Something something. Making Solas a liar in Veilguard actively brings back a problem they fixed working on Inquisition.
On December 20 2019 VGS posted an interview with Trick Weekes about their work on Solas. This whole sentence is a link so its large enough for mobile but also disclaimer this is before they changed their name so deadname warning.
Here's a transcription I found here which is where i took the screenshots above. Since I know not everyone has 40 minutes to listen to an online radio interview.
I however highlighted the main point since most of you are not reading the screenshots anyway but skimming through. Rant under Read-more. Also bc i try to not be too negative on people's dashs but also i wanna ramble some more.
"But he lied a lot more. And it really weakened his character."
You can tell this happened during the game. Solas lies only once within Inquisition. He says something he can't be vague about and you push him so he lies, badly. He usually tells the truth vaguely. Typically Solas lies no more than Blackwall.
I fully believe that if in Inquisition your inquisitor figured out that Solas was Fen’harel and asked him bluntly to his face he'd confess. He might even be impressed. But why would you ever start to think that. No one assumes that their coworker is actually Poseidon regardless of how much they love the beach and ocean.
He hides in your expectations.
You can't ask him about being an ancient elf or being Fen'harel of myth because those aren't very probable. They're astronomically low to be truth within that universe. And outside, no one finished DA2 and went i wonder if one of our next companions is the Dread Wolf. Sera said, impossible things can't be surprises. He doesn't have to lie so when the truth comes out it's becomes obvious on a second playthrough.
They then actively bring back a problem they fixed in Inquisitions development. That they were open about fixing. That having a character that outright lies to you makes you have no intention of even hearing out the character. It retroactively undercuts Inquisition bc i see people trying to find Solas' lies in it when they aren't going to find any beyond the court intrigue.
It undercuts any lore we do get from Solas bc people dismiss it outright as being a lie from Mr "I abhor blood magic". I feel like shaking people's shoulders like no, dont do it.
They retconned him guys i have proof from 2019.
And its like if you hate Solas is this even satisfying? Like that's not Solas. His motivations are gone (that's a whole other post) and so is his core personality trait. It's like they went here's the Dreadwolf but during the ten years they replaced the smug asshole who was insufferably right with a 20 yo senior chihuahua that doesnt have any teeth.
My favorite villains are those that tell the truth. Because nothing hurts more than the truth. Can you imagine if he told you the truth. If he told you horrible things that you dismissed as lies to only be true. Wouldn't Varric’s death have more weight if he told you Varric was dead only for you - for everyone - to see him in the Lighthouse. If it was a spirit who took his shape to help you or even because it saw something worth reflecting in your memories.
So you dismiss him until it's revealed near the end oh he was telling the truth and you have an oh shit maybe he was right about other things but its too late to try and stop any of the truths he told you which could be from allies/companions betraying to stuff about Ghilan'nain and Elgarnan.
Like the only way to redeem Solas was to listen to him and by going out of your way to address problems he sees and you can find the alternative to tearing down the Veil by a series a little puzzle pieces throughout the game.
Have it be he will only listen to you if you listen to him. That he'll reject your other solution bc why the hell would he trust you if you couldnt extend the same.
Like Solas couldve been a great villian and he should've been great for both the haters and those that liked him. Not only the romance but for those who became his friend. Like i keep coming back to if i hated Solas would i be satisfied with Veilguard.
And the answer is no because that isnt Solas.
Tricking him has no weight bc he's an idiot in Veilguard like not even in the ending bc doesn't notice you switch the dagger around like right in front of him but none of his actions make sense. Ppl have mentioned the regret prison makes no sense for Elgarnan and Ghilan'nain bc they don't have regrets.
Attacking Solas has no weight because he literally needs the shit kicked out of him by a dragon for it to even begin to work. They literally need him to be at deaths door before its realistic that Rook could take him in a fight.
Redeem has no weight bc of the massive retcons to his motivations. They had to retcon the post credits scene bc even if Flemythal went hey i don't want you to do this Dai Solas wouldve went okay but that doesnt solve my other problems with the veil including the corruption of spirits and the fact its in literal shambles so i guess is still coming down.
I'm just disappointed. By the end of Trespasser they had a great villian and they just tossed it to the side and reverted him and people are arguing about a character who's sole defining trait in Veilguard is a problem they solved before Inquisition launched.
“I hate that Lavellan always has to be the one to initiate contact with Solas.”
HOLD UP…she only technically initiates their first romantic scene together when she accidentally hijacks his dream and plants herself at the center of it.
Their second, third, and fourth are all TECHNICALLY initiated by Solas.
The balcony scene? Started by him when he stops us in our tracks to ask if we “have a moment.” Then HE proceeds to lead US to our OWN bedroom. Lavellan has to hold him back slightly from fleeing from the scene of his own making, but it’s still his scene.
The third is their dance at halamshiral where we will see Lavellan standing far from the crowd, trying to steal a quiet moment for herself before Solas comes skulking out looking for company. Talking about some “I’m not surprised to find you out here.” Shut up, like you ever lost track of her. Then he is the one to offer his hand and suggest that they dance.
The fourth and final we all know is crestwood. They’ll be talking about the well of sorrows, but then the topic will swiftly shift to where the future is taking them. I always choose the “I will have you at my side,” option but no matter which you choose, Solas (once again) will usher you into yet another secluded scene that you yourself can make no conscious decision to trigger. It’s all orchestrated by him.
