faderift | [ OPEN ] Days too full, nights too dark

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[ OPEN ] Days too full, nights too dark

WHO: Adelaide & You
WHAT: Catch all for end of Guardian & Drakonis
WHEN: All of Drakonis
WHERE: EDL, Skyhold
NOTES: some prompts to follow, poke me via PM or plurk if you want a particular starter!

[ The Healing Tents ]

Even if nothing else seems to be certain- this much she knows she has right. Every scrape, every wound, every cough she mends with a faint murmur and twist of Compassion's power. Here things are simpler. There is an injury, she is to mend it. No questions of morality or trust beyond that which her patients put in her to see them made well. It's simpler. It's a relief, honestly, after the current mess. Here if nowhere else she can trust her judgement beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now and then the lantern outside showing she is taking patients is shuttered- feel free to come in and find her drinking tea with a cold compress to her forehead. Migraines, Oh joy.

[ The Library ]

For every answer there are at least ten to twenty more questions- though the further along she goes the more precise she might make them and the less dithering about archaic academic footnotes she has to endure. Still she hunches over texts with notes, ink staining her fingers, tea at her elbow long since gone cold as she sketches and notes what scraps of something coherent she can find in these rituals on spirits, the fade, and demons. Either deep in thought, scribbling furiously, or dozing in her chair she is easy to find in the far corner, candle melting down the hours.

[ The Garden ]

Lessons in the morning, sparring in the evening, meditations around midday or tea with whomever she finds that has been overworking themselves just as much as she has which will not do. Adelaide sits here cool and calm at dawn, sculptures of ice spinning through her fingers in forms and shapes that meld and melt and meld over and over- in the early day with her students going over magical theory or discussing with them one on one their fears about demons and fade dreams, in the evening with a rapier, practicing forms, or late at night when she is unable to sleep, staring at scorched earth grass is only just beginning to grow over.

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As Adelaide speaks, Hermione accepts the pen and paper with a small smile and instinctively starts in with the popular pangram, The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog, careful to write out every single letter even more neatly than usual. Even as she writes, she frowns a little as she remarks, "Espionage? Blackmail? Are those open political practices, or just the standard behind-the-scenes subtleties of government work? It's not my area of expertise, but I can be diplomatic when I need to be and so can hopefully avoid any particularly sticky spots."

She slips the paper over towards Adelaide for her inspection. Having come across enough disparities between her world and this one, she explains, "It's a popular phrase for dictation and typing, though I don't think that latter really applies here. I can jot down some famous verse if you'd like a larger sample."

"That it is done is something of an open secret. Bards are most often to handle such things- this is why discretion is also required. I handle sensitive information be it in research or policy for the mages. Our meetings are public but some discussions can be...if not inflammatory but require an education and consideration most do not have in order to prevent knee jerk reactions." And to keep them from being motivated by fear or anger. It is a frustrating nuance of her work- but one she has come to accept.

For the time being there isn't a way around it.

The sample she takes and gives a solid look over. Neat, precise, legible. "This is excellent."

And not too poor a practice, showing what every letter in the alphabet might look like in one go. "To start, twenty silver a week. As you adjust and we shall see how you pick up everything, yes?"

"It always comes back to mages, doesn't it?" The words are murmured under her breath, and she realizes belatedly that they might have come off as derogatory. Not wanting to give off any kind of negative impression, she immediately explains, "In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that most people who've met me have described me as a mage, even if we call ourselves something different back home. It just seems as though a lot of the trouble that goes on around here is directly related to how people react to mages, more so than the mages themselves. It's not a criticism, but an observation." She's observed it so often that she's beginning to wonder if she should just stop introducing herself as a mage to make things easier for herself, but Hermione has never been one for taking the easy route. Besides, she really should be perfectly honest about something like that with anyone who may end up being her employer.

She has no idea how the money here translates to what she knows, or how much twenty silvers would actually buy her, if she actually chose to spend it. So any posited salary would have been an acceptable exchange for her time, as far as she's concerned.

"That sounds agreeable, if you'll still have me. I know there are people who feel a certain way about magic and about those who came in through the rift, so I won't fault any change of heart." Well, she will, but at least she wouldn't do it out loud.

"Mages or elves. The historical context is great and the grievances greater. It is...difficult to explain the whole of it even to those that live here and understand some of the context." More often than not it comes down to those two parties, though the forthright nature of Hermione's explanation and observations causes Adelaide to raise her brows. The more the girl talks, the more impressed she is- though she will have to ask after however she does magic later. Learning new systems is fascinating on so many levels and the opportunity to apply principles of one system to another-

Well.

"As you said, in the interest of full disclosure-" Adelaide reaches a hand out, turning it palm up- ice forming into a perfect crystalline replica of a Chevalier in full plate armor. "I am Adelaide LeBlanc of the Inquisition's Council of Magi- and I myself am a mage. A Spirit-Healer to be precise; a school of magic that calls upon beings on the other side of the veil to heal my patients. It is one that grants me some fear as there are ever those that assume one day I'll be possessed. If you are comfortable working with me, Madmoiselle Granger, I would be happy to have you."

A beat passes as she considers the rest. "As for your being a rifter- one of my closest friends fell through the first and I am currently, as best I am able, researchign the effects of the shards to make certain of your health. We do not know what it is they do or what might happen- the more we know? The more comfortable the rest of the Inquisition and in turn, the rest of Thedas. Fear is brought on by ignorance. Fixing that ignorance...it will take time and I am but one woman. With you? We shall be two."

Edited (formatting, etc) 2016-03-06 09:57 (UTC)

Hermione nods at the mention of elves. She'd always known of elves as being a marginalized group, but after having met some here and realizing that they're nothing like the house-eves with which she's familiar, it seems as though they're slightly better able to take care of themselves, at least from the standpoint of physicality and the fact that they aren't magically bound to anyone. They still have a terrible time of things, of course, and so she'll still fight ardently for elf rights whenever she's given the chance, but it's the reaction to mages that's been surprising her the most.

Seeing the ice form in the palm of Adelaide's hand, Hermione suddenly realizes where she'd heard her name before she even introduces herself as a Spirit-Healer. "Korrin told me about you," she tells her. "She said you would be able to answer questions about the Fade and the rifts." She pauses for a moment before asking, "Beings on the other side of the veil? Do you mean... spirits? Not demons, surely? What else is there that could be of any help in healing?"

Shaking her head, she ultimately decides, "I don't know enough about the specifics of what you do to be struck with fear at the thought of it. So I suppose that counts as me being comfortable with you. I suppose that's also an exception to the 'ignorance breeds fear' rule. But that doesn't make ignorance any more palatable, if you ask me."

Smiling a little, she decides, "As I have no exams to study for, I have all the time in the world, all of which I put at your disposal."

"To the best of my ability- yes. I am studying them as much as I am able but as the Rifts are a relatively recent phenomenon there is not much written of them. The Fade, now, I know a fair deal about and can cover in greater detail. As a fair portion of my research is connected to both you'll be learning as you work. Your asking might help uncover something I have not yet considered." There is, after all, something to be said for alternative points of view. "Spirits yes, demons no. We try to avoid them as a rule."

But that- the agreement, the bravery. She might have to amend that line of thinking. "Ignorance often breeds fear- where it does not breed curiosity, or both. It is rare someone is faced with a thing they do not understand and doesn't fear it. In this I think you will be an excellent match for what I need."

Adelaide wipes her fingers clean of ink before offering it to Hermione; a proper contract will be written up later but- this? They can agree on in the simplest of ways. "Welcome to my employ, Mademoiselle Granger."

"Perhaps I can help you write something about the Rifts, then. Assuming you have time, alongside whatever other projects you might be working on." She realizes she doesn't really know much about the sort of research she'd just signed up for, but in the end, it matters little. So long as Hermione is learning about something and can put that knowledge to good use, she's happy. That the research is also rewarded with coin is just a bonus, once that she's sure she'll learn to appreciate as she accrues expenses. She imagines she will, since she can't imagine that she'll be allowed to stay at Skyhold and receive free room and board indefinitely.

