Dragon Age II

[Maiandra]

So I actually finally finished Act 2, but I didn't like how some things played out with companions, namely Isabela, and I went back to redo the last third of it. Thankfully, by doing that, I was able to get just enough friendship with her to trigger her Questioning Beliefs quest and allow me to keep her as a companion.

The same thing happened to me, of course. I never traveled with Isabela, being content with my party - Mage Hawke, Anders, Varric and Aveline -, and so she bailed me with the Relic. But that's fine. When she revealed what the relic was, my Hawke was pretty pissed and told her angrily to give the Book of Koslun back to the Arishok. From a role-playing perspective, it actually makes more sense that she left... but I intend to keep her and see how things turn out during my second playthrough. After that, I'll decide what solution I prefer more.

Well, I decided after Act 1 that I wasn't likely to replay the game, so I wanted to make sure I had everyone with me for the entire game. Plus, I didn't like how the game handled that particular incident. I was angry at her as well and I thought the book should go to the Arishok first, but I would have been willing to help her with Castillon myself and get him off her back some other way. They don't even give you that option, so this seemed like the best thing to do. By the time I had replayed some of Act 2 with her with me a little more, I liked her better anyway and felt like she was a bit more of a friend. Plus, upon thinking about it a bit more, I felt her behaviour was a little more forgivable, since I can't imagine that having a price on your head for 4 years straight would be an easy thing to live with.

It was immensely satisfying when Aveline punched Gerard Dupuis in the gut What a creep! I can't believe I fell for his story about his sister to begin with.

Have you tried to bring Gascard DuPuis with you in Quantin's lair? And bringing Varric along?

I didn't try it myself, but read what happens online. The first time I did that quest, I didn't accept his offer and I did have Varric with me. Since I wanted to be able to question him later, I made sure not to bring Varric with me the second time I did it.

about Anders almost killing that escaping circle mage

I'm happy to see that you managed to save the girl too. The following dialogue is much, much better if she was saved.

I didn't know that she couldn't be saved until DPX mentioned that it hadn't happened for him. I suppose it's related to his friendship level at that point, since you can't really get into the romance officially until after the quest.

That was pretty much the most important quest to me during Act 2, but I will also say that all the political intrigue is quite interesting as well. I like how they've made it so complex. It's not just black and white. Amidst it all, I really like the Grand Cleric.

I don't know about you but I really, really, really hate Sister Petrice. I loathe her. And when the Qunari popped up to shoot her, I was oh so incredibly happy. And I also hate Grand Cleric Elthina: her pusillanimous stance is, de facto, giving Meredith free rein in Kirkwall, and mages are once again the ones to suffer.

I did not like Sister Petrice at all. She was a crazy zealot. Nor did l like what I saw of Meredith at the end of Act 2 and very beginning of Act 3. She seems very power-hungry.

While I agree that the Grand Cleric could have done more, I didn't think the game was clear on exactly where her jurisdiction was and how much control she had over Meredith anyway. When you ask her why she hasn't done more in the city she makes it sound like she knows something you don't know and that she actually has a good reason for it. Maybe that was just an excuse, but it sounded convincing at the time. I have yet to see what she does in Act 3.

Given the fact that it's unlikely that any Grand Cleric would be actively pro-mage, I found her surprisingly moderate, considering every Templar (except Thrask, whom I liked) and cleric that you have a chance to talk to in Kirkwall at any length seems crazy anti-mage. I was expecting her to be like that as well and I was glad she wasn't.

I also liked her response to my questioning about the Tranquil Solution. She seemed to genuinely regret that they used the Rite of Tranquility at all and certainly wasn't supportive of the Solution.

I was very surprised that she didn't lift a finger to help Sister Petrice and didn't bat an eye when the Qunari killed her. That made me like her more, since she clearly thought the Sister had brought her fate on herself with her actions and wasn't just blindly supporting her because she was of the Chantry.

The Grand Cleric is not a perfect person, but I liked her character for not being the predictable "sinister religious figure" I was expecting.

That said. I'm going to avoid this thread until I've finished the game. I don't know what spoilers are safe for me to read and which aren't anymore. I've already unwittingly read a couple that I shouldn't have, thinking they would be about something else.

[Tawmis]

Maiandra, if I am replying to you in these threads, I make sure not to spoil anything you haven't seen yet. Just so you know.

about Anders almost killing that escaping circle mage

I'm happy to see that you managed to save the girl too. The following dialogue is much, much better if she was saved.

