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: New technologies aren’t just about creating new weapons or getting an edge in battle. They’re also about improving people’s lives. Riftwatch has created dozens of new innovations — so isn’t it time to share those with the world?

Welcome to the Riftwatch Cultural Exposition, held on the campus of the University of Orlais. The Exposition is going to be a three-day fair in which members of Riftwatch demonstrate friendly levels of technological advancement and partake in Rifter-oriented cross-cultural sharing, designed to intrigue and entertain. These demonstrations can be foods, dances, simple inventions, fashion, and so on.

The purpose of this event is twofold.

One: we love money, sympathy, and a positive image. An event such as this is designed to build up Riftwatch's rapport in a different setting than just pure heroics, and garner some goodwill and curiosity that will have the effect of investing in our little operation over here.

Two: we wish to shake loose some potential academically inclined alliances that can, in the future, be used to leverage more advanced world-improving technology and theory into Thedas.

HOW: This plot will be run on a points system, in which you’ll be able to earn points to buy quality-of-life improvements based on meeting certain criteria, as well as earn interested parties who may assist Riftwatch in introducing more advanced technologies and scientific theory to the world. These criteria will involve threading and hitting specific goals.

There will be two ways to approach threading in this plot:

Method one: Write your character sharing a new technology. The best tech to share will be things that bring uncomplicated quality-of-life improvements. Things that will scare the hell out of the locals will be barred from being shown to others, as will sensitive or confidential technologies. This will require a specific sign-up in which you identify which tech your character be taking to the Exposition (with the asterisk that Tony will have the right to refuse).

Method two: Write an NPC reacting to this technology. This will be the fastest way to earn points to buy rewards. You’ll create an NPC who might come and be impressed by these new inventions, or skeptical of them, or horrified, or whatever you’d like. You’ll earn points by threading your NPC against the Riftwatch members repping their technology.

You can either ask us for an NPC suggestion or come up with an NPC to play yourself. If you're inventing your own NPC, we'd encourage you to focus on creating the sort of Thedosian who Riftwatch would want to impress. Obviously academics are the primary target here, but we'd also be going after artists, nobles, rich people with deep pockets, mages with social capital, and the like. (Just don't do anything wild - don't NPC the Empress dropping by or something like that.)

WHO: All can participate (with Diplo/Research characters extra encouraged to do so). Sign-ups are mandatory if you want to present culture/technology and/or play an NPC for points; however, characters are welcome to attend the Exposition with no sign-up necessary.

WHEN: Sign-ups will close Saturday, 7/8, and the plot log will go up the next day.

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: Unscrupulous Orlesian academic Cedric Marquette is helping the Venatori and Faderift would like him to stop. As we're not going to be able to outbid the Venatori for Marquette's services, and we certainly aren't going to be able appeal to the angels of his better nature ... time to identify and lean on some leverage points.

WHO: Members of the Scouting and Diplomacy divisions. (If your character is neither but you want to make a case for them to join, you can do so in your sign-up.) Characters will be assigned to teams of two; pairs can sign up together if they like, and will otherwise be OOCly assigned to another person whose approach matches theirs.

WHERE: Mainly the Free Marches, but if any pair gets motivated to take a trip to Orlais, that is also on the table.

HOW: Depending on the characters who sign up and/or player desires, this plot is designed to involve spying on targets close to Marquette, pumping said targets for information directly, or a combination of the two. As always, I'm keen for you to thread things you're actually interested in, and this plot is designed to be fairly flexible, but I'm happy to help talk through ideas and can provide a variety of targets related to Marquette to choose from depending on the flavor you're looking for.

DEADLINES: Please sign up by June 1. I'm aiming to get the log up around June 4, and the report will be due June 30.

It's been some months since Riftwatch's adventure into Arlathan Forest, the densely overgrown wilderness that half-swallowed the ancient elven city by which it is named. Through thorough scouting and investigation, Riftwatch eventually came to locate the ancient elven temple that both imparted to them critical information while also taking its pound of flesh in return. However, in the process, they'd also developed leads for potential investigation, and over the interim months, some light scouting has continued to ensure a minimal amount of rocks were left unturned.

And it seems, unfortunately, that Arlathan has yet more to give.

Riftwatch will be deploying a group to investigate an ancient sunken temple that some preliminary investigation suggests to have once honoured Dirthamen, elven god of secrets and knowledge. The group, for those who have yet to experience such places, will be warned of the potentiality for spirits of trickery, for puzzles and traps, and for the presence of Venatori, although there doesn't appear to be evidence of anyone having come across this territory any time recently. The mission is to search for artifacts that may contribute to future Gate-closing rituals, and try to make it out with all your eyeballs intact.

However, as the group embarks on its mission through the labyrinthine halls of Dirthamen's seat of honour, they will slowly start to wonder why they are here, and what their mission is, and also who they are with, and also who are they?

Yes, this is an amnesia plot.

This plot will be designed for hijinks and CR building, with some memory-share elements as the temple toys with the secrets it's collected and the people lost in its grasp. How it is organised will be dependent on how many people sign up, whether it be a small group or a couple of teams thrown together, with various prompts to riff off of. Make friends with your enemies or become enemies with your friends while trying to escape or work your way through a puzzle-laden temple. We'll laugh about it later.

Sign up in the comments below if you'd like to spend a few days with a group of total strangers, including yourself! Note that there is an option with sign ups that involves a memory-sharing mechanic, wherein you'll be expected to write somewhere between one through three memories to be distributed randomly. All memories will contain trigger warnings if necessary but will be advised to steer clear of sensitive topics anyway, besides violence. I am making this element optional for anyone who wants to play with memory loss with less paperwork.

Sign ups close April 4.

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.