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[Heimdall]

Spoiler

Briala saw that working within the system was a dead end (at least in Celene's lifetime), because no matter the ground Celene gave the elves, she was never going to be able to grant them true equality and survive. Briala knows better than anyone that Celene's main priority is Celene's survival, so there was no chance of Celene sacrificing herself for elven equality and, without that level of support, nothing Briala could do would make an appreciable difference.
 
So now her goal is, I think, to strengthen the elven population while the state expends itself in a civil war. By the time its over, the elves will have an excellent position to assert themselves/rise against a new/unstable government backed by a vastly weakened army. Granted, this is a best case scenario, but the plan definitely hinges on the elves taking advantage of several things- the eluvians, the openings created by the war, and the post-war instability and recovery.

That makes sense, but it strikes me as an incredibly chancy plan. The elves aren't going to be isolated by the war.

[SurelyForth]

That makes sense, but it strikes me as an incredibly chancy plan. The elves aren't going to be isolated by the war.

 

Spoiler

It is chancy, but so is an uprising against a prepared Empress and an army at nearly its full strength- Celene knows what Briala plans on doing, and she knows how. As soon as the war is over, Celene will essentially be forced to stop her. 

 

I also think Briala is counting on the eluvians to help her establish a network quick enough to mitigate some of the damage caused by the civil war. She's already thinking about food supplies, for one thing, and using an early warning system to minimize casualties.

[Stella-Arc]

Spoiler

Probably figures a prolonged war will weaken Orlais overall, giving the elves a shot at retaking the Dales.  Or establishing a third homeland. 

 

Briala is, in fact, as calculating and dark as Celene and even Gaspard.  the main difference is priorities.  Celene's and Briala's simply do not line up, and never did.

 

Spoiler

Briala saw that working within the system was a dead end (at least in Celene's lifetime), because no matter the ground Celene gave the elves, she was never going to be able to grant them true equality and survive. Briala knows better than anyone that Celene's main priority is Celene's survival, so there was no chance of Celene sacrificing herself for elven equality and, without that level of support, nothing Briala could do would make an appreciable difference.

 

So now her goal is, I think, to strengthen the elven population while the state expends itself in a civil war. By the time its over, the elves will have an excellent position to assert themselves/rise against a new/unstable government backed by a vastly weakened army. Granted, this is a best case scenario, but the plan definitely hinges on the elves taking advantage of several things- the eluvians, the openings created by the war, and the post-war instability and recovery.

 

Spoiler

The thing is Celene does want to give the elves equality and I believe she truly thinks of the elves as part of her people. The problem is that Celene is conflicted. Clearly throughout the whole book she entertains the idea but it isn't as cut and dry as most make it sound. She just can't just suddenly give the elves more freedom without facing some sort of social instability. Look at how the nobles acted when she allowed common folks and elves to attend the University of Orlais or when she created a more equal trade agreement for elves (with the help of Briala of course). Hell, look at how much of the Chantry and the nobility were dead against her with how she runs the empire (theater, university, diplomacy with Ferelden, ect.) and that doesn't even touch upon the elven equality problem! The last paragraph on page 323 describes Celene's fear well. 

 

In the end, it all comes down to Celene juggling her own personal desires (to help the elves and Briala) and her royal obligations (playing the Game and running an Empire). These two collide and that, in my opinion, is the cause of Celene's hesitation. While Gaspard is honorable, he would prefer that Orlais return to its former imperialistic glory and keep the status quo. In the long run, Celene is the best choice when it comes to finding a compromise. 

 

However, Briala is now the center of the Big Orlesian Problem meaning she is intentionally prolonging a war that will cost a lot more lives to be lost. It doesn't help that she's manipulating both Celene and Gaspard's armies. Her being compared to Fen'Harel isn't exactly a compliment. 

 

Unfortunately, I don't think their "Third Homeland" will last with how Briala is conducting her rebellion. The elves are a minority in Thedas and in Orlais and while there are more elves than humans in the Dales at the moment, they do not have a standard army or abundant resources to fall back on. They are more like guerrilla fighters and the only advantage they have at the moment are the eluvians and I have a feeling that activating them was not a good idea. There was a reason why the devs kept hitting us over the head that the eluvian is not something to be trifled with in DAII. I think one of the main reasons that Arlathan and the Dales fell is because the elves lacked allies even when they did have armies. The elves from the Dales took many years to establish a stable nation during time of peace. I don't think that it will be as easy during the apocalypse. And don't forget that Nevarra is in direct competition with Orlais in terms of power. When one nation falls, another fills the vacuum.

