This is the Gigli saw. You may be familiar with the Satterlee bone saw, which is very popular here on tumblr due to its distinctive shape. However, I don't have a photo of the Satterlee in my textbook, because nobody uses it. We use a power saw about 90% of the time, and the other 10% is the Gigli.
but for a CRANI??? how on earth?! glad you asked!
(gif made from a youtube short by @/Laboratoriodemicrocirugia)
Lucanis and Isabella are invited to help teach a special class on alternative possession by Emmrich. The professor wanted to bring light to the idea that not all abominations were inherently evil, which was enough to convince the Crows to attend. Afterwards, Emmrich introduces them to his teaching student, Ingellvar, who is on her way to becoming a professor herself on spirits and intricacies in the Fade. Isa is fascinated to learn more.
AO3
Lucanis exhaled as he walked out of the crowded lecture hall, followed by Isabella. He loosened his cravat, finding himself exhausted. They both had dressed up for the occasion, wanting to look more formal and professional for their friend rather than a couple of rogues. Spite was still thrumming in the back of his mind as Isa held his arm gently, glancing around the hall to make sure that he had some space for himself.
Emmrich had reached out to them a few weeks ago about teaching a class about their special case of possession and about Spite. Isa had also been invited since she could interact with Spite as well, bringing in an interesting perspective as well as a calming effect on the spirit. She also gave argument that Spite wasn’t a demon, which gave something for the students to think about.
The professor had been very grateful, and now he was finishing up the class while the Crows took a moment to collect themselves. Isa knew that Lucanis hadn’t been looking forward to this event, and he hadn’t enjoyed a moment of it. There had been a rule against asking them about how they were joined together, and Emmrich had taught a separate class on how possession occurred.
Isa knew that the students were curious about how two Crow assassins were imbued with the Fade enough to host and see a demonic spirit, but that had been a part of the deal. Neither Lucanis nor Spite wanted to talk about or relive what had happened in the Ossuary, and Isa would support their decision completely. Even if she needed to remove the students from the room herself.
Soon, the lecture ended and the students poured out of the room, heading to their next destination for the day. Once the students were gone, Isa and Lucanis walked back inside to find Emmrich and Manfred inside speaking to another Mourn Watcher. Manfred immediately left the conversation to greet Isa as he had wanted to when she had walked in.
“Zia!” Manfred hissed in excitement, throwing his arms around Isa in an embrace.
“Caro nipote! Ti sei tenuto in esercizio con l’antiviano?” Isa asked, wondering if she could get him to speak Antivan fluently before Trade.
“Quando posso,” the skeleton answered.
“Non potrei essere più orgoglioso di te,” Isa replied as Lucanis smirked next to her.
“I see your corruption of my ward has continued,” Emmrich teased, walking over towards them.
“Hardly corruption. He’s more well-rounded for it,” she corrected with a wide smile. “I know you’ve started to learn, too, since you’re worried about it.”
“Mi sono esercitata per poter conversare con te, amica mia,” the professor countered.
Isabella nearly laughed in surprise, excited that there were more people speaking her native tongue. Lucanis felt more relaxed beside her, now that he wasn’t the center of attention at last.
“I should introduce someone, though,” Emmrich mentioned, turning to the side.
Isa nodded, seeing the Mourn Watcher he had been speaking to. She looked a little surprised to be addressed, but she smiled and waved before walking towards them.
“Isa, Lucanis, this is my teaching assistant, Wysteria Ingellvar. She’s looking to become a professor here, as well,” Emmrich explained as the woman dipped her head.
“Teri is fine, though,” she informed, glancing between the Crows. “The professor speaks of you two often. Never thought I would ever get to meet you.”
“Why not?” Isa asked, amused by the remark.
“Very few people can say they’ve met a Crow personally like this, let alone two. I just assumed that I would just hear the stories,” Teri explained with a shrug.
“I suppose,” Lucanis chuckled.
“I promise we aren’t as scary as people think we are,” Isa reassured.
“You literally kill people for a living,” Teri stated, confused.
“But we don’t kill indiscriminately, and most of my kills have been in self-defense,” Isa pointed out, looking to Emmrich for back up.
“A fair point,” the professor admitted. “You’re more likely to receive a meal from these two than a threat, anyway.”
“Zia is safe,” Manfred nodded.
“Zia? I thought you said your name was Isa?” Teri asked, making Isa chuckle.
