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[Boost32]

And if future sequels prove you otherwise?

So I will be wrong.

[Steelcan]

And if future sequels prove you otherwise?

. I wouldn't put any faith in the next few games dealing with the issue directly, and if we ever do return to Orlais and Ferelden, the writers will do what they have always done

[dragonflight288]

Why even believe in Andraste, when the Chant of Light was supposedly from her? I can understand questioning the Chantry, don't get me wrong. It was centuries later, after many Andrastian movements sprouted. It happened to be the one to come out on top.

 

But the Chant of Light was first popping up like 30 years after her death, by her disciples. This was when direct disciples like Havard was still alive (I think).

 

I understand there's probably more truth to things, but it gets a little ridiculous to question some of the history. This is just video game lore. Not like trying to verify the Gospels of Jesus. I think the writers don't want things taken so seriously like that. They have a world they're trying to build here.. some things have to be reliable. Just for the sake of having a coherent setting.

 

Because other parts of the chant were added or removed based on political expediency by the Chantry.

 

The dissonant verses alone tell us that there are parts of their own scripture that the Chantry is not afraid to edit out because it doesn't match their beliefs. The Canticle of Shartan, having an elf in the Chant and venerated by Andraste. The Canticle of Maferath, where the husband of Andraste is mourning the loss of the wife he betrayed and is told in a vision by his wife after her death that he is forgiven. And any number of dissonent verses we haven't been exposed to yet. 

[FadelessRipley]

It worked for more than 900 years, what was need is a better oversight over the templars to prevent abuses.
And I dont agree to let the mages lead themselves, they proved (to me) that they cant.

I see your point. My experience was different, though. And again, I'm not saying it's 100% black or white. It's very much a balancing act of grey - that's the beauty of BioWare games, after all.

Viv rightly said "what happens if a Mage loses it and kills innocents?" Perfectly valid point. However, what about the likes of Bethany who are good people? Should they be ripped from their families and sent to a Circle with no freedom, for life? What Uldred did at the Circle in Ferelden was horrific. Did all the innocent Mages deserve death as Cullen asked? My Warden says no - and they helped so the Blight. Did the entire Kirkwall Circle deserve to die because of that fool Anders? No. For me DA2 was the most clear cut Mage/Templar choice - Meredith was a brutal despot. And yes, I appreciate the irony that it was red lyrium that made her worse. But the Mages didn't ALL deserve to die. Orsino did something stupid, too, but it was the last act of a desperate man. And on that note, one of the biggest fears is the use of blood magic. Let's be reminded that Anders vehemently opposed blood magic, and he committed mass murder. I agree blood magic is dangerous - it requires a level of skill and discipline most mages don't have. Probably the only Mage I would trust with blood magic is Morrigan tbh. Ain't no demon gonna best her. But on topic - most Mages actually seem to disapprove of the practice, too. It's likely whatever new institution that emerges will have regulations against it.

As for Inquisition, yeah Fiona was stupid indenturing herself to Alexius. But what choice did she have...? Once the Mages were brought on board as allies, I didn't see anything wrong with their actions. How have they proved they can't, given they haven't had much opportunity?

For me, the Templars going on a rampage and embracing Red Lyrium was horrific. They're not so great at leading themselves, either. However I never said completely scrap the order, either. The future is uncertain no matter what epilogue we get. Hindsight is 20/20 vision and the future is totally blind. We'll just have to enjoy the journey.

[Boost32]

I see your point. My experience was different, though. And again, I'm not saying it's 100% black or white. It's very much a balancing act of grey - that's the beauty of BioWare games, after all.
Viv rightly said "what happens if a Mage loses it and kills innocents?" Perfectly valid point. However, what about the likes of Bethany who are good people? Should they be ripped from their families and sent to a Circle with no freedom, for life? What Uldred did at the Circle in Ferelden was horrific. Did all the innocent Mages deserve death as Cullen asked? My Warden says no - and they helped so the Blight. Did the entire Kirkwall Circle deserve to die because of that fool Anders? No. For me DA2 was the most clear cut Mage/Templar choice - Meredith was a brutal despot. And yes, I appreciate the irony that it was red lyrium that made her worse. But the Mages didn't ALL deserve to die. Orsino did something stupid, too, but it was the last act of a desperate man. And on that note, one of the biggest fears is the use of blood magic. Let's be reminded that Anders vehemently opposed blood magic, and he committed mass murder. I agree blood magic is dangerous - it requires a level of skill and discipline most mages don't have. Probably the only Mage I would trust with blood magic is Morrigan tbh. Ain't no demon gonna best her. But on topic - most Mages actually seem to disapprove of the practice, too. It's likely whatever new institution that emerges will have regulations against it.
As for Inquisition, yeah Fiona was stupid indenturing herself to Alexius. But what choice did she have...? Once the Mages were brought on board as allies, I didn't see anything wrong with their actions. How have they proved they can't, given they haven't had much opportunity?
For me, the Templars going on a rampage and embracing Red Lyrium was horrific. They're not so great at leading themselves, either. However I never said completely scrap the order, either. The future is uncertain no matter what epilogue we get. Hindsight is 20/20 vision and the future is totally blind. We'll just have to enjoy the journey.

