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

Aug 13, 2016 18:37:33 GMT Shari'El said:

When the Magisters stepped into the Golden City (they were beckoned there, perhaps as a ploy), it was already black,

This seems a given at this point. Corypheus didn't lie. When Hawke first revived him and in his own memories he states that the city was already black when they got there. Also in front of Hawke he complains "It was meant to be golden," as though someone had promised him this. Now he was rather confused after so long asleep, so his memories could have been muddled, but it seems odd he should say "meant" as though he had never witnessed this himself. Surely until the Magisters entered the city it would have appeared golden in the Fade? Otherwise, if it had always appeared to be black in the Fade, finding it that way when they got there would not have been such a surprise. Yet, if it was golden then that must have been an illusion that was broken by them actually entering the place, which simultaneously seemed to break the seal of whatever was containing the Darkness within it.

Now I seem to recall that the Fade reflects what is found in the real world. So when they attempted entry into the Fade city, it is possible this simply re-directed them to its corresponding twin in the real world, which is why they ended up deep underground. Seeing as most ancient elven structures spanned both realms, this was a distinct possibility. When we entered then interior of the Titan in the Descent I was immediately reminded of the descriptions of Arlathan. So it is likely that the real Arlathan/Golden City was constructed by Mythal (famed for her cities and known to have operated in the Deep Roads) out of the interior of a titan. The Veil had prevented the spread of the corruption outside of the underground city, which is why the reflection in the Fade was still golden because in the minds of all who had previously witnessed it there it was golden, but when the Magisters entered it, the reflection in the Fade changed to match their discovery and also allowed the Darkness to escape its confines.

According to the Canticle of Silence, which was Hessarian propaganda but may nevertheless had an element of truth to it, Corypheus was invited to the city by his god, Dumat. The Grey Wardens have also always insisted that it was Dumat who was behind the venture. If this is true, then it would suggest that he wanted to be freed from his prison and knew that breaking into the city was going to be the first step to achieving this. Of course it is possible that Dumat was unaware of the presence of the Darkness within the city and merely sought a means of escape. 

• The red lyrium that has, at this point, been spread all over the place by the Venatori and others, is infecting more and more of the world with the Blight, and that would obviously be a Bad Thing in Solas' estimation, considering his views about the Blight. Remember, it can grow anywhere, and the Red Templars were seeding at least one place (Sahrnia Quarry) with it on purpose. (Not to mention the Behemoths sowed it everywhere we fought them!)
• We don't yet know how quickly the Quickening had an effect on the ancient Elves. Did they immediately start growing old and dying once the Veil was raised, or were the elves who were born pre-Veil immune to the Quickening and it was elves born afterwards that started showing signs of mortality? If the former, then perhaps now that he is out of uthenera, Solas is aging so he feels the keenness of time.