Forum:What do you think the cure for the calling will be?

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What do you think the cure for the calling will be?

Now I may be asking this because I plan on writing a fic and cannot for the life of me figure things out and decided to come to the experts

Might it have something to do with the void?

Tansyuduri (talk) 22:09, September 11, 2015 (UTC)

I would call it "The Answer." --Death by Cheese (talk) 22:17, September 11, 2015 (UTC)

I laughed way louder then I should have at that, thank you.

Honestly If you're going for just a single person cure, like a character of yours, I always assumed the ashes of Andraste would have the ability to cure the taint. Given recent events those may be near impossible to find, but hey it's a fic right? We know Blood magic can alter your life as Avernus did, and Fiona I believe was given an amulet that was supposed to accelerate the taint but instead removed it? (it's been awhile since I've read that one) The architect was able to use the resistance within Warden Blood to "cure" the Darkspawn of their calling, so maybe a joining ritual involving lyrium, warden's blood, and i duno...spirit essence? If what you want is an honest-to-goodness *new* cure, perhaps Varric with his round the clock alchemists found a cure? (I know he was researching red lyrium but same difference right?) just some ideas... good question btw. Warden Mage: Ferris (talk) 22:46, September 11, 2015 (UTC)

To know what the cure is we need to know what the taint is. Imho any invented cure that doesn't answer that question would be not quite believable. So, yep, "The Answer", I second that. Asherinka (talk) 23:28, September 11, 2015 (UTC)

Completely agree with other responses. I really believe the taint will not be cured unless we learn what caused it in the first place. I personally think a major change will get rid of the taint, killing all those infected, rather than having a cure specifically, in that it won't be a vaccine or sorts. Call that a cure if you will, but i'm adamant the taint was bio-engineered by the Evanuris, specifically the Forgotten Ones; Solas, believing it could potentially destroy the world, believed locking them in the Eternal City (Black City/Arlathan), a place intrinsically tied to the Fade before it was separate, was the only way to stop the spread of the taint. I get that he was also motivated by those who betrayed Mythal, but I see the betrayal as a result of the other Evanuris (who were embittered in a civil war), who were pissed off that Mythal was opposing them from creating the Taint. I believe the taint was used by the Evanuris in a way that was supposed to give them an advantage in the civil war.

No doubt my theory is plagued with flaws and inconsistencies, but BW seem adamant in linking everything back to the Elves of old, so my reasoning follows that to an extent.

Now, in regards to the cure, I believe what Solas aims to do could potentially be somewhat a cure (from a certain perspective) for the taint. Will mixing the fade with the world, as it was before, also lead to the death of Darkspawn or not? I get that the supposed bad "gods" will be let loose, but I wonder if what Solas intends to do will also lead to a somewhat cure for the taint. I don't know how to explain that bit, it seems flawed, but i'm sure someone can. 00:30, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

Actually that's a really interesting theory about the Black City being just another lost, Ancient Elven domain. Of course that assumes that all of the places we saw in Trespasser are literally in the Fade itself or just "close" or "beyond" as Morrigan says. Now there might not be a direct link between the blight, old gods, darkspawn and the Evanuris but the Black City being revealed to not be the Maker's haunt but just another Elven creation would be very cool. --Peranakan (talk) 03:05, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

@lazare326

Your theory is RIVETING how would the titans fit into it?

Tansyuduri (talk) 03:39, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

You should totally find a way of finding them to fit in! I think the Elves and Dwarves actually lived in a time where the fade and the world were one thing. I believe humans, like someone else mentioned in another forum, are actually second creations who simply came after that point. It's hard for me to pinpoint it, but the titans being powerful entities that the ancient dwarves worshipped would make sense, didn't they come from them? Heck, maybe even the elves created them too XD. 13:08, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

Actually, the cure should be called "the silencing". Or maybe "the hanging-up". Anyway, I think we should note that it's not the taint which needs to be cured (in this particular case) but rather the Calling. As in the Call of the Old Gods. Kill the Old Gods, no more Call. A very bad I idea, according to Solas, but he thought destroying the world out of revenge was a good idea. Oh, and he also wants to destroy it again to undo what he did. So his perspective may be a bit warped.

