Changes: Falon'Din

Revision as of 19:13, 12 December 2018

“Lethanavir, master-scryer, be our guide, through shapeless worlds and airless skies.” ―Ancient song

FalonDin- Friend of the Dead — Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead

Falon'Din is the elven god of death and fortune who guides the dead to the Beyond.^[1]

Dalish legends

In ancient times, the People were ageless and eternal, and instead of dying would enter uthenera-the long sleep-and walk the shifting paths beyond the Veil with Falon'Din and his brother Dirthamen. Those elders would learn the secrets of dreams, and some returned to the People with newfound knowledge.

—From Codex entry: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide

In Dalish stories Falon'Din and his twin brother Dirthamen are the eldest children of Elgar'nan and Mythal.^[1] Falon'Din had no fear of the night and would walk where the People could not live.^[2]

Legends tell that the twins were inseparable spirits from birth to adulthood. They were split from each other when the kindly Falon'Din took pity on a dying deer and carried her to rest beyond the Veil, to a place where Dirthamen could not easily follow. The deer's spirit was released from her weakened body and she once again became light on her feet. Seeing this, Falon'Din vowed that he would remain to guide all the dead to their place Beyond. Falon'Din's lost brother eventually caught up with him, and the twins swore to never be parted again.^[3]^[4]

Since then Falon'Din accompanied by his brother guided elders on journeys of enlightenment while in uthenera. When elves became mortal, he started to carry them beyond the Veil in death instead.^[1]^[5] Finally Falon'Din was banished along with the other gods, and the Dalish now bury their dead with an oaken staff to keep them from faltering along the paths without a guide.^[5] They invoke Falon'Din on their deathbed or before quests from which they expect no return, and sometimes refer to him as the Merciful One.^[6]

In Elvhenan

This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.

Falon'Din was one of the Evanuris, elvhen mages who ruled as malevolent despots over Elvhenan, enslaving their kin and branding them with their vallaslin.

When Falon'Din and Elgar'nan found themselves in an argument, Mythal defused the situation by suggesting that they appoint their knights to battle in their stead, thus avoiding a civil war among the gods. Falon'Din's champion lost the duel.^[7]

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

An Orlesian source speculates that Dirthamen and Falon'Din were "twin souls" with no family connection. Their bond was not romantic, beyond even the strongest friendship. The oldest elven stories never even name them directly, referring to Falon'Din as "Dirthamen’s shadow," and Dirthamen as "Falon'Din's reflection."^[8]

An ancient song calls Falon'Din a scryer who mastered the lying dark and hungry shadows and is surrounded by "wings of death". The singers ask him to guide them through the Fade.^[9]

Falon'Din's vanity and desire for worshipers was so great he started brutal wars to gain more, killing all who would not bow to him. Only once Mythal rallied the other gods and they attacked Falon'Din in his own temple did he surrender.^[10]

Symbols and shrines

Falon'Din's sacred animal is an owl. It is either his companion^[2] or his manifestation^[11] and simultaneously a messenger of Andruil.^[12] Constellation "Tenebrium", called "Shadow" in the common parlance and resembling as an owl, may be associated with him. Falon'Din himself is sometimes depicted as a cloaked and hooded pointing figure.^[13]

Tales of Falon'Din

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

"I do not believe they sing songs about Falon'Din's vanity. It is said Falon'Din's appetite for adulation was so great, he began wars to amass more worshippers. The blood of those who wouldn't bow low filled lakes as wide as oceans. Mythal rallied the gods, once the shadow of Falon'Din's hunger stretched across her own people. It was almost too late. Falon'Din only surrendered when his brethren bloodied him in his own temple." - Solas^[10]

"O Falon'Din
Lethanavir--Friend to the Dead
Guide my feet, calm my soul,
Lead me to my rest."

—Elven Prayer for the Dead

Gallery

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, pp. 118,120
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 "The Guide of Falon'din" landmark in Crestwood
↑ Codex entry: Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets
↑ Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 2, p. 23
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Codex entry: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide
↑ According to Morrigan in the Temple of Mythal
↑ Codex entry: Vir Dirthara: Duel of a Hundred Years
↑ Codex entry: Twins in Shadow.
↑ Codex entry: Song to Falon'Din
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 According to Solas during What Pride Had Wrought.
↑ Codex entry: Constellation: Tenebrium
↑ Codex entry: Andruil's Messenger
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 Landmarks in the Graves: "The Guide" and "The Watcher"
↑ According to Tamlen.

