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faderift2016-05-10 02:32 pm
justice_is_blond) wrote in faderift2016-05-10 02:32 pm
Let No Soul Hunger For Justice: Nothing But The Truth
WHO: Adelaide, Alistair, Anders, Bethany, Nathaniel, Varric, Vasran, Velanna
WHAT: The Second Ritual
WHEN: 10th of Bloomingtide (May 10th)
WHERE: half an hour outside of Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post.
WHAT: The Second Ritual
WHEN: 10th of Bloomingtide (May 10th)
WHERE: half an hour outside of Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post.
They've kept to the same clearing as the last, because the location's good. Far enough away that no one could stumble upon them by accident, near enough in case something went seriously wrong, it works.
He has scarcely more hope this time than he did the last, but at least there's no singing involved. This can't go as strangely. In theory.
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[ And what it is, is bullshit. And she would gladly do without- but she cannot bring herself to say as such and that worries her far more than it ought. More than enough that she is grateful to Leliana for changing the subject. ]
A foundation. If we can show that we can govern ourselves fairly and sensibly- that we do not need the strictest measure of what the Circles once were but make them instead similar to what they are in Tevinter- universities, places of learning, voluntary- while still being able to protect both new mages from people that fear them? We will have earned the pardon that the Herald gave us and repaid her kindness.
I was not among those mages- but what was done rests on all of our shoulders. I do not imagine it will make up for Redcliffe, the war, Kirkwall or Kinloch. We are ever marked by our sins before we are our virtues and it is frustrating- that blood is not on my hands and yet. [ A tense flick of her fingers at the empty vault, a 'there we are' sort of thing. ] Perhaps I think if I do enough here it will make up for not staying behind and helping more of my fellows, for saying nothing when the vote was called in Andoral's reach. Or perhaps I hope it will prevent something like the Spire from happening again. It has been my greatest fear for so long- and I was promised I ought not be so worried. Try as I might to put it from my mind- it lingers.
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( Said with all the evenness of someone well versed in things being what they are, and fighting against them with everything she has.
The mention of Evelyn is not easy to hear, but she makes no show of it. It is never easy being reminded of those fallen, those friends lost, and with the anniversary of Tug and the Waking Sea and Denerim looming she feels it all the more keenly. This year she will drink for Tug, and for Evelyn and Dorothea and Wynne and maybe even Jonas. There is an extended pause before she replies. )
Such worries are natural. Once something is done, it raises the possibility that it will be done again, perhaps with even more brutality. ( Kirkwall, Starkhaven, Redcliffe. So many deaths and horrors spread across the Ages, and now doubt there were more unknown to them than known, especially when the acts were commited against, rather than by or for, mages. )
I would like to do whatever I can to aid in this foundation. I believes mages should have their freedom and choices laid before them, rather than being caged. What I have seen was seen with the eyes of someone who is not a mage, and cannot know the precise fears that come with it. From what I understand, a lack of places to train and be taught is every bit as dangerous for a young apostate as being hunted by Templars or an angry mob of villagers.
( There is so much more she could have - should have - done in the past ten years. So much that she let slide to follow Justinia's plans for peace, when she should have pushed harder. )
Whatever must be done will be done. That is my hope.
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[ Cullen- is militant and a templar before all else. Josephine is a diplomat and her concerns would likely protect them in so much as it would look poorly for them to go back on the Herald's word. Cassandra-
Adelaide does not care much to think of her last conversation with Cassandra. ]
And in you I find is trust has not been misplaced. [ The others she will not speak of as she does not spend as much time around them in a professional capacity. ] What you have done to help me with the Council has been invaluable. Some mages that were...wary have been made aware of your support and while they do not buy in entirely to what we are trying to build, they are more willing to come to us with their concerns. They need not abide if they are uncomfortable doing so and they make no trouble- but that they know we are here to help them? Is worth much.
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I have known mages who were truly noble in their character, compassionate in act and word, people of such bravery and faith that little could compare to it. Wynne taught me more about kindness and faith than almost any other.
