faderift | Blood Magic

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Blood Magic - 101

WHO: James Norrington, and YOU.
WHAT: Norrington gets ambushed, for information.
WHEN: Currently
WHERE: Norrington's 'office' (aka the table he's secured outside his tent to write reports)
NOTES: Warnings for blood magic, irritated Templar and probable Mage and Templar politics abounding, as well as people asking silly questions

Honestly, he really should have seen this coming. He was a known Templar Knight Commander - he had been hunting blood mages for nearly fifteen years now. His name were on several papers on Maelficarium, and he had trained Knights all over the Free Marches and even as far away as Orlais and Fereldan on how to properly hunt and kill blood mages.

Certainly, people were going to know of him. Certainly people were going to ask him about his past experiences. It was inevitable.

What he did not expect that was after coming in at the tail-end of an abomination attack to be bombarded by questions about blood magic - from soldiers down to the common folk. They crowded around him now, and you could just hear his voice over the fray of questions, stern and sometimes even caustic.

" -- NO I am not here to execute all the apprentice mages! One of them slipped - one. That does not mean the rest of them are suddenly going to start slicing open their wrists! They are children, they are learning. Is there a danger? Yes, but I sincerely doubt any of the mages here is blatantly teaching them ancient mind control rituals... "

There was a fast murmur of questions and then Norrington's voice could be heard again. "... No. You cannot do blood magic simply by cutting your finger and cursing. If that was the case every cook in the history of Thedas would be a blood mage. There are practices that someone must follow to use blood magic. If not, that is how we get abominations and demons from those failed spells."

Another fast and loud rat-a-tat of questions, and Norrington could be seen rubbing his face, "... No, not every blood mage is a Tevinter. Nor are they all Dalish. No, the Dalish do not practice sacrificing babies with Tevinter magisters -- do you know what the majority of the slave trade is? Yes, then it stands to reason that the Dalish and the Tevinter Magisters are Not In Cahoots. And NO the Dalish are not aiding Corpheyus with their tattoos -- their tattoos are not blood magic!"

Clearly, this is going well. So if you wish to help Norrington -- or just add more fuel to the fire -- please, feel free to stop by.

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And suddenly Korrin's reminded of why she practically never takes the initiative in talking to templars in the first place. Even when they think they're being civil, something insulting always manages to slip out. Her tone matches his for dryness, keeping her temper in check but not about to let that remark go without a response.

"How very kind of you to note that. Just keep in mind that plenty of 'traveling magical bums' like myself have been working tirelessly for the Inquisition ever since the Breach, going where we're needed when we're not sitting on the Mage Council. We've contributed as much as anyone else, and that's not going to stop."

Norrington looks up at that, and is reminded, 'Oh yes, you are a giant magical bum, aren't you?' His eyes narrow at that statement, before he gives a brief nod, "Duly noted. Since the Breach, you and your apostate compatriots have been keeping people alive, helping the cause to your utmost. I will not argue that, and I apologize if it sounded like I was ungrateful for your efforts now."

He folded one hand behind him, leveling a gaze at her, "But tell me ... what did you do for the people of Thedas before that?"

That apology is noted, though Korrin doesn't especially care for the tone of the question that follows it. Or being called a 'giant magical bum'. She crosses her arms, leveling a gaze right back at him. The people closest to her begin to stand back, not about to get in the middle of this.

"I was a member of the Valo-Kas company. I still am, though I'm the only one currently in the area. I used my magic to defend my allies and help people, much as I do now. So, no, you don't get to tell me that being an apostate equals ignoring the world at large. Not only is it insulting, it's untrue. Now if you want to talk about how blood mages and abominations are messing it up for the rest of us, there you'll have my agreement."

Norrington doesn't put his hand on his weapon, nor does he take a step towards her. Violence means you have lost the argument, after all. He frowns, mostly because mercenary companies are something of a moral grey area for him. Clearly they are doing jobs for money but they are actually doing something.

Whether or not that is legal is also sometimes up for debate as well ... hm.

"Your point has merit." Because, well, it does. "So I will offer my apology to you -- and the mages you know who have been doing something for the good of the people. It has been my experience that most apostates care as you do, but ... clearly generalizations are dangerous." Especially when you are facing a woman who is as tall as you and is an angry mage.

However ... "I will still state that of the apostates I have known, they have only been interested in money and - ahem, things of more physical nature." He snorts, "But they were not blood mages. They just had 'needs'."

Korrin's annoyance starts to fade, and there's a flicker of surprise in her gaze as she's clearly not used to templars who behave has he does. And she especially isn't expecting it now, so soon after the abomination attack that she missed. As for being interested in money...well, money makes the world go 'round. She's not going to feel guilty about needing it to survive, not compared to the multitude of non-mages who are in the exact same boat.

"Don't we all. Now that they have a safe haven from being hunted, I bet you'll see more come out of the woodwork to contribute. I witnessed plenty do just that, at least before leaving for Emprise du Lion." And yes, that's why there hasn't been a large horned mage practicing or arguing with the other mages, at least recently. There's a twitch of her lips that signals the start of a faint smile. "It's a rare event when I hear a templar apologize for anything, in my experience. I suppose generalizations are unwise in both directions, sometimes."

Which doesn't mean she's going to stop that kind of behavior immediately. It's far too ingrained, thanks to past events. But...this does give her something to consider, and getting past Korrin's stubbornness to that point is actually something of an achievement.

