#current playthrough

She is a Dalish First. Between her studies and natural solitary leanings as a child she only ever was close to her Keeper. As a child she looked into the history of the Dales, learning that they were land promised by Andraste to Shartan…and that this promise was actually honored by her heirs when people rarely deal honorably with her people. So she researched to the best of her ability, and came to the conclusion that the Dalish should at least respect Andraste as an honorable ally, even if her successors didn’t live up to her example (she also decided that maintaining open communication and alliances might have made them a more difficult target, but given that the ‘Exalted March’ was a pretty thin cover for Orlesian expansionism that then swallowed Ferelden she wouldn’t count on it being enough precisely).

As she learned and grew however, she came to find more hope in Andraste’s Maker than in her own peoples’ Creators. The Maker did not demand greatness but humility, not power but repentance. She maintains that the Creators existed, but suspects that they were perhaps spirits or something instead of actual gods. Her new faith puts her at odds with her clan and they’re leery of having a nonbelieving Keeper. Promising that she will teach all their lore and legends just as they were taught to her does little to ease that tension given how easily promises can be broken. This mission, therefore, was in part to help her decide whether she was going to be able to remain true to her clan or if it would be better for her to seek her path elsewhere.

When the Breach is formed she is reluctant to believe in any of it, she doubts she would be the messenger Andraste would choose, but she also kind of wants it to be true because that would be proof of heaven’s love. She’s hesitant about the Chantry, believing they’ve allowed themselves to be infected with politics, but she wants to believe that – even if she’s not some appointed ambassador – the Maker is watching and pushing the people who will be best for something into position to act (ensuring the Warden’s survival, placing Hawke in Kirkwall, etc), thus implying that she will be useful enough not to let them down.

She comes to see herself as a pseudo-Keeper for everyone who trusts and follows her, feeling personally responsible for their wellbeing. This would be stressful enough for the Inner Circle, but when she becomes Inquisitor she’s trying to stretch her wings over thousands of people. Very quickly, those she trusts find their primary concern shifting from whether she can deal with Corypheus to whether she’s getting any sleep or if she’s gotten so focused on something that food became irrelevant.

Cassandra initially came on almost all missions because she was essentially acting as a parole officer, but after the Herald proved herself that role voicelessly shifted more to bodyguard and confidant. As such, she is often the first to notice and head off problems, and the Inquisitor is so used to Cassandra always being right there that it feels normal, so she doesn’t ask for an explanation (she also suspects that Cassandra just likes being able to get in the field and do things rather than bother with bureaucrats, but as long as the Seeker doesn’t say anything they don’t have to change it and Elanor doesn’t want to deprive her friend of what few liberties she gets the chance to indulge in).