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[Written in a very fluid and well-practiced script. He'd worked what he was going to write and how to write it during the last two days, hoping to present himself in a favorable manner while also explaining why he had waited so long. From what he could tell, the next round of expected arrivals would be coming soon and him claiming to have only now shown up would be suspicious. The truth of the matter was much easier to go with, even if it needed some explanation.]

To those looking to recruit a sailor,

It seems all the activity and excitement of the last few weeks has died down and those who went to battle are tending to their wounds. Welcome news though this is, I do profess to be more concerned about my own circumstances. I arrived just as the lady, the witch, attempted to sway the minds of those new to this land. I remained quiet and did not seek out the ships and crews others have made offers of and continued to do so until now. In this time I have been studying the people and what is know of this world as best I may.

I confess I thought it all to be some elaborate lie and that I was being manipulated perhaps by the powers of some demon of the Fade. Or a particularly powerful and malevolent malificarum. For those of you not of my world, the world of Thedas, the Fade is the realm of dreams from which all magic comes. Malificarum are blood mages, those who use blood to power their magic instead of, or in concert with, the mana within them.

As the rest of you, I have come to accept that this is not a trick. We are really here. This does not make dealing with the demands of life in this world any easier, of course. With all that said, would like to inquire about joining a ship now that those who are established have a chance at a break from the fighting. I am a mage of some skill and a veteran of many battles, though I have little knowledge of how to sail.

My hound and I have been making camp in the forests outside the town on Isla Empieza and will be planning to return in the next several days to meet with interested parties.

Thank you for your consideration.

-Sydni Surana, Warden-Commander of Ferelden

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Instead of or in concert with. Mana is separate, but blood can give the same power to magic. It's actually a lot more powerful in some cases. Which is the trouble with it.

It sounds like something amateurs would do. What sort of magic does it generally power?

It can power all magic, but is usually used by maleficarum to control the minds and actions of other people. It is feared with good reason.

[Okay, she seriously can't help it, she swaps over to voice just so her disgust can be known.]

Guhhh, more mind magic. I sincerely hope you're not one of those...maleficarum. I've had enough of that for a lifetime.

[His voice was pleasant, but neutral.]

As I've told another, interest beyond the academic in blood magic would be an invitation for the Templars of Thedas to kill me, regardless of my position outside the reach of their authority.

Good. I'd rather not deal with more of that. [She sounds quite glad about that, and a bit of tension seems to leave her voice. Mind mages are generally the sort that draw extremely violent reactions from her, and she'd rather not for a while.

That bit out of the way, Chandra's happy to move on.]

So, you're a mage? What kind of magic is your specialty? I'm...a bit of one myself, after a fashion.

After a fashion? Interesting choice in words. My specialties lie in the control of a battlefield, direct combat, and crossing the veil of the Fade.

I don't do magic the same way most people do. In other, less backwater planes, I'm what's called a Planeswalker. Magic is like breathing to me. So I'm not really sure I'd call myself a mage. My specialties are a bit less narrowly defined, I guess you could say.

Magic is like breathing for most mages when they are young, before they learn they can control it. It just happens. But once control is learned, specialties arise, kinds of magic one is better with than others. The more experienced one is, the more broad their abilities.

Regardless, if you can do magic, you are a mage. At least in Thedas. Here... as far as I am aware, there are no Templars to condemn those that do not conform to the Chantry's wishes and turn apostate.

Well, I guess more what I mean is that I'm not human. Or an elf, or a spirit. A Planeswalker is something beyond all that. Something...transcendent. When I say my specialties are more loose, I mean more if it involves red mana, I can do it. I'm learning to use blue mana as well, but it's not as simple as red is. Basically, I make things explode, fry, or feel passion. Objects, enemies, buildings, emotions, continents, lovers, doesn't really matter what.

[She sighs and rubs her forehead, not really wanting to sound egotistical but sure she sounds that way.]

And these Templars sound a lot like the Order of Heliud. And like they need a real kick in the teeth.

I'm not sure that would help matters, but I can't say it wouldn't be satisfying to see.

[There was a low chuckle before he got back to the conversation.]

You classify magic by color? How many colors are they and what do they rule over, if I may know?

Well, who can say. Regatha's a lot better off after I tore down the Order's fortress. But...not my plane, not likely I'll ever visit, not my problem.

[She can't help but laugh a bit at the question.]

Five colors. Red, Blue, Green, White, and Black. Red mana governs fire, earth, lightning, passion, chaos, and freedom. Blue is cold, logic, planning, ice, and water. Green is pretty simple. Nature, life, and healing. Forests and stuff. White is law, order, community, and healing as well, but less natural and more through prayer and stuff. And black is death, decay, corruption, darkness, and infernal power. Sounds like your Maleficarim.

There's more to them, of course, but that's the basics. Where'd you say you fall?

Everywhere. In my world there are schools of magic. Four official schools and the the forbidden school of blood magic.

