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dalishious · 1 month

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Reclaiming Independence of the Dales

Before anything else, I’d just like to clarify that that vast majority of this is made of my own ideas, based on interpretation from the little canonical information provided, and a little inspired by my own people’s history and governing structure. Additionally, what I am presenting here is an ideal situation, not necessarily what I think is an immediately realistic outcome in the world-state established. So, please keep that in mind.

The Dales were established as a homeland for elves—a small piece of a continent that was once called their home in its entirety, before the humans colonized it—by Maferath in -165 Ancient. This was in reward for the eleven people’s participation in the fight against Ancient Tevinter. But in 2:10 Glory, Divine Renata I broke this treaty and declared an Exalted March against the Dales, ending in its annexation by Orlais.

[Related Post: All You Need to Know about the Exalted March of the Dales]

If Solas has very low approval with Inquisitor Lavellan, and Lavellan accuses him of not doing enough to help their people, he will say the following: “You could order Halamshiral returned to the Dalish, if you wished. But ultimately, you know that would fail. That even you cannot solve this.” I hate this with a burning passion. The reason I can’t do that, Solas, is because it’s not an option in the game! Why are you as a character angry at me, the player, for not doing something that is not an option for me to do? Why was this written? Just to push the point that it’s not worth it to try and fight back against oppression? Because if I refuse to accept hopelessness in real life, why would I in accept it in a video game where the story is made-up, and therefore anything is possible if the developers so wish it.

Regardless, according to Solas, the Inquisition has enough power to support the reclamation of an independent Dales. I imagine this would require a lot of political maneuvering within the Orlesian governance, and therefore I think the best opportunity to do this would be with Briala ruling through Gaspard. This would then later open the door for Briala to be the leader of the newly independent Dales, too. I would like to see Briala as ruler of the Dales not just because she is a favourite of mine, but because I genuinely believe she is the best established character fit for the job. She was trained in everything Celene was trained in, has first-hand experience in court, has extensive connections, and has demonstrated her ability and desire to utilize these skills and assets for the benefit of elven kind.

Briala’s blackmail on Gaspard may help prevent Orlais from invading again while under his rule, but to last longer, the Dales would need to establish itself as a strong, independent Nation with allies. This is why I believe it would also be important to have Leliana as Divine Victoria in such a world-state where this could happen. Leliana re-canonizes the Canticle of Shartan, and in making it available for the common person to understand, would ideally help sway the minds of the average Andrastian into supporting the Dales’s independence. The nobility would of course be much trickier, because they and the Chantry are the ones who actually benefitted from its annexation—but there is little they would be able to actually accomplish if they did not have the power of the people behind them.

As far as allies go, Ferelden could only gain from Orlais losing control of the Dales, because it would mean cutting Orlais off from a lot of Ferelden’s border, therefore reducing the threat of another invasion. Additionally, a leader with just plain good morals like say, Alistair, would easily accept the elven kingdom’s return. But even Anora is willing to grant part of the Korcari Wilds to the Dalish if Mahariel requests it, and while this sadly doesn’t last, it does show a positive sign into her potentially being open to the idea of an independent Dales as well.

I sincerely doubt that all Dalish clans would return to the Dales and re-settle down. After all, they have developed differentiating cultures over the years of wandering in separated groups, with different ideals and different ways of life that they might not want to give up. But many would return, and that would likely create conflict between the elves coming from the Dalish clans and the elves coming from the cities. We know that some prejudice exists against “flat-ears” as some Dalish call those from the city, and we know that city elves have adopted a lot of misinformation from humans into their views of the Dalish. It would take time and positive leadership to reconnect the people, without risking falling into some sort of hierarchy based on origin. This is why I do not believe one group or the other should single-handedly rule alone. Rather, I think there should be a Grand Council of High Keepers made up of those voted into the position each to represent a single district of the Dales. (I like the idea of there being seven High Keepers, not just because there are seven traditional districts of Mi’kma’ki, but because it works out that there seven of the Creators. So it makes sense that there would be seven High Keepers.) The Grand Council would meet and make decisions together, with one appointed leader at the head to act as the Council’s chair.

In terms of protection and order, the Emerald Knights should be reformed. This would include the Fade Hunters, to protect the people against demons and maleficarum, with there being no Circles or Templars.

Restoring the independence of the Dales would lead to a revival of elven culture in ways that could never happen before, because they would actually be free to pursue re-learning the language, re-discovering the history and culture, and sharing it all amongst each other. They would not have to fear arrest the crime of simply being an elf.

But what of the other races presently living in the Dales? I see no reason why they would have to leave, so long as they would be willing to follow the Grand Council’s leadership. I imagine many nobility would flee to Orlais, simply because they would not stand for it. But for the average human or surface dwarf, their life wouldn’t really even change much; they’d still be managing their farms the same as always. Hell, it might even improve things for them, assuming the Grand Council gives fairer treatment than the nobility previously.

#dragon age #the dales #elves #meta

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janehaster · 4 months

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Dreadwolf won't be centered around Solas

Dreadwolf's big reveal won't be Solas' plan.

It'll be the Titans. More accurately, their connection to Arlathan, the Golden City and the true source of its magic.

The big magical mystery revealed in Inquisition - actually, in Descent - wasn't the Elvhen empire. We already knew the elves made a magical empire where they were immortal.

Sure, we were hit with a few surprises, like the fact that the elven magisters thrived due to slavery, to enslaving their own people.

Other surprises were: part of the empire was located in the realm of dreams, immortality ended with the creation of the Veil, spirits served the elven magisters, etc.

But the biggest reveal was the DEATH OF A TITAN. And by the hand of an elven magister, no less.

By now, every DA player knows about it. And how the afresco where it is presented is in a secret area. As if hidden on purpose.

Add to that Kieran's mysterious lines about ancient magic and a time before the Chantry, such as the ominous line to the dwarven origin Inquisitor - you can't be taller. Not without the Titans - and Shaper Valta's discovery of a living Titan, plus how she broke the age old taboo that dwarves cannot cast magic and you have one of the biggest magical mysteries of Dragon Age.

There are several other indications that Titans will take center stage in DA:D (such a weird acronym):

One, the arrangement of the eluvians around a water pool in the Well of Sorrows mirrors the shape of the Titan's core, where its beating heart is located and where we fight the Guardian. This means the kings and priests of Arlathan were aware of the existence of Titans and where their heart lay. They likely traveled inside a Titan for some unknown purpose. And if they did, they learned that the Titan is the source of magic, and that their blood is a way for you to acquire magical powers, even open portals to other realms, such as the Fade and possibly...the Beyond and the Void.

Two, plenty of codexes show the Titans were destroying the cities of the People. For what purpose, we do not know. But the discovery of Titan magic hints that magisters may have mined their bodies for lyrium, angering the stone giants, which lead to Mythal having to kill a Titan.

Three, we find a strange poem in the Fade in DA:I that hints at creatures of same nature being sundered, tainted, asleep and enduring while they wait for the moment to awake. There's every reason to believe they are the Titans, and that the Sundering might refer to when the Veil was created and they lost their connection to the Fade.

Four, Shaper Valta's fate teaches us that dwarves were actually made Tranquil for some reason since their connection to Titans was severed. The reason for it may be the creation of the Veil by Solas' hand.

