Hearing Mapo gush about how much he loves Dragon Age and how much fun he's having while remembering the thumbnail and hoping he still feels the same afterwards 😬
Back on the origins playthrough, when he kept Alistair in the grey wardens... We knew this day would come. I almost guarantee if it was stroud, no way he keeps stroud alive.
But thats why many are still confused. Its Hawke's destiny to stay behind in The Fade, but does Flemeth's prophecy also mean that Hawke survives or no? "It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly" So that this also mean that Hawke somehow survives?
The MOST heartbreaking touch for me is the music when you speak to Varric. When you're in the Hawke estate, it's the same song. Absolutely shattered me.
I still can't believe people said he should skip DA2. Like Hawke is such a special character and I bet a lot of us were unable to even think about sacrificing him/her in our playthroughs. It felt so sad to see Mapo Hawke die ;_;
I think the fear is that the person gets discouraged and stops following the series at DA2. Luckily enough, Mapo liked it. I think it's kinda the same reason people say don't spend too much time in the Hinterlands in DA3, but obviously that's more agreeable.
@@UnlistedAgain I dont know how someone could get discouraged and stopped following the series at DAII. DAII is a very good game. For me, it get me more invested in Dragon Age than i was before.
DAII is not a great game, not the basegame at the very least. Considering the extremely limited timeframe the devs had they did the best they could, the writers did very well though. And looking at the dlc it is obvious with more time DAII base could have been so much better, but nonetheless the writing serves a very good continuation to tie the events together.
I remember seeing people shit on Inquisition for the longest time calling it the worst DA. I never understood this. I'm glad Mapo makes up his own mind.
In my opinion: dragon age 2 suffers from a poor gameplay loop at higher difficulties; enemies become bullet sponges. However, it has an absolutely deep and gloriously personal story, maybe one of BioWare’s best stories.
Dear Mapo... I am very sorry for how you are feeling now. But I also think that your commitment to this game and your sensitivity and emotionality make us - viewers, fans - love you so much! Thank you for this game and this video!
Alistair going "I've heard worse from Morrigan" is so goddamn funny. Also literally, this quest is the only reason why I make Alistair King in Origins now. Because if he's King, you're not forced to chose between him and Hawke here, you can save Hawke without feeling guilty. I well remember the first time I was put to this choice, I had to step away from my PC, walked around for a good half hour debating with myself, and GOD it destroyed me to hear Varric's 'Where's Hawke?' afterwards. HEARTBREAKING.
Mapo, if you think it's bad now, you should know the original proposal from the writers and devs was to make you choose between your Hero of Ferelden and your Hawke. Apparently, they only changed their mind later, partially because there was too much variability to deal with for the Hero of Ferelden and partially for story reasons.
@@EmoBearRights That default is also just kind of a "slap it in, reward people who played" to remove the most optional content that new players wouldn't connect with, and Inquisition definitely puts in a lot of effort for other optional outcomes. They could've put in the Awakening Warden Commander instead if they had to for a sacrificed warden. Either way, that's the kind of variability I'm talking about that eventually convinced them not to go through with the idea. It's already a mess with figuring out the Alistair situation, it would be even messier to program for the HoF.
I suspect most people would kill Hawke with no regrets xD I also think the devs changed their mind because otherwise they'd have to give HoF a set personality and people would've absolutely hated that. Hawke on the other hand has a trackable personality in DA2, so it's easy to write lines of dialogue for him/her that would be in-character. Though it's still super hilarious that even a blood mage Hawke can have such a distaste for blood magic. I guess Varric lied about Hawke being a blood mage?
I’ve been thinking of this choice since you decided to let Alistair remain a Warden in DAO. The choice is way easier if it’s someone else who is the DAI Warden 😅
It depends I have a word with my first playthrough of DA2 where my Hawke dies because she's a broken bird who run off with Anders because she couldn't bear to see more person she loved die (and to get the romance achievement) so it would end her tragic story appropriately.
I think it's quite likely that Hawke would survive somehow, for the time being at least. Flemeth's prophecy at the start of DA2 could play a role, as well as knowing Hawke is a survivor at heart. Not to mention "offscreen deaths" are a common trope to mislead audiences into thinking someone is completely gone, when in actuality there is no (reliable) proof they are. Personally I see no reason why he wouldn't defeat or escape from that giant spider, and show up in some shape or form in a future DA installment. Even if it was as a spirit, or someone found evidence that he might've escaped the Fade.
They doesn't seem to survive if you keep looking at them fighting the giant spider just before the screen went black, the spider stab the one left behind directly in the chest as they fall on their knee
I had tears in my eyes over this episode. Varric broke my heart. When I played, I saved Hawke, but I also didn’t have Alistair with me, because in my playthrough of Origins, he died slaying the archdemon.
@@lucy1374 in my playthrough of Origins I had Alistair marry Annora and become King, so I had to choose between Stroud and Hawke so I sacrificed Stroud.
@@rickh852 Same. Stroud has to be the most "Sorry, it's been great knowing you!" character in all of Dragon Age. He's a totally fine guy but given any alternative, he's the easy sacrifice.
"We stand upon the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. Watch for that moment... and when it comes, do not hesitate to leap. It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly." I am so glad you remembered it. It was his destiny.
I do love how satisfying the resolution for the quest is, whichever way to resolve it. Hawke’s been a victim of circumstances all his life - defined by the magic in his family, his status as a refugee, and then the greater movements of the Qunari and mage uprisings that he had no control over. Him choosing to sacrifice himself is him finally seizing control of his destiny, fulfilling (as the vidéo points out!) Flemeth’s prophecy for him. And Alistair’s kind of always been second best - to Cailan, to the Warden, to Anora. He finally gets to prove his worth on his own terms, and matches Duncan in death, finally bringing that full circle. (Mild spoiler for alternative timeline:) And of course, if Loghain is your Grey Warden companion from Origins, then him dying to save Orlesian Wardens is a perfect end for him. Maybe the most dramatically satisfying of all three, actually.
If I have to choose, then I'd probably choose Alistair to stay behind. Not because I love him less than Hawke, but because he does not have much time left anyways, never know when the corruption inside him take over.
very glad you had alistair as grey warden for this...alistair v hawke makes it into one of the, if not THE, most difficult and emotionally devasting desicions in all of dragon age. and the orb reveal is really interesting from an RP perspective playing a faithful inquisitor who believes theyre herald...big crisis of faith!
