#Like whether the Inquisitor had high or low approval

[social-cocoon]

This is just a quick thought but I think I would have enjoyed the redemption ending more if it had been a dialogue check like gaining Mythal's help or the Landsmeet in DAO. Like you have to pick things that specifically resonate with Solas, and you can get bonus points from the Inquisitor (determined by whether they chose to save or stop him and whether he was romanced or not) and from Morrigan/Mythal assuming all his memories were witnessed and Mythal's essence recieved, so this way it's less Mythal being the only one who could really get him to stop and more that the people who actually fought for the current Thedas are the ones to change his mind.

[abyssal-ilk]

Sudden thought.

An inquisitor giving Vivienne the wrong heart already on low approval with her: Okay. Sure. Be more of a jerk I suppose.

An inquisitor giving Vivienne the wrong heart (whether by accident or on purpose) while on high approval with her: oh SNAP

BEGGING for people to send me more thoughts about this because. AGH. the player has has different dialogue choices depending on if they have high approval with vivienne or not. THESE are the options for an inquisitor with high approval when vivienne asks why you gave her the wrong heart:

"You're manipulative and shallow, and I wanted you to fail." (dialogue wheel: 'Because I hate you.')

"I saw your notes. It's a youth potion!" (dialogue wheel: 'I found out what it was.')

"You refused to give me any details! I had no idea what the potion would do!" (dialogue wheel: 'I didn't trust you.')

"I didn't think it would lead to anything like this. I'm so sorry." (dialogue wheel: 'I'm sorry.')

"Finding a snowy wyvern was too much trouble. I thought any wyvern heart would do." (dialogue wheel: 'Snowy wyverns are hard to find.')

and it's just. all of these options are so devastating. either vivienne severely misjudged the dynamic with the inquisitor where she felt connected to them while they hated her (i hate you), the inquisitor thought she was vain and that was enough of a reason to punish her (i found out what it was for), they didn't trust her and instead of telling her this they just decided to lie to her and break her trust in return (i didn't trust you), they had no excuse ready and was just not taking vivienne seriously (i'm sorry), or they were literally too lazy to help her kill the wyvern and just decided to lie to her about it instead of telling vivienne to find someone else ('snowy wyverns are hard to find').

at least with a low approval inquisitor she was expecting some sort of betrayal or attack. but with a high approval inquisitor she had no reason to have her guard up. godd. way to instill trust issues in vivienne for the rest of the damn game. way to instill trust issues into the rest of the companions even when they find out what happened.

[curioussubjects]

honestly, im not too upset about the inquisition worldstate set up in veilguard. it makes sense that who rules orlais and who is the divine is probably irrelevant to the events of the game (even if the inquistion hasn't been disbanded because i doubt any divine victoria wouldn't just let the inquisitor handle the solas situation). it also makes sense that hawke's fate doesn't matter: they're either in kirkwall or dead (and it's been 10 years, varric wouldn't be deep in the throes of grief anymore). also worth noting that a lot of the update quality of setting up choices got addressed during trespasser (like the fate of the chargers) or its epilogue. i even get why kieran isn't relevant in datv: he's an adult now and is his own person doing his own thing. and morrigan is hardly one to be open about her personal life, so why would she mention him? if he hadn't been a child at the time, he wouldn't have been in skyhold either i bet.

all that said, i wonder how the fate of the southern wardens will be addressed in non specifics considering we go to weisshaupt, but, then again, the wardens seem a bit too busy to get into internal politics or the tension with the southern wardens.

what im really bummed about though is that the well of sorrows wont figure at all...especially after all the fretting i did over it lol. but i suppose that solas wouldn't use the power of the well against the inquisitor without irreversibly betraying himself. still, though, that it's not gonna be relevant at all is disappointing.

i also thought whether the inquisitor had high or low approval with solas would be relevant to set the tone of the inquisitor's involvement (in a way that vowing to stop or save him doesnt fully cover). only way i can figure squaring that out without making everyone mad is for the inquisitor to have a dialogue wheel themselves, which seems more complicated than a worldstate choice, so idk. i could see the inquisitor being diplomatic and polite in public and then having a dialogue wheel in a private confrontation with solas, however, which could work.

guess we shall see :/

[linka-from-captain-planet]

presently feeling insane about the contrast between Celene's high and low approval lines in WEWH

imo the biggest problem in WEWH is that it sidelines the much more interesting NPCs in order to center the Inquisitor in the story, so I wish that the line change was based on something other than court approval. But it IS fun to consider the possibilities behind the different ways Celene chooses to frame the breakup depending on whether she likes or trusts the Inquisitor

and of course, it will always make me feel insane that Celene never denies that she loves Briala when confronted directly about it, no matter what she had to say before that

side note it also makes me LOL how shit-eating accusatory the (at least British Female-voiced) Inquisitor sounds when confronting Celene's ladies and Briala with the locket... like damn just call them a slur

[daitranscripts]

Doom Upon All the World Pt. 5

Return to Skyhold

Doom Upon All the World Masterpost First: The Breach Returns Previous: Victory

The party returns to Skyhold, and the PC climbs the steps to where the advisors are standing.

If romancing Josephine or Cullen, they embrace on the steps. If romancing another companion, they shake hands with Cullen while the romance looks on. If no romance/Solas romance, Varric watches as the PC shakes Cullen’s hand.

The crowd cheers as they head inside. Leliana approaches the PC

Leliana: A moment, my [lord/lady]. My agents have found no trace of Solas. He has simply vanished. If he does not wish to be found, there’s likely nothing we can do. But I will keep looking.

Dialogue options:

Sad (romanced): Why would he do this? [1]

Stoic (low approval): He had no reason to stay. [2]

Sad (high approval): Something’s not right. [3]

Confused: It’s so strange. [4]

Stoic: It’s not important. [5]

1 - Sad: Why would he do this? PC: I just don’t understand. He didn’t even say goodbye. Leliana: The two of you were close. Perhaps he had no choice? He might return at any moment. PC: Maybe. [6]

2 - Stoic: He had no reason to stay. PC: It’s not such a mystery. We weren’t on the best of terms. Leliana: True, though I still find it peculiar. [6]

3 - Sad: Something’s not right. PC: Why would he just leave? Something must be wrong. Leliana: You said he was upset about the orb. PC: That can’t be the only reason. [6]

4 - Confused: It’s so strange. PC: It’s odd that he would just leave without a word. [6]

5 - Stoic: It’s not important. PC: It’s not worth worrying about. Leliana: As you wish, Inquisitor. [6]

6 - Scene continues.

Leliana: Now that Corypheus has been defeated, we have a moment to stop and celebrate. Afterwards you will be busy. Every noble in southern Thedas is clamoring to meet you.

7 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Meet me? Why? [8] General: I fought because I had to. [9] General: Now they’re eager. [10] General: Well, we did win. [11]

8 - Investigate: Meet me? Why? PC: The fighting’s over. Why do they want to meet me now? Leliana: (Chuckles.) You’re joking, yes? They wish to bask in the glory of your victory, hoping that some of it will rub off on them.

Leliana (Celine rules): Everyone knows Empress Celene owes you her life. And her throne. Leliana(Gaspard/Briala rules): Everyone knows Gaspard owes you his throne. The greatest empire in Thedas is at your beck and call.

Leliana: A thousand problems remain, and your opinion will be sought on each one–whether you wish to give it or not. [back to 7]

9 - General: I fought because I had to. PC: I don’t see what the fuss is about. Corypheus needed to be stopped. Leliana: And you are the one who stopped him. [12]

10 - General: Now they’re eager. PC: (Chuckles.) Oh, now they’re lining up to meet me. Leliana: Such is the way of things. [12]

11 - General: Well, we did win. PC: As the saying goes: to the victor go the spoils. Leliana: They see more than victory. [12]

12 - Scene continues.

Leliana (Qunari PC): Previously you were an upstart, a fearsome Qunari in charge of rebels and heretics. Leliana (Dalish PC): Previously you were an upstart, a Dalish elf leading a band of rebels and heretics. Leliana (dwarf PC): Previously you were an upstart—a dwarf, of all things—leading rebels and heretics. Leliana (human mage PC): Previously you were an upstart—a mage, of all things—leading rebels and heretics. Leliana (human non-mage PC): Previously you were an upstart, nothing more than a leader of rebels and heretics.