I want to call your attention to parts three and four because I believe this is the most important fact we know so far: the Sundering, caused by the creation of the Veil was felt by the Titans and turned all dwarves Tranquil.

We never see this said directly in the game because not even the dwarves are aware of it. They completely forgot that part of their history. It's not recorded in the Shaperate, and Shaper Valta hints that the implications of it are quite severe. The entire early period of dwarven history was erased, and it revealed the existence of the Titans and their role in Thedas in the time of Arlathan.

Hence why I believe Dreadwolf will inevitably reveal this big truth, this missing big chunk of Thedosian lore, one that is behind the secret of Arlathan's magic, Elvhen immortality, the true nature of the Golden CIty, of the Fade, the Beyond and the Void.

Once the Veil is no more, the Titans may possibly awake from their slumber. They will be fully connected to the dreaming world, and that can have terrible consequences to the physical aspect of Thedas. If they awaken, they might destroy entire continents, kill millions, entire kingdoms may disappear overnight. They can literally reshape the surface of Thedas. Hence why I believe the consequences of Solas' actions will be apocalyptic. And he's fully aware of it.

As he states to the Inquisitor, as the world burns in the raw chaos, I will rebuild it. What he doesn't mention is that the chaos will be caused not by the arrival of demons or even the Evanuris, but by the cataclysmic actions of the Titans.

I'm really curious to see the full impact of this revelation on a dwarven protag and if they will suddenly develop magical powers once the Titans awaken...

#dragon age #dragon age 4 #dreadwolf #dragon age dreadwolf #dragon age speculation #da: dreadwolf #dreadwolf theory #dragon age theory #solas #solas dragon age #dwarves #titans dragon age #arlathan #golden city #theory

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dreadfutures · 3 months

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OC Kiss #1 - Ixchel & Gethrael Lavellan

Instead of doing prompts for OC Kiss Week, I challenged myself to tackle different styles. This one was the closest to my comfort zone. :)

My first @ockissweek had to be with one of the earliest of Ixchel's outside-of-my-canon friends: Gethrael, by @lalaenwrites <3

Geth is one of my favorite OCs, and you can read the start of his ongoing story in Lalaen's series, Enlea'Enasal.

I've written Gethrael myself, both crossed over with Ixchel and otherwise:

The Gift of the Hunt: Gethrael Lavellan, as Inquisitor in his world state, and the other elven members of the Inquisition chase down an ancient Dalish relic.

Walkers of the Lonely Path: Inquisitors and Wardens from multiple world states cross over through multiverse-spanning eluvians. This is a DND-like dungeon, full of puzzles, horror, and mystery! Ixchel and Gethrael star alongside several other OCs.

it ends, or it doesn't: A Benoit-Blanc style mystery, led by Felassan but practically starring Gethrael (not Lavellan in this piece; I adopted Geth as the Keeper of a different clan, because this is Ixchel's canon world state)!

#ockiss24 #my art #oc kiss week #gethrael lavellan #ixchel lavellan

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kcwriter-blog · 4 days

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An Argument in Favor of Solas as the Family Dog

It’s been posited, sometimes facetiously, that Solas was the “family dog” in his younger days. It’s a theory I have been kicking around for a while. If I’m right (and I’m probably not) Solas as the equivalent to the family dog makes a lot of sense – especially when it comes to what he has done in the past and what he plans to do in the future.

My theory is based on the number and positioning of the many Fen’Harel statues found throughout Thedas and in some of the places our Inquisitor travels to in Trespasser. There’s also the odd role wolves seem to play in Elven cuture. Finally, there is Solas’ personality. More under the cut.

We see statues of wolves all over the place but generally they are found in front of ancient Elvhen sites. There are statues at the Temple of Mythal, the Temple of Dirthamon and the grove in Crestwood. I also recently found one near Ghilan’nain’s grove. We see a lot of wolf statues in the Dales (we will get to the Emerald Knight companion thing, presently). Given that Fen’Harel was a rebel in ancient times and the equivalent of the Dalish devil in current day Thedas, what gives? Why all the statues? At the very least they should have been destroyed when he rebelled. It doesn’t make sense.

Let’s look at the positioning of the statues. Invariably we see a reclining wolf placed outside what we’ll call the inner sanctuary. That is, they are always at the front before you go into the place you would pray or make your offerings. It’s not a stretch to believe these statues are guarding the temples. We also see wolf statues placed all over the Vir Dirthara. That’s an even weirder place to see them because Solas implies that he isn’t called Fen’Harel until after his rebellion – so why a statue and why one in a guardian position? We do see howling wolves sometimes. They are mostly seen decorating eluvians. Again, they seem to be guarding or protecting something.

Moving along, we learn about the wolf companions the Emerald Knights have. This is also odd. Why wolves? Fen’Harel is theoretically a Trickster God and responsible for locking up the other gods. Usually, when a culture equates a god with negative attributes, people are wary around the animal representing it. Not in this case. These are guardian wolves and there are statues of them all over the Dales. I don’t think all the statues are of wolf companions. Many of the wolf statues are carved into mountainsides and they are gigantic. It would take a long time to create those without magic. And let’s not forget the statues we see underneath waterfalls in Watcher’s Reach and the Exalted Plains. They should be worn away by the water but aren’t. Watcher’s Reach is an old Elven ruin. Magic presumably keeps them from being worn down. Why? Because Fen’Harel is guarding the Dales.

Fen’Harel as guardian can also be seen in Dalish practice. A statue of Fen’Harel is always placed outside the camp to guard against demons. Given that he is thought of as practically a demon himself, this is again, weird behavior.

The stories we hear about him in Masked Empire are also interesting, particularly the Slow Arrow. In it, a village is beset by a monster. The other gods refuse to help so they turn to Fen’Harel. He answers their prayers by showing up. He realizes he can’t defeat the monster. He is then presented with a hard choice. He can attempt to kill it, even though he knows he will probably die and if that happens so will everyone in the village, or he can do something clever and save some of them. So, he launches the slow arrow. The monster comes, kills the adults but dies before it can kill the children. This is in keeping with Solas’ fairly pragmatic personality. It also, illustrates that Fen’Harel, out of all the gods, even Mythal is always willing to come to the aid of the People.

So, what can we make of this? I believe Fen’Harel was and still is tasked with protecting the People. In a sense he fulfills the position of an Aavar hold beast. How did this happen? I’m not sure. Mythal could have called him out of the Fade with the purpose of protecting the People during the war with the Titans. His spirit could have been bound to a giant wolf. In the Deep Roads there is a codex that indicates depictions of Mythal were found alongside those of Fen’Harel. We know spirits can be reborn. If the giant wolf fell in battle, it might have been reborn and placed in an Elvhen body. Was it a body of it’s own or did it share a body in a similar fashion to Anders and Justice?

Solas as guardian of the People fits in other ways. If he wasn’t one of the Evanuris, he would have been part of the inner circle. He has some very nice castles and talks about missing court intrigue. He had status. If he wasn’t one of the Evanuris, serving as their gurad dog would give him that status

Also, in the library, the spirits replay the final days of the elves when the Veil goes up. They are shocked that Fen’Harel would do something like this. Why? He’s been rebelling for a while so why the surprise? Maybe because he’s supposed to protect The People, not hurt them.

