Hermione Granger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bookish_lioness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
faderift2016-03-02 10:13 pm
bookish_lioness) wrote in faderift2016-03-02 10:13 pm
Our aspirations are wrapped up in books
WHO: Hermione Granger and Open!
WHAT: There's a newwitch 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.
WHAT: There's a new
WHEN: Backdated to her arrival near the end of Guardian and onward throughout Drakonis.
WHERE:
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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Looking up at Korrin with a small, thoughtful frown, she asks, "Is that something that happens here? At home, not even the most complicated spell can make me feel tired, not unless I've been staying up well into the night trying to perfect it. But here, every time I cast something more complicated than a Stunner or a Disarming Charm, I feel as though I need to take a bit of a break before I can try the next one. Never mind the fact that the charms aren't turning out right, half the time."
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Maybe what you need is time to adjust, to watch other mages here and see our magic. And getting a staff wouldn't hurt. Staves aren't strictly necessary, but any mage not trying to hide what they are carries one, since they help focus magic more effectively than without. Since you seem to need as much of a boost as you can get, I'd say it's well worth a try."
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Staves seem so clumsy to her, though. How do mages run for their lives and make quick escapes when they have something so clunky to carry around with them all the time?
Deciding that it would probably be worth experimenting with, if nothing else, she looks up at Korrin once again and asks, "Is there a way for - rifters, is that what we're officially called? - for rifters to access the Fade? I'm assuming I must have some kind of connection to it, if I came through it and I'm using some form of magic here, so maybe, with a bit of practice, I could at least be somewhat competent again?"
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She nods at mention of practice, supporting that despite what happened to her. Just because Hermione might need to go about it in a different way is no reason to quit, of course. "I think it's possible to increase that connection to it; like you said, it's already there. Anyone who can dream -which dwarves and Tranquil can't- is connected to the Fade, though only those with magic can manipulate that. Attempting magic that's wildly different from what we have here might not be helping, but the closer your spells resemble ours, the more it could?
Like I said, we can reshape reality within the bounds of what we've studied. I can cause someone freeze in place with ice or protect them with a magic barrier, but I can't summon a dragon to bite their head off. Maybe you normally can, but it might be too much for you to process here. So, start with something that's closer to what natives can do. I'd be happy to demonstrate my magic, too, see if any that is something you can approximate."
And because Korrin might as well ask while she remembers.... "Do you know any spells that negate magic or magic effects?"
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Hermione isn't sure how she feels about living in a world where she could only use magic if she "connects" to some other, unknown force. It doesn't sound the least bit safe, but she assumes that, if it's such a prevalent force here, the least she can do is allow a native like Korrin to slowly teach her how to tap into it bit by bit and not die in the process.
"Well, we have Freezing Charms and Protection Charms, too, but we also can't summon a dragon, especially not to make it do something on your command. Dragons have their own minds, just like any other animal. I assume that means I can't perform the Imperius Curse here, but given that that's one of the Unforgivable Curses anyway, I don't exactly use it in my day to day. Or at all. The Ministry would have a fit, and rightfully so. And if you mean counter-spells, then of course; our professors would go mad if they couldn't reverse a transfiguration gone wrong or undo a prank jinx."
Though the rest seems fairly self-explanatory, Hermione tilts her head and asks, "By the way, I'm familiar with dwarves, but what are Tranquil? We don't have those back home. Or if we do, we call them by something else." She doubts it, though; whatever sort of people they are, the magical world as she knows it is a bit too rambunctious for anything that sounds so calm and peaceful.
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"You're going to have to tell me about those Curses, though from the very name I'm almost positive it's nothing you'll want to demonstrate here. Shard-bearers, native and rifter alike, are getting side-eyed enough as it is. The last thing you need is people thinking you have anything to with forbidden crap like blood magic. And before you ask what that does, a blood mage can use their own -or someone else's- to enhance their magic without tapping into the Fade. Learning it sometimes involves a deal with a demon but even if that's not true, magic like that shreds the Veil. In a time when we have demons pouring out of rifts, the last thing we need are more problems with it. But the reason why blood mages are hunted, aside from the sacrifice angle, is because their magic can influence minds. I've seen it happen before and it's...nasty work."
She shudders, as dragons she'll face without flinching but blood mages are far more unnerving than giant lizards who breathe fire or ice ever will be. "Counter-spells? Excellent. Plenty of us are learning Dispel right now, actually, so it could be a good example in terms of observing native magic and adapting to it." Given Hermione's own shard, Korrin would still advocate using it over a counter-spell when it comes to rifts, but Dispel is still a damn useful battle spell and she'll readily demonstrate sometime.
...ah. Tranquil. Korrin put off that explanation for last, almost wishing she hadn't brought it up since it's not at all a pleasant subject, but Hermione would find out sooner or later. "I really hope you don't have Tranquil, to be honest. You'll notice them by their monotone voices and the sunburst brands on their foreheads. Tranquil are former mages; they've undergone a rite either because they ask for it, thinking that they won't be strong enough to pass a Harrowing, or it's enforced as a punishment. The Chantry says it's a method of last resort but I've talked to plenty of Circle mages who say that's bullshit. What the Rite of Tranquility does is completely sever a mage's connection to the Fade; they can't do magic, can't dream, have no emotions whatsoever."
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She's seen enough of the Dark Arts to last her a lifetime, and while she's not exactly fond of the curses, either, she still explains, "According to the official stance of the Ministry of Magic, there are three Unforgivable Curses, and I'm sure most other magical governments probably feel the same way about them. There's the Imperius Curse, wherein the caster can influence the actions of someone else without any outwards signs of such influence. There's the Cruciatus Curse, which causes the victim a significant amount of pain." Her voice hitches just a little at that description, given that she has to stop herself from giving a very detailed explanation of what that pain feels like, having experienced it at length firsthand. But she tries to skip along that as quickly as possible, shaking her head a little before finishing, "And then there's the Killing Curse, which does exactly what you'd think it does, and does it instantly. There's no way to block it, making it the most feared curse in the magical community; only one person has ever survived it." She pauses for a moment before looking down at her shard hand, adding, "The light it gives off when being cast is similar to the color of the rift, which... didn't help to make my arrival any easier."
Looking up at Korrin curiously, she's about to ask after the specifics of this Dispel charm she mentions, but then there's an explanation of Tranquil. It's a little hard to follow; she's heard vaguely of Harrowings, but has no idea what they actually are, other than it's some sort of rite of passage. But that last statement... no, that can't be right.
"Wait... you mean... there's a way for people to... to take away a person's magic? And their emotions? W- what does that leave them with?" Without magic, emotions, or even the ability to dream, are these mages even considered human anymore?
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"Andraste's ass. Thedas has some deeply fucked-up magic, but that's some stiff competition. None of that would pass in Skyhold, even if it was possible to channel that kind of energy. The Council is strictly against those methods, of course. Magic is for utility and defense, not torture."
She nods grimly at Hermione's appalled questions, not surprised at the reaction and having felt much the same way when she first heard about it. "They still have their memories, their intellect, but it's not like they're the same person that they were before. The difference is night and day. I think technically they're free to go after that, but most end up staying and working for the Circle, because where the hell else are they going to go? There's no place for them in Thedas. So they're the ones working on enchantments for the Circles; I have no idea if they're compensated or not. At least, that was the system before the Mage-Templar war. Once the Circles fell, people fled for their lives and Tranquil were abandoned, forgotten in the chaos."
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For now, though, most of her focus is on this whole Tranquil business, if only because it sounds like such an outlandish atrocity that she can scarcely believe it's actually in practice. It sounds like the sort of thing that might be considered a fourth Unforgivable Curse if it existed in her world, and she can't help but wonder if Cruciatus would look quite as vile to her in comparison.
