(no subject)

[circleprodigy]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Inessa Serra
RECIPIENT: Everyone/the Rifts and the Veil project
WHAT: Survey's up, plus private Rifts and the Veil meeting
WHEN: A few days after the rifter arrivals
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Actual survey is here.

Greetings, this is Inessa Serra of the Rifts and the Veil project. I'm here to ask for the assistance of any who bear anchors and would be agreeable to answering a (hopefully short) survey for our records. All information is confidential and will not be shared beyond approved Inquisition personnel. If this interests you, please stop by and pick up a form at my office or just outside it, on the sixth floor of the central tower. If you hear a mabari barking, you're headed in the right direction. I look forward to any replies and thank you for you time.

[Private to project members]

Consider this an impromptu crystal-meeting. I thought it might be more convenient for all involved.

I'm aware that many are hurting at this time. A valued member of the Inquisition has been lost to us, through her own anchor. If you were close to her, you have my condolences, and I understand if you must take time away to grieve. Siuona was the first to succumb to this fate; it's my hope that she will be the last, but for that to occur, our research must persist. To that end, I welcome a proactive approach. If there is an angle you think we ought to be pursuitng, mention it here and we can work on it together. Even if an idea is half-formed and you are wondering as to it's feasibility, don't be afraid to contribute. We will learn nothing by holding back.

[Having cleared the air on that, she sounds a little more energetic.] If you've looked through the survey, you will have seen mention of potential anchor-monitoring for those willing to volunteer their time. I am looking for volunteers on our end, as well. At the moment, the plan is simply to record any changes witnessed or told to us. If you're interested, I can note that as well. Otherwise, I open this meeting up to members at large.

Comments

[trashlife]

[ Minka's voice is slightly miffed. ]

Can't read.

[circleprodigy]

[She responds calmly, apologetic.]

That was an oversight of mine.

Would you care for a personal interview, instead? I can make myself available whenever would be most convenient.

[trashlife]

I guess so. This'll help you learn more so you can get the anchor out of me, right?

[circleprodigy]

That's the idea, yes. The more knowledge we have, the easier it might be to discern any patterns in them.

[youwonscience]

I'm happy to help with monitoring, myself or others. The more data we can work with, the better.

I haven't figured out an effective way to take samples yet, but if someone can work that out, it might be nice to do some experiments while the shard materiel isn't physically connected to me or our colleagues. Maybe it's impossible, but it'd be worth looking into.

[circleprodigy]

Thank you, Cosima. I hope this approach is what will give us results; if not right away, then as the data accumulates.

I meant to ask, if you had been able to take a look at an anchor-bearing hand through that microscope. Is that possible, with the way it's structured? Would you need modifications? I agree we should look into samples not physically connected, though. I'm aware this is something of a tangent, but perhaps fade-touched materials, to start? Perhaps there is something about them that would prove insightful; if they were found near rifts, then we could learn about how they were altered.

[youwonscience]

Unfortunately the type of microscope I have isn't great at observing things as thick and opaque as a person's hand. I've done the little I can, but my notes are less revealing than I'd like.

Part of the problem is that the anchor itself gives off light, which makes it hard for the eye to observe its underlying structure. You're mainly just seeing the light, even when it's not as active.

[circleprodigy]

I see. [Sigh. Of course it wouldn't be that easy.]

What about Fade-touched materials, especially those which were near open rifts? Perhaps their lack of glow would yield some interesting information, even if it's not immediately relevant.

[dashing]

( internal yelling

this is totally okay

she's not gently freaked out about Cosima volunteering for experiments monitoring but what if it became more dire )

[earthbones]

Last time people did monitoring [it's meant to come out lighter than it does, it's meant to have the sound of a jest with teeth in it like it would to Nazir, Babette, or even Cicero] it went down bad roads with long black coats.

[There are many ways to say I don't trust you or this.]

If this is to do with us closing a way to get somewhere else then maybe what I know about Daedra helps. Since they all reside elsewhere. Maybe it won't but like you said, even half-formed, still in the caul.

[circleprodigy]

[There's a pause before she answers, calm and thoughtful.]

I'm not entirely certain of what you mean, but I am aware there is potential for misuse of information. That is something I will strive to guard against, but we need to gather data if we are to overcome the issue of the anchors. At any rate, this is entirely voluntary and no one is required to participate. If they believe the risk is too great, I will not push further.

