I think I spotted the first April Fools' Day joke: http://biowareaddict...tu/nouveau-dlc/
(concerning a false DLC "The Path of the Dread Wolf")

*sobs*

EDIT: Sorry for the misunderstanding, biowareaddict is a French fansite, not an official one!

 

Not that I fell for it...

So much Fen' Harel hate.

I know there are different strokes for different folks, and he isn't going to appeal to everyone. He is honestly my favorite character thus far. One of the main themes of Inquisition was to show that things aren't always what they seem. Fen'Harel/Solas does not overtly tell you who he is, but he really doesn't go to extravagant lengths to hide it either, imo. DA, however, did go to extravagant lengths to say he's more than what he seems.

http://dragonage.wik...:_The_Rebel_God

Between all the banter conversations with the other party members, the inquisitor, and especially Cole (particularly if you helped him return to being fully Spirit) who more, or less, should carry around a sign that says this is Fen'Harel thanks to all of his "let me help you!" convos.

I think it should be noted that if Fen'Harel was evil the Spirit of Wisdom would not have been his friend (Cole says after her passing, that he knew Wisdom more than any other.

(Occurs after completing All New, Faded for Her)

• Cole: Bright and brilliant, he wanders the ways, walking unwaking, searching for wisdom...
• Solas: I do not need you to do that, Cole.
• Cole: Your friend wanted you to be happy, even though she knew you wouldn't be.
• Solas: (Sighs.) Could you... if you would remember her, could you do it as I would?
• Cole: He comes to me as though the Fade were just another wooded path to walk without a care in search of wisdom.
• Cole: We share the ancient mysteries, the feelings lost, forgotten dreams, unseen for ages, now beheld in wonder.
• Cole: In his own way, he knew wisdom, as no man or spirit had before.
• Solas: Thank you.

Also, Cole, a spirit of compassion, wants to help him. Cole does not have compassion on those he does not feel deserve it. (i.e. the Grey Wardens and Erimond, whom he calls an *******, and Lord Seeker Lambert)

• Cole: You don't need to envy me, Solas. You can find happiness in your own way.
• Solas: I apologize for disturbing you, Cole. I am not a spirit, and sometimes it is hard to remember such simple truths.
• Cole: They are not gone so long as you remember them.
• Solas: I know.
• Cole: But you could let them go.
• Solas: I know that as well.
• Cole: You didn't do it to be right. You did it to save them.
• Inquisitor: Solas, what is Cole talking about?
• Solas: A mistake. One of many made by a much younger elf who was certain he knew everything.
• Cole: You weren't wrong, though.

• Solas: Thank you, Cole.

Or

• Inquisitor: Cole, I think Solas would like you to stop.
• Solas: It is no bother, Inquisitor. Cole is a spirit of compassion and this world is too bleak to spurn compassion offered freely. I will never know that for certain, Cole, but thank you for saying it.

Fen'Harel, to me, is a being that is incredibly sad, which I believe was the intent of the writers. He betrayed his kin in hopes to make the world a better place, but things ended up being worse than they were. Because of who he is his decisions, like Mythal, have shaped the current reality. A reality in which the very people he tried to help, hate him and use his name as a curse...they even changed the meaning of his name, and have attributed many false ideas about history to his doing, which we know thanks to Abelas.



It is all very sad, and we are yet to know what exactly happened, but I can't wait to find out! All the different paintings and veiled clues...I need answers!

Fen'Harel/Solas is by far my favourite character in the series so far and he's even surpassed Morrigan who's been my fave for years.
To be honest I see him as the most morally ambiguous character,that despite not even suggesting something morally questionable,he's written in a way that still makes him controversial depending on how the players themselves interpret morality.

Do you think he led the Inquisitor to Skyhold with malicious intent? He didn't look happy at the time, but maybe that's just his face.

Thats a really calculating look,if I've ever seen one.

I was under the impression I was driving everyone insane. Annoying them with constant Abelas fangirling. Maybe I am. I don't know. But I bring pictures. I learned how to use flycam and had to share. Photo closeups await.

Spoiler

This was taken before he comes out to greet the Inquisitor for the first time. Oh and he is bald under that hood! We won't talk about his ears... too weird.



His lovely bald head above.

He's rather beautiful!I dunno something about his face is mesmerising...And honestly I'm not surprised that he's bald under that hood, but so is my quizie when she wears that cowl.I hope that of he ever comes back in a hoodless armour he'll have artemorte's braid.