"I'm mostly interested in getting my magic to work more along the way it should. It was suggested to me that it might be being filtered through the Fade, or at least that the Fade is acting as interference, so the more I learn about it, the better it should come back to me. It could also simply be that my wand has been broken beyond repair since my arrival, in which case, I'll just have to get used to my magic being a bit finicky. Or switch to a staff, which Korrin also suggested."

Smiling a little, Hermione explains, "In my school, new witches and wizards go through a Sorting ceremony, where they're Sorted into one of the four school Houses. I was sorted into Gryffindor, which is known for its bravery. I was a little disappointed, since I'd thought I'd belong in Ravenclaw, which favors wit and wisdom, but I find that I'm better suited for Gryffindor than I would have thought."

Her smile grows as she takes Adelaide's hand, giving it a single, gentle shake. "Thank you, Councilor. When would you like me to start?"

"What notes I have on them are yours to read as we have precious little in print. Most of what I have gathered has come from observation or interviewing those that have seen them open- or seen rifters and other shardbearers close them. Currently a branch of my research is focused on whether or not those with the shards can open rifts as well. There was an incident some time ago where a native mage was able to do so- proving rifters cannot? Will ease many minds and secure your good name with the Inquisition." Knowing for certain will do a great many people solid favors.

"Studying foreign schools of magic, as well, is something I've dedicated time to. Anything you can write on your own or assist in gathering information from others with similar skills and the means by which they perform them would be useful. If I could delegate that to you entirely- the information gathering- it would free up a great deal of my time for comparing them to what we have here." Some renewed energy brightens Adelaide's eyes, her hands flicking to the stacks of paper about them, tugging a journal with her own notes on foreign magic over to offer Hermione. This- this is what she's loved most. Research, the writing. "Whenever you are comfortable doing so, I would be happy for the aide. At the soonest? Now. At the latest- three days hence?"

Hermione frowned a little, thinking back to the stories she'd so recently heard. "I heard some sort of rumor about a rift having opened at Skyhold. It seems logical that these shards would be able to open it, but... if it's to do with magic, I'd imagine that intent would have some part to play in it, wouldn't it? I can't imagine anyone intentionally opening one with their shard, not if they came to Thedas the same way I had." Skyhold had become her safe spot after crashing into the ice and snow of Emprise du Lion and being forced to fend off demons with magic that no longer worked properly.

Accepting the journal without knowing entirely what it is, Hermione offers, "If you can tell me where I can get a notebook, a quill, and some ink, I can start writing down some brief points about magic in my world. The history, various spells, the basic socio-political climate of the wizarding world as a whole." Maybe "brief" wasn't the right word, as Hermione doesn't really know the meaning of the word when it comes to writing. But she can certainly try, seeing as it wouldn't save Adelaide any time researching if she writes her an entirely new book just on her own world. "After that... perhaps I can put up a notice on that bulletin board asking rifter mages to drop in and see me for a brief interview. Would that work, do you think?"

"It is no rumor, that actually happened. A native Dalish mage, Sina, has a shard stuck in her chest. Opening it nearly killed her. Attempts to close it? Managed to do so for a few moments." A few terrifying moments- but mere moments none the less. Revival was difficult and taxing but well worth it. Nothing would change Adelaide's mind on that count. "It was an accident. She'd been training, unsupervised- and we had not thought that such a thing were possible."

She makes a mental note to speak with Cassandra- a discussion that is long overdue. The Council had it's resolution on the matter but they had not yet approached the Advisors on the same. "What you have in your hand is the beginnings of what I have written of two other schools of magic not of this world. You may use the remainder for your own."

Pen, pen and ink- She tugs a jar of black ink, stoppered and mostly full, out from under another sheaf of papers. "Here. The pen you already have should serve- and that is an excellent idea, Hermione. Things are tense at the moment but having one of their own, one of their own that is magically inclined no less, may be less intimidating than speaking to me."

