153431 réponses à ce sujet

[Caddius]

Of course she loves Solas too! XD

I play in a separate room from the cats to prevent this problem.

That being said, my dad's cat crawls in his lap while he's playing football games and stares intently at the screen and meows at touchdowns. 

[Rabbitonfire]

Who can resist talking about their pc?

 

PC master race!

[Rabbitonfire]

I used a controller, if it's any help, and I still have the raw footage if people are curious. [Trying to take well framed screenshots of a moving scene is a pain so I ended up recording myself using the flycam.]

Record while flycam! I didn't think about that.

[Janic99]

omfg so cool

[Patchwork]

PC master race!

 

I meant Player's Character but you're not wrong about the pc master race thing so carry on

[Kittn]

With all three of the advisors off on 15 hour missions in Tiger's playthrough, I decided to try my hand at creating Shenshen for my future mage Lavellan. Said I'd share some screens, so here she is:

 

Reference:

And, Shenshen Lavellen attempt, the first:

Spoiler

 

 

I dunno. I think I got the face mostly, but the hairstyle selection is very problematic for me. I thought I was ok with this one, but I just now noticed in a later shot that it's not actually attached to her head. Not sure if it's noticeable enough to remake her yet. What's a girl gotta do to get some decent curls and fringes, durnit!

 

At this rate all my characters will all probably end up using the cocker spaniel ponytail.

 

[DrTeatime]

Omg, Shenshen!

(Sorry, I just never ever run into other EQ fans. >.>)

[Kulyok]

I've just finished The Last Flight (the latest Dragon Age fiction book, and it's not bad), and I'm wondering about blood magic. I won't spoil the contents of the book, but one of the themes there is - it's something we can't fully understand or comprehend. All magic comes with a price(hello, Once Upon A Time!), but with blood magic, we sometimes can't know this price until it is too late. Hence, blood magic can have unforeseen drastic consequences, don't use it, don't use it, don't use it.

 

(and I kid you not, in the book, blood magic does have pretty drastic consequences, even though good intentions are there)

 

So. Back to our elven apostate. What does he say? That it's extremely powerful, and it can be very useful, providing it remains a tool, not a crutch, nor a passion.

 

Hello? Consequences? I mean, he's possibly the wisest person we know! How could he be that flippant about blood magic, if it's in the lore?

 

// I was okay with blood magic, myself, but not after that book. It clearly seems that there's something very, very wrong with it. Whether it's a retcon or not, I'm not sure, but since Dragon Age people decided to add this to the world, it's now there.

[Tai]

Ooh, look fun character thing.

