Nah, that part went great, all things considered. [ really grading on a curve here, but. ] Didn't have to kill no one or nothin'. Was only once we were all back on the mainland that things went to shite.
At that time, we were tryin' to help a man become king. Now that we know what kind of world he really intends to create if he gets the royal magic, the mission's to stop that from happening.
[ less his mission when he'd died before ever formally changing sides, more basilio's and eupha's and everyone else's. he's just there telling louis to go fuck himself in spirit. ]
[ a bit of a dry laugh; he doesn't really disagree. ]
Yeah, well. For us "lesser" tribes who've been kept down at the bottom of society for decades, havin' someone who not only talked about equality but actually had the strength and conviction to make it happen sounded pretty damn good — a true meritocracy where your birth don't matter.
Weren't until later that we really stopped to think about what that meant beyond the pretty words — that anyone vulnerable who couldn't get by on their own would just be left to die in his world.
...And now it turns out that apparently he's just a bloody fuckin' lunatic, and his idea of equality is burnin' the whole thing to the ground, turning people into monsters, and whoever survives gets to live in a world where only the strongest even exist.
[ it's so fucking insane that he kind of sounds more exasperated and incredulous than anything. like. what do you even say to that. ]
[ his hands twist into one another listening to this. there's always strange mirrors, aren't there? ]
A truly just world seems almost an impossibility at times. But still. I understand why you would put your hopes onto someone who said they to fight for it.
Sort of doubt it is possible. Tear down the walls between people and they'll make up a reason to build a new one. [ he shakes his head, looking down at his hand. ] But better to get a little bit closer to it than give up and do nothing or destroy it all completely, yeah?
[ after a moment, he exhales and looks back to anders. ]
Anyhow, that's where our world's at right now. What's the situation with yours?
[ well that was he'd thought too and that got them louis so. he's had to reevaluate.
raises an eyebrow. ]
Not that I don't get that feeling... [ but jumping to drastic action out of desperation doesn't always end so well, as it turns out. ] What changes are you aiming for, exactly?
The mages must be free. The Circles must be broken. Justice must be taken if it will not be given. We have choked on compromises shoved down our throats for long enough. There can be no compromise made with the Chantry and the Templars when they hold all the power to kill us for any perceived slight or burn out our minds for any crime with impunity and when they use Andraste’s word to justify their cruelties and convince the populace we are all one moment away from becoming monsters.
There are those who hesitate to take arms and protect their own lives, but peace is not an option. The Grand Cleric sat in her gilded temple and claimed for years the Maker works in hidden ways, all the while turning a blind eye to the Knight Commander wielding the lyrium brand like a blade in a slaughterhouse. Her “peace” was to let us die to appease a lunatic, and no one cared. Not as long as they could claim it was beyond their control.
I blew up the Grand Chantry. It had to be a statement loud and large enough they could not bury it.
[ fidelio might be (definitely is) inclined to tune out some of this man's other ramblings, but he actually listens to all of this without impatience or judgement or even surprise, because... haha, yikes, is it ever familiar. switch out some of the terms and he could almost think he was talking about euchronia.
afterward, he just nods slowly. ]
Understand pretty much all that... to a concerning extent, actually, despite knowin' none of these roles or organisations. Don't think I'd disagree with you on none of it.
[ he still believe louis was in the right for assassinating the previous king and forcing a reckoning, even if their end goals turned out to differ drastically. things might be more dire than ever right now, but there's a chance for them to get better that wasn't there before either. ]
[ this is such a crazy experience to show up in heaven and everyone is like. yeah! get their asses. ]
For myself? I submitted to judgement. I brought justice for the mages, but the people are allowed their justice too. Hawke was charged with deciding my fate.
[ it … was a big explosion. bystanders were definitely hurt. thousands die in wars regardless of picking a side. ]
I trust Hawke, and I told him I would not fight him on his decision.
Yeah, not for you — no offence — but for everyone else what's still gonna be in that world whether you are or not. All those mages you got justice for, how are things gonna change for 'em now?
[ no offense taken hes too much of a sad sack about it to be mad ]
They’ll have to fight. Organize instead of arguing in endless winding circles with one another over the particulars. [ the fraternities have argued about this for decades, never make any progress. and they certainly didn’t invite revolutionaries like Anders to the table. too loud and upsetting for the seats of power to deal with. ] The Templars aren’t going to give up their power so easily, and they’ll have the full support of the Chantry.
But better to try and fight than lay down and wait to die. Meredith already ordered the Right of Annulment in Kirkwall. A Chantry law that allows them to put every man, woman and child in the Circle to the blade.
I get ya there too; paripus like us get sent to the gallows every week just for lookin' at a clemar wrong. Inaction ain't an option.
Throwin' things into chaos like that, though, it brings out the worst in people. Fear and anger are dead dangerous things, make people dig in their heels even harder and latch onto whatever they think'll protect their own interests. [ people like him. ] 'S why Louis still has so many diehard supporters in spite of everything.
[ but it's not like having this hindsight now is going to change anything that's already been done, so. ]
Hopefully your world'll manage to work it out without things spiralling too badly.
