Hello, everyone. There have been several incidents now that have made it clear that there is a certain risk, in certain situations, of people openly possessing anchor shards. The least of which being that there are populations in Thedas that have a rather negative view of them.

The obvious solution is to simply wear gloves, but this method isn't guaranteed. It's chilly enough now, but it won't always be, and large groups of people all wearing gloves could become suspicious--particularly so if they all refuse to remove their gloves. Thus, we are going to need more methods to disguise the anchor shard that so many of our agents carry.

As this involves a large portion of the people in the Gallows, I thought that it would be prudent to pose this issue to everyone, so you can all offer your suggestions for possible solutions.

Additionally, I would like to ask for volunteers to test these methods on. [ She pauses for a moment, wondering if she needs to say it, then decides not to underestimate how paranoid some people can be. ] This will, as stated, be voluntary, and you will be made aware of what process is being tested, and what it will involve, and can back out at any point in time.

For instance, my first idea is to see if enough makeup can be applies to hide the shard, without making the hand look unnatural. If someone with an anchor shard would like to, I can arrange a meeting for us to test this.

All methods used and their results will, of course, be written down and filed for future reference.

What do you believe gods are Inquisition? Do you indeed believe that there are gods? The Chantry that likes to press and to meddle might not be for all but there are many of those who will still have the name of the Maker upon their lips in a time of strife. The Dalish have the Creators. The Avvar have beliefs about spirits and gods, and the Chasind have gods of a fashion, men and women beloved of them.

Rifters need not be shy in answering, I ask about...what a god is. What it might be. If it is a thing indeed. Something far beyond the comprehension of any mortal being, shifting even beyond the Veil or Fade that we might never know what it truly is, or if it might something else. Something closer to flesh and blood fashioned long ago. Shaped in the way the world is shaped.

[That phrase turned over and over: There is only the subject and the object, the actor and the acted upon.]

Perhaps… [and well she might as well voice a possibility when they're in Kirkwall where the Veil was stretched so thin long ago] once 'twas possible to raise those of ambition and power as high as the magisters of old Tevinter, to leave terror and awe in their wake depending on the mood, the whim, the offering.

[Eventually...well eventually there will be a report, but until she can trust how to write it, can know what the reception might be when it dares to leave the small group that know even the truth of what lies deep in the Tirashan, she can't bring her hand to write it.]

[ thranduil's voice is tight, if still somehow pleasant: ]

I understand that there are a great number of questions and concerns at the moment regarding the Inquisition's proposed policy of phylacteries for Rifters.

If there are concerns that anyone would wish to make known through official channels, the Research Division has been appointed to handle the research of this new, proposed policy. [ very pointed stressing. ] My office is where it has always been, and any concerns should be turned into the box reserved for correspondence of that nature.

I would remind all Rifters that we are yet considered a single unit. [ remember the curfew? ] That poor behavior will affect all of us- indeed, anyone currently afflicted with a Shard. I would advise them that this is never as true as it is now, and that consequences for actions taken in the heat of the moment are the same as those made when rational.

[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!

Politics aside - is that possible? Can we do that? I have faith in you, all of you -

[ Getting off topic there Alistair. ]

Politics aside, [ Alistair's voice continues, with scolding emphasis aimed at himself, ] who wears skirts better, do you think? Mages or Templars?

[ xoxo ]

[The voice that first comes over the crystal comes off as distracted as said person, male by the sound of it, is turning the crystal this way and that.] Fascinating ... how far do these go, I wonder. Can you track them, like charms? Hmm.

[The voice changes abruptly from curious to charmingly polite.] Good eve, all. I am Tyrion Lannister, of House Lannister, which I realize probably means very little to any of you. Still, titles are titles, and we might as well stick one on the wall to see if it catches anything. As I am a stranger to your lands, and shores, and varying other places ... I had a query. We have these strange shards in our hands, and people use them to go out and close the rifts themselves. Now, does one simply volunteer out of the goodness of one's heart, or is there some sort of formal oath I and the others are supposed to make?

[A pause, then a sly chuckle.] If there is an oath, is there pay? I am a man with a young wife and a fondness for better wine than what I have been drinking. If I am to be stuck here, I would rather be doing something useful than finding new ways to win at your delightful game of Wicked Grace.

Hello, little rock.

You ask so many questions. All day, all night, and in all voices. What's worse than dying? Who are elves? How do you kiss one?

Listen to me: I can ask questions too. What are stars made of? Who put them there? Do you think they must have been very, very tall?

And — Who do you belong to?

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.

As of this moment I would like to announce the availability of my Kestrels for contracts. Any marks that align with the desires of the Inquisition will be given a discount, any requests from the Inquisition proper will be done Gratis. Likewise if you feel you are skilled in the art of subterfuge and murder and would wish a guild with which to align yourself we've opened our ranks.

Serious business aside- we are scattered quite a ways now, we members of the Inquisition, and the months have been quite hard, there has been much traveling, much fighting, and I am willing to bet more than a few wild nights in the past few weeks. The time has come, I think, for another Antivan Game. Sesso, Carcere, Sangue, o La Fama.

The rules are simple: you share a sultry tale of a carnal evening, a time you spent in or around a prison for whatever reason, personal injury from which you have recovered, or an incident meeting with someone famous. A musician, a composer, a member of those that saved the world during the fifth blight, the Champion- etc. I have a fine bottle of Antivan brandy that will go to the most remarkable and engaging of these tales upon your return should you be in Orlais, or in the morning after all the tales have been told. Be as elaborate or as brief as you like, and should you find any tale in particular quite entertaining and think it ought to win? Say so. I shall consider all opinions equally.