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Normal pope activities

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the “and now, i die.” line from rook during weisshaupt is one of the funniest lines in the game because it represent how much they are that guy (tm) that just showed up. they know how ridiculous it is that their trying to fight an elven vape cloud god and it’s neo pet. they just are like “well fuck it, we ball”

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LOL idk what I was expecting but I wasn't expecting this

so i did this quiz and-

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to be loved is to be found ( ꈍ◡ꈍ) 🌟

landscape ver

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LUCANIS DEMISEXUAL LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOO

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Someone was being a fucking hater on my explicitly positive DATV post AGAIN (u all know I can see your tags right. They get delivered to me express mail style) so here’s an essay about how I thought the Grey Warden plotline was great:

First, it was extremely lore-consistent. I don’t know how to tell people this, but the Grey Wardens simply are sort of shady— it’s part of their charm. In DAO alone we found out they:

- kill anyone who refuses the joining

- are definitely using a blood magic ritual to induct people

- tried to usurp the throne of Fereldan

In DA2 they:

-Forced Malcolm Hawke to perform a blood magic ritual against his will to contain Corypheus, by threatening to kill his family

- Built a giant prison in the mountains they didn’t tell anyone about and that someone could wander into and not be able to escape

- the entire Corypheus thing. They didn’t even tell the other Wardens like what he was or how dangerous he was.

DAI:

- the demon army thing was pretty bad

And that’s not even mentioning any stuff from the books or comics or shows! That’s just stuff in the games!

So they’re shady. It’s okay! They’re my little woobie guys, idc if they’re sort of shady!

But the plot in DATV is about all of those previously established issues coming back to bite them in the fucking ass, as they should! Knock knock, it’s the consequences of your actions, baby! The chickens are home to roost

(Which is just good storytelling. Like if you set up a bunch of issues and then never pay them off or anything that’s bad.)

Destroying Weisshaupt was inspired! Firstly bc Davrin is Weisshaupt, metaphorically (bulwark against the darkness, etc, I already made a post) so it serves his character arc. But also because it strips away the pageantry and the grandeur from them; no more castle for you! No more myth!

Davrin explicitly tells you that the First Warden is a traditionalist; he represents the historical attitudes of the Wardens. They do not accept help, they do not give up their secrets, they are standing alone against the dark. And it doesn’t work! He’s fucking wrong (and very punch-able). Being secretive and isolationist is a mistake that costs them nearly everything.

But also, and I’m not sure how many people experienced this on the first go-around, the game does ultimately come down on the side of the Wardens always trying to do the right thing. You CAN talk the First Warden down, because in the end he’s a Warden, and he might be stubborn and curmudgeonly and miserable but he CARES about the world. He came to do good. He admits he was wrong and he helps you. Because the heart of the Wardens is about selfless service to other people. In Death, Sacrifice.

Stripping away Weisshaupt and the glory and pageantry leaves the Wardens at their most vulnerable and forces them to return to their fundamental principles: helping people. That’s what Lavendel is about. Helping individual people and preserving every life possible even if it doesn’t feel that glamorous or heroic. Lavendel isn’t a significant place; it doesn’t matter, but it matters so much.

And then, the Cauldron.

First off, do not at me about Last Flight. I don’t think people should have to read external materials to play this game and understand it. If the information is vital it should be presented to the player in the text.

The Cauldron is the repository of the Wardens’ secrets; it’s where the keep the bones of the Archdemons, the secret to the Joining, ancient and dangerous weapons, as well as the bodies of the griffons, which represents their most shameful errors. Isseya is the avatar of the Wardens’ mistakes; she’s been hurt by what they made her do, and her pain was never acknowledged by them. They buried her story and her suffering like they bury everything they don’t want to deal with and are ashamed of. They left the bones of the griffons, whose deaths they directly caused, to rot because they were too sad to acknowledge them.

But it was wrong to walk away, it was wrong to bury it. Isseya makes sure that they can never do that again, that they have to own what they did and take responsibility. By discovering who she is and by restoring her personhood to her, by reminding her of her love which drove her to her anguish in the first place, Davrin saves her and he saves the griffons. He doesn’t do it using violence, because another sin of the Wardens is just assuming that they can kill their way out of their problems, which the game disproves by revealing the origin of the Blight. You can kill as many darkspawn as you want, you will never fix it! The Titans’ dreams do not need to be slain, they need to be healed.

Isseya is in so much pain because of her incredible love for both the griffons and the Wardens, and because of her guilt. Look what she builds! An alternate Weisshaupt, a distorted reflection of her home. She entreats both Davrin and Assan to join her, because she doesn’t think she’s trying to destroy anything. She’s trying to save them! She wants them to come home. “I am their mother,” she says, and she’s right. She saved them, then, and she ends up saving them now! Because she made Davrin and the other Wardens look, unflinchingly, at what they had done, it will never happen again. She was going about it wrong during the game, but she was ALWAYS trying to save them.

Davrin, Antoine and Evka represent the Wardens’ commitment to being different. They let Flynn undergo the Joining without becoming a Warden, they reveal secrets to non-Warden Rook, they offer to help the Viper without asking for anything in return. They ask for help and offer it freely. If the Wardens are going to persist into a world without Archdemons, they HAVE to change. They can’t be what they were anymore. The game is asking what a Warden is when they have to be more than their oath, when they have to live. It’s a great exploration of and expansion on previously established lore.

Anyway, my advice if you hated the plot and the game and the characters is to a) make your own post b) don’t bother me about it, because I have the time and I will be loudly positive in response!

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Thinking about Solas' comment in Ghilan'nain's Grove in DAI: "It's quiet here. I like it."

I used to think that maybe it was a nice tranquil place back in the day. Perhaps some remnant of their friendship in the past made it seem nice and peaceful.

With the Veilguard context, I fear that the Grove was used for Ghilan'nain's experimentations and that such horrors were committed there and that creatures screamed so much, that Solas likes the quiet there now because there's no more tragedy there.

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"I'll talk to him guys!!"

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Romanced Companions: Flower Collection

So here's the updated collection so far

Emmrich

Lucanis

Taash (courtesy of @jollycapybara)

Harding (courtesy of @celestialalignment)

Davrin (courtesy of @iamthelordofcheese)

If anyone has screencaps of Bellara's or Neve's, feel free to add :)

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I've seen it said that Rook is a better romance option for Solas because unlike Lavellan, they know who he is from the get go. So let me make something clear:

Rook does not know Solas better than Lavellan does. They know his history, his crimes, even his regrets, but what he shows when they talk to him is very much a mask.

Fen'harel is not who Solas is. As dishonest as he was about his past during his time with the Inquisition, he also came the closest to being himself ever since he took a body.

In sappy terms, he hid his deeds and plans from Lavellan, but not his heart. With Rook, it's the opposite.

Who we see in Veilguard is not some kind of "Solas unmasked", it's Solas who has returned to wearing the mask he was allowed to shed for a little while and hide the fact he'd ever worn it.

The raggedy apostate who plays mental chess with Bull, trolls Sera, beats Blackwall at diamondback, who nerds out about magic with Dorian and approves of helping every single hinterlands peasant you encounter, that's the real Solas. Keeping his past a secret is what allowed him to stop being what his service to Mythal and his people made him into, even if for just a little while.

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Genesis / Apocalypse

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Saur on

Saur off

Gif credit: @haladrielgifs

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ON THAT NOTE sorry all this is fermenting in my mind:

I did NOT like the romance scene (at least for Davrin, idk the others) after the Fade situation.

To me, it felt out of the blue let's-just-bang-this-out. It didn't feel right. After being weeks (I've read, not that they make it seem that way) trapped in the fade with literally the consequences of your decisions you're back and up for a roll in the hay

Or maybe that's just my ace brain thinking. I mean, for instance, I DO think Lucanis' romance taking it's time makes sense given his trauma. So. Idk.

Thoughts on Veilguard, now that I've finished. Read at your own risk

Fuck Solas. I think he is a good character, but I just wanna punch him half (or whole) of the time. My canon will be the "good one" probably, but it was SATISFYING besting this mf

I enjoyed the game, but it has flaws for sure

I liked the characters, but I can't say I'm super in love with anyone, if that makes sense? I like them a lot, but I don't get the hype like I did with Alistair, Morrigan, Cassandra, Advisors, the whole da2 gang.

In part, I think it's because I felt their personal quests were lacking. 3 missions and that's it? Tbh I don't remember how long the others were, but I also don't remember feeling "eh" about them either. These felt superficial and short. Like, they had potential but then it's over.

Like can you imagine extending the dilemma with Bellara's brother who I already forgot the name of

Or the pursuit of Illario taking longer

I think I was just ok with Davrin's and Taash and even they could have content extended.

Not to mention Harding. Good buildup and bam that's it thanks for coming byee

While I liked the game, I'm struggling with thoughts of replaying it. I honestly did the 3 endings just by replaying the final cutscene or so, so nothing you actually do affects it. What's the point? To explore romance options? They're not pulling me in.

Another factor is Rook's personality. I had to restart because I was struggling with my first Rook's idea and how their personality in game is. I love my Rook, but I think replayability is cut by a lot, by not allowing you to shape their personality more.

I feel like the choices are less of personality choice and what their reply is. Because "red" option is still going to sound kinda cheeky/playful.

The already mentioned everyone southern-thedas-apocalypse makes me worried more then leaving a bitter taste. Like I understand, it's a cop-out to deal with thousands of choices and you care so much. But it's also been 20 years (I think?) since Origins, so personally I do expect it to be totally different from then. It just makes me wonder if they'll ever do another game in the South, so we can deal with whatever is happening

Well of Sorrows. Personally, I had Morrigan do it so it didn't affect me, but I agree it's something that should've mattered.

Kieran is a mess maybe, my brain can't work all this out sometimes

At first, I was salty Varric was IN THE FADE and not one mention of Hawke. But then I learned.

Romancing Isabela having no option on VG. Listen, my pirate would NEVER not wear Hawke's favor. NEVER I'LL DIE ON THIS HILL.

Merril 100% AWOL. With all the eluvians. She could've become a Veil Jumper.

Lack of elven reaction to your gods being evil. And the immediate acceptance??? No one just thought Rook was crazy??? Except First Warden and he doesn't even go here.

Ok so 10 years, probably the word spreaded about the Dread Wolf. Maybe that makes kinda sense.

BUT WHAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE is no word of the followers Solas gained by the end of trespasser.

I'll still replay from the Harding vs Davrin choice. I chose Harding because I wanted to see the romance ending for Davrin. 100% disappointed about all the ending slides, felt like eh. But I think my canon will have Davrin leading the other team. Nim (my Rook) would've chosen the person she trusts the mostest to lead the other team to victory.

I am preparing to be disappointed with the fade shenanigans that ensue bc I have.. expectations and I don't think they'll happen.

I'm just afraid if Assan dies too.

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"That was um.. really nice."

Everyone talking about their crushes in Veilguard but I'm still here. 😩

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It really is crazy that Bioware came out with the friendship/rivalry system in DA2 and not only did it never revisit it, no one else did either?? Like a system that lays out and explicitly incentivizes roleplaying as a character with real principles and explores how butting heads with a character might actually play out? And I know that you can have different dynamics with party members in other DA games but I feel like what was so special about 2's system is it explicitly didn't frame making a character mad as a loss of progress but a different kind of progress.