101 réponses à ce sujet

[robertthebard]

I am sure there are reasons why a Dalish Lavellan may not partake of the Well but will allow a shemlen to partake of it.
But I am really annoyed by all these "It's not my heritage."
Yes. It. Is.
Stop being such a self-deprecating (self-loathing) elf.
You are part of the descendants of the ancient ancestors who were responsible for the Well. If it anyone should claim it, it ought to be the elves who've been reclaiming stuff like the vallaslin and re-purposing it for the betterment of their people.

Excuse me: The question wasn't why I didn't let your Dalish drink from the Well, but why I didn't let mine. Here's the thing, we're not. We're the descendants of slaves. Everything we thought we knew was wrong, we're no more tied to Elvhen, than we are to dragons. You are, of course, free to interpret things however you like, but you are also free to step out of my RP sessions trying to SJW "All elves are created equal", because based on what we know now, they weren't.

See, I sort of saw this topic as a trap, and it's why I stayed out of it as long as I did. I should have known, as I suspected, that based on the title, it wasn't looking for why, but who, so that they could be attacked just like this for believing/playing a different scenario. I should have known after the very first reply by the OP to stay the hell out of it, because I'm not a subtle individual, and SJWs do love that report post button.

For all that, guess what: My mage did drink from the Well. She believed it was her right to do so. That was not, however, the question posed in the topic, was it? I should have known it was another SJW wagon circling fest with the catchword "justify". The very simple answer to the topic question is this: My Dalish that didn't drink didn't want to drink. I don't need to rationalize it, or justify it to anyone. If that gives you nightmares, good. If you're going to go on a rampage for pixel's rights, great, be sure to post it up publicly, so that those of us that understand that pixels don't have rights can point and laugh at how desperate people have become to be judgmental. Of course, with the latest Starbuck's "controversy", I shouldn't be surprised, eh?

[nightscrawl]

^ Well I think the general problem with such discussions is that there are some people who just don't get (or at least pretend that they don't) that, because of role play, a PC can have whatever reasons they want -- including, but not limited to, "I just don't f'n feel like it," -- for doing or not doing something, regardless of whatever it is.

 

I place certain limitations on what I allow to affect my roleplay choices , such as trying to not let meta knowledge influence my decisions, sticking with my character's backstory as a source of motivation, and not veering too far away from the limited boundaries Bioware set with whatever origin story. But of course that doesn't apply to everyone, and if they want to come up with some bizarre, outlandish thing that doesn't actually make sense (to me) within the confines of the Dragon Age universe, I don't really care, it's their game.

 

But such discussions can certainly be held on an intellectual level without devolving into attacks that some player is "doing it wrong," or, "doesn't know how to elf," or some other thing. (No, I'm not accusing anyone of saying those things, they are hypothetical.) Some of the better discussions I've participated in on these forums have led me to think, "Oh, I never thought of it that way," especially if some nugget of information was revealed of which I was previously ignorant.

[A Clever Name]

No, it's not. The absurd fantasy that the Dalish invented about the ancient elves has absolutely no connection with what we find at the well besides the fact that some of the names are similar, and they aren't completely wrong about the general outline of the story. It's not my heritage. It's, as best as can be described, my history. That would be like me, IRL, claiming to be a Thracian, with old historical articles tied to Spartacus being an essential part of my heritage, because it's not inaccurate to say that, probably to some extent or other, a few thousand years ago I was descendant from them.

 

Marking yourself as the property of a good without understanding it and believing a racist myth about the loss of your people's immortality that's not completely dissimilar to the truth does not make that your culture. It was the culture of Abelas, Solas, and the few surviving ancient elves. Apart from, again, weirdly racist beliefs about how it belongs to "elves" because beings that are so different from other elves but looked similar built it. 

