\starttext

\placeinitial \input ward \par \input ward \par

\placeinitial \input tufte

\defineinitial
  [variant]
  [location=text,
   n=2,
   color=darkred,
   distance=-1em,
   hoffset=1em,
   before=\blank]

\placeinitial[variant] \input ward \par \input ward

\placeinitial[variant] \input tufte

\placeinitial[variant] \input tufte

\stoptext

