Mages/Circle of Magi

The Circle of Magi is the dominant organization for the training of mages within nations of Thedas. In the south, it has historically been governed and monitored by the Orlesian Chantry, with the Templar Order working as its guards and supervisors. In the Tevinter Imperium, they are governed by high-ranking Magisters who utilize the Imperial Templar Order.
== Contents ==
* 1Background
* 2History
* 3Involvement
** 3.1Dragon Age: Origins
*** 3.1.1Dragon Age: Awakening
** 3.2Dragon Age II
** 3.3Dragon Age: Asunder
** 3.4Dragon Age: Inquisition
* 4Known Circles of Magi
* 5Hierarchy
** 5.1The Tranquil
** 5.2Formari
* 6Fraternities of Enchanters
* 7Circle Living
** 7.1Joining the Circle
** 7.2Taking Leave of the Circle
** 7.3Training and education
*** 7.3.1The Harrowing
* 8Right of Annulment
* 9Notable members
* 10Apostates
* 11Codex entries
* 12Notes
* 13See also
* 14Gallery
* 15References
== Background ==
The Circles of Magi governed by the Orlesian Chantry are cloistered in training facilities, kept under the watchful eye of the Templars and a council of their own senior mages. Circles tend to be located in remote and difficult to reach areas, but the Formari have outposts in major cities for the purpose of trade. They have a very mixed reception among mages and non-mages alike. Some consider the imprisoning of mages to the Circle of Magi unjust persecution, harmful to its intended purpose, and infringements of the mages' Maker given rights; others believe they are necessary sacrifices to protect both the general populace from the dangers of magic and the mages from the bigotry of the outside world and themselves. Despite the restrictions imposed on its members, it is not a system of slavery, and mages themselves—while not "free"—are not owned by the Chantry and not forced into servitude on its behalf.
By law each Circle is supposed to respect certain mages' rights. Ambiguity or inadequacy in regulations, however, such as a weak First Enchanter failing to advocate a Circle's rights or corruption and abuse from local templars or the priesthood, can affect how much these laws will be respected.
The Circle maintains a policy of neutrality, as the Chantry might take action against them if they regularly became involved in conflict (a Blight is perhaps the sole exception to this rule). Nonetheless, it isn't unusual to see the Circle ignore at least one or two mages serving either side of a dispute, either as a courtesy or as a way of not creating too much enmity against the Circle on either side.
The College of Magi, a council of First Enchanters from all the Circles in Thedas excluding Tevinter, routinely convenes in the city of Cumberland, Nevarra, to discuss Circle policy and to elect a new Grand Enchanter.
== History ==
Long before the Chantry there was a Circle of Magi: a society of mages in each city of the ancient Tevinter Imperium. The titles modern Circles use—enchanter, senior enchanter, First Enchanter—all originated there, and the Circles were where the most powerful mages researched and practiced magic.
Ten years to the day after Andraste's death, Archon Hessarian converted to the Chant of Light, claiming that he had heard the voice of the Maker when his blade had touched Andraste, and the beginnings of the religion took root. He declared the Maker the one true god, made Andrastianism the religion of the Imperium (to later become the Imperial Chantry after The Schism in 3:87 Towers), and publicly revealed Maferath's betrayal. Most of the high-ranking clergy, including nearly all of the ruling Altus magisters, refused to give up their Old Gods, but the non-mage Soporati class overwhelmingly supported Hessarian, beginning a period known as the Transfiguration. With the High Priests dead, Hessarian repurposed the Old God temples into schools for mages.
In the years before the founding of the Chantry and the start of the Divine Age, Thedas was plunged into chaos. The First Blight had ended, the Imperium had broken apart following Andraste's March, and despite the spread of the Maker's teachings, blood mages and Old Gods cults were widespread. The Inquisition was formed around -100 Ancient with the goal of protecting the people from the tyranny of magic in whatever form it might take; blood mages, abominations, cultists or heretics. A loose association of Andrastian hard-liners, the group combed the land in search of these threats and some say theirs was a reign of terror. Others say they were cast in a negative light by history because their investigations and even application of justice, protecting both mages and common people impartially, crossed too many powerful groups. In these accounts it is suggested that the group was already known as the Seekers of Truth and that the "Inquisition" moniker was perhaps pejorative.
During the Second Blight, Orlesian emperor Kordillus Drakon I enlisted the help of the mages and permitted them to use their full power against the darkspawn. The mages proved essential in the subsequent battles and won enough respect to negotiate greater independence. In 1:20 Divine, the southern Chantry and the Inquisition signed the Nevarran Accord, and created the Circle of Magi to regulate the use and systematic training of magic throughout Thedas. The Templar Order was created to catch mages who refused to join the Circle and monitor the mage societies and the Seekers of Truth created to root out corruption.
