#minaeve

Round #1 — Match 11 of 104

Minaeve

“Minaeve has such a gentle presence in Haven/Skyhold. She feels like a real person caught up in all this”

vs. Cole

“Absolutely haunting little guy. 80% of his lines are insanely poetic; a fantastic example of some of the best writing in the series. His character adds complexity to already difficult questions regarding spirits, demons, and humans. He's a perfect companion for Inquisition, bringing evidence of Templar abuse to the forefront, muddled in with mage posession (even if the overarching narrative failed to fully engage with the mage-templar conflict). It doesn't get more Dragon Age than Cole.”

“Pointing him out but you still might not see him. Unless he wants you to.”

Briala and Celene (of course), Athenril, Erlina, Minaeve, Svarah Sun-Hair, and Cauthrien

the lore tidbit that some mages are too weak to even light a candle has always been fascinating to me, but even including Minaeve, it wasn't really utilized.

With Minaeve, she already has the perfect back story to demonstrate how a lack of talent may affect someone. Like all Dalish clans, hers prized their mages - but unlike most, her clan took it to an extreme (mage supremacy, now not just in Tevinter). She showed promise by presenting as a mage early, but disappointed everyone with her weakness. Her lack of talent meant she was of no use to their clan, and sending her to another would embarrass the clan's reputation - so that's why she was cast out to "find her own way" (as in, die of exposure). An unfortunate and abnormal situation that she carries with her as an adult, informing her opinions on the goings-on of the mage-Templar war.

With Carver, the change is primarily because Hawke can't be a mage in MFDA2. I don't buy that a blatant apostate who kills a dozen+ people every time they set foot outside would be able to become the most important person in KIRKWALL of all places, and I think "Hawke spends half the game fighting tooth and nail to protect their mage sibling only to fail them spectacularly" is such a compelling story that it should be thee story. So Carver and Bethany are both mages, and which one of them is killed in the prologue is random - senseless, violent, unpredictable. Carver's resentment of his siblings is, as ever, rooted in feeling not good enough in comparison. He and Bethany have very different experiences and perspectives on being mages.

now, it can't be my Lavellan because then Minaeve would just dismiss it as her being defensive of her people. but I can make it so Lavellan and Dalish, and maybe some elven - city and not - scouts are talking about Dalish stuff and Minaeve wanders by. and Lavellan tries to draw her in, because she recognises the accent and thinks maybe she would like to hear about her people. only for Minaeve to say that she doesn't consider herself one of the Dalish after what they did to her and tell how she was abandoned.

and then the Iron Bull, who was sitting nearby goes yeah, that story has more holes than a fereldan cheese and even I can see that with just the one eye. and then lists all the shit that doesn't make sense and all the stuff that doesn't add up.

and maybe while Minaeve is reeling, Lavellan kindly, reasonably, points out that hey, they have all those mages from various circles here in Haven and in Redcliffe too. there's bound to be some from Minaeve's old circle, right? ones who were already adults when she was brought in so have more. . . nuanced understanding of what happened. maybe. . . she should try asking them about that?

so Minaeve wanders off after that with a look that screams her world just got a major shake-up. and Dalish and Lavellan and all the others are looking at each other like we all know what likely happened but who is going to say it?

finally, some scout breaks the silence.

"they kidnapped her?"

"yeah"

"probably killed a bunch of her clan members and definitely killed her mother?"

Am I saying that the templars picked her up when she was very young and fed her a bunch of lies as to how she ended up in the Chantry? Maaaaaybe...

Minaeve

Haven Masterpost

If spoken to before the PC goes to the chantry: Minaeve: I believe Seeker Pentaghast was looking for you.

—

Minaeve: You’re the Herald. Or, well, the one they’re calling the Herald, anyway.

Minaeve (non-mage PC): I hope the Inquisition can restore order soon. I never really wanted to leave the Circle. Minaeve (mage PC): It’s odd to see them accepting a mage as their hero.

Minaeve (human mage PC): First we’re too dangerous to let out of the Circles, and then we’re apostate rebels… but they seem to like you. Minaeve (Dalish mage PC): Especially a Dalish elf. One look at your face, and it’s clear you were never part of a Circle. Minaeve (Qunari mage PC): It must be easier because you’re not human. They already see you as different from us who lived in the Circle.

Minaeve: My name is Minaeve. I research demons and other creatures. Seeker Pentaghast and I use what I find to help the soldiers fight them.

—

Speaking to again after the first encounter: Minaeve: Hello. Can I help you with something?

Minaeve (after turning in creature research:): you’ve brought back some fascinating things. We’re putting them to good use.

1 - Dialogue options:

General: So you’re a mage? [2]

General: You research creatures? [3]

Special (after finding research material): I found something for you. [4]

General: Goodbye. [5]

2 - General: So you’re a mage? PC: You said you were a mage? Minaeve: No, just an apprentice.

Minaeve (human mage PC): was a year or so from my Harrowing, at least. The enchanters were being kind. Minaeve (Dalish/Qunari PC): Circle mages must prove themselves in a ritual called the Harrowing.

Minaeve: I was never very good at magic. I’ve got just enough talent to be a danger to other people. When the mages rebelled, people like me had nowhere to go. The templars would have killed us. Luckily, Seeker Pentaghast took me in, along with the Tranquil I was protecting.

Dialogue options:

Investigate: You didn’t join the rebels? [6]

Investigate: You protected the tranquil? [7]

[Back to 1]

6 - Investigate: You didn’t join the rebels? PC: I’m surprised that even an apprentice mage wouldn’t join the rebellion. Minaeve: I don’t like using magic to fight. I’m not good at it, either. I liked studying. I liked performing rituals that helped us unlock the secrets of the Veil. I liked having the templars around to keep us safe.

