"Vivienne: The creature has more riddles for us, it seems. Cole: It isn't a riddle. I can say what I mean without you understanding." - :D

2:35 “bunny” cole later on says there should be more bunnies in stories my heart breaks 😢😭

I LOVE MY WEIRD SPIRIT SON

"If Solas needs to die, Cole will be there to bring his friend home" Wow. That would be great. But I would probably cry for a week if that happened...

Not to mention, if you talk to Cole end game after Solas leaves, he will have a telepathic conversation with him which will end with Solas erasing Cole's memory of him to prevent Cole from interfering.

-When Cole joins the inquisition, Cole will have approval rating even if he is not in the party.. This is well done by Bioware, making it seem like Cole was there but we don't remember.. -Also when Cole is in subterfuge, if the inquisitor gets close to him, you can faintly hear the fade. Sounds like vale fire. Again well done Bioware. -One more... In Therinfal Redoubt the first time we can actually see Cole is in the courtyard entrance. Just before speaking with Delrin Barris look up at the scaffolding. Cole is sitting on top looking down at you. I don't think he has a hat.. of corse this is if you choose Champion of the Just.

Oh my god, the real Cole's sister was named bunny?...that thing he said about Rabbits needing to be in more stories got an entirely different meaning now... And lol, Varric has a knack of "adopting" his friends. Varric is the best. The episode in which you have to choose if Cole becomes a spirit of human should be called Dad-Off XD Cole really is one of the most well written characters Bioware has ever made I think. He has so much depth and character. I kind of hope he will make a small cameo in DA4 but only if the writers do it right. This character needs to be done justice. (No, not Anders's kind of justice)

During my third play through, after Cole erases the memory of the woman in the courtyard and you have the option or watch or scold him for it, I realized Cole is the only NPC who gets to replay his conversations the way that the player does.

I always chose the human path for Cole. A while back, I watched videos of spirit path. At first I thought I had chosen wrong. Spirit!Cole was so happy. Then I saw the scene where he makes himself forget the original Cole. That scared me more than the broodmother in Origins. I don't think I can ever choose the spirit path now. Cole shouldn't be forgotten. He was already forgotten once. Never again.

Ive always thought Dorian and Cole actually had the greatest relationship. Both Varic and Solas are only concerned with what they want Cole to be. Dorian thinks of Cole as a child and answers his questions accordingly. Sexuality, Eternity, Metaphysics. Dorian answers all of Coles questions.

On the Autism note, I personally have autism, and there are many times where the world seems very loud and extremely bright but nothing actually changed, the world just seems so, overwhelming.

I wonder if after Morrigan’s son said that the elves chose their shape, if the elves started out like Cole, and then after reproduction they became a separate race. That could help explain their original longevity, and Solas instant recognition of Cole.

Death by paperwork, my worst nightmare.

I KNEW IT I CALLED IT COLE IS ONE OF US! No but seriously, I played Inquisition maybe a year after being diagnosed with autism, and listening to Cole's dialogue, I had a feeling his character must have had something to do with autism, and maybe that's one of the reasons he's one of my favourite characters! And, as someone on the spectrum, I kinda understand his dialogue in a way, how he phrases something to mean something else! (I also had the theory that Sera is also possibly on the spectrum, because how she articulates her feelings and opinions, but that's for another day) But thank you BioWare witters, you are all geniuses and THANK YOU

I don't find it strange at all that he is as different as he is. I believe the exact phrase Cole used to describe the time between the end of Asunder and Inquisition was "I learned to be more like what I am." meaning he rediscovered some of his spirit abilities. The time lasted a few months and, considering that he was already quite a bit different when they got back to Skyhold after his personal quest, this change seems to happen quite quickly. And we know from Soals that spirits can adapt to a mortal's perception of them, which would have to be more or less instantaneous.

did anyone find varics party banter with Cole very informative?

