Dec 20, 2022
Paul Almasy - Le magasin de télés, Paris, 1960s.
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Paul Almasy - Le magasin de télés, Paris, 1960s.
Grandin transistor, 1964.
CONFESSION:
I wish we could have taken Grandin from the Jaws of Hakkon DLC to The Augur in Stone-Bear Hold so that maybe he could help him. We do this whole other storyline of how being possessed is a teaching instrument for the Avvar with Sigrid Gullsdotten, so I feel like something could have been done other than let him go rampage or kill him. You are talking to Grandin, he’s not mindless. It seems like a missed opportunity.
The Loss of a Friend
Side quest: The Loss of a Friend
Characters involved: Lace Harding, Scout Grandin
Grandin, an Inquisition scout, has disappeared in the Frostback Basin. Grandin's friend was recently murdered and Scout Harding is concerned about Grandin's safety.
(Approach Scout Harding after completing the side quest “Lead the Charge” and initiating the side quest “Jawbreaker”.)
Harding: Did you see Scout Grandin on your way back? He should be on watch, but he's gone. Grandin was a good friend of Jace Turbot, one of the researchers. He was killed by Hakkonites. I'm starting to worry that Grandin's gone and done something... stupid. He was supposed to send word back when he reached his station, but... nothing. Keep an eye out for him, please? For me?
(Ambient dialogue in the Inquisition’s camp)
Female soldier: You've heard about Jace?
Male soldier: (Sighs.) I have.
(Search for Grandin in the Frostback Basin. Follow the trail of carnage. Find Grandin’s orders.)
Note text:
“A brief note, followed by a rough map of the area with key points marked:
Grandin,
Details are below. We need to keep to our patrols—it will allow us the upper hand.
I understand where you're coming from. Word has been sent to Jace's family. I promise you: whoever did this will face justice.
Harding”
PC: Orders for Grandin.
Party comments:
Iron Bull: Looks like he survived the fight with the Hakkonites. Won't get far on his own, though.
Cassandra: And dead Hakkonites. Impressive that he fought them off alone.
Blackwall: And dead Hakkonites. Hope he hasn't run into more trouble.
(After running into a pile of burning bodies near where Note: A Warning can be found, attached to a dagger plunged into a dead Hakkonite.)
PC: These were Hakkonites.
Party comments:
Iron Bull: That dagger has the Inquisition seal. Fair bet our missing scout came this way.
Varric: And that's an Inquisition dagger. Harding said that scout might try something stupid.
Vivienne: One of our soldiers has been through here. That dagger bears the Inquisition crest.
Blackwall: A dagger with the Inquisition seal. Property of our missing soldier?
Solas: That dagger bears the Inquisition's crest. Perhaps the missing scout came this way.
Cassandra: That dagger bears the Inquisition crest. Could it belong to the missing scout?
Dorian: He has an Inquisition dagger in his back. Property of our missing soldier, perhaps?
(After running into another pile of burning bodies.)
Party comments:
Iron Bull: More dead Hakkon warriors.
Dorian: Someone's cut their way through these Hakkon warriors. I can't decide if it's impressive or disconcerting.
Cassandra: More dead Hakkon warriors. Could one man accomplish this?
Blackwall: Maker. More dead Hakkon warriors.
Cole: Too much, too sharp. Something's wrong.
(Enter the Ancient Culvert where Grandin has hidden.)
PC: The Inquisition soldier. Grandin?
Party comments:
Solas: Careful. Something is amiss here.
Cassandra: Something's not right.
Dorian: Something doesn't feel right.
Vivienne: Be cautious. Something feels wrong.
Cole: No. He's different.
(Approach Grandin.)
Grandin: Inquisitor. I've abandoned my post, haven't I? I had cause. Just missing the permission part.
PC: Harding told us about your friend Jace.
Grandin: He was studying at the University. Those Hakkon bastards. Jace wasn't a soldier—he wasn't even armed. After this, he was going to show me Val Royeaux. I've never been. I thought we might... I can't let this happen.
Dialogue options:
General: I'm sorry. [1]
General: I can't believe you're alone. [2]
General: It's never easy. [3]
[1] General: I'm sorry.
PC: I'm sorry, Grandin. [4]
[2] General: I can't believe you're alone.
PC: You've been fighting your way through the Jaws of Hakkon? Alone?
Grandin: (Laughs). [4]
[3] General: It's never easy.
