The Libertarian Order

## Introduction

*> Of the magi to rebel, some advocated all out war and the use of desperate measures including blood magic, others fled entirely, and the rest swore to fight a war for their freedom without sacrificing their desire to be good.
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> The third group took the name Libertarian, feeling that only freedom by way of integration was true freedom at all. From the blood and ashes of their struggle to gain freedom they have built various communities, even a society they share countless miles apart. These are the magi who see beyond the war . . . these are the magi destined to survive the Dragon Age.
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The collection and magi known as the Libertarian Order were formed as a result of the *Revolution of the Circles*, an event marked by blood and fire as magi across Andrastian lands rose up against the oppression of their templar captors. Many mages readily accepted the war for just that, and so endeavoured to form a group in direct opposition to the Knights Templar; a group whose mandate was thus:

*> To be free within a Circle and self governed. This includes independently determining relations with governments, merchants etc… This goal will be achieved via victory in war, either on the battlefield or at the negotiating table.
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This was agreed upon at the first ever Conclave of Order, which was the first ever Libertarian summit.

As war broke out, it was those who declared themselves Libertarians that brought official organisation to the magi who desired freedom but not at the cost of countless lives; it was in these first few months that it became clear even to the templars that these mages wished to wage war, but war in accordance with the traditions of the world. They would not strike unless struck against, whilst any prisoners were treated humanely and used in negotiations for temporary ceasefires.

It was the Circles at Kinloch Hold, Starkhaven and Dairsmuid that came under the control of the Order; these were the strongholds, and are still held thus to this very day. The Senior Enchanters of these Circles formed the joint leadership of the Order, a coalition made to endure against the templars, backed as they were by the might of the Chantry.

## Hierarchy

Currently the Libertarians have adopted a democratic chain of command, with no First Enchanter.

* Tribus: 3 elected senior enchanters to oversee the Order of that city/region.
* Senior Enchanter
* Researchers
* Enchanters
* Mages
* Apprentices - non Harrowed
* Novices - non Harrowed
* Initiates - "potential" mages

## Purpose and Methods

The Libertarians have formed their own society, governing themselves and deciding upon their philosophies, rituals and values with no direct influence from those who once held them, often against their own will. The most significant aspects of Libertarian life are comprised of, but not limited to the following list:

**The pursuit of knowledge** – the Circles are still centres of education, open to all magi that are aligned with the Libertarian Order. Magic is taught with more freedom and less fear, but still the ways of Blood Magic are outlawed, whilst the other magics of Maleficarum are tightly regulated. Those aspects of magic used primarily for war are restricted to training for battle against aggressors. The Chantry refer to all violent magic as Maleficar, but as far as the Libertarians are concerned there is a need to defend themselves through use of this magic; thus they have constructed such teachings as to restrict it so.

Beyond magic, such education as pertains to all philosophies and subjects such as mathematics, languages and free thinking are investigated and dispensed.

**The Harrowing** – kept for the purpose of structure (ceremonial). There have been ongoing investigations into alternatives for years, with no success so far. The final test within the chamber is now the conclusion of series of guides and tests which combine with intense teachings in what is now an extended ritual.

**Phylacteries** – are still kept as a security measure against maleficar. They are now under the control of elected members and only certain mages can use them.

**Tranquillity** – now the very last resort when dealing with maleficarum, and never used as a threat.

**Maleficarum** – treated as the worst criminals and hunted down by trained magi.

## Recruitment

Leaders of each base within the Order make agreements with local authorities to recruit openly. This is with whoever oversees the running of the land; governs, not owns.

They also encourage families to turn from the Chantry when casting their children out of their homes. Magi are encouraged to connect with their families, and even live with or near them, so long as they are close to the Circle. Many families have thus emigrated to near these Circles, whilst numerous magi have also settled their own families.

Apostates are entirely welcome but little effort is made to obtain them.

## Training

Much of the teaching at the Libertarian Circles is not dissimilar to that which the magi knew before the Revolution of the Circles, only now they have freedom to elect teachers and trainers, regardless of where they are positioned upon the ranking system that was enforced by the Chantry. Even Apostates have been known to take teaching positions in these Circles, which has seen the integration of alternative schools of magic, from their philosophies through to the spells therein.

Part of this expansion in teaching is the ever-growing investigation into Talents, lead by those senior magi who hold the most intense curiosity in those phenomena.

Overall students are given a lot more freedom in their daily lives, encouraged to pursue their curiosity as they are. This freedom does not come without structure, however, as the Libertarians refuse to slip into the pitfalls they believe their Resolutionist brethren already have. Curfews are often instituted and kept to with the highest level of discipline, whilst certain schools of magic are more thoroughly regulated, such as the one most intensely developed by Libertarians – Battlemage.

The magi have put much of the legacy of their former lives to use, being a practical society above all else. The foremost example of this is their use of the templar barracks for training the school known as Battlemage; such space and equipment located within are ideal for this training.

## The Rise of the Rebel

The rebels have created their own society, having fought and then negotiated freedom within what is now considered their own land; at the very least, they share the land with local land owners who are happy to take such an agreement before they see war ravage their lives yet again.

Around each building that was named Circle is where the magi have created such local agreements, but it is not the same for each Circle, not for all Libertarians. There are also those who choose to live locally upon the lands of the more powerful land owners, whilst treating their Circle as a place of schooling and even work. They merely travel into it, even if they choose to still devote much of their time to it.

With this growth, even amongst those still in close proximity to Templar Knights, the Libertarians have also developed relationships with those communities that are accepting, creating families of their own in the process; it is considered by many within the Libertarian cause to be the most valuable aspect to come from the Weisshaupt Accord. The freedom to share their lives with other people is a thing many believed to be a dream long dead.

The growth and development of the Libertarians has lead to an alteration in the definition of the world Circle; no longer is it merely known as the cage to keep the magi held back, but now also often remarked as the local vicinity to those buildings that were once little more than prisons.

## The World Sees

The Libertarians have seen their ranks swell with those who were called apostate, and even those whom the templars consider maleficarum; hedge mages and their ilk have joined the Libertarians in ever increasing numbers.

The Weisshaupt Accord was a day of victory for the Libertarians, with their initial celebration of it proving to be more than appropriate; many of the people of Thedas have come to accept the magi, seeing that they fight fairly for rights they believe in. This action resonates with many of the citizens of the lands outside of Tevinter, and even some citizens of Orlas, though they dare not give voice to such words very often.