THE PLAN: Reports that the pirate stronghold of Estwatch suffered collateral damage during the red lyrium sea monster attack on Ostwick, and the recent capture of two pirate ships by the Hercinian navy—whose crew might have benefitted from some mercy, someone could theoretically imply, had they not been in league with Tevinter's terrorism of the shipping lanes—suggests that now might be a good time to swing local pirate sentiment away from supporting Tevinter's naval presence in the south.

More importantly: Riftwatch has received intelligence identifying specific Venatori agents among the Estwatch pirates, and needs to root them out.

With all this in mind, Riftwatch is sending a small group to the pirate fortress of Estwatch to play a particularly prickly game of diplomacy in an effort to squash Tevene sympathies, recruit allies among the pirates, and hopefully effect (either personally or by proxy) some targeted murders to wipe out the Venatori among the community.

That's the plan, anyway. When they arrive, Riftwatch will find Estwatch on the eve of its own miniature civil war, with a number of prominent crews already in full revolt against the Venatori-aligned crews. Riftwatch will instead find themselves bolstering the revolt-in-progress, and getting to act with far more latitude than originally anticipated… but at what cost, and to whose benefit?

THE ACTION:
A plot log will be posted at the end of January with details about the setting, the situation, and some specific hooks for rp. The format for this is going to be something between a mingle log and not-a-mingle-log—no one will have specific assigned mini-missions, but there will be a number of setting-specific adventures your character can engage in. Flavor of the adventures will be prickly politicking, helping to sway the local opinion of neutral parties through gossip, feats of derring-do, and/or trickery, backroom wheeling and dealing (which may or may not end with a knife point), and some light exploration and skirmishing in a decrepit old fort.

More importantly, Riftwatch will be looking to cover a lot of ground and everyone will be expected to act with a certain degree of independence. So, 1) no one has to write big group threads unless they want to, and 2) you're welcome to say that your character did a thing on their own, and just rp talking about doing/having done the thing.

WHO'S COMING:
Flint, Silver + 4. As this was ICly intended to be both a diplomatic meeting among scoundrels and rooting out/dispensing with Venatori agents, priority will be given to characters who seem like they could either manage to do diplomacy with a bunch of murdering cutthroats or kill some Venatori (stealthily or otherwise).

WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING: End of Fantasy!January. Sign-ups are open through 1/24. Player character selections will be made, and the log will go up afterward. I'll file the report for this, so there's no fantasy paperwork to worry about.

WHAT:
A couple months ago, a Riftwatch team carried out a mission to shut down a red lyrium mining operation near Alhoven in the Anderfels side of the Blasted Hills. In addition to destroying the mine and its overseer (and his army of possessed corpse assistants), that team was able to collect some papers and correspondence of the Venatori working there and return them to the Gallows for study. Scouting has since deciphered and reviewed those documents and determined that references in them point to another red lyrium-related operation to the north. A study of maps and intelligence from the area have suggested a likely site for another mine. A team is now being dispatched to search the area in question, locate the mine, observe operations there and, if possible, shut it down too. What they'll find is not what they were expecting.

• ICly, this team is being assembled with the expectation that they will traveling through the Crossroads to the Anderfels, traversing and searching rough terrain, surveilling a mining operation, and possibly engaging with the enemy elements there to destroy the mine.
  
  
• OOC, this plot will not be combat-heavy but will include some gore and horror elements, some potential for mildly-perilous investigation, possibly an unpleasant choice or two to be made, and the inevitable opportunities for shitty camping.

HOW:
Players will be provided with a log including the necessary details, designed as a catch-all. What you choose to play out will be up to you.

WHO:
Open to 4-6ish members of Scouting or Forces, and to Project Sashamiri members with red lyrium experience.

WHEN:
Sign up by July 25. Reports/logs due by mid August.

WHAT:
A smattering of Rifts anomalous to Riftwatch's tracking methods have been reported in or near pastoral Antivan population centers with bizarre regularity. Members of Riftwatch have been ordered to travel to the affected area to both find and seal the rifts, and to help repair damages inflicted on various picturesque Antivan farming communities by the sudden proliferation of demons.

