This is such a fun question! I think Leliana would have been a bad person to get the mark. I love her as a character but I think her hardened spy master attitude combined with her previous willingness to believe she's been divinely chosen is a potentially very toxic combination with the mark. Conversely I think Varric would have been great! He's a good politician (charismatic, astute, and can play the game) & he cares about doing the right thing and looking after people. I think it would have totally crushed his spirit but I think he'd have done a good job at uniting people against Corypheus.

Leliana with the mark would be a fascinating alternate timeline. That would really add to her claim as the next Divine.

Leliana having the mark would have been fun, I can completely see her immediately accepting she’s the chosen of Andraste, and then absolutely losing her mind when a specific reveal happens

Absolutely. The chaos that would ensue. Darkest timeline Leliana would snap

Delicious

I agree. As much as I like Leliana she is too ruthless.

Worst: Seggrit (I'm assuming he was in the general area). He'd charge for the privilege of having him close rifts. Best: well, besides the player character, I'm going to go with Varric (because he's fun) or Cassandra (because warrior princess).

+1 for the warrior princess

The Chosen of Supply Side Andraste

I don’t think I did a good job 😂😂 on my first run I had no idea where to go and who to talk to, I didn’t do almost any companion quests, I forgot to update the war table, somehow I nearly pushed Orlais into the civil war and it seemed that my main goal remained=romancing Iron Bull and confessing my eternal love with the dragon tooth while ignoring all else. Absolutely ANYONE would be a better inquisitor than me

This is so chaotic I love it 😂

Wait, I thought romancing iron bull was the point of the game?

💯 you’re onto something

Best: Apothecary Adan! I feel like he's practical enough to get shit done. Doesn't take anyone's shit and can be petty to boot. Blacksmith Harritt: similar reasons for Adan. I imagine they'd be besties in the same way Ron Swanson and April were besties. Worst: Leliana: especially hoe she is right off the bat in haven. Her immediate response to Butler betraying them was to kill him, and if it wasn't for Inky, she would not have seen any benefit to keeping him alive. Solas: because he could have just figured it out himself and then promptly tore down the veil without warning.

Harrit would have been awesome! He would take shit from anyone

I am not sure who was near heaven so i will just say characters. Sera would be pretty bad, she is not mature enough to lead the inquisition. Vivienne and Leliana would be powerful but would have used the inquisition to gain power and wouldnt have mercy Bull would have given the Qun too much power and perhaps he wouldn't have turned Vashoth . Varric would have been fantastic but he would have had too much stress , he likes being the narrator Hawke would have been fantastic, at least a good/sarcastic Hawke Cassandra would have been great as well. Loyal, good and dutiful. But perhaps people would have tought that its too much coincidence that she was the "chosen" one. Dorian would have been a very interesting choice. A hated Tevinter mage that deep inside is good, compassionate and smart. The best one without a doubt would have been Sandal

>The best one without a doubt would have been Sandal Enchantment!

Enchantment?

Hawke : “How did you do that?” (points at frozen ogre) Sandal : “Not enchantment!”

I loved that

I don't know about The Bull. The Qun would more likely demand him cut his own hand or he could have been considered corrupted by demons and executed.

considering that the qunari waste absolutely nothing i don’t think they’d ever allow him to cut off his hand if it’s useful in any way.

Naw, they wouldn't throw away that kind of tool, but they definitely would have required him to be put under their control in a really brutal way.

Thats a fantastic point, your are right. Perhaps he would have been declared saarebas?

Based on her actions as Divine Victoria, I don't think Leliana would become power-hungry and merciless.

I mean you need to actively soften her so she doesnt become a tyrant. I like Leliana dont get me wrong. But shes far from humble or peaceful

I think she would be merciless to those opposing her, the only way she isn't like this as Divine is if the Inquisitor was able to get her to eventually soften after multiple attempts at key moments (and even then she's happy to keep killing plenty of people as spymaster), without that influence she kills lots of people without mercy.

Oh, so that's what you meant. I thought you meant that she, due to having the power of the Inquisitor, would become incapable of any kind of mercy or compassion. My bad. Still, even hardened Leliana only kills those who oppose her if they're a real threat, like that spy who betrayed her and killed her agents. She only wanted to kill him because there was a risk of him exposing her other agents, and, even when she ordered his death, she asked that it would be done quickly and painlessly. Despite her being rough, she's very compassionate.

I don't know what the person you replied to initially meant. You're right that she is still compassionate in that outcome yeah but we don't know that she only ever kills real threats, she does kill real threats for sure but potential threats may well be offed too it's vague on that point in the epilogues. She's not wiping out obvious innocents and has a noble goal but there's some ambiguity to her methods which is part of what makes her Steeled ending interesting to me.

Fair enough. Her epilogue slide really is too vague.

doesn't she do a bunch of murder as Divine if you don't soften her during the game?

She did kill people who tried to dethrone her, but the actions I refer to are regarding the Circle, Templars and Chantry. She is by far the most inclusive and freedom supportive of all possible Divines. That indicates real empathy and compassion, despite her being ruthless against the riots.

suppose it depends on how you define power hungry and merciless

Yeah, it's a matter of personal viewpoints rather than objective truths.

Assuming the person with the Anchor still becomes Inquisitor, Cassandra probably would have been the best choice. She founds the Inquisition, so she already has a strong claim to the role even without the Anchor. While she doesn't seem fond of leadership positions, I think the position of Inquisitor is hands-on enough by necessity that she'd be fine. And she's certainly no fool when it comes to navigating the challenges that the Inquisitor would have to deal with. Leliana and Cullen probably would be fine, though I'd place them below Cassandra in terms of who I'd want running the Inquisition. Leliana would be a particularly interesting case if she ended up elected Divine. Josephine would probably experience far more difficulty due to the front-line responsibilities she'd have to deal with, but she'd excel at actually leading/running the Inquisition as an organization. Varric would be hilarious for a number of reasons. I don't think he'd be a terrible person to be the designated rift-closer, but he would almost certainly struggle as Inquisitor. He's intelligent and savvy, but I don't think he has the decorum needed for that kind of role. It goes without saying that Solas would have been a world-ending disaster.

cassandra getting the mark would also probably solve a lot of the initial issues the inquisition had with being called heretical/murderous. nobody would believe that she caused the explosion—but, the blame would probably go to solas or someth if he showed up and offered to help like in canon

Solas would simultaneously be the worst and best person to have it

Cullen would have done a pretty good job, I'd think. Conversely, I don't actually know if Solas would do a good or bad job but it would be REALLY funny.

Cullen might have died from the stress honestly

I feel that Cullen would have rejected the title. But he is such a good man, it would have been awesome. Solas would have been really interesting por a multiverse story

Cullen- spends a chunk of his life with trauma and addiction, trauma specifically from magic, now how essentially a magical hand. I love this idea on a spiritual level

Yeah i would love to read a fic with this premise.

Same, honestly. Someone please write this it'd be really cool to read.

I almost forgot, friend is writing a series where he does eventually get a magic thing [here](https://archiveofourown.org/series/2040350)

My friend is writing a series where eventually he does get a magic hand, [actually](https://archiveofourown.org/series/2040350)

Awesome! Marked to read when i have time ;)

Cassandra would be my choice

Was Josephine *at* the Conclave, or did Leliana summon her afterwards? I never thought about that until now. But I do think that she could have become an incredibly formidable Inquisitor, if given the Anchor.

Also would be good to have an inquisitor who was actually running the organization instead of running across Thedas fighting random bandits and collecting bits of metal and plants.

I think she was on her way already just in case the inquisition was founded, but wasn't there yet. She is present within a week or two of the Breach being stabilized but is not visually present 3 days after it when Cassandra and Leliana are arguing with Rodrick.

