#RE: MORTALITASI.

[chantlight]

THE STATE OF NEVARRA.

This post aims to give an overview of the default state of Nevarra at the beginning of DA:TV. Fair warning that this is not entirely canon. There's a blend of canon divergence and headcanon that I was too attached to let go of when the new game dropped. Note that my default worldstate involves weptfreedom / weptpride. This means an inspired Leliana sits the Sunburst Throne; Celene and Gaspard were blackmailed into working together with Celene later triumphing; and Briala allied with the Inquisition and eventually led the Dales into independence from Orlais.

WHEN EXACTLY MARKUS PENTAGHAST PERISHED is unclear. It could have been during Tigana and Matthias' attempted coup (though I doubt that) or at any point in the following years. Regardless, it was during the Nevarran Purge that the Mortalitasi began to take power, and by DA:I, they are cemented as the nation's shadow rulers with Markus as a puppet. He is likely dead / undead by that point, but that could be disputed based on the war table mission "The Serpent of Nevarra". He is definitely dead before DA:TV. For my purposes, I'll say he died in 9:12 Dragon when Vestalus Pentaghast became Prelate of the Mortalitasi. Ostensibly, it was old age that finally took him, but anyone close to Markus knew the heartbreak of the coup and Purge hastened that further.

As the Mortalitasi grew in power, they likewise grew in corruption. And, much of that corruption was spurred by centuries of unrighted wrongs. Nevarra's growing power allowed them to pull further from the Chantry of Andraste in recent ages, yet still the Mortalitasi — a cornerstone of their culture long before Drakon was born — was forced to present a veneer palatable to foreign powers, to reach agreements with templars, to hide their true influence. If power was the path to freedom, then power was what they sought, with many sacrificing the ideals of their order to achieve it. This created an easy opening for the Venatori. They infiltrated every level of the order from the palace to the Grand Necropolis. They defiled sacred remains, looted artifacts, bound spirits, exploited Nevarra's reverence.

The Inquisition lent its aid in uprooting the Venatori, but the Mortalitasi are an order of many mysteries and great pride. They handled the bulk of the work themselves, which took several years. Even by 9:52 Dragon, there remain weakpoints. The true trouble, however, was the blow this dealt to Nevarra's reputation abroad. Opportunists welcome any chance to capitalize on ignorance and fearmongering in order to gain an edge on a neighbor. Here was one being handed to Nevarra's enemies on a silver platter. (Contributing to events such as a border dispute with Tevinter over the Silent Plains.)

Furthermore, the Breach caused chaos in the Fade as well as the waking world. This is a problem for a nation so deeply entwined with spirits and having (secret) controlled access points to at least stable Fade pockets. We know for a fact rifts opened in the Free Marches. It only makes sense they opened in Nevarra as well. In a time such as that, people would look to their Mortalitasi for stability and guidance more than ever. They were therefore willing to coordinate with the Inquisition in closing these rifts in a deeper way than uprooting the Venatori, showing Nevarrans that they had the situation in hand. The Chantry of Andraste spent this period mired in chaos while the Mortalitasi stood strong. The Mortalitasi thus not only stood equal in reverence to the Chantry in spiritual matters but began to overtake them.

Which further alarmed both the Chantry of Andraste and Orlais. But, neither could afford a war with who was now an unequivocally more powerful neighbor after all that happened. When Cassandra Pentaghast resigned from the Divine's service in 9:46 Dragon, returned from the Silent Plains championing an prophet (an elven descendent of Shartan no less), and led the Seekers into Nevarra to be reformed — some found justification for an Exalted March they thought would fix things. More understood the blow this was to whatever equilibrium the Chantry of Andraste was working toward as well as to public confidence. When the Aegis, the Believer, the arguable face of the Chantry for twenty years renounces it all, is that not a sign?

Thus there was no outright war, but agents of certain factions within Orlais and the Chantry sought to sow instability within Nevarra. They focused especially on Perendale, the Fields of Ghislain, coastal cities such as Cumberland, and eastern territories conquered during Nevarra's war with the Free Marches. They needn't declare a war if they could cause the nation to tear itself apart from within.

Then Vestalus died in 9:49 Dragon, and his last act was to publicly reveal Markus as undead. He took his reasons for doing so to the grave, but the consequences were immediately clear. This sparked controversy in Nevarra over whether the dead can rule, for technically Nevarran law does not forbid it. Once a monarch, always a monarch. It also called into question who had truly been ruling Nevarra; could they trust the Mortalitasi had only faithfully served and not used necromancy to control? Meanwhile, neighboring nations were quick to throw around words like blasphemy and abomination. If the Antaam had not chosen that year to march south, anything could have happened. Instead, the quick falls of Rivain, Antiva, and much of the southern Free Marches took priority.

Then comes the Sixth Blight in 9:52 Dragon. Coordinating with undead minimizes the spread of blight when battling the Horde, but the fact remains Nevarra is beset on all sides. Darkspawn swarm out of the Blasted Hills in the west, pour down from the north, encroach from the east and the south. To say nothing of the Venatori's repeated attempts to exploit whatever openings they could find in service of their gods. Rook's only point of contact within Nevarra is the Mourn Watch because the entire rest of the nation, including other Mortalitasi sub-orders, are busy. And, even the Watch must have their hands full. However, there are factions within Nevarra, spurred on by recent turmoil with their neighbors, that says they should secure their own borders. Leave the rest of the world to fend for itself if they find Nevarran necromancy so objectionable. Necessity and the urging of those like Cassandra work against this. If ever there was a time for Thedas to stand united, it is now.

