[Open] Mage Lyfe 101

[justice_is_blond]

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!]

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

"If there's ever anything I can teach you, let me know." Aside from one notable exception, he's eager to teach what he knows. This is laying a foundation for a healthy future, which is... not what he did in the past.

"I had to learn a few things from trial and error myself. Including some of what not to eat. I'd prefer people not have to follow in those footsteps in particular." He looks around again and his smile gets a little open. "I didn't think any of my internal organs would ever be the same after one such risky meal. I almost welcomed the shackles when they found me like that."

Not really. But that's probably clear considering who is speaking.

Resting

[justice_is_blond]

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.

[justice_is_blond]

She's impossible to miss. Unfortunately. Matters would be much easier if people could forget her. But at the same time, he's glad he's able to spot her easily. After all, the last time she was near a group of mages who clearly wanted an improvement to their lives, she rallied other 'loyalists' and murdered her way through them if rumors are true. He wouldn't be surprised. She wants her power, and she'll do what she can to keep it.

And he'll do what he can to see mages free, which includes things like this that eat a little bit of her power, the fear of the outside, away.

Anders deliberately makes his way toward her and nods, ice in his eyes but a curl to his lips.

"It's so good of you to come and recognize the importance of this event. I'm certain that holding the next one will be even easier now that you've joined us."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"She really is a magpie, isn't she?" Bethany laughed, her voice filled with a bright affection. Bethany was never going to stop loving her, after all. "Oh, we had a ... rather large basement. Beyond that? I don't she ever really got over being poor in Lowtown."

[circleprodigy]

That gets a chuckle of sympathy from Inessa, a wry smile curving her lips. "I'm lucky to have gotten something of a crash course on that with the Wardens, though I can't say I didn't have some mishaps before them. The more pressing issue with me was realizing how quickly food can spoil--and sometimes not even visibly. As you might have guessed, I suffered for that. It's why the preservation technique with ice is important to me, in terms of passing it on."

She tilts her head, thoughtful. "I wouldn't mind learning more swimming techniques than you showed me up north, when you have the time. Though I admit I don't know where would be a decent spot for that nearby." And with them in the mountains and the weather cooling, that window is closing unless they travel north again.

[amygdalae]

Bruce doesn't know what Anders expects of him here. Rage? They both know what an astronomically bad idea it is, and Bruce would rather do literally anything else than to unleash that onto anybody. And yes, he did feel bad for the boy, and it was painful that a child had to die and he wishes it hadn't been so, but what other options were there? When you become an abomination there were only so few options left to you. Death was a mercy by that point.

(Except when you're Anders, his mind supplies spitefully, but Bruce pushes that away.)

"I already said I can't help you," he says, as calmly and as neutrally as he can while continuing to pack up his things. "I've moved on from that already. All I just want to do now is to do my job here while the Inquisition still exists." And after that... who knows, really. The whole travelling around thing seemed to work out, so maybe he might do that again. Or maybe he could head back to Seheron and continue to do his old work there. As long as there was war and suffering going around, he'll always have something to do.

[eolasemah]

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

[eolasemah]

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."

[gatheringstorm]

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.

still so embarrassed about that typo

[chainlightning]

Attention is best, but treats are also best. (He is a dog, all things can be Best.) Attention for Merrill is good too though, so he's content to chew on the treat for now, while Merrill is pleased that the hug is returned -- and wouldn't, in truth, mind being picked up or even spun around.

"You definitely have to have a good idea of the soil and what exactly is going on, or you can make things worse, but if you do? I think it's worth it." Better for the refugees, for merchants, for mages -- all in all, not bad for one spell.

[chainlightning]

Unfortunately for Barkley, he's more mutt than mabari. He's larger than Purrelden, but not by much. He yips a bit in surprise but then settles, even though he's trying to turn his head to greet Purrelden with a sniff and a wagging tail.

Pride isn't all it's cracked up to be, Anders. Take it from Merrill. "Well, if you ever need them cast on someone, I'm just a sending crystal away. Unless I'm somewhere else, obviously -- I'm not even actually sure who else can do Entropy magic here. It's not something most people advertise." Which Merrill finds ridiculous, for the exact reasons that made her display it. It can be useful, and not just for combat.

"If anyone does, I think rocks will be thrown back. A lot of people seem to really find this interesting, even non-mages." It's definitely something.

[eolasemah]

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.

[gatheringstorm]

"I know it's just asking for ox-jokes, but I might have to learn more of earth-magic later. Not that I'm a farmer, but it'd still be helpful to pass that on. I'm trying to finish Knight-Enchanter training before I do anything else, though. If Vivienne thought I wasn't giving it due attention, she'd probably stop training me." And Korrin will pass on that; they disagree on everything politically-speaking, but she wants to keep proving that she's up to the challenge.

[gatheringstorm]

"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."

[failedfirst]

Velanna knows well the dangers of magic. She's been burned of course, but the fear she sees in the young apprentices in Skyhold, the fear she has seen in so many who knew she was a Dalish mage, that is behavior taught with Circles.

"I do agree, but without allowing growth, forcing mages all to fit into some... box, that is what creates dangerous mages. I have said this before, it is rare for a Dalish mage to become an abomination, because we are not taught to never explore the reach our power has, but to do it with caution." That and the Dalish generally don't deal with Spirits because they're considered bad news, regardless of origin. Velanna's friendship with Justice made her question that train of thought, and went to show that even the Dalish don't know all there is to know about magic.

[failedfirst]

"He's quite pleasant to most others, actually," Velanna comments a little airily, smiling slightly as she strokes her hand over the kitten's back. "It's just you he doesn't like." Which means her cat has impeccable taste, in her opinion.

[amygdalae]

Bruce hums quietly as he mulls over her words. He can see the point that she's making, but what the Dalish do and what humans do were very different. Could humans actually do what the Dalish have practiced? Could humans be trusted to that degree? In his experience, that was--hard. Very hard.

"I suppose I'm not really the best judge for what is right or what is wrong," he admits after a few moments. "I've had too many experiences that show me all the negatives that magic has to really appreciate the good parts of it." Summon fire and you get burned. Call forth a storm and you might get zapped. Ice brings the risk of frostbite when you were not prepared for it, and spirits--

Well. Spirits.

Bruce shrugs. "Maybe one day in the far future we'll finally find the best way to use magic without it becoming an uncertain threat."

[eolasemah]

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."

[gatheringstorm]

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."

[eolasemah]

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."

[gatheringstorm]

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.

[eolasemah]

"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."

[gatheringstorm]

"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."

[justice_is_blond]

He nods; it makes sense that a preservation spell came from spoiled food. And it's a very useful spell, too.

"Between the two spells, the preservation and the road-making, a mage could be a useful asset for any number of traders." Fruit, meat, vegetables, traders could take them all even further. The only thing to worry about is mages being treated as objects or slaves, rented or sold for that. It's something to be wary about... but not yet. Right now they've the chance at this on their own terms.

"As far as the swimming goes..." Anders exhales and looks around as if a good place would present itself. It doesn't. "We can review in the hot springs, but it's not going to be a good place to truly practice and build muscle. How are you with the cold? My swim across Lake Calenhad was not... in the best weather, and it didn't kill me..."

[justice_is_blond]

"She is," he agrees quietly, glad that Bethany's still using present tense despite how they've not heard from Hawke in quite some time. The other he'll leave be. There were worse places to be poor in than Lowtown.

"I'll leave you to your next round of teaching, shall I?"