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[Sir JK]

Hello

 

Table of content:

Introduction

Current Events

How it will be played

Who we’ll be

Code of conduct

IC premise

Setting assumptions

 

A while back I had this idea of a play-by-post roleplaying game featuring a what-if of a reborn Dales. It’s an interesting premise: What will it look like? How will the elves and their neighbours deal with it? How will the specter of racism show itself? How will the elves handle the internal cultural differences inbetween themselves?

 

How will the Dalish tolerate andrastian city elves? How will free minded Fereldan elves get along with elves born into the intrigues and hierarchy of Orlais? How will Nevarran elves deal with Marcher elves? How will the mercantile Antivan elves interact with the tribal society of the Dalish? Will the Dalish belief in the dangers of spirits go along with the traditions of Rivain? Not to mention qunari elves…

 

That is what this game is about. It is a political game. About the identity of a nation and the people in it. A nation that’s not entirely certain what it is yet.

 

Current events

Major events that affect more than a few of us will be announced here. This spot will be regularly updated.

Thus far nothing to report

 

How it will be played

This game will be played through Public Opinion, which is to say letters between friends, news announced by town criers, posters on the walls of Halamshiral, official announcements, priestly sermons, declarations in the public and so forth. Sometimes we’ll directly respond to one another, at other times indirectly. Taking up topics and threads as other players are mentioned.

 

For example:

The orlesian city elf Valenne writes a letter to her friend talking about the squalor that’s developing in Halashiral. Complaining how the Dalish in charge does nothing about it.

 

The Dalish keeper Biellyn takes up that topic and makes a public announcement about focusing on cleaning up the filth, tearing down a few houses and generally improving the waterways through the city.

 

The Antivan city elf Roual puts up a poster on the walls, rallying people to the cause of resisting this hefty new tax that has been put up in order to pay for the cleanup. Claiming its stifling businesses and making people lose their homes.

 

Valenne started the topic, creating the Plot Ticket that is squalor in Halashiral. Biellyn responded to it, even if not to Valenne directly (it was a private letter after all). And Roual to his actions and declaration, this time more directly. And this is how I imagine the game will run. Moving from one thing to another.

 

Who will we be?

We will play the opinion makers of the new Dales. People with some influence and power, but not so much we can sway an entire country. Keepers and Hahrens, Revered Mothers and Captains (the military rank). Rich merchants. Captains of the guard. Leaders of criminal gangs or smuggling rings.

 

Think Aveline, Mother Petrice, Lanaya, Shianni and mayor Murdock in as far your voice can carry. You can reasonably expect dozens or maybe a few hundred people to follow you, but no more than that. Low to middle level of politics, but not kings, queens, dukes or Grand Clerics. All of us will be roughly equally powerful and influential.

 

The gentleman’s, gentlewoman’s and gentleelf’s code of conduct

Some basic rules to make this work:

1. 
   
2. We will not discuss lore here. No ooc conversations about what is and what is not feasible. No arguments whether abominations are the fault of the Chantry exclusively or not. You character may believe that and express it IC, but another character can claim it’s a lie and both will be equally valid. If you wish to discuss it ooc, take it to scuttlebutt. All views of lore are to be seen as equally valid in this game. This is the keep it IC rule.
3. 
   
4. We will not tie our characters to important plot figures. You are not the apprentice of Merrill. You’re not chosen by Flemeth. You’re not friends with King Alistair. You’re not the Ariqun, Arigena or the Arishok. You’re most certainly not the warden, the inquisitor or Hawke. You may have met them and even spoken with them more than once, but not interacted with them in any major way beyond that. This is the equal playing field rule.  
5. 
   
6. We will stay well clear of Eluvians, Varterrals, the location of Arlathan, Corypheus, the Architect, the Stone, Red Lyrium, Flemeth, Grey warden joining and other mysteries. Because those things are not public knowledge and are major plot topics of the main games. They’re interesting yeah, but let’s leave them for Bioware. Let’s make our own cool stories.
7. 
   
