allthisshitisweird | TEST DRIVE MEME!

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TEST DRIVE MEME!

TEST DRIVE MEME

Maybe you’ve been around for a while, or maybe you’re new to the Inquisition. Maybe you’re new to Thedas, having recently fallen from a tear in reality and been collected by uniformed rescuers. Whoever you are, you’ve been sent to Kirkwall, to an outpost where many of the Inquisition’s members and allies work on some of the biggest mysteries and problems the organization must solve if it’d like to keep the world from ending, where “ending” means “falling under the power of an ancient powerful corrupted being who wants everyone to bow to him as a god.”

And just to be clear, it would like that. It would like that a lot.

I. THE GALLOWS: The Gallows is an island fortress in Kirkwall’s harbor. It’s been home to, in order: Tevinter slaves, a Circle of Magi, a lot of creepy red lyrium, and now the Inquisition, which has occupied the fortress with the provisional Viscount’s blessing. There are walls that still need rebuilding and corners that still need dusting, but for the most part the Inquisition has gotten down to business. There’s space in the stone-floored courtyards to train or spar; or, if your skills don’t lie in the realm of hitting things, there’s a large library and several offices supporting the Inquisition’s areas of research and diplomatic efforts. If you don’t know what to do with yourself, then by all means, ask; someone will definitely be able to put you to work.

II. KIRKWALL: A quick row across the harbor will take you to Kirkwall proper. The city is built into the cliffs, from exclusive and wealthy Hightown at the top to impoverished Darktown in the abandoned mining tunnels below. In the middle is Lowtown, home to taverns, merchants, and plenty of trouble to keep anyone looking for it happy. You’re welcome to spend your free time and your money here—but try not to annoy the locals too much, please, in case their welcome runs out. It’d be a shame to have to pack again so soon after arriving.

III. QUESTING: Barely had time to make yourself at home, did you, before you were sent away from Kirkwall again—but this time on a mission. There’s a rift outside of Markham, pouring demons into the fields, and the Inquisition has been asked to lend a hand. Maybe literally. If you have an anchor embedded in your palm, you’re needed to close the damn thing. If not, maybe you’re here to fight demons or guard against bandits on the road, or to gather samples and take notes on the rift’s location once its closed, or to speak to Markham’s nobility afterwards to make sure that they fully appreciate the Inquisition’s efforts. Regardless, it’s a long trip, so we hope you like campfire cooking and sharing a tent.

IV. SENDING CRYSTAL: Joining the Inquisition gets you access to the very latest in barely-understood magical communication devices—namely, a crystal, small enough to wear around your neck, that will allow you to communicate verbally with anyone else who has one. Or everyone else who has one. Say hello.

V. WILDCARD: The whole of Thedas is yours to explore, from coast to uncharted wilderness filled with bears. Choose your own adventure!

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Yeah, Nevarra's noble houses intersperse with mages all the time - but not so often with the Rebellion.

Mal brightened at that, "There really was a Mage Council? Maker, we could have used that out in the field. Have you ever seen a group of pro-Circle, anti-Circle mages fight about something as simple as what side of the river we should make camp on. I was told I was oppressing them by saying I wanted to be on higher ground."

A roll of the eyes, before she looked up at Korrin, her green eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Well I wish more people saw it your way. I'm okay with being a pariah but I kinda hate being told I'm unreasonable and evil when all I want to do is have a safe place for mages to be."

Her expression tightened, became haunted. "... I get it, you know. No one wants to be trapped. But I felt just as trapped running for my life as I ever did in the Cumberland Circle. Even more so, honestly. And isn't that why we fought the Rebellion anyways? To have our own choice to - Maker's Balls, I'm sorry. You're actually being decent and showing me where to go and I'm drowning you in rhetoric and sass without even telling you my name."

"A name would be nice. Mine's Korrin, by the way. And as long as you're not shoving templars at me and telling me I must have a Harrowing or live my life behind walls, I can handle a difference of opinion. Madame de Fer was a lot more strident, trust me.

And the Mage Council had its moments, but it was also a lot like herding cats...wet, angry cats. There were a lot of long sessions where it was a monumental effort just to get a consensus, especially in the beginning. And some of us got together afterward just to drink and vent about it. Still, it was important that people saw us calling the shots, not the templars or anyone else. It had a lot of warts, still does back in Skyhold, but at least people saw that self-governance of a sort was possible."

"Mal Draco. Formerly of Cumberland Circle, and Ostwick Circle, Mage Rebellion and now Inquisition mage-grunt." She offered out one gloved hand. "I don't want the templars over me - you know what I mean - I want to hire them. Put them on our payroll to protect us. Snip-snip the Chantry right out of this because all they're doing is fucking us all over."

Her tone isn't stridently angry - just this deep-seated disgust. "No offense to the Iron Lady, but come on. We all know why she wants the Circles back and it's so she can score the Grand Enchanter spot back. Hierarchy matters. For me, it's all about being safe again. Feeling safe." She looked thoughtful, "Why don't we have one in Kirkwall?"