I didn't know that she couldn't be saved until DPX mentioned that it hadn't happened for him. I suppose it's related to his friendship level at that point, since you can't really get into the romance officially until after the quest.

Is this the same Mage girl who the templars are after outside the cave - and the leader she's with goes all Blood Mage and Anders threatens to kill her? That same nice girl? Yeah... About that...

That was pretty much the most important quest to me during Act 2, but I will also say that all the political intrigue is quite interesting as well. I like how they've made it so complex. It's not just black and white. Amidst it all, I really like the Grand Cleric.

I don't know about you but I really, really, really hate Sister Petrice. I loathe her. And when the Qunari popped up to shoot her, I was oh so incredibly happy. And I also hate Grand Cleric Elthina: her pusillanimous stance is, de facto, giving Meredith free rein in Kirkwall, and mages are once again the ones to suffer.

I did not like Sister Petrice at all. She was a crazy zealot. Nor did l like what I saw of Meredith at the end of Act 2 and very beginning of Act 3. She seems very power-hungry.

Soon that power-hunger will make sense...

[AndreaDraco]

I was very surprised that she didn't lift a finger to help Sister Petrice and didn't bat an eye when the Qunari killed her. That made me like her more, since she clearly thought the Sister had brought her fate on herself with her actions and wasn't just blindly supporting her because she was of the Chantry.

Safe to read, don't worry

Well, to be fair, she didn't bat an eye even when Petrice murdered Seamus Dumar. She can't bat her eyes at all. She forgot how to do it. She's a robot with just one standard response: "It's the Maker will."

Is this the same Mage girl who the templars are after outside the cave - and the leader she's with goes all Blood Mage and Anders threatens to kill her? That same nice girl? Yeah... About that...

No. Maia is referring to the girl Sir Alrik wanted to make Tranquil and rape in "Dissent." You'r confusing her with Grace from "Act of Mercy" and "Best Served Cold."

[Maiandra]

Maiandra, if I am replying to you in these threads, I make sure not to spoil anything you haven't seen yet. Just so you know.

Is this the same Mage girl who the templars are after outside the cave - and the leader she's with goes all Blood Mage and Anders threatens to kill her? That same nice girl? Yeah... About that...

So now I know that something happens with her later on, even though I don't know what it is.

I was very surprised that she didn't lift a finger to help Sister Petrice and didn't bat an eye when the Qunari killed her. That made me like her more, since she clearly thought the Sister had brought her fate on herself with her actions and wasn't just blindly supporting her because she was of the Chantry.

Well, to be fair, she didn't bat an eye even when Petrice murdered Seamus Dumar. She can't bat her eyes at all. She forgot how to do it. She's a robot with just one standard response: "It's the Maker will."

To be even more fair, there's no indication in the game that she knew what Sister Petrice planned for Seamus far enough ahead of time to do anything about it.

I'm not saying I love the Grand Cleric, but I do like her more than I thought I would, for a Grand Cleric, so far. She could have been worse.

But I'm sure you'll vehemently disagree with that too. You obviously have your reasons for hating her, but I haven't finished the game yet. I'd like to wait and see what happens in Act 3 to see if I view her differently.

I can see some of your points, but it's difficult to develop that strong of a dislike for her when she's so inoffensive in her interactions with Hawke. Meredith, on the other hand, I disliked right away.

[Tawmis]

So now I know that something happens with her later on, even though I don't know what it is.

You may have seen, it was the wrong mage I was thinking of.
So, you're still good.

I was very surprised that she didn't lift a finger to help Sister Petrice and didn't bat an eye when the Qunari killed her. That made me like her more, since she clearly thought the Sister had brought her fate on herself with her actions and wasn't just blindly supporting her because she was of the Chantry.

Well, to be fair, she didn't bat an eye even when Petrice murdered Seamus Dumar. She can't bat her eyes at all. She forgot how to do it. She's a robot with just one standard response: "It's the Maker will."

To be even more fair, there's no indication in the game that she knew what Sister Petrice planned for Seamus far enough ahead of time to do anything about it.
I'm not saying I love the Grand Cleric, but I do like her more than I thought I would, for a Grand Cleric, so far. She could have been worse.
But I'm sure you'll vehemently disagree with that too. You obviously have your reasons for hating her, but I haven't finished the game yet. I'd like to wait and see what happens in Act 3 to see if I view her differently.
I can see some of your points, but it's difficult to develop that strong of a dislike for her when she's so inoffensive in her interactions with Hawke. Meredith, on the other hand, I disliked right away.

