Inbox | Fade Rift

[sparklequeen]

INBOX text / audio / action This is Glimmer! I'll get back to you soon, promise! art credit code credit

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a survey;

[heirring]

[Shoved under Glimmer's door at some point during her enforced quarantine is a packet of papers with a handwritten (distinctly lovely handwriting at that) questionnaire. The following instructions are pinned to its cover: 'Welcome to Riftwatch! Please fill out the following survey to the best of your ability and return it to the desk of W.A. Poppell in the Base Operations office. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out for clarification. Best Wishes, W.A. Poppell, Research Division, Assistant to the Seneschal, Project Felandaris.'

The following survey is...expansive.]

Questionnaire Section A
Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:46)

Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?

Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?

Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?

Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space?
Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?

Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)? Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.

Questionnaire Section B
Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them

Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard? Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.

Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities. Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.

Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?

Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?
Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?

(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)

Re: a survey;

[sparklequeen]

[ Glimmer's first (annoyed) instinct is to ignore it, but for lack of much else to do, she eventually relents and starts to fill out some answers which are eventually shoved back under the door. ]

1A. We have alternate dimensions and portal technology where I come from, but nothing like the Fade.

2A. See 1A.

3A. Magic exists, I don't know how similar it is to your magic here. It's created and sustained by planets. On Etheria it's a natural product of the world of Etheria as far as I am aware.

7B. Yes. My abilities from home seem to have been weakened or restricted by my arrival here.

8B. I'm not answering these.

[heirring]

[A day or two later, a note is slipped under the door at some very early hour of the morning and so is waiting just there whenever Glimmer rises. In a cheerful and familiar handwriting, it reads:]

Dear Miss,

I thank you for your time and attention with respects to your recent survey answers. It will make a most valuable addition to Project Felandaris' research on the Rifts, their nature, and the nature of the entities which travel through it.

Regarding your answers, I would like to pose a few follow up questions. Please answer them at your leisure and return them to W.A. Poppell in the Base Operations office.

Question 1. Would you describe the 'alternate dimensions' referenced in your answer to Question 1A on the original survey as duplicates similar to that of your own, or as corresponding 'planes' of reality whose very nature is different?

Question 2. Please describe your abilities, both in terms of their natural states and their reduced function here in Thedas.

Should you have any questions of your own, please do not hesitate to forward them to me.

Sincerely,
W.A. Poppell
Research Division
Assistant to the Seneschal
Project Felandaris

[sparklequeen]

[ A note written in reply is returned in the same way, written in a hasty hand. ]

1. I'm not an expert. My planet, Etheria, was moved into an empty dimension known as Despondos in order to hide it from the rest of the universe. Later, it was moved back into the normal universe through a huge burst of magical power stored at its heart, but I don't know the specifics of how it worked. So, I know that alternate planes or dimensions of reality exist and that it's possible to move between them, but not exactly how.

2. I'm a trained sorceress. Additionally, my position as Queen of Bright Moon gives me a more direct connection to the magic of Etheria through the Moon Stone, which is what gives me my natural abilities. They seem to still work here, though... differently. I can teleport, fire blasts of light and energy, create orbs of light, sparkles, and other light-based effects.

At home, I could teleport huge distances as my connection with the Moon Stone grew and could teleport maybe a dozen people with me with we were all in physical contact. Here I only seem to be able to teleport to places I can see, my light blasts are less powerful, my HAIR changed color and doesn't sparkle anymore. My teleportation only seems to be able to take one or two others and it wears me out as fast as it did when I was still a kid. Maybe it's just the difference between Thedan magic and Etherian magic, but for whatever reason I'm still able to draw on it for my own abilities, but not to the same extent as back home.

Let me know if I can answer anymore questions.

Sincerely,
Her Royal Majesty Glimmer, Queen of Bright Moon

[heirring]

[A long debate over how much she does or doesn't care about anyone's title eventually results in:]

Mademoiselle Moon,

I wish to extend my thanks once more for the prompt response and the detailed nature of your answers. Again, this information is most vital to Riftwatch's records; Project Felandaris and future study of the Rifts and Rifters thanks you. I have logged a copy of our correspondence into the files of that office accordingly.

