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[kalasaurus]

I wonder if their whole relationship was that confusing?

 

Probably.  The second romance scene consists of him bringing up their first kiss, shaking his head (as if to say, "no") and trying to walk away, kissing her passionately, saying he loves her in Elven, and then successfully walking away.  Mixed messages abound even in the beginning of their relationship.

 

Then again, they seemed to have a "stable" relationship at the Winter Palace.  I wish there were more scenes like that.  Maybe him taking her to the Fade again or something simple like them cuddling as they exchange words in Elven.  I really hope their relationship didn't consist of Solas constantly flaking on Lavellan about his feelings every time they were close.

[Sifr]

 

The Dalish believe that their Keepers are descendents of the elven nobility, so they might very well want to go back to Arlathan. They would probably think that they would be the ones in power, and there's no shortage of Dalish that believe they're better than the other elves. I would guess that unless Solas flat-out told them "you're going to be slaves," they would assume someone else would do it. The "not me" syndrome. It's easy to trade someone else's freedom when you think you're getting an all-powerful magical empire in return.

 

Which makes me wonder, since Elvhenan apparently influenced Tevinter greatly... what if the Keepers are actually the descendants of the various slave owners or slave handlers for the ancient elves, whom retained the unquestioning loyalty of their former subjects even after they all were subjugated by the Imperium?

 

After all, how difficult is it to believe that the elves in both the Alienages and the Dalish clans respect the word of the elders or those from a certain bloodline because they were once "nobles", not realising that this also meant that this might have also been synonymous with "owners".

[Brass_Buckles]

I had a dream last night that gave me the weird idea that Solas may not be up to what we assume he's up to.

 

In the dream, Solas was freeing the ancient elven gods, all right... and then promptly absorbing their souls and their power.  No more fighting, and now Solas is going to be in charge.  I doubt that's actually what he's up to, but it's something worth thinking about.

 

Anyway, I disagree with the idea that Solas doesn't want to help the present-day elves.  Evidence would indicate that he does--his talks with Sera (even if she's terribly rude to him), and his approval gain when you specifically help elves in various regions (he doesn't tend to gain approval for helping humans, except on a couple of occasions).  He doesn't see them as his people, but he doesn't want them to suffer, either.

 

Abelas scorns the modern elves.  Solas is saddened by their state, but doesn't really scorn them.  I think Abelas was mocking the idea that Solas was considering himself "Elvhen," but something in Solas's tone when he responded caught Abelas off guard--did you notice Abelas's expression?  Abelas considered Solas to be as "Elvhen" as the Dalish, if you took his tone into account--it's a scornful tone.

 

I took Solas's final comment about having to help the People to mean that... he wanted to help all the elves (not a significant change when you consider that even if they aren't his people, Solas is clearly very interested in helping the modern elves, even if he isn't necessarily going about it the right way).  Even if they weren't his people.  Notice he doesn't say MY People, or Our People.  He says "THE People."  And I do believe he realizes that this is going to put him at odds with the majority of the elven gods, which is why perhaps Mythal joined with him in the first place--to help.

 

Do I think Solas is 100% good?  No.  He can be a bit conceited, actually, and blind to the consequences of his actions.  Do I think his goals may be selfish?  Probably.  But I also think he may have something different planned than we think, OR, barring that, he might have different intentions than we think once that plan is carried out.

 

Remember if you listen to Cole after the end of the game, Solas speaks through Cole.  His reasoning for leaving the Inquisition--and Lavellan--is not a selfish one.  He says it's because it's far too dangerous to involve anyone else, especially someone he cares so deeply about. (Though he uses "cared," which... brings up questions.  Questions I believe I know the answer to already or Cole would not be involved.  It's not that easy to just let go, Solas.)

 

Solas also mentions at the end of the romance that Lavellan is the only one who caught his attention from the Fade.  She's not one of his people, and he's not pretending she is--she's not what he expected.  She's something else.  But something about her caught his attention, and Cole remarks on it too--that she was bright even BEFORE the mark.  We don't know what that means, but I suspect it does have some significance to the Inquisitor in general (not just Lavellan).  We may never know what that is.  Maybe it's to add to the ambiguity of whether the Inquisitor is actually a Chosen One of some higher deity.

