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

Private

[justice_is_blond]

They were hungry between their time of being in the Circles and reaching the Inquisition. And yes, that is one of the goals of my school.

But there have been three or so years of hard lessons in survival for the new apostates and some want to give up. They don't care about choices for the others.

You've an optimism and faith I simply cannot match. I wish I could. I truly wish I could. But I have seen things that were supposed to be certain shatter before, and rules that were supposed to protect be completely disregarded.

Private

[judgemewhole]

I see ... well. Shouldn't everyone have their own choice? Is that not the focus of the school itself? To form more schools of it's kind, like the colleges of old? Where mages can be properly educated in magic and how to handle the world - and if they want to go out, they go out, and if they want to remain at the schools to further their studies, they can do that?

But no more golden cages. [For any of them. Speaking of...]

I was thinking perhaps - since the schools are open to everyone - perhaps we might add on another program as well ... teaching Templars how to live without lyrium. And the choices that can be made available to them if they wish to leave the Order.

[Another, longer pause.] ... and for those who wish to join, how we should be new Templars for a new age. Become the protectors without the use of dangerous, personality altering drugs. Because yes, I have faith -- optimism is something of an illusion - but faith I always have.

I have to, or allow myself to be destroyed by despair.

Private

[justice_is_blond]

The school is indeed about allowing choice. That some want to remain in Circles is not an issue. The issue is that some want a full return to everyone being locked up because they do not care about the pain of others. They think it exaggerated, or made up, despite all evidence to the contrary.

[And then there is a stretch of silence. He knows why Norrington is asking, and the motivation is understandable. But he cannot see this being a good idea.]

You have to understand that more than a few of the mages who pass in and out are healing from ill treatment at Templar hands. Having Templars there learning, on edge because they're trying to deal with withdrawal, could be traumatic and devastating.

What you want to teach is important. But for the sake of those who have been hurt and know the clinic and school as a refuge, I have to say that it cannot be taught at this current school at this current time. I'd suggest somewhere in the Gallows for that; no one in authority is going to look sideways at a gathering of Templars.

And once Corypheus has fallen, if the schools are allowed to continue, the program can and should be added to them as well.

Re: Private

[judgemewhole]

[James has a moment of silence, but it isn't an angry one. Just a contemplative one.]

Thank you very much, for at least considering the idea. It means we are moving forward. For me and for you.

[justice_is_blond]

Of course. I'm sorry that my answer is not what you'd hoped.

[judgemewhole]

Well, I cannot expect you to force your people to deal with helping mine. We'll find our own way through the Maker's guidance. Andraste be merciful, we'll all be able to find a way to be clean again.