Part 3
Part 3: In which the writer goes totally insane from the amount of text he has to transcribe, and talks to some more people.
"Are you all right? Say something, please..."
"A demon! Die, demon!"
"I'm glad you're all right. They carried you in this morning. I didn't even realize you'd been gone all night."
"I've heard about apprentices who never come back from Harrowings. Is it really that dangerous? What was it like?"
"Stop pestering me, Jowan."
"Hhph. So much for friendship. I'll leave you alone then."
Seriously, who actually takes that pose? How old is he, 5?
"I've been here longer than you have... Sometimes I think they just don't want to test me."
"You're just paranoid."
"No, I'm afraid of what will happen to me."
"You do the Harrowing, the Rite of Tranquility... or you die. That's what happens."
"What does this have to do with you?"
"If... if they don't call apprentices to the Harrowing, it probably means... Tranquility."
"You've seen Tranquil around the tower. Like Owain, who runs the stockroom."
"He's so cold. No, not even cold. There's just... nothing in him. It's like he's dead, but still walking. His voice, his eyes are lifeless..."
"I think you're reading too much into it."
"I shouldn't waste your time with this. I was supposed to tell you to see Irving as soon as you woke up."
-No wonder this guy never was allowed to do the test, he can't even pass along a message without going offtopic-
"Where is he?"
"He said he'd be in his study upstairs."
"You'd better not keep him waiting. We can speak later."
-If I'm late, it's his fault. Damn, he's a dick.-
We walk around a bit and see a door. let's investigate!
"No you may not. I am surprised you ask."
"I would have thought you'd be used to this idea by now."
"Is this the only way out of the tower?"
"The only safe one, as far as I know. There are windows on the higher levels, but surely you don't need me to warn you of the dangers of leaping from them."
"It never ends well."
"I should get going."
"Maker smile fortune on you."
We walk around on the first floor of the academy a bit, it's got a nice scripted atmosphere going on with teachers teaching stuff.
We take the the stairs to the second floor and encounter the Owain Jowan told us about.
And here we see the first mentally-challenged person in Dragon Age, Owain. He's a tranquil, which means he's basically a ment... ehhm, mage stripped of his ability and emotions. We'll also encounter a retarted dwarf in our travels, because mental handicaps are totally dark, yo.
"The stockroom is not a shop. Your mentor should have clarified this."
"The stockroom stores components used in magical and alchemical experiments. Do you require something?"
-Ignoring his inquiry, we let our curiosity get the better of us. -
"Are you really a Tranquil mage?"
"I voluntarily submitted to the Rite of Tranquility. I was unwilling to undergo the Harrowing."
"I find this state agreeable."
"What is it like not having emotions?"
"I see the world with clarity. I remember the days when my mind was filled with inconvenient and seething emotions."
-Seething emotions? That sounds horrible. -
"Now things are simple."
"And now you are no longer a person."
"My body is similar in form to yours, possessing an equal number of limbs, appendages, and internal organs."
-This is essential, because this shows us, in an early stage of the game, that elfs and humans are exactly the same. Besides the ears. -
"I perform the same physical functions. My mind is capable of higher thought processes."
"Am I to be denied personhood because I do not feel as you do?"
"You might as well be an artfully made construct."
"People feel different things to different degrees. One individual may be more empathetic than the next. Some are quick to anger, while others are not."
-Dialogue option 3, seriously? Is that supposed to be evil? Who'd actually pick that one? -
"I propose we agree to disagree."
"Personhood is not merasurable. Therefore, we should let this rest."
"I should go now."
"Hello. Were you looking for something?"
Who are you?
"Oh, the fraternities. Groups of mages with a common agenda."
-Really? Which one has the 'enslaving people with necromancy'-agenda?-
"I'd hide alone in the wild if I could. But you know they'd just brand me an apostate and hunt me down."
"There is no leaving the Circle. It's till death do us part. Romantic, isn't it?"