“Zia is Antivan for aunt. Zia Isa. Manfred found it easier to say when he first started speaking, and it was when everyone was still calling me Isabella. It was a lot of syllables,” the Crow explained.
The Mourn Watcher smiled in understanding. Isa was glad to find that Teri was taking them in stride, especially with Lucanis and Spite next to her. While they were a fascinating subject, he still created fear in so many.
“I appreciate you two making the trip out here for the lecture, though. I know it was asking a lot of you,” Emmrich mentioned as they turned towards him.
“Spite was looking forwards to it, at least,” the Talon exhaled.
“He was rather animated during the lecture,” Teri added with a nod. “I didn’t think that a spirit could be so animated or excited. It was very interesting.”
“I wish he would calm down once in a while,” Lucanis admitted.
“But he doesn’t stay in your head, though, right?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean he stays quiet when he’s outside my head.”
“That’s very interesting,” Teri whispered before she shook her head. “Sorry. I promise I don’t see you as a study or a project. I just find your experience unique, I swear.”
“As long as you don’t start asking me to jump through hoops or ask me to do any tricks, I suppose it’s fine,” Lucanis smirked, trying to play it off.
Isa touched his arm, knowing that he was having a difficult time with everything going on at the moment. Lucanis glanced at her, hoping to reassure her with a look.
“I was hoping to show you a little bit of Nevarra City, if you two were interested or had time. I know that life of the First Talon is demanding at times,” Emmrich mentioned, stepping in.
“I’m sure we can disappear for one evening without everything falling apart,” Isa reassured.
Lucanis only nodded, not wanting to come across as rude. He was glad that they weren’t in the Necropolis at least, but he wasn’t thrilled to be in Nevarra still. It was still too close for his comfort, and he preferred to be in Antiva regardless. But he had to admit that he hadn’t spent any time in Nevarra City, and it would be interesting to see the sites.
“I think you should. Nevarra City has a surprisingly active nightlife, and there’s plenty for the professor to show you,” Teri grinned, preparing to make an exit.
“You are coming as well, aren’t you, Miss Ingellvar?” Emmrich asked, startling her. “You are more than welcome to.”
“As long as you don’t mind spending time with two foreign assassins,” Isa teased with a wink. “I promise I won’t bite.”
“She won’t poison your food, either,” Lucanis added in a more serious tone.
Teri stared at him for a second longer than she usually would before she nodded slowly, thinking about it. It had been a while since she had gone out with colleagues or friends, and it would be interesting to get more stories about the Crows.
“I’m not sure what to say to that, but sure, I’ll join you for the evening,” Teri replied. “I don’t have plans, and I’m not expected for my next lecture until tomorrow morning.”
“Splendid!” Emmrich grinned, clasping his hands together. “I will gather my things from my office, and I will meet you at the front.”
“I can show you out,” Teri offered before Isa dipped her head politely.
Teri grabbed her bag, and led the two Crows out the door, leading them down the hall. She greeted a few students as they went, not missing the widening eyes as they saw who was behind them. While they had dressed more formally, their Antivan style still made them stick out like sore thumbs. Isa guessed that rumors about their presence had spread throughout the university, which drew attention to them now.
Isa managed to ignore most of the stares, smiling when she made eye contact with a student. Most of them looked like they were going to faint from fear or panic, and she supposed that was the reputation the Crows had garnered over the years. She just hoped that she didn’t cause any issues for Teri for being seen with the First Talon and his fiancée.
Teri, however, was worried for a different reason. She was concerned that the two Crows were feeling overwhelmed or irritated by the unwanted attention. She had heard from Emmrich that they preferred to remain under the radar, which was definitely the opposite of what was going on at the moment. However, they were professionals, and Teri was positive that they wouldn’t kill a student just for looking at them wrong. At least, she really hoped not.
“So, Teri,” Isa began, catching the Mourn Watcher’s attention. “Emmrich mentioned you were his teaching assistant. Are you looking to become a professor as well?”
“Eventually, yes. I would be happy just to teach, but one day I’d like to have the expertise and knowledge that Volkarin possesses,” Teri answered, slowing a little so she could walk next to the Crow. Lucanis stayed behind them, taking a more bodyguard type position.
“I don’t think you would find a better teacher than Emmrich, but I might be biased,” Isa chuckled. “But what are you hoping to teach? Are you looking to teach about spirits and metaphysics of the Fade like the professor?”
“Did you take Emmrich’s class?” the Watcher wondered, surprised by her knowledge.
“We talked about his specialties while I worked with him. He mentioned that those were his specialties at one point, and he works it into his magic. I saw it a lot back then,” the Crow explained before gesturing towards Teri. “You didn’t answer my question, though, amica.”
“I would like to focus on the spirits of the Necropolis, but yes, I would imagine our fields would overlap,” Teri replied, curious about the word she used.
“Have you been to the Necropolis? I am not sure how accessible it is in general,” Isa asked, keeping her voice a little lower. She didn’t need the students staring aware of what she was asking.
“Of course I have,” Teri chuckled with a smile. “Every Mourn Watcher has a duty to guard and upkeep the Grand Necropolis.”
“Ah,” Isa nodded, understanding better. “Another distinction between Mortalitasi and the Mourn Watch?”
“I see you have spoken with Volkarin quite a bit.”
“There was a lot of down time when we worked together.”
“What did you work together on, though? There haven’t been many times that the Mourn Watch has worked with the Crows, and I can’t imagine why a Crow of your status would work with a professor. With Dellamorte, I could understand given his situation, but what were you working with him on?” Teri asked, turning to Isa.
The Crow tilted her head a little, seeing the gears turning in the Watcher’s head. Isa took a deep breath, knowing that the Watcher wanted her to admit to it rather than accusing her of it.
“You seem to already know,” Isa teased with a smirk.
“Having your confirmation would affirm my suspicions,” Teri countered calmly.
“You would make a great negotiator if teaching doesn’t meet your expectations,” the Crow laughed.
Teri grimaced at the idea of working for a group of assassins. Although she couldn’t imagine working with Isa would be boring or a negative experience. Isa hummed, lifting her shoulders.
“I worked with Emmrich during the fight against the Evanuris, as I’m sure you already suspected. I met him through connections my team made, just like I met Lucanis,” Isa answered as Teri hummed. “I would give the name I used during the war, but I am afraid that I don’t use that name publicly anymore, and there are many wandering eyes and listening ears at the moment.”
“I understand your meaning,” Teri replied with a half-smile. “But you confirmed my suspicions, at least. Many thought you had died after the battle, you know. You vanished without a trace.”
“Well, that was the plan. I didn’t want to be bombarded by the world over with invitations to gatherings and be consulted about things I didn’t know about,” Isa answered before sighing. “I think we all saw how Lavellan was thrust into the spotlight like she was, and I didn’t want the same fate for me. If something threatens the world like that again, I am willing to help, but I don’t want to be looked to as a leader.”
“Is it true what the rumors say about Lavellan?”
“Depends on the rumors.”
“That she’s protecting the Veil with the Dread Wolf?” Teri asked, looking at the Crow.
Isa thought for a moment before nodding.
“I think so. That’s what it looked like to me. Solas and the Inquisitor entered the Veil to keep it sealed and safe, but I don’t know what happened after they vanished. I couldn’t even tell you if they still live, or if they gave their lives to the Veil,” Isa answered, folding her arms. “But she loved the Wolf, and I can’t fault her for that. I have my reservations, as I’m sure most people do, but I can’t pass judgment on her. It’s not my place.”
“To find love that strong is rare, I think,” Teri hummed.
It wasn’t often that you heard about people leaving their lives behind to follow someone beyond potential death just for a chance to be with them for eternity. It sounded more like a fairy tale than anything else. Teri fought the urge to look behind her when she heard a firm grunt behind her. It sounded like Lucanis firmly disagreed with Isa, but not enough to voice his opinion at the moment.
It wouldn’t surprise Teri if Lucanis had wanted to kill the Dread Wolf and be done with it. Volkarin had talked of the Fade Prison and that his leader had been trapped there for weeks. Teri didn’t need to be a genius to deduce that Solas was nearly a dead man once Isa was out of the Fade Prison.
“I would advise caution if someone were feeling that strongly about someone else, though. While it could be love, I always wondered if it is something more akin to obsession or something similar,” Isa mentioned to Teri, surprising the Watcher.
“I’m surprised to hear that from you,” Teri commented before she could hold her tongue. Isa lifted her shoulder, unaffected by her words.
“I’ve seen some strange things happen in the name of love due to my profession. Both good and bad, mind you. I’ve seen people saved and killed. I’ve seen lives ruined and sustained. It all depends on intention and self-awareness, I believe,” the Crow answered. “More people who are willing to step into the Fade with their significant other are dealing with obsession and fear rather than love.”