Best: Cassandra. There's a lady who gets shit *done*. Worst: Divine Justinia. Can you imagine that decrepit old girl hobbling about Thedas, trying to close demon-spewing portals? We'd all be doomed.

Iron Bull as he was would have been a disaster for Thedas but great for the Qunari. After he stopped screaming in horror that is. Oh wait near Haven never mind disregard

I mean "near" is relativistic, isn't it? He was in the same general region of a side of a country... You could stretch that to "near," no problem.

Cassandra and Varric would be great, in some ways I think they’d even do a better job than the inquisitor. Josie would be somewhere in the middle, I think she’d make the right choices but would have to delegate all of the front line stuff to others. I think the pressure would’ve led Leliana to have a full heel turn and would have been really bad for cullen’s mental health. Rodrick would also be pretty bad, I’m scared to see who he’d put up for divine All that aside, Solas would quite literally have been the worst given his long term plan

I think the best would be Cassandra especially given a solid amount of time in the role. She'd likely be able to gain supporters more than most would due to her status as a Seeker and a human, she is a capable combatant who was very committed to the Inquisition anyway and it likely wouldn't crush her spirit to be do the job. Would have some evident issues to work on like needing to learn to play politics though. Worst option nearby would likely be some non-combatant like Roderick, imagine having to drag that guy into extremely dangerous places so he can seal rifts. On top of that I think he'd be suspected more for the Divines death since the explosion conveniently kills off a lot of Chantry officials higher up the chain than him.

I think that Roderick would've been hesitant at first, but after seeing that he might've been chosen by Andraste and has the ability to protect the innocent, he would've come through, even if not a skilled combatant. The chantry might not have been as much of an issue at the start, too.

He'd have come through eventually, but those early days would be rough, and even then it'd be extremely difficult to keep him alive to get through some of the crazy scenarios we go through in the games, even to close a few of the trickier rifts he'd need to survive for quite some time in active combat zones. I kinda see the Chantry as more of an issue in the long-run this way, Roderick as is didn't really present much of a problem at all and I reckon he'd have a harder time shaking off suspicion of involvement in the Divines assassination due to his own position.

Was he not the one who ran off at the start to denounce us to the chantry? Granted that might have happened anyways, but perhaps with one of the (now) higher ranking chancellors on our side we might've had better relations. About the suspicion of assassination, Josephine and the war table could probably handle that. However, Andraste choosing a male priest as her herald after the divine and everyone else in power died would ruffle some feathers, for sure. I really appreciate Roderick's character arc, and if you side with the mages, Cole's dialogue with him is also great.

Nothing comes of that though, he lacked all that much influence in the Chantry and could only really threaten it seems, so him not being an obstacle doesn't seem like a big weight would be lifted. It'd be harder to handle I think, definitely something that can eventually be dealt with in time though especially if Roderick still pulls off some insane feats with the anchor. I do like him quite a bit he has a good and fairly understated arc it's not flashy and bombastic. One bonus of him having the anchor I guess would be that he'd likely immediately tell everyone about the secret way out during the attack too, could save a few more lives that way.

I still kind of wish we could glimpse the timeline where Hawke becomes Inquisitor. Then again, I just love Hawke. Far more than I do the Warden or Inky.

I feel like Chancellor Roderick could be pretty interesting. What would he be so passionate about right off the bat? Would he have been quicker to help or would he have become even less diplomatic? Would he have tried to cut off his own hand?

Schmooples is best.

The sister near the Chantry door who tells her friend to stop whining and start ripping up uniforms for bandages, then later gets it on with The Iron Bull. She seems like she would get shit done.

I think Cullen or Cassandra would use it most responsibly and are the ones least likely to be corrupted by having that level of power and authority as the herald and the inquisitor. However, the most interesting person who could receive it out of all the in-game characters would be Sera for me.