What could have happened? As the Evanuris became more corrupt they began hurting the People. They enslaved them, used them for experiments, hunted them and sacrificed them. If your purpose is to protect the People, what do you as a spirit do?

We see how Cole is diverted from his purpose as a spirit of Compassion into a spirit who performs mercy killings. He’s not the exact opposite of Compassion but he isn’t fulfilling his purpose either. A spirit with a body seems to be more complex. It’s not so binary. If Solas was a bound spirit, the only way to protect his charges might be to do what he did.

Fast-forward to the present day. He wakes up, sees how his people are treated and feels duty-bound to do what he can to save them. In this case by tearing down the Veil. It could be seen as a compulsion.

I’ve probably missed a ton of other evidence but in my opinion, all signs point to Solas at one time being the Protector of the People whose purpose was then twisted. I’d be interested in knowing what other people think.

#solas #dragon age inquisition #dragon age #solavellan #dai #solasmance #fen'harel #solas dragon age #solas dread wolf #dai solas #solas meta #dragon age meta

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possessedopossum · 9 months

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I didn't want to romance Solas at first bc of all the angst but the more I played the more I realized how fucked up the inquisitor Lavellan is even without romancing Solas. Especially in case of a mage...It feels like the game is punishing you for siding with mages and elves or being one yourself. Your companions don't like you, you lose your faith, your entire history is one big lie, you can even lose your entire clan. Both the mage rebellion and the dalish are constantly demonized. You have to listen to racist or pro templar bullshit. No one understands you except for Solas who leaves in the end. I gave his romance another try and oh god. This is like ultimate loneliness and isolation. I had no idea why would someone like Solas fall in love with a modern elf but now I know why. Because Lavellan is like the only one who can see a real person in him. In modern Thedas, he is nothing but another pair of pointy ears. An apostate. An elven hobo. During the days of ancient elves he was nothing but a title. The Dread Wolf. A symbol, not a real person. And literally the same thing can be applied to Lavellan who is being crushed by the weight of their title. Who is being devoured by the narrative until there is nothing left of them. They are so alike, damn. Inquisition companions mostly act like a group of coworkers and Solas doesn't trust even his own agents (hi Felassan). The game ridicules a player for certain opinions and Solas conditionally says he was called a liar, a fool, a madman by both his enemies and his allies alike for trying to share his knowledge. I used to think Solas romance was kinda empty and unsatisfying and holy shit how wrong I was. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Solavellan to me is about finally finding a person who understands you under the shittiest circumstances possible after accepting that you will probably die alone. And then...Being completely destroyed by your own sense of duty. With all the Solas hate in this fandom I kinda forgot he actually...Cares about Lavellan? It wasn't an easy decision to leave. And it was even harder for Solas to not let Lavellan join his cause. He had to get rid of his own humanity for the sake of other elves and he doesn't want his vhenan to do the same. And the most tragic thing about this, that there is not much humanity left of Lavellan anyway. They are tired and lost and alone. Inquisition has changed them, they can't go back and pretend that nothing happened. They are not the same person they used to be. Solas greatest fear is dying alone but in the end of the game my Lavellan felt like they are the one who is slowly dying alone.

Also Solas is bisexual to me I don`t care what bioware say.

#dragon age #dai #art #solas #solavellan #m!solavellan #solas x male lavellan #dread wolf #inquisitor lavellan

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mrs-gauche · 2 years

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Fire, blood and ouroboros...

So the other day, I was thinking about this "almost ouroboros" artifact thing again that was shown in the netflix Absolution trailer...

I’m calling it “almost ouroboros”, because usually an ouroboros is depicted with one serpent eating its own tail, rather than two eating each other, as it’s also seen in the title of the netflix show.

But as some people have already pointed out, the ouroboros symbol also appears in a few other places throughout the series. For one, it is seen on the ground in the scene with Flemeth and Kieran in the Fade. Note that it is drawn in blood, almost like it’s part of a ritual, especially with how they’re both standing in its center when Flemeth takes the Old God soul from Kieran (keep this in mind! I’ll get back to this in a minute 👀).

When I noticed that this symbol in particular also looked a little familiar to me... So I went back and took another look at the scene at the Temple of Mythal, when the Inquisitor drinks from the Well of Sorrows, an act that inevitably binds them (or Morrigan) to Mythal's will.

(Putting the rest under the cut, because.. you know the drill, I’m incapable of ever writing a short post. 😂💀)

So I took my beloved flycam tool, to try and get a closer look at the symbol that appears for only a second on the Inquisitor's face, the moment Mythal’s will is forced upon them after they drank from the Well.

Which got me so curious that I eventually went into the files and searched out the exact texture asset that was used in this scene (which btw took me way longer than I want to admit 😶)...

And lo and behold, it actually turns out to be the same symbol! Or rather... one of them, because the symbol actually seems to be part of a set of three different symbols that can all be found within the same file.

And there it is!

Additionally, in that same scene with Kieran in the Fade, the symbol is also yet again seen when Morrigan is about to attack Flemeth, which she can easily prevent by forcing the Inquisitor to grab Morrigan, as Flemeth seems to have full control over the Inquisitor’s (or Morrigan’s) body now.

Later on, the Inquisitor can also tame and bind their own (or rather Mythal’s) dragon in order to defeat Corypheus, showing the symbol again.

Solas will be furious if the Inquisitor drank from the Well, despite calling Mythal "the best of the elven gods". He’ll also explain to us how the Inquisitor is now "Mythal's creature" and that everything they'll do from now on will be, “whether they know it or not”, in her will. Which is to say, the very definition of enslavement.

(Someone speaking from experience here, Sir? I mean, if the “Solas was once himself a slave of Mythal” theory is true (“He did not want a body, but she asked him to come. He left a scar when he burned her off his face.”), it would definitely give his reaction to the well and how he values free will above everything (as well as his entire flippin rebellion and all of his dialogue regarding binding for that matter) a whole other layer. Especially when being asked to drink from the well himself, when he’s like “No. Do not ask me again.” so instantaneous and snappy, as if to say “For f*ck’s sake, I’ve been through this once, I’m NOT doing it again??” 😂)

I guess, what I’m trying to say is.. what if the scene we saw at the Well of Sorrows was something very similar to the ritual that was performed in times of Elvhenan by the Evanuris, in order to mark their slaves with their vallaslin and bind them to their will, just like the Inquisitor or Morrigan were bound to Mythal?

And all that got me thinking...

If this ouroboros symbol, that is somewhat magically "branded" on the Inquisitor at the Well of Sorrows, is not just some random asset, but actually supposed to resemble ancient slave markings... Isn't it curious then, that the word "vallaslin", which, as far as we know, was already used back in ancient times, also translates to "blood writing", when the ritual we saw at the well doesn't actually involve.. any blood?

(And for the sake of clarification, for the Dalish this term does make sense of course, as the practice used to apply the vallaslin in present Thedas is likely to resemble that of traditional tattooing (unless some kind of magic is involved?). In real life, some tribal cultures traditionally created tattoos by cutting designs into the skin and rubbing the resulting wound with ink, ashes or other agents. Some cultures create tattooed marks by hand-tapping the ink into the skin using sharpened sticks or animal bones (made like needles) with clay formed disks for example. We’ve actually seen a glimpse of this practice in the latest comic series.)