"So... they lose their magic but still work on magical theory? Certainly not-... when you say the Circles, certainly you don't mean these are the same people who had a hand in taking their magic away to begin with, do you?" Hagrid still worked for Hogwarts even after he'd been expelled from it, but that had been different, since they hadn't taken away what had made Hagrid Hagrid. "Breaking a person's wand is certainly something I've heard of as punishment, but they can still do a bit of magic and can certainly still feel and dream." What Korrin is describing sounds almost as bad as the Dementor's Kiss, and the thought of something like that being abused... well, there's a reason Voldemort had used Dementors during the war.
"What do you mean, Tranquil were abandoned? People just... lost track of them?" She can't imagine what that must be like, having no hopes and dreams and also suddenly finding oneself alone in the middle of so much chaos.
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Korrin sighs, wanting to pace while she talks, but that would just be a terrible idea for her back right now. So she just shifts her weight and continues. "Mages don't make each other Tranquil; the Chantry gives authority to Templars to do it to mages deemed a 'risk'. Like I said, it's supposed to be a last resort, but sometimes Templars have been very, very loose about the definition of 'risk'. Given that Templars also had the Rite of Annulment, allowing them to kill every mage in a Circle if it was deemed necessary, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise.
With that much power comes a lot of abuse, and that's what started the Mage-Templar War more than anything else. Mages were sick of being imprisoned, of having so little of their fates in their own hands. I wasn't a Circle mage, but I've heard plenty of horror stories from those who lived under the authority of the Templars, enough to know that I'd never want it for myself. No one with any sanity in them would."
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Arms crossed tightly across her chest, she outright scowls as she explains, "All it takes is one corrupt Templar to make the way this whole thing is organized a failed venture. And people can be corrupted. It doesn't matter if their power is granted to them by magic or by a sword; once it's used towards the wrong ends, then they need to be stopped and there needs to be a way to handle it that's safe and humane for everyone involved."
Fully aware that she's ranting now, she does pace the floor as she complains, "This is why this system doesn't work unless everyone trusts one another. In my world, the magical community doesn't wholly trust Muggles, and so we keep ourselves hidden and self-govern, which works perfectly well when we can tamp down on any problem witches and wizards immediately. But if mages and non-mages are going to co-exist and be fully aware of one another, then they need to learn to respect one another as people, because in the end, that's what they all are."
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"Damn right, to all of that. We didn't get the option for secrecy, as appealing as I can see that being. The Tevinter Imperium is the first real human civilization here, and the precedent was -still is- a magocracy. Everything that followed, including the enormous backlash, stemmed from that. There are so many reasons for people to despise or be wary of Tevinter, but they take it too far to include all mages everywhere. Every time mages gain even the slightest bit of rights, someone is always fretting about the possibility of 'another Tevinter', as though every mage is suddenly going to give in to blood magic and demon summoning. It's more than a little insulting."
But there is more, and Korrin sighs, not eager to worry Hermione. "As much as it kills me to say this, people aren't completely wrong to fear mages. We're more tied to the Fade than they'll ever be; we're the only ones who remember being there, after all. And we're the prime targets for any demons who want to cross over into our world; as in, possession. It's easy for me to resist them; I've had a good mentor and was schooled to resist them all my life. But for a Circle mage, abused since the moment they step into a tower, it must be tempting...and that's when abominations happen. A demon taking over a mage's body can cause enormous amounts of damage, wiping out entire villages before anyone can stop them.
Which is still no excuse to oppress those who don't succumb, of course. If mages could be taught in a safer environment, one that isn't essentially a jail, they wouldn't resort to such desperate measures. The Chantry -and the Templars, by extension- keep forgetting that a mage with nothing at all to lose is at their most dangerous."
