driftfleet | options this month: too hot, too cold, just right, and... metal box in space.

Really complicated.

[Like so complicated there's a special military force that looks after the mages.]

How's magic handled on your own world? Do people look at you strange because you're a mage?

Nah. People look at me strange for other reasons.

[ Have a bit of a wry smile - but it's gone pretty quick. Back to more pleasant thoughts! ]

Anyway. So in my world, not everyone has magic, but the ones who do find out pretty young. From there, for most people, it's just like any other skill or talent - use it, or not. Kinda up to you. Or... whatever other factors. [ dismissive handwave ] There's schools that emphasize magic use, or groups that do a whole apprenticeship thing instead, or some families train their own kids... [ Shrug. ] Everyone's got different ways of teachin'.

That's okay. They look at me for other reasons too. And most of them aren't that pleasant.

[Of course, he's uncomfortable in his skin, so too much staring is going to throw him off.]

And when you start off young, does it hurt others? Does it always start the same for all the mages?

Heh. I feel you on that one.

[ If he knew what a fistbump was, he'd go in for a solidarity fistbump right about now. ]

I've never heard of it hurtin' others, but I guess it could? I mean, I did accidentally set one of dad's important papers on fire, that technically could've been someone else's, like, hair instead... but at the same time, when you're that young, you can't really do much with it anyway. Not without a helluva lot of practice and actually knowin' how to draw it all out on purpose. You know?

And no, it's not the same for all mages. Everyone's got their own thing, so it's gonna show up differently. Small flame, gust of wind, makin' somethin' look like it's disappeared...

[It's okay, Eithan. Alistair doesn't know what the heck a fistbump is either. They can be clueless together.]

It's not uncommon for a young mage to come into their power by setting their house on fire in their sleep on my world.

[Or, you know, getting possessed by a demon and summoning wave upon wave of undead on unsuspecting villagers.]

I mean, that's really an extreme case, but it's not exactly rare either.

[ Might turn them into a pair of menaces if they ever did learn, honestly.

He gives a low whistle. ] Damn. That's... wow. [ He shakes his head. ] It's not like that at all in my world. It always starts out small, and it only gets bigger with practice. I mean... can't burn a whole house down if you've only got enough fire in you for a single candle, right? [ Beat. ] Unless you leave the candle under a curtain or somethin' but that's... different. And gettin' a little nit-picky. Heh.

[ Something else, though. ] But like, you said... in their sleep? Wow. Like, sleep-talkin' and they let a spell slip? Or...?

[But they'd be adorkable menaces, so maybe they should learn.]

Well, other things happen, but generally having a big spurt of magic coming out of nowhere in families of Thedas isn't that uncommon. Templars are generally kept busy trying to get these newfound mages to the closest Circle of Magi so they can learn to use their talents responsibly.

[In a perfect world it's supposed to work like that.]

I'm not too sure about how they cause things like that. I mean, I trained as a Templar for half my life, but I never...really got to know many mages back home.

Huh. That seems kinda harsh, if it's not really their fault? ... Sorry, I know, not my world, probably not gettin' the whole picture.

[ Eithan knows all too well there's no such thing as a perfect world. ]

Yeah, and like, I've never even heard of a templar. We don't have anything like that back home.

Ideally, the Circles are supposed to be a place where they can get training and learn control and things like that. Mages are vulnerable to demonic possession. Templars are supposed to not only keep the non-mages safe by nullifying their magic if it goes out of control but they're supposed to help the mages as well.

Ideally.

[He's not going to say what happens normally. He doesn't want to go there.]

Templars are...the military arm of the big religion on my world. They keep watch over the Chantry buildings and are stationed within the Circles to help the mages. It takes years of training and education and dedication to become a Templar. [He gives a half-smile.] I didn't really have much of the disposition to really make it past novitiate.

[ OH BOY, DEMONS! Eithan is very careful to keep from looking too wary about where this conversation might be going (goddess bless noble upbringing and learning how to keep your mouth shut and your unsaid words out of your expression). Not that he gives a shit about keeping his identity a secret, but... clearly right this second is not the best time to bring that up. He'll just, you know, give it a minute. See what happens. You know. ]

Ideally, [ he echoes, indicating he gets that's not what happens normally, but he's not about to pry. ]

Oh so, templars are like holy soldiers. Got it. We don't have those anymore - not for real, anyway. I mean, groups can call themselves holy warriors of the goddesses all they want, but it's not like actually sanctioned by churches.

[ There's also the nasty superstitions in his world that all demons are practically sleeper agents for one of the goddesses, but you know, that's his life and he doesn't have to deal with that here so he's going to avoid talking about that if he can! Because that's healthy. ]

People are still people, no matter what. And...I'd rather not go there. I was trained to be a Templar, but I never went past novitiate. I never wanted to be a Templar. I'm grateful for the education I got, but I would've been okay growing up a dumb kid on a farm or something like that.

[Instead, he got to become king. Joy of joys.]

Goddesses? What are those like?

[Guess who actually does like learning stuff and if it has to do with magic, the occult and things that aren't completely sanctioned by the Chantry? This king.]

[ He nods, fine with letting it go. He expected as much. ]

The goddesses? Oh. There's two of 'em - Miina and Aliki. They're sisters, and they've got the whole two-sides-of-the-same-coin thing goin'. Miina's said to be the creator, Aliki's said to be the watcher - or the guide, dependin' on who you ask.

[That gets his attention.]

You know, that sounds like the Maker, but split in two. I mean, the Dalish also have their Creator gods... Huh.

