theauthority wrote...
I doubt he was totally unaware of Cailan's intentions before Ostagar (or Return to Ostagar DLC), he was always close to the royal family. Maybe suspicious but, in the end, not even Cailan believed it was truly a Blight; Duncan's concerns fell on deaf ears. Half of the botched assault should be blamed on the Wardens: if Duncan explained (with proof) why they really need the Wardens to stop a Blight, well, I think even Loghain would have been convinced - he has no problem believing Riordan's words before the Battle of Denerim. Otherwise, I'm entitled to think that Darkspawns are there just because, no apparent motive.
These things notwithstanding, Loghain's plan to keep Orlesians at bay, paradoxically, worked: the Warden reunites Ferelden, proving the country could fight without external intervention (Dwarves and Elves/Werewolves are neutral towards foreign politics, I'm not talking about raw numbers). All in all, Ferelden was lucky the Blight was stopped before it reached its critical mass.
This is all grand except there is no evidence that the Orlesians were ever planning to invade. It doesn't matter what we learn later, all that matters is that Loghain was working off a hunch, which to date, may still have been entirely
wrong. Even if there are high-ranking nobles in Orlais who want to re-take Ferelden (which Alistair admits is true), Celene, their
empress, is against it, so unless they're about assassinate her, Ferelden is and always
was safe from Orlesian occupation during the events of both games.
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Anora's attempt to become queen and only ruler was hindered by Loghain himself. Yet, she manages to turn the tide "hiring" the Warden to set her free. Loghain admits manipulation when you talk to him after the Landsmeet. This alone speaks volumes about her no-nonsense attitude.
Also, if I'm not mistaken, even Eamon remains silent as Anora explains she was the true politician behind Cailan.
Or, to look at it another way, Anora kowtowed to her father's ridiculous demands, despite being suspicious of his actions at Ostagar, went to Howe's place without so much as a single bodyguard and got herself captured like an idiot. She then turned to her father's enemies, only to (depending on your dialogue choices) betray them in short order when faced with Ser Cauthrien. So she's not only weak-willed and none-too-bright, she's also as treacherous as her father. Eamon isn't even
in the room when Anora makes her bold claims, so you're going on her word alone. If this woman is sucha great ruler and brilliant tactician,
why is she not in charge? Yes, she was hindered by Loghain.
Why did she let him hinder her? This does not say "political mastermind" to me. It says "weak moron".
So, personally I prefer a cunning politician to a wannabe do-gooder who's always escaped his responsibilities: Alistair likes to be led but, at the same time, he's afraid of consequences. What annoys me is how he retaliates on the Warden over difficult decisions (Connor, for example) but he wouldn't have the guts to do it himself. Being a Warden is easy for his mindset: you fight Darkspawn for the greater good, that's it. I know that the Epilogue states he'll be a capable king but, in the actual game, I see no hints of this evolution.
You can't call Alistair out for "escaping his responsibilities" when he was never given any. His job was always to remain hidden, he never had any of the rights or responsibilites to which he is entitled as per his lineage. He may be untested, but Loghain and Anora have both proven themselves to be not only blind to danger but also to be treacherous snakes. I'll take my chances with the guy I personally know I can trust. The fact that he is doubtful of his capabilities puts him high above Loghain and Anora who both have the hubris to think they're what's best for Ferelden in spite of all evidence to the contrary. The only real evidence we have in Anora's favour is the same as with Alistair; the epilogue. Claiming that she was the real power behind the crown proves nothing, except that she's a braggart.
Nope, I'm sorry, pragmatism over sentiments, I'm entrusting somebody with a whole country. I can see Alistair on the throne only if wed to Anora but not by himself. That's despite of Loghain's execution or not.
Either way, there's a downside: the royal dynasty is, well over. Alistair+Warden=fertility problems, same with Anora+Alistair. Alistair, if ruling alone, ain't marrying anybody as far as I know. That's disheartening, on a second thought.
Yes, you're entrusting someone with an entire country and you're giving it to someone you've just met, just because she
says she'll be a good ruler. That's a great choice. Anora is at least as risky as Alistair, she could easily be lying about her political capabilites, being able to manipulate people does not speak highly in her favour to me. Yes please, give me a queen who's good at
lying, that's what I want as a citizen! All I need to know about Alistair is that he's honest, and that already puts him miles ahead.
I'm sure a lot of innocent people would die "just in case" they are mages or mage supporters, and it would be no fun to be under martial rule by the Divine, but even the elves who surrendered and became Andrastian were put into alienages- they didn't just slaughter them all. It would not go over well in the other Free Marcher cities if the Chantry wiped out all of Kirkwall. If that's even possible.
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