spoiler Qunari philosophy, lifestyle and religion

[brokenergy]

Well there haven't been any new threads in the spoiler section for a while and I know that most of us have been yearning to talk about something for a long time but didn't really cared much. But enough of that rubbish. Ever since Dragon Age came out there have been only one race that have fascinated me and that was the Qunari. Since then, Mary Kirby and David Gaider have expanded the concept of the Qunari and allowed us to dwell deep into this mysterious culture. So really the "question" if there was one is what do you feel about the Qunari in general? Keep in mind that there is more information now than there was twelve months ago.

 

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Qunari

[RustyBlade]

I am in agreement with Gaider's borg quote; probably safest if I leave it at that.

[Thandal]

I am in agreement with Gaider's borg quote; probably safest if I leave it at that.

So "our" Sten is... Seven-of-Nine? :laugh:

[danscott84]

WTH? The comparison to the Ottoman and Byzantine empires seems like a huge stretch. It's more of an jumble of several sources. (can't really use the Borg since I am not a huge Star Trek fan past the original characters) I can see parts of Samarai (honor and duty), communism (everyone has a place in society, and only that place which their talents serve best for the whole) and a little Chronicles of Riddick Necromongers. It appears to be put nicely together, but stems from a lot of different sources. (the communism part based on the theory, not what has happened in actual practice) I also do not believe in the Islamic comparison. That seems based more on perception than the actual practice of the religion. (that last bit thanks in part to having to read the Koran for a religious studies class in college) There are also a number of cultures in the world both from the past and present that perform some form of ritual removal of appendages due to shame. And the belief of those without the horns in Quanari society almost parallels some Native American tribe's beliefs that such members of society were "touched" and viewed as special.

 

All in all, I like the concept, and would like to see how the writing puts all of the pieces together. I think the wiki article has put a simplistic description forward for now, and hopefully the writers do not keep it as such, but actually make it deeper like the hints I see.

[RustyBlade]

I am in agreement with Gaider's borg quote; probably safest if I leave it at that.

So "our" Sten is... Seven-of-Nine? :laugh:

 

Nah, he's more of a Hugh IMO (confused and conflicted)

[brokenergy]

Dan, if you look at Thedas in general, none of the nations relate to what is stated by the devs. The Qunari are quite an interesting race and I'm very interested to learn more about them. To be honest I'm kind of intimidated by their society and how they view themselves as objects rather than living sentients but that's me thinking as a human. One question; has anyone heard of the Fex? They are the native people of Pan Volen and it will be interesting how they interact with the Qunari.

[danscott84]

Oh, I agree, I look forward to seeing how the Qunari play out. I like that it is a mixture of things to make them alien in feel. I think it should be since they are very different. I also like how it has semblences of a matriarch society, but not completely. I have not heard much of the Fex except in small blurbs. It would be interesting if the way they are approached is similar to the relationship with Native Americans here in the US. Even to this day there is still in some places a seperation, and yet a connection. A bad history that takes a long time to mend.

 

As far as the wiki article, I was kind of venting in that there were comparisons made which I know, having a degree in history, that were inaccurate. (why I tend to not wholly trust information obtained from wiki's in general) I was hoping for a more ancient Persian feel for the Quanari as it was the largest empire the world had seen until it was overtaken by Alexander and split upon his death. Of course, without the oppulance that existed. ;) I already had a feel, and hope, that Arlathan was a parallel to Atlantis and was more legend than reality. A society that may have existed, but belief of what it was ranged far from it's reality (elves were never immortal as they believe). However, Witch Hunt threw that right out the window, at least in part. I just hope that the Quanari, from my perspective, stays the course it appears to be taking, and does not up some strange, weird, unbelievable thing similar to the ending of the last Indiana Jones movie. :wallbash:

[Thandal]

... I already had a feel, and hope, that Arlathan was a parallel to Atlantis and was more legend than reality. A society that may have existed, but belief of what it was ranged far from it's reality (elves were never immortal as they believe). However, Witch Hunt threw that right out the window, at least in part...

Like the way you're thinkin' there, Dan!

 

But I respectfully submit that what we learn about Arlathan in WH still fits with the "barely remembered in a distorted almost out of recognition or reality" interpretation for both what the Elves in the Dragon Age "know" about it, (or themselves) and their connections (through the Eluvians?) to any "other" places, as Morrigan hints. Almost anything they, (and therefore "we") know could still easily turn out to completely mistaken.

 

As D.G. is fond of saying, "There is no canon." :thumbsup:

[danscott84]

Thandal, very true, and what I meant by WH throwing out the window was that it seems that Arlathan did exist, though I still want to think that the immortal part will end up like Zathrian. I had a thought that perhaps they used blood magic to tie their lifespan to things in nature, like trees that would have long life spans. Perhaps, perhaps not. Either way, it should be interesting. I am also curious as to whether the Quanari might hold the secret to this. Perhaps their advanced technology stemmed from the remnants of Arlathan?

[RustyBlade]

Perhaps their advanced technology stemmed from the remnants of Arlathan?

 

I don't see how that could/would be possible. The elves of the Elvhenan were the original inhabitants of Thedas, ~4500 years after the founding of Arlathan the humans came along and screwed it all up for them - twice (although it took them 2000 years to do it.) The qunari have only been in Thedas for ~400 years so unless elven pre-history had them driving the qunari out of Thedas before they founded Arlathen it is unlikely that the qunari got anything from them. Of course the wiki could be full of s***, who knows :wink: