driftfleet | I've done my sentence but committed no crime

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...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Funny, you don't look like a woman.

[He says it entirely deadpan even though it's a joke. That is what he implied though, and looked oh so proud doing it.]

[That was kind of the point. Sigh.]

Have you noticed also that I am not a potted plant?

[Eyebrow raise for a moment.]

And how do you think a people like that might treat men who dedicate themselves to women's work rather than their proper role as warriors?

Oh come now, you set yourself up.

[It was supposed to be a joke! You know, funny haha.]

Likely not well. I apologize for making light of something touchy.

[It's a genuine apology despite his earlier joke.]

It is a bit difficult for me to understand magic being the purview of women only, though. Surely men come into it as well, as you said you have. Does your society just trust that men with magical power won't use it because it's considered women's work or is it more rare in men where you're from?

[He's still assuming it's like Thedas in that only certain people are born mages and others can't use magic at all.]

I am the only one. I suppose men may have the inclination, but they are not taught. I wasn't to be either, but circumstances... changed.

[Frigga had taught him herself, because she wanted him to have something that was his, that he could excel at.]

Inclination... you speak as if there's a choice on whether to become a mage or not. Is it not something only some can use, where you're from? That seems to be the case for some other worlds too and I have to confess it confounds me.

It is a rare talent in some regards. Whether the talent is then nurtured is another question entirely.

You didn't actually answer my question. Is magic something anyone can learn, even if society says they shouldn't for whatever fool reason, or are some born with the ability and some completely incapable?

[This seems to be a fundamental difference between Thedas and some other worlds.]

[Eyebrow raise.]

I did answer your question. Or does rare mean something else in your language?

You didn't specify if it's merely rare for men to be taught or rare for men to exhibit any talent in magic at all.

[Don't be a jerk, dude. Or is there some kind of language barrier he's not picking up here.]

[What do you expect, when you're talking to the God of Dickbags? He sighs, because it's always annoying when people don't keep up with what he's saying.]

It is a rare talent. It is even more rare that it is trained.

[Dryly:] It is even more rare that I am this patient with being compelled to repeat myself.

I'll consider myself lucky, then.

[He makes it sound earnest, but inwardly he's completely unimpressed. Luckily he's practiced at hiding what he thinks from showing in his manner or voice.]

Honestly we don't have much that's divided by gender besides the Chantry. In most of Thedas, only women can be anything higher than a local priest.

[Mmhmm. The greatest bullshitter in nine realms is not convinced by anything.]

That sounds... refreshing. Though I always do find religion a curious thing.

A damn inconvenient thing, honestly. I don't have a problem with tenets of helping the poor and the needy, but the people who twist everything around to their personal benefit - or worse, fanaticism.

[The Maker loving all His children, the Chantry supposedly being a bastion of safety in troubled times, he can get behind that. But what the Grand Clerics, Holy Mothers, and everyone else make of it. Oppressing the mages, trying to stir war with the Qunari for its own sake, he can't stand for that.]

Is it the same in your world?

That is why I find it curious. People will take their power where they can and think themselves righteous.

[He chuckles.]

We were worshiped as gods. It tends to take the shine off of religion.

I can see how it would. Must be a little nice though, if you're not an arse about it.

[He'd never been worshiped. He likes the idea of it, but in his experience of being somewhat revered as the Champion is that people start asking you for more and more complicated things as time wears on and eventually you just can't keep up with all the requests and have no time for yourself or to even sleep.]

Then again, it could be exhausting.

What's the point of being a god if one isn't?

[He laughs.]

It would depend on what sort of god one wishes to be. The capricious sort makes for the easiest life.

I've done my sentence but committed no crime

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