( She exhales, slowly. ) I move freely, but I am a spy. I do whatever is necessary, and sometimes what is necessary is not compassionate, nor faithful, nor brave. There is no nobility in it. It is abhorrent, is it not?
I am prepared to do whatever I must for the sake of mages being free - mages, elves, all people who have been subjected to cruelty and suffering. The world should be better than what it is. The Inquisition can make it so, I know it. We begin with your Council, but the work and influence will spread far beyond that. It must.
( Compassion is the root of it, but compassion is not hers to wield. )
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[ Adelaide takes a moment to swallow past the memory with more of the gifted wine- a fair year. A warm counterpoint to the ice in her gut whenever she speaks of the Spire's fall. ]
If ignoble acts are all that are left to see what must be done, done- we have failed already. To come to this point- everything has broken. Every system has failed. It might be considered naive to think that we should build the foundations with compassion and understanding- that we can manage it without ignoble acts but- such things were done to build the Chantry in the first place. Do we not owe it to ourselves to at least attempt to try a kinder path?
Doing what one must- it cuts at you just as much, does it not? You ache in hollow places you have built for yourself. [ That- that is a bit too much. ] I apologize. It is not my place to say such things.
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Wynne was not perfect. She would hardly be a person if she were. I have not done all I could, in the past. ( Her tone softens, just slightly. Perhaps I am a hypocrit as well-- but that is not a new thought. Wynne, though, Wynne had given her life to protect her students in Kinloch from templar and blood mage and demon alike, when the Spirit of Faith came to her and gifted her with more years. )
Patience was the call of she and Justinia both. A longer game, for a more stable peace, slow changes to set them in stone.
( That had not worked either, so: ) But I agree. A kinder path. A kinder world.
( Leliana gaze might have dropped, with that, but she makes herself hold Adelaide's own, and it is tempting to stand and leave immediately. ) It is you who is required to be honest. Not I.
( But she does not deny it, and that might be damning enough. )
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If not for everything.
If not for every possible thing that might have gone wrong to have gone wrong in roughly the same year. ]
Have any of us? We do what we think will be enough and more often than not, it is sufficient. It is inevitable that a time will come when we do not offer all we can simply because we are unaccustomed to having to do so, or we misread the situation, or it is beyond all saving. I loose sleep less often over the Spire, now, but I will always wonder if more of my students would have survived if I had not spent the past three years arguing against such a tight focus on offensive magic. We weren't at war, there was not blight on the horizon- there was no reason for it.
[ And then, suddenly, there was a need for those skills. ]
...Compassion is aware of the ache. I thought it was bruising. We do not- we are not often aware of pain that is more than physical, for that is our focus. Because that is something I can heal. This is... [ She shakes her head, turning her eyes away from Leliana for a moment, staring into her wine instead. ] Something I cannot fix and it vexes me.
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That is true. That does not mean I must excuse myself my own shortcomings. ( Still, she must say: ) I am sorry about your students.
( Compassion is rude as hell, tbqh.
When Leliana speaks her voice is very quiet. )
I would kindly request that Compassion spare you knowledge of those particular aches. They are not for public consumption, and there is no need to vex yourself on account of such things.
( She straightens her back, glancing back the way she came. It is not a retreat, it is a... timely exit in order to see to her work, necessary before the prodding of Compassion came along. ) I have distracted you from your work overlong, already. Do you have need of anything? I can see to it that someone attends you.
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[ She flicks a hand at the Vault, far from anyone else in Skyhold at the moment for no one truly had business in the cool room. ]
There is no one to focus on but myself, and I can ignore them. I am sorry to have breached your privacy in such a way- it is one of the worst things a healer can do.
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( Quietly, softly. )
It takes more than the speculation of spirits to disturb me, I promise you. Please don't be distressed.
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Even though I found your voice remarkable.
And wish I had a chance to hear it more often.
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Flatterer.
( A brief moment of humour, dry as it is. )
I will serenade you at the next opportunity, you have my word.
( For the given value of what a spy's word is worth, but you know. Stuff. ) Good day, Councilor.
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[ Even if she looks as though she'd rather melt into the stone- ignore the blushing, Leliana, please. ]
I- good day, Sister Nightingale.