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

[galvanising]

[ The introduction sends mixed messages: the only mage so far to claim a title, but also the only one not to mention a circle. Nell remains uncertain for the moment, still circling the matter. ]

I'm relieved to hear that explanation, that would be a positive sign. I'm afraid I'd seen it in a rather more pessimistic light myself, at first. That they're more willing to put in power three people whose nature and origins are still a complete mystery, rather than a single one of us. But I've only just arrived, I'm glad to hear those who've more experience with the Inquisition have reason to think otherwise.

[misdirection_hex]

To be fair, I suppose it depends at least in part on how many of us actually sought the positions. I didn't, myself. My experience with the Inquisition is limited enough that it seemed wiser to wait and observe.

[He adopts that us without a moment's hesitation, even when context appends a vaguely implied against them to it. Even when praising the Inquisition's inclusiveness, he hasn't given himself wholly over to it yet.]

In the meantime, there's room to advocate for our needs, but a more organized effort would be ideal. And the more of us who join it, the better.

[galvanising]

True, [ Nell agrees, only minor hesitation in the word. ] Do not many mages seek out leadership positions?

[ 'our needs' and 'organized effort' are good, but Nell's keeping her cards close to the vest at the moment, in the face of how pro-Chantry this crowd seems to be overall. They'll suss each other out eventually. ]

Are there specific needs you think should come first? Has anyone tried to organize before?

[misdirection_hex]

[He may at some point consider a 'Hi, I'm Van and I <3 overthrowing oppressive institutions!' nametag. His cousin wouldn't be able to see it, so it's all good.]

I'm afraid I wouldn't know the numbers. I might have a better sense of them going forward, now that I work adjacent to the head of Diplomacy-- [Literally adjacent, in reference to the office space he and Araceli share, but it sounds better when he phrases it like that.

This, at least, is a question he has practice answering. Or half of it is, anyway.]

There's been no organization during my tenure with the Inquisition. But as an institution, it lends us legitimacy. What better way to prove we can be trusted with freedom than to use the liberty we have now for good?

If people see us working alongside nonmages to fight our common enemies, and realize that none of the threats that make them fear us have come to pass even with the Veil shredded like cheesecloth, they may think twice about forcing us back into the Circles when everything is said and done. That's what has to come first. Any other advocacy can follow from that.

[galvanising]

[ Nell files this all away along with the other odds and ends and hints she's learning from all these various conversations. ]

How would you say that effort is going so far? Have you noticed others treating mages better now that there's been so many of us in the Inquisition for the last few years? I've been told things within the Inquisition itself are good, but I wonder about the others, regular people.

[misdirection_hex]

It's hard to tell. They could just be spitting on me and refusing me tavern service because I'm an elf. When they're kind enough to offer a reason, it's usually that.

[He hadn't had much opportunity to interact with regular people after Hasmal's uprising, either, except when he and his fellows weren't quite discreet enough about raiding their barns and gardens to ward off starvation. It hadn't been an ideal context to gauge their mage tolerance. Here in Kirkwall, though...]

People seem frightened when they look at me, if they aren't hostile. I remember once a woman in Darktown looked as if she wanted to help me with something-- [No need to mention that the 'something' was Melys; the details don't make him sound great.] --but she caught a glimpse of my staff and stayed back. The Inquisition is its own little world. Outside of it, we have a long road ahead.

[galvanising]

I suppose that's a danger, isn't it?

[ rhetorical question, obviously. thanks for that opening, van! have some subtle probing/proselytizing: ]

Growing too content in the safety of the Inquisition and forgetting how different the rest of Thedas is. It may be a rude awakening when the time comes to have to leave the sanctuary the Inquisition seems to've created and make our way in the real world.

[not here]

[faithlikeaseed]

[someone might tell him about it and then he'd be sad, van

do you want your eyeless cousin to be sad]