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[Siha]

I hope we don't have to wait five more years Like with DAO...

I don't understand, why 5 years?

 

DAO: 2009

 

some of the DLC:

Return to Ostagar: 2009

Stone Prisoner: 2010

Darkspawn Chronicles: 2010

Leliana's Song: 2010

The Golems...: 2010

Witch Hunt: 2010

 

So why do people always say 5 years? I often read this and always wonder. Do I misunderstand something?

[Avejajed]

I sure do!

I have heard it is frowned upon in some circles, which I simply cannot understand. How else can you understand things if not studying them? If in art school you have models who pose for artists, the same process happens when referencing.

I encourage using references, be it for a pose, or for a color palette, or a background, if you are in doubt.

Eventually things will become easier because you start understanding how things work together and muscle memory comes into play. 

Anatomy study I found is particularly helpful and warm-up sessions before taking on a larger piece. But each person has their own work-flow, so you just gotta do what works best for you.

 

Lol, long rant. I get excited talking about painting and stuff.

 

SHORT ANSWER:  I DOOOOOOOOOO

 

Do you do commissions?

[Elven_Glory]

I don't understand, why 5 years?
 
DAO: 2009
 
some of the DLC:
Return to Ostagar: 2009
Stone Prisoner: 2010
Darkspawn Chronicles: 2010
Leliana's Song: 2010
The Golems...: 2010
Witch Hunt: 2010
 
So why do people always say 5 years? I often read this and always wonder. Do I misunderstand something?

Idk. ExaggeratIon based on feeling? It's only been a couple months with DAI, but it feels a lot longer...

[MaidenM]

I don't understand, why 5 years?

 

DAO: 2009

 

some of the DLC:

Return to Ostagar: 2009

Stone Prisoner: 2010

Darkspawn Chronicles: 2010

Leliana's Song: 2010

The Golems...: 2010

Witch Hunt: 2010

 

So why do people always say 5 years? I often read this and always wonder. Do I misunderstand something?

 

DAO: 2009

 

DAI: 2014

 

We did, after all, never find out what Morrigan was up to. I always felt Witch Hunt ended on a cliffhanger.

[Valeria Lavellan]

going back to Solas and MLavelan being butt buddies 

 

"My friend" 

 

-awwwww yisss

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

[HatUmbra]

Hola All.

 

I was playing through, er, yet another lavellan, and I noticed this oddity:

 

http://imgur.com/Rwku0db

 

This screenshot is taken when she is level 5, just before heading to Val Royeaux for the first time. She had just asked him to tell her more about himself and asked about him staying in order to experience more, and after his usual speech about "all are in danger", she said "ah", then he said that.

 

I had never seen this dialogue, and uh, she isn't the Inquisitor yet, so I am thinking maybe I PL'd my approval with him to very high levels that shouldn't have happened until after Skyhold?

 

Ah well, always nice to find new things.

[Siha]

DAO: 2009

 

DAI: 2014

 

We did, after all, never find out what Morrigan was up to. I always felt Witch Hunt ended on a cliffhanger.

I always thought it was about DLC.

And we still don't know what she was/is up to (if anything at all).

[RoyalRel]

Do you do commissions?

Yep.

I'm currently working for 6....no, 7 people.

Here be Deviantart page with info.

[Siha]

Yep.

I'm currently working for 6....no, 7 people.

Here be Deviantart page with info.

 

You should (in case you don't already) offer drawing portraits of your customers like that fantasy self-portrait of you. Basically "me as a Dalish elf (with Solas)". I bet a lot of people would love that.

[RebbyWriter]

I sure do!

I have heard it is frowned upon in some circles, which I simply cannot understand. How else can you understand things if not studying them? If in art school you have models who pose for artists, the same process happens when referencing.

I encourage using references, be it for a pose, or for a color palette, or a background, if you are in doubt.

Eventually things will become easier because you start understanding how things work together and muscle memory comes into play. 

Anatomy study I found is particularly helpful and warm-up sessions before taking on a larger piece. But each person has their own work-flow, so you just gotta do what works best for you.

