#dragon age tin foil theories

[roguelioness]

Thinking about the Inquisitor's final decision at the Exalted Council and how it could potentially affect the world state in Veilguard-

If the Inquisitor chose to disband the Inquisition: this provides Rook additional resources via Harding. The losses in the Treviso vs Minrathous decision are lower. However, the South struggles with darkspawn, and Divine Victoria becomes blighted.

If the Inquisitor chose to have the Inquisition join the Chantry: Rook gets fewer resources. The damage to Treviso or Minrathous are high. However, the South has a force to handle the darkspawn, and Divine Victoria is safe.

Depending on the choice made, the Rook/Inquisitor interaction would have some tension; if Rook got the additional resources, the Inquisitor would be bitter, if the Inquisitor had the resources, Rook would be angry.

This could also potentially affect Harding - if Rook doesn't interact with Harding or do any of her quests, Harding leaves the Veilguard to return to the South, which could lead to a bad ending. If Rook shows up for and supports Harding, she stays to help, which allows for a reconciliation/redemption ending.

It would make the Exalted Council decision that much more serious (since the effect of that decision on hunting down Solas was zero). On one hand the South has been home, in the other hand, additional resources for fighting two gods would be incredibly beneficial. Was the Inquisitor a tactician who saw the benefit in diverting resources to "the new faces he (Solas) doesn't know"? Did they have the Inquisition join the Chantry to spite Solas, only to reap the benefits later?

There are so many possibilities. I wish the game had used them.

[lilllithdraagon]

@lunadys and I have been talking. And maybe this is controversial, but we've always maintained that the Veil has gotta come down. It's like so many people hear, "The veil is thin here, the Veil thin here." And Sera MOCKING Solas for how much he says that. AND HOW EASY TEARS IN THE VEIL FORM. And somehow, the idea that the Veil is unravelling seems to go over some people's heads.

It is breaking apart. It is in TATTERS by Inquisition. We've been holding it together with ducttape and a dream.

It's like the floor is rotting out beneath us, and he's ripping it up. But everyone is SCREAMING "Where will we walk!" and risking the collapse of the entire house to stop him.

Why are we all so adamant that Solas shouldn't bring it down in a more controlled and humane manner? He outright SAYS there is no other way. He outright SAYS every other option is worse. He wants you to find a better way, but in the nine years since the last game, how has that been going?

Varric went up those stairs trying to get through to Solas. And presented him with the same speech they have been giving Solas for a decade. I think SOLAS might have actually been getting through to Varric. In that hushed conversation.

So when Solas says, "I have taken measures to minimise the damage." And ROOK decided that he wants to know what the worst case scenario will look like first hand, and kicks out the flooring supports.

I am shit scared.

And from the look on Solas' face. So is he.

[championofthefade]

Warning!! This post may contain spoilers for those who haven't played Veilguard yet! This turned out a lot longer than I thought, but I'm discussing the theory that Rook is a spirit.

I know that there are issues with the writing and any theory is not created to make those issues get swept under the rug. This theory is meant to be fun, and I would like to talk about it.

I'm thinking about the "Rook is a spirit" theory I saw on twitter/x. This theory often rotates in my head often, and I think that it's so interesting.

Like, listen. I understand that narratively it would be complicated to insert into what we know is Dragon Age Veilguard. Someone brought up the fact that it would be a strange thing because wouldn't Emmrich know that Rook is a spirit the way that he knows Lucanis has Spite?

But the theory that cadhalash paints for us is the fact that Varric was for Rook what the Rook is for the companions.

"Help them with their personal problems and talk to them about their feelings, but never ask Rook how they're doing. Or if they need anything. In codex memos we learn the companions have potlucks and book clubs but Rook is not invited. We learn at the end that Varric wasn't really there... What if Rook wasn't either? There's tons of chat about this idea now with other examples of Rook being compared to a spirit in the game. Very interesting and fun!" -cadhalash

There could be the very huge chance that Emmrich would recognize Rook as a spirit, but what about a spirit made flesh?

Think about Cole's banter with Blackwall, for example:

Blackwall: How does a spirit become flesh anyway?

Cole: I don't know. How does a Warden become Grey?

It may seem like a reach, but to me, it makes sense. Cole chose to become human because that was the shape that would help, which he says in a banter with Varric.

Varric: So, Kid, why human?

Cole: It was the shape that would help.

Varric: Huh. Most people don't pick a shape. I guess I was hoping for something deeper with that question.

Cole: It had to be him. But harmless. The him he wanted that wouldn't hurt.

Varric: Well that's... deeper. I think.

You may be thinking, "Hey, Atlas. That might be a little reaching, don't you think?"

Well, yes. Applauding the people that caught onto Solas in the Dragon Age Fandom years and years ago now because you all were on the nose about him being a worm (spirit). But considering what we know from Dragon Age as a whole, it could be possible that Rook is too a spirit of a different kind.

We know that Emmrich can sense Spite. We know that Emmrich can talk directly to Spite. But what if Rook was more like Cole? Would Emmrich's ability to speak to spirits or sense them so close apply?

I would say, that depends on the type of Spirit that Rook would be, right? This has a lot of wiggle room for what you think your Rook would be as a spirit?

From the Wiki:

Spirits lack imagination and creativity; everything they make is based off something made by mortals. Whether benevolent or malevolent, most spirits cannot help but mine a Fade visitor's mind for their thoughts and memories. They then mimic the pieces of life they see by shaping the Fade into various realms that cater to the unconscious desires of the living, providing experiences to the sleeping that become their "dreams."

And the Spirits listed:

Command, Compassion (Cole), Courage, Curiosity (Manfred), Duty, Faith (Wynne), Honor, Hope, Justice(Anders), Learning, Love, Perseverance, Purpose, Valor, Wisdom (Solas).

(We know from Veilguard that Spite is referred to as a spirit of Determination/ mentioned in a data mine, Passion.)

For the sake of the theory, let's say that Emmrich would get an inkling. A prickling feeling even that he knows that there's a spirit near by and would chalk it up to being Manfred because he would know that, right? But then there's Spite. How big of an energy read does Emmrich get from Lucanis to immediately go, 'Yeah, you've got a tag along and I'm sorry it wasn't a willing possession'.

So, how would it get unnoticed by Emmrich, the resident Fade Expert?

Well... Reading further down said wiki page, we find this:

As Rhys puts it in a dialogue with Cole, "being important makes you real". (Asundered reference, I believe?)

Being important makes you real. Rook becomes the 'leader' when Varric gets hurt at the beginning of the game. For the entirety of the game, as Rook, you have to build a team to fight ancient elvhen gods. Rook has to be what Varric was, pulling people that Solas didn't know into trying to save the world from going to shit.

