SUBJECT: Share & Share Alike
PARTICIPANTS: Derrica, Jayce, Redvers, Stephen Strange, Tertia, & Viktor
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Early Kingsway
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: While escorting Toma Cassel to the Silent Plains to join the rebel faction calling themselves the People of the Silent Plains, as well as deliver to them some basic supplies and weaponry, they are asked to join in attacking a Tevinter military caravan. After successfully overthrowing it, Riftwatch and the People recover a precious artifact, which they ultimately opt to leave in the People's care.

REPORT:

Commander,

I can report that we have made contact with the People of the Silent Plains, and they accepted Toma Cassel into their group. He has promised to maintain correspondance with me during his time with them. Should we have further need of him, I will be able to make contact.

We had most regular conversation with Salonae and Eryx, into whose custody we placed all supplies we had been tasked with transporting. I must also repot that Salonae and Eryx requested our assistance in attacking a nearby supply caravan. Through our combined numbers, we were successful in overturning the caravan with very minor injuries and no casualties. Jayce, Stephen Strange and Viktor made examination of an artifact of interest being transported by the caravan, and it was ultimately decided that it would be given over to the People along with the rest of the supplies we recovered.

No Tevinter soldiers survived the battle, and the indentured accompanying the caravan joined the People. Should you have questions as to the artifacts capabilities, I am sure the three of them would be happy to answer you to the best of their knowledge.

— Derrica

NEXT STEPS: Maintain friendly ties with the People.

NOTES & LINKS: IC Log | OOC post

Greetings, Riftwatch. This is Madame de Foncé speaking. I will be brief.

[Presumably this is met with a round of skeptical noises from every corner of the Gallows.]

This is a formal request for a last slate of volunteers for my inquiry into the effects of lyrium in the anchor shard. Any member of the company with a shard is more than welcome. A sheet has been posted on the notice board in the dining hall, alongside a thorough description of the risks associated with the work. The language of this posting has been reviewed by a number of highly qualified members of this company, and you may take it as fact.

[Have they approved the specific language? Who can say. Certainly Wysteria doesn't specify.]

Trials are to begin promptly, and I require at least one native Theodosian with an anchor and would prefer to have one or two additional Rifters included in the study. All participants will be thoroughly briefed at each stage of the work.

Should you have any questions, you are welcome to extend them. Do not vandalize my pages on the board. Thank you and good day.

SUBJECT: When My Time Comes Around
PARTICIPANTS: Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Wysteria de Foncé, Viktor (colloquially: the imagineers); Gela Baynrac, Benedict Artemaeus, Mobius (time travelers); with fetch quests by Ellie, Derrica, Erik, Peter, Yseult, Bastien, and Matthias.

CLASSIFICATION: Public, with the magi-science appendices for leadership & imagineers’ eyes only.
DATE FILED: Kingsway 9:49
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Riftwatch was lured into an ambush by Tevinter at Granitefell and 16 members perished. 3 weeks later, rifter magi-science invented a time machine powered by dragon blood to go back and warn them, which they did successfully, and the two timelines synced back up as if the bad end never happened.

REPORT:
OOC: To read the footnotes, either a hover or a click will both work!

( As dictated by Stephen Strange to Viktor for transcription and some editing. )

In Solace 9:49, Riftwatch was ambushed at Granitefell by Venatori forces incl. a dragon and dracolisk cavalry. Casualties comprised a full third of our number.

After careful evaluation, Research div. undertook a mission to innovate temporal magic, citing Mme. de Foncé’s expertise in adapting Rifter magic to native techniques, Prov. Stark and Dr. Strange’s practical and theoretical knowledge of temporal magic, Viktor’s experience with spacetime jump gates, and their collective knowledge of arcane engineering.¹

The following Riftwatch members were dispatched to retrieve necessary ingredients²: Ellie, Derrica, Erik Stevens, Peter Parker, Yseult, Bastien, and Matthias.

Using a certain piece of equipment³ to both amplify and focus the magical energies, we were able to send Baynrac, Artemaeus, and Mobius three weeks into the past, although their arrival was slightly mis-timed.⁴ These agents contacted Riftwatch (past ver.) and warned them to retreat, thus successfully avoiding the ambush, and a scout was sent to Granitefell to advise evacuation. De Foncé and Strange remained at the portal to hold it open for the travelers.⁵

The experience of the sync was curious: it was like suddenly waking up here, remembering both timelines at once, until memories of the abandoned timeline slowly faded and became less immediate — and now we live in a world where Granitefell never happened.

