#Jowan x Female Surana

[anneapocalypse]

April Recs!

I think my recs this month have a few different themes in common: choice, consequences, loss, and also a reimagining or deepening of some aspect of canon. I had a hard time coming up with a pithy thematic title for this post, but I can certainly say that all of these fics have given me a fresh or deeper perspective on characters and events in the Dragon Age universe! I'm excited to rec them all, and I hope that you'll enjoy them too.

As always, please check the full tags and warnings on AO3.

Counting Paces by XerosXVI. Male Lavellan/Cassandra, and other companions. Varlas Lavellan struggles to come to terms with the death of his clan, and to connect with the friends who both can and cannot understand. I think it really effectively explores the aftermath of the tragic end of the Clan Lavellan plotline, in a way the game does not. Warning for family deaths and grief. 8500 words, rated T.

The Old Gods of Serault by hes5thlazarus. Felassan & Imshael, and some other people. Sundered from his body, Felassan wanders, coming across an old acquaintance in the Tirashan Forest. A fantastic and fantastical fic that brings these minor characters and a part of the world we've never seen vividly to life in weird and wonderful ways. Warning for descriptions of mycelium and body-horror-adjacent things. 3500 words, rated T.

Halliserre, Half Sister by Cryptographic_Delurk. Jowan/Lily, unrequited Female Surana/Jowan, a hint of Surana/Lily. In this story, Halliserre Surana has escaped the Circle Tower with Jowan and Lily, and now wonders what future awaits her with the blood mage she loves and the woman he loves instead. I really love this deeper look at these three characters and their complicated relationships. Warning for unrequited feelings and unplanned pregnancy. 3200 words, rated M.

three truths and a lie (Orphaned work). Cassandra, Leliana, and Varric. Cassandra has asked many times and in many ways what really happened to Orsino. One day, following Hawke's death, Varric finally tells her. Hands-down my favorite reimagining of the end of DA2. Warning for violence, eye trauma. 1800 words, rated G.

For Love of the People by @ammoniteflesh. Female Mahariel & the Dalish at Arlathvhen, with a side of Mahariel/Morrigan. Ghila Mahariel, who defiled the Sacred Ashes of Andraste in vengeance for her people, meets her people again, and faces their reactions, both positive and negative. It's a really interesting exploration of that game choice from the perspective of a Dalish Warden. 1300 words, rated G.

Happy April, friends, and happy reading.

[lisamoony]

My Suarana girl and fem!Jowan kiss + zevwarden nsfw sketch below

[elvesofnoldor]

.

[adragonageau]

Chapters: 10/10 Fandom: Dragon Age (Video Games), Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage Relationships: Jowan/Female Surana, Female Amell/Cullen Rutherford, Anders/Karl Thekla, Keili/Lily Characters: Female Amell, Female Surana, Cullen Rutherford, Jowan, Anders (Dragon Age), Karl Thekla, Keili (Dragon Age), Lily (Dragon Age), Wynne, Irving (Dragon Age), Greagoir (Dragon Age), Evelina - Character, Niall (Dragon Age) Additional Tags: Romance, Dark, Alternate Universe, Angst and Tragedy Series: Part 2 of The Forgotten Bard Tales Summary:

"...jealous of the life they could not feel, could not touch... in blackest envy..."

Kinloch Hold.

Growing up in a stone tower, always being watched, has a different effect on everyone. Some thrive, knowing they are protected. Others resist, chafing against the cold chains.

Light consensual smut & mentions and depictions of abuse/rape. Triggering content enters at Chapter 5, last paragraph, and chapters after that deal with some of the aftermath but nothing particularly graphic. 

Main pairings are Cullen x Amell and Jowan x Surana, with others being mentions or side ships. The main focus is Surana x Amell friendship, however.