The gloved hand is shook, and Korrin takes care not to crush it with her bigger one. She raises a skeptical eyebrow at mention of the templars being recruited, in a sense, and tilts her head. "Why have them at all? We can police themselves just fine without them. Besides, they used to work for the Chantry for ages upon ages. They were taught to hate and fear their charges, even the ones that were Harrowed. That kind of thinking doesn't go away overnight." Probably not even in a lifetime, but this isn't a council chamber and Korrin isn't loudly trying to stop a Loyalist from imposing their will on all of them, so she can hold back and keep an even tone. "At least we can agree on the Chantry, though. They've done nothing but screw people over and try to justify it."

Mages, elves, it never ends.

She does look thoughtful at mentioning a need to feel safe, though, and nods sympathetically. Mages are never going to be able to look past the moment if they feel threatened from all sides. "What, a Grand Enchanter in Kirkwall? Isn't that a Cumberland thing? They vote on it or whatnot? Though with everything disrupted the way it is, I'm betting it'll be a long time before that happens. Everyone's waiting to see Corypheus fall and a new Divine elected. Everything stems from that, much as I hate to say it."

Mal is ever so silently grateful for that one, even though she shakes her hand out a little. Seriously, Korrin could probably crush templars with her bare hands. Which is why she got a wry look from the young woman. "Oh yeah, let me tell you how well that works in Nevarra, or Tevinter. Mages policing themselves ends up with all of us hiding out in shacks out in the woods, hoping that we don't get found by a bunch of magic hating villagers. No and thanks."

She pushed her hair back out of her face, exhaling. "Templars are just people - and some people are shitty and some are not. Just like us mages. Frankly I wouldn't mind having some of the not-shitty ones around so they can take care of the shitty mages we're doing such a bang-up job from defecting to the Venatori. Blood mage assholes."

She frowned for a moment, before one corner of her mouth lifted wryly, "... Well I meant why don't we have another mage's council here in Kirkwall - but I guess that's the same reason why there isn't a Grand Enchanter. We 'need' a Divine. Except we really don't. World seems to be going on just fine without one."

"Tevinter is shit because it's Tevinter, not because it's run by mages. Don't get me wrong, I hate that place because they've given us all a bad name everywhere. It's just that hearing 'but Tevinter' gets old when there are examples of mages getting together and not being dumbasses about blood magic and demons. Look at the Avvar and the Dalish...or just us, as we are now.

Korrin shakes her head, not about to stifle Mal's viewpoint because she grew up in a Circle and the Vashoth didn't. It's a perspective she always needs to keep in mind. Still, there's something to be said for an outsider's perspective, too.

"Templars aren't just people when they've been given 'divine right' over us, though. In a more ideal world, sure. But I've yet to meet a templar that didn't slip up with some shitty opinions about mages at some point. They're all trained to think a certain way, and it shows." So, nah. She keeps them at arm's length, even the ones that seem halfway decent. Until they give up their status as mage-enforcers or hunters, like Cullen, she can't really count them as anything but potential problems.

"Another Mage Council? There's nothing stopping you, I suppose. I just know I'm not the one to lead something like that. The only reason why I joined in the first place was to make sure that us born apostates wouldn't be walked all over."

"Okay, I can't argue that Avvar because -- well I don't know any Avvar. I will say that a clan of Dalish that has too many mages will kick them out and let them wander the woods with some food and a knife. Not exactly an example I wanna follow." A pause, and she states simply, "I also won't argue that. We do get along now because we're all part of the same cause - stopping Corypheus. But we're going to beat that guy, sooner or later. Then what?"

She thinks about that for a moment or two, before she states simply, "Every Templar I ever knew in Ostwick was trained to see a mage as a person first and a mage second. Although you make a good point - that 'Divine Right' shit has got to go."

Because ... no. Protect mages because it's the right thing to protect the weak, not because the Chantry told you to do it. Another soft snort, "Yeah like they're going to listen to a nineteen year old who passed her Harrowing three years ago." She looked up at Korrin again, her green eyes thoughtful, "Funny, I joined the Inquisition for the same reason -- that those of us who wanted to go to a Circle again wouldn't be forced to 'just enjoy freedom damnit.' If we're going to be free -- I think we all have a choice, don't you? You can choose to go off and do - build a home with your lover somewhere with a foxhouse -- and I can go to a Circle where my friends are safe, I am safe, and I'm doing ... good. Not because I'm being forced to follow some stupid rhetoric -- but that I truly want to be a Good Mage."

Korrin looks rather skeptical at this 'person first, mage second' stuff. If that was true, the mages wouldn't have been forced away from families and into Harrowings and seclusion for the rest of their lives. But Mal's 'then what' does get her thinking. It's a question she's often asked herself.

