Xilizhra wrote...
That's what I meant. Why wasn't he prepared to kill Hawke along with every other mage?
I found the answer in the Codex:
... champion is not an appointment that can be sought. It cannot be owned or willed, and the process by which it is bestowed is not argued through policy or guile. It is earned with blood and sweat and leadership in times of great turmoil. Always worthy, as their deeds are of true importance, a champion is greeted not by debate, but by nods of reverence.
I think it means that Hawke is not just a powerful nobleman, he's a symbol, a hero, he's revered by the entire city, and he earned that. Hawke's exploits were so great that Meredith couldn't do anything to the apostate Hawke during the last 3 years. And that's why Cullen orders Meredith's men to "listen to the Champion" during the RoA - Hawke's words have more weight than knight-commander's. That's why in the end all templars support Cullen, not Meredith (and not just because she starts to glow red).
Why does Cullen participate in the RoA at all?
My thoughts:
1) He was in the Gallows when Anders blew up the Chantry and he doesn't know exactly what had happened. I imagine what he saw was Orsino comming back with the first boat and the templars who chased him with the second. What one of those templars could briefly report? Something like: "Blasted robes destroyed the Chantry and murdered our brothers and the Grand Cleric who were inside! Death to every single one! Commander invoked the Right of Annulment!" So, since the first seconds of RoA Cullen didn't know that the Circle mages were innocent, and I doubt templars stopped to explain that to him. He could hear Meredith and Orsino talk, but without knowing what it all was about, I think he could only get confused.
2) Then the templars enter the Gallows, mages start using blood magic, summon demons, become abominations. Those must be killed, that's what the order dictates, those mages are dangerous, and their corruption is obvious. But even after that he still hopes to save some mages in the Circle, and he's trying to talk Meredith into sparing those who surrender. I doubt she would listen to him without Hawke's help though. But this was not enough to make him turn against her. Maybe he wanted, but he's not a full: if templars start fighting against each other while the danger is hovering above Kirkwall (the real danger now - abominations are everywhere by that time), they all will be killed by blood mages and demons, and there will be no one to defend the city. So he swallows his objections and waits till the fight is over.
3) When the fight is over, Meredith wants to kill the Champion. And as I wrote earlier, I believe that before that she told her men that they will only arrest Hawke. And her arguments why they must kill Hawke now Cullen finds unconvincing. Besides, earlier he wanted to spare 3 mages who could be blood mages. And now it's the Champion! Not just a random mage. It's the hero of the city, defender of people and faith (because Hawke stopped heathens) - that's how Cullen sees Hawke. So he sides with Hawke.
Retour en haut
as Wednesday is a public holiday here. Woo and Hoo!!!
It was the most challenging thing I have ever written, and I really hope it works. Thanks for listening to me rant about it, guys, I really appreciate it.