Leliana: Until Corypheus revealed himself, they could not see the single hand behind the chaos. Once he did, they knew: a magister and a darkspawn in one creature. The ultimate evil. Now you are the only power left standing. Enjoy the evening while you can, Inquisitor.

The PC enters the main hall, and can speak with the companions and advisors there. If they are not in a romance, or romanced Solas, the companions watch as they retire to their quarters. They walk out onto the baclcony, overlooking the Frostbacks in silence.

Romance: Blackwall Romance: Cassandra Romance: Dorian Romance: Iron Bull Romance: Sera Romance: Solas - Romance: Cullen Romance: Josephine

[rodimissliveblogs]

I think Veilguard needed (at least!) one more import variable: for whether or not the Inquisitor was friends with Solas. Because I think there should be a tangible difference between "Inquisitor who always hated him swearing to stop him at any cost" and "Inquisitor who had his approval and respect, swearing to stop him at any cost."

Low-approval Inquisitor swearing to stop Solas is the story of two people forced to work together to save the world, who never approved of the others' actions, who never liked each other, who now land on different sides. High-approval Inquisitor swearing to stop Solas is an Inquisitor who was betrayed, and cannot bring themselves to search for the possibility of redemption in someone they cannot forgive, someone who was a friend who hurt them and the world so badly.

(This also makes room for the hilarious combo of "low-approval Inquisitor vowing to change his mind", because I think Solas would be truly baffled by that approach. We'll say that Inquisitor is taking a stand on principle, that no one is beyond saving. I think that's the way you could write that.)

And then I think the Inquisitor needs to be able to talk him down at the final confrontation. There's no fucking payoff to that relationship. It's just him going "sorry I can't" until Mythal manifests. He wants to be wrong! He wants to be wrong, but can't make himself give up, but like. Maybe even make it so it can only be the high-approval tries-to-save Inquisitor who can sway him. Low-approval tries-to-save Inquisitor needs Mythal, as do both stop-at-any-cost Inquisitors.

I just. man. I want some kind of payoff for an Inquisitor who has faith in him, romance or no. Mythal Ex Machina does not, to me, really feel like a payoff to that relationship. The Inquisitor has nothing to do with that! They just show up, hand over a wolf statue without knowing what it does, and fuck off again. They could barely be described as involved in the redemption path. And we don't even need to get rid of Mythal Ex Machina, that can still exist in the version I propose. Make Mythal the fallback for a Rook who wants to save him but the Inquisitor doesn't. If both Rook and the Inquisitor want to save him, then I think them working together should be able to get that same ending. I just want to feel the weight of that relationship that we felt in Trespasser.

But I figure the possibility for the Inquisitor alone to eventually sway him was lost when the game got rebooted twice, no longer was such a direct sequel to Inquisition despite the fact that it needed to be, and had to be rebuilt on the bones of a live-service nightmare. For the story we got, it makes sense that it has to be Mythal. But it really feels like this didn't have to be the story we got. That it even should not have been the story we got and was not supposed to be the story we got.

And there’s nothing we can do about that. But it doesn’t stop it from being so, so disappointing.

[tuxedo-rabbit]

@dvasva

The default inquisitor that the people who got early access saw was a bare faced lavellan.

That's not what upsets me though, I mean you dont even have to use the default. What upsets me is that the choices that carry over to dav are centered around Solas.

Did you vow to save/kill Solas?

Did you disband the Inquisition (whose sole purpose post trespasser is dealing with Solas)?

Who did you romance? Except they dont ask additional questions to account for like. Bull or Blackwall being dead. The only romance they have enough context to reference is Solas.

The game doesn't even carry over your inquisitor's personality from dai. Or whether you had high or low approval with Solas. Literally the only type of Inquisitor who gets any unique reflection of their story is one who romanced Solas.

It's disappointing.

I have finished Inquisition 4 times. Not one of those times have I romanced Solas.

The fact that that's apparently the only part of the Inquisitor's story that's getting any attention in DAV is infuriating.

[dreadfutures]

Inquisitor as a Companion: Ixchel Lavellan

Is your OC a Companion in the Dragon Age series? What would it be like for a player to select them to join their party for quests (or romance them, perhaps? 👀)

Here is Ixchel’s (fake) DA Wiki page, if she were a companion. Meme started by @little-lightning-lavellan​​ , so tag her if you do this!

(Find this on AO3, where I will add Location Comments and dialogue options as I think of them.)

Ixchel is an elven warrior and activist. She is a potential companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition. (WIP Tarot art by me. :) )

Background

Ixchel likely originated in southern Ferelden, but the events of the Fifth Blight drove her northward. She encountered several Dalish clans who did not take her in, possibly due to the limited resources available due to the encroaching Darkspawn hordes, or perhaps because she does not appear to be fully-elven. Ixchel has smaller, rounder ears than normal for an elf, though they are longer and sharper than that of a human. The orphan stowed away on a boat to the Free Marches, where she found no refuge in Kirkwall or the major cities and took to wandering the countryside in search of food and shelter. During this time, Ixchel encountered Clan Lavellan outside of Markham, but she did not remain.

After the Archdemon’s defeat, Ixchel returned to Ferelden, as she felt drawn to the traces of elven history she had found there as a child. There, she encountered a Warden who helped her read a word that she found in a ruin: Ixchel.

Sometime between 9:34-9:37 dragon, Ixchel reappeared outside of Markham, calling herself by this new name. In 9:37 Dragon, a particularly harsh winter drove the Lavellan Clan to seek out the orphan and took her in to teach her to hunt and fend for herself better. She proved to have a keen mind for learning, and a drive to prove her value. She remained with the Clan for two years. In 9:41 Dragon, she volunteered to go to the Conclave in Haven as a spy, due to her ability to pass as human and travel largely unnoticed. She is roughly sixteen years old.

Involvement

Dragon Age: Origins

A Dalish Warden can potentially encounter Ixchel as part of the Lead Her Through the Darkness side-quest in Dragon Age Origins: Witch Hunt DLC. She appears as a precocious, nameless orphan less than ten years of age. She has written a word on her arm in ash and asks the Warden to translate it. It is unclear if the name is Elven or Tevene in origin, but the Warden translates it as Ixchel (ihsh-chEL).

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Ixchel can only be recruited after relocation to Skyhold and beginning the A Fallen Sister side quest in the Emerald Graves. After freeing the prisoners from the Veridium Mine, the Inquisitor will come across Ixchel under attack by a group of Freemen. The Inquisitor will help Ixchel defeat the Chevaliers, for which she expresses gratitude.

A Dalish Inquisitor has the option to call her “da’len” and express relief that she escaped the Conclave. Ixchel explains that she fled Haven after the explosion at the Temple of Sacred Ashes and went in search of a Dalish Clan (see: The Knights’ Tomb) to take her in. On her way, she saw the harm caused by the Civil War in Orlais. She sees how much good the Inquisition can do and offers her services to help uproot the Freemen of the Dales and fight Corypheus. Her travels and experiences have made her well-suited to consider the needs of elves, both among alienages and the Dalish, as well as humans. Ixchel cannot be recruited if Wicked Eyes, Wicked Hearts has been completed.

In Skyhold, Ixchel can be found in the center of the courtyard by the main stairway, either near the Training Ring (if Skyhold is upgraded) or near the City and Dalish elven NPCs who often argue there.

If Ixchel and Solas are in a party together, they will develop a fast mentoring relationship as Ixchel asks Solas about his dreams in various locations they have traveled. He will comfort her after she expresses anger at the treatment of elves in Halamshiral and gently encourage her to take action. She will argue with him about his scorn for the Dalish and insist on the merits of their resilience and efforts to reclaim their heritage after centuries of oppression.

After accessing the Exalted Plains from the War Table, Ixchel will approach the Inquisitor in Skyhold and ask to meet with Hawen’s Clan. The dialogue options vary depending on whether the Inquisitor has yet discovered that the Dalish have been killed at Din’an Hanin. Ixchel is worried about the Clan’s proximity to the front of the Orlesian Civil War.