 

Things I do agree with:

• Solas wants to bring down the Veil.
• Solas doesn't see modern elves as "his people."
• If Solas is planning to bring back the ancient elven gods, that's a really dumb idea.

 

Just going to point out that if he's setting out to absorb all the ancient gods, that's also a magnificently stupid idea--but it may also be a good reason to have broken things off with Lavellan, because yes, that would be dangerous, and likely would result in a complete personality change for Solas.

 

As for my take on the elven gods... I repeat, it appears to me that Solas believes he is one such god--what he doesn't agree is that (most of?) the other elven gods are also gods.  I was thinking last night that it's even possible that after Solas removes the vallaslin, it may not be possible to replace it.  Vallaslin is likely imbued with magic somehow by the Keeper. Much like Fiona no longer being able to be a Warden, it could be interesting if Lavellan can no longer be enslaved, or at least not marked as such (so there's no going back home and taking the vallaslin again even if you want to).  It really did feel like Solas was giving her a blessing or benediction, in retrospect--I know some will disagree with that, but watch the almost reverant way in which he works that magic.  It's intimate but it's also somehow... religious?  And then he speaks those words in elven, again, like a blessing.

 

If Solas is setting the ancient gods free, then Lavellan might end up needing that blessing, to avoid being enslaved.  And, I also wonder if it's tied to whether your character drinks from the Well.  Can he undo the magic that binds Lavellan to Mythal?  Is that possible?   Or is he saying that even if he absorbs Mythal later, he's not enslaving Lavellan?  Hard to say...

[lapsi4ka]

Re, Solas baby and humans

 

Spoiler

I suppose it would depend on if ancient elves are actually genetically/magically different from normal elves. We do know that elves have a somewhat weak bloodline. Add in any human blood, and it effectively gets erased.

 

One thing that I am very curious about...elves seem to blame humans for their mortality. But do we really know if that's the case? Other elves blame humans for the fall of their empire. I don't know if I trust them completely. Its possible that the magic of the ancient world was weakening long before humans ever sprang up.

 

Just fyi:

 

Spoiler

When you encounter Kieran, he says that he didn't expect Inqusitor to be an elf. You can choose a line, where Inquisitor says something like:" Yeap, it's all my ears, right?" And Kieran mentions that it is not ears, it is the ancient blood that he sense. Also he mentions the mark, when Morrigan approaches, but it is the different story.

I guess Dalish were able to preserve their bloodline.

 

I still think that the ancient elves are spirit/elf hybrids, and that's one of the reasons why they can't "change".  But in reality they can, because Cole can.  Now that I think about it, I'm always going to make Cole more human now, in the hopes that it helps Solas "get it".

 

^ this. According to the lore every being has a spirit, which after death returns to the Fade. And as Solas said they can be reborn with different personalities. Also this was mentioned somewhere in banter with Cole, that if spirit wants to become real, it has to develop personality or something like that. Maybe ancient elves were like hedge mages in Ravian and sometimes let spirits posses their bodies? But at some point of time the bond became very strong and thus they became immortal?... Maybe that's why after spirits got their own realm (the Fade) elves lost their immortality - they could not make such bonds with living.

[scintilla]

Forgive me if I make no sense  or this has already been stated elsewhere but..

 

Spoiler

I think my frustration lies with the emphasized because an ideal world is simply not possible.  I contend that Solas has spent too much time inside of the fade.  This could be willful as means to avoid the trauma of whatever happened with his people or it could be unintentional but the fade reflects reality and does not shape it.  It is easy to dehumanize or dematerlize the world as it is when you live in a perpetual dream state. When your only friends are spirits, the purity of idea, deed, thought and action, the messiness and complexity of people starts to appear simplistic. It is actions with  a romanced or friended Inquistor and then I would even argue, the rest of the inner circle that give him pause merely because instead of looking the immaterial, he is forced to contend with the real.  What frustrates me is not that he undergoes this journey, but in face of finally beginning to move away from dwelling an echo (a beautiful and interesting one at that) of reality, he actively chooses to go back to it, to attempt to recreate what does not exist anymore.  