We’re unable to reproduce the time travel without first replenishing our supply of ingredients. For the actual technicalities & components used, see the attached appendix.

It’s a powerful tool in our arsenal, but in my professional opinion, one best not trifled with; we don’t know that subsequent uses would work out quite so well as this one did.

Signed, Doctor Stephen Strange, with addenda by Viktor.


I would like to emphasize that this project’s success demanded many hours of physical and mental strain, including great risk to personal safety. Without the contributions of everyone noted above, plus those who provided extra support, this would not have worked. Thank you.
– V.

—————

¹ See also prior Inquisition notes on Magister Alexius and the Redcliffe incident. ( While adjusting the order of cited imagineer experience, Viktor says, “This will make her day.” )

² See appendix. ( The additional appendix for leadership includes schematics of the Magrallen and its repairs, mentions the necessity of dragon blood, contains a list of other exotic ingredients used in casting the spell, and reproduces some of their experimental runes. )

³ Surely you didn’t think we would make it so easy. You’ll find this in the appendix. Good luck finding the appendix.

⁴ Through no particular fault of any particular time sorcerer.

⁵ Poss. future improvement: a way for the time traveler(s) to trigger their own return without someone being stationed at the portal. Amulets?

NEXT STEPS: Refine magical technique to not require actively holding open the portal. Stay alert for future great dragon sightings, in order to replenish blood supply if possible. No plans to actively pursue further time travel, but keeping the technique in their back pocket.

NOTES & LINKS:

• Wiki link
  
• Original OOC post
  
• Log 1: Granite fell, everyone died
  
• Announcement 1: Oh no
  
• Log 2: Sad times at Gallows high
  
• Log 2.5: Weird science
  
• Announcement 2: Weird science goes public
  
• Log 3: Fetch quests
  
• Log 4: Time warp
  
• Announcement 3: Nothing to see here
  
• Log 5: Life, it never die
  
• OOC Wrap-Up

[The (remaining) division heads have already been alerted privately, he knows. Julius didn't ask Yseult what, specifically, she said, but he assumes he's not going to say anything she hadn't included.

His voice is quiet and grave, and if he had to practice this a few times before actively sending it, only four people in Riftwatch will ever know for sure.]

This is Julius. I regret to inform you all that Granitefell was hit with a secondary attack, which has all the earmarks of a planned ambush. We were badly outnumbered, and we took. [A pause, though when he resumes, his voice is still even.] We took incredibly heavy causalities. The few of us who survived will require assistance as quickly as you can manage, as will the few local survivors.

I know you will have questions, and I will try to answer what I can. The others can answer too if they are up to it, of course, but I ask your understanding if they don't as we've all had. [Pause.] A very long night.

Right, we've got a few new faces, ( a droll voice, feminine, intensely starkhaven, ) so I thought, having had an interesting night, that I might offer you all a bit of advice if you are new to Kirkwall.

( you know, not just rifters don't know about kirkwall. )

Being as I've had a year or so now, in it. Do not, unwarily, as an elf or a mage or some exciting combination of the two things what include rifters of the hard to miss variety, go to the Hanged Man. Captain Rowntree knows loads of taverns in the city that you won't get the tar beat out of you, and a few where you might be able to arrange it a bit more consensually. And I can ask him if his face scares you. Plus I know a few.

[ A muted clearing of the throat, a distant rustle of paper. Then Derrica's voice comes over the crystal, light but firm. ]

If I could have everyone's attention for a moment, there is a very urgent matter to make you aware of.

I've had a letter to the Project Haven office informing me that a Chantry Mother will be arriving and staying some time in the Gallows. She is charged with gathering information on how Riftwatch operates, and intends to conduct interviews until she is satisfied she's reached an understanding as to how we approach our work.