I would be quite interested in your lore regarding these daedra. It is in our best interests to at least consider all angles.

[earthbones]

Thalmor keep dossiers. If I didn't have one before I had to leave Valenwood, I know that I have one now. They don't make for good reading, to see someone's life laid bare to the bone on the page for all the things that might be useful now or in the future.

[Things to think about when she considers what things in Thedas fall into what come close to the Thalmor. Her hackles are up; this is a hard thing to trust, better to carve out something else with information people can do something else with.]

Daedra have to be summoned from Oblivion by worship or conjuration, and the Daedric Princes rule over their own planes. Oblivion is...chaos. The Void stretched out, not the opposite of Aetherius which is the afterlife but if you turned yourself inside out then that would be closer; if Aetherius is where a person goes whole, hale, healthy, then Oblivion is twisted, dark, depressing. As you'd be if you wore your insides on the outside.

You have anchors, rifts, the Veil, the Fade, demons. [Are you following Inessa or should she split it out more, her mind feels hollowed out speaking of it this way but she's dealt with so many, it's strange to put it to someone when she bent her knee at the altar, ate the flesh, drank the wine, cut the flesh, pledged her soul, all that and so much more for all of the Princes.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

You know me, up for anything to help. I'll fill out survey 2.0 properly and get that all, y'know, official, but I don't mind playing guinea pig to any tests in the future or like just getting a checkup or anything. Even if it involves more shady characters doing some magic. [Listen, he does not like Atticus, but if they ever want to try that again he's not gonna let anyone else step up to that plate.]

[circleprodigy]

We'll keep the shadiness to a minimum. [She doesn't blame you, Church. Atticus is far from her list of favorite people, and she would prefer to involve him as little as possible.]

But thank you, Church. I appreciate all that you have done and will do. Hopefully, this will lead somewhere.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Hey um...look, I didn't really get...involved with everything with--her, with Sina, cuz--I mean I cared, don't get me wrong, I did, but we weren't like super close. Or close at all, really, just. Um, so I don't know about elf funeral rites or any of that, um, but, so hopefully this doesn't come off as super callous or anything, just.

[Words. He can do them.] She was a pretty special case, far as shards go. With the one in her chest and all. Was there maybe some kind of autopsy or anything with, uh, checking her out physically, y'know, after? See the effect on her, see if it did anything else to her inside that we couldn't see outside.

[Listen, most of the medical shit around here is either 'do magic on it' or 'here drink this questionable juice', he doesn't have any idea what their level of technological or biological understanding really is.]

[mal_adjusted]

I still think we ought to try cutting a shard completely off from magic and the Fade. I know how risky it is, but it might be the best way we can understand if it can be removed later on.

And. Uhm. Hello everyone. Mal Draco. Mage scouting a good place for us to explore the shards outside of Kirkwall.

Oh, Inessa, I think I found someplace but ... we're sort of running the risk of another weakened Veil.

[circleprodigy]

Where would this be, Mal?

[mal_adjusted]

Around the Sundermount? It's a big open area, no people. Of course it is ... well. You know. Sundermount.

[purered]

I would, of course, be happy to cooperate with any research into these shards. Is there more I can do besides offering myself as a test subject?

[circleprodigy]

That will be invaluable, of course. If you're open to anchor-monitoring others who might volunteer for data purposes, that would be helpful. Dates, symptoms...anything that might be relevant. I suppose we should standardize that as well as the survey?

hi team rift and veil

[dashing]

Warden, I have only recently expressed my interest in this project, so my... familiarity is limited. However, please know that I am willing to lend assistance wherever I am able.

[circleprodigy]

Thank you, Knight-Enchanter.

You are relatively well-traveled; are there other Veil-thina areas you have encountered or have heard about that bear investigating by our project? We can only do so much here in the city, and I want to consider the possibility of another trip.

this is me just making up dumb reasons not to be specific while i remember to go ask the mods tbh

[dashing]

I can consult the notes I made during my mission. I will need to obtain permission to share details of locations, lest any of it give away too much of my movements. I will consult with my superiors and see what I am able to offer.

[extraverse]

I'm afraid my experience with my own anchor is very green. [Haha, puns.] But if you don't mind newcomers partaking in the survey I'd be very amenable.

Though, I am afraid I will need assistance. Do you have someone who can read the questions and transcribe my answers?

[circleprodigy]

Oh, I don't mind at all. And I would be happy to transcribe them myself, if that suits you.