The Blanketfort (crying and throwing up) - The Official Solas Thread [Spoilers]

Okay, WHEW. I finally had time to finish the whole book. LOTS to speculate about.

Quite a bit of set-ups and narrative openings, though I assume some of it is for DA5/DLCs or farther ahead and some of them will either resolve elsewhere or be tied off without having as much of an impact as I think they could.

And unless the Bioware writers have styled this book in a way that would resemble Joplin and its 'heist!spy!thief!' nature to commemorate the project's previous incarnation that no longer is a thing... I'd say that Morrison does appear to still be heading straight in a direction I suspected it would.

This will be mostly a COVERT war between spy networks, assassins and thieves on the backdrop of an open war between Vints/North and Qunari - and more specifically Antaam. Cue a lot of quick alliances and probably A LOT of backstabbing and stealing stuff back and forth.

I'd say that it's interesting that they’ve split the Antaam from the rest, but on the other hand, I’d say that it’s not a conclusion that is illogical - what Ben-Hassarath have uncovered about Fen’Harel, the fact that he works *now and fairly quickly* towards something they disapprove completely, and the fiasco in Trespasser must’ve seriously spooked them - and it’s quite clear from the text that they’re predominantly focusing on the threat of the Dread Wolf.

In this regard, I wonder how much of Ben-Hassarath and Antaam disagreement is genuine and how much of it is just for show, in order to try and lull certain parties into thinking that they disapprove of Antaam actions, while in reality the Ben-Hassarath focus on the merry chase after Solas?

On the other hand, the real disagreement is more likely, with Antaam being ready for war and all for years, and Ben-Hassarath failing spectacularly in Trespasser has probably resulted in a genuine rift there.
Then the fact that both factions are fairly separate in how they operate would also make the Antaam probably less receptive to the idea that “uh, you know - there’s this elf, Fen’Harel and he’s trying to destroy the world in short few years and we need to stop him before we invade anything, right?”

And Antaam being like ‘we’ve waited long enough. LEEEEROY JENKINS!”

It wouldn’t be the first time different factions wasted their time on an open conflict while disregarding the bigger picture and more immediate threats. In fact, it was basically the premise for the formation of the Inquisition or HOF’s quest to form an army against the Blight while Loghain wasted his time on squabbles with nobles and feeding his deep paranoia about the Orlesians.

I’d also say that “Half Up Front” offers an interesting insight into the dynamics that happen here, where Ben-Hassarath - in form of Gaat - are CLEARLY interested in at least temporarily allying themselves with parties interested with stopping Solas, to a point that he keeps an open channel with Varric and sends Irian and that Vadis girl to very likely work with Shadow Inquisition.

We also appear to have a cross section of parties we’d either be working for, working with/against or stumbling upon, aside from the Dread wolf people - the Inquisition, Ben-Hassrath, the Tevinter Siccari (I’d put a large bet on those three being PCs starting factions and/or most involved with the plot), Executors, remains of Venatori, Carta Assassins, the Mortalitaasi/The Mourn Watch, Antivan Crows and Rivain’s Lords Of Fortune.
I’m not entirely sure about the extent of the role of the Grey Wardens, but obviously the discoveries from “The Horror Of Hormak” are very important and so far it seems the Grey Wardens are the ones who know about it.

THREE TREES TO MIDNIGHT
Irelin and Saarbrak are badasses and they are likely to show up somewhere in the game, I just don’t know to what extent. Saarbrak has the potential to be a very interesting companion... or a playable PC? That’s a curious thought - maybe we’d have a choice between fixed PCs of different races and from different factions?
But I digress - I’d say that the theme of ‘men and elves (and Ben-Hassrath)’ working together to stop the unruly Antaam bullies’ has an interesting implication.
Antaam working around Arlathan Forest is… interesting, although at this point I’m not sure this is about Arlathan itself - seems more like they're after Arlathan Forest’s timber, which would be an important resource for war. Antaam so far appears to be focused predominantly on conquering *known* lands. Although what will happen during the game’s plot is anyone’s guess. Clearly them messing with the Forest can unintentionally wake something and make them scramble to refocus an effort on Arlathan Forest itself.

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN
I’d pin the Mourn Watch and specifically Myrna to be a very likely presence in the game in some significant role, maybe even a companion. Audric and Emmrich will likely be featured too - Audric especially looks like he's set-up as Exposition Fairy for the history of the world through architecture and art.
Anyway, I wish we could visit Grand Necropolis, that place seems fascinating. Whether we visit it or not, I bet at least one of these tombs features a working eluvian

THE HORROR OF HORMAK
Jepler has talent for writing horror. Jessssusssss, that was one disturbing tale. Paired with other things in the book alone I don’t EVERRRRRR want to hear that DA isn’t dark and grim enough.

More importantly, there are significant lore reveals - with the star of the story being this menacing pool of brine able to combine living creatures into scary chimeras... And it’s just one of many? And why is “HER” being mentioned like Ghilan’nain (because it’s clearly Ghilan’nain) is still a looming and active presence? Hmmmmm….
I also have to wonder whether these magical pools are responsible for creation of the Qunari race at some point...? After all they are, ostensibly, elf-dragon chimeras.

CALLBACK
So, Skyhold has been turned into a museum. Also, the mural is *gone*. Does it mean that - if we are allowed to go back to Skyhold - there is a possibility there will be a new one? I’m not sure we’re going to be back to Skyhold in a way we did in DAI tho, if frequently or at all, but that's an interesting possibility and a way to tie both games on several levels.

Anyway, I appear to have been right in claiming long ago that the last panel of the mural seemed like scrawled by someone other than Solas - it always seemed to me like a child’s attempt at a similar style compared to other panels. Now we have the answer why - and that was apparently Solas’s REGRET working who-knows-how-long through hosts, like the caretaker.

One thing that is interesting about Regret is that (while Solas clearly has a lot of regrets about his past and Skyhold in many respects must symbolize it in itself) it appears that the Regret of Solas we meet in that story was born mostly out of events in Inquisition.

I guess when he’s painted Inquisitor’s mural his own guilt and regret about his covert actions weighted so much on him that he‘s basically painted it into Rotunda's walls

The hypothesis could be made that it’s possible echoes of Regret were what kept most of the previous occupants away from the castle in the long run... but so many magical experts in one place WHILE we’re there with Inquisition, didn’t seem to determine its presence or any signs of such possession before. No remains of dismembered limbs in rookery or people pinning themselves to walls when we arrived for the first time there - and the mural itself Regret chose to manifest through is a recent thing.

Hence why I think this Regret stems predominantly from Solas’s time with Inquisition: it was the one time in his long, arduous journey when he's allowed himself to be Solas, his old self, instead of Fen’Harel - the mantle/mask of his that dominated him for so long and steeled him against things like regret or contemplation. Regret was supposedly brought forth by Solas introspecting about his actions during his time with Inquisition, only it has later festered into Regret and intensified after Trespasser/Inquisition moving into shadows - and I’d say that the implication at the end is fairly clear that Regret has been drawn back into the Fade… back to haunt Solas.

LUCK IN THE GARDENS
I have to admit that I’d find it enjoyable if we were either allowed to play a Lord Of Fortune, or have a companion who is the Lord Of Fortune. The character here - do they have a name? - seems to me like a material for a fun companion.

Also… is Cekorax potentially one of the Forbidden Ones? The naming convention seems to fit with known others. I certainly don’t think it’s that not-sure-if-it-was-sealed-or-released demon from “The Streets Of Minrathous”, but a Forbidden One? Yep.

HUNGER
Evka and Antoine are fun, but their arc seems to be done at the end of the story, even if they are still to reach Weisshaupt where we already know the troubles are brewing.

It’s interesting that they took a lot of time to establish that werewolves can result from being possessed by a Hunger demon when people are dying and desperate to survive, because the one major time we’ve had dealings with them in the past they were a result of a very specific situation and a very elaborate curse by someone powerful. Would that mean that we’re going to see more werewolves in DA4/5? And do other Hunger possessions result with, say, vampires? Decadent Vints, hungry for power, letting themselves be possessed by Hunger demons and spreading their curse to get obedient thralls… I can see that.

MURDER BY DEATH MAGES
Clearly a story was written to make Mortalitaasi more… ambiguous, with different factions and individuals having different ideas about their role in the world. The Mourn Watch in “Down Among The Dead Men” seemed like a positive (if eccentric and surprisingly powerful) bunch, while individuals in “Murder By Death Mages” and “The Dread Wolf Take You” have a very specific outlook on their relationship with people and the Crown. I wonder if finding Nevarran king's successor and dealing - in a positive or negative fashion - with Mortalitaasi won’t be a bigger thing in DA4?
I also have to wonder if Sidony will show up in the game in a more prominent role than a Multiplayer/War Table character.

