INBOX.

[molineux]

crystals | letters | scenes | etc.

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a welcome packet;

[heirring]

[Shoved under Margaery's door at some point during her enforced quarantine is a packet of papers with a handwritten (distinctly lovely handwriting at that) questionnaire. The following instructions are pinned to its cover: 'Welcome to Riftwatch! Please fill out the following survey to the best of your ability and return it to the desk of Mme. de Foncé in the Base Operations office. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out for clarification. Best Wishes, W.A. de Foncé, Research Division, Assistant to the Seneschal, Project Felandaris.'

The following survey is...expansive.]

Questionnaire Section A
Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:46)

Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?

Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?

Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?

Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space?
Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?

Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)? Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.

Questionnaire Section B
Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them

Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard? Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.

Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities. Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.

Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?

Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?
Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?

(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)

[molineux]

[ the packet is returned on the morning of the second day, as if the answers - neatly written - took all day for Margaery to pen despite the short nature of her answers.

(also, yes. that is most certainly a very small 10.) ]

Questionnaire Section A
Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:46)


Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?

𝒩𝑜𝓉 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓇. 𝒩𝑜 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒶𝓇 𝓅𝒽𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝒶 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝐼'𝓂 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂.

Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?

Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?

𝐼𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝓃𝑒, 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒹.

Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space?
Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?


Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)? Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.

₁₀

Questionnaire Section B
Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them


Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard? Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.

Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities. Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.

Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?

𝒩𝑜 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈.

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽.

Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?

𝒞𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓁𝓎.

Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?

𝒞𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓁𝓎.

(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)

[heirring]

[A few days later, a follow up note is left in Margaery's mail cubby in the dining hall or slipped beneath her door or left in some similar location where she is likely to find it. It reads--]

Miss,

I am most appreciative of you taking the time to answer and return the survey. In an effort to be most thorough in my research, if you would please expound upon your answer for Question 3A to which you wrote, 'It is believed to be gone, if it ever existed.'

If there is common beliefs or mythology in your world regarding the disappearance of magic, might you be so kind as to expound upon it here?

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or if you should need assistance with anything whatsoever during your seclusion in the Gallows.

Warmest Regards,
Mme. W.A. de Foncé
Research Division
Project Felandaris
Assistant to the Seneschal

[molineux]

[ the letter that comes back is slightly more extensive, quietly left on Mme. de Foncé's desk as before: ]

Madame:

From what I can understand, 'magic' in my world is called 'higher mysteries', and in the country I hail from, it is thought to be a mythical force, ancient enough that many question if it ever existed at all.

Long before, kings and queens of our kingdoms ruled with dragons by their side. Those dragons were killed into extinction when their dynasty was more or less toppled, but during my time, there were accounts of the daughter of the last king, who somehow hatched three very old dragons during her exile. Given the incredulity of these circumstances, I imagine there was some involvement of... blood magic? Or perhaps another influence of some kind that I am unaware of.

However, I have also heard of magic being studied and housed in great many other countries, such as necromancers and sorcerers. Regrettably, I had little reason to ever travel to these other places and cannot tell you much more beyond that.

There are also those who proclaim themselves to be servants of a god, the Lord of Light, who have been known to perform... incredible deeds. A trustworthy warrior who was in my first husband's tent on the night he was killed told me that she saw a demon, with the face of his enemy, stab him through the heart and disappear. If this account is true, it is undoubtedly the work of one such priestess, who was supporting his enemy. I never saw her with my own eyes, but I understand that she was rather unsettling to behold, with confidence in unpredictability and unbothered by any chill.

I hope these details, however sparse they are, will be of great help to you.

With the greatest respect,
Margaery

[heirring]

Madame Margaery,

First, allow me to extend me sincerest condolences with respect to the loss of your husband. I understand that such things can be quite difficult. That said, I thank you for the thoughtfulness and thorough nature of your reply. The details you have provided are indeed make your account into a very useful addition of the survey records.

You see, I am studying those commonalities which occur between the worlds of Rifters and Thedas, and reoccurring themes such as the use of blood magic or the raising of the dead and so on is quite relevant to my studies. If you should ever find yourself curious about the details, whether it be a more thorough explanation of what I have collected so far or how your own account may be implemented into the project's documentation, then I would be most happy to review the subject with you.

To a somewhat similar end—Should you have any questions not related to the survey, or if you should need any assistance as you grow comfortable in the Gallows, then please do not hesitate to call upon me.

Warm Regards,
Warmest Regards,
Mme. W.A. de Foncé
Research Division
Project Felandaris
Assistant to the Seneschal

crystal; post-orzammar

[kantikoy]

Hello, is this Miss Margaery?

[molineux]

Yes, hello, madame. How may I help you?

[kantikoy]

It's Adrasteia, no need for a title! I was just wanting to see how you were getting on, now that everyone's back and Riftwatch is busy again.

