faderift | MOD PLOT ↠ A THOUSAND WRONGS

MOD PLOT ↠ A THOUSAND WRONGS

WHO: Everyone!
WHAT: Assisting with the aftermath of occupation
WHEN: August through Kingsway
WHERE: Field of Ghislain
NOTES: OOC post. Please use appropriate content warnings in your comment subject lines as needed.

The Fields of Ghislain are, as the name suggests, broad open plains, more flat than not, more grass than trees. There are famous orchards around Arlesans at the southern end, but they fade into grassland and farm land, wide fields of wheat and corn separating quiet farming villages and the occasional bustling market town, the even more occasional country estate.

High summer here has always meant long hot days, dusty roads, and preparations for the harvest. Now it also means recovery from the sudden end to the area's year-and-a-half of occupation by the forces of Corypheus. On first glance, the area appears to have escaped relatively unscathed. There are a few burnt villages here and there, a few new rifts, and the scarred valley where the Battle of Ghislain took place, but there are also crops growing strong in the fields and markets open for business, people going about their lives.

On closer inspection, there's more work to be done. The immediate threats are obvious: an unusual number of rifts and the general thinning of the Veil they signal, small bands of enemies—including bands of darkspawn with red lyrium growths—still marauding through the region, isolated patches of red lyrium to be destroyed and Blight to be contained.

Most places have at least one building that's been destroyed by fire or force, some practically essential—a grain store, an infirmary, a watch tower—some invaluable in other ways—a chantry, a mayor's office, a monument to heroic ancestors. Some places showed more resistance than others, and there whole neighborhoods or even entire villages have been gutted by fire and the ruins shoved over like block towers. Some survivors fled and now return to pick through the debris, while others remained, living in shanties in the ashes waiting for a chance to rebuild. Despite the crops ripening in the fields there are signs of malnutrition in many places as well, stories of crops confiscated to feed the invading troops and only meager rations returned, worse off even than those affected by shortages elsewhere in Orlais.

And it's not just the material that the enemy has taken or destroyed. Every decent-sized village has its missing, people who were arrested and taken away in wagons or simply vanished one day out of the blue. Where there was resistance there were executions to discourage it, and while the inhabitants have already taken down and buried the displayed bodies, there are a few places where there is no one left to do so, or where magic placed remains out of reach but always in sight.

There are opportunities too: the enemy lived and worked here for 18 months. They did their best to cover their tracks when they left, but it was a hasty and unexpected withdrawal, and there is a wealth of information to collect and work through. There are houses they occupied that haven't been entirely cleaned out, papers only half-burned in an abandoned office, a storeroom in an outpost basement they forgot to empty. And there are the people who have been forced to live and work alongside them all this time to be spoken with, the names they've learned and the conversations they've overheard, the training exercises held on their village greens, all to be teased out and taken down.

One abandoned operation commands particular attention: the site that Riftwatch—then the Inquisition—observed on the eve of the Battle might be a shrine to the Old God Dumat. At the time this was a newly-discovered ruin and little could be discerned for certain, but during their occupation the Venatori have undertaken massive excavations. They've uncovered not just a shrine but a significant temple complex, much of it underground. Exploration of the lowest levels will be handled by a particular team, but there is more to see and do besides. The warren of ruins and the remains of the camp outside them must be searched for clues as to the Venatori's purpose here, and a preliminary study made of the site's contents. There are also the slaves who did the back-breaking labor of digging out the complex and now need assistance. Many are locals, who simply need a ride back to their homes. Others the Venatori brought with them from Tevinter, and they will need to be interviewed and local communities persuaded to take them in.

It is an unimaginable amount of work, but Riftwatch isn't doing it alone. The Inquisition still has a large number of noncombatants, many of whom have been sent to help with outreach and rebuilding in particular. The Exalted March, too, has plenty of volunteers that aren't exactly fit for the front lines. There is enough ground to cover for everyone, but there will be times when Riftwatch agents will be working with—or at least alongside—those from the Inquisition and the Exalted March, and orders are clear that they are to maintain good working relations and not start any trouble.

In between all of this there will be long rides by horse or cart from this village to that one over dirt tracks with cicadas buzzing in the sun, sweltering afternoons broken up by sudden, drenching thunderstorms, warm evenings playing pétanque on the green with the locals over a pint of cider. There will be as many wary as grateful, but hopefully by the end of the summer Riftwatch can tip that balance a little bit.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He shrugs away from Athessa and doubles his steps so he's caught up to the woman properly.]

