That's what Tevinter has. It doesn't work on any imaginable level.
Proof?
Tevinter's popularly known issues come from their utilizing of slavery, which isn't unique to mages in any way; mages just happen to be in charge. We've not explored Tevinter at all, and last we heard it was still a functional nation not overrun by abominations.
No matter what is decided magic is a natural force in Thedas, if you killed all mages then more mage children would continue to be born. Also if you're looking at the moral side of things commiting genocide just so they don't become demons/abominations makes you just as bad as them, it's just that you're weaker and less evolved versions.
No matter what is decided magic is a natural force in Thedas, if you killed all mages then more mage children would continue to be born. Also if you're looking at the moral side of things commiting genocide just so they don't become demons/abominations makes you just as bad as them, it's just that you're weaker and less evolved versions.
And what stops me from doing that again systematically? Nope it doesn't make you world-destructive insane creature that destroy everything on their way besides ,that is how societes are built on sacrifices besides mages are nothing more than trouble.
I actually don't think that was an official annulment. The note from WoT mentions that it occurred after the events at the White Spire, which would mean it was actually purged by renegade Seekers and Templars.
The uprising and the annulment happens the same year, and the date hasn't really been clarified between either. The Annulment may just aswell have happened before the resolution of the Nevarran Accord as after.
Glad to be of help
Well, the theories of social contract try to explain why rational individuals consent to give up their personal freedom for political order. So yeah, fear, weakness or resignation may allow a tyrannical magocracy to go on, because maybe the cost of the alternative is perceived to be too high.
Every system has its ways to relieve tension and avoid complete breakdown of the social contract. Civil wars and failed states are product of that. The Mage-Templar War now is proof that there's a sizeable part of the social contract that doesn't accept it. I suppose than in the old days the Blights and the Qunari Wars were a good way to relieve tension. Since the end of the last Exalted March against the Qunari in 7:84, there hasn't been a conflict of such a magnitude. Even Wynne considers that wars are useful for mages, since they can improve their conditions for a time when they are needed and are in a better position to negotiate.
I completely agree on the need for a steam valve for mages. Sex would be a good one. For moral and immoral reasonings.
One of the more progressive reforms I believe that would be beneficial for the purposes of maintaining the station would be emigration: I understand reasons why the Chantry would not like it, but I firmly support an experiment of letting any mage who wanted to go to Tevinter (or the Qun) do so. It doesn't even necessarily need to be with the consent of Tevinter: a mage who elects to leave Andrastian Thedas gets a ticket to be smuggled ashore, a warning that their phylacterie means we'll know if they try to sneak back over, and... well, it's on them (and Tevinter) to decide what's left.
Of course there would be no take-backsies, so it's as much voluntary exile as anything else, but simply having an option to leave (even if it's not an ideal one) is a great way to undercut the resentment of having no choice at all.
Nevertheless, not everyone agrres that the social contract theory is useful, but it certainly explains the event of the Nevarran Accord in Thedas. The Inquisition and the Chantry did sign a contract to manage magic in Southern Thedas, all under the wacthful eye of Emperor Drakon. It would be interesting to know the exact terms of that contract. Despite some colourful stories, it's pretty clear that the institution of the White Chantry Circles was born from the Nevarran Accord, and Lambert used it to justify Seekers and Templars breaking from the Chantry.
I doubt we'll ever get the fine print of the originals, or any evolutions it has had in the centuries since. It would pointlessly box in the writers from being able to pull out the 'this breaks the Accord!' card when they wanted to if some transgression wasn't explicitly in the accord. People would dismiss common law evolutions and fixate on interpretations of the original.
KIll them all, burn the bodies, throw ashes into acid then spill acid on the ground and order all templars to ****** on it
Proof?
Tevinter's popularly known issues come from their utilizing of slavery, which isn't unique to mages in any way; mages just happen to be in charge. We've not explored Tevinter at all, and last we heard it was still a functional nation not overrun by abominations.
The purpose of the Circle is not just to prevent the creation of Abominations. It also serves to prevent abuses of magic and to ensure that non-mages remain in control of the institutions that govern their societies both of which the Tevinter Circle system has failed to secure.
I completely agree on the need for a steam valve for mages. Sex would be a good one. For moral and immoral reasonings.