 

It is such a human thing to do which is why I really love this character even if I want thump the side of his bald head.

 

This is a very compelling idea. I wonder if that's why he preferred the Fade actually. Everything is very simple there compared to the complexity of people and why they do the things they do. A creature that embodies wisdom isn't going to do something ignorant even if they know better (like maybe say a certain ancient elven not-god).

 

Probably.  The second romance scene consists of him bringing up their first kiss, shaking his head (as if to say, "no") and trying to walk away, kissing her passionately, saying he loves her in Elven, and then successfully walking away.  Mixed messages abound even in the beginning of their relationship.

 

Then again, they seemed to have a "stable" relationship at the Winter Palace.  I wish there were more scenes like that.  Maybe him taking her to the Fade again or something simple like them cuddling as they exchange words in Elven.  I really hope their relationship didn't consist of Solas constantly flaking on Lavellan about his feelings every time they were close.

 

If it did consist of him constantly flaking it would explain why she didn't know what they were though.

 

Which makes me wonder, since Elvhenan apparently influenced Tevinter greatly... what if the Keepers areactually the descendants of the various slave owners or slave handlers for the ancient elves, whom retained the unquestioning loyalty of their subjects even after they all were subjugated by the Imperium?

 

If it's true that Keepers descended from nobility, then they were almost certainly slave owners.

[Solas]

Cinematic tools leads to 404 page for me?

[scintilla]

Cinematic tools leads to 404 page for me?

 

Hm. I have it open in another tab. Clicking the link gives a 404 but copying and pasting let me open it properly.

 

Edit: And now that I've removed and replaced the link, clicking seems to work again.

[Brass_Buckles]

Just fyi:

 

Spoiler

When you encounter Kieran, he says that he didn't expect Inqusitor to be an elf. You can choose a line, where Inquisitor says something like:" Yeap, it's all my ears, right?" And Kieran mentions that it is not ears, it is the ancient blood that he sense. Also he mentions the mark, when Morrigan approaches, but it is the different story.

I guess Dalish were able to preserve their bloodline.

 

 

^ this. According to the lore every being has a spirit, which after death returns to the Fade. And as Solas said they can be reborn with different personalities. Also this was mentioned somewhere in banter with Cole, that if spirit wants to become real, it has to develop personality or something like that. Maybe ancient elves were like hedge mages in Ravian and sometimes let spirits posses their bodies? But at some point of time the bond became very strong and thus they became immortal?... Maybe that's why after spirits got their own realm (the Fade) elves lost their immortality - they could not make such bonds with living.

 

I have a similar theory, but it's a bit different.  I used to have that theory that all elves were bound up with spirits (like Justice and Anders, or Faith and Wynne), so that they partly embodied some concept, and also became immortal.

 

After the information about Cole, and learning from at least two sources (this game, maybe one of the books?) that elves once were inherently tied to the Fade... my theory has changed.  I now believe elves were once simply spirits themselves--spirits who gained personality and became "real" people.  And the reason that elves are no longer immortal, etc. is because humans observed these spirits and viewed them as people, too.  Over time, because human beings believed the elves were people, the elves became more human.  So now that they are viewed as "less," they are maybe lesser than they were--they are certainly shorter and slighter in build, and you'll notice the servants at Halamshiral all seem to be slouching, versus the proud stance of Solas or Abelas or even the Inquisitor.

 

Solas doesn't seem to think my theory is possible because he doesn't think the nature of a spirit can change.  Of course, we know better because of Cole, but it's also apparent to me that change isn't always a good thing any more than it's always a bad thing.  Cole is happier as a spirit, in my personal opinion--he doesn't seem to be immediately, but afterward when you speak to him, he's much less confused and he's happy he can help more people.  As a human, or something like it, he's unhappy that it's become harder to help people.  But are either necessarily bad decisions?  OF course not.

