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]

Well, no one's tried to set me on fire yet. [ Yet. ] But, I mean--honestly, most of the magic users in our world just validate all the negativity for them--us. Look at Daud. Look at Granny Rags. [ Not that he'd blame you if you'd rather not. ] I'm not like them.

--And I didn't worship at your shrines. I took the runes, and got ambiguous advice and bizarre appraisals of my actions. [ Despite his grumpy words, his tone is benevolently exasperated. ]

[extramural]

[ In contrast, the Outsider's tone is sharper, almost a reprimand. ]

Those are two examples. Is "two" your definition of "most", Corvo? Or could it be that the reason you do not wish to be called a mage is because you are guilty of thinking the same way that the Abbey, the Overseers, have taught the rest of the Empire to think?

Before I gave you my Mark, would you have turned in someone you suspected of magic? Would you have been appalled when you found Jessamine's secret room, her shrine to me?

Would you, if we were in our own world, fight against the abuses of the Abbey with the position you hold? Would it change you, to know that Daud regretted what he had done and fought an enemy who sought to make Emily no more than a puppet? That he fully expected to die at your hands but fought to save her anyway?

[ A pause, and his tone gentles. ]

For a man who is so grey, your views are still very black and white, Corvo.