Because it’s been on my mind ever since I did my serial DAO replays, here’s Cauthrien’s view on the mage situation as is in 9:31 Dragon;
It’s absolutely fine exactly how it is! (almost)
And within that, she includes everything. She means the Mage Tower, she means the Templars, she means the Mage Collective in Denerim, she means the Dalish! There’s a curious contradiction within Fereldan culture that both highly values personal and political freedom from a centralised governing body, whilst still maintain a somewhat recognisable feudal system. But it does mean that Cauthrien believes very fervently in people’s right to their personal freedoms.
However, she is also very satisfied that Mages are dangerous and must have some kind of check to keep them from the kinds of abuses that Tevinter displays. And she believes the current situation almost perfectly creates just the right balance here. Templars hunt for mages outside of the circle, which means in order for mages to be free of the circle they must show strict self control, a communal sense of accountability and general respect for their fellow mundane neighbours. Which is exactly what the Mage Collective exemplifies! They manage their own people, work with authorities covertly in order to solidify their position and live peacefully in Denerim and beyond. The chapter in Gwaren has even found an ally in her from time to time!
And what of the circle mages? Well, Cauthrien has never known a system to work without some casualties. She has no trouble imagining that Templars use their power to take advantage of the Tower’s inhabitents. But isn’t that what mage politics is for? Cauthrien certainly couldn’t name any of the colleges of enchanters, but she knows they exist and it is not as though mages hold no power collectively. They could strike if they wished, stop serving their respective countries etc, debate more compromises. ‘It is how the world works’ she says, completely content on her own moral basis to hear about tranquility and the killing of apostates etc, expected failures in a system that is set up to handle an already dangerous situation.
The Dalish she also views as existing with their mages just as intended. They don’t have the same concerns over unwieldy populations such as peopled cities do. They keep to their business, manage their own affairs and Cauthrien has certainly never been troubled by an out of control Dalish mage. Meanwhile she has heard the Guard-Captain of Denerim complain wearily of having to liase with Templars over the existence of some Blood Mage cult that is often routed but never seems to completely vanish and their leader is never caught. Which comes to the only thing she would change.
Why are Templars a part of the Chantry, she asks? Why is the circle a Chantry run organisation? She does not care about the history, the fact is mages are a security concern of the countries they occupy, not a religious ‘duty’ or some such. Templars should not be above the Guard or answer to anyone but country-authority and Mages should be able to report abuses to those country-authorities. That’s it, that’s all she would change.
In the end, Cauthrien opposes ‘change’ unless the issue impacts the many, such as in the Rebellion. She has lived through change and does not want to do so again, and feels entirely vindicated in that view when the mage rebellion tears up half of the Hinterlands. The basis of Cauthrien as a character is that she is morally in the wrong, but she is also difficult to argue with when her worldview is so moulded by her experiences.
