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[Sable Rhapsody]

It's kind of why I don't like dark!Solas fics. Solas is an adorkable fade nerd who is a little bit reckless and accidentally falls passionately in love with you. There's none of his Fen'Harel persona there - Fen'Harel is the reason he breaks up with you, in fact, because he doesn't want you to clash with his plans and ambitions.

 

The funny thing is, we do get to see Fen'Harel, both in DA:I and in Trespasser.  And it's not the cruel, openly manipulative, savage black wolf that turns up so often in fanfiction.

 

We see it in low-approval quizzy's dialogues with him, in his banters with Vivienne, in some of his dialogue at the Winter Palace.  Fen'Harel is just Solas when he's stopped giving a f*** about people.  That's it.  His personality doesn't do a complete 180.  He doesn't turn into a snarling beast.  He just ceases to care, and IMO that's both more interesting and more chilling.

[Jaderail]

Um. I just finished editing the first section of the Solas-POV fic I'm working on. Would a few of you mind reading it and telling me if you think he's in character or not? I've been looking over it so much that I just don't know if I've gone overboard on the darkness or anxiety or callousness or whatever at this point.

 

https://docs.google....dit?usp=sharing

 

EDIT: I honestly don't mind if you guys just reply with NO WTF, THIS IS NOT THE SOLAS I KNOW or something like that  . I really want to try portraying him right, so even comments like that can be helpful.

 

I really like it, it's an interesting perspective and it has Solas questioning himself, but also trying to rationalize his actions. I would really like to see how you unfold the revelation of empathizing with the people of this world. We still know where that'll end up but it's interesting to read how he weighs one choice against the other, or why.

[drosophila]

One of my favorite things about how Solas is written is when his calm is broken by any sort of strong emotion.....he is more likely to use contractions. Slight stutter or pause sometimes as well. But he's full-on words in full most of the time unless he's feeling something deeply.

 

Nice catch! He does that!

 

I think I had him sigh once and gasp another time, both times very, very quietly. It's sooo hard to convey strong emotion with him. 

 

But my favorite emotion of his, that I think he experiences often, especially towards (my) Lavellan: measured curiosity.

 

 

The funny thing is, we do get to see Fen'Harel, both in DA:I and in Trespasser.  And it's not the cruel, openly manipulative, savage black wolf that turns up so often in fanfiction.

 

We see it in low-approval quizzy's dialogues with him, in his banters with Vivienne, in some of his dialogue at the Winter Palace.  Fen'Harel is just Solas when he's stopped giving a f*** about people.  That's it.  His personality doesn't do a complete 180.  He doesn't turn into a snarling beast.  He just ceases to care, and IMO that's both more interesting and more chilling.

 

It is, it breaks my heart to watch. I think how he dealt with the Vidassala was very telling. He gave her a chance to go, and when she attacked him, he killed her matter-of-factly. But at the same time, somehow I sensed this resigned disappointment in him. I could practically hear him thinking, "I tried but these people are as crude and worthless as I expected."

[midnight tea]

The funny thing is, we do get to see Fen'Harel, both in DA:I and in Trespasser.  And it's not the cruel, openly manipulative, savage black wolf that turns up so often in fanfiction.

 

We see it in low-approval quizzy's dialogues with him, in his banters with Vivienne, in some of his dialogue at the Winter Palace.  Fen'Harel is just Solas when he's stopped giving a f*** about people.  That's it.  His personality doesn't do a complete 180.  He doesn't turn into a snarling beast.  He just ceases to care, and IMO that's both more interesting and more chilling.

 

Well... Wisdom and Pride... same thing, only one of them is more or less 'twisted'.

[Cee]

I want to rewatch the Trespasser video yet again. Why?

 

I'm busy too. And yet...

 

edit: I was actually sort of writing fluff last night and now I have the feels again.

[Sable Rhapsody]

It is, it breaks my heart to watch. I think how he dealt with the Vidassala was very telling. He gave her a chance to go, and when she attacked him, he killed her matter-of-factly. But at the same time, somehow I sensed this resigned disappointment in him. I could practically hear him thinking, "I tried but these people are as crude and worthless as I expected."

 

He never really comes around on the qunari.  I didn't know this at first, but if Bull stays qunari, Solas has one last banter with him and then just stops talking to him altogether.   As of Trespasser, he clearly doesn't consider the qunari to be "real," even if he befriends Adaar and Bull.  They're exceptions--Tal-Vashoth.  And the rest of the qunari are still just angry, savage horned gremlins to him.

