eachdraidh | 01 ♘ video

[ 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mine? [A snort.] They call him the red god. The Lord of Light, he is. He ain't no kind god, but he's about and he ain't buggered off yet. I've seen his power made real. Might be there's no sign of him here, but I know he's real in my own land.

[And so Gendry was not particularly devout. He did not love his red god nor did he do more than was needed to pay that god homage. Gendry simply acknowledged what was plain as day and lived with it.]

Ah-- I see.

[ For a moment, he is somewhat reminded of Ser Carver, perhaps, in the way that he seems to have a way with... words. ]

Then, what do you believe about this land and what higher force governs it?

[ Or does it really matter with the monarchs about? Still, Cullen would not lose faith in the Maker. Not while he was still alive after so many trials. ]

That any bugger with enough power does what they like and call themselves a god or king or whatever they like.

[If Gendry had been more ambitious from the start, he might be throwing around enough power now to make himself godlike.]

[ And that gets an honest-to-goodness laugh. ]

I've known few who puts things as eloquently as you, ser. [ A sigh. ] Still, any man who tries to call himself a god is perhaps the most dangerous sort of man.

Only if he can make good on it. Lots of folk have been naming themselves kings where I'm from. Most of them are dead now or so broken as to make no matter. Each one of them was dangerous, but only for the folk caught in the middle of it.

[People like Gendry and those in the Riverlands. He still had a deepseated resentment associated with all the needless death and carnage he had seen come from all that.]

I know that well enough, and in a sense, it was just as true in my land as it is here. [ He thinks to Kirkwall, to the reports from the Inquisitor in the Hinterlands. Mages, templars, and everyone else caught in between.

Not to mention, Corypheus, silently (or perhaps now, more loudly) pulling the strings. ]

It's why one should never forget who they're truly fighting for. One might preach the "greater good", and still destroy all that it is they're trying to protect.

I knew who I was fighting there. [Highborns. The nobility. Anyone who had ever used high birth at the expense of others.] It's not so clear here.

[Or Gendry has simply lost his way, because he's a shardbearer now and he's everything he used to be against.]

You were fortunate, then. [ Before the Inquisition, there had been times Cullen truly wondered what he was fighting for. ] But, I am in agreement with you about this world. It... is difficult, particularly should you find your friends or family in the opposite court.

[ And what of those who originally came from this land? But that, of course, goes unsaid. ]

[Does he admit he's made friends in the other court? That seems dangerous talk of late.]

That would be trouble enough, aye. Will you fight them, should it come to that?

01 ♘ video | both courts

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