The modern day elves we see are all descended from Arlathan-era elves (as far as BioWare would have us know), specifically those that were subjected to slavery by the Imperium.  They have a unique cultural experience in comparison to, say, Abelas and his ilk - they were never enslaved, and thus don't know the meaning of cultural change and lack a shared perspective.  The Dalish, and to a lesser extent city elves, remember things as those that they descended from would, making them unique in that regard.  Would the enslaved elves after the fall of Arlathan blame Fen'Harel for their situation?  Yeah.  Would they idealize the Creators because, generally, their situation is awful and might in fact be much worse than what they already lived with (the devil you know and all that)?  Absolutely.  Those are the (perfectly valid) perspectives of the Arlathan elves from which they were descended, who wove their opinions into their stories, which became Dalish mythos.  Drawing a line isn't so easy when it comes to nationalism that is derived from a genetically common ancestor.

 

Abelas and modern elves are divorced from one another, but they aren't completely separate.  It would be like trying to tell an Israeli that they aren't really Israeli, because the original Israelites that lived there don't exist culturally anymore, and the ones that exist today are just pretenders that should have just let their culture and language die because it failed.  But go ahead, tell them that.  It's not like that's offensive or anything, right?  That's my problem with BioWare, though, not you.  They make cultural revival look like a bad thing because "twists," even though this was about as obtuse a "spin" as anything M. Night Shyamalan has thought up.

 

Simply put, reality and all its trappings are viewed with a subjective eye.  You, as an outsider to that person's perspective, have no right or ability to play cultural gatekeeper.  Especially when a genetic connection exists that cannot be conveniently denied.

 

 

...Now, to leave behind meta discussions and answer OP's question.  I had three Dalish, two of which did not drink from the Well.  The one that did was a rogue, and her reasoning was mostly to spite Morrigan, whom she felt had no right to knowledge she wasn't going to share in the first place.  My two that deferred to Morrigan had similar reasons - one didn't like the idea of tampering with something that could put her under a compulsion, and the other additionally reasoned that if Morrigan was enough of an idiot to submit herself to a god he very well believed to exist, then she was welcome to take that risk for him.  Not that it didn't rankle to see a human swallow up a chance to learn elvish, but their priorities were more on keeping their autonomy.

 

You could really come up with a hundred and one justifications to decide, as a Dalish, whether to drink from the Well of Sorrows or not.  Some of the ones I've seen on this thread are similar, others are different.  Either way I expect this to be something that BioWare ominously threatens as "having consequences," only for those consequences to never come.

[Cobra's_back]

My Elf never does. Simply put the Ancient Elves do not see themselves as your kin. Morrigan is the only one that truly studied their culture and language. She has the greatest connection here even if you didn't know Morrigan's mother was Flemeth.

[Vit246]

My Elf never does. Simply put the Ancient Elves do not see themselves as your kin. Morrigan is the only one that truly studied their culture and language. She has the greatest connection here even if you didn't know Morrigan's mother was Flemeth.

Morrigan got most of her knowledge of the language and some modicum of culture from a Dalish source ( the book from Ariane's clan). And every Keeper's job (every Dalish's job) is to intimately know the language as much as possible.

Why are we assuming that Flemeth taught her elven stuff as Mythal? Morrigan had no idea what the hell she was until the ritual.

[Dean_the_Young]

Morrigan got most of her knowledge of the language and some modicum of culture from a Dalish source ( the book from Ariane's clan). And every Keeper's job (every Dalish's job) is to intimately know the language as much as possible.

Why are we assuming that Flemeth taught her elven stuff as Mythal? Morrigan had no idea what the hell she was until the ritual.

 

Because culture isn't simply 'elven stuff' as in the symbols- it's also the behaviors, beliefs, and values. Culture isn't simply practices, but a way to look at the world.

 

Whether Morrigan knows what Flemeth is or not, what Flemeth is exists regardless of that. And Flemeth raised her- and raised her with deliberate intent- and shaped and encouraged her views, her beliefs, and her values. The valid question isn't why would we assume Flemeth passed on elven culture- the question is why wouldn't we assume that? Or even 'how could Flemeth not'- cultural prisms are how one looks at the world, and children (like Morrigan was) learn from their parents.

