This is the third article in a series of Psuedo-scholarship I decided to perform on the topic of DA lore. The first two, definitely worthy of a look for a DA enthusiast are on Flemeth and the Old Gods. There are going to be two more with one on Dark Spawn and the other on Andraste. The articles are designed to explore unambiguous facts we know and some very precise conclusions that can be drawn from them. I will add some of my speculations, of course, but I will point them out as such.
The central conjecture here is that Arlathan IS the Black city. But not directly.
All roads lead to Arlathan
"Listen closely O' worthy patron..of a tale as ancient as Thedas and know that its words are intervined in the very fabric of our being. Know then that, Once upon a time there was a Fair city called Arlathan.... Situated at the very center of the world, it was the beacon of all art, magic and culture... There lived the Eldest of the elves, who would visit it when discussing matters of utmost curiosity and exchange lores of the Fade.. There they would go to sleep and walk the dreams under the ever-changing vistas beyond the veil...." - (me :innocent:)
This was Arlathan. The center of elven civilization. Elves, not immortal, but unchanging, were its masters. Did they build Arlathan? We do not know. But Arlathan was the place of rest for their eldest to ponder and discuss and to sleep forever into death.... For immortality is not only a boon but also a curse. Though their body never aged, their minds remained sharp, their spirit crumbled... The timelessness of their life made them slow to react and slow to reach decisions. To escape an agonizing cycle of life they would finally be laid to rest here.
It is actually possible to theorize where Arlathan is. If the continent of Thedas is the World of elves then the center of the world is the silent plains. It has a distinct border, surrounded by mountains with a depression in the center. (WINK WINK POINT POINT. FORESHADOWING IN PROGRESS) *FORESHADOW 1.
Elves claim that Humans came to Thedas from elsewhere.. though they make a claim that Humans arrived from the North, they mention something very very interesting. They say, "They (humans) came to a land they had never come before". This may be taken literally as having come from the North OR could be that Humans were brought into being later.
The elves found to their horror that when they interacted with Humans they started becoming like them (some kind of infectious disease like condition: WINK, WINK, POINT POINT. FORESHADOWING IN PROGRESS!!!!). So they stopped contact with humans and shut themselves up in their homes. * Foreshadow 2.
The Rise of the Imperium
The humans formed tribes that eventually gave rise to the Tevinter Imperium in the north. The TI occaisionally traded with the Elves but were never actually allowed the complete taste of Elven wealth. What perhaps made them particularly jealous was the Elven Immortality. Elves fearful of being robbed off exactly that by a prolonged contact, refused to entertain any further exchange.
At this juncture the unthinkable happened. The humans who knew only mildly of Magic suddenly came to know of Powerful blood magic from an unknown source. Some claim it was elves who taught them but some others claim that it was the Old Gods. Humans were always able to dream... and wander into the fade. Some were alredy becoming magicians able to work wonders. But when elves refused to share their secrets with the TI, the TI started capturing any Elves they found and torturing them for information and found about Lyrium. Thus was that the first Dreamers, the proginators of the magisters found a way into the fade without dreaming. And there, they met the Old Gods.
I belive that The Old Gods promised the Imperium Immortality. They had always lusted for it ever since they saw the Elven changelessness. The Old Gods were Dragon form creatures imprisoned deep beneath the earth in some unknown age, by unknown (to us) hands. They taught the Human dreamers Magic, particularly powerful blood magic. They probably goaded them to attack Arlathan. Could it be that they made a deal of Immortality in exchange for the fall of Arlathan? Would the fall of the elven city free them? We don't know. But magisters who become extremely powerful after interaction with Old Gods soon were the rulers of the TI.
The fall of Arlathan.