[mournflame]

When discussing anything to do with Johanna and the Mortalitasi, it is critical to remember she is not Nevarran. She does have . . . difficulty identifying as Taleimite and does not feel she belongs to anyone but herself. She is, as far as she is concerned, a nation and a culture and a religion of one. But, that she comes from Taleime is vitally important.

She did not grow up on the romanticized tales of the Mortalitasi. They were not a revered cornerstone of her culture and community. On the contrary, they were conquerors. Or rather the tools of conquerors. I can wax poetic about the ideals the Mortalitai are meant to uphold, but the reality is infinitely more complex. Mortalitasi participated in Nevarra's wars. They used their sacred necromancy to attack the very souls of the Taleimite defenders. They raised their dead to continue fighting so their numbers never truly dwindled. They profaned the Taleimite dead to turn them against their countrymen. (I maintain that the latter is prohibited; Mortalitasi are only supposed to raise Nevarrans to fight. But, look me in the eyes and tell me this was never skirted or ignored in the heat of battle.) And, they burned Taleimite gardens, salted Taleimite fields, destroyed Taleimite homes.

They were never heroes to her. Her foundational impression of them was mages using their magic for the sake of power. For evil even. When she was young, she thought they sought power for Nevarra alone. As she got older and deeper into the order, she understood they sought their own power as well. What exactly she was made privy to or ferreted out is debatable, but she clocked their corruption early — and had no qualms exploiting it. She never had to justify her corruption to herself because, from her perspective, this was what it meant to be a Mortalitasi. They were all like this; the others just pretended to sit astride high horses because that pretense furthered their schemes. Yes, there are Mortalitasi who believe in the ideal of the order and strive to match that. But, there are many other who are just . . . people. And, they either fall short of that ideal or actively pervert it.

This shaped her entire experience with the Mortalitasi. She stuck with necromancy because it gave her a path to power. She chose her sect based on which gave her the most advantageous connections. She swore her Watcher's Oaths because they are the most prestigious sub-order with access to the greatest wealth of pure power and mystery. there is also immense challenge in being a Watcher, and she is a woman who needs challenge. She must cut her teeth on something.

It also ultimately ruined her career. She was not content to play at politics. She would not pretend that she or the order were more moral than they were. What's more, she bridled at their methods. When discussing the Mortalitasi, it is equally important to remember their history and how persecution from the Chantry and their neighbors in general have shaped them. They truly come into power during the Dragon Age, but they are obliged to rule from the shadows. They are obliged to downplay their own influence and abilities. There's a trade-off. They have power but they're limited in exercising it in order to protect themselves. They are the sharpest blade, but to Johanna's mind, that means nothing if they are wielded by others.

They are cowards and hypocrites and tools. They hamper themselves. And, she cannot stand that.

[beetlethebug]

thinking about,,,emmrich calling lucanis his songbird when they're intimate. because he loves to make him sing (re: turn lucanis into a whimpering, moaning mess). spite who likes to add fuel to the fire by saying the only gold cage they would allow or be good enough for his Lucanis is a mortalitasi's. Particularly one Emmrich Volkarin and their gilded right hand.

[nerdanel01]

Hello! I would really love to know your thoughts and opinions on your Emmrich romance journey once you finish the game! I think you are an amazing writer with a great sense of Emmrich's character, which is why getting to know your thoughts on his romance would be very enlightening!

I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. Spoilers under the cut.

I had… listen, okay, I had written almost 100k of fanfic for this character before the game even came out, so my expectations were high. And then his romance really was?? so perfect?? I mean there will be tweaks I will be making to adapt it to Agnes’ arc/relationship with Emmrich, but overall I thought it was so beautiful and really well done. When they say “spooky gothic old hollywood glamor” what the devs really mean (I will die on this hill) is Vincent Price, and so much of Emmrich’s character really feels like a loving tribute to Price himself and his movies—his charm and good manners, his obsession with art and his love of animals. The whole twist with Johanna and Blackthorn Manor was just. perfect to me. Plus Nick Boraine really killed the VO and made the character his own.

If I have one criticism it is of the romances in general, and it is that… I wish the stakes were higher? I suppose it may have complicated the mechanics of the game, what with the way the final battle works and assigning your squad mates, but I kind of wish there WERE bad endings for the companions (a thing I said I did not want before the game came out, but I guess I do?) Like, if you make the wrong choices, Lucanis should fail to resolve his beef with Spite and fully become a demon. If you don’t encourage Bellara or complete her quests, maybe she does join Cyrian. Most firmly, I really believe there should have been an option where Emmrich attempts the ritual to become a lich and fails—both because I like pain, I guess, but also because it felt like the gravity of that whole decision was kind of? hand waved away in the end? None of the stakes felt like they mattered that much.

