look, every time I think about Blackwall for more than 5 minutes, I start climbing walls.
I cannot stress enough how much his arc is the perfect atonement arc. it takes incredible willpower and compassion to admit the level of wrongdoings he committed. even more so, to intentionally embrace a fatal punishment for them.
but also to love the world so much that he spends years upon years upon years trying to make the world a better place.
he's seen everything, okay. he is a military man. he was on either side of that barricade. he's probably seen the worst of what humanity can offer. and he wants to help make it better.
and then the inquisitor comes along, and it's like a sign from the Maker (to him).
when you romance him? look at it from his perspective. he falls for THE religious figure of the world. the one who is going to unite everyone or tear it all apart. and then she wants him back, him, who killed, who did awful things and sold his loyalty and put so many people in danger.
ough.
and beyond that, I think one of my favorite parts is when the inquisitor does objectively kind and helpful things, Blackwall approves. his approval is just so easy to get, it makes me want to chew cardboard.
anyway, love his character and his arc. and you will hear from me about this again.
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Cassandra/Varric, respite, hopeful tone?
“Respite.” It’s not a word that features in many of his novels. There’s enough to get done in two hundred pages without his lead stopping for a cup of tea by the fire, and his publisher didn’t pay him by the word, anyway.
But then again, this shit wasn’t so bad. The sun was warm and the breeze was cool. Shade and sunlight made an intricate web through the trees above him. Below, Sera and Dorian kicked water at each other as the Inquisitor sprinted through the shallows between them, laughing as he’d scarcely seen them do. Maybe he should start writing more scenes with meandering streams, he thought. More moments with the main character’s boots off, their toes tickled by tall grass, and a wide-brimmed had shading their eyes. What harm could it do the good guys to breathe a little?
It certainly wasn’t hurting the Seeker who lay to his left on their shared bank. Her armor was neatly deposited beside her, abandoned for his latest and filthiest work of smut. She breathed easily and turned another page. He checked the number on the corner and marveled at her ability to remain unreadable in the face of complete debauchery. He admired it, truly.
She peeked an eye at him out from behind the cover, and he took the opportunity to give her a knowing wink. “Getting good, huh?”
Cassandra grunted in feigned annoyance, then rolled over to her stomach and shook her head. “The things that you write, Varric.”
“They’re the things that you read, Seeker,” he joked back.
She looked at him again, only for a moment before a deliciously coy smile spread across her lips. She put the novel down, then raised herself to her knees and then to her feet. She towered over him like the tree above, and ran a finger along the scruff on his jawline. “If you behave yourself, dwarf,” she teased in a low murmer, “perhaps I will show you that they are also the things I do.”
… Well, shit, he thought, nearly scrambling to his feet to follow her towards the tents. There was definitely going to be a lot more R and R in his next book.
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Cassandra Pentaghast Timeline
A summarized and organized timeline of Cassandra's life. Summarizing the major points of Dawn of the Seeker; such as naming characters and such key events.
Warning in advance about some spoilers for Absolution as I quote a couple lines in the notes section.
9:04 Dragon
Cassandra is born in a carriage halfway between Cumberland and Val Chevin. She was raised in her family estate in Nevarra City until 9:10 Dragon.
9:10 Dragon
Lord Matthias and Lady Tigana, Cassandra and Anthony's parents, are executed by King Markus Pentaghast for taking the wrong side during the second attempt to overthrow the king. Cassandra and Anthony were spared from execution thanks to their uncle, their father's brother, Vestalus who was a senior member of the Mortalitasi who vouched for them and took them as his wards.
Cassandra and Anthony were moved to the Grand Necropolis in Nevarra.
9:12 Dragon
Vestalus was promoted to prelate of the Mortalitasi and overseer of the Grand Necropolis. This left Cassandra and Anthony by themselves more often, leaving them in isolation save for Nomi in the Chantry where Cassandra devoted her time.
Anthony and Cassandra started training in swordsmanship with asperations to becoming dragon hunters.
9:16 Dragon
Cassandra, at the age of 12*, witnesses her brother Anthony; a renowned dragon hunter, get beheaded at the hands of blood mages.
Cassandra begs to join the Templar Order when faced with a lack of justice for Anthony. Her uncle instead sends her to the Seekers of Truth.
She begins her training at the Seeker fortress of Montsimmard as an apprentice to Seeker Byron, a senior member. He focused on her religious education rather than her martial education.