[W-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, pp. 118,120

[GF-2] 2.0 ^2.1 "The Guide of Falon'din" landmark in Crestwood

[3] Codex entry: Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets

[rpg23-4] Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 2, p. 23

[FD-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Codex entry: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide

[6] According to Morrigan in the Temple of Mythal

[7] Codex entry: Vir Dirthara: Duel of a Hundred Years

[8] Codex entry: Twins in Shadow.

[9] Codex entry: Song to Falon'Din

[SDAI-10] 10.0 ^10.1 According to Solas during What Pride Had Wrought.

[11] Codex entry: Constellation: Tenebrium

[12] Codex entry: Andruil's Messenger

[LG-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Landmarks in the Graves: "The Guide" and "The Watcher"

[14] According to Tamlen.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Quote|Lethanavir, master-scryer, be our guide, through shapeless worlds and airless skies.|[[Codex entry: Song to Falon'Din|Ancient song]]}}
 [[File:FalonDin- Friend of the Dead.png|thumb|150px|Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead]]
-'''Falon'Din''' (fahl-awn-DEEN) is the [[elven]] god of death and fortune who guides the dead to the Beyond.<ref name=W>{{Cite wot|118,120}}</ref>
+'''Falon'Din''' is the [[elven]] god of death and fortune who guides the dead to the Beyond.<ref name=W>{{Cite wot|118,120}}</ref>
 == Dalish legends ==
 {{:Codex entry: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide|style=codexexcerpt|excerptonly=true}}
-In Dalish stories Dirthamen and his twin brother [[Falon'Din]] are the eldest children of [[Elgar'nan]] and [[Mythal]].<ref name=W/> Falon'Din had no fear of the night and would walk where [[elf|the People]] could not live.
+In Dalish stories Falon'Din and his twin brother [[Dirthamen]] are the eldest children of [[Elgar'nan]] and [[Mythal]].<ref name=W/> Falon'Din had no fear of the night and would walk where [[elf|the People]] could not live.<ref name=GF>"The Guide of Falon'din" [[Landmarks in Crestwood|landmark in Crestwood]]</ref>
-Legends tell that the twins were inseparable spirits from birth to adulthood. They were parted when Falon'Din found an old and sickly deer in the forest. He gathered her up into his arms and carried her to her rest beyond the [[Veil]], to a place where Dirthamen could not easily follow.<ref>[[Codex entry: Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets]]</ref><ref name="rpg23"/>
+Legends tell that the twins were inseparable spirits from birth to adulthood. They were split from each other when the kindly Falon'Din took pity on a dying deer  and carried her to rest beyond the [[Veil]], to a place where Dirthamen could not easily follow. The deer's spirit was released from her weakened body and she once again became light on her feet. Seeing this, Falon'Din vowed that he would remain to guide all the dead to their place Beyond. Falon'Din's lost brother eventually caught up with him, and the twins swore to never be parted again.<ref>[[Codex entry: Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets]]</ref><ref name="rpg23">''[[Dragon Age (tabletop RPG)]]'', Player's Guide, set 2, p. 23</ref>
+Since then Falon'Din accompanied by his brother guided elders on journeys of enlightenment while in [[uthenera]]. When elves became mortal, he started to carry them beyond the Veil in death instead.<ref name=W/><ref name=FD>[[Codex entry: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide]]</ref> Finally Falon'Din was banished along with the other gods, and the Dalish now bury their dead with an oaken staff to keep them from faltering along the paths without a guide.<ref name=FD/> They invoke Falon'Din on their deathbed or before quests from which they expect no return, and sometimes refer to him as the Merciful One.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xpDfYn1Eh0 According] to [[Morrigan]] in the [[Temple of Mythal]]</ref>
-Since then he has guided elders on journeys of enlightenment while in [[Uthenera]],<ref name=W/> and later swore to guide all creatures beyond the Veil when they died. Falon'din's husbandry of the dead has taken on additional meaning since elves have become mortal.<ref name="rpg23">''[[Dragon Age (tabletop RPG)]]'', Player's Guide, set 2, p. 23</ref>
 == In Elvhenan ==
+{{SpoilerDAIT|Falon'Din was one of the Evanuris, elvhen [[mage]]s who ruled as malevolent despots over Elvhenan, enslaving their kin and branding them with their [[vallaslin]].
-Falon'Din is also known as a "twin soul" to Dirthamen: a non-romantic, quintessentially elven relationship that binds beyond friendship. In some corners the two gods are not referred to as brothers at all.<ref>[[Codex entry: Twins in Shadow]]</ref>
