#not tagging seb bc it’s not in favor of his character

[fenrisdefender]

Saw a very one-sided Sebastian take but not interested in the OP feeling targeted by my response so here’s my own post. These are just my opinions and thoughts, and I mean no ill will to anyone who likes the character or has their own perspective.

The way that Sebastian Vael talks to Fenris is racist af and weird (imo), he recommends turning in mages he considers friends to the Circle which is certain death and/or abuse for them (not even Fenris would do that), and people absolutely have every right to not like Sebastian without the implication that they didn’t pay attention to the game or aren’t smart enough to understand.

I tire of the fandom sentiment that the only reason you don’t like a character is because you misunderstand them.

I dislike Sebastian Vael because he diminishes the trauma of a former elf slave, tries to manipulate Fenris into religion by pressing on his most vulnerable metaphorical wounds, dismisses the DEATH of an elven child and racial trauma, does not respect his own mage friends (who frankly saved his life) enough to consider their freedom warranted, and literally can’t understand why Hawke - A PERSON WHO HAS LOST SO MANY THEY LOVE TO DEATH - won’t execute (murder) their former friend after a betrayal (Anders)…

…to the point that he tries to declare WAR on Kirkwall in the following game?? Hawke isn’t even in Kirkwall anymore at that point!

I don’t have any issues with people who like the guy. Like who you want to like; it’s fiction and liking a character has no effect on me.

But I tire of the idea that disliking a character someone else likes is due to lapse in judgment or discernment.

People are allowed to dislike characters. Especially given how allegorical the Chantry is to Western colonial Christianity/the Catholic Church.