[Closed] I've got the magic in me

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Five billion mages.
WHAT: The mages Anders has invited mingle
WHEN: The tenth of Wintermarch
WHERE: A warehouse in the docks
NOTES: None atm.

The warehouse is set up pretty sparsely. Part of the warehouse is taken up by a table of food next to a table of drinks next to a table of plates and cups that don't match, near a lot of scattered chairs. A short space away is a deliberate oval of chairs because he, at least, is amused in making sure no circle shapes occur here. Finally, there's a table with a stack of scraps of parchment.

When everyone's gathered and is starting to mingle, Anders stands up and clears his throat.

"Thank you for coming." It takes work to look calm and confident. This feels so important to him and he doesn't want to make a mess of it. "Obviously the food and drink is self-explanatory," he says with a faint smile before gesturing at the oval, "As far as the rest, I figured we could have a small area set up for serious discussion, any heavy matters that people want to talk about, easily joined and left or ignored completely."

He jerks a thumb in the direction of the last table. "Finally, the parchment is for writing down anything you particularly want to teach or learn. Put your name on it, and people can page through them and be in contact. And I think that's enough from me."

Comments

Food and Mingle

[justice_is_blond]

[Hit up the tables, grab one of the scattered chairs. Colin's presence, to anyone that asks, is explained as a business owner considering taking a mage apprentice.

Toss up a top level and poke everyone else!]

Srs Corner

[justice_is_blond]

[Quick-tag style discussion here, no tag order, have your character start a topic and then let other mages pile in rapid-fire style.]

The Wrap

[justice_is_blond]

[As people depart, Anders is checking in on them to see what they thought, what they'd like changed or added, what needs to be worked on in their opinion, and so on. Anyone is free to come and speak their mind.]

Anything else?

[justice_is_blond]

[Got something that doesn't fit one of the other categories? Pop it on up.]

Anders

[justice_is_blond]

He gets his food somewhere in the middle of the group and grabs a chair off to the side to start, munching and watching. Whatever happens, it's a start. Anyone who comes near is smiled at as he gestures to one of the chairs nearby.

"Please, join me."

Colin

[keenly]

Ingredients aren't all that varied with the food shortages, but Colin has managed to put together something a little more special than his daily lunch affairs. Being a port city, seafood is still easiest to come by. The chef has dressed up two whole salmon, beautifully marbled with natural fats and roasted with an intensely savory marinade. There is also a pork bone soup with barley, fresh bread, a ham quiche, and rosquillas--Antivan donuts with lemon zest (a preserved vial of which Colin felt triumphant to secure) and anise.

The chef himself looks pleased with the work he has done, perhaps even a little smug, but for whatever reason, he's lingering instead of vanishing so the mages can get on with their business.

[keenly]

"How do we keep things from going back to the way they were?"

Colin has been hovering silently by the table, leaning back against the wall with his arms folded, listening. The question is posed calmly, during a long silence in the conversation.

[justice_is_blond]

It's the 'we' that gets his eyebrow raised. Is Colin starting to come to terms with being a mage?

"I think part of it is we become indispensable. Get people wanting what magic can do in their lives - better health, roads, crops..."

Table!

[justice_is_blond]

[Write down what's on offer for teaching, or what someone might be looking to learn, magical, practical, a mix, the sky's the limit.]

[justice_is_blond]

"This is impressive, thank you." It had been clear from Colin's stall that he could cook, bsut this is still a lot of effort gone to for a group that Colin has been trying to keep distance from. "You should be as proud as you look."

He takes a donut and starts snacking on it, trying not to indulge his Warden appetite just yet. If there's a bunch leftover after the rest have had firsts, then he'll go for seconds.

"How long did this take?"

Inessa

[circleprodigy]

The youngest Grey Warden mage arrives a little late, but still early enough for the bulk of the proceedings. Garahel is naturally at her side, the mabari especially fascinated by the scent of ham, but he doesn't whine or go around begging. When she gathers some tea -please, Maker, let there be tea- and some ham quiche along with rosquillas, Garahel dutifully follows her to a seat, where he plops down and wags his tail at anyone he recognizes. Inessa likewise acknowledges them with a nod and smile, hoping the sweets and some conversation can revive her flagging energy.

"And how are you this evening?"