"Apostate?"
-One of the things that annoys me in DA. You've got a rather rich if somewhat bland backstory, but your character can act like he doesn't know anything about the world without anyone going "... You should really know this by now, this is rather essential in our trade, you know. Retard." -
"If you leave the circle, you become an apostate. And the punishment for leaving is death."
"Pretty grim, huh?"
"It's a punishment well-deserved."
"So they say."
"I've heard of hedge witches who've managed to survive on their own, eluding the Circle for a lifetime."
"But if the templars discover them... well, you know what happens."
-what's this guy doing in our conversation? He doesn't actually say this, the camera just cuts to him with a dumbstruck look on his face. -
We end the conversation and talk to Samuel L. Jackson.
"Uh... oh! They're found in all Circles throughout Thedas, groups of enchanters who hold similar viewpoints who band together to make their voices heard."
"The most influential Fraternity are the Aequitarians. They're moderates, and believe in a code of conduct that all mages should adhere to."
"Then there are the chantry apologists, the Loyalists. The Chantry says something and they follow it to the letter."
"The Lucrosians just want to make money, and the Isolationists would like us all to be hermits and live on an island."
"Then, of course, are the Libertarians. They want more power for the Circle, more autonomy."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"That's what they would say."
(sigh) "Mages have enough opposition from the outside without tearing our Circles apart with in-fighting. But what can you do?"
-We leave the conversation before we can answer this. -
"I should get going."
We find another elf sitting at a table that's way out of proportion.
"Do you need something? If not, step back; you're in my light."
"I'll stand where I please."
"I will be soon. I have studied hard, and this opportunity will not pass me by."
"This is a chance for me to prove I can achieve as much as any human."
"Many humans believe elves are only fit to be servants."
"I agree. We should show them."
-Yeah! Scoia'Tael time!
"With most of our history lost, I suppose I'll never really know. Maybe the Dalish elves would, but I've never met one."
"Dalish Elf?"
-We once again reveal our complete lack of IC-knowledge. Seriously, what do they teach at this school of magic? Not history of the world, that's for certain. -
"They live in the wilderness, traveling where they will. I've heard they keep the old beliefs alive."
"I wish I knew the old language."
"As do I. Perhaps one day I will have the chance to learn it."
-This was new in my playthrough, I hope it'll have some effects later in the game, seeing SPOILAR Lothering gets destroyed quite early in the game. I doubt it, but it'd be a nice touch. -
"I suppose it doesn't matter where we're from, does it? We're in the Circle now,"
"We're reviled as mages as well."
"I am satisfied knowing the humans who looked down upon me will fear me instead."
-Man, I want to recruit this guy for my mage army of evil. Too bad I can't.-
"But I should get back to my books."
"Fine, go back to your books."
We walk around and find an empty bookshelf...
... and an old Senior enchanter staring at a bookcase.
"Oh... hello. I don't believe we've met... are you new to the Circle?"
"Are you daft? I've seen you in here many times."
"I'm sorry. There are so many of you, and I get confused. Not to mention these old eyes are starting to go..."
"Starting? I'd say they've already gone."
"Such cheek! Why, in my day, junior mages wouldn't dare say such things to an older mage."
"If they did, it was an hour in the freezy chair."
-Oh boy. This should be interesting, in a totally non-awkward-way.-
"Freezy Chair?"
"Anyway, did you need something?"
"I think I should go."
We enter a room and find a mage preparing it for the Grey Warden, that just happens to be visiting. I'll skip most of the dialogue, since I can't be arsed to type out more dialogue than is needed. Time for a short summary of all the characters.
The old veteran that's now preparing the room for a grey warden...
... the conspiracy loon...
... personal crisis girl...
... iinvisible wall guard...
..And eventually we find Irving. Yay.
A conflict between the mages and the chantry? A friend asking for help? An impossible love? All this, and more, on the next update of DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS
