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[loweffortopinions]

Illario & Caterina Confrontation This scene takes place after the First Talon drama has been resolved, leaving Illario alone in a cell for his crimes. His solitude doesn’t last long, though. I hadn’t planned on sharing this initially, but I had too much fun writing Illario as the venomous, bitter little shit that he is to let it stay buried. Update: Thank you for engaging with my writing—it means a lot! I’m still getting used to sharing my work, so any input boosts my confidence and keeps me motivated!

(The sound of a guard’s footsteps echoes down the corridor, followed by the low scrape of an ornate chair being placed outside his cell. Illario leans back against the cold stone wall, his glare sharp as Caterina steps into view. She lowers herself into the chair with practiced grace, smoothing her gloves as if she had all the time in the world.)

Caterina: (cold) "You’ve left me in quite the position, Illario."

Illario: (mocking) "Poor Nonna. Did I shatter your perfect little empire?"

(She doesn’t respond right away. Instead, she leans back in her chair, looking as if his words barely register.)

Caterina: (ignoring his jab) "The Crows won’t take you back—not after this."

Illario: "So. Exile it is then. To a swamp, maybe? No—" (he presses a hand to his chest, his tone feigned with mock theatrics) "—the Anderfels. Nothing says exile like dying of boredom in a blighted wasteland."

(His expression shifts, as though struck by sudden inspiration.)

Illario: "No, wait—you’re sending me to Kirkwall, aren’t you?" (he lets out a low, biting laugh.) "You really are a monster."

(Caterina’s lips curl into a faint grimace, just enough to acknowledge something in his words. His laughter falters, the mocking edge slipping as his suspicions solidify.)

Caterina: "Your death will be staged, of course. A quick knife to the ribs from one of the guards." (She pauses, her eyes finally shifting to meet his) "Then a small funeral—just enough to keep up appearances."

(He rise from his seat, pacing the cramped cell before stepping closer to the bars.)

Illario: "And you think I’d go along with this? That I’d play the obedient grandson one last time?"

(Caterina’s gaze hardens, her disdain barely concealed.)

Caterina: (A single, dry scoff escapes her) "Obedience? From you? But fine, if you’d really waste away in here to prove a point—go ahead."

(Her words hang in the air, offering no room for further argument yet Illario persists.)

Illario: (mocking) "Ah, how generous. Rot in here, or rot somewhere else: What a choice."

(Illario pushes off the bars, and crosses the small cell. The bedframe groans under his weight as he drops onto it.) Illario: (voice low, biting) "Before I decide anything, tell me, Nonna—has your little King of Crows finally warmed up to the throne?"

(He tilts his head, watching her closely)

Illario: "Then again, I suppose he hasn’t had much time to sit on it—still away, running those errands. Funny, how easily he’s taken to playing the hero.” (He leans back slightly) "The First Talon; off saving the world instead of running the House."

(Caterina’s cane taps once against the stone floor, the sound sharp and precise, breaking the brief silence.)

Caterina: “Enough. I chose Lucanis because he has what you don’t. Strength. Discipline. And the will to put this House first.”

(For a moment, something vunerable flickers across his face, but it’s buried quickly under his usual grin.)

Caterina: (cold) "Spare me, Illario. You’ve never been hard to read."

Illario: (pausing, watching her carefully) “You say that, but I fooled you all for an entire year.”

Illario: "But maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not cut out for it."

(He looks at her, his eyes burning with hate.)

Illario: "Then again—how’s your perfect choice working out for you, Nonna?" (He gestures broadly to the cell around him) "You’ve got me here, rotting away, while the ‘Demon of Vyrantium’ is slowly slipping through your fingers."

(Caterina's expression doesn’t seem to change, but he catches it—the faintest tension in her jaw. It’s enough.)

Illario: "I see it in you." (His grin sharpens) "You keep telling yourself it’s the contract that is keeping him away. But no, Caterina—he left you behind the day you made him First Talon.

(For a moment, Caterina doesn’t move. She sits perfectly still, her grip tight around her cane. Then she rises slowly. Without a word, she turns her back to him and begin to walk away. He calls out to her, one final time, almost desperate.)

Illario: "I used to curse myself for sparing you."

(It works. She stops abruptly mid-step, but doesn’t turn. He straightens slightly, his voice quieter but no less sharp.)