Oh man, I've been waiting for this one ever since your decision way back at the Landsmeet... so so brutal but also a perfect example of why these games are SO GOOD. The flashback to Flemeth was perfect. This was such a well written quest overall, with all the dialogue from the Nightmare about your companions and so many of those codex entries in the Fade giving juicy little tidbits of lore.
I don't think I've ever commented on a yt vid before, but you seemed so down towards the end and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your let's plays a lot. Also, great touch with the DA2 flashback you edited in. 👍
If Alistair is King or dies at any point before this (either in Origins or in DA2), then you meet and befriend a different Warden named Stroud. You meet Stroud as far back as DA2 as he takes Alistair’s place when you first encounter the wardens fighting Qunari in the city. Stroud is a great character on his own with bloody fantastic facial hair (lol), so I’ve always felt bad leaving him behind in the fade (so I can save Hawke). As much as losing Stroud hurts, I cannot IMAGINE having to pick between Hawke or Alistair. Fantastic playthrough so far, keep up the great work Mapo!
I'm fairly certain Stroud is also the Warden who Anders takes Hawke and Bethany to in the Deep Roads to save her from the Blight if they're both on the Deep Roads Expedition.
1:21:25 - one of my favorite theories that is also highly implied is that this mentioned ritual to break into the fade took place at the sight that became Kirkwall. The Bone Pit or Sundermount are likely locations 😬 I don’t think there is a “right” option. Even based on the fears revealed by the Nightmare. Alistair is afraid of always ducking out of responsibility, deferring to the Warden for the Archdemon and to Anora for the throne. The “who will you hide behind now” line makes an argument for him finally taking a stand against the demon, or for finally taking command of the Wardens which he has continuously put off. For Hawke, he feels like nothing he did ever mattered because it always undid itself lol and Varric’s on top of that, that his greatest fear was being the reason Hawke was in danger or being responsible for his death. So there again is an argument for Hawke to stay behind or to go. BUT I AM ALSO A FAN OF THE ABYSS LINE REGARDING HAWKE. That cannot be a coincidence in my opinion
It's incredibly rare for me to have either the time or the attention span to watch playthroughs like this. Yours has been the exception because of how invested you are in the lore, the story, and the characters. It's so engaging to follow the story alongside you, and it's doing wonders in resparking my own love and appreciation for Dragon Age. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, truly.
Even though I've played this game myself, seeing someone play it who takes the time to genuinely care about the world really puts it into perspective how incredible this series is. They really tell like a hundred different stories in this one game but they're all so wonderfully written and put together, that doesn't seem easy to do. I don't think this game gets enough credit for that sometimes.
The note on Starkhaven isn't to Sebastian as it refers to one of the 2nd Blight that ended in 1:95 Divine. I would think that they also meant literal crows, not the assassins.
Honestly this choice is impossible, there's no right decision, only heartbreak no matter the outcome. I'be been dreading this since the Landsmeet. But also, isn't it amazing how deeply a good story can make us *feel*?
I've played Inquisition countless times. Each time, I shed a few tears for the one left behind. Doesn't matter if it's Loghain, Stroud, Al, or Hawke. It is a superbly done moment.
56:24 Me too, man. Mass Effect is the shiny thing that (rightfully) gets all the attention, but there’s something about Dragon Age that just sings to me.
Letter by a Burning Candle is by far my favorite codex in this entire game. It gives you a great insight into the "little people" in your army who are sacrificing in every battle, who are so tired and so battle-weary and yet they are still fighting. You're this great hero and rarely get to see the average person on the battle field as anything more than NPCs, but in the scope of the story, these are people with families, friends, loved ones, and they are surrounded by death. Btw- We were all waiting for this video as soon as you crowned Anora. The moment you did, you don't realize it, but there was a collective gasp of worry knowing this was coming. :/ Sorry you had to deal with such an awful choice.
I cried with you Mapo! Really cried... 😭💔 So hard decision to make! But totally agree with, you saving Alistair and wardens makes more sense for Inquisition. (I noticed my decisions often the same as yours!😀) Great cut to the Flemeth speech! Great insight as always! Good... I love this playthrough! Also thank you for making it EVERYDAY treat!🙌
This episode blew my mind... Thanks again for sharing it with us. When playing Origins, it was clear that you'd play Dragon Age with the same attachment as us. Unfortunately, we knew back then that one day you'd have to make this choice since we had finished Inquisition, but of course, we could never tell you. Because we wanted you to experience how intense Dragon Age can be, just like us. I would like to post it YT too.
Honestly, when I see the Nightmare saying "Isabela is going to die just like everyone you care about" it hits a very real spot because I lost my parents already, and that's a feeling, a thought, you do get even though you fight it. And then when I connected that phrase, to the memory of Hawke losing all that he lost, and the notion of himself dying minutes later... It really did wreck my heart too. 😢 Damn, writers.
If you tab over and examine the little fear demons, you will find they all have different names, like Falling, Poverty, Being Naked in Public, Big Dogs, and one named 'Ironically, Spiders'.
I screamed and cried again along with you hahahah. Thank you for being so vulnerable--it's so validating for all of us and our big feelings! Especially playing all of these in a row, with DA2 and Origins being fresh on your mind, it's heartbreaking no matter what you choose. The choice might be easier if you don't let Alistair stay a warden, but this situation is much more impactful IMO. I love how much you love your boy, btw :) Alistair means so much to me and I love how much you care about him. P.S. I made the same choice. It's different (and super intense) when it's your own playable character, and destroying that part of yourself, as you said. But if anyone could get through it, it would be Hawke!!! Ty for that Flemeth callback btw!!
I think this is your greatest episode across any of your playthoughs yet. The joy and revelling early on, the glory of early scenes in the fade and the lore drops and the sheer delight in having the sarky boys back with the party only for it to all turn to despair and horror. the highest highs and the lowest lows. Now you know why the hardcore desire that Anora and Alistair wedding so much. Ever since the landsmeet you were set upon that path. For many of us this is probably the closest we can come to seeing what that decision was like to make first time round and blind having dodged the bullet by having a different warden in the place of Alistair. Chapeau Mapo! Chapeau!
