therookery | Wands and Staffs.

FORM: Crystal.
SENDER: Newt Scamander.
RECIPIENT: Everyone with a crystal, though the message itself is directed toward fellow magic users/mages in particular.
WHAT: Wizards and mages and their proper tools.
WHEN: Early Justinan/June, after the Grand Tourney.
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Unintentional (and otherwise) sexual innuendo, magic talk, Newt making an unintentional fool of himself (but what else is new?), etc. Will add more warnings if they become necessary. There is probably a good chance this post will not be safe for work.

[Trying desperately not to think about the recent news about the phylacteries, Newt mostly focuses on his own work in the Research division. But during his down time, his mind yet lingers on the uncomfortable possibilities of said recent news, and so he tries to distract himself by sating his own curiosity about something he's happened to notice about the native mages in Thedas.]

Hello all! Pardon me if I'm not using this crystal device correctly; it's, oddly enough, more advanced than some of the Muggle technology from my own home.

If we haven't yet met, my name is Newt Scamander, and I'm a rifter. [A brief pause as he considers what he wants to say next. Perhaps it isn't wise to announce himself as a rifter with magic so openly, but, frankly, he would like to reach out and connect with others with magic, to get himself familiar with the magic of this world if he can help it. It's much preferable to dwelling on the phylacteries, after all.]

A wizard rifter, to be precise, and so this message is mostly geared towards mages and others with magic themselves, particularly those native to Thedas.

And because it must be said, no, this message is not about phylacteries of any kind.

I can't help but notice that you lot use staffs to conduct your magic instead of wands. I just wanted to know: what is it like using such large tools to do so? Do not get me wrong, the staff work I have seen so far has been very impressive. And they are very neat-looking, and seem to make for good weapons, especially for hitting things. But they also seem so unwieldy? And a pain to carry around everywhere. Do you charm them to make them lighter?

I myself use a wand, which is much smaller and of a different kind of build. Perhaps, if you would be willing, we might compare our instruments some time?

[Newt says all of this with a completely straight face, entirely unaware of how he sounds. He is genuinely curious, and he's engaged with some very interesting conversations through these sending crystals before. He looks forward to the responses, though he can't yet know how they might turn out.]

Honestly, the magic of this world is fascinating, and I look forward to learning more about it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, I hope you get the chance to. I could never teach myself; I certainly don't have the patience for it. But I think we could always use more teachers, especially those who actually want to teach.

[Newt wouldn't be surprised if the Inquisition did start recruiting actual children.]

I suppose it will depend what the world looks like for mages, post-Corypheus. But I hope so too.

Do you specialize in any particular sort of magic, yourself?

I hope better than it currently is. [He would say more on the topic, but he's also hyper aware of the current situation and so restrains himself to that simple sentence.]

Well, I mostly use my magic in relation to my research on magical creatures. I wouldn't say I specialized in any branch in particular, not the way the mages here do.

Probably should work more on honing offensive spells, though. Given the...vast amounts of demons.

Not an unfair observation. If you'd ever like to compare notes, I'm always happy to chat magical theory.

Also don't forget the Darkspawn and the Tevinter cultists. You may want a few different self-defense options.

Really? I would appreciate that very much, if you wouldn't mind. I'd like to better understand the magic of this world for myself. Both for practical reasons and because I'd truly like to know more for my own curiosity.

Right. The undead and the cults. I knew I was leaving out several forms of evil somewhere.

Any recommendations for those two in particular?

Aim for the head.

[Without hesitation, though not a joke. To elaborate:]

Darkspawn don't stop coming unless you put them down totally. Head's the fastest way, especially because they can heal anything that's not fatal, sometimes within a few minutes. I've less direct experience with the Venatori, but as far as I've heard, they're mostly human. Fanatical, and sometimes quite powerful, but still vulnerable to the same things most of us are.

Most mages here can give you the basics of magical combat, though I've probably fought more Darkspawn than most who aren't Wardens. Wardens know much more, of course, but they aren't great for teaching non-Wardens how to fight Darkspawn, unfortunately. They have access to tools the rest of us don't. But I'll teach you what I know, if you like. Even if you've no plans to be on the front lines, some basic self-defense is sensible.

Duly noted. I didn't realize the Darkspawn could heal themselves. That must be...frustrating to deal with, especially as they come in droves, if I understand what I've read on Darkspawn so far.

I would like that, actually. I would like that very much. I suspect we're all going to end up on the front-lines sooner or later, given the state of things. I'd rather be prepared than not, and given that my magic isn't what it would be back home, I will take all the help I can get.

The Grey Wardens, their whole purpose is to fight Darkspawn?

Yes. There's a lot about the Gray Wardens that the rest of us aren't allowed to know but... I've seen them fight Darkspawn. They're very good at what they do.

Let me know when it's a good time, and perhaps we can talk theory over a meal? Before we jump straight into lessons.

I can only imagine it must be...weary, to say the least, to fight so many of the same creatures day after day.

I would like that very much! I believe I have some spare time next week, during the afternoon, if that works for you?

That should work well. I'll look forward to it.

Good. I look forward to it as well.

Wands and Staffs.

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