#opinion meme.

[archontem]

✃ SPILL THE BEANS RADONIS

Radonis provides Opinions™

✃ People of mixed blood

Radonis doesn’t particularly care about them. Not because he’s especially accepting or because he doesn’t consider the non-human part as something incisive on someone’s identity, but because they don’t make a difference. What does it matter to him if elf-blooded people are around? What matters is how they behave, what they can do for him/for the Imperium, their value as tools to implement whatever measures are being taken to deal with whichever issues. 

Now, that said he does think they are kind of sneaky in nature, for the fact that they look human, so entirely human, and you have no way to tell if one of their parents was an elf. Still, they generally remain slaves, become bodyguards, works in sectors that do not directly affect him, and thus they also do not receive much thought. In a way, however, he passes judgement over those who are human and are fathers or mothers of elf-blooded bastards — because they weren’t a little more careful, because it was avoidable. And non-Tevinter people who actively choose to have an elven partner and spawn elf-blooded children? Yeah, he doesn’t get it. More than that, they work outside of the community rules of Thedosian society, which is a thing that more often than not gains his contempt. So maybe he has no real problem with an elf-blooded individual, but his prejudice reminds him at all times that his intelocutor is only half human.

I don’t think it’s possible to have a Qunari-blooded person? As in, I think the couple would be infertile. If those existed, he wouldn’t grant them any more sympathy than he gives to actual Qunari with actual horns. If anything, he’d be disgusted because some human even considered the union --- and let a child happen as a consequence.

He’s much less concerned when it comes to dwarven-blooded people. They receive more of his consideration, though the basis of his thoughts doesn’t change: an ally, an enemy, a tool, irrelevant, that’s how Radonis divides people into categories. Still, he’d give the concept more respect than he gives in the other case and, even though the human-dwarf couple isn’t a common one (I daresay it could be more common in Tevinter if not for the fact that a dwarf wouldn’t help when it comes to having children with magic), Radonis wouldn’t judge it only on the basis of the mixed part. He’d sooner judge their standing, allegiance, and other more practical things. 

[archontem]

↻ the Orlesian civil war

Radonis provides Opinions™

↻ The Orlesian civil war

You shouldn’t be surprised by this, but he’s following the developments while eating pop-corns.

Now, Orlais and Tevinter aren’t exactly neighbours and during Inquisition Radonis is more directly concerned with internal issues and Nevarra’s actions, influenced by the Venatori. He keeps a closer eye on King Markus and whatever bullshit he’ll come up with; the situation there is tense and more of a direct threat. But Orlais remains the most powerful nation of the south, and incidentally the only other empire of Thedas.

The fact that Orlais is being weakened by an internal conflict of such proportions doesn’t exactly make Radonis weep in sadness. Not only that, but the civil war comes at a time when the Orlesian Chantry got a pretty nice amputation, with the mage rebellion and especially the Templar Order leaving the institution to do what it wants. From a distance, Orlais looks crippled, though still standing. Radonis can easily see how a similar situation can convince Tevinter patriots and Ancient-Imperium-nostalgics that it’s the perfect time to act, take advantage of the chaos and gain something from it — be it just influence, undermining the Chantry and other Orlesian institutions, or go full-on military to get back the old territories. He also sees how that is entirely unfeasible. 

Celene is definitely right, the Qunari keep Tevinter very busy. The Imperium is the only nation of Thedas that is in a constant state of war besides the dwarven Thaigs with the darkspawn (and, somewhat unofficially, Rivain). That is to say, damn it if Radonis hasn’t thought about using the civil war to Tevinter’s advantage. It’s like, begging someone to do just that. But it’s impossible, the times do not allow it, resources do not allow it — and what the Venatori try to achieve in that sense is a foolish hazard. (We know that, in the nightmare future you see in In Hushed Whispers, the Venatori succeed. But that world is entirely destroyed, almost literally a nightmare. And Radonis is really not about that life.) So it’s like watching a good movie and regretting that you can’t really be part of it.

As for the outcome? He’d rather have Celene on the throne than Gaspard, but also he wouldn’t mind a brokered peace between the two. The first option, because she’s a diplomat and speaks well the language of politics (while he is an expansionist soldier); the second, because it means that equilibrium in Orlais is still unsteady and potentially fragile, as long as the contender is still alive.

