On the importance of morale, the opportunism of Empire, and the value of supply lines.
This is part 3 of a series of posts in which I closely examine the letters my character received from the Inquisitor across Veilguard, and talk about the strategic and political implications of what we see within them.
I strongly suggest reading parts 1 and 2 before proceeding with this one, they contain vital context!
Part 1 can be found here!
Part 2 can be found here!
With that said, I will get into it:
Morale is critical to sustained conflicts. Underestimating this is lethal, and Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain clearly understand its value per the last letter.
They have been concentrating on symbolic attacks as well as strategically significant ones, often weaving these together with devastating effect for the South, as outlined in the last letter.
In this one, we see how critical Rook's actions will be for the outcome of this entire conflict: because we goad Ghilan'nain into making mistakes. And we do this via hits to her morale.
For all the strategic value of her victory at Weisshaupt, it pales to her in the face of the loss of her Archdemon. That's her baby, her perfect creation. The mother of monsters mourns her daughter. We reminded her immediately that she is now mortal, which is another devastating morale hit.
When we take out her blighted dragons at Hossberg it only compounds. She is overcome by her anger and grief, a situation so dangerous for them that it prompts Elgar'nan's direct intervention to soothe and retrieve her.
The war against the Evanuris will not and cannot be won in a numbers game. Both sides are keenly aware of this. Our attacks are instead personally targeted and blisteringly effective.
We see some of that in the course of playing, but it is driven home additionally very firmly here.
As the letter makes clear - to the people of Thedas, this is not just Rook's victory, this is a victory for the Wardens, who desperately needed a win to demonstrate that their Order was not robbed of power and agency in the wake of the Fall of Weisshaupt.
Hossberg sends a message: we will survive, we will endure, and we will win and rebuild.
And not just here, in this victory, either - as we progress through the game this is driven home thematically when Antoine tells us that flowers will bloom again there. No matter how bad it seems, some form of life will cling on.
Morale is everything, and this victory has encouraged enlistment in the overall struggle. The stakes are clear: we will fight together, or die alone.
However. Empires, are Empires.
Empires tend to die alone. Imperialism isolates you from everywhere that isn't another Empire, and while collaboration does happen, and is happening here, there is a constant friction when two expansionist Empires are rubbing up against each other.
We see here confirmation of the speculation from part 1: the Venatori are on the ground and providing direct military aid to the Orlesian rebels and their forces. The taking of Val Royeaux is a significant blow, and one that grants naval access to the Free Marches, which seems to have been immediately made use of by launching attacks eastward.
While they could make use of the overland route I've put on here for good measure, there's not much meaningful opposition to controlling this stretch of the Waking Sea. Attempting to take Kirkwall is the next move in stepping up aggression.
It is another goal with multiple strategic purposes and morale consequences.
To the people of the city, which finally had reconstructed under Varric's tenure as Viscount, the attacks threaten what they have just regained and would create desperation, which we all know historically goes great in Kirkwall.
To the Venatori, taking the City of Chains back would be a significant morale victory and affirmation of Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain's 'commitment' to their cause. Reclaiming the ancient powerful sites of Empire would do a lot to bolster their political influence back home, and also be a blow against the Shadow Dragons - regardless of what their current status is.
Kirkwall is the source of almost all the trade that flows between the Free Marches and Ferelden. Take it out? Ferelden is completely isolated, and the additional morale hit from this realization and starvation tactics will begin to also do their work.
If you take Kirkwall, you have consolidated naval control up to the mouth of the Waking Sea, with the Antaam intended to be performing a pincer here to lock down control of the coastlines. I'm being handed a note, we'll get to that.
Meanwhile, Orlais is dying on the hill of standing alone. We can see in the Trespasser DLC that regardless of who is in control, tensions between Ferelden and Orlais flared again when it came time to talk about what to do with the Inquisition. It is a substantial concession for Ferelden to send any military aid to Orlais, but its rejection is to be expected.
To an Empire that is governed with revolving door betrayals and power plays, accepting help and coordinating tactics with a former territory is an unacceptable display of weakness, and the sending will likely be regarded as a display of opportunism from Ferelden, rather than genuine solidarity in the face of the current existential threat.
After all, it would be opportunistic for Orlais to send aid to them, no? As it was in Inquisition? Why would this be any different?
The Inquisitor also points to the generational trauma of the war directly here, just to further drive it home. But this is a systemic cultural barrier that even an hypothetical edict from the Divine herself would not be able to overcome - the work has not been done to enable it too.
All of this, incidentally, is why we will be working with the Shadow Dragons rather than appealing to the Magisterium directly. The vast bulk of Magisters have nothing to gain by working with us, and all of them have everything to lose. What support we get can only come through underground channels, lest it risk a complete purge, and depending on our actions that can occur as it is. Empire is often a game of sunk cost, and we cannot expect meaningful aid in overthrowing a corrupt system from the vast majority of those who are personally invested in it.
I have been handed the rest of the note. Again, our work up in the North is critical to the stability of the South.
I've marked with red X's the locations we know for sure are almost entirely out of commission at this point: Denerim, Orzammar, and Val Royeaux. Kirkwall is being harried, and so was Ostwick, so those are circled in orange.
The Felicisima Armada historically close ranks when under attack by outsiders, and our work in Rivain and Treviso provides ancillary support to the overall fight against the Antaam, sowing division between two of their leaders and dividing their attention back down to the warband level.
The Armada's work draws the Antaam away from the mouth of the Waking Sea, opening up supply lines.
Per volume 1 of The World of Thedas, pages 72 and 82, we can also get a sense of the likely situation.
I've circled Treviso in yellow as well, since we know it is having a bad time. I saved Treviso in this run, so I don't know if anything changes at this point if Minrathous has been prioritized - but it's use in this situation is limited regardless while the occupation continues.
Llomerryn and Estwatch, circled here in magenta, are stronghold locations for the Armada. Taking them would require significant commitment of resources and a well oiled logistics network, and I expect attempts are being made.
Even with begrudging Venatori aid, however, we see at this point in the game there are substantial cracks, as Rook's and the faction's efforts popping up all around the North are dividing attentions and interrupting supply and disrupting morale there. The Antaam cannot take to the open ocean, which means they have no choice but to travel up the coast, getting harried every step of the way.
As the Inquisitor points out, it's much needed relief. But this is also a dangerous moment, because we have driven our enemies to desperation that they cannot afford to wear on their sleeves.
After the loss of the Archdemon and the two Blighted dragons, Ghilan'nain and Elgar'nan need to consolidate their power and reassert their divinity and right to rule, or else they risk losing control of the Venatori and the Antaam. That means they need another major symbolic victory, and that means another act of targeted terror. I was!
Very frightened at this point!
That wraps up this round!! I'm glad these are being enjoyed, they are fun for me to write out.