 

I think the Inquisitor has already taught Solas that he doesn't know everything, unless of course you're just mean and nasty to him and get him at very low approval levels.  While I despise the analogy of white = good and black/dark = bad, the meaning of his tarot cards seems kind of evident.  Romancing Solas changes him and probably in a good way, if you want him to understand the modern world and go about finding modern solutions to ancient problems.

[vertigomez]

Coupled with how he doesn't get why Surface Dwarves love living topside, Cole being able to become more human, Sera's rejection of elfy-ness and magic and the Inquisitor's potential embracing of both those things, it makes me wonder... is Solas setting himself up for a failure in wanting to restore what was lost and arrogantly assuming like in his youth that he knows everything, despite the evidence that some of his preconcieved notions about things, don't necessarily ring true in the modern Age?

That's something I thought was interesting, as well. He's always calling Varric "Child of the Stone" (aka durgen'len) and insinuating (if not outright insisting...) that he'd be happier being "more dwarfy" - living underground, carrying on the ancient traditions of his people. In regards to Cole, he says that you can't change your fundamental nature, and that simply wanting to be something else does not make it so. He eventually tells Sera that she's fine as she is, but only after many frustrated attempts to try to get her to appreciate elven-ness. If Lavellan is romancing Sera instead of him, he'll mention that it's natural that she should desire another elf.

I think Solas, as kind and truly compassionate as he is, would rather put people in little boxes than acknowledge those shades of grey he's so famous for. >_____>

Also, this is OT but anyone digging the magic dwarf hints?

Spoiler

Solas says, "Dwarves are the severed arm of a once mighty hero, lying in a pool of blood, undirected, whatever skill at arms it had gone forever. Although it might twitch to give the appearance of life, it will never dream." And Cole has these lines to Varric, "Do you write to reach across? To hear the song that was sundered?" and "You're quiet, but the old song still echoes inside. Almost like templars." Veerrry interesting.

Well, I don't think he actually sees her as so much less. Solas is smart person, I don't think he's completely blinded by arrogance. His hesitation seems to be because he knows she'll disagree with his scheming, not because he resents the fact that he's fallen in love with a lesser creature. Lavellan is a Dalish elf that is worthy of the heritage that he hoped for. The problem is, its not enough for him to abandon his plans.

Solas's conversation with Cole seems to imply that he has considered not going through with his plans. Quite possibly because of Lavellan. If that's true, if she's real, then she now has more power over him than he'd like. He wants to correct his mistake. He's willing to sacrifice his happiness to do it.

One other thing worth musing- even if Solas wins, fixes the magic in the world and brings back the other elven gods. In what world would they just 'forgive' him for what he's done? I think Solas has essentially given up on him having any bit of happiness no matter what he does. He isn't going to get to be apart of this new empire.

Oh god, this reminds me of a scene in Serenity...

Spoiler

The Operative: I'm sorry. If your quarry goes to ground, leave no ground to go to. You should have taken my offer. Or did you think none of this was your fault?
Mal: I don't murder children.
The Operative: I do. If I have to.
Mal: Why? Do you even know why they sent you?
The Operative: It's not my place to ask. I believe in something greater than myself. A better world. A world without sin.
Mal: So me and mine gotta lay down and die... so you can live in your better world?!
The Operative: [sad laugh] I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there... any more than there is for you. Malcolm... I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done.

@scintilla, the forum ate my quote so I'll just reply here lol: You mentioned something about Solas wanting things to be the way they were right now, without caring how or why they got that way in the first place (..sorry if this sentence makes no sense). Anyway, that sort of impatience (and disregard of the details?) reminds me rather a lot of Anders talking about Justice, who has no concept of time or patience, and wants what it wants when it wants it.

[Shechinah]

I can't recall if it's been brought up before in the thread but I like the theory that the modern elves are descendants of the slaves who were freed after whatever happened to the elven gods and the empire but ended up faring not so well because of various factors like other empires attempting to enslave them, not being able to cope with sudden freedom or just warring amongst themselves so they eventually became what they are today. Maybe that's how the vallaslin survived through time but its meaning became lost.

