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I sent a copy of notes made on the connection between rifters and our world I made back in Skyhold after discussions Leliana and I had to Warden Serra, in hopes they might benefit her project somewhat. However, as someone with good sense in the Chantry Relations project, an argument can be made for a copy being sent here. So I send it to you.
This began when Leliana and I discussed connections: dragons, Coryphes, red lyrium, the Old Gods, eluvians. After Leliana had spoken to a young woman of the archdemons in her world and their names for the Deadly Sins as she called them of lust, pride, greed, and so the list went, and from what I was told they sounded very unlike what we understand of demons yet they were both struck by the overlap, as was I. Which brought us to what sticks with me to this day: the interplay of magic and stories. How many rifters do you speak with? How many of them share elements with this world in some form or even between their worlds, in truth, tale or both?
No names were mentioned in the letter to the Warden. You've the Templar instincts, I do not doubt your ability to seek out those you wish to.
There was one who came from a place with demons that were much different from anything we call demons. This one was a mage, yet a Church-knight; imagine, I suppose, if a Templar or Seeker were a mage, pious, souls that would not be in danger when there are dangerous things by them. It was a choice to do so, not a gift or curse as one looks upon it. Some might have a talent for it more than another but the choice would need to be made.
One came from a place where folk not only bonded with dragons but rode them into battle, I confess I find myself uncertain as to Tevinter feeling were they to learn that.
In one world magic is so secret that those who are not mages know not that magic exists, yet dragons do. Several breeds of dragons in fact, that females larger than males same as here, with differing names as might be expected though you would need to consult a draconologist, and most of those are Orlesian. Not worth the trouble. There were a 'class' of malevolent magical creatures, not so dangerous as a rage demon but were someone to get outnumbered by a cluster of things called grindylows underwater - small water demons, green, horned and with tentacles - they'd be drowned and eaten. Highly aggressive, known to eat people. Also merpeople keep them as pets. Merpeople are half-fish, half-hman; the upper portion of a person, but the fins, gills, and tails of fish. Sirens were a thing related to them, said to drown sailors by luring them into rocky waters by singing beautiful songs. 'Twas the Dementor that struck me, a creature that fed on human happiness, creating a sense of despair to anyone near them, and with the ability to consume the soul of a person through a Dementor's Kiss. The government in that place used and allowed such a thing as a punishment once. Elven magic was also very powerful in that world, far beyond anything a human could ever learn to do yet the elves had become servants to magical families, slaves to such a degree they were property. This person said they were very different in appearance and manner to the elves of Thedas however.
Dragons somewhere else are apparently far larger and more intelligent than those present in Thedas now; the smallest of theirs could swallow ours whole, and they were capable of devastation enough to reshape the world. Most interesting though was that they had no sex: they did not reproduce. He or she meant nothing if they referred to themselves as one or the other. No need to eat or sleep. Two purposes only: two destroy and to horde.
In another world dragons were spoken of though as the stuff of legends. 'Tis the beginning of a trend with the ending of this.
Somewhere else, there are things called aliens that look like demons but - according to this person - absolutely no demons. Only in their stories. Same with dragons. Demons are only in their religious texts, metaphors I gathered from the conversation.
Again, there was someone else who spoke of dragons and demons not being real outside the confines of several mythologies. This person shared the Seven Deadly Sins but was not the one who began this initial discussion between Leliana and myself. 'Twas from this one I gained all the names: Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, and Pride.
Lastly, I recently met yet another who speaks of this place being as something from stories or some sort of game in their home. A common theme. The overlap of fiction and what we live. Dreams. Dreamers.
There is one thing I did not mention in the other letter I mention here: the last rifter I speak of in this letter is a recent arrival. Who comes from a place as I described, without mages, or demons, or magic. Yet she has a friend who has the power to rewind time.
When this madness passes, speak with me. If not of the rest of it - Myrobalan is in Chantry relations, I believe, some of this may be of interest to him, he has one of the keenest minds out of a Circle - then that last part. I know much of magic the Circle would keep from the world, but time magic?
Morrigan
[Mmmm Wren just an innocent missive waiting to rock you like a hurricane.]
[ the handwriting drags, lags. it hasn’t been a kind few weeks ] M,
Cat’s out of the bag, and into the fire. Forgive the mixed metaphor, I am certain by now you will have heard:
They require binding. They become as spirits. What this makes them — for the interim — I confess I am not clear. I’ve never heard of a spirit coalescing this sort of mortal form. Idea, and flesh, and lyrium entwined?
Dreams, as ever. I can only thank you for the notes, and offer my own small update: There is a Rifted dwarf now, the first I have seen. It perhaps bears examination.
Shivana is due some rest, the boy looks dead on his feet. I agree it best to involve him when he is recovered; I am told that his contributions to understanding the nature of this illness were key. A light touch may be necessary — I am given to believe he is devout.
[ let's ignore what that implies about her ]
I require a few days to reorient myself with affairs. Perhaps Sundermount, after? I’ve no notion whether the Estate is presently inhabitable, and there are some matters I’d sooner not commit to spell or page. We might discuss this in greater detail then.
