Was looking through that little resume about Solas attached to the "Last Supper" scene and the fact that he doesn't believe in good or bad. Now that has given me pause for thought. He is perfectly correct in not labelling people, races or spirits as good and bad. Even magic is really only a tool and it is what you do with it that determines it's morality so to speak.
However, I'm hoping this insistence on neutrality does not extend to actions because there are some actions that cannot be considered as anything other than bad. For example, that guy stealing away elf children and murdering them in DA2 (and whatever he did before killing them). That was bad. The man himself was clearly sick in the head and admitted that he would keep on doing it if left running around free. It was also apparent that if returned to his father, the Magistrate, it wouldn't be long before he was loose again. So invariably I did execute him but I never thought of him personally as evil but what he did as evil and that seemed the only reliable way of stopping it.
There has been quite a bit of argument over on the Cole thread about his actions in Asunder which I don't want to get into here but I am hoping that the reason Solas is okay with him is because he understands he is a spirit and is still learning about the morality of actions in our world rather than some sort of moral relativism which means that no action can be classed as either good or bad. Of course it might mean that provided you don't try to lock him up as an apostate he is not going to be too judgemental of your actions but in a way I prefer having a companion say that what I am doing is wrong, even if I don't agree with them. Sometimes it is also useful to keep you from thinking you are infallible.
How did you understand that comment?
I took it to mean that Solas is more interested in the truth of things than in immediately judging them. Like with Cole - I imagine his attitude toward Cole is similar to mine. Yes, the murders he committed were wrong - I don't think anyone, Cole's fans included, would deny that. Without delving into a debate, as this isn't the thread for that (and I've already posted in there, extensively, so if anyone's interested in something more detailed from me, go look there 
), I'll just say that I think Solas will realize Cole did not have the capacity to understand why it was wrong at the time. But what's done is done, and what Solas can do is help Cole understand what he is now, and maybe help him figure out what path to take with that knowledge.
Let's just assume for the sake of argument that Solas is not intending to betray us (and I recognize the possibility - though it really doesn't temper my excitement about his character, or his potential romance arc if he has one, at all). The fact that he approaches us, and offers his help, is telling. It means he does see what is happening as a tragedy that must be stopped, and he's willing to risk his freedom as an apostate in offering his help. Even if he's not willing to immediately label whatever's causing it as 'evil,' doesn't mean he's just going to sit back and let events run their course - as someone who is truly neutral might. You could argue that it would be in his own self-interest, but I believe if there's anyone who could adapt to a world that's been encroached upon by the Fade, and could evade crazy templars in the meantime - and recognize that fact - it's Solas. In other words, not being willing to recognize a person or thing as bad (because 'it's more complicated than that!') doesn't mean you can't see the result of their actions as bad.
To bring it back to your example - I wouldn't call that mage who kills elven children evil. He was obviously mentally ill. In our world, I would have him seek help, and put him in an institution where he could get it, and live his life in relative peace without harming anyone else. No such institution exists in Thedas, so my character gave him the merciful death he asked for so no more children would die by has hand. (If I were to condemn anyone in that scenario, it would be the City Guard who didn't bother to investigate a crime against elves, or the Magistrate for putting his own reputation above the lives of others.) I imagine Solas might have a similar opinion on the matter.
As far as our actions as the Inquisitor - I think Solas will definitely have an opinion on what we do and will voice it. As to whether he will want us to save as many as we can, or whether his more logical approach will encourage us to do the same - i.e. letting a village die because keeping the stronghold will do more good in the long run- I cannot say at this point. What I imagine, and would like to see - is him encouraging us to look at all our options to find the best outcome - and questioning decisions that seem brash or based on emotion/ideology, etc - be it a decision based on compassion or selfishness.
Retour en haut
)
