rook-apologist

[rook-apologist]

Thing I really enjoy about DA:TV - Rook

Full disclosure: I feel that the issues people have with Rook as a protagonist are very much a product of our time and culture, as well as the expectations created for the game in the past decade.

We live in a moment when all most heroes and protagonists are morally grey, unwilling, disillusioned, and detached. Being genuine, trying to do the right thing, and perhaps even being uncompromising about your values is seen as cringe.

So yeah, Veilguard came out at a point in my life when I felt like I was watching movies with the same main character and playing characters with the same sort of snarky attitude.

I’m genuinely so into a Rook who is just uncompromisingly a kind person—someone who asks how the characters are doing and helps people not just with fetch quests but with their personal lives. A lot of it is personal preference, but my favorite Veilguard moment was finding out Bellara is writing a book (and helping with it) and having drinks with Taash. Let me roleplay a hero that characters actually, genuinely like and want to spend time with. Show me the little things.

I guess the big payoff of Rook is the finale of the game. There are several lead-up conversations with Solas about leadership, and the contrast between the two is repeatedly emphasized. Solas thinks removing distractions from the team’s lives would help achieve a goal, but Rook genuinely cares. The companions willingly follow Rook out of respect and care, not out of necessity. The game wouldn’t work with a different protagonist but that’s a separate discussion.

Rook is my special little treat that I play in these tiring times.

[rook-apologist]

Sheryl Chee (Harding's writer) on the state of things

[rook-apologist]

I’ve actually got a few thoughts on the Veilguard sales numbers.

First off, the game was never going to turn a profit financially. It was in development for 10 years and had to be restarted multiple times. It had really public development issues. 

It’s also a sequel to a game that came out a decade ago. That’s a really long time for a direct sequel. It was also one of those waiting periods when the hype and expectations got really high, but everyone had different expectations. It was bound to disappoint some fans. I never even considered myself a fan, and I was  disappointed by the lack of Sera. 

My personal opinion is that Inquisition is one of those games which did not stand the test of time, but that’s a different discussion. This is also just a side note, but I feel like there’s a relatively large overlap between Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dragon Age fans, and I have this distinct feeling that the expectations  for DA4 were colored by what Larian is doing. 

The game also came out at a really weird time, not just right before the holidays, but a few days before the U.S. elections. People wouldn’t necessarily buy the game before Christmas, and it had just enough to be labeled as a “woke” game. The economy is bad, and gaming is still an expensive hobby.

And then EA being EA almost immediately dropped the game, so it doesn’t even have a chance for slow growth. 

[rook-apologist]

"The story of their fall, is the story of our birth" -Harding

[rook-apologist]

[rook-apologist]

Some facts about Harding gathered from the banters

I went through all companion banters on DanaDuchy's channel after playing the game to write down all facts about companions/the world that I haven't seen brought up anywhere in the game as a writing reference (and for funsies).

Note: the list isn't 100% exhaustive. I may have missed something or didn't write something down because I had heard about it before or considered it common knowledge. If you think there's something that can be added to the post, please DM me or send an ask! (do specify what banter the information is coming from)

Other characters' posts: Bellara, Davrin, Lucanis, the rest to be added later this week

Family and past:

Harding's parents split up a few years ago. Her father lives in Amaranthine. She's okay with that and thinks her parents are happier apart

Harding’s mother never taught her how to cook, she's entirely self-taught

Harding carries around the first letter her Mother sent her after joining the Inquisition

Harding doesn't have siblings 

Harding had a mabari named Contessa who passed away from old age

(If in romance) Taash offers Harding to get a mabari together

Time with the Inquisition:

Back in Skyhold, Solas once told Harding he was sorry dwarves couldn’t dream

Harding thinks that if she had never joined the Inquisition, she probably would’ve got married and tended to goats

Harding volunteered for the Inquisition because their soldiers kept scaring the sheep because they all had super old maps. And because she didn't want to spend the rest of her life watching sheep