Don't be so sure. I don't understand Andrea's dislike of her either.

[AndreaDraco]

Well, we can discusse it at length once Maia has finished the game, but I think I've already explained why I dislike her so much.

(safe to read for everyone)

In real life, if there's one thing a priest can say to infuriate me is: "Don't fret. It's our Lord's will" or something to this effect.

"Why do bad things happen?" "Misterium fidei, but it's the Lord's will."
"What can we do about something?" "Nothing, child, trust the Lord. It's in his hands..."

I hate this fatalistic view, this laughable determism that reduce manhood to an herd of idiotic sheep waiting for a shepherd to save them from the big bad wolves. The hell with it.

And this is exactly why I hate the Grand Cleric. I hate even more than Meredith. She was respected by the people, she had the power to do so much for the cause of mages - mages who, let's not forget, were being murdered, raped and irregularly made Tranquil even under eyes (and no, I don't believe she didn't know about it, since Sir Alrik went to her with his Tranquil Solution. Did she know that her precious Templar liked to rape Tranquillized mages?) - and yet she decided to do nothing at all. De facto allowing Meredith to do what she wanted with the Circle.

"Grand Cleric Elthina, aren't you going to do something about Meredith and Orsino?"
"Why should I? The Maker will see us through."

(Maia don't read what's below)

"Grand Cleric Elthina... You exploded in a big ball of red fire. Was it the Maker will? So long, you big, fat hypocrite."



Sorry, I know I become a little heated on the subject but Grand Cleric Elthina reminds me too much of certain popes of our recent history who preferred to avert their eyes from what was happening under their noses and then repeat that it was "the Lord's will."

[Rath Darkblade]

I'm currently re-playing the game for the fourth time as an alienage elf, and trying to see what'd happen when I come back to the alienage, and - even more - what'd happen if I romance Alistair and try to be an alienage elf queen! Later on, I might try and see what's it like to play a human mage who comes back to the tower. Or a Dalish elf who comes back to the Brecillian forest.

You do know that you can't marry Alistair and become unless you're a Human Noble, right?

Actually, you can - as long as Alistair has been "hardened".

(And I'm talking about the experience with Goldanna, so get your mind out of the gutter!)

[DeadPoolX]

Andrea,

I understand your position, believe me. As a Jew, I'm well aware of the Catholic Church's persecution of those deemed "unfit" or whatever else. I know they did this partly because of "God's Will" and also to maintain control over the populace. At one time the Catholic Church held so much power that even kings and queens were subject to the Pope's authority.

I also dislike blind faith and I know Maia does too. Neither of us are defending Grand Cleric Elthina based upon any real world view. We're merely commenting that our interactions with GCE were positive ones. Perhaps that's because she's playing a Rogue and I'm playing a Warrior. Maybe she acts differently toward a Mage.

GCE's overall power is limited in a sense. Yes, she could attempt to unite Kirkwall's citizens to rally against the Templars, but what would that gain? Eventually rioting would occur and Meredith would strike back, ultimately killing many people. We both know Meredith is insane enough to kill the very same people she claims she's defending against Mages.

Beyond what might happen to the city, GCE has good reason to fear Meredith. Despite the fact she's the leader of the Chantry in Kirkwall, Meredith has the city under martial control, meaning she could either claim the Mages had used blood magic to infect the Chantry or GCE is secretly a Mage who practices it herself. Hell, Meredith could simply have GCE assassinated or do it herself.

The point is that even though GCE supposedly has more power than Meredith, the reality of the situation in Kirkwall was that she didn't. The best she could do was calm down both Meredith and Orsino while attempting to maintain whatever peaceful relations she could between the Templars and Mages.

Was claiming everything is in the "hands of the Maker" (or whatever she said) an excuse to avoid any responsibility? Maybe, but consider this: the DA world isn't our own, so who's to say that the Maker doesn't actually exist or that the Chantry doesn't have some connection to him? That concept seems alien to us, but so is the DA world in that respect.


Maia, don't read the spoiler below!

