[ Without preamble: ]

So, plants do this thing. Well, we do this thing and plants do a thing in response to our thing.

[ A pause. ]

Uh we trim bits of plants off, right, like in gardening, if there's a stem that's not producing fruit or flowers you cut that one off, so the plant doesn't waste energy keeping that one going when all you really want are some fucking raspberries or like, more roses. It's like training, if you discourage the plant from producing stems that don't uh...produce shit, then it keeps producing. Other. Stuff.

And did you know that there are plants that send out signals to other plants when animals come by to eat them? They'll puff out some stuff to be like trouble is coming! and they'll make this stuff to taste more bitter so they won't get eaten...

[ Another pause. Mumbling. Definitely a fuck, what was I saying? in there. ]

OH, yeah, so...do you think the same thing would kinda apply to people? Not that cutting off someone's arm would make them grow a different better arm, but...one less arm means more blood for the rest of the body? Is that how it works?

[ A snappy American (or dwarven or Qunari) accent, familiar only to anyone Howard has bothered in person over the last couple of weeks while finding his way around and becoming slowly convinced this isn’t a fever dream, breaks the mid-afternoon doldrums with, ]

You people really live like this, huh?

[ The time for acclimation is over. ]

You have kids who can throw electricity out of their fingers. And you’re walking up ten flights of stairs, in this heat? It’s interesting, but I hate it.

[ The time for being an ass has begun. ]

Someone explain lyrium to me. Only the dwarves and the wizards without feelings can handle it—I assume everyone else has tried gloves.

[ But, like, he’s not sure. Please confirm. ]

[ thranduil: ]

We have returned from our discussion with Divine Beatrix’s Right Hand, Sister Esmeral, and while the full summary of our meeting can be read in the report, there were several important points that ought to be brought to the notice of the whole of Riftwatch.

Firstly is the appointment of Brother Armin, who is our new liaison with the Chantry. He will be stationed in Val Royeaux. The agreement made regarding mages and Rifters — one year previous, nearly to the day, how serendipitous — remains mostly the same.

[ he pauses. he will wait as long as he needs for someone else to take over. ]


[ isaac: ]

No decision on Circles.

[ from the chantry, or from riftwatch. hm. ]

For those just catching up: Last year there was a great fuss about phylacteries — vials of blood, very particular, there’s a library if you’re confused —

The Chantry will honour that bargain. To a point. No one’s making phylacteries for our allies right now, so don’t defect, and you don’t need to trouble yourself. Other bits are under dispute: Divine Beatrix won’t support marriage or inheritance. It’s her further opinion that the collective property of the Circles remains the collective property of the Chantry.

I believe I need to return a pillowcase,


[ ilias: ]

— To the Project Haven office, if you please. [ ahem. ] Some of the concessions we made previously have been softened in turn. Riftwatch members will no longer be required to carry magebane or involve a Templar or Loyalist in mage-related disputes.

[ ... and that's it, that's all the good news on the mage front. ]

The Templar Order is furthermore undergoing a reorganization. We have been told there will be no changes to the previously agreed freedom to obtain lyrium, and former Templars will not be ordered to the Divine's side. However, Her Holiness asks that any who do not wish to return cease to use the Templar name and insignia.


[ thranduil: ]

And the Most Holy will have it written into Chantry Law that Rifters are not demons, and legally equal to mages, provided we continue our cooperative agreement regarding information on our particular talents and how they might aid in the war effort.


[ isaac: ]

Let's all begin shouting at once.

We're not Inquisition any longer. So that means we haven't got to just keep to the Inquisition's opinions and ideologies, do we, the way we did before.

So what do you think ought to change? What should Riftwatch's values be?

Hello. For those of you I don't know personally, this is Julius. Since the project reorganization, I've been heading up Project Sashamiri, which has meant playing a lot of catch up with the work everyone has been doing on red lyrium.

If you're among those who were part of the red lyrium project when it was separate, or whose work now focuses in that direction, I'd be interested in talking with you more about your findings. Intelligence from Emprise du Lion suggests, for example, that cold actively facilitates red lyrium growth. Do we have any idea whether warm conditions can hamper it? If not, is there a way to test that?

In short... what do you think I need to know to do my job? And what do you want resources for? I can't make promises, but I can argue better if I know where to direct whatever I can secure.

