"Oh, yes, actually." The man he's accosted has an accent that sounds something like England, but not quite; he's not wearing robes today, but the big staff on his back probably suggests "mage" even to a new arrival. Julius comes to look, though he doesn't immediately crouch. "They're a neat bit of work, those. There was a nasty red lyrium infection before the Inquisition started using this place as a base of operations, pre-Riftwatch. We had to clear it all out, which took some doing. The runes prevent any red lyrium from getting a foothold; initially, in case we'd missed something, these days should measures to contain the samples we're experimenting on fail."

He then seems to realize some or all of that might need more explanation, given that the man is a new face. "...do you know about red lyrium, or should I elaborate?"