tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post1039415229594993877..comments2024-03-16T16:50:51.684-07:00Comments on Dumped, Drunk and Dalish: TEVINTER NIGHTS Analysis: The Horror of HormakAngela D. Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11669645527339566514noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-53179469026263754402022-06-02T15:33:51.684-07:002022-06-02T15:33:51.684-07:00Also also also also, don't forget that the sto...Also also also also, don't forget that the story of the attack on Dirthamen's mountain city has some interesting overlap with the battle between Mythal and Andruil that took place at the base of a mountain, both conflicts lasting three days and three nights. I would bet they're two different retellings of the same battle, lost to time. And since the lore strongly suggests that Dirthamen disappeared before Fen'Harel trapped the Creators and the Forgotten Ones and raised the veil... it begs the question of what exactly happened to Dirthamen and how his mountain city, fallen to ruin, his followers reduced to "we few" per the first stanza for the Lost Temple of Dirthamen, and how that ties into what was going on with the monstermaking.Sandetigerrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-55040202616794932982022-06-02T14:34:52.066-07:002022-06-02T14:34:52.066-07:00Also, omg, sorry for double commenting, but anothe...Also, omg, sorry for double commenting, but another thing I was thinking about was the Codex entry for the lost temple of Dirthamen, and specifically the stanzas, that talk about the darkness, the shadow, secrets, etc-- but specifically the 5th stanza: <br /><br />"The Highest One promises safety.<br />I shall protect our ancient secrets, he claims<br />All that Dirthamen once granted us will be safe.<br />But it is our blood he seeks<br />A sacrifice dark and unholy<br />A prison of evil to keep us in and all else out."<br /><br />I think this ties in neatly with your analysis.Sandetigerrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-13391645681742197582022-06-02T14:03:20.080-07:002022-06-02T14:03:20.080-07:00First of all, I really enjoyed reading this, thank...First of all, I really enjoyed reading this, thank you! Second of all, I'm surprised you didn't tie in a little more of the lore re: Dirthamen and his mountain city, the one that was attacked by a high dragon. The Dalish story of the creation of the Varterral as a guardian of the fallen mountain city ties in really well with this imo.Sandetigerrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-5584018414364188452021-07-09T07:22:49.139-07:002021-07-09T07:22:49.139-07:00I really loved reading this! At the time that I wa...I really loved reading this! At the time that I was reading the story I was mostly thinking, 'Oh NO what does this mean for what our beloved characters will be dealing with in DA4, this is TERRIFYING'. I knew there were lore things I wasn't picking up on, and this really was a great deep dive! I absolutely adored the horror aspect of this story because I *love* horror, but boy oh boy things just keep getting worse for Thedas. <br /><br />Definitely gonna keep checking out your thoughts on the stories as I finish reading them :3Captain-Savvyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03224076478022571683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-16485204295213919572020-09-13T18:56:45.992-07:002020-09-13T18:56:45.992-07:00Chanced upon this after my first readthrough of Ho...Chanced upon this after my first readthrough of Hormak. I simply wanted to remark that this was a delight and I will be checking out your other work. Thank you!Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862856937317461604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-69918621294660282842020-07-26T08:58:29.084-07:002020-07-26T08:58:29.084-07:00Fascinating read, thank you for all the energy you...Fascinating read, thank you for all the energy you put into this! <br /><br />One thing I also found fascinating was that the darkspawn that were changed appeared to be under the control of something other than the taint (under the control of Ghilan'nain then?). That this new power could override the taint / the song inside of them. The only other time that appeared possible was through the Architects use of warden blood / immunity. What it hints at, know not, but if the elves could create this thing then the blight might as well have been created by them. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14768476570631255595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-36123264319340996952020-06-09T10:34:41.161-07:002020-06-09T10:34:41.161-07:00Feel free to quote me. There does seem to be a fe...Feel free to quote me. There does seem to be a feel of symmetry about the two races. Dwarves dig deeper, Elves build higher. Dwarves can't use magic, Elves can't fully live without it. The Dwarves are cut off from their gods just like the Elves are, although that one doesn't really work if you acknowledge the Evanuris as just powerful mortals. Maybe there is some counterpart to the Titans that we're not aware of (Highest Dragons?).