you can if you go to the government building and pay for the magic use license. as long you dont abuse it, you wont get your butt handed to you. my fighter/mage, and my mages had fun in the city. that is the first thing i do is save up for that and pay for my license. it just makes it SO much easier in the begining.
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Morgan Corbesant, Elven BladeSinger, Captain of the army of the Seldarine