3 réponses à ce sujet

[Mykel54]

I am talking about the dalish tattoos, those are called "blood writting". I wonder if there is any particular difference between those and say, the mark that the casteless wear on orzammar. The mark of the casteless seem to be always black, but the blood writting seems to come in a lot of colours, including red. I know that when you have made a tatoo it hurts a bit, i guess that tatooing your entire face would be pretty hurtful, but what is the reason for being "blood" tatoos?
Thanks in advance.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Blood writing is just the name the Dalish give tattoos. As far as I know they are no different to ordinary tattoos, although in DA2 the Dalish have special inks and they refuse to give any to outsiders.

You can read the Codex entries on blood writing here if you like.

[Corker]

In DA2, Merrill claims that the vallaslin are made of blood. I have no idea if that means blood is a component of the ink, or a poetic way of referring to the tattooing process, or what.

Casteless markings are referred to as "brands" throughout the game, but it seems to me that an actual brand would scar white, maybe red, and not black. I think they're tattoos as well.

The color difference is very possibly due to why the markings are given. For the Dalish, it's an important religious rite, honoring their gods and entering adulthood; one could see a degree of artistry being employed. Casteless infants are marked at about a year old, one assumes by some agents of The Law; it's cheaper and faster to just use simple black ink and do 'em all the same.

[Addai]

I take Merrill's comment to mean blood is a component of the ink. If I recall correctly (don't have my book atm to check), TST says that the markings are colorful and on the forehead. I assume you can pigmentize ink to be any color, even if blood is in the recipe.