#*that meme of the sausage dog side-eyeing @ the camera*

[ndostairlyrium]

Fuck, okay

major storyline spoiler under the snip snip!

I need to reason for a moment and fangirl about the first worst decision ever :'D

(Please don't spoil the results for me because I need to sleep on it, I just need to ramble)

I just finished the opening for the wardens + Davrin recruitment (duuuuude that was a rollercoaster of emotions!! Also that howler thing looks horribly similar to the Architect and Corypheus so I'm super excited to get to her and kill her horribly because nobody messes with griffoncini and gets away with it) AND was presented with the dreadful choice reminiscent of "do we go to the Keep or do we save Amaranthine?"

So, me, the player: I would prefer to go for Minrathous, because 1) I have no sympathy for the Crows and I would prefer to see them wiped out instead of helping them. This would be a great occasion to have this task fulfilled. 2) I feel like if we lose Minrathous we lose a stronghold, and allies that could carry Tevinter politics through some risky choices, and wipe out a great deal of corruption within the Magisterium. ALSO if Tevinter falls, the combination of Antaam and Venatori could bring chaos everywhere. Tevinter is one of the strongest political players in the setting, the domino effect would be catastrophic.

Now, Minrathous has defenders in the Dragons, the few uncorrupted Templars, and within the Magisterium (Dorian had 10 years to gather allies, I hope he succeded). They'll put up a fight.

On the contrary, Treviso doesn't have an army, or strong defenders, because the Crows are horribly weakened + there's a mole of some sort (Illario I'm looking at you, you're way too suspicious and your family apparently doesn't remember how to crow) within their ranks. But they're the last thin line of defense for a fuckton of civilians. They should have priority, especially if they've been vexed by an occupation.

The problem is, the game reminds us every fucking time there are factions. Going to TV means that yeah, we're saving civilians from dying horrible deaths during an occupation, but also, I'm favoring the Crows rather than the Dragons, and in a strategic / political setting I'm 100% more trustful when it comes to the second.

Mentally, I know it'll come to "I'm favoring this faction, so the other part will be weakened, distrustful, and regaining their favor will cost me a fortune in trinkets".

Character wise, my Rook would be more trusting of Neve, because they value the same things + he owes her for saving Varric and his ass. He respects her job, her struggles to swim against bigger powers, and he looks up to her.

The problem is, he'd be more charmed by Lucanis' point. If they don't act, the whole Antiva will be defenseless, and doomed to get devoured by the Blight. After what they saw in Arlathan, the thought that there will be possibly dozens of D'Meta crossings without nobody that can do something about it is terrifying.

I think he'd act on instincts and save TV / rely on the part who he thinks would be the most resilient and favor the other. AND that's on me for creating an impulsive character lmao

...I'm chewing on this so bad and I'm glad we're presented with a bitch of a decision that makes sense which results aren't given for granted. Like, either choices are horrible, and it makes perfect sense in regards of what's going on in the setting so far