Years after the occurrence of Red Lyrium, the mages still had no idea how to counter its effects other than to destroy it. However word from the Inquisition a while back had showed that the lyrium was blighted and after things had settled, one sample of it was brought to the keep for the Wardens to handle since they were the experts on the Blight after all.
Markvart would have been informed of its arrival, mostly because the insight of another mage would be useful although other scholars keen on studying it would be welcomed.
In one of the rooms, a box of red lyrium had been placed in the middle, away from anything else. Divine Victoria had sent a Tranquil to deliver it. The woman was one of the few who had escaped the terrible fate that had befallen her fellows and she would be there to oversee the study if the Wardens could do anything about it.
Windell the senachal, was present, carefully examining it and using metal tongs to touch it.
Markvart would have been informed of its arrival, mostly because the insight of another mage would be useful although other scholars keen on studying it would be welcomed.
In one of the rooms, a box of red lyrium had been placed in the middle, away from anything else. Divine Victoria had sent a Tranquil to deliver it. The woman was one of the few who had escaped the terrible fate that had befallen her fellows and she would be there to oversee the study if the Wardens could do anything about it.
Windell the senachal, was present, carefully examining it and using metal tongs to touch it.
After receiving word of the sample of Red Lyrium, Markvart travelled to its storage room out of curiosity. The study of the substance was not his field of expertise, though its effect on people did intrigue him; twisting one's own appearance and psychology was a curious case after all.
Once he arrived in the room, he noticed someone prodding at the lyrium with tongs. It was understandable that such precautions would be taken; the prospect of losing your sanity and your body morphing itself to something like a corpse wasn't a welcome thought to most.
"Warden, care to inform me of your findings so far?"
Once he arrived in the room, he noticed someone prodding at the lyrium with tongs. It was understandable that such precautions would be taken; the prospect of losing your sanity and your body morphing itself to something like a corpse wasn't a welcome thought to most.
"Warden, care to inform me of your findings so far?"
Janella was also curious about Red Lyrium, and didn't want to turn down an opportunity to observe it in a more controlled environment. Having recently arrived back from Denerim, she planned on taking a couple of days of rest before heading out again. The elf arrived shortly after Markvart, glancing over to him and offering a nod. Her gaze slid over to take in the substance as it was manipulated with the tongs. "Afternoon," she said. "Encountered some of this in Valammar recently, leaking out of a room that seemed to have suffered an explosion or collapse in a thaig."
Selora was hardly going to pass up the opportunity that the Red Lyrium presented for study. The Imperium was positively entranced with it, likely for the wrong reasons, but it hadn't appeared there overly much during the events with Corypheus. As such it was a rare resource and smuggling it out of Fereldan or Orlais was not as easily done as said.
She entered, wearing traditional Tevinter style robes, staff slung comfortably over her back. Her hair was tied back and braided to keep it out of the way of her face, assuming she had the chance to work with it at all. Her eyes took in those present, nods given to those she'd met already, polite smiles to those she hadn't. As an observer, she stuck closer towards the back rather than push up front. She definitely angled herself so she could see what was done however.
There were numerous faces here she didn't know. And the presence of a Tranquil... Selora couldn't help but feel discomforted by it's presence. A reminder of what all mages could be if their Chantry overlords decided to rob them of their natural gifts.
She entered, wearing traditional Tevinter style robes, staff slung comfortably over her back. Her hair was tied back and braided to keep it out of the way of her face, assuming she had the chance to work with it at all. Her eyes took in those present, nods given to those she'd met already, polite smiles to those she hadn't. As an observer, she stuck closer towards the back rather than push up front. She definitely angled herself so she could see what was done however.
There were numerous faces here she didn't know. And the presence of a Tranquil... Selora couldn't help but feel discomforted by it's presence. A reminder of what all mages could be if their Chantry overlords decided to rob them of their natural gifts.
