002

[champions]

A thought, Inquisition.

( haaaay friends, it’s ya gurl Marisol. Her tone is light, easy breezy. )

I see you have two Rifters, a Templar and one of the Dalish heading the divisions, but no mages of this world hold such influential posts. Do you suppose we are to see lands and titles handed to Rifters, as well?

I ask because it appears you are happy to hand power to people whose identity we have no way of verifying, nor their experience, and fall over yourselves to justify Rifters holding this power, but… are happy to see mages from this world lose what should be theirs?

These are separate issues, I realise, but it appears… strange. Especially strange when the Rifters have all fallen into a blue lunacy.

Comments

[thunderproof]

If the Rifter was to become a naturalized citizen, would it be so bad for them to be landed and titled? Provided they'd earned it in some way, I suppose, and that native mages were afforded the same opportunities, of course, it'd be ridiculously unfair otherwise.

❰ to adalia, this is a purely academic question, despite that she can read between the lines to how this... really isn't a very nice thing to be saying about rifters, is it, geez.

perhaps, given how agitated she's been lately due to the lack of sleep, she should avoid talking to people about a hot-button issue, but. #yolo, as the kids say, somewhere in the multiverse. ❱

[champions]

"Naturalised citizen." ( The pause after that is... playfully and somehow also dangerously incredulpus. )

We do not know what Rifters are, where they come from - they can make any claims and could be offended if we do not take their words at face value, call themselves lords and kings and great military generals, and there is no way to confirm it. We can naturalise rifters as citizens once we have seen to the inequality afforded casteless dwarves, and when mages have their titles restored, and when all the ills of this world are solved.

The granting of power, food, housing to rifters simply for being when that is denied the people of Darktown? It is laughable, and yet on it goes.

not here

[limier]

[ rubs some blu temples ]

not here

[champions]

( 😘 😘 😘 😘 )

[elegiaque]

On the whole, seeing as they can't be turned loose and it's too late to start killing them when they come out of the rifts,

( but Gwenaëlle still speaks so casually of the prospect, which would have been a perfectly reasonable reaction to their initial arrival, if you ask her, and she still can't believe so many are so ungrateful for being spared it, )

I prefer the ones that get their feet under them and make themselves fucking useful to the ones that seem to think they're entitled to drain our resources and then complain about how difficult the whole thing is for them, as if war on multiple fronts has just been a lark the rest of us are having.

[champions]

Oh, please. People here are killed for holding a shovel in front of the wrong person, it's never too late to start killing people.

( So glib, so deliberately over the top.

More seriously, )

Certainly, let them do work, but don't give them access and influence over the Inquisition's sensitive information and movements. That is simply common sense.

[tar_minyatur]

[ Blue and... looking exhausted, but Elros puts up a hand and waves it vaguely ]

For the record, I'm new, and have no clue how things work here, but you'll probably have to specify what the mages are loosing in terms of job positions, unless you mean like... mage rights. Stuff. Which I'm told is... bad. And that's no good. But I assume if people want to do a job there's nothing stoping them applying. Is there?

[champions]

Mages have been overlooked in favour of putting Rifters in positions of power leading the Inquisition's divisions. We have Project Leaders, yes, but they are in turn kept to heel by Division Heads. Even if they have applied, someone native to this world was deemed lesser than someone not from it.

Truly, this was less about Rifters versus Mages than it has become; I was just marvelling that the world is as it is; that people from another world, with magical abilities no less, can be granted leading positions in the Inquisition, but people born here are legally hamstringed because they were born with magic.

[apologist]

Personally— [ get ready, says his tone, for Orlesian With Opinion Time ] —I would think that you might consider it a positive sign that the Inquisition is harnessing the talents of rifters for good. That it is not jailing or killing them because they might be dangerous can only mean good things for those who, over two thousand years, have left no question.

[champions]

( Her tone remains Classic Antivan Chill. Bring your opinions, she will bring some nice wine. )

How does that mean good things for mages? Where are Rifters and mages proven to be equivalent to one another?

[keenly]

[Colin's tone is gentle, even deferent.] There are project leaders who are mages, Madama. Maybe we could use more.

[champions]

Important, yes, but not the same as a Division leader. They hold undeniably more power and influence; that is the point of the position, to lead the projects.

{ private }

[insatiably]

It seems you've caused quite a stir already, Lady Vivas. Can you prove your flamingos were not demons in disguise?

[ Yes, he's been eavesdropping on this and her last crystal post. He chuckles. ]

But it is a very thought-provoking question.

permaprivate.

[champions]

Ah! You've found me out. My evil ruse has been uncovered.

( There is a smile in her voice. )

I think it is important to consider. Alas, some people are taking it very personally, rather than as a matter of discussion.