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"Then this Tevinter Imperium needs to be renovated! It clearly has the wrong sort of people in power if they alone are enough to give magic a bad name. Not all of the people there can be-... did you say blood magic and demon summoning?!" Granted, demons aren't the same in her world as they are in Thedas, but she's seen enough of the Thedosian ones to know you don't want to summon them. Blood magic, though? That definitely sounds about the same, from what Hermione has been able to read. "If they're openly practicing that sort of thing, shouldn't someone be able to stop them? There has to be an international council of sorts, where each country is represented and they can all agree on certain acts - magical or non-magical - that are universally punishable, and if there are any signs that one of them is doing something the shouldn't, an investigation can take place and the individuals responsible can be brought to justice. That's how civilizations work!"
Well. Her civilization. And clearly, the United Nations hasn't cured all of the world's problems. But at least having rules and a hierarchy makes it that much easier to know when something isn't working!
Hearing about possession just gets Hermione riled up even more. "Then if mages are susceptible to that sort of thing, they should be protected. They should be made aware of how good their lives are without the influence of these demons. Purposely tormenting or mistreating them is just asking for them to turn towards whatever they can to make themselves stronger. It's just common sense!"
She's sure she must be red in the face by this point, so she forces herself to stop, taking a deep breath and trying to unclench her jaw and just generally relax her muscles. She usually lashes out with some simple hex towards empty space or something that she can fix with her magic, but given her current magical difficulties, she isn't going to take any chances.
"We have schools," she says in a quieter voice. "The students live there from a young age, and the grounds are protected from magical and Muggle influences. We learn about our magic, we learn about our history, we learn about our laws, all so we can function as responsible adults that won't go off and randomly blow things up or hurt anyone just because we can manipulate magical energy. If we break the rules, if we show ourselves to non-magical people or worse, get them hurt, we have authorities within the Ministry of Magic who take us away, and we're given fair trials and sentenced according to our crime." Well. Usually. But she doesn't say as much. "There's no reason a similar system can't be set up here, with younger mages being taught to embrace their magic and learning about the dangers of abusing it. Older mages can do the teaching, and once they've gone through their curriculum, the younger mages will have grown up and can come together with non-mages to set up some of these universal rules and pledge to police themselves fairly. They should be involved in their own lives and the lives of their families. Again, they're people, and people have rights."
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"So, your school doesn't tear mages from their families? They can see them whenever? And everyone is free to come and go as they please? If the Circle was anything like that...maybe I wouldn't have minded attending. It's not the regulation as a whole I'm opposed to, it's the lack of choice. I'm hoping that the Mage Council will be a step in the right direction. Thedas is looking to us now, watching to see what we will do and how our example will flourish...or fail. If we show them a workable system now, then the Circles might never need rise again."
Wondering if that's a true possibility or just a pipe-dream, Korrin sighs and stares off.
"...all of our meetings are open to everyone. Only those on the Council get to speak, normally, but that doesn't mean you can't attend and see what we're trying to accomplish for yourself. I won't lie; a lot of it can be a headache, as Loyalists insist on returning to the way things were while everyone else refuses. But a lot of these people are having a voice for the first time ever; whatever bumps in the road there are, it's worth it just for that.
As for Tevinter, believe me, it's been done. Check out the history books in the library and you'll find out all about the Exalted Marches that the Chantry has called on the Imperium. Multiple ones. But despite that and the Qunari fighting them fro the north, they still persist. And now there's no Divine, so no one to lead the Chantry, so no Exalted Marches on anything. By the way; some members of the Inquisition are from Tevinter. I've personally known at least three of them, and they're all decent people, putting their lives at risk to help stop the threat we face just like everyone else. Give them a chance and they might be willing to tell you more from their own perspective."
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"We get an acceptance letter once we're old enough and can choose whether or not to attend. We're strongly encouraged to attend, of course, especially people like me, who come from non-magical families. Once there, visits from family or journeys outside the grounds are generally limited, but we do have organized trips into the neighboring village and holidays off. And after we graduate, we choose where we'd like to go and what we'd like to do with our lives. So long as we don't break any laws, there's no reason for anyone to tell us what to do."
