I just love every conversation with Solas and Cole, but this one felt so much like "why are mommy and daddy fighting?" and I am crying... The fact the Solas just makes Cole forget mid-sentence is a *really* nice detail. Solas is SO BAD at keeping his secret, it's a miracle Inky never calls him out.
Inky can call Solas out after Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts. He'll say that he missed the intrigue of balls and they can say, "Oh really? You told me you've never been to one." And he dislikes that you caught him in a lie
@@petitecaptain8525 It's actually one of the only times Solas disapproves of a curious Inquisitor. All other times, he approves whenever you ask questions.
Oh same. Don't get me wrong, I *love* cliché romance tropes, but it would be so good if we had gotten to see The Power Of Friendship™ being just as powerful in influencing Solas and making him question his deeper motives (as heard in the dialogue with Cole, talking about "You're real, and it means everyone could be real", hinting about what is revealed later in the Trespasser DLC). rambling aside I just want more media that shows friendship as being equally important to romance
@@veshialles Yes! We need more of The Power Of Friendship. I mean, love is love! Doesn’t have to be romance! Love of a friend is just as beautiful, or tragic, or intense.
@@veshialles Because modern writers sorta forgot how to write good Bromance without it turning gay, we forget that you can deeply love someone without being attracted to them sexually or romantically and don't get me started on Shippers, any deep relationship between the same sex and some rabid "fan" is gonna demand they be together. And that's why we can't have nice things.
Well if there's some attraction between the two dudes, like staring longingly into each other's eyes, then I side with the shippers. With so little good queer representation, people are so used to looking at every little sign that something could be a queer relationship. Though, I do really enjoy deep friendships between any genders and I too wish there could be that bro friendship between the inquisitor and Solas.
@@DeezNutsssssss she's abjectly caustic to anyone trying to do an elvish playthrough, same to a mage playthough, acts like anyone in any situation other than her exact one is her enamy, and is cruel to cole. I could deal with all but the cruelty to cole. Even the iron bull, raised to be terrified of spirits, is kind to cole. I dont like vivienne for the same reason. What kind of monster does it take to be cruel to Compassion?
@@bookwyrmofthenorth As if you will allow yourself to air your own dirty laundry in front of everyone. Vivienne might be a jerk to Cole, but Cole is not a saint either for not knowing the word confidentiality. Sure he's a spirit and he subscribes to a different mindset from humans, but not everyone can accept him. And general rule of thumb, only offer help if the recepient only wants it.
@@heyjoji1954 not among city elves, who abandoned the tradition, in the Dalish clans, it’s a marking of adulthood. If we had an option for city elf, they wouldn’t have the markings. City elves aren’t Dalish.
@@SeventhheavenDK I’ve had the issue as well, but I rationalize it because the Dalish Inquisitor is very into their religion and stuff... doesn’t make up for the fact the tattoos are kinda ugly though...
It would be very lore-unfriendly to be able to make a dalish character with clean face. I know most players hate the vallaslin, but if it wasn't so inevitable and annoying we could've missed the full message. I personally am a happy person, because I've found a face and a vallaslin that match each other perfectly. The tattoo is rather visible, but my quizy looks so pretty with it. I'll get to the removal soon enough and I'm not even sure if she'd be prettier barefaced 😅🤔
Lavellan: *clearly upset over learning the true meaning of something important to her culture* Sera, an intellectual: I will use this moment to proclaim my own superiority
That is why she is one of the worst characters in the series, tho, I wouldn't blame, she is not intelligent at all, so she must enjoy these rare chances
not saying that it's ever nice to tease someone's culture, but... lavellan didn't really seem all that upset here, and sera has no idea what happened. she doesn't know she's upset. plus i can't think of a single moment any of my characters were visibly upset that she didn't try to console them, so i'm _really_ doubting she's randomly trying to play high and mighty here
David Kings Oh, Sera’s a complete and utter asshole, but I wouldn’t call her anywhere near one of the worst characters in the series. She has a sharp worldview, displays a lot of agency, shines a light on things that rarely get mentioned, has complicated motivations and background... she’s a great, strong character, even if, in real life, I’d be flipping off every chance I get. It’s one of the things that DAI does really well: Creating good, complex, interesting characters, even if you might end up hating them on a personal level (see also Solas and Vivienne).
cole: Who do i go with? Mum or dad? Solas: come with me, ill save the world Lavellan: Come with me and we might be able to stop your father from destroying the world
It's like they wrote out the whole thing, and then did a doubletake and rewrote only his lines to ensure that he showed his own knowledge. Or simply had the writers writing him know more than the rest.
