For players that had Alistair as a warden in Dragon Age: Inquisition, they faced an incredibly hard decision in the main quest Here Lies the Abyss. They had to choose between Hawke and Alistair, leaving behind one of them in the Fade and knowing they will not make it out. Hawke is the main protagonist of Dragon Age 2 and Alistair is a fan favorite character out of Dragon Age: Origins. For a lot of fans, especially those that romanced Alistair, this is one of the most difficult choices to make in the series.

The choice has created a lot of discussion in the Dragon Age fandom, with players debating on which character is more needed by Thedas and which will be missed more by companions. Some also believe the text to be ambiguous enough that whoever stays behind may not actually be dead. Many stick to more emotional reasoning from the previous two while others choose more on the basis of role-playing the Inquisitor and choosing based on whom they would pick.

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Leaving Hawke In the Fade

Hawke at Skyhold.

Some fans have mentioned that leaving Hawke in the Fade feels like the more practical and story-based choice. One reason is that Hawke mentions wanting to redeem themselves for releasing Corypheus in the first place. Fans also pointed out that after dealing with Corypheus, the Grey Wardens will need more guidance than ever, so sacrificing a warden would hurt their organization.

The title of the quest, Here Lies the Abyss, has been compared to some dialogue Flemeth says in Dragon Age 2. It is a scene where Flemeth tells Hawke to not be afraid to leap into the abyss when the time comes. She says it is only when people fall that they find out they can fly. Many fans have wondered if the abyss she spoke about is actually hinting that Hawke will survive the Fade if left there. Some, however, have mentioned this Flemeth line could just be a hint that Hawke dying could be a part of her long-term mysterious plans.

Another big reason fans leave Hawke behind is their connection to Alistair. Some are more emotionally invested in him than Hawke. Next to that, some fans mentioned that they always role-played their Hawke as ultimately self-sacrificing, so leaving them behind just makes sense from that standpoint. Some even pointed out that they have Bethany or Carver as Grey Wardens, which would make Hawke extra protective of the Grey Wardens and not wish to see them sacrificed.

Leaving Alistair In The Fade

Alistair in Inquisition.

There are also reasons some leave Alistair in the Fade. Some players have mentioned that since wardens created this problem in the first place, it only makes sense for a warden to pay the cost of fixing it. A lot of fans who played Dragon Age 2 also romanced a companion and got attached to them, so leaving Hawke would hurt them. The same is true of not wishing to hurt Varric, who is incredibly hurt if Hawke is left behind.

Another popular reason is that Alistair may not have long to live anyway, as he is a warden and will eventually hear the Calling. As a warden, he is all about sacrifice already. One of their sayings is "in war: sacrifice." Hawke, on the other hand, is no warden, so they may have a long life ahead of them to make a positive difference in Thedas. Another perspective is players can be more attached to Hawke than Alistair since Hawke was a player character and Alistair has always just been a companion.

Some players also think it is a fitting end to Alistair's story. He is a Grey Warden through and through, seeing them as family, and making the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the organization suits him more than Hawke who may not have any connections to the organization if Bethany and Carver do not join them. He also gets to die like his mentor who he respected so much, Duncan. With arguments to be made for both sides, it is no wonder this choice is so difficult to make.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

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