Dalish/City split?

[darkrosetiger]

I've been playing through with my Tabris again, and something just occurred to me. Leyna mentioned that the Dalish clans are descended from the nobility of the Dales. The Wiki also mentioned this: "The clans date back to the ruling clans of the Dales and the Dalish are the descendants of the ruling houses of their destroyed homeland

Comments

[alias_sqbr]

Huh. That had never occurred to me, but it's an interesting theory.

I have a vague half pondered connection to the casteless left behind in Kal Hirol...

[tahara_l]

I've always thought about it as a matter of pride, as well. They always talk about never "bowing down again", and to them, it may seem that their city cousins just gave up.

It has occurred in history many times, where the leaders "conquered" people would do whatever needed to keep their dignity, even their own deaths.

[darkrosetiger]

I've always thought about it as a matter of pride, as well. They always talk about never "bowing down again", and to them, it may seem that their city cousins just gave up.My question has always been why, though. Going to live in the alienages seems like a choice that doesn't make much sense, because there's really no benefit. I can see why you might be willing to give up the worship of the Creators (although the Maker isn't much better, IMO), but even if you look at it in terms of pure survival, going to the alienages was a bad bet, what with all the hunger and disease and crushing poverty

[harp_of_israfel]

That hadn't occurred to me specifically, but you might have something. Because I overthink everything, and the whole of Dragon Age depends heavily on sensible analogues with real history, and the Dalish came across to me as very Celtic in their designs and mythos. So let's look at the differing circumstances in Ireland and Scotland

[shadowcatjen]

What you're mentioning is tied in to some head!Canon stuff I have regarding the PC elves and Zevran carrying "clan" names (Dalish PC doesn't count as that's self explanitory). Tabris, Surana, Aranai, really none of them should be carrying those names, yet they do. I'd call it the "Silent Middle Finger". Humans in majority don't know anything about Dalish clan names and might just think it an oddity for a city or mage elf to carry a family name. Meanwhile, your PCs and Zevran are quietly flipping society off and openly wearing their clan names as a matter of pride