Jedi Master of Orion wrote...
And while we have much less information on the Fall of Arlathan, elven history again tells us that the elves closed themselves off from humanity and tried to isolate themselves from what they perceived as vermin.
Well, in the Arlathan elves' defense, we have to remember that they were losing their immortality by living with humans. I mean, if by living near rats our life expectancy dropped to only two years, we wouldn't want them near our homes, would we?
Jedi Master of Orion wrote...
I also seriously doubt Drakon had to do much forcible conversion anyway, the tribes he united in his earlier days were all in the Orlesian heartlands where Andraste's message had already taken root.
As much as I admire Drakon's vision and capacity (he was one of those few people who changed the face of Thedas forever, for good or bad), he used religion as casus belli and was hellbent on expanding the Andastrian rule over the world. Here are some quotes from the Codex:
"In the year -15 ancient, the young king began construction of a great
temple dedicated to the Maker, and declared that by its completion he
would not only have united the
warring city-states of the south, he would have brought Andrastian
belief to the world" (Founding of the Chantry)
"Such was the power of the Maker's word that the young King Drakon undertook a series of Exalted Marches meant to unite the city-states and create an empire solely dedicated to the Maker's will" (History of the Chantry 4)
Jedi Master of Orion wrote...
Well, I suppose we can't know for sure until the game comes out but I think you're vastly overestimating the importance of the Inquisiton and the player character. The Inquisition is also a powerful organization in a human world. It's power comes from humans. It exists at the sufferance of humanity. Most of it's personel are going to be humans. And whoever the Inquisitor is will change over time (unless of course the Inquisiton disbands after the game). The first Inquisition existed for a 120 years before it was abosrbed into the Chantry.
Who knows. After having Hawke, the ultimate fake hero incapable of solving anything, maybe the Inquisitor will go the other way around and become the new Drakon.
And all this stories about the Dalish, people talk as if those nomads are all the same. There are more ways than the cool Way of Three Trees and the "We are the last of the elvhenan, and never again shall we submit". Maybe a Dalish Inquisitor could follow the Vir Atishan instead?
"There is never a shortage of hunters. The Vir Tanadhal, The Way of
Three Trees, has lured many to Andruil's side. The Vir Atish'an, The Way
of Peace, is a harder path to tread, and few are called to hear
Sylaise's wisdom. Those who hear that call learn the arts of the healer
and the mender.
—As told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves"
(Still thinking everything is Hawke's fault)