01 ♘ video | both courts

[detoxifying]

[ 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. ]

VIDEO | SEELIE LOCKED

[ 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. ]

Comments

[detoxifying]

Ah... Well...

[ It was an odd thing, explaining something that had been more than second nature to him for years. ]

The Chantry is the primary religious institution in Thedas- my world. It is governed by the Most Holy, or the Divine. It is her duty to oversee all operations of the Chantry and help spread The Chant of Light, our religious doctrine, to the four corners of the world. [ A breath. ] Circle Mages are just that... mages that reside in the Circle of Magi, where they learn to use their abilities and study magic further. There, they are guarded by Templars, men and women specially trained in ways to counteract dangerous magic. [ ...More or less. ] Traditionally, mages are taken as children to the Circles, when their powers begin to manifest. Although, there are some that do not agree with the system, and seek to avoid it. They're apostates and... frowned upon, as many of them will turn to blood magic to keep themselves free.

[ It is a rather complicated issue, and one he can admit that he is rather biased about. ]

I am glad to hear it... [ and while he has a chance. ] By any chance are you from a country called "France"? I have met a few others that hail from there and the manner in which you speak... sounds rather familiar.

[psalmed]

That sounds so very little like my church and the faith of myself and my countrymen. I believe I heard a resounding rush that women are not to speak of God and certainly there is little use for children.

[But it's circumstantial and why does the church exist if not to recruit? Lia is memorizing the information, considering it later, because how strange it is to have magic and to have it accepted.]

Parents send their children to these places? Or are they forced when they have magic? Does everyone have magic?

[Too many questions. She has to slow down and she smiles in a kind of flustered, coy way because she's aware suddenly how terribly rude she is being.]

Yes. I am from France and serving her King.

[detoxifying]

Women not to speak of- [ He almost snorts at the absurdity of it all, though that would be rather rude. ] Forgive me, ser. It's just... Women have always been the cornerstone of the Chantry. Men can be minor clerics, but certainly never priests. [ Although... ] Unless one counts the Imperial Chantry, but that's another matter entirely.

[ And of course she would ask such questions. ]

It is... or rather was mandatory for all children with magic. The Circles were the only places that mages could learn to use their gifts safely and not fall prey to demons. Parents were certainly welcome to write to children but many... did not. Although, I did know a boy whose mother insisted on knitting him the most ghastly hats.

[ He smiles slightly. ]

I thought so. The first time I met one of your countrymen, I actually mistook her for being from Orlais, a country in my world. Apparently, there are... more than a few similarities than just your shared language.

[psalmed]

A woman is never a priest. If she feels compelled to serve the Lord and not through her duties as a wife and mother, then there are convents. To be a bride of Christ if you are fit for no earthly man.

[But isn't his world fascinating, then? Because Lia has always considered that is how things are but if a woman might wield a sword then why not a thurible?]

Does the soul of a magic user often fall prey to demons? Children need training but t seems so cruel to have them grow up away from their families.

[But then, she knows most of the Queen's children do not live with her. She knows had she a child it would most likely be foisted off on a nursemaid while she continued her life.]

Perhaps our worlds may be related, then. I have never heard of Orlais but the origination of language is...quite the interesting thing, is it not? It would seem the rulers here favor my country.

[detoxifying]

I suppose there are some similarities to the Chantry in that regard. Mothers are not permitted to marry, due to their spiritual tie to the Maker. But, men are considered too irrational and hot-blooded to serve as priests in the Chantry, though they do [ did ] make up the bulk of the Templar Order and Seekers of Truth. [ though there were still plenty of women in both of those Orders. ]

They do if they're not properly trained. And while, I can certainly see where the argument might come from... [ a sigh. After all, it was a point of contention (to say the least at the moment) in Thedas. ]In many ways, it is hardly different than those given to the Order and the Chantry as infants. I began my training when I was barely more than a boy, myself.

[ Now... that was a thought. ]

Perhaps. Though, Maker knows that the French that I've met are far more tolerable than most Orlesians I've had the... opportunity to speak to at length.

[ It also helped that they weren't asking whether he was married and grabbing his bottom at every possible moment. ]

[psalmed]

Women are thought to be weak. Sinful. The scurge of Eve upon us and so it seems we are barely worth salvation.

[But she does not think God feels that way. She knows many holy women, it helps ease the sting of it all though now she is contemplating an order with women in charge. How strange it seems, and how much it truly shouldn't be that strange.]

I suppose it is not much different if you are sent to live with a different household for fostering, but it seems so strange to me. I took up the sword when I was young but I did not have to leave my home to do it.

[But what if she did have to? What if she had been in danger had she not? And certainly a child couldn't be trusted with the psalms.]

I think I would like to know more about where you come from, monsieur. I shall strive to remain far more tolerable than these Orlesians.

[detoxifying]

Women?! [ Forgive him if he sounds somewhat startled. ] That... that's preposterous. In my world, the Maker-- our God and Creator, took a mortal woman, Andraste as His Holy Bride, only for Her to be betrayed by the envy of Her mortal husband.

[ Which was yet another reason why men were not permitted as Brothers in the southern Chantry. ]

It was a religious Order, so I suppose in some respects it is similar to the sort of training that priests must go through.

[ Though certainly not entirely the same.

And, he avoids making a comment about how most things manage to remain more tolerable than Orlesians. But just barely. ]

[psalmed]

The scerge of Eve upon us, so they say.

[So she believed as a young woman, so she thought when she attended the Queen her first time in childbed. Eventually Lia had dismissed the notion but pieces of it still stick.]

Our God sent a Son to a virgin girl, but she was not his bride and nor was she betrayed. Women, the priests say, are vessels. Shells to play host to something greater.

[And Lia has made her brother into a vessel, herself into something greater, and the irony is not lost on her but this is quite the interesting discussion, and enough to distract her from that.]

I still could not imagine. I try to attend mass, to be a pious woman. A good woman but it seems there are so few of my faith here. It is a difficult thing to hold on to.

[detoxifying]

Who exactly is this "Eve"? You've mentioned her twice now.

[ Cullen is silent for a moment, contemplating numerous things about what she said. It... seemed odd to him that women would be judged differently from men.

But again, different worlds did have different rules. ]

I... can understand that. There are a scant few from my own world, and fewer still that share the same faith as I. [ His best friend not included among them. ] Even so, I've still found ways to take comfort in solitary prayer.

[psalmed]

The mother of humanity. The first woman God made to be a mate to Adam.

[It seems mad he doesn't know this. But of course he would not, if their theology is different. Never the less it is so very strange.]

I fear faith is based very much in my world on listening to someone. On sharing. Hours I would spend in mass with the queen. I listen to my memories of those sermons in my mind but I am limited here. Never the less, there are worse things to lose.

[detoxifying]

...Did He not create more than one man and woman?

[ But who is he to judge? After all, it was said the Maker created spirits before elves and humans. ]

We have much the same thing, where I come from. There are Revered Mothers that may take confession. But, that isn't to say you cannot quietly worship on your own is it not? Do you not have verses that you know, or some manner of Chant?

[ Though, Lia probably didn't have the sort of training that involved memorizing entire swaths of her religious doctrines. ]

[psalmed]

That would make far more sense but the first two.

[She doesn't speculate on the origins of humanity often.]

I would still like someone to take my confession. I would feel more at ease with that. I know how to worship alone but you are very...isolated in this place.

[It makes it difficult to reach for that common thread, Lia supposes, but her lips are curving because Cullen is just so earnest in this.]

I appreciate your thought, monsieur.