 

Lol, long rant. I get excited talking about painting and stuff.

 

SHORT ANSWER:  I DOOOOOOOOOO

 

^^ THIS

 

I have an art software that has a 3D model posing tool in it. I don't know how I arted before without it! Some say this is "cheating" but, when you have to come up with an idea, draw a sketch, ink the sketch, color it in, put shades/highlights/textures and whatever else not including the backgrounds...Um...That's still a lot of work. I use tons of references for my work and, I actually think it makes me a better artist. Some of that does stick after the first few tries, anyway.

[CapricornSun]

Yep.
I'm currently working for 6....no, 7 people.
Here be Deviantart page with info.

Ooh! I should commission you one day. When I have the monies, that is. (I'm currently broke TT__TT)

EDIT: Ah, top page again? I'm using my phone at the moment so no Solas pic for now. (I should be sleeping since it's now 5:15 am where I am. xD)

[Avejajed]

Yep.

I'm currently working for 6....no, 7 people.

Here be Deviantart page with info.

 

How do you get points? Good deeds? lol

[BoscoBread]

Idk. ExaggeratIon based on feeling? It's only been a couple months with DAI, but it feels a lot longer...

Because you're in a Solavellan hellspiral. Time works differently here.

[AutumnOracle]

Keep posting theories here! I love them. And the funny memes. And the arts. We need to keep it all!

[AutumnOracle]

Keep posting theories here! I love them. And the funny memes. And the arts. We need to keep it all!

[MaidenM]

I always thought it was about DLC.

And we still don't know what she was/is up to (if anything at all).

 

That's why people are saying they hope we won't have to wait 5 years. We hope for DLC, instead of having to wait until the next game.

[Giton]

Because you're in a Solavellan hellspiral. Time works differently here.

My new, go-to status:

"How are you?"

"Well, despite living in a Solavellan hellspiral, pretty good. You?"
 

[TanisLave]

Hola All.

 

I was playing through, er, yet another lavellan, and I noticed this oddity:

 

http://imgur.com/Rwku0db

 

This screenshot is taken when she is level 5, just before heading to Val Royeaux for the first time. She had just asked him to tell her more about himself and asked about him staying in order to experience more, and after his usual speech about "all are in danger", she said "ah", then he said that.

 

I had never seen this dialogue, and uh, she isn't the Inquisitor yet, so I am thinking maybe I PL'd my approval with him to very high levels that shouldn't have happened until after Skyhold?

 

Ah well, always nice to find new things.

 

Weird? I've never seen that conversation/dialogue options before. 

 

Maybe he is psychic and let it slip. 

[Elven_Glory]

Because you're in a Solavellan hellspiral. Time works differently here.

No kidding. Time moves at a crawl for those of us who have had our hearts broken by that snarky faced elf.

And yet here I am, making another Lavellan... romancing Solas again. I'd like to say it's because I'm stupid, but so many others have done it, I know that cannot be the case. Inguess he just has that effect on people. Like he's just made of magic. Or... magnets, perhaps. Something must give him the ability to attract and hold.

[nikki-tikki]

Because Fenris is like Solas..only...umm...  I have no idea where I'm going with this...  I just want to share sexy Fenris art.

 

http://thisisfromm.d...enris-510570351

 

I stop by the Fenris thread once in a while just to look.... 

 

have to say i don't really understand the appeal of Abelas lol

 

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

 

I have a question: do you sketch, using references? If not, how the hell magic!! do you do it? 

 

I have to use references.....there is no other way...or else everything looks like pancakes...

 

Spoiler

 

 

........I want......

[nikki-tikki]

How do you get points? Good deeds? lol

You have to buy them .

[madrar]

179 pages...  TwT   auuugh

 

Dumping a bit of random theory before I get back to work catching up.  I'm really sorry for the length!  I can't seem to get the spoiler tags to work the way I need them to.

 

Warning: this interpretation depends heavily on triple threat theory and the implication that there are seven members of the elvish Panthon, not nine.  If that's a no-go for you, feel free to skip!

