[CLOSED] a prelude

[minrathousian]

WHO: Atticus Vedici + Ser Coupe + the Division heads
WHAT: Atticus discusses his findings with the Division heads.
WHEN: Forward-dated to late Harvestmere.
WHERE: An office within the Gallows.
NOTES: Please keep all responses to one thread!

The majority of the magister's notes (parchment, books, letters, translated and transcribed missives) have been delivered to the Inquisition's division heads in advance of this meeting, but the evidence relating to the most alarming piece of intelligence--that Venatori agents have infiltrated the Inquisition's ranks and seek to obtain classified data--that is information he has kept to himself. He must time the playing of that particular hand well... namely by delivering it to them himself.

This is quite the gamble, he knows, but great risk has never been a deterrent. (If it were, perhaps he might not have needed to devote time this month to convalescing from a concussion.)

Accompanied by Ser Coupe, Atticus steps into the designated office, and looks from his research materials on the centre table to the faces seated on the other side of it.

(It requires more willpower than he might have anticipated not to let his eyes linger on Petrana.)

Comments

[minrathousian]

The possibility of losing his seat in the Senate doesn't appear to ruffle him. Moreover, Atticus did not expect to end this meeting secure in the knowledge that he would, at last, be free of that wretched prison cell or the shackles that continue to bind his wrists. That doesn't mean for a moment he relishes returning to the former, or the continued chafing of the latter. He exhales thinly past his nose; he can't completely mask his displeasure, but his leverage is limited. He won't press his luck.

"I have laid out the information regarding the infiltrators--" Plural, he emphasizes with a glance at the Scoutmaster, "--as well as the assault on Perendale." A brief gesture to the notes and dossiers that Thranduil has been perusing. "Regarding Nevarra you will no doubt be required to cross-reference what I have provided you with your own intelligence. As for the infiltrators, what I can tell you, so far, is limited to what I have been able to discern through the ciphers: that they are here in Kirkwall, in limited numbers. Their identities have been obfuscated." This last added as an afterthought, because of course they would have been.

[rowancrowned]

He has given as much of his input as he would like to in mixed company, and so stays silent. The final authority does not rest with him; he imagines they may indeed put it to a vote.

What he has before him is not worthless. He tidies the sheets and hands the bundle to Beleth, Perendale on top.

"When is the cipher due to change?" he asks. How long will Atticus be useful in a anticipatory role, and not a speculator one.

[minrathousian]

"When is the cipher due to change?"

How far is he willing to take this gamble? If Atticus appears to be considering Thranduil's inquiry as he pauses before his response, all the better.

"After Satinalia," he says at length. An appropriate enough duration, given the reaching grasp of the Venatori's forces. "At which point my skills would be better leveraged by your Inquisition if they were turned towards researching the rifts, and the Fade shards. I will, naturally, continue to provide you with everything I know regarding the state of the Venatori's own research efforts. They won't have altered much, since my departure."

[ipseite]

Cipher, she thinks. Cipher.

Petrana regards Atticus expressionlessly for what feels like (and doubtless is not) a very long time.

“Naturally,” she repeats, glancing at the papers passing between elven hands. Would it be better to pass off a personal curiosity in the matter of the somniari, or pursue the research privately herself? The former has risks, but she must take pains to have a trail that can be followed later in the latter-

She must better understand precisely with what manner of fire she is playing.

(But Artemaeus is more her job than the rest of this, and she does not urgently say more, weighs her thoughts carefully.)

[minrathousian]

Atticus remains calm under the weight of Petrana's neutral scrutiny. everything is fine. After a moment he looks instead to Beleth, awaiting further questions from her.

[arlathvhen]

Of course they changed their identities, Beleth muses as she accepts the papers from Thranduil, organizing them into her own stack. We wouldn't need you if they were openly capering around as Tevinter agents, now would we? She doesn't say as much, silently looking over the papers as the others speak.

Once Atticus turns to look at her, she tries to think of anything else she might want to know, and comes up empty. The only thing now is for them to be able to speak without him listening. Has she fulfilled what she told him she'd do? Maybe. She's let him speak, at least, and everything else is not entirely in her hands. It will have to do.

"I believe that is all for now. I trust we may call upon you if we require more answers?" She words it as a polite, optional choice, but her tone is of someone who already knows the answer. Sure enough, she moves on, glancing at the other two leaders. "Unless anyone objects, I would ask Ser Coupe to take him back to his quarters." There's a dismissive note that includes Wren as well. Clearly, as far as Beleth is concerned, her job here only stretches as far as Atticus' whereabouts.

[ipseite]

If Petrana disagrees regarding the nature of Wren Coupe's work, she doesn't protest the implicit dismissal - glances at her with a short nod, and anything else they need to say on the matter will be done elsewhere. As with much of the rest of this.

“Our thanks, Ser Coupe,”

which Atticus is not entitled to for the great generosity of acting in his own best interests as a prisoner of war.

There is much else to do. They had best get on with it.