[scintilla]

That's something I thought was interesting, as well. He's always calling Varric "Child of the Stone" (aka durgen'len) and insinuating (if not outright insisting...) that he'd be happier being "more dwarfy" - living underground, carrying on the ancient traditions of his people. In regards to Cole, he says that you can't change your fundamental nature, and that simply wanting to be something else does not make it so. He eventually tells Sera that she's fine as she is, but only after many frustrated attempts to try to get her to appreciate elven-ness. If Lavellan is romancing Sera instead of him, he'll mention that it's natural that she should desire another elf.

@scintilla, the forum ate my quote so I'll just reply here lol: You mentioned something about Solas wanting things to be the way they were right now, without caring how or why they got that way in the first place (..sorry if this sentence makes no sense). Anyway, that sort of impatience (and disregard of the details?) reminds me rather a lot of Anders talking about Justice, who has no concept of time or patience, and wants what it wants when it wants it.

 

Varric has a banter with Solas where he says something along the lines of, "And what would I have to give up to go back to the Stone? My friends? My writing? I'm fine with things the way they are and if I want to hear a song, I'll go to a tavern."

 

Solas responds with, "You are wiser than most."

 

Which is kind of funny given how often Solas contradicts that idea.

 

That is an interesting comparison. Solas doesn't seem to appreciate change that takes time, does he?

[Doveberry]

If it's true that Keepers descended from nobility, then they were almost certainly slave owners.

Which would perhaps explain the title. "Keeper" sounds a lot more sinister when viewed in that light.

[Brass_Buckles]

Varric has a banter with Solas where he says something along the lines of, "And what would I have to give up to go back to the Stone? My friends? My writing? I'm fine with things the way they are and if I want to hear a song, I'll go to a tavern."

 

Solas responds with, "You are wiser than most."

 

Which is kind of funny given how often Solas contradicts that idea.

 

That is an interesting comparison. Solas doesn't seem to appreciate change that takes time, does he?

 

When you think about him as an immortal elf--they were described as immortal and unchanging--that actually makes some amount of sense.

[Sifr]

Which would perhaps explain the title. "Keeper" sounds a lot more sinister when viewed in that light.

 

Dang, y'know, I never even thought of that.

[Shechinah]

Well, he did say he used to be hot-blooded and thought he knew everything when he was young so he seems to have mellowed out over time while still retaining some of his old traits. I kind of like the idea that he changed over time.

[Miss This or That]

It seems to me as if Solas wants to embrace this new world, at least after he experienced that the people of Thedas deem their world worthy of saving, despite its flaws. But, for whatever reason, he does not allow himself to embrace it. He holds onto his century-old beliefs, instead, and snarls when people don't agree with him.

[Shechinah]

Now I got this amusing image that everytime Quizzy wants to get out of an argument or a lecture,she just brings up the future of their relationship and he tries to bail with increasingly bad excuses.

[JUn1t]

It seems to me as if Solas wants to embrace this new world, at least after he experienced that the people of Thedas deem their world worthy of saving, despite its flaws. But, for whatever reason, he does not allow himself to embrace it. He holds onto his century-old beliefs, instead, and snarls when people don't agree with him.

It definitely seems that way. But when you complete the story and find out Solas' true nature it's easier to understand why he is unable to change.

[scintilla]

 

When you think about him as an immortal elf--they were described as immortal and unchanging--that actually makes some amount of sense.

 

Solas seems to be an advocate for all kinds of change though. At the same time, he seems to think things were all better as they were and shouldn't have changed.

 

Ugh. I didn't get a screencap of this really relevant line by Hawke (I think). Paraphrased, she said, "the thing about trying to change things is that things change and not always how we planned/for the better."

 

I'm beginning to think that Solas changes his mind about trying to fix things again over the course of the game. When you first talk to him in Haven, he has a line about not being satisfied until he holds the broken pieces of what caused the Breach in his hands, I think he may have meant it at the time. Watching the Inquisition change/fix things may have encouraged him to try again. He also sounds like he's taking the top two options after the Temple of Mythal as encouragement for what he plans to do. This helps explain why he was willing to start a relationship with Lavellan - he wasn't certain he'd leave.