Rook was given a purpose. To save the world.

Regardless of how Rook is perceived, they are in charge. They are in a position that they didn't want, probably was expecting to go home after dealing with this Dread Wolf that they were recruited to stop, and now... They're given a role that would make them important. And as before being important makes you real.

Could Rook be something akin to Cole rather something like Spite or other spirits that we know in Veilguard?

Here's another thing: Solas.

Yes, we are talking about the egg. I'll try to keep this as coherent as possible. We know that Solas didn't want to come from the Fade to be a human (another discussion for another time). We learn that Solas was a spirit of Wisdom, whose Wisdom was twisted into a weapon and forced to do things that stripped Solas of what he wanted to keep for himself. To remain as Wisdom.

This makes it interesting if we add to the fact that Rook could choose to outsmart Solas. Because at that pivotal moment, Solas was Pride. On his pride, it was always the sword he would fall on.

Say what you will about the trick ending, but this is something that shouldn't be glossed over. Being outsmarted by Rook, Solas says, "I am a fool... Who has met his match."

Met his match. This also might be another case of reaching, but it's interesting phrasing from someone who tells clever half-truths and never quite lies. Being tricked by Rook out of pure wits alone. Something that he thought he succeeded in.

What does this have to do with spirits?

Solas, who was brought out of the Fade to take a body to join the elves in a fight against the Titans. Solas, who crafted the lyrium dagger to sunder the Titans from their dreams in hopes of stopping the war. Solas, who created the blight from the Titans' severed dreams. Solas, who started a rebellion against the ancient elvhen gods who abused their power.

Rook, who was brought onto a job to stop the Dread Wolf. Rook, who disrupted the ritual in hopes of stopping Solas. Rook, who started a double blight from freeing these ancient elvhen gods. Rook, who has to build a team to stop these ancient elven gods.

I would say, in spirit, Rook is a mirror of Solas. I'm not saying Rook is wise like Solas or anything like that. But there is something about Rook being Solas' mirror that could fold into Rook being a Spirit of Reflection.

This is just something that comes to mind. Rooks helps Taash discover their identity, helps Emmrich deal with his fear of mortality, helps Neve protect Dock Town, helps Bellara with Cyrian, helps Harding with the Titans, helps Davrin with the griffons, and helps Lucanis with Spite. (Generalized, all choice dependent.) These are reflections of the companions. These are reflections of the people that Rook had brought together to save the world.

It could easily be written off because we're not entirely sure how many spirits there are, but I digress.

Of course, that too would beg the question of how it would apply to all Rooks from all backgrounds?

Let's take a look at the ones that make me think.

Shadow Dragon Rook

The foundling Rook was adopted into a military family and joined the Shadow Dragons to fight from the shadows for change in Minrathous.

We learn in a dialogue with Tarquin that a Shadow Dragon Rook was found on a battlefield by the Mercar family.

Now with this little bit of dialogue, it makes me (personally) think back to what Solas says about him walking the Fade and seeing ancient battlefields where spirits reenact wars from the other side of the Veil. There could have been spirits that were there during this battle where SD Rook was found. (It also kinda reminds me of Loki being found by Odin and raised in Asgard. Don't come for me, I've only watched the movies.)

For the sake of theory, say that a spirit that would have looked over a SD Rook before they were found by the Mercars. Thinking about it, it reminds me of how Cole (the mage) was watched over by Compassion and then Compassion took a shape that would help.

A spirit (in Spite's case) can be drawn to a person, yes? As Determination, we know that Spite was drawn to Lucanis' determination to live or something of the like. (I will live to spite you, essentially.)

Mourn Watch Rook

Discovered by undead inside a Grand Necropolis tomb as an infant, Rook was raised by Mourn Watch necromancers, eventually joining the order.

Relating back to the Muttering Undead that is in a coffin on the path from Emmrich's recruitment:

Stumbling… The steps. Skeletons saw… Oh no choice. Had to be brave… Had to be brave… Too late to cry… Save the (girl, boy, baby) with the grave.

This is a little more open ended. We know nothing about Ingellvar beyond that. We don't know where they came from, only that they were found inside a tomb. It makes me scratch my head.

We know that it's a custom in Nevarra that a spirit could reanimate a skeleton, essentially, and bring some part of their consciousness from back across the Veil. We see that Manfred, when you choose to bring him back, is brought back from across the Veil and returns with magic.

Sure, it's not the same thing as building a body out of Titan's blood, but the idea that the spirits that became the Evanuris are the best of the physical and the Fade offers up to the idea that they were going to have magic anyway when they crossed the Veil. Only lyrium gave them more power than I think that they knew what to do with.

I make this point from the perspective that Mourn Watchers are typically necromancers. They are almost always close to places where the Veil is thin enough for a spirit to come across and possessing a body in a sense.

When it comes to the Muttering Undead, I don't know who that could have been or what they were doing in the Necropolis. But it's clear that they were determined to save Mourn Watch Rook, and they were the one that put Rook in the tomb.

This one makes me scratch my head because it's so broad and vague. For the theory that Rook is a spirit, this is the origin/background/faction that lends itself to the idea because in Nevarra they revere and respect their dead with the ability to raise the corpses to continue contributing to the Grand Necropolis. But we're talking about a wee baby Rook growing up in the Necropolis. Could it be possible that the saving of Rook is more spirit in a tomb?

The last things I would like to touch on.

Dialogue with Harding (her romance I believe?) :

Harding: I've seen spirits leave the Fade and become real people. (COLE!!!)

Rook: You think I could be a spirit in disguise?

Harding: It isn't malicous. They're just drawn to strong emotion. And then...one day, real people.

Rook: I think I'm really me, and I'm really here.

This is why I mentioned Cole earlier.

And the absence of Rook in the Veilguard mural is brought up in the theory as well. Rook's absence on the mural strikes me as odd. Because yes, the companions would be a main focus in the stories that would follow them. But what about Rook, the person who brought these vastly different people together and saved the world? Not there. Were they ever there?

Much to think about.

[seeker-ophelia]

The King's Gambit

You guys I just had a thought and I am disturbed.

NO DATV SPOILERS.

(*hands you tin foil hat)

Please just.... just put it on please.

In DA:I ;

If you side with the Chargers, and you carry Bull and Solas in your party, they will begin to ‘mental chess’ with each other (Solas says he is trying to help bull get over the loss of the Qun, helps him realize hes not tal-vashoth).