That would actually explain why things in the Fereldan Circle were more bearable 
One of the more progressive reforms I believe that would be beneficial for the purposes of maintaining the station would be emigration: I understand reasons why the Chantry would not like it, but I firmly support an experiment of letting any mage who wanted to go to Tevinter (or the Qun) do so. It doesn't even necessarily need to be with the consent of Tevinter: a mage who elects to leave Andrastian Thedas gets a ticket to be smuggled ashore, a warning that their phylacterie means we'll know if they try to sneak back over, and... well, it's on them (and Tevinter) to decide what's left.
Of course there would be no take-backsies, so it's as much voluntary exile as anything else, but simply having an option to leave (even if it's not an ideal one) is a great way to undercut the resentment of having no choice at all.
Interesting. I wonder if something like that exists already, not with Tevinter, but between different Circles. So far, there has been an incredible lack of Circle movility. It would have helped a lot. Aren't you happy about how this Circle is managed? Well, ask for a place in another Circle.
Think about it. It would provide a nice way to check which Circles are perceived to be better for mages. And since Circles get their money from voluntary mage work, it would provide a good incentive to improve their living conditions. The nicer Circles would get more mages, with them more income, and with it more means to improve their conditions and make space for even more mages. I think the Lucrosians would approve.
I doubt we'll ever get the fine print of the originals, or any evolutions it has had in the centuries since. It would pointlessly box in the writers from being able to pull out the 'this breaks the Accord!' card when they wanted to if some transgression wasn't explicitly in the accord. People would dismiss common law evolutions and fixate on interpretations of the original.
People in real life have been fixating on interpretations of original texts for millennia, so I wouldn't be worried about it. But yeah, I don't think we'll get the original Nevarran Accord, the same we'll never know the complete Chant of Light, if only because it's a pain for writers to think of every little detail. Real accords tend to be full of complicated words and very boring. Not fitting for a codex entry.
Nevertheless, I'm sure we'll know more of it. It was the end of the original Inquisition and we are founding the new one, after all.
I like the idea of a school. Like Xavier's school in X-Men! Seemed to work out pretty well in Days of Future Past...
People with weird powers whom the public are pretty freaked out by, learn how to control their powers and assimilate in public. Seems to be the best compromise to me!~
Schools for everyone. Schools for mages, schools for non mages. With more education, you lessen the probability of angry mobs trying to kill "robes".
Also, a mage per city/village, to serve as a healer, may be founded by the chantry or whatever dominating force.
In fact, the priority goal would be that everyone understands that mage or not, the person is still a human being, with his/her own rights, of being free, and seeking happyness.
There will always be abominations. Seems to me that Dalish and Tevinter are still alive, yet, their mages are free to move. Maybe, there would be less desperate attempts for blood magic if mages were not cornered to use it (Orsino, Jowan...). With a school system, and less fear, this type of society could work.
In the first times however, I'm pretty sure an armed force (bodyguards) would be needed to protect the mages (see "Asunder", where Evangeline has to protect mages in a tavern).
Schools for everyone. Schools for mages, schools for non mages. With more education, you lessen the probability of angry mobs trying to kill "robes".
Also, a mage per city/village, to serve as a healer, may be founded by the chantry or whatever dominating force.
In fact, the priority goal would be that everyone understands that mage or not, the person is still a human being, with his/her own rights, of being free, and seeking happyness.
There will always be abominations. Seems to me that Dalish and Tevinter are still alive, yet, their mages are free to move. Maybe, there would be less desperate attempts for blood magic if mages were not cornered to use it (Orsino, Jowan...). With a school system, and less fear, this type of society could work.
The schools are a good idea. In fact, the Circles are already a kind of school. Except the Qunari, every society in Thedas recognizes the importance of providing magic education for the young mages, be it in a centralized building (Tevinter and White Chantry), with master-apprentice relationships (Dalish) or sages passing down their knowledge to the new generations (Seers). Education for the common masses would also convince some people that the benefits of magic surpass its drawbacks.
However, a school system doesn't avoid the tricky questions of abominations and abuse of magic. Abomination danger is an issue everywhere. Everywhere, including the Tevinter "Tranquility is awesome" Imperium. The Dalish and Rivaini Seers also have it, and in fact education plays a great role in their acceptance of magic, although not in the way some wish. Dalish warriors and hunters know that if their mages become abominations they have to kill them as soon as possible. In Rivain, abominations are understood as another nasty part of life, like floods and famine. Sometimes, it happens. But people have tried to stop floods and famine since the beginnings of civilization. Why shouldn't the same happen with abominations?
