On the Chant of Light
Nov. 13th, 2024 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nebulousmistressUnraveling the Chant of Light is a task made for historians.
I am no historian. I study history as a hobby and as it benefits my worldbuilding. But I've picked up a few tricks. I also have the Dragon Age wiki to aid me. And strange memories.
The game-known Canticles of the Chant of Light are:
Andraste
Apotheosis
Benedictions
Betrayal
Erudition
Exaltations
Maferath
Penance
Shartan
Silence
Threnodies
Transfigurations
Trials
Victoria
The issues at hand are separating out the verses that mean something from those that do not and using those that have meaning to tease out those Canticles that might be missing or destroyed. Missing or destroyed like the Book of Enoch or the Gospels of Judas, the Gospels of Mary Magdalene. Because three of the referenced Canticles above are considered Dissonant, much like the Book of Enoch or the Gospel of Judas.
So let’s take each Canticle in order:
Andraste
First written in -165 Ancient, the Canticle of Andraste is supposedly based on the songs that Andraste sang in the wilderness to call her Maker to her. This is the most disputed of the Canticles as there are hundreds of variations. Many of these variations likely contain some truths to them, the oldest versions being closest to what actually happened. But Andraste died in -170 Ancient and wasn’t there to set any record straight.
What we do know is a mageling Andraste sang for thirty days and wept for thirty nights. On the thirty first day her Luniwr came to her, an Avvar word for ‘The One who Makes Me.’ She Entwined with the spirit, as was the purpose of her ritual, and sought its lessons. It loved her, as it had loved every mageling it had chosen to Make.
It is safe to say this Canticle contains some elements of history but it is largely propaganda.
Apotheosis
The current version was first used in the Chantry in -100 Ancient, the same year the original Inquisition was formed. It is usually attributed to Andraste’s Disciple Justinia and was based on an older Canticle, the Canticle of Betrayal, that will be explored below.
The timing of this Canticle is suspect and leads me to believe it was brought to Thedas by a spirit of Justice, possibly the spirit of Justice who formed the original Inquisition. But the betrayal of Maferath as detailed in the Canticle is not what happened. It might, however, be what had to happen in order to keep everything that Maferath and Andraste worked for intact.
Andraste’s Luniwr is adamant, Mafterath’s actions were no betrayal. It was planned. And Justinia knew this. She was one of the only Disciples who knew of the sacrifice that was planned.
Benedictions
Little is yet known of this Canticle aside from one single verse. This verse has been part of Dragon Age lore since the first game, from the line ‘blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the Just’. Despite the lack of information I am forced to conclude from its single known verse that this Canticle is extremely old, perhaps one of the few taken from Andraste’s own words and songs.
These may be words of Andraste’s own Luniwr. It must be agony to see them so often twisted by the Chantry to justify the deeds of Templars done in His name.
Betrayal
The Canticle of Betrayal was written by Disciple Justinia between -170 Ancient and her martyrdom in the mid -160s Ancient. No known copies exist today, or at least no copies known. If such copies exist they might have been hidden away in the Temple of Sacred Ashes for Reasons, or hidden in the Libraries of Starkhaven. It is likely early Princes of Starkhaven were aware of this Canticle given the Vael family’s continued fondness for the heretical image of Andraste’s soul ascending from her pyre with glaive raised and four burning wings spread.
This is an interesting Canticle to contemplate since Justinia was entrusted by Andraste’s Luniwr with knowledge of Maferath’s plan. She was one of the few who knew Andraste, Maferath, and her Luniwr had all conspired to break their Entwining in a ritual sacrifice, and to use Andraste’s required sacrifice to bargain with Tevinter.
Erudition
The Canticle of Erudition was written by Archon Hessarian. It is known by one single verse concerning the first demons born from a spirit’s envy.
This Canticle is taught as fact in every Circle of Magi across Thedas and is largely an outdated hermetic hypothesis. It attempts to enforce the separation between spirits and demons, and attempts to create strict hierarchies among those categories. Spirits and demons are fluid things, breaking the strict laws of magic laid out in this Canticle. Unfortunately, strict adherence to this Canticle have stifled Fade research for a thousand years.
Exaltations
The Canticle of Exaltations was written in -12 Ancient by Kordillius Drakon, the first Emperor of Orlais. It is trite propaganda, self-insert fanfiction taken seriously in the same vein as Dante’s Inferno. None of it is true.
This Canticle is accepted only in the Southern Chantry.
Maferath
The Canticle of Maferath is considered Dissonant. Very little is known of this Canticle aside from a few scant lines collected during Dragon Age: Awakening. What is known details Maferath’s guilt for Andraste’s death and the forgiveness offered by the Maker.
I am led to believe this Canticle is genuine, possibly written by Maferath himself.
Penance
The Canticle of Penance is supposed to be written by Archon Hessarian. Nothing is known of this Canticle and no verses are attributed to it.