The trustworth mages can leave the Circles, Vivienne, Wynne, Finn, Ines, Shale's master and even Bethany could leave the Circle.
Did all mages deserve to die in Ferelden? No they didnt. Did all mages deserve to die in Kirkwall? No they didnt, even if you side with the templars you can save the mages. But those 2 showed that mages cant live free, they need a oversight.
They Wastes their hands and let others rebels spread havok in the Hinerlands, they brought a hostile force and betrayed the trust of Ferelden, this aline proved to me. And lets not forget that every Dalish clan has a mage screwing up, or Tevinter and blood magic sacrificas or lyrium marks.
There is no excuse for the templars leader (who didnt died at the Conclave) and started using red lyrium, but the rank and file didnt know about the effects of the Red lyrium. And I dont think that the templars did a good job leading themselves, they need a better oversight and to answer to someone, withouth they are a paramilitary organization doing watherver they want.

[Eliastion]

Those are thrown out because of the Orlesian Chantry. This is years (and in the elven case, hundreds) later.
 
I don't see what it has to do with the Chant of Light as a whole. It precedes the Chantry. It propogated far and wide in it's basic form, before Orlais took over. It's not like people didn't hear of it before then. There were already a lot of Andrastian cults around before them. Including the post Andraste Inquisition.

Andraste Died -170 Ancient. Chant of Light was formed circa -130 (40 years, so a generation later) and unless Wiki made it up rather than took from source they give...

1065 TE or -130 Ancient: The Chant of Light is created by Andraste's disciples, collecting her story and her teachings into hymns. Numerous versions of the Chant are written over time, with different interpretations of what Andraste taught about the Maker, each prevalent in different regions.

 

So no, there was no universal Chant of Light until Drakon's favorite branch of religion (one that would facilitate his conquests) formed into official Chantry and started consolidating the cult and getting rid of whatever interpretations/versions/parts they didn't like. Chant of Light does predate the Chantry, yes, but the more precise way to say it would be: Chants of Light do predate the Chantry.

[Lumix19]

The trustworth mages can leave the Circles, Vivienne, Wynne, Finn, Ines, Shale's master and even Bethany could leave the Circle.
Did all mages deserve to die in Ferelden? No they didnt. Did all mages deserve to die in Kirkwall? No they didnt, even if you side with the templars you can save the mages. But those 2 showed that mages cant live free, they need a oversight.
They Wastes their hands and let others rebels spread havok in the Hinerlands, they brought a hostile force and betrayed the trust of Ferelden, this aline proved to me. And lets not forget that every Dalish clan has a mage screwing up, or Tevinter and blood magic sacrificas or lyrium marks.
There is no excuse for the templars leader (who didnt died at the Conclave) and started using red lyrium, but the rank and file didnt know about the effects of the Red lyrium. And I dont think that the templars did a good job leading themselves, they need a better oversight and to answer to someone, withouth they are a paramilitary organization doing watherver they want.

The Seekers were originally supposed to govern the Templars if you'll recall. Yet even they, supposedly incorruptible, could not oversee the Templars properly. They traded away ideals for expedience and became more concerned with protecting their organization than questioning whether what they were doing is right. Do you truly believe a rebuilt system won't lead to a repetition of these events?
For me the templars and seekers lost the right to lead when they resorted to tyranny to do what they believed was right. It's nice to have conviction but when that conviction blinds you to other perspectives or ways of doing things then you are no longer fit to lead.

[Boost32]

The Seekers were originally supposed to govern the Templars if you'll recall. Yet even they, supposedly incorruptible, could not oversee the Templars properly. They traded away ideals for expedience and became more concerned with protecting their organization than questioning whether what they were doing is right. Do you truly believe a rebuilt system won't lead to a repetition of these events?
For me the templars and seekers lost the right to lead when they resorted to tyranny to do what they believed was right. It's nice to have conviction but when that conviction blinds you to other perspectives or ways of doing things then you are no longer fit to lead.