 

For Flemeth to pass on some other cultural prism, she'd need to be holding it herself. But Flemeth is Mythal, and Mythal is ancient elven- as deserving of the claim as any other- and we have no indication whatsoever that Mythal raised her daughters on ancient forgotten lore and elven shape-shifting magics but arbitrarily decided to adopt non-elven cultural perspective for the duration of her raising them.

 

Ignoring the unsubtantiable claim of how much of Morrigan's knowledge comes from the Dalish book vis-a-vis Flemeth and her grimoire, what's relevant for culture is the viewpoint and not just the history. Flemeth, even if she doesn't worship a single elven god or speak a single Dalish catch phrase, is more ancient-elven than any Dalish we've met so far.

 

Morrigan was not only raised and taught how to think by an elven authority no Dalish clan or book can even approached... she mastered that viewpoint well enough that she's able to practice an elven magic based on mental perspective that the Dalish themselves have largely forgotten, the magic of shape-shifting.

 

Point is, if you find Morrigan incompatible with receiving the Well because she's not a 'true' elf... then the problem probably comes with your definition of true elfyness, rather than with Morrigan.

[Qun00]

Excuse me: The question wasn't why I didn't let your Dalish drink from the Well, but why I didn't let mine. Here's the thing, we're not. We're the descendants of slaves. Everything we thought we knew was wrong, we're no more tied to Elvhen, than we are to dragons. You are, of course, free to interpret things however you like, but you are also free to step out of my RP sessions trying to SJW "All elves are created equal", because based on what we know now, they weren't.See, I sort of saw this topic as a trap, and it's why I stayed out of it as long as I did. I should have known, as I suspected, that based on the title, it wasn't looking for why, but who, so that they could be attacked just like this for believing/playing a different scenario. I should have known after the very first reply by the OP to stay the hell out of it, because I'm not a subtle individual, and SJWs do love that report post button.For all that, guess what: My mage did drink from the Well. She believed it was her right to do so. That was not, however, the question posed in the topic, was it? I should have known it was another SJW wagon circling fest with the catchword "justify". The very simple answer to the topic question is this: My Dalish that didn't drink didn't want to drink. I don't need to rationalize it, or justify it to anyone. If that gives you nightmares, good. If you're going to go on a rampage for pixel's rights, great, be sure to post it up publicly, so that those of us that understand that pixels don't have rights can point and laugh at how desperate people have become to be judgmental. Of course, with the latest Starbuck's "controversy", I shouldn't be surprised, eh?

My deepest apologies. Tis' most unfortunate that you've taken it as a personal attack.

[Aren]

There's also the relevant question that if geneology matters, how can you be sure that any given human (or even other race) isn't similarly descended? The elven race isn't 'all the descendants of the ancient elves'- it's really just 'the descendants of the ancient elves who never knocked up with a human.'

 

If geneology of the descendant is the basis for claiming the Well, then any given human with elven ancestry has just as strong a claim- which, considering we still don't know how humans came to being or if they were ever a truly separate race at all, could be every human. Certainly an Orlesian chevalier like Mishell (or whatever his name was) would count. Certainly we have no grounds to argue that Morrigan isn't as much a descendant as the elves, unless you really want to engage in racial purity arguments.

 

On the other hand, if culture is the calling card, then the Dalish don't have a unique claim since their culture is indisputably different, as opined by every actual ancient elf we've come across. Besides the ancient elves themselves, the person with the strongest claim to cultural alignment would be the one closest to, or even raised by, a practitioner of the old culture... say, a daughter of Flemeth. Morrigan may not abide by the Dalish rituals or religion, but she's got a more direct cultural link to the ancient elves than they do- she was taught and raised by Mythal herself (kinda).