General: 

Harding likes sandwiches, they are one of her favourite foods 

Harding finds Treviso very beautiful (who doesn’t) 

Harding would bring a bow, clean socks and a spoon to a deserted island

Harding likes books about blood and gore

Harding doesn't like killing, but she doesn't feel bad about it. She compares it to farmers having to kill wild animals that get too close to their land, as sometimes a quick kill can prevent more suffering (i.e. if a wolf gets inside your sheepfold, your own animals will die in pain)

She says that this kind of mindset is the reason why a lot of Inquisition scouts came from farmers, as they need to kill people when necessary (even if those people aren’t their enemies personally), but don’t go out looking for it

Harding likes almonds. They are crunchy :) 

Harding is fascinated by Minrathous’s nightlife 

Harding doesn't drink alcohol 

Harding really likes puns

Harding has fought a Stormrider dragon before 

Harding has a detailed and decorated scrapbook with her kills (with doodles. Including a cute giant spider)

Harding never visited Nevarra before the Veilguard, though she had heard of Cumberland’s Summer Exhibition. Emmrich disregards it as just a market with a horse show 

Dwarves and magic:

Harding finds herself more hungry than usual since getting hew new powers

Neve and Emmrich hypothesise that Harding developing Titan powers may have increased her lifespan (or even granted her eternal life) 

Harding describes using her magic as “touching something vast and eternal, a well, deep inside”. Lucanis says that it sounds similar to him using his demon powers

Relationships with companions:

Bellara, Neve and Taash call her “Lace”. Davrin and Lucanis call her “Harding”

Emmrich calls her "Harding" most of the time, though he calls her "Lace" on two occasions (in a banter about Emmrook, and the one where he talks about seeing her aura differently after he becomes a Lich)

Harding grows special plants for Davrin to help him mask the griffon smell in his room

Harding grows truffles for Assan

Harding lets Assan sleep on her

To Lich!Emmrich, Harding appears different from other dwarves. She has a special aura (but it comes and goes)

Harding buys an enchanted barbed arrow to take out Lucanis/Spite if push comes to shove. She later tries to give it to Lucanis and apologises, but he insists she keeps it as a sign of his trust

Harding finds Teia intimidating because she is “polished” (Lucanis disagrees but notes she keeps good track of all utensils Viago poisoned at the table) 

Teia called Harding fearless in a conversation with Lucanis

Harding invites Neve to her house in Ferelden after Neve's apartment in Minrathous burns down, in case she wants to get away from the Lighthouse 

Harding is very excited about Neve taking over the Threads (“Do they have to kiss your hand?”) and wishes she were a crime boss

Harding once dreamt of Neve stealing her strawberry tarts

Harding starts humming Taash’s name to herself after they get together

About gifts from Taash: 

Harding doesn’t use the archery bracer because it feels so special she’s afraid it could get lost or get dirty

She also doesn’t wear the hairpin because she’s afraid to lose it

Taash got the cheese in Minrathous

Conclusion: get Harding cheese, it’s the only thing she isn’t afraid to actually use

Garden and plants: 

It's enough to mention a plant for it to start growing in Harding’s garden

The Fade plants normally don’t need tending. However, they may begin to wilt if that’s what you expect them to do 

Smuggler’s Rose clouds the person’s mind if you are wearing it like perfume, letting you pickpocket other people more easily

Sage bane mixed with troll moss can be used to treat toenail fungus

[rook-apologist]

Local agent of chaos pisses off ancient elven goddess, more at 8

[rook-apologist]

CHAPTER 5 IS UP

Pairing: Lace Harding x Rook Thorne (Human) (He/Him)

Rating: Explicit

Tags: Domestic Fluff, Comfort, Romance, Epilogue, Established Relationship, Eventual Smut, Sexual Content, Action/Romance

Word Count: 12,273 (ongoing)

