War table: Stop Red Lyrium Shipment in Rialto Bay

[gatheringstorm]

WHO: Korrin, Zevran, Pel and Anders (and 2-3 Inquisition redshirts to boss around/die for them)
WHAT: What the title says, stopping the red lyrium shipment. And maybe freeing some slaves in the process?
WHEN: Some vague period of time in the latter part of Kingsway, when other plots don't intersect. Don't think about it too much. /jazz hands
WHERE: Antiva, Rialto Bay
NOTES: Yeah, I put up a lot of threads but only play the parts you want. No pressure.

NPCs can be played by anyone! Content Warnings: Slavery, TBA

The plan starts simple enough: interrupt the red lyrium shipment to the Tom's Mum, a small ship moored off the coast, by taking the place of the contacts meant to arrive. As the ship is here ahead of schedule, they luckily have a buffer, a small window of time before the real contacts appear for their goods. The plan is set for an evening meeting; early enough for 'legitimate' business meetings, and late enough to provide some cover for those who must focus on stealth. With any luck, they'll be in and out before anyone realizes what just happened. If not, between them, they have a spirit healer, an assassin, a knight-enchanter and a shapeshifter. If they keep their wits about them, they can hold their own.

Intelligence revealing the presence of slaves in addition to the mercenaries alters the plan somewhat. Naturally, no one wants to depart without freeing the slaves as well, so the mission evolves to accommodate this. It's time to split the team in half. Korrin and Anders will assume the roles as contacts or, more plausibly, Anders with a presumed mercenary bodyguard. As long as they can keep attention centered on them, Pel and Zevran sneak in or board with the slaves, Pel taking the assassin's lead. A few Inquisition agents stand ready to assist as needed. Everything hinges on the teamwork of both parties, and how quickly they can accomplish their dual purpose of stopping the shipment (as well as preventing said shipment from being dropped into the water) and freeing the slaves before becoming overwhelmed by its crew.

Can they pull it off? It's time to find out.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

That's efficient. Many would likely call it cold, because there are mages who can't make it in the world... but they're the sort to say that that's why Circles are needed for all. He doesn't want the scared ones left behind, they're still people, but they need something in between rather than the Circles.

"And those who aren't competent, whether it's fear that holds them back or something else, what happens to them? Not to... I'm not judging your system. From what you say it sounds better than what we've had. Ever. But there's ones that fall between the cracks, and not everyone needs to be aggressive in survival. Some simply can't be, and that's all right."

The world needs some gentler souls to balance out the harsh ones. The gentle Bethanys to the harsher Velannas. The sweet Karls to the aggressive, messy him.

[gatheringstorm]

Being one of those aggressive ones from the start, the notion of being any other way and managing is a concept that's taken a while to sink in for Korrin. Her own will was always strong enough to carry her through, and it's not always occurred to her that others would have it any different. The Inquisition has been rather eye-opening in that respect.

"Calling it a system is generous, since it's disorganized as hell. No set standards for mentors and what they teach. If you're lucky, you find a good one and you're set. If not, you could get yourself killed in a magical backlash or in battle, because you weren't given the right tools to survive.

Those who aren't competent or martial...they don't last long. There isn't usually a place for them and it's not out of malice; Tal-Vashoth and Vashoth survive on the fringes, as mercs. We aren't accepted in many other roles, so we go with what's most likely to put food on the table. In that, the mages of my kind are like everyone else. If you want to stop mages from slipping through the cracks, you have to address what causes that in the first place." And for her kind, it's outward racism combined with Qun-learned bigotry. A truly fun combination.

[justice_is_blond]

"Fear, deliberate spreading of fear, and opportunities given to those who enjoy hurting others." The issues are easy to pin down. Mages wouldn't choose Tranquility over Harrowing if they were full informed and fully trained, people wouldn't attack mages if not for fear, and if the Templar ranks weren't swollen with people looking to bully and abuse, so many mages wouldn't be dead or damaged.