PC: We don't want to lose anyone. Sometimes we have no choice. [4]
[4] Grandin: I wasn't a soldier either, not before this. I lived in the Circle. Never had the skill for combat spells, so I picked up a sword. I wanted to fight for the Inquisition. The Jaws of Hakkon almost ended that, too. I was bleeding out when it saw me. It knows what I know. They will not kill more people. Not like Jace. I will protect them, Inquisitor.
Party comments:
Solas: And then? Will you stop or will the rage take you?
Varric: This is bad.
[5] Dialogue options:
Investigate: You can leave, spirit. [6]
General: Serve as you are. [7]
General: I can't let you go, demon. [8]
[6] Investigate: You can leave, spirit.
PC: It doesn't have to be this way. Release Grandin, spirit.
Grandin: Release? The spirit remains because I want it to. I will protect our people. I want to fight, Inquisitor. [Back to 5]
[7] General: Serve as you are.
PC: Very well. Go.
Grandin: Thank you, Inquisitor. I serve your cause—I swear to it.
(The screen fades to black. Grandin leaves.)
Party comments:
Dorian: No chance of this ending poorly. Spirits can always be taken at face value.
Iron Bull: Hope he sticks to killing those Hakkon assholes.
Cole: Hakkonites hurt people. It wants to kill them. It doesn't know how to stop.
Vivienne: Suffering a demon to live is never a lesser of two evils.
(Report back to Harding.) [Go to 9]
[8] General: I can't let you go, demon.
PC: You're not walking out of here, demon.
Grandin: If you stop me, then I cannot stop them. I won't allow it.
(Grandin turns into a full Rage demon. A fight ensues, Grandind dies.)
Party comments:
Varric: (Sighs.) Better than leaving him as an abomination.
Sera: Stupid demons and what they frigging do.
Blackwall: Poor lad.
Cassandra: Harding will inform the family of the death... if not the details.
(Report back to Harding.) [Go to 9]
[9] Dialogue options:
General: I found Grandin. [10]
[10] General: I found Grandin
PC: I've news about Scout Grandin.
Harding: Maker. Don't tell me. He's dead, isn't he? [11]
[11] Subsequent dialogue options:
General: Yes. [12] (If Grandin was killed.)
General: Not exactly. [13] (If Grandin was allowed to live.)
[12] General: Yes.
PC: Yes, he is dead.
Harding: Another one gone. Just like that. You never get used to it, do you? [14]
[13] General: Not exactly.
PC: He's not dead. Technically. He's actually possessed and taking revenge on the Hakkonites.
Harding: I was not expecting that answer. I... I need some time. But he's as good as dead, isn't he? [14]
[14] Harding: Maker. I'll miss him. The boy was great company. Terrible jokes, but that was part of his charm, you know? [Exits the conversation]
What do you do with Scout Grandin, in "The Loss of a Friend" sidequest in Jaws of Hakkon? Let him go or fight him? Reasons why? (He reminds me a bit of Justice and Anders, so I tend to let him go)
Yeah there are definitely parallels to be made between Grandin, Anders and Wynne. But what I found more concerning about Grandin was that he has a spirit (or demon) or Rage inside him, and how it clearly manifests in a violent way. While we see Justice show a volatile and dangerously confused side at one point, Anders is also able to reign things back in (if Hawke has the right approval score.) But Grandin doesn’t do that, instead full embracing the ferocity. Now grant it, the guy is heavy in grief and who knows, maybe he could gain better control with time, but there is enough valid reason to be concerned about letting him go. What happens when the Hakkonites are all taken care of, for example?
In my canon playthrough, Amaris tried asking the spirit to leave, and then ended up fighting him/killing him.
Ribot, piwo i kości #kokoryn #marcribot #grandin #budvar #budweiser #oilpainting #figurativeart https://www.instagram.com/p/B2B8bATnSUh/?igshid=13dnoskbz0emr
Confession: I would love if Grandin came back as a party member in the next game. Him and his demon seem to be in agreement, and what they want isn’t exactly bad. If his demon was purified in to a spirit of justice or love, he would be a beautiful foil to Anders.
Okay but how is scout Grandin not getting more love? He’s a talentless mage who picked up a sword to fight for the Inquisition, and when the guy he was gay for who wanted to show him Val Royeaux was killed he accepted a deal with a demon to destroy evil. I could honestly imagine him being a party member at some point and just want a happy ending here.