History Fridge / DragonAgeII

* Why is Merrill able to stay sane, unlike all the other blood mages who seem to transform into abominations at the slightest provocation? Because she treats blood magic as dangerous but rewarding, so she presumably uses it in a calm state of mind after taking every possible precaution. For others, blood magic is a last resort after they become scared and furious and have nothing left to lose. Merrill's approach may have saved her life. It's also worth noting that she learned it from a demon already held captive on Sundermount without releasing it herself, whereas many other mages have to deal with a demon in the Fade on the demons' terms.
** The other angle is that Merrill most of the time doesn't use blood magic to hurt anyone. She initially turned to it to fuel her magic enough to cleanse the shard of the Eluvian, and even though she's a BlackMagicianGirl she's got a total of two spells that are even vaguely blood magic-related, only one of which involves hurting someone else. She sees it as a tool, not a weapon. She knows she's taking a risk by dealing with demons, and she only goes to the demon twice - once before the game starts when she learns blood magic in the first place, and once when she goes to get more information, [[spoiler: by which point it's already possessed Marethari.]]

* While it's common in {{Role Playing Game}}s for the protagonist to start off as a novice and become a master by the end, ''Dragon Age II'' actually takes place over a decade, explaining how Hawke was able to go from a poor refugee with decent fighting skill to an unstoppable fighter.

** Unlike the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins first game]], where the love scenes play out in snippets, here Hawke and their love interest make out before just the aftermath is shown. Naturally, Varric is respecting Hawke and their lover's privacy by not going into detail on how they spent their night. (Alternately, that's Varric not actually having those details anyway.)

** Confirmed in ''Inquisition'', which has a party banter where one of the companions express disbelief that so many people attacked Hawke, to which Varric mostly admits he made up.

* Pol running away from Merrill like she was a monster was completely in-character. He is an escaped city elf, and apparently holds onto his Andrastian beliefs. Blood magic is therefore a huge deal for him and it makes sense that it would terrify him more than the other Dalish.

* There are ''a lot'' of Blood Mages in Kirkwall, despite the common "not all mages are Blood Mages" argument. [[spoiler:But according to Leliana, mages from the Tevinter Emperium (a.k.a. Blood Mage Central) were sent to increase tension between the mages and Templars.]]

* After the main story, Merrill can never return to her clan regardless. That's bad enough, but if you don't romance her, she ends up entirely on her own with no clan, forced to leave her close friend/respected rival.

--->'''Eleni:''' The prison is breached. I see the encroaching darkness. The... the shadow will consume all...

*** Any decent author or piece of writing advice will tell you that it's best not to describe what the characters wearing from one day to the next, ''unless'' it's important to the plot. And fortunately, there are characters who fall under this. Aveline and her rise in the guard, Carver and Bethany's uniforms depending on where they end up by Act II, Hawke's love interest, Hawke and Tallis in ''Mark of the Assassin'', and Anders in Act III. Everyone else, like the companions Hawke doesn't romance to characters like Gamlen, Bodahn and Sandal stay the same throughout seven years because any wardrobe change or change in hairstyle they might have had is not important to the story.

** Unlike the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins first game]], where the love scenes play out in snippets, here Hawke and their love interest make out before just the aftermath is shown. Naturally, Varric is respecting Hawke and their lover's privacy by not going into detail on how they spent their night.

* Anders approving of Hawke [[spoiler:selling Fenris back to his master]] seems hypocritical, as he seeks to free the mages from the Chantry yet is willing to condemn someone else to slavery just because they don't share his viewpoint/he doesn't like them. But it goes deeper than that; he is willing to get rid of anyone who stands in the way of his goal, and since [[spoiler:Fenris]] is a "mages should be locked up" person, that technically includes him. Anders is secretly happy because now one less person can stand against him. He might also view it as (pardon the pun), "poetic Justice", [[spoiler:as Fenris (a supporter of mage slavery) gets sold into slavery himself and becomes effectively Tranquil]].

* From the Mage Pack DLC "''Malcolm's Honour''", the staff that Hawke's father crafted actually begins to make sense when you consider why he'd risk constructing one in Lothering, despite the Templars milling around. It's described as "deceptively simple" in the codex. This fits as Malcolm ''knew'' that with the ornate engraving of Andraste adorning it. Should he or his children ever be caught with it, it'd be rather easy to pretend that it was merely a fancy club. Also, note that any object representing the image of Andraste cannot be destroyed, not without great deliberation. Look at the Black Emporium's ''Andraste In Nude Repose-Invisible'' - they couldn't destroy it even if it was a very base depiction of Andraste; they simply decided to hide it. Same deal with the staff, even if Templars found out it belonged to a mage, the statue of Andraste adorning its tip would make destroying it problematic!

** Similarly, why does armor feature a frayed and somewhat charred tailcoat? While it's clearly ancient, you could argue that it's because mage Hawke is often either dishing out or on the receiving end of a ''ton'' of fireballs!
* Why is Merrill able to stay sane, unlike all the other blood mages who seem to transform into abominations at the slightest provocation? Because she treats blood magic as a dangerous but rewarding, so she presumably uses it in a calm state of mind after taking every possible precaution. For others, blood magic is a last resort after they become scared and furious and have nothing left to lose. Merrill's approach may have saved her life. It's also worth noting that she learned it from a demon already held captive on Sundermount without releasing it herself, whereas many other mages have to deal with a demon in the Fade on the demons' terms.

* The reason Varric is so universally awesome is because he is essentially the {{Deuteragonist}} masquerading as a regular party member (downplaying his role is easy for him to do, being TheNarrator and all). But even in his own narration, Varric is almost as important to the plot as Hawke: it is his (and Bartrand's) expedition that brings the lyrium idol to the surface, he introduces Hawke to Anders, he keeps the whole Hawke Enterprise going [[TheSpymaster from the shadows]], and in the end is the only companion [[spoiler:who is guaranteed to remain at Hawke's side. He cannot die (unlike Hawke's surviving sibling), is not [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers mutually exclusive with another companion]] (unlike Anders and Sebastian), and will never betray Hawke (unlike Isabela with the relic, and Anders and/or Aveline, Fenris, and Merrill in the final mission depending on friendship/rivalry and what side Hawke chooses.]] Another really subtle clue is that only Hawke (with Bethany/Carver) and Varric ever get a TallTale segment in the narration.

* Say what you will about Elthina, but she is not an idiot; assuming that Hawke is a mage, she will spot in from their first conversation. Yet after talking to them, she will realize that despite being an apostate throughout all their life, Hawke has shown that they are responsible enough to handle the dangers of magic. She has pretty much given them a reprieve from the Templars. No wonder Meredith feels pissed off whenever she's around Hawke; her boss has pretty much told her that Hawke is off-limits. This may also explain why Bethany was caught if Hawke is not a mage and didn't bring her to the Deep Roads: Elthina knew that she wanted to experience life in the Circle, and gave her the opportunity to do so in a disguise as the Templars doing a sting.

** So where does the Fridge Brilliance come in? UnreliableNarrator once again! Varric tells Cassandra that he honestly never understood Hawke and Sebastian's romance. He could understand Hawke romancing any of the four main story love interests due to the journeys they experienced, but with Sebastian (who Varric is not overly fond of), he couldn't figure out how there was an attraction. Therefore, he glossed over a lot of the details because ''he found it incredibly boring.''

* There's one in ''Legacy'', that's also a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}. When meeting with Gerav, Varric introduces Hawke as "the one whose blood you want to drink, or bathe in, or whatever." If Hawke is in a romance he then adds, "I have to warn you, though, s/he's no virgin." If Hawke is not in a romance (or is romancing Sebastian), he instead says, "I have to warn you, though, you catch diseases that way." The fridge bit comes in when you remember that Varric ''reads Hawke's diary'' on a regular basis.

* Why is the "Champion" specialization not available in the game? Because Hawke always becomes a Champion! As the story goes on, Hawke naturally gains the skill to lead others, while the stories of his/her deeds inspire confidence in anyone they meet. Regardless of what class Hawke is.

