Solas is not a Mage

Welcome to one of my favourite conversations between Bull and Solas (and I love most of their conversations, especially if you make certain decisions about the Chargers and even if you don’t Solas damn)

Iron Bull: You’re not as flashy as most mages, Solas.

You’re not as flashy as most mages, Solas. Iron Bull: The Tevinter mages I fought in Seheron tried to scare us with what they could do.

The Tevinter mages I fought in Seheron tried to scare us with what they could do. Iron Bull: Dorian looks like he’s waiting for applause after every spell.

Dorian looks like he’s waiting for applause after every spell. (if in the party) Dorian: As any good mage would.

As any good mage would. Iron Bull: Vivienne has this little swagger, like she knows she’s the most dangerous thing in the room.

Vivienne has this little swagger, like she knows she’s the most dangerous thing in the room. (if in the party) Vivienne: I am the most dangerous thing in the room darling.

I am the most dangerous thing in the room darling. Iron Bull: Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am. Iron Bull: Not the quiet elven mage, though. No frills. Nothing to give you away. Half our targets never even see you coming.

Not the quiet elven mage, though. No frills. Nothing to give you away. Half our targets never even see you coming. Solas: I shall take that as a compliment.

I shall take that as a compliment. Iron Bull: If you like.

Why is this my favourite? Because Bull is RIGHT to notice. He’s looking at it from an angle that would never work out why, how could he, but he’s right.

What Bull is picking up on is the fact that, whilst Solas wields magic, calling him a ‘Mage’ is not actually appropriate.

The reactions from the other two completely support this. Both of them boast here of either their prowess or their pride. Dorian, in-keeping with his character, believes that mages should be proud of who they are. Vivienne, also in-keeping with her character, views herself as someone who can wield the most dangerous tool in Thedas and should be recognised as such. Both of these views are strong, but also necessary to push back against how mages are viewed in Thedas.

Mages are singled out everywhere - Dorian and Vivienne’s reactions are commendable and admirable, but they are also a defence against being viewed as different by the rest of society for their entire lives. Mages, even in Tevinter, are treated as Other. The entire basis for Andrastian lore revolves around Mages being Other. Their entire society, their bogeymen, their folk stories and jokes etc are all based on Mages being Other, with both moral and religious inferences.

By this definition, Solas is not a mage at all. Solas is powerful, but his society existed in a time where ‘mages’ did not exist. Powerful people did, people who could manipulate the world better than others, but the Thedas-definition of Mages (now steeped in Chantry lore and doctrine that hadn’t been thought of in the time of Arlathan) simply was not appropriate back then.

So when he thanks Bull for the compliment? Yes he could just be being a sassy shit reacting to having comment made upon him by a creature he doesn’t respect yet. Or, he could be genuinely (if equally sassily) thanking Bull for a compliment Bull didn’t know he was giving - namely, by recognising him as different from a group of people Solas must be frustrated and heart-broken to be lumped in with.

Suddenly his disdain for Dorian and Vivienne at this point can be understood a little. What they consider to be proud declarations and dangerous power-plays he must just see as petty little defences against a world set against them. Why should anyone with magic have to show off? Why must they constantly remind everyone that they are the most dangerous thing in the room? Remember that this is the same man who says ‘No real god need prove himself.’ If you have power, use it, don’t wear it like some gaudy hat to make sure that people notice.

So he feels no need to prove his pride or prowess as a ‘Mage’, because technically he isn’t one. There’s just no other way for modern Thedas (and us as Inquisitors/players) to define him.

And Bull just noticed.