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

That's... very interesting.

[He blinks at her implications of religion being separate. That's very likely why magic users where she's from initially can keep themselves secret and govern themselves.]

Where I'm from, the Chantry has always previously dictated how mages are to be treated. Anyone who went against that, who didn't want to be cloistered in Circles and made to serve the Maker's will as interpreted by the Chantry was branded an apostate and dragged there by force if found. Considering they usually send Templars out to collect children who display any magical talent at all and either their families hand them over out of fear or they're taken without consent regardless, few make it far enough to even be apostates. Or at least that's how it was before the Mage uprising gained traction. They always said it was for everyone's protection, mages and non-mages alike, but really it's rather plain prejudice, even if the Templars and the Chantry originally started with good intentions.

[He has his doubts about that.]

As for that other world... it must be unique in that regard. Not everyone can use magic normally, you have to be born to it.

... The Chantry?

[ It's difficult for her to focus on the rest, not when she's caught on that. She knew this part already, and the graveness on her face doesn't disappear. It settles there and she swallows, her hands clenching before she breathes out. ]

Um, did - do you know Sebastian? Sebastian Vael?

Vael? Of Starkhaven? Not personally, but people talked of him in my social circles considering he's a prince.

[Not the social circles he tended to go around with normally, of course, but the ones he tuned out at parties and sometimes wanted to strangle but had to settle for a rigor mortis sort of smile at instead and then wash their smarmy presence off of himself after he could finally duck back home.]

Did you meet him somehow? Was he here?

[ She can't quite remember if Sebastian had ever told her he was a prince, but she thinks that, surely, it would have come to mind if he had. She knew she was a priest, of course, and since he had been the one to tell her about the Chantry it makes sense. ]

He didn't mention that part.

[ She's going to hit him next time she sees him. ]

I met him in the world I was in before this one. He was a good friend.

Well, he's the last surviving Vael in Starkhaven, so he inherited the throne whether he wanted to be a priest or not.

[Which gains him some sympathy from Hawke by virtue of being thrust into a position you never asked for. Still, there had been rumblings from Starkhaven before Hawke had set out to meet up with the Inquisition, and Adalwolfe hadn't liked the sound of them, so he reserves judgement on Sebastian.]

It sounds as if you'd know him better than I would.

Oh, I didn't know that part. I just... Knew him as a priest.

[ Hermione had known him as a close friend who had walked with her when she was blinded and who had helped her on her quests - and she shakes her head, shrugging it off with a small smile. ]

We weren't best friends, but I knew him.

And you said he was brought somewhere besides here from Thedas? Funny that. I didn't even know he was missing.

I don't think people notice, at least in the Drabwurld. It's like our home worlds are on pause while we're away, and everything starts again when we go back.

Drab world? That doesn't sound terribly pleasant.

[But the second part piques his interest more.]

As if no time had passed... do you think it's like that for us here, as well? Does time not march on while we're away?

It wasn't, not all the time, but it was my home, too. It had good and bad.

[ She stops to consider, pausing for a moment before she speaks. ]

Honestly? I don't know just yet. It might be just the same - I'd like to think so. My dad will be going mental if he can't find me.

I guess that's anywhere, with good and bad.

[He still wouldn't name a place "Drab World" though.]

I'd hope so too. I think. There are people who would notice my absence. It has to be something special going on though. I mean, I know people here from my world that are from my past. As in, they haven't experienced yet everything leading up to my present that I remember them experiencing. But if I remember them doing so...

[Either there's powerful magic or the people he knows are not actually from his version of Thedas at all. Anders only knew Riona, Riona hadn't heard of the Champion of Kirkwall yet so he had no idea if it was him. Fenris, Cole, and Marian (obviously) he knew were already from different Thedases. He's heard Lady Nightengale is here, but he's been avoiding asking because he's not sure he can take it if she confirms what he doesn't want to hear.

That Anders isn't his Anders.

That he really is well and truly alone.

He doesn't let any of it show on his face.]

Well, there just has to be some strange magic going on.

I've done my sentence but committed no crime

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