#Dragon Age Solas

[kngaroo]

Lovers at the window

[alsoika]

Sulah x Solas comm for @elspethdekarios

[miraabellee]

I have butterflies in my tummy 🥹🥹🥹 THIS is absolutely what I needed after this ugh-day

note to self: listen to the unpublished atonement ending theme on repeat to enhance that endless happiness even more 🥲🥹

WELCOME TO SOLAVELLAN HEAVEN!!! 🥰 We’ve finally made it out of hell

I want to speak about why the second part of the Best-True ending of Dragon Age Veilguard pierced me so deeply. The Flycam screenshots are from Aru/Elf botanist (YT linked at the bottom).

To set the tone, the music established the emotive themes of the scene. It speaks to the Lost Elf theme- however it is forever changed and lighter. This elf that was Lost for so many years is now Found. There is hope in the strings, there is redemption in each note. This also speaks to the specific codex from the lighthouse in Solas’ secret room. Not his office at the top of the building, extravagant, beautiful, overshadowing all others and looking down in godly benevolence - his private quarters on the main floor, where parts of his travel with the Inquisition surround him.

When Lavellan speaks to Solas, she is using a resolute voice, almost chastising him for thinking he has to do this alone. He has her, and she will keep reminding him.

*Edit: Please note she also speaks the common tongue in this instance.

Solas implores her to think of the dangers the journey he is going on will have, his head is down to show the residual shame and his plea for her safety. But also a part of him hopes. The reason all he says is that “there will be danger” is a statement of warning but not fully entreating her to stay. His heart has a pause, he is prioritising her safety and wants her aware of the dangers.

Note, that he also speaks in Elven in response to her, his first language and mother tongue. As a trilingual, one usually reverts to their more natural tongue during a heightened emotional situation - in this case, Solas' warning statement is also a subconcious plea for her to understand him and join him despite the danger. He will never push her further than she wants to go like he was pushed by Mythal.

This is the shot normally, the downward and side tilt are clear making the imploring effect of his words resonate further. Unlike before where he only looked at her for small spans of time his attention is fully focused since being absolved of his duty. After she responds that she will be with him, forever no matter what, he shifts. This is akin to when making vows “I stay with you in sickness and in death” but they are crossing the boundaries of mortality. This is “I stay with you in any plight, any condition, any reality. I commit my eternity to you”

Her response is an amalgamation of the following:

1) You are not alone in it emotionally and mentally as I am with you

2) Physically I am with you to endure it with you

3) Our joined manifestations will make it a better place quite literally, so the bleak darkness that could have encroached will not exist when we are together

This is also validated a bit by Trick Weekes QA:

She then states their love is eternal, and she chooses to walk on any path with him fully and wholly. A love that transcends time, mortal barriers, immortality, the different realms of existence. This combined with their standing pose as if at the altar of a wedding is the final part of her vows. Said in the same hallelujah pattern and in elven as he would speak - she commits to his language (mentally and emotionally) so he best will understand her declaration. (This is confirmed by @northgalis on Twitter).

This, in front of the witnesses who are the allies who helped them unite in their union, Rook and Morrigan whilst overseen by the Veil itself in the position of holiness. His blood is the bond they now share, the new blood magic in a way that ties them to a new fate of their own making. The veil that brought them together in the beginning of the journey they now tread into together.

Then they confirm their vows with a kiss, she pulls him in first, similarly to their first kiss in the fade and he reciprocates. Solas is weakened, hurting, feeling unworthy of the brightest soul in the universe but she chooses him and he finally submits to his desire and need for her. His duty now to himself, atonement and the woman who chose him with it all in mind.

Aru’s flycam footage also shows the kiss being deeper and him actively

After the kiss, he SMILES. The ending is now so much less bleak it is tender, it is soft it is comfort, it is peace.

A smiling glance. meeting at a crescendo; a shared moment of understanding;

Screenshot from Daoithe on Tumblr.

He then proceeds to thank Rook, for helping him see when he allowed himself to be so plagued by grief and guilt and not giving up on him as it could have turned to despair, revenge and anger, like all the other endings which I hate because they go against his very nature. The other endings spit in the face of his complexity the story keeps explicitly imploring you to see and have empathy. Solas is a spirit of wisdom, when guilt festers that wisdom manifests in the worst possible ways. And with no one to listen and read between the lines, the fate he is subjected too is far too unkind. But here, he not only is freed of his guilt but also, just as importantly and very implicitly, his fear of dying alone.

If you have played inquisition you will recall there is a moment near the climax of Here Lies the Abyss where Inquisitor and their chosen companions go into the Fade. Solas is easily one of the most fascinating and best companions to take with you as he from the onset has been a “Fade expert” and his lines throughout are intriguing and educational. During the quest you come across graves embodying the different characters biggest fears. And Solas? Dying alone. The god who went against everyone he knew for a better world, whose empathy only continued to hurt him and freed others with hopes to better the world is the most lonely man. And he is terrified and within himself brought low by his loneliness in his commitment to the path he feels he must take. This is why the next part transcends the scene.

