Cultural Understanding, Monday (The Alistair & Morrigan Show).

[ofthe-wilds.livejournal.com]

"Right. So, cultural appreciation," Alistair began, trying to look official and sort of succeeding. "It starts by recognizing what we don't appreciate in our own cultures. As I said last week, my country, Ferelden, has a... moderate stance on magic, but it is still strict by many people's standards."

"If one counts as moderate the fact that mage-children are stolen away from their families by the Chantry and their Templars and locked into prison towers for the rest of their lives, aye, 'tis moderate," Morrigan retorted. "'Least you do not burn them, as some villagers are prone to do during a bad harvest."

It was probably rather obvious that Morrigan didn't grow up in the Tower, wasn't it?

"It's better," Alistair said, "Than what's going on in the Free Marches, from what I hear." He glanced at the class. "The Chantry fears mages," he explained, "because some of them have a tendency to run off, practice blood magic, become maleficar and get possessed by demons, leading to what we call 'abominations'." With that out of the way, though, he added: "But that's not a good reason to run around locking up every mage you find, if you ask me. Of course, several countries over in Tevinter, mages rule, whereas in some of the Free Marches they are hunted on sight."

Morrigan muttered something very uncomplimentary under her breath about someone called a Knight Commander. "So today, we shall start with discussing magic, and how it is viewed in your world," she stated. "If you would like to stand up and speak to the class, or show an object relating to magic from your homeland, please do. We will invite everyone to speak at every class for the rest of the semester, and I encourage debate and questions."

"Next week shall be religion and religious freedom and tolerance, so be prepared."

Comments

Re: Magic - Discussion

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Magic is..." Firekeeper frowned, trying to figure out how to phrase it. "Mostly gone from the New World, after the querinalo, the fire plague. Most think this were proof of how such things were wicked." Although those with small, helpful gifts were often valued for them, with the source of their gift overlooked.

Re: Magic - Discussion

[badnewsandwit.livejournal.com]

"...Magic plague," Alistair said, thoughtfully. "Magic plague. Now that must have been... Strange?"

Re: Magic - Discussion

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Strange is a good word for it," Firekeeper agreed, with the authority of one who had witnessed said plague.

...And beat it back by sheer stubbornness in clinging her own belief that she had no magic for the plague to burn away. Because that was just how she rolled.

Re: Magic - Discussion

[ofthe-wilds.livejournal.com]

"Did this plague only strike magic-users, or were they the majority of the illnesses?" Morrigan asked, aghast. "I do not know how such an illness could come to be, that targets only magic."

Re: Magic - Discussion

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper glanced briefly at Blind Seer before answering. "Only those with magic," she admitted finally. "I do not know how it came to be, either, but I find it troubling." For all her conflicted feelings on the use of magic, watching her friends experience the plague and come away altered had not been the most pleasant of experiences.