But when a Chantry Sister confronts the members of Riftwatch with a potentially explosive accusation—threatening to not just publicly lay responsibility at Riftwatch's feet but also to drastically damage the organization's reputation when she claims to have witnessed a member of Riftwatch open the Rift that ultimately drove her, her Sisters, and their congregants to abandon their little pastoral Chantry—, the efforts in the region quickly pivot to figuring out who this Mysterious Member of Riftwatch is and where they'll strike next in order to intercept them.

HOW:
The log will be split into two parts:

A general mingle log open to all Divisions focused on cleaning up the countryside, either by closing Rifts or assisting the affected locals in the region. During this mingle log, characters will have an opportunity to uncover clues that will eventually lead to being able to intercept this Mysterious Riftwatcher and [Mysteries Yet To Come], or to make significant impacts toward preserving Riftwatch's reputation. No need to sign up for this, but if you nab a clue or do something to build a lot of good PR, we'll have a space provided to claim those plot achievements.

A showdown between members of Riftwatch and scoundrel sullying their name. This is closed to 2-4 members of Project Haven and/or Forces Division. If you want to get involved but aren't part of either, you can join Project Haven at any time by adding your character's name to the project page or by indicating in your sign-up form and we'll do it for you.

These parts will run concurrently so no one has to be agonized about an unsolved mystery for weeks, but don't let that discourage you from recovering clues in the mingle log. That will be important for the results of the plot and [Yet Again, Mysteries Yet To Come].

WHO: Everyone and anyone, but especially Project Haven and Forces Division.

WHEN: Sign-ups for intercepting the Mysterious Scoundrel close on June 7th, and we'll (Maker willing) have the log up on July 8th. Everyone will have through August 5th to claim their plot impacts, and an official report will be filed afterward which reflects the results (y'all are off the hook for report writing).

WHAT: Over the last few years, Riftwatch has made connections or been in contact with a handful of anti-enslavement and reform groups within the Tevinter Imperium. The two most notable of these are currently:

VALERIANTUS' BROKEN BLADES - a network of spies and saboteurs actively operating within notable Imperium households and cities. Primarily composed of currently enslaved and a small number of reform minded citizens, the exact identities and number of which remain a mystery. Operates on a strict policy of 'no one knows everyone', but Ambrose Valeriantus, a Laetan mage, seems to be a key figure in the group. Unfortunately, the group also has ties to Calpernia/The Venatori that need to be discouraged.

THE PEOPLE OF THE SILENT PLAINS - A group made entirely of escaped slaves, mostly elves, who operate out of Southern Tevinter. Historically, they’ve worked to smuggle escapees across the border, but more recently they’ve been branching into assassinating slavers, and have gained a small reputation for ruthlessness. Pretty functional and impactful, considering their small size (no pun intended) and lack of resources; Tertia is a member of the group recently dispatched to Kirkwall to reconnoiter Riftwatch.

In the interest of gaining allies within Tevinter in the fight against Corypheus, Riftwatch will be making efforts to ally more closely to these two factions by assisting them in their work... or by sabotaging key efforts by Venatori-aligned individuals who might be looking to do the same.

HOW: A bunch of interconnected plots! These plots (6 in total) are fleshed out and available to claim and run for the next two plot periods (aka from now through September). The long lead time is an effort to make these accessible to everyone even if you're not ready to play in a plot right this second, and to allow for the opportunity to run interstitial player plots and/or assignments that might further effect the relationship building effort. Basically: someone might decide to claim and run Plot 2 of 6, and runs it 3 weeks from now instead of this weekend. Then, if they (or someone else) wants to do a spin off adventure based on that plot's outcome/themes/whatever, you should have time to squeeze it in before the whole string of six assignments is completed and we're done with recruiting allies among these two factions*.

These assignments will work similar to the Jobs Board. You can claim an available assignment at any point between now and the end of September, but assignments are claimed on a first come first serve basis.

Once you make a claim, I'll give you all the prepared info and/or mechanics to run it like a normal player plot. It will then be your responsibility to assemble a team (if you haven't done so already) and do something with the info provided. If your group doesn't do anything with the plot within 4 weeks or fails to file a report by the listed deadline, no harm no foul—the assignment just reverts back to the pool and is available for someone else to claim and run.

Anything that isn't claimed/run in the available time period will still produce a result, it will just be as if Riftwatch never had the opportunity to intervene/assist. This doesn't necessarily ensure a negative outcome, but since we're the main characters here it probably doesn't produce a very significant one either.

