#Defend the Rook

[peachcat14]

okay the callback to the fade section from origins in lucanis' personal quest is pretty funny

[treviso-nights]

i like my men broken and bleeding (solas) with an incredibly tragic backstory (solas) that only i am privy to (solas) because the idea of eternal loneliness is more horrifying than the idea of finally opening up to someone (solas) even if doing so makes them want to be sick on the cold, hard ground (solas) before they inevitably realize that we are stronger together (solas) and continue to struggle for dominance in the never-ending abyss of 'i love you and that love has destroyed me' (solas!!!)

[kirkwallguy]

okay final post. i think part of the reason why i hated taash's story so much is i DID find it relatable, they remind me a lot of myself at sixteen: coming out as a teenager and being extra sensitive to anyone who doesn't immediately understand you and lashing out at your well-meaning but uninformed parents is pretty common. shathann dying before this is resolved and taash realising they were needlessly cruel out of fear of rejection COULD have been heartbreaking and an actual good way of pushing the regret theme, but this isn't what happens lol. taash acting the way they do could be fine, i like it when a character has flaws and an exploration of how messy coming out as trans is would be an interesting subversion of how fucking boring coming out stories become when you reach a certain age, but the fact that rook can't really tell them to cut it out and the fact that they have literally no reflection or regret beyond "i wish my mum and i had had more time together but at least she didn't misgender me as she died 👍🏻" makes it feel as though the writers actually think them treating their mum the way they do is somehow satisfying or good, because the game's narratives feel like they were spat out of an ai trained solely on reddit aita posts. and that isn't even getting into the multicultural angle which needs a whole essay by itself and i've already annoyed myself too much for one morning.

[pip3dream]

so happy Kit finally feels loved with Jem, Tessa and Mina after spending his life with Johnny

[pomefioredove]

this is what I feel like rn

[feaches]

Sorry guys, Lucanis is just... like that. 🩰

[treesinspace]

Neve is legit ANGRY at me for Minrathos getting blighted..... bestie,

I see you are trying to convince me it would have been better if the OTHER city had been blighted. How is that any better? You don't feel even a little bit guilty for openly not caring about Treviso's people?

We are six people, total. This is the capital of an empire. They have guards and armies and shit. Why are six people the deciding factor here

I sent EXACTLY as many people to Minrathos as I sent to Treviso (which is, again THREE PER CITY). Why am I the only one who can vaguely sling some attacks at a dragon? Is Rook canonically supposed to be incredibly, uniquely good at combat?

Bestie YOU were in Minrathos. Why don't you direct a little bit of the blame at YOU

That one guy in Minrathos that said that every time Rook turns up they only bring trouble. I thought y'all were mad at me for NOT turning up? Which is it?

WHY DO I EVEN HAVE A TEAM IF IM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO LITERALLY ANYTHING

[janekestrel]

[mayhemforlace]

Well, I tried talking.

[carebooks]

and if i say that aemond is the main targ going mad on the show and is the one causing the most damage to the realm and the aemond stans will start defending him in the comments— what then

[mako-designated-driver]

Codex Entry #31: Tavern Notices

Archery Contest! Saturday! All challengers welcome*! Sister Leliana to judge!

*Except Varric and Bianca

__________________________

Disappointed by your performance at the

Halamshiral ball? Try dancing classes,

offered by Scout Harding! Watch this space

for the sign-up sheet!

A handwritten note signed below:

I’m sorry. I know this has been up here

forever, but I keep being sent to the

furthest corners of Thedas and haven’t

found the time.

Harding

___________________________

CORYPHEUS IS GOING DOWN!

Underneath this, someone has scribbled:

"Too Easy".

___________________________

Free ale! As much as you can handle, for as

long as you can handle it!

YOU DID IT!

The good stuff is still ten silvers a cup.

Cabot

[antivan-sprig]

Imagining Lisel saying this with her chest out and Sylaise Vallaslin on her big head while solas watches and slams his face into the wall repeatedly.

[aldisobey]

🌻 🌹 🌸 🌱 🌼 🌷 🌺 🌿 a full bouquet for Worne xoxo

Full bouquet you say? Take a garden in reply! (Oh fuck it’s a goddamn farm, industrialized flower farm here. Can’t stop won’t stop look at this creature if you like.) Thanks for the asks! Was good to have an excuse to get the history thoughts down for ref! xoxo

I’m putting it below a thing because my soul is witless, brevity what

🌻 How old is your Rook? How do they feel about celebrating their birthday? What gift has meant the most to them?

Rook ‘Worne’ Thorne is mid-thirties. He doesn’t know his exact age and doesn’t know his birthday. Parents were plenty dead before memories could be formed. Born and grew in Kirkwall, more specifically Darktown, and those early years were simple survival, he doesn’t remember much. But he’s a man in love with life and doesn’t mind making it awkward for people when they ask. ‘Ah shit I forgot! It was yesterday, no one ever remembers’ type stuff.

