8 réponses à ce sujet

[Vanilka]

This is but a small detail, however, I was wondering about it during "my last visit" of Ostagar. You hear NPCs repeating that "...darkspawn blood is as black as sin...", or something along those lines, multiple times throughout the game. And yet, the pools of blood about freshly killed darkspawn etc. say otherwise. I would dismiss it as a silly rumor that is supposed to make darkspawn scarier than they already are IF one of the more experienced soldiers, instructing his colleagues, at Ostagar didn't say exactly the same thing. I was curious as to why that is, so I thought I might as well ask.

So, my question is: Where did the "black blood" come from? Or are Cailan's soldiers colour-blind? I can imagine the common folk believing in such things. But a soldier that has already killed a darkspawn or two...? Curious.

[gandanlin]

Reference to darkspawn blood as being black might just be the sort of misinformation that attaches itself to anything that is generally feared or hated. Soldiers could be just as likely to repeat that misinformation as anyone else, I suppose.

I suppose there also might be in "blood as black as sin" a reference to the old, old idea of black being the opposite of white, with black usually representing evil and white usually representing good. The Wardens are in-between: Grey Wardens. So the Wardens mediate the perilous job of uniting these opposites. This reunion of opposites is always necessary when black and white become chaotically separated from each other. Otherwise, there is constant strife and war.

There is also, however, a separate question of whether or not killing the Archdemon will bring about a lasting peace. Awakenings takes the game into territory where that question is addressed.

[Vanilka]

Thank you for your response, gandanlin. I've thought something similar. That it is simply said that "darkspawn are so evil their blood is pitch black and if you don't eat your broccoli, they will drag you into the Deep Roads, muhahaha~" Though your interpretation is much nicer and makes sense.

It still bothers me a bit that someone who is to prepare his men for an encounter with a force they don't know passes something like that further. I would expect more facts and less tall tales. It makes you wonder whether he has seen darkspawn before or whether he only knows these things in theory. I wouldn't want to be taught by someone like that if it's the latter. Moreover, there are supposed to be many Grey Wardens in Ostagar at that time; maybe they should do the instructing instead.

Or maybe "black" isn't supposed to mean "black" at all and, as you said, it could all be just some sort of symbolism. Which I, personally, wouldn't appreciate, were I one of the soldiers. As if living human flesh-eating creatures that taint everything around them, transforming living beings into mindless, cannibalistic ghouls, didn't sound bad enough. "Thanks, teacher! I feel much better! Now... where is the best and the most romantic place to fall on my sword?"

But I guess he tells them the most importat things in the end: That they shouldn't drink the stuff and that everything can be killed if stabbed enough times etc. I still somewhat wish my Dalish could have corrected him since, unlike all my other characters, she has had the "pleasure" of meeting the creatures before.

There is also, however, a separate question of whether or not killing the Archdemon will bring about a lasting peace.

Ah, I really must try out Awakening. You've made me all curious about it. I was wondering about this myself while reading the Codex entries: Will it all end after defeating the last of the Old Gods? Quite fascinating.

Modifié par Vanilka of the Sword Coast, 12 juillet 2012 - 12:20 .

[Fallstar]

It's not a silly question at all. The book the Stole Throne has this description: "darkspawn bodies littering the tunnel with their black blood pooling over the rocky floor." So it seems that the darkspawn do have black blood, and that the red blood we see in game was just to make things easier for the devs.

And I highly recommend Awakening too.

Modifié par DuskWarden, 13 juillet 2012 - 02:36 .

[gandanlin]

Maybe I am overthinking this, but perhaps the experienced instructor soldier is saying "the blood is black as sin" to demonize the enemy.

Of course, you will say, darkspawn are demons of a sort. But what I mean here is that the instructors are indoctrinating the new recruits to look upon the darkspawn as the worst of all things -- as evil incarnate, whose lifeblood is sin itself.

The instructors' indoctrination is aimed at relieving the recruits of any qualms, any twinges of guilt, that they might feel for the darkspawn they are being trained to kill. The instructors do not want any soft-hearted talk of the type: "Oh, the poor darkspawn, they are puppets of the Archdemon, enthralled in absolute obedience to do its bidding...oh, the poor devils how they must suffer..."

Mmm. Maybe I am overthinking this.

[Dintonta]

DuskWarden wrote...

... So it seems that the darkspawn do have black blood, and that the red blood we see in game was just to make things easier for the devs...

In the first discussion with Carroll (the lyrium-addicted silly templar who guard the boat going to the tower of magi), there is an opportunity to answer this question by the both answers, something like "yes (darkspawn blood is black)" or "no it is red as everyone's but it is poisonous"...

I propose this explanation : David Gaider wanted it black, The art team wanted it red, Bioware decided that the player could choose...

Modifié par Dintonta, 14 juillet 2012 - 01:11 .

[Gibb_Shepard]

David Gaider commented on this once. I think he said something along the lines of the red blood being more convenient for whatever reason. I'm not sure if the blood has been changed to being canonically red, however. You'd have to seek out the quote.

[Vanilka]

@DuskWarden
Oh, I see. That makes sense. Thank you. For the quote, as well, as it's made everything much clearer.

I think I can understand the decision to make the blood in the game red. I also guess the Wardens wouldn't look so cool being splattered with black blood.


@Dintonta
Yes! That dialogue is what actually made me stop and think about it, as well. My Warden said it was red because that's how it is in the game. Still, it gave me something to ponder.

I also guess there is no right or wrong option to choose. It's not that the templar knows the right answer anyway.


@Gibb_Shepard
I see. Well, as has been said, there are reasons why they would choose red over black. Everything in the game has red blood - even insects. I can see how it was more convenient. It also looks better, in my opinion. Black stains could be from pretty much anything.

Since I haven't read the books and I don't see myself getting my hands on them anytime soon, it doesn't bother me that much. Just the tiny and, might I add, rare inconsistency made me wonder for a bit. As a mere player, I believe what I see with my own eyes. And that is red blood. What is in the books is definitely interesting but, in the end, unimportant for the game experience itself, I think. I consider the games and the books two separate things. Though it's good to be able to compare. I'll try finding the quote you've mentioned. Thanks!


@gandanlin
I see what you mean. You know, I had never thought about it that way? I've always felt somewhat sorry for the wolves, bears, dragons etc. But never have I, even for a second, thought: "I wonder how darkspawn feel about the whole thing." The fact they mindlessly attack on sight makes that really easy because most of the time, you end up killing in self-defence.

Still, I think it's an interesting way to look at it. Yes, I think that making the enemy seem as evil and mindless as possible could help the morale a great deal. It's probably far easier to fight without doubts and regrets. I must admit my character's have none though. It's usually more like: "Eeek! Darkspawn! Stab! Stab! Stab!"

[Phonantiphon]

I would suggest that from an ingame perspective, as some have said, it's employed as a saying to emphasise the Darkspawn's "Evilness", rather than perhaps actually being the case.
It may equally be that not all Darkspawn have the same colour blood...?

From a visual mechanics point of view it's probably better to use a brighter colour for blood generally, hence the red colouring.