faderiftooc | PROJECT HAVEN WAR TABLE ASSIGNMENT: Mother May I

Entry tags:

PROJECT HAVEN WAR TABLE ASSIGNMENT: Mother May I

WAR TABLE ASSIGNMENT: MOTHER MAY I

WHAT: Remember that time when Mrs. Fitcher orchestrated a kidnapping and extricating Marcus from it resulted in an accidental templar death?

It turns out the Chantry wants some answers about that!

A representative of the Chantry, Mother Pleasance, has been dispatched to Riftwatch to review operating procedures and ask questions of Riftwatch members to achieve a better understanding of how such a situation occurred. Mother Pleasance is coming to the Gallows to occupy one of the guest suites, so get ready to have a Chantry Mother in your midst, Riftwatch.

WHO: EVERYONE.

This is fully a choose your own level of participation plot, but be aware that Mother Pleasance will be in the Gallows and taking notes.

HOW: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!!

Option 1: Fill out the form below and we handwave any actual interactions with Mother Pleasance. You can decide if Mother Pleasance has a nice conversation with your character, a not so nice conversation, whether your character helped her carry her books or joined her for morning prayer in the Gallows Chantry, etc, etc.

Option 2: A thread with Mother Pleasance. You can request Mother Pleasance drops into an ongoing Gallows thread, or your character seeks her out to run interference, or Mother Pleasance specifically engages your character for an interview, what have you.

Option 3: No need to interact directly with Mother Pleasance, but maybe you want to thread out any of the preparations or reactions to her ie stashing questionable materials and/or individuals out of sight, prepping and practicing for interviews, keeping her out of the Research department, etc, etc. Think of all the shenanigans that go in the Gallows daily and think of how you'd like to keep an old lady from seeing them. Tons of background tasks, the world is your oyster here.

Option 4: Brainstorm a way to get one over on Mother Pleasance, or otherwise facilitate getting her out of the Gallows and delivering a good report to her superiors.

Option 5: Whatever I haven't thought of but you might want to do, holler.

Drop your comments / questions in the threads below!

WHEN: Mother Pleasance will arrive March 1st, and an intended departure date of March 31st. No one is responsible for a report, I'll write one to wrap things up at the end of the month.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

CAN TSENKA DREAMWALK THE NUN

(the nun will not know she did it)

can i get some info on what this entails so i can get my head around it as a concept?

but of course: tsenka is a dreamer, which means she's able to enter and manipulate the dreams of others through unique control over the fade (see: dreamer/somniari) — she can reveal herself or, as is more usually the case, not. this is a means by which she can glean information about a person without their knowledge by psychically manipulating their dreaming minds, and she is experienced in very precision work in that realm as well as just psychologically tearing somebody apart and driving them mad / to self-harm / etc, which is not what i'm proposing in this scenario but for like, context. her capabilities are very Scary Mage, in that way (it's why she was kept drugged insensible by the venatori; she kept killing people from her cell). in this scenario she would be interested in digging around for information about mother pleasance's history, stances, experiences, etc without showing her hand, mostly as a temperature check but also to see if she could pick up anything of strategic value (or even just the knowledge that pleasance doesn't have anything like that).

Edited 2023-03-12 23:34 (UTC)

Want to register an interaction with Mother Pleasance but handwave the content? Fill out the textbox below.

PLAYER:
CHARACTER:

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? ie what do they say their day to day is like? do they describe their work in detail? 
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? ie what does your character have to say about Riftwatch as an organization? Would they be specific about where their orders come from or their opinions on the work or their leaders?
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? ie how would your character describe their coworkers?
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? ie does your character think things run smoothly? How do they represent the workings of Riftwatch to Mother Pleasance?
What is the tone of the interview? Is your character openly hostile or rude? Do they try to butter up Mother Pleasance? Are they deliberately difficult? What's the interaction like?
Anything else? Is there something else that might come up in conversation with Mother Pleasance? If she asks your character about themself what might they tell her?

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? aka is your character trying hard to make sure everything is running smoothly? Are they trying some other kind of sabotage?