When it comes to celebrating he would normally do something special around the new year with friends. Gather up those in the same situation and party. A tradition for him in Kirkwall and later at Weisshaupt, he’s far from the only one that doesn’t know their birthday after all. And hey when things are scarce it just makes sense to put all the holidays together and celebrate another year of survival. He loves parties and birthdays, loves celebrating anything really. He’d likely be delighted to pick a special day for himself but the thought would never occur to him. Never really had time to think about it, never thought it would really matter or never saw a need? Like why? Would anyone care about a ‘fake’ birthday’?

As far as gifts go, the one that meant the most was a book he got from Varric as a kid. He credits it, and the dwarf, for his ability to read. And he credits it and the dwarf’s stories for most of his morals and character, he latched onto what he could. So that first one is a keystone, ‘borrowed’ plenty others, but that was his. And as much as he loves all the new grave gold, I think he’d treasure a first edition signed copy of whatever Bellara is writing most if it were about his Veilguard family. Especially if she includes some of the details Emmrich let him share about ‘romance’. He always dreamed of being in one of Varric’s books. Oh, also a handkerchief Emmrich gave him the first day they met. Professor was tired of seeing him use his sleeve. He’s never used the handkerchief.

🌸 Does your Rook have any siblings or close friends they see as such? Where are they during the events of Veilguard?

No siblings. And yet all the siblings. He would consider every single Warden a sibling. You’re kin if you undertake the Joining; survive or not. He might be a shit Warden that leaves collapsed buildings in his wake, but there’s always a breath of relief from his peers when they’re assigned to work with him. After all they know the job will get done, they’ll get back alive in one piece, and Worne’ll happily take the fall for any fires he started, or they both started. He delights in pissing off the Warden Commander and holds his position as ‘worst Warden’ with pride.

Greta is a very dear friend, she’s one of the very few (if only) Wardens left from around his entry time. They’ve been on again off again friends with benefits but always strictly platonic.

Antoine and Evka consider him their adult son. Forever a blessed third wheel that might’ve taken too many hits to the head. He’s really hoping they want kids or adopt some after all this Blight business because he wants to be a ‘big brother or uncle’. He’d love to be the Varric for others. He knows he’s not nearly as eloquent, but he can throw you really high into the air and catch you and isn’t that almost as good? He’s made it a personal mission to make sure Mila gets everything she needs and wants because my goodness she could run a country and he owes her his life. That’s his niece right there.

🌱 Was Rook involved romantically with anyone before Veilguard? What was their partner like? How did the relationship end?

Officially no. Romance has never been a thing he has time for, he was always fascinated by whatever Antoine and Evka had but a future isn’t something a Warden plans for. Didn’t know what real ‘courtship’ looked like in reality. Emmrich confused the hell out of him at first. Worne had relied on his looks and simple flirting to drop hints for ‘wanna bang?’ Something clicked in his head at “Close your eyes. Take a breath.” The thought occurred with a peek, ‘oh this is like the books!’, “Ah.” eyes shut, “Slow. Deep.” and just awash with, ‘This happens?! That stuffs real?’ Cue head over heels for the necromancer.

That said. Near the end of his time in Kirkwall he was working with a more ‘official’ group of criminal young folk. He partnered up for a lot of jobs with an apostate mage. Not many of those around, the group only knew the one, and so they put him in Rook’s care. Guarding a target has always been his specialty, especially if they’re a mage with any healing capability. He’ll take a hit to make sure nothing gets near the caster. Mindset of ‘well if they get you we’re all dead, just gotta kill them in time for you to patch me up’.

Anyways. They were crushing on each other when a job went bad. Everyone dead but them. Rook and mage were given the choice of gallows or Wardens. His friend didn’t survive the Joining. The lich ritual was not a fun thing to experience with that in the back of his head but he hasn’t mentioned that history to anyone. Greta wouldn’t even remember the name of the mage and Rook doesn’t speak of it.

🌹 What’s the first genuine fight Rook got in with their love interest about? How was it resolved?

Worne nearly killed a Nevarran nobleman. It wasn’t long after the skull fade thing and he was deep into his romance books at that point. They were in the city to pick up some materials for Emmrich, who was off talking with the shopkeeper, when Rook caught an offhand comment nearby. Something about the way the man said Volkarin was off, threatening, dismissive, disrespectful? He’d heard violence like that before.

