Trees are jerks

[unbrokenoath]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Kaisa
RECIPIENT: People in the Chantry Relations project
WHAT: There's BLOOD MAGIC AFOOT. And it's GROWING PLANTS.
WHEN: Right after this
WHERE: Right smack dab next to what was once the chantry memorial garden
NOTES: Elthina would be rolling in her grave. If she had a grave. And a body that wasn't a fine ash.

Hey guys! Kaisa here. So, uh. Remember how we all agreed on how we ought to work on getting that Chantry memorial garden back up and running? Well, I'm there right now, and we've got a pretty big problem here.

[ A pause, and then helpfully: ]

It's not my fault.

[ Just putting that out there. ]

The entire area where the garden used to be is a forest. Like. A real, honest-to-Andraste forest. It's...actually really pretty? Everything is flowering and it smells really nice. But still. There's a forest here. Right in the middle of Hightown and everything.

I guess it wouldn't be a huge issue, aside from maybe squirrels attacking random nobles--that'd actually be pretty funny--but forests don't just sprout up. I may be a city-slicker, but I can tell you that much. So I poked around, and I believe I found evidence of blood magic being involved.

[ There was a bunch of blood in the middle of a magically created forest. Kaisa does, admittedly, share her religion's intolerant view of blood magic (Warden bullshit aside, that's different), but she's pretty sure that's a solid cause for suspicion. ]

I don't know why someone would use blood magic to grow a forest, but they used blood magic on holy ground--is it still holy ground? I'm not sure about that, but still. You guys get why this might be more of an issue than a few extra trees, right?

Oh, and don't worry, I destroyed the evidence of the blood magic. Figured that's the last thing people around here need.

[ Well, she is a Warden. Suppression of sketchy facts is their MO. ]

Comments

[paladingus]

You got rid of the evidence before any of us could have a look at it?

[Simon's not sure he would have had anything to contribute on the matter of whether this was Definitely Blood Magic or not, but the principle of the thing seems to merit a comment.]

[unbrokenoath]

Well, yeah. [ Duh. ] I'd rather be uncertain than have some random assholes see it and become certain that there's a blood mage who likes to mess with Kirkwall structures running about. I'd say they've pretty much had it up to their eyeballs with mages redecorating their city, yeah?

[ She may like Anders and all but she isn't really keen on the shit he pulled. ]

[paladingus]

I understand it from the standpoint of not starting a panic. I do. It's just that now we've nothing to work with if we want to get to the bottom of this, and if we can't get to the bottom of it, we've got some...awful prolific blood mages running around unchecked.

What all was it you found?

[unbrokenoath]

[ A small huff, but she relents. ]

I found a bunch of bloodstains right smack in the center of a forest that had sprouted up overnight, with everything all flowering and vegetating and all that shit. The blood was all I found, but you're free to come over and check it out yourself.

Do you have, like...some kind of blood magic detecting Templar powers? Or, uh. Anything like that?

[ For what it's worth, the question is genuine. The finer details of Templar abilities are a vast, shinily armored mystery. ]

[paladingus]

If only. It would've made everything in Kirkwall a hell of a lot easier. [Or worse. It could have just made everything exponentially worse. It's a tossup.]

It would have to be in a vial to do us any good that way, so whatever sort of blood it is and whose, that ship has sailed. But if it's the residual effects we're worried about, on what's meant to be holy ground...we could try to cleanse it.

[He considers for a moment, pondering the number of templars that might be needed for such an endeavor. How exactly would one cleanse a blood magic forest?]

...no, on second thought, best not. If the trees are magic-grown, it might just kill them. And blood magic or no, a live forest's still better than a dead one.

I suppose the thing to do first is question whoever does the gardening, if nobody's asked them already.

[unbrokenoath]

Yeah, it sure beats a hole in the ground, or a half-finished garden. Definitely beats a bunch of dead trees. That's some bad mojo, right there.

I've already been interviewing everyone working here, but I guess this calls for a new interview...? To see if they saw anything sketchy, at the least.

someone start us a swear jar

[limier]

[ breathe. one, two, three: breathe, ]

The only magic I have encountered of a similar nature, [ no pun intended ] has been practiced by Dalish apostates.

[ three guesses where those came from, and the first two don't count. but vines, roots — those are one thing. this is entirely another. she doesn't want to think about the sort of energy involved. ]

If you describe the evidence you encountered, we may all better decide how to proceed. Please keep me appraised of your actions; I am within Orlais through the coming week.

I trust [ hah ] that I needn’t understate the importance of discretion in this matter.

[ if it’s not straight-up human sacrifice, they may not be able to afford to pursue this. neither can it just be ignored. son of a fucking,

b r e a t h e ]

kaisa will go broke in a day

[unbrokenoath]

Welllll, the Inquisition does have a handful of those running around. And I mean--I've heard that Dalish use blood magic. [ Specifically, sacrificing virgins and babies and whatnot. Man. She hoped there weren't any dead people under the dirt or anything. ] But there wasn't anything that pointed at any identity.

