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[azarhal]

 

Anyone else replay the game only to notice all the subtle hints that Solas isn't telling you the whole story? Like for example,I just started my second playthrough and the first party banter I get after bring Iron Bull on the team is IB noticing how Solas's magic isn't the same as any of the other mages he has seen and that even if he is self-taught, that would leave some sort of clunk in his technique. Solas get's defensive, stating that he wouldn't know/understand since he doesn't study magic. God Dammit Bull, you had It all along.

 

 

The whole thing is hammered really:

Vivienne suggest he is suspicious in a discussion with her early on when she join up.

Banter with Varric about possible Dwarven Trickster god existing.

 

Etc.

[Neleothesze]

I don't think Solas is a real god though, just a very powerful ancient elf. It's been hinted throughout the story that there is a big difference between how legends are told and how they actually happened. The Inquisitor herself is an excellent example of this. Walking around with a glowing hand will make for some impressive murals in the coming ages.

It's also interesting to note that a lot of these stories about the Dread Wolf originate from a society with different values than most of current Thedas. For example, Tevinter is regarded as an amoral society by most people in Orlais and Ferelden yet it turns out the Ancient elves lived in a similar society where people had slaves and Blood magic wasn't as bad. Solas comes across as an introvert who sees live in 50 shades of grey and is always curious to learn new things, willing to change an opinion when proven wrong. Qualities that would probably not make him a great supporter of the old ways
 

A codex entry about the Dread Wolf says " ..."

 

To me this actually sounds very similar to the mage/templar conflict in DA2 and DAI. Both sides have great power, are dangerous and neither of them is right. If at some point in the game, the Inquisitor was given the option to get rid of both threats by taking away their power, I think quite a few players would have chosen that option and it would probably have resulted in similar legends

 

There are two things which I believe:

 

One is, as Arahnea suggested, that the old Elven Gods weren't really Gods but incredibly powerful ancient elves. Immortal, incredibly powerful ancient elves.

 

Two: Some of those immortal, incredibly powerful ancient elves are alive. (aside: Cole, you're a fount of information)

 

These conversation happen in-game. One happened to me, one other I found:

Cole: Can I help you? You healed my hurt, but yours is old inside, vast across the veil.

Solas: I'm fine thank you, there are others who need your help more urgently.

---

Cole: She is bare-face, embarrassed, and she doesn’t know. She thinks it is because of her.

Solas: You cannot heal this, Cole. Please, let it go.

Inquisitor: Perhaps Cole can get a better answer from you than I did.

Cole: He hurts, an old pain from before, when everything sang the same. You’re real, and it means everyone could be real. It changes everything but it can’t. They sleep, masked in a mirror, hiding, hurting, and to wake them…(Gasps) Where did it go?

Solas: I apologize, Cole. That is not a pain you can heal.

 

I think that Fen'Harel found a solution to the war and his solution had terrible consequences. I think that he sent the rest of the pantheon to some other dimension (as Morrigan suggests it's possible) and the Golden City became empty. I also think that it's possible that the real world was not as immutable then as it is now (shown by the Rift Mage specialization and what "Solas" can do).

 

I think that it was possible to freely interact with the Fade and when "Solas" says to imagine a world where spirits walked among us freely, it's not just wishful thinking, it's something that once was but got destroyed.

 

I think the Fade and the real world were one and when causing the rift to stop the war the two were made separate... "an old pain from before, when everything sang the same".

 

However I don't think Fen'Harel was or is evil. From everything he stands for in-game, to the fact that he wants to fix his mistake. And I watched and re-watched the epilogue and I just can't see that... him looking angrily at Flemeth. (What's more, if he were happy that she died, he'd have just dumped the body instead of holding it tightly and lowering her gently.)

 

He feels that he needs to bring back the people trapped on the other side of an Eluvian (or more)... the people behind the mirrors. His People. Because  - to put it crudely - he f**ked up big time.

