From the preview of The Masked Empire
Here in the Dales, however, there were more elves than humans, and it was the humans who locked themselves away in the High Quarter
New to me, at least spelt out explicitly, and quite important to my understanding of the situation
edit: There may be SPOILERS later in this topic.
Odd given how Orlais resettled it after the exalted march.
But given we don't have many details, it could just be a turn of phrase.
Definitely interesting. 
I had actually suspected this for reasons, but nice to have confirmation. Really looking forward to this book.
theres a preview somewhere?
On Amazon.com. Sign in to read more, though I stopped at around the start of Chapter 2, which is where this nugget is located.
Good to know- definitely establishes pertinent facts on the ground, which were desperately lacking before now. I look forward to learning more and being able to make more informed decisions.
Guest_Faerunner_*
Interesting! Nice to finally get some information on this.
I think how many elves live in an area might depend on the region. In some places, they might outnumber humans, while in others they are outnumbered. In the world at large, when you add up all the humans and all the elves in the continent, it could be that humans outnumber elves.
Orlais is basically a slave society in all but name, or at least a society where the privileged few get to live in idle luxury off the backs of the put-upon majority. (Similar to France shortly before its Revolution.) Since elves are low on the totem pole and have few rights in most human societies, it makes sense that human masters need plenty of cheap, unskilled, disenfranchised labor to afford their luxury. The danger is when the workers start to realize how much power they actually have.
Dales is mostly forest anyway. I doubt many humans would want to live there. It makes sense many Elves live there. Interesting nonetheless.
Fascinating. Much has been said about the Dales, their fall and the plight of the elves in Orlais, but it seems that now we'll have fact. That puts another twist in the conflict, because it's not the same an elven minority among a human majority than a human minority among an elven majority.
It also seems that Celene is has a better opinion of elves than others in Orlais. That interview with the university professor about the promising elf student was telling.
Odd given how Orlais resettled it after the exalted march.
But given we don't have many details, it could just be a turn of phrase.
The OP left the context out. The elf thinking that was comparing what he heard of alienage from Ferelden (small closed off areas) to the large elven slum in Halamshiral and deciding that the High Quarters sounded like an alienage because it was a small closed off area.
It's normal that the former land of the elves has more elf in then humans, there have been no reason to displace them. Even for cheap labor. The passage leaves no doubt that Orlesians nobles are in control of the area, it's just that most of the peasants are elven and not humans.
Fascinating. Much has been said about the Dales, their fall and the plight of the elves in Orlais, but it seems that now we'll have fact. That puts another twist in the conflict, because it's not the same an elven minority among a human majority than a human minority among an elven majority.
It also seems that Celene is has a better opinion of elves than others in Orlais. That interview with the university professor about the promising elf student was telling.
That's an interesting observation. I wonder how things will unfold with the suspected elven rebellion, and what it could mean for Celene and Briala.
The OP left the context out. The elf thinking that was comparing what he heard of alienage from Ferelden (small closed off areas) to the large elven slum in Halamshiral and deciding that the High Quarters sounded like an alienage because it was a small closed off area.
It's normal that the former land of the elves has more elf in then humans, there have been no reason to displace them. Even for cheap labor. The passage leaves no doubt that Orlesians nobles are in control of the area, it's just that most of the peasants are elven and not humans.
Though there does seem to have been a large scale displacement, because that's the origin of the Alienages.
Codex: The City Elves (Non-elf version)
When the holy Exalted March of the Dales resulted in the dissolution of the elven kingdom, leaving a great many elves homeless once again, the Divine Renata I declared that all lands loyal to the Chantry must give the elves refuge within their own walls. Considering the atrocities committed by the elves at Red Crossing, this was a great testament to the Chantry's charity. There was one condition, however--the elves were to lay aside their pagan gods and live under the rule of the Chantry.
Some of the elves refused our goodwill. They banded together to form the wandering Dalish elves, keeping their old elven ways--and their hatred of humans--alive. To this day, Dalish elves still terrorize those of us who stray too close to their camps. Most of the elves, however, saw that it was wisest to live under the protection of humans.
And so we took the elves into our cities and tried to integrate them. We invited them into our own homes and gave them jobs as servants and farmhands. Here, in Denerim, the elves even have their own quarter, governed by an elven keeper. Most have proven to be productive members of society. Still, a small segment of the elven community remains dissatisfied. These troublemakers and malcontents roam the streets causing mayhem, rebelling against authority and making a general nuisance of themselves.
--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar
Which is why I was previously under the impression that there wasn't a large elven population in the Dales.
The OP left the context out. The elf thinking that was comparing what he heard of alienage from Ferelden (small closed off areas) to the large elven slum in Halamshiral and deciding that the High Quarters sounded like an alienage because it was a small closed off area.
It's normal that the former land of the elves has more elf in then humans, there have been no reason to displace them. Even for cheap labor. The passage leaves no doubt that Orlesians nobles are in control of the area, it's just that most of the peasants are elven and not humans.
Ah makes sense.
Thank you for the clarification.
Given that i recall as i said quite plainly that Orlais kept the Dales as a Province after the war, no reason not to use it right?
Though there does seem to have been a large scale displacement, because that's the origin of the Alienages.
Codex: The City Elves (Non-elf version)
When the holy Exalted March of the Dales resulted in the dissolution of the elven kingdom, leaving a great many elves homeless once again, the Divine Renata I declared that all lands loyal to the Chantry must give the elves refuge within their own walls. Considering the atrocities committed by the elves at Red Crossing, this was a great testament to the Chantry's charity. There was one condition, however--the elves were to lay aside their pagan gods and live under the rule of the Chantry.