As magic had been the source of the Imperium's power, it was all but banned when the Chantry became the new dominant force in Thedas. Blood magic was completely forbidden, and those who practiced any kind of magic were confined. At first, the Chantry detained mages and had them continually light the eternal flame in every chantry in Thedas, with all other forms of magic forbidden. Unsurprisingly, being relegated to using their powers in such mundane ways caused the mages of the Grand Cathedral to protest by snuffing the sacred flames. Divine Ambrosia alone was surprised by the mages' insolence and almost ordered an Exalted March on her own cathedral, until her own templars advised her otherwise. After negotiations, the Circles of Magi established a new precedent of being exiled to remote fortresses far from society where they could practice their magical arts outside of normal society and the Chantry.
== Involvement ==
=== Dragon Age: Origins ===
By right of ancient treaties, the Circle is pledged to help the Grey Wardens during the Blight. However, when the Warden reaches the fortress of Kinloch Hold, they find that it has been overrun by demons and abominations, and that the templars under Knight-Commander Greagoir are on the verge of invoking the Right of Annulment. The Warden can save the Circle, in which case the mages will join in the fight against the Archdemon, or side with the templars and carry out the Right of Annulment, killing every surviving mage in the Circle.
A mage Warden may also ask that the Circle be granted independence as a boon.
==== Dragon Age: Awakening ====
If Wynne survived the events of the Fifth Blight:
Wynne informs the Warden-Commander that the College of Enchanters is convening in Cumberland to discuss the Libertarian Fraternity's wish of breaking away from the Chantry entirely. She asks that the Warden-Commander track down her colleague Ines Arancia, a respected mage whom she hopes will be a voice of reason.
=== Dragon Age II ===
The Circle of Starkhaven is destroyed by fire in 9:31. While the actual cause of the fire is unknown, it is strongly believed to have been started by rebellious mages attempting to escape the Circle. Several of its members flee south, where many are captured and brought to Kirkwall's Gallows.
Living conditions in the Gallows become progressively stricter under Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard. Mages are locked in their cells, denied appearances at court, and made Tranquil for the slightest crimes. Aided by local citizens, escaped apostates form the mage underground to help more mages escape the Gallows and find refuge in far away areas where the templars can't easily reach them.
In 9:37, Knight-Commander Meredith invokes the Right of Annulment on the Kirkwall Circle after the apostate mage Anders destroys the Kirkwall Chantry. Hawke can either choose to help the mages, or help the templars carry out the Annulment.
=== Dragon Age: Asunder ===
The plot follows BioWare's own canon, meaning it may not follow some of the player's choices in the games.
----Tensions are rising within the Circles after the events of the Kirkwall Rebellion in 9:37 Dragon. Grand Enchanter Fiona calls for a vote on separating from the Chantry, a motion which the College rejects, influenced by Wynne's arguments for caution. The templars disband the College of Enchanters in retaliation.
Over a year later, following the discovery that the Seekers of Truth withheld knowledge that the Rite of Tranquility was reversible, Grand Enchanter Fiona calls for another vote at the White Spire. Lord Seeker Lambert disbands the conclave before the vote can be held; a battle swiftly ensues. Fiona and many First Enchanters flee to Andoral's Reach, where she calls for another vote. This time, the mages narrowly vote for separation, dissolving the Circles. In response, Lord Seeker Lambert declares the Nevarran Accord null and void, separating from the Chantry as well and marking the beginning of the Mage-Templar War.
=== Dragon Age: Inquisition ===
The mages divide into two groups: the rebel mages under Fiona, and the loyalist mages under Vivienne.
Divine Justinia V calls for a Conclave at the Temple of Sacred Ashes in an attempt to broker peace between mages and templars. While the leaders of both factions send intermediaries in their place, fearing a trap, a significant number of both mages and templars are killed in the destruction of the temple. The rebel mages are granted asylum in Redcliffe by Ferelden's monarch. However, as their situation grows more dire, Fiona pledges the mages' service to Magister Gereon Alexius in exchange for help. If the Inquisitor chooses to investigate the matter, they discover that Alexius is a follower of the Elder One. Once they defeat him, they can choose to recruit the mages as allies or conscript them into the Inquisition's service. The mages then help the Inquisition close the Breach.
If the Inquisitor does not investigate, the mages are conscripted into the Venatori and fight on the Elder One's side. Fiona is killed during the assault on Haven.
