spiritbalm | pc: eupha

[ heyo. anders has changed back into his clothes from home, and now resembles a giant, bedraggled crow.

he will just be sort of ... wandering aimlessly outside, because he keeps stopping outside of the buildings and then clearly chickening out of going inside. it all feels deeply uncomfortable.

he does do a double-take at the three eyes though. i see. she really sees. ]

[ Yay for having clothes. Eupha sees him do a double-take at her and offers what is hopefully a reassuring smile. ]

Um, good day! [ looks between him and the nearest building... ] Is something troubling you, sir?

No.

[ this is such a bold fashion take. ]

... Can you see out of it?

Er... my third eye, do you mean?

[ what an awkward way to ask that. but she doesn't look like she's judging him that much. ]

Normally, I can, but at the moment, it seems I can't see anything through it.

[ huh. curiosity satisfied. ]

So it's magic?

Well... the eye itself isn't, but what it can usually see is magla.

You're going to have to explain magla. Do you mean mana?

[ dont mansplain magic. ]

[ She elaborates, unfazed by mansplaining. ]

Magla are particles that serve as the fuel for all magic. Most people can't see them, but to my eyes, they usually appear clear as day.

Is "mana" something similar?

[ woah. promare .......

anders shakes his head ... and then sort of nods actually. hand waggle. it's not not similar? ]

Mana is a simplification, I suppose. A representation of our connection to the Fade - where all magic is born. Only a few are born with the ability to draw upon it, and those who can are mages.

Mages...

[ waow. ]

It is rare where I am from, also, for one to be born with any aptitude for magic. I was among those few, but... [ a sheepish smile and a shake of her head. ] There was very little one could do to truly "draw upon" such power. Are your mages able to cast spells?

Yes? You'd be a rather poor mage if you couldn't.

[ and bad mages generally don't survive to adulthood. ]

Perhaps so...

Can you use magic, sir?

I'm a Healer. But I can throw a fireball as well as any other mage, if you're thinking of starting anything.

I would use magic whether I intended to or not - when it first arrives, children rarely know how to control it. And the moment it arrives, you are ripped from your family and taken to the Circle, to either learn quickly enough to master it or be made Tranquil.

What...? Why take them from their families?

It is Chantry law. Magic is made to serve mankind, not rule over it. Therefore mages must be locked away, and not allowed to leave its walls unsupervised, or have families and find love, or even thoughts of their own.

Not even thoughts...?

Not if you aren't careful to keep them to yourself and never speak anything aloud of changing your circumstances in any way.

[ yikes..... ]

Were you taken to one of these Circles, too, then?

I was twelve. I ... accidentally set our barn on fire. I don't remember why - showing off to a friend, maybe. My parents were terrified. Not for me. Of me. My father called the Templars on me, was more than eager for them to take me, frightening monster that I was.

Kinloch Hold Circle is a tower in the middle of a lake. You can only reach it by boat - or swimming, if you're fool enough to make a break for it. The first thing they do when you arrive is take your blood and place it in a phylactery. No matter how far you run, they can always track you down.

Edited 2025-02-10 05:03 (UTC)

It sounds like a prison... or perhaps something worse. I cannot believe a parent would send their own child to such a place...

It is.

[

]

And they do it because they have no choice. That is the power the Chantry has over us.

What is the Chantry?

The seat of Andrastianism, ruled by the Divine in Orlais. Religious organization.

[ big one. ]

Ah...

I wish I could say I was more surprised, but... it seems to bear some similarities to a large religion I know of.

Seems a common occurrence, talking to everyone here.

… Can you cast spells?

Oh, well... [ a little hesitant? ] yes!

So you are a mage.

[ actually the hesitation is so much more familiar than everyone else who just seems to openly declare it. he’s usually the odd one out here. ]

You’re cut off here as well?

It seems so...

[ to both of those things. ]

If only I could see magla as I normally do, I might understand what impedes our power and how...