Spoiler

1. What is your Lavellan's name?
Athanaea Lavellan: Ath-An-Ay-Ah. It's clear Weekes likes the letter Æ and I am all on board for that. Athanasia (Greek for undying, so, you know, irony) was the inspiration but it felt like it had one syllable too many.
2. What is your Lavellan's class?
Knight Enchanter. Come for the Elven heritage; stay to become a one woman dragon killer.
3. Which god's vallaslin does your Lavellan use?
Dirthamen, with a complicated headcanon backstory reason rich in parallelism. Also she's more drawn to knowledge than she likes to believe. That, and she understands the value of secrets.
4. How old is your Lavellan?
32. Early thirties was always the idea and I like numbers that are divisible by three but hate ones that are divisible by 11, one's divisible by 4 are okay.
5. Did you intend to romance Solas when you started the game?
I wasn't planning to romance anyone but once Solas pulled Lavellan out of that awkward Chantry singing after Haven to tell her that the orb is Elven and they're both going to have to be clever about hiding the truth I was swayed as he showed two opinions that I can completely agree with: being in the presence of the outwardly and vocally devout is uncomfortable and that efforts should be made so that the masses do not know the truth. So yeah, alright Ianto Jones, you've convinced me. Full steam ahead on the S.S. Solasmance.
6. What is your Lavellan's relationship with her clan?
Did we ever figure out if the Dalish actually have last names or if they just carry the names of their clans? Either way I imagine the Keeper of clan Lavellan is Athanaea's second cousin. Also that Athanaea doesn't actually like her that much for some vague reason but doesn't complain about it. In her more immediate family, she's close to both her parents but is exceedingly close to her younger (by 3 years) sister who she accidentally set on fire when she discovered her magic and with it made the revelation of how much she loves her. Everyone else in her clan she remembers their names and some extent of their personalities but can't defeat her own introversion. Still, that is her home.
7. What are your Lavellan's religious views?
You know how Catholics, even if they turn away from faith, carry with them the unshakeable influence of the Church upon their life in one way or another? Athanaea's something like that. Even if her believe in the Creators wavers, which I imagine Solas and future DLC will do a damn good job of making happen, there's still the undeniable fact that she is a Dalish elf and she can't remove herself from the religious part of that culture without abandoning the whole thing. She wants to go home once all the Corypheus thing is taken care of but as time goes on that seems like less and less of a possibility (Not that they're dead, just that the connection between power and responsibility is a undefeatably irritating one).
8. Did your Lavellan drink from the Well?
So... I didn't actually bring Solas with me to the Well. Somehow the thought didn't cross my mind to bring him. So no warning from him, no spat between him and Morrigan, no one providing a decent argument why the Inquisitor shouldn't sip from that font of knowledge. Also Dorian seemed really happy with the revelations at the Well.The character reason was Athanaea responding to Morrigan telling her she shouldn't by asserting herself as a Dalish and declaring that she was qualified to do it.
9. Did your Lavellan have Solas remove the vallaslin and why/why not?
Nope. The Dalish can't get over the slavery if they hold up a lasting stigma toward the facial tattoos. They're re-appropriating it. Athanaea is not a terribly honest person. She can live with the lie of the vallaslin's purpose since it gives pride to the Dalish and herself.
10. What response did you choose after Solas broke up with you?
I don't actually remember. Let's go with "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed," she yelled as he walked away. She didn't know why she said it, and she wasn't sure if it made her feel better or worse. She hoped it made Solas feel worse. And he wasn't sure why it did.
11. How is your Lavellan taking Solas being gone and how are you taking it?
Athanaea Lavellan is a grown woman and she can deal with the fact that someone doesn't want to be with her. She'll just do something to go forward. Maybe go talk to someone who will make them feel better. And then Athanaea realized that Solas was her only friend in the Inquisition. There were enough people that were nice to her but no one other than him she actually wanted to spend time around. She could have been friends with Leliana. Even since Haven they were so close to forming a friendship through sharing their melancholy and through the communion of spies but Athanaea knows that she can't get away with having the Divine be her shoulder to cry on. Girl's gonna have it rough.

Me though, I'm dandy. Haven't had an excuse to idly write this much fanfiction in a damn long time. What? Why am I supposed to be sad? A fictional character and another fictional character broke up. I can detach myself from my player character, why can't you?
12. What would you give for a Wolf Hunt DLC?
... like 14.99. Probably be pricey for a DLC of that size but I'd spend it.

Edit: Oh crap top of the page... uh... uh? This flow chart!



Source

When? When will I learn to stop reading over coffee? LMAO. I want that chart on a T-shirt or mug!!!

[Kittn]

Omg, Shenshen!

(Sorry, I just never ever run into other EQ fans. >.>)

 

Turns out there's a handful of us here! *High-Four*

[Innsmouth Dweller]

questions! yay!

 

Spoiler

1. What is your Lavellan's name?

Skuld

 

2. What is your Lavellan's class?

Rift Mage

 

3. Which god's vallaslin does your Lavellan use?

Mythal

 

4. How old is your Lavellan?

25-30?

