For people who aren't literary experts/buffs, tone is how a work of fiction feels. Something that adds a certain underlying taste to everything that transpires. Whether it's comedic, romantic, dark and depressing, pessimistic, uplifting or dramatic, the tone sets the atmosphere of it's story and setting. Which also influences the mood of the audience and how they can expect the story to progress.
DA: Origins had a foreboding tone despite it's heavy mix of drama, comedy, and adventure. In some way or another, the main character has the sword of damocles hanging above their head. There's the constant threat of death and pursuit from Ostagar all the way through to the final level and an inevitability that a lot of tough choices will have to be made to stop the Blight.
The Warden is always under the threat of death whether by darkspawn, Loghain's men, a Golem of stone, a dragon, a witch of the wilds, or even sacrificing his life to defeat the Archdemon unless you decide to trust Morrigan with ultimate power. And even taking the DR so that no one dies (except Riorden) has a clearly dark tone which makes taking the option seem like a bad idea or a heroic cop-out.
DAII was also a heavy mix of adventure, comedy and drama, but it also had a more pessimistic tone that ultimately shapes Hawke's life despite his efforts. He rises in reputation and power, but is unable to protect his family or prevent Kirkwall's mage-templar conflict from exploding into a world spanning war without any room for middle ground.
It's much more difficult to keep every companion alive due to the friend/rival system and each of their heavily defined personalities. Hawke can even outright murder some companions (Anders, Merrill, Fenris) or leave other companions to face horrific fates (Isabela, Sebastion, Bethany/Carver). The dynamics of the mage/templar situation are so muddled and hopeless that neither side even counts as grey, they both can be seen as dark grey or black and gives off the idea that picking either side will result in just as much misery and destruction.
So with this in mind, should Inquisition darken the series' tone further or lighten the mood a little? How much should the tone darken or lighten? What impact do you think this tone would have on the game and it's reported 40 endings?
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