I edited my response. Check it out. It appears we start off with the same observation but reach very different conclusions.
Hahaha! Yeah, I stopped at the first conclusion, I guess my mind refused to go there. You're braver than I am ... or more twisted ... probably both.
Solas-related thought happened in my head today.
Maybe someone else already thought about this, but...
I think Solas took the eluvians back while we were at Halamshiral.
Everyone seems to basically think his agents got the password for him, or that he wrested it away by force. Well, he might have sent agents to clean the eluvians out by force, but he didn't have to use any sort of power to take them.
Remember how he was being all casual there and playing the servant? Even servants have their hierarchies, he tells us... while off all to himself, socializing with the elves. It was the perfect opportunity for him to gain enough trust to get the eluvian network password. And, as someone "in" with the Inquisitor, all the better--they'd have thought he had access to resources and people that they needed for their uprising. Solas himself got the password. Then he sent agents in to do his dirty work. He wasn't just giddy because he was drunk, he was giddy because he'd participated in some of the danger and intrigue; the Inquisitor was completely unaware of him having done anything but listen to the servants' gossip. I suppose he wanted to end the night with a bit of victory sex with Romanced-Lavellan, assuming she was willing.
Of course, I might be 100% wrong. He might have continued to send agents in before he managed to get a foothold. But, I would not be surprised at all if Solas's agents had been responsible for some of the elves who died that night.
Solas-related thought happened in my head today.
Maybe someone else already thought about this, but...
I think Solas took the eluvians back while we were at Halamshiral.
Everyone seems to basically think his agents got the password for him, or that he wrested it away by force. Well, he might have sent agents to clean the eluvians out by force, but he didn't have to use any sort of power to take them.
Remember how he was being all casual there and playing the servant? Even servants have their hierarchies, he tells us... while off all to himself, socializing with the elves. It was the perfect opportunity for him to gain enough trust to get the eluvian network password. And, as someone "in" with the Inquisitor, all the better--they'd have thought he had access to resources and people that they needed for their uprising. Solas himself got the password. Then he sent agents in to do his dirty work. He wasn't just giddy because he was drunk, he was giddy because he'd participated in some of the danger and intrigue; the Inquisitor was completely unaware of him having done anything but listen to the servants' gossip. I suppose he wanted to end the night with a bit of victory sex with Romanced-Lavellan, assuming she was willing.
Of course, I might be 100% wrong. He might have continued to send agents in before he managed to get a foothold. But, I would not be surprised at all if Solas's agents had been responsible for some of the elves who died that night.
Personally I don't think this happened at all, and to be honest I'm not sure why there are quite a few people I saw who think that this is what happened. Because both him and Briala are there? Because he's excited in Winter Palace, when it's been established in the story that Solas enjoys court intrigue and a visit at the Winter Palace reminded him of how he enjoys it? This is some flimsy evidence.
After all, depending on who Inquisitor chose to be in their combat party (I assume all companions and advisers are in Halamshiral either way, judging from later banter) Solas has to be at Inquisitor's beck and call, and while he's definitely having fun in Winter Palace, he has to be very careful not to out himself.
So no, I don't think this is when he took Briala's eluvians.
When do I think eluvian retaking began?
In Temple Of Mythal.
After all, look what surrounds the Well of Sorrows?
Eluvians. Not just one, but several of them. This is basically an eluvian hub.
And remember how Solas tells us "She (Morrigan) is right about only one thing - we must take the power that lies within that Well".
So he's reluctant (either because he doesn't trust Morrigan or Inquisitor, or worries about Inky), but still advises to take it. Why, I wondered?
Well, I think I know the answer now. After all, what happens with the Well after it's been emptied?
A mysterious watery lady rises from the basin and collides with the eluvian. Interestingly enough, despite Inquisitor and the rest landing directly in Skyhold (they don't go through Crossroads, the order which they appear in Skyhold and the speed with which they do it mirrors the order and speed they've entered ToM eluvian) the water lady doesn't follow, possibly because she stayed IN the eluvian.
Basically, I think this is when the eluvian network got re-opened. There are no longer just a few eluvians "accidentally left ajar" (as Morrigan tells us) that must be pried open through knowledge, power or keys, but pretty much the entire network got itself revitalized.
We can see the effect of it if we have OGB world-state - the eluvian in Skyhold suddenly gets opened; and it gets itself opened into raw Fade - a feat Morrigan claims requires immense power. And I don't think this is solely because of Flemeths' or Kieran's power. I think the feat could be accomplished only because the eluvian network itself is buzzing with new energy.
