I don't think it's about bravery. I think it's about finding something that is more important than your own life, and perhaps not everyone has that. I spent years of my life avoiding my oppression. Running at every opportunity, from the Circle, from the Templars, from the Wardens. I was never brave.
[ he reaches a hand up to his chest, like he's expecting to feel a piece of jewelry that isn't here. ]
In Tevinter, they believe she was a powerful mage.
[ but that's tevinter chantry belief, the position of the black divine. it is high heresy in the southern chantry. ]
You don't think maybe it's considered such to be trying to escape a situation that wanted to oppress you knowing there was the risk of being dragged back?
[ they say this mildly, because they know they don't fully understand how things work for him, but they want to. ]
... and elsewhere? Who was she outside of Tevinter? [ there's a reason they're asking. ]
I was dragged back. Six times. But I wasn't running to help anyone but myself. It isn't brave to be self-interested and pretend it's for a cause.
[ scratching at the front of his collar. ]
The Bride of the Maker. A woman who preached `Magic is made to serve man, never to rule over him.` The reason the Chantry believes mages should be imprisoned in the Circles, watched and hunted by Templars, and feared by our families. When they burn the lyrium onto your forehead during the Rite of Tranquility, it is her symbol of the burning sun on the brand.
[ maybe more a case of not being super hard to find when you've got a little blood gps that tracks your location. ]
I don't think her words are meant to be used in the way the Chantry wields them. I believe that she means being able to use our magic, as a tool and the gift it is meant to be, free from shame and fear.
They will always seek to maintain their power. If they begin to admit that mages can be trusted to govern ourselves, to be allowed in society like any other free man, then it will be admitting to centuries of cruelty and blood. They will never do so.
They need us. They hire us out as entertainers, healers, advisors and instruments of war. They make money off of our labor, which we never see a single copper piece of. Only a Tranquil can work with lyrium safely - enchanting goods to be sold across Thedas. To become Tranquil you must either submit out of fear or be sentenced to some crime. And to be placed in that position at all is one borne of our imprisonment. If they were going around burning out the minds and emotions and free will from the regular folk, there would be a violent uprising.
[ a long moment of silence. and when they respond, it's with a bit of anger. ]
So it's all just slavery, with a nice little justification to it all saying you're dangerous and to keep you enslaved is for the betterment of the world. [ oooough they hate that. ] But isn't there... no, if there was...
[ hm. hold on. ]
Suddenly I understand more of why you did what you did. Even knowing the consequences that would come.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ he reaches a hand up to his chest, like he's expecting to feel a piece of jewelry that isn't here. ]
In Tevinter, they believe she was a powerful mage.
[ but that's tevinter chantry belief, the position of the black divine. it is high heresy in the southern chantry. ]
no subject
[ they say this mildly, because they know they don't fully understand how things work for him, but they want to. ]
... and elsewhere? Who was she outside of Tevinter? [ there's a reason they're asking. ]
no subject
[ scratching at the front of his collar. ]
The Bride of the Maker. A woman who preached `Magic is made to serve man, never to rule over him.` The reason the Chantry believes mages should be imprisoned in the Circles, watched and hunted by Templars, and feared by our families. When they burn the lyrium onto your forehead during the Rite of Tranquility, it is her symbol of the burning sun on the brand.
no subject
[ they consider this. ]
So any mage is almost considered a bad omen. Is it bad that I agree magic is made to serve, not rule?
no subject
I don't think her words are meant to be used in the way the Chantry wields them. I believe that she means being able to use our magic, as a tool and the gift it is meant to be, free from shame and fear.
no subject
The Chantry sound like a bunch of fearmongers. Magic can be dangerous in the wrong hands, but magic hands aren't always wrong. That's the distinction.
no subject
They need us. They hire us out as entertainers, healers, advisors and instruments of war. They make money off of our labor, which we never see a single copper piece of. Only a Tranquil can work with lyrium safely - enchanting goods to be sold across Thedas. To become Tranquil you must either submit out of fear or be sentenced to some crime. And to be placed in that position at all is one borne of our imprisonment. If they were going around burning out the minds and emotions and free will from the regular folk, there would be a violent uprising.
no subject
So it's all just slavery, with a nice little justification to it all saying you're dangerous and to keep you enslaved is for the betterment of the world. [ oooough they hate that. ] But isn't there... no, if there was...
[ hm. hold on. ]
Suddenly I understand more of why you did what you did. Even knowing the consequences that would come.