Mage Council Plotting!

[mythalenaste]

Hear ye, hear ye!

As of this meeting taking place on 3 Firstfall, the mages of the Inquisition have agreed (somewhat) to form a Council of Magi for the purpose of organizing the mages of the Inquisition, ensuring their rights and enforcing a code of conduct.

The number of members of the Council has not been decided, but there is a vague idea that different sects from within the mages present in the Inquisition will be represented.

This post is to hammer out the details of this council, as well as compile a list of topics that need to be addressed by them presently.

Everybody come in and talk about things!

Comments

Council details

[mythalenaste]

How many members, who requires representation, etc.

[fleurdesel]

Dalish & noncircle mages need representatives, and like the college one from each fraternity would be reasonable for a diverse and hopefully more balanced perspective.

[serannas]

The council members should probably be an odd number so there are no deadlocks when it comes to decision making. That is, if we think going with a majority rules vote is the way to go?

[gatheringstorm]

Considering Korrin's demographic (Vashoth mages) is just herself, she doesn't really have any chance of passing on the buck to someone else. So she'd reluctantly participate, at least until such time as another Vashoth mage appears and then they can revisit the idea. But overall, it'd be more to remind people that non-Circle mages exist than anything else.

[mythalenaste]

Probably all non-Dalish, non-Circle mages could be grouped together for now?

Re: Council details

[el_tybs]

Looks like non-Dalih, non- Circle mages is somewhat figured. What about mages from the Circle? They're pretty diverse themselves (which we saw)

[liberalum]

representation shouldn't necessarily be the only factor for voting on members. thinking also leadership qualities, effective relationships, and skills. (but if everyone overwhelming wants to prioritise representation, then that's cool too. dorian won't exactly be pushing for tevinter representation, but balanced opinions generally.)

[serannas]

I think there probably shouldn't be a set number of council members to allow new players to have their character get on the council too, but what do we think of keeping it always an odd number so there's no deadlock in voting? This is provided the council will sit down, vote, and have a majority rules, which I'm not saying it has to be! Just my initial thought.

Re: Council details

[amygdalae]

Quick note b/c outside now, but my main thought is having somebody to be a liaison between mages and non mages, and/or maybe an unbiased third party to resolve whatever disputes that may arise between the mages and such. I'm thinking preferably a person who isn't a mage so that decisions will be more neutral?? Something like that.

[mythalenaste]

I for one would really rather membership OOCly be a sort of sign-up rather than a popularity contest. For every mage PC, there are a billion mage NPCs being led by this council, right? ICly of course we can say there were elections.

CONCERNING NPCs

[faderifting]

Mage PCs aren't representative of the Inquisition's overall mage population, statistically speaking. The majority of Inquisition mages are former Circle mages from Orlais, Ferelden, and the Free Marches. Although the Libertarians had a one-vote majority at Andoral's Reach, a greater proportion of hardline rebels fled to Tevinter or were 'recruited' by Corypheus, while others have revised their outlooks upon experiencing life outside the Circle, leaving the more moderate set with a majority.

We would estimate the overall breakdown to be:

ORIGINS:

- 80% formal Circle mages from Orlais, Ferelden, or the Free Marches
- 10% Circle mages from other countries
- 10% apostates, including Dalish

PHILOSOPHIES:

- 48% Aequitarians
- 24% Libertarians
- 8% from other Circle fraternities
- Remainder unaffiliated, not Circle mages, etc.

The council will also find approximately 10% of mages within the Inquisition outright refuse to recognize its authority. These mages are evenly split between Loyalists who will not agree to anything short of an official, Chantry-backed Circle, and hardline mage freedom advocates who will refuse to submit to an authority they view as being Chantry-endorsed by virtue of its affiliation with the Inquisition.

When you all have set a total size for the council and nailed down how seats will be apportioned, we can provide some basic bios and sets of opinions for any seats that need to be filled by NPCs in order to reflect how Skyhold's overall population would vote.

If you decide on a system that overrepresents non-Circle mages, the council may lose additional support (beyond the 10% mentioned above) and experience more pushback on its decisions.

Topics to address

[mythalenaste]

Templars, housing, etc.

[mythalenaste]

Obviously the relationship between the Inquisition's templars and mages will be a thing to discuss, probably hold some forums about.

[liberalum]

templars as an issue ought to be ongoing -- both from an ic perspective but also ooc, as this is a rich sort of topic to mine for rp rather than a dispute to be solved quickly. they'll need to develop working relationships with templars or expand on ones already in existence.

[serannas]

We should probably figure out what the council will actually do too, especially in a way that doesn't just cut off CR for non-mage players. Like let's say a player of a mage goes "Okay, my mage just set fire to an NPC's fruit stand and I'm ready for him to accept the consequences." Like what happens next? Does the mage council say "We'll handle his punishment," or does it vote to hand him over to the Templars for punishment, or the Inquisition leaders for punishment, or what?

MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UPS

[mythalenaste]

Use the following form to reply to this comment

<b>Name:</b> Your Name <b>Age:</b> Your Age <b>Specialization:</b> Necromancer/Healer/Keeper/Whatever <b>Affiliation:</b> The Circle you come from or your background ("Apostate/Dalish" or "Apostate/Other") <b>Fraternity:</b> If applicable <b>Stance on Mage Freedom:</b> <b>Stance on Templars:</b> <b>Special Notes:</b>

Do not reply to this comment

[mythalenaste]

This is at least partly to gauge interest and see how many council seats should be available overall. No more than 10% of council seats should be held by non-Circle mages, or there will be problems with the NPC mages, 10% of which don't recognize the council's authority as it is.

