#dumat theorizing

[bunabi]

Glad I picked up the lore books because Dreamers can see the future and its nowhere on the wiki lol (p.37 of vol. II)

That puts Solas's meltdown and the actions of past powerful somniari into perspective a lot more

The whole excerpt feels like DA:V foreshadowing. Here's parts of it:

Immense magical power seems to go hand in hand with ego and the idea of exploiting one's fate, or somehow avoiding it, reliably comes up sooner or later.

Even when the future can be known, it's those who are born with the gift, like Darinius himself, who are most likely to bleed for it.

This, I think, is the best possible argument to not meddle with the future: whenever someone tries, the Maker sees to it that the outcome is as ironic as possible.

[doctormage]

I apparently didn’t pick it up in my playthru but here it is from the wiki 👍

so do we know which old gods correlate to which evanuris besides elgar’nan/lusacan and ghila’nain/razikale? I wanna know how much liberty I’m taking w my headcanons lmao

[nadas-dirthalen]

Veilguard Theorycrafting Week 2: My Best Guess at 1200 Years of Mythal Shenanigans

Welcome, one and all! While I count down to Veilguard's Halloween release, I'm going to dissect one tinfoil hat theory I have per week.

This week: I'm going to try and guess what Mythal has been up to since the end of the First Blight—and why Vivial, one of Andraste's children, is the key to understanding everything about modern Mythal.

Elaboration, brainstorming, and sources below the cut! Be warned: this post is LONG.

SPOILERS for the Trespasser DLC, Tevinter Nights, and all Dragon Age games so far, INCLUDING VEILGUARD PROMOTIONAL CONTENT.

I'll be honest, folks, I thought I was going to do this post in a later week. But with as much content about the story coming out as it is right now, I wanted to get ahead of the game on Morrigan/Morriflemythal speculation.

The tl;dr here is: I think Mythal started the First Blight with the intention of finding a human host. I think she became Andraste, and that every one of her identities thereafter has been a descendant of Andraste.

So without further ado, let's go over this chronologically. Walk with me.

Part 1: Who Mythal Was Before Her Death & Why She Was Killed

I'm going to briefly gloss over this portion, because I already wrote a post in this series on what I think of the relationship between Mythal, lyrium, and the other Evanuris. Find all the specifics there!

Suffice it to say:

Mythal, though sea-coded, has more dealings with "the earth" than most of the other Evanuris (that we know of), and we know "earth" to be synonymous with "Deep Roads" and "lyrium."

The other Evanuris fought her, and each other, over this.

Mythal, however, avoided outright bloodshed for a long time. She was their judge. She advised them on nonlethal combat.

Various Flemeth dialogues imply that there was marital/domestic violence that Elgar'nan inflicted upon Mythal, up to and including SA. I don't have enough sources to affirm any specifics, and I don't want to get into very triggering territory, so I will leave it there.

We know that a spark of Mythal's soul lived on after her murder, and that she was never imprisoned by Solas like the other Evanuris. Thus, she has been free, unlike the others (that we know of) to seek other hosts for her spirit.

But she would not find success in this for millennia. Freeing her spirit to move while her archdemon was trapped belowground may have proved impossible. To find a new host, she may have had to free her archdemon — and for that, she would need existing mortals to do the freeing.

I (and many others) think she would not find success in this until the First Blight — the one that ended the same year Andraste was born.

Part 2: The First Blight & the Archdemon Dumat

For a long time, many people theorized that Dumat was Elgar'nan's archdemon. Many people theorized that archdemons were something else entirely, but recently it was confirmed (more or less?) that an archdemon is a dragon containing the sundered spirit of an Evanuris, much like Corypheus' did, to house their soul and keep them immortal.

But I think Mythal used the First Blight as a way to free Dumat's soul and transfer it to a living host.

Let me sum up the First Blight as fast as I can:

It began (supposedly) after the Magisters Sidereal crossed physically into the Fade and visited the "Golden City."

They did so because their gods (the archdemons) began whispering to them — and Dumat was the first to do so.

The archdemon Dumat then led this Blight for two hundred years.

During that time, Dumat was killed once, only to come back later. This is because his soul (like Corypheus in DAI) resurrected in the body of another darkspawn shortly thereafter.

It ended at The Battle of Silent Plains in -203 Ancient (just south of the city Solas, for those keeping track at home) and caused the explosion that gave the Silent Plains their name, for nothing could grow there in the ~1200 years thereafter.

To me, Dumat being first to whisper to the Magisters Sidereal bears similarities to Mythal whispering to Flemeth during the hour of Flemeth's greatest need. I believe she knew that unleashing a Blight was the only way to move her sundered spirit out of her archdemon — and into a living host on the surface.

We know that typically, during a Blight, a Grey Warden must be the one to land the killing blow on an Archdemon — and that, if successful, both the soul of the Warden and the soul of the Archdemon are destroyed.

We also know there is one way to circumvent this: by a Warden impregnating someone during a ritual that we learn from Flemeth. This results in a baby born that houses the soul of an old god — AKA, we now know from the DA:tV combat release video, a sundered piece of an Evanuris (presumably).

A mortal host, free of the Blight. Just what Mythal would want.

Enter: Andraste, born in -203 Ancient.

Part 3: From Silence, Justice. From Dumat, Andraste.

Firstly: look at that beautiful crown, people. That lovely crown in Dragon Age: Origins in the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Don't worry: we'll see it again and again and again in later games. :)

It's not just the year of Andraste's birth that makes me think she was born with Dumat's soul. I think her parentage is just as important to my understanding of her origins.

Namely, that her father may have married Andraste's mother, Brona, but also fathered a child with his advisor on matters of alchemy, who was said by Andraste to whisper of the old gods. I can find no record of anyone else in that time period who might have access to understanding of the ritual to create an old-god-imbued child from the slaying of an archdemon.

Now, you may be asking, How do we know that other daughter wasn't born with the soul of Dumat? Why Andraste, specifically?

The truth is: either daughter may have been born with the soul of Dumat. But crucially, only one daughter survived their childhood. And the circumstances of that death scream "weird magic" to me.

Andraste woke up one stormy night to find her sister following lights into the woods. She followed her sibling, after which an unspecified event of violence occurred. Halliserre was found dead in a burned clearing, having suffered wounds beyond weapons, while fires sparked throughout the forest. Andraste was found pale but alive, uncertain of what she had seen, and developed a sickness of the lungs that would prevent her from bearing children for a decade. [...] In the aftermath of the event, Andraste reported hearing voices and talked of strange auras and the sounds of bells. Several years later, Andraste began saying that heresy had played a part in her sister's death, suggesting that Halliserre's mother had been involved in worship of the Old Gods.

My theory is this: one of the sisters was born with the soul of Dumat. It does not matter which, since Flemeth was later able to remove an old god soul from a child in DA:I (more on that later), so we know that that magic is possible even in Andraste's time.

What we do know is that the surviving daughter, Andraste, reported hearing voices. She claimed a connection with the Maker.

But regardless of who was speaking to her in dreams and meditations after this moment, I believe it was Mythal whispering to her in that forest. And whatever happened, I believe that Andraste emerged not just with an old god soul, but another piece of Mythal. The same that would later travel into Flemeth, and then Morrigan.

Andraste went into that forest a child, old god soul or not. She came out the vessel for an Evanuris, holding knowledge that she had no idea how to comprehend.

And regardless of the events of her life, that soul would continue to travel after her death—into the souls of her daughters, the only children she ever bore herself.

Part 4: Andraste's Daughters

Andraste only ever had two children of her own: daughters Ebris and Vivial. I think Mythal influenced both girls from the beginning, because, "They were kept out of the public eye and not permitted to marry, though both had consorts."

In short: they could not marry, but they were allowed to bear children.

Following Andraste's death, I think Mythal's soul went into the first of these daughters: Ebris. It makes sense for her to have chosen the elder child, the one likely to be wiser and more experienced. But we know just one thing about Ebris:

Ebris had but one child, Alli Vemar, who perished on a voyage to Denerim—less than a month after her mother fell to plague, and without children of her own.

Ebris — Mythal's next choice for a vessel — died. Less than a month later, the one who I believe to have been Mythal's next choice for a host, Alli, perished on a voyage. And after Alli, there were no more children (nevermind daughters) in that line. No new hosts that were immediate descendants.

So where should Flemeth turn but Vivial? There was just one problem.

The younger daughter, Vivial, was more controversial: a strong-headed woman who defied her family by falling in love with a mage of Tevinter, Regulan. Vivial and Regulan went into self-imposed exile as the Exalted March began, and into hiding following Andraste's betrayal and murder.

Vivial had been in hiding since just after Andraste's murder. By the time Alli died, Vivial was gone. And her descendants?

What became of Vivial and her descendants is largely unknown for one primary reason: she had only daughters. Each of those daughters only had daughters. They married into other families and took other names, and in the chaos of the Second Blight, all traces of survivors were lost. Andraste's true bloodline, if it exists, lies solely in the descendants of Vivial.

Gone. All of the daughters of Andraste's daughters, and their daughters, and their daughters, were scattered across Thedas, all with different surnames.

If Mythal wanted to continue existing in living hosts, she would have to find them. And it would take hundreds of years.

Part 5: Heir and Spare... and Spare... and Spare...

It's only rumor that Flemeth was born in 3:00 Towers. Much of Flemeth, unsurprisingly, is rumor. But one thing, Morrigan confirms as true: she is Flemeth's daughter, and this means she is doomed to become a vessel for Flemeth one day.

But how did that begin? Legend says Flemeth was an abomination, harboring Vengeance, but this does not seem to be the full story. From the wiki:

Although Morrigan at first believed Flemeth to be an abomination, she later realized that Flemeth is not truly human. Flemeth herself reveals to The Inquisitor that the Fereldan legends of the Witch of the Wilds share one aspect that is true: Flemeth fled the Alamarri and asked spirits for help. Flemeth then admits that Mythal answered, and in exchange for fulfillment of Flemeth's request, she possessed her.

I believe Flemeth is the first of Vivial's descendants (that we know of) who reached out directly to Mythal in a way that would actually reach Mythal. I believe Mythal leapt at the chance to help Flemeth, in exchange for living within Flemeth.

And once the two were one and Flemeth understood Mythal's true aims, she would proceed to birth daughter after daughter to keep she and Mythal alive, all to pursue vengeance against (presumably) the Evanuris who killed her in the first place.

Part 6: The Morrigan of It All (and the Kieran of it all, too)

We know Morrigan is next in line for becoming Mythal's vessel. We know it for sure from the recent Veilguard release date trailer, but this has been a looming threat since Dragon Age: Origins. Morrigan admits this herself.

