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[Hellion Rex]

@LobselVith8:  You think you're doing the demons favors? 

 

They're trying to claw their way in... they're not giving you anything. 

Any mage draws demons - blood magic is just chum in the water.

 

It isn't contradictory AT ALL. 

 

As for "many see it" - that's a funny thing coming from the spokesperson for skepticism on Codex entries.

 

You know what the Codex says about the Taint and the Chant and the Magisters right? 

In any event, I think it really does bring home the costs of using blood magic. Yes, you can get one hell of a power boost, but at the same time you are lighting yourself up like a neon light for spiritual entities.

[Medhia_Nox]

@Eluvianius Rex: And anyone who "can" both use this repugnant magic AND keep demons out AND not go insane with all the scratching and screaming... is someone to truly be feared.

[Steelcan]

In any event, I think it really does bring home the costs of using blood magic. Yes, you can get one hell of a power boost, but at the same time you are lighting yourself up like a neon light for spiritual entities.

less neon light and more dousing yourself in sheeps blood and jumping into the ocean

[Medhia_Nox]

@Steelcan:  I really do see it as making demons frenzy.  They're excited... they're hungry... they're celebrating... and they're waiting... cause true tests never end.

 

The principles of being a mage are set up in the mage Origin... why these things surprise people by game 3 (or book... 5 is it?) is a bit mind boggling.

[sandalisthemaker]

It sounds completely contradictory. Previously, the lore on blood magic read, "Nothing inspires as much wild-eyed terror as the Blood Mage. Mages of this type take the raw energy of life and twist it to their own purposes. They can corrupt and control, and sustain their power by consuming the health of others, willing or not. The effects can be vile, but this specialization isn't limited to madmen and monsters. Many see it as the only form of magic that is truly free, because it's tied to the physical, not favors to spirits or demons."

 

Spoiler

One of the mages in the book learns blood magic by bargaining with a demon. Here is a direct quote from that mage.

"Perhaps there's some truth to the idea that the real danger of blood magic isn't that it draws its power from sacrifice, or that it tempts the greedy and ambitious into using the suffering of others to fuel their spells. Perhaps the danger is simply that we do not understand it, and that lack of understanding invites disaster even when our intentions are pure."

Blood magic comes with unforseen and unintended consequences in this book. Something very interesting happens as the result of a blood magic spell.

[Mr.House]

Lob getting uppity that the lore does not fit his dream? Sweet.

 

I love this though, good to see blood magic have a true price to pay. Also at least we probably know what Avernus research found(blood magic wardens are in much more danger)

[sandalisthemaker]

@Steelcan:  I really do see it as making demons frenzy.  They're excited... they're hungry... they're celebrating... and they're waiting... cause true tests never end.

 

The principles of being a mage are set up in the mage Origin... why these things surprise people by game 3 (or book... 5 is it?) is a bit mind boggling.

 

Spoiler

"The whispers of demons circled around her thoughts, importuning her through the Veil: 'Let us in, let us take the [REDACTED] from you. You need not [REDACTED] them. Open them to us, and free yourself from their weight.' "

These are the words of demons attracted by a mage and speaking into her mind while she is using a sustained blood magic spell.

[Hellion Rex]

 

cause true tests never end.

One of my favorite lines.

[Medhia_Nox]

@Eluvianus Rex:  And I was actually upset that it was never revisted... that Pride demon should have been hounding your every step trying to "get in". 

 

@Sandal 2.0:  I'm pleased to see that DA is exactly the world I've always envisioned it to be.  My only hope is that all mages are actually given similar treatment - even if in varying degrees.

[Dave of Canada]

Mages are dangerous, blood magic is evil and it attracts hellspawn? Color me surprised.

[Mr.House]

So Merrill abomination for DAI confirmed?

[Steelcan]

So Merrill abomination for DAI confirmed?

nah

 

not even a demon would want to possess her, they'd have to live in her head, they'd go insane inside a week

[Medhia_Nox]

@sandal 2.0:  Man - I have this weird impression of what those REDACTED things are... and if they are what I think they are, my view of what demons "want" as a group may be spot on and that would be very exciting to me. 

 

Of course - it's basically an "AD LIB" so it could be anything. 

[lil yonce]

Spoiler

One of the mages in the book learns blood magic by bargaining with a demon. Here is a direct quote from that mage.

"Perhaps there's some truth to the idea that the real danger of blood magic isn't that it draws its power from sacrifice, or that it tempts the greedy and ambitious into using the suffering of others to fuel their spells. Perhaps the danger is simply that we do not understand it, and that lack of understanding invites disaster even when our intentions are pure."

Blood magic comes with unforseen and unintended consequences in this book. Something very interesting happens as the result of a blood magic spell.

In the end, i don't think my opinion of blood magic will really change, but tweaking this kind of stuff gives certain past events new meaning - and at the cost of impact of my choice.

[sandalisthemaker]

@sandal 2.0:  Man - I have this weird impression of what those REDACTED things are... and if they are what I think they are, my view of what demons "want" as a group may be spot on and that would be very exciting to me. 

 

Of course - it's basically an "AD LIB" so it could be anything. 

 

The [REDACTED]s are very specific to that scene.  

 

Spoiler

The mage is using blood magic to perform a crucial task (for good intentions in fact). The spell is incredibly taxing though, and she is growing tired. The demons are basically offering to "help ease her burden" so to speak.

In fact, in one scene, when another blood mage warden lets go of their spell, they instantly turn into an abomination. It is unclear whether they intentionally allowed the demons in, or they lost control and it spontaneously happened. I'll have to re-read.

