We must resist

[arcaneadvisor]

WHO: Morrigan; open
WHAT: Checking in on friends, checking in on the mage and rifter situation and research. Wildcard and shapeshifter lesson discussions available!
WHEN: Post-rift opening in Skyhold onwards, basically a big catch-all
WHERE: All over Skyhold
NOTES:A few so please bear with me:
1) Morrigan is seeking out rifters since what happened to Sina, there’s a starter just for them
2) For the same reasons she’s seeking out members of the mage council
3) If you’re interested in shapeshifter lessons, there’s a handy sticky post here
4) The research Morrigan is doing is based on the Hinterlands expedition here

Library - artifact research;
Since returning from the Hinterlands, she’s devoted more time to the artifact that had returned with them, or rather to the notes that had been made about the surroundings. It makes a change to reading the book on the Veilfire runs and making her own notes from what Pel had directed her to, taking her deeper into history, into Avvar culture and Ferelden legends for a change. Each time Flemeth is mentioned she makes what might be a grimace or might be a smile.

Spread across the table are copious notes taken in the Hinterlands, including sketches of the artifact, as well as a symbol drawn on the floor in the ruin, a few more of the strange statues, the piles of bones.

Another perspective would be welcome, as would a distraction in all honesty.

Gardens;
Instead of the usual peace, Skyhold's garden is a battle.  Not a serious one to most but to the children playing Wardens and Darkspawn it's very much real, shrieking and lunging, hacking and slashing with swords.  One little boy holds Morrigan's attention more than the others; this is a rare moment of peace, when things have been on edge lately.  As it is, she's kneeling, planting the seeds she brought with her, a few she's carried around since she left the Wilds, others brought with her from Orlais and beyond.  Simple, quiet work, no devious plans some might think she has, just a break from researching out in the fresh air. 

And no, contrary to what some might have you believe, not a single one of the seeds will grow into something poisonous.

Seeking rifters;
She's met a rifter or two since she came to Skyhold, and talk of them has been everywhere but hunting them down to talk was never a priority until the rift had opened within the very walls.  Now?  Well she has theories, theories she cannot test herself but looking for them might help, and it's a different sort of magic, something new to draw her attention when not working on whatever scraps of elven lore they've uncovered thus far.

Wherever the rifters might be, she seeks them out eventually, appearing around a corner seemingly from nowhere, perhaps after a particularly intent crow or cat has watched them before disappearing.  The introduction is the same each time, for she only knows one or two in passing.

"Greetings, you may call me Morrigan.  I wonder, might you have the time to talk a while?"

Seeking the mage council;
That they've made a little Circle themselves here is still a notion that disquiets her, something that she keeps an eye on without joining in, unwilling to be held to whatever rules they've made but it wasn't just anyone who opened a rift in Skyhold.  It was a native, a native mage and when she arrived in the first instance it was after an Abomination rampaged.  It hardly helps matters that she's Dalish as well.

There are too many Templars here for her liking as it stands, unsure of what reprisals there might be.  So she waits, quiet and patient, seeking Adelaide LeBlanc in particular simply because they've spoken before but it is opinions she is after, a sense of how things truly lie.  She's lingered before, to watch, to listen, to judge silently and she never could abide things being caged.

wildcard;
[Or feel free to find Morrigan elsewhere!]

Comments

[arcaneadvisor]

Lucky then that Morrigan is accustomed to little and cares even less, she doesn't even let her own books out of her sight and what a person sees is what they get, unless they're one of those chosen few that get to see deeper.

"I have no desire to read minutes." The way she curls her lip, it's as if she's saying something much more foul but it seems like such a trapping of the Circle, of rules and order to bind themselves like that. She takes a moment, gives Adelaide the same; Adelaide she has at least spoken to prior to all of this, everyone else is still an unknown quantity to be investigated.

"I am glad to hear that there will be no Templar involvement directly with Sina, given that she is Dalish, I cannot imagine it would go down well at all but there is a larger question. Perhaps beyond the mage council alone though not dissimilar to the aftermath of the abomination. Surely there will be questions about mages and their freedoms, about rifters and their freedoms, and of course about any combination of the two."

[fleurdesel]

"The meetings are open to the public, Morrigan. The minutes are a public summary of our intent. Making a grand statement about what we do not properly understand and assuming authority where we by all rights do not precisely have any- well. That would make us little better than the New Templar Order, would it not?" And they are all trying so very hard to do and be better. "What discussion we had on the incident will be included in the minutes, unless you are asking after a personal opinion."

[arcaneadvisor]

"I am aware." What she doesn't say is that she's been to the meetings, never as herself but as something else, something easily missed that the eye passes over. With Vivienne present there is too much she might be held accountable for were she to be seen in person, and doubtless there would be comments, remarks and slights of some nature. She sees it as a Circle no matter what might be said and she won't find herself drawn in. "Though the New Templar Order is another matter to be discussed, and which one is listened to or if they are left to argue it among themselves.

"No matter, I do indeed seek a more personal opinion. True, I do not know you well but I am not talking to you in your capacity as Councillor LeBlanc more than I speak to you as Celene's arcane advisor. I wish to know what you think. This has greater impact than some might realise."

[fleurdesel]

"When they've any manner of support that warrants consideration, I will worry and discuss the Order." Norrington means well, has good intentions- but on this side of the veil intention does not shape or inform reality. It is simply intent, impotent and hollow until action and word make it truth. Even then it is something slowly done. She does not envy him his task; she doesn't quite wish for her own position.

But it is what it is and she makes do.