Illario: "I thought it the worst mistake of my life... but watching the empire you built collapse under its own weight? It’s satisfying. Very satisfying.” (He leans back.) "Even from in here."

Caterina: "Enjoy it while it lasts." (Without a glance back, she adjusts her grip on the cane and resumes walking)

Process / Notes (because apparently I can't stop tinkering): This Illario is probably more sympathetic toward Lucanis than the games version. Though, he is it in a very twisted way, I don’t know if that shows anymore since I cut these line:

Illario: "I don’t even regret sending him to the Ossuary."

Illario: (scoffs) "Even that prison was kinder to him than you." (He laughs bitterly) “The man has a damn demon inside him, and he’s still freer now than he ever was under you.”

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Caterina behaving like enough of an asshole here? Is Illario snarky enough?

Should I have kept that Ossuary line just to make things spicier?

Is Lucanis tired somewhere off-screen, sensing this nonsense from afar?

Why do I have to do everything for you? shakes fist at Bioware's writing team

[loweffortopinions]

Rewriting the Crows introduction and Lucanis quest. I'm stuck. I had plans to make it interactive with branching paths, backgrounds and class to be mentioned etc. but I'm not sure how to do that on tumblr without it becoming really cluttered. Thoughts? If I can't do it because complicated: What Class / Race / Background would you prefer to read about? My own preference: Mage / Elf / Grey Warden

[loweffortopinions]

Holy Maker, the dialogue in Veilguard is even worse when you look closer at it. Just look at this:

Rook: "I'm guessing you're the reason we're here." Lucanis: "Who are you? Who sent you?" Rook: "My name is Rook. Caterina sent me." Lucanis: "Caterina… But you're not a Crow." Rook: "I'm breaking you out of here, but… what are you?" Neve: "Rook. He's possessed by a demon. "Lucanis: "It's complicated." Rook: "Caterina promised us a mage killer if we broke you out of here." Lucanis: "I can still work." Rook: "Good. Because I'm pretty sure more Venetori are on their way. We have to get moving." Lucanis: "They have a vial of my blood. They can use it to control me. I cannot leave it in their hands. And… I had a contract when I was captured. One of my targets is here—Calivan. Crows don't break contracts." Rook: "All right, we'll help. But in return, I want help killing some things." Lucanis: "I'll owe you." Rook: "I'm sure we'll owe each other before this is all over. Let's go."

Just a few problems off the top of my head:

Caterina already promised that Lucanis would help us if we break him out. So… he double owes us already I guess?

I honestly didn’t realize he was possessed until Neve beat me over the head with it. At most I figured he was a mage, but with how the classes are designed, there was no guarantee for that since all classes look like mages now. Nothing clueing you in slowly... just BAM: THISMANISPOSSESSEDDIDYOUKNOW?

So you find out he’s buddy-buddy with a demon and no one’s freaking out? Why is everyone acting like this is normal? “Oh, hey, it’s Abomination Tuesday. Moving on.”

And I swear he repeats the whole “Crows don’t break contracts” thing in the very next scene with Calivan. I just… can’t.

There is probably more: Feel free to add your own thoughts. There is more scenes under the cut if anyone is interested in looking at the dialoge with Calivan, and the reunion in Treviso. Feel free to use it however you want (It should be word for word but I might've missed something).

Meeting and fighting Calivan

Calivan (target): "Ugh, this was entirely unnecessary. Zara and her little jests. 'He's already the Demon of Vyrantium! Won't this be ironic?'" (Lucanis smiles bitterly at the comment.)

Calivan: "Hilarious. And now look at the mess you've made of my facility. She always leaves me to clean up."

Rook: "So this is Calivan."

Lucanis: "He is. The target I was sent for a year ago. A Crow never abandons a contract."

(Note: *snort* Did both of them just ignore Calivans entire monloge?)

(Fight ensues. Calivan is cocky at first but grows desperate, talking about not wanting to be a victim or something similar.)

Lucanis: (Exhales) "The Crows send their regards." (He seems pleased that the contract is finished.)

Rook: "So we got your target."

Lucanis: "Yes. The job's done."

Spite: (Inhales) "Smells like blood. Ashes. Not done. Not yet."

Rook: "Lucanis... Are you all right? Lucanis? What are you looking at?"

Spite: "Careful. They know. We're not right."

Lucanis: "You cannot see him. I wondered."

Rook: "We clearly have things to discuss. Somewhere else."

Lucanis: "Agreed. I think... it's time I got some air. Shall we go?"

Rook: "I'm ready to get out of this place."

Lucanis: "Imagine how I feel."

1. The Spite reveal is so goofy, and unimmersive: The player can see Spite, but Rook can't. I just find this to be an extremly lazy way of doing things. Further, the "reveal" was ruined in the previous scene since Neve has already told us exactly what's wrong with Lucanis.

2. So... nobody really gives a shit about Calivan? I thought there might be a bit more... relief, killing the dude that's responsible for the hellhole you've been "living" in for the past year. I mean, the monologue was awful, but to just ignore him entirely...?

3. There are many unneccesary lines like "We got your target". Yes, yes we did. He's lying right there, on the floor. Dead. The pacing suffers.

Reunion in Treviso

You walk into the Diamond, there are dead Crows on the floor.)

Teia: "Maker..."

Viago: "Lucanis?"

Lucanis: "What happened here?"

Illario: (Bangs table) "A message. From Zara Renata."

Illario: "I can't believe it. You're home." (Approaches and touches Lucanis' shoulder.)

Lucanis: "Zara... her people got this close?"

Rook: "The woman who runs the prison?"

Lucanis: "The Venetori witch who captured me."

Rook: "Revenge for the breakout, maybe?"

Lucanis: "Where's Caterina?"

Teia: "She's..."

Viago: (Comforts her) "The Venetori got her in the confusion."

Illario: "I get one of you back, only to lose the other."

Rook: "Lucanis... I'm so sorry."

Lucanis: "I need to work."

Teia: "Are you sure? You should take some time."

Lucanis: "I don't need time. I need a target."

Illario: "You just got here, and already you want to leave again?"

Lucanis: "Caterina gave me a contract. I'm not breaking the last deal she ever made. And I owe Rook. Once that's done... I'll come home."

Rook: "I'll return him in one piece."

Illario: "Thank you. Illlario: Cousin. When you find Zara, I want—I need—to be there."

Viago: "We're under attack. Antaam on one side, and now Venetori on the other? Forget revenge, we need you—"

Teia: "No. Viago. Zara came for us here. In my house. She took Caterina from my house."

Teia: "You find her and cut her heart out, Lucanis. Vi and I will hold down the fort."

Lucanis: "I'll give her your regards, Teia."

Teia: "For Caterina."

This last one is so very... disjointed. It feels like they're talking past each other half the time. And suddenly they remember; right EXPOSITION. It feels very random that they bring up the Antaam here.

Rook could've been silent this entire conversation, and it wouldn't make a difference; nothing they say contribute to the conversation. The only one that really reacts to them is Illario, barley.

So Lucanis is tasked with taking care of two Gods, AND to take care of Zara? The guy who just got out of prison, and is possessed? Fucking hell, the guy doesn't get a break. Sure, he says he wants to work... But just maybe someone else could deal with Zara, considering the contract he just undertook?

[loweffortopinions]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Play Time: 70 hours and going because I like to hurt myself?

Platform: EA Pro Play 

Rating: 4/10

(Moved this Review from my other account because I can't mix art and text)

Environments 

I had a few oh, that’s pretty moments, but overall I found it hard to feel immersed. The cities are nice I guess and detailed, but they lack distinct, memorable qualities. 

A city like Minrathous has the potential to be an exciting showcase of magic woven into everyday life. Mages using spells to transport goods or to perform mundane tasks. I was also looking forward to see a clear divide between magic users and non-magic users, as previous games have implied that Minrathous is Ferelden in reverse. Instead, NPCs feel static, and there is nothing new or interesting done with the magic. For a place built up as legendary in previous games... Minrathous just doesn't deliver. Further, you only get to explore one district, so there is no contrast between richer and poorer areas. And Treviso? It's pretty... but I mostly remember pointy roofs and ziplines.

Character Design

Faces and hair are a big step up from previous games, and armors are varied and nice to look at. But it comes at the cost that it feels overdone, leaning into flashy, cartoony territory. I ran around in my starting armor for half the game because nothing really fit my character.

The companions suffer from this too to some extent. Darin’s open-chested armor seems impractical for a warrior, Neve, supposedly from Docktown, looks more like an aristocrat from Orlais than her background suggests. Bellara’s design is fine, but aside from her vallaslin, she doesn’t seem particularly Dalish. Emmerich and Harding look fine, especially in their camp outfits, which I prefer for most characters.

Combat and Gameplay 

I’ll be honest—I eventually turned the difficulty down to story mode just to get through the game. The combat didn’t do it for me: repetitive enemy hordes that seem randomly placed, limited abilities, and dodging and rolling mechanics that don’t feel very engaging.

Aside from a few setpieces and two boss fights, no encounter stood out. It’s not a particularly hard game, it just got tedious after a few hours.

Another complaint is that every class now feels overly magical. Since the lore around magic is such a key part of the series, this really rubbed me the wrong way. 

Story and World-Building 

Starting with the biggest issue: Veilguard’s main story is a weak.

In Inquisition, even if Corypheus wasn’t the most compelling villain, there was still a sense of growth as you built up your organization and connected with companions. In Veilguard, it feels like they stripped away what worked in previous games and just kept Corypheus. And the worst part? I miss Corypheus. At least he had a booming voice and some interesting lines. Veilguard has none of that.

The villains in this… honestly, where to start? Rather than feeling meaningful, they’re just names repeated so often it feels like the game worries I’ll forget them. Villains aside events unfold without much connection, leaving me questioning why things happen the way they do.

Why are we choosing these allies?

Why am I stuck doing busy work for them while the world is supposedly ending?

But who cares! It's not like your allies really matter. Rook is a one-man army after all. If we’d had them instead of the Hero of Ferelden, the Blight would’ve ended in Ostagar—and every named NPC would’ve survived, including whoever slay the Archdemon. 

Character and Companion Dynamics 

While presented as experts, they rarely get the chance to demonstrate their skills. Harding sometimes provides useful contacts, and Emmerich occasionally shows his abilities, but beyond that, companions often feel like tropes with minimal growth or depth.

For instance, one character is the “unwilling father,” but we never see him grapple with it genuinely—he just says it. Others are similarly shallow: the socially awkward “nerd,” the “noir detective” with a heavy burden, and the “tortured assassin” who doesn’t seem all that tortured. Insights rarely go deeper than quirks, like loving coffee or fish, which get mentioned repeatedly without further development. 

Previous games built strong, opinionated characters who added depth to the world, but here, companions are lacking. Banter is shallow, with little conflict or chemistry. I’ve never played a Dragon Age game where I wanted to skip side quests or companion quests, yet here, I actually did.

I honestly prefer Andromedas cast over this on. Never thought I'd say that but here we are.

Main Character and Roleplaying

Rook’s voice actor; I love em'... which only makes the limited dialogue options more frustrating. I tried to play Rook as a practical, no-nonsense character, but the writing kept steering me back to a softer, more agreeable tone.

If you’re aiming for a tougher or more forceful personality, you're out of luck. If you plan to play be prepared for Rook to come across as a diplomat. Further, you are forced to agree with everyone, and never get to question them or their motives.

So... maybe don't get this if you're into Baldurs Gate 3 and player agency?

Ending Words 

If you’re like me, and the highlights of previous games have been the banter, character depth, and exploring the world and lore, you’ll likely be disappointed. Honestly, I’d even recommend skipping it. Then again, I've seen people say the opposite. So what do I know?

No matter what you do, I’d suggest waiting for a sale. It’s not worth the full price. 

Extra shit

Combat and Gameplay 

There’s the matter of the quest marker, which gives you tunnel vision which distract you from the enviorments.

The loot feels out of place due to its flashy animation. I started skipping loot in certain areas because it felt inappropriate and slowed down the pacing.

You'll fast travel a lot. And I don't mean in a big open area. It's more of a design flaw: Fast Travel to the Lighthouse to talk to a companion. Fast travel to a location to start that companion's quest, walk to said spot to start the quest. Repeat 5 times.

Story and World-Building 

The ending to its credit, was nicely paced and visually strong. If the rest of the game had been more like that, it would’ve been a decent experience. 

The Shadow Dragons, the Crows, the Wardens—all these factions make sense to be here but do nothing meaningful for the story or the worldbuilding.

Even dramatic scenes lack memorable moments. For example, there is a prison escape that's visually pretty but otherwise lacks substance. The person you rescue has supposedly been there a year, but nothing about their appearance or behavior reflects this. There’s no memorable dialogue, nothing deeper—it’s all surface-level.

I personally think Bioware are cowards for only letting you side with an anti-slave organisation. Come on: This isn't the Teviner you've built towards for 3 games! *shakes fist*

[loweffortopinions]

The Battle at Weishhaupt could've been a new and improved "Defend Redcliffe"

You begin with preparations where you have to convince the First Warden of the Darkspawn threat. If you manage to convince him, you start preparing the fort (making further use of a good location, getting to see it before it's blighted). 🏰

The First Warden is fully fleshed out, and you strategize with him to properly prepare the Wardens. The Dragon Trap is brought up, but dismissed by the First Warden as being a waste of time, since an attack on the fort is unlikely.

Rook might decide to work on it in secret: Not on their own though! He's contacted by the local Blacksmith, who has had his ear to the ground and he isn’t so sure there won’t be an attack. You're given a choice to help him. You're also introduced to his daughter. Together you go into the fort where the mechanism for the trap is located. The blacksmith looks at the trap while you guard his back. He tells you it might work if certain requirements are met. Elbow grease will be required. 🔧

You help several Wardens, merchants, and farmers prepare for what is to come. During the battle, depending on how well you’ve prepared, they could either survive or die (this includes the Blacksmith and his daughter). If they survive and perform well, they could become valuable assets further down the line.

You learn of an entrance into the Deep Roads that needs to be sealed. You get help from some of the Wardens you’ve gotten to know, their plan is to set off explosives, preventing the Darkspawn easy access to some of the lower level of the fort.

It’s here you and your companions learn what The Calling is—if you don’t already know. The Wardens you’ve accompanied reveal that this is a one-way trip for them. Once the explosives go off, they’ll be locked in with the Darkspawn. They thank you for helping them reach their destination before you head back to the surface. As you get a safe distance away, a deafening boom echoes from where you left. You and your companion are given a chance to discuss what The Calling means for Davrin (and possibly Rook). 💥

During the final battle, you notice odd changes in the First Warden, and you fully realize it’s The Calling (there has also been hints before this). Depending on your relationship, he might listen to you and what you have to say, or he might not. This could be a difficult moment if you’ve grown to trust each other. 💀/🌱

You either save the day with low casualties or there is a massacre, which could affect your relationship with Davrin.

Well, that's as far as I've gotten anyway. 😛

Feel free to add your own thoughts!

[loweffortopinions]

There’s a saying that Rook is the teams therapist, right?

I'll add this: In the future, I'll work with helping younger students, and some of the things Rook says are what I’d say to kids aged 10–14 to help them see the bigger picture, some variant of:

“Let’s not jump to conclusions.” “Take a deep breath, we’ll figure this out.” “You need to think about how your actions affect others.”

That’s part of why the game is tiring to me. It’s like I’m living out my future work in game—just less fulfilling. Because kids make shit interesting, they don’t always agree. They push back, argue, question everything. I have to earn their trust and convince them to see my point (or they have to convince me).

In Veilguard, though? No resistance. No pushback. The characters fall into line so quickly that I never get the sense there's any real disagreement. Ever. I've had more lively and nuanced discussions with children. Yet the game pretends like there is real conflict! Take Davrin and Lucanis: the setup works fine—Davrin has every reason to be upset after losing hundreds of comrades in battle, and he questions why Lucanis missed the shot at Ghil, and if Spite had anything to do with it. Fair.

But then it just… fizzles out? By the time they kiss and make up, the real issue is ignored. Instead, Davrin says something about Lucanis being “an assassin for hire,” and Lucanis replies that Davrin is self-righteous. Guys... I don't think that was the problem to begin with?

What changed? What reason does Davrin have to suddenly trust Lucanis? If anything, I’m on board with Davrin’s original thought! Why should anyone trust this guy? Especially my Rook who's also a Warden.

Maybe Davrin’s just tougher than most—able to deal with a lot of shit and move forward without answer... or it's because of Assan: The emotional support pet.

Ah. Now it makes sense, I guess.

Also: The whole Davrin is such a dad to Assan thing? Not cute. Personal ick of mine to treat animals like children. Companion? Fair. A living being you care A LOT about? Sure. You being the animals Mom/Dad/Parent? No. // Not a personal attack, you do you. I have friends like this. Only saying it because it turned me away from Davrins character; it is a core part of his personality I couldn't ignore. //

[loweffortopinions]

I'm starting to realize I’m completely unoriginal.

What sparked this you may ask?

Well, I’ve seen multiple Rooks across platforms that could easily be siblings to mine. Take a guess what mine looks like... 😂

…and of course they come with a tragic backstory.

Dressed, depressed and ready to impress go die in the Deep Roads somewhere.

[loweffortopinions]

Here have a prompt:

It’s late, and everyone is exhausted after a long day. You’re wrapping up a meeting, discussing your next steps, when the faintest sound makes you pause.

Before anyone can react, Venatori are upon you. They’ve slipped through the Eluvian, striking silently and without warning. You scramble to your feet, unarmed and unprepared. Somehow, against all odds, you manage to escape to the Crossroads.

The group is forced to split up. You and your LI sprint toward the nearest Eluvian, grabbing whatever makeshift weapons you can while you run. Just as you reach it, the Venatori catch up. Your LI shoves you through, and you land hard on the other side. When you turn back, all that greets you is your own reflection.

[loweffortopinions]

It’s no secret I’ve been critical of Veilguard. But I’ll admit, my gremlin brain went YES on a few occasions.

Sometimes because I found something genuinely good, and other times because of… questionable tastes. The example below is probably bad taste? Maybe? I’m not sure. My brain just went “it good” and refused to let me analyze it further.

Lucanis momentarily losing control to Spite and almost stabbing Illario? Perfection. The desperation in his voice when he begs Rook to help him (between 0:47 and 1:04) makes my brain turn to mush.

I'm talking about these lines if you don't want to watch the video:

Lucanis: (groans) Get Illario… out. (Spite, meanwhile, is still very stab-happy.)

Lucanis: Rook, I can’t- (yells in pain) Illario: That’s enough. (Illario stops what's going on) (Spite: WTF?)

For one glorious moment, I thought, “Yes! We’re finally getting something tasty—maybe moral ambiguity, angst, maybe some interesting discussions about sharing a body with a demon.” But no, the game completely deflates the tension afterward. I even brought Lucanis to Treviso right after, despite Illario specifically telling me not to, and… nothing. (insert dramatic whimpering noise)

But this one scene? The voice acting, the animation, the edge-of-your-seat drama? Brainrot central. It's the kind of scene that feels like it was made for angst junkies.

[loweffortopinions]

Just you wait Fundin. He's not as exciting as he sounds.

Also: Not only is he dull, honey, he’ll also break your heart. Then again… you did break his city first. Fair trade? Yes—once you’ve finished destroying everything else he cares about. #making up my own twisted headcanon to overcompensate for Bioware safe writing

[loweffortopinions]

Davrin’s Scene with Eldrin 

This was supposed to be a post about the positive aspects of Veilguard, but somehow it spiraled into how I’d rewrite the scene between Davrin and Eldrin. Happy reading, I guess? Let’s start with the original dialogue snippet as it plays out. You meet an elf named Eldrin who clearly knows Davrin. Eventually, you ask him to tell you something about Davrin:

Eldrin: “He sang a lot.”

Rook: “This guy?”

Eldrin: “He’d sing to the halla.”

Rook: “You mean the Grey Warden standing next to me?”

Davrin: “Now hold on—I’d get tired herding them, so I’d hum to keep myself awake, and they slowed down to listen!”

Rook: “So naturally you broke into song.”

Davrin: “Only when humming didn’t work. Just getting the job done.”

Eldrin: “And now the job is caretaker to a griffon.”

Rook (Choice): Diplomatic/Amused/Stern

Eldrin: “Seems my old lessons sunk in. Not every creature in the forest is quarry.”

Davrin: “I didn’t ignore everything you said.

I like this scene. It’s fun, cute and wholesome. That said, it’s not perfect. The dialogue is clunky for one. So let's tackle it!

New Scene Setup: In a quiet clearing of the Arlathan Forest, an older Dalish elf stands beside a lone halla, stroking it gently. Around him, the faint hum of activity carries from other elves tending to their duties, though they keep to themselves. As you approach, the elf looks up, his posture stiffening. His expression is wary, but when his gaze lands on Davrin, his shoulders ease, and a faint smile forms on his lips.

You exchange pleasantries, and then ask him to share something about Davrin. He chuckles softly before speaking:

Eldrin: (Pauses thoughtfully, then grins) “He used to sing to the halla.” Rook: (Amused, raises an eyebrow) “Is that so?” Davrin: (Slightly defensive) “Now hold on—" Eldrin: (With a knowing smile) That’s right. As I recall, you had a thing for 'The White Stag’s Lament'. Always humming about Ghilan’nain and her journey home. Even the halla seemed to know it by heart after a while. Davrin: (There is a shift in his expression when Ghilan’nain is mentioned) "I wasn't doing it for fun. Herding halla’s exhausting, so I hummed to stay awake. That they slowed down was just a bonus." Eldrin: (Teasing) “Funny, I seem to remember a lot more singing than humming.” Davrin: (half-joking, half-defensive) "I only sang when humming didn’t work!"

(At this point, Assan interrupts, trotting up to Davrin and nudges him for attention. Davrin hands him a snack and pats him on the head.)

Eldrin: (smiling) “I see some of my old lessons finally stuck."

(Davrin shrugs, but there’s no hiding the softness in his expression as Assan nudges him for another pat.)

Davrin: (glances at Eldrin, voice is softer) “I didn’t ignore everything you said... some of it stuck, whether I wanted it to or not.”

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert, I’m just doing this for fun. I'm not taking a jab at the original author of this scene. I have the luxury of shitposting on the internet, which gives me ultimate creative freedom without the constraints of actual game development, take this for what it is.

This is pretty much how I’d go about it if I wrote it. I’d probably change a whole lot more if I went through the entire scene, but I’ll leave it at this unless someone wants me to dive deeper.

Thought process

Context: Eldrin doesn’t know about the whole… elven gods running amok situation, and Davrin chooses not to burden him with it.

Let Eldrin and Davrin have their moment without Rook interrupting every other line.

Add more immersion! Instead of characters standing around, I'd have them interact with their surroundings. Too many scenes in Veilguard feel static, like the world is waiting for you to show up.

Add more information! As it's written, we don’t really learn anything new about Davrin: We already know he has a soft side and tends to be practical. So I added a connection to Ghilan'nain.

[loweffortopinions]

About Varric / Spoilers

I don’t mind Varric’s fate in Veilguard—not on paper, anyway.

What I do mind is how much potential it had to be impactful—and how it completely missed the mark. Varric is a character I’ve known for 2 games, someone I loved in Dragon Age 2, and somehow, they’ve managed to make me not care about his death.

That’s almost impressive.

The problem isn’t that he dies—it’s how it’s handled. The game doesn’t give his death any believable weight. He just hangs around the Lighthouse, doing nothing, and when the reveal comes, it’s not shocking, or emotional—it’s just… there. What I wanted was for it to matter—not just for Rook, but for the characters who actually knew him.

Dorian and the Inquisitor, present in both Inquisition and Veilguard, could’ve had moments to process his death. Imagine both, visibly upset, talking about writing letters to Varric’s friends, mirroring how Varric wrote to Hawke’s loved ones if you left them in the Fade. Those touches make the loss feel personal, and fuels creativity. I’ve seen so much fanart of characters receiving those letters, and they’re some of my favorite pieces!

But in Veilguard? It’s all glanced over. The game doesn’t provide meaningful reactions from the characters who knew Varric, and that absence makes his death feel hollow.

I said I don’t mind his fate, but I also think what they did was uninspired. So, what would’ve been better? Off the top of my head—I’d have preferred if they let his body die but kept his spirit trapped in the Fade. It leaves the door open for Bioware to bring him back someday (if they wished) while giving fans room to spin their own stories and speculate about what Varric might do next.

Leaving it ambiguous gives players room to spin their own stories. That’s the magic of this series: When the developers leave just enough crumbs to spark players’ imaginations.

And Veilguard? Veilguard fails at this in so many ways. It’s such a waste.

[loweffortopinions]

Companions: We have to stop the Elven Gods, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. We have to stop the Elven Gods, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. WE. HAVE. TO. STOP. THE. ELVEN. GODS. ELGAR'NAN. AND. GHILAN'NAIN.

Bellara: ROOK ARE YOU LISTENING?! WE HAVE TO -

Rook: (tired and done with everyone's shit) "Do we though?"

Neve and Lucanis: (Seriously shocked) “What?”

Rook: "What? I mean yes, of course. We have to stop Elgar'nan and... Ghilgamesh...? Gilga'nain? Gilga... fuck" (Winces, fully aware of the storm they just unleashed.)

Lucanis: (Nearly spits out his coffee but swallows it with a pained expression) “Mierda… it’s Ghilan’nain, Rook. Not Gilga’nain. How do you keep getting it wrong?”

Neve: (Raises an eyebrow, unimpressed.) “Aren’t you an elf? Shouldn’t this be second nature to you?”

Rook: (Clearly offended. ) “I'm from the city, Neve. Well, from a Circle, really— Not that anyone’s bothered to ask. Besides, I’m Andrastian! Why would I know about a dozen Elven Gods that are irrelevant to me?"

Bellara: (Takes a deep breath, preparing to launch into a lecture.) “Actually… there are nine! Let me explain—”

Rook: *Visibly about to lose it*

Emmerich: (Steps in hurriedly, gently steering Rook away.) “All right, darling, let’s walk it off." (As they walk up the stair) "Just think of those lovely fish of yours. Breathe, in and out. That’s it—focus on the fish.”

Sooo... Despite hearing their names on an endless loop, I still thought it was Gilga’nain instead of Ghilan’nain.

[loweffortopinions]

So...

Did anyone else skip companion quests because they were boring as hell—I mean, just to up the stakes for the final battle? Just me?

Man, the drama, DELICIOUS. Best part of the game for me. And I’m being serious here—I finally felt real agency when some companions started dropping off. I had to manufacture it, but hey, I got some in the end. Side note: This is what you get for dumping my ass Lucanis. You break my heart, I break yours. And for the record, I do a better job of being possessed by spite than you ever did. Amateur.

Now that I think about it...

I find the idea of Spite stepping in to help Rook get "revenge" over being dumped way more engaging than anything Spite actually does in the game.

Let’s play around with that idea:

Spite clearly likes Rook. That much is obvious. So why not play that up a bit? Let the player and Lucanis react to it—whether with indifference, discomfort, intrigue… Add in a sense of real danger. Despite conflicting feelings, Lucanis and Rook fall for each other. But then, after certain choices are made, Lucanis dumps Rook. Heartbreak ensues. Then Lucanis has the audacity to fall for Neve and rub it in Rook’s face. (Okay, it wasn’t technically intentional, but the way those scenes triggered for my Rook? Ouch.)

Spite being a petty chaos gremlin, sees Rook’s sadness and channels its inner spite. Cue vendetta against Lucanis and Neve.

Towards the end, Spite ensures Neve doesn’t make it through the final fight OR Spite does something awful towards Lucanis, the Crows or Neve earlier in the story. Something that could cause Lucanis to completely loose himself to possession—unless you intervene. Thus you get a final choice to have either Lucanis or Spite as a companion for the rest of the game. Fun!

Now everyone is sad. No one wins—except maybe Spite. And then, in true Grey Warden fashion, my Rook goes to die in the Deep Roads. The End.

[loweffortopinions]

Words / phrases I started hating playing Veilguard:

- Turlum. That’s turlum for you! Don’t forget Turlum, DaVRIN! TURLUM. - Coffee. (I choose to drink tea out of pure spite—the most renegade move I can pull in this game.) - Solas. It means PRIDE. (Yes. I'M AWARE.) - We have to work together, guys! ❤️ - I’m taking accountability over my actions / I’m willing to make the hard choices. (Sure Rook, if you say so...) - We have to stop the Elven Gods, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. We have to stop the Elven Gods, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. We have to stop the Elven Gods, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. WE. HAVE. TO. STOP. THE. ELVEN. GODS. ELGAR'NAN. AND. GHILAN'NAIN. ROOK ARE YOU LISTENING?! WE HAVE TO -

[loweffortopinions]

It fascinates me how perspectives can be so different. Some people look at Lucanis’ first coffee scene and feel like this, this is THE moment: romance confirmed, target acquired, pants removal mission initiated. But for me? That was the exact moment my interest shriveled up and died. Watching that scene felt like taking physical damage—it hurt. And the flirting? Made me want to crawl under my desk and stay there.

Stop boring me Lucanis! You're a possessed assassin, A MAGE KILLER (and I'm a mage, HELLO?), and this is what you bring to the table? Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee coffee. Please. Fuck off.

Still, it is a cute detail that he remembers your preferred drink, but that cute detail gets overshadowed by the huge neon sign announcing it. Why did they think that was a good idea?

[loweffortopinions]

To the handful of people claiming Harding looks worse in Veilguard than in Inquisition: Are you high? Of all the things wrong with this game, Harding’s new design isn’t one of them. If you'd say she’s about as interesting as wet, old newspaper though, then I’d agree.