[non-toxicdragonageconfessions]

Songday Sunday: Tragic Lovers Playlist 

Cullen x Female Amell/Surana  Blindness - Metric

Ser Gilmore x Female Cousland  Love - Lana del Rey

Gorim x Female Aeducan If a song could get me you - Marit Larsen

Anders x Hawke Glittering Cloud - Imogen Heap

Jowan x Lily How could this happen to me - Simple Plan

Dorian x Male Inquisitor Hard to say I’m sorry - Chicago

Solas x Female Inquisitor It must’ve been love - Roxette

Celene x Briala I will remember you - Sarah McLean

[whereismywarden]

I believe in second chances

read on ao3 author’s note: due to popular demand (yes, four people is popular), i decided to expand on nice to meet you again with a long fic. i strongly advise you to read the one-shot before jumping into this fic because i will reference it on occasion. summary: disgraced, shamed, branded a traitor and exiled from his homeland, alistair decides to drink his life away in kirkwall. there, he meets surana, a runaway mage and single mother who just wants to help him move forward. pairing: female surana x alistair. rating: m. warnings: depression, alcoholism, hangover, some mild violence.

DENERIM, THREE YEARS AGO.

“I have no place here any longer. Not in Ferelden. Not with the Grey Wardens. Not by you.”

The disgust in Alistair’s voice as he turned his back on Amell was palpable. Looking back, he should have seen it coming. Of course, the man sleeping with Morrigan would decide to spare that traitor! And it wasn’t the first time he had played the all-forgiving judge either! He had let the blood mage, Jowan, go free after witnessing the horrors happening in Redcliffe. Alistair hadn’t said anything at the time. Amell had known Jowan almost his entire life, there was no-one better suited to make this decision. Then there had been the girl in Kinloch Hold whom, for all he knew, could have very well been a blood mage too. And long before all that, he had freed Sten without batting an eyelash, fully aware of the reasons behind his imprisonment. The Qunari had turned out to be a worthy ally, one Alistair had valued greatly, but it should have tipped him off. Their friendship had blinded him to the truth: Amell was a stupid, selfish man.

No less than five guards were escorting Alistair to the docks. He would have gone on his own, but Anora - sorry, the Queen - wanted to make sure he left her kingdom for good. He half expected one of them to stab him in the back or cut his head off before they even reached their intended destination. She wanted him dead, there was no getting around that. The only reason his head hadn’t rolled on the palace floor was because Amell had stepped in. Maybe he had felt sorry? Maybe there had been a sliver of friendship left in him? Alistair couldn’t tell, nor did he care anymore. It was over, all of it. He had never had any desire to become king, anyway. But being a warden? That he would miss most of all. Not if this is what the order stands for, I sure won’t miss it!

The guards shoved him onto a boat setting sail towards the Free Marches. Alistair spent a week in the cargo hold, drinking and puking. The ship captain almost threw him overboard when he found the mess Alistair had made of it. Instead, the disgraced prince was thrown on the streets of Kirkwall with only a few coins in his pockets. Less than an hour later, he had found his way to the nearest tavern and lost what little money he had left.

[Read the rest on AO3]

[ser-caspian-the-very-good-boy]

Theme songs for tragic romances.

(I wanted to make a playlist for romantic couples that end in tragedy, in the world of Dragon Age. Obviously this is not all of them, though I wanted to include some couples that is easily forgotten.)

Branka x Hespith: Bring me to life -  Evanescence

Empress Celene x Briala: Young and beautiful - Lana Del Rey

Varric x Bianca: Goodbye my lover - James Blunt

Jowan x Lily: Love is an open door - Frozen

Cullen x female Amell/Surana: Every little thing she does is magic - Sleeping at last (cover)

Tamlen x female Mahariel: Brother - Kodaline 

King Maric x Fiona: Only love can hurt like this - Paloma Faith

Solas x female Lavellan: Set fire to the rain - Adele  

Ironbull x Dorian: One more night - Maroon 5 

If there is anyone I have forgotten or you would like to be acknowledged please comment. Maybe I will do another one in the future.  

[red-wardens]

Blue 14?

From: Memory Prompts

—-

14. A Memory of a Relationship

Female Surana x Knight Commander Greagoir (Father-Daughter Relationship)

Words: 595

Continued from: This Memory

———————–

“Hmph, you don’t have to visit so often you know.” the grey-haired Templar grumbled as she poured him tea. Blue Surana sat across from him in his office. Despite his dour countenance and her detached look, they were glad for each other’s company. Some things didn’t need to be said.

“Dispell!” the fierce-looking Templar ordered, using Cleanse Area on the elf child. She felt a sudden force hit her- hard- throwing her to the charred ground. She panted inaudibly. The tears had dried upon her face, her hands hurt excruciatingly, but she was silent. She felt very drained.  At least her long hair was no longer on fire…It was burnt short now, barely framing her chin.

She made no protest as the bearded man picked her up and set her on a horse. She coughed quietly while he took up his seat behind her. Stinging eyes suddenly very heavy, she was asleep in seconds.

When she awoke it was sunset the next day. White bandages covered her hands and forearms. She stared blankly. The strict looking man stood and glowered at her but approached holding out a water-skin to her mouth. She drank greedily, her throat dry and pained from the inhalation of too much smoke.

“Didn’t think we’d find a mage on our way back from Kirkwall,” a kindly looking man by the fire commented. “What’s your name, little elf?”

She was silent. The gruff looking man before her glared and gripped her small shoulder.

“Answer the question, abomination,” he ordered, shaking her.

“Greagoir, please!” the third man protested. “She’s barely more than a baby!”

A small argument broke out among them. She was asked again several times her name. And where she was from. And other questions she could no longer remember. She neither cried nor spoke the rest of the journey. When another bearded man met them at the door of the tall tower, he asked her name too.

“Blue,” the one called Greagoir responded for her. “The child is mute. And I won’t be bothered with Elven names. Her name is Blue,”

“For her eyes, I’m guessing,” the old mage sighed, shaking his head. “Really, Greagoir. You can’t get any more creative than that? Give her a real name-

“Let it be, Irving. She doesn’t mind, do you?” he glared down at her. The newly renamed child stared and shook her head. “See? Blue it is,”

“Blue,” she repeated softly, stunning them all. The next few years Blue followed Greagoir around the tower. He complained, she stared. He yelled, she stayed close. Gradually he grew used to her company. He allowed it for ten years before being promoted from Knight Captain to Knight Commander. Then he could no longer be seen “playing favorites”.

Still, she made him tea in his office on his birthdays, and on her “found days”. Never had he been so glad to see a mage pass their Harrowing. And never had he felt so betrayed to find her aiding a blood mage the same day. Blue had felt inexplicably guilty- she did not regret helping Jowan, but the look of bitter disappointment in her father figure’s eyes that day had nearly pushed her to tears for the first time since they’d met.

“So you stopped the Blight after all, Warden Commander,” he said as they finished their tea. The ‘I’m proud of you,’ was in his voice. Some things did not need to be said.

“Blue,” she corrected tonelessly, reminding him of her name. He made a dismissive sound but when she smiled slightly, so did he.

[hexxalite-hecate]

Have some Cullen x Amell fluff! 💖

Midwinter

hexxalite-hecate

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age: Origins Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Female Amell/Cullen Rutherford Characters: Cullen Rutherford, Female Amell, Anders, Jowan, Surana Additional Tags: Christmas, Christmas Fluff, Yule, Satinalia, Midwinter, Holidays, Christmas Tree, Secret Crush, Awkward Flirting, Fluff, Sappy, Cute, Winter Solstice, Kinloch Hold, Short One Shot, Short & Sweet, Pre-Dragon Age: Origins, Snow, Baby Cullen, Baby Amell, Baby Anders, Complete

Cullen has never spent Satinalia at the Tower before, but even the thought of Midwinter away from his family pales in comparison to the poor celebrations the mages have to look forward to. When he realises that his crush Solona Amell wants to decorate a tree, he spies a chance to bridge the gulf between mages and Templars… for one night, at least. Pre-Origins, purely indulgent seasonal fluff.

Alright all my lovely Dragon Age and Mass Effect friends I’m gonna ask a big favor. I’ve been largely absent for several months bc I separated from my husband and it’s just been. Well. A lot. I’m trying to get caught up and honestly could use some serious Alistair, Cullen and Kaidan fluff. So if you see this. Please add in your favorite short fluff! Or smut. Frankly I’ll take it all!!