Which is something she's taken for granted over the years, she now realizes. The idea that she'd been so concerned about Professor McGonagall making her work so hard for her high marks when there have been mages here who were more concerned about not getting their magic taken away entirely makes her feel sick to her stomach.
"May I sit in on the next meeting, then?" she asks absently, an arm around her middle as she honestly tries not to feel sick. "I can't promise that I won't have to be kept from speaking, but I'll at least try not to do so out of turn and won't otherwise make a fool of myself. I just don't understand how anyone could want things to go back to the way things had been here, if all that you say is true."
As for Tevinter, she shakes her head and remarks, "Revolutions aren't easy. But if it's a revolution in the right direction, it will happen eventually. Maybe someone from here will go back to Tevinter and evoke a positive change. It's a better possibility than waging a constant, outright war."
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"I hope you're right. Of those few I've met, I believe at least two have the capacity to spark change over there. That they'll try I'm pretty confident about; whether or not they succeed might depend on how well we do here. So, no pressure."
There's a faint smirk from Korrin at that before she continues. "I don't see why you shouldn't be there. You may use a different term, but to Thedas you're a mage, with all the baggage that brings. So what happens affects you, too.
If it helps, I don't get it either. I know some people have a huge fear of change, but when conditions were so awful, wouldn't anything else be better? And yet, some cling to the old broken system even more firmly now that everything's in chaos. Nevermind how toxic it was."
She huffs at that and rolls her eyes, likely never understanding people who won't even try to help themselves. But something else Hermione says causes a slight smile to form. "It seems we have something in common, then. My parents weren't mages, either. That I turned out to be one was something of a surprise. Given that they started life in the Qun, which fears mages even more than the Chantry does, it wouldn't have been at all strange if they had shunned me. But they didn't. They couldn't, not when their bid for freedom involved smuggling away a mutual friend showing signs of magic. That friend later turned out to be my first mentor."
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"Whether or not they succeed depends on the kind of support they have and the precise words they say," Hermione mentioned with something akin to a scowl. "I've seen politicking go on; the right connections and a few well-placed words are often all it takes to uproot centuries of tradition. The trick is making sure that these connections and words are stepping stones towards a noble end and not a selfish one." Like Dolores Umbridge and her... it must have been sadism that had made her practically destroy Hogwarts during Hermione's fifth year, because she finds it hard to believe it could have been anything else.
Trying not to sound negative, Hermione explains, "I might be a mage according to definition, but I'm not a mage according to my culture or my upbringing. I don't want anyone thinking I'm talking about things I know nothing about. I do know about equality and fairness, and I've been hunted for what I am, even if it had nothing to do with my magic."
Which brings her to her next point, one that she isn't sure any mage here will fully understand. "Because my parents are non-magical, I'm known as a-... well, the proper term is a Muggle-born, but the less-polite word is Mudblood. 'Pureblood' families often looked down on people like me, and during the war, we were thrown in prison or... or worse. It wasn't an easy year, being on the run and wondering if that was going to be the day my friends and I finally got caught." She's quiet for a moment before attempting to shrug it off. "But we survived. Knowing we had support, that we were in the right and had people willing to fight alongside us... it helped. So I might not know as much about the plight of mages as natives such as yourself might, but I certainly know what it's like to be targeted for something beyond my control. And quite frankly, I wouldn't have wanted to control it; my parents are brilliant, putting up with me when they'd never even heard of magic before my acceptance to Hogwarts. Your parents sound just as wonderful, maybe even more so, considering the active stigma against magic here."
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"...well. Despite my seemingly neverending list of why Thedas is a harsh place to life, I can safely say that kind of discrimination isn't one known to us. If you're a mage, you're a mage; parentage doesn't factor into it, unless you're in Tevinter and even then, I'm pretty sure they don't imprison people based on bloodlines." They have less influence, which is still stupid, but as far as she's aware that's the extent of it. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Hermione. At least you understand something of what we go through over here, though I still wouldn't wish it on anyone.