Morrigan isn't an elf and is not descended from the ancient elves.

The Dalish elves still retain in their blood the physical properties of the ancient elves as it was proved by Arianne of whom blood activated the light of Arlathan and forced the ancient elven guardian to appear,Morrigan blood can't do the same.

Really i do not understand why some people wish to force this racist portrayal when it is not the case,elves are another race and they have some peculiarity which humans did not possess..

Also according to Sten (and mark that i don't believe in anything that Sten has to say) on Par Vollen which is outside Thedas there are monkeys,that where humans came from(maybe...)still they are a different race than the elves and possess physical different attributes.

All in all given Morrigan wonderful knowledge about elven history in the temple i think that FLemeth didn't' taught to her anything about them and that she just read a couple of books regarding the elven gods......really for what i saw in the temple i consider her knowledgeable as your average Blackwall

and Flemeth is not Mythal at best an inheritor, Mythal probably did not possess anymore her consciousness.

[Akiza]

Because culture isn't simply 'elven stuff' as in the symbols- it's also the behaviors, beliefs, and values. Culture isn't simply practices, but a way to look at the world.

 

Whether Morrigan knows what Flemeth is or not, what Flemeth is exists regardless of that. And Flemeth raised her- and raised her with deliberate intent- and shaped and encouraged her views, her beliefs, and her values. The valid question isn't why would we assume Flemeth passed on elven culture- the question is why wouldn't we assume that? Or even 'how could Flemeth not'- cultural prisms are how one looks at the world, and children (like Morrigan was) learn from their parents.

 

For Flemeth to pass on some other cultural prism, she'd need to be holding it herself. But Flemeth is Mythal, and Mythal is ancient elven- as deserving of the claim as any other- and we have no indication whatsoever that Mythal raised her daughters on ancient forgotten lore and elven shape-shifting magics but arbitrarily decided to adopt non-elven cultural perspective for the duration of her raising them.

 

Ignoring the unsubtantiable claim of how much of Morrigan's knowledge comes from the Dalish book vis-a-vis Flemeth and her grimoire, what's relevant for culture is the viewpoint and not just the history. Flemeth, even if she doesn't worship a single elven god or speak a single Dalish catch phrase, is more ancient-elven than any Dalish we've met so far.

 

Morrigan was not only raised and taught how to think by an elven authority no Dalish clan or book can even approached... she mastered that viewpoint well enough that she's able to practice an elven magic based on mental perspective that the Dalish themselves have largely forgotten, the magic of shape-shifting.

 

Point is, if you find Morrigan incompatible with receiving the Well because she's not a 'true' elf... then the problem probably comes with your definition of true elfyness, rather than with Morrigan.

Flemeth is not Mythal but an inheritor of a fragment of Mythal.

Whilst you can question how much the Dalish know, it's not like Morrigan has access to much better sources, given she's an apostate leaving on the edge of the wilderness. She didn't particularly care or comment about the elves particularly in Origins - ancient magic yes, elven lore and history no - so we can assume she didn't bother researching them until she left the Warden. She's not a dreamer, so can't search the fade for information that is lost, and she has no access to any substantial library until she's in Orlais, which is likely going to be heavily restricted because it's Orlais - it annihilated the Dales and subsequently purged all information about the elves.

imho Morrigan doesn't possess the religious belief of the elves and is not suited for a religious artifact which belong to an era where the elves were intrinsically tied(in good or evil) to their gods,something that the Dalish inherited more,since they are more tied to their own devotion about the Evanuris.

[German Soldier]

 

Point is, if you find Morrigan incompatible with receiving the Well because she's not a 'true' elf... then the problem probably comes with your definition of true elfyness, rather than with Morrigan.

To me a true elf  is someone that:

1)Has pointy ears or at least has elven blood like Fenryhel

2)Possess the blood property of the elves,which is different from the one of humans according to OGB Kieran,To Finn which use Ariane blood to discover the lights of Arlathan,to the crossroads which are slightly different for an elf Inquisitor,is not racism is a fact..

