[OPEN TO MAGES]

[deflocked]

WHO: Mages, mages, more mages. I guess non-mages can sneak in or be dragged along by friends, but they will be glowered fiercely at by Daylen if he knows.
WHAT: Mage meeting
WHEN: 3 Firstfall
WHERE: What would be Solas' room if Solas were there.
NOTES: Feel free to mingle/threadjack/and anything else you might think of! A top level comment will be made for the meeting itself with no particular order for commenting. There will probably be discussions of mage rights and such. I will edit if any warnings come up.

It's not exactly the biggest room, but on the plus side it's not in a terrible state of disrepair either. In case anyone isn't sure this is the right room there is a sign on the door indicating it is for the mage meeting. If that isn't enough, it is full of chairs. Arguably too many chairs for a room of this size. Especially since they are arranged in a circle for convenience of being able to talk rather than making the most of the space.

Hello, mages. Hope you're all ready to argue.

Comments

[visus]

[ Theodora casts a look towards Dorian at his shape suggestion, like she can't quite decide if she'd rather slap his knuckles or agree with the jest. She does neither, instead turning back to the others. ]

That you feel the need to create a new system, Enchanter LeBlanc, does not mean that all here do, and with all due respect, Warden Sabriel, it is hardly a matter for you to decide. You will find there are quite a number of us here who were perfectly happy with the system we have spent our lives within. It provides structure, stability, security, and a scholarly community.

Of course, not every Circle was perfect, but we can build one here that avoids the problems caused by the few bad apples scattered about. There's no need to throw the baby out with the Chantry bathwater, and if some of you don't care to be involved then you are free to keep to yourselves as you have always done. I can't say your opinion has much to recommend itself to me as you have never experienced a Circle to know what you are rejecting.

And this is precisely the time in which structure and security are most needed, Altus Pavus. We are not on the run nor under immediate threat; there is no reason that we cannot comport ourselves in an orderly fashion.

[mythalenaste]

And you have never experienced freedom, so your opinion hasn't much to...recommend itself to me. [Argh, she uses so many words, this lady. Way too many words, and none of them mean shit.]

You might at least consider that there are better ways out there even if you didn't think of one. And you're not freeing us to do as we've always done. We can't do as we've always done. The other night, both me and the other mage from my clan were attacked. For being mages. If you form a Circle, she and I aren't protected. That's why I came here, because we need the protection of other mages.

[gatheringstorm]

[Nodding at Pel's words, Korrin just narrows her eyes at the pompous Senior Enchanter.]

So, because we were never raised in Circles that means we ought to have no voice in what happens to mages around here? Even though we're mages as well? No, fuck that. We aren't second-class citizens. This isn't just your show, and don't expect us to give a nug's ass about your opinion when your way excludes the rest of us.

[visus]

[ That gets browsed arched to the high heavens. ]

When did I ever say our way excludes either of you? If you'd like the protection of the Circle then by all means join it. It is you who refuse to participate and then in the next breath condemn the system for not allowing you to participate.

[mythalenaste]

I'm here. I'm participating. And I say, we are the last elvhen, and never again shall we submit. Bitch.

[fleurdesel]

The College of Magi failed. I was there to witness the aftermath. The structure, stability, the saftey it supposedly offered shattered at the last conclave. Were you there, Senior Enchanter? Did you see what a few 'bad apples' did to the mages and templars alike in the halls of the White Spire?

[arlathvhen]

[ Mysteriously, like a sign from the Maker Creators, confetti (from a ripped up piece of parchment) sprinkles down upon Pel. Like the gods are silently giving approval for her words.

After a moment, Korrin gets confetti as well.]

[gatheringstorm]

[Ugh, it's like talking to a wall.]

Because we don't want your fucking Circle. Because this is about all mages, not just that damned system you cling to. Fuck you and fuck your Circle. We have the right to create whatever new system works for ALL of us, not just you.

[She's so wound up that the renewed confetti gets little more than a brief smirk from her this time.]

[aceso]

Maker, let's all calm down for a moment. This is getting far too heated.

