That Tumblr I posted to had an earlier post on Elthina theorizing that Elthina was more of a political rival to the Divine than she let's on. Danged if I can find the post though, so I'll have to explain it as best as I can.Winter wrote: ↑Sun Apr 22, 2018 9:40 am One point that has always bugged me with Elthina is how arrogant she acts in her last scene if you bought the Exiled Prince DLC. She is told by Hawke that the Divine wants her out of Kirkwall as this powder keg dressed as a city is about to go off and her being their will only make the situation worse.
Elthina then just brushes this off and acts rather smug and ignoring a direct order from her boss. Now her reason for staying does actually make sense as she will not abound her "flock" but the way she says makes it seem like she has her head in the clouds and if she just ignores the problem it will go away. She also acts the same way when Hawke asks her to help with the Templars to help at least defuse the problem a little bit. Her response, she says that the Templars and Mages need to learn compromise without ever clarifying how the two are suppose to compromise.
It's weird, some times she's written very well and you can see why she is seen as one of the few competent leaders in Kirkwall only for her to start acting all high and mighty towards the games final act. This is likely another issue from the games rushed development, had DA2 been given more time it's likely that Elthina would have been the reasonable authority figure throughout the game and her tendency to act rather smug would have been toned down or removed altogether.
Okay, during Act 2 of the game, the position of Divine becomes vacant and a ton of people are viying for the position. Remember, the Chantry is basically the Catholic Church in this world, so this is essentially a game of hardcore political maneuvering.
Now, Elthina is in a rather interesting position here. Kirkwall currently has a bunch of heretics squatting in it, stirring up trouble just by being there, and her own people throwing fuel on the fire until the whole thing just explodes. Imagine what kind of clout Elthina could've had here. Rampaging hordes of Giant Ox Men, rampaging throughout the city, only to be stopped by the Templars that Elthina was ultimately in charge of. That probably would've solidified her as a shoe in for the spot.
Instead though, Hawke did it, and Justinia got the spot. But as ANYONE who knows the History of the Catholic Chruch can tell you, losing the sspot of Pope does not automatically mean you'll never get it later should anything "untoward" happen to the person who got in before you.
Thus, Justinia's invitation could be less her trying to get a Divine Mother the heck out of dodge, as much as it is making sure one of their biggest rivals is withing m's reeach. Even with the loss, Elthina still has no small amount of political clout and reasources at her fingertips. She has Sebastian who is now the only heir of Starkhaven (Mind you, I doubt she would've had anything to do with that. While I don't doubt she's a manipulative lady where Seb is concerned, I'm pretty certain that's more of a "best case" plan than anything.), and she has Meridith as acting leader of Kirkwall. A lot has been done with less clout.
Granted, that all relies on the writers having a fantastic level of skill and subtlety, and given the writing in this part of the game I very much doubt that's the case.
