faderift | [CLOSED] OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

WHO: Marcus, Julius, Tsenka, Silver, Matthias
WHAT: Hunting apostates
WHEN: Sometime in Harvestmere
WHERE: Somewhere in Wildervale
NOTES: OOC Info

Despite what the words 'isolationist mages' might imply, it's difficult for any group of people to completely fall off the map—particularly, when they've arranged to leave behind a forwarding address. Returning to the abandoned homestead the group once occupied reveals a concealed cipher, a message written in some old field code from the days of the Mage-Templar war, which points them roughly in the right direction. With that context in mind, little rumors picked up on the road or in public houses while moving in it take on new life.

A woman traveling with children who neither look like her or one another could be refugees from anywhere, or it could be a mage passing through with a number of young charges. A stranger who owns no land appears with a set of tools for repair, stays for two days until the job is done, and then disappears again. A ghost story about screams heard coming out of some dark wood, recounted in a tiny tavern by a shepherd fresh from fields which lie at the edge of the trees, might be a particularly over-embellished tale of an animal's wail or it might be someone's clever idea of discouraging anyone from traveling certain wooded paths.

Indeed, given a few hours travel through that dark wood during daylight hours and the group will eventually catch sight of a cluster of scraggly buildings in various states of salvage through the trees.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Julius is, at first, inclined to hold back. If nothing else, it's smart to let Marcus run point on this particular mission. He's also more inclined to observe at first. But eventually, his natural friendliness and curiosity wins out. He's clearly intrigued by the open-air lesson for the children, and catches the adult who was teaching it after to ask some good-natured questions.

Before dinner he wanders a bit, to the edge of the village. He's not so far that he's out of earshot, or even hard to spot, but it's clear he wants to take a moment before going in. That said, if he sees one of his Riftwatch companions look his way, he gestures them over without hesitation.

After dinner, he settles himself at one of the fires, and it's easy to catch him in conversation. He's drawn toward the people who signal they're more receptive, making conversation, perhaps asking good-naturedly about their friendships without Marcus or Tsenka here and there. If he's keeping an eye out for trouble, it's impossible to say from the outside, but he's certainly keeping an eye out for opportunities to draw those less deft at making conversation into the circle.

And it doesn't take much to redirect John, who has been keeping to the fringes of this entire affair. Observing, yes, but being careful about how much room he takes up in the process.

It doesn't take much to extricate himself from the trio of teenagers who had been peppering John with questions about life at sea. There will be a seat saved for him at dinner, at a decent vantage point from which to participate in the evening's conversation. That's enough of a certainty that he can break from them, drift into Julius' sphere.

"This is who Marcus was intending to see, when that whole business happened on the road?" is the first question John poses.

"I think so," was mostly confirmation. "Or if not exactly, there's some overlap." He glances back at the makeshift village. "I wasn't quite picturing something like this, when we set out, I grant you."

"What were you envisioning?"

Is an interesting question, isn't it? Considering Julius' background. Where he had come from, and all the distance he'd covered to arrive at his present opinions.

What had Julius thought of, when they'd set out?

He weighs his answer. "Something less established," he settles on, finally. "More temporary. This place is simple, but it's a proper settlement, at least as established as some other small towns in the Free Marches or Ferelden. It's vulnerable, yes, but they can be self-sustaining a long while unless they get hit with exceptionally bad luck."

A pause, then: "It makes one wonder how many other places like this there are, in the suspension of the Mage-Templar war. How many groups have started carving someplace independent and sustainable."

Isn't exceptional bad luck a given in Thedas?

But John takes the point. Refrains from the glancing observation that mages in particular seem to have poor luck wherever they go.

"It would benefit us to find an answer to that," John agrees. "But I'm not sure how we'd go about it."

Scouring Thedas on giffons would be counterproductive.

"Word of mouth will only take us so far."

"It would be simpler if they were at least in touch with one another, I grant you. We've only so many veterans in Riftwatch who can draw on personal connections." Himself not included, as he's been particularly aware ever since they arrived. "But I agree, finding more places like this would be useful. Perhaps something to put to Scouting, if not as an independent priority, then at least as something worth keeping an ear out for while they do their other work."

"We should be selective with which members of Scouting we set to the task," is a mild suggestion. "It's not information we can afford to be careless with."

And John doesn't presume Yseult's opinions, much less those of her entire division.

What damage could be done with the locations of these mage enclaves? How quickly could they be turned into leverage, or traded to the Chantry? It only took one indiscretion to bring everything built tumbling down.

"Point taken. But there's also the danger of giving the perception of sneaking, especially with leadership. It can be a calculated risk to act as if of course an ally won't disappoint you. Granted, that's a strategy we'd need to discuss; I can't make the call for everyone."

Still... he's not against a more audacious gambit, especially now, while Corypheus is still there to unite them. There's a reason he was one of the leaders of the Inquisition mage strike, even when he was still describing himself as a loyalist.

With a grimace, he adds, "Then again, there's always the potential of those who aren't what they seem." Fitcher's true loyalties could have easily gotten Julius killed not long ago.

"There's individuals within our leadership who can be trusted."

One, specifically.

Can Rutyer? Can Yseult? Would Stark care? Two of these are uncertainties, one is all but assured.

"But whatever we find, if they are all similar to this settlement, they won't be equipped for the full force of the Chantry coming down on them."

They can't gamble, is the thing.

"I would be very shocked if the others are different in that regard," Julius said. "The Conclave was a vivid reminder that it's not a coincidence that many of the mages who have access to real resources see no particular problem with a continuation of the Circles."

He's not sure John knows his past well enough to know it's meant to be an inclusive remark, but it is. No one in Kinloch Hold, or possibly Ferelden, was rich by the standards of Nevarra or Orlais; still, he's seen enough of the world since to know that the offer of comfort is a quick way to starve a rebellion of some of its supporters.

"But," he adds, "they'll be more vulnerable fully isolated. Finding them, carefully, could give some of them more of a chance."

[CLOSED] OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

julius, ota

before dinner.

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