 

This all speculation but Briala sees herself as both an elf and Orlesian. Does she want the Dales or just equality in the eyes of the Law? When she claimed the eluvians, she claimed it for the "elves of Orlais", not "the Dales". So who knows.

[bairdduvessa]

originally posted on my blog then my good reads page.

 

The Masked Empire is by one of Bioware's head writers a Mister Patrick Weekes.  Mr. Weekes creates an engrossing novel that flows by quickly and pulls you along for the adventure.

 

It does follow what seems to be a typical book structure for the Dragon Age Universe.  You follow a series of characters as each questions their morals and the why's of what they are fighting for.  Like the previous books there betrayals and losses.

 

Taking place around the same time as the book Asunder as Orlais begins to react to the upcoming Mage/Templar war; throwing the country into a civil war of their own.  This book focuses on the Civil war between nobles and armies versus each other and not the magic war.  Thus making the all out for now up to four potential sides.

 

The downside of course is that all of us who have been paying attention to the upcoming games, knew that two of the main characters would live since they are leading the armies in the upcoming game (supposedly); and yet the book actually makes you care about these two characters.

 

Even more surprisingly, they way the characters were portrayed, made me question whether or not I will support the character I was planning to support, and meanwhile the character I had already decided I was going to hate, instead came out as honorable.

 

Such is the Dragon Age universe, always making you chose who you have aid you in your quests.

 

Where the book really shines of course is in regards to the characters we do NOT know who would be in the game.  Thus I felt for them and began to wonder if they survived, and in some cases I really hoped certain ones did.

 

And as always be prepared for heartbreak.

 

From this point on, there will be spoilers.

 

spoiler/

Spoiler

Okay so not only do we get to see the two newer sides to the upcoming war, we get introduced to yet a 5th army, the elves of Orlais.  At the end of the book the main character Briala has taken control of the Eluvians and has decided to use it to strengthen the poor elves while Celene and Gaspard's armies kill each other.

 

Meanwhile Michel, the other main character leaves on his own personal mission which makes me think that he will probably be the character who becomes a companion to the inquisitor in the up coming game.  (either him or the Dalish mage who's name I already forget).

 

The book actually ends on a cliff hanger of sorts as my favorite character in the book Felassan is killed after telling whomever his master was that he failed his mission.  I am not going to lie, this was a character I most wanted to see in the future, but alas Bioware likes to hurt it's fans in all the right ways.

 

As for who the mystery killer is/was, we don't know.  We could of course assume it was Morrigan, but she already had access to the Eluvians.  It could be Merrill or Hawke, but I doubt either would show up in such away.

 

Instead we are left with the possibility of maybe there is a big bad out there we do not know.  And that makes things all the more thrilling.

 

/spoiler

 

End spoilers.

 

The book is a fun and engrossing expansion of the continent of Thedas and the Dragon Age Universe.

 

[bairdduvessa]

 

 

I would really like that the conflict between her and Gaspard would be similar to the dwarves in DA:O when it comes to personality. I hope they make both characters a mix of despicable and admirable traits.

 

in my opinion they really did.  

[bairdduvessa]

Never mind. Just read it. Thanks, Bioware! FOR MAKING THE NEXT HOWEVER MANY MONTHS UNTIL DAI IS RELEASED UNBEARABLE WITH ALL THE SETUPS IN THE BOOK!! YOU FOX-EARED ANTICIPATION BUILDING *******HOLES!

 

But seriously though, nice read and awesome stuff. Let's hope the game actually addresses some of the stories left wide open!

 

i feel the same way

Spoiler

The possible antagonists are Imshael, one of the Forbidden Ones, the demons that supposedly taught humans blood magic.

 

 

The second is more of a guess based on who Felassan's boss is. The signs are pointing to Fen'Harel.

 

i forgot that he was

Spoiler

a forgotten one, good call

Spoiler

Felassan, the Dalish mage, has a boss that kills him at the end of novel...what's curious is that Fel tells this entity that Briala reminds him of his boss. And Fel spent much of the novel commenting on how like FEN'HAREL Briala is. And what's more, Felassan had to go to the freaking FADE to meet up with this guy, before his death.

holy crapsnacks!  that is brilliant.  i love that theory.

 

 

[bairdduvessa]

Gaspard seems like a pretty cool guy...

 

 

Still reading the book but man Gaspard is pretty awesome. Really liking his character so far.

I went in wanting to hate the character but I ended it liking them and wondering if they will be the side i take

[bairdduvessa]

 

Spoiler

I saw the end coming from a mile away. The heartbreaking thing in these book is getting old, predictable, and incredibly annoying IMO.

