This thing, the Inquisition, it stands between the world and its breaking. Or close enough for an outsider putting pieces in place so let the question be asked after everything has settled and we aren't sweating out of our skins with our minds unravelling. A question asked by a very old one to me. Older than anyone here. [What is time to a dragon? A thing they can't comprehend, she's comfortable enough to count everyone here as younger than Paarthurnax.]

Do you like the world? I would think, if you don't want it to end. But if you don't--

What is an end? Do you think time is a wheel? That time is one thing? That the dragon eats his own tail and that's it? Time has never been flat, has it? So, do you like the world? Do you not want it to end? Why are you here to do these things if you don't like the world? Maybe you think it's destiny though...

[Destiny is where her laugh rattles out, all piss and vinegar because what is destiny but ash in your mouth and the weight of claws in your spine pressing your down in the dirt? Answers will be weighted accordingly, mostly in the Nord, Altmer/Thalmor, and Dunmer camps as appropriate. Those are the Loudest opinions she's found that she can put names to.]

[When Twisted Fate speaks, it's a little slurred and his posh accent has shifted into the more traditional Dalish one, which only means one thing, really.

He's drunk as hell.]

Everyone-- everyone. Your attention, please.

I am in desperate need. Of a goat.

[A long pause of him drinking.]

The finest goat! A fluffy, fluffy goat bred of the best genes. I need to know who breeds the best goats.

It's very important I find it. Right now.

[The first sound is a shaky breath that he wishes he'd managed to take before activating the crystal.]

I think there is a fair chance blood is key to this plague, at least with the Rifters.

[A short beat.]

My notes indicate that a Rifter drank blood from the suspected first patient, [he sounds vaguely confused but continues anyway,] well after the matter started, and the effects as the former described them were reminiscent of lyrium,. The blood itself was a pale, luminescent blue. Solas reported recently that the plague involves sweating blood out the skin, which was concerning but not immediately so because the sweat is blue.

...But this morning an injured Rifter came to me, bleeding. Her blood looks somewhere in between what we consider normal and the described blue. Rifter blood might be changing. And we need to know more about blood.

[He takes a slow breath this time, deliberately, centering his thoughts.]

I am not saying that we need to use blood magic to look into this further. I don't know that we can, because I'm not aware of us having any blood mages here.

I am saying that some long-held lines might need to be toed if we are to look into this angle as either her body is making blood incorrectly, or it is being changed by something after it's made. We also could use knowing if this is happening to more of the Rifters, preferably if it is happening to most, which means if any Rifters will volunteer to have a small cut made, it could help.

It could also help to know if this is happening to Templars as well, but again, volunteers.

[Just because Templars have forced mages down and taken their blood for actual blood magic doesn't mean the favor will be returned, and he might have phylacteries on the brain. There's one more short pause.]

I welcome any additional thoughts on this. If there are volunteers, I am in the infirmary currently and will mainly be there for...

[His breath catches.]

...the foreseeable future.

GUYS guys guys! And gals. People and persons of all ages, sizes, genders, and races. [That would be Church, with some noises in the background and his non-stop pacing feet, sounding excited and peppy, perhaps just slightly moreso than should be normal. Until you hear what he has to say.] It is my awesome pleasure to invite you--yes, YOU--down to the kitchen to be our lovely taste testers.

I DON'T KNOW IF, LIKE, DWARVES TASTE THINGS DIFFERENTLY; WE'RE GOING TO NEED A DIVERSE TASTER POOL! [The voice is yelled because it's from a distance, though no less excited. It's very much Cosima.] IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

Yeah. Dwarves, too. And literally everyone, seriously, it's for science. Tasty, delicious science.

TELL THEM IT'S FOR SCIENCE--

I got it covered--

--IT'S VERY IMPORTANT!

I got it, Cos!