I adore Cole. He's innocent and tries to do what's right. He does have emotions but they are very simple. He couldn't deceive you even if he tried (though someone like Solas could probably trick him into doing it). He doesn't make sense if you don't know what he's talking about but he makes perfect sense when you do...it isn't HIS fault when the player can't figure it out. Cole just says what he sees or remembers without any preamble or fillers. It makes sense to *him*, and often does to the player too when they look around and figure out what or who he's talking about. He's honest/truthful in his confusing way, and he's loyal to anyone he decides he can trust. And I love watching him fight. He's ethereal, fast, and takes on so many colors with his moves. Deadly little butterfly. I ended up feeling really protective of him. He's one of my favorite characters in all the games. And the fact he is a piece of the puzzle, that he understands so much more than he can (or even realizes he should) explain...I hope he plays a part in DA4. I read "Asunder". Cole in the book isn't all that different from the one in the game as far as I'm concerned. It's his backstory from when the spirit takes over. I didn't end up thinking "this guy's completely different"..he's definitely the same Cole to me, just in a different part of his life. Younger, more frantic, with more fears and less understanding of himself or anything else. The fact that in the book he didn't constantly speak in cryptic sentences didn't break it for me. It took him a long time to even realize he wasn't the human-Cole, and then he started messing with his own memory and accepting that he actually was a spirit. Then he went who knows where for a couple of years before he showed up in the game, and he spent that time alone (as far as I know, though he seems rather chummy with Solas, hmm). That's enough for me to accept he quit trying to emulate a human and that his way of thinking and talking changed to something more spirit-like in the meantime. Whatever, if you like Cole, I do recommend the book.

While I don't really go for spirit Cole that often I never quite agreed with members in the fandom that this option was strictly horrible on the basis that the real Cole's memory was forgotten. The memory for spirit Cole was both a pain and a shackle that kept him from moving on and it's not necessarily his duty to wear that memory. But that's the beauty in Weekes saying that neither option is all good as you get good discussions out of it. What I find funny though is the spirit option feels like the reverse of the initial actions of a certain Grey Warden.

I didn't know his sister's name was bunny... that's so sad because he said "I like the part with the rabbit, there should be more rabbits in stories"

I typically take the "Human Cole" route, but mostly that's because Varric told me to, and I always do what Varric says, either as a Hawke or as a Herald. :p In all seriousness, Cole's memories of the real Cole may be what holds him back, and they may not be truly his...however, even if the world loses a spirit of compassion, it gains a compassionate soul, and that might be worth more in the end.

I was heavily bullied as a child too. The staff members at my first elementary school did everything but physically abuse me. It was like walking into a room where the floor was 100% mousetraps and u would get yelled at for triggering one. They'd be like "how fuckin' *dare* u?" and I'd be like "the entire floor is covered in mousetraps, what did u think was gonna happen?" then I would be suspended for trying to getting through the mousetraps for 3 days a week. Granted I dealted with them with explosive violence but only because I was on the spectrum of autism and nobody would help; just watch. I forgotten this most, no more than, "everyone was mean," but my Gramma brought it up, I experienced the *TRIGGERED* thing for the first time and remembered

*wraps Cole in blanket while crying* I just want him to be safe and happy T0T

Cole the sweet empath who doesn't understand the concept of privacy

It's interesting to me that Cole's character was actually inspired by people with autism, as I am neurodivergent myself and I could relate to Cole in a lot of ways: communicating in ways that confuse others, feelings of overstimulation in certain environments and even the use of stimming behaviours. Although I still find it a difficult choice I prefer spirit Cole because he is appreciated for who is, not for who people want him to be. Varric means well and genuinely cares about Cole, but it's the old belief of 'he'd be happier if he was more normal,' which doesn't sit right with me when discussing an autistic-coded character. Being a spirit is a different experience to being human, but it doesn't make him lesser. Plus I find it weird that human Cole ends up with Maryden in the Tresspasser DLC; the pairing makes little sense to me and I honestly feel like Cole could do better.

What I really adore about the Solas Vs Varric dad-off is that it is likely so a play on The Old World (the time before the veil) and The New World (the time after the veil). And I say this because it is VARRIC who is tasked with grounding Cole and turning him human. VARRIC. A dwarf. A Child of Stone. A piece of a Titan, who “reinforces reality”. So Cole is either taught to let go of his tether to the ground and go adrift again like the elves of the past, or he is taught to focus on the anchor that binds his feet to the earth (to a Titan) and loses his ability to fly.

Yay my favorite spirit cinnamon roll!

Since the touch of a spirit cures tranquility could Cole cure tranquility? (If he stays mostly spirit)

Cole's story is the best. It's tragic, sad, kind, mysterious. I have him always on my team, he has the deadly dance skill. Great lore.