3)Someone who feel to belong to the elves as a race,not just Dalish or ancient elves but also city elves(not those scrap under the Qun like Tallis however,those are irremediably lost),someone who feel to belong to the elven race,not someone like Morrigan who is the n1 misanthrope of the world (after the mad hermit of the Brecilian forest.)

4)Someone who care genuinely about their history and wish o recover it for them like Merril who was not a dalish elf anymore but still a true elf to me,just like those city elves interested in their own old history and that feel to belong also to something different.

 Morrigan on the other hand doesn't show respect to their history because all that she care is the power behind their artifact and relics,typical Tevinter behaviour..

[Heimerdinger]

Simple. The thing is called:

 

"The Well of Sorrows" not "The Well of Unlimited Power and Knowledge".

 

The game makes it clear there is some kind of catch. The real question is are you ready to pay the (obvious) price for that knowledge, regardless of race.

 

A dalish individual may simply not be ready to take that risk just like any other individual from any other race.

[sylvanaerie]

I've waffled on my Dalish elf (canon).  She's not prejudiced (romanced Cullen in fact) so Morrigan's race isn't a factor.  She's not particularly religious (either to Andrastianism or Dalish beliefs).  If she romanced Solas, she'd have responded with "I like my Vallaslin where it is, thank you very much, sir." since it doesn't mean to her what it does to him (or maybe even some of the Dalish themselves).  Morrigan is highly skilled/trained, this is evident in her demeanor enough that my Inquisitor doesn't need to question it.

 

Even so, I've paused to decide.  My Dalish knows this is ancient power.  Knowledge perhaps that's been lost for centuries.  But she's not skilled enough to interpret it.  Plus, when discussing (and I choose every option I can, even the "we need to destroy it" one) it's evident that everyone can feel how "hungry" it is.  There is no telling what will happen to the drinker.  It may even kill them or drive them mad (and Morrigan does seem a little batty right after).  If the PC dies, so does Thedas because she/he is the only one who can stop Corypheus and heal the Veil.  

 

Ultimately, it boils down to Morrigan wants it more.  So my PC lets her have it because despite Kieran, who my Inquisitor would ensure was taken care of if something happened to his mother while in her care, Morrigan is more expendable than the Inquisitor.

[TK514]

Simple.  "I didn't want to."

[Qun00]

I've waffled on my Dalish elf (canon). She's not prejudiced (romanced Cullen in fact) so Morrigan's race isn't a factor. She's not particularly religious (either to Andrastianism or Dalish beliefs). If she romanced Solas, she'd have responded with "I like my Vallaslin where it is, thank you very much, sir." since it doesn't mean to her what it does to him (or maybe even some of the Dalish themselves). Morrigan is highly skilled/trained, this is evident in her demeanor enough that my Inquisitor doesn't need to question it.

Even so, I've paused to decide. My Dalish knows this is ancient power. Knowledge perhaps that's been lost for centuries. But she's not skilled enough to interpret it. Plus, when discussing (and I choose every option I can, even the "we need to destroy it" one) it's evident that everyone can feel how "hungry" it is. There is no telling what will happen to the drinker. It may even kill them or drive them mad (and Morrigan does seem a little batty right after). If the PC dies, so does Thedas because she/he is the only one who can stop Corypheus and heal the Veil.

Ultimately, it boils down to Morrigan wants it more. So my PC lets her have it because despite Kieran, who my Inquisitor would ensure was taken care of if something happened to his mother while in her care, Morrigan is more expendable than the Inquisitor.

From what I remember, your character is very much like yourself then.

But it is interesting how it comes down to one's views concerning Morrigan. Perhaps nothing is lost by letting her have it since her goal is not so different from what the Dalish want. That is, to preserve what has been forgotten.

