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I have a need of you and yours; there are Inquisition agents trapped in Tevinter trying to get out. The ships will be overcrowded. The Scoutmaster asked me to head there to oversee it and I'd be going anyway but you know the state of things.
[That panic is going to make them all stupid. That stupid frightened people will make even more useless decisions by the water than usual.
Especially if they're injured.]
[That panic is going to make them all stupid. That stupid frightened people will make even more useless decisions by the water than usual.
Especially if they're injured.]
[ after seeing the message on the crystals, he's expected this to come, and honestly, he's glad for it. ]
We'll need to address Flint on it before we go, but I doubt he'll be opposed. If we take the two mages with control of the wind - Adalia and Aro - it'll be a faster journey.
We'll need to address Flint on it before we go, but I doubt he'll be opposed. If we take the two mages with control of the wind - Adalia and Aro - it'll be a faster journey.
I'll speak to Korrin, I'm sure she has spells she can use the same way and she might want to come along. I'm getting a list from Beleth for what she'll want for supplies, I'll weigh it against what they need and what won't weigh us down. Better we get there than arrive too late laden with all they might have needed. I can come meet you to speak with Flint if that speeds things along.
[None of this is good, she's already going to have to get lyrium after what she's heard.]
Fine time for us to have lost Llomerryn as a port we can reliably call on.
[None of this is good, she's already going to have to get lyrium after what she's heard.]
Fine time for us to have lost Llomerryn as a port we can reliably call on.
So long as they cast as the captains tell them to. I doubt I need to explain to you the danger in putting too much wind into an already strained mast.
[ that's his only concerns with the mages - the ones that he hasn't gotten to personally train as of yet. They need to understand how the sails work before unloading hurricanes into them. but that's generally a concern with every crew member who didn't come into Kirkwall from Nascere - that they might not understand a captain's authority on a ship, and particularly, his or Flint's, as they both tend to be demanding.
But he doubts that's something Araceli isn't familiar enough with. ]
We may be able to pick up another ship along the way. [ as they only have the Walrus at their disposal currently, as far as Vane understands. And this is maybe him bringing back up the point of 'confiscating' enemy ships again. Yes, it looks bad, but if it helps them carry back everyone with just the one trip, who gives a shit? ] Or acquire one there.
[ that's his only concerns with the mages - the ones that he hasn't gotten to personally train as of yet. They need to understand how the sails work before unloading hurricanes into them. but that's generally a concern with every crew member who didn't come into Kirkwall from Nascere - that they might not understand a captain's authority on a ship, and particularly, his or Flint's, as they both tend to be demanding.
But he doubts that's something Araceli isn't familiar enough with. ]
We may be able to pick up another ship along the way. [ as they only have the Walrus at their disposal currently, as far as Vane understands. And this is maybe him bringing back up the point of 'confiscating' enemy ships again. Yes, it looks bad, but if it helps them carry back everyone with just the one trip, who gives a shit? ] Or acquire one there.
I've been at sea when I thought the storm would split the ship in half before, I'll be sure to remind them all before we set off that endangering the ship is endangering those in need of rescue. [Aro, Araceli doesn't know. Adalia and Korrin however both have tempers on them, so making sure they know exactly what's expected of them before they shove off will be necessary, she expects.
Three drowned or captured Division Heads won't reflect well on anyone, no matter their politics.]
I'm still speaking with Beleth, she might scrounge others up before we go. [Darras or something like that if they can get him. It'd be another ship. Hedging their bets but Araceli can guess at how crowded the ships full of escapees are right about now after their flight from the island to Llomerryn last time, and that wasn't a dragon, it was something they could outrun more easily, something they could fight.] No one's going to miss ships if we aren't safely able to move everyone from theirs to ours.
[Put the right spin on it then get back and change the colours and the sails.]
Three drowned or captured Division Heads won't reflect well on anyone, no matter their politics.]
I'm still speaking with Beleth, she might scrounge others up before we go. [Darras or something like that if they can get him. It'd be another ship. Hedging their bets but Araceli can guess at how crowded the ships full of escapees are right about now after their flight from the island to Llomerryn last time, and that wasn't a dragon, it was something they could outrun more easily, something they could fight.] No one's going to miss ships if we aren't safely able to move everyone from theirs to ours.
[Put the right spin on it then get back and change the colours and the sails.]
Appreciated.
