Circle of Magi

The Circle of Magi is the dominant organization for the training of mages within Ferelden and other nations of Thedas. They are governed and monitored by the Chantry. The Circle is allowed to take children (usually age 6 to 12) from their families as soon as they show signs of magical ability. They then raise the child until they are a young adult and force them to undergo the Harrowing.

Those mages who are too weak of will to resist demonic possession or appear to be dangerous are forced to go through the Rite of Tranquility. Mages who are not part of the Circle of Magi are considered apostate and are hunted and killed by the Templars.

The Circle is divided into several colleges, the equivalent of political parties, which hold diverse views of how mages should act and their place in society.

Full mages are called Enchanters, the nominal leader of the Circle is referred to as the First Enchanter.

The Circles, as Circle fortresses are called, tend to be located in remote and difficult to reach areas, but the Formari have outposts in major cities for the purpose of trade.

The Tranquil
The Rite of Tranquility (involving the use of a magical brand made of lyrium) cuts off a mage's connection to the Fade -- they can no longer dream. As a side effect, their emotional center is utterly removed. One or both of these things make it so that demons can no longer possess them (it's not certain which).

If the Circle of Magi finds a mage too weak of will to survive the threat demonic possession, making them Tranquil is considered an act of kindness. A large number of the mages who go through the Rite have never even shown a desire to be a mage, in the first place, and once made into one of the Tranquil, they are completely immune to any of the mortal dangers they would have once had to face.

The Tranquil use lyrium to enchant items, providing the Circle its main source of funding. They have no innate resistance to its effects, but they possess a level of concentration far beyond a normal person's are so are less likely to make a mistake while handling it.

In the mind of one of the Tranquil, there is no passion. They keep to themselves, and, if asked directly, will readily agree that having the opportunity to live out a peaceful and useful existence is far preferable when compared to what their alternatives would have been.

Category : Factions