Blood Magic - 101

[judgemewhole]

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.

Comments

[judgemewhole]

Oh, then he had done his job admirably. Especially since he seemed to be some sort of -- apostate? No, he had soldier training in him. James narrowed his gaze on the man, trying to figure out just what he was.

"They did ram that down our throats ... and I am here to tell you, it was a lie." More than a few mages or Templars had become pregnant while believing that old wives tale.

"Yet you haven't been in a circle in some time, if I were to guess."

[foodsofmypeople]

Oh he knew just how much of a lie it was. How many times did he see the after effect of it, even though it was supposed to never happen?

"No, it's been about fifteen years since I was in a Circle. With permission, I might add, before you think 'apostate'. I was recruited by the Grey Wardens." Recruited wasn't exactly the right word - killing a Templar when you were young to protect the girl you loved wasn't the smartest thing to do, and normally ended up only one way. He'd just struck lucky at the time. It had taken him a long time to come to terms with what he'd done, but he'd made it. He could even stand to be in the same room as Templars now.

[judgemewhole]

Ah-hah. Yes, he had thought as much. Sigh, a Grey Warden. One of the most necessary evils there were in all of Thedas. Still, if this was a Grey Warden mage ...

"You must have shown a great deal of potential." He stated, as he neatened the papers on his desk, "The Grey Wardens only recruit the best warriors and mages." From the Order, from holds and castles all over Thedas. They were looking for a particular branch of excellence, there.

[foodsofmypeople]

Kaidan could make a comment about where Thedas would be without Grey Wardens, but he was used to people and their attitudes towards Wardens.

"Potential in something, yes." Magic? Most likely not. He could control his magic, but using too much beyond basic spells brought on some awful migraines in him so he tended to stick to hitting things - something he actually turned out to be quite good at. "I found out I preferred being a warrior."

[judgemewhole]

Oh, Norrington is well aware they would have fallen to the Fifth Blight, or any of the Blights, if not for the sacrifices of the Wardens. He just had ... issues with some of their practices. Mostly, blood magic.

Now that did surprise him, a curious look that came across him, "So you have followed the Knight Enchanter path, then? I have heard that has a more martial outlook. Better suited for warriors with magical abilities."

[foodsofmypeople]

Blood magic was a fall back position, if they had to use it then all traditional paths had been exhausted. Having grown up in the Circle, Kaidan had issues with blood magic as well, but he also was practical enough to know that sometimes you had to reach beyond what was accepted.

"Uh, not exactly," he said with a slight grin. "More a true warrior's path." Was it wise telling a Templar this? Probably not. He still could use magic if he had to, he just chose not to most of the time.

[judgemewhole]

It was that, and again, where Grey Wardens lived in that morally grey area that made them necessary. Yet they did not care what they did, to get the job done. It was something that made Norrington feel ... uneasy about them, but still willing to work together.

"A true warrior's path -- interesting." and it was, absolutely fascinating. He rubbed his stubbled chin, "So what kind of weapon are you using?"

[foodsofmypeople]

"A bladed quarterstaff, for the most part." It looked like a staff from a distance, but was wicked when wielded correctly. Darkspawn could be kept at a safe distance for the most part, and he could follow up with basic magic if he had to. It worked for him.

[judgemewhole]

"An effective weapon, I must say." Norrington was impressed, and it was clear in his voice. "So, you are working on becoming a True Warrior with martial training. Which must be considerable."

[foodsofmypeople]

"They joys of being a Warden - you have brothers and sisters from all walks of life." And a lot of them fought dirty - and were willing to teach you. After all, no one wanted to see a Warden die. "So I'm not pinned down to any particular style."

For a Templar, this one wasn't bad. At least he was vaguely curious in Kaidan beyond him being a mage.

[judgemewhole]

"True enough. I think that is something lacking we have had in the Templar Order. I think perhaps in the new one - we shall change that." Why not open it up further? To dwarves, if any of them believed in the Maker, or elves? Clearly they were superior warriors. And if they learned new styles - well.

...also, less children. Yes.

"So what style do you prefer, southern or northern?" Fighting styles did vary by region, after all.

[foodsofmypeople]

"Northern, mostly. I've spent a lot of time in Marcher territory, and down south, and it tends to throw people off guard. An advantage in a fight, I've found."

He looked carefully at Norrington. "So you intend to reform the Templar Order?" That could be a good thing, or a bad thing. He just wasn't sure which.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington nodded with approval - no one knew how to fight like a Marcher. Or at least, that was his own personal opinion. Which might not count for much, as he was one.

"I intend to bring us back to our original purpose." He stated firmly, "Protecting Thedas from the dangers of magic. I think that has become more clear is simply maelficarium, abominations, and of course demons summoned over. The Circles have fallen, the Order is in shambles. We cannot go back to the way things were, so we must build something new."

[foodsofmypeople]

Given Kaidan was a born and bred Marcher, he agreed with the sentiment. Possibly even agreed with it.

He thought about it, nodding eventually. "You will find a lot of resistance," he warned Norrington, but then he was a Grey Warden. Resistance was something to be ignored if you were in the right, fighting for a higher purpose. "But yes, I wouldn't want to go back to what Circles were like, even when I was a young mage."

[judgemewhole]

"I have was forged to fight against resistance. This time perhaps, I shall be resisting where it needs to be. It's a treacherous path, faith." Norrington paused, before his lips curved into a faint smirk. "I don't think anyone does. Not any more. We are all ... very tired."

[foodsofmypeople]

Faith was something Kaidan wasn't very good at - he'd seen too much to give much stock in the Maker and his benevolence - or not, but if others had it... well, isn't that what he was fighting for? "I think that pretty much the whole of Thedas is very tired," he agreed softly. "And yes, we are ready for a change."

[judgemewhole]

Well, that was precisely when one needed Faith, when everything else had been dragged down into the dirt, yes? Faith is what kept Norrington going. Still, he was fighting for Thedas, and he knew their faith had been waning, until the Herald. "I would have to agree -- and it is time to change, if for no other reason than to give them the relief they so richly deserve."

[foodsofmypeople]

Kaidan nodded, looking thoughtfully at the Templar. "Then I hope it works for you, for all our sakes." He knew that Wardens would forever be looked down on, because no one likes a reminder of the debt that they owe the Wardens, but if Templar and Mage could work together - then it would all be worth it. "I'm not sure what I can do to help, but if you need anything, I'm around for the foreseeable future."

It would take some time to work out how Corypheus was controlled the Wardens, after all.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington's lips curved into a faint smirk, before he lifted his shoulders together in an elegant shrug, "I shall do as the Maker bids me - or rather the path that seems to open up before me. I hope it will be a path that is better, and smoother, for all of us."

[foodsofmypeople]

Let's hope the Maker's plan was better than the one they had followed before now, at least. "Let's hope so to. I'll let you get back to it. If you want a lesson in other fighting styles at any time, let me know." It seemed only fair. He hoped the man found the path he was seeking for.

[judgemewhole]

"I absolutely do. Once I am cleared for full duty, I shall expect to see you in the training circle." Norrington paused, before offering his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Grey Warden."

[foodsofmypeople]

Kaidan paused before shaking old. Old habits were just that - old. Time to move past them. And if it meant putting his Circle days that little bit further behind him? He could do it. "And the same to you, Knight-Commander."

[judgemewhole]

James nodded, letting go of the other man's hand, and heading back to his desk. It may not have been much -- but it was a start. They needed new starts here, every last one of them.