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[rowancrowned]

 

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[aestivation]

Whichever is convenient. It concerns Red Lyrium; I'm aware the project isn't under your purview, but Mage Delacroix is. I thought it best to approach you first.

[ before sounding out an idea against a relative unknown ]

[rowancrowned]

Has she been untoward?

[ he suspects behavioral problems first considering the source and the source's affliction. ]

Or has there been a breakthrough?

[aestivation]

No; we've spoken little. I've been reviewing documents.

The bulk of the project's work concerns the destruction of red lyrium as encountered. By then it has touched the land, infected it. It may be reinvigorated only slowly, at great cost.

[ the gallows. ]

It touches the population, too. As a plague in winter. But the worst sicknesses don't spread far — the infected can't wander once stricken.

[rowancrowned]

And those only infected with a weaker form of the illness? What are they capable of?

[ casimir has his absolute attention. ]

[aestivation]

They flee. They work. They carry it to their families, and to the roads. A cough begun in Perendale ends in Cumberland's blood.

Red lyrium is a slow poison — much as the untouched ore. Templars may resist it enough to encourage growth, where it only poisons another man. The reaction of mages is sudden and violent; all this suggests that for its differences, a base sensitivity holds.

If this is true, red lyrium might be refined, made more potent. We might attempt to make it kill.

[rowancrowned]

I will speak to the two Rifter physicians. I think their insight would be helpful. I would rather we had some measure of a cure before we began the work you propose, but it may well be that there is no cure for it.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. If we were able to make it work, it would be useful indeed. Continue to look into the matter, if you please.

[ he's willing to put the weight of his office behind this. ]

[aestivation]

Of course. Your mutual experience of the — [ what was everyone calling it. ] — Blood fish, may be of use. Would you rather speak with Delacroix, or I?

[rowancrowned]

Do you think yourself able to propose the idea to Delacroix in such a way that she would find it favorable?

[ it is a bit ''''out there'''. he understands that. ]

Or perhaps in such a way she thinks it her own idea?

[aestivation]

[ if tranquility has sharpened certain of casimir's skills, persuasion is not among them. he considers at some length, but the answer was always going to be: ]

No.

[rowancrowned]

Report to me alone for now.