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[ChuChu]

I'm so very glad JoH is coming out for everyone next week. Finally. Then we can talk about it a bit more openly soon afterward, and hopefully we'll begin to hear about other DLC plans  in the next month or two.

Oh, is it you Xbox console people I have to blame for no DLC news yet?! All your fault!! They haven't dropped a bone for us because they were waiting for you consolers to catch up the whole time, I know it. Harumph.

 

-snip-
As an entity, Solas embodies balance in a literal sense: he is composed of two fragments of the eternal war that underlies the DA universe: Order and Chaos.  Ancient Elvhen mosaics imply that the two halves may have originally shared a single physical body, which makes a certain amount of sense given that Dirthamen and Falon'Din seem to map to the left and right forebrain of a single sentient being.  I believe they were, originally, intended to act as one.
-snip snip snip-

When I first read the codex entry for FD and DM I kind of got a Fight Club vibe from it. But that might be because I heard Cole's reference to the film slightly beforehand, haha. I like the idea of the idea. And I'm about to go a little off topic right now, but there are a few things that stand out to me as it being arguable about the whole Solas=FD=DM thing.

For one, FD and DM were the twins of Elgar'nan and Mythal. Mythal calls Dread Wolf 'friend' and not with any sort of familial courtesy. This is the big one, to me, that says no go on the FD and DM thing. I think there's still something there. I just don't know what.

Secondly, Solas is a Dreamer and insists that the elven gods might just be gifted and given elevated nobility. The Dreamers often were. He has a detachment to the real world even though he has a responsibility to it, and is constantly surprised by the Inquisitor's actions. I suggest it's a little simpler than being of a split mind. Two things: the wolves of light and dark -- it is possible that Fen'Harel was a Forgotten One, redeemed. So the dark, and the light. It's possible even he was responsible for the Eluvians and it is all a play on reversal.

Further, he has spent a lot of his time in uthenara. He has a grasp on reality, but he also knows that the fade is reality. And he seems to prefer the fade's better. He is more comfortable there. The fade is honest, and he understands it. It is the world of blood and bone that carries corruption, and twists things right in to things wrong. His respect for the Inquisitor throws him off, because (and especially for a romanced Quizzy) his grim image of the world is starting to crack just a little bit. Or, worse still, what if he still thinks he's dreaming?

This is what I'm holding to right now. But I do enjoy reading about the theories you guys write (even if some of it goes over my head). In fact it goes very well with Solas' character. I think it's more of a connection to Solas/Dread Wolf/Fen'Harel himself being a reflection of opposites, though, rather than bringing FD and DM in to it. Again, this falls back to my Forgotten One/Pantheon theory. So yes, continue! I will sit in the corner, wide eyed.

Edit: The Forgotten One theory of mine has a little funny in it if you've played Jaws of Hakkon:

Spoiler

Professor: Oh! I forgot Fen'Harel!
Solas: Most people do.

[Cee]

Oh, is it you Xbox people I have to blame for no DLC news yet?! All your fault!! They haven't dropped a bone for us because they were waiting for you consolers to catch up the whole time, I know it. Harumph.

 

 

 

Ha, well I play on PC and we've had the DLC for one day less than the Xbox One people. But there have been hints about future DLC coming, just vague ones (things like tweets from Elizaveta talking about getting to record more tavern songs and writers talking about writing characters). JoH has to be out for everyone before they can even begin getting into anything, I bet. I mean, they want it to sell for the rest of the players.

 

I'm still early in WoT2, so I'll get further before I attempt to go back and follow some of the theorycrafting in any depth. I found some time this weekend taken over by a story, non DA-related, that I'm trying to plan and get written.

[ChuChu]

Ha, well I play on PC and we've had the DLC for one day less than the Xbox One people. But there have been hints about future DLC coming, just vague ones (things like tweets from Elizaveta talking about getting to record more tavern songs and writers talking about writing characters). JoH has to be out for everyone before they can even begin getting into anything, I bet. I mean, they want it to sell for the rest of the players.

 

I'm still early in WoT2, so I'll get further before I attempt to go back and follow some of the theorycrafting in any depth. I found some time this weekend taken over by a story, non DA-related, that I'm trying to plan and get written.

Not even a consoler! Well at least you aren't giving any excuses. Just levelling the playing field with the vile console ruffians? -evil grin-

I jest. I think I remember you mentioning it a little while back, now. 

Also yes! Theory crafting. Solas would be proud of this thread.

[Cee]

And then leave it horribly alone while he went off to pursue his goals.

 

 

 

 

Too soon?

 

 

 

[ChuChu]

And then leave it horribly alone while he went off to pursue his goals.

 

 

 

 

Too soon?

 

 

 

But on the plus side, you get to see him walk away.



