[OPEN] Interview With A Mage

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa and you!
WHAT: Talking to Magefriends about Magic and Abominations
WHEN: August; Post-Abomination, Pre-Modplot
WHERE: Around the Gallows
NOTES: none yet

i. colin

It's one of the days that sees Athessa helping out in the apothecary, which means busy hands but a mind free to wander. She's separating the buds from dried, woody stems to place each into jars for their individual uses when she speaks:

"I've been thinking a lot about what happened..."

ii. kostos

This isn't a conversation that is going to happen organically. After reading through some esoteric writings on magic in the library, she gives up for a time and stalks off to find Kostos.

"Oi," she calls to him, jogging to catch up with him. "Got a minute?"

iii. isaac

[ Some late night crystal call when Athessa's eyes get tired of reading ]

Isaac, can I pick your brain a bit?

iv. derrica

[ They've had their fair share of difficult conversations of late, and this one bodes no different. The kicker, of course, is that it's far more personal to Derrica than it is to Athessa, so when the latter seeks out the former, she comes bearing gifts. Little spiced cookies and coffee over ice - does Derrica drink coffee? ]

It's not spice cake, but the flavor is pretty close.

v. wildcard/bring out your mage

[ either hmu on disco or plurk and i'll make a starter for you or wildcard me, whichever! ]

Comments

[sulahnan]

This is...like what you were worried about when you asked whether you should move to scouting?

[ just to be sure she understands ]

[wythersake]

Yes and no.

[ a pause for monologue: ]

I do not anticipate any immediate changes within Riftwatch. [ if he did, he'd already be gone ] Mages are too great in number for those above us to believe that tightening restrictions would be particularly easy or useful.

What concerns me is — as you say — that doubling down. When we've next reason to bargain with the Chantry, what will they agree to? Will they care to send a mage at all?

[sulahnan]

[ she listens, and thinks, and frowns about it all. what the fuck can they do, then? ]

At a guess, not if they don't take us seriously. Have we ever had an upper hand in that kind of negotiation?

[wythersake]

[ we rankles — but it's counterproductive. stay on task. ]

When Riftwatch was still a piece of the Inquisition, there were a number of flashier efforts. It's significant that negotiations took place at all.

But we've no longer the numbers to force them, and their tactics have shifted. With their remaining templars committed to the March, it has become apparent that Chantry leadership favours a system of gradual rollbacks. Marriages here, property there — bit by bit, they have been able to renege upon agreements made without provoking outrage.

I understand why Riftwatch has not stated any public opposition: We don't have the strength to pressure them as we did within the Inquisition. We must prioritize what matters to us, as an organization.

The Division Heads have made apparent they do not consider mage affairs a priority.

[sulahnan]

[ she meant we as in riftwatch but she's oblivious to how he feels about her word choice so oh well, moving on ]

They're wrong if they think that. [ the if is her wanting to believe the best of their leadership, even if their inaction speaks to the contrary ]

[wythersake]

I'm inclined to agree.

[ but — he stops there, waits. he's just spit quite a lot of words at her. ]

[sulahnan]

[ welp. what can she say? not much that Isaac likely hasn't already thought of. ]

It can't be hopeless...

[ she's only just started thinking past tomorrow don't tell her that they're irreparably stuck with the status quo ]

[wythersake]

Nothing is hopeless. Restoring an Abomination — that would be a fine project. Perhaps in time, a useful one.

[ for something cleverer than rage, something with true goals. ]

But it won't put your troubles to rest. There are reasons to fear magic which cannot be wished away. You need understand them, and you need sit with that fear. To do otherwise hurts our cause.

[sulahnan]

Reasons like blood magic?

[ she's sat with the fear of it since last Harvestmere, since that maleficar took hold of her veins and wielded them like a marionettist to kill an already-dead man. then, just like now, she'd taken to reading about it to try and understand, try and find a way to shield against it — only to be told that it's impossible. ]

[wythersake]

Yes. Anywhere there is power, someone will look to abuse it.

[ that doesn't mean he's about to turn over nell or leander on principle. was gareth looking for power, or only grasping at straws? is it any kinder, to burn to death than bleed? ]

[sulahnan]

So after I sit with it — what then? Is it enough just to understand the danger, and still choose to lift up the good?

[wythersake]

If you like.

[ the angle of his cheek is not unsympathetic. ]

If it feels like a resolution. I'm certain there are many who find peace in that. [ and as many of them would raise the circles new. ] But you need first decide: What do you want?

[sulahnan]

I want...

[ What does she want? To help? To keep her friends safe? To make the world better? ]

I want the Chantry to stop using fear to make elves and mages less than people.

[wythersake]

A fine goal. [ so: ] What makes a person? Materially, how ought they be treated?

[sulahnan]

With respect and kindness. Decency. Like equals.

[wythersake]

That's a start, [ he prods: ] But what do you regard as respect? What should equals expect?

[ putting aside, however temporarily, that they live in a feudal society ]

[sulahnan]

... are you trying to get me to say something specific, or just asking to see what I think?

[wythersake]

The latter.

[ but, ]

You needn't answer now. I'd wager that you already know what you want — thinking upon it will show you how you to proceed: What respect means to your life; to what material change it might affect.

[sulahnan]

[ Hmm. ]

What about you? What do you consider respect?

[wythersake]

[ freedom to choose, to build something — he knows the talking points. knows, too, how quick he is to trade respect. ]

I'd like, [ is not what she asked ] To be something more than useful.

[sulahnan]

[ That's surprisingly relatable right there, I tell you what. ]

Valued for who you are, not what you can offer?

[ Is it silly to repeat the same thing back as a question? Maybe. But she wants to be sure she understands. She's trying to hear, more than just listen. ]

[wythersake]

Mn,

[ he says, instead of — who i am isn't great, or i don't know who that is — ]

Suppose we're all in the wrong place for that.

[sulahnan]

And the wrong time. Kinda hard to divorce your worth from what you can do during a war.

[ And in general. Athessa herself isn't sure who she is, but that's a meltdown that's happening in the future shh. ]

[wythersake]

There's always a war.

[ is needlessly gloomy, however factual. his fork clinks. a glass. moments pass, in their small way, to wind the conversation about: ]

Have you ever thought to what you'd do after this? Were it all to vanish tomorrow.

[sulahnan]

No.

[ Not beyond the answers she's explored in response to that very question. ]

To be honest I didn't ever figure I'd live this long, so thinking of the future isn't really...my strength.