Who ever designed him shares my taste in fictional elven men!

Matthew Gravelle - Voice. I now am capable of hellsprialing from just this non-relevant interview.

Welsh accents are simply the best!

Flower crowns for my whole team!Ardent blossoms for the win!!

Still definitely convinced that Abelas and Ameridan have different eyes, nose bridges and nose shapes, for sure.

 

By the way:

 

Source: http://benefaris.tum...path-of-sorrows

Abelas...The grump of my dreams!

 

Also this thread is growing!I'm soo proud.

I'm finally out of likes. Giving likes to all of these.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Continue... 

 

EDIT: Top again? I have just the thing...

 

 

SOURCE

Aaah,Good ole Solas looking so Done with everything!Almost as good as the face he makes when the inquisitor makes that joke about Cass at fade-Haven.

Technically yes, but I want it to be past the endgame though. I want this to already have Solas out there doing Dread Wolfy things. I don't want them alluding to it while he's sitting in my party and I already know what he is.

This! ^ 

WHEEE!!!!I saw the promo...And Solas...I nearly got kicked out of the library!

Mass effect:Garrus
Dragon age:Fen'har...Solas

Winner:Solas because I'm more into the DA franchise than ME.But they're both really well written and voiced.

I really like the aesthetics of long hair, and I think with the way the game works, that long hair would actually look a bit better than the shorter hair styles, but it's not practical. As an actual archer ™, you /have/ to tie your hair back when your shoot. Hair getting caught in the string can send your shot way, way off.

Pff I know right,I made the mistake to leave my hair down once.Had to tie them back eventually because my shots were atrocious.

Not unless their ears are so big they whip them in the face.

I suppose it's fine if the character wears a helmet to ravel the hair in (and then get the opportunity to do the sexy totes realistic take-helmet-off-long-hair-cascades-out-of-it-swish-swish), but my girl's a hunter. She likes to see without the hindrance of a helmet blocking her peripheral vision.

My girl is a mage so she can turn her hair into snakes if she wishes to(such a shame there's not such specialisation in DAI),so as far as she's concerned keeping them long is more practical.
But yeah,jokes aside I see your point and if it was a real life battle, long glorious locks would possibly be their doom.I have really long hair IRL and they are caught pretty much everywhere.

@Giton: thank you. It isn't trim and sleek, but it is fun.

And, relevant to thread: What do you think would happen if Zev met Abelas? OMG, now I have plot bunnies, EEK.

He'll probably have some really strong options about Zev at first...But he'll come around,they all come around!

*hides blonde Lavellan icon* *cough*

I agree with hair length though, or artwork that show Inquisitors with loose, long hair. That's why my Lavellan channels Trinity from the Matrix (I girl crushed her so hard). I can't take any Inquisitor or Shepard or whatever seriously when they have long, flowing hair that can get caught in anything and get in the way of a fight. I usually headcanon my Lavellan wheres he hair back in a hairband of some sort to keep it out of her face when in the field. I find the buns and ponytails a bit sore to take seriously too. x)

But...But glorious,long,smooth elfy hairdo?I mean they're elves they don't have to worry about realism and common sense right?

Are you talking about the tiles Swevenfox posted? If so, https://dragonagekee...lt/#product/da2

That's what it is referring to - the keep tiles. So you can manage your world states.
EDIT: Top Bae - BW needs a Reminder that this is canon Abelas hair - Source

He kind of reminded me of Thranduil in this one, artemorte did an outstanding job!To the point that it pretty much became iconic.

Ugh, Solas, what a Drama King!


Also, have a hipster Solas.


Source: http://glasshalla.tu...pproximately-20

Why on earth is Solas wearing my glasses?
What's seen cannot be unseen...

Words from Cannon Solas.

"I’m sorry Cole, but with your gift I fear that you may see the path that I now must walk in solitude forever. This fate is mine alone. Indeed, I do not wish this on an enemy, much less someone that I once cared for. Though you reach out in compassion, I must insist that you forget…"

Cannon Solas wants to be alone.

Source.

That's because canon Solas is a character designed to invoke as many feels as possible. I predict a bittersweet ending for him to be honest.

No, actually, I'd pay to see that battle. Void-Armor vs Anchor-Hand. Just imagine the fireworks, the snarls of fury and concentration on their faces... it could be epic. Really.