No matter what the situation was, I still believe Anders was in the wrong by blowing up the Chantry. Did he set off a series of events that caused other Mage Circles to revolt? Yes, he did, but he's also responsible for the deaths of ton's of innocent non-Mages. Even worse for Mages themselves is that now the populace has greater reason to fear them, which could result in a severe -- and most likely violent -- backlash against Mages.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Mages themselves splinter into different groups and become warring factions with each other. That would cause an even worse mess and weaken Mages themselves.

In addition, what Anders did was terrorism. I know you believe it was a revolutionary action, but really, the only different between a terrorist and a revolutionist is one's point of view. As the old saying goes, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

Despite what many think, most terrorists don't act for the pure sake of blowing stuff up. They have reasons behind their actions, no matter how misguided they may seem.

To use a real world example: the American Revolution. Back in the late 1700s when this occurred, the colonists truly believed they were being taken advantage of and struck back in a blow for their own freedom. American history teaches such, partly because it's from an American viewpoint, but also because the colonists won and later formed the United States.

Great Britain viewed the colonial uprising as terrorist actions against the British Empire. Had the British won, the history books would tell a very different story.

Which viewpoint is correct? The United States? The United Kingdom? Both? Neither?

My point here is that there's no clear definition of revolutionary nor any one true distinction between revolution and terrorism. What Anders did is an act of revolution for Mages, but also an act of terrorism against the Chantry and by extension through fear, the non-Mage populace.

[AndreaDraco]

First of all, thanks DPX for your well-reasoned post.

(Maia, do not read )

I agree with you that what Anders did may be interpreted both as a revolutionary act or a terroristic one, depending on one's viewpoints on the subject. The saying you mentioned, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter," is certainly correct and I won't press this point further. What will come from his action we'll probably see in some DLC or in the sequel.

I also agree with you about Meredith holding perhaps more "real" power in Kirkwall than Elthina. However, I stand by my point that Elthina was a slothful leader, content with ruling without ever taking a clear position. I checked some Codex entries and, based also on some posts by the writers over at the official forum, I'm pretty sure she could have at least removed Meredith from her position and appointed a new Knight-Commander, Cullen, perhaps. The people would have never followed Meredith, because, let's face it, Elthina was incredibly well-loved by the general populace of the city.

The matter of the fact is, however, that she purposedly chose to aver her eyes from what was going on in Kirkwall. As such she is, in my eyes, as much to blame as Meredith and those mages who resorted to blood magic to free themselves.

[Tawmis]

Maia, do not read this post.

The matter of the fact is, however, that she purposedly chose to aver her eyes from what was going on in Kirkwall. As such she is, in my eyes, as much to blame as Meredith and those mages who resorted to blood magic to free themselves.

I don't think there's enough proof one way or another who is right. We see Meredith has plenty of good reason to not trust the mages, when even the First Enchanter is resorting to Blood Magic (and turns on you). Especially since, this clearly wasn't an act of desperation that makes him turn to Blood Magic at the very last instance - no, because it's clearly suggested that he had something to do with the Necromancy used where your character's mother ends up with her head cut off. So this is clearly not new to the First Enchanter, especially since the guy (whose name slips my mind) who does this vile act - explains he's been doing it for a long time, and finally unlocked the secret with the First Enchanter's help.

So were these mages turning to Blood Magic all this time because the pressure Meredith was pressing upon them? Or were they doing it all along, and Meredith's methods are justified - or at least, far more rational.

To me, it would seem - when I think about it in hindsight - I am almost siding more and more with Meredith. Why? Because, clearly what's been going on in Kirkwall has been happening for awhile. But Meredith doesn't really begin to lose it until the last few years (when she gets in possession of "something" that's revealed at the last fight - being obscure in the event someone who isn't there yet accidentally reads the spoilers!). But it seems like the mages had been doing Blood Magic long before she really began to lose it. Yes, she was a bit extreme - but she was also found to be reasonable (before the final act), because she spares specific mages if you play your cards right, and can even see them free in the city again. Where as the Mages at this point are already practicing Blood Magic left and right long before Act 3 comes down.

[AndreaDraco]

I still think that the Blood Magic situation was so severe in Kirkwall because of Meredith's repression. Even before the Champion's arrival in the city, mages who already underwent their Harrowing were being made Tranquil against their will at the merest sign of disagreement with the Knight-Commander's policy. And it's stated everywhere that it's illegal to render Tranquil mages already harrowed.

As vile as Blood Magic is, what Meredith was doing was even worse. It was a pogrom.