But I think there is more than that, because of the Kieran of it all.

I don't think Bioware are clumsy enough to write that in only some world states, the archdemon Urthemiel's soul still lives on. It would be impossible to properly bring into Veilguard if there was just sometimes an old god kid running around in a game all about vanquishing the threat of the Evanuris and their archdemons.

I think they knew this in Inquisition. In all Inquisition world states, if Kieran exists, Mythal removes Urthemiel's old god soul from his body. She says, "I am not the only one carrying the soul of a being long thought lost."

I posit that this is the reason for the "appointment" that Flemeth "had to keep" at the start of Dragon Age 2: that she was passing by Lothering on her way to Denerim, where she was going to do... something with Uthemiel's soul. If she arrives in Denerim and does not find it, she understands that only Morrigan can have done something about it, using Flemeth's grimoire.

What Mythal intended to do with Urthemiel's soul, we cannot possibly understand. In our impression of things, if the Warden or Alistair sacrificed themselves to kill Urthemiel, that should be it. Both souls should be erased.

But if that were truly the case, why would Solas be so afraid of the Grey Wardens attempting to find and slay the old gods in Inquisition? Wouldn't that be a good thing, to see them destroyed?

I think those old god/archdemon souls are lurking elsewhere — and I think Mythal might know where. Whether that means the other Evanuris have been doing more than we think they have since the Veil's creation remains to be seen.

How do I know? Because Mythal passed her soul onto Morrigan at the end of Inquisition, in that last scene with the eluvian, before Solas arrived (which was confirmed in a dev note, but I do not currently have the source for it). Once he did arrive, he took what power remained — but I believe it is Urthemiel, not Mythal's soul, that he took.

Part 7: Veilguard Predictions

Now, time for me to dump various things from my Veilguard bingo card. :) In no particular order:

I think we're going to realize that Solas is carrying around some of Urthemiel. Maybe.

If this is true, then I think we're going to see more of the Evanuris than just Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain, and the others that we see might be hiding within mortals. Maybe even allies...

(Did someone say Bellara-Dirthamen? Dirthara? Me. I did. I wrote a post about some of it.)

I think Morrigan is going to confirm all of the Andraste-Vivial-Morriflemythal theorycrafting I've done above, and explain how this relates to the Tevinter Chantry.

If ALL of this is true, I think Morriflemythal (if not Emmrich/the Mourn Watch) might be our key to un-demoning Lucanis, as well as un-demoning Solas, and whoever the hell else needs un-demoning.

And, of course, a million other things that could happen!

If you got this far, thanks always for reading. And if I'm wildly off base or you have something to add, lemme know! <3

[karnesada]

Dirthamen Lore

Codex pdf download: DAO DA2 DAI DAV

Dalish myths

dirthamen, keeper of secrets - the tale of the two brothers who were separated walking the shifting paths of the Fade. Spirits of Fear and Deceit attempted to sow both in Dirthamen, but he bound and bade them take him to find Falon'din, where the twins were reunited.

world of thedas, v. 1 - Dirthamen is said to have given the elves the gift of knowledge and the value of loyalty and faith in family.

falon'din, friend of the dead - Falon'din and Dirthamen walked the Fade with those of the People who had entered uthenara. After elves became mortal, some remained with Falon'din in the Fade and never returned. Though they took counsel with Dirthamen, his wisdom was lost since they did not return to the waking world. Elves bury their dead with cedar branches to scatter Dirthamen's ravens from the corpse.

on bears - Dirthamen gave one secret to each creature when the world was new. The foxes, birds, and hares traded their secrets to Andruil for new gifts. Dirthamen tore Andruil's gifts from the foxes, birds, and hares, but honored bears for steadfastly keeping Dirthamen's gift to them.

varterral - "before Arlathan", Dirthamen had a flourishing city in the mountains. A high dragon made its nest there, and his people prayed for four days that Dirthamen would help them. He at last formed a beast from the mountains and fallen trees, the varterral, which became the guardian of his city. After Fen'harel's betrayal, the varterral remained even as the city crumbled. It remains to this day.

World tales

twins in shadow - an academic treatise that examines whether or not there was a familial relationship between Dirthamen and Falon'din. Tevinter-translated texts refer to them as "twin souls". The oldest stories never name them directly, referring to Falon'din as "Dirthamen's shadow" and Dirthamen as "Falon'din's reflection." The scholar does not believe it was a romantic relationship, but posits it may have been an allegory for complex ancient relationships.

the mysterious, hooded figure iconography - a sculpture of a hooded figure in Citadel du Corbeau casts a shadow in the shape of a raven over the keep. Human scholars of elven history theorize such sculptures were made as representations of Dirthamen.

constellation tenebrium - scholars believed it was originally associated with Falon'din since the shape is an owl.

Dirthamen does not have a constellation attributable to him.

constellation silentir - historically attributed to Dumat, the old god of Silence. Interestingly, scholars believe it was earlier attributed to Mythal.

Ancient legends

ancient elven writing (dirthamen's sinner) - a sinner belonging to Dirthamen took wings, which was treason as it was considered a divine shape. Dirthamen claimed Ghilan'nain bade the sinner take that shape, and begged Mythal for protection. She spurned him, and let Elgar'nan judge him.

this forms the substance of the theory that there’s a connection between Dirth and Ghil. much of this post is disproven by veilguard, although the mosaic pairings are interesting. this is a better read on this story imo, that Ghil's "urging" of the sinner was a manipulation to weaken Dirthamen's position with Elgar'nan (and by extension, Falon'din, who waged a civil war against Elgar'nan). this lines up with the constant Evanuris infighting Solas and the Veil Jumpers talk about so much. but in sum, aside from the mention of her in this codex (the mention itself is hearsay), there is no lore connection between Dirth and Ghil beyond the title of 'Evanuris'.

the lost temple of dirthamen - a prayer by the priests who dwelt in the temple in what is now northeastern Orlais, uttered after Dirthamen disappeared with the other gods. The high priest sought to sacrifice the others to keep them imprisoned and seal the temple from outsiders. The priests rebelled, dismembered the high priest, and used his mind, tongue, hands, ears, eyes, and heart to protect the secrets he had.

pantomime theater mask of dirthamen - "In narrative, he is the secret behind what beckons, whose reveal answers questions first denied, then demanded."

Solas' dialogue

To Elgar'nan: "Our deepest mysteries [came] from Dirthamen."

Primary sources (letters, dialogue (not from Solas), etc.)

mythal's memories as relayed by morrigan - a fragment is "one small piece of many formed when something greater is broken...when a spirit is broken, it may shatter into pieces. each holding part of the original. among the ancient elves who became known as gods, Dirthamen and his "brother" Falon'din are but one example." Fragments of spirits can get along with each other.

Modern studies (Veilguard analysis)

elven gods and tevinter gods - We're still arguing about: Dirthamen (secrets) = Dumat, Dragon of Silence (secrets, silence... makes sense?)...If it helps, Dumat liked toads. Did Dirthamen?

Disputed sources (theories, datelined language, etc.) since there's so little on Dirthamen, delving into the secrets is appropriate. Most of them predate Veilguard, and some theories reference things we now know are not connected to Dirthamen (the Crossroads and the eluvians, for one).

the voices in the well - the first voice beckons 'go to him, dirth'. Some have speculated that this refers to Dirthamen. But it's more likely to be part of any of the Elvhen words that begin with 'dirth', the word "for knowledge or secrets." It could simply have been, "go to him, [and] learn".

the repeat of raven imagery in the elven ruins we cross in Trespasser and in Vir Dirthara.

a large post compiling theories on Dirthamen from the position that he helped "Mythal and Solas free their people." - much of this is discredited and can now be attributed to Solas, particularly Dirthamen's connection to the eluvians. Other theories have more value. This poster also took the position that Razikale was associated with Dirthamen, which we know is not accurate.

Modern studies (Veilguard analysis)

elven gods and tevinter gods - We're still arguing about -Dirthamen (secrets) = Dumat, Dragon of Silence (secrets, silence... makes sense?)

[hoboblaidd]

You have 12bajillion asks from me already but here's one more! During his rebellion, how would Solas' treatment of Dirthamen's lands/temples/domain, reasonably the equivalent of libraries, been different compared to the treatment of the other Evanuris' temples, if there was any difference at all? Is there enough Wisdom left to be gentle with them, or is there too much Pride to let anything stand?

pantomime theater mask of dirthamen - "In narrative, he is the secret behind what beckons, whose reveal answers questions first denied, then demanded."

Depends what’s in the “library.”

Before I dive in, I'll acknowledge upfront that I tend to go very hardline on the Evanuris, and I could be wrong in that. People are complex, and the Evanuris were people, and frankly we don't have as much primary source info as I'd like on most of them. So this is just my read.

So. If the "library" was something like Vir Dirthara, I think Solas would leave most things in tact (put a pin in how much Evanuris propaganda is in Vir Dirthara, because we’ll be coming back to that). He's got Fen'harel statues in Vir Dirthara, and most of that knowledge wasn't destroyed, so that's a safe bet he'd tend to be more "gentle" with a genuine library. He’s not at the Emmrich-level of “oh no those poor books!” while fighting through blighted Weisshaupt lol, but he is something of a scholar and obviously supports free-thinking, which necessarily includes freedom of learning.

But I have a hard time believing Dirthamen would have only innocent or innocuous temples that are "places of learning", for three reasons.

First, we do have one of his Temples in Inquisition, and it's a uniquely horrifying place. It's easily darker than any of the other Evanuris strongholds we encounter until we learn what Ghilan'nain was up to. The following was uttered after Dirthamen disappeared, yes, but I think it does a pretty good job showing the influence/roles of his “secrets”on his priests: The Lost Temple of Dirthamen: The secrets are madness in our ears, but they are ours. The Highest One cannot take them from us. Only Dirthamen, our Keeper, only he and if he does not take the secrets, they are ours forever. If that’s a library, it’s a really shitty one.

Second, Dumat, the God of Silence. Known as such for “the vows of silence undertaken by his acolytes.” Sounds a lot like the priests of the Temple of Dirthamen. Dumat was the most powerful (assuming after Lusacan, or maybe most powerful bc he was the loudest idk) of the Old Gods, who taught early magisters blood magic and successfully lured the seven magisters to crack open the Golden City. Meaning, Dirthamen was the one who figured out how to start breaking out of the Evanuris' Fade prison. The lost city of Barindur also has a nice little handshake between Dumat’s reputation of silence and secrets: Not a single stone of Barindur remains, and nothing of the once-powerful city has ever been found. A secret now, that can never be told. Silence doesn't equate to free learning. Unless we read it as "Dirthamen was the god of 'keep quiet in the library, you plebeians'" which is very silly.