<br /><br />I suspect that if you go far enough in either direction, you end up at the same place. It feels right to me that the deepest deep roads and the "highest" fade routes end up in the same place, probably the Black City.Painehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06702267896642177236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-31659784801509710882020-06-09T02:33:34.262-07:002020-06-09T02:33:34.262-07:00There isn't a ton of clear evidence on this ei...There isn't a ton of clear evidence on this either way (re: dwarves and elves) so it is TOTALLY possible I am misreading this and I'm sure I'll get massively proven wrong when the lore comes out! <br /><br />I just thought it was interesting to examine the idea of the dwarves (whether created by the elves, or by the Titans -- a VERY realistic possibility) as invented slaves who were freed but paid a price (no dreams) in order to remain free.<br /><br />You offer a wonderful division -- between elves/evanuris/dreams and dwarves/titans/stone, and if I discuss this further, I hope it's okay if I quote you.<br /><br />Meanwhile, thank you for reading and commenting! Please continue to do so!Angela D. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669645527339566514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-69807746722613063052020-06-09T02:31:07.585-07:002020-06-09T02:31:07.585-07:00Thanks so much for reading! It means a lot. I hope...Thanks so much for reading! It means a lot. I hope you will continue to check out my posts and offer your own reactions.Angela D. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669645527339566514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-48266596038583534162020-06-09T02:30:20.212-07:002020-06-09T02:30:20.212-07:00LadyIolanthe, I love this idea. Oh, especially if ...LadyIolanthe, I love this idea. Oh, especially if what he saved were whales (my favorite creatures in creation in the real world)! <br /><br />I do like that Ghilan'nain is complex and not easily defined. She created monsters but also pure beautiful animals too (like the halla, and I hate that she may have corrupted her own creations there too). <br />Angela D. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669645527339566514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-56280871131229682522020-06-02T08:05:06.622-07:002020-06-02T08:05:06.622-07:00I think so too. According to a codex they found th...I think so too. According to a codex they found their hive mind like "not-living" and thought killing them would be a mercyNyrienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-37332853246223856962020-05-31T02:44:02.281-07:002020-05-31T02:44:02.281-07:00I think Solas's path is that of a classic vill...I think Solas's path is that of a classic villain/hero. He's got to die. I hate the idea so I hope I'm wrong. But I think he cannot survive. (sniffle)Angela D. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669645527339566514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-34314259788041548142020-05-27T14:24:53.330-07:002020-05-27T14:24:53.330-07:00The hallas becoming more creepy the deeper in they...The hallas becoming more creepy the deeper in they go make me think of those we see in paintings in the game. Theres hints of them having more than 4 legs on the large frescos in emeral graves. But in the Lost Temple of Dirthnamen that halla clearly has six legs, making it insectoid (and also wings). pretty scary thing IMO. And no surprise its found in the temple of the god of secretsThaalianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-26990673778511735662020-05-23T08:11:26.013-07:002020-05-23T08:11:26.013-07:00Is there other evidence that the dwarves were orig...Is there other evidence that the dwarves were originally created by the elves? I always thought of the ancient dwarves as a creation/aspect of the Titans that were eventually severed from their hivemind (maybe by the elves). I think there might be a fundamental duality to Thedas, with Titans/dwarves/Stone as one side and Dragons/elves/Fade as the other.Painehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06702267896642177236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-12219510941987011452020-05-22T19:56:41.643-07:002020-05-22T19:56:41.643-07:00Depending on what the "Giants of the Sea"...Depending on what the "Giants of the Sea" actually are, Solas may have stopped Ghilan'nain from killing them because he was fond of them for their wisdom and intelligence, which are clearly traits he admires. I sometimes wonder if the creatures that were "too well-wrought" were whales. If Ghilan'nain could make pretty halla she could probably also make majestic whales, at least unti; she decided that creepy chimerical monsters were her new thing. ;Dladyiolanthehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805659465078685600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-30284386431579915962020-05-16T20:04:25.453-07:002020-05-16T20:04:25.453-07:00Loki was a Jotünn. And if you take a closer look a...Loki was a Jotünn. And if you take a closer look at the mythology, his acts were more the acts of an asshole rather than a trickster.<br /><br />Solas acts more like the Athabascan raven or Greek myth's Prometheus. Technically a god but really working for the people.<br /><br />Loki's just a dick.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05463730613940465385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-37486542744797219412020-05-14T02:46:47.072-07:002020-05-14T02:46:47.072-07:00Interesting post with lots of points I hadn't ...Interesting post with lots of points I hadn't picked up on! Will definitely check out others you've written on these stories from the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-66556218258124820522020-05-13T15:22:18.922-07:002020-05-13T15:22:18.922-07:00I just wanted to take the time and thank you for t...I just wanted to take the time and thank you for the time and effort that you put into your articles. I've been a casual reader of your work during quarantine and I really enjoy your content! <br /><br />I have one (or two) question(s) for you if you don't mind answering! <br />In one of your blogs about Solas you mentioned that you thought he'd probably end up dying in Dragon Age 4. After reading Tevinter Nights, do you still think that's the most likely scenario? Do you perhaps have something else in mind? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-1878515086880009402020-05-13T13:45:00.672-07:002020-05-13T13:45:00.672-07:00I meant that, to me at least, the choice of him be...I meant that, to me at least, the choice of him being with her until he wasn't was obvious. Not that his reasons were. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. The Shelter in Place has clearly made my ability to communicate with others a bit rusty. <br /><br />I guess I look at this from a more purely mythological standpoint. Norse myth is the most obvious comparison to me, as is the comparison to Loki. Loki was an outsider to some extent, but he was fully considered to be one of the Aesir as well. Solas has always read to me as someone who was born into it, but always felt like a changeling. Perhaps that's me reading my own familial position into it. He was born as one of them, but like a nerd in a family of jocks, he just didn't quite feel like one. If that makes sense. Freya'sChyldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245303391811152183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-72441487599806881952020-05-13T10:55:46.664-07:002020-05-13T10:55:46.664-07:00Thanks for reading! I'm not sure I'd agree...Thanks for reading! I'm not sure I'd agree with you that Solas's reasons were 'obvious', since there's certainly a lot of room for interpretation there.<br /><br />However, I am totally intrigued by the idea that he supported Ghilan'nain earlier on, and it's certainly possible! And would make for pretty incredible drama.<br /><br />We're also actually on the same side as far as the Evanuris and Solas in some ways, so I hope you will check out earlier Solas posts. For me, intrinsic to Solas is this feeling that he was part of a family, of a group of beloved trusted people, who warped in front of his eyes into slavemasters and villains. I have no trouble believing that he loved them dearly early on, and perhaps for millennia.<br /><br />So I feel like his "I was Solas first," is simply the plain truth. He became Fen'Harel when he decided to rebel and act out against those he loved, freeing slaves and stopping violence. The fact that he was branded as Fen'Harel was supposed to be a slur, but instead (in a great PR move) he adopted it with pride, and used it to fight his former friends and family in the Evanuris.<br /><br />I differ from you. I think he WAS always an outsider, a spirit brought into the fold by Mythal. I think he may have been lulled by decadence for awhile (perhaps of the flesh and of life itself), but at some point he couldn't ignore the corruption and death and rebelled, using his talent for mischief against them all. First with Mythal, then a break (but not with hatred) and then in vengeance against her killers.<br /><br />So that's my take. Anyway, sorry for the wall of text. Thanks for reading, and hope it helps! Angela D. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669645527339566514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8089234714060648358.post-37265111031573250132020-05-13T09:46:50.483-07:002020-05-13T09:46:50.483-07:00You missed an an obvious implication of why Solas ...You missed an an obvious implication of why Solas stopped Ghilan'nain from killing all the sea monsters... He was on her side. He knew that it would upset her later, so he stopped. It wasn't until they took a step too far that he opposed them. Rather like Cullen and Meredith, he was with her until he wasn't. I find the idea of Solas not fighting against the Evanuris until the last minute much more intriguing. <br /><br />He says that he was Solas first, then became Fen'Harel. Was that because he was one of them until they killed Mythal and then became the Trickster? I simply don't think he was always the crusader for the downtrodden. That's what he became. I also think that after the long sleep, he becomes more of the former than the latter.Freya'sChyldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245303391811152183noreply@blogger.com