Just to be clear, this is not a rant, or at least I'll try to not make it sound like one. I personally enjoyed Inquisition for what it was, but at the same time there are a lot of plot-related aspects I felt could have been done better. I should admit that I am not the biggest Dragon Age fan, but at the same time I wish I was. I think that this series and its setting are just dripping with potential. I also feel that a company like Bioware could make something incredible with all the material they have on their hands, and in some areas they have. However, I also feel that they are wasting a lot of opportunities. Bioware has some really great ideas that they are trying their hardest to implement into these games, however, the execution of these ideas could be a little better, much better in fact. For starters they often make the mistake of playing it safe by pushing the more important and meaningful issues (like faith, moral ambiguity, racism, power and corruption, etc.) off to the side in favor of the more conventional ones (like saving the world, good vs. evil, chosen one, generic villains, etc.). That's not to say that a story with a simplistic premise automatically dooms it to being a dull experience. However, when what is more interesting is brushed aside in favor of what's simply easier to relay, then we've got a problem. I find that a unique video game experience is one that challenges its audience.
But I digress. I've beaten the game and have gone over the story in my head. I've brainstormed a few ideas that I thought could have been implemented into the game's plot. And seeing as I'm a bored nerd with a lot of time on his hands, I wrote up a plot synopsis of what I felt Inquisition's story could have been like. It uses a lot of the game's original content, albeit tweaked with some ideas of my own.
The beginning of the story would have been virtually the same. The Conclave blows up, the Divine is killed, the Breach opens in the sky, and the future Inquisitor is the sole survivor that is left with a mark on their hand. Now demons are dropping into the world and possessing anyone they can get their hands (errr...claws) on. Lord Seeker Lucius takes charge of the situation and reestablishes the Inquisition. You are charged with assisting the Inquisition in hunting down the demons and abominations popping up and closing the Breach.
The story would then focus on the new Inquisition going on a witch-hunt of sorts by rooting out the possessed individuals and killing the demons threatening the land. These missions would have served as framing devices to introduce the player character to their companions and to clue them in on the various political situations going on. They would be introduced to the succession crisis in Orlais, the war between the mages and Templars, the leaderless Chantry, and the rising of the vicious Venatori cult and their leader the enigmatic figure calling himself "The Elder One". During this time, the player character would become something of a legend to the people of Thedas, with many dubbing them as the "Herald of Andraste".
Ultimately the Herald would be assaulted by the darkspawn magister Corypheous, who tries to tear the mark off of their hand. The Champion of Kirkwall, Hawke, would have come to their rescue and brought everyone up to speed on Corypheous' story. With Corypheous as the prime suspect in causing the Breach, the Inquisition would then focus their efforts on finding a way to kill him. Ultimately a solution is found and our heroes would then have launched a dangerous venture to close the Breach. During a brutal battle with Corypheous, the Herald would succeed in killing him and closing the Breach. With his last breathe, the mad darkspawn curses the world of Thedas, calling it decrepit and corrupted. He also warns the Herald that their so-called "friends" will give into their power and betray them.
And he's more right than anyone would have guessed. The various factions that govern the land have come to fear the growing Inquisition as a threat to their influence. Among them is Lord Seeker Lucius, who had initially hoped to use the Inquisition as his strong arm. Now the man fears you, your legend, your powers, and the influence that you have on the rest of the Inquisition. Now with the Breach closed, the Inquisition, its usefulness at an end, is promptly cut loose by the Chantry and ordered to return to Val Royeaux to "answer for your crimes". Lucius gives the Herald one last chance to toe the line and submit to his authority, which they and their followers refuse to do. Having planned for this, Lucius unleashes his gathered forces onto the Inquisition's home base. Several of the Inquisition's members are massacred, but the survivors manage to flee into the mountains. From here the usual business of finding Skyhold, setting up shop, and becoming the new Inquisitor would have commenced. The Inquisitor would then give their Inquisition a new purpose: to expand its reach and bring order to this chaotic world.
The plot would then shift to the Inquisition's conflict with the Elder One and his followers. As the Elder One works behind the scenes to create chaos and disorder, the Inquisition would work to hunt down his followers and oppose him at every turn. However, their opponent is cunning and the struggle is a prolonged one. During this time, the Inquisition would meet an elven mage named Fauren, who has becoming something of a symbol to the mages and elves. This intelligent and charismatic reformer is initially opposed to the Inquisition, but ultimately comes to join its side and help it in its efforts. All the while, the Inquisition would develop a bitter and deadly rivalry with its former leader Lucius and the Seekers who answer to him.
The story would also focus more on the political instability in Orlais. The Inquisitor would become embroiled in the machinations of the Grand Game and actively participate in the civil war. Ultimately they would have to back one of the three contenders for the throne. One being the brilliant and charismatic, but also two-faced and ruthless, Empress Celene, who is also being supported by Lord Seeker Lucius. The other candidate is the oppressive, brutish Gaspard De Chalons, whose ruthless tactics and governance are kept in check by Fauren. The final candidate is the elven bard Briala who wants to create a better land for her people, but who is also being manipulated by the Venatori and the Elder One. So you would have a capable empress who is being backed by the man who betrayed you, a violent brute who is being controlled by a radical reformer, or a passionate woman who wants what's best for her people but who is falling victim to the wiles of a mad cult (decisions, decisions). Ultimately the outcome is determined in a decisive battle and the Inquisition would gain a footing in Orlais.
