I just read the crib notes for the book Asunder. It states the Rite of Tranquility can be reversed.
Whaaaaaaat???? Who knew? I think this procedure might very well show up in a quest and in the choices presented to the player in the next game. Should such a rite exist in DAI that knowledge getting into mage hands is a game changer (no pun intended)? It could be used as an olive branch to peace and/or a great big mistake if made public. What do you think?
It's going to get reversed en mass and cause all sorts of chaos.
Late to the party huh?
Why yes I am 
But happy to show.
I can't see this factoid not becoming part of DAI choices. Too bad we did not have someone close to the player in the past two games become tranquil, that would add to the mix making such a choice.
Yeah, I had no idea about this either. I don't read the books. I am a big Dragon Age fan, but I keep to the games. This is really surprising. It kind of takes away from the tragedy of what the whole Rite of Tranquility means now. Don't get me wrong, it's nice that it can be reversed, but I kind of liked that it was such a horrible thing that made decent people oppose the templars and chantry that agreed with such a process. It made it that more important to fight the good fight against those who would take away a person's right to live free. Now with this revelation, it's no big deal, lol It's just a fantasy game I guess.
I wonder if this will even appear in the game. They may just keep it to the books. Just like how a lot of books that end up as movies differ a bit. I hope they keep this aspect out of the game. My whole mindset was to go in and fight for mages rights in DA:I. Might not be so important now. As much as I liked DA2, I feel like both sides were wrong in the end. Mages went cuckoo and obviously Meredith was a nut job. Hoping for an epic ending this time around.
Sangy, I kind of agree with you. I think it is very motivational as an absolute example of the Templers worst behavior, or as Ander's put it..."The Mage Solution". Both sides had plenty of wrongs they could credit themselves with. Both had virtues. But this zombie kind of answer is very disturbing and gives mages their best justification for their rebellion.
I'm not a big fan of this to be honest. It takes all the emotional impact out of something and I hate when something is presented as irreversible or deadly and then a super special snowflake character comes along and reverses it or whatever. And they've done it twice in books already:
"Ooooh the greywardens would do ANYTHING to win so they drink darkspawn blood but it slowly kills them!"
"Not anymore! There's this super special character that cured the taint!"
and
"Ooooh the templars lobotomise the mages so they are no longer a threat!"
"Meh we'll just reverse it!"
These magical cures just cheapen the effect the taint and tranquility have on the world and story.
Spoilers:
First, the mages already know that this reversal is possible (at least the circle mages that all fled from the templars). Secondly it's not a perfect cure, the mage doesn't go back to exactly the way they were before, their connection to the fade is restored yes but they are no longer able to control their emotions (as easily). Finally, to enact this cure the tranquil's mind has to be touched by a spirit or demon, not something that is easily done since being made tranquil removes the incentive for those spirits to touch their minds in the first place. A demon would more likely want to possess the tranquil than simply "touch" it anyways (as what happens in the book. It is not a perfect solution but yes they can be "cured"
That said it was a step towards a way of removing power but not destroying the person in the process. It was Chantry funded which makes sense, the Chantry is not a card carrying villain anymore than the mages. They sought a way to reduce the impact of a terrible procedure and the Templars used it as justification to abandon the Chantry and hunt mages on their own.
I'm not a big fan of this to be honest. It takes all the emotional impact out of something and I hate when something is presented as irreversible or deadly and then a super special snowflake character comes along and reverses it or whatever. And they've done it twice in books already:
"Ooooh the greywardens would do ANYTHING to win so they drink darkspawn blood but it slowly kills them!"
"Not anymore! There's this super special character that cured the taint!"
and
"Ooooh the templars lobotomise the mages so they are no longer a threat!"
"Meh we'll just reverse it!"
These magical cures just cheapen the effect the taint and tranquility have on the world and story.
A magical cure in a magical world? One that according to Sandal's prophecy will get more magical in the future? Perish the thought!
I shall add the fact that the spirit or demon who touches your mind has to be large enough. So maybe a desire demon, pride demon, spirit of faith, or spirit of justice *hint hint.Spoilers:
First, the mages already know that this reversal is possible (at least the circle mages that all fled from the templars). Secondly it's not a perfect cure, the mage doesn't go back to exactly the way they were before, their connection to the fade is restored yes but they are no longer able to control their emotions (as easily). Finally, to enact this cure the tranquil's mind has to be touched by a spirit or demon, not something that is easily done since being made tranquil removes the incentive for those spirits to touch their minds in the first place. A demon would more likely want to possess the tranquil than simply "touch" it anyways (as what happens in the book. It is not a perfect solution but yes they can be "cured"
Guest_Caladin_*
Anyone else getting hints of the Force lol, im just reading through your comments (tbh ive never read the books so never knew about this) an it all sounds bit much like Kotor, prob just me
Spoilers:
First, the mages already know that this reversal is possible (at least the circle mages that all fled from the templars). Secondly it's not a perfect cure, the mage doesn't go back to exactly the way they were before, their connection to the fade is restored yes but they are no longer able to control their emotions (as easily). Finally, to enact this cure the tranquil's mind has to be touched by a spirit or demon, not something that is easily done since being made tranquil removes the incentive for those spirits to touch their minds in the first place. A demon would more likely want to possess the tranquil than simply "touch" it anyways (as what happens in the book. It is not a perfect solution but yes they can be "cured"
This really needs to be emphasized more. I've seen people going on about reversing tranquility like it's some simple, easy thing and that the mage is back to their previous self, when that is not the case at all. Part of it is from people not actually reading the novel, like the OP, and another is wishful thinking by people reading too much into it.
