*He was clearly rambling, but had to acknowledge the Grey Warden part of the question too, however briefly.* Um. Yeah, I think he was? Sort of? *Looking aside, Tavin made a non-committal gesture with his hand.*

*Tavin's ears twitched, giving away his anxiety as he replied* I think you're allowed out once you pass your Harrowing, if the First Enchanter permits it. But they'd always know where you are, because they have... phylacteries? Little blood vial thingies, they can track your location.

Oh, yeah. That's a thing there. My father actually got into huge trouble for... nevermind, point is, he at some point joined the Grey Wardens, so he could leave the tower. But otherwise... yeah, it's not really a fancy mage school. It's a prison. Still, father learned all his magic there.

I'm still not great at brewing things, but Maker willing I can scale a building without falling to my untimely death. *chuckles to himself*

My father would, I think. He's a little stricter than dad, and he did most of my magic training. He was pretty much raised in a Southern Circle, Kinloch Hold in Ferelden. So... yeah, he taught me about magic and the Maker. And then dad was in charge of - handling a dagger, acrobatics, some poisons.

*nods and bumps Liam's shoulder sympathetically* I get that. I let my dad chase me around a bunch too to get better. He did say he was going easier on me than he was taught, though...

ohhhh someone's scaaaaared

a darkspawn boy band

Huh! Talk about coincidence. Though that makes me - the questions you asked earlier, about adoptive parents. *cautiously* Yours were good to you too, right?

i can always write to my dads for parenting tips if you'd like! father would actually probably like you a lot, you have similar vibes

get his ass milady i got your elfroot

*Tavin nodded* Well, yes. We all lucked out, I think. What about your family? *He tilts his head curiously* You promised you'd tell, too. No pressure! Obviously. But I'm intrigued now.

Oh! *Tavin's face brightened with relief.* No, no, nothing like that, I promise. They've been nothing but good to me. Dad taught me how to handle a dagger, and father helped me figure out my magic. *slightly awkwardly* But - I appreciate it. I guess I didn't consider that was... a possibility.

I... don't really remember. Nothing before that, too. Which sucks, I wasn't even a kid - closer to a teen. Obviously it's a bit hard to establish my age, but, well, we guesstimated. *Tavin frowned slightly in confusion.* Like what? I'm not offended or anything because I'm not sure what you mean.

*He shrugs, looking a little guilty.* It's not a very interesting story, and definitely not compared to my siblings, but I think I'm pretty lucky they found me. According to dad, it wasn't a pretty sight. No other survivors at all, just - corpses far as eye can see. Qunari invaders, probably.

*after thinking a little, Tavin looks around and moves a little closer, lowering his voice* Sure. It was some battlefield near Ventus, they never really told me where exactly and I don't remember because I wasn't - fully conscious. Father said he couldn't just leave me behind. So... they took me in.

*snickers to himself and nods* Yeah, no, we're all adopted. I'm both oldest, by age, and youngest. They actually didn't plan for more, but, uh, long story short couldn't really leave me where I was.

*shrugs* With how things have been for the past couple years... he wasn't terribly wrong. But my family settled down there, and it's hard to up and move when you've got 6 kids and an elderly mabari. So we made do, you know?