Perhaps Laidlaw was cryptically implying that Merrill fixing the Eluvian isn't what's bad, it's where that Eluvian might lead, especially if that door is left ajar? Reminds me of one of my favourite quotes from Saavedro in Myst III: Exile, regarding the very similar Linking Books from those games;
"The doors they open... don't close behind you".
*listens to alchemy theory-crafting in polite confusion and genuine interest*
*clicking sound*
Oh.
That all makes the Joining rituals much more logical for me. Dragon blood is definitely playing a role with the Blight, and I like how they've been sneaky and have it as far back as The Calling with information only revealed years later.
There was some magic voodoo business going on with The Calling and Fiona, not to spoil anything for those of you who are on Chapter Two
, which might prevent the Hero of Ferelden from being cured through conception. Doesn't mean they shouldn't try to test out the theory.
Now, I'm curious. What would happen if the Architect and Corypheus and the rest of the Magisters took a draught of the Architect's Joining potion. Would it have any effect?
I'm going to reread The Calling with this kind of eye... sigh, of course, my copy is currently in Europe and I am not. 
Sigh. I have to work around that somehow. But going on what I remember, logic suggests that the exact opposite of what happened to Fiona should have been the result - which I can only explain again by the missing element the other Wardens didn't have, i.e. the child.
Yes, I think there is more needed to the formula than simply the conception of a Theirin child, there are definitely other factors in there - but the concept is interesting. There has to be a common denominator somewhere in here: the Architect is sentient compared to the drone-like regular darkspawn and he has odd powers besides. Corypheus is in no way like any other darkspawn whatsoever. His condition is self-inflicted largely, whereas the Architect seems to be more akin to a mutant among his own kind, yet they both possess the capacity to not only live with the taint (magic or no, I would imagine that the taint has to wear away at Corypheus through his long slumber), but they have unexplained powers that have nothing to do with darkspawn or regular magic. Such as not hearing the Archdemon's call, apparently, that even Grey Wardens succumb to. Grey Wardens also gain a stability, they do not waste away as fast as a regular ghoul, that part I can explain with the Archdemon blood and the fact that you ingest it much like a snake anti-venom made of its own venom. I, too, wonder what would happen should one of these formulae be introduced to one of these exceptional cases. Also, they tried to redo the Joining with Fiona and it didn't work; she became immune, she has the antibodies so to speak, i.e. an irreversible process where the Archdemon's blood and darkspawn blood are obsolete.
*brain cogs whirring*
Some minor things that got me thinking when I was replaying the Dalish Origin recently.
Spoiler
Oh, yes, excellent thing to bring up. I think this supports my theory very nicely regarding the nature of the Fade past and present and how the gods relate to it: the mythological connotation to Falon'Din's and Dirthamen's stories can occlude a very simple reality, that the Eluvians were actual tools used by them to create an in-the-flesh gateway to the Fade aspect. I'm going to start calling it Fade-aspect because of my theory of the worlds being meshed in a way... actually, speaking of Arthurian legends, this could be an allusion to Avalon fading into the mist; there is a crossing between worlds of sorts to reach the Isle of Avalon, yet it is technically part of the world, until one day the mist does not part and Avalon vanishes (i.e. the Veil is no longer accessible).
I never read the Joining and only wikied the plot; the Architect never tries the Warden blood potion on himself, right? He only ever experiments with it on other darkspawn. Presumably because he's already independent from the call of the Old Gods, which is odd in and of itself. He and Corypheus are undoubtedly blighted, and can even exert some degree of control over the Blight. But they're not darkspawn in the traditional sense. They don't feel the compulsion to dig for the Archdemon, and they don't have to obey its orders. They don't even seem to be tapped into the hive mind of the darkspawn. TBH they sound more like powerful ghouls than darkspawn.
JoH spoilers:
Spoiler
Yes! This. We see this time and again that this process is a sound one - i.e. that death truly is a rebirth, the clean slate.
I completely forgot about Tamlen's mentioning Falon'din.
I'd heard the Black City theories, and that Arlathan was sunk beneath the earth and the Black City is the Fade's reflection of the most heavily magical area in (under) Thedas. It being the Black City would explain the whispers.
Oh.
Crap.
I remember Mike Laidlaw, years after the fact, commenting that, "Merril repairing the mirror? Really bad idea." Which I thought was confusing, since they'd dealt with the demon that was going to use it to hop into the Fade-
Oh, dear. *frets*
Atlantis! All I'm saying for now because I really ought to be getting on with everything else today...
Yes! This. We see this time and again that this process is a sound one - i.e. that death truly is a rebirth, the clean slate.
Of course, the ones DOING the dying (dragons, Thedas in general, whomever) might not really appreciate the whole "being dead" step
Guys can some1 tell me what is the second painting representing ?are those eluvians ?what are those flying things?
http://ar-lath-ma-vh...-lath-ma-vhenan
Guys, you are doing a terrible, terrible job in the "Let's not tempt Cee too much into buying WoT2" department.
(I wonder if it's in stock at the bookstore a short trip away. Might turn out to be similarly priced as Amazon without the wait. )
Well...I know this isn't the Cole thread...but I really want to share the cuteness.
Dorian reading to Cole
http://deathwillbelo...nding-533009174
Varric and Cole
http://dyinglikeicar...-song-533049758
Solas approves!!!!
Just so you know, Aicosu just posted Chapter 15 of Message Sent. 
I like this... and taking it one step further, having Archdemon blood inside them is probably what makes Warden blood the vital ingredient of the Architect's own version of the Joining, since it's the only thing that is capable of severing a Darkspawn from the call of the Old Gods and granting them true sapience and independent free will?
Edit: Top Solas;
Spoiler
Spoiler
Art break.
Some lovely (NSFW) Solavellan artwork by osatokun.
Solavellan storyboard by osatokun.
Cute Solas and Lavellan.
Modern AU Solas and Sera.
Colorful Solas.
And throwing in some cute artworks of Zevran and Fenris because I love garama's art style. 
Zevran and Fenris headshots.
Cute Zevran and Fenris in sweater things.
If that were true, Alistair couldn't be a grey warden because the taint would not stay in him either.
TBH the taint is probably gonna eventually disappear in him too. Spoiler tagging for those that haven't read the comics:
However I had to:
Spoiler
I get a bad feeling sometimes that we'll have to live up to this promise at some point. 
Of course, the ones DOING the dying (dragons, Thedas in general, whomever) might not really appreciate the whole "being dead" step
They can appreciate it after they're through the process. They just don't know what's good for them. (Plus I think the general state of things is going to drag them kicking and screaming towards total destruction or rebirth whatever anyone wants - everything is falling apart already.)
A little juvenile humor before I go to bed.
Solas is a little too happy being in the Fade
http://shinga.devian...-Fade-533113286
Gotta love him nerding out about being physically in The Fade.
I just had a hellspiral moment when finding that art again since there was also a pic of his "dying alone" stone. 
I compromised and bought WoT2 digitally. I have WoT1 digitally and I downloaded the sample first to check the quality. I looked at the physical copy at the store tonight and it is huge and wonderful (and better), but this way is no wait, matches my WoT1 and lets me save a bit of cash and shelf space.
...
I've been kind of feeling crappy so I indulged a bit. You're all a bunch of enablers.
edit: Unrelated, but another amazing piece of art by watercolorteas: http://watercolortea...-definitely-had
I've been kind of feeling crappy so I indulged a bit. You're all a bunch of enablers.
Tel'abelas, lethallan!
They can appreciate it after they're through the process.
I'd feel terrible for quizzy. Everything's falling apart, yes, but my poor Lavellan just got done trying to put that s*** back together. I think she's going to be a bit miffed if the ultimate solution is a fiery and bloody rebirth for Thedas. Hitting the dragon blood reset button is getting toward Solas levels of bad life choice.
Tel'abelas, lethallan!
I'd feel terrible for quizzy. Everything's falling apart, yes, but my poor Lavellan just got done trying to put that s*** back together. I think she's going to be a bit miffed if the ultimate solution is a fiery and bloody rebirth for Thedas. Hitting the dragon blood reset button is getting toward Solas levels of bad life choice.
