The upcoming release of Dragon Age Inquisition has caused me to reassess my roleplaying and choices in the past games. This has caused me to become a little undecided on certain choices.
So I'm wondering, how do you guys rationalize a good Human Noble doing things such as siding with Bhelen or romancing morrigan or sparing loghain or doing the dark ritual? how about using blood magic to save connor instead of getting the mages to help?
Feel free to ask your own questions and to debate answers and opinions
Could be almost anything.
###################
Chains. She'd always known she'd end up here. Just like her parents, just like Alistair. Just like so many lives broken for the greater good.
Hero. Conqueror. Warlord. King maker, life taker. She'd made Anora queen, she'd consorted with blood mages, she'd made Bhelen king, she'd saved Connor with blood magic. A world in chaos had promoted many opportunities for someone who could see the right moments, the right weaknesses. But tactical brilliance did not imply strategic acumen in a period of relative stability.
She hung from the wall, limbs twisted and broken like a blood-covered octopus. The glow of magic was the only thing holding her together, it was no kindness.
"So, Warden." Melodious, the voice was out of place among the blood and screaming.
Alana twitched. Her words came as rattling whispers, almost too quiet to hear.
"Anora. Come to dirty your dress?"
"Dear Maker, what have they done to you?"
"You had... had me tortured. What... What did you expect?"
"There was nothing personal in it. I simply need what you know, unfortunately."
Alana's body shook with dry retches. "For pity's sake. Let me die in peace. I - I earned that at least. Let it
end."
Anora drew herself back. "Something for the pain for something for the realm. I think that's a fair trade at least, don't you?"
The octopus twitched and breath rasped, it might have been a nod.
"Very well. Healer? --- Now then. Answers, you've only got so long, and I'm sure we'd both prefer to be done with this little bit of unpleasantness before that wears off: Why make Bhelen king? Why use blood magic? Why make my father a warden? Many of the things that you have done do not favour Ferelden."
"Many of the things I've done," Alana paused, her lungs spasming within broken ribs. "Are the only reason Ferelden will be here tomorrow."
"And my interest is to see that it persists; that my children take up a strong crown."
"One of those things, is not like the other."
"What do you mean?"
"You need the dwarves. Lyrium. Templars. Mages. Balance of powers. The dwarves... dwarves need reform. Social structure in-inimicable to long-term survival. Bhelen king today - but." What remained of her face pulled into a mockery of a smile. "Kings
die, didn't you notice? Today king, then someone else. Instability limits potential damage as it promotes possibility of change. Leverage in right direction now, loses power long term. Unavoidable: Bh-elen not that smart. Just ruthless. Passes for intelligence in a bad light. Too long playing at politics. Dwarven you."
"And blood magic?"
"Hedge bets with dwarves: Alternate source of power. Saved Malificar to ensure survival of knowledge outside of circle when circle lost. Different social class to Magisters: Wouldn't be friends. Tevinter takes over - core of potential rebellion. Tevinter doesn't - encourages existence of Templars as counteragent to Mals. All societies that reach an asymptote with their threat environment stagnate. Long term: technology over magic. Have to change economic structure of Ferelden to keep up. That or death. World for mages and mundanes. Keep you honest."
"And my father?"
"... I was never cruel. Did what I had to do. Only person who was willing. Bound you to me- short term. Hostage. And Allistair? He would have been a great king, and a terrible one. Would have ruled in peace. People would've loved him. But he didn't want to be god. You do: Eternal rule. We need someone insane. Running down the streets dog mad, that's you Anora. Increases mimetic mutation rate of society. Imposes selection pressure. Mad crown: stronger lords, more unity. You just think you're smart because you know how to benefit yourself. But you know nothing of working with people, only how to dominate them. In the absence of that skill, they'll work together. They'll have to. No cruelty is eternal - but all cruelty fails and represents a chance to change. Needed Ferelden to burn in a specific way. No good if just weakens and dies. Two generations, that's my bet."
"I am not insane." Anora sniffed. "Insanity was coming here, if you could see what would happen to you."
"Here, there. What did it matter? Bhelen wants me dead. You want me dead. The Templars want me dead. Doesn't matter - dead already. Everyone I've ever loved is dead. Months of killing, months of walking through crap and blood. Every waking moment. Training to be stronger, faster. Eating. Being healed to grow muscles. Training again. Do you think it's natural? This strength? I'd die before I was twenty anyway. Burnt too much of my life training and healing and killing. A few years before it all breaks down? The smell, Anora. Sweet Maker the smell. You can't imagine. And killing. Killing's the only thing I'm good at. Good for. What was left?"
"Then why not simply go to your death against the Archdemon?"
"Hedge bets. If taints goes to baby, maybe not just grey wardens that can kill it so that it stays dead. Don't know how it works - worth trying even if success improbable. Old god baby a risk. But... babies are easier to kill than dragons." A bitter coughing laugh. "I should know."
"This is all meaningless. You can't know what will happen. You can't just make up these pretty little stories like something in the history books."
"Believe what you like. Read some history, see the patterns. The patterns are what matters. We've come too far. Momentum has taken over. All this: The politics you do. This narrow self-interest? This is just drapery hung over something uglier."
A broken limb dragged blood across the floor, "This is what victory looks like, Anora."
"Victory? You're dying, and I have no intention to end up like... that."
"Did you think I didn't know the price? If there's to be a better world, neither of us can live there.... The pain is coming back. Make an end of it. Please. If anything I've done counts, make an end."
"Very well. I can see I've been wasting my time here. And you have earned this, one way or another." Anora gestured sharply to the healer.
And the darkness rushed in to take away the pain.
Retour en haut
Any excuse to support a tyrant. For the chance that his policies might actually work in the long run. Meanwhile, he has every person who dares to challenge him executed. I like how people are always trying to justify being complete jerks here. 
Such great examples of the greater good that seem to always backfire. 