PLAYER: a ghost
CHARACTER: Viktor

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? We're quite busy. (Answered while passing her by on the stairs, in the arms of Fred, the iron golem. Fred takes great care not to squish her.)
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? It's fine. (A little further away.)
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? They're fine! (Voice raised because he's even further away.)
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? Sorry, ask me later! (Called out while exiting the stairwell for the library.)
What is the tone of the interview? Offhand, gradually more distant.
Anything else? He will not be available later.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Nope!

PLAYER: Cami
CHARACTER: Barrow

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? He's pretty honest about it, given he mostly sees the Forces training side of things and there's nothing much worth covering up. If anything, he omits that there are mages doing regular weapons training as well.
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? Infuriatingly vague as ever, probably along the lines of 'a military organization & more or less what you'd expect'.
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? Boy howdy is everyone just giving it their all to fight the good fight.
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? "we're doing our best"
What is the tone of the interview? Pleasant but reserved, only offering exactly what's asked (if that) and no more.
Anything else? He's a little bit on the dodgy side in the sense that he seems a bit anxious and pointedly changes the subject if asked about his own history. If pressed on the Templar subject, he admits that he was but then quickly comes up with something he needs to be doing and passes her to one of the others.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? He's trying to be a good soldier, as by-the-book as possible.

PLAYER: Brooklyn
CHARACTER: Florent

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? He will paint a portrait of lowstakes diplomacy affairs, referencing coordinating with Free Marches villages, this latest drama with Starkhaven and its fresh batch of newly formed refugees, courting some of the wealthy in Hightown for donations, so on.
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? Plays the elf card of how he of course does not know them very personally, being so low among them, but will describe them as dedicated to the cause of fighting Tevinter.
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? As instructed, Florent will avoid the siren call of gossip or even making any up, and speak only very generally.
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? Gushing about how he has never seen anything like it! He is, of course, a man of the theatre, and will go on tangents about the organisation and disorganisation of various playhouses and directors, but all with the view to illustrate how disciplined he finds Riftwatch to be.
What is the tone of the interview? Polite, deferential, chatty. He will try to undercut any elf-related misgivings with these qualities. Doesn't mind annoying her to some extent but it's not the aim.
Anything else? Without digging much deeper past the impression of flighty chattiness, Florent will see if he can get some details out of Pleasance. Much of it is probably easily attainable stuff (where she has been, where she has served, how has the war treated her, etc) but the objective is more to temperature check her personal attitudes about Riftwatch and her task here. Wheedly stuff like expressing sympathy, hoping all have been polite so far, has she done this sort of thing before, etc.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Mostly wasting her time in the most charismatic way possible.

PLAYER: Brooklyn
CHARACTER: Loxley

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? As per marching orders, Loxley speaks of his Scouting duties in terms of acting on intelligence by way of the Inquisition and Orlesian forces to better chart and keep track of enemy movements and plans, and also papers over it by playing the rifter card of 'really I'm just trying to catch up with everyone else'.
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? He will describe it as a little restrictive, with the view of conveying the idea that he as a qunari-shaped rifter does not experience a great deal of personal freedom, but that he isn't resentful of it, without actually saying so explicitly.
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? He describes them generally as patient, hardworking, friendly.
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? He will speak of the smallness of the company, of its struggle to really effect a great deal of influence and change in the war, but that its main objective of safeguarding the local land from rifts and corralling rifters is one it excels at. Again, without stating it explicitly, he tries to convey the notion of Riftwatch being a minor player that operates in subrordination to the Inquisition.
What is the tone of the interview? Polite and easy, Loxley does not seek to overwhelm.
Anything else? When the interview skews more personal, Loxley will speak a little of his world in terms of how much it is like Thedas, save that there is no consensus for religious authority. He will express interest, instead, in Chantry doctrine, and cite some of his own learnings (having done some homework ahead of time) and see if he can't bait her into speaking on her faith, on Andrastianism in general, where she believes rifters fit in with the Maker's vision, and so on. He will appear authentically interested and also grateful for whatever she might impart. In the course of this, a bit like Florent, he will try to get a temperature check throughout her time here of how this inspection is going for her.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Loxley is going to very carefully choose his moments! Quality over quantity. He will slide in to distract her with conversation if she looks to be talking to anyone who is uncomfortable, or attempting to go where we know we'd rather she not go, etc.

