#also this may seem a little scattered but that's bc i wrote this at various times

[tauristar]

Okay, as far as I can tell, everyone’s been here. Everyone knows this whole debate of Cullen vs. Alistair. However, I wanted to investigate it myself, and bring to light what makes them so different.

(And yes, their appearances count as a difference. Inquisition Alistair’s design was not the Alistair I know. I Do Not Like It. Bioware why.)

So, what makes them similar? They were both sent to the Chantry and were both to become Templars. Beyond that, there’s... Not much else. I think I could find more similarities in Anders and Alistair, or Sebastian and Cullen. Though since that’s completely irrelevant, let’s go back to that one similarity and expand on it to show just how little of a similarity it is.

Alistair’s case:

He never wanted to go to the Chantry. He was sent to the Chantry by Arl Eamon at age 10 because he had nowhere else to go.

Furthermore, he despised being sent away to the Chantry so much that in a fit of anger, he threw his mother’s amulet at a wall and shattered it.

He didn’t take his Templar training as seriously as he could of.

He’s not even that particularly religious, regardless of being taught by the Chantry. (This is noted in a conversation between him and Zevran.)

Does he actually become a Templar? No.

He doesn’t regret leaving the Chantry, or the Templar Order in that matter.

Cullen’s case:

He asked the Templars at the local Chantry every day if he could become a Templar, and they convinced Cullen’s parents to let him train at age 13.

He wanted to be a model student, no matter what. So, he took his training incredibly seriously, in hopes that he would become the best Templar Thedas had seen.

He is a religious man.

Cullen actually completed his Templar training, Alistair did not.

The only reason he left the Templar Order was because after Kirkwall, he didn’t want to be associated with them, and the Inquisition was doing more good than the Templars were at the time.

That’s just on their basis of which they got their Templar training. The only similarity they have, and there are a handful of differences to counter it. Now, to further prove how different they are, let’s move on to: their different views on mage rights and the treatment of mages.

Cullen, admittedly, has been through hell. He’s been tortured for days on end because of Uldred and the other blood mages in the Fereldan Circle, and he watched as countless other Templars succumbed to a fate he tried so hard to resist. Then, hoping that things couldn’t get much worse, he was sent to the Kirkwall Chantry and Circle in hopes of helping establish a sense of peace and control there. Lo and behold, blood mages were coming up all over the place, treatment of mages reach terrible heights, and then the Knight-Commander he was meant to trust goes crazy from red lyrium. Yikes.

But! Does that trauma excuse his anger with mages? To go as far as to state that “mages aren’t like you and me”?

Absolutely not. And that man can’t go back on his word, either: yes, you can romance him in Inquisition as a mage, but even then he seems nervous about it. He still clings to the Templar way of life even when he’s trying so desperately to let it all go. I mean, if he really wanted nothing to do with that life, wouldn’t he have just stayed right out of the choice between Mages and Templars when it came to sealing the Breach the first time? He instead defends the Templars when questioned about their abilities -- “I was a Templar. I know what they’re capable of.” He still wears the title like a badge of honor.

This could be put down as bad writing; it’s incredibly inconsistent, especially if we’re supposed to believe Cullen wants nothing to do with that life.

However, considering it is canon, it goes to show his character. He clings to the Templar life as it’s the only thing he knows, and he distrusts the mages so much that he counters their (theoretically sound) method of helping seal the Breach with the Templar (speculative) method. And have you heard him speak within a five mile radius during Origins and 2?

As a mage Warden, he says some harsh things upon your return.

“You are a mage and I, a templar. It is my duty to oppose you and all that you are.”

Warden: “Is it so surprising that I’ve returned? This was my home.” Cullen: “As it was mine. And look what they’ve done to it. They deserve to die. Uldred most of all.”

Warden: “You need to stay strong.” Cullen: “And to think I once thought that we were too hard on you.” Warden: “We’re not all evil, Cullen.” Cullen: “Only mages have that much power at their fingertips. Only mages are so susceptible to the infernal whisperings of the demons.”

“You can’t save them. You don’t know what they’ve become. They’ve been surrounded by blood mages whose wicked fingers snake into your mind and corrupt your thoughts.” (At this point, if you have Alistair with you, he comments: “His hatred of mages is so intense... The memories of his friends’ deaths is still fresh in his mind.”)

If you tell him that you refuse to risk killing innocents, he says: “I am just willing to see the painful truth, which you are content to ignore.” He also ends the conversation with: “Maker turn His gaze on you. I hope your compassion hasn’t doomed us all.”

... Yikes, buddy. I know your friends have been murdered by blood mages, specifically Uldred, but Yikes.

