SUBJECT: Temple Ruins in Ghislain
PARTICIPANTS: Freddie, Gwen, Kostos, Tony, & Wysteria
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Backdated to end of fantasy!August
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: A team investigated the lower levels of a ruined temple to Dumat to suss out what shenanigans the Venatori were up to there while Ghislain was under occupation. Though unable to do a thorough review before being attacked, the team was able to discover the presence of a blighted rift in the shrine's ritual chamber.


REPORT:

Ghislain, Orlais 9:46 - Investigation of the Temple Ruin and Review of Venatori Activity Therein

At the direction of the Exalted March and with the guidance of intelligence gathered by the Inquisition prior to the Battle of Ghislain (Firstfall, 9:44), a team (see attached roster) was tasked with investigating the lowermost regions of a strange temple known to have been the site of significant Venatori activity during the region's occupation.

Though a great deal of work had been done to the site by the Venatori, including but not limited to extensive excavation efforts, all of which has been well documented in other field reports, their work within the deepest regions of the temple had gone unexplored thanks to general sense of foreboding and so happily we had the benefit of seeing it untouched as presumably the Venatori left it. In addition to the uneasy presence which cloaked the ruin, upon traversing to its lower levels we found ourselves beset by a series of strong enchantments which served to muffle all sound and deepen shadows. It was determined by the mage in the company that the source of the enchantments was likely downward, and so we followed the gentleman and the suggestions of the incomparable Madamoiselle Durfort-Lacapalette (who had some education regarding the matter of ruins and their exploration) through the dark and silence until the layout of the temple resolved into a downward sloping hallway.

Rumors of the shrine's purpose--that it once had served as a place of worship to the Old God Dumat (see attached references which including quotation from Tales of the Destruction of Thedas by Brother Gentivi)--were all but confirmed by the features of the shrine itself. This hallway featured a number of carvings depicting the old god's power and worship. Tragically due to the formation of these shapes and the sharpness of their edges, no rubbings could be taken.

At the terminus of this bladed corridor, we passed through Dumat's mouth and there discovered a large ritual chamber. At the center of this chamber stood a great disturbation very like a rift, though its coloring was pure darkness. In addition to this, there was a suggestion of lyrium heavy in the air and a series of corpses in perfect alignment along one wall. Much to our dismay, our attempts to close the rift in the usual fashion only resulted in widening it further (see detailed account attached) and the interaction with the rift drew the attention of a (seemingly blighted or cursed in some fashion) Ventori mage, the apparent sole survivor of whatever dark deed occurred there.

Consequently, the team was bidden to make their escape back along the bladed corridor while pursued by the mage in question. Although Madame Baudin was ultimately able to rebuff the mage's advance with a blast from her anchor shard, thereby throwing him onto a series of the corridor's rather singularly keen features and so killing him, we were unable to conduct a more thorough investigation of either the body or the shrine's due to injuries sustained by the party.

NEXT STEPS: Return to the Temple of Dumat and conduct a thorough review of the area and everything to be found in the ritual chamber. Ideally, assess and close the blighted rift.

NOTES & LINKS: OOC Info; IC Log

A question of great importance: who is the most interesting person in Riftwatch?

I am composing a list, which I very easily could make alone. But that is not amusing. So, the winner of the list will of course receive a prize. An extra point will be awarded to a Rifter, quite obviously. Points deducted for, hm, [totally at random here,] let us say.... Wardens. I have nothing against them. Once I admired them! Then I had my sixth birthday, and I grew bored with them.

All suggestions will be considered.

I need some Orlesian names. Besides the one I have, I mean.

[ He could choose himself. This is more fun. ]

I will put them in a hat and choose one, so—a little ridiculous is fine. But if it is so ridiculous I cannot carry it off and I and perhaps some other people are killed, it will be a little bit your fault. You will have to live with that.

[ He’s not serious. Just for the record. Anything so ridiculous he can’t sell it will be discarded. ]

[ After the folks on Team Jungle emerge from the Crossroads, save their captive colleagues, kill the Venatori, and turn on their sending crystals to see what's up, there are a few messages waiting. ]