It would also be another good reason for Solas to go after Flemythal and steal her power. After all, he did try to re-acquire access to eluvian network in The Masked Empire and killed Felassan for failing to do so and seeing how much the network is featured in Trespasser indicated that re-acquiring eluvians is absolutely crucial for Solas' plans to work.
Then, of course, is this.
People usually interpret this moment as Flemeth "sending something through eluvian". I don't think this is that at all. Judging from past encounters and her pleased smile (after meeting with Inky and Morrigan in the Fade) Flemeth has long made contingency plans, so whatever she has in store for Morrigan or whoever else, she's likely sent or stored her energy away a long time ago. What she does here, IMO, is either revitalizing another part of eluvian network OR preparing herself to override Briala's password (or luring Solas by appearing to do so).
In other words, I don't think this is a coincidence at all that they meet under the eluvian or that one of the last scenes in the main game is this:
I think this is a moment when Solas not only took Mythal's power, but exactly when he took over the eluvian network.
Also... this eluvian... it's quite big, isn't it? Pretty much as big as the eluvian we see behind Solas (and to which he disappears into) in Trespasser. I don't think this is coincidence at all as well. I think that all the small hints and visual storytelling make it a far stronger case as to when exactly Solas gained eluvians for himself compared to Halamshiral.
Personally I don't think this happened at all, and to be honest I'm not sure why there are quite a few people I saw who think that this is what happened. Because both him and Briala are there? Because he's excited in Winter Palace, when it's been established in the story that Solas enjoys court intrigue and a visit at the Winter Palace reminded him of how he enjoys it? This is some flimsy evidence.
After all, depending on who Inquisitor chose to be in their combat party (I assume all companions and advisers are in Halamshiral either way, judging from later banter) Solas has to be at Inquisitor's beck and call, and while he's definitely having fun in Winter Palace, he has to be very careful not to out himself.
So no, I don't think this is when he took Briala's eluvians.
When do I think eluvian retaking began?
In Temple Of Mythal.
After all, look what surrounds the Well of Sorrows?
Eluvians. Not just one, but several of them. This is basically an eluvian hub.
And remember how Solas tells us "She (Morrigan) is right about only one thing - we must take the power that lies within that Well".
So he's reluctant (either because he doesn't trust Morrigan or Inquisitor, or worries about Inky), but still advises to take it. Why, I wondered?
Well, I think I know the answer now. After all, what happens with the Well after it's been emptied?
Spoiler
A mysterious watery lady rises from the basin and collides with the eluvian. Interestingly enough, despite Inquisitor and the rest landing directly in Skyhold (they don't go through Crossroads, the order which they appear in Skyhold and the speed with which they do it mirrors the order and speed they've entered ToM eluvian) the water lady doesn't follow, possibly because she stayed IN the eluvian.
Basically, I think this is when the eluvian network got re-opened. There are no longer just a few eluvians "accidentally left ajar" (as Morrigan tells us) that must be pried open through knowledge, power or keys, but pretty much the entire network got itself revitalized.
We can see the effect of it if we have OGB world-state - the eluvian in Skyhold suddenly gets opened; and it gets itself opened into raw Fade - a feat Morrigan claims requires immense power. And I don't think this is solely because of Flemeths' or Kieran's power. I think the feat could be accomplished only because the eluvian network itself is buzzing with new energy.
It would also be another good reason for Solas to go after Flemythal and steal her power. After all, he did try to re-acquire access to eluvian network in The Masked Empire and killed Felassan for failing to do so and seeing how much the network is featured in Trespasser indicated that re-acquiring eluvians is absolutely crucial for Solas' plans to work.
Then, of course, is this.
People usually interpret this moment as Flemeth "sending something through eluvian". I don't think this is that at all. Judging from past encounters and her pleased smile (after meeting with Inky and Morrigan in the Fade) Flemeth has long made contingency plans, so whatever she has in store for Morrigan or whoever else, she's likely sent or stored her energy away a long time ago. What she does here, IMO, is either revitalizing another part of eluvian network OR preparing herself to override Briala's password (or luring Solas by appearing to do so).
In other words, I don't think this is a coincidence at all that they meet under the eluvian or that one of the last scenes in the main game is this:
I think this is a moment when Solas not only took Mythal's power, but exactly when he took over the eluvian network.