PLAYER: Abby
CHARACTER: Brother Vesperus

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? Laurentius starts talking AT LENGTH re: his personal translation projects and has to be steered to talking about Riftwatch—not out of any sense of avoidance, just clearly forgets she's there to talk Riftwatch Business and not Chant Business. But once he gets there, his assessment/description is broadly 'Everyone seems to be doing their best with limited resources.' He personally does a lot of letter writing for Diplomacy begging people for money to keep the lights on, metaphorically speaking (since no one uses magelight here???), and so on.

Explains that it involves considerably more field work and minor day to day tasks than he would have anticipated; makes a crack about thinking his hindquarters were too calloused from sitting in chairs to get saddle sores, AND YET— It's a nice bit of adventure though, and he's never been to the South before, and has she read Sister Morgaise's latest essays on patterns of significant iconography of the southern Almarri tribes because he picked it up in a broadsheet while in Ferelden and—

When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? Considerably more informal than he's used to, and he gets the sense that a not insignificant portion of running the organization is slightly improvisational. Feels a little as if some of the leadership appointments would maybe not be ideal from a politically appropriate standard, but technocracy makes a kind of logical sense when working with limited resources in a relatively small organization like this one.

When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? Passionate! Everyone means well and in the field they're all surprisingly effective! He thinks that the Gallows maybe provides a less than great picture of the organization because everyone is so tight-knit and, like lots of little communities, comfort tends to breed squabbling and the appearance of disorganization. But they're very capable outside the Gallows, as is evidence by the management of rifts and the support they've been able to lend to the efforts of its allies.

When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? Generally positive. While Riftwatch lacks a certain formality and power, it's remarkably agile!

What is the tone of the interview? Pleasant, controversial ideas but not rude about it—he's just inherently some weird guy from the heretical Northern church, maybe slightly too interested in discussing Southern Chantry canon than he is in really talking about Riftwatch.

Anything else? Area man thrilled to indulge in theological conversations; the vibe is very 'I've been stuck here with almost no one to talk about fantasy!bible verses with and I'm desperate for some intellectually stimulating conversation on the subject.' Will talk light heresies all day, including his conspiracy theory that Andraste wasn't a mage at all like the Imperial Chantry preaches but may have been a kind of proto-Herald who experienced contact with the Maker by way of a sort of Breach-like event during the Ancient Age.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Laurentius would probably try to talk Chantry stuff with Mother Pleasance even if he hadn't been directed to. It's educational!

PLAYER: MJ
CHARACTER: Bastien

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? He will enthuse, vaguely but at length enough to make it feel detailed, about how his personal pet project has been to set up systems to ensure that Riftwatch relays any information outside its specific rift-watching purview and any alerts regarding rift activity within their borders to the relevant authorities in Ferelden and Orlais. If she wants the names of their government contacts or further details, he'll apologetically relay her to the Division Heads, due to the hierarchy.

When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? The hierarchy is loose due mostly to their small size; middle managers would be overkill. He'll confess to finding some of the leadership intimidating, but he would be strict too if he were under that much pressure all of the time, and they're all committed enough to have been doing this for years and seem to work together very well. :)

When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? Dedicated and charming, even sometimes the Fereldans.

When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? He will feign some reluctance to say something negative, first, before making a few complaints that are actually about their tight funding and the various shortages of important goods, like paper! he has been tearing out blank pages from books to bind into notebooks, like this one, and actually he's very pleased with the stitching he did, but still, what a travesty! and how he thinks they manage to do very well despite it but it certainly isn't always smooth.

What is the tone of the interview? Friendly, Bastien in his best subdued-instead-of-slick charming mode—including, if she seems annoyed, minutely adjusting his approach in search of one that suits her better. Answers dotted with specific anecdotes about small things that are not important or off limits per marching orders.

Anything else? If she asks about him he'll be honest about being a former Young Adult Bard (because he doesn't trust the Chantry not to already know who everyone is) who quit due to a soft heart and dissatisfaction with the meaningless of it all and is finding diplomatic work for A CAUSE! much more agreeable. He will leave out the interim false printer identity. He will offer her mixed nuts and make some laidback attempts at baiting her into personal conversation, such as asking if she has any friends or family among the Exalted Marchers, he heard they are making progress, etc.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? He very much wants this to go smoothly and will have an eye out for moments he might need to step in to distract her/intervene in others' conversation if they go south/warn people throughout the Gallows that she's headed their way before she gets there.