[ he has no time to be teaching new people what the chain of command is, and why it is holy on a dangerous voyage, or any voyage with these men, really. ]
If the opportunity to capture another vessel comes up, we'll take it. Otherwise, returning our people will be our chief priority. [ he knows that's what the leaders of the Inquisition need to see, to get them in their good graces, and dispel any misgivings about employing pirates. much as he dislikes being under orders of someone else he isn't absolutely certain of, like Flint, but it is what it is. ]
We'll be loading supplies onto the Walrus until then. I'll have my crystal near if anything else urgent arises.
[ he has no time to be teaching new people what the chain of command is, and why it is holy on a dangerous voyage, or any voyage with these men, really. ]
If the opportunity to capture another vessel comes up, we'll take it. Otherwise, returning our people will be our chief priority. [ he knows that's what the leaders of the Inquisition need to see, to get them in their good graces, and dispel any misgivings about employing pirates. much as he dislikes being under orders of someone else he isn't absolutely certain of, like Flint, but it is what it is. ]
We'll be loading supplies onto the Walrus until then. I'll have my crystal near if anything else urgent arises.
Hullo. It's Kitty. I wanted to talk to you about Tevinter, and the slaves there. And whether you think - Well. Whether you think that maybe we could arm them to fight back.
[ Slightly encouraged: ]
How about all the resources the Inquisition could bring to bear?
How about all the resources the Inquisition could bring to bear?
[ a snort, harsh laugh, because oh kitty. you're sweet, but people are terrible. ]
The Inquisition won't. It would start war with Tevinter, and that, as well as the war with Corypheus, is not one they have the resources to bear.
Besides, they've made clear they're seeking allegiance with Tevinter.
The Inquisition won't. It would start war with Tevinter, and that, as well as the war with Corypheus, is not one they have the resources to bear.
Besides, they've made clear they're seeking allegiance with Tevinter.
Not any more. Not really. Not since Corypheus took over. They're desperate for some way to gain a foothold. I'm on the hostile powers project - that's what they're calling it now, the project dealing with Tevinter and the Anderfels - and I proposed this, and they seemed interested. So I wanted to ask if it would even be possible.
Corypheus is, at least partly, using slaves to support his occupation. The idea may be taken. [ he knows, at least, that the assassin that attacked the Archon was a slave, and working with the Venatori. If the woman's smart, she'd call on the rest of those in her station to join, and if it means more freedom than they had before, they won't care who it supports. ]
You'd need information - how many of the slave class are allied with Corypheus, what he's offering them, what he's asking from them in return, what we can give instead. We cannot go in with an army and expect to win them. With slaves, when one group is freed, all others are made to suffer. It must be all at once, or none at all.
[ that, and: And they'll want the Archon's head. he'd like to tell her they could win some over just in killing him and making a statement to those slaves, but they were told to keep quiet, so he's keeping quiet.]
You'd need information - how many of the slave class are allied with Corypheus, what he's offering them, what he's asking from them in return, what we can give instead. We cannot go in with an army and expect to win them. With slaves, when one group is freed, all others are made to suffer. It must be all at once, or none at all.
[ that, and: And they'll want the Archon's head. he'd like to tell her they could win some over just in killing him and making a statement to those slaves, but they were told to keep quiet, so he's keeping quiet.]
[ Kitty nods as he speaks, chewing on her lower lip. ]
How could I get that information? Do you...have any contacts amongst them?
How could I get that information? Do you...have any contacts amongst them?
[ she can hear vane sigh on the other end of the transmission, not exasperated, just thoughtfully, trying to scrounge his mind for who they have with them. ]
If we had access to Nascere, maybe. Currently? No. None in the mainland that I know of. [ he can't be sure where every slave he's had a good relationship with could be, if they're even still slaves or escaped or recaptured. ] The Inquisition would have to send in spies, and quickly, before the Venatori hold settles in.
If we had access to Nascere, maybe. Currently? No. None in the mainland that I know of. [ he can't be sure where every slave he's had a good relationship with could be, if they're even still slaves or escaped or recaptured. ] The Inquisition would have to send in spies, and quickly, before the Venatori hold settles in.
[ Very hesitantly: ]
Probably...people posing as slaves, themselves. To instigate the rebellion.
[ Which sounds like an awful, awful, awful job. ]
Probably...people posing as slaves, themselves. To instigate the rebellion.
[ Which sounds like an awful, awful, awful job. ]
People who have been slaves. Slaves won't trust a rebellion from a non-slave, and they will know.
