SUBJECT: Friendly Fire
PARTICIPANTS: Abby, Dante, Edgard, Ellis, Fenris, Vanya
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Cloudreach
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: The Gang Wreckes Havoc, or: Forces members are split into pairs to pose as Tevene or Anders forces and create Problems On Purpose throughout contested Antivan territory. Successes across the board.

REPORT:

Commander,

I can report we have had success in all our work, and returned without having been identified as members of Riftwatch.

Fenris and Abby were able to break into the Chantry, as instructed. The silver was acquired, and they broke a few items inside the building to add insult to the theft. I believe the silver has been stowed in one of the storage rooms. We all assume it cannot be sold for some time. They reported having left the Chantry speaking Tevene loudly enough to be overheard by anyone nearby, so it is safe to say the blame will be laid upon Tevinter forces.

Ser Orlov and I deposited our spoils from the targeting of merchants and travelers. with the Seneschal. I must inform you that there was one altercation that turned bloodier than either of us anticipated. Should you send another team to continue this work, be warned that some of the wealthier merchants are more seriously prepared for conflict on their routes. More than two men may be necessary, for the safety of all involved.

Dante Sparda and Edgard came away with five druffalo, which were given over to refugees as instructed. It's my understanding that they did an admirable job in creating difficulty for the ranchers in the process of separating out the beasts, and that Sparda's use of illusions was more than effective. Should we attempt this a second time, I assume the same trouble will follow as I'd mentioned already. The ranchers will be anticipating interference, but I cannot say that they would stand entirely firm should Sparda's trick be repeated.

— Warden Ellis

NEXT STEPS: Dispatch more teams to either create more havoc or dispatch more teams in full Riftwatch attire to heroically guard the countryside after engaging in some light diplomacy to offer assistance directly to Antivan merchants to net some positive reaction points. Alternately, a diplomatic mission to return tragically stolen silver to the Chantry in question along with fantastic tales of heroism about it's recovery.

NOTES & LINKS: ooc info | IC Logs: Abby + Fenris, Edgard + Dante, Ellis + Vanya

Greetings Riftwatch! This is Senior Enchanter Black speaking—the Seneschal.

[This particular cheerful intonation may strike fear into the hearts of certain members of the company. Namely, those who would prefer not be talked at for ten minutes without interruption, or those who might flinch at the prospect that at any moment their wages might be trimmed further in order to set aside a reserve fund for Refugee Orphans Or Whatever.

But today, when Cassius says,] I'll be brief, [he means it.

Which is definitely not ominous in the slightest.]

I'm collecting information about which nations and known institutions we as an organization know best. If you would be so kind as to reply to this listing the peoples, places, and various consortiums big or small for which you feel the most affinity or understand the intricacies of, that would be of great help.

There's no need to go into any detail if you don't feel inclined. A very general list will do just fine.

[ An Orlesian accented voice that has not been heard publicly in some time, rather soft and subdued: ]

Are there any of you who have taken injuries during the war— or before it, I suppose— that have made heavily relied upon abilities difficult or impossible? I should...

I should like to commiserate with any willing to speak upon their experiences. In private, of course.

Bonjour, mes amis.

[ Faintly sing-song, but in a drawling and subdued way. It doesn't do to sound too chipper and excited about asking people semi-invasive questions. ]

I have been talking to the Seneschal, and we thought—well, it's possible we might need a fraternization policy. Or a record, at least, in case it becomes a problem later. And to decide whether that is necessary: information about fraternization.

[ It's obvious from his voice that he's pleased that that rhymes. ]

So who is together? Or involved, if together is a scary word.

Please feel very free to rat out your bashful friends.

[ As an afterthought, ]

If you have opinions about the policy or record part, I will take those, too.

SUBJECT: an official report on Val Chevin's Forces War Table assignment: Safe Harbor. scrawled by hand, it smells distinctly of the ocean
PARTICIPANTS: Edgard, Gwenaëlle, Glimmer, Holden, Abby, Derrica, Darras, Gabranth, Flint
CLASSIFICATION: intended for the Division Heads only, but...again, raven
DATE FILED: two weeks after the mission itself, also post the Val Chevin mod plot
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Destroying the defenses blocking entrance to Val Chevin's harbor via 3 small ships intended to act as a discreet ruse, triggering mines housed in the harbor itself

REPORT:

What follows is intended for Riftwatch leadership alone:

Our mission to Val Chevin was in its totality a success. I pen this letter out of obligation and in the hopes it will assuage any potential concern as to the number of casualties suffered during the course of the assignment. All three crafts and their respective mines were destroyed. The Lady Glimmer and myself were aboard the last when it detonated, though I think it certain you know far better than I whether she escaped unharmed as I believe.

I myself have been in the care and company of the Orlesian army since washing up on shore some time later. I have borrowed quill, parchment, and beast in order for this to reach you, and shall no doubt find my way back within the coming weeks.

Fortune willing, this will reach you before then.

-Judge Magister Gabranth

NEXT STEPS: NA | Val Chevin is liberated

NOTES & LINKS: the log itself!

Warmest greetings, my friends! This is Senior Enchanter Black speaking. Not to worry—I fully intend to keep this short.

[Promises, promises.]

Now that we have all recovered from the holidays both interrupted and postponed, I would like to take this opportunity to address a number of items from this office's suggestions box and a series of small administrative changes.

First—No, we will not be cutting 'breastplate windows' into the uniforms regardless of the season, removing the glowstones from the stairwells for the sake of confused wisps, or assigning personal ladder carriers to the division heads in order to help them reach the highest shelves. I am however willing to consider advocating for equitable justice within our little community should whoever wrote that we 'Shave Thandruil Baudin in solidarity for jealously putting gum in my hair. Signed, Johnathan Silver' still feel strongly on the subject. And I would begin by apologizing for the delay in this response. Your concern was stuck in the corner of the box.

[Astute members of Riftwatch will accurately guess that Cassius hasn't cracked this box since he, I mean it, was installed in the Seneschal's office. Now then, to the tune of rapidly flicking through papers.]

An anonymous admirer thinks the Ambassador has been looking very handsome lately. An anonymous concerned individual has noted the last leader of Project Haven may have been actively sabotaging our relationship with the Chantry and wishes to know how that damage may be repaired. An anonymous madman principally concerned with the spending of this organization would like to note that if someone doesn't stop stealing from the stock of soap in the baths that he will be forced to take extreme measures to control its distribution. He further writes that while he hopes for a peaceful resolution, that he has no shortage of ideas for exacting his revenge.

[Presumably this last card is winged away over the Seneschal's shoulder.]

On that subject, everyone is being asked to carefully monitor their use of parchment and ink. All pages should be used front and back. The passing of non-essential notes and letters should be kept to a minimum. Distribution of papers and ink powders will be monitored and any foolhardy excess may be deducted from your stipend. Similarly, please be aware that the destruction of Riftwatch property which includes equipment from the armory and the Gallows furnishings may be subject to the same.

I believe that's the long and the short of it. I hope everyone has had a pleasant Firstfall.

Hello. Warden Adrasteia here. [ Again. ]

I'm looking for those skilled in griffon riding and those who are interested in learning for a project I'm working on, testing some equipment.

Interested?

Creature of calamitous ruin. Deceiver. Possessor. There is a wolf amongst the herd.

The man known as Emet-Selch is responsible for loss of life on a planetary scale. He is a cultist, to speak plainly, and the god he claims to no longer serve led him to slay more lives than this world possesses in its entirety. He has kept this secret. Offers nothing in the way of remorse.

I do not care if you call him ally or friend. I do not care if you choose to disregard this, or question the veracity of my claims.

I ask only that you are wary of trusting fully his own assurances of allegiance: for if he still worships the promise of death, there is no oath enough to be given— a dormant threat he remains.

Okay, okay. So—

( There’s a huff of laughter, and then she clears her throat. Very serious. Very dignified. )

So the last world-dimension-whatever I woke up in that wasn’t home, it was like this… constant roster of stuff going totally to hell. I mean like, “hey, by the way, you don’t remember who you are right now and you’re on the Titanic, except there are monsters,” or “hey, you’re going to be starving for a couple months and then the only way to get food will be to enter a mega death pit of doom,” or “surprise, blood flood.” Except more like… Bram Stoker than Stanley Kubrick. And we’d all like… We tried to live normal lives around the fact that we were all somewhere we shouldn’t be, and people kept dying and coming back, so it’d be like, “oh hey, Julia, where’s Kravitz? Oh he died? Again? Wow, we need to talk to him about that, this leave without notice is racking up.”

( There’s a bit of a pause, and perhaps the audible slosh of liquid in glass. A swig from a bottle, maybe. )

Really awful things would happen, and people would take bigger and bigger risks because they knew - or they figured, anyway - that they’d come back. And I was thinking that maybe… maybe this place was scarier, because there’s this war and magic and monsters and Corypheus does not sound like a nuanced individual. It’s not this dream town prison a la Stephen King, it’s like… real. This time I’ve wound up in a world with history and consequences and… death is death. It’s not temporary or an inconvenience or something you should be prepared to do as a bare minimum to protect people.

Anyway, what I meant to say was I thought that finality might be worse, you know? No second chances, and all, but— there’s different sorts of scary. Back there, any day could be torture or hell or it could be a time for a cute crafternoon history lesson at the library, and the cycle was scary. Here there’s… gosh, I mean, so much stuff i’ve read about I’ve forgotten because there’s so much and I just gotta reread over and over, but because it’s real… there’s potential for meaningful good stuff to happen and not just arbitrarily disappear. Same goes for the bad stuff, but actions and consequences matter here. That’s kinda great.

And scary. Fingers crossed that, like lightning, murder does not strike twice.

( What a funny and good joke. IRL finger guns, etc. )

Anybody got any leads on good art supplies around here? Paints, brushes, canvas? I'll take chalks and inks and charcoals, too.

Willing to trade archery lessons. Or riding lessons, griffons or otherwise.