Circle of Magi Courtyard
Benjamin Trevelyan looked up at the tower towering above him. Under certain special circumstances, when there was no sign of rebellion or the mages were acting calm and docile the Templars would let them eat outside the walls of the tower itself. In a courtyard surrounded by a stone fence.
In other words a gilded cage. Benjamin thought munching on his sandwich.
Guards still patrolled the perimeter, towers still watched them, and there was little they could do to escape from the premises of the tower itself. Yet the air was fresh and the environment lovely. He could look into the distance and see a few peaks towering out of the ground. The same ones he crossed to get here.
It was good to be outside. Ben thought.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when a woman slammed a large tray quite audibly down on the table he was sitting at. Even though his heart leapt at the action he showed no other outside sign he was disturbed.
Instead he continued his appraisal of their small courtyard.
"Ahem," A feminine voice cleared its throat dramatically.
Ben's eyes narrowed but he didn't look at the woman.
"Hello? Normally when a beautiful woman sits down boldly with a young…lonely…man he pays attention to her."
Ben's head snapped around before he could stop himself. And he was met with a curious stare from his new lunch companion. Her face split into a warm smile when she saw him looking.
"There, that's better isn't it?"
He sighed, "Sorry, I am not exactly used to chatting with…beautiful women."
And she was too, her features were sharp, and blunt, yet they had a certain predatory quality to them. Her raven black hair was tied up in a semi bun, though a few loose strands hung from her head down across her forehead.
"There, that's better."
He nodded, and extended a hand, sticking out from his robes and causing the cuff to ripple slightly, "Benjamin."
"Patricia," She smiled extending her own hand and taking his.
"So Patricia, what are you doing coming here and joining a man, fresh off his horse?"
"Because," She hesitated, "You are the new mage. Here. And yet you are not an apostate or a blood mage. You did not escape from your Circle, nor are you a trouble maker. Yet, you have been called to a new Circle, in a new country. Such things do not happen, often. They are quite rare in fact. Once in a Circle, never out. So the rumor goes…unless…"
"You are a blood mage." Benjamin finished the thought.
"And there are rumors spreading about why you are here."
"Rumors?" Benjamin asked, frowning, an uncomfortable feeling settling into the pit of his stomach.
"Yep," She nodded excitedly, "some people think you are here because you have been hunting blood mages and the Knight Commander wants to receive your report, others think that you are about to betray a secret mage cabal which was trying to escape from the Chantry…and some think you are here to build a secret Templar army."
Benjamin gulped the last bit of his food quite roughly, choked, and brought up a small smile to cover it. But, his lunch companion didn't look convinced.
"So, Patricia, what brings a nice girl like you to a place like this?" He asked, rallying himself to try and make one more question of it.
She frowned, "The Templars of course," She said darkly.
"Ah," Ben blanched, "sorry about that."
"Its ok," She smiled. But her eyes were still studying him carefully.
He sighed, "I suppose it will get out eventually but I am…well not training a secret Templar army, but I am here as maybe the first member of a new breed of Templars. Templar mages who will help hunt down threats to the normal peoples of Thedas."
She scoffed, "The 'normal' peoples of Thedas."
"Non mages."
"I know what the term means," She snapped, "I am just surprised to hear another mage use it."
Benjamin murmured nonsense.
"So, you want to help them hunt down our brothers?" She challenged.
"It's not as simple as that," Ben shrugged, "they want…well Knight Commander Huron wants…to take mages and reintroduce them to society. Get them used to us again. Reintegrate us."
She sniffed, "So, we should grovel for their approval?"
"No," He said, "but think of it, if we can prove ourselves, prove ourselves innocent for them."
She closed her eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry. After being trapped here most of my life…it's difficult to…not feel bitter. At people, or the Templars. We know we are normal."
"Yes, we do." He replied, a shadow darkened over them and they looked up to see a Templar cross their table, trying hard not to look at them but Ben had the nasty feeling their argument had drawn his attention.
Ben and Patricia waited for him to pass.
"I get it," He acknowledged, "I share similar sentiments. But violence is certainly not the answer, I do not even think dissolving the Circle is the answer. Escalating a bad situation is not the answer either. I doubt there really is an answer, but as much as we may not like it…especially after Kirkwall…any escalation on our part will be seen as Mages trying to take over again, just like the good old days. It's a delicate situation."
"So you do not want independence?" She asked, her eyes widening in shock.
"I want independence, I want freedom as much as the next mage," he went and looked out over the grounds, staring off into the distance, "I want to explore, to see the world, to breathe the air, maybe occasionally practice my magic and do good. Open a shop somewhere, spend my days in quiet meditation, without people pressing into me all the time. But, I also do not want to be burned down by an angry mob. And I do not want to have to defend myself out of petty prejudice and misunderstanding. Killing, how many people, dozens, hundreds, thousands? Simply because they do not understand."
"Then we will make them understand?" Patricia asked.
"Perhaps," Ben shrugged, "that is why I feel Knight Commander Huron's proposal has merit."
