CRYSTAL - ota

[galvanising]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Nell Voss
RECIPIENT: All
WHAT: Hello, Inquisition. Nell is here to stir up your mage business. :]
WHEN: Forward-dated slightly to post-Llomerryn adventures
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: n/a

Inquisition, hello.

[ It's a friendly-enough voice, sort of husky without being unusually low, the common tongue spoken with the generic pronunciation favored by Circle tutors and just a hint of a muddled accent that's difficult to place beyond Northern. ]

My name is Nell, and I've only recently joined your ranks here in Kirkwall. I'd heard that the Inquisition's mages governed themselves through some sort of council, but I've yet to see hide or hair of it here. Was that only a rumor? I've heard quite a lot of rumors about the Inquisition's mages, it's not always easy to pick out the truth.

I suppose my real question is what is the status of mages here, exactly? And Templars, since I've see some about already? I'm eager to help the Inquisition in its fight, but I do like to know what I'm getting myself into.

Comments

[faithlikeaseed]

Good evening, Nell! Welcome to Kirkwall.

[What interesting questions.]

I've heard passing mentions of the mage council, but I don't know much about it--I'm only recently arrived myself. But for all intents and purposes, we're treated as equal to anyone else and allowed our freedom. We've even got a mage--a rifter, but a mage all the same--heading up the Diplomacy division. [So, you know, the Inquisition is chill with them having political power.]

The templars I've met have been, [careful,] solicitous. Eager to make it clear they believe in the Inquisition's mission as much as anyone else and along with it the idea there's no divisions between us any longer.

[galvanising]

A rifter but also a mage? I'm not sure I understand.

[ Don't worry, she'll circle back to the rest of it. First things first, is all. ]

[justice_is_blond]

Right now, we mages are treated as accepted risks while the Templars bide their time and watch and wait. When Corypheus is defeated, they and the Chantry will make their move again. They're polite now, some of them, but it's lip service. As was the mage council.

Welcome to the Inquisition.

[limier]

[arlathvhen]

I think you're being a bit overdramatic. We aren't treating you like 'acceptable risks'.

[judgemewhole]

[So much. Eyerolling.]

[judgemewhole]

As per usual, Anders ... you have a flair for the dramatic.

[Biding their time, honestly, what are they, villians from a Orlesian play? Rubbing their hands together in corners or twirling their mustaches? Get over yourself.]

[sulena]

Fàilte, Nell. Welcome to Kirkwall and the Inquisition.

I've heard some of the council built here but I've heard little since we left Skyhold. I believe many of its original members have left now, ( hmm. ) Perhaps it is something to consider revisiting now that we have settled into Kirkwall.

( a beat, and then: ) Perhaps both questions are best asked to the individuals of each group instead of the whole. We have already enough people, on both sides as it were, deciding they are the sole voice of reason for all their brothers and sisters.

[galvanising]

Thank you! That's helpful. And I'm sure you're right that everyone has their own opinion. I hoped this would be a good way to make sure I can hear as many of them as possible, instead of trying to find a few to represent everyone.

[ she chuckles ]

Except for this Mage Council, that is. The actual few who supposedly represent everyone.

she has no idea

[limier]

To my knowledge, a form of the Council persists within Skyhold. The Inquisition's lessened presence in the North may have precluded more organized efforts. The Council handled — among other things — the education of young mages and the oversight of certain of the Inquisition's researches.

[ and politics, of course. but that doesn't quite bear mentioning. ]

Those Templars assisting the Inquisition do so of their own volition, or at the behest of a remaining officer; you will find most acknowledge their duty to the Chantry. If you've any questions of the Order's organization, you may forward them to me as they arise.

[ and preferably not someone more radical. maker. this broader conversation will be a mess, but at least it might serve for an opportunity to take note of any less obvious shit-stirrers. ]

[galvanising]

Education and research? That makes sense, those are the area we mages are most experienced in.

[ Because that's about all the Circles let them do, ofc. ]

Are you the leader of the Templars, then?

[arlathvhen]

[ Time to try doing that whole leadership stuff before Anders tries blowing up another piece of Kirkwall. ]

Hello, Nell, and welcome to the Inquisition. I am Beleth Ashara, head of scouting, and I would be glad to do my best to answer any questions. I'm not a mage, but when the mage council was in Skyhold, I attended a portion of their meetings. Currently, most of the founding members of the mage council are either still at Skyhold, or are away on missions. There are a handful of members here, and I would imagine that they'll introduce themselves to you soon enough, though I can provide you with a full list.

The Inquisition values the unity of our members, and that includes mages. We do our best to treat them as equally as any other member. If you run into anyone who tries to bother you or otherwise devalue you as a member of the Inquisition, I encourage you to report it to myself, or any other division head.

And please let me know if I can do anything else to help you.

[galvanising]

Thank you, Beleth. It's a pleasure to meet you, and I appreciate the welcome and the assistance. If you could provide a full list of the Council members I'd be grateful, I'm eager to see if there are any names I recognize. It can be difficult to keep track of old friends and colleagues these days, you see.