 

5. Did you intend to romance Solas when you started the game?

nope. i didn't intend to romance anyone (rolled an elf because it fits the story, imho). and failed for the second time

 

6. What is your Lavellan's relationship with her clan?

she's a loner, but she cares for her clan. i'm not sure if i want her to be First or a mage sent away to do 'stuff' to keep low mage count :3

 

7. What are your Lavellan's religious views?

she believes in Creators, the whole Herald of Andraste-thing amuses her to no end

 

8. Did your Lavellan drink from the Well?

yup, no way shem takes her people heritage

 

9. Did your Lavellan have Solas remove the vallaslin and why/why not?

nope. it doesn't matter what it meant in ancient times. it's a poor connection to the culture but it's the only thing that remained. it should serve as a reminder what was lost and how many things they got wrong. plus since it's Mythal vallaslin, it seems fitting

 

10. What response did you choose after Solas broke up with you?

dunno, it didn't happen yet in my canon PT (i'm pacing it, cuz my 1st PT was story-rushed), but i think i'll go with 'wait, what?!' and stoic one 'well, we cannot always have what we want'

 

11. How is your Lavellan taking Solas being gone and how are you taking it?

welp, there's not much to go on. i think she'd lock herself in her room and read all the books/notes she found to occupy her mind, looking for historically interesting places - hoping to find him somewhere. at some point she'd probably visit the ruins Leliana's report mentioned to see for her own eyes, maybe she'd try to find some scraps of info to understand wth just happened... unless Mythal shows up. at any rate if Lavellan learned this whole breach mess was because of Solas, she'd be furious (and mentally high five-ing for bumping uglies with a god)

 

as for me - when Solas is gone it's an endgame. endgames are boring, there's not much to do, NPC don't have dialogue options and world is... empty as hell O_o

i'm not upset about him being gone (give me back my gear, damn you), but i'm pretty much kicking dirt because there's no more story content

 

12. Her closest non-romantic relationships?

Sera, they disagree on pretty much everything (magic, elves, religion), but they have very similar nature. Cole (i admit, i really disliked this char before DA:I) - he gives her a very unique perspective on the real world - made him more spirit and he stayed

 

13. What would you give for a Wolf Hunt DLC?

/shrug

it would be kind of nice, there was something for Morrigan fans. but i don't care about Lavellan/Solas. i'm more interested in lore

[Avejajed]

 

(Questionnaire from earlier)

 

Revas Lavellan

 

Spoiler

1. What is your Lavellan's name?

Revas Lavellan

 

2. What is your Lavellan's class?

Archer

 

3. Which god's vallaslin does your Lavellan use?

Mythal

 

4. How old is your Lavellan?

About 30

 

5. Did you intend to romance Solas when you started the game?

This particular playthrough, yeah. Not my first.

 

6. What is your Lavellan's relationship with her clan?

She can take them or leave them. She feels no real attachment to any of them.

 

7. What are your Lavellan's religious views?

She believes in preserving history and that there’s something higher at work, and of course has always been taught to worship her own, elvish gods, but I think she’s really sort of..more..curious, than worshipful.

 

8. Did your Lavellan drink from the Well?

She hasn’t yet. I’m undecided if she will.

 

9. Did your Lavellan have Solas remove the vallaslin and why/why not?

Undecided. J

 

10. What response did you choose after Solas broke up with you?

He hasn’t…yet. I think she’s probably going to be mad.

 

11. How is your Lavellan taking Solas being gone and how are you taking it?

Ask me later.

 

12. What would you give for a Wolf Hunt DLC?

I’d give them my husband?

[vierrae]

I've just finished The Last Flight (the latest Dragon Age fiction book, and it's not bad), and I'm wondering about blood magic. I won't spoil the contents of the book, but one of the themes there is - it's something we can't fully understand or comprehend. All magic comes with a price(hello, Once Upon A Time!), but with blood magic, we sometimes can't know this price until it is too late. Hence, blood magic can have unforeseen drastic consequences, don't use it, don't use it, don't use it.

 

(and I kid you not, in the book, blood magic does have pretty drastic consequences, even though good intentions are there)

 

So. Back to our elven apostate. What does he say? That it's extremely powerful, and it can be very useful, providing it remains a tool, not a crutch, nor a passion.

 

Hello? Consequences? I mean, he's possibly the wisest person we know! How could he be that flippant about blood magic, if it's in the lore?

 

// I was okay with blood magic, myself, but not after that book. It clearly seems that there's something very, very wrong with it. Whether it's a retcon or not, I'm not sure, but since Dragon Age people decided to add this to the world, it's now there.