[ he's had a Long Day and is now just. hiding out in the library. old habits. but he hasn't got a good book or anything, it seems like it's just ... trashy romance. in fact it's this and he seems pretty invested. ]

[ eupha sees him and comes over to greet him politely. she has these kinds of wings under her cloak. ]

Oh, Mister Anders... Did you find something of interest?

[ every time i see this gif i have to watch it for like five minutes it's so hyponotic

he will ... gently put down the book cover down. is eupha old enough for this. ]

I figured if we're dead, I had time to read whatever I wanted instead of something ... um. Helpful.

So it is pleasure-reading? I think I understand.

[ a glance at the cover, and she smiles. ]

Romance does seem to be a very popular topic, as of late!

[ she says like this man didn't just go through every stage of it on the mingle in front of Axolotl God and everyone. ]

There used to be a rather boisterous underground trade going in the Circles for the latest Tevinter serial novel updates and Orlesian romances. I always liked the Antivian thrillers, myself. Lots of stabbings and one-liners.

[ when reading is a skill not everyone has, you have to take advantage. ]

A friend of mine is a writer. Famous, even.

R, really? That's impressive...

[ the book-smuggling in the Circles, or the famous-writer-friend? both, probably. ]

What sort of books do they write?

Varric Thethras. And writes trashy ones.

[ getting up, going to look through the shelves and then coming back with Hard in Hightown for her. It's a noir detective story. Lots of shankings. ]

He's very fond of dramatic entrances, and most of them are awful, but he is pretty good at the action bits. I don't know that he really knows how to write a proper romance either, but it's fine for the genre.

"Trashy"? Do you think it's bad...?

[ she takes it in her hands and starts looking through it... ]

I've never seen a book like this before.

Yes, but in a good way? It's fun to read.

[ like junk food. ]

They're very popular. He has another one too-- about Hawke. And I suppose I'm in it. That wasn't finished though, last I heard, though I suppose that makes sense considering everything. They come out in installments, to keep the suspense I guess.

Good trash...?

[ this is a new concept to her. ]

I suppose I will have to read it! I do wish I could read the one with you and Mister Hawke, though. Is it based on true events?

[ some time after the expulsion, eupha will come find anders wherever he is. ]

Are you... yourself again?

[ her tone is gentle, as she looks to see how he's doing. ]

[ he'll be in the mansion common room, doing his best to clean up - he's not bothering to hide really. burns run aross his arms and hands - both ice and fire, and a few specks on his face. and there's the various bruises from being bashed around, with deep dark raccoon eye bruises from his nose being broken yesterday. not to mention the deep, red strangulation marks.

looking over when she addresses him, and then nodding. ]

I am always myself, even when it's the other guy. [ he gets what she's asking though. are you not crazy right now. ] But yes.

[ hm. ]

... Would you like something cold, for...

[ she looks like she's not sure which injury to offer it for, her gaze shifting up and down, between the bruised face, burned arms, and everything else. ]

[ he's too numb and tired to really summon the energy to be stubborn about offered help so ... ]

I should make sure the injury at my neck doesn't swell. It might not be a bad idea. I can walk with you.

[ she gives him a faint smile, the most that one can reasonably muster on a day like this, and starts towards the kitchen. ]

... Would it be all right if I ask about this "other guy"?

[ he'll follow. he isn't too bad on his feet, actually. ]

Justice.

.. He's a spirit of the Fade. The Fade is inhabited by demons and spirits, who reflect the worst and best of our sins and virtues. Fear, Pride, Sloth. Wisdom, Faith, Love. Most of them are fascinated by our world, crave it in some way or at least want to know more of it. Demons will seek to possess mages, either through force or trickery, take over their minds and puppet their bodies. It is one of the things we are trained against, and part of the reason people fear us so much. We are vulnerable to this, because when we sleep we walk the Fade.