Going back to the ouroboros however, because this is where it gets interesting!

Remember how the ouroboros symbol was drawn in blood in that scene with Flemeth and Kieran in the Fade, in which the setting is also displaying a generally super bloody, gruesome scenery of someone (apparently a statue of Dirthamen, but I’m not sure if that’s supposed to hold any deeper meaning) being stabbed in the back with a sword. A reference to Mythal being betrayed and murdered maybe, given the context of this scene?

(That’s a lot of effing blood.... Sneaky BioWare using level design to tell an untold story?)

And while we’re at it, I just want to point out the level of symbolism on display here, like, literally the first thing you’ll see when entering this part of the Fade, is this giant hand holding the ropes of some hanged corpses like little puppets. It’s quite literally Mythal pulling the strings, directing the course of history and controlling people behind the curtains for ages like a puppeteer. 👀

But let’s go back to the bloody ouroboros on the ground, because that same symbol also appears in relation to someone else's blood.

The Magrallen, a magical device dating back to ancient times, used Maric's Great dragon blood, which he is said to have because many ages ago, his ancestor, King Calenhad made a bargain with a "mysterious witch", *cough* Flemeth *cough*, to drink the blood of a Great dragon, granting him immense powers. Thus making the Theirin bloodline so special (and also part of the reason why Flemeth was so invested in saving Alistair’s butt at Ostagar? lol). BUT.. There is another certain ancient artifact that, if used in a ritual with fire of a Great dragon combined with a source of lyrium, will also grant special powers.

The sarcophagus seen in the latest Blue Wraith and Dark Fortress comic series, which was not only used on Fenris to brand him with lyrium infused markings...

...but also on Shirallas in combination with red lyrium, turning him into something like a mad berserker, that was pretty much invincible as long as he was in possession of the sword produced by the red lyrium idol. It also caused them both to lose almost all of their memories prior to the ritual.

Fenris recalls that the sarcophagus would drew in whatever source of lyrium was being placed onto it (in their cases, lyrium-laced weapons) and carve it into their skin.

Take a closer look at this sarcophagus. Maybe I'm just seeing things, but.. doesn't that design look KINDA familiar?

*takes deep breath* The sarcophagus was also specifically built only for elves, seeing as it will turn humans into walking lyrium time bombs, who will literally blow up minutes after the ritual is performed.

So, to reiterate real quick, in order to perform this ritual and create elven super soldiers, you need what? - a LOT of lyrium (with the color of your choice lol) - a Great dragon (/blood?) and a LOT of FIRE

And I know someone who conveniently had access to both of these things... Mythal, who was not only the first to kill the Titans and mine their blood in HUMONGOUS amounts, as we've seen in the Deep Roads section in Trespasser, but also just so happens to be always depicted as a flippin dragon.

"They made bodies from the Earth. And the Earth was afraid."

"He did not want a body but she asked him to come."

"The lyrium sang thought into being."

"The blood of dragons is the blood of the world."

Why was Mythal called "the Mother"?

Because she was the eldest of the pantheon? Because she was the leader and actual mother of some of the other “gods”? Because of her caring and fierce nature, representing Justice and the “Great Protector” of the People?

OR was it because Mythal was the first to kill the Titans, giving her access to mine their blood and use their lyrium combined with her fire to somehow create bodies for spirits to manifest, essentially "giving birth" to their physical form and binding/enslaving them. But you know what that would also imply? The vallaslin is called “blood writing“ and again, as far as we know, that term was already used back in ancient times. If bodies were created in a similar ritual with something like this sarcophagus, then I feel like lyrium - Titan's blood - was more essential to the elves than we think... Was the vallaslin of ancient times more like infused lyrium markings like we’ve seen on Fenris or Shirallas? Or was it even more than that?

...Leaving it at that for now (because initially, this was the part where it would dawn on me that BioWare must’ve taken a ton of inspiration from Greek mythology and I would go into excruciating detail about that subject for some reason... before I realized that I was going waaay off-topic and decided to make it an entirely seperate post for another day 😂). So.. anyway. *deletes twenty paragraphs of text* lol

Instead, let us look at some other mentions of the serpent in DA lore, or rather different meanings of the ouroboros symbol in mythology and how this could connect to the lore.

In one Dalish legend for instance, Mythal takes the form of a great serpent to fight Andruil, who had fallen to madness from the Void, at the base of a mountain.

Belenas, the mountain which is said to have stood at the center of the world, was destroyed in the battle between Korth the Mountain Father and the serpent Nathramar in a tale of the Avvar, leaving only a vast crater behind which would later become Lake Calenhad when the Lady of the Skies “filled it with her tears” (which I believe was actually Mythal whose blood dripped in the lake, but that’s a whole other story for yet another day.. 👀).

And of course, the first thing that comes to mind when talking about serpents in DA would probably be the very banner of the Tevinter Imperium.

The serpent itself is also often associated with immortality, when it’s biting its tails to form a circle and a spiral when it’s coiled. Both circles and spirals were seen as symbols of eternity.

On the contrary, it can also represent the cyclical nature of life and death, life feeding on itself in the act of creation.

The Chantry believes lyrium to be the emerald waters of the Fade, the very substance of creation itself, from which the Maker fashioned the world.

In Tevinter Nights, the Dread Wolf says this: "You use my Idol carelessly, to vandalize the sea of dreams, and in doing so, you threaten all creation." The red lyrium idol is very likely depicting Mythal’s death. Not to mention the whole creation of physical forms we’ve talked about earlier.

In Nordic myth, evil was symbolised by the serpent (which was actually a dragon) Nidhogg, literally the “Dread Biter” (*wheezing* no kidding), who coiled around one of the three roots of Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life.

Mythal’s vallaslin resembles tree branches and in visions of her victory over the Titans in Trespasser, it mentions flourishing vegetation that would make habitability/colonization of the earth possible.

“In this place we prepare to hunt the pillars of the earth. Their workers scurry, witless, soulless. This death will be a mercy. We will make the earth blossom with their passing.”

“For a moment, the scent of blood fills the air, and there is a vivid image of green vines growing and enveloping a sphere of fire.”

“For one moment, there is a vivid image of two overlapping spheres; unknown flowers bloom inside their centers. Then it fades.”

And yet again, fire and blood is being brought up in Mythal’s conquering.

And finally, in ancient Greek mythology (which, as I mentioned before, was very likely the inspiration for a lot of stuff regarding the ancient elves), the ouroboros is often interpreted as a symbol not only for the cycle of life, death and rebirth, but also the transmigration of souls.

In most beliefs involving reincarnation, the soul is seen as immortal and the only thing that becomes perishable is the body. Upon death, the soul becomes transmigrated into a new body to live again. The term transmigration means passing the soul from one body to another after death.

Hmmm... Doesn’t that sound familiar? 👀 Looking at the Archdemons.. and Corypheus.. and Mythal.. and the secret of effective immortality...?

