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When I was on the Mage Council, I suggested and passed Fade Training. It's a bit like a Harrowing, but the apprentice is fully informed and educated, and can even have someone go with them. Less a test and more...training. It was the only way to get the other Councilors to let go of the Harrowing question.
That's the way to approach it. Teach them the dangers, rather than fling them head-on, after startling them, after disorienting them. Harrowing is designed to kill as many mages as possible. Fade Training instructs and prepares.
That was exactly the idea! [Finally, someone who gets it instead of poking holes in it.] Because that's supposed to be the point, isn't it? Fewer incidents? Educating and strengthening is supposed to be better than barbarically weeding out the weak-willed. I hope the Council sticks to it.
That is exactly the point. We've no reason to harm our children the way Templars did. Just because we had it harder, and apologies, I mean within the Circles, not to say anything about your experience, but just because that was harder than it is now does not mean we need to make them suffer.
We will teach and we will learn, and we will look after our own.
We will teach and we will learn, and we will look after our own.
To be honest, I don't much relate to Circle mages. I've been a free mage my entire life. I feel like Circle mages ought to listen a bit more to those who've done it a different way, instead of pretending nobody has better answers.
There are some of us who are more than ready to listen to new ways and strategies. I'd not like to be lumped in with the likes of Vivienne.
You aren't. From what I know, you're not exactly a Circle mage. According to Varric's book, you tried to make that clear quite a lot of times, though they wouldn't listen.
I did.
[A sigh.]
But once they have you, they've had you, and you're Circle mage and apostate both in their eyes. Theirs, meant to be recaptured. It's a shame you left the Council, though. They could use someone with a balanced mind.
[A sigh.]
But once they have you, they've had you, and you're Circle mage and apostate both in their eyes. Theirs, meant to be recaptured. It's a shame you left the Council, though. They could use someone with a balanced mind.
My apologies. Another someone. I respect her greatly.
[ There's a stretch of pleased silence while she gets through that, then: ]
Thank you, thank you. Here's another funny thing: my mother's alive. And she has a hundred very good reasons for hiding that from me, so I can't fairly be angry, and yet.
[ Angry is the wrong word. Hurt, more like. But that sounds more pathetic. ]
Do you want to go for a walk or something? I could throw things and you could try to zap them before they fall. I think I'd feel better.
Thank you, thank you. Here's another funny thing: my mother's alive. And she has a hundred very good reasons for hiding that from me, so I can't fairly be angry, and yet.
[ Angry is the wrong word. Hurt, more like. But that sounds more pathetic. ]
Do you want to go for a walk or something? I could throw things and you could try to zap them before they fall. I think I'd feel better.
I...
[His mother is alive and she doesn't know what to do with that except what she does with it. Her mother is also alive. Estranged and awkward, but alive.]
Yes. Let's go for a walk. Meet you on the battlements over the gate? I'll bring you lots of pinecones for zapping.
[His mother is alive and she doesn't know what to do with that except what she does with it. Her mother is also alive. Estranged and awkward, but alive.]
Yes. Let's go for a walk. Meet you on the battlements over the gate? I'll bring you lots of pinecones for zapping.
You're wonderful. I'll let you know when I'm close.
[ Because it's a decent hike, but organizing the logistics are boring, so at some point he does let her know and meets her above the gates, bottle in hand--only wine, and he hasn't had much at all. ]
Do you just keep a supply of pinecones handy for this sort of thing?
[ Because it's a decent hike, but organizing the logistics are boring, so at some point he does let her know and meets her above the gates, bottle in hand--only wine, and he hasn't had much at all. ]
Do you just keep a supply of pinecones handy for this sort of thing?
Yes. [Really, she is willing to chalk it up to her being magically able to produce whatever people need. It's what she was raised for.] Here. [She hands him the basket of pinecones to chuck about as he pleases.]
Brilliant.
[ He wiggles the bottle down into the edge of the basket so he has a hand free for said chucking, which he starts immediately, rearing back to fling one over the wall. He has a good arm, on account of the muscles, if not particularly good aim.
He's still mid-throw when he says, ]
What do dragons call men who come to slay them?
[ He wiggles the bottle down into the edge of the basket so he has a hand free for said chucking, which he starts immediately, rearing back to fling one over the wall. He has a good arm, on account of the muscles, if not particularly good aim.
He's still mid-throw when he says, ]
What do dragons call men who come to slay them?
[She zaps the pinecone traditionally--electricity, since fire is a little less natural for her. She's an ice person. The shock incinerates the pinecone in a satisfactory manner.]
Dinner? [She guesses.]
Dinner? [She guesses.]
[A genuine, unreserved chuckle.]
I thought that's what you call a mosquito in a tin suit. But why do dragons sleep all day?
I thought that's what you call a mosquito in a tin suit. But why do dragons sleep all day?
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