As an interesting aside, scholars theorized that Dumat’s constellation Silentir was originally associated with Mythal. Irrelevant but cool.

Third, the association of secrets with silence, and the logical leap from that to author/disseminator of propaganda. You learn secrets, you keep the secrets quiet, you decide what of that information the masses “should” know and/or believe to be true. This is really just headcanon, so take it with a grain of salt and I could be convinced otherwise by any Dirthamen rpers out there. But much like the Ben Hassrath, what information is learned and what information is disseminated are two sides of the same coin. The Evanuris’ propaganda is incredibly long-lived. It was clever and insidious. It was also all over Vir Dirthara, a library chock full of raven statues (hello there, Fear and Deceit). I suck at math, but at least half of the codexes we find there are Evanuris propaganda (the raising of the Sonallium is an excellent example). Idk, I just think historically it makes sense for the secret keeper to be the propaganda arm of an empire. Plus why would an empire built on slave labor/forced adulation want its people - most of whom were oppressed - to have free access to anything that encourages free thought?

If this is all true, it could be like Solas said, Elgar'nan made all the (already monstrous) Evanuris worse. Maybe Dirthamen was better once, so he did have proper libraries or other places of learning.

Or again, maybe none of this is true and he really was out there with libraries.

[pinacoladamatata]

figured some people may not have heard this theory; so some theory bullshitting about evanuris, their symbols, and old gods predictions/lore speculation under the cut

It's a decently popular theory that the Evanuris are the old gods under different names. So we have the evanuris

Elgar'nan: God of Vengeance

Mythal: the Great Protector - now known to be Flemeth/came to Flemeth at some point long time ago.

Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide

Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets

Andruil: Goddess of the Hunt

Sylaise: the Hearthkeeper

June: God of the Craft

Ghilan'nain: Mother of the Halla

Fen'Harel: The Dread Wolf aka Solas. known to have been in uthanera until like, yeah you know.

not counting solas, that is 8 gods. 7 of which he locked away, bc Mythal was already dead (kindof). Then, this art we got, only 2 of 7 bells are still lit. and the number 2 leads us to the archdemons

Now Archdemons, which we know are 'awakened old gods' that used to be worshiped in Tevinter.

Dumat, the Dragon of Silence and the archdemon of the First Blight

Zazikel, the Dragon of Chaos and the archdemon of the Second Blight

Toth, the Dragon of Fire and the archdemon of the Third Blight

Andoral, the Dragon of Slaves and the archdemon of the Fourth Blight

Urthemiel, the Dragon of Beauty and the archdemon of the Fifth Blight (This is the one that gets soul sucked into baby Kieran if you do the old god ritual)

Razikale, the Dragon of Mystery

Lusacan, the Dragon of Night

The only thing is it's hard to tell WHICH evanuris could be Which old god. But with the new dragon age 4 trailers and art, we see those evanuris symbols and we Know that 2 of them are going to feature, and Razikale and Lusacan are the only old gods left, who could be any of the evanuris really, but my guess is

Dumat = Falon'Din, killed in blight 1

Zazikel = June killed in blight 2

Toth = Sylaise kileld in blight 3

Andoral = Andruil killed in blight 4

Urthemiel = Dirthamen either killed in blight 5 or turned into Keiran

Razikale = Ghilan'nain

Lusacan = Elgar'nan

and honestly any could be any of them, I'm just kindof going off vibes. The last 2 are just more heavily theorized to be Elgar and Ghil.

I want to point out that Razikale could also be Dirthamen, since mystery and secrets line up fairly well, and Lusacan could also be Falon'Din, ala night and death. and I personally think Razikale could be Andruil and that Urthemiel may have been Ghilan'nain but I have no evidence other than Andruil's symbol of a bow kinda looks like the one headpiece and again, vibes. There's ALSO the constellation codex you can use to try and line these up but it's like, complica- ANyway, it could be any of them really

this image below also shows 2 figures, who we can kindof just assume are like, 2 other big bads

Given the shape of their heads/imagery, a lot of people theorize that the one on the left is Ghilan'nain, and the one on the right is Elgar'nan, but we also don't know for sure. The main points for these 2 has to do with Elgar'nan being associated with the sun, and Ghilan'nain being associated with monsters.

There's also This image where someone tries to line up all Evanuris names to symbols, from lysergic_fox on reddit

and now this from the new reveal trailer- 7 pillars with the evanuris symbols atop them, although we can only see 4 in the clip

so yeah i think a lot of signs are pointing in the evanuris = the archdemons direction and there's 2 left + maybe Kieran who used to hold the soul of one of them, but after DAI's ending of Mythal taking ~something~ (probably the old god soul) from Keiran and then Solas ??killing?? Mythal and that blue smoke, Solas may have both Mythal and the other old god baby soul, idk wtf happened there.

another reasoning for thinking evanuris = old gods actually comes in form of a codex in the Bellitanus constellation in DAI, where it shows Urthemial and the constellation looks like this; compared to one of the evanuris/bell symbols on the right

if this theory is true, it seems likely that the black city is also part of arlathan, and that the BAD (big ass dragon) in the trailer may be of the remaining evanuris. (it may also not be but again.)

So now, where do we think Titans and the blight fit into all this, knowing what we know about Lyrium being Titan blood, and red Lyrium having the blight and the titan mural?

And THEN we have the forgotten ones (we only know about 3) (im pulling this stuff from the wiki btw)

Anaris – according to an old tale, he was once tricked by Fen'Harel while dueling the Great Hunter Andruil

Daern'thal - from that one staff description in DAI; "The Forgotten Ones belong to the ancient Elven pantheon, but their names were lost after the Great Betrayal. Their worship continued in the shadows, despite efforts to stamp it out in the old Dalish kingdom. This staff belonged to a priest of those gods, specifically Daern'thal"

Geldauran - from DAI codex entry: There are no gods. There is only the subject and the object, the actor and the acted upon. Those with will to earn dominance over others gain title not by nature but by deed. I am Geldauran, and I refuse those who would exert will upon me. Let Andruil's bow crack, let June's fire grow cold. Let them build temples and lure the faithful with promises. Their pride will consume them, and I, forgotten, will claim power of my own, apart from them until I strike in mastery.

I would guess these were all actually elvhen or whatever. But who wants to bet the Great Betrayal is when Mythal was killed?? 👀

I almost wonder if some of the archdemons/old gods are forgotten ones instead of evanuris? but the numbers for the evanuris line up so much better.

AND we got the Forbidden ones; a group of four unique and very powerful ancient demons. It is said that they are older than both the darkspawn and the Tevinter Imperium. Some scholars even believe they taught the Magisters of old how to use blood magic.

The Formless One - we know like, nothing.

Gaxkang - demon dude in Denerim you could hunt down and kill in DAO

Imshael - demon dude you can kill/or let go in Emprise in DAI

Xebenkeck - desire demon you can kill in DA2

There's another codex or something that talks about how they were exiled from the evanuris lands but i don't remember where it was in the wiki. Interesting that they all seem to be spirits/demons however.

so like *total speculation here* but i think the forgotten ones may have been solas's old coworkers and might still be kicking and i *almost* think he's trying to save them, rather than the evanuris, and his "plans" consist of getting their help to deal with the remaining 2 evanuris/old gods

So anyone else want to go off the deep end and compare constellation codex notes?? theories? 👀

(but also none of this is serious and it's all theory so don't be gettin all bent out of shape if you disagree. you can reblog this in 6 months and make fun of it if it's all wrong lmao)

[pizzleyanked]

are the new old god/evanuris attributions kinda wack or what though...... in veilguard we get this:

they're weird. they're really weird. long ago i had theorized that this game would feature a double blight, except i always figured it'd be falon'din (lusacan) and dirthamen (razikale). their domains overlap way better than ghilan'nain to razikale and elgar'nan to lusacan, and there's the whole owl imagery going on with the statues and such. and the two headed dragon concept art

and i mean, i know the astrarium codices are in-world speculation, but dumat was also speculated to be related to mythal. you know, the first old god baby that could potentially be andraste. who shares the pattern of being betrayed by a lover who is a man in power with flemeth and mythal.

idk. it feels like they switcherood it sometime during early development

[bordirthena]

{Spoilers - Theory} Old Gods = Elvhen Gods? Part. 1

Originally posted 24th May 2022

This theory has been around in the DA community for years. ghil-dirthalen has videos about the individual Old Gods and touches on the possibility and theorizes who each OG could potentially be from the Elven Pantheon.

List of the Evanuris (Elvhen Gods)

Elgara'nan -- God of Vengeance Mythal -- the Great Protector Falon'Din -- Friend of the Dead, the Guide Dirthamen -- Keeper of Secrets Andruil -- Goddess of the Hunt Sylaise -- The Hearthkeeper June -- God of the Craft Ghilan'nain -- Mother of the Halla Fen'Harel -- The Dread Wolf

List of the Old Gods

Dumat -- Dragon of SilenceZazikel -- Dragon of ChaosToth -- Dragon of FireAndoral -- Dragon of SlavesUrthemiel -- Dragon of BeautyRazikale -- Dragon of MysteryLusacan -- Dragon of Night

9 Elvhen gods vs 7 Old Gods? That must debunk it already, right? Wrong! As we find out in DA:I and the Trespasser DLC;

The Evanuris were locked away by Fen'Harel for murdering Mythal.

Fen'Harel (Solas) did not claim 'god-hood' over his fellow elves.

Subtracting Fen'Harel and Mythal from the Evanuris count would leave us with 7 Gods/esses that were sealed away by Fen'Harel. Coincidence? I think not.

{The Evanuris & Dragons}

The Ancient Elven Writing in the Arbor Wilds is undecipherable but we gain some incite from the Well of Sorrows.

This elven writing found in the Arbor Wilds is so old there seems to be no way to learn what it means. There are whispers from the Well of Sorrows. It's impossible to understand the entire text, but certain parts suddenly reveal a shadow of their original meaning. "His crime is high treason. He took on a form reserved for the gods and their chosen, and dared to fly in the shape of the divine. The sinner belongs to Dirthamen; he claims he took wings at the urging of Ghilan'nain, and begs protection from Mythal. She does not show him favor, and will let Elgar'nan judge him." For one moment there is an image of a shifting, shadowy mass with blazing eyes, whose form may be one or many. Then it fades.

