If Raylan had given Anders a chance to answer, this probably would have gone better. As it is, he crosses his arms and his eyebrows go higher and higher.
"Maker. Every time I think I've heard the height of ignorance and arrogance, someone proves me wrong."
He shakes his head. "This wasn't mages. Or it wasn't lead by mages. I've seen people try to make abominations before. Do you know who they were? Templars. They turned other Templars into abominations in their search for power. Do you remember what was outside the cave? Templars. How would mages have control over that many? This was Templars, part and parcel of my issue with the Circles. And if I was abused? You didn't just keep your eyes closed when we walked into the cave, apparently. The whole of Kinloch Hold knew what they were doing. How many mages in your year vanished? Because many, many of my peers did, in the middle of the night. Yes, some died in their Harrowings. But not all."
A breath, but not a pause. "The Circles are a cage, not a protective force. People hate us because of the Chantry. They're taught to hate us, to fear us, and then we're locked up by the Chantry-overseen Circles and they reap our labor, our power, and power with the claim of protection over people."
"I was wrong with what I did. I know that. But you? Never? Full of what you've done? Convinced the Templars saved you and so wrapped up in your own view of the world that you can't open your bloody eyes? You're a child. You are a temper-tantrum throwing child. I've saved thousands more than I've killed, I've protected, I've freed, I've helped, and it doesn't make up for what I did, just like what you've done doesn't make up for what you do if you drag us back to the walls that were a false comfort. Maker's breath. You would have fallen from favor in time as well, and been treated just like the rest of us. You just didn't happen to look the wrong way at a Templar, yet. Get over yourself."
no subject
"Maker. Every time I think I've heard the height of ignorance and arrogance, someone proves me wrong."
He shakes his head. "This wasn't mages. Or it wasn't lead by mages. I've seen people try to make abominations before. Do you know who they were? Templars. They turned other Templars into abominations in their search for power. Do you remember what was outside the cave? Templars. How would mages have control over that many? This was Templars, part and parcel of my issue with the Circles. And if I was abused? You didn't just keep your eyes closed when we walked into the cave, apparently. The whole of Kinloch Hold knew what they were doing. How many mages in your year vanished? Because many, many of my peers did, in the middle of the night. Yes, some died in their Harrowings. But not all."
A breath, but not a pause. "The Circles are a cage, not a protective force. People hate us because of the Chantry. They're taught to hate us, to fear us, and then we're locked up by the Chantry-overseen Circles and they reap our labor, our power, and power with the claim of protection over people."
"I was wrong with what I did. I know that. But you? Never? Full of what you've done? Convinced the Templars saved you and so wrapped up in your own view of the world that you can't open your bloody eyes? You're a child. You are a temper-tantrum throwing child. I've saved thousands more than I've killed, I've protected, I've freed, I've helped, and it doesn't make up for what I did, just like what you've done doesn't make up for what you do if you drag us back to the walls that were a false comfort. Maker's breath. You would have fallen from favor in time as well, and been treated just like the rest of us. You just didn't happen to look the wrong way at a Templar, yet. Get over yourself."