Oh, he also accuses First Enchanter Irving of being a blood mage. Since, of course, if one was corrupted in the line of Enchanter titles then he must definitely be, since he’s the First Enchanter, right? It’s a narrow thought process, but it’s an understandable one since he just went through a traumatic experience. The thing is he had no evidence in the matter, so his accusation is empty and uncalled for. I have to admit, I hated how Cullen pulled off that stunt.

But if you’re wondering about Dragon Age 2 quotes, there’s plenty in the limited interactions you can have with him:

“Mages cannot be our friends. They must always be watched.”

Hawke: “I got friends who are mages. Are you saying that they need to ‘always be watched’, as well?” Cullen: “I was at the Circle Tower in Ferelden during the Blight. I saw firsthand how templars’ trust and leniency can be rewarded. I still have nightmares of Uldred’s depravities.”

Hawke: “Not all mages are like that.” Carver: “Brother/Sister, not now.” Cullen: “True, not every mage gives into temptation, but none are ever free from it. At any time, any mage can become a monster, from the lowest apprentice to the most seasoned enchanters. Mages cannot be treated like people. They are not like you and me.”

“They are weapons. They have the power to light a city on fire in a fit of pique.”

Hawke: “There’s fault on both sides. We must find a way to live in peace.” Cullen: “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps mages need better education as to why the Chantry functions as it does.” (Me @ this I... Don’t think that’s what Hawke meant.....)

Overall, he really... Can’t take back what he’s said in the past here. He’s clearly uninterested in the mages and their needs and / or wants after the incident at Ferelden, and doesn’t seem to want to be interested. There’s a level of genuine understanding here, because it can easily be seen as a traumatic experience he can’t move past, but it still doesn’t excuse him for his words / actions.

I would also like to add this quote: “I’ve seen the suffering magic can inflict. I’ve treated mages with distrust because of it, at times without cause. That was unworthy of me. I will try not to do so here.”

Okay, so Cullen at least acknowledges his treatment of mages as horrible and says he will try not to do that again. Try. The key with words is that if you use the wrong word, it creates an implication that you’re not aiming for; Cullen’s choice to use the word “try” in that last sentence proves that although he acknowledges what he has done in the past, he’s only going to try and change it. And, does he really try? Does he really?

He literally continues with: “Not that I want mages moving through our base completely unchecked. We need safeguards in place to protect people, including mages, from possession at the least.”

So, he acknowledges that he had distrusted mages in the past because of his awareness that magic can cause suffering -- especially since he endured torture for days on end thanks to magic. But then, instead of taking a crucial baby step to truly redevelop a better relationship with mages, he wants to place so-called “safeguards” to watch mages to try and stop possession. He can say this to the face of a mage Inquisitor -- can you imagine if the elf Inquisitor or the qunari Inquisitor could respond to Cullen’s suggestion? It’s as though he still refuses to trust them, even a little bit, to move freely through a base without scrutiny.

Overall, his original statement seems void. His choice of words devalue the meaning behind his half-promise; if anything, he should have avoided using the word try if he was being genuine about his attempt.

As for Alistair?

His view is very different. In Origins, he can talk with a mage Warden and express sympathy / empathy for them, when he asks if they ever lost someone close to them:

“That must have felt a lot like when I got sent to the Chantry. You mages don’t even get a say in the matter, after all.”

He genuinely sympathizes with the mages because he has an understanding on what it feels like to be sent away without a choice. The only reason he didn’t was because where else could he have gone? But Alistair recognizes and perfectly understands the situation in which mages face in the Circles. In a way, this really shows his character in one line: he cares. He treats the mages as if they’re like any other person in Thedas, which they are! But that’s not how Cullen sees it, as demonstrated in his quoting.

In Dragon Age 2, as King of Ferelden in Act III, you can go and meet him with Hawke and then walk into him and Meredith having a heated debate. There are two versions of this:

Alistair: Let me guess: that's your final answer? Meredith: Three mages have fled to Ferelden, and you have intervened to protect them as if it is your right to do so. What other answer did you expect, your Majesty?

Alistair: Let me guess: that's your final answer? Meredith: You declare your Circle of Magi free, as if its your right to do so, and thus stir up every mage outside of your kingdom. What other answer did you expect, your Majesty?

He actually protects mages fleeing into Ferelden, and probably being completely aware of what Meredith has been doing to the Kirkwall Circle mages. (Surely a king can gather information on that. Plus, it’s not like it was that big a secret.) Or, if your Warden was a mage and asks for the Magi boon, then the second option plays. He’s genuinely trying to give more freedom to the Circle of Magi, giving them the chance to live as any other human would.

This is one of the most obvious differences between Alistair and Cullen. And it doesn’t end there, either: if Hawke questions him on what happened between himself and Meredith, this is the answer given.