Creation is the school under which healing falls and is most often associated with. Though it is much broader and true masters of it are in high demand for they can manipulate nature at it's deepest level and, as the school's name implies, create what they wish out of nothing but their own imagination.

Primal is what manipulates the most powerful and visible elements of nature. That of fire, earth, ice, and electricity. The last of which I am very comfortable with.

Spirit is the opposite and complimentary school to that of Primal. It is the school of the energies found outside of nature, the school that draws on the power of the Fade itself more directly than any other. I am very skilled in it and with it I can control the mana of other casters, stripping it from them or renewing their own reserves. It's also what allows the summoning of spirits, and as such, is often confused with Blood Magic to those with only a passing familiarity of the schools.

Entropy is my other favored school and is the opposite and compliment of Creation. This would parallel closest to your 'black mana' in that it manipulates the natural cycle of sickness, death, and decay. It's also one of the most useful schools for those who find themselves in the heart of battle like I do. Nauseating an enemy or paralyzing them for a moment can be the difference between you taking their head or them taking yours.

Blood magic... well, we've been over that in brief. There are specializations within each general field of magic, as well. But as you said. Those are the basics.

It sounds like the way you define magic is a bit...different than how I do. Every color can do all of those things, it's just all in how you approach it. Any color of mana can summon something, or heal, or make things sick, some are just better at it than others. 'Course, summoned creatures are affected by the color of mana. I'd have a bit of trouble, say, calling up a white mana dragon, but a red mana one would be a lot easier.

Some people specialize in just one type of magic, some in one type of mana.

Geez...listen to me ramble. I really like talking about this stuff though.

As do I. I was raised in the Ferelden Tower and as much as I appreciate a good battle, I am still quite the academic. Does magic have a source in your world?

Well, first of all, it's not a "world." I travel between realities. That's what a Planeswalker does. And second, honestly? I'm not sure. There's mana everywhere, it's just influenced by the world around it. A volcano would make more red mana than anything, but a swamp is mostly black, for example.

And...you grew up in a tower?

That must be something incredible. I never knew there were worlds or realities beyond Thedas before coming here. Though I am very certain that in Thedas, magic comes from the Fade. The realm of dreams where all things are possible. Nature and the world at large have little influence over it, but it can have a great influence over the world.

And yes, I did. Most mages who are not apostate grow up in one of the Mage Towers of Thedas. We are put there when our magic shows itself at a young age, generally around five to seven years, and remain there. Gaurded by the Templars under the jurisdiction of the Chantry to control us and guard the world from our power. Some never have a chance to leave.

And you did? What made you different from the unlucky ones? And why are these Templars sounding more and more oppressive? Surely they don't think all mages are blood mages.

I was unlucky, actually. At least at the time. I admit that now it has been a very lucky road, but when it happened... I left as part of a punishment meant to be kinder than another punishment. Both were death sentences, the one I received just let me live longer before the proverbial ax came down. The ax will still come, of course, that is the cost of becoming a Grey Warden, but I live much better now than I could have possibly imagined a year ago.

To answer your questions: the Templars as individuals range from kind to seeing maleificarum in every mage. As a whole the Templars are rather oppressive though they are tempered by their duty to follow Chantry law. They don't generally believe all mages practice blood magic, but they are taught to watch for it in every mage because of how easy it is to turn to. They often believe that not being willing to live a life watched by them, to want to live outside Chantry Law as an apostate, is the same as admitting to being a blood mage.

[He snorted.]

After all, what other reason could any upstanding person have for not wanting to live under constant guard?

Heh, you'll forgive me if I think that's a load of horse-shit right?

[Fucking paranoia, man...]

Now, I'm not sure what a Grey Warden is, though. What's that and why's it a death sentence?

They why is a secret that is not mine to tell. And so long as the creatures Grey Wardens hunt do not arrive here, it is not one that matter.

What Grey Wardens are is easier to explain. We stand guard against foul creatures known as Darkspawn that spread a taint like a disease. It corrupts all that it infects, twisting men and beast alike into nearly mindless monsters. It is our duty to destroy the Archdemon that guides the horde when one of them awakens.

[That...sounds oddly familiar. Like something she'd heard of from some of of her fellows...]

What are the symptoms? And how does one get infected?

The symptoms include general sickness and a discoloration of the skin. Those farther along who have been unlucky enough not to die from it tend to hunch over and bodies look as though they may twist in upon themselves. Infection occurs when the black blood of Darkspawn gets inside you. Either through swallowing or from being cut with one of their weapons, which they lace with their blood much like an assassin would with poison.

Animals that are infected usually grow a little larger than normal and have obvious deformities, most of which are the dark discoloration and odd spike-like bone, fur, and hair protrusions.

Sounds...a bit like Phyresis. And entirely unpleasant. And your job is to fight them, huh?

Are there a lot of you Wardens?

Not as many as there should be, no.

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