Prelude: Lace Harding and Rook journey to Ferelden to enjoy some much needed time off together. Rook is excited to see where Lace grew up, and is looking forward to meeting her famous "Ma" as the rest of Thedas recovers from the "Blight to End All Blights". ---------------- Preview:

The morning sun crept over the rolling hills of Ferelden as Rook adjusted the straps of the large sacks slung over his shoulders. Dressed in a plain white tunic and brown pants tucked into sturdy boots, he carried a sword at his side, its weight a familiar reassurance. The air in Redcliffe was crisp, carrying the scents of fresh bread, roasting meat, and the faint tang of the lake. Beside him, Ma Harding bustled with energy, her traditional skirt swishing around her ankles and her rustic blouse neat and practical. Her keen eyes darted from one market stall to another, always sharp and assessing.

“We’ll start with some meat,” she declared, pointing toward a butcher’s shop with a plume of smoke rising from its chimney. “Can’t skimp on a good roast for supper.”

Rook followed her lead, his shorter stature still managing to command attention as he maneuvered through the bustling square. The butcher greeted Ma warmly, handing over a package wrapped in waxed paper, and after a brief exchange, Rook found himself carrying an even heavier load. As they moved to the next stall, Ma glanced up at him with a curious smile.

“You’ve got strong shoulders, Rook. But something tells me there’s more to you than muscle.” She tilted her head, her smile warm. "You know, we haven’t really had a chance to talk alone since you and Lace arrived. Seems like every time I try, something needs doing or Lace pulls you away for Maker knows what." She chuckled softly. "So now that we finally have some quality time together, why don’t you tell me about yourself? Where are you from?"

Rook adjusted the sacks, his voice low but steady. “Hossberg, up in the Anderfels. I was born and raised there until about my early twenties. My father, Gavin, was a blacksmith. He…was a good man. Hardworking. He used to say that every strike of the hammer was like setting things right in the world, even if only for a moment." Rook’s gaze drifted to the horizon, a faint smile playing on his lips. "He taught me everything—how to mend a blade, shoe a horse, even craft a proper shield. But it wasn’t just the work. He believed in doing right by people, even when it wasn’t easy. There’s a kind of honesty in hard labor, he used to say.”

“And your mother?” Ma’s voice was gentle, her curiosity genuine. ---------------- Didn't expect to get Chapter 5 out so early, but I had a lot of notes on my Grey Warden Rook's backstory that I wanted to incorporate into a conversation with "Ma" Harding. It was fun to flesh him out more as a character, as well as touch on how Ma Harding might react to her daughter having magical abilities! Hope y'all enjoy!

[rook-apologist]

Screw it- last day of the year- posting vaguely spicy (actually extremely tame, but being safe) Rook/Harding art

(full pic behind cut)

[rook-apologist]

CHAPTER 4 IS UP

Pairing: Lace Harding x Rook Thorne (Human) (He/Him)

Rating: Explicit (We have crossed the rubicon)

Tags: Domestic Fluff, Comfort, Romance, Epilogue, Established Relationship, Adventure/Romance

Word Count: 9,025 (ongoing)

Prelude: Lace Harding and Rook journey to Ferelden to enjoy some much needed time off together. Rook is excited to see where Lace grew up, and is looking forward to meeting her famous "Ma" as the rest of Thedas recovers from the "Blight to End All Blights". ---------------- Preview: Sorry y'all, this one got pretty spicy so I'm nixing the preview. ---------------- Well, we did it. I crossed the rubicon and had to throw the "explicit" tag onto this one. Having Rook and Lace together in her childhood home just seemed like a fun thing to write, and my hope is that I did so in a way that still progress the plot forward. As always, hope you like it! Consider leaving a kudos if you did, and stay tuned for more!

[rook-apologist]

CHAPTER 3 IS UP

Pairing: Lace Harding x Rook Thorne (Human) (He/Him)

Rating: Mature (Subject to change)

Tags: Domestic Fluff, Comfort, Romance, Epilogue, Established Relationship

Word Count: 6,777 (ongoing)

Prelude: Lace Harding and Rook journey to Ferelden to enjoy some much needed time off together. Rook is excited to see where Lace grew up, and is looking forward to meeting her famous "Ma" as the rest of Thedas recovers from the "Blight to End All Blights". ----------------------------------- Preview:

The afternoon sun was high over the freshly patched roof of Lace Harding’s Ma’s house when the unmistakable sound of laughter and heavy armored footfalls approached. From the porch, Lace squinted down the dirt path, a broad grin spreading across her freckled face.

“Looks like we’ve got company,” she muttered, setting down her cider and waving as a towering Qunari clad in piecemeal plated armor came into view, flanked by a rowdy group of mercenaries. The Iron Bull and his Chargers had arrived.

“Bull!” Harding called, jogging down the steps of the porch to meet him.

The Iron Bull swept her up into a massive bear hug, lifting her clear off the ground. “Harding! My favorite scout! Look at you, all domestic!” He set her down, laughing. “What’s this I hear about you rebuilding houses instead of slaying monsters? You going soft on me?”

“Not likely,” Harding said, punching his armored arm lightly. “What brings you and the Chargers all the way out here?”

“A job. The Arl hired us on to take care of some rouge templar fuckers. Apparently, they have been targeting mages coming to and from Redcliffe, so he hired us to take care of it, ” Bull said, glancing toward the house. “Figured I’d stop by and see how my favorite little ass kicker is doing.” He paused, giving a slight grin as he turned to face her again, ”And... you’ve got someone new for me to meet, yeah?”

Lace laughed, “Glad to see some of those letters got through,” She turned and called to the door, “Hey Rook! Can you come outside for a second? There is someone I want you to meet!”

On cue, the door to the house creaked open, and Rook stepped onto the porch, wiping his hands on a red stained rag. His shaggy black hair was messy from a morning of repairs, and his scarred face bore a calm but curious expression as he descended the steps towards the pair.

“Rook,” Harding said, motioning him over. “This is Iron Bull, and there behind him are his Chargers. We worked together back in the early days of the Inquisition, and Ma and I consider him a good friend of the family.”

“Nice to meet you,” Rook greeted with a nod, offering a hand to Bull.

Iron Bull didn’t take it immediately. Instead, he crossed his massive arms and looked Rook up and down, his amber eyes narrowing slightly. “So, you’re the guy.” ----------------------------------- I challenged myself to start introducing more conflict into what I write. While fluff and comfort feels more natural to me, I want to grow in other areas as well. Shout out to everyone that has been giving me advice and support along the way! Hope y'all enjoy it!

[rook-apologist]

I think if you genuinely want the Veil to come down despite it making zero sense then what you want is an easy solution and emotional catharsis for yourself. Or Solas I guess? Lavellan? I’m still confused about who this is supposed to help. It’s not good writing and it’s not how you fix major problems. If we got rid of big oil tomorrow we’d still have centuries of work ahead of us to fix the damage we’ve done to the planet. The U.S. Civil War didn’t fix our colonialism problem now did it?

It doesn’t make any kind of sense narratively. We know it’ll force spirits to change their nature and become demons out of shock because we’ve seen it happen before. Demons who then kill people and are killed in return. The empire Solas wants to restore is gone. Its people are dead. It was built on the bodies of a sapient race by slaves(sound familiar?)

Tearing down the Veil would kill thousands of innocents including elves. How do you think that’s going to go over on a practical level? Who’s going to want to live in an empire built on the bodies of their friends and families? Again this is just colonialism with magic.

Real change is hard and takes work. It never stops. It’s incremental and you might never be thanked for it and you have to show up and do it anyways. It’s never, ever easy. Which yeah, I know, it’s a video game. But don’t claim you want revolutionary writing without understanding what the actually means.

[rook-apologist]

Brain rot is strong- multiple wips cooking (one of which probably won't get posted even when it is done hahaha).

[rook-apologist]

Dragon Age and Trauma

(Trigger Warning: Discussion of Death)

(Major Spoilers Warning)

----------------------

One thing that I haven't seen talked about in reference to Veilguard's story is how triggering it could be to people that have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing the death of a loved one/closed friend.

I love this game's story, and the characters you meet have been some of my favorites ever put forward by BioWare.

Sadly, due to the nature of the plot, you are put in the position of having to watch at least one of them die in a pretty horrific way to stop a greater evil. If you finished the game, you already know what I am referring too.

This is especially tough if one of these characters is your primary romance option, as the hurt is amplified by the attachment you have made with them throughout your journey.

At the risk of over sharing, I will say that in my life I have had the misfortune of witnessing death and severe bodily harm affect people that I care about. And while I will forever sing this game's praises, and fight tooth and nail to see that it gets the roses it deserves, I have to admit that it did trigger me into re-experiencing the same emotions I had during these real life traumatic events.

While the narrative does an excellent job at addressing how a person would heal from grief caused by the death of a close friend/loved one, it can still be incredibly distressing.

Please remember to be considerate when discussing or posting about heavier moments like this, and continue to use proper warnings to avoid negatively impacting other people who struggle like this.

[rook-apologist]

if you like, 11 or 12… ;—;

11. for encouragement Thank you Jay! I thought this prompt suited this scene from Lace Harding's romance in Act 2, and I wanted to zhuzh it up anyway, perfect opportunity 🥺

A soft blue glow washes over most of their interactions as of late.

He’d noticed it when they’d first fessed up to it: Is there something happening between us? I’m not just imagining things, am I?

She’d worried about making things awkward. But he’d only smiled and leaned in closer.

Lace Harding, I have never seen the like from you. You do all things with grace.

And there the first hint of blue.

That glow had spread through her ever since.

It was in her eyes, in her freckles, making the constellation of Lace Harding light up like a night sky. He could coax it out with a joke or a honeyed word. Lirio found it lovely, like many things about her. And to think, all this time, he’d been to blame!

Or at least, that seemed to be what she was trying to explain to him. The truth of how and why she activated her lyrium when they were together.

“I just want to make sure I’m hearing you right. Are you trying to say you lose control of your powers—when you’re feeling affectionate?”

“O-oh,” Lace stammered, blushing brightly. “Don’t make fun.”

“I would never,” he said, and he hopped up to sit beside her on the table.

Lace gasped at his nearness, and scooted away at once.

Lirio looked at her. He could see that this had been bothering her since their kiss. He liked to think he’d gained an understanding of the matter that was her heart; the heart of a shepherd turned scout turned soldier.

She was a woman who felt things deeply, who acted with intent when something mattered to her. No doubt she felt it was her responsibility to fix this.

But she didn’t have to do it alone, and he wanted, desperately, to show her this.

Lace sighed. “Lyrium is the blood of the Titans…” she said carefully. “If my heart’s beating, and my blood’s racing around… but then wouldn’t it happen at other times, too? Running from Darkspawn! Climbing… stairs?”

“Stairs?” Lirio asked with a chuckle.

“The steps are harder for me! I’ve got short legs!” she expressed desperately.

Lirio covered his scarred mouth, suppressing warm laughter.

“It’s not funny, Rook!”

“I like your short legs,” Lirio said, and quickly piped down. “I’m sorry, my love. How can I help?”

“No, no,” she groaned. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For… I don’t know. Snapping.” She sighed, frustrated, then, continued, distracted. “Did you just call me ‘love’?”

He held her gaze and nodded. Her glow returned, with a vengeance.

“Emotions,” she whispered. “You do these things to me, Rook.”

“Well if I had lyrium-blood, I’d be glowing too,” he said, and that, at least earned him a smile.

Anyway, it wasn’t a bad thing, her glow. It was part of her now. He liked the entirety of her; the gestalt of what made Lace Harding. He liked her quirks, and her giggle, and her voice when she was reading the goriest lines out of her favorite book, and her furrowed brow when she was aiming her bow.