 

The "Tevinter" Bas Relief Mosaics and the Limitations of Dwarven Perspective

 

To be blunt, getting the dwarven perspective would be a lot more useful if Gatsi were better at discerning pointy ears.  Given the mosaics' apparent subject matter and the aforementioned obvious pointy ears, identifying their origin as Tevinter seems very unlikely.  I theorize that they are instead elven, looted and in some cases outright appropriated by the Imperium in the aftermath of the Elvhenan civil war.  

 

My basic premise is that the series as a group tells a complete story: specifically, the story of an ancient rebellion.  There are, unfortunately, two plausible parallel historic interpretations, reflecting the fundamental tug-of-war identity crisis behind Dumat, whose history is tightly tied to these mosaics.  I’ll present both for completeness’ sake: the tinfoil version (crazy but fairly firmly supported) and the saran wrap version (weaker in shape and likely a transparent attempt by BW to lead theory astray).  

 

Tin Foil Theory:  

Spoiler

The mosaics depict the failed rebellion of Falon’Din/Dirthamen.  The series follows his trajectory from attempted rebellion through its suppression / counter-attack led by Mythal to his final disfigurement and connection to the cult of “The Thing in the Dark” eventually adopted by Tevinter as the Cult of Dumat.  This will be an unpalatable perspective for many who take the strongly negative representation of events in the mosaics as historic truth- but as I’ll get to in a moment, that itself is a core fallacy that should be rejected.

 

Seran Wrap Theory:  

Spoiler

The mosaics depict the successful rebellion that ended with the fall of Arlathan, making the central figure Elgar’nan.  Again, while this parallel theory is plausible in its broadest strokes, it suffers from a number of fundamental weaknesses.  The first and simplest being the creation of the mosaics themselves.  They would necessarily have been crafted in the wake of the events they depict, which strongly suggests that the prevailing side in the rebellion depicted was Order.  It’s hard to imagine the chaotic civil war that followed the fall of Arlathan being conducive to the creation of elaborate historic bas relief murals. 

 

Spoiler

Second, the impulse to attribute the mosaics' decidedly negative portrayal of their subject as a representation of Elgar’nan is an easy trap to fall into, and should be resisted.  Solas’ character is desperately sympathetic, and remains so regardless of whether these mosaics depict his or Elgar’nan’s fall.  As Bioware constantly reminds us, there are two sides to every story: all lore and art we encounter in game is colored by the perspective and bias of the society in which it was made.  The losers of conflicts rarely have the luxury of writing history books or recording their side of the story in art.  Their perspective and objectives can only be read between the lines- inferred by accounting for the bias inherent in what the winners choose to present to the world and using that to extrapolate backwards.  Again, I want to stress the idea that these mosaics are historical events as the winning side would have them remembered, not necessarily as they truly were.

 

Ok!  That said, let’s dig in. 

 

Freed Are Slaves

 

 

Gatsi's Codex:

Spoiler

I think this one is called "Freed Are Slaves," which is exactly the kind of "saying words but meaning different things" I expect from a Tevinter. There's lies in the carving, too, but I'll come back to that.

 

Subject aside, I like this. It's workmanlike, but in a good dwarven way. It repeats because the carver knows what she's good at, so she does it again and again. Makes me think she has more than a passing knowledge of the Stone.

 

That said, there's two sets of hands involved, one old, one new. Take this magister. He's glowing because he's fresh. Newer. Same with his trophies flanking him. Carved down from more complex figures. And the flat next to them—seems plain, doesn't it? The bottom is filled with detail, but this is left an open field? No, that's just what it is now, but there's shadows for a clever eye. So, what was here if not this handsome magister wanting his cod stuffed? Someone else instead of him and his friends, and two more figures on each side. Seven total.

 

Only the top was changed. The Qunari haven't been touched; that's old wear down there. When it was first done and hundreds of years later, yoked Qunari prisoners still fit. I don't suppose it's for the same reasons.