And which of those goddesses do you follow? Or do you worship them both?

Yeah, findin' similarities in religions is always really interestin'.

I follow both, technically. I mean, they've both got their place, you know? But Aliki does kinda gets a little more focus in our family. She tends to be the one people go to when they're takin' risks, and... heh, even goin' way back, my family's full of people who take plenty of risks.

[ He pushes a hand through his hair, smiling - a little self-depreciative, sure, but also proud. ]

I can see that... I mean, most people just follow the Maker on Thedas. Andrastianism is the major religion. I mean, the Dalish follow their own Gods and then the Dwarves revere their ancestors and the Stone. And then there's the Qun, but that doesn't really make much sense to me. The Revered Mothers just call it heresy, you know?

So, you, uh, don't take the easy way out, huh? You probably cause a lot of trouble. [He seems the type.]

Yeah, there are other religions in my world, too. I don't know much about 'em, just probably the bare minimum. But I never mind hearin' about it.

[ And, yeah, okay, his eyes light up with a little bit of mischief when Alistair mentions causing trouble. ]

Hey. Nothin' worth doin' is easy. And of course I cause trouble, when's it ever worth followin' the rules?

[ He's totally just making light of things to keep from having to get too deep and personal. Perfect game plan. ]

No, I'm not that up-to-date on all the other religions of my world either. I mean, I was actually sent to the Chantry when I was rather young, so...

[He believes in the Maker and all that. It's just that he's not that fond of the organization that is the Andtrastian church. Poo poo on the Revered Mothers and all that.]

I will agree that everything worth doing requires a great deal of effort. But that doesn't mean you have to cause trouble all the time, does it?

Depends on why you're causin' trouble in the first place, I guess?

[ He shrugs. That mischievous note is still in his expression, but his smile is kind. ]

Honestly, it's more like... Progress tends to come from trouble, not from playin' nice. Dad was a major player in the uprisin' that got our people basic rights. Mom used to be a spy, and smuggled a bunch of people to safety when her homeland got caught in the crossfire of a war. Her father died while exposin' a corrupt political group for the awful shit they were really up to. That's the kinda trouble my family gets into.

[Alistair is very quiet for a few minutes. It's strange to meet so many like-minded people now that he's not on Thedas. The first twenty years of his life and being kidnapped and trapped on metal ships in space is where he starts to actually find people he can call friends that aren't made in life-or-death situations.

It kinda sucks, if he's honest.]

My father's mother was called the Rebel Queen. She led the people of Ferelden in war to free her country from the grasp of the Orlesian Empire. When she died, my father took her place.

With the help of a few close friends, he succeeded.

My mom, as far as anyone can tell, was a servant girl who died giving birth to me.

[He gives a forced smile.]

Of course, Riona's dad fought on the same side as mine. So, I guess it was inevitable that we'd meet. Especially in a time of chaos, right?

[ Eithan listens, and just smiles all the more at his story. ]

Hey, that's pretty damn awesome. All of it. [ A pause, and then a grin~ ] No wonder you and Riona fit together so well. I mean, it was already pretty obvious, but that just kinda adds another layer to how much it makes sense.

I dunno that we're a perfect fit. She's way more educated in the whole political sphere than I am. I didn't grow up thinking I'd be king, yanno. She's the daughter of a noble.

Me? I could tell you a lot about how to identify mages that are using blood magic.

[But he won't. It's not pretty.]

What's bein' able to navigate political bullshit got to do with bein' a perfect fit or not? [ Amused smile~ ]

Huh. Must be another world thing. Blood mages don't look different in mine. [ Buuuut we don't have to go down that conversational road! ] So if you didn't sick around long enough to be a full templar or whatever, what'd you do after?

It's got everything to do with it. While I just sit there, bored and wondering how the Bannorn get along when they're all just petty babies, she seems interested. [He wonders if this is how his half-brother and his bitch wife got along too.]

Blood mages don't look different, but Templars can track their out of control magic. Because I've never heard of a blood mage that doesn't go overboard and consort with demons.

[He frowns at the question, but it's fair. Eithan's answered enough of his own.]

The Revered Mothers were trying to convince me I was ready for my vigil and I didn't want to commit. There was a big tournament in the capital that I got to compete in. After a few fights, a Grey Warden saw me and tried to get the clerics to release me. When they refused, Duncan conscripted me. So, I joined the Grey Wardens. That's how I met Riona.

[ Dear goddess, it's like the point went right over his head, much to Eithan's amusement. ♥ He just shakes his head, but doesn't say anything, just mentally makes a note that yep, they're great for each other. This is so fun.

At blood mages and demons, though, he quirks an eyebrow. ] I mean, yeah, I know like... one person back home who uses blood magic. Wouldn't really call that consortin'. [ doot doot. ]

Hey, so you didn't have to be a templar after all, and you met Riona. Awesome. [ Even if from what vague things he's heard, life as a Grey Warden ain't a walk in the park. ]

[Eithan, welcome to dealing with Alistair. You want him to get a point, you gotta make it obvious. He just knows that Riona is the best and he feels inferior to her a lot of the time. Not that that's a new feeling either.]

I didn't have to become a Templar, but I still have all the training. I've had to use it from time to time. [He frowns.] I hope I don't have to use it here. I mean, being able to nullify out-of-control magic is useful, but there are a lot of mages running around.

[Life as a Grey Warden sucks, and if you're lucky you die in battle.]

options this month: too hot, too cold, just right, and... metal box in space.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject