118 réponses à ce sujet

[Frybread76]

Even if it didn't make mages emotionless I still think the Rite is wrong, unless the mage consents to it.

[Above Good and Evil]

Even if it didn't make mages emotionless I still think the Rite is wrong, unless the mage consents to it.

Yep, hence why you either take the rite (without crippling emotions) or you don't take it and they take you to the Circle so you can get training. Sadly it seems like a safe method isn't that possible. 

[Kurogane335]

True, and the choice to make a young magic sensitive Qunari into a (Qunari word for tranquil) would probably be left up to the Tamassrans. I just think it's something that the Ariqun might want to explore.  Yes it's taking away a weapon that the Antaam uses, but even the Antaam seem to dislike using or having Sarrebas around, and they do have black powder which is almost as good.  Sarrebas are barely trained and so it's not like they have refined healing or barrier magic, they really aren't all that more effective than black powder canons, no where near what trained mages can actually do.

 

They may not go for it, but I'd be interested in at least seeing what the Qun's take on tranquility is.  If given the option would they choose some more reliable, devout mages to be Sarrebas and some reckless ones to be tranquil? Would the Ben-Hassrath try to use it on regular people that prove far too unreliable, even for alchemy?

 

I'm not so sure that the Saarebas are ineffective : during the Qunari Wars, it was the Saarebas who breached the defenses of Kirkwall and allowed the Qunari to claim the city. If I had to make a guess, the Saarebas are incredibly powerful when it comes to raw power and the use of destructive spells, because this is all they know. They are brutal weapons, where other mages use more complex (but more demanding) spells of all sorts.

 

Also, concerning the Rite of Tranquillity, I'm certain that the Qunari know about it but for some reason, they don't want to use it (it could be an interesting take on the QUn to actually loath the Tranquillity because it fundamentally change who a person is). This hypocrisy, since they use qamek, would be interesting to explore.

 

That's why I would like an actual Saarebas as a companion in the next game, so he/she could explain why, despite all her plights she still follows the Qun and would research a way to prevent possession without resorting to Tranquillity.

[The Baconer]

That's why I would like an actual Saarebas as a companion in the next game, so he/she could explain why, despite all her plights she still follows the Qun and would research a way to prevent possession without resorting to Tranquillity.

 

Wouldn't she require an Arvaarad, or else commit suicide if she were truly following the Qun?

[Kurogane335]

Wouldn't she require an Arvaarad, or else commit suicide if she were truly following the Qun?

She would, and the dynamic between the two would be quite interesting. That's why I proposed two Qun characters in the thread dedicated to ideas for future companions :

 

Issala : "As the fire can warm and burn, so can I"

 

Issala is the nickname, meaning Dust, given to a female Saarebas. Incredibly tall, with a bronze skin and long white hair, this colossus of a woman always wear her mask. She is a stern and devout follower of the Qun, believing that magic has to be tightly controlled, for it could destroy the world. Issala, as all the Saarabas, doesn't know a lot of spells or subtle magic, but her raw power makes her one of the most powerful mages than can one could face when her wrath burns hot.

 

She was born in Seheron and discovered that she was a Saarebas at the age of 8, when a group of Tevinters, among which was a mage, attacked her friends and her Tamassran. She jumped to protect them from a fire spell which engulfed her. While her face was burning, she felt a fire of her own growing inside of her and she had to push it away from her. She released a torrent of flames which burned to death the humans who had attacked her, until only dust remained.

 

Disfigured and horrified by her nature as a Saarebas, she was totally lost, but the kind words of her Tamassaran and a precious gift from her helped Issala to endure her first difficult years as a Saarebas. As of today, while the Tevinter Imperium is plagued by rebellions she has taken upon herself to ensure the safety of all Qunari by stopping any bas-saarebas which could resort to desperate measures. Still, she hopes to discover a way for the mages to be freed from the depredations of demons without having to lose their dreams.

 

Arvad : "Mages have to be controlled. Also, look at that ass."

