I've done my sentence but committed no crime

[wolfehawke]

Who: Adalwolfe Hawke and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the Iskaulit
When: Nowish

Broadcast

[The video pops up with Adalwolfe's face centered in the camera, but with the background moving behind him, clearly showing the familiar corridors of the Iskaulit. He's making his way to his new job at Málum as bartender.]

So I noticed on the list of scheduled lectures posted a bit ago that there are several on magic, not to mention several people I've spoken with having positive or relaxed reactions to its use. It's incredibly strange to me that everyone is so open and accepting of this, considering the doctrine regarding magic in my home of Thedas, so it begs the following question and I hope at least someone from outside of Thedas will indulge me:

What is magic like on your world? Is it regulated? Does everyone have the ability to use it, or only a small number of people? Are there prejudices that go along with that.

Ah, well, I suppose that's more than one question. Still, if you're willing to talk about it, please feel free to respond to this post and I'll get back to you when I'm finished with work. Thank you!

[The video clicks off.]


Action

It's only a short walk from the hanger to the bar, but Adalwolfe takes his time since he can't watch where he's going very well as he's recording on his device. Which could lead to all kinds of problems. He seems to be avoiding walls okay, but if a person, say, came out of a corridor nearby or happened to step in front of him at just the right time before he put down the little screen, he might just bowl right into them, or walk right past without noticing a mischievous foot out for him to trip over. Honestly, he's an open target. Or at least seems like it...

Comments

[mistyday]

Most people in my world don't know magic exists... and usually when they find out, it ain't pretty.

[wolfehawke]

I imagine it must be a shock to suddenly see someone with abilities you haven't conceived of before.

[He sounds unsure though. It's difficult to imagine a world with magic so on the down low that most people aren't even aware of it.]

[mistyday]

[She snorts.]

That's one way to put it. Usually "scared shitless" is more appropriate.

[wolfehawke]

I suppose if people aren't used to something then yes, it would frighten them.

[He shifts uncomfortably, aware that this could lead to the debate of mages being inherently dangerous and he would end up on a side he dislikes taking.]

That anonymity is a gift. Mages are persecuted, where I'm from. They've only just recently finally risen up to fight for themselves.

[mistyday]

Yeah well it didn't do me one lick of good. Got hunted all the same.

[wolfehawke]

I'm sorry. It's not an easy thing to remain a free mage.

[There's real knowing and sympathy there; Hawke has been hunted as an apostate for much of his life.]

I have to hope that someday people will learn not to immediately hate what they don't understand but I'm not holding my breath about it.

[mistyday]

Me either.

[She nods at him.]

So I'm guessin' this means you're a warlock to - uh, a mage?

[wolfehawke]

Mage, yes. I've never heard the term warlock.

[mistyday]

It's what we call a male witch, in my world.

[wolfehawke]

Oh? We mostly just call them hedge mages, provided they haven't had any formal schooling.

[Borderline like him, though he doesn't consider himself a hedge mage with all his father taught him and that came from the Circles.]

[mistyday]

How many of you are there? We ain't got too many boys - not many of us neither though.

[wolfehawke]

Mages? Thousands. Tens of thousands, maybe more if you count the Tevinter Imperium. There are as many mages as there are non-mages, I would think. Not that anyone's counted as far as I'm aware.

For apostates, I'm afraid there are far less. Perhaps not anymore, after the war is over, but before then most of the known mages were in the Circles or in places like Tevinter where that didn't matter. It's complicated.

[mistyday]

[Misty stares.]

Thousands? We don't even got fifty!

[wolfehawke]

That makes more sense as to why you can mostly stay hidden, then.

[It might even be better, having fewer mages. Fewer people having to suffer just for what they are.]

[mistyday]

Yeah... it can be real lonely sometimes though.

[wolfehawke]

I can imagine. Is there no way in place for your magic users to contact each other? Keep in touch?

[Not that apostates have anything like that in Thedas, it makes it too easy for Templars to find them, but perhaps in a place with fewer mages and no one looking for them it would be easier.]

[mistyday]

We got a coven but people just... sorta find it by accident. Miss Cordelia says it used to be huge, that there were hundreds of women that were part of it, but they were either killed or went into hiding.

[wolfehawke]

So much for anonymity.

[He frowns in sympathy.]

For any mage outside of the Circle, it's similar. Even in the Circle, they're kept under the thumb of the Chantry. It's only recently it had even begun to change; so recently I haven't seen much of a result before I was brought here. My lover and I had gone around helping some Circles take that final step into rebellion.

[mistyday]

The Chantry? Is that like the church?

[wolfehawke]

Yes, exactly. Sorry I keep forgetting people use different words for things here.

[mistyday]

[She waves a hand.]

Oh it's all right. It's hard to keep track of everything.

[wolfehawke]

With this many different cultures, certainly. I thought I'd come from a fairly diverse city but the Fleet is by far the most mish-mash of different peoples I've ever been around.

[Even more than the Inquisition.]

[mistyday]

Yeah where I come from we don't have any elves or aliens or no one like that. Just humans.

[Well... at least they all started out as humans.]

[wolfehawke]

Coming here must have been quite the shock to you, then, what with all the different sorts of people.

[mistyday]

Oh no, I think it's the coolest! I mean, shit, I'm just a girl from the swamps. Didn't ever think I'd make it outta Louisiana, much less get to meet real life aliens and robots and elves and wolves and all sorts of people!