Let's break it down;

1. The sinner's crime is high treason. 2. The sinner belongs to Dirthamen 3. took wings at the urging of Ghilan'nain 4. Begs protection from Mythal 5. Elgar'nan to judge him 1. "His crime is high treason. He took on a form reserved for the gods and their chosen, and dared to fly in the shape of the divine." Taking the form (shapeshifting) reserved for the gods (Evanuris) and their chosen (??) and dared to fly in the shape of the divine (possibly ascend into God-hood and form their own cult?). The latter part is somewhat of an educated guess but does not stretch beyond the definition of high treason.

High Treason definition; the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government.

The chosen mentioned are only attested in this codex entry, however I have my theories.

2. "...The sinner belongs to Dirthamen;.."

In Inquisition we are told by Solas that the vallaslin are slave markings, and we are shown the mural located in the Ancient Sanctuary in Trespasser which depicts Fen'Harel removing the vallaslin from the faces of the elvhen that have joined him. However, it is mentioned in-game that although the vallaslin designs venerate a patron god it does not mean that the slave bearing the markings are personally owned by the god, but could be owned by a freeborn elven noble wanting the favour and/or blessing of the patron. For the distinction to be made that the sinner belongs to Dirthamen is a crucial one and lends credence to a dalish legend.

3. "...he claims he took wings at the urging of Ghilan'nain..."

If it only had named Andruil, the dalish would have gotten something correct. But maybe they got it half correct? After all Andruil is often paired with Ghilan'nain in dalish legends. Although, I very much doubt the sinner shapeshifted into a fox with wings, it would be safer to assume that it is a case of an animal avatar or animal totemism for an as of yet unnamed elvhen in the service of Dirthamen. Excerpt taken from Dragon Age: Origins codex: Bear

"...When the world was new, Dirthamen gave one secret to each creature to keep. The foxes traded their secrets to Andruil for wings..."

Depending on in-game choices we see this very same scenario happening when Mythal gifts Morrigan the knowledge to shift into the form of a High Dragon.

4. "...and begs protection from Mythal."

Mythal, the Protector, the All-Mother. She is invoked when mercy, justice and vengeance needs to be meted out. In all her remaining iconography she is depicted as a dragon or a woman with a dragon's head/helmet and wings. This again lends itself to divine providence that the dragon form is considered sacred by the elvhen people. As to why will be expanded upon in the future. But! If Mythal is depicted as a dragon then that would mean there should be 8 dragons / old gods in Ancient Tevinter? Afterall it is stated that the tevene do not believe the Old Gods to be truly dragons however they choose the form of a dragon. Well... the short answer is, not necessarily?

As we discover and solve the Astrarium in Inquistion we unlock codex entries pertaining information of the solved constellation.

Excerpt from the Codex entry: Constellation: Draconis

Called "High Dragon" in common parlance, the constellation Draconis is always depicted by a dragon in flight. Recently, it has come into question whether this was the case in the ancient Imperium. Most Tevinter dragon imagery was reserved for the Old Gods, so why would they dedicate a constellation to dragons in general when specific dragons were held in such reverence? This speculation is fueled by older drawings showing Draconis as more serpentine in appearance, perhaps depicting a sea creature or an unknown eighth Old God that was stricken from historical record.

Mythal could be the theorized eighth Old God that was stricken from record. However there is some doubt, could Draconis potentially depict the Cetus? The sea serpents that Ghilan'nain created but were spared destruction when she was offered apotheosis.

"..This speculation is fuelled by older drawings showing Draconis as more serpentine in appearance, perhaps depicting a sea creature..."

It could be interpreted as that, however, it seems to me that most (if not all) the constellations we discover in DAI (and Jaws of Hakkon) depict Gods/esses, so why would the Cetus be given that honor independently of their creator?

That being said, Mythal has been attested as being referred to as taking the form of a serpent.

Excerpt from Codex Entry: Elven God Andruil

"...So Mythal spread rumors of a monstrous creature and took the form of a great serpent, waiting for Andruil at the base of a mountain. When Andruil came, Mythal sprang on the hunter. They fought for three day and nights, Andruil slashing deep gouges in the serpent's hide. But Mythal's magic sapped Andruil's strength, and stole her knowledge of how to find the Void. After this, the great hunter could never make her way back to the abyss, and peace returned."

Whether or not that 'serpent' is used in lieu of naming the form, which is a common precept in ancient elvhen entries when referring to a form reserved for the divine, is open to interpretation and debate.

5.  “... She does not show him favor, and will let Elgar'nan judge him.”

Oh boy, you know you’ve gone and done it when Mythal gets Elgar’nan to judge you! Codex entry: The Judgement of Mythal

Whenever one of the People wronged another, they would not call on Elgar'nan to avenge them, for his fury would destroy all it touched. Mythal saw this bring strife among the People, and went to Elgar'nan; she offered to deliver justice when the People warred amongst themselves. Elgar'nan saw her wisdom and agreed, binding all to abide by her verdicts. Some petitioning Mythal for justice hid jealousy, accusing those who had done them no wrong. She saw their lies, and struck them down. Others petitioning Mythal for justice burned with wrath for imagined slights. She saw their weak hearts, and struck them down. Those coming to her with clear minds and open hearts were granted judgment and protection, and Mythal harried their enemies until the end of their days.

But what is of great interest is:

“Whenever one of the People wronged another, they would not call on Elgar'nan to avenge them, for his fury would destroy all it touched.”

It isn’t explicitly stated that Mythal has killed anyone in her judgements, the act of ‘striking them down’ could imply it, however, the phrase is also used in a Codex pertaining the subjugation of the Titans, and as the lyrium still flows we can only assume that the titan seen in Trespasser is still in fact alive. So the crime was so heinous that Mythal deferred judgment to Elgar’nan. The evanuris that is known for his indiscriminate wrath. 

JOIN ME FOR PART 2.

[crownleys]

12, 16, 19 for dragon age asks!

12. What's one thing you're hoping we DON'T see in this next game?

Hm... I don't really know for sure? I don't have a ton of expectations or hopes for where the story goes. I do hope that there's not going to be a sort of... 'the elves were the bad guys all along' sort of vibe to the story, if that makes sense? I also really hope the maps will be a lot more trimmed down and more driven towards the game objectives. I'm not a HUGE fan of giant, search in any direction open world games. They tend to get overwhelming for me quite quickly -- things like BOTW become really hard for me to finish for that reason. From what I've understood when it comes to game discussions so far, it looks like we won't have that? So I'm hopeful.

16. What's one crack theory you subscribe to (yours or someone else's)?

Hmmm... I don't know! I don't think any of them are really that much of a crack theory vs just plausible theories based on lore we've already learned in-game. For example, I really enjoy Bunabi's theorizing about Dumat!

19. Are you planning to replay any of the previous games, watch Dragon Age: Absolution, or read any of the books/comics/short stories, or are there other games you want to play in the meantime?

I'm currently playing a new run of Inquisition, ahaha! I think I started it the same day the DA4 gameplay trailer dropped. I do think I'll take a mosey through some of the short stories too during the wait.

[bunabi]

the more I think about it the more it makes sense that Andraste is an Old God Baby situation

I don't know how it happened but her being born the same year Archdemon Dumat was defeated is suspicious

And if Dumat glimpsed the Golden City with Corypheus + his high priests' help, its not out of the question that he'd be able to replicate the Maker's divine image and visit her dreams in that form

The guardians of her sacred ashes losing it & specifically becoming dragon cultists cannot be coincidental either

If the true final boss of Dragon Age is Dumat — if the Fade Meld is a plans within plans within plans checkmate undertaking thousands of years & incarnations & waiting — imma lose my mind fr

[voiceofghilannain]

The Old Gods and the Evanuris linked through Abrahamic Angels

Since the launch of Dragon Age Origins, there have been several attempts over the years to discover a connection between the Old Gods and the Evanuris. Some people have theorized that they are all one and the same, others that the Old Gods are their pet dragons, bearing parts of their souls, and some that the souls of the Evanuris are bound to the bodies of these dragons. Regardless of the nature of their connection, one question has always plagued everyone: “Which Old God corresponds to which Elven God”.

To answer this question we must look at the clues that Bioware has left regarding their attributes in their names and in those of their high priests, the Magisters sidereal. We must also take into consideration that after Mythal’s murder and the corruption of the Evanuris by the blight their roles might have changed and we must also examine the issue of the gender mismatch between the two Pantheons. To do so, we must first get rid of an old biases and assumptions, such us the almost universally held belief that Lusacan corresponds to Falon'Din. While, the Codex entry for constellation Tenebrium seems very convincing when it comes to connecting Falon'Din and Lusacan, what if it was only a logical in universe astronomical connection based solely on the owl being a night creature? What if Bioware used it to deceive us and there was a different message hidden in it? Bioware is known for hiding information in plain sight and they have done that many times in the past. Therefore, what if the connection between the two Pantheons is found within their names and had been in front of us the entire time?

It has been known for several years that the Old God Dumat is named after Dumah (= Silence), the Angel of Silence in Judaism. One day I noticed that the word Razikale is very similar to Raziel. After this realization, I tried to look at all the other Old Gods and asked whether all the Old God names are based on Abrahamic Angels. To my surprise, I found many more similarities between these Angels and both Pantheons. Below I will analyze the names of each Old God and try to tie each to an Evanuris.

Dumat: The Dragon of Silence. Dumah: The Angel of Silence and the Stillness of Death.

Dumah is the Angel of Silence and Vindication. He is in command of tens of thousands of angels of destruction, charged with the punishment of sinners, and is the Prince of Gehinnom (Hell).

As first among the Old Gods, Dumat seems to be connected to Elgar'nan. The statue of Dumat in DAII after all is identical to the statues with the snarling mouth found in Elgar'nan’s bastion in the Emerald Graves. Furthermore, as far as we know Elgar'nan was largely absent from the Elven affairs, leaving much of the work to Mythal due to his temper, thus being a somewhat silent king.

Zazikel: The Dragon of Chaos and the Old God of Freedom. Zadkiel: The Archangel of Freedom, Benevolence and Mercy.

Zadkiel is the Archangel of Freedom, Benevolence and Mercy. According to some religious texts, Zadkiel is the one who prevents Abraham from sacrificing his son and thus is often depicted with a dagger or knife in hand.

Without much else to build upon, this ties him to Andruil, the Goddess of the Hunt and Sacrifice. Andruil’s ways taught elves to never let their prey suffer, which can be considered a teaching of mercifulness. Later, when Andruil became blighted and built weapons from what must have been red lyrium, she became mad and caused chaos and disease in her lands. Andruil’s madness is perhaps why Zazikel’s high priest was called the Madman of Chaos.