As for abuse of magic, that isn't as pressing as the other matter since there are no free societies in Thedas, but it's still there. Teaching responsibility to mages would be nice, not unlike what Hessarian tried to do with his Transfiguration in Tevinter. But then the Altus families got their past influence back and now there's no one able to oppose them in the Imperium.
The same happens with normal people: serial killers, murderers, bandits. Killing innocents is not a mage exclusive.
Maybe we could create a force where templars and "normal" city guards join. They could deal with normal banditry, maleficarum and abominations. And why not trained battle mages to help fight the abominations with magic too?
The same happens with normal people: serial killers, murderers, bandits. Killing innocents is not a mage exclusive.
Maybe we could create a force where templars and "normal" city guards join. They could deal with normal banditry, maleficarum and abominations. And why not trained battle mages to help fight the abominations with magic too?
Did you saw broken circle quest? This is why we don't send mages.
How many serial killer will kill and how many mage will kill not mention damage or world scale disasters even not intentionally.
The same happens with normal people: serial killers, murderers, bandits. Killing innocents is not a mage exclusive.
Maybe we could create a force where templars and "normal" city guards join. They could deal with normal banditry, maleficarum and abominations. And why not trained battle mages to help fight the abominations with magic too?
True, but serial killers and murderers don't have superpowers in real life. They can be dealt with normal police. To face a mage or an abomination, you need elites (like the Grey Wardens; they don't seem to care about the danger because, let's be honest, their usual job is more dangerous and they are a small badass army), huge superiority in number (every Dalish hunter in a clan versus a Keeper abomination) or anti-magic police. The problem is that to train anti-magic police you need lyrium, a substance that is not only adictive but highly expensive. You can't make every city guard in Thedas a Templar.
Using mages against other mages and abominations is an idea to overcome the lack of anti-magic police. The problem is that, as Broken Circle showed us, abominations that get the upper hand may turn mages into more abominations.
However, let's be honest, one of the main problems about battling mages and abominations is the colateral damage. As I said, we're talking about superpowered individuals here. Too much fire spells and you can set a whole city on fire, since most buildings used wood at that time. We know how far modern liberal governments can go just to avoid "terrorist threats", so what wouldn't a medieval government do!
My answer would be technology. Improve technology, not to be so dependant on magic that you are afraid of mage dominance if they were free, and include weapon technology. City guards with machine guns may be dangerous enough to kill an abomination by themselves.
Given recent news, I wouldn't be a fan of the Imperial Chantry either:
http://dgaider.tumbl...d-was-wondering
Apparently, they love the Rite of Tranquility in Tevinter. A good way to keep mages in line. It makes sense. A magocracy would have means to control their mage population, since they know better than anyone what they are capable of. Kings were nobility too, but they feared the power of the nobles because they knew the danger of having a vassal much more powerful that their lord.
Well, damn.
Oh well. I'd planned on having social improvements come from the bottom up whenever possible in any case.
True, but serial killers and murderers don't have superpowers in real life. They can be dealt with normal police. To face a mage or an abomination, you need elites (like the Grey Wardens; they don't seem to care about the danger because, let's be honest, their usual job is more dangerous and they are a small badass army), huge superiority in number (every Dalish hunter in a clan versus a Keeper abomination) or anti-magic police. The problem is that to train anti-magic police you need lyrium, a substance that is not only adictive but highly expensive. You can't make every city guard in Thedas a Templar.
Using mages against other mages and abominations is an idea to overcome the lack of anti-magic police. The problem is that, as Broken Circle showed us, abominations that get the upper hand may turn mages into more abominations.
However, let's be honest, one of the main problems about battling mages and abominations is the colateral damage. As I said, we're talking about superpowered individuals here. Too much fire spells and you can set a whole city on fire, since most buildings used wood at that time. We know how far modern liberal governments can go just to avoid "terrorist threats", so what wouldn't a medieval government do!
My answer would be technology. Improve technology, not to be so dependant on magic that you are afraid of mage dominance if they were free, and include weapon technology. City guards with machine guns may be dangerous enough to kill an abomination by themselves.
Even with modern technology it wouldn't do much more difference mage can snap out at any moment and as we saw mages can even want intentionally blood mage or even abomnation because revenge , sick loved one , assault and put here 1000 other reasons.If mage in the middle of the city before police could do anything not to mention military damage caused wouldn't be pretty.And that if we avoid other disasters that don't require abomnation/demon pretty much blight or send entire city to the fade.Then we have mind control.
Simple your way won't work because even if technology is superior magic all it takes if few moment so magic could case tragedy as magic is unstable so that makes mages walking bombs that can explode at any moment and technology won't help here unless you will defuse bomb.
