[Open]

[lyriumcarved]

WHO: Fenris and YOU!
WHAT: Fenris is back around Skyhold, catch-all prompts for the month!
WHEN: March/Drakonis
WHERE: Around Skyhold
NOTES: No warnings likely, just the occasional grumping from a certain elf here.

Herald's Rest

Not long after he returns to Skyhold, Fenris inevitably ends up in the tavern. He's been exhaustively busy over the time that he's been away… so of course some drinks are in order. His own stash is largely depleted, and who knows when he’ll next get a chance to replenish it? He orders a bottle of wine, but refrains from using the glass that he’s given. Nope, this is one of those times. Fenris simply grabs the bottle and starts drinking it down…

Stables

At the moment, Fenris isn’t really planning to get a mount. It’s something he may consider if he does stay longer at Skyhold, however, because it could come in handy for getting around the expanse of Ferelden or Orlais, for that matter. Who knows where the Inquisition may take him? Not that he's planning to be anything more than loosely affiliated with it. It's his choice to be here and it'll be his choice if he wants to leave again. That's essential for him to keep in mind. He'll always make sure to have an escape route, when it comes to this sort of thing.

So he’s wandering through the stables, glancing curiously at what’s there. The nuggalopes get particular attention, since they’re totally new to him. "Imagine that… Giant nug-beasts."

Gardens

“I still don’t trust that demons or spirits cannot listen in on this thing…”

He mutters to himself as he’s settled in the garden, staring intently at his Crystal as he looks through the most recent messages. He’d rather not speak into it, at least for now, so instead, he’s just getting himself caught up. Sure, nothing bad has come of it so far, and it didn’t before… but he still doesn’t entirely like it.

Wandering: Wildcard Location!

At some point, Fenris decides to get a look around, mostly to see if anything has changed. But he’s actually quietly trying to see who's still around that he recognizes, too. There are people he’d like to see if possible… and also people he’d like to avoid if he can. He’s not one for formally announcing his presence, preferring to remain down low about being around. Like a ghost or a stray, he’s kind of just slipped back into life here without making a big deal of it.

So he’s on the prowl, so to speak, looking for familiar faces all over Skyhold. He’ll drop by most anywhere, approaching those he knows, and eventually interrupting whatever they’re doing. “It’s been a while.”

Comments

[lyriumcarved]

Green hair is definitely a novelty in Thedas. He's fairly sure that look hasn't caught on in even Orlais, though they'd be the ones to start such a trend. He isn't too weirded out by her other than her appearance, at least. He's long since decided to make the effort not to dismiss all rifters as demons.

"Yes, it's my understanding they aren't 'activated' unless we wish it to be so... even then, I worry they may pick up what's said here and transmit it through to the Fade..." But, well, he's here and if he's really going to stick around he has to get used to certain things about the Inquisition. "Though I may be overly cautious. Those in charge of this Inquisition aren't complete fools, they must know what they're doing by using these."

Maybe a little foolish, giving mages so much free reign, but in other respects they seem to be making progress in their war.

[blessedmaiden]

Who knows, maybe it's the newest trend in terms of hair dyes! And at least she isn't keeping living pets between her hair unlike... some other people. Orlesians are so weird...

"Any communication device has its pros and cons and there's always the risk of letters to be lost, messengers to be captured or... shards to let informations known to the rest. It's up to us to make sure that more sensible informations stay... safe. Regardless of what we use." At least, that's her idea. And, as usual, she's not shy in sharing her point of view. "Still, one has to apprecate those who don't blindly put their trust in something new and unknown." On the inquisition... yes, they're not fools, but Rydia feels too much like a prisoner to completely appreciate them.

[lyriumcarved]

"Ah, yes... that's always a possibility. But a paper letter is unlikely to be intercepted by demons or spirits, unlike through this. Anything magical has a connection to the Fade, after all..." He's not sure which prospect worries him more: that demons could listen in, or that they might find some way to communicate and ensnare mages in that way. Either is... not too pleasant to consider.

He looks at her and nods. At least she seems to understand. "I refuse to put my trust in anything new, unknown, and magical. All three of those attributes are just a recipe for disaster."

[blessedmaiden]

Is magic hostility what she hears? Big surprise in Thedas... but Rydia is already tired to argue with people about how magic itself isn't bad. "People can be equally bad. And at least you know what to expect from a demon, it's definitely harder to know what to expect from another person. One has to be cautious, no matters what they decide to use to contact others. Well... at least this is my point of view, sir."