Toth: The Dragon of Fire. Temeluchus: The Angel of Torment.

For those familiar with linguistics, shifts between dental and sibilant vowels whether voiced or voiceless, aspirated or not is a common motif, as is the insertion or removal of vowels and nasal consonants m and n, and the switching of one vowel sound to another. So, while the two names might not be too similar, Toth can derive from Temeluchus if the middle part of the word is dropped.

Temeluchus is the Angel of Torment, a merciless angel, all fire. He is also designated as a caretaking angel set over children at birth or during infancy. Based on this one can assume that Toth corresponds to Sylaise. However, June is also a God known for his fire and is God of the Craft. Toth’s high priest is the Forgewright of Fire. This in-universe name seems to indicate a closer connection to crafting, thus favoring June more than Sylaise regardless of the properties of the Abrahamic Angel.

Andoral: The Dragon of Chains/Slaves and the Old God of Unity. Azrael: The Archangel of Death and Retribution.

Much like Toth, Andoral’s name can also be created by modification of Azrael.

Azrael is an angel of death. He is a psychopomp, an angel responsible for transferring the souls of the deceased after death and is depicted as a winged cloaked figure. In the Apocalypse of Peter, he is presented as an angel of Hell who avenges those who had been wronged during life, while in Judaism he is an angel of evil. In islamic hadiths it is Azrael that delivers the souls of the dead to Dumah.

If Andoral was based on Azrael, then he corresponds to Falon'Din, the God of Fortune and the Friend of the Dead.

I know this conflicts with the widespread view regarding Falon'Din and Lusacan, but the concepts of Night and Death were never connected in Elven lore. I will elaborate further on why another god is more fitting for Lusacan in Lusacan’s paragraph.

Urthemiel: The Dragon of Beauty. Uriel: The Patron of the Arts.

Uriel is an Archangel that serves as a patron of the arts and is called the Flame of God among other names. One of his attributes is Fire in one palm.

Urthemiel’s high priest was the Architect of the Works of Beauty. This points to a god dedicated to architecture. Sylaise was also known for designing entire pocket dimensions with palaces and ecosystems, such as the Grand Sonalium. Therefore, it appears Urthemiel is tied to Sylaise. Otherwise, Sylaise and June are tied to Toth and Urthemiel, respectively.

Razikale: The Dragon of Mystery. Raziel: The Angel of Mystery and the Keeper of Secrets.

I think the names and attributes themselves are self-explanatory here, clearly connecting Razikale to Dirthamen.

This is also the point where the gender of the Old Gods comes into play. In many languages grammatical gender doesn’t indicate actual sex/gender. In Greek, for example, the word Ήλιος (Ilios = sun - from Ancient Greek Helios) is male, but the sun has no actual gender. Likewise, the word άνθρωπος (ANthropos = human) is male but can refer to females as well, while the word φάλαινα (PHAlena = whale) is always female, yet it can refer to the male of the species as well.

In Dragon Age, all high dragons are female, but most Old Gods are male, except for Razikale. I, therefore, do not think that the gender here corresponds to their actual physical sex. If that is the case then, why is Razikale the only female Old God? I think the answer lies in Dirthamen’s other name: Falon'Din’s Reflection. The symbol of the female gender/sex is the mirror of Aphrodite. Thus, it could be that Razikale is referred to as a female as a reflection of Andoral being male. What is interesting to note here is that Andoral and Razikale are very similar in appearance, with Razikale having golden horns and Andoral darker colored horns. Andoral’s darker pigmentation reminds me of Falon'Din’s other name: Dirthamen’s Shadow.

It is possible that the Old Gods were regarded by their followers as male, in the same way that the Maker is regarded as male, and that only Razikale was referred to as female due to Dirthamen’s attribute as a reflection of Falon'Din.

Lusacan: The Dragon of Night. Lailah: The Angel of Night and Conception. Lilith: A She-Demon of the Night and Mother of Monsters.

Lailah is the Hebrew word for Night. Though the ending lah is a female ending, the Angel is often referred to as male. Lailah is said to move souls from Eden’s Garden to a mother’s womb. He is also a Guardian Angel during life, and at death transfers the soul to the afterlife.

The concepts of night and conception here are interesting as Ghilan'nain’s vallaslin in Inquisition is a stylized uterus with the vulva drawn beneath the slave’s lips.

The female Evanuris in the mural shown during last year’s E3 and the right Archdemon in one of the promotional art pieces, both share a moon crescent on the head and have body parts that connect them to the sea.

In the Dalish elf origin quest of Dragon Age Origins there is a statue of Ghilan'nain stepping over a crescent moon. We can therefore assume that when Mythal was forcefully kicked out of the pantheon through murder, Ghilan'nain absorbed her attributes tied to the sea, the moon and motherhood over the people, while Elgar'nan took over all matters of Justice and Vengeance.

Another possible connection to Lusacan is Lilith, the first wife of Adam and a she-demon of the Night. One of the various translations of the name Lilith is the “screech owl”. There are many similarities one can draw between Lilith and Ghilan'nain, starting with both being mothers of monsters who kill their children, and extending to other elements, such as their connection to the sea. These parallels can get even more interesting if we take a look at the beasts of the Sea and Land in John’s Apocalypse, as well as the locusts (human-animal hybrids) and the marking of people with the seal of God on their foreheads in the same book. However, since drawing attention to these similarities would derail this post far beyond its scope, I will only focus on the owl aspect of Lilith.

In the Hebrew Bible, the following is said about Lilith: “There the hoot owl shall nest and lay eggs, hatch them out and gather them in her shadow; There shall the kites assemble, none shall be missing its mate.“

Going back to the codex entry for constellation Tenebrium, also known as the Shadow, we can see how we could otherwise interpret it as the Shadow of the Screech Owl.

Lilith in the Dead Sea Scrolls: “Her house sinks down to death, And her course leads to the shades. All who go to her cannot return And find again the paths of life.” — Proverbs 2:18–19

“Her gates are gates of death, and from the entrance of the house She sets out towards Sheol. None of those who enter there will ever return, And all who possess her will descend to the Pit.” — 4Q184

For those of you who have read the Tevinter Nights these verses will probably bring to memory the descent of Ramesh’s group and what he discovered along the way.

Thus, from a design standpoint, I can see a much clearer connection between Lusacan and Ghilan'nain, than Lusacan and Falon'Din. This will also not be the only time a constellation matches two Gods not connected to each other. Constellation Silentir, for example, corresponds to Dumat and Mythal, yet most people consider Dumat to correspond to Elgar'nan. This mismatch is to be expected, as constellations are named based on what image people see the stars form, not on religious attributes between Pantheons they consider unrelated.

Finally, the Lusacan and Ghilan'nain connection has an important implication for Dragon Age 4. The last remaining Old Gods, Razikale and Lusacan, correspond to the two Evanuris rumored to appear in Dragon Age 4, Dirthamen and Ghilan'nain. In Solas’ mural shown during the previous E3, there are two Evanuris shown, one male and one female. Based on the several images of chimeras in Dragon Age 4 and on Tevinter Nights, we can say with near absolute certainty that the female Evanuris is Ghilan'nain. Meanwhile, as others have pointed out before, Dirthamen’s vallaslin fits wonderfully on top of the male Evanuris.

The appearance of Dirthamen and Ghilan'nain in the next game could have also been teased by Bioware subtly during Dragon Age Inquisition through the picture of what is most probably Ghilan'nain hugging a bear (Dirthamen’s holy animal) that breaths fire with a moon crescent on top of them.

All in all, these are my thoughts on the subject. I hope this wasn’t a tiresome read and that it provides a new perspective on the age-old debate. What are you thoughts on the Old Gods and Evanuris connection? Post them below in the comments. Until next time. - The Voice of Ghilan'nain

PS: Here is a short version of all the connections I drew between the two Pantheons and the Angels: Dumat - Dumah - Elgar'nan Zazikel - Zadkiel - Andruil Toth - Temeluchus - June Andoral - Azrael - Falon'Din Urthemiel - Uriel - Sylaise Razikale - Raziel - Dirthamen Lusacan - Lailah/Lilith - Ghilan'nain

[jackdawyt]

Hello Thedosians, I am here today to explain 6 fan theories that must come true in the next Dragon Age instalment.

Saria and I have been researching and tinfoiling away on many popular fan theories that plenty of others have theorized as well. Please note, these are all theories, and we would love to hear your ideas in the comment section below. There is no right or wrong when it comes to speculation.

But without further ado, put those tinfoil hats on, and strap seatbelts to your ears because we're going to take them on the ride of their lives!

Theory: I believe the Blight emerged from a Blighted Titan

The origin of the blight is quite the mystery throughout Thedas with many sources having their own validation on how the blights began:

Chantry-folk talk about a Maker casting a blight onto his failed creations as a plague for punishment of man's excessive pride.

The blight was to be the tool by with the Maker would end all of creation. They preached that it came from the Void, a place of nothing. (Codex entry: Lyrium).

In Threnodies, The Chant of Light exclusively condemns the kinsman of the Tevinter Imperium for the blight's existence.

Threnodies 8.13: "The Chant says that the Maker created the blight as he cast down the seven magisters who blackened the Golden City. Twisted and corrupted, the seven found the Old God Dumat snoozing, their taint spread onto Dumat, cursing the dragon and unleashing the first blight onto Thedas."

However, Tevinter's Imperial Chantry claims that The Chant of Light is a fabrication, a lie to spite the Imperium. Henceforth, the Imperial Chantry believes that the darkspawn have always existed, even before the blights. The main culprits for the blackening of the Golden City and mankind's corruption are the lies of the Old Gods, not mortal pride.

Contradicting the chantry's tale of the blight. As history recalls, it was the Dwarven Kingdoms that were the first to fall to the darkspawn. While the Dwarves don't care for the blight's origin, or what causes it, a pair of Dwarven scouts do believe that the Darkspawn were created by a queen broodmother - the first in existence - responsible for breeding all darkspawn.

Perhaps at the very heart of our world sits a queen—the first mother. Instead of focusing on her children, we should target broodmothers and ensure that future reinforcements will never be born. Codex entry: The Eternal Battle: Darkspawn.

Even The Grey Wardens believe that the Blight is a spiritual corruption that pervades all that it touches, and that all Archdemons must be destroyed in order to stop any future Blights.

Now, According to Solas this is untrue - he indicates that killing all the Archdemons would not stop the blights, the hordes of Darkspawn would still continue to ravage Thedas. He knows that there is something much worse that's behind the blight.