Anyway, the taint itself is not always fatal. Those who survive its affects become ghouls, and there's evidence to suggest that ghouls don't age. The problem is the Call drives the ghouls insane. Grey Wardens can resit the Call for a time but they are as tainted as ghouls or darkspawn. Without the Call, grey wardens could theoretically become immortal (in the sense of being ageless).

Techincally, there already is a way to cure the Call. The Architect calls it the "Awakening". But that might only work on darkspawn. If he's alive, the Warden should start his search there. Avernus could probably help too (if he's alive), or at least delay the Calling for a few centuries. If the Architect is dead...maybe try to find the old magisters? Someone needs to interrogate one of them.

As far resisting the taint goes...dragons are very resistant to it, so maybe something that involves consuming dragon blood/flesh? Leliana's resistant too for some reason, but I wouldn't suggest drinking her blood or ea-...yeah, I'll stop there. Silver Warden (talk) 04:31, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

Dragons are resistant because they have a way of isolating the taint and stop it from spreading, not something in their blood. Caspoi (talk) 11:33, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

True, but didn't Fiona lose her taint after the conception of Alistair? That is, after her body began carrying a Theirin? The bloodline that supposedly has dragon blood in them from when Calenhad became a Reaver? Personally, I feel like that has to be important. 67.193.194.141 (talk) 12:21, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

One of the reasons Fiona was able to cure her taint was due to the magic used to accelerate it. Then it was blood magic, I think, which helped, and possibly the conception of a dragon-blooded child. Or its because shes an elf. 13:05, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

Anyway, you know something I'm curious about, while your idea is great Lazare, I'm still wondering whether bringing the veil down will kill the darkspawn. The raising of the veil failed to kill both the titans and the dwarves off, but it decimated the elves, and we don't know the effect it had on humans and the rest of the world, yet. I know the dwarves come from the titans so its possible it did kill them off and more came along after, but it could be that the underground domain is what kept them safe, or the were given a safe haven within the titans. And given that we now know red lyrium is tainted titans blood, could it be possible that should the veil be brought down, the darkspawn will be given a safe haven within the blighted titan. Meaning that the taint wouldn't be eliminated.

On a different note, while I'm certain the taint, or in particular the "darkness" Cory spoke of, is linked with the elves of old, I don't think it was a weapon designed by the Evanuris, it could be that it was turned into a weapon. I think it may well be a consequence of the Veil. I mean, Solas' personal quest reveals that spirits don't die, they just revert to energy and reform. So what happens to a physical body. We know that there were elves trapped the other side of the veil, but how many were there? If the Black City is indeed Arlathan, then there must have been thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands, of victims trapped. What if their deaths in the fade, in such a large number and in a concentrated area, generated the energy from which the taint/darkness was born. In their final moments, all they could think of was vengeance against Fen'harel. And that memory lingered, unlike the memory of a spirit does when it reforms. The energy or whatever from the dead elves is blackened. It becomes the darkness, which seeks to corrupt and bring plague and famine and desolation to the world. The goal of vengeance against Fen'harel is forgotten, but the intention remains. The intention to bring down the god. Like, seriously, the elves that died there must have thought of a million ways to kill Solas and his forces, the blight seems like it could've been a culmination of all those thoughts.

The city is blackened and twisted, but, and this is what I've thought for a long time, Something created a glamour around it. To make it look like it once was. Gold and glorious. I suppose it could have been Solas. While he slept he got tired of seeing this black monstrosity so he threw a glamour over it to remind him and the elves what had been lost. Not knowing what he inadvertently created. Then the magisters come along, they want in. Believing that the city is the seat of some god, and one of them can claim its power. Etc etc. They breach the veil, invade the city, find it empty. The walk its halls listening to the whispers, the long forgotten memories which teaches them much of the world preceding them, and let the darkness permeate them. Boom, darkspawn are born. And it twists their worship of their gods into a desire to find them and kill them. But as soon as they touch the Old Gods, they awaken corrupted and all archdemon-y. And it all emanates from that one action Solas took against his gods. But he doesn't know. And if he ever found out...

Another thing to think about though, is that the city still contains the darkness. I don't believe you can walk its halls and not come back like the magisters. So what the hell is going to happen if Solas brings it back into the world. That Darkness is going to be unleashed. 13:05, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

I agree with you on many points. The taint being a consequence of the anger of the Evanuris sounds really interesting. In this instance, I could also still see it being bio-engineered though. As a last ditch attempt of revenge, the Evanuris could have unleashed unparalleled magic, using the lives of everyone else trapped in the Black City (Arlathan) to literally blacken the halls. Maybe they tried to escape by sacrificing all the elves, but it just wasn't simply enough, and instead created corruption and blackness. I guess then the Evanuris, now deformed entities, aimed to seduce others to release them, seducing the magisters, but they realised they cannot be released unless the fade and the world become one again. Inadvertently, the magisters contracted the taint. The Fade is a mysterious place; you can shape it in your dreams for example. I believe the Evanuris with or without the other trapped elves, were as you said, so miserable and angry that combined with the mysteries of the fade and their anger, created the taint. They literally blackened as beings. I still think Cory saying there was nothing in there is slightly true, but I believe he forgot certain things too; maybe the magisters did see someone(s) in there, but just forgot. 13:18, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

There is mention that spirits avoid the Black City here and where. But what I've found is that the DAO Prima Guide explicitly states that foolish spirits that draw too close to the city become tainted. If a spirit can be tainted, it's not quite bio-engineered. Also, when discussing Anders' Calling after DA2, Gaider staited that being a Grey Warden he may taint the spirit within, although they haven't decided yet if he will. Asherinka (talk) 14:11, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

After a thought or so, I am leaning towards the whole need for revenge towards Solas trapping Elves/Evanuris in the Black City causing the taint. I'm starting to think that something was bio-engineered that eventually led to the taint, as in the taint wasn't the creation but it came from something that was. I don't believe Solas simply created the veil just in anger of the betrayal of Mythal. He states clearly that the world was coming to an end. It was the last and only option. If the taint is the product of the Fade, in that it became apparent after the veil was created, then yes, I believe it won't be entirely bio-engineered. Still though, I think the taint has a deep link with the Evanuris who imo, are locked in the Black City, which happens to be the Eternal City the Elves speak of as housing their gods. It seems obvious to me, but knowing BW and the rest of my theories, i'm probably far, far off. Simply creating the veil to actually block off the taint could have been a goal of his.

Also, a while back, a dev answered a question about the BC. It was trivial in that he just said that you'll know when you're actually in the Black City. This probably means nothing, but I believe if Solas does attempt to merge the fade and the world together, we'll see the Black City return the world first. 14:21, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

Ok, I just thought of something extra. We learnt that when "Tevinter took arlathan" the elves were already decimated and were suffering from plague. I'm now thinking that this plague was created by the Evanuris, in an effort to cull the rebellion. But, after the veil was erected it backfires. The elves on thedas' side are dying and being enslaved, and those trapped in the fade die. But the plague is what brings the whole blight element together. The blight is essentially a plague. The taint is more magical. So, adjust my theory to say, the plague which was wiping out the elves, which was designed by the evanuris to wipe out Solas and co., mutates and begins infecting every elf, excluding the Evanuris and their "wolves". Solas erects the veil to minimise the spread, as well as banishing the false gods. Which works, but has an unforseen side effect. Those infected trapped in the fade die enraged and hating him, and their silent gods. Their physical forms become energy which carries a plague. Then the intention to eliminate the gods forms. The darkness is born. Magister meets darkness, and the taint is born.

