therookery | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Inessa nods, writing that down.]

There were so many rifts created by the Breach; we're still discovering them, years later.

When you were struck, how intense was the initial pain? If you had to put it on a scale of one to ten (ten being the worst), what would be the severity? How long did that last?

[ Minka's forehead wrinkles in thought. She's been in some pretty bad pain before, but this was next level. This was magical Fade bullshit pain. ]

Ten. It lasted at a ten for only a couple of minutes? Then it was like... maybe a seven for an hour. Then it kept going down til it felt like it always does. Like a splinter.

[Her expression is sympathetic after she jots down that tidbit.]

That does seem to be in line with what I've heard from others.

Since then, what other circumstances have caused that pain to resurface? Have you developed any symptoms beyond what what initially present?

[ She gives her head a shake. ]

Nothing like that. I ain't been near any rifts and I haven't left Kirkwall. Doing that stuff makes it worse, right?

Proximity to a rift can provoke the anchor into flaring up, yes. Though once the rift is sealed, the anchor subsides.

[She pauses, looking over the list of questions. Normally, she'd do this all in order, but there's one set in particular that has her curious.]

You might be the only person who can answer this next set for me, at least so far. Dwarves typically have no connection to the Fade, whatsoever. And yet, now you do. Have you gained the ability to dream or otherwise interact with the Fade beyond rift closure?

[ The question has Minka looking away, then grabbing her tea. She takes a sip, forgetting she's added nothing to it, and makes a disgusted noise, setting down her cup and dumping sugar in by the heaping spoonful. ]

I dunno. Maybe?

[ She stirs the sugar in, making no effort to stop the spoon from clinking obnoxiously against the side of the cup. But it's a helpful distraction. She doesn't like talking about this, so she watches the spoon move. ]

It's not like it was before. Used to be I'd fall asleep, wake back up, and there was nothing in between. But now, sometimes... I wake up and it's like I remember being somewhere else, or watching a story play out. I can never remember where, or what was going on, but there's something there in between sleeping and waking up.

[ Her gaze jerks up to Inessa. ]

Not all the time. Just sometimes. Maybe once a week. It's because of this stupid thing, isn't it? [ She lifts her hand, though the anchor is hidden underneath a rough, cracked glove. ] I never had that "in between time" before.

['Maybe' is still something more than there was, so Inessa perks up and makes certain to note that down exactly as stated. Her eyes stray to the anchor when she's finished, nodding.]

It must be the reason, yes. Even if it's hazy and not every night, the fact that you remember that much is remarkable. I don't know what it could mean for the future, but it's worth noting. I would like to be informed if this changes, if you won't mind.

Yeah, okay.

[ It's said a bit glumly as she sets the spoon aside and takes up her cup. ]

Hopefully it changes by going away.

Such a change must be unnerving, but we all bear what me must.

[Inessa's half-smile is sympathetic, then she takes a sip of from her own tea before it has a chance to cool much. She goes back to her list.]

Your anchor is relatively recent, but I ought to ask: has it evolved to the point where you have abilities beyond rift closure?

Since the acquisition of the anchor, have you noticed any other changes in the anchor or how bearing one has affected you?

[ But we all bear what we must sounds so foreign to Minka that she can only stare at Inessa blankly, wondering what she's going on about. Must be some weird lesson normal people with non-fucked up lives learn. ]

Abilities? What does that mean? Nothing's changed except it always hurts a little and that maybe I'm dreaming. Are you saying other screwed up stuff might happen to me?

[ Minka is starting to regret doing this survey. Things were better when she was ignorant about the anchor. ]

[She hesitates, not wanting to make Minka more anxious. On the other hand, how much more would she be if she were to discover this on her own?]

It's not guaranteed, but possible. Some anchor barriers have managed a defensive shield, or bursts of energy. As far as I can tell, it never seems to happen instantly, but other factors are as yet to be determined.

Well that sucks.

[ She drinks her tea in gulps. ]

I mean, a shield would be okay, I guess, but bursts of energy? I don't want that.

I quite agree, though there seems to be no choice in how it manifests, at least at first. I will have to modify the survey and ask if any have succeeded in manifesting a desired effect.

[She's looking over her list once more. Skipping the Adamant section, since it's not relevant with Minka.]

Would you be willing to participate in regular check-ups, that we may monitor your particular anchor? It won't be anything painful or invasive, but I would prefer to monitor them at least every two weeks.

Just look at it? Yeah, I guess so. I'd better do it so you can make sure it ain't getting any bigger.

[ Though it occurs to Minka after the fact that-- Well, she'll just say it aloud. ]

Though if it does, ain't nothing you can do about it, is there?

[ Why her? Why is her life all suffering? Why is she so dramatic that she acts like she's the only one? No one knows. This is the mystery of Minka: Dwarven Disaster. ]