[semi-open] a friendly query

[stabsbooks]

WHO: Cassandra and rifters/shardbearers
WHAT: Rifter interrogations
WHEN: Following Cassandra's log with Galadriel and the advisors' conversation
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: For planned rifter/shardbearer interrogation threads with Cassandra! If we haven't discussed your character's thread, please drop me a note here or hit me up on Plurk for general (this can be very general) setup/discussion of what you hope the outcome to be. She'll be most interested in talking to rifter mages, but we can swing her interrogating anyone with a shard.

With or without your support, she had said to the Spymaster, and she had meant it. She would have preferred that Leliana understand her position, the necessity of action - but she does not, and dwelling on it will do nothing to change that now. Whether anyone else sees it or not, Cassandra at least recognizes the risk that the shardbearers pose. If nothing else, they must understand who the rifters are, what they are capable of - and what they may do.

There are still plenty who agree with her, who are not as idealistic in this matter as Leliana, and it's not difficult to find soldiers willing to find those of interest and bring them to her, one at a time. She waits until each is seated before she turns to face them, and always begins the same way, whether she recognizes them or not.

"I am Cassandra Pentaghast, and I represent the Inquisition. State your name, and where you come from."

Comments

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione is probably a little more competent at magic than most other witches her age, given that so few of them had had quite the same dangerous opportunities to use apply their knowledge that she'd had to face. But she will never say no to learning, which is why she'd bothered to return to school in the first place.

"Oh, well, a little of everything. Magic can do all sorts of things, and it can be dangerous if we don't learn to maintain it correctly. So we take a variety of classes over the course of seven years to make sure we understand and respect our magic, and understand our history and government so we won't be likely to abuse it, especially when it comes to exposing ourselves around non-magical people."

She can go on forever about the general history of magic in her world and about how the Ministry of Magic, while not infallible, is being taken in exciting new directions by the new Minister, but she decides that none of that is relevant to the questions being asked.

"In terms of specifics, I can do a variety of charms ranging from anything as simple as cleaning up ink spilled on a parchment to conjuring up a Patronus, which is a sort of spirit animal used to repel Dark creatures called Dementors. Almost everything I know about offense and defense I learned from a class called Defense Against the Dark Arts, where I learned shield charms, disarming charms, and a variety of hexes and jinxes to use for offense, such as blasting charms and stinging hexes. I can also Apparate, which is instantly traveling from one place to another, but I haven't tried that since I've arrived, since there's a danger of being Splinched and I'd really rather not risk it; it's very gruesome."

Frowning, she adds, "As for this enemy... that involved needing to learn how to fight and undo more Dark magic than I care to think about. If you really want details, I can offer them, but it amounts to there having been a Dark wizard who craved more power than any single person should ever have, and he was willing to sacrifice his humanity and the lives of anyone around him to acquire that power. He's finally dead and gone, though, and I hope I never have to deal with anything else like him and his followers."

Granted, demons and Red Templars hadn't exactly been a great introduction to Thedas, and no one's even mentioned Corypheus to her yet.

i'm sorry this is so delayed

[stabsbooks]

Understanding and respecting magic is good - necessary, and Cassandra finds herself nodding in approval as the girl speaks of the importance of not abusing it. She frowns in confusion at the line about the mages of Hermione's world not exposing themselves, then assumes she's merely referring to the care that all mages must take not to allow their use of magic to harm others, and puts it aside.

She hums thoughtfully as Hermione speaks of dark magic and the wizard who had craved power; it's all terribly familiar, unfortunately. But something else had caught her attention, a word that sets her immediately on edge.

"You can conjure spirits?" she asks, and leans closer. "And they...protect you?" It is not as strange an idea as it might once have been, but no one had conjured Cole. And the idea itself is still worrying. Dangerous.

No worries! Backtagging is always acceptable and great! o/

[bookish_lioness]

The look on Hermione's face at the idea that she conjures spirits probably shows just how far off-base Cassandra is, considering that she starts as though she'd just been struck. "What? Oh! No, no, it's nothing like that! We don't have spirits the way that you do here. From what I understand, your spirits are beings born in the Fade, whereas for us, spirits are the ghosts of wizards and witches who'd died. Not everyone becomes a ghost; they're usually restless spirits with some strong ties remaining in the land of the living."

Actually, she knows comparatively little about ghosts, since the House ghosts enjoy embellishing their tales so much that a lot of what they say can't be trusted, and Professor Binns is stuck teaching the same curriculum year after year and has no interest in answering questions about how a ghost can maintain a job as a professor, and Peeves is a poltergeist and so by nature isn't trustworthy.