I think mine will be ready for fiery vengeance after what Thedas put her through (Solas prominent on that list) - maybe bloody rebirth might be just the thing to fix everything once and for all... ...and then she'd calm down and just save it again because that's what her purpose in life is. 
Some minor things that got me thinking when I was replaying the Dalish Origin recently.
Spoiler
The human ears on the statues always made me curious. Duncan calls it a Tevinter artefact and I did wonder if the Eluvians being elven was a retcon during Witch Hunt. But eluvian is a very elf-y sounding word.
The entire ruin from the Dalish Origin is fascinating. It's human architecture with statues honouring the elven god and a passage created by dwarves (okay, it's for a Lord of the Rings joke, but it could mean something). Mahariel can suggest that the elves who lived there were slaves, but why would there be a statue honouring Falon-Din? It's not hidden - it's right there at the eluvian chamber. What if the ruin was a place where elves and humans lived together, possibly even before Tevinter destroyed Arlathan? It would explain why the place was dedicated to elven gods, but the eluvian is flanked by human statues.
(I've been re-playing the Dalish origin too. It's making me theorycraft).
Random news: I am nearly done the timeline! I admit, managing the size was a challenge. I think it turned out alright, though. Good news is I'm learning a lot on historical aspects I hadn't figured out before. I'm trying to tie in the little things I recall from DA:I, and JoH as well. So much information! And I haven't even completely begun mining WoTII for nuggets yet. I'll probably release it first and let other people figure out the rest if they so desire.
Fun thing that came to me whilst I was chiselling away: I wonder if the elves were 'digging' for something Old-God or Forgotten-Ones related when they first happened upon the Dwarves. That's pretty much the halfway point between when Arlathan was founded and when we discovered it had fallen.
The human ears on the statues always made me curious. Duncan calls it a Tevinter artefact and I did wonder if the Eluvians being elven was a retcon during Witch Hunt. But eluvian is a very elf-y sounding word.
The entire ruin from the Dalish Origin is fascinating. It's human architecture with statues honouring the elven god and a passage created by dwarves (okay, it's for a Lord of the Rings joke, but it could mean something). Mahariel can suggest that the elves who lived there were slaves, but why would there be a statue honouring Falon-Din? It's not hidden - it's right there at the eluvian chamber. What if the ruin was a place where elves and humans lived together, possibly even before Tevinter destroyed Arlathan? It would explain why the place was dedicated to elven gods, but the eluvian is flanked by human statues.
(I've been re-playing the Dalish origin too. It's making me theorycraft).
That's my theory, too. Along with the Brecilian Forest ruins and the primeval thaig. At least, this is part of my working theory. The Eluvians are, without a doubt, elven creations, though, probably exploited by Tevinter; that much seems clear to me based on the material I've read/gathered here and there. I agree, though, LotR aside, there's something significant about the passageway to the dwarven kingdom, and I'm sure I will come up with a grand idea about all of this once I stop working and get back to theorycrafting.
Man, I'm ALMOST done the timeline and I gotta say I think I managed the size quite well. But I'm learning a TON on historical accuracy I hadn't figured out before. I'm trying to tie in the little things I recall from DA:I, and JoH as well. So much information! And I haven't even completely begun mining WoTII for nuggets yet. I'll probably release it first and add more later if there's anything to add.
Fun thing that came to me whilst I was chiselling away: I wonder if the elves were 'digging' for something Old-God or Forgotten-Ones related when they first happened upon the Dwarves. Cause like. That's pretty much the halfway point between when Arlathan was founded and when we discovered it had fallen.
This is a very interesting idea, that the elves were digging for something... the Forgotten Ones seem like a likely candidate to me, i.e. when Andruil became ensnared, as a deity that would have had a distinct impact on the people, no? I presume that extends to "digging" for either a place to worship or to find something related to them... (worship demanded via Andruil, I'd think, not necessarily directly to the Forgotten Ones themselves.)
*tinfoil*
Retour en haut