See this “fan-made” (seems pretty professional to me…) video

I also recommend you read this blog post:

(But only after you’re done with mine.)

In chess you have many pieces that all serve their own function. There's the King and Queen, the pawns, bishops, knights, etc.

In the video (and in DA:I), we learn that Solas calls chess pieces by a different name then what The Iron Bull does; a tribute to the pairs wildly different upbringing.

IT IS THE SAME GAME, THE SAME PIECES, BUT THEY CALL THEM SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

But because they know how the game is played, and the way each piece works, this minor infraction does not stop them from their mental battle.

Solas opened (started) their chess game with the name of a Netflix limited series that most will find familiar; The Kings Gambit.

From a Chess Website:

King's Gambit is an aggressive Chess opening that falls under the category of open games. It is characterized by White sacrificing a pawn on the second move to facilitate rapid development and initiate an attack against the opponent's king, specifically targeting the f7 square. 

Ok I still don’t really understand what this means. Lets use Wikipedia.

From Wikipedia:

The King's Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 King's Gambit is an aggressive Chess opening, that falls under the category of open games. It is characterized by White sacrificing a pawn on the second move to facilitate rapid development and initiate an attack against the opponent's king, specifically targeting the f7 square.  White offers a pawn to divert the black e-pawn. If Black accepts the GAMBIT, White may play d4 and Bxf4, regaining the gambit pawn with central domination, or direct their forces against the weak square f7 with moves such as Nf3, Bc4, 0-0, and g3. A downside to the King's Gambit is that it weakens White's king's position, exposing it to the latent threat of ...Qh4+ (or ...Be7–h4+),  which may force White to give up castling rights.

Sorry, lets read that again, from the lens of a not-chess player (which I am, so a millions apologies to the people smarter than me reading this who were like, girl ur dumb for just figuring this out).

White begins a game of chess. White offers up a pawn as a sacrifice to black. If black accepts this sacrifice, white’s central control of the board is vulnerable, BUT, they can aggressively attack black’s king.

SO what are the downsides of this move, then? Sounds like a winner for anyone who knows how to play chess (I do not).

Remember when I said:

In the video (and in DA:I), we learn that Solas calls pieces by a different name then what The Iron Bull does; a tribute to the pairs wildly different upbringing.

Bull and Solas call bishops weird things. They call knights weird things, but one of the pieces they agree on, is the tower (or as I call it, the Castle).  

Which is weird. I mean, when I was a kid learning chess I called it the castle. It looks like a castle, (or a tower) why not call it a castle?

My cousin, who “taught” me chess, also made me call the pieces their correct names, even though I thought bishop was stupid, and knight even stupid-er. And he made me call my castle by its proper name;

ROOK.

What the fuck is a Kings Gambit again?

You sacrifice a pawn, to gain control of the board. You’re vulnerable, but you have high attack strength.

So WHAT is the downside of Kings Gambit?

From Wikipedia Again:

A downside to the King's Gambit is that it weakens White's king's position, exposing it to the latent threat of ...(mastermind chess moves),  which may force White to give up castling* rights.

Castle?

You mean Rook?

*Castling is a move in chess. It consists of moving the king two squares toward a rook on the same rank and then moving the rook to the square that the king passed over.  Castling is permitted only if neither the king nor the rook has previously moved; the squares between the king and the rook are vacant; and the king does not leave, cross over, or finish on a square attacked by an enemy piece. Castling is the only move in chess in which two pieces are moved at once.

Lets Re-cap:

Kings Gambit is an aggressive chess opening where white (the starting player) sacrifices a pawn (Solas after Inky: check).

Black accepts Whites sacrifice and takes pawn.

White can aggressively attack black, but they are vulnerable.

*Happy Solas Noises*

Rook is their ultimate safety blanket, their last minute escape route.

Rook is White's last resort.

Solas set up a Thedas version of the kings gambit.

But are we playing WITH him? Or AGAINST him?

Oh, and by the way…

THE  KINGS  GAMBIT  IS  ALSO  CALLED  THE  IMMORTAL  GAME

Can someone drink the cool-aid with me pleeeease.

[polyhedraldreamgirl]

Some of my theories for Dragon Age 5!

I need to get this out of my head so here aaaare ..

Put your tinfoil hats on everybody, I did not do much research beyond what I already know and I'm going OUT OF POCKET!

Void, Retcon & Soul fragments

The game will heavily feature lore about/creatures from the Void.

The secret ending graphic pretty much confirms this idea for me (the black gaping triangle, also shaped like an eye), as well as it being a big unexplored thing in most of the lore that offers new angles. That don't necessarily need to be connected to alllllll the Evanuris stuff.

The speaker in the Secret Ending plus whoever their compatriots are are actually from the Void (at least originally), perhaps have been doing their Whispering and steering from there.

I'm certain they're going to hit us with a "these new creatures have been influencing Thedas ALL ALONG MWAHAHAH" line of thinking.

The secret ending at the end of Veilguard shows the Magister's Sidereal (who went into the fade & released the blight) Loghain, Bartrand, Meredith and Orsino, Corypheus, (Flem-)Mythal, Solas, Elgar'nan and Ghillai'nain all part of this plan/plot/progression. All of these people have at some point in there narrative made moves that could be described as deeply out of character. I'm especially in my *Leonardo DiCaprio pointing accusatorily* energy about this when I rewatched the scene where Loghain hires Zevran. He's staring into the fire, almost seeming like he's listening to something else. (I might be wrong, I probably am, but TINFOIL HATS BABYYYY)

The Void is essentially the antithesis to the Fade.

The fade brings life, energy, magic. The void holds death, magic-nullification etc. (See the mystery substance codex notes in Veilguard) Largely speaking, the Evanuris were "of the Fade" and the Forgotten Ones (or perhaps whoever these secret ending people are) are "of the Void". The Void that drove Andruil insane. The one the Forgotten ones were banished to (is this canon? I think so?), as the Evanuris were imprisoned in the Fade. More on this below in my Soul-diatribe.

Blood Magic came from the Void/these Void creatures. Perhaps was even taught by them.

Veilguard kind of defangs the whole "Old Gods taught Tevinter Blood Magic" by making the Old Gods (=Archdemons) simply voice boxes for the Evanuris because each Evanuris put a little bit of themselves into that Dragon. I sincerely doubt the original invention of blood magic will remain connected to the Evanuris as well, given everything they've already canonically ruined. I think the origin of Blood Magic lies somewhere else, especially since blood mages lose their clear connection to the fade.

Some or all of these creatures from the Void/speakers from the secret ending are the Forgotten Ones, or those the Forgotten Ones sought.

