One part of this whole Inquisitor thing, Estella had discovered, was trying to figure out how to achieve the things sheâd decided were good to do.
Logistics had never been much of an issue for her before. She hadnât been in charge of the Lions in any significant way; any and all leadership she would have been expected to do there would have involved either mission reports or command on an assignment. That was frightening enough, but realizing just how much more work happened beyond that was a terrifying process of entire avenues of problems being opened to her that she hadnât even known existed before. Everywhere they turned, the Inquisition needed something: more personnel, for sure, but also food to feed the people they already had, much less the ones they would hopefully yet acquire. Equipment, for the regulars and irregulars alike. Raw materials for the craftsmen. Gold to pay the builders and architects who worked on Skyhold. Lyrium for the templars and mages. Wages for everyone. Supplies for the animals.
It was a staggering amount of things, almost none of which they were in a position to pay for, and then there was transportation and protection for caravans, and dozens of other considerations. Even in the relatively simple calculations regarding prisoners and the like, there were things that needed to be worked out.
When sheâd decided that Cassius should be guarded at all times by one mage and one templar, sheâd done so in an effort to show that both groups were to be trusted with this kind of thing, and also in what she hoped was a good-faith attempt at making sure he was watched by people who would be both suspicious of him and also understand when what he was doing was necessary to his research and not an escape attempt. It had seemed a good solution at the time, but of course⊠sheâd asked mages and templars to work together for an extended period of time, on keeping a magical prisoner, which was for people on both sides an understandably sensitive issue.
After the third report of a disrupted watch because the two people whoâd been told to work together couldnât manage it, she had decided a different approach was in order. So sheâd invited Aurora and SĂ©verine into her office, and Rilien as well, in large part because she still didnât trust much to her own wisdom, and they were seated now around the centerpiece of the room: a decently-sized round table with several identical chairs. Rilien was across from her, SĂ©verine to her right side, and Aurora to her left, the two extra chairs moved away to give them all space for the paperwork, which in her case was a shift schedule still very much in progress.
âUm, okay. I think weâve got this worked out so that no one is on duty with someone we know they donât like, so hopefully that will prevent any further incidents, butâŠâ She pursed her lips, looking down at the roster and knitting her brows. âI think⊠weâre just treating the symptoms here, and not the real problem. I know you both run tight ships, and I donât think youâre doing anything wrongâthis whole situation could be much worse than it is.â With poor leadership, the two groups might well have started their war all over again in Skyhold, and she wasnât sure they could act fast enough to suppress that if it happened.
âEven so⊠I worry. Being restrained enough not to act on ill feeling doesnât make the ill feeling go away, and it will pose problems in the future, if the mages and the templars have to work with one another. So I thought⊠maybe we should think about ways to foster genuine camaraderie, if possible. Do either of you have any ideas about how we might achieve that?â She had a couple, but they knew the positions of their people much better than she did. Estella had never been a Templar, though sheâd known quite a few, and never really been a mage in a Circle, though she might have been, with a slightly different life. If she wanted to best understand how to help them get along, then, she needed help. Fortunately, help was what she had.
SĂ©verine sat with her legs crossed, listening intently to Estella's words. It was the first time Estella had seen her not in the full gear of a templar Knight-Captain, today lighter gear of mail and leather emblazoned with the Templar flaming sword. Her thumb and forefinger were placed upon her jaw and cheekbone, respectively, as she thought. "Templars are put at ease by having mages in sight," she admitted, glancing at Aurora. "With different reasons depending on the templar. But I don't think familiarity will, in this case, breed contempt. If the mages will allow the templars to oversee them in their studies, we might bring these two groups at least back to some kind of normality."
Aurora had forgone the enchanters' robes afforded to her by her new station, and instead was garbed in more practical outfit of an ordinary, if brightly-colored shirt and trousers. The shirt was cut high on the upper arm, and revealed many scars, more than Estella remembered seeing back in Kirkwall. She sat with one leg over the other, a hand resting on the knee and the other holding the arm of the chair. She seemed relaxed, but her eyes were intent and she nodded her head along with Estella's words. Aurora turned in her seat to look at SĂ©verine while she spoke, and then spoke herself. "The mages wouldn't agree to being watched by the Templars again," her tone was not accusing in the slightest, delivered only in a matter-of-factly way.
