#Mahvirhen Lavellan

[thesummerstorms]

Either my Mercar or my Thorne are gonna have to have semi normal families because functional DA protagonist families are a bit thin on the ground in this household...

Niamh Amell's mother wept when she was taken, per Leandra Hawke, but Niamh wouldn't remember any of that.

Rowan Hawke probably got some nurturing from Malcolm...but I mean, y'all have played DA2. You know what Leandra was like.

Evanna Trevelyan's family is loosely inspired by Henry the VIII...so... She's her mother's only surviving child, her mother (the second wife of the household) died, and her father was always disinterested but became abusive when her magic manifested. Her elder half-brother is civil but too weak to stand against her father and have a connection with her. Her older half-sister is a Templar zealot who would have done well in Kirkwall. She has one former stepmother who escaped via divorce who now wants to use her for Orlesians politics. And a current stepmother who is younger than her with a very young brother she's never met. They provided a lot of soap opera inspiration for Thedas during the Inquisition.

Arsinoë's mother left her behind frequently in order to pursue her cause (mage rebellion). Arsinoë doesn't think her mother's cause was unjust, and arguably her mother was keeping her safe. But she knew from a young age she was mostly be looked after out of obligation. She never expected her mother to rescue her from the Circle or the Crows because her mother left her behind all the time.

For my "non-Warden/Non-Inquisitor" protagonists...

Therasenn Mahariel has a baked in tragic orphan backstory and her whole clan basically threw her a funeral as she left with Duncan.

Cattilara Tabris actually has close to a normal family, dead mom aside, but she's nearly lost them so many times she's become overprotective and the trauma fucked their whole dynamic.

Cecily Cousland's parents, sister in law, and nephew were all mercilessly slaughtered in front of her... By her husband's father's men. At least Fergus survived? (And did eventually give her two nieces in his political marriage to Anora) blame this one on the game though.

... I don't have a backstory for Echo Adaar actually... I meant to play her after Mahvirehn and never did... Let's assume her parents did a better job than Shathaan.

Mahvirhen Lavellan is probably winning right now! His mother escaped the Alienage with him to keep him safe and they actually have a very strong relationship. He's neutral with his stepfather and loves his little sister. Most of the conflict comes from being separated from them by the Inquisition and then from Dorian because he's the clan's first.

... I don't know my Dalish Warden/ Adris Thorne's backstory yet.

But I will admit I had toyed with the idea of having my Nikoletta Mercar being genuinely loved by her adoptive father, in his own way, but also he saw her adoption as a way to prove equality regardless of bloodline or magical ability when given opportunities... And that was ruined when she manifested magic and the rumor became he adopted a mage to elevate the family status. He never consciously took it out on her, but she always felt she was living with his disappointment in that regard.

[thesummerstorms]

Okay, since I'm committed to doing my Dalish Warden run next (...and maybe some of Arsinoë on the side) I'm trying to set my mage!Lavellan, Mahvirhen, as the Inquisitor, even though I never finished his run. I want to see Dorian happy, okay?

I think he's been generally easier to recreate than Evanna Trevelyan (that or I just played him a lot less so it's not as particular/ingrained) but...

It does kind of drive home that Dorian fell for a painfully average Dalish guy lmao.

[thesummerstorms]

Just so everyone can appreciate my over the top naming trends:

The Arcana: Beatrice Marchesi (main), Chiara Benanati (barely existent tbh)

When the Night Comes: Theodora "Theo" Greensmith

Errant Kingdom (which has the excuse of being high fantasy): Penelope Seagrave (main), Rose Armistead, Ariadne Blackhallow

Andromeda Six: Desdemona Sabine (not including her surname bc it's a plot spoiler and I also just don't like how it looks)

Call Me Under (which isn't even released yet): Della Barlow, Rebekah Blake

My BioWare names are way more wildly inconsistent though, to be fair. (Niamh Amell, Therasenn Mahariel, Cattilara Tabris, Rowan Hawke, Evanna Trevelyan, Mahvirhen Lavellan, Echo Adaar, Elizabeth Shepard, Minerva Ryder)

[thesummerstorms]

Prime Universe: Inquisitor Evanna Trevelyan

entropy, spirit, and storm mage

noblewoman turned scholar and reformer

Alternate Universe: Inquisitor Mahvihren Lavellan

elementalist and arcane warrior

curious and diplomatic future leader of the Elvhen 

Alternate Universe: Inquisitor Herah “Echo” Adaar

dagger-wielding assassin

pragmatic tactician with a hidden noble streak