Shartan
The Canticle of Shartan is considered Dissonant, stricken from the Chant for political reasons. It was reinstated by Divine Victoria in 9:43 Dragon.
This Canticle is genuine, probably written by one of two elves who became Disciples of Andraste: Shartan or Sebastian.
Silence
The Canticle of Silence is considered Dissonant, written by Archon Hessarian in -160 Ancient. It is propaganda, similar to the Canticle of Exaltations, but it is more respectable propaganda as the Archon does not make himself out to be a prophet as Drakon does. Instead he writes in the first person, putting what he imagines the Maker’s thoughts to be within his own narrow worldview as detailed in the Canticle of Erudition as He witnesses the violation of the Black City.
This Canticle is accepted only in the Tevinter Chantry.
Threnodies
The Canticle of Threnodies was translated by Divine Justinia I between -31 and -11 Ancient. It is a loose translation of an older song called ‘The Slave Dirge’ dating to -182 Ancient, a song sung in Tevinter during slave uprisings. Known verses are concerned with the creation of the Fade, with the Tevinter invasion of the Fade and the Black City, and with the creation of Darkspawn.
The translation is just that, a translation. The version sung in the Chantry is one of several regional translations of The Slave Dirge, all of them fragmented and strange.
The Slave Dirge itself is possibly genuine, but only as any collection of songs sung by a Falling spirit could be genuine. Andraste was captured and tormented in Emerius, the event that drove her Luniwr to Fall and become the spirit of Justice that drove her on to rampage across Thedas in a quest for Vengeance, to demand payment from the Magisters for what they did to her. As Emerius was the center of the slave trade in Tevinter at the time, it is entirely possible The Slave Dirge was first sung by Andraste herself, an attempt to make sense of her Luniwr’s fracturing sense of Self.
Transfigurations
The Canticle of Transfigurations is supposed to be a collection of Andraste’s own sermons. Multiple versions exist, each one creating its own regional heresies. The first verses of this Canticle were written down in -130 Ancient, several decades after Andraste’s sacrifice.
The nature of oral histories allows for multiple interpretations. Many of them might be true.
Trials
The Canticle of Trials is supposed to be a collection of Andraste’s own songs. However, many of these songs predate Andraste by several centuries. In all likelihood, adaptations were made by Andraste and after her, these songs sung to her Luniwr as she lived and to her Maker after her death.
Victoria
The Canticle of Victoria might not exist in this worldstate. It is only mentioned if Cassandra becomes Divine.
I am no historian. I study history as a hobby and as it benefits my worldbuilding. But I've picked up a few tricks. I also have the Dragon Age wiki to aid me. And strange memories.
The game-known Canticles of the Chant of Light are:
Andraste
Apotheosis
Benedictions
Betrayal
Erudition
Exaltations
Maferath
Penance
Shartan
Silence
Threnodies
Transfigurations
Trials
Victoria
The issues at hand are separating out the verses that mean something from those that do not and using those that have meaning to tease out those Canticles that might be missing or destroyed. Missing or destroyed like the Book of Enoch or the Gospels of Judas, the Gospels of Mary Magdalene. Because three of the referenced Canticles above are considered Dissonant, much like the Book of Enoch or the Gospel of Judas.
So let’s take each Canticle in order:
Andraste
First written in -165 Ancient, the Canticle of Andraste is supposedly based on the songs that Andraste sang in the wilderness to call her Maker to her. This is the most disputed of the Canticles as there are hundreds of variations. Many of these variations likely contain some truths to them, the oldest versions being closest to what actually happened. But Andraste died in -170 Ancient and wasn’t there to set any record straight.
What we do know is a mageling Andraste sang for thirty days and wept for thirty nights. On the thirty first day her Luniwr came to her, an Avvar word for ‘The One who Makes Me.’ She Entwined with the spirit, as was the purpose of her ritual, and sought its lessons. It loved her, as it had loved every mageling it had chosen to Make.
It is safe to say this Canticle contains some elements of history but it is largely propaganda.
Apotheosis
The current version was first used in the Chantry in -100 Ancient, the same year the original Inquisition was formed. It is usually attributed to Andraste’s Disciple Justinia and was based on an older Canticle, the Canticle of Betrayal, that will be explored below.
The timing of this Canticle is suspect and leads me to believe it was brought to Thedas by a spirit of Justice, possibly the spirit of Justice who formed the original Inquisition. But the betrayal of Maferath as detailed in the Canticle is not what happened. It might, however, be what had to happen in order to keep everything that Maferath and Andraste worked for intact.
Andraste’s Luniwr is adamant, Mafterath’s actions were no betrayal. It was planned. And Justinia knew this. She was one of the only Disciples who knew of the sacrifice that was planned.
