Right--they're a means to track a mage through her blood. They were used to catch southern mages who'd fled the Circle and casting a spell on one hits the mage it's tied to. The Inquisition had a cache of 'em it meant to hold on to; for the most part, we thought them better destroyed. A number of the Inquisition's mages refused to work until they were and sent a delegation to negotiate terms--with the Inquisition and the Chantry--for continued service.

One of the concessions they gave up was phylacteries might be made for rifters. Needless to say, our rifters weren't well-pleased with that and organized a delegation of their own. They succeeded in doing away with mandatory phylacteries for rifters in all but a few cases, as well as winning recognition as people with rights due them--and the Chantry's own acknowledgment you aren't demons.

In turn, the Inquisition's got to yield up all our research on the rifts and rifters, including details on any magic you've brought with you. And your fates are linked to ours, when all's said and done; what happens to mages will go for rifters if the Circles return.

[Honestly,] I don't know. And I'm not opposed to some kind of separation either, you've got to understand. My Circle was--is my family; the life suited me. But it didn't so many others, and--that was the least of the trouble.