[Shoved under Emet-Selch door at some point during his enforced quarantine is a packet of papers with a handwritten (distinctly lovely handwriting at that) questionnaire. The following instructions are pinned to its cover: 'Welcome to Riftwatch! Please fill out the following survey to the best of your ability and return it to the desk of W.A. Poppell in the Base Operations office. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out for clarification. Best Wishes, W.A. de Foncé, Research Division, Assistant to the Seneschal, Project Felandaris.'
The following survey is...expansive.]
Questionnaire Section A Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:46)
Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?
Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?
Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?
Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space? Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?
Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)? Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.
Questionnaire Section B Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them
Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard? Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.
Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities. Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.
Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?
Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?
Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process? Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?
(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)
[hello i'm late as FUCK but am i still doing this? yes. yes i am. maybe things happened and this just didn't get dropped off for (checks wrist) time. but this will be returned, eventually, to her desk, answered in equally lovely handwriting.
abby i'm not even going to try to reformat this here we go.]
Questionnaire Section A Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:46)
Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?
-Conceptually, somewhat familiar. The phenomenon I am most familiar with, known previously as the Underworld and currently as the Lifestream, is the flow of aetherial energy through which all life passes and returns.
Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?
-Yes and no. Aether is present within the world outside the Lifestream as well, and it exists within and around the world, visible to those who've the sight for it. It is possible to draw aether from, for some, and it is as possible for a very few individuals to draw souls from it as well; souls enter upon death, prior to their reincarnation, but a living soul may be willingly flung in as well, which is a reckless act and most certainly not recommended.
Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?
-Yes.
Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space?
-Drawn from the same root, yes, but not necessarily the source.
Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?
-Performing spellwork is, for most, a matter of harnessing the aether that exists within the world and the soul itself and manipulating it to one's own ends. It is naturally occurring, save for those who have the biological disadvantage of being unable to manipulate aether themselves. For still others, a far higher capacity for magic exists.
Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)? Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.
-Mayhap you should rework your questions in full. Under normal circumstances: anywhere upon the scale, dependent upon a variety of factors such as current age and form.
Questionnaire Section B Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them
Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard? Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.
-Refer to note above.
Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities. Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.
-Refer to reference to note above.
Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?
-The presence of the shard itself: no. My presence here, however, seems to have dampened my inherent magical capability considerably. In case you find the phrasing unclear: this would be negative, by my estimation.
Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?
-None. I do not find myself particularly threatened by its presence.
Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process? Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?
(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)
-This has never stopped the truly hardheaded before, and thus I wish you luck in the effort.
The undersigned certifies this is all roughly accurate, to the extent that the willingness to answer unsolicited questions exists, and assures the recipient of the utmost seriousness in so undertaking said response;
Emet-Selch, prior occupant of the Seat of the Architect, previous Emperor of Garlemald et al.
[A few days later, a reply surfaces by way of the mail cubby which has been marked with his name in the dining hall. Its (remarkably brief, and bitingly prim) contents read—]
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your response to the survey. Your notes, such as they are, have been taken under advisement though are unlikely to be incorporated until a later date. The copies of this survey were drafted at an earlier date and at present given the state of the war, it would be irresponsible to waste the paper onto which they have been copied.
Welcome to Riftwatch.
Regards, Wysteria de Foncé Research Division Project Felanaris
There's a strange light cast against the wall of one of the corridors that Prudence finds herself walking down; she pauses, continues, and then comes back to it again, tilting her head and letting her eyes unfocus to better understand what it is that has brought her attention to this moment.
There's a flickering of the light cast against the wall, here. She follows it to a storage room, where there's a case with a slipcover that has fallen off to the side. A closer look confirms they're Antivan grenades.
The question is: do they belong there?
Prudence frowns at the contents before she runs her fingers along the edge of the crate. She doesn't turn around.
His tone remains casual, however, unaccusing. He'd observed the shift in direction that brought her here, chosen to follow out of curiosity; he leans against the doorframe for the moment, arms folded.
An ample enough supply of them most days, yes. Is there aught you require of me?
[-said with the very faintly tired tone of someone who hopes this is not the 'can you help with a physical task' kind of minute, but. he's answering, regardless.]
A rather more specific danger than the already-existing threat it poses to the world as a whole, I take it-- though I do seem to recall some mention made that we in particular would be no better off with them than elves might.