"Yeah, I'm aware that a unified cause won't last forever. Because either we win, or Corypheus ruins everything, so it won't matter anyway. If the former happens, I think a lot will depend on our actions here and now. We prove ourselves just as invested in Thedas as everyone else, and that will steadily change some minds. Not the ones blinded by hate, but the ones on the fence...it could happen. A lot of prejudice comes with lack of exposure. If people see us working and bleeding and fighting alongside them, they might come to realize we're people, too. Or at the very least, they won't be able to dismiss us so easily." It's a start, and it's one reason why Korrin's done her best to behave herself in public around Kirkwall.

"Hey, they listened to a nineteen year old mage who hadn't passed her Harrowing and was a 'savage' apostate. They listened to me, mostly because I shouted them down or wouldn't let them shout me down. That's not to say you have to, of course, but the status quo doesn't exist anymore. Now's the time to make the most of it, one way or another." She looks amused at the idea of a foxhouse and a home, but stops herself from rambling about her idea for the future. "You don't have to be in the Circle to be a good mage, but it's one way...and as long as it's a choice and not something being forced on people, that's all I care about. Some Libertarians might try to covert you to their way of thinking, though. Warning you now."

It was one of those - all Circles are not the same Circle thing, Korrin. Ostwick was by far the most laid-back, full of studious mages and those getting away from painful situations elsewhere. Not to mention Mal would give anything to stay away from her family as long as possible, because her family was just that messed up.

"I have no problem getting my hands dirty for the right reasons." Mal stated simply, "But I'm doing it because I want to do it - not because the Chantry, or the Templars, or even other mages told me to. If we can hold onto that part of all of our alliances -- I think you're right. I think we should all at least get closer to what we all want."

She snorted softly, but her green eyes looked pensive once more. "Well - then might as well give it a go." She looked at Korrin, one corner of her mouth lifting, "Yes, but you don't have to be outside of a Circle to be a good one either." She made a face, "Ugh. Listen. Libertarians are a great bunch of theorists but once you take their theories off paper and put them into reality? They implode, because Libertarians never understand the simple concept of Human Beings. If a nineteen year old can start another mage council then I think I can form my own college if I want to."

Korrin shrugs, not seeing why she couldn't. Who knows if she'd succeed, but the option is there. "There's certainly no one who has the authority to stop you, if you wanted to give it a go. And there are enough mages around to have a variety of opinions, so you might find what you want. For my part, I think I'm done with politics unless a viable threat to my -or our- freedom of choice. Fraternities are a Circle thing, anyway.

"If you want to know more about the specific makeup of each in Kirkwall, you'll have to ask someone else about that. All I can say is that there hasn't been a lot of bickering over the crystals about it, at least for now. The more extremist folks went to Corypheus or Tevinter, or are holed up somewhere else. That doesn't mean you won't get some very strong opinions if you shit-stir over the crystals, though. It's always like a hornet's nest, waiting to be poked."

"I just don't know why you guys don't have your own college. College of We Like Outdoors And Sex And Walking About Shut Up You're Not Our Mothers. It's sort of long but it gets it across for most apostates." Yes, she's smirking, but hey they want to have the choice to be out and about, more power to them. Mal has now been in every kind of mage situation and she would like to go back to Ostwick, damn it.

"Listen, I'm here to keep an eye on Carlos, and that's it." She stated firmly, "I want to keep him and my chosen family safe, get this war done with, and then form our own Circle and be done with this nonsense. If I got to play politics, fine. I just ... I know where my priorities are, and it's family first."

"'Apostates'. Nothing against you personally, but that term irks me. I didn't flee a Circle; I was never a part of one, so what exactly am I renouncing? So Andrastian-centric." Korrin shakes her head, only using the term herself because hedge mage isn't exactly right either. "Tal-Vashoth and Vashoth don't have an official college because we're on the fringes of society, as it is. That requires a level of organization and resources we just don't have, yet. Though it's a tempting idea, for when that is possible." Well, tempting for someone else. Korrin's not ready to settle down anywhere for a long time, if ever.

She nods in firm approval at mention of family, though. "Good priorities to have; family first for me, too. Well, blood family and people who are as good as, it makes no difference in the end. Take care of the people who matter, and deal with the rest as it comes."

"You know ... you're right. And like I said, titles are important. We should have an entirely different title for all of you outside a Circle." She tipped her head to the side, "Free-range mages? No, wait, makes you sound like chickens. Rebels will just bring everyone back to the war. You know what, I'll work on it. Come up with some interesting design."

Another firm nod, and she stuck out her hand. "See, look at that. We have our first accord."

Korrin snickers at the term 'free-range', the same image coming to mind. She shrugs, not minding if Mal spends time figuring it out even as she doesn't expect it to bear much fruit. As Mal offers her hand, Korrin shakes it. Her grasp is firm but not crushing, mindful of smaller hands.

"I can agree to that. Now, let's see about finding your friend."

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TEST DRIVE MEME!

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