@@M.DaturaDavid Gaider, the head writer, and Patrick Weekes, Solas’ main writer, did sit down and discuss what Gaider wanted to do with the character so that Weekes would know when writing. It turned out very well considering Weekes is now the main writer for the series.
@@magnusprime962 Yeah, I guess that would have been neccesary. Patrick Weeks still did a great job though, considering writing a character like this is quite tricky, even if you're the only one constructing canon.
“You’re real and it means everyone else could be real. It changes everything and it can’t.” Meaning Solas was thinking “I hate what the world has become because of me, but this woman is proof that the world still has beauty and the people I consider so far beneath me are actually worth much more than I thought but I’ve sunk so much into my plan to ‘fix’ everything…”
I love it. You can see Solas trying very hard to dehumanize the rest of the world, even when he doesn't completely buy it in all but the most asshole-ish of playthroughs. Cole sees directly through his shit and Solas has nothing to do but urge him not to dig any further into what he knows to be true and is choosing to ignore
In Trespaser he has this line where he says that waking up after the millenias felt like walking through the world full of Tranquil. And that makes sense comparing it to how he thought at the beginning that people in this world don't feel real, but Inquisitor proves him wrong. It changes everything, because it will make so much harder for him to go through with his plan. I can't wait to see how his story will resolve in DA:4. Will romanced Inquisitor be able to stop him, redeem him, save him?
@@pativi6643 Yeah, like, when he thought people were "as Tranquil", then sundering the fade would be bringing them back their connections with their dreams and their emotions, which I bet most of us have wanted to do - the whole thing with Iniquisitor Ameridan and the rite being impermanent having quite the impact it does because of it, but when he realises that they're not "as Tranquil" but rather, whole, just in a way he didn't consider "whole" before, his plan is then suddenly like overstepping boundaries in an attempt to help; becoming the villain when you meant to save, which is his role. And he hardens himself accordingly. We'll see how wide they will let that difference become in DA:4. Wide I hope.
@@M.Datura As much as I'd like that, his plan unfortunately requires for the world and people to die, so it is not as bringing back their connection to the Fade - at least when considering non elves. We don't know the specifics, but if the Inquisitor is his friend, there is this dialogue in Tresspaser where they can ask to help him: "I will save the Elvhen people, even if it means this world must die." "Let me help you Solas." "You cannot!" "You want to restore the Elvhen people. I would give my life for that." "Would you give the life of every friend you have ever known? There is no glory here. Only a price that I alone will pay." There's also a line where the Inquisitor asks him angrily "Why bother distrupting the Quanari plot if you plan on destroying the world regardless?", and he answers sadly and with regret "Because I'm not a monster. If they must die, I'd rather they died in comfort." We don't really know if it means the Dalish and city elves will be saved. We know that now he considers them people, but he never considered them HIS people. There's so much we don't really know, I'm really curious how the story will pick up... And regarding him hardening himself - interestingly a couple of years ago Bioware released a short story "Tevinter Nights", which briefly shows Solas, it happens five years after the Inquisition. He speaks to Charter, one of Leliana's agents after sparing her life - he asks her to apologize to the Inquisitor, that nothing will stop him from pursuing his plan. He also says that whatever he said during their final conversation in Trespasser was a moment of weakness, and a mistake that he will not repeat. Which especially stings if the Inquisitor in someone's world was a romanced Lavellan. Sooo, I guess time and determination really hardened him.
@@pativi6643 I think you mistook my comment for something else than musings. Also none of what you said refers to what I said. I was pointing towards what you said in regards to his line about "as Tranquil". The thing I was saying in regards to the connection wasn't neccesarily about the people that currently live, but about people (general). If he thought the world would be empty if he went through with his plot then he'd not have done it.
Cole is so precious! But I don't get why people in the comments like Vivienne... Like do you really get her character at all? Or do you just like characters who a selfish and power hungry and are using people just for their own gain?