An aside: Amsel has taken up the project in my absence. I've no reason to doubt her skill or integrity, but perhaps, her discretion. Mail you wish read privately may yet find me at private address. — C
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faderiftorg2017-05-02 09:15 pm
INBOX
Information
Addressed to Wren
I sent a copy of notes made on the connection between rifters and our world I made back in Skyhold after discussions Leliana and I had to Warden Serra, in hopes they might benefit her project somewhat. However, as someone with good sense in the Chantry Relations project, an argument can be made for a copy being sent here. So I send it to you.
This began when Leliana and I discussed connections: dragons, Coryphes, red lyrium, the Old Gods, eluvians. After Leliana had spoken to a young woman of the archdemons in her world and their names for the Deadly Sins as she called them of lust, pride, greed, and so the list went, and from what I was told they sounded very unlike what we understand of demons yet they were both struck by the overlap, as was I. Which brought us to what sticks with me to this day: the interplay of magic and stories. How many rifters do you speak with? How many of them share elements with this world in some form or even between their worlds, in truth, tale or both?
No names were mentioned in the letter to the Warden. You've the Templar instincts, I do not doubt your ability to seek out those you wish to.
There was one who came from a place with demons that were much different from anything we call demons. This one was a mage, yet a Church-knight; imagine, I suppose, if a Templar or Seeker were a mage, pious, souls that would not be in danger when there are dangerous things by them. It was a choice to do so, not a gift or curse as one looks upon it. Some might have a talent for it more than another but the choice would need to be made.
One came from a place where folk not only bonded with dragons but rode them into battle, I confess I find myself uncertain as to Tevinter feeling were they to learn that.
In one world magic is so secret that those who are not mages know not that magic exists, yet dragons do. Several breeds of dragons in fact, that females larger than males same as here, with differing names as might be expected though you would need to consult a draconologist, and most of those are Orlesian. Not worth the trouble. There were a 'class' of malevolent magical creatures, not so dangerous as a rage demon but were someone to get outnumbered by a cluster of things called grindylows underwater - small water demons, green, horned and with tentacles - they'd be drowned and eaten. Highly aggressive, known to eat people. Also merpeople keep them as pets. Merpeople are half-fish, half-hman; the upper portion of a person, but the fins, gills, and tails of fish. Sirens were a thing related to them, said to drown sailors by luring them into rocky waters by singing beautiful songs. 'Twas the Dementor that struck me, a creature that fed on human happiness, creating a sense of despair to anyone near them, and with the ability to consume the soul of a person through a Dementor's Kiss. The government in that place used and allowed such a thing as a punishment once. Elven magic was also very powerful in that world, far beyond anything a human could ever learn to do yet the elves had become servants to magical families, slaves to such a degree they were property. This person said they were very different in appearance and manner to the elves of Thedas however.
Dragons somewhere else are apparently far larger and more intelligent than those present in Thedas now; the smallest of theirs could swallow ours whole, and they were capable of devastation enough to reshape the world. Most interesting though was that they had no sex: they did not reproduce. He or she meant nothing if they referred to themselves as one or the other. No need to eat or sleep. Two purposes only: two destroy and to horde.
In another world dragons were spoken of though as the stuff of legends. 'Tis the beginning of a trend with the ending of this.
Somewhere else, there are things called aliens that look like demons but - according to this person - absolutely no demons. Only in their stories. Same with dragons. Demons are only in their religious texts, metaphors I gathered from the conversation.
Again, there was someone else who spoke of dragons and demons not being real outside the confines of several mythologies. This person shared the Seven Deadly Sins but was not the one who began this initial discussion between Leliana and myself. 'Twas from this one I gained all the names: Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, and Pride.
Lastly, I recently met yet another who speaks of this place being as something from stories or some sort of game in their home. A common theme. The overlap of fiction and what we live. Dreams. Dreamers.
There is one thing I did not mention in the other letter I mention here: the last rifter I speak of in this letter is a recent arrival. Who comes from a place as I described, without mages, or demons, or magic. Yet she has a friend who has the power to rewind time.
When this madness passes, speak with me. If not of the rest of it - Myrobalan is in Chantry relations, I believe, some of this may be of interest to him, he has one of the keenest minds out of a Circle - then that last part. I know much of magic the Circle would keep from the world, but time magic?
Morrigan
[Mmmm Wren just an innocent missive waiting to rock you like a hurricane.]
no subject
M,
Cat’s out of the bag, and into the fire. Forgive the mixed metaphor, I am certain by now you will have heard:
They require binding. They become as spirits. What this makes them — for the interim — I confess I am not clear. I’ve never heard of a spirit coalescing this sort of mortal form. Idea, and flesh, and lyrium entwined?
Dreams, as ever. I can only thank you for the notes, and offer my own small update: There is a Rifted dwarf now, the first I have seen. It perhaps bears examination.
Shivana is due some rest, the boy looks dead on his feet. I agree it best to involve him when he is recovered; I am told that his contributions to understanding the nature of this illness were key. A light touch may be necessary — I am given to believe he is devout.
[ let's ignore what that implies about her ]
I require a few days to reorient myself with affairs. Perhaps Sundermount, after? I’ve no notion whether the Estate is presently inhabitable, and there are some matters I’d sooner not commit to spell or page. We might discuss this in greater detail then.
An aside: Amsel has taken up the project in my absence. I've no reason to doubt her skill or integrity, but perhaps, her discretion. Mail you wish read privately may yet find me at private address.
— C