#mage fraternities

[dragonageconfessions]

CONFESSION:

I think the Fraternities in the Circle are weirdly emblematic of the world building failures the whole mage issue is rife with. On its face it makes sense, the mages relation to the chantry is important so they would naturally have differing views over it that can lead to factionalizing. But it also puts all the focus on the question of loyalty vs separation, and that’s it, because that’s all the plot cares about.

On a story level the Circle only exist to drive conflict, not to be a functioning part of the world, so it’s part don’t exist to explain how it functions they exist to further emphasize the brewing conflict. Nobody in the circle organizes around schools of magic, specific applications and/or fields of magical study in any significant, large scale sense because that’s not what the story cares about, just setting us up for the inevitable side picking binary BioWare as a company can’t get enough of.

And if anybody reading this is priming to crap out some essay about how the point is the circle is supposed to be bad (*gasp such insight!) congratulations on completely missing what I’m criticizing.

[actual-lich-queen]

@empresstress13​  (my reply got too long so have a post! xD)

Vivienne accepted leadership of the Loyalists after the rebellion. She is originally unaligned, she chose to not join any fraternity when she becomes an enchanter.

The Loyalists would have certainly been there since the fraternities sent their leadership to the conclave. The vote was more of a representative democracy rather than a true democratic vote, with each fraternity sending it’s own delegates. This actually means that Circle Mages who are not advanced enough to join a fraternity (mages join once they reach the rank of enchanter) had no representation in the vote to rebel. The Magi Warden, for instance, would not have representation since they have achieved the rank of ‘mage’ but not ‘enchanter’.

The role of mage fraternities is much more important in the DA books than it ever is in-game. Particularly Asunder. But the structure of the mages within Circles was clearly meant to be way more political than games are able to show.

Which makes sense game-play wise since I think most players would pull a Vivienne if given a choice and not want to be beholden to a fraternity, so it might be a bit of a waste of resources to spend time writing that. Particularly since those outside of the Circle structure wouldn’t know much about it anyways so you’re basically adding content for a very small portion of players--those who chose Trevelyan mages only for DA:I, and then only if you want your character to have taken on apprentices in their circle life--a requirement for being an enchanter.

[evening-gloom]

Dragon Age Mage Fraternities.

I was just reading about Mage Fraternities and thought I would share the info Aequitarians are the dominant faction in the College of Magi in general, and Ferelden's Circle in particular. They promote a moderate and popular viewpoint that mages must use their abilities in a responsible and ethical manner, regardless of Chantry law. Aequitarians believe that all mages should help people and follow a set of rules and ideals. In practice, this usually means operating within the more reasonable tenets of Chantry law. Known Aequitarians include Edmonde, Irving, Rhys, Sweeney, Torrin and Wynne. By 9:40 Dragon they are represented in the College of Magi by Rhys. Isolationists are a small group of mages who wish to separate themselves from the templars, the Chantry and even civilization altogether, both in order to practice magic without scrutiny and to ensure their powers do not negatively affect "ordinary" folk. Niall is the only Isolationist seen thus far, though he merely sympathized and did not consider himself one of them. Libertarians desire the Circle to become an autonomous, self-regulating order without Chantry involvement at any level. While many Libertarians advocate the use of peaceful means to ensure their independence, such as a bill of secession they proposed to the College of Magi in 9:31 Dragon, at least one subgroup, the Resolutionists, are willing to pursue violent means to their ends. Libertarians count Uldred, Adrian and Jeannot among their number. By 9:40 Dragon they are represented in the College of Magi by Adrian. Loyalists follow the Chantry's word as it is written. They are often called "Chantry apologists" for accepting the Chantry's and the templars' ever-present supervision. Keili is an example of loyalist ideals, though she is not an enchanter and thus cannot join a fraternity. Lucrosians prioritize the accumulation of wealth, with the gaining of political influence a close second. They are few in number.