* Although they [[HideYourChildren might not be shown in the game]] (save for the occasional adolescent), little children as early as ''six'' are taken to the Circle, as soon as their talent is found. This makes the Right of Annulment even more horrifying.

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* While it's common in {{Role Playing Game}}s for the protagonist to go from novice to master, ''Dragon Age II'' actually takes place over a decade, explaining how Hawke went from a poor refugee possessing decent fighting skill to a master.

*** This could also indicate the difference in relationship between the companions and the protagonist. The Warden and later the Inquisitor are essentially the bosses of their group. But here, the companions are friends or associates of Hawke's. You might tell the people following you what they need to wear, but you don't dictate the wardrobes of your companions/associates.
*** Any decent author or piece of writing advice will tell you that it's best not to describe what the characters wearing from one day to the next, ''unless'' it's important to the plot. And fortunately, there are characters who fall under this. Aveline and her rise in the guard, Carver and Bethany's uniforms depending on where they end up by Act II, Hawke's love interest, Hawke and Tallis in ''Mark of the Assassin'', and Anders in Act III. Everyone else, from the characters Hawke doesn't romance, to characters like Gamlen, Bodahn and Sandel stay the same throughout seven years because any wardrobe change or change in hairstyle they might have had is not important to the story.

* The reason Varric is so universally awesome is because he is essentially Hawke's {{Deuteragonist}} masquerading as a regular party member (downplaying his role is easy for him to do, being TheNarrator and all). But even in his own narration, Varric is almost as important to the plot as Hawke: it is his (and Bartrand's) expedition that brings the lyrium idol to the surface, he who introduces Hawke to Anders, he keeps the whole Hawke Enterprise going [[TheSpymaster from the shadows]], and in the end is the only companion [[spoiler:who is guaranteed to remain at Hawke's side. He cannot die (unlike Hawke's surviving sibling), is not [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers mutually exclusive with another companion]] (unlike Anders and Sebastian), and will never betray Hawke (unlike Isabela with the relic, and Anders and/or Aveline, Fenris, and Merrill in the final mission depending on friendship/rivalry and what side Hawke chooses.]] Another really subtle clue is that only Hawke (with Bethany/Carver) and Varric ever get a TallTale segment in the narration.

* The reason Varric is so universally awesome is because he is essentially Hawke's {{Deuteragonist}} masquerading as a regular party member (downplaying his role is easy for him to do, being TheNarrator and all). But even in his own narration, Varric is almost as important to the plot as Hawke: it is his (and Bartrand's) expedition that brings the lyrium idol to the surface, he who introduces Hawke to Anders, he keeps the whole Hawke Enterprise going [[TheSpymaster from the shadows]], and in the end is the only companion [[spoiler:who is guaranteed to remain at Hawke's side; He cannot die (unlike Hawke's surviving sibling]], is not [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers mutually exclusive with another companion]] (unlike Anders and Sebastian), and will never betray Hawke (unlike Isabela with the relic, or Anders and/or Aveline, Fenris, and Merrill in the final mission depending on friendship/rivalry and what side Hawke chooses]]. Another really subtle clue is that only Hawke (with Bethany/Carver) and Varric ever get a TallTale segment in the narration.

* The reason Varric is so universally awesome is because he is essentially Hawke's {{Deuteragonist}} masquerading as a regular party member (downplaying his role is easy for him to do, being TheNarrator and all). But even in his own narration, Varric is almost as important to the plot as Hawke: it is his (and Bartrand's) expedition that brings the lyrium idol to the surface, he who introduces Hawke to Anders, he keeps the whole Hawke Enterprise going [[TheSpymaster from the shadows]], and in the end is the only companion [[spoiler:who is guaranteed to remain at Hawke's side; He cannot die (unlike Hawke's surviving sibling]], is not [[MutallyExculsivePartyMembers mutually exculsive with another companion (unlike Anders and Sebastian), and will under no circumstances betray Hawke (unlike Isabela with the relic, or Anders and/or Aveline, Fenris, Merrill in the final mission depending on friendship/rivalry and what side Hawke chooses]]. Another really subtle clue is that only Hawke (with Bethany/Carver) and Varric ever get a TallTale segment in the narration.

* The reason Varric is so universally awesome is because he is essentially Hawke's {{Deuteragonist}} masquerading as a regular party member (downplaying his role is easy for him to do, being TheNarrator and all). But even in his own narration, Varric is almost as important to the plot as Hawke: it is his (and Bartrand's) expedition that brings the lyrium idol to the surface, it is he who introduces Hawke to Anders, he keeps the whole Hawke Enterprise going [[TheSpymaster from the shadows]], and in the end he is the only companion [[spoiler:who is guaranteed to remain at Hawke's side. He will under no circumstances betray Hawke (unlike Isabela), and will stick with Hawke regardless of friendship/rivalry and what side Hawke picks in the endgame (unlike every other companion)]]. Another really subtle clue is that only Hawke (with Bethany/Carver) and Varric ever get a TallTale segment in the narration.

* Some players have found it odd that Hawke does not learn Anders or Isabela's real names if they are romanced. Like many things on this page, this is probably a result of Varric narrating. Hawke likely does learn their lover's real name, as well as their reasons for not using them, but respects their privacy too much to share any of those details with Varric.

** The repetitive nature of some dungeons is initially annoying, but they are essentially Varric saying "We went to a cave/warehouse/hovel and kicked some ass" and leaving it at that. He doesn't bother explaining what it looks like, leaving Cassandra to fill in a generic location. A generic, reused dungeon interior is now a part of the story that reinforces the narrative being told by Varric!

*** Any decent author or piece of writing advice will tell you that it's best not to describe what the characters wearing from one day to the next, ''unless'' it's important to the plot. And fortunately, there are characters who fall under this. Avaline and her rise in the guard, Carver and Bethany's uniforms depending on where they end up by Act II, Hawke's love interest, Hawke and Tallis in ''Mark of the Assassin'', and Anders in Act III. Everyone else, from the characters Hawke dosn't romance, to characters like Gamlen, Bodahn and Sandel stay the same throughout seven years because any wardrobe change or change in hairstyle they might have had is not important to the story.

* It's strongly implied that [[spoiler:Corypheus]] can brainwash and control Wardens because of their taint. [[spoiler:Corypheus!Possessed!Janeka/Larius]] was going to report to the Warden-Commander. Which Warden-Commander they are talking about? The First Warden? The Hero of Ferelden? Now imagine [[spoiler:Corypheus]] gaining control of such prominent figure within the Order, then slowly brainwashing other Wardens to do his bidding. Now imagine what effects could be if he possessed, say, the King or Queen of Ferelden? The good news is that the First Warden is (according to the game's wiki) mostly a figurehead these days who spends most of their time caught up in political games in the Anderfels. The bad news is there doesn't seem to be a limit or requirement for [[spoiler:Corypheus's BodySurf ability]] beyond eye contact, so he could easily find someone more useful. [[spoiler:Luckily, the third game seems to make this point moot.]]

** By Act 2, [[spoiler:both of them have an external influence causing their mental state to deteriorate. Anders and Justice's estrangement becomes much more severe, while Meredith is succumbing to the Lyrium Idol. However, the inevitable war with the Qunari keeps both of them distracted and sane.]]

** Hawke must: Be female (Sebastian is the only heterosexual romance option), not flirt with anyone else ''even once'', have a full friendship/rivalry with him to even ''begin'' the relationship (''and'' has less time to do it, as Sebastian is not available as a companion until Act 2), complete all of his quests, and [[spoiler:kill Anders after he blows up the Chantry]]. Not only that, but the payoff is somewhat questionable. As a friend, he and Hawke will enter a "chaste marriage in the eyes of the Maker," with her taking vows as a Chantry sister. As a rival, there's an implied engagement once he retakes Starkhaven as he "will offer you nothing less than a prince." But in either case, there's not much else.
** Also, he and Hawke cannot be physically intimate, meaning the romance does not unlock the romance achievement.