So, the majority of humans in Thedas believe in either the Maker creating the blight, or the blight already existing in the Black City. While the Dwarves don't care as long as the blight can be stopped, and the Grey Wardens are adamant that the Archdemons' death will end the blights.

In short - it seems no-one in Thedas knows what caused the Blight, and those few who do dare say a word. *Stares at Solas*

However, there is something that we do know regarding the origin of the blight! The substance known as "red lyrium" is intrinsically tied to the blight, because red lyrium actually has Blight within it, spreading the taint:

"Red lyrium... it has the Blight."

—Bianca Davri

Regular lyrium is the blood of the world-shaping Titans, the substance empowers magic because it is a conductor that "bridges the gap between the dreamer’s world and the waking world." - (World of Thedas, Vol. 1).

It's used by mages to strengthen magical spells and abilities, while Templar's use it to maintain their immunity to magic, and repel spells.

However, Red Lyrium is blighted Titan blood - corrupted and distorted - carrying this plague throughout the land. Unlike regular lyrium which requires you to digest it in order for it to impact you, just being around red lyrium will significantly affect you.

The substance is most unique, it can thin the veil, allowing spirits and demons to interact with the "real" world. Prolonged exposure will change not only your mental outlook but your physical appearance too. When a templar ingests red lyrium, it improves their powers, grants them new ones and pushes their strength beyond measures.

Once consumed you can become easily become addicted. The more a Templar ingests, the more likely it is for the red lyrium to manifest - descending the subject into pure madness and crystallizing their body until it's pure red lyrium, not being recognized as having once been a human.  

What's most concerning is how Red Lyrium came to be, the mystery still alludes us today. However, we can assume that it comes from a Titan, more apropos - a blighted Titan.

Based on Codex entries, we know that in the time before the veil, the Kingdom of the Elven hunted and declared war against the Titans.

"In this place we prepare to hunt the pillars of the earth. Their workers scurry, witless, soulless. This death will be a mercy. We will make the earth blossom with their passing."

Mythal, the God of Justice, personally slew a Titan, destroying the dwarf kingdom.

"Hail Mythal, adjudicator and savior! She has struck down the pillars of the earth and rendered their demesne unto the People! Praise her name forever!" - Trespasser DLC.

With the defeat of a Titan, the Ancient Elves discovered lyrium from its body. The elves continued to fight with the Titans, mining their bodies for lyrium and "something else". Potentially, their hearts that control the will of the Fade.

"The runes say the Evanuris fought the Titans. They mined their bodies for lyrium and... something else. It's not clear." - Trespasser DLC.

Lyrium has plenty of benefits to a mage, however, if Titan's created the Fade, perhaps their heart's can change the will of the Fade and that's why the elven people needed to slay one, so they can acquire a heart and change their reality.

Believing that the Titans were slain, the elves resumed their lyrium mining operations, until something changed. The normal lyrium became red lyrium, affecting the workers at an alarming rate, nothing could stop this.

"For a moment, the scent of blood fills the air, and there is a vivid image of green vines growing and enveloping a sphere of fire. The vision grows dark. An aeon seems to pass. Then the runes crackle, as if filled with an angry energy. A new vision appears: elves collapsing caverns, sealing the Deep Roads with stone and magic. Terror, heart-pounding, ice-cold, as the last of the spells is cast. A voice whispers:"

"What the Evanuris in their greed could unleash would end us all. Let this place be forgotten. Let no one wake its anger. The People must rise before their false gods destroy them all." - Codex entry: Veilfire Runes in the Deep Roads.

The blight spread through red lyrium onto the Elven workers, killing and turning them into tainted ghouls. With their meddling, the Evanuris already knew what the Blight could do even to them and their people...

"One day Andruil grew tired of hunting mortal men and beasts. She began stalking The Forgotten Ones, wicked things that thrive in the abyss. Yet even a god should not linger there, and each time she entered the Void, Andruil suffered longer and longer periods of madness after returning." Codex entry: Elven God Andruil.

They figured out that the Titan was not really dead and since the Blight infects only living beings, they had no choice but to seal the mining place.

The Evanuris returned, using red lyrium as a weapon, becoming mad. Mythal protests and is betrayed and "slain", Solas forges a trap for the remaining Evanuris, creating the veil and sealing the tainted "gods" away. Not only did the veil's creation lock away the blighted Evanuris, but the veil was needed to prevent the Titans from waking up.

"He broke the dreams to keep the old dreams from waking."

- Cole

In some regards, Solas saved the elven kingdom by severing the connection the Titans had with their "children".

Finally, we make it to the theory: I believe that the blight originated within a Titan.

Before the veil, the Titans exacted their revenge, blighted and breaking the seals of its prison with its newly acquired slaves - the elven people. it mentally called the dwarves and made them break the seals from outside thus freeing it and in turn, it infected them with the taint and made them its slaves - a corrupted form of a hive-mind.

It planned to strike vengeance upon the Evanuris. After some time, through its newly acquired slaves, it found the prisons of the sleeping Old Gods and decided to infect them too. planning to unleash the Taint upon Thedas.

The Old Gods, slaves of the blighted Titan and the generals of its army: they command the entire Darkspawn horde and in turn, they are commanded by the Titan to do its bidding.

Whether the blight came from the Titans like a defensive mechanism, or a plague to defend itself from hostile forces, or if the ancient elves/forbidden ones concocted the blight by using blood magic on a slain Titan. It's still unknown.

The blight could be a natural infection. Red lyrium might just be Titan cancer, a piece of their biology mutating mid-life and turning into something destructive and dangerous. That's why the blight has so many Titan properties. It has a Hive-Mind because Titans have Hive-Minds. It Sings, because Titans Sing.

With the veil in place, the Titans returned to a remorseful slumber. Angry because they can't reconnect with their children, awaiting the chance to embrace them once more. This yearning anger has manifested throughout the years with the growth of red lyrium, and the blight's progress.

The Titans have a strong connection to The Fade, or at least an association with it. When the Magisters used blood magic to physically cross the Veil and enter the Black City, the reestablished connection between the physical world and the dreaming Fade unleashed the blight again.

With the veil's destruction, surely a blight the likes of which have never been seen would be released onto Thedas. The Titan's pain will be heard by all.

We are here

We have waited

We have slept

We are sundered

We are crippled

We are polluted

We endure

We wait

We have found the dreams again

We will awaken - Whispers Written in Red Lyrium.

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Theory: I believe Solas is a Spirit of Wisdom/Pride in the time of Arlathan

Let's start at the beginning. His name:

Solas - In elven, means: 'Pride’

Pride is mentioned a lot in ancient elven texts, and it's used in the common dialogue of ancient elven tongue. But the only time Pride is mentioned throughout the knowledge of spirits and demons, Pride is represented as a demon.

Pride Demons are known as probably the most powerful demons out there.

"because they, among all their kind, most resemble men; as clever and manipulative as the desire demon, with a penchant for cruel irony that is almost human"  -Beyond the Veil: Spirits & Demons.

In it's corrupted form, it's a malicious beast, known for it's 7 eyes. Much like the Dread Wolf’s depiction in it’s given mural…

Now there's a lot of spirits we have met in the Fade throughout Thedas, in this case, Wisdom Spirits are known for giving knowledge. Knowledge of either lore or history from the past ages.

The thing about a spirit’s nature is that it's evident who they are, and what their name describes them as, so it's easy to interpret their purpose. Cole as Compassion fixes up relationships, mourning those of the dead, and help resolve hard situations in which is hard without the need of Compassion.

The hard thing to notice is that if a Pride Demon resembles so much of humanity, and Wisdom is the opposite spectrum of Pride. Wisdom would also resemble this trait, of being human. Making Solas that much easier to tie into our reality.

"Wisdom and Purpose are too easily twisted into Pride and Desire" -Solas

The Chant of Light, says, the Spirits are the first children of the Maker. He turned his back on them because they lacked a soul – they could twist the Fade to their liking, but lacked the ability to imagine and create, and thus emulate their creator.

The only entity we can come across in ancient elvehn would be Elgar'nan,

‘Elgar’ translated in elvhen means "spirit"

‘nan’ translated means "revenge, or vengeance"

So it directly translates as ‘Spirit of Revenge/Vengeance’, whom Elgar’nan’s purpose as a God is as well...

Thus, the Evanuris could all be implemented as spirits first and came into existence to a body…

The Fade began as an "ocean of dreams" and was reduced to a well when the Maker used its "emerald waters", lyrium. He "took from the Fade a measure of its living flesh" and created men.

"They made bodies from the earth. And the earth was afraid. It fought back. But they made it forget ." — Cole

Solas begins to tell the Inquisitor that the Evanuris were remembered as Gods due to war against someone else. Either the Forgotten Ones or the Titans, it doesn't seem to matter when the result seems to resonate in Solas much more than we would expect...

I believe that when Mythal came to seek Solas for more wisdom when he was a spirit. She actually needed him for this war. What I mean is that he would now become seated as a left-hand man to Mythal - a general to help the People into the justice needed for their power.

Solas; probably being convinced, for the time being, comes into a body:

He did not want a body. But she asked him to come. — Cole

He becomes a guardian to her side, a servant of Mythal. Mythal describes those into her service more of a gift than a boon. So those who felt convinced for seeking knowledge or power must have been willing to be at her side just like Solas was.

“You didn’t do it to be right, you did it to save them.”

Solas, what is Cole talking about?

A mistake… One of many made by a much younger elf who thought he knew everything…”

Solas, as a Wisdom spirit had no desire to enter this world with a body, (such as limiting things), but for whatever reason 'she' asked him to come, she being Mythal.

‘He wants to give wisdom not orders. He isn’t that kind of wolf’ — Cole

Solas loathes his purpose. He’s Pride, but he hates it, he wants to change, wants to be Wisdom, but that’s not his purpose at this moment….

He envies Cole’s purpose as a spirit of Compassion:

‘You don’t have to envy me Solas.’ — Cole

He is sad to see his friends depart this world, knowing things are being forgotten, broken, and lost. He will endure, and he will be their Pride.

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Theory: The Griffons Are Alive, And The Wardens Know It

The Weisshaupt conspiracy:

Fortress Weisshaupt has stood through the ages as the Grey Warden’s headquarters, it is located in the southern Anderfels. During the height of the Wardens' power, the fortress was a thriving place, accommodated thousands of Wardens and a large stable of griffons.

Griffons are heroic winged beasts that joined the fights with their Grey Warden counterparts in the previous blights, as warden and beast shared an unbreakable bond throughout Weisshaupt's history.

