I've reread the Masked Empire and I was very intrigued to discover their civilization wasn't a utopia. Don't get me wrong based on Felassan's description the city of Arlathan was magnificent. A shame the dreamers who ruled it were no better than Tevinter magisters. I suppose it brings a sense or realism to this picturesque view of the ancient elves. I wonder how closely the Dales emulated Arlathan. Playing as a future Dalish Mage Inquisitor I am going to be very interested in uncovering the secrets of the past.
So what do you guys think of the elves of old?
The Ancient Elves
Débuté par
The Ascendant
, juin 09 2014 07:51
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#2
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 07:58
Jedi Master of Orion
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OK again, the Tevinter magisters are a level of sinister that surpasses just about any other nations' rulers so unless we hear of the ancient elves being directly compared to them I think it's an exaggeration to say they were no better than Ancient Tevinter.
Second, the elves today seem to have a much more idealized view of their past, so I suspect the Dales wasn't all that similar.
#3
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 08:04
The Ascendant
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All right maybe magisters are an exaggeration. But what is an appropriate comparison? Orlais?
#4
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 08:05
mlgumm
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I'm not too fond of the upper-class Ancient Elves, but the other ones seem cool. I don't know; maybe we'll get an Ancient Elf eventually, like how ME had Javik.
#5
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 08:07
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All right maybe magisters are an exaggeration. But what is an appropriate comparison? Orlais?
Felassan compares them to Orlais so yeah. It could be just because that's the only place Briala was personally familiar with but it's all we have to go on.
#6
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 08:10
Aolbain
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On the whole I liked most revelations Masked Empires had about elves. They had a magnificent empire and got screwed over badly, but they ain't no saints. Arlathan was Tevinter crossed with Orlais with funny ears and at least one clan of dalish requires genocide of the city elves before the Dales can be reclaimed.
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#7
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 08:42
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Well, I took Thelhen's comments about prefering all humans and city elves die before returning to Halamshiral as largely of a sign of how little he is interested in living there rather a sign that he is actively planning to wipe them all out.
#8
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Posté 09 juin 2014 - 11:38
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It would seem to me that the Dales might've been shaped more by Shartan and Andraste than anything else. Even in the Imperium's day, there'd only be so much they could remember about Arlathan. For all they lost, they might've gained some improvements. They think of themselves only as one community now (instead of upper/lower classes).
#9
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 04:18
Mirrman70
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I think it would be refreshing change of pace if the ruling class of Arlathan was just as tyrannical as Tevinter. I'm sick of the Noble and Majestic and Benevolent image of elves that floods our fantasy genre.
#10
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 04:19
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I think it would be refreshing change of pace if the ruling class of Arlathan was just as tyrannical as Tevinter. I'm sick of the Noble and Majestic and Benevolent image of elves that floods our fantasy genre.
Well, you haven't had much of that in Dragon Age either so far.
"Elves are a lithe people excelling in poverty." That's already different than other fantasy settings.
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#11
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 04:22
Mirrman70
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Well, you haven't had much of that in Dragon Age either so far.
"Elves are a lithe people excelling in poverty." That's already different than other fantasy settings.
and I like this. I prefer the elves to be the lower class for once.
#12
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Posté 10 juin 2014 - 04:23
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and I like this. I prefer the elves to be the lower class for once.
So do I.
But at the same time, I like that there's valuable things lost from their past as well. "Majestic" things even. Uncovering some of the secrets have made fun side quests/dialogues.
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#13
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 06:45
BioWareM0d13
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I think it would be refreshing change of pace if the ruling class of Arlathan was just as tyrannical as Tevinter. I'm sick of the Noble and Majestic and Benevolent image of elves that floods our fantasy genre.
I kind of suspect that is going to be the reveal.
The elves were never naturally immortal, but some of the nobles achieved it via blood magic and the murder of slaves.
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#14
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 06:48
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I kind of suspect that is going to be the reveal.
The elves were never naturally immortal, but some of the nobles achieved it via blood magic and the murder of slaves.
Yet they still have long lifespans. The Dalish do especially (their belief being the more they stay away from humans, the longer they live). The truth might be in between both. Not immortality, but.... perhaps some truth about longevity common to all elves.
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#15
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 07:08
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I hope we encounter whoever Felassan's master was. I think it was an ancient dreamer elf who was secluded when Arlathan fell. Remember in the state of Uthenera the elves were immortal. True they could be killed if someone killed their bodies, but still. Remember dreamers wield great power in the Fade, capable of altering it and killing their enemies in their dreams. I think it is more plausible than a god, i.e. Fen'Harel.
