Let No Soul Hunger For Justice: Nothing But The Truth

[justice_is_blond]

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.

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.

Comments

[madame_de_fer]

[Vivienne approaches the library bearing an ancient looking tome with obvious scorch marks on the binding and what appears to be a slash in the cover inflicted by some sharp or another. And she's frowning.

But the state of her rescued book is not all of her concern. She's heard of these attempts to purge the Abomination-in-Their-Midst. Foolish and unlikely to succeed. But there is some interest in her at the success of the process. Almost scientific in her calculating curiosity.]

Dare I ask how bad it is, my dear?

[fleurdesel]

As designed there ought to be two options for these rituals. They work or they do not. Pass or fail. I thought last week was an outlier but to have it turned back upon us a second time...

[ Adelaide slumps in her chair, squinting at the ceiling. ]

Once is a fluke, twice is the beginning of a pattern. And before you say anything I know you do not approve but I do not want to hear how pointless you find this, no matter how diplomatically you phrase it.

[ a beat. ]

Merde.

[madame_de_fer]

Pointless? Hardly, my dear. Indeed I am most interested in seeing the results of these little experiments. They're quite risky and I must say the subject is an ideal one.

[Really, if Anders dies in the process? Vivienne won't shed a tear. Better he than some overly-curious apprentice.]

Though, I do wonder, is he worth it?

[After all, great efforts are being put forth to "save" a known terrorist and abomination. It does seem quite the waste. And poor Adelaide seems so weary.]

[fleurdesel]

For what we would learn from the process? Yes.

[ Of course it is worth it. Whether or not 'he' is worth it-

It's a question she struggles with often. ]

[madame_de_fer]

Very well then.

[Madame de Fer is disinclined to argue the worth of that Abomination. But there is a practicality in Adelaide's reply that Vivienne quite approves of.]

You look weary, my dear. Is there anything I can do to help?

[Wine? Chocolates? Handsome attendants at the hot springs?]

[fleurdesel]

Find another bottle of wine and the head of whoever wrote this miserable ritual- or use that illusive time magic to hop back a few weeks and slap past me for ever considering it.

[ She pinches the bridge of her nose. 'It'll be fine' she said, 'It's pass or fail' she said. ]

[madame_de_fer]

I'm quite certain wine can be supplied. As for the head, that sounds like a delightful challenge.

[As for the time magic... notsomuch. Though it's an intriguing concept. Stopping someone from doing something.]

Would you like it on a pike or a silver platter?

[fleurdesel]

Silver platter. We are civilized aren't we?

[ Pikes were so violent- not that a head on a tray wasn't but- she felt it slightly less ridiculous than a pike. ]

[madame_de_fer]

Of course we are, my dear. But I had wondered just how vicious you were feeling towards the mage who wrote the ritual.

[Because sometimes a little violence can be cathartic. Or just nastily pleasant to indulge in when someone's been a right ass.]

I gather it is not safe for you to be out in public for the present. Shall I see to your students while you're indisposed?

[fleurdesel]

Roul has been minding them but he would likely be grateful for the assistance. I know the Circles are a thing of the past but I would very much like to give him some sign of being more than a mere mage- some sort of authority beyond what he holds with my students. He has more than earned it, a great many of them have. We've only been organized for a few months but already they are learning so much-

And we've no system to reward them for it beyond the new skills they learn.

[madame_de_fer]

[Vivienne has some private plans for the reinstatement of the Circles once the current crisis has reached resolution, but now is hardly the time to bring those up. Besides, Adelaide has an excellent point.]

Indeed. And it seems such poor gratitude to them. I wonder if we shouldn't address that at the next Council.

And don't worry about your students, darling. I'll check in with Roul and make sure he gets a much needed break.

[fleurdesel]

I can add it to the docket among the...roughly five hundred other items of concern, request, or action that we need to discuss. For every solution we manage there seems to be six more problems that crops up afterward. It is exhausting.

[madame_de_fer]

[This burst of honesty from Adelaide is actually quite nice to see. One never tells the full truth in the Game. Viviene recognizes in some part that she ought to chide her for revealing too much, but there does come a point in one's life that they must vent their thoughts, even if it is to feed them to the flame immediately following.]

That docket seems to grow faster than a litter of prize nugs. We really must find a way to curtail it. We'll never have a moment's rest otherwise.

[fleurdesel]

Delegation would be the best way- but at the moment that they come to us first? Is a sign that we are doing our work properly. They trust us. We need them to trust us, to listen to us. Once they are certain we will do as we claim it will ease up enough for us to focus elsewhere.