[Open] A Dwarf Speaks

[tallasaking]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Tyrion Lannister
RECIPIENT: The Inquisition
WHAT: Tyrion has a question.
WHEN: Mid-Frostfall
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Someone was foolish enough to give Tyrion one of these things.

[The voice that first comes over the crystal comes off as distracted as said person, male by the sound of it, is turning the crystal this way and that.] Fascinating ... how far do these go, I wonder. Can you track them, like charms? Hmm.

[The voice changes abruptly from curious to charmingly polite.] Good eve, all. I am Tyrion Lannister, of House Lannister, which I realize probably means very little to any of you. Still, titles are titles, and we might as well stick one on the wall to see if it catches anything. As I am a stranger to your lands, and shores, and varying other places ... I had a query. We have these strange shards in our hands, and people use them to go out and close the rifts themselves. Now, does one simply volunteer out of the goodness of one's heart, or is there some sort of formal oath I and the others are supposed to make?

[A pause, then a sly chuckle.] If there is an oath, is there pay? I am a man with a young wife and a fondness for better wine than what I have been drinking. If I am to be stuck here, I would rather be doing something useful than finding new ways to win at your delightful game of Wicked Grace.

Comments

[anacardiaceae]

There is pay, [ Comes an accent from Rivain, which sounds more like Northern Spanish than anything else. ]

And you don't have to join, be it of fondness or anything else. The choice is yours.

[tallasaking]

[If Tyrion had any idea where Spain was, he would be confused. As it was, she sounded ... Dornish.]

Well, am I paid if I decline to join this great religious endeavor? Nothing against the Inquisition, but I do not believe in any of your gods. I have enough of my own to worry about without adding one that apparently looks like he was thrown off a cliff and into a spiked bed of the red lyrium.

[anacardiaceae]

You don't have to believe to join, or else I suspect quite a few people would not be here. Besides that...well. I, for one, would rather the man you're describing wasn't a self-framed god, but here we are.

You're paid for missions, or you could set up shop in some way. Where do your talents lie?

[tallasaking]

Is he really a man? He sounds more like a monster my wetnurse used to tell me to keep me from sneaking out of my room at night. He's certainly no god - no god I have ever heard of needs to proclaim himself as such. Or raise an army.

[The cogs are turning .. ] Mostly? I talk. I read. I assess. I suppose one would say I am brilliant as go-between. Not sure you could open a store around that.

[anacardiaceae]

He is, certainly, a monster. He is also proof that some of our eldest stories are not truly stories at all, but a reality warped by time and misinformation.

But you are right. Gods are gods through being, not through his amassing of force.

Have you considered speaking with the Lady Montilyet? She is the ambassador for the Inquisition, and it sounds as if your skills would be of some use to her position.

[circleprodigy]

Your initiative does you credit. There is no formal oath, as far as I am aware, but remain alert. I can promise that you will have opportunities to sign on for various missions. Shardbearers are in great demand, considering their unique talent.

As for pay, without officially joining, you are still paid for assisting the Inquisition on a mission-by-mission basis. I am not quite certain how it works for those more closely affiliated.

[tallasaking]

Well considering we seem to be the only ones who can close the gaping holes - I am glad to see that my new talent shall not be wasted.

[An exhale.] Good. I need to move Sansa and I to warmer quarters -- I don't suppose there is a village anywhere near by?

[circleprodigy]

Unfortunately, no. The refugee camp is the closest thing to that, and I would not call their quarters warm. Any available private rooms in the fortress tend to be reserved for visiting dignitaries and nobles. If you're lucky, you might find one in need of repair and claim it as your own, but I can't guarantee that. Nonetheless, if you do find such, let me know and I can assist in removing rubble.

[tallasaking]

Hm. Well I am terrible at building, so I would honestly prefer to find rooms that have already been built and do not have holes in them already...

[Tapping his fingers, he looks out.] What about that large tower there? Who is in that?

[undesirableone]

If you do go out, I'd like to go with you.

[tallasaking]

As if I would stop you, my friend.

[undesirableone]

Of course not. I'm too antsy to stay in one place for too long.