Well, most Templars did not have the influence of First Enchanter Lydia, a woman of supreme merit. If he were honest, he missed her loss more than he missed the Divine's. He had his prejudices, he knew that. He was ... as she always said, 'try to see it from their perspective'. Perspective, he had found, was the cornerstone of understanding.

"...Well, good. I am happy they feel the fear of the Magister Darkspawn, more than they fear us. At least enough to do the right thing." He exhaled, slowly, before he snorted, "To be honest I am surprised there are not more Templars here. But then I have found myself disappointed a great deal in my ...former brothers and sisters as of late."

Nor is he, but a wary enemy is better than an angry one. Beyond that, she has pinged his curiosity. "I will not ask the obvious question of where you are from - I will ask if you follow the Qun, at least loosely."

If she followed it strongly -- he'd heard the tales from Kirkwall.

For a moment, Korrin stares as though uncertain she'd heard that right or if it was a jest. But she did, and he seems serious. The result is a snort of laughter that is impossible for her to contain. Following the Qun...the idea is so ludicrous for her that she can't help herself, but maybe blood magic isn't the only thing that needs to be explained today. She can try to behave herself, in light of that.

Her lips still twitching, Korrin shakes her head as she attempts to compose herself enough to answer. "Sweet Andraste, no. Not at all. A mage in the Qun isn't treated as a person but a weapon, chained and masked and lips sewn shut. That's what saarebas means: 'dangerous thing'. I don't think much of the Circles but what the Qun does is far, far worse. I was born outside the Qun and would never think to join them. I love my freedom far too much."

Now, please have your second surprise of the day from a Templar, Korrin, because when Norrington hears the phrase, 'chained and masked and lips sewn shut', a look of abject horror comes over his face. He speaks after a moment, his eyes wide with shock, "By the Maker, that's monstrous! How can the mages allow themselves to be subjected to that kind of torture?"

He shook his head gravely, "I have heard terrible things, especially coming from Kirkwall ... but nothing close to that. No, I cannot blame you for putting yourself as far away from the Qun as you can."

That it's old news to Korrin, something she's known about all her life, doesn't make it any less horrific in her eyes. The idea of being used like that terrifies the mage to her core, though she's not about to reveal that vulnerability to someone just met, and a Templar at that. Still, her expression is all disgust over the concept, and she nods emphatically to his opinion. It is monstrous, what the Qunari do to their mages.

"From what I've been told, the mages don't get a choice. Either you conform, or you're killed. And that can happen anyway, if they're separated from their 'handler' at any time. The saarebas who try to leave don't often stand a chance; they have it even worse than regular Tal-Vashoth in just about every way. They're so tightly controlled that they have no idea what to do when freed from that. It's sad to watch."

"...Well, it appears the Templar Order does have a great deal to learn from the Qunari." Norrington folded his arms over his chest, "An entire course of 'What we should not be doing in the future'. I shall follow that up with 'Kirkwall - a lesson in pragmatism'."

He rubbed one hand over his slowly forming stubble, before he looked at her, green eyes steady on hers. "Listen, whomever you are, I understand that my Templar bretheren have a lot to answer for -- and I assure you I will make them answer for it, inch by inch. You also have to know that we are trying as hard as you mages, to find our footing. You are not the only one who has to learn how to compromise. I am not saying my opinions will change quickly -- but I am willing to listen. I hope you and your fellow apostates will give us the same courtesy.."

A templar with a sense of humor, however dry. That's new. Korrin smirks at those proposed courses, not minding at all if especially the first one comes to pass. But that smirk fades as she listens to him continue, grudgingly nodding along with such assurances. Of course, she'll still need actions to back up those words, but it's still the first time a templar's been anything approaching reasonable in her vicinity. She can wait to see where this goes.

"Fair enough. As long as our freedom is respected, I'm willing to listen. If Templars turn their focus to blood mages, abominations and demons, I don't doubt they would have a lot of mage support. Maybe even partnership, though I don't dare speak for the entire Council." She pauses, then gives in and goes ahead with introductions. "I'm Korrin Ataash."

Norrington was really going to think no one talked to any Templars at all. He's conversed with Maria and Alayre, and both of them have a sense of humor. As dry as his own, perhaps, but still. As for being reasonable -- Norrington had ten years of training from the most reasonable woman alive, outside of Divine Justinia. Not to mention his own Knight Commander being a man of gentle wisdom, and not harsh action.

He is a blade honed with a different stone, as are his people. He's finding that is not true in many quarters, but true in some surprising ones.

"... Well that is... exactly what I wanted to do anyways." He stated, blinking for a moment, before he cleared his throat, "James L. Norrington. Knight Commander of the New Templar Order." Well, there you have it. New Templar Order.

Not having met Maria beyond that meeting or spoken with Alayre longer than absolutely need be, months ago, Korrin wouldn't know. She refrained from doing so mostly as a way to keep a hold on her own temper. It wouldn't do to join the Mage Council and then flout one of their main rules, which is no Templar-baiting.

That his goals seem to align with her own brings out more of a smile, though it remains small and cautious. "The New Templar Order? I've been away longer than I thought; when I was last here, there was no talk of it. But if some restructuring is going to happen, I'd say it's about time."

It was a good rule. Taunting a templar had never really worked out for anyone in the long run. Although Norrington had the same, 'don't harrass the mages' feeling, as he did not want to be thrown headfirst out into the snow once more.

He pauses here, because he quite literally came up with it about five minutes ago, but finally he shrugs. "I would agree. The times have changed, we must change with them. There is no reason for us to hold onto the past any more, either, and we are doomed to repeat it if we do not take the time to learn from the mistakes of our forebears."

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Blood Magic - 101

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