And we have seen a land without the Circles, abominations roamed the lands and good mages were assassinated by scared mob, do you think that withouth the Circles it will not happen again?
And no, I dont believe the reformulation of those 2 will lead to the same events, they are being reformed from the core, be it being a guardian of the people instead of being a jailer ( Cassandra Divine) or being led by a mage, because if you hate a mage why you will stay ? (Vivienne Divine)

[Lumix19]

And we have seen a land without the Circles, abominations roamed the lands and good mages were assassinated by scared mob, do you think that withouth the Circles it will not happen again?
And no, I dont believe the reformulation of those 2 will lead to the same events, they are being reformed from the core, be it being a guardian of the people instead of being a jailer ( Cassandra Divine) or being led by a mage, because if you hate a mage why you will stay ? (Vivienne Divine)

Which land exactly are you referring to? Rivain for example has a rich history of no Circle interference and it's Seers are held in great regard. The original organisations started with pure intentions as well but ultimately they failed. I believe in second chances but I also believe that mages deserve a chance as well. If they're system fails then it fails and they go back to the old ways.

[Boost32]

Which land exactly are you referring to? Rivain for example has a rich history of no Circle interference and it's Seers are held in great regard. The original organisations started with pure intentions as well but ultimately they failed. I believe in second chances but I also believe that mages deserve a chance as well. If they're system fails then it fails and they go back to the old ways.

Before the Circles, the Inquisition was formed to combat the abominations and mages were killed out of fear.
That system has already failed, that was the Circles were created. If you want to give it another chance, by all means do as you please, but I will stay with the system that has already worked.

And we know nothing of Rivain, its a place where abominations are treated as natural disasters, of its worse or better we will only know when we see it. And there are 2 cultures with free mages, the Dalish and Tevinter, and to me they showed that mages cant be free.

[Bayonet Hipshot]

Mages vs Templars = Freedom vs Order  / Entropy vs Order / Chaotic vs Lawful. 

 

Its like Anti-Gun Control vs Pro-Gun Control  / Anti Drug Restriction vs Pro Drug Restriction / Anti Pornography Censorship vs Pro Pornography Censorship. 

 

People who like freedom, prefer entropy and are not lawful are, for the most part, going to side with Mages. People who like the opposite of that, people who like order, are, for the most part, going to side with Templars. 

[Bayonet Hipshot]

Before the Circles, the Inquisition was formed to combat the abominations and mages were killed out of fear.
That system has already failed, that was the Circles were created. If you want to give it another chance, by all means do as you please, but I will stay with the system that has already worked.

And we know nothing of Rivain, its a place where abominations are treated as natural disasters, of its worse or better we will only know when we see it. And there are 2 cultures with free mages, the Dalish and Tevinter, and to me they showed that mages cant be free.

 

But the mages at the end of the Inquisition form Circles anyway. They are either independent or affiliated with the Inquisition or have Templars overseeing them.

 

The notion that mages are free is, well, quite limited. Many mages are natural scholars and the arcane is something that typically only someone intelligent and intellectual can take time to understand and to master. Additionally, magic is something that cannot be understood by one single person. As such, mages will always form organizations to develop their scholarship capabilities. Mages will always naturally want to come together as a collective to further their understanding and mastery of magic. This is true of any fantasy worlds with magic. Mages will always create a school where they can learn magic with or without oversight. That is why we have Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Circles of Magi, Arcane University, College of Winterhold and what have you. Furthermore, a mage, no matter their race and birth, only truly excel at magical mastery if they can control themselves, instead of cutting lose. In fact, we have never seen any mage being successful if they cut loose. Therefore, mages have plenty of incentives to come together and control themselves without religious or government oversight. 

 

The situation in Tevinter is what happens when you let magic and politics mix. It is not very different from what happens when politics mixes with businesses or with religion or with the art of the minstrels. Look at how politics mixes with performers in Orlais and see how cutthroat the minstrels there become. Politicians want power quickly and want to maintain that power which means if they use magic, they will end up using Blood Magic because that is the magic that facilitates such outcomes. Which means the best way to avoid is to actually create a separation between magic and the state, which is already being practiced in nations outside Tevinter. 

 

These 2 realities are things that the pro-Templars or pro-mage control either tend to forget or overlook. One is that mages naturally will come together and have a lot of incentives to not cut loose. The second is that politicking is what drives magic to be used in the way it is used in Tevinter. 

