word association.

[pitseleh]

because i like this one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

→ reply to top levels with a word of your choice and optionally the definition in the body of your comment. visit the random word generator if you need help!
→ other characters will reply with the first word their character associates with the one you chose.
→ continue back and forth until one of you just has to know the story behind an answer.

Comments

[darmisu]

History.

[trevelyan_renegade]

Mistakes.

[darmisu]

Hindsight.

[trevelyan_renegade]

Worthless.

[darmisu]

Magicless.

[trevelyan_renegade]

[ Oh? He hesitates before answering. ]

Tranquil. But it probably doesn't have the same meaning for you, does it?

[darmisu]

Yes, we forest savages aren't nearly so keen on lobotomizing people. [Sigh.] We prefer to murder with neglect. Easier to ignore, that way.

[Her tone is even, convivial.]

[trevelyan_renegade]

And yet the decision not to lock up your mages hasn't wiped you out yet. Humans could learn much from the Dalish. I've read a lot about your way of life in the Circle. I've always wanted to meet real Dalish elves, see how you live.

[darmisu]

[Well, that's... a new one, certainly.]

I doubt a human book on the subject would be accurate. Tell me, if you were to find the rare clan willing to teach a human, what would you ask to learn?

[trevelyan_renegade]

Everything. [ He laughs. ]

But first of all, about your magic. The spells you learn, the way you manipulate reality with your power. I've always heard stories about how different Dalish magic is. I want to understand it. How you see the Fade, how you deal with demons and spirits. You clearly live well without the Circles. That alone is proof that they are unnecessary. I want to understand how you train your mages so as to make sure they don't become abominations. You are living proof that the Chantry is wrong, and they persecute you for it just as they do us, and whoever of us refuses to live under constant supervision, suspicion, and threat of death. You have so much to teach us. A completely different understanding of the nature of magic. I want to be able to see what you can see in it. Use it the way you do.

[darmisu]

Last I heard of elves teaching humans magic, it ended with Arlathan sinking.

[Said flatly. She wants to see how he reacts.]

[trevelyan_renegade]

That was a terrible crime. But that was the Tevinter Imperium. They were drunk on power. Warlords everywhere have done similar things. Less efficiently maybe, but it wasn't about the magic. They would have attacked you either way. Times have changed. We have magic now, we understand it. But you understand it in a different way. You could help avoid things like that happening again.

[darmisu]

I have heard that the spell that sunk Arlathan was Elven in origin.

[trevelyan_renegade]

Yes, maybe, I read they tortured captive elves until they revealed their secrets - but you can't compare that to the situation nowadays. You don't have a city to lose anymore.

[ Sensitive as always, yes. But he is passionate about this. ]

Look, the Imperium has done terrible things to many people everywhere. But I don't want to learn powerful spells from you that can do something like that. [ Although it would be a cool bonus. ] I just want to understand magic the way you do. Real magic, not what the Chantry teaches us in the Circle.

[darmisu]

Hm.

[Because... what do you say to that? It's like having a conversation with a unicorn. 'Uh, nice horn?']

I don't know anything about Chantry magic. What makes it fake?

[trevelyan_renegade]

It works, granted. But the fact that it's taught by people who wish to control us and vilify magic and the ones who use it by any means necessary? They only teach us enough to shape our magic - and us - into tools. But there's more to magic. I've met so many people who use magic in ways I've never even heard of in the Circle. I've learnt things about spirits that explains so much more than what they teach us about demons. I've seen spirits in people and it wasn't anything like the abominations they warn us about. Your people know that better than anyone, you had magic long before us, and you did incredible things with it! I heard about spells that took years to cast and that echoed over centuries.

The Chantry, on the other hand? All they teach us is that magic exists to serve man, never to rule over him. That it's shameful to have the ability, that it's dangerous, that we have to learn to wield it like a weapon and do so at the command of our superiors, but not otherwise. All they teach us is to control it, to minimise it. They teach us to stay away from spirits, that they are all evil and dangerous demons. We learn that everything related to magic is cursed and sinful. Like it has to be contained. I don't believe that, especially not anymore.

[darmisu]

I see you've thought about this a great deal ...I guess you had the time. [What with being locked up in the circle and all.]

So if you had your way, you'd end the Circle, and then... ask the Dalish to teach your wayward mages?