As I further develop the Lavellan clan in my longfic, By Gods Forsaken, I'm starting to wonder about all the other clans. Sure they meet up every ten years or something to share knowledge, but due to their lifestyle they must be vastly different with their own issues. (I do really like the theory of roaming keepers I saw here before -- if I find it, I'll link it)
You've got Zathrian's clan with the nature spirit and werewolves in DAO, Merril's clan and the mirror in DA2, and we don't really get to see much detail of any clan in DAI (Hawen's clan in the Exalted Plains doesn't even have a clan name associated with it!) and DATV is so focused on the two escaped gods, only the Veil Jumpers get some sort of detail and its not much.
While my Lavellan clan keeper is following a "mission" she believes the Emerald Knight that founded their clan wanted to happen (mentioned in the most recent chapter beginning flashback), I wonder what other goals the other clans might have.
A clan that focuses on military might with the goal to retake Halamshiral (probably allied with Briala as she attempts to keep the War of the Lions raging)
A clan focused on herbs and potions to try to bring back elven immortality through other means
A clan attempting to restore an ruin in Arlathan in order to call their gods home (awakens something else?)
A clan that believes Fen'harel split himself into wolves so that he could live forever and that if they destroy all his wolf forms, the gods will be free
A clan that worships the Forgotten Ones, believing that since they are not imprisoned they may be the only hope to regain elven glory and destroy the shemlen
A clan that hides deep in the korcari wilds and refuses civilization, believing the world was never meant to be tamed with buildings and roads and politics and that the wilds will reclaim everything eventually (very pro-Veil removal)
A clan that is well-known with outerlying human villages since they are very friendly and are the only traders that run by these villages, giving them products that they don't have access to and trading skills
A clan that is heavily influenced by nearby dwarven trading and shared knowledge that they have adopted a lot of enchantment and secret lyrium techniques (perhaps Bellara's clan?)
I could keep going, but I should be writing. I want to hear other ideas! What other clans do you think would be cool to be in the game?
this is a stray thought I was going to develop more but... just to put it out there... I really feel like Keeper Hawen's Clan (the clan in the Exalted Plains map in Inquistition) should be named Clan Lindiranae.
Reasons:
Lindiranae is introduced in Inquisition as a Dalish legendary figure, and is pretty heavily emphasized among the rest of them with specific related mentions in codex entries, quests, plus related artifacts like the sword Evanura
Valorin, the young mage elf who was passed over to be First by Hawen, goes off in search of a talisman of Lindiranae in the Something To Prove side quest
The text of the quest even says, "Valorin was searching for Lindiranae's talisman, a lost Dalish artifact of particular importance to Hawen's clan. Valorin's journal mentions ruins on the plains where the talisman may be found."
They really should have just confirmed it. It would have been so easy to make more explicit in the "Something to Prove" quest and wow then we would have had a name everyone could use for them. From that "of particular importance" line I really feel it was meant to be canon and they just forgot to follow up on it and didn't bother to confirm after the fact. Which... there's still time.
Another explanation for the “Dalish clans can only have 3 mages” — other than it being another piece of chantry propaganda to make the elves look bad/justify their own mistreatment of mages — is that this is a lie Dalish tell non-Dalish to keep the Templars off their back, bc you know that if the Chantry heard that Dalish clans have 10+ mages they’d be lighting that shit up big time.
Alternatively, it’s half true in that they have 3 official mages — the Keeper and their First and Second in line — and everyone else is just another dude who happens to have magic. Case in point: when you side with the werewolves against Zathrian’s clan, a bunch of randos start coming at you with magic. There’s no reason you can’t have magic and contribute to your clan without being a wizard all the time.
In regards to Minaeve’s clan, we already know that the Dalish are not homogenous. It’s perfectly likely that for some reason or another, they’re just like that. Maybe they got attacked by Templars recently and decided to overcorrect in response, maybe something got lost in translation and they thought every clan was doing that now, or maybe they’re just assholes and don’t care what the other clans are doing. Just bc Minaeve’s clan is like that doesn’t mean the rest of the Dalish are the same.
Furthermore, maybe that’s where the misinformation comes from in the first place? One Dalish clan kicks out their mages, who end up as apostates or taken in by the Circles, and bc they’re the only Dalish mage representation most non-Dalish ever meet, they end up heavily misinformed about common Dalish practices. When talking to Minaeve as Lavellan, you can sound pretty surprised that it’s even a thing, like you’d never heard of it before bc it’s not commonly done.
Headcanon that every Dalish tribe has slight variances in their Vallaslin that allows other Dalish to tell them apart because every Keeper applies the Vallaslin slightly differently. Imagine knowing what clan someone is from by how many dots there are, or from the thickness of the lines, or which way the ink whorls.