 

And since the orb is destroyed he needs the added power of Mythal to do it.

[Bearness]

There are two things which I believe:

 

One is, as Arahnea suggested, that the old Elven Gods weren't really Gods but incredibly powerful ancient elves. Immortal, incredibly powerful ancient elves.

 

Two: Some of those immortal, incredibly powerful ancient elves are alive. (aside: Cole, you're a fount of information)

 

These conversation happen in-game. One happened to me, one other I found:

Cole: Can I help you? You healed my hurt, but yours is old inside, vast across the veil.

Solas: I'm fine thank you, there are others who need your help more urgently.

---

Cole: She is bare-face, embarrassed, and she doesn’t know. She thinks it is because of her.

Solas: You cannot heal this, Cole. Please, let it go.

Inquisitor: Perhaps Cole can get a better answer from you than I did.

Cole: He hurts, an old pain from before, when everything sang the same. You’re real, and it means everyone could be real. It changes everything but it can’t. They sleep, masked in a mirror, hiding, hurting, and to wake them…(Gasps) Where did it go?

Solas: I apologize, Cole. That is not a pain you can heal.

 

I think that Fen'Harel found a solution to the war and his solution had terrible consequences. I think that he sent the rest of the pantheon to some other dimension (as Morrigan suggests it's possible) and the Golden City became empty. I also think that it's possible that the real world was not as immutable then as it is now (shown by the Rift Mage specialization and what "Solas" can do. I think that it was possible to freely interact with the Fade and when "Solas" says to imagine a world where spirits walked among us freely, it's not just wishful thinking, it's something that once was but got destroyed.

 

I think the Fade and the real world were one and when causing the rift to stop the war the two were made separate... "an old pain from before, when everything sang the same".

 

However I don't think Fen'Harel was or is evil. From everything he stands for in-game, to the fact that he wants to fix his mistake. And I watched and re-watched the epilogue and I just can't see that... him looking angrily at Flemeth. (What's more, if he were happy that she died, he'd have just dumped the body instead of holding it tightly and lowering her gently.)

 

He feels that he needs to bring back the people trapped on the other side of an Eluvian (or more)... the people behind the mirrors. His People. Because  - to put it crudely - he f**ked up big time.

 

And since the orb is destroyed he needs the added power of Mythal to do it.

 

This is amazing.. well played sir.

I like this a lot.... Only thing i don't know... is if he is as good as he seems?

I mean he is still the dread wolf....

Now im not saying that hes not good but like is said in an early post i think he is more of an ''ends justify the means''.

A silent hidden evil like the illusive man. And i loved the illusive man so i wouldn't mind if this plot twist was real.

But that come down to personal preference to the road you want to see him walk.

I mean i remember looking at his tarot card and seeing the dread wolf shadow behind him and thinking...

Please let this be real... he is gonna be an amazing adversary... like Saruman the wise.....

Now that i think about it... time to make Gandalf for my next playthrough.

[Random Spirit.]

Pretty sure they're never going to address whether the Maker is real or not. Not even the spirits know. They're probably just going to keep putting on more layers, and in the end it'll be up to the individual player to decide whether they think he's real or not.

 

The problem is that no one knows anything about the maker, not even the spirits have seen or heard anything that would confirm His existence - which is strange since they are immortal an live in the fade where the golden/black city is located. I think it is more likely that the Golden/black city is Arlathan, But perhaps it was the seat of the maker before the elves moved in what was an empty citadel in the fade (and perhaps also manifested in Thedas).

[Random Spirit.]

That's an interesting idea, however, with Levallan romances, he pretty much hinted that he cannot be with her, because then it will wake up the 'others', and that he cannot allow. But with his talk with Flemmeth, it seems that he will need to do something, possibly something that would change the whole world. And he have to do it alone. I'm not sure what happens between Flemmeth and Solas, but it looks like (to me) that they merge power. Not sure how that works out, seeing as merging of characteristics between two different spirit usually resulted in both being change by the other (Like Anders and Justice). With Solas and Flemmeth being powerful beings, that might not be a good idea.

