#abelas

[lathbora-virann]

do you think when they were in the Temple of Mythal and Abelas was literally pointing a finger at Lavellan, calling them a shadow and saying "you are not my people", Solas had a little moment of self reflection to go "huh... is that what I sounded like"

[vhen-harel]

The Well of Sorrows is kind of horrifying when you look at it a certain way, especially paired with how strongly Solas reacts if the Inquisitor even considers drinking from it, never mind actually doing it (and the fight afterwards with him). I think that reaction comes from Solas understanding what’s actually inside the Well.

I think the Well is a reservoir of trapped spirits.

The Well is described as a magical pool that preserves the knowledge of Mythal’s servants, but what is knowledge really if not memory? The memories of lives, emotions, identities, experiences, all poured into the waters over centuries by generations of elves serving Mythal. Spirits are shaped through those very things, so if the Well is filled with preserved knowledge of Mythal’s servants, then I think it's fair to say, these are the spirits of these ancient elves.

I'm sure this isn't a new theory, just one I've been thinking on more. It feels like there are beings in the Well, beings that have awareness. They speak and answer questions asked of them. They give Morrigan or the Inquisitor the answer on how to defeat Corypheus. They know the password to get past the Sentinels in Trespasser. And they are completely controlled by Flemythal.

What if these ancient elves who served Mythal believed they were preserving their culture and knowledge for future generations, but in reality it was their spirits that would be bound inside the Well? Who would willingly choose to have their spirit trapped forever in a kind of eternal purgatory? Because there’s actually nothing in the lore that says this was fully voluntary or informed consent. Abelas only says:

“As each servant of Mythal reached the end of their years, they would pass their knowledge on… through this.”

If you serve Mythal, then this is what is expected of you when you are close to death. Perhaps some ancient elves did volunteer, but what if some fought against it, wanting their spirits to be freed instead upon their death, and so it was decided none of these elves would be told the truth, that it would trap their spirits.

Because I can’t forget Solas’ insight into the death of spirits:

“The energy of spirits returns to the Fade. If the idea giving the spirit form is strong, or if the memory has shaped other spirits, it may someday rise again.”

…unless they get shoved into the Well of Sorrows, of course.

These elves may have believed if they gave their knowledge then their energy would be returned to the Fade where maybe, just maybe they could rise again. But the reality was darker - they were surrendering their spirits into eternal service under Mythal’s command.

Because whoever drinks from the Well is bound to Mythal, Abelas confirms it, which means the voices within (spirits) are all bound to Mythal. And she knew this, created the Well for this purpose.

“This meeting was no accident, was it?” “Clever girl.” “The voices… came from you?” “The price of the Well seemed no dire thing when you saw so much gain, hmm? “I wished to see who drank from the Well of Sorrows. It has been a very long time.” Abelas: Our duty is all that remains. Those who drank from the vir’abelasan paid a great price, bound to the service of Mythal for eternity.

How many others have drank from this Well through history, and bound to Mythal. In addition to Abelas's dialogue there is ambient dialogue from a young elf in DAI who talks about hearing Mythal’s voice, and it does suggest this elf also found the Well. Did he drink from it and now this poor lad is forever bound to Mythal? This elf's face is clear of vallaslin when we meet him but later on after subsequent visits, he has one.

So if the Well does contain trapped spirits, then Mythal certainly has a pattern here hey? A history of keeping spirits tied to service and purpose for her.

“I pulled you from the Fade and sent you into war."

And what if that was eventually a fate meant for Solas? He was a servant of Mythal after all. Would Mythal want the knowledge of Wisdom to go to waste and return to the Fade should he die in battle? What if he found out? It would makes complete sense why he would be horrified by the Well and would be yet another reason their relationship falls apart.

It would also seem that Abelas and the other Sentinels are bound. They aren’t able to leave and instead go into uthenera, only awakening when the temple is threatened. They too are trapped in an endless cycle of duty tied to Mythal.

And then there is Abelas’ name: sorrow.

Was he always sorrow, or did centuries of guarding the temple and knowing what the Well truly is turn him into sorrow? Let’s say the Well is filled with trapped spirits. Then Abelas isn’t just protecting sacred knowledge - sadly, he’s protecting a prison of his kin. It makes me wonder what Abelas did to be put into a role like that, or if he too volunteered, not realizing what being in service to Mythal actually meant.

Which makes Solas’ dialogue with Abelas emotional, because it almost sounds like he’s trying to free him.

“There are other places, friend. Other duties.” “There is a place for you, lethallin… if you seek it.” “I said… I hoped he finds a new name.”

When it comes to spirits, names are important. They define who they are, their purpose. Solas isn't simply wishing Abelas happiness. He’s hoping Abelas can finally free himself from the sorrow and duty he’s been bound to for thousands of years.

Lastly, evidence that it's spirits in the Well for me? Matt Rhodes' art where it's called the Well of Souls.

[eloriellevalen]

˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗ Choose Your Fighter ˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗

[galadrieljones]

Some Riptide sketches

[scribeofmorpheus]

By the way, THIS is who Abelas is being mean to taunting when he says "Elvhen such as you?" in the Temple of Mythal!!

[dalishious]

Thoughts on Abelas as a DATV Companion

Abelas is first encountered at Solas’s ritual site; when the party returns to look for the dagger, they find him searching for it as well. Abelas explains that he knows the gods have returned and that the dagger must be kept out of their hands. Rook says that Solas is trapped in the Fade but has a connection through their dreams. Abelas agrees to assist the group, saying that if Fen’Harel has tasked them with stopping the gods, they will need his assistance.

Initially, Abelas is very closed off and not interested in talking to Rook, or anyone else for that matter. He’s well-guarded and answers any questions cryptically at best. Through gaining approval, Abelas eventually shares that his personal motivation for being with Rook is that he believes his only remaining duty in the world is to avenge Mythal; after that, he can go to his “final rest”.

At first Abelas believes it is just Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain he must end, but if Rook uncovers all of Solas’s memories and murals, he has a bit of a crisis moment where he adds Solas to his hit list as well, for murdering Flemeth. Rook can either agree or dissuade Abelas from this. The potential consequence: if Rook encourages Abelas to kill Solas but then tries to spare Solas in the end of the game with Abelas in the party, he will go against Rook’s decision and attack Solas himself, ultimately dying.

For a character arc, Abelas must learn to either let go of Mythal and embrace the modern world, or commit to upholding her values of justice and vengeance in his own name. Either way, completing his personal questline means Abelas finally believes has a reason to keep living beyond servitude to an absent god, and no longer seeks death.

For a romance arc, Abelas is a classic tsundere; initially aloof and perhaps even a little combative towards Rook, but eventually reveals he was trying (and failing) to push Rook away because he was afraid of the connection growing between them. Falling in love means he has to embrace the present instead of living in a state of constant mourning, and he feels guilty about that, because for so long his duty was to Mythal and only Mythal. Gradually he becomes more comfortable with affection and ultimately confesses how much Rook’s love means to him.

[blackstaff-blast]

Abelas (Sorrow)

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[infernaldaydreams]

Mythal enansal