Defend? When have I ever defended Rainier’s actions? I will never defend what he did because what he did was wrong. But, while we’re on the subject, let me point out a few flaws in your message.
Thom Rainier did not kill Lord Vincent Callier children, his men did. Yes, he gave the order and, if you decide to look at it in a skewed perspective, he did kill Callier’s family – but he did not take the finishing blow, he was not even present. And, yes, he did it for coin (mostly because of the coin, no doubt about that) and because he was given an order; just like he gave his men. What he did was horrible, and yeah – it does make him a bit of an arse, but he’s changed. He knows what he did was wrong and that is why Revelations happen.
‘Bland as fuck and a shitty character’? Hm… I would not use those words to describe Thom Rainier at all. If anything, he’s mysterious and intriguing (at least to me). Listening to the banter with him and Cole, him and Solas, practically him with anyone, you see many different sides of himself. Warrior (playful even sometimes) with Solas and Bull, Fun Uncle with Sera (and Solas, the banter with those three is priceless), cautions as hell with Cole because Cole knows – and Thom Rainier knows that Cole knows his secret (which, in itself, is interesting. Cole, a character who wants to help the hurt and can see when people are lying, doesn’t tell the others the truth about Thom… Interesting. A spirit of compassion, trusting someone who is ‘apparently’ a ‘shitty’ human being, one to not be trusted and completely ignored because of the mistakes he has made in his past. Makes you think that maybe Thom Rainier isn’t as hideous as you make him out to be, hm?)
Do you really have anything to back up your shitty character claim besides murder? Because, if he is a shitty character only because he’s killed people, maybe you should take a look at your other companions, even your LI. Hell, Josie’s even kill someone before and she regrets it deeply – but she did it to live, which is a lot of the reason your advisors and companions have killed themselves. Survive by any means necessary; and, depending on your Inquisitor, they’ve done the same.
Going back to be defending Rainier’s actions: I don’t.
Thom knows what he did was wrong, and that is he why he does go back. If you do get him out of prison and force him to continue living this lie (that he is Blackwall and that is he a Grey Warden), he is utterly disgusted with you and would leave the Inquisition if he could.
If you ignore him during Inquisition (not completing his person quest and such) and you move onto Trespasser, he will not be there. Instead, a codex entry of the past two years:
If Rainier’s Background was Never Discovered:
If you didn’t do his personal quests, Rainier never left the Inquisition, and therefore is never revealed as false. If this occurs, Rainier is not present at the Winter Palace, and there is a codex in his place, describing the events of the last two years. Rainier left the Inquisition six months after Corypheus’ defeat and turned himself in for his crimes.
TL;DR: Thom Rainier is neither bland or a shitty character. I do not defend his actions because I don’t need to. He knows what he did was wrong. Not even getting into his romance because this would be an even longer post and I have homework to do. All in all, Thom Rainier is amazing and I love him. Please remember next time you come to someone’s ask box that not everyone has the same opinion as you on Thom. You don’t have to understand his character, or like him, but please be respectful of the people who do like his character and like his romance.
i think i just realized just WHY i’m bothered by so much of the blackwall hate i have seen.
dude is depressed.
if you have ever been depressed (or lived with someone who is) you would know he is from playing the game, but i guess it’s not straight out stated and it only deals with the messy, gross parts of depression that makes a person insufferable.
we got the chronic lying, self-loathing and self-centered at the same time (which is like, hallmark of depression), not even thinking twice if you’re going to die or not, giving up yourself for a “better” cause to forget his own problems, drinks a lot, doesn’t think he deserves anything nice…etc. why’d you think he’s so gungho about being in the inquisition and doesn’t care if he dies like any other soldier?
not to mention he literally wants to die, he wants to get hung. i’ve seen hate for this, that he’s cowardly and whatnot for being low-key (or pretty high-key tbh) suicidal from guilt turned into depression. come on.
people want their mentally ill representation but only when it fits them and their own personal taste, i guess. it’s only fun when it’s a cutesy character who get a lot of canon sympathy or is a victim for it. less fun when it’s a flawed character who’ve done some fucked up stuff and continues to fuck up because their brain is broken.
i was about to add the fact that he’s getting hated on because he’s got a beard and isn’t “pretty”, which i’ve been thinking of for ages.
it really doesn’t make sense to me, since he fits the classically handsome-type so much.
All I see is a wall of sex. Piercing blue eyes. CHECK. Thick, full head of hair. DOUBLE CHECK. Treats you in a gentlemanly fashion. CHECK. Strong, badass warrior. CHECK. Funny, flirty conversationalist. CHECK. Loathes classism and people who look down on others. CHECK. Will calmly and rationally defend you and your relationship together if people question it. CHECK. Passionate make-outsessions. CHECK.
He’s made his mistakes. He’s also punished himself plenty for them. He’s learned from his mistakes and become a better person. A valiant person who will love the inquisitor with all of his heart and every fiber of his being.
Eniv Trevelyan 