Theory about Solas - possible spoilers for Veilguard if true?
Sept 11, 2024 18:15:40 GMT
Reznore, gervaise21, and 1 more like this
Post by Bunny Noldo on Sept 11, 2024 18:15:40 GMT
Disclaimer: if this theory turns out to be true, this might mean potential spoilers for Veilguard, so proceed at your own risk (but of course I could also be totally wrong, lol)
Theory summary: Solas is a spirit who Mythal has bound to her will, and the wolf jawbone necklace is an amulet of the unbound, that prevents anyone else from binding him. Mythal is forcing Solas tear down the Veil, which might be in conflict with his purpose and, as a result, could cause Solas to turn into a pride demon (or rather a pride demon on steroids the like of which has not been seen in Thedas yet). Remove the amulet of the unbound and Mythal's geas and Solas is free to make his own decisions - that's how we might be able to redeem him - or rather how he would redeem himself once he has his freedom again.
Ok so now in more detail. I think everyone can agree that given the heavy spirit/demon symbology connected to Solas, he was once a spirit. But I also think that we often get too caught up in ancient elven gods theories, so let's get back to basics for a minute.
So what indicates that Solas is still a spirit?
Basically everything except for him saying 'I am not a spirit' to Cole at one point, lol.
He is obsessed with the Fade and spirits. He's friends with spirits and tries to educate everyone around him that spirits might not be a threat, that they could be befriended and that they are actually people ("Is Cassandra defined by her cheekbones and not her faith? Varric by his chest hair and not his wit?"). From what he has told us in Inquisition, he's dedicated his life to exploring ancient ruins, history and the Fade. He hates tea - he doesn't drink anything caffeinated, so that he could return to the Fade more easily in his sleep - he's homesick, he misses his home and his spirit friends. He goes back to the Fade all the time, whenever he can. He basically does everything that a benevolent spirit of wisdom would do - teach people, learn history, explore fade. He has fun in winter palace - as spirit would watching a historical event with lots of people with different agendas and emotions. His appearance - he doesn't seem to care what he looks like - Dorian and Vivienne make fun of him because of his 'hobo' clothes. He even may be bald because he's come to the conclusion that hair was too much bother and he has better thing to do. He approves of Inquisitor that seeks knowledge and ask him questions. In the balcony scene, he approves of the Inquisitor because of their wisdom, morals and spirit.
If you analyse Inquisition with a theory that Solas STILL IS (not 'was', not 'started as' but still is) a spirit in mind, you discover new meanings and layers to his story - but more on that later. For now let's consider that he is still a spirit, although a very powerful and ancient one, and so all the laws that apply to spirits also apply to him. Let's assume he gets a body after being tricked by Mythal ("He did not want a body. But she asked him to come', "an enemy can attack, but only an ally can betray you. Betrayal is always worse", "I know that mistake (of trusting one's friends) well enough to carve the angles of her face from memory.")
What indicates that he's bound to Mythal?
In Trespasser, you can see that Solas is devastated and sad about his plans for tearing down the Veil. He doesn't really want to do it. And even if he thinks he must do it (to save what remains of Spirits), and he doesn't have good relationship with the Inquisitor, he's still not happy about what is involved with it.
The ending scene in Inquisition, where he returns to Mythal as if he's a scorned dog returning to his master.
Cole thinking that Solas doesn't want to hurt people.
I guess some people might think that this theory would take away Solas'es agency and responsibility for his actions. I don't think that this is the case. I believe that he tries everything he can to set free, and to exercise his freedom wherever and whenever he can. I believe the story he tell us about the Quari baker folding extra sugar into her dough, as an act of rebellion, as a thinking being with free will, is really about himself. He's smart, powerful and cunning - a dangerous dog to have on a leash.