Vimes would be funnily enough absent for it's study... but then again if one knew his background it wasn't hard to figure why. Instead, the Senachal was there as he turned it around before placing it back into the box. Windell looked up when Markvart came in, along with Selora.
"Delegates," he greeted politely before turning to look at Janella smiling a bit.
"Ah it's good that you're here then. Did you find anything interesting about the lyrium? Was it still... alive so to speak when you found it?" Windell asked the elven rogue.
The Tranquil at that point would speak up in her emotionless tone, "I am Elissa. With the dissolution of the Inquisition, the Divine seeks to further understand the red lyrium. As it has been determined during the time of the Inquisition that red lyrium is blighted lyrium, she hopes that the wardens will be able to lend their expertise of the Blight in solving the red lyrium crisis."
Red Lyrium had been cropping up all over Thedas after the Breach after all, and despite the efforts of the Inquisition, it was still taking a toll on the land.
"Delegates," he greeted politely before turning to look at Janella smiling a bit.
"Ah it's good that you're here then. Did you find anything interesting about the lyrium? Was it still... alive so to speak when you found it?" Windell asked the elven rogue.
The Tranquil at that point would speak up in her emotionless tone, "I am Elissa. With the dissolution of the Inquisition, the Divine seeks to further understand the red lyrium. As it has been determined during the time of the Inquisition that red lyrium is blighted lyrium, she hopes that the wardens will be able to lend their expertise of the Blight in solving the red lyrium crisis."
Red Lyrium had been cropping up all over Thedas after the Breach after all, and despite the efforts of the Inquisition, it was still taking a toll on the land.
Markvart looked at the lyrium intently, examining its features for himself. During the time of the Inquisition, he was still in Nevarra undertaking Mortalitasi duties so the chances to see one in person were few.
"It truly is a fascinating substance..." he half-spoke half-mumbled. Once he was finished with his observation, Markvart turned to the elven warden that had made her appearance shortly after himself and the other delegate. Hearing of a first-hand encounter with red lyrium would certainly be of use to the investigation - and his own curiosity of course.
"It truly is a fascinating substance..." he half-spoke half-mumbled. Once he was finished with his observation, Markvart turned to the elven warden that had made her appearance shortly after himself and the other delegate. Hearing of a first-hand encounter with red lyrium would certainly be of use to the investigation - and his own curiosity of course.
Janella hid her apprehension over the presence of Red Lyrium and the Tranquil. She offered polite greetings to Markvart and Selora, not recognizing either of them. "Fascinating, yes," the elf repeated, her keen ear having picked up on the words. She had a more wary gaze, her voice skeptical.
"Alive?" she thought back to the memory. "I recall it was glowing. It was leaking out of the room that had collapsed. The glow was dull, but it was certainly present." Hearing the Tranquil confirm that Red Lyrium carried the blight surprised her before she became more contemplative. "I recall the door had been blown off it's hinges, so it seemed like an explosion had taken place and the room collapsed in on itself. The red lyrium had gotten all over the floor. The place had darkspawn and we were looking for some missing wardens at the time."
"Alive?" she thought back to the memory. "I recall it was glowing. It was leaking out of the room that had collapsed. The glow was dull, but it was certainly present." Hearing the Tranquil confirm that Red Lyrium carried the blight surprised her before she became more contemplative. "I recall the door had been blown off it's hinges, so it seemed like an explosion had taken place and the room collapsed in on itself. The red lyrium had gotten all over the floor. The place had darkspawn and we were looking for some missing wardens at the time."
Windell grimaced when Janella said it was glowing.
"Destroying the Red Lyrium seemed to stop its growth for a while but if it wasn't done thoroughly then I suppose it would continue to spread. We will have to inform the Divine about it in Valammar" he said frowning as he placed it to the side.
"Little is known about it... what has Tevinter and Navarra found about it?" he asked the delegates in hopes of finding out more. Not that they would know more really. Red lyrium was new, and infected people.
The mages would probably feel it pulsing with heat more than the others, but this was a weakened form of it. After it had been damaged.
