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Post by Iddy on May 1, 2023 21:47:42 GMT
The title, "The Missing", clearly refers to all the times these two keep missing Solas, and missing the clues that they are never going to catch him this way. And the whole thing ends with a "Well, dang." On the bright side, it is nice to have a competent antagonist for once.
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Post by Iddy on May 1, 2023 15:08:41 GMT
Hrungr Text of the poor quality Apple Missing #4 comic preview panels. a transcription - Lace: “With what? The rancid smell of overflowing sewers? The vomit of a thousand drunks?”
Lace: “We’re a long way from home, Varric. And we shouldn’t get too comfortable.”
Varric: “Aren’t you just a barrel of laughs today? In fact, you’ve been miserable ever since we left Arlathan. What’s going on, Harding?”
Lace: “Miserable, it it?”
Varric: “Well, quiet, then. Not yourself. You know what I mean.”
Lace: “And you know what’s going on, Varric. All that time we wasted laying a so-called trap for a Venatori assassin who never even showed up. We’ve lost precious days. Time we should have spent picking up Solas’s trail. We could have been here in Minrathous days ago.”
Varric: “So you’ve said. Repeatedly. But it has to mean something, doesn’t it? First the Venatori are in the Deep Roads, then they’re in Vyrantium, and Arlathan. It’s clearly no coincidence.”
Lace: “What does it matter? It’s just a distraction. If they’re trying to stop us from getting to Solas, it’s working.”
Varric: “But what if they’re not trying to stop us? If they wanted to kill us, they’d have made their move by now. Instead, it’s like they’ve been looking out for us. Watching our backs. The dead ‘spawn in the Deep Roads. Saving me from the leopard in the forest…”
Lace: “So now you think they’re our secret bodyguards?”
Varric: “No. But what if it’s all linked? To Solas. Somehow.”
Lace: “Then that’s even more reason to focus on finding him. Not that we even have a plan for what happens when we do.”
Varric: “I’m going to talk to him, tell him –”
Lace: “And what if talking’s not enough? What then?”
Varric: “What are you suggesting?”
Lace: “Right now? That we need some help.”
Varric: “All right. That I can do. There’s a woman here in Minrathous…”
Varric: “An investigator by the name of Neve Gallus. If anyone knows if Solas has been here, she will…”
Varric: “Neve!”
Neve Gallus: “If it isn’t Viscount Tethras of Kirkwall.”
Varric: “I’ve warned you about that before. Varric. Please.”
Neve: “Whatever it is you want, Varric, it must be important.”
Varric: “What makes you say that?”
Neve: “You’ve only been in Minrathous five minutes. And now here you are.”
Lace: “But… how did you know that?”
Neve: “I’m an investigator. It pays to have eyes and ears on the city gates.”
Varric: “See. I told you she was a good detective. If anyone can help us find Solas, she can.”
Neve: “Solas. Now there’s a name I’m tired of hearing lately. You’d better sit down.”
Lace: “You’ve heard of Solas, here, in Minrathous?”
Neve: “Your friend is quite intense.”
Varric: “It’s been a long road to get here, Neve, and our trail has gone cold. We need to find Solas. Soon. If you know something, don’t be shy.”
Neve: “An elf, right?”
Varric: “Right.”
Neve: “He’s been here causing trouble. Word is, he attacked a bunch of Venatori sites in the city and stole some artifacts from them. Pissed them off good and proper.”
Lace: “That explains a lot…”
Varric: “No wonder the Venatori are showing an interest.”
Neve: “There’s more. It seems your friend freed a group of elven slaves while he was at it.”
Varric: “Venatori slaves.”
Neve: “Precisely. So now we’ve got a bunch of rebellious elves causing trouble throughout the city, presumably in the name of the one who freed them… And we have a load of angry Venatori hell-bent on revenge.”
Neve: “So, are you sure you want to go getting mixed up in the middle of it all?”
Lace: “Causing trouble in Minrathous is just the beginning. He’s going to do much worse unless we stop him.”
Varric: “We don’t know that. Not yet. That’s why we need to find him.”
Lace: “Varric, Solas clearly doesn’t want to be found. He’s already tried to warn us off. And now he’s stirring up trouble with the Venatori. You need to prepare yourself–the only way to stop him now might be with an arrow.”
Varric: “The Venatori deserve everything they get. And slaves should be freed. Always. What it tells me is there might still be hope for Solas yet. I’ll knock some sense into the fool. When we find him. Speaking of which… You’ll be well compensated, Neve, if you can offer any leads?”
Neve: “I can do better than that, Varric, for an old friend… …I can take you to see some of the escaped slaves. Some people I work with, the Shadow Dragons, have been trying to help them. I have word on where some of them have been trying to source food.”
Lace: “And if they turn out to be working with Solas?”
Neve: “Then you’ll be one step closer to finding him.”
Lace: “Varric? What is it?”
Varric: “Oh, just our unwanted companion, snooping around again.”
Lace: “Then the sooner we get to the bottom of this…”
Lace: “…the better.”
Varric: “This looks like a rough sort of place for a meeting.”
Neve: “It is. But this is where some of the freed slaves have been coming to find food. Courtesy of a sympathetic kitchen maid, who saves up the scraps and leaves them, out around the back.”
Lace: “How do you know all this?”
Neve: “The Shadow Dragons make it their business to help those in need. And I make it my business to help them. Now–here we are…”
Elf lady: “Run!”
Varric: “No! Don’t… run. ((sigh)) One each, Harding?”
Lace: “You got it!”
Varric: “I’ll try to head her off the other way.”
Neve: “Aren’t you going to run after him?”
Lace: “No need.”
Elf dude: “((huff))” (harding shoots an arrow and cuts a rope above on which sheets where hung)
Elf dude: “Oomph!” (here he's fallen down because a sheet that was hung up got knocked down on him) “No. Please. I don’t want to go back. Don’t make me go back.”
Neve: “We’re not with the Venatori. Or the authorities. We’re not going to hurt you.”
Lace: “We just need a little information.”
Varric: “((huff)) She got away.”
Lace: “You’re getting slow, your Viscountship…”
Elf dude: “How do I know I can trust you?”
Neve: “I’m friends with the Shadow Dragons. We’re trying to help anyone held as slaves in Minrathous. We want to help you now.”
Elf dude: “Yes… but…”
Lace: “Then you’ll tell us what we need to know?”
Varric: “There’s coin in it for you. Enough for a proper meal. For you and your friend back there.”
Elf dude: “All right. What do you want to know?”
Lace: “We want to know about the person you’ve been working for.”
Varric: “We want to know where to find Solas.”
Elf dude: “Solas? You think I’m working with him?”
Varric: “Well, aren’t you?”
Elf dude: “Of course not. Solas was here, and he helped us. More than any Shadow Dragons. More than the authorities. He freed us from those Venatori bastards.”
Varric: “But why? What did he get out of it? Surely, he’d want something in return.”
Elf dude: “No. Nothing. When he attacked the Venatori, he saw what they had done to us–his kin–and he did the only decent thing. He set us free.”
Lace: “So where is he now?”
Elf dude: “He’s leaving Minrathous. Via the canals. If you go now, you might still be able to catch up with him.”
Varric: “Then we should go. Now.” I do enjoy how focused Lace is. I would put her in charge of this whole mission. That said, I have to agree with Varric. It's weird. This isn't the laidback scout we know.
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Post by Iddy on May 1, 2023 14:27:49 GMT
Except once again, it was established on multiple occasions that Solas can’t read the Inquisitor easily. Most people he can, but they constantly surprise him. This continues even in Trespasser when he won’t share details because he knows the Inquisitor could counter him in ways he can’t prepare for. I won’t mention the crossbow arm. I’ll mention the prosthetic leg they established in Tevinter Nights and how the person who had it could still adventure just as well as before they lost their leg. And if anyone can get a top of the line special prosthetic, it’s the Inquisitor. So basically you think both BioWare and all those players you mentioned can’t re-establish that connection easily or simply research the previous games since they know it’s the fourth in a franchise? Heck Bioware is going to have to set all that up anyway since they’re continuing with Solas and his plot. BioWare will set it up, but new main character makes it that much easier for writers and also players who just want to launch the game and have fun. Do you think those people who are new to series will be OK if they have to research something in order to understand the plot? Whenever people talk about Dragon Age or BioWare outside these little groups made for fans, they usually aren't excited. The few positive comments you might spot are from old loyalists like us. Generally, getting new people to be interested in this franchise is very hard, so I agree that giving them homework on top of it doesn't sound wise. But narratively speaking, it should be the Inquisitor going after Solas with the best prosthetic arm money can buy. Shame that it isn't commercially viable.
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Post by Iddy on May 1, 2023 0:05:10 GMT
I got a peek into the preview. That elf is tragically naive if he thinks that Solas sees him as "his kin".
Even if Solas didn't openly ask for a favor in return, I still believe Varric was right: That altruistic act had a purpose. If anything, he must've done it to cause a big impression and attract more modern elves to use as cannon fodder.
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Post by Iddy on Apr 26, 2023 20:39:39 GMT
Even during the sex scenes?
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Post by Iddy on Apr 14, 2023 0:00:51 GMT
Is the Stupid Bridge Bandit that one from the entrance in Lothering?
