eachdraidh | 01 ♘ video

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01 ♘ video | both courts

[ Cullen has used his locket a few times, particularly during his time in the Cothromach as he recovered from an injury. Still, it was one thing to respond to others, or leave them short messages. It was another to cast one’s thoughts out, as though talking to everyone and no one in particular. He rubs the back of his neck, frowning slightly. ]

There is something that I’ve been meaning to ask for a while.

[ …Oh Maker, he’s forgotten something. ]

Though, I suppose it might help if I mentioned my name first. To those that don't know me, my name is Cullen. In Thedas- [ a pause ] my home world, my title was “Commander”, but, I really doubt that means all that much here.

[ Another pause, as he tries to find his footing, feeling more and more foolish by the moment. ]

As I was saying, there’s something I’ve been curious about almost ever since I arrived here, but I hadn’t gotten the chance to ask anyone about it, what with that Blighted creature rampaging across the world…

[ Another pause. ] And… that’s magic. That is, I’ve been meaning to ask about magic. just in case he wasn’t clear enough. ] I’ve no doubt you all know what it is, seeing as we’ve all been brought here by such a force.

In my world, opinions about magic were… mixed, to say the very least. While mages are certainly valued in many situations, they are more prone to possession from hostile spirits that offer countless temptations in exchange for a foothold in the mortal world. Not to mention, some possess the ability to raze entire cities to the ground, demons or no. To that end, the Templar Order existed to guard against the dangers of blood magic and demons. W-[ he corrects himself ] They used abilities of their own to combat hostile magic, often at a great personal cost. Mages also often studied in something called the Circle of Magi, though conditions were… not always ideal.

[ Perhaps he was a bit biased in some regards, but he was still attempting to be as diplomatic as possible. Maker knows if he actually managed to succeed. ]

I’m curious to know more, both about the magic here, and magic from… other places. The places that you come from. And how those without magic interact with those that possess it, or where that power is drawn from. Or... those with other abilities that aren't magical but are still... something. It would be… rather helpful.

[ And not fully satisfied that he didn’t make an utter fool of himself, he closes the locket. ]

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[ Not much later, he opens the locket again, this time with a message only visible to those in the seelie court. While he is perhaps somewhat unaccustomed to asking total strangers about their opinions on more sensitive subjects, there is one thing that he does know how to do.

When he speaks again, he is professional and to the point. ]

Ser Lancelot has tasked me with locating additional men and women for guard rotations at Caer Glaem. Given what has occurred there, it is vital to protect not only those that would aid in reconstruction of the damaged areas, but others that still cannot defend themselves [ a pause, as he contemplates something. ]. And, regardless of your personal feelings on the war, it is a worthy cause.

[ A nod, as he shuts the locket. ]

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Those abilities come with their own share of problems, the least of which being the fact that they take years to master. [ before even getting into the nasty business of lyrium. ] As for the magic in this world, I’m… not quite sure how exactly I feel about the manner in which it is used. It sounds… unnervingly close to forbidden magic from my own world.

Most abilities have to take some level of training to master. That's not so unusual. [ though this all sounds way too complicated. she prefers the way abilities work for her. simpler. ] What manner would that be?

It's not just that. To use their abilities, templars must also take lyrium, a substance that is not only rather addictive, but also eventually causes many of its long-term users to go mad, or lose most of their memories. [ And that's really all he's comfortable on saying about that particular subject. ] It is... a difficult life, to say the least.

[ He swallows. ] The use of blood for rituals.

Who would choose such a life? [ She doesn't expect her question to be answered, speaking broadly and not making any connections Cullen might have indicated about himself. At least not yet. ] I certainly wouldn't want it, tying my life and my memories to such a thing no matter what powers came with it.

[ Her somewhat scornful tone is interrupted by Cullen's other answer. ]

Not—[ and now she sounds horrified. ]—other people's?

[ It's all too easy to remember the stories of Leck's animal menagerie, the children he claimed to favor, all cut and stabbed too deeply, too cleanly. ]

Because it is something that must be done. [ Regardless of anything else, he still respected the men and women that stayed in the Templar Order. ] Some often don't [ didn't ] have a choice, being promised to the Order at infancy. Templars are meant to protect those in need, and to give one's life in service to a greater cause is admirable.

[ There is a strong sense of conviction in his tone. ]

I'm not entirely sure about the details in this world, but in Thedas, blood mages would often use unwilling sacrifices.