In my opinion, Solas knows well enough about consequences, but he strikes me as "the end justifies the means" kind of person.

[nranola]

Flycam gif of the second romance scene, from the same person who caught the Solas thighs screenshot. It's very... interesting. 

Spoiler

http://kreebby.tumbl...-deliberate-for

 

Definitely changing my headcanon now. They totally did it.

 

The animation looks rather deliberate, don't you think?

[Avejajed]

So...this is not my Tumblr and honestly, some of you may already follow this person, but..If you dont, you should.

 

I am obsessed with her page. She basically does screenshots of her game but they are the most beautiful wonderful things. I don't know what she uses or how she edits them or what kind of powerful magic machine she has, but I literally spent a good hour just gazing on the beauty.

 

The pictures of Solas are just....ugh.

 

http://pictureamoebae.tumblr.com/

[Avejajed]

Flycam gif of the second romance scene, from the same person who caught the Solas thighs screenshot. It's very... interesting. 

Spoiler

 

Definitely changing my headcanon now. They totally did it.

 

The animation looks rather deliberate, don't you think?

Good lord.

[DrTeatime]

Turns out there's a handful of us here! *High-Four*

*High-four*

Here are my answers for the questionnaire as well:

Spoiler

1. What is your Lavellan's name?

Minavi Lavellan. It roughly translates to Guardian or Protector.

2. What is your Lavellan's class?

Dual wield rogue assassin. I've been playing a lot on her as well so she's pretty terrifyingly powerful by now. o.o

3. Which god's vallaslin does your Lavellan use?

I didn't know it at the time but I ended up picking Mythal's, it works quite well with her protector motif so I'm pleased.

4. How old is your Lavellan?

I imagine her being in her mid-twenties.

5. Did you intend to romance Solas when you started the game?

Not on my first playthrough but after seeing his character I knew I'd have to do it at some point.

6. What is your Lavellan's relationship with her clan?

It's very good, people are generally fond of her and he's a capable hunter and warrior, so they see her as one of the clan's protectors as well.

7. What are your Lavellan's religious views?

She's not remarkably devout but she's definitely religious. She simply believed in the elven gods and didn't think much about it. Throughout the game she actually became more religious. On one hand she learned that the Dalish know less than they thought but she also got tangible proof that her gods exist.

8. Did your Lavellan drink from the Well?

Yes. There was no way in hell she was about to let Morrigan scoop up the knowledge of her people.

9. Did your Lavellan have Solas remove the vallaslin and why/why not?

She let him remove it. She was quite conflicted about it but ultimately the knowledge that they were slave markings simply horrified and repulsed her too much.

10. What response did you choose after Solas broke up with you?

“I don't want to lose you” and then “Don't do this to me!”. (Recorded here for posterity.) My Lavellan absolutely hates crying in front of other people and she pretty much turned to anger as a defence mechanism to keep from breaking down here.

11. How is your Lavellan taking Solas being gone and how are you taking it?
She's devastated on a personal level, particularly since I imagined her depending on Solas more than what's strictly healthy. She had a hard time adjusting to life without her clan and as the only other elfy elf there she was naturally drawn to him. (I like to imagine the same was true for Solas to some extent but that's just speculation for now.)
One line in particular really defines how she handles the breakup and him leaving: “Harden your heart into a cutting edge, and put that pain to good use against Corypheus.”.

It becomes her mantra and she channels her grief into improving the inquisition. It makes her more ruthless but ultimately a better leader as well. I thought a lot about how it would affect her overall character arc and then it hit me: Solas hardened my character. I'm honestly not sure how she would react to meeting him again at this point.
(In DA:O you harden companion, in DA:I companion hardens you.) <.<

12. What would you give for a Wolf Hunt DLC?

I'll hold off on the blood sacrifices for now since I'm confident that's where Bioware will be going anyway.

[Avejajed]

I'm never not going to see that.  

 

I might have to change my headcanon too.

[DrTeatime]

Flycam gif of the second romance scene, from the same person who caught the Solas thighs screenshot. It's very... interesting. 

Spoiler

http://kreebby.tumbl...-deliberate-for

 

Definitely changing my headcanon now. They totally did it.