Hermione winces. She'd heard about the girl with the shard in her chest, and it isn't any less painful to hear about it the second time around. "This is why someone should really look into finding some way to safely remove these shards. I understand they're needed to close the rifts, and I don't know if anyone would volunteer to keep theirs, necessarily, but at least the ones who have it in such a dangerous place should have the option of having it removed." She pauses for a moment before asking, "Is it common for natives of this world to have their own shards? Were they close to this... Herald of Andraste, I believe she was called, at the time of her passing?"

She gives the journal a cursory glance, nodding her head before accepting the ink as well. "Thank you. Perhaps I should open it up to all rifters? After all, magic might exist in some form in most if not all worlds, and just because they don't use it themselves, they might still know a little about it."

"We have searched. No amount of magic can do so- and surgery is risky even if we know it is going to work for certain. The shards are as here as they are not, that is what makes such a thing complicated. I have tried everything I know but- we do not know enough to manage it without significant risk. And that is unacceptable." They cannot move forward without being certain. Adelaide, at least, will not permit it. "I only know of a few- two struck when the breach opened at Haven and one in the Emprise. None of them knew her- none were near the breach when it opened or when it closed. They were struck from a distance."

Rifters outnumber natives by far, but the danger is the same. "That would be wisest- I know a few have no magic in their worlds which is...strange to me, but it was not the focus of my questions while in the Emprise."

Hermione also isn't a particular advocate of experimental surgery with unknown consequences, so she can't fault Adelaide or the others for their decision insofar as all that's concerned. "I see. If I can help find anything that might help with that, I'll share it immediately. There must be some answer." Even if the answer may not necessarily be a favorable one.

Hearing that anyone in this world could have been struck when this breached closed isn't necessarily comforting news. "To be fair, the people who can't do magic in my world would say it doesn't exist, too, because we keep quiet about it. With good reason, as I'm beginning to see. But maybe, even in those instances, I'll know what sort of questions to ask that would point towards a possibility of magic being hidden in their worlds."

"The sooner we find one the better. It has been months since the firs rifters arrived but something such as these shards? Do not become easier to bear the longer one carries them." Complications abound- if not yet? Then soon.

Adelaide flips back through her notes, frowning on the earlier chart she'd made of rifters, some she knew to note magic for but others? Hermione shall manage this. She will let the girl have her lead and see what comes of it; but based purely upon her questions and her initial impressions? Adelaide expects to be more than satisfied with whatever comes of the work. "I defer to your judgement in that. In this world Magic is...well. As it is. I cannot promise an entirely unbiased opinion but whatever questions you have? I shall gladly answer."

She hesitates before asking, "Do they become harder to bear? Sometimes... it aches a bit. I think the ache is always there, but I don't really think about it, or else I just start worrying about what it does to my body."

Quiet for a moment, she eventually brings up, "I've been told that I probably won't be able to do magic the way I'm used to here. Things haven't been working quite right, but it's been suggested that I should get a staff and maybe that will make it easier to use all the spells I'd learned. Which do you think is more likely?" Because all things considered, Hermione really doesn't want to try learning an entirely new kind of magic from the ground up, especially not without being able to access her own.

"Those that have had it for several months now have not reported any great difficulty- but I have my fears. I hope to prove them untrue." That the ache might spread, that the shard might crow much like the red lyrium. That it might twist their dreams to open them to demons.

"Mm. Staffs are an excellent point of focus- I am not the best judge of them as I do most, if not all, of my casting by hand. It offers a greater degree of control and I prefer to be precise; but if you are accustomed to casting with or through something? A staff may suit. How is it you use your wand- gestures, focusing your will through the length of it, tapping through to your reserves of magic with it?" There'd been witches with wands in fairy stories in her youth- but she could not imagine the way that might work.

Adelaide doesn't have to voice her concerns. Hermione likely has similar ones, even if she doesn't have the same context of the lyrium to add to her fears. All things considered, that might be for the best.