"Well, those crystals aren't completely new and unknown, the inquisition seems to know what they're doing with them and other things..." like the shards all rifters carry around, Rydia isn't too convinced that they're not trying to hide something from them "but it'll be up to you to decide if to use them or not. Or if you could use them to try to deceive eventual demons or spirits, in case they're actually listening."

[lyriumcarved]

"People can be bad, I agree, and even more when they have the power of magic at their fingertips, and unrestrained power to go with it." But on the flip side of that, there are people who are good, and yes, even mages. It's not something he cares to admit readily, but he's met some who were perfectly acceptable, and restrained in their attitudes toward using their powers. At least she's talking about caution, which is something Fenris believes essential for any dealings with magic.

"True, and I've seen them before when I was here not long ago. But... I still prefer to maintain caution." And something about being back in the Inquisition and having this thing to carry around again... he has to get used to it. He has to wrap his mind around the idea of working for this group that's so much bigger than himself. "While that's an amusing thought, I would prefer not to communicate with demons or spirits at all costs, and I would advise anyone else to do the same. The danger they pose..."

[blessedmaiden]

"Give people power in any form and some will abuse it, in my opinion it's not just something tied with magic." In her world there are mages everywhere and there are rarely issues with that. If anything, between Zeromus and the creator, one would learn to be wary of aliens instead. "To gie you some context... I come from a world where magic is extremely prominent, we have three large cities that dedicated themselves to the study of it, as far as we know we never had issues with them. Technology, on the other hand, managed to prove itself... dangerous. What I'm tring to say is that... even a sword is totally harmless until it doesn't end in the wrong hands. Then again I'm aware this world is wary of mages and everyone is entitled to their own opinion"

Rydia nods "Which is perfectly fine, sir, it's good to be cautious." She shrugs, then, that's... not exactly what she meant "I wasn't suggesting you to communicate with them, not directly, but you could purposefully offer wrong informations- after, of course, agreeing with the person receiving the message. There's probably no one listening, as far as we know, but assuming there is it would do us no harm feeding them lies... at least this is what I think."

[lyriumcarved]

She's not entirely wrong, even he has to admit that. "Yes, any weapon can be dangerous in the wrong hands... the only problem is that magic is one of the most powerful and terrible weapons, and leads to the worst disasters when used in the wrong way... A sword can only strike down so many enemies at a time, but magic... I've seen how it can ruin lives." He's experienced it firsthand, but that's something to get into some other time. For now, he sighs. "Though... I'm surprised to hear of a world where magic worked so well. What keeps people from attacking other nations, or enslaving those without power?"

Maybe Thedas is just especially horrible somehow, who knows? There are other things such as the relations between races to consider too.

"At least for now... there's been no evidence that anything is there, listening in. It doesn't mean it's not possible, eventually. We should still stay wary." Just in case. He's never one to drop his guard around magic, though.

[blessedmaiden]

She's just sharing her opinion.. and while she's not always right, far from it, her somehow simplistic point of view is far too often shared "A well crafted bomb can take away an equally high number of lives and that's something that can be created without magic. A plague too... and there's nothing magical in that. And while I recognize that magic can be dangerous I also wonder what can't really turn into a problem? Does one really need magic to enslave other creatures?" Well, at least he seems reasonable enough instead of going against magic just because it's magic "Oh, I see. I understand how bad experiences can shape one to be diffident of something but because it's that thing. And... if I can be honest, I think we're just more... balanced. We don't have magic... racial or financial issues like you do in this world. I'm not saying Thedas isn't a good place to live in, just... different. And sometimes I can't wrap my head around it..." There's a long pause, there "And- We had countries taking over other ones, it's not all roses and daisies, but having strong magical users in all sides always balanced conflicts... somehow?" And once again most of her world's issues come from overly-advanced civilizations, non from pacific magic users in Mysidia or Troia...

She nods in his direction "Of course, there's nothing wrong in being wary of something unknown." on that at least both seems to agree.

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris frowns when she talks of bombs, unable to stop from thinking about the Kirkwall chantry and the mage who'd blown it up. He sighs. "No, you don't need magic to enslave others, but the ones in this world who use such barbaric practices tend to be very powerful mages, regardless." But such is the culture of Thedas, and the ways of Tevinter magisters. "But that being said, I've known mages who are better than that." It's just that... he isn't so willing to trust mages until they prove themselves that way.

At least this rifter woman seems to be... reasonable enough, even though she definitely seems to be defensive about mages. Fenris sighs again. "Exactly. Fear of the unknown is wise, and can ensure one's survival..." He knows well to trust his instincts by now, it was the only way he made it all that time on the run.