* There's one for Sandal, although you don't realise it until ''Inquisition.'' Among his seemingly random bits of chatter, he says: "One day the magic will come back - all of it. Everyone will be just like they were. The shadows will part and the skies will open wide. When he rises, everyone will see." When you play ''Inquisition,'' and the skies have ''literally'' opened, you start to get a feel for what he meant. He was seemingly talking about [[spoiler:Corypheus]], the BigBad of ''Inquisition''. [[spoiler:However, he was actually talking ''the Dread Wolf Fen'Harel''. In the ''Trespasser'' DLC, Solas (Fen'Harel) states his plan to essentially unmake the world as everyone knows it, in order to restore Elvhenan. The lost magic of the elves will come back, and all of "the people" will be as they were centuries earlier, before Fen'Harel created the Veil.]]

** Also, Sebastian's romance does not unlock the romance achievement, since he and Hawke cannot be physically intimate.

* Anders approving of Hawke [[spoiler:selling Fenris back to his master]] seems hypocritical, as he seeks to free the mages from the Chantry yet is willing to condemn someone else to slavery just because they don't share his viewpoint/he doesn't like them. But it goes deeper than that; he is willing to get rid of anyone who stands in the way of his goal, and since [[spoiler:Fenris]] is a "mages should be locked up" person, that technically includes him. Anders is secretly happy because now one less person can stand against him. He might also view it as if (pardon the pun), "poetic Justice", [[spoiler:as Fenris (a supporter of mage slavery) gets sold into slavery himself and becomes effectively Tranquil]].

* A meta example: you cannot unlock the romance achievement in this game by romancing Sebastian. This is partly because he's a DLC companion, but also because (per ''Dragon Age'' tradition to this point) a romance only becomes official once the partners involved have spent the night together. Sebastian is the only romance option with whom Hawke cannot be physically intimate.

** Hawke must: Be female (Sebastian is the only non-bisexual romance option), not flirt with anyone else ''even once'', have a full friendship/rivalry with him to even ''begin'' the relationship (''and'' has less time to do it, as Sebastian is not available as a companion until Act 2), complete all of his quests, and [[spoiler:kill Anders after he blows up the Chantry]]. Not only that, but the payoff is somewhat questionable. As a friend, he and Hawke will enter a "chaste marriage in the eyes of the Maker," with her taking vows as a Chantry sister. As a rival, there's an implied engagement once he retakes Starkhaven as he "will offer you nothing less than a prince." But in either case, there's not much else.

* Pol running away from Merrill like she was a monster was actually completely in-character. He is an escaped city elf, and apparently holds onto his Andrastian beliefs. Blood magic is therefore a huge deal for him and it makes sense that it would terrify him more than the other Dalish.

* Varric knows a lot about the details of Hawke's personal and love life, as Hawke keeps a diary to which Varric keeps adding "embellishments". This would allow him to read the rest, even if it is just "Tried to give Fenris the ''Book of Shartan'' today. Turns out he can't read. Figures. Will have to remedy." That's enough to extrapolate the exact phrasing and details based on what he knows of them from his own experience. His friendship/rivalry reflects this: Either he's an "authorized biographer" and Hawke actually voluntarily lets him in on those details, or he's an "unauthorized biographer" who will "tell your story someday whether you like it or not" and snoops into Hawke's journal just to annoy them.

* In Act 3, visiting Anders will trigger a cutscene where he's offering his favorite pillow to Varric because of an offhanded remark that he's had his eyes on it. It doesn't seem that important, [[spoiler:but from a psychological viewpoint, the fact that Anders is suddenly giving away his treasured personal items is a strong warning signal that he is suicidal and is, in layman's terms, 'splitting his inheritance'. Anders is confident that Hawke will kill him after he destroys the Chantry, and is preparing to make himself a martyr.]] Varric catches on and refuses it, telling Anders to keep it and dream about killing Templars while sleeping on it.

* Some disturbing implications for who played as a Human Mage in ''Origins''. Since all of Warden Amell's siblings are mages, and the family was originally from Kirkwall, the obvious Circles to send them to would be the ones in the Free Marches. This means that for some players, their Warden might have had a sibling, two if one was sent to the Starkhaven Circle, in the Gallows when it was annulled.

* There is a major Fridge Brilliance moment regarding Anders's final personal quest. [[spoiler:When he asks you to collect the ingredients he needs for his potion, investigate further about them.]] If you pay attention to what he says when he describes what the ingredients are like and where he can find them, ''and'' you have some passing knowledge of chemistry as well as geology, you may realize what ''exactly'' he had you collect when you see him [[spoiler: destroy the Kirkwall Chantry with a massive magical explosion]]. The ingredients are potassium nitrate and sulfur; both chemicals are basic components used to make [[spoiler: explosives, like black powder. BOOM.]] It helps that the Tevinter name for one of the ingredients is [[spoiler:"sela petrae", almost identical to the Latin ''sal petrae'', or Saltpetre, the common word for potassium nitrate.]]

* The second time you see Flemeth, she tells Hawke that "It's only when we fall that we learn if we can fly," and that they "could never be a dragon" like her. Because Hawke is a hawk! They do start to fall as they lose what is left of their family and faces the devastating Qun and civil war, but in the end they win... or at least live and run away with their love interest.

** The repetitive nature of some of the dungeons is initially annoying, but they are essentially Varric saying "We went to a cave/warehouse/hovel and kicked some ass" and leaving it at that. He doesn't bother explaining what it looks like, leaving Cassandra to fill in a generic location. A generic, reused dungeon interior is now a part of the story that reinforces the narrative being told by Varric!

* The lack of armor among the Qunari makes a lot more sense when one realizes they're survivors from a shipwreck, and thus would have had to discard most of their armor while swimming ashore. It's unlikely that too many people in Kirkwall would be willing to sell the armor to replace what was lost. Even if they ''were'' vendors in Kirkwall may have the right sizes for all races, but they are unlikely to have much in the way of a customer base. As a result, anything they ''could'' sell wouldn't fit the giants.
** Qunari don't do anything that falls outside their profession. Because they're all warriors, there is no one among them who can negotiate or buy materials from the merchants, nor would any of them know how to construct armor for themselves.

* During the quest "Night Terrors," at least one of your companions is bound to turn against Hawke at the behest of a demon. Which demon lures them and the bait for which they fall is indicative of each companion's deepest flaw:

** Fenris sides with the pride demon, because his pride was so injured by his enslavement and his heart leaps at the chance to face his former captors as an equal.

** Merrill also sides with the pride demon, showing just how much she is unwilling to admit she is wrong about her use of blood magic.
** Varric can be lured by the pride demon, thanks to his betrayal at Bartrand's hands and his overwhelming need to prove that he's the better of the two brothers.
** The only companion who can't be tempted by a demon is Sebastian - and that's only because he refuses to accompany Hawke to the Fade in the first place. If you have him in your party when you agree to the plan, he gains rivalry points!
* Regarding the quest "Prime Suspect"/"All That Remains", and the major spoilers inside: [[spoiler: There are a few tip-offs to Gascard's involvement with the serial killer: When confronting him, he will claim that Quentin uses young, beautiful women of low social status. Normal stuff for a serial killer, right? Well no, because the woman he claims is going to be the next victim is none of these things; she is an older noblewoman and not particularly good-looking. Another known victim, Ninette, was also an older noblewoman, while the lost mage Mharen was an elderly scholar. And of course Leandra, his final victim, is an older noblewoman as well.]] Furthermore, the flowers the serial killer sends his victims are white lilies, [[{{Foreshadowing}} which are traditionally associated with funerals.]]
* Leliana shows up alive again in ''Dragon Age II'' even if she was killed by the Warden in ''Origins''. Now, that could be a bug... or it could be that when the Warden defeated her they made the mistake of leaving her for dead less than twenty feet away from that world's equivalent of the Holy Grail, the one that can heal anything. Admittedly, the part where he'd have just ''tainted'' it would be an obstacle but hey, Andraste moves in mysterious ways! Or, you'd just poured out a pinch of untainted ashes for yourself before tainting them and perhaps you spilled some on the floor. Leliana herself says she's not entirely sure how she was brought back to life.
** The mystery of Leliana's return is finally solved in the epilogue of ''Trespasser''. [[spoiler: She was saved from dying by a spirit, thus becoming a lyrium ghost. An interesting addition to the plot of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', which already had a lot of focus on possession and abominations. Funnily enough - of all people to realize that the Temple of the Sacred Ashes was ''full'' of lyrium, it was Oghren to remark upon that.]]