"At any rate, that's all a misnomer. I apologize. I don't mean a spirit animal as in something that has anything to do with spirits or even actual animals. A Patronus is... well, Dementors feed off of despair, and so a Patronus is the embodiment of a wizard or witch's positive energy, taking the shape of a different animal depending on the caster. It exists to repel Dark creatures such as Death Eaters, but we can also use it to communicate over large distances. It's not an easy spell by any means - most people can't cast it at all - so I haven't even tried it here since I'm almost certain it won't work."

[stabsbooks]

"Nor should you," Cassandra agrees immediately. "I have never heard of such a spell. I do not know what would occur if you attempted it here." Nothing good, she suspects. An unfamiliar, difficult spell, cast by an apprentice (whether she calls herself one or not, the fact remains that she has not completed her training, much less a Harrowing)...no, there is far too much that could go wrong.

She considers the young...witch for a moment, brow furrowed in thought.

"It is unfortunate," she says at last, "that you were brought here before you had a chance to complete your schooling." Unfortunate for them both. "However, there are many accomplished mages here in Thedas. Perhaps one of them might serve as a mentor, of sorts."

[bookish_lioness]

"I won't be trying any of my more difficult spells," she assures her, "not until I've practiced to the point where I think I have things sorted. I don't know if that will ever happen, but you don't have to worry about seeing any flying silver otters floating about." There's a brief pause before she explains, "My Patronus is an otter, and they appear as a silver light in the shape of the given animal." Because otherwise, that sentence just sounds perculiar.

While Hermione would never say no to a mentor, she still has to insist, "I think I might be more accomplished than most graduates, given all I've been through. If not in regards to talent, then surely in regards to firsthand, real-world experience. I'd appreciate learning about Thedosian magic, or any tricks that might help me bring my own magic up to par, but I can at least promise that I'm responsible enough not to do anything too stupid."

Not that Casandra has any reason to actually believe that, but it still feels like a good promise to make.

[stabsbooks]

"Good," Cassandra says. She believes her, or at least believes that she means it. Hermione may be young, but she seems intelligent and reasonable. At least reasonable enough not to try any complex spells without knowing what they might do, which is a good start.

"I do not mean to discount your experience. But I cannot say how magic in your own world may compare to magic here. It can be dangerous, even to those well versed in its use. It would be best if you were to train with a senior mage, if only for your own protection."

She smiles slightly. "You may even pass a Harrowing, and become a true Theodosian mage."

[bookish_lioness]

"I appreciate that. Really, I do. Normally, because my parents are non-magical and I hadn't known about magic for most of my life, I'd say I could make do without it. But here...." Much as she tries not to, Hermione can't help feeling her eyes drawn to Cassandra's weapon, shifting a little uncomfortably. "It seems as though everyone here is armed at all times, and with magic being my only means of defense, I can't help feeling a little lost. If something bad does happen, I'd rather not be forced to hide behind someone with a big enough axe or shield."

That's not how Gryffindors do things, and that certainly isn't how Hermione's lived her life doing things. She'll take her survival in her own hands, where she can.

A little surprised to see that smile on Cassandra's face, Hermione smiles right back, hardly thinking about it as she replies, "I doubt I can ever become a mage in the sense that Thedas knows them; even if it's possible for me to draw magic from the Fade, I'd rather not, if I can help it. It sounds much too dangerous. But if I can learn it safely, I certainly wouldn't say no to it. Besides, I should be interested in seeing what this Harrowing entails someday, whether or not I ever manage to pass it."

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra's smile grows, becoming warmer, with a touch of amusement behind it. "You may do well to hide behind those with a shield in any case. But there is no shame in that." Everyone knows mages are exceptionally squishy, after all.

She pushes back from the table and straightens, signaling an end to the interview. "It is settled then. I will speak to Enchanter Vivienne. If nothing else, she can ensure that the spells you do attempt do not go awry."

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione considers that for a moment before admitting, "Since I've arrived, I've had to hide behind a giant bull-like man who actually calls himself Bull, a breed of dog I've never heard of that's bigger than I am, and someone else's magic, among other things. It would be nice to be able to learn how to do things for myself, even if it's a matter of relearning it."

Considering her initial misgivings, she's surprised that the interview is over so quickly, but then, she supposes that's what happens when you're actually cooperative. "Thank you," she replies graciously as she moves to stand. "I can usually be found in the library, if you need to come looking for me for any reason. I appreciated this discussion immensely."