#Movran the under

[108garys]

Avvar Rook?

So Movran the Under's whole clan can pick up and relocate to the silent plains at least a decade ago? All of them, kids and all? And they can actually do pretty well in their new territory? And by the time of veilgaurd children would be grown, youths just starting out would be seasoned and all would have a solid chance to hypothetically interact with northern thedas cultures? don't ruin this for me bioware

Ignore the rush job and see the vision I was suddenly struck with(I know the locations aren't 100% accurate)

Obviously a warden could be conscripted/recruited anywhere but I do feel like taking advantage of Edvarr hold being relocated opens the path for a lot of interesting potential role playing/characterization for Rooks of any age, here's hoping that height and voice pitch slider is all they're selling it as and perhaps a tendency towards more blunt dialogue choices would help but I do feel a person could find creative reasons why someone from Movran's clan would end up in any of the available factions

I don't usually post in the dragon age tag but I had to get this idea out and I hope you like it 😊

[daitranscripts]

Skyhold Masterpost

Main Quest Related Conversations

Here Lies the Abyss: Hawke Here Lies the Abyss: Warden Alistair Here Lies the Abyss: Warden Loghain Here Lies the Abyss: Warden Stroud Here Lies the Abyss: Morrigan - The Final Piece: Morrigan

Skyhold Quests

Sit in Judgements:

Introduction Magister Gereon Alexius Knight-Captain Denam Magister Livius Erimond Ser Ruth The Box Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons Raleigh Samson - Chief Movran the Under Mayor Gregory Dedrick Crassius Servis Mistress Poulin - Captain Thom Ranier Captain Thom Ranier (romanced) - Ambient Dialogue Deleted Dialogue: Skyhold's Cells

Miscellaneous:

Promoting Barris Quizquizition Major Upgrades Sutherland and Company

Other NPC Conversations

Dagna - Introduction Dagna - Investigate Dagna - Here Lies the Abyss Dagna - The Descent Dagna - Miscellaneous - Krem - Main Quest Related Krem - Let’s Discuss Iron Bull Krem - Tell Me About the Chargers Krem - Tell Me About Yourself - Mother Giselle - Main Quests Mother Giselle - Investigate: Tell Me About Corypheus Mother Giselle - Investigate: I'd Like Inquisition History Mother Giselle - Investigate: Let's Talk About the Chantry Mother Giselle - Investigate: Skyhold Exclusive - Morrigan - Scout Harding - Investigate Scout Harding - Call Me Lace - Archivist Bonny Sims Cabot Elan Ve'mal Gaoler Gatsi Sturhald Harritt Helisma Derington Maryden Halewell Ser Morris Surgeon

Conditional:

Haven Survivors Inquisition Agents - Horsemaster Dennet - Enchanter Fiona: Leader of a Rebellion Enchanter Fiona: Investigate Enchanter Fiona: Here Lies the Abyss

Specializations for the Inquisitor

Knight Enchanter - Helaine Necromancer - Viuus Anaxas Rift Mage - Your Trainer Mage Specialist Banter - Artificer - Three-Eyes Assassin - Heir Tempest - Khim Rogue Specialist Banter - Champion - Chancer de Lion Reaver - Breaker Thram Templar - Ser Warrior Specialist Banter

Ambient Dialogue

Quest Related:

Here Lies the Abyss: Morrigan and Warden - From the Ashes Corypheus Adamant Hawke Halamshiral Morrigan Mythal

Companions:

Blackwall The Chargers Romances

NPCs:

Cullen's Runner Josephine's Runner Leliana's Runner - Apothecary Runner Merchant Runner Quartermaster Runner Researcher Runner

General:

Elven Power Fortifications (Haven) Religion Skyhold Upgrades Miscellaneous Repeated Ambient - Crestwood The Dales

Deleted Dialogue

Locations Masterpost  

[dragonagepolls]

This doesn’t have to mean you agree with them morally. It’s ok to like a villain for being an interesting character.