Headcanon that the Dalish have their own stereotypes about what type of person gets which Vallaslin design. Dirthamen means you’ll never tell a secret told in confidence but make a great storyteller. Mythal means you’re the mom friend and will always protect those in need. Elgar’nan means you have a fierce temper and are an early riser. Falon’Din means you place great value in the cycle of life and somehow never get lost. June means you have an artists soul and are a dreamer. Sylaise means you care about family and are a great cook. Andruil means you’re stubborn but know how to pick your fights.
Edit: I forgot Ghilan’nain, but I’m pretty sure her Vallaslin just means you like halla and animals.
each clan has one ship, a ship-cluster (consisting of the original Exodus-ship which by this point only serves as a relic/temple and later additions for living space, updated technology, etc) or small fleets.
Dalish elves spend most of their lives on them—most of them never leave their clan’s cluster
they travel from planet to planet/station to station for trade, etc. They trade cloth, surplus food and labour in exchange for technology etc.
their home planet of Elvhenan (ha!) was destroyed in a cataclysm hundreds of years ago with most of their history. The survivors who made it onto the escape ships traveled together after the Exodus before splintering into smaller groups (politics, resources, religion)
clans aren’t particularly friendly with any of the other races, or with each other (after the separation)
isolationist space travelers searching for their ‘new home’ promised to them (by the elven pantheon)
In the hours before Lindiranae’s last stand against the Orlesian Empire, House Lavellan found itself leaderless and with no apparent successor to guide them through the impending fall of their nation. Lady Lavellan had fallen in combat with a templar while escorting civilians away from battle. Lord Lavellan had been shot down by ‘brigands’ while collecting fallen Dalish soldiers for burial; Orlais denies any involvement with such individuals. Their son, Levaas, was only three and though both his parents were mages, he would ultimately never manifest magical abilities of his own. It was Lady Lavellan’s handmaiden, apprentice, and best friend, Areina, who became the first keeper of Clan Lavellan.
The clan fled east, into Ferelden, to escape the Orlesian soldiers tasked with hunting down escaped elves. Wise enough to understand that a mere border would only delay an inevitable Orlesian incursion, Areina pressed toward the Storm Coast and traveled to various harbor towns. Eventually, she found a pair of smuggling vessels large enough to ferry her clan from Ferelden to the Amaranthine Coast, where she hoped they would gain enough distance to escape the long arm of Orlais. Passage was bought by trading jewelry, fine cloth, and even a number of weapons, but even so, the Ferelden smugglers were reluctant to take such risky cargo. Clan Lavellan was taken on board under the condition that the elves and their livestock had not leave the cargo bay for any reason.
The voyage was slow and long. Weather was less than ideal and the sailors had many other deliveries and activities to complete in order to not only maintain a living for themselves, but also to appear normal to anyone seeking to take advantage of the bounty upon Dalish heads. As a result, the clan was kept in cramped, unclean conditions that promoted illness and despair. Those already suffering injuries from the Exalted March began to succumb to them as infection set in. With limited and supplies, carefully rationed clean water, and no fresh air, little could be done. The captain gave them what accommodations she could, but when the first person died, she made it clear that it would be too great a risk to stop and bury every person who died. Clan Lavellan was forced to say prayers for their deceased below deck before relinquishing the bodies to be buried at sea. Two dozen people died to illness and infection and a handful to grief-driven suicide. A number of their herd died in the poor conditions as well. When the clan disembarked south of Wycome, sick and mourning, they were determined to pay respects to those who did not survive the Exalted March or the voyage to their new home.
Thousands of stones of varying sizes were used to construct a massive cairn on the coast, towering ten feet tall. The cairn was painted white to ensure that any who passed—on land or by sea—would take note of it. It is repainted every few years in a ceremony called Terudiris’rien, which is also the elven name for the monument. Humans call it a ‘spear’ and fear that it has been cursed with blood magic to kill any human who touches it. When Clan Lavellan discovered the gurau plant and its unique properties, they began to paint a band of indigo around the monument during Terudiris’rien as well. The Dalish, as well as occasional city elves, leave offerings at the base of Terudiris’rien to show respect their their fallen kin. Human sailors use it as a navigational point.
