Questa discussione ha avuto 6 risposte

[Deadly dwarf]

Starting in Origns, blood magic always seems to be evil, always black in a Dragon Age universe that sees most things in shades of grey.  The Grey Warden mage Avernus seems to exemplify that with his "unethical experiments."

 

For the most part, that seems to be the case in DA2 where half of all mages seem to be blood mages who turn into abominations.

 

But then we have Merrill, who is so sweet and innocent, even Isabela can't bear to take advantage of her.  Her intention of reclaiming her ancient elven heritage by fixing the corrupt eluvian is noble, but is her use of blood magic to achieve this end ethical?  Would she have been able to fix the eluvian without being possessed had her keeper not released the demon into herself first?

 

My inclination is to say no.  In the episode where you go into the fade to save Faynriel, I took Merrill with me and she succumbed to the influence she had previously never engaged.  That, to me, indicates her blood magic made her vulnerable to possession though, somehow, she does manage to come back to you unpossessed when you emerge from the Fade.  I also think this episode -- Merrill's misadventures in the Fade -- should make it possible to dissuade Merrill from attempting to deal with the trapped demon after failing to fix the eluvian without taking a massive hit to friendship.

 

Any thoughts?  My apologies if this topic has been done to death previously.

[Fylimar]

It would have been great, if you could use that episode in the fade to bring Merrills dangerous tampering with blood magic up again, without massive approval loss. I guess, it's a bit like Dorian said in DAI: It's not dangerous or unethical by itself, if one is only using own blood and stay away of demons and so on. But the problem is, that there is always a reason for more and you are either starting to hurt people or making dangerous deals with demons. And since there is probably a reason to start with blood magic in the first place  - in Merrills case the fixing of the Eluvhian, in Tahrones case more power in the fight against templars ... -, there is always the danger of escalating. Like it did in Merrills case.

So yes, I think, Blood Magic is always dangerous and always leads to evil things. I don't think, that Merrill is evil, but her blood magic did couse a lot of grief among her clan.

[Vit246]

In that Faynriel Quest, EVERY companion failed the willpower check because the plot demanded it. Mind Control (which is Bioware's favorite lazy plot device) made them do things they wouldn't normally do. I don't use that quest as a indication of much of anything.

As for Merrill, my memory might be hazy, but the only time she actually used blood magic was to cleanse the Eluvian probably using her own blood because she didn't have the luxury of lyrium. The blood magic itself didn't cause grief among her clan, it was Marethari who poisoned the clan's minds against Merrill, by claiming that fixing the Eluvian would somehow bring back the Taint or release a demon. Pol died because he was stupid as hell and after running into Merrill, he chose to run the other way into the arms of that giant monster. And Marethari herself released the demon from its functioning prison. Merrill didn't do that. And its not like Merrill had any intention of releasing it. She was going there just to talk to the damn thing. She did it before years ago without "succumbing" to anything. And in case anything went wrong, she brought Hawke's merry band for backup.

[Deadly dwarf]

And Marethari herself released the demon from its functioning prison. Merrill didn't do that. And its not like Merrill had any intention of releasing it. She was going there just to talk to the damn thing. She did it before years ago without "succumbing" to anything. And in case anything went wrong, she brought Hawke's merry band for backup.

 

And therein lies the continuing questions....would the Demon let Merrill get away with just talking to it?  I assume the Demon would've been devious and try to trick Merrill.  Once it possess the keeper, the demon showed itself to be malevolent.  Would Merrill have been able to resist? 

[Vit246]

*shrug* Probably. She did bring backup for morale support and shoulder angels. She resisted the first time years ago when she apparently made a deal, got blood magic, and never looked back since apparently.

But we'll never know now.

[springacres]

In that Faynriel Quest, EVERY companion failed the willpower check because the plot demanded it. Mind Control (which is Bioware's favorite lazy plot device) made them do things they wouldn't normally do. I don't use that quest as a indication of much of anything.

OT for this thread, but I use that quest and its aftermath as a way to further develop Hawke's relationship with their companions, because their reactions to being possessed even temporarily tell you a lot about them.

 

To make this T (and note I'm operating on about 5 hours of sleep here, so this may not make much sense) I think Merrill could have resisted Audacity in Act 3, but how long would that have lasted?  What would have happened the next time she needed a spirit's help to do something that was beyond her powers?  (I feel like I'm channeling Fenris here, with his line about "how many temptations can you expect a man to face before he gives in?")

[teh DRUMPf!!]

In that Faynriel Quest, EVERY companion failed the willpower check because the plot demanded it. Mind Control (which is Bioware's favorite lazy plot device) made them do things they wouldn't normally do. I don't use that quest as a indication of much of anything.

 

I think they had plenty of willpower, to choose their own interests over the mission.

 

You think Fenris would not sell the soul of a mage to a demon for power to best his masters? Merrill for the power to restore something for her people?

 

Their decision is no different than any Hawke allying with Torpor.