Thus began the worship of the Dragon-form Old-Gods. These were not spiritual deities, but were very real and communicated to the Magisters in the fade. Empowered by the Blood magic the magisters rampaged through the elven lands, mercilessly enslaving elves they found. Finally they reached the walls of Arlathan. It is told that in this siege the TI was assisted even by dragons! Such
was their mastery. They laid the city siege for 6 years. If one thinks clearly, this is a VERY long period for a siege to persist. This would mean that the city was
not simply a common walled town, it was HUGE and had its own means of
water and food. Perhaps the TI magisters grew tired of the long wait and
evoked a powerful blood magic and literally SANK the city underground
along with its inhabitants. Could it be that some escaped this fate? It
may be that the future will reveal some survivors?
This sinking may have rendered the entire siege moot as the Magisters never managed to enter the city (even though the Elven codex for Arlathan says otehrwise). I guess that this "victory" drove the Old Gods nuts, as with the city their salvation also went bye bye. What with the sleeping and no television. So they became desperate and went for the final option.
The City in the fade
Arlathan was perhaps a special place. The fade is an everchanging realm had but one constant feature... A city that was situated in the very center of the fade. There was no way to reach it. No paths led there and all isles of the fade were equally far from it. But it was visible from everywhere.... The spirits or the demons never approached it either... out of fear or inability we do not know.. Was it ever golden? I would have given DA programmers 500 sovereigns to have this question asked to Justice.... ( cruel cruel Mr. Gaider).
It is highly possible that this city was a reflection of Arlathan in the Fade. The true Arlathan was buried into the earth but the city, but its dream counterpart endured....the borders of the Black city are indeed of the same shape as the depression in the silent plains... (now you why it is called Foreshadow 1). The true Arlathan was the center of the world. The black city was the center of the Fade.
Perhaps the only way to reach the sunken Arlathan was to physically enter the shadow Arlathan and renter the mortal world. Thus the mage could enter inside the buried Arlathan in the mortal world and free the Old Gods. They even convinced elves (renegades?) to help them achieve this goal... Did they promise them freedom? Did they promise then return of their immortality? Why did the leves help their very conquerors? The result of this union was several sites of experimentation, where magical mirrors were built to see the true Arlathan in the earth.
Then was a great amount of Lyrium spent and hundreds of slaves sacrificed for Magisters as they tore open the veil and entered the fade themselves. They managed to open portals directly into the shadow Arlathan.... But there was something that awaited them. Something they did not expect.... A taint, so dark that it corrupted them entirely... they were thrown back violently into the mortal world.. perhpas even appearing in the city of Arlthan... Did they trigger something in the Mortal city? The truth is hidden, but they began to hear the melodious sound of the Old Gods. And thus they reached out to find them and free them, but corrupting them in the process.... Did the Old Gods plan this? Did they know what awaited the magisters in the City? We do not know. But one thing is sure: The sunken Arlathan has now become the very center of darkspawn corruption, with the taint from the Black city seeping constantly into it...
The times of great speculation:
Riiight. So the Black city is Arlathan is what I think. But there is more than that I want to conjecture. I propose:
Elves->Humans->Darkspawn. All manufactured in the Black/Golden city...
You ask, HOW?
There is a clue which I pointed out in foreshadow 2:
Elves get human traits when they come in contact with humans. Humans get Darkspawn traits when they come in contact with Darkspawn. This is too important a fact to ignore. It means that somone/thing in the Black city produces evolutionary beings from previous models that have the power of retro-transforming older models....!!
Sounds crazy but could be true.
Speculations invited!
The Rise of the Black City OR the Fall of Arlathan
Débuté par
Guest_SirShreK_*
, juil. 17 2010 12:19
Retour en haut
#2
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:27
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
This is the third article in a series of Psuedo-scholarship I decided to perform on the topic of DA lore. The first two, definitely worthy of a look for a DA enthusiast are on Flemeth and the Old Gods. There are going to be two more with one on Dark Spawn and the other on Andraste. The articles are designed to explore unambiguous facts we know and some very precise conclusions that can be drawn from them. I will add some of my speculations, of course, but I will point them out as such.
The central conjecture here is that Arlathan IS the Black city. But not directly.
