From the new ‘Making of Dragon Age: the Veilguard’ behind the scenes video: 👀
“As we’ve gone through DAO, DA2, Inquisition… magic has become more and more present, and part of that is because Solas has been slowly preparing this ritual for longer than anyone in the Dragon Age universe is really aware of.”
Just saw this posted on Twitter by @NearlyRemy and lost my mind:
My off the cuff translation:
Do not be sorrowful, my heart,
The way of endurance rewards, and
Guides you to our love,
And our joy
- Solas
(Cries happy tears in a corner)
More information on the role Solas plays in Veilguard!!! As a Solasmancer I am SO HAPPY. - https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive/2024/06/20/dragon-age-the-veilguards-leads-on-the-name-change-and-solas-role-in-the-story
After seeing all the speculation on Bellara’s vallaslin in Dragon Age: the Veilguard, note that we have already seen quite a bright red version of Mythal’s vallaslin on the guards at the temple of Mythal - so I don’t think the use of the colour directly connects to worship of the Forgotten Ones.
In Tevinter Nights, a remaining group of Venatori are attempting to break a being of terrifying power from its prison beneath Minrathous. Supposedly, Corypheus had a backup involving its release.
‘If Minrathous wasn’t ready to kneel, the demon would make sure it did. The Hour of Minrathous’s Return.’
Here I will list the collection of significant moments in the story Streets of Minrathous that stood out to me, informing on its nature and power.
Some wild speculation that is most probably wrong!
Although the shadow ‘demon?’ in Neve’s story, streets of Minrathous initially brings to mind figures from lore similar to The Formless One or Shah Wyrd, as @Andarateiea on twitter has spotted, there is a very similar silhouette shared between the figure standing before the golden city on the Vinyl cover art, and the shadow entity visible in Neve’s tarot art. In this post I explore the possible similarities between this figure and the Magisters Sidereal. I'll add a break because this will be a long post.
The Skyhold frescos painted by Solas, lined up. [source and art credit: Nick Thornborrow]
unfinished, and complete.
wait, isnt this the first time we're seeing the finished version of the final panel?
[pics] with the news that Bellara is a mage: this means she is not a warrior or rogue who just happens to be using a magical artifact or something like that (the golden bow/arm). I wonder then if these devices are things that only mages can wield, things powered by their own magical power? Strife is a non-mage Veil Jumper, and he uses a regular bow. the series has long had 'mage warrior-types' as specs for mages (Arcane Warriors and Knight-Enchanters), so it's cool that there's now basically what seems like an 'Arcane Archer'. I wonder if the golden bow device is an ancient elven item? it has that look, two. as a follow on from that, since Bellara is a Veil Jumper who is obsessed with uncovering ancient elven secrets, perhaps the device is something that she found on one of her excursions? :> or maybe it's more like a manifestation of her power.
lore which is worth remembering:
Among the ancient elves, there were mages who trained their magical arts to augment their martial prowess. They channeled magical power through their weapons and bodies, becoming terrors on the battlefield. Most consider these skills lost forever, but they may still linger in forgotten corners of the world. Arcane warriors may learn to use their magic score to satisfy the strength requirement to equip higher-level weapons and armor.
Solas tells us more about the AWs in DA:I dialogue:
"The formal name for the techniques you have learned was the Dirth’ena Enasalin, knowledge that led to victory. Mages who eschewed physical confrontation called it Ghilan’him Banal’vhen, the path that leads astray."
he says that AWs were elite guardsmen, bodyguards and champions for ancient elven nobles, that with their physicality they were the willing embodiment of will made manifest. Arcane Warriors once widely existed in the ancient elven world, but the skill lingers today. maybe Bellara's changing bow is her will made manifest in this way?
Knight-Enchanter techniques are derived from those of the AWs. when KEs do their thing, they're summoning a blade from thin air (well, from the Fade).
Bellara's mage-ness and the bow reminds me of these kinda things. I wonder if she has trained her magical arts to augment her martial prowess, and if she channels her magical power through the weapon ('weapon' is general, it doesn't say 'it has to be a warrior weapon') and her body?
more triangles btw.. 👁️
I thought it might be interesting to note that Bellara’s bow has a design quite similar to one of the Evanuris symbols. Also! That the stone changes colour. Puts me in mind of some of the more complex lyrium tech in DAI.
I was thrown by finding this icon in Mythal’s iconography a while ago - but could it just be a kind of duality with Elgar’nan? It’s interesting that the shape has been broken off of all her statues. Or I could be being ridiculous. Trying to find some more connections.
Continuing my contemplation. Flemeth/Mythal’s horns are quite similar to this symbol that has been taking a prominent place in the murals. I’m really a bit thrown.
Interesting overlap?
Given that Mike Laidlaw once said that all of Eleni Zinovia’s prophecies will come to fruition in later games, and one of those involved the words “the.. the shadow will consume all” - ack! It’s teaming up with Drakon’s prophecies in Exaltations, that one creepy hermit from the Tiniest Cave and Flemeth to paint a pretty grim picture alongside the speculations of a double blight! Thedas barely survived the fourth blight even when the wardens were taken more seriously, weren't mind controlled and infighting, and retained all of the Griffons 🥹.
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