what night elves?????
the night elves are a minor plot point in stolen throne that are never mentioned ever again in dragon age extended materials and i think about them frequently. during the fereldan rebellion, loghain formed a company of specifically elven soldiers specializing in stealth tactics which came to be known as the 'night elves':
It was Loghain who led the first small groups of archers out under cover of darkness. Elves naturally saw better in darkness than men, so he recruited those few that marched with the rebels as runners and camp followers to join his group. Though surprised by their sudden elevation, they quickly stepped up to the challenge. Within weeks they had racked up an impressive body count, enough so the enemy began to fear the appearance of the “night elves” in their camps. It was a name Loghain took for his group as a badge of courage. ... Arl Rendorn awarded Loghain the rank of lieutenant and commissioned the Night Elves as an actual company. Reluctant to accept the honor, Loghain did so only after being cajoled by his fellow archers and teased by Rowan.
The tactics the rebels had learned in holding the southern hills benefited them here, and Loghain was proud of the role his Night Elves had played in harassing the enemy lines from within the forest. Their reputation among the enemy as brutal killers had only increased, and it was said that many men within the King’s army were refusing to take the night watch for fear it would mean a silent arrow in the throat.
of course none of these elves are ever named as proper characters within tst, but the implications are mind boggling and also, well, pretty bleak. forming the night elves is continually referred to as one of loghain's major tactical accomplishments. he apparently takes a lot of genuine pride in their success, and is closer to them than the rest of the army as his squad.
Rowan stepped forward. “Maric is right. You told my father once that he is not flexible enough. All the best plans have been yours, Loghain. Without you, we would not be here.” “I think you are giving me too much credit,” he snorted. “The Night Elves were my doing. Everything else you could have done on your own. I am only a lieutenant, if you’ll recall.”
Outside of the Night Elves, Loghain was regarded as a taciturn and even unfriendly man.
which is crazy!!! right!!! there was a genuinely feared/respected group of elven soldiers fighting for ferelden, and it's loghain who gave them the opportunity. of course he ends up with all the real credit for their accomplishments, and sure from his perspective it's not some grand move for racial equality, it's just good tactics, but even that is an unusual amount of respect and consideration. and he must've cared for them. they were his men, he fought alongside them.
then they're never mentioned again, ever. which implies that whatever night elves survived to see an independent ferelden likely didn't get any recognition for what they did afterwards. and the same pragmatism that led loghain to think 'well, why not have a company of elven archers if they have better night vision than humans' allows him to justify selling the elves living in denerim's alienage to tevinter slavers.
(it's my personal accepted headcanon + one i've seen shared by others that adaia tabris was one of the night elves, because. well. the implications are crazy.)