Also... this eluvian... it's quite big, isn't it? Pretty much as big as the eluvian we see behind Solas (and to which he disappears into) in Trespasser. I don't think this is coincidence at all as well. I think that all the small hints and visual storytelling make it a far stronger case as to when exactly Solas gained eluvians for himself compared to Halamshiral.
No, it's not about him liking intrigue, or about Briala, who probably wouldn't trust some random schmuck. But her followers had to have the password, and her followers were pretty much kissing up to Solas from what I can tell.
As for the "mysterious water lady," that is apparently a fragment of Mythal, or at least a manifestation of the will of her followers, and the artist forgot to give her proper elf ears according to the developers.
The eluvians could have been taken over at this point, and I don't argue that. As a matter of fact, though, there are different "sections" of the eluvian network, and it would not surprise me if he did take over Briala's eluvians during the ball, but a larger number of eluvians were taken when he took Mythal's power. In other words, there's no reason why both can't be correct.
We aren't sure if Solas has quickened or not, so we don't know how much time he has to achieve his goals. What we do know is he thinks long-term and his plan may have many stages. The fact that he's acting quickly (by ancient elven standards) leads me to believe that he has, in fact, quickened or begun to--or at least believes he has, now that he is awake. He didn't age while he slept, but he's been awake for a few years by the end of Trespasser (a year before he joins up with you, according to him). If he believes he's dying, it explains why he doesn't want to wait until the Inquisitor (if friend or romance) dies naturally before he carries through with his plan. Alternatively, he is still ageless but fears dying before his plan is complete because he's weakened. Either way... taking multiple eluvian networks over would definitely align with how he works. And we do know that there's more than one, and you need the proper "key" for each set of eluvians.
No, it's not about him liking intrigue, or about Briala, who probably wouldn't trust some random schmuck. But her followers had to have the password, and her followers were pretty much kissing up to Solas from what I can tell.
How do you know that "the followers had to have password"? You don't know that. I also don't know absolutely anything about "her followers kissing up to Solas" - there are no interactions between Solas and her people. Both of these are entirely unsupported speculations.
As for the "mysterious water lady," that is apparently a fragment of Mythal, or at least a manifestation of the will of her followers, and the artist forgot to give her proper elf ears according to the developers.
This is entirely beside the point.
The eluvians could have been taken over at this point, and I don't argue that. As a matter of fact, though, there are different "sections" of the eluvian network, and it would not surprise me if he did take over Briala's eluvians during the ball, but a larger number of eluvians were taken when he took Mythal's power. In other words, there's no reason why both can't be correct.
True, but I still think that there's very little evidence to suggest that Solas did anything in Halamshiral aside from accompanying Inquisitor and enjoying himself.
We aren't sure if Solas has quickened or not, so we don't know how much time he has to achieve his goals. What we do know is he thinks long-term and his plan may have many stages. The fact that he's acting quickly (by ancient elven standards) leads me to believe that he has, in fact, quickened or begun to--or at least believes he has, now that he is awake. He didn't age while he slept, but he's been awake for a few years by the end of Trespasser (a year before he joins up with you, according to him). If he believes he's dying, it explains why he doesn't want to wait until the Inquisitor (if friend or romance) dies naturally before he carries through with his plan. Alternatively, he is still ageless but fears dying before his plan is complete because he's weakened. Either way... taking multiple eluvian networks over would definitely align with how he works. And we do know that there's more than one, and you need the proper "key" for each set of eluvians.
No you don't a key, or at least you don't need a specific, physical key. So long as a person has power and knowledge they can open eluvians - this is how Morrigan did it. This is what Qunari did. Thing is, they appear to be able to pry open on or just few eluvians at a time, while Solas appears to be able to control the network remotely (he's the one who most likely shuts the eluvian after Inquisitor passes through it), plus the network in Trespasser crossroads seems to be buzzing with energy, while Morrigan's Crossroads looked pretty much like eluvian graveyard.
As for Solas being immortal or not... I don't think this is the reason he seems to work in haste. Either something is approaching (some sort of event that will help him further his goals or some sot of menace... the Blight?). After all, there must be a reason why "he woke still weak" (why he didn't wait to become stronger?) and why he chose Corypheus - of all people - to help him unwittingly re-open his orb while he was still slumbering, or why it was crucial to secure eluvians in the first place.
He even tells Varric (when they argue about Wardens) that the Wardens managed to "buy us some time"... buy some time from what?
How do you know that "the followers had to have password"? You don't know that. I also don't know absolutely anything about "her followers kissing up to Solas" - there are no interactions between Solas and her people. Both of these are entirely unsupported speculations.