I’ve talked a little bit about it on here before, but if we take into account Solas’ very suspicious use of the word “soul” in relation to spirits and everything having to do with the Void/Abyss, also called the “Well of all Souls” in the Canticle of Andraste, the same place where, according to Solas, spirits are reborn and the whole creation of physical forms... then I feel like I’ve found yet another argument for why the spirits are the souls that Solas wants to save by tearing down the Veil.

And if we go back to the very beginning of this post with all of this in mind now... isn’t it interesting how Flemeth and Kieran are standing in the very center of the ouroboros symbol, in a place where the entire level design could be a reference to Mythal’s death, when Flemeth takes the Old God soul from Kieran?

If I ever get around to write my ultimate tinfoil theory on what I think the Old God souls and the Blights truly are, and any of that turns out to be true.. then hoooo boy, let’s just say, Mythal is. s h a d y.

So to conclude, whether it’s intentional or not, no matter what myths or piece of lore we’re looking at, the ouroboros symbol can be connected to so many aspects of what we know of Mythal and the ancient elves (and I feel like this whole post can be summed up with this one meme 😂)...

I know there aren’t any grand revelations here, but I think it was fun to just gather all these tidbits in one place and if you really read all of this, thank you so much and feel free to tell me what you think of all this? 😁

#dragon age #dragon age absolution #mythal #solas #blue wraith #dark fortress #tevinter nights #tinfoil time #writing this post at 1am resulted in me picturing dragon mama Mythal in an apron..#..putting her little spirits into sarcophagi like cookie dough on a baking tray..#..roasting them with her fire on her ancient oven powered by lyrium..#..and out come freshly baked elven bodies lmaoo #I should probably get some sleep....

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kaija-rayne-author · 11 months

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Is Solas a Villain?

Spoilers for Dragon Age Inquisition and Trespasser DLC. Maybe DAO and DA2 too.

So is he a villain?

Nope!

That's not me being a Solas apologist.

That's me being a pedantic AF writer/editor/word and literary nerd.

Solas, no matter how players feel about him, is an anti-hero.

Firstly, what is an anti-hero?

1. A character who is a hero to some, a villain to others.

Solas was a hero to the ancient enslaved elves, even if he did end up basically destroying the world. If he does what I suspect, he'll also end up a hero to the current generation of enslaved elves, too. He's mentioned he has spies, many, indicating that many people, even good people, serve him. Because they think of him as a hero.

2. A character whose existence offers a critique of social morals and reality.

Can you think of any other character in DA:I who calls attention to the problems of the status quo more than Solas? I mean, truly pointing out the uncomfortable truth?

This convo w/Dorian sort of illustrates that point.

Dorian: Solas, for what it's worth, I'm sorry.

Dorian: The elven city of Arlathan sounds like a magical place, and for my ancestors to have destroyed it...

Solas: Dorian... hush.

Solas: Empires rise and fall. Arlathan was no more "innocent" than your own Tevinter in its time.

Solas: Your nostalgia for the ancient elves, however romanticized, is pointless.

Solas: If you wish to make amends for past transgressions, free the slaves of all races who live in Tevinter today.

Dorian: I... don't know that I can do that.

Solas: Then how sorry are you?

3. A character who is the focal point of conflict in a story.

Rather a no-brainer on this one. I truly think the actual villain/s of DA:D won't end up being Solas. I think, as he was in DA:I, he's a massive distraction. A misdirection of attention.

4. A character who is particularly engaged in the conflict, typically on their own will, rather than for a specific call for the greater good. As such, the anti-hero focuses on their objective first, and everything else is secondary.

Solas, if Romanced, gives up his heart's desire, the Inquisitor, the only person that has ever drawn his attention from the fade, for his goal, even though you can see how much it destroys him to do it.

His heart, hers, his friends... NOTHING can get in the way of the goal. And it's a goal he's taken on of his own will. He's taking the responsibility of fixing his fuck up because he fucked it up. (He's foolish because if he'd just stop and think for a second, he'd realize he's really bad at fixing things.)

5. An Anti-hero is still operating for what they think is the greater good. Solas truly believes that fixing what he broke is for the greater good of Thedas. Not just his own people, (that's an enjoyable side benefit XD) but Thedas itself. Because it was never meant to have the veil in the first place. (We'll just brush that whole evil self-absorbed mage-gods being set free at the same time under the carpet? Because he has "plans". Solas, Solas, just stop and think for a minute!)

6. They tend to be flawed heroes in the sense that they do wrong things/screw up/cause harm.

Welp. That's pretty much a dictionary definition of Solas, isn't it?

So how is that actually different from a villain?

A villain is a malicious, often cruelly malicious character, who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime or hurting others for their own sake. One who contributes evil agency (motivation) to the plot.

The literary purpose of a villain is to stand opposite the hero to help the plot move forward.

In contrast with the hero (which is defined by ingenuity, bravery, pursuit of justice and the greater good), a villain is most often defined by their acts of selfishness, evilness, arrogance, and or cruelty. They are often cunning and display unilaterally agreed upon immorality that can pervert or oppose justice.

In short, an anti-hero is a character who does too much good to be truly bad, and too much bad to truly be considered good.

Solas, as a character, gives unflinchingly of himself to the Inquisition. He gave them his home, if you believe Skyhold is actually his.

He gives of his blood and flesh in battles.

He gives his knowledge.

If Romanced, he gives his heart to a mortal inquisitor.

And he's willing to give whatever is left of his heart, his soul, and very possibly his life to fix what he broke.

Sorry, Solas haters, he's just not the villain you want him to be.

And that's what makes him so bloody fascinating!

Humanity loves our anti-heroes.

Did you know the term anti-hero was used as early as 1714, but that the character archetype has been used by Homer (Theristes), in Ancient Greek drama (Medea), in Roman mythology (Hercules), and in a lot of Renaissance literature (Don Quixote)?

At some point, the existence of an anti-hero character eventually became an established form of social criticism. Which Solas is very good at.

Other examples of anti-heroes most folks will likely recognize

Wade Wilson/Deadpool

Huckleberry Finn

Lou Bloom/Nightcrawler

Bruce Wayne/Batman

Mad Max

Captain Jack Sparrow

Lisbeth Salander (Girl w/dragon tattoo)

Han Solo

Pinnochio

James Bond

Lestat de Lioncourt (Interview w/a Vampire)

Geralt of Rivia (Witcher)

Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Dexter Morgan (Dexter)

Indiana Jones

John Rambo

T-800 (The Terminator)

John McClane (Die Hard)

The Beast (Beauty & the Beast)

Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

Magneto (X-Men)

Logan/Wolverine (X-Men)

Riddick

Shrek

Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)

Harley Quinn

Hellboy

John Constantine

Frank Castle (The Punisher)

V (V for Vendetta)

Tony Stark/Iron Man

Sherlock Holmes

Judge Dredd

John Wick

Maleficent

Venom

Angel & Spike (Buffy)

Dean & Sam Winchester (Supernatural)

Oliver Queen/Green Arrow

The Mandalorian/Din Djarin

Wednesday Addams

I'll stop there, because the list could probably go on for a looong time (as if it hasn't already? 😅)

My work of words is my only income. Please consider a tip or becoming a patron. :)

#dragon age series #solas #solavellan #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #inquisitor lavellan #solavellan hell #dragon age confessions #solas dai #dai

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ekalita-blr · 7 months

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Winter came to Elvhenan😘

#dragon age #dainquisition #dragon age fanart #lavellan #ancient elven inquisitor #inquisitor lavellan #dai #da ocs #Thia Da'halla Lavellan

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amexhaustedthanksforasking · 3 months

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No but like, I love just how tragic Dragon Age elves are. Yeah, yeah, it's a subversion of the usual elven interpretations of the graceful, fae-like species — BUT IT'S ALSO NOT!