Elissa glanced at them. "The Divine has asked if the Wardens know how to remove the Taint from it."
Windell looked at them for a bit. "This isn't public knowledge yet but a grey warden mage was able to remove the taint from griffin eggs to cure them of the Blight in the Anderfells."
"Destroying the Red Lyrium seemed to stop its growth for a while but if it wasn't done thoroughly then I suppose it would continue to spread. We will have to inform the Divine about it in Valammar" he said frowning as he placed it to the side.
"Little is known about it... what has Tevinter and Navarra found about it?" he asked the delegates in hopes of finding out more. Not that they would know more really. Red lyrium was new, and infected people.
The mages would probably feel it pulsing with heat more than the others, but this was a weakened form of it. After it had been damaged.
Elissa glanced at them. "The Divine has asked if the Wardens know how to remove the Taint from it."
Windell looked at them for a bit. "This isn't public knowledge yet but a grey warden mage was able to remove the taint from griffin eggs to cure them of the Blight in the Anderfells."
He pondered the Warden's question about Nevarra's findings, "Well, I am no expert in the matter, and Nevarra is much the same; we have been spared the Red Lyrium's effects - fortunately. My own knowledge of the substance comes from personal research using second-hand sources."
He looked at the sizeable chunk of lyrium, " The blight infesting it should be removable, given the presented evidence of the griffin eggs having their own blight removed, and also the case involving a former grey warden mage named Fiona who had her own blight removed." This was pure guesswork on Markvart's part, though he was optimistic that something could be done to further study the red lyrium's taint and perhaps learn to manipulate it into leaving.
He looked at the sizeable chunk of lyrium, " The blight infesting it should be removable, given the presented evidence of the griffin eggs having their own blight removed, and also the case involving a former grey warden mage named Fiona who had her own blight removed." This was pure guesswork on Markvart's part, though he was optimistic that something could be done to further study the red lyrium's taint and perhaps learn to manipulate it into leaving.
Selora hadn't met the Navarran Delegate prior to this moment but his comment instantly aroused her interest. Removable Blight... a former Grey Warden who had her own Blight removed? Her eyes were sharp, a curiosity shining in them. She didn't know as much about the Grey Wardens yet as she'd like to but there sounded like something portentous in what her colleague had said.
She could indeed feel the heat coming off the lyrium. It was a soothing feeling, a luring one. The subtle temptation to be nearer to it, to enjoy that warmth. A fire that wouldn't burn but would only make her own fire brighter. A beautiful sounding lie.
"The ability to remove the Taint from objects, or even people, could have far reaching repercussions for the Order." She spoke. "It's certainly an avenue of research that should be exhaustively explored."
After all, if they could remove it from people or eggs... what about attacking the Blight itself? Removing it from Thedas? Or from an Archdemon before the next Blight could erupt? Selora was very, very interested in what Windell had to say about the matter.
"Can you enlighten us further on how this was accomplished?"
She could indeed feel the heat coming off the lyrium. It was a soothing feeling, a luring one. The subtle temptation to be nearer to it, to enjoy that warmth. A fire that wouldn't burn but would only make her own fire brighter. A beautiful sounding lie.
"The ability to remove the Taint from objects, or even people, could have far reaching repercussions for the Order." She spoke. "It's certainly an avenue of research that should be exhaustively explored."
After all, if they could remove it from people or eggs... what about attacking the Blight itself? Removing it from Thedas? Or from an Archdemon before the next Blight could erupt? Selora was very, very interested in what Windell had to say about the matter.
"Can you enlighten us further on how this was accomplished?"
"Getting across the collapsed bridge and into the place . . . and then dealing with the Darkspawn within, will be enough of a challenge without dealing with the Red Lyrium," the rogue warned. "I don't know how quickly it spreads but it's been some weeks since we left."