All roads lead to Arlathan
"Listen closely O' worthy patron..of a tale as ancient as Thedas and know that its words are intervined in the very fabric of our being. Know then that, Once upon a time there was a Fair city called Arlathan.... Situated at the very center of the world, it was the beacon of all art, magic and culture... There lived the Eldest of the elves, who would visit it when discussing matters of utmost curiosity and exchange lores of the Fade.. There they would go to sleep and walk the dreams under the ever-changing vistas beyond the veil...." - (me :innocent:)
This was Arlathan. The center of elven civilization. Elves, not immortal, but unchanging, were its masters. Did they build Arlathan? We do not know. But Arlathan was the place of rest for their eldest to ponder and discuss and to sleep forever into death.... For immortality is not only a boon but also a curse. Though their body never aged, their minds remained sharp, their spirit crumbled... The timelessness of their life made them slow to react and slow to reach decisions. To escape an agonizing cycle of life they would finally be laid to rest here.
It is actually possible to theorize where Arlathan is. If the continent of Thedas is the World of elves then the center of the world is the silent plains. It has a distinct border, surrounded by mountains with a depression in the center. (WINK WINK POINT POINT. FORESHADOWING IN PROGRESS) *FORESHADOW 1.
Elves claim that Humans came to Thedas from elsewhere.. though they make a claim that Humans arrived from the North, they mention something very very interesting. They say, "They (humans) came to a land they had never come before". This may be taken literally as having come from the North OR could be that Humans were brought into being later.
The elves found to their horror that when they interacted with Humans they started becoming like them (some kind of infectious disease like condition: WINK, WINK, POINT POINT. FORESHADOWING IN PROGRESS!!!!). So they stopped contact with humans and shut themselves up in their homes. * Foreshadow 2.
The Rise of the Imperium
The humans formed tribes that eventually gave rise to the Tevinter Imperium in the north. The TI occaisionally traded with the Elves but were never actually allowed the complete taste of Elven wealth. What perhaps made them particularly jealous was the Elven Immortality. Elves fearful of being robbed off exactly that by a prolonged contact, refused to entertain any further exchange.
At this juncture the unthinkable happened. The humans who knew only mildly of Magic suddenly came to know of Powerful blood magic from an unknown source. Some claim it was elves who taught them but some others claim that it was the Old Gods. Humans were always able to dream... and wander into the fade. Some were alredy becoming magicians able to work wonders. But when elves refused to share their secrets with the TI, the TI started capturing any Elves they found and torturing them for information and found about Lyrium. Thus was that the first Dreamers, the proginators of the magisters found a way into the fade without dreaming. And there, they met the Old Gods.
I belive that The Old Gods promised the Imperium Immortality. They had always lusted for it ever since they saw the Elven changelessness. The Old Gods were Dragon form creatures imprisoned deep beneath the earth in some unknown age, by unknown (to us) hands. They taught the Human dreamers Magic, particularly powerful blood magic. They probably goaded them to attack Arlathan. Could it be that they made a deal of Immortality in exchange for the fall of Arlathan? Would the fall of the elven city free them? We don't know. But magisters who become extremely powerful after interaction with Old Gods soon were the rulers of the TI.
The fall of Arlathan.
Thus began the worship of the Dragon-form Old-Gods. These were not spiritual deities, but were very real and communicated to the Magisters in the fade. Empowered by the Blood magic the magisters rampaged through the elven lands, mercilessly enslaving elves they found. Finally they reached the walls of Arlathan. It is told that in this siege the TI was assisted even by dragons! Such
was their mastery. They laid the city siege for 6 years. If one thinks clearly, this is a VERY long period for a siege to persist. This would mean that the city was
not simply a common walled town, it was HUGE and had its own means of
water and food. Perhaps the TI magisters grew tired of the long wait and
evoked a powerful blood magic and literally SANK the city underground
along with its inhabitants. Could it be that some escaped this fate? It
may be that the future will reveal some survivors?
