More and more often, the wearing of his robes, imbued with enchantments that increased his mana regeneration and thus invaluable when say performing huge magic displays, was feeling like the donning of a costume. Dorian would think more on the implications of that fact later, when an audience didn't await.
His demonstration would occur on the large patio overlooking the river. It was a tight area, yes, but Dorian had full confidence in his ability to control the powers he would summon to his disposal. Once the crowd had gathered, giving him about 30 feet in a circle in which to work, he nodded, pacing slightly as he moved to regard all those gathered in turn. This was clearly a man who'd spoken to a forum of people before.
"First, allow me to thank you all for attending, and Cameron Waltz for his ingenuity and sense of community. Clearly his position in the Quarantine was well chosen." He joins in the modest round of applause that follows that simple statement before leading it to an end. "Throughout the day, I have seen and heard momentous demonstrations of your cultures, from art to music, tales of history and achievement. It is truly an honor to stand with all of you." He was buttering up the crowd, sure, but Dorian was nothing if not a great showman. "Now, then, I'll not bore you with the socio-political upheaval that's recently blighted my homeland of Thedas at which mages such as myself are at the crux. I will simply state this: in most places in the world of Thedas, Circles of Magi are bastions in which those born with the ability to touch the fundamental fabric of creation, mages, are placed to protect the non-magic majority from their influence, and to watch them, should they fall to demonic possession." He raises a hand, one finger aloft, to accentuate that point. "A topic for another lecture, I'm afraid. Now, then, in the Tevinter Imperium, my homeland, Circles of Magi are more akin to...rather prestigious universities, where mages may come together and explore the boundaries and limitations of their craft. I am a Senior Enchanter of one such university."
He steps to the center of the circle around which people are gathered, pulling his carved staff from the loops of his harness which keep the shaft of wood strapped to his back. "And I happen to be very good at the whole magic thing." He proceeds with his demonstration, raising his staff high and a pulse of silvery light flashes across those closest to the circle. "A shield," he explains, "But I can assure you, none are in danger. It's simply a precaution to protect you from the worst of the heat, and the moisture. On my honor, it is only water." A quick staff reversal and the crystal at its point begins to hum with a bluish energy and he e drives the staff, tip down, to the ground before him. A circle of frozen air blasts in all direction, stopping just short of the gathered crowd, who gasp at the sudden change in temperature and the circle of ice before them. "The elements bend to our whims, at least rather locally." And another reversal and flame encircles the mage, melting the conjured ice in an explosive wave that splashes the recently melted water against those closest shielded and envelopes them in the warmth of a camp fire.
"The battlefield can be ours to command." And he presses a button on a controller in his hip pouch, activating the target drones he's placed behind the gathered crowd, twelve in total, which begin to circle above the crowd, gaining momentum as they do until their movements are difficult to track. "Target drones, compliments of Gramarye Magic Research. Rather useful little tools, really, but I digress." Another raise of his hand and Dorian is enveloped in a white light and seems to move faster than most can see suddenly. Half the drones above explode in small balls of fire before Dorian's speed returns to normal. Smalls beads of sweat dot his brow and he takes a breath and raises his staff and the remaining drone. Lightning arcs from its tip and chains to each. They vibrate in the air and begin to fall. He reverses position again, raising staff and hand, muscles tense as he sends out a wave of energy that catches the falling drones before they fall on the heads of those gathered and he clenches his free hand into a fist, moving the drones to the interior of the circle, where he drops them at his feet.
He's sweating freely now, and his breathing is somewhat heavy, as though after an intense workout. "I thank you all again for your attendance. This is, by far, not all magic might accomplish, but a taste. If any of you are interested further, I'll be around." He smiles, "near the refreshments, most likely. Enjoy the remainder of your evening."
And Dorian does proceed to the refreshments table, for wine, because wine is good to have after a workout, right? He'll be around!
OTA
His demonstration would occur on the large patio overlooking the river. It was a tight area, yes, but Dorian had full confidence in his ability to control the powers he would summon to his disposal. Once the crowd had gathered, giving him about 30 feet in a circle in which to work, he nodded, pacing slightly as he moved to regard all those gathered in turn. This was clearly a man who'd spoken to a forum of people before.
"First, allow me to thank you all for attending, and Cameron Waltz for his ingenuity and sense of community. Clearly his position in the Quarantine was well chosen." He joins in the modest round of applause that follows that simple statement before leading it to an end. "Throughout the day, I have seen and heard momentous demonstrations of your cultures, from art to music, tales of history and achievement. It is truly an honor to stand with all of you." He was buttering up the crowd, sure, but Dorian was nothing if not a great showman. "Now, then, I'll not bore you with the socio-political upheaval that's recently blighted my homeland of Thedas at which mages such as myself are at the crux. I will simply state this: in most places in the world of Thedas, Circles of Magi are bastions in which those born with the ability to touch the fundamental fabric of creation, mages, are placed to protect the non-magic majority from their influence, and to watch them, should they fall to demonic possession." He raises a hand, one finger aloft, to accentuate that point. "A topic for another lecture, I'm afraid. Now, then, in the Tevinter Imperium, my homeland, Circles of Magi are more akin to...rather prestigious universities, where mages may come together and explore the boundaries and limitations of their craft. I am a Senior Enchanter of one such university."
He steps to the center of the circle around which people are gathered, pulling his carved staff from the loops of his harness which keep the shaft of wood strapped to his back. "And I happen to be very good at the whole magic thing." He proceeds with his demonstration, raising his staff high and a pulse of silvery light flashes across those closest to the circle. "A shield," he explains, "But I can assure you, none are in danger. It's simply a precaution to protect you from the worst of the heat, and the moisture. On my honor, it is only water." A quick staff reversal and the crystal at its point begins to hum with a bluish energy and he e drives the staff, tip down, to the ground before him. A circle of frozen air blasts in all direction, stopping just short of the gathered crowd, who gasp at the sudden change in temperature and the circle of ice before them. "The elements bend to our whims, at least rather locally." And another reversal and flame encircles the mage, melting the conjured ice in an explosive wave that splashes the recently melted water against those closest shielded and envelopes them in the warmth of a camp fire.
"The battlefield can be ours to command." And he presses a button on a controller in his hip pouch, activating the target drones he's placed behind the gathered crowd, twelve in total, which begin to circle above the crowd, gaining momentum as they do until their movements are difficult to track. "Target drones, compliments of Gramarye Magic Research. Rather useful little tools, really, but I digress." Another raise of his hand and Dorian is enveloped in a white light and seems to move faster than most can see suddenly. Half the drones above explode in small balls of fire before Dorian's speed returns to normal. Smalls beads of sweat dot his brow and he takes a breath and raises his staff and the remaining drone. Lightning arcs from its tip and chains to each. They vibrate in the air and begin to fall. He reverses position again, raising staff and hand, muscles tense as he sends out a wave of energy that catches the falling drones before they fall on the heads of those gathered and he clenches his free hand into a fist, moving the drones to the interior of the circle, where he drops them at his feet.
He's sweating freely now, and his breathing is somewhat heavy, as though after an intense workout. "I thank you all again for your attendance. This is, by far, not all magic might accomplish, but a taste. If any of you are interested further, I'll be around." He smiles, "near the refreshments, most likely. Enjoy the remainder of your evening."
And Dorian does proceed to the refreshments table, for wine, because wine is good to have after a workout, right? He'll be around!