[ Christine doesn't even know if she should bother being the voice of reason here. This may have gone too far already. ]

Now Senior Enchanter, you say that there are others who wish for the structure of the Circle, but so far, only yourself and Daylen have presented that view. If others here wish to chime in, I ask they do, and I ask that no one shout them down. This is a meeting for all opinions, and it's clear we all have various ones. No one is bringing the hammer down yet, so let's continue to all talk out what we wish for.

[visus]

I was at Starkhaven and Kirkwall, Enchanter LeBlanc. I have seen my share of the worst that life has to offer us.

[ One might imagine a frosty tinge to her words, but it would be imagination. Her eyes are cold and her expression is rigid, but her tone remains perfectly civil despite the abuse that is now almost literally raining down upon her. ]

You claim that including all mages is of the highest importance, yet you hurl insults at those who do not agree with you and reject outright our desires. If you wish to include all mages I am afraid that involves me and my fucking Circle, my dears. You shall have to find a way to reconcile that with what you desire, or else concede that you only want your own freedom and have no true interest in the higher cause of unity you invoke.

[fleurdesel]

[ Temper helps no one. Adelaide takes a measured breath and forges onward, voice reigned back into a more civil tone. ]

Then you know as well as I that we must do better. If we are to consider a circle we need to be certain that every grievance against them is heard, weighed, and a means to prevent them offered. As said grievances appear to be many and varied starting from scratch rather than going through point by point and rebuilding from the foundations to the rookery seems the wiser course. If there is an alternative means I am certain we would be glad to hear it. But the old Circle as structured does not fit us all. A variation may.

[mythalenaste]

Unity isn't a cause. It's bragging rights. The problem is mages need protection or we're going to have to use magic to defend ourselves. Dalish beliefs prevent us from being bound up in a Circle, so no. It's not going to protect everyone. And if my time is being wasted and it's only going to be me standing between my clanmate and injustice, that's the norm for the Dalish and we'll make do. Should I even be here?

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin's own expression is hard and set, her eyes ablaze. Lady, you don't scare her.]

I reject the idea that the only options are either sitting this out or being part of your fucking Circle, yes! It's not the same thing and you know it. Your way forces that damned Circle system on everyone, whether they want it or not. No one should have to go down that road just to make their voice heard here, to get some measure of protection from their fellow mages so that they aren't attacked again.

[liberalum]

The Chantry declared the Inquisition heretic.

[ BROAD ARM GESTURES, Dorian manages only just to not get on his feet, still listing back in his chair. ]

It has yet to rescind this declaration. And unless someone is offering to write the Tevinter Imperium for magister oversight -- that's a joke, by the by -- we'll have a new system, like it or not. And whatever it is we do, we need to account for mages that fought to break free of the same system other mages [ a nod to the Senior Enchanter ] continue to abide by.

And yes, you should stay here, Pel. And you, Korrin. Anyone disinterested in being a part of the Inquisition and ensuring we as mages can operate within it should clear off.

[ andstopdrinkingalltheirbeer ]

[visus]

[ Other mages have drifted in and out as the meeting has gone on, and there are plenty that nod when Senior Enchanter Theodora speaks, just as there are plenty who nod when the templars are shouted down or confetti randomly falls from the sky. At Christine's call for all to speak for themselves, one young man somewhat reluctantly gets to his feet. ]

I am Mage Oran, from Jader [ he says, in a heavy Orlesian accent, words a little halting, hands knit together in front of him ] and I too support retaining the Circles. I know that many of you have no reason to love the Templars, but they saved my life and the lives of my family. If they had not found me and stopped me I might have killed them all. The Templars and the Circle made sure that everyone was safe from me, and that I was safe from what I might do. I do my best for the Inquisition but every day I worry. Just because some Templars and some Circles have been bad does not mean that all are bad. What they do protects many and I believe that we need them.

[mythalenaste]

Mage Oran? [Pel sounds calmer, like she has some sympathy, but it's still edged.] The reason you were so dangerous when you came into your magic is because everybody who knew how to really help you was locked up miles away. When I came into mine, there were mages there to help.

[Dorian requesting she stay did make her a little more...grounded, perhaps. She's finding her footing.]

[paperwing]

We have our differences - some that can be resolved, and some that do not, and should not have to be. Ser Pavus is correct. We are here to help the Inquisition in its goals, and we can only do that if we are not fighting amongst ourselves.

