faderift | Blood Magic

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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."

Blood Magic - 101

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