 

I can only say the what, not the why. I can guess that someone wanted to be a Tevinter hero and paid to have their face carved on an antiquity. I mean, that's a crime against ancestors where I'm from, but I don't expect Tevinters to obey dwarven honor. Or their own, really. They've been at war a long time, so I understand wanting to seem big. Orzammar's the same with the darkspawn, unfortunately.

Still, shame to lose the original. Not for the seven, for the carver. Good work, this.

 

Saranwrap Theory: 

Spoiler

This is Elgar'nan and two female members of the Pantheon overlooking their horde of kossith slaves.

 

Tinfoil Theory:  

Spoiler

Gatsi’s insight that this is edited art is critical: the inference being that changes were made to an original mural that seems to have represented all seven members of the Pantheon as a united force over the enslaved kossith.  The second artist repurposed this image to tell a far different story: that of Dirthamen / Falon’Din, flanked by Ghilan’nain and Andruil, overseeing the slave rebellion they’d created.  This is represented most tellingly by what the new carver has done with the stone where other Pantheon figures used to be.  The kossith there has been edited to bear not a yoke, but a sword.  This has been transformed into the rebellion’s army of freed slaves, or at least its metaphorical representation.  

 

Spoiler

 

Also, as a first tiny piece of foundation toward our larger theory that this series connects Dirthamen directly to the cult of Dumat, it’s worth noting the general shape of the figures here in relation to the statuary here:

 

Spoiler

 

The connection is admittedly tenuous, but still a bit suggestive in the context of additional evidence we’ll examine later.  

 

Sacrifice

 

 

Gatsi's Codex: 

Spoiler

From what I can figure, this one is called "Sacrifice." I'll get back to that later. By two sculptors, and I'll get back to that sooner.

 

The sculptor's gone to the trouble of faces. I'd guess she worked from portraits, which means they were people who considered themselves important enough to need them. The scene is a classic example of "don't do this" because the sculptor hates them. It's in the way it's carved: all fast, hard edges. Uglier than they need to be, even for your average Tevinter who—and this isn't just me, mind—stands like a lanky vein of lyrium. But don't mistake that for sloppy carving. It's natural, practiced. The carver knows Tevinter. Bet she is one, and it's self-hate, probably.

 

And obvious enough. There's skulls all over, and two big and horned. That brings to mind your Qunari, and fair enough, right? Tevinters hate Qunari and have ever since they showed up. No magister wants his mouth contradicted, let alone stitched. So it makes sense they're there, even that early, I suppose.

 

Because this is probably that business of readying to invade the Fade, and giants with horns are a good motivator to sodding hurry up. Odd thing, though, is that those two are not the only Qunari in the carving. The one in the middle was sculpted with horns, and someone has gone in later and chipped them off. You can tell by the surface of it. Well, maybe you can't. But I can.

 

Seen it happen time and again. Tastes change, and the ancestor's nudes are suddenly embarrassing. So in comes a new hand to paint on some clothes. And here, judging by the marks, to cut away horns and make the victim look human. Some proud new owner didn't want to throw out the antiquity, but also didn't want people to think grandm'ma sliced up Qunari. Looks like they didn't care if she kept their heads around, though.

 

So! The carvers both wanted to show Tevinter being shits, but the later one didn't want to show what about. And that's usually to avoid blame or deny credit. Or to be an arse, I suppose.

 

Saranwrap theory:

Spoiler

This panel portrays Elgar'nan using the kossith for the purpose he had them created: massive and undoubtedly evil blood magic rituals.

 

Tinfoil theory: 

Spoiler

This is the most difficult panel to present convincingly in terms of the series being a portrayal of Falon’Din/Dirthamen’s rebellion.  It’s obvious political propaganda and an attempt at character assassination regardless of which theory you prefer.  The panel depicts the use of blood magic, pure and simple, and hints at outright sacrifice.  In theory (creation of races link to follow) the kossith were created as an advance in terms of mortal beings with increasingly strong Will.  This would have had two effects: it granted them blood that would have been a relatively potent source of power, and also made individuals of that race much more difficult to externally control or subdue. Which objective was the original impetus for their creation depends on who we believe to have motivated their creation, but let’s ignore that debate for now.  