I was waiting for this episode since DA:O!!!! One of the most heartwrenching choices ever. I share your pain, man, I do. I am glad that my boy Alistair lived ngl
And, even in this wrenching episode, seeing you gush about a series that's so dear to my heart (and to many others who watch you) and realte to that feeling is so heartwarming! ❤ Can't wait to see your face towards the final moments of this game.
dude you editing that Flemeth moment from DA2 is legendary. I chose my hawke for a similar reason. I also figured of my 2 options, he had the highest chance of somehow making it out alive
I love Here Lies The Abyss and all its so well done connective tissue of plots and themes. Those reads are chef's kiss, Weekes wrote it all, didn't he? The tracing back to Flemeth's prohecy
I always make Alistair king, so Loghain is the Warden in my playthroughs. I sacrifice Loghain every time to complete his redemption arc -- and nobody is really sad about it afterward (except me), so it feels like the right choice. It's also just a very satisfying end for Loghain, I think.
The parallels between Cole and the Nightmare are very interesting. Both started out taking people's pain and making them forget. The line about "a mistake borne of Compassion" is also very interesting. I have a theory that the Nightmare is actually a corrupted spirit of Compassion, since we know the nature of spirits and demons changes depending on who they interact with.
@@EmoBearRights I don't know. I feel like, maybe because Hawke is the player character with no definitive personality I didn't feel quite as attached to them as an actual character that I got to interact with and learn about throughout an entire game.
Great episode, just a friendly reminder to talk to Cole when you have the chance. Might be my fav char and wouldn't want you to miss interesting dialogue. ❤
I feel you so hard. This was probably the single hardest choice in ALL the DA games. And you got the toughest version of it too. I know the hurt all too well. Thank you for sharing this adventure of yours with as and huge kudos to your community for never spoiling this moment for you. So many of us have been angstily waiting for this moment ever since you allowed Alistair to remain a Warden. I am happy that everyone let you just experience the story for yourself.
1:16:01 I'm grateful that you're sharing your journey with us Mapo! It's been really great, I look forward so much to your episodes each day (or 2nd day!) because you take so much interest in the lore, characters and story and share so much of your thoughts with us that every minute is worth watching 😊 thank you for your content!
I originally had no idea this was an option - someone alluded to it in the comments during Mapo's DAO playthrough and I've been waiting for this ever since
The pain of watching Mapo miss in the Fade some of my most favourite codex entries... I doubt he will see this comment, but still. *Whispers Written in Red Lyrium:* _We are here_ _We have waited_ _We have slept_ _We are sundered_ _We are crippled_ _We are polluted_ _We endure_ _We wait_ _We have found the dreams again_ _We will awaken_
1:32:26 The fact your party members see something different is kind of neat, which would have been cool if they had actually put in the extra work to make those enemies look different if you took control of that party member. And it's kind of being lost in his gameplay but when you focus target on those "spider" demons they actually have unique names of various fears or phobias that the Inquisitor apparently has. Sera is kind of interesting since she has the fear of nothing she apparently sees nothing when they get attacked. Which freaks her out cause everyone is getting hurt and fighting for their lives against unseen enemies.
this one can be a kick in the teeth for sure, but in a way that is a testament to the investment we build up while playing... such great writing and presentation from Bioware throughout the trilogy so far.
Alistair is no ordinary man. He has great dragon's blood, son of maric and King Calenhad. He's potentially also a father of Morrigan's kid. Link to the Hero of Ferelden
I had Loghain as the warden. I still sacrificed Hawke, because 1) I don't envision Hawke as someone who'd stand idle and let other people sacrifice themselves, and 2) because on a meta level I enjoy the idea that Loghain continues to survive despite there being perfectly good and satisfactory story reasons for him to be dead on three separate occasions. The man simply doesn't die. But I'll be honest, this section of the quest kinda really sucks because it shouldn't be the Inquisitor's decision to begin with (and it isn't, it's absolutely implemented as a meta decision for the players' sake only), and honestly this whole retrieve memory things is pointless as you can already guess what happened. Seeing it happen doesn't bring any more insight, other than the revelation that there were some grey wardens present at the event, which you probably could still piece together on your own if you refer back to the healer's notes about your deliriums where you apparently said the word "grey". Oh and the part where Solas and the Nightmare speak in untranslated elvish is plain mean because an elven inquisitor should be able to understand at least some of the words if not the entire exchange. I think at times the game simply forgets that your Inquisitor can be dalish.
I love turning that nasty boi tranquil just because of how much he hates it lol. Turning someone tranquil bc they aren’t particularly gifted with magic is wild, but that guy? He had it coming imo
It's probably obvious, but the story Varic tells about Hawk at the end changes depending on what kind of personality Hawk had. That one was specific to Humorous Hawk.
I thought I was going to have to wait months to get to this episode!! so glad he is playing the main missions in between the insane number of side quests. Amazing!
As soon as I realized you chose to keep Alistair in the Grey Wardens, I knew this was coming. It did not disappoint. Hawke killed worse than that spider, he's alive. Somewhere. And I'm glad you didn't let "X disapproves" change your position. What you believe is right or fair is just as valid as what they do, but you're the boss.
Started watchin ur videos since the very first episode of DA Origins and as someone who has spent almost 11 years playin the whole frenchise over and over again ( about 3500-4000 hours playtime ) exploring different scenarios and possibilities, Lemme tell u I am really enjoyin watchin ur story of dragonage. Just one thing, If u had decided to get Alistair and Queen Anora to marry each other in DA Origins, it would have been a random NPC named Stroud in Alister's shoes and choosing between Hawk and Stroud would have been so easy and a no brainer and in the Redcliff scene, Anora would have been accompanied by King Alistair ... but this is ur world, ur choices and ur own original story and it is exceptional. Cheers mate, keep up the good work 🤘
Sadly, the Dalish only have a passing knowledge of Ancient Elven language. And can someone inform Hawke the demon is not Corypheus? I say Alistair should fight the giant spider demon, he was never much of a leader, but support. Hawke is the greater loss. Would an elven mage dish out Tranquillity as punishment? 🤯
It really does speak to this games writing that I truly feel like Mapo made the wrong choice and I feel bad about it. I’m 100% positive that some people feel the exact opposite as me and that’s pretty awesome that this game invokes that much emotion from people
This does hurt..I am very much enjoy your thoughts and choices , this why I kinda skipped over the landsmeet because I knew how bad this was going to hurt. I always choose for them to help because they may be vulnerable but so are the mages they already made one deal with Alexius from fear.
Hey man! Just wanted to say I really love your playthrough! I like how you really RP the game, and make decisions based on what your character, the Inquisitor thinks, not real life you. I always do that myself, so I make some sad/hard decisions in-game because it's about what my character believes is best.
