one . video

[misconceived]

WHO Chris Halliwell
BROADCAST Network unfiltered video.
ACTION The SS Huntress.
WHEN Shortly after the Shuffle.

Again?

[ This is a young man circling around as he's transported to his new ship, the SS Huntress. He's mostly talking to his new crewmates but there's that unknowing broadcast going out, too. ]

Moved around twice in twenty-four hours, and this one is not nearly as nice as the first one. We're supposed to stay here while we play this stupid game? [ Psht. ] Which, by the way, I didn't sign up for. Did anyone? Because I was in the middle of something, you know, important.

Comments

[misconceived]

Your sparkling personality, for example.

[ Chris brings his hand back down and crosses his arms instead. ]

Hell no. Demons trying to kill witches maybe, but possessions are pretty rare.

[merchantprince]

Why thank you.

[He does have a sparkling personality, so he's ignoring that sarcasm.]

The only Witch I know is the Witch of the Wilds, and she can turn into a dragon. A demon is chump change compared to that. But, if people who can use magic aren't being hounded by demons every time they sleep, then... shit. That's great.

[misconceived]

[ He rolls his eyes. Opens his mouth to continue the magic debate, then pauses. Continues on after a moment of thought. ]

Mages are called witches where I'm from. And no, yeah, that's reserved for the really special ones. [ That's sarcasm. Just so you know, Varric. ] Doesn't mean it isn't dangerous, but... why don't you explain your side first.

[merchantprince]

Oh. What about... guys? Not much of a gender-neutral term, if you ask me.

[He looks unsure about this whole witch thing, but...]

Okay, tiny disclaimer: dwarves can't be mages, so this is all stuff I've seen or heard. I have some friends who are mages, though.

[His expression settles into something nearly mournful.]

Mages are closer to the Fade than normal people-- something about being able to pop in and out whenever they want-- and the Fade itself is full of demons and spirits. You get a demon possessing a mage, you get an ugly, fleshy abomination that wants to wreck shit and eat every soul in sight. They'll jump into corpses, too.

[misconceived]

Common misconception. [ Says the male witch. He looks interested at the idea of dwarves being not magical, though. ]

All right, I think I've got it. Just explain what the Fade is. A plane of magic? Spiritual energy that people can tap into?

[merchantprince]

Right. Different worlds, different rules.

[We might have a mage in the form of Sandal, but Varric hasn't personally thought of that.]

It's a place, like another world on top of ours. Or something. Most people only see it when they sleep, I'm pretty sure, but screwing around with magic can knock you into the Fade too.

[misconceived]

Exactly.

[ Yeah, this is definitely interesting and most of the snark has completely disappeared by now. Learning about magic is always fascinating. ]

That sounds like a dream plane. It might be the combined powers of untapped dreams and thoughts manifest into demons and magic and people with a higher sensitivity to it can get into that power while awake. That's what you said, right? Mages are closer to the Fade?

[merchantprince]

[Varric's about as magical as a fucking stick. He doesn't claim to be an expert.]

That... sounds about right. You seem pretty interested in this stuff. Something similar where you're from?

[misconceived]

Sort of. More like I'm drawing parallels to the same things that work differently.

[ He tilts his head, considers. ]

Demons are more or less the same anywhere you go, though. Everything else sounds a little... wilder.