What measure is a mage?

[watchesandlistens]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Corvo
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: Corvo's not like the other girls mages
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Everywhere
NOTES: is a mage an animal, vegetable, or mineral?

[ The voice that speaks is low, gravelly. Not one often heard over the crystals, or around Skyhold in general. He's not the chattiest guy around. But he's curious. ]

I can use magic, but I would not consider myself a mage.

[ Pause. ]

Not that I have anything against mages. I simply...do not identify as one, particularly within the context of mages in this world.

[ Another pause, to let that sink in. Then he gets to the point. ]

How would you define a mage? Is everyone that's capable of magic truly to be considered one? Perhaps there should be a label for people who do not so easily fit into those categories--if one does not already exist.

Comments

[watchesandlistens]

Seeing in shades of gray is a common problem across worlds, it seems. Though Thedas isn't so bad. No one's tortured me for a confession to using magic and burned me at the stake, yet.

[ Then, thoughtfully: ]

But the day is still young.

[gatheringstorm]

Yeah, the bar isn't quite that low yet. Though if it had been pre-rebellion, you'd have been thrown into a Circle whether you wanted it or not. The Chantry doesn't like magic it can't control, so Tevinter mages, apostates, other assorted magic-using folks...we're all suspect.

[watchesandlistens]

They would be welcome to try, at least. [ Corvo's a slippery fucker, and from what he's seen, Templars don't expect the mages to come with nearly three decades of swordsmanship. ] I can see why they might be nervous. I've seen within my own world what malicious magic-users can do--and you're far more numerous, here.

Still, I haven't seen anyone here start up any mage assassin guilds.

[ ..........Hmmmm. It's not a terrible idea, if he could keep it from straying into maliciousness. ]

[gatheringstorm]

Not that I'm aware if, though maybe in Tevinter it's a thing. I'm sure the Crows employ mages, but that's not their defining trait.

And hey, most mages here are just trying to get by. Blood mages and demon summoners exist, but more often than not the mage you'll find just wants to keep to themselves, not fuck up everyone else.

[watchesandlistens]

It was a group, in my world. An unpleasant one, who used their magic to hurt innocent people.

[ There's a sharp edge to his voice, as he describes them. His dislike is more personal than just 'group of people paid to kill other people. ]

I suppose that's the difference between being born with magic, and having it gifted to you. Still, I can't blame anyone for being cautious. To a degree.

[gatheringstorm]

Lovely people. I hope you hurt them back.

There's 'cautious' and then there's the severe overreaction that is most of Chantry history. But now, with the Veil torn to shit, being cautious isn't such a bad thing. I just hate that it's come at a time when mage freedom is just being decided. What happens here and now will affect what treatment we all get later. Some assholes are always looking to spoil things for everyone else, and this will be no exception.