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

[inagutterson]

D'you feel like whinging all the time? Because that's a big thing with mages. Speaking as someone from the one race that can't do any magic at all and has to listen to them going on and on and bloody on.

[extramural]

Oh, this ought to be interesting.

[ ]

You would be considered a witch of sorts even in our world, you know.

[gatheringstorm]

If you can cast magic, it doesn't matter if you consider yourself a mage or not. In Thedas, you'll be treated as one anyway, with all the baggage that brings. Shades of grey isn't something that this world excels at, as you might have guessed.

[circleprodigy]

I don't understand. Why would you not identify as a mage, when you use magic?

[Political issues aside, since that doesn't seem to be what he's getting at.]

[limier]

That's a new one.

[ she'd love to have seen someone try it ]

Pray tell — do you think it would work the other way around?

[alankazam]

Oh. Like rope tricks, juggling. [ A pause. ] I think there is a word for that.

[watchesandlistens]

[ Oh hey it's potato man. ]

I...don't think I 'whinge'. I try to avoid complaining, generally.

[ He just broods internally, thank you. ]

[watchesandlistens]

It's a serious question, you know.

[ He sounds indignant. As indignant as Corvo can sound, anyway. ]

I'm aware of what our world would call me. They would accuse me of worshipping you. [ Now he's even more indignant. ]

[extramural]

Did I imply that it wasn't?

People are not so different between the worlds. What makes you think that those of this one wouldn't call you 'mage' when those of our own would say 'witch'? Prejudice does not care about specifics, Corvo.

[ And now the Outsider is cheeky. ]

You did visit my shrines.

[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.

[watchesandlistens]

I was not born a mage, and it did not come naturally to me. It was gifted to me, and I suppose it could be taken away as easily.

[ But you'd have to be a real jerk to do that. Delilah. ]

Simply put, the magic is useful, but has not really changed my life. It feels like most people who are mages in this world...it is as much a part of their lives as their eyes. Though I would like to hear if this isn't the case for anyone here.

[provenforce]

Have you seen Templars in action? They use what I would say is magic, but aren't condemned as mages are.

This world's definition of mage is both maddeningly large and surprisingly narrow. I'm not a mage, though I have abilities that appear to the outside observer, as magic. I have been called a mage several times.

[There's a slight pause, before she adds grudgingly:]

I also carry a staff. Though I use it for hitting things, not casting spells.

[inagutterson]

[Dwarf, fuckin' rude you gross human also those were his family members.]

But do you really? Isn't this a stealth whinge? I've lived around humans, I know how you do.

[Better watch, Wardens like to think they've got the market cornered on that one.]

[meds4sale]

I do not think the people of this world care for such... nuance.

[Far be it for him to dictate to others how define themselves, but there were some realities that could not be denied.]

There is a saying about ducks that may apply.

[justice_is_blond]

You use magic, and many fools fear anyone who can use magic here. That's enough for them. Why does it matter that you not be called a mage?

[watchesandlistens]

Would someone incapable of magic be able to be called a mage? I suppose it depends on that definition.

I only recently acquired the ability to use magic. While I'm not sure it's possible in this world, the point stands.

[watchesandlistens]

...That's. Not quite what I'm talking about.

But maybe they'd like to be called mages? I wouldn't know.

[watchesandlistens]

I haven't seen it in person, but I know the general gist. It certainly seems like magic to me, they are manipulating the Veil as mages do, but with a different purpose.

[ He gives a quiet laugh. ]

Well, I suppose mages use their staffs for hitting things, too? It seems like a waste otherwise.

[watchesandlistens]

Nuance does seem to be a bit tricky for them--not that my own world is much better, though.

[ Human (people??) nature isn't much for nuance, he supposes. ]

What's the saying...?

[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. ]

[watchesandlistens]

Because I'm not one...?

[watchesandlistens]

[ Sounds like something a potato would say. ]

Why ask for my opinion if you're not going to listen to it?

[justice_is_blond]

The ability to do magic generally defines someone as a mage. So by the rules of what goes on here, you are one.

[meds4sale]

Nor any of ours I should think. Though it begs the question what you do consider yourself.

[Then there is one of the Medicine Seller's characteristic long, long silences.]

...I believe the expression is 'ducks that walk and talk... are ducks'.

[...He tried.]

[circleprodigy]

You would be asking the wrong person, in that case. I came into my magic when I was four years old; I scarcely remember a time without it. So, yes, it is as much a part of my life as my eyes or heart. Its presence has shaped everything. I was raised in a Circle, and if I hadn't, I would have lived as an apostate, on the run from Templars. The lack of it would have lead to a very different life.

It was...gifted to you? How do you mean?