Each of the defeated Old God’s remains are memorialized in Weisshaupt’s treasury, declaring the grand victory that the previous wardens had claimed in the name of the group.

The castle is a reflection of everything the Wardens have stood for, throughout the ages. However, in the current Dragon Age, Weisshaupt has become a barren place with a garrison of only a few hundred, the griffons are long extinct, and the reigning First Warden is rarely present.

The Grey Wardens have become irrelevant in the current age with the last blight that occurred over 10 years ago. In actuality, the Wardens have become a hindering, reckless group. During the crisis of Corypheus’s ascension to Godhood, the Orlais Grey Wardens submitted themselves to Tevinter, so they could defeat the two remaining Old God and “end the blights” once and for all.

Once Thedas’s only protectors, and now blinded by their own cause. The Wardens couldn’t even see the real enemy in front of them. And since those events, the group has become even more corrupt with rumours reporting on broken ties between the leaders at Weisshaupt, and how a civil war awaits each of them.

“Rumors abound that they severed ties with their leaders at Weisshaupt, and that a bitter war now rages between them.”

“What becomes of Hawke/Loghain/Stroud/Alistair is unknown – save that all news out of Weisshaupt soon ends.”

“Does the sudden silence indicate a battle within... or something far worse?”

Morrigan, Epilogue

Weisshaupt fortress remains silent, having gone dark from the rest of the group, but why? What caused the Wardens to stop communicating with each other? Was it merely to stop the corruption of the group from spreading, or is something even more aloof?

Have the Wardens finally met their own demise? Has each brother fought their sister? What has truly become of the Weisshaupt Wardens?

Well, perhaps it’s not as suspect as everyone in Thedas is making it out to be. The Wardens have always been a highly suspect group with many secrets, most of the general public don’t understand the Joining, there are plenty of things that the Wardens keep hidden from the average Thedosian.

So, what exactly could the Wardens of Weisshaupt be harbouring, that would force them to isolate themselves from the rest of the group?

Well, in 9:41 Dragon, several Warden-Recruits are assigned to Weisshaupt and begin a research project into records from the Fourth Blight. While there, one of the recruits discovers the diary of Isseya, a Grey Warden from the Exalted Age which reveals that there is a clutch of live Griffons hidden in the Anderfels. The new Wardens successfully rescue the griffons and resolve to return them to Weisshaupt where they will have the facilities to help the griffons re-establish themselves.

Valya; one of the recruits who found the griffon clutch, shows hesitancy at informing the wardens of her discovery. Valya says of the First Warden, Chamberlain of the Grey and High Constable:

"I don't trust them to place the griffons' well-being over power or politics." (pg 280).

Could the Wardens of Weisshaupt be fighting over what is to come for these griffons? Who controls them? How they will be raised? What will their purpose be?

The sheer existence and resurgence of Griffons in the Dragon Age could have caused the need for a sudden silence across the group, if the people of Thedas knew this secret, it could be dramatic.

And with the corrupted Wardens in the South, it may not be in Weisshaupt’s best interest to share this information with the rest of the Wardens for fear of this secret being revealed.

Perhaps this has caused a rebellion inside the Fortress, splitting the group’s leaders over the future of these griffons, and if the people of Thedas deserve to know. With factions within the Grey Wardens both agreeing and disagreeing with sharing this news to the rest of the Wardens.

A civil war brews in the Wardens HQ, will what’s left of the Griffons preserve in this Age? Or will the ignorance of the Wardens once more be an obstacle for the existence of these beasts?

Can the Warden’s rise up to their former glory? Or will they soon meet their demise? As it stands, Weisshaupt remains in the dark, the Wardens are waring amongst themselves, while the fabled Griffons return to the Dragon Age.

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Theory: I believe the Evanuris will return once the Veil is torn.

Solas' plan involves tearing down the Veil and restoring the 'time of the elves'. It is stated that when the Veil is torn, the Evanuris will return. But why does that not bode well?

'They were fickle, they amassed wars against one another' — Solas

The Evanuris are known to be power-hungry tyrants that used the bidding of their slaves for power. The more power they received, the more the threat they posed against the world.

'Had I not created the Veil, the Evanuris would have destroyed the entire world' — Solas

It is stated that Falon'Din began wars to amass more slaves, and filled lakes as wide as oceans for those who wouldn't bow low to his shadow.

Andruil, made armors of the Void, hunting the Forgotten Ones in the thrill of the hunt. And brought back plagues and speaking about madness, things forgotten.

‘One day Andruil grew tired of hunting mortal men and beasts. She began stalking The Forgotten Ones, wicked things that thrive in the abyss. Yet even a god should not linger there, and each time she entered the Void, Andruil suffered longer and longer periods of madness after returning.

Andruil put on armor made of the Void, and all forgot her true face. She made weapons of darkness, and plague ate her lands. She howled things meant to be forgotten, and the other gods became fearful Andruil would hunt them in turn.’  — Translated from ancient elven found in the Arbor Wilds, source unverified.

Ghilan'nain made monstrous beasts that threatened both the skies of the heavens and the depths of the earth. Even rumored to have used the body of slaves and animals as armor.

Elgar'nan cast down the sun unto the earth, seeping the life's blood onto the land. Eidolons were made by thousands of slaves built upon mountains, screaming his worship upon the lands.

'You said that the Elvhen Gods went too far. What did they do they made you move against them?' — Inquisitor

'They killed Mythal' — Solas

The Evanuris plotted out the kill the All-Mother of the Pantheon. They were crazed by reaching for ultimate power, by killing even their own kin to do so.

“She cared for her people, she protected them, she was a voice of reason, and in their lust for power, they killed her” — Solas

The Evanuris warred against one another commonly, this civil war began first with them being generals against the Forbidden and Forgotten Ones.

'Long ago, there were two clans of gods, the Creators, who looked after the people, the Forgotten Ones preyed upon us' - Merrill

'After the war ended, they became respected elders, then kings, and finally Gods, the Evanuris.' — Solas

They banished those of that kin and were rose up into godhood for their power. Sent them to belong in the Abyss, and thrive on things forgotten to somehow bring their People into glory. However, that did not last, slaves represented power in the Pantheon.

Such power was not given freely, all were threatened by each of their knowledge and striked against one another to become divine. When Mythal became a voice of reason to protect her own People, they killed her and began planning to gain power against all who opposed them, making them almost unstoppable.

Solas then began a plan to stop this once and for all:

'Fen'Harel was clever. He went to each side and told them the other had forged a terrible weapon, a blade that would end the war.' — Merrill

Solas trapped both the Gods, by putting them in their respectful places, banishing them to an eternity of torment.

'He sealed them both in their realms forever.' — Merrill

'And when they went too far, I formed the Veil and banished them forever' — Solas

'You banished the false Gods, you didn't kill them?' — Inquisitor

Solas then created the Veil to trap the false gods into their respective prisons.

'Hiding, hurting, and to wake them.' — Cole

The Evanuris were now trapped from destroying the world, Solas begins to state that he finally freed the elvhen people, but their results ended in destroying their world as well...

But there are still some remnants of being alive to return once again:

“You meet Mythal did you not? The first of my People do not die so easily” — Solas

Since the Evanuris will return, I believe their remnants must already grasp some remains of beings of Thedas. Just as similar as to when the Breach stirred the Titan, the Evanuris could be having the same effect as well.

"There are no gods. There is only the subject and the object, the actor and the acted upon. Those with will to earn dominance over others gain title not by nature but by deed."

"Let Andruil's bow crack, let June's fire grow cold. Let them build temples and lure the faithful with promises. Their pride will consume them, and I, forgotten, will claim power of my own, apart from them until I strike in mastery." —  Codex entry: Geldauran's Claim

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Theory: I believe the Dread Wolf will Rise.

'When He rises, everyone will see' — Sandal

It is already claimed in the teaser trailer that the Dread Wolf will rise. Solas, the next antagonist will rise up against his opposers in the next instalment.

However, the Dread Wolf rising doesn't have to be him doing so physically, but rather, rising up to take responsibility in ending our Veil-like world to restore his elvhen People.

'I will save the elvhen people, even if this world may die' — Solas

Particularly, what will Solas 'rise up' to do when ending our world? The mural we saw looks as if the Dread Wolf is rising much higher above the elvhen bald-figure, and poses as a threat with its red eyes. Could Solas be looking for a source of power to rise against the Veil?

'The shadows will part, and the skies will open wide.' — Sandal

'I would've entered the Fade using the mark you now bear, then I would have torn down the Veil. As this world burned in the raw-chaos, I would've restored the world of my time, the world of the elves. ' — Solas

At the beginning of the Inquisition, Solas kept at a nearby village to retrieve the Orb that carried power over a period of time for millennia. Solas' plan was to retrieve the Orb after Corypheus had died unlocking it, and then have the mark which the Inquisitor bears.

His plan the whole time for this world, was to destroy it and revive the world of his time with the elvhen and also the evil Evanuris.  He gave the orb to Corypheus so it could gain enough power to tear down the Veil, which is what he wanted all along. He would have risen up to power and created a plan to destroy the Evanuris before they got their chances of gaining ultimate power.

I believe not only his first personal plan involves him rising up to power against the Pantheon. But that he also 'rose' from a slumber he took. Solas now has awoken to a Tranquil-like world, and will begin his journey to go against the forces of this world. Seeking help where he can reach with spirits and the elvhen, and then opening the Veil in the sky and render the Fade into the Waking world as one.

'I was too weak to unlock it after my slumber' — Solas

He seemed quite sad when the orb broke after all the orb was key to opening eluvians and the Fade.

After defeating Corypheus, Solas’s last chance after the Orb broke was to reach out to Mythal and gain enough power to tear down the Veil. He takes the remnants she bestows to him, and he begins his journey to rise up against the Veil. He starts by taking over control of the eluvians, unleashing spirits to fight against the Qunari threat.

Solas isn't messing around this time, he finally has some amount of power to break the Veil and restore a world before it becomes bad. But how will he rise?

Thedas knows very little of the Dread Wolf, known as a treacherous, merciless, figure that is heavily feared in Dalish tales, the Evanuris fear it too.

'The pages of this book-memory?- warn of a terrible danger, a wolf with slavering black jaws and pits for eyes. The Evanuris-the elven gods-stand in a ring around it, as if preventing it from attacking.

"Beware the forms of Fen'Harel The Dread Wolf comes in humble guises, a wanderer who knows much of the People and their spirits. He will offer advice that seems fair, but turns slowly to poison. Remember the price of treason, and keep in your heart the mercy of your gods."'