“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he prompts suddenly, needing to know.

“That I want to kiss you,” she said at once. “And it crushes me that I can’t.”

Lirio nodded slowly. “Close your eyes, Lace.”

She did. Her eyelids, dappled and long-lashed, veins all aglow, fluttered shut. After a moment, he reached for her necklace, the cornicello he had gifted her to help with her dreams. With utter care, lifted the little charm of red coral to his lips.

Lace’s eyes blinked open. He let the charm go, allowing it to fall against her chest once more.

“We’ll handle this, Lace. The way we handle everything else. Together.”

She nodded. Her eyes flicked across his features, and lingered on his lips for a beat.

“Together,” she whispered, and kissed the charm he had kissed.

[rook-apologist]

Tablet battery is dead, draw best girl in sketchbook instead

[rook-apologist]

CHAPTER 2 IS UP

Pairing: Lace Harding x Rook Thorne (Human) (He/Him)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences (Subject to change)

Tags: Domestic Fluff, Comfort, Romance, Epilogue, Established Relationship

Word Count: 4,543 (ongoing)

Prelude: Lace Harding and Rook journey to Ferelden to enjoy some much needed time off together. Rook is excited to see where Lace grew up, and is looking forward to meeting her famous "Ma" as the rest of Thedas recovers from the "Blight to End All Blights".

---------------------

Preview:

The inside of the house mirrored the outside: broken beams hung precariously from the ceiling, chunks of plaster had fallen away to reveal the wooden frame beneath, and the smell of dust mingled with the faint scent of lavender that Ma Harding must have been trying to use to mask it. Lace scanned the room with a faint frown, her eyes lingering on the sagging floorboards and the patched-up windows.

“Here we are,” Ma Harding said cheerily, doing her best to make the space inviting. She bustled over to the couch, brushing off a thick layer of dust and loose debris with her apron. “It’s not much right now, but it’s still home.”

She turned to a recliner near the couch and repeated the process, pulling a slightly frayed blanket over the chair’s worn cushions. A tray of freshly made sandwiches sat on a small table between the furniture, and a boiling kettle could be heard from the kitchen.

As her mother finished patting down the furniture, Lace took a seat on the couch, brushing her fingers over the faded fabric. Her brow furrowed as she turned to her mother. “Ma... how long have you been living here like this?”

“Oh, not long love,” Ma Harding said, waving a dismissive hand as she perched on a nearby stool. “Just for a few weeks now. Some of the boys from Redcliffe have been helping out where they can when they aren’t busy fixing up their own homes. We’ll have it good as new in no time.”

Rook, ever the practical one, moved around the room inspecting the damage. He ran his hand over a cracked wooden beam, testing its stability, and glanced at a window with a jagged pane of glass that had been hastily boarded over. His expression was carefully neutral, but Lace knew him well enough to see the concern lurking beneath the surface as he walked the space. Eventually, he made his way to the recliner and couch where he hesitated. Instead of sitting next to Lace on the couch, he lowered himself into the single chair, his posture unusually formal and stiff.

Lace tilted her head at him, her green eyes narrowing. “Uh…what are you doing?”

“What? Just…sitting?” He replied, failing to mask the awkwardness in his tone.

“Yeah, I can see that. But why over there?” Lace’s eyes narrowed even further as she leaned in towards him, patting the empty seat next to her.

Rook cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “Well, you know. Just…giving you and your Ma space,” he said, his voice too casual to be convincing.

Before Lace could press further, Ma Harding burst into laughter, clapping her hands. “Oh, Maker’s breath, you’re precious! What is this, some noble’s drawing room? It’s perfectly okay if you want to sit next to your girl! We aren’t prudes here boy!”

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This chapter was a lot of fun to write. I'm challenging myself to include more dialogue and humor in my conversations. Hopefully it comes across as natural, and not forced!

Hope y'all like it!