hadriel | fourth spell [video]

[For the first time in Hadriel History, Taako is appearing on the main feed without his sister. He actually looks a little bit serious, seemingly sat down at a desk with his fingers laced in front of his face like some fantasy Gendo Ikari. Without the glasses it kind of loses the effect, but hey, what can ya do.]

So, listen. There's been like, a toooon of posts lately about like, magic, and learning it. And don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's other people that know magic here. But if this is where we're goin'... wouldn't you rather learn from the master?

[He shoves his chair back from the desk and opens his hands by his face, giving them a shake as the words Taako's Awesome School Of Magic appear over his head in sparkly bubble font.]

Not to flaunt my resume or anything, but uhh, I've been bomb ass fantastic at magic for over a hundo years, I'm a transmutation expert, and, oh yeah--, I already have my first student who can speak to my incredible teaching style.

[Just because he's really showing the fuck off, a spectral hand appears in the air by him and floats offscreen, only to return about a second later with another network device. It presses a button and the voice of a certain boy detective can be heard through the playback.]

Taako is a good teacher, and I've really learned a lot from him, magically speaking! If he threatens to utterly destroy you should you ever surpass him in magical ability, that just means he thinks you're making good progress. Probably.

[It very abruptly cuts there as the magic hand disappears, the device falling into Taako's open palm.]

Really, it's a no-brainer here. You could go with somebody who wants to teach you some light tricks- don't get me wrong, you gotta start somewhere- but take it from the guy who can teach you how to be a t-rex, there are sooooo many better magical tutors out there.

[He looks very, very smug.]

Make room for chaboy, Hadriel, that's T double A to the K-O, because I'm the knockout you need.

[A wink.]

So call me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's starting to get the feeling she's just like that. But he tuts at her, looking plenty smug.]

Not in your bunk world- trust me, I know the biz from Cec. Meanwhile, I can teach anyone here anything. As long as you can feel the plane of magic, you are good to go my dude. And that doesn't require any kinda weird birthright.

[she's just like that. though, she likes him at least a little, otherwise she wouldn't keep bothering him.

and she looks tempted, but] I couldn't. If I used magic, law would require that I go to the Circle of Magi and I wouldn't be allowed to marry Alistair.

[Good! He's a likable guy! Even though that sentence gives him pause as he tries to parse it.]

Uh... well, that's a fucked up sentence you said there. People who do magic can't get married? Also, what the hell is the Circle of Magi, because that sounds like the worst wizard school ever, I can do waaaaay better.

[it should give him pause, the way mages were treated was terrible in her opinion. in the end against the Archdemon, it was her, Alistair, and two mages, one an apostate. and she wouldn't have it any other way, for those mages helped see her and Alistair to victory]

No, they cannot. And the Circle of Magi is a place where mages go to grow and learn in their magics. [a trifle bitterly] In theory, at least.

[Honestly, that's the one thing he hasn't heard everything about. Frankly, it'd scare the shit out of him. He's beyond glad that wasn't the world he grew up in.]

If you're tellin' me there's rules on what magic peeps can do or not I'm gonna go ahead and guess it's more like a prison. But I'm not like that. And uh, this stuff isn't like that. Besides, if you go home you'll just, uh, forget all this anyway right? So no harm no foul.

[it ought to. being a mage in Thedas meant that you had to abandon all familial ties, your inheritance, and most importantly, your freedom. something she intended to do something about in Ferelden once she was in place as Alistair's queen]

It is more like a prison. [a bitter smile] Dungeons and all. And they keep children as young as five years there. They're afforded no privacy, no liberty, no familial ties of any kind. It's awful. I'm glad you're not like that.

And you're right. There's no harm in at least trying. No harm in it at all.

[Good, because all of that sounds like it sucks. He doesn't know enough about what the terminology means, but he and Lup would be apostates for sure. Catch them tricking their way through cities and running from caravan to caravan to evade being caught. It wouldn't be so different from their normal lives back home anyway.]

Wow, that fucking blows. Hey when we get out of this place I'm taking a swing by your world and kicking some full ass, just saying.

[But anyway, onto things that don't bite!]

But aaaaanyway, now onto cool magic without shitty caveats. What sorta things do you wanna learn, bubbleh?

[one of her dearest friends ~~and a secret love~~ was an apostate. and the vast majority of apostates she met on the road were simply trying to live their lives free of the Circle and the chains the Chantry put on mages. she couldn't blame them for their efforts at all, not after seeing the Circle and how willing the Templars were to condemn all to death for the actions of a few.

a brief laugh and a smille] You'd be welcome to do so. I was to be queen before I left. After I return and am crowned, I intend to do something about Ferelden's Circle.

[yes, anyway]

I believe I would prefer spells which would let me go on the offense. I'm quite skilled with the sword and dagger, but there are times when being able to strike at a distance would be useful.

[He whistles when she says queen, a grin spreading across his face. Oh, this is a good ally to have.]

Oh, queen, how's all that. Remember the little people when you get home, huh? Like the guy who could give you magic powers.

[But he drums his fingers together while he thinks. Distance and offence, huh? She probably wants evocation, but there's a lot to consider.]

So do you want magic just for attacking? 'Cause you can do a lot, and I don't just mean defense. Really think about something you'd want to do if if you could do it.

[she is. and she fully intends to do something about Ferelden's Circle once she has the power to do so]

I shall. After all, I wouldn't be queen without the suppor of the as you call it, "little people."

[she's only familiar with the schools of magic taught by the Circle of Magi]

I would want it for attacking and for--for defending another. Alistair has taken the throne, but his hold on it is shaky as he is a bastard. There are those who would take advantage of that fact.

[He snickers a bit, especially over her language there- he knows the meaning, he just tends to use the insult more often.]

Alright, alright, I get that. But how do you wanna do that? Almost every type has offensive spells one way or another. Do you wanna be throwin' fire, or turning into a dragon, or showing someone their greatest fear or whatever? Or you can enchant stuff, there's an all shield class where people die if you touch it-- there's a lot of ways you can make this happen.

[she pauses a moment, lost in thought]

I think I would show them their greatest fear. After all, such a vision. . . it would be difficult to prove the origin, no?

[His face splits into a grin as she talks, because hell yes, this one's fun.]

Hell yeah, my dude. Now that's a goal. Tells me you might be interested in illusion magic- making people see stuff that ain't real. Really good ones can make those fakes real. And good news, that's something you can learn small scale first. See how you like it, take to it.

[she smiles back a little shyly]

Truly? That's reassuring. When should we meet to begin our lessons?

I like that you're ready to go, my gal. This month's lookin' a little booked riiight now, but hit me up in like two weeks? We'll get somethin' going. In the meantime, uh...

[Man, what does he give her right now, hmmm.]

Start uh, start thinking about how channeling magic feels. Like, do some meditation, feel the way your bod moves, get really in tune with that. It'll help goin' forward.

In two weeks, then.

[she waits with an expression of mild curiosity on her face. which by her standards is ready and raring to go]

Can I meditate while I practice with my sword and dagger? That's when I feel most in tune with my body.

Oh yeah, sure, whatever. You wanna multiclass this shit be my guest. Just keep yourself runnin' fine and you'll be golden.

[It'll just be easier if she knows what's going on with her, so who cares how she does it.]

See you soon, babe.

[in other words, meditation during practice is acceptable. and to keep herself in good shape and she'll be fine. she thinks that's the translation, at least]

Yes, see you soon.