So would I!Now I have the best mental image ever.

Someone gave Weekes some art!

Patrick Weekes ‏@PatrickWeekes
.@BadtasteBetsy Ma serannas, vhenan. This is gorgeous.

Spoiler

That's pretty awesome!!!

And Abelas has eyeliner?! That guy just really dolls himself up doesn't he?

He's an ancient elf,I expected no less from him in term of aesthetics.

I played a dalish elf and some confusion occurred.

First, apparently at some point there is supposed to be a war table mission called Investigate Duke Antoine of Wycome. This never triggered the entire game. When Protect Clan Lavellan appeared previous I chose Cullen's route. According to the wiki choosing either Cullen or Leliana would trigger Invesigate Duke Antoine of Wycome later. All game I kept wondering if I'd get more clan-related quests yet nothing ever came. Later I learned if I had the misfortune of choosing Josephine for Protect Clan Lavellan they all die. Dodged a bullet there.

More curious, at some point at Skyhold I got the war table operation Break Venatori Hold on Wycome and chose Josephine, which resulted in an alienage being purged with the dalish being next. I didn't know what dalish they referred to and never got another quest. So I went through the game not really knowing what happened to clan Lavellan. After some research I learned of my clan's potential missions and how one wrong move would annihilate them.

Protect Clan Lavellan- Choose Josephine and the clan dies
Investigate Duke Antoine of Wycome- Choose Leliana and the clan dies
Stop Purge of Wycome's Elves- Choose Cullen and the clan dies
Protect Clan Lavellan and Wycome- Choose Josephine and the clan dies
Break Venatori Hold on Wycome- Choose Josephine and the clan apparently dies
Restore Order in Wycome- Choose Cullen and the clan dies

Does Bioware just hate dalish clans? Every game there's an opportunity to wipe them out, and this one requires a bloody miracle not to. Even worse, there's no in-game dialogue that the Inquisitor's clan was murdered, nor any way to avenge them. Additionally strange, would people think committing mass genocide on the Inquisitor's clan would be a smart move?

I have expressed my disapproval for the whole wiping out a whole clan in each game thing,many times before.I get that it might have added some drama to the protagonist's personal arc,but since it isn't recognised by the companions/advisors it's completely and utterly pointless. Not to mention that there are better ways to add drama than a mass genocide,plus I find it rather disturbing that it is possible to happen in every game in the series so far.

//casually replies days later

Congrats! You've asked me the one question I have -- n o -- idea how to answer. Everyone's interpretations are clearly going to be a little different, and that's wonderful. This is my own (which, in this instance, is liable to change with the wind). I can see him in a relationship as equally as I can see him without / uninterested in one. Alright, maybe a bit less equally. Okay, a lot. I think circumstances are far more likely that he would not end up romantically involved, but if he does, it would perhaps be in much in the same way Solas does. Neither intended to care or to get involved, but x y z happened and they do. It's very likely that he's aromantic, or that he has never had the opportunity (let alone interest) to allow a deep romantic relationship to occur. I do not ever see him as pursuing one. Even when free, he is tremendously (in many ways, particularly) burdened by what that means. Getting entangled with a love interest is the last thing that would appeal to him.

And yet, why do I see it as possible? I see his story as redemptive. I see it as one of the most hopeful in the series -- one with the greatest capacity for change. This is 90% extrapolation, since we are given so little of him, but I feel like Abelas truly could find a new name, in time. (I write about this theme a bit on tumblr) I see him as able to tolerate and eventually accept the Dalish. He starts off extremely resistant, brittle and static, but he can, I feel, become ductile and receptive to change. He can grow in a way that Solas cannot. Solas ultimately adheres to the path on which he started, even if his viewpoints may have shifted. Abelas is severed from his connection to Elvhenan, and in so doing, must make his own way. A new way. In this sense, a romance can be forged. I do keep him racegated, like Solas, but no, it would not have to be an ancient elf. Any elf, in theory, would work -- but I find Dalish the most likely. Ironically so, given his initial contempt.

As for the kind of person? Well, I think Abelas could, potentially, be panromantic. In this way, it matters more about the person than about the sex, gender or presentation of gender. I don't even mean to open up a whole new dialogue on ancient elvhen sexuality but this would not be so impossible a thing to imagine, for me. Regardless, what he would find attractive in a partner would be what he would find worthy in anyone.

