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[Junebug]

I've seen a lot of criticism about Sera (and occasionally Solas) in regards to the Dalish clans. Luckily for me, I came across a very good and in-depth analysis that explains how I feel about that (my final thoughts can be summed up here). The analysis contains The Masked Empire and Dragon Age 2 spoilers.

 

Spoiler

This is a post about the Dalish, specifically about the way they think about and treat non-Dalish elves, and why all this means people need to cut Sera some f*cking slack.  (Spoilers for The Masked Empire and Dragon Age: Inquisition below.)

 

If you haven’t read The Masked Empire by BioWare writer Patrick Weekes, let me catch you up:

 

The book’s main characters are Celene, empress of Orlais, and Briala, her lover and spymaster, who is an elf.  Skipping over about 80 pages worth of story, we find Briala and Felassan, a Dalish mage and Briala’s mentor, in Halamshiral.  They’ve come to respond to an uprising in the city’s alienage.  Thren, one of the city’s elves, is frustrated with the calculated methods Briala means to use to deal with the problem.  Briala feels conflicted.  She and Thren want the same thing: freedom for their people.  She asks her mentor for guidance.

 

(The Masked Empire, ch. 6)

 

This is the first clear sign in the book of the point I’m trying to make: the Dalish do not care about elves who aren’t Dalish.

 

I say that like I’m reading between the lines, but it is very much something the book is trying to tell us. Here’s some passages from later in the book, when Briala, Celene, Michel and Felassan have turned to the Dalish for help:

 

(The Masked Empire, ch. 10.  Note the use of “flat-ear”, a cute nickname the Dalish have for non-Dalish elves.)

 

(The Masked Empire, ch. 11)

 

(The Masked Empire, ch. 11)

 

It’s spelled out right there: the Dalish, a group of elves who have every right to resist the horrible treatment they have suffered in the past, do not consider the real-life, modern-day suffering of other elves their problem.

 

When Briala talks to Felassan about it, he puts a pretty fine point on the issue:

 

---

(The Masked Empire, ch. 11)

 

The image of the elven cook with her painted bowl is not a very subtle one, but how you feel about the woman is variable.  Do you find her noble?  Pitiable?  Do you think she’s wasting her time? (Personally, she makes me a little bit sad, and a little bit tired, and angry for the history that brought things to this point.  But that’s just me.)

 

What Briala sees, though, is a woman, and a clan, and a people, who she thought she could count on. The Dalish were Briala’s trump card, her eternal last resort, and they let her down completely.  As an audience of fiction, we have the luxury of perspective.  We’ve seen other clans, other Keepers and Firsts and all the rest, and have even played DAO as Dalish.  Briala doesn’t have this perspective.

 

And neither (here comes my point) does Sera.  Why should Sera, a girl who’s had to fend for herself in a world that spits on her, respect the Dalish?  With all the sh!t she’s been through?  With all the help she could have used?  Where were they then?  Digging in old ruins, trying to salvage the past.

 

And again, from our perspective, this is a thing that makes sense for them to do.  They’ve had it taken from them.  Their culture has been actively and intentionally destroyed MULTIPLE TIMES.  They have every right to dig in those ruins and get what they can.

 

But that never put clothes on Sera’s back and that never put food in her friends’ mouths, but it did set a standard that humans and other elves have always held her to.  Sera’s character is all about helping people who need help now.  It’s even in her song.  People who focus on the past at the expense of the present are f*cking up, as far as she’s concerned, and she has every right to feel that way.

 

Sera DOES change her mind, though!  She’s wary of a Dalish Inquisitor at first, but when you prove to her that you want to help people, she becomes you friend, and might even love you.

 

SO CUT HER SOME SLACK OH MY GOD

 

Epilogue:

 

Okay okay, there’s one potential counterpoint to this I will address, starting with another passage from Masked Empire:

 

(The Masked Empire, ch. 9)

 

The behavior of one Dalish clan does not directly reflect on all the others, true enough!  Just because the Dalish in The Masked Empire behaved like jackholes doesn’t mean all Dalish would.  And I like the Dalish, really, for all the sh!t I’m slinging here.  I think most of them would do something to help city elves if they had the chance.

 

If you ask Varric or Hawke about Merrill in DAI, they tell you she stayed in the Kirkwall alienage “to look after the city elves left homeless by the fighting and continues to protect them from the fighting between the mages and the templars” (DA wiki).  As much as I love Merrill (a lot…it’s a lot), I don’t feel like this is something where she is unique.  I do think other Dalish would do the good things she’s done.

 

BUT (back to my point again) as far as we know, Sera has never met anyone like that prior to joining the Inquisition.  The Dalish are just another group of people who know the hurt that exists in the world (her world) and do nothing.

(source)

 

and another good point made about Merrill that I feel reflects the ignorance in Dalish clans:

 

Spoiler

Anonymous asked: Can I make one minor point regarding Merrill? In DA2, Hawke tells her to help the alienage elves and she admits that she barely looked at them because the Dalish see themselves as the "last true elves". And the others in her clan feels that way too, as the guards say that when Hawke asks them who the Dalish are. As much as I love Merrill and loved hearing Varric saying that Merrill is helping the elves, she did need someone to tell her that the alienage elves exist.

 

Most of this I forgot about or never heard, so thanks!

 

And yeah, Merrill grew up thinking these shitty things, but I guess my point there was, minds can be changed.  She needed some pushing to make it happen, because the worldview she’d been given was the only one she had for most of her life.  But she is actually a compassionate person who can step up when she has to.

 

IDK maybe what it actually took with Merrill was her whole clan rejecting her in Act 3 to the point that they certainly weren’t her people anymore.

(source)

 

ETA: Just wanted to add so that people don't misunderstand—Anonymous was not saying Merrill looked down on alienage elves—only that she didn't even look at all. And it's true, she was ignorant of the alienage elves before they introduced her to their living conditions and even during her obsession to restore Dalish history (one, two, three). In the last video, she admits after Hawke suggests she help alienage elves: "That's true...the Dalish always say we're the only true elves. And I've lived here for years, and never thought... I've barely even looked at them. I feel like such a fool."

 

ETA 2: Humans are definitely the root of problems of both the Dalish clans and city elves—both were backed into a corner. Fragifera made some very good points (one, two, three) as well as some more after that. Some food for thought

 

Note: I don't think the author meant this to be a blanket statement on Dalish clans—only the ones near Val Royeaux in regards to Sera. Hence, all of the evidence from The Masked Empire (although I personally still feel most of the ones we've run into are self-righteous about being "true elves").

 

Was this insightful? Do you have a different opinion? More evidence of Dalish's indifference? An appeal for the Dalish? Lemme know what you think! 

Modifié par Junebug, 24 avril 2015 - 03:31 .

[Iakus]

It just goes to show that the Dalish are as different from the city elves as Ferelden humans are from Tevinters.

 

ANd even the Dalish clans are as different from each other as elves from different alienages are from each other.  They are not a monolithic entity.  They are different people with a shared culture.  And even that culture is growing more and more different from each other with each generation.

 

There is no "Dalish" people, there are just elves with a Dalish background.

[Aren]

It just goes to show that the Dalish are as different from the city elves as Ferelden humans are from Tevinters.

 

ANd even the Dalish clans are as different from each other as elves from different alienages are from each other.  They are not a monolithic entity.  They are different people with a shared culture.  And even that culture is growing more and more different from each other with each generation.

 

There is no "Dalish" people, there are just elves with a Dalish background.

And this is the proof that without a unique and strong guide as well as lands, they will lose themselves,their unity and their power.

 this is the "burden" that the developers have decided to put on them due to the fact that they have the stronger magic and the elven gods.

[Robert Cousland]

Yes, turning the Elves into slaves was horrible and unacceptable, and I will always feel sorry for the city elves and want to help them. But I cannot stand the majority of the Dalish Elves, their arrogance and superiority really gets under my skin. It's hilarious that the majority of what they blame humans for was actually their own fault, they destroyed themselves long before humans showed up. Goes to show that the Elves were no better than the humans, they enslaved their own kind, and, if given the chance, they likely did, or would have, enslaved humans in much the same way Tevinter enslaves humans and elves currently. Face facts, the ancient Dalish Elves were no better than Tevinter.