Ahem. Tasting what, you might ask? Ohhhhhoho, you are in for a treat, cuz, see, we've talked about it, and now it's happening, assholes! Fried food is coming to Thedas! We're frying up every damn thing. ONLY EDIBLE THINGS! Don't tell me what to do, we could fry up rocks, I might fry a chair, you don't know-- LIKE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO KILL PEOPLE HERE! Okay all right, no sense wasting oil I guess.

You guys. are gonna know. the awesome power. of french fries.

...Buuuut since we also don't have super amazing modern technological equipment to measure temperature and shit like that, it's also just going to have to be a try and see process. Hence taste testing. Pros: you get food. Cons: you don't get paid, but I refer to you back to the pros. We're literally doing science for free you're welcome.

Inquisition, how high or low would you say your standards are? Be truthful, none of us here have any interest in judgment, we're just curious. For the sake of comparison. Where do you draw the line, when deciding whether to take someone to bed? Or do you draw a line at all? We promise not to think less of you if you don't.

[ Whoever is with Nell—and you get only one guess who it is—makes a humming noise that's the vocal equivalent of a welllll, maybe facial expression. It is followed by the soft thwapping sound of the back of a chiding hand meeting an arm. ]

To prove we're not here to laugh at you, Kostos will go first.

[ Rotely: ] No one clingy, no one overly coy, no one who tastes like vomit. [ He pauses, because he doesn't actually want to start fights or political debates at the moment, but, as ever, saying what he's thinking without apology wins out. ] No Templars.

[ Nell again, notably not laughing. Somehow. ] There, see? We've no legs to stand on here to judge you, so you may as well answer. Compare notes! Perhaps you'll discover standards you didn't know you had, as I just did.

Greetings all Rifters! I'm Barnabas Vilm, and I've got a question for you. Are you just arrived? Without any of the local currency? Just the shirt on your back and whatever you had on you? Not sure how to make ends meet? Worry no longer! Come on down and see my Fine Rifter Crafts! We buy what you have and give you hard currency for it! Don't think it's worth anything? Bet ya it is! So come on down, I'll help you get back on your feet. 

And everyone else! Need anything special? Something that's never been seen before? Magic without Magic? Come on down! Take a look at the marvels I have in my store, and be amazed!

All transactions final, no refunds, let the buyer beware.

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. )

I have a need of certain items as well as assistance with something...something you can speak to me privately about, I don't know how to stop everyone hearing things on this yet. I'm willing to trade services of my own or goods for these; I'm a talented smith of many years from hide and leather through any metals, glass, bone or tusk - the last two are best for bows, we're known for making the finest bows you'd ever have a hand on. I've hunted since childhood so if it's meat for your own larder or a pelt to do what you will with or whatever other parts, I can supply those.

The assistance would need to be somewhere not the city. Somewhere private. Quiet. There's no danger to you, I only wish to see how greatly arriving through a rift may have changed me. The second is where I might come by a still. [And there's a pause, verging on awkward. She knows.] For milk. And somewhere the still might be put to not offend or be disturbed.

Well, well, well. It's been too long, fellow Inquisition agents. And in Kirkwall, no less!

I've had some lovely reunions here and there and everywhere, and I'm very glad to see you all again and say my hellos before the lot of you ran off to Nevarra, but I suppose I wouldn't expect all to know who I am. So here we are, introductions to be made to the new faces. New to me, anyway.

I go by Twisted Fate. Should you see me, I'm the devilishly handsome elf with the incredible hat and long hair. Long story short, I've been an agent as well for sometime, and have returned from an exceptionally long mission. I must say, I'm enjoying the relocation; much more to my tastes. And so familiar!

I'll be around the Hanged Man for the day. Do come by and say hello.

[ A new voice pops up on the Crystals, cheery despite the nature of his query. ]

So, I've been wondering. Has anyone tried just removing the hand their anchor shard is on? Would that get rid of it, or would you just get a glowing green stump?

...If no one has done it, I'm not volunteering, for the record. I've got my finger on my nose. You can't see it, but it's there. I'm just curious about possible options, here.