You ought to change it for every elf you speak with, then. If not because it's the decent thing then at least 'cause you never know when you're going to need their help. She's a person and she's doing something kind for you.

Rabbits do as they're told, that is their place. We tell them when their help is needed, and they do it! [ She has stopped to face him with an uneasy but patient air. As one explains simple concepts to a child. ] What a soft-hearted fellow you are. I am sure your compassion would please the Maker more if you'd turn it toward your own people.

[ While being referred to as rabbit and treated as less than is unpleasant, Athessa has had plenty of time to get used to it. To shrug it off as easily as Matthias just shrugged free of her hand. That, being ignored in favor of argument, stings a bit more sharply than the reality she has to live with.

Her steps slow until she comes to stand far enough back from the two that she can't really be considered part of the conversation, merely an onlooker, hands balled into fists at her sides. ]

[Matthias--entirely oblivious to Athessa now, though he can sense, vaguely, that she is behind him, but the force of his anger and indignation is at the helm, driving him forward and focusing the full force of his attention on this woman--spits on the ground.]

That's for the Maker. She's my people. And I say respect her or we'll ignore your cottage and you'll be the only one in the village without a roof come rainfall and winter.

[ If the woman had pearls, she'd be clutching them. ]

My dear boy there is no reason to be so agitated! And there's no call for threats! [ She starts to back away, shaking her head with disappointment. ] I can see that Riftwatch does not dedicate itself to charité without condition.

[ And there it is. The consequences. Athessa speaks up a little louder than before: ]

Matthias!

[He steps after her, keeping the distance between them close.]

Oh, this isn't Riftwatch--this is me I'm speaking for-- What?

[That last part is addressed to Athessa, as he looks around to her, attention caught by her tone.]

Just stop. Please.

[ It's all she can say, all she can ask him to do at this point. She can't even be angry at him, because she knows exactly how he feels, but she also knows that this isn't helping. It isn't even about her anymore.

With his attention turned, the farmer's wife huffs some toothless well I nevers and the like, bustling off in a flurry of skirts before she gets accosted again.

Athessa sighs and shakes her head, turning around to walk back to the cottage. ]

I hope that made you feel better, anyway.

What? Oi-- what?

[Divided between pursuing his questions with Athessa and running after the farmer's wife to yell at her some more--well, it's only a brief division. Matthias breaks for Athessa first, and goes after her, double-quick to catch her up this time.]

What's that mean? What d'you mean? I wasn't doing anything to make myself feel better--

Well you weren't doing it to make me feel any better! And now she's gonna go off gossiping about how Riftwatch is full of — whatever she thinks, agitators or some shite.

[ She hefts the next bundle of thatch onto her shoulder and starts up the ladder. ]

[Matthias is caught off-guard enough that he is, momentarily, slowed. Not rendered speechless, because---]

What?

[--and then he's off after Athessa again, dogging her footsteps.]

What're you on about--I was defending you! She can't talk about you like that. It's not on. I don't care that we're in Orlais, you're still Riftwatch, aren't you? And even if you weren't, it'd still be shit-- [Oh, wait--he dodges back to grab a bundle of thatch as well, then sprints after her.] --Which is what I said! What's wrong with you?

Plenty, [ she scoffs, ] but I don't remember asking you to defend me, Matty. Moreover, I was trying to stop you, but other than being the one who was insulted, I may as well not've even been here.

What, by saying my name once? And why would you ask me to-- I was doing it for you! 'Cause she shouldn't have said that! We were just meant to sit by and listen to that?

Three times, but it doesn't matter.

[ She gets back into place and shoves the thatch where it belongs. ]

It's not that I don't appreciate you trying to defend me. But this isn't a problem you can fix by yelling at someone. And it isn't something that only happens here, or only happened today, either.

I know that!

[Clumsily, angrily, he stomps up the ladder after her, bundle of thatch clutched his chest with one arm wrapped around it.]

I'm not stupid! 'Course it goes on, that doesn't mean it ought to. And I know it's not fixed by shouting, but come off it--you'd just listen? When we could do something? Even if it's not fixing it, it's better'n nothing!

This is my life, Matthias!

