Thanks to everyone who applied to be direct reports or liaisons! We had to make a few very hard choices, but if this works well, we'll likely open up additional positions in the future. The chosen characters are listed on our new info page, Inquisition Organization, which also has everyone's IC contact information and some more details about how characters work within the Inquisition.


There are a lot of rumors and uncertainties throughout Thedas, but characters within the Inquisition should be able to piece together the following about what occurred in the Anderfels:

While the Inquisition's team was at Weisshaupt Fortress, Corypheus (or at least his dragon) was sighted in Hossberg while a group of Wardens from the Anderfels, led by the First Warden, instigated a coup d'etat. The status of King Wilhelm Augustin and Prince Baldewin is unknown. Meanwhile, fighting broke out at Weisshaupt between Wardens who supported the takeover and those who did not. The Wardens' demon-bound mages varied between having control of themselves and their demons and not. Some succumbed and became abominations themselves.

A Venatori named Macrinus was present at Weisshaupt Fortress but was killed during the fighting. Warden-Commander Clarel (arguably now ex-Warden-Commander) was brought back by the Inquisition's team and is currently in custody. The Wardens' High Constable is a confirmed casualty and the Chamberlain's whereabouts are unknown; the Wardens' archives were burned during the escape, but the Inquisition's team returned with some important records and artifacts, including vials of Archdemon blood and an enchanted dagger that can purportedly protect Wardens against mental interference.

The escapees were met at the Anderfels-Orlais border by Inquisition forces that took care of their pursuers. Thirty Wardens, give or take, also escaped the Anderfels with the Inquisition's team. Those Wardens are now stationed at either Valeska's Watch in Emprise du Lion or Griffon Wing Keep in the Western Approach, where they're being supervised while handling the local darkspawn and assisting with other Inquisition efforts as needed. (Note: these two groups of currently-NPC Wardens are the pool from which new OC/AU Wardens can be apped.)

To end on an upbeat, the Inquisition's team returned to Skyhold with twelve healthy young griffons, plus one less-healthy griffon (named Buttons) who's now missing a wing and requires some TLC. They're currently being housed in the Inquisition's stables and watched over primarily by a Warden named Maja. They're expected to grow rapidly, so more permanent accommodations with room for them to stretch their wings and not harass or eat the horses are pending. Anyone is welcome to visit the griffons, with NPC supervision, but please keep in mind that--like lion cubs, or maybe baby velociraptors--they're as likely to bite as to purr.


The Inquisition now needs to decide on its next top priority, which means that it is also time for an OOC poll to choose where July's modplot will focus. For those of you who weren't here the first time we did this, to actually make the decision we'll post a google poll. The poll will ask for both the OOC preference of each player and the IC preferences of each character. The OOC component will determine which issue is the focus first, while the IC component may affect how we go about describing the atmosphere/attitude or helping the advisors to justify the Inquisition leadership's decision. The goal is to make sure we're taking into account IC priorities but ultimately doing what the playerbase finds more interesting.

• Deal with Orlais: The War of the Lions has engulfed the region in chaos and shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Fighting across southern Orlais disrupts travel and trade for the Inquisition and the rest of Thedas, not to mention the issues raised by the stream of refugees trying to flee across the Frostbacks and the increasing presence of violent highwaymen in the Dales. The Inquisition knows that killing or unseating Celene is part of Corypheus' grand plan for the future. With the empire seeming more and more unstable, who knows what might happen next as other forces in Thedas smell blood in the water and look to snatch power.


• Deal with the Anderfels: It's not yet clear precisely what is going on in the Anderfels, but whatever it is it seems bad. Either there has been a violent coup by Wardens allied with Corypheus, or the Wardens are struggling to fend off Corypheus's attempts to seize the kingdom himself. The whereabouts and status of the royal family are unknown, but if they are alive, they may not stay that way forever, and the common people are certainly in danger. Though a remote kingdom with no particular resources or wealth, if held it could give Corypheus a solid base of operations.

Please note that the Inquisition won't be ignoring either problem--this is a vote for where the majority of its resources will be devoted first and what the next mod-run plots will address. The problem that isn't chosen first won't be neglected entirely in the meantime and may be the subject of war table operations or player plots. Both issues will be confronted eventually, but the order in which these two problems are dealt with will change what characters face when they arrive and affect the overarching plot.

Please respond to the poll once. Use the first question to indicate which issue you, as a player, would prefer we handle next; these answers will decide what we do. Use the second question to tell us what your characters would prefer and what their priorities/interests are; these answers will shape how we describe the Inquisition's IC decision to choose one problem over the other. We'll also use it to add quests or other plot opportunities if there's something we've overlooked that appeals to a group of characters.

Though we're making the actual decision through the OOC poll, ICly the Inquisition's leadership will be considering the matter among themselves and making a decision without polling the rank and file. However, we encourage IC discussion on the subject to help flesh out opinions and the general mood of the Inquisition, since there are good reasons to prioritize each location. All characters would be aware that this question is being decided and would be able to get a sense of the general pros and cons of each option as described above.

The poll is available HERE. It will close at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, June 26th.