Have you had many issues with that sort of thing? People bothering mages or devaluing them? Should I be prepared for that?

[misdirection_hex]

Well, they do put us in regional positions of power, so I'd say that's something. [Or they do the ones who fall out of rifts, anyway. He cynically wonders if perhaps the population of Kirkwall doesn't really think of Madame de Cedoux as a mage, and diplomatically keeps that line of questioning to himself.]

The templars throw their weight around where they can, but mostly ineffectually. I hear a Seeker actually defrocked one for brutality before I arrived. [Because of the skirts, get it?]

Overall, I think there's reason for cautious optimism.

[faithlikeaseed]

[dryly,] I heard she had help throwing her weight around, to be fair.

[exequy]

I'm locked up twice a day, at minimum.

[arlathvhen]

That's not because you're a mage, though.

[ xoxoxo ]

[aforethought]

Y'all always seem t'do whatever the fuck y'want, near as I can tell.

[galvanising]

Mages, you mean? Do we? Could you give me an example? It's such a strange thought I'm having trouble imagining.

[ chinhands tell me more ]

[judgemewhole]

Good afternoon, Nell, my name is Knight Commander James Norrington of the Inquisition's Templars. There is no 'leader' per say of the Templars here, but I am still the duly elected representative to answer any and all Templar concerns.

[When people actually decide to USE THOSE SERVICES. Sigh. Nevermind.]

There are also three Seekers here, if you do not wish to speak to me about Templar matters.

[galvanising]

Elected representative? How extraordinary. Can you explain more about your role?

[circleprodigy]

Greetings, Nell. I am Warden Inessa Serra, formerly of Kinloch Hold. I cannot speak to the council, but I can say that the Inquisition has treated mages quite fairly overall. As Vandelin stated, we have opportunity to attain positions of power. For example, I am the leader for the Rifts and the Veil project. We study all relating to it, but particularly the shards many now bear. [Nerd alert.]

[galvanising]

A pleasure, Warden. Can you tell me more about this project? I take it it's a research endeavor? I know very little about these rift shards, I'm afraid.

[gatheringstorm]

[Utterly ignoring the Anders stuff above. Be proud of her, Araceli.]

Hey, Nell. I'm Korrin Ataash, probably the lone resident Vashoth mage around. At least I haven't seen any others, lately. I joined the Council when it formed up, mostly to be sure they wouldn't be able to walk all over mages who were never a part of any Circle, but my focus has been elsewhere for some time now. I can still answer questions about it, though.

[galvanising]

Hello, Korrin. I'd be very interested to hear about your experiences with the mage council. Is it mostly made up of mages who supported the Circles? Was that the reason for your concern?

[arcaneadvisor]

I like to think that the little Circle devoured itself at last.

[galvanising]

I take it you were not a supporter?

[inagutterson]

Still behaving like they had it worst in the world because s'not like other folks spend their lives being watched and restricted and all the rest.

[Mages just got education and meals and roofs etc.]

[galvanising]

[ Mildly, confused: ]

I'm sorry, which other folks do you mean?

here we go here we go

[dashing]

Well met, Nell. I am Herian Amsel, Knight Enchanter of the White Spire.

( A pause, just brief, before she continues. )

Like some others here, also served on the Council. Duty demanded my presence elsewhere for a time; I've not been summoned by the Council since my return, but given the interest, perhaps there would be some merit in resuming meetings, or something of the like.

[galvanising]

[ well that is a very telling introduction isn't it ]

Perhaps there will be, [ Nell agrees, noncommittal. ] Can you tell me about how it worked, when you were a part? What were its goals, its responsibilities?

[ipseite]

I believe your question has been well answered - though I'm happy to share my thoughts if you should disagree! - but it seems prudent for me to introduce myself, preceding me as my reputation seems to have done.

( The voice sounds Orlesian, warm; )

I am Madame de Cedoux, of the diplomacy division. If there is anything I can clarify on the subject of rifters and mages particularly, I would be glad to do so.

[galvanising]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame de Cedoux--as much as this counts as meeting.

[ there's a little hint of a laugh in her voice. crystals are weird, amirite? ]

I hope you didn't take offense at my earlier conversation, I'm still learning about rifters but don't plan on jumping to conclusions. I'd be very interested to learn more about your own magic and your views on ours, here, if you're willing to discuss.

[overharrowed]

No shortage of answers it seems. If you figure out the truest ones, I'd be interested.

Enchanter Julius, a recent arrival myself. Welcome to Kirkwall.

[What an interesting way to stir the pot, in his opinion, though his greeting is warm enough.]

[galvanising]

Nice to meet you, Julius. It's a lot to sift through, that's for sure. If you have any first impressions, I'd be happy to hear them.

[ragweed]

Don't think I'll be much help dealing with mage-templar relations, but if you want to stop by the Other Powers project office to shoot the shit about other Inquisition business, I'll be there.

Kit Gandir, Legionnaire and, apparently, Other Powers project lead.

[It wasn't his idea.]

[galvanising]

Nice to meet you, Kit. Which other powers does your project cover, exactly? I haven't gotten the full run-down on what's going on here yet.