Chapter 9: Tranquility
It is amazing how in an instant one's life can change forever; I remember…I was but a boy in a small village in Ferelden, a normal boy at least that's what I thought at the time. I remembered being well-liked in my village, and would often be seen surrounded by a gaggle of village children. But then when I was twelve, everything changed when I discovered I was a mage. I set fire to a neighbor's barn, it was an accident! But it didn't matter, word got around and I was no longer that happy well-liked boy…I was simply the mage. My parents no longer saw me as their beloved son…I was now their shame. The Templars was called and there I was…a scared and crying twelve year old boy carried off in chains to Kinloch Hold.
It was the Circle where I discovered what the world truly thought of me and people like me…a weapon to use against the Chantry's enemies at best and a monster to be slain at worst. I hate them…I hate them all! Soon I would try to escape that damned prison on multiple occasions but every time the Templars would catch me and bring back. That was until I met the Hero of Ferelden of all people, it was him I had to thank for my freedom. I was made a Grey Warden and for a while things were good, I did good and I made friends…something that never happened back at the Circle. But alas…it wasn't to be, misfortune came my way as always. It was then I had an epiphany, we mages keep waiting for things to get better for us but it never happens. So we must take charge and fight for our freedom, the Chantry will hear us, one way or another they will listen.-Manifesto of a Mage Revolutionary
Darktown-Clinic
A blonde haired man in light brown robes adorned with feathers was healing a young boy with his worried family surrounding him. His hands were glowing with magic as he moved his hands with great concentration. With a gasp, the boy woke up and his family came and hugged him. The mage sat back on a chair as he grabbed a rag to wipe his forehead. As the trio came close, his eyes started to glow and he grabbed his staff ready to fight. "I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation, state your business!"
"Strange occupation for a Warden. Aren't you more about taint and death, not healing and salvation?" Ericks asked.
Anders frowned. "How did you find me?"
"That merchant Lirene, and before you jump to conclusions Blondie…we asked nicely" Varric said. "We need your help"
Anders raised a brow and put away his staff, soon he sat down. "I'm listening…"
"We're a part of an expedition into the Deep Roads" Ericks said. "Any information you have could save people's lives"
"Heh, the Deep Roads…I will die a happy man if I never think about that blighted place ever again" the mage said. "After all I've been through to get here, I'm not interested…" He then stopped and then rubbed his chin. "Although…"
"And here it comes…" Varric said dryly.
"I scratch your back, you scratch mine, deal?"
"That depends, if it involves children or animals, you can forget it" Ericks said.
Anders chuckled a little, this strange man reminded him of a person he knew. "I have a Warden map of the depths in this area, but there's a price" he said. "I came to Kirkwall to aid a friend, a mage. He's a prisoner in the wretched Gallows"
"The Templars learned of my plans to free him, help me with this and you shall have your maps"
"You want to make your friend an apostate?" Bethany asked. While she was glad for her freedom, it was a hard life for not just her but for her family. Always behind her shoulder, that fear of being caught and Templars were just as non-forgiving about people sheltering apostate as the apostates themselves. If her family wasn't jailed for sheltering her, the Templars had no problem making them pariahs.
"Such a weighted term" Anders said with a snarl. "Andraste says that magic should serve man, not rule him. But I've yet to find a mage who wants to rule anything"
"The Chantry perverts the chant, mages living as free as other men doesn't go against the will of the Maker"
"I agree forcing mages into servitude is not the way to prevent the rise of another Imperium" Ericks said. Anders was taken aback, that wasn't the response he usually get especially from none mages. He then gave a smirk; perhaps this little alliance wasn't going to be so bad after all.
"Glad you understand"
"So how did the Templars know of your plans?" Varric asked.
Anders sighed. "I don't know I made sure I was careful" he said. "I sent my notes through different maidservants on days when the security at the Gallows were at their lightest"
"But I suppose it doesn't matter, since the letters stopped coming" he said. "Anyway these are my terms; you want my help you'll meet in the chantry tonight"
"I sent word to my friend to be there. Maker willing, we will all leave free men"
Kirkwall Chantry-Night
The Kirkwall Chantry is the seat of the Chantry in Kirkwall. It towers above the estates of Hightown, rivaled only by the Viscount's Keep. The chantry serves as a symbol as much as it does a place of worship: a symbol of the Chantry's importance in the tradition and the lives of Kirkwall's citizens, and its iron grip on the mages. The chantry was constructed by the dwarves and originally served as a wealthy magister's estate during the Tevinter Imperium's rule over Kirkwall. It was rebuilt and converted into the city's religious center after the slave uprising.
"So who exactly are we rescuing? You never said" Ericks asked.