If Cassandra becomes the Divine:
The Circle of Magi is reinstated and reformed under Divine Victoria. If the rebel mages are conscripted by the Inquisition, they return to the Circle and form a new College of Magi named the Bright Hand which soon becomes the dominant force of Circle politics, arguing for reform and close ties to the Inquisition.
With the Inquisition no longer the power it had been after the events of the Exalted Council, the College of the Bright Hand flounders. The newly elected Grand Enchanter Vivienne succeeds in pushing it into the margins of the Circle politics. No longer anyone's hands, its leaders reforge it as the College of Enchanters, breaking away completely from the Circle.
If Vivienne becomes the Divine:
The Circle of Magi is reinstated. Mages rise quickly in the new Circle, having more freedom and responsibility than ever before, even if all true power lies with the new Divine. If the rebel mages are recruited by the Inquisition, they resist joining her Circle of Magi. Vivienne goes to war with the rebel mages and crushes their rebellion; forcing them to either surrender to her or return to the Inquisition. After the events of the Exalted Council and with the Inquisition no longer the power it once was, Vivienne grudgingly allows the Inquisition mages to remain as the College of Enchanters, as a mark of her regard for the Inquisition.
If Leliana becomes the Divine:
The Circle of Magi is formally dissolved by Divine Victoria. Yet after the events of the Exalted Council, the end of the Inquisition as it had been sends shock waves through the autonomous College of Enchanters. Madame de Fer ably plays on the mages' fear. Her followers unite to build a new Circle - with Vivienne as its Grand Enchanter - in direct competition with the College. What the Circle lacks in numbers, they make up for in political connections; soon they are a force to be reckoned with.
Regardless of who was made Divine, the Inquisition's mages eventually push for independence from the Circle and form the College of Enchanters. The Circle of Magi falls under the leadership of Vivienne and though the Circle and the College clash, they coexist tenuously.
Each Circle follows a simple six-tier hierarchy where all residents fit, although the Tranquil seem to stand somewhat outside this progression.
* Grand Enchanter – the Circle's direct representative to the Chantry and advisor to the Divine; the Grand Enchanter is elected by the College of Magi in Cumberland; Lothaire Hardouin was the first Grand Enchanter; as of 9:39-9:40 Dragon, the position was held by Fiona, a former Grey Warden
* First Enchanter – the leader of a given Circle; first enchanters routinely congregate in the city of Cumberland, at their College, also known as the College of Magi
* Senior Enchanter – the most experienced mages present in each circle who serve as advisors to the first enchanter; newly appointed senior enchanters are presented in a ceremony to the Divine in the Grand Cathedral
* Enchanter – mages who mentor apprentices; they can specialize in a particular field of study; Junior Enchanter seems to be an alternative title for the position
* Mage – all residents who have passed their Harrowing
* Apprentice – students that are training for their Harrowing
Wynne is referred to as "Archmage," which seems to be an honorary title outside of the regular hierarchy but nevertheless conveys to her an authority approximating that of a First Enchanter in Circle matters.
== Circle Living ==
The daily life of a Circle mage varies greatly between each Circle, as do the opinions of the mages who live within them. Some mages consider the Circle their true home, where they have their needs provided for them, a place to study their craft and be among other mages, and live free of the fear and persecution of outsiders. Others consider it as little more than a prison, and the templars their jailers, where they are kept against their will and face the risk of tranquility or death should they be deemed too dangerous.
Many mages come into the Circle with very few personal possessions, especially those taken against their will. Instead, the Circle provides for the new apprentices with standard issue robes, education, and room and board — the quality of which may vary. In an effort to help a homesick apprentice get accustomed to life in the Circle, First Enchanter Irving arranged a weekly period of supervised outdoor exercise for well-behaved apprentices, until the apprentice in question used this opportunity to escape. By contrast, mages at the Gallows are said to be locked in their cells with no room to stretch and exercise. Physical and sexual abuse by Templars has also been said or implied to occur. Many end their misery by suicide.
The apprentices of all Circles, though, live communally and are taught by the Enchanters in small classes. They pass the days studying and researching the different schools of magic and alchemy. Circles become themselves repositories of extensive knowledge, with some of the largest and most comprehensive libraries in Thedas, especially in matters pertraining to the magical arts. Even those not part of the Circle may seek access to their resources— although not indiscriminately. Ariane states the Circle would not allow a Dalish to access their libraries, while The Warden can state that they will have to allow a Grey Warden access to.
