closed.

[tender]

WHO: Derrica, Marcus, Petra.
WHAT: Post meeting debrief.
WHEN: Backdated, Harvestmere
WHERE: Location
NOTES: Eventual guest stars to come, watch this space.

They have been riding for some time now. Passing through the eluvian and setting out on the roadway, with Petrana bracketed between Marcus and Derrica, they've cut through the countryside to wind their way south again.

The heavy footfalls of Petrana's nuggalope and the speed at which they've traveled has cut off the possibility of conversation. It's not until Marcus directs them off the roadway, into a copse of trees where a river flows that they are afforded any chance for conversation. Derrica remains in the saddle for a few moments, stroking her palm along Dulcinea's neck and observing Petrana and the Black Divine, Marcus dismounting his newly acquired horse.

All the weight of the conversation they've had, the news they are carrying back with them, is still settling in her mind. Derrica looks between them, fingers playing loosely in Dulcinea's mane. Weighs up the utility of breaking the quiet before asking—

"Who shall we speak to first?"

She can guess at a few potentials. But she would like to hear what they are thinking of, and order her own thoughts accordingly.

Comments

[ipseite]

“To some degree, that will be a matter of setting expectation,” after a moment, her lips pressing together. “The Grand Enchanter is confident of her ability to provide aid, if it's accepted — we will not end the war with Corypheus on the Minanter. But with the rebel mages, and with such support as Riftwatch can offer, strategic victories may be won and true assistance provided to the people of Starkhaven in the process. She can tip the balance. And we are an advantage that additional manpower will be able to exploit.”

Riftwatch's intelligence and coordination would do little for Starkhaven's forces in the position they find themselves now, but with a shot in the arm from Fiona's mages—

they might win something, without bogging Riftwatch down in an unwinnable siege.

[luaithre]

There is a minor uptick at the corner of Marcus' mouth at Julius on the matter of their being busy, despite the gravity of it all—and because of the gravity of it all, it dims quickly. Later, he will be very confidently asserting to Commander Flint that the rebel mages are force enough to change the tide.

He believes it now, but doesn't feel as much need, in this company, to make an unflinching case for it. They will know better when they land in Starkhaven, and his silence is agreement for Petrana's words.

[tender]

"I think it would be akin to when we assist the Inquisition," Derrica agrees.

That Julius has yet to say no is heartening. His assessment matters. As much as Derrica believes they have come to a conclusion, she would have accepted any check Julius extended towards their efforts.

"But we must convince the Division heads to support us in that. We can't order people onto griffons ourselves."

Well, it might be frowned upon, but—

[overharrowed]

"My history on the subject aside, I do prefer to work with Riftwatch rather than at cross purposes," is dry but not unkind. He's sure there's still a file somewhere in Skyhold with "troublemaker" noted in the margins, possibly underlined, that's been there since the strike years ago.

"At least you're giving me Rutyer, as I think the potential diplomatic upsides are fairly clear. If Riftwatch is seen to broker this, it's going to matter to other Marcher cities, at a minimum." He's thinking out loud, aware he's not telling them anything they don't know. "And I don't think leadership will see it as drawing a line in the sand with the Chantry. The Exalted March failing to come is still qualitatively different that an overt statement that no one else should help either. After all, Riftwatch has already been offering direct help to the limited extent we can."

He reaches for a sheet of paper. "Do you have a particular approach you're planning to take with the others that I should be aware of?"

[ipseite]

“We are in the rare and enviable position of the situation as it stands being its own argument in our favour,” Petrana says, tipping her hand, “it is a question of emphasis. The benefits to the cause of mages in doing this is obvious— I would emphasize, with Yseult and with Rutyer, the benefits to Riftwatch and the Free Marches. They will draw their own conclusions to the rest, we need make no pretense of it, but Vael is in a difficult position and the Divine is not coming. All are aware the Divine is not coming. As to lines in the sand...”

Her hands spread.

“It would not be our failing, if the Divine were to rail that her failure to act must be everyone's. It is not a winning argument.”

[luaithre]

"We can be forthright with Flint," Marcus adds, a glance to Derrica in instinctive indication of who he means by 'we'. Some reconfiguring has determined that they would be better suited to bringing him this news.

Probably. If anyone is.

"He'll see the angles of it without our emphasis."

[tender]

All these things make sense to her. The Provost settles as nearly an afterthought; they must corral the other three. There is urgency, thinking of how they must align Yseult and Rutyer with Flint.

"As long as we do it all at once," she adds. "I think it better if we don't wait. We tell them what we have for them, instead of letting of them present it as they perceive the situation."

[overharrowed]

He's aware of how it might look, if it comes up with Rutyer that he wasn't himself present at the meeting he's summarizing, but that's a problem that isn't likely to be a sticking point. Julius's somewhat complicated reputation is an asset as much or more than its a hindrance, but no one who stops to think about it for a few moments could fail to find a reason he might now be out in front of this.

(If he wonders whether they themselves considered and rejected the idea of bringing him, he doesn't give any sign)

"I do agree. Starkhaven can't wait, for one thing. For another, the sooner we approach the division heads, the less likely rumors outstrip us. We're providing an opportunity, not a problem; best to have the unfettered ability to frame it that way."