[quote]The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...
Because Bownammar wasn't built until the First Blight began by Caridin himself, wherein the Dwarves would've had a cessation of trade due to ongoing hostilities waged against the Darkspawn I would think. Prior to that, prior to Arlathan's fall even, the Dwarves were trading with Tevinter, yes.[/quote]
Ehh...I doubt the dwarves would suddenly stop all trade because of war, particularly the lyrium trade.
[quote]You don't even hear about them taking anything of the sort from the Tevinters. If Cad'Halash is anything to go by, the Dwarves traded with the Elves themselves for Elven artifacts and not Tevinter. Tevinter actually kept all the artifacts they took from Arlathan for themselves, IIRC. Certainly, we know that they used blood magic on the Eluvians and were only able to unlock the communication aspect. Which means that they'd be worthless to the Dwarves anyway. [/quote]
No, it would just mean dwarves couldn't use them. There's nothing to say human delegations didn't live down there at one point, or permanent Tevinter liaisons even. Court mage, anyone?
Instant messaging systems are hella useful in a society where the mail travels by foot or wing and can get eaten en route.
Anyway, the point is it's Dragon Age. Odd magical things turn up in the damndest places with little reason as to why most times. If the devs want something to be somewhere, they'll spin a story to make it work. In a pinch, some magister goes exploring with his entourage and mirror so he could report back what he finds, gets as far as Bownammar and bam...instant eluvian in the Dead Trenches.
[quote]Finn's one of the few actual people to have studied the Eluvians. He's studied Elven culture, actually. He knows that all the Eluvians are linked together -- something that Eleni Zinovia says as well, where she says that Scrying with the tainted shard will lead them to another.[/quote]
Yes, I know, I've played the DLC. Fact remains he has only studied the theory, which has been limited to what's in Kinloch Hold. New discoveries happen, as do aberrations.
[quote]There's actually nothing to suggest Urthemiel rested in Bownammar before the Architect discovered him. Since the Blight's storm was actually around the Korcari Wilds, I'd surmise that was where he rested and that was where the Architect found him, and he simply flew throughout the Deep Roads towards Bownammar.
That we see the Archdemon at Bownammar does not mean that was his point of origin.[/quote]
Very true.
But at this point I'm going to say I have a very hard time rationalising a network of consistently dragon-sized tunnels across the length/breadth/depth of Thedas.
[quote]Those places could easily be just different areas of the same place. Cities often are composed of various areas. [/quote]
Mm. Possibly. But it's an odd way to describe a still landscape. If you were looking at a picture of a city you wouldn't generally open by saying you're seeing 'places'...you'd mention it's a city first.
[quote]So when he says "It saw me! Help, I can't look away!" he's probably referring to the Eluvian itself. That doesn't necessarily mean it's a living thing -- it's a mirror, really -- but his dialogue seems to point towards him considering the Eluvian as the "it".[/quote]
Or there are two 'it's. Tamlen doesn't get much time to go into detail. But I confess I hadn't considered the eluvian itself as the thing looking at Tamlen. Not sure what to make of that, to be honest...
[quote]I did not say every underground location is infested with Darkspawn. Please don't say that I did.[/quote]
My apologies. It was less directed at you and more of a generalisation. Always dangerous, I know.
[quote]There are at least two places that haven't been touched by Darkspawn. The Primeval Thaig and the Thaig in The Calling. The Darkspawn seemed to actively avoid entering the former, but seemed intent that no one else be able to enter it either. Curious...[/quote]
Well, there's the de-tainting water theory, of course. But yes, some areas are darkspawn free.
[quote]Anyway, I said that Arlathan would be.[...][/quote]
All true and possible, however none of those are definite proof that Arlathan will have darkspawn in it.
I'm not saying there won't be. Just that it's entirely
possible there won't be.
[quote]And here we go back to pet theories, I'm afraid. :/ There's no evidence the darkspawn were using the eluvian in the forest as a portal, or why didn't they snatch the PC?[/quote]
Mayhaps Duncan had something to do with that. Or perhaps the Dalish Warden eked his way out to the cave before collapsing. He can't recall anything beyond Tamlen's little lightshow, after all.[/quote]
All too convenient for my tastes. But many things are in fantasy stories.
[quote]We know the Eluvians act as gateways and that the Tevinters couldn't unlock their full power -- only the telephone aspect. We know that they are all linked to one another, tainted or no.[/quote]
And broken or no, apparently.
[quote]It stands to reason that they would act as portals between other places.[/quote]
Yes, it stands to reason.
[quote]And from a military perspective, it'd sure benefit the Archdemon to have Darkspawn pouring through a recently activated Eluvian, if he wanted to stand a better chance of taking down Ferelden.[/quote]
From a military perspective it'd benefit anyone who could get it working.
[quote]
The Imperial Highway passes straight through the Silent Plains and the Elves of Arlathan are known to have traded with the Tevinters, for a time, before retreating towards their city and isolating themselves -- and supposedly after Arlathan fell, retreated still.[/quote]
That's a modern map though. Assuming the highways were even built back then, there'd be no reason to maintain it for for all these centuries when it doesn't go anywhere anymore.
[quote]Also, when nations expand they tend to chop down trees. Who's to say that the Silent Plains weren't once verdant forests/lands that the Imperium chopped down in their expansions and rechristened under a new name in dedication to Dumat?
[/quote]
Perhaps they did. I'll wait until it turns up in the lore to give the theory any credit, however.
Enjoyed this convo, but I'm going to stop there. I haven't even mentioned Merrill, so I'm officially off topic.
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