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I don't know how much of Tav's condition filtered through the rumor mill [she assumes some, since keeping a rifter routinely under guard would be hard to hide and because he'd made some ill-advised comments by sending crystal], but his condition didn't really have a physical component as far as I'm aware. It was a magical effect. Still, you could talk to him if he's willing to discuss it with you. Tangentially related, maybe.
I don't think I know of any other ... Well, maybe a stretch, but I remember reading a copy of an Inquisition report from before my time. Reports of an artifact causing non-mages to see through the Veil to the Fade involuntarily. Scant on details, but I can earmark it for you if you think it's useful. Unfortunately, I don't think we're still in contact with anyone who experienced it, or at least not close contact.
I don't think I know of any other ... Well, maybe a stretch, but I remember reading a copy of an Inquisition report from before my time. Reports of an artifact causing non-mages to see through the Veil to the Fade involuntarily. Scant on details, but I can earmark it for you if you think it's useful. Unfortunately, I don't think we're still in contact with anyone who experienced it, or at least not close contact.
Look, even without Tranquility in the mix: I can't control what other people feel or don't feel. Recognizing an apology is necessary and making one is important, whatever someone's emotions are doing. [Or not doing.]
But yeah, I get why absolutes are comforting. And you were actively encouraged to think that way for years. I know that. But I just ... [A pause before she settles on:] It's not my experience of how the world works. Worlds, guess, either where I'm from or Thedas. People, and the systems they build, are messy and complicated and sometimes contradictory. There's nothing wrong with you if you're complicated too. There wasn't and there isn't.
But yeah, I get why absolutes are comforting. And you were actively encouraged to think that way for years. I know that. But I just ... [A pause before she settles on:] It's not my experience of how the world works. Worlds, guess, either where I'm from or Thedas. People, and the systems they build, are messy and complicated and sometimes contradictory. There's nothing wrong with you if you're complicated too. There wasn't and there isn't.
Totally understandable. But unfortunately, like, asking or not asking isn't going to make her mad or not mad. Your options are either ask how she feels and maybe find out, or don't ask and definitely don't find out. And I know that it can feel like, well, if you don't know, maybe it's not as real. But however she feels is already real, whether you ask about it or not, you know?
[ There's a pause before Clarisse says, ] Yeah.
[ That's all true. There's no getting around it. And Cosima's right, not knowing has been stressful, but it's also been a way to keep herself from accepting blame, a way to use ignorance to her advantage. ]
Okay. I'll talk to her.
[ That's all true. There's no getting around it. And Cosima's right, not knowing has been stressful, but it's also been a way to keep herself from accepting blame, a way to use ignorance to her advantage. ]
Okay. I'll talk to her.
Hey. [More sympathetic.] I really hope it goes easier than you're expecting. Puts your mind at rest. But however it goes, if you need a drink or someone to listen, or both of those, my door's always open. Seriously.
Thanks, Cosima. [ It's genuine, if a little embarrassed. ] It helps to have someone, you know, wiser to ask about this shit.
Well, older at least. No, I mean, really. I'm happy to help if I can.
And for what it's worth, I've grieved the loss of enough friends to say ... you deserve a bit of grace. No one makes the best decisions in the thick of it, so don't beat yourself up, regardless of how anything else goes, OK?
And for what it's worth, I've grieved the loss of enough friends to say ... you deserve a bit of grace. No one makes the best decisions in the thick of it, so don't beat yourself up, regardless of how anything else goes, OK?
[ "I've grieved the loss of enough friends" hits differently than it would have a year ago. Clarisse has seen other rifters go. Jude was her friend. But this is the first time someone who was such a major part of her life has disappeared, and the longer she stays here, the higher the chances are that it will keep happening.
Of course, what's the alternative? Being the one who goes. And the thought of that makes her feel just as sick. ]
I'll try not to.
Of course, what's the alternative? Being the one who goes. And the thought of that makes her feel just as sick. ]
I'll try not to.
[ On a bright and crisp wintery day (before forgetti-spaghetti plot): ]
Provost Niehaus, this is Jayce Talis. Nothing exploded. Just... pre-emptively. [ Here, his voice picks up with excitement. ] No, I've been working on a portable, lyrium-powered barrier system, something I think could make a true difference in our defenses if we're attacked on home soil again, and--
[ wait ]
--and, [ is flagging, sheepish, ] I'm-- I'm sorry, is this a good time?
Provost Niehaus, this is Jayce Talis. Nothing exploded. Just... pre-emptively. [ Here, his voice picks up with excitement. ] No, I've been working on a portable, lyrium-powered barrier system, something I think could make a true difference in our defenses if we're attacked on home soil again, and--
[ wait ]
--and, [ is flagging, sheepish, ] I'm-- I'm sorry, is this a good time?
No, you're good, now's fine. Love a conversation that begins with "nothing exploded."
[The tone is cheery enough, though.]
Loop me in, what's up?
[The tone is cheery enough, though.]
Loop me in, what's up?
He's rather open of it.
[ and guards in the infirmary, of course isaac's asked — ]
But I'd be much obliged, if you've no trouble dredging that report.
[ and guards in the infirmary, of course isaac's asked — ]
But I'd be much obliged, if you've no trouble dredging that report.
Right. So, a barrier system capable of shielding an area as large as one of our towers or as small as temporary camp. I'll run the schematics by you, but I've gotten as far as confirming it can withstand the blunt and explosive forces limited to what I'm capable of which, obviously, holds little weight in the face of another attack. I'd like to request one or two of our mages to assess its full endurance, but I'll need more lyrium for that.
[ The excitement in his response is obvious, well-tempered. The request is obvious: ]
May I obtain authorization to utilize Riftwatch funding for it?
[ The excitement in his response is obvious, well-tempered. The request is obvious: ]
May I obtain authorization to utilize Riftwatch funding for it?
Edited (forgot link) 2024-12-09 01:42 (UTC)
Very cool, love not getting hit with things when I'm in a building or a tent.
Point one, definitely hit up some mages. We're thin on the ground with official Research members, though you can check with Porthmeus. The seneschal is technically in Diplomacy, but if I remember right he has a facility with force magic; he might come try to bash some stuff into shields if you ask nicely. And Strange, of course, but I keep assigning him things and he's probably got his hands full, to be honest.
As far as funding goes, I can give you a chunk of discretionary funds to get your started once I take a look at the schematics. But lyrium's expensive, so I'll probably need to clear any bigger outlay of funds with the other div heads if you're planning to scale. That said, once you've got a prototype, we should probably be looping the Commander in anyway, so.
Can you evaluate it on a camp-sized setup without costing us several months' research budget? I don't know how much your prototype would need.
Point one, definitely hit up some mages. We're thin on the ground with official Research members, though you can check with Porthmeus. The seneschal is technically in Diplomacy, but if I remember right he has a facility with force magic; he might come try to bash some stuff into shields if you ask nicely. And Strange, of course, but I keep assigning him things and he's probably got his hands full, to be honest.
As far as funding goes, I can give you a chunk of discretionary funds to get your started once I take a look at the schematics. But lyrium's expensive, so I'll probably need to clear any bigger outlay of funds with the other div heads if you're planning to scale. That said, once you've got a prototype, we should probably be looping the Commander in anyway, so.
Can you evaluate it on a camp-sized setup without costing us several months' research budget? I don't know how much your prototype would need.
No problem, I'll send it over.
[And, a few days later, she will. For now:]
And yeah, I guess Tav hasn't been especially secretive. Strange and I theorized that it was ... mind over matter sounds like shit when you boil it down that far. But given his nature as a rifter and the condition's origin in his home reality, we thought he might be able to sever the connection to that particular aspect in the Fade. We weren't in there with him, so I can't confirm it was that exactly, but it ties a little into what you're talking about, I think. Things about us rifters that are true, but kind of true in a different way than they would be for a Thedas native.
[And, a few days later, she will. For now:]
And yeah, I guess Tav hasn't been especially secretive. Strange and I theorized that it was ... mind over matter sounds like shit when you boil it down that far. But given his nature as a rifter and the condition's origin in his home reality, we thought he might be able to sever the connection to that particular aspect in the Fade. We weren't in there with him, so I can't confirm it was that exactly, but it ties a little into what you're talking about, I think. Things about us rifters that are true, but kind of true in a different way than they would be for a Thedas native.
Sure can. [ He burned through his supply of lyrium to get this far in the project, purchased with his own funds, and perhaps not through the most legit of channels, BUT. ] Baseline cost approximates [ insert grams of lyrium here ] per post. The system requires at least two posts to generate the barrier. More posts, more surface area. One of those posts serves as the main conduit -- system won't work without it. Right now they're portable [ technically, albeit heavy af ], but they should be anchored down for stability when installed. We've -- that is, Viktor and I -- we've got it set up outside the Gwaren outpost. The plan's to test it one more time, then install it at the Gallows.
[ A beat passes before he adds: ] We'll need to decide which tower to install it around.
[ A beat passes before he adds: ] We'll need to decide which tower to install it around.
Mind over matter's the root of my employment.