Cole is the only companion that approves if you say that you still love Solas in Trespasser and for that, he is my bestie.

broke my heart at the end “bring his friend home”

My little spirit baby! I love Cole so much. He is easily one of my favorite Inquisition characters.

I love Cole being based on an autism spectrum person. I have autism and I totally got that read on him and I have adored Cole ever since I met him. I considered him my Inquisitor’s adopted son/family.

I could swear that i had a member in my Inquisition with a big hat like that, but I am having trouble remembering him though. P.S. Great channel, love the content on it.

“Doobley-doo down below” Matt Coville’s inspiration reaches far

One thing I find interesting is that, if you make him a spirit (wich my cannon inquisitor does, because she's a solavellan mage who very confortable with spirits and the fade and values them as just as legitimate a form of life) in Trespasser if you click on him enough, he says something along the lines of 'when this is over, I will slip away and go to him' . And he's going where there is hurt and where he'll be needed so... what if he's with Solas somehow, since Fen'Harel is hurting over what he must do and 'would treasure the chance to be proven wrong'? Also, if Felassan is still arround, it would be pretty cool if we could cure his Tranquility by summoning a spirit to touch him and that was a potencial Cole cameo, with a stand in (cough, like Stroud for Alistair, cough) for those who made him human.

This was awesome. Thank you. I adore Cole, and I know this is not a popular choice, but I always make him more spirit. I choose this, because he is in less pain and in the end I want what makes Cole happiest - Bonus is that I really ship Maradyn and Krem :P I have been thinking that Cole is a good choice for a character that returns in Dragon age 4. He is the best choice to forge a connection to Solas, because of thier close bond. Even if Cole wasn't recruited into the inqusition, he might still develop a friendship with Solas as no one else can remember him. He also can't be killed. On top of that there is still a lot of potential for him to grow and learn. If they bring him back, it would be fun if they made him a romance option this time around. I read Asunder before the character list for Inquisition was even announced, so I was really happy to see him - and like you I love both versions. There are very few characters in the dragon age universe that I truly hate, but Rhys and Evangeline are two that fit that bill. At the end of Asunder, Cole was the only character I truly enjoyed.

I don't like how everyone is like "we must protect little innocent Cole." Like, I just find that degrading. He's a grown man and a wise spirit who's been through a lot. He's no child and he doesn't need to be protected for he can handle himself.

Do one for Fenris

So my husband (likes dragon age but not fanatical like me) played inquisition for the first time this passed week. He just got to the part where haven is destroyed and solas takes you to skyhold last night. He sided with the mages do his first encounter with Cole was just now. He said something so interesting I had to share. "Oh, he's like sandle!" I'm like no hunny.....wait.....wait....WHAT!? Holy Crap you guys, what if Sandle IS like Cole!? What if they're both spirits taken human form!? It explains how they talk similarly, their mild use of magic without actually casting spells so to speak, and how both Cole (the companion in inquisition not the mage who died) and Sandle just appeared one day. It's a theory

Thank you for putting these videos up- it really helps my understanding of the lore behind Dragon Age. You have a long-time subscriber from me!

Oh yes. On the autism part. I'm on the spectrum. And I love Cole so much!

I made him a spirit after reading Asunder and he forgot everything, which I realized way too late meant that he forgot Rhys and Evangeline and all of their adventures together 😭😭😭

If solas was once a spirit, does that explain why, after killing a remenant of mythal, at the end game a green cloak formed over his face. If thats true than wtf is the dread wolf.

Cole's personal quest only happens after you complete Here Lies The Abyss because he wants protection from being bound by bad mages p.s. I love your videos

Blackwall: I am sorry about your... friend. Losing someone is difficult. Solas: Thank you. The death itself was less painful than what came before. Solas: Seeing a good spirit twisted, its nature defiled. Solas: Those mages knew nothing of my friend. Worse, they did not care. Blackwall: I... don't know what to say. Solas: Nor will you, until you've seen ignorance snatch away all that you love. Solas: Pray such a day never finds you. I Know this banter has noting to do with Cole, but I have to express.. We know that Cole can feel pain from Solas, but we don't actually know what it is. I wonder, what if Mythal did not die ... What if Mythal was a spirit, and they corrupted her.. Twisted it's nature ... Solas was in-love with a spirit, and what they did to her was worst than death.. A beautiful spirit of Faith, and Justice that cared for the people so much they called her "All-Mother Protecter of the people". But some where Jealous, and feared here ... I know that Solas says that Mythal was killed. In a way, she was.

