faderift | [Open] Mage Lyfe 101

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[Open] Mage Lyfe 101

WHO: OPEN, Anders
WHAT: Mage conferece on practical magic
WHEN: Kingsway 24th, all day
WHERE: Just outside Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post and IC announcement.

The tables and chairs are set up, there's some parchment and a few quills for note-taking, and a table on the side has pitchers of water as well as a motley assortment of cups. He's done what he can, done the footwork and talking, and now has to hope it catches and spreads.

And hope Purrelden doesn't tangle herself around something with her leash again.

[ooc: hop on in, put up a header! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them on the ooc post or ping me on Plurk at Nadat!]

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Teaching

For any who might show an interest, Sina is demonstrating how to best implement healing supplies while using as little magic as possible. She still uses some, of course, but the idea is to conserve power for long stretches of time and multiple wounded while still ensuring everyone is attended.

Resting

Sina tires easily, and she spends quite a bit of time just sitting beneath a shady tree and watching the others. She looks pleasant and inquisitive in the meantime, and is happy to chat or answer questions.

Whenever Korrin's taking a break from her own teaching, she'll wander and see what others are up to during their sessions. Sina's gets her attention, of course, and she sticks around long enough to see that it's time for another break. Departing for a brief time, Korrin returns with a couple of steaming mugs.

"Tea or mulled cider? I'll take whatever you don't want."

Sina looks up, way up, at the approaching Korrin, and grins a hello. "Tea," she decides, "serannas, Korrin, you have a solution for everything."

Handing over the tea with care, Korrin then joins her beneath the shade. After all morning of being on her feet, she's content to give them a break for a while. "You're welcome. If anything you're doing me a favor. I prefer having company when it's break-time. It's been an interesting day so far, hasn't it? So many mages coming together and sharing their ideas." As much as she can't stand Anders, the general concept is one she can live with. That's why she's here, after all.

Gently taking the tea, Sina inhales its steam and sighs. "It has been," she agrees, "I wish I could contribute more, but... I suppose what I do is useful, in its way." She takes a sip.

"Damn right, it is. The stuff that will save the day isn't always a flashy fireball or blizzard. The mages here need to be taught to think beyond just battle, and lessons like that will help them to be more practical." She takes a sip of the cider, not realizing until then how much she needed that. "I've been focusing on things like how to limit exposure to the elements or alleviate overexposure, random survival stuff that they can incorporate magic into, but also showing them non-magic means. The more options they have, the better they'll adapt. Or that's my hope."

Korrin's passion elicits a giggle from Sina, which she partially hides in her teacup as she takes a sip. "That's a good idea," she remarks, "it seems a lot of the younger Circle mages are so reliant on their magic, they wouldn't know what to do if they were exhausted or otherwise compromised." Korrin gets a knowing and somewhat tired smile. "Some of us haven't had that luxury."

Echoing that knowing smile, Korrin nods and sighs. "Isn't that the truth. I can't entirely blame them when they weren't taught to be independent in the first place, but it doesn't matter; the world on the outside isn't a kind one either, and they need to prepare for that. It's not going to care about their lack of experiences and go easy on them. So, time to play catch-up, as much as we can give them anyway."

Sina nods. "The elves concern me, in particular," she sighs, "many of those who grew up in Circles or cities assume the Dalish hold ill will against them. Several have been openly hostile." She bites her lower lip, shaking her head. "I don't know what to do. They've obviously been hurt, as we have."

That's news to Korrin and her brow furrows after she sets down her cup, cradling it in both hands. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was that tense. But why would they make those kind of assumptions? Who has been hostile to you?" Her tone is calm but there's a hard glint in her eye, instantly protective as she would be for any of her friends.

"Korrin," Sina says in a tone both amused and warning, knowing that look the instant she spots it. "This is between us, and my responsibility to bear. And make right." Just like with teaching Circle mages about Keeper magic, the various tensions between elves strikes her as their own business, inappropriate to share among other races. "There has been much misunderstanding over the years, I'm coming to find. Assumptions of ill intent, and in some cases actions on it."

"Okay, okay. You have a point. I just hate to see people give you -or the others- a hard time about things beyond your control." Korrin's frown eases, though her sympathy remains. "The closest thing I have to that experience doesn't quite compare. Tal-Vashoth and Vashoth aren't pitted against each other, and though everyone's at least wary of Qunari, there's only one of those around." And that's a whole other can of worms, given the baggage that comes with leaving or avoiding the Qun.

