Monolorialet - Moonlit

Dragon Age: Inquisition - concept art - early rejected pitches for multiplayer characters by Matt Rhodes [source]

Art by Matt Rhodes.

I feel like something that’s obvious but nobody’s actually pointed out is that the Blight (which we now know to be corrupted Titan spirits/Titan nightmares) perpetually creates darkspawn to replace the dwarves. The dwarves used to be some kind of vast, populous hivemind before they were severed from their dreams/the Titans, and the Titan’s spirits were separated from the Stone, yeah? Dwarves practically WERE an extension of the Titans until that point. Point to Inquisition dialogue where Solas describes them as a “severed arm”. But once those two separations happened, the Blight had to create new bodies to maintain the structural integrity of isunatoll/the song, now that the two were separated. The darkspawn are a lesser hivemind because the Blight/the Titans no longer have access to the dwarves. And the darkspawn are typically mindless + hostile because the severed spirits/dreams that are attempting to pilot them have gone mad with rage from the sheer violence and isolation of the mutilation they’ve experienced. It’s astounding writing and worldbuilding. But in Veilguard all we got was “oh the darkspawn aren’t people” :) :) :)

Dragon Age: Inquisition | ▶ dev. Bioware

in case you want confirmation on whether Solas starts sobbing after Lavellan says “There is no fate but the love we share” 🥹

it's all so tiresome

I think a common misunderstanding towards Solavellans (or Solas enjoyers in general) is that they like this purified fanon version of him as this poor innocent guy who did the things he did by accident and shouldn’t be held responsible for any of it.

No. His appeal lies in him as a metaphor for all the ways you can be broken and bent and twisted that your reality becomes as twisted as you. The line between love and manipulation, and how faint it can become under the right circumstances. How easy it can be for a victim to turn into a perpetrator. The themes of duty and regret, social identity and the nuances of perspective when it comes to morality. Discussion of how much intentions and external influence actually matter when it comes to one’s actions. And, my personal favorite, the question of how far can you go and still remain redeemable.

Most Solas enjoyers I have seen and interacted with like him because of this, not in spite of it. There are plenty of very hot less morally confusing characters to love in this series, all with their own lovable traits. And sure, some people might try to water down his character, but that’s a minority in my experience.

Senior Character Artist Lauren Kelly: "I created the face for Solas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Responsible for the highres sculpt, bakes, textures, and wrinkle/tension maps. Blendshapes created by the talented Jill Harrington and EA Create team." [source]

Me, Watching Solas' regrets: 15/10 🥰🥹😢😭 *trying to process theories being made canon and him being the saddest boy alive for a reason*

The Companions: *having the most reddit fuckass takes and the worst comedic timing* Solas is just mean and cares about no one but himself

Me: 🤫☹️😒😡Can ya'll shutup for a moment? I need a mod to remove these conversations in particular

Solas & Lavellan at the end of DAI, Trespasser and DAV

Congrats to them for finally having an ending together!

(you know, there's something to say about how in every other one, they are separated from each other, but in their end slide they are reunited, embracing and not letting go)

“it sounds like you’re justifying their actions-“ i am. they’re a fictional character. i’m okay with anything they do all the time. hope this helps.