My first ever comment.. ive watched all your Dragon Age playthroughs.. just wanted to say i feel your pain! this was exactly the choice i had my first ever Inquisition playthrough.. with the added "bonus" of Alistair being my Wardens love interest... i had to quit the game for a few hours after to recover and i NEVER made Alistair warden after that ;( (i left Hawke too.. and Varrics reaction broke me)
The choice between Alistair and Hawke is peak BioWare. Lore, choices and consequenses. Dragon Age is among the biggest rollercoasters in gaming history, and while Mass Effect is amazing in the fact you play as Shepard all the way through, Dragon Age is perfection in its integration of storylines and characters from all corners of the Dragon Age games. From small NPCs to the main characters, all play equal part, and they all add to the amazing story unfolding. This episode was special, and more amazing moments awaits. Looking forward to the rest of the journey :)
It's been so fun watching these alongside my own first playthrough of Inquisition! It's interesting to see all the variations in your storyline. I played Origins on a different platform years ago, and could never get into DA2, so I have the vanilla Inquisition experience with default cover art Hawke and Alistair is King of Ferelden, and I have a Warden "Stroud" instead. My character is a human warrior, of noble lineage, and is very different to yours - I love the difference! 😁
The reference to Starkhaven/Fyruss/Crows was actually referring to the Second Blight, which ended in the city in 1:95 (Divine Age), and the 'crows' were literal crows... He was saying that when you see the birds collecting in the former battlefields, it was safe for men to search for items for King Fyruss.
Just completed this quest in my playthrough and had to watch this video immediately after lol. Alistair is the king with Anora in my playthrough so it was a different Warden helping me, but still after a solid 10 minutes of internal debate I came to the same decision to leave Hawke as keeping the Wardens seemed better for the world...hopefully... We didn't see Hawke die though!! no body no death lol **takes a huge drag of hopium** they killed that spider and waiting for rescue! Also I really want to replay this with different companions to here what Vivienne and Cole have to say about the fade section (I had Dorian so I'm glad I got to hear Solas commentary in your video).
2:31:54 you can't please everyone all of the time and just for the record; tranquility is the reward he deserves for all of his deeds. He is just as bad as Corypheus, The Architect and the other mages who brought down The Blight upon the world. It was the right choice, and the one I always choose. (and I primarily play as a mage).
Divine Justinia V (formerly Revered Mother Dorothea) looks like she's aged at least twice as many years as it's been since we last saw her in Leliana's Song. The stress of the job must be absolutely insane. Edit: 1:06:40 That's funny. I also have a headache and just took some Tylenol right before you said that. I'm also not wearing my glasses for the same reason, lol. Edit 2: RIP Mapo Hawke. There was no good choice to make here. You did what had to be done, and Hawke goes out like the heroic Champion he is. Assuming he's actually dead of course. We don't know that for sure. If anyone could survive that, it's Hawke.
Dang, this episode is so heartbreaking. I also left hawke there too. Though I didn't play DA2, seeing Varric's sad face again just making me cry :( I really like your playthrough. Plan to watch them all, DAO to DA2 !
i cried so hard watching this. i'm so glad that i got Alistair as My King, and i'm His Queen, so this didn't happen. I actually never see this route because i never want to see it, it's too hurtful.
My first playthrough, I also left Hawke behind to save Alistair. Sacrificed my character to save my party member. I was so mad, I made Livius tranquil. I genuinely don't believe people should be allowed to do that, but for him I was so mad I made the exception. My canon worldstate is different now. Alistair and Anora rule together, and Loghain became a Warden. I left him behind in the Fade, bringing my Hawke with me. But Livius? No, he still gets that punishment. That echo of my original choice. He's too much of a bastard for me not to.
![Much Needed Debriefing at Skyhold - Dragon Age Inquisition | Blind Playthrough [Part 23]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8ElR__wmRGY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Much Needed Debriefing at Skyhold - Dragon Age Inquisition | Blind Playthrough [Part 23]](/img/tr.png)
Hearing Mapo gush about how much he loves Dragon Age and how much fun he's having while remembering the thumbnail and hoping he still feels the same afterwards 😬
Ah I think the knife twisting toward the end is part of why Dragon Age is so special.
Wicked hearts quest will be a balm on his poor soul
@@pkuvincentsu oh boy I totally agree in that one🥲🤌🏻
@@goldy6405 hopefully! Some people really hate the quest structure of it which I understand.
Back on the origins playthrough, when he kept Alistair in the grey wardens... We knew this day would come. I almost guarantee if it was stroud, no way he keeps stroud alive.
I'm so glad you remembered Flemeth's prophecy. It's been a subject of heavy debate and theorizing all these years.
But thats why many are still confused. Its Hawke's destiny to stay behind in The Fade, but does Flemeth's prophecy also mean that Hawke survives or no? "It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly" So that this also mean that Hawke somehow survives?
@@BamBam-3886Also in the dialogue option it never says that they die for sure. It says ''likely''.
@@wiktoriajedrzejewska7287 true. Hopefully The Veilguard will show us if Hawke survives
@@BamBam-3886it’s already been confirmed that Hawke won’t be returning in DAVE
The MOST heartbreaking touch for me is the music when you speak to Varric. When you're in the Hawke estate, it's the same song. Absolutely shattered me.
It’s the extra salt on the wound
I still can't believe people said he should skip DA2. Like Hawke is such a special character and I bet a lot of us were unable to even think about sacrificing him/her in our playthroughs. It felt so sad to see Mapo Hawke die ;_;
I think the fear is that the person gets discouraged and stops following the series at DA2. Luckily enough, Mapo liked it.
I think it's kinda the same reason people say don't spend too much time in the Hinterlands in DA3, but obviously that's more agreeable.
@@UnlistedAgain I dont know how someone could get discouraged and stopped following the series at DAII. DAII is a very good game. For me, it get me more invested in Dragon Age than i was before.
DAII is not a great game, not the basegame at the very least. Considering the extremely limited timeframe the devs had they did the best they could, the writers did very well though.
And looking at the dlc it is obvious with more time DAII base could have been so much better, but nonetheless the writing serves a very good continuation to tie the events together.
I remember seeing people shit on Inquisition for the longest time calling it the worst DA. I never understood this. I'm glad Mapo makes up his own mind.
In my opinion: dragon age 2 suffers from a poor gameplay loop at higher difficulties; enemies become bullet sponges. However, it has an absolutely deep and gloriously personal story, maybe one of BioWare’s best stories.
My dude, adding the Flemeth quote was BLOODY BRILLIANT🙏
Peak edition there
Dear Mapo... I am very sorry for how you are feeling now. But I also think that your commitment to this game and your sensitivity and emotionality make us - viewers, fans - love you so much! Thank you for this game and this video!
