#ldr codex

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Ooooo A letter from an enemy regarding Rook?

🫡 Thank you for asking!

My Dear Viago,

Greetings from Seleny; the weather is simply gorgeous here in the summers. I do hope you are faring as well in Salle.

I’ve been asked to write to you regarding a matter of discussion amongst some of the Talons. They have recently expressed concern about a certain member of your House, who is known for their unorthodox methods. I believe you know of whom I speak.

The others have found that this agent— while often as efficacious as you say— can be disruptive. They seldom carry out orders as directed. Their technique, while impressive, lacks discipline. Surely, House de Riva does not wish to be represented by such an indecorous individual. I can say for certain that your predecessor would never have allowed it.

We wish to extend our assistance (should it prove necessary) in removing this cowbird from your nest, so to speak. I have heard that the weather in Ventus is beautiful this time of year-- perhaps they might enjoy a sojourn in the Imperium? I can arrange it.

Do let me know if the thought appeals.

Yours Most Sincerely,

Emil Kortez, Fourth Talon

BONUS:

Emil,

It does not.

— Viago de Riva, Fifth Talon

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15! Rook’s packing list for travel to a quest location

Thanks for asking! The Rook Codex ask game is [here]! Have answered 2, 3, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 26, 30, plus 24 and 28 have been asked (in process!)

Bring to Treviso

Snake (from Rivain, killed a man)

Snake (from Arlathan, came out of portal)

Snake (from Anderfels, nearly killed me. Venom very painful. Good effort— naming him Solas)

Snake (found in cave, NO EYES! Yes, very venomous)

Flesh eating beetles (borrowed from Necropolis, could have many practical applications)

Enchanted card deck (Jacobus)

Package from Vyrantium (red dress, Teia)

Package from Minrathous (PRIVATE, Teia)

Package from Val Royeax (art, Viago)

New chair (appropriated from Venatori. Enchanted? Maybe gives people bad luck? Test in Diamond)

Embellished cutlass (Jacobus)

Snake (from the OCEAN! Can swim! Went blind temporarily when bitten)

Order + Payment (from Emmrich, to art dealer)

Wax (zipline maintenance)

Assortment of cheeses (Imported, Dellamorte estate)

Good Blade of Mercy replica (to sell)

Terrible Blade of Mercy replica (to present as vaguely threatening gift, Ivenci)

Small fuzzy animal (Found in desert. Have on good authority they hate/attack Antaam. No teeth or claws? Unsure if effective weapon. Propagates VERY quickly)

Deepstalker venom glands

Giant spider venom sacks, if available

Knife (from dead politician, Teia)

Knife (from dead Venatori, Teia)

Snake (Blighted?? Antoine says be VERY careful)

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Rook’s notes on the Lighthouse/Caretaker for the codex ask!

Thank you for asking! [Codex prompts here] These are very fun so far!

- This place is alive? Moves to accommodate guests, changes layout. Many places accessible using acrobatics. Some inaccessible currently (tried, dangerous).

- Seems to have assigned me Fish Room. Think they are watching me (good?). Able to rearrange furniture but not request more. Annoying.

- Solas lived here? Depressing. No wonder he’s so miserable. Found weird, sad little room with his stuff in it. Going to ask him if he’s bored in the Fade Jail next time. Maybe he will be less annoying if he has something to do? Can try to mentally recreate books, maybe.

- There’s a. Ghost? Demon? Spirit? Asked Bellara, she says spirit. Very turquoise, many eyes, bad clothes (do spirits wear those? Ask Solas). Seems helpful? Provides gondola rides and is more polite than gondoliers in Treviso. And it’s free!

- Spirit is in Lighthouse now. Very cryptic, even more than Solas. Wonder if that was a requirement in Arlathan (ask Solas). Still not dangerous. Seems to help with accessing new parts of Lighthouse. Asked why I couldn’t just go everywhere now, got vague nonsense. Ugh.

- Should bring random Crows + civilians here to see if it does anything. Viago? Might be funny!

- Found out Library is covered in depressing murals of things Solas regrets. Probably impolite to bring up. Does he like being miserable? I don’t cover my walls with all the missions I fucked up. Strange, sad, bald man. Going to ask him if he wants to play cards next time. Maybe letting him win would cheer him up.

- Manfred is my new best friend. We’re exploring the Lighthouse together.