 

The animation looks rather deliberate, don't you think?

 

The animations do some funky things when you look at them from unintended angles. During the final romance scene Solas's right arms twitches uncontrollably right before he takes your hands. Maybe he's just overcome with emotions?

[Rabbitonfire]

In my opinion, Solas knows well enough about consequences, but he strikes me as "the end justifies the means" kind of person.

That's kind of my impression of him as well. I don't seem his viewing any potential consequences of his own actions to reach the goal. Why doesn't matter how you got there so long as it freed the slaves? Does it matter who wields the foci so long as it opens the veil? Things must go back to what they were no matter how many friends you lose or people you leave dead and bloodied along the way, just so long so as things go back to what they were, no matter how many friends you lose or people you leave dead and bloodied and dying along the way!

[Ajna]

I bet he was laughing inside when he said some things are easier for him in the Fade...

[CapricornSun]

Flycam gif of the second romance scene, from the same person who caught the Solas thighs screenshot. It's very... interesting. 

Spoiler

http://kreebby.tumbl...-deliberate-for

 

Definitely changing my headcanon now. They totally did it.

 

The animation looks rather deliberate, don't you think?

 

 

Yuuup! They totally did it. In my headcanon anyway.

 

So...this is not my Tumblr and honestly, some of you may already follow this person, but..If you dont, you should.

 

I am obsessed with her page. She basically does screenshots of her game but they are the most beautiful wonderful things. I don't know what she uses or how she edits them or what kind of powerful magic machine she has, but I literally spent a good hour just gazing on the beauty.

 

The pictures of Solas are just....ugh.

 

http://pictureamoebae.tumblr.com/

 

 

WOOOOOW!!! What kind of super computer does she have to acquire such beautiful graphics?!?! The details... The crispness... I'm in awe. 

[Mims]

I'm not sure if we already talked about it but I found this in one of the Scuttlebutt (Spoiler) threads:

Dev notes for Flemeth from the DAI character files:

Spoiler

This is Flemeth from the previous two games. In this game, Flemeth's story comes to a head – she knew that Solas would summon her, and that he would need to steal her power to further his plans. She knew that because they are both elven gods... yet Solas has slept for a thousand years and his power dwindled, while she was killed long ago and a spark escaped from her into the body she now holds. She has nurtured that spark, and knew that Solas would need it. He was once her oldest friend, but she knows that in his drive to restore the elven people he will kill anyone – even her. She intends to let him have the power, so long as she can pass the essence of her god-hood onto Morrigan, a gift Flemeth had always planned for her daughter yet one Morrigan misunderstood as hostile possession.

 

I don't like the sound of THIS particular sentence!
It sounds to me like Solas is becoming another "stereotype villain", who will never question his goals/beliefs.
If he is going to be a villain I thought him to be a likeable, complicated anti-hero, - instead of me stumbling through a future DA4 and be like:
'Yep, another obviously villain with obviously evil intentions!' - like the majority thought about Cory/Meredith/..

 

Meh, he has so much potential for more...

I would be totally fine if he wants to restore the magic as it was with all the other races in it (not elves only)
but that just sounds dreary...
 "Yes I was open-minded before and learned to respect (i.e) Cassandra and her beliefs, maybe I made some friends too but still - YOU ALL HAVE TO DIE! I WANT ONLY ELVEN!"

Sorry for my gibberish and my english, - maybe I am still in the emotional-solas-phase....

 

I think there are two things to keep in mind when looking at that bit of text.

 

Firstly- it shouldn't be too surprising that Solas is willing to get his hands dirty in order to right whatever wrong it is that he's done. He gave his orb to Corypheus. We don't know what his end goal is, but whatever it is he's committed to it. But I don't know if I would take 'would kill anyone' to mean that he's going to suddenly flip flop into a one dimensional villain. The text written in developer notes is predominantly shorthand. It doesn't really carry any nuance.

 

I do think Solas has an edge, and its a dangerous edge, but at the same time I don't think he's going to go completely off the deep end.