*I'm not the boss and there can be other plots focusing on this theme outside of this time frame; but this is building to AN EVENT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, and are designed to lead in that direction.

WHO: Everyone! But mostly Forces; see the assignment description table for details.

WHEN: Now through September; the calendar is your oyster.

( ASSIGNMENTS BOARD )

WHAT:
Recently, Ellis, Ellie and Marcus discovered a cache of blighted lyrium in the Free Marches. Intelligence from Riftwatch's allies and agents have led to believe that the source for the lyrium is a Tevinter-led mining operation in the Blasted Hills at the edge of the Anderfels-Orlesian border. Sources indicate that the work is being overseen by a remarkably adept mage, and so members of Riftwatch who possess the ability to Silence magic are preferable picks for the team.

Members of Riftwatch will be expected to raid the mining operation, kill the Venatori overseeing it, and generally cause as much damage to the enterprise's infrastructure as possible.

HOW:
Players will be provided with a log which will include all the vital IC details. They'll also be provided with a rubric of goals they can accomplish very similar to the one used for the Venatori camp raid assignment (You can view and play around with that HERE).

This mission is purposefully designed as a catch-all space. Threading the aftermath, or the pre-planning, doing tenuously related interpersonal threads, and the assault on the mining operations are all valid ways of tackling this.

We have a few ideas for IC setup depending on who and how many people sign up, so don't worry about things like your character being a nerd in a dangerous situation, getting stuck in an unwieldy sized group thread, or figuring out how to face down a whole Venatori mining camp with a tiny group of characters.

WHO:
Forces Division and Project Sashamiri. If you want to get involved but aren't part of either, you can join Project Sashamiri at any time by adding your character's name to the project roster, or by indicating in your sign-up form and Ammy or I will do it for you.

WHEN:
OOCly, sign-ups for this close at midnight on Sunday, 3/12. The log will go up on Monday, 3/14.

The timeframe to collect bonus points will end on Monday, 4/10. The report for this assignment must be filed no later than Saturday, 4/15, a week after the point pool closes so you can decide as a group which goals you want to have accomplished.

WHAT: With bad dreams continuing to plague Kirkwall, and with reports revealing an unpredictable area of effect, Riftwatch is ordering an extensive survey in an effort to understand the range and locate the source of the nightmares.

HOW: A mingle log and associated rookery post (for anyone who prefers to text spam their way through adventures rather than logging them) will be posted on Sunday, 10/2. Similar to the A Thousand Wrongs and the The Drifting Roads events, this log will serve of a catch-all space for nightmare research-related exploration that may occur at any time throughout the month. It will include some general set dressing and optional prompts. Get ready for sailing excursions, camping trips, dream diaries, and interviewing npcs!

At the end of this, Riftwatch may not be able to successfully pinpoint the source of the nightmares but then will have a better understanding of the effected area and, just maybe, one another. Maybe the real source of the nightmares is the friends we made along the way! That said, consider that this is mostly an excuse to ICly share bad dreams, get up to some hijinks, and write some self-indulgent side quests under the guise of ICly doing work.

WHO: Anyone and everyone. No sign ups necessary, though there will be an optional side quest/discovery request generator for anyone looking for more specifics.

WHEN: Log and rookery chatter goes up on Sunday, 10/2. A report will be filed on 10/31 (but will be general enough that threads don't have to be finished—or even started—by then).

WHAT:
Recently, Fenris and Abby discovered a Venatori research detachment surveying a region northwest of Starkhaven. These Venatori seem to have been in search of a temple to the old god Zazikel where it's suspected another Gate may be located.

Rather than focus on beating them to the Gate, members of Forces and Project Sashamiri will instead seek out the survey group with the intent to capture Venatori researchers who may pressed for valuable information regarding the nature of the Gates and what Corypheus aims to accomplish with them. Depending on the results of the mission, characters may have a significant decision to make at its close.

HOW:
Players will be provided with a log which will include all the vital IC details. They'll also be provided with a rubric of goals they can accomplish (which you can preview and play around with HERE - this may be tweaked before it actually 'goes live').

This mission is purposefully designed as a catch-all space. Threading the aftermath, or the pre-planning, doing tenuously related interpersonal threads, and the camp raid action are all valid ways of tackling this.

We have a few ideas for IC setup depending on who and how many people sign up, so don't worry about things like your character being a nerd in a dangerous situation, getting stuck in an unwieldy sized group thread, or figuring out how to face down a whole camp of Venatori with a tiny group of characters.

