[ CLOSED ] Mage Council Informal Discussion

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Adelaide, Korrin, Sabriel, Benevenuta, Ellana, Vivienne, Hermione (listening in as notary/aide/etc), NPCs @ the end
WHAT: Concerns have been brought to the council that bear discussion
WHEN: Day of Anders reveal by the Advisors
WHERE: Adelaide's Quarters
NOTES: 1) No teal deers, please. 2) This is a quick, actionspammy round robin discussion for hashing out how to address Christine and Morrigan's concerns specifically. 3) General feelings about Anders can be handled elsewhere as that issue has been decided, judged, etc, by the Inquisition at large and the Council does not have authority on the matter. 4) Try to keep timezones in mind so no one gets left behind. 5) Have fun!

It is a simple enough set up; chairs arranged in a circle, a spell for soundrpoofing woven around the room for privacy, wine rather than tea at the ready for what is undoubtedly to be a long and taxing discussion. An informal meeting for informal thoughts- as handling this with any measure of full-hearted, unbiased professionalism is impossible. Sit. Drink. Discuss.

Comments

[serannas]

Yes, I agree with this too. After what they've experienced already, they need warning, and continued education about demons and abominations.

[ A pause. ]

And probably someone better suited with human law than I am should be ready for questions on why this abomination hasn't been struck down yet.

[madame_de_fer]

I'm familiar enough with the law of the land and of the Chantry and I too would like answers why this is being allowed to continue. Still, I agree, we should be prepared and united in what we tell them. I have little doubt they will have questions.

I believe we are agreed that he should not now, nor ever, be permitted access to our children.

[paperwing]

No, they should not be. In all the Council has ever done, it is for their protection. [She hesitates, and adds,] I do not think he would expect things to remain as they were, nor want them to.

[A sigh.] They should know these circumstances are unusual. As to how they are told, I am not... sure as to what is best.

[fleurdesel]

Because we cannot pick and choose who we stand for, because it is not for us to judge merely for us to work around. He is a war criminal and possessed but he is still a mage.

At the most- never, at the least? Thoroughly supervised. We tell them what he chose and what came of it. There is a lesson in this if nothing else on not losing yourself to a spirit.

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin nods firmly to the 'thoroughly supervised' part, and the lesson involved.]

At least this way he'll be a cautionary tale, not a damn martyr.

[ungovernable]

Yes, that exactly - we are to whom mages come with their difficulties. Not an extremist abomination. We can't afford to play into a narrative of romantic struggle. Our younger mages have suffered. They're vulnerable - susceptible to a good story. Let us not give him one.

[serannas]

[ It hadn't occurred to Ellana that young mages might look at Anders's story as romantic. Even as big a romantic as she is, she looks faintly horrified. ]

Then we should probably write out some sort of guide for ourselves on what to tell them. Obviously we can't foretell exactly what questions they'll ask, but having a uniform response will help so that -- at least from the Council -- they aren't getting two or more different responses in regards to Anders when they come to us individually.

[madame_de_fer]

[Uniting for a uniform response truly is ideal, and for all the dickering they do on a regular basis, it is good to see them thinking as one on this issue. Ellana gets a nod from the Iron Lady in agreement.]

Let us not forget also that children, by nature, are contrary. If we tell them not to interact with him, some will simply to test their boundaries. If we are to prevent him, we shall have to take our stance to the Wardens and trust them to convey and enforce this decision.

[She glances to Sabriel. The Warden among them should know best if that would be accepted.]

[paperwing]

It is the very least we could do. [Considering, well, everything else.] I will personally see that it is done, Madame Vivienne. Supervision, at the least, will not be a problem - if any of the children did try to approach him, they would not find Anders alone.

[fleurdesel]

Making ourselves a source of support is vital- too many concerns went unspoken, too many fears unaddressed in the Circle for a lack of certainty as to who we were safe to speak to. If we make ourselves plain and approachable? They will come to us first.

[ungovernable]

Vivienne's mentorship proposal is perfect for that.

[madame_de_fer]

[Benuta gets a gracious nod from Vivienne and the closest thing to a smile anyone is going to see for a good long while. There is the matter of Morrigan's private note to consider.]

Indeed. Once we have reached consensus here and taken appropriate action, we should focus our collective efforts on providing good solid leadership for our students to turn to.

[Her lips press into a line. They need to know the rest.]

Supervision is ideal, but we should be wary regardless. I have it on good authority that he was inquiring into the methods of shapeshifting.

[And what little mageling doesn't wanna hug a harmless bunny?]

[paperwing]

Shapeshifting?

[She sounds and looks aghast for a moment before she reigns it back in. That's news to her.]

That's... troubling. We can make ourselves approachable, and give fair warning to the children, but... we cannot be prepared for every outcome, can we?

[fleurdesel]

Considering his supposed background I do not find such an interest surprising.

[ She had seen the scars on his back, the tension around templars. Little red flags she'd never stepped far enough away from to see the whole. ]

We make it plain that we are not here to condemn any mage with concerns or fears- that we are here to work with them, to protect them, to ensure their safety and their freedom as best we can. While there is no way to predict everything that might go wrong- making certain they know that should anything happen they can trust us? That is what is important.

[gatheringstorm]

Shapeshifting? Fucking hell.

[Korrin sighs, resting her head in her hand.]

At least we're warned, but him having access to that kind of magic on top of being what he already is...disastrous.