PROJECT HAVEN WAR TABLE ASSIGNMENT: Mother May I

[tender]

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.

Comments

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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.