[mactears]

I recall similar outrage when Arl Rendon Howe's lands and titles were given over to Warden-Commander Cousland, yet thus far Amaranthine has not sunk into the sea.

[tired and incredulous,]

as you have chosen to enter the hornet's nest and kick it from the inside, it is bewildering to me that you expected any reaction other than the one you've got.

[champions]

No, but that was some years ago; the world has changed. And if we are to speak of the conduct of Wardens, their activities in the Anderfels and own contribution to the Inquisition's poor reputation are also worth considering.

( She sounds entirely unaffected by tired and incredulous in Kirkwall; light, matter of fact. )

I think only that this is a matter that should be discussed and addressed.

[gatheringstorm]

Why does it have to be one or the other? Rifters deserve to be heard, so do mages.

[champions]

It does not have to be one or the other; I simply felt it was worth highlighting how the Inquisition is making strange choices, if it wishes to try and make positive changes. People outside the Inquisition, even in Kirkwall, do not trust Rifters, and yet they are placed in positions of considerable power and influence, while others native to this place remain disadvantaged.

To those not within the Inquisition, it appears to be a very strange choice at best, and a reason to actively work against the Inquisition, more generally. It is a topic worthy of discussion, I think.

[rowancrowned]

Are you submitting yourself for consideration?

[ things he should not be doing while in possession of a short temper and the approximate complexion of a pale variety of hyacinth: this. ]

[champions]

Not particularly. I simply wished to raise the point for discussion; the defensive responses of some parties do little to advertise the decision as a sound one.

[exequy]

[ Kostos isn’t touching this. Not because he gives a damn about rifters’ feelings, but because he disagrees with the underlying assumption that anything should be theirs. But she’s his cousin, so— ]

I plan to be drinking in an hour or two, if you would like to be drinking as well.

[champions]

I am almost tipsy on the intense emotions of your comrades. They are very defensive.

[exsecutus]

By the tits of my ancestors.

[like, awed.]

Lands and titles handed to Rifters. Will we really live to see such a day.

[champions]

There is no need to be rude, Nikos.

( gently, comically chastising. )

[mal_adjusted]

As a mage ... and a member of a noble Nevarran family? I would love to have a title, and the gold along to go with it. As for positions in the Inquisition - uhm. Just out of curiosity, has any mage actually thrown their hat in for a Division Head? I thought most of us spent our time worrying about other mages trying to pull us into another war or the Templars going mad or Corphyeus using us as meat puppets ...

I mean, don't get me wrong, if a mage wants to step in now while the other Division heads are down and out, I'll support them. But. Ah. I haven't seen any of them do that.

[A pause, because she should say this for Rifters.]

We could also send Rifters through a Harrowing, if we want to prove they aren't demons, but that means mages will have to go in with them. Rifters can't go into the Fade like we can, that much I know. Considering how many Rifts I've been to in the last year, if they were new kinds of demons I think we'd all be ... dead?

[arlathvhen]

[ Oh, what the fuck. Why do people keep bringing her up to drag their politics around. ]

I apologize if I've offended you with my position, though I can assure you that I spent a great deal of time and effort on earning it, and have continued to do so in order to maintain that. All of my coworkers, the rifters included, have done so as well. Including the one who is a mage.

They have proven themselves here, in Thedas, where we can personally verify it. I have seen all of them in action, and each have demonstrated themselves to be of exceptional skill and knowledge.

To state that we have accepted unqualified people into our leadership--and as you mentioned me, I'll assume you're including myself--is, quite frankly, an insult, both to all four of us, and to the leaders in Skyhold who allowed us to attain the ranks that we currently hold. None of us jumped over more qualified mages for our positions, none of us showed up and demanded to be allowed to lead.

And if you have issue with any of us, I would request that you address us personally, rather than air out your grievances before the entire Inquisition.

[champions]

I am afraid I don’t know with whom I’m speaking; one of the Divison heads, I realise, but... which? You have not introduced yourself.

( She sounds entirely easygoing, just as in her initial post. )

I simply felt it was interesting, and I acknowledged them as separate matters. Without knowing you who are, I cannot better respond to the rest of your comments, but assuming you are not a Rifter, I did not query the quality of your leadership. It is the Rifters whose pasts and claims to achievements we cannot better check, not natives, and though we can know what they did here, what they might have done at home is not without significance.

( She’s not argumentative in tone, more comfortably conversational. ) Are you Coupe, or Ashara?

[unshadowing]

[Sigh. Honestly, Carver's rather uncertain why he's even bothering to say anything to this, but here he is.]

Really? [Said in the driest, "are you being serious right now", exasperated tone he can manage.]