I also. Uh. Am a little upset at how Goth Nation in general got treated in this game. Don’t get me wrong, the Necropolis is insanely beautiful and Inlove the Mourn Watch. But it felt like this was maybe our one chance to see Nevarra City in a game, a city that is supposed to be so supremely beautiful and covered in art and gardens … :( AND the fact that they just kind of?? Casually dropped this massive political powder keg into the middle of the game with that Lucanis banter re: King Markus. The Mortalitasi are literally running the kingdom and we’re just maybe. never going to talk about it again I guess. (Maybe in some extended universe materials this will be addressed.)

But yeah—overall still very much obsessed. :)

[thanatologie]

actually i wanna expand on this a little (i say, with no visible lead up):

emmrich, to a rook not from the mourn watch, literally says that all necromancers are mortalitasi, but not all mortalitasi are part of the mourn watch, when they ask him about it and the difference between them. he's absolutely happy to clarify because it's his mission to demystify necromancy and make it less scary to the people he's going to be working with, and it's his special interest. he'll info dump all day long about it.

what you gotta understand here is that the necropolis is this huge, functioning city of the dead, yes, that employs a lot of people. not just necromancers, they've got guards and groundskeepers and shop keepers and a slew of other folks that do different jobs, a lot of which don't require magic and that magic isn't in the skillset of the people working them. i imagine the ratio of mages to non-mages is very small, actually; it's just that the majority of the people we meet from the mourn watch and in the necropolis directly are mages.

basically: not every mourn watch member is a mage, there's other roles to fill and those undoubtedly outnumber the necromancers.

running that place has got to be expensive. like lucanis has a banter with emmrich where they talk about how it's probably the biggest money draw and driving force behind the nevarran economy, because i imagine you have to be able to afford to be buried there, you have to, like any burial ground, purchase your plot. who knows how big the necropolis actually is - it's got a bit of a tardis feel to it, maybe it's bigger on the inside and it's pulling a thing like hank pym's infinite mansion and just expands as needed - but i imagine real estate there comes at a premium. emmrich wasn't able to get his own parents buried there until he'd made full watcher, after all, and i imagine he had the disposable income to have them exhumed, moved, and re-interred in the gardens. with all the appropriate ritual around it.

so, the crux of it, tho, is that the mourn watch itself...i don't think you can say it's a political entity, in and of itself. there's one thing to be up to your ass in the machinations of the nobility, and there's another to be aware of who not to piss off, and what to be aware of to keep your organization functioning. knowing the court mortalitasi and their corpse whisperer are puppeting king markus around and not saying anything because it'll look bad on everyone involved in necromancy - an already villified art outside of their borders - even if they have nothing to do with it.

and the money thing: they need that noble gold to keep themselves going. it's just a fact of life, guys, it's shitty, but they have to take in money and donations from the nobility to pay people, for upkeep on the necropolis itself, to buy supplies they need, the list goes on, organizations like theirs don't run on a budget of five bucks and good will. rook was a casualty (if a member of the mourn watch) of a tough decision, because they pissed off nobles that donate much needed money. but i don't think it was so much as kicking them out forever and ever, actually, but more to get them out of sight, out of mind for a time until the heat was off of them and the next thing to piss off the gentry made them forget about it.

rook was always going to be able to come back home at some point, is what i'm saying, they're the crypt baby. they just had to be removed from sight for a little while so the heat could die down.

i have, like, a whole other thing about the circles in nevarra - how sure i'm willing to bet money the smaller circles in bumfuck nowhere were as shitty as elsewhere to a degree (though to me - the way i've read it - it seems the mages elsewhere freaked out during the rebellions because they were afraid the people of the villages and such were going to come for them, not that they were necessarily directly involved but that's a whole ass thing if you side with the templars over the mages in dai, which is also an entire other thing). and how if the mourn watch were a purely political entity someone like emmrich - an orphan, from a poor background, taken in as a ward of the mourn watch itself - would probably never have ended up where he is, with actual status and wealth, because he is of a common origin and didn't have a dime to his name starting out.

point is: tacitly keeping your mouth shut about the king being undead to keep hundreds of people employed and not embarrass your whole ass country on a world stage isn't great (i'm american, ask me how that feels right now lmao), but it's a necessary evil when you're essentially a publicly funded university and funeral home if you want to stay a publicly funded university and funeral home.

[crossdressingdeath]

Nevarran Mortalitasi Voice: Don't be silly, we use our *own* blood, that's not *really* blood magic, don't worry about it, dear Chantry audience, we're definitely not blood mages and you can absolutely carry on letting us hold positions of power, have families (see: Cass's uncle getting to raise her and her brother) and generally live outside the Circle. Don't worry about it.

(Re this post.)

Ah yes, definitely they are not doing any forbidden magic here. I suspect to some extent the deal with the Mortalitasi is that the Chantry turns a blind eye no matter what they do because they have power (quite a lot of power in fact) and would be very, very difficult to oppress the way mages in other places are, but I can see the Mortalitasi pretending they're not doing any questionable magic to make it easier. Side note, I'm really glad we're getting a look at factions that are removed from the Circles; I think the Lords of Fortune are the only faction whose mages would be at all likely to have to worry about the Circle on a regular basis, the others are probably relatively safe whether because of location—the Veil Jumpers are in Arlathan and so really remote and the Shadow Dragons are in Tevinter where the Circles aren't a thing the way they are in the south—or the protection of their faction—the Wardens are above Chantry authority, the Mourn Watch are highly respected and perform an invaluable service, and I won't lie I would like to see the Antivan Templars go after the Crows because that would be hilarious—and that's just really fun to me.

