therookery | 001.

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Marisol
RECIPIENT: All
WHAT: sup losers
WHEN: early Wintermarch, handwaves vaguely etc
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Marisol's info is over here but still in progress, feel free to shoot me a pm if you'd like some deets or to hammer out past cr

Good morning, Inquisition.

( It’s early afternoon, easily. She sounds very relaxed, and it would not be inaccurate to imagine her reclining on a sea of cushions and eating chocolate. Her accent is distinctly Antivan, and probably should be accompanied by a montage of vineyards and orange blossom. It’s just the kind of vibe she gives off. )

I wanted to apologise for any inconvenience caused the last few days by my arrival; the family estate in Hightown was not yet ready to receive me, it seems, and so there has been some to-ing and fro-ing. I understand one of the birds caused a little confusion.

( It trapped Finch in a cupboard. ) Please rest assured all the flamingos have been moved for their safety.

( And the safety of the Inquisition. )

I am Lady Marisol of the Houses Vivas and de la Nieve, Asturias and Hierro. ( Merchant Princes, nobility, pirates. You may remember her from such mage empowerment videos as GO REBELS GO and IT’S NOT SMUGGLING, IT’S SPECIALISED TRADE. ) You know, I had planned to be here a little sooner, but the weather in Antiva was so fine. I couldn’t bring much winter sunshine with me, but the Inquisition’s supplies have been replenished a little.

So! Is anyone here from the Rialto Circle? And can anyone explain why it is I should bring ships and staff to an Inquisition that took to destroying the Necropolis? I have some aunts and uncles who are very upset about it.

( She, personally, does not sound seriously concerned, but apparently she doesn’t sound seriously concerned about anything. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If you haven't spoken with Madame de Cedoux, our head of diplomacy, I would recommend it. Should we make overtures to Antiva, that wouldn't hurt to be heard from someone so recently arrived. There are times when things have to change. When we have to look to the future instead of the past, instead of traditions. Right the course now for when we venture into calmer waters.

An Orlesian heading the diplomacy department? No wonder the Inquisition is struggling.
( She’s teasing.
Moooostly. )

Oh never, that would be the head of forces, See Coupe. Come through a rift but it can be difficult to tell from but a name.

[That Gaspard never got to see an Orlesian commanding forces this way, the heart bleeds etc.]

A rifter leading diplomacy.

( A rifter leading anything, for that matter. So it's true what they say of the Inquisition: they are reckless, and likely no trustworthy. What kind of absurd—

She doesn't say it out loud, but she deliberately lets a pause rest after that clarification, just so the nature of what a colossal fuck up that is has a moment to sink in, for both of them. )

An interesting choice, given the lack of familiarity with our world, and the consideration that many believe rifters to be demons.

( She won't belabour the point, she's just... unimpressed by the lack of foresight the decision suggests. )

There are many perspectives to be considered. Rifters should contribute more than simply the ability to close rifts; if there are those here not from Thedas then shouldn't they make every effort to integrate into this world, to prove themselves useful to the Inquisition?

[These are all thoughts Araceli thinks generally, things that Araceli believes so it isn't so very difficult to tell them to Marisol now to see how far she might get with this information. It's only that she doesn't give herself away just yet though it'll only be a matter of time before that happens since her own status has been common knowledge a long time.]

There are those who believe that mages absent the confines of Circles, the Chantry, and strict Templar watch are little better than abominations waiting to happen. The Inquisition is for all, so said the Herald of Andraste before she went to the Maker. In these days where the sky has split itself asunder, that must mean all who come beneath the banner of the Inquisition no matter how they come, those willing to work hard, to prove themselves not only for themselves but for the good of the Inquisition in ending chaos Corypheus will wreak if we don't.

You are an advocate for rifters, I take it. ( Her tone isn't cold or angry; she's just thinking, weighing it all up. When she speaks, it is conversational, rather than argumentative - she'd rather talk this out, learn more, her tone suggests. )

I have concerns about people who we've no concrete reason to trust. They come through rifts, just as demons might. They can work alongside natives, they can establish influence even, as we've seen here. But what proof is there that they aren't agents of Corypheus? What proof is there they are not demons? They have been here... some years, some of them? But how long were the Qunari in Kirkwall before they attacked?

( She shakes her head, even though it is unseen. )

Rifters are popular among some, I know, and clearly in the Inquisition, but think putting people who are still unknown entities in charge of entire Divisions could be a mistake that costs opportunities, at best, or at worst could compromise the Inquisition's security and lead to sabotage.

[This has all been public long enough, allow her to tidy it up a little. Not everyone needs to know her politics so bluntly.] If they contribute more than being here and closing rifts which is the bare sum of what they can do. I would want them to make the effort to be part of this world they find themselves in where the people are in need and hurting. Some rifters advocate banding together, a collective identity. The shortsighted error a child makes.

There is likely no answer I can give that would satisfy there, I cannot say how you would test for such a thing. It is up to everyone to make their own judgements and to live at their own level of discretion, to work outside of assignments or mission we're given by those above us as they will, including or excluding those they chose to. Three years, give or take, between the Qunari landing, the Arishok's attack, and Viscount Dumar's death. The first of the rifters arrived in Harvestmere 9:41, shall we set the hourglass?

[If she is mistaken for facetious, it'd be better than being taken for angry. This is her life being taken as a matter of debate, her nature, all that she's been working toward. Yes, there are concerns but there are occasions when it becomes very trying to hear the same arguments offered up time and time again same as it must for other folk who find their lives can only ever revolve around matters they can't change.]

I will say that there were those kidnapped by the Venatori once, rifters and natives with anchors alike, their suffering at the hands of the enemy was no different. [How much easier to talk about it as if it happened to another girl, not her. Another reason to keep this private too. No one would want their life paraded out even if it was long ago now, and some of them are gone, and one of them is dead.]

Those chosen for their posts were those chosen; this is an outpost that requires staff, and we don't always have the luxury of choice my lady. They demonstrated qualities that qualified them. Many are trying [some more than others, not a polite thing to say, and we didn't all bring flamingoes then complain about the people running things] and there isn't a soul in this life that doesn't make a mistake that. That's why we make them, learn from them, and improve. [See: the Necropolis.]

Edited 2018-01-17 20:06 (UTC)

The conduct of the Venatori isn’t my concern in this. Generally, yes, but they could be as unknown to the Venatori as to ourselves and still be dangers.

Rifters are an expense to the Inquisition’s funding and and their reputation. A collective identity would be a calamity - and what would come next? Entitlements? Demands? Demands certainly become more possible when they are granted positions of power and are privy to the Inquisition’s information, and have been trusted to provide reliable information about themselves, their qualifications and their worlds.

Let us hope that the lesson is not that rifters aren’t trustworthy or honest, hm?

( A sigh; ) But enough of this seriousness, and just in our first meeting. Tell me of yourself, Araceli.

What information would be considered reliable though? How would it be verified after without simple trust? Unless a thing came from a rift, as things often do.

[And would that be acceptable? But no matter, it's being put to bed for the moment.]

There's little to tell, my family isn't one of any consequence or one that would be known. My father sailed all his life, my mother is a courtesan; I am a common girl that's done well for herself. [If people are feeling polite, but again none of it is a lie to be told, only a careful excision of certain details. Marisol has a name, a title, she'd not know her family.] I love the sea as my father taught, for someone with no lessons I fancy myself a good cook. I know duels well and should you wish to climb a building I can teach that. And yourself lady Vivas?

001.

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