#before inquisition?

[mythalism]

FELASSAN MURDER MEMORY‼️⁉️‼️⁉️‼️⁉️‼️⁉️‼️⁉️⁉️‼️

[vaguely-concerned]

I understand and agree with a lot of the frustrations about the shortcomings of Inquisition as a story. but sometimes when I hear people complain about the chosen one narrative in it I do want to just be like... you know it's a deconstruction of the concept more than anything, right. the inquisitor isn't actually chosen by anything except stumbling into the wrong (right?) room at the right (wrong?) time because they like, heard a noise or whatever. or if you think they are chosen, as many do in-universe, that's something you have to take on faith, the maker-or-whoever moves in mysterious ways indeed-style. the Inquisitor isn't actually a Destined Chosen One, they're a Just Some Guy in a fancy hat, self-delusions of grandeur to taste as you'd prefer.

a running thread that goes through all of the personal quests of the companions is the concept of a comforting lie vs. an uncomfortable truth, upholding old corrupt structures vs. disrupting them, and the role of faith in navigating that. (blackwall the warden vs. thom rainier the liar and murderer. hissrad vs. the iron bull, or is that the other way around? cassandra and the seekers -- do we tell the truth about what we find, even if it means dismantling the old order of the world? and so on.) and your inquisitor IS at the same time a comforting lie (a necessary one, in dark times? the game seems to ask) and an uncomfortable truth (we are the result of random fickle chance, no protective hand is held over the universe, it's on us to make a better world because the maker sure as hell won't lift a divine finger to help anyone, should he against all odds exist). faith wielded for political power... where's the point that it crosses the line into ugliness? is it before it even begins? what's the alternative? will anyone listen to the truth, if you tell it?

interesting how you also get a mix of companion agency in this -- you have characters like dorian who ALWAYS choose one side of the comforting lie vs. uncomfortable truth dichotomy. he will always make up his own mind to go back to tevinter and try to dismantle the corruption of the old system no matter what you say, or how you try to influence him. meanwhile iron bull is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum -- so psychologically trapped and mangled, caught in an impossible spiritual catch-22, that his sense of identity is left entirely to you and your mercy. you cannot change dorian in any way that matters; you can be his friend or not, support him or not, but he is whole no matter what. you are given incredible and potentially destructive-to-him power over bull's soul. it's really cool (and heartbreaking) to think about.

this is a game about how history will eat you even while you're still alive, and shape you into whatever image it pleases to serve it, and for all your incredible power right now you are powerless in the face of the gravitational force of time -- of more than time, of History. you won't recognize yourself in what History will make of you, because you belong to it now. you don't belong to yourself anymore and you never will again. the further you were from what it needs from you to begin with, the more you will find yourself distorted in its funhouse mirror. (why hello there inquisitor ameridan, same hat!)

and to me this is so much the core of what Dragon Age is about right from the Origins days -- how and by whom history gets written, the inherent unreliable narration of it all. I hope you like stories, Inquisitor. You are one now.

I do think it's probably still the weakest of the games narratively, and it's hampered by its structure and bloated systems. but I also find it disingenous to say that there's nothing deeper or actually interesting going on with it, thematically. if you're willing to engage with it there is Some Real Shit going on under the high fantasy-tinted surface.

[the-northern-continent]

Fen’Harel may seem stressed, but this is important enrichment for him. For optimal health, trickster deities must be pursued by 2-5 larger, angrier deities at all times. This allows them to express their natural instincts to Run, Deny Involvement, and Proclaim Themselves “Just A Little Guy”.

[gravedigg]

The Magician - Dorian Pavus

[spitedemon]

i really don’t think it’s “typical dragon age fandom nonsense” for people to be genuinely upset about the world state choices. combat, level design, art direction, gameplay gimmicks, those have all varied across each dragon age game. the one thing that’s remained constant are nods to our previous choices.

i wasn’t expecting my HoF to come riding in on a griffon, but i can’t find a monument dedicated to warden tabris somewhere around the anderfels? lucanis couldn’t have some lines about the time that one arainai boy was stirring up trouble in antiva city? you’re gonna tell me that making a mage the new divine wouldn’t have some impact on nevarra and antiva? on the anderfels, the supposed most devout militant andrastian nation in thedas? you’re saying nobody in the north is paying attention to who rules orlais or ferelden? come on.

[pinayelf]

Some cute boys ❤️

[critter-of-habit]

Avvar Armor is my favourite look for Sera 😌

[pondering-gales-left-orb]

Woe, jar of bees (and wasps) be upon ye

[mogwaei]

Sleeping Beauty but make it Solavellan

[inqvisitor]

i think it says something about the force of the inquisitor’s mind — specifically a faithfully dalish mage inquisitor — that the events of inquisition and trespasser did not immediately turn their brain to dust.

and perhaps that’s just the world of dragon age, that long believed stories of old are bound to shatter at any moment. but in one playthrough, depending on your leanings, they learn that:

the rite of tranquility can be reversed

ameridan was a dalish elf mage who knew that the whole time before he disappeared

that the old gods were not gods at all

that they enslaved the elves of old

that the veil was created by fen’harel and that was the cause of losing their immortality and not the presence of humans

and that their closest advisor in all things spirit (and potentially their great friend and lover) was the dread wolf in the goddamn flesh

not to mention the knowledge of the well of sorrows, which potentially submits them to the will of flemeth/mythal herself.

i truly think sera is the only one who really understands the mental ramifications, in her own way. her hatred of the fade and the crossroads in trespasser makes her at times flat out terrified, and the thought of the veil at one point not existing at all almost gives her a conniption. but it’s more than understandable considering that everything the elves know about the world, about their own history, is a lie.

everything that the inquisitor potentially leaned on to lead their people, a desire to return to the old ways… vanishes in the span of a few days, potentially an evening, with the exalted council.

how do you not lose your mind?

[knife-eared-jan]

Ok, Solavellans. Ok. I get it now. You win.

Fucking hell, that Haven scene.The completely unprompted absolutely smitten with her dialogue. The kiss animation, with the smiles and headshakes. The "WE SHOULDN'T".

I know I'm 10 years late, but sheesh...

HIS LOOK-

His rizz is so good, he made Lavellan break the 4th wall.

[thrumugnyr]

I mean, it's technically true.

[biowho]

[citadrells]

figured it was high time I ported the full master post over from twitter to here - origins, dragon age 2, inquisition and a rook planner! stick my username in the tags if you want me to be nosy at what you do with them 🤝🏻

the colouring is slightly off on the inquisition template but I may re-do and tidy them all at a much later date so I opted for the lazy route of not correcting it this time (sorry) - enjoy 🙇🏻

[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

Kala is filing a complaint

[skeeeeeeeelons]

Falling slowly/Eyes that know me etc etc