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[doneisdone]

[Correspond at your own risk.]

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look at this cool icon I have

[byblow]

I need to ask a favor, Teren.

[doneisdone]

Out with it, then.

Sending Crystal

[justice_is_blond]

More seriously, if I can help in any practical way, let me know. Kaisa and Alistair are all Blackwall's and yours.

because mj said it was ok, a very crumpled letter--

[bunko]

[--which arrives in dismal shape, if 'crumpled' didn't get at that feature adequately enough. Also damp, trodden on, and smelling a little of fish. The parchment is bad, the handwriting is terrible. An effort was made.]

DERST TEAREN ------

IT IS I SCIPIO! I half wrote this On My Owne with smalest Help from Rafael. We are vary happie where we are and half Advaned the Coss of thee Wardans admerably. Merry it is Warme and we Ware Little and live ease. Many ar im pressed with us and saye that thay know notte how they Gott Bye without Wardans among there number befour us. You ar Proud am I shore and Welle should you Bee. But I am waring my Shirte!! Many ar jellyus of my Shirte also and saye thay Wish in Hart that thay had such a Fine Shirte of Owning.

I half hoope that you are Welle derst Tearen and I Thinkee of you offtan. Rafael does notte but thinks little of little so take no Offens. I half hoope that thee Wardans ar Welle two and that Skyhould is Warmer. And your Camp is notte flooded. And your foode is beter then whan lefte.

I half sente this letar by Fish Manger. And I hoppe it smelles beter then I am Thinke it wille.

Love From: SCIPIO THEE MARVL

[doneisdone]

[A scroll returns, wound tightly and with penmanship as spartan as its sender.]

Dear Scipio,

I am glad to see you practicing your letters, and of the honest and valorous work you are no doubt doing.
We have recently returned from a campaign to the Deep Roads, wherein we lost Senior Warden Hansen to his Calling. If you knew him well, I regret that you had to hear this way, but now you know. There was also a business up in Weisshaupt with some demons and blood magic and a dragon, but it was all a lot of nonsense and aggravation and I am quite glad to be done with it.

I hope you and Rafael are staying out of trouble. I am too far away to bail you out or stop anyone from killing you, so keep your head on your shoulders until we meet again.

Teren

P.S. If your cohorts should like a shirt like yours, you know where to send them.

[crystal]

[unbrokenoath]

Teren, did you know you can have three wives? Three. Imagine--like. Just. Imagine that for a moment. Three wives.

[ This is important. ]

[doneisdone]

Why would you even want one.

goodbye, and good luck.

[ungovernable]

Warden von Skraedder,

I pray this letter finds you in better spirits than our last meeting; it is not as I'd have chosen our farewell, for that is what this is. My lady mother recalls me to court, as it is her feeling it is where I am most needed, and where I might yet do the most good. I intend to represent there the interests of the Inquisition, and continue to build upon what I have done here already, though I regret the necessity of abandoning the Council experiment.

They may do well enough yet. I leave them now far less uneasily than would I did I leave them in Madame de Fer's grasp.

My mother and I wish to express to you our gratitude for all that you have done in our service. You have acted at our behest and on our behalf for many years, and in all things you have turned your hand to you are truly inimitable. It will be my pleasure to continue to support the needs of your mother, but know that it is a gift. We consider your debts to us paid in full, and release you from obligation, though I may hope that this will not be the last we speak. I wish you to know that this decision was not made as a result of your recent errors in judgment; my presence here has always been conditional upon it being my own best use. It is my mother's considered opinion that this is no longer the case.

You may always call on me, have you need.

Yours in friendship,
Lady Benevenuta Thevenet,
former Councillor of the Inquisition Mages

Crystal

[justice_is_blond]

So I've heard rumors of you being back from an adventure.

[A beat. How do you ask if someone's well when you know they're not going to answer that question?]

A difficult one, too. You're, um. You're back? And intact, I'm guessing? Otherwise I likely would have seen you.

[doneisdone]

[She... does not like that there have been rumors.
Teren has been spending the majority of her time in her tent, being a recluse and sewing and avoiding the rest of the world, more specifically the other Wardens. She feels a pang of guilt when Anders remarks on not seeing her, but...