Rules regarding contact with families and loved ones outside of the Circle vary greatly between each Circle. Mages at Kinloch Hold, for example, seem to have no restrictions on maintaining communication with their families by letter: a letter from a Kinloch circle mage to her sister, in which she received news of her sister's upcoming wedding, can be looted from the docks of Lake Calenhad. When Finn left the Circle on a sanctioned mission, his parents were informed of his departure by letter.
In a very stark contrast, mages at the Gallows largely seem to be barred all contact with anyone from outside the Circle: a mage in the Gallows tells Hawke that she'll receive thirty lashes for speaking to a civilian; Ella says that no one had told her mother where she'd been taken at all; and Maddox had to rely on the templar Samson to smuggle out letters to his sweetheart—a course of action that would lead to the latter being expelled from the Templar Order, and the former to be made Tranquil. There are exceptions, however: both Bethany Hawke and Ella write letters to Hawke if they are part of the Circle. In addition, Arianni is also aware of Feynriel's deteriorating condition even when he is sent to the Circle.
Romantic unions between mages are discouraged by the Chantry, though that doesn't stop them from happening in secret. Children born from such an affair, or to any Circle mage, belong to the Chantry. Should that child be born a mage, as is in the case of Rhys, the child would be sent to a Circle different than that of their parents. The Chantry goes to great lengths to prevent mages from having family bonds within the same Circle. Romantic relationships between mages and Templars are explicitly forbidden, but are still known to occur. Tevinter does not work in such way, since family ties and magic are intertwined. Nevertheless, there is a pecking order in Tevinter Circles as one's social status is dependent mainly on belonging to the noble class then accolades granted by one's magical talent.
=== Joining the Circle ===
A child is typically brought to the Circle as soon as they show signs of magical ability (usually between the ages of four and fourteen), including those from royalty and nobility. Highborn children who are able to use magic lose all claims to their family's estates and titles when they are taken.
The manner in which a mage joins a Circle varies based on an individual's experience. Some mages peacefully join the Circle, with full support and encouragement from their family. By all accounts, Finn is entirely content to live at Kinloch Hold, and seems to be supported in his choice by his parents, who are in regular contact with him. Niall recounts that before he was taken to the circle, his mother told him he was destined for greatness, and that he would be more than his ancestors could have ever dreamed.
Some mages view their lives as starting with the Circle, and either do not rememeber or do not care to remember their lives before. Originally from the alienage in Ansburg, Orsino never spoke much of his time there, because there were no memories worth recalling. He was taught from an early age that he would be hated and looked down upon for being an elf. Vivienne says she has only been told that her parents were originally merchants from Dairsmuid, having been taken to the Ostwick Circle very young and ostensibly never connecting with her parents afterwards. In a slightly different case, Rhys was born at Kinloch Hold, and subsequently lived in a Chantry orphanage until his magic manifested, when he was taken to the White Spire Circle of Magi.
For many others, however, being brought to the Circle can be a less than pleasant experience. Some family members or communities react violently upon realizing that a child is a mage, and may abandon them or call for the templars to take them away, wishing to be rid of them. Anders was chained and taken to the Circle by templars at the age of twelve, and remembers that while his mother wept, his father was glad to see him gone and was afraid of him and what he could do. Similarly, Jowan was abandoned by his father at a village chantry at the age of five or six, and his mother refused to talk or look at him after he showed signs of magical ability, even going so far as to say she didn't want "that thing" in her house. The Dalish clan Minaeve was born to cast her into the wilderness when she showed signs of magic, not out of fear of her abilities, but to avoid attracting too much attention from humans. She was nearly killed by humans who caught her using magic to defend herself from woodland predators, but was rescued by templars and taken to the Circle instead.
Other mages actively avoid being brought to the circle, living instead as apostates, until they are discovered and brought to the Circle by templars against their will. Huon lived for many years with his wife in the Kirkwall Alienange until he was discovered to be an apostate, after which he was chained up and dragged away in front of all his neighbours. While Lysas was only nine when his magic manifested, he recalls that he was not given a chance to say goodbye to his family before being taken to the Circle. The apostate Cole was arrested by templars and forcibly taken to the White Spire after killing his abusive father.
Upon joining a Circle, mages have a few drops of their blood taken by an Enchanter and placed in a phylactery. This ensures the mages' compliance, as templars can track runaways through their blood.
If a young mage has deliberately caused harm or death to others, it is customary to imprison them when they are first brought to the Circle until an inquiry is made. The investigating templars will determine whether the mage will be made Tranquil, killed, or released to be trained under supervision.
The child, now considered an apprentice, is then raised and trained by the Circle until they reach adulthood, at which time they must either undergo the Harrowing or be made Tranquil. In contrast, attendance at a Circle in Tevinter is not an obligation, but a privilege, as they are considered prestigious academies, not mage prisons.