Yes, the forgotten ones were also powerful elves alongside the Evanuris. But they weren't imprisoned in the Fade, they were banished elsewhere. Their motives are different, as are their actions. Anaris using a Demon army kind of counters this theory, because demons are (ostensibly) from the fade, but what if the Void also has it's own kind of spirits? Once that are vastly different to those we know now? Idk spitballing here.

Anaris' last words pretty much confirm this for me, something about needing to escape from the Eye(s) - which fails, because of Rook. Wherever Anaris is banished to, something is there, and watching.

All of this connects into my biggest conspiracy idea:

Every mortal soul has two parts. One magical/mystical/spiritual Fade part, and one non-magical/grounded/earthly(?) Void part.

The original Elves who came from spirits would only have the former, but all those who were born of this world (Thedas) have something to them that decreases that pure connection to the Fade, another part of their being.

When the dead are encountered or resurrected, not all of them returns, although powerful mages are stronger (see Zara Renata's corpse scene with Emmrich). Emmrich states he believes in a "truer resurrection", aka the spirit that possesses a body is often, at least in part, the same spirit that belonged to the deceased.

Now what if...what IF that part that returns, those spirits that play out all of Thedas' dreams. The divine encountered in DA:I, what if those are just the FADE part of the soul? What if the soul has roughly two parts (Mythal splitting, the Evanuris binding to Dragons, Titans/Dwarves being split from magic shows us souls CAN split to some extent), one returning to the Fade, and the other returning to the VOID on death? What if Dwarves don't have any of that Fade Soul™, what if the rest of the world has a sliding scale amount depending on magic aptitude, elfiness™ and other genetics? What if the Veil caused people to just have a way larger amount of VoidSoul™, which is why everyone feels Tranquil to Solas? Because the Void would be anti-magic, un-emotion, un-life. What if resurrections through Blood Magic and other Blood Magic draws inspiration from the Void, thus tainting the Fade part of the soul, thus worsening the connection to the Fade? E.g. if the Veil fell, those with a high enough Fade-Soul™ percentage would be OK, while those with too much Void Soul wouldn't be able to survive/ascend (obligatory bible parallels mention, *cringe*).

I suppose three parts (Void, Fade & Earth is also possible, but I think the dichotomy would be more interesting.)

I could literally go on and on about this. It's by No Means a perfect theory and very much based on conjecture and vibes and most of the above proving true. But my conspiracy brain is doing overtime and I for one can't wait to see how Thedas' story continues and most importantly....

If weird grey masked entities doing influency heebeejeebie void stuff...

Why?

[tieflingtiger]

I've broken out a white board some of the stuff has Da2 stuff in there while the other half is DA:I

Me until Veil Guard comes out

[himluv]

DA: The Veilguard Predictions/Theories, pt. 3

Okay, last one, I promise. And this one is, uhhhhhh, real strong on the tinfoil. Bear with me.

Read part 1 here :)

Read part 2 here :)

3. DA:D’s Real Big Bad™

Okay, this is probably my most outrageous and unsubstantiated theory - but it’s also the one I’m most excited for. Buckle up, kids, because I think The Architect is back! 

So, when Bioware released the Dragon Age Day 2023 Thedas Calls trailer, Mark Darrah mentioned in the corresponding blog post that there was more to the trailer than just location reveals, “for those who listen closely.” Well, lemme tell you, I listened real close over and over again until something struck me.

“All the world will soon share the peace and comfort of my reign.” 

That voice… I know that voice, don't I? 

“I do not seek to rule my brethren. I only seek to release them from their chains.” 

The Architect told the Warden in Dragon Age: Awakening that it intended to use Grey Warden blood to return self-awareness and “freedom” to the Darkspawn, freeing them from their tethers to the Archdemons. 

But this was not The Architect’s first plan. No, its first plan was much, much worse. In The Calling, Maric, Duncan, Fiona and the other Grey Warden’s meet The Architect in the Deep Roads and learn that its plan is to spread the Blight over all of Thedas, thus ensuring a “lasting peace”. Nevermind that two-thirds of the population wouldn’t survive the process. **stares in solavellan**

A “lasting peace.”

“The peace and comfort of my reign.”

Now, sure, The Architect has stated that it doesn’t want to rule over its brethren, but that was in 9:31 Dragon. It’s been working on this plan since at least 9:10 Dragon (when The Calling takes place) and Dreadwolf is likely to take place somewhere around 9:52 Dragon. The Architect has had 40 years to scheme and experiment and come to the bitter realization that – if there is to be peace – it may have to rule after all. 

And I’m sure Corypheus’s rise and fall did not go unnoticed by The Architect. With Solas’s machinations putting a ticking clock on Thedas’s existence, perhaps The Architect feels the pressure to end the Blights once and for all, and bring its corrupted brand of “peace” to Thedas.

When you need to spread the Darkspawn taint in record time, what do you do? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe awaken two Archdemons simultaneously and unleash them upon the world? (as a treat?) After all, there can be no more Blights once all the Old Gods have been corrupted…

Which would directly pit The Architect against Solas AND the protagonists of DA:D. And, basically everyone, because no one wants a double Blight and/or to suffer a continent-wide Darkspawn plague.

So, yeah. That’s my super-duper tin-foil hat theory for Dreadwolf (now The Veilguard). Obviously, I could be completely wrong about everything. There’s so much lore in Dragon Age, and yet so little of that lore is unequivocally proven true. It’s all in-world texts that can be – and frequently are – wrong. So, even with exhaustive research and codex mining, there’s ALWAYS a chance that some fundamental piece of “evidence” turns out to just be… incorrect. 

In my opinion, that’s part of what makes this series so. effing. compelling. The whole world feels like an excavation, one where every interaction holds the potential for yet another clue. So, even if I am wrong, I can’t wait to learn the truth.