THE STREETS OF MINRATHOUS
Neva Gallus sports a prosthetic leg “of dwarven make” that seems to not hamper her at all when running or fighting. It clearly establishes that advanced prosthetics that do a really good job emulating real limbs, or even surpassing them, are a thing in that universe. And if a mercenary investigator with not much cash on them can get one, I do want to see what Inquisitor can get.

I’d also say that Neva has a high chance of appearing in the game (so is Rana Savas and two other decent Vint Templars) - either as a prominent NPC/Exposition Fairy/connective tissue, or maybe even a follower. It's also possible that it’s not the last time we see Aelia and clearly not the last time we see Venatori - I suspected that they'd still be active, even if not as dangerous as they were when Cory was around. Anybody who thinks that the death of the central leader or presumed god means that all of the followers will just abandon their old beliefs or mission doesn’t understand how cult mentality works.

Anyway, I’d be entirely not surprised if this story is a set-up for something in the game, where we either have to stop the next attempt to release of the demon, or battle the released demon itself.

Also, the Catacombs being officially used for storage for a year’s worth of food supplies in case of the Blight or Qunari invasion - screams IMPORTANT for me :]

THE WIGMAKER JOB
Again - Jessssussss at some of the stuff there.

Oh, and Lucanis Dellamorte has the clearest “FUTURE COMPANION!” aura around him, out of all characters I’ve read about in this book. Illario will also likely have a prominent presence. Both characters will quite possibly be written by Courtney Woods and it seems she’ll be largely responsible for Antivan Crows/Antiva factions in the game, so I'd pay attention to what she's doing with them.

Also - the artifacts that we lit in DAI do indeed seem to have strengthened the Veil. I cautioned people against thinking that Solas may have been using our ignorance against us and we were unwittingly doing his bidding instead of simply strengthening the Veil. The devices still can serve multiple functions, but Solas simply isn’t HELLBENT on removing the Veil at the wrong time, which was pointedly proven with the fact that he rushed to help to close the Breach, instead of joining Cory. We don’t know what the ‘ritual’ mentioned in the book really entails, but it seems that the Veil has to hold at least until this ritual is complete.

Oh, and Elizabeth Batory, I mean… Zara Renata, as well as Crispin Kavlo and Felicia Erimond will likely show up too and be either a part of a personal quest for Lucanis, or his reason to get involved with our characters.

GENITIVI DIES IN THE END
I am entirely not sure what to think about this story - it clearly has been written by a GIANT TROLL, who swerves between ginormous reveals and a glaring implication that either most of it is untrue or embellished, for one reason or another.

On one hand - I guess the 3 writers and Mateo are potentially something of a new 'Sutherland and Company' group planned for DA4?

But uh… given that the 3 writers are shown sculpting the story for reasons (writing themselves as dead, but not being dead… yet, trying to escape Rasaan? But what’s with the last paragraph - are they now spirits who write from the Fade and we’ll find that story like we’ve found that 'Hard In Hightown' epilogue in Vir Dirthara?) it’s hard to say what of it is true and what of it isn’t. Uh, Bioware trolls, aWDs@!*hd@ndjsnKN….

I guess it’s interesting that the story mentions that Arlathan has been destroyed not by Vints, but “the strange magics that caused the rise of the Veil” - the wording is interesting, because it implies that it didn’t necessarily happen DURING the rising of the Veil, but ‘strange magics’ that eventually caused it were involved, hmmmm….
Also, I wonder how many of the chunks of Vir Dirthara or else ‘thrown around’ by destruction of Elvenhan will we encounter in the story? I mean, aside from potentially traveling to such or similar places via eluvians/crossroads.

And it’s interesting that they kinda hint that DA4 will more or less play out in a span of a year and that ‘nations will stand’ - there's also another implication through the story that Inquisition is still deeply involved, with Varric being a connective tissue between many disparate parties and Shadow Inquisition.

HEROLD HAD THE PLAN
Not much to say here other than I wish to see more Bharv (one of my favs from the book) and I’m not sure I’ll get it. And Elim is certainly a goner Also, more Lords Of Fortune!
I have to wonder if the healing amulet will ever come into play, though it’s probably been delivered by Vaea to somewhere where it’s needed in Tevinter, prior to events in “Blue Wraith”.
Oh, and I wonder if we’re going to meet Panzsott’s sister in DA4...