Janella was a more skeptical personality type, givng Windell a sharp look to assess his body language as he spoke of the blight being removed from eggs and a person. She had always heard that to be infected with Red Lyrium was to die. The elf didn't fail to notice the grimace that was on Windell's face. She didn't seem inclined to approach the strange substance, she was happy with being able to observe it. She could not feel much warmth coming from it. Her mind turned over the possibilities.
"I've only recently become a Warden but had no awareness of this. If it's possible to remove the taint from people and the like the Wardens would have an entirely new task to carry out. Was magic used to remove it?" she asked of Windell.
Janella was a more skeptical personality type, givng Windell a sharp look to assess his body language as he spoke of the blight being removed from eggs and a person. She had always heard that to be infected with Red Lyrium was to die. The elf didn't fail to notice the grimace that was on Windell's face. She didn't seem inclined to approach the strange substance, she was happy with being able to observe it. She could not feel much warmth coming from it. Her mind turned over the possibilities.
"I've only recently become a Warden but had no awareness of this. If it's possible to remove the taint from people and the like the Wardens would have an entirely new task to carry out. Was magic used to remove it?" she asked of Windell.
Windell was more surprised than anything when Markvart mentioned Fiona. He had forgotten about her.
"Yes I remember her... she left the order. I'm uncertain what became of her during the Inquisition," he said frowning some. "There's a lot more to her case than most know about. I'm not privy to the secrets but perhaps the Commander might know..."
Or it was mage thing. He didn't understand magic.
"Well Janella, the thing is, the wardens haven't found any way to remove it. Not... properly," the man said with a sigh as he placed the red lyrium down.
"From what I know about the griffin eggs, seems like blood magic was used to remove the taint, but the warden who did it took it on herself. We only found out about that method recently. Needless to say, I don't think its any method that's going to be taken up soon enough. It's shifting the taint from one person to another, either way, someone or something will end up with the taint and ends up dying soon enough."
Elissa stood quietly listening to it all.
"As for Fiona, for some reason, the taint could not affect her at all anymore... and fighting the blight is what makes us Grey Wardens..."
He paused for a bit. "Thing is, I don't know if blood magic will work on lyrium. Is it even blood?"
"Yes I remember her... she left the order. I'm uncertain what became of her during the Inquisition," he said frowning some. "There's a lot more to her case than most know about. I'm not privy to the secrets but perhaps the Commander might know..."
Or it was mage thing. He didn't understand magic.
"Well Janella, the thing is, the wardens haven't found any way to remove it. Not... properly," the man said with a sigh as he placed the red lyrium down.
"From what I know about the griffin eggs, seems like blood magic was used to remove the taint, but the warden who did it took it on herself. We only found out about that method recently. Needless to say, I don't think its any method that's going to be taken up soon enough. It's shifting the taint from one person to another, either way, someone or something will end up with the taint and ends up dying soon enough."
Elissa stood quietly listening to it all.
"As for Fiona, for some reason, the taint could not affect her at all anymore... and fighting the blight is what makes us Grey Wardens..."
He paused for a bit. "Thing is, I don't know if blood magic will work on lyrium. Is it even blood?"
Janella could only gain so much hope from the knowledge that had been gained. She shifted from one foot to another as she thought.
"I can't see anyone wanting to take that on themselves. I don't know enough about magic to know if the taint could be shifted to another subject. Maybe to prisoners on death row or an animal. The findings do provide some avenues for research and investigation, but they don't provide much hope at the present." Her brow creased whenever Windell indicated that Fiona had taken the blight on herself and it didn't have any effect. "So Fiona was able to survive the blight, but the one that removed the taint from the eggs fared worse?" seeking to clarify.
"I can't see anyone wanting to take that on themselves. I don't know enough about magic to know if the taint could be shifted to another subject. Maybe to prisoners on death row or an animal. The findings do provide some avenues for research and investigation, but they don't provide much hope at the present." Her brow creased whenever Windell indicated that Fiona had taken the blight on herself and it didn't have any effect. "So Fiona was able to survive the blight, but the one that removed the taint from the eggs fared worse?" seeking to clarify.