 

Arvad is the nickname of a Qunari Arvaarad who also happens to be an elf. Small and lithe, he would appears unfit to the Antaam at first glance, but his skills with his short sword earned him a place among the warriors of the Qun. Nonetheless, his unusually friendly and funny behaviour earned him some bad reputation among the Qunari, even if he can be deadly serious when it comes down to hunting Tal-Vashoths or other enemies of the Qun, as he has proven several times.

 

Arvad is born on Par Vollen and has spent most of his early life on the island, learning both the Qunlat and Common, since the Tamassrans believed that he was fitted to infiltrate the Imperium and help spread the teachings of the Qun among the elven slaves. However, his impulsive nature and abilities with all kind of weapons finally orientated him to the Antaam. Among his brothers of the "body", he always denoted, especially since most Saarebas are part of the great bronze-skinned species.

 

Sent to keep an eye on Issala as her Arvaarad, Arvad has grown fond of her, even if he wouldn't recognize it easily,  and prefer to pretend that he is simply joking, since such feelings would be a source of concerns and could possibly make him a Tal-Vashoth, a fact which would bring Issala down with him. Another concern of his is the growing influence of the so called Children of the Dread Wolf, elves who rise in rebellion in the name of long-lost Gods and who try to overthrow the Imperium only to create another nation ruled by mages.

[Milan92]

That actually would be hilarious.

 

Imagine how entertaining Erimond would be without his powers.

[The Baconer]

She would, and the dynamic between the two would be quite interesting. That's why I proposed two Qun characters in the thread dedicated to ideas for future companions :

 

Very interesting, actually. Though, I'm sure the Arvaarad angle would be problematic for other party members and potentially the PC.

[Kurogane335]

Very interesting, actually. Though, I'm sure the Arvaarad angle would be problematic for other party members and potentially the PC.

That's one of the most interesting point. So far, the player never had to deal with a "problematic" Qunari : The Iron Bull is incredibly friendly and open about himself nd the Qun, and while Sten was a lot more secretive, he was basically a soldier and could become a friend, the stiff one, in fact. But both are warriors, and it's easy to sympathize with them or understand why they like the Qun.

 

But an elf Arvaarad ? He would bring the fact that in the Qun, races don't matters from the land of the "told" to the land of the "seen", while possibly bringing some well needed depth (like : "Yes, in principle, races don't matter for the Qun, but you do you expect an elf to compete with the giants when it comes to becoming a warrior, hum ?") while also having this very particular vision when it comes to his relations to the mages. Actually, character who are conflictual, at least at first, are the most interesting, because if they are well done, they bring a lot of new informations and a better comprehension of the world they live in.

 

Obviously, both the Saarebas and Arvaarad would be optional companions to recruit, kinda like the Iron Bull.

[The Baconer]

That's one of the most interesting point. So far, the player never had to deal with a "problematic" Qunari : The Iron Bull is incredibly friendly and open about himself nd the Qun, and while Sten was a lot more secretive, he was basically a soldier and could become a friend, the stiff one, in fact. But both are warriors, and it's easy to sympathize with them or understand why they like the Qun.

 

But an elf Arvaarad ? He would bring the fact that in the Qun, races don't matters from the land of the "told" to the land of the "seen", while possibly bringing some well needed depth (like : "Yes, in principle, races don't matter for the Qun, but you do you expect an elf to compete with the giants when it comes to becoming a warrior, hum ?") while also having this very particular vision when it comes to his relations to the mages. Actually, character who are conflictual, at least at first, are the most interesting, because if they are well done, they bring a lot of new informations and a better comprehension of the world they live in.

 

Obviously, both the Saarebas and Arvaarad would be optional companions to recruit, kinda like the Iron Bull.

 

There's "problematic companion" and then there's "this person would be in direct conflict with mage PCs and mage companions", and I also don't think Bioware's done a "twofer" since Khalid and Jaheira.

[Gambit458]

Well, to those who don't like the rite..Just talk to Cassandra to hear something about it that you didn't know. Anders would've probably flipped his lid if he knew that part about the rite that was kept secret

[raging_monkey]

There's "problematic companion" and then there's "this person would be in direct conflict with mage PCs and mage companions", and I also don't think Bioware's done a "twofer" since Khalid and Jaheira.

they lack the writers to make it awsome again

[Kurogane335]

There's "problematic companion" and then there's "this person would be in direct conflict with mage PCs and mage companions", and I also don't think Bioware's done a "twofer" since Khalid and Jaheira.

Well, strictly speaking, we already had a character who was hating the mages : Fenris. So, any Arvaarad could actually surprise us by pitying them and feeling sorry for them (I don't think we have had already such a character, either as a companion or even a notable NPC). It would actually be interesting to have this dynamic where non-Qunari mages basically lash out at the Arvaarad only to have the Saarebas intervening to protect him, with the former actually believing that the mages are actually lost, even to themselves, and that letting them go as they do is actually inhumane and bad for the mages themselves.

 

After all, it is said that some Qunari truly pity the mages, and I guess that those would made the finest Arvaarad, because for them, killing a Saarebas who has wandered alone is an act of pure mercy and not cruelty, and that those Arvaarad would be the better to help new Saarebas to adapt to their lives, thus allowing them to better serve the Qun.

[The Baconer]

Well, strictly speaking, we already had a character who was hating the mages : Fenris. So, any Arvaarad could actually surprise us by pitying them and feeling sorry for them (I don't think we have had already such a character, either as a companion or even a notable NPC). It would actually be interesting to have this dynamic where non-Qunari mages basically lash out at the Arvaarad only to have the Saarebas intervening to protect him, with the former actually believing that the mages are actually lost, even to themselves, and that letting them go as they do is actually inhumane and bad for the mages themselves.

 

After all, it is said that some Qunari truly pity the mages, and I guess that those would made the finest Arvaarad, because for them, killing a Saarebas who has wandered alone is an act of pure mercy and not cruelty, and that those Arvaarad would be the better to help new Saarebas to adapt to their lives, thus allowing them to better serve the Qun.

 

It's not a question of hatred, but the purpose that defines an Arvaarad's existence. Bas mages are, by default, lobotomized by Qamek or killed. Uncollared mages, bas or Saarebas, are thought to carry demons through their spoken words. The idea of a "true" Qunari, especially an Arvaarad, following the command of a bas mage or working among other bas mages becomes far-fetched. Even more so if the PC's actions conflict with the Qun and the Arvaarad's goals.

[Jeremiah12LGeek]

I had the impression that rendering them emotionless was the reason why it solved the problem of possession.

[Gambit458]

I had the impression that rendering them emotionless was the reason why it solved the problem of possession.

No it cut them off from the fade which was what prevented possession. The emotionless bit simply made demons want nothing to do with them. Spirits wanted to experience life and they couldn't do that through someone who lacks feelings

[dsajorje3]

If they don't mind after it's done then I don't see a problem.

You gotta respect people's wishes/memories, that's like saying "Let's set his body on fire and take his stuff because he's not alive anymore"

[Chenoah]

Asunder references this. As far as research has shown it cannot be done. The rite was able to be reversed but the rite cannot be done and cut off the mage from the fade without making them emotionless. 

[Chenoah]

It's only "welcome" because they are unable to feel any emotion about it.

 

When Karl was made lucid thanks to Justice, he pleaded with Anders to just kill him than let him be like that. How that's remotely "pleasant" I have no idea.

Also, in Asunder the mage whose tranquility was reversed was threatened with being made tranquil again. He chose death. This also supports being tranquil may not be as pleasant as one may think. 

[Sifr]

I'm not so sure that the Saarebas are ineffective : during the Qunari Wars, it was the Saarebas who breached the defenses of Kirkwall and allowed the Qunari to claim the city. If I had to make a guess, the Saarebas are incredibly powerful when it comes to raw power and the use of destructive spells, because this is all they know. They are brutal weapons, where other mages use more complex (but more demanding) spells of all sorts.

 

I think they've confirmed this to be the case, that Saarebas are only trained for destruction and nothing else, making them nothing more than sentient cannons for the Qunari to wheel out whenever they need something blown up.

 

Like the Model T Ford, when it comes to the Qun, you can only ever be the Black Mage, there is no option to be Red or White.