Casting down bad memories

[arlathvhen]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Beleth Ashara
RECIPIENT: Everyone who's part of the first group to Kirkwall
WHAT: Discussing what's to be done about the statues
WHEN: Sometime between Cloudreach 14th and 20th
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: This isn't an Official Poll that's going to decide things but it's a good way for people to throw out suggestions for voting on and discuss ideas

Good day, to every member of the Inquisition currently helping take care of the Gallows. We've been making some amazing progress, and I'm sure that our contributions will give this place the overhaul that it desperately needs. With time, the Gallows will become a symbol of hope, rather than despair.

If I may, I'd like to take time to discuss ideas for one of those symbols. Specifically, those horrid statues that are strewn about. Now that they will...probably no longer attempt to kill us.

I've been informed that there are artisans willing to melt down the statues and create new ones to be put in their place. Additionally, our group has been given permission to choose what kind of statues would be put up there. Suffice to say, whatever we go with will make a statement about our goals here. The Inquisition is trusting us to make sure that statement is positive.

So, I would like to discuss possibilities with everyone, and see if we can get some good ideas going.

To start the ball rolling, if it's alright, I'd like to share my own proposal. Of course, this is only a suggestion, and I welcome any other voices.

I propose that we have the statues remade to represent the diverse groups within the Inquisition. Have a statue of a dwarf, another of a Dalish, another of a mage, etc, etc. It would send a message of cooperation and coexistence, and hopefully promote such in our new home.

The floor is open for further suggestions.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

While I appreciate the mage being included, you've started with races. What if it's simply races? A dwarf, a Dalish, a human, a qunari? No weaponry, no armaments, staves or swords or otherwise.

...And perhaps a cat, because a cat never goes over poorly.

[arlathvhen]

[ That...is a little surprising to hear from Anders, but valid. ]

That would work, too. And would leave out risk of not including a group and someone becoming upset.

...Unless another race is suddenly discovered, I suppose. But surely they would understand.

[justice_is_blond]

[If mages have a separate statue that stands out, that marks them as unusual rather than simply another member of the people group.]

If another race is suddenly discovered, I'm certain we can come up with enough material to represent them as well. And then we can use the base that was formerly used for the cat.

Do you have a reason to think we'd come across another race?

[arlathvhen]

I've heard there's another race that lives with the qunari in Par Vollen, but they never leave the island. I suppose it's possible they could make an appearance?

...I doubt it'll ever come up, really. The point was that it would be more unlikely to have a new race show up than a new group.

[gatheringstorm]

How about a memorial statue of the Herald? Her image would be a powerful message in and of itself.

[justice_is_blond]

I've not heard of them. I was mostly wondering if you'd heard anything of the future from the travelers that suggested another race joined us.

What's the other race called? Do you know?

[arlathvhen]

I haven't actually spoken to any of the people who visited the future. It feels...odd? Have you spoken to them?

And--ah. Fex, I think...? I don't know anything other than that, though. They could all be dead, or made up, I suppose.

[arlathvhen]

I'll note the suggestion, although...

Would the people who had met her be comfortable with that? I'd make sure to discuss it with the people who were in her inner circle, first. Otherwise, they might find it a bit disconcerting to have a giant version of her staring down at them.

[justice_is_blond]

One. Briefly.

[He'd not stuck around for the details he really needed.]

When next I'm in a library I may do what I can to look them up. It's a shame Iron Bull left, but there are others around who might know more about these Fex.

[gatheringstorm]

I wasn't a part of her inner circle, but I remember her when...yeah. It just seems overdue, anyway.

True, though. Better ask those who were closest to her.

[meds4sale]

Would an outsider's perspective be remiss?

[arlathvhen]

That's true. I hope you find more information, it sounds fascinating.

But I doubt that they'll pull up stakes, move here, and join the Inquisition, so the point still stands, I think.

[justice_is_blond]

I doubt it as well, so agreed. But in case, the cat is important so that we've a foundation set up.

A whole race existing out there that I didn't know about makes me wonder how much we've yet to discover about our own world.

[arlathvhen]

I would hardly consider you to be an outsider in this situation. You are helping clean up the Gallows with rest of us, and I...assume you will be living with us? [ There aren't many choices for where to stay. ] So your input is just as valid as anyone else who wishes to contribute.

[arlathvhen]

In any case, I'll put it does as a possibility.

[arlathvhen]

I've noted the vitality of the cat for this possibility.

It's hard to guess how much you don't know, but I would guess that there are still many things we have yet to find. Perhaps more time could be spent studying them if the world that we do know were not constantly in peril.

[in_death_sacrifice]

You can never go wrong with a dragon.

And be sure to represent the Wardens with a griffon, if you're adding various groups.

[arlathvhen]

I...will have to consult the artisans on what molds will be within possibility.

[ She's not sure dragons will be among them. ]

I will note your suggestions, though...perhaps it would be better for the Wardens to be represented by, ah. A Warden? Simply to match the rest. But! It's been put down as a possibility. If things progress in that direction, I'm sure there will be further opportunities to discuss how the Wardens would be represented.

[justice_is_blond]

There's never truly a break, is there. And now dragons are back, so that means even less of a break.

I fear we'll not see vacations as part of the Inquisition's program for quite some time.

[meds4sale]

Those are, indeed, my options.

[A pause as he considers his explanation and reasoning. The earlier suggestion would send a message of unity - how things should be. It's not a terrible sentiment. But...]

The history of this place is like an open, festering wound. In places like this, no healing can truly begin if there is nothing for people to confront the truth of that history.

Those who perpetrated. Those who endured. And those who perished.

Whether new statues should be put to that purpose or not, I cannot say.

[lyriumcarved]

As long as you intend to represent elves by more than just the Dalish alone. You may find it a vast and complicated project, considering just how varied that diversity really is.

[He may sound a little skeptical, but it's just that if they want to include everyone? They have to include everyone, and that could ridiculously get out of hand fast.]

oh my god I am so sorry, Anders, I am so so sorry but it's so open for this

[lyriumcarved]

An elf. You mean an elf.

[This is probably not someone Anders wants to hear from, and he sounds as agitated as ever.]

The Dalish are not representative of an entire race.

[indocile]

The Inquisition was instrumental in what's happening now for elves in Orlais. A statue of Marquise Briala would be lovely.

( which is a not un-pointed contribution to follow fenris having noted that the dalish don't represent all elves. )

[justice_is_blond]

Grow up. I was using her own terminology as a basis to build upon.

Why don't you find a convenient hole to fall into again? I enjoyed the time while you gallivanted off to who-knows-where-no-one-cares to do no-one-cares-what.

[arlathvhen]

[ Beleth's tone is polite. Incredibly polite. The kind of polite that no one uses with any sincerity. ]

I apologize, truly, if I caused any undue offense. There are, of course, other elves who have been accepted into different groups, or created their own. I'm sure that if the proposal is put into place, then there will be discussions about how the elf statue will appear.

As Dalish happen to be elves, it is within the realm of possibility that an image of one could be used to represent elves as a whole, just as much as any other group of elves. It remains to be seen.

[ Beleth, in her consideration, doesn't bother to point out that the Dalish ought to be the representatives, since they are the last true elves, and have the whole actual elvish culture and language. Not that she's bias.

(She's really bias) ]