There was, um--Several patches of dried blood, right in the middle of the entire thing. I know that's not a lot to go on, but. I'm staring face-to-bark at a fully grown tree that wasn't here yesterday. It adds up.

I haven't taken any other actions, besides clearing out the evidence. I figured, this was our project, and the rest of you guys are all Templars, so I'd fill everyone in before deciding anything. [ Also this is really out of her usual scope, and she'd much rather have Wren, someone who's dealt with this kind of stuff, tell her what to do. ]

But don't worry about discretion from me. And--I mean it, really. I know how that sounds, I know that I'm big and loud and I have the grace of manners of a druffalo in a pottery shop. But I am a Grey Warden. I know how to keep things hushed up.

[ There's a wry smile in her voice, but her words are wholly serious. ]

That's the secret, yanno? When you're saying what you want to say all loud and up front, no one hears what you're not saying.

[limier]

[ bless her heart ]

Thank you. You did well to bring this forward.

I am no scholar, but I cannot think the power source involved in such a working insubstantial. Perhaps a mage might investigate the grounds.

[ blood does add up. but it sounds there was little enough to be plausibly deniable. ]

As I see it, we've two areas of primary concern: The possible spread of blood magic within Inquisition ranks, and the public explanation we will be giving.

Someone will need to conduct an inquiry among the Dalish — and carefully. I believe that Harriman has contacts; I suggest that a non-templar make the approach. In my absence, I am certain that Seeker Reed or Ser Ashlock might provide any guidance required. Given present relations, a public witch hunt is ill-advised.

Others ought to speak with local leadership, and see to their concerns. An ear to the common people would also be prudent; let us remember to not neglect the Alienage when doing so. Amsel and Ceallach would be my recommendations, if amenable.

I welcome everyone's input upon this issue. In the mean time,

[ dryly, ]

I suppose we've free lumber.

[eolasemah]

[if any of the trees are cut down this place will be so elf cursed you don't even KNOW man]

[limier]

[ ]

[eolasemah]

[]

[unbrokenoath]

We've got an elf with us, right? If she's willing to, I'd recommend her for talking to the alienage group. If she doesn't want to, I'll give it a go, I'm half as good. [ She snorts at her own amazing humor. Hurrhurr half-blood jokes. ] I've dealt with alienages before, I know more or less how it goes. But I'll talk to Harriman about the Dalish, too. See what I can dig up.

...And thank you. For agreeing with my actions.

I'll keep you posted on whatever I rustle up.

[sulena]

[ WHAT A WAY TO START THE DAY. ]

I worry for the reaction of the Kirkwall people. We did not seek their consul on something that has affected them so deeply and thus the Inquisition, and they will know it to be Inquisition, has decided instead for them. [ And how well will it help their relations with the city? ] They will realize most definitely something realize is amiss for a forest to sprout roots and grow to fruition overnight. Even if they do not assume blood magic, they will suspect magic was involved on what some see as a holy site and the end result of all things evil in magic.

[ There is a long, tired sigh. She works so, so hard. ] I just pray the more fanatical do not burn it.

[ Right, in the meantime though: ]

I will keep an ear to the talk in the alienage and with the elves in Darktown. Some work for the nobles of Hightown too and I might be able to learn a little on what the city might be thinking.

[unbrokenoath]

Well, yeah, we decided for them. Have you met the people around Kirkwall? I suppose a riot is as good of a meet and greet as any, if that's what you're going for.

Of course they're gonna suspect something, but it's a lot safer to have them wonder than to have them know, and only know enough to start panicking. Once we have more decisive information, maybe we can put it out there. In the meantime, just telling them that there's some rando running around using blood magic ain't gonna do jack shit but freak 'em all out.

Aaanyway, lemme know if you need some muscle while you're running around lowtown, I'm big and Fereldan and one or both of those usually deter people trying to start trouble. I'm gonna do some poking around on my own in the mean time, I'll share whatever gets dug up.

[tactical_alert]

In the future, I ask that you refrain from destroying evidence. [BY ANDRASTE'S GREAT BOUNCING TITS WHAT WERE YOU THINKING] If there might be concern for public panic, guards placed around the area might do some good. [FOR FUCK'S SAKE]

An entire forest can't, of course, be hidden away, but the more we're able to quash the inevitable and immediate rumors of ransacking the alienage and chasing out and burning all the Dalish mages, the better off we will all be.

All that work for a garden, and now we'll have to cut down a bunch of magic-grown trees. A shame, it almost livens up the place.

[unbrokenoath]

I'm sorry, what was that? You want me to hide the forest, too? Burn it all down, that's what you said, right? Whatever you say, ser. Give me a minute to get the oil.

[ She makes absolutely no move to do anything of the sort, and instead grabs an apple. For a blood magic apple with possible baby sacrifices, it sure does taste good. ]