Elaborate, then.
where did that comma in the last tag come from wtf
[ well it only took checks notes three or so people before he found someone who'd heard anything about this. ]
They have an interest in capturing people with anchors. It's likely they're monitoring for rifts just like we are. Except when they find rifters, or Theodosians with anchors, they do shit like experimenting on them.
Unsurprising, given what I have heard and seen of them-- and by the same token, I do not doubt them to be unpleasant experiments. But with that in mind, they may well derive more than experimental data from our kind.
I do not know if you were informed that they attempted to deliver unto us a large, fairly complicated explosive device, but my understanding was that such things are hardly commonplace in this world.
[so: are they developing it on their own? or do they need to have other concerns about this interest in rifters?]
[ it's not entirely a surprise, given cosima's experiences. it's not entirely a surprise, after the dreams in wintermarch. there's a reason why one of his biggest fears about the idea of capture is what information he might give them from home. bad enough to risk giving them access to the anchor, to whatever he knows of riftwatch; but imagine venatori with the knowledge of rail guns, or pdcs, or missiles. with protomolecule.
he breathes out, heavily. the implications are — terrible. hadn't he talked to both ellie and abby about the idea of the imperium having rifters already? that it's horrifying doesn't make it impossible. ]
Yeah, [ he says after a moment. ] So you understand why it's important to watch your back, here in Thedas.
[ maybe this isn't the tack he should've taken with emet-selch. the mistrust riftwatch treats him with can't be endearing them to him. i'm worried about your safety might not be as compelling as i can guarantee they'll treat you worse than we might. he still has the chance to hammer that point home.
but whatever the man's past — and it's not a minor thought in his mind — he has yet to do anything objectionable here. he fought with them against the undead. he's sharing this information now. he cares about the welfare of that refugee child and his mother. jim doesn't have any particular reason to distrust him; and so, in this moment, doesn't. ]
You say this, [he says mildly,] as if Thedas has not given me reason to watch my own back already. Few others will, after all.
[by most measures, he's someone who would be high risk for riftwatch were he to be in the imperium's company-- he remains unsurprised by the lengths they will go to because he has done these things before. the risks described are things the empire of garlemald might easily have done to rifters as well, in their position.
this isn't, historically speaking, the side he's usually on.]
But if you mean to dissuade me from the thought of turning to them, I assure you I am not nearly so foolish as that.
[ well, fair enough. he makes a sound of agreement to the first point. thedas is a dangerous place, and it's a lesson every rifter has to learn early. they're a long way from kansas, whatever their lives were before.
to the second, he says, ]
I mean for you to understand what risks you're taking whenever you leave the Gallows. [ a beat, then, ] But it doesn't hurt to hear that you weren't thinking about it.
[with a hint of amusement:] Well, I am glad to put your mind at ease, then.
[but that tone's gone when he continues.]
Their leader is hardly the first of his kind I have heard of, nor are their methods unfamiliar to me; I've no illusions about what people like that will do to those who work with and for them, if it suits their own ends. Grey areas exist within their ranks, I am sure, but on the whole... I do prefer it here, still, regardless of how their restrictions may chafe.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a survey;
The following survey is...expansive.]
no subject
abby i'm not even going to try to reformat this here we go.]
Questionnaire Section A
Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:46)
Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?
-Conceptually, somewhat familiar. The phenomenon I am most familiar with, known previously as the Underworld and currently as the Lifestream, is the flow of aetherial energy through which all life passes and returns.
Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?
-Yes and no. Aether is present within the world outside the Lifestream as well, and it exists within and around the world, visible to those who've the sight for it. It is possible to draw aether from, for some, and it is as possible for a very few individuals to draw souls from it as well; souls enter upon death, prior to their reincarnation, but a living soul may be willingly flung in as well, which is a reckless act and most certainly not recommended.
Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?
-Yes.
Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space?
-Drawn from the same root, yes, but not necessarily the source.
Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?
-Performing spellwork is, for most, a matter of harnessing the aether that exists within the world and the soul itself and manipulating it to one's own ends. It is naturally occurring, save for those who have the biological disadvantage of being unable to manipulate aether themselves. For still others, a far higher capacity for magic exists.
Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)?Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.-Mayhap you should rework your questions in full. Under normal circumstances: anywhere upon the scale, dependent upon a variety of factors such as current age and form.
Questionnaire Section B
Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them
Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard?Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.-Refer to note above.
Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities.Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.-Refer to reference to note above.
Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?
-The presence of the shard itself: no. My presence here, however, seems to have dampened my inherent magical capability considerably. In case you find the phrasing unclear: this would be negative, by my estimation.
Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?
-None. I do not find myself particularly threatened by its presence.
Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?
(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)
-This has never stopped the truly hardheaded before, and thus I wish you luck in the effort.
The undersigned certifies this is all roughly accurate, to the extent that the willingness to answer unsolicited questions exists, and assures the recipient of the utmost seriousness in so undertaking said response;
Emet-Selch, prior occupant of the Seat of the Architect, previous Emperor of Garlemald et al.
no subject
one night;
There's a flickering of the light cast against the wall, here. She follows it to a storage room, where there's a case with a slipcover that has fallen off to the side. A closer look confirms they're Antivan grenades.
The question is: do they belong there?
Prudence frowns at the contents before she runs her fingers along the edge of the crate. She doesn't turn around.
"Who are you?"
no subject
His tone remains casual, however, unaccusing. He'd observed the shift in direction that brought her here, chosen to follow out of curiosity; he leans against the doorframe for the moment, arms folded.
"Something caught your eye?"
crystal
Do you have a minute?
no subject
[-said with the very faintly tired tone of someone who hopes this is not the 'can you help with a physical task' kind of minute, but. he's answering, regardless.]
no subject
[ it feels maybe a little weird to be doing this with this man; but he's not going to not warn him, either. ]
I've been making sure some of the newer rifters, are aware of the dangers Tevinter poses to anchor-bearers.
no subject
Elaborate, then.
where did that comma in the last tag come from wtf
They have an interest in capturing people with anchors. It's likely they're monitoring for rifts just like we are. Except when they find rifters, or Theodosians with anchors, they do shit like experimenting on them.
it snuck in
Unsurprising, given what I have heard and seen of them-- and by the same token, I do not doubt them to be unpleasant experiments. But with that in mind, they may well derive more than experimental data from our kind.
I do not know if you were informed that they attempted to deliver unto us a large, fairly complicated explosive device, but my understanding was that such things are hardly commonplace in this world.
[so: are they developing it on their own? or do they need to have other concerns about this interest in rifters?]
smh
he breathes out, heavily. the implications are — terrible. hadn't he talked to both ellie and abby about the idea of the imperium having rifters already? that it's horrifying doesn't make it impossible. ]
Yeah, [ he says after a moment. ] So you understand why it's important to watch your back, here in Thedas.
[ maybe this isn't the tack he should've taken with emet-selch. the mistrust riftwatch treats him with can't be endearing them to him. i'm worried about your safety might not be as compelling as i can guarantee they'll treat you worse than we might. he still has the chance to hammer that point home.
but whatever the man's past — and it's not a minor thought in his mind — he has yet to do anything objectionable here. he fought with them against the undead. he's sharing this information now. he cares about the welfare of that refugee child and his mother. jim doesn't have any particular reason to distrust him; and so, in this moment, doesn't. ]
no subject
[by most measures, he's someone who would be high risk for riftwatch were he to be in the imperium's company-- he remains unsurprised by the lengths they will go to because he has done these things before. the risks described are things the empire of garlemald might easily have done to rifters as well, in their position.
this isn't, historically speaking, the side he's usually on.]
But if you mean to dissuade me from the thought of turning to them, I assure you I am not nearly so foolish as that.
no subject
to the second, he says, ]
I mean for you to understand what risks you're taking whenever you leave the Gallows. [ a beat, then, ] But it doesn't hurt to hear that you weren't thinking about it.
[ like, you know. ]
no subject
[but that tone's gone when he continues.]
Their leader is hardly the first of his kind I have heard of, nor are their methods unfamiliar to me; I've no illusions about what people like that will do to those who work with and for them, if it suits their own ends. Grey areas exist within their ranks, I am sure, but on the whole... I do prefer it here, still, regardless of how their restrictions may chafe.
no subject
no subject
[it's dry. possibly a joke? hard to make a solid call on this one, really.]
But I am aware enough it is only such acts which are likely to prove convincing.
no subject
[ for what it's worth. ]
You'll have plenty of opportunity for them around here, at least.
no subject
[still light-- more likely for it to all be on the less serious side.]
This world has no shortage of troubles, however, so I expect you will prove right about that.