The want of title. A system that emphasizes place--ascribes names to preferred places--king, prince, lord, duke--men strive for them, collecting them to impress one another with. Empty and meaningless, allowing for control--this one over that one. And most of them achievable only by circumstances of birth--which is entirely arbitrary--or by purchase, wealth enough to pay for them--which is itself a fucking tool of oppression.
[He laughs lightly.] It has none. It's an anonymous account of an elven uprising in Val Royeux, one that caused the purging of several alienages as a result. The author is almost certainly elven. The book is banned in Orlais.
A book being banned in Orlais makes it the most fashionable thing to secretly own. I've long suspected its banning was aided by elven agents working in the royal palace, as the action ensured it reached a far wider audience than it ever would have before.
[A pause, considering.]
I brought it up because it seemed the sort of thing you would find of interest. It details how the uprising was planned and organized, how information was disseminated, all of that.
So it could be gifted in the salons at Satinalia, then read by nobles so inflicted by their inbreeding their eyes sink in their lumpy skulls? Yes. A grand plan.
[But, maybe. It's certain a tactic that gets used. Make it a scandal and everyone flocks to it, witlessly. And perhaps there's two or three that learn of it. Nikos was once an eager student of similar teachings, which is why he hates thinking of it so much. What an idiot, besotten, at sixteen.
Still. He is interested--of course he's interested--but he has to be himself still, so--]
I know about uprisings and information. If a text has something new to teach, I'd learn it. But if you think you're giving a reading list to a fucking dullard, I'll correct you now.
[Also, changing tack abruptly:] Do you come of agents?
I've made it policy to assume everyone is a genius until proven otherwise. [Just a light sprinkle of sarcasm, there.]
Nobles owned it. I doubt they ever read it. Their servants, however... [Of which Mhavos was one. If the man he's talking to isn't a dullard, he'll put it together. Or not. One never knows.]
[He huffs something almost like a laugh. Sarcasm is something he can appreciate. Not the part where he feels like he's being challenged in some way (fuck that, he's too old for that, too old to be proving himself, but everyone should know that he's beyond proving himself, and that's why he's not bothering).]
I mean in the sense that you were serving and reading those banned books. And are now conveniently placed in Kirkwall. Freed--that part I don't mistrust. Nor do I mistrust your cleverness. It's within reason for anyone of any station to be clever. Maybe even more so, the farther you get from inheritances and diadems and parcels of land.
[Mhavos, meanwhile, is relishing being in the position to challenge anyone on anything. He may be overdoing it. Can he be punished for it? He somewhat doubts it.]
[Ah, comment le pouvoir m'a corrompu.]
I am not a secret agent of the elven resistance, if that's what you mean. Though if I was, I imagine my answer would be the same. Still, for the life of me, I can't imagine why they would want an agent here.
[He clears his throat.]
I like to read. I have read the book. I've also read books on the right of nobility and the frailty of elves. I've found it a bad policy to form one's opinion entirely from books. That will dull anything sharp.
Riftwatch flatters itself thinking it is of any interest to anyone.
[Perhaps that's his frank and honest assessment, or a summation of why someone might suspect or perhaps send an agent of the elven resistance to be stationed in the Gallows. It is dry enough that it might be any of these.]
If you give a shit, we have meetings. Not regularly. The leader of our operation is often away. Our interests keep him in other cities, fighting for other causes. [And Nikos gets left behind in Kirkwall, very cool.] And in case you've not noticed, I'm not the most inspiring.
Then I'll be plainer. We're interested in revolution. The death of the systems of control--wealth, status, titles, inheritance. The rigidity of tradition, social expectation. We have contacts across Thedas with these same interests. We work with Riftwatch because before it, the Inquisition was uniquely positioned to learn information--valuable information--and to come across contacts that would be of interest to us in this work. Riftwatch continues to serve this function.
Every movement must represent the people that it fights for. So we turn to Lowtown, and Darktown, here in Kirkwall. Our greatest weapon is the spread of information.
And you are trusting me with- ah. Well. Thank you.
[He clears his throat.]
Information that weakens power structures? The poor know the rich are rich. A revolution needs the surety that potential-- and highly likely-- death is a better option than living as one does. Is that your information?
The poor know the rich are rich. So: we don't bother with the basics. There is more to the system than the existence of wealth. What might not be known is that wealth is a kind of power, and a formidable one. There's no use denying it. But there is more power, easily grasped. The power of the people to organize. To disrupt.