If you'd prefer to talk in person or privately, I'm happy to make the time.

[There is a sound of crackling paper and a faint, birdish noise. After some delay, as if to gather his thoughts, there comes a voice in an odd, drawling accent. He is eating something from a paper package.]

I feels that, given the circumstances, some congratulations are in order.

[The paper rattles. crunch crunch crunch crunch]

Now, t'be fair, I had heard a good deal of rumors before comings here. Why, to hear some people's talk, you coulds be building a new chantry everys-other day and they'd say it was just so's that you could burn it down in the mornings, but I still expecteds a lot of poor management here. But.

But.

I sees now, [crunch crunch crunch crunch] That I oughts to be calling it allegedlies poor management.

Griffons. Real live griffons. And I thought yous were full of it, when I heard! And do you knows, Warden Teren's been called deads out in Antiva? Now there's a lie what's getting somebodies in trouble. And it might be that I'm the new warden in town and alls, but as I sees it, I owes you an apology, each and every ones of you, don't mind saying.

Seems you could be doing a lot worse.

[crunch crunch crunch crunch. The paper-rattle is getting quite loud now, must be nearly empty.]

I'm Warden-Constable Barty Bjurnsen, bys the way. Pleased to meet'cha all.

"Truth", like some glittering blade, both fascinates and frightens. Often it is spoken of as something absolute, something universal. But it never is.

I have wrested truths from people more times than I can count.

Again

and again

...and again.

Truth gives shape to Regret, and from Regret springs forth the Form...

[There is a pause and the sound of him taking a sip of something; tea or maybe something stronger. Who even knows.]

...I wonder if a place can hold Regret the same as a person?



Those esteemed gathered, let me ask of you


...your Truth and your Regret.

I need someone to kill me. Right now. Quickly.

Now, this is real important, so everyone's got to listen to me. Get your ears open and scoop out what-all's crawled in since last — I'm set to blow your fucking minds.

As you all know, there's going to be a new chief holy biddy soon, and I'll promise you my right arm that means change is coming. Here in Kirkwall we got a di-verse crew. Why there's traitor Vints, there's traitor elves, there'd even be some traitor mages if they weren't so innocent and pure.

All that under the sun, and you get to wondering what the state of that sun ought to be. More important, what all's around it.

I say we take a vote. Please think on it careful:

What colour's the sky? I reckon it's blue.

Inquisition, this is a matter of some importance, and one that I would encourage you to discuss and contemplate before rushing to a decision.

[ mildly: ]

Or taking up arms.

As we know, the decision concerning the new Divine draws ever closer, and… matters have become more complex as that process has gone on.

The other Division Heads and I have been discussing matters around that, and the potential impact that a new Divine could have upon members of our base, here. It cannot be denied that in our Kirkwall base we have a unique blend of personnel, whether they are those from beyond the Fade, or mages from across Thedas, such as myself. We have members formerly allied with Tevinter and the Magisterium, and representatives from Dalish clans and the Frostbacks. There are many here who have good reason to be cautious of what a new Divine might mean, and how the Inquisition might be utilised or led by the new Divine. Might the people we have fought alongside be subject to harsh restrictions, denied a place in the Inquisition, or forced to heel in an Exalted March?

We cannot know with certainty, but many things are possible.

Certain duties have always been asked of those who pledge to this work. This has not changed — will not, under any banner. But the Inquisition has never held you in bond, and if we are to continue this fight, it must be with unity of choice.

With that in mind, we have discussed the possibility of our Kirkwall base here breaking away from the Inquisition, and becoming an independent faction focused on combating Corypheus and the Venatori, but— this is not a decision we feel we can make alone. We propose a vote to determine what is done. Our base here relies on our ability to work together and our unity, and if the greater number of our members here wish to remain part of the Inquisition, then we will respect that.

Please think on this carefully. There are any aspects requiring consideration; your personal views, how this will impact all of us, but also the matter of how effectively we will be able to carry on without Inquisition funding and backing. It may demand changes and sacrifice from all of us that we cannot predict.

We will arrange a means of voting so that numbers can be counted accurately, won’t be tampered with, but our time is limited. Another thing I would urge you to think on is how our relationship with Skyhold and the Inquisition would continue were we to part ways, and what sort of relationship we would wish to seek out with both the Inquisition, and the Inquisition’s allies.