[g0lightly]

*me tuning into HOTD back in 2023 bc of that negroni spagliatto vid*: "god imagine caring enough about this show to have a favorite dragon" *me in my notes unironically in 2024*: see above

based dreamfyre's only bodycount is from trying to escape the dragonpit (the only one to break free from her chains thats my bbygirl 🙂‍↕️) which 1) was self-defense 2) in freeing herself to break the dragonpit dome dreamfyre also effectively sacrificed herself to do more for the in-universe equivalent of nuclear disarmament than... anyone else?!

it's simply impossible for me not to stan dreamfyre and her dragonriders! rhaena rode her around the realm to bond with her girlfriends and to search for her missing daughter! probably the only time helaena ever felt remotely free in her life was on dreamfyre! the fact that the dragon that arguably embodies some of the most important themes of the series (other than balerion though i feel this also enhances her as a foil to him) is basically absent from the show is a damned tragedy in my opinion.

theory under the cut, TW discussion of a character's suicide.

i have a theory that helaena's suicide -- described as mysterious by the maesters -- may have had more to it. it's easy and frankly, reasonable to understand it in the text as a tragic and all too common example of the way women's mental health has been historically neglected. however, as we're seeing in the HOTD adaptation, halaena is a dragon dreamer. GRRM has even said that show helaena is "a richer and more fascinating character than the one I created in FIRE & BLOOD," specifically citing her gift of prophecy as a major component of that compliment. as he explains in the post, helaena in the books is has few personality traits and her close bond with dreamfyre is one of them.

what if helaena lived a second life in dreamfyre after her death? even in the book where she is not intended to be a dragon dreamer, her motivation to do this could be to regain the freedom she enjoyed while riding dreamfyre or to simply use her power to end the violence. or perhaps it just happened because their bond was so strong. in the show, i wonder if helaena will do this because she sees in a dragon dream that it is the only way to end the most brutal ravages of the war? especially given the way that helaena spoke of the way lowborn women must lose their children more often than highborn women, i imagine that the grief of the mothers around helaena is weighing on her in addition to her own grief.

what if helaena intentionally sacrificed herself and dreamfyre to prevent more death? in the text, i think it's significant that dreamfyre was noted to be blinded in one eye before she broke the dome. this mirrors the loss of aemond targaryen's eye, arguably the event that set the war into motion. thematically, dreamfyre's sacrifice in death seems to represent the end of the cycle started by this eye for an eye mentality that led to so much death and destruction.

if you'd like some extra tin foil hat with your theory, i also wonder if dreamfyre actually didn't get crushed and managed to escape but the maesters said she died with the other dragons when the dome fell because it would look really bad if she didn't. she's one of many dragons whose remains are unconfirmed however she is the only dragon that broke free from her chains in the dragonpit.

even if dreamfyre did physically die, did she psychically die? she previously lived at harrenhal with rhaena targaryen; could dreamfyre be the dragon that alys rivers was reported to hold at harrenhal? rhaena appears to have been the first to be called a "witch queen" at harrenhal; could this have been her plan for dreamfyre all along, a plan dreamfyre understood due to the depth of their bond? i love helaena and rhaena the fuck DOWN on their own so obviously this idea of them having a psychic suffering witch queen bond through the ages via dreamfyre makes me rhaegar levels of emo tbh

[roguelioness]

I'm back with my tin foil hat on, spoilers beneath the cut-

So the two creatures rising up at the end of the gameplay trailer - I suspect it's Ghila'nain and Elgar'nan, and here's why I think so (this is just speculation!)

(I tried to get the best closeups I could!)

You can see the two beings rising up here:

The figure on the left is, i suspect, Ghila'nain

From The Horror of Hormak it's implied Ghila'nain had an interest in creatures with many limbs. the figure has several appendages in addition to the normal pair of arms.

It's interesting that the face is entirely hidden - or, at the very least, that mask is covering the eyes, because Ghila'nain's story involves losing them-

From the codex entry for Ghila'nain:

Ghilan'nain followed the hunter, and when they were away from all of her sisters, the hunter turned on Ghilan'nain. He blinded her first, and then bound her as one would bind a kill fresh from the hunt.

If she doesn't have eyes, it makes sense that she would cover them up. There's also her mosaic from the Temple of Mythal that could be taken as extra appendages:

(granted the mosaic in its entirety had those as part of halla horns, but... why are they covered in the same material as the face?) I think - going off of HoH - she was at one point Andruil's priestess, and at some point of time (perhaps when Andruil went hunting into the void) discovered the weird green lyrium which she then used to conduct her terrifying experiments. And because of that ability, she was granted ascension. Whether or not she transformed herself into that creature pre- or post-ascension is something I hope we'll learn (was it done deliberately? or was it a side effect? so many questions!)

Now my reasoning for this being Elgar'nan is a bit shakier; the first thing that made me go hmmm was a line from the Dragon Age Day trailer:

"All the world will soon share the peace and comfort of my reign."

That to me reads like Head-of-the-Pantheon kind of speech (I told you my reasoning was shaky lol)

But the other thing that has my raising my eyebrows is, well, Flemythal. The Chasind know Flemeth as Mother of Vengeance, and Elgar'nan is considered to be the god of vengeance (and Mythal's husband). Flemeth's speech about Mythal - "she was betrayed, as I was betrayed, as the world was betrayed" I thought referred to the veil's creation, but I'm beginning to wonder if it was a reference to Elgarn'an, seeing as he (along with Mythal) were supposed to have remade the world (from the codex entry for Mythal). If Elgar'nan took part in her murder, it could be seen as him (metaphorically) betraying the world. The other thing that caught my eye was his mosaic from Temple of Mythal:

The figure in the mosaic has two curves going outward from the shoulder region, which matches the armor the figure in the trailer is wearing. Granted this could mean nothing, seeing as how Flemeth's attire (specifically her hair) more resembles the mosaic for Mythal's dragon form than Mythal herself, but considering none of the other mosaics had anything similar to this makes me think Elgar'nan is the likeliest candidate.

Anyway, thank you for coming to my ted talk :D

[seeker-ophelia]

I have big feelings about this.

*hands you a tin foil hat*

Come with me, lets make some assumptions… Why would the Elvhen Pantheon Kill Mythal?

Number 1, I don't think the Evanuris are a "Family." I think they're a king/queen and his generals, or Captain/Lieutenant and Generals.

(Solas, Trespasser: "... after the war ended, generals became respected elders, then kings, and finally Gods. The Evanuris.")

Number 2, Ancient Elvhen History: We know (because of Solas, so potential Bias here) that the Evanuris/Elvsh nobles subjugated their kin (vallaslin), but for what purpose (power, workforce, blood magic), we don’t know. Solas (Fen’Harel), was opposed to the practice of slavery and lifted enslaved elves vallaslin with magic, to break the bonds of the Evanuris who oppressed them.

We know The Evanuris were also at War with "The Forgotten Ones".

We also know that they attacked/killed/trapped/destroyed the Titan(s).

Who knows what other atrocities they committed.

Mythal could have, at any point in time, for any of the above reasons, finally grown a conscience and began to disagree with the Evanuris.

Maybe something bad happened with the Titans, maybe the slaves, who knows. But, it might be easier to imagine Mythal betraying (or at least disagreeing with) the Evanuris if you believe my point 3:

Number 3: Why would Fen’Harel, the Trickster God, feel strongly enough about ONE god (and Mythal of all of them) that he would lock the rest away for eternity?