He rests his elbows on the ledge. "Standards for mentors, set by mages, different standards based on what they specialize in. It's another possible option." He's speaking in part to himself. Nothing of the sort is going to be approved by Vivienne; there's no point in suggesting it to the council as something to pursue while she's there. But the model is worth thinking about, and there's even mages picking mentors in Skyhold.

"Would you, do you take students like that? The ones who thrive off challenge and survival. Or is there a Tal-Vashoth code against teaching that sort of thing to those who aren't Tal-Vashoth?" The Dalish are careful about who and what they teach, and Anders doesn't know nearly enough about the Tal-Vashoth to make a guess about how they operate.

[gatheringstorm]

The model Anders suggests has Korrin looking thoughtful...and maybe a little disturbed because once again, their thought process isn't all that different. There'd need to be a lot more refinement, from people better suited to teaching than herself, but as far as basic ideas go, she's heard a lot worse. Perhaps it could work, if the new Divine left the mages alone and the Templars didn't go to war with them again. And maybe Corypheus would turn himself in tomorrow, too.

"There isn't a code because again, no real system. But no, not a lot of Tal-Vashoth take in others. They aren't usually asked, to begin with, and secondly, they don't want to attract Templar attention. I guess it's like the Dalish in that they must know we exist but as long as we stay on the fringes, then they don't have to think about how to confront the giant horned people they'd rather not.

Now, if they started taking in others as a matter of course? That attitude would change in a heartbeat." Or it would have before the war. Now...well, now everything's on hold, isn't it?

"I don't have the time to be anyone's full-time mentor since I'm sent out so often. When I'm actually in Skyhold, though, I'll work with them. Some already know the basics, they just haven't had the time to hone them in safety with a clear head before now."

[justice_is_blond]

He nods slowly. Maybe they won't have time or opportunity to set up a system like that. Maker knows Vivienne and her group aren't taking any time to rest, and they've connections he can't even dream of. But he's not going to stop trying just because the odds are poor. They've always been poor.

"Survival, combat. Would you say those are your specialties? ...and, fully aware that this is a stretch for me to ask of you, I'm going to ask it anyway," better to give a disclaimer than have to deal with possible insults toward his intelligence, "would you be willing, if you find time, to write out what you'd think would be the basics of survival? Things that might come to anyone's mind, things that might not. I don't know what's going to happen after the Inquisition. But if every mage has some basic skills..." They stand a better chance. And this way it's clear that it's not for him.

[gatheringstorm]

Asking anything of her is indeed a surprise, and for a moment Korrin's almost sure she heard wrong. If it had been about nearly anything else, she likely would have given a snarky reply and turned away then and there, end of discussion. She doesn't owe him anything other than cooperating enough to get the mission done, and any other missions that they might be placed together. Just because Korrin hasn't gotten violent doesn't mean she approves or will ever approve of what he's done, which ought to be clear enough in her mind.

However, the actual idea mentioned gives her pause. Helping other mages navigate the various dangers of Thedas, heavily-populated and otherwise, is definitely something that needs to be done if they don't want to find a surplus of mage corpses strewn about the continent. Part of the reason she's here, other than avenging the fallen Valo-Kas, is to ensure that there's at least a chance at something other than returning to the status quo once all is said an done. "...I've given that some thought, off and on. It'd be more efficient than sporadic battle training and random lectures of 'this thing won't kill you but that definitely will'."

She's silent for a moment, the speaks up again. "What did Adelaide say to this?" Because, for some reason, her friend is their mutual friend, and if he's coming to her of all people with this, then Adelaide has to know already.

[justice_is_blond]

"That things along this line should be done." It's nice to actually have an answer, to be prepared. He wasn't prepared for the conversation to even really be a conversation, based on how she's glared previously and how Araceli's spoke like Anders was Korrin's favorite bedtime topic.