[Iakus]

And this is the proof that without a unique and strong guide as well as lands, they will lose themselves,their unity and their power.

 this is the "burden" that the developers have decided to put on them due to the fact that they have the stronger magic and the elven gods.

I'd say they will still lose themselves as long as they keep trying to bring back what's been lost for thousands of years.

 

The Dalish have changed over the centuries  And will continue to change, just as the city elves have.  And even the Dales was not lost Arathan.  But as long as they keep getting hung up on holding onto that lost past, they will never be able to move forward.

 

Thedas is different.  The elves are different.  The humans are different.  Recovering history, language, and culture is important, yes.  Remembering the past is important.  But so is keeping it in the past.  Don't try to relive it, learn from it.   

[Wulfram]

Are the Dalish obliged to care particularly for people who are a whole new culture now? Frankly, they have their own problems.

Now, they could do with being less jerky and dismissive about them, but there's no particular obligation on them to launch a crusade for City Elf freedom. If anyone has a moral obligation to the City Elves, it's the Chantry.

Also, the first post the OP quotes is rather off point, because Sera doesn't like people who try to do something for the elves, like Briala. Her objection to the Dalish is fundamentally about their refusal to conform

[Junebug]

Are the Dalish obliged to care particularly for people who are a whole new culture now? Frankly, they have their own problems.

 

Her objection to the Dalish is fundamentally about their refusal to conform 

I don't think it's obligation that's the issue so much as it is a complete lack of compassion and/or willful ignorance of alienage and city elves.

 

I also don't think it's their refusal to "conform" that bothers her. It is their refusal to care about the common people. She sees them as self-serving people who frolick around in the woods like most people. And Sera doesn't like Briala because she sees her as a scheming pr!ck just like every other noble (and she was scheming during the Game). Plus, she hates nobility. She's immature and doesn't see what the power nobility can give to the elves. But you can't really fault her for that with all the suffering she's seen and endured.

[Wulfram]

But she seems to prefer the other scheming pricks to Briala. Including the one who slaughtered thousands of elves. And her attacks on the Dalish and the Dalish Inquisitor always come down to their refusal to abandon their beliefs and culture. She'll dump the Dalish Inquisitor over that, unlike any other decision in the game.

Sera's views are consistently conservative and opposed to those seeking change. She also dislikes people who think in terms of "Elves" and "Humans", rather than in terms of "people". If the Dalish were to seek to help the City Elves, that would most likely increase her opposition.

[KaiserShep]

I don't suppose it matters in the end, since I feel that the Dalish are pretty much doomed.

[MisterJB]

Are the Dalish obliged to care particularly for people who are a whole new culture now? Frankly, they have their own problems.

Genetics and pragmatism.

 

In Val Royeaux's alienage, there are ten thousand elves.

Comparatively, there were 50 in the clan that appears in "Masked Empire".

 

The City Elves are the future of the elven race and the Dalish need to find a way to take advantage of this.

[KaiserShep]

Genetics and pragmatism.

 

In Val Royeaux's alienage, there are ten thousand elves.

Comparatively, there were 50 in the clan that appears in "Masked Empire".

 

The City Elves are the future of the elven race and the Dalish need to find a way to take advantage of this.

 

Well, really, they don't need to do anything but stay Dalish and die. If they want to stick to their way of living to the bitter end, I guess that's really their prerogative. I can't imagine them just dropping their bows and going off to live in an alienage, and in their place, I'm not sure that I'd want to.

[Junebug]

True, and it's one thing I don't like about Sera. For all her compassion for the common people, she is still ignorant and immature. But she's still not necessarily a bad person. Sera never had a good role model growing up to teach her right from wrong until the Inquisition. I think seeing "people as just people" is her way of trying to see everyone as equal—which I also would agree with you about. Doing that erases a person's culture and identity and I would never allow that for myself. As for helping the city elves, I honestly don't know; that's speculative. As far as I've seen, she'd go through great lengths if it means helping people who suffer and I think she'd take any help she can get as long as it wasn't from nobility (who she believes would backstab her in a second).