[caridounette]

I think Solas, as kind and truly compassionate as he is, would rather put people in little boxes than acknowledge those shades of grey he's so famous for. >_____>

 

 

Solas switches from 'individuals should be free to express themselves' to 'big picture view of things over a millenia' at a moments notice...

 

He will forget hes got god-like goals and marvels over the tiniest act of rebellion from a qunari baker, hell want you to help out people which would probably suffer from his big scheme (the poverty-stricken always suffer from big-wigs plans even if not directly aimed at them)

 

And he will forget hes a trickster-bringer-of-rebellion the next time and have harsh point of view on races, on what matters and what should be bring back. 

 

 

Its like his mind is some type of microscope. When he zooms in on the particularity of things and people hes that freedom-seeking character. Then when he pulls back, races are just big blocks colliding and patterns repeating, and 'ideals' (like spirit are ideals taking shape) are much more important than individuals.

[scintilla]

Solas switches from 'individuals should be free to express themselves' to 'big picture view of things over a millenia' at a moments notice...

 

He will forget hes got god-like goals and marvels over the tiniest act of rebellion from a qunari baker, hell want you to help out people which would probably suffer from his big scheme (the poverty-stricken always suffer from big-wigs plans even if not directly aimed at them)

 

And he will forget hes a trickster-bringer-of-rebellion the next time and have harsh point of view on races, on what matters and what should be bring back. 

 

 

Its like his mind is some type of microscope. When he zooms in on the particularity of things and people hes that freedom-seeking character. Then when he pulls back, races are just big blocks colliding and patterns repeating, and 'ideals' (like spirit are ideals taking shape) are much more important than individuals.

 

I wish to like this but am already out of likes.

[Mims]

It seems to me as if Solas wants to embrace this new world, at least after he experienced that the people of Thedas deem their world worthy of saving, despite its flaws. But, for whatever reason, he does not allow himself to embrace it. He holds onto his century-old beliefs, instead, and snarls when people don't agree with him.

 

I imagine this will be the eventual conflict with Solas. Hopefully, we have the opportunity of convincing him otherwise. 

 

[But even if we convince him, I suspect there are always going to be some ancient elves trying to gain ground. It does add an interesting conflict that can continue forward amidst other staples of dragon age.] 

[Addai]

Well, yes, probably not perfect. But he still prefers it in comparison to modern Thedas and I can't imagine the Dalish accepting the fact that he wants to go back to that time when he doesn't even consider the Dalish his people. It's...as if he's like "Guys, check out this time when everything sang the same!" the elves go "Oh, yeah, cool! Glad that you brought proof - but please, no slavery!" and he's like "Well, you clearly lack the knowledge to choose for yourselves, so I'm gonna do what's best for you (but really just for MY people), 'kay?" It is as if he is playing 'big daddy' with a bunch of kids that he met for the first time. That can't end well.

The Hierophant is a conservator, but he's not set on one set of motivations. That's what I think his question after the Temple of Mythal is about. If the Inquisitor says she'd use the power of the well to make a new world, he asks: What if you wake up and the one you thought you had made went all wrong? He seems just as pleased to hear her say she'd course correct and not look back, as if she says she'd try to go back and fix what she could. So I don't think he's the ultimate reactionary he seems to be.

 

As I said upthread, a change is coming on the world, and I don't believe Solas is making it so much as responding, trying to shape the future that's unfolding.

 

Yyyeah, the whole "you people wouldn't even exist in my ideal world" thing is a bit of a problem, I think.

 

Also maybe an explanation for the nameless thing that has been bothering me a bit about the romance. Lavellan wouldn't even exist in his ideal world.

I think the thing that makes Lavellan unique is that she fuses the Fade with physical reality, which is how it used to be for everyone. "You're real so everyone could become real." The elves aren't really his people because yes, they've so lost their way that they're hardly recognizable as elvhen. But he does encourage Abelas to seek out other duties, and to serve "elvhen such as I" Ithough it's obvious he says that a bit ironically). I think the crux is that pointy ears are not what makes you an elf. Abelas calls the Dalish "shadows." They're the vessel, but it's empty. They could still become "real" again. Isn't that what the Dalish have always wanted? I don't see why they would object.