Inquisitor: You said that the elven gods went too far. What did they do that made you move against them? Solas: They Killed Mythal. (chuckles) A crime for which an eternity of torment is the only fitting punishement. Inky: I thought Mythal was one of the Evanuris? Solas: She was the best of them. She cared for her people. She protected them. She was the voice of reason. And in their lust for power, they killed her.

I imagine the Evanuris as King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, complete with Elgar / Mythal / Solas in a King Arthur / Guinevere / Lancelot love triangle.

I have absolutely zero evidence to support this, other than it is weird (like you said) why the Evanuris would kill her, especially if they were together for so long and were all immortal - they would need a big reason. An emotional reason.

I can imagine Elgar being angry enough at Solas’s betrayal that he would punish him with the death of the one he loved.

Proof of this theory? I don’t have any. Except for the fact that there’s a statue of Fen’Harel at the Temple of Mythal.

Morrigan: Why would this be here? Inquisitor: Something wrong? Morrigan: It depicts the Dread Wolf, Fen'Harel. In elven tales, he tricks their gods into sealing themselves away in the beyond for all time. Setting Fen'Harel in Mythal's greatest sanctum is as blasphemous as painting Andraste naked in the Chantry. **Except now we know that Fen’Harel locked the gods away because they killed Mythal, and you might imagine that the close (immortal) worshippers of Mythal would know that. Inquisitor: (Maybe it tells a story) Some Chantries display statues of Andraste's betrayer, Maferath, as part of The Chant. Morrigan: It might fulfill a similar function. A reminder of vigilance for the faithful. Solas: For all your "knowledge", Lady Morrigan, you cannot resist giving legend the weight of history. The wise do not mistake one for the other. (AKA - Do not mistake legend for history – he is basically saying that the legend is wrong). Morrigan: Pray tell, what meaning does our elven "expert" sense lurking behind this? Solas: None we can discern by staring at it.

** Why wouldn’t Solas say something here? He could have said ANYTHING. He could have said, Sometimes Fen’Harel was a protector (vallaslin), told a story of Mythals benevolence (real or not) towards Fen’Harel, he could have said legends of Fen'Harel serving Mythal, he could have said anything, but he says NOTHING. And sometimes saying Nothing, is more powerful than saying Something. He misses Mythal, and would not have Fen’Haral’s bad reputation besmirch the honor and reverence that he believes should be afforded to Mythal in her Temple*, regardless of how time has twisted the legends. Morrigan offers only disrespect, and it puts Solas's back up, but he cannot offer a lesson here, only suggest that she is wrong.

BECAUSE he Loooooved her, wants to smoooooch her, he wants to love her and maaaarry her.

Point 3.5:

Cole, Tresspasser:

"He did not want a body. But she asked him to come. He left a scar when he burned her off his face."

*Could it be more obvious that Solas was indentured to Mythal? Whether he was spirit or not is irrelevant, why would he remove the vallaslin? He obviously has love (worship) for her. He wouldn't need to remove the marks for that. BUT, if he had love (romantic) for her, he couldn't be a slave anymore, he would need to elevate his station to prove his worth to her.

It also lends credence to his insane anger at her death, I mean he locked up seven GODS ffs. You have to be pretty mad to do that.

Point 3.75: Solas is Fen'Haral, the betrayer, god of REBELLION, because he took The Evanuris's slaves way. Mythal is the Protector. He is the Patron Saint of SLAVES. Kinda makes sense they would band together. also probably why he hates Tevinter/Dorian so much.

As an aside, I also don’t think we should compare Flemeth/Mythal (or Andraste/Mythal), to Evanuris Mythal. I would assume getting axed changes your worldview a little bit.

 “And in their lust for power, they killed her.”

SOooo maybe it wasn’t intentional, the killing. Or maybe it was. But Solas got the big mad and trapped the Evanuris in the fade. I also presume that he locked them in the void, the same place where the “Forgotten Ones” are, and that in doing so created the blight.

But that’s a different story.

Solas: She was the best of them. She cared for her people. She protected them. Solas: She was a voice of reason. And in their lust for power, they killed her.

Either Solas or Bioware is once again missing a few steps in the sequence of events that led to Mythal's death. I mean, let's be real here: if Mythal was truly someone who cared for and protected her people instead of treating them like objects and tools (unlikely given the whole magic well that forces any who drink from it to serve Mythal with her physically taking control of their body to force them to do what she wants even if the actions she compels them to undertake are entirely against their own wishes and beliefs situation, that's not exactly loving and protective behaviour) and the Evanuris were truly all eeeeeeeeeeeevil slavers willing to do anything for their own gain... she would not be any threat to them. That's why the magisters who practice large-scale human sacrifice are so feared; what they do is horrific, but they do do it for a reason. That shit does seem to give insane boosts in power!

And speaking of things being done for reasons: even if we believe that Mythal was the voice of reason among the Evanuris (possible, but given her general behaviour across the games... I don't know, I'm reserving judgement until we meet some of the others) and the others were all power-hungry, that doesn't automatically translate into them killing her. Sure, maybe they wanted her to stop nagging, but if they all ruled their own areas they likely wouldn't see much of her, and besides that in the legends we see they all seem to listen to her pretty willingly. And also... she's described as the leader of the pantheon. She was in charge. Assuming the legends have some basis in fact, she was the leader and mother figure most of the Evanuris were bound to follow and obey, and we know she does have a fondness for stripping notable followers of their free will (in fact she seems almost giddy about getting Quiz/Morrigan under her control). How sure are we that they didn't have very good reason to want her dead? It's not like Solas would admit to it given his blind spot for her, and it would make more sense than "She was nice and they were all Evil McEvil so they murdered her in cold blood for no real reason"...

[silvereestars]

My Interests!

Here’s a list of all the fandoms I’m in/was into! (WARNING: Very long post ahead! If you want to see what fandoms I’m w/o the reading, just look at the tags!)

EDIT: NEVERMIND, THE TAG LIMIT FOILED ME /GEN /LH I am SO sorry, but the last few fandoms got cut out from the tag list! You’ll have to scroll down to the bottom to see them-

Crowned: These fandoms are VERY near and dear to my heart- and I’m ALWAYS willing to talk about them!

The Legend of Zelda: This is the fandom that introduced me to the internet back in 2019 (I’m a late bloomer, I know- XDDD), and kickstarted me making theories and analyses!