I would also love this theory to be true because it's the kind of story you could only tell in fantasy or science fiction genre - we have villains fully responsible for their actions in every other genre - but this is something we can only have in fantasy. It's what I personally love - giving that unique perspective that's not entirely human. Incorporating magic into complex stories and characters, making it really have meaning besides being a weapon or a source of power. To me, Solas is more nuanced as this wise, ancient, moral and enslaved being that is still trying to fight evil and help and educate others despite his tragic circumstances, than he would be as a morally grey villain. This is fantasy genre at its best - it's not just about showy displays of magic power. But showing that power and fighting for what is right is often lonely and hard, not showy, often not appreciated and often misunderstood (think about how it was Frodo who saved everyone at great personal cost, and didn't get respect from his countrymen)
I think this theory is also in line with what we know about Veilguard so far - as Rook we will get to know Solas and his history more. We could discover his secret and help to set him free. This would make Mythal the main villain of Dragon Age series, that has been present throughout all the games. That would give us a chance to save and redeem Solas - no need to change his mind! If we could have somehow remove the amulet of the unbound, and remove Mythal's geas, free Solas on our side would give as a chance to defeat ancient elven gods - and we would need his knowledge and power to do that. What has Solas said during the quest to help his Spirit Friend? 'The summoning Circle. We break it, we break the binding. No orders to kill, no conflict with it's nature, no demon'.
Trick Weekes has also implied there was a tragic story between Solas and Mythal in one of the interviews.
The amulet of the Unbound
In Inquisition we learn a lot about spirits through Cole - and I think this is partly a guise to learn more about Solas. The quest where you decide if you should make Cole human or spirit starts with Cole being horrified of being bound against his will. Solas advises we should get Cole an Amulet of the Unbound:
'I recall stories of amulets used by Rivani seers to protect spirits they summoned from rival mages. A spirit wearing an Amulet of the Unbound was immune to blood magic and binding'
And guess who says he doesn't use blood magic a few times in the game - Solas.
Think about it - being bound to Mythal's will would explain Solas leaving the Inquisition abruptly and without explanation. His genocidal plans that he seems so unhappy and reluctant about.
I think Solas also suspects that being forced to tear down the veil and kill millions of people in the process might turn him into a demon, or something even worse.
What does he say in the Trespasser to a romanced Lavellan, when she offers to join him? 'I would not have you see what I become'. And to befriended Inquisitor: 'I am not a monster'.
What does he say to the mages who bound his Spirit of Wisdom friend that turned into a demon? 'You made it kill. You twisted it against it's purpose. (…) You bound it to obedience, then commanded it to kill, THAT is when it turned'
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Theory summary: Solas is a spirit who Mythal has bound to her will, and the wolf jawbone necklace is an amulet of the unbound, that prevents anyone else from binding him. Mythal is forcing Solas tear down the Veil, which might be in conflict with his purpose and, as a result, could cause Solas to turn into a pride demon (or rather a pride demon on steroids the like of which has not been seen in Thedas yet). Remove the amulet of the unbound and Mythal's geas and Solas is free to make his own decisions - that's how we might be able to redeem him - or rather how he would redeem himself once he has his freedom again.
Ok so now in more detail. I think everyone can agree that given the heavy spirit/demon symbology connected to Solas, he was once a spirit. But I also think that we often get too caught up in ancient elven gods theories, so let's get back to basics for a minute.
So what indicates that Solas is still a spirit?
Basically everything except for him saying 'I am not a spirit' to Cole at one point, lol.
He is obsessed with the Fade and spirits. He's friends with spirits and tries to educate everyone around him that spirits might not be a threat, that they could be befriended and that they are actually people ("Is Cassandra defined by her cheekbones and not her faith? Varric by his chest hair and not his wit?"). From what he has told us in Inquisition, he's dedicated his life to exploring ancient ruins, history and the Fade. He hates tea - he doesn't drink anything caffeinated, so that he could return to the Fade more easily in his sleep - he's homesick, he misses his home and his spirit friends. He goes back to the Fade all the time, whenever he can. He basically does everything that a benevolent spirit of wisdom would do - teach people, learn history, explore fade. He has fun in winter palace - as spirit would watching a historical event with lots of people with different agendas and emotions. His appearance - he doesn't seem to care what he looks like - Dorian and Vivienne make fun of him because of his 'hobo' clothes. He even may be bald because he's come to the conclusion that hair was too much bother and he has better thing to do. He approves of Inquisitor that seeks knowledge and ask him questions. In the balcony scene, he approves of the Inquisitor because of their wisdom, morals and spirit.