I don't lie. If that's what you mean. Anyone who participates knows what could come. They are willing to trade lives for the chance at freedom. For others, who come after, if they do pay with their lives. Nothing is easily won. Nothing comes without a price. And if there is enough of this work, the whole system could be upended.
That isn't what I've meant. I... Since we are speaking in confidence, I will tell you that my Alienage was purged when I was very young; I am one of few survivors. It's an... event I would prefer minimized, if that's even possible. I suspect you will say it's worth the risk, and surely if the goal is sure to be accomplished, I'd agree. But that delicate balance is... well, if you are as you say, that balance is something to which you're accustomed.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 02:42 am (UTC)Trapped by title?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-11 08:22 pm (UTC)Have you read La Voix Qui Pleure?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 04:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 05:21 pm (UTC)[His sigh means he's interested. Probably that's unclear; he doesn't deign to explain.]
I've never bothered to learn Orlesian. Why bring it up in the context of title specifically?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 05:54 pm (UTC)[A pause, considering.]
I brought it up because it seemed the sort of thing you would find of interest. It details how the uprising was planned and organized, how information was disseminated, all of that.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 10:18 pm (UTC)[But, maybe. It's certain a tactic that gets used. Make it a scandal and everyone flocks to it, witlessly. And perhaps there's two or three that learn of it. Nikos was once an eager student of similar teachings, which is why he hates thinking of it so much. What an idiot, besotten, at sixteen.
Still. He is interested--of course he's interested--but he has to be himself still, so--]
I know about uprisings and information. If a text has something new to teach, I'd learn it. But if you think you're giving a reading list to a fucking dullard, I'll correct you now.
[Also, changing tack abruptly:] Do you come of agents?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-12 10:22 pm (UTC)Nobles owned it. I doubt they ever read it. Their servants, however... [Of which Mhavos was one. If the man he's talking to isn't a dullard, he'll put it together. Or not. One never knows.]
In what sense do you mean?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-13 05:48 pm (UTC)I mean in the sense that you were serving and reading those banned books. And are now conveniently placed in Kirkwall. Freed--that part I don't mistrust. Nor do I mistrust your cleverness. It's within reason for anyone of any station to be clever. Maybe even more so, the farther you get from inheritances and diadems and parcels of land.
Sharpness is something notable.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-15 06:23 pm (UTC)[Ah, comment le pouvoir m'a corrompu.]
I am not a secret agent of the elven resistance, if that's what you mean. Though if I was, I imagine my answer would be the same. Still, for the life of me, I can't imagine why they would want an agent here.
[He clears his throat.]
I like to read. I have read the book. I've also read books on the right of nobility and the frailty of elves. I've found it a bad policy to form one's opinion entirely from books. That will dull anything sharp.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-20 04:32 am (UTC)[Perhaps that's his frank and honest assessment, or a summation of why someone might suspect or perhaps send an agent of the elven resistance to be stationed in the Gallows. It is dry enough that it might be any of these.]
What opinions did you form in Orlais?
no subject
Date: 2019-08-20 01:22 pm (UTC)SORRY this is a dusty one feel free to drop if necessary
Date: 2019-08-27 10:14 pm (UTC)never.
Date: 2019-08-27 10:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-30 12:41 am (UTC)Don't tell me you're funny.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-30 12:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-30 12:50 am (UTC)If you give a shit, we have meetings. Not regularly. The leader of our operation is often away. Our interests keep him in other cities, fighting for other causes. [And Nikos gets left behind in Kirkwall, very cool.] And in case you've not noticed, I'm not the most inspiring.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-30 12:52 am (UTC)Vague instructions. I'm still interested.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-01 09:12 pm (UTC)Every movement must represent the people that it fights for. So we turn to Lowtown, and Darktown, here in Kirkwall. Our greatest weapon is the spread of information.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-01 11:19 pm (UTC)[He clears his throat.]
Information that weakens power structures? The poor know the rich are rich. A revolution needs the surety that potential-- and highly likely-- death is a better option than living as one does. Is that your information?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-02 05:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-02 10:44 pm (UTC)[It's not really a question.]
no subject
Date: 2019-09-09 06:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-20 04:23 pm (UTC)[He doesn't say it.]
That isn't what I've meant. I... Since we are speaking in confidence, I will tell you that my Alienage was purged when I was very young; I am one of few survivors. It's an... event I would prefer minimized, if that's even possible. I suspect you will say it's worth the risk, and surely if the goal is sure to be accomplished, I'd agree. But that delicate balance is... well, if you are as you say, that balance is something to which you're accustomed.
(no subject)
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