*Characters who have EVER been controllable party members are not included (e.g. even though Leliana is an NPC in DA2 and DAI, she is controllable in DAO and therefore does not count). Romanceable NPCs (Cullen and Josephine) have also been left out in the interest of giving everyone else a chance.

Bracket 1

Bracket 3

Bracket 4

Bracket 5

Bracket 6

Bracket 7

Bracket 8

Brackets were seeded with a random shuffler. 

[dragonagekeeper]

Disclaimer: This is not recorded in the keep.

Captured as part of the Lost Souls quest. Judged for his crime of attacking Skyhold with a goat in retaliation for his son's death.

Judgment polls / Dragon Age Inquisition Polls

Movran's son, the Hand of Korth, was sent to kill Tevinters but decided that attacking the Herald of Andraste would bring more glory to his god. After his son's death, Movran answered, as is tradition in Avvar culture, by smacking the holdings of the offending party (in this case, the Inquisitor) with goat's blood. Movran freely admits, however, that he has no intention of actually pursuing any conflict with the Inquisition, and offers himself to the Inquisition for judgment.

Banishment

Banish Movran and his clan

2. Put on public display in a gibbet and "probably" released

Sentence Movran to be put in a gibbet (a hanging cage for public display)

3. Arm and Exile to Tevinter

Arm and Exile to the Tevinter Imperium

If Movran is exiled to Tevinter, his clan will establish a settlement on an uninhabited region of the Silent Plains, off the Imperial Highway. The Inquisitor can either overtly support Movran's new settlement (incurring the Imperium's ire), covertly supply them (allowing the settlement to flourish and becoming a welcome stopping point along the road), or simply leave them to their own devices.

4. Assign to Abernache [Sided with Templars and only if Abernache is alive]

Conscript Movran into the Inquisition, in which case he will serve alongside Lord Esmeral Abernache

If partnered with Abernache and Josephine's suggestion is taken, Movran and Abernache develop something resembling a mutual grudging respect and become an effective ambassadorial team, with Josephine noting the value in the Inquisition's threat of "not recalling our ambassadors".

[omniblades-and-stars]

Chief Movran the Under could get it.

[starfoam]

Flashback

The judgement of Movran the Under is almost a relief.

"I banish you and your people to Tevinter, with all the weapons you can carry." A bark of laughter from the tried man, and a murmur of approval from the court. It's a sound move; Tevinter is "the enemy" even with Dorian's presence, and that's where Movran and his Avaar kinsmen were going anyway. For throwing a goat at Skyhold? This will do fine.

(She had to try people for murder, treason, and torture most foul. Just two weeks ago she had to prevent the world from ending after what amounted to a magical sneeze. There has been so much blood and pain. A light sentence where everyone lives is a blessing.)

"As a fine for your transgressions... we are keeping the goat." Another round of laughter. Her lip quirks, just a little.

The goat is named Chauncey.

[crossdressingdeath]

creeper-x

Amen. Noodle is awful at his job (and so is the Inquisitor for going along with it but no surprises there seeing how the narrative coddles Cullen) and this is just one example of it, letting “personal interest” take precedence and going on about his VERY biased views about the subject. Ugh! I’m still salty my Inq couldn’t pick a dialogue option like: “Who do you think you are? Get the fuck out and bring Josephine back!”

If memory serves he also makes it personal during the judgement in a way Josie never does. Like, he's out here calling Samson weak for not being able to shake his addiction (the addiction that Cullen took years and constant support from the Inquisition to work through, mind you) while living on the streets and desperate and Quiz still can't tell him to piss off and take his obvious bias elsewhere! Josie sometimes reacts to judgements, sure. Her responses to Movran and dead Florianne are hilarious, and she's clearly miserable on having to judge Blackwall (who reminder if neither of them is romanced she's in love with). But she always maintains at least some level of professionalism, if memory serves never addresses the defendants directly (because her job is to present them and the evidence to Quiz and nothing more), and does not once let her personal feelings keep her from giving Quiz the information they need in an unbiased and effective manner. Then again I guess if Cullen gave Quiz the full story of Samson's activities in Kirkwall in an unbiased manner he'd probably end up incriminating himself...

