Is there anyone available who's skilled in rebuilding and reparations? I have a... project of sorts, that I could use a hand with.

[He normally wouldn’t care very much about this, but the rift and demons left even worse damage than usual in the aftermath. Cobwebs are all well and good, but this time it got out of hand. The last thing he needs is for the whole mansion to collapse suddenly.]

I can offer drinks as compensation.

Likewise, for those who aided in clearing the place out... I owe you for your efforts. You may feel free to visit the mansion, or meet me at the Hanged Man. [Yes, somehow that place has become oddly comforting to return to in its way. It's frightening, really.]

This is Warden Serra...or Inessa, as you prefer. Consider me inspired by Ciri; since the Inquisition is more settled in our new home, I plan to resume the classes I had offered in Skyhold. Namely, mabari combat training and alchemy in the form of potions and tonics. While I will eventually have a set schedule, I'll try to remain flexible for anyone who cannot join the offered times for whatever reason.

More relevantly for mages; I have been studying rift magic for some time and now feel confident enough to take on students. If you're interested, please inform me. I look forward to passing on what I have learned.

A final announcement, unrelated to classes; I know Kirkwall has been a drastic adjustment, for some more than others. I've had several express interest to me in making excursions outside city walls a regular event, so I extend my offer to anyone interested. Once a week, perhaps? It's nothing formal and there are no requirements...though an ability to tolerate dogs would be most helpful. [Insert a happy bark from nearby Garahel.] If pure idleness doesn't suit you and you need some way to justify it, there is always a need for local flora, for potions and requisitions. The assistance would be appreciated, I'm certain.

Hello. I'm Clarke, I'm— [ not used to the crystals; there's a pause, then she's a bit louder. ] —leading the project to figure out what's going on with the Veil and the rifts. I don't think I know any of you yet, but that's probably going to change pretty fast.

I've claimed a room in the center tower, third floor. There isn't much there yet, but we have a map. I'm trying to mark known rifts. There's a box of pins on the floor beside it and different colors of thread to wrap them with, so the ones with rifters and the ones that gave people anchors are in another color. If you know of any, you're welcome to add them. And from there...

We need more information.

[ If anyone wanted to ease in with a meet and greet and ice breakers, sorry, you'll have to ask for them. ]

We know we don't have forever before those anchors start killing the people who have them. [ She knows, anyway. If you didn't know, now you do. ] I know people have seen healers about them, but we need to start recording how big they are, how much they hurt, how they behave. So we know when they're getting worse. And while we're doing that I don't think it would hurt to create a record of where everyone is from and what they can do. No names, if they're afraid. But it might help to know if there's some kind of pattern.

Aside from that, I think we can find out a few other things to start. We need to know if the areas where rifts are sealed are fixed permanently, or if the Veil just weakens again. If people with anchors can strengthen the Veil long term, maybe they can strengthen it before tears ever happen—the Veil in Kirkwall is thin, so it's a good place to try that. The Veil has torn before, in other places, so figuring out how people fixed those before, if they even did, that might help us understand what's going on now. And we can't send everyone back to every old location, but we need to start looking at new rifter sites to see if there's anything they have in common that might explain... any of this.

If anyone wants to volunteer to take charge of any of those things, now's the time, before I ask you to do something you don't like instead.

—and if anyone has their own ideas, feel free to share.

[ ooc | Clarke is bossy! It's totally legit to tell her to chill (though she won't like it) or argue with her, etc. Just so no one is scared. xoxo. ]

[There's a heavy sigh before he speaks; the first speaker, Anders, might be having some serious regrets.]

We've a new Warden, or rather an old Warden returned to the group, and I've a warning to issue: if you're challenged to a drinking contest with a particularly smelly dwarf, do not take it. The Wardens are not responsible for what happens if you decide to ignore this advice. Honestly, your best bet is to steer clear altoge--what are you drinking now?

[There's some bottles clinking together followed by a loud belch before Oghren speaks up.]

You need some better alcohol. This tastes worst than actual piss. Funny color to it too.

That's not... Maker's breath, Oghren, that's not for gulping down! Put the remnants of the potions down and stop messing with them! If you puke or you die, you better do it outside this tent. I'm not responsible for that either.