[steampoweredstrawberry]

Is it too much to ask you all those questions?

*Rubs hands together*

1. Your first OC ever?

I probably had OCs as a kid. Probably a Sailor Moon one or a Harry Potter OC (Most likely had a Harry Potter OC. The only one I can name for certain though was a witch named Caroline with an affinity for fire magic.

2. Do you have a personal favourite among your OCs?

Right now? Claudia Hawke. I love talking about her and drawing her and writing her. Plus, she has a super cute boyfriend who I also love talking about and drawing.

3. Have you ever adopted a character or gotten a character from someone else?

Lol. Yeah. I have a few of @mikagesshoku‘s OCs now. The first was an ancient vampire named Mark (not his real name, but what he goes by in modern times). She liked how I wrote him and characterized him, so he became my son. Her Hawke, Quentin, is also now my Hawke (and Claudia’s big brother). She also prefers how I write her Mahariel.

4. A character you rarely talk about?

Of my DA OCs? Aeducan and Brosca. Nothing against dwarves, I just haven’t fleshed them out very well.

5. If you could make only one of your OCs popular/known, who would it be?

Claudia Hawke. Her being popular and people wanting me to write/draw her would come with the ulterior motive of getting to write/draw Anders.

6. Two OCs of yours that look alike despite not being related?

Claudia Hawke and Elira Bassat. Elira’s a bit taller and her hair is straight, but they’re both sassy, dual-wielding red heads. My old RP buddy actually confused one of my first drawings of Claudia for Elira (Claudia’s since had some cosmetic changes to make them look more different).

7. Are your OCs part of any story or stories?

Yes! I write for Claudia a lot.

You can find her here, here, and here. (Note: All of these contain graphic depictions of sex, so read at your own risk)

8. Do you RP as any of your OCs? If you do, introduce one of your RP OCs here!

Elira Bassat was my OC that I RPed the longest as, but don’t anymore. She’s a sassy, dual-wielding red head, she’s nb, but generally prefers she/her or them/they pronouns (occasionally he/him). She’s also a big fan of vigilante justice.

9. Would you ever be willing to give any of your OCs to someone else?

Hypothetically, yes. I couldn’t name which one, but if their new parent was going to treat them well, I would.

10. Introduce an OC with a complicated design?

I generally try to keep them toned down or believable in appearance. But, there’s Rhyann Tabris, my tiny elf baby with snow-white hair (I say the quickening still effects elves and it made her hair go white as a child). She’s got a billion freckles and carries around a big sword.

11. Is there any OC of yours you could describe as a "sunshine"?

So, an optimist? I don’t know if I have any of those with my DA OCs. Probably Solona Amell. She’s the most likely to keep her chin up and try to cheer up the others.

12. Name an OC that isn't yours but who you like a lot

I absolutely love @kirkwallgirl‘s Jay Hawke and @misterwiggums‘s Mads Hawke. They’re both super cute and love the mage!

13. Do you have any troublemaker OCs?

Claudia Hawke. She’s best friends with Isabela. They get into lots of trouble.

14. Introduce an OC with a tragic backstory

I think of my DA OCs, I think Rhyann Tabris has a very tragic backstory. I relate to it on a personal level, which was why I chose her (they’ve all got super sad backstories, hers just resonates with me).

15. Do you like to talk about your OCs with other people?

YES! Oh my God, if you guys want to ask me about my OCs, please do! I’d love to hear about all of yours, too!

16. Which one of your OCs would be the best at biology (school subject)?

Solona Amell. She’s a healer.

17. Any OC OTPs?

With other OCs? I don’t know. Neria Surana and Solona Amell (as part of a polymance with Jowan, but he’s not my OC). With non OC characters, Claudia Hawke x Anders and Rhyann Tabris x Alistair Theirin.

18. Any OC crackships?

I don’t have any with just OCs. With OC x canon, I’m planning on writing a Claudia Hawke/Karl Thekla/Anders bi polymance in the future. Not really a crack ship (though I guess it is if you HC Karl as being gay; I’m in the he’s bi/pan camp), but I never thought I’d be pairing Claudia up with Karl before the idea struck me.

