SUBJECT: The Riftwatch Cultural Exposition
PARTICIPANTS: Jude Adjei, Wysteria de Foncé, Stephen Strange, Jayce Talis, Nina Zenik, Cosima Niehaus, Mobius, Viktor, Peter Parker, Joselyn Smythe, Tony Stark
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Backdated to late fantasy!July
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Members of Riftwatch's Research and Diplomacy divisions traveled to the University of Orlais to host a cultural exposition, showing off various Rifter- and Riftwatch-developed technology to win hearts, minds, and support from prominent scholars in the Orlesian academic community.

REPORT:

To Whom It May Concern, This Being a Formal Record of "The Riftwatch Cultural Exposition" Which Was Held at the University of Orlais in Early Solace 9:49

As both Provost Stark and Ambassador Byerly have closely monitored the planning of and subsequent rewards reaped from this Exposition, this record is largely for posterity. Therefore, I shall keep it brief. Please see the attached copy of the Event's programming, accompanied by an Appendix A (which briefly summarizes the contents and relevant presenters of each) and Appendix B (which refers to the present filing locations of various blueprints, schematics, and papers to be utilized as reference should the presenters in question expire, disappear, or come to quit their work with the Company).

I have also included a list of contacts curated during the Exposition (Appendix C, most notable being the Dean of Lydes College, a tenured professor of the Orlesian University, as well as a junior professor of the same), as well as a list of materials formally funded or gifted directly to Riftwatch by various donors (Appendix B, to be utilized in the production of a second Microscope; see file #594, stack C).

Formally,
Wysteria A. Poppell de Foncé

In addition to the above contents, a worn tract of a popular lady's fashion tract from Val Royeaux has been attached at a later date to the (exceedingly not brief) report. It features a variety of articles about the latest in hats, masks, a scathing review of an evidently once well regard clothier, and an extensive passage regarding the growing trend of wearing plaster casts. One young courtier is quoted as having boldly declared, 'This is the ultimate metaphor for bravery and commitment; in these trying times, we are all but morally obligated to staunchly demonstrate that we are resilient and adaptable survivors.'

NEXT STEPS: Leverage those connections!

NOTES & LINKS: OOC Info; IC Log; Points Distribution Chart

SUBJECT: Faulty Towers
PARTICIPANTS: Tony Stark, Gwenaëlle Baudin, Jude Adjei, Ellis, Richard Gecko
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Solace
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Riftwatch has been receiving glitched signals from a vane located in the Planasene Forest, and so a team went to both investigate the area and fix the tower. Upon finding signs of tampering, the team also located a nearby Venatori campsite.

REPORT: The vane was found with its defensive enchantments disabled/dispelled. No sign of damage, but plenty of sign of sticky fingers. The innerworkings had been accessed, with some parts removed. Whoever was doing the work had some idea on how to do it.

Nearby, the team found a Venatori campsite, so identified by one half of a Venatori. Among their stuff, we found evidence of research pertaining to the vanes themselves. Reports and journal entries were damaged by the swamp terrain we were dealing with, but what we can recover is attached.

This includes annotated diagrams for the vanes, speculation on their function and functioning, and the beginnings of a report that implies some of this research has been sent back to Tevinter to a person addressed as 'Volaris'. This report also speculates that the technology of the vane will "revolutionize" (their word, not mine) "Ascalon's subject-collection process", and some of the note taking also implies interest in the potential use of the vane tech in determining veil strength and stability in connection with projects (unknown to us).

All investigation pertaining to vanes (both in response to normal behavior and abberant) will now be conducted with the assumption that we might encounter Venatori interest. Work to reconfigure functionality and defense systems is also underway.

We are pretty sure they all got eaten by a fade-touched alligator.

NEXT STEPS: Maintain monitoring of vane signals, pursue research/investigation around "Volaris" and "Ascalon". Assume that the Venatori are working actively to collect rifters.

NOTES & LINKS: IC log

Bonjour, mes compatriotes. I have a few things.

The Hangman's Papers, I hope you have all seen—it was not my idea, so I am allowed to say that I think it is a brilliant one. If you want to write something, I am the one you should bring it to—

I am Bastien, if you are new. I am up in the Jeshavis office.

Secondly, I have been thinking about putting together an anthology of legends and tales from rifters' worlds. I've spoken to some individuals about it, but they keep disappearing. Vous savez comment c'est. But the bedtime stories that you grew up with, or the condensed plot of a book you have loved. They would need to be edited and annotated, of course. The purpose would be to underscore the similarities in themes and values and make sure they are relatable under the unfamiliar names and places, to show you are ultimately not that strange, so—if you are that strange, you might need to tone it down, [ he says, with all affection. ]

I am open to being told it would be a disaster. But I have something else that a publisher is going to want very much, that might be leveraged to convince them to take on something more risky in the bargain, so now would be the time.

Third, if you are good at fighting in close quarters, or if you are trying to learn to be good at it, I could use some help with something. You are a given, Yseult, [ in the shifting tone of a personal aside, ] but I can only impose on you so often.

And last, I promise: I am handling our trade negotiations for supplies for the time being, so if there is anything you find to be of poor quality, say so, and I will—you know. Probably tell you it is the best we can afford. But maybe not.

[ Too late in the day, broaching upon early evening, the bone-dry timbre of Richard Dickerson’s voice breaks radio silence to recite from a pre-written list: ]

This is your annual reminder to wash your hands and to avoid intimate contact and shared spaces if you are ill.

Cover your mouths when you cough or sneeze to avoid contaminating each other with your effluvium.

Serious ailments should be reported to me for assessment.

[ There is a pause for him to consider additional detail. Direction. Clarification. He ends the transmission instead. Announcement complete. ]

What the Hel is going on? I don't care if it is a guess or not.

Hello everyone. This is Madame de Foncé speaking, accompanied by Mister Dickerson. There is a whole report written up on the matter which we wish to discuss today. Anyone curious will find it filed among the Project Felandaris records. However, we agreed [sure that's the word for 'Wysteria bullied Richard into it'] that discussing the broad points in a more public venue might do some good.

Go ahead, Mister Dickerson.

Dissection of Madame de Foncé’s arm revealed extensions of the anchor growing outward along the vascular system, confirming the existing supposition that as much of the affected limb should be taken as possible to ensure an anchor is truly separated from its host.

[ There is an odd beat where it seems likely Mister Dickerson is hoping for Wysteria to chirp back in before he continues: ]

It further appears that lyrium has an affinity for -- [ more quietly ] Rifter flesh, for lack of a more delicate distinction. When exposed to Madame de Foncé’s arm it made a fleeting attempt to regrow the parts of her that were missing. [ So the rest of the Wysteria? Another pause. He doesn’t deign to specify. ]

We believe it may hold promise as a healing agent for Rifters if applied topically.

[Which brings them to the true aim of this whole endeavor, the enthusiasm for which has Wysteria's clipping in so briskly after him that there's almost no pause at all between 'if applied topically,' and—]

And so Mister Dickerson and I would like to make a request for volunteers from among the Rifter population. We would like to make a more thorough study of the effects of lyrium on us. I have prepared a sort of sign up form and have posted it on the door of Project Felandaris' office. If you would please add your name to it, Mister Dickerson, and myself, and indeed the general record would be most grateful.

That's all. Thank you. Ask whatever questions you wish to.

[Slightly muffled then, as if the crystal has been lowered away from the general nexus of conversation, Wysteria continues on in the same breath, 'You see, Mister Dickerson? That wasn't painful in the slightest. I hardly see why you were so hesitant—']