Goodbye, Amaranthine

The Waking Sea, Dragon 9:31, Justinian

Maker, thank you for gracing me with patience and discipline.

First day and already the Apostates are already losing their tempers. If they are incapable of keeping control of their faculties, they can be easily influenced by the Rage demons of the Fade. I will need to be vigilant. Uldred's followers were also prone to anger.

Freedom. I don't think that they understand what that word means. Temperance is what is truly needed. If the Magisters of the Imperium had not been consumed by their hunger for power, perhaps Thedas would be different today. Too many people have been taught to fear magic and too often that fear turns to violence. I would take the comfort and safety of the Tower to spending every waking moment in fear of discovery. How could one possibly devote oneself to study when constantly looking into shadows?

The Orlesian -- Ser Donegal -- told a story about an abomination that killed many people on his father's lands. It is a tragedy. An easily preventable one too. If only that mage had been given proper training.

There are a lot of things out there that are much worse than Templars and the Chantry -- especially for magi. Opportunists who would pervert a mage for their own means.  Murderers who would rather see a mage dead than bring them to the Chantry. And of course the hodgepodge of supposedly well-meaning but utterly inconsistent teachers. Among others.

Perhaps one day the apostates will realize the Circle isn't as terrible as they think.

Moving on.

The groups seems to be quite the assortment.

The elves seem to actually desire persecution. I can see no other reason for their constant insulting manner despite the fact that no one has said a word of ill to them thus far. I don't think they would like it very much if everyone started calling them "Elf" or "Knife-ears." Everyone knows the way to be respected is to treat everyone else with derision, after all.

The dwarves (perhaps wisely) have thus far decided to avoid getting involved.

We met the Hero of Ferelden. She actually spoke to us! And Senior Enchanter Wynne was there too. And Anders, of all people! I suppose he finally found a way to avoid getting dragged back to the tower -- Which means I owe Finn twenty silvers when I get back. I underestimated his resourcefulness. There is a lesson to be learned there, I think.