They WERE like that thousands of years ago. They had a thriving, beautiful civilization where they were treated fairly, with decent gods, where they could live happily. Right?

That's also not true. Elvhenan was just as flawed, if not more, than the current Thedas of the games. Slavery was still there, so many social injustices, and the very vallaslin they wear in worship of their deities were the binding blood tattoos of said slaves.

But the Dalish have also reclaimed vallaslin, however unintentionally, into not only something to worship their deities, but a symbol of their fight, their people, who they are. Thing is, Dalish aren't exactly looked upon kindly — they're considered feral, savage, or just rumors. Myth. Any elf in the city is treated as lesser by the larger populace, and the Dalish are scrambling to discover/recover an ancient history they'll never understand without help from those in that ancient history. Long after Elvhenan fall, they're still looking for the last remnants of a home no one remembers.

Then, THEN, someone from that time reawakens after a millenia. Old, tired, worn, the one who felled the very gods they worship. Turns out he isn't the worst of them, far from it, but not worthy of worship either

That's good, though. Right? Surely he'll see the injustice brought upon them and hel-

Oh, wait, his goal to bring back the world he destroyed will result in the deaths of this current world? He considers everyone in this world a mistake, the elves nothing more than a reflection's reflection of the people he lost. Lesser. Stupid. Wild. Funny coming from a wolf, isn't it

The death of these people is only an inconvenience, like breaking a few eggs-

I know which egg I want to break

-or maybe the Inquisitor makes him think "Oh shit oh no, these are people too." That doesn't stop him, though. He's still going to tear down the Veil, probably resulting in the deaths of a significant portion of the population, if not everyone. Maybe he won't succeed in the future, I don't fucking know how DA4 is going to go down, but he's got elves from all over leaving to assist him.

If he's open about what he's doing the Dread Wolf doesn't lie, he misdirects, he evades, he poisons his tongue with honey, but he doesn't lie then that means these elves would prefer probably DYING. If he's not open about it, then they're being tricked. Played for a fool. Either way they lose.

The Dalish fought tooth and nail for their freedom, for the chance to find a new home and recover their culture and history long buried. They get a lot wrong, but fuck you, it's theirs, they've reclaimed it FUCK OFF SOLAS DON'T LOOK DOWN ON THEM FOR THIS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANNOYED IF YOU TELL THEM "hey you're wrong about the history you've work tirelessly to discover and maintain lol" AND LOOK DOWN ON THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR MISINTERPRETATION! Dumb fucking egg oml

Anyway I love the elves in Dragon Age and I love the tragedy of everything, but maybe slow down on that Bioware?? My heart can only take so much

#dragon age #dragon age origins #dragon age 2 #dragon age inquisition #solas #inherent tragedy of the elves in dragon age #i think this devolved into a fuck you solas rant #which i mean #he deserves it #fen'harel #imma crack his skull open and cook it over a fire #im thinking scrambled #add a bit of milk and salt #fuck solas (not in the fun way)#maybe this isnt a tragedy so much as me just looking at something depressing and saying “oh fuck yeah thats mine now”

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broodwolf221 · 7 months

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very stressed again so I'm just gonna talk about solas bc he's my comfort blorbo atm

one quick clarification: I tend to use elven to describe modern elves and elvhen to describe ancient elves. it's just smth I started doing a while back and now it's habit.

I've already talked abt his personality/behavior and my theories on his distant past. so now I wanna talk about his actions.

joined the inquisition

even with lowest approval won't leave the inquisition

kept the inquisitor alive

helped seal the rifts/breach

painted the inquisitor's actions

helped kill corypheus

"killed" mythal

exposed the qunari plot

spoke to the inquisitor at the end of trespasser

now to dig into these.

joined the inquisition

this one is pretty wild. according to his conversation in trespasser, he woke a year before the conclave. one year. afaik it's unclear when he drew the veil vs. when he slept, but what is clear is that he woke up and had only a year to begin acclimating to a wildly different world, one he held significant guilt over causing to form. in this short time, he manages to acclimate enough to gain agents and find out about corypheus, someone he feels he can use. and solas wouldn't mourn corypheus' death, nor would the world, so it must have seemed such a perfect solution

then it obviously goes all to shit. and solas is too weak to take charge of the situation and remedy it on his own - besides which, his anchor is now attached to someone else. so what does he do? well aware that this world hates and fears both "apostates" (that must have been a strange revelation for him, considering how elvhen culture lauded mages) and elves, he nonetheless turns himself in and surrenders his staff

he decides to help. and no, it's not selfless - he needs the anchor. but there's so much more to it than that. he wants to help ease the harm he's inadvertently caused, the damage corypheus wrought. he's not trying to "save" the world, exactly, but he is trying to give it peace while he works to restore the world to what he feels (maybe rightly!) it should be. it's selfish. it's selfless. it's kind. it's deceitful. essentially: like him, it is nuanced.

but still, pretty wild that an elvhen apostate joins the human chantry's arm (and eventual army) of change

won't leave the inquisition

the reasoning here is fairly self-evident. he needs the anchor, and he wants to help. the inquisition is his sole means to achieve both goals. but it's still worth noting that even if he absolutely hates the inquisitor, he'll stay on as a core part of the inquisition right up to the bitter end.

and it's interesting bc he doesn't actually have to. he could have made sure the inquisitor wouldn't die and taught them how to seal rifts, then left. or he could have left after the breach was sealed. the inquisitor - and by extension, the anchor - would NOT be hard for him to find, because everyone and their dog knows where the inquisitor is at all times. also, at this point I'm not sure if he knows he'll need the anchor.

further, he could "leave" but continue to spy, including through the fade. but instead he stays right there. he leads the inquisition to skyhold. he involves himself at a fundamental level. it's interesting. he didn't have to.

does he get dragged in despite himself? does he grow attached to the rest of the inquisition, or its goals, even as he tries to hang onto the comforting lie that these people are so much less-then the people he knew? does he feel obligated to help right the harm he caused, their drawn out suffering harder to bear than their sudden cessation?

kept the inquisitor alive

I have to assume there's a reason for this, a reason he couldn't just take the anchor from them while they slept. likely it was because he was still too weak to remove it, although that seems a little strange - what was he planning to do once corypheus died opening his orb? but given the potential nature of the inquisitor, including many non-mage options and including dwarven options who are cut off from the fade itself, it stands to reason that getting the anchor placed by touching the opened orb may be much easier than removing the anchor, even prior to it being used.

perhaps he could have removed it, but was worried the inquisition would kill him. early on, how was he to know that cassandra's bark was so often worse than her bite? and it's entirely possible that she might have killed him if the inquisitor had died under his watch, particularly if the anchor was "mysteriously" removed at the same time.

