therookery | notes on a scandal(ous council of mages)

FORM: Neatly handwritten pages.
SENDER: Lady Benevenuta Thevenet, representing Skyhold's new Council of Magi.
RECIPIENT: Adelaide received the first copy, followed by the Inquisition leadership, and thereafter any mages who requested one from Benevenuta. (Feel free to assume.)
WHAT: Benevenuta kept the minutes.
WHEN: Shortly after all the mages yelled at each other productively.
WHERE: In the hot little hands of anyone who needed a copy.
NOTES: See here for the continued plotting; see here for the original log. Yes I am still on hiatus, but, like, I have made y'all wait for this.

Speaking attendees:
Adelaide LeBlanc, Daylen Mathan, Christine Delacroix, Benevenuta Thevenet, Merrill, Samouel Gareth, Korrin Ataash, Dorian Pavus, Salvatore, the rifter Lennith Velkiry ?, the rifter Martell ?, Maevaris Tilani, several Dalish, Theodora, Oran, Sabriel

In regards to: the unification of mages within Skyhold.

Mages of Skyhold lack a guiding structure and can neither effectively judge nor support one another. In this discussion of organizing ourselves to do so, Adelaide LeBlanc proposes that a council be formed rather than leadership be given into a single pair of hands. We are many, besides mages, and perhaps cannot be governed unilaterally. Korrin Ataash and Christine Delacroix speak in support of this notion.
(It is established at this point that we have been joined by rifters, and their presence and contributions are permitted, though they do not yet offer much.)
Dorian Pavus raises the point that such a council must have a chair in order to be an effective voice of authority, and identifies the problem of the aimless rebel mages within Skyhold in need of true guidance. He identifies our secondary goals of educating and preparing such mages for the rigors of Inquisition life. He notes that though a ceasefire has been temporarily reached, we are like to provoke new hostilities should we attempt to corral these mages into such a Circle as they have freed themselves from.
Adelaide LeBlanc asks for the input of the rifters. The rifter Lennith Velkiry declines the opportunity; the rifter Martell speaks briefly on the differences of his own experience and offers a critique of councils and "bureaucracy".
The Dalish speak that they will not be ruled by a council that they are not represented upon, and are the first to explicitly decline the input of the former Templars in mage affairs. Korrin Ataash concurs that we are not in need of former Templars, and does not require Qunari representation specifically but wishes for mages outside of the Circles to be given a voice. Christine Delacroix concurs further that our council must be formed by mages of varying backgrounds to better serve our disparate kind.
Christine Delacroix offers an alternative to a single chair, proposing instead that responsibilities and authority be divided among a group to avoid creating an imbalance or a figurehead. Daylen Mathan speaks in favour of this.
Daylen Mathan raises the age of the former Templars' order and argues that they not be dismissed from what we do. He finds no support in this, and discussion continues regarding the forging of a path for mages by mages. The Dalish reiterate that they will absent themselves from any organization of mages that obligates them to submit to former Templars; Korrin Ataash concurs. Dorian Pavus reiterates that the former Templars are individual renegades and can no longer be treated as accountable beyond the accountability of the Inquisition itself.
The tension is dispersed by plaidweave.
Benevenuta Thevenet (here writing) speaks for tabling the matter of former Templars and focusing our energies on determining ourselves. She also begins at this point to compile notes upon the meeting (here written).
Adelaide LeBlanc reminds all present that we are no longer beholden to former Templars, nor they to us, but all of us to the Inquisition. She sets aside the matter of former Templars and mages to be dealt with when we have a structure through which it can be discussed as necessary, and takes a vote on the matter of forming a council.
In favour: Adelaide LeBlanc, Samouel Gareth, Benevenuta Thevenet, one of the Dalish (conditionally), Christine Delacroix, Dorian Pavus, Korrin Ataash, Daylen Mathan
Opposed: Theodora.
Theodora, a former senior enchanter, expresses the opinion that we should be reinstating the College of Magi and creating a Skyhold circle. This is met with heated disagreement and several threats to leave. Christine Delacroix attempts to bring the meeting back to order and requests that opposing views be expressed and heard respectfully.
Dorian Pavus reminds the assembled that the Chantry has declared the Inquisition itself heretic, and therefore anything created by those of us within it is by definition something separate and new. He expresses that only those who do not wish to be a part of the Inquisition ought to leave.
Oran speaks up in favour of circles and his desire for the protection of the former Templars due to his struggle to resist demons alone. He argues that only the former Templars are equipped to protect mages from themselves and others from those mages who become abominations.
The Dalish and Korrin Ataash wish to stop speaking of former Templars and their future.
Sabriel summarises matter of factly: regardless of preference or opinion, circles as they were are no longer, and cannot be recreated as the same. Her expressed opinion that we will be best served by any aid from former Templars if we receive it on our own terms and at the time of our choosing, and therefore must set it aside until such time as there is a 'we' to speak of. Dorian Pavus concurs and expresses that an unaffiliated council representing all mages to act on their behalf with the Inquisition leadership is the matter we will be best served by focusing on.
The Dalish propose that each group elect their own representative to said council, to ensure fair voices.
Discussion turns to compromise and contributing to our future the most effective parts of our past, shared or otherwise. The subject of non-magical defense and proper punishment for magical misbehaviour is raised.

[ ... and so on. ]