8. We will not godmode or powermode. Which is to say: we will not control someone else’s character or control things way beyond our character’s reach. We will not cause earthquakes. Not direct the will of the Maker. We will not kill or imprison anyone else’s character or all their followers without their permission. Or anything else of the kind. Treat each other’s with respect and give them a chance to respond to your action and make it even better.
9. 
   
10. What is written stands. If someone else said it happened, then it did. You may not say no. But you may say “yes, but…” It’s not okay to tell someone their raid didn’t happen or failed before it begun… it is okay to tell them it ran into an ambush. You may not tell someone they failed to clean up a slum, but you may tell them it had unintended consequences on your lot. See each others as inspiration. Note: If this ever comes into conflict with rules 2, 3 or 4 they take precedence.
11. 
    

 

The IC premise of this game

The Elven rebellion did not end with a bang as much as a whimper. The elves rose up and gathered into an army. The orlesian sent one in as a response, but after a few months of dancing around one another and a few small skirmishes they retreated. That was 14 months ago.

 

Slowly and gradually the elvhen in the Dales have started to come to terms with the fact that the orlesians may in fact have let them go. That they aren’t about to show up on the border the very next day. People have started drifting back to ordinary life, relieved that the struggle for freedom was not as bloody as they feared and was prepared for.

 

Of course, this also means that the elves are more or less untested in battle and that Orlais was never truly defeated. A source of concern for some; a fear that with one one false step legions of chevaliers will pour over the border. But thus far no such thing has materialized.

 

Instead, life presents its own challenges. What will our home look like? Who will we be? Can Arlathan be restored or reborn? Should it? What gods do we have? How will we structure society?

 

Important questions in a nation that suddenly realized its only common denominator is race and as it turns out… it counts for very little. Some elves do not even share a language, let alone culture or religion.

 

It is slowly dawning that perhaps winning one’s freedom in war against the southern known world’s premier military power was the easy bit.

 

Some basic assumptions

Just some things to work with to set us on an interesting path:

There’s somewhere between 210 and 260 thousand city elves in the new Dales, roughly 180 to 200 thousand of which are primarily orlesian in culture. Mostly centered around Halamshiral itself. More are expected to come as the Dales proves itself, but for now that’s roughly it.

 

There’s roughly 50 000 Dalish. It’s not all Thedas’ clans, some have thus far refused to take part out of fear or conviction, but it’s a considerable amount of them. The vast bulk of the Dales “military” are dalish. They have not yet truly given up on being nomads.

 

There’s roughly 70-90 thousand humans living around Halamshiral and along the imperial highway. These are the ones that have refused to or been unable to leave. Most are peasants, craftsmen and lower nobility. The higher nobility left a long time ago. They still hold most of the economic power and they’re scared.

 

To compare, Orlais probably has way more than a million in population and could probably call up a hundred thousand of professional soldiers with little effort if aggravated. They just do not want to. Yet.

 

The Chantry still holds sway in Halamshiral and along the Imperial highway, but it is cut off from the Grand Cleric of Orlais for now and rests primarily on a grassroots level.

[Sir JK]

(Post reserved)

[EmperorSahlertz]

Just a quick question: Have the Fade tears happened yet, or does this take place before, or do they not happen at all?

[Sir JK]

OOC: I forgot to mention them, didn't I? Anyways... the veil tears fall in the same category as the other great mysteries: meaning we'll avoid them. Mostly because we know nothing about them (or where all these mysteries are going). Same applies to the inquistion.

 

So let's for now assume they haven't opened yet.

[Sir JK]

Introducing:Jourel, a former scribe turned grain merchant. Coming from a long line of Halamshiral elves, he's a thoroughly orlesian city elf. Serving as the assistant to a scribe in the city. When the elves rose up his master fled to the Orlesian heartlands, leaving his elven assistants behind. Jourel managed to make use of his former profession to gain a few contacts among the farmers in the region and managed to negotiate deals to ship grain to the hungry city. Now he supplies several of the cities bakeries and markets and frequently speaks publicly on the behalf of the traders, bakers and farmers he works with.

 

Private correspondence:

 

My dear friend...

