faderift | Our aspirations are wrapped up in books

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Our aspirations are wrapped up in books

WHO: Hermione Granger and Open!
WHAT: There's a new ~~witch~~ mage wandering around Skyhold. Come say hello?
WHEN: Backdated to her arrival near the end of Guardian and onward throughout Drakonis.
WHERE: ~~The library.~~ All over Skyhold. ~~But mostly its library.~~
NOTES: Feel free to run into her pretty much anywhere, or have her run into you. And be prepared for all the questions about your character and Thedas/their homeworld and everything in between.

If not for the fact that Hermione had spent so many of her formative years in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Skyhold might have been overwhelming

As it was, the sprawling fortress was a little hard to get used to, since the academic environment that had given Hogwarts some sense of structure amidst the chaos wasn't present here. There was a library, thankfully, and she spent much of her time there, though it was so small that she was certain she'd end up reading every book in there in two weeks' time if she didn't actually go out and explore the rest of her surroundings.

And so every so often, she pried herself away from the cold little corner she'd set aside for herself and wander the rest of the area, though granted, she more often than not was carrying at least one book with her. Usually it was one of the books that had survived the trip through the Fade; anyone who might spot her in the garden or tavern or a safe distance away from the sparring going on in the training grounds might notice her engrossed in such unfamiliar titles as Hogwarts, A History or occasionally digging through Spellman's Syllabary in the vain hope of finding recognizable runes on various inscriptions throughout Skyhold.

After all, just because she was endlessly fascinated by all the new people and cultures and history and magic, it didn't mean she didn't occasionally need a bittersweet reminder of home. Especially when her other major reminder was her wand, which - despite the fact that she'd taken to finding the most solitary places she could find and practicing with it harder than she ever had the night before an exam - still wasn't behaving properly at all. Apologies to those of you who end up slipping on some wayward ice or getting sprayed with pebbles from a spell gone wrong.

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The idea of needing to hide who she was from anyone boggled Hermione's mind. She couldn't imagine living in a world where that sort of thing was the norm, and she'd lived in a world where she'd been on the run for nearly a full year. That had been her world at its worse; living that sort of life when things were at their best was just unfathomable.

Though Hermione was a little perplexed at how blithely she spoke about a warlord "taking over the realm," but she wasn't about to make light of it. "But there are people working to stop this Red Dragon, aren't there?"

"Grey Wardens tend to keep a lot to themselves; often the only way to find out is to join them and that means a lifetime of fighting darkspawn. You could try asking them, but I don't know what they'll tell you, if much of anything." Korrin shrugs, not pleased with that but she hardly has the authority to do anything about it. "If it was a strings-free cure or prevention, I'd think -or hope- that it would have gotten out. So, I can't help but suspect there has to be a downside somewhere."

"Of course." Ariadne straightened up her spine a little bit, a ghost of pride crossing her doll-like face. "My aunt Lysia is one of the leaders of the resistance." Which, of course, meant that Ariadne was a part of it as well.

It was an enormous source of pride for her.

"Only..." The pride dissolved. "It's been a difficult battle. There is the chance for a perfect possible future in which everything will be all right, though. And the odds of creating that future are only eighty million nine thousand four hundred and twenty eight to one. More or less."

"I suppose so. And I took no offense, but other elves might. We're unfortunately called 'rabbits' by some small-minded Orlesians. Because of the ears." Ellana sighed and gave her shoulders a shrug.

"At least they took the time to think up an animal. Fereldans just call us knife-ears."

"I don't mean anything by it," she replies. "It's nicer than what some people might use, and easier than saying non-magical or non-mage. That's a little cumbersome, unless you have a term for people who can't do magic."

Hermione's about to explain that it's still perfectly possible to institute a sort of magical educational system here in Thedas, but then he brings up the issue of the Fade and the demons. Frowning a little as she looks up to the sky as though she could see the Fade from where she sits, she responds, "It does make for a rather difficult complication. But there have to be ways to safeguard against that, aren't there? Ways that don't involve keeping mages under the thumb of Templars who may or may not have their best interests at heart?"

It had been a long time since Hermione had actually been so out of her depth that she felt the need to ask a million questions a minute; it's little wonder that Thedas would bring that back out in her. She's only glad that he seems perfectly willing to indulge her in all her inquiries.

It's far too easy to draw a correlation between Andraste and a certain other popular religious figure from her world whose words are occasionally misconstrued to selfish ends. Considering that she has no opinion on religion in general without any empirical proof one way or the other, she's going to reserve full judgment of the Chantry for the time being. But it's probably plain to see on her face that at the moment? She doesn't exactly hold them in high esteem.

While most of the other acts of terrorism they'd briefly discussed are too distant for Hermione to really have much of an opinion about, she can't help but feel the personal hurt simmering when he explains this so-called law that had been in effect. She can't imagine any kind of government normalizing outright genocide simply as some sort of fallback plan. "And who got to make the decision that killed off an entire Circle? The same Templars that may or may not have been corrupt the entire time?"