* As discussed above, there's a problem with certain previous companions (Leliana, Zevran) who can be killed in ''Origins'' and yet can still return in this game. But they're both rogues, and in ''Origins'' rogues have access to a 'Feign Death' ability on their talent trees.
* During Zevran's cameo mission, after you've killed the bad guy at the end he stops to let Hawke loot everything in the camp (even [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]] the fact). Since none of the other [=NPCs=] bother to let you pick up your loot before starting the ending cutscenes, it seems odd that Zevran would. But after his adventures with the Warden, he's used to it.
* As mentioned on the character pages there's some debate over whether Fenris or Merrill's sexuality changes depending on Hawke's gender, as neither will express interest in people of their gender if a Hawke of opposite gender romances them. Isabela is of course canonically bisexual, and WordOfGod states that Anders is as well; Karl was once his lover, as he will reveal in a romance with male Hawke. Merrill, however, will express interest in men even if romanced by a female Hawke, confirming that she's bi. There's actually a pretty good reason why she might not publicly express interest in women; with a declining population, elves are something of a dying people. Producing children is a big deal for elves, especially the Dalish. So while there's no explicit prejudice against homosexuality by elves in-game, it certainly makes sense for them to have cultural hangups about it. Merrill might feel self-conscious over these feelings, but her love for Hawke would override her hangups.
* One of the complaints thrown around is that the player is railroaded in the end as you can only choose between mages and Templars, but it's on purpose. As each Act goes on the level-headed people who want to prevent an open conflict (or even find a better solution) are killed in various ways, until finally there is no choice but to have a war. If you play Hawke as favoring one side from the beginning it's not that big of a deal, but if you are trying to avoid the inevitable fate the feelings of the player will match the feelings Hawke has as they are unable to avert a very bloody conflict. The fact that there only two choices in the end drives home the game's position as a Deconstruction of fantasy. You are ''not'' an almighty God-hero of legend. In the FrameStory, Varric repeatedly surprises Cassandra by telling her the truth of the "Champion of Kirkwall" - their involvement in pretty much all of Acts 1 and 2 are circumstantial, and Hawke was only pivotal because they happened to be in the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time. Cassandra spots this and calls Varric out when his story becomes too unbelievable. Act 3's contribution to this DeconstructorFleet? ''You don't get a third option.'' There are other people in this world, some who have more power than others. The world isn't shaped by your decisions alone, but a combination of yours and those of others.
* Pol running away from Merrill like she was a monster was actually completely in-character. He is an escaped city elf and apparently holds onto his Andrastian beliefs. Blood magic is therefore a huge deal for him and it makes sense that it would terrify him more than the other Dalish.
* Right before Anders [[spoiler: blows up the Chantry]], he has a good long rant at Meredith and Orsino. He winds up going full Justice/Vengeance mode at them complete with the glowing lines and booming, echoing voice, signs that both Meredith and Orsino should recognize as making him an abomination and something they both should attack on sight. It's a sign of how far gone everyone involved is that this goes completely over their heads.

* A lot of fans were really annoyed with Anders's sudden characterization shift here after ''Awakening''. But after Justice's possession, he's of course ''not'' going to be the same. The point has been hammered home already that being an abomination means losing yourself to the demon possessing you, which Anders became the moment he accidentally corrupted Justice. In a way, it's actually a testament to how good both Anders and Justice were beforehand that it took them so long to [[spoiler: do what all abominations inevitably do, and start slaughtering innocent people.]]
* The moving statues during the last boss fight seem odd at first, with their joints fully capable of such full range movement. But remember, this was a Tevinter prison; the magisters probably had a spell (combined with red lyrium), to animate the statues themselves.
* Anders' little rant on Karl and the fact that it only happens if a male Hawke flirts with him has raised many eyebrows, especially with his [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday skirt-chasing antics]] in ''Awakening''. But it makes sense when you realize that Thedas isn't that much better than our world when it comes to sexual politics. The rant is full of frustration at the system but when it comes down to it Anders settles for an awkward "like you" instead of stating that they had the same gender, and finishes off by seeking acceptance from Hawke. The only reason that he tells Hawke is because he thinks that he has found someone who can understand him without being too ashamed to talk about his relationship.

* There are ''a lot'' of Blood Mages in Kirkwall, despite the common "not all mages are Blood Mages" argument. [[spoiler: But according to Leliana, mages from the Tevinter Emperium (a.k.a. Blood Mage Central) were sent to increase tension between the mages and Templars.]]
* In Act 3, visiting Anders will trigger a cutscene where he's offering his favorite pillow to Varric because of an offhanded remark that he's had his eyes on it. It doesn't seem that important, [[spoiler: but from a psychological viewpoint, the fact that Anders is suddenly giving away his treasured personal items is a strong warning signal that he is suicidal and is, in layman's terms, 'splitting his inheritance'. Either Anders is confident that he will be killed after destroying the Chantry, or he isn't planning to survive and is aiming to make himself a martyr.]] Varric catches on and refuses it, telling Anders to keep it and dream about killing Templars while sleeping on it.
* Anders approving of Hawke [[spoiler: selling Fenris back to his master]] seems hypocritical, as he seeks to free the mages from the Chantry yet is willing to condemn someone else to slavery just because they don't share his viewpoint/he doesn't like them. But it goes deeper than that; he is willing to get rid of anyone who stands in the way of his goal, and since [[spoiler:Fenris]] is a "mages should be locked up" person that technically includes him. Anders is secretly happy because now one less person can stand against him. He might also view it as if (pardon the pun) "poetic Justice", [[spoiler:as Fenris (a supporter of mage slavery) gets sold into slavery himself and becomes effectively Tranquil]].
* Marethari sought to stop Merrill using blood magic, but in the end ''her'' pride was actually the bigger danger to her clan. [[spoiler:Not only for taking the demon on, but also: keeping the clan there for so long (in Act 2 Merrill states that they should have moved on "years ago"), not stopping the out-of-control rumors of Merrill (which led to Pol running from her straight into the lair of the varterral), and for not telling the clan that she was dying. All because she had to prove a point to Merrill about the dangers of blood magic. She says that Merrill always knew the consequences, but chose to pay the price for her. Merrill even took precautions by bringing Hawke with her and was willing to pay the price if it meant helping her people. By leaving the rest of the clan out to dry, Marethari created the very situation she was trying to avoid and the clan was wiped out unless Hawke took the blame.]]

* The Circle of Magi has always seemed to be poorly designed. It preaches that mages are dangerous and should be monitored for everybody's sake. Reasonable enough, but it also offers no incentive for mage loyalty beyond survival, stifles most research into understanding magical phenomena aside from the most basic works, applies blanket punishments for the mages, and offers next to no public education about the functions of magic. All while alienating the mages from the non-mages, the only non-mages close by being deeply indoctrinated that magic is itself evil and that mages aren't to considered other people. Then when Fenris joins and gives his utterly unbending hatred of all magic, it all makes sense. The Chantry was founded by former slaves of the [[EvilEmpire Tevinter Imperium]], so of course the methods they came up with to control future mages would be poorly designed. It was thought up by bitter ex-slaves and barbarians driven by fear and hatred. It's just that over the centuries, this fear-driven method has remained unquestioned dogma. The actual dangers themselves overshadow the design of a different method.
* When there was the talk about the lack of a Human Commoner Origin story, many were disappointed. But looking at Bethany and Carver's (potential) induction into the Grey Wardens, that would have been what happened if it was a human commoner - a man or woman driven by the darkspawn seeking to regain everything suddenly by going into the Deep Roads, only to contract the taint and be found by the Wardens. It's similar to how every origin story happens in the same time. If it wasn't for the Warden's intervention, you would have died from the taint or been reduced to a ghoul.