[nightscrawl]

If the PC dies, so does Thedas because she/he is the only one who can stop Corypheus and heal the Veil.

OH! Even though I never drink, I somehow never considered this in my decision making. You've actually added an additional thing for me, so thanks for that .

[ComedicSociopathy]

Simple.  "I didn't want to."

 

Best reason I've seen on this thread. 

[nightscrawl]

Best reason I've seen on this thread.

While I agree (and said so earlier in the thread), and of course people can RP however they want, it just seems like kind of a weak "reason," if it can even be called that. There is so much stuff going on; in the temple itself and during that mission, with the Inquisitor, with the world at large, that that kind of response just makes makes me want to say, "Er... really? Well, why, though?" Did you wake up on the wrong side of the tent that morning? Are you tired or hungry and want the mission to end so you can get back and forget about all this nonsense? If your character is the type of person to be completely apathetic about everything, then I can understand a bit more, but then one has to wonder what their motivation is behind anything they do. Are they only there because there is no where else to be, so "why the f not?" (Which would be hilarious.)

[TK514]

While I agree (and said so earlier in the thread), and of course people can RP however they want, it just seems like kind of a weak "reason," if it can even be called that. There is so much stuff going on; in the temple itself and during that mission, with the Inquisitor, with the world at large, that that kind of response just makes makes me want to say, "Er... really? Well, why, though?" Did you wake up on the wrong side of the tent that morning? Are you tired or hungry and want the mission to end so you can get back and forget about all this nonsense? If your character is the type of person to be completely apathetic about everything, then I can understand a bit more, but then one has to wonder what their motivation is behind anything they do. Are they only there because there is no where else to be, so "why the f not?" (Which would be hilarious.)

The beauty of it.  As you demonstrated, you can ascribe almost any motivation to it, or none at all.  It might be whim.  Who knows?  Maybe the elf in question is very particular about what they drink.  Water must be thrice boiled and strained through the finest Antivan silks before it is considered sufficiently pure, and who knows what might be growing in some stagnant thousand year old outdoor tub?  Goodness, it might give you magical dysentery.

[ComedicSociopathy]

The beauty of it.  As you demonstrated, you can ascribe almost any motivation to it, or none at all.  It might be whim.  Who knows?  Maybe the elf in question is very particular about what they drink.  Water must be thrice boiled and strained through the finest Antivan silks before it is considered sufficiently pure, and who knows what might be growing in some stagnant thousand year old outdoor tub?  Goodness, it might give you magical dysentery.

 

Chaotic Neutral and True Neutral thought at its finest. 

[Qun00]

^ Well I think the general problem with such discussions is that there are some people who just don't get (or at least pretend that they don't) that, because of role play, a PC can have whatever reasons they want -- including, but not limited to, "I just don't f'n feel like it," -- for doing or not doing something, regardless of whatever it is.

I place certain limitations on what I allow to affect my roleplay choices , such as trying to not let meta knowledge influence my decisions, sticking with my character's backstory as a source of motivation, and not veering too far away from the limited boundaries Bioware set with whatever origin story. But of course that doesn't apply to everyone, and if they want to come up with some bizarre, outlandish thing that doesn't actually make sense (to me) within the confines of the Dragon Age universe, I don't really care, it's their game.

But such discussions can certainly be held on an intellectual level without devolving into attacks that some player is "doing it wrong," or, "doesn't know how to elf," or some other thing. (No, I'm not accusing anyone of saying those things, they are hypothetical.) Some of the better discussions I've participated in on these forums have led me to think, "Oh, I never thought of it that way," especially if some nugget of information was revealed of which I was previously ignorant.

What can I say, the subject of elvenkind can strike at people's fragile sensibilities like none other.

Talk of imaginary attacks on their player experience pops up and drama ensues.

As for me, I'm planning a new Dalish playthrough where my Inquisitor will let Morrigan drink. But of course, I won't be satisfied with that decision without enough reasons that would erase any doubt.