The fraught voyage was not the end of Clan Lavellan’s troubles, however. As they began to adapt to their new home, they faced further casualties. While resources in the Free Marches are plentiful, the clan was undersupplied and underprepared for the challenges they faced. While some food could be foraged and some supplies crafted, it became increasingly obvious that the clan would need to resort to banditry to obtain what they needed for survival. This was a double-edged sword. While it gave them what they needed to craft their first aravels, canoes, and other items that would become a staple of Lavellan life, it also brought enmity upon them. Anti-Dalish sentiment, while always strong in Andrastian communities, was at an all-time high immediately after the Second Exalted March. Clan Lavellan faced a great deal of violence in these early years and they quickly developed methods of surviving attacks from humans. Exploiting the territorial Marcher mentality is a common tactic. By fleeing into the holdings of another city-state, the pursuing forces would be forced to seek permission to enter the territory or risk a retaliatory strike by the local ruler. Even if permission to pursue was granted, it would buy Lavellan valuable time to escape.
As they began to adapt and evade violence, however, the death toll continued to climb. Grief over a lost nation and a horrific voyage cast a shadow over the clan. The suicides that began during the voyage never ceased and for the next ten years, Areina struggled to maintain morale and curb the sorrow that had claimed her people. It was through the help of a man named Iohras that Clan Lavellan began to recover from its staggering losses. Iohras had lost his husband to sickness during the voyage, one child to a human attack, and the other had disappeared at sea. He used his own experiences with overcoming grief and combined them with those of others. Together, he and Areina created the mourning rituals that came to heal their community and finally slow the suicide epidemic. Iohras became known as the first varmahinlan in Lavellan history and was tasked with guiding the grieving through their loss.
As the clan began to stabilize internally, so did their external relations. Over time, they began to build trust with small communities and would routinely trade with them. With relative peace blooming, the need for trained warriors began to dwindle and eventually warrior traditions ceased entirely. The clan became primarily pacifist, only attacking to defend themselves and preferring to flee when possible.
When the Blight surged through Antiva and into the Free Marches, Clan Lavellan aided in the evacuation of smaller towns and villages and granted refuge to city elves who had been left behind in the cities. When the Grey Wardens asked them to honor the treaties and stand against the Blight, Clan Lavellan pledged four of their own to join the Grey Wardens. Maebh, Nuvalas, and Nollaig volunteered to join the Wardens immediately. Nuvalas offer to join the Grey Wardens was considered especially noble. Nuvalas was an esha, a gender that began to vanish during colonization but never truly died out. Esha are considered to be destined for a special purpose in modern times. Discovering Nuvalas’s calling was a bittersweet moment for the clan.
Finding a fourth volunteer proved difficult. Ultimately, Keeper Oisin chose young Irosyl to join the others. Handor’s refusal was so vehement and strong that he was ultimately conscripted by the Wardens and forced to undergo the Joining. While he, Maebh, and Nuvalas survived, Nollaig perished. The three of them underwent many missions together, the details of which have never been revealed to their clan. By the time the Blight ended, Handor and Nuvalas had met their end in combat. Maebh lived on until she heeded her Calling. All four have been commemorated with cairns, the Sulle’terudiris, built close together, deep within the Planesene Forest.
Although Clan Lavellan traditionally keeps its population small, often exceeding no more than 250 people, they began to overpopulate throughout the Storm and Blessed ages. They ultimately reached a population of over 500 people, with five mages in their ranks. Resources were strained and the large population made their movements more noticeable by potentially hostile humans.
While the possibility of splitting the clan had been in discussion for some time, it was a delicate matter. Families would be split, an excess of resources would need to be gathered, and the new clan would need to find a new home. A sister clan would also not have a position on the Ha’arla, a council primarily made of clans who have existed since the fall of the Dales. To lose a voice there would be to have no say in Dalish law or judgments. However, splitting would also mean a second voice upholding Lavellan ideals and traditions during the Arlathvhen.
Ultimately, practicality won out. The First took the youngest mage, about half the population, and a handful of the herd and left for the Vimmark Mountains. The new clan took the name Baldahlen and they agreed to meet again the next year, at one of the lakes in Wildervale. The meeting has since become an annual tradition and over time, Baldahlen has become much more distinct from their original clan. They cremate their dead and put the ashes in urns that are housed within cairns. They have made a tradition of raising fine harts and prefer tending farms in the steppes of the northern Vimmarks rather than hunting or fishing. Once a year, six months after reuniting with Lavellan, they visit the Sulle’terudiris to pay respects to their fallen clanmates.
Despite Clan Lavellan’s place on the Ha’arla, it has long been controversial among other Dalish. Lavellan has little contact with other clans beyond Baldahlen and instead spends quite a bit of time in human villages to trade. This has caused some clans to believe that Lavellan has been overly influenced by human beliefs. Their emphasis on Falon’Din is often seen as evidence of this; their greatest detractors argue that their interpretation of Falon’Din is only a thinly veiled representation of the Maker.