Alistair going "I've heard worse from Morrigan" is so goddamn funny. Also literally, this quest is the only reason why I make Alistair King in Origins now. Because if he's King, you're not forced to chose between him and Hawke here, you can save Hawke without feeling guilty. I well remember the first time I was put to this choice, I had to step away from my PC, walked around for a good half hour debating with myself, and GOD it destroyed me to hear Varric's 'Where's Hawke?' afterwards. HEARTBREAKING.
The fact that there's DA2 soundtrack playing when you speak with Varric after what happened is even more depressing somehow. This shit hits hard.
Mapo, if you think it's bad now, you should know the original proposal from the writers and devs was to make you choose between your Hero of Ferelden and your Hawke. Apparently, they only changed their mind later, partially because there was too much variability to deal with for the Hero of Ferelden and partially for story reasons.
The default world has the Hero of Ferelden as the one who sacrificed herself to kill the archdemon, she was a Dalish elf.
@@EmoBearRights That default is also just kind of a "slap it in, reward people who played" to remove the most optional content that new players wouldn't connect with, and Inquisition definitely puts in a lot of effort for other optional outcomes. They could've put in the Awakening Warden Commander instead if they had to for a sacrificed warden.
Either way, that's the kind of variability I'm talking about that eventually convinced them not to go through with the idea. It's already a mess with figuring out the Alistair situation, it would be even messier to program for the HoF.
ooooff. That could've done unbearable trauma to me😵💫
Lol, Mapo choosing between short Mapo and tall Mapo
I suspect most people would kill Hawke with no regrets xD I also think the devs changed their mind because otherwise they'd have to give HoF a set personality and people would've absolutely hated that. Hawke on the other hand has a trackable personality in DA2, so it's easy to write lines of dialogue for him/her that would be in-character. Though it's still super hilarious that even a blood mage Hawke can have such a distaste for blood magic. I guess Varric lied about Hawke being a blood mage?
That interlude with Flemeth quote about Hawke and the Abyss - YES!
I’ve been thinking of this choice since you decided to let Alistair remain a Warden in DAO. The choice is way easier if it’s someone else who is the DAI Warden 😅
Honestly I even leave Hawke behind for Loghain or Stroud, I really think she's going to survive.
@@hannahbun I hope they will but I don't think so, it would be very cheap in terms of storytelling
It depends I have a word with my first playthrough of DA2 where my Hawke dies because she's a broken bird who run off with Anders because she couldn't bear to see more person she loved die (and to get the romance achievement) so it would end her tragic story appropriately.
I think it's quite likely that Hawke would survive somehow, for the time being at least. Flemeth's prophecy at the start of DA2 could play a role, as well as knowing Hawke is a survivor at heart. Not to mention "offscreen deaths" are a common trope to mislead audiences into thinking someone is completely gone, when in actuality there is no (reliable) proof they are.
Personally I see no reason why he wouldn't defeat or escape from that giant spider, and show up in some shape or form in a future DA installment. Even if it was as a spirit, or someone found evidence that he might've escaped the Fade.
They doesn't seem to survive if you keep looking at them fighting the giant spider just before the screen went black, the spider stab the one left behind directly in the chest as they fall on their knee
I had tears in my eyes over this episode. Varric broke my heart.
When I played, I saved Hawke, but I also didn’t have Alistair with me, because in my playthrough of Origins, he died slaying the archdemon.
In mine he was/is King so I didnt understand why everyone was so sad about this mission hahahha
I had no idea it was possible for allistar to die while slaying the archedemon, how interesting.
@@lucy1374 in my playthrough of Origins I had Alistair marry Annora and become King, so I had to choose between Stroud and Hawke so I sacrificed Stroud.
@@rickh852 Same. Stroud has to be the most "Sorry, it's been great knowing you!" character in all of Dragon Age. He's a totally fine guy but given any alternative, he's the easy sacrifice.
"We stand upon the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. Watch for that moment... and when it comes, do not hesitate to leap. It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly."
I am so glad you remembered it. It was his destiny.
It wasn't destiny. He could have chosen not to leap, but instead, he decided to see whether he could fly.
"I'm not pleased." -Mapo, 2023
“Just let down my best friend and my boyfriend”
I do love how satisfying the resolution for the quest is, whichever way to resolve it.
Hawke’s been a victim of circumstances all his life - defined by the magic in his family, his status as a refugee, and then the greater movements of the Qunari and mage uprisings that he had no control over. Him choosing to sacrifice himself is him finally seizing control of his destiny, fulfilling (as the vidéo points out!) Flemeth’s prophecy for him.
And Alistair’s kind of always been second best - to Cailan, to the Warden, to Anora. He finally gets to prove his worth on his own terms, and matches Duncan in death, finally bringing that full circle.
(Mild spoiler for alternative timeline:) And of course, if Loghain is your Grey Warden companion from Origins, then him dying to save Orlesian Wardens is a perfect end for him. Maybe the most dramatically satisfying of all three, actually.
And then theres Stroud, who will never survive the Fade
My Inquisition preserved Hawke to not break Fenris's heart. Poor Bethany in this universe though.
@@olafderzerstorer8843this made me laugh more then it should
If I have to choose, then I'd probably choose Alistair to stay behind. Not because I love him less than Hawke, but because he does not have much time left anyways, never know when the corruption inside him take over.
@@UltraRedPotatothe fifth Blight was 10 years from what is passing now, Alistair still has around 20 years before his calling.
very glad you had alistair as grey warden for this...alistair v hawke makes it into one of the, if not THE, most difficult and emotionally devasting desicions in all of dragon age. and the orb reveal is really interesting from an RP perspective playing a faithful inquisitor who believes theyre herald...big crisis of faith!
a bit tragic he didnt play the other main quest first though :( not that i blame him, i did the same
Oh man, I've been waiting for this one ever since your decision way back at the Landsmeet... so so brutal but also a perfect example of why these games are SO GOOD. The flashback to Flemeth was perfect. This was such a well written quest overall, with all the dialogue from the Nightmare about your companions and so many of those codex entries in the Fade giving juicy little tidbits of lore.
I never caught that when she says “when you see the edge of the abyss” and the quest title is “Here Lies The Abyss”…
I don't think I've ever commented on a yt vid before, but you seemed so down towards the end and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your let's plays a lot. Also, great touch with the DA2 flashback you edited in. 👍
We gonna cry today BOYS
I am still in shambles.