 

I cannot imagine the gall that our "dear cousins" have. We were organising the festival we were to hold next month, preparing the square, setting up stalls and a long table and generally just getting into the mood. It's the first time we didn't have to seek permission for it either, it was up to us to decide everything. So we set out to invite as many as possible, aiming for something of a folk festival. Biggest one ever.

 

As I and Guanderre were discussing the garlands we were intending to hang over the square this dalish walks into the square and studies what we were doing. I invite him over to us and he happily comes over and asks us what we intend to celebrate. So I explain the festival to him and invite his clan. We're all elves together, right?

 

Well.. he simply stands there quiet as I speak, listening but not saying anything. And when I finish he looks me in the eyes, dead serious, and tells me we don't have to celebrate these "shemlen" traditions anymore and then goes on a long tirade on "our lost heritage and ancient traditions" and so forth. I couldn't believe my ears. What was he thinking we were? Directionless sheep walking the same old path due to lacking a new herdleader? It never occured to him that maybe we wanted to celebrate it?

 

I kept my cool and as calmly as I could explained to him that this was something we wanted to do and his people were invited if they wished to join us. He was polite, but that was a damned arrogant thing to say in the first place. Maker, how low are we in their eyes?

 

Yours faithfully

Jourel

 

Spoiler

In case it was not clear, I introduced a Plot Ticket. Namely a streetfestival on the streets of Halamshiral and a clash of cultures between orlesian elves and dalish. This was a private letter and one easy way to respond would naturally be the friend to whom Jourel writes. But it's perfectly viable to also issue a declaration touching upon it in some way (opposing it? Supporting it?). Or describe something that takes place in relation to it (maybe the culture clash escalates into a fist fight?) The Sky is the limit!

[karushna5]

Introducing Kiela, Before the rebellion she was a capable but disrespected circle mage. A healer and secretly a capable practitioner of blood magic. When the rebellion happened, she quickly used the chaos to escape. Being a skilled Physician made her a respected member of the community, the fact that a few people of minor note are secretly under her spell also lends itself to her influence.

Private correspondence:

My dearest Jourel,

The Dalish are proud, and they require a light touch. You must always respond that they are right, because to them, we ARE some wayward sheep who have lost their way. I am circle trained, but few Dalish trust my experience or expertise because I was trained by the Circle instead of a Keeper. And I shall only tell it to you Jourel, because I trust you, and there should be no secrets among friends such as us. But, the Circle, for all its stifling dogma and cruel obligations, was a much better education than many Keepers can provide. Most are more than capable, but I have met more than one who had a frightening lack of understanding.

They are simply too focused on the ideal rather than the real.

They have devoted themselves so long to their stories, that they cannot bear to admit that they are not the whole of being an elf. I pity the Dalish in some ways, always grasping at dreams that have faded long ago. I hear one of them is trying to get a search for some of the "Ancients". They feel there is 'proof' that some immortal elves are living underneath the city. If the Dalish react this way to our festivals now, imagine their hauteur when they they are told by some old codger, who wandered down there, that back in the day festivals were signs of trouble. I really don't think such an endeavor is wise.

Jourel, try to ignore them if you can, I know they mean well but you cant let them bully you out of your enthusiasm. Please tell me if there is any way I can help in the least. Any trouble, call on Lieutenant Selah and say you are a very dear friend of mine. She patrols the area, and I helped her through the difficult birth of her third child. But hopefully, no trouble shall mar the occasion to warrant her action.

Your dear friend,
Kiela

[MisterJB]

Introducing Feranu, a Dalish hunter of clan Adrarinal whose capable skills with a bow have earned him respect at gatherings and whose anti-human tendencies have led him to the company of likeminded elves. Was tremendously disappointed when the conquest of the Dales was less bloody than expected.

 

 

As spoken by Feranu to a private gathering of several young dalish elves.

 

Brothers, sisters, I find myself wondering if we have truly driven the shemlen from this small portion of our continent.

Am I referring to spies, scouts? No, I refer to the poisonous shemlen influence that hangs over this new home like a cloud of miasma. You can see it all around us; in the shemlen homes built from stone and wood not purified by the ancient techniques ; in their roads that scar the earth but -and this is the ultimate insult- you can see it in the poor lost Halla that are the so called "city-elves".