Also, I hate that if you choose to have Samson serve the Inquisition you put him under Cullen's "care" after the guy has made it very clear that he intends to make Samson's life miserable. Based on how you can only take this course if you found Maddox and choose the related dialogue option during the judgement I get the sense it's supposed to be the compassionate option, letting Samson make up for what he did in the belief that at heart he's not a terrible person if he could inspire such genuine loyalty and love that a Tranquil—supposedly incapable of emotions like love—would of his own free will and despite Samson specifically telling him not to choose death over the risk of betraying him! So why is Quiz giving him to someone who openly intends to torment him?! Frankly my Quiz would've put Samson directly under his own care to ensure he was treated with decency, but failing that I'd have given him to Josie. Maybe Leliana in a pinch, but definitely not Cullen.

I also hate the judgment scene for Samson. Mostly because Cu//en walks in and goes "for personal reasons I'm taking over for Josephine". Like.. that's exactly why you *shouldn't* be involved, you ass!

Yes! Yes! Cullen literally walks into the great hall and says "I'm super biased so I'm gonna run this trial" and you are not allowed to say no! Every Inquisitor I play would absolutely stop the trial dead and say "No, absolutely not, you fuck right off and bring back my impartial source of information". Why did Josie agree to this? Why did Leliana agree to this (since she can and does regularly tell Cullen to go fuck himself)? Why is this the one time the Inquisition's leading ladies chose not to put the random Templar they've been saddled with firmly in his place? The moment Cullen steps out in front of your throne and openly says he's stepping in in Josie's place because of his own personal bias, the trial instantly becomes a sham! Anyone wanting to discredit the Inquisitor's judgements now has the perfect piece of ammunition! The second Quiz's enemies can say "Sure, they say they're an impartial judge of various crimes, but they let their commander step in in place of the person usually handling this part of the judgement process specifically because of his personal bias against the defendant" every other judgement Quiz has passed and will pass in the future gets thrown into question, because they've proved they will let personal bias interfere.

But no, heaven forbid Quiz get to actually... say that. Much less say "Hey, I don't trust you one bit to begin with, you lie about literally everything including stuff that I know happened since Varric's book talks a lot about how you absolutely fucking knew what Meredith was doing and not only did you not try to stop it you agreed with it wholeheartedly [and word coming from the survivors of the attempted annulment, many of whom were likely with the rebel mages if Quiz sided with them, would back that up], and you've just openly said you're biased against the guy on trial, why the fuck would I trust you to give a fair account of Samson's actions?" even though... multiple of my Inquisitors would in fact say that. This is the one trial that Cullen absolutely should not be part of... and here he is!

[not-your-lifeline]

Inquisitor:

the entire courtroom:

this man: *YEETUS GOATUS*

[dirtybiowareconfessions]

Confession: Chief Movren can fuck me while the rest of his clan watches and humiliates me. Then they can join and make me a cum filled and soaked mess

[7classyantiquestores]

A recent War Table mission in I did in Inquisition let me team up this amazing posh Orlesian noble Abernache with the huge brutish warlord Movran as a diplomatic team, and I’m living for this duo.

Josephine said: “Together they are offensive on every level. A useful pair to inflict on others, perhaps? ‘Do as we say or we will not recall our ambassadors’?”

“Do what the Inquisition wants or our ambassadors won’t leave” is such a hilarious power move and I would love to see this.

Also Movran’s report on how they work is fantastic: “Abernache is too pretty! But spirited! His words hit some like cudgels! And then I hit the rest with actual cudgels!”

Yes, I think this will work out just fine.

[fresh-bungle]

Im sweating its the midde of the night and I was struck with this image and I had to draw it.