If Alistair is King or dies at any point before this (either in Origins or in DA2), then you meet and befriend a different Warden named Stroud. You meet Stroud as far back as DA2 as he takes Alistair’s place when you first encounter the wardens fighting Qunari in the city.
Stroud is a great character on his own with bloody fantastic facial hair (lol), so I’ve always felt bad leaving him behind in the fade (so I can save Hawke). As much as losing Stroud hurts, I cannot IMAGINE having to pick between Hawke or Alistair.
Fantastic playthrough so far, keep up the great work Mapo!
there is always the option have Hawke paired with Loghain. That's much easier choice than with Alistair
I'm fairly certain Stroud is also the Warden who Anders takes Hawke and Bethany to in the Deep Roads to save her from the Blight if they're both on the Deep Roads Expedition.
1:21:25 - one of my favorite theories that is also highly implied is that this mentioned ritual to break into the fade took place at the sight that became Kirkwall. The Bone Pit or Sundermount are likely locations 😬
I don’t think there is a “right” option. Even based on the fears revealed by the Nightmare. Alistair is afraid of always ducking out of responsibility, deferring to the Warden for the Archdemon and to Anora for the throne. The “who will you hide behind now” line makes an argument for him finally taking a stand against the demon, or for finally taking command of the Wardens which he has continuously put off.
For Hawke, he feels like nothing he did ever mattered because it always undid itself lol and Varric’s on top of that, that his greatest fear was being the reason Hawke was in danger or being responsible for his death. So there again is an argument for Hawke to stay behind or to go. BUT I AM ALSO A FAN OF THE ABYSS LINE REGARDING HAWKE. That cannot be a coincidence in my opinion
It's incredibly rare for me to have either the time or the attention span to watch playthroughs like this. Yours has been the exception because of how invested you are in the lore, the story, and the characters. It's so engaging to follow the story alongside you, and it's doing wonders in resparking my own love and appreciation for Dragon Age. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, truly.
I've never been more glad for you to NOT bring Cole 😅 Poor kid
Even though I've played this game myself, seeing someone play it who takes the time to genuinely care about the world really puts it into perspective how incredible this series is. They really tell like a hundred different stories in this one game but they're all so wonderfully written and put together, that doesn't seem easy to do. I don't think this game gets enough credit for that sometimes.
I think it's one of the most underrated games ever.
@@littlemouse7066 same. I know alot of ppl love it myself included but I’ve also seen a lot of people say it’s “bad” and I don’t think that’s fair
@@mandy8286 It seems to me there are bad people out there who like to bash anything and everything. this game is amazing and I love it.
The note on Starkhaven isn't to Sebastian as it refers to one of the 2nd Blight that ended in 1:95 Divine. I would think that they also meant literal crows, not the assassins.
Honestly this choice is impossible, there's no right decision, only heartbreak no matter the outcome. I'be been dreading this since the Landsmeet. But also, isn't it amazing how deeply a good story can make us *feel*?
I've played Inquisition countless times. Each time, I shed a few tears for the one left behind. Doesn't matter if it's Loghain, Stroud, Al, or Hawke. It is a superbly done moment.
I've played this saga like 6 times back to back already... Never made the connection between Flemeth's words and this mission. Mind blown.
Trevor Morris did an amazing job on the soundtrack.
56:24 Me too, man. Mass Effect is the shiny thing that (rightfully) gets all the attention, but there’s something about Dragon Age that just sings to me.
The codex entries in the fade are some of my favorites. So cryptic and chilling.
Is it weird to say I waited for this moment? Mapo was having the time of his life but we knew what would happen with Alistar being the Grey Warder.
Letter by a Burning Candle is by far my favorite codex in this entire game. It gives you a great insight into the "little people" in your army who are sacrificing in every battle, who are so tired and so battle-weary and yet they are still fighting. You're this great hero and rarely get to see the average person on the battle field as anything more than NPCs, but in the scope of the story, these are people with families, friends, loved ones, and they are surrounded by death.
Btw- We were all waiting for this video as soon as you crowned Anora. The moment you did, you don't realize it, but there was a collective gasp of worry knowing this was coming. :/ Sorry you had to deal with such an awful choice.
I cried with you Mapo! Really cried... 😭💔 So hard decision to make! But totally agree with, you saving Alistair and wardens makes more sense for Inquisition.
(I noticed my decisions often the same as yours!😀)
Great cut to the Flemeth speech! Great insight as always!
Good... I love this playthrough! Also thank you for making it EVERYDAY treat!🙌
This episode blew my mind... Thanks again for sharing it with us. When playing Origins, it was clear that you'd play Dragon Age with the same attachment as us. Unfortunately, we knew back then that one day you'd have to make this choice since we had finished Inquisition, but of course, we could never tell you. Because we wanted you to experience how intense Dragon Age can be, just like us.
I would like to post it YT too.
Honestly, when I see the Nightmare saying "Isabela is going to die just like everyone you care about" it hits a very real spot because I lost my parents already, and that's a feeling, a thought, you do get even though you fight it. And then when I connected that phrase, to the memory of Hawke losing all that he lost, and the notion of himself dying minutes later... It really did wreck my heart too. 😢 Damn, writers.
If you tab over and examine the little fear demons, you will find they all have different names, like Falling, Poverty, Being Naked in Public, Big Dogs, and one named 'Ironically, Spiders'.
I screamed and cried again along with you hahahah. Thank you for being so vulnerable--it's so validating for all of us and our big feelings! Especially playing all of these in a row, with DA2 and Origins being fresh on your mind, it's heartbreaking no matter what you choose. The choice might be easier if you don't let Alistair stay a warden, but this situation is much more impactful IMO. I love how much you love your boy, btw :) Alistair means so much to me and I love how much you care about him.
P.S. I made the same choice. It's different (and super intense) when it's your own playable character, and destroying that part of yourself, as you said. But if anyone could get through it, it would be Hawke!!! Ty for that Flemeth callback btw!!
I love this play through so much. I also always make him tranquil as punishment. The only thing he views as punishment himself.
I've been waiting for this episode ever since you chose not to make Alistair King in Origins. It makes this choice far harder.
Superb episode! You don't really need to worry that much about companions approval, follow your intuition.❤
I think this is your greatest episode across any of your playthoughs yet. The joy and revelling early on, the glory of early scenes in the fade and the lore drops and the sheer delight in having the sarky boys back with the party only for it to all turn to despair and horror. the highest highs and the lowest lows. Now you know why the hardcore desire that Anora and Alistair wedding so much. Ever since the landsmeet you were set upon that path. For many of us this is probably the closest we can come to seeing what that decision was like to make first time round and blind having dodged the bullet by having a different warden in the place of Alistair. Chapeau Mapo! Chapeau!