Shaking her head as she tried to swallow back the disgust, Hermione murmurs, "The entire system is flawed, which means that no apparent solution will be flawless. But there had to have been a way to minimize damages. Doing something so drastic, starting a war that would keep getting people hurt.... I've lived through war. I've lost people. I might not have experienced life in a Circle or grown up in Thedas, but I know there aren't really winners in a war. Just survivors."

She shrugs a little, looking down and trying hard not to think about Fred or Remus or Tonks. "Maybe I'm still too naive for all I've been through, but I'd like to think there's a non-violent solution to anything. Assuming the people in power aren't sadists, at any rate."

Taking a deep breath, she tries to forget about the less pleasant aspects of their discussion as she meets his eyes once again. "Surely followers of the Qun must understand that keeping a mage from speaking or waving a wand - or using a staff - doesn't necessarily keep magic at bay. People can't stop being who they are. Not teaching someone about their potential or trying to hide a dangerous weapon without knowing how to handle it... it never ends well."

Hermione actually wishes this woman hadn't cut herself off, since it's always nice to answer questions rather than ask. Asking might be interesting, but she's much more comfortable around a topic she's already somewhat familiar with. Luckily, she can answer questions about herself easily enough, even if she'd never been exceptional at small talk.

"It's been... an experience. People have been very nice to me, though I've heard enough to wonder whether that will be the case if I ever have reason to venture outside of Skyhold." Shifting her grip on her books, she offers a hand. "My name is Hermione Granger. I'm assuming by your words you're native to Thedas?"

She doesn't like talking about war, whether it's a war she's read about in history books or one she's personally been through. Either way, it will always remind her of people she's lost, and the people she can't afford to lose, and the fact that she's currently lost here in Thedas without any familiar faces to fall back upon.

But given what Leliana had been saying, given everything she knows about the history of her own world... a stark cautionary tale seems necessary. She doesn't say it to shock, only to draw parallels and warn against what might be.

After a long time, she shakes her head, trying not to grimace. This and similar subjects always leave a terrible taste in her mouth.

"When the rest of the world finally realized that these stories were true and not just terrible propaganda, they joined in the effort to stop him. He realized he was going to be defeated, and so he did what any coward would do. He killed himself and left his followers to fend for themselves. Even now, all these years later, there are still occasional accounts of discovering Nazis - that's what they were called - who'd escaped judgment. They'd be well into their eighties or nineties, but that doesn't keep them from being punished for their crimes."

She hadn't even gotten into the torture or the unethical experimentation, and quite frankly, she doesn't want to.

"And... being a Grey Warden is a lifelong venture?" It certainly sounds that way, given the way Korrin talks about them. "Are there any of these Grey Wardens here at Skyhold? Perhaps I can try my luck at attempting a conversation with one of them. Even if I don't find out anything new, it would at least be new for me."

Resistance. That just made it sound as though this warlord had already acquired control, and people were still trying to fight back. It wasn't a comforting thought, but even Voldemort had nearly managed to come out on top, to the point where his Death Eaters were running Hogwarts and openly torturing students.

That last comment, though, was where the inward comparisons ended. "And do you have people figuring out the exact odds of such a thing?" Because, while she might not say it, those people might be better put to work actually attempting to fix the problem rather than working out the odds.

Frowning at the mention of the derogatory nicknames, Hermione asked, "Orlesians are those from... Orlais, am I right? That's awful. Both of them. I could understand if it was a teasing sort of thing between friends - Heaven knows I call my friends all sorts of things when they grate on me - but I'm under the impression that that isn't the case."

Inter-racial friendships seem rare here, though it did gladden her to hear that elves and humans could procreate; it at least meant that some humans were bright enough to get past their prejudices.

"Oh, no," Ariadne said, shaking her head. "I did that myself."

Said without the slightest hint of humor or irony.

But Ariadne didn't like talking about somber things. Especially when they were terribly far away, so far that she couldn't help. There was no point in lamenting that. For now, she could only try to help the people here in Skyhold.

"Thedas is on the brink of civil strife too. A lot of people are afraid of the native mages."

"Yes, Orlais. Have you heard of a place called the Dales? It is in Orlais, but it was gifted to my people long ago. We left slavery in Tevinter to claim it, and rebuild our lives there. Then the Orlesians became greedy, and resented us for not worshiping the Maker, and they marched on us. We lost the war, and were told to either worship the Maker or leave. Those who submitted became city elves, and those who refused became nomads, with no permanent home. That is why we are called Dalish elves, as a reminder of what was taken from us."

Ellana may be an optimist who tries to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but she has a natural prejudice against Orlesians as a whole.

Korrin nods solemnly to the first question. "It is, and there are several. There are two which come to mind; Sabriel and Alistair. Sabriel has been a friend since childhood, and so she's the one I know best. I'm sure she'll tell you what she's at liberty to share. As for Alistair, he's one of the veterans of the Fifth Blight, which happened in Ferelden about ten years ago. So, he can tell you all about archdemons and whatnot since he was right in the thick of it. Zevran isn't a Warden, but he's well-known for being a companion of Alistair and the Hero of Ferelden. The would be Jonas Cousand, Prince-Consort and the guy who killed the archdemon in the end."