"Because they should. So many mages have no grasp of a practical life, and still don't in Skyhold. They've traded Circle walls for Fortress walls, and won't know what to do when the Inquisition is over. They'll be easy pickings for Chantry officials, Templars, and mages looking for powerbases. And they deserve a chance. A chance at knowing they can make it, a chance at hope, and a chance at a life not defined by fear and hatred."

...Maybe that's too many words, but he's passionate about this and when he cares a lot, his mouth runs away with him. He doesn't need anyone to approve of what he's done. He doesn't approve of what he's done. What he needs is people passionate about helping their people, fellow mages.

[gatheringstorm]

Araceli is a lovely woman, but she does tend to exaggerate; there are far more interesting things to do in bed than for Korrin to constantly talk about the things or people that piss her off. Korrin herself isn't sure why this conversation exists, other than that she's stubborn about only going below when she wants to, and so far he hasn't actually said anything that she would take as a reason to snap back. Part of her is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. But maybe staying long enough will make the point that just because she's not a fan of his doesn't mean she's against what he seeks. There are people who despise what he's done and still seek mage freedom.

Adelaide's agreement doesn't surprise her, not really, but it does give her something to think about. They've had their own discussions, on the future of the mages past the Inquisition. (Some of those have been more optimistic than others; it depends on how frustrating the council meetings have been lately.) This will prompt a new discussion, no doubt.

"...I don't disagree with any of that. It's why I'm on the council when I hate politics with every fiber of my being. If I didn't care, I'd say to hell with it and do my own thing. Every vote of mine is cast with the intention of giving the Chantry and Templars jack shit." As for Vivienne, well, Korrin may hate her politics but she'd never deny her at least the chance to voice her thoughts, however disagreed upon. She's a mage, she gets that right. Templars don't. "Thinking beyond the Inquisition might be overly optimistic, given that Corypheus is still around, but...fuck it. Everyone else will be doing it, so it's better to be prepared."

[justice_is_blond]

"And once the Inquisition is done, we won't have time to think or prepare. Mages will have only as much as they've been able to establish." A beat. "The point being moot if Corypheus wins, but as there's nothing to do should that happen, there's little reason to plan for it."

If the Inquisition fails, everyone will fall. Not all at once, but one after the other. Preparation is pointless.

"So I'll ask again, would you be willing to write down a few standards that mages could seek to reach and feel at least somewhat capable of surviving on their own? Or even non-mages, since I can see there being objections and suspicion if something is closed to mages alone."

[gatheringstorm]

If Corypheus wins, they're all fucked. Korrin tries not to bring morale down by saying so too loudly or often, but everyone knows it. They all saw the Breach and knew what would have happened if it kept expanding. She's silent for a long moment while considering the other outcome, her eyes locked on the waves. Still no whales.

"'How Not to Die, by Korrin'? ...yeah, I can do it for them." Not him, them. "A lot of what I'd say could easily apply to anyone else, but I'm not making any apologies for what won't. Practical applications of magic is a topic that gets addressed far too rarely in favor of who can be the biggest show-off on the battlefield."

Sure, a lot of her own applications are for combat, but she knows other, vital uses. Not being well-rounded in their own natural gift does no one any favors.

[justice_is_blond]

Obviously it's for them. He's not stupid, and he knows she's the type to go and sulk rather than help if he even slightly implies something that would set her off. Working around the Mage Council is a challenge, but it's not the biggest one he's ever faced.

"And practical magic is what I'm working on expanding the knowledge of. We need it. The Circles teach combat and potion-making, things it can use to profit, but not what would truly benefit a mage on their own."

Also obvious. But he's gained what he can from this, he's fairly certain, and she hasn't stormed off. This is a victory. Anders straightens and gives her a nod of his head. "Say something if you see a whale? They were quite the sight; I'd enjoy seeing one again. But until for now, I'll take my leave of you."