SUBJECT: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Mrs. Fitcher?
PARTICIPANTS: Fitcher, Marcus, Julius, Petrana de Cedoux, Tsenka Abendroth, Bastien, Derrica, Edgard, Flint, Tiffany Hart, Yseult, Dick Dickerson
CLASSIFICATION: Private to Division Heads
DATE FILED: No shame in backdating
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: After orchestrating an attempt to have Marcus framed as a traitor and captured by the Chantry, Mrs. Fitcher skips town.

REPORT:

To provide an account of the events of the past days—

Enchanter Rowntree received a letter appearing to be from contacts of his requesting a meeting. When he rode out to them, accompanied by Enchanter Julius, they were attacked by templars. Enchanter Julius was badly injured and left for dead, and Enchanter Rowntree was dosed with magebane, shackled and carted away with the intention to carry him to the Knight-Commander stationed at Val Chevin.

As you are aware, the mage Tsenka was able to raise the alarm. With her warning, we were able to assemble a group to pursue the party of templars and catch them on the road. There was an altercation. They were uninterested in giving up their captive, and lashed out at our party in the middle of our attempts to convince them of their mistake.

It had been our intention and the Commander's instruction to avoid casualties, but one of their number was killed during the following clash.

They surrendered quickly. Bastien, Seeker Hart and I questioned one of their number. He expressed doubt about whether or not we were truly from Riftwatch, though once he realized we were who we claimed to be Arlyn explained that he and the other templars had received orders from Mother Madeline, of Val Chevin, and their newly-appointed Knight-Commander. They believed that they were acting as a favor to us. They had received letters, Arlyn told us, asking them to capture Marcus Rowntree if they had opportunity. The letters were signed SF.

When discussed among us, it became clear who had written to Mother Madeline: Mrs. Fitcher Enchanter Rowntree believes that it was his investigation into the incident of the abomination that had prompted Madame Fitcher to take action to remove him from Riftwatch.

It was decided that Seeker Hart would return with their group to Val Chevin to review the letters herself. With Enchanter Rowntree freed and Enchanter Julius still in need of healing, we began our return to Kirkwall.

Regarding Mrs. Fitcher, Dick Dickerson reported that she had fled to Ostwick. He could offer no knowledge of her intentions or location beyond that. I believe it's safe to say she won't be returning to Kirkwall or the Gallows now that she has been revealed to us.

It is my recommendation that we focus on determining what else she might have set in motion, rather than seeking her any further, though the Scoutmaster will know better how to proceed.

If any part of my report is unclear, I would be happy to speak further on it in my office at your request.

NEXT STEPS: Continue efforts to locate Madame Fitcher. Review communications and any other projects which she worked on to check for any further sabotage. Verify Fitcher's letters with the Chantry + manage the misunderstanding/miscommunication between offices.

NOTES & LINKS:
marcus receives a letter
a kidnapping
locating marcus
tsenka sounds the alarm
rescue mission
check in with dick dickerson
apprehending dick dickerson

SUBJECT: Hedge Your Bets
PARTICIPANTS: Fitcher & Richard
CLASSIFICATION: Public, but filed with the Scouting office.
DATE FILED: (Backdated, mea culpa) Wintermarch
STATUS: Ongoing in the sense that Caliara still needs to be dealth with, Complete in the sense that the hedge maze is definitely no longer Antiva's Largest Hedge Maze.
SUMMARY: Posing as judges for the Thedas Book of Records, Richard and Fitcher gained access to the estate of Ramondo Caliara, Merchant Prince and proud owner of Antiva's (allegedly!!! Pending measurements!) Largest Hedge Maze in an attempt to uncover the nature of his under the table business dealings. While there, they discovered that he's a secret mage with connections to Tevinter/the Venatori.

REPORT:

Yseult,

Orindarily I might write something charming about the results of our findings with respect to the dimensions of Prince Caliara's hedge maze, but in this case I'll defer to the seriousness of the actual intelligence we managed to collect. I trust you'll forgive my lack of trademark levity.

We managed to collect a number of papers from Caliara's personal records, included in this packet for your reference. They outline a strong connection to Tevinter, including the buying up of various debts and business deals in an effort to gain leverage over Merchant Princes who are already our allies or who mght be persuaded in our direction (Ramires, Nuno, Gonzaga, and so on). I've attached a few notes regarding the intricacies of the bookkeeping, and have called out instance where Caliara seems to have purposefully delayed or spoiled negotiations on deals which might have benefitted certain nations and organizations with which we've allied. There is also fairly unassailable evidence that Caliara has received and pass along intelligence regarding the shipments of weapons and supplies to and from out allies, and that those shipments have a habit of being set on by pirates before reaching their destinations.

There may be additional information of note in the papers—I believe I saw some mention of a special packet belonging to Bassador, for example—, but I'm sure you're aware that any good clerk sees numbers first and foremost.

There can be no question as to Caliara's motivation. He is a mage.

-SF.

