The Days That Bind Us 2: Still Bound

[exequy]

WHO: Mages, anyone else who cares
WHAT: Give us liberty or give us potatoes, or: a most noble strike for a most noble purpose, or: pissy mage babies throw a tantrum
WHEN: 14-19 Cloudreach 9:44
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: This is for consolidating RP regarding the strike. Your character doesn't have to be striking themselves to top-level or tag around, as long as it's tangentially related.

The morning of Cloudreach 14, with minimal fanfare, a significant fraction of the Circle mages working with the Inquisition across Thedas stops showing up for work. On the other hand, a significant fraction doesn't stop. But the not-working fraction is significant enough to cause problems, and for the Inquisition to not delay or prolong the discussions already set to take place at Skyhold with a few representatives of the aggrieved mages and a number of Templar and Chantry representatives.

In the Gallows, most of the mages who are refusing to work relocate—voluntarily, unless being scowled at by Kostos Averesch qualifies as being forced against one's will—to the dusty recruits' quarters in the former Templar tower for an indefinite, politicized slumber party, featuring uncomfortable bunk beds and a lot of unseasoned starches. For a cause.

ooc | Remember that striking characters are generally losing access to confidential information, Inquisition equipment or materials, and any amenities, comforts, or privileges beyond the "plain potatoes for dinner" and "not thrown out into the streets" level.

Comments

[foundmyselfagain]

“Nothing is mindless drivel, if you’re bored enough.” Gareth is aware that the other man isn’t a circle mage—who even heard of qunari being allowed in the circles?—so he’s not snappy at Alacruun for not joining them. He supposed that coming here and talking to them could be taken as a show of support, which is useful enough for now.

Maybe if the negotiations begin to involve outside mages, they’ll start being more active in the protest.

“This is pretty interesting, though.” Sitting up from his spot on the bed, Gareth turns the book to show the front to Alacruun. “It’s talking about the lasting effects of heavy magic use on the flora and fauna around where it’s taking place. Mostly around Circles, obviously, but the author went to places where apostates has been living for a while, as well.” He taps the book’s cover, eyes shining with interest, like the fucking nerd that he is.

[coiledscales]

"A fair point," Alacruun allows iwth a sigh. There were times when he would've killed someone for something to read - even a cookbook or something horrifically mundane and dull. Anything to keep his mind occupied. Fortunately, he doesn't have that problem anymore. At least for now. And at least for the moment, his conversation partner seems to have something much more interesting than that.

His eyes flicker with interest and he leans down to get a better look at the title and author, listening to Gareth's description. Now that sounds worthwhile. He glances up at Gareth and then straightens with a little grin on his face.

"Now that sounds like something I would like to read at some point. I know that magic - especially overuse - has a tendency to affect the material realm in unexpected ways, but I'm not sure how that applies to this world or how those theories might be useful. What does the author say about it...? Anything insightful?"

[foundmyselfagain]

Gareth leans forward, eager to share, and promptly launches into a detailed explanation about the various ways that magic can affect them, particularly depending on school of magic that heavily predominated use--entropy is, naturally, the worst for plantlife, etc etc.

"...And that is why the author recommends against trying to actually eat Ghoul's Beard, but honestly, if you're dumb enough to do that without a warning, you deserve it." He finishes, then gestures at the book in question. "Pretty sure there's a copy in the library, which you're allowed to check out, since you're not one of us."

At 'us', he gestures to the mages mulling around him. You know, the cool striking kids. "But if you keep it checked out after the strike is over and I go back to minding the library, I'll have to come after you."

[coiledscales]

Oh, be still his beating heart. He's found someone who enjoys bantering about magical theory and impact as much as he does. Alacruun is very happy to pull u pa chair and listen, interjecting now and again with a question or raising a point of clarification or a bit of his own (admittedly limited) understanding of how things work in this world. As it winds down, he looks rather pleased with himself - and Gareth.

"I'll have to take a look at it, then, and see what insights I can glean from it. Admittedly, I am a 'rifter', so my understanding of how all of this works is a bit limited currently, but I hope to further my knowledge and be up to speed very quickly."

There's a glint in his eyes and a smile on his lips.

"Libraries are very nearly sacred, so I'll do my best not to trespass - but I make no promises if I find it particularly engrossing. You may have to pry it out of my hands, yet."

It's half a joke, half deadly serious. He's already collected a stack of notes and scribblings in his room.