Hence why it is useful to get a different perspective from several people who've made that call.

[robertthebard]

What can I say, the subject of elvenkind can strike at people's fragile sensibilities like none other.

Talk of imaginary attacks on their player experience pops up and drama ensues.

As for me, I'm planning a new Dalish playthrough where my Inquisitor will let Morrigan drink. But of course, I won't be satisfied with that decision without enough reasons that would erase any doubt.

Hence why it is useful to get a different perspective from several people who've made that call.

So I have to ask: Why use a catch word like "justify" in your title, and then come back with "you're not allowed to claim it's not your heritage", if you're just looking for different perspectives?

[Qun00]

So I have to ask: Why use a catch word like "justify" in your title, and then come back with "you're not allowed to claim it's not your heritage", if you're just looking for different perspectives?

Because I just didn't consider the fact that the word is often meant as " excusing someone's negative actions". I suppose I should've prevented this misunderstanding by going with "explain" instead.

Honestly, it doesn't matter if someone likes playing a Dalish elf who doesn't give a damn about the past and tradition or one who does but believes in a different definition of what that means.

I think the problem is that when you discuss about the Dalish, concepts like "true elvhen" inevitably come up because their culture revolves around pursuing that ideal. And sometimes the dilemma is "how is a traditional Dalish elf expected to handle issues related to this" as it was the case here.

It is true that such things can limit your roleplay but some people like playing by those rules. That's fine too. The debate on these different views isn't necessarily done to the exclusion or condemnation of each other. Talking about it doesn't imply that.

Going back to the thread, I'm planning to romance Solas for the first time and getting a Greatly Disapproves twice (allying with the Grey Wardens and drinking from the Well) wouldn't be good.

[Gervaise]

I was checking out some of my old saves and was reminded of another reason not to drink if you have Cole in your party.   He sort of hits the nail on the head of exactly what you are getting yourself into if you drink by saying how there will be all those voices in your head and you really don't want that.   It is really a sort of benign possession but with a rather less than benign geas attached.     What if those spirits looked upon you with the same contempt that Abelas does: "You are not of my People".    What if they kill you or blow your mind?    What if they were to prevent you from stopping Corypheus?     This is why I think that even Morrigan is being genuine when she says it is not worth you taking the risk.

 

Thinking back to DA2 you will recall that Merrill was the only one who was fanatically attached to the idea of recovering the past no matter what.    Marethari and the rest of the clan were of the opinion that recovering the past wasn't worth risking possession for, which they recognised was one of the principle dangers of using blood magic to try and repair the mirror.    So just because the Dalish have a general desire to recover the past doesn't necessarily mean they would be willing to risk all simply to do so, particularly when every other person is advising them against it, no matter what their general attitude to magic is.   

 

Also it does make you think twice when you know that Corypheus, the guy who is mad enough to attempt an second assault on the Black City, is not willing to risk drinking the well himself.    It is a very big temptation to my Dalish but ultimately with the majority of them, common sense prevails, and they don't drink.

[Bad King]

My Lavellan let Morrigan drink.

 

Abelas made it clear that the Dalish were not "his people." So the message was clear that the well is not the heritage of the Dalish. 

 

One grumpy old dude's opinion shouldn't dictate objectively that the well isn't the heritage of the Dalish.

[Illegitimus]

Excuse me: The question wasn't why I didn't let your Dalish drink from the Well, but why I didn't let mine. Here's the thing, we're not. We're the descendants of slaves. Everything we thought we knew was wrong, we're no more tied to Elvhen, than we are to dragons. 

 

Well that's not factually accurate.  The Dalish are in fact the genetic descendents of inhabitants of the inhabitants of that old empire.  The same can not be said of dragons.  Probably they're mostly the descendants of the lowest class there but then that would have been the vast majority of the empire's subjects and the history of it is the prehistory of the Dalish.