When Hawen’s clan is first encountered, a Dalish scout will address Ixchel as “flat-ear.” Ixchel is deeply upset by this and explains to the Inquisitor that it is because Ixchel does not have vallaslin and that she doesn’t appear as fully elven. A Dalish Inquisitor has the option to reassure Ixchel of her place in Clan Lavellan with or without the vallaslin. If the Inquisitor wins high approval among Hawen’s Clan, Hawen offers to formally adopt Ixchel by giving her vallaslin and initiates the Inner Circle Quest, Inward Glory.

Ixchel hesitates to accept the honor. Ixchel wants to learn the history of the vallaslin and asks the Inquisitor to help her learn how the practice has evolved from enslaved elves in Tevinter, to the elves of the Dales, to the modern Dalish Clans. The Inquisitor must contact researchers in Tevinter, Orlais, and Varric’s contact with the Dalish--Merrill.

Completion of Inward Glory is followed by another Inner Circle quest, Proudly Crowned Withal. Ixchel meets with the Inquisitor and Solas to review what she learned and make her final decision. The Inquisitor can encourage Ixchel to honor her heritage and take the vallaslin, tell her that she can serve her People better as a human-passing spy without vallaslin, or tell her that she has proven that she cares for the elves and belongs to them whether she shows it on her face or not.

If she is told not to take the vallaslin, she will not, but she Greatly Disapproves. Solas will Disapprove of all options. A Dalish Inquisitor has the added option to tell her that the Inquisitor, as well as the Lavellan Keeper, considered her to be part of Clan Lavellan even without the vallaslin. If Ixchel is told to accept, or if the Inquisitor lets Ixchel choose herself, she will accept Hawen’s offer.

A Dalish Inquisitor who has completed their romance with Solas will have the option to ask Solas to tell Ixchel the truth about the vallaslin. A Dalish Inquisitor who removed her own vallaslin has the opportunity to tell Ixchel one-on-one. Ixchel will reveal that Solas in fact told her the truth before the completion of her personal quest, and Ixchel made her decision knowingly.

After completing Ixchel's Inner Circle quests, new missions will appear on the War Table. Ixchel wants the Inquisition to work with factions like the Red Jennies, Briala's spy network, and even members of Celene's court to make reparations for Empress Celene's burning of the Halamshiral alienage, to put an end to the Val Royeaux Chevaliers' tradition of hunting City elves in the alienage streets after dark, and to restore self-governance to the alienage in Denerim, whose freedoms were restricted after the events of the Fifth Blight.

Trespasser:

If the Inquisitor has high approval with Ixchel, the warrior has devoted her time to activism in Orlais’ alienages, potentially allying with Briala. Ambient dialogue in the Winter Palace indicates that she and her movement are reviled by members of the Orlesian court, and the ruler of the Empire is considering a preventative strike for fear of a violent uprising.

If the Inquisitor did not win high approval with Ixchel, she still appears at the Exalted Council to reunite with friends in the Inner Circle. She reveals that she spent the intervening time between Inquisition and Trespasser traveling the world with Morrigan (or Morrigan and Kieran) to continue research in Ancient Elvhen history, as well as sowing rebellion--which she calls mien’harel-- in alienages across Thedas. She is saddened that the Inquisitor has still heard no word from Solas.

In the Epilogue, if the Inquisitor has resolved to kill Solas, Ixchel vanishes. She leaves a note to a high-approval Inquisitor saying that she is sorry but she has gone to find a third option to thwart Solas. If the Inquisitor instead chooses to convince Solas to change his plans, Ixchel remains allied with the Inquisition as she redoubles her efforts to unite elves across Thedas against oppression, and to actively counter Fen’Harel’s recruitment.

Approval

Ixchel appreciates honesty and empathy in Inquisitors. Given her upbringing outside of both human and elven customs, she is skeptical of actions motivated by religion. She is generally supportive of increasing freedom and understanding between groups like Mages and Templars and humans and elves.

She is curious and precocious, and she approves of exploring magic and history without bias. She is unlike other companions in that, if she is met with anger or scorn, her approval does not change. Dialogue options that mock or disrespect other members of the Inquisition and their beliefs, even those she does not get along with outright like Sera, will net disapproval.

Ability Tree/Specialization

Ixchel is a two-handed warrior with access to the Champion specialization tree. She begins with a two-handed greataxe.

Combat comments

Kills an enemy

“Push them back!”

“Move and parry, strike and kill!”

“Did you see that?”

Low Health

“Come and get it!”

“I’m taking you with me!”

“Not sure how much longer I can hold…”

Low Health (Companions)

(Inquisitor) Inquisitor! You must keep fighting!

(Inquisitor) Lethallen, no!

(Solas) I’m coming, Solas!

Fallen Companions

(Inquisitor) Guard the Inquisitor!

(Cole) I can't lose Cole!

Companion comments about OC

Vivienne: She is certainly a quick study, but painfully earnest, that girl. It is too bad the Game is played out in court, not on the battlefield. 

Solas: A childhood free of human or Dalish dogma allows her to see the biases ingrained in many who are older or more experienced. (“She’s young and naive.”) Because she expresses empathy for those who might not appear to deserve it? *sigh* I too have expressed that such openness might only lead to heartbreak. What she told me belies a wisdom far beyond her years: ‘When we ascribe compassion to be virtues of the gods, it becomes impossible for mortals to embody them. But the Fade reflects the waking world, and Compassion, Empathy, and Justice can be found in both.’

Dorian: There are quite the depths in her, despite her stature.

Bull: You don’t see a lot of atheists outside of Par Vollen. Everyone needs to believe the world’s fucked up for a reason, that there’s something waiting for them that’s better than the crap they have to suffer. Then again, people who pick up a sword that big are usually trying to prove something. Maybe that’s it.

Sera: There are two kinds of elfy-elves--people like him [see: Solas], and people like her. She’s been like me before, hungry an’ angry. And she doesn’t want anyone to be hungry anymore, so she gets all angry. ‘Stead of lookin’ back, she looks forward. And both of ‘em forget to look right in front of their noses.

Cole: The lonely traveler [see: Dirthamen] seeks, and finds, and loses again. She is bright, but she cannot see. Where she walks, the flame catches.

Trivia

The names of Ixchel’s personal quests are from various Percy Bysshe Shelley poems

Ixchel can receive the vallaslin of Dirthamen

Ixchel’s face bears heavy scarring that she claims is due to an encounter with dragonlings

Ixchel’s in-game body model is the same height as a Dwarven Inquisitor and Scout Harding.

If Blackwall and Ixchel are in a party together, they will stand near each other. Instead of entering their idle animations, they will draw their weapons as though they are about to spar.

Ambient dialogue in Skyhold implies that she trails after Cassandra “like a loyal hound” and they frequently practice together.

[pellelavellan-a]

Pelle’s Companion Verse

Recruitment:

Must complete What Lurks in the Shadows Quest. Pelle is opened as a companion option after leaving the area and completing two other quests. The quests are of no significance at all and can be any two quests in your Journal. Once two more are completed the next time you enter Skyhold a cut-scene will be unlocked where Pelle is standing in the war room with Leliana and three other scouts. Leliana informs the Inquisitor that she found Pelle standing near the gates of Haven looking quite obviously lost. Once Pelle explains that he changed his mind about his refused recruitment earlier at the end of What Lurks in the Shadows you are given the option to turn him down or to recruit him. 

Upon recruiting Pelle, an NPC will automatically appear in Haven in the Chantry, Faolan. While you can ask Pelle about his clan he does not speak in any great detail about himself. Mostly Deshanna, his people, their village, and the time they spent in Orlais.

Speaking to Faolan reveals more about Pelle personally. His childhood, his personality, his passion but also his flaws. More is revealed about Pelle’s personal life can be later revealed from NPCs Talwinne, Maevis, and Durgen who will appear after Calling in a Favor if they survive.