 

since the first book, they have been kind of predictable, but the ways things happen kind of come as a surprise

Spoiler

i thought for a long period of time that B would have used her boon to kill her so Celene would find a husband instead we got a delightful twist.  but yes you knew things would not and up happy between B and c

Spoiler

I was heartbroken when Felassen died. He was a joy. Although, hey, who knows. He's not really an elf, so maybe he's not really dead.

.

i was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo pissed

 

I wonder if Merrill will ever meet Briala. That'd be a thing.

 

Spoiler

Merrill's obsession with the eluvian during Dragon Age 2 was already sad, but Briala's adventure on the eluvian highway makes poor Merrill look downright pathetic. There she was, slaving over one broken-down mirror and, in my play through, killing her entire tribe. Only it turns out eluvians aren't so rare at all. In fact, they seem almost common.

i think

Spoiler

Felassan kind of had to do with the dalish finding them.  the two we saw in the previous games could have been broken, otherwise you can't see them

 

OH THAT REMINDS ME.

 

"Call me Imshael" had me with the silliest grin on my face.

i sneered

[DarkKnightHolmes]

As someone from England, I still have a week to wait before I get to read this book.

 

God, this is going to be a long week.

[TheCreeper]

Briala's actions were rather interesting.

Spoiler

It seems like she wants to forgive Celene for what she did to her parents but she realizes it represents the problem she's always going to have with Celene, no matter how she may personally want elven freedom, she we always have to bow to the political realities of the game. The Empress may want to give the Elves their freedom, but Orlais would never allow it. So they have to take their freedom by force

 

I'm really curious as to how this is going to play out in DA:I.

[bairdduvessa]

Briala's actions were rather interesting.

Spoiler

It seems like she wants to forgive Celene for what she did to her parents but she realizes it represents the problem she's always going to have with Celene, no matter how she may personally want elven freedom, she we always have to bow to the political realities of the game. The Empress may want to give the Elves their freedom, but Orlais would never allow it. So they have to take their freedom by force

 

I'm really curious as to how this is going to play out in DA:I.

her story really influenced what race i am going to start with

[TheCreeper]

her story really influenced what race i am going to start with

Though Elf inquisitor actually presents an interesting complication, They're exclusively Dalish according to the Devs, and considering how things went down between Briala and the Dalish in Masked Empire...

[bairdduvessa]

Though Elf inquisitor actually presents an interesting complication, They're exclusively Dalish according to the Devs, and considering how things went down between Briala and the Dalish in Masked Empire...

exactly

Spoiler

towards the end Briala kind of decides that SHE is the leaders of the elves referring to the Dalish and city Elves were HER people.  so i just want to see the interactions.  it was either going to be a dalish rogue or female qunari mage

[TheJediSaint]

Just finished my copy of The Masked Empire, and I can say without reservation that this book is something Patrick Weekes can be proud of.  Tells a good story and sets up what to expect in Orlais when DAI ships.

[Wissenschaft]

Briala's actions were rather interesting.

Spoiler

It seems like she wants to forgive Celene for what she did to her parents but she realizes it represents the problem she's always going to have with Celene, no matter how she may personally want elven freedom, she we always have to bow to the political realities of the game. The Empress may want to give the Elves their freedom, but Orlais would never allow it. So they have to take their freedom by force

 

I'm really curious as to how this is going to play out in DA:I.

 

Spoiler

Celene didn't do anything to Briala's parents. That was another noble doing what she that was necessary to protect Celene once Celene made her claim to the throne. Servants are expendable in the Orlesian noble's eyes. It makes cold calculating sense since the most sure way to insure there are no spies hidden within Celene servants is to kill them all. Still, very cold blooded. Orlesian nobles are quite a vile lot.

 

Briala remember the conversation she had with Celene where they logically deduce who could have been the assassin. There was only one possible suspect and it wasn't Celene.

[JakeLeTDK]

Spoiler

Celene didn't do anything to Briala's parents. That was another noble doing what she that was necessary to protect Celene once Celene made her claim to the throne. Servants are expendable in the Orlesian noble's eyes. It makes cold calculating sense since the most sure way to insure there are no spies hidden within Celene servants is to kill them all. Still, very cold blooded. Orlesian nobles are quite a vile lot.

 

Briala remember the conversation she had with Celene where they logically deduce who could have been the assassin. There was only one possible suspect and it wasn't Celene.

Spoiler

At the end of the book it's revealed that it was Celene that asked lady Mantillon to killed all her servants in order to protect their secrets. By doing this, she earned Lady Mantillon's support, and it was the first step for her to take over Olais. As a sign of approval, Lady Mantillon gave Celene her magic ring. Gaspard also has the same ring, and he later revealed to Briala that he got that by ordering another man killed and impress Lady Mantillon. That's when Briala found out about the truth of her parents' death.

