Does anyone else wish the Inquisition could refuse to use Tranquil?

 Are they completely devoid of emotions, or are they just incapable of expressing them? In Origins, there is a tranquil in the circle that states that he is scared.

They seem to be wihtout emotions as we recognize them.  But that does not mean they lack free will, just that they are beings of logic rather than creativity.  They prefer to avoid pain and death just like anyone else.

Forgive me, but "this one institution is complete shit" doesn't strike me as a compelling argument for Tranquility.


A contradiction in terms. A being of pure logic would only be able to perform analysis, not have preferences; a computer doesn't prefer to not overheat or short out, even if those make it stop working. Tranquil do have emotions, just incredibly suppressed ones.

This is exactly my idea about Thedas being just a more stable Fade creation, with stable "rules" for objects and forces (physics, chemistry, biology), and every living creature basically a fade being, including animals, insects and plants. So, if this is the case, why would Solas need to destroy Thedas in the first place, if a new realm can be created for his people? Since based on your idea, he needs to re-create also living ecosystems in Thedas? Why not leave the mess of Thedas to sort itself out, and create a perfect realm for the ancient elves? I was thinking about many alternatives concerning Solas`s plan, and something similar crossed my mind, but I rejected it as inconsistent with Solas`s intention to restore everything as was before. If he wasn`t the one who created Thedas and all life-forms inhabiting it, it`s a bit strange to think that now Solas knows how to do this. IF he knows how to create life, creating non-life things from Fade energy is much simpler. So, knowing how to create an entire realm he still prefers to destroy all life on Thedas for his plan only because it suits him. He is not sadistic, and does not do cruel actions for fun. When he can simply create an all new perfect realm.


Anyway, this is way out of the topic of this thread.

Maintain medical correspondence, you dingbats.


No they won't. Because logic can't impart preference. The only way this would work is if the Tranquil have been programmed to act in certain ways... which would officially mean that they have no sapience.

Emotions are not reduced only to cognitive states of mind, like love, friendship, or external behaviors. Unless Bioware stated specifically that DA beings have completely different kind of emotions like us, we can assume that what we know about emotions and emotional systems also applies to the DA universe.
Our emotional system is the one protecting us from danger - thus basic emotions like fear and fury associated with reactions as flee or fight. These are generated by a parallel analysis of the external events, with the outcome only like: "there is danger?" , "or is this dangerous?"

Since Tranquil are able to recognize danger, they can feel some emotions, meaning that the basic emotional processing is taking place. But they cannot express emotional behavior. Just like a heavily sedated depressive person - which I think it was the model used by Bioware for Tranquil mages.

It's not just against possession though, but against mages who are deemed unwilling to control their power responsibly. If nothing else, we can consider keeping the rite for individuals who are intentionally dangerous and have committed heinous crimes (basically have the Rite be a substitute for an execution).

Further, in Thedas's current state, the only way to make a mage safer from possession (aside from training that is) is the Rite of Tranquility that essentially renders them invisible to demons. Unless an actual alternative method is found, its either the Rite or having to deal with a mage that has a high probability of turning into an abomination--which will likely cost a lot more lives in addition to the turned mage.

I'm curious, what about mages who volunteer to undergo tranquility? Would they be included in such a ban?

But is the Harrowing comparable to "general" possession attempts? I was under the impression that the lyrium ritual helped 'reveal' more of the mage's psyche to the fade so a demon can more easily find the mage and utilize the mage's thoughts/memories. You would think that if this was not the case, apprentices would have possession attempts a lot more often before their Harrowing comes to pass.

But that aside, I agree that the purpose of the Harrowing is primarily to determine if they can withstand possession. That being said I do find myself wondering if it has to end in success or death all the time. There are no second chances with it, either your good enough or you are skewered. Unfortunately I have but a few ideas that would remedy it.

Then we make them stronger.

That's great in theory, but mage skill isn't universal. Just as every student can't be a scholar or every person a solider, not every mage will be able to repel demons. And then what? What do you do with the mages who just can't hack it?

Cole is just one being, and even if you make him a Spirit again, he can't possibly be there for everyone indefinitely. Not to mention the process could affect everyone differently, especially mages versus normals.




Way to move the goal posts  . Technology does not change basic human nature; we're still just as selfish, short sighted, paranoid and violent as we ever were. Of course we should always drive to improve, but it is a never ending battle. The darker aspects of humanity will always be there, waiting. To say otherwise is dishonest. And before anyone equates the simple depiction and examination of such problems with somehow endorsing them, I would counter that you cannot fight evil without understanding it.

Oh, and the side effects of that greater life expectancy and standard of living you conveniently forgot? Overpopulation, vastly diminished resources, and global warming, to name a few. This isn't cynicism, but reality. You can't get something for nothing, and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

We have all known since Origins that Dragon Age is a dark, adult fantasy with complex and deeply flawed characters with no easy answers. You can't pick up A Song of Ice an Fire and whine that it isn't Shannara. Magic, Elves Dragons, these things are ultimately metaphoric window dressing for emotional truth. Turning the cure for Tranquility, restoring the Vale and other such plots into convenient deus ex machinas to wave away all Thedas' problems with absolutely no negative consequences, just seems like a betrayal David Gaider and company's original vision. And no, this isn't about me having some kind of "Grimdark fetish", but maintaining fidelity to the series' tone and creator intent. I find all those dark fics of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic or Harry Potter equally ridiculous.

I realize one of the ultimate aims of fantasy is to explore worlds we would like to live in, and such tales are worthwhile. But this world was created with hard emotional truths to explore to balance out the wish fulfillment. Throwing away logic, lore, and in-universe consequence just to give everyone a "Mega Happy Ending" feels like lying to me, and I personally prefer the truth.