"Sometimes to achieve the world one desires, one must take regrettable measures."

-Solas (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

The first time I played Dragon Age: Inquisition, Solas struck me as a generic support mage with an "Ok" backstory. Turns out Solas holds backstory way more important than most of the other characters in the game, which is one of the best video game plot twists, in my opinion. 

Since the first reborn of the Inquisition, Solas have spent days after days (in game) spent helping the Inquisition bringing back order and saving Thedas from the god-wannabe Coryphefuss. But those days were not without joy and easy time, becoming more than just a volunteer to help heal the sky, a friend. But behind that smile there's great pain he bear since the ancient time. So the question is, who is Solas? Is he a friend or a foe? This is the lore of Solas.

Beware of spoilers of Dragon Age: Inquisition and (my) bad writing. Try to listen to this while reading this post, it probably could help add the atmosphere/mood into the reading.

The Elven Gods..

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The whole time Solas with the Inquisition, he's known as an elven apostate with much konwledge about spirits and the Fade, that happened to be at the Conclave when the explosion happened. While the truth is he is one of the elven gods known as the Evanuris. 

Thedas was once a land only of elves, no humans. A land called Elvhenan which means "the place of our people" in elven language, was the original civilization of the elves that covered the majority of Thedas. From the fabled city of Arlathan in the northern part of Thedas, to Ferelden and Orlais, and lands beyond Orlais. A place where the Evanuris and the elves lived together in harmony as a race of beautiful ethereal immortals. 

There was once an unknown war happened during that time where the strongest elves rose among the other as war heroes, and these heroes are known as the Evanuris, including Solas, and Mythal as one of the leaders of the Evanuris. Solas implies that they started out as generals that eventually became gods.

"Slowly. It started with a war. War breeds fear. Fear breeds a desire for simplicity. Good and Evil. Right and wrong. Chains of command.
After the war ended, generals became respected elders, then kings, and finally gods. The Evanuris."

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The Evanuris eventually became corrupt tyrants that enslaved the elves to maintain their own power using Vallaslin (the tattoos) as a brand, claiming divinity while the truth is they were naught but powerful mages who can die just like the rest of the elves. 

Solas fought the Evanuris back, freed the elven slaves by removing the brand of the Evanuris and led those who are willing to fight for their freedom. For that the title Fen'Harel, or Dread Wolf given to him by the Evanuris as an insult, but taken by Solas as a badge of pride as it inspires hope to his friends and fear to his enemies. Dread Wolf, the god of rebellion.

Mythal, the goddess of motherhood and justice was one that didn't turn to slaver like the other Evanuris. She cared and protected the elves, she was the voice of reason. And in the lust of power, the Evanuris struck Mythal down. Finally, knowing the Evanuris went too far, as the punishment for their misdeeds and to protect the world from them Solas created the Veil--a barrier to divide the Fade and the world--and banished the Evanuris into the Fade, or in elven tongue the "Beyond". 

Millennia After the Fall of Arlathan

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His people fell striking the Evanuris down, and Solas went into a 'long sleep' state but can still dream and walk in the Fade. After watching countless wars and ages passed from his long slumber, Solas woke up but his power dwindled greatly. 

The determination to restore what once was is still in Solas' heart, and to accomplish this he must tear down the Veil by unlocking the orb the Corypheus held. However, he was not powerful enough to unlock it after his long slumber, that's why Solas let Corypheus obtained the orb, so he would unlock it and die of the explosion. Only then Solas can claim the orb and further his plans. Unfortunately for him, Corypheus survived the blast, and his plans were thrown into chaos. 

Another Source of Power

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Corypheus rose as great power of evil and so is the Inquisitor for his/her posession of the Anchor, the result of interfering Corypheus' ritual with the orb. Solas see this as an opportunity to fix his mistake, to defeat Corypheus and retrieve the orb. That's why Solas joined the Inquisition. But again, his plan failed as the orb destroyed at the last battle between the Inquisitor and Corypheus, leaving it useless.

Solas went to Mythal, who is in the body of Flemeth, for his people didn't die so easily. Mythal knows Solas' intentions all along, and she was willing to sacrifice herself to give Solas her power so long as she can pass her god-hood to her daughter Morrigan, a gift that Morrigan misunderstood as a way to extend Flemeth's own life. 

Between Good And Evil

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The Dalish believe that what the Dread Wolf did was what caused the elves conquered by humans of Tevinter Imperium. The arrival of the humans despised the elves, for they viewed the other race as brash, warlike and impatient. They brought deseases, and worse, causing elves who spent time with them lost their immortality. 

When the elves tried to close Elvhenan off of humans, it was too late. Tevinter Imperium moved to conquer Arlathan with power that could have been matched only by the Evanuris, who are trapped in the Beyond. The Elvhenan fell, and the elves enslaved once again. For this, the Dread Wolf also called the God of Betrayal.

A misinterpretation of the Dalish, said Solas. It is the creation of the Veil that caused the elves lost their immortality, making them begin aging. The Veil caused destruction to elven's culture and marvels for they were tied to the Fade, it took everything from them, even themselves. 

And had Solas not created the Veil, the Evanuris would have destroyed the world themselves. So whether Solas banish the Evanuris or not, both alternative was worse. And now he is going to do it himself, to fix his mistake, which seems to be monstrous thing to do.

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"There is no glory, only a price I alone will pay."

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To tear down the Veil meaning to burn the world. And that's when Solas will rise to bring back his time and his people. Despite for what he's about to do, to destroy the world along with friends he have ever known in it, Solas take no joy in doing so.

Solas prevented the Evanuris, Corypheus, and the Qunari from wreaking havoc to the world, while he will destroy it regardless. It is because Solas is not a monster who takes the joy to see people suffer unnecessary pain. If the people have to die, he'd rather see them die in peace, no more slavery. So he gave Thedas and the Inquisitor more years of peace before the day of the return of the elvhen people come.

That's the lore of Solas. Whether or not his intention is good or evil, people will likely see him as a monster for sacrificing countless people of Thedas to restore the world of his time, the world of his own people. Getting his hands and his hands alone bloody for the sake of the elves.

Thanks for your time to read my post, Steemians. I hope you enjoyed this read as much as I enjoy Solas' lore.

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