Blood from Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"No time," hisses Brianne. "Kits. Now." Her tail lashes from side to side, showing her distress clearly.

Shaking her head, she adds, "At Don's manor."

[Tethras Clan]

''Kit- oh! Oh! Kevin, clothes! I have- follow after, I have to-!'' Without waiting for a reply, Merrill scrambles off the sofa she was on to get into her chair. ''Dad is at the temple with Tuiste!'' she informs Bri as she does this.

[GamesMaster]

"Got it!" calls Brianne, smiling as she spies Glimmerwing flying after her person. And I have to admit, Kevin's cute under all those baggy robes. 

Then she's off, racing for the temple.

[Varric]

At said temple, the husband and spouse are currently constructing yet another book fortress, with the assistance of a certain much abused and maligned apprentice alchemist, shopkeeper and potential adventurer. Well, strictly speaking they've teamed up for another project, this one creating a more fair and equitable system for patents. Currently, keeping a patent simply requires that the original patent holder wish to keep it, then formally leave the patent to an heir who can do the same. A modest fee is charged every decade and a much larger one for bequeathing it but both are flat fees that are steep for the lower class and petty coin to most nobles or merchant families. What the two of them are working on is a system where patents expire either after the lifetime of the original patent holder or two majorities for whatever race they are, whichever comes second- the year duration is to help reduce the temptation for 'accidents' to free up a patent quickly.


This particular project was born as a result of the rather nasty legal battle Cattown is still dealing with against the Creamcold Herbalist's Guild over their fur dyes. There's a great deal more that could be streamlined and evened out with the patent law in regards to the dispute, but limiting patent lifespans would make things a lot more manageable in general. And this project is more than just that, more than just a legal and social effort. It'll be the third major project Helene and Varric have worked on since the dwarf promised to stop trying to handle everything on his own. The first had been to make a mithril clad defence against any further interference from Orzammar- which Marian had been both help and solution to, as a major part of it was naming her as his legal heir. The second had been a joint project with Carver, Cindy and zi'Marass of all people. This current one is mostly Helene and Varric, but Niko is both of fair use and learning a great deal about the legal system and politics. Likely more than he ever wanted to...


''Dragons will be a problem, yeah. Not sure how to address that without singling them out, which has it's own issues. Mostly breath attacks, teeth and giant claws.''

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"Oh come on. How oftens do dragons patent things?" moans Niko, impatiently. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Actually, there have been thirteen cases of dragon patents in--"

[GamesMaster]

Helene breaks off as Brianne skids around the tower of books, eyes wide. "Sorry," she gasps. "Interrupting. Beth. Don's place. Now."

[Varric]

Varric stares for a half second, then nods once. ''Helene, port. I'll fly and fetch Aveline and Will at work.'' He's rarely far from his mentor (clear as day she plans to make him her successor if she can at all manage it). ''Brianne, head to the za'Franes, send Seli to Don's, then head to the Smiths, have them help you gather people. Niko, need you to store all this.''

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"What, by myself?! Where are you going?!"

[Varric]

Swallowing and tucking a vial into his belt, Varric calls over his shoulder, ''the kits!''

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"Oh!" he says, as Helene digs a scroll out of nir satchel. "Oh! Uh, should I-- right, cleaning up, got it."

"Thanks Niko," says Brianne, turning to scramble out of the room. 

"...right."

[Varric]

Eh, he's an alright sort. And Don might want the company. ''Head there after!'' Varric just before he flits out of the room, ignoring the glares and shushes he gets.

[Smith Family]

When Bri reaches the za'Frane household, she is greeted by Shadow and quickly escorted in. It doesn't take long to get Seli on her way, rushing to Beth's side. Lovan is at work, but Seli leaves a note for him. Heading to the Smiths, Bri has a slight problem. Specifically, she's knocked clean on her arse by a panicked and rushing Kyle. He looks down at her, eyes blank and a bit wild. ''I- wha- sorry, I- birth- Seli?''

[GamesMaster]

"Beth!" she chirps. "Kits! Don's place!" Not how I expected to spend today, she admits to herself.

[Smith Family]

''What? No, Jaina, babies, here!'' A beat. ''Need Seli!''