And that's the worst of it—that they've not even a choice whether they'd like to give their life to such a thing. It's only admirable if they choose it.

[ Her response is quick, but not as harsh as it might have been months earlier. Katsa is growing accustomed to these conversations; she will only rise to anger with him if he hits a rather more personal nerve.

Still, she sounds just as certain of her opinion as he does. ]

Regardless—[ a minor shiver ] —if I ever learn of someone doing magic like that here, I'll pound that person and make sure with my own hands they can never hold a knife or cast a spell again.

[ But no need for this lyrium nonsense. ]

I do not entirely disagree with you. Regardless, some do leave before taking their final oaths, though it is... frowned upon. And leaving after taking your vows is... difficult, to say the least. [ a sigh. ] Certainly, there should be safer ways to leave.

[ And perhaps had the circumstances been different, he might have laughed at that. ]

Then let us hope that none do so. At the very least, I do have more than enough experience in combating such magic.

Mm. [ She falls quiet, looks almost pensive as her brows draw together. With this Katsa does not argue, though she can't help but add, ] They deserve the chance to know they ought to be allowed to be anything they wish. Though that... is still difficult.

[ Her mouth twitches. ]

They can try all the magic on me they want. It won't make a difference.

If you'd like, I could teach you some basic skills. They wouldn't be as effective as a templar's abilities, but-- it is something.

[ After all, she is a friend. ]

[ that's a surprise offer katsa wasn't expecting. it's still strange to be taught by others, and it still takes her a while to realize she's made a new friend when it happens; but she's curious and it's well received. ]

To combat magic? What kind of skills do you mean?

Templar abilities. They wouldn't be as effective without magical resistance, but they still might save you in a pinch.

[ And, any friend of the Inquisitor's would always be a friend of his. ]

I don't believe magical resistance is a power even my Grace grants me. [ she ducks her head, frowning, remembering—how easily her mind had succumbed to one man's spell when a ten year old girl could resist. ] But any skill that would let me strike back I'd be glad to learn.

Your Grace?

[ Curious. ]

Regardless, I'd be more than happy to teach you some of what I know, when you have the time.

[ For a strange, puzzled moment Katsa thinks he means "Your Grace" as a method of address, until she realizes she must not have told him about that yet. It's difficult to keep track now of whom she has and hasn't told about Gracelings. ]

I would be grateful. [ truly, truly meant. ] Your first question—I'd almost forgotten. About abilities from our own worlds. We have no magic, but we do have something else. You've noticed my eyes, I'm sure.

[ "One eye green as the Middluns grasses, one eye blue as the sky," they call them in her seven kingdoms. Both colors unnaturally bright. ]

...Well, yes. They do stand out, though I hadn't thought much of it.

[ Mages and non-mages alike could have the same sort of eye colour, though her's are perhaps brighter than most others that he's seen. ]

Do they have something to do with your abilities.

[ The most obvious conclusion to draw, of course. ]

If a child's eyes settle into two different colors when they're weeks, sometimes months old, we call them a Graceling and know them to have some skill beyond that of most people's. There are Graces for swimming, baking, singing and others for fighting or mind-reading or prescience or altering perception. Some more unnatural than other Graces.

[ Give him a moment as he tries to process this... ]

So, in a sense, it's sometimes like... augmented luck? Natural aptitude? ...Magic?

[ It is difficult to place a word for it, given the variety she describes. Though, certainly no one was in any danger of being possessed by demons for such abilities. ]

Just... a Grace. [ her face contorts as she tries to think of another way to describe it. that's the only word katsa knows, so used to the concept. ] An aptitude for something more advanced than any normal person's. People fear them and prefer to avoid them—usually for good reason—but it's not the same thing as the absurdity of magic. One never chooses to be a Graceling, and they don't choose what their Grace is, either.

I think most would prefer not to be Graced. But that doesn't seem to be the case with magic here, does it?

Where I come from, many mages do not always wish for their gifts, either.

[ A frown. ]

But, I can see how it is... different.

[ Katsa shrugs, having no answer for that. That an unnatural gift would be an unwanted one, well, that's more than understandable. ]

Can you tell if someone is a mage—or a mage dispeller, whatever you called them—just by looking at them?

If they're wearing robes or their uniform.

[ But that probably wasn't what she meant. ]

How difficult it must be to hide from you.

[ no, cullen, that isn't what she meant. ]

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01 ♘ video | both courts

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