(Also because I don't know how much you've heard, the main reason for the snark is that a big deal was made about how Rook wouldn't use blood magic Because Evil and the writers didn't want them associated with that and then they literally just changed the name because this is fully blood magic.)

[griffonsong]

do the Inquisition choices matter in Northern Thedas?

lol this got long but his is mostly to make sense of things for myself. anyway, not gonna speculate about what those 3 choices that DO seem to matter, mean for the setting/lore/gameplay in Northern Thedas. my overall take on all this is: yeah I eat those tiny mentions of choices in Origins/2/Inquisiton up like the little crumbs they are, but they don't affect the Northern half of the continent like, at all. hear me out

so this is mostly about the choices/main quests in Inquisition & results per country, with an extra 3 for the game/North in general

DO THE CHOICES MATTER IN NORTHERN THEDAS

WHO IS THE DIVINE?

Tevinter: has their own Divine, Chantry politics & structure, so no

Antiva & Rivain: follow the Orlesian Chantry, but unless they somehow feel the need to show their power/announce an Exalted March against the Qunari invasion (in Antiva), there's no reason for us to hear from the Divine other than "they send prayers & 5,000 Templars" or whatever

Anderfels: literally same as Antiva/Rivain, but perhaps with more political intrigue/Archdemons which outweighs Divine/Chantry politics

Nevarra: I mean technically but like… it's been 10 years, it's business as usual, bureaucracy, unless she visits personally who cares

2. MAGE-TEMPLAR WAR OUTCOME?

Tevinter: 0 importance. they got their own Circle/templar structures & were never part of the war. only involvement might have been dealing with refugees from outside the country

Antiva: depends on what you did with mages or templars (recruit, disband, reform etc.) but since we also don't know how that templar-mage war unfolded in Antiva (who says the Hinterlands is representative? do we even KNOW all the Orlesian circles fell into the same chaos?) we don't know shit, and the devs can say whatever. all we can assume is that there may have been Red Templar/Venatori active during Inquisition. for all we know the Antivan Circle mages just moved into a local library and drank tea after the Circles were disbanded, who knows

Nevarra: see Antiva. possibly they also had a much better grip on Templar/Mage relations because of the standing of Mortalitasi & mages in general, so it could be there were no major tensions like in Ferelden/Orlais/Free Marches. as evident from the Mortalitasi apparently being business as usual at the time of DA:TV

Rivain: same as Antiva re: what happens to the Templar Order there (100% speculation), but re: the mages, the Circle was Annuled and all its mages slain for following Rivaini traditions re: magic. Might be safe to assume Rivain was just like "ok we never cared about strict Circle structure anyway" and Life Went On. not great impact

Anderfels: we literally know the major political power of the Anderfels, the Grey Wardens, were taking in refugees from the Mage-Templar war and conscripting them. so i doubt they fucking care

3. WHO RULES ORLAIS?

Tevinter: who cares. we've got invading Qunari

Antiva: who cares. we've got invading Qunari

Rivain: who cares. we're so far away

Anderfels: who cares. nobody cares about us anyway

Nevarra: probably liked Orlais much better when it was having a civil war, will treat its new ruler with wariness either way

4. WHAT'S THE FATE OF THE GREY WARDENS OF ORLAIS?

Tevinter: not my circus, not my wardens, also we don't comment on Venatori involvement, how dare you

Antiva: not my circus. we have invading Qunari

Rivain: please we're so far away

Anderfels: they didn't stop being Grey Wardens whether it was with the Inquisition or exiled from Orlais so who cares. they'll come roosting home eventually

Nevarra: probably has the fewest problems of all nations taking in disgraced demon-summoning mages, if the wardens were exiled; could be absorped into the Nevarran wardens. either way, probably 0 big influence

BONUS GENERAL

5. WHO DRANK FROM THE WELL OF SORROWS?

None of the individual countries in Northern Thedas have a direct stake in this (nobody probably even knows it exists). And we already know they've got something planned for Morrigan (and the Inquisitor's appearance) so I'm gonna be bold and assume it'll work itself out. Just some mention of Mythal/Flemeth's spirit being yote out of the sphere of influence and you're good. Morrigan/Inquisitor is likely bound to whoever Mythal/Flemeth's essence passed on to, which is either Morrigan herself, or Solas (who has his own reasons not to do anything right now, since he's ""trapped"" in the Fade / just waiting things out).

6. IS THERE A KIERAN AND IS HE AN OLD GOD?

Once again, same as the Well of Sorrows question, just gonna assume they work that one out. If we're gonna be TOTAL vague, just have Morrigan mention "the ultimate fate of Urthemiel's soul is that its power… was processed…. for some goal…. and is now gone from this world……." so like, it can't hurt us anymore, unimportant

7. WHERE'S THE WARDEN OF FERELDEN?

more complicated to avoid mentioning that altogether, but not impossible. (YES, NOT IMPOSSIBLE, with the power of spite & vague wording & 10 years of rewriting lines, everything is possible)

again, stopping a blight within 1 year is impressive, especially in Northern Thedas which bore the brunt of the previous 4 blights, but it also lasted 1 fucking year, hardly affected them in terms of refugees/loss of forces/etc. and left no other mark. the only people who are gonna care about mentioning the HoF as Someone They Know Personally* are either 1) not in Northern Thedas (Leliana, etc.), 2) in Northern Thedas but not appearing (Zevran), 3) Varric Who Just Got [Redacted] and 4) Morrigan, who is the only more complicated option. but we'll see

[himluv]

DA Review Series: Tevinter Nights

<<< Previous Review: Absolution

I've read this anthology once before, and I'm happy to say it holds up beautifully on a re-read. Since this features multiple stories, I'm going to review the whole work, and then do little reviews of each individual tale.