At least in a gif, he comes back ;(




Too soon? :>

[MoonDrummer]

I'm sorry, this is COMPLETELY offtopic, but the recent Game of Thrones episode PISSED ME OFF. I AM SO ANGRY THAT IT WAS OVER. HOW DARE THEY END IT WHEN THE EPISODE WAS GETTING SO AMAZING.

Now then, time for some Dragon Age fan fiction writing (to publish or not to publish ...) to get over my anger. Cole, where are you when I need you.

I'm still mad that Brienne beat the Hound...

[CapricornSun]

I'm so very glad JoH is coming out for everyone next week. Finally. Then we can talk about it a bit more openly soon afterward, and hopefully we'll begin to hear about other DLC plans  in the next month or two.

 

I've been waiting for so long for this DLC to come out for my poor PS3. So, so long....  

[Cee]

I've been waiting for so long for this DLC to come out for my poor PS3. So, so long....  

 

I have a couple of friends on PS4 waiting too. Soooooooooon, for you all. Soon.

[ChuChu]

I've been waiting for so long for this DLC to come out for my poor PS3. So, so long....  

 

 

I have a couple of friends on PS4 waiting too. Soooooooooon, for you all. Soon.

I realize I totally meant PS4/Xbox 360 in my earlier post. Sorry, Playstation folks. My ire should have been directed at you. Though I guess Xbox technically still applies, here. -shakes fist-

Console folk, you're still a bunch of hooligans.

[CapricornSun]

I have a couple of friends on PS4 waiting too. Soooooooooon, for you all. Soon.

 

JoH for PS4, PS3, and Xbox 360...

 

 

Finally...

[ChuChu]

JoH for PS4, PS3, and Xbox 360...

Spoiler

 

 

Finally...

Really, really had to resist doubling that image for a...

TWO SOON?

[Cee]

I've just been watching this old panel from almost a year ago and some of the topics discussed, especially when David Gaider & Patrick Weekes are addressing a question about resources & content being added that allegedly doesn't serve 'the majority' of players and it made me, naturally, think about Solavellan and how even if only X% of players see certain content (and possibly never finish or replay) they still try and make it worthwhile.

 

sigh.

[OrayMoor]

Do you guys know if there is any additional Solas content in JoH?

[Caddius]

JoH for PS4, PS3, and Xbox 360...

 

 

Finally...

OUR NUMBERS WILL DARKEN THE SKIES OF EVERY WORLD.

[RoraM]

I wonder what percentage of players romance Solas?

[ChuChu]

I wonder what percentage of players romance Solas?

The best percent.

[RoraM]

Do you guys know if there is any additional Solas content in JoH?

There is a little.  (This PS4 player ended up spoiling it for herself...)

[Jadestone]

I'm just wondering and wondering if we'll get a Tavern song about Solas now! I mean we'll have to, right???? After that reveal?? It's a prime subject!! *crosses fingers*

[Cee]

I'm just wondering and wondering if we'll get a Tavern song about Solas now! I mean we'll have to, right???? After that reveal?? It's a prime subject!! *crosses fingers*

 

I mean, it's not exactly confirmed, but

 

[Moirin]

EDIT for top pic: SOURCE.

 

 

 

I wonder what percentage of players romance Solas?

 

Hmm, if I recall right I read somewhere that the majority of players didn't bother with a romance. I think it was 40-something% that did ( I wanna say 46% but I doubt I remember it exactly right). But every time I see a poll or anything on romances Solas seems to be voted the most popular one, and that was back when I hadn't even done his romance yet.

 

In short, I have no numbers for you, but from what I've seen, he doesn't seem to be doing too bad.

[Illyria]

This post outlines the basic idea, but admittedly kind of poorly.   TwT   The whole thing is built from a multitude of teeny, tiny details and is almost entirely circumstantial, but it has a lot of explanatory power: much of the timeline (and several otherwise difficult-to-explain pieces of lore like the "Tevinter" mosaics) can be tamed into making sense if we use it as a base assumption. 

 

Quick attempt at a 1000-foot overview:

 

As an entity, Solas embodies balance in a literal sense: he is composed of two fragments of the eternal war that underlies the DA universe: Order and Chaos.  Ancient Elvhen mosaics imply that the two halves may have originally shared a single physical body, which makes a certain amount of sense given that Dirthamen and Falon'Din seem to map to the left and right forebrain of a single sentient being.  I believe they were, originally, intended to act as one.

 

~I'm going to seriously simplify functional lateralization here - cog sci people look awaaaay~

 

Dirthamen (who is dominant in the Solas we know) represents the left brain, where analytic processing takes place.  Math, science, logic- these areas are where the left brain shines.  More importantly, when it comes to morality, this side of the brain takes a deliberative, calculative view: the greatest good for the greatest number.  The right side of the brain, Falon'din, processes social cues a bit differently.  The left brain is empathetic- it understands emotional processing in others, and has an abstract view of morality.  This is the side that would have pushed the combined self to take action when the Pantheon's rule over the People became an iron fist, and it was the side that was consigned eternally to the Fade when the rebellion failed.  (Due to his domain and theoretical ability to use the Fade as a spiritual path between bodies like eluvians provide paths between places, Falon'din couldn't be punished with exile in abyssal form the way Dirthamen could be. Instead, he was imprisoned by Mythal and relegated permanently to the fade.)

