PROJECT: Rifts & the Veil

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RIFTS & THE VEIL

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Figuring out how to permanently strengthen the veil to prevent further tears, who and what rifters are, and how to prevent the anchors from eventually killing those who have them are all high priorities. Kirkwall's particularly thin Veil makes it a good—if slightly dangerous—testing ground for many of these efforts.

DIVISION: Research
LEADER: n/a	STATUS: Active

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[frprojects]

Find objects or information of interest to a project you're not a member of? Have a question or a problem that the project's members might be able to help you with? This is a group inbox for project members to receive information or requests from others.

[eolasemah]

I have found a possible lead on research concerning those of us with anchors, and how to lessen their effects or even remove them entirely. Atticus Vedici is a prisoner of the Inquisition, and a Venatori, but he has made the offer to study the anchors if given access to the right equipment. I hardly know him, but I'm led to believe gleaning useful information is within his abilities.

We'll have to tread cautiously, but if he thinks he can help and is telling the truth, I don't want to miss the opportunity. He may be our best resource at the moment. What do you think?

[circleprodigy]

It seems worth giving him a chance, if we can uncover the means to help all shard-bearers. As a prisoner, he will not have unrestricted access and it should be an easy thing to monitor his progress.

[aforethought]

[ the words are obviously jumpy, ]

It were a Vint that broke all this in the first place, weren't it? And you want to just — what? Let him study us like books? Ain't half of you elves, you know how they treat folks up there, and that's without making people into puzzles. Bastard's already been trying to kill us!

[eolasemah]

I'm an elf, yes. And I'm happy to volunteer my own shard as the subject. [She's running out of time, don't they realize? --but best to keep things level.] ...I'm... interested to see if we can make progress.

[aforethought]

It ain't just you though, is it? All of us got stuck together with this, 's like —

[ she fumbles for araceli's words, people will look to the mark on my hand before anything else,

and that's not just judgment, is it? not just looking. they're bound by these fucking things, for worse and only worse. ]

— Ain't just your hand on the chopping block, is it, not if he figures some trick to pull. [ she has absolutely not heard where sina's shard is ] Everyone's problem, if he figures how to make them do some nasty shit. Everyone's problem, if folks start looking to us like like something can be picked apart and fixed behind glass.

You let someone take something, they ain't gonna give it back.

[eolasemah]

[A measured pause, a deep breath.]

It's not in my hand.

[wontforgetyou]

Oh, aye. "Gleaning useful information." There's another word I'd use for that.

[And to say he sounds less than pleased about the idea is an understatement.]

What's to say that he'll not take what he gets and run with it? What happened to keeping information about us secure?

[eolasemah]

He can't run with it, he's under constant guard. [A light, mirthless laugh.] Sometimes we have to be uncomfortable to get the results we're looking for. And I'm willing to take the risk. I don't expect anyone else to, but it would be nice to have your permission.

[wontforgetyou]

Maybe so, but that's not exactly stopped the Venatori before. Give him half a chance and he'll be taking advantage before you know it. Or more than that, even.

If he does that, it'd be more than a risk you're taking. It's no something that's only uncomfortable, Sina. And I'd know.

[eolasemah]

[A hitched breath and a pause.]

...apologies, Jamie, I wasn't thinking. [It wasn't so very long ago, and she was lucky enough to not be part of that contingent.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

I can't say I like it. But I guess you natives would know better?

[eolasemah]

[His voice makes SIna a bit nervous-- it was much louder the last time she heard it.]

...nevertheless, I appreciate your input.

[motherfucking_ghost]

It just--it sounds really risky. Even with supervision. He made the offer, which means he wants something out of it, or he's expecting to get something out of it.

[eolasemah]

It is risky. ...terribly so. But everyone else who's claimed such expertise has left, simply decided not to help.

[circleprodigy]

Continuing the research regarding anchors, I'm planning to compile a survey for those bearers interested in participating. I have some sample questions below, but if there is something you believe I have missed and ought to be added, please inform me. I want this effort to be as comprehensive as possible. Once any/all edits are made, I will make it available to all.

In addition, I intend to ask for volunteers for regular monitoring regarding their anchors. Perhaps twice weekly? Volunteers can also be requested for tests, but I would prefer the nature of those be known to me beforehand. The safety of those participating is paramount.

<B>Note:</B> This survey is purely optional. All information is confidential and will not be shared beyond approved Inquisition personnel. <b>Name:</b> <b>Native or Rifter:</b> <b>Date of Arrival/Date of Anchor Acquisition:</b> <b>Location of Arrival/Acquisition:</b> <b>Location of Anchor:</b> <b>When the Anchor was first acquired, how long did the initial physical reaction persist? What was the severity?</b> <b>Since then, what other circumstances have caused those symptoms to resurface?</b> <b>Have you participated in a rift closure? If more than once, how many times and how far were these times spread apart? Please describe the shard's reaction and any physical symptoms.</b> <b>Has your anchor evolved to the point where you have abilities beyond rift closure? What are they, and how many days passed between acquiring the anchor and this new ability? <b>How did these new abilities manifest? How long did any physical symptoms persist?</b> <b>Have these abilities been battle-tested?</b> <b>Since the acquisition of the anchor, have you noticed any other changes in the anchor or how bearing one has affected you?</b> <b>After the battle at Adamant, several anchor-bearers physically entered the Fade. If you were among them, how did your anchor react while within? Were there any long-lasting effects?</b> <b>Has the anchor acquisition changed your relationship to the Fade in a less tangible sense? For dwarves: Have you gained the ability to dream? For others: Have you found lucid dreaming easier/possible?</b>

[motherfucking_ghost]

notes/addendums/clarifications

"When the Anchor was first acquired, how long did the initial physical reaction persist? What was the severity?" Physical reaction sounds kind of vague to me. Like does it mean the pain, the sparking? How long until you're used to it? Mostly they seem to react to the rifts, or when under a lot of strain, or with magic. Severity also should have a scale like 1-10 least to most, something like that. You know someone is going to say 'it hurt like balls' which, while accurate, isn't going to prove scientifically useful.