"It reminds them too much of the Circle, and no doubt a few would lash out in response," she said, sighing. It as clear by the way she spoke, that she already given it some measure of thought on her own. One of Aurora's first actions as the Captain of the mages were to officially resume their teachings and studies. A rhythmic tapping arose from the arm of the chair her hand rested at, and when it stopped, she spoke again. "Instead, I want to suggest something a little... different," she said to SĂ©verine with a slight incline of her head.
"The mages won't allow someone to watch over their sholulders, but they may allow someone to learn beside them," Aurora began, uncrossing her legs and leaning across her chair. "Ser SĂ©verine, I'd like it if some of your templars would join some of my mages in their studies. This way, the mages do not feel watched, and the templars will learn more of us." With that beside said, Aurora relaxed back in her chair and glanced back to Rilien and Estella.
"They cannot learn the spells, obviously, but spells are only a small part of what we teach. They could learn magical theory, practical applications, and our concentration and focus techniques with us. I'm sure that the templars can get some practical use out of these lessons as well."
âPerhaps something like that could go both ways?â Estella tapped her fingers on the table in a quick staccato pattern, at least until she realized she was doing it and forced herself to stop. âI think⊠it seems likely that Templar training would benefit a great deal from having actual spells to cleanse, for example, and the mages from knowing more about it. Not, um⊠not smiting, of courseâthat hurts a bit much for regular practice.â Most peopleâs regular practice, anyway. She glanced over at Rilien for a brief moment, then returned her attention to what she was saying.
âBut I think it might help both sides feel like theyâre benefiting, and encourage a more friendly version of competition. If a mage sets an area spell and a templar tries to dispel it, both techniques get better, and itâs a chance to see how both can benefit the other, instead of always being at odds?â She supposed there might be something overly idealistic in that, but even if none of the upshots she was hoping for came from it, theyâd end up with stronger mages and stronger templars, and that was something the Inquisition could use. Not that they were weak in the first place, of course.
SĂ©verine did not look convinced at all, and looked to be carefully considering her words. She shifted her posture up a little straighter in her chair. "I can think of a number of ways for this to go wrong, and very few for it to go right. Templars do study magic, but our purpose is to nullify its dangers. Suggesting mages and templars exist in the same space means that the mages will be watched. You can only disguise the act, not remove it altogether." She curled her hand into a loose fist, pressing fingers momentarily against her lips.
"That said..." she spoke in a tone of concession, "it may do some of mine good to see the kind of useful work mages are capable of. Some have seen nothing but theoretical study in the Circles, followed by endless aggression during the war. They need to be reminded of the potential of magic for more than destruction." She glanced back and forth between them. "As for the suggested activities, I cannot recommend a slow enough approach. I have precious few candidates I would trust currently to demonstrate cooperation, and I'm certain you have but a few mages that would allow templars to hone their abilities in their midst."
âExtreme caution is advisable.â Rilien nodded slightly to SĂ©verine. âChange is not impossible. But it is also not quick, in circumstances like these.â He didnât appear to have anything further to add, but then he narrowed his eyes just faintly. âThe other solution is, of course, simply to keep them as far from one another as possible, but that is hardly feasible, even in an area of this size.â
"Of course," Aurora agreed with an incline of her head, "I wouldn't suggest we simply throw them together and hope for the best," she said with a small smile. "I have a few of my mages in mind that I trust would be agreeable to work with your templars," she said thoughtfully, as if she was going over the list in her head.
"We would start slowly, only one or two at a time to get the others used to the idea. Though," she paused for a moment, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly, "I'd like to volunteer to be the among the first to work with the templars. I won't ask the mages to do something that I wouldn't personally, and I need to set an example for the rest."
"Sound plan." SĂ©verine nodded, steepling her fingers and looking to the Inquisitor. "I can have the names of suitable candidates on my end by the end of the day."
