SUBJECT: It's Not A Pretty Thing To See
PARTICIPANTS: Julius, Petrana de Cedoux, Marisol Vivas, Colin, Finch
DATE FILED: late Solace
STATUS: Complete (Players discussed results OOCly, though there may be continued backtagging)
SUMMARY: A team went to Ferelden to calm down local noble agitation over the potential for mages to inherit titles and property. The situation is, for now, mostly defused and is likely to stay that way for the immediate future.

REPORT:

The Selwyns are a family of little importance but great ambition, which proved to be both the root of the problem and much of its solution. Bann Selwyn was agitating his neighbors to vocally oppose mage inheritance only in part because he worried about the implications for his own property. A large part of the situation arose because it gave him a voice and a sense of importance.

My colleagues and I were not able to go so far as convincing him that mage inheritance was no threat either to him personally or in general. However, he was willing to agree to stop stirring up the other banns and arls over the matter, and even to take steps to calm them down in exchange for ongoing evidence that he has a particular relationship with the Inquisition. These proofs need not be substantial; I imagine sending a raven with a message bearing an official looking seal every now and then should be sufficient to keep the area calm, regardless of the message's contents (within reason). I would suggest it is a cheaply bought solution to an annoyance when we have many real problems elsewhere.

There was an unexpected gain, or at least the potential for one, in the journey. My companions and I agree that, should the Inquisition find use for them, Lady Selwyn and the heir, Thomas, may be useful assets in the area worth cultivating. Lady Selwyn is as ambitious as her husband but both more subtle and more clear-seeing in her options. She could parlay assisting us into prestige, and seems willing to render actual assistance in order to do so.

Thomas, unlike his parents, has little to no interest in politics, but is a clever man deprived of means of exercising that cleverness. Loaning him texts we can part with temporarily, putting him in touch with scholars, and otherwise furthering his education might yield us an able researcher with a bit of investment on our end.

A final note, as you are aware of my personal connection to the Selywns, such as it is; I would regard it as irrelevant in dealings with them going forward. Bann Selwyn was, if anything, hostile to even acknowledging the connection; given that I am now technically his eldest son after the death of my older brother, that was hardly surprising under the circumstances. Lady Selwyn might do so if she saw benefit to her family, but not otherwise, and Thomas was too young on my departure to the Circle to feel any personal connection in particular. If you would like my insight into the family going forward, I will be happy to give it, but the Inqusition should not assume I have any capability to influence their position directly.

Should you like, I will be happy to discuss the mission in person in greater depth, or answer any questions.

NOTES & LINKS: Log over here.
Julius also attaches a short list of titles it might make sense to lend to Thomas should the division think the connection worth cultivating.