...well, is it for the best?]

Rumors? [She looks over her shoulder at him, a bit warily. In her lap is a scrap of fabric with experimental designs in needlework, the thing that's been keeping her mind busy in lieu of talking to people about her worries.]

a letter accompanying a ""planet"", at some point after ttt, etc

[limier]

[ get ready to be overcome with emotion ]

Warden von Skraedder,

Frankly, I've been running out of plants to send people.

I only really know so many, and this isn't exactly the season (or climate, or location) for it. So I hope you will forgive this small break from my standard heartfelt letter of gratitude.

[ It's. It's a rock. A geode, in fact. Totally worthless — but it's shiny. Kinda. If you bother to break it open, which absolutely no one has. ]

I asked for the best rock they had, and was recommended this one for its "luck". Presumably, the good fortune is to have a solid projectile in hand.

Thank you for your quick thinking and reflexes through the course of our journey.

[ She likes not being on fire, or imprisoned, or in Nevarra. They're all roughly as cheerful prospects. ]

Know that you may call upon me, should you ever require it.

With gratitude,
— Ser Coupe.

[doneisdone]

[How confusing.

The rock is placed among Teren's other sparse belongings, with a mental note to not forget what it's for and throw it at someone.

...well, someone unimportant at least.]

crystal.

[byblow]

Teren, have you been tormenting Nathaniel?

[ The words on paper might look like the sort of thing a stern parent would say, but out loud they're entertained. ]

[doneisdone]

I'm certain I don't know what you're talking about.

like a full week+ later, crystal;

[limier]

[ how awkward is it possible for a human being to sound? ]

Ah. That is to say,

[ find out this week on: grown woman still not sure quite what the fuck that was ]

I believe I found your shears.

[doneisdone]

Glad to hear it. You can leave them in my tent at your leisure.

[they might as well be strangers.]

crystal;

[limier]

I am going to break something. [ perfectly placidly, primarily because no one can see her expression ] Would you like to be involved?

[doneisdone]

[A substantial pause, which begins shocked and ends in a vaguely amused:] Well hello.

Crystals

[justice_is_blond]

Are you ignoring me and the plethora of advice I may have on your new boon companion?

Crystals, five minutes later

[justice_is_blond]

Teren.

a letter.

[ungovernable]

Warden von Skraedder,

I can only presume that your letters to me thus far have gone astray; I recommend disciplining your young mail boys, as they are obviously inattentive to their duties. I have enclosed something that may assist you in ensuring your future responses to my missives reach me.

I pray this note finds you well, and look forward, as ever, to hearing from you.

Your dear
𝕭ENEVENUTA

( Enclosed, on a clean and separate piece of parchment: Benevenuta's mailing address, in huge block letters, circled and underlined. Bitch did you forget where she lives. )

[doneisdone]

[The returning letter isn't hasty, per se, because even when under duress, Teren isn't rash. But she does respond, in her careful, unpolished lettering, with a smattering of grammatical errors and incorrect capitalizations resulting from learning to write well into her adulthood.]

Benevenuta,

I am sorry for failing to write. I suppose I'd thought you wouldn't want me to, which is to say perhaps I've been a Fool, which comes as no surprise to me or likely you either.
I have been well. Mostly the usual Wardening rubbish, darkspawn, uncovering treacheries, prying dwarfs from beneath dying ogres, nothing that I imagine would interest you. Our branch of the Inquisition has relocated to Kirkwall, where I live with the others in a great ugly stone building in the aptly-named Gallows. I would sleep outside instead, but having determined that this place is more than a little Haunted perhaps I will not press my luck so boldly.

A couple Venatori have arrived recently, I want nothing to do with them but I imagine you would have fun with them. It would seem I have also acquired a Druffalo, who will not go away. His name is Boots. My hope is that he will someday step on Oghren and Rid us of him, but in the meantime I will settle for butting Howe with his head into a Mud puddle and staining his breeches. I suppose if ever Boots outlives his usefullness we can just Eat him.

Having outlived my Own usefullness in many ways I am fortunate not to be Livestock.

I hope you and your mother are well. I have enclosed a Comb which I found in Hightown for your pretty hair. It is no proper appology but I hope it will be enough for now.

Yours Always,

Teren

crystals;

[limier]

[ hey babe ]

If one of your wardens were to deliberately hide information you'd requested, how would you respond?

[ this is 100% hypothetical i'm sure. a pause, ]

One of the useful ones.

[ important to specify ]

[doneisdone]

[not that Teren has much authority to do so, but she was raised a certain way.]

Give them a sound thrashing unless they had a bloody good reason, though I expect that's why it isn't up to me.

[That's how she would probably deal with most Warden insubordination, in no small part because they all act like she's their mother. Might as well lean into it.]

In person

[justice_is_blond]

[He'd come here to ask Teren a question. What question, exactly, fades from mind as he hears Wren's voice and words. And while he doesn't mean to eavesdrop, Anders can hardly knock and interrupt a conversation.

Maybe he should go. No, he really should go. Except his feet aren't moving and he's standing there outside the door listening like an idiot even as Teren implies she's heading out. Through the door he's standing at, hand raised to knock, frozen in place.]

[doneisdone]

[This is the door that opens, and abruptly Anders is looking up at Teren, who is looking back down at him, her eyelids fluttering in a surprised blink.]

What, [she asks brusquely, having no reason to think anything is amiss. Anders is just being a weirdo like usual.]

crystals;

[limier]

[ the servants kindly provided water and gauze, but getting out of hightown with her face pulped is still an exercise in frustration and scrutiny (and probably cosmic justice, for her threats to thranduil).

the crystal comes out at last some ways into lowtown, where if she yet draws a few eyes, they're glared back more quickly. she really doesn't want to do this. but, ]

Do you know if Warden Anders is in today?

[ definitely not someone speaking through intact nostrils ]

Re: crystals;

[doneisdone]

[The voice that returns is languid and slightly cranky, as though Teren was interrupted from concentration.]

You sound awful.

Note stuck under the door

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

Madame Teren von Skraedder,

I wanted to formally apologize for trying to take your letters. Now that I'm a member of the Inquisition, I'll be doing my thieving for good instead of evil, so I'll just steal letters from the Venatori from now on. If you ever take on pupils who don't want to be Wardens? I'd love to learn from you because you are the scariest old lady rogue I have ever met, and I grew up in Kirkwall so that's saying something.

Either way, sorry again, and thanks for handing me over to Scout Master Ashara.

A. Agassi

[doneisdone]

A,

Here is your First and Only lesson: next time Alistair won't be there to stop me taking your Fingers.

Teren.

[letter]

[unbrokenoath]

Teren,

I thought you were the responsible one. I thought that you were the one in charge of keeping people out of trouble. I thought 'it's fine to leave everyone for a little bit, Teren will make sure they don't die'. And yet. And yet!!! I hear everyone went to Nevarra and Nathaniel got his ass kicked by a bunch of corpses. Really?

And speaking of which, did anybody there spit at you again? Because I'll go kick their asses if they did. I've been doing a shitload of training here, I can guarantee I can kick just about anyone's ass now. Even if it's a dragon. Or a corpse. Especially a corpse, actually.

You'd be surprised by how much training I'm getting done, considering my job here is to train other people. But I've found that they learn a lot better when you show them by doing it, and doing it multiple times. And of course, I go with them all the time when we do darkspawn runs. If there's anything I can say about the Western Approach, it's that there are no shortage of darkspawn to use for target practice.

Of course, there's plenty less than there used to be, now that I'm here.

I will say that I appreciate what you do for us a bit more now, that I have to do it for these kids. And they really are kids--They're all about the age I was when I joined, and it felt like an adult at the time, but looking at them now? I feel like I'm looking at infants toddling around with swords. Gotta change their nappies and put them down for naps or they'll get grumpy.

It's nice, though. Having people that I have to take care of. That I have to make sure learn effectively, because they're going to need everything I can teach them to make sure they survive. At least, survive until they of the taint. Which is about all I can really do for them, I guess.

And since I apparently have to make sure that all of you survive too, I'll be back to Kirkwall pretty soon. Try to make sure that none of you die before I get back.

Best wishes,
Kaisa Daesun

[doneisdone]

Kaisa,

I assure you anything that became of Howe was most likely Deserved. I was not there as I had my own business to conduct in Nevarra City. No one has spit at me, at least not on Purpose, as there are many Drunks in the streets I frequent.

I expect you are a good Trainer and tireless. New Wardens need someone to Guide them through to their New Life and you no doubt make it seem a game. Perhaps if my Training had been similar I would enjoy the role as much as you seem to.
Don't become too Attached to them, I Warn you. You know why as much as I. You must keep your Heart in check now more than ever.

Until we meet again.
TvS

[justice_is_blond]

[There's near-panic in his voice when he calls.]

We don't have to listen to this, right? The quarantine? Being locked in the, in here? We're Wardens. We're not Inquisition. I can swim the channel, I've swam a lake, we can, we're not, right?

[doneisdone]

[She's not feeling much better about it, personally, but she's in Not Here, Not Like This mode. No one is dying anytime soon, and they're all going to shut the fuck up and keep their heads.]

No one's locking anyone in anywhere. Pull yourself together, I'll meet you in the courtyard. [Outside, where there's air and animals and things to look at that aren't tower walls.]

Crystal

[justice_is_blond]

You want to go on a trip with me, don't you?

[doneisdone]

[a long pause. then, suspiciously:]

...............where

crystal.

[byblow]

Do you think I miss our camp is a good reason to make everyone move into one building?

[doneisdone]

Well it'd certainly make my life easier. Perhaps the reason is you miss our camp and Warden von Skraedder is sick of chasing everyone down for their damn socks.

Crystal

[justice_is_blond]

Teren? Teren, I heard you rode off? Are you all right?

[doneisdone]

[it takes her a while to respond. then, breathless, above the sound of a horse galloping full-tilt:]

Pike.

crystal.

[byblow]

You realize this makes you a deserter.

[ Out of nowhere, weeks after she left.

It means he misses her. ]

[doneisdone]

[It surprises her. Her voice is a bit scratchy when she answers:]

Alistair?

post-Tevinter

[misdirection_hex]

[A brief message in a spidery but well-practiced hand has found its way into the hands of everyone in the newly-rechristened Hostile Powers project. None of this newfangled magical book business.]

In light of recent events abroad, their ongoing implications, and the necessary narrowing of our focus as a project, your input is requested at a project-wide conference that will be held via crystal at eight o'clock Tuesday evening.

Please let me know if you are unable to listen in. Minutes will be made available to those who cannot.

--Enchanter Vandelin, Assistant Project Leader

[shri]

Warden? A word in my quarters, if I might. Later this evening is fine with me.

[doneisdone]

Mm?

All right.

a very late mysterious invitation

[matchymatchy]

[ When Teren wakes, she'll find that she's received a terribly mysterious tip-off: Stolen goods, being off-loaded cheaply at a certain section of the docks. If the Wardens move quickly, they could make a good deal. The instructions include a single red rose to wear, to signal that she’s in on it.

Unknown to her, a stranger (terrible, mysterious) will also attend. Teren doesn’t have to actually accept the invitation — not intentionally. Should she ignore or otherwise attempt to circumvent its summons, a chain of coincidences (terrible, mysterious, you get it by now) and well-timed accidents will conspire to see her there.

The boat in questions looks ordinary enough from the outside, and the anxious dwarf to usher her on board leaves her free rein to peruse the remaining stock, composed entirely of wine, sweets, and feathers. He explains that he’ll be back shortly, and to speak to the crew on shore if she wants to make a deal. It’s a shame that he accidentally takes the gangplank with him.

Teren could shimmy down the ropes, or dive into the water, but the crew mysteriously can’t hear any cursing from shore. Enjoy.

OOC Note: Anna is played by Vee. Feel free to play out a thread, handwave things, or ignore it entirely, but check with each other first! ❤ ]