Now, I'm thinking the plague that ravaged the elves was magical in its origins and existed in this place called the void. Andruil's codex entry where she made weapons and armor from the void while plague ravaged her lands is the beginning of it. The plague slowly spreads, while Mythal's opposition to Andruil and efforts to wipe the void from memory, were seen as a step too far by the other gods, so they killed her. Then stuff happens with Solas and his rebellion, all the while they are oblivious to a sickness spreading through the people, very slowly. Eventually one of them witnesses the plague and chooses to use it against the rebellion. Which I think may actually be the forgotten ones. And the named ones we know were Solas' closest allies. 20:50, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

Ok a few new things to throw into the discussion

Cory sais they they did not bring darkness into the world they "discovered the darkness", "claimed it as their own, let it permeate their being"

“A Neverran cult known as "The Empty Ones" believed the Blight to have originated from a place called the Void ("a place of nothing"), and that it is by the Maker's will for all of his creation to return to it”

Elven legends mention "plague" that ate Andruil's lands after she entered the Void This sounds a lot like what the blight does

the Forgotten Ones had resided in a place known as the "Void," where no mortal nor god could have remained in.

the void is also known as the abyss

"When Andruil began stalking the Forgotten Ones in the Void, she suffered longer and longer periods of madness after returning. She put on armor made of the Void, and all forgot her true face. She made weapons of darkness, and plague ate her lands. She howled things meant to be forgotten, until Mythal turned into a great serpent and sapped Andruil's strength with her magic, stealing her knowledge of how to find the Void. Andruil couldn't get back to the abyss ever since, and peace returned"

And when it comes to titans

"There are whispers from the Well of Sorrows. It's impossible to understand the entire text, but certain parts suddenly reveal a shadow of their original meaning.

She shook the radiance of the stars, divided them into grains of light, then stored them in a shaft of gold. Andruil, blood and force, save us from the time this weapon is thrown. Your people pray to You. Spare us the moment we become Your sacrifice.

There is a brief image of an elaborate golden spear, glowing with unbearable heat. Then it fades." “This elven writing found in the Arbor Wilds is so old as to be incomprehensible.

There are whispers from the Well of Sorrows. It's impossible to understand the entire text, but certain parts suddenly reveal a shadow of their original meaning.

In this place we prepare to hunt the pillars of the earth. Their workers scurry, witless, soulless. This death will be a mercy. We will make the earth blossom with their passing.

For one moment there is a vivid image of two overlapping spheres; unknown flowers bloom inside their centers. Then it fades.” “n the light of the veilfire, the runes seem to shift, coiling and uncoiling like snakes. A thunderous voice shatters the stillness, shouting:

"Hail Mythal, adjudicator and savior! She has struck down the pillars of the earth and rendered their demesne unto the People! Praise her name forever!

For a moment, the scent of blood fills the air, and there is a vivid image of green vines growing and enveloping a sphere of fire. The vision grows dark. An aeon seems to pass. Then the runes crackle, as if filled with an angry energy. A new vision appears: elves collapsing caverns, sealing the Deep Roads with stone and magic. Terror, heart-pounding, ice-cold, as the last of the spells is cast. A voice whispers:

What the Evanuris in their greed could unleash would end us all. Let this place be forgotten. Let no one wake its anger. The People must rise before their false gods destroy them all. he Inquisitor, upon reading the runes (if the Descent DLC was completed):"The runes say the Evanuris fought the Titans. They mined their bodies for lyrium and... something else. It's not clear."

Could they have mined the bodies for the blight? Could the blight be from the titans?

Tansyuduri (talk) 17:24, September 12, 2015 (UTC)

My theory is that the creation of the Veil caused the titans to "fall". The titans have/had lyrium as blood. Lyrium has a strong connection to magic, so if it were partially cut off from magic it would be like the titans all lost a lot of blood. This would cause them to faint, collapse, go into comas, or even die. And given that the titans were mountain-sized...well I image there would have been a lot of earthquakes (or worse) after they fell. The entire landscape of Thedas may have changed in moments all because of the Veil. Thanks for the unwanted terraforming, Solas!

Back on topic, I'm not entirely convinced that the Black City is Arlathan. Even if it is, I don't think that the taint is the elven gods, or is even directly relate to them. I think it has something to do with the Forgotten Ones. Solas claims that there was a war among the ancient elves long before the Evanuris became known as gods. I think that war was with the Forgotten Ones. The Dalish legend of the Dread Wolf says he locked them in the abyss in addition to locking the Evanuris in the heavens. That's probably true, but the two incidents might have happened centuries or even millennia apart. The fate of the Forgotten Ones would have then been identical to Lazare's theory. Silver Warden (talk) 20:40, September 12, 2015 (UTC)