The schools are a good idea. In fact, the Circles are already a kind of school. Except the Qunari, every society in Thedas recognizes the importance of providing magic education for the young mages, be it in a centralized building (Tevinter and White Chantry), with master-apprentice relationships (Dalish) or sages passing down their knowledge to the new generations (Seers). Education for the common masses would also convince some people that the benefits of magic surpass its drawbacks.
However, a school system doesn't avoid the tricky questions of abominations and abuse of magic. Abomination danger is an issue everywhere. Everywhere, including the Tevinter "Tranquility is awesome" Imperium. The Dalish and Rivaini Seers also have it, and in fact education plays a great role in their acceptance of magic, although not in the way some wish. Dalish warriors and hunters know that if their mages become abominations they have to kill them as soon as possible. In Rivain, abominations are understood as another nasty part of life, like floods and famine. Sometimes, it happens. But people have tried to stop floods and famine since the beginnings of civilization. Why shouldn't the same happen with abominations?
As for abuse of magic, that isn't as pressing as the other matter since there are no free societies in Thedas, but it's still there. Teaching responsibility to mages would be nice, not unlike what Hessarian tried to do with his Transfiguration in Tevinter. But then the Altus families got their past influence back and now there's no one able to oppose them in the Imperium.
The biggest problem with establishing education is 'who's going to cover the cost?' The second problem is a convincing rational of 'why?'
Education as being raised here seems to refer to the purpose of changing how people feel and think about magic. Exposure is taken for granted as being good to make people more accepting and trusting of mages. Which is certainly beneficial for mages... but not so much for everyone else. Taking children from their families to fill their heads with pro-mage feelings is also going to mean taking them from their families and supporting the livelihood of the farm, learning the trade, and other aspects currently relied upon.
And that's even without the question of who's paying for the privilege of making people like mages more. The mages almost certainly can't afford it. The treasuries of the crown are more interested in maintaining the nobility and the military against foreign threats. The Chantry... well, presumably this education about the nature of magic is going to be against the cautionary version the Chantry already spreads. Good luck getting them to foot the bill to counter their own teachings.
Long, long before there's any sort of universal liberal education to teach tolerance and acceptance, there needs to be a widespread education system in the first place. And the type of education far more likely to gain traction first will be the practical sorts: trade schools, guild houses, and farmer colleges.
And, let's be honest, mages have little to add to those in terms of education value.
Liberal education systems are a privilege of the rich, or communities so rich they can afford to give it away for free.
Long, long before there's any sort of universal liberal education to teach tolerance and acceptance, there needs to be a widespread education system in the first place. And the type of education far more likely to gain traction first will be the practical sorts: trade schools, guild houses, and farmer colleges.
And, let's be honest, mages have little to add to those in terms of education value.
Liberal education systems are a privilege of the rich, or communities so rich they can afford to give it away for free.
I agree with that. In fact, my main point was about schools being good for mages, since the Circles and other systems already provide education for them. Also, that those education systems for mages are insufficient by themselves to deal with the most pressing matters about magic in Thedas. Each society has to complement them with other things.
About education for all, that would be a good objective by itself, magic or not. Hell, it's an objective we're struggling with in our real world, so I think that Thedas can take its time. I agree with previous posts that a better educated population may have a more positive outlook about magic; however, it's also insufficient even if Thedosian societies managed to somehow provide free liberal education to all. Because it can make you think that benefits may overcome drawbacks, but can't make you ignore the drawbacks. They will still have to be dealt with.
The article on education in Thedas points out to a very typical medieval setting:
http://dragonage.wik.../wiki/Education
The Chantry is the main provider of education, but only to people who join their ranks, be it as brothers or sisters, or Templars. Religious education, mainly, but Genitivi and others prove that a scholarship career may be taken. Nobles can afford private tutors. According to Merrill, among the Dalish Keepers and Firsts learn lore and history while the rest learn hunting. Nothing strange here. More strange is that Circle Mages receive a very good education, Shaperate archives have less limited access than normal for a medieval library, and Qunari use education as a tool of assimilation and conquest.
But education can be serious business. The Masked Empire began in the University of Orlais, after all. The key matter during Celene's conversation with Morrac was that there wasn't anyone in the university capable of explaining Vyranion's Theorem. That is, that a Tevinter scholar could shame the biggest learning centre in the Empire. Their refusal to accept a promising mathematician just because he was an elf was hindering Celene's efforts to beat Tevinter in that particular area of "soft power".