[FadelessRipley]

Mages vs Templars = Freedom vs Order  / Entropy vs Order / Chaotic vs Lawful. 
 
Its like Anti-Gun Control vs Pro-Gun Control  / Anti Drug Restriction vs Pro Drug Restriction / Anti Pornography Censorship vs Pro Pornography Censorship. 
 
People who like freedom, prefer entropy and are not lawful are, for the most part, going to side with Mages. People who like the opposite of that, people who like order, are, for the most part, going to side with Templars.

Bit ironic, as IRL I'm quite "conservative" and very pro law and order. The joys of fantasy role-play, eh? But you're right, and I really like your analysis here:

But the mages at the end of the Inquisition form Circles anyway. They are either independent or affiliated with the Inquisition or have Templars overseeing them.
 
As such the notion that mages are free is, well, quite limited. Many mages are natural scholars and the arcane is something that typically only someone intelligent and intellectual can take time to understand and to master. Additionally, magic is something that cannot be understood by one single person. As such, mages will always form organizations to develop their scholarship capabilities. Mages will always naturally want to come together as a collective to further their understanding and mastery of magic. This is true of any fantasy worlds with magic. Mages will always create a school where they can learn magic with or without oversight. That is why we have Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Circles of Magi, Arcane University, College of Winterhold and what have you. Furthermore, a mage, no matter their race and birth, only truly excel at magical mastery if they can control themselves, instead of cutting lose. In fact, we have never seen any mage being successful if they cut loose. Therefore, mages have plenty of incentives to come together and control themselves without religious or government oversight. 
 
The situation in Tevinter is what happens when you let magic and politics mix. It is not very different from what happens when politics mixes with businesses or with religion or with the art of the minstrels. Look at how politics mixes with performers in Orlais and see how cutthroat the minstrels there become. Politicians want power quickly and want to maintain that power which means if they use magic, they will end up using Blood Magic because that is the magic that facilitates such outcomes. As such the best way to avoid is to actually create a separation between magic and the state, which is already being practiced in nations outside Tevinter. 
 
These 2 realities are things that the pro-Templars or pro-mage control either tend to forget or overlook. One is that mages naturally will come together and have a lot of incentives to not cut loose. The second is that politicking is what drives magic to be used in the way it is used in Tevinter.

[Boost32]

Mages are not naturally scholars, they are different just like any person, there might be more scholars because the Circles encouraged it. You cant know if they want to now more about its magic or if they want to stay in their home.

And in Leliana ending, will the mages who dont want to go to the Circle , be forced to go there? I dont think so, he will remain a threath to his community.
And mages have already proved to me they can control themselves, it doesnt matter if they are old or young, good or bad at magic, they all can fall. Look at the Shame of Serault.

[Lumix19]

Before the Circles, the Inquisition was formed to combat the abominations and mages were killed out of fear.
That system has already failed, that was the Circles were created. If you want to give it another chance, by all means do as you please, but I will stay with the system that has already worked.

And we know nothing of Rivain, its a place where abominations are treated as natural disasters, of its worse or better we will only know when we see it. And there are 2 cultures with free mages, the Dalish and Tevinter, and to me they showed that mages cant be free.

A poor example. That time was directly after the fall of the Tevinter Imperium with all the inevitable backlash against mages that entails. If there was even an attempt for mages to gather and form any sort of organization it would have been promptly crushed. When the entire world hates you for a crime you didn't even commit are you surprised some of them became abominations? This is 1000 years later without the chaos and with a central organisation that can look after the mages. As for Rivain, if it truly was as bad as abominations running around in the streets do you think people would put up with it? Instead they revere their seers, that reverence doesn't spring out of nowhere. Also what's wrong with the Dalish? Finally I think your wrong about Tevinter. The issue isn't that mages are free it's that their leaders are ruthless and ambitious but happen to be mages. The rebels aren't looking to rule, they're looking to govern themselves. And even with the Circle you'll note people like Vivienne still rise in the Circle and take positions of power. Is that truly a mark of effectiveness?

[Lumix19]

Mages are not naturally scholars, they are different just like any person, there might be more scholars because the Circles encouraged it. You cant know if they want to now more about its magic or if they want to stay in their home.

And in Leliana ending, will the mages who dont want to go to the Circle , be forced to go there? I dont think so, he will remain a threath to his community.
And mages have already proved to me they can control themselves, it doesnt matter if they are old or young, good or bad at magic, they all can fall. Look at the Shame of Serault.

