Abyssal High Dragon.

Pretty sure a party was sent out to dispatch it.

[degenere]

A High--

[And here is where Val drops his sending crystal in his excitement.]

[el_tybs]

[He's expecting to hear 'dragon' so when there is a thud instead Sambstares at his stone.]

Aaa-ummm

[Did he fall down some stairs?]

[degenere]

[Instead there comes the sound of fumbling, and muffled exclamations and phrases in quick and excited Orlesian. It passes, in time.]

What became of it.

[el_tybs]

It was starting to threaten the camps and troops so they sent a team to take it down.

We should have a decent amount of dragon hide and such at the tannery now from it.

[degenere]

You can't mean that you skinned it.

[el_tybs]

How else would you expect to get leather and hide?

[Course they used the other parts as well.]

[degenere]

Very easily. I wouldn't. You skinned a Great High Dragon. You have heard, I hope, of cattle? They have a wonderful hide. Perfect for leatherwork. I realize that the Inquisition has made its home in this, how do you say, roofless shithole, but I would have thought that its members would know of cattle.

Maker's arse.

[el_tybs]

[He's pretty sure Commander Cullen is the only one without a roof, but not really important at the moment.]

Are you suggesting that we should have just left the body there and did nothing with it? We're not hunting dragons for the fun of it, but we are certainly going to use whatever resources that become available.

[degenere]

Of course not. If a Grand High Dragon had to be killed--and I find this very hard to believe, that you were driven to slaughter by complete and absolute and direst necessity--but if she had to be killed, I would not have chopped her into pieces for consumption and leather.

I would have studied her.

[And to underscore his point, he repeats, with disdain:] Leather. Barbarous.

[el_tybs]

Generally being attacked by a dragon does drive us to take such measures. Certainly parts of her, as well as the others, are being studied, though we do not have someone who necessarily specializes in that.

You perhaps do not care for dragon leather, but it is far superior to that of cattle as far as leather armor goes. We're arming and maintaining a military force.

Do you not kill anything for food and clothing?

[degenere]

You are in luck. Now you have someone who specializes--not that I am feeling very inclined to help.

With that authority, I can tell you now that being attacked by a dragon does not drive you to skin her and tan her hide to make leather armor. You have other means by which to be armored and shod. Indeed you will find that military forces often do without dragon hide armor. They prefer steel. It requires very little butchery.

Were you eating dragon as well? Is that what you mean by 'studied'?