According to Merrill, among the Dalish Keepers and Firsts learn lore and history while the rest learn hunting. Nothing strange here. More strange is that Circle Mages receive a very good education, Shaperate archives have less limited access than normal for a medieval library, and Qunari use education as a tool of assimilation and conquest.
The Vir Tanadhal is a philosophy that teaches hunters to work in unison and respect nature, so it's not merely an issue of teaching them how to hunt. I wouldn't be surprised if mages (like Aneirin the Healer and Elora the Halla herder) were taught Vir Tanadhal instead. I hope Inquisition will expand on information about the Dalish, and about these two philosophies.
The Vir Tanadhal is a philosophy that teaches hunters to work in unison and respect nature, so it's not merely an issue of teaching them how to hunt. I wouldn't be surprised if mages (like Aneirin the Healer and Elora the Halla herder) were taught Vir Tanadhal instead. I hope Inquisition will expand on information about the Dalish, and about these two philosophies.
Sorry, I probably explained myself wrong. It's an issue about literacy. The Dalish are mainly a nomad society with oral traditions, so it's not difficult to accept that literacy is reserved for those with more 'sedentary' jobs, like mages (maybe halla herders too, who knows). I understood what Merrill said not as "I was taught a different philosophy", but as "I was taught indoors while veryone else was training outdoors". It could have been Merrill's case alone, mind you.
Sorry, I probably explained myself wrong. It's an issue about literacy. The Dalish are mainly a nomad society with oral traditions, so it's not difficult to accept that literacy is reserved for those with more 'sedentary' jobs, like mages (maybe halla herders too, who knows). I understood what Merrill said not as "I was taught a different philosophy", but as "I was taught indoors while veryone else was training outdoors". It could have been Merrill's case alone, mind you.
Cammen had a book that was written by Zathrian (about Iloren and his people battling the darkspawn during one of the previous Blights), so I don't think that literacy is limited to the First or the Keeper, especially given how he was a hunter. There's also a journal that was written by Taniel, who is identified as a "clan hunter".
I agree with that. In fact, my main point was about schools being good for mages, since the Circles and other systems already provide education for them. Also, that those education systems for mages are insufficient by themselves to deal with the most pressing matters about magic in Thedas. Each society has to complement them with other things.
I agree that the schools in the Circle are good for the mages, but the dystopian part of me occasionally wonders if they're too good. One of those not-really-reforms that could be tossed in the mix of the Circle Reformation Stew would be to give mages concessions in one field in exchange for changes to their education in others.
I doubt many people would find it particularly objectionable if, say, the mages were forbidden from having and studying treatise or war, insurgency, how to run rebellion, or openly seditious literature. Now, toggle that to the extremes a bit...
People blast the Chantry for indoctrinating the mages into self-fearing and subservience through propoganda, but the Circles have nothing to the academic rigor of, say, a North Korean curriculum.
About education for all, that would be a good objective by itself, magic or not. Hell, it's an objective we're struggling with in our real world, so I think that Thedas can take its time. I agree with previous posts that a better educated population may have a more positive outlook about magic; however, it's also insufficient even if Thedosian societies managed to somehow provide free liberal education to all. Because it can make you think that benefits may overcome drawbacks, but can't make you ignore the drawbacks. They will still have to be dealt with.
Or, alternatively, education could be presented in a way in which the unacceptable costs and risks outweigh the gains, and so education vindicates mage suppression rather than opposses it. As inspirational as 'the truth shall make you free' can be in abstract, in practicality there are plenty of contexts where an informed decisionmaker would disagree: sometimes the truth is bad enough to warrant extreme measures.
The Chantry is the main provider of education, but only to people who join their ranks, be it as brothers or sisters, or Templars. Religious education, mainly, but Genitivi and others prove that a scholarship career may be taken. Nobles can afford private tutors. According to Merrill, among the Dalish Keepers and Firsts learn lore and history while the rest learn hunting. Nothing strange here. More strange is that Circle Mages receive a very good education, Shaperate archives have less limited access than normal for a medieval library, and Qunari use education as a tool of assimilation and conquest.
The Chantry also teaches the public, albeit along religious lines. It isn't formalized, but it is what most people get.
Amusingly, I consider the Chantry the most plausible origin for any Thedasian equivalent to liberalism. It is the only major belief system that both is open towards individuality and has a core belief set that justifies, rather than refutes, the idea that all people are equal regardless of race.
