The more I thought about the Chantry-Mage War that began at the end of Dragon Age II, and will likely be the central conflict to Dragon Age III, I began to wonder how other nations and factions will align in response to this conflict. What follows is just my speculation, please post your own ideas.
Orlais will almost certainly be the lead player for the Chantry-side of the conflict, since that's their relgious capital.
Antiva will likely side with Orlais, as for the Antivan Crows they'd likely side with the Chantry since it can probably pay better.
The Tevinter Imperium would likely be the key player in organizing mage opposition. Certain members might even see this as a chance to expand again.
Fereldan will likely be neutral, at least at first. I doubt anyone there is eager to engage in another war after the Blight. It's worth noting that if Alistair is on the throne, he'd likely hold some pro-mage sentiments.
The dwarven kingdoms would likely be the most stoutly neutral in the conflict, since the dwarves care little for the mages or the Chantry. It would take something really big to get them invested in this conflict.
Like the dwarves, the Dalish elves would likely stay out of the conflict, although they might enter on the mage side if the Chantry began targeting their keepers as apostates.
Odds the are the Qunari will keep to themselves, maybe even conquer some more lands in the chaos. If they were to join a side, it would likely be with the Chantry due to their distrust of mages and the Tevinter Imperium. It would be a tense alliance at best though.
Finally, I see the Grey Wardens, as an order, also remaining neutral. On a personal level however, I could see members assisting mages, if for no other reason than mages are really good at fighting darkspawn.
Civil War Faction Speculation
Débuté par
Red2StandingBy
, mars 30 2012 01:09
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#2
Posté 30 mars 2012 - 02:56
dragonflight288
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Interesting ideas. Orlais will definitely be on the Divine's side, but that doesn't necessarily mean the current Divine. The templars rebelled because she sympathized with the mages and they wanted nothing to do with it. The templars may or may not return to the Chantry if the Divine is ever deposed.
Tevinter I see staying out of it. The mages rule there, it's true, but it seems more likely that they would not want more political rivals taking away what power they have. And the do enslave everyone. Mage, non-mage, human, elf, whatever.
I agree with the dwarves. I see the Dalish preferring to just let Shemlens kill each other, and claims some land and call it home in the aftermath.
I honestly think the Qunari would invade when both sides are completely worn out, forcing an issue of coming together (either with a reformed circle or going back to the old ways, based on who the protagonist supports) or divide and be conquered.
Tevinter I see staying out of it. The mages rule there, it's true, but it seems more likely that they would not want more political rivals taking away what power they have. And the do enslave everyone. Mage, non-mage, human, elf, whatever.
I agree with the dwarves. I see the Dalish preferring to just let Shemlens kill each other, and claims some land and call it home in the aftermath.
I honestly think the Qunari would invade when both sides are completely worn out, forcing an issue of coming together (either with a reformed circle or going back to the old ways, based on who the protagonist supports) or divide and be conquered.
#3
Posté 30 mars 2012 - 05:04
Iron_JG
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I feel like the tone Varric's narration set about the mage rebellion strongly implies some degree of stalemate between the mages and the templars, or even that the templars may be losing ground. Seeking Hawke is portrayed as a move of desperation.
Whether the templars are deadlocked or slowly losing, my first and main hope for the rebellion is that it takes on a degree of permanence. I think DA2 is a lot more meaningful if Hawke is our window into the birth of a new world order. Mages are rebelling against centuries of oppression, and even the "docile" ones will likely be compelled to support the rebels. After all, templars have a "Tranquilize them and ask questions later" mentality. I think your points about a proxy war, more or less, between Orlais and the Tevinter Imperium are well-founded, but I think many mages will oppose the Imperium's casual use of blood magic. It seems likely to me the Imperium would try to support mages covertly, so as to not inflame Andrastrians against the rebels. Besides, the Imperium's still at war with the Qunari.
I don't think the Qunari would overtly ally with the Chantry unless they felt directly threatened by the mages. If they do take over lands in chaos, I'd think they'd wait until both sides had worn each other down. As the expression goes, "don't interfere when your enemy is destroying himself."
I think the Dalish's role could be very interesting, as it could vary with a clan's proximity to templar or mage strongholds. Instead of them simply aligning fully with one side, I'd like to see them struggle with greater cultural dissolution, as clans are pitted against each other for survival. It'd be cool to see this play out until some Keepers get wise and pledge the Dalish's full support to whomever grants them a kingdom. This might be something that should play out over many years, more than one game perhaps.
I think it's too early to say with which sides, if either, dwarves would ally. I think they'd wait to see which side could make the best offer. It's conceivable mages might appeal to isolationism by pledging no one would seek to convert dwarves from ancestor worship.
While I'm signing on to a lot of the theories already thrown out, I hope Bioware uses the mage rebellion to surprise us. It seems to me that every nation, every rebelling circle, would have different reactions and forge different alliances. Kinda like a pinata, Thedas is broken open, and lots of good stuff can pour out.
Whether the templars are deadlocked or slowly losing, my first and main hope for the rebellion is that it takes on a degree of permanence. I think DA2 is a lot more meaningful if Hawke is our window into the birth of a new world order. Mages are rebelling against centuries of oppression, and even the "docile" ones will likely be compelled to support the rebels. After all, templars have a "Tranquilize them and ask questions later" mentality. I think your points about a proxy war, more or less, between Orlais and the Tevinter Imperium are well-founded, but I think many mages will oppose the Imperium's casual use of blood magic. It seems likely to me the Imperium would try to support mages covertly, so as to not inflame Andrastrians against the rebels. Besides, the Imperium's still at war with the Qunari.
I don't think the Qunari would overtly ally with the Chantry unless they felt directly threatened by the mages. If they do take over lands in chaos, I'd think they'd wait until both sides had worn each other down. As the expression goes, "don't interfere when your enemy is destroying himself."
I think the Dalish's role could be very interesting, as it could vary with a clan's proximity to templar or mage strongholds. Instead of them simply aligning fully with one side, I'd like to see them struggle with greater cultural dissolution, as clans are pitted against each other for survival. It'd be cool to see this play out until some Keepers get wise and pledge the Dalish's full support to whomever grants them a kingdom. This might be something that should play out over many years, more than one game perhaps.
I think it's too early to say with which sides, if either, dwarves would ally. I think they'd wait to see which side could make the best offer. It's conceivable mages might appeal to isolationism by pledging no one would seek to convert dwarves from ancestor worship.
While I'm signing on to a lot of the theories already thrown out, I hope Bioware uses the mage rebellion to surprise us. It seems to me that every nation, every rebelling circle, would have different reactions and forge different alliances. Kinda like a pinata, Thedas is broken open, and lots of good stuff can pour out.
