The sheer astronomical size of this takeover outweighs even the real life spread of Christianity. The one and only above ground nation in Thedas that holds strongly to their ancestral beliefs is Rivain. While there are some groups such as the Avvar, Chasind and the Dalish who still practice their ancestral beliefs, they do so against Chantry law, and exist as minorities on the fringes of society. In doing so, they crushed almost all worship of the Old Gods, the Alamarri and Ciriane deities, and the Elven Creators. The Chantry conquered their way through Thedas, murdering anyone who would not submit to Drakon’s version of Andrastianism. Kordillus Drakon founded the Chantry as part of creating the Orlesian Empire, and believed it was his divine duty to unite all of Thedas under the Chant of Light. It spread by brutal force, just like the Qunari tried to do.
The Chantry did not gain its followers through peace and friendship. And yet, the only difference between these actions by the Qunari and the actions of the Chantry, is that the Chantry succeeded. Even those of the qunari race (as in the descendants of the kossith), but not followers of the Qun, are treated with animosity. Still in the Dragon Age, the Qunari are hated and feared across Thedas, considered to be a bigger threat than the Darkspawn by all save for the dwarves. The peace treaty known as the Llomerryn Accords was signed by all save for Tevinter, who continue to battle the Qunari over the island of Seheron. But when the Chantry turned to massacring the civilian Rivaini population, the Qunari withdrew. This war nearly drained every Nation’s resources to the brink of collapse, while the Qunari took the decimation of their ships and military without flinching. At the height of Qunari occupation, they held control over nearly all of Northern Thedas, and driving them out took the combined efforts of the Chantry and Imperial Chantry. Almost the entirety of both the Steel and Storm Ages were defined by the war between Thedas and the new invaders. When the Qunari first came to the main continent of Thedas, they did so with the goal of violently assimilating everyone into the Qun. How is such an action any different from how control is maintained under the Qun? Meredith was quick to threaten him not to disobey her, unless he wished to end up like Threnhold.Īs in the case of Kirkwall, the Chantry will go even as far as replacing a city state’s leader to maintain the real seat of power. This ended with Threnhold forcefully removed from office and arrested by Meredith Stannard, and the Chantry chose Marlow Dumar to be the new Viscount. It can also be on as large a scale as when the Divine ordered the Templars to attack the city of Kirkwall, because Viscount Perrin Threnhold was charging high fees from Orlesian ships entering the city’s harbour. This can be on a small scale, such as when the Templars attempted to arrest Anders, despite King Alistair or Queen Anora supporting his freedom among the Grey Wardens. However, Chantry law supersedes these systems, and the Chantry will go above the ruling of a Nation’s leader, should they feel inclined. The Nations of Thedas all have their own government systems, yes. When Leliana shared what she thought the Chant of Light was about, she was shunned by her fellow Sisters for an interpretation not aligned with what the Chantry strictly taught. What is shared of the Chant is not meant to be questioned or debated. The canonical Chant of Light as of 9:40 Dragon is very different from its original version. In addition to these translations, Canticles have been added and removed by different authors over the ages. The Chant of Light was originally a collection of songs in Ancient Tevene, translated to Ciriane (the now dead language of Orlais,) and then translated to the currently spoken languages of Thedas. This event is also believed to be what started the Blight. The Maker is worshipped as the supreme deity who created all, but abandoned the world due to mankind’s sin of breaching and defiling his heavenly Golden City. The Chant of Light is an account of and collection of teachings from Andraste, who is worshiped as the martyred prophet and mortal bride of the Maker.