So he walked on over and quietly, politely asked the noble to explain himself and/or apologize. Rook’s not sure what words were exchanged after that because all he remembers is punching that smug face after them. Laid him out flat. Broke his nose. Honestly Worne wasn’t expecting the noble to fold so quick based on how boldly he spoke. But that head bounce on the ground was bad and the noble likely would’ve died if Emmrich hadn’t rushed over in horror. Rook was ready to finish the job because you don’t leave threats alive. They had words. A lot of words before Emmrich all but demanded Rook wait for him back at the Lighthouse while he dealt with this.

Rook left with a, ‘Fine! Why don’t you fuck him when you’re done kissing his ass?’ Didn’t go to the Lighthouse though because no way in hell he’s leaving that mage alone in danger so he haunted alleyways within sight and showed up just after Emmrich. Many more heated words were exchanged at the Lighthouse. But it led to some deeper talk. They resolved it when Emmrich offered to let Rook hold his hand or the like whenever he felt the need to ‘deal with a threat’ of the sort. Emmrich would handle it peacefully and he’d let go if/when violence was warranted. It’s worked for them since. Lotta threats out there.

🌼 If someone was to ask Spite what Rook smells like, what would he say?

“Smells like earth. Old leather, dirt…blood. Rook’s? Another? Both.”

🌷If Rook needed to get away from their responsibilities for a moment, where would they go? Where is their safe space outside the Lighthouse?

He refuses to disclose his hiding place at the Lighthouse. Only Manfred knew where it was and it’s where they kept their ‘stick stash’ of staves, swords, wands, and daggers Rook would gather in Arlathan for Manfred, nothing like a good stick. And nothin like a good stick fight. Guesses are you have to crawl through a pretty tight tunnel to get there.

Outside of the Lighthouse he’ll find the latest shittiest bar in Docktown. He wants it loud, he wants it crowded, and he wants his crab cakes and beer nuts with nasty beer. He’s found the best place to be alone is in a crowd. Very good at disappearing in such. Often after he’s had his fill he’ll look for a ‘comfy’ spot in the literal streets to nap or sleep for the night. No better place to be invisible than literally in everyone’s view looking destitute. His safe place is literally the most dangerous streets he can find.

🌺 Is there an object from Rook’s childhood they look back on fondly? (ie a favorite stuffed animal, book, or food)

He has a stone that he found in Darktown (actually features in a blurb). Think worry stone. He found it before he was Rook, so before six. He liked the shape and feel. It’s a simple dull grey oval. Might’ve killed a man with it once. Considers it lucky. He kept that storybook Varric gave him as a kid back at Weisshaupt, but considers it lost after the fortress fell. He’s not too torn up about it, he memorized it anyway, but it still stings.

🌿 Does your Rook have any tattoos? What was the moment when they got them like? If they’re a Crow where is their de Riva brand located? What vallaslin do they have/how did they earn it if they’re Dalish?

Worne has two tattoos. He got his second in the classic Warden ‘Joining’ style on his right arm, cup and lines and the like. The Wardens still make fun of him for how he sat for it. For a man that’ll take a dislocated shoulder with a grin he is the ultimate baby when it comes to sitting for a tattoo. And it’s not that he thinks it hurts, he just hates needles. Something about a wound that doesn’t leave much a mark unnerves him. He’d likely have more tattoos if he could get over that thought but ew.

His first tattoo is the Kirkwall coat of arms, it’s about five inches and on his upper mid back. He’s not telling you about the third. It’s a small Rook chess piece and he’s not saying where it is. But yeah, plenty of bellyaching from him when he got them all, which is rare for him.

[pip3dream]

Kit Herondale is so perfect he’s my favorite fictional character of all time

[eff-plays]

Did you hear that people on the Veilguard subreddit are blaming disappointed/angry fans for the fact that game was a failure? As if we should just accept whatever slop we get from AAA studios uncritically. Straight up bozo the clown behaviour from these people istg...🤣🤡

At the risk of sounding like I touch grass too much, I haven't looked at the subreddit in months because. I don't care what BW dickriders have to say ngl. But also the game is such a nothingburger that nothing really compels me to talk about it. Even my critiques nowadays are like "lol. lmao" because I'm not invested in dunking on it seriously. There's just nothing to really dissect or chew on once I got my main criticisms out of my system. And the Veilguard defenders, I'm sorry to say, regurgitate the same arguments with such an undeserved smugness and superiority that they're not really worth engaging.

But it sounds like something a fandom huffing copium might do, certainly. In this case though it's extremely funny to blame the fans, because like. Inquisition upset some old school fans as well, back in the day, but it was still such a huge hit that most people enjoyed it regardless, and it brought in a lot of new players to the franchise as well. VG made the mistake of alienating the people who largely kept the fandom alive and relevant for a DECADE between games, while also failing to bring in new players. If you want to convince a newbie to get into Dragon Age, the most accessible recommendation would STILL be Inquisition, making VG redundant as a blank slate entry point. There's nobody to blame for that but EA and BioWare, but due to corporate secrecy that leaves so many questions unanswered and so much disappointment and fury without a target that all you have left is channelling your anger at the fans, who are far more accessible to you and seem like the ones who could've made up for the dookie product if they'd only been nicer to it.