[tallasaking]

Ah the energy of the youthful and the faintly paranoid. [Yes he teases because he cares.]

[degenere]

There is a very long oath, actually. And then you must sign your name to a very long list.

Do you have just the three names, monsieur?

[tallasaking]

Must I do it in blood? Will I be required to answer in rhyme?

Gracious no. I have at least a half a dozen nasty ones as well.

[degenere]

Why would anyone write in blood?

The rhyming remains to be seen. I think there are some who are asked to rhyme, but if you prove yourself in some other amusing way, they might allow you to speak normally, or perhaps offer only a single couplet. My friend answered at length, in full verse, nearly ten minutes of it, and they gave him his pick of lodgings. Something to aspire to.

But tell me. What of these nasty names?

[tallasaking]

To make sure one will not break their word, of course. Or do you not have blood oaths here, that if you break it, you die immediately?

Sadly, my prose has always been weak. I can talk in an amusing tales and legends, though, if examples do.

Oh, my ... let me see. Half-man. Imp. Silver-tongued monster. Monster. Kingslayer. Kinslayer - that one is actually true.

[obi_wanmanshow]

It's a modest enough stipend, but enough to live on, if you choose not to eat what the rank and file have.

[Which is to say, potage, gruel, and long-lived travel rations, augmented by whatever's freely available by other circumstances. Obi-Wan's not picky, so long as he has enough, but it does get very monotonous.]

If you'd like to find work to increase that pay, you're welcome to inquire with anyone you believe will have you, or start a business venture of your own. The Inquisition, of course, always has more to do than hands to do it. There is some formal promise, if you do join in an official capacity, but I believe it's optional, to my knowledge.

--Ah, and since we're exchanging titles, I am Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, of the Order of Jedi Knights. I hope you'll come to me first, if you find yourself in undue trouble. [emphasis on the 'undue'] As pertains to your status as a Rifter, at least.

[tallasaking]

...So not enough to drink better wine.

[Well, there was nothing for it. He was going to have to find a way to make more coin.]

Honestly, I was only ever good at talking, learning, and designing objects to make life easier on myself. I suppose if they needed someone to design armor, fortifications or in fact, new ways to siege the enemy ... I'd be their man. Perhaps if there was a way to talk someone to death - although I have been told I have that ability with insults alone.

You cannot see me, but I am bowing. [He is. It's polite.] And why would I speak to you, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, if someone is giving me trouble?

[obi_wanmanshow]

Please, Master Kenobi, or simply Obi-Wan will do. Formality is hardly warranted, given the circumstances.

I happen to hold the position as liason between the Rifter population and the Inquisition's council of leaders. I might be willing to speak or act on your behalf in other circumstances, of course, but I only hold meaningful authority here. Try to stay out of trouble, if you can?

[tallasaking]

Thank you, Obi-Wan. Just call me Tyrion, if we are to be informal.

I see ... well, that is lofty. Could you perhaps put in a request for our stipend to be increased? It seems we should get paid appropriately for what we bring to the Inquisition - namely - saving their world from utter destruction.

Beyond that, the only trouble I get into is -- hm. Yes. I shall attempt it.

[justice_is_blond]

You're in Ferelden. You'll be hard-pressed to find anything decent to drink here, though at least Orlais is near enough.

[His voice is dry.]

Thankfully, as far as I know, there's no way to track the crystals. I'm assuming that's what you're asking about.

[tallasaking]

I have heard of Orlesian wines -- just how much will it hurt to purchase a bottle or two?

[A quiet chuckle.]

So the giant evil monster with his bone dragon won't be swooping in any time soon?

[justice_is_blond]

I've no idea. If what you're looking for is something good, however, and not simply wine, I'd look into Antivan brandies.

And we could only wish his dragon was a bone one. Three of us here have dealt with a bone dragon before. I hear this one isn't quite that.

[tallasaking]

I see - and how much more is that going to cost me? Because if we are going to wine to something with a specific country in front of it - I have a feeling the gold must flow more freely.

[Now there was a pause, an interested one.]

So what kind of dragon is it, specifically?