=== Taking Leave of the Circle ===
How restrictive or permissive a Circle tower is varies from Circle to Circle. Each Circle tower had different kinds of templars, politics, and mages; and each Circle mage had an experience of Circle life unique to themselves. Some people suffered, some were content, and some were indifferent.
Some individual Circle mages are able to obtain dispensation from the confinement to a Circle tower under various circumstances. In theory, individual mages are able to live outside the Circle tower either on their own or in service to nobility; and all that was required was permission from the Circle tower's First Enchanter. Generally Circle mages are able to obtain such privileges if they perform a laudable service that the Chantry authorities deems deserving of a reward and/or with pressure from advantageous political connections that not even the Chantry can ignore.
Another method is mages can be temporarily allowed outside their Circle tower (typically with a templar escort) if they are providing a service that excuses their absence. Ines, a well respected mage of Kinloch Hold, was allowed outside her Circle tower for months in order to research botany. Several mages were allowed to leave the Fereldan Circle tower as well to help fight in the Battle of Ostagar. In contrast, some Circle towers were more restrictive. The Gallows being the most extreme example, had mages locked in their cells and denied appearances at court. Only First Enchanter Orsino was allowed to make public appearances, much to the disapproval of the templars.
=== Training and education ===
A mage's training consists of extensive study of arcane lore and practice at harnessing and channeling magical energy. The former means that mages are very learned persons. The Circle of Magi encourages scholarship and publishes the completed research. Examples of this are the botanical writings of Ines Arancia and the spirit research of Rhys. Through their education and scholarship, mages are considered some of the most educated members of society and as such may sometimes function as advisers in royal courts.
Early training is aimed at giving apprentices discipline and focus, which helps prevent inadvertent magical outbursts. Later, the apprentice learns the specific forms of common spells. Many apprentices demonstrate a talent or propensity for a particular school of magic, and are allowed or encouraged to focus their studies there.
Circles are war colleges as well. The Chantry never forgets that its greatest use for mages is in fighting darkspawn, particularly during a Blight. Philosophically, this is seen as proper penance for the ancient hubris of the magisters of the Tevinter Imperium. Thus, even in peacetime, much of a mage’s training emphasizes battle magic. Every Circle mage learns to wield and master one or more combat spells. They train to keep their wits about them in battle and wield their powers to defend themselves and their allies.
==== The Harrowing ====
: Main article: Harrowing
The Harrowing is a secret rite of passage that the Circle administers, without warning, to apprentice mages. The apprentice is exposed to a demon under controlled circumstances in order to prove that they are strong and willful enough to fight off an attempt at possession. Those who succeed become full-fledged mages of the Circle. Those who fail are never seen or heard from again.
== Right of Annulment ==
: Main article: Right of Annulment
The Right of Annulment is the right to purge a Circle of Magi that is ruled irredeemable by killing all mages within a Circle. All Chantry Grand Clerics can invoke this right.
== Notable members ==
: For a complete list, see Category:Circle of Magi members.
* Adrian
* Arvin
* Bethany Hawke (conditional)
* Finn
* Fiona
* The Inquisitor (if a human mage)
* Irving
* Orsino
* Rhys
* Uldred
* The Warden (if a mage)
* The Warden-Commander (if a mage)
* Vivienne
* Wynne
== Apostates ==
Mages who are not part of a Circle of Magi, whether because they escaped or were never part of one to begin with, are considered apostates to be hunted by templars. If discovered, they are be either captured or killed. With enough secrecy, some apostates can integrate successfully into Thedosian society, such as Malcolm Hawke, Gascard DuPuis, and Anders.
While not all apostates are maleficarum, mages who practice forbidden forms of magic such as blood magic, many resort to it in order to survive.
The Dalish Keepers are also considered apostates. However, the Chantry and Templar Order, as a general rule, do not intervene as long as the Dalish move quickly and stay away from larger settlements.
== Codex entries ==
: Codex entry: Apostates
: Codex entry: The Circle of Magi
: Codex entry: History of the Circle
: Codex entry: Rebel Mages
== Notes ==
* Depending on player choices during Dragon Age: Origins, Orzammar may have a Circle of Magi that exists outside Chantry supervision, sparking rumors that the Divine was contemplating a new Exalted March.
* If encouraged by the Warden, the dwarven smith Dagna may join the Circle of Magi as an observer, the first such dwarven observer since "Ureldin in the 13th century", and, more recently, Minderel. If not, she is still known to have worked in the Circle known as the Tine Tower.