969 réponses à ce sujet

[Sarah1281]

I didn't say about Alistair shirking his responsibilities. I said the medieval warrior kings never shirked what was expected of them militarily no matter what protection they had, and that I would expect Alistair to be likewise, regardless of his wife's potential presence.

Was it EVER expected of the medieval warrior king to needlessly lay down his life when he has everyone else to do that for him? What does Queen Couslands presence have to do with that? You think that he would not get himself killed if for whatever reason this was necessary because she was there? That if she died he would immediately stop fighting and get himself killed? What is the concern? What worst-case scenario might occur where Alistair shirks his responsibility that you're so against having them fighting toghether during the Blight not as part of the general army because of?

[Wereparrot]

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

Sarah1281 wrote...

And as for queen Cousland being made general, or even being allowed on the frontline anyway, I think in the real world it may cause problems if the rest of Alistair's unit consider him to be more interested in protecting queen Cousland than taking one for the team, as it were, however subconscious Alistair's actions are-but again, it's a fantasy, and I wouldn't change it. There is a fine line between realism and immersion.

Alistiar's 'unit' (keeping in mind his only 'unit' would be Leliana, Wynne, Sten, ect.) might find him too worried protecting the general who may very well fight better than him? Alistair and his Queen don't actually fight with the main forces. They continue to only go with the people who know them far better than that.

I'm talking about after he is king, so he wouldn't have Sten and the rest, but a whole army.

Actually Sarah is right -- during the final onslaught, you're traveling with 3 companions and you can call a small unit to aid you, but that's not the bulk of the army.

Edit: I'm having a problem with the way you're jumping from the game world to the real world.  It's hard to keep track of the argument because of this.

Queen Cousland is more than Alistair's betrothed -- she is the acting leader of the Ferelden Gray Wardens.  Not much is made out of their relationship until after the blight is over.  The HNF announces she's going to rule by Alistair's side, and that's it as far as the public statements go.  My guess is most of the rank and file wouldn't even know.

But what exactly DO you expect to happen with the Queen-Consort?  She can't very well leave the gray wardens.  She has several armies who are there because of her actions, and is their leader (Alistair was clearly subservient to her when they were gathering the armies, if he was present at all).

Anyway, she is first and foremost a Gray Warden.  That Alistair makes her general of his army rather than have the gathered armies have two rulers is not a bad thing.

But he isn't actually king at the battle of Denerrim, and the troops of the Fereldan army afterwards would well know who was queen.

According to the conversation between Anora and king Cousland in Awakening he/she can leave the Wardens.

What do you mean about two rulers?

let me rephrase -- you seriously don't expect the acting leader of the Ferelden Gray Wardens to leave the Gray Wardens and stop leading the armies they gathered during a blight, just before the final battle, do you?

And I mean, when I say two rulers, of course, two commanders of the armies.  Sorry for the bad choice of words there.

The Warden may leave the Wardens after the final battle, but that does not mean he/she can't continue to pursue a military career. They could still essentialy be leader of the Wardens if the Ferelden Wardens were brought under the banner of the Fereldan army. 

[Sarah1281]

And why would the Ferelden Wardens ever do that? It would dispense with even the pretense of their neutrality. The Wardens exist to fight darkspawn. They stand with the Ferelden army in the game because the army is taking on the Blight. If the Warden wanted to pursue a military career post-game then I'm sure they don't have to be fighting right next to Alistair who himself really shouldn't even be on the front lines.

[Wereparrot]

Sarah1281 wrote...

I didn't say about Alistair shirking his responsibilities. I said the medieval warrior kings never shirked what was expected of them militarily no matter what protection they had, and that I would expect Alistair to be likewise, regardless of his wife's potential presence.

Was it EVER expected of the medieval warrior king to needlessly lay down his life when he has everyone else to do that for him? What does Queen Couslands presence have to do with that? You think that he would not get himself killed if for whatever reason this was necessary because she was there? That if she died he would immediately stop fighting and get himself killed? What is the concern? What worst-case scenario might occur where Alistair shirks his responsibility that you're so against having them fighting toghether during the Blight not as part of the general army because of?

Maybe it wasn't expected of him-that was a poor choice of words, but the point is that this was what they believed in, what they expected of themselves (remember that this was the age of chivalry).

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

[ejoslin]

Wereparrot wrote...

The Warden may leave the Wardens after the final battle, but that does not mean he/she can't continue to pursue a military career. They could still essentialy be leader of the Wardens if the Ferelden Wardens were brought under the banner of the Fereldan army. 

While the PC gray warden CAN become the gray warden commander (and Arl(essa) of Amaranthine), I think you're wrong that the Ferelden Wardens can be brought under the banner of the Ferelden army.  The Gray Wardens are their own entity. In any event, there is no indication of this happening either in Awakening or in any of the epilogues.

But what does this have to do with a Queen Cousland being made general of Ferelden's army (among the others) during the final onslaught as she is the acting leader of the Ferelden Gray Wardens?  

[IanPolaris]

Sarah1281 wrote...

And why would the Ferelden Wardens ever do that? It would dispense with even the pretense of their neutrality. The Wardens exist to fight darkspawn. They stand with the Ferelden army in the game because the army is taking on the Blight. If the Warden wanted to pursue a military career post-game then I'm sure they don't have to be fighting right next to Alistair who himself really shouldn't even be on the front lines.

In fact if you talk with Arl Eamon post-Landsmeet, he says as much (that Alistair shouldn't be on the front lines) but goes on to say that Alistair feels it's his duty to fight the darkspawn alongside his fellow Grey Wardens (you).  Think of it as his last official act as a Grey Warden before taking the crown.  In short, it's not something that as King, Alistair would be normally expected to do and in fact quite the opposite (and why Cailan was widely regarded as a fool by much of the nobility).

-Polaris

[Wereparrot]

Sarah1281 wrote...

And why would the Ferelden Wardens ever do that? It would dispense with even the pretense of their neutrality. The Wardens exist to fight darkspawn. They stand with the Ferelden army in the game because the army is taking on the Blight. If the Warden wanted to pursue a military career post-game then I'm sure they don't have to be fighting right next to Alistair who himself really shouldn't even be on the front lines.

They would have no choice if the crown forced them to integrate. I say this in the say way that the SAS is part of the army, yet not the army; and the SBS and the Royal Marines are part of the navy, yet not actually the navy. The Wardens would be special forces, if you will.

[ejoslin]

Wereparrot wrote...

Sarah1281 wrote...

And why would the Ferelden Wardens ever do that? It would dispense with even the pretense of their neutrality. The Wardens exist to fight darkspawn. They stand with the Ferelden army in the game because the army is taking on the Blight. If the Warden wanted to pursue a military career post-game then I'm sure they don't have to be fighting right next to Alistair who himself really shouldn't even be on the front lines.

They would have no choice if the crown forced them to integrate. I say this in the say way that the SAS is part of the army, yet not the army; and the SBS and the Royal Marines are part of the navy, yet not actually the navy. The Wardens would be special forces, if you will.

Or they would leave Ferelden?  Because of course Ferelden doesn't understand the value of the Gray Wardens and would try to coerce them...

Somehow, I seriously doubt that Alistair would even think of trying that.

Edit: Then again, there really is no indication of that happening.  maybe in fanfic.

Modifié par ejoslin, 14 janvier 2011 - 09:29 .

[IanPolaris]

Wereparrot wrote...

Sarah1281 wrote...

And why would the Ferelden Wardens ever do that? It would dispense with even the pretense of their neutrality. The Wardens exist to fight darkspawn. They stand with the Ferelden army in the game because the army is taking on the Blight. If the Warden wanted to pursue a military career post-game then I'm sure they don't have to be fighting right next to Alistair who himself really shouldn't even be on the front lines.

They would have no choice if the crown forced them to integrate. I say this in the say way that the SAS is part of the army, yet not the army; and the SBS and the Royal Marines are part of the navy, yet not actually the navy. The Wardens would be special forces, if you will.

After the horrible example of Sophia Dryden, and after Loghain's paranoia that led to near-disaster, I somehow don't see the First Warden OR the Warden Commander of Fereldan OR the King/Queen of Fereldan going along with that.  The Grey Wardens exist to fight the darkspawn and end blights.  That is all.

-Polaris

[Wereparrot]

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

The Warden may leave the Wardens after the final battle, but that does not mean he/she can't continue to pursue a military career. They could still essentialy be leader of the Wardens if the Ferelden Wardens were brought under the banner of the Fereldan army. 

While the PC gray warden CAN become the gray warden commander (and Arl(essa) of Amaranthine), I think you're wrong that the Ferelden Wardens can be brought under the banner of the Ferelden army.  The Gray Wardens are their own entity. In any event, there is no indication of this happening either in Awakening or in any of the epilogues.

But what does this have to do with a Queen Cousland being made general of Ferelden's army (among the others) during the final onslaught as she is the acting leader of the Ferelden Gray Wardens?  

I am aware that no indication is made that the Wardens would fall under the banner of the Fereldan army, but it's still a viable proposition for the future.

[ejoslin]

Wereparrot wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

The Warden may leave the Wardens after the final battle, but that does not mean he/she can't continue to pursue a military career. They could still essentialy be leader of the Wardens if the Ferelden Wardens were brought under the banner of the Fereldan army. 

While the PC gray warden CAN become the gray warden commander (and Arl(essa) of Amaranthine), I think you're wrong that the Ferelden Wardens can be brought under the banner of the Ferelden army.  The Gray Wardens are their own entity. In any event, there is no indication of this happening either in Awakening or in any of the epilogues.

But what does this have to do with a Queen Cousland being made general of Ferelden's army (among the others) during the final onslaught as she is the acting leader of the Ferelden Gray Wardens?  

I am aware that no indication is made that the Wardens would fall under the banner of the Fereldan army, but it's still a viable proposition for the future.

Gah, and I can make up all sorts of stuff as well.  Viable or not, it does not make for an argument as there is no indication at all that that would happen, and there are plenty of reasons why it would not.

Edit: but excellent shift of argument.  My hat's off to you!

Modifié par ejoslin, 14 janvier 2011 - 09:32 .

[Wereparrot]

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

The Warden may leave the Wardens after the final battle, but that does not mean he/she can't continue to pursue a military career. They could still essentialy be leader of the Wardens if the Ferelden Wardens were brought under the banner of the Fereldan army. 

While the PC gray warden CAN become the gray warden commander (and Arl(essa) of Amaranthine), I think you're wrong that the Ferelden Wardens can be brought under the banner of the Ferelden army.  The Gray Wardens are their own entity. In any event, there is no indication of this happening either in Awakening or in any of the epilogues.

But what does this have to do with a Queen Cousland being made general of Ferelden's army (among the others) during the final onslaught as she is the acting leader of the Ferelden Gray Wardens?  

I am aware that no indication is made that the Wardens would fall under the banner of the Fereldan army, but it's still a viable proposition for the future.

Gah, and I can make up all sorts of stuff as well.  Viable or not, it does not make for an argument as there is no indication at all that that would happen, and there are plenty of reasons why it would not.

Edit: but excellent shift of argument.  My hat's off to you!

Of course. Now I think of it, it might be in Ferelden's best interests to drag them in line, because of all the trouble the Wardens have caused in the past, either rightly or wrongly. 

[Sarah1281]

Maybe it wasn't expected of him-that was a poor choice of words, but the point is that this was what they believed in, what they expected of themselves (remember that this was the age of chivalry).

Not in Ferelden it doesn't seem to be.

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.

I'm going to extremes because I want to see what the worst possible scenario having Queen Cousland in battle with Alistair during the Blight would be. If the worst case scenario seems unlikely or not that bad then we can assume that lesser scenarios are worth the risk.

I am aware that no indication is made that the Wardens would fall under the banner of the Fereldan army, but it's still a viable proposition for the future.

No, that would be a horrible idea. Wardens are only supposed to fight darkspawn. Individual Wardens may leave active duty to go pursue other things (like Alistair's throne) but why in the world should they become a part of the army? They won't fight who the crown tells them to fight, only darkspawn. The Grey Wardens, if ordered to become part of the army, would have no choice but to leave the nation. They cannot afford to set the precedent of other powers controlling them. The Grey Wardens are independent and as neutral as they can be because that is how they are most effective and fighting the darkspawn. If you think it's in Ferelden's best interest to rid themselves of Wardens then that's fine (though I can't agree given the Deep Roads are right by Ferelden) but you have to understand there is a far better chance of that happening than the Wardens conceding to giving a non-Warden that much power over them.

[Wereparrot]

Sarah1281 wrote...

I am aware that no indication is made that the Wardens would fall under the banner of the Fereldan army, but it's still a viable proposition for the future.

No, that would be a horrible idea. Wardens are only supposed to fight darkspawn. Individual Wardens may leave active duty to go pursue other things (like Alistair's throne) but why in the world should they become a part of the army? They won't fight who the crown tells them to fight, only darkspawn. The Grey Wardens, if ordered to become part of the army, would have no choice but to leave the nation. They cannot afford to set the precedent of other powers controlling them. The Grey Wardens are independent and as neutral as they can be because that is how they are most effective and fighting the darkspawn. If you think it's in Ferelden's best interest to rid themselves of Wardens then that's fine (though I can't agree given the Deep Roads are right by Ferelden) but you have to understand there is a far better chance of that happening than the Wardens conceding to giving a non-Warden that much power over them.