 

For our purposes, even assuming that the panel is an attempt to vilify the rebellion and by extension Dirthamen / Falon’Din, we’re forced to infer at least some degree of morally dubious action in the furthering of its objectives.  It was almost certainly not the lurid, graphic propaganda on display here- but still, it suggests the use of freed-slave blood magic should be accepted as extremely likely.  Not simply by its leaders (as evidenced by the races of the group surrounding the central sacrificial figure) but by common members of the rebellion, both elvhen and kossith.

 

 This is granted additional, though tenuous, support in the following in-game conversation and party banter.

 

Spoiler

Inquisitor:  “You said that the censure against blood magic was superstition.”

Solas:  “ I did.  It is fortunate Cassandra is not within earshot.  Most modern cultures forbid blood magic.  Publically, even Tevinter disapproves of it.  But as I said- magic is magic.  It matters in only how it is used.”
Inquisitor:  “I’d be interested in learning more about blood magic.”
Solas:  “I would teach you if I knew it.  Unfortunately it seems blood magic makes it more difficult to enter the fade.  You understand why I never bothered to learn it.  A shame, as it is extremely powerful.   Provided it remains a tool… not a crutch.  Nor a passion.”

 

Blackwall:  “Magic has little place in a war between men.”

Solas:  “Many mages are brutes, seeing nothing more than a larger ball of fire. But those with imagination, those who use war to push the limits of the possible ...”
Blackwall:  “I wish the Chantry could better enforce restrictions against its use.”
Solas:  “Such rules never hold. Any who want victory will find some reason their cause merits exception.  The best we can do is ensure the world still stands when this fight ends.”

 

Knowing what we do about his perspective on his own actions as Falon’Din during this era, there’s an undertone of (self-) recrimination in these conversations that seems to support the likely use of blood magic in the context of the failed rebellion.   Its more extreme forms of practice would have been used in desperation- a means to an end that might have arguably justified its use had it succeeded, but ended instead in failure.

 

The Archdemon

 

 

Gatsi's Codex:

Spoiler

I gather this one is titled "The Archdemon." Not "The Three Archdemons," and I'll get back to that. Good construction here. A nice balanced carving, if you consider Tevinters to have equal weight to the dragon's arse. Not a bad comparison, you ask me.

 

Seven magisters and some easy symmetry to give a host something to sound smart about after dinner. If I had to guess, they'd go on about how four lines, and four magisters, are part of the dragon and favored. Two lines are piercing it, so they do more damage than good. And one, that big one farthest out, has missed the thing completely. If this was carved around the Third Blight, that gets you three heads. Doesn't matter, those are all shallow details, probably followed by "and it speaks to me because my soul something regret whatever."

 

Now, the first thing those spits don't understand is that carving isn't just what you see. They've never made a physical thing and don't know the how of it. Depth is all tricks of shadow and such; the actual cuts are only as deep as the sculptor wants. And if you take a flat edge to this thing, what she wanted is strange. Because what I'm thinking is that this is one Archdemon and the three heads are the reaction to the three lines. Because piercing-line-one is on the same tier as the Tevinter second from left, and the middle head turned away. Piercing-line-two is the same tier as Tevinter fifth from left, and the first head turned away. And the line that misses, that's the same tier as the big Tevinter, farthest out. And the dragon is looking straight at him. So the ones who did damage, the dragon doesn't care. The one who faked it, the dragon gives him an eyeful.

 

Now, add to that: artists like to hit big targets, but this carving has no faces. If she wanted to carve specific people, they'd be there, she has that skill. So, what if she's not after the magisters, she's carved Tevinter itself? You've got four ages of the empire where they're part of the dragon, two where they damage it, and one where they miss the point entirely and it gets them eaten. Think about it too much, and I bet you could come up with five different ways match their calendar, including your favorite aunt's birthday.

 

So, there you go. That's how to go from "balanced" to "not invited next time." At my house, anyway.