[flabbadence]

I really like it, it's an interesting perspective and it has Solas questioning himself, but also trying to rationalize his actions. I would really like to see how you unfold the revelation of empathizing with the people of this world. We still know where that'll end up but it's interesting to read how he weighs one choice against the other, or why.

 

Thank you!   I'm really excited to see how that conflict develops too. And terrified, hahaha, but yep. We'll get there

[midnight tea]

 

Hmm, with regards to Dark Solas - for me it depends what kind of darkness we're talking about. I don't mind him doing something really terrible, only to feel terrible about it afterwards. Things that would make no sense to me:

• Solas having some sort of angry outburst or losing it. Dude is SO stoic that, literally, the world must be ending.

 

.... then it seems that Lavellan is the end of world for him (in a sense, she is ), because he's 'lost it' around her at last twice. Same after mages killed his friend. Those were very 'spur of the moment'/'emotions ran high' things.

 

Solas 'losing it' though isn't this sort of entirely uncontrolled thing, where he just turns into a complete maniac or something. The guy's full of emotions and he can't help it, even after thousands of years of hardening his heart and not letting emotions rule over him in the Fade, where he could end up as a tasty treat for some powerful demon or something. Though I quite like that at moments like this he almost seems... unpredictable. Like, he won't gouge anyone's eyes or something, but it's not really certain what he's going to do next. Then there's of course the 'fallout' of it, when he's either surprised by his reaction or I can almost see him berate himself for his outburst. Not surprising for something of a control freak like him.

[drosophila]

.... then it seems that Lavellan is the end of world for him (in a sense, she is ), because he's 'lost it' around her at last twice. 

 

But she is! It only emphasizes how special their relationship is to him. 

 

Same after mages killed his friend. Those were very 'spur of the moment'/'emotions ran high' things.

 

Solas 'losing it' though isn't this sort of entirely uncontrolled thing, where he just turns into a complete maniac or something. The guy's full of emotions and he can't help it, even after thousands of years of hardening his heart and not letting emotions rule over him in the Fade, where he could end up as a tasty treat for some powerful demon or something. Though I quite like that at moments like this he almost seems... unpredictable. Like, he won't gouge anyone's eyes or something, but it's not really certain what he's going to do next. Then there's of course the 'fallout' of it, when he's either surprised by his reaction or I can almost see him himself for his outburst. Not surprising for something of a control freak like him.

 

That's just what I meant - he doesn't just 'lose it', even with the mages, one very gently spoken word is enough to remind him to compose himself. And again, losing one of his last remaining friends must be such a painful experience for him. 

 

What I wrote about Solas having angry outburts, really, I've read things where he comes across as having anger issues, even compared to the average person, not to mention compared to his stoic character. 

[midnight tea]

He never really comes around on the qunari.  I didn't know this at first, but if Bull stays qunari, Solas has one last banter with him and then just stops talking to him altogether.   As of Trespasser, he clearly doesn't consider the qunari to be "real," even if he befriends Adaar and Bull.  They're exceptions--Tal-Vashoth.  And the rest of the qunari are still just angry, savage horned gremlins to him.

 

I think it stems more from his dislike of their philosophy, than the Qunari themselves. After all, one of the memories from the Fade that he shares with approved Quizzy is one where he sees a Qunari woman working in the kitchen and breaking the rules a bit in every loaf of bread she was making. What's more, he tells it with something of a fondness in his voice - like he's delighted that even in the very midst of culture bent on trampling individuality he sees seeds of them being sown and growing.

 

It's the trampling individuality thing that seems to irk him the most, in fact. It's actually almost turning the Qunari into Tranquil - if doesn't make them Tranquil outright. Not only Cole says that he feels nothing from Iron Bull who betrayed Quizzy, the Templar we meet in Deep Roads section literally tells us that Qunari have the focus only Tranquil can reach.

 

Then there are banters like this between him and Bull:

Spoiler

Solas: If your Qun is so wonderful, so fair and perfect, how does it create so many Tal-Vashoth?

 

(If the Inquisitor is Qunari:)

Solas: There are enough of them to marry and have children, like the man/woman we travel with!

Iron Bull: And for every one who turns out alright, like him/her, and his/her parents, dozens go savage.

 

(Otherwise:)

Iron Bull: Most Tal-Vashoth are nothing more than savages. Killing's all they know.