Title: Tevinter Nights Editors: Chris Bain, Trick Weekes, Matthew Goldman, and Christopher Morgan Year Published: 2020 In-World Year: ~9:45+ Verdict: Required reading. This is a fantastic look at the state of Thedas after Trespasser, as well as an introduction to a few of our companions and factions in Veilguard. If you only consume one piece of tie-in content leading up to release day, make it this one.

Tevinter Nights is a collection of short stories all set after the fall of Ventus. We meet Strife and Irelin, Evka Ivo and Antoine, Lucanis and Illario Dellamorte, Andarateia Cantori and Viago de Riva, Emmrich and Manfred, and Neve Gallus, among others. We also see all of our factions — Inquisition, Lords of Fortune, Veil Jumpers, Shadow Dragons, Antivan Crows, the Mourn Watch, and the Grey Wardens. This book really feels like a primer for the next game and is a ton of fun. I enjoyed my second reading as much as the first!

1. Title: Three Trees to Midnight Author: Trick Weekes Verdict: Set in the aftermath of the invasion of Ventus, this story feels like the perfect jumping off point. It picks up from the comics and introduces us to the Veil Jumpers and Arlathan Forest — a very exciting first story for longtime fans.

2. Title: Down Among the Dead Men Author: Sylvia Feketekuty Verdict: Undead murder mystery, what's not to love? Plus, we meet Emmrich and Manfred and it's absolutely adorable. And, I'll be honest, I'd do anything for Audric. This story makes the Mourn Watch seem pretty darn cool.

3. Title: The Horror of Hormak Author: John Epler Verdict: Absolute nightmare fuel. If you're worried that Veilguard isn't going to be dark enough... Read this story. A pair of Wardens are investigating a missing unit, and discover a very messed up underground lab of some sort. This story very much gave that same creeping dread as meeting the Broodmother in DAO. And if I have one fear for Veilguard, it's a Broodmother in 4k.

4. Title: Callback Author: Lukas Kristjanson Verdict: Heartbreaking. But also a really moving farewell to Skyhold. I love this story even though it kills me. In fact, I loved it enough to write some fanfic revolving around it! That's how good it is.

5. Title: Luck in the Gardens Author: Sylvia Feketekuty Verdict: This story introduces us to the Lords of Fortune faction. Hollix takes a job from none other than Dorian Pavus (and we see him with Mae!!!) to find out what's been hunting people in the docks. And it's uhhhh not anything you might expect. We see more evidence of gross, tentacled, briny-blooded monsters lurking underground. Again, things are getting real messed up in Thedas y'all.

6. Title: Hunger Author: Brianne Battye Verdict: In another throwback to Origins, werewolves are back babeyyy! This time a pair of Wardens (Evka Ivo and Antoine) are on their way back to Weisshaupt when they come across a cursed village. The pair decide to lend a hand and quickly realize they might have taken on more than they bargained for...

7. Title: Murder by Death Mages Author: Caitlin Sullivan Kelly Verdict: More Mortalitasi in this one. We get a peek at Nevarran politics, a brief glimpse of Cassandra, and more insight into the Mortalitasi. I will say, this is probably my least favorite story in the collection. While it showed Inquisition agent Sidony's power, it didn't really come together for me plot-wise.

8. Title: Streets of Minrathous Author: Brianne Battye Verdict: Helloooo Neve Gallus! This is an utterly stunning introduction to our private detective companion. A great noir-style tale that confirms that the Venatori are very much still a problem in Tevinter.

9. Title: The Wigmaker Job Author: Courtney Woods Verdict: Oh man. This is one of my favorite stories. There's just so much to love here! Lucanis and Illario are great together (I fell in love with Lucanis here and have rooted for him to be a companion since I first read it). The action sequences are great, and again, some real nasty, dark things are happening in Thedas.

10. Title: Genitivi Dies in the End Author: Lukas Kristjanson Verdict: This story is So. Much. Fun! It's also a pretty deep cut for fans, featuring Brother Ferdinand Genitivi (from DAO) and Philliam, a Bard!, as well as a few references to the Randy Dowager. All figures you'll only know if you are a lore hound in Inquisition. We also meet another Lord of Fortune and get a fun romp into elven ruins. What's not to love?

11. Title: Herold Had the Plan Author: Ryan Cormier Verdict: More Lords of Fortune, this time stealing an artifact from the Grand Tourney in Starkhaven. We also see Vaea and Ser Aaron at the end, which was a nice little treat. I will say though, this one had me a bit misty-eyed by the end. I usually want to see more of characters I love, but I hope Bharv retires to his farm and never treasure hunts again. Man has earned it.

