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They really drilled into how pissed off Rook is during this entire sequence and I love it. She won't even look this man in the eye because he DOESN'T DESERVE IT (yet). Set your boundaries, queen 💅🏻

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Real Talk - What's going on with this statue of Rook?

I just put together that the statue is standing on Rook's side of the Prison and the real Rook is on Solas's side now. Was Solas just staring at that statue when Rook was away? Or did it only just manifest because Solas finally betrayed them?

This is easily one of my favorite sections of the game, and I thought the imagery was really cool, but it never crossed my mind why a statue of Rook was actually there. Rook sees Neve/Bellara/Davrin/Harding because they represent Rook's regrets, but it doesn't make sense for Rook to manifest an image of themself. It definitely has to be there because of Solas, but I'm curious what everyone thinks the timing would be - has the statue been there for a while, or did it just get there?

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Two Wolves 🐺

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I wouldn't be a true Dreadrook apologist without an obligatory post about those hands. Not much to say here - they just really like touching hands.

I would love to know whose idea it was to have Rook and Solas be so...weirdly intimate with the Lyrium Dagger handoffs? Some of these interactions will depend on the dialogue wheel choice, but still. Part of what makes it so hilarious is when you consider that they've had all of their conversations in the Fade with a literal chasm between them and (presumably) an inability to physically touch/harm each other. Then, when they're finally on the same physical plane, they're very touchy-feely with it. I imagine part of it is Solas, and the fact that he's probably so starved for any kind of physical touch that he draws out those little moments of connection, regardless of who Rook is.

So yeah, it's neat. They're neat. 10/10 would hold the Dread Wolf's hand because he's lonely.

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I love Rook's little smile during the very last cutscene. This is a person who has just defeated Elgar'nan and stopped Solas from tearing down the Veil, literally saving the world by doing so, and all she can do when met with a cheering crowd is smile kind of awkwardly. I just learned how to make a GIF specifically to showcase this, so here you go:

It's been discussed ad nauseam that part of what makes Rook a compelling protagonist is that they're really "just a guy" at their core. They aren't doing any of this for recognition or glory - they're doing it because no one else will. Rook strikes me as the kind of person who would go back to their day job after preventing the apocalypse because they just want some normalcy back. The Veilguard crew would be like the Avengers, living their separate lives, but always ready to be called on if shit hits the fan.

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They were really fucked up for this, btw

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Pookie is in trouble :(

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I finished my first playthrough of DAV with a non-romanced Solas, and I actually really enjoyed the alternative "atonement" ending. I thought the lines from the Inquisitor were very sweet - her "You are free to find another way" and Solas's "Thanks to you, I can now see the way" gave me the warm fuzzies.

As much as it hurt a bit to watch Solas make his new journey alone, I appreciate that he appears to be content and happy to do so. I'm also of the belief that Solas and Rook's connection remains in-tact after everything, so at least he will have someone to talk to. Plus, I think we can all agree that Solas won't be stuck in the Fade Prison forever - whether he goes with Lavellan or goes alone, he's finally ready to face his past mistakes and move forward. Give it a few weeks, and he'll be back at the Lighthouse.

(Peep Rook in the background - poor girl looks bummed to see him go)

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But wait...there's more.

I knew the ending of this playthrough would be KILLER because Rook and Solas were finally in the real world together, and I could screenshot every interaction to my heart's content. The endgame with a Rook/Solas romance in mind really hits differently, even more than a romanced inquisitor, since they spend so many scenes together during the last couple of quests. 10/10 would recommend a Dreadrook delulu campaign.

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It's giving "Mom and Dad are fighting, but we're still a team"

The fact that these images can exist without a single edit is fucking immaculate. I love these clowns so much and I hope they get married when this is all over.

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I keep seeing Ancient Arlathan AUs in my feed and it's such a fun idea!

They inspired me to imagine what my Mourn Watcher, Yaryna, would look like if she were a spirit during Ye Olde Elven Rebellion. If any of my Rooks could be a spirit in disguise, it would definitely be her - I'm pretty sure Mourn Watcher Rook is canonically a bit of a spirit expert (?) already. In an alternate timeline, she would be a Spirit of Hope that became Ingellvar, similar to how Cole became "Cole." For all intents and purposes, she would become a regular mortal with a strong connection to the Fade and many instances of deja vu growing up.

This was a fun thought experiment! Maybe if I stare at it long enough, I'll be inspired to write something.

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This randomly started playing on my Broadway Playlist on Spotify and, while I'm not super familiar with the Epic musical, I've definitely heard bits and pieces since it started (I went through a heavy Greek Mythology phase). Obviously, this song is about Odysseus and his wife Penelope reuniting after 20 years apart, but I'm so hyperfixated on Dragon Age right now that all I could think of when I listened to this was Solavellan 😭

Tbh I haven't thought about Solavellan since I finished my second playthrough of DAV with a romanced Solas, but damn this song really hits for them. I've been playing it on repeat. It's 1 am.

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Arranging my kiddos (Rook) from youngest to oldest:

Zealand Mercar - 22 (Shadow Dragon)

Shan Thorne - 23 (Grey Warden)

Esha Aldwir - 25 (Veil Jumper)

Nels De Riva - 28 (Antivan Crow)

Yaryna Ingellvar - 35 (Mourn Watch)

All I need now is a hot Lord of Fortune, and my collection will be complete 🤌🏻

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I was just thinking about how much I loved existing in Solas's memory scenes and how cool it would be to have an entire DLC dedicated to exploring more of Fen’Harel’s past via memories. It won't happen, but a girl can dream.

What's gnawing at my brain tonight is the idea of a memory in which Rook takes the role of an ancient elf having their Vallaslin removed by Solas. It was such a significant thing that he did for himself and the slaves he freed, and I think it would be a good thing for Rook to witness firsthand via a memory to experience the more vulnerable side of Solas as a leader.

The whole point of the memory scenes, in my opinion, is for Rook to witness the best and worst of Solas during the height of his rebellion. It would have been nice if all 5 of the Wolf Statuettes in the Crossroads were attained by experiencing some combination of good and bad moments, giving Rook a more in-depth idea of who Solas was on top of the second-hand accounts from Varric/Harding/The Inquisitor.

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Shameless AU where Rook and Illario are uncomfortable exes at the start of Veilguard because he doesn't know how to love people properly due to his trauma, and she's in constant denial of his actions throughout the entire game because if he was capable of doing such horrible things, it means everything they shared together was a lie. Add on top of that feeling extremely guilty because Illario absolutely fucked over Lucanis's life, but she can't help trying to rationalize his actions to make herself feel better.

It's giving bargain bin Solavellen, but I think I can live with that.

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I took my Crow for a walk.

She's had a good time (I promise).

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Another Pre/Post-Veilguard visualizer for my unused Crow Rook.

I might actually play her one of these days, but until then, at least she's looking badass in the files.