SUBJECT: An Offer They Can Refuse
PARTICIPANTS: Wysteria, Gideon, Yevdokiya, Gabranth, and Sawbones
CLASSIFICATION: Private, leadership only
DATE FILED: backdated, after their return from Orzammar
STATUS: complete
SUMMARY: a was team sent to meet with one of the Carta's leaders, a man named Tarash, in the hopes of negotiating a deal that benefits both parties.

REPORT:

As you once placed faith in me, thus do I return that investment with interest: our work with the Carta was successful, and our efforts have yielded much in the way of agreed trade.

Itemized, received:

An oath to smuggle no red lyrium to Tevinter; any further knowledge of darkspawn with the capacity for speech; intel from their spies within Tevinter; the location of a deep roads passage hidden within Kirkwall.

We have in turn granted them:

Near exclusive lyrium patronage; returned intel, primarily from Antiva; sole right to sell pirated spoils; assurance that we will support swaying mercantile regulation in their favor; the promise we will assist in the tracking and dispatch of a thief; interference with Coterie dealings within Kirkwall; our word we will remain available as allies, should they need us in the future.

Numerous as our own assurances seem, many of these offers are fleeting and small. It will take little effort to see them done, and the fellowship and faith fostered will no doubt prove itself a far more valuable asset in the months— or perhaps years to come.

Beyond this, there is little more to be said: all members present performed their duties admirably in ensuring the Carta’s preliminary requests were met with all due discretion, and did not conduct themselves poorly during deliberations. Should you require further verification of my assessment, seek them out, and they shall tell you no differently.

-Judge Magister Gabranth

NEXT STEPS: cash in on these benefits, help chase down and assassinate a member of the Carta that stole from them and fled, and various other minor listings potentially. Lots of opportunity, no apparent loose ends, aww yeah.

NOTES & LINKS: log | spreadsheet

It seems I have arrived when most are in Orzammar.

[A pause, that could either be excellent comedic timing or genuine awkwardness-- his flat tone of voice leaves it up to your sense of humor.]

Good luck with that.

The last time I was in this city, it had exploded into conflict. I was here at the heart of what has become known as the 'Kirkwall Rebellion'; before then, I here ten years. They were long and without peace. When the Circle rebelled, it felt... inevitable.

Perhaps things are more peaceful now.

[Another one of those weird pauses.]

Or perhaps the all the blood mages and abominations are in Orzammar.

I am Fenris. Ask what questions you wish. I do not know how many of you were here when this city became... what it now is. And I will ask in turn: Do you believe the city better for it? Less full of slavers and conjured demons?

This city was once famed for another rebellion entirely. How strange this most recent one has eclipsed it. Or perhaps this city is cursed to ever seek turmoil within its walls.

[So, yeah, he seems cheerful.]

SUBJECT: Nug Quest
PARTICIPANTS: Adrasteia, Holden, Jone, Joselyn, Sawbones, Val de Foncé, Wysteria, and Dick
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Cloudreach
STATUS: Ongoing
SUMMARY: A team set out for the Minranter River west of Hasmal to find a potential population of Fade-touched nugs. Poachers had gotten there first, killing many nugs and capturing two. The team killed the poachers, rescued the nugs (and a bonus horse), and brought them all back to Kirkwall.

( 'nug' doesn't look like a word anymore )

SUBJECT: Hare Coursing
PARTICIPANTS: Athessa, Byerly, Edgard, Erik, Mado, Noon, Sawbones, Sidony, Vanadi
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Early- to Mid-Drakonis
STATUS: Ongoing
SUMMARY: Over the course of multiple separate investigations which all ended up being related, Erik, Vanadi, Noon, Edgard, Mado, Sidony, Sawbones, Byerly, and Athessa helped to take down a shadow cabal of bored nobles who were hunting elves for sport in Kirkwall and closed down the brothel that was supplying the nobles with, as they put it, chattel.


( Guess it's time for a rabbit hunt. )

SUBJECT: Ice Is Back With A Brand New Invention
PARTICIPANTS: Julius, Sawbones, Amos, Holden and Wysteria
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Guardian/Drakonis
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Riftwatch's findings from examining the mysterious artifact recovered from the Emprise du Lion where it was causing severe winter weather.

REPORT:

Regarding the Venatori Pyramid
Recovered from Emprise du Lion, Orlais, 9:47

Having successfully discovered, deactivated, and subsequently having delivered the enchanted artifact to Kirkwall, we have conducted a thorough study of the pyramid. Attached to this report are a detailed series of notes and drawings concerning the artificat's exact dimensions, along with a number of charcoal rubbings of its surface etchings and a supplementary examination of the material (notes, and so on) discovered along with it.

For the sake of digestibility, the following is a summary of our inquiries and findings:

How does this artifact work? The pyramid seems to be activated via a series of depressable plates on its exterior's base (see Fig.A for full notations). Pressing these caused a notable physical reaction in the artifact; pressing and holding the same sections on the pyramid negated the vibration. Further, the pyramid itself seemed to respond positively when exposed to magecraft/magic. While we were ultimately unable to duplicate the extreme weather effects of the artifact, one poses the suggestion that to do so might have resulted in unpleasant consequences for those studying it.

