I have been tasked with addressing recent complaints and, well. I'm not sure what to make of any of this, truly. Have things hit such dire straights?

[ There's a shuffle of papers as Sidony begins to read. ]

'The wine is very bad'. Yes, well, ser, you get what you pay for. Perhaps you ought to dig a little deeper and purchase wine that does not affront your tongue? Either that or make some arrangements to have it imported. I'm sure Orlais would adore the business, with things as they are. Where there's a will there's a way, wouldn't you say?

[ Clearly, Sidony is not going to be the most tender of people when it comes to Inquisitorial complaints.

Then there's a soft sound of frustration. ]

I'm not even sure I can read this one. I think that if someone wishes to submit a complaint they should make it legible first, don't you? I can at least try, since it seemed so dearly important - If you are to steel - steal, I think? - cloths... Steal from the rich next time. Is this really something worth the complaints box? Try the guards next time, that might get you somewhere. Or lock your doors.

[ Muffled: Ser Pizzicagnolo, I thought this box was for legitimate complaints? A scoff, until finally - ]

Whoever requested an assistant for the Seneschal, consider yourself in luck. I have taken the task of complaints from his hands today, so that he might focus his attention elsewhere. You're quite welcome. Of course, if you wish to leave other complaints you might find it in it's usual place.

It's been a long year already, and it's still only a couple of months in. But... what's done is done. We can do nothing more for those lost but move forward and remember. After everything that happened after Ghislain, it only seemed right that I return home again, to see the people there, after everything... [He seemingly loses his train of thought and trails off into a silence for a moment, before collecting himself and resuming.] Anyway, it's done. I'm back now.

Has all been well here? I see and hear no signs of restless spirits, so I can only assume it has been. Relatively well, anyway. Still, if there's anything of importance that I've missed, I would be glad to hear of it. I have little input about the Divine, I'm afraid, as I would rather defer to someone who's more invested and knowledgeable on the matter than I.

Also, I was sent back here with far more Orlesian sweets and confections than I know what to do with. Might there be anyone with a sweet tooth who would take some of these goods off my hands?

So -

[ Kitty sounds, in her usual mode, sensible and direct. ]

I've been listening, and I've not heard much chatting about the election of the Divine over the crystals, which makes me suspect that everyone's doing it privately. But it seems to me that this is the sort of thing which we ought to be talking about as honestly as possible.

So - who's the best candidate? In your opinions. And what can we do to make sure the dreadful ones don't win?

[This is sent without a name attached but Myr's handwriting is recognizable. And improving.]

what's forgiveness mean to you?

The idea, not just the word,

what can't you forgive? what shouldn't anyone forgive? can you ever owe it to someone to forgive them?

if you believe: what does it mean to have divine forgiveness? how do you repent?

if you don't: who's forgiveness for? the person forgiving or the person forgiven?

I was thinking--oh, um, it's Colin--I was thinking if mages don't unite behind a candidate, we're likely to get one that doesn't have our interests at heart. I think if we voted to rebel, we can vote to stand together behind one of the candidates and do what we can to get them elected. Unofficially, I mean. Of course unofficially.

So let's talk about it, argue about it very loudly, and then vote on it. Who should be Divine?

Inquisition, there is a matter that we must discuss, one that I pray you will grant your full attention and consideration, and that I hope you will treat with the gravity that it demands.

( Near silently, Herian slowly exhales. Uncaptured by the crystal she closes her eyes and stays very still, before opening them again and looking towards Lakshmi and Julius. Julius, a fellow Circle mage, a thinker with a honeyed tongue, Lakshmi, a skilled diplomat and tactician (keep your friends close and your very difficult employees who can be destructive closer). There are more she would like to have present, to have their voice heard on it more immediately, but this was the best that could be done in the circumstances. Perhaps, as well, less it better when the waters run the risk of becoming muddied (if not mud outright).

She’d like very much for things to become simple and easy. She knows better than to expect it. )

It has come to my attention that, ( the faintest of pauses, if only because this is so surreal a thing to be saying at all, let alone announcing ) a cure for Tranquility has been discovered, and utilised, by members of our Inquisition. For any unfamiliar with what Tranquility might mean, it refers to an act undertaken to divorce a mage of their connection to the Fade, stripping us of our magic and our emotions. We exist, still, but— some consider it a living death. I personally think that is a sweeping dismissal of the Tranquil, their capabilities and their personhood, but let us not digress.

This might be viewed as a great gift, or a destructive act. We must consider what it means within the Inquisition, and what it means for our relationship with the Chantry. Its implications will reverberate throughout the Chantry and, indeed, all of Thedas.

The Grand Enchanter is already aware of this development. If you would care to share your thoughts, your concerns, and proposals for how we might move forward, I would be glad to hear them. This cannot be resolved by any small group of us, and requires our collaboration and cooperation with one another.

Hello to all of you who’ve been helping restore Casimir. We’re very near the end of this; all that remains is the final ritual, and thank you--beforehand--to those who will assist with that.

Enchanter Averesch has advised, and I agree, that Casimir be kept under observation until we’re sure [or near enough] he’s stable--and that we not publish the cure before then.

But there will be no hiding what we’ve done in the end. Word will get back to the Chantry. My question to all of you is how it will get to them, and how far and fast we spread knowledge of the technique before it does.

[He doesn’t need to say: This was knowledge worth going to war over because why else did they conduct this research in absolute secrecy. But it’s there.

More ruefully,] We also ought to prepare an explanation to the rest of the Gallows, speaking of not hiding what we've done.

Deliberations upon the next Divine continue.

Sister Leliana and Seeker Pentaghast have withdrawn themselves from consideration. That they were approached speaks favourably of the Inquisition’s present position. Provisional Chancellor Pascal was kind enough to host us for discussion, [ and rifling through papers, and listening at walls, and ] During which we gained the names of several likely candidates.

I stress that this decision does not belong to the Inquisition — but it is our duty to support all who work toward a better future.

We must keep an eye to the proceedings, and assist where we might. [ like: saboutage ] Sra. Bonaventura and I believe that three faces are worthy of particular note. We will make the value of our work known through action. I welcome your thoughts and ideas therein.