Hazelnuts and plaid

[Aveline Vallen]

Tilting her head to the side, Aveline gives that some thought. "Much the same as he does anything related to Marian or Clan; obsessively, diligently, ruthlessly and with great care. And I gather he's done most of the investigation himself, though Isabela and Zevran helped at various points. Under his direction though, I think?" she adds, glancing at Isabela.

[GamesMaster]

Before Isabela can answers, la'Livingstone cuts her off. "So most of your information has passed through his hands, then, rather than coming directly from the source. Except for the kidnapping, of course, which you witnessed but for which you have no suspect." 

[Aveline Vallen]

"Some of it came from Zevran and Isabela, as I said," Aveline corrects him. "Still more came from Marian. Some I knew from work, such as the information about Humans First; the names he gave are ones I recall. And finally, Divine Victoria confirmed the failure of," her voice trembles slightly here for the first time, "Merrill's raising. And I was present for the Divinity Contact Ritual performed to determine why the former occured."

[GamesMaster]

"Tell me something, if you please: why did Mr Tethras quit Nyra? He seemed to leave in a rush, and no-one is quite sure the true cause."

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline winces, then scowls, though it doesn't seem to be directed at za'Livingston. "Short version? He's brilliant but he can still make really stupid decisions. And he's stubborn, prideful and aware he's brilliant so he's very reluctant to admit or correct a mistake." She hesitates, then adds gruffly, "he was worried about Marian, about her recovery, and... decided he needed to remove himself to... Well, it doesn't matter. He was trying to help, he was just an idiot about it."

[GamesMaster]

"I... see," says la'livingstone, in that tone that indicates he doesn't, not really. "And you said the rest of the evidence came through Zevran and Isabela? Has it occurred to you that there may be trechery within your own clan? I see evidence of a plot and a counter-plot, with the clan neatly split along loyalty lines."

[Aveline Vallen]

"'Trust only Clan,'" Aveline replies with the air of holy writ.

[GamesMaster]

"Beg pardon?"

[Isabela]

"Astea told us, it's our guiding stone for how to get through this. Trust only Clan," says Isabela. 

[GamesMaster]

"Astea... spoke to you." He sounds unconvinced. 

[Aveline Vallen]

Rolling her eyes, Aveline clarifies, "not in person obviously. Not this time anyway." She pauses a moment to recall how that sort of thing sounds to people that haven't lived her life. "We've contacted Andraste, ah, four times now? She attended-- she attended the baby shower, just before... things started going badly. And Helene has reached Astea personally via non-summoning divination once before." The Heptad do not manifest in the material plane of course, nor do they speak with mortals elsewhere really (Mileen excepting), but hearing their Voices is not as rare. In absolute terms, that is, as such is very rare taken on the whole. 

"Divine Victoria and the Lord Hand were both present for that," she adds. 

[GamesMaster]

"I... see. Well, if Astea is proclaiming your Clan innocent, that rules out a number of theories," he muses, rubbing at his chin. "Unless.... 'trust' does not mean that the person is not working against you. It merely means that outsiders are also working against you -- trust only. Perhaps the two sides, point and counter-point, are Mr Tethras and some outside agent...."

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline blinks, one hand pressing absently against her stomach to settle it. "I'm afraid I don't follow?"

[GamesMaster]

"What the Songstress told you is undoubtably the best way to proceed. However, it does not mean that none of them are deceiving you, only that the end result will be best if you trust them. They might still be working to deceive you, but for benign reasons. Such as having Hawke whisked away in such a way that you can attest to her being kidnapped, to throw potential enemies off the scent of where she is."

[Aveline Vallen]

It takes a few seconds, then Aveline glowers. "It damn well better not be," she replies, voice a dangerous rumble. "That sort of shit has come up before and the ethics of doing so has been discussed at length."