If you analyse Inquisition with a theory that Solas STILL IS (not 'was', not 'started as' but still is) a spirit in mind, you discover new meanings and layers to his story - but more on that later. For now let's consider that he is still a spirit, although a very powerful and ancient one, and so all the laws that apply to spirits also apply to him. Let's assume he gets a body after being tricked by Mythal ("He did not want a body. But she asked him to come', "an enemy can attack, but only an ally can betray you. Betrayal is always worse", "I know that mistake (of trusting one's friends) well enough to carve the angles of her face from memory.")
What indicates that he's bound to Mythal?
In Trespasser, you can see that Solas is devastated and sad about his plans for tearing down the Veil. He doesn't really want to do it. And even if he thinks he must do it (to save what remains of Spirits), and he doesn't have good relationship with the Inquisitor, he's still not happy about what is involved with it.
The ending scene in Inquisition, where he returns to Mythal as if he's a scorned dog returning to his master.
Cole thinking that Solas doesn't want to hurt people.
I guess some people might think that this theory would take away Solas'es agency and responsibility for his actions. I don't think that this is the case. I believe that he tries everything he can to set free, and to exercise his freedom wherever and whenever he can. I believe the story he tell us about the Quari baker folding extra sugar into her dough, as an act of rebellion, as a thinking being with free will, is really about himself. He's smart, powerful and cunning - a dangerous dog to have on a leash.
I would also love this theory to be true because it's the kind of story you could only tell in fantasy or science fiction genre - we have villains fully responsible for their actions in every other genre - but this is something we can only have in fantasy. It's what I personally love - giving that unique perspective that's not entirely human. Incorporating magic into complex stories and characters, making it really have meaning besides being a weapon or a source of power. To me, Solas is more nuanced as this wise, ancient, moral and enslaved being that is still trying to fight evil and help and educate others despite his tragic circumstances, than he would be as a morally grey villain. This is fantasy genre at its best - it's not just about showy displays of magic power. But showing that power and fighting for what is right is often lonely and hard, not showy, often not appreciated and often misunderstood (think about how it was Frodo who saved everyone at great personal cost, and didn't get respect from his countrymen)
I think this theory is also in line with what we know about Veilguard so far - as Rook we will get to know Solas and his history more. We could discover his secret and help to set him free. This would make Mythal the main villain of Dragon Age series, that has been present throughout all the games. That would give us a chance to save and redeem Solas - no need to change his mind! If we could have somehow remove the amulet of the unbound, and remove Mythal's geas, free Solas on our side would give as a chance to defeat ancient elven gods - and we would need his knowledge and power to do that. What has Solas said during the quest to help his Spirit Friend? 'The summoning Circle. We break it, we break the binding. No orders to kill, no conflict with it's nature, no demon'.
Trick Weekes has also implied there was a tragic story between Solas and Mythal in one of the interviews.
The amulet of the Unbound
In Inquisition we learn a lot about spirits through Cole - and I think this is partly a guise to learn more about Solas. The quest where you decide if you should make Cole human or spirit starts with Cole being horrified of being bound against his will. Solas advises we should get Cole an Amulet of the Unbound:
'I recall stories of amulets used by Rivani seers to protect spirits they summoned from rival mages. A spirit wearing an Amulet of the Unbound was immune to blood magic and binding'
And guess who says he doesn't use blood magic a few times in the game - Solas.
Think about it - being bound to Mythal's will would explain Solas leaving the Inquisition abruptly and without explanation. His genocidal plans that he seems so unhappy and reluctant about.
I think Solas also suspects that being forced to tear down the veil and kill millions of people in the process might turn him into a demon, or something even worse.
What does he say in the Trespasser to a romanced Lavellan, when she offers to join him? 'I would not have you see what I become'. And to befriended Inquisitor: 'I am not a monster'.