 

Second point of note- Flemeth/Mythal knew he was coming. That text implies that she's known he was coming for at least a thousand years, and she nurtured Mythal's spark specifically for that purpose. This means whatever goal that he's after, she either agrees with it completely or it coincides with her centuries long vengeance plot.

 

It could be that both of their plans are bad news. But I don't think so. I don't think Flemeth would accept a stereotypical villain plot, not when she had a thousand years to potentially figure out how to get rid of Fen'Harel. Then there's also the fact that Solas was planning to tell the truth to Lavellan...which means his scheming can't be completely insane. Its probably dark. But I don't think it is on the level of master villain. Otherwise telling her would have never been a consideration. 

 

Essentially- I expect more of a Morrigan from Solas than a Meredith. Morrigan was not so sweet in DA:O as far as the things she was willing to do to ensure that the warden succeeded. But ultimately her intentions were good. 

[flabbadence]

Finally got around to doing the questionnaire )

 

Spoiler

1. What is your Lavellan's name?

Anya. I don't know, the name just popped up in my head while in the CC, and it sounded elfy, so I just went with it.

 

2. What is your Lavellan's class?

DW Rogue, mostly because my cannon Warden's a warrior and my Hawke a mage, so yey triumvirate. Plus it seemed to fit with Lavellan's background as Conclave spy. Then I got the Tempest spec, and that was loads of fun.

3. Which god's vallaslin does your Lavellan use?

Elgar'nan, the huge one, because it's elaborate and bad-ass. It turned out to be a good fit for her backstory too.

4. How old is your Lavellan?

Late 20's.

5. Did you intend to romance Solas when you started the game?

I was considering it, but I was considering everyone else too. All through Haven my Lavellan was swinging more towards Cullen actually, because his reactions when she flirted with him were adorable. She thought of Solas as more of this weird elf with interesting opinions and stories instead of a potential love interest at first. And then he called her graceful in his incredibly endearing flirt, and my Lavellan went, Oh wow, that was smooth. So she and I started paying more attention, but it still could have gone any other way until the Fade tongue. With that, Anya and I were lost.

6. What is your Lavellan's relationship with her clan?

There was infighting in her clan when she left for Haven actually. It wasn't blown out, but there was certainly tension, with one side supporting the Keeper's more open-minded worldview regarding shemlen, and another quietly but staunchly against it. Anya belongs to the supporters, though she's pretty genial with everyone. Ermm. More in the fanfic I'm writing.

7. What are your Lavellan's religious views?

She believed in the elven gods until this whole Herald of Andraste business. Only a handful of people saw her step out of the Fade with a woman behind her, and suddenly whole nations of desperate people were bowing before her and calling her divine and savior. Faith was apparently a very fickle thing, and from then on she started questioning it. Which turned out to be a good thing. The revelations about elves thrown at her by the end of the game might have broken her otherwise.

8. Did your Lavellan drink from the Well?

Yes. She's always thought that maybe if everyone just worked a bit harder to understand and learn more about each other and the world, then they wouldn't have a lot of the problems they have now. So while there was no small amount of fear at being bound to a goddess who apparently did/does exist, ultimately, she thought the choice was worth it for the knowledge she would gain in the bargain.

BUT I can see her letting Morrigan take it too, as a sign of trust from an elf to a human, since she's all about being more open too. I'm still not sure what my canon choice will be, tbh.

9. Did your Lavellan have Solas remove the vallaslin and why/why not?

No. Her vallaslin was a promise, a reminder to herself. It was as much a part of herself as her memories, and she would never have those wiped away.

10. What response did you choose after Solas broke up with you?

The sad one. I thought about sticking with the "Are you kidding me?!" option, but ultimately I think the sad one fit best because there was some part of her that expected the break up, in a way. Solas pulls back every cutscene after all. Though she did think, this time, it might be different. She'd never seen him as open as he was that night, as ready to lose himself in what they had. But then he pulled away, for real this time. And she expected it, but she couldn't help asking him to stay all the same, and telling him she loved him one last time.