Why should they be forced to go to the College? I'm sure they need training but the Circle wasn't the only place you could get that. And even if they do go to the College there's no need to incarcerate them. If they want to return to their families for a while why shouldn't they? And if you're a fully trained mage why shouldn't you return to your home and live there?

[Boost32]

Why should they be forced to go to the College? I'm sure they need training but the Circle wasn't the only place you could get that. And even if they do go to the College there's no need to incarcerate them. If they want to return to their families for a while why shouldn't they? And if you're a fully trained mage why shouldn't you return to your home and live there?

Because even a fully trained mage can fall to a demon, Marethari, Shame of Serault, Uldred, all have fallen.
If you think they deserve a chance its ok, but I think they should first prove themselves trustworth before given the chance, and even them they should not be roamin wathever they want, they still should go back to the Circles from time to time.

A poor example. That time was directly after the fall of the Tevinter Imperium with all the inevitable backlash against mages that entails. If there was even an attempt for mages to gather and form any sort of organization it would have been promptly crushed. When the entire world hates you for a crime you didn't even commit are you surprised some of them became abominations? This is 1000 years later without the chaos and with a central organisation that can look after the mages. As for Rivain, if it truly was as bad as abominations running around in the streets do you think people would put up with it? Instead they revere their seers, that reverence doesn't spring out of nowhere. Also what's wrong with the Dalish? Finally I think your wrong about Tevinter. The issue isn't that mages are free it's that their leaders are ruthless and ambitious but happen to be mages. The rebels aren't looking to rule, they're looking to govern themselves. And even with the Circle you'll note people like Vivienne still rise in the Circle and take positions of power. Is that truly a mark of effectiveness?

I said Abomination are considered natural disaster, I dont know if they are better or worse.
Whats wrong with the Dalish? Every clan we met, have at least one mage screwing up.
DAO: Zathrian made the werewolf curse.
DAA: Velanna went on a killing spree.
DA2: MArethari/Merrill/Audacity debacle.
TME: They summoned Imshael, who destroyed them.
DAI: a young mage was angry because he was not the first, try to use blood magic and kill himself.

And I disagree with you in Tevinter, they couldnt do the things that they do if they werent mages, they wouldnt unleash the Blight upon the world if they arent mages.

The rebels couldnt control the ones spreading havok around the Hintherlands, why I should trust them now? They had done nothing to prove they deserve freedom.
Vivienne deserved what she got, she got everything she has by following the rules and not endangering the people around her.

[Rannik]

Because zombies make for poor Divines.

 

Also, evidence has endlessly shown that most mages belong in a tower.

[ctd757]

I have not had her become Divine but I always harden Leiliana because she needs to be. I saw the ending when hard Leiliana becomes Divine and she destroys all opps. That's good because the Chantry is old and lame.

[Lumix19]

Because even a fully trained mage can fall to a demon, Marethari, Shame of Serault, Uldred, all have fallen.
If you think they deserve a chance its ok, but I think they should first prove themselves trustworth before given the chance, and even them they should not be roamin wathever they want, they still should go back to the Circles from time to time.


I said Abomination are considered natural disaster, I dont know if they are better or worse.
Whats wrong with the Dalish? Every clan we met, have at least one mage screwing up.
DAO: Zathrian made the werewolf curse.
DAA: Velanna went on a killing spree.
DA2: MArethari/Merrill/Audacity debacle.
TME: They summoned Imshael, who destroyed them.
DAI: a young mage was angry because he was not the first, try to use blood magic and kill himself.

And I disagree with you in Tevinter, they couldnt do the things that they do if they werent mages, they wouldnt unleash the Blight upon the world if they arent mages.

The rebels couldnt control the ones spreading havok around the Hintherlands, why I should trust them now? They had done nothing to prove they deserve freedom.
Vivienne deserved what she got, she got all following the rules and not endangering the people around her.

I'm sure a fully trained mage can become an abomination, but it's not like being in a Circle makes that any less likely. Uldred for example was trying to break out of the Circle when he became one, not exactly a ringing endorsement. I do think they should go back to the College every so often, but not because they're forced to but because they want to.

You make valid points about Zathrian (whose revenge whilst understandable, was out of proportion) and Velanna who was manipulated. But Imshael was secured until Michel unleashed him. It's hardly the fault of the Dalish. And the young mage didn't hurt anyone except himself, tragic but at least it was under control.