Is there any red lyrium involved? Despite a thorough survey of the artifact and its ample enchantments, the pyramid shows no signs of possessing or being exposed to red lyrium.

Does it seem newly constructed, or is it more likely an older artifact Corypheus’s forces turned to their advantage? Formally suggest that artifact had merely fallen into the Venatori's hands rather than being crafted by them directly; at the very least, it was certainly not crafted by the individuals who sought to operate it given the state of their corpses and the poor quality of the notes found in proximity to the pyramid. The notes themselves suggest an attempt at developing new rune forms.

If the latter, who built it originally? Unknown. However, given the nature of the object's enchantments I would suggest further investigation of its provenance be directed toward Orzammar. It's possible there is some record of it or some similar creation among the dwarves.

One would suggest that the pyramid itself remain contained safely in the Gallows' archives removed from any similarly enchanted objects or the working of magic in the hopes to keep it from accidental activation (unless of course one wishes to create a summer ice skating rink out of the courtyards, a proposition to which I am not opposed should the pyramid's uses be successfully refined in such a way as to not freeze its operators to death).

In the meantime, my proposal would be to develop and experiment with the newly discovered rune forms so we might either apply them to our own work or at the very least come to an understanding regarding the direction of the Venatori's research. We might also send a team to Orzammar to do further research regarding the artifact itself.

NEXT STEPS: Experiment with rune development, ask some dwarves some questions, and figure out how to safely activate the pyramid's weather controlling properties to beat the upcoming summer heat.

NOTES & LINKS: OOC Info; IC Log

Allo and bonjour. It is also I, ze Maker. Hon hon hon. Don't tell zat othzer guy.

[ —comes an extremely gravelly, maybe drunker verson of this post, but immediately switches to a more recognisable Tony-sounding voice. ]

Just kidding. It's your new dad, Tony Stark.

Uhhh so some of you will be aware that Thranduil Baudin stepped down from his position in the last month or so, going into I assume elf retirement. We thank you for your service, sir. Did you guys know he used to be a brunette before taking up this job? Wild.

Anyway. I've accepted the position of Division Head for Research, even if I cannot possibly live up to his hair game. I know, uh, most of you, maybe some I don't, in which case, do better and make yourselves known.

On that note—

[ Exaggerated sound of paper rustling. ]

We have a lot of irons in the fire, potentially. Gates to discover and—close? Protect? Should probably make a call on that. Rift-spots to canvas. Airships to launch, weapons of mass destruction to definitely not build, frogs to capture. If you're in the Research division and bored at any time, close your eyes and throw a dart, or look busy.

Door's always open, unless it's not. I'll put a sock on the handle if so. Bye now.

What's up, party people? For those of you I haven't met, I'm Cosima Niehaus. For those of you I have met, let's catch up. It's been some amount of time, no one's showed me a calendar yet, I'm excited to see what new and weird plagues you've had while I was gone.

...seriously, though, if anyone in Research wants to get me up to speed, I'd appreciate it.

Also, if anyone broke my microscope I'm going to be seriously pissed. Those do not fall out of Rifts every day.

Hello, Riftwatch. I can't tell from observation if it's the custom to give an introduction--I think it's not--but I prefer this to waiting to catching everyone one-by-one in the hallway or training yard. I'm Lady Seeker Theophania Hart. [Well.] Tiffany. I do the title first so there's no surprise later.

I'm among the newest of your company, permanently, but here to investigate the recent abomination. I'll be requesting records and following up on the leads that I have throughout the course of my work, but if anyone has anything additional that should be said, please, let me know.

For the record, I'm finding the Gallows to be surprisingly comfortable, but maybe that's because I've been on the road for what feels like an actual Age, and the weather is terrible, and I'm suffering what I believe to be a mild case of trench foot. Given the time you've all been having, I'll stop my complaining there.

I suppose that's it, unless anyone has any advice to offer to a new recruit. And you can skip any hazing, I'm much too old for it.

Right, I don't know how this dream business works, but apparently a number of you didn't bother to bring your good sense with you during it. And since you're all allegedly older than I've given credit for in the past, I'm putting this down to surfacers having regrettably short memories. So I've condensed my extended lecture on the long term effects of Blight into a pamphlet which I will be distributing to all of you for ease of reference. I'm happy to answer any and all questions pertaining to it you may have.

If you can not read, I will be happy to assist you. If you do not wish to receive a pamphlet, too fucking bad. If you attempt to avoid me, I will find you.

[ The tone here is quite amused, even if the topic is not particularly...amusing. ]

So, now that we've all woken up, I'm sure there's just one question on everyone's mind. What are we going to do with all you naughty little boys and girls who are dreaming about joining the Venatori?