 

Saranwrap theory:  

Spoiler

This is a hard panel to explain in the saran wrap context, revealing one of its many weaknesses as a counter-explanation.  A representation of Mythal deciding to "turn" on Elgar'nan?  It's plausible.  But if so, who are the other figures she ignores?  Two members of the Pantheon that represented a greater harm to the People but went unpunished?

 

Tinfoil Theory: 

Spoiler

This panel serves as an explanation for those that follow.  As evidenced in the first panel, three primary Pantheon leaders are implied to have been involved in the failed rebellion: Andruil, Ghilan’nain, and Dirthamen/Falon’Din.  The dragon represents both judgment by the forces of Order.  The first two attacking figures, whose involvement it suggests may have been more direct and effective, are ignored by the dragon.  Elgar’nan/Mythal cannot punish either Ghilan’nain or Andruil, as the only punative options are death (which would be negated by the OGS powers of Falon’Din) or imprisonment in the Void (directly dependent on Ghilan’nain’s collaborative OGS prison forms).  Dirthamen alone can be made an example, and thus the dragon turns the full brunt of its fury on him.

 

 

Invasion

 

 

Gatsi's Codex: 

Spoiler

This pretty collection is "Invasion." Big claim for seven people and one castle. Maybe "dreams" aren't as grand as mages claim. Flying looks like fun, though. Like falling, but up. So, not like falling at all.

 

It's seven here, seven magisters. Only five detailed, but that's because two have been chipped away. Looks like vandals; done with a rock, not chisel. Hard to come up with a reason to do it poorly like that except fear or lack of time. Maybe they had symbols different from the ones left because symbols are always making people angry enough to chip rock.

 

So these seven invade the Golden City. That's what it's meant to be because it's all fanciful. Needs stairs, if you ask me. Don't care if you can fly; stairs aren't just functional. They lead the eye and ground the structure. Here the sculptor hasn't just left them off, she's made the place too high. Anyone with a sense of Stone will tell you that this place is coming down under its own weight. It's intentional because it's a "god's" house, but I'm not sure what the style mishmash has to do with the "wonder" of that. If this were a real place from that long ago, you'd see only Tevinter in the architecture. But this looks like typical post-empire bluster, adding elven bits like they always owned it. That's an artist for you. A mason would have at least got it the right way round. Tevinter foundation with elven overlay, not muddled.

 

Anyway, simple message: the carver wants it known that mortals aren't supposed to be there. No stairs.

 

Saranwrap theory:  

Spoiler

This is the beginning of the attack on Arlathan, in which Mythal and Fen'Harel (represented, I suppose, by Dirthamen?) take on the Golden City as a symbol of Elgar'nan's Order.  The weak fit again calls this theory's plausiblity into question.

 

Tinfoil theory:

Spoiler

The forces of Order, led by Mythal, prepare to attack Falon’Din / Dirthamen.  Mythal’s representation as the central figure seems clear, as it’s underscored by the distinctive “four-horned” depiction we’ve come to associate with her in both human and dragon form. The identity of the others is less certain, though we can assume by process of elimination that the female figure at the far left is likely Sylaise.   The figure to her right is particularly interesting, as Mythal seems to be gesturing at him in an almost conciliatory manner, possibly holding back the full extent of his rage.  Given that perspective, this is most likely Elgar’nan, and if so, the symbols we see associated with him here have important echoes that spread and intersect with Solas (Dirthamen/Falon’Din) in myriad ways throughout the DA universe.  First, the symbol on the back of his head.

 

Spoiler

 

This has an obvious echo in the symbol of the Inquisition, with the key change being a sword piercing it- perhaps representing the Inquisition as an intentionally oppositional force.  

 

 

The second symbol is also interesting, given that it seems (at least superficially) to be something very like an inversion of the symbol the Qunari adopted to represent their nation.  Nothing solid can be built of this yet-  just pointing out potential connections to be discarded or built on later.  