I also imagine that he genuinely didn't know if the anchor would function if he just... cut their arm off and ran with it. but at the same time, I assume he was constantly monitored so that probably wasn't much of an option

helped seal the rifts/breach

couple of core reasons for this, I think: first, he genuinely wants to help. the people of thedas are terrified and at risk; so too are the spirits from the fade who are being drawn into the waking world against their will, which may well be a stronger impetus for him to work on sealing them. second, I have a theory that he won't be able to, or fears he won't be able to, tear down the veil in one with all these rifts.

rifts are tears in the boundary, right? so if he tried to pull the veil down around them, what's to stop the veil from catching against the rifts and keeping these boundaries in existence? like... trying to remove a sticker when parts have been nailed in. not only will the parts under the nail remain, but whole strips might be left behind. what would that create?

and the thing is, everything he's attempting and considering is so highly theoretical. maybe it wouldn't work like that at all. maybe it'd be fine. maybe it'd be worse. he doesn't know! but it feels safe to assume that, given his character, he'd want to proceed in the safest way possible with the best likelihood of a good outcome. he's methodical that way.

painted the inquisitor's actions

this one gets me just like it gets everyone. there's so much to it... he's using an ancient elvhen technique to memorialize the decisions of today's holy order and its leader. he's creating frescoes which are meant to last, and he doesn't know if they will. he's creating meaning in the moment, for the inquisition itself, and possibly for the future, even a future where everyone he knows is gone, killed through his actions.

it's a way to honor them. it's a headstone. it's a history. it's a gift. it's art. it's effort he doesn't need to expend. it's the closest he can come to an apology.

helped kill corypheus

of course, he's always wanted corypheus to die, so in that sense this really isn't that surprising. and in game corypheus can sometimes feel ridiculously easy to kill. but the fact is, corypheus is perceived as one of if not the single greatest threat they have to face.

and solas helps face him.

what if he died? what if he was killed? it's wild that someone who's so determined to change the world constantly puts himself at such risk, but it's part of both his nature and the means of meeting his goals. it's necessary. but is it necessary for him to face corypheus?

the time has come, the inquisitor and inquisition are prepared.

why doesn't he leave? come back after the battle and reclaim his orb? yes, the inquisitor broke it, but I don't think solas even recognizes that as a possibility. to him, the orb would have been there. and, bonus, maybe the inquisition is so damaged in the battle that they'll struggle to pursue him. if he has the orb, or thinks he would have it, he wouldn't necessarily need to protect the inquisitor any longer, because why have the anchor when he has the orb? unless of course its power was transferred to the anchor, which is a distinct possibility, but in that case... why mourn the orb so?

I think that he at least believed the orb could create another anchor. so losing it meant he needed to possess the anchor currently in existence. but again: he went into this battle thinking orb and anchor alike would exist at the end. why risk it? why not just dart in and recover what he needs?

he cares about them. even if he hates the inquisitor, he cares about the people of this world. he won't turn his back on the inquisition in their hour of need, even if he risks death

"killed" mythal

I've given this so much thought. I understand why he did it, to a point, but at the same time... it's always put me at a loss. he sealed the evanuris away because they killed mythal. he killed her to take her power, presumably a necessity after the loss of his orb in order to reclaim the anchor. and I do agree that she may very well still be alive, either entirely or in a way. I'm not sure if he's aware of that, though.

but it's all very complicated. he knows he should be the one punished - these are his sins he's trying to right, for the people (elvhen? spirits? everyone? including but probably not primarily dwarves? I've seen so many takes on this and it's always fascinating)

so. he takes something of mythal, very possibly believing he's killing her, and possibly actually killing her, in order to restore the world to what it used to be. he doesn't want to do this. it's utterly tragic and horrifying at once when you see it the first time (and, well, every time after if you're me). it's painful. but he does it.

he's willing to shoulder so much pain. loneliness, too, because mythal is presumably the only one left from his time. he destroys his sole connection to his past in order to right his mistakes. putting aside the issue of whether he's right or not, that is a monumental burden to bear.

he endures. he always endures. how horrible to always endure.

exposed the qunari plot

because I've discussed this previously I won't dig too deep into it, but the fact is 1) he didn't have to do this, 2) doing this actively makes it easier for the inquisition to pursue him, 3) doing this might actually make it easier in a way for the qunari to focus on strengthening the veil, and 4) apparently, he did it. not an agent. he dragged the qunari into the winter palace.

why? why risk himself like that? to get a glance at those he left behind? did he rush through the motions and disappear, or did he linger? did he look at them and consider what more he would have to endure?

spoke to the inquisitor at the end of trespasser

he needed the anchor, yes. but did he need to answer the inquisitor's questions, soothe their inevitable curiosity? absolutely not. he could have kept lying. it would have been smarter to keep lying. why, why tell them who he is, why let the entire inquisition know?

he already gave them a clear path to chasing him down and possibly stopping him. now he's telling them his basic plan? sure, he spares the details, but what does that really preserve?

and the thing is, even if he absolutely hates the inquisitor, he still tells them the basics. the way he does it is... genuinely so funny and it cheers me up inordinately he is so sassy about it but that's not important. what is important is that he even tells someone he loathes who and what he is and what his basic plan is.

why not just leave? "the anchor is killing you and it's mine, i'll take it back. goodbye." why not just that?

it's hard for me to believe it's anything other than: he wants to be stopped. a part of him wants so, so badly to be stopped. the same part that wanted to tell a romanced inquisitor the truth in the crestwood scene. the same part that keeps giving all these hints and answering questions sincerely even when it makes people wonder about him. the same part that only lies by ommission.

the part that is lonely and wanting and cares.

not only is he fundamentally a kind, caring man who wants to minimize the harm he does, not only does he value and want to reward curiosity, but he wants to be stopped. and the inquisitor/inquisition is about the only force in the world that can stop him, directly or indirectly.

they know him. he knows them. and while it's implied that the inquisition/inquisitor can't stop him directly because of this familiarity, they are the ones who find new forces to array against him. if he'd just lied and left, that wouldn't be a possibility.

he made himself an enemy. he could've had a clear playing field and all the tools he needed: instead, a force at his back.

#solas #solas dragon age #meta #as always: feel free to rb/comment/interact #broodmeta

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valtianan · 1 year

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Idk if anyone has asked you yet but Ive recently stumbled onto your characters and I love their designs!! I was wondering if I could ask what your Warden, Hawke and Inquisitor are like? Maybe their classes and who they romanced in game?

thank you SO MUCH for the ask! i have been sitting on these oc templates (original templates by hchomgoblin) for a while and i finally got the excuse to share them!

ramblings and proper capital letters under the cut

Etmeres Mahariel • Warden Commander • Warrior • Berserker/Reaver/Spirit Warrior • 24 years (Origins), 35 years (Inquisition), 201 cm, he/him

Etmeres comes across as stern and cool but he is not unkind. Born to two ancient elves and being raised by them until he was eight has left him feeling alienated from the world of Thedas, especially when his perception of the world is already different as someone with autism. Even if he comes off as intimidating because of his serious expression and blunt way of speaking, he is gentle and compassionate. To his companions he is a socially awkward softie but to his enemies he is a ruthless opponent.

Fun fact: Etmeres can read, write, and speak elven but he prefers to keep it a secret.