Windell nodded his head.
"Correct. Unfortunately, there's nothing much us non-mages can do, other than to destroy what we've come across. The mages might have more of an idea. So... this is a fairly controversial question... but do any of you know any skilled blood mages?"
He asked the two mages. He knew among their ranks were wardens who were blood mages, but their skill could be questionable.
"Correct. Unfortunately, there's nothing much us non-mages can do, other than to destroy what we've come across. The mages might have more of an idea. So... this is a fairly controversial question... but do any of you know any skilled blood mages?"
He asked the two mages. He knew among their ranks were wardens who were blood mages, but their skill could be questionable.
"That's not something most mages in Fereldan would openly admit to knowing much about." Selora replied. "That being said... I could make some discrete inquiries. I doubt it's any secret that blood magic is practiced by some in Tevinter."
The ridiculous stigma against it was largely the Chantry's doing. She could live a hundred years more and never understand what people saw in that organization. How many times had it failed Thedas? When the Breach happened, it was the Inquisition which had stopped it... while the Chantry cried over a dead Divine and wrang its hands. Useless.
"My own knowledge of the topic is... limited." She continued. "Blood magic doesn't rely on its target having blood, despite the cries of mind control associated with it. Rather, blood magic draws power from the mage's life force instead of the Fade. Which, ironically, tends to make it safer than the traditional Art where demonic possession is concerned."
Granted, blood magic could also draw power from another's life force, but no need to go into that.
"As for whether blood magic will work on lyrium or not... that's an interesting question. Lyrium is associated with the Fade, not the self. It's worth experimenting with."
The ridiculous stigma against it was largely the Chantry's doing. She could live a hundred years more and never understand what people saw in that organization. How many times had it failed Thedas? When the Breach happened, it was the Inquisition which had stopped it... while the Chantry cried over a dead Divine and wrang its hands. Useless.
"My own knowledge of the topic is... limited." She continued. "Blood magic doesn't rely on its target having blood, despite the cries of mind control associated with it. Rather, blood magic draws power from the mage's life force instead of the Fade. Which, ironically, tends to make it safer than the traditional Art where demonic possession is concerned."
Granted, blood magic could also draw power from another's life force, but no need to go into that.
"As for whether blood magic will work on lyrium or not... that's an interesting question. Lyrium is associated with the Fade, not the self. It's worth experimenting with."
Janella just looked at the others present when Windell asked if they knew any blood mages. Though she knew there were a couple among the ranks of the Wardens, she figured the other elf would know more about this. The former assassin didn't care much that the question was controversial, but she was new here and knew few of the people present.
Knowing even less than the other elf did about blood magic, she did know it was forbidden enough that anyone would have a tough time trying to learn how to use it for this purpose. "It might take some creativity to get mages to help with it." Her go-to was bribery and blackmail, but she knew that wasn't deemed too polite.
Knowing even less than the other elf did about blood magic, she did know it was forbidden enough that anyone would have a tough time trying to learn how to use it for this purpose. "It might take some creativity to get mages to help with it." Her go-to was bribery and blackmail, but she knew that wasn't deemed too polite.
(SO seems like the other fellow deleted his character... and apologies for the long, long delay x.x finally got things back on track)
Windell looked at the two of them. "Well then... this is dangerous stuff... if you two want to go to Tevinter to search for a blood mage, I think we got some coin we can provide... but then again, its whether you can find a blood mage who wants to mess with this stuff. That being said, we have blood mages among our ranks but they aren't skilled enough."
There was a slight pause as the old man rubbed his chin some. "Its not a secret anyway that we have them among our ranks... but most of our wardens aren't even mages."
There was an even longer pause after he said that. "I know it'll be asking a lot for two elves to go into Tevinter."
Windell looked at the two of them. "Well then... this is dangerous stuff... if you two want to go to Tevinter to search for a blood mage, I think we got some coin we can provide... but then again, its whether you can find a blood mage who wants to mess with this stuff. That being said, we have blood mages among our ranks but they aren't skilled enough."
