Briala, Celene, and Michel hating their lives mid-journey at camp, plus Felassan having an okay time
The Masked Empire is very fun for me as a background character fan, specifically because most of said characters are 35-year-old freaks who can’t stop shooting themselves and each other in the foot
Dragon Age Book Characters (SPOILERS FOR THE BOOKS)
With inquisition coming out in a few months there are two characters from the books that we will definitely see in the game. I figured that some people who haven't or can't read the books might want a little background information. Major spoilers for the books (Asunder and the Masked Empire) so if you're planning on reading them then don't read this.
SER MICHEL: Ser Michel de Chevin is an Orlesian Chevalier in the service of Empress Celene at the beginning of the Masked Empire. He is her champion and it is his responsibility to protect her. Ser Michel takes his duty seriously and values the honor of the chevalier code first and foremost. Celene in turn trusts him with her life and he proves on many occasions that he is willing and capable to risk his own life to protect her. However, in a society where elves are second rate citizens , Michel lives in fear of being discovered as a fraud. While he is human in appearance, his mother was and elf and he grew up in the slums. (Should be noted that when an elf and human mate the offspring is always human) His credentials as a noble were forged by his benefactor, a nobleman who saw Ser Michel fighting to protect his friend on the streets of Orleis and wished to foster the honor and bravery he saw on that day. Ser Michel leaves behind his old life and his old friends in what he later views as selfish desperation for a better life.
He joins the Academy with the help of his benefactor and his forged credentials, and begins his training as a Chevalier. His fear of being denounced a fraud encourages him to train harder and longer to prove his worth and as a result he becomes a skilled Chevalier even among the elite military force. However, while he is in the service of Empress Celene, a bard working for her rival, Grand Duke Gaspard, discovers his elven origins and proceeds to blackmail him. Ser Michel is saved by Empress Celene's handmaiden and spy, the elf Briala. She promises to not reveal his secret and in return for her saving his life and keeping her mouth shut she will one day ask him for a favor and he will have to comply no matter how steep the consequences. Although wary, Michel agrees to this deal. It ends up costing him everything when he is dueling Gaspard on Celene's behalf. Briala orders him to yield the duel when he is about to finalize his victory. In order to preserve his honor, Ser Michel complies and sacrifices Celene's sure victory to retake the empire. The knowledge of his birth is revealed at the same time and Celene tells him that if she ever sees him again she will kill him.
As the war between Celene and Gaspard rages on in Orlais, Michel is left with nothing but the assurance of Gaspard out of respect for Michel's adherence to the Chevalier code that he will not reveal the truth of his birth. With nowhere left to go, Ser Michel resolves to hunt down the demon that he released in an effort to aid Celene's recapture of her empire. Feeling responsible for the deaths of those that resulted from its release and knowing that the demon would not stop wreaking havoc for its own amusement. Ser Michel sets off on his journey.
Just finished the Masked Empire, and although I thought the first chapter started out slow it was a great book! REALLY HOPING TO SEE SER MICHEL IN INQUISITION