Approval:

General Approval:

Helping people, finding elven ruins, mage rights, speaking well of the dalish, history knowledge dialogue options, often approves of the most peaceful option in problem solving, learning about the inquisitor before they were inquisitor, asking him questions about the dalish, kindness, honesty, flirting (conditional)

General Disapproval:

Violent or aggressive actions/dialogue, lying, destroying elven graves, anti-mage rights, negative Dalish comments, racism, making anyone tranquil, disrespect or disregard for other’s religions and culture, Orlesians, killing judged characters, fliritng (conditional, it’s really about the timing of it)

Mages or Templars:

Inquisitor Sides with Mages : Greatly Approves

The Inquisitor Sides with Templars: Slightly Disapproves

The Inquisitor Recruits Mages as Allies: Greatly Approves

The Inquisitor Recruits Mages are Prisoners: Greatly Disapproves

The Inquisitor Recruits Templars as Allies: Disapproves

The Inquisitor Recruits Templars as Prisoners: Greatly Disapproves

Skyhold Hiding Place: Skyhold Garden

Here Lies the Abyss: 

Inquisitor Exiles Wardens: Disapproves

Inquisitor Recruits Wardens: Approves

Wicked Eyes Wicked Hearts:

Celene rules alone: Neutral

Celene and Briala rule together: Greatly Approves

Public Truce: Slightly Approves

Gaspard rules alone: Greatly Disapproves

Gaspard and Briala rule: Approves

What Pride Had Wrought:

The Inquisitor performs the rituals: Approves

The Inquisitor does not perform the rituals: Greatly Disapproves

The Inquisitor Allies with the Sentinels: Greatly Approves

The Inquisitor does not ally with the Sentinels: Disapproves

Breaking Samson’s armor: Approves

Sparing Calpernia: Approves

Fighting Calpernia: Greatly Disapproves

Drinking from the Well: Greatly Disapproves

Morrigan Drinks from the Well: Disapproves

Base Quests:

Calling in a Favor

Location: Skyhold

THIS QUEST HAS TWO ROUTES

High to Neutral Approval:

After Skyhold is unlocked, Pelle will approach the Inquisitor about a letter he received from his Clan near  regarding their safety. He will express that they are in danger and could potentially be killed if something isn’t done to help them. This unlocks a war table mission where you can choose to send troops, spies, or an ambassador to Pelle’s clan in order to help defuse the situation between the elves and the nearby humans.

Regardless of choice, the clan faces near extinction though the reason why is different based upon the choice. Even though his clan has been mostly killed, Pelle holds himself responsible for their fate and thanks you for trying to help them. He will then ask to be left alone for a little while. You can talk to him again after leaving the Skyhold for a bit and returning.

Three NPCs will appear in Skyhold after the completion of this mission named Talwinne, Maevis, and Durgen. All of them can be spoken to and interacted with and will provide extra information about Pelle.

Talwinne: Tells childhood stories about himself and Pelle, will talk about being a hunter, his father and blacksmithing, minimal dialogue about Aela.

Maevis: Will talk about how she became Pelle’s apprentice, minimal dialogue about her feelings about the clan being attacked. She will also talk about Deshanna’s last days after Pelle left home. 

Durgen: Will defend Pelle against Maevis’ claims that the massacre was his fault. Will ask any Inquisitor about themselves. He talks about his family that he lost save for his father who he left behind after a disagreement. Speaking with Durgen will also reveal information about Pelle having a lover prior to joining the Inquisition who died six months prior in Orlais. 

Very Low Approval

Pelle will assume that the Inquisitor cares little for the Dalish or for his concerns. Instead of asking for help he will take matters into his own hands and forge commands for soldiers to help his clan. The whole clan is murdered as well as the soldiers and Pelle comes clean to the Inquisitor about his crimes.

Pelle will insist upon being arrested and will become open for judgement. At judgement you will have the option to Free Him, Kick him out of the Inquisition, or Kill him.

Free Him - Disapproves

Kill Him - Approves

Kick Him Out - Slightly approves but is no longer an available Companion for the remainder of the game.

Romance:

Pelle can be romanced by any male Inquisitor regardless of race. While you can flirt with him in Haven he is cautious about getting close to the Inquisitor at first.Bringing him along in the party helps by unlocking banters in which the Inquisitor can occasionally interact with Pelle and another companion.

Once you have unlocked Skyhold, if your approval is high enough Pelle will approach the Inquisitor about the situation of his clan unlocking the Calling a Favor quest which can be completed at the war table. Once that is completed you have a chance to talk to Pelle about the result and console him about his clan’s fate. Flirting in this scene would be ill advised as he gets a little upset.

Once this quest is completed you may continue to flirt with him in casual conversations. After leaving the area and returning you unlock a cut scene where Pelle confronts the Inquisitor about the flirting. He seems a little uncertain and troubled. He will say cryptic weird things about whether or not what they’re doing is right. He will admit to liking the Inquisitor more than he should but that he does not know if becoming closer will be a mistake in the future. He will also ask that if the Inquisitor is just playing with him to simply tell him now rather than break his heart later.

If the Inquisitor says it’s simply casual: Greatly Disapproves

If the Inquisitor ultimately goes nevermind: Slightly Disapproves

If the Inquisitor pursues him anyway: Approves

The romance carries out from there on out and he will ask the Inquisitor how they feel about a little scandal (aka dancing at the Winter Palace)

His romance quests are unlocked after completing Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts,

if you do not complete Calling in a Favor before completing Wicked Eyes, Wicked Hearts his romance will be locked and you cannot initiate it.

High Approval/Romance Quests:

Making Amends ( War Table Mission)

Dust to Dust

Continue reading for Quest Descriptions

Making Amends 

Quest can only be unlocked after completing either Wicked Eyes, Wicked Hearts,

Location: Skyhold

Quest can be initiated after overhearing Pelle and Maevis bickering in the gardens. If you speak to Pelle after leaving Skyhold and returning he will confide in the Inquisitor that he has been arguing with his apprentice Maevis a lot lately and that she is very upset with him for joining the Inquisition. If you press for questions Pelle will tell you more about Maevis. Pelle generally expresses a deep concern for Maevis and her temper and notes that she is not adjusting well.

Finishing this conversation opens up a war table mission where Maevis and a few other scouts are said to have gone missing during their last mission. Leliana is the only option in learning the whereabouts of Maevis and the scouts. Once they are found you have the option to retrieve Maevis without Pelle or to tell Pelle and take him with you.

Dust to Dust - TWO ROUTES

Location: The Emerald Graves

You gain approval for telling Pelle about Maevis and the scouts. He will then suggest you go together to find all of them and bring them back to Skyhold.  There is also an option of this quest where you can neglect to inform Pelle and retrieve Maevis without him.

Looking for Maevis will reveal bodies of dead elves who appear to simply be peasants. The dead elves vary between men and women. The last dead elf found appears to be an Inquisition scout who appears noticeably younger than the rest. 

Once you locate Maevis and the scout’s whereabouts you are met with the body of two dead scouts and three thugs. The further you follow the path into the cavern the more dead bodies you find.

If Pelle is in the party he will at first be worried that Maevis may also be dead, but his concern shifts halfway from Maevis is hurt to Maevis is behind it.

Maevis is found at the end of the cavern, this initiates a cut-scene

If Pelle is in the Party: Maevis will beg for Pelle to stay away from her and claim that she does not want to harm him. When he presses on she becomes furious and demands he stay back a second time. Pelle will insist that he only wants to help her and will approach her directly. 

If Pelle is not in the Party: Maevis will ask where Pelle is. She will instantly becomes upset at Pelle and start to say that Pelle did not even care to notice she was missing and had as much resolve to find her as he did to help the Dalish.

If Pelle is present he is able to talk Maevis down. She tells him about the band of thugs who were murdering elves for sport who killed her friend and the other elves you found out in the graves. She confesses to letting her anger get the better of her but that the men deserved to die and that she intended to teach them. But what is more troubling to him is that she has made a deal with a rage demon and that she is very scared. He will try to reassure her that he will do everything he can to help her and will offer to take her back to Skyhold.

If the Inquisitor expresses any form or disgust with Maevis, or calls her an abomination, Pelle will become very angry with the Inquisitor and says they will have a discussion when they return to Skyhold.

If Pelle is not brought along,  Maevis’ rage slowly begins to shift until she is revealed to have made a deal with a demon and transforms into an abomination. At this point you are forced to kill Maevis. Upon killing her, her journal is found as a drop item.

