[There's always work to do, so lazy weekend mornings aren't really a thing for Riftwatch. But you have to take breaks sometime, and the late morning with spring sunlight streaming through the window seems as good a time as any. Or so your provost thinks, evidently.]

Hey everyone. No division head business right now, just wondering. Things fall through rifts now and then. If you could pick something — inanimate object, no people or pets — to turn up from your home world, what would you pick?

Given my well-known, longstanding and committed relationship with our division microscope, I'm not gonna begrudge you something you could use for work if you lean that way. But also live a little if you want to. Like, it's definitely not practical, but man, I'd love a windsurfing board. Getting it back to Kirkwall from wherever the rift is might suck, but totally worth it.

Good morning. I thought I would share some updates on the state of our reputation.

The best news first: out of twenty-seven mentions in this batch of periodicals, twenty of those referenced us in passing and as if there is nothing strange about us whatsoever. That is an improvement. There was a time half of those would have added, parenthesis, an assortment of demons and heretics, close parenthesis, to make sure their readers could follow their meaning. Now we are simply Riftwatch. They expect people to know what that means — which does not mean no one thinks we are demons and heretics. Of course. But they are being reminded less frequently.

Which does unfortunately lead me to Senior Enchanter Verain, formerly of the Circle in Montsimmard, who published an essay in L'hebdomadaire about the state of Thedas in general and gave us an entire paragraph.

[ He clears his throat and takes on the distinct cadence of a Dramatic Reading. ]

These monstrous threats to our safety and security are nothing new, but I am astonished, dismayed, and confounded by our acceptance of monstrous heroes. Even among my own friends, who I once thought the pinnacle of reason, discernment, and steadfast belief in the tenants of the Chant of Light, and in fact befriended because of these qualities, there are those who are shockingly content to trust the fabric of the Veil to creatures who can be nothing but demons and people who have done nothing but enable them. It is no wonder that our dereliction of our own duty in this matter has led us to this devastating moment of truth, dangling from a precipice by grip of a single finger as the Veil and the entire order of our world unravel and rot before our eyes, but I must nevertheless maintain a desperate hope that we will rise to the occasion and not permit these self-professed saviors and secret saboteurs to deliver the killing blow.

So, [ drama over, ] if everyone could stop acting demonic in public, I would appreciate it. But I do like the part where he wants other people to do anything to help. Maybe we should invite him for dinner or something. Do any of you mages know him? Has he always mixed his metaphors?

Here, this one is better, though. Local. An anonymous gossip pamphlet floating around Hightown this week. It says, To the long list of things for which we owe Riftwatch our gratitude, we must add the facades and physiques of their membership. I find myself making excuses to wander into parts of our city I would normally never be spotted, hoping for a glimpse of young brunette ladies who could so clearly lift me above their heads if given cause — which I am happy to provide if any would like to reach out to my publisher and arrange a rendezvous — and one of my dear friends' desire to train a spyglass on the harbor and search for the dark-haired elven man in their ranks, I believe, is single-handedly keeping a local glassworker in business.

Not everyone has lost sight of what is important in the world, you see.

The rest of these are pretty dull, but I am bookmarking our mentions and filling a shelf in the library in case anyone is curious.

Good morning, Riftwatch.

[Barrow is all business, perhaps in an effort to bulldoze through what’s otherwise an uncomfortable topic:]

Just wanted to give you all fair warning that I’ll be out of commission for an… unknown duration of time— short hopefully— as I work my way off lyrium.

If you have need of anything to do with the training yard or the siege weaponry, you can speak to Jayce Talis in my stead. And I suppose if… you have any logistical questions, you can ask the head healer, Stephen Strange.

[he falls silent a moment, awkwardly unsure if more needs saying, then:]

Um. That’s all.

Hey, it's Jayce from Research. Not to worry, this isn't about an unintentional combustion event. I'm looking for any available hands that won't mind testing the resistance force of a project intended to benefit the defenses of the Gallows. We'll need physical and magical force to mimic another siege, so... well, if you're looking to let off some steam, then this might be the perfect excuse to do so in the name of science.

Since these barriers, which are powered by lyrium, will eventually fail under enough force, I'd like to see if they can be... recharged, you know, in a pinch with magic, either from an anchor or a mage. Given how lyrium-hungry this system is, it probably won't amount to much, but we can obtain a baseline and extrapolate the data.

If you're available, let's meet outside the Gwaren outpost in forty-eight hours. Barrow, the Master of Works, will oversee us. Let us know so we can form a rough headcount. Oh, and, uh... if that time conflicts with the majority, then we'll reschedule. All right, thanks.

Good evening! I apologize for the late hour -

[ (all this in a pleasant Fereldan accent belonging to a young man, speaking like he's giving his excuses for being late to tea) ]

- but I'm trying to find the ferry. Am I too late for it?

[ You might be asking yourself: Who is this? How did he get hold of a crystal? Are there more members of Riftwatch who've been magically erased from the world?

Probably it's fine, though. Right? ]

( The voice is, as ever, flat and monotone. )

Colleagues, what think you of rules? Whether those of law, of organisations, culture, or self-imposed.

What is the value of absolutes?

Who here is bravest?