therookery | weighed and measured in kind

weighed and measured in kind

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Thranduil
RECIPIENT: A L L
WHAT: Please don't riot about the phylacteries. (yet)
WHEN: Post-negotiations.
WHERE: Gallows!
NOTES: After this. Specifically, after Iorveth does a property damage and before anyone else can try that.

[ thranduil's voice is tight, if still somehow pleasant: ]

I understand that there are a great number of questions and concerns at the moment regarding the Inquisition's proposed policy of phylacteries for Rifters.

If there are concerns that anyone would wish to make known through official channels, the Research Division has been appointed to handle the research of this new, proposed policy. [ very pointed stressing. ] My office is where it has always been, and any concerns should be turned into the box reserved for correspondence of that nature.

I would remind all Rifters that we are yet considered a single unit. [ remember the curfew? ] That poor behavior will affect all of us- indeed, anyone currently afflicted with a Shard. I would advise them that this is never as true as it is now, and that consequences for actions taken in the heat of the moment are the same as those made when rational.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Evenin' ya'll. Now I don't know exactly what I dropped into here, but I'll tell you this appros of nothin'. If you're gonna try to force me to make some kinda soul jar, well, we're gonna have some words. I just came from a place where we're fighting a war over what constitutes a person, and have to say, seems like you're not really on the right side of that argument.

Secondly, since when do we have a cerfew? Haven't been following one of those, but if we're bein' accused of something that merits an imprisonment, well, see previous statement bout treatin' people with equal rights.

Unless, of course, equal rights isn't something that exists here, in which case, well...lets just cross that bridge when we come to it.

We have had a curfew for several months. Who is your division head? I will ensure they discuss the intricacies of Thedas with you shortly.

[ now that that's handled. ~~what's a soul jar. it sound like what it is, probably.~~ ]

Thedas is currently in the middle of several wars. You will find that what occurred in your home is rather irrelevant to the events here.

Well, first of all, I don't have a division head. I don't have a division either.

And secondly. Don't pretend that you know me, or my history. My country is currently in the middle of a 20 year war over a group of people who believed that people had certain rights, all people, and another group that thought of people as things to be owned and traded and punished how they saw fit. So don't talk down to me just cause I fell through a rift and you were born here.

And while I'm sure you consider your wars very violent and thrilling, but come talk to me when you lose 50,000 men in 2 days. And then half of them get up again and start tearing the survivors to shreds.

If I may, goodlady, it seems you have been woefully undereducated about Thedas and the politics at play here. I'm a Rifter who's been trying to come up with a welcome packet of sorts, and in so doing have learned a lot about our new home. Would you allow me to clarify some things for you?

❰ slightly stilted, stiff, overly formal speech — for adalia, anyway, because she's usually sort of a brat but this is serious and she wants it to be taken as such. ❱

Sure, I'll take some clarification. But seems like some of the politics here are ringing familar. Can you give me the abbriged version?

Certainly. The abridged version is this: the mages of Thedas have been kept in Circles, places of magical education and, some would say, imprisonment, for many hundreds of years. As part of this, an item called a phylactery is made with their blood. It bears no resemblance to the soul jars you spoke of, but is equally as offensive to some: a mage's phylactery may be used to track the mage across great distances, and to cast spells on them remotely. In effect, any mage with a phylactery can never be truly free, nor can they be entirely certain of their safety.

These past few weeks, a delegation of mages were abroad in the Inquisition's main base of Skyhold, negotiating for their freedom from the phylacteries. While they were somewhat successful in their attempts, a condition of their success was the consideration of phylacteries for Rifters — i.e. yourself, me, and everyone like us. We would be forever traceable, and susceptible to remote magic, in much the same way the Circle mages were. So while the situation is not ideal, it bears none of the more gruesome dangers of your home.

Does that make sense of the issue for you, or do you require that I elucidate the matter further?

Alright. Let me see if I understand, and I do have a few questions.

These mages are kept in a gilded cage, and then are forced to give some of their blood so people can track and cast spells on them remotely. Meaning at any point, they could be hit with a touch of death spell.
Recently, the mages got an aggrement to destroy their phylacteries, but part of the deal was that us, the rifters would be considered for phylacteries. That sound right?

Now for my questions.
First, are you born a mage here or is it something you learn that anyone could become?
Second, why are we even being considered for phylacteries, a lot of rifters arn't mages.
Third, who made the deal to consider us for phylacteries as part of the deal with the mages?

I don't believe there to be a "touch of death" spell here, but other than that, yes, you understand correctly.

As to your questions, mages are born here, and no one without the natural aptitude can learn magic. Rifters are under consideration for phylacteries because we are misunderstood by the general population of Thedas, and seen as unknown elements not to be trusted. Whether it is possible for Rifters to have phylacteries made remains to be seen, but the general idea is that for as long as we are here, no one can trust that we won't use our abilities against the natives, and since that is so, we must be monitored carefully. As for the third question, I'm not certain. The mages say they fought against it, and I'm inclined to believe them, so that leaves the Templars or the Chantry.

Templars are mage-hunters, who used to work for the Chantry. They believed they were being treated unfairly, and were underappreciated, by the Chantry, and so they left it, going into war with the mages. The Chantry is the majority religion of Thedas, the teachings of which influence much of its politics and laws. Either of them could see us as demons, and push for our phylacteries.

Does all that make sense?

It makes sence. But that dosn't mean I'm happy about the explanation.

It seems to me like y'all are saying that people through no reason then the accident of birth are tossed into these cages and forced to make these phylacteries. They recently managed to regain some aspects of their liberties, but now, mage-hunters or religious types are trying to paint us as less than human. Or person, beggin' your pardon if you happen to not be human.

You said before this didnt bear any of the gruesome dangers of my home. I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. This is lookin mighty familar, slaves caught in perpetual servitude at the will of their masters. Very familar indeed.

I merely meant the use of the phylacteries themselves bore none of those dangers. Whatever you think of the current state of Thedas and its similarities to your home, that's up to your own understanding of both.

You understand the situation correctly, however. You don't have to be happy about it, or think it's right, but that's the situation as it stands, and we need each and every Rifter to understand our position so that none of us works against the best interests of the whole. Which means that whatever you believe about how right phylacteries are or not, we can't be perceived to be dangers of any kind, or we will just be adding fuel to the Templars' fire. Understand?

❰ don't be a moron fomenting outright rebellion, essentially. quietly fomenting rebellion, sure. adalia's working on the same. but be quiet for now. ❱

Yah, I get you. Keep your head down, don't make them angry, dont give them a reason. Dunno. Guess it's a talent to be patient. To wait for just the right moment, and then act. Never been good at it myself.

But I get ya. Don't like it, but I get ya.

No one has asked you to like it. Be patient, plan for the worst, but don't make things worse for us than they need to be.

Oh, and if you would — if there's a concept, or a word, or anything that people are throwing around here that you don't absolutely know for sure the meaning of, please contact myself, the Provost, the former Ambassador, anyone who has been here longer and has a better grasp of the various elements at play here. Spreading misinformation is just as deadly to our cause as speaking publicly of all the various ways we are all capable of murdering those who come for our blood.

❰ she heard you talking about soul jars to that clueless woman, NOT COOL. ❱

So...are you saying I should'nt have shown that elf blacksmith my rifle and bullets and asked he could build me more?

Assuming that a rifle is a weapon — if you did it in person, away from prying eyes, and did not alert any natives to your plan, that was fine.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

weighed and measured in kind

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