He can also be the only one to ever say the words “I love you/Vhenan” throughout the entire main game if you choose. Lavellan may tell him she loves him while he’s breaking up with her, and she may call him Vhenan and tell him she “loved” him in Tresspasser, but choosing those specific dialogue options aren’t necessary to keep the romance alive. The only one that IS necessary is the promise she has to make him at the very end; “OUR love will endure.” This is always MY Lavellan’s first time telling Solas she loves him, even if it isn’t exactly direct.
Lavellan really only has to kiss him once in a dream, then treat him with grace and kindness afterward and Solas will eventually take up the lead if you leave it for him. Yes, he stumbles once on the balcony and she has to set him back on track again, but after that? It’s all up to him until the break up.
Afterward he will tell you your anger is justified and that he is furious with himself as well…because he knows; he played more into the relationship than perhaps even you did. He wanted your love more than his higher plans and it was selfish. Foolish because more than he loved you, he hated himself.
But apart from all of that, I think a lot of people forget that Lavellan is this man’s BOSS in inquisition and is well aware of her flirtations with him being inappropriate. She will immediately try to retreat after their first kiss, then again when Solas expresses disapproval/anxiety towards it when they wake the next morning. “If I’m pressuring you…” “If I misread you…I’m sorry.”
She was CONCERNED and more than willing to fumble her cracked mask of professionalism back into place if it meant putting his mind at ease.
Even the gossiping nobles outside will disapprove of the romance, saying they prefer a highborn scandal. A romance with Cullen would still be inappropriate, but a little less scandalous considering his high rank in society. Solas is nobody to the world…an apostate, a servant…and if he’s nobody to them, imagine what he looks like standing next to the Inquisitor. Lavellan is hyper aware of all of this and it makes more sense for her character to constantly be leaving the ball in his court rather than keeping it in her own.
Before knowing what I know now, I probably would have considered her more like I consider Mythal had she truly been the main instigator in this relationship; a woman willing to take advantage of the vulnerable and malleable to get what she wants. But she was never that to Solas and I think her vocalizing her anxiety about making him feel pressured only made me (and him) love her deeper.
What if... what if we take a look at the first dialogue with Solas in Haven in detail, from a different angle? Now that we know the full truth, it is quite fascinating. The dialogue in which we ask Solas to tell us about himself is, without exaggeration, one of the most remarkable. Because it is not what it seems at first glance.
Inquisitor: What made you start studying the Fade?
Solas: I grew up in a village to the north. There was little to interest a young man, especially one gifted with magic. But as I slept, spirits of the Fade showed me glimpses of wonders I had never imagined. I treasured my dreams. Being awake, out of the Fade, became troublesome.
Solas: ...I learned how to defend myself from more aggressive spirits and how to interact safely with the rest. I learned how to control my dreams with full consciousness. There was so much I wanted to explore.
There are several possibilities here. Either Solas is still lying, having invented a backstory for himself, or he is distorting the truth. I lean more toward the latter, since Solas is a terrible liar who prefers to hide behind half-truths and metaphors. The "north" he speaks about is certainly Arlathan Forest or its surroundings. Solas manifested in this world before the building of Arlathan as a city and the future center of Elvhenan. After he created a body for himself, he obviously spent some time trying to adapt to life in a physical form, which is a hard and complex process itself. It is quite likely this happened in that very village he mentions, because Leliana found confirmation that it did indeed exist, but was destroyed centuries ago. This was so-called process of "growing up" as a person. He "grew", learning about himself, the capabilities of his body, his newfound emotions and preferences. We know, Solas did not want to create a body for himself and live in the physical world, and his words partly cover hints about it. He missed the Fade, which he could now only reach through dreams, so he quite likely indulged excessively in that state, initially disappointed with the waking world. He slept, studied the Fade, cherished his dreams, and learned to control them. Plus, he was learning how to protect himself from being possessed by unfriendly spirits, as he now needed to be able to do so due to his physical form, which could be easily taken over.
But the most interesting part begins here.
Inquisitor: Have you always travelled and studied alone?
Solas: Not at all. I have built many lasting friendships. Spirits of wisdom, possessed of ancient knowledge, happy to share what they had seen. Spirits of purpose helped me search. Even wisps, curious and playful, would point out treasures I might have missed.
Inquisitor: I don’t know of any spirits by those names.
Solas: They rarely seek this world. When they do, their natures do not often survive exposure to the people they encounter. Wisdom and purpose are too easily twisted to pride and desire.
Do you see? Once we learn who Solas really is, all his real backstory, how differently it all resonates. I know some have criticized Solas because when you ask him to tell you about himself, he practically says nothing personal, delving into philosophy instead. In reality, he tells everything. He is literally telling us about himself, as he was asked, just in a veiled manner.
Inquisitor: You’re saying that you became friends with pride and desire demons?
Solas: They were not demons for me.
Inquisitor: Meaning?
Solas: The Fade reflects the minds of the living. If you expect a spirit of wisdom to be a pride demon, it will adapt. And if your mind is free of corrupting influences? If you understand the nature of the spirit? They can be fast friends.
