Dragon Age The Veilguard Criticism Thread (formerly Skepticism Thread) [Spoilers]

WTF?! What is this moral nonsense? We've been plundering Elven Ruins forever and no one gives a shit, not even our party Dalish Elves. The one time it did matter was in Inquisition and it only mattered if you wanted to gain the support of a Dalish clan. Pirates, Thieves and Tomb Raiders can't amoral anymore, they have to be goody 2 shoes that always respect the people/culture they are not-stealing from according to Nu-BioWare

Kirkwall, midsummer 9:48 Dragon


Blue smoke is wafting through the small stone room. Several humans and dwarves are sitting at a long table, hunched over while speaking in low voices. They all look weary, stretching and yawning while a pitcher of ale is being passed around. They are not supposed to gather in any sort of numbers and they mostly haven't; only a handful of times since the beginning of the hunt, six years before. But when they must, this is where they meet: in Darktown, Kirkwall's underbelly.

[Perhaps Valdasine Thaig would be better? Close to Kirkwall but dangerous to access...?]

Every once in a while, one of them looks towards the smaller table at the end of the room. There sits Harding, the First Hunter, the Viscount and what appears to be a woman, cloaked in black fabrics, her face hidden by a low cowl.

As the junior among the company, Hunter is busy refilling everyone's cup when Harding, glancing furtively at the impassive figure across the table, assumes a cheerful tone when she addresses Varric.

"I keep meaning to ask, what kind of excuses do you give your people?"

Varric grunts and shakes his head.

"Some time ago I sort of hinted I had a mistress, and every once in a while I take off for a day or three to keep up the charade."

The ghost of a smile comes on Hunter's lips but he remains quiet as Harding lets out a chuckle.

"Well I hope that didn't lend you into any trouble..."

Varric makes a face, as if tasting something sour. Then abruptly he turns towards the cloaked woman.

"Why are we here!?"

The woman ignores the question and focuses on Harding.

"Did you visit all the locations I indicated in my last message?" Her voice is strangely inflectionless. Harding nods, turning grim once more.

"Blight, but different somehow. More..." She shrugs. "...alive but...less aggressive? There were some dakspawns every time, but never in large numbers and they always retreated when we engaged them..."

The figure is still for a long time, as if digesting every potential implications. And then.

"Recall everyone."

Hunter puts down his cup and frowns, looking at both Harding and Varric in turn before staring at the woman.

"The last elves we cornered said our wolf is hiding somewhere in Arlathan Forest..." A delicate hand emerges and stops him. The toneless voice resumes.

"Solas is in the Fade, it is the only place where he can hide and use his eluvians. Arlathan is merely the base of operation for his people."

The woman lowers her hood. She looks to be in her fifties, with threads of silver glittering through a helm of dull flame. Her dark blue eyes appear unfocused as her gaze rests on the Viscount.

"A few weeks ago Morrigan came to pay a visit. She urged us to investigate those locations I mentioned. She was visibly agitated and kept repeating "the Song has changed".

[Morrigan drank from the Well and since absorbing Mythal's essence (if that's what Flemmeth was doing at the end of Inquisition), she can also hear the music of the Blight]

"Another Blight..." Varric sounds incredulous. And then he slams a meaty hand on the table. "Are we not deep enough in shit already!?" He exclaims, loud enough for everyone in the room to look up. He goes on, oblivious. "Orlais locked in civil war since the Empress died [not at the ball but years later, without a successor - can be swapped for Gaspard], the magisters and the Archon squabbling while the Qunari advance through Rivain and Antiva and now this!?" He takes a deep breath. "And Chukles..." spitting the name "...always 3 steps ahead, stirring up more shit for us to swallow..." His shoulders slump as he slowly passes a hand over his eyes.

"I'm too old for this Leliana! I wish Hawke was here." [Hawke was left in the Fade - the only choice IMO since a warden was needed to lead the remnants of the Wardens afterwards] Harding is distressed to hear her old comrade sounding so defeated.

The Nightingale looks unconcerned as she continues.

"That is why you were summoned and why I came here myself. Solas is no longer our sole priority. The Inquisitor and I agree on this." [The Inquisition was disbanded - its remnants purged - what was left went underground] "Whatever he did or tried to do had unintended consequences."

"And isn't that fucking typical!" The bitterness in Varric's voice is palpable.

Hunter then asks.

"So what do you want us to do now?"

Leliana finally acknowledges his presence, assessing him with a penetrating look before she responds.

"We will use the orb you recovered last year to open a rift into the Fade. You will find Hawke, if he still lives, and bring him back."

"What!?!" Varric jumps out of his chair, furious. "Are you saying we could have rescued him all this time!?" He roars.

"Time is measured differently in the Fade Varric." Leliana lectures on. "For all we know, Hawke might still be fighting that demon. We could not attempt this without the orb and we have not used it so far to avoid alerting Solas. It was to be kept a secret until the last moment. But this new Blight changes everything."

She pauses for a moment, eyes unblinking.

"Morrigan will join you as well since she is one of the few who can defeat the Nightmare." She turns to Harding. "In the meantime, all the cells will be redeployed. You will go to Weisshaupt yourself. I suspect this will be a prime target for whatever Solas let loose; the First Warden must be made to ready his troops. Reports from Antiva also indicate the Crows are on their last leg, that cell will fall back to Starkhaven and wait further instructions."

Harding frowns and asks.

"The Qunari have been on the continent for three years now, yet they haven't gone further than Antiva... and they haven't moved against the Free marches either."

Hunter couldn't be sure but could have sworn he saw something like a spark a amusement flashing in the Nightingale's cold eyes before it vanished.

"I used to be acquainted with the current Arishok; he is nothing if not methodical." She answered. "He will not move further until his rearguard and supply lines with Par-Vollen are completely secured. That is why he conquered Llomerryn and took the time to eliminate the Felicisima Armada first. That is why the Antaam is now hunting the Crows relentlessly. That is also why they have not breached Arlathan forest or moved further south. But when he is ready, he will be moving fast. Therefore we must know about Hawke's fate before then." She takes a moment to sip at the water in front of her. "Your job Hunter is now to assemble a team. You know all the northern cell leaders gathered here; choose the three best among them and make your way to Cumberland. Morrigan will be waiting for you there."

Leliana signals her bodyguards and stands up, pulling her cowl back into place. Varric looks up and says.

"I should be going too!"

"No Varric, the Veil is thin in Kirkwall; you might find yourself on the front line sooner than you think. Besides, you have a city to care for. You must prepare it for what is coming. And we are counting on you to hold the fort."

He nods reluctantly and then she is gone.