18 réponses à ce sujet

[Merengues 1945]

I was thinking the other day, the world of thedas as most other fantasy worlds seem to be trapped in the middle ages for what seems an eternity (it's not as static as in LotR, but not as progressive as ASOIAF)... But what would happen if things change, if powers fall and the old regimes come to an end?

 

Imagine if Orlesian peasants get stuffed of living miserable lives while the nobility spares no mind for their suffering and simply live largely at their expense... Picture the French Revolution with magic and lots of blood running on the street, elves fighting chevaliers and common folk butchering nobles.

 

Would the Inquisition side with the Ancien Regime or fight for the common people? They lack a precise purpose as the Grey Wardens who live only to kill Archdemons. So what if they have to decide between the people and their noble allies?

 

I'd like to believe they would side with the common folk in such a case, but what truly stops them form siezing power for themselves after the deal? How would a revolution affect the status quo of the Inquisition and Thedas?

[ShadowLordXII]

I can see one of four options:

 

1) The Inquisition sides with the common folk to endear them to the Inquisition. Then the Inquisition gains a great deal of influence and power in the resulting power vacuum with the overthrowing of the status quo (assuming that the Inquisition wins)

 

2) Inquisition sides with the nobility to crush the rebellion. Inquisition gains the favor of the nobility which grants opportunities for expanded trade and power. (If the nobility wins)

 

3) Inquisition stays neutral and neither gains nor loses from the conflict.

 

4) Inquisition plays both sides against each other to weaken them and increase it's own power.

 

It depends on the Inquisitor's morality and intentions really.

[Nixou]

Given that Dragon Age is pretty much a fantasy retelling of the late middle ages crisis, I don't think a revolution would fit in this setting.

 

A Jacquerie, on the other hand...

 

***

 

And the Inquisition unfortunately isn't about idealists everywhere uniting to thwart chaos. It's about cult of personality and authoritarianism.

 

 

Showing the Inquisition devolving into another tool of tyranny, becoming similar to real-life inquisition would make for a fascinating tale.

Unfortunately, in such a case, a sizable chunk of the audience would be up in arms, accusing Bioware's writers of "negating their choices".

[Baeraad]

Showing the Inquisition devolving into another tool of tyranny, becoming similar to real-life inquisition would make for a fascinating tale.

Unfortunately, in such a case, a sizable chunk of the audience would be up in arms, accusing Bioware's writers of "negating their choices".

 

 

It's sort of heavily implied throughout DAI that that's a real possibility. So here's my prediction: give it two more games, and the Inquisitor will have mysteriously vanished and the Inquisition will appear as a sympathetic antagonist, much as the Grey Wardens were in DAI.

 

As for a commoner's revolution? I suppose that could happen; there have been some signs of organised resistance against the nobility, most notable from the Friends of Red Jenny. I would imagine the Inquisition would end up backing whichever side offered them the most - again, under the assumption that it will suffer some institutional corruption between games.

[Sah291]

I think they have been hinting towards something like this for a while. There's Flemeth and Morrigan. Both have hinted about change coming to Thedas, and it's implied Flemeth has been helping things along behind the scenes (sometimes the world "needs a push" as she put it). First we had the Warden, who was a catalyst to several important world changing events. Then Hawke, who played a role and was a catalyst for the mage rebellion and releasing Corypheus. 

 

DA2 also saw the introduction of a new world changing technology-- gun powder. It's strongly implied this new tech could level the playing field between mages and common folk, if the recipe becomes widely available. Then we have the surgeon in DAI who hints at science/medicine displacing mages for healing. The Architect was working on a mad plan to cure the blight, by "giving it to everyone". So underneath the backdrop of the mage rebellion, there's hints about science/technology eventually displacing magic, leveling the playing field for commoners.