- Who’s Felassan?

- Solas says to stop contacting him about unimportant things (no).

- Spent indeterminate amount of time trying to convince Lighthouse to replicate animal habitats. Did not work and Davrin looked concerned.

- Was having Davrin show me how to carve animals (looks fun) but got distracted by Assan and impaled my hand. Davrin was upset about this. Said it was fine, but he insisted we visit Emmrich. Discovered Lighthouse speeds magical healing. Worth it.

- If I start bringing cats here will it make a room for them?

- Tried bringing cats. One almost floated away. Do NOT bring Neve’s favorite.

- Bellara and I were using the magical floating ornaments above her room for target practice, and one of them suddenly exploded! Practical applications?

- How come no one else ever visits Varric? Tried to ask Harding if she’d been to see him, but she didn’t hear me? Strange. Visit more-- maybe others will come with? He must be lonely in there.

- Remember to ask Solas if he needs to eat. Think I could manifest Lucanis’ paella if I tried hard enough.

- Taash and I are going to try and build some traps. Borrowed explosives from Antoine. Think Lighthouse is sentient enough to identify intruders if I talk to it.

- Tried to ask the fish about Solas. Maybe they saw him while he was here?

- One of the wisps left Neve’s room suddenly, so we followed it around-- they are DEFINITELY the ones moving people’s stuff. Also maybe causing books to appear? Neve says we need more evidence.

- Emmrich said Harding made the plants grow because she loved them (of course she did). Going to ask her to make me taller via caring about me.

- Sat in the pantry for a while trying to talk the Lighthouse into manifesting a new bed for Lucanis, now that Spite isn’t a problem. Convinced nobody can sleep on that thing. No luck. Try carrying couch from library?

- MANY, LOUD objections to Taash and me building traps. Still think it could work, but promised Davrin I’d return explosives. No one here lets me have any fun (except Taash, Bellara, and Spite).

- Spent a while trying to see if the Lighthouse would let Harding move any of the giant floating chunks of rock. Also attempted exploding arrows + asking politely. No luck.

- Emmrich brought Johanna’s skull here! Amazing! Asked Emmrich to carry my skull around with him after I die so I can see new stuff. Did not understand the reasons he said he couldn’t. Will keep bothering him.

- Friends keep leaving things in my/the fish’s room. Need more drawers.

- Lace says Taash and Bellara can put up memorials to Cyrian and Shathann in her garden, if they want. Think it’s a good idea. Emmrich agrees.

- Made it to the top of the Lighthouse! Made Assan promise not to tell the others how to get up there. Reminds me of the rooftops in Treviso.

- Makes sense now, why Varric never got his own room. Going to put his stuff in Lace’s garden. I think she would have liked that.

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@pixiedurango also asked for #28 on the Rook Codex Entry ask game! Thank you!

I have answered: 2, 3, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30

This one is for all Rooks everywhere lol

ATTENTION!!

Companies operating within the purview of the NORTHERN THEDOSIAN SHIPPING CONSORTIUM are advised to keep watch for an individual calling themselves ROOK. They have been sighted in ports and markets throughout Northern Thedas violently destroying the property of member companies. Surveyors estimate they have caused over 105,851 gold in damages via wanton destruction of CRATES, BARRELS, ASSORTED POTTERY, and MISCELLANEOUS CARGO. Members are advised that ROOK is armed— DO NOT APPROACH! This is a DANGEROUS individual! If sighted, members are advised to contact the local authorities*. ROOK has been demonstrated to act with especial prejudice against members associated with the following groups:

- VENATORI

- ANTAAM

- OLD GODS

- TEMPLAR ORDER (KIRKWALL)

The NORTHERN THEDOSIAN SHIPPING CONSORTIUM cannot be held liable for any damages incurred to member property as a result of this individual’s interference, or as a result of association with the aforementioned groups.

* Assistance of local authorities has sometimes proven ineffective.

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30 for the codex prompts, if you want! Love the others. Your Rook is amazing.

Yay, thank you for asking!! 30 on the [Rook Codex Prompts]: A note/letter that Rook never sent

2, 16, 17, 21, 26, 30 are asked/answered! Thank y’all! Having lots of fun— send more if you want!

An unsent letter to Viago:

Viago,

You fucking bastard,

When I get back there I’m going to fucking stab you

You son of a bitch, I’m re-labeling all your poisons when I get home

I’m kidnapping your snakes.