There is another version of this dialgue where Cole mimics all Solas' words from the cutscene which is even more painful... I think the decision to break up with Solas after the removal of the vallaslin is the one that triggers dialague a or dialogue b Edit: the trigger for the different dialogue is the actual remover of the vallaslin
this is why i dont like sera your friend is here in front of you opening up about something that obviously means a lot to her and you just had to use that moment to laugh at the dalish
Certain scenes with Sera are really fun. I really enjoy playing pranks with her, and that she makes you cookies, and her notes about how she wants to get you a nice gift are really cute. But then she screws it up by being an asshole at the worst times. Like, if she _started out_ like that and then matured over the course of the game, that'd be one thing, but she doesn't grow at all. At least she's more tolerable when you're a human or dwarf. :|
Sometimes that's just what you need, she puts things in perspective. You definitely need someone who doesn't believe in any of that tosh and won't mince around to 'be nice' to bring you back to reality when everyone's basically treating you like a bloody god. She will tell you how it is. She's not the friend you wanted, she's the friend you need.
@@lasura . My favorite scene with Sera is when I kick her out of the Inquisition after the March at Vershiel, especially after the Inquisitor call her out for the hypocrite she is and Sera is left speechless.
@@grinstrashcan Well, i think its easy to question weather solas IS a bad guy or not. Bad to some people for sure. But Solas i wouldnt really say is a bad guy, and if cole fully understands who he is, then i think think cole would perceive him as a bad guy either
@@joker80james Solas is an elf who saved the world from the Evanuris (and possibly the extinction of Titans) and seeks to save it again; even outside of his perspective of all the world as tranquil, Thedas is wracked by blights, oppression, and an incoming war with the Qunari that is sure to be devastating. If those can't be stopped, then perhaps even tearing the veil and flooding the world with spirits and the chaotic responsiveness of the fade will save more people than leaving the world to it's Fate. At least after the onset of such a world, people will find it better. But perhaps there's a way for Solas to achieve his goal without so much death.
I doubt Cole would punch him. He'd probably would be really sad though, considering Solas was his friend yet he's choosing to hurt so many innocent people.
He's talking about the living elves separated from the fade. The separation is their mask of mirrors. Solas is having second thoughts, because he saw the hurt he brought by revealing the woman he loved part of the truth, removing the mask of mirrors. If it brings pain, is he doing right by his people trying to reconnect them to the fade?
I actually sorta liked sera, or at least agreed with aspects of her views (regarding nobles) but after the shit she said here? I was pissed. I wish there was an option to be way more angry with her about it. I made up for it by giving her the boot
The thing about Sera is that she ultimately is a child. She never grew up and realized that real life is complicated, and she refuses to do so throughout the main game. It’s not until Trespasser that she starts to learn and become better. It was an interesting choice in the game to have so many companions who don’t change. Varric and Josephine don’t really need to, but Solas, Sera, and Vivienne all have major flaws that hold them back as people and never truly grow from the Inquisitor’s influence, at least in the main game.
Not just block but force him to forget the train of thought altogether. He does it again after you beat Corypheus too - you can find Cole upstairs in the tavern trying to reach out to Solas after he leaves. He'll be talking to himself and saying Solas' thoughts out loud (in Solas's cadence). He talks a bit about how the burden he now has to be bear is his alone to worry about, and then goes "Cole, though you reach out in compassion, I must now insist that you FORGET" at which point Cole spaces out, panics briefly as he struggles to remember what they were talking about, and then just kinda awkwardly tells the Inquisitor that he's ready to head out and help more people as usual.
This is why I can't bring myself to romance Solas, I read about it and it sounds so heartbreaking and then this option. He takes away something so identifying and turns away from you. At least with keeping the markings he has more of a reason to turn away, since you clearly would not accept him being Fen Harel. But if you choose to remove the markings, you could listen to him and try to understand his actions. I get why there is no option to hear his side as it's a game, but I can't take that kind of heartbreak. Same reason why I will never sacrifice the Chargers, I will not break Dorian's heart and lose a good friend.
@@Monochrome_11 right ? That way she’s happy and will try to save her friend from himself, but I’m really curious to know who the fuck the next MC will be, the different characters we saw in the recent trailers hinted the return of origins stories, like one where I think you’re an antivan crow, and one where you could be part of a shady tevinter organisation I think we’ll be a criminal or at least an outlaw in the beginning of da4 this time but how could it link to solas in the end without being the inquisitor or part of the inquisition ? I’m really hyped about the story now 😭
Honestly Ive always really hated how Solas removes the Vallaslin. Like yes, it WAS a slave marking, but the meaning for the Dalish had completely changed. Even if it wasn't a connection to the old elves like they thought, it was still part of their culture. Solas removing it would make her pretty much an outlaw among her own people, she would be looked down upon like a city elf, even if she told the real meaning behind the Vallaslin. Meanings of things can change over time, and even with the Vallaslin being a slave marking, it still has major significance in the modern Dalish culture. Solas was out of line to remove it from her, as he really isnt a part of the Dalish at all.