[molineux]

[ genuine, warm relief - ]

Adrasteia! Thank you for checking up on me. I'm well. I missed the hustle and bustle of everyone, if you can believe it. How are you faring? Was your trip fruitful?

crystal / post mod plot

[tender]

Margaery?

!

[molineux]

Derrica, hello. Are you alright?

[tender]

I'm well, I promise. I only wanted to be sure that you were. I realized it's been a few weeks since I saw you.

[ and you know. the war. ]

[molineux]

I'm fine.

[ an immediate response, meant to kindly reassure, but the abrupt silence afterwards leaves the facade wanting.

what can she say? she's not a fighter. she doesn't have haunting flashbacks or very real, very demanding wounds. is it trauma to simply be unable to sleep? or to witness different forms of visceral heartbreak every day? ]

...I've been trying to stay busy. If I stay in one place for too long, it feels too much like I'm growing comfortable. Are you getting enough rest?

raven

[earpiest]

( The handwriting is neat and bouncy, but without any of the flourishes of the fancy folk of Thedas or… anywhere else. Wherever Margaery is from included, Waverly would guess.

And she does draw the emojis, yes. Or, more accurately, really ridiculous approximations of the emotions )

I know this is so ridiculous and I promise not to waste raven resources when they should be doing more important things, but we can send things by 🦅⭐️ RAVEN⭐️🦅
It’s so cool. I feel like I’m in a novel.

More importantly, thank you for your help the other day. I was hoping we could chat? Maybe hang out? I don’t really know many people yet and my social butterfly self is struggling.

💖
Waverly

...raven

[molineux]

[ Margaery chooses to indulge Waverly, although ravens quickly lose their charm when you've grown up around them your whole life. besides, crystals are so much cooler - ! ]

Dear Waverly,

I would be more than happy to speak with you. I'm not sure what hanging out constitutes but I hope it's a lot safer than it sounds.

Have you found a location that suits your comfort levels in the Gallows? If you have, please let me know by letter or crystal and I will be happy to meet you there. If not, the library is a wonderful place to start, with far less distractions.

Regards,
Margaery
🌹

letter by runner

[earpiest]

( After getting a Look when she bounded up to the rookery to send another raven, Waverley finds a runner to bring this message. It’s required because she realises that she has No Idea where Margaery’s residence or work is, and… yep. Wandering around is a waste of time and potentially awkward. Especially if she wandered into Margaery while trying to figure out where she was— it’s a lot.

Also, wow, she definitely would have spelled Margaery’s name wrong. ‘E’ sneaky - and people get so judgy about modern spelling variations. )

Dear Margaery,

Hanging out is colloquial for being social / spending time doing something. Sometimes it’s more like “spending time doing nothing in particular” but you might say that someone is “hanging out doing x” and it’s them just having a pretty relaxed time and maybe also doing a particular thing without it being the focus. Or “hanging out with friends” or “do you want to hang out” is a shorthand for being social without any particular activity attached. Although in certain high drama entertainment media it’s also very popular for bad puns when a character is hanging off a building or something.

Anyway, basically it’s good and fun and relaxing, in theory. No suspension involved.

I heard there’s some gardens, so maybe if the weather’s good we could wander around, unless you prefer to be inside? I mean, I love libraries, so it’s never going to be a dealbreaker for me.

( and in the name of being ridiculous, )

⭐️💜⭐️

Waverly

crystal / a few days after kostos' post.

[tender]

Margaery, do you have a moment?

[molineux]

Of course, Derrica. What do you need?

[tender]

It's about the Ambassador. About the things he was telling you.

[molineux]

...I'm listening.

secret satinalia

[vangelis]

Delivered wrapped into a neat, modest-looking parcel is a long coat made with dark floral fabric. Accompanying it is a note that reads:

This fabric already lives as a garment but if you are crafty or resourceful then certainly you can fashion it (or have it fashioned) into something suiting your own personal tastes.
Happy Satinalia.
M. F.

crystal, a few days post-skeletons

[acreage]

Margaery, it's Jim. I'm sorry I didn't check in sooner.

How are you doing?

[molineux]

[ her response is immediate, relieved. ]

Jim! All things considered, I'm alright.

Are you okay? I think I saw you very briefly at the infirmary but there was so much going on that I can't be sure.

[acreage]

[ he breathes out, soft, with relief of his own. he knows she wasn't alone after the party, at least, so there's that. ]

I'm fine. I was barely hurt, and Derrica saw to it.

[molineux]

[ there's actually fine, and then there's fine, the kind that covers a multitude of hurts. ]

Derrica is the best, isn't she?

I'm... very glad you reached out, Jim. You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice, especially after the events of these past few days.