[Sabriel pauses, considering Oran's words.]

We help ourselves. We ask for help as is needed - as we choose. Not enforced.

[gatheringstorm]

[Dorian's words bring down that temper a notch, and she shoots him a grateful glance. It's nice to see that there are still reasonable people around. Well, most of them are but she's in no mood to consider that.

And she nods in agreement with Pel again, huge surprise.]

It was the same with me. I had a mentor to guide me, and I didn't end up needing Templars or a Circle to learn self-control. If you want the Templars, that's on you. But I have no need or desire for them, and I'm not here to see them forced on anyone who doesn't want to be part of that system.

[visus]

[ Oran smiles a little at Pel, a wry curve of his wide mouth. He looks politely to each woman who speaks, though he flinches a little when Korrin starts to talk. He does not want to be yelled at. ]

It is good that you all find control so easily, and it is kind of you to say that the lack of guidance is all that failed me. But it is not so. Every night in my dreams, the demons come to me. I have passed my Harrowing, I do resist them, but it is not easy. It is difficult, always difficult, and so many have given in and become abomination, even Enchanters-- since the Circles fell I have seen so many, and I do not wish to be one but who can say what life will bring.

I am a danger, and every mage is a danger because all it takes is one moment and you are gone and all around you will die. Only the Templar can protect others from us. It is easy to say that you do not need them and only those who want them should have them, but not all know their own danger. Not all care as they should. We must think of the safety of all, not just ourselves.

[mythalenaste]

I thought we were tabling the discussion about templars until we could agree on oversight?

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin isn't yelling, not this time. Her expression softens a little as she listens to the mage, but still shakes her head at the end.]

I'm not without sympathy, and I know there's danger, but that's no reason to enforce one way upon all of us. And yes, that was the original plan. I'd thought we were going to move beyond that.

[paperwing]

Whatever we feel for the Circles, they- [Sabriel sighs, a long, quiet sigh, as she rearranges her thoughts.] -they are gone. That is the first thing we have to realise. Whether we wanted them or not, wanted them to remain or to dissolve- [she looks to those who have spoken for, spoken against them,] -they are gone. Some out there will suffer, children who are scared, and frightened, and the Circle may have kept them safe. They may have not. I did not hate my Circle, but there is no going back - even if I were not a Warden.

Templars can protect, and help us. [It's an agreement to Oran, but she also looks to Pel and Korrin, because Templars are not the issue here. One step at a time.] But don't we want them to listen to us, first? We can decide on such things once we decide what we want ourselves to be.

[liberalum]

We'd have you for dinner, where I'm from.

[ This comment directed to Oran, for all intents and purposes, is good humoured, nor designed to cut into the conversation. Acknowledgement that there is nuance here that Dorian is lacking, as a foreigner, having listened quietly while the young man spoke.

He tips that attention -- unsettlingly cattish, good humoured or not -- to Sabriel. ]

Quite so. Discussions of Templars and what to do about them and how we do or do not need them must be tabled until such a time as we have a single message to give them. Right now, we're all too divided. Not to belabour the point, but we truly need to remember our commonalities. No one expects the Dalish to set aside their traditions, nor can we expect the same of Circle mages, but no one is marking their face or undergoing a Harrowing in order to remain within the ranks of the Inquisition.

An unaffiliated council to act as a go-between for the mages at large -- all of them -- and the Inquisition advisers and, inevitably, the Templars, seems the fairest, most sensible topic to settle on today, unless we'd like to remain in this room until Wintermarch.

[eolasemah]

[Sina, who has for the most part been sitting hunched with her face mostly covered by her hands, tugs on Pel's sleeve and straightens to whisper something into her ear.]

((PMed))

[mythalenaste]

[Pel looks startled, listens to Sina--she has to remember she doesn't speak for all the Dalish, only for herself. Not even Ellana, though Ellana is under her protection.

She glances up when Sina is finished. Deep breath in, then out.]

If it's a council, each group should elect their own representative. If you want to call it a Circle, the Dalish must have a voice and we're not to be kept like prisoners.

[These are good points. Really.]

Any more than you would expect to worship our gods, don't expect us to submit to the Chantry or its beliefs about mages. Freedom is our highest virtue.