congrekate | dragon age au!

The rumor mill is still going on as to why Jonathan Strange fled the circle to become an apostate mage. Some say that it's as simple as an argument with his former tutor. Others say that the man never really recovered from his actions in the Mage-Templar War. The most likely answer is that something snapped after the death of his beloved. The one thing everyone can agree on is that it's really a shame someone with such potential threw it all away. He could have easily made his way up the social ladder, working at a court somewhere!

To which Strange would respond that he was doing perfectly fine right now, thank you very much, even if he was currently living in a shack that leaked when it rained, he had not even half of the books he was used to, and he heard people whisper behind his back, calling him the 'mad mage of the Dales'. So be it. His plan was probably a bit mad to begin with: Jonathan Strange planned to summon a god.

Not just any god, of course. He had gone through the various pantheons, trying to find the perfect one to grant him what he wanted (power, mostly, a way to take the tools and trade of necromancy and make it more solid, to raise the dead instead of raising spirits.) And eventually, Strange settled on Fen'Harel. He could draw upon the power of the location of the Dales as well as his status as an outsider himself to appeal to the god. The ritual itself was the most complex part, but modified necromancy bindings and a few of his own additions should suffice.

And so, Strange performs the magic. And poor Solas is probably just damn confused as to what he sees when he's forcibly woken up from his nap. The shack is small, covered head to toe with knick-knacks and trinkets, some of magical significance, others not. Dried herbs cover a table and books cover almost any other flat surface. Good luck trying to find where Strange sleeps as the bed has also become storage space. The mage himself looks wild: a middle aged human with scruff and hair that looks like it hasn't seen a brush in years, clothes ragged and dirty. And he just regards Solas with sheer confusion.

"I thought the wolf part was literal."

This is an elf. This isn't a dog. Did he make a mistake in the summoning? And if he didn't summon a god, then who the hell did he summon?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It is a simple one," he returns in equal tons of nonchalance. "I am sure even you could learn the intricacies if you attempted it." A shaper jab than needed, he had at least seen that Strange knew magic, but it was hard to resist. He'll chalk it up to still being cranky from being woken up early.

Solas leads them down winding passages, frowning slightly when they come at crossroads before changing directions. If there was an eluvian in here it would be well hidden and if it weren't for the binding spell, he'd leave Strange at one of the libraries within while he left through it. He's clearly searching for something as walks further into the ruins, ignoring what could be a wealth of knowledge hidden away in side rooms.

The binding spell tugs at Solas almost instantly. Strange is distracted by the other direction of the crossroads and, like a child, wanders over to see what it contains. A small room juts off of one of the passages, containing a rudimentary library and a few books. He's picked up one of the books and is currently reading it, eyes lighting up at a certain passage.

When Solas inevitably comes back to tell him to keep moving, Strange looks up at the elf, pointing at a specific passage. "This text does seem to have some interesting applications for spirit magic...of course, it won't help with my current predicament but perhaps later..." And Strange's attention is drawn back to the book for a moment.

He is 100% going to steal this book.

Solas scowls when he feels the binding spell pull at him, stopping him from going further. They had places to go, somewhere else to be instead of trapped here so the man could poke and prod at all corners of this place. It's with disdain that he backtracks until he finds Strange. Normally he'd be pleased that someone had taken an interested in knowledge and learning, but given the circumstances it was difficult.

"Elvhenan was built on magic," he says with a shake of his head. As if it would be a surprise that they had far better applications of magic than those now. "Are you finished or do you require time to read the rest of the library?"

His question is dripping with dry sarcasm, but part of him has an odd feeling he will need to pry the man from here if they are to continue.

Strange rolls his eyes as he gives Solas a bit of a glare. "I intend to read every book in here," Strange responds. Though, he only lets the room pause for a moment before continuing, "but I suppose that can wait until later."

After all, they're books. What's the likelihood that they'll up and vanish any time in the next few days or so? Hardly likely. Though, as he exits the library, Strange doesn't put down the book that he was reading. It's straight up getting stolen.

Though, he has to ask... "Do you think there would be other libraries in the ruins?"

Of course, the man does. At least he was finally moving. Solas is less concerned about the stolen book since he's fairly certain Strange will end up dead at some point during this venture. It will make retrieving it easier later so long as blood is not splattered over it. Though he refuses to let it pass without comment.

"Yes, by all means, pilfer from the graves of my People." What was yet another thing stolen from them. "That would depend on the nature of this place. The knowledge of Vir Dirthana was easily accessible to those allowed to use such libraries."

It was a journey through the Crossroads, faster than any sort of travel he's seen those now capable of.

Whoo hoo graverobbing!

Strange doesn't really seem to care about that whole 'pilfer from the graves of my People' bit as he shrugs and starts following Solas's lead again. They're not using them, he might as well get some use out of them. And as they continue walking, Strange continues to look down every passageway, like an easily distracted small child.

Though Strange did have some more questions. "I've not heard of Vir..." oh god, his elvish is terrible, he's going to mangle this word "...Darthira?" That is not it but it's the best it's getting. "Some other set of ruins, I'd assume."

"Vir Dirthana," he corrects immediately. He doesn't expect the uncouth human to know how to say a lick of elvhen, but he would have hoped the man could repeat something so simple. Never mind that elvhen is a strange mess of rolling vowels and gibberish.

"Ruins now, shattered from what it once was. It is our grand library and not far from reach," he repeats. "This is likely the remains of a personal collection."

Or what had been needed immediately on hand. He pauses in annoyance every time Strange's attention is diverted, if only so he doesn't activate the even more annoying effects of the bonding spell.

"That's what I said," Strange responds, knowing perfectly well that isn't what he said. His stubborn pride won't let him admit that he fucked up the pronunciation. Besides, they're talking about books anyway, time to change the subject.

Though as they talk about the library, Strange's eyes light up. A grand library? How wonderful. All the knowledge, all the magic, all the things he could learn if he even spent a day there. A expression of amazement plants itself on Strange's face just at the thought of the library.

"How does one get there?" he asks. Because of course Strange is going to try and find a way to get to the library, why wouldn't he? Again, it sounds amazing. "Vir Dirthana, how can we find the ruins?" At least he pronounced it right this time.

He gives Strange a look that tells him that he knows exactly what Strange said and he wasn't going to acknowledge it further. The man didn't deserve that. Though he is hardly surprised a human would have difficulties saying it, Solas always found Common to be an ugly language. That elvhen was as lost as it was even to those claiming to preserve the culture of his People was an annoyance beyond measure.

"We found an eluvian," he says as if that is the simplest matter in the world. And as if Strange should know precisely of what he speaks. "One that is working. We need access to the paths of travel used in Elvhenan if we are to get there."

What remained of Vir Dirthana was less than Solas would like, but he doesn't expect Strange to make it there. The Crossroads held their own dangers that would make quick work of an unsuspecting traveler.

Maker's breath, why is this elf so...elfy. Strange doesn't know what an eluvian is, though he's able to put enough context clues together to take a guess. A mode of transport of some kind? Though why it was needed to access certain paths, Strange couldn't guess. Couldn't they walk to Vir Dirthana?

"You'll have to tell me about these eluvians later. If I could find one for myself, the amount of knowledge I could—"

Something dangerously rumbles in the background.

"What was that?"

dragon age au!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

after doing a ctrl + f through 200 comments to see if eluvians got mentioned somewhere before...