Vit246 wrote...
This is where you are so wrong and you did not pay attention to DAO or even DA2. And DA2 is to blame for basically lying to you. So many people are under the lie that the Chantry and the Templar Order are two completely separate organizations.
The Templars are adjacent to the Chantry. They agree to serve it under the Nevarran Accord. They are now the military arm of the Chantry but their affiliation is a bit looser than you believe.
Templars don't answer to the Grand Cleric you say? Than why did Elthina order Knight Commander Meredith to return to the Gallows "like a good girl" and order the other Templars to "gently" escort Orsino back to the Circle. And they all obey?
Paper authority is paper thin. I'd imagine they don't have to should they be more popular or more influential than the Grand Cleric. Who would stop them? They are an army after all. Asunder makes it very clear the Chantry can do little to reign them in should they decide to follow their own course.
I think Elthina knows she can't control Meredith, and that there just isn't much she can do outside of mediating dangerous situations involving the Templars, and she can only do that much because she is well-liked in the City. If she wasn't, she couldn't even do that, as Meredith would have no cause to heed her.
And certainly, her authority does not extend so far as to prevent Meredith from recruiting more Templars, from hob-nobbing with the Nobility, or from keeping the Viscount's council. Essentially, she cannot prevent Meredith from accruing more power, from cementing her control, position, and authority in Kirkwall.
Read. The. CODEX. And pay attention. The Chantry CREATED the modern Templar Order. Created to enforce the Chantry's laws and policies. The Templar Order is nothing more than the Chantry's military arm, and the Chantry is the governing body. Its like saying the US Military is not a part of the US government.
Did the US military sign a special agreement with the US government to serve?
The Knight Commander and all subsequent Templars answer to a Grand Cleric because Grand Clerics are their legal and religious superiors in the hierarchy. Grand Clerics APPOINT Knight-Commanders in the first place, and they can fire them if necessary. Elthina appointed Meredith to her position.
Does she
truly have the power to remove Meredith? I would think the removal of a Knight-Commander would be a very significant topic of discussion. I can't imagine the Divine, and more importantly, Chantry politics, wouldn't have a say in that. Elthina would likely have to inform the Divine of her intent and reasoning via letter, and, I believe, the internal politics of the Chantry would ultimately dictate Justinia's advice.
And if she invokes the power of her position without consultation, can she expect such a decision to go unpunished? Without sufficient evidence to condemn Meredith, I can imagine the response from the Clergy,
"Meredith goes, and you're next, Elthina!" Publicly, the Chantry could spin the usual bandwagon excuses to oust her-- Elthina's too old, too senile to hold her position any longer, and interferes entirely too much in the sacred duties of a Templar, etc. The Grand Cleric may have popular support, but I doubt she has sufficient particular support over Meredith within the Chantry.
And if removed, would Meredith appeal the decision? Would she claim unwarranted interference in her duties? Would she claim, as the Chantry could, Elithina's too old, too senile to truly understand the state of affairs in Kirkwall, to understand the necessity of her measures? Again, does she have the particular support within the Chantry to overrule Elthina? Would she even respect the decision in the first place?
And the situation is Kirkwall is a very difficult one to navigate. I'm certain there were many members within the Chantry delighted by the largest contingent of Templars in Thedas consolidating political and martial power in Kirkwall.
Meredith's rule means a significant and law required revenue stream to the Chantry/Templars. Access to valuable resources. Control over Kirkwall's large and well established trade port. Power to create rules and regulations favorable to the Chantry/Templars. The power to eliminate seditious materials and defiant individuals. The creation of a true and centralized seat of Chantry/Templar authority. The ability to more easily spread Chantry influence. And also the establishment of a useful precedent. Why would any Grand Cleric subject this to investigation or ruin it with a firing?
The not-so-hidden agendum of the Chantry has always been the accumulation of martial and political power. Drakon created the Chantry to expand his Empire, and it has historically served it's purpose well. In modern Thedas, however, the Chantry is powerful enough to stand on it's own. Claiming Kirkwall is the first step towards the realization of a true Chantry-controlled, continental Empire. Most officials would simply not permit Elthina to throw that all away in deference to a superficial restraint, or because of her mage sympathies.
Asunder demonstrates Clergy members themselves are involved in national and likely international politics. They play the Grand Game in Orlais. Kirkwall and KC Meredith should be very valuable to them.
The Chantry recruits Templars, indoctrinates them, and makes them dependent on lyrium. Alistair and Aveline confirm that the Chantry controls the lyrium supply and thus they control the Templars. IF Templars are ever out of line and if religious indoctrination is not enough, then all the Chantry ever needs to do is to cut off the lyrium supply.
Which they won't do voluntarily becaue they will be left toothless. Completely without any real power and authority.
And IF that's not even enough, then the Grand Cleric is suppose to use the Seekers of Truth or even appeal to the Divine to keep the Templars in line.
And where did you read that? I don't think anyone can command the Seekers of Truth but the Divine herself and you don't want a Seeker involved in the Kirkwall situation. You don't want to snub Meredith with an internal investigation. She is not to be f*cked with.
I blame bad writing for failing to address any of this.
I see no bad writing. Only one-sided interpretation on your part.
Modifié par Youth4Ever, 19 avril 2013 - 07:12 .
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