The story would then focus on the Inquisition establishing their authority and influence while setting aright the lesser factions of the land. During this time they would set up a candidate of their choosing as the new Divine. They would also succeed in stomping out the last remnants of the Elder One's organization (minus the leader himself). All seems well...
...until your opponent plays his last and deadliest hand. Because as it turns out, the Elder One and Fauren are one and the same person. The elf plays the role of a compassionate reformer in public while serving as a cult leader and terrorist behind the scenes. Initially he used his influence to oppose the Inquisition in public; however, as they gained the upper hand in the conflict, he switched to a different tactic by ingratiating himself into your favor. While the Inquisitor has been off playing politics and expanding their influence and power, their true enemy has been wrapping his coils around their home base. Fauren has spent his time manipulating your followers and turning the more disloyal ones (potentially even your advisors and companions) against you. The elf even manages to ensnare Hawke and the Divine candidate (either by exploiting their own lust for power or their fear that the Inquisitor will become a tyrant). Ultimately Fauren and Lucius join forces and stage a coup. The Inquisitor falls victim to a Julius Caesar assassination and is seemingly killed. Fauren and Lucius take control of all the resources, allies, and influence that has been amassed over the course of the game. They also set up Hawke and the chosen candidate as a puppet inquisitor and Divine respectively.
But all is not lost, because Flemeth comes along and saves the Inquisitor. Taking them on a journey through the Fade, Flemeth would have shown the player visions of the past and what really happened at the Conclave. Here you would have learned that you were once a follower of Fauren. Together the two of you schemed to enact a blood magic ritual that would involve sacrificing a dragon to open a tear in the sky. The purpose was to create a scenario of chaos where the two of you could gain power during this period of turmoil. However, your motivations were not as selfish as your master's.
Through the vision, the player would learn that the Conclave was not amassing for a peace gathering and that the late Divine Justinia was not the saint she is painted to be. She, Lucius, and the rest of the Conclave were part of a secret Chantry sect devoted to "judging" the world that the Chantry had built. Justinia had become disillusioned with the world. Corruption, conflict, and chaos were rampant in Thedas and she sought to rain death and destruction down on this world that had become so wrought with sin. Justinia's plan was to use the templars' lyrium and the mages' magic to enter the Fade. From here she and her followers would take control of the Black City in the name of the Maker. They would then use their secret knowledge of the Fade to wield its powers against the world of Thedas and bring forth their equivalent of Judgment Day. Lord Seeker Lucius was disgusted by the plan and stormed out (hence why he didn't perish with the rest of the Conclave). You had become aware of the plan during your time as a spy for Fauren and were determined to stop it. However Corypheous, wielding a strange orb, came barging in and set off the explosion that left you with the mark on your hand. Meanwhile Fauren (the Elder One) would have sacrificed the dragon and created the Breach. Now you know the truth and are determined to take back what is yours.
From here, the Inquisitor, with Flemeth's help, would reenter the world and work to take back their lost Inquisition. They would reassemble those still loyal to them and go after their enemies. Meanwhile, Lucius and Fauren continue to follow their own agendas. Lucius, through his experiences, has come to share his deceased mistress' views and is resolved to carry out her plan. Fauren, on the other hand, continues to exploit the chaos he has created to gain power. Lucius exploits Fauren's knowledge of magic to enter the Fade; all the while the latter exploits the former's influence to gain control of the governing Chantry.
The Inquisitor would work to drive a wedge between the two accomplices and split their holdings in half. From here they would depose of Inquisitor Hawke and the new Divine, either reforming or killing them in the process. Then they would enter the Fade and kill Lucius before the he and his followers use the Fade's magic to create untold destruction. After this the player would focus on Fauren and gets a look at his motivations. The elf has one hell of a god complex, but the funny thing is, it's not an unreasonable one. This is because he is in fact an elf from the days of old. In today's world he is worshipped as the elven god Elgar'nan in the elven pantheon. The elf has awoken after a long slumber and is determined to carve out a kingdom for his people and wreak a terrible vengeance for the death of his beloved Mythal. The Inquisitor would end the story by having a final showdown with the mad elf in the bowels of the Temple of Mythal and killing him. In the end, the Inquisitor would have been left with the remnants of a broken order governing a broken realm. They would resolve to rebuild what has been lost, all the while contemplating what they have gained through their pursuit of power and their use of faith.
The post-credits scene would have been virtually the same, albeit with a minor detail thrown into the mix. Solas (aka the Dread Wolf) would have given the orb to Corypheous not to unlock its power, but rather to allow the more powerful darkspawn kill Elgar'nan.
Phew! Okay, I got more than a little carried away here, but all the same it feels nice to share my ideas with others. Sorry of such a long post. Thoughts?
Retour en haut