12. Title: An Old Crow's Old Tricks Author: Arone Le Bray Verdict: After a troop of Tevinter soldiers attack a Dalish clan to make way for their camp, the Dalish seek revenge. That vengeance comes in the from of an old woman named Lessef. Watching her decimate the soldiers was gruesome good fun, and I cheered each time she said "Lessef of the Antivan Crows has fulfilled the contract."

13. Title: Eight Little Talons Author: Courtney Woods Verdict: This is the longest of the stories (I'd probably consider it a novelette) and it is maybe my favorite. I love a good whodunnit, and this one has a remote lake house, Antivan Crows, murders that replicate historically famous assassinations, AND sexual tension through the roof! We are formally introduced to Andarateia Cantori and Viago de Riva in this story, though we can infer from the text that they are the unnamed Crows we met in the comic Deception. I love them and NEED them to kiss on screen on Veilguard, okay?????

14. Title: Half Up Front Author: John Epler Verdict: It's hard to follow up Teia and Viago, but this little heist story is good fun. We see Gatt, and go to Kont-Arr! We also learn that the Agents of Fen'Harel are uhhhh real intense, Solas is after yet another artifact, and his feud with the Qunari is alive and well. We also learn that Dorian hired the narrator of this story to steal something from the Archon(?!) and at the end Gatt suggests the narrator and her girlfriend Irian head to Kirkwall to meet Varric. So, I guess we'll see if they show up in Veilguard?

15. Title: The Dread Wolf Take You Author: Trick Weekes Verdict: Look. As a Solavellan, I was never going to be normal about this story. I remember screaming (and crying) the first time I read it. It's a really interesting look at some different groups around Thedas, including the Carta, the Mortalitasi, and the Executors. We get to see Charter again, and she mentions Tessa! But the real gem here is that Solas himself shows up, and he somehow manages to break my heart all over again all while leaving me we more questions than answers. What an absolute banger of an ending for this anthology!

[persephoneggsy]

I'm too excited about The Veilguard so I wrote a little fic trying to figure out my prospective Rook, Phryne. Tried to keep stuff re: the Mourn Watch vague since I'm sure we'll learn more about them in the game proper. This is mainly just me succumbing to the brainrot lolol

***

People often said that the dead looked like they were sleeping. All the tension and worries of the corporeal had vanished, leaving only an expression of peaceful repose.

Phryne had seen her fair share of dead faces – she’d been a mercenary for several years, and besides, she was Nevarran. Death was seeped into their very marrow.

Sometimes, it was true. Other times, she’d look down at see a face twisted with pain, shock, sometimes even sadness. She just never thought it mattered. Who cared what someone’s final expression was? Dead was dead; the mortal soul was gone, and if they found their bodies possessed, then the most expressive the corpse would be was dependent entirely on the spirit doing the possessing.

Now, though. Phryne looked down at her son and wished he looked like he was sleeping.

Rothe’s expression was much like it had been in life; hard and stern, his jaw stubbornly set and eyebrows furrowed as if he were in the middle of an inspection. Even in death, her eldest child was not able to relax, it seemed. She used to tease him for that, wondering how he and his sister had turned out so uptight. He’d always answer, “It’s obvious, Mother: we had to make up for your carefree nature.”

Even when his tone was light, his mouth would twitch into a short approximation of a smile before resuming its usual stoic state. And now, that was the face he would carry into eternity.

Phryne tore her eyes away from her son’s face – his too young face, he was barely thirty, why had she outlived her son – and focused on the rest of him. The Mortalitasi in charge of preparing his body had done a fine job of repairing… the damage. She’d been told his cause of death was a blade to his heart. It would have been quick, or at least quicker than bleeding out or starving or drowning. Small mercies, she supposed.

He was wearing his finest suit, the same he’d worn at his wedding, but with an added red-orange sash and emblem pin denoting the symbol of the Inquisition. His arms were crossed over his stomach, hands resting on the hilt of his trusted blade – it was broken in two when his body arrived from the Arbor Wilds, but Phryne had found a reliable craftsman able to repair it. One could hardly tell it was broken, now.

Rothe had left instructions for the sword. When he was old enough, and if he wanted it, it would go to his son, Quirin. It would be some time before that happened, thought Phryne. Quirin was barely five years old.

Maker. Phryne closed her eyes. Poor Quirin. Still a child, and both his parents gone. His mother was lost to fever just two short years ago, and now his father, lost to a cause halfway around the world. Her daughter, Elke, was going to take him in, raise him alongside her own son, Halig. She’d given Phryne a pointed look when she made that declaration, as if expecting her to argue. Of course, Phryne did not; Elke was a good mother.

Better than Phryne thought she had been, anyway.

A polite cough drew Phryne’s attention away from Rothe’s body. A man around her age was standing in the doorway of the funeral hall. Judging by the staff in his hands, topped with a skull, he was a mage, and he seemed vaguely familiar to her. Perhaps she’d crossed paths with him in the Watch.

“I’m sorry,” he began. “I didn’t realize there were still mourners here.”

Phryne glanced at the candles illuminating Rothe’s still form. They’d nearly burnt to their ends. Had she been there that long? It seemed that just minutes ago, the hall was filled with mourners, Rothe’s friends and acquaintances. Elke and the children had been among the last to leave, but now, it seemed she’d been alone with her thoughts for some time.