What does he say to the mages who bound his Spirit of Wisdom friend that turned into a demon? 'You made it kill. You twisted it against it's purpose. (…) You bound it to obedience, then commanded it to kill, THAT is when it turned'
This is also implied in the game's artwork: Solas first depicted as a hermit and as a benevolent Spirit of Wisdom discovering the strange new world (with many stylised eyes on his collar representing a spirit/demon), turning into a menacing monster demon after leaving the Inquisition.
This is foreshadowed by what the Nightmare Demon said to Solas (probably hinting on Solas'es actions in the past) : "Have you learned, trickster? That was no victory. Your pride will be your death."
And after a quest to save Solas's Spirit friend in Inquisition we know what happens to Spirits that have turned to demons: they die. Or at least that Spirit, who lived through the ordeal of becoming a demon, chose to die. Is this why Solas's greatest fear is to die alone, presumably in some distant future, after all other spirits from the Fade have been summoned, bound and killed, and the is the only one remaining? Is this the meaning of his dialogue with Varric about the fisherman who lost everyone?
Solas: Once, in the Fade, I saw the memory of a man who lived alone on an island. Most of his tribe had fallen to beasts or disease. His wife had died in childbirth. He was the only one left. He could have struck out on his own to find a new land, new people. But he stayed. He spent every day catching fish in a little boat, every night drinking fermented fruit juice and watching the stars.
Varric: I can think of worse lives.
Solas: How can you be happy surrendering, knowing it will all end with you? How can you not fight?
Varric: I suppose it depends on the quality of the fermented fruit juice.
Solas: You truly are content to sit in the sun, never wondering what you could’ve been, never fighting back?
Varric: Ha, you’ve got it all wrong, Chuckles. This is fighting back.
Solas: How does passively accepting your fate constitute a fight?
Varric: In that story of yours—the fisherman watching the stars, dying alone—you thought he gave up right?
Solas: Yes.
Varric: But he went on living. He lost everyone, but he still got up every morning. He made a life, even if it was alone.
Varric: That’s the world. Everything you build, it tears down. Everything you’ve got, it takes—and it’s gone forever. The only choices you get are to lie down and die or keep going. He kept going. That’s as close to beating the world as anyone gets.
And to make it all even more tragic and sad - according to the Chantry, spirits don't have souls. They die permanently. All the more guilt on Solas'es shoulders for creating the veil. All the more tragic if he's turned into demon in Veligueard.
As for the nature of Mythal's geas - she could have bound Solas by using the well of sorrows. Wouldn't that be a fool proof trap for a spirit of wisdom - wouldn't he fall for all the knowledge contained in the well of sorrows? It looks that ancient elven gods were all about slavery. For all we know Mythal was no diffrenet and she used vallaslins and the Well of Sorrows to enslave elves.
And the lore is consitant in how much Solas hates slavery. In 'Tevinter Nights' tehre is an information that the Dread Wolf forbids his followers to bind Spirits and to use blood magic, and the punishment for those offences is death. He's furious when Inquisitor drinks from the Well and when mages bind his spirit friend. (also rip to those poor mage bastards trying to teach one of the most ancient and powerful spirits of wisdom out there how the spirits work, lmao. And RIP to Dorian for talking about spirits as mindless slaves while talking to Solas).
And after a quest to save Solas's Spirit friend in Inquisition we know what happens to Spirits that have turned to demons: they die. Or at least that Spirit, who lived through the ordeal of becoming a demon, chose to die. Is this why Solas's greatest fear is to die alone, presumably in some distant future, after all other spirits from the Fade have been summoned, bound and killed, and the is the only one remaining? Is this the meaning of his dialogue with Varric about the fisherman who lost everyone?
Solas: Once, in the Fade, I saw the memory of a man who lived alone on an island. Most of his tribe had fallen to beasts or disease. His wife had died in childbirth. He was the only one left. He could have struck out on his own to find a new land, new people. But he stayed. He spent every day catching fish in a little boat, every night drinking fermented fruit juice and watching the stars.
Varric: I can think of worse lives.
Solas: How can you be happy surrendering, knowing it will all end with you? How can you not fight?
Varric: I suppose it depends on the quality of the fermented fruit juice.
