Vandicus wrote...
The Circle system successfully prevented the rise of a new Tevinter Imperium for centuries. It succeeded at what it was meant to do for a very long time. Failure in the human element indicates a lack of proper safeguards, but does not mean that mages, let alone blood mages should be allowed to wander around freely.
Some such as Wynne and other senior mages can earn sufficient trust that they're allowed to travel around without supervision. Without going into too much detail for my own vision of how to remodel a Circle system is that mages would be taught to be like Jedi(and presented as such to the public). Educate the mages on how to use their magic, especially for healing and other benevolent purposes, and have them aid the public(which will help reduce superstition and fear regarding mages). Induct some mages as priests(priestesses?) of Andraste and make others members of the Templar order(although the leader should never simultaneously be a mage).
Saying that being a slave is better than being part of the Circle is frankly ridiculous. There is no more severe abbrogation of freedom than slavery(well besides being mind controlled). Its not possible to have less freedom than being absolutely controlled/owned by someone else. Worst case scenario, the Circle is the equivalent of slavery. Minus abuses by members of the templars, the Circle from childhood to the age of 18 is not all that different from mandatory education(which is a thing, and a rather common one at that). The system can be improved to make it relatively humane, and its possible to allow mages who've proven their self-control most of the freedoms a normal person would have. To leave mages uneducated would be harmful to both themselves and society.
I did not suggest banning blood magic. I stated that whenever a known blood mage has become a possible threat, it is not practical to simply approach them and do a normal investigation. Not studying blood magic carries its own risks, because another group of people(the current Tevinter Imperium) will always be willing to use it.
Let's go back in history. Andraste raised a rebellion against Tevinter, freed the south, was betrayed by Mafarath, got executed. For 100 years, there was no chantry after that event.
There were dozens of Andrastian cults (Haven being an example as one that predates the Chantry, had revered fathers and mages in positions of power....they were total nutcases who worshipped a dragon, but they did predate the chantry.)
For 100 years, mages were free. They were still feared by the vast populace because the Tevinter Imperium was still a fresh memory. After 100 years, Emperor Drakon chose one of the Andrastian cults which matched his ideals, and used that to justify his desire to conquer everyone else. The Chantry and Orlais has always had similar interests as a result of them rising at the same time.
After the Chantry rose, there still weren't ANY circles at all. Mages were delegated to lighting candles and cleaning....that was all they were allowed to do. The Circles rose up as a compromise because the Divine wanted to call an Exalted March on her own cathedral because the mages were having a peaceful protest.
The Circles were never designed to prevent the rise of another Imperium. It was designed to be a place where mages could practice magic freely, govern themselves, and to separate themselves from the populace that feared them, and the templars would observe and advice them, on the lookout for signs of corruption.
Leading up to the rise of the Circles, there never was any sign that the mages as a whole wanted a new Imperium.
As for saying slavery was preferable to the Circle...I've never been a slave. I've never been a mage or lived in the Circle. But, if a person is born a slave, raised as a slave, and then suddenly freed, they may not know how to live outside of it. We see that in Fenris's side quests, with that elven slave we can take as a servant, give her some money, or to take on as our own slave. Fenris's own sister says freedom from slavery was not a boon. It's the change of the entire way of life they have that throws them for a loop.
Fiona was a sex slave to orlesians. Then she was freed, joined the Circle and the eventually the Grey Wardens. She has stated that being a sex slave was preferable than living in the circle. Based on my lack of experience as a slave or living under conditions that the Circle is based on....I have to take the characters own views as eye witnesses.
One or two people can be dismissed. But we have several characters through two games who make it very clear that the Circle is a HORRIBLE place to live. Since we have so many characters saying that, then we can only assume that they are all telling the truth.
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