[ As calmly as she states this news, it is apparent what they might consider this visitor to be: an impending problem. ]

I know there are many among us, even among our leadership, who enjoy an argument. And I know it will be difficult to refrain from engaging this visitor when she may try to provoke any of us she comes across. But this is not the time to do so. We cannot try to debate this woman, or sway her to acknowledge our views. It is important this visit proceeds as smoothly as possible. If she finds reason, Mother Pleasance could bring the Chantry's scrutiny down on us in a far more serious capacity. Winning an argument with her isn't worth risking such a thing.

[ Again, the minor rustle of papers. An exhale of breath that stops just short of qualifying as a sigh. ]

Beyond that, there is no reason to allow her knowledge of certain aspects of our work. I believe the Division Heads will go over specifics in the coming hours, but I can tell you that much of Research's work should not be spoken of. Experiments involving the anchors and lyrium, our work regarding the Gates, the artifacts and other items in the basement [ delicately avoiding the words possessed Averesch relations ] and the gun Wysteria built should never be mentioned to her, regardless of what questions the Mother puts to you or interest she shows.

If she is to question you regarding those who support our work, or any of the resources available to us, simply tell her you don't know, or refer her to your Division Head. Don't tell her about our access to the Crossroads, or our eluvians, or give any names of those we count as allies.

And it may sound like a small thing in comparison, but don't share with her any details about each other. She may wish to speak of the people you work alongside, and those questions should be deferred as politely as possible.

Rifters, she may press you for information about the world you arrived from. Be aware of how the Chantry perceives you. If you must share information with her, choose topics of little importance. Don't speak to her of magic or religions in your world, or anything that could be misconstrued as heretical. [ which, admittedly, could be most things, so Derrica adds, ] If you cannot avoid saying nothing, speaking of food or weather is likely the easiest route to take.

Mother Pleasance is seeking information as to our work here, and I don't think she'll be content to leave empty-handed. The Division Heads will go over safe topics more thoroughly, but it is our thinking that we might safely share our commitment to stopping Corypheus and the Venatori. If she presses for answers as to how we are going about it, we might tell her non-specifically about our work in identifying Venatori spies, preventing their sabotage or attacks. If she wishes to speak of Research Division's work, give her very general answers about the ARRIVED system and [ a beat, looking at a list. ] germ theory.

[ ok. ]

It is also safe to speak of such things as bicycles, or attempts to cleanse red lyrium and their work in seeking information to help us kill Corypheus' dragon.

If you are just trying to derail a conversation with her, I would recommend speaking of entertainment like Les Chats, or something similarly harmless. If you find yourself with no ideas as to what you might say, defer her to me, or to your Division Head. Excuse yourself and claim urgent work.

We believe she will be arriving in a few days time, so if there is anything you need to do to prepare yourselves, do it now, please. And I've been speaking at length, so if you've questions now, please. I am happy to answer.

[ ooc / get your assignments here! this doc contains a run down of each division briefing and a list of who has been designated a wrangler and who has been designated as DNI, along with info and assignments specific to each category. questions to the plot post please! ]

What does everybody do with their hair around here? –Or beard, or whatever hair you're comfortable discussing over the crystals. Keeping mine like this is finally starting to become a liability. If you're gonna make a joke about that I've heard it before, fifty times, so shut up in advance.

Thanks.

(... Sound of the crystal immediately being picked up again,) And can I pay somebody to trim the ends? Nothing crazy.

SUBJECT: Movers and Shakers
PARTICIPANTS: Abby, Bastien, Derrica, Edgard, Ellie, Ellis, Gela, Gwenaëlle, John Silver, Julius, Loxley, Marcus, Matthias, Stephen Strange, Tsenka, Vanya
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Harvestmere
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Teams dispatched across Thedas to handle various mage-related assignments in the wake of the Conclave attempt, such as making contact with Rivaini communities and isolationist mages, arranging patrons for mage-sympathetic authors, mediate conflict in Marcher villages, and assist in raiding Venatori supply lines.

REPORT:Commander,

I've a summary for you of the progress made on the month's work.

Bastien and Edgard contacted Madame Cordier and were able to persuade her and her daughters to take on the project of publishing Serrah Tinel's work. He can expect distribution to go ahead in the coming year, and I assume we can expect his cooperation on all matters related to the Hercinia harbor.

