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WHO: Kain and OPEN
WHAT: Getting used to things at Skyhold, preparing for the upcoming mission
WHEN: Between returning from the Mire and leaving on the war table mission
WHERE: Training grounds, and generally around Skyhold
NOTES: Content warning: Kain's sense of fashion.

Training Grounds

Of course, one of the first places that Kain checks out in Skyhold is the training grounds. Anything else can wait, it's more important for him to be at his best... especially with what they're facing here. He's still getting used to everything, coming to terms with the gods' war being over for him, and with the fact that it hadn't been the end he'd expected.

So Kain can be seen practicing with his spear, slicing up targets with the well-practiced ease of a skilled warrior. Every so often he throws in something probably a lot less... expected... like a mighty Jump or a blast of Cyclone. He's intent on what he's doing, but definitely open to sparring should anyone be around.

Around Skyhold

To go along on this mission, he's got to blend in. Which means that, unfortunately, it really isn't such a great idea to wear his typical dragoon gear out there. Way too noticeable for someone posing as a hunter.

He's somehow thrown together an especially garish combination of colors and patterns for his current attempt at "blending in". There's plaidweave of course, so much plaidweave, along with ring velvet, silk, ram leather... The whole thing isn't exactly... the greatest combination of patterns and colors (but since when has Kain known how to dress aside from armor?).

He doesn't seem to notice anything amiss as he explores the area some more. There are two main places he's most likely to be run into: He's especially fond of walking high along the castle battlements and towers, where he spends a lot of time. But he will also take a break for a drink later on in the tavern as well.

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Bruce doesn't really interact much with the Rifters - not because he's distrustful of them or anything. It's simply that Bruce doesn't quite know how to talk to them, considering how strange and different everyone of them are. Its a bit hard to really get used to it, even after all this time. And now, apparently, there were more of them. Although this one is a little--well.

The armor was certainly interesting, if anything.

Despite everything Bruce can't help but stare a little when he sees the Rifter walking up to the battlements in his strange attire of armor and--other things. He almost nearly adds too much embrium from all the staring, but Bruce manages to catch himself on time before that happens. Maybe he should start to reconsider his idea of making his brews up here if things like this keep happening.

For his part, Kain hasn't gone too out of his way to meet a lot of people, either, needing to either train or prepare for the mission, or some other "practical" task. But it probably is a good idea to get to know his allies, not to mention learn more about this place... so he'll try and give a greeting to those who he approaches.

Which is what he does as he notices Bruce, at work with some sort of concoction. And staring, which really should be a big hint that something is amiss with these clothes. "Making a potion of some sort?"

Bruce blinked at first when the strange Rifter addressed him, looking fairly surprised, but quickly caught himself before the silence dragged on for too long.

"Ah--yes." He glanced back down at his concoction as he replied, studying it for a moment before he gave the items in his cauldron a brief stir. "It's for the patients I'm attending to tomorrow."

Kain watches curiously as he stirs in items. Potion making isn't anything he knows much about, though he used to occasionally ask Rosa about it when looking for an excuse to spend time with her.

"Then... I take it you're a white mage... I mean, a healer?" He's still used to using the typical word for it that he knows, though it's different here, he's finding out. Even more different than the otherworlders he'd met during the gods' war. The way that people act about magic in general is so unlike what he knows.

"Yes--well, surgeon, to be precise, since I'm not a mage." He quirked a wry smile towards the Rifter while responding. "But its a technicality, so don't worry about it."

Every Rifter he had met to thus far was all interesting in their own way. Their worlds, the way their culture showed in what they did and said... it was intriguing, even if incredibly terrifying at the same time. If the Rift could do this, bring all these people from worlds that they didn't even know--what other power could it bring? Just wondering about it was terrifying in and of itself.

"I didn't realize... but I suppose I'm used to something different. Where I come from, healers are always mages, specializing in white magic." He's still getting used to this world and it undoubtedly shows, in more ways than just the way he's failed at dressing up properly. Kain figures he ought to spend more time around Haven getting used to things, finding out more in a relatively safe environment, before he heads out. "This reminds me, I'll need to see to stocking up on potions before the mission..."

It was always intriguing to hear about the other worlds where these Rifters came from, despite everything. It was strange, to think that there were all these other places that his mind couldn't comprehend, and harder still to see how everything was so different. It was just such a mind-boggling concept that Bruce still couldn't wrap his head around no matter how he tried.

"It goes for both of us." He tried his best to smile again and reassure the Rifter. "And we can start with potions. What kind are you looking for, specifically?"