Tell me, brothers and sisters, could this reconquest of our land have been sucessfull without the support of the People? Of course not! And yet, how have these "city-elves" thanked us for having finally saved them from the tyranny of the shemlen? BY CLINGING TO THEIR WAYS!

 

To my dismay, I witnessed as our supposed brothers set up a shemlen festival that they wish to celebrate and my attempts at explaining them that they are no longer forced to live as shemlen rather than as elvhen were dismissed.

Brothers and sisters, it will be harder to teach our wayward halla than we had feared. I believe the very first step is to impede this "festival".

Who's with me?

 

(I had thought about giving life to that dalish elf Sir JK described but perhaps I made him a bit over the top.)

[Jedi Master of Orion]

Do we get to create more than one character if participating?

[Sir JK]

Do we get to create more than one character if participating?

 

OOC: I think one character each is enough for now. If we all agree we might expand that limit later. But for now It'll probably be easier with one character (and associated faction) per player.

[Aolbain]

Introducing Baroness Alexandre de Acier, an elderly chevalier from the small town of Foyer a day’s ride from Halamshiral, where she holds a small estate. When the high nobility left for safer land Alexandra refused, citing her oath as a chevalier, loyalty to Empire and Empress and the honor of her family “who fought and died for these lands”. Being one of the few nobles who remained and a known veteran of several wars Foyers human community looked upon her for leadership and protection.

 

Spoken at a public gathering in the town square of Foyer.

 

Countrymen!

 

These are dire times we live in. War, lawlessness, treason and heresies. We all remember when the knife-eared heathens emerged from their forest hideouts to illegally occupy lands belonging to our glorious Empress, spreading their filth wherever they go. With terror and, mark my words, Maker-cursed magic, have they driven our kinsmen from their homes. From earth they have lived on for a hundred generations, land they have held with blood and steel in service of the Maker himself.

 

In doing so they have hexed the minds of the people we know as the City Elves, a simple folk who are easily misled. They are not as you and I and must be led by a strong hand lest their diabolic brethren bring them astray.  But most of them are still devout servants of our Lady and loyal subjects of the Empire, and words have reached me that they plan to celebrate the upcoming festivities as becomes a true Orlesian. But can we trust the dalish and their apostate chiefs to let them celebrate in peace?

 

No, my countrymen! No, we cannot! It is our duties as subjects of Val Royeaux and the lady Andraste to march to Halamshiral and protect of brothers and sisters!

 

Now, let us pray.

[LobselVith8]

Introducing: Revas, of Clan Ralaferin, drafting a private correspondence to an acquaintance from one of the nomadic Clans that remain outside the kingdom of the Dales.

 

Private correspondence:

 

Aneth ara, lethallan.

 

I hope this letter finds you and your Clan well. The days since our reclamation of the Dales have been fraught with trials and tribulations, but Clan Ralaferin remains strong. Our aravels dot the open fields outside of Halamshiral, our hallas proudly roaming the lands that now belong to us all. We’ve had some dealings with some Durgen’len, odd little traders and peculiar merchants who we dealt with in the past; they seem to feel safe in approaching us, while the shemlen from the empire have kept their distance… so far.

 

Some among the Clans have been tasked with watching the border, to make certain the shemlen skirmishes in their gods-forsaken empire don’t reach our border, and to take in elves migrating to our liberated homeland. To help them in their Long Walk. Elves from all over are coming to the Dales. Some of our brothers and sisters are famished, weak, coming here with nothing more than the clothes or rags on their backs, and hope in their hearts that the Dales can provide them with what servitude to their shemlen lords never could.

 

Many of these city elves have only heard dark whispers and rumors about us, about the Elvhen; obvious trickery by the harellan of the Chantry, who would like nothing more than to force every one of the Elvhen to submit to their false god and empty proclamations. The Hahren teaches those who are eager to learn, or the ones who are just curious.