This list is a way way WAY oversimplification, but I created it based on an approval/disapproval meter for actions taken in an "Abelas as Companion" verse. Actually, it's from this huge long write-up I made on what we might have seen if he did join the Inquisiton at the Well. Here:

• Respectfulness
• Intelligence
• Interest in the ancient Elvhen culture
• Thinking before acting
• Dedication to duty
• Truthfulness and frankness
• Commitment to a path (in other words, don’t be indecisive)
• Unswerving faith (even if the Inquisitor does not follow elven beliefs — any piety works).

Things they Generally Disapprove of:

• Disregarding the Elvhen Gods
• Disrespecting Elvhen rituals or culture
• Refusing to accept the realities of Elvhen life and culture
• Refusing to believe him or take his word
• Emotional Weakness
• Childishness
• Rash decisions
• Destruction of Elvhen Artifacts
• Going back on decisions

But it's more than that. His love interest would need to comport themselves in a certain way. I imagine someone generally even-tempered and soft-spoken, yet strong-willed with a stronger backbone. Someone who is unyielding without being stubborn. It shows a sensitivity, measured emotional control, and strength in ways that he would be drawn to and admire. I do not think that piety is a requirement, so much as his LI would acknowledge that the Creators existed in some form or another. He would have to be content with that, I think. Someone who would have to be able to withstand his own hard-headedness and bias, and be able to push against it and challenge him without disrespecting and confronting him. Definitely possible, but it requires a certain grace, patience, and thoughtfulness of character. Certainly they can be playful, but there is an element to romancing - and even befriending - Abelas that I feel often gets overlooked.

I think the fact that - willingly or not he entered her service - Abelas was stripped of choice as Mythal's sentinel. No matter how lenient Mythal was with her followers or with Abelas, his vallaslin essentially marked him as a slave (or at least a lesser) in Elvhenan. That places a certain.....power dynamic in all his interactions and views of the world, and it's something that I've never seen addressed with any relationships he's had.


It depends on individuals, circumstances, and, I think, the nature of the cults themselves. Followers of Andruil and Ghilan'nain, or Dirthamen and Falon'Din might logically work together in the service of their gods. But they have all been on their own for a very long time, and so while some Falon'Din cults might wish to align with Mythal's sentinels on the basis of shared Elvhen culture and blood, another one might not. I imagine that all groups (even those who continue to serve the same god) have grown disjointed, intact Eluvians or no.

This is a really great character analysis of Abelas. I'd be really interested to see his interaction with the Dalish.

Not sure if this was shared here before but this is beautiful!


http://shalizeh7.tum...-lavellan-stuff

Oh my goodness!This is so beautiful!!!

My Mahariel is very pro-Dalish and a bit close minded about spirits and magic,but a kind,helpful soul despite his stubbornness.I don't think he'd share my Lavellan's reluctance, as far as the credibility of the Dalish lore is concerned.But he was a childhood hero to her,in my headcanon they met in the previous Arlathavhen before Mahariel became the HOF when she was a kid,and he took her to the healers when she accidentally fell off from a tree.She had a small crush on him ever since and keeps pestering Leliana and sometimes Morrigan with questions about him.
As for the Eluvian my Mahariel would be bitter with Merril,as for Hawke I don't think he'd downright dislike him,but he'd be a bit wary,mostly because even though he's a bit angry with Merril, he still considers her a friend and if Hawke hurts her in any way he's in big trouble.

I think my Tabris would have a love/hate relationship with Sera,especially after all she's been through on her wedding day.She'd understand where Sera comes from and why she might feel the way she does about elves,but she'd disapprove nonetheless.My Tabris is the kind of people that would make up stories about heroic elves to make the children feel better about being elves.

My Cadash wouldn't hate my Aeducan with a passion,since lord Aeducan was all intrigues,nobility and traditions.Her being a Robin Hood kind of rogue might get along better with my Brosca who even though despised getting involved in criminal acts because of her sense of honour,she did anyway out of necessity.While my Cadash doesn't feel as guilty about it (if at all)she can sympathise with and respect my Brosca for daring.

My Cousland is very Fereldan,he's all about honor and duty and despises politics.But he still has a witty sense of humour and this is the only thing he has in common with my Trevelyan,who enjoys politics and intrigue and has a rather hedonist mature.