PLAYER: MJ
CHARACTER: Redvers Keen, encountered very briefly while exiting the Gallows after one of his courier trips, holding several of Tony Stark's pizzas.

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? "Not as bad as I expected."

When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? "Well, I report to a pirate."

When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? "They're, uh," and a shrug.

When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? "Still seem to be a lot of rifts out there. But I guess without them there would be more."

What is the tone of the interview? Brief, but the brevity is sort of wry and friendly—not rude, just taciturn. If she were to conclude that he'd been told not to give details, it wouldn't be unreasonable of her.

Anything else? He'll ask if she knows Mother Leonarda, previously of Starkhaven but more recently of Val Royeaux, and ask her to say hello for him if she does. He'll also tell her to ask Stark to make her a pizza.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Maybe he would if he weren't being sent on all of these errands!

PLAYER: Charlie
CHARACTER: Ellie

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? Ellie describes taking care of the griffons, running messages, cartography and scouting from the air, as well as the occasional skirmish with pockets of Tevinter soldiers or even bandits. Since she's an archer she crosses over with Forces work sometimes, and she was recently involved in the battle at Starkhaven, as well as the liberation in Orlais the previous year, and she sticks to Riftwatch's public work in her examples. She's very excited about the prospect of working with the griffons some more, since she just drew that rotation. She spends a lot of time with them anyway. Maybe if she does a good job, they'll accept her as a griffon keeper on a permanent basis? It's more responsibility, but she doesn't mind that. She's just doing her best to help, since she can. It's kind of like an adventure, isn't it? Aside from the whole. War thing.
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? They're okaaaay. She doesn't know them all that well personally, but they keep her busy and they've never sent her on a mission she felt was pointless. Yseult used to make her nervous because she wasn't sure where she stood with her, but she's told Ellie she's doing a good job, so now she feels better about it. Tony is pretty cool, too. Did you know he figured out how to make pizza?
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? Most of them are nice, even if they can be a little closed off. They opened up a little bit more once they started realizing she could hold her own on the field, and she has a few friends she cares about a lot. Bastien and a few others found out she could play the dulcimer, and she's been learning the local songs.
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? Ellie's very proud of what Riftwatch has accomplished despite how few resources they actually have. They're no army or anything but they've distinguished themselves in battle, and in helping the refugees in the area. She talks openly about Starkhaven and how much it meant to her to be able to do something about what's going on. It also meant a lot to her to have help- how awesome was it that the mages showed up with them like that? Fiona and Sebastian were so incredible.
What is the tone of the interview? Ellie's under orders from Yseult to treat this as a mission, and while she's not exactly in character, she's leaning on some specific parts of her real personality for this. She'll come off as sincere, a little idealistic, and somewhat young, but still capable. She works hard and obviously wants Mother Pleasance to think well of both her and of Riftwatch ~~because a good grade from the Chantry is something that is both realistic and attainable~~. For anyone who knows her they'll recognize that this is Ellie, just at her most friendly and enthusiastic, and perhaps not so sarcastic or vulgar, though she does slip a few times and then correct herself. Some of the fumbles are contrived but others are, regrettably, pretty real.
Anything else? Ellie will really want Mother Pleasance to come and meet the griffons with her. So many people are afraid of them but they're really just big babies. If she asks at all about Ellie herself, Ellie will clam up a little, glance at her missing fingers, and say that things kind of sucked where she's from, so even with the war this almost feels like a vacation. If Mother Pleasance is at all kind to her or shows approval of her in any capacity, Ellie will lean into that and grow more friendly. If she's more aloof and mission-minded, Ellie will keep things much more professional and polite, but still seem like she wants to impress her.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Because this type of subterfuge isn't Ellie's normal forte, at least not for extended periods of time, she's going to try her level best. The desire to do well is real, it's just not Mother Pleasance she actually wants to impress. She wants to prove to herself (and secondarily, Yseult) that she can do this.