When you return to Skyhold:

If Pelle was there and was able to talk Maevis down and everything went well. He will thank the Inquisitor for helping him find Maevis. He will also say he owes the Inquisitor, and that if the Inquisitor ever needs anything they need only ask.

Additionally he will ask the Inquisitor what he thinks of what became of Maevis now that she is out of ear shot. He will also confess to be left at a moral loss as he does not know if what she did was right or wrong.

If he was brought along but the Inquisitor expressed any disgust with Maevis or even so much as hints that Maevis is an abomination, Pelle will confront the Inquisitor about it back in Skyhold. He will tell the Inquisitor how insensitive it was to say to Maevis when she was in such a vulnerable state. Based upon how the conversation carries out Pelle will either let it go and give the Inquisitor the benefit of the doubt that they put their foot in their mouth, or if the conversation goes south he will break up with the Inquisitor terminating Pelle’s Romance.

If Pelle was not in the party, you will have to return to Skyhold and return Maevis’ journal to him to complete the quest. If this route is taken, Pelle is furious with the Inquisitor for not only taking such a personal matter into their own hands but also murdering his apprentice in the process. This route results in an immediate termination of Pelle’s Romance.

Additional Facts:

If Pelle is broken up with, he becomes very curt with the Inquisitor and is not usually willing to talk. It unlocks some banters involving Pelle and Cole in which Cole will express Pelle’s feelings of shattered trust in the Inquisitor. While Pelle’s approach to the Inquisitor is often abrasive and short, listening to Cole address Pelle’s feelings about their relationship shows that Pelle is actually very sad.

If Route B of Calling In A Favor Occurs and Pelle is not killed or imprisoned, it also unlocks Cole and Pelle banters where Cole is reading into Pelle’s mind about the guilt towards what happened to his clan, and the fact that he was simply walking a free man despite having killed so many people.

Pelle’s “Romance Scene” cannot be unlocked until after Dust to Dust is completed. It will only be activated if A.) Maevis is rescued and returned to Skyhold with no complications, or B.) Maevis is rescued and returned to Skyhold but Pelle confronts the Inquisitor about their behavior and forgives them.

Pelle’s staff is not able to be unequipped, it also cannot be modified. The stats of his stats improve with him as he levels up. This is because he is very stubborn about anyone handling Deshanna’s staff except for himself. 

Should Pelle and a romanced Inquisitor part ways after Trespasser he will gift them his Keeper’s Ring as a promise ring. 

[felassan]

You've probably answered this before but who do you think will carry on the tradition of being the bridge companion between Inquisition and da4?

oooh, great question. let’s see.

first I’d exclude Solas (obviously), since ostensibly the game so far appears to be about stopping him. I’d also cross Varric off the list because he’s returned as a companion once before and I don’t think they’d have him do so again. the guy’s arc feels complete, let him rest. 

Vivienne and Cassandra can both be Divine. if we’re heading to Tevinter, would the White Divine really go traipsing around in the field there, in a country which is under the remit of the Imperial Chantry? besides you’d think Divine Victoria has one of the most known, recognizable faces in all of current Thedas, right? so it would seem grossly counter-intuitive at best for them to be in the party, when the vibe so far feels like in DA4 we’ll be trying be stealthy/sneaky/incognito in our efforts against Solas.

I know possibly-dead status for a character hasn’t stopped them before (Anders, Leliana) but eh. imo ‘died in a previous game due to actions of the player’ should mean dead and stays dead, lol. Iron Bull can be dead. same goes for Blackwall. 

Cole… more humanlike vs more spiritlike are pretty divergent states imo. if he were to come back as a companion, there’d have to be 2 alternate subplots for his arc/2 different personal quests/an alternate dialogue line every three or four lines or somesuch, going by the difference between the two states we see in DA:I & Trespasser. if he crops up, I’d guess instead at it being a cameo. it would be much easier to have 2 different possible sidequests, or one sidequest with 2 different possible iterations of the character, worldstate depending.

Sera can be never encountered/not recruited/kicked out etc. that said, her low approval ending of just going back to her previous life, is still pretty open-ended, and her 2 high approval endings (whether or not Inky decides to become a Red Jenny) both imo kinda paint her as remaining an ally of/working with the Inquisitor and the Inquisition-remnants still, especially if Leliana or Cassandra are Divine. to add, she’s a good candidate for the role of ‘elf opposed to Solas’ (a position for me which will sorely be in need of representation in DA4) and she has the sort of skills and resources it sounds like we’ll be needing, with her whole sneaky rogue with the secret society/spy network schtick. post Inquisition she’s more formidable, more focused and tactical, and Solas had even been giving her advice on how to better run the organization, lol. this stuff factors bigtime into my own current hcs about where my Inquisitor is now, what she’s doing and who with. SAYING THAT.. in DA BW have never made the bridge companion someone who was an LI in the prior game, so..

encountering Dorian in DA4 seems at this point pretty much a given, for reasons which have been laid out at length elsewhere. I agree with the prevailing speculation though that he’s more likely to return in an advisory sort of capacity or other prominent non-companion role in the plot, since he was an LI and also since as a Magister he’s got a load of important shit to do.

yknow, for some reason I actually reckon they will buck the trend with DA4 and there will be no returning companion-from-DAI-companion. everything said above aside, I’d like to see them break away from this pattern and I’m also consistently of the opinion that when it comes to returning chars/cameos etc, less is more and more new! less old!. too much of that makes Thedas seem weirdly small. & I would rather spots on the roster go to ‘ascended extras’ (e.g. Cole being utilized from Asunder, Cass being stepped up from DA2) and entirely new characters. this is where I prefer the screentime and resources to go to, and it’s less messy in terms of potential differing worldstates etc. especially when in the case of DA4, they kind of made a point of ‘oh damn Solas knows everything about us and how we operate, we must find NEW people he doesn’t know!!’. Yknow? I think we’re looking at no bridge companion, and the familiar face/familiar faces and other pre-existing characters as it were on our team being ascended extras like Harding and Maevaris.

despite not being a companion previously, Harding would be a good ‘bridge’ imo. she’s popular and well-liked among the fandom, capable, has relevant skills (rogue, stealth etc), witnessed the events of the previous game enough that she could comment on stuff and guide/provide context, but wasn’t in the immediate inner circle & so was less likely to have been a high-priority subject of Solas’ spying and scrutiny, she’s a race and gender combination that we haven’t had before but need, features clearly in the Trespasser epilogue, still isn’t super fleshed out so there’s plenty room to expand, etc.

(also obligatory comment because I can’t not hey Bioware ascend Felassan pls  i beg u plssss im dyinggg squirtle plssss)

[heavens-light-and-hells-ice]

The new maid

  High above, in the uppermost walkways of the Pillars, the bells of Saint Reymanaud's may ring just four past noon, but already has the blue-gray dusk descended upon the city of Ishgard. 

To the girl's left, a sweeper, bundled in so many layers of rags as to be unrecognizable as Spoken, clears the latest snowfall from the spiraling walkway; to her right, she hears the faint strains of a family choir finishing a chorus. Otherwise, the street is quiet, peaceful -- the townhouse windows above shining with the yellow-orange light of hearths and candles, casting a gentle glow down upon the empty cobbles, catching on ice-flakes that glint silver and gold. 

The door before her, like many of its neighbors, sports a red-ribboned wreath, woven with pinecones and small brass bells that tinkle as she sounds the heavy knocker; the needles shiver, and her near-numb nose detects a scent of green, an echo of those snowy slopes of Coerthas that must lie outside the city walls. She has not long to wait, but as she stands there rubbing her fingers against themselves inside her mittens, she looks up at the edifice and thinks that what her sister heard was correct: this is a nice house. The family that lives within does so in comfort -- and so, too, must their servants. 

Fortunate is the maid who can secure a place here, in this sturdy, warm building in this pleasant neighborhood -- fortunate indeed, even blessed -- except for that one thing about the lord and lady who live here, the thing that made the goodys at the market shake their heads and tut when she mentioned it was this address to which she was headed -- that made her mother promise her, as she put on her cap at their door in the Brume, that if in the end she couldn't get the position, and they had to live another sennight on what stale bread her sister's wage alone could buy, well… it might still be for the best. 