Solas: You truly are content to sit in the sun, never wondering what you could’ve been, never fighting back?
Varric: Ha, you’ve got it all wrong, Chuckles. This is fighting back.
Solas: How does passively accepting your fate constitute a fight?
Varric: In that story of yours—the fisherman watching the stars, dying alone—you thought he gave up right?
Solas: Yes.
Varric: But he went on living. He lost everyone, but he still got up every morning. He made a life, even if it was alone.
Varric: That’s the world. Everything you build, it tears down. Everything you’ve got, it takes—and it’s gone forever. The only choices you get are to lie down and die or keep going. He kept going. That’s as close to beating the world as anyone gets.
And to make it all even more tragic and sad - according to the Chantry, spirits don't have souls. They die permanently. All the more guilt on Solas'es shoulders for creating the veil. All the more tragic if he's turned into demon in Veligueard.
As for the nature of Mythal's geas - she could have bound Solas by using the well of sorrows. Wouldn't that be a fool proof trap for a spirit of wisdom - wouldn't he fall for all the knowledge contained in the well of sorrows? It looks that ancient elven gods were all about slavery. For all we know Mythal was no diffrenet and she used vallaslins and the Well of Sorrows to enslave elves.
And the lore is consitant in how much Solas hates slavery. In 'Tevinter Nights' tehre is an information that the Dread Wolf forbids his followers to bind Spirits and to use blood magic, and the punishment for those offences is death. He's furious when Inquisitor drinks from the Well and when mages bind his spirit friend. (also rip to those poor mage bastards trying to teach one of the most ancient and powerful spirits of wisdom out there how the spirits work, lmao. And RIP to Dorian for talking about spirits as mindless slaves while talking to Solas).
Solas removes slave tatoos of the romanced Inquisitor - which in his mind must have been greatest gift that he was able to give her.
In Trespasser I think Solas has a plan to lure Inquisitor, save them from dying and get the mark back. And maybe to give Inquisitor the chance to stop them / figure out his problem? 'We're runnig out of time' - did he somehow managed get off Mythal's leash for a short time? Why would he tell Iquisitor all of this plans if not to give them the change so stop him?
Romance
So what does this all mean for romanced Inquisitor? Plainly put, that they have romanced a Spirit / Demon. Which is problematic morally. Just imagine - he knows all of Inquisitor's thoughts. For most cultures in Thedas he's a mortally dangerous monster that wants to lead you astray. He's also aware of how he would be seen by the Inquisitor if he would tell her the truth. He's afraid of that. He's afraid that he's a monster in their eyes. I think this mural is Solas'es work, and it's him in his tortured demon / spirit form and the romanced Inquisitor
In Trespasser I think Solas has a plan to lure Inquisitor, save them from dying and get the mark back. And maybe to give Inquisitor the chance to stop them / figure out his problem? 'We're runnig out of time' - did he somehow managed get off Mythal's leash for a short time? Why would he tell Iquisitor all of this plans if not to give them the change so stop him?
Romance
So what does this all mean for romanced Inquisitor? Plainly put, that they have romanced a Spirit / Demon. Which is problematic morally. Just imagine - he knows all of Inquisitor's thoughts. For most cultures in Thedas he's a mortally dangerous monster that wants to lead you astray. He's also aware of how he would be seen by the Inquisitor if he would tell her the truth. He's afraid of that. He's afraid that he's a monster in their eyes. I think this mural is Solas'es work, and it's him in his tortured demon / spirit form and the romanced Inquisitor
That's why I think Trick Weekes said that they had to consider consent for this romance carefully. Solas only romances elves - and if the theory about elves being former spirits is true, that would explain a lot. Solas is romancing what he's considering another Spirit, although Inquisitor is not aware of Solas'es or her own nature (think about how Solas always examines Sera - as if to check how much of a spirit is still in her - and it's not much lol). I think it's also why Solas never crosses the boundary of sleeping with the Inquisitor.
Cole: It's not abuse if I ask
Solas: Not always true
If you go through the romance (and the whole Inquisition really) having in mind that Solas is a Spirit, it's even more amazing.