I didn't say that Wardens should be abolished, but merely integrated into the Fereldan military. Consider this: the RAF is a seperate entity from the army but it has it's roots in the RFC-a part of the army, untill the RAF was formed as an independant arm of the forces in 1918. It would be like reintegrating the RAF into the army (although a lot more messy).

[LobselVith8]

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

[LobselVith8]

Wereparrot wrote...

I didn't say that Wardens should be abolished, but merely integrated into the Fereldan military. Consider this: the RAF is a seperate entity from the army but it has it's roots in the RFC-a part of the army, untill the RAF was formed as an independant arm of the forces in 1918. It would be like reintegrating the RAF into the army (although a lot more messy).

There's no reason that they should or could integrate the Wardens into the Ferelden military, especially since Amaranthine has already been handed over to the Wardens and the Warden-Commander is basically the Arl of Amaranthine. No nation, not even the Orlesian Empire, has been able to force the Grey Wardens to serve under their military. I see no way that Ferelden would be able to pull it off, or why anyone would even try. Besides, they're a little busy saving the world from the never-ending swarms of darkspawn.

[Wereparrot]

LobselVith8 wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

Cameraderie bonds are different to romantic bonds. 

[IanPolaris]

Wereparrot wrote...

LobselVith8 wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

Cameraderie bonds are different to romantic bonds. 

The Ancient Spartans didn't think so and they had some of the most well trained and well disciplined troops of their time.

-Polaris

[ejoslin]

Wereparrot wrote...

LobselVith8 wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

Cameraderie bonds are different to romantic bonds. 

Soooo, there's more of a conflict there in my Queen Cousland serving with King Alistair whom was at -25 neutral than her paramour, Zevran, who was at 100 love...

Your objection really does not seem to be the romantic bonds as the marriage itself given your previous arguments (i will quote the posts if asked, but gah, I'm cooking dinner and would rather not atm). 

Or at least, you have not addressed the political marriage.

I personally think that the Queen CousCous needs to uphold her gray warden duties to her troops and her obligation to end the blight no matter what her feelings for Alistair.  And Alistair should act as a gray warden and help as there are so few gray wardens.  Alistair is responsible enough to name an heir, unlike Cailin.

[Wereparrot]

IanPolaris wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

LobselVith8 wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

Cameraderie bonds are different to romantic bonds. 

The Ancient Spartans didn't think so and they had some of the most well trained and well disciplined troops of their time.

-Polaris

I am no expert on Spartan history but I must question to what extent state enforced/sponsored dalliance can reasonably be called romance.

[Wereparrot]

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

LobselVith8 wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

Cameraderie bonds are different to romantic bonds. 

Soooo, there's more of a conflict there in my Queen Cousland serving with King Alistair whom was at -25 neutral than her paramour, Zevran, who was at 100 love...

Your objection really does not seem to be the romantic bonds as the marriage itself given your previous arguments (i will quote the posts if asked, but gah, I'm cooking dinner and would rather not atm). 

Or at least, you have not addressed the political marriage.

I personally think that the Queen CousCous needs to uphold her gray warden duties to her troops and her obligation to end the blight no matter what her feelings for Alistair.  And Alistair should act as a gray warden and help as there are so few gray wardens.  Alistair is responsible enough to name an heir, unlike Cailin.

A political relationship may grow into a romantic one, given time. And given the situations I have already described, it makes no difference, because Alistair will still be motivated by favouratism to some extent, and this may cause friction.

[Sarah1281]

I didn't say that Wardens should be abolished, but merely integrated into the Fereldan military. Consider this: the RAF is a seperate entity from the army but it has it's roots in the RFC-a part of the army, untill the RAF was formed as an independant arm of the forces in 1918. It would be like reintegrating the RAF into the army (although a lot more messy).

And I didn't say anything about abolishing them either. Surely if it were so easy to make the Wardens part of the nation's military, someone would have done it by then. The GWs feel that they MUST be independent and if Ferelden will not accept the Wardens on their own terms then the Wardens will be forced to leave to preserve their autonomy and not to set a dangerous precedent.

A political relationship may grow into a romantic one, given time. And given the situations I have already described, it makes no difference, because Alistair will still be motivated by favouratism to some extent, and this may cause friction.

Are you talking about problems that you think Alistair and his Queen fighting together apart from the main army during the Blight will cause or (as your 'in time the political marriage may change' comment suggests) or problems you think they will have fighting together in future military campaigns? Surely in the future they WON'T be if only because one of them has a responsibility to be in Denerim and ruling the nation while the other goes off to war.

[ejoslin]

Wereparrot wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

LobselVith8 wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

How can you not see that the presence of a man's wife in battle might distract him, however slightly? And why must you go to the extreme all the time; I am not for a moment suggesting that if queen Cousland died that Alistair would stop fighting and burst into floods of tears? Even he would be more professional than that.  

How would it be any different for two friends fighting in battle, two brothers, or a father and son fighting side by side against a threat? The Blight threatens everyone. I don't see why Alistair wouldn't go into battle with Queen Cousland and the rest of the army. If you serve with the same group of people for a period of time, then it's natural that bonds are going to form. I don't see why King Alistair and Queen Cousland can't fight side by side against darkspawn.

Cameraderie bonds are different to romantic bonds. 

Soooo, there's more of a conflict there in my Queen Cousland serving with King Alistair whom was at -25 neutral than her paramour, Zevran, who was at 100 love...

Your objection really does not seem to be the romantic bonds as the marriage itself given your previous arguments (i will quote the posts if asked, but gah, I'm cooking dinner and would rather not atm). 

Or at least, you have not addressed the political marriage.

I personally think that the Queen CousCous needs to uphold her gray warden duties to her troops and her obligation to end the blight no matter what her feelings for Alistair.  And Alistair should act as a gray warden and help as there are so few gray wardens.  Alistair is responsible enough to name an heir, unlike Cailin.

A political relationship may grow into a romantic one, given time. And given the situations I have already described, it makes no difference, because Alistair will still be motivated by favouratism to some extent, and this may cause friction.

Ummm, did you see the -25 neutral there?  It's not like he likes the future Queen (actually, he was hostile by that point -- telling him she was going to have an heir with someone else gave her a 5 point hit so she was definitely in hostile territory).  If there IS favoritism, it would be towards someone other than his betrothed.

She would probably have favoritism to her paramour, but again, what difference would that make?  She fought with him and two others.

edit: Fighting the blight is an extraordinary circumstance.  And certainly feelings aren't going to "develop" during the time of the landsmeet and the final onslaught.  My future queen was too busy working on that heir issue   she never even spoke with Ali aside from letting him know that Morri was waiting.

Modifié par ejoslin, 14 janvier 2011 - 11:04 .

[Wereparrot]

Sarah1281 wrote...

I didn't say that Wardens should be abolished, but merely integrated into the Fereldan military. Consider this: the RAF is a seperate entity from the army but it has it's roots in the RFC-a part of the army, untill the RAF was formed as an independant arm of the forces in 1918. It would be like reintegrating the RAF into the army (although a lot more messy).

And I didn't say anything about abolishing them either. Surely if it were so easy to make the Wardens part of the nation's military, someone would have done it by then. The GWs feel that they MUST be independent and if Ferelden will not accept the Wardens on their own terms then the Wardens will be forced to leave to preserve their autonomy and not to set a dangerous precedent.

A political relationship may grow into a romantic one, given time. And given the situations I have already described, it makes no difference, because Alistair will still be motivated by favouratism to some extent, and this may cause friction.

Are you talking about problems that you think Alistair and his Queen fighting together apart from the main army during the Blight will cause or (as your 'in time the political marriage may change' comment suggests) or problems you think they will have fighting together in future military campaigns? Surely in the future they WON'T be if only because one of them has a responsibility to be in Denerim and ruling the nation while the other goes off to war.

If you put it like that, I think Alistair should be the one in the field and queen Cousland in the administrative role, because Alistair is a soldier and never a politian.

In the real world I think Alistair would face problems if he and queen Cousland ever were to fight together, but as this is Ferelden, it's a moot point of course.
 

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

Wereparrot wrote...


They would have no choice if the crown forced them to integrate. I say this in the say way that the SAS is part of the army, yet not the army; and the SBS and the Royal Marines are part of the navy, yet not actually the navy. The Wardens would be special forces, if you will.

This is a big no. The Wardens and SAS are not reasonable comparisons. The SAS perform their duties as part of the military arm of a soverign government. In otherwords, their alliegance is to a political entity.

The Wardens are not, they are an extranational organization that does not, and will not, swear alliegance to any crown, or any political entity. They are not supposed to fight under any political banner, and bad consequences happen. Nor do they serve the interests of their host nation. They have one purpose only: fighting darkspawn and Blights. And defeating Blights must supercede all political, social, religous, moral, and ethical considerations.

Being part of the army is a no-go.