 

Here is the exact quote

 

Spoiler

"One of the mages transformed as she fell. Liquid fire burst from her skin and melted her features into those of an abomination as she lost- or surrendered- control of her connection to the Fade."

In the scene she was attacked while in the midst of using the spell.

[cjones91]

Blood magic has always been dangerous,so I'm not surprised one bit that it actually had severe consequences for the person that used it.

[sandalisthemaker]

Griffon tidbits

 

Spoiler

Gray is a dominant color in griffon genetics. Most of them are various shades of gray. Some can be pure white, others pure black but they are less common.

Griffons choose their riders, not the other way around.

They are intelligent and develop bonds with their riders, and seem to understand certain words and commands. However, they are still animals, and cannot talk, etc.

They are naturally proud, territorial, and aggressive. They often squabble amongst themselves. They have an inbred hatred for darkspawn.

They are trained not to bite darkspawn, and will become ghouls if they ingest blood. During previous blights, the Wardens tried putting griffons through the Joining, but it had always ended in disaster. The griffons would always end up becoming rabidly vicious and would attack everything around them. They'd turn their hatred of the darkspawn on themselves and would eventually tear themselves apart.

[sandalisthemaker]

I will start posting more major spoilers if people want.

[Willowhugger]

go ahead.

I'm working on my review of the book now.

[sandalisthemaker]

Spoiler

The main character, Isseya twin sister of Garahel (the hero of the 4th Blight) chooses to learn blood magic. She sees it as a powerful tool to be used against the Darkspawn.

Her first use of blood magic occurs after one of the griffons contracts the taint during battle. She wants to use blood magic to cause the Joining ritual to work on griffons (because it normally does not work and only drives the griffons insane with rage).

She performs the Joining ritual (at this point in the story, she is respected enough among the Wardens to be allowed to perform the Joining. But she still performs the ritual in secret.) She uses blood magic to control the griffon's mind so that it will drink the darkspawn and archdemon blood. She then uses the blood magic to search through the griffon's mind and re-arrange its thoughts, for lack of a better description. Her intent is to make the griffon accept its condition and keep it from killing itself.

However, it soon becomes apparent after the griffon recovers that the spell has unintended consequences. This griffon becomes more irritable and begins coughing up a bloody discharge. While in battle, the griffon ignores its rider's commands and its hatred for darkspawn has become all consuming. It ignores pain and fights with the fury of 10 griffons until it falls in battle.

As the Blight drags on, the Wardens become more desperate. They eventually find out what Isseya did, and she is commanded to use blood magic on more griffons in order to make them more deadly in combat.....

[sandalisthemaker]

My last spoiler because I really think you guys should read the book for yourselves. It is very good, very grim, and 

 

Spoiler

you really get a sense of what it is like to slowly deteriorate and succumb to the taint.

 

Spoiler

Isseya reluctantly agrees to put more griffons through the joining.

The joined griffons are so aggressive (and become uncontrollable when they are near darkspawn) that they need to be controlled. Isseya begins mind controlling the griffons via blood magic to keep them in line. More and more griffons end up like this.

Eventually, the blood magic spell used to put the griffons through the Joining is revealed to have a major unintended consequence.

[The Elder King]

Spoiler

The main character, Isseya twin sister of Garahel (the hero of the 4th Blight) chooses to learn blood magic. She sees it as a powerful tool to be used against the Darkspawn.
Her first use of blood magic occurs after one of the griffons contracts the taint during battle. She wants to use blood magic to cause the Joining ritual to work on griffons (because it normally does not work and only drives the griffons insane with rage).
She performs the Joining ritual (at this point in the story, she is respected enough among the Wardens to be allowed to perform the Joining. But she still performs the ritual in secret.) She uses blood magic to control the griffon's mind so that it will drink the darkspawn and archdemon blood. She then uses the blood magic to search through the griffon's mind and re-arrange its thoughts, for lack of a better description. Her intent is to make the griffon accept its condition and keep it from killing itself.
However, it soon becomes apparent after the griffon recovers that the spell has unintended consequences. This griffon becomes more irritable and begins coughing up a bloody discharge. While in battle, the griffon ignores its rider's commands and its hatred for darkspawn has become all consuming. It ignores pain and fights with the fury of 10 griffons until it falls in battle.
As the Blight drags on, the Wardens become more desperate. They eventually find out what Isseya did, and she is commanded to use blood magic on more griffons in order to make them more deadly in combat.....

Damn. Though it's honestly something that doesn't surprise me.

[sandalisthemaker]

Damn. Though it's honestly something that doesn't surprise me.

 

Spoiler

A major theme of the book is that often good people will do ruthless things in order to accomplish what they believe is right.

Even if it means sacrificing those that have no say in the matter.

The consequences of those actions are much more costly than Isseya could have ever imagined.

[The Elder King]

Spoiler

A major theme of the book is that often good people will do ruthless things in order to accomplish what they believe is right.
Even if it means sacrificing those that have no say in the matter.
The consequences of those actions are much more costly than Isseya could have ever imagined.

Spoiler

understood. The book seems to explain well what the games told us about the Wardens.
Are there any things that you think are against previous lore?

[sandalisthemaker]

Spoiler

understood. The book seems to explain well what the games told us about the Wardens.
Are there any things that you think are against previous lore?

 

Spoiler

I wouldn't say it goes against previous lore, but it does really hammer the fact that blood magic is extremely dangerous, risky for the mage performing it, and tends to have unforseen consequences due to the fact that humanity doesn't fully understand it.

The games just make blood magic look super powerful with no down side. Last Flight shows us that there are consequences to its use.