[little-elf-wanders]

I just realised how bad Effie and Solas are going to interact.

Like, they will straight up not agree, and this time it isn't even because I just don't like him - because there's potential for him to further explain what he meant with his plans and for me to change my mind if it makes sense, however, so far all we have to go off of doesn't paint him in a good light. No matter what romanticists say to defend him. We don't have the facts. Specifically for a Rook. It paints him very much as destroying the world. Multiple characters have reacted like that's what he's doing, the biggest example being Varric himself when he outright says it in the comic. So those of us who aren't reading into every little comment he made takes it for what he said it as. Which hasn't been much. And it's pretty alarming of a concept without absolute assurances. I don't take his 'lol trust me' message well, because I don't trust him.

But what I know for a fact is Effie's Mournwatch beliefs directly conflict with Solas's. And it'll be interesting to see if that has any weight in game.

They both care about spirits, that's about the biggest connection they have. The issue is they both have differing views on how that care takes place.

Solas, of course, created the Veil, but he hasn't been around to properly see what it does with spirits in this world. We see a reaction to mages binding a demon like it's the first time he's seen it. He's reactive and horrified - one Mortalitisi he even killed somewhere else, though I believe it was because of an idol they were using and for making a wisp stir their tea. Fair play to him with idol tampering and knowing abuse of a spirit.

He's seeing spirits be twisted against their nature and it is his fault. The mages doing the binding are people who don't have the same understanding of how spirits operate, though, so you can't under any circumstance blame them for thinking they're doing what was taught to them is alright. You cannot kill those mages in blind anger for not knowing what you know.

When confronting the mages, he tells them he's not helping them. Tell me why the fuck it's an ego brush he prefers about being smarter and not 'He's right, there's something about this you don't know!'

The rifts are opening everywhere spitting out demons, and they are terrified, they are hunted by rogue Templars in a mage/templar war that left a lot of angry outliers, and his only thought to them not knowing other than doing what Circles taught them is they deserve death? If they knew better sure, but very clearly they did not.

I'm showing this because Solas is extremely knowledgeable and could have chosen to teach that spirits are different from demons and that pulling one from the fade and binding it just warps it against its nature, then shown them how it went back to being a spirit. I'm aware this was his friend, so some aggression and reactiveness is understandable. But tell me why there wasn't an option to talk him down? Or to have the option to give him a way to see that some people don't understand? It was simply 'let him murder these people for which he'll love you, or disagree and he'll hate it.' And I'm not sympathetic to that at all, I would have respected him more if we got given literally any other reaction besides murder them for his approval. The mages were scared and upset, that isn't a reason to murder them. Were they wrong? YES. Obviously. But it could have been something so much fucking more. Lavellan knows this. Or she should.

Now back to Effie. We know this about Solas, she does not. The thing is, the Mournwatch seems to respect the dead. And spirits. Maybe not all of them hold those views like a certain Mortalitisi but I'm going into this believing Effie certainly does, and I suspect Emmrich does too given Manfred. She believes when someone dies a spirit is shunted from the fade. If this is true? Effie will be furious at Solas for creating the Veil without a shred of thought for it just to use the spirits as an excuse to break it. He cares more about the spirits than people. His own people are just the exception but you can't threaten what he has and only accept some. I'm curious how this might play out, if it does at all.

His biggest aim was to lock away the gods, but it completely disrupted how Thedas now operates, including how it grew - and how some countries have zero information to work with because they fear the unknown. While some respect it, like Nevarra and Rivain. Even Avvar hold a huge respect for spirits. Effie see's it as part of the ecosystem, now - which might be a wrong thought to have but those spirits are now part of that and have been for long enough there will be a significant issue or problem if it's suddenly removed. And that's entirely Solas's doing. Maybe I'm wrong to believe there'll be an issue, a magic fix it seems anticlimactic when they've built up his whole scheme to be apocalyptic.

So, if he gets mad at how the Mournwatch find the spirits suitable bodies and handle the supernatural issues from said spirits going berserk, she's fully going to tell him he's the reason why they need to find them bodies in the first place and he doesn't get to judge or break it because it's hard to stomach. They do this so they DON'T turn into demons.

And that maybe there's some other way to fix it that doesn't involve shady ass schemes and with-holding vital information that could change how systems do teach these subjects. But I don't know. She loves spirits more than people, she appears apathetic to people but she doesn't want them to bloody explode or be ripped apart.