Some of the tension melts out of her shoulders and she sets a bit of the mask aside. Not much- but a bit. "Much as I might wish to say such a thing should not have happened- considering the shards and their connection to the Fade and Sina's potential as a conduit as much as any other Mage- I am horrified but unsurprised. I'd picked at the theory of it but as she is the only mage with one I hadn't considered it to be possible. I'd like to consider it an isolated incident but you and I know well enough, it shall not be seen as such. It never is. Whether or not any of the other rifters are even capable of the same remains to be seen."

[arcaneadvisor]

"My concerns with them are...rather more personal, shall we say." There isn't a doubt that Adelaide cares for her students but when there are Wardens about too, there's more for Morrigan to worry about. If Templar arguments remained restricted to the Templars themselves she wouldn't care but at a time like this, it only makes her wary; she did not leave one civil war far from the door to live in the very midst of another.

(Oh little does she know.)

"I would be interested to hear if any of the others present felt anything. There has to be a connection between the shards - it takes more than one of them to close rifts but there was only one of the Herald." It's clear enough that she hates this. This clutching at straws when this is more difficult than picking through ruins or following fragments of translations. "My own research is on the ancient and the lost; if it was just the Herald still then such things would be easier, the new shardbearers are different again, and the rifters different from them too. Are none of the rifters gifted with magic? Does such a thing exist beyond this world?" A question she hadn't fully considered until now but it's best not to start in with any theories before she actually knows anything about it.

[fleurdesel]

"Different shades of magic, yes. Different systems- there are some points of commonality but not near so much as to make discussing the bulk of it any kind of sensible. There are worlds that have magic but no elves, worlds where magic is learned rather than a birthright, worlds without, and worlds where magic is less in spells and more the expansion of one's will and soul on the world around them. It is...as fascinating as it is baffling- and all of it muted here." Adelaide drags over some of her notes in particular, flipping through them.

"I do not know if their skills are being reshaped to work according to our rules when they fall through the rifts anymore than I know if they are susceptible or not to demons. Explaining the Fade to them, demons, possession- it has been difficult."

[arcaneadvisor]

Considering it quietly, her mind is pulled to the Crossroads. If she discusses it with anyone completely then it would be with Leliana because it’s not trust exactly but keeping her informed, making sure she has offered before she asks in truth for anything much. If even one of those closed doors had shut away another world entirely… “The Fade itself is a strange thing, the way it twists and moves itself though having had to explain it to at least one of the rifters, if they have such a thing then they have no memory of it or it behaves differently. Do they say if their worlds ever had elves? So much came from them, I cannot imagine what we would be without them. Or it could be that there is a stronger Veil or none. It...disquiets me, to think of a world where magic does not exist at all.” And again, it could be the rifts themselves, the shards, the Fade, the Veil - it could be all of them, a combination, or none at all that make their magic less than what it was prior.

“There is much we take for granted that we learn when we are young that finding the words is difficult. Ages have come and gone, some of this goes deeper than our bones do, as if we are born, knowing and accepting. To bind them to our rules however, that would be a misstep. This is an opportunity to use something Corypheus does not have to defeat him.”

[fleurdesel]

"Some have nothing but men and magic- some have races similar to our own but vastly different. Galadriel- if you have seen her- is unlike any elf I have ever known. It makes one wonder what they were like in our world before what they had was stolen from them." Before the ruin- but that is history and it is not hers. Magic, the minding of it, the schooling and bettering of it, that is hers. Or at least it is as much hers as it is anyone's who worries over such things. "Worlds without magic- I suppose they find new and exciting things to hold against one another. And more violent ways of killing each other."

A bit bitter, a little cynical, but she flicks through her notes again. Those with skill that she knew of she'd marked down accordingly. "The only rules the council has for mages, on the whole is: Don't use magic to hurt people outside of self defense, don't summon demons, and don't perform blood magic. Not baiting the templars is more of a formality and common sense than a rule outright. Drawing up anything more official and posting that would take a month of solid argument among the councilors and as much as it is likely needed, especially in connection to the rifters as they have their own considerations we must take in hand if we are to claim them under our authority at all- most might not wish it- I do not relish the thought of that arguing. We have larger things to mind."

[arcaneadvisor]

"I shall make a point of seeking her out. Tis doubtful a Keeper would ever come to the Inquisition when they have sent or allowed their Firsts and hunters and hearthmistresses, still, to have another eye to look over what there is." Something other than Veilfire ruins, some of what Morrigan has brought with her at least once to see if there is something new that can be offered. The Dalish will always have their own interpretations, and discussion with one at least shows how tightly they will cling to it even in the face of one who has been to the places they cannot venture to, who can stay far longer and get what she needs. No matter, she will have aid or she will not, the Inquisition will prosper or it will fail.

She will never stay longer than she needs to.

"The Templars should have no authority over any rifters with magic. They are not of this world, there is no need to shackle them the same and I would hope that they all have the sense not to put themselves in that position, even if they try to argue that the shards alone are enough for scrutiny. They are the only hope to close rifts, if they were ostracised entirely...well, 'twould be ill done if so. As for blood magic, can we all agree on what exactly blood magic is? Who is to say that their demons are even the same as ours or if they would interact with them the same way. I wonder if they will end up with their own council one day." It's said with a note of derision. Talk will get you so far but eventually they will all look inward and twist and turn against each other, delegations where nothing ever happens before there are results.

[fleurdesel]

Adelaide's lips press thin, her eyes faintly narrow. Yes, apostates have a certain view of the council and they are by all means right to it. But hearing much the same from someone that earned a fair deal of influence and favor by playing the game seems a touch hypocritical. Cavalier commentary on blood magic and demons warms her little. "If there is nothing else."

She has much to do and, as ever, precious little time in which to do it; time better spent than listening to someone obliquely mock her hard work.