 

 

 

I don't recall Solas saying they're dead, and I recall him saying something about not wanting to wake up the 'others', so my guess is that they're sleeping, nothing more. And Solas did say that they are not gods, but powerful beings that can command magic as easily as breathing, so I don't know, they probably is indeed magical elves, but certainly not gods.
 

 

 

That explain it! The tale was that Fen'Harel tricked the gods and sealed them, and since the Veil contains the Golden/Black city, plus the spirits, demons, and magical essences that mages and draw power from, it make sense that the Golden/Black city is where those gods live, and Fen'Harel sealed the Fade apart from the physical realm, but it had unintended consequences - leaving the normal elves being lost, and the chaos in the world due to the difference between the physical realm and the Fade. As for the 'gods', I think that the Ancient Elves, ones who lives for a long time, were a cross between magic and physical, letting them live as long as they did, and wield magic as they can. However, they are prideful, and hold themselves above their creations (as they recreated the world), and enslaved the elves - that's why Solas said the vallaslin was mark of slavery. And Solas was indeed a good guy, intended to do good but wasn't aware of the consequences. He sealed the 'gods' into the Fade, and went to sleep, only to wake up to the chaos that is the events of Dragon Age. Since he had slept for so long, and magic is sealed in the Fade, he doesn't have as much power as he used to, so he disguised as a mage, and started on the journey of trying to fix what he did wrong. However, I don't think that he intend to wake up the old gods/ancient elves, as it would only unleash their malice onto the world, and make his act of sealing them counterproductive. Not to mention, as he disliked their actions before of pride and slavery, I really doubt that he would let them out for them to enslave the other races again. As far as the old gods vs the ancient elves, I don't know, it's kinda tie to the story about two clashing factions of gods in the Elvhenan's stories; however, Solas stated that the archdemon/old gods have nothing to do with the elves......Kinda raise a lot of questions. What if the Archdemon itself was not Archdemon as the world understood it? The old gods exist, but they were tainted when the darkspawns found them; could they be the essense of the ancient elves, corrupted by the twisted darkness of the darkspawn? Judging from Corypheus' tale, the magisters of Tevinter did entered the Fade, and changed into something else. Could it be that they entered the Fade in the flesh, their desires corrupted the spirits there, and that in turn corrupted them? What happen to the ancient elves' essences then? How did the Tevinter Magistered entered the Golden/Black city in the first place? Corypheus said that the throne was empty, but he was expecting actualy physical form as they understood it? And since the Fade's spirits, as explained by Solas, existed as energies, could it be that the Magisters encountered ancient elven's essences and thought it was nothing?

 

So many theories, and so interesting! I think they probably will release the truth about the powerful ancient elves in DLCs or something XD
 

 

Of course the old gods has nothing to do with the elves if they where the patron gods of Ancient Tevinter - a human culture. (or used Tevinter in order to try to further their plans).

[Random Spirit.]

What do people here think qualify as a god?

[Neleothesze]

What do people here think qualify as a god?

 

Well... I'm going to quote Dagoth Ur from Morrowind about my view on godhood: "Omnipotent... omniscient... sovereign... immutable..."

 

So while the ancient elves might have been immortal and held power beyond human or mortal understanding they were still imperfect beings. Point in case, they had a society which was in the process of destroying itself when Fen'Harel screwed things up.

 

My previous post highlights my thoughts on what the Dalish pantheon really were.

[Heimdall]

My speculation is that "Solas" took the side of the rebelling elven slaves in Elvhenan during the civil war that destroyed it. But the rest of the elven pantheon, whatever they are, took the side of the elven rulers. Meanwhile, the "Forgotten Ones" (Probably the Old Gods of Tevinter) directed their followers to take advantage of the chaos and invade. The Dread Wolf decided the best way to end the conflict was to takes "gods" out of play.