Oh god the feels help me

11. How is your Lavellan taking Solas being gone and how are you taking it?

She's holding up pretty well actually. She really is determined to make the world a better place, not just for elves but for everyone, and she's doing everything she can using her not insignificant power as Inquisitor to do that. She's using whatever resource she can spare to find him however, because she still loves him with every fiber of her being, and she's determined to get her answers.

 

As for me. Well. I'm layers deep in the blanket fort, and I'm even writing fanfic for the first time ever in my life. Yep. At least I haven't popped open any wine bottles yet.

 

12. What would you give for a Wolf Hunt DLC?

Loads more than what's wise, I'm sure.

[dragondreamer]

I'm still catching up, but yes. That does make a certain amount of sense. It would explain the thing that's been driving me nuts for years.

If the Seven Magisters broke into the Fade, why are they wandering the Deep Roads? Neither Corypheus nor the Architect appear compelled by the Calling.

Now, I've got a lore-thing to throw at you people. (My computer's acting nuts, but I'm going to try to fix my math error in the timeline and then keep going. Hopefully it was just the one trip-up, as multiple ones are infuriatingly difficult to correct.)

A big lore-thing. Possibly a bomb, possibly something that's already been discussed over and over again that I'm just late to the party on.

I'm particularly interested in Madrar and Lizasaurus's responses.

I'm reading The Calling.

There's a scene where an upset and guilty Duncan runs off from the other Wardens in the Deep Roads, and Maric and Fiona go after him.

They track him down to a cavern, not part of the Deep Roads. The Taint on the cavern walls doesn't go here. It's a giant, green, sulfuric lake. With 'murmuring' that isn't darkspawn, strange, half-melted statues.

"Here lies the abyss, well of all souls. From these emerald waters doth life spring anew." Maric muses, (Page 222.) He goes on to explain its place in the Chant to Fiona, who after all grew up in an Alienage.

"Oh. It's where Andraste goes to speak to the Maker for the first time. It's where she convinces him to forgive mankind. It was supposed to be this beautiful temple deep under the earth surrounded by emerald waters. I guess I always imagined it looked like this."

The water glows and is covered in a mist. It's all rather creepy, sad, but safe at the same time. They hear a strange murmuring. The water moves in patterns and responds to them as they talk. Odd shadows move beneath the water, almost like fish, but I doubt it. The sulfuric acid seems to be wearing away at the statues and rocks, damaging it, but it seems to me like it was the outskirts of a temple.

Y'know. The emerald waters that surround a Temple. Of the Maker, or of the Elvhen Creators?

The implications that Andraste first visited the Maker underground in a temple surrounded by something very similar to the Well of Mythal just staggers me.

THEORY-CRAFTERS, GO GO GO!

 

The Art of DA:I has some really pretty concept arts for the Well of Sorrows.  What was really interesting was that it looks like at some point, the well was going to be in a big underground cavern. Hmm.

 

(As far as the magisters in the Deep Roads, I think the physical Black City is located at the center of planet.  Impossible to reach by anything mortal without an eluvian, but viewed at an equal distance from everywhere in the Fade...  The void where the Forgotten Ones dwelled.  When the magisters came out, they brought the Blight with them.  Unwittingly creating slaves that obeyed the song of the Forgotten Ones/Old Gods, and the darkspawn were pulled to free them from their prisons.)

 

There are a bunch of those in the temple of Dirthamen as well, though I think we should probably take the positioning of art assets with a grain of salt.

 

Tumblr's giving me some great stuff this evening. I love this fanart so much.

Spoiler

 

 

http://silverchimaer...t/107941190663

 

Symbolism-wise, I never saw my Inquisitor as a Halla (too passive and innocent) but as a big badass stag. I loved that a mage lavellan's card had a stag on it. I get why people are complaining about the wolf/halla thing, and are looking for alternate animals, but stags ain't as passive as people think. They can be aggressive and seriously **** you up.

 

My Lavellan is more the squirrel type.  They're the worst.

 

And canon Lavellan for the survey thingy:

 

1. What is your Lavellan's name?

Spoiler

Kyriel Lavellan

2. What is your Lavellan's class?

Spoiler

Mage, Knight Enchanter, and the Storm tree.