 

 

The figure to Mythal’s immediate right is also difficult to place, particularly since degradation of the relief itself makes it difficult to discern with clarity whether the figure is facing the city or the assembled group.   The trident staff is potentially a unique identifier, however, and should be noted to prime future association.   The final figure is similarly uncertain, though his staff is interestingly suggestive (and carefully cut off so as to remain ambiguous - thanks a lot, art guy!) of either concentric circles that might indicate the Sun or the jagged crescent that the darkspawn of DAO repeat in their pseudo-religious structures.  Either interpretation would potentially force us to re-evaluate the larger context, making this Elgar’nan and the symbolically marked figure  in the foreground Falon’Din, watching helplessly from the fade as the forces of Order converged to punish Dirthamen.  

 

The Fall

 

 

Gatsi's Codex:

Spoiler

Now here's a happy study. "The Fall," and a face that says, "Why did we try to go where there were no stairs?" Because you go into an impossible building like that, you're coming out on fire, and then it will flip or something. I still do not see the appeal of dreams.

 

So, your seven magisters entered, and they came out blighted and not sure which way is up. I'll pass that off to the sculptor trying to represent madness. I mean, towers here, upended over there. You know what kind of force it would take to flip that much stone? It'd do more than burn your beard.

 

Here's something interesting, though. You've got a hint of pigment and leaf causing some sheen, but there's meant to be more. All of these were painted and repainted at some point, to match whatever lord's three-holer. But there's a type of finishing that you can do, a very fine and time-consuming pass that evens the surface. Do it right, you can get stone as smooth as glass. And that tower, and Beardy's skull, are meant to have it. And only a little is present on the others.

 

So, the first time this carving was wheeled out, it would have looked like Beardy was the target, so maybe he was first in the door? And the "light," it burns him and spreads to the others. And the polish or leaf would have caught light like a mirror and caused the viewer to squint. They'd have to look down or away, "joining" the magisters in their punishment. Makes them feel part of it.

 

That's what I figure, anyway. And it would sure keep the children out of the feast hall.

 

Saranwrap theory:

Spoiler

Depicts the fall of Arlathan.  Elgar'nan burns as the Golden City is charred black.

 

Tinfoil theory: 

Spoiler

The final relief depicts the punishment itself.  As Gatsi intimates, the idea of light striking the tower and the central figure is likely intentional, perhaps intended to suggest the nature of the weapon used: weaponized light, a beam weapon similar in basic nature to the one we encounter in game at the Citadelle du Corbeau.  Given its similar special treatment, the tower seems to have been of particular importance as well- but without further evidence we can only hazard a guess that there may be a potential connection to the tower depicted in Dirthamen’s temple below.    

 

Spoiler

 

This final panel allows us to both track and understand the evolution of elvhen Dirthamen to human Dumat, so bear with me while I lay out the foundation.  The first key is establishing the distinctive nature of the figure being presented.  Though the ambiguity of the background serves to obscure this fact, on close examination the main figure seems to have four total arms.  

 

Spoiler

 

This is a feature we see repeated in several of Ghilan’nain’s creations that have no (known) modern descendants, and functions as a hint of her alliance.  

 

Spoiler

 

This is also, critically, reflected in two examples of figures of worship:  Dumat, and the Thing in the Dark.  As I will explain shortly, there is strong evidence that they are one and the same. 

 

Spoiler

 

As covered in the wiki, an established punishment for treason in ancient Elvhanan was being cast into the Void, with evidence of the traitor’s existence among the People being almost fully erased from history and society.  For a former member of the Pantheon, this imprisonment would have had additional repercussions- his lands and people would have been forfeit, his temples abandoned or destroyed.  

 

Erasure would be a far more difficult task for the Pantheon to perform on one of its own members, however.   Though direct worshippers could be killed, societies that favor one god above others but acknowledge the existence of a larger group cannot be easily convinced to forget the existence of individual members of their Pantheon.  At the time of the failed rebellion, no member of the Pantheon held sway over a populace that did not include worshippers of other members- and in Ferelden at least, it seems attempts to stamp out worship simply drove it underground.  