Should you perceive any alterations to you abilities, be they your Talent or in relation to the anchor you received while passing through the Fade, I would be most grateful if you were to report those changes to me so that it may be noted in the record.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to inquire directly with myself or anyone else associated with the project.

Kind Regards,
W.A. Poppell
Research Division
Assistant to the Seneschal
Project Felandaris

crystal;

[earpiest]

Hey, Glimmer - is now an okay time? It's Waverly.

Re: crystal;

[sparklequeen]

It's okay, yeah. What's up Waverly?

crystal

[acreage]

Hi, Glimmer?

[ if his tone is a little awkward, well. this is probably a strange second conversation to have with someone, especially someone he knows very little about. ]

[sparklequeen]

Hello! Mister Holden, right?

[acreage]

[ crumbles into dust like the crypt keeper — ]

You don't have to call me Mister.

[ if he thought it'd accomplish anything, he'd say the same to wysteria. but alas. ]

Do you have some time to talk?

[sparklequeen]

If you're sure.

[ No skin off her back, right? ]

Yeah, I'm free! What's up?

[acreage]

I've been making sure our newer [ "newer" ] rifters know about how dangerous Tevinter is to shard-bearers. We can talk about it in person, if you want.

[sparklequeen]

Ah, yeah. That'd be fine. I'm over in the Forces office, but I think it's about time for me to have a break anyway. Where should we meet?

[acreage]

The gardens? I can meet you there in ten minutes.

[sparklequeen]

I'll see you there!

[ And of course, she does. Glimmer is waiting, wrapped in a cloak against autumn chill. When she spots Holden there's an energetic wave. ]

Hey!

[acreage]

[ he's dressed in layers, himself, long sleeves and coat and sturdy boots against the cold. there's something nostalgic about this kind of weather; the montana of his earth still gets bitter winters, and he spent plenty of time doing last minute work on the farm before the snow'd set in.

he smiles in response to her enthusiasm, gestures in offer towards a nearby bench. they can sit, or they can walk, while he fills her in. ]

Hey. I'll try not to take up too much of your time.

[ not much of a break, really, him offering dire warnings. hopefully she can still get in a minute of doing something relaxing before going back to work. ]

crystal;

[notathreat]

Glimmer?

[It might be the middle of the night tbh, but let's be real they're all awake.]

[sparklequeen]

Ellie?

[ Glimmer sounds tired, but not sleepy, not the sort of tired that suggests she's roused from her bed. ]

What's up?

[notathreat]

I can't sleep, and this is usually where I do something stupid and not exactly above-board just to do something.

[sparklequeen]

What kind of stupid are we talking?

[ She's extremely open to suggestions, Ellie. ]

[notathreat]

Liiiike sneak out. Maybe go for a night swim in the ocean.

I have some elfroot, but that's optional.

[sparklequeen]

That sounds really nice. Especially since it stays so stupid hot even at night during the summer.

Also the elfroot.

[ Glimmer is already on board, thanks. ]

Where d'you want to meet?

[notathreat]

By the stairs down to the ferry docks?

[Why does this sound like the beginning of a monster movie?]

Bring a towel.

[sparklequeen]

[ Come on, we both know the real monsters are inside of us. ]

See you there~!

[ Said with slightly forced joviality. True to her word, Glimmer appears at the stairs, a towel and a change of dry clothes bundled under one arm. In her other hand she's got a dark-glassed bottle, unlabeled. ]

Made it.

[ She has dark circles under her eyes, but who doesn't, these days? ]

[notathreat]

[DARK BUT TRUE-

Ellie shows up as her usual self, fully kitted out because she never goes anywhere without her weapons, even if it's supposed to be some lighthearted swimming time. Her bag's lighter than it usually is, but she brought spare clothes and a towel, and she left off the cloak.]

I almost didn't. Fucking cat gave me a heart attack halfway down the stairs.

[She grumbling, but elbows Glimmer anyway, tilting her head at the bottle.]

Did you bring hooch?