Bets: Can anyone hear me?
Skull: I CAN HEAR YOU.
Bets: [CLEARLY IGNORING THE INANIMATE OBJECT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY METHOD OF SPEAKING, LACKING LUNGS] This is Lady Betrys Miniver of the Diplomacy Division of Riftwatch. I am--
Skull: IF SHE’S IN DIPLOMACY THEN WHY DON’T I KNOW HER?! I’M HEAD OF THE BLOODY DIVISION!!
Bets: This is Lady Betrys Miniver-- [LOOK SHE’S JUST GOING TO TALK OVER YOU]
Skull: THIS IS LADY BETRYS MINIVER, OOOOH, LOOK AT MEEEE, I’M SO IMPORTANT. I’M MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT!
Bets: [As loud as is Appropriate] We are attempting to contact those members of Riftwatch who were dispatched to the Crossroads. Please respond.
Skull: IT’S NO USE, THE CRYSTALS DON’T WORK IN THERE.
Bets: [Still directing all speech into the crystal, but pointedly:] We have been asked to reach out through the crystals in case anyone has successfully left the Crossroads.
Skull: WHERE THE DEVIL IS SALVIO. SALLY! OHHH SALLY!! SALLY COME TELL THIS CHILD THE LIMITATIONS OF THOSE CRYSTALS! AND ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ANY OF THOSE FOOLS SURVIVED.
Bets: If you will kindly respond as soon as possible, we will see what can be done for you.
Skull: [ Gasps, quite dramatically, even without lungs. ] I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING. SOMETHING VITALLY IMPORTANT!! [ After a loooooong pause, when it’s clear Bets isn’t taking the bait: ] WELL?! AREN’T YOU GOING TO ASK WHAT IT IS?!
Bets: Please respond to us quickly. We are concerned, I think understandably so, for your welfare.
Skull: [ Whispering: ] IF NONE OF THEM COME BACK, I’LL BE THE HEAD OF ALL DIVISIONS.

---

Freddie: If anyone knows the whereabouts of Valentine de Foncé, please tell him that I am very put out that he has run off into the Crossroads without me and apparently decided to build a home and remain there forever. It is most impolite not to alert one's friends when one moves into a new plane of existence. Should he ever desire to return for a visit, his dinner has been eaten but there is a slice of pie in the cupboard.

---

Coupe: There are only so many times that one may interrupt their own funeral before it grows derivative. You have missed your chance.

---

Salvio: This is-- Seneschal Salvio Pizzicagnolo, with-- Um, we have not received any reports from the members of Riftwatch dispatched to recover-- to investigate, the-- We, um, please. We hope very much to hear some word, soon, of--progress. Or any word at all. And the, uh, the fate--that is, hopefully, the--recovery of those of our numbers who were-- who were… lost. In a-- professional capacity, I would ask for word of my assistant. Please.

Or anyone.

---

Alistair: Everyone come to the main courtyard after breakfast. We're having a competition to choose new Division Heads. The Seneschal gets to be the judge.

I'm going to feel really bad about this if they're really dead. Please don't be dead.

But I mean it. Everyone. Courtyard. After breakfast.

---

Yevdokiya: Hello. [Possibly an unfamiliar voice, Avvar accented.] I would like a list of those that are dead. And where they lived in the Gallows, when they were alive.

Julius: Real question, assuming you can hear us and just can’t transmit back: has anyone tried sending a raven through an eluvian? Do you think the raven would be too disoriented when it arrived on this side to do its job, or would it just carry on? Something worth trying if you haven’t, perhaps, though given how little we know, maybe not with any especially sensitive messages. That could be awkward if the ravens are deeply disoriented, after all.

Aleksei: Are we all aware there is a dead horse in the stable? [ Also possibly unfamiliar Avvar accented voice, punctuated by some muted clinking and jingling. ] And that it has very expensive tack that seems to be wasted on something that isn't going to be ridden?

[ So that was, like, 36 hours to anarchy. Probably not a Thedas record, but still impressive. ]

Right you lot, listen up. We've got our first case of grippe in the fortress. The sick room of the chapel is officially closed to anyone who isn't a healer or coughing up a lung. And if you are coughing up a lung, report to the Infirmary immediately for inspection.

No exceptions, division heads too. First person I catch refusing treatment in favor of work gets their knees broken.

[ haha... no, but really. ]

If you're not currently drowning in excessive phlegm, mind you keep yourself warm and well wrapped when you're out and keep indoors at night. I would also strongly discouraged those who are inclined to not pay a visit to Lady Charlotte's establishment for the time being, I've already got six cases there.

Got no reason to ask, but — ah, fuck it. What's the scariest story you heard lately?

[Again with the throat clearing.] Mhavos Dalat, a pleasure.

To those of you who inquired, last time, to the state of the magical artifact storage, specifically the 'most interesting' item: I am now sitting next to a skull-- sans jar-- with what I thought was an ancient rune etched into its dome, but now believe to be a carefully calligraphied profanity. Or perhaps it's more of a suggestion.

Another matter, if you have a moment. I was recently reading a book with something in it that caused me to fall from my chair. I could suspect a magical prank, or the early signs of dementia. As I'm not one to cast aspersions on my colleagues, I'll suggest the latter.

I am curious, however. How many things are in this library that are actually relevant to this organization? Yes, I am talking about the collection of limericks someone slipped into the... cookbook. This is a cookbook. It has the cover of a Chantry history, and... nevermind.

[The sound of pages turning, books being pulled from shelves.]

In other volumes, some of which should even be here, I have found several pressed flowers... which I could complain about, but are honestly quite lovely. There is also illegible marginalia, notes on political and social bias (if you are the one leaving these, please inquire within), and a tome on the Fade that... drips. And smells. I've honestly been afraid to open it before now, but-

[A wet thump. Some choice swearing in Orlesian. A lot of coughing.]

[ 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. ]