"If there's a way to bridge the gap somehow, at least get people to listen to each other, I bet you'll find it. You have the determination to see that through--and who knows, maybe there are some like-minded city elves. I know their liaison, she's a fair-minded person."

Sina shrugs. There will always be hard times, and most Dalish have grown a thick skin over their lifetimes. It comes with the territory.
"I'm not certain we're pitted against each other for any reason," she muses, "perhaps they resent our freedom, or we their ability to integrate so cleanly into a world that has mostly left us behind." Her face falls a little at this-- she won't admit it often, but there are times when she feels the bridge of understanding between herself and the majority of Skyhold is nigh uncrossable.
"Who's their liaison? I may have met her."

Taking another sip while listening, Korrin then reaches over and rests her larger hand over Sina's much smaller one, noting that sadness. She can't entirely understand that perspective but that doesn't mean she can't listen, and let Sina vent as she needs.

"That would be Eirlys Ancarrow. She's a healer from Gwaren; not the magical sort, but she does wonders with potions and poultices and the like. I've only ever seen her as polite and helpful towards everyone, whatever their background." If Eirlys has a chip on her shoulder about the Dalish, well, it's not like Korrin would be the first to know but it would still catch her off-guard.

"Sometimes there isn't a good reason. Shit happens and everyone gets caught up in their own perspective and forget that other people have theirs." There's bound to be more to it, of course, but as someone who isn't an elf, there's only so much Korrin can say on the matter.

"There are reasons," Sina admits, "I just wish we could take them back." With a sad smile, she turns her hand over to squeeze Korrin's. "I'll see if Eirlys is willing to teach me anything. I can always stand to know more about herbal remedies."

Ever since seeing Sina falter in Halamshiral, Anders has been a little worried about her. It's good she's resting often. One of these times has him coming down and sitting next to her.

"How are you doing?" Anders' voice is on the quiet side. No one needs to overhear this. "Any pain, or..." He shrugs, trailing off.

Though she greets Anders with a smile, Sina gives a quiet sigh at his question. "The usual," she assures him, "nothing I can't work with. I promise." She leans her head back against the tree, her gaze roving over the other participants. "This was a good idea," she observes, "if nothing else, it has everyone talking to one another."

His smile gets a little amused as he settles. Patients often don't like being checked up on, but that doesn't mean he's about to stop. He's here for a reason. ...But he'll allow himself to be distracted, looking around with a small smile and a nod.

"And there's else, too. People learning, finding ways that they can use magic to make lives for themselves rather than live wanting someone else to put them back in their cage." Around Adelaide he can often refrain from calling the Circles that, but there's no reason to not call them by what they were when speaking to a Dalish mage. "I'm glad it's working, though. I was... I wasn't sure it would."

He's him, after all. His name on this could have caused issues, but for now it looks like he's covered the current ones.

Sina may be a patient, but she's also a healer herself, and understands the rationale. Catching onto Anders' insecurity, she lolls her head toward him with a sympathetic smile. "We're all here to build trust, lethallin. Perhaps it'll take a while, but I think we'll manage." She too has had her fair share of hostilities leveled her way, though it's true that few can compare to Anders in that department.

Again his smile grows faintly. He's bad at hiding what he feels, despite how he tries, and the fact that things are actually working have his heart on his sleeve all the more than usual.

"Thank you, Sina. I'm... I'm hoping." Actually hoping. "It's a good start. And momentum could grow from it, could lead to larger gatherings that aren't just mages, encourage people to come and learn in a setting where there's magic all around..."

This is just the beginning, he hopes.

"One thing at a time," she cautions him, gently resting her hand on his arm. "But consider where you were a year ago, and what it looks like now. I don't think you're wrong." She looks back out at the others. "Seems to me it's just slow-going. But I think rushing would be a painful mistake."

Anders takes a slow breath, smile turning sheepish. "It would be. And I've... You're right."

A year ago he'd been in hiding, horribly hungry and afraid, but worse of all alone. There'd been no hope or thoughts of his future. He'd been lost. There'd been no plan. Now he's here, and everything is different. But it's taken time and he needs to remember that.

"Sometimes it's a little difficult to not try to fix everything at once."

"Don't I know it," Sina says with a sheepish smile of her own. "I suppose being here is a lesson in patience for all of us."

He looks around before shaking his head. "It very likely is. The added good news is that it could be a lesson in a great many things, and not just to us, but to those who look down on mages and elves as well."

A beat. "In time. Eventually. As we proceed slowly." He's bad at patience, but he can work on it, at least.

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[Open] Mage Lyfe 101

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