Estella nodded slightly, scaling back her optimism and reminding herself that this nevertheless could turn out to be a very good thing. But Rilien was right, change was seldom swift, especially on a scale like this, and that they even had the opportunity to begin making it could only be a good thing. âPlease do,â she replied, the words feeling odd on her tongue. Though the phrasing was pleasant as she could make it, she was still in effect telling someone else what to doâsomeone more experienced and likely considerably wiser than she. It was so strange; all of them were, and yet⊠they didnât seem to have as many reservations about listening to her as she did about speaking to them with any faint suggestion of authority.
It would take some getting used to. Part of her didnât think she ever would. Maybe that was for the best.
âAurora, if you think you could do the same, Iâd appreciate it. I can arrange a schedule that doesnât conflict with anything youâre already doing, and perhaps Rilien can have the western part of the bailey cleared at those times? Iâd like to avoid crowding when possible.â That would only increase the potential awkwardness of the situation, and she wanted everyone to have plenty of space in case a spell or templar ability went slightly awry.
"Of course" Aurora replied with a smile and a respectful incline of her head.
âIt will be done." Rilien's addition was succinct as ever, but there was an ever-so-slight bit of approval evident in the way he delivered it, perhaps audible only to someone who knew him as well as Estella did.
âAll right, then.â Estella smiled at all of them. âThen weâll say this meeting is adjourned, and let you all get back to what you were doing.â As they filed out, she sighed softly, relieved that at least matters had been resolved, or at least, a resolution was in the making. That felt⊠pretty good, actually, but she didnât let herself linger on it. There was so much more yet to do, after all, even just today, and she picked up the guard roster and moved back to her desk, adding the last few details and affixing it with her signature.
She definitely had even more respect for what Commander Lucien did now, not to mention Lady Marceline and the Inquisitionâs other so-called advisors. âAdvisorâ really short changed their work, she thought, but it was what theyâd decided on calling themselves. Probably to avoid issues of unclear leadership. Sheâd have preferred it be unclear, or clearly not her, but at least she hadnât messed anything up terribly yet.
For now, that would have to be good enough.
Logistics had never been much of an issue for her before. She hadnât been in charge of the Lions in any significant way; any and all leadership she would have been expected to do there would have involved either mission reports or command on an assignment. That was frightening enough, but realizing just how much more work happened beyond that was a terrifying process of entire avenues of problems being opened to her that she hadnât even known existed before. Everywhere they turned, the Inquisition needed something: more personnel, for sure, but also food to feed the people they already had, much less the ones they would hopefully yet acquire. Equipment, for the regulars and irregulars alike. Raw materials for the craftsmen. Gold to pay the builders and architects who worked on Skyhold. Lyrium for the templars and mages. Wages for everyone. Supplies for the animals.
It was a staggering amount of things, almost none of which they were in a position to pay for, and then there was transportation and protection for caravans, and dozens of other considerations. Even in the relatively simple calculations regarding prisoners and the like, there were things that needed to be worked out.
When sheâd decided that Cassius should be guarded at all times by one mage and one templar, sheâd done so in an effort to show that both groups were to be trusted with this kind of thing, and also in what she hoped was a good-faith attempt at making sure he was watched by people who would be both suspicious of him and also understand when what he was doing was necessary to his research and not an escape attempt. It had seemed a good solution at the time, but of course⊠sheâd asked mages and templars to work together for an extended period of time, on keeping a magical prisoner, which was for people on both sides an understandably sensitive issue.
After the third report of a disrupted watch because the two people whoâd been told to work together couldnât manage it, she had decided a different approach was in order. So sheâd invited Aurora and SĂ©verine into her office, and Rilien as well, in large part because she still didnât trust much to her own wisdom, and they were seated now around the centerpiece of the room: a decently-sized round table with several identical chairs. Rilien was across from her, SĂ©verine to her right side, and Aurora to her left, the two extra chairs moved away to give them all space for the paperwork, which in her case was a shift schedule still very much in progress.