"Have you participated in a rift closure? If more than once, how many times and how far were these times spread apart?" Personally I've done a lot and haven't kept track, though I might be just a case of...really being into closing rifts and all, so I couldn't tell you how many or how long apart they were. Rifter Church is an outlier and should not be counted. I'm just saying this one might be a bit more difficult to gauge for some people.

Also: are there more maybe Fade-y symptoms than lucid dreaming? Is there anything else besides that to be aware of? I'm not sure if it's possible to succinctly clarify it or change the wording of it, but most Rifters aren't going to know much about the Fade to begin with, much less if they've had any changes to it.

And if you don't have any Rifter volunteers for monitoring, I'd be up for it.

[circleprodigy]

Thank you, Church. This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to hear. I'm grateful for the offer, and the input. Both are needed, as you see.

You're quite right, some of the wording was a bit vague, as I was uncertain how it ought to be phrased. I do like the 1-10 scale, that might help with clarity as well.

It's quite alright if you can't recall specifics regarding rift closure and shard usage, especially since you've been so active. I was curious if repeated/regular usage has had any broad effects on the shards and those who bear them. Do you think such extensive use explains your anchor's evolving abilities, or was it the other way around?

This is quite true, about the Fade. If they've nothing to compare it to, then gaining answers might be difficult. I'm not certain there are more side-effects other than the dreaming, though I'll take any notable change and see if a pattern emerges.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I do remember there's a lot of pain at first, really distracting, so the wording can probably stay as-is, just add the scale.

Good question! This one might benefit from being a little broader/more vague then? Like I could give a ballpark of, dunno 15 spaced out every month or every other month, for example. None of the results are going to be accurate I guess but I see where you're going with it.

Maybe you could separate the Fade bit into two questions, one for natives and one for Rifters? Natives would know better, and Rifters might be able to more generally say if something's changed, esp about dreaming or sleeping patterns or weird otherworldly forces they're not used to.

[crowncitizen]

[At some point, somewhere in her office Inessa will find a note signed by Prompto with the following:]

Since then, what other circumstances have caused those symptoms to resurface?

What if someone has new symptoms that they didn't have when they first got it? Would this question cover that? Maybe include an additional line inquiring about new symptoms?

How did these new abilities manifest? How long did any physical symptoms persist?

This kind of goes for the other questions about "physical symptoms" too, but maybe list a few examples? Or ask to describe any pain and where they felt it? People can get pretty vague about that stuff unless prompted.

Have these abilities been battle-tested?

Would this include sparring or just going "hey dude look at what I can do!" and testing it out with other people?

Has the anchor acquisition changed your relationship to the Fade in a less tangible sense? For dwarves: Have you gained the ability to dream? For others: Have you found lucid dreaming easier/possible?

Might be hard for rifters to answer this since we're not that familiar with the Fade to begin with.


On an additional note, I've had an instance where I fell asleep and ended up remembering more things from home. Like, not just a few minutes or something I would have just easily forgotten. Like whole days' worth of stuff. Another rifter says it happened to him, too.

Sending Crystal, at some point

[circleprodigy]

Thank you for the input, Prompto. I appreciate the feedback, and will work on revising the survey to incorporate these points.

Would you be willing to describe your describe your 'dream' experience in more detail, either in another note or in person? And do you know if this other person would as well?

[crowncitizen]

I'm not sure if the other person would, to be honest. But I would be! On here or in person works fine. It'd be easier than just writing it out.

[circleprodigy]

Very well, please meet me in my office whenever you have the time.

A letter to Inessa

[foxsays]

Warden Serra,

If this information isn't relevant to the scope of your project then I apologise for sending it your way. When I first arrived in Thedas two years ago in the first group of rifters, myself and another, Marcel Gerard had been working together to learn what we could to help others such as ourselves fit in. There was much that was very strange to us, a great deal to learn; one never stops learning of course but I'm sure you can imagine that it's a challenge to know where best to start in an entirely new world.

I collated this information, and though much of it is out of date given I haven't added to it for so long with the demands of bard training then my own work, for new arrivals I hope it would still be of value to help them learn more about Thedas easily.

Yours,
Araceli Bonaventura y Castell

Attached is the following set of pages.

Addressed to Warden Serra

[arcaneadvisor]

Warden Serra,

These notes have been languishing some time, indeed 'twas not until speaking with a recent arrival that I was reminded of a project once undertaken between Leliana and myself to look at first between the connections between dragons and the rifts. My own work as you can imagine took precedence over this but given what you know of eluvians, how little is truly known of the Fade?

Some of this might be of interest to you.

Let me explain: this began from a discussion of connections. Dragons. Corypheus. Red lyrium. The Old Gods. Perhaps now 'tis not so easy to ignore the connection between dragons, Tevinter, the Old Gods and Corypheus; I have seen an Archdemon, heard it, fought it, and who can say how far dreams extend now? After the discussion of eluvians and the Crossroads, you can undoubtedly understand why Leliana reached out to me on the matter.

Leliana spoke with a young woman first of her world's archdemons, 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?

I shall name no names, you must understand that I believe I should allow them some semblance of privacy for those that remain with us now. Certainly, your own mind is keen enough that I trust you shall be able to hunt down some if you wish to question more.

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.

When you have had time to draw your own conclusions from this, and when this affliction in the Gallows is at an end passes, come to Sundermount where we might speak further if you wish.

Morrigan