We met a long time ago, when I was with the Grey Wardens. He was infuriating. Frustrating to talk to, stubborn beyond all measure. Brave, and true. Maybe brave is even the wrong word. He does not know fear, so there is no other way for him to be. I was afraid all the time. It's why I ran so much, from everything. He asked me once why I did not fight for the Mages and only helped myself, and I had no good answer. He was the first person to hear about the mages and react only with a desire to see justice for them instead of fear or doubt. He was my friend.

At the time, he was trapped outside of the Fade. A blood mage had torn him from his home and left him here, in the mundane world, with only a corpse to inhabit. We agreed that ... a willing host is different than an unwitting mage. And he is a spirit, not a demon. We could help each other to do the things we could not do alone.

[ she sets to work with gathering some ice and a cloth to bundle it in as she listens. it's a bit of a relief that he's willing to talk this much. ]

A spirit of Justice... I'd wondered if he was something like an Archetype... a sort of ancient magic, embodying heroes of eld.

Then, the two of you now exist as two minds in one body?

On the name alone ... it sounds similar enough.

[ a spirit could mimic an ancient hero as well, that's not out of the question at all. ]

I don't know that it's that distinct. We are one being, in one body. Or two beings, but it is impossible to find the point at which it stops being me, and starts being him.

That sounds complicated...

But you are both comfortable with this arrangement?

It is irreversible, so ...

[ it is what it is? ]

Oh...

[ is that good or bad???

she holds out the ice pack for him. ]

Oh! Here. I hope that your injuries will not give you too much trouble...

[ taking it, and then keeping it in his hands - on the worst of the burns for now. ]

I'll be alright. I was a bit of a fool - I had my magic returned and didn't think to heal myself before it left again.

That is curious, isn't it? That it returned at all?

I was warned that regaining powers too quickly in this place could be dangerous. You don't feel any ill effects from having it return and then fade again so suddenly, do you?

[ shaking his head slightly. ]

So perhaps they are lying about that.

[ immediate conspiracy theories ... ]

There was also a feeling of compulsion, in that place. I ... could not really control myself for very long.

A compulsion...?

[ worried. ]

As if every sin I've ever felt was stronger than before, and I could not control it.

[ so. that's fun. ]

What? To be robbed of even a proper choice in such a situation... That's horrible.

... and it does lend some credence to the theories about "sin" being used to control us.

[ What's up. We probably didn't mean to meet in the funhouse. ]

... This is still happening?

[ Yep. Which means we see a memory:

Accompanied by near-strangers, you make your way through the temple. Past the halls of weathered stone, you pass through a gray-walled jungle shrouded in vines and grass and bits of debris that litter the floor, following a path on the ground where footsteps have worn away the foliage. This, you know, is the path that other priestesses have walked on their pilgrimages.

At last, the final door is in sight. Beyond it is the altar where the Dragon God should lie dormant in its vessel. Here, you will perform the ritual. You will take the vessel, release the dragon from it, and offer your very life to it.

Once the sacrifice is complete, the village will be saved. However...

( ... also, if you notice little floating particles in the air? You can 100% see them. They are everywhere. ) ]

[ I HAVE QUESTIONS

but firstly the particles are actually quite pretty. he assumes this might be the magla she'd spoken of before, and he's a little fascinated with that-- but first. ]

Should we talk about the dragon sacrifice? Or the part where you are taken over by a spirit?

A spirit? Ah. Well...

[ close. she did happen to think of this, when she learned of anders's own spirit possession. ]

That was an Archetype, a sort of ancient magic that allows one to transform into the embodiment of a heroic virtue. The shapes they take and the powers they wield align with ancient heroes of legend. It seems I awakened to such a power in that moment.

So it is something like Justice.

[ well. it's probably a little different. less bloodthirsty, possibly. ]

They truly expected you to sacrifice yourself?

Yes. Such was the duty of a priestess, in times of calamity.

We believed that the series of disasters afflicting our land was the Dragon God's wrath. That it had flown into a rage that could not be contained, and it needed to be appeased. I had prepared for such a ritual ever since I was named priestess, as a small child.

[ that is some Tevinter shit for sure. ]

It doesn't seem like it works.

