[She scoffs. Really, Mister Holden, she thought you wanted to discuss something interesting.]
It is in the temple to the old god Dumat, at the bottom of a ruin in Ghislain. The rift—for I suppose that's what it is—can't be closed by the usual means and the path to get there is, to say the least, treacherous and cursed. But it would not be so difficult to return there again. All things considered. It would be interesting, I think, to bring a Warden.
They have some connection to Corypheus and to darkspawn, and it is said in the Chant that the first Blight was caused by Dumat's corruption. It's possible it is all coincidence, but there would be only one way to know for certain.
—And if it is not, then perhaps Weisshaupt knows something which might lead us to the gates.
Weisshaupt. It is the head of the Grey Wardens. A place in the Anderfels, which naturally poses its own challenges before we even begin to discuss the matter of having slain their king.
—Oh, [is sudden, a thought occurring to her.] But that happened in Ghislain as well. No wonder the Venatori were so fixed on that place.
[ it's not that he's not interested in what's occurred to her, it's just that it's dawning on him that if he doesn't interrupt, he may never get around to his point. ]
What do you think the odds are that the gate might be emitting some kind of signature? Do you think you [ general you, the nerds ] can find it and figure out a way to detect it? It'd make finding the other gates a hell of a lot easier.
[Happily, Wysteria is fairly amiable about the changing of gears.]
I'm not...altogether certain. Mister Stark and I [and Misters Ellis and Fitz and so on, but surely that much is implied in with those three words] have been working on measuring the level of Fade...iation... emitted by the Rifts. And while its true to some extent that there are warning signs which precipitate their opening and readings which might be taken once they are fully formed--
I trust it is of foremost concern. Oh, but the ruin is quite dangerous and the lower most levels are unpleasant. It would be prudent, I think, for any expedition to be well armed. And armored.
Oh, certain environmentally oppressive enchantments. Narrowing passages with bladed walls designed with to bleed anyone who might move through them. The usual gamut of horrors in a shrine to an ancient god known for its—his?—proficiency with blood magic, I should think. On the plus side, I believe any toxins that might have been present had long since faded as our injured seemed untroubled on the front of poisons.
I'm sure for practitioners of the...worship? Of Dumat... were of the opinion that it was all perfectly orderly and businesslike.
But to a modern sensibility, yes. Very much so. Many old ruins are. Mademoiselle Durfort-Lacapalette and Ambassador Fazon—Andraste guide her—and myself once fell into a room full of snakes.
And certain environmental enchantments, [she helpfully reminds him.] In this case, there is a pall over the lower regions of the temple which muffles sound and light.
It was difficult to sense where it came from, and we spent little time in the ritual chamber with the gate itself, but I suppose it might have been centered there and radiated upward. Given Dumat's role however, I suspect it a feature of the temple rather than a product of the rift.
No. No, it's most certainly cursed in some fashion. And given the Venatori's prolonged occupation of the area and our altercation in the ruin itself--oh, there was a Tevinter mage found alongside it. I neglected to mention it; he clearly was suffering from a kind of corruption and is dead now--, I would suppose Corypheus' forces had some notion it was there. But whether they had any hand in its creation or were merely there to make contact with something that was already there, I cannot say.
Oh no. Thank you. The coffee from the Gallows kitchens is truly dreadful. Should you come into possession of a hard boiled egg or slice of toast, however—
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[She scoffs. Really, Mister Holden, she thought you wanted to discuss something interesting.]
It is in the temple to the old god Dumat, at the bottom of a ruin in Ghislain. The rift—for I suppose that's what it is—can't be closed by the usual means and the path to get there is, to say the least, treacherous and cursed. But it would not be so difficult to return there again. All things considered. It would be interesting, I think, to bring a Warden.
no subject
Why a Warden?
no subject
—And if it is not, then perhaps Weisshaupt knows something which might lead us to the gates.
1/3
2/3
no subject
no subject
—Oh, [is sudden, a thought occurring to her.] But that happened in Ghislain as well. No wonder the Venatori were so fixed on that place.
no subject
What do you think the odds are that the gate might be emitting some kind of signature? Do you think you [ general you, the nerds ] can find it and figure out a way to detect it? It'd make finding the other gates a hell of a lot easier.
no subject
I'm not...altogether certain. Mister Stark and I [and Misters Ellis and Fitz and so on, but surely that much is implied in with those three words] have been working on measuring the level of Fade...iation... emitted by the Rifts. And while its true to some extent that there are warning signs which precipitate their opening and readings which might be taken once they are fully formed--
The theory seems sound.
no subject
We should see about getting a team down there as soon as we can.
no subject
I trust it is of foremost concern. Oh, but the ruin is quite dangerous and the lower most levels are unpleasant. It would be prudent, I think, for any expedition to be well armed. And armored.
no subject
no subject
Oh, certain environmentally oppressive enchantments. Narrowing passages with bladed walls designed with to bleed anyone who might move through them. The usual gamut of horrors in a shrine to an ancient god known for its—his?—proficiency with blood magic, I should think. On the plus side, I believe any toxins that might have been present had long since faded as our injured seemed untroubled on the front of poisons.
no subject
no subject
But to a modern sensibility, yes. Very much so. Many old ruins are. Mademoiselle Durfort-Lacapalette and Ambassador Fazon—Andraste guide her—and myself once fell into a room full of snakes.
no subject
no subject
It was difficult to sense where it came from, and we spent little time in the ritual chamber with the gate itself, but I suppose it might have been centered there and radiated upward. Given Dumat's role however, I suspect it a feature of the temple rather than a product of the rift.
no subject
Do we have any idea how that rift got there?
no subject
no subject
[ maybe it's...different??? god, he's out of his depth ]
no subject
no subject
All the more reason to go and find out.
[ would he normally be more careful? maybe. don't worry about it. ]
....hover menus...
[This, she says, in continued perfect good cheer.]
But I very much doubt the expedition will be raised today. Should you not see to your coffee first?
no subject
[ which is not really an answer at all, or even solid acknowledgment of her point. so, ]
Do you want me to bring you a cup?
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)