crystal malfunction memevent

[faderifting]

crystals get fucked
(a meme slash tiny game event)

The Inquisition’s sending crystals are typically very reliable and not susceptible to accidental transmissions or misdelivered messages. They’re also fairly limited in function and security.

The latter is something that researchers in Skyhold are working to address, when they have the time. Unfortunately, one of them—maybe a little angry about having to work alone on First Day, maybe day drinking while she does so—has now made some significant errors while meddling with proposed improvements. And from the beginning of the day on Wintermarch 1, the sending crystals will start behaving badly:

Messages might transmit to the wrong person.

Messages might transmit to the right person but also a few additional unintended people.

Messages might transmit to everyone at once.

Pieces of old conversations from any point in the last year or so might leak, either to individuals or to everyone. Delayed messages of that sort will sound distant, like they’re coming from the end of a long tunnel.

Attempts to transition from a public to a private conversation will sometimes fail.

Crystals may start transmitting to people or to everyone at random, without being touched.

All of this could occur at any time—sometimes at the beginning of a conversation, sometimes midway through it, sometimes when someone isn’t using the crystal at all.

The problems will start out sporadic enough to seem insignificant or like probable user errors, but grow increasingly common as the day wears on, until the issue is identified and corrected at Skyhold in the early hours of Wintermarch 2 and the tipsy researcher disciplined accordingly.

This meme/event is game canon. You can decide among yourselves if there’s something you would rather try out for fun with no consequences and/or retcon after the fact, as always, but unless otherwise established by players, this is really happening. Threads done in this post can count toward activity rewards.

Additionally, this specific post is for open top-levels that anyone can tag and threadjack. Think TFLN in style/format, missing pants optional. Don’t post closed or locked conversations here. If you want to do specific misfires with specific people, you can use inboxes. You can also post to the rookery comm if you want to use the event for a more visible gamewide open post.

Comments

[onlyhymns]

[BUT HE'S SO CAREFUL,]

no??????

[bouchonne]

Well, now my feelings are hurt.

[onlyhymns]

who are you

[bouchonne]

He doesn't even bother to remember my name!

[onlyhymns]

[a muffled conversation that includes a female voice and his own, shriller by the moment]

[bouchonne]

Oh, no. Did I get you in trouble?

[nadasharillen]

[ said female voice, much more comported: ]

Nnno. You didn't mean to—er... who was this for?

[bouchonne]

Him.

[nadasharillen]

[ Where has she heard this... ah, right. The insouciant man from the news reading. And other things. ]

Mmhm. Don't make trouble, there's enough.

[ Shem'len. ]

[bouchonne]

Why not? I adore trouble. Don't you?

[nadasharillen]

No.

[ Well, she does sometimes, but not genuinely Cade-distressing trouble. ]

[bouchonne]

How terrible. Clearly you're not seeking out the right sort of trouble.

[nadasharillen]

[ slow audible exhale ]

Look, you can't just play around with whatever and whoever you want to with no regard for what you end up crafting. I know that's a popular diversion in some human circles, but since you're going to differentiate between a right and wrong sort of trouble, consider you might be making the latter.

[bouchonne]

Ah, I should have known. You're an elf, I take it? Dalish, no doubt.

[nadasharillen]

[ wryly: ]

You can hear vallaslin?

[bouchonne]

Never underestimate my finely-honed ear, dear lady. It is not only your superior people who have keen senses.

[nadasharillen]

[ Things Nahariel is not: Dear, a lady, dealing with backhanded compliments in the morning. ]

I have work to do, so does he. So do you, since you've got a crystal in the first place. Best of luck in it.

[bouchonne]

Blessings upon you and your clan.

[nadasharillen]

[ maybe if his ears are so good he can hear eyerolls too ]