“It’s… fine,” Phryne managed to say. She smoothed down her mourning dress and turned away from the corpse. “Are you here to administer his final rites?”

“Yes, but if you need more time…”

“No, thank you.” Phryne managed a weak smile, which the necromancer returned, though his was much more sincere. He was quite handsome, she noted distantly, and if the body on the altar had been anyone’s other than Rothe, she might have said so out loud. As it was, she merely gave her son one last look over her shoulder. “He’s as ready as he’s going to be. Me too, I think.”

The necromancer chuckled kindly. “A relative?”

“My son.”

“Ah. My condolences.”

He stepped forward, joining Phryne at the altar. Shrewd eyes scanned over Rothe’s body. Phryne found herself watching the mage. She was a part of the Mourn Watch, and she suspected he was as well – last rites were typically conducted by Watchers, especially in cases where it was another Watcher’s relatives that had died – though she never saw much of the mages that made up the bulk of the order. Most tended to stay in their studies, talking to skeletons and doing research long into the night.

“Inquisition, hm?” he murmured. “They’ve been doing good work. You must have been proud.”

“I suppose I was.”

“It’s in question?”

“I am proud. But no mother wants to outlive her children.”

He gave a sympathetic nod at that. “True enough. But it’s clear that you loved him. I’m sure his spirit sits well at the Maker’s side.”

“I hope so.”

They then lapsed into a contemplative silence, which Phryne took as her cue.

“I’ll leave you to your work, sir,” she said, straightening her back as if she were in uniform. To her surprise, he waved a hand at her.

“Oh, no, please not ‘sir’. Emmrich is just fine.”

She spared him another smile; this one smaller, still tinged with grief, but genuine nonetheless.

“Emmrich, then. Thank you.”

Emmrich inclined his head towards her, watching as she turned and left the funeral hall. Once she was out of the darkened room, she let out a long breath. Emmrich. The name was familiar, too. Perhaps he was one of the more famous Watchers… which meant, hopefully, that Rothe was in good hands.

Her heart already feeling lighter than it had been for weeks, Phryne started making her way home.

[apaleflame]

its too bad that datv decided to just ignore wholesale the mage rebellion because im sooo curious about it re: nevarra... the game tells us that "mages" are highly respected and have the same freedoms as anyone else but im a little skeptical how far that acceptance extends past specifically mortalitasi

because of course the only other nevarran we've met in previous games is cassandra and she's very much pro-circle and reinsitutes them if she becomes divine, and in dai's multiplayer there's a character sidony was abandoned by her mother when it was discovered she was a mage

so i have to think that there must be some very, very bitter feelings from those mages who don't have necromantic talent who are shut up in the circle of magi and have very limited personal freedoms, versus those who do have necromantic talent and are spirited away to the necropolis to study and have much much greater personal freedoms.

not to mention that looking around at the necropolis npcs the vast majority of them are humans, so there's an added layer of tension of all the elven circle mages who are barred from entry right at the onset (i think the only way an elven ingvellar gets around this is because they were adopted by the mourn watch as a baby, if they'd been raised in a circle originally then it would have been a no-go)

so in my world state leliana is divine so no more circles of magi so this tension probably doesn't exist in the same way in 9:52 but there's probably some older mages (particularly elven ones) who are still really bitter that their necromancer counterparts got to enjoy freedom that they had to literally go to war over.

[chantlight]

NEVARRA / DEATH WATCH BEETLE.

NEARLY TWO HUNDRED YEARS SEPARATES the spread of Drakon I's Chantry and the rise of Caspar I. In those days, Nevarra was only a weak city-state barely holding together, and the Chantry had behind it the might of an empire that nearly spanned a continent. They were fanatical and merciless, eradicating utterly any group that would not fall in line with their doctrine. Although Nevarra had been Andrastian since Hector fought alongside the Prophet, they were not Andrastian the way Drakon's Chantry demanded. Their priesthood, the precursors to the Mortalitasi, were forced underground, and Nevarrans had to preserve many of their traditions in secret.

Their funeral rites were the most harshly persecuted. They had to fight simply to save their necropoleis, let alone hold proper burials. Interring more mummies within was, in most cases, out of the question. Even the most influential among them were often denied this right. Despite their efforts, several necropoleis were purged by the Chantry, and many others had to be abandoned due to the state they fell into without their necromantic caretakers. Though they later reclaimed as many as possible, the Grand Necropolis was the only one to truly survive this period.

But, Nevarrans do not give up easily. Those who kept the old ways were tattooed with a small beetle on their shoulder blade. Easily hidden, easily mistaken for a mole if merely glanced, and significant only to those who knew what it meant. It's purpose was twofold:

I. It identified the individual for traditional Nevarran burial — as traditional as they could manage. This could vary by time period, location, their family's influence; essentially, how feasible would it be to keep the templars' noses out of it? Best case scenario, they would be able to mummify the body, if only crudely, and sneak it into a necropolis. A dummy would be burned in its stead.

II. But, the best case scenario wasn't always possible. Cremation was often unavoidable. This is when it became important that the beetle was tattooed on. Nevarra has a long tattooing tradition taken quite seriously, where the tattoos are not purely aesthetic but rather apotropaic. It is believed that, when the body is burned, the smoke crossing the Veil brings that tattooed beetle to life. This beetle will guide their soul through the Fade, preventing them from forgetting their identity and becoming lost in the Void.