She nodded, and slowly finished her meal. Ben crouched to his and also slowly started to finish it up.
A thought occurred to him, "Patricia, what is your last name?"
"Patricia McAllen, why?"
He gulped hard again, "You are on my list."
"List?" She asked cocking her head puzzled.
He leaned back in his chair, letting his stew get cold in the process, but, I probably wasn't going to finish it anyway. He nodded, "Since I got here I have been looking over several candidates I think would make good…Knight Enchanters. Spending hours in the library, to the wee hours of the morning, looking people up. As well as studying magical theory on the subject. Yours is, about third on the list."
She cocked an eyebrow, "I am not sure this is a good idea."
He smirked, "And I did not know that when I read the information on you. However, you are young, powerful, passed your harrowing with flying colors, and already have shown an interest in…this sort of thing. And given your apparent lack of interest in the Spirit Realm, I feel that will make the Templars are even more likely to accept you."
Her frown returned, "I am not sure I like this."
"It will be a chance to get out of the tower." He pointed out… "Eventually, assuming the rest of the Templars agree."
She snorted.
He smiled, "I know, but we need people like you, if we are to survive." He looked down at his food and his nose crinkled, "now the first meeting of this class meets tomorrow, morning, say just after first meal. I expect you there."
"And if I don't come?"
"You will," he said, "but we won't wait to start for one tardy member."
The two of them shared a look, and Ben left the table with a small nod. I like her, perhaps a bit rough around the edges, but then again…so am I. I am just better about hiding it.
There was little more he could do right now. He hoped it was all just bluster, and that they could see the wisdom of his plan. All the mages. He decided. After all, the alternative was much worse.
Great Hall
Benjamin was up bright and early like he had promised. He decided to hold their first meeting in the Great Hall, after all, the Templars would likely feel nervous if they put so much magical energy with only a thin stone wall between them, and freedom.
Yes, much safer in here, if we cause trouble we are surrounded by Templars who will rush in and kill us all. Ben frowned.
Sunlight was filtering in through the high backed crystal windows, showing ornate artwork depicting dragons, Templars, and even a few mages. The sun was high in the sky, and it was bright, but the heat had not caught up with them yet. Still being early in the morning, and them being contained within a tower. It was comfortable, if only just.
His 'students' for lack of a better term were divided on either side of the center line of the room. They stood there, four in a line, and three behind them, a small gathering, only a fraction of the circle population. Most of them were either his age, or younger, some of them having just gone through their harrowing even. Elves and humans. Only one of them was a Senior Enchanter, flecks of gray starting to pepper his hair. Yet he looked straight of back and clutched his staff, not with weakness, but with purpose.
The rest of the assembled masses looked nervous, to defiant, to belligerent, some of them were glancing from side to side, as if expecting the Templars to rain down on them at any moment.
There was an angry buzz in the air.
Benjamin decided he had waited long enough, and catching Patricia's eye, she was three rows back, on the end of the left hand of the hall. She smiled up at him. He felt his heart leap slightly, but concentrated.
"Alright, settle down." He said, his staff banged on the floor, and flashed brightly, a white light causing several of the mage's in the room to wince, "alright, settle down."
He waited a minute, the group of mages slowly obeyed him. After all he looked like a fresh faced boy, and not an old and senior mage who could command respect simply from the wisdom of the ages. Maybe I should grow a beard, the thought occurred to him half whimsically.
"I am sure many of you wonder why you are here, some of you, have probably heard rumors, some of those rumors might even be true." He let his words sink in. "Knight Commander Huron has asked me here to look into, and start training, a new group of mages and scholars. The purpose, will be to work alongside the Templars as they execute their duties, hunting down dangerous magical threats to the people of Thedas."
He once again looked around the room, as discreetly as he could, most of the mages were stern and impassive, but a few of the younger members their eyes widened and they darted their eyes at one another, but dared not speak.
"I know the situation is unusual," He acknowledged, once more pacing, "but it is needed. For too long we have been in the shadows. Stuck in our towers. Only mages who venture forth are under special dispensation, or dangerous Maelificarum. This is our chance to change our fate, to show the world we can be responsible citizens, and battle the true evil that threatens all of us.
Templars, Mages, Chantry lay sisters, and regular townsfolk. Together, with luck, and with the Maker with us, we will change their minds. If, for any reason this does not satisfy your morality, you may leave."
None of them even budged. Ben arched a surprised eyebrow, glanced at Patricia, and even she did not budge. He waited for several, uncomfortable, beats, waiting for someone to move. Given the popularity of the Templars, and the tension which was spreading throughout the various towers Ben thought someone must have wanted to leave. Yet, no one did.
"Very well," he breathed, "now combat magic is some of the most valuable, and most practiced by Circle Mages. With the Chantry's uneasiness over Spirits, Spirit Healers, and other forms of magic being long lost, it is sometimes difficult to do any form of magic but these. Casting bolts of magic, flinging balls of lightning, or summoning wreaths of flame.
