crystal | closed to circle mages

[galvanising]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Nell, Kostos
RECIPIENT: Former Circle Mages in the Gallows
WHAT: Phylactery update, discussing a labor strike, business as usual
WHEN: After everyone is back from the Sunless Lands
NOTES: There's no "Circle mage" filter for the crystals; they're having to read off the names of everyone they know who might be one. But if your character has been reasonably open with the Inquisition about being a mage from a Circle, you can assume they're included.

Skyhold has ordered that the phylacteries recovered from the Seekers in the Storm Coast be locked up here in the Gallows until they choose what to do with them. Since they seem to be struggling to come to a decision, we thought we should help them by making clear to them where the mages of the Inquisition stand on this issue. To begin with, Kostos and I are drafting a letter to the leadership urging them to destroy these phylacteries and any others that come into the Inquisition's possession in the future, and we would like to be able to tell the advisors that the affected mages here in Kirkwall are in unanimous agreement, or near enough.

We'll be getting in touch with the mages in Skyhold and the other bases separately, and may speak with others in the wider community if further support seems needed, but since former Circle mages are the only people actually affected by this decision, we are the ones who should be making it.

[ Kostos—quiet, due to both internal conflict, a habit of following Nell's lead, and a natural disinclination to talk to large groups of near-strangers—breaks his silence to add, ] In the meantime, if everyone could refrain from doing anything hideously stupid that would remind people why they're useful, that would be… [ Good. You know. ] And we do need to know how you feel, and how strongly. There is a fine line between making threats and explaining consequences, and we can do our best to stay on the right side of it.

But we need to know how many of you will be willing to follow through if it becomes necessary to demonstrate to the Inquisition just how much they need us.

Comments

[dashing]

What benefits do you see to the continuation of the practice of phylacteries?

[hearher]

I think that goes to an extremely personal story, one I'm not sure I'm willing to share in such a public place...

The short of it is that I feel reassured knowing that if I ever lost control, someone would be able to find me and stop me - hopefully, before I hurt people.

[dashing]

I understand. ( She’ll not press. )

Your point is a valid one, but many times the phylacteries have been a source of fear, rather than comfort, especially in the wake of the Circles falling. Mages should be allowed the choice of whether to have such a thing made. If ever the Circles are restored, you could request a new one be made, rather than it being a matter all mages are bound by.

[hearher]

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the protection they provide to normal people though?

Maybe instead, what we need is an organization that we do trust to be in charge of them. If not the Inquisition then maybe something like, I dunno, a smaller collection of mages who have been vetted and that we know won't try to use them abusively?

[dashing]

Generally speaking, I would think that if I mage is causing harm, reputation will spread without a phylactery being necessary, and that may be enough to find them. From recent experience, the phylacteries were used to torment mages, and have been used to hunt those who simply wished to seek out a life separate from the Circles.

While I believe in the good that the Circles can do, and think they could become a great asset to mages should they be restored, I do not have the same faith in the phylacteries themselves.

[hearher]

And I've seen a damage a mage without one can do when she's clever enough to avoid discovery for years. The first full eleven years of my life, in fact, that's all that I could see.

I never want that to happen again.

But I also don't want my friends and other mages to be in danger so I can agree with what you're saying too, to a point. I don't want us to feel like we have to fear their use, but I do think we should think about alternatives before we plot to destroy the only protection we have now.

[dashing]

If a mage is so cunning and determined to be destructive, what is to say the Circle would ever have had a chance to craft a phylactery to begin with?

They have not proved sufficient to stop others from taking destructive paths... that is to say, I understand and appreciate your concern, but I've my doubts that phylacteries are the best option to stay hands and minds bent on destruction and harm.

[hearher]

Then what alternative are you suggesting?

I mean, I'm not saying the phylacteries are the best option either. I'm willing to listen to other ideas.

[dashing]

I've not a better solution immediately to hand, I am sorry to say. In the instance, as you say, of mages harming people, I do not disagree that it would be beneficial to have something at hand able to protect people I simply feel we should not be satisfied with something so much abused in the past, and that it should not be something turned against us so easily.

[hearher]

If we were able to come up with a way to protect the phylacteries from abuse, would you still want them replaced? I ask because if it's the item itself that you disagree with, or how easily it turns into a tool of abuse?