âUm, okay. I think weâve got this worked out so that no one is on duty with someone we know they donât like, so hopefully that will prevent any further incidents, butâŠâ She pursed her lips, looking down at the roster and knitting her brows. âI think⊠weâre just treating the symptoms here, and not the real problem. I know you both run tight ships, and I donât think youâre doing anything wrongâthis whole situation could be much worse than it is.â With poor leadership, the two groups might well have started their war all over again in Skyhold, and she wasnât sure they could act fast enough to suppress that if it happened.
âEven so⊠I worry. Being restrained enough not to act on ill feeling doesnât make the ill feeling go away, and it will pose problems in the future, if the mages and the templars have to work with one another. So I thought⊠maybe we should think about ways to foster genuine camaraderie, if possible. Do either of you have any ideas about how we might achieve that?â She had a couple, but they knew the positions of their people much better than she did. Estella had never been a Templar, though sheâd known quite a few, and never really been a mage in a Circle, though she might have been, with a slightly different life. If she wanted to best understand how to help them get along, then, she needed help. Fortunately, help was what she had.
SĂ©verine sat with her legs crossed, listening intently to Estella's words. It was the first time Estella had seen her not in the full gear of a templar Knight-Captain, today lighter gear of mail and leather emblazoned with the Templar flaming sword. Her thumb and forefinger were placed upon her jaw and cheekbone, respectively, as she thought. "Templars are put at ease by having mages in sight," she admitted, glancing at Aurora. "With different reasons depending on the templar. But I don't think familiarity will, in this case, breed contempt. If the mages will allow the templars to oversee them in their studies, we might bring these two groups at least back to some kind of normality."
Aurora had forgone the enchanters' robes afforded to her by her new station, and instead was garbed in more practical outfit of an ordinary, if brightly-colored shirt and trousers. The shirt was cut high on the upper arm, and revealed many scars, more than Estella remembered seeing back in Kirkwall. She sat with one leg over the other, a hand resting on the knee and the other holding the arm of the chair. She seemed relaxed, but her eyes were intent and she nodded her head along with Estella's words. Aurora turned in her seat to look at SĂ©verine while she spoke, and then spoke herself. "The mages wouldn't agree to being watched by the Templars again," her tone was not accusing in the slightest, delivered only in a matter-of-factly way.
"It reminds them too much of the Circle, and no doubt a few would lash out in response," she said, sighing. It as clear by the way she spoke, that she already given it some measure of thought on her own. One of Aurora's first actions as the Captain of the mages were to officially resume their teachings and studies. A rhythmic tapping arose from the arm of the chair her hand rested at, and when it stopped, she spoke again. "Instead, I want to suggest something a little... different," she said to SĂ©verine with a slight incline of her head.
"The mages won't allow someone to watch over their sholulders, but they may allow someone to learn beside them," Aurora began, uncrossing her legs and leaning across her chair. "Ser SĂ©verine, I'd like it if some of your templars would join some of my mages in their studies. This way, the mages do not feel watched, and the templars will learn more of us." With that beside said, Aurora relaxed back in her chair and glanced back to Rilien and Estella.
"They cannot learn the spells, obviously, but spells are only a small part of what we teach. They could learn magical theory, practical applications, and our concentration and focus techniques with us. I'm sure that the templars can get some practical use out of these lessons as well."
âPerhaps something like that could go both ways?â Estella tapped her fingers on the table in a quick staccato pattern, at least until she realized she was doing it and forced herself to stop. âI think⊠it seems likely that Templar training would benefit a great deal from having actual spells to cleanse, for example, and the mages from knowing more about it. Not, um⊠not smiting, of courseâthat hurts a bit much for regular practice.â Most peopleâs regular practice, anyway. She glanced over at Rilien for a brief moment, then returned her attention to what she was saying.
âBut I think it might help both sides feel like theyâre benefiting, and encourage a more friendly version of competition. If a mage sets an area spell and a templar tries to dispel it, both techniques get better, and itâs a chance to see how both can benefit the other, instead of always being at odds?â She supposed there might be something overly idealistic in that, but even if none of the upshots she was hoping for came from it, theyâd end up with stronger mages and stronger templars, and that was something the Inquisition could use. Not that they were weak in the first place, of course.