19. Introduce an OC that means a lot to you (and explain why)

Rhyann Tabris means a lot to me because she was my first OC in a Dragon Age game, my first playthrough, and her origin really resonated with me.

20. Do any of your OCs sing? If they sing, care to share more details (headcanon voice, what kind of songs they like etc)?

Originally, Elira Bassat was a singer and she was supposed to sound a bit like Sara Taylor/Chibi from The Birthday Massacre, but I scrapped that.

Claudia Hawke enjoys singing, but she isn’t particularly good. I imagine she sings a little bit of everything, though I like the idea of her dramatically singing along to Helena by My Chemical Romance.

21. Your most artistic OC

Probably Elira Bassat. She isn’t an artist, but she’s pretty damn good at costume makeup.

22. Is there any OC of yours people tend to mischaracterize? If yes, how?

I don’t think anyone mischaracterizes them.

23. Introduce OC that has changed from your first idea concerning what the character would be like?

Sophie Cousland. I was originally going to romance Alistair with her, but I was too attached to Rhyann x Alistair, so Sophie became Aro/Ace.

24. If you could meet one OC of yours, who would it be and why?

Claudia Hawke, because she’d bring Anders with her.

25. The OC that resembles you the most (same hobby, height, shared like/dislike for something etc?)

Elira Bassat shared my build, height, and hair color at the time (I’m no longer a red head). But, I’ve given Rhyann Tabris a lot of my facial features.

26. Have you ever had to change your OC's design or something else about them against your will?

I’ve renamed OCs in the past. Can’t think of any off the top of my head, though.

27. Any OCs that were inspired by a certain song?

Like, did I base them off a song? I don’t think I have any OCs like that.

28. Your most dangerous OC?

Claudia Hawke or Rhyann Tabris.

29. Which one of your OCs would go investigate an abandoned house at night without telling anyone they're going?

Probably Solona Amell. She wouldn’t want to trouble anyone with her curiosity. Claudia would go too, but half of Kirkwall would know she was going.

30. Which one of your OCs would most likely have a secret stuffed animal collection?

Rhyann Tabris. In a modern AU, she probably saves every stuffed animal Alistair has ever gave her or won her at a carnival and loves them all.

31. Pick one OC of yours and explain what their tumblr blog would be like (what they reblog, layout, anything really)

Solona Amell’s would be a lot of quotes from book, pictures of pretty cups of tea/coffee, plants, and the occasional cute animal. Mostly aesthetic.

32. Which one of your OCs would be the most suitable horror game protagonist and why?

In a survival/horror, Rhyann Tabris because she fits the personality archetype they use for those sorts of games (timid female protagonist).

33. Your shyest OC?

Rhyann Tabris. She’s extremely shy, and tends to avoid most human men until they earn her trust.

34. Do you have any twin characters?

Sophie Cousland has a twin brother named Jarak. He’s a bit flirty, but is overall a good person.

35. Any sibling characters?

Claudia Hawke has an older brother named Quentin. He’s a mage and she’s extremely protective over him.

36. Do you have OC pairs where the other part belongs to someone else (siblings, lovers, friends etc)?

Rhyann Tabris is the cousin of @mikagesshoku‘s Lyna Mahariel and Misali Mahariel. Claudia Hawke is also friends with Lyna.

37. Introduce an OC who is not quite human

All of my elves/dwarves/qunari? I’m in the mood to mention Thaliah Lavellan, though, given she’s a Dalish elf. She also hooks up with a Qunari.

38. Which one of your OCs would be the best dancer?

I say Claudia Hawke is a former ballet dancer in a modern AU. Though, I imagine Sophie and Jarak are pretty light on their feet, given they’re nobles.

39. Introduce any character you want

I’m world building for an original story in some of my free time, and the main character is named Lilika, though she goes by Lily for most of the story. She’s a seer raised by a wlw couple since she was around 10 years old and she’s blind in her right eye.