Dialogue options:

General: You’re in the minority. [8]

General (mage PC): But now they’ve gone mad. [9]

General: I agree. [10]

General: I don’t trust mages. [11]

Dalish: A pity you aren’t Dalish. [12]

Arcane: Were you raised Dalish? [13]

8 - General: You’re in the minority. PC (mage PC): The templars made me feel a lot of things, but never safe. PC (non-mage PC): Most Circle mages I’ve met have a different opinion of the templars. Minaeve: You have not lived my life. I was born into a Dalish clan. I lived there until my magic manifested. The Dalish cannot risk having too many mages in one clan, and I was one more than they could bear. [14] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 9 - General: But now they’ve gone mad. PC: A pity the templars now want to see us all dead or made Tranquil. Minaeve: The problem is not that there are angry people on both sides: the problem is other people listening to their anger. I was born into a Dalish clan. I lived there until my magic manifested. The Dalish cannot risk having too many mages in one clan, and I was one more than they could bear. [14] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 10 - General: I agree. PC: Mages need protection. I wish more of them could see that. Minaeve: I was born into a Dalish clan. I lived there until my magic manifested. The Dalish cannot risk having too many mages in one clan, and I was one more than they could bear. [14] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 11 - General: I don’t trust mages. PC: I’ve never felt comfortable around magic. It’s hard to trust anyone with that sort of power. Minaeve: It’s hard to trust anyone with any sort of power. But I didn’t ask for this. I was born into a Dalish clan. I lived there until my magic manifested. The Dalish cannot risk having too many mages in one clan, and I was one more than they could bear. [14] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 12 - Dalish: A pity you aren’t Dalish. PC: You might have done well among the Dalish. Our mages are encouraged to study safely. Minaeve: Fen’Harel take the Dalish. Don’t let my lack of vallaslin fool you, lethallin. I was a proud member of my clan until my magic manifested. You know what happens when they have too many mages. [14] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 13 - Arcane: Were you raised Dalish? PC: Something in your accent… you were raised by the Dalish, weren’t you? Minaeve: Andaran atish’an. The lack of vallaslin cause most to miss it. I was a proud member of my clan until my magic manifested. You know what happens when they have too many mages. [14]

14 - Scene continues.

Minaeve: They gave me a pack and sent me into the woods to find my own life. I was seven years old.

Dialogue option:

General: That’s awful. PC: I’m so sorry. ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: That explains a lot. PC: No wonder you’d rather stay in the Circle; you had more than enough life outdoors. ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General (Dalish PC): My clan found other ways. PC: My clan never did that. We sent those gifted with magic to other clans, or… ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: They’re monsters. PC: That’s sickening.

Minaeve: I stumbled into a village, starving and cold, a few weeks later. I’d started using magic to scare predators away. The villagers saw me make fire in my fist. They were terrified and wanted to kill me. Templars saved me from them. They gave me food and clothes, and took me to the Circle. I’ve seen what life is like without the templars, and I want no part of it. I just want to study. [back to 1]

7 - Investigate: You protected the tranquil? PC: You said that you were keeping some of the Tranquil safe? Minaeve: Yes. The mages took some of them when my Circle rebelled, but the rest were forgotten.

Minaeve (human mage PC): You know how Circle mages saw the Tranquil. They’re just there to enchant items and keep the floors clean. Minaeve (Dalish/dwarf/Qunari/non-mage human PC): Most Circle mages look down on the Tranquil, or try to pretend they don’t exist.

Minaeve: They don’t have any emotions. They can barely take care of themselves, can’t defend themselves at all… It’s a shame. I like them better than most people.

Dialogue options:

General: They’re lucky to have you. [15]

General: That’s… interesting. [16]

General: Why? [17]

15 - General: They’re lucky to have you. PC: I’m glad they have someone who cares about them. Minaeve: They deserve better. They’re polite, they’re rational, and they’ll never get angry at you. [18] 16 - General: That’s… interesting. PC: That’s an unusual statement. Minaeve: They’re polite. They don’t bother you if they don’t need something. [18] 17 - General: Why? PC: Why would you want to spend time with the Tranquil? Minaeve: They’re polite. They don’t bother you if they don’t need something. [18]

18 - Scene continues.

Minaeve: When they study, they have a focus no normal person could ever match. But the templars, even some of the mages, mistreated them just because they could. The Tranquil never fought back. If not for that, I’d… I don’t know. Doesn’t really matter now. [back to 1]

3 - General: You research creatures? PC: You said Cassandra has you researching creatures? Minaeve: Yes. If you find anything interesting in your travels, I’d appreciate you bringing it to me. Minaeve: I may be able to find some weakness our soldiers can exploit when fighting various creatures. Minaeve: In the least, some materials are useful for making potions or gear for the Inquisition.

Dialogue options:

Investigate: Why study creatures? [19]

[Back to 1]

19 - Investigate: Why study creatures? PC: Why did you decide to research dangerous creatures? Minaeve: I liked the outdoors. The idea of the outdoors, anyway. Minaeve: When some monster is coming at you, glowing eyes and burning claws, it’s terrifying. Minaeve: But once you know how it works, you can deal with it. It’s just another part of the world. Minaeve: So much of this world is only frightening because we don’t understand it. [back to 1]

4 - Special: I found something for you. PC: I found something the demons left behind. Can you use it? Minaeve: Yes, that’s very helpful. Just leave it there, and the Tranquil and I will examine it.