Vieralynn

Cats sleeping in odd places

(Source: kylesfuckingtumblr)

This needs to be on our dashes one more time. :)

(Source: entreri)

katiebour:

nightxade:

I disagree that the Grand Cleric wouldn’t stop her. In the showdown at the beginning of Act 3, Elthina basically sent her to her room like a little girl. Hell, she called her a “good little girl,” and Meredith went without hesitation, as did Orsino. Elthina stressed the need for the two of them to see reason. The RoA is not reason. Especially if it was based solely on finding Quentin’s research.

Meredith refused the Tranquil Solution, as well, and I did not get that she was busy making every mage she could find tranquil, especially since, according to Chantry law, the First Enchanter’s permission is required.  As far as I can tell, Meredith’s methods were harsh, but she did not disobey any Chantry laws. 

And in her defense, Kirkwall was situated on top of Sunnydale a hellmouth, making it susceptible to demons and therefore blood magic, and the game loves to make us believe that this is happening allllll the time. 

Gregoire followed all laws. He had requested RoA and more Templars from Denerim, believing the Circle lost. But, despite knowing that abominations were running rampant, gave the Circle a chance through the Warden: Bring me the First Enchanter, and I will revoke the RoA. In other words, bring me proof that all is not lost.

Meredith, on the other hand, would have done it based solely on finding Quentin’s research when we already know that higher mages, including the First Enchanter, have access to grimoires and such containing darker arts. Hell, the harrowing involves summoning demons, and supposedly, according to Gaider, phylacteries are a form of blood magic, so there’s a lot of gray up in the Circle regarding blood magic.

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I agree that Elthina seems to harbor a certain amount of sympathy for mages, and that she seems to prefer a middle-of-the-road approach in theory even if she does nothing to implement it in practice.  I doubt that she would have approved the RoA, which explains Meredith going to Val Royeaux for permission from the Divine.  Seb’s quest with Sister Nightingale already shows that the Divine is incredibly concerned about the situation in Kirkwall, so it doesn’t take much of a leap to think that a persuasive letter from Meredith about the supposed corruption of the Circle would lead to the Divine’s permission for the RoA.

As far as a search of the Circle, it’d be folly to think that Orsino would offer to help with any kind of incriminating evidence in his own rooms.  He also says that Quentin’s research was too evil, so he put it aside, likely meaning that he either hid the letters that were passed back and forth or destroyed them.

Also keep in mind that Orsino says that the irony was that he never practiced blood magic until Act III.  For all of his curiosity into esoteric/dangerous magics, he was not a blood mage until that moment.

As far as Meredith making mages Tranquil, see Gaider’s post here, which I will quote:

It’s against the rules to perform the Rite of Tranquility without both significant provocation (provocation in this case meaning the mage in question either cannot control their magic or has shown no signs of a willingness to do so) AND the agreement of the First Enchanter (who is present as a sort of ombudsman on behalf of the mages). The system will fall out of balance anywhere where the First Enchanter is either weak or ignored. 

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The Templar’s Letter way back in Act I shows that Harrowed mages such as Karl were being made Tranquil without sufficient provocation, thus explaining the receiving Templar’s “crisis of conscience.”  Of course the letter also implies that Alrik may have been acting without Meredith’s full understanding of the situation, hence his desire to keep Bardel from bringing his questions to Meredith.

As far as the number of mages made Tranquil, we only have Anders’ dialogue to substantiate that “dozens more are being made Tranquil every year,” and that they were “good people too, people I know passed their Harrowing,” and it’s up to the individual whether or not they believe him.  But to quote from a previous discussion I was involved in:

Elsa and Karl are made Tranquil, along with Feynriel, if you turn him in to the Circle,  along with the Tranquil in the courtyard pursued by her desperate former lover.  He says “Don’t you remember me?” to which she replies, “Yes, you and I were involved in an illicit relationship.”  The conversation goes on for a little while, and her final reply is “I am Ser Alrik’s.  Only he can command me.”

Here, found a vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsydZ6zXJ14

Then there’s the elvhen guy on Sol’s side of the Gallows who walks around saying how calming it is to have been made Tranquil.  There’s also the Tranquil proprietor selling stuff right next to Sol’s stall.

That’s between a third and a half of all of the visible Circle mages in DA2.

Anders says in one of his clinic dialogues (I believe it’s at the start of Act 2) that there are dozens more Tranquil every year, “selling their bloody wares.”

As for Origins, there’s Owain, the Tranquil at Ostagar, and Jowan is scheduled to be made Tranquil instead of being allowed to go through his Harrowing.  Alistair also comments that he was made to assist in Tranquiling a mage as part of his Templar training.

It is the judgment of the Knight-Commander whether a mage needs to be made Tranquil.^[1] The Chantry law forbids performing the Rite of Tranquility without significant provocation and the agreement of the First Enchanter. Provocation in this case means that the mage either cannot control their magic or has shown no signs of a willingness to do so.^[2] Since a mage who has passed theHarrowing is deemed to be strong enough of will to resist demonic possession, forcibly making them Tranquil is theoretically against Chantry law. Practically, the situation varies from tower to tower:^[1] the system will fall out of balance anywhere where the First Enchanter is either weak or ignored, resulting in the Rite being used as a punishment or a control over unruly mages.^[2]

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Tranquil

Those citations are from David Gaider himself via the BSN.

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It’s fairly clear that there are a fair number of mages being made Tranquil, and if you believe Anders are being performed in contravention of Chantry law.

I think that before being corrupted by the idol, Meredith was tough, but mostly fair.  Afterwards, her paranoia grew unchecked, her position allowed her to act on that paranoia, and even Cullen admits that if she’s not mad, then she’s well on the way to becoming so.

I find that Elthina talked the talk without ever walking the walk- while in a public debate she might appear as a voice of reason, in private she did little to nothing to reign in Meredith’s abuses of the Circle mages and the contravention of Chantry law.  When push comes to shove in that video, she says that she must support “her templars,” and I think that makes it pretty clear where she stands.

Just my opinion, anyway.

Reblogging for reference and general head-nodding with the variety of comments above.

(Source: givethemhorns)

invocationofglamour:

Amano art of FFVIII.

invocationofglamour:

A selection of Amano’s concept art from FFIII, FFV.