Indeed, it’s also just as strange to Kain, being here in this world. The war of the gods had at least been a neutral ground of sorts, with everyone pulled there from their own worlds. It feels strange, almost like he’s somewhere he’s not supposed to be, being here like this. Like he’s intruding. After everything he’s hearing about the world’s various conflicts, he definitely feels the outsider.

“I’m no mage, so I’ve no need of ethers or anything of that nature… but I assume this world has some sort of healing potions available?” He certainly always needs to stock up on those.

Bruce is quick to nod, gesturing to the concoction that was currently bubbling in his cauldron. "I'm currently making some right now, actually. If you don't mind waiting, I can give you some once I'm done."

He isn't entirely sure how effective it would be on the Rifter, but it was all only made with herbs and nothing else, so hopefully it should take without any issues.

"You have my thanks, in that case." That will let him prepare for the upcoming mission and what could lie ahead. He'd run completely out before his arrival here, after all, and hadn't had anything on him at all. Given the battle he'd been in the middle of though, it was no wonder. He glances at the potion brewing. At least that's a familiar-ish thing, not exactly the same color or consistency as the ones back home, but it should be seemingly the same.

"So... you're native to this world? Is it truly as dangerous as everyone has made it sound?" Because it seems like it's filled with demons and warring factions and perhaps worse than that.

Once again, there was another nod. "I'm native, yes." And wasn't that alone such a strange thing to say, especially when before any of this it was hard to imagine the mere idea of other worlds out there existing. "I don't know how its like where you were from, but with Thedas the last few years have been particularly tense." What with the Blight, Kirkwall blowing up and now the Breach, it almost seemed like there was no end to the troubles that would befall them.

He paused momentarily in his stirring to get some elfroot over, breaking off the leaves to drop into the cauldron, the concoction bubbling as the leaves sunk into the liquid mixture. "It's been one thing after another, so it has been a really hard time for many people."

“I just came from the midst of a war, myself… I had almost hoped I might finally earn a reprieve this time,” he adds in a dry tone, only half-serious about that. He knows better, after all, than to expect things to be completely peaceful and settled. Nowhere seems to be without its conflicts.

He watches the potion curiously as the ingredient is added, and stirred in. “I heard that a lot of the unrest involves mages… Are people truly as fearful of magic as it sounds?”

Even if he wasn't entirely serious about what he had said Bruce still couldn't help but feel bad. Considering the recent years here Bruce can feel what it must be like to be embroiled in conflict after conflict - and to be right in the thick of it, well. It certainly must be hard.

"I suppose war is the same, no matter where you are," he mused, more to himself than to the Rifter, quiet for a moment after that at the question. And that was the whole crux of the matter - magic, and mages, and how it was like in Thedas. Even before the Rifters it had always been an issue, and now with them around it seemed to be even more of a problem.

Eventually he manages a nod. "Here, in Thedas, people who can use magic can only use it because they have a conscious connection to the Fade, where demons and spirits dwell. These spirits and demons can easily use a person's connection to the Fade and take over their bodies, effectively erasing the mage's identity and turning their bodies into a monstrous creature that rampages around and ends up hurting people." His tone is solemn and quiet as he explains it out to the Rifter - he could make it sound better, he knew, but Bruce saw no reason to beat around the bush. They deserved to know, especially when it was necessary for them to.

It really is true though, Kain thinks, catching a bit of what he said. There’s no escaping war, even if it’s always fought for different reasons, whether it’s Lunarians or gods or who knows what else, he’s only just getting a feeling for the main conflict here. There are the mages and the templars, and then these more sinister forces out there… He’s definitely gotten involved in something beyond what he could have expected.

Kain looks visibly shaken when Bruce reveals that information about the Fade and the demons… He takes a moment to compose himself. There are few things which can unsettle him, but this is definitely up there. Top of that list, really. He frowns a little. Of course, he doesn’t yet understand a lot of how things work here, but even from an outsider perspective, the Templars do sound a bit heavy-handed in their approaches. “No wonder they fear what they’re capable of… but shouldn’t these mages learn how to protect themselves somehow? Can they not find some means to fight these demons? There is no worse fate than losing your mind to a dark influence like that… not even death.”

Here Bruce pauses for a bit because--well. This is probably one of the hardest parts to explain, for more reasons than one. But again these Rifers do deserve to know and Bruce can't find it in himself to deny anybody the knowledge that they seek - especially when it was something of the norm to people here, no matter how shaken up the other looks right now.

"That's why the Circles exist - they're there for the mages, to help them grow and train in an environment that's safe for them, with the Templars to aid in that effort." That had been the intention, at least, but with time and people being how they were... perhaps it was only a matter of time that the status quo would change.