And here, he essentially hints at the future development of your relationship with him. With Solas, it is actually very simple to earn his friendship. He may start calling you "my friend" already in Haven. The steps to achieve this are easy enough:
• Be inquisitive by asking questions (seriously, he approves of nearly every question; he encourages any attempt to understand the lore of the world, to learn about current events, to thoughtfully study the situation we find ourselves in);
• Help the people around;
• Support ideas of freedom;
• Reject senseless cruelty;
• Do not abuse the power given to us;
• Speak respectfully of spirits and elven culture.
The result: that very "they can be fast friends" (implying a quick and natural bond).
Conversely, if you see Solas as an arrogant and boring elven apostate, that is exactly how he will behave toward you with low approval, mirroring your own perception.
Emmrich speaks of how quickly spirits are drawn to someone who offers a grain of understanding. But we were told this much earlier, and it was Solas who was told this to us first.
This is research NO.2 for my fanfic, if you interest, you can find my fanfic here. Since I’m writing about the story of Solas’s lyrium dagger, I’ve been revisiting details about elven artifacts Solas used from past games. It’s been 4-5 years since I last played them (before DATV), so I’ve forgotten a lot. Summarizing my findings has been pretty interesting, starting with the history of the lyrium dagger itself.
Lyrium Dagger
Here’s a direct quote from the Wiki:
"When the elves were losing the war, Mythal had Solas craft a Lyrium Dagger which Fen'Harel used to sever the Titans' connection to the Fade, rendering them Tranquil."
Death of a Titan
Notably, the Death of a Titan mural doesn’t feature the dagger. Perhaps the mural depicts the moment a Titan was killed rather than when it was Tranquilized. We’ll revisit this mural later.
Now, you have to admit, the dagger is an incredibly powerful artifact. Someone as wise as Solas would surely think of countless ways to secure it. Yet, after he left for rebellion, the other Evanuris somehow acquired the dagger and used it to murder Mythal when she confronted them.
Here’s another Wiki quote:
"Solas recovered the Lyrium Dagger from Elgar’nan and from it extracted a fragment of Mythal that had lain hidden within its depths. For unleashing the Blight onto the world and murdering Mythal, Solas imprisoned the Evanuris in the Fade and used their lives to sustain the Veil by connecting their blood to his Lyrium Dagger."
This weapon is incredible. It can Tranquilize Titans, kill Evanuris, and even trap or bind their life forces. How could Solas, the Dread Wolf, be so careless as to let it fall into enemy hands? Surely, he would have taken it with him during the rebellion—or at the very least entrusted it to Mythal for safekeeping. Did the Evanuris steal it? Did someone outsmart Solas? There’s definitely a story here! (In my fanfic, I kept it simple and just assumed he abandoned the dagger.)
Regardless, Solas ultimately recovered the dagger, likely through some cunning plan. Felassan’s notes confirm this.
On a slightly unrelated note, Mythal never support Solas’s rebellion. No wonder he avoids seeing her fragments. Sure, he was overwhelmed by regret, but that same regret didn’t stop him from visiting Lavellan repeatedly in the dream. He must be disappointed at Mythal to the core. On the other hand, Lavellan never stopped to reach him.
Now, back to the dagger. Felassan’s notes clearly implied that Solas intended to use it to imprison the gods, but the ritual required additional artifacts.
Creat the Veil
Binding the gods
Take a look at these two murals. The fandom has already thoroughly analyzed details of murals since Trespasser, so I’ll focus only on the artifacts. It seems like the artifact used to create the Veil and the one used to bind the gods might be different. Aren’t they part of the same ritual? I’m confused.
The orb and the square artifact have similar star patterns in their centers. One could argue they’re the same artifact, but I’m not convinced. Also where’s the dagger in all this?
It’s likely a complex ritual involving multiple steps:
Use the dagger to draw the blood of the Evanuris, binding their power to the would-be Veil. (Again it would be an epic story to tell!)
Use the square artifact to weaken them (?)
Use the orb to banish them to the Black City and seal it with the Veil.
Steps 2 and 3 might overlap depending on interpretation.
Another possibility is that the square artifact was only used to seal the Blight (note the black tendrils). If so, it wasn’t part of the actual ritual but placed in the mural’s center to show its importance in containing the Blight along with the gods.
(Also, Solas still has his beautiful long hair in the murals. Did the ritual make him lose it all? Poor thing.)
In conclusion, the ritual likely involved at least two artifacts, though the mural doesn’t give us all the details. The lyrium dagger remains an enigmatic and central piece of the creation of Veil.
After the ritual:
"Somehow the Lyrium Dagger was transformed into a Lyrium idol and kept in a Primeval Thaig. The Lyrium idol changed hands several times in the Dragon Age, bringing madness wherever it went."
Dear Solas, you lost the dagger again?! Do you have zero safety protocols for rituals? You’d make a terrible lab researcher. And how on Thedas did this dagger-turned-idol end up in the Deep Roads?
If the dagger (and the orb) had been securely placed beside Solas while he was sleeping, none of this would’ve happened. So, my guess is it got left at the ritual site. Did scavengers or darkspawn stumble across the site—possibly Skyhold—and think, “Wow, what a pretty dagger/idol! Let’s take it home for Christmas decoration!” Lucky for us, they didn’t accidentally rip the Veil while transporting it.
Now, speaking of Solas post-ritual: how did he even make it to a safe place to sleep? I haven’t read The Masked Empire yet, so I’m not sure if Felassan found him and carried him to safety. Or maybe Solas, half-asleep and utterly drained, stumbled into some random ruins. Just imagine him, doing his best to stay awake while searching for a cozy corner.