 

I must confess, falon, not every elf who comes here cares about our traditions, about our gods, or about restoring our people, and that was to be expected. Some have come, holding strong to their faith in the shemlen god. Others follow the Qun, from the horned giants, and there has been some fighting between the two. As distrustful of each other as they are of us, I suppose. Their numbers grow, and it’s causing concern among the hahren and the Keepers of the assembled Clans. We can’t hold the Dales if we end up fighting a civil war with each other.

 

There is some discord among the Clans about the future of the Dales, as the hahren and the Keepers disagree about what the Dales could be. It isn't helping the situation that some of the Clan see our long lost brothers and sisters as no different than our shemlen adversaries. We need to be united, or we risk losing it all to the shelmen and their Chantry.

 

An Arlathvhen is expected to take place soon in Halamshiral, to discuss our current situation, and to plan for the future. I hope your Clan can make it, lethallan. My prayers go out for all the Clans to return to the Dales, to help forge a new beginning for our people. There is hope for the Dales, but all the Clans need to come and build for that future. We can’t accomplish it alone.

 

Dareth shiral, lethallan.

 

Yours always, Revas.

[Sir JK]

Public posters displayed on the walls of Halamshiral:

 

We are a free people now. Gone are the shackles that weighed us down and prevented us from reaching for what we desired. Though we still find ourselves at the bottom of the hill and we'll need to climb higher to ever reach the blessing we have earned. It will not be easy, nor will we recieve anything for free. Our fates are our's to earn, but we will have to earn them.

 

The coming festival is a celebration of that. Of our will. Our freedom. Our strength. It is also a tribute to our fathers and mothers who came before us. Who celebrated this festival to give them hope and courage to face the days they had ahead of themselves. This festival is to honour their courage. TWhich they passed to us when they tucked us in at night, starving so that we would be fed. This is to honour their sacrefice.

 

It is a festival we do not celebrate out of fear, our of lingering ties or because we know not better. We choose to celebrate it. Because to us it represents what we are. Not what we were. And we welcome everyone to join us. To share in our joy. To remember their fathers and mothers together with us. To light the spark of hope, to replenish courage. Fellow elves from other lands. Dalish and andrastian. Shem and Elf. All our friends, neighbours and kin. All are welcome.

 

This is who we choose to be. And we will not be intimidated to abandon it. We would not drown the upcoming Arlathvhen in noise and chaos, and ask that noone seeks to do the same to our celebration. It is a sad day indeed when shems volounteer to protect elves from elves. We are grateful for their offer, but that there's even a need brings sorrow to my heart.

 

We ask to be allowed to choose for ourselves and that this harrassment of honest shopkeepers, farmers and craftsmen who devote their valuable time to bring happiness to other's hearts ceases. We ask for peace and respect. We ask for that we fought for. Nothing more.

 

Jourel.

[Jedi Master of Orion]

Introducing Revered Mother Luranne: One of the highest ranking members of the clergy still in the Dales, Revered Mother Luranne was selected as a representative for the Chantry in an underground gathering of Chantry officials who had remained in Halamshiral. She is also one of only a handful of Chantry mothers and sisters who has spent time ministering and preaching to the elves of the alienage, something which she has proudly dedicated many years of her life to.

 

A letter sent to the remaining nobility and other wealthy or influential humans in the Dales

 

We live in turbulent times. Every day it seems our Chantries are filled with more and more desperate souls fearful that we have all been abandoned. I share their fears. We live in a different world now, and can no longer guarantee the safety of any of our people if unbelievers were to turn their fury upon innocents. None of us can change this, and there will be many difficult days ahead but it is crucial not to surrender to panic or despair.

 

The Maker has set a challenge before us, but as I always, I believe it is through him that we will discover our salvation.

 

Our remaining Templars are stretched thin, but although we cannot protect ourselves through force of arms without the might of the Empire, we still can show the world that we are strong, if we stand together.

 

Chantry has always been a source of solace for those the needy, and today I believe it can be source of unity and sanctuary.

 

I have spent many decades among the elves, spreading word of the Maker's light to the poor and the downtrodden, and reminding the needy and desperate that Our Lady's message was meant to uplift all peoples and all nations. For all that walk in the sight of the Maker are one.

