One of many extra thrilling facets of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, probably receiving a ‘full reveal’ at Summer season Sport Fest, is that it is extra of a direct sequel than we have had within the sequence. Certain, Dragon Age: Origins, 2 and Inquisition all adopted each other chronologically and shared characters, however the central battle of those video games differed dramatically as Thedas stumbled from one disaster to the subsequent. Dreadwolf will decide up proper after the occasions of the Trespasser growth for Dragon Age: Inquisition, with the narrative centring on the eponymous character Solas, the Dread Wolf.
Solas is among the most polarising characters within the Dragon Age fandom, courting a large spectrum of opinions. To some, he’s a tragic hero in an unenviable place, pressured into drastic motion to proper the wrongs of his previous. To others, he’s a grasp manipulator who refuses to take accountability, egocentric to his core. With how disparate the fandom’s opinions are on Solas, there isn’t any attainable manner BioWare can fulfill everybody’s interpretation of the Elf.
Love Him Or Hate Him…
The Solas ‘scenario’ jogs my memory of the group’s response to Anders’ actions in Dragon Age 2. Anders will at all times blow up the Chantry in Act 3, unleashing the simmering battle between templars and mages in Kirkwall into the open. This narrative determination angered followers of Anders as they felt with excessive sufficient approval they need to have been in a position to stop this act of terror. Now, narratively talking, Anders is/was possessed by a spirit of vengeance, so there’s solely a lot a pal/lover would have been in a position to do to persuade him to not go down this path.
The dearth of ‘management’ the participant had over Anders’ actions got here as a specific shock to Dragon Age gamers as a result of, up till that time, we have at all times been in a position to management a lot of the main plot developments within the sequence. With Solas, there must be an acceptance that the participant is not going to have full management over the narrative and the characters they’ve grown near. Those that have romanced Solas might not expertise a contented ending, and that is utterly okay if the story is well-told.
Let’s face it, Solas needs to tear down the Veil to finish his convoluted plan to uplift Elves. It is a near-apocalyptic occasion and incompatible with the Dragon Age sequence having a future. Solas might be pitted towards our new hero as an antagonist, and he will not be portrayed in as sympathetic a lightweight as he has been (relying in your perspective). It would be form of like if the character you romanced in Origins wished the Archdemon to win, you simply cannot appease the individuals who root for the top of the world.
Now, in case you play as a Lavellan (feminine elf) Inquisitor and romance Solas, the dialogue between the 2 in Trespasser teases some sort of rehabilitation for the Dread Wolf. Nonetheless, we’re not taking part in because the Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the narrative most likely is not going to warp drastically for one particular imported world state. There doubtless is a ‘blissful ending’ of types for Solas, however I do not see any actual chance that Solas and Lavellan might dwell fortunately ever after.
It is Dragon Age, a well-written, ideological and sometimes morally gray story. There’ll inevitably be discourse and folks sad with components of the storytelling. Nonetheless, crucial factor is that we as followers of the sequence do not overreact to sure narrative selections and respect the story for what it’s, not what every particular person wished it to be. It will be a really tough process for BioWare to navigate the advanced character that’s Solas, and we’ll all want to simply accept that how the writers view him might not align with our personal views of him.
