On the Rights and Freedoms of Mages: A Manifesto
The Chantry would have you fear us, yet we are as you: We long for love, life and liberty. We desire the freedom every man, woman, and child born in Thedas have as a natural right.
It is the Maker who creates mages, and Andraste fought for all men, for "All men are the work of our Maker's hands, from the lowest slaves to the highest kings. - Transfigurations 1" She does not differentiate between men and mages for it is clear that all mages are men also. The Chantry denies that Andraste was a powerful mage, yet she was able to wield power in the Makers name to force back the Imperium which had enslaved her and attacked her homelands:
"Those who oppose thee
Shall know the wrath of heaven.
Field and forest shall burn,
The seas shall rise and devour them,
The wind shall tear their nations
From the face of the earth,
Lightning shall rain down from the sky. - Andraste 7"
The Chantry was built by men, by Kordillus Drakon, the first emperor of Orlais. He, with the Divine Justina I, declared the free use of magic as illegal except by those mages operating under the auspices of the Chantry. Denying mankind the gift of the maker;
"Foul and corrupt are you
Who have taken My gift
And turned it against My children. - Transfigurations 18"
Further perverting Andraste's words; "Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him. - Transfigurations 1" to mean that all mages must be prisoners, must be slaves to the Chantry's vanity as they destroyed all evidence of Andraste's magic. The healing properties of her ashes alone attest to the strength of her power, that yet the magic is strong after all these ages. She was a great and powerful mage which the Chantry denies to serve its own means, to hold the mages as slaves rather than build a society where men are free to pursue simple goals, and live simple lives without fear of Maker given gifts. Are there no more damning words for this atrocious behaviour than;
"Those who bring harm
Without provocation to the least of His children
Are hated and accursed by the Maker. - Transfigurations 1"
Andraste would not see mages abused by the Chantry, she would not have them enslaved for being what they are. Maleificar's must be punished, in this world and the next, for they are foul and corrupt and have "taken His gift and turned it against His children. - Transfigurations 1" Yet nowhere does Andraste say that all mages ought to be treated as potential Maleificars, to be kept locked in prisons and denied family and freedom. Denied even the freedom to fall in love lest they have a mage child.
The time has come for the Circle of Magi to take back control, to revel in the glory of Andraste and to use their Maker given gifts to help their fellow men, for us to live together to help each other, to build a world where mage children can stay with their families whilst learning to harness their powers with able teachers. And to go out to make valid contributions in the world like any other man rather than shackled to Chantry and templars.
A Friend
On the Rites and Freedoms of Mages: A Manifesto
The abuses against mages are many. However the most horrific is the Rite of Tranquillity. You will know The Tranquil, they are part of the Formari and can be found selling goods on behalf of the Circle. What you may not know is how the Rite of Tranquillity works, and how it is misused. To be made tranquil is to have your connection to the Fade severed, you would perhaps think of it as your ability to dream and to feel emotions. A Tranquil no longer dreams, they no longer care for anything or anyone, themselves included. They are like docile cattle herded and cared for on the whims of templar jailers. The tranquil are the most pitiful slaves, altered to never know their situation, destined to live their lives without hope, without love.
This disgusting travesty is considered an act of kindness if a mage is considered too weak – with NO PROOF. Often it is used as a means of submission, mages who question their circle prison or their templar jailers are kept quiet with threats of Tranquillity and when that doesn't work they are made tranquil for daring to speak out. How can peaceful change ever occur when intelligent debate is robbed from those very mages who would wish to discuss their situation? When the channels of debate are silenced by a lyrium brand? The Chantry, the Templars, the Circle conspire to force every mage in Thedas into a dozen life or death situations each day, where they are fighting for the sake of their own minds, their own ability to decide. Should they speak up when they are beaten unjustly or will they be made tranquil? Should they speak up when they are raped or will they be made tranquil? Should they speak up when they are locked in solitary confinement for a year or will they be made tranquil?
A Friend