P.S. Oh, but a large portion of the hedge maze was set ablaze.

NEXT STEPS: Thwart Caliara's business dealings, investigate some pirates and protect shipments that may be in danger, expose Caliara as a mage?

NOTES & LINKS: IC Log

[out of nowhere, one morning,]

Heard you lot've got yourselves a blighted rift these days. Anyone taken a look-see?

[introductions, what are those]

[ It's later in the afternoon when Sylvie reaches out, the sound of a teacup clinking on the saucer . ]

Two questions for the Rifters who have been here longer than I.

Firstly: Is there anything you've found that works as well as hair bleach in this world, there's a particular look I prefer and it's starting to grow out.

Secondly: There has to be better birth control here than just this disgusting tea isn't there? I feel like someone has to have found and/or concocted up something else by now.

SUBJECT: Dealing With Dragons
PARTICIPANTS: Aleksei, Barrow, Diabhall, Dick, and Emet-Selch
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: Firstfall
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Julius assigned a team to examine the remains of the recently obtained dragon corpse to get a better understanding as to why dragons are usually blight-resistant or how they might be infected with red lyrium.

REPORT:

Dicky, Dibby and Sulch worked over the corpse for a few days, I hope with some results. They didn't seem unsatisfied with what they managed. I shoved their scribbling in beside this report. If you've questions, you'll need to find one of them to get an answer.

I scribbled some on the diagram, where I'd aim if I were trying to kill myself a dragon. Wings first, eyes second, anywhere I splotched the blue ink third.

Course, it'd help if there were someone to distract it long enough for me to get at those points. And if I could fly. Have you worked out a way to manage those things?

NEXT STEPS: More experimentation, while the dragon corpse is still good.

NOTES & LINKS: OOC info | IC Log

Hello, Riftwatch. I'm Kate Bishop, Grey Warden, archer, Forces Division. [ and a youngish, not particularly serious woman from the Free Marches, judging by her voice ] I've been doing a terrible job getting to know all of you good people and I'd like to change that. But I figure, let's see how many birds we can kill with this one stone. We like efficiency here, right? Making the best of limited resources, all that nice underdog stuff.

So I present for you here an opportunity to one, convey your feelings about Grey Wardens to a representative of that organization, namely me; two, ask any questions you have about Grey Wardens and get them answered by a representative of that organization, also me unless Alistair can stop b—canoodling with his very attractive lady friend long enough to help out or Ellis reappears from wherever he's fucked off to; and three, talk to me, which probably involves less useful information but you never know, I'm pretty great.

So, first, a survey of Riftwatch opinions on the Grey Wardens: [ she clears her throat and adopts a less joking, more official tone at least temporarily ]

1. What is your opinion of Grey Wardens? Generally, the overall organization. I guess whether you include those assholes in Weisshaupt right now is sort of part of the question.
   
2. Does the whole Weisshaupt coup thing make you trust all Wardens less?
   
3. Do you feel Wardens are generally more or less trustworthy than the average person, or the same?
   
4. Do you believe all Wardens should have to wear the color grey?
   
5. Do you feel the color grey inspires trust? If not, what is the most trustworthy color?
   
6. Have you heard any of the following rumors about Wardens, and if so, do you believe them?
   1. Wardens have much greater stamina than most people
      
   2. Wardens turn into darkspawn when they die
      
   3. Wardens are immune to hangovers
      
   4. Wardens gradually turn grey over the course of their life. All over, I mean, not just hair.
      
   5. Wardens faked the Fifth Blight
      
   6. Wardens all have weirdly hairy arms
7. What is the one question about Wardens you'd most like answered?

There we go, that's the end. I look forward to recording your insightful responses and someday conveying them to Warden leadership who I'm sure will be grateful for our work.

Dear members of Riftwatch, this is Byerly speaking. Your head of diplomacy. I fear this shall be a message without wit, charm, or ironic deliciousness, so you know it's a serious matter. It hurts me to not charm my listeners.

[ A noise like a cup is being adjusted. ]

Corypheus is an evil man. He claims to be one of the Magisters Sidereal: this was the group that, in ages past, slaughtered countless enslaved men, women, and children in a blood ritual to open the Fade. I personally think that story is the height of bullshit, but whether it's true or not it speaks to the corruption deep at his soul, that he admires the deeds of those men. And he draws on the taint, and on darkspawn - which, believe me, is a sign of someone truly without conscience.

If he takes control, he will bloody our lands. He will kill the defenseless and the vulnerable for more power. And as you all are aware, he is winning this war. The odds are against us - quite literally; in the gambling halls in Lowtown, you will see that the oddsmakers see our victory as a losing proposition. Which begs the question, of course, of what they'll do with the money if they turn out to be right - but that's neither here nor there.

It is worth it to remember that we are all here to stand against an evil man. No matter what we think of one another, no matter our past hurts and our angers, no matter how big an asshole your neighbor is, playing his violin in the middle of the night - that's the most important thing. The men and women that stand beside you are shedding their blood and risking their lives and sanity and safety to stop the advance of a man who would wreck the world. As are you. As am I. We're all damned heroes, lads.