Too late to run home. The door opens; at it, a sharp woman in apron and black dress, blonde hair rolled up at the back of her head. The bun exposes her ears, at which, after hearing the gossip from her sister, the girl knows to stare; they're small, yet pointed, like leaves of basil. 

That's what sort of house this is. 

"Miolleane Cemier?" asks the housekeeper, and the girl remembers to curtsey deep. "Just on time -- that's good." With a sniff, she pushes the door open wide and gestures her through. "Wipe the snow off your boots and hang up your coat. Milord is waiting." 

Down the stairs, in the servants' quarters, the Starlight decorations are not quite so lavish as they are in the main hall, but here and there is still a little bundle of holly hanging from the wall, and along the mantel in the housekeeper's parlor, three stockings hang from pegs. The candles, she notices, are beeswax, not tallow, and a rug is spread across the floor -- more than her family's crowded sitting-room can boast. So struck is she by the sight that she does not immediately notice that, seated in the furthest chair with his hands folded in his lap, is an Elezen in embroidered waistcoat and hose, shortish, portly, with long sideburns and a very serious face. When their eyes meet, she flushes -- realizing, now, that he must be that lord -- and bends as low she she can without falling. 

He neither moves nor speaks for a few long moments, only studying her. Then he states, rather than asks, "You are Miss Miolleane." 

She nods -- for while a servant may speak if spoken to, it must be better not to speak at all, if she can. 

He grunts. "Rosaire Ledigne," his brief self-introduction, for he knows she's already surmised. Then he raises his right hand and gestures, just as the housekeeper descends the stairs with the tray in her hands; "Would you pour three cups for us? With milk and sugar." 

She looks up, but is instantly paralyzed; she knows this is the bell of low tea, but her elder sister had told her that 'twas always the Viscountess, or else Lady Poullie, who poured it for their guests. But she had been asked, and so, shakily, she does as bid -- milk last, as she'd heard highborn do it -- and sets them out across the table. The lord nods, and the housekeeper picks up one cup and saucer to immediately help herself, still standing; how queer, thinks Miolleane, but 'tis true that her sister warned her that in every household, things are different -- and in this one, surely, even more different than most. 

"Pray, sit," says Rosaire, "and help yourself. That cup's for you." The first part she obeys, but the second part is a greater challenge; to refuse would surely be insubordinate, but to accept too readily, she fears, would not be right either. But neither, she suspects, is the half-measure she ends up taking, picking up the cup to awkwardly cradle it in her hands. The lord stares at her with his pale blue eyes, and she feels herself shrinking. Then he speaks: "I understand this is to be your first engagement in service. What occupation have you had to this point? Have you been in secondary schooling?" 

"I've been helping Mother with her piece work," she says, and realizes now the tea is essential for wetting her lips. 

"I see. How old are you, Miss Miolleane?" 

"Sixteen," she says, though she is not. And she can tell immediately that he knows; his gaze sharpens, the imperceptible cant of his head evinced only by the blond lock that falls out of place. She remembers, now, with a jolt, that this lord's occupation was once with the Holy Inquisition. For several seconds she sits there, dizzy with fear, as he looks at her silently. Then, slowly, he shakes his head, a wrinkle in his forehead forming as he lifts his brows and sighs. He isn't angry, and so she can breathe -- but she knows, now, to have care with what she says. 

"Well, Miss Miolleane, we've need of a sturdy girl to help Helenne," and he nods towards the housekeeper, still standing as she sips her tea, "with the cooking and cleaning. We've already taken on Miss Sophie, who'll be waiting on my lady and tending the parlor. Your duties will be mainly downstairs -- though, yes, you will have your interview with my lady shortly," a statement that quite alarms Miolleane with how perfectly it answers what she'd just been wondering; mayhap 'tis true what they say, and an Inquisitor has the power of reading minds. "If she consents to hire you, you'll have your own bed in the quarters here, a nuncheon, dinner, and tea -- time off, of course, to attend services, and three nights out of seven to return to your family. Inexperience is fine; what you must have is willingness to work, patiently and diligently, and to take direction from my lady and the housekeeper." 

She nods quickly, and though she again thinks it likely better to keep silent whenever she can, she still blurts out, "I'm willing, milord. I'll work very hard." 

He nods in turn, but once more he takes a long pause to study her; she looks down into her teacup, hoping she does not visibly squirm under that unblinking gaze. Then, pointedly, he asks her, "And will you gladly take direction, from Helenne?" 

She looks up at the short-eared woman to whom he refers, then back to him; she understands what he means, and it causes her to blush. She knows the correct answer, but she's slow enough to say it that the lord shakes his head and leans back. She feels her stomach sink, and she tries to spur her lips to action, but she cannot form the words in time, and he speaks again first. 

"I understand you come, Miss Miolleane, from a good and pious family, proud to cleave close to tradition." 

She nods, though she doesn't know, these days, how to tell whether such pronouncements are complimentary or not. 

"And you have been made aware, I believe, that my family is not traditional in every way." 

At that she can only duck her head to hide the deepening of her blush. 

"Not everyone in the city is approving of our choices. It must make one hesitant to accept a position in this household, for fear an association with our family might taint her in the eyes of future employers." He pauses, then goes on, tone a little sterner. "But I am not ashamed -- to have wed a Hyur, in a Halonic, pious marriage solemnized in the Church, in obedience to all of the Fury's laws. By birth, Ishgard may not judge Gwenneth mine equal, but that is what she is in faith and in her faculties -- and the trueborn child she bears we shall diligently raise in Ishgard's one true faith." 

She looks up at him, then down into her tea, face truly crimson now. 

"And," he goes on, "I am not ashamed to have Mistress Helenne in my employ. She has raised herself above her origins with education and hard work, and she has served me faithfully and very ably for these past thirteen years. Therefore I understand, miss, why you might hesitate to enter our family's service. But, pray, if you remain squeamish, and would only be able to pronounce the name of your employer with embarrassment -- do not take the position." He fixes her with a serious look. "I know your family has great need, following your father's accident, but if 'tis only desperation that would persuade you to work for us, I would rather you not." 

"I understand," she at last manages to say. 

Another pause -- but when the lord speaks again, his voice is low and gentle, even kind. "Your straits cannot be easy," he murmurs, "and we would like to be of help. In a moment, we'll go up to see my lady -- she is in her confinement, and she has not been well, and cannot easily leave her bed," and his expression, till now totally stoic, threatens, for a moment, to crack. But, immediately, he recovers: "After which -- and whether you decide to take the position or not -- I would like to send you home with a ham for your parents." 

Her head snaps up, her eyes widening. Helenne, over the brim of her teacup, laughs. "A ham!?" Miolleane hears her own voice ask. 

For the first time, the lord smiles. "I wouldn't have you pass Starlight hungry." 

She's speechless, at first, and soon must put the teacup on its saucer to keep herself from spilling it. But she must say it: "Your lordship is too generous. We don't deserve--" 

He dismisses that sentiment with a wave of his hand, which then reaches to at least pick up his own tea. She realizes, now, watching him, that it is his only good hand, the left folded up rigidly next to his chest, and that that, rather than mere age, must be the purpose of the cane leaning against the seat next to him. But he does not seem much encumbered by it, and indeed seems in good humor again as he asks, "There's but one further question that must be asked before we go above, which is: are you frightened of birds, Miss Miolleane?" 

She blinks, confused at first, but then putting it to serious thought, as all highborn questions must be. The answer, though, is not difficult; she thinks of the little sparrows on the windowsill, fluffed as round as they could against the bitter cold, and the crusts of bread they'd alight upon to tear apart voraciously. She thinks of how, after much coaxing, some would be persuaded to land right on her hand and to pick pumpkin seeds out of the creases of her palm -- back when they had the luxury of southron pumpkins and breadcrusts to spare, before the block landed on her father's leg at work and the last of their saved gil seeped away. "No -- not at all." 

"Good -- for there's someone else who must needs approve you as well." 

She wonders, on the long walk home from the Pillars to Foundation, what the goodys will say, what her mother will think, what her sister at the Manor Breauname will endure from the other maids, when they find out. She wonders what she will feel, when the half-blood lordling is born -- wonders what a monstrosity 'twill look, and if 'twill inherit its mothers small ears or be marked by its father's lameness -- and then looks down at the huge, heavy ham in the basket she's carrying and is ashamed of herself.