[ She doesn't mean to snap, to shout, to give in to exhaustion and frustration and defensiveness at his own anger and indignance. But she does. ]

Do you think I'm not angry? D'you think I like having to hear them talk to me like that? I've tried fighting back. I've tried to do something. And anything that isn't fixing it, they'll find a way to use to make it worse!

I deal with this shit every day. Every day! It's never not something I have to think about, or be aware of.

[ She takes a deep breath, clenching and unclenching her jaw. ]

So yes, I'd just listen, because not even another fucking war is gonna help matters.

I know that!

[He throws the thatch down on a section of roof that's already finished. It lands with a dry rattle.]

That doesn't mean you ought to put up with it! No one should put up with it! And you shouldn't be resigned to it, either, you shouldn't get used to it. It's not right so you ought to be fighting about it!

[ With a frustrated groan, Athessa covers her face with her hands. ]

You're still not hearing me!

[ Dragging her hands away, she shakes her head and looks out over the fields, visibly struggling with emotion and trying to compose herself. ]

What do you think fighting will achieve? What happens after I fight one person about how they treat me? Huh? Tell me what you think will happen.

You'll change their mind!

[He points in the direction that the farmer's wife went.]

She'll think twice before she says any shit like that again! Doing nothing, saying nothing, that doesn't change anything either! I don't care how useless anyone thinks it is, if I can do something to defend my friends and make things--everything--right, or better, I'm going to do it! Better than putting bloody thatch on a stupid sodding roof!

[As punctuation, Matthias kicks the bundle he'd just set down. It's savage enough to wobble him and he has to drop to an angry crouch and grab hold of the beam so he doesn't fall into the cottage.]

She won't think twice, Matty. Right now she'll be thinking something about how unreasonable you were, and how some silly Marcher can't possibly be as enlightened as even some poor Orlesian dirt-farmer, and she'll double down on her insistence that elves are too stupid or too inferior to amount to anything outside of servitude or being conscripted in Val Royeaux!

Any ill will she harbors towards me will get displaced onto local elves, and she'll just think "The Chantry was right to give these elves such a noble purpose!"

[ Athessa grabs at the bundle he kicked, needing something to do other than sit here, shaking with helpless fury. She shoves the bundle alongside the other, packing it into place. ]

And if she'd known I was Dalish, she'd harbor ill will towards other Dalish, and feel glad that the Chantry condones their slaughter.

[Straddling the beam, Matthias glares at her. Or not at her, specifically, but at her with his current line of sight and all.]

All right, so, since you're so wise and you've got all the answers, what d'you do instead?

I’m not wise and I don’t have all the answers, [ she sighs, and makes for the ladder again. ] but I know that people only change their opinions when it’s their own idea, not someone else’s idea being shouted at them.

Like right now, you’re angry. And you’re asking me in anger what the alternative to your action is, but you’re not looking for the answer, not really. You just want a chance to prove me wrong.

Too bloody right I am! I am angry! 'Cause someone insulted you, and you're my friend! I'm not--

[Frustrated, he drags a hand through his hair and grips at it a moment.]

I don't think that way! Looking for a chance to prove you wrong, I don't think like that, I only want things to be all right! For you, and for everyone else, and it's nug shit that it never is and never will be! I can't stand by and hold my tongue and not say anything, or do anything, or wait for some stupid Orlesian bint to come around to thinking elves are as human as anyone just 'cause she woke up and decided it was so! That's not the way it ought to work and I'm not waiting around for it to happen, and neither should you, or anyone!

Matthias—

[ Pausing on her way past him, she catches his wrist. The one with the bracelets she made him, and her own wrist is wrapped in a delicate tattoo of forget-me-not. ]

—nobody's saying we do nothing. We just have to do it in such a way that they think they're changing their minds on their own.

[He looks up at her--first startled--then twists his hand so he can grab at hers, and hold her there.]

That's not enough. That doesn't work.

How do you know?

[ As much as she loves Matthias, she can't exactly see him running any long cons or operating with much in the way of subtlety. ]

Don't talk to me like that, like you know--

[He wrenches his wrist and his hand free and points, again, toward the farmer's wife.]

Because of that! Her! How long is your way going to take, a hundred years? We haven't got a hundred years. Look, I'm not you, and I've not lived your life and I don't know everything, but people've been shit to me enough times for me to know that being subtle and patient gets fuck all! How many sweet letters've been written to the Chantry, and if they had half a chance they'd still lock up anyone what disagrees with them!

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