Benedictions
Little is yet known of this Canticle aside from one single verse. This verse has been part of Dragon Age lore since the first game, from the line ‘blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the Just’. Despite the lack of information I am forced to conclude from its single known verse that this Canticle is extremely old, perhaps one of the few taken from Andraste’s own words and songs.
These may be words of Andraste’s own Luniwr. It must be agony to see them so often twisted by the Chantry to justify the deeds of Templars done in His name.
Betrayal
The Canticle of Betrayal was written by Disciple Justinia between -170 Ancient and her martyrdom in the mid -160s Ancient. No known copies exist today, or at least no copies known. If such copies exist they might have been hidden away in the Temple of Sacred Ashes for Reasons, or hidden in the Libraries of Starkhaven. It is likely early Princes of Starkhaven were aware of this Canticle given the Vael family’s continued fondness for the heretical image of Andraste’s soul ascending from her pyre with glaive raised and four burning wings spread.
This is an interesting Canticle to contemplate since Justinia was entrusted by Andraste’s Luniwr with knowledge of Maferath’s plan. She was one of the few who knew Andraste, Maferath, and her Luniwr had all conspired to break their Entwining in a ritual sacrifice, and to use Andraste’s required sacrifice to bargain with Tevinter.
Erudition
The Canticle of Erudition was written by Archon Hessarian. It is known by one single verse concerning the first demons born from a spirit’s envy.
This Canticle is taught as fact in every Circle of Magi across Thedas and is largely an outdated hermetic hypothesis. It attempts to enforce the separation between spirits and demons, and attempts to create strict hierarchies among those categories. Spirits and demons are fluid things, breaking the strict laws of magic laid out in this Canticle. Unfortunately, strict adherence to this Canticle have stifled Fade research for a thousand years.
Exaltations
The Canticle of Exaltations was written in -12 Ancient by Kordillius Drakon, the first Emperor of Orlais. It is trite propaganda, self-insert fanfiction taken seriously in the same vein as Dante’s Inferno. None of it is true.
This Canticle is accepted only in the Southern Chantry.
Maferath
The Canticle of Maferath is considered Dissonant. Very little is known of this Canticle aside from a few scant lines collected during Dragon Age: Awakening. What is known details Maferath’s guilt for Andraste’s death and the forgiveness offered by the Maker.
I am led to believe this Canticle is genuine, possibly written by Maferath himself.
Penance
The Canticle of Penance is supposed to be written by Archon Hessarian. Nothing is known of this Canticle and no verses are attributed to it.
Shartan
The Canticle of Shartan is considered Dissonant, stricken from the Chant for political reasons. It was reinstated by Divine Victoria in 9:43 Dragon.
This Canticle is genuine, probably written by one of two elves who became Disciples of Andraste: Shartan or Sebastian.
Silence
The Canticle of Silence is considered Dissonant, written by Archon Hessarian in -160 Ancient. It is propaganda, similar to the Canticle of Exaltations, but it is more respectable propaganda as the Archon does not make himself out to be a prophet as Drakon does. Instead he writes in the first person, putting what he imagines the Maker’s thoughts to be within his own narrow worldview as detailed in the Canticle of Erudition as He witnesses the violation of the Black City.
This Canticle is accepted only in the Tevinter Chantry.
Threnodies
The Canticle of Threnodies was translated by Divine Justinia I between -31 and -11 Ancient. It is a loose translation of an older song called ‘The Slave Dirge’ dating to -182 Ancient, a song sung in Tevinter during slave uprisings. Known verses are concerned with the creation of the Fade, with the Tevinter invasion of the Fade and the Black City, and with the creation of Darkspawn.
The translation is just that, a translation. The version sung in the Chantry is one of several regional translations of The Slave Dirge, all of them fragmented and strange.
The Slave Dirge itself is possibly genuine, but only as any collection of songs sung by a Falling spirit could be genuine. Andraste was captured and tormented in Emerius, the event that drove her Luniwr to Fall and become the spirit of Justice that drove her on to rampage across Thedas in a quest for Vengeance, to demand payment from the Magisters for what they did to her. As Emerius was the center of the slave trade in Tevinter at the time, it is entirely possible The Slave Dirge was first sung by Andraste herself, an attempt to make sense of her Luniwr’s fracturing sense of Self.
Transfigurations
The Canticle of Transfigurations is supposed to be a collection of Andraste’s own sermons. Multiple versions exist, each one creating its own regional heresies. The first verses of this Canticle were written down in -130 Ancient, several decades after Andraste’s sacrifice.
The nature of oral histories allows for multiple interpretations. Many of them might be true.
Trials
The Canticle of Trials is supposed to be a collection of Andraste’s own songs. However, many of these songs predate Andraste by several centuries. In all likelihood, adaptations were made by Andraste and after her, these songs sung to her Luniwr as she lived and to her Maker after her death.
Victoria
The Canticle of Victoria might not exist in this worldstate. It is only mentioned if Cassandra becomes Divine.