So he created the Veil.

Whatever the ritual required, it had the effect of sending the "gods" into slumber. The Old Gods slumber beneath the earth. The elven pantheon are... Wherever. Spirits became cut off. Magic became limited. Even the Dread Wolf slept, and only recently awoke in a weakened state to find that what he did actually made things worse. I suspect that his orb contained a great deal of his former power, which is why he needed to access it so badly and why I interpret the final scene as him absorbing Mythal's power (Though knowing Flemeth, she'll have another piece of herself around somewhere).

More tentative speculation: The Golden City is the elven gods' prison. The Darkspawn taint that infected the Magisters is the festering hateful essence of Elgarnan, God of Vengeance, and a millenia of rage for what happened to them. The Darkspawn seek out the Old Gods either as a form of vengeance or to be used as tools to destroy. The Old gods may have directed the Magisters to the city in an attempt to attack their old enemy or seek some solution to their own imprisonment. Alternatively, it was not the Old Gods at all but the elven gods whispering to the Magisters hoping to be freed by their efforts.

[Ajna]

At this point we all need to re-think what we thought we knew about The Dread Wolf.  The Dalish were wrong, that much is clear, but that's what happens with stories that span ages, becoming legends.  I don't believe Solas is evil at all.

[Random Spirit.]

Well... I'm going to quote Dagoth Ur from Morrowind about my view on godhood: "Omnipotent... omniscient... sovereign... immutable..."

 

So while the ancient elves might have been immortal and held power beyond human or mortal understanding they were still imperfect beings. Point in case, they had a society which was in the process of destroying itself when Fen'Harel screwed things up.

 

My previous post highlights my thoughts on what the Dalish pantheon really were.

It would also exclude a creator of the universe or similar that happens to not be omnipotent, only very, very powerful (powerful enough to create the universe).

 

I would say "a god" or deity is someone who is being worshiped because of their supremacy in some way and who can grant worshipers the boons they expect from the one they worship. In a fantasy setting like dragon age, there might not be any Supreme God like the maker at all, and that would mean that those who worship this  idea/abstraction would not view other powers as gods - even though they where the only higher powers around.

[Random Spirit.]

At this point we all need to re-think what we thought we knew about The Dread Wolf.  The Dalish were wrong, that much is clear, but that's what happens with stories that span ages, becoming legends.  I don't believe Solas is evil at all.

 

Trickster gods are rarely viewed as "evil" although there are exceptions (Loki for example). Being a trouble-maker is not the same as being evil.

[Snook]

So...now I've got go wonder. What was the mysterious thing Felassan was talking to at the end of TME? Solas?

[Crockets]

Why do you guys think one took other's essence.

It looks far more to me as they merged to increase power.

 

Just like Ner'zhul and Arthas did to became the Lich King. "Now, we are one". Anyone remember? Ah the good ol' days.

[elrofrost]

I'm more inclined to believe the Flemeth stole his body. Solas has been asleep so long and, whatever Flemeth is, she has changed from what he once knew. She betrays his trust, probably even feeling a bit of genuine remorse on it.

 

I say this mainly because I think Flemeth has been built up too much to be replaced by Solas in a stinger.

I agree. But she only betrayed him after he betrayed her (and others) but shutting them out of the world in the first place. Remember, they apologize to each other.

But I'm not sure "stole his body" is right. I think they merged somehow. I'm sure we'll find out.

[Ajna]

Trickster gods are rarely viewed as "evil" although there are exceptions (Loki for example). Being a trouble-maker is not the same as being evil.

I know that, other people can't seem to grasp it though.  Lets not forget what we learned in the Temple of Mythal, he's not a trickster god.