Solas is literally one of the Dalish Gods as it were. And it is completely optional to have the markings removed. And is an option only available to a Female Elven Inquisitor who Romances Solas. A Male Elven Inquisitor is never given this option even if they are on good terms with Solas.
@@clothar23 I know that he is but still. The meaning of the markings had completely changed so the Dalish are not Solas' culture at all, that was my point. Like I get where he was coming from but even the offer completely neglects the inquisitor's culture
@@n_mcg I don't know about you but if I found out that the markings on my face were originally slave marking designating who I belonged too...well I would want the damn things off my face as quickly as possible. My only real problem with Solas offering to remove a Female elf's markings is his refusal to do the same for a Male Elf. If he truly believed that removing them was the right thing to do the Dread Wolf would make the same offer to any Dalish regardless of their gender.
@@clothar23 I guess Im looking at it as the same way as like reclaiming a slur I guess. Although it originally was a negative thing, it evolved into something entirely different and connects the culture to their past. I agree with what you are saying though, Solas is only doing it for a selfish reason, hence why he doesnt take it off a male elf
If you tell Solas not to remove it, he will respond that lavellan is perfect the way she is. He respects whatever the choice the players make. So I don't see why he gets hate for just telling the truth.
"we need to do better!" yeah because every dalish clan has a god in disguise to teach him how the ancient elven empire really was. Seriously, how could the Dalish do better with what they know and what they have? that's pretty stupid.
I think she's referring specifically to that the dalish, as seen at other times, can be really stubborn about including more in their understanding of their own history. It was no doubt also a way to lighten the mood - it seems a very "laugh or cry" kind of moment.
Cole adding that the Inquisitor was “embarrassed,” to the last interaction is so subtle and well done. I know there are a lot of problems with inquisition’s writing but the character dialogue is not one. Those little subtleties just put the nail in the coffin for my Inquisitor’s heartbreak 😭
Sera's feelings towards the Dalish are perfectly valid and understandable, but her *constant* mocking of Dalish culture right in Lavellan's face is infuriating. Especially when you romance her, she's such an awful partner for Lavellan. Unless you're specifically role-playing as an Elf that never took her culture seriously.
1:30 This moment is if Lavellan keeps her vallaslin, isn't it (and tells Solas to fuck off w/ the break up)? The second one is when she lets him remove it.
You missed a line. If Ii remember correctly, I think Dorian makes a comment about the Vallaslin (then again, it's been a few months since I saw the immediate reactions to its removal)
I love Sera but this was one of the moments in the game I was like "GIRL IF U DONT GET OUT OF MY FACE RN" and almost kicked her out of the Inquisition. Her development in Trespasser is actually really beautiful to see. She has a lot of maturing to do, which makes sense given she is one of the youngest companions.
ok so that's the reactions of the companions that, well, react then. Dorian, Bull, Blackwall, Varric and Vivviene don't react then? (is that everyone that was missing from this/doesn't react?)
These events occur if you romance Solas. Only available to Elf women. The Female Elven Mage is the canon Inquisition story perspective IMO. Everything just fits right.
0:45 ...I get her most of the time, but I would have offended as hell 😅 At least give me the option to say "it's unfortunate or we're trying" Good grief...!
Thank you. I have only seen this on RU-vid and have been wondering what else would happen if you remove your markings. Love this. I just wish they had gone more into detail. I mean it is a pretty big thing. I'd probably be pretty nosy
I love seeing people get angry over Sera’s comment, completely ignoring that she was right about the Dalish. They’re complete hypocrites who think any elf born into human society is somehow lesser, and yet they don’t even understand their own history and literally brand themselves with slave markings.
@@federicomachado811 Did you seriously not read my comment. You can dislike a nation or organization but not dislike certain members. She doesn’t like what the Dalish represent, but she learns throughout the game that the inquisitor is different.
Oh she's right, is she? Is that why she feels the need to emotionally manipulate an Inquisitor who is romancing her if they don't agree that the Elves must have worshipped demons?