You're welcome 😂

[daitranscripts]

Skyhold Quest: Sit in Judgment

Chief Movran the Under

Skyhold Masterpost Related Location: Fallow Mire

Josephine: This was a surprise. After you returned from the bogs, we discovered this man attacking. The building. With a… goat.

The scene cuts to a goat hitting the side of the fortress.

Josephine: Chief Movran the Under. He feels slighted by the killing of his Avvar tribesmen. Who repeatedly attacked you first. What should we do with him? Where… should he go?

Dialogue options:

General: Are you still a threat? PC: You’re a chieftain of the Avvar. Will your attacks persist? ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: With a goat? PC: You answered the death of your clan… with a goat? ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: I’m judging leftovers now? PC: Why is this an issue worth presenting?

Movran: (Laughs.) A courtroom? Unnecessary! You killed my idiot son, and I answered, as is my custom, by smacking your holdings with goat’s blood.

Josephine: Don’t look at me.

Movran: No foul! He meant to murder Tevinters, but got feisty with your Inquisition. A redheaded mother guarantees a brat! Do as you’ve earned, Inquisitor. My clan yields. My remaining boys have brains still in their heads! (Laughs.)

Dialogue options:

Special (sided with the templars, Abernache alive): Assign him to Abernache. [1] +Approves - Iron Bull, Sera +Slightly approves - Blackwall, Cole, Varric -Slightly disapproves - Vivienne ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: Drive them out of my lands. [2] +Slightly approves - Sera -Slightly disapproves - Solas, Iron Bull -Disapproves - Cole ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: Is it called a… “gibbet”? [3] -Slightly disapproves - Solas, Iron Bull, Cole ㅤㅤ ㅤ

General: Arm and exile him to Tevinter. [4] +Greatly approves - Iron Bull +Approves - Sera +Slightly approves - Cole, Vivienne, Solas, Dorian, Blackwall

1 - Special: Assign him to Abernache. PC: We’ve the beginning of a cultural exchange. I know just the envoy. Chief Movran the Under, I demand you educate one of our lords in your ways. His name is Abernache. He will struggle. Movran: (Laughs.) I’m renaming my youngest “Herald.” He’s another redhead! (Laughs.) Scene ends.

2 - General: Drive them out of my lands. PC: I don’t have time for idiots. Let’s get this over with. Chief Movran, crimes, et cetera. You and your people just… get out. Movran: Push us out—you’ve earned it. Have fun with whoever we push back. (Laughs.) Scene ends.

3 - General: Is it called a… “gibbet”? PC: I don’t know. He could go in that, what’s it called—a gibbet? Chief Movran, you’ll be placed in a gibbet to serve as an example to… someone. Then probably released. Movran: Gibbet? (Laughs.) Gibbet, gibbet. (Laughs.) Scene ends.

4 - General: Arm and exile him to Tevinter. PC: It seems our conflict was accidental, Chief Movran, but it can’t be repeated. I banish you and your clan—with as many weapons as you can carry—to Tevinter. Movran: (Laughs.) My idiot boy got us something after all! (Laughs.) Scene ends.

[shannaraisles]

Set In Darkness

Chapter: 46 Author name: ShannaraIsles Rating: M Warnings: Language! Summary: She’s a Modern Girl in Thedas, but it isn’t what she wanted. There’s a scary dose of reality as soon as she arrives. It isn’t her story. People get hurt here; people die here, and there’s no option to reload if you make a bad decision. So what’s stopping her from plunging head first into the Void at the drop of a hat?

Never A Moment

She had to tell Cullen.

What a fun conversation that would be. How do you tell a devout workaholic with past trauma issues operating under too much stress and an honorable streak a mile wide that you're carrying his illegitimate love child? How the hell is he going to react? She couldn't even process how she was feeling. Panic was reasonably high on the list, closely followed by shock and abject terror. This couldn't be happening. Whose bright idea was it to make her give birth in a place where epidurals and proper surgery didn't exist?