Cole is a lot like my boyfriend, just wanting to help people and wanting to make things better...it's probably why I loved Cole so much. Like Cole, I had an abusive father and a very.. docile mother and my father was very violent so yeah.

My favorite quote from Cole is about the stars in the Hissing Wastes.

Been working on a Cole drawing for the last couple hours, and in my first break I see this, must be fate! :D

Cole is so precious, one of my favorite characters! P.S: Your videos are amazing

The chills i got from you reading cole's codex made my subscribe. Awsome work!

Interesting. If Solas is like Cole - A spirit of the Fade that created a body for himself, and he regrets doing so, that would explain why he's so pro Cole becoming 100% spirit again. As a spirit, Solas had a specific purpose and life was a lot simpler. As an organic life is more complicated and he misses that and doesn't want Cole to lose that simplicity in life. Very cool.

How have I just found this channel now. Awsome videos you just got a subscriber.

I'm autistic, and I can really sympathize with Cole.

I wish wynne was still alive and in this so we could hear them talk about asunder

This channel is everything I ever wanted

13:15 I also survived this trauma although in my case I remember everything. I think Cole's abilities are not about making people forget their pain so much as accept it.

I love Cole to bits. Asunder helped me understand him so much and be is like my son now lol. Love the video!

Aaaaand I'm obsessed with your channel.

Less than a minute in and already loving it!!! 🤘🏻

OMG I love Cole (and you too Ghil for this video)

"I'm a banker, not a gangster." - Cole, 2018

cant believe anyone would bully you you are my favorite person on KZfaq when comes to dragon age love your channel

I love Cole. Hes so sweet and curious.

I can't wait to see my Cole-ly bear again. Spirit or human, I don't care. I want him back sometime soon.

I really enjoy watching your lore videos. keep it up

i like this channel, your voice is really soothing. glad i stumbled onto this channel.

That was a great opening and a freaking amazing closing!

Cole is one of my favorite party members - he reminds me of a friendlier version of Fenris - both a little bit emo and both unique characters.

OMG I just recognized that Solas and Varric arguing regarding Coles fate is choosing between the fade and the earth. Solas represents the fade choice - spirits, the Veil, magic. And Varric represents the earth - what’s real, the ground, titans (since dwarves are from Titans). And they’re both fighting for Coke to choose sides. Amazing theory!

YAAASSSS I've been waiting for this!

I've adored Cole since I read about him in Asunder. So I was ecstatic when I heard he would become a companion in DAI. He is that one companion who I MUST bring with me everywhere I go. He has so many Easter eggs and reveals much about what is going on, especially when you can't see it.

Spirit Cole every single time

Ohhhh that explains why i have played inquisition multiple times, but i always forget about him after a few weeks.

wow what an awesome channel. This covers everything I really wanted to know and check in Dragon age. Btw I was playing Dragon age inquisition and I was playing in the trespasser DLC and I noticed one of the murals mosaic of Fen'harel looked kind of strange like a Demon and then I noticed somewhere else it had a similar structure. I just thought I would throw it out there since you like Dragon Age so much and I thought it was kind of interesting.

Loved it. That ending was so perfect.

I just finished reading Asunder for the first time and had to fix my perspective trying to forget what I knew about Cole from Inquisition to get the right frame for people's reactions to him and how he talks about himself. ... Poor baby.

Explains why i liked Cole and almost related to him i have aspergers a form of autism myself. He was my favorite character in Inquisition because i often was abused as a child up to age 6. Bullied all through school and always felt like i wanted to be forgotten so people would just leave me alone. In the game i always talked to him and tried to help him above all my followers simply because to me he was the character i could most relate to.

I envy you, I remember my bullies (cause I also had no 'real' friends), and seem to only remember the bad in my life at times, not how it got bad just the actual bad. I do remember some of the good though.

Solas says the spirit taking the form of the Divine should be regarded as the Divine if it wishes ("who are we to say that it is not the Divine if it identifies so strongly with her," to paraphrase) in the Fade and then immediately after that quest encourages Cole to forego his identity as Cole/human as embrace his identity as Compassion/spirit during Cole's companion quest, even saying "we cannot change our nature by wishing." I always thought of this as contradictory, possibly caused by different writers not coordinating their writing (like how he says the Inquisitor should drink from the Well of Sorrows in the Temple of Mythal and then if they do he says that he "begged the Inquisitor not to," which I think was confirmed to be a mistake based on lack of coordination). I now have some ideas on how him advocating for both of these things could make sense, but I was wondering, what do you think the explanation is?