9:19 Dragon
At the age of 15, Cassandra is the youngest Seeker to go through her vigil since the Storm Age. Her vigil takes place in a remote castle located within the Blasted Hills of Northern Orlais and lasts for two weeks.
9:22 Dragon
The following are the events of Dawn of the Seeker that take place. This is the briefest of summaries.
Cassandra and a group of Seekers attack a group of blood mages who abducted Avexis, an elven mage from the White Spire who has the ability to control beasts. The blood mages use a ritual to extend that power to controlling dragons. Byron, Cassandra's mentor and father figure, reveals to Cassandra a conspiracy within the Chantry as he is leaving the fortress with Cassandra and Avexis.
The three are attacked by blood mages, in wich Byrion dies and Avexis is kidnapped again. Cassandra is branded a traitor. Regalyan, a friend of Byrion and the contact they were to take Avexis to, is captured by Cassandra under the suspicion he is a blood mage. The pair is then captured by Templars and eventually make their escape. Cassandra's goal is to clear her name and discover proof of the conspiracy.
The conspiracy is that Knight-Commander Martel and Grand Cleric of Orlais, Callista, are working with the blood mages who intend to attack the 10 year gathering at the Grand Cathedral. Grand Cleric Callista and Knight-Commander Martel intend to unleash dragons on the Divine and gathered Grand Clerics during the ceremony so that Callista may become Divine as the last remaining Grand Cleric.
The conspiracy is thwarted by Cassandra, Regalyan, the Circle Mages, and additional Seekers. Cassandra kills two dragons and a high dragon. Saving the Divine.
As a reward for their actions, Cassandra is made the Right hand of the Divine and declared Hero of Orlais.
After the ceremony, Divine Beatrix III speaks with Cassandra about how the attack on the Gathering was only the beginning. Insisting that the Chantry must prepare for the coming storm before placing the holy writ into her hands. The writ that grants the Right and Left Hands of the Divine the authority to restore the Inquisition.
9:34 Dragon
Divine Beatrix III dies and Divine Justinia V is elected. Upon election, Divine Justinia V made a bit to retain Cassandra as her right hand. Pitching to Cassandra the multiple aspects of reform of the Chantry she wanted to do. Which Cassandra met with intrigue and accepted the role once more.
Leliana sent Cassandra a letter that speaks of her observations and how she welcomes the opportunity to work with Cassandra.
9:39 Dragon
Cassandra writes a letter to the now Lord Seeker Lucius, declaring she will not be joining the Seekers and will continue to work with the Divine.
There is an error with this as the Mage-Templar War didn't start until late autumn or winter of 9:40 Dragon. Seeker Lucius doesn't take over for Seeker Lambert until after the events of Asunder where Lambert is killed by Cole at the end of the book a few months later. Leaving the date of this letter to be 9:40 or 9:41.
9:40 Dragon
Cassandra interrogates Varric following the outbreak of the Mage-Templar War.
9:41 Dragon
Cassandra brings Varric and Cullen to Haven with Leliana, they both miss the chance to join the Divine at the beginning of the Conclave as they were delayed.
The Breach opens up and Cassandra leads soldiers into the valley to look for survivors. Her soldiers find the player character (PC Herald/Inquisitor) and the events of Inquisition begin.
Cassandra advocates with Leliana to approach the rebel mages for support with closing the Breach. If the player goes to Redcliffe and sees the situation, Cassandra's opinion will change to supporting the Templars.
Cassandra is investigating the disappearance of her fellow Seekers, her theory is they are prisoners of Corypheus.
Evidence is found that Samson/Calpernia sold the Seekers to the Order of Fiery Promise after finding out that the Seekers are resistant to red lyrium.
When Cassandra investigates the castle of Caer Oswin after tracking the Seekers there, she discovers that her apprentice Daniel, has been implanted with a demon and fed red lyrium. At this point, she discovers that it was Lord Seeker Lucius wh sold the Seekers to the Promisers and has been operating there the whole time. Cassandra then confronts Lucius and kills him in battle.
Procuring the Book of Secrets from the Lord Seeker, Cassandra learns the truth about the vigil. That Seekers were made tranquil and that it was only reversed once they were touched by a Spirit of Faith. This is what granted them their abilities and restored their minds. A fact she learns all Lord/Lady Seekers have known up until this point, and that Lord Seeker Lambert actively hid from the Divine.
Cassandra considers finding the scattered Seekers, reading the Book of Secrets with them, so there are no more secrets between them and establishing a new charter. She also wishes if there is a way to refine the process of reversing Tranquility on mages without the dangers that come with them being overcome by their emotions. The PC character will determine whether she actually does reform the Seekers and investigate the rite further.