— Note: The Treachery of the Wolf

This depiction of Solas having pits for eyes, and slavering black jaws, they warn those of the terrible danger coming. Wherever the Evanrus are hiding, they are surrounding this Dread Wolf to prevent any attacks. What could be speculated is the factor that Solas and the Dread Wolf could be different aspects of each other, like Corypheus puts an aspect in his Red Lyrium Dragon. This, could be closer to a red lyrium wolf.

What if, as described in the codex, Solas is going to finally reach the place were the Evanuris are hiding, use this aspect of himself, the Dread Wolf, to rip open the Veil?

However, the Veil is to be known recently to be weaker than it has ever been since the Breach:

The Tevinters once theorised that the Veil is thin in places that have seen great bloodshed. — Codex entry: Tears in the Veil

Demons seize every opportunity, every tear in the Veil, to enter our world. The Breach is living proof of the chaos it can unleash. In Hushed Whispers was living proof of how the world can become...

But it is theorized that the Veil tends to be weaker in places that feature, or have experienced, extensive death or use of magic.

‘Small tears occur naturally when magic weakens the Veil or when Spirits cluster at an area that has seen many deaths’ — Solas

The tear occurs because spirits are attracted to death and they press against the Veil. The Veil is particularly thin at night when most people sleep and spirits are most active. The use of blood magic can allow the Veil to be torn so that demons may physically pass through it into the waking world.

Once the Veil is torn in places, it is extremely difficult to mend, and some might even say impossible. "Mending" these Tears, i.e. strengthening the Veil, is extremely difficult. Depending on the level of damage done to the Veil, it can be closed through several methods ei. The Anchor.

One place that is particularly known to have the Veil thinner, is Kirkwall. A lot of chaos was constantly influenced upon that city, and that is ultimately where we first located Red Lyrium as well…

It is well known that the Veil is thin in Kirkwall, small wonder given the suffering in the city. But we've discovered the magisters were deliberately thinning it even further. Beneath the city, demons can contact even normal men. Did they seek the Black City to compound the madness of their previous efforts? Or was it something else? We've found a chamber where the Veil is at its thinnest, long-since looted, but the power is still there. — Band of Three,  The Enigma of Kirkwall

What is known is that places around Thedas where deaths/chaos have occurred more than frequently are now further weakening the Veil. For Solas, that only means an easy key to breaking the barrier that separates the Fade from the Waking World.

“You’d murder countless people?” — The Inquisitor

‘Wouldn’t you to save your own?’ — Solas

The sky may have never healed ever since the Inquisitor sealed the breach, which may prove worthy for Solas’s plan to destroy the veil. His execution to tearing down the Veil might work once and for all.

And the sky is healed. Healthy, whole, there’s just that left to remember.. - Cole.

A new dawn is appearing, the dawn is coming upon Thedas.

‘One day the magic will come back - all of it. Everyone will be just like they were.’ — Sandal

Solas will rise as the Dread wolf to take the Veil down, and whether his plans are fully executed, could be the end of our time…

‘We aren’t even people to you?’ — Inquisitor

‘Not at first, you showed me I was wrong, you were people and you deserved better. Like all the rest I used after one hopeless battle after another.’ — Solas

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Theory: I believe that Mythal is the true Antagonist of Dragon Age.

'For a reckoning that will shake the very heavens. She was betrayed, as I was betrayed, as the world was betrayed! Mythal clawed and crawled through the ages to me, and I will see her avenged!' — Flemeth/Mythal

All Mother, all Protector, a voice of reason, who calmed Elgar'nan's rage, has been betrayed by her own kin. She is the Goddess of Justice and is due for her bidding.

In Ancient times of Arlathan, Mythal, born out of a sea of the Earth's tears.

"In most stories, Mythal rights wrongs while exercising motherly kindness." — Morrigan

She was the aducator of her Elvhen People. Making sure threats were kept at bay, and opposers stuck down for justice.

“Let fly your voice to Mythal. Deliverer of justice. Protector of sun and earth alike.

Pray to Mythal and she would smite your enemies, leaving them in agony" — Morrigan

Mythal was a speaker for all people and even the Evanuris, yet her actions were recorded to be sinister like the rest of the Evanuris:

'Other paint her as dark, vengeful.' — Morrigan

Being more than the other Evanuris gave Mythal an edge, a way to take any of them on and win. hence her dark side being interpreted in tales. She demonstrates this ability in confrontation with Andruil.

So Mythal spread rumors of a monstrous creature and took the form of a great serpent, waiting for Andruil at the base of a mountain.

When Andruil came, Mythal sprang on the hunter. They fought for three days and nights, Andruil slashing deep gouges in the serpent's hide. But Mythal's magic sapped Andruil's strength and stole her knowledge of how to find the Void. After this, the great hunter could never make her way back to the abyss, and peace returned.

— Translated from ancient elven found in the Arbor Wilds, source unverified.

This also makes her nigh impossible to defeat, but she has one glaring weakness: her desire to protect the People. In the time of Arlathan, Titans were threatening the Elvhen, and Mythal sought out the Titan to stop the chaos of their lands.

"Hail Mythal, adjudicator and savior! She has struck down the pillars of the earth and rendered their demesne unto the People! Praise her name forever!"

—  Codex entry: Veilfire Runes in the Deep Roads

So, when the People kill their first Titan, and in the process unleash the Blight:

'The vision grows dark. An aeon seems to pass. Then the runes crackle as if filled with angry energy.

A new vision appears: elves collapsing caverns, sealing the Deep Roads with stone and magic.

Terror, heart-pounding, ice-cold, as the last of the spells, is cast.'

—  Codex entry: Veilfire Runes in the Deep Roads

Mythal, having a closer association with the Land (the Stone, the Titans) knows exactly what has happened and sacrifices herself to keep the Taint at bay. She splits herself into aspects and buries them as a magical seal against the Taint, replacing the lost Titan. One aspect she keeps on the surface world, to remain among the People. This sacrifice made her vulnerable and the other Evanuris did not hesitate to strike.

'they killed Mythal, a crime for which an eternity of torment is the only fitting punishment.' — Solas

Then Solas moves against the Evanuris, creating the Veil and banishing them into their respective prisons until the bidding of Mythal comes. In which, she has put herself into aspects that effect chaos throughout the lands, buying time for power, until she becomes one again. It awakens and takes form when an uncorrupted piece of Mythal is found by a Tainted priest, their form becoming malicious and broken, until an effective ritual to retrieve the soul uncorrupted...

Flemeth, as we know now to be Mythal, has been manipulating the Ages ever since, she enforces the effective immortality unto her bodies of her daughter to live an abnormal life to endure the ages, all the while.

'Seeking the Justice denied to her' — Flemeth

Mythal has been quite busy after her death when Solas created the Veil, it seems that

'Mythal still endures' — Solas

Solas is now enforcing her plan, it seems to pain him that his mistakes cause further action to take place with Flemeth.

'I am so sorry' — Solas, Epilogue

Solas respects Mythal. He once sealed away the Thedosian versions of heaven and hell and shook the world to its foundations in order to avenge her murder. Now, his own mistake—getting the Orb to Corypheus—means that he himself will now have to take her life and do her bidding.

She plans to seek revenge for the Evanuris, she does not care for the Veil-like world, she believes it was a last-minute effort against an enemy, she seeks to bring all into the new Age, where she rules, the Dragon Age.

'A soul is not forced upon the unwilling, Morrigan, you were never in danger from me.' — Flemeth

[bunabi]

—and then in Tevinter Nights the Inquisition sends scholars to investigate the Silent Plains: the site of the First Blight & where Dumat was slain.

The party of Inquisition-hired scholars discovers an elven library underground, but frankly that's inconsistent with the sheer devastation of the final battle with Dumat. Also ancient elves seemed to have a preference for storing knowledge via magic deep within the eluvian crossroads.

Recall that there's a scene in DA2 where Merrill tells Hawke a story involving a Dalish Keeper who sights the Dread Wolf on the Silent Plains and manages to drive him away.

It's more likely that Solas himself stockpiled books there so he could study the death site of Dumat. Especially since he controls the eluvians and is uniquely positioned to retrieve that shit.

So the question becomes: what is Solas really doing, what's really going on, and if I am completely missing the mark how am I going to cope with it?

[bunabi]

If red lyrium proves that taint existed before the darkspawn

And if the sole function of taint is increasing susceptibility to the influence of the Old Gods

Did Dumat lie about the Golden City to create darkspawn on purpose

Like if taint is distinctly a creation of the Old Gods, if its directly linked to their consciousness/will, he must have known what was in there from the very beginning right ??

I'm actually a lil sad for Corypheus & his evil mage friends

[bunabi]

I was trying to figure out the specifics behind Andraste's ashes being relocated to a temple of Mythal, only to discover they were literally singing with a similar compelling effect as the Old God's call:

As soon as Havard touched them, Andraste appeared in a vision. "Rise," she said, "Aegis of the Faith. The Maker shall never forget you so long as I remember." (...) It's said that Andraste's song led him to a holy site, where Havard and his followers built a temple to house her remains.

They cant keep getting away with this 🧍🏾‍‍♀️

[bunabi]

So the Old Gods rose to power by using somniari like Solas:

In -2800 Ancient, the Old Gods, including Dumat, were said to begin whispering to humanity from the Golden City. They taught magic to the Neromenian dreamers, and these dreamers became the priests and rulers of their people.

Corypheus could no longer hear Dumat's voice, but he could hear the whispers of a certain person's artifact:

Notes from Samson indicate that the Orb may have whispered ancient secrets of the elves to Corypheus, leading to his invasion of the Temple of Mythal.

Corypheus says the elves call themselves "Sentinels." (...) Before I could stop myself, I asked how he knew. I felt like a damn fool the moment the words left my mouth, but the Master just looked at me, then opened his hand. A second later, that magic orb was floating over it.

Soooooooooo 🧍🏿‍‍♀️

the more I think about it the more it makes sense that Andraste is an Old God Baby situation

I don't know how it happened but her being born the same year Archdemon Dumat was defeated is suspicious

And if Dumat glimpsed the Golden City with Corypheus + his high priests' help, its not out of the question that he'd be able to replicate the Maker's divine image and visit her dreams in that form

The guardians of her sacred ashes losing it & specifically becoming dragon cultists cannot be coincidental either

If the true final boss of Dragon Age is Dumat — if the Fade Meld is a plans within plans within plans checkmate undertaking thousands of years & incarnations & waiting — imma lose my mind fr