[Network] @dorianpavus, Video Day 283 [Open]

[whiteknightnecromancer]

[Dorian has his tablet set up on a pew to show him sitting where he's leaning against the altar in the chapel. He smiles in a friendly way and gives the tablet a little wave. His appearance shows signs of grooming and he's grown a small beard since he arrived.]

Manaveris! How is everyone? I am more alive than previously anticipated.

I'm afraid I don't know this building or the surroundings but I'm sure that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

But enough about me. How are the rest of you? Is there anyone nearby? This place is rather lonely.

Comments

[cahooted]

Your spirits aren't human? So the souls of the dead, they never get... trapped or return? That's what we usually call spirits in our world.

[Maybe just an issue of terminology? The again, it would be naive to assume that all magic in all the realms – universes – whatever you wanted to call it were the same.]

I am familiar with elves and dwarves, uh, what exactly are Qunari?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Erm, no. Not that we've ever verified. There have been cases of some misguided spirit or demon latching on to the memories of someone going through a period of strong emotion but no verification that such a person has themselves lingered in the Fade. Our ghosts are imprints in time, again linked with strong emotion and the Fade.

[Dorian perks up on the subject of Qunari.]

Eight feet tall, muscular, horns on their heads. Well, the race of people known as Qunari are such. The Qun is a religion and all its followers are known as Qunari. Not all of the muscular, horned people are followers of the Qun.

[Dorian makes an ambivalent gesture.]

I've spent a great deal of time around Vashoth, those who have abandoned the Qun. Less time around Qunari proper due to their habit of trying to kill Vints like myself. Something about the war we've had on for the last three hundred years.

[cahooted]

I see.

[He's trying to keep up but these are a lot of new words Dorian is throwing at him.]

So Vint, I assume that's the people from Tevinter? And you're at war with the Qunari. Not too sure I got the thing about the Vashoth, are those... non-religious Qunari?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Right on both counts. Tevene may be more formally accurate but Vint is used more commonly. And I like the way it sounds. Vint. Vintage.

Vashoth is... those who left the Qun in a more literal sense but colloquially means the Qunari who aren't religiously of the Qun.

[cahooted]

That does have a nice ring to it.

[He frowns.] More literal sense? You mean like outcasts? Did they start their own... clan?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Vintner.

Nothing so organized. They simply left. As simple as it can be to run form a murderous religion that breaks the minds of followers who dissent. Many of them have little idea how to live in places where people aren't raised wholly in dormitories and don't live lives so regimented that an extra pinch of sugar in the bread is a rebellion.

At least to begin with. Many become people like any other group. But it is difficult to build much group unity when everyone left for their own reasons and stays away from their Qun for their own reasons.

[cahooted]

Vintner. [He mimicks Dorian's emphasis, grinning.]

Do you take them in? The Vashoth. I mean there's you and this clan with their horrible religious suppression, left out the horrible suppression bit by the way, and then these guys, do you... take them in?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

We... No, not generally. They typically find work as mercenaries or other for hire work.

[He sighs.]

Truthfully, we have many problems of our own and I am aware that anyone who is not us has a different opinion on how we handle them.

[He's trying to be diplomatic on the slavery front. He doesn't think it's possible to simply hit the Undo button on that nor has he seen a system he thinks is better but he also doesn't actually think people selling themselves into slavery is a good thing and has no real desire to argue about it.]

[cahooted]

I see.

[He frowns, thinking some more, fingers drumming against his chin.] And this war of yours, has it been going on for long?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Three hundred years! They took some of our islands on landing. Clearly we're doing an excellent job of getting Par Vollen back.

[That's very sarcastic.]

[cahooted]

Three hundred years?

[He just gapes there for a second.]

I'm impressed you even remember what started it at that point.

CW: body horror

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Yes, well, one tends to remember the arrival of an enemy who wants to sew one's mouth shut and destroy one's way of life while claiming they're doing everyone involved a favor.

[cahooted]

Well.

When you put it that way.

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Mm, yes. The south doesn't truly appreciate the threat they pose because we're between them and they hate us too.

[Of all the reasons he wants to handle his planned political revolution carefully, this is the one that tops the list.]

So it remains fresh in our minds.

[cahooted]

Between them? So you're the buffer zone, geographically speaking?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Yes, precisely. The southern portion of the continent used to be part of the Imperium before they revolted. Now we occupy the north, physically between them and Par Vollen.

[cahooted]

Interesting. The politics of foreign places is just so fascinating.

Are you still part of the... Imperium then?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

We are the Imperium, yes. We're run by a combination of the Archon, who is elected from the Magisterium to lead, and the Magisterium which a governing body composed of mages, typically from ruling families. Our politics can move very quickly.

[cahooted]

Just like the books in your libraries, I presume.

[whiteknightnecromancer]

A quick study. Yes. Especially the ones that have to do with inheriting estates or seats in the Magisterium or contain information that can be brought to bear to pressure votes for same and the Archon.

[cahooted]

So what's your role in all this?

[It's only half-serious and his smirk offers that much, but part of him is curious.] Got your own little political intrigue going on?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

Mae is in charge, I do what she tells me. We've started our own faction in the Magisterium.

[Not being mocked as a fool or sworn at for being a Magister is still a fairly new experience for Dorian.]

We may actually get somewhere other than dead. Should be fun.

[cahooted]

Magisterium? So you're actually a politician?

[whiteknightnecromancer]

You make it sounds so cheap and tawdry which is exactly right.

I inherited my father's seat shortly before I arrived here. Avoiding it by being trapped in a town filled with horrors and worse, snow, is such a trite excuse, I know.

[cahooted]

So seats are inherited.

[Doesn't sound all that democratic but then again, neither does the rest of what Dorian's telling him here.]

How do new people get in? I don't suppose there's elections or anything like that?