There will always be those who resent freedom, because submission is easier. Or are afraid of it, because the only thing they have ever known is the choke of the leash. Others will remember they are wolves, and that they have teeth.
[ he agrees. war is an awful, bloody thing. it will bring out the worst in so many of them. but inaction ain't an option. a soft noise that is halfway to a laugh. ]
Well, according to Hawke, there are certainly other things happening beyond the war. I don't know what to make of most of it.
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Yeah, me and Bas travelled by sea not too long before this too.
[ well. not long for him, anyway. ]
Weren't even a real ship, just this rustbucket of a landrunner some loony engineer rigged up to float. Damn thing nearly sank at one point.
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Where were you going?
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That mustari priestess lass who's here, Eupha — that's where her home is.
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Seems like it might have gone badly.
[ dont just say it anders ]
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[ especially when you start getting artifacts involved. ]
What is it you’re trying to do? You said it was important.
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[ less his mission when he'd died before ever formally changing sides, more basilio's and eupha's and everyone else's. he's just there telling louis to go fuck himself in spirit. ]
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[ anders be like, i dont know that guy, but fuck him. ]
1/2
Yeah, well. For us "lesser" tribes who've been kept down at the bottom of society for decades, havin' someone who not only talked about equality but actually had the strength and conviction to make it happen sounded pretty damn good — a true meritocracy where your birth don't matter.
Weren't until later that we really stopped to think about what that meant beyond the pretty words — that anyone vulnerable who couldn't get by on their own would just be left to die in his world.
2/2
[ it's so fucking insane that he kind of sounds more exasperated and incredulous than anything. like. what do you even say to that. ]
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A truly just world seems almost an impossibility at times. But still. I understand why you would put your hopes onto someone who said they to fight for it.
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[ after a moment, he exhales and looks back to anders. ]
Anyhow, that's where our world's at right now. What's the situation with yours?
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[ well. he briefly looks at the ground, but … well they’ve already pretty much put it OUT there in public. might as well say it. ]
Hard to say. I believe I’ve just started a war. But it was one that needed to happen - we could no longer afford complacency.
[ incremental change is for suckers and losers. ]
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raises an eyebrow. ]
Not that I don't get that feeling... [ but jumping to drastic action out of desperation doesn't always end so well, as it turns out. ] What changes are you aiming for, exactly?
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The mages must be free. The Circles must be broken. Justice must be taken if it will not be given. We have choked on compromises shoved down our throats for long enough. There can be no compromise made with the Chantry and the Templars when they hold all the power to kill us for any perceived slight or burn out our minds for any crime with impunity and when they use Andraste’s word to justify their cruelties and convince the populace we are all one moment away from becoming monsters.
There are those who hesitate to take arms and protect their own lives, but peace is not an option. The Grand Cleric sat in her gilded temple and claimed for years the Maker works in hidden ways, all the while turning a blind eye to the Knight Commander wielding the lyrium brand like a blade in a slaughterhouse. Her “peace” was to let us die to appease a lunatic, and no one cared. Not as long as they could claim it was beyond their control.
I blew up the Grand Chantry. It had to be a statement loud and large enough they could not bury it.
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afterward, he just nods slowly. ]
Understand pretty much all that... to a concerning extent, actually, despite knowin' none of these roles or organisations. Don't think I'd disagree with you on none of it.
[ he still believe louis was in the right for assassinating the previous king and forcing a reckoning, even if their end goals turned out to differ drastically. things might be more dire than ever right now, but there's a chance for them to get better that wasn't there before either. ]
What's the plan from there?
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For myself? I submitted to judgement. I brought justice for the mages, but the people are allowed their justice too. Hawke was charged with deciding my fate.
[ it … was a big explosion. bystanders were definitely hurt. thousands die in wars regardless of picking a side. ]
I trust Hawke, and I told him I would not fight him on his decision.
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They’ll have to fight. Organize instead of arguing in endless winding circles with one another over the particulars. [ the fraternities have argued about this for decades, never make any progress. and they certainly didn’t invite revolutionaries like Anders to the table. too loud and upsetting for the seats of power to deal with. ] The Templars aren’t going to give up their power so easily, and they’ll have the full support of the Chantry.
But better to try and fight than lay down and wait to die. Meredith already ordered the Right of Annulment in Kirkwall. A Chantry law that allows them to put every man, woman and child in the Circle to the blade.
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I get ya there too; paripus like us get sent to the gallows every week just for lookin' at a clemar wrong. Inaction ain't an option.
Throwin' things into chaos like that, though, it brings out the worst in people. Fear and anger are dead dangerous things, make people dig in their heels even harder and latch onto whatever they think'll protect their own interests. [ people like him. ] 'S why Louis still has so many diehard supporters in spite of everything.
[ but it's not like having this hindsight now is going to change anything that's already been done, so. ]
Hopefully your world'll manage to work it out without things spiralling too badly.
[ because his sure didn't. ]
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[ he agrees. war is an awful, bloody thing. it will bring out the worst in so many of them. but inaction ain't an option. a soft noise that is halfway to a laugh. ]
Well, according to Hawke, there are certainly other things happening beyond the war. I don't know what to make of most of it.