Currently Seated on the Council:

(2) Non-Circle (29%)
(2) Aequitarian (29%)
(1) Libertarian (13%)
(2) Loyalist (29%)

[mythalenaste]

Name: Ellana and Pel Ashara
Age: 26 & 27 respectively
Specialization: Hearthmistress (fire magic) and Keeper respectively
Affiliation: Apostate/Dalish
Stance on Mage Freedom: Pro
Stance on Templars: Open-minded, to a degree
Special Notes:

Pel and Ellana have reached an arrangement where between them, they will hold a single council seat. This means that while both sit on the council, together they can only cast a single vote.

[gatheringstorm]

Name: Korrin Ataash
Age: 25
Specialization: Storm magic, none other currently
Affiliation: Apostate/Other
Fraternity: n/a
Stance on Mage Freedom: Pro
Stance on Templars: Anti
Special Notes: n/a

[fleurdesel]

Name: Adelaide LeBlanc
Age: 36
Specialization: Spirit Healer
Affiliation: The White Spire
Fraternity: Aequitarian
Stance on Mage Freedom: Conflicted. Freedom is good but chaos isn't.
Stance on Templars: Conflicted. They have a place but she's wary of them.
Special Notes:

Adelaide's been a teacher for most of her adult life and brings that sort of mentality into resolving conflicts. Her issues stemming from the violence at the White Spire color her views of both mages and templars though she tries to put these aside to see the situation objectively. Adelaide is also more than available to instruct apprentices or mages in spirit or creation schools of magic as she was taught.

no this is easier and more straightforward

[ungovernable]

Name: Libby
Age: 27 and three quarters
Specialization: Necromancer
Affiliation: a member of the Mortalitasi Order in Nevarra.
Fraternity: Libertarian
Stance on Mage Freedom: Pro.
Stance on Templars: Largely neutral; Benevenuta wishes to deal with the Templars as equal, separate organizations.
Special Notes: Benevenuta will take the notes forever. I literally have a whole page of notes waiting for this all to be finalized to go live on the not-network comm.

[deflocked]

Name: Daylen Mathan
Age: 24
Specialization: Healer
Affiliation: Kinloch Hold
Fraternity: Loyalist
Stance on Mage Freedom: Pro-Circle
Stance on Templars: Pro
Special Notes: He's very staunchly pro-Circle and pro-templar, but he does know there are issues and wants those to be addressed rather than advocating mage freedom. That would be extremely dangerous to his mind. Just look at what it's done already.

[paperwing]

Name: Sabriel Abhorsen
Age: 22
Specialization: Defender (healing, debilitation, dispelling, etc) and fire for offense.
Affiliation: Grey Warden, formally of Perendale
Fraternity: Aequitarian
Stance on Mage Freedom: Pro-Circle, as she thinks they shouldn't have been dissolved - but is an advocate for choice. Not all mages are capable of handling their magic alone, and magic can be dangerous, not just to others but to themselves, so if it is a place where a mage can feel safe, mages should be able to choose it. Likewise, there should be more leniency for those who do not want to be part of a Circle, and that Circles should have more freedom like in Nevarra.
Stance on Templars: Pro, in that she has had a good relationship with the Templars of her Circle, and there is opportunity for them to act as protectors and helpers. However, she recognises that in this Post-Circle world, the relationship has to become more equal if they are to be taken seriously as an independent group.

Special Notes: Sabriel will act as a liaison between herself and her fellow Wardens of Skyhold (and potentially any other Wardens, especially mages, that arrive in the future), fostering the relationship between them and opening up new avenues for protection - Wardens have always welcomed mages on equal terms. (So maybe if you don't want Templar group to help the mage council for this thing, the Wardens could help out instead, something like that).

The Wardens are her priority though, and for anything that requires a vote, she would potentially defer, especially if it were very, very political. Internal disputes between mages, yes. The others, depends.

[madame_de_fer]

Name: Vivienne
Age: Tsk, you shouldn't ask, my dear.
Specialization: Knight-Enchanter
Affiliation: Montsimmard
Fraternity: None, by choice
Stance on Mage Freedom: Utterly short-sighted and selfish. Dissolution of the Circles was just fueling the flames of distrust already sewn by events like Kirkwall.
Stance on Templars: Necessary for the safety of mages. They need to stop being sulky and resume their duties.
Special Notes: Very pro-Circle with a heavy look to the practicality of the issues at hand.

[failedfirst]

Name: Velanna
Age: 36
Specialization: Keeper
Affiliation: Grey Warden, Apostate/Dalish
Stance on Mage Freedom: Pro, she thinks Circles stifle talent and waste magic that should be used. Also they drive idiot mages into making poorly informed choices about blood magic and rituals because Circles don't properly educate about those things.
Stance on Templars: Anti. Big idiots in big armor throwing their weight around trying to intimidate people who can light them on fire because they're so scared that those people will realize they can light them on fire.
Special Notes:

Velanna will be taking over Sabriel's position, although her opinions and approach are fairly different. She'll at least try to get along with the others.