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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.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fenris makes a disgusted expression, because it's very very hard to imagine himself as a mage, for one thing. He's spent most of his life either fearing or despising most mages, so it's a little bit... unpleasant to even go there. He scowls, getting a familiar tension in his back and stretching a little as he considers.

"I wouldn't have sacrificed others' lives for the sake of my own supposed freedom. I would have seen the value in the Circles and the freedom they can provide... yes, freedom... from possession, freedom to learn and study... and the structure to prevent mages from falling to practicing dangerous, terrible spells. The mages in the Circles had it far better than some of us ever did in other situations. I doubt I would have cared to fight against what was in place, in such a position."

Circles had a purpose, and mages benefited in his way of seeing it, far more than some of the down sides.

"My, my. Freedom does seem to mean many different things to people," he mused, not really interested in an argument or debate about what constituted dangerous, terrible spells.

"I have only heard others' accounts of the Circles. If what you say is true, how very, very terrible the lives of those outside them must be."

"It can be. Mages must be constantly vigilant against the risk of demonic possession, and without the proper guidance it's all the more difficult... Some rare ones can manage it, and some cannot." He thinks about Bethany, who he'd been initially suspicious of, but who had proven herself one of the stronger mages, the sort not ruined by power. Inessa is in a similar position, though she had a Circle upbringing. "And some others can be corrupted by their power, using it to conquer others they see as beneath them... Visit Tevinter and you'll see what I mean by that."

"I have heard of what is done in Tevinter."

There was a rare edge to the Medicine Seller's usual monotone. A hint of disgust, though the moment of genuine emotion was quickly buried.

"One need not travel so far to see a lust for power and control consume men," said the Medicine Seller, once again even-toned. One didn't even need to look to mages - plenty of people with more money, status or charisma than conscience were perfectly capable of committing atrocities on a daily basis.

Good. He seems disgusted by the ways of Tevinter. As anyone should be. "And what's done in Tevinter is the result of mages being unrestrained." That's the point he's constantly trying to make with people, which is constantly dismissed by the pro-mage types. Sigh. They have no idea what they're really advocating.

But the Medicine Seller does have a fair point, as well, and Fenris nods. "I won't argue that power can corrupt in anyone's hands, mage or not. Mages just pose more of a threat when it happens."

"Perhaps," said the Medicine Seller. "Though in time, that may change. Tevinter is already in its twilight."

Magic was not likely keep up with technology - fireballs and blood magic would give way to bombs and mustard gas. The 'how' men enacted inventive cruelties upon each other would change. The 'why' would stay exactly the same.

"Let's hope so. Tevinter has such a long history and I expect it'll go down thrashing and kicking when the time comes." Because it can't go out quietly or easily. Still, he hopes to be in on its downfall somehow.

What would rise in its place, he wonders. The way the magisters rule can't happen again, that much is certain.

"Even the oldest mountains crumble to dust," he mused. He shifted his icy stare from the gardens, casting a sidelong glance to Fenris.

"You are very keen on their downfall."

It was a statement, not a question, spoken in that aggravatingly slow monotone.

"Could it be that you have been there?"

"A hopeful sentiment." One which he would greatly like to believe in, when it comes to this situation. All things must end, that's a truth which may seem pretty harsh sometimes, but to him it's the best thing there is, knowing that even the magisters must fall eventually.

His expression darkens, clearly the Medicine Seller is correct in his assumption, just based on the reactions alone. Oh, yes, that's a whole long story in itself, one which is full of awful things. "I was born and grew up there, and I'm not eager to return ever again."

"Sometimes there is truth in hope. Time brings change, and Tevinter lingers in its past glories."

It would adapt to changing times or it would crumble - either way, it would be the death of Tevinter of old.

The Medicine Seller's own expression remained impassive as ever. Despite appearances, he was weighing Fenris's words with care.

"I have heard that elves do well to avoid Tevinter," he said. "Is that why you came here?"

"That it does. Who knows if it's even possible for them to move beyond their past." It's a dark past for sure, and the whole nation remains heavily steeped in so many awful traditions. He would gladly watch it crumble.

That's... where does he even begin? It's been a while. But in some ways, he's not wrong about how he's ultimately ended up here. "It's a longer story than I care to tell right now, but yes. In Tevinter, elves generally aren't given much choice in occupation."

"People are capable of many things," said the Medicine Seller. "Even moving beyond their past."

Though sometimes they needed to be physically cut away from it, so to speak.

He watched as Fenris deliberated over a way to answer his remark without actually answering. It seemed like a touchy subject and there was no actual need to needle him about it beyond the Medicine Seller's own curiosity.

"Should the need to go there ever arise, I shall be sure to be careful then."

"Some are given no chance to move beyond that past." His own past is intertwined so much with the present, with who and what he's become, that he somehow doubts he'll ever be fully free of it.

"I'm glad you'll take that caution. Thedas can be a harsh place by some standards, but Tevinter contains the worst of humanity. Mages who would enslave others and use their power with malevolent intentions..."

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