"But... I'm sorry, I don't mean to speak out against any religion, but I've never understood this. This happens in my world, too: if someone's beliefs clash with my own, why should it matter to me so long as they aren't actively harming me and mine? You could worship your gods and the Orlesians could worship their Maker; who can say one or the other of you is right or wrong?"

Hermione's big on empirical evidence, and most religions aren't. Treating a person differently because of dogma that may or may not be the least bit valid irked her beyond words.

"So did the city elves actually convert, or do they just pay lip service to the maker so they can stay there? Or does it depend on the individual?" She couldn't imagine any forced conversions being genuine, but someone who was born into that sort of life might genuinely believe in this Maker.

"That's... a lot of names," Hermione replies, chuckling a little bit. "I suppose you can introduce me to Sabriel sometime, since you know her. There's no rush, of course; I'm sure I might come across the others at some point, but if you've a personal connection, at least that makes it a little less vague."

Hermione blinked, wondering if she'd just heard the punchline of a joke that had fallen a little flat. But that didn't seem to be the case, so she offered a brief, uncertain smile before focusing on the bit that still made a little bit of sense.

"So I've heard. Some people aren't exactly fond of non-natives who can do magic, apparently. But there has to be a way to set things right; there's no reason for so many mages to suffer or for non-mages to live in fear."

"That's so true," Ariadne said, nodding with enthusiasm. "People just get afraid of the things they don't understand. Or the things that don't move like them or sound like them or look like them."

Things that had green skin and could fly over the canopies on black wings.

Ariadne felt the scars on her back itch and tingle at the memory.

"I'm so glad you agree," she continued. "You seem terribly enlightened!"

"I know, and I'm fine with helping. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't, alright? Most of them will be attending that soiree Ambassador Montilyet and Madame de Fer have created, which ought to be soon. I can't say it'll be a great time, if you're allergic to all that formal nonsense, but...it'd be a learning experience, I can say that much."

Korrin still smiles a little, not completely hating the upcoming event...but only because she'd promised to dance and with one person in particular.

"There's a soiree?" Hermione asks, this having been the first she'd heard of it. "Is it one of those affairs that people have to be invited to? I really don't know that a foreigner who can't even wave her wand around without inadvertently causing people to trip over themselves would be particularly welcomed at such a thing."

"I wouldn't say I'm enlightened," Hermione remarked with a soft chuckle. "At least, I wouldn't want to say that. I'd like to think that most people would be able to think this way, if only they could allow themselves to look beyond stereotypes."

Of course, given that the stereotypes thing seemed to be common between worlds, maybe she was a bit on the enlightened side. That was a bit depressing to think about, in all honesty.

"You shouldn't need an invitation, no. I'll double-check, but you should be fine." Unless they start barring rifters from parties now, which...given the current climate, would not surprise Korrin. "So, don't bring your wand. You shouldn't need it, not when it's bound to be well-protected. The Ambassador needs this soiree to form more alliances, so she's not going to have anything risk it."

Ellana smiles gently at Hermione's question. "It doesn't make any sense, does it? But I think -- at least, what I've heard -- is that in the Andrastian religion, they believe the Maker won't return to them until the Chant of Light is sung from the four corners of the world. To them, everyone should convert or they'll never get their Maker to return. Personally, I don't see why they need him. Our elven gods were locked away from us long ago where we can't reach them, and we don't suggest everyone convert and maybe they'll be freed."

Now Ellana moves to the other side of the battlements, looking down at the lower courtyard and stables below.

"I say that would depend. The city elves remember less of our culture, but they keep some words and traditions alive. The loss of the Dales was over seven hundred years ago, so I suspect many city elves turned to worshiping the Maker simply because they forgot the old ways."

There's a pause before Hermione asks, "Would they search me?" She doesn't like breaking the rules, no, but she doesn't feel comfortable not having her wand. It might not be doing her a lot of good at the moment, but it's better than being caught in something bad and having to rely on whatever horror show wandless magic would be like.

"It's not that I intend to turn myself into a risk. I just... we don't go anywhere without our wands. If there was a place I could securely lock it up, it would be fine - not that I assume strangers would root through my things! But... it's a precaution, you understand."

"The... Chant of Light?" She'd read a bit about it, and may have come across a few instances of it actually being quoted, but that didn't make sense. "The same Chant of Light that was written by man?" She can draw more and more parallels between this and religions she already knows from home, but she's sure she sounds like enough of a skeptic as it is.

That's especially true when she learns that many city elves likely worship the Maker simply because that's what they'd learned while growing up, rather than for any genuine belief. While not as awful as the plight of mages and elves, it's still sad to think that people will live their entire lives according to rules set aside by a Chantry that hasn't sounded particularly trustworthy over the years, at least according to Hermione.

"Maybe people will be free when they realize they're allowed to learn about the ways of the world on their own, rather than follow a strict code their parents passed down to them. I have nothing against most religious beliefs, you understand, so long as a person really believes and isn't just using it to justify their own complacency or bad choices."

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Our aspirations are wrapped up in books

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