This sinking may have rendered the entire siege moot as the Magisters never managed to enter the city (even though the Elven codex for Arlathan says otehrwise). I guess that this "victory" drove the Old Gods nuts, as with the city their salvation also went bye bye. What with the sleeping and no television. So they became desperate and went for the final option.
The City in the fade
Arlathan was perhaps a special place. The fade is an everchanging realm had but one constant feature... A city that was situated in the very center of the fade. There was no way to reach it. No paths led there and all isles of the fade were equally far from it. But it was visible from everywhere.... The spirits or the demons never approached it either... out of fear or inability we do not know.. Was it ever golden? I would have given DA programmers 500 sovereigns to have this question asked to Justice.... ( cruel cruel Mr. Gaider).
It is highly possible that this city was a reflection of Arlathan in the Fade. The true Arlathan was buried into the earth but the city, but its dream counterpart endured....the borders of the Black city are indeed of the same shape as the depression in the silent plains... (now you why it is called Foreshadow 1). The true Arlathan was the center of the world. The black city was the center of the Fade.
Perhaps the only way to reach the sunken Arlathan was to physically enter the shadow Arlathan and renter the mortal world. Thus the mage could enter inside the buried Arlathan in the mortal world and free the Old Gods. They even convinced elves (renegades?) to help them achieve this goal... Did they promise them freedom? Did they promise then return of their immortality? Why did the leves help their very conquerors? The result of this union was several sites of experimentation, where magical mirrors were built to see the true Arlathan in the earth.
Then was a great amount of Lyrium spent and hundreds of slaves sacrificed for Magisters as they tore open the veil and entered the fade themselves. They managed to open portals directly into the shadow Arlathan.... But there was something that awaited them. Something they did not expect.... A taint, so dark that it corrupted them entirely... they were thrown back violently into the mortal world.. perhpas even appearing in the city of Arlthan... Did they trigger something in the Mortal city? The truth is hidden, but they began to hear the melodious sound of the Old Gods. And thus they reached out to find them and free them, but corrupting them in the process.... Did the Old Gods plan this? Did they know what awaited the magisters in the City? We do not know. But one thing is sure: The sunken Arlathan has now become the very center of darkspawn corruption, with the taint from the Black city seeping constantly into it...
The times of great speculation:
Riiight. So the Black city is Arlathan is what I think. But there is more than that I want to conjecture. I propose:
Elves->Humans->Darkspawn. All manufactured in the Black/Golden city...
You ask, HOW?
There is a clue which I pointed out in foreshadow 2:
Elves get human traits when they come in contact with humans. Humans get Darkspawn traits when they come in contact with Darkspawn. This is too important a fact to ignore. It means that somone/thing in the Black city produces evolutionary beings from previous models that have the power of retro-transforming older models....!!
Sounds crazy but could be true.
Speculations invited!
I don't know. Just because Arlathan was the center of the ELVEN world, does not mean the center of Thedas. The fact that the elves closed themselves up in Arlathan (whose forest is in Antiva) allowed the Tevinter Imperium to spread, asserts that Arlathan was their only MAJOR establishment, and thus the elven world probably was not too big.
I don't see why the Old Gods would at all be interested in Arlathan. All they want is to be freed. They say that the Tevinters could be used, and manipulated them into trying to take on whatever it is in the Golden City. And, where does it say that the Silent Fields are at the center of THEDAS? (Edit: Alright, it was in Southern Tevinter/northern Nevarra, nevermind)
Also, elves are also afflicted by the taint, btw.
Edit again: It makes more sense, imo, if Arlathan is in the forest in Antiva. Elves enjoy nature. Plus, it would have been the perfect point to actually notice the human ships coming into Par Vollen, when Humans arrived in Thedas
Also, take note of this:
http://dragonage.wik...f_the_Black_Fox
"The stories all agree that, at some point, the Black Fox disappeared: He
and his fellow adventurers voyaged into the heart of the Arlathan
Forest seeking the sunken city of the elves and never returned. Many
more are the tales that expand on what ultimately happened to them in
that forest and postulate on how they could someday be rescued."
http://dragonage.wik...ki/Arlathan-the map.