AN OLD CROW’S OLD TRICKS
Lessef and Tainsley are such quirky characters - a GIANT elf-blooded dude and an old ninja-granny? I have no idea in what capacity they will be present anywhere else in DA universe, but I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing them. If anything, the story is a way of giving Antivan Crows more depth and nuance than what we know from past titles, and it’s like they’re sweeping the dirt and paving the road in order to use this faction very prominently in a future story.

EIGHT LITTLE TALONS
Same as the above. Plus, the whole story seems like a set-up for something bigger, rather than just presenting us a window to observe Antivan Crows affairs and fleshing out their ranks?
Succession after Caterina will likely be a thing (cue Lucanis and Illario) and Viago, the king’s bastard, may yet get a shot at being the ruler of Antiva (with our help?)

HALF UP FRONT
As mentioned in my previous post - it's interesting that in the end Gatt sends the Vint girl and her elven girlfriend to Shadow Inquisition. Gatt himself will likely play a prominent role - the main contact with Ben-Hassarah - and I wonder how our relationship with him (or Ben-Hassarath) will be affected by the state of affairs with the Iron Bull?

Oh, and is Dumat’s Folly a red herring or will it play an important role later? The girls ARE in the possession of the real thing, but the real thing is in Minrathous somewhere. I smell a quest.

...and will the Magic Atom Bombs be a thing in the future?

Either way, at least some of Solas’s people are playing an extreme game and he himself does with those cyanide pills

THE DREAD WOLF TAKE YOU
Patrick Weekes is having fun trolling us all. The TEAHOUSE? Also, Solas dressed as an Orlesian peacock in iridescent silks and a blond wig and ornate dragon mask, desperately trying - and failing - to drink tea, hah hah hah. LET THE FANARTS COMMENCE!

Also, is it just me or is it the first time to acknowledge that there’s COFFEE on Thedas? For some reason, I thought it didn’t exist in that universe.

But I digress - Charter clearly will be an important character in the future game, if that wasn't obvious from Trespasser already.

Oh, and Executorrrrrrs… finally! Interesting that they seem to be interested in the Dread Wolf and his plans... Why? Are they… Evanuris Executors? Like, a faction tied to Evanuris that has dedicated itself to stop/punish Fen'Harel and maybe release the others? I'm so curious about their backstory!

Also, we have the first proper "that dude Solas can be a scary giant-ass Fade dragon-wolf" instead it being just a speculation!
That means that the epic fight with a giant-ass Fade dragon-wolf is in the cards, regardless of our relationship with him

Aaaaanyway - I find these lines interesting:
“Or possiblement a very young mage” the Bard suggested, “He could be a simple elf who stumbled onto old magic”.

I have to wonder how much was that supposed to be a diversion and how much Solas covertly revealed facts from his past? So, he was a young elf who - during his deep explorations of the Fade - has stumbled upon something very ancient?

We’re clearly meant to read between lines in many places - as noted by Charter herself when she picks up that ‘the Bard’ gives her a hint that the red lyrium idol portrays a ‘crowned figure comforting another’. So it’s a question how much of it is to point us in the right direction... and how much of it is there to do the opposite? I guess we will be arguing about it till DA4 is on the shelves and then is replayed a zillion times

Also, this line is interesting, obviously:
“I have no choice. What I am doing will save this world, and those like you - the elves who still remain - may even find it better, when it’s done”.

So the elves appear to be a secondary thing, as sometimes suspected. He wants to return ‘the world of the elves’ - the STATE of the world prior to the Veil, rather than civilization that dominated it. And elves that remain MAY even find that world better, like it’s an ‘enjoyable side benefit’ of the path taken, rather than the main goal… which is saving THIS world.

Because yeah, it’s definitely interesting that a line earlier he says that ‘before this world ended’ and then that he will ‘save this world’.

Feels like a more or less unintentional slip from Solas - he is still portrayed as deeply conflicted and doesn’t even try to correct Charter when she points out that he’s lying about his true motivations, be it to Inquisition in Trespasser or himself. It’s still very “Come and stop me. Please.” and with the clear implication being that, as much as other factions will be important (especially the Ben-Hassrath and the Siccari, I presume), it’s still mainly Inquisition’s job to do the stopping.