#the Emperor phones the Grand Inquisitor like

[swan-orpheus]

So I’ve been thinking about the Finale of Kenobi way too much, as to be expected I suppose. And the line that is haunting me is when Vader says, “The same way, I will destroy you.” They could have written that any number of ways but they chose this:

“You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker, I did.”

“The same way, I will destroy you.”

Neither one was actually trying to bodily kill the other, despite appearances. and there is no way that Vader thought for a moment that he had crushed (physically), Obi-Wan when he was walking back to his ship because he would have felt him die. He was trying to crush him spiritually, to crush the light. When Obi-Wan has flashes of Luke and Leia, it is not because they need him. He does not move the rocks because he has to save them, I do not believe, as some folks have suggested. Leia is already safe, Luke is in no real danger. Reva, as we know, was going to put down her lightsaber and carry him back to the Lars homestead. And at this point, Obi-Wan cannot be certain that Luke is in any danger. He is only in one frame of his vision. It isn’t their ultimate safety that is at stake during this battle, it’s Obi-Wan’s.

The children don’t need Obi-wan when he is down in that dark pit struggling to hang on, he needs them. He needs them to turn on the light so that he doesn’t give in to despair. This entire time he has been depressed, alone and afraid. Qui-Gon seemingly won’t answer him, everywhere there is fear and sadness and people dying in part because of the jedi, and then he learns that his old pupil and old friend is still alive, dark and mangled, but living, after a fashion. The thought of seeing what has befallen him since their fight on Mustafar must be utterly terrifying. 

And as an aside, we know that Reva could sense a little of what Obi-Wan was going through when they speak at the wall. She wants to kill him and makes it clear at last, but she can feel that Obi-Wan does not want to kill, cannot kill “Anakin”. I think that Obi-Wan has been feeling extra guilty because even after everything Vader has done and will do to the people he sees around him, he simply cannot bring himself to kill him which must seem like a horrible betrayal of their trust in him. The least that he can do is to turn himself in. (My opinion of Reva honestly shoots up even more when you consider that she is particularly gifted at knowing what people are thinking and feeling and that she doesn’t blame him for not being able to kill his old friend, even after what Anakin did to her. Like at some point she really despised him, held him responsible, but I think she gets it now.) 

Obi-Wan’s earlier words to Leia about what the Force represents to him really stuck out to me as well. It exemplifies his fear of the dark, and peripherally his crushing guilt over Anakin. I always felt that if Obi-Wan had a flaw, it was his too firm adherence to the Jedi Council, to the rules. He was always wary of straying too far from protocol or orthodoxy unlike his master who balanced rules with intuition. Qui-Gon was mindful of the dark but he didn’t fear it. Obi-Wan on some level was always a little fearful of Anakin and desperate to stay within the light, to maintain control. And fear as we know is the path to the Dark Side. 

And you better believe that Darth Vader has been able to sense this fear the entire time -each time that they connect through bad dreams, the bacta tank, shared memories, or in battle. Darth Vader knows, and he is trying to exploit that. I think that the “weakness” he refers to in their battle is the lingering affection that Obi-Wan has for his old Padawan.  Darth Vader wasn’t out to kill his old master. He wanted to destroy Obi-Wan Kenobi and leave something else in his place, something dark and without hope, just like himself. 

I just like to think that they both showed up to this fight with similar intentions-to turn the other. 

On a final note (this is getting far too long lol), I just love the line “Then my friend is truly dead” mirroring what Luke said in Jedi, “Then my father is truly dead” because as we know, this line occurs shortly before Luke brings Anakin back to the light and it definitely left him with something to think about. 

I think this line is what causes him to really lose it and to start shouting “OBI WAAAN’ at the top of his struggling lungs. Somehow, his old master still hit him in a vulnerable spot. That vulnerability remains despite everything that Darth Vader has tried to do for the past ten years to kill Anakin and I think that this is truly the beginning of the end even as it marks the beginning of Vader’s true rise to prominence. I feel that when we see him in Rogue One tearing things apart and crushing people, or when he is savage af in ANH, it is the lingering rage from this battle we see in the finale, how for Darth Vader, at least, this conversation was never really finished and perhaps now never will be. I think it is amazing that he manages to hide this from the Emperor, the fact that Anakin is never completely gone.  This is the chink of light Luke needs later to turn his father. So from a certain point of view, Obi Wan really does help his friend in the end. 

“Then my father is truly dead” must have really hit him hard later on, reflecting back, again, on this fight. I am just so gobsmacked by how much this adds to the entire thing!! aaaahhhh, to the complexity of their relationship. *chef’s kiss* 

[avenoir-rp]

today we have yet another location preview for y’all! under the cut, you’ll find detailed descriptions of the aesthetics, politics, religion, magic, and technology of orlais. as a reminder, the site will open tomorrow, march 22nd-- we hope this will tide you over until we’re ready for you!

Culture in Orlais is defined by themes of extravagance, show, and religion. The nation’s borders begin with sprawling hills of the greenest grass and grow more tech-heavy and modern as you move inwards towards the major cities.

AESTHETICS

Gothic architecture as well as heavy Art Nouveau influences are prominent artistic styles used in shaping Orlesian aesthetics. While Tevinter prefers to showcase the talent of its ruling class, the Magisterum, in its high-tech rows of ever-stretching, eclectic skyscrapers, the buildings of Orlais are considered much more artful and flamboyant. The pride and joy of Orlais is its capital, Val Royeaux, which is headed by large, heavily-windowed, artistic buildings on every block made of pure white marble and gold. High ceilings and stain glass windows are also common staples of Orlesian architecture, even for commonplace buildings such as stores and art galleries. The streets are often cobblestone and lined with colorful displays of greenery, either in windows or on balconies.

Houses in the city are generally tall and narrow, usually stacked four or five stories high to make up for what they lack in width, whereas studios and apartments will only usually take up the top two floors and are usually reserved for students or children of nobles. Elaborate windows and balcony displays are cherished components of Orlesian housing complexes for this reason. Manors are also understandably quite popular within Orlesian circles, though the ones that take up the most space (and are reserved for the richest nobles) tend to sit just beyond the reach of city limits inside gated neighborhoods -- never too far a drive, of course.

Business and religion are ever-tied within the Orlesian Empire and the typical set-up of a city’s municipal district will tend to reflect this. In Val Royeaux, the municipal “district” sits just inside the golden sun and moon gates of the Andrastian Chantry, creating a sort of wall around the Grand Cathedral and the rest of the world. These buildings are decadently carved with precious stone, jewel, and metal sculptures of Andraste and her disciples, as well as famous Orlesian war victories over the years.

POLITICS

The Orlesian Empire is headed by two ruling powers: The White Divine of the ANDRASTIAN CHANTRY and the EMPEROR or Empress -- both are elected positions, but very rarely is a win into office as simple as collecting the largest number of votes. Politics in Orlais are notorious for how they operate on a very delicate balance of cunning and manipulation, and more often than not end in blood and mayhem, or worse.

To begin to understand Orlesian politics, most would start with an explanation of “the game”. The game is a series of often underhanded social gestures and betrayals amongst Orlesian nobles for their own personal gain. Assassinations and public humiliations are regular components of the game, as there are no rules or laws that govern it. Like the name suggests, the game is often treated like a sport, though very rarely does it ever bring anyone enjoyment for long. To suggest that any one Emperor or Empress (save for maybe the nation’s founder and first king, Kordillus Drakon I) was elected into power without the support of Orlesian nobles-- and by way of that, by the playing of the game-- would be incredibly foolish, Orlais’ current Emperor, Gaspard de Chalon, included.

Most know the story of the Inquisition’s meddling in the most reason election, though very rarely does the true story get told: Gaspard de Chalon murdered his cousin and former Empress, Celene Valmont, and was subsequently blackmailed by her former lover Briala into “counselling” for his time as Emperor. More often than not, Briala speaks through Gaspard like a puppet, and it is her rule that governs Orlais. Briala’s rulings are often controversial, given Orlais’ staunchly traditional stance on things like elven rights and mage equality. The most pressing issue to date is the removal of alienage walls within Orlais-- nobles from all different backgrounds have made their disgust public and clear, showing uncharacteristically honest disdain for the decision. Most days Orlais sits just on the brink of another civil war, held together very loosely as new laws are written and old ones broken.

Emperors and Empresses in Orlais often rule alongside the Chantry, wherein the Divine gives or withholds blessings which may sway public opinion.

