Hi, everyone. I'm sorry to have to do this again so soon, but I've been pretty thorough about checking and it seems like Provost Stark has vanished. [Clearly in the way Rifters do; if he'd just gone into Kirkwall and never come back, her tone would certainly be different.]

As his assistant, I'll be filling in as best I can until the organization has picked a new head of Research. I was still kind of getting a handle on his system, but, you know. We'll work it out.

I know we don't have a like ... formal process for this, as we just discussed. [Too recently.] But if anyone wants to have a drink and talk about it. Or not talk about it. I'm around for that too. Standing offer, even if you and I don't know each other as well as we knew him.

You can find me in the Research office for now. If I'm not there, I'll have my crystal on me.

So. [Hi, Riftwatch. How does one do one of these? Is it possible to do it well?] Think it's pretty safe to assume Jude's not on some long-term secret mission, unless a division head wants to speak up.

[There's a moment of silence, though if it's simply out of respect or for trying to figure out what to even say, that's up in the air.]

There's some recipes. So we won't be screwing up his pancakes anymore, among a few other things.

I pity whoever gets that room after, though; the wolf hair's gonna be lingering on everything.

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.

So,

[ very casual, for that one beat. ]

I'm not sure how things are done around here per rifter vanishments. Ceremonially speaking. Thus far it's sort of been a bit of hearsay, a few raised glasses. Somewhere between a resignation and a sudden death, on the spectrum of our understanding. I imagine it depends on your sense of cosmology.

[ That's enough stalling. ]

Richard Dickerson is gone, I think. The Head Healer. So we'll be short a few miracles going forwards.

Anyway,

[ does sound like the start of more talking, but it ends there. ]

SUBJECT: What’s Yours is Mine
PARTICIPANTS: Tertia, Ellis, Barrow, Clarisse, Tiffany, Ellie
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Drakonis
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Having discovered a Venatori mining operation near Alhoven producing cartloads of red lyrium for likely nefarious use, Riftwatch sent a team to destroy the mine and cut off any further production of red lyrium.

REPORT:

Commander, Enchanter,

The mine and its contents have been destroyed.

We can also report that the Venatori leading the operation has been killed. All correspondence and papers recovered from his tent have been bound into the packet accompanying this report for your examination.

Regarding the opposition forces: the mining was accomplished through the use of re-animated corpses, the majority of which were destroyed when we took the mine. It was decided among us to herd the remainder into the mine before we took steps to seal it off. The few living workers and overseers that remained fled rather than attempt combat.

I cannot say whether or not Alhoven will be sufficiently discouraged from further contact with Corypheus and the Venatori, but the mine itself is not a recoverable resource.

– Warden Ellis

NEXT STEPS: Spread word of re-animated corpses through Alhoven and the surrounding villages, take steps to trace the supply lines throughout the region and disrupt them.

NOTES & LINKS:
OOC post
IC Log
Point Tallying Spreadsheet

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

Hey, everyone, it's Cosima. I'm putting together some of the preliminary notes for everything that went down in the Arlathan Forest, and it seems like it would be a good idea to compile a master list of the stuff sacrificed there. I mean, obviously, given the nature of some of the sacrifices we might have to get approximate, but even so ... I think it's information worth preserving. You never know what's gonna end up useful, if nothing else.

If you don't trust the private setting on the crystals, you can come talk to me in the Research work room about it, I'll be here for a while.

[Behold, the dulcet tones of a voice which has been mercifully quiet these many summer months—]

Greetings, Riftwatch! This is Madame de Foncé speaking. Trusting that our packet will eventually be able to claw its way into the harbor rather than what we are presently doing, which is languishing within sight of it until the wind picks back up, I'm pleased to say that I will be imminently in your company once again!

[From somewhere nearby a seagull bawls for effect; the sound is rather complimentary to Wysteria's naturally shrill timbre.]

In the spirit of shaking off all this Fereldan dust [ha ha ha] and returning swiftly to business, I would like it very much if a kind volunteer or volunteers would acquaint me with the recent news. Obviously I would like to know everything that might be said of the trip to the Arlathans. We were both devastated to miss it. [Has she checked with Val to confirm this is a shared sentiment? Surely not.] And whether we have suffered any more curses or assaults by undead hosts, and if there is any change in at the front lines or in Kirkwall which I ought to know of which may not have been discussed on the crystal in these last weeks, and so on. I'm particularly interested to know whether anyone is presently acquainted with a reputable rat-catcher. Although naturally any news of more personal matters would be more than welcome and charming besides.

Also, should I ever manage to successfully arrive there, if someone would be so kind as to meet me on the Kirkwall docks with a large wheelbarrow or sturdy handcart I would be most appreciative.