Lucanis Dellamorte - Official Companion Thread [Spoilers]

Yes, may be it is going to be their way of redressing the past and what they did with Anders. It is significant that they have chosen to label the possessor a demon, which is essentially what Justice had become by DA2 because even Anders' specialism was identified with vengeance, not justice. Wynne is a completely different case because she was saved by a Faith spirit and then freely passed it on to Evangeline to save her life, another person with strong faith but good intentions. The Seekers also used Faith spirits so I assume they must be generally more benign in outlook, although that would also seem dependent on the character of the person. Some people with strong convictions seemed to exhibit rather less benign intentions than Wynne or Evangeline. After all, Lambert was a Seeker, as was Lucius so their spirit wasn't influencing them in a positive way and vice versa.  I've also mentioned in the past that I see no reason why a Faith spirit wouldn't be attracted to someone with strong faith in any other religion, the Old Gods for example.   Why would it only be faith in the Maker?

Then we have the example of the Avvar's way of training their young mages and the Rivaini Wise Women. Both seem to have a positive relationship with spirits. I wonder how they ensure the right sort of spirit is helping them? I assume in both cases it must be a wisdom spirit as they do seem the ones most inclined to want to teach other beings and improve their knowledge. I've also pointed out the Lord Woolsley was helpful to the family he was living with but turns into a rage demon if harmed, so was he always a demon or does that transformation only occur if attacked?

Perhaps they are going to explore further the nature of spirits. Solas maintained that spirits and demons are really just the same being with the latter having become altered by their interaction with the world. If true then presumably just as a more benign spirit can be twisted into its opposite and become a demon, presumably the opposite can happen and it can be restored to its former nature (as happened with Solas' friend). I think it was Cole (or was it Solas) who suggested that simply being yanked through the Veil against their will when they got too near to a rift automatically transformed the spirits into demons. So the reason we only ever encountered demons near the rifts is because that is what ordinary spirits became on being pulled through. Thus, I would imagine if a blood mage simply pulled through a spirit to force it on a victim, it doesn't actually make much difference whether it started out a demon or not, so both the spirit and the mortal are victims of the blood mage. Luckily we will have a resident expert on spirits in Emmrich and our mentor in the Fade, so between them perhaps they will be able to throw some light on the matter and assist us with the dilemma of Lucanis and his demon.

I understand the lore has it that spirits can only possess a willing person, something we see in DAO with Mouse asking us to let him in, and Mythal also confirming that in DAI in her Fade scene. (Which then suggests that Rana couldn't have forced the demon into Lucanis... though who knows what she could have done with blood magic).

But then once possessed, how much of the "blended personality" is the original person, and how much is the spirit? Which is why I think of it as a cohabitation, where the power dynamics can influence whether it is a successful relationship or not; one where either both identities are respected, or one where one is dominated. I don't see Morrigan being dominated, ever. Nor Solas (except by Lavellen, but uh, that's another scenario   ).

That is what Flemeth said and it originally seemed that an unwilling possession is what turns the person into an abomination, twisting their body along with destroying their mind. However, much of what was revealed in DA2 left that open to question. Keran says that Tarohne was trying to force a demon into him. It seems she was torturing him, perhaps to persuade him to accept the demon so he didn't become a full blown abomination. The other recruit that Cullen confronted out in the wilds looked normal enough until the demon inside was forced to reveal itself. Cullen also said the Templars were aware a demon could possess a person for years without other people being aware of it. Were all those victims willing participants in the deception?

Blood magic could be used to temporarily control the mind, so the victim allows the demon in willingly. I suggested this could be what was occurring when Corypheus possessed Grey Wardens whilst an Arch-demon could not. Since he could control their mind, he was able to take them over without it killing them both but he then had absolute control. Perhaps how much the demon dominates a person is dependent on their strength of will. Many mages that become abominations have already all but given up in despair. Lucanis would appear to have a very strong willed so perhaps he reached some sort of accommodation with the demon so it stopped trying to dominate him and they set up a partnership instead. After all, depending on the nature of the demon, riding along with a Master Assassin whilst he revenges himself on his tormentors might well appeal to it. It would certainly get to see and experience plenty of the world.

We will know more if and when the nature of the demon is revealed. It could be as much a victim of the blood mage as Lucanis is. Look at what happened with Solas' friend. The important part is that unlike Hawke, we have resident experts we can call on for advice. Emmrich has years of dealing with spirits to call on, whilst whatever else you may say about Solas, even the Evanuris admitted he knew much about spirits. Somehow or other I'm sure we can effect a positive outcome for Lucanis and his demon.

I'm just hoping we don't have to wait too long to be introduced to him and start the process. Whilst the 2023 trailer seemed to introduce the Crows before the other factions, the fact is we know from what we have been told so far that we start off in Arlathan Forest after the prologue with Bellara and the Veil Jumpers coming next. Then possibly Davrin. So, it might be a while before we get to meet him, let alone solve his issues.

That's an interesting thought, and I do think they become a new entity with a sort of symbiotic relationship, but I still see it as two consciousness inhabiting the same body. Otherwise, where does the other consciousness go? Though I'm obviously limited by my very earthly understanding of what consciousness is.

I feel the same.

Now this is an appealing idea.

Yeah, me too. I think he even said as much "My anger corrupted Justice" or something like that when they joined, so Justice became Vengeance.

Another bit of trivia that may be significant. I had totally forgotten the Corpse Walkers associated with the Black Vials in DAO but stumbled across them again today and thought that perhaps they could be relevant either to Lucanis' situation, in view of blood magic being used in the ritual to be that of a relative, or what Rasaan was up to with Solas looking for his true name. Also, given his expertise with spirit magic involving corpses, is there also a connection with Emmrich and the Mourn Watch?

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