 

We see this most obviously (and literally) in our exploration of the Temple of Dirthamen in DAI.  Above ground, the ruins that remain show evidence of being largely reappropriated by other members of the Pantheon.  The mosaics are of Falon’Din and Ghilan’nain, the statuary of Mythal (with the later addition of Fen’Harel upon restoration to the Pantheon).  Below ground, however, we find evidence of persistent worship that seems to center around a new figure.   The statuary incarnations of this figure are crude inuksuit, likely dating to the fall of Arlathan and indicative of the social chaos caused by the breakdown of Elvhen society, and were likely representative of the only power that might have remained able (in a very limited fashion) to interact with the mortal world after the fall:  Falon’Din / Dirthamen.  

 

Spoiler

 

And though the connection is far more tenous, the mosaic image also calls into question the bearded skull icon that seems to trace back to the earliest human settlements in Ferelden.  This may be evidence that the cult spread to human tribes before being adopted in its final “Dumat” form.   

 

Spoiler

 

The cult seems to persist through the ages as an undercurrent in elvish society, coming again to relative prominence as the elves build Halamshiral.  At this point, their craftsmen have both time and social resources to create statuary of the being their ancestors would have once encountered in dreams before he was judged and sealed in the void as the Dread Wolf.

 

 

This figure, grotesque and misshapen, is Dirthamen/Falon'Din.   Burned horribly by the fire we witnessed in the final bas relief panel, the tendons of his hands and feet are tightly curled by third degree burn contracture, his flesh striated and scarred, the features of his face melted to the point of being rendered almost unrecognizable as humanoid.  Tellingly, however, the “Thing in the Dark” retains the features that allow us to definitively tie him to both Dirthamen and Dumat: a distinctive number of arms, as well as the spiral iconography commonly associated with the fade.  

[RoyalRel]

^^ THIS

 

I have an art software that has a 3D model posing tool in it. I don't know how I arted before without it! Some say this is "cheating" but, when you have to come up with an idea, draw a sketch, ink the sketch, color it in, put shades/highlights/textures and whatever else not including the backgrounds...Um...That's still a lot of work. I use tons of references for my work and, I actually think it makes me a better artist. Some of that does stick after the first few tries, anyway.

 

YES, SO MUCH THIS.

How in the hell and why would it be considered cheating? Art in so many forms has been all about observing the outside world and the artists view of it...BY OBSERVING. I cannot, for the life of me, understand those who say referencing is something wrong. The idea in your head must be anchored (heh, anchored pfft. Solas, where are you for this discussion? ) to a real life subject, so it is recognizable for the viewer (I hope I'm making myself understood here, maybe it doesn't translate all that well into english).

So naturally we turn to references (be it a picture or a model) to put that idea to paper.

And also yes, it does make you a better artist because you grow from it. Just as much as you do from practicing every day and studying color theory , or anatomy, etc. It is all connected.

You might have also heard that most, if not all known artists use references. It is a natural thing.

[nikki-tikki]

^^ THIS

 

I have an art software that has a 3D model posing tool in it. I don't know how I arted before without it! Some say this is "cheating" but, when you have to come up with an idea, draw a sketch, ink the sketch, color it in, put shades/highlights/textures and whatever else not including the backgrounds...Um...That's still a lot of work. I use tons of references for my work and, I actually think it makes me a better artist. Some of that does stick after the first few tries, anyway.

Is it Manga Studio by any chance?? Because it has that but for some reason after I last updated it, the 3D modeling doesn't work anymore and it makes me SO upset because it was so usefull....

[Avejajed]

You know what annoys the everloving **** out of me?

 

When I answer the phone at work "Good morning/afternoon! Thank you for calling (my company). How may I direct your call?" and someone legit cuts me right off during that greeting.

 

It is common courtesy to let me finish saying hello when I answer the phone!!!!!! Jerks! 

 

"Good afternoon! Thank you for.." "Give me Joe Blow." "...calling (my company). How may I direct your call?" 

 

I always finish what I was saying just to ****** them off for pissing me off. Jerks.