[video]

[songofvalor]

[ A FEW MINUTES AFTER THIS THREAD. Leliana's voice is shaky and her accent heavier than usual, too much anger bubbling inside her. ]

Anders! Where are you, you fiend?

I can't believe I thought you were a good man. You were one of Elissa's friends, for Andraste's sake! To find out this out from someone else while you walk around like you didn't... you didn't...

The blood of Kirkwall's grand cleric is in your hands. Grand Cleric Elthina! How could you murder one of the holiest people in Thedas!? What have you to gain!?

[ ANDERS BRO GET YOUR ASS IN HERE BEFORE SHE HUNTS YOU DOWN HERSELF ]

[ ooc: I am so sorry for spamming! Important development that can't be delayed and stuff. ]

Comments

[stonefaith]

I'm sure she is. I am just as sure that there are better ways of dealing with that upset than screaming it across the network to the world at large.

[arlathansgrace]

You... are probably right.

[stonefaith]

What is your part in this anyway, girl?

[arlathansgrace]

Oh, I-- [Even though the evidence wouldn't be hard to find, she hesitates.] I didn't realize Leliana didn't know. I didn't know we were from different... different worlds.

[stonefaith]

[ long pause. ]

I don't understand. What do you mean, different worlds? I thought that -- well, I assumed that Leliana and Anders at least hailed from the same place.

[arlathansgrace]

[She has zero idea how to explain this. But she tries.]

Well. Maybe not "worlds." It's... it's very confusing, and I don't quite understand it. But I think people are making different decisions in our worlds. We come from Thedas, but in her Thedas one thing happened, but in mine something else happened. [A thoughtful pause as she considers this. Then she barrels forward.] I didn't realize things were different. Leliana knew about Anders in my Kirkwall, but this Leliana isn't the same as my Leliana. They're different and know different things.

Like... like if you kept kittens in boxes that were the same on the outside but with different decorations inside.

[stonefaith]

[ AN EVEN LONGER PAUSE ]

I... um. Hmm. I think I understand. [ a little? maybe? maybe. ]

Then I do not understand why this Leliana has reason to be angry with Anders. Unless they are... the same, to one another?

[ no oh god no now he's just making himself confused ]

[arlathansgrace]

[Don't worry, Bariyan, she doesn't get it either.]

Um, well.

You see. The Chantry means a lot to Leliana, and Anders... sort of... blew it up. [She makes a small exploding gesture with her hands, accompanied by a quiet sound effect. Boom.] With the Grand Cleric in it. Because the Chantry keeps the human mages in the Circles, and Anders thinks they're bad.

He was trying to help.

But I told Leliana because I thought she knew - I knew a Leliana that knew all about it, she was investigating it, I think. But this Leliana... didn't.

[stonefaith]

Ah. [ BLANK SOUND. bariyan's thinking he's gotten a little in over his head, here. merrill's using a whole lot of words that he doesn't understand.... ]

'Keeps the human mages in the Circles?' Is that as bad as I think it sounds?

[arlathansgrace]

I suppose that depends. On a lot of things. Most people think the Circles are... are necessary. I've never been in one because I am elvhenan. The Dalish values their mages too much to lock them away. But magic is dangerous, and not everyone understands the risks.

[stonefaith]

Magic is dangerous everywhere. People are always dangerous, magic or not. So what risks are there that... could justify locking them away?

[ he sounds a little offended, but is really more curious than anything. anders is a mage, isn't he? and he's all right.... ]

[arlathansgrace]

[She hesitates.]

Mages... tap the power of the Fade, where spirits reside. The spirits, demons depending on who you talk to, they can come through and possess mages, turning them into mindless abominations. Places where mages practice magic makes the Veil between our world and the Fade thin, but mages naturally gravitate toward those places, too.

And there are-- There are many powers that can do more harm than good. Blood magic [She winces. There is a small hiccup in her voice.] can control other people. Can boil their blood. But it also provides a source of power that isn't the Fade. Still, it requires a demon teaching it to you.

Spirit magic is very dangerous, too. There are spells that will turn a foe's body into a weapon, making it explode, or others that crush them. Magic is... very dangerous if you don't understand it. If you don't control it. If you're not aware of the risks. The humans don't care to understand magic. The elvhenan know more, but even they are wary.

[stonefaith]

[ Whoa, sudden basic primer on magic. Bariyan takes a moment to try and process this all as best as he can, and to form his own reply. ]

Hm. All right. That's explanation enough for me, though I think I'll stand with Anders on this one. [ Not that it matters terribly, he thinks, they're all very far away from anders and merrill's world anyway.... ] Thank you for taking the time to explain.