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#16
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 07:24
Hanako Ikezawa
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I kind of suspect that is going to be the reveal.
The elves were never naturally immortal, but some of the nobles achieved it via blood magic and the murder of slaves.
So they were like vampires: using blood to keep themselves alive.
#17
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 09:43
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Check out this awesome concept art I found for elves. All credit due to the artist joy-ang. Well done. This is amazing!
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#18
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 06:06
TheWhitefire
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I hope we encounter whoever Felassan's master was. I think it was an ancient dreamer elf who was secluded when Arlathan fell. Remember in the state of Uthenera the elves were immortal. True they could be killed if someone killed their bodies, but still. Remember dreamers wield great power in the Fade, capable of altering it and killing their enemies in their dreams. I think it is more plausible than a god, i.e. Fen'Harel.
The Tevinters called old and powerful High Dragon's gods, so saying that Fen'Harel is truly a god doesn't really fit with what we know of godhood in Dragon Age. I think it most certainly is Fen'Harel, but I also don't think that your idea and it being Fen'Harel are mutually exclusive.
Although I'm more inclined to think of Fen'Harel as a powerful fade spirit. His legends, implications about Flemmeth (Ashabellanar, feared and revered by the Dalish, would almost make her seem kinda like... well, a god in their eyes, wouldn't you say?), and the origin of the Darkspawn, and the Fade Rip itself all seem to be pointing in this direction about some of the ancient elven gods.
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#19
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 09:39
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The Tevinters called old and powerful High Dragon's gods, so saying that Fen'Harel is truly a god doesn't really fit with what we know of godhood in Dragon Age. I think it most certainly is Fen'Harel, but I also don't think that your idea and it being Fen'Harel are mutually exclusive.
Although I'm more inclined to think of Fen'Harel as a powerful fade spirit. His legends, implications about Flemmeth (Ashabellanar, feared and revered by the Dalish, would almost make her seem kinda like... well, a god in their eyes, wouldn't you say?), and the origin of the Darkspawn, and the Fade Rip itself all seem to be pointing in this direction about some of the ancient elven gods.
The Dalish definitely don't consider Asha'bellanar to be a god. But I suspect it is in fact Fen'Harel who is Felassan's master. They could still include him in game and maintain ambiguity without revealing exactly what he is.
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#20
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Posté 10 juin 2014 - 09:41
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I don't think Dalish know who she is either. Merathari has a personal debt, like Hawke.. for whatever reason. But it doesn't say much about their culture as a whole. While Merrill just knows most people end up in pieces, "hanging from the trees". Which is enough for her to fear Flemeth. But God? I don't know. Merrill tries to bow to her, but Flemeth herself tells her to stand. That she bends her knee too quickly.
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#21
Posté 10 juin 2014 - 10:33
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Considering that they have a name for her I imagine they respect or fear her. Note that she calls Merrill, one of the people. She obviously has some history with the Dalish. I wonder what debt Marethari owed Flemeth. I suppose it doesn't really matter, with her being dead and what not.
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#22
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Posté 10 juin 2014 - 10:36
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Considering that they have a name for her I imagine they respect or fear her. Note that she calls Merrill, one of the people. She obviously has some history with the Dalish. I wonder what debt Marethari owed Flemeth. I suppose it doesn't really matter, with her being dead and what not.
Yeah, that sucks. I wish they went into her and Merathari more. But like all things Flemeth, you get no answers. 
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#23
Posté 11 juin 2014 - 03:42
ecarden
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Maybe I missed it, but all the revelations I saw came from Felassan, not exactly a neutral source; nor for that matter, as far as we know, one with any more knowledge than the rest of (if he is, in fact one of) the Dalish.
I'm not saying he's wrong, but they've left themselves plenty of outs for everything he said. After all, even if he was somehow there or a witness, there's plenty of room for him to be wrong, or biased. Would you take Loghain's assessment of Orlais without a grain of salt? Or Ferelden for that matter?
#24
Posté 11 juin 2014 - 03:52
AresKeith
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Personally I hope Solas has some connection to the Ancient Elves, but I don't that's gonna happen 
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#25
Posté 11 juin 2014 - 04:12
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Maybe I missed it, but all the revelations I saw came from Felassan, not exactly a neutral source; nor for that matter, as far as we know, one with any more knowledge than the rest of (if he is, in fact one of) the Dalish.
I'm not saying he's wrong, but they've left themselves plenty of outs for everything he said. After all, even if he was somehow there or a witness, there's plenty of room for him to be wrong, or biased. Would you take Loghain's assessment of Orlais without a grain of salt? Or Ferelden for that matter?
But we know he's not Dalish.
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