I sort of agree with Polaris about Tranquils being close to slaves, or, at the very least, very, wrong. It isn't right to take away someone's emotions. Emotions are what drives people to do anything, hopes, dreams, tranquils don't have those. You can't say that they aren't sort of messed up, all Tranquils (as long as they aren't in a weird situation where the fade has been opened, or whatever) will always be content being Tranquil, which makes sense, obviously. But this clashes majorly with the fact that (I'm assuming) pretty much all mages are terrified of becoming Tranquil. Or, rather, the thought of being a Tranquil is horrifying to them. And yet, no matter how horrifying they might find it, should they become Tranquil, they are perfectly fine with it as a Tranquil.
That just... it's not right.
(this obviously doesn't apply so much to people who choose to become Tranquil)
At the same time however, you have to think about the fact that (when done the
legal way) people are made Tranquil to
save their lives. Tranquils are people who weren't going to pass the Harrowing, and if you don't pass the Harrowing, you die, since you'll turn into an abomination. Tranquils are people who the Enchanters are very sure couldn't survive as mages, and would be a danger to themselves and others. As far as I understand, turning someone tranquil (in the
legal way) is not a discision made lightly, and it is a discision made by other mages.
I suppose this paragraph is a little of topic. But I think it's important, since this you need to understand what Tranquils are... No matter how they may be treated, they were made that way not for someone elses gain, but to keep them from harming others.
I'm not saying it's right. But it's nessacary, and really what are the Tranquils supposed to do afterwards? Sit around and do nothing?
Now, as to the main topic of this thread 8D;
I don't think Anders was justified in the least for blowing up the Chantry. He did it to incite a war, because he was
insane with vengence, not so much that he even thought there'd be compromise. He just wanted the establishment that he felt had ruined his life harmed in some way. If mages (could) benefit from it, I really feel like that was just a plus. Anders is not selfless, he does what he does to try and make up for what he's done before. And then, because he went insane he says there was no compromise.
And he is wrong.
The is always compromise. But compromise is hard, compromise is difficult. It means trying to find a middle ground with someone with a view point completely different from yours, and that is probably one of the hardest things to do, as a human. It's far easier to demonize the other side, to say they are dellusion or foolish, because they don't agree with you, rather than to realise that you might be wrong, if only in part. It's even harder when you're a freaking abomination, thirsting for vengeance.
Actually,
that is when it's pretty much impossible.
I think he was a coward, and deeply, deeply hypocritical. He demonized all Templars, basically, even though many of them seemed like decent people who were just doing their job, not trying to be malicious towards mages. It's the system that's broken, not so much the people running it. It's hating the players rather than the game itself. Which I think is an important distinction.
Personally, I think what he wanted (mages with the same freedoms as everyone else) is a fairy tale. Mages
are dangerous. More then other people, since they can set stuff on fire with their minds. But they're dangerous because they're people, more than because they're mages. People have issues, and when the person with issues and problems can conjure lighting with a thought, there's going to be a problem.
However, considering how Thedas is, you could say the same for anyone skilled with a bow, or a sword, or daggers. Or, hell, anyone at all. Thedas isn't like modern day, death is far, far more prevalent (obviously), and more easily executed (pardon the pun).
But just because mages are dangerous doesn't mean you should lock them away, as I said, these are
people, and while they should require more scrutiny than most due to the whole being able to turn into an abomination thing, they deserve freedom. Keeping it from them is wrong, and will have ramifications, has had already, really.
One big thing, though, that I think is really important, is that while mages can be extremely dangerous, they can also be ridiculously helpful. I mean, as much as I dislike Anders, he's able to help so many people (until he goes crazy, obviously). Mages can heal wounds in moments, or at least hours. The can take away disease and cure deformities.
They are frikkin ~*~Magic~*~
And locking up deprives so many people of their abilities. That's also wrong.
I feel like I've wandered off topic again, so I might as well jump off the deep end with my idea of a compromise:
It's been shown - with Fenryel (probably spelled that wrong) and the Arl's son... Connor, I think it was? - that people who don't get training as mages tend to...umm...cause problems.
So, the Circle which - among other things - teaches mages to control their gift, is very important. However instead of a prison, it should be... like... a boarding school, or just a school in general. Something that people can come and go from more freely, to visit family, have a life. They'd be required to go, but not forced to stay all the time. Really, I think this would lead to much more emotionally healthy individuals, and while I think Tranquils might still be nessacary, I don't think they would be as common, because the mages would have a bigger reason to pass. And the people should have a choice - if the other mages think they won't make it - of becoming tranquil or undergoing the harrowing anyway.
And yes, this would mean that mages who fail the harrowing would die.
I said this was a compromise, after all.
But if they pass the Harrowing, they should be allowed to leave the Circle, for good if they want, and do what they wish, since they've proven themselves above becoming abominations.
Blood mages would be apostates, however, as would people found to be consorting with demons. And the templars would hunt /them/
I think this would be a better way for magic to serve man, right now it just sort of sits there, doing nothing, or setting mans building on fire.
Or exploding them, that happens too.
I know it's not perfect, obviously, but it's better than what Meredith and Orisino (GDI ORSINO, I LIKED YOU ) had.
edit: HOLY CRAP THIS IS LONG! Sorry!
Modifié par Namuri, 03 avril 2011 - 07:38 .
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