To add on top of what is within Dragon Age, the way elf lore is written has undertones of colonialist sympathy and needs to be addressed. Not only that, but they are pulled into a religious role that has a history of racism against their people. As a Dalish elf, the Inquisitor puts up with a lot of traumatic microaggressions from NPCs and even their own close companions. While the whole series sheds light on this history and the current system of racism and oppression, none dive into its complexities quite as much as Dragon Age: Inquisition when the Inquisitor is a Dalish elf. Unfortunately, this lore has a flavor that humans in the real world are quite familiar with.
Most of the lands once belonged to the elves, as they were known to once be immortal while possessing powerful magics that were forgotten after they were beaten down by the colonization of humans and qunari. The oppression of elves in the Dragon Age series is one of the many driving forces behind character motivations and the domineering power structure of Thedas.