Modifié par Grommash94, 17 juillet 2010 - 12:34 .
#3
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:38
Guest_SirShreK_*
Guest_SirShreK_*
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@Grommash94:
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
#4
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:39
Guest_SirShreK_*
Guest_SirShreK_*
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@Grommash94:
"
Also, take note of this:
http://dragonage.wik...f_the_Black_Fox
"The stories all agree that, at some point, the Black Fox disappeared: He
and his fellow adventurers voyaged into the heart of the Arlathan
Forest seeking the sunken city of the elves and never returned. Many
more are the tales that expand on what ultimately happened to them in
that forest and postulate on how they could someday be rescued."
http://dragonage.wik...ki/Arlathan-the map.
"
Good. This means we are to fight his corpse sometime soon..
and loot it too (EDIT)... How did I forget that??? 
"
Also, take note of this:
http://dragonage.wik...f_the_Black_Fox
"The stories all agree that, at some point, the Black Fox disappeared: He
and his fellow adventurers voyaged into the heart of the Arlathan
Forest seeking the sunken city of the elves and never returned. Many
more are the tales that expand on what ultimately happened to them in
that forest and postulate on how they could someday be rescued."
http://dragonage.wik...ki/Arlathan-the map.
"
Good. This means we are to fight his corpse sometime soon..
and loot it too (EDIT)... How did I forget that???
Modifié par SirShreK, 17 juillet 2010 - 12:42 .
#5
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:40
Avaflame
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Dwarves and Qunari are also affected by the taint. You do provide some interesting theories though. I like the idea of the sunken Arlathan being the central source of the darkspawn.
I think the dreamers though always saw the 'Golden City' as being in the sky? I'm not quite sure, but that would definitely conflict with the notion that Arlathan -> down, Golden/Black City -> up.
Interesting though, very interesting.
I think the dreamers though always saw the 'Golden City' as being in the sky? I'm not quite sure, but that would definitely conflict with the notion that Arlathan -> down, Golden/Black City -> up.
Interesting though, very interesting.
#6
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:42
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
@Grommash94:
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
Center simply cannot mean the actual, geographic center in this case though. Arlathan forest is nowhere near the center of Thedas, as opposed to the Silent Plains. I think what the codex meant was that it was the center of their culture, information, and really the civilization.
#7
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:43
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
@Grommash94:
"
Also, take note of this:
http://dragonage.wik...f_the_Black_Fox
"The stories all agree that, at some point, the Black Fox disappeared: He
and his fellow adventurers voyaged into the heart of the Arlathan
Forest seeking the sunken city of the elves and never returned. Many
more are the tales that expand on what ultimately happened to them in
that forest and postulate on how they could someday be rescued."
http://dragonage.wik...ki/Arlathan-the map.
"
Good. This means we are to fight his corpse sometime soon..
That would be epic, haha.
#8
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:44
Guest_SirShreK_*
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Avaflame wrote...
Dwarves and Qunari are also affected by the taint. You do provide some interesting theories though. I like the idea of the sunken Arlathan being the central source of the darkspawn.
I think the dreamers though always saw the 'Golden City' as being in the sky? I'm not quite sure, but that would definitely conflict with the notion that Arlathan -> down, Golden/Black City -> up.
Interesting though, very interesting.
Dwarves can be accounted for. The Qunari always puzzle me. They just don't fit anywhere except in the Ogre armour, badly patched.. Are they aliens:alien:?
Nobody actually claims to have seen the Golden city. If it was EVER golden, we have only chantry's word for that... and we know that they cahnge it everytime they need to damn someone....
#9
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:47
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
Avaflame wrote...
Dwarves and Qunari are also affected by the taint. You do provide some interesting theories though. I like the idea of the sunken Arlathan being the central source of the darkspawn.
I think the dreamers though always saw the 'Golden City' as being in the sky? I'm not quite sure, but that would definitely conflict with the notion that Arlathan -> down, Golden/Black City -> up.
