Video

[monolike]

Who: Sorey + anyone!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: SS Huntress
When: Anytime

Would anybody be interested in joining an Augment Support network? Like, for people who need help getting the hang of their augment and want to ask a veteran, or for someone who learns something new and wants to share it with their peers.

I'm fine with doing the all the administrative work if anybody is interested being a mentor, or would like to be available for a help line. Or if someone would like help connecting with someone who has more expertise.

I think we all have a lot to offer each other.

Comments

[monolike]

That would be funny, but no. You'd probably see him if I was around; I wouldn't even have to hold your hand. [what a shame, missing out on that]

[wolfehawke]

Oh, you have an aura or something that grants the ability? Magic from your world seems pretty interesting.

[monolike]

No, it really is though! I keep learning more about it and it's so neat. Seraphim are amazing.

And you have spirits in your world, right? How does it work with them, can people still communicate with them even if they don't have physical bodies?

[wolfehawke]

We do, sort of. They're from a separate but connected realm called the Fade but sometimes they slip through the Veil. There are special mages, mediums and spirit healers, that can work with spirits but in general it's considered too dangerous. Spirits and demons are always trying to get at mortals and the other side of the Veil. They come to us in our dreams. Everyone except Dwarves got to the Fade when they dream, but only mages dream lucidly. Demons talk to us there, try to tempt us into letting them into our minds where they can take over.

Spirits aren't as much like that, but still dangerous. Demons are what happens when spirits become corrupted, and since mortals are more changeable and transient than spirits are, they can influence spirits. It's fine if it's just asking a spirit of compassion for help in closing wounds, that doesn't go against their nature, but to use a spirit's power with anger in your heart... well, it could slowly morph the spirit into a demon.

[He shifts a little uncomfortably.]

[monolike]

Oh... [would you look at that it's the 'mortals make everything worse for spirits' hour again] That sounds really troublesome. [no kidding, buddy] And there's no way to keep from going to this Fade place while you sleep? Like, um, some kind of barrier or something in your mind?

[wolfehawke]

No, absolutely not.

[Adalwolfe seems alarmed at the very prospect, has to remind himself that Sorey has no idea.]

To be severed from the Fade is a death of self. I don't know what happens if someone isn't a mage, but if they are and their connection is severed, they lose all emotion, all care for self preservation, all desires. The basically become automatons. They're called the Tranquil, and it's something the Chantry does to mages they deem too dangerous.

[Or too mouthy. Or for the crime of just being a mage. He remembers Alrik and his 'Tranquil solution' at the worst of times.]

[monolike]

That's terrible! And this is something that your Chantry people just do? It's accepted and everything?

[wolfehawke]

Circle mages are forced to go through something called a Harrowing. It's a test to make sure they can face the things that can and will claw at them from the Fade, in their dreams. Demons try so many ways to get through and if they take over a mage, an abomination is the result. A possessed mage, driven by the demon that's wearing their body. To prevent that, mages that fail their Harrowing are killed. Mages who are deemed not strong enough to even undertake it... those are the ones that under Chantry law are allowed to be made Tranquil.

[He lets out a long breath.]

There are those in the Templar Order and the Chantry hierarchy that abuse this power. It's a complicated situation.

[monolike]

[Sorey takes a moment to really sit and thing instead of flying off half-cocked as he's wont to do. He folds his arms, rubbing at his chin (fucking up that grease-beard in the process, too) and hums.]

Yeah...it sure seems like it. There's no way to stop people from being in danger like that without hurting them. But the people in charge of public safety also have their own concerns about protecting the populace from being terrorized by these abominations, right? They resort to extreme methods to remove the possibility entirely, but as a result the people who're subjected to those measures are the ones who suffer instead.

That's definitely a sticky situation. It must be hard to deal with it.

[wolfehawke]

It is. Especially when you're the very thing they fear.

[He gives a tight little smile with no real mirth.]

When I was brought here, there was a war going on. A war that my friends and I may have started, between mages and Templars.

[monolike]

[boy howdy that sounds really awful] A war you started? ...that you meant to start?

[wolfehawke]

It's... very complicated.

[He should have probably left out that part. Damnit.]

[monolike]

...okay. You don't have to tell me the details; I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

You don't seem like the kind of person who would want a war, anyway.

[wolfehawke]

No, not so much. I agree with the reason behind it, but war's never something to be celebrated. Not that it matters what I think at this point.

[He lets out a breath, then grins suddenly, forcing himself to look at the bright side.]

Ideally though it will all be over by the time I'm sent home and that will be that.

[Unless the result is the Templars still lording over the mages and tightening their grip until his people all suffocate, but it didn't seem to be going that way, whatever little politics he was able to follow in all the chaos. Rumblings were the Inquisition had a say in who would become the next Divine, and with Lavellan having freely allied with the mages instead of conscripting them or worse, Adalwolfe does have hope for a positive outcome.]

[monolike]

[Ah, Sorey thinks to himself. He's a Zaveid.

Probably best not to tell him that supposedly time doesn't move back home. Not right now anyway.]

Right...hopefully it'll come to a peaceful conclusion soon.

[wolfehawke]

That's the goal.

[His smile loses its tightness, regains what earnestness he'd lost in talking about the plight of mages and spirits and other horribleness from Thedas.]

Either way, keep working on that beard. I'm sure you'll outdo me eventually.

[monolike]

I think it'll be a few years before I can contend with you, but I'll give it my all.

Any tips? Tonics, foods to avoid...hair growth spells and incantations...

[wolfehawke]

Not that I'm aware of. I'm sure there's some kind of hair potion but I don't know how to make it. I'll ask around for you though, if you like.

[Or even if he says no. It'd be a great gag gift at the least.]

[monolike]

You're gonna do it anyway, aren't you?

[wolfehawke]

Maaaaaybe.

[He doesn't even bother to try and look innocent.]

You did make your desire for it pretty obvious. I'm just trying to lend a helping hand.

[monolike]

Well, I would appreciate it if you did find something like that. I'd probably owe you a favor, at least.

[wolfehawke]

I will! I have some leads already.

[Hopefully you won't regret owing him a favor, Sorey.]

[monolike]

I'm eager to see the results! [not use. just see. academically speaking, he finds it interesting.]

[wolfehawke]

So am I.

[Oh no he's picturing full on Grizzly Adams over here. He needs to see it.]