40. Any fond memories linked to your characters? Feel free to share!

Whenever anyone leaves nice comments/tags on artwork I do of them! I’ve had a couple people comment that Claudia and Rhyann are very pretty, and it makes me so happy (especially with Rhyann because I gave her some of my features that I consider ugly).

41. Has anyone drawn fanart of your OCs? If yes, maybe show a picture or two here (remember sources & permissions!)

I sadly don’t have any pictures on my current phone of it, but my nephew drew Claudia Hawke and one of his characters from the comic books he likes to draw hanging out. It was really cute.

42. Which one of your OCs would be the most interested in Greek gods?

I’m really tempted to say all of them and leaving it at that, but I’d bet money that Neria Surana went through a very intense Greek mythology period of her life.

43. Do you have any certain type when you create your OCs? Do you tend to favour some certain traits or looks? It's time to confess

YES. I like tall girls with red hair and who are also the more dominant partner in a relationship. I’ve been getting better with it. But I do have at least five red heads, most of which are tall, and most of which are the more dominant partner in a relationship.

44. Something you like about your OCs in general

I love them all and how they all have various facets of me. I try to make them all a little bit like me.

45. A character you no longer use?

I used to RP as Nikolai (a vampire) quite regularly, but I haven’t in years.

46. Has anyone ever told you that you treat your OCs badly?

Yes. My old RP buddy used to tell me all the time that I was being mean to our OCs, but in a you’re being mean, but it makes the story so good way.

47. Has anyone ever (friendly) claimed any of your OCs as their child?

The same RP buddy from number 46 did. He’d call our OCs our “children”, so his were my children too.

48. OC who is a perfect cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure

Solona Amell. She’s a precious child who deserves love.

49. Which one of your OCs would most likely enjoy memes

Claudia Hawke, Quentin Hawke, Neria Surana, Jarak Cousland, Elira Bassat. Most of them.

50. Give me the good ol' OC talk here. Talk about anything you want

Claudia Hawke and Sophie Cousland are named after characters from The Chipmunk Adventure. Claudia was the name of the villain and Sophie was the name of her dog. Quentin is named after a character from a book and his appearance is based somewhat off the same character.

[non-toxicdragonageconfessions]

Songday Sunday Collection (SSC) for December

Alistair x Warden So I Could Find My Way - Enya One Foot - Walk The Moon

x Cullen King And Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men

Anders x Hawke  Glittering Cloud - Imogen Heap

Bethany x Varric Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police

Carver and Hawke In your Shadow I can shine - Tokio Hotel 

and mage hawke Brother My Brother - Blessid Union of Souls

Cole A Sadness Runs Through Him - The Hoosiers 

Cullen Youngblood - 5 Seconds of Summer

x Female Amell/Surana  Blindness - Metric

x Alistair King And Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men

x Inquisitor The Panic In Me - Elton John

Dorian x inquisitor Sweater song - Hedley Hard to say I’m sorry - Chicago Anywhere - Rita Ora

Fenris x Hawke Keep Your Head Up - Um Jammer Lammy

Grey Warden Ser Gilmore x Female Cousland  Love - Lana del Rey

Gorim x Female Aeducan  If a song could get me you - Marit Larsen

Hawke Human - Rag'n'Bone Man 

Inquisition Remain Nameless - Florence + the Machine

Lavellan The Voice - Celtic Woman Unconditionally - Katy Perry

Cadash I See Fire - Ed Sheehan

Josephine x inquisitor Josephine - R I T U A L

Leliana Beautiful Beautiful - Francesca Battistelli

Morrigan She's so Mean - Matchbox Twenty

Solas x inquisitor It must’ve been love - Roxette If I Never Knew You - Pocahontas Here Without You - 3 Doors Down  You’ll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins Don’t Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John Over You - Marc Scibilia Clarity - Zedd

Varric x Bethany Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police

Zevran My Type - Saint Motel

x Warden Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows 

Other Samson Last Man Standing -Hammerfall

Jowan x Lily  How could this happen to me - Simple Plan

Celene x Briala  I will remember you - Sarah McLean