Interesting though, very interesting.
Dwarves can be accounted for. The Qunari always puzzle me. They just don't fit anywhere except in the Ogre armour, badly patched.. Are they aliens:alien:?
Nobody actually claims to have seen the Golden city. If it was EVER golden, we have only chantry's word for that... and we know that they cahnge it everytime they need to damn someone....
The Golden part, I felt, was just an allegory. As for the rest of the Magisters invading the Maker's home story, well, that may indeed be true, to a degree.
#10
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:48
Guest_SirShreK_*
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Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
@Grommash94:
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
Center simply cannot mean the actual, geographic center in this case though. Arlathan forest is nowhere near the center of Thedas, as opposed to the Silent Plains. I think what the codex meant was that it was the center of their culture, information, and really the civilization.
It was INDEED at the geographical center:
http://dragonage.wik...athan:_Part_One
OK. I will tell you what I really think.
The Arlathan forrest is actually a misnomer. People think thats where Arlathan was.. I doubt that.... Why would there be a forrest there then? If it was the site of great battle and siege of the sort where Dragons were involved I would expect a lot of ash, charred bodies and broken weapons (ok, perhaps not weapons) and gloomy name.
What fits that better? Silent plains! YES! Arlathan forrest! No!
#11
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:53
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
@Grommash94:
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
Center simply cannot mean the actual, geographic center in this case though. Arlathan forest is nowhere near the center of Thedas, as opposed to the Silent Plains. I think what the codex meant was that it was the center of their culture, information, and really the civilization.
It was INDEED at the geographical center:
http://dragonage.wik...athan:_Part_One
OK. I will tell you what I really think.
The Arlathan forrest is actually a misnomer. People think thats where Arlathan was.. I doubt that.... Why would there be a forrest there then? If it was the site of great battle and siege of the sort where Dragons were involved I would expect a lot of ash, charred bodies and broken weapons (ok, perhaps not weapons) and gloomy name.
What fits that better? Silent plains! YES! Arlathan forrest! No!
The world's center is a perspective though. At the time, it truly was the world's center, as it was the major establishment of the world. Also, Elves like nature and forests. And Arlathan Forest is near the original landing point of men; it just seems to make sense that it would indeed be IN the forest.
Remember, in two thousand years, a lot of things environmentally can change. Forests can heal. 'Sunk' can also mean literally sinking into the sea; which the Arlathan forest is near.
"Arlathan was located in a great forest in the north of Thedas, not far
from where the Tevinter Imperium first emerged." comes from that very article. I think it is very safe to say that is where Arlathan was.
Remember, at one point there WAS trade between humans and elves; and the forest is a LOT closer to where they first established themselves compared to the SIlent Plains.
Modifié par Grommash94, 17 juillet 2010 - 12:54 .
#12
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 12:58
Avaflame
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Uhh.. Arlathan can't have been the ACTUAL centre of the world, because the world is round. Unless the Dragon Age universe is different in that respect, though I think not.
Edit: So I would have to agree with the 'centre of the world' in regards to society/culture revolving around it. Sunk into the sea is an intriguing concept.
The Silent Plains though just seem too coincidental, also. I guess we'll find out when we find out. IF we ever find out.
Edit: So I would have to agree with the 'centre of the world' in regards to society/culture revolving around it. Sunk into the sea is an intriguing concept.
The Silent Plains though just seem too coincidental, also. I guess we'll find out when we find out. IF we ever find out.
Modifié par Avaflame, 17 juillet 2010 - 01:03 .
#13
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:00
Guest_SirShreK_*
Guest_SirShreK_*
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Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
@Grommash94:
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
Center simply cannot mean the actual, geographic center in this case though. Arlathan forest is nowhere near the center of Thedas, as opposed to the Silent Plains. I think what the codex meant was that it was the center of their culture, information, and really the civilization.
It was INDEED at the geographical center:
http://dragonage.wik...athan:_Part_One
OK. I will tell you what I really think.