Tevinter also wouldn't do the things they do if they weren't so ambitious and ruthless. Magic is the means by which they fulfil their goals but it doesn't mean every mage has such goals. And do you think magic is any less abused when governed? Like Solas says men always use some excuse to justify the use of magic in their wars and for their faction. At least when self-governed mages have the chance to stop that from happening.

The rebels around the Hinterlands were after Alexius had recruited them. And during extenuating circumstances. And if you'll note the letter sent to officially dissolve the Circles the mages did pledge to help any force that would bring the Apostates to justice. Perhaps they intended to but could not because of Alexius, or lack of numbers when faced with the prospect of rebel templars, apostates and demons.

[Bleachrude]

I disagree with the bit regarding attitudes towards magic following the events of DA:I.

 

Remember, it was a mage who destroyed the Chantry in Kirkwall and ignited the war between the Mages and the Templars.  It was a blighted magister and his Grey Warden mage minions whom were responsible for the explosion at the Conclave.  It was the Venatori, an extremist faction from a nation ruled by mages, that caused much upheaval throughout the courts of nobles in Southern Thedas.  It was the leader of the mage rebellion who submitted to a Tevinter Magister and booted Arl Teagan from Redcliffe.

 

If you also factor in the centuries-old attitudes towards magic in the South, I doubt that the mundanes would be any more favourable towards magic and its practitioners than they were prior to this whole ordeal.  

 

In fact, Vivienne will always receive three uprisings under her rule which are undoubtedly linked to her being a mage.  That does not spell an overall greater acceptance towards mages throughout the land.

 

By the way, nice avatar.

 

This is I think where many consider Leliana to be a Mary-sue. In Dragon Age:Awakening, if you play as Caron (the Orlesian Commander), the game explicitly mentions how you are not trusted by the Fereldens BECAUSE you're Orlesian (and this is after 30 years of peace between the two). Leliana (and Riodran for that matter) in Dragon Age at times has to mention "hey, I'm not truly Orlesian but Ferelden". There literally is a generation of Fereldens who have never had a negative interaction with Orlais yet the attitude of distrust for orlesians is actually considered one of the best things about DA:O and its expansion...the somewhat realistic reaction to past events.

 

Yet, Leliana, given what has occured with mages as Imanol points out, somehow has completely changed the attitude of people? And I'm personally more "spockbrowing" the idea of an independent circle system. Not because of the peasants but because of the various rulers of Thedas....I'm not sure why say Neverra would listen to an independent system with regard to its own citizens...THAT makes no sense

[Lumix19]

This is I think where many consider Leliana to be a Mary-sue. In Dragon Age:Awakening, if you play as Caron (the Orlesian Commander), the game explicitly mentions how you are not trusted by the Fereldens BECAUSE you're Orlesian (and this is after 30 years of peace between the two). Leliana (and Riodran for that matter) in Dragon Age at times has to mention "hey, I'm not truly Orlesian but Ferelden". There literally is a generation of Fereldens who have never had a negative interaction with Orlais.

Yet, Leliana, given what has occured with mages as Imanol points out, somehow has completely changed the attitude of people? And I'm personally more "spockbrowing" the idea of an independent circle system. Not because of the peasants but because of the various rulers of Thedas....I'm not sure why say Neverra would listen to an independent system with regard to its own citizens...THAT makes no sense

The Circle isn't something they actually have any power over. It's the Chantry's decision. I guess each country would react to it differently but why would they have an issue? It's just that instead of going through the Chantry to achieve mage help they just go to the mages themselves. And I think Nevarra is an interesting point since many of their mages are already independent and actually wield some considerable political power. Not much might actually change for them.

[Lady Artifice]

Because other parts of the chant were added or removed based on political expediency by the Chantry.

 

The dissonant verses alone tell us that there are parts of their own scripture that the Chantry is not afraid to edit out because it doesn't match their beliefs. The Canticle of Shartan, having an elf in the Chant and venerated by Andraste. The Canticle of Maferath, where the husband of Andraste is mourning the loss of the wife he betrayed and is told in a vision by his wife after her death that he is forgiven. And any number of dissonent verses we haven't been exposed to yet. 

 

Hmm. It might be really interesting if, in the next game, we find out a different sect of Andrastianism split off from the core Southern chantry and became prominent enough to flourish as an alternative. As you've pointed out elsewhere, there will be radical changes whomever takes the Sunburst throne. I can imagine those changes being dramatic enough to split the chantry into factions.

[RobRam10]

Leliana will bring ruin to the Chantry, it will be perfect.