Friday Night Funkin: Hate it or love it, you can’t deny there are some amazing individuals out there! And for you modders out there, this game is actually heavily moddable- and one mod in particular was what caused FNF to blow up in the first place! This is actually the fandom I’m hyper fixating on right now-

Favorites: While they aren’t as important to me as the “crowned” ones, they still managed to hold my attention for a month or so- and that’s something to admire, considering how hyper my brain is!

Animator Vs Animation: This is the fandom that introduced me to Tumblr and AO3 back in the late summer of 2021- don’t worry, @ann-aha, you’re not alone! XDDD

Oh, and I can’t talk about “AvA” without mentioning the rest of the stick figure community! Shout out to Henry Stickmin, Rock Hard Gladiators/Hyun’s Dojo, Hyun, and Gildedguy! :D

Genshin Impact: Contrary to popular opinion, this game isn’t just for “nerds” or people who can afford to splurge thousands of dollars- I managed to complete the current (back then!) storyline as a free-to-player! While I’m not in the fandom anymore, at least give this one a chance?

Undertale: Ah yes, the funny skeleton man fandom /j /lh But seriously, this fandom isn’t all “Sans Fangirls”- just search up animations and artwork! Or, better yet- search up a full play through of the game (I recommend this order for newcomers- Neutral, Pacifist, Genocide) and let the story and gameplay do the talking! ^^

Just Shapes and Beats: Exactly what it says on the tin. Pro tip- once you’ve seen the full story mode, go check out KofiKrumble!

Minecraft: Of course I’d be into this fandom at some point, everyone will! I’m not into DreamSMP (please don’t kill me I’m just not interested in stuff like server-wide wars), but I AM fond of Hermitcraft and Empires!

Normal: I don’t really think about these fandoms too often, but they deserve a mention! 

Harry Potter

Voltron: Legendary Defender

My Hero Academia

The Owl House (hey, while this fandom isn’t one of my favorites, you bet I watched the finale and cried the whole time!)

Doki Doki Literature Club (somewhat- in my master post, I mentioned I hate horror, so I avoid gameplay and stick to tvtropes/summaries- sorry- ^^;)

Kipo & The Age of Wonderbeasts

Pokémon

How To Train Your Dragon

Marvel (The Avengers!)

Mario

Splatoon

Kirby

Subnautica

Trollhunters (and the rest of the Tales of Arcadia! I LOVED that series- except for Rise of The Titans. We don’t talk about Rise of The Titans. /gen /lh)

Carmen Sandiego

Amphibia

“The Big Three”: These were the fandoms I was into as a little kid, and inspired me to start making fan fiction & headcanons!

Kung Fu Panda: Oh my god, I loved this series- and a 4th movie’s coming in 2024!

Big Hero Six: This is the OG- the first fandom I EVER got into! :D

Wakfu: Yugo accidentally inspired an OC (no info- yet! Not unless I learn how to draw!), so it’d be a crime to not include this fandom!

Well, I think that’s all- for now! If you want to learn about favorite characters, theories, head canons and the like- just ask! :D

[emerald-amidst-gold]

Never fails. I start playing Inquisition or any of the Dragon Age games and I magically don the tin foil hat. 

Here I am, running around the Exalted Plains, seething at every codex because fuck the Chantry, and my mind goes:

‘...Why dragons? Why would they have Old God souls?’

So, after that question passed, my mind spiraled into its vortex of theories. I literally sat here, eating my dinner, staring at the game for several minutes and then it clicked. 

What if they’re vessels? What if the dragons depicted as Old Gods weren’t actually the Old Gods? What if they were simply chosen dragons, or some type of guardians to harbor those fragments as a means of keeping them safe from the Blight?

Dragons have immense resistance to the Blight (there’s a codex that states that), but still go out of their way to avoid areas of corruption. But again, they have resistance, growing cysts to contain the Taint from spreading through their blood and thus their mind and body. Obviously, that doesn’t make them impervious; they eventually can become corrupted. 

That leads me into the dragons imprisoned in the Deep Roads; what if they were sentenced to those underground prisons not as a means of punishment, but as a means of guarding? We already know the Old God souls and the Evanuris are somehow connected, and my theory is that those fragments are types of keys to a very specific set of locks (The Black City). However, what happens when a key is rusted? It won’t work; it falls apart and jams the lock. The minute those dragons become tainted (Old God soul in tow), then that particular key is void, unless there’s someone to interfere (Dark Ritual/Flemeth/Solas) and pick up the baton before it’s too late, before those locks break from less delicate means. (Grey Warden interference or complete transformation into an Archdemon) 

And that’s the problem; those dragons were down there for too long. Their bodies lay sleeping, slumbering while the Taint and corruption swirled around them and within them. The Blight had spread, no longer contained, unchecked for centuries and those who held the souls had to endure in slumber until the sand glass finally ran out and they couldn’t resist any longer; the darkspawn finding them, pushing the final domino to send the rest falling, and bursting those cysts of corruption so it would fester. 

*lays down and rubs temples* ...I could be completely grasping at straws and blowing this shit out of proportion, but it’s just...why? Why would dragons have a natural resistance to the Blight? They also have enough awareness to know that it’s something they should steer clear of. Most animals do, but dragons have a resistance. 

...Was that given to them? Ahhhh, I need to stop, but I can’t!

[mogwaei]

Tevinter Nights Tinfoil

MY HAT IS ON TIGHT

After reading Dread Wolf Take You I was naturally obsessing over every little thing the Bard said and did (because who wasn't?)

Annnd while I was drawing that Cursed Solas Bard I was thinking about his mask and how it was inlaid with opal.

In DAI, Vivienne has dialogue with Varric:

Varric: Alright, how much trouble am I in for this book?

Vivienne: Don't be ridiculous, darling. Why would you be in trouble?

Varric: For the villain thing?

Vivienne: Not at all! I find it delightful.

Varric: Seriously?

Vivienne: My dear, if I didn't want for people to fear me, I wouldn't dress like this. The book is perfect.

───────

Vivienne: Varric, darling, what manner of villain am I in your novel?

Varric: You're the scheming duchess, coldly maneuvering her political rivals into a trap.

Vivienne: Yes, but what am I wearing? You are not going to describe me in anything less than the latest fashions, are you?

Varric: I'm... going to spend the next few weeks researching Orlesian gowns, aren't I?

Vivienne: Yes, my dear. And my mask should be inlaid with opals.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A COINCIDENCE GUYS >:0

(thanks for urging me to post this @felassan!)