[There's more clinking as Anders gathers up what remnants he can.]

What are you going on about? That wasn't ale? [There's a pause.] My ancestors fat tits, what was that, sparkle fingers?

Who would keep ale in the healing tents? That was twenty doses of emetic. Now step outside, because you are not going to get sick in here.

[There's now a grumble and some rustling.] Never heard of keeping something good around for pain. Got to have those potions instead. Can't just have a good ale or something stronger. Got to be... [The sound trails off as he heads outside.]

[There's another heavy sigh. Anders sounds like he's already exhausted when he continues.]

Don't challenge him. Just don't. And if anyone listening cares to bring additional ghoul's beard to the healing tents, I'm in need of it.

[The voice that comes over the sending crystal is about breathless with happiness, as if Bethany Hawke has been giggling the whole time before she came to set down this message. Perhaps she has - for in her tone it is clear she is giddy beyond reason.]

Good afternoon, one and all. I am pleased and honored to announce that come the first of Bloomingtide ... Aleron Darton and I will be wed.

[Can't you all just hear the dimples?]

The invitation list will be as large as I can allow it to be - and there are a few of you who I must speak with personally ... but I wanted to share this with you all. We've all seen so much darkness and heartache over the past year. I hope sharing a little joy of mine, will help you find a little joy within your own lives.

[All the more dimples.]

Now, my fiancee and I will now get to work planning this fantastic wedding - so if anyone wants to help? [She laughs.] Feel free to volunteer now!

Inquisition! We have for you a list of nominees for your Satinalia Fools. We say Fools, plural, because we have many fine nominees and two crowns - we think they may be crowns. We removed them from the heads of statues in some temple or another. Perhaps they were symbols of shame rather than nobility? None of us is qualified to say, but the statues were very small compared to some others, and - [ an abrupt end to the rambling ] - we will assume they are close enough to crowns to crown Fools. Valentine has been testing them and looks very Foolish.

Two Fools, then. If they cannot cooperate we will give each one half of the courtyard during the festivities and they may, éventuellement, stage a battle between their kingdoms.

We have placed a box outside the tavern where you can place the name of the nominee you wish to support. Please only choose once. The Maker does not endorse cheating. If you do not believe in the Maker then whatever you do believe in likely does not endorse cheating, either, though, again, none of us is qualified to say. If you believe in a god that does endorse cheating, please find it in your own heart to practice restraint.

If you have any questions we are happy to answer them, of course! But first Freddie will read for you our list of nominees:

[ What follows are some remarks, prepared by all three of Our Heroes together but read in Freddie's sweet and perfect voice, concerning Adelaide, Alistair, Bruce, Iskandar, Raylan, Val, and Yvgni. ]

Urrrgent question: what's the most charming way you've ever been flirted with? And the least charming. Or the most and least charming ways you've ever flirted with someone else.

I know how this sounds, but I really am asking for a friend.

—if you know any good puns, share those, too.

That's all. Thank you.

Hey, Inquisition. So I had an important philosophical question, but I figure important philosophical questions are kinda lame, so: who here is familiar with body shots?

Back home there's this... I think "tradition" is giving it a little too much credit. There's uh, this... ritual you can enjoy in the World Without Magic, where you lick some salt, take a shot, and then suck on some lime, or a lemon, many. Or you can enjoy the ritual by licking salt off someone's skin, taking the shot, and you grab the lime wedge from between their teeth. Usually you'd use tequila, some people are down with vodka, but I'm still working on finding out what a good Thedas substitute would be.

Anyway, I guess I was curious about whether body shots were one of those things that translated across worlds, because I know we sure as hell didn't have them back in the Enchanted Forest. I was also curious about whether your world - Thedas or others, for my fellow Rifters - had any fun drinking games to get into. Drinking rituals, drinking games, whatever.

And as a side note, I am also officially starting Scrabble club, at which I don't think there will be any kind of body shots, but we may have wine. I finally managed to figure out an approximate Scrabble boardish so if you like words and are anywhere from mildly to very competitive then you should totally join.