 

(and whaaaat why didn't it censor the word for you ;~; )

[jedidotflow]

In the CE origin in DAO it's mentioned that an elf the PC knows left to find the Dalish.
In the DE origin said elf is found learning archery among the PC's clan.
Some Dalish are welcoming towards CEs looking to learn about the past and starting anew, but many Dalish are just assholes.

[jedidotflow]

Oops. Sorry!

[jedidotflow]

Triple post. Slow Internet.

[jedidotflow]

I don't think it's obligation that's the issue so much as it is a complete lack of compassion and/or willful ignorance of alienage and city elves.

I also don't think it's their refusal to "conform" that bothers her. It is their refusal to care about the common people. She sees them as self-serving people who frolick around in the woods like most people. And Sera doesn't like Briala because she sees her as a scheming pr!ck just like every other noble (and she was scheming during the Game). Plus, she hates nobility. She's immature and doesn't see what the power nobility can give to the elves. But you can't really fault her for that with all the suffering she's seen and endured.

That's not being immature, that's being radical and a realist. Nobles only care about nobles.

[Junebug]

That's not being immature, that's being radical and a realist. Nobles only care about nobles.

I was referring to threatening to break up because she doesn't wanna talk about Dalish Inquisitor's background/culture or anything having to do with a person's heritage (forgot what she threatens to break up with non-Dalish Inquisitor over but it was just as bad). It's incredibly immature and a terrible thing to make a person choose between. Should've clarified. I just type and think at the same time and then bleh, word vomit XD

[Tootles FTW]

Very good write-up, thank you.  I generally disliked the Dalish until playing one in Inquisition.  I still find them, in general, frustrating in the same way I found Merrill's obsession with the Eluvian frustrating.  But now I also see them as somewhat tragic figures, and I can understand their desperation in clinging to the past more than before.  History repeats, and the Dalish treat the "flat ears" the same way the Ancient Elves invariably treated the Dalish of old.

[Jaison1986]

When you think about it, the Dalish struggles are pretty futile. They want to preserve and restore what once was. But what once was only existed thanks to the non existance of the veil, as the dialogue with Solas suggests. The elves could tap into infinite magic and that is what brought the glory of their empire. Without the magics of the past, the empire that is now lost will never return again.

[In Exile]

When you think about it, the Dalish struggles are pretty futile. They want to preserve and restore what once was. But what once was only existed thanks to the non existance of the veil, as the dialogue with Solas suggests. The elves could tap into infinite magic and that is what brought the glory of their empire. Without the magics of the past, the empire that is now lost will never return again.

They're really pinning away for a past that just doesn't exist. They're not entirely wrong in their history but effectively every one of their core historical beliefs is wrong, especially regarding the divinity and morality of their own gods.

The whole arc for the elves and Dalish I think is letting go of their fiction of the past to move forward and build a true society for themselves.

[Hanako Ikezawa]

And this is one reason I wanted to play a City Elf in DAI instead of being forced to be a Pro-Dalish Dalish Elf. 

[stop_him]

I'll cut Sera some slack if it means I can also cut out her tongue.

 

People don't hate Sera because she hates Dalish elves. They hate her because she is annoying, and there is no "punch Sera" option.

[Lumix19]

When you think about it, the Dalish struggles are pretty futile. They want to preserve and restore what once was. But what once was only existed thanks to the non existance of the veil, as the dialogue with Solas suggests. The elves could tap into infinite magic and that is what brought the glory of their empire. Without the magics of the past, the empire that is now lost will never return again.

I dunno if that's true. The concept of Uthenera seems to indicate (to me) that the Fade was there even during the days of Arlathan. Certainly the humans, who at one point coexisted with Arlathan, have never known any other way. If the Veil truly did not exist at some point it must have been eons ago, perhaps before the elves even existed.

[Karlone123]

The Dalish Elves are certainly a flawed people, too much time spending in frolicking and trying to recover lost history that turns out to be a half-truth or down right dark.