PLAYER: it's me
CHARACTER: Derrica

Interview Questions:
When asked about Riftwatch's day to day operations, what sort of answer does your character give? One that could very easily be clocked as "thorough." Derrica will describe her own workday, explaining her Haven office hours and the answering of letters and other paperwork type duties in very opaque terms (very "we help the helpless" etc) before she talks about her work in the Infirmary, combat training. She will specifically mention some of her field work, such as escorting orphans to Ostwick or accompanying other travelers, assisting refugees in their resettlement, countering Venatori efforts to attack small villages in the countryside, etc. Basically picking a handful of safe events as examples and teasing lots of detail out of them during the course of their conversation.
When asked about Riftwatch's hierarchy, how does your character describe it? An explanation that she has worked longer and more closely with the Commander, so is more familiar with his leadership style, which she will describe as effective and orderly; Derrica expresses that she receives her assignments from him and that she has never had any confusion as to his expectations or who she should be reporting back to. She will talk briefly about her own leadership, how she has been very grateful to have the Division Heads to set such a good example for her as to how she might approach her own office. Little to say about Byerly, Tony or Yseult, other than she believes that they work closely with their own Divisions and manage their people well. No specifics or opinions beyond those, which she will rephrase as many ways as necessary if the question is put to her repeatedly.
When asked about Riftwatch members, how would your character describe them? Focused on their mission. Derrica will talk most often of the dedication of Riftwatch members, how she finds their efforts in the war very admirable. At points she will express that she feels lucky to be working alongside people who care so deeply about their cause. Beyond that, no specifics about anyone. If Mother Pleasance points out people to her, it's the same general recitation about hard work and dedication.
When asked about Riftwatch effectiveness, what sort of answer does your character give? Derrica frames this very much in terms of rift closures, which she will say she finds so important due to the damage unchecked rifts can create in a region. They're a small company, but they've prevented a lot of suffering by their diligence in attending to the problem. (A chance to plug the A.R.R.I.V.E.D. system.) She will also tout their work with refugees, and responsiveness to Venatori raiding during summer of last year as successes, while simultaneously mentioning that they have so little resources and rely so much on their own hard work and resourcefulness to accomplish these things.
What is the tone of the interview? Is your character openly hostile or rude? Do they try to butter up Mother Pleasance? Are they deliberately difficult? What's the interaction like? Derrica is very warm and polite with Mother Pleasance. She gives the impression of openness and welcome in their conversations, and often offers Mother Pleasance opportunity to share her opinions or ask questions during their discussions. She strives to come off as a helpful and suitably deferential to Mother Pleasance's station within the Chantry, and shows genuine interest in any tidbits of Chantry life Mother Pleasance shares with her.
Anything else? Derrica will discuss how she has been so inspired by living in Kirkwall and having the opportunity to learn more about the Chantry and Andrastianism. If Mother Pleasance inquires as to her background, Derrica will give her opaque answers as to her upbringing in Dairsmuid while focusing more on how word of the Inquisition and it's work drew her south, how she finds Divine Beatrix to be an inspiring figure in her lead of the Exalted March, how important she believes Riftwatch's partnership with the Inquisition to be in the war effort, how she has been grateful to have the opportunity to grow more familiar with the Chant during her time in Kirkwall, etc, etc. She will steer conversation around her personal religious beliefs to pose questions about the Chant to Mother Pleasance and invite her opinion rather than volunteer her own under the guise of increasing her own understanding.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Is there something your character is doing to try and affect Mother Pleasance's objective? Derrica will be sure to have both breakfast and dinner with Mother Pleasance each day in the dining hall, where she can be a third party buffer should anyone wish to sit down and make a brief good impression on her. She will also offer tours to Mother Pleasance of the Gallows, being sure to show her the Gallows Chantry, their gardens, the stables, etc, lots of stops at neutral spots within the building while highlighting minor changes they've made. (Look, here's our tennis court, look, we've widened the windows so more light comes through these rooms, etc.) She will inquire as to Mother Pleasance's needs, ie does she need more blankets, is her room to her liking, would she like tea delivered in the evening, all along those lines. Just making herself very, very available and present during her stay, lots of face time, lots of warmth and solicitous inquiries about her comfort and welfare.

Do you want a thread with Mother Pleasance, or would you like Mother Pleasance to drop in on a thread in progress? Let me know here.

* All threads with Mother Pleasance have an expiration date of 3/31