Hawke is probably the only one that can survive the fade. I am excited to see how it effects the next game.
for all its faults inquisition really shines on these main quests
I sacrifce Loghain. Perfect redemtion for him, dying for Orlais and Grey Wardens that he most feared and faced the demon of fear himself.
I was waiting for this episode since DA:O!!!! One of the most heartwrenching choices ever. I share your pain, man, I do. I am glad that my boy Alistair lived ngl
And, even in this wrenching episode, seeing you gush about a series that's so dear to my heart (and to many others who watch you) and realte to that feeling is so heartwarming! ❤ Can't wait to see your face towards the final moments of this game.
dude you editing that Flemeth moment from DA2 is legendary. I chose my hawke for a similar reason. I also figured of my 2 options, he had the highest chance of somehow making it out alive
I love Here Lies The Abyss and all its so well done connective tissue of plots and themes. Those reads are chef's kiss, Weekes wrote it all, didn't he? The tracing back to Flemeth's prohecy
I always make Alistair king, so Loghain is the Warden in my playthroughs. I sacrifice Loghain every time to complete his redemption arc -- and nobody is really sad about it afterward (except me), so it feels like the right choice. It's also just a very satisfying end for Loghain, I think.
Ah yes, Dragon Age, we love the way you hurt us in so many ways 🖤
The parallels between Cole and the Nightmare are very interesting. Both started out taking people's pain and making them forget. The line about "a mistake borne of Compassion" is also very interesting.
I have a theory that the Nightmare is actually a corrupted spirit of Compassion, since we know the nature of spirits and demons changes depending on who they interact with.
To be honest leaving my Hawke in the Fade instead of Alistair was the easiest choice I made in my life.
Did you not like your Hawke?
@@EmoBearRights I don't know. I feel like, maybe because Hawke is the player character with no definitive personality I didn't feel quite as attached to them as an actual character that I got to interact with and learn about throughout an entire game.
Great episode, just a friendly reminder to talk to Cole when you have the chance. Might be my fav char and wouldn't want you to miss interesting dialogue. ❤
I feel you so hard. This was probably the single hardest choice in ALL the DA games. And you got the toughest version of it too. I know the hurt all too well. Thank you for sharing this adventure of yours with as and huge kudos to your community for never spoiling this moment for you. So many of us have been angstily waiting for this moment ever since you allowed Alistair to remain a Warden. I am happy that everyone let you just experience the story for yourself.
1:16:01 I'm grateful that you're sharing your journey with us Mapo! It's been really great, I look forward so much to your episodes each day (or 2nd day!) because you take so much interest in the lore, characters and story and share so much of your thoughts with us that every minute is worth watching 😊 thank you for your content!
After reviewIng Flemeth’s prophecy, I think Hawke is the only choice.
I originally had no idea this was an option - someone alluded to it in the comments during Mapo's DAO playthrough and I've been waiting for this ever since
That choice between Alistair and Hawke is pure agony. I'm glad you went with tranquil on that shithead though. lol
I always chose Alistair as king in DAO even before this one came out. I didn't even know you could lose him until weeks afterwards.
depending your choices, the grey warden, can be logain as well.
The pain of watching Mapo miss in the Fade some of my most favourite codex entries...
I doubt he will see this comment, but still.
*Whispers Written in Red Lyrium:*
_We are here_
_We have waited_
_We have slept_
_We are sundered_
_We are crippled_
_We are polluted_
_We endure_
_We wait_
_We have found the dreams again_
_We will awaken_
Thank the Maker for Warden Stroud.
1:32:26 The fact your party members see something different is kind of neat, which would have been cool if they had actually put in the extra work to make those enemies look different if you took control of that party member.
And it's kind of being lost in his gameplay but when you focus target on those "spider" demons they actually have unique names of various fears or phobias that the Inquisitor apparently has.
Sera is kind of interesting since she has the fear of nothing she apparently sees nothing when they get attacked.
Which freaks her out cause everyone is getting hurt and fighting for their lives against unseen enemies.
I've been waiting for this moment since the Landsmeet in Origins >:)
"Audio balancing is my passion" - the episode.
this one can be a kick in the teeth for sure, but in a way that is a testament to the investment we build up while playing... such great writing and presentation from Bioware throughout the trilogy so far.
Alistair is no ordinary man.
He has great dragon's blood, son of maric and King Calenhad. He's potentially also a father of Morrigan's kid. Link to the Hero of Ferelden
I had Loghain as the warden. I still sacrificed Hawke, because 1) I don't envision Hawke as someone who'd stand idle and let other people sacrifice themselves, and 2) because on a meta level I enjoy the idea that Loghain continues to survive despite there being perfectly good and satisfactory story reasons for him to be dead on three separate occasions. The man simply doesn't die.
But I'll be honest, this section of the quest kinda really sucks because it shouldn't be the Inquisitor's decision to begin with (and it isn't, it's absolutely implemented as a meta decision for the players' sake only), and honestly this whole retrieve memory things is pointless as you can already guess what happened. Seeing it happen doesn't bring any more insight, other than the revelation that there were some grey wardens present at the event, which you probably could still piece together on your own if you refer back to the healer's notes about your deliriums where you apparently said the word "grey".
Oh and the part where Solas and the Nightmare speak in untranslated elvish is plain mean because an elven inquisitor should be able to understand at least some of the words if not the entire exchange. I think at times the game simply forgets that your Inquisitor can be dalish.
I love turning that nasty boi tranquil just because of how much he hates it lol. Turning someone tranquil bc they aren’t particularly gifted with magic is wild, but that guy? He had it coming imo
BTW: You have to enable the party's focus abilities in the Tactics screen (even set them to Favorite) to see them at all. They are off by default.
And so, Mapo decided to start his second playthrough of the entire DA franchise just so he could save both Hawk and Alistair lol 😂😂😂
It's probably obvious, but the story Varic tells about Hawk at the end changes depending on what kind of personality Hawk had. That one was specific to Humorous Hawk.
I can see reasons to bring every companion to any of the missions, ALL of them! Except Sera, I can't imagine when would she be good for the story. 😆
I thought I was going to have to wait months to get to this episode!! so glad he is playing the main missions in between the insane number of side quests. Amazing!