[DeadPoolX]

Maia, don't read anything in this post until you've finished the game.

I don't think there's enough proof one way or another who is right. We see Meredith has plenty of good reason to not trust the mages, when even the First Enchanter is resorting to Blood Magic (and turns on you).

Yeah, the fact Orsino turns on Hawke really pissed me off. I placed my trust in the Mage Circle and to find the regular Mages -- in addition to the First Enchanter himself -- not only using blood magic, but turning against me... well, it felt like a betrayal.

Let's not forget that Anders used Hawke to further his own goals. I turned him down, but if I hadn't, I would've been as responsible for the Chantry bombing as he was. I still felt terrible since he was my friend -- someone whom I trusted to fight by my side -- and under my supervision.

Granted, Anders didn't "work" for me, but it was my decision to bring him on my adventures and help him. I gave him the means, whether directly or indirectly, to do what he did.

Especially since, this clearly wasn't an act of desperation that makes him turn to Blood Magic at the very last instance - no, because it's clearly suggested that he had something to do with the Necromancy used where your character's mother ends up with her head cut off.

I agree. I might've had some sympathy for him if he wasn't involved with Hawke's mother getting killed. Even if he hadn't intended to do that (which I don't believe he did), he allowed Quentin to perform his experiments. Orsino could've stopped him, but he didn't and like Grand Cleric Elthina, he's just as responsible when turning a blind eye.

So were these mages turning to Blood Magic all this time because the pressure Meredith was pressing upon them? Or were they doing it all along, and Meredith's methods are justified - or at least, far more rational.

I guess it's a "chicken or the egg" scenario. Unfortunately, we'll never really know for sure.

To me, it would seem - when I think about it in hindsight - I am almost siding more and more with Meredith. Why? Because, clearly what's been going on in Kirkwall has been happening for awhile. But Meredith doesn't really begin to lose it until the last few years (when she gets in possession of "something" that's revealed at the last fight - being obscure in the event someone who isn't there yet accidentally reads the spoilers!). But it seems like the mages had been doing Blood Magic long before she really began to lose it.

Once again, I agree. I don't agree with her extreme methods, but her accusations of blood magic weren't off the mark. It doesn't matter if blood magic was used in desperation or not. The point is she claimed blood magic was being used by Mages in the Circle and at the end, she was proven right.

Yes, she was a bit extreme - but she was also found to be reasonable (before the final act), because she spares specific mages if you play your cards right, and can even see them free in the city again.

That's only seen if you side with the Templars, which Andrea didn't do.

To be fair, Meredith only spares them because Hawke is pushy about it and Cullen refuses to kill the Mages who surrender.

[Tawmis]

Maia, don't read anything in this post until you've finished the game.

I don't think there's enough proof one way or another who is right. We see Meredith has plenty of good reason to not trust the mages, when even the First Enchanter is resorting to Blood Magic (and turns on you).

Yeah, the fact Orsino turns on Hawke really pissed me off. I placed my trust in the Mage Circle and to find the regular Mages -- in addition to the First Enchanter himself -- not only using blood magic, but turning against me... well, it felt like a betrayal.

And that's just it to me. If the Mages REALLY wanted to work things out - they would have risen ABOVE what the Templars were doing. By resorting to Blood Magic, they stooped down to the Templar's level and essentially justified every need the Templar's had. While I am not one for oppressing someone, I also don't believe in a Civilized manner, resorting to something as vile as Blood Magic (if it was real) would be the proper answer. This is why people like Martin Luther King are far more respected in my eyes, than say someone who resorts to some kind of vile act (like Osama Bin Laden). MLK wanted equal rights - and went about it the right way. The Mages only verified every concern that the Templars had. Especially once the First Enchanter reveals he uses Blood Magic. The fact that he was clearly involved in Necromancy. Whether the Mages NEEDED to resort to Blood Magic or Not because of Meredith - consider this. The First Enchanter was committing acts of Necromancy - he knew what this guy was doing. He was killing women to rebuild his wife. Whether Meredith was right or wrong - I believe the acts of the First Enchanter are far more vile than anything Meredith could have done.

Especially since, this clearly wasn't an act of desperation that makes him turn to Blood Magic at the very last instance - no, because it's clearly suggested that he had something to do with the Necromancy used where your character's mother ends up with her head cut off.

I agree. I might've had some sympathy for him if he wasn't involved with Hawke's mother getting killed. Even if he hadn't intended to do that (which I don't believe he did), he allowed Quentin to perform his experiments. Orsino could've stopped him, but he didn't and like Grand Cleric Elthina, he's just as responsible when turning a blind eye.

Careful DPX, we're agreeing too much here.

To me, it would seem - when I think about it in hindsight - I am almost siding more and more with Meredith. Why? Because, clearly what's been going on in Kirkwall has been happening for awhile. But Meredith doesn't really begin to lose it until the last few years (when she gets in possession of "something" that's revealed at the last fight - being obscure in the event someone who isn't there yet accidentally reads the spoilers!). But it seems like the mages had been doing Blood Magic long before she really began to lose it.

Once again, I agree. I don't agree with her extreme methods, but her accusations of blood magic weren't off the mark. It doesn't matter if blood magic was used in desperation or not. The point is she claimed blood magic was being used by Mages in the Circle and at the end, she was proven right.

Exactly what I was thinking - and saying above in this post. Egads, we agreed again!

Yes, she was a bit extreme - but she was also found to be reasonable (before the final act), because she spares specific mages if you play your cards right, and can even see them free in the city again.

That's only seen if you side with the Templars, which Andrea didn't do.
To be fair, Meredith only spares them because Hawke is pushy about it and Cullen refuses to kill the Mages who surrender.

Not true, about siding with the Templars. I completely sided with the Mages, but when available, I asked Mages to be spared for mercy. So I got this, even though I sided with the Mages. I haven't sided with the Templars. Doing that with my Rogue now which is taking me forever to do since the replay isn't quite there for me for DA2.

[AndreaDraco]

EDIT: Oh, yes, Maia: don't read

Well, to be absolutely fair, Orsino was lending Quentin books for his research. He wasn't actually involved in what Quentin was doing. Sure, he averted his eyes and, like DPX said, he's condemnable for this.

But, in my opinion, nothing Orsino did, nothing every mage turning to Blood Magic did, was comparable to what Sir Alrik did - making young mages Tranquil so that he could abuse and rape them - or to what Meredith did - taking mages who already passed their Harrowing, and rightfully so, and made them Tranquil against their will just because they disagreed.

These are the vile crimes in my eyes.

[Tawmis]

Maia, do not read.

EDIT: Oh, yes, Maia: don't read

Well, to be absolutely fair, Orsino was lending Quentin books for his research. He wasn't actually involved in what Quentin was doing. Sure, he averted his eyes and, like DPX said, he's condemnable for this.

But, in my opinion, nothing Orsino did, nothing every mage turning to Blood Magic did, was comparable to what Sir Alrik did - making young mages Tranquil so that he could abuse and rape them - or to what Meredith did - taking mages who already passed their Harrowing, and rightfully so, and made them Tranquil against their will just because they disagreed.

These are the vile crimes in my eyes.

Well first - how is it you don't despise the First Enchanter. Did he not only HELP Quienten, directly or indirectly - but he turned a blind eye. Remind me again, why you dislike the Grand Cleric? Wasn't it because she was turning a blind eye to the Templars? To me, what the first Enchanter did was more vile than the Grand Cleric, by miles. The First Enchanter was turning a blind eye to someone who was committing murder, over (what? 5 or 10 years?) to rebuild his deceased wife. Blood Magic taints yourself - you basically surrender your body, soul, and will to a demon. What the First Enchanter was turning a blind eye to, was someone committing murder AND using Necromancy.

While under Meredith's rule, sure Mages were being made Tranquil - but it just seems like every mage was already a Blood Mage. And most Templars simply out right KILL Blood Mages. At least they were being made tranquil. (In Origins, you even meet one or two who desire to become Tranquil and enjoy their life as tranquil). Perhaps that's the enslavement talking, who knows. But to me, First Enchanter is just as guilty, if not MORE guilty than Meredeith.

At least with Meredith, you KNEW what you were getting into. You knew why she did what she was doing. You knew up front what she believed, and why she believed it. With the First Enchanter, he lies to your face - even as you're about to risk your life to defend him and all the other mages - that the Templars shouldn't assume everyone's a blood mage. And guess what? Turns out, everyone's a freaking Blood Mage.

I would rather side with Meredith, the more I think about it, because at least she's truthful. Her methods are extreme, sure (and I speak before the final fight) - but it's better to have her at my side, then a knife in the back, which is exactly what the Mages do in the end.