"You kidding me? Mage bloodlines are like gold, up there. Whole families exist just to keep the magic strong. Of course, you gotta be born to the right family to get anywhere. And you got to be willing to do just about anything to stay there. Otherwise you're pretty much a stepping stool for everyone else."

He'd seen more than his share of the Imperium, and his regard for the place was clear.

"If you're not a mage? Forget about having any real station in Tevinter society. You're lucky if you make it without having to sell yourself into slavery. And trust me, you don't even want to know what they do to elves."