 

It is a difficult and thankless job at times, but over the years I have also come to know many of them personally through their joys and tribulations. The Hahren of the Alienage, the elves' community elder, has been a friend of mine for many years. He has always been a righteous and faithful man, enduring through many hardships. I believe he would share our desire to protect as many as possible. And I believe he will aid me in our hardship as I have tried to aid him in his.

 

Together we can show all people of this so called "new Dales" that we shall always stand united with the strength of the Maker, and show the leaders of Val Royeaux that we have not abandoned Andraste, even if they have abandoned us.

 

I know many of you did not ask for this new responsibility now thrust upon you, but the Maker has sent this test to all of us. And only together we can endure it. I ask that you aid those less fortunate than yourselves whenever they may be imperiled by violence from unbelievers or other savages. And I ask that lend your support to our efforts to spread and strengthen whatever the protection our Chantry can offer.

 

If the specter of war were to fall upon us, it is only through the noble and concerted efforts of the faithful from all corners of the land that we could stem the tide of innocent blood.

 

- Revered Mother Luranne.

 

"Let all repeat the Chant of Light. For only The Word dispels the darkness upon us."

 

Spoiler

 

OOC: This is easily one of the most interesting premises for a story it was really tricky for me to narrow it down to just one angle to approach it through, especially one that wasn't covering ground from other characters.

 

[Aolbain]

A letter sent to the Revered Mother Luranne

 

Your Reverence.

 

There is truth is your words. In times such as these all the Makers children must stand together as one, or we will surely fall. Many of my people have lost loved ones to this chaos, and I fear we will lose many more before years end. But so far we have prevailed, and I forswear myself from any hubris when I claim that Foyer still stands as a bastion of Imperial order and the Makers Light in these turbulent times.

 

We will gladly offer any help we can muster. As news spread fast with so many travelers on the road I suspect our declaration to protect any child of the Maker from heathen oppression has already reached the city. Those were not empty words, if Your Reverence deems it necessary I can have three scores of able-bodied men and women in Halamshiral to help enforce order and safety within two days’ notice. If the worst should come to pass, know that Foyer will always stand as a haven for those of Our Lady.

 

It brings joy to my hearth to hear that there exist voices of reason even within the Alienage. I have not heard of this Hahren but if he is as wise as you claim there might still be hope for these lands and our people.

 

-Baroness Alexandre de Acier, Chevailer of Orlais.

[Sir JK]

Jourel speaking at a meeting in a tavern in Halamshiral

 

"I understand that some of you were angry following the harassment we suffered when organising the festival. I understand the frustration you all felt when the keepers did nothing to reel their people in. I suffered with you when we had our decorations smashed, our shipments ruined and I was there when we had stones thrown at us. I was there all along, you all know this.

 

But this is not the way. One of their keepers are injuried. Badly, or so I hear. One who had come for the Arlathvhen. This is not something to be proud of or happy about. This is not justice. Especially since she came from outside the country. She had nothing to do with what happened to us. We are better than this! Good andrastians don't do this to neighbours, true believers or not.

 

And who was the genius that cried out our Lady's name anyways? What are we? Templars?. Now the Dalish think we're a group of fanatics out to chase them out of this land. This is going to make it worse for all of us. You all understand that I hope. I sincerely hope if any of you had an ounce of wits about you you'd hand over the criminals that did this to the authorities. But I know that's unlikely to happen. 

 

I'll try to ease tensions... but I'd suggest you all secure your shops and perhaps lay low for a while. Most of our cousins will probably accept it was a stupid mistake... but I fear the ones who won't will be out for blood.

 

Maker protect us all"

[Jedi Master of Orion]

Missive to all Chantry Officials and Templars from Revered Mother Luranne

 

By now many of you will have heard of the incidents that occurred at the recent festival in Halamshiral. The reprecussions of this will be felt many times over in the coming weeks and months, I am certain. Dark days are ahead, just as we all feared they were. However, it is in times like these that the Chantry is most beneficial and when the faithful can find their strength.

 

It is vital that we offer our hand in support. The truth is, many people are scared. Many elves as well as ourselves. Remember that as you remind them that we are all united in the sight of the Maker.