[Heimdall]

Adding to my other speculation:

Between Yvana(What's her name...) attempting to awaken ancient dragons and the OGB, Mythal's goal is to protect the remaining "gods" from the backlash of what the Dread Wolf tried to do.

[jellobell]

There are two things which I believe:

 

One is, as Arahnea suggested, that the old Elven Gods weren't really Gods but incredibly powerful ancient elves. Immortal, incredibly powerful ancient elves.

 

Two: Some of those immortal, incredibly powerful ancient elves are alive. (aside: Cole, you're a fount of information)

 

These conversation happen in-game. One happened to me, one other I found:

Cole: Can I help you? You healed my hurt, but yours is old inside, vast across the veil.

Solas: I'm fine thank you, there are others who need your help more urgently.

---

Cole: She is bare-face, embarrassed, and she doesn’t know. She thinks it is because of her.

Solas: You cannot heal this, Cole. Please, let it go.

Inquisitor: Perhaps Cole can get a better answer from you than I did.

Cole: He hurts, an old pain from before, when everything sang the same. You’re real, and it means everyone could be real. It changes everything but it can’t. They sleep, masked in a mirror, hiding, hurting, and to wake them…(Gasps) Where did it go?

Solas: I apologize, Cole. That is not a pain you can heal.

 

I think that Fen'Harel found a solution to the war and his solution had terrible consequences. I think that he sent the rest of the pantheon to some other dimension (as Morrigan suggests it's possible) and the Golden City became empty. I also think that it's possible that the real world was not as immutable then as it is now (shown by the Rift Mage specialization and what "Solas" can do).

 

I think that it was possible to freely interact with the Fade and when "Solas" says to imagine a world where spirits walked among us freely, it's not just wishful thinking, it's something that once was but got destroyed.

 

I think the Fade and the real world were one and when causing the rift to stop the war the two were made separate... "an old pain from before, when everything sang the same".

 

However I don't think Fen'Harel was or is evil. From everything he stands for in-game, to the fact that he wants to fix his mistake. And I watched and re-watched the epilogue and I just can't see that... him looking angrily at Flemeth. (What's more, if he were happy that she died, he'd have just dumped the body instead of holding it tightly and lowering her gently.)

 

He feels that he needs to bring back the people trapped on the other side of an Eluvian (or more)... the people behind the mirrors. His People. Because  - to put it crudely - he f**ked up big time.

 

And since the orb is destroyed he needs the added power of Mythal to do it.

Spot-on.

 

Which really puts the whole game in perspective vis a vis Solas's point of view. He isn't an "evil" person, he just thinks that "right" and "wrong" are complicated. He was ostensibly doing the right thing; ending a war. But then he wakes up thousands of years later to find that the Elves are treated no better than slaves, mages are largely imprisoned, spirits are being forced into servitude, and the Dalish have fallen so far that they think slave markings are an emblem of pride. In a way, nearly every problem that the Inquisition has to deal with is in some way tied to what he did in the past, and in the present, when he gave his orb to Corypheus (out of desperation? it sure seems like it).It also seems like he tried to share his knowledge with the Dalish but was branded a "flat-ears" and laughed off (which is rather painfully ironic). And when he tries to tell people about spirits they look at him like he's crazy. No wonder he gets so grumpy sometimes.

 

It also clarifies why he's so interested in what sort of "hero" the Inquisitor will be, because he knows what it's like to be a living legend, and he's learned from painful experience that even the best intentions can have disastrous consequences.

 

 

I know that, other people can't seem to grasp it though.  Lets not forget what we learned in the Temple of Mythal, he's not a trickster god.

Yep. Apparently he's the god of "rebellion", not tricksters. Which makes so much sense if you listen to his banter. He hates the Qun, hates Tevinter slavery, hates the circle... He passionately wants people to be free. He isn't just pro-elf, either. He has compassion for all who are marginalized and misunderstood, and he respects people who use their power to ease the pain of those who suffer.

