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

Especially considering if it's an elven spy, then presumably that person is one of Briala's spies.  Although, having a one liner from random_npc_14912 is actually really irritating.  It provides no context or any meaningful information.  I'm surprised Leliana didn't dig up that information and give it to the inquisitor during the course of the party.

I was there as a spy on the humans, so I assumed he had done a bit of sleuthing independent on what information Leliana decided to give me. I also do not see how the purging of the alienage could have been kept as a secret considering she also burnt down that part of the city, so everyone would have known what had happened. You can kill a few elves on the QT but flames roaring to the sky is a bit harder to avoid noticing. So even if those in authority were happy to turn a blind eye and pretend it never happened, I'm pretty sure it would have got out on the grape vine among the lesser folks.   (As proved to be the case with that elven servant)
I acknowledge that they didn't give enough information in game but having read the book, I decided this was one occasion when I was justified in using it to inform my decision.  They did skirt over a lot of the issues that came up in the novel in the actual game.    However, I was aware from previous games how little respect or political power elves are allowed to have in the Chantry controlled lands, which is why I thought Leliana's suggestion for Briala was crazy even without having read the book.   I also knew about the reputation of the Chevaliers from DAO, which was a bad mark against Gaspard and the nobility generally.   So, as I explained, in my previous post, my decision on the first run was more based on why we were there (to stop the assassination) and what would help Ferelden, by keeping Orlais embroiled in internal politics.   It was only the second run that I really allowed my knowledge from Masked Empire to come into play.

Actually, first run I also missed the room with the locket, so did not have the option of reconciling Celene and Briala.   In view of what I knew from the novel, it never occurred to me that would be an option.   Then I saw a discussion on the boards about this and realised I must have missed something vital.     I did reconcile them on my third run but that had the unwanted result of increasing the possibility of Vivienne being made Divine.     I hadn't realised that was a possibility either until the end game feast when she was introduced to me as such.   I tried going back and actually voting for Cassandra but that still didn't do any good.   My choices had result in Divine Vivienne and checking against the Wiki, it seemed that keeping Celene in power had probably been the clincher for that one.   

Such 'forgiveness' didn't happen immediately, as you may remember the campfire conversation where Celene tried to justify her actions and Briala rejected every argument.

So the notion that Briala was unphased, as the elven spy tried to convince us to be the case, is clearly false and does mislead players.

I just didn't remember when I learned the information about Celene and the Alienage.  I'm also pretty sure I didn't pay any attention to a one liner from a random NPC.  I know *now* but I couldn't remember if that's when I heard it or if it was later because I still haven't read the book hah.  I'm lazy.  I know I found out after I played Inquisition at least once and at that point I was also surprised that a reconciliation was possible.

Interesting about Vivienne though.  I had no idea that particular decision affected Vivienne's chances of becoming Divine.  I know I ended up with unhardened Leliana.

I think that depends on which country you are in. After all, the Chevaliers can get away with murder with impunity and that doesn't just apply to them using elves for target practice. Apparently, murder is also okay in Orlais provided you do it as part of the Game and don't get caught red handed (literally) even though everyone knows you are responsible. So, it would be hard to say what counts as corruption in Orlais and likely even more difficult to prove it, since anything seems okay under the Game, so long as you don't get caught, and if you do, then social disgrace seems the main consequence. In Orzammar it is considered a crime to fix the Provings, so I assume that might count as corruption. As for other bribes and kickbacks, as with Orlais I suppose it depends on who is involved and the political clout of the accuser. Antiva also has a lot of state authorised murder, so what would count as corruption there? Anything that wasn't approved by the Crows I assume.

The only other specific instance I can think of off-hand is Tevinter. Dorian mentions something about how he knows of people who ended up being accused of blood magic because they crossed the wrong Magister, but they were not really guilty of the crime. That sounds like corruption within the judicial system to me. I seem to recall that the Lucerni were founded by him and Maevaris specifically to fight against corruption in the Magisterium. Whilst that might mean simply magical corruption, I think it was political corruption as well. Essentially, some powerful individuals are so busy advancing their own agendas through bribery, blackmail and intimidation, they are undermining the system and weakening the Imperium as a whole. The epilogue to Trespasser suggested it was the political in-fighting that led to the Qunari being able to overrun the eastern seaboard so easily. The short story about Calpernia also said something about one of the Magisters featured, that he was responsible for keeping the Juggernaut golems in good order, having officially been appointed to that role and being paid to do so, yet apparently was not fulfilling his remit, which sounds like a case of corruption to me, with him likely syphoning off the money elsewhere. So, it may be that we will encounter examples of corruption within the Imperium next game and have either main plot or sub-plot quests to deal with it, because the official channels are so corrupt that nothing is done about it.

So in short, the problem never is the method itself, but the interests you are jeopardizing. You don't get arrested for the deed in and of itself, regardless of where you are.

Oddly enough, Blackwall calls you corrupt for using your influence to bail him out, even though none of the other characters really care. They might object to the idea that he deserves mercy, but they won't feel that intruding upon the Orlesian legal system is wrong.

What Blackwall says is absolutely true and it does point to the Inquisitor using their power corruptly. The reason none of our advisers seem to have a problem with it is likely because it is so normal for people in power to do this, particularly in Orlais.

Exactly, almost every political system in Thedas suffers from this problem. I've pointed out in the past about the two-tier system within the Circles, with one rule for the offspring of nobility and another for the commoners. Noble families can bribe the Chantry to ensure that their mage children receive preferential treatment even to the extent of having carefully selected Templars to oversee them. They are also allowed to maintain contact with their families and even leave the Circle to attend social events. I doubt any of those who suffer abuse within the Circles came from noble families. Even outside the Circle it can affect how people are treated when they are suspected of protecting or having connection with mages. Gaspard du Pui was able to get Meredith to reprimand Emerick for harassing him, when it was his job to try and root out apostate mages. That was clearly a misuse of Gaspard du Pui's social status to prevent a Templar from doing his duty and the commanding officer happy to go along with it.

So, in short, if you are a noble then corruption is to be expected and not punished severely, but I wouldn't mind betting if you are a commoner suspected of corruption, those in power come down heavily upon you as a warning against others for their temerity in meddling in the affairs of their betters.

How ignorant would you guys say the average Dalish elf is regarding the world outside the clan?

That doesn't really say much, though.

Perhaps I wasn't specific enough. I'm talking about knowledge of how human society operates, which involves how the everyday services are organized, what are the hierarchies in place, what keeps a country sustained and how they interact with their neighbours, the basics of politics (alliances, rivalries, ascending and falling from power), etc. 

Comfort and friendliness don't necessarily keep you informed. Nor does trade, unless you spend a little time in the village before going back to camp.