The Arlathan forrest is actually a misnomer. People think thats where Arlathan was.. I doubt that.... Why would there be a forrest there then? If it was the site of great battle and siege of the sort where Dragons were involved I would expect a lot of ash, charred bodies and broken weapons (ok, perhaps not weapons) and gloomy name.
What fits that better? Silent plains! YES! Arlathan forrest! No!
The world's center is a perspective though. At the time, it truly was the world's center, as it was the major establishment of the world. Also, Elves like nature and forests. And Arlathan Forest is near the original landing point of men; it just seems to make sense that it would indeed be IN the forest.
Remember, in two thousand years, a lot of things environmentally can change. Forests can heal. 'Sunk' can also mean literally sinking into the sea; which the Arlathan forest is near.
"Arlathan was located in a great forest in the north of Thedas, not far
from where the Tevinter Imperium first emerged." comes from that very article. I think it is very safe to say that is where Arlathan was.
Remember, at one point there WAS trade between humans and elves; and the forest is a LOT closer to where they first established themselves compared to the SIlent Plains.
Where things of blood magic are involved, I fear that the effects are quite permenant... Remember black marsh... it could not "Heal" until the demon taint was entirely removed.
You quote the wiki article, written by some fan, not a codex entry. They have the sam validity as much as I am concerened though.
Silent plains are closer to TI than the Forrest.
Did you look at the shape of the Silent plains?
#14
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:01
Grommash94
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Avaflame wrote...
Uhh.. Arlathan can't have been the ACTUAL centre of the world, because the world is round. Unless the Dragon Age universe is different in that respect, though I think not.
Think the 'world' to the elves back then was only Thedas the continent.
#15
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Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:01
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Avaflame wrote...
Uhh.. Arlathan can't have been the ACTUAL centre of the world, because the world is round. Unless the Dragon Age universe is different in that respect, though I think not.
It was NOT at the center of the planet wherever. But at the center of elven world : the continent of Thedas.
#16
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:02
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
@Grommash94:
Elves were indeed spread all across Thedas.
http://dragonage.wik...ent_Elven_Armor
Silent plains ARE indeed the center of Thedas :
http://images1.wikia...0/ThedasMap.jpg
I don't know why the Old Gods then helped the siege of Arlathan. I profess ignorance... all that I ask on the OP is in form of Q's...
Of course elves are affected. Elves are even older models.
Center simply cannot mean the actual, geographic center in this case though. Arlathan forest is nowhere near the center of Thedas, as opposed to the Silent Plains. I think what the codex meant was that it was the center of their culture, information, and really the civilization.
It was INDEED at the geographical center:
http://dragonage.wik...athan:_Part_One
OK. I will tell you what I really think.
The Arlathan forrest is actually a misnomer. People think thats where Arlathan was.. I doubt that.... Why would there be a forrest there then? If it was the site of great battle and siege of the sort where Dragons were involved I would expect a lot of ash, charred bodies and broken weapons (ok, perhaps not weapons) and gloomy name.
What fits that better? Silent plains! YES! Arlathan forrest! No!
The world's center is a perspective though. At the time, it truly was the world's center, as it was the major establishment of the world. Also, Elves like nature and forests. And Arlathan Forest is near the original landing point of men; it just seems to make sense that it would indeed be IN the forest.
Remember, in two thousand years, a lot of things environmentally can change. Forests can heal. 'Sunk' can also mean literally sinking into the sea; which the Arlathan forest is near.
"Arlathan was located in a great forest in the north of Thedas, not far
from where the Tevinter Imperium first emerged." comes from that very article. I think it is very safe to say that is where Arlathan was.
Remember, at one point there WAS trade between humans and elves; and the forest is a LOT closer to where they first established themselves compared to the SIlent Plains.
Where things of blood magic are involved, I fear that the effects are quite permenant... Remember black marsh... it could not "Heal" until the demon taint was entirely removed.
You quote the wiki article, written by some fan, not a codex entry. They have the sam validity as much as I am concerened though.