__________________

Sterling Hawke • Champion • Mage • Blood Mage • Spirit Healer • 23 years (II), 35 years (Inquisition) 177 cm, he/him

Sterling is nothing if not suave and charming. That does not mean he's necessarily nice. During his time in Ferelden, he contracted tuberculosis and he was sent to the Frostback Mountains by his parents to tend to the illness. During the months spent there, he had ample time to study and educate himself. He now uses that education to sell the image of himself as a true businessman. He likes to describe himself as a "gentleman bastard."

Fun fact: Sterling isn't a dog person and was appalled when the Hawke family dog imprinted on him.

__________________

Glendimar Lavellan • Inquisitor • Rogue • Tempest • 30 years (Inquisition), 170 cm, she/her

Glen is clever and a natural born leader but due to her mistakes in her past that lead to a lot of clan Lavellan's hunters dying, she is reluctant to accept a leadership position again. She is wise beyond her years and prone to melancholia because of her experiences in Kirkwall. Most of the time, however, she is spirited and passionate, a force to be reckoned with both in battles and intellectual debates.

Fun fact: Glen used to build and repair aravels but now woodwork is just a hobby to her.

__________________

thank you for giving me the opportunity to lovingly blabber about my pcs! this only scratches the surface but if you guys are interested in their lore, i'll be more than happy to share more

#valtia answers #dragon age #dragon age origins #dragon age 2 #dragon age inquisition #etmeres mahariel #sterling hawke #glendimar lavellan #my art

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felassan · 1 year

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BioWare describe the new cinematic as an "in-game cinematic" ("not actual gameplay"), a "work in progress cinematic" and a "key cinematic". In the blog post they say "we wanted to close out this year with [showing the new cinematic]" - I wonder if this is communicating that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf will not be present at The Game Awards 2022?

The blog post repeats the 2020 teaser trailer tagline, "The Dread Wolf Rises", and the motif of waiting for Solas to make his move recalls an earlier blog post where they said "Rest assured, Solas is placing his pieces on the board as we speak." This language always reminds of Solas' chess match with The Iron Bull. And of rooks (the chess piece) & therefore of his Tower tarot card, and of the Red Book with wolf & tower in its emblem.

Stylistically and with Varric's voiceover, the new cinematic is reminiscent of the Varric-narrated cinematics in the Dragon Age Keep and in DAII when he tells Cassandra the story of the Fifth Blight in relation to the Champion in the opening, and the cinematics he narrates in DAII that bridge the Acts. Could this be the introduction cinematic to DA:D? Returning players know who Solas is, but new players need that grounding.

"Elven god of lies or heroic rebel against tyranny? Depends on who you ask" is reminiscent of Codex entry: The Rebel God.

The Dalish use "Harellan" to mean "traitor to one's kin," but the word does not appear in any elven text before the Towers Age. The ancient root-word is related to "harillen," or opposition, and "hellathen," or noble struggle. The Dalish call Fen'Harel a god of deception, but I posit a far more accurate translation would be "god of rebellion."

What he rebelled against is a story lost to time. In Dalish legends, Fen'Harel seals away the other deities out of love of trickery. If we understood more ancient elven, we might find earlier versions of the Dread Wolf's story give him a more nuanced motivation beyond spite.

—From A Treaty on the Pagan and Heretical Customs of the Elven, by Senallen Tavernier of the University of Orlais, commissioned by Empress Celene.

God of deception, or god of rebellion? God of lies or heroic rebel? Which version of the story is the truth? The truth is probably somewhere in-between.

The title of the video on YouTube, "Who is The Dread Wolf?" reminds of Rasaan in Genitivi Dies in the End, in search of his "true name".

Regarding the cinematic itself:

The first painting recalls Solas both as Hermit and Hierophant. He's in the same position as he is in the Hermit, carrying the same staff and enhaloed by concentric circles, sun-like. Meanwhile the rolling hills on which he stands, golden leaves and lighting are more like the Hierophant. Then the screen darkens and the sun becomes a (full) moon. Interesting to see that here the Dread Wolf's eyes are Red like the Tower card again, not blue as here.

The howl at this point reminded me of the howling wolves in the background when the Inquisitor is lost in the snow, and the overcoat and pin here are similar to this outfit.

The golden geometric patterns remind of the 2020 trailer where the "Dragon Age" logo was gold in color, over a black background and sun-like background. It also reminds me of sacred geometry (which "is associated with the belief that a god is the creator of the universal geometer"; "the belief that a god created the universe according to a geometric plan"). Anyways, here is where it gets really interesting. We are no strangers to the concentric circles motifs and these patterns: the Golden/Black City in the center of the Fade, surrounded by a hemisphere barrier which represents the Veil. The Golden City turns Black right as Varric says "Solas imprisoned them". Is Solas doing this what caused the Golden City to turn Black, corrupted and Blighted? Recall Duncan in the opening of DA:O:

"The Chantry teaches us that is the hubris of men that brought darkspawn into our world. The mages had sought to usurp Heaven, but instead, they destroyed it. They were cast out, twisted and cursed by their own corruption. They returned as monsters, the first of the darkspawn. They became a Blight upon the lands."

Hubris is defined as excessive pride, and when that cinematic shows the Magisters returning to the world Tainted, there's a peacock feather shown (a symbol of pride). pride, or Pride himself? If the Golden City turned Black when Solas imprisoned the Evanuris, then this seems to imply a connection between Solas locking the Evanuris away (or more specifically, between Solas creating the Veil in order to do so) and the origin of the Blight. Creating the Veil, an unnatural construct, is connected to the Blight beginning. A fan theory which existed prior to this cinematic to be sure, but still cool to see here.

And so is the Golden City blackened With each step you take in my Hall. Marvel at perfection, for it is fleeting. You have brought Sin to Heaven And doom upon all the world.

-Threnodies 8:13

According to Corypheus, the Golden City was already Black when they reached it, and the throne was empty. Was it the hubris of human men, or the hubris of one man, Solas, that brought doom upon all the world in the form of the Blights? The world he woke up to in DAI was a nightmare world, to him.

Also of note are the seven symbols arranged around the outside of the ring. It's been speculated based on previous versions of the 'hemisphere with some spheres lit and some not lit' image that the lit/unlit hemispheres represent the Old Gods, two still sleeping. And while they may still be connected (Old Gods-Evanuris), we have seen these symbols before, in Trespasser atop elven mirrors and statues, and in mosaics. They're elven, and so the symbols, and therefore the lit/unlit hemispheres, actually represent the Evanuris, minus Mythal ('dead' at the time) and Solas himself. Two specifically are immediately recognizable:

which... 😬 oooh we in danger

As for here

it's hard to tell, but maybe he's holding the red lyrium idol here? And does this show the past, Solas creating the Veil atop the mountains in the Frostbacks where Skyhold now stands ("the place where the sky is held up/back"), or is this future him destroying and taking it back down? Maybe both.

Q: Why does Varric say "he wanted", not "he wants"? And what's the golden disc in the center of the circle? It's more central than the Golden/Black City. Is the City perhaps not the center of the Fade after all?

#dragon age: dreadwolf #dragon age 4 #the dread wolf rises #da4 #dragon age #solas #bioware #cassandra pentaghast #my lady paladin #mj meta #long post #longpost #video games

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