Anyway, the next chapter in the dagger’s story unfolds in DA II. Hawke and Varric stumbled upon it during their Deep Roads expedition—though by this point, the Lyrium Dagger had been transformed into the Lyrium Idol. It then Meredith into a creepy crystal statue.
The story didn’t end there, though. Comic books published after Dragon Age: Inquisition, along with Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, shed more light on how Solas eventually reacquired the idol.
13/01/25: just want to add an very interesting post that sparked some thoughts. The post suggested: 1) DV sort of confirmed that the red-lyrium idol manifastes Solas's guilt (though it leaves questions unanswered about the "third person" in the idol's creation, given that the idol predates the events of the Inquisition); 2)Solas uses Jun's fragment of a soul to purify the idol – a truly intriguing concept that adds another layer to Solas's actions.
While I love this idea, but I also believe the Evanuris shared a sense of kinship, as evidenced by Elgar'nan's protective attitude towards Ghilan'nain. This makes it hard to imagine Solas destroying the last remnants of his kin—even for his cause. Yet, at the same time, Solas is Solas. He has shown that he can be merciless when he deems it necessary.
Orb of Fen'Harel
I won’t go into great detail about the Orb because DAI is centered around it, and countless theories have already been written on the topic.
I can’t help but be amused at how skilled Solas is at creating artifacts. That definitely outshines June, the so-called god of craft.
Remove Vallaslins
Interestingly, there’s no story behind the Orb’s creation—at least, not one revealed yet. But take a look at the strange ball depicted on the left side of the Remove Vallaslins mural. Its pattern is very similar to the Orb. Was it crafted specifically to remove Vallaslin?
Many lore discussions and fanfics suggest that the Orb is the same one used to create the Veil. On top of that, several discussions have pointed out that the Death of a Titan mural hints at the Orb being made from a Titan’s heart. The same star-like shapes appear in both the Orb and the Titan-related imagery.
But it’s also possible that we’re looking at two different types of Orbs. The round artifact depicted in the Remove Vallaslin mural definitely looks more similar to the original Orb than the other spherical artifacts shown in the Death of a Titan and Create the Veil murals. Could they be separate creations for distinct purposes?
Honestly, Solas, how many magical toys do you have?! Were you just stockpiling artifacts during your spare time?
The Elven artifacts for measuring the Veil
It’s not entirely clear if these artifacts were designed or created by Solas, but they are definitely related to the Veil. Solas himself says, “The wards are helping to strengthen the Veil.” If we take his words at face value, he must at least know a great deal about these artifacts and how they function.
Some theories suggest these artifacts do the opposite—that they actually weaken the Veil—and that Solas lied to manipulate us into helping him tear down the Veil. Personally, I don’t think Solas would outright lie like that (except when it comes to hiding his identity). Instead, he’s more likely to mislead with half-truths.
In Tevinter Nights, there’s a moment that sheds light on this. One of the Veil-related artifacts is described as being installed in a Venatori workshop to fortify the Veil against the pressure of demons. After the artifact is destroyed, the Veil weakens significantly, and demons are able to tear it apart and cross into the physical world. This strongly supports the idea that these artifacts do indeed strengthen the Veil, as Solas claimed.
That said, the Inquisition’s actions in activating these artifacts may not have weakened the Veil, but they did reveal a network pointing to the weakest points in the Veil. Solas, being as cunning as he is, could have used this network to map out where to begin dismantling the Veil.
In future games, I wouldn’t be surprised if some random artifact pops up, and of course, the credit (or blame) goes to the Dread Wolf again.
Inflection, Context, and Elven: Lavellan’s Veilguard Ending (romance state)
Lately, I’ve seen quite a bit of criticism directed at a romanced Lavellan on my dash - particularly in the Veilguard ending, interpreting her as needy, egotistical, or entitled.
And I am wondering: Did we watch the same ending? (I find it fascinating how differently people interpret the same moments - such a reflection of the human experience.) And I couldn't help myself! I felt compelled to share my interpretations so I punched this out the last few days.
The sticking point seems to be Lavellan’s words, especially the ones spoken in Elven.
It seems like a common interpretation of Lavellan’s words here are:
“It won’t be terrible if you’re with me.” (Implying possessiveness or entitlement - and that she alone will make it better.)
The game’s delivery offers no inflection on any word though. For me, it’s always been:
“It won’t be terrible if you’re with me.”
It’s subtle, but very different. This is just one micro-example of how much nuance is packed into the dialogue in the Veilguard ending. These lines shouldn’t be taken in isolation - especially not the Elven ones. They should be understood in the context of what Solas says to Lavellan in Elven just before, and beyond that, within the history established in Inquisition and Trespasser.
Indulgent Solas x Lavellan post ahead.
Still here? Excellent. (And sorry, it's another long post.)
"Elven is often a game of intents, not direct mapping of phonetic meaning." The language doesn’t rely on straightforward translations of sounds or words into specific meanings. Instead, it operates on a deeper level, where intent and context carry as much weight.