As soon as I realized you chose to keep Alistair in the Grey Wardens, I knew this was coming. It did not disappoint. Hawke killed worse than that spider, he's alive. Somewhere. And I'm glad you didn't let "X disapproves" change your position. What you believe is right or fair is just as valid as what they do, but you're the boss.
Started watchin ur videos since the very first episode of DA Origins and as someone who has spent almost 11 years playin the whole frenchise over and over again ( about 3500-4000 hours playtime ) exploring different scenarios and possibilities, Lemme tell u I am really enjoyin watchin ur story of dragonage. Just one thing, If u had decided to get Alistair and Queen Anora to marry each other in DA Origins, it would have been a random NPC named Stroud in Alister's shoes and choosing between Hawk and Stroud would have been so easy and a no brainer and in the Redcliff scene, Anora would have been accompanied by King Alistair ... but this is ur world, ur choices and ur own original story and it is exceptional. Cheers mate, keep up the good work 🤘
Normally I'd hate the idea of tranquility as punishment but that guy is a C U next Tuesday and its the only thing that rattles that a-hole.
OMG that editing was sooooo on point, dear mommy say to jump
Holy shit that DA2 cut was beautiful!
Sadly, the Dalish only have a passing knowledge of Ancient Elven language.
And can someone inform Hawke the demon is not Corypheus?
I say Alistair should fight the giant spider demon, he was never much of a leader, but support. Hawke is the greater loss.
Would an elven mage dish out Tranquillity as punishment? 🤯
that was painful, we feel you Mapo. Varric's reaction always breaks my heart
The hardest choice in all dragon age games right there
It really does speak to this games writing that I truly feel like Mapo made the wrong choice and I feel bad about it. I’m 100% positive that some people feel the exact opposite as me and that’s pretty awesome that this game invokes that much emotion from people
This does hurt..I am very much enjoy your thoughts and choices , this why I kinda skipped over the landsmeet because I knew how bad this was going to hurt. I always choose for them to help because they may be vulnerable but so are the mages they already made one deal with Alexius from fear.
Oh Mapo😢 big hugs from us all!
Hey man! Just wanted to say I really love your playthrough! I like how you really RP the game, and make decisions based on what your character, the Inquisitor thinks, not real life you. I always do that myself, so I make some sad/hard decisions in-game because it's about what my character believes is best.
The way Inquisitor stares at you while you make that choice. Like she knows.
My first ever comment.. ive watched all your Dragon Age playthroughs.. just wanted to say i feel your pain! this was exactly the choice i had my first ever Inquisition playthrough.. with the added "bonus" of Alistair being my Wardens love interest... i had to quit the game for a few hours after to recover and i NEVER made Alistair warden after that ;( (i left Hawke too.. and Varrics reaction broke me)
The choice between Alistair and Hawke is peak BioWare.
Lore, choices and consequenses.
Dragon Age is among the biggest rollercoasters in gaming history, and while Mass Effect is amazing in the fact you play as Shepard all the way through, Dragon Age is perfection in its integration of storylines and characters from all corners of the Dragon Age games. From small NPCs to the main characters, all play equal part, and they all add to the amazing story unfolding.
This episode was special, and more amazing moments awaits. Looking forward to the rest of the journey :)
It's been so fun watching these alongside my own first playthrough of Inquisition! It's interesting to see all the variations in your storyline. I played Origins on a different platform years ago, and could never get into DA2, so I have the vanilla Inquisition experience with default cover art Hawke and Alistair is King of Ferelden, and I have a Warden "Stroud" instead. My character is a human warrior, of noble lineage, and is very different to yours - I love the difference! 😁
oh no....here we go...
this is THE moment I was scared to face since when you let Alistair be a warden😔
The reference to Starkhaven/Fyruss/Crows was actually referring to the Second Blight, which ended in the city in 1:95 (Divine Age), and the 'crows' were literal crows... He was saying that when you see the birds collecting in the former battlefields, it was safe for men to search for items for King Fyruss.
It was a good send off to Logain in my run. Favorite mission!
Just completed this quest in my playthrough and had to watch this video immediately after lol. Alistair is the king with Anora in my playthrough so it was a different Warden helping me, but still after a solid 10 minutes of internal debate I came to the same decision to leave Hawke as keeping the Wardens seemed better for the world...hopefully... We didn't see Hawke die though!! no body no death lol **takes a huge drag of hopium** they killed that spider and waiting for rescue! Also I really want to replay this with different companions to here what Vivienne and Cole have to say about the fade section (I had Dorian so I'm glad I got to hear Solas commentary in your video).
2:31:54 you can't please everyone all of the time and just for the record; tranquility is the reward he deserves for all of his deeds. He is just as bad as Corypheus, The Architect and the other mages who brought down The Blight upon the world. It was the right choice, and the one I always choose. (and I primarily play as a mage).
I hope you’ll replay the fade part of the quest with different companions, or at least watch it. The dialogue here is very interesting
I think you should have taken Cole instead but Blackwall is the right choice as is Solas.
They're all great. I love Cass' reaction to meeting the Divine.
Divine Justinia V (formerly Revered Mother Dorothea) looks like she's aged at least twice as many years as it's been since we last saw her in Leliana's Song. The stress of the job must be absolutely insane.
Edit: 1:06:40 That's funny. I also have a headache and just took some Tylenol right before you said that. I'm also not wearing my glasses for the same reason, lol.
Edit 2: RIP Mapo Hawke. There was no good choice to make here. You did what had to be done, and Hawke goes out like the heroic Champion he is. Assuming he's actually dead of course. We don't know that for sure. If anyone could survive that, it's Hawke.
Oh brother,the thumbnail is already pretty representative of Mapo's possible reaction to this quest,especially knowing Alistair and Hawke are present.
Dang, this episode is so heartbreaking. I also left hawke there too. Though I didn't play DA2, seeing Varric's sad face again just making me cry :(
I really like your playthrough. Plan to watch them all, DAO to DA2 !
i cried so hard watching this. i'm so glad that i got Alistair as My King, and i'm His Queen, so this didn't happen. I actually never see this route because i never want to see it, it's too hurtful.
My first playthrough, I also left Hawke behind to save Alistair. Sacrificed my character to save my party member. I was so mad, I made Livius tranquil. I genuinely don't believe people should be allowed to do that, but for him I was so mad I made the exception.
My canon worldstate is different now. Alistair and Anora rule together, and Loghain became a Warden. I left him behind in the Fade, bringing my Hawke with me. But Livius? No, he still gets that punishment. That echo of my original choice. He's too much of a bastard for me not to.