* Most of the staff weapons seem to be designed to serve a double-function as both staves and polearms. Almost all of them have blades and many have cross-braces as well. When one thinks about it outside of game mechanics though, it makes perfect sense that mages would use polearms. They're an ideal weapon for keeping melee-capable opponents away thanks to their long reach, which is essential when one is a SquishyWizard. Use a few sweeps or thrusts with the blade/speartip to ward the attacker off and open up some distance before hammering them with a spell. This doesn't come up in gameplay because of the nature of the combat system, but realistically they'd be the best melee weapon a mage could hope for. It also helps that their disguise as a polearm would draw less suspicion than a staff.

* Meredith's behavior. Like every Templar she's been addicted to a FantasticDrug: Lyrium. Its side effects include delusions, paranoia, dementia, obsessive behavior, and hallucinations. She didn't even need [[spoiler: the Lyrium idol]]!

* The dilemma the Arishok faces is emblematic of a flaw within Qunari society as a whole. Qunari society is explained as working like a body, with each part of the body working in harmony. However when one part of the body is separate from the others, it doesn't work very well. The Arishok's separation from the rest of the Qunari social structure puts him in a situation that (thanks to the rigidity of his society and beliefs) forces him to act in limited ways based solely on his role within the Qun as a warrior. If the Arishok had landed with other representatives from his society with different role ''the entire war could have been avoided'' (or at least resolved with less bloodshed) but circumstances forced Qunari warriors into one of the worst possible positions they could have been in, and they couldn't adapt. The flaw therefore is that the Qunari society only works properly when it is unified, and a section of that society cut off from the others will lead to disaster. Considering the game's emphasis on the flaws of the societies, organizations, and other social structures populating Thedas, this was likely quite deliberate.

* Cassandra knew to connect the Orlesian sanctions against Kirkwall to Chateau Haine because she had an inside source, albeit one who "didn't have [Varric's] access." If they didn't, then it needed to be either an undercover servant (unlikely, as Chateau Haine was merely a well-built fortress that served as keep and mansion for a spoiled Orlesian lord, as well as the fact that the servants could easily con the guard out of the key thus granting them full access) or one of the guests at the party (which means that Cassandra knows anything about the heist by sheer dumb luck). So which of the guests would Cassandra know, as the Seeker for the Chantry? Most of the guests are a) Orlesian, which might justify her knowing them by name if not by face, and b) not connected to the Chantry higher-ups in any way. There are also a few cameos from ''Origins'' sprinkled through that section, including Teagan and Leliana. Leliana recognizes Tallis, to which Tallis hides "OhCrap" behind polite conversation. As evidenced by the endgame, [[spoiler: Leliana is an associate of Cassandra and is assisting in the investigation of the Champion's whereabouts. Then, ''Inquisition'' reveals that they are actually of equivalent rank in the Chantry and work closely together. Connect the dots, and suddenly it's a lot less contrived that Cassandra knows just enough about Chateau Haine to get Varric rolling.]]
* The reason for no option of becoming an [[MagicKnight Arcane Warrior]] actually makes a lot of sense: it was a specialisation was taught to the Warden by a spirit trapped inside of a gem; it was literally the ''last'' keeper of a long-forgotten Elven school of magic which it passed onto the Warden before its death. No mages in Kirkwall would know of this form of magic, and with the heavy Templar presence they would not be in a position to gain access anyway. Even after a Mage Hawke becomes so well known that they ''could'' have gotten access to any possible instructions most mages are implied to have distinctive fighting styles related to their specific skills and comfort level, so Hawke would likely not have seen the need to learn it.
* Why did Anders trust Justice enough to be possessed by him in the first place, and why does he seem to think back on their friendship so fondly when they actually argued a fair bit? Because looking back at the party dialogue in ''Awakening'', Justice is the only one of the group (other than potentially the Warden) who seems to sympathize with Anders' bad treatment at the hands of the Templars and treats his opinions on the matter with some respect. He grows to trust Justice for the same reason that he may have trusted the Warden and grows to trust a pro-mage Hawke - they seem to be the only people willing to hear him out.

** Another factor is that Anders and Merrill are generally the cuddlier romance option of their gender and would take more joy in living in the same house as the person they loved. Fenris is the kind of man who hates feeling controlled, and would definitely hate having to rely on Hawke. He may stay in his mansion purely because it feels like something that belongs to him, even if technically he doesn't own it. Isabela also isn't someone willing to be tied down easily. She is a pirate and a drifter who would feel domesticated by living in the same home as her lover.
* Even if the Dalish origin was not chosen in ''Origins'' the Eluvian is smashed before the clan moves on, resulting in Merrill retrieving a shard of the mirror. For the next seven years up until the death of the Keeper, Merrill has a pretty crappy life. She suffered seven years of bad luck from breaking the mirror!
* From the Mage Pack DLC "''Malcolm's Honour''", the staff that Hawke's father crafted actually begins to make sense when you consider why he'd risk constructing one in Lothering with all of the Templars milling around. It's described as "deceptively simple" in the codex. This fits as Malcolm ''knew'' that with the ornate engraving of Andraste adorning it, should he or his children ever be caught with it it'd be rather easy to pretend that it was merely a fancy club. Also note that any object representing the image of Andraste cannot be destroyed, not without great deliberation. Look at the Black Emporium's ''Andraste In Nude Repose-Invisible'' - they couldn't destroy it even if it was a very base depiction of Andraste; they simply decided to hide it. Same deal with the staff, even if Templars found out it belonged to a mage, the statue of Andraste adorning its tip would make destroying it problematic!

* Why is Merrill able to stay sane, unlike all the other blood mages who seem to transform into abominations at the slightest provocation? Because she treats blood magic as a dangerous but rewarding, so she presumably uses it in a calm state of mind after taking every possible precaution. For others blood magic is a last resort after they become scared and furious, with no protections whatsoever. Merrill's approach may have saved her life. It's also worth noting that she learned it from a demon already held captive on Sundermount without releasing it herself, whereas many other mages have to deal with a demon in the Fade on the demons' terms.
* If you walk to the end of the Sundermount path in Act 1, you'll find a cave blocked by a magical force field. In Act 3 you find out that the cave contains the demon with whom Merrill was communicating, and the Keeper beat you there. But if you visit it in Act 2, the force field is already gone and replaced by an awkwardly positioned ox cart. This the period when the Keeper begins spreading nasty rumors about Merrill. [[spoiler:She broke the defenses on the demon's resting places even before Merrill went to ask her for the instrument she needed, and was probably under the demon's influence even back then!]]
* Anyone whose Warden became good friends with Anders in ''Awakening'' may have found themselves becoming frustrated at such a level-headed person becoming [[IdiotBall stupid enough to think being possessed was a good idea]]. But the reason that Fade spirits are so dangerous is partly because they are incredibly ''persuasive''. In addition, the Warden was Anders's [[LivingEmotionalCrutch main support system]] as per Creator/BioWare-protagonist tradition, and maybe his only close friend at Vigil's Keep; the epilogue slides of ''Awakening'' show that after a period of time, the Warden leaves Vigil's Keep to continue their adventure. This would cause Anders to feel lonely, and he knows that Justice has lost his host since Kristoff's body could no longer sustain him; two lonely friends could easily think this was a good solution. Couple that with the sadness of being forced to give up his beloved cat plus the fact that (as his interval short story indicates) he's still being bullied by Templars, and you've got one hell of a recipe for disaster.
** Solas in ''Inquisition'' also reveals that spirits reflect those around them. Someone seeing a benevolent spirit but expecting to see a malevolent demon will get the latter. Anders was conditioned by his time in the Circle to think that ''any'' mage allowing ''any'' spirit into their body could only ever result in an Abomination, so that's exactly what Anders/Justice became. If Anders had only had a chance to have a long talk with Wynne, maybe things would have turned out differently. His romance with Hawke reflects this; Hawke is supportive as a friend, but as a rival they consistently refer to Anders as an "abomination", making Justice more hostile. In a Rivalmance, Hawke believes that Justice is Vengeance and encourages Anders to think so too. And guess what? He was. A tragic case of SelfFulfillingProphecy.
* Why is the statue of the Champion in the Kirkwall Docks shown as a Knight, even if Hawke is a Mage? Because it's overlooking the Gallows, and the Templars are embarrassed to admit that Hawke is [[EnemyMine a member]] of the very people they are sworn to hunt. Every time Mage Hawke encounters Meredith, she only has ''one'' emotion: anger.
* How and where did Anders learn to make explosives, considering that gunpowder seems not to have been invented in Thedas's human society and the supposedly stolen Qunari formula turned out to be fake? Recall that Anders was at Vigil's Keep with Dworkin the Mad (the dwarf who loved to blow stuff up), and may have learned picked up a few tricks from him. He also likely met the merchant Armaas, who had left the Qun. Who's to say he didn't tell Anders how to make the powder?
* It's very easy to miss but if you take Bethany/Carver with you for the Deep Road expedition, when the party finds Sandal after the first encounter with darkspawn they stay a few steps behind (putting their hand on their forehead like they are suffering from a fever or a headache). That's ''very'' early during the expedition, and it's the first sign they have been tainted by the darkspawn. It counts as a stealthy SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome as well, as it means that they keep pulling their weight during the whole expedition and fighting numerous battles [[HeroicResolve despite succumbing to the taint]].
* One wonders why the Libertarian Fraternity in the Circle is populated exclusively by revolutionaries such as Uldred, Anders, or Adrian from ''Asunder'' or - more importantly - why a party which advocates mage emancipation is allowed to exist. The answer is simple; the fraternity is actually a sting by the Chantry. Having a political party whose goals run contrary to the Chantry doctrine allows the Knight-Commander to easily weed out potential troublemakers. Any savvy mage would join the Aequitarians (the party of ComesGreatResponsibility) or Loyalists and remain off the Chantry's radar. Those two fraternities are probably only popular in name, and only the real fanatics would hold mage freedom views and be ''open'' about them.
* The reason Varric is so universally awesome is because he is essentially Hawke's {{Deuteragonist}} masquerading as a regular party member (downplaying his role is easy for him to do, being TheNarrator and all). But even in his own narration, Varric is almost as important to the plot as Hawke: it is his (and Bartrand's) expedition that brings the lyrium idol to the surface, it is he who introduces Hawke to Anders, he keeps the whole Hawke Enterprise going [[TheSpymaster from the shadows]], and in the end he is the only companion [[spoiler:who is guaranteed to survive. He will under no circumstances betray Hawke (unlike Isabela), and will stick with Hawke regardless of friendship/rivalry and what side Hawke picks in the endgame (unlike every other companion)]]. Another really subtle clue is that only Hawke (with Bethany/Carver) and Varric ever get a TallTale segment in the narration.

** It is also essentially a SelfFulfillingProphecy, which fits right into a trend with various other prejudices playing out the same way. The actual dangers of mages and prevalence are often direct results of many people fearing them, and those fears drive people in power to lock them up, dehumanize them and mistreat them instead of properly teaching them. This makes them out to be the ticking bombs everyone says they are and then forces them into positions where they have no choice but to turn to immoral measures, out of pure desperation. The Arishok came to Kirkwall with absolutely no interest in conversion or conquest, until fanatics, pressure, and the knowledge that he can never return no matter what because of the relic drove him to launch a suicide attack on Kirkwall and turn him into what he was believed to be. There is a definite theme here with how outside forces whose prejudices and fears essentially forced them to prove their beliefs as to be correct, and then nobody remembers or considers how they were originally or knows the true story.
** It also speaks to Merrill's FatalFlaw of {{Pride}}. Merrill's spin on this flaw is somewhat unique. She is a kind and considerate person, but her decisions actually lack consideration for others. Merrill knows the risks and takes precautions (such as taking Hawke with her to kill her if she is possessed), but her pride comes across in how she considered that was enough and has not taken into account that it is not only her that will get affected by her actions. Other people, indirectly or not, will possibly get hurt.
* PartyBanter during Act 1 has Varric saying that Merrill has never seen a dwarf because all she and the other elves did was frolic in the woods. Merrill responds that they ''did'' frolic, just not in the woods because the trees might "get jealous". At first this seems like just another CloudCuckooLander remark (or maybe some [[DeadpanSnarker Deadpan Snarking]]), but when you think of the Sylvans in ''Origins'' this makes perfect sense. Sylvans are trees possessed by demons and spirits from the Fade who have gone mad from the lack of sight and voice, not to mention the difficulty of getting a tree to uproot and move. Just imagine you're such a spirit trapped in a tree, and you're confronted with a bunch of frolicking elves; wouldn't you be jealous? Add to this that there are especially many Sylvans in the Brecilian Forest (with the Veil being thin there), precisely the place where Merrill and her clan lived for many years. Frolicking in those woods would indeed be a bad idea.
* It may be AllThereInTheManual, but what ''World of Thedas'' has to say about Rivain explains Isabela's disinterest in mage-Templar debates. Besides her "I'm just that shallow" front, it really isn't a big deal in Rivain, which is pantheistic rather than Andrastian; the Circle's main purpose is to keep the Chantry happy. Rivaini mages stay in touch with their families, and female mages have the opportunity to train as seers who often end up as community leaders.
* At the beginning of Act 2, if you have the ''Exiled Prince'' DLC Hawke can speak to Sebastian in the Chantry to formally recruit him. You find him talking to the Grand Cleric about his distress regarding the deaths of Flint Company three years earlier. Elthina tells him that "death is never justice". Three years later, [[spoiler: she'll be murdered by someone who supposedly is seeking justice]].
* Ever wonder why in every fight Hawke and Company has tons of enemies that try to grind you down with sheer numbers? Varric is telling the story. For all we know, he could be exaggerating all of the fights in order to make Hawke sound more badass.

** As a Saarebas (meaning "dangerous thing"), he is donned in chains with his lips sewn shut (though he can still speak) and is kept under constant watch by an Arvaarad so the Saarebas doesn't corrupt others with his powers. Yet despite this treatment, Ketojan still remains an ardent follower of the Qun and would rather kill himself than be without it. Treatment of a mage under the Qun is far more oppressive than those in the Chantry, which leads one to wonder why Ketojan does not resent his treatment. However according to the Qun everything has a proper order and the individual is not truly individual but part of the whole, like a great organism. Regardless of your role in life, the Qun will treat you with respect since you are only doing what is in your nature. This even extends to the Saarebas; while the Qun pity the Saarebas they are also granted the greatest respect since they are selflessly striving under constant threat from within (demonic possession), which is the highest virtue of the Qun. It's shown from one of your interactions with Ketojan's handler that he still holds respect for the Saarebas even when killing him under the rules of the Qun for straying away from his sight. This also explains why the Qun has a lot of popularity in conquered areas, since the subjects are respected despite being unable to change their life station.

** Anders ''does not'' change his clothes in Act 2. [[EvilCostumeSwitch When he does]] after "Justice" in Act 3, you realize that Sebastian was right: his cause is more important to him than Hawke.[[note]]Sebastian also doesn't change his outfit but that's because his relationship with Hawke is chaste, so they don't even have a "first night together."[[/note]]
* Say what you will about Elthina, but she is not an idiot; assuming that Hawke is a mage, she will spot in from their first conversation. Yet after talking to them she will realize that despite being an apostate throughout all their life, Hawke has shown that they are responsible enough to handle the dangers of magic on their own. She has pretty much given them a reprieve from the Templars. No wonder Meredith feels pissed off whenever she's around Hawke; her boss pretty much tells her that Hawke is off-limits. This may also explain why Bethany was caught if Hawke is not a mage and didn't bring her to the Deep Roads - Elthina knew that she wanted to experience life in the Circle and gave her the opportunity to do so, in a disguise as the Templars doing a sting.
* Merrill points out to Anders that unlike him she knew what she was getting into with the Pride demon, realizing that "there's no such thing as a good Fade spirit." However Anders was a Spirit Healer in Awakening, and the description of a Spirit Healer's views is ''literally the exact opposite'' of what Merrill says. It's no wonder Anders felt he could do good alongside a spirit of Justice if the basics of his starting specialization said that not all Fade spirits are bad! That said the Spirit Healers ''do'' have to be more careful about possession due to the increased risk of interacting with a demon accidentally, but that covers preexisting demons (or at least Anders assumed it did). Spirits turning into demons is another matter.
* There's one for Sandal, although you don't realise it until ''Inquisition.'' Among his seemingly random bits of chatter, he says: "One day the magic will come back - all of it. Everyone will be just like they were. The shadows will part and the skies will open wide. When he rises, everyone will see." When you play ''Inquisition,'' and the skies have ''literally'' opened, you start to get a feel for what he meant. He was seemingly talking about [[spoiler:Corypheus]], the BigBad of ''Inquisition''. [[spoiler:However he was actually talking ''the Dread Wolf Fen'Harel''. In the ''Trespasser'' DLC, Solas (Fen'Harel) states his plan to essentially unmake the world as everyone knows it in order to restore Elvhenan! The lost magic of the elves will come back and all of "the people" will be as they were centuries earlier, before Fen'Harel created the Veil.]]
* A meta example: you cannot unlock the romance achievement in this game by romancing Sebastian. This is partly because he's a DLC companion but also because - per ''Dragon Age'' tradition to this point - a romance only becomes official once the partners involved have spent the night together, and Sebastian is the only romance option with whom Hawke cannot be physically intimate.