"But, these techniques are often incapable of battling the magical threats which exist in the world. Yes, you can burn an innocent, tear apart a wave of soldiers, but what of another mage? What of mages who are born outside the Circle and are free to study and learn ancient and forbidden arts of magic, having shields and defenses, or even blood magic? What of blood magic? Our Lyrium and Mana can give us magical talents to cast spells and engage in battle, or heal a friend. But blood magic is more powerful, more efficient, and can be replenished almost at will by very facts of biology. Lyrium, on the other hand, is often limited."
He let the comparison sink in.
"And what of demons?" He continued suddenly, snapping them back to it. "Many of them have powers we do not understand, many of them are immune to our most powerful of spells. Rage demons cannot be burned…what should a mage do who has only trained in fire?
"That is our objective here, to study over a thousand years of magical lore. From the Tevinter Imperium, to the Templar tactics on battling and neutralizing mages, from even many dissertations from Elves, and First Enchanters for generations. This, is our chance."
Several murmurs swept through the crowd they were not angry, but excited. Despite the pounding of his heart he had gotten the crowd on his side, and they were feeling quite composed, and even eager to get on with their lessons. Patricia even looked intrigued. After all, much of his statements were directed at them. They had not had time to learn many spells to defend themselves, or attack another. Many of them had not had the time to be dulled by one specific magical school.
"So, let's start with some basic combat spells. Knight Commander Huron has graciously decided to let us borrow some training dummies, and some Templars to help us set them up to practice on…"
The murmur that swept through the hall was this time chagrinned, more along the lines of I am sure then the bold excitement which had penetrated them up to this point.
"Alright, so we shall begin. Cast your basic school of magic, fire, telekinetic, or…anything of your choice. I want to gauge your skill, and then we can decide where to go from there."
The Templars came in, as if summoned by a magical signal, three groups of them, two of them carrying the training dummies, while another group was doing nothing but staring and watching the proceedings.
Ben frowned, is that really necessary?
But he said nothing. I can hardly preach peace on the one hand and then jump down these people's throats the next.
And there was not enough dummies to go around so that left some of the mages without. So they divided into groups, and started. Each of them combining their talents. One would set one of the straw dummies on fire, and the other one would put it out with an ice spell quelling them.
Ben started pacing and marching between the rows. Not making corrections or shouting encouragement, just watching, observing, and comparing his students with his own skill. I almost feel like an imposter and a fraud, teaching, yet so young myself. Despite his age, he did not feel welcome here.
The Templars retreated to the sides of the hall, many of them continued their vigil but most of them retreated back to the other rooms. After all, there were many other Mages to watch.
The progress looked good, most of the mages in this hall looked experienced, in their own ways. Some of them were able to cast some advanced spells. The elder mage was making a show of it off to one corner, the air around him positively crackled with energy.
A frustrated yell drew his attention his head whipping around, some of the Templars, their armor rippled, but they made no advance.
A young Elf was swinging his staff wildly, trying to coax a spark or flame from it, it would glow an angry red color, and then fade out.
Ben approached him, and circled him, coming around between him and the dummy. The Elf's brow was covered in sweat, he was breathing hard, and his face was twisted in slight fury, but Ben sensed mostly at himself.
"What is going on here?" Ben asked lightly.
"I can't get my flame to light…I did it last week in my class with Senior Enchanter Ebert, but I can't get it now."
"I see, Ben smiled, "There is nothing to be ashamed of, magic often takes practice, and it often takes a while to get even the simplest of spells."
"Yeah?!" The Elf demanded, "And what do you know about it?"
Ben smiled lost some of its warmth, but he kept it on, staring deep into the Elf's eyes, who did not flinch. He picked his staff up, slowly, and calmly, catching the eye of the Tempalrs looking at the display, most of them were more curious then threatened.
His staff came up in a great twirling spin, whistling through the air, he cracked it and a magical burst of energy slammed into the dummy with a great boom. The dummy was knocked over nearly, and started swinging around in its socket dramatically, like a particularly angry child had gotten a hold of a family rag doll and decided to take out their frustrations on it.
He looked back, and the Elf blanched up at him. "I am sorry, master mage…it's just…" He seemed at a loss for words.
"Its ok," Ben smiled, "I was young at one point too. A junior mage no younger then you are really. As you have noticed, I still am, with hard work, due diligence, and a willingness to pay attention, you will get there."
"But, if I cannot cast a simple flame then why me?"
The elder mage smiled, "because you are young, and can't cast a flame…you still have much to learn, and are eager and passionate to do so. You will be fine. Not broken by age, not thinking you know everything, or not still not wanting to."
"I see," The Elf nodded.
Ben left him there, and then walked back out over to the center of the room. Casting one last look at the Templars as he did so. They now were relaxed, some were even smiling at him with respect. Sounds of magical combat drew his attention behind and around him, his class was getting back to work.
He started looking around and continued marching, until he thought they had enough.