SĂ©verine did not look convinced at all, and looked to be carefully considering her words. She shifted her posture up a little straighter in her chair. "I can think of a number of ways for this to go wrong, and very few for it to go right. Templars do study magic, but our purpose is to nullify its dangers. Suggesting mages and templars exist in the same space means that the mages will be watched. You can only disguise the act, not remove it altogether." She curled her hand into a loose fist, pressing fingers momentarily against her lips.
"That said..." she spoke in a tone of concession, "it may do some of mine good to see the kind of useful work mages are capable of. Some have seen nothing but theoretical study in the Circles, followed by endless aggression during the war. They need to be reminded of the potential of magic for more than destruction." She glanced back and forth between them. "As for the suggested activities, I cannot recommend a slow enough approach. I have precious few candidates I would trust currently to demonstrate cooperation, and I'm certain you have but a few mages that would allow templars to hone their abilities in their midst."
âExtreme caution is advisable.â Rilien nodded slightly to SĂ©verine. âChange is not impossible. But it is also not quick, in circumstances like these.â He didnât appear to have anything further to add, but then he narrowed his eyes just faintly. âThe other solution is, of course, simply to keep them as far from one another as possible, but that is hardly feasible, even in an area of this size.â
"Of course," Aurora agreed with an incline of her head, "I wouldn't suggest we simply throw them together and hope for the best," she said with a small smile. "I have a few of my mages in mind that I trust would be agreeable to work with your templars," she said thoughtfully, as if she was going over the list in her head.
"We would start slowly, only one or two at a time to get the others used to the idea. Though," she paused for a moment, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly, "I'd like to volunteer to be the among the first to work with the templars. I won't ask the mages to do something that I wouldn't personally, and I need to set an example for the rest."
"Sound plan." SĂ©verine nodded, steepling her fingers and looking to the Inquisitor. "I can have the names of suitable candidates on my end by the end of the day."
Estella nodded slightly, scaling back her optimism and reminding herself that this nevertheless could turn out to be a very good thing. But Rilien was right, change was seldom swift, especially on a scale like this, and that they even had the opportunity to begin making it could only be a good thing. âPlease do,â she replied, the words feeling odd on her tongue. Though the phrasing was pleasant as she could make it, she was still in effect telling someone else what to doâsomeone more experienced and likely considerably wiser than she. It was so strange; all of them were, and yet⊠they didnât seem to have as many reservations about listening to her as she did about speaking to them with any faint suggestion of authority.
It would take some getting used to. Part of her didnât think she ever would. Maybe that was for the best.
âAurora, if you think you could do the same, Iâd appreciate it. I can arrange a schedule that doesnât conflict with anything youâre already doing, and perhaps Rilien can have the western part of the bailey cleared at those times? Iâd like to avoid crowding when possible.â That would only increase the potential awkwardness of the situation, and she wanted everyone to have plenty of space in case a spell or templar ability went slightly awry.
"Of course" Aurora replied with a smile and a respectful incline of her head.
âIt will be done." Rilien's addition was succinct as ever, but there was an ever-so-slight bit of approval evident in the way he delivered it, perhaps audible only to someone who knew him as well as Estella did.
âAll right, then.â Estella smiled at all of them. âThen weâll say this meeting is adjourned, and let you all get back to what you were doing.â As they filed out, she sighed softly, relieved that at least matters had been resolved, or at least, a resolution was in the making. That felt⊠pretty good, actually, but she didnât let herself linger on it. There was so much more yet to do, after all, even just today, and she picked up the guard roster and moved back to her desk, adding the last few details and affixing it with her signature.
She definitely had even more respect for what Commander Lucien did now, not to mention Lady Marceline and the Inquisitionâs other so-called advisors. âAdvisorâ really short changed their work, she thought, but it was what theyâd decided on calling themselves. Probably to avoid issues of unclear leadership. Sheâd have preferred it be unclear, or clearly not her, but at least she hadnât messed anything up terribly yet.
For now, that would have to be good enough.