How long was Marethari possessed?

A good question.

I suppose Audacity tried to tempt and possess both of them, long ago. Seems Marethari was the easier prey, the spirit/demon used her weakness: Merrill, and her beliefs in her infallibility...

I also don't think, it was right before Merrill appeared in front of the cave, because she didn't know, when it will happen. And Merrill even told that she should have gone away from the Sundermounth with the clan long ago... I think, her stubborn pride, the temptation, Audacity didn't let her go. She was already possessed? I don't know. Probably Audacity wanted them both. Or just worked in Marethari to made her wanting to prove her truth to Merrill...

Marethari let the temptation win, but still was a strong mage – so she was able to control Audacity – and... perhaps Audacity wanted to wait for the right moment... Probably not every abomination starts to rage at the first moment... and probably not every spirit/demon wants to destroy everything right now... but perhapst it just me.

(Anyway, I think, if someone was fool, it was Marethari, not Merrill, but this is another topic...)

Yes, I also think, that the possession happened probably between the Act2 and Act3 sometime.

I know, Marethari wanted to pay instead of Merrill. But I still think Marethari is the foolish one between them. Merrill always looked for help, he never kept her secret what she does exactly – but Marethari dealt with it alone. Nobody knew, what she does, never asked for help, this is what jeopardized her whole clan. The game suggests, Marethari is the wise one, and Merrill's naive who obsessed with her study, with her spirit... but nothing in the game is clear – intentionally. For me: Marethari just as obsessed with Merrill, like Merrill obsessed with the Eluvian, or more. And Marethari seems absolutely overconfident, while Merrill's not.
And while the suggestion is, that everything happened because of Merrill's obsession with the Eluvian, the fact shows, that Marethari caused the real problems: Pol's death and at the end perhaps her whole clan's death. Not Merrill. Marethari.


Flemeth is a possibility, but according to the game, she was done here, so: while not absolutely excluded this version, I don't see much chance, that happened. I know, the game rushed, and perhaps this is a thread they abandoned... but still.

Perhaps, perhaps not.

The spirits/demons are different. Why would all of them behave on the same way... And I don't think, Audacity would fear Hawke, or think, Hawke is a danger. Audacity is the spirit/demon of the audacity, not the cowardice. What is Hawke? Only a human – not a big thing.

But I'm absolutely okay with your answer because this means: Justice remained a benevolent spirit, and never wanted to control Anders... or/and Anders is one of the greatest among the known mages in Thedas...

How do you know, what Audacity wants? Again: I don't think, Hawke would a threat to Audacity. If Hawke would anything to them, then rather a prey, like Merrill... why would not want to go back to the cave to hunt them?
Why would Marethari want to go back to the cave, if wanted to protect Merrill? It would be much logical, if she would keep Audacity away from her. If anyone, then Audacity was, who wanted to go back to the cave, when Merrill was there...

I'm not sure, about when the possession happened. Fact: Marethari didn't know about that Merrill will try to go to the cave... or if she would be sure about it, then she doesn't know when will Merrill come here. But perhaps, Audacity knew about, because connected to Merrill. Perhaps Audacity felt Merrill's intention. In this case perhaps, Audacity would call Marethari – who knows, why, but not excluded... 

I just said, it could happened years ago, perhaps. Perhaps not.


Why would Justice wait for the Templars in a cave? Why would Anders want it? None of them wanted to wait for the Templars. Waiting for the Templars isn't a proof of benevolence. I think, waiting for the Templars is rather the proof of idiocy...

He hasn't done anything harsh for years, then again for years... After the explosion, and during the Inquisition Anders/Justice remained calm (Hawke in the Inquisition).
 

I actually (personally) think Marethari was possessed during at least Act 2

According to what we were told previously, the person has to feel ready themselves before they take them. Also if they flinch or show discomfort when they are being applied, then it is considered they are not yet ready for them. If Pol was a trainee hunter and wanted the vallaslin of Andruil, it is possible he had to prove himself in some way before he could take them. Going into the cave with the hunters may even have been the test of nerve that he had to pass before being considered worthy of the vallaslin.