[open] Te Vene or Not Te Vene

[altusimperius]

WHO: Benedict and you
WHAT: Learn how not to get immediately killed in Tevinter
WHEN: Justinian
WHERE: the Gallows library
NOTES: will update as needed

In the summer evenings, Benedict can be found holding court in the library, sitting at a table stacked with books and usually bearing a glass of wine or tea. Unless occupied by his pupils, he's often doodling listlessly on a sheet of parchment, quite a lot of them having amassed around him over the idle hours.

As advertised in his crystal announcement, he's here to teach the language and customs of the Tevinter Imperium, at least enough to make a successful tourist or, Maker forbid, prisoner.

Comments

[shri]

At the very least, she is a strong woman. Lean and hard to suit those bite marks, the sort of life surviving such a thing makes you.

"I hope so. I look forward to not having to fear the silence as much as I have. I am glad to learn perhaps that there is something better in... other places."

As far as she is concerned, at least there weren't children being eaten alive. It made any other day better, really.

[altusimperius]

"Perhaps." Taking another pensive sip of his tea, Benedict thinks over what he's seen, what they've discussed.
"Do, however, beware abominations: mages who have given themselves over to demons. Any mage consorting with them at all is playing with fire and not to be trusted."

[shri]

That - makes her eyebrows rise. "Why ever would they do such a thing?" Thinks only - of the stories of Lord Rama and Lakshman. Refusing the demon-woman who tried to ensnare them with her beauty and they struck back as they refused.

[altusimperius]

"The temptation grows too strong," Bene replies, deadly serious for once, "a demon will offer power, riches, desires beyond the mage's wildest dreams, and they'll listen. With a few notable exceptions, they rarely get what they bargained for."

[shri]

"Surely they know better than to accept that gift."

Horrified - but then she had always been the type of woman that worked with her own hands to gain what she wanted. No more, no less. A stubborn push of hard labour all her years long. "and they become monsters from this?"

[altusimperius]

"Surely," Bene echoes, and shakes his head with a shrug. "There are fools in every group of people, regardless of birthright. Those who ignore the warnings, or, as we see down south with the harried and uneducated apostates, don't know what they are to begin with. From what I've seen, possession is far more likely to occur in a mage who feels cornered, and therefore far more likely to occur in areas of great persecution."

[shri]

"Naturally." She grimaces, disappointed, but not even slightly surprised. "And even with these risks, in your home... mages are rulers over all others? I take it you come down harder on your own to balance such problems?"

Or so, she hoped so. She most definitely hoped so.

[altusimperius]

Benedict shrugs one shoulder. "In Ferelden all the nobility fight with swords and dogs, and I imagine they have their own share of serious accidents." Never mind that a stabbing or a mad dog still pales in comparison to the power of an abomination, but he considers it a decent point.

"As I said, consorting with spirits and certainly with demons is frowned upon. And social status is everything."

[shri]

"I ought to hope so." She taps her fingers, a little in consideration because she has one obvious concern. One that is openly painted on her body, raised lines on the otherwise well-kept skin. At odds with the bright colours of her garments, the gold glittering in her hair.

"I have never waged war with a demon. Tell me, if you are not a mage, how does one kill such a thing?"

[altusimperius]

"Truth be told, I haven't either," Bene admits, "but once the demon has left the Fade, it's a mortal thing that can be slain like any other beast. It helps to have safeguards against its particular magic, but in that way it'd be no different from fighting a mage." He inspects his fingernails. "And in the case of an abomination, you may as well be."

[shri]

"So my blade is then as good as your magic?"

Careful, but maybe, just a little teasing. See how thin his pride truly was over being a mage.

[altusimperius]

He pauses, his eyebrows raising with a smirk of surprise. "In this way, perhaps," Bene concedes.

[shri]

Arrogant, but that at least, she can like, when it is well founded. For she has a great many faults, but at least hypocrisy isn't amongst them when it comes to pride over her own skills. Sips her tea, polite as anything, smoothing over her vibrant fabric.

"Perhaps only just the very skilled."