[ sorry this is asshole behavior of him. ]

[ a sigh. ]

We were wrong. It was not the Dragon God that caused the disasters, but more likely the human...

[ so we have a new beautiful location full of candy! but anders can actually be found wander the fair grounds from last week. it's all cleaned up now of course, but he's poking at this and looking very concentrated. ]

[ sure, we can be at the fair! eupha's emotional state is generally one of calmness, but there is some curiosity that bubbles to the surface when she sees him. ]

Are you looking for something?

[ turning around, frowning. ]

... It feels unfinished. If we cannot solve what happened this past week, it is likely to happen again.

... I see. Do you still hope to identify the culprit, then?

We have to stop them.

[ he realizes the implications of this, however. ]

[ there is a bit of a cold, sad feeling at that. ]

Do you have any leads at the moment?

Absolutely nothing.

[ that's the worst part. he can't make heads or tails of it at all. ]

[ she looks over the fairgrounds, at the photo booth and then the roller coaster, and there is a faint feeling of anxiety underneath her blanket of calmness. ]

Is killing them the only way to stop them? Were God or the angels able to say any more?

[ eupha can be found at the misfortune teller! she's looking around with curiosity at the crystals and tarot cards. ]

What is this place...?

[ a chao is holding out a plate of fortune cookies to them. ]

Oh, they have snacks here?

[ he'll take one.

]

Hm. Well.

[ at least he has a lucky number now. ]

At least it's accurate enough ... ?

[ looking over from where she just bit into hers without realizing and is now trying to chew around a slip of paper. ]

Mmffp??

[ It's paper?? ]

It's technically edible?

[ that's just also his thought. the problem with anders in general is he doesn't have much of a brain-to-mouth filter. he just says shit. ]

It has a little prediction on it. See, my lucky number is ... 12?

[ she takes out the half-chewed paper, smooths it out, and looks at it.

]

Oh! I see now. And we are due to receive letters again soon, aren't we? Perhaps that is what this refers to!

[ wow...... the cookie knew... ]

So that was "God" in his true form...

He was quite different from what I imagined.

[ but she says this with a little smile. ]

Yes, apparently everyone with divine power around here is some sort of teenager.

[ there's something distressing about that. but he's mostly joking too. it's fine. ]

It isn't what I expected, but then again, I don't know what I expected.

[ she laughs a little... ]

I cannot imagine my god simply revealing itself to a crowd like that, and then taking questions. I am glad he has been so approachable.

When the Maker returns it is supposed to be heralded by rising seas and mountains beginning to walk across the land, so I would have guessed a bit more dramatics myself.

[ you know. and blood and judgment and stuff. ]

Then again, I suppose he's new to the job.

Oh... [ she tries to picture that, and nods like she understands. ] My god is usually known to leave its sanctuary only to bring its calamitous wrath upon the land...

[ ... ]

He also said that the previous God did not leave him much guidance for the role.

[ he's thinking about sacrificing herself to a dragon and nodding. ]

I suppose you can chalk weekly murders and mind poisoning by a mysterious entity spinning out of control up to beginner's mistakes.

[ putting a big learner's permit sticker on jonas' hat. ]

It could have gone worse. We could all be very dead.

We technically still are, but... yes, I think we have avoided the worst case scenario. And, although it was supposedly part of the project's design, I am quite glad that we have our abilities restored...

[ don't mind her checking out your whole magic deal with her special eyes. ]

Very dead is different. Very dead is being lost to the Void, beyond even Andraste's pity.

[ they are only slightly dead now.

but yeah, she can definitely Perceive that. If anything he's like. made of magic, being an abomination and soulbonded to justice and whatnot. ]

You said before you can see magic?

I can indeed. Though my third eye has been as good as blind for the last several weeks, until now.

[ she just sounds relieved about it. ]

pc: eupha

WEEKEND 0 - SATURDAY

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W1 - MONDAY

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Week 1, Sunday

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Week 3, Tuesday

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W4 - MONDAY

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Week 6, Monday

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Week 7, Wednesday

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