"Ah, I see... so these Circles aren't meant to necessarily imprison the mages? But... to provide them with a controlled environment of a sort, to protect them?" Kain's questions are just complete curiosity, because he's heard a lot of differing things about the Circles and their role. This man at least seems like he may have a level head about things, so it's worth finding out what he knows. He adds anyway, "People around here seem to have... conflicting but strong opinions about that."

The curiosity was fine. There was nothing ever wrong with curiosity and the desire to know. Just as with magic, there was nothing wrong with knowledge - only in how it was used.

"That was the intention of the Circles, yes," Bruce confirms with a nod, although after that his smile slips into something more solemn, and perhaps just a little bit sad. "But each Circle is more or less self-regulated by the Templars, so sometimes there can be a misuse of authority - just as the mages can also overreach themselves and push too hard."

It does tell him some more information about the whole thing. The mages he's talked to made it sound like the Circles were a terrible thing, and yet the Templars seem to feel much the opposite. He can't help but think of home, and the mages he's known. He wouldn't want Rosa to be locked away in some Circle... but he certainly would want her to have the right sort of training... But then, in his world mages don't have to fear demons in the same way as here.

"That explains it... with such power, mages ought to understand and take caution with their capabilities... but the Templars shouldn't treat them like prisoners, either. This is the reason for all of the recent conflict, right? I've heard some about a war, and Circles disbanding...?"

"Those are the basics," Bruce confirmed with a nod, "The mages in the Circle decided to push for their own freedom for a life outside of the Circles, and the Templars reacted accordingly."

Of course, Bruce wasn't exactly clear on the specifics of that, since he didn't really quite keep up during his time on the run, but he understood enough to make something of an educated guess.

“Now we’re in the aftermath of that war? The way some talk, it seems almost as if it’s still ongoing in a way… They’ve found no resolution so far?”

Kain has to wonder about it, the whole idea still seems so strange to him. He couldn’t imagine Rosa being cloistered away somewhere, and wouldn’t want that, but if falling prey to demons were a threat… well… He knows what Cecil might think, as far as protecting her. But he knows what Rosa probably would think too, and it wouldn’t be staying back in “safety” for her supposed own good.

This time Bruce shook his head, again confirming the Rifter's thoughts. "If anything, its only gotten worse since the explosion at the Conclave. Though we do have a better idea now who did it some people still blame mages for what happened, and they lash back out accordingly."

It was a bitter, vicious, cycle, and one that wouldn't really stop until something truly did change - but for better or for worse Bruce couldn't say. Only time itself would be able to tell.

"People are often slow to change... and when they get stuck in a cycle of sorts, it's difficult to get them out." In more ways than one, he thinks, considering the literal cycles of war. But still. He's seen... similar, but obviously also different, on his own world. "So that explosion I've heard about... it wasn't mages to blame after all?" Again, it's mostly just rumors here and there he's picked up on, things which he hasn't had time to really piece together. It sounded like it sparked all of the rebelling and so on, but there's apparently more to it than that.

The explosion... the one at the Conclave? That was the more recent one after all, so Bruce assumed that was what the Rifter was speaking of.

"It's hard to say, exactly. Corypheus might be the one responsible, but he is a mage in his own right." In that was it would be inaccurate to say that it wasn't the fault of mages, but in context that wasn't right either. "I suppose the best way to put it is that the explosion at the Conclave had nothing to do with the conflict." But its effects, of course, were far too prominent and far-reaching.

It’s good information to know, and he nods, interested. There’s a lot he’s still learning about… well, everything, including this world and various explosions.

“Corypheus… I’ve heard that name a great deal, as the one to blame for all of this. Is there no reason why we cannot make a more direct attack upon him? Is he impossible to reach? Surely everyone has a weakness…” It’s typical Kain-logic to want to turn it into some sort of battle, wage war, but that’s how he operates. There have to be reasons why such a direct approach won’t work, though.

Bruce did his best not to make a face at the question of a direct attack. He wasn't a fan of fighting, generally, though he does understand the necessity of it - not that it made things easier. But besides that, there were reasons why a direct attack was not favorable.

"For one, he has forces that are much larger and more powerful than what we have right now." The Venatori and the Red Templars were the proof of that, along with that giant dragon. "Secondly... there's not much information about him. It makes it hard to do anything." All everyone really knew was that his name was from one of the magisters in Tevinter than once entered the Golden City, but until then most had assumed that to be nothing more than a myth. The fact that it could be real, now, was pretty unsettling.

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