 

The Inquisition is interesting, because, even if the Inquisitor supports revolution, he/she is actively working against it in many respects, in order to restore order and prevent/stop civil war, and to stop Corypheus. So regardless of the Inquisitor's personal feelings about mages, elves, etc... the IQ restores the status quo (with reform)...at least for now. But they are left in a position of power and authority in Thedas, and seen as a symbol of the changing world order (as Morrigan says in the epilogue). It could be said Corypheus represented the ancient/old world order, as he was actually fighting to restore magic and the Tevinter imperium. In which case, the Inquisition is continuing Andraste's revolution where it left off. 

[Darkly Tranquil]

Southern Thedas just crowned a strange prisoner as their messiah, no matter what is said or how said prisoner behaves. Revolution postponed. These people are hopeless. They are lost in the mentality of chosen ones and having random people dictate to their lives.. down to how they even perceive politics and religion. And the Inquisition unfortunately isn't about idealists everywhere uniting to thwart chaos. It's about cult of personality and authoritarianism.

Why do I suddenly want to make an Inquisitor based on Donald Trump...?

[Augustei]

Your question is kinda broad, what is it the commoners want exactly. To throw off the rule of the nobility and what? eliminate surfdom? replace them? employ some kind of Parliament? Empower the churches and or crown?
If they were pushing for proper democracy of some kind i'd crush them, since Thedas doesn't seem to be in the modern era yet so it wouldn't work on a scale to the degree of Orlais.
I guess it all depends on my Inquisitor and his interests though, since my main one has a puppet on the Orlesian throne at the moment though I can't see him supporting the rebels.
Can't see any of my Trevelyans considering it either since they'd be afraid of too much instability in Orlais weakening them significantly meaning the Free Marches greatest threat at the moment, Nevarra (As seen in their push towards Tantervale) would grow far more powerful taking advantage of the power vaccum.
Any Dwarven Inquisitor i'd create would likely still have a degree of loyalty to Orzammar and so wouldn't want to destabilize Orlais any further having already seen the damage the civil war has done to Orzammar already (With riots due to food shortages)

My Cousland and Hawke would love to support the rebels, keep the Orlesians fighting each other while Ferelden rebuilds and empowers itself.

[Merengues 1945]

I think they have been hinting towards something like this for a while. There's Flemeth and Morrigan. Both have hinted about change coming to Thedas, and it's implied Flemeth has been helping things along behind the scenes (sometimes the world "needs a push" as she put it). First we had the Warden, who was a catalyst to several important world changing events. Then Hawke, who played a role and was a catalyst for the mage rebellion and releasing Corypheus. 

 

DA2 also saw the introduction of a new world changing technology-- gun powder. It's strongly implied this new tech could level the playing field between mages and common folk, if the recipe becomes widely available. Then we have the surgeon in DAI who hints at science/medicine displacing mages for healing. The Architect was working on a mad plan to cure the blight, by "giving it to everyone". So underneath the backdrop of the mage rebellion, there's hints about science/technology eventually displacing magic, leveling the playing field for commoners.

 

Yes, the barrier between mages and common folk or even between templars and commoners it's fading, and episodes of contempt to the nobles and their offensive livestyles in several ways, have appeared, the Freemen of the Dales were another example and after learning from them, I kinda sympathyzed with their movement... What would they want? Not having to break their ass for some lord in the fields and then having to fight for them in stupid wars.

 

If I recall correctly, the french revolution didn't started with a wish to set the country in flames and frac the power, just as the American Revolution didn't started with a wish of independance but a sentiment of frustration of not having someone to care for their interests... A movement like that ain't that far fetched.

 

The problem for the Inquisition is that they can't take sides without losing... If they side with the nobles, they lose support from the common folks, if they don't they lose face with the allies that empowered them, and would have to face losing power or even disbanding.

[Andreas Amell]

I was thinking the other day, the world of thedas as most other fantasy worlds seem to be trapped in the middle ages for what seems an eternity (it's not as static as in LotR, but not as progressive as ASOIAF)... But what would happen if things change, if powers fall and the old regimes come to an end?

