An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age II, Dragon Age (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Anders/Female Hawke Characters: Anders (Dragon Age), Justice Anders (Dragon Age), Justice (Dragon Age), Female Hawke, Hawke (Dragon Age)
Systemic oppression of mages is maintained by three separate powers. First, and most obviously, by the constant threat of violence and surveillance of the Templars. They watch mages as they sleep, and control their lives from a distance. Many mages are only allowed apostasy, death, or tranquility. The second force is the mages themselves, who trade safety for freedom. The power structure begs complicity and creates a gilded cage where mages are taught to be ashamed of magical gifts they were born with and in some cases, those gifts are used to financially support their oppressors. They are slaves, like those of Tevinter, freedom is never possible for a mage. Nor could it be earned, not as long as the Templars hold the phylactery. Finally, the most insidious system is the Chantry. The religion that has dominated Thedas and taught every young mage to fear their gift. Every mage that has failed their harrowing was not murdered by the Templar, but the Revered Mother that has held the leash of the soldier. When a mage chooses to lose their magic, in order to protect from demons, the Chantry is guilty. The true evil of mages oppression is not just the Templars, or even the mages, but the Circle itself. There will be no true peace, only surrender, until it is broken.