But education can be serious business. The Masked Empire began in the University of Orlais, after all. The key matter during Celene's conversation with Morrac was that there wasn't anyone in the university capable of explaining Vyranion's Theorem. That is, that a Tevinter scholar could shame the biggest learning centre in the Empire. Their refusal to accept a promising mathematician just because he was an elf was hindering Celene's efforts to beat Tevinter in that particular area of "soft power".
Speaking as myself, I think soft power is quite overstated in many contexts. I think Celene's focus there ignored the very real hard power concerns that should have concerned her more.
I think the mages need to set a strict code of conduct which to follow while governing them selves while obtaining a role in chantry politics as to insure they a given adequate freedom, while the Templars become strictly an response unite to any violations that may accrue and have no ties left to the chantry and don't actually have any governing authority over the towers. Then the neutral inquisition would take up the responsibility of mentoring and governing the two factions to make sure that they play nice.
I agree that the schools in the Circle are good for the mages, but the dystopian part of me occasionally wonders if they're too good. One of those not-really-reforms that could be tossed in the mix of the Circle Reformation Stew would be to give mages concessions in one field in exchange for changes to their education in others.
I doubt many people would find it particularly objectionable if, say, the mages were forbidden from having and studying treatise or war, insurgency, how to run rebellion, or openly seditious literature. Now, toggle that to the extremes a bit...
I'm pretty sure that the Chantry already controls what is acceptable in Circle towers, if only because they forbid anything related to blood magic. Also, so far I haven't seen anything similar to 'Rebellion for dummies' in a Circle library. At least, not in the official catalogue. If you are talking about forbidding anything related to war and rebellion, the Chantry would have to forbid the Chant of Light itself!
Or, alternatively, education could be presented in a way in which the unacceptable costs and risks outweigh the gains, and so education vindicates mage suppression rather than opposses it. As inspirational as 'the truth shall make you free' can be in abstract, in practicality there are plenty of contexts where an informed decisionmaker would disagree: sometimes the truth is bad enough to warrant extreme measures.
Truth be told, some would say that the only two known organized education systems in Thedas already do that (Chantry and Qunari), so it wouldn't be the educational change they were mentioning before.
Amusingly, I consider the Chantry the most plausible origin for any Thedasian equivalent to liberalism. It is the only major belief system that both is open towards individuality and has a core belief set that justifies, rather than refutes, the idea that all people are equal regardless of race.
Speaking as myself, I think soft power is quite overstated in many contexts. I think Celene's focus there ignored the very real hard power concerns that should have concerned her more.
Given their similarities, it's like saying that Christianity was the most plausible origin for liberalism in our world. It's true, but only up to a certain point, because it forgets another important part: that liberalism was born to provide an answer to the known political systems first, rather than social systems, and that it soon included concepts such as separation between church and state, and religious tolerance. Things that would oppose the Chantry as we know it, since it supports feudalism around Thedas, Orlesian imperialism, and it's very jealous of its rights and privileges. It's telling that the thing that motivated the Grand Cleric to speak against Loghain in the Landsmeet is that he arrested a Templar.
Soft power rarely is taken into its right consideration. It's either underestimated by hard-power fans, or overestimated by its supporters. Achieving the right balance is harsh and I can't fault Celene for trying to improve Orlais' soft-power, too ignored by previous leaders. Again, Drakon is the best example of a ruler that managed to achieve the right balance.
One of the more progressive reforms I believe that would be beneficial for the purposes of maintaining the station would be emigration: I understand reasons why the Chantry would not like it, but I firmly support an experiment of letting any mage who wanted to go to Tevinter (or the Qun) do so. It doesn't even necessarily need to be with the consent of Tevinter: a mage who elects to leave Andrastian Thedas gets a ticket to be smuggled ashore, a warning that their phylacterie means we'll know if they try to sneak back over, and... well, it's on them (and Tevinter) to decide what's left.
Of course there would be no take-backsies, so it's as much voluntary exile as anything else, but simply having an option to leave (even if it's not an ideal one) is a great way to undercut the resentment of having no choice at all.[/quote]
I find emigration intrinsically preferable to imprisonment. However, the contiinued existence of the phylacteries would make sure those mages continue to hold a grudge. There can be no solution to this conflict that does not restrict the use of the phylacteries. Only if there's a way for mages to get out from under the Orlesian Chantry's thumbs (and that of similar organizations) for good will there be a chance for co-existence. I have occasionally envisioned a sanctuary for mages, something like a mage city somewhere.
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