Regarding Cole's quest, as someone who rushed through their first playthrough, not doing it does in fact keep him in that half-and-half state he starts in. And regardless of if he's in your party or not, Corypheus can control him in the final battle if that's the case. I'm just glad I hadn't taken Cole anywhere since I got him, so he wasn't levelled up and still had the crappy daggers from when you first get him, because I was, as should be obvious, underlevelled.

Girl, way to make me tear up with that final thought. I am a Solas Romancer (le sigh) and I hope that we don't HAVE to kill Solas in DA4 but if there is some good closure about it involving Cole, that would help me cope. I'm a new fan and so glad to have found your page. Thanks for the content.

I can see Zachary Quinto playing Solas and Evan Peters playing Cole.

Also another thing I thought of is if Spirit Cole goes back to the fade then isn't there a chance he could save the Warden/ Hawke that's trapped there?

Really nice introduction :D

Party members from Coles perspective: Inquisitor - stepdad/stepmom Solas- Dad#1 and personal hero that knows everything Varric - cool stepdad that knows everything The Iron Bull - Jock cool big brother Dorian - gay cool uncle from abroad Sera - little sis that thinks I am a weirdo Vivienne - always disapproving wine aunt Blackwall - grumpy but cool uncle Casandra - tough big sis

in a way i could say your lucky to be able to forget being bullied but that depends on how you look at it but as someone with a photo memory im so use to having the memories of being bullied and overcoming it that im not sure how i feel that someone could forget something like that

I honestly had completely forgotten about Cole

Loved being coles wingman

For someone who is easily forgettable in the game, ironically in real life he is so unforgettable.

Cole is a very cool person.

I definitely have that trauma thing . I was six when I had to have emergency surgery, a benign tumor in my Large Intestines. Apparently I was screaming the while way to the hospital but I only remember the days recovering.

Solas wants Cole to return a spirit because he have plans that involve Cole.

i let dad!Varric win the dad-off, only to be shocked by my smol precious son GETTING INVOLVED WITH SOME STRANGE WOMAN WHO KEPT SERENADING SERA DESPITE THE LATTER VEHEMENTLY EXPRESSING DISINTEREST. i know my precious child is young and learning about himself but... son. you can do better: when i learned spirit!Cole hooks Maryden up with Krem (KREM! YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS!) i became especially aggrieved because. my people. imagine. COLE/KREM. TWO CINNAMON ROLLS WHO FOUND ACCEPTANCE AND FAMILY AMONG ECLECTIC MURDERY TYPES! besides! wouldn't it be more fun for Cole to go around adventuring with The Chargers than a sole bard? PLUS COLE COULD TOTALLY ACT AS A MESSENGER BETWEEN BULL AND DORIAN AS DORIAN WORKS TO CHANGE TEVINTER FROM WITHIN! if not Krem, maybe Feynriel? SOMEONE COOL, OKAY. Sera got to hook up with DAGNA(!!!). VARRIC AND BULL ARE GOOD DADS AND SHOULD GET COOL IN-LAWS! /oh wow, i need to replay Inquisition and find out where all this Maryden Shade is coming from. O__O

That's such a heartbreaking story...

Cole makes me think of an Empath, if you believe in the esoteric stuff that is, he kinda fits the description of one.

All I want to do is adopt Cole. It’s a weird reaction to have to a fictional character, but I don’t care. I just love him so much, you guys 😭

Broooooo that last part huuuurt

Varric: everyone’s cool uncle

What we learn from Cole and Solas about spirits and "demons" has some major implications. Im usually pro mage and anti circle, Vivienne hates me in my current playthrough. But the reason we have Templars and ban blood magic is because we keep corrupting the spirits and making them into demons. Over in Rivain the Seers allow possession by spirits to help people. Theres a huge potential for peaceful coexistence in the future if we let it. Though between Grey Warden civil war and civil war between the Mage College vs the Mage Circles if they werent disbanded, and the impending Elven revolt with the veil coming down, I doubt we will see much progress.

Are you gonna do mass effect lore? I wanna watch a video on characters like Garrus :)