There was a slight pause as the old man rubbed his chin some. "Its not a secret anyway that we have them among our ranks... but most of our wardens aren't even mages."
There was an even longer pause after he said that. "I know it'll be asking a lot for two elves to go into Tevinter."
Selora's smile was a subtle one. Asking an elf to go to Tevinter normally would be a tall request. Not for her though. For her it would simply be going home. She hadn't been away long yet but the idea of seeing the Imperium's familiar sights suddenly made the elf mage feel a pang of homesickness.
"Tevinter would be the most likely place to find a blood mage of skill. Even if none of them will outright advertise it." She agreed. "The Imperial Chantry still keeps up the notion that it's a forbidden practice, officially."
Unofficially, of course, nearly every mage there knew something of it. It was a tool. Nothing more, nothing less.
"I'm sure the two of us could find some of the answers we seek there." Selora looked to Janella. "Assuming you're willing to accompany me?"
She looked to Windell.
"And assuming the Warden-Commander is willing to part with this sample and let a Tevinter mage and newer Warden take it with them."
"Tevinter would be the most likely place to find a blood mage of skill. Even if none of them will outright advertise it." She agreed. "The Imperial Chantry still keeps up the notion that it's a forbidden practice, officially."
Unofficially, of course, nearly every mage there knew something of it. It was a tool. Nothing more, nothing less.
"I'm sure the two of us could find some of the answers we seek there." Selora looked to Janella. "Assuming you're willing to accompany me?"
She looked to Windell.
"And assuming the Warden-Commander is willing to part with this sample and let a Tevinter mage and newer Warden take it with them."
Janella had been wanting to go on an adventure but going to Tevinter would not have been her first choice. She hesitated, looking contemplative. If she sat around the Keep too much she would be restless. But in many places she had a bad reputation that was well-earned, so she had to be careful about what areas she went into.
"I will go," answering both Windell and Selora. "If we cannot find a blood mage willing to cooperate, we might find one that could be made to cooperate." She kept her voice neutral, though a mischievous grin could be seen curling it's way across her cheek. It was easy enough to guess that she was referring to more dubious means of getting a person to cooperate, something she had experience with. "Not torture or anything too extreme," she wanted to elaborate.
"It is a tall order, two elves going to Tevinter and then finding a blood mage to help us with something of this nature. But I enjoy a challenge."
"I will go," answering both Windell and Selora. "If we cannot find a blood mage willing to cooperate, we might find one that could be made to cooperate." She kept her voice neutral, though a mischievous grin could be seen curling it's way across her cheek. It was easy enough to guess that she was referring to more dubious means of getting a person to cooperate, something she had experience with. "Not torture or anything too extreme," she wanted to elaborate.
"It is a tall order, two elves going to Tevinter and then finding a blood mage to help us with something of this nature. But I enjoy a challenge."
Windell's mouth twitched in wry amusement at Janella's comment on making them come.
"I would prefer them willingly, mostly because this is red lyrium we're talking about... and its effects has been nasty. I'll provide a small sample but... don't lose it. It's bad enough that its infesting Ferelden and Orlais, worse if it gets over to Tevinter. Maker knows what they would do with them, damn Tevinters... present company not withstanding. We'll send word to the Greys in Tevinter as well. They'll be there to receive you. Perhaps you can find one skilled amongst their ranks. If not, good hunting ladies.
Should you require the help of anyone or anything, do ask."
"I would prefer them willingly, mostly because this is red lyrium we're talking about... and its effects has been nasty. I'll provide a small sample but... don't lose it. It's bad enough that its infesting Ferelden and Orlais, worse if it gets over to Tevinter. Maker knows what they would do with them, damn Tevinters... present company not withstanding. We'll send word to the Greys in Tevinter as well. They'll be there to receive you. Perhaps you can find one skilled amongst their ranks. If not, good hunting ladies.
Should you require the help of anyone or anything, do ask."