WHO:
Forces Division and Project Sashamiri. If you want to get involved but aren't part of either, you can join Project Sashamiri at any time by adding your character's name to the project roster, or by indicating in your sign-up form and Ammy or I will do it for you.

WHEN:
OOCly, sign-ups for this close at midnight on Tuesday, 6/28. The log will go up on 7/1.

The timeframe to collect bonus points will end on 8/9. The report for this assignment must be filed no later than 8/16, a week after the point pool closes so you can decide as a group which goals you want to have accomplished.

WHAT: A series of (mostly Forces-oriented, but there's some room for everyone) assignments focused on sewing discord and damaging support from Tevinter in Antiva, and challenging the enemy's hold on the Minanter River. See comments for specific mission details and sign-ups.

These are a mix and match of 1) group mingle logs, 2) odd jobs that can either be done with a partner or even alone (as long as you RP something in relation to it), and 3) more typical war table assignments designed for a small group. I've indicated which in each comment, but let me know if you have any questions.

HOW: You'll be provided with a brief overview of the goals/stakes/potential complications of each mission, but will otherwise be expected to set up their logs/conduct the missions as you see fit.

Each mission has different requirements to succeed ranging from 'You Can Just Say You Did the Thing' to 'You Must Have This Many Comments by X Date', so please make sure to review the requirements and sign up for something whose criteria you can meet if success is important to you.

WHO: Forces Division + Everyone Else

WHEN: OOCly, sign-ups for this close at midnight on Saturday, 3/19. Assignments will be rng'd and additional details distributed in the following 48ish hours.

ICly, the timeline for when these assignments occur is flexible for any time in fantasy!March/April, so if mod plot comes out and it makes sense for you/your group to push things around then feel free to do so. The only exception is that the events for 'We Stole A Zoo' must occur in chronological order.

Reports for each assignment should be filed no later than April 30th.

WHAT: Val Chevin's harbor is in part defended by a series of underwater magic mines. With the help of the three of the merchant ships traded for the Odalys earlier in the year, Riftwatch means to punch a hole through those defenses.

HOW: Action, adventure and bit of sneaky subterfuge. This is designed as an action-oriented mingle log, the details of which will be tailored according to the abilities of who signs up. Can be scaled up or down depending on the number of sign-ups and threads will be self-directed off a provided scenario, but pacing is meant to be fairly brisk.

WHO: Forces Division + Action-y types. No more than 10, with priority given to members of Forces and well suited characters. If your character participated in Crew Club training or you feel that sort of thing is up their alley, they're qualified. Flint will be in attendance.

WHEN: Soon! Sign-ups close EOD Monday, 11/15. The log will go up on Tuesday.

WHAT: A series of mixed-division (and mixed-project) assignments focused on sea-faring faction building, resource acquisition, and strengthening Riftwatch's intelligence network along the Waking Sea. See comments for specific mission details and sign-ups.

These are 'odd-job' style assignments that are either meant to be done by a small (2-3) number of characters or styled as mingle logs for ease of play.

HOW: You'll be provided with a brief overview of the goals/stakes/potential complications of each mission, but will otherwise be expected to set up their logs/conduct the missions as you see fit. Everything is fairly open ended and/or low stakes, so if presented with a choice of A path or B path, the selection won't affect that mission itself but it will affect future endeavors/the world state.

WHO: Forces Division + Everyone Else

WHEN: OOCly, sign-ups for this close at midnight on July 18th. Assignments will be rngd and additional details distributed in the next 48-ish hours. This sign-up window is purposefully long so you can have a chance to plan given the density of mod plot related activities this month.

ICly, you're welcome to date these however is convenient given the ongoing Free Marches invasion. If you want to backdate it and say your characters were sent to do this before Tevinter's invasion into the Marches, feel free. If you want to say this is part of the work they're doing during the invasion (although some assignments will lend better to this than others), then you're welcome to assume that Tony (for anything +Research or Especially Forces-y), Byerly (for anything +Diplomacy or +Scouting), or Julius (for "Into The Woods") are giving the orders. And if you want to hold ICly off until after Flint has time to come back from being missing, that's okay too.

The only important part is that reports for each assignment be filed no later than September 19th as the outcome of these will affect future war table assignments to come.