 

I really can't see him as a villain at all, not even as a morally grey antagonist, especially towards an Inquisitor that he respects or loves.

[Ajna]

Spot-on.

 

Which really puts the whole game in perspective vis a vis Solas's point of view. He isn't an "evil" person, he just thinks that "right" and "wrong" are complicated. He was ostensibly doing the right thing; ending a war. But then he wakes up thousands of years later to find that the Elves are treated no better than slaves, mages are largely imprisoned, spirits are being forced into servitude, and the Dalish have fallen so far that they think slave markings are an emblem of pride. In a way, nearly every problem that the Inquisition has to deal with is in some way tied to what he did in the past, and in the present, when he gave his orb to Corypheus (out of desperation? it sure seems like it).It also seems like he tried to share his knowledge with the Dalish but was branded a "flat-ears" and laughed off (which is rather painfully ironic). And when he tries to tell people about spirits they look at him like he's crazy. No wonder he gets so grumpy sometimes.

 

It also clarifies why he's so interested in what sort of "hero" the Inquisitor will be, because he knows what it's like to be a living legend, and he's learned from painful experience that even the best intentions can have disastrous consequences.

 

 

Yep. Apparently he's the god of "rebellion", not tricksters. Which makes so much sense if you listen to his banter. He hates the Qun, hates Tevinter slavery, hates the circle... He passionately wants people to be free. He isn't just pro-elf, either. He has compassion for all who are marginalized and misunderstood, and he respects people who use their power to ease the pain of those who suffer.

 

I really can't see him as a villain at all, not even as a morally grey antagonist, especially towards an Inquisitor that he respects or loves.

Bang on Jello, Solas' blog post is the perfect read for people who have trouble making sense of it.

[Bigdoser]

Spot-on.

 

Which really puts the whole game in perspective vis a vis Solas's point of view. He isn't an "evil" person, he just thinks that "right" and "wrong" are complicated. He was ostensibly doing the right thing; ending a war. But then he wakes up thousands of years later to find that the Elves are treated no better than slaves, mages are largely imprisoned, spirits are being forced into servitude, and the Dalish have fallen so far that they think slave markings are an emblem of pride. In a way, nearly every problem that the Inquisition has to deal with is in some way tied to what he did in the past, and in the present, when he gave his orb to Corypheus (out of desperation? it sure seems like it).It also seems like he tried to share his knowledge with the Dalish but was branded a "flat-ears" and laughed off (which is rather painfully ironic). And when he tries to tell people about spirits they look at him like he's crazy. No wonder he gets so grumpy sometimes.

 

It also clarifies why he's so interested in what sort of "hero" the Inquisitor will be, because he knows what it's like to be a living legend, and he's learned from painful experience that even the best intentions can have disastrous consequences.

 

 

Yep. Apparently he's the god of "rebellion", not tricksters. Which makes so much sense if you listen to his banter. He hates the Qun, hates Tevinter slavery, hates the circle... He passionately wants people to be free. He isn't just pro-elf, either. He has compassion for all who are marginalized and misunderstood, and he respects people who use their power to ease the pain of those who suffer.

 

I really can't see him as a villain at all, not even as a morally grey antagonist, especially towards an Inquisitor that he respects or loves.

Indeed you should hear the banter between iron bull and solas after bull's personal quest its quite nice I can imagine them becoming bro's after than banter. XD

[Solas]

The problem is that no one knows anything about the maker, not even the spirits have seen or heard anything that would confirm His existence - which is strange since they are immortal an live in the fade where the golden/black city is located. I think it is more likely that the Golden/black city is Arlathan, But perhaps it was the seat of the maker before the elves moved in what was an empty citadel in the fade (and perhaps also manifested in Thedas).

Arlathan had crystal spires twining through tree branches and palaces in the clouds.

[BubbleDncr]

 

 

 

The whole thing is hammered really:

Vivienne suggest he is suspicious in a discussion with her early on when she join up.

Banter with Varric about possible Dwarven Trickster god existing.

 

Etc.

 

 

I really wish I didn't have this banter bug...

[Lulumi_Lumi]

One thing I am curious about is who exactly it is that we get to know through the game? 

There have been theories that the Dread Wolf is using the body of a dead elf, presumably named Solas, if so could it be possible that the Wolf also acquired his memories?

 

For example when Solas is telling us about growing up alone and studying dreams and magic, was that a lie? Or was it a memory of the dead elf whose body he is using? The dread wolf is called the god of deception after all so what I'm really asking is how much of the Solas is made up and how much is real (or alternatively from the dead elf's memories)?

[jellobell]

Indeed you should hear the banter between iron bull and solas after bull's personal quest its quite nice I can imagine them becoming bro's after than banter. XD

I love that banter, especially since they were sniping at each other so much before that.

 

Really, if you look at his interactions with Cole in particular, he is a very kind person. He's also veeeery guarded. He does put on a mask, I think, but the mask is his unfailing politeness. Sometimes his sorrow or his irritation shows through, but most of the time he's very even-keeled. But as we can see from the post-credits scene, and to a certain extent the romance, it looks like he's barely holding it together.

 

One thing I am curious about is who exactly it is that we get to know through the game? 

There have been theories that the Dread Wolf is using the body of a dead elf, presumably named Solas, if so could it be possible that the Wolf also acquired his memories?

 

For example when Solas is telling us about growing up alone and studying dreams and magic, was that a lie? Or was it a memory of the dead elf whose body he is using? The dread wolf is called the god of deception after all so what I'm really asking is how much of the Solas is made up and how much is real (or alternatively from the dead elf's memories)?

I think he was telling the (liberally-edited) truth. He says the gods of Arlathan weren't "gods" per se. I think they were probably just very powerful mages, or noble rulers. That means that perhaps Solas did indeed grow up as a normal young man before coming into his power. Maybe he wasn't even a ruler at all, but just the leader of the rebellion. Or a learned scholar. Remember, he says that the Elves of Arlathan were immortal, and used magic as easily as breathing. That certainly sounds godlike, but it was apparently just a result of being an elf.

 

And the whole "god of deception" business is likely rubbish. The Dalish got so much wrong that we really can't take the myths as fact. He probably got branded with that title after he sealed away the "gods" and then disappeared, leaving Arlathan to eat itself in civil war. You can imagine how such a figure would be seen as malevolent.

[Bigdoser]

I love that banter, especially since they were sniping at each other so much before that.

 

Really, if you look at his interactions with Cole in particular, he is a very kind person. He's also veeeery guarded. He does put on a mask, I think, but the mask is his unfailing politeness. Sometimes his sorrow or his irritation shows through, but most of the time he's very even-keeled. But as we can see from the post-credits scene, and to a certain extent the romance, it looks like he's barely holding it together.

I agree my male mage Qunari was friends with him I can tell that during his friend conversation he was pressing the inquisitor for answers if the Anchor changed me in any form or maybe he was just shocked at finding a Qunari bookworm who likes listening to his stories and going to him for advice. XD 

 

I do like in some instances in where you catch him out he stumbles and redirects the conversation and then throws a slightly disapproves at you. 

[jellobell]

I agree my male mage Qunari was friends with him I can tell that during his friend conversation he was pressing the inquisitor for answers if the Anchor changed me in any form or maybe he was just shocked at finding a Qunari bookworm who likes listening to his stories and going to him for advice. XD 

Pffft. One of the things I adore about Solas is that he's such an unapologetic nerd (naturally, being the kind of person to argue about video game characters on the internet, this speaks to me). Ask him about anything to do with the Fade or his own expertise and he approves. And his nerdery is so enthusiastic and honest. That more than anything makes me believe that he wasn't just putting on a show. When he's talking about the Fade his mask slips.