Enchanter Rowntree, Ellie and Warden Ellis reported trouble in their work alongside Inquisition forces. A disagreement over what should be done with a large amount of tainted lyrium discovered during their raids ended with Warden Ellis forcing their commanding officer, Livia Glas, to relinquish the goods by claiming them for the Grey Wardens.

We can expect that this argument will be reported back to the Inquisition. Though the lyrium itself was destroyed, a sample was kept for testing by our people. A second sample is on hand if the Inquisition inquires, and Enchanter Rowntree sent word to them reporting Livia Glas' conduct during their shared mission. Our Diplomacy Division may reach out themselves, to repeat our concerns regarding Livia Glass, and to warn the Inquisition of the danger this lyrium posed. They might test their own stock and any other stock that has been recovered during similar raids.

It might be necessary to warn our own templars as well, and set someone to look into the chain of import that produced that batch of lyrium.

Gela, Stephen Strange, Vanya Orlov and I had some difficulty in Cledwyn. Sister Merran had been taken ill herself, and in the grip of fever created a fear in the villagers that demons were instigating their poor fortune.

It is thanks to Gela and Vanya's efforts that we were able to provide treatment to Sister Merran. Serrah Strange discovered the cause of their troubles. The crop was diseased, and while his methods were able to save some of their yield, some had to be destroyed. Gela's work with the villagers had earned the villagers trust, and with Sister Merran recovered, we were able to come to some decisions with the villagers as to what would be needed.

They requested some of the refugees be moved onwards from their village. We escorted a group into Kirkwall, with the hopes that they will be able to find work in the city during the winter months. It had also been suggested that with much of the Free Marches having seen damage through raids this summer and fall, that Cledwyn may be able to provide for them some assistance, due to their working mills. If we could facilitate these things, it would be greatly appreciated and I believe would impress Sister Merran further.

Regarding my work with Abby, Gwenaëlle, and Loxley in Sanavo village, we were able to successfully close the rift that had been hampering their work. I believe we made a good impression on the villagers and their leaders. I believe we would be happily received should Riftwatch representatives need to revisit Sanavo any time in the future.

– Derrica

NEXT STEPS:
● Fall out from invoking the Right of Conscription and alienating Livia Glas, determine what kind of ripple effects this might have with Riftwatch's relations to the Inquisition and by extension, the Chantry.
● Follow up with the trade house that transported the corrupted lyrium; Orzammar may be the place to start.
● Maintain contact with Sister Merran regarding the situation in Cledwyn. Transition groups of refugees onward from the village, and provide added support for the village by connecting them with villages in need of their intact mills or sending on supplies so they might have enough supplies to get through winter.
● Maintain friendly correspondence with Sanavo villagers.
● Promote distribution of Charles Tinel's work.

NOTES & LINKS:
While the report will appear as composed above, Derrica will not include any information in writing as to the presence of several Dairsmuid survivors living in Sanavo. She will report these findings, as well as their acquisition of the rogue Dairsmuid Templar, his new Kirkwall address and his willingness to address the Conclave verbally to Commander Flint.

OOC assignment
Separate report for Isolationist Mage Expedition
Bastien + Edgard @ Charles Tinel
Abby, Derrica, Gwen + Loxley @ Rivain
Ellie, Ellis, + Marcus @ Starkhaven
Derrica, Gela, Strange + Vanya @ Cledwyn

Salut, everyone.

If you are in Scouting, or if you are half in Scouting, [ like him, Actual Diplomacy Member, ] or if your work often overlaps or, [ sighing at the growing expanse of his own list and the futility of trying to meaningfully contain secrets, ] you work in Orlais enough to consider murderous Orlesians your problem—

[ Does that cover everyone? asks his pause. Yes, answers his lack of additional items. ]

—I need to meet with you. After dinner this evening, if you can. If you can't, we'll arrange something else.

I am going to teach you about how bards signal each other. The very basics. It won't be fun, [ is a choice he is making, because he resents the everlasting war for making him feel obliged to do this, ] but it will be quick. If you want something more detailed afterwards, you can bring me a present and I will consider it.

[ OOC: The lessons will not be logged out because boooring; characters who participate via handwave can add a rudimentary understanding of this bard nonsense to their resumes. (In-depth lessons will cost you a thread though. >:]) ]