 

Some of you may dislike dealing with these elves. And I understand that in years past, doing the Maker's work in the alienages was among the most difficult and intimidating of all our vocations. However, let me be absolutely clear on this matter. However, uncomfortable your feelings may be, bury them. There is no longer an alternative. Standing united with our often forgotten coreligionists from the alienages may now our only chance for survival. I will not tolerate anyone endangering the lives of innocent people by antagonizing the elves.

 

To our holy Mothers and Sisters, go forth and spread word of the Maker's blessings and of the comfort and sanctity of our Chantries.

 

To our noble Chanters, tell the elves the hardships and triumphs of Our Lady and how the faith in the Maker can guide us through even the most troubled times.

 

To our righteous Templars that yet remain, I fear you are in the most precarious positions, but with a heavy heart, I must ask you prioritize your mandate. No longer do we have enough manpower to properly fulfill your sacred duty to guard mages. It is a grim truth, but you must cease efforts to hunt down vile apostates, for there is now a more important task. Instead, I must insist the the templars focus on protecting our Chantries and people however much they can. Our promises of sanctuary must have some truth to them or else all of us are doomed.

 

I shall lead our outreach myself and tell the people: elven and human alike that only together we can rediscover Andraste's strength.

 

Together we may yet endure.

 

- Revered Mother Luranne

[LobselVith8]

Private correspondence:

 

Aneth ara, Jourel.

 

You do not know me, but I have read the posters put on display in Halamshiral bearing your name. I’ve heard you are a signiciant voice of the Elvhen from the shemlen cities. I draft this letter to your attention because of the tragedy that struck your festival, and the rising tensions that have erupted between our people. I know that animosity has often been met between the Clans, and the sons and daughters of the Alienages, and it’s my sincere hope that you and I can work together to build bridges between the communities that are separated by fear and mistrust.

 

My name is Revan. I’m a healer of Clan Ralaferin. I follow Vir Atish’an, The Way of Peace; the path of the Goddess Sylaise.

 

A friend of mine had been attacked after the incident at the festival, a good person who went through great pains to convince her Clan to make the trek to our kingdom. She lives, but the assault - one I've been told was made in the name of your shemlen prophet Andraste - has been a cause of concern for many among the Clans.

 

While I realize that some of your people think us little more than savages, I assure you that this isn’t the case. History colors the way we perceive the current situation, even though our perspectives differ. We haven’t forgotten the tragedy that befell the original Dales because of the incursion by the shemlen prophet’s Chantry that forever divided our people, simply because we won’t forsake our gods for theirs. The Clans have faced adversary and threat of death from the terrain, from the followers of your faith who condemned us as “heathens”, and from the templars who sought to force those of us blessed with a gift of the Creators to submit. The presence of the Chantry and the continued patrols of the templars are a cause of suspicion and trepidation for some among the Clans.

 

However, I know your people have faced their own injustices, including from some among the Clans, and I sincerely apologize for the pain and suffering they have endured unjustly. There is no excuse for what took place.

 

Our Clans are as different and varied as the scions of the Alienages, and the injust actions of a few don’t represent us all. There are a great number of us who reside outside of the borders in our aravels, trying to adjust to finally having a permanent home, where we don’t have to run or fight just for the right to worship our gods or follow our culture. We have been working together, trading with the Durgen’len for food and supplies, or helping usher in the exodus of our wayward brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, taxed as we are, news reaches us quite late. Perhaps if we had taken measures to help protect your people, your festival never would have faced the trouble that it did.

 

The growing disunity between the Clans, between the faithful of your shemlen prophet Andraste, and those who adhere to the Qun, is no secret. I would like us to speak, to discuss what might be done to bring our people together, or else I fear the rift in our communities will be exploited to take away our hard-won kingdom. Despite our differences of culture and faith, I hope we can agree that we deserve to be our own masters.

 

Our people have faced centuries of trials and tribulations for this moment, to have our own homeland again. If we fail, we might never have another kingdom again. I hope we can work in unison to bring better understanding and unity between our people.

 

Dareth shiral.

 

In Friendship, Revas of Clan Ralaferin.