Iron Bull: The Ben-Hassrath are trying to lose fewer people to that sickness.

Solas: It isn't a sickness. You are losing them because they see a chance for freedom!

Solas: And most of them are "savage", as you say, because your culture taught them nothing else.

Solas: They know nothing but the Qun. So even as they fight against it, they are guided by its principles.

Iron Bull: Watch it, elf. You haven't seen the Tal-Vashoth like I have.

Iron Bull: Try watching a Tal-Vashoth kill a Tamassran and her kids. Then we'll talk.

 

 

It's interesting to note that Iron Bull does the same - if not more intentse - 'not-people' thing to Tal-Vashoth Solas does to 'not-people' first (and seems to not really think much of them if he sticks with the Qun, calling Inky 'bas'), but Solas himself, while he recognizes that many Tal-Vashoth go rogue and monstrous, seems to actually recognize as those who left the Qun as people indeed. Or, for him, they are at least those who have made a choice to either form or reclaim their person-hood.

 

Therefore I'm also not surprised Solas begins to treat Bull as a person only after he became Tal-Vashoth - because IB literally became one after he left the Qun. We see otherwise that what stays is merely an outward appearance, with nothing inside but a mindless drone.

[Cee]

He never really comes around on the qunari.  I didn't know this at first, but if Bull stays qunari, Solas has one last banter with him and then just stops talking to him altogether.   As of Trespasser, he clearly doesn't consider the qunari to be "real," even if he befriends Adaar and Bull.  They're exceptions--Tal-Vashoth.  And the rest of the qunari are still just angry, savage horned gremlins to him.

 

And if Bull turns on you, he has a very cold line when you meet up with him.

 

[meersalz]

The funny thing is, we do get to see Fen'Harel, both in DA:I and in Trespasser.  And it's not the cruel, openly manipulative, savage black wolf that turns up so often in fanfiction.

 

We see it in low-approval quizzy's dialogues with him, in his banters with Vivienne, in some of his dialogue at the Winter Palace.  Fen'Harel is just Solas when he's stopped giving a f*** about people.  That's it.  His personality doesn't do a complete 180.  He doesn't turn into a snarling beast.  He just ceases to care, and IMO that's both more interesting and more chilling.

To me grey Solas is best - with snarl, wit and purposefull ruthlessness. Which is why I don't like to see him become 'black' or turn into a monster. Same goes for Mythal (and whoever her host is). I enjoyed her dry humor and wisdom and wouldn't want her to become all revenge crazy (though some revenge served ice-cold has it's appeal). If there has to be a big bad at all let it be one of the Evanuris. In all cases smart for me and possibly crazy as 'Joker' or just completely fanatic like the Vidasala. In some cases there does not need to exist a personified bad for me though. Facing the blight with all its consequences can be scary enough. The icing would be, if we turn out to be the biggest problem - for there is no easy solution to that one!

[drosophila]

And if Bull turns on you, he has a very cold line when you meet up with him.

 

Yep, I got this line when I played Tresspasser It didn't come across as cold to me, though, more like Solas criticizing my quizzy for her management oversight, and too bad there was no dialogue option to say, "Point taken, I screwed up."

[Cee]

Yep, I got this line when I played Tresspasser It didn't come across as cold to me, though, more like Solas criticizing my quizzy for her management oversight, and too bad there was no dialogue option to say, "Point taken, I screwed up."

 

I didn't and when I heard it watching someone's stream it was definitely very, very cutting. It is criticism but it's also cold.

[Sable Rhapsody]

I think it stems more from his dislike of their philosophy, than the Qunari themselves. After all, one of the memories from the Fade that he shares with approved Quizzy is one where he sees a Qunari woman working in the kitchen and breaking the rules a bit in a very loaf of bread she was making. What's more, he tells it with something of a fondness in his voice - like he's delighted that even in the very midst of culture bent on trampling individuality he sees seeds of them being sown and growing.

 

I agree that his beef is largely with their philosophy, but he also tells Adaar that he considers the qunari to be savage brutes, held in check only by the Qun.  Which is 1) indicative of his view on the qunari themselves and 2) extremely awkward  So I'd still say his dislike for the qunari is distinct from his attitude toward the rest of modern Thedas.  The rest of us are gremlins, but the qunari doubly so by virtue of both the Qun and his perception of their inherent nature.

 

Oh Solas.  Adaar likes you, but sometimes he wishes you weren't bros so he could punch your lights out.