[ ha ha. ]
Even sparing detail, it's a marked achievement. If his condition represented something akin to a curse, as translated, perhaps –
[ viktor's condition remains the most visible in riftwatch, and it's difficult to trip about his particular expertise. ]
– Well, there's more than the mind to direct it. Runes shape lyrium. Hold a spell, beyond the limitation of mortal belief.
[ ha ha. ]
Even sparing detail, it's a marked achievement. If his condition represented something akin to a curse, as translated, perhaps –
[ viktor's condition remains the most visible in riftwatch, and it's difficult to trip about his particular expertise. ]
– Well, there's more than the mind to direct it. Runes shape lyrium. Hold a spell, beyond the limitation of mortal belief.
I imagine that's going to be a joint tactical decision. I can see pros and cons for both choices offhand. Do you have any thoughts, especially from a technical perspective we should keep in mind? Like, would it be more effective on one than the other?
OK, well, fair enough.
As a rifter, I don't know how much I want to encourage people outside the organization to think of our nature as fundamentally mutable. I think that's an oversimplification regardless. But I do think magebane isn't wild, as a hypothesis. I'm not sure if any of us have ever been Silenced either, though I couldn't sweat to it one way or another. I haven't personally, and I can't imagine a lot of volunteers for that one, under the circumstances. But I think it might pay to be flexible, in how we think about rifters and illness.
If you try it, I'd be interested to know what you learn.
As a rifter, I don't know how much I want to encourage people outside the organization to think of our nature as fundamentally mutable. I think that's an oversimplification regardless. But I do think magebane isn't wild, as a hypothesis. I'm not sure if any of us have ever been Silenced either, though I couldn't sweat to it one way or another. I haven't personally, and I can't imagine a lot of volunteers for that one, under the circumstances. But I think it might pay to be flexible, in how we think about rifters and illness.
If you try it, I'd be interested to know what you learn.
You'll be the first [ after viktor, petrana, strange; and potentially several external contacts ] to know. Thank you for the indulgence of your time.
It's my job. And hey, any question that's not an emergency in disguise [well, it sounds like it a little bit is, but not an urgent one at least] could be worse.
I'll get you over that report.
I'll get you over that report.
[ the dots, ness is connecting them: so that's what gwenaëlle meant about the commander's beloved blondes. she knows petrana well enough, they're in diplomacy, they've done a mission together—and she already knows what ness can do, because julius knows what she can do. the commander knows, because julius and petrana know. that... sits ill, and the nauseous realization is clear on her face.
no more ill, to be fair, than the idea of gwenaëlle knowing because stephen did, if gwenaëlle hadn't got to her first, but still. her safety hangs on such a fine tether here. if she thinks too hard about the possibility that everyone who knows has already told a bedfellow, or a friend, and they've told someone, and they've told someone, and...
she gets a little light-headed. ness pulls herself deliberately back to the conversation at hand, focusing on cosima through the ocean-sound of panic rushing through the back of her mind. ]
Ah—minimal, though not zero? There were incidents here in the Gallows when I first arrived, but there haven't been any since I began training with the Doctor. I think it'd be irresponsible to claim no risk at all, though, just because of how reactive magic can be to one's emotions and stress.
no more ill, to be fair, than the idea of gwenaëlle knowing because stephen did, if gwenaëlle hadn't got to her first, but still. her safety hangs on such a fine tether here. if she thinks too hard about the possibility that everyone who knows has already told a bedfellow, or a friend, and they've told someone, and they've told someone, and...
she gets a little light-headed. ness pulls herself deliberately back to the conversation at hand, focusing on cosima through the ocean-sound of panic rushing through the back of her mind. ]
Ah—minimal, though not zero? There were incidents here in the Gallows when I first arrived, but there haven't been any since I began training with the Doctor. I think it'd be irresponsible to claim no risk at all, though, just because of how reactive magic can be to one's emotions and stress.
Honestly, I wouldn't ask or expect zero risk. Years ago, the seneschal accidentally slammed a sparring partner into the ground with magic. [Inadvertently speaking of said beloved blonde(s).] For what it's worth, he felt really bad. But it's ... things that are powerful have the potential for dangerous, I get that. Minimal is plenty, especially given the results you've already seen from training.
[Cosima exhales, thinking all this through.]
So that leaves us with the PR side. I get why you want to keep it as quiet as possible, and I don't think that's wrong. [A brief pause as she runs through the roster in her mind.] I honestly think with full Riftwatch members, the only ones you'd deeply have to worry about are Keen, though you probably figured that out yourself, and anyone too new to be sure of their motivations. We did have a Chantry spy once, a few years ago, so that's not impossible again, though I suspect right now they have bigger fish to fry.