And you're not wrong about politics. It's what makes it all such a headache to deal with, for all that I refuse to back away from it. If I do that, then people can easily go back to ignoring or stepping all over us. No thank you. At least some on the council are able players of the Game, as much of a toxic mess as that tends to be."
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Shrugging a little, she throws in, "As for politics, at least that's the same no matter where you are. It's easier to ignore it than do anything about it, at least until you realize that ignoring it will only end up for the worst in the long run."
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"Sadly. If I could ignore it, I would because as you might have guessed, patience and diplomacy aren't my strong points. But being what I am, I don't have that luxury. This world will focus on the 'mage' bit above all else, so I'd damn well better use that to exact some good."
And because Hermione has her curious, she has to slip in a few of her own questions. "Azkaban? I wonder if that was anything like Aeonar. That's a mage prison; I haven't had anything to do with it, but I know that blood mages and the like are sent there. Supposedly the Veil is pretty thin there and it makes it easier to tell if someone's been dealing with demons and the like. I've yet to speak with anyone who has a first-hand account, though, so there's probably a lot more to it." None of it pleasant, she's sure. "What's happened to it now that the Circles have fallen, I can't say. But for the sake of Thedas, I hope that those who legitimately deserve to be there haven't escaped.
I don't suppose you have any tips for defeating powerful ancient magisters, then? There's much that might not directly translate, but still. You don't go through something like defeating a Dark Lord and not gain some insight."
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For a moment, Hermione thinks Korrin is referring to her race when she mentions being what she is, but then she mentions the mage thing again. "Is being a mage really so bad here? I thought healing potions and that sort of thing were common use. How can people use something made by people they hate and not feel guilty over it?" No, seriously, what is up with all this blind hatred? Hermione doesn't understand.
"Azkaban is a wizarding prison, yes. It used to be guarded by Dementors, which are... I don't really know how to explain them. They're not exactly demons, but that's the closest equivalent I can think of. They're cloaked creatures that drain the happiness out of you just by being near you; Heaven forbid they ever bestow the Dementor's Kiss on you, which sucks your soul out of your body. It's a fate worse than death. Thankfully, our new Minister of Magic has opted for more humane options, so hopefully no one will have to deal with them ever again." Especially not here, since she has no idea whether she can conjure up her Patronus anymore.
"Ancient magisters? It sounds like you're talking about an old Dark wizard, or some such thing." It likely wouldn't translate exactly, no, but then, nothing here ever has. "My best advice would be to fully understand the kind of magic being put to use. Voldemort was utilizing very old, very Dark magic that I'd never heard of before. I've only ever seen one book that mentions any of it, since it's so vile. It's actually one of the books that came through with me, if you'd like to look at it." She's about to recommend that Korrin not look at it on a full stomach, but considering what an easy time people had had with chopping up demons the day she'd arrived, it's likely that the people of Thedas aren't quite so queasy.
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There's definitely a touch of nostalgia and wistfulness in her smile. Thinking of them is bittersweet right now, cut off from those who might as well be family. But she turns her attention to other things and shudders at mention of what guarded Azkaban. "They sound like Despair demons, cloaked and awful...though they can't draw out a soul, thankfully. At least your world has moved on from that particular horror. I wouldn't wish that upon even my worst enemy."
Hermione has a good point about understanding Corypheus' magic, of course, and Korrin hasn't stopped wanting to learn about it ever since Haven. It was ignorance that led them to that fiasco, and it couldn't be allowed to happen again. Mention of that particular book gains her -understandably wary- interest, and she raises an eyebrow. "I wouldn't mind taking a look sometime, just to see what you were up against. And you're right, we definitely need more information on Corypheus and his magic. He's a being from another age, from the before the First Blight in fact, so he's bound to have a lot of tricks up his sleeve that have been forgotten in time. The one I'd be most interested in learning about is how he's controlling or has the allegiance of a dragon, of all things. If he didn't have that, maybe the battle for Haven would have ended differently. Maybe we wouldn't have needed Skyhold."