** Hawke must: Be female as Sebastian is not bisexual, not flirt with anyone else ''even once'', have a full friendship/rivalry with him to even ''begin'' the relationship (''and'' has less time to do it as Sebastian is not available as a companion until Act 2), complete all of his quests, and [[spoiler:kill Anders after he blows up the Chantry]]. Not only that, but the payoff is somewhat questionable. As a friend he and Hawke will enter a "chaste marriage in the eyes of the Maker," with her taking vows as a Chantry sister. As a rival, there's an implied engagement once he retakes Starkhaven as he "will offer you nothing less than a prince." But in either case, there's not much else.
** So where does the Fridge Brilliance come in? UnreliableNarrator once again! Varric tells Cassandra that he honestly never understood Hawke and Sebastian's romance. He could understand Hawke romancing any of the four main story love interests due to the journeys they experienced, but with Sebastian (who Varric is not overly fond of) he couldn't figure out how there was an attraction. Therefore, he glossed over a lot of the details because ''he found it incredibly boring.''
* While it's common in {{Role Playing Game}}s for the protagonist to go from novice to master ''Dragon Age II'' actually takes place over a decade, explaining how Hawke went from a poor refugee possessing decent fighting skill to a master.
* It's mentioned in Aveline's folder that she's the only one (besides any LoveInterest Hawke may have) to comfort Hawke after [[spoiler:Leandra's murder]]. This seems strange given that Varric is Hawke's best friend, but it makes sense for two reasons: It would be too predictable for Varric to comfort his best friend, and because Aveline has known Hawke [[spoiler:and Leandra]] longer than any of the other companions (to the point where she's practically part of the family). When they arrived in Kirkwall, Leandra even insisted that Aveline come and remain with the family as long as needed. It's quite likely that Aveline herself is grieving extensively.
* There's one in ''Legacy'' that's also a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}. When meeting with Gerav, Varric introduces Hawke as "the one whose blood you want to drink, or bathe in, or whatever." If Hawke is in a romance he then adds, "I have to warn you, though, s/he's no virgin." If Hawke is not in a romance (or is romancing Sebastian) he instead says, "I have to warn you, though, you catch diseases that way." The fridge bit comes in when you remember that Varric ''reads Hawke's diary'' on a regular basis.

* Although they [[HideYourChildren might not be shown in the game]] (save for the occasional adolescent), little children as early as ''six'' are taken to the Circle as soon as their talent is found. This makes the Right of Annulment even more horrifying.

* So, after the main story Merrill can never return to her clan, for whatever reason. That's bad enough, but if you don't romance her, she ends up entirely on her own with no clan and forced to leave her close friend/respected rival.
* In ''Origins'', if one plays a mage and reports Jowan to Irving, telling him that making sure that Lily's fate is not better than Jowan's is a rather vicious ploy makes him answer, "Do you think Chantry and Templar are models of magnanimity? ''They would make us all Tranquil if they could, and call it a kindness.''" Once you've played through ''Dragon Age II'', this sentence will [[{{Foreshadowing}} send chills down your spine]].
** And Kinloch Hold is described as one of the most liberally-run Circles; Cullen scorns its "trust and leniency." Anders, if present for this, is scornful in turn, because apparently locking a runaway in solitary confinement for a year is considered ''lenient.'' Hammered home by the UnreliableNarrator of the second volume of ''World of Thedas'', which features lamenting about how ungrateful Anders was that he got off so lightly and an unnamed interviewer asking Irving if he regrets not making him Tranquil instead. [[note]]For a case where they weren't "lenient," Wynne's personal quest featured the story of a fourteen-year-old boy who was accused of being a maleficar, run through, and left for dead.[[/note]]
* The way the games are going, it's almost like it's becoming a theme to potentially wipe out an entire Dalish clan in each game. [[note]]You kill Zathrian's clan in ''Origins'' if you side with the werewolves; Velanna's small clan in ''Awakening'' is wiped out before you ever meet her; Merrill's clan is killed in this game unless Hawke picks the correct dialogue option; and then in ''Inquisition,'' a Dalish Inquisitor's clan can be decimated if the wrong choices are made at the war table.[[/note]] One wonders how far the genocide might go before the Dalish are either wiped out completely or rise up.

* It's strongly implied that [[spoiler:Corypheus]] can brainwash and control Wardens because of their taint. [[spoiler: Corypheus!Possessed!Janeka/Larius]] was going to report to the Warden-Commander. Which Warden-Commander they are talking about? The First Warden? The Hero of Ferelden? Now imagine [[spoiler:Corypheus]] gaining control of such prominent figure within the Order, then slowly brainwashing other Wardens to do his bidding. Now imagine what effects could be if he possessed, say, the King or Queen of Ferelden? The good news is that the First Warden is (according to the game's wiki) mostly a figurehead these days who spends most of their time caught up in political games in the Anderfels. The bad news is there doesn't seem to be a limit or requirement for [[spoiler: Corypheus's BodySurf ability]] beyond eye contact, so he could easily find someone more useful. [[spoiler:Luckily, the third game seems to make this point moot.]]

* The ''entire game'' falls into the realm of Fridge Horror when you stop to think just ''how much'' torture and pain and insanity there is in Kirkwall, and how many of the quests deal with those same themes -- the Bone Pit, Quentin, the schizophrenic murderer Kelder, and many others. It gets even worse when you realize this probably all stems from [[spoiler: the attempts of the ancient Tevinter Imperium to summon the Forbidden Ones by turning the entire city into one huge, horrific blood ritual]]. In other words, Kirkwall has ''always'' been this bad, for over ''a thousand years''. A few of the codex entries found in the ''Legacy'' DLC support this.
* Sebastian's DLC adds some Fridge Horror to the whole thing when you realize that he only ever met Hawke because of his family being murdered. That's bad enough, if you think about it. But once he becomes a real companion starting in Act 2, he has a home base just like all the other companions; in his case, it's the Chantry. That's where he is when he's not with Hawke... meaning that if he and Hawke had never become friends, [[spoiler:the explosion would have killed him too. Joining Hawke's "merry band of misfits" inadvertently saves his life]]. He even points this out during the endgame, although his DLC status doesn't allow Hawke to acknowledge the point.
* The Chantry robes were redesigned for this game. Check out the gold embroidery on the front, it's so - oh, wait, that looks an awful lot like [[spoiler: a stylized explosion. Damn it, Anders.]]
* During the final battle, Hawke's LI or sibling can be stabbed by Meredith. This takes on a new level when we find out in ''Inquisition'' that [[spoiler: red lyrium, the stuff of which Meredith's broadsword is made, is Blight-infected - meaning it's possible they could be infected with the Taint. Anders would probably be okay since he is already infected from the Joining, but if the taint gets into Fenris's tattoos... (The same applies to ''anyone'' that came into contact with the sword, but it's especially worrying in the former case because of the prolonged contact and nature of the injury.)]]