Unless the other Div heads feel differently, we'll leave this need-to-know for now, but you might think about letting people you trust know when you feel comfortable. You're not technically doing blood magic if there's no blood, and I think people will be ... Once you've already got a bond of trust, people in Riftwatch have learned to roll with a lot, especially the long-timers. They might surprise you. And having more people in your corner might help you feel less exposed. But I'm going to leave it to you, okay?
[Cosima exhales, thinking all this through.]
So that leaves us with the PR side. I get why you want to keep it as quiet as possible, and I don't think that's wrong. [A brief pause as she runs through the roster in her mind.] I honestly think with full Riftwatch members, the only ones you'd deeply have to worry about are Keen, though you probably figured that out yourself, and anyone too new to be sure of their motivations. We did have a Chantry spy once, a few years ago, so that's not impossible again, though I suspect right now they have bigger fish to fry.
Unless the other Div heads feel differently, we'll leave this need-to-know for now, but you might think about letting people you trust know when you feel comfortable. You're not technically doing blood magic if there's no blood, and I think people will be ... Once you've already got a bond of trust, people in Riftwatch have learned to roll with a lot, especially the long-timers. They might surprise you. And having more people in your corner might help you feel less exposed. But I'm going to leave it to you, okay?
[ julius has always struck ness as such a mild person that the idea of him doing anything that could be described as "slamming" rings bizarre; ness can't help a quiet chuckle at the thought, then bites her lip to refocus herself, and whatever fleeting mirth she felt dissipates quickly. that the provost clearly takes her concern seriously is gratifying, the possibility—and previous reality—of a spy is less so.
feeling less exposed the more people know about her magic is such a basically contradictory thing that she's almost derailed entirely puzzling over it... but it's tangential, really, beyond the point. she's told the provost about her magic, received assurance that she's not to be tossed on her ass or out of cosima's good graces for having kept it secret for so long, and can put one of her myriad fears to rest. all in all, this conversation has been an unequivocal success.
her expression of gratitude is only the slightest bit performative; the difference between how ness would demonstrate the emotion to a superior instead of a friend. ]
I appreciate that, Provost. Thank you for the advice, and your understanding. If anything about the situation changes, or there becomes cause for concern, I will make you and the other division heads aware immediately. And...
[ it's better to thank than to apologize, but—she hesitates, shifting her weight, speaking less to an authority figure this time than a person she could like to befriend. ]
I apologize that it took me so long to say anything. I'll be more forthcoming in future.
[ to cosima specifically, anyway, since she took this so well. tbd for the rest of the div heads. ]
feeling less exposed the more people know about her magic is such a basically contradictory thing that she's almost derailed entirely puzzling over it... but it's tangential, really, beyond the point. she's told the provost about her magic, received assurance that she's not to be tossed on her ass or out of cosima's good graces for having kept it secret for so long, and can put one of her myriad fears to rest. all in all, this conversation has been an unequivocal success.
her expression of gratitude is only the slightest bit performative; the difference between how ness would demonstrate the emotion to a superior instead of a friend. ]
I appreciate that, Provost. Thank you for the advice, and your understanding. If anything about the situation changes, or there becomes cause for concern, I will make you and the other division heads aware immediately. And...
[ it's better to thank than to apologize, but—she hesitates, shifting her weight, speaking less to an authority figure this time than a person she could like to befriend. ]
I apologize that it took me so long to say anything. I'll be more forthcoming in future.
[ to cosima specifically, anyway, since she took this so well. tbd for the rest of the div heads. ]
Edited (fully forgot i meant to suggest a bow for this) 2025-03-29 23:05 (UTC)
Wow, can't believe you weren't satisfied with that helpful and thorough report.
[She gestures for Yseult to sit down if she wants; the chair across from Cosima's is comfortable enough, though Yseult will have to move at least three books to sit on it.]
Nothing substantial. I could probably get more out of Viktor, now that we've seen it's not forthcoming through official channels. Maybe lean on the seneschal, but I wonder if I'm only thinking of that because I can picture the way Isaac's eyelid would twitch. What are you thinking?
[She gestures for Yseult to sit down if she wants; the chair across from Cosima's is comfortable enough, though Yseult will have to move at least three books to sit on it.]
Nothing substantial. I could probably get more out of Viktor, now that we've seen it's not forthcoming through official channels. Maybe lean on the seneschal, but I wonder if I'm only thinking of that because I can picture the way Isaac's eyelid would twitch. What are you thinking?
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