Some of the elves refused our goodwill. They banded together to form the wandering Dalish elves, keeping their old elven ways--and their hatred of humans--alive. To this day, Dalish elves still terrorize those of us who stray too close to their camps. Most of the elves, however, saw that it was wisest to live under the protection of humans.
And so we took the elves into our cities and tried to integrate them. We invited them into our own homes and gave them jobs as servants and farmhands. Here, in Denerim, the elves even have their own quarter, governed by an elven keeper. Most have proven to be productive members of society. Still, a small segment of the elven community remains dissatisfied. These troublemakers and malcontents roam the streets causing mayhem, rebelling against authority and making a general nuisance of themselves.
--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar
Which is why I was previously under the impression that there wasn't a large elven population in the Dales.
Well, Halamshiral is a city ruled by Orlesian and the guy thinking the part in the OP has a job (he repair carts) so it doesn't really contradict that codex (which is awfully Chantry biased and Ferelden-based). One part I like about the preview of the book is how the University professor call out the Chantry on their "re-visioned" history.
Though there does seem to have been a large scale displacement, because that's the origin of the Alienages.
Codex: The City Elves (Non-elf version)
When the holy Exalted March of the Dales resulted in the dissolution of the elven kingdom, leaving a great many elves homeless once again, the Divine Renata I declared that all lands loyal to the Chantry must give the elves refuge within their own walls. Considering the atrocities committed by the elves at Red Crossing, this was a great testament to the Chantry's charity. There was one condition, however--the elves were to lay aside their pagan gods and live under the rule of the Chantry.
Some of the elves refused our goodwill. They banded together to form the wandering Dalish elves, keeping their old elven ways--and their hatred of humans--alive. To this day, Dalish elves still terrorize those of us who stray too close to their camps. Most of the elves, however, saw that it was wisest to live under the protection of humans.
And so we took the elves into our cities and tried to integrate them. We invited them into our own homes and gave them jobs as servants and farmhands. Here, in Denerim, the elves even have their own quarter, governed by an elven keeper. Most have proven to be productive members of society. Still, a small segment of the elven community remains dissatisfied. These troublemakers and malcontents roam the streets causing mayhem, rebelling against authority and making a general nuisance of themselves.
--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar
Which is why I was previously under the impression that there wasn't a large elven population in the Dales.
Yep, that's the Chantry I know and love. Always unbiased and presenting the cold and honest truth 
. Thanks OP.
I'm so ready for this book to come out, then we can finally have a more complete understanding of the situation there. There's a whole bunch of other stuff I wanted to know too. Like how many settlements are in the Dales at all.
So looking forward to this book.
Yep, that's the Chantry I know and love. Always unbiased and presenting the cold and honest truth
I think you mean 'Sister Petrine.' Brother Genetivi's probably the gold standard in the setting in minimizing bias, above all other challengers. Even the Dalish would rate a distant third. The Chantry-originated articles can have bias, but it's hardly mandated or forced across them all. Who is writing will determine what slant you get- Sister Petrine is just the common culturally accepted historical view.
Mind you, biased as her view is, there isn't much to say Sister Petrine is wrong with her use of facts: her perception of them, sure, but not the facts themselves. Certainly there's nothing to dispute the assertion that the integration of the elves across the nations of Thedas after the fall of the Dales was initiated by the Chantry, and that those that refused went on to be the Dalish.
So, various things of interest I'd like to see established before there is mass indulging in elven/Dalish state fantasies. Before, I said- let's make it feasible first.
1) Are the Dale city-elves Andrastian?
The measure of Dalish conversion to Andrastian norms will affect the inclination and willingness to ally not only with the Dalish, but a desire for an Elven state on old elf culture.
2) Are the DCE's even interested in independence from Orleans?
Rebellion doesn't mean revolt- war goals can and do vary. An elven revolt can be against abuses of the system without intending separation from the system.
3) Who is supporting any Elven uprising?
Who supports the Elves will be very important to what they can do next. Dalish? That has implications. Other, human-dominated factions within Orlais? Completely separate implications.
So far it definitely doesn't seem to include the Dalish in whatever revolt takes place. That may change, but the Dalish do not seem involved.
On a side note, Felassan is a bad bad knife ear. I get the vibe that he is on another level from any mages we have met other than Flemeth.
I think you mean 'Sister Petrine.' Brother Genetivi's probably the gold standard in the setting in minimizing bias, above all other challengers. Even the Dalish would rate a distant third. The Chantry-originated articles can have bias, but it's hardly mandated or forced across them all. Who is writing will determine what slant you get- Sister Petrine is just the common culturally accepted historical view.
Mind you, biased as her view is, there isn't much to say Sister Petrine is wrong with her use of facts: her perception of them, sure, but not the facts themselves. Certainly there's nothing to dispute the assertion that the integration of the elves across the nations of Thedas after the fall of the Dales was initiated by the Chantry, and that those that refused went on to be the Dalish.
I would also like to point out that sister Petrine's views are also considered heretical by the Chantry as a whole because she actively discredits many of their artifacts and relics. Her view may be biased in favor of the Chantry, but she is an ardent seeker of the truth, and can be relied on to give accurate facts.
We can soon change that... 
But seriously. Nice to know such information, especially if we get to visit the Dales in Inquisition.
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