Oh, I don't doubt Andraste's existence, that's a matter of historical record. I doubt that she did the things she's purported to have done in the ways she's purported to have done them — I believe there is a Tevinter interpretation that she was a powerful sorceress? It doesn't seem an outlandish idea to me. Which is not then to say I am not open to the idea that she was a cleric or paladin of some kind, that would track with my understanding of divinity perfectly well, but if she was why is no one else? Why are the only people calling on other beings for power those who have bound themselves to or made pacts with spirits?
❰ because the maker turned away from his people, but we'll get to all that in a moment. ❱
Not as much as I would like, truthfully, I've been studying Chantry history more than most other things since the Chantry is so influential at present. I know there were seven Old Gods, dragons who first whispered the secrets of blood magic into the Dreamer Tevinter magisters' ears. The Golden City was breached in their name, and thence come darkspawn and the Blight, and Corypheus centuries later. ❰ a small huff, the audible equivalent of a shrug. ❱ It's all Chantry rhetoric except for that last part, so without digging deeper I can't say what's true and what's a fabrication and what's just been exaggerated over time.
This cult sounds... I mean, awful, but in a fascinating way. Why did they think sacrifice was necessary? What were they trying to accomplish? ❰ as for what alacruun thought of his followers... gods, wouldn't adalia like to know. she can make guesses, probably accurate ones, but who knows what really goes through his head. ❱ Dragons are naturally narcissists, on my plane. Even the good ones believe they are the apex of creation, and nothing could ever improve upon them. So I imagine... I imagine the Undying Dragon's followers didn't merit thinking about, as far as he was concerned. Their service to him was just as it should be, and if they died or killed for him it was in pursuit of a more ordered world, so it was just. And... yes. I think his will was very strong.
I've been interested in the Avvar beliefs, but most of what I've learned of them has been from Chantry sources, again, so I'm not sure what's true. That aside... ❰ there's another huff, slightly indignant this time, and if morrigan could imagine adalia rolling her eyes and crossing her arms at this point she wouldn't be far off. ❱ The very idea of a god willing to turn on his children, on purpose, is utterly ridiculous. If a god were willing to do such a thing, they should be abandoned in turn by their children in search of a god willing to uphold their duties to the people they shepherd. There are ills in the world no mortal man can take on alone, and for his god to just let him, out of petty desire for more followers or to teach a lesson already learned five times over —
❰ adalia hates andrastianism a lot, can you tell. ❱
The Maker is either too petty and cruel to be followed anyway, or he never existed in the way Andrastians believe he did in the first place. I'm inclined to believe the latter, because even the most evil gods I know of have not turned their backs on the world.
tl;drs forever, oh my god, i'm so sorry
❰ because the maker turned away from his people, but we'll get to all that in a moment. ❱
Not as much as I would like, truthfully, I've been studying Chantry history more than most other things since the Chantry is so influential at present. I know there were seven Old Gods, dragons who first whispered the secrets of blood magic into the Dreamer Tevinter magisters' ears. The Golden City was breached in their name, and thence come darkspawn and the Blight, and Corypheus centuries later. ❰ a small huff, the audible equivalent of a shrug. ❱ It's all Chantry rhetoric except for that last part, so without digging deeper I can't say what's true and what's a fabrication and what's just been exaggerated over time.
This cult sounds... I mean, awful, but in a fascinating way. Why did they think sacrifice was necessary? What were they trying to accomplish? ❰ as for what alacruun thought of his followers... gods, wouldn't adalia like to know. she can make guesses, probably accurate ones, but who knows what really goes through his head. ❱ Dragons are naturally narcissists, on my plane. Even the good ones believe they are the apex of creation, and nothing could ever improve upon them. So I imagine... I imagine the Undying Dragon's followers didn't merit thinking about, as far as he was concerned. Their service to him was just as it should be, and if they died or killed for him it was in pursuit of a more ordered world, so it was just. And... yes. I think his will was very strong.
I've been interested in the Avvar beliefs, but most of what I've learned of them has been from Chantry sources, again, so I'm not sure what's true. That aside... ❰ there's another huff, slightly indignant this time, and if morrigan could imagine adalia rolling her eyes and crossing her arms at this point she wouldn't be far off. ❱ The very idea of a god willing to turn on his children, on purpose, is utterly ridiculous. If a god were willing to do such a thing, they should be abandoned in turn by their children in search of a god willing to uphold their duties to the people they shepherd. There are ills in the world no mortal man can take on alone, and for his god to just let him, out of petty desire for more followers or to teach a lesson already learned five times over —
❰ adalia hates andrastianism a lot, can you tell. ❱
The Maker is either too petty and cruel to be followed anyway, or he never existed in the way Andrastians believe he did in the first place. I'm inclined to believe the latter, because even the most evil gods I know of have not turned their backs on the world.