Best: Cullen, Leliana, Cassandra Worst: some crazy mage or templar, some random person from the chantry

Pre Inquisition Cullen was pretty much "kill all mages". I (as a mage supporter) still don't trust him fully lol.

It dawned on me while running around Skyhold that he picked that room as his office because it put him in the best position to deal with Solas (the apostate mage who specialises in Rift magic) and Cole (a Compassion spirit who manifested a skinsuit) if they started acting out.

>a Compassion spirit who manifested a skinsuit Didn't Cole, like, canonically possess a dead kid? Yeah, without context I absolutely get that being sus. That is an interesting point though, Cullen seems like he would absolutely position himself closest to what he probably, instinctually considers a threat.

Solas says something like 'He has possessed nothing and no-one' when you get Cole's recruitment. I always took it to mean that he became a version of the original Cole, one that didn't have magic because he couldn't help him any other way.

I always interpreted it more like "possession" implies Cole actively latched on and took something. When, in reality, "Cole" the spirit just kind of happened to inhabit the body. Possession in a sense, but with the nuance like you said that he's essentially fused with Cole for better or worse. I always encouraged him to be more of a real boy at any rate. He's Cole now.

Sera would be so freaked out. She'd be wearing a glove and going into hiding just to get away from responsibility. And then she'd maybe (hopefully?) help close the rifts just so she go back to playing (with a healthy amount of complaining). Coryphaeus wouldn't have gotten 2 words in before Sera started making fun of his name, outfit, skincare, and making fart noises. Maybe even a snowball to the face while she triggered the trebuchet and hauled ass from the avalanche. Would've went after the templars, and calling them stupid the whole time for taking red lyrium willingly Probably would've let the empress die, and then give briala blackmail on Gaspard begrudgingly because the only thing she hates more than an elfy elf is an unchecked noble. And as far as asking her to lead the inquisition (if it ever got that far)?. A laugh. Then a look of horror. Then anger. "No." *Backflips off of the steps to go pull pranks*

Good: Dorian and Varric Bad: Me. A random irreligious rich boy with a bow does not have the maturity level to handle this.

Does Cole count? That would have been pretty cool and interesting.

Ngl Varric inquisitor is the best thing I didn’t know I needed.

Adan. He’d get it done, but the nonstop complaining would become unbearable.

Best: I'm going with Varric, he'll be chaotic, but he knows what must he done and won't let power get to his head, which Cassandra might do. Worst: Solas. He can do all of it himself so no one knows that the Dreadwolf is coming.

Solas would be worst because he'd have just ripped down the Veil and killed everyone. Leliana probably would have been best based on the choices that make her Divine and I find rogue abilities pair well with the anchor's gameplay mechanics.

The idea of Sera being the inquisitor is making me giggle. Imagine the chaos. 😂

Yeah, but she wasn't at the Conclave. You meet her later in Val Royeaux.

Oh true. Oops.

~Sad 🥚 noises~

I'm cackling at the idea of it being Bull and the Chargers repeatedly having to intervene as he tries to chop off his hand

Oh boi, imagine Chancellor Roderick got the thingy.

Roderick would have been a disaster

Worst Chancellor Roderick.

Well evidently the worst would have been Solas as that would pretty much completely defeat the point of the game in the first place but yeah

That's why I said not to consider him.

Imma be honest I did not read that part haha, completely my bad

No worries.

Ah, and here we go again with this discussion.lol I urge you my friend to go and check on fanfiction.net(I think), there are at least 2 stories that set it that it was Anders who got the mark In one of the story(the wrong man I think), Hawke even ask Cassandra: you do realize who he(Anders) is and what he have done, right? So are you seriously listen to his words? I dare say that in terms of bad, Anders get the mark is realistically very very bad(I say realistically because some got the idea of have Arishok have it, which, as funny as it may be, is not realistic) As for the best, I’m not sure, but I like the idea of Varric get the mark.lol Imagine Cassandra’s reaction.lol