[canticleofmercy-a]

☦, ♕, and ↻, opinion of beard-related puns

Thrask has opinions if you couldn’t tell

☦ The Qun

Thrask knows very little about the Qun, in the philosophical sense, and what he knows is filtered by Chantry education. What he’s seen of the Qun in Kirkwall is also limited to the Antaam, and even then he hasn’t interacted with them much beyond the occasional meeting next to the docks and that one time outside the Blooming Rose.

He is, in fact, rather puzzled by the entire thing, and by the idea that some people might choose to join the Qun willingly. He’d assume they do it because it offers them greater possibilities in life, which allows them to overlook the flaws of the institution. He knows very little of the Saarebas, the “dangerous things”, or he’d be angry, outraged that they treat their mages that way, not even really giving them the protection they need, sewing their mouths shut and not even treating them as people (hypocrisy™ Of course the Circles are supposed to be better, and the fact that sometimes aren’t… doesn’t mean that he’ll cut the Qunari some slack for it).

Now, Thrask is generally an understanding person and rather sympathetic, so it’s possible that if he met a Qunari who is “the exception” as an individual, he wouldn’t treat them much differently from a human or elf (some fantasy racism going on here). The Qun as an institution, however, would still be coloured by his prejudice. A kind of wary, “polite” prejudice, which certainly didn’t improve with the attack on the City. On that side, he certainly recognises that they are great warriors, well-trained, and that when they hit, they hit damn hard. 

♕ Nobility

He hasn’t had many contacts with nobility, not the proper type, the dynasties, the ones with Orlesian ancestry and whatnot. Thrask doesn’t think about them all that much, beyond the fact that they’re kind of there. Attached to their traditions, ruling over their lands, marrying each other, caring about manners, et cetera. He’s a polite man, he knows how to interact with them without offending them, but their world isn’t his.

What he does know about nobility is that a mage noble isn’t treated the same as a mage commoner, not in the Gallows and not anywhere else. He sees that, he knows that a surname brings protection both inside and outside a Circle. He knows that, occasionally, a mage noble is allowed things that normal mages couldn’t dream of, despite the fact that technically they all lose any right to their title and inheritance. That disturbs him more than other things, this favoritism, though he can hardly do anything about it; though he wouldn’t do anything about it, because it means that some mages have it a little easier. But he is still not pleased by this truth.

↻ Beard-related puns

They’re growing on him.

[canticleofmercy-a]

↻ Brothels and sex workers

Thrask has opinions if you couldn’t tell

↻ Brothels and sex workers

He knows he’s supposed to have a certain opinion on the matter. That is to say, they are places that a Templar should never visit, that going in a brothel taints the reputation of the Order and his own. That indulging in such pleasures distracts a Templar from his duty, that it’s very close to the type of temptations employed by desire demons from time to time, whose chosen appearance is often that of attractive women or men. 

He knows he should be ashamed and, honestly, he was the first time he set foot in the Blooming Rose. He was a fresh and innocent 22-year-old man.

But Thrask has come to know the people who worked there (to be clear, he knows only Ambra. The others are acquaintances.) Sometimes, with years passing, he also thought that people who worked there were in fact much better individuals than some of his brethren in the Gallows. For some of the women and men at the Rose it’s just a job. For some of them is even a choice. Most of them are also good company for a chat. And he fell in love with Ambra, who loved him back, so the two things, being a sex worker and being in love, aren’t even mutually exclusive (something that he might not have imagined before.) Granted, the Blooming Rose is a high class place and Thrask retains some negative and/or prejudiced opinions on brothels that aren’t as “good” to workers and clients. But it’s very easy for him now to see the person before he sees the sex worker, because of his experience in the Rose.

So he might not want it to be known that he sometimes visits a brothel, they might not be exactly respectable places, or not the most respectable in the city anyway, but… they exist, and will always exist. As someone who enjoyed Ambra’s company quite often when younger, and sometimes still when older… he can’t really be too sanctimonious, nor does he want to be. Even though he’ll probably still lie through his teeth and say that he never entered in a brothel once in his life.

[canticleofmercy-a]

✃✟⌘ make it rain gaia

Thrask has opinions if you couldn’t tell

✃ People of mixed blood

…But not really an opinion on this matter. When he’s busy looking for Feynriel and is talking with his mother, and afterwards with Hawke, you never see him express an opinion or behave in any specific manner which would give away what he thinks of people with mixed blood. 