 

Imagine if Orlesian peasants get stuffed of living miserable lives while the nobility spares no mind for their suffering and simply live largely at their expense... Picture the French Revolution with magic and lots of blood running on the street, elves fighting chevaliers and common folk butchering nobles.

 

Would the Inquisition side with the Ancien Regime or fight for the common people? They lack a precise purpose as the Grey Wardens who live only to kill Archdemons. So what if they have to decide between the people and their noble allies?

 

I'd like to believe they would side with the common folk in such a case, but what truly stops them form siezing power for themselves after the deal? How would a revolution affect the status quo of the Inquisition and Thedas?

I don't think the political atmosphere exists for that development, but I'm sure the Inquisition would care more for the people if you play it that way.

 

It's worth noting that since the first game heads of states and other leaders have been changing over the past ten Thedan years.

 

King Cailan died in battle in Ferelden.

King Endrin Aeducan died in bed.

The Prince of Starkhaven and his most of his immediate family were asassinated.

Viscount Dumas was killed by the Arishok.

The Arishok might have been killed in battle, if you played it that way.

Divine Justinia was killed.

Orlais erupted into civil war over the throne.

 

On a smaller note, the Ariqun of the Ben Hassrath might have been succeeded by Rasaan. 

[Riven326]

The last thing you need is a cult of personality mingling with a Revolution. I hate to go all Godwin's law on you, but.... that's pretty much Hitler. And every ******* in 20th and 19th century history. 

That's exactly what you need during a revolution; one man who stands up and says what's on everyone's minds while the politicians continue to talk in double speak and put their own interests ahead of the people. You couldn't ask for a better set up.

 

If the Inquisitor was that man, just imagine what he could do with the kind of divine power that's been practically given to him by the ex-members of the Chantry, who helped found the Inquisition, and the political support from other nations who see the Inquisition as a rising power in the region, who they themselves want to have some form of influence in. At some point it would only be natural for the Inquisition to remove King Alistair from power and set up a new form of government. If the Inquisitor played his cards right, it wouldn't even require blood shed.

 

In other words, I believe it would be possible to get both the common folk and the nobles to fully support the Inquisition and help establish a new Ferelden, one that is strong, and no longer has to fear an invasion from Orlais, nasty darkspawn blights, or corrupt mages. Really, it's easy to manipulate disgruntled people who hate or fear a particular group; it just so happens that the mages fit the bill quite nicely because they are a global threat. This gives the Inquisition international leverage that it otherwise would not have.

 

Almost every nation in Thedas would be interested in helping the Inquisition restore order; it's not like the darkspawn threat that was seen by the rest of Thedas as a Ferelden problem. You play on the people's fears, whether they're peasants, nobles, or anywhere in between long enough and Ferelden, followed by the rest of Thedas, will beg an organization like the Inquisition to step in and get things done.

[Master Warder Z_]

I strongly doubt it.

The various nations of Thedas have been going strong more or less their entire history since the collapse of Tevinter.

[katamuro]

ok what the hell is ASOIF?

[Nixou]

ok what the hell is ASOIF?

 

A Song of Ice and Fire: the novels from which Game of Throne is adapted.

[leaguer of one]

 

Given that Dragon Age is pretty much a fantasy retelling of the late middle ages crisis, I don't think a revolution would fit in this setting.

 

A Jacquerie, on the other hand...

 

***

 

 

Showing the Inquisition devolving into another tool of tyranny, becoming similar to real-life inquisition would make for a fascinating tale.

Unfortunately, in such a case, a sizable chunk of the audience would be up in arms, accusing Bioware's writers of "negating their choices".

 

Sorry but dragon age is more middle ages turning to renaissance. It's closer to the Gothic ages.

[Nixou]

Sorry but dragon age is more middle ages turning to renaissance

 

 

Which is precisely what the late middle ages crisis was: a series of upheavals during the 14th-15th centuries which caused the downfall of the medieval model and made place for the Renaissance to begin.