She'd stepped over the threshold with many fears, born of the preconceptions she'd formed or had laden on her. What depravity must reign in a house where such a shocking marriage had been entertained -- what lecherousness on the part of an aged lord hungering after a young and pretty lowborn maiden -- what unscrupulousness on the part of the maiden, to accept the advances of a repulsive cripple to secure his wealth after his imminent death. But -- though she still could not help but recoil a little at the strangeness of it all -- the family Ledigne had not proved as awful as all that. His lordship -- though, yes, frightening -- had treated her with understanding and generosity, and her ladyship, with warmth and kindness, despite how poorly she must have been feeling. Mistress Helenne had not been horrible, either, and Clavis -- though the raven had shied away from her, as he must from all strangers, he had bid her, when his mistress urged, a croaked 'Good Day'. 

If she takes the job, she might be tasked with cleaning his cage daily, and -- as smelly as Mistress Helenne warned that task would be -- she finds herself desperate to do it. 

And so when she comes to the house in the better -- though still bad -- half of the Brume, and pauses at the door, wondering if her father, ill-tempered from the changing of his bandage, will raise his voice when he forbids her to take it, and if her mother will cry -- she finds a bit of courage, regardless, and steps through. 

And, anyroad, she imagines a maple Starlight ham will go far towards convincing them that their younger daughter's placement may not be so bad, after all. 

(( His lady, @rose-in-the-stone, mentioned -- and a thank you to @the-rosehouse for designing and gifting the NPC of Miolleane to me! ♥ ))

[zevran]

i genuinely do not understand how dragon age: inquisition gives each of your followers the same specialisations that you can later pick from yourself, and then............ has complete strangers teach you via fetch quests.

bioware could’ve done so much more; even just cutscenes with your companions would’ve been better than the specialisation quests. cutscenes that could differ depending on whether or not you're in a romance with them, and how high/low your approval is.

imagine solas begrudgingly teaching a low approval inquisitor ... but he puts them through the ringer, because if they are to learn, they have to learn. imagine a romanced sera correcting your bow stance with a big grin on her face, a giggle underneath with her hands on your waist - like this, honeytongue! imagine a high approval blackwall giving you all that he knows because you gave him a second chance. 

we could’ve had it all and instead we had forgettable npcs

[i-dropped-the-chief]

what if s&re alaran hadn't made it to the conclave and never became inquisitor? what would she be doing with herself during the timeline of inquisition?

Hoo boy, I have thought a lot about this. Thanks for the ask

Alaran would end up joining the Inquisition because she’d still be looking for Varric. After seeing all that was happening, she’d be motivated to stay and help. Because let’s face it, Alaran is the bomb at helping. The whole Inquisitor thing could be awkward if the Inquisitor was a Dalish elf. She’d probably just lie about her identity--Alaran is also the bomb at lying. If the Inquisitor was another race, she’d greet them with a smirk and mutter a comment like, “Wow, I’m glad you’re not Dalish. That would have been awkward.” And then go on to say something stupid such as, “You know, if you really wanted to make that hand of yours better, you should consume less eggs.”

If she didn’t end up being a companion, she would wind up as a forward soldier and quickly climb the ranks. Alaran is prone to leading, and she tends to wind up being in such a position whether she seeks it out or not. And if Alaran wound up being a companion (which is a high possibility), the Inquisitor would get her approval by thinking of others and acting with equal parts logic and emotion. They’d earn disapproval if they didn’t care what happened to others or their companions. And if they put Gaspard on the throne or exiled the Wardens. If approval sank low enough, the confrontational cutscene would go as follows:

The Inquisitor goes into their room at night to find Alaran regarding the work on their desk. The Inquisitor would demand to know what she was doing there, and she’d glance up and give a small smile that didn’t meet her eyes. “What, scared I’m going to see something meant to be secret?” Then she’d straighten and make her way over to the Inquisitor. “We’ve all got secrets, don’t we? You, me...little things that wriggle their way into our lives. I’ve got lots of secrets, you know. Ones that would make your head spin.” She’d close in on the space between them. “Do not make me an enemy. Because then you will see how smarter, stronger, and better I am than you are.” And though she’d stay no matter what the Inquisitor did, she’d grow more conniving, cynical, and distrusting. 

If Alaran were in the Raw  Fade, the Fear Demon would say to her, “To think, Alaran, what it would be like if you were the one to lead the Inquisition? All that power, and you will never have it. Your secrets are rotting; soon they will be worthless, just like you.”

If Alaran winds up in the alternate reality during the mage quest, the Inquisitor would find that she’s numb to it all. She had to make herself numb, otherwise she’d be in an even worse place. It’s not exactly hard for her to do; she had to do it back on Earth. When they first come upon her, they hear her saying, “...should’ve just stayed dead.” And when they inform her of time travel, she isn’t really that surprised. She just shrugs her shoulders and says, “Good. Tell my alternate self that I say hello, and that I shouldn’t hold back.” After, when the Inquisitor says what Alaran wanted to tell her past self, she nods understandingly. “God it. I need to help more.” Upon having the conversation and visiting the war table afterwards, they’ll find that there are new humanitarian aid missions to complete across Thedas.

And Alaran would not be romanceable. If the Inquisitor tried to romance them, her smirk would slip and she’d go, “Oh. No, none of that. I’d break your heart. Best just let me break your enemies’ bones.” And, if Solas isn’t romanced by the Inquisitor, Alaran would romance him. Whether they romance or not, Alaran would ultimately leave with him after the Orb breaks. Somebody has to watch over the Sad Elf Man.

...Sorry this turned out to be so long. 

[vicekings]

Does Étienne get separation anxiety?

yes, big time. it was worse when he was younger but it’s still pretty prevalent in his adult life. when he was younger it was separation anxiety from being away from alysanne (usually when she was away on stablemaster business and couldn’t take him) & it had him shut down & go silent until she came back. When he was older it was more to do with Brylee being late from returning from assassination jobs & fear that she was hurt or worse consuming him.

its less strong when etienne chooses to go off on his own. like, distractions usually keep his anxiety at bay and going off for an assassination job of his own provides ample distraction. 

and like, when hes lord protector etienne def has separation anxiety regarding a high-approval inquisitor leaving him behind. he insists to leliana and josie that its a side effect of the job and that his pacing and fretting is because hes supposed to protect them, but they know better. 

generally josie and leliana try to keep him distracted if he won’t distract himself (whether or not he can distract himself usually depend son the amt of stress he was in prior to the person leaving). it helps, but doesnt stop him from shadowing the inquisitor when they get back. 

and the entire situation with dorian going off to tevinter without him kind was a punch to the gut for etienne. a week after dorian’s gone, etienne’s off too; mostly bounty hunting and doing various fetch quest style work to keep his mind off of things. its a rare case where hes distracting himself in spite of his stress, but he’s still very much a walking ball of anxiety & loneliness

(at least until cole pops up. cole tagged along without etienne’s permission or knowledge until much later, so cole’s there too and hes trying to help bless him.) 

but yeah. whoo. lot of rambling. basically yeah, he’s got separation anxiety coupled with abandonment issues and a low self-esteem. its a fucky cocktail tbh

[magnanimousoul]

Maikah, Trespasser

At the beginning of Trespasser, people mention that they haven’t seem Maikah in so long and worry something might have happened, considering the fact they haven’t really sent any messages. 

If romanced, Cassandra will apologize to the Inquisitor, since they’ve gone missing and it would be inappropriate to talk about marriage.

The Inquisitor can find Maikah in the midst of the Shattered Library. They ask to speak to the Inquisitor alone. If the Inquisitor demands to speak to them in front of everyone and tell them all why they’re there, Maikah says it’s a delicate matter and if the Inquisitor refuses to follow their instructions, then they have no reason to say anything. This can end their interaction here, losing approval and dialogue options to learn the truth. Maikah will then walk off, either disappearing again or leading the Inquisitor away from the group.

