001: voice

[buttonedup]

( It's taken Cassandra a great deal of trial-and-error to be able to use the communicator at all. It sits awkwardly in her hands, as if mocking her ineptitude. The thought of people being able to see her face, from a distance, is frankly unnerving, so she quickly discounts the video option. Writing is bad enough when it's ink on paper, so that leaves her with one option she understands, really: voice communication. There are items in Thedas that have a similar function, Cassandra knows, but usually they're not so... bright. And rectangular.

Now, she knows, she is just procrastinating, and she is not the type of woman who likes to waste time. She flicks the audio function, like she'd been taught, and scowls at the device as if she expects it to stare back. )

I do not like this.

( A moment later, it's as though she's just realised she's already turned pressed the button. )

Oh! It's...on?

( Of course it is. And everyone has heard her confusion. Why did anyone think this form of communication was a good idea again? She does her best to gather both her composure and her thoughts. She starts to talk in a clipped staccato: )

I shall be brief. I am not familiar with this technology. Obviously. I was merely wondering if anyone else here is from a world similar to my own. I would like to hear your experiences, if you would share them.

( And she ends the call there partly because she's not sure what else to say but mostly because she's still not convinced that this actually worked. )

Comments

[renamaer]

[Everyone notices the hair first.]

Did you have magic as well, back in your world? Is that what you're more used to?

[buttonedup]

( It is very distinctive. )

There was magic in Thedas, but I myself am no mage, if that's what you're asking.

( That isn't to say she isn't without her powers but it seems that hardly marks her as unique in this world. )

[renamaer]

[Easily picked out in a crowd.

That probably is pretty much what she's asking.] Your home is called Thedas? [What a nice name.] I...suppose I was wondering more if magic is used to assist with tasks, or if you have more specialized uses for it.

[buttonedup]

There are some more mundane uses for magic, but is far too dangerous to be incorporated into people's everyday lives. Mostly, mages live apart from the general population. ( Or they had, until recently, but she doesn't feel like getting into that right now, with someone who would have no knowledge of the rebellion.

As an almost absent-minded aside: ) The world is called Thedas, yes.

[renamaer]

Why is the magic in your world dangerous, if you don't mind my asking? [Enough for the mages to live apart from the general population...] It's a little more commonplace at home, though not as widespread as the use of technology seems to be here.

[buttonedup]

Is it not dangerous for one person to have the power to burn down a building with their mind, if they were so inclined? ( Leaving that aside... ) They are also more susceptible to demonic possession.

[renamaer]

D-demonic possession? Really? [Okay, she is now thoroughly distracted from the matter at hand.] Why is that? How does magic work in your world?

[buttonedup]

Demons reside in a place known as the Fade. It is the place people go when they dream, and also where mages draw their powers from. As their connection to the Fade is stronger, they are more susceptible to possession.

[renamaer]

I-i can definitely see why magic would be considered dangerous in your world. But...you said all the mages live apart from everyone else? Do they live with other mages, at least? [Seemed like a pretty lonely life.]

[buttonedup]

Yes. They lived in the Circle of Magi. Each major city had one. That way, mages could be protected from both themselves and those who might wish them harm, and they would be able to learn from their more experienced elders.

[renamaer]

[Oh! Well, that sounded a little better than her admittedly overactive imagination was coming up with.]

That sounds...almost nice? To have a community like that... So have a lot of demon incidents occurred even with this arrangement?

[buttonedup]

It has been known to happen. Mostly when the templars - the knights sworn to look after the safety of the mages - are remiss in their duties and fail to notice the signs of a mage susceptible to possession.

[renamaer]

This seems like the kind of thing that...the mages and knights would want to keep secret? Or is this just common knowledge that everyone in your world knows about?

[buttonedup]

The occassions in which the templars fail in their duties, you mean?

sorry this is so late!!

[renamaer]

Ah, I'm sorry, maybe I'm reading too much into this? [Secrecy for political reasons was something she unfortunately has a lot of experience with.] It just...doesn't seem as though it would help gain the trust of people.

it's ok! i've been in con hell for the last week anyway :|a

[buttonedup]

What doesn't?

[renamaer]

Stories of... what you said. Ah. The occasions where the templars fail in their duties to protect the mages and the people?

[buttonedup]

The stories that survive are best regarded as cautionary tales.

[renamaer]

'The stories that survive'... What do you mean by that? Were they all from that long ago?

[buttonedup]

Not quite. Often, the survivors are few in number.

[renamaer]

That seems it would be even more difficult to keep quiet. Wouldn't people notice if the friends and neighbors in a town they used to talk to or trade with just...disappeared? [The alternative is kind of terrifying.]

[buttonedup]

During times of war and unrest, mages' movements are further restricted. It is not uncommon for some mages to go years without seeing anyone from outside their own community.

[renamaer]

Is that what it was like for you at home? A...'time of war and unrest'?

[buttonedup]

Yes. It was. ( She'd elaborate, but she's not even sure what there is to say. )

[renamaer]

Do you think it's...better for you to be here, compared to back home? [She's run into all types - people who felt responsible for things that happened at home, and were anxious to get back to fix it, and others for whom this was almost like a vacation, or a second chance to start over.]