“That’s a cynical way of looking at things,” Teri replied, staring at the Crow.
“Just be mindful. That’s all I mean.”
“You sound almost worried about me.”
“Only because it sounded like you were romanticizing what happened between Solas and Lavellan. While it does make a pretty love story, Solas was thousands of years old and Lavellan was barely forty. They hadn’t seen each other in nearly ten years, as well,” Isa pointed out.
“You really don’t think it was love?”
“I am not sure they had the time to know if they were sure or not if it was love. What I did know was that the Veil was shattering, and we needed Solas to fix it.”
Teri paused in the hallway for a second, staring at Isa. The Crow turned to the Watcher before Teri started to walk again.
“You let Lavellan sacrifice herself, then.”
“Yes,” Isa answered before Lucanis stepped forward.
“Sacrifice is a harsh word for what happened,” he regarded.
“The ending was the same, though. The chances Lavellan can return are null if she ever changes her mind, and she will likely die wherever she ended up, if she can die,” Isa explained with a sigh. “If the situation hadn’t been as dire, I would have tried to reason with her out of it. However, Morrigan was there as well, and I know that Morrigan feels just as guilty as I do.”
“Is that the reason why you haven’t replied to the Archon’s letters?” Lucanis wondered.
Isa stopped in the hallway before turning to him for a moment. Her expression was unreadable as he stared at her. Teri paused, unsure what this meant. Surely they weren’t going to do anything rash in the middle of the hallway, right? The mention of the Tevinter Archon hadn’t missed her notice, though.
“One of them,” Isa hissed before shaking her head. “But we can’t talk about it when we aren’t in public, Luca.”
“Mhm,” Lucanis hummed, telling Teri that he didn’t expect them to talk about it at all.
“I didn’t realize you knew the Archon,” Teri mentioned, almost pulling them down the hallway. A part of her hoped that Emmrich would catch up with them sooner rather than later.
“I met him in passing a few times before he became Archon. He was just a part of the fighting force we worked with in Tevinter,” Isa answered, turning to the Mourn Watcher. “He happened to be close to a few people that I knew.”
“Oh?” Teri replied, unable to hide her surprise. “I didn’t expect a Crow to have such a wide network of friends and acquaintances. It’s rather impressive.”
“I was exiled from the Crows at the time. Hardly impressive for an assassin,” Isa countered with a laugh. “But thank you, I appreciate that. The person who hired me after my exile was the one to introduce me to the people who had connections. I just happened to meet everyone thought that initial team.”
“Oh, yes, Varric, right? Volkarin mentioned that he had hired you and a few others at the start of everything,” Teri mentioned with a nod, not noticing Isa’s slight flinch at the name. Lucanis nearly stepped in before the Watcher continued. “I met Varric once, a few years ago. He helped me with an undead rebellion, and he was able to convince a bunch of nobles against punishing me too harshly. They were going to send me on a sabbatical, but I ended up on crypt cleaning duty instead.”
“You... knew Varric?” Isa whispered in shock.
“I did. I was heartbroken to hear the news that Solas had killed him. But I did hear... that...” Teri started before her brain started to connect some dots.
She had been notified that there was supposed to be a memorial for Varric and those who had fallen during the fight against the Evanuris in Tevinter in the coming weeks. She had decided that it would be beneficial for her to go, and Emmrich had agreed, saying that he would gladly accompany her.
There would be a separate, more private ceremony for those who knew Varric, Lavellan, and Solas personally, which included those who had fought alongside them. Emmrich was going to bring her to the ceremony since she had fought alongside Varric, even if it had been before the gods had escaped.
However, this was likely the information that the Archon had been trying to reach Isa about and what she was ignoring.
Teri quickly cleared her throat, shaking her head. Isa turned to her with furrowed brows, concerned for the Watcher.
“Sorry, must have lost my train of thought,” Teri mentioned with a chuckle. “Sometimes my thoughts go too fast and I lose track of them. They get slippery, you know?”
“We have a friend who says the same thing,” Isa replied with a small smile. Teri could see the clear relief on her face.
“Oh? You should tell me about her then. I’d love to know if she has any tricks for catching those thoughts,” Teri mentioned as Isa laughed.
“Trust me, she’d love that forbidden knowledge, too,” Isa replied, walking a little closer to Teri as they nearly reached the front of the school.
