Dalish

AKA:
The People

Dalish is the name given to one of the two major groups of elves living in modern Thedas, the other being city elves. If the name of the other group didn’t tip you off, my people are nomads that wander the wilds of the continent, bound by neither the laws nor borders of human countries. Though, they do try to stay respectful and out of the way, both for their benefit and everyone else’s. After the fall of the second elven homeland, the Dales, the elves were offered the choice of submitting to the will of the Chantry or not. The city elves agreed and integrated into human culture, but the Dalish refused, scattered to the winds, separated into groups called clans, and struggle to this day to maintain the small pieces of their heritage that they still know. While there are many similarities amongst Dalish clans, the specifics are as vast and varied as the lands they roam, meaning no two clans are exactly alike. Obviously my views are going to be heavily influenced by my experience with my own clan, Lavellan, but the basic information will be true for the vast majority of clans. Also obviously, I could ramble on about my people for ages, but I’ll do my best to keep it short and stick to the basics. Also also, while I was born Dalish, I always felt a bit out of place amongst my people, and my experiences as Inquisitor have admittedly widened that gap. While I will always love and respect my people, and consider myself Dalish, my path is not theirs. Sorry to veer into some personal business, I just wanted to clarify why I’m not using “we” and “our” in this entry.

As wanderers with no permanent homes, the Dalish use wheeled land-ships called Aravels to move around the continent, pulled by white, deer-like animals known as Halla. The Halla themselves are sacred to the Dalish, and are respected companions rather than simple beasts of burden like horses are to most humans. The Halla also serve as a source of food, through their milk, not their flesh, with the rest of the Dalish diet revolving around whatever they can hunt and gather from the land around them. The Dalish still worship the elven gods, and honor them with various stories, rites and statues. The distinctive facial tattoos, or vallaslin, worn by all Dalish are actually symbols of an individual’s chosen god. Well, that’s what they thought of them as, but their original purpose turned out to be much darker. I’m not going to reveal that secret here, though, you’ll have to read the actual story to learn that particular revelation.

Each member of a Dalish clan fulfills a specific, important role for their people. The leader of the clan is called the Keeper, a mage who serves as more of a respected guide for the group rather than a ruler to be obeyed. Under the Keeper is a First, which is what I was before the conclave, who serves as an apprentice to the Keeper, in both magic and leadership. Generally, a clan will not have more than two magically talented individuals at any one time, due to the inherent danger that comes with magic. Once a decade, many clans will come together for an information-trading meeting, called an Arlathvhen, where extra mages can be transferred to a clan that is lacking one. Outside of the magical-leader roles, clans also have story-telling lore keepers called Hahrens, a Halla Keeper, who doesn’t get a special name, and various healers, hunters, gatherers, and craftsmen. The Dalish lifestyle requires everyone to fill a role effectively and efficiently, as one failure can lead to the destruction of an entire clan. As can a clan’s relationship with the humans around them, which differs greatly depending on the attitudes of both the clan and the humans. Dalish generally keep to themselves, but semi-permanent camps outside of a human city are not unheard of. Typically, the Dalish move around, in search of peace and pieces of their lost heritage. While they are keenly focused on the past, the future of the Dalish is going to be very interesting. As I hinted at earlier, the Inquisition uncovered many revelations about Thedas’ history during my time as Inquisitor. This included many discoveries that challenge or directly contradict many of the very foundations of Dalish culture, and how much of the current Dalish belief system is still standing when this information becomes more widely spread will shape what will become of my people.