If the Inquisitor follows them, Maikah escorts them to a place where they are sure no one can hear them, going as far to set a ward. Depending on their relationship, the Inquisitor can show relief that Maikah is alright or immediately question them. Maikah appreciates the former and gains approval.

With that, Maikah reveals that they are doing research. This can prompt more questioning as to what they’re researching, which can allow them to reveal that they are an agent of Fen’Harel, even though that’s probably not the full truth. They will not reveal what they are researching despite the questioning, leaving them to tell the Inquisitor that the answers are all around them, should they wish to know.

Maikah’s personal quest allows more question options. The Inquisitor can ask if this has something to do with their visions, which they say, “More or less, yes.” They continue being vague, saying that what they saw changed them forever, that they couldn’t turn a blind eye when this was exactly what they were looking for. Maikah apologizes for the fact they didn’t say anything before.

Depending on approval/romance, asking why they sided with Fen’Harel gives different (albeit vague) responses: the world needs to change and the Inquisitor is the prime example as to why (low approval); they found out the truth and had to figure out whether Fen’Harel’s solution was the right one (high approval); they want to make a difference in the world, saving their People however they can, even if they have to find alternatives (Maikah Romance), or that they have to make sure someone is alright and keep an eye on him (Solas Romance).

If the Inquisitor is in a relationship with them, they can either call Maikah a traitor (which will end their romance and majorly lose approval), tell them they can’t continue the relationship, say they are hurt Maikah didn’t say anything beforehand and don’t know what to make of whatever relationship they had, or scold them for not saying anything despite the fact that they loved and trusted them.

If they have high approval with the Inquisitor, those options are available but without the romance, substituting that they don’t know how they should feel about Maikah, that they were good friends and should have informed them of what was going on, or ask if this is going to result in their demise.

With low approval, the Inquisitor has the options of calling them a traitor, trying to attack them (which will result in Maikah using Force Magic to repel them back, ending their discussion with telling the Inquisitor that they are just proving them right on why they needed to do this), affirming that they knew Maikah would’ve pulled something like this, or ask what is going to happen next.

There is an additional bit where the Inquisitor can bring Maikah’s feelings for their crush into question, regardless of their relationship. They immediately rebuttal with that having no influence as to what they need to do.

Outside of the options ending their dialogue, Maikah will inform them that if they really want to know what the truth is, they should continue forward. Whatever happens to them doesn’t matter and that they should forget about them. Maikah will either thank them for being a good friend, or for being a wonderful partner they didn’t deserve. However, with low approval, Maikah will end their dialogue saying that, “I hope in time you will come to understand, otherwise you are a lost cause that I regret breathing the same air as.” Should the Inquisitor have romanced Solas with a low approval Maikah, they will add in, “Here is to hoping he is more forgiving than I... I would hate to see him hurting over you of all people.”

Maikah Romancers can give them a final kiss goodbye. Otherwise, they run off, leaving the Inquisitor by themself for the rest of the party to join up with.

[idontunderstandwhydoyouneedmyurl]

Cullavellan week 2017

Day 5 (September 15th) - Formal Night

Time to get fancy! Whether it’s for Halamshiral or another occasion, get these two cleaned up and looking spiffy!

They’re there to stop an assassination, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look fabulous while they do it.

Read it here: archiveofourown.org/works/12097206

The weeks leading up to the peace meetings in Halamshiral had been full of etiquette lessons from Josephine, Leliana, and Vivienne, as well as measurements for dress fitting from the latter, but nothing any of them said could’ve truly prepared Delilah for the Winter Palace.

The palace was grand indeed, one of the most extravagant constructions in all of Orlais, according to Josephine. Even Delilah had to admit the architecture and the gardens were beautiful. Completely Orlesian, of course, and naturally decadent to a fault, but beautiful. The Orlesians in attendance, however, were less so.

She’d barely made it to the main entrance before being called a savage, a knife ear, and most infuriatingly, rabbit. She’d very nearly told the woman begging for the ‘rabbit’s’ help finding her ring, that perhaps she could find the ring up her ass. But Josephine’s voice in her mind reminded her they needed the court’s approval, so she’d given a tight smile and moved on.

As she moved through the crowd, she earned several looks from the nobility, ranging from curiosity and amusement, to outright disdain. Thankfully, none of them mistook her for a servant, but that was likely only due to the flowing, swishy, shimmering emerald green dress that Vivienne had commissioned for her just for this event. The golden bangles on her wrists jingled as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and continued on. Vivienne’s lessons echoed in her ears – back straight, head high, core tight. The Orlesians parted in front of her, and she stepped forward with purpose.

She made small talk with various nobles that Leliana and Josephine had pointed out would be beneficial to chat up. She kept the same bland smile on her face, even as ladies with obnoxiously frilly dresses and men with obnoxiously frilly jackets and pants tittered at the thin lines of vallaslin on her forehead and cheeks, tracing over her shoulders and arms and down her back, revealed by the open backed sleeveless gown.

The introductions to Grand Duchess Florienne and Empress Celene went fine, and soon the guests were free to stroll through the main ballroom, the vestibule, the hall of heroes, and the garden. Delilah picked up a tiny pastry from a passing servant with a word of thanks, and munched thoughtfully as she explored. As she moved, she turned a watchful eye to the guests she came across. The Tevinter assassin could be anybody, anywhere, and she had to be prepared. Even if, with her easily visible vallaslin and pointed ears and stunning dalish-inspired gown, she was really just a distraction while her companions searched for clues more subtly. The dress was as much a weapon here as any blade, Leliana had told her when she’d expressed distaste at its original reveal. And they’d done their best with its design to reference her cultural background as a compromise, with the lines of the dress as well as the delicate vines stitched into the hem and around the bust.

A familiar voice reached her ears, and the crowd parted in time for her to spot Cullen, leaning against the wall and looking deeply uncomfortable at the crowd he seemed to have drawn.

“Smile, Commander, you’re so handsome when you smile,” one woman was saying, her voice low and sultry.

“Just as handsome when he doesn’t,” another woman replied, fanning herself with a jeweled fan.

“Are you married yet, Commander?” a gentleman probed, swirling a glass of wine. Even this far back, Delilah could see Cullen’s neck reddening above the collar of his finely tailored coat that Josephine had insisted he wear.

“Uh, no,” he replied stiffly. “But I am…already taken.”

The ladies and gentlemen surrounding him tittered. The first man smirked below his golden mask. “Still single, then?”

Delilah decided at this point to step in, and Cullen’s relief at the sight of her was nearly palpable. “Del – uh, Inquisitor,” he corrected himself. “Did you need something?”

“Might I have a moment of your time?” she asked, with a polite nod to the nosy people now peering at her.

“Of course. Excuse me,” Cullen said to them, and they all sighed with disappointment as the two moved to a more private corner, away from prying ears. “Thank the Maker you showed up when you did.”

“You seem to have attracted some admirers,” she remarked. “Who are they all?”

“I don’t know, but they won’t leave me alone,” he griped.

Delilah stroked a fingertip down the fine silk of his sleeve. It was a deep green, nearly black, matched with a sash of the same green as her own gown, and golden buttons. “Perhaps because you look so dashing in this suit, like a proper prince,” she said with a smile. “Not enjoying the attention?”

Cullen harrumphed, but a blush bloomed over his cheeks at her praise regardless. “I still think ceremonial armor would’ve been perfectly appropriate, even knowing Orlesians’ love for extravagant outfits,” he groused. “Besides, yours is the only attention worth having.” Delilah chuckled.

“Would you really rather see me in armor than this dress?” She did a slow turn, and his gaze dropped to her bare skin, lingering over the curves of her waist and hips. “Even you have to admit, dressed like this, we make a wonderful pair.”

Cullen caught her hand in his and lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. Beneath the Orlesian cosmetics that Vivienne had somehow convinced her to wear around her eyes and across her lips, a blush bloomed across her cheeks. “You certainly outshine every other person here, dress or no,” he murmured.

A giggle escaped her, despite herself. “You flatter me,” she said with a smile. “Remember, we’re here to catch an assassin, not to flirt.”

“Ah, yes. You’re right. Forgive me.” Despite the gentle reprimand, his eyes still glinted with mischief as she squeezed his hand that still clasped hers, and disappeared back into the milling nobility.