Personally, I've put several gold - several of my own gold, I'm not embezzling, I swear it - on the long odds in that gambling hall. I think that in five years, Kirkwall will be a free city, and my own Denerim will be free, and even Minrathous will be a free place. In the meantime, keep fighting, keep your spirits up, and if anyone is gasping for a mouthful of wine in the face of our most dreadful shortages, I have some bottles stocked up.

[ No greeting, no introduction. Kostos (Nevarran-accented, quiet) is skipping straight to sounding irritated, with everyone, for no clear reason. ]

Rifters will be put into Circles after the war if mages are. Whether they seem to have magic of their own or not.

[ Perhaps this is slightly debatable. Perhaps Riftwatch's division from the Inquisition, taking all of the rifters with it, changes the balance of things. But that's an argument someone else will have to make. ]

So you are all aware.

SUBJECT: Automatic Rift/Rifter Indicator Via Early Detection system
PARTICIPANTS: Wysteria, Erik, Ellis, Holden, Cosima, Hugo, Richard, Margaery, Petra, Nikolai, Ellie, Cassius
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: August
STATUS: Ongoing
SUMMARY: A series of efforts to survey for the installation of, install and maintain the A.R.R.I.V.E.D. system, the network of alerts which respond when a rift (or rifter) manifests nearby.

REPORT:

Provost Stark,

Collected here are the various accounts regarding the installation, maintenance and monitoring (etc) of the Automatic Rift/er Indicator Via Early Detection system. In an effort to make the reporting somewhat more digestible, I have taken the liberty of collating a brief summary for this cover page. What I believe to be the most pressing details are thus:

The early VANEs are susceptible to damage and sabotage by third parties. Recommend development of a more robust locking mechanism or perhaps some minor enchantment in order to discourage alteration to the devices?

A significant source of raw lyrium has been confirmed in the Vinmark Mountains. Please see the attached map for details. A coded noted was found among the articles in the abandoned encampment; I have surrendered the original to Madame de Cedoux, but have preserved a copy here for your records.

Miss Ellie (and Misters Mercier d'Annecy and Ellis) has provided a full report of the area near the enemy's forces at Starkhaven where we might install a VANE. She has been so kind as to provide a (rather good) series of drawings of the area.

Mister Holden has confirmed the presence of deep mushrooms and a suspect lyrium vein near Brunswick-on-Planes and recommends the installation of a VANE device there. In order to effect this, Lady Tyrell and company have assured the magistrate that Riftwatch will assist with rebuilding efforts in the area.

Miss Cosima has plans to conduct a field survey of sites where rifters have arrived in the past six months and other sites of interest in an effort to measure lyrium levels in places with documented rifts. Unfortunately, she and her team were delayed by the invasion; she has assured me that a separate report will follow shortly.

As a last unhappy note, it seems that during the course of Mister Dickerson's survey of the Vinmark foothills (again, see attached for further details/schematics/and so on) the bodies of two rifters were recovered. Mister Dickerson has noted that both were in a significant state of decay, though I would hazard a guess that they were likely felled by whatever demons emerged from the Fade with them. Suffice to say: ample encouragement to crack on with the installation of the ARRIVED network.

Best Wishes,
Wysteria de Foncé
Research Division
Project Felandaris


P.S. 'ARRIVED?' Must everything have such a dreadfully long name?

NEXT STEPS: Complete some misc odds and ends related to the above.

NOTES & LINKS: OOC Info, IC links: Wysteria & Holden explore a cave, Erik forms a team, Ellie does some recruiting, Ellie, Hugo & Ellis skirt the enemy front line, Holden and Gabranth knocks some heads, Cosima asks for back up, Richard's No Good Very Bad Day(s), Margaery & Cassius Talk Strategy

SUBJECT: Burn Book Pt 2: disseminating propaganda in Antiva
PARTICIPANTS: Richard Dickerson
CLASSIFICATION: Public
DATE FILED: August 31
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: On Silver's direction, Dick filed anti-Tevinter pamphlets into playbills for Les Chats in time for opening night.
REPORT:

The materials provided were successfully hand-shuffled into playbills by one of many unremarkable contractors and distributed to a lively audience on opening night. The performance was only otherwise notable for buzz around Magestoffelees’ reluctance to take the stage. Purportedly he appeared with calico ears in place of his signature black pair, and only then with a great deal of persuasion from the director.

There have been rumors a minor Chat sympathetic to Tevinter attempted to sabotage the production after discovering a stack of inflammatory pamphlets backstage. Dedicated fans have attended several consecutive showings in an effort to identify cast changes that might indicate which Chat was to blame.

I'm sorry to report the missing ears were never located.

-D. Dickerson

NEXT STEPS: Return visits to Antiva.
NOTES & LINKS: Relevant log.