Hawke: You were having an argument about mages? Alistair: Yes, well, apparently I don't feel the same way about mages as the Chantry does. So we're in disagreement. That means they get nasty. They're like that.

Furthermore:

Hawke: Sounds like the Circle is better off in Ferelden. Alistair: You'd think so, wouldn't you? Sadly, I don't control the Circle. I can only deal with mages outside the Circle... of which there aren't many.

And after Alistair says to Hawke to protect Kirkwall, this can be initiated with the Diplomatic option:

Hawke: Protect Kirkwall from what, exactly? Alistair: You ask me, the biggest threat to this city just walked out the door. But maybe that's the ex-templar in me talking.

He’s commenting that Meredith is the biggest threat to the city. Knight-Commander Meredith, who Cullen trusted until the last minute, when she started wielding her sword infused with red lyrium and lost her sanity. Maybe we can’t fault Cullen for that, but Alistair has genuine concern about mages fleeing into Ferelden, mages having actual freedom, and recognizing that Meredith is one of three threats to the city falling apart (the other two being Orsino and Anders, respectively, but that’s incredibly complicated).

These are the two main differences between Alistair and Cullen, and though one can love either one of these characters, the other, or even both of them, it’s very important to know that they’re not both “Chantry boys”. That, and their views are very different particularly when it comes to mages.

(If anyone has anything else to add to this analysis of character, feel free to extend on it! The goal here is to remain neutral to both characters, and instead focus on the writing choices of Bioware and how this expands on the character’s faults, flaws and views that make them different. This may paint Cullen or Alistair in a negative light at times [which is inevitable in Cullen’s case due to his views on mages], but ultimately this is to challenge the character development of both characters and pick out their differences.)

[honorbound-to-the-pen]

“Is That So?”

K! So, this is the thing I was writing a while ago and forgot to post. Keren is drunk (what a surprise), and I just wanted to intro one of my other lovely OCs. If they had met while sober, this may have gone differently. But...that’s how it is. If you have questions (bc I’m great at not introducing OCs before I use them), ask away! 

Also, this a prompt from somewhere, I didn’t write it down, but thank you to the person who wrote it!

---

Keren was drunk. Again. He was slumped over a table in the corner of an establishment called the Bird Cage, one of the most well known alcohol dens in Chromeckothaun. The ground floor was covered with people crammed into tables and onto the dancefloor, swaying and jumping to electric swing music played by a group of avian automatons. The second floor (where Keren sat) was more subdued, with only a dozen people sitting at various tables. The room was lit by low red and orange lights, giving the room and the people within soft shadows. Music drifted up from the first floor, coming over the edge of the balcony and filling the air with dampened noise.

Keren pushed himself back from the table and stood. The shadowy room swayed in front of his eyes, the red and orange lights blinking and streaking in his vision. He took a step forward and stumbled over his tail, which had been curled around the leg of his chair. The half dozen glasses on the table rattled and clinked against each other, one falling over and rolling in aimless circles. Keren took another step and this time succeeded in disengaging himself with the table. He took another, more confident, step towards the bar, followed by another. He stumbled again, but caught himself and kept going. He wove between the few tables in his way, avoiding them just as much as he stumbled into them.

Finally, he made it to the bar and sat down on a stool, laying down on the bartop and humming as the cool copper came into contact with his cheek. He smiled languidly and shifted his unfocused gaze from empty space to the blurry figure who occupied the stool. The blur had dark skin, golden spikes that Keren took to be horns nestled in a long mass of blonde curls, and a glittering white smile that was visible over the rim of the cup that the figure held in a hand adorned with metal. Keren’s eyes focused and he stared at the figure, marvelling half aloud at the figure’s features.

The figure purred and quietly drummed the hand not holding the glass on the bartop, metal claws clinking against the copper. “You are quite charming, little demon. But alas, your honeyed words will get you nowhere.”

Keren picked his head up off of the bar and sat up straighter, blinking a few times to clear his vision. As the figure’s face clarified, Keren tried to keep his loose, cocky smile in place, but it faltered as he took in the figure in full detail. The blonde hair fell to the small of the figure’s back, catching the scattered light from around the room and looking more like a wavy golden cape than anything else. It was tucked behind one pointed ear, the rest fanning over thin shoulders to cascade down a simple black shirt and pants that hugged the figure’s body. The golden spikes nestled in the curls were indeed twisted golden horns, though whether they were natural or not was indistinguishable to Keren’s intoxicated eyes. Wine-red eyes met Keren’s golden ones, and Keren felt a blush creep across his two-toned skin. The figure smiled, perfect lips drawing back to reveal pointed, pearly canines that denoted something Keren couldn’t quite put his finger on.