Remember how many times Solas tells her that he will not forget her. It would have been far less painful for him as a spirit to really forget her. But he doesn't, and he says he never will.
There's so much to unpack here. Can ancient powerful Spirits have complex emotions like love? Doesn't it go against what we know: 'spirits don't have emotions, they embody them'. Does it mean that Solas becomes more 'human', against his will? Or is it because spirits reflect back emotions of mortals, and he couldn't help reflecting love back to Lavellan? He seems perfectly happy as a Spirit and not very interested in the material world, unless it affects the Fade and Spirits. With the exception of romanced Inquisitor - could Inquisitor be his first non-spirit love? (Cole: 'It is a man wanting a woman. It never wanted before')
Think about their first kiss - how surprised he is, how he twitches when Lavellan first kisses him. And then: "Things have always been easier for me in the Fade" and "I'm not often thrown by things that happen in dreams"
Think about how he breaks up with Lavellan when she refuses to save his spirit friend. And how he finally admits his love for her when he's certain she's also a spirit of wisdom (the balcony scene)
I believe that when he takes Inquisitor to the waterfall to take away her vallaslin, he wants to confess the truth about being a Spirit to her, and wants to drop his plans about bringing down the veil - but then Mythal's geas kick in and he's not allowed to. It's heart-breaking, because being a spirit he can feel all her pain too. He knew how this would end, and that's why he didn't want to go into this relationship, and always warned Lavellan against it. But he couldn't help himself as he was so lonely, and probably also tempted to experience this kind of love.
Oh and remember the the letter from Mass Effect Adromeda whish the fandom thought was from Solas to romanced Lavellan? It fits the theory too.
Cole: It's not abuse if I ask
Solas: Not always true
If you go through the romance (and the whole Inquisition really) having in mind that Solas is a Spirit, it's even more amazing.
Remember how many times Solas tells her that he will not forget her. It would have been far less painful for him as a spirit to really forget her. But he doesn't, and he says he never will.
There's so much to unpack here. Can ancient powerful Spirits have complex emotions like love? Doesn't it go against what we know: 'spirits don't have emotions, they embody them'. Does it mean that Solas becomes more 'human', against his will? Or is it because spirits reflect back emotions of mortals, and he couldn't help reflecting love back to Lavellan? He seems perfectly happy as a Spirit and not very interested in the material world, unless it affects the Fade and Spirits. With the exception of romanced Inquisitor - could Inquisitor be his first non-spirit love? (Cole: 'It is a man wanting a woman. It never wanted before')
Think about their first kiss - how surprised he is, how he twitches when Lavellan first kisses him. And then: "Things have always been easier for me in the Fade" and "I'm not often thrown by things that happen in dreams"
Think about how he breaks up with Lavellan when she refuses to save his spirit friend. And how he finally admits his love for her when he's certain she's also a spirit of wisdom (the balcony scene)
I believe that when he takes Inquisitor to the waterfall to take away her vallaslin, he wants to confess the truth about being a Spirit to her, and wants to drop his plans about bringing down the veil - but then Mythal's geas kick in and he's not allowed to. It's heart-breaking, because being a spirit he can feel all her pain too. He knew how this would end, and that's why he didn't want to go into this relationship, and always warned Lavellan against it. But he couldn't help himself as he was so lonely, and probably also tempted to experience this kind of love.
Oh and remember the the letter from Mass Effect Adromeda whish the fandom thought was from Solas to romanced Lavellan? It fits the theory too.
I hope that there will be a possibility of happy ending for Solas in Veilguard. I'm cautiously optimistic as this theory would give us a way to help him without having to change his mind.
This post is already impossibly long. I'll try to add more examples of this theory because I love it to bits and I thought about it a lot. It's just hard to put it all together in one go - sorry if it's been a chaotic read, but I hopefully a theory written is better than none, even if it's not put perfectly.
This post is already impossibly long. I'll try to add more examples of this theory because I love it to bits and I thought about it a lot. It's just hard to put it all together in one go - sorry if it's been a chaotic read, but I hopefully a theory written is better than none, even if it's not put perfectly.