[keenly]

"All day." He doesn't look like he regrets it at all. "And I am, thank you. I'll probably sleep well tonight."

[circleprodigy]

"That is certainly a vital part of it, I agree." Inessa inclines her head. "What's also vital is showing that we can self-govern, in a way that does not echo the corruption of Tevinter. If the Circle is not to survive, it's in our best interests if we ourselves shape that." Better to have it done on their own terms, rather than the Chantry swoop in to 'fix' it. They won't be without a Divine forever, but she doesn't say that when she's certain it's on everyone's minds.

[keenly]

Colin offers a tiny wave before bringing out a napkin with the pork bone that made the soup in it. He offers it to Garahel before answering.

"Tired, but fulfilled. The way you're supposed to be after cooking all day. What about you?"

[circleprodigy]

Immediately perking up, Garahel happily snags that pork bone. This is certainly okay, since someone offered and he wasn't making a pest of himself. Inessa smiles at that, before it turns sympathetic as she nods in agreement with Colin.

"Much the same, actually. Not about the cooking -which is wonderful, by the way- but the rest is an accurate summation of the day. After drafting plans for my project, I spent some quality time with Potato. She's been so restless thanks to the weather, so I had to take her out for a ride once it cleared. Thedas never saw a more joyful griffon, I suspect. Her enthusiasm was a little exhausting in the end, but it was still definitely worthwhile. We're working well as a team."

[justice_is_blond]

He shakes his head, smiling faintly. Colin has dedication and drive, and not for the first time Anders wishes the young mage didn't want to hide... but part of this is about giving mages freedom to live how they pleased. He wants safety as anyone does. He has a right to it.

"I'll probably be tossing and turning and contemplating everything I could have done better after the fact, so it's good to know someone will sleep well." It's delivered warmly. "If we're lucky, this meeting will help a few people with the sleeping. Where... Are you staying in the Gallows? Or do you have a place above your shop?"

[keenly]

"Your project is the one about the rifts?" Colin sips from his own mug of tea.

[justice_is_blond]

"A little nervous, a little hopeful," he says as he takes a chair, keeping his plate high enough that he thinks it might be less tempting. Dogs are... still not in his comfort zone, exactly. He's good with Lady, getting there slowly with Garahel, but dogs are not cats.

"And you? I see you've brought the usual date along."

[circleprodigy]

"Yes, indeed." Inessa takes a bite of a rosquilla, savoring the lemony taste. Keeping to her manners, she only speaks after clearing her throat. "It involves rifts, the Veil, and the anchors that rifters and some natives bear. I joined because of my interest in rift magic, but when it's previous leader departed, I threw my hat into the ring."

[circleprodigy]

"He's been so patient all day with just us in the office, so I thought he'd like to see other people, too." That's one reason, anyway. Garahel is as much a ward against unwanted attention on the streets as her Grey Warden armor, which never comes off when she's outside the Gallows. "Don't worry, he's been well-fed beforehand, and Colin's gift of a ham bone should sate him."

Garahel takes the hint, eyeing the plate for a moment, but not whining or jumping up to it. He just wags his tail at Anders and yawns, settling down. "Beginnings are always a little nerve-wracking, but the fact that many have agreed to this is cause for hope. Perhaps all this community needed was a little push."

[justice_is_blond]

Offering of sounding board and sometimes-mentor, with some guidance or advice or even discussion about coming to one's views.

~Benevenuta Thevenet

[justice_is_blond]

Available, lessons in:
Creation magic
Raising a cat
Training a cat
Non-magical emergency medicine
Herblore
Adult uses for magic
Potion crafting
Lockpicking
Basic building reinforcement with magic
Sewing

See Anders for any of these.

[circleprodigy]

Offering:

Rift Mage specialization
Ice elemental magic
Entropy magic (especially hexes)
Mabari training/combat training

Seeking: Fellow Necromancers, either for discussion or mentoring.

Please see Inessa Serra

[gatheringstorm]

Teaching:

Battlemage and Knight-Enchanter specializations
Lightning magic
General utility magic
Non-magical self-defense

Come see Korrin Ataash

[keenly]

See Colin for:
Mathematics and bookkeeping
Cooking and baking


Seeking:
Discreet spirit magic tutor
Shopkeeping apprentice