SPOILER ALERT
Okay, I started a new play through today, and knowing about Solas from the beginning makes me peeved at him! He keeps making little remarks about how he doesn't know this or that, and I just want to smack him! Oh thank you Solas for keeping me alive for the last few days since I have this bizarre mark on my hand that you DO know all about (you big fat liar! My internal thoughts of course)
Do what I do and talk to your screen at him. Snark if you must.
The Whole temple of Mythal was a slap in the face for my dalish.
First the was the Whole thing with the geas which was a terrrible choice to make. For my Lavellan being dalish have always been about being free to think and believe what she wanted (a tad naive perhaps, but she truly felt that). Then there was the meeting with Mythal which was not pretty.
Not just where the creators real and not just stories, which mean Lavellan now had to consider all the events of the stories and things that might have actually happened. (Let's be honest the creators are not a nice bunch). Mythal had taken a human host and had pretty much ignored the People's plights while focusing soley on her own revenge. My Lavellan just lost faith in the creators after that.
So while she appricated how current symbolic value of the vallaslin, she just couldn't wear them anymore. The creators were just not worth it. Add to that, after the well she was also concerned that the markings could be used as another form for geas and mind control and I really wish we could have asked Solas about that. (Because I can't be the only one who jumped from Blood writing to blood magic to mind control?)
I felt the exact same way. Throughout history, symbols have changed in meaning according to whichever group claimed it at the time. Hitler didn't invent the swastika (? Spelling), and hippies didn't invent the peace sign. These symbols have been around for thousands of years. Whatever the original meaning of the symbols, the Dalish have adopted them into their culture for what is significant for them.
I remember when people started swarming a Rome II mod for the Socii having green swastikas on their shields. 
I think there was US Army force from the Southwest that used swastikas as a symbol thanks to its meaning to the First Nations people. They, um, ripped them off on the ride over to Britain for the Normandy Invasion. It's been around since Neolithic times.
Coincidentally, Arlathan and its use as a slave symbol is about as far back to the modern Dalish as the actual Neolithic times are to us. And I'm willing to bet that the symbols were all over the place, in temples and tapestries and mosaics, not just slave brands. They were the symbols of the gods, after all. The Dalish, lacking temples, just put it on their face. Very practical.
That, and the lovely shade of purple, is why my Lavellan kept her vallaslin. 
The Whole temple of Mythal was a slap in the face for my dalish.
First the was the Whole thing with the geas which was a terrrible choice to make. For my Lavellan being dalish have always been about being free to think and believe what she wanted (a tad naive perhaps, but she truly felt that). Then there was the meeting with Mythal which was not pretty.
Not just where the creators real and not just stories, which mean Lavellan now had to consider all the events of the stories and things that might have actually happened. (Let's be honest the creators are not a nice bunch). Mythal had taken a human host and had pretty much ignored the People's plights while focusing soley on her own revenge. My Lavellan just lost faith in the creators after that.
So while she appricated how current symbolic value of the vallaslin, she just couldn't wear them anymore. The creators were just not worth it. Add to that, after the well she was also concerned that the markings could be used as another form for geas and mind control and I really wish we could have asked Solas about that. (Because I can't be the only one who jumped from Blood writing to blood magic to mind control?)
My Lavellan was pretty much on the same boat as yours. I think she pretty much lost faith in the Creators too, after she learned that they were not a very nice bunch and after her encounter with Mythal, which is one of the reasons she opted to have her vallaslin removed. Though I'm not gonna lie, I do miss having them and almost chose to keep them.
And yes, what you said about the vallaslin being a form of mind control has been something that has been weighing on my mind too. The meaning may have changed, sure, but what if when or if the elven gods return they use it to control the Dalish? I'm guessing it's like some form of slave collar back in the days in Arlathan, though I may be wrong. 
EDIT: Also, nice to have you back Caddius! I do miss the little history lessons you used give to this thread. 
(And Madrar, I see you there, liking one of my art post, hehehe! Nice to have you back too.)
My Lavellan was pretty much on the same boat as yours. I think she pretty much lost in the Creators too, which is one of the reasons she opted to have her vallaslin removed. Though I'm not gonna lie, I do miss having them and almost chose to keep them.
And yes, what you said about the vallaslin being a form of mind control has been something that has been weighing on my mind too. The meaning may have changed, sure, but what if when or if the elven gods return they use it to control the Dalish? I'm guessing it's like some form of slave collar back in the days in Arlathan, though I may be wrong.
I had a theory that the vallaslin was tied to the 'power battery' of each respective god. In Mythal's case, it was the Well, and when Morrigan or the Inquisitor gobbled it up, Abelas and the Sentinels were both able to and forced to leave, as the magic empowering the Temple and binding them to Mythal's service was no longer operating.
The fact that they use their own blood and turn it into a symbol of their god could be a spell in its own right. Or it requires extra juice from legit Arlathan priests and mages, and the Dalish have a version that's just a tattoo.
That being said, I enjoy the mental image of a demure Inquisitor with Elgar'nan's vallaslin getting her Krogan blood rage on when Elgie starts sending brainwaves out.
CADDIUS IS BACK OMG CADDIUS IS BACK!!!!!
(Sorry, it had to be said.)
CADDIUS IS BACK OMG CADDIUS IS BACK!!!!!
(Sorry, it had to be said.)
I needed my DA fix but I can't exactly handle more Origins at the moment.
I'm, uh, not going to read the thousand (?) pages or so I missed.
Can I just say that it feels very appropriate that the first post I saw after my absence was Sable apologizing for sending people into hellspirals?
Can I just say that it feels very appropriate that the first post I saw after my absence was Sable apologizing for sending people into hellspirals?
The hellspiral is real. 
Can I just say that it feels very appropriate that the first post I saw after my absence was Sable apologizing for sending people into hellspirals?
*whispers* That was me.... 
*whispers* That was me....
I'm so proud.
I guess I saw 'hellspiral', 'Sable', and just connected the lines in crayon?
*whispers* That was me....
I think there were a couple of incidents of hellspiraling yesterday, between fic stuff, shared posts, the art I posted, Kestrel's comment, and then your pics. Then it evolved into fic prompts, craziness, and....butts.
Basically, a typical day here at the Solas thread.
Michel: You are an honorable man. You would have made an excellent chevalier.
Cullen: [punches Michel in the eye]
Aveline and Crem would be a fun pair. I wonder if you could send Crem to help
her kick Sebastian's ass... Seb take on that hellhole called Kirkwall
Fixed it for you.
The only reason for keeping Anders alive would be to help my favourite Scottish Starkhaven archer take on Kirkwall.
Michel: [tears shirt off] I am Ser Michel de Chevin, and I'm PRETTIER!
Fem!Quizzy:
Femquizzy: *gets in a few kicks to Michel while he's distracted by how fantastic Cullen is in comparison to him*
I'm so proud.
I guess I saw 'hellspiral', 'Sable', and just connected the lines in crayon?
I think there were a couple of incidents of hellspiraling yesterday, between fic stuff, shared posts, the art I posted, Kestrel's comment, and then your pics. Then it evolved into fic prompts, craziness, and....butts.
Basically, a typical day here at the Solas thread.
LOL I guess I just assumed that the last page of the thread was the first page that Caddius saw after his long absence. And since my post was at the top and had an apology for the hellspiraling, I thought it was my post that he saw. My bad.
Fixed it for you.
The only reason for keeping Anders alive would be to help my favourite
ScottishStarkhaven archer take on Kirkwall.
Sent Aveline after chantry boy. Next.
LOL I guess I just assumed that the last page of the thread was the first page that Caddius saw after his long absence. And since my post was at the top and had an apology for the hellspiraling, I thought it was my post that he saw. My bad.
I think your post and Sable's were the reason. But there were a few moments of hellspiraling and the craziness. It all works.
I think your post and Sable's were the reason. But there were a few moments of hellspiraling and the craziness. It all works.
I read the last seven pages or so. 
Glad to see the thread is still in top shape.
EDIT: That is to say, I blame all of you equally.
Sent Aveline after chantry boy. Next.
FITE ME IRL CEE
I needed my DA fix but I can't exactly handle more Origins at the moment.
What game you're playing atm really has nothing to do with hanging around here. (insert smiley with folded arms)
I read the last seven pages or so.
We've lost some people and the theory crafting has died down a little, but it's only to expected after the game has been out for half a year.
FITE ME IRL CEE
I've been up late writing and must sleep, but could not resist that one.
You know, we had this discussion about Solas making Cole forget just before he leaves. And how he does it and if it's in character. I've been thinking... but I lack some facts. What exactly do we know about this? Does anybody speak about it, explain it? Or is it just that Cole tries to remember but cannot? Because, is it possible that Cole wanted to forget and Solas only did it as a favor, because Cole asked him to? After all, Cole thinks that forgetting selectively is good and helps. Like keep the memory of the idea, but forget its source. Is this possible or do we know for sure that Solas just did it to not leave a witness behind?
What game you're playing atm really has nothing to do with hanging around here. (insert smiley with folded arms)
Well, okay, yeah...I meant that I figured the forums probably wouldn't be flying with Jaws of Haakon spoilers. That is my defense.
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