 

I still think that the ancient elves are spirit/elf hybrids, and that's one of the reasons why they can't "change".  But in reality they can, because Cole can.  Now that I think about it, I'm always going to make Cole more human now, in the hopes that it helps Solas "get it".

 

So... I'm halfway through the Cullen romance and y'all had to post Abelas and I'm so flipping weary.  I've loved the ancient elves from the start... my favorite Warden was always an Arcane Warrior in Ancient Elven Armor.  This game requires so much commitment, and I really don't think I'll be able to play the entire thing more than once.

 

Now that BioWare has won GOTY, do you think it's "safe" to play the Solas romance, knowing that most likely they will continue his story/romance in an appropriately non-railroaded manner?

 

Also, is it me, or does the default female elf head #1 look like Scarlett Johansson?

I also find it impossible to play anything but Lavellan, and obviously Lavellan can only romance Solas. She's the quintessential Inquisitor to me and Solas x Lavellan is OTP.  Anything else seems a poor contrast, with not nearly as much story tension or significance.

[Mims]

 

I also find it impossible to play anything but Lavellan, and obviously Lavellan can only romance Solas. She's the quintessential Inquisitor to me and Solas x Lavellan is OTP.  Anything else seems a poor contrast, with not nearly as much story tension or significance.

 

It is really impressive how much story weight Lavellan has on her. I don't think it was intended, but I am glad it exists. 

[Sifr]

The Hierophant is a conservator, but he's not set on one set of motivations. That's what I think his question after the Temple of Mythal is about. He says it outright if the Inquisitor says she'd use the power of the well to make a new world: What if you wake up and the one you thought you had made went all wrong? He seems just as pleased to hear her say she'd course correct and not look back, as if she says she'd try to go back and fix what she could. So I don't think he's the ultimate reactionary he seems to be.

 

As I said upthread, a change is coming on the world, and I don't think Solas is making it so much as responding.

 

I think the thing that makes Lavellan unique is that she fuses the Fade with physical reality, which is how it used to be for everyone. "You're real so everyone could become real." The elves aren't really his people because yes, they've so lost their way that they're hardly recognizable as elvhen. But he does encourage Abelas to seek out other duties, and to serve "elvhen such as I" Ithough it's obvious he says that a bit ironically). I think the crux is that pointy ears are not what makes you an elf. Abelas calls the Dalish "shadows." They're the vessel, but it's empty. They could still become "real" again. Isn't that what the Dalish have always wanted? I don't see why they would object.

 

I also find it impossible to play anything but Lavellan, and obviously Lavellan can only romance Solas. She's the quintessential Inquisitor to me and Solas x Lavellan is OTP.  Anything else seems a poor contrast, with not nearly as much story tension or significance.

 

Yeah, while I went through as a human mage first, from what I've seen, Lavellan seems far more to me as the "canon" Inquisitor than any of other races given that elves (both past and present) have a pretty huge role in all the major events in Inquisition.

 

You have an Elf and her lover's quarrel as a major part of the Orlesian Civil War, an Elf leading the Mage Rebellion, an Elven artefact in the hands of the bad guy, elven artefacts helping the Inquisitor to shore up the torn Veil in areas, ancient elven temples and deities as a major plot point, the Dalish having a role and the Dales being shown for the first time and two Elven companions, one who adores ancient history and the other who eschews it...

 

I was honestly expecting the human mage to have more relevance considering the Mage-Templar War, but that was pretty much negligable and barely mentioned at all, before the entire affair was swiftly wrapped up in the first act of the game.

 

I want to do a Dwarf run through at some point, but the dwarves seem to have the least amount of focus out of all the races, even less than the Qunari as at least Iron Bull has something involving his people and info on the Qun for us. We get a few abandoned Thaigs, Varric and Bianca and that's pretty much all she wrote from them.