War Table: Soothe Ruffled Feathers

[tactical_alert]

WHO: Malcolm Reed, Logan, NPCs abounds
WHAT: A Seeker and a Rifter go to Orlais to talk to a really loud Revered Mother to try and get her to stop shittalking the Inquisition
WHEN: Early Kingsway
WHERE: Val Fontaine
NOTES: TBD

Malcolm is all too happy to go talk to someone so deeply entrenched in the Chantry about the Inquisition, a noble representative of how their needs really align instead of conflict, to talk diplomacy and sense and bring a little peace to a little part of the world that might otherwise keep talking against the Inquisition and possibly make their efforts more difficult.

He's less happy about Logan coming along. The man seemed unstable at best, and he's not sure bringing a Rifter along is a good idea in the first place. He waits, at least, until they're on the road to Val Fontaine to say anything about it, although his expression while packing items and setting up his horse is hard, if inscrutable.

Thankfully, Malcolm knows his way around Orlais for the most part, knows where they're going, and can speak the language if need be. They shouldn't be gone for long, not to trot there and have a chat, probably make a few promises, and it should all be...fine. If they don't convince her to quiet down, well, it'll sting, but not for long. It's Logan he's concerned about more than their minor mission.

Comments

[tactical_alert]

For her part, Beatrice doesn't so much as bat an eye at Logan's admittance, but the Templars on either side of her tense visibly. She levels a stare at Logan, considering him with a tilt of her head. Perhaps she likes the idea of having power over them (or the Inquisition), perhaps reveling in it just a little. "You would come to me yourself, a demon in man's guise?" Her gaze drifts back to Malcolm. "Or perhaps those in the Inquisition who should know better have been taken in by a sad story and some rantings of madness." That hangs in the air for what would be a dramatic moment had she not had a bout of horrid coughing.

The truth is something that is close to Malcolm's heart in several ways. But he's not sure it would do much good to admit that, despite their conversation on the road, he can't be certain of Rifters. Much less the one accompanying him. Omit that detail, perhaps. "You call these people who have fallen out of the rifts mad, you call them demons, but when the time comes to close the rifts that spit out demons on our lands, including Orlais, who will close them? Not you, not I, but those with the mark of the rift on their hands."

At least the idea of closing rifts seems to get her attention, more than it is already gotten.

"I've witnessed Rifters using this ability myself, to their own pain and detriment. Were they demons, why would they choose to do that?"

[thetyrant]

She looked at Malcolm as he spoke, then fixed her steely gaze on Logan again. It was obvious that that had gotten her attention in a serious way. Were there rifts near Val Fontaine, Logan wondered? That might be a way into her good graces.

"Is that true? You can close rifts?" she asked, squinting at him.

"Yes," Logan said with a nod. "I helped to close the rift I fell out of."

[tactical_alert]

She looks between them steadily. "This is the sort of magic you let run wild in your Inquisition?"

Ah, the Chantry and mages. Good times. "The very Herald of Andraste herself could close rifts and the breach," he reminds gently. "Would you call her mad, or a demon? No, it is simply a power granted by the Fade, in one way or another. Perhaps even by Andraste."

"Do not presume to lecture me on Andraste, Seeker. You ranks have fallen as the Templars have. Save," she continues, making a small gesture to one of the armored figures beside her, "those who have remained loyal to the Chantry." Malcolm looks like he's about to argue further, either about Templars, or the Seeker Order, or on the heavy implication of her grudging that the Inquisition forces are not aligned with the Chantry's, but the same hand of gesture makes a slicing motion through the air, cutting him off. "I wish to see a rift closed, if what you say of your rifters is true. Can you do this for me, rifter Logan?"

[thetyrant]

Logan glanced at Malcolm. He felt it had nearly taken his hand off to close the one rift he'd closed, and that had been with many others doing the same. He didn't want to try it on his own, but he didn't want to appear to be a liar, either. He certainly didn't want to lose whatever goodwill he'd earned from the Mother.

"Given a few days to prepare, yes," Logan said, looking back at her. "A week at the most. We would need to send for reinforcements before we could take on a rift. Of course, we would remain here in the meantime and offer any assistance we can." They had a healer with them, no one particularly impressive but a competent enough medic. Someone ought to see to that cough.

[tactical_alert]

Thank the Maker. His frame hadn't tensed up any farther than it already was, but he'd been worried that Logan would run his mouth off and straight up agree to take on a rift himself. "A week?"

"Indeed, Revered Mother. You must understand, the Herald held much power in her hand, but the shards that appear now are like smaller pieces of a whole." That's his theory on the matter, anyway. That it is, as far as he's aware, unconfirmed doesn't matter much. "It takes more than just one person to close a rift. We frequently take groups of three or more just to go close them, and Logan is the only one with a shard we have brought." She looks unhappy about the delay, to be sure, but she doesn't immediately argue. So before she can, he picks up on another topic. "In the meantime, yes, we will stay and assist with what we can. We've still much to discuss, such as the Templars."

"The Templars--" Though he has yet to suggest they fetch their healer to see to her cough, this latest interruption of her lungs makes it seem more prudent to do so. "The Templars and the mages are both accepted into your ranks. You seek not to punish either side in this war, nor do you confine your mages to a circle. Do you understand," she rasps, "the damage and pain this rebellion has caused? We need Chantry-loyal Templars to bring in apostates, and we need circles for the safety of both mage and non-mage. We need people who know their place and do as they are told, not run off to burn down villages and abandon their posts."

Malcolm thought of Cade and his unwavering stances on being a Templar. "This is a second chance for both sides, to find escape from the rebellion, to start again. They have put their differences and histories aside to serve a greater good. Should they come to harm one another under our banner, they will be punished, but until then, there is no picking sides to this. We need unification, totally."

[thetyrant]

"There is always more strength in unity than division," Logan offered, but mostly kept his mouth shut. He still didn't really understand the mages and templars thing -- neither of those really existed in the same way, where he was from. And neither did any broadly-followed organized religion, actually, so even the chantry was new to him. He was here to help with the rifter thing.

[tactical_alert]

"Perhaps, Mother Beatrice, we should cut to the chase. We all three know why this meeting is taking place. Given time for travel, we shall bring enough people to close a rift before your eyes. We will close any rift threatening Val Fontaine, and given notice, we will always come to close any rift threatening Val Fontaine should more appear. Your demons will be slain. Among our number, we shall see to it that one of our healers takes time to look you over. If the fact that we have taken in these Rifters, and mages, and Templars alike so troubles you, then perhaps you and your loyal Templars will find it better to take care of your rifts yourself?"

It's a bold move, to ever so politely suggest that if she doesn't like it, she can burn. But he isn't finished. "Ser Logan is correct; in these dire times, unity means more than lines drawn on a map or differing opinions on what should be done with mages. We will fall if we are not united, and while we may not all yet sing the Chant, that is surely a step closer to what we hope for someday. The Inquisition takes in everyone, helps everyone should they allow us to. When the world is no longer on the edge of destruction, then we may return to our ways of bickering and internal dispute."