[Wissenschaft]

Spoiler

At the end of the book it's revealed that it was Celene that asked lady Mantillon to killed all her servants in order to protect their secrets. By doing this, she earned Lady Mantillon's support, and it was the first step for her to take over Olais. As a sign of approval, Lady Mantillon gave Celene her magic ring. Gaspard also has the same ring, and he later revealed to Briala that he got that by ordering another man killed and impress Lady Mantillon. That's when Briala found out about the truth of her parents' death.

 

Spoiler

Ah, thats what I get commenting before I have finished reading the book. Well, thats just sick. Briala has just found out that shes been sleeping with the woman thats got her parents killed. Now that would make anyone a little crazy. If not a lot. The more I read this book the more I understand where Loghain was coming from. I hate these Orlesians with a passion thats hard to describe.

 

I somewhat hope for a "burn it all down" option for the empire.

[Stella-Arc]

Spoiler

At the end of the book it's revealed that it was Celene that asked lady Mantillon to killed all her servants in order to protect their secrets. By doing this, she earned Lady Mantillon's support, and it was the first step for her to take over Olais. As a sign of approval, Lady Mantillon gave Celene her magic ring. Gaspard also has the same ring, and he later revealed to Briala that he got that by ordering another man killed and impress Lady Mantillon. That's when Briala found out about the truth of her parents' death.

 

Spoiler

The real question is how did Briala survive? Was she hiding behind the curtain and the assassins failed to find her or Celene intervened before she could be killed? That was the part that always left me scratching my head.

[Aimi]

Spoiler

Ah, thats what I get commenting before I have finished reading the book. Well, thats just sick. Briala has just found out that shes been sleeping with the woman thats got her parents killed. Now that would make anyone a little crazy. If not a lot. The more I read this book the more I understand where Loghain was coming from. I hate this Orlesians with a passion thats hard to describe.
 
I somewhat hope for a "burn it all down" option for the empire.

Spoiler

I'm sure all the peasants and freemen that the Orlesian aristocracy has been oppressing will be happy that you've decided to solve their problems by killing them.

[Wissenschaft]

Spoiler

I'm sure all the peasants and freemen that the Orlesian aristocracy has been oppressing will be happy that you've decided to solve their problems by killing them.

Spoiler

I'm tempted to be crass and say don't worry, no one will even notice their gone but that would make me an Orlesian noble. Perhaps I should be more precise. I meant that I hope for an option to tear down the empire, not kill everyone, peasants included. I imagine even Loghain would be against the senseless slaughter of peasants just because they are Orlesian. Now the nobility on the other hand......

[Aimi]

Spoiler

I'm tempted to be crass and say don't worry, no one will even notice their gone but that would make me an Orlesian noble. Perhaps I should be more precise. I meant that I hope for an option to tear down the empire, not kill everyone, peasants included. I imagine even Loghain would be against the sense slaughter of peasants just because they are Orlesian. Now the nobility on the other hand......

Spoiler

If you want a war with consequences so precise, perhaps you should get your hands on some of the new-model Helicarriers from Project INSIGHT in the latest Captain America movie. Otherwise, you're going to have to get a lot of people killed just to take out the specific aristocrats you loathe.

And if Loghain was against the senseless slaughter of peasants, he probably should've done more to help his fellow Fereldan peasants avoid getting killed by darkspawn...but that's a discussion for another thread.

[bairdduvessa]

Spoiler

The real question is how did Briala survive? Was she hiding behind the curtain and the assassins failed to find her or Celene intervened before she could be killed? That was the part that always left me scratching my head.

Spoiler

B realizes that C played her for a fool and that is why M didn't killer her when she had a chance.  the pity thing. so yes C probably kept her alive just to have a weapon in the game that no one would expect

[Stella-Arc]

Spoiler

B realizes that C played her for a fool and that is why M didn't killer her when she had a chance.  the pity thing. so yes C probably kept her alive just to have a weapon in the game that no one would expect

 

Spoiler

I meant during the killings in the estate. Briala was the only one that survived and Lady Mantillion did not know of her survival until she was attacked. If she had, I have a feeling that she wouldn't have supported Celene's ascension to the throne. So I was wondering if Briala was not found during the initial killings (pretty sloppy if you asked me) or Celene intervened to make sure she lives.

[Ihatebadgames]

Wrong thread Sorry.

[TheCreeper]

Wonder if this ruin is going to play a role in however we deal with Briala.

 

Spoiler