"Evy," she called to her friend, ducking out of the tent once she'd tidied away the evidence. "I need to talk to the commander about something. Are you all right to hold the fort here for a little while?"

Evy looked up from her work, a faint flicker of concern crossing her face as she took a good look at Rory. "Of course," she answered easily enough. "The nurses have everything under control - I just have to show the new healer around. Are you all right?"

Right, so I look as pale as I feel. Great. "I'm fine," Rory promised her with a weak smile. "Just a little tired, but what else is new?"

The younger woman didn't look convinced, but she knew when not to push. "Take your time," she told her friend. "It's just recovery care right now, anyway."

"Hopefully I won't be too long," Rory assured her, though she had no way of knowing that.

It wasn't as though she could knock, walk in, drop the news, and immediately skip out. If she was lucky, his response wouldn't be audible all over Skyhold or hazardous to his continued health, but whether luck was with her or not, this wasn't a quick conversation in the making. Should she even take this to him now? He was swamped with work; this was just another headache to drop on him, and it wasn't even a headache he had any power to influence. It was a fact. And while there was a way to make it go away ... Rory didn't want to do that. She couldn't imagine Cullen pushing for her to do it, either. So that was that. She was a mum, for better or for worse. Holy crap, I am so screwed. A world of what ifs were open ahead of her, too many to make coherent sense. The panic was simmering - it, at least, was going to be with her in some capacity for the next, oh ... twenty years or so.

The nearest gatehouse tower was still closed off while workers toiled to make it safe. She could have passed under the stone arch and used the steps up to the battlement there - it was the fastest route to Cullen's office. Her feet, however, took her up the stone steps to the upper courtyard. It seemed as though her panic was enough to make her delay this inevitable conversation, even if it was only for a few more minutes. Her mind was racing. Now she thought about it, how could she have missed the symptoms? She was more tired than usual; her toilet breaks more regular; her sense of smell more acute; she did ache in some very specific places. She hadn't had any morning sickness, but then, some women didn't, did they?

So how long do I have, she wondered, lost in thought as she climbed the steps to the main hall. The only mistake had been that night, and that was ... Rory frowned, counting the weeks in her head. Seven or eight, so two months ago, give or take. Seven months to learn as much about midwifery and babies as she could. That really wasn't long enough.

"Looking very serious, Cupcake," a familiar voice drawled nearby.

She blinked, finding herself by the hearth in the hall, with Varric eyeing her from his table. "Hmm?"

"Serious," the dwarf repeated, laying down his quill. "You, looking very. Problems?"

"When aren't there problems?" she asked evasively, chuckling a little in spite of her turmoil. "No, I'm just thinking. Sometimes it hurts."

"Last thing we need is you and Curly with headaches," Varric commented mildly. "Just him is bad enough."

Great, he's having another bad day without telling me. She sighed wearily. "How bad?"

"He's just cranky," her dwarven friend assured her. "Pretty sure a visit from his girl would clear that right up."

"I'm not making any promises," she answered, feeling her anxiety ratchet up a notch. If he's already cranky, this isn't going to go well. Yay. "What are you working on?"

"Huh? Oh, this?" A very nearly evil smile crossed Varric's face. "His illustrious Inquisitorialness wants the next chapter of Swords and Shields for Cassandra."

Rory's eyes narrowed warningly at the mischief in his face. "Varric ... don't you dare muck up their relationship just to get a petty jab in at Cassandra."

"Would I do that?" he asked innocently.

"Yes. Yes, you would."

He chuckled, conceding the point. "Well, I'm not," he promised faithfully. "If only because I think you and Ruffles would hold me down and stab me with my own quill if I did."

She snorted with laughter. "You could be right."

Josephine had worked out that Kaaras liked Cassandra when he'd asked her to explain his book of Antivan poetry to him. The ambassador was a staunch defender of the drive to give the Seeker and the Inquisitor alone time in the hope that one of them would crack and just admit to being in love. She'd even expressed a certain frustration that they didn't even argue properly, unlike Cullen and ...

Rory's smile abruptly faded as she remembered why she was here in the first place.

"All right, Cupcake, what's hurting?" Varric asked, his face creased in a worried frown. "I've never seen you lose a smile that fast before."

Rory sighed, shaking her head. "It's nothing you can fix, Varric," she told him reluctantly. Wish you could. "I'll deal with it."

He eyed her for a moment with vague suspicion, but managed to suppress his natural desire to help with whatever it was. "Here if you need a splendid chest to lean on."

She smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"Heads up, though," he added, jerking his chin toward the other end of the hall. "Ruffles incoming."

"What?"

Rory glanced over her shoulder, surprised to find Josephine bearing down on her like a woman on a mission. It was unusual to find the Antivan woman out of her office before dinner, but apparently some things required her to seek people out personally.

"Mistress Allen, I am glad to find you here," the ambassador said with a purposeful brightness to her tone that instantly made Rory suspicious. "Madame De Fer's seamstress has arrived. She would like to see both yourself and Lady Trevelyan this afternoon, to begin designing your gowns."

The healer just about managed to bite down on her groan. This was all she needed right now - dress plotting for Halamshiral. "I'll tell Evy," she promised politely. "I think her wedding gown is a little higher on the list of priorities."

"We have only two months to help you prepare for the Imperial Court," Josephine reminded her. "Though several people need that preparation as well. You will not be alone in your lessons."

"I can't promise to always have time for those lessons, Josephine," Rory countered, but the Antivan lady was already ahead of her.

"We will, of course, work around your duties," she insisted with easy aplomb. "You will need to be aware of courtly etiquette and dance, that is all."

Oh, is that all? Lovely. Knowing she couldn't get out of this, Rory decided to give in gracefully. "All right. Just let me know when."

"I will keep you informed," Josephine agreed. "but you must see the seamstress today."

"I will," Rory promised her. "I have things to do first, but I will." Things like give the commander a heart attack and then cry for a solid hour. Shouldn't interfere too much, should it?

She turned to open the door into the rotunda, unsurprised to hear Josephine focus her attention to Varric as she slipped into what was now Solas' work space. Empty, of course, with the elven apostate in the Emerald Graves with Kaaras, but still very much his space. From high above, she heard the croak and flap of the ravens in the rookery and, a little closer, another familiar voice calling down to her.

"If it isn't my favorite unicorn!"

Biting back a frustrated reply, she turned, tilting her head back to find Dorian leaning over the railing above her. "Unicorn?" she repeated incredulously. "Seriously?"

He laughed at her expression. "Perhaps not," the mage conceded with an ostentatious shrug. "Come up, I have something for you."

Can't this wait? But despite her faint annoyance, she wouldn't say no to Dorian. With a rueful smile, she altered her course, turning to take the steps up to the library. It's only a few minutes, she reasoned with herself. You've got about a month to break the news before it becomes blatantly obvious; a few minutes isn't going to make any difference.

Dorian was waiting for her at the top of the stairs. "You're looking done in again," he said, by way of hello. "Tell me, do you ever sleep a full night?"

"Occasionally," Rory heard herself say, a split second before her brain reminded her just who she was talking to.

"How marvelous," the altus teased brightly. "Who would have thought the commander had it in him?"

This time, the answer was out before she could stop it. "I think you'll find it's more often in me." There was a beat as she caught up with herself. "I did not just say that."

"Yes, darling, you did." Dorian laughed, pleased with her snarky reply. "I'm delighted for you."

Mortified and blushing, Rory rubbed her forehead. Why pick today, of all days, to revert to the blurting nug-woman with no boundaries? You've been doing so well! "You said you had something for me?" she asked in a desperate attempt to take control of the conversation.

"It isn't as exciting as what Cullen gives you," the mage warned, chuckling at her slightly outraged squeak of embarrassment. "You are utterly adorable when you're embarrassed, you know. But, as I promised, I have put together a small medical library for you."

Instantly, her embarrassment was gone. "Really?" she asked, curiosity mingling with excitement as she followed him to his little corner of the library, where he indicated a small stack of books on the table. "Thank you! I didn't think you were serious when you suggested it."

"My dear girl, when I say I will do a thing, it gets done," Dorian informed her comfortably. "You were in something of a lather about the gaps in your knowledge."

Rory tilted her head to read the spines. The Leech Book of Vald, Genitivi's Compendium of Thedosian Medicine, Plinth's Anatomical Studies, De Materia Medica, Historia Naturali ... She paused as she found a title that had nothing to do with medicine at all, clearing her throat to get his attention as she extracted Swords and Shields, Vol. III, from the pile. Dorian didn't even blink.

"It's your turn to read the dreadful thing," he pointed out, "though where you find the time to read, I have no idea."

Laughing, Rory put the book down. She actually rather enjoyed Swords and Shields - it was terrible, but entertainingly so. "I don't suppose there's anything on midwifery in this pile, is there?"

"Sadly, no," the mage told her. "Why? Is our blushing bride expecting, too?"

"No," she answered, her smile just a little wan. If only. "But I know virtually nothing about it, and now we're settled again, it's a certainty that someone's going to ... slip."

She wasn't sure she liked the way he was looking at her, but thankfully, he didn't say anything aloud. "I will keep my eyes open for you," he promised instead. "Should I have these delivered to the tower? I saw the workers manhandling a bed in there earlier, so I assume you are moving out of your charming tent at last."

"That would be lovely." She reached up to hug him gratefully, waiting until he responded before pulling back. One of these days, he was going to react instantly to her hugs, but she was patient enough to work on it slowly. "Thank you, Dorian."

"It's my pleasure to be lovely," he answered, the fingertips of his right hand brushing over the smooth curve of her flat stomach, one brow raised curiously. There could be no doubt what he was asking, though she was deeply grateful for his discretion.

She felt the determinedly calm facade she was holding in place crack just a little. "Keep it to yourself?" she whispered, the panic shining through briefly.

Dorian's mustache twitched as he smiled far more gently than she had expected. "Until he tells me, of course," he agreed without a moment's hesitation. And Cullen would tell him, she realized. The two men's friendship had blossomed far quicker than she had expected. "That does rather require you telling him."

"I'm working on it," she promised softly. "I was on my way to try, actually."

"Good." Dorian patted her hand gently. "Don't let me detain you."

Encouraged by his calm confidence, Rory headed back down the stairs, crossing the rotunda to the external door with his eyes on her back all the way. She had a feeling that deviating from her course would result in her being frog-marched directly to Cullen and possibly locked in with him until she 'fessed up. Dorian Pavus might only ever openly admit to having one friend, but he was compulsively protective of all the friends he made. Making her tell the truth through sheer bloody-mindedness was not beyond him. And, besides, he was right. Cullen needed to know. He deserved to know first.

It was breezier up here than it had been in the courtyards. Tucking her arms inside her cloak, she headed across the stone bridge, ignoring the shiver that ran down her spine at the icy gusts that rushed her, albeit gently. Pausing at the door, she knocked, wincing at the sharp, "Come!" that answered her. Sounds like he's in a wonderful mood. She pushed open the door, peering inside warily.

Cullen was standing behind his large desk, leaning on the surface as he scowled down at the papers that covered it. The two other doors to the tower stood open, allowing that healthy breeze to rush through, ruffling his weighted paperwork as it did. He looked tired and angry, and that vein in his temple was throbbing again. The elfroot potion she always made sure he had plenty of was sitting on the desk by his hand. Headache or no headache, here goes nothing.

"Are you busy?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

He raised his eyes from the desk, and his scowl melted away at the sight of her, replaced with a weary smile that made her heart ache pleasantly. "I can always make time for you," he assured her quietly.