Earlier in the game, when Solas confronts Elgar’nan, he says: “I must speak to you in this tongue. It seems Elven is beyond your grasp.” This insult implies that Elgar’nan has lost the ability to understand the nuanced, metaphorical nature of the language. Elven relies on shared understanding, rhythm, intent, to convey its full meaning. By Lavellan and Solas choosing to speak Elven to each other it's an acknowledgement of their shared understanding - a connection rooted in their history going back to Inquisition.
Which is why I embrace it in my interpretations.
This is personal and expansive. On one level, she’s speaking as someone Solas has wronged, reminding him of the pain he’s caused her directly. But on another, she’s channeling the voices of countless others whose lives were affected by him and who will be shattered by his actions. It’s a challenge that blends her role as both an individual and the Inquisitor.
It’s also not a condemnation. Lavellan doesn’t lash out or accuse him of being irredeemable. Instead, she questions him, cutting through to reach the man beneath. She’s speaking to Solas (wisdom).
"Vhenan" is acknowledging his love for her but it’s also symbolic of his heart, the part of himself he’s buried and tried to ignore, suddenly reappearing. Solas has spent much of his journey detached and isolated, removing his heart metaphorically to push forward with his plans without the weight of emotional ties. Lavellan’s presence makes it impossible for him to keep it hidden. His heart is right there, exposed and speaking. And the ellipsis - so many words unsaid.
Immediately Solas looks down (I read it as shame). It’s a reaction back to what he said in Trespasser: that he would not have her see what he becomes. And yet, here she is. She sees him, the terrible path he has chosen, the blood on his hands, the awful things he has done, and what he’s about to do. In that moment, his shame is palpable - because Lavellan is one person he couldn’t bear to face in this state.
And Lavellan doesn’t hesitate. Her next words are as much about holding him accountable as they are about reminding him that there is still another path.
This isn’t some starry-eyed, naïve Inquisitor we’re dealing with (at least mine isn’t). Lavellan is fully aware at this point. But her stance is clear: no one is beyond redemption, not even the Dread Wolf himself. And she wasn’t the only one – this message is repeated throughout the game by others.
Her words challenge the belief that has kept Solas shackled to his path. He’s convinced himself that his guilt and mistakes are too great, that there’s no turning back.
She doesn’t beg or demand or frame it in a way that’s grand and sweeping – she simply says “you’re wrong.”
She’s not trying to erase his mistakes or pretend they don’t exist. She's saying, Yes, you’ve done terrible things, but that doesn’t mean you’re beyond the reach of change.
Lavellan’s journey as Inquisitor began with the Anchor - a mark born of Solas’s mistakes and choices. From the moment she touched his orb (yes, it sounds dirty), her path became entwined with his. This isn’t Lavellan selfishly claiming Solas’s path; it’s an acknowledgment that their journeys have run parallel.
Lavellan’s work to stabilize Southern Thedas mirrors Solas’s aim to restore a broken world, including the burdens of being forced to take on titles and labels. She is revealing her own struggles with devastating, blood-soaked choices - choices that, like his, have carried profound consequences.
Solas believes he’s been walking this path alone, but Lavellan shows him she's been walking alongside him this whole time. Now, as their paths converge again, this is a reminder of the power of connection and the burdens they’ve both borne. He's actually not alone.
Her words also carry an unspoken promise: she is ready to continue to bear the consequences with him. She knows the road ahead is painful and fraught with difficulty, but she is steadfast.
Why do I feel that people sometimes forget Lavellan’s role as Inquisitor? She wasn’t defined by Solas; she was the leader of a powerful military and political organization, forced to make horrible decisions. Whether you choose the mages or templars in Inquisition, you doom thousands to torment and death. The Empress of Orlais can live or die based on the Inquisitor’s choices. And if you’re like me and made the wrong calls on the Dalish clan war table operation, her own clan can be murdered and wiped out. (Yes, I’m still haunted by that moment.) Her hands have blood on them too.
This makes me wonder: does some criticism of the Solas/Lavellan romance stem from failing to see Lavellan as her own person? I love Lavellan for who she is as the Inquisitor - not because of Solas. Likewise, Solas is fascinating on his own. Their romance is one layer of the story, not the foundation of either character. Sometimes it feels like there are even some Solas/Lavellan lovers who have a tendency to overlook the depth and individuality of both characters outside of their romance.
Solas’s statement is a raw admission of all the guilt he carries for his deceptions and the pain he has caused her - lying to her about his identity, betraying her trust - not just as the Inquisitor, but as a person he loves.
His words are not an attempt to seek forgiveness but an acknowledgment of the truth - no matter how painful it is for them both. He knows his choices have caused devastation to the world and to her specifically. He's exposing the full weight of his dual burden: the grand, world-altering consequences of his plans and the personal betrayal of the woman he loves, who trusted him.
Perhaps, on some level, he hopes that reminding Lavellan of his lies and treachery will convince her to abandon him, sparing her further pain. His guilt and self-loathing are so entrenched that the idea of being forgiven - or even supported – either confounds him or terrifies him.
But Solas’s confession is not just a shield to push her away. It’s also an invitation for her to see him - not the wise, compassionate companion she knew, but the flawed, broken man beneath.
This moment to me shows that Solas still values Lavellan’s understanding (we also saw it in his letter to her). He doesn’t diminish the weight of his actions but wants her to see the cost of his deception - not just for her, but for himself. To Solas, his betrayal is unforgivable.
And yet - this "selfish" woman dares to forgive him anyway.
Forgiveness is an act of wisdom because it requires understanding - and she reflects that wisdom right back at him.
"All you have to do is stop" is heavy with meaning. Yes, on the surface, it’s a plea to stop tearing down the Veil, to reconsider the destruction. But it’s also a plea for him to stop running, to stop isolating himself, and to stop punishing himself for his failures. She’s asking him to step out of the shadow of his self-loathing and see that there’s another way forward, not by demanding or commanding, but by offering him compassion (forgiveness). (Cole, I miss you.)
But Solas’s guilt and self-loathing run deep.
With these words, Solas apologizes to his heart - hardening it once more. For a moment, it had softened, cracked open. But he shuts the door.
The bow that accompanies his words is loaded. A bow carries layers of meaning depending on context - reverence, respect, gratitude, apology, greeting or farewell, a spiritual act, acknowledgment, loyalty, mourning, or even a romantic gesture. Solas’s bow can mean all of these.
He is physically reinforcing the gravity of his apology. It’s a solemn moment. He is bowing to her strength, to all she has endured because of him. And when he calls her "vhenan," it is personal. It's an apology to her and to his own heart for not choosing the life he wanted to have with her. “...to stay by your side as Solas...as I wanted.”
The bow also carries guilt. He is acknowledging the pain he’s caused and humbling himself before her. And his eyes in the animation during this moment – I saw haunted, tormented, tired eyes – the eyes of a man grappling with the weight of his choices and the thought that he cannot accept redemption, even if it’s offered freely.
But, as I’ve said before, it takes a village to stop a Solas. Cue Morrigan and Mythal - but I’m not diving into that dialogue rabbit hole in this post.
But this scene with Mythal is important. Lavellan has just watched the man she loves completely crumble in front of Mythal. He’s bent over in grief/pain, utterly vulnerable. She hears him say, in anguish, “The things that I have done.” She sees him lift the dagger - perhaps to surrender it, to shield himself from Mythal, or even as a plea to Mythal to end his torment. Whatever the intent, Lavellan is witnessing the rawest, most broken Solas. His guilt is overwhelming, and this is the first time she’s truly seeing the full weight of it laid bare (as is Rook). It’s a moment of heavy sadness for her – and for us as players.
Solas is bent over with the emotional collapse of centuries of obligation and guilt coming to the surface. Mythal’s departure leaves Solas vulnerable, stripped of the purpose that has guided him for so long. He is alone in his pain.
For Lavellan, can you imagine the helplessness? All she can do is offer her presence, understanding, and faith in him afterward. That might feel like so little in the face of such immense pain, but it’s all she has to give.
Where Mythal’s words, spoken in the common tongue, are authoritative and final, Lavellan’s are intimate and personal. Her choice to speak Elven reflects her desire to meet Solas where he is - connecting with him on an intimate level.
Only after Mythal has left him exposed - that Lavellan uses the Elven language. In this moment, stripped of his defenses, he is finally open to hearing and feeling the full significance of the words and their intent.
Lavellan’s words challenge the notion that fate is immutable or inevitable. When she says, “there is no fate...,” she isn’t diminishing everything else in favor of her love; she’s rejecting the tyranny of inevitability. Her words assert that choices - rooted in love, connection, and shared purpose - have the power to shape their path forward. She reframes love as a force just as powerful as fate, capable of creating meaning and direction where there once seemed to be none.
Atonement
And at this point? Lavellan has no idea what Solas will do next. None of them do. But the combined efforts of Rook, Lavellan and Morrigan get through to him. Because Solas makes a choice - a monumental choice. He binds himself to the veil, committing to atonement. Atonement is a powerful, active word. It evokes the gravity of recognizing wrongdoing and the courage to address it. His decision to seek restoration with the Titans, to deal with the Blight, to return to where it all began, reflects the depth of his remorse and his willingness to rebuild the balance he disrupted – from the beginning.
Solas equates atonement with isolation, believing that his punishment must be borne alone. To him, atonement requires severing ties, including the possibility of love. He doesn’t ask Lavellan to join him because he cannot conceive of burdening her with the weight of his choices and the path he must walk.
But Lavellan’s words - once again - challenge that. She offers him the possibility that his actions, no matter how devastating, do not erase the love and faith others still have in him. This is an invitation.
She's also being vulnerable here. She’s offering herself to him, knowing full well that he still might say no. A risk she’s willing to take.
He doesn’t try to shut her out or push her away this time. Instead, he shifts the focus - he needs her to understand the gravity of the path they are about to walk. His response reflects his own vulnerability as well, he wants her to know what she’s choosing, but he can’t bring himself to reject her offer outright.
Solas responds in Elven - his acknowledgment of their shared understanding and their entire relationship and journey that has shaped them.
His words also mark a turning point: for the first time, Solas allows Lavellan her agency. Throughout their relationship, he has taken her choices away. He broke off their relationship in Inquisition. He vanished after Corypheus’s defeat, leaving her no say in it all.
Lavellan is asserting her choice. And this time, Solas doesn’t take it from her.
By framing his destination in such stark, "terrible" terms, Solas isn’t pushing her away out of cruelty. He’s laying bare the enormity of what lies ahead, warning her of the peril while giving her the freedom to choose for herself. It’s his way of ensuring she understands the stakes.
Solas is doing what she requested long ago - trusting her - and what a choice to place that trust in. He’s entrusting her to make an informed decision about stepping onto a path that could shape the future of Thedas. He is trusting Lavellan’s strength and resiliency. And in trusting her, Solas reveals a quiet, unspoken truth: he doesn’t want to face this journey alone. By even presenting the choice, he reveals a quiet hope that she might go with him, despite everything.
To me, what makes this moment so achingly beautiful is the duality in his expression. His eyes seem to plead two things at once: “I don’t want to put you in harm’s way,” and “I can’t deny wanting to be with you.” There’s a raw vulnerability in the way he looks at her.
“It won’t be terrible if you’re with me.”
Lavellan’s response is a direct challenge to Solas’s warning. He tells her the path ahead will be awful - because of him. But she counters, saying that it’s because of him that it won’t be. This isn’t her forcing herself into his journey or suggesting that she alone will make it better. Instead, it’s her way of expressing that his presence will give her the strength to face whatever lies ahead - he's fucking worried about her! She’s trying to ease his mind, while also signaling her willingness to trust him again.
At the same time, her words acknowledge the weight of Solas’s suffering, offering herself as a partner to bear that burden together. She isn’t dismissing the risks or downplaying the severity of what’s to come - she’s choosing to stand beside him, fully aware of the challenges ahead.
It’s not about personal gain; it’s about shared resilience. Lavellan’s focus is on what they can endure together, not on what she might receive from the journey.
And since the Fade reflects emotions, as many have pointed out, their combined trust and love could manifest in ways neither of them can predict. Their bond has the power to shape not just their path but the very world around them.
This declaration is past, present and future; it’s a reaffirmation of their bond, a recognition that they’ve been walking the path of the dinan’shiral together all along. It’s future focused - she is offering to shoulder the burden with him going forward.
She’s also telling him that she won't abandon him, no matter how hard the road ahead may be.
And at the end of the day, she's a woman who still loves him. What does Prince Lir say in The Last Unicorn? "I love whom I love."
I've never interpreted Lavellan as someone sitting by a window for ten years, writing sad poetry and sighing into the wind, longing for Solas. She’s been busy - rebuilding a fractured world, navigating political fallout, and seeking understanding.
Lavellan’s love for Solas isn’t blind devotion; she’s holding onto the possibility of redemption and the deep impact he had on her life.
In my world state, Lavellan’s clan is wiped out. The people of the Inquisition have become her family, the ones she fights for and protects. And indirectly, Solas gave her that family. Despite the pain he’s caused, her love for him reflects the complexity of her journey - one defined not by a single relationship, but by hope, resilience, and the connections she’s forged along the way.
Lavellan then leans in to kiss him, and Solas allows himself to be drawn in. This moment is acceptance - a silent vow, a promise sealed in their shared vulnerability. It’s an intimate connection forged in front of those who have just witnessed the emotional storm that brought them to this point, as if to say, “This is where we stand, together.”
And then Solas turns to Rook and says, “Thank you.”
Solas doesn’t thank Rook when he hands them the dagger, nor when he’s preparing to walk into the Fade. He says it after the kiss.
In thanking Rook, Solas acknowledges not only their actions but also their understanding of the connection he shares with Lavellan. Rook, transformed by their own relationships and the bonds they’ve formed throughout their journey, embodies the themes that have always defined Dragon Age to me: connection, fellowship, community, love, and redemption. These games (again, for me) have always been about how people, despite their flaws and struggles, can come together to make the impossible possible.
Rook’s symbolism in the redemption ending feels like the culmination of this ethos. They represent how even those who begin on the periphery of great events can become central to forging bonds and creating change. Solas’s gratitude is for Rook's empathy, their recognition of the importance of connection, and their role in bringing these threads of love and redemption together. I'll go cry now.
And off they go into the Fade.
The Final Translation
"With Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain dead, and the Inquisitor finally reunited with her true love, it looked like one of the biggest stories the world had ever seen was finally drawing to a close."
Varric’s narration ties the ending image back to the connection between Inquisition and Veilguard. Inquisition is the Inquisitor’s story; Veilguard is Rook’s. Solas serves as the thread linking them. Varric frames this moment through Lavellan’s perspective, narrating the story like one of his novels - not to diminish Solas, but to highlight the Inquisitor’s journey. After all, Veilguard wouldn’t exist without Inquisition. Rook wouldn’t be working with Varric or searching for Solas if not for the Inquisitor.
As much as I would have loved a deeper focus on Solas, Veilguard wasn’t his story. If Inquisition is the Inquisitor’s story and Veilguard is Rook’s, this ending is a shared culmination: for a romanced Lavellan, it’s the personal resolution of her journey; for Rook, it’s recognition of their critical role in saving Thedas.
In the end, those who dislike this romance or this ending probably always will. That’s fine; I just wanted to share my interpretations because I genuinely love this story for all its complexity.
here's my sad morning thought as I distract myself from work: why did Solas' friend Wisdom die in DA:I, if you otherwise rescue them from the binding circle?
as a reminder, here's the transcript
the answer is that, in the most technical and literal sense:
Solas killed them
it's shown as a mercy kill, from a place of pure love, and the friend encourages it ("I'm happy. I'm me again. You helped me. Now you must endure. Guide me into death" and Solas' response of "ma nuvenin" which is loosely "I want what you want")
Solas doesn't think there's another way, but I'm not so sure about that!
did this friend need to die at all? or was this a moment between two traumatized Wisdom spirits, one of them still bound, aligned in mutual hopelessness, mirroring each other's flawed perspectives?
with the Inquisitor too ignorant about wtf is going on to intervene?
we see in DA:TV that (to Felassan's horror) the bound/corrupted Fen'Harel believes that it's better for spirits to die "pure" than to be corrupted from their purpose. it's not dissimilar to the fears Solas and many other DA characters over the years have about the Blight, many PCs and NPCs alike opting for killing people who are tainted, instead of attempting to manage the illness or other options (which do exist). it's also a mindset Cole sometimes expresses, and Cole really needs to be tangibly shown that he can trust his friends and trust himself before his fears calm down. before that, Cole literally begs people to kill him if there's even a chance he could become Despair again and hurt people!
as if we need more tragedy, I'd like to suggest that it's possible Solas' Wisdom friend was not dying and did not need to die, and was simply terrified and suicidal after the trauma of being forced to become a monster/a killer
and Solas was too traumatized and trapped in his own binding to have the wisdom to say, hey, I know this was devastating and death seems like it'd be a blessing right now, but we'd like to help you get through this alive if you're willing to give it a try
I love the fact that in the art book Solas wanted to transform his followers into spirits without them knowing, because he saw it as giving them freedom he himself was denied to have, yet in doing so he only would’ve repeated the cycle of abuse.
That is what Inquisitor must’ve show him - that he must give his people a choice, whether it for better or for worse.
Spirits are stagnant creatures, but the modern people of Thedas aren’t. They change every day, the world changes every day, and we, as mortals, don’t have a privilege of drowning in our regrets for thousands of years. We live now, we have a very short lives to get our shit together.
The time in the Inquisition was healing for Solas and proving him wrong, because he saw how the ones he called tranquil fought for their rights, their lives, their freedom, fully knowing that it is unlikely they see any of the changes for which they contributed so hard. They did it because it was a right thing to do and because they wanted their children to live better lives, even if they never get to see it. Sounds familiar for Solas, huh?
He could never unsee that the modern people are people indeed, but he proceeded with his plan for very personal, selfish reason. In his eyes, bringing the elves back to their “original” form was his way to atone for his crimes, but in reality it was a massive projection. He could never undo the abuse he endured, hells he barely even saw what Mythal did to him as an abuse, so he tried to cope with it by resetting the world to its default state, where nothing bad ever happened to him. Would it heal him to get back in the past? No. But he doesn’t understand it, because he was so blinded by his shame, guilt and trauma that he didn’t saw the other way. He had stuck in the mindset of never having a choice, he repeats it time and time again.
But we know he has it!
We, as players, should’ve show him the beauty of this imperfect, deeply flawed world, that still deserved to exist and move forward. As this world, he deserved it too, despite the mistakes he made in the past. Because the ability to adapt, to change, to move forward, to find happiness even if we never get to be our old selves again, is what ultimately makes us human (elven, dwarven?).
This is why I always make Cole more human. It’s an unpopular decision among Solasmancers and Solas fans in general, but I love to confront him, especially in this case. Cole changed, but he stayed the same in the way it matters - he’s still compassionate and kind and loves to help people.
Solas is the same. Still wise and kind and wants the better for his people.
And I sure as hell don’t think he needs his abuser to say ‘you’re free’ to heal.
Saw the take that Solas goes out if his way to never touch Rook and that they are his 'third most disliked person in Thedas' and okay, u can not vibe with solas x rook as a ship, I don't either, but putting up a hissy fit over it and finding reasons why it can't be shipped is so juvenile!
I care so much about Rook and Solas' platonic dynamic because it's like, a dark mentorship where Solas uses Rook as a cudgel to self-flagellate. His actions are not about disliking Rook as a person and he Genuinely means it when he apologizes to them! Putting them in an anywhere near status to Elgar'nan on his shitlist...WILD!
I don't want to call this a solavellan thing because SO many solavellans and solas fans loved seeing his dynamic with another character because, they like Solas! They want to see that back and forth, and insisting his only dynamic that matters and is not him putting up a front is a romantic one, makes you come off as not caring about the character at all beyond the ship with your self-insert, idk.
Also the Inquisitor CANONICALLY speaks to Rook so respecfully and like a caring older sibling!
Also to debunk your touching Rook gotcha, Rook takes the lyrium dagger from him differently when they meet in endgame Minrathous depending on which conversation option you pick. The 'purple' one very much has their hands touching! It's a fascinating scene and so much is said nonverbally: Solas extends the dagger and after some hesitation Rook reached out and the dagger is gently passed from one hand to the other. The stoic option in contrast has Rook snatching it quickly from Solas. And you can't convince me that taking it gently from him and actually being willing to TOUCH him after everything doesn't get to Solas at least a bit!
There's hints in animations that Rook expresses affection physically through touch often. That they are willing to touch Solas here has so much weight. In Trespasser, an Inquisitor Solas dislikes gets a quick pulling motion whehn their anchor is taken, whereas a romanced or befriended Solas holds their hand gently. All pointing to this being a man who DOES NOT like being in physical contact with people he dislikes.
He gives ROOK the space to pull away but doesn't if the dagger is taken gently from him!
Their dynamic is so complex and beautiful and so sorry if you can't just enjoy it and have to demean its importance bcs it's canonically platonic LMAO