They couldn't use the eluvians without the password to activate them. If they travel the network, they had the password. And Briala basically says the way she's going to use the network to her advantage in TME is by moving people and items across Orlais. Most of Briala's spy network probably knows the password at any given time, or else the network would not be doing its job. And, as a result, her spy network is probably leakier than a sieve.
I agree that I didn't see any reason to think they were kissing up to Solas, though.
Remember how he was being all casual there and playing the servant? Even servants have their hierarchies, he tells us... while off all to himself, socializing with the elves. It was the perfect opportunity for him to gain enough trust to get the eluvian network password. And, as someone "in" with the Inquisitor, all the better--they'd have thought he had access to resources and people that they needed for their uprising. Solas himself got the password. Then he sent agents in to do his dirty work. He wasn't just giddy because he was drunk, he was giddy because he'd participated in some of the danger and intrigue; the Inquisitor was completely unaware of him having done anything but listen to the servants' gossip. I suppose he wanted to end the night with a bit of victory sex with Romanced-Lavellan, assuming she was willing.
I agree with this paragraph (and that last sentence almost made me choke when I read it. lol) I can easily see Solas ingratiating/convincing one of Briala's people that he could be useful since he's in the Inquisition and gaining the password from them. Could also have used magic on one of them to get it. I don't think he had his agents kill anyone that night, though. I don't even know if I think he had agents in the palace, though I suppose that would make sense?
The eluvians could have been taken over at this point, and I don't argue that. As a matter of fact, though, there are different "sections" of the eluvian network, and it would not surprise me if he did take over Briala's eluvians during the ball, but a larger number of eluvians were taken when he took Mythal's power. In other words, there's no reason why both can't be correct.
Either way... taking multiple eluvian networks over would definitely align with how he works. And we do know that there's more than one, and you need the proper "key" for each set of eluvians.
And that the well was established to be such a key.
I agree that both of you might be right, with the condition that the Well of Sorrows opened another section (possibly a large one) of the network rather than the entire network. Maybe even activating eluvians as far as away Qunari territory, opening the doors for them to begin exploring and setting up plans to utilize them. (Or perhaps they started doing that by infiltrating/stumbling upon Briala's elf network in Orlais. *shrug*)
Is it weird that I feel like the biggest betrayal/lie from Solas was this whole network of spies he had working within the Inquisition? (Other places, too, but especially within the Inquisition.) Like I can forgive not telling me who he was, not trusting me with his plans, and so forth. To a certain extent those are understandable. And I can see past the explosion at the conclave and his world ending plans if he chooses to change. But the spies? That just really bugs me.
They couldn't use the eluvians without the password to activate them. If they travel the network, they had the password. And Briala basically says the way she's going to use the network to her advantage in TME is by moving people and items across Orlais. Most of Briala's spy network probably knows the password at any given time, or else the network would not be doing its job. And, as a result, her spy network is probably leakier than a sieve.
I agree that I didn't see any reason to think they were kissing up to Solas, though.
It's true that a good portion of her spies might have known the password, but if Briala is in any way competent, she'd only use a few people she trusts with a secret as big as eluvians. After all, both Celene and Gaspard know of the existence of the network, so you think they wouldn't try and coax or threaten some poor elves to give them the password if they knew they could have it if only they break one elf?
Is it weird that I feel like the biggest betrayal/lie from Solas was this whole network of spies he had working within the Inquisition? (Other places, too, but especially within the Inquisition.) Like I can forgive not telling me who he was, not trusting me with his plans, and so forth. To a certain extent those are understandable. And I can see past the explosion at the conclave and his world ending plans if he chooses to change. But the spies? That just really bugs me.
... The irony is that it's Solas spies that saves the Inquisition and Inquisitor from the Qunari plot.
Can Solas' ability to trasform / shapeshift into a large wolf be considered as a form of lycanthropy ? Could he shapeshift into a werewolf ?
Can Solas' ability to trasform / shapeshift into a large wolf be considered as a form of lycanthropy ? Could he shapeshift into a werewolf ?
... Why would turning into a wolf be considered a form of lycantrophy? Wolf =/= werewolf.
Plus, lycantrophy is either a curse or a disease. Shapeshifting is a skill.
(and so far we can only assume Solas can shapeshift into a wolf 
)
Or perhaps they started doing that by infiltrating/stumbling upon Briala's elf network in Orlais.