"His name is Karl Thekla, He was sent here from Ferelden when Kirkwall's Circle required new talent" Anders said. "His last letter said the knight-commander was turning the Circle into a prison"
"Mages are locked in their cells, refused appearance at court, made Tranquil for the slightest crimes…sometimes for non-existent crimes" he said. "I told him I would come" The Tranquil are mages who went through the Rite of Tranquility and belong to the Formari of the Circle. The Rite cuts off the connection to the Fade, and the Tranquil can no longer dream nor draw on the Fade to perform magic. As a side effect, their emotional center is utterly removed, which makes them undesirable to be possessed by demons in the first place. The Rite of Tranquility was intended as a tool of last resort to stop uncontrolled mages from hurting themselves or others. It is claimed to be an act of mercy, if not kindness. Some mages willingly volunteer to undergo the Rite, primarily to avoid the Harrowing. It is the judgment of the Knight-Commander whether a mage needs to be made Tranquil. Chantry law forbids performing the Rite without significant provocation and the agreement of the relevant Circle's First Enchanter.
However the Rite has been used by the Chantry and the Templars for punitive and political purposes to silence dissent and inhibit civilized discourse among discontent mages. When a mage who has passed the Harrowing is deemed to be strong enough to resist demonic possession, forcibly making them Tranquil is theoretically against Chantry law though; the situation varies from tower to tower.
"That's…a hell of an accusation, Blonde" Varric said disturbed.
"Ask any mage in Kirkwall; over a dozen were made Tranquil just this year, half of that number passed their Harrowing" Anders said. "Ask around more and the rumors become worse"
"What is exactly our plan?" Bethany I doubt they'll let us take him"
"I'm hoping it doesn't come to a fight, Maker willing, he'll be there, alone" Anders said. "But if there are Templars with him, I swear, I'll free him from them. Whatever the cost" When the gang came close to the Chantry steps Anders looked out for any Templars, he saw Karl enter the Chantry just as it was planned. "Karl went in; no Templars…are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, let's do this fast" Ericks said.
Anders nodded. "I'll do the talking, you watch for Templars" They went inside the Chantry; it was much bigger than the chantry back in Lothering, or most of Ferelden for that matter. It was quiet and dark with the candles as the only light. They went up the stairs and found a young man with black and grey hair and beard; He wore black and white Circle robes. He stood near a small altar to the right all alone. Ericks frowned at this…this was too easy.
"Anders, I know you too well. I knew you would never give up"
Anders frowned; this was not like the Karl he knew. "What's wrong? Why are you talking like…?" Karl turned around and Anders eyes went wide as he placed his hand on his mouth with a gasp. Karl's eyes were dark and lifeless like a corpse even though he was alive. On his forehead the seal of the Chantry's sunburst, the symbol of mages that have been turned tranquil.
"I was too rebellious, like you. The Templars knew I had to be…made example of"
"No, no, no…"
"How else will mages ever master themselves? You'll understand, Anders" Sounds of clacking armor came from behind and Templars came up the stairs with their weapons drawn. It was a trap and the Templars used Karl as the bait to lure Anders. "As soon as the Templars teach you to control yourself" Karl then pointed at Anders. "Here is the apostate" Anders sadness for his friend soon turned to burning anger for the Templars, Karl was a good and gentle man he did not deserve this cruel fate. No mage deserved such injustice.
"Damn you… DAMN YOU ALL!" Anders very being started to glow a bluish-grey glow as his eyes rolled back into his skull. His veins glowed with fire as he dropped to his knees, Anders tried his best to hold it in but his anger poured out like a flood. The mage stood up wreathed in eldritch blue flames, his eyes full of hatred and his voice mixed with…something else. "You will never take another mage as you took him!"
The mage raised his arms at the first Templars he saw, the Templar's body felt tight as if invisible walls were closing in on him. The Templar let out a terrified scream a Anders closed his fist and crushed the warrior inside his own armor. When he dropped the dead Templar, all that was left was a bloody armor full of organs. The other Templars took a step back in fear as Anders came loomed closer and closer. The fear from the Templars was delectable to the mage or rather the thing inside of Anders.
"Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter…Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter…Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter" one of the Templars said frantically. The gang watched in utter fear as the watched mage tore the templars into bloody chunks. Bethany crouched with her hands clasped tightly around her ears, trying to block out the sounds of screaming.
"Maker please, someone make him stop!" Bethany said in tearful fear.
"Anders! Anders, that's enough!" Ericks said. He tried to stop the mage from killing more of the Templars but he was just swatted away like a fly. Anders was about to kill the last Templar until he heard a familiar voice.
"I…Anders, what did you do?" The mage soon went back to his senses and looked back with wide eyes. Karl was looking around in a daze but somehow…tranquility was reversed.
Anders unleashed! What is the horrifying extent of his powers?! Next Time! As Always Review and Comment!
