[There's a gentle tap at the doorframe. Colin's brow is furrowed; there is a thoughtful frown, but he doesn't look displeased, and even his gaze is turned away.]
I have a...concern. About the security of the prisons, with regards to mages.
[If the way Flint's expression sharpens the instant he spies Colin there in the doorway and his eye line slides right past him to the corridor beyond, he either has been expecting someone else and been disappointed or is briefly (but intensely) weighing the pros and cons of pretending he has somewhere, anywhere else to be.
[He ventures in, hands fussing together a little.]
So...our current prisoner, he's on magebane, and that works for him because he's cooperative. He eats the food, drinks the water. But next time we capture a Venatori? I, um. I don't think I'd eat or drink anything my enemy gave me. With a non-mage, you can just lock them in until they get hungry, but you can't risk that with a mage.
There's wards. That absorb magic. I know when we rescued some of our own over a year ago, the cells there in Tevinter had those wards set. You could light maybe a candle's worth of fire, but nothing more.
I mean, I can't do it. Permanent enchantments mean lyrium smithing, and for that, you need either a dwarf or a Formari--a-a Tranquil craftsman. [Since Flint isn't from southern Thedas, the definition seems appropriate.] Anyone with a connection to the Fade would grow ill, go mad, possibly die. I'm a mage, I can't even go near raw lyrium. But if you want me to find someone who can enchant a few of our cells to start with, I can do that.
[There. Some semblance of a plan that's marginally less half baked than 'I have a concern.' Just that much seems to ease some wrinkle of irritation (one of many) at the corner of Flint's mouth. ]
I know how enchantments work. [A last barb, and then he is changing tack - all business:] The wards in Tevinter. Did you see them yourself, and would you be able to recognize them? I imagine we'll want the work done by someone who isn't going to build a box a Northern mage might be familiar with.
[A smile tugs at the corner of Colin's mouth to see some of Flint's irritation dissipate. Now it's a conversation.]
I might could do you one better, [he says.] There's almost certainly places in the Gallows that have the same sort of enchantment--places like the phylactery chamber and other sensitive rooms. It might not be the exact same rune, but it would do the trick.
[A short noise of acknowledgement. That's good to know, but--] My question isn't whether we have something similar. My question is do we have someone who could tell us if they're too alike?
[Maker, he's going to regret this. With the faintest curl of his lip:] Get what who or what you need together, but before we do anything I want your friend in the dungeon to look over what we intend to do and give us his opinion.
[And then he will find five other mages or enchanters to validate it to make sure he isn't being spat on, but that's not for Colin to know.]
[Colin isn't sure how much help Benedict would be here, given that nobles rarely see the insides of their own dungeons, but he's not sure exactly what Flint's questions would be, either. Moreover, he doesn't want to stamp out any opportunity for Benedict to be useful, however remote. So he gives a nod.]
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I have a...concern. About the security of the prisons, with regards to mages.
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And then Flint looks back. Quite flat:]
Go on.
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So...our current prisoner, he's on magebane, and that works for him because he's cooperative. He eats the food, drinks the water. But next time we capture a Venatori? I, um. I don't think I'd eat or drink anything my enemy gave me. With a non-mage, you can just lock them in until they get hungry, but you can't risk that with a mage.
There's wards. That absorb magic. I know when we rescued some of our own over a year ago, the cells there in Tevinter had those wards set. You could light maybe a candle's worth of fire, but nothing more.
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I assume you're suggesting developing some variation of the ward for our own use.
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Yes.
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[There's expectation there.]
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I mean, I can't do it. Permanent enchantments mean lyrium smithing, and for that, you need either a dwarf or a Formari--a-a Tranquil craftsman. [Since Flint isn't from southern Thedas, the definition seems appropriate.] Anyone with a connection to the Fade would grow ill, go mad, possibly die. I'm a mage, I can't even go near raw lyrium. But if you want me to find someone who can enchant a few of our cells to start with, I can do that.
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I know how enchantments work. [A last barb, and then he is changing tack - all business:] The wards in Tevinter. Did you see them yourself, and would you be able to recognize them? I imagine we'll want the work done by someone who isn't going to build a box a Northern mage might be familiar with.
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I might could do you one better, [he says.] There's almost certainly places in the Gallows that have the same sort of enchantment--places like the phylactery chamber and other sensitive rooms. It might not be the exact same rune, but it would do the trick.
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[Maker, he's going to regret this. With the faintest curl of his lip:] Get what who or what you need together, but before we do anything I want your friend in the dungeon to look over what we intend to do and give us his opinion.
[And then he will find five other mages or enchanters to validate it to make sure he isn't being spat on, but that's not for Colin to know.]
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Understood.
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Will that be all, serah?
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By your leave...?
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