* ''Those Who Sleep'' reveals that [[spoiler: Isabela's mother was a Viddathari (a convert to the Qun) who sold her to her abusive husband for refusing to convert.]] This puts a sobering new light on [[spoiler: Isabela's furious and horrified reaction if Hawke decides to let the Arishok take her at the end of Act 2.]]
* Some disturbing implications for players whose warden was an Amell. Since all of Warden Amell's siblings are mages and the family was originally from Kirkwall, the obvious Circles to send them to would be the ones in the Free Marches. This means that for some players their Warden might have had a sibling, two if one was sent to the Starkhave Circle, in the Gallows when it was annulled.

* Anders approving of Hawke [[spoiler: selling Fenris back to his master]] seems hypocritical, as he seeks to free the mages from the Chantry yet is willing to condemn someone else to slavery just because they don't share his viewpoint/he doesn't like them. But it goes deeper than that; he is willing to get rid of anyone who stands in the way of his goal, and since Fenris is a "mages should be locked up" person that technically includes him. Anders is secretly happy because now one less person can stand against him. He might also view it as if (pardon the pun) "poetic Justice", [[spoiler:as Fenris (a supporter of mage slavery) gets sold into slavery himself and becomes effectively Tranquil]].

** In the endgame, [[spoiler:both of them choose to kill innocents to achieve their goals. Anders destroys the Kirkwall Chantry to spark the mage revolution in order to free his people. Meredith orders the annulment of the Kirkwall Circle under false pretenses to guarantee the deaths of the hidden maleficarum. Both, as it turns out, had been planning these results for quite a while.]]

** Another factor is that Anders and Merrill are generally the cuddlier romance option of their gender and would take more joy in the same house as the person they loved. Fenris is the kind of man who hates feeling controlled and would definitely hate having to rely on Hawke. He may stay in his mansion purely because it feels like something that belongs to him, even if technically he doesn't own it. Isabela also isn't someone willing to be tied down easily. She is a pirate and a drifter who would feel domesticated by living in the same home as her lover.
* Even if the Dalish origin was not chosen in ''Origins'', the Eluvian is smashed before the clan moves on resulting in Merrill retrieving a shard of the mirror. For the next seven years up until the death of the Keeper, Merrill has a pretty crappy life. She suffered seven years of bad luck from breaking the mirror!

*** This could also indicate the difference in relationship between the companions and the protagonist. The Warden and later the Inquisitor are essentially the bosses of their group. But here, the companions are friends or associates of Hawke's. You might tell the people following you what they need to wear, but you don't your companions/associates.

** Unlike the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins first game]] where the love scenes play out in snippets, here Hawke and their love interest makeout before just the aftermath is shown. Of course because Varric is respecting Hawke and their lover's privacy by not going into detail on how they spent their night.

* Once you've beaten the game, Varric's statement at the beginning is tremendously ironic. Similarly, his narration is full of foreshadowing that becomes FridgeBrilliance on the second playthrough. At one point when talking about Hawke's companions, Cassandra mentions a blood mage (Merrill), a pirate (Isabela), and finally "that Warden Anders," to which Varric responds in a very bitter voice, "Don't remind me. I introduced them." [[spoiler:This is because Anders was the ''only'' companion that Varric introduced to Hawke. Marethari asks Hawke to look after Merrill and Hawke meets Isabela in a tavern by chance. Varric basically tells us that Anders does something to betray Hawke and the rest of the group, but he says it in such a way that it's very easy to miss first time around.]]

* Regarding the quest "Prime Suspect"/"All That Remains", and the major spoilers inside: [[spoiler: There are a few tips-offs to Gascard's involvement with the serial killer: When confronting him, he will claim that Quentin uses young, beautiful women of low social status. Normal stuff for a serial killer, right? Well no, because the woman he claims is going to be the next victim is none of these things; she is an older noblewoman and not particularly good-looking. Another known victim named Ninette was also an older noblewoman, while the lost mage Mharen was an elderly scholar. And of course Leandra, his final victim, is an older noblewoman as well.]] Furthermore, the flowers the serial killer sends his victims are white lilies, [[{{Foreshadowing}} which are traditionally associated with funerals.]]

* As mentioned on the character pages there's some debate over whether Fenris or Merrill's sexuality changes depending on Hawke's gender, as neither will express interest in people of their gender if a Hawke of opposite gender romances them. Isabela is of course canonically bisexual, and WordOfGod states that Anders is as well; Karl was once his lover, as he will reveal in a romance with male Hawke. Merrill however will express interest in men even if romanced by a female Hawke, confirming that she's bi. There's actually a pretty good reason why she might not publicly express interest in women; with a declining population, elves are something of a dying people. Producing children is a big deal for elves, especially the Dalish. So while there's no explicit prejudice against homosexuality by elves in-game, it certainly makes sense for them to have cultural hangups about it. Merrill might feel self-conscious over these feelings, but her love for Hawke would override them.

* A lot of fans were really annoyed with Anders' sudden characterization shift here after ''Awakening''. But after Justice's possession, he's of course ''not'' going to be the same. The point has been hammered home already that being an abomination means losing yourself to the demon possessing you, which Anders became the moment he accidentally corrupted Justice. In a way, it's actually a testament to how good both Anders and Justice were beforehand that it took them so long to [[spoiler: do what all abominations inevitably do, and start slaughtering innocent people.]]

** Then, events occur that make them truly devote to their causes. For Anders it is Karl illegally being made Tranquil and subsequent mercy killing, combined with the treatment of mages in the Circle. For Meredith, it was Tarohne's attempt to turn Templar recruits into demons.

** In the endgame [[spoiler:both of them choose to kill innocents to achieve their goals. Anders destroys the Kirkwall Chantry to spark the mage revolution in order to free his people. Meredith orders the annulment of the Kirkwall Circle under false pretenses to guarantee the deaths of the hidden maleficarum. Both, as it turns out, had been planning these results for quite a while.]]

* If you walk to the end of the Sundermount path in Act 1, you'll find a cave blocked by a magical force field. In Act 3 you find out that the cave contains the demon with whom Merrill was communicating, and the Keeper beat you there. But if you visit it in Act 2, the force field is already gone and replaced by an awkwardly positioned ox cart. This the period when the Keeper beings spreading nasty rumors about Merrill. [[spoiler:She broke the defenses on the demon's resting places even before Merrill went to ask her for the instrument she needed, and was probably under the demon's influence even back then!]]
* Anyone whose Warden became good friends with Anders in ''Awakening'' may have found themselves becoming frustrated at such a level-headed person becoming [[IdiotBall stupid enough to think being possessed was a good idea]]. But the reason that Fade spirits are so dangerous is partly because they are incredibly ''persuasive''. In addition, the Warden was Anders' [[LivingEmotionalCrutch main support system]] as per Creator/BioWare-protagonist tradition, and maybe his only close friend at Vigil's Keep; the epilogue slides of ''Awakening'' show that after a period of time, the Warden leaves Vigil's Keep to continue their adventure. This would cause Anders to feel lonely, and he knows that Justice has lost his host since Kristoff's body could no longer sustain him; two lonely friends could easily think this was a good solution. Couple that with the sadness of being forced to give up his beloved cat plus the fact that (as his interval short story indicates) he's still being bullied by Templars, and you've got one hell of a recipe for disaster.

%%* We know Varric likes to embellish, but Isabela flirts with Varric a fair bit. Now she's a flirt and does it with most of the other male characters. But when tells Varric to petition the Dwarven Assembly to be declared the Paragon of Manliness, because he truly is the paragon of all that is manly, suddenly all their flirtations become suspect.

* It may be AllThereInTheManual, but what ''World of Thedas'' has to say about Rivain explains Isabela's disinterest in mage-Templar debates. Besides her "I'm just shallow" front it really isn't a big deal in Rivain, which is pantheistic rather than Andrastian; the Circle's main purpose is to keep the Chantry happy. Rivaini mages stay in touch with their families, and female mages have the opportunity to train as seers who often end up as community leaders.