3. Which god's vallaslin does your Lavellan use?

Spoiler

Mythal, the most elaborate version.  I had no idea which one it was when I chose it.  Worked out nicely tho.

4. How old is your Lavellan?

Spoiler

36 at game start.

5. Did you intend to romance Solas when you started the game?

Spoiler

Always, he was the most interesting to me.  Especially after the first time I saw him with that intense little smirk in that War room picture.    "Why does he look intrigued while everyone else is upset?"  I considered romancing Cass for my canon after Solas was announced to be female only, but I had a really strong feeling I would regret it if I didn't romance him first.  I'm glad I listened to my gut on that one.

6. What is your Lavellan's relationship with her clan?

Spoiler

Kyriel's always been considered a little odd, even in a rather liberal clan, but she's close to them.  Some of the hahrens found her enthusiasm for expanding the clan's horizons and her avoidance of marriage to be frustrating, but she was a good at keeping peace both within and without of the clan, so a lot of her oddness was tolerated even when otherwise ignored.  The Keeper is her aunt, and they have a very close relationship.  Deshanna is a friend as much as a teacher, and she listens to Kyriel more than the others in the clan when it comes to her ideas, but she also tries to keep her grounded.  Kyriel's parents are both hunters, and they're pretty normal as Dalish folks go.  I imagine everything that has happened has them reeling a bit.  They also would have been among those who went into Wycome during the crisis.  Kyriel also has a sister, too young for vallaslin yet.  Now that the clan is settled in Wycome, it's easy for Kyriel to write home on a regular basis.  

7. What are your Lavellan's religious views?

Spoiler

She believes in the Creators.  That's still true.

8. Did your Lavellan drink from the Well?

Spoiler

Yes.  It was frightening, but she knew someone needed to take it, and she felt if it had to be done, it should be her.  (She actually thought Solas was more qualified, but he refused.)  She didn't entirely trust Morrigan, and she also felt strongly that something of such importance to the elves should be carried by an elf.  And as a Dalish First, the potential knowledge of the well was the sort of thing she had always looked for, and she couldn't pass it up.

9. Did your Lavellan have Solas remove the vallaslin and why/why not?

Spoiler

No, because what the vallaslin mean to the Dalish is not what it meant to the ancient elves.  And for Kyriel in particular, the vallaslin was a connection to her family and her culture.  Understanding the past doesn't mean completely discarding the present and the future.  Things change, and she embraces that change, even as she seeks to understand the truth of what came before.  She also wanted Solas to accept her as she is as a Dalish elf. 

10. What response did you choose after Solas broke up with you?

Spoiler

It was the "but I love you!  " response.  Couldn't be strong in that moment, she just couldn't. She gave him everything, and her heart went squish everywhere...

11. How is your Lavellan taking Solas being gone and how are you taking it?

Spoiler

Most people wouldn't realize there's anything wrong, she goes about life normally, running the Inquisition, hanging out with friends, and keeping up with her hobbies and her studies.  Being the Keeper of a clan means you have to be strong for everyone and ENDURE.  I think there's some suspicions though.  Leliana is still helping Lavellan search for Solas. (Kyriel doesn't suspect the truth, but she feels like something's wrong.  She knows Solas was hiding something, and she thinks he's in some kind of trouble.  So she's still looking for him.)  Cole is the only one who knows how much she's really hurting, and she's sorry for that.  She sees Cole as an adopted son, so she's trying to shield him from the worst of it.

 

Me?  Well...  I kinda suspected from before, that Solas was going to be some sort of tragic romance.  Either he was going to be a bad guy, and/or Lavellan simply wouldn't be able to keep him for some reason.  Even during gameplay, all his warnings were like giant red flags that this wasn't going to end well.  I've also mentioned once that the moment I saw that he was also an artist, I knew the romance was doomed.  He had become too perfect to have a happy ending.    So I came into this accepting that there might not be a good ending.  But I still really wanted it, he was *really* interesting.  No regrets, even if there is so so so much pain. And likely more to come...

12. What would you give for a Wolf Hunt DLC?

Spoiler

Get back, Desire Demon!  *sobbing* I wants the precious...