 

When Dirthamen was released from the Void as Fen'Harel, he was still connected to Falon'Din through the fade (aka, on a subconscious level) and thus we find F'H still represented in statuary as two halves: the loyal Hound (Order) and the howling Dread Wolf (Chaos).  The Solas we know today is much the same.  He is governed primarily by his right brain: the monosemantic, predeterministic, analytic self.   That's not to say he's totally without connection to Falon'Din, however.  Unless he's been painting in his sleep, the fact that Solas can express himself through art is a significant hint that he's not as completely divorced from his left brain as it might seem at first glance.  

 

Still, a lot of the problematic character traits we see in Solas are directly related to "Dirthamen's" dominance.  As I mentioned earlier, the left brain is monosemantic and predeterministic, which is just a complicated way of saying that once it believes it knows what a thing is, that is literally all that it can be.  Because the left brain handles the heavy lifting of analytic processing, it tends to cut corners where it can in terms of taking in new data from the outside world.  Instead it creates its own internal idea of how the world works, and references that instead.  In many ways, the left brain is almost entirely disengaged from the reality of the world around it.

 

This is (kind of brilliantly) referenced in Solas' rant against an Assquisitor.  Lines like "how entirely expected" are the essence of the predeterministic left brain.  This tendency even surfaces with a friendly Inquisitor, since the Inquisitor's deviation from expectation comes as such a surprise.  (As we know, it takes him forever to notice, and even then he treats the Inquisitor as a strange oddity- a unique blip in his conception of how the world works, rather than allowing external data to change his internal perspective.)

 

This is also apparent in the way Solas views other members of the Inquisition.  Cassandra is often "Seeker"- her role literally stands in for who she is in his mind: his conception of her place in the universe. Verric is often simply "Child of the Stone".  On a more romantic note, the same holds for "Vehnan".  More obviously, this applies to his perspective during Cole's quest to become human- a position some felt to be out of character, but completely in line with the monosemantic nature of the left brain.  

 

"This is not some fanciful story, Child of the Stone.  We cannot change our nature by wishing."

 

To Solas, Cole simply is what he is -a Spirit of Compassion- and that is all that he can and should be.   The thought that he could choose to be otherwise, and take action to literally make it so, is almost impossible for him to admit.

 

Bonus: as we Solavellans can attest, the left neocortex also has a prominent role in romantic love: it makes the left ACC and AI light up like a Christmas tree.  What it can't do very well is judge how the other person is feeling, sense pain in others, or react properly in an emotional context.  ...so, yeah.  Sounds familiar.

 

Holy HELL, I am way off topic.  @w@   Sorry about that.   The basic in-game evidence is all in the other thread.  

 

I see what you're getting at but I think you may be reading more into what is there than was intended.  My own field is literary analysis and I'm always having to be careful to keep what I think the writer should be saying, and what they are saying separate in my head (I'm not the biggest fan of death of the author).
 

[Illyria]

I would love to track that down.  Is it in the first WoT or WoT2?  (I'm still slowly chugging through the latter.)

 

It's in WOT2.  There's a page of qunlat phrases and on the page opposite is the poem with an analysis.

[Cee]

So this has inevitably come up before, but I just talked to Solas after having conscripted the templars and his flirt is different, but it amused me, given the circumstances and wording.

 

 

 

 

Indeed it was.

 

Spoiler

 

Bonus sad.

Oh, Solas.

 

Also just noticed the timing of screenshot versus wind gust there.

[Illyria]

I'm a bit worried about JOH coming out since I'm still unlikely to play it any time soon (I got it the day it came out but didn't play it, then I cleared all my saves so I'm way off from the point in the game where I could play it, plus I modded my game again and I really don't know if JOH will even work now).

 

Avoiding untagged spoilers is going to be hard.

[Caddius]

I'm a bit worried about JOH coming out since I'm still unlikely to play it any time soon (I got it the day it came out but didn't play it, then I cleared all my saves so I'm way off from the point in the game where I could play it, plus I modded my game again and I really don't know if JOH will even work now).

 

Avoiding untagged spoilers is going to be hard.

See, the problem with exclusives for me is that a lot of the excitement and hype has drained away by this point, replaced with irritation at the the whole business. Normally, I'd still get it right away and start playing, but, well...

Wild Hunt comes out tomorrow.  Come Thursday, the gaming marathon shall begin. And then I imagine it'll be a while before I get around to Jaws of Haakon.

Er, not to say I won't still visit this thread. Because I believe I have received threats from certain Sihas of the forum that shall not be named.    Spoiler tags or a giant bolded JUST MOVE ALONG CADDIUS would still be appreciated, of course.