[Senya]

Introducing Francis Berger- Former Captain in the Orlesian army, turned farmer. He is a man in his late 30's, tanned and muscled from his days in the Orlesian army and out in the fields. He lives in a small village halfway between Foyer and Halamshiral. It is simply named Glory, in honor of the Glory Age. The majority of its population is human, but a significant minority consists of city elves. It does not have an alienage. The village blacksmith is a casteless from Orzammar Since the reestablishment of the Dales, Francis has been looked upon for leadership and is the town's unofficial leader. To his annoyance, he is called "Ser Francis" as some boast he has the fighting ability of a chevalier. Unfortunately for him, he has to deal more with politics now than tilling his soil. Recently, a paliside wall has been dug around the village.

 

Address to Glory Village

 

My friends,

 

As many of you know, our neighbor Brom visited the Festival in honor of Our Lady in Halamshiral in order to find out more about the current climate there. I regret to inform you that he is dead, murdered by his so-called "brethren" for the crime of first visiting the local Chantry to thank the Maker for a safe journey as is his habit. We have his cousin, Sora, as a witness to his murder by one of the cutthroat Dalish. He will be given his last rites in Halamshiral a few days from now. There, I will demand justice for his murder either in the form of death for his murderer or blood money to be paid in full to his wife and children in the event his murderer cannot be found.

 

Brom was an honorable man and a peaceful man. He also had the best voice in the village and, when he sung the Chant, one could almost feel as though the Maker had turned His gaze towards this humble village. Many of you are angry. I ask that you do not do anything foolish should the Dalish protect their own as they often did in the past when they still wandered the countryside like common vagabonds. Now is not the time for conflict or retribution.

 

I will take no more than ten men on my journey. Any more could be construed as a threat. At least half of us should be elves. I know little about the Great Game, but I know how to send a message. We will also be bringing a portion of the surplus harvest. I know many of you do not wish to trade with the Dalish, but our supplies are low. Ordinarily, we would make a market day out of it, but it will not be safe to bring children with us.

 

A Short Note

Revered Mother Luranne,

 

Sorry for the short note. We were low on paper. Hopefully we can restock some of our village's dwindling supplies in Halamshiral. We bring some of our surplus harvest. We will sell to you first in exchange for your blessing and what you can give us. Can Lady Alexandre be trusted to do right by us? Some think we should take her as our lord. I propose an alliance myself. Please thank the local hahren for his people's care for Brom's body and family.

 

Captain Francis Berger, formerly of the Fifty-Fifth Infantry company of the Empress' Army

[LobselVith8]

Ir abelas, ma vhenan,

 

I hope that your visit to the Emerald Graves has been a safe journey, falon. I realize the attack by the followers of the shemlen prophet has caused concern among your Clan, and I already regret asking you to come here. Several more attacks against our Clans and against the Qunari were initiated by the Andrastian elves, and there has been a casualty - a len.

 

This tragedy could have been prevented. I had sent word to one of the more outspoken among them to try to prevent any more violence. Unfortunately, I've received no correspondence back, and I suspect they aren't going to respond back to my petition to work towards unification. None of them respond to my missives, and I they continue to see us as little more than savages. Their missionaries continue to harass our Clans, and make veiled threats against us for our refusal to submit to their asinine faith in the shemlen god.

 

Following this harrasment, several templars from the harellan of the Chantry attempted to kidnap our da'len mages and kill our Keeper, but the Clans were able to neutralize the threat these maniacs posed. Whether they are part of the Chantry hierarchy under the Divine or part of the autonomous Seekers and templars who followed the Lord Seeker is currently unknown.

 

Lethallan, I want you to know that I understand your concerns about that fool Feranu, and our Clan is looking into whether or not he retaliated against one of the Chantry elves in the village Glory as a response to the death of one of the children. So far, I haven't been able to substantiate the rumors, but several of the Keepers and hahren already find his belligerent behavior in inciting violence intolerable.

 

We will not give up on a free Dales, falon, nor will we allow the Chantry, the templars, or buffoons like Feranu from our goal in establishing a strong kindgom. I promise you. Stay safe, lethallan.

 

Dareth shiral.

 

Always, Revas