After the kiss which confirmed their bond and pact - binding them together with love and empathy, wisdom and curiosity married - he thanks rook and looks back at Lavellan, his Vhenan. And it is a *micro second* shot that completely defeats me. His head held high, the concerned imploring tilt gone as he holds his chin higher in appreciation, respect and awe for the woman who chose him. The love of his life, his eternal companion. The only one to truly fully see him, respect him, and love him wholly. Who has forgiven him and chooses a path which only leads to him. He is honoured to be loved by her, and will work to be the better man he feels she deserves, but also beginning to accept that her love for him is in any form he takes. The one he prizes above all others, chose him, and he will never be alone - and that is everything.

Seeing completely, and being wholly seen.

This scene literally destroyed me in the best way. I am left hollow with love and adoration for this character and his relationship to his love Lavellan and no other romance will meet the threshold they have created for me. It is not Solavellan hell no longer, they have transcended to Solavellan heaven.

My playthrough video of the second half of the ending sequence.

Here is Arus Flycam YT video for reference:

Arus Flycam Lavellan POV of the True - Best ending

[nerd-elf]

This frame cracks me up every time 🤣🤣🤣

[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!!!)

[plasticfreckles]

friendly reminder that when Varric says

and

its actually solas telling u to

A) fucking talk to him hes in solitary going insane

B) HURRY THE FUCK UP AND GET HIM OUTTA THERE

[360iris]

“that reminds me of my wife” solas “my wife often says I—“ solas “I’d rather not keep my wife waiting” solas….

back from the dead just to say solas is definitely a “my wife” guy. he will not shut up about lavellan.

“ah yes, my wife loves these. i’ll make sure to bring some to her.”

“maybe i should introduce you to my wife. you have a lot in common with her.”

“sorry i cannot stay, my wife is waiting for me.”

solas is a certified yapper. he yaps about the fade all the time. you think he’d ever NOT yap about lavellan? no. he will bring her up every time someone says something that reminds him of her. this lovestruck fool. this silly worm.

[whispersleo]

May the Dread wolf take you.

I didn't like it but it took me an hour to do it so equis

[suranastair]

The Dread Wolf Rises

[the-raven-and-the-tower]

SOLAS: Harding... I am sorry.

HARDING (immediate quiet aggression): For what, Solas?

HARDING (continuing): Lying to all of us and betraying the Inquisition?

HARDING (building rage): Trying to tear down the Veil? Killing Varric?!

HARDING: Using blood magic on Rook's mind and then betraying him?

HARDING: Or maybe you're sorry for destroying the Titans' spirits, stripping our dreams from us and creating the darkspawn.

SOLAS (ineffectually and with sorrow): Yes. I am.

[icpe]

Dragon Age Veilguard, doodles 4

[skyholdscribe]

infinitely funny that solas is this powerful god that was worshipped for centuries albeit against his will and commanded spirits and legions of ancient elves in a rebellion

is the same solas who allowed himself to be bullied non stop by inquisition companions who had no idea what he was. imagine being revered for millennia and then suddenly sera is blowing raspberries anytime he speaks, varric’s calling him “chuckles” after his feared mantle of the dread wolf, being subjected to inappropriate spirit sex questions and the skyhold joke that he doesnt like tea, which he deliberately plays into purely for the sake of everyone’s amusement. he was completely content to be the butt of the joke.

the relief from being seen as a god-general of rebellion and lies to an unwashed apostate hobo ... being in the inquisition truly must’ve been the best year of his life

[hattedhedgehog]

I've finally finished my Dread Wolf tarot embroidery from Dragon Age Inquisition! Clocking in at 64 hours of work, it measures 11.5 X 19.5 cm and I've been chipping away it during my downtime at work. My fellow community council members on Dragon Age: The Veilguard may have been biased while helping me choose which character's card to do, but I'm so grateful they did because it was so much fun to work on, and so different from the previous ones.

This is my fourth large Dragon Age character card project, and the first one I started since I uprooted everything to train as a costumer. Having a portable yet elaborate project was comforting while travelling for new experiences.

Now, who's excited for the new game later this year?!

[the-upper-shelf]

when I GETCHA 👋

[wetsocksinbed]

Rook, bursting into the fade: why the FUCK are there so many alters to you scattered around? Why do I have to go through such elaborate steps to reach the wolf statues???

Solas: the Inquisitor made me run around the Hinterlands for a month. It’s only fair you experience even but a shred of that pain for ruining my ritual

[banal-nadas]

You should have seen me when I was younger. Hot-blooded and cocky, always ready to fight.