+When Falon'Din and [[Elgar'nan]] found themselves in an argument, [[Mythal]] defused the situation by suggesting that they appoint their knights to battle in their stead, thus avoiding a civil war among the gods. Falon'Din's champion lost the duel.<ref>[[Codex entry: Vir Dirthara: Duel of a Hundred Years]]</ref>}}{{SpoilerDAI|An Orlesian source speculates that Dirthamen and Falon'Din were "twin souls" with no family connection. Their bond was not romantic, beyond even the strongest friendship. The oldest elven stories never even name them directly, referring to Falon'Din as "Dirthamen’s shadow," and Dirthamen as "Falon'Din's reflection."<ref>[[Codex entry: Twins in Shadow]].</ref>
-{{SpoilerDAI|style=short|
-Falon'Din's vanity and desire for worshippers was so great he started brutal wars to gain more, killing all who would not bow to him. Only once Mythal rallied the other gods and they attacked Falon'Din in his own temple did he surrender.<ref name=SDAI>According to [[Solas]] during [[What Pride Had Wrought]].</ref>}}
+An ancient song calls Falon'Din a scryer who mastered the lying dark and hungry shadows and is surrounded by "wings of death". The singers ask him to guide them through the [[Fade]].<ref>[[Codex entry: Song to Falon'Din]]</ref>
-{{SpoilerDAIT|style=short|
-When Falon'Din and [[Elgar'nan]] found themselves in an argument, [[Mythal]] defused the situation by suggesting that they appoint their knights to battle in their stead, thus avoiding a civil war among the gods. Falon'Din's champion lost the duel.<ref>[[Codex entry: Vir Dirthara: Duel of a Hundred Years]]</ref>}}
+Falon'Din's vanity and desire for worshipers was so great he started brutal wars to gain more, killing all who would not bow to him. Only once Mythal rallied the other gods and they attacked Falon'Din in his own temple did he surrender.<ref name=SDAI>According to [[Solas]] during [[What Pride Had Wrought]].</ref>}}
 == Symbols and shrines ==
 [[File:Tenebrium.png|thumb|120px]]
-Falon'Din's sacred animal is an owl that legends hold to be either his servant<ref>"The Guide of Falon'din" [[Landmarks in Crestwood|landmark in Crestwood]]</ref> or his embodiment<ref>[[Codex entry: Constellation: Tenebrium]]</ref> and simultaneously a messenger of [[Andruil]].<ref>[[Codex entry: Andruil's Messenger]]</ref> Constellation "[[Codex entry: Constellation: Tenebrium|Tenebrium]]", called "Shadow" in the common parlance and resembling as an owl, may be associated with him. Falon'Din himself is sometimes depicted as a cloaked and hooded pointing figure.<ref name=LG>[[Landmarks in the Graves]]: "The Guide" and "The Watcher"</ref>
+Falon'Din's sacred animal is an owl. It is either his companion<ref name=GF/> or his manifestation<ref>[[Codex entry: Constellation: Tenebrium]]</ref> and simultaneously a messenger of [[Andruil]].<ref>[[Codex entry: Andruil's Messenger]]</ref> Constellation "[[Codex entry: Constellation: Tenebrium|Tenebrium]]", called "Shadow" in the common parlance and resembling as an owl, may be associated with him. Falon'Din himself is sometimes depicted as a cloaked and hooded pointing figure.<ref name=LG>[[Landmarks in the Graves]]: "The Guide" and "The Watcher"</ref>
 == Tales of Falon'Din ==
 {{SpoilerDAI|
-::"I do not believe they sing songs about Falon'Din's vanity. It is said Falon'Din's appetite for adulation was so great, he began wars to amass more worshippers. The blood of those who wouldn't bow low filled lakes as wide as oceans. Mythal rallied the gods, once the shadow of Falon'Din's hunger stretched across her own people. It was almost too late. Falon'Din only surrendered when his brethren bloodied him in his own temple."<ref name=SDAI/>}}
+::"I do not believe they sing songs about Falon'Din's vanity. It is said Falon'Din's appetite for adulation was so great, he began wars to amass more worshippers. The blood of those who wouldn't bow low filled lakes as wide as oceans. Mythal rallied the gods, once the shadow of Falon'Din's hunger stretched across her own people. It was almost too late. Falon'Din only surrendered when his brethren bloodied him in his own temple."  - [[Solas]]<ref name=SDAI/>}}
 {{Blockquote|<poem>
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 == Gallery ==
 <gallery widths="189" captionalign="center">
+Falon'Din in Elven Ruins.jpg|A statue of Falon'Din in [[Elven Ruins]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k64NJKiVy4U According] to [[Tamlen]].</ref>
 Dirthamen EG.PNG|A statue of Falon'Din in the [[Emerald Graves]]<ref name=LG/>
 Falon'Din - The Final Piece.png|A statue of Falon'Din in the [[Fade]]