open | full circle pt 1

[exequy]

WHO: Concerned mages/rifters/others
WHAT: An emergency meeting!
WHEN: Solace 20
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Explanation in the OOC post. Please tag this like a network post. There are top-level comments to provide a little chronology/structure, but threadjack to your heart's content.

Before and during dinner on an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday, there's a chain of whispers (or notes, or perfectly audible comments from the particularly unsubtle) about an emergency meeting, at an evening hour, in a basement room, regarding a matter of concern to rifters and mages.

The basement part is probably unnecessary. It's certainly ineffective; the organization is too small, the Gallows too contained, and the halls too echoey for something arranged with this much finesse-wrecking haste to truly remain a secret. They could have done it in an empty office or the recreational dining hall, probably, and sat on chairs instead of storage crates. But Kostos picked the location, and he's dramatic. If nothing else it signals a clear intention to do this as unofficially as necessary.

Anyone who accepts the invitation (or just decides to come see what the fuss is about) will first encounter Marcus Rowntree, posted up outside the door like a bouncer, letting mages and rifters move through undisturbed but stepping in to question and likely bar the arrival of anyone else. Inside, Kostos is nothing but a dark scowl in the room's far corner, picking at a splinter of wood on a crate and not mustering a word of greeting for anyone who comes in. Derrica has parked herself within arm's reach of Kostos, a long gold-edged shawl spilling over one shoulder. Her diplomacy pin gleams from the front of her tunic. The worried pinch to her brow is the only outward sign of anxiety; otherwise, she is tightly contained, watching people enter. Julius–notably not in robes–is serious but calm as people come in, standing next to the ever-composed Madame de Cedoux.

Once as many people have arrived as seem likely to, Marcus closes the door, remaining beside it, and they explain what the problem is.

Comments

[ipseite]

Smothered in the cradle, ( in agreement, ) but if we cannot prevent them crying to her for it, it can be made toothless in other ways.

Those mage children that have gone to Skyhold, perhaps some that have not, how many families have not been parted because they could all, indeed, go or not go? How many mothers and fathers of these parents expected to voluntarily relinquish their children have been able to live alongside them and see their accomplishments or seen them taught by mages that have not been imprisoned and might be susceptible to the knowledge of what relinquishing their children could mean, what this proposal makes no indication of an intention to protect them from?

A whole generation is growing that has not been stripped of their connections. It is a cultural shift we might take advantage of.

[luaithre]

[ A considering beat, thoughtful, before he says— ]

We can't approach them with a discussion dependent on good faith. With logic or empathy.

[ipseite]

I don't propose speaking to them at all in such a circumstance. I propose exploiting the fact that the broad support they take for granted is no longer a guaranteed thing.

[luaithre]

I hope so.

[ And he does. It's been years, and more and more mages have tasted freedom. ]

If the Loyalists yearn for the Circle's walls, then I would hope they get them, and leave the rest of us to our own freedoms. That the existence of Circles are dependent on all mages being within them is an assumption that could stand interrogation.

[ipseite]

If the loyalists desire their own self-governance in such terms then they are welcome to ask of the Divine a tower to reside within, and Templars to protect them, but if they are relying upon the assurance that all will still be as willing as they once were to turn over their children without question—

( a little tch. )

No, it is just so. Let them have a circle, perhaps. They will keep trying this, even if we crush this proposal here and now, but a candle starved of oxygen will extinguish, in time. Every mage child who knows only freedom is one more mage we have a better chance with than someone who bids them submit.

[luaithre]

[ He doesn't fault her for a long term aim, but it is difficult to join in when everything feels as live and as present as it does. So he's quiet again, before adding, ]

Children who know war.

[ipseite]

And may know it better, soon.

[sparklequeen]

I know I'm not from here, but I can't imagine separating a kid learning magic from their family. Having my mom's support while I was still training was really important, even when it felt like she stifled me!

[ipseite]

It is valuable to know of other ways, but it is also important to understand that for centuries, none here have been allowed to know what you have known. Many who would not have willingly given up their children were made to, and many were taught that it was the right and best thing to do, and convinced that they had no other option.

It's important to imagine it. We will not get anywhere with simple declarations of how we would not have behaved, in vastly different circumstance, under different pressures.

Instead: it is a terrible thing, that no one was allowed to imagine your life.