"But not to take the potion that will deal with that headache," she pointed out. Despite the anxious knot in her stomach, her smile was fond as she moved toward him, stepping over fallen debris to do so.

"I was just about to," he told her, the guilty cast to his expression telling her the bottle had been sitting there for a good hour or more. Under her knowing gaze, he unstopped the potion and took a healthy gulp, grimacing at the taste.

"Have you taken a break at all today?" she asked then, again knowing he hadn't before he admitted to it.

"There's so much to do," he tried to say, but Rory was just as stubborn as he was. It was part of the reason he'd noticed her in the first place.

"And nothing is going to fall apart if you take ten minutes to walk the battlements with me," she informed him, her expression daring her lover to argue. "Please?"

Cullen's brows drew together in concern at the unexpected plea. "Are you all right?" he asked her, straightening to come out from behind the desk.

Just that tender concern was enough to destabilize her composure, but she managed to keep it together. "I'm worried about you," she told him. It wasn't a lie; it just wasn't the truth, either. "Ten minutes, that's all I'm asking."

He held her gaze for a long moment, clearly trying to decide if he should be worried. "Ten minutes," he agreed finally, laying a hand at the small of her back to escort her out into the sunshine.

They walked in silence along the crenelated battlements, passing the guard patrolling this section before coming to a halt to look out over the snowy vista side by side. Cullen's fingers brushed hers, a single point of contact that meant the world to her as she struggled to find the words for what she needed to say. I'm pregnant was too blunt, too unexpected. Marry me, I'm up the duff likely wouldn't go down too well. Remember that time against the tree lacked the gentle tone she thought he needed. What about ...

She squeaked as his arm wrapped about her waist, drawing her close into his side. "You're fidgeting," he murmured against her temple. "Why so nervous?"

A low sigh escaped her lips. "Because there's something I need to tell you," she confessed, tilting her head to look up at him. "And you might not be happy about it."

"I already know you're going to the Winter Palace," he told her in a disapproving tone. "Which you somehow failed to tell me yourself."

Red heat spilled guiltily across her cheeks. Is that better, or worse, she wondered. "No, it's not that."

The wrap of his arm squeezed supportively about her back. "What is it, then?"

"I, um ..."

But Fate has a funny sense of humor. Sometimes it enjoys throwing obstacles in your path. In this case, as Rory braced herself to share her news ... it threw a goat at the outer wall directly below them. She distinctly heard the bleat, and the splat, leaning forward to look down at the man who had thrown it as Cullen exclaimed in affronted surprise.

"What in the name of -" He drew back from her, already shouting to his men. "Detain that man!"

As the soldiers scrambled to catch the Avvar hooting in satisfaction on the mountainside below, he began to follow, only to turn back to her with an apologetic look in his eyes. She sighed, shaking her head with a helpless laugh.

"It'll keep," she promised, waving him away. He needed his duty to come first, at least until he could make the decision about his priorities. "Go."

With a last concerned look, Cullen moved away, quickly out of sight. Rory turned back to the view, leaning against the gray stone to watch as the Inquisition apprehended Movran the Under with no small difficulty. Typical, she thought resignedly. Goatus interruptus.

[nightingaletrash]

Movran is at it again lads

So I found a deer ass stuck in a wall last night

[skyheld]

i still don’t understand why you can’t just send the avvar chieftain who throws a goat at skyhold away without punishment,  but i do like that there’s an option that both he,  presumably his clan and nearly all of the companions approve of

[luxflora]

FUCK the elves tbh like in the game i like the dalish but fuck solas and the elvhenan and also i hate how fandom has just gotten all over dalish/elvhen lore’s dick and just like COMPLETELY ignored human history & the actual history of andraste and the chantry and also THE FUCKING ALAMARRI AND THE HUMAN TRIBES AND ALSO THE DWARVES FUCK FANDOM ELVES ARE BORING AND OVERDONE AND HUMANS AND DWARVES ARE FUCKING FRESH