I will rearrange your goddamn notes in reverse chronological order and then hide a specific page from you

I’m sorry

Who even fucking cares if ONE operation was compromised, what was I supposed to do, let them enslave people?

Why didn’t you back me up? I needed you, and you

How’s the fucking weather

In Fereldan. Very brown, many dogs. Extremely large selection of cheeses.

Varric and Harding are incredibly… nice? Enough to make you suspicious. They keep stopping to help random people. I don’t know how we are ever expected to find the target like this, but Varric seems convinced it will be fine.

He is the Viscount of Kirkwall! At least when I fuck up I save important people? He complains constantly about it. Unsure if any benefits are conferred by the position or just miseries.

He also complains about:

The weather

Camping

Climbing any slope/hill/mountain

Being underground

The Dwarven Merchants’ Guild

The Nobility in Kirkwall

The layout of Kirkwall

The Chantry in Kirkwall

Kirkwall, generally

However, when I suggested he should abdicate & leave he was appalled. Reminded me of you.

I miss

Am sure it is raining in Treviso, now. Remember Emil only likes to eat on Wednesdays. Don’t annoy Teia too much. Even you don’t deserve to suffer through what they consider coffee down here, so I won’t bring any back. (Or maybe I will— may be useful as poison.)

I am sorry about the Antaam. I know I fucked up. Please be careful of the other Talons while I’m gone, and don’t antagonize the Butcher without me. I know you’re disappointed, but do me a favor, anyway: please don’t die, Viago. I have no idea what I’d do without you.

All my love to the radiant Teia Cantori.

— L. de Riva

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@thevulturesquadron also asked for prompt 26 on the [Rook Codex Prompts]: A letter to Rook from a family member or close friend.

For Leth, that’s the VG, Teia, and Viago. We already have a Viago letter, so here’s Teia!

Thanks so much for asking! Prompts 2, 16, 17, 21, 26 asked/answered!

Leth,

Where in Thedas are you, and when are you coming home? Vi has been absolutely insufferable without you; I have had to throw him out of the Diamond three times in the last month. He’s furious you haven’t written back, and I may be, too, if you wait much longer.

I know he was angry, the day you left. He won’t say what happened. But you know how he is, Paloma; he was worried. He wanted to protect you. You were not there, but the other Talons were going to use it as an opportunity to get rid of you.

I know how Viago can be— I don’t blame you for ignoring him. I’m sure his letters have been… critical. But at least write back to me so we know you’re safe, Little Dove. I will send someone for you if you need it. He doesn’t have to know.

All my love,

Teia

P.S. Emil (the snake, not the dead man) has also been insufferable. Twice, he’s bitten someone Vi asked to take care of him. He only tolerates you. Come back before we run out of antivenin.

BONUS:

My Lady Teia,

Chasing down some friend of Varric’s who wants to end the world. Solas, he says. Never heard of him— Inquisition, apparently. Also, an actual god? Will believe it when I see it.

Headed into Tevinter (I know, and I’ll be careful). Don’t know when I’ll be back.

Miss basking in your luminous presence, etc., your Diamond, our Treviso, and Emil. He only likes brown mice. He’ll calm down a bit if you feed him on Wednesdays.

Yours in Eternal Devotion,

L. de Riva

P.S. Viago should also calm down if you give him his favorite food on Wednesdays and let him pet that orange cat at Café Pietra.

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Thank you for doing the Maker's work around here! <3 Also hope you feel better. If not: have a virtual blanket and tea. If you feel like it and haven't done them: codex prompts 24 and 28 for either your oldest Rook (old as in age)

24. A letter from Rook to a faction leader 28. Propaganda for or against Rook

Thank you! <3 Hopefully I will be able to sleep for more than 2 hrs eventually lol

The Rook Codex prompts are [here] ! Have answered 2, 3, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 26, 30, and I’m working on 28!

In the meantime, have 24! (I’ll do a separate post when I finish 28!)

Dear Myrna and VORGOTH,

It’s Rook. You remember— I deal with the hauntings. And the undead dragon, etc.

Emmrich said that you might be able to answer some of my questions about the Necropolis, since his voice gave out two hours ago. Here are the most pressing:

If someone is interred in the Necropolis and subsequently reanimated, can they then leave the Necropolis? For business reasons? Also, would they still be liable for any crimes they committed after their death?