Something she says gives Hermione a bit of hope, and she straightens up a little, interested. "Wands are a point of focus, just like what I imagine a staff to be. They're just smaller and easier to conceal, which I suppose isn't much of a selling point when magic isn't a secret here. We don't have the Fade, or at least if we do we certainly don't call it that; magic is simply primal energy that certain people have access to and certain people don't, little different from a reflex. But... you can cast magic by hand here? So if I practice with that hard enough, would I be able to work spells the way I'm used to? I'd really rather not have to learn to tap into the Fade, if such a thing is possible."

She's heard too many stories about demons, and quite frankly, she'd rather deal with those as little as possible.

"I suppose that is similar to how magic works here, though the mechanism to which some are aware and some are not differs." Something to consider- and something to make note of. The realization that Hermione herself will be handling such notes eases a knot of tension Adelaide hadn't even been fully aware of carrying. Delegating does put a mind at ease, it seems.

"It varies from circle to circle, mage to mage. But if you know the gesture and the shape of the spell you wish to cast? You can do so without a staff. Some find it simpler to have that point of focus and it is an excellent means of self defense should magic fail. I do not know how magic works in your world- but if a certain gesture is required- it is possible you might manage, here, with your hands rather than a wand. I would recommend attempting both and seeing which suits you best."

It would be interesting to find out," she murmurs softly. "Someone mentioned something about magic classes, but I'm not entirely sure how useful they'd be to me. At least, not in a class setting, since everyone else would presumably be utilizing the Fade. Though I suppose sitting in on something like that would be fascinating."

Thinking it over, Hermione asks, "What do you mean by the shape of the spell? Wandless magic is mostly just a matter of concentrating our will so that we can use magical energy without filtering it through a wand. It can be tricky, since it's possible for it to not work at all or else to work a little too well, if you overcompensate and have poor control over it."

"Lessons, yes, and we are arranging for a mentorship program for those that would like to learn- or had their learning interrupted by the war. I spend half of my time teaching." Less than at the spire- but there is more research that needs her attention now. "There are the common gestures associated with how one learns a spell- and there is the shape of energy and the veil when casting. If it is a matter of focus it is possible you might manage without difficulty, though I must urge you to only do such practice with supervision. The incident with Sina has left the opnion of those with shards that have magical capabilities a touch strained."

"It's my understanding that the general opinion of those with magical abilities has always been a bit strained here," Hermione remarks trying not to let her voice sound just as strained. But she shakes her head, willing to let that go and focus on more important things. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd enjoy sitting in on a lesson sometime, even as just a scribe. I'll try and keep any magic I do as connected to my wand as possible, but maybe seeing exactly how magic works here will help me advance a bit with my own."

"That is an understatement." Adelaide snorts a soft laugh- 'strained' is putting it lightly. But they are attempting to build something better and that? Is worthwhile. "Of course. I think we've a printed list of what is offered and when- but mine all take place early in the morning in the gardens."

"Is that to deter the late risers and the lazy?" Hermione asks, smirking just a little as she tilts her had curiously. "Because I should really let you know that I tend to be the first person awake in my dormitory, and I'm often one of the last to go to sleep. I have no trouble staying awake and alert." No, she just has trouble staying asleep, especially given that she still sees green flashes of light when she closes her eyes and hears screams whenever she tries to bury her head in a pillow. But a little PTSD never killed anyone.

"...honestly? It is habit. Such was my schedule in the Spire before the war. The familiarity soothed the students I brought from there and it has simply stuck." But it seems as though such habits will suit Hermione just as well. "Normally we take breakfast during or just after; if you've particular preferences? My oldest student, Roul, is the one that prepares it. Let him know and he will provide as best he is able."

"Oh, that doesn't much matter to me," Hermione insists with a shake of her head. "Breakfast is important, of course, but I can seek out something to tide me over well enough without having to bother anyone. Unless, of course, it's something of a tradition, in which case, I can go along with whatever's easiest."

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[ OPEN ] Days too full, nights too dark

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