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Post by Iddy on Apr 12, 2023 0:21:58 GMT
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Post by Iddy on Apr 10, 2023 16:11:58 GMT
Curious what the tough decision they have to make will be. To kill or not to kill Solas, I guess.
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Post by Iddy on Apr 9, 2023 23:53:39 GMT
I also demand the return of the cameltoe. .... Huh? A dark secret only known to DAO veterans. *wind blows dramatically*
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Post by Iddy on Apr 7, 2023 17:05:22 GMT
Group A Warden's Mabari. (Sarcastic bark)
Group B Oghren
Group C Wynne - She is very good at making fun of Alistair.
Group D Morrigan
Group E Zevran. Flemeth may have a sharp tongue, but we're picking who's funnier.
Group F Shale
Group G Alistair
Group H Stupid Bridge Bandit
Group I Chicken escaping Shale
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Post by Iddy on Apr 6, 2023 10:35:48 GMT
In Issue #1 of Dragon Age: The Missing, Harding tells Varric that he’s the best viscount Kirkwall’s had in 30 years. “All those rebuilding projects … you’ve won the people over.” That's the thing. Varric only ever talks about construction.
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Post by Iddy on Apr 5, 2023 18:47:21 GMT
I'm not about to be naive and say that everyone is living the dream, but maybe there are fewer people in Darktown and fewer rats in the alienage. How do you imagine things have been there? Anyone who goes up against him knows that Varric's friends with a high-tier murder hobo. Unless Hawke is dead.
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Post by Iddy on Apr 5, 2023 14:00:03 GMT
I'm currently trying to decide whether to play an Inquisitor who goes from atheist to believer, or possibly Andrastian but still refusing to accept the Herald of Andraste title.
Since both approaches are less straight forward, I need to be very careful with the dialogue. Can anyone explain in what moments this is decided and what dialogue options may lead to each path?
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Post by Iddy on Apr 5, 2023 12:18:52 GMT
I'm not about to be naive and say that everyone is living the dream, but maybe there are fewer people in Darktown and fewer rats in the alienage. How do you imagine things have been there?
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Post by Iddy on Apr 4, 2023 18:58:22 GMT
I also demand the return of the cameltoe.
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Post by Iddy on Apr 4, 2023 15:54:36 GMT
Than I started thinking....wait, isn't Sera doing the same thing? I mean she was raised among the elite and wealthy nobles Since when?
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Post by Iddy on Apr 2, 2023 21:56:12 GMT
It's not quite as important, but... what about the wolf figure that Lavellan sees watching from afar in her dreams? Would it be that same Dread Wolf aspect or just how she perceives Solas in the Fade?
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Post by Iddy on Apr 1, 2023 15:14:14 GMT
I worry a little about what is gonna happen to the elves when all is said and done.
If it becomes public knowledge that the Dread Wolf's ranks are filled with elven agents, the retaliation might make Celene's purge look like a slap on the wrist.
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Post by Iddy on Apr 1, 2023 12:00:40 GMT
I also feel that Solas has his own perspective on the truth (as people often do) which skews the way something is presented. Take the example of when he describes the magical wonders of ancient Elvenhan. Given his description, which in hindsight is clearly affected by his guilt in causing the destruction, it is hard not to feel regret at what was lost. However, he also later condemns the rulers who were responsible for these marvels. In the description of the Grand Sonellium thousands of elves are employed in its construction. Whether their compliance was enforced as slaves or gained willingly as worshipers of Sylaise, the fact is it was an Evanuris who enabled its production. Solas thinks he can separate one from the other, just as he does with blood magic, but may be such magical wonders as he described were only possible because of the control that the Evanuris exercised. In fact, who is to say that their magic may not have been involved in some way with maintaining them, so it was not just the raising of the Veil which destroyed them but the loss of the Evanuris. Now Felassan makes a more honest appraisal. When Briala says: "It must have been beautiful, if they had the power to craft the world between the eluvians", after encouraging her to imagine still more the wonders of the empire, he then brings her back to reality with a bump: "Then tell me, da'len, who scrubbed the floors?" He then insists that for all its glory, it was no different to the world she has known as a servant. There were those who ruled and those who were abused. This is why I question just what Solas thinks he is trying to restore because the "world of the elves" was not some magical paradise and the only real difference between the realities was that a select group of elves ruled over it instead of humans. He is clearly aware that unfettered magic can be a threat to all and that those with the greatest magical power will tend to abuse it, so what exactly is he hoping to gain by restoring that reality? Better to use the wisdom he has gained from bitter experience to work for a different system in the current reality and save the elves that way. Of course, this assertion is entirely based on the reason he gave the Inquisitor for wanting to do this and when questioned further about his motives, he avoided giving a straight answer, so whether you call it lies or evasion, I'm pretty sure he didn't tell us the "whole truth". He seems to believe that with the Evanuris gone (and he has "plans" to keep it that way), the elves will be able to enjoy all benefits from old Elvhenan with none of the oppression.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 31, 2023 19:23:25 GMT
It's been four years (since I first finished a playthrough of DAI), but I've finally created my first female Inquisitors, Trevelyan and Lavellan, and got them started after taking a long break from the game.
Of the two, Trevelyan is the lower priority one and will go after Alexius if/when I things get boring with Lavellan. The girl on the left is a character from The Chronicles of Prydain. I gave her mother's name, Angharad, to this Trevelyan. At the moment I'm playing as Lavellan: she's a middle-aged warrior who uses 2-handed weapons so that I don't need to bring a warrior along and because I'm planning this playthrough to be the lore-heavy one in which I drag Cole everywhere to hear his thoughts. Thus far the notable events have included Lavellan being the Inquisitor to not screw up the Chantry Remains. I'd gotten Grand Cleric Iona war table mission three times until I looked up the mission and found out you get it if Inquisitor's attempt to handle Chantry clerics in Orlais isn't successful. My 4th Inky finally chose Josephine for the mission – and prompty lost (even picking Josie there's a 1-in-4 chance to fail). I'm looking forward to finally getting Orlesian Army Warrior Armor schematic. Another thing I was finally successful in had to do with Ser Barris. First time I chose the templars I managed to get him killed and got his replacement Fletcher. The second time I took great care to keep him alive – and then had templars yield to Inquisition. Well done, you idiot. So in order to (at last) see Barris's promotion I'm going to follow wiki's guide when doing his war table missions. Two previous times also I hadn't done the flag ritual, so now Abernache ended up dead. In Therinfal Redoubt's courtyard there was idle talk about a lord who was 7th in line to Orlais throne and now I'm wondering if that was supposed to be Abernache. I checked Valmont family tree and Gaspard and Florianne were Celene's only living first cousins. So I'm guessing Abernache would have been a second cousin? I like the dynamic Abernache has with Movran the Under, so this will be the first and last time of raising those flags.
After finishing Champions of the Just it was time for Corypheus and Calpernia to attack Haven. I got all the townspeople killed because I'd forgotten this mechanic, reloaded to rectify this, and Lavellan made it to Skyhold.
I had trouble trying to come up a name for this Inquisitor until I remembered a certain oracle from Suikoden V who had a soft spot for her bald-headed, elven right-hand man. So, Haswar it was. I like your choice to play as an older protagonist. Few people do it.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 31, 2023 19:12:32 GMT
By the way, I don't believe in the servant notes in Trespasser that suggest that Briala would backstab the Inquisitor if necessary. DAI insists in portraying her as a snake, but I know from The Masked Empire that her ideals are genuine and she would not betray an ally who never let her down.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 31, 2023 19:10:07 GMT
God, what I wouldn't give to see Briala and Lavellan working together post-Trespasser, articulating political strategies to improve the lives of the People. Trading information gathered by their agents and exchanging secret letters.
I am completely absorbed by all the possibilities for her future. I think about how comtesse Lavellan could sponsor young elves who want to get into an university or follow another career. Or alternatively, join the human-elven led council of Wycome to help them keep the peace.
I also ask myself if the former Inquisitor will be revered among the nobles for her deeds, or will they gradually begin to look upon her with disdain because now she is just a knife-ear who's fallen from grace. After all, she no longer has the army and political influence that forced humans to respect her.
sigh... with luck, maybe there will be a Hawke style cameo. Not ideal, all know, but it provides us with more information than codex text. We would be able to interview her (or him) a little, as we could do with the Champion in Skyhold.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 31, 2023 16:47:38 GMT
Personally, I'm just tired of the Venatori. Inquisition didn't do a good job at making them interesting, so I'm not exactly thrilled to see them again.
Just... bunch of stereotypical and expendable goons, with their generic rituals and evil laughter. Oh, and don't even get me started with the speeches about the old Tevinter empire. As a magnificent villain once said: "The ramblings of an upjumped zealot make for tedious listening."
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Post by Iddy on Mar 31, 2023 13:29:45 GMT
Incidentally, it seems unclear whether June was male or female.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 31, 2023 13:22:41 GMT
I also like that this story element is rooted in DA history from the second game. Dragon Age has rich lore, I'm pleased to see the series using it. If I had the opportunity to play DA2 again, the Deep Roads expedition would feel a lot more meaningful than it did then.
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