Can you replace my skull with that of a large bird?

I have observed that there are MANY skeletons in the Necropolis who have weapons. Is that purposeful? Can I have weapons, as a skeleton?

Is the Mourn Watch interested in making a business arrangement with my employer? We do sometimes acquire extraneous skeletons.

How often do you need to feed the flesh-eating beetles? They only eat dead things, right? (URGENT)

The Necropolis moves. My house also moves, sometimes. Do you know how to get the Necropolis to follow instructions? The Lighthouse is very stubborn.

How many stairs are there in the Necropolis (best estimate)?

You may have noticed that I am excellent at re-killing the undead. Is that a job I can continue to have, as a skeleton?

Are the flowers in the garden magical? Do you need help growing them? Do you think we could grow them in the Fade?

How feasible is it to export large quantities of that spirit alcohol? Think they would love it in Antiva

Do you have any experience retrieving bodies from waterways? Do not want to to leave the Antaam corpses in the canals

If someone dies and then gets possessed by a demon, what is the most efficient way to kill them again? Need to settle an argument

VORGOTH, are you a ghost? Emmrich is too polite to ask.

Emmrich says you won’t answer this, but I’ll ask, anyway: Is the King of Nevarra alive? The First Talon would like definitive confirmation, either way

The skull of Johanna Hezenkoss says she left some of her books in the Necropolis, and that we can’t play her game unless she has them back. Do you know where they are?

Additional questions enclosed. Thank you for your time, &c.

[Five additional pages of questions are attached to the letter.]

L. de Riva

[Appended in a different hand]

P.S. My sincerest apologies if Rook has given any offense— please do not feel obligated to respond to this letter, and I shall do my best to divert any further questions from your desk. — Prof. E. Volkarin

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For the codex entry prompt 16 and if it’s already been answered 26!

Very fun, thanks for asking! Will probably go ahead and do 26, in a bit, as well! [Codex prompt list] 2, 16, 17, 21 asked/answered! (My canon for Leth is Neve/Rook/Lucanis, but this is not long enough after the game that they’ve gotten their shit together yet lol)

Lucanis,

Is asking about the weather a rich people thing? Viago always starts his letters to important people with that, too. The weather is terrible. It’s the middle of summer in the swamplands, what did you expect? (I refuse to ask about how it is in Treviso; we both know it’s raining.)

The swatches for the fourth sitting room you sent both look exactly the same. (Still don’t understand why you need more than one. How many people can possibly need to be sitting at the same time?) I didn’t even know ‘ecru’ was a color. You’re on your own, there.

If you were trying to get me to say I miss you, you only had to ask: I miss you. And your coffee and your handmade blankets and your crow skull cuff links. And the way you look at me when you think I’m being ridiculous (often). And your desserts, and how you insist we visit that specific fishmonger, and how excited you get when you talk about wyverns. Other things, too, but there’s only so much paper out here.

I keep telling you, you just need to talk to Illario. Viago and Teia both said they weren’t going to get in the middle of your problems this time, and I’m pretty sure they meant it. If you can’t, ask Spite to teleport you into his brain, or something. (Or wait until I get back. We’ll figure it out. Do NOT ask your grandmother, Maker’s sake. I know you love her but she definitely would not help with this situation.)

The job is going well. Would be easier if he hadn’t decided to flee across this fucking swamp. Tempted to poison him in retaliation, but honestly I’d just like to be finished.

Bringing back spices for you, collected serials for Bel (let her read them first, she’s been waiting), ironbark for Davrin, funerary urn for Emmrich and some weirdly magical rocks for Spite to play with. Still looking for presents for Neve, Taash & Manfred (have something in mind for Assan, already). Would appreciate your input?

Going to see if I can stop and visit my clan on the way back. Need more vallaslin ink. Ask Bellara and Davrin if they need anything they can’t get in the city or Arlathan, please.

Answer a question for me? Your right hand has a scar on the back of it— small one, sort of curved. Is it between the third and fourth knuckles, or the fourth and fifth? I can’t remember, and it’s messing up my sketches.

You will probably have sent five more letters by the time you get this one, but hopefully the length makes up for it.

I miss you. And Spite. Home soon— promise.

Yours,

L. de Riva