The Chantry hierarchy operates with the Divine at the head, voted into power by a seat of Grand Clerics, all of which are the leading Andrastian priests of their own nations. It is customary for a Divine to name her successor before death, but this does not always guarantee immediate election. The current Divine Victoria (Leliana) was elected into power in 9:42 Dragon (with the Inquisitor’s blessing) and immediately made it her mission to bring change to Thedas. Under Leliana’s rule of the Chantry, elves and mages are slowly being treated more fairly, and men and women of all races may join the Chantry to serve. To almost no one’s surprise, Emperor Gaspard de Chalons has been one of Divine Leliana’s biggest supporters-- very likely due to Briala’s influence. Leliana has chosen Cassandra Pentaghast and LEFT HAND as her right and left hand while she serves.

RELIGION

Orlais is the home of the Andrastian Chantry and takes great pride in upholding that reputation. Andraste and her disciples are a regular theme in Orlesian art and pop culture, even for non-religious institutions. Nearly all buildings of worth are decorated with gold, a color that is regularly associated with the Chantry and the Andrastian religion. You’d be hard pressed to find any permanent resident of Orlais who doesn’t consider themselves at least somewhat religious, even if it’s only in practice and to maintain face among their peers, as being Andrastian is a source of social gain for most Orlesians, especially where the game is involved.

MAGIC & TECHNOLOGY

Nearly everything with a visual element in Orlais is designed with extravagance in mind, though TECHNOLOGY often plays a bigger factor than you’d imagine in regards to the nation’s efficiency. As much as the Chantry would like to wipe its hands of the reputations of tech-heavy societies like Tevinter and Orzammar, life in Orlais is built to sustain luxury, which requires some sacrifices. Phones and other smart devices (tablets, kindles, blackberrys) are as commonplace in Orlais as they would be for you and I, and, in fact, it might be more bizarre to assume someone doesn’t have one. Billboards, television screens, and even mirrors are often animated using holographic technology-- similar to that in Tevinter or Orzammar-- but, ironically, are much less flashy, preferring to showcase content vs the technology used to craft it, however advanced. Motor vehicles (cars, motorcycles) are common in the suburbs after Ferelden made them popular but very rarely are they utilized inside the city as often as rideshare services are to save space on the (often cramped) roads. Cars in Orlais are also incredibly compact-- you'll never see a pickup truck inside city borders. Traffic inside Val Royeaux is regularly monitored by government officials to keep life leisurely and easy for its residents. Bikes and scooters are available for rent curbside and are the primary mode of transportation inside highly-populated cities.

Warriors (including Templars) are often trained with guns as opposed to swords, as well as in hand to hand combat. Magic-users in Orlais (at least those that were housed in White Spire) are more often than not trained with a traditional staff, as opposed to Ferelden, where recent trends have introduced all kinds of objects as alternatives to staffs, or 'focuses'. WEAPON LAWS in orlais are loose, though not as loose as they are in Ferelden. As long as you are not using them in a malicious, illegal manner then you are allowed to own and carry weapons. Elves, on the other hand, were not previously allowed to own weapons of any kind until Gaspard's ruling (and Briala's, in secret) and now the Orlesian alienages are filled to the brim with weapons of all kind, causing even more panic among already-prejudiced nobles.

Due to the years of extreme prejudice in Orlesian societies, Leliana's rulings towards the fairer treatment of mages-- specifically, the removal of  throughout Thedas-- has caused major uproar among Orlesian nobles and even common people. Many long-dedicated Templars have left the order after having their status demoted to that of a Cheveliar or common police guard, feeling it a personal slight. In more extreme cases outside of highly-populated Orlesian cities, the order to disband circles has been ignored completely or taken into the hands of local mages and templars. These mages and templars have formed makeshift circles where the former rule of cruelty and brutality is upheld and encouraged. The newly reformed Seekers of Truth, led by Cassandra Pentaghast, have been attempting to crack down on these templars and ex-templars, but the sheer amount of people involved (not only in Orlais, but all across Thedas) has made it difficult.

On the other hand, some mages have thrived under this ruling, joining up with the newly-reformed COLLEGE OF MAGI, a sort of university for both young and old mages to study their craft while living in harmony. The College in Orlais, under the formal protection of Divine Leliana, is called the Bright Hand and is made up of former Inquisition mage allies. Their main competition in the study of magic and tradition is a circle formed by former Inquisition member and high-end Orlesian society member, Vivienne de Fer. Vivienne's circle is one of the only circles currently governed as the White Spire was that acts in public without fear.