 

That cuts to the bone worse than heated words shouted in rage.

 

Pretty much all of Solas's dialogue in a nutshell.

[Sable Rhapsody]

If you consider the timing, he was just killed maybe 10/20 minutes earlier? And a romanced Bull would be even more painful.

 

We talk about Solas and Lavellan having it bad, but I think it's hands-down the worst with quizzy and romanced qun!Bull.  The epilogue slides just rub salt in the wounds.

[NightSymphony]

Alright...I keep trying to share art in here but my browser keeps freezing. I think my computer knows I'm going to replace it soon. :-P

[Cee]

If I were actually capable of a gloom and doom run, that would have to be a serious consideration. But no, I'm too soft to hurt the pixels like that.

[midnight tea]

I agree that his beef is largely with their philosophy, but he also tells Adaar that he considers the qunari to be savage brutes, held in check only by the Qun.  Which is 1) indicative of his view on the qunari themselves and 2) extremely awkward  So I'd still say his dislike for the qunari is distinct from his attitude toward the rest of modern Thedas.  The rest of us are gremlins, but the qunari doubly so by virtue of both the Qun and his perception of their inherent nature.

 

Oh Solas.  Adaar likes you, but sometimes he wishes you weren't bros so he could punch your lights out.

 

 

Pretty much all of Solas's dialogue in a nutshell.

 

He doesn't really have any good words about anybody, really. He calls people brutish and petty and I don't really know what he says about the dwarves, though he did say to Varric something about dwarves being pretty much zombie-like ;P He seems to have something of a slightly better opinion of the Dalish for being able to raise someone among them 'with the spirit like Quizzy', but he voiced his full opinion about them earlier in the game with elf Inquisitors anyway.

 

So while I think his dislike towards Qunari may be deepened by what he knows about them (how they were created and stuff?) or because of the Qun philosophy itself, which doesn't teach most Qunari how to be a fully-realized person (which is why many Tal-Vashoth turn to savage monsters, as he explained to Bull) I don't think they're that much more gremlin'y than others.

 

... Also, did anybody found it curious that elves seem to be veeeery susceptible to the Qun? In fact, I kind of get the feeling that in general they may be a bit more impressionable than others - maybe it's a legacy of them being somewhat closer to spirits than others, or maybe it's a legacy of rules of the Evanuris (well, most of them were slaves, so...) and the way they ruled them still holds some sort of tangible sway over them or how susceptible to certain influences they can be?

[Sable Rhapsody]

If I were actually capable of a gloom and doom run, that would have to be a serious consideration. But no, I'm too soft to hurt the pixels like that.

 

I can't do it either.  It just gives me the heebie jeebies in the worst way.  Romanced Qun!Bull (whether he's romancing quizzy or Dorian) is a walking, talking example of Fridge Horror at its finest.  He's Hissrad.  He's a liar.  Which means every goofy flirt, every funny story, every sweet moment, every time he says "kadan"?  A lie.  A lie that came to him as easily as breathing.  

 

 

Oh yeah it's painful. It's almost a good thing Cullen dumps you if you force him on lyrium considering his fate too.

 

I don't know how to feel about that epilogue for Cullen.  On one hand, I like that the game pulled no punches.  What did you think would happen, getting a recovering addict back on lyrium?  On the other hand, it does make quizzy and the others look like idiots at best and neglectful @ssholes at worst for not trying to intervene sooner.  From what we know, the symptoms of lyrium withdrawal are not subtle or easy to hide.

 

... Also, did anybody found it curious that elves seem to be veeeery susceptible to the Qun? In fact, I kind of get the feeling that in general they may be a bit more impressionable than others - maybe it's a legacy of them being somewhat closer to spirits than others, or maybe it's a legacy of rules of the Evanuris (well, most of them were slaves, so...) and the way they ruled them still holds some sort of tangible sway over them or how susceptible to certain influences they can be?

 

I think this is calculated targeting of a particular group on the part of the qunari rather than any inherent susceptibility on the part of the elves.  If they were more impressionable as a race, I'd think their assimilation into human society would happen more easily.  The Dalish want nothing to do with humans, and even city elves generally prefer their own kind and look down on elves who try to assimilate.  In Trespasser, we learn how the qunari think about war and conquest from the Viddasala.  They don't think of the "workers," the common people, as their enemies.  Only their leaders.  Elves overwhelmingly fall into the worker category, and they make fantastic spies.