1) I asked for 1 liners not 1 paragraph-ers or 1 page-ers lol
2) Masked Empire is a book, granted from an official Bioware source which would make it canon. I was not aware that in order to comment on Gaspard that i had to play the game AND read a book.
3) I didn't actually read any of that stuff you posted sorry, but just out of curiosity you didnt filter out any of the bad things about Celene did you? Basically i wanted dirt on Celene and Briala i have no doubt that they have done good things, but i want to know the bad stuff about them. If you're only giving me bad stuff about Gaspard and none of the good stuff about him and only giving me the good stuff about Celene/Briala and none of the bad stuff then i cant really accept any of that. I dont think i'll be reading that book so i'd have to take your word for it.
You asked about Gaspard so I put Gaspard things but if you want Celene and Briala stuff, here it is:
Celene:
Damn you, Celene.” Briala’s big beautiful eyes filled with tears. They caught the light from the fire, shimmering in the darkness like a cat’s as Briala stepped closer. The pulse in her neck fluttered fast, though she moved as gracefully as always. “Don’t explain it. I know why. I just wished you had cared more.”
“It would have been a locked suite in the palace for a few years, nothing more!” Celene kept her voice low, aware that Michel and Felassan had stopped planning and were looking their way. “It would have changed nothing for us.”
“Your hair still stinks of the smoke from the people you burned,” Briala said. “That is a change.”
The dead leaves crackled under Celene’s feet as she stepped forward. “How many wars can our empire survive in such a short time? I wanted my legacy to be the university, the beauty and culture that made us the envy of the world. Instead, I may be known as the empress under whom Orlais fell. You have the luxury of mourning Halamshiral’s elves and holding my heart hostage. Sitting on my throne, I see every city in the empire. If I must burn one to save the rest, I will weep, but I will light the torch!”
Briala swallowed. “You’re not weeping, as far as I can tell. Nor are you sitting on your throne.” She stepped away, her movements fast and jerky. “With your permission, Your Radiance, I shall go indulge myself in my luxury.” – pg. 112
“She has been my eyes and ears for most of my reign,” Celene said, and again, Michel saw the fond little smile. “She has always been there for me.”
“Your empress,” he said. “You trust her. You believe she will free your people.”
“I do,” Briala said without hesitation.
“Then who’s going to scrub the floors?” Felassan asked, and smiled.
“You distrust her because she is human.”
“No.” Felassan paused. “Well, all right, yes, but more than that, I distrust her because she has successfully ruled an empire. No one who does that cedes power. Even if they are wise. Even if it is for the best, in the long run. Even if failing to do so will ultimately destroy everything.”
It was too close to what the little voice in the back of Briala’s mind had suggested. She silenced it as it started again and glared at Felassan. “Celene is different.”
“She most certainly is,” Felassan said, and stopped. – pg. 170
“And you have promised to free her people,” Michel said.
This time, Celene was silent. Michel looked up and saw Briala and Felassan waiting, shadows surrounded by the twisting light that hurt his eyes.
“We needed her,” Celene said, slowing her pace ever so slightly. “And she needed to know that I cared about the elves.”
“After Halamshiral.”
“Yes.” She said it without hesitation, but her voice was low.
…
“This wretched place makes my eyes ache, Majesty, but for her, it is the dream of elven greatness come to life. Do you expect her to come out of this land and put her servant’s mask back on?”
“I do.” Celene spoke with confidence, but she squinted up ahead all the same to where Briala and Felassan walked far ahead. “Bria has helped me play the Game for years, Michel. I doubt that an enchanted path will change that.” – pg. 172
“Why?” Celene gripped her blades so tightly that her fingers burned.
“Tell me again how you will free my people.”
“I gave you my word!” Celene stepped forward, a dagger raised. “I swore!”
“And I think you even believed yourself.” Briala swallowed. “But when the nobles protested, when it threatened to weaken the empire, you would have let it go. You would have ignored your promises to me, knowing that I would always forgive. That I would always stand at your side.” Now her blades came out. “After all, I believed in you even after you killed my parents.” – pg. 215
Yup. After Celene’s own parents were killed, in order to gain the throne, she had the Emperor assassinated. And in order to prevent anyone knowing it was her, she had every one of her servants killed. Including Briala’s parents.:
Celene thought. She had moved perfectly, using everything Lady Mantillon had taught her to position the pieces for this last gambit. All the other players, everyone she had trusted, stood to lose as much as she did if their plan failed. She remembered sipping wine with Lady Mantillon’s son, drinking Antivan coffee with Lord Joseph Montbelliard, gauging each move, catching the subtle hints their bodies gave when they glanced at the passing servants.
The passing servants …
Celene swallowed. “My estate is currently empty,” she said, “save for the servants.” She met Lady Mantillon’s gaze. “An attack by would-be assassins might build more sympathy to my cause … and ensure that bards hear no tales in the marketplace.”
Lady Mantillon looked at her for a long moment. And then her perfectly made-up face broke into a slow smile. “I agree, your Imperial Majesty.” – pg. 216
And yes, Celene herself says all the servants on pg. 41. She pretended it was someone trying to gun for her, in order to as she says above, earn sympathy points. This I think, is one of the better examples of how truly fucked in “the Game” is. Because to the servant girls like Briala losing their parents, it’s not a game.
So when DA:I says Celene betrayed Briala, it is one of if not the biggest understatement in the series. She had her arrested for completing a task she set out for her to do. She killed thousands of elves Briala risked everything to protect. Lied about giving elves equal rights in order to win her back. She had her parents killed and lied about it. And she fully expected Briala to just come back to her anyway.
Many people like to defend Celene by saying she’s done good things for the elves of Orlais. Like letting those few who are sponsored by pitying nobles into the university. But as it is said multiple times, not just by Felassan but also by Gaspard, (quote in his section,) that credit does not go to Celene. It goes to Briala.
“You say that she has helped the elves of Orlais,” Felassan said. “This is untrue. What gains they have made are due to your work, not hers.”
“With respect—”
“Oh, stop.” His voice was patient but firm, and he did not look over at her. “Without you, your empress would have been no friend to the elves. Even her rival Gaspard could see that.” – pg. 110
I do want to mention a few good things about Celene too, though. She honestly and truly cared for Michel, as a friend, not just a servant. She even risks her live to save his. She does care for Briala too… Just not in a healthy way.
She’s shown to be a quick thinker and when she wants to, she can put her charm to good use. Such as defusing the tension between Gaspard and Teagan.
And when they discovered the eluvians, she considered giving the knowledge to the elves. Grant it, the thought was in order to form her own little spy squad, so yet again she’s focused more on what she can get out of the situation rather than just being a good person, but still. There is apart of her that wants to help them. That part is more concerned with keeping her elven girlfriend, but it’s certainly a step up from Gaspard.
(But that doesn’t take much.)
Briala:
In Wicked Hearts, you find out that Briala did in fact order the deaths of Celene and Gaspard's diplomats to further her own goals and is completely willing to kill a fellow elf because she knows about her relationship with Celene.
Other than that, there isn't really much that Briala does that can be considered bad, unless you believe radical change immediately is bad. However, you could hate her if you think her elves prolong the war which winds up costing more lives.
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