I wonder if things have improved in Kirkwall with Varric in charge.

I think Aveline is not going to let him do any shady business.

Kirkwall should be doing great compared to before. Minding, however, all the rebuilding they must do.

Qunari are on their way. The guardsman faction got stronger and Templars weakened their political hold. Mages are out of Varric's jurisdiction, but Templars won't be able to just shrug off him and common laws about grabbing people whenever they want, like they've done with the previous governor.

Economically, he's got the head for it, but he's not going to have dull living with the competitor merchant factions. City should be stronger via economy.

And he approves when Inky raises the flag for the people, so, he's bound to do social good as well.

Since his friends are Ferelden origins, he should be more open to actually treating Ferelden representatives with respect and do something about the refugees, unlike the previous governing body that rudely shrugged off Alistair. Sounds like Kirkwall ignored them when Ferelden offered to take some people back. This one spells directly, fewer folks in Darktown.

Unless Hawke is dead.

In Issue #1 of Dragon Age: The Missing, Harding tells Varric that he’s the best viscount Kirkwall’s had in 30 years. “All those rebuilding projects … you’ve won the people over.”

Well to be fair, that would be the number one priority after a terrorist attack left a solid portion of the city blown up and debris flying everywhere.