Unveiling the Elven Pantheon: A Cheeky Dive into Dragon Age’s Mythology
The Elven Pantheon: Gods and Their Dark Side
Ah, the Dalish elves. They’ve got more gods than a high school prom has awkward moments!
The Elven Pantheon boasts a full house featuring the likes of Elgar’nan, the God of Vengeance; Mythal, the Great Protector; and Falon’Din, the Friend of the Dead, just to name a few. They’ve practically got an entire lineup worthy of a blockbuster movie—if only they weren’t all busy plotting against each other!
For the Dalish, these divine figures—five gods and four goddesses, no less—are the “Creators.” But don’t let that scintillating title fool you! They also monumentally misunderstand what it means to be a deity. Their followers practice a rather unique form of worship involving vallaslin, intricately designed facial tattoos also known as “blood writing.” We can only hope that these drawings are less likely to end up in a regrettable TikTok compilation than our own ink choices!
But wait—there’s a plot twist that would make even M. Night Shyamalan raise an eyebrow! In Dragon Age: Inquisition, we meet Solas, who casually drops the bomb that he himself is Fen’Harel. So if you thought your childhood fairy tales were a bit twisted, hold onto your hat: he claims that the “gods” were really just powerful mages who got too big for their breeches. According to Solas, these so-called benevolent deities were actually a bunch of power-hungry tyrants who got so fed up with their own egos that they banded together to execute one of their own—how delightful!
Apparently, they summoned the courage to blame the poor chap, Mythal, for their sins and sent Solas packing into the Veil—parental disapproval never looked so god-like. But here’s where things get truly delightful. Solas, in yet another classic case of “my bad,” reveals that the revered vallaslin originally started as slave markings. What’s that? A divine tattoo that’s actually (gasp) a sign of ownership? Sounds like a chapter out of a particularly unflattering history book!
Now, with Solas gearing up to kick his plans into high gear in the upcoming title, The Veilguard, it seems we aren’t just dusting off the old pantheon but inviting them back for a grand reunion tour. Better believe the Evanuris will be crashing the party with all the subtlety of a drunk uncle at a wedding.
So, dear reader, as we prepare to dive deeper into this chaotic pantheon where the lines between gods, tyrants, and those just really into elaborate face paint blur, remember: the real gods of this universe might just be the writers behind it—all the more reason to keep your controller charged and your snacks handy!
Summary of the Style:
The article duels between sharp observation and cheeky humor, reminiscent of the styles of comedians like Jimmy Carr and Ricky Gervais. It employs a conversational tone to engage readers while dissecting the narrative layered within the Dragon Age universe. It also mixes playful critique of mythological tropes with genuine inquiry, all housed in a detailed, HTML-friendly format. Those interested in the Elven Pantheon within Dragon Age should find the blend of engrossing content and lighthearted critique a compelling read.
The Elven Pantheon
The Dalish elves venerate a complex pantheon of divine beings, comprising five gods and four goddesses—Elgar’nan, known as the God of Vengeance, Mythal, revered as the Great Protector, Falon’Din, the Friend of the Dead, Dirthamen, the Keeper of Secrets, Andruil, the Goddess of the Hunt, Sylaise, the Hearthkeeper, June, the God of the Craft, Ghilan’nain, the Mother of the Halla, and Fen’Harel, recognized as the Dread Wolf. The Dalish commonly refer to this pantheon as the Creators, adorning themselves with elaborate facial tattoos known as vallaslin, or blood writing, which serves as an integral part of their spiritual worship.
In the narrative of Dragon Age: Inquisition, the protagonist’s companion, Solas, unveils his true identity as Fen’Harel, delivering a radically different perspective on the pantheon, which he calls the Evanuris. Solas narrates that these so-called gods were, in fact, powerful mages who ascended in such a way that they were ultimately worshipped—yet, this elevation led to their corruption by the very power they wielded.
Solas portrays the Evanuris not as benevolent figures but as tyrannical beings, arrogant in their supremacy, who conspired to murder one of their own, Mythal. This betrayal was later framed as an act of treachery against Solas. To thwart their power, Solas created the Veil, a barrier designed to banish the Evanuris to the Beyond; however, this act precipitated the decline of the elven race, severing their connection to the Fade and leading to a loss of their once-esteemed immortality. Furthermore, Solas reveals that the vallaslin, which the Dalish reverently uphold, initially served as slave markings imprinted by the Evanuris to signify ownership over their subjects.
As Solas embarks on his journey into The Veilguard, intent on dismantling the Veil, it becomes increasingly likely that additional members of the Evanuris could emerge in the highly anticipated upcoming game.
