240 réponses à ce sujet

[Maria Caliban]

Adversary, not villain, because even though he let someone make off with plans for poisonous gas, stormed the Keep, and murdered the Viscount, I think that he was both justified and in the right.

The Arishok has two basic duties in DA II: To secure a holy relic and to safeguard his people.

For three years, he doesn't threaten anyone but sits in his compound and watches. In turn, he's robbed, his peace delegates are tortured and murdered, a new convert is murdered, and the city guards then demand two elves seeking asylum under the Qunari are returned. Two elves whose crime was administering justice that Kirkwall itself never would.*

He shows far more patience, dedication, and actual nobility than I've ever seen in a BioWare villain previously.

I'm sure someone will bring up that he had obviously prepared to attack the Keep, but that's a completely practical thing for a general stuck in a hostile city to do. He might have intended to take over all along. However, I find that doubtful given how willing he is to leave after he recovers the relic.

The conflict between Hawke and the Arishok isn't one of good and evil but simply an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

The Arishok, and the conflict with the radical elements of the Chantry, is what makes Act 2 the most satisfying part of the game.


*The Magistrate's Orders quest is especially satisfying as it give you the chance to do exactly what those elves did, and even Aveline approves.

[Kerilus]

I wholeheartedly agree. This type of adversary is what Bioware needs more. Even as the nobles cheered when I sank my blade into his chest, I felt no glory, only overwhelmed by my inability to prevent the whole conflict.

[PJLara]

Not even close. The main antagonist in Baldur's Gate 2, Jon Irenicus, was a lot better.

[Helena Tylena]

I loved the Arishok, and my respect for the Qunari just trippled because of this guy. Nothing he does conflicts with his ideals. He never compromises his beliefs while still trying to do what he can to secure the safety of the people under his command.
It's a pity that, in doing the same, I had to kill him.

[Taleroth]

I think I can agree. I'm hesitant to do so because it was over too soon to really satisfy me and occasionally felt forced. And the fight wasn't fun.

Often I did not even see him as an adversary. And I had no intention of taking the elves back once they made their claim, but the conflict was still thrust upon me. I think it could have been a better central conflict with more detail.

[Lauretha_L]

Best in Dragon Age universe, that's for sure!

Agreed on Jonoleth, but BG is another story altogether...

[blothulfur]

One good man takes a stand at the heart of darkness and is slain in heroic combat against the champion of that corruption, and in far Par Vollen a nation awakens and pledges that the words of that hero shall not be unheard and his deeds not forgotten.

Thought for the day: On the waves of spilt blood, the seas of lies and the oceans of suffering our dreadnoughts set sail and their sails billow with the dread winds of justice.

Anaan esaam Qun.

[Mystranna Kelteel]

He was a swell adversary.

Too bad the entire conflict was spoiled in the trailer.

[Jangocat]

Are you kidding me? You never played KOTOR did you? Darth Malak was a WAY better adversary and a much more developed deeper character. Malak was literally epic. And I don't see how you could interpret Arishok as noble. He was a typical pompous close minded fundamentalist living in a foreign city and criticizing their lifestyle. I couldn't wait to kill this judgmental fool.

[Dark Specie]

He's a good adversary because he's more of a rival (as the archievement says), rather than a villain. So, yes, for me he's right up there in the Top Three, together with Irenicus (boy, he made it really PERSONAL, but he's a tragic all the same) and Loghain (who like the Warden also desired to defend his country, but in his own way).

[Randy1012]

I absolutely agree. I hated that I had to fight the Arishok, as I'd come to really respect him, and I completely understood his point, but I also couldn't let him continue his plan to purge Kirkwall. The Arishok just added even more depth, complexity, and quality to the Qunari, who were already my favorite culture in Thedas. I hope DA3 (assuming DA3 happens) continues the tradition of excellent Qunari characters.

Act II was, by far, my favorite part of the game, in large part because of the Arishok.

[otis0310]

If your arugement is that he is the best enemy that you face who is honourable, but not an evil madman, I agree.

The arishok was certainly provoked, the mother went out of her way to cause that battle and devlare open war at every opportunity, meanwhile hiding behind the chantry and Kirkwall's flag to protect herself. Therefore the Arishok was a good enemy who was jsut trying to do what was right ofr his people and beliefs.

The best enemy period was that reaper in Mass Effect 1. But obviosly he is cannot be given the due honor and respect that the arishok deserves. Therefore it does not qualify.

[Boradam]

I loved the Arishok, I respected him.

I ended up dueling him however, and I became saddened at the loss of my only rival.

[kevin cousland]

i think you can keep the arishok alive even though he leaves for home.
just let him take isabela. mwahahaha. shell become a sex slave of the qunari

[MrDizazta]

All I got to say is the Arishok is the most badass boss I have ever battled.

[Foolsfolly]

Hmm...the Arishok is the one of their better adversaries.

But this is tough. I really like Master Li the Glorious Strategist, Malak was great for that B-Movie "I'm EVIL!" kind of villainy, and Loghain may be their most nuanced villain ever.

It's tough. But I did really like the Arishok. He's barely in the game but he steals the show. He's proud, motivated, and just plain looks and sounds cool.

Plus he promised me the Qunari would return. Let's see if their next Arishok can be half the man this one was.

[Dark Specie]

kevin cousland wrote...
just let him take isabela. mwahahaha. shell become a sex slave of the qunari

From what I hear, Isabella escapes three days after she's given into the Arishok's care, so that won't happen
(Fenris DOES tell her what her eventual fate would have been had my character not duelled the Arishok for her freedom though).

Modifié par Dark Specie, 16 mars 2011 - 03:44 .

[Wissenschaft]

The best part about the Arishok is that he allow us to learn a lot more about Qunari culture than Sten ever did. I felt I got to understand at least how the Qunari military thought by how the Arishok justified his actions/responses.

[Foolsfolly]

Yeah, Isabella's coming for Hawke and there's no reason the Arishok couldn't grab a new fleet and sail into Kirkwall in a year or two.

Giving the Arishok Isabella is no kind of solution.

[Brockololly]

I was worried that the Qunari would end up being mindless villains, but the Arishok and Act 2 with the Qunari was really the high point of the game I thought.

[Parrk]

That fight brought back horrible memories of playing a mage in the arenas of wow.

I was upset by how Pillar-2 was not offered ass an LI, because I humped it for like 10 mins.

[rcollins1701]

I would say that Loghain was more impressive than the Arishok. Loghain was a broken, deeply conflicted person who was only evil because of his distorted priorities. He believed he was right, and in the end, realized he was wrong. One could argue this of the Arishok, but the whole convert-to-the-Qun or die thing really made it hard to sympathize with him. Especially given that the Qun is one of the those religions that makes people accept everything as destiny and predestination. At least the Chantry just locks up their apostates rather than executing them and striking them from cultural memory.

I think my Hawke said it best when he said, "He *chose* to obey or die, huh?"

[Dark Specie]

Wissenschaft wrote...

The best part about the Arishok is that he allow us to learn a lot more about Qunari culture than Sten ever did. I felt I got to understand at least how the Qunari military thought by how the Arishok justified his actions/responses.

Yeah, just remember how Sten tells Alistair that "The honor of the qunari is what will bring our warships back to your shores" . From interacting with the Qunari in DAO2, we're made to understand that they see most non-qunari societies as corrupt, honorless, chaotic and outright badly functioning, which is what makes them think that everyone'd be better off under the Qun. In short, we're made to understand why they (as the lore says) thinks the whole Theadas is "in dire need of enlightment"...

Modifié par Dark Specie, 16 mars 2011 - 04:16 .

[CRISIS1717]

Foolsfolly wrote...

Yeah, Isabella's coming for Hawke and there's no reason the Arishok couldn't grab a new fleet and sail into Kirkwall in a year or two.

Giving the Arishok Isabella is no kind of solution.

The Arishok doesn't have that sole authority to invade since its a triumvirate and only he had a personal grudge against Kirkwall. 

Modifié par CRISIS1717, 16 mars 2011 - 04:24 .

[fthg42]

Agreed. You got a sense of where he was coming from and though unflinching in his views, he was able to deal with his enemies and opponents with honor. He's the only antagonist I can think of with that much integrity, never going back on his word or betraying anyone.