Is it weird that I feel like the biggest betrayal/lie from Solas was this whole network of spies he had working within the Inquisition? (Other places, too, but especially within the Inquisition.) Like I can forgive not telling me who he was, not trusting me with his plans, and so forth. To a certain extent those are understandable. And I can see past the explosion at the conclave and his world ending plans if he chooses to change. But the spies? That just really bugs me.
...Is it wrong that I found the secret spy network to be really freakin' hot?
Like, I guess I don't see it as much of a betrayal, because it's not something he could've been honest about without inviting a lot of uncomfortable questions (How'd some random apostate hermit get a massive spy network?) Really, there was very little Solas could've been honest about, in regards to himself, that wouldn't have threatened the security of aaallll his other secrets. Maybe he could've been honest about the Fen'Harel thing (Although he probably thought that, if the Inquisitior knew his identity, they'd probably make the connection between him and the Orb pretty quick.) but as for his spies, his plans, his past actions - he couldn't be honest about any one of them without divulging all the rest, really. So I give him as much blame for that as I give him for everything else - which is to say, not very much, because I love good villains and I generally won't turn on a character for purely moral reasons.
...But seriously, I'm actually a little concerned about how attractive I found that.
Hello again Solas thread, sorry again for the non-Solas spam, just something for fellow Looking Glass fans. No not that cute Young Solas, just a certain prickly ancient elf Uthvir and some T-Rex in the same frame. :3
Just some AU of AU shennanigans...
Hello again Solas thread, sorry again for the non-Solas spam, just something for fellow Looking Glass fans. No not that cute Young Solas, just
a certain prickly ancient elfUthvir and some T-Rex in the same frame. :3Just some AU of AU shennanigans...
Spoiler
Uthvir meets ARK: Survival Evolved...?
Art post.
Adorable Solas and Lavellan.
Not sure if this has ever been shared here. Sexy modern AU Solavellan.
Solas and Lavellan.
Some passionate Solas and Lavellan. 
(NSFW-ish because they're nude but no naughty bits are shown.)
Solas and Lavellan kissing.
Turtle Solas by drosophilia! 
Solas.
Quick Solas tangent question that I think had been touched on at least once but I can't find it.
What languages did Solas know fluently, or almost fluently, during the events of Inquisition (i.e. pre-trespasser) obviously common and ancient elvhen but were there others?
He seems to know Qunlat but I think it's mostly up to headcanon..? I don't recall him actually speaking anything other than Elven and Qunlat.
Personally, I think he must know at least some of all the main languages of Thedas since he's spent so much time in the fade. Perhaps more than that.
The woman in the well of sorrow is an Asari?
We aren't sure if Solas has quickened or not, so we don't know how much time he has to achieve his goals. What we do know is he thinks long-term and his plan may have many stages. The fact that he's acting quickly (by ancient elven standards) leads me to believe that he has, in fact, quickened or begun to--or at least believes he has,
"Do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands."
I believe the romance is going to end with either Solas or the Inquisitor sacrificing their own life so the other one can live... The player can decide which one dies. Kind of like the choice between Hawke and the Warden Ally in DAI. Every DA protagonist so far has had the chance to die heroically in the game (Warden and US, Hawke and the Nightmare). So it seems likely that the Inquisitor will have similar fate. Of course we may have no choice at all... if you drank from the Well of Sorrows either Mythal or now maybe Solas can control you, if so he might do the same thing as Alistair did in the battle of Denerim. Or if the anchor is still part of the Inquisitor then maybe it will kill them instead because they have been slowly dying all along... Inquisitors death would also make sense since they are 'Andraste's Herald', after all;
"Let the blade pass through the flesh,
Let my blood touch the ground,
Let my cries touch their hearts,
Let mine be the last sacrifice."
That's my guess anyway.
Passionate sex scene, then self-sacrifice and death.
So death by snu-snu ? Or death by wolf-wolf ?
Which is why, I might add, we totes need a somniari Tevinter protagonist for DA4, in addition to Quizzy (a dual protagonist set up, such that you control TWO protagonists)
Yeah, that's my dream game. Oohhh yeah.
We also need several dwarves working for us. They are impervious to dream stalking, as long as they don't have something forcing their subconscious into the Fade, like the anchor did with a dwarven Inquisitor.
Yep. Dwarves ftw ! But the Titans might affect them.
In other words, I don't think this is a coincidence at all that they meet under the eluvian or that one of the last scenes in the main game is this:
I find it interesting that the wolf is howling and the dragon is bowing (almost submissively/acknowledging/any number of interpretations really...)
Ugh, where's DA4 news 
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