Silent plains are closer to TI than the Forrest.
Did you look at the shape of the Silent plains?
The blood magic only affected the city though. Probably not the forest. The Veil was absolutely torn asunder in the Brecillian Forest...but that is still that; a forest.
The original humans landed on Par Vollen and made their way south from there. That is closer to the forest than the plains.
Edit: Don't get me wrong, this theory is interesting, but we really don't have definitive proof that the Silent Plains were in any shape or form connected to Arlathan.
However, it may entirely be possible that Arlathan is connected the the Black City; it doesn't HAVE to be at the SIlent Plains in order to do so.
Also, yes I looked at the Silent Plains' shape...there is a large depression. But we are talking about just as wide as Nevarra large. Arlathan couldn't have been THAT big.
Modifié par Grommash94, 17 juillet 2010 - 01:11 .
#17
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:13
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"One god to rule them all, One God to find them,
One God to bring them all and in the Darkness Bind them."
--Story of Fen'harel. In a nuts'hell.
One God to bring them all and in the Darkness Bind them."
--Story of Fen'harel. In a nuts'hell.
#18
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:15
Grommash94
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SirShreK wrote...
"One god to rule them all, One God to find them,
One God to bring them all and in the Darkness Bind them."
--Story of Fen'harel. In a nuts'hell.
I like that, hahaha.
Anyway, enough debating for me for now, need to get some sleep
#19
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 01:17
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Grommash94 wrote...
SirShreK wrote...
"One god to rule them all, One God to find them,
One God to bring them all and in the Darkness Bind them."
--Story of Fen'harel. In a nuts'hell.
I like that, hahaha.
Anyway, enough debating for me for now, need to get some sleep
Me too.
-_--_- Good night.
#20
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 03:36
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Arlathan = Black city =R'lyeh?
#21
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 08:35
iTomes
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well to get this thread running again:
i think that arlathan was build by an old god/s or by the elves themself as a "control station" for the fade. as far as i know demons appeared AFTER arlathan sunk, didn't they? so to me it makes sense that all fade breaks loose when arlathan is destroyed. any opinions??
i think that arlathan was build by an old god/s or by the elves themself as a "control station" for the fade. as far as i know demons appeared AFTER arlathan sunk, didn't they? so to me it makes sense that all fade breaks loose when arlathan is destroyed. any opinions??
#22
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 08:37
Grommash94
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iTomes wrote...
well to get this thread running again:
i think that arlathan was build by an old god/s or by the elves themself as a "control station" for the fade. as far as i know demons appeared AFTER arlathan sunk, didn't they? so to me it makes sense that all fade breaks loose when arlathan is destroyed. any opinions??
Don't think I ever came across that in the game.
#23
Guest_SirShreK_*
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 08:45
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iTomes wrote...
well to get this thread running again:
i think that arlathan was build by an old god/s or by the elves themself as a "control station" for the fade. as far as i know demons appeared AFTER arlathan sunk, didn't they? so to me it makes sense that all fade breaks loose when arlathan is destroyed. any opinions??
I only am curious what prompted you to say that Demons appeared afterwards. I believe you meant darkspawn.
Yes I think Arlathan is one of the keys to the mystery of DA. Other being Blood Magic.
#24
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 08:50
iTomes
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im really not sure were i got the "demons came afterwards" from could be totally wrong, so we propably should just ignore that. but what about arlathan being the controll room of the fade... is that possible??
#25
Posté 17 juillet 2010 - 08:51
David Gaider
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Interesting theories.
The only thing I'll say is that the Silent Plains are where the climactic battle of the First Blight took place-- they've remained tainted ever since, a permanently blighted place. So if you're assuming the Silent Plains are perhaps like that because of Arlathan, you would be incorrect.
The only thing I'll say is that the Silent Plains are where the climactic battle of the First Blight took place-- they've remained tainted ever since, a permanently blighted place. So if you're assuming the Silent Plains are perhaps like that because of Arlathan, you would be incorrect.