Just because something can possibly be done semi-sucessfully, doesn't mean that it is a "cure," nor does it mean that every tranquil mage can suddenly have their tranquility reversed. The process is complicated, involved, and requires another non-tranquil mage. Let's not forget that some mages CHOOSE (Keili [implied], Owain) to be tranquil. Forcefully depriving them of their choice is no better than forcefully making other mages tranquil in the first place.
That said, considering what happened with Karl -- "It's like you brought a piece of the fade into this world," -- I do expect the veil tears to have some influence on tranquil mages. With Karl this was not permanent. It might be interesting if tranquil mages that are near veil tears are temporarily restored and then return to tranquility once the tear is closed (by the Inquisitor.) If the tears cause all tranquil everywhere to be restored, what happens at the end of the game when, supposedly, the veil is closed again? It will be interesting to see what, if anything, is made of this aspect in regard to tranquil mages. I do hope that there is some dialog discussing it at some point in the game.
Guess Anders' will feel a bit crappy about Karl.
Maybe comparing something to a beheading isn't very sensible when you've just seen them regrow the supposed lost head, even if only temporarily.
Anyone else getting hints of the Force lol, im just reading through your comments (tbh ive never read the books so never knew about this) an it all sounds bit much like Kotor, prob just me
It's complicated. And extremely dangerous. Doing such a thing will actually leave a Tranquil vulnerable to possession, as well as do nasty things to the Veil.
It's a great book with some memorable (and controversial) characters, as well as a few familiar faces. If you'd really like to understand, you need to read the book and decide for yourself.
I doubt Anders will feel bad about Karl. At the time, there really isn't anything that could have been done and Anders did know about acceptable losses. While he would (probably) support this solution for Tranquility, he'd likely be aware that he did what he had to.*
*If the player kept him alive, that is.
Also, I know this cure had been very hush-hush and few knew about it. Without giving too much away, only after Asunder do the mages (and Templars) know about this. Even then, I'm still wondering how much word has really spread. Another non-spoiler I can give you: The Circles and the Templar Order are very disorganized after Asunder, so I'm not sure how well communication is working. There is a lot of mages on the run now; a lot of templars out for blood. How much is known and how much is hidden remains to be seen.
For what it's worth, I think the Chantry would do their part to keep the cure hidden or severely downplayed. I really don't think that the Chantry wants it public knowledge that Tranquils can be cured and the average Joe the Farmer in Thedas wouldn't want know. Sure, there would be rumors, but I think most would rather believe the Chantry rather than face such a weird and (to some) a very frightening reality.
For what it's worth, I think the Chantry would do their part to keep the cure hidden or severely downplayed. I really don't think that the Chantry wants it public knowledge that Tranquils can be cured and the average Joe the Farmer in Thedas wouldn't want know. Sure, there would be rumors, but I think most would rather believe the Chantry rather than face such a weird and (to some) a very frightening reality.
Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the Chantry (Diviine Justine) responsible for funding the research into the cure in the first place? Why would they bother to do that if they were just going to keep it secret afterwards?
Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the Chantry (Diviine Justine) responsible for funding the research into the cure in the first place? Why would they bother to do that if they were just going to keep it secret afterwards?
That is true, but...
That's why I think the Divine wouldn't want this to get out.
No, Pharamond was murdered by Adrian who then framed Rhys.
That's why I think the Divine wouldn't want this to get out.
Actually, I thought there was a lot of pressure being applied to her by the Templars to deem it a failure. In fact she tried to go around them by having the Mage Council come together to restart the research which lead to them voting to leave which lead to the Templars abandoning the pact. So I still disagree with the assertion that the Chantry would bury the project. If anything it seemed like Justina wanted the mages to know there was hope.
No, Pharamond was murdered by Adrian who then framed Rhys.
My bad. I'll edit my post to reflect that.
On a more serious note, since connection to the Fade causes Tranquility to be reversed, do you think the Breaches will de-Tranquilize any nearby Tranquil?
Entirely possible. Anders being an abomination for a short time was enough to temporarily reverse the process of tranquility on its own. So it's not nearly as permanent as the Chantry has been leading people to believe.
On a more serious note, since connection to the Fade causes Tranquility to be reversed, do you think the Breaches will de-Tranquilize any nearby Tranquil?
Entirely possible. Anders being an abomination for a short time was enough to temporarily reverse the process of tranquility on its own. So it's not nearly as permanent as the Chantry has been leading people to believe.
Wait, wait, wait, wait....wait. Anders was tranquil? In Dragon Age 2? Right in font of me and I did not know that because he was possessed by Justice....
Back on topic.
As for the cure being as bad as the illness...yes sounds like it may be and it is not really a cure BUT is sounds like one AND it places some amount of hope into the equation that wasn't there before, thus taking away some of the heavy hearted sympathy that the process inspired before. When the templars took away a persons mind/soul and turned them into a zombie mage that was very harsh and inspired sympathy for mages. It was very much like an execution. Now...it is kind of like...well they chopped off his hand. Still mean. not nice, but no one is dead. Maybe messed up, but better than dead and he can still have a life...a messed up life that will never be like it was before BUT it might be and like I said, better than dead.
I think on the other hand, no pun intended, it might be worse for mages with an idea of a cure out there. Before the permanency of the rite made it a very serious issue in the church. The decree to make someone tranquil was about as serious a decision a Circle had to make and (in theory) the Circle had to be certain that the choice to make someone tranquil was both warranted and deserving. With a cure out there the decision to make someone tranquil may, among foolish leaders in foolish Circles, happen more frequently because it is not considered to be as severe as it was in the past.
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