If Divine:
Cassandra is said to enact reforms for a new Templar Order and Circle of Magi. She rebuilds the Seekers of truth and rededicates them to protecting the innocent, if the player encourages her. Her attempts of reform are controversial despite her popularity though are generally seen as successful efforts to stabilize peace.
If Not Divine:
She takes the position of advisor on the Divine's council, giving advice on important matters to Divine Victoria. Depending on if the Divine is Leliana or Vivienne dictates how long she stays. If the Divine is Leliana, she stays and works well with her as Cassandra holds respect for Leliana. If Vivienne is Divine, Cassandra eventually leaves disgusted, feeling that Vivienne is perverting the Chant of Light's intent.
9:42-9:44 Dragon
If Cassandra is Divine, she is working on efforts to clean up red lyrium and stating that it is going well.
If Cassandra is not Divine, and she is encouraged to rebuild the Seekers; a month before she returns to Orlais for Trespasser she is in the Hunterhorn Mountains tracking down Seeker Emery and finding leads on other Seekers in Rivian.
If Cassandra is not Divine and wasn't encouraged to rebuild the Seekers; she is in the port of Antiva City and completing a survey and establishes that there are no further signs of Fade energy or demons since the Inquisitor closed a rift there in the Spring. She confirms the Inquisition mages deem the Veil stable in the region. Cassandra also confirms that at this point, all rifts have finally been sealed.
Unclear
At some point, Cassandra aided a reaver named Nyree in defeating her first dragon. By doing so Nyree completed her Rite of Passage.
At some point prior to Cassandra's interrogation of Varric, the Seekers investigated the Vimmark Mountains that housed Corypheus and were turned away by the Grey Wardens and were told that everyone who had been in the prison were dead. Unclear if Cassandra was part of this investigation.
At some point in 9:41 during the Inquisition, Cassandra orders Sidony to return to Nevarra City and stop a Mortalitasi plot that is seeking to assassinate a member of the very unstable line of succession.
It is unclear when this occurred, as Absolution happens after Trespasser and that is about all that is established.** Cassandra and Leliana dispatch Fairbanks and Hira to steal an artifact from the Tevinter Imperium, the Circulum Infinitus.
Notes:
* Cassandra tells Sera that she was trained as a Seeker since she was 6. This is in conflict with a letter from Cassandra's uncle to the Seekers stating she was "even at the tender age of twelve, is too old to begin training with the Seekers". This is reinforced though dialogue the PC can have with her where she establishes she was training with the Seekers at a far older age than most recruits, and was able to do so because of her status.
** The Interview establishes this (emphasis by me)
"Despite its relative proximity to Dreadwolf, though, Absolution intentionally doesn’t try to use its time establishing any real sort of canon for players to latch onto. Some characters from the prior games show up for a spell, and events are broadly mentioned, but Epler (who also serves as Dreadwolf’s creative director) admitted that it was important to avoid setting a definitive canon." He acknowledged it as a “tricky balancing act,” in part because BioWare making its own canon runs the risk of conflicting with the canon players make on their own, and the studio’s word being potentially declared definitive gospel is the last thing anyone wanted. Similarly, there was a desire to make sure Absolution stood on its own, explicit ties to the games or no. “There’s all these elements that make up Thedas and what’s going on,” said Epler. “We were fine with leaving space for these stories to exist and feed into a larger world as a whole.”
Up until the Dragon Age cookbook, there was no establishment of the BioWare canon or the game default. Which are at times two separate things, but do overlap in areas. But the difference between the two is for another conversation.
Additionally some lines in Absolution are about all we have in regards to the fact it definitely happens after Trespasser.
"Before the Inquisition ended, we learned the Tevinter Chantry was in possession of an artefact. The Circulum Infinitus."
ep1. , 7:50ish
"Rezaren is dead. I have the Circulum. It's over, if you want it to be. You were right, Hira. Tevinter is an evil place, and I know what it feels like for that hate and that fear to infect you, but... you can't let it. Help me take the Circulum to what's left of the Inqusition and we can try again, free from everything."
ep.6, 21:40ish
Source:
World of Thedas Vol. 1 p. 143
World of Thedas Vol. 2 p. 220-223
Dragon Age: Inquisition Dialogue
Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker
Dragon Age: Redemption
Interview with Absolution showrunner Mairighread Scott and EP John Epler by io9
Codex:
Cassandra Pentaghast
Cassandra and the Last Few Years
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