𝓗𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓡𝓲𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 [ a blot of ink here ]𝓲𝓼𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰?

[ It is elegant handwriting, if a bit uneven. Alexandrie's, for those who are familiar. ]

Greetings. For those I've not met, my name is Marcus. I'm with the Forces division.

[ Male, proper adult in tone and resonance, and a lilt to his accent that marks him as coming from Starkhaven. His manner is-- mannerly, measured, mild. ]

I also number among the mages here who have seen battle before. My skill as a combatant isn't my purpose for addressing anyone today, but we suffered an attack very recently that required quick response, and I have some thoughts.

[ There's a pause, as if to compile said thoughts before speaking to them. ]

As mages, we differ from other militant units in that someone entirely new to combat might exhert the same sheer power as a mage who is well trained and battle hardened. We also wield vastly different weapons, and such weapons can be made deadlier when wielded in combination and tandem. There are enemies some are better suited to face than others. The way in which we engage with a threat differs between each individual. This makes us difficult to corral, but potentially, extremely effective, and hard to predict.

I think we should take the opportunity to share between ourselves our areas of battle and magic expertise, and the things we are weak in. As for myself, I am predisposed towards wielding the elements of fire, rock, and smoke, with a little skill in defensive magics. I am late to learning how to engage an enemy without magic, and I would be glad to learn more.

I'd invite Rifters, too, who have magics of their own, to share what they can do, if they like. And train among us.

[ He could probably leave it there. But he adds-- ]

It's no small thing, to witness a mage overcome the way this stranger was. It was affecting for me as well, as it will be for others. The Circles, once, had an ability to handle such eventualities, in their customarily brutal manner. Whether it be today, or another day, I would welcome conversation between mages about what the future of such moments will be in a world without Circles. This moment, and many others.

My thanks.