[seeker-ophelia]

wow. this is... wow.

what if solas was a spirit of faith?

ok hear me out. i dont 100% prescribe to this theory. most of the evidence we have is in favor of solas being a wisdom spirit, however when i was writing this post i came across something that made me go hm.

now, not everything david gaider says is automatically canon. in fact, david gaider regularly and loudly says a lot of racist, misogynistic, and generally awful things about his own games and characters, so i actually do not respect his opinion at all.

however he was indeed the lead writer for dragon age: inquisition and had input into solas's writing, so i think for him to say this means it was at least something the developers talked about and agreed upon at that time.

the wiki's citation leads to a forum post by gaider from july 2013:

"the corruption of faith is pride".

hm.

also notable is that david gaider is the writer of cassandra, and i bring this up because solas's banters with cassandra are basically the foundation of this, and why i started thinking about it in the first place.

solas is a lot of things. definitely a pride demon. an judgemental jerk, a lot of the time. a "mirror", as his writer puts it. a staunch atheist as well. extremely critical of anyone who claims godhood. and......... strangely respectful of *checks notes* THE MAKER???????

for someone who spends so much time decrying the corruption of false gods, many people have found solas's banter with cassandra to be out of character. and it is pretty jarring when placed in context with the rest of his statements.

remember that spirits embody a particular single virtue, and will do whatever they can to bring it forth in others:

“Spirits are not complex in the sense that they seize upon a single facet of human experience, and this one idea becomes their identity.[3] They are formed as a reflection of the real world and its passions.[10] A spirit embodies and latches onto a specific purpose and will do all in its power to fulfill that purpose. For instance, a hunger demon will attempt to feed on anything it crosses,[4] and a spirit of justice will stop at nothing to uphold its name”

solas, strangely, speaks of cassandra's faith with great respect and even reverence. he mentions her faith several times in their banter, and rather than criticize it as foolish as you might assume from someone who embodies pride, led a rebellion against false gods, and does not hesitate to hold back his judgement when he disapproves of something, solas actively encourages cassandra's continued faith in both the maker and herself.

he tells her that her position, of a seeker of truth (an arm of the templars which he despises?) and right hand of the divine, is "an honorable one and well-earned" and that her presence is a comfort, because there is no lie in what she is:

he outright mentions spirit of faith as gentle spirits that cannot afford to be lost to corruption:

he tells cassandra he is impressed by her faith, after the revelations about the truth of the seekers:

he praises her templar abilities and the maker?????

and, most notably....

when cassandra learns the truth about the seeker vigil and her abilities being borne of a ritual involving a spirit of faith, he tells her...

she should be proud

part of the reason these banters are so confusing and seemingly out of character of solas is due to his comments on the nature of gods, organized religion, and belief at other points throughout the game.

but i believe there is a common thread to them, and that it is not faith that he criticizes, but those who take advantage of it.

some of the best examples of his disgust for one who uses someones faith in them to accrue power are with a low-approval inquisitor. what he hates are those who manipulate faith in others.

solas hates to see faith corrupted by falsity.

but why would he hate such a thing so much? why does he actively encourage cassandra's faith in the maker, while criticizing an inquisitor who used the people's faith in andraste to amass power? well, because it reminds him of the evanuris, of course. but i think there could be more to it than just that.

whatever kind of spirit solas was, we (pretty much) know that he came into being at the behest of mythal according to cole:

we also know that solas was deeply devoted to mythal in the time of elvhenan, and even thousands of years later, he staunchly defends her as someone worthy of his faith, admiration and respect.

he approves of completing her rituals in the temple of mythal:

and greatly disapproves if you do not:

he cannot stand to let morrigan misrepresent her in dialogue (lol):

he even actually refers to her as a goddess at one point, despite often asserting that the ancient elvhen gods were not gods:

and, of course, the way he speaks of her in trespasser is quite literally reverent, as he reveals her murder was the catalyst for his entire rebellion:

could solas have been borne of mythal's faith? of the people's faith in her? of her faith in her people? of her faith in herself? of the People's faith in each other? how does he still have such faith in her after all of these years?

keeping in mind the way a spirit becomes corrupted,

combined with solas's answer to cassandra's question about what he truly believes, to which he answers that he believes in people:

and of course this new mural:

could solas have originally been a spirit of faith, corrupted into pride by the evanuris's abuse of the virtue he embodied? a spirit of faith, borne of mythal's faith in her people, and turned into pride when her people, her own family, betrayed her? when their gods proved false and the only thing left to have faith in was themselves?

as much as i love this and think it fits, it cant be ignored that there is equal, if not more, that suggests he was a spirit of wisdom first. however this is so clearly intentional and satisfying that i dont think it's a coincidence - they're definitely doing something with this. whether or not solas was always Pride and thus he is just drawn towards the two other sides of his coin, wisdom and faith, or if he was one and corrupted into pride, i dont know, but i think faith and the manipulation of it to evil ends will continue to be integral to his story.

[dirthenera]

HOLY SHIT. I just had an epiphany!! Tl:dr, Skyhold, the original Skyhold, is the Black city. 

So. On the notes in skyhold, there's one that talks about a flattened elvhen structure underneath, that someone tried to umm... Unflatten. And it called a shitton of lightning and killed him.

A page from an enchanter's journal, scorched to near-illegibility. the style is an old Fereldan dialect, circa mid to late Divine Age:

Experiments in ambient lingerings, first staging:

The question isn't "is it special?" The question is "how special?" We found relics, but there are always relics. Elves ranged far before their empire was crushed, but rarely did they return where they did not build. This place, they visited again and again. I see it in the fragments—clays from different nations, not just craftsmen. Styles from different centuries, not just clans. And yet no record of a ruin. The structures here are all Fereldan, with stone ferried up by a typical madman. Whatever was here, whatever natural spire, it was flattened for a floor. But I know the common shapes, and I will erect them as was custom. And we shall see what the elves wished to see.

The note below is in a different, uneducated hand:

I finish this for Master Ganot. His workings brought lightning. Much lightning. The rods are pools of metal now, and all his workings burned. Master was also struck. I write for him his last words because his fingers are ash and he did not live the night.

"The Veil is old here."

We know from Trespasser that Skyhold is where the veil was created.

It used to have an elvhen structure that is no longer there.

Know what's in the center of The Fade?

Fuuuuu I was on the Arlathan is the Black City train, but it was bothering me that we know Tevinter sacked what was left of Arlathan long after the creation of the veil. This... Fits.

[veil-jumprope]

It's 4am, I can't sleep, and it's now dragon age tin foil conspiracy hours. Please add your craziest theories! I'll go first.

Seekers are possessed by a spirit of Faith. When they made themselves Tranquil and a spirit of Faith "touched their mind" to awaken them, that spirit now actually lives within them. That's why they have powers and can't be possessed anymore.