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"I thought I might have seen something that looked vaguely like a Dementor when I'd came here," she muses softly. "I should really learn the names of the different types of demons here. I'm sure they each have their own distinct set of weaknesses and risk factors."
The idea of dealing with another Voldemort is not the least bit appealing to Hermione, but she manages to hide the dread from her features. More or less. "And the First Blight was...?" It doesn't sound good, whatever it is, but it doesn't really serve as a reference of time or anything else. "It sounds like the Imperius Curse, or the nearest equivalent to it, but I've never heard of it working on a dragon. Though I don't suppose why not; I've seen it work on spiders before, so I suppose no one's ever thought to use it on one. Thank goodness for small favors.
"But yes, you can borrow the book; if you'd like, I can help you back to the library and get it for you now. Oh! Or leave you here so you can...." At that, she holds up the letters she'd collected in her hands, having forgotten about them in the midst of their discussion.
so much teal deer
And 'mercenary' just means hired muscle, in my case. We guard caravans, rescue people, bring back rare supplies from place X...basically, we do whatever needs doing. Sometimes that involves battle; usually against some nasty creature that we'll wish later we could forget, but we've been tasked with stopping bandits or raiders before. And I know about blood mages because I had to deal with them, too."
She'll elaborate on her personal tales some other time, when Hermione hasn't had a ton of information -mostly awful- thrown at her. "As for the First Blight; in a nutshell, a group of magisters wanting to gain even more power decided to physically enter the Fade and opened a gate into the Golden City -seat of the Maker/the Old Gods- with blood magic. Their pride resulted in the City turning Black, and the mages came back twisted and corrupted, devolving into monsters – the first darkspawn. Said darkspawn went underground, located the Old God Dumat and corrupted him, turning him into the first Archdemon.
Lead by him, they wiped out most of the dwarven kingdoms before taking to the surface. The Blight went on for about two centuries, weakening Tevinter and causing chaos eveyrwhere else, until it came to an end with the Grey Wardens. They're an Order dedicated to stopping Blights and kill darkspawn, and this is what spurred their formation. They managed to kill Dumat and end the Blight, though more Old Gods were found and corrupted later on. We've had five blights so far, and according to legend there's still two more Old Gods out there. The good news that that we -well, the Grey Wardens- are getting better at ending them. The most recent one lasted just a year."
the tealest of teal deers o/
Frowning a little at the information about dwarves, Hermione thinks about it for a moment before replying, "Well, at least I know that whatever the source of my original magic is, it certainly isn't the Fade. We have dwarves in my world who can use magic. Actually, dwarves are specifically a type of magical being, like elves or centaurs, but we don't know much about them, as they can be very private. But then, the Muggle world has also come to use the word 'dwarf' to mean little people in general, even without any magical status. I wonder if there's a direct connection." She'd never really thought about it before, to tell the truth.
A little relieved at the explanation about mercenaries, Hermione breathes, "Oh, good. It usually means something much less ethical in nature back home. Not that it's good that you've had to deal with all those things, but I suppose, if you're capable and think the work worth the money, it couldn't have been all bad."
Hermione is always getting awful information thrown at her. It's been the case even before she's ever arrived in Thedas, so at this point, she's just assuming that it's her lot in life. "What exactly is meant by magister? In my world, it's a teacher of sorts; are you saying magic teachers had gone power hungry? Is that what it's like in Tevinter?" She only asks because she's heard the term thrown about whenever Tevinter is mentioned, and just wants to make sure she has the semantics right. After all, she already knows that she means something different from most Thedosians when she talks about elves. "So then, when people talk about the Maker, they're not referencing a single god in a monotheistic religion, but just the Creator god of a pantheon? I thought elves were the polytheistic ones...."
Which, really, just leads her to another point as she tries to digest all of this information. "How much of this is actual history and how much is just religious legend? Not that religion isn't a perfectly valid thing to have belief in, if that's what a person feels, but there's usually a clear division between fact and myth, and I don't know that there is one, in this case."
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