Find me well within Your grace

[stabsbooks]

WHO: Cassandra, Adelaide, Korrin, Benny
WHAT: A consultation on rifters and possession and stuff.
WHEN: After Cassandra's conversation with Solas and Bruce.
WHERE: The War Room
NOTES: n/a

Cassandra arrives first, idly studying the large map in the center of the room as she waits for the others to appear. Councilor Thevenet's insistence on attending the meeting had been a surprise - and an unnecessary one, in Cassandra's opinion. Still, the woman seems professional enough, and since she already knows the purpose of this little meeting, it seems pointless to deny her entry now.

She looks up as the door creaks open, getting to her feet to greet the new arrival.

Comments

[ungovernable]

The best case scenario: Benevenuta is entirely superfluous to this meeting. She's prepared to be terribly proud of her colleagues in that event - let's call a spade a spade: she's prepared to be terribly proud of Korrin - and if all that comes of her attendance is puzzling Cassandra as to its purpose, well enough. To the overall thrust of the fade training, she can contribute little - perhaps she might have thoughts to offer on the discussion of implementation with the rifters, the careful handling of a sensitive subject.

But.

It is a sensitive subject, one particularly close to Korrin's (volatile and vocal) heart (and the small rifter woman she keeps in it), and historically none of the other three are particularly tactful, sensitive or skilled in de-escalation.

Better that they should have her and not need her than need her and not have her, Benevenuta thinks. And better that she know what's going on, because - well. Better that she does.

"Seeker Pentaghast," she greets her, with a warmth that isn't false; the respect she accords someone she considers a competent equal.

[fleurdesel]

Adelaide honestly? Thought it best to have Benevenuta with them for this. The bulk of the reasoning had been related to her by Solas and as such she has a notion as to what they will be discussing. A project, an academic precedent, the first real bit of policy the Council put through for the safety of the Inquisition and it's mages- it is an important point of research and study for her.

Never again ought there be a situation like Lauren in the Courtyard nearly a year ago. If what they are doing can help the rifters? She will cooperate as vest she can. They have an obligation to those not of their world to keep the dangers of Thedas from overtaking them.

She is punctual as is her custom, arriving just behind Benevenuta. The usual weariness hangs on her shoulders- too much work, too few hours- but Cassandra is given the same courtesy she offers all advisors in a professional setting. A brief bow and slight adjustment of the notes she brought along for Cassandra's use.

[gatheringstorm]

The tall Vashoth mage enters moments after, striding in purposefully. She's less concerned about punctuality in general, but as this topic is one that's important to her, she won't keep them waiting. Korrin herself carries little in the way of notes, knowing that what Adelaide provides will be more than enough for the meeting itself.

As for Benevenuta, she likewise trusts her fellow Council member to keep them on course should things become heated and derailed--and it has that potential. The topic of rifters is one that Korrin takes very seriously, for more reasons than her kadan though naturally she's most prominent in her mind. It's not her intention to escalate anything, but intentions have a way of being forgotten if the discussion gets heated.

So she nods and crosses her arms, ignoring the details of the war room in favor of focusing on Cassandra and her fellow Council members. Her tone isn't impolite, but she's as blunt as ever. "Are we set? I don't know about you, but I'd like to get right to the point."

[stabsbooks]

"Councilor." It must be Thevenet; Cassandra has met LeBlanc, and this new woman is clearly not Qunari. There is something familiar about her accent, what little is evident of it from just two words, but before either of them can say more, Adelaide enters, with a tall, horned mage who must be Ataash right at her heels.

She quirks her eyebrows up at Ataash's bluntness, a barely perceptible motion, but nods in agreement at her question, more than willing to get straight to business. "Of course. I am sure you have heard news of the rifter Kain Highwind's death. To prevent unnecessary panic, the Inquisition at large was told only that he was killed by a demon - which is true, but not the complete story. In truth, he was possessed by a desire demon, and had to be put down by his companions." She pauses before continuing, looking at each of them in turn. "This is all told to you in the strictest confidence, naturally. Only the advisors or those who were present at his death know the truth."

[ungovernable]

It was, as Benevenuta had quietly noted when she first expressed her interest in attending, an interesting picture painted by Solas saying the Seeker would be contacting them regarding rifters only for her to ask after their alternatives to harrowing; she absorbs it with less shock than she might, but that's nothing unusual when she walks in knowing even less, to be fair.

"This is the matter for which Solas contacts our shardbearers and the rifters," Benevenuta surmises, providing ample evidence of her accent for Cassandra. "They have not been told of the risk?"

[fleurdesel]

"Solas informed me privately not long before you reached out to the Council. He knows of my research into the shards, such as it is, and my involvement with the recent mission to recover kidnapped rifters. He was concerned that the Venatori were attempting to provoke this result." Possession. Opening rifts. Considering how many were mentioned in the notes and how many rifts have not been found? It is only a matter of time. Adelaide's lips press thin as she sets the sheaf of notes on the table, written in a precise, slanted hand. On top? Her notes on Kain in particular. How long he had been in thedas, his dreams, his lack of personal magic.

It is not much but- it may be relevant.

[gatheringstorm]

There's a heavy sigh at mention of Kain, Korrin shaking her head as a frown forms. If one could assume that her lack of recoiling or shouting could be attributed to what Adelaide just said, and that she was told after, they wouldn't be wrong. But it doesn't make hearing it from Cassandra any easier.

"He was a friend of mine. I knew he'd get himself killed doing something reckless, what with all those solo trips, but possession...." She'd told him of the risk mages faced, of how demons could gain control, and he went and let that happen anyway? If she'd been there at that last battle, she would have given him an earfull...but she hadn't, and he's dead now. Nothing to be done for him.

Her lips tighten, forming a thin line at both that and the recent mission. "I've said it before and I'll say it again; fuck the Venatori. If they already know or at least suspect, if they're already trying to make this happen, then we have to stay ahead of them. The rifters need to know how to protect themselves."

[stabsbooks]

"That is why I have asked you both here." Well, asked isn't quite the word for it, but the point remains. She glances from Adelaide to Korrin, then to Benny, shaking her head in response to her question. "Those who have met with him have been told, and he has done what he can to ease their pain, and to...reduce the appeal of the shards to any demons who might seek to investigate them." How exactly Solas had accomplished such a thing, she doesn't know, and hasn't asked.

"But it is a temporary measure only. You are right. They must have a way to protect themselves." She takes a breath, looking between Korrin and Adelaide again. "Councilor Thevenet has informed me that you are our resident experts in the training of mages to resist demonic possession. I had hoped that your techniques might be adapted to be used by nonmage rifters, as well."

500 days late w/starbucks

[fleurdesel]

"It's...subjective, the training. Due to the nature of the fade and magic each mage handles both, and demons, differently. Much of the learning is finding what works best for the individual and tailoring it to their needs." Which is why it has been ,for some, slow going. There have been no abominations in Skyhold since Lauren, fortunately, but what more can be done? "For Rifters without magic- explaining the necessity might be all we need. But some-"

Church, she is thinking of Church in particular. "Remain skeptical of how it might affect them personally. But we could old private lessons for them as needed."