[ life as a slave is much, much different from life free. it makes a different person, most that look at rebellion and think 'death wish' besides. a spy would have to be incredibly good to fool the slaves, and then keep the story going for, essentially, their entire life if they meant to lead that rebellion themselves. the moment they're revealed as an impostor, all trust will be lost. ]
And no former slave will be willing to go back there.
[ life as a slave is much, much different from life free. it makes a different person, most that look at rebellion and think 'death wish' besides. a spy would have to be incredibly good to fool the slaves, and then keep the story going for, essentially, their entire life if they meant to lead that rebellion themselves. the moment they're revealed as an impostor, all trust will be lost. ]
And no former slave will be willing to go back there.
How could we convince them? That we'd succeed?
Have a plan, have resources, have the entire Inquisition backing it from the very top, have a military ready to move in to reinforce the resistance. Those things at the very least.
[ a beat, and this sigh is an exasperated one: ]
And if this is you trying to get me to do it, have a sworn treatise from the Inquisition to defend Nascere's independence as a sovereign nation.
[ a beat, and this sigh is an exasperated one: ]
And if this is you trying to get me to do it, have a sworn treatise from the Inquisition to defend Nascere's independence as a sovereign nation.
[ She wasn't - not consciously, at least; maybe her mind was going there without her being cognizant of it. But...it does make sense, doesn't it? Him, leading their forces...She hesitates, then nods. ]
I'll see what I can find out. What I can get.
I'll see what I can find out. What I can get.
[ as far as he knows, he's the only former tevinter slave in kirkwall. at least, the only one kitty knows, probably. definitely one of the very few that might be reckless and stupid enough to try this insane scheme. ]
Don't make any promises. This isn't a yes.
[ honestly, he highly doubts she'll get any traction from that. part of asking such a high price is because she won't. and flint would shit bricks if he heard about it anyway. but we'll see. ]
Don't make any promises. This isn't a yes.
[ honestly, he highly doubts she'll get any traction from that. part of asking such a high price is because she won't. and flint would shit bricks if he heard about it anyway. but we'll see. ]
No. But it's a start.
[ And then, with a bit of fierce enthusiasm: ]
And it'd be brilliant, wouldn't it. None of this kissing the Archon's arse and licking Magisters' boots to keep Corypheus at bay. None of this pretending that they're all fine and what they're doing is fine so they'll be willing to ally with us. It'd be burning their entire bloody country down around their smug rich slave-keeping ears. Tearing it to bits and then after the war, giving the slaves control. Letting them build something new.
[ And then, with a bit of fierce enthusiasm: ]
And it'd be brilliant, wouldn't it. None of this kissing the Archon's arse and licking Magisters' boots to keep Corypheus at bay. None of this pretending that they're all fine and what they're doing is fine so they'll be willing to ally with us. It'd be burning their entire bloody country down around their smug rich slave-keeping ears. Tearing it to bits and then after the war, giving the slaves control. Letting them build something new.
[ dear lord, this child. so much optimistic energy. he worries some (which is a rare, rare occurrence for charles vane) that she'll have that optimism crushed the hard way, and her spirit will shatter. but that's the way of the world.
he thinks 'assuming the slaves don't just turn around and start enslaving more, because some are like that. or their childrens' children will. some people are just fucked in the head. some sick impulses for greed and conquer and dehumanizing just never leave. but he won't say that to her. she's young and bright, and it isn't hurting anyone. yet, at least. ]
I would be. If it works.
he thinks 'assuming the slaves don't just turn around and start enslaving more, because some are like that. or their childrens' children will. some people are just fucked in the head. some sick impulses for greed and conquer and dehumanizing just never leave. but he won't say that to her. she's young and bright, and it isn't hurting anyone. yet, at least. ]
I would be. If it works.
And if it doesn't - then we'll find another way.
[ Kitty's clearly a bit fired up now, enthusiastic and keen on this idea. She's so used to being on the receiving end of discouragement that a yes, maybe, this might possibly be feasible is grand encouragement to her. ]
We won't leave them there. We can't. If the world's falling apart at the seams, then the least we can do is put it together in a way that's less bloody awful.
[ Kitty's clearly a bit fired up now, enthusiastic and keen on this idea. She's so used to being on the receiving end of discouragement that a yes, maybe, this might possibly be feasible is grand encouragement to her. ]
We won't leave them there. We can't. If the world's falling apart at the seams, then the least we can do is put it together in a way that's less bloody awful.
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