The thing is, that is not the kind of division Thrask’s mind works with. It’s not your blood that makes a difference, how much human you are not or, but whether you have magic or not. Whether you are Andrastian or not. That’s the kind of thing that generates an immediate reaction in him, possibly an immediate, subconscious prejudice. Mixed blood is an issue that is far too distant from his daily concerns for him to really have an opinion on them.

✟ The Chantry

On this matter, on the other side…

So, the thing is, Thrask was pledged to the Chantry as an infant. He effectively grew upin a Chantry and the most positive parental figures from his childhood and early adolescence are Revered Mother Margitte and a lay sister. They educated him, partially influenced his set of beliefs and gave him what would become his life purpose. So, generally speaking? Thrask’s opinion of the Chantry is positive. 

He knows that Andraste and the religion that revolves around her figure and the Maker makes for a great part of Thedas’ cultural background; common people are not likely to think critically about the Exalted Marches, to look beyond the fear of magic that has been instilled into them and see the struggles of the people who have that power. Now, Thrask himself is unlikely to stop and think extensively about the march on the Dales and similar things, but when it comes to magic and Templars… well, it’s different. 

Thrask, in Act 1, expresses surprise before a Hawke who supports the mages. He’d sooner expect mistrust and fear rather than sympathy for the pledge of his charges. Now, does he see that the chain of power which caused this situation goes really far up into the religious hierarchies? At that point, I don’t think so. He has a very rare understanding of the problem with regard to the circles, he’s very much an outlier (especially in the Gallows) when it comes to the treatment of mages, but he still acts within one circle and one city. He’s low rank and he cannot possibly grasp the entirety of the issue. Something is rotten in Denmark Thedas, but he can’t see how deep that something is quite yet. The Chantry goes uncriticised.

Now, lemme flash forward to Act 3, when the conspiracy is fully in action. It always seemed interesting to me that he never involved Grand Cleric Elthina in the whole thing — which might have made sense, since she was Meredith’s direct superior. Now, whether he judged her character correctly and didn’t trust her or other conspirators dissuaded him, or simply believed it too dangerous, or whichever other reason… it may be possible that he’s come to understand that corruption can touch the Chantry too. 

Now you gotta be careful here because “the Chantry” doesn’t mean “Andrastianism”. He’s still religious and supports the religion, but religious people and those who supposedly do the Maker’s will may still fail. Just look at his colleagues in the Gallows. He might start to develop this distinction between the institution and the religion itself, though his background tends to make him biased in a favourable manner.

And when it comes to lyrium and Templars and how leashed they are to the Chantry, how they are trained to suppress their feelings of sympathy and generally kept in a situation that is unhealthy for them (thus making the situation of the mages even worse than it might be otherwise) — he has yet to make that journey. Perhaps in his Inquisition verse (thanks for giving me the idea). The point is, he believes in the work of the Templars as it should be, idealised as he always interpreted it. So entertaining the possibility that Templars might be used as puppets of the Chantry beyond their sacred duty might… require some thinking. If he ever reaches that conclusion rather than another about the need to reform, Cassandra style.

I’m… leaving the other for another post maybe, this is long enough already.

[archontem]

❦ (Ves eye emoji)

Radonis provides Opinions™

❦ LGBTA+ Issues

Stop trying to seduce my female citizens, Ves, especially if relatives.

Anyway, since you know that I adore overquoting my posts, I’ll start with this:

[…] only among the nobility, where procreation involves issues of inheritance and the union of powerful families, is it considered of vital importance. Yet, even there, a noble who has done their duty to the family might be allowed to pursue their own sexual interests without raising eyebrows. […]  In Tevinter, it is considered selfish and deviant behavior among nobles, but actively encouraged with favored slaves.

Love me some codex sources. But I’m citing this because it’s very explicative of Radonis’ personal views also. Thedas is not modern society, it’s a place where the obligations of nobility and duty to the family are very important parts of an upper class individual. I might add: in Tevinter it becomes even more important if you consider the hereditary nature of magical power; it’s not simply a matter of bloodlines and pedigree (though that naturally is a factor), but also of necessity to keep high the number of mages in a society where magic is what determines your position in life.