Keren cleared his throat and spoke after making sure his signature self-important smirk was in place. “Is that so?” He leaned forward into the figure’s space, catching a whiff of some kind of earthy perfume that made his head spin. His thoughts were sluggish, but put together enough for a small corner of his brain to speak up.“ Are you sure this is a good idea? You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.” But Keren was quite adept at ignoring what little logic he possessed, especially while inebriated.

The figure inclined his head once while smiling into his glass before setting it on the table. He put his hand out, golden ornamental claws glinting in the warm light. Keren hopped off of his stool, managing to maintain enough grace to look fluid, even in his drunken state. He bowed low over the figure’s hand, all the while looking up into the amused gaze that was directed down at him. “Keren Iados, paladin of the first ring of Hell and soon to be the one to sweep you off your feet.” He kissed the figure’s hand and straightened, winking before sitting down again.

The figure let out a tittering laugh, light and musical. He leaned back against the bar, legs crossed and filigreed nails still quietly drumming on the table top. “I am Auxerre Nightwing, the sole vampire lord of this city, the owner of this establishment, and...your most pleasant nightmare,” the figure finished with a sultry smile. With that, Auxerre stood and stepped in between Keren’s knees where they rested spread comfortably on the barstool. He wrapped his arm loosely around Keren’s neck, leaning back against the bar with only some of his weight on Keren’s thigh.

Keren felt his face heating up, and he knew that even through his red and black skin that the flush would show. He tilted his head to the side, breath stuttering as he tried to think of a smooth remark. “I thought you said that my words wouldn’t get me anywhere? But it seems to me that you have been won by my masculine charms.” He tossed his head and offered the man on his lap a suave smile.

Auxerre clicked his tongue, chuckling softly. He leaned in and kissed Keren on the cheek, once against wreathing him in a subtle but intoxicating scent that made his cheeks flush and want to inexplicably pull Auxerre closer. He smelled of...well worn leather, rain in the forest, and just a hint of something spicy.

Only then did the full weight of what Auxerre had said settle on Keren. He gulped quietly and tilted his head farther to the side, knowing that the low red lights would glint off of the triple sets of small horns set on his forehead, flicker across the gold and silver tattoos that covered his arms and neck, and highlight the long blonde lashes that surrounded his golden, pupil-less eyes.

“What brings the master of such a fine establishment out and into the company of one such as myself?” As he spoke, he wrapped his right arm gently around Auxerre’s back, resting it on the bartop and just barely letting his black, manicured claws catch the fabric of Auxerre’s robe, finally giving in to the urge that screamed to pull vampire closer. Keren knew that he was most likely in danger; vampire lords didn’t choose to dally with just anyone. But Keren was still drunk, and the wine he had ingested made him even more bold than he otherwise would have been, drowning out the tiny voice of reason that forever was doomed to lose to his impulses.

“Well, little demon: to put it simply, you intrigue me. In this shining city, not many are so bold as you. Not many approach the roosting vampire of this house of pleasures, much less lavish so many words and praises upon him with one very singular intention in mind.” Once again, Auxerre’s lips spread to reveal his perfect teeth formed into in a smile that brought a blush to Keren’s face, no matter how experienced with the art of seduction he was.

Keren was just about to offer the vampire-lord a drink when Auxerre’s face changed, becoming serious and concentrated, but somehow only enhancing his feminine but chiseled features.

Auxerre nodded once, eyes locked on some distant point, before standing gracefully and spinning around slowly to face Keren. Auxerre’s face still held the self-assured but charming smile it had before, but Keren could see the tiny cracks where worry shown through. Despite his drunken state and his extremely limited attachment to the man, he felt his heart clench at the sight. “What’s on your mind, doll? I didn’t see you talking to anyone, but something changed. I swear, by the holy fires of Zariel that-”

Before he could finish, Auxerre put a soft finger to his lips. “I appreciate the offer, little demon, but I assure you I am quite capable of taking care of this...nuisance on my own. I am so sorry to interrupt our encounter, as I can see it is leading somewhere quite promising. But alas, I will have to resume this another time. Return tomorrow, and I will assure that we are able to converse uninterrupted.” With a smile bordering on a smirk as Auxerre saw Keren nearly drool at the offer that had been laid out, he leaned forward to brush his lips against Keren’s, before turning and moving gracefully towards the staircase to the first floor, hips swinging slightly.

As as Auxerre disappeared into the low, warm light, Keren licked his lips unconsciously, still feeling the feather-light kiss Auxerre had given him. It tingled in the most pleasant way, almost gone but still lingering. He wanted more, and he was more than eager to see what would transpire the next night.

With a satisfied smirk, confident that the night had gone well due to his indelible charm, Keren ordered another glass of wine and retreated to his corner of the room, settling in again to listen to the music and search for some fresh company.