Clan Lavellan’s standing among the Dalish clans took a heavy toll in 9:06 Dragon. While fleeing aggressive humans, the clan wandered into Nevarra for a brief reprieve. There, they saw Clan Duilandean under attack by Chantry forces. Though fleeing non-combatants asked Lavellan for aid, Keeper Emith refused. He did not want to risk angering the Chantry and endangering his people. He quelled the protests from his clan and continued on, ignoring the battle at his back. The survivors of Duilandean have never forgiven Lavellan for their betrayal and spread word of it to the other clans. Though the actions of Clan Lavellan was not enough to call a Ha’arla and place the clan’s status as Dalish on trial, their reputation was irreparably damaged. They have been deeply ostracized by many Dalish clans and during the Arlathvhen of 9:30 Dragon, they were denied a Second.
When Keeper Deshanna took Emith’s place in 9:31 Dragon, she began to make efforts to both redeem Lavellan and to stand strong without the support of the other clans. Unable to rely on her kin for a new Second, she searched alienages for people showing signs of magic. In 9:39 Dragon, she found Tierney Khait in the Starkhaven alienage, displaying magic at only five years old. His mother, desperate to be rid of him but reluctant to put him at the mercy of out-of-control templars, gave him to Deshanna. Some clans took the deliberate search for a city elf to put in a place of honor as a slap to the face, but the future of Lavellan was secured nonetheless.
Through her years as Keeper, Deshanna has made friendly overtures to other clans, offering to protect them with Lavellan’s good reputation while they are in the Free Marches or sending them gifts of good faith. During the Arlathvhen in 9:40 Dragon, she made a gamble by offering to send one of her clan to the upcoming Conclave. Taking such a risky venture, she hoped, would show Lavellan’s commitment to the other clans and provide useful intel. When her spy was declared the Herald of Andraste, all of her careful work was undone. Accusations of worshiping the Maker were renewed and stronger than before. Sympathy was limited as Lavellan came under attack by humans. Aiding the Wycome elves and joining the council of the city has earned a mixed reaction from the Dalish community. Some are calling for Lavellan to be judged by the Ha’arla. Others have applauded Lavellan for creating a safe haven for elves, both city and Dalish.
The Elvhen here is from my own constructions, with the exception of rien, which is derived from @vir-ghilani‘s word for dawn lotus, riennalis. Special thanks to both her and @ridethefrostback for their input on formatting.
My apologies if this has been asked before, but you seem quite knowledgeable about the lore of Dragon Age, and I'm wondering if you can answer something for me: why does Lavellan have the surname of his/her clan? Does EVERYONE in clan Lavellan share the same surname? Or is it referred to in game as 'clan Lavellan' purely because of the Inquisitor's surname?
This has actually never been asked, but I’m super glad that you did!
So first of all, no it is not Clan Lavellan because of a gaming mechanic/reference thing. Also everyone in Clan Lavellan might have the same clan/surname, but they could have other names as well. Since other members of the clan remain nameless and faceless besides the Keeper, it is impossible to know for sure.
Dalish Clans are named for the Dalish Nobles who founded them after the fall of the Dales, in other words Elven Nobles from the Dales who started each clan. This means every clan is named after one family, even though it may house more. This also means Inquisitor Lavellan and their Keeper Deshanna (ridiculously long name) Lavellan are both descendants of the original leader/noble/Keeper of the clan, though it is never explained how they are related and could be very distant cousins. The reason this is known, because while they are of Clan Lavellan, they do not have to have/share the clan name as their surname.
Which brings us to the next point, there are some clans who were founded upon the names of two or more high-ranking elven families. The Dalish Noble then named the clan after them, while the other families within the clan kept their own surnames. The other families often being those of the legendary Emerald Knights, who stood as the protector of the Dales. This is seen in an example Mary Kirby gave, Clan Sabrae was founded by Dalish Noble Sabrae and Emerald Knight Mahariel. This means Clan Sabrae has the families of Sabrae, Mahariel, and other Emerald Knights existing within it. Hence why we get Tamlen Sabrae and (insert Warden name) Mahariel both in clan Sabrae.
Lastly clans trade members often, both out of necessity or excess of mages and to combat inbreeding. This is how we also get Merrill of Clan Alerion in Clan Sabrae.
So basically, no not everyone in Clan Lavellan shares the surname Lavellan. Clans are named after one, prominent family and other families exist and come into the clan as needed. Clan Sabrae being the perfect example, as it is made up of at least 3-4 known families/surnames. Inquisitor Lavellan is simply both from Clan Lavellan and has an ancestry linking them to the original Lavellan noble.