Clearly this isn’t just a case of “no same-gender relationships, ever”, because it’s encouraged with a favoured slave. No risk to have a bastard, that way. And why is it selfish, according to Tevinter nobles? Because you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do as a noble and an Altus (or high class Laetans). So Radonis’ official position is exactly that: do your duty to the family in a heterosexual and socially acceptable and accepted relationship (i.e. get married and have kids); keep your scandals behind closed doors; behave properly and don’t shame your family name.

Now, his private opinion? …Actually not so much different. And since I play him as joyfully bisexual it’s time to pin a golden brooch on his chest saying “Hypocrite”. The point is, Radonis is a very private man by nature when it comes to his personal life. The only way you’d ever know that he has a romantic/sexual partner is through marriage just because he gotta make it official and it brings political and mundane advantages. A same-gender relationship is pretty much twice as private to him, for personal and external reasons. If it’s selfish/considered selfish, then he believes he can afford to be a little selfish in that — it’s a secret anyway, and he’s done much “worse” things.

He very much keeps it all within the confines that Tevinter society gave him, within the environment of censorship in which he grew up. That’s his mindset, and make no mistake, when he says that bringing any of that under the public eye is indecent, he actually believes it. He’d never do it. He doesn’t even consider the alternative, and not only because he is private and low-key, but also because that’s how Tevinter nobility sees things. The latter circumstance likely influenced the former in a rather subconscious manner. 

He doesn’t care as long as no one knows about it. As long as you did your duty. He also doesn’t really care if you are low class; in that case, he wouldn’t give a flying fuck when there are far more important things to worry about, such as your allegiance, whether you do your work, whether you respect the Imperium’s laws, et cetera. Whom you bang is not his problem.

Also, regarding the fact that he actually didn’t do his duty to the family, i.e. he isn’t married and is childless in my main verse… I admit it’s mostly because I’m waiting to see whether Biowhy spawns some canon about that. So for now I’m avoiding extensive headcanons on something that relevant to his story (I fucked myself enough already with my OCs for his siblings and parents and uncle and various relatives). But as an actual IC reason, well, it was an entirely political decision, I rambled about it here already. Nothing to do with his sexuality. 

I’d add something re: trans people, but… I don’t think he ever gave much thought about that and beyond the general ingorance of the topic that you can deduce from Krem’s story there’s not much canon on the matter. Maevaris was recognised as a woman and I wonder how much fighting that required. I’ll give this side of the issue a little more thought before replying at length.

[archontem]

☦

Radonis provides Opinions™

☦ The Qun

I’ll put it this way: if one morning Radonis woke up and discovered that the war had been won overnight and all Qunari had returned to where they came from/were dead, he’d offer free drinks to the entire Minrathous, slaves included. 

On a more serious note, I talked about the differences in ideology between Tevinter society and the Qun here, and that fundamental difference also applies to Radonis’ view of it. Tevinter is a fluid society, the Qun is structured. Tevinter values the individual, the familial group, and personal aspirations and accomplishments, the Qun values the multitude, the unconventional bond beyond blood relations, the importance of the many above the achivements of the one. Tevinter values history and legacy, the Qun puts emphasis on the futility of mortal ambitions. 

To Radonis, the concept of the Qun is completely alien. Even besides the fact that they are at war and Qunari took Seheron from the Imperium and are currently still fighting over the dominion of the island, the entire idea of the Qun is pretty much the opposite of everything he’s ever learnt, ever been taught, ever believed. The simple concept that once you’ve been assigned a role you are supposed to keep that role and be content with it until you die is… rather unthinkable to him. 

The great majority of Tevinters understands the value of power and of furthering your own position in society (or the position of your children and grandchildren), much like almost any hierarchical society ever, and Radonis is also very much interested in keeping his power — but with his mindset he can’t possibly assume that people can’t attempt to gain as much themselves. Sure, he’ll deal with them. Make them his allies, crush them if necessary. But he believes it natural, intrinsic that they should try. He believes it one of the greatest gratifications of someone’s life to be remembered, to do enough in your life to stand out and gain a mention or two in a history book. And the kind of society that the Qun envisions throws all of that out of the window. It’s… almost like destroying the foundations of his world and the replacement is nothing that he appreciates. And could never appreciate it.

Now, if there were parts of the Qun that he might philosophically enjoy? I’m uncertain of that and, in any case, he’ll likely never discover it. They are at war, they threaten Tevinter, and Tevinter is his homeland, the land he rules over. Hard to find any sympathy in him towards the Qunari and the Qun.