This tattoo thus would seem to do nothing for the spirit a person's soul displaces upon death. However, it depicts a specific type of beetle: a kheprer. Called a Death Watch Beetle in the King's Tongue. These beetles are commonly kept caged in Nevarran homes and their wings often decorate clothing. They have long been a symbol of good fortune, guidance, and protection. It is said they exist on both sides of the Veil simultaneously, just like the Veilfire their brightly iridescent wings resemble, and can foretell a death in the household. Thus they are held to be guides and good omens, always to be well-treated and never to be killed. In far ancient days, they were even used as tomb guardians, possessed by wisps eternally protecting the dead.

Therefore, it was held that the smoky apparition summoned to guide the soul of the deceased would be noticed by a true kheprer. This kheprer would then find the spirit who was displaced and guide it to a necropolis or, if one could be found, a Nevarran necromancer. When Caspar I came to power and the Mortalitasi as we now know them were formed, they had to address this unbalance: that there were far more spirits in necropoleis than there were mummies. But, at least they were not wandering the land lost and confused. At least they had something amounting to a home.

Although Nevarra has been able to openly observe its funeral rites for centuries, this period of their history has not been forgotten. Mortalitasi are tattooed with a beetle on both shoulders in remembrance and to honor these creatures who safeguarded their role whilst they were forbidden from it. Nevarrans who travel outside the nation will always see the Mortalitasi first to receive a beetle tattoo for much the same reasons as people received them in the past. They cannot guarantee that their body will be returned to Nevarra for burial, so even if they are cremated, they have some insurance against being lost in the Void.

[mournflame]

THE GLOAMING LANTERN.

As the name implies, we're talking about the Gloaming Lantern. This includes Gloaming Lanterns in general as well as Johanna's use of one. My thoughts on what she intended to do with it tie into my overall thoughts on her half-lichdom.

GLOAMING LANTERNS ARE MASTERWORKS OF blood magic. So much so that they have transcended the need for blood itself and instead drink directly of the power blood symbolizes: life. Only five were ever made, now guarded by the Mourn Watch. The manner of their making has long been lost, and none have successfully replicated it. All who have tried paid for their failure with their lives.

It was a Mortalitasi who forged them over a thousand years ago — with good intentions, if the stories are to be believed. Tiye, an antistes of the Mortalitasi, intended the Lanterns as beacons of purification. It has always been the case that some spirits need to be dealt with violently — and what a waste that is! When the living "die", it is only their body that ceases to function. Their soul or some echo of it endures across the Veil. Destroy a soul, a spirit, and it is gone forever. Her hope in creating the beacons was that a spirit of any origin may be pulled in, purified, and released again. Like burning away impurities. When she found that it drew in life essence gradually, she thought it might be turned to other purpose such as breaking possession or removing curses.

The difficulty is that the Lanterns do not differentiate life essence. They will consume any life they are directed toward. What's worse, the Lanterns do not purify what they draw in; rather the life essence is consumed and concentrated, functioning as an endless power source for the wielder. So zealously do they consume life that even a single drop of blood spilled in their presence can cause them to become volatile. After a point, the living cannot even approach them without being consumed. Hundreds can be drained at a time. The destruction of a Lantern can rip a hole in the Veil and cause mass devastation for miles upon miles. (In the brief time between Johanna obtaining a Lantern and Emmrich tracking her down, the amount of power it contained would have ripped a hole in the Veil and enveloped the countryside in a maelstrom if improperly dissipated.)

Antistes Tiye was not the only person to see potential in her creations. An unscrupulous mage could use them to become virtually omnipotent — and a few of her fellow Mortalitasi attempted just that — though the potential for catastrophe increased with each spirit consumed. She sacrificed herself to dispel the essence in the Lanterns and trusted the dead to hide them in the depths of the Grand Necropolis. Legend of their power persists, but as the Mourn Watch has scrubbed them from history and kept them well-hidden, legend is all they are believed to be. Few know they truly exist, and fewer still would be able to locate them. Destroying them, however, is not an option; the devastation caused by the backlash would be incalculable.

Something Johanna does not care about. Inducing the Venatori to steal one for her was laughably easy. Only a Gloaming Lantern could produce enough concentrated power to bring her bone construct to life. It is infinitely renewable, easy to top up en masse, and proves little direct threat to her being as she's dead. She is also arrogant confident enough to consider the risk of it becoming volatile negligible. But, seeking a Lantern is about more than power. The most terrible restriction enforced by half-lichdom is the inability to learn new spells. Her soul is stagnant, frozen at the moment of her death, unable to evolve; in turn, the same is true of her magic. But, she can force the souls, the spirits trapped within the Lantern to learn spells, and she can manipulate them to work said spells. It's the same principle as using blood magic to dominate someone's will and force them to utilize skills they have yet you do not. A loophole. And perhaps over time, she could utilize the life essence within the Lantern to alter her own soul or otherwise force past the constraints of her condition. Certainly, she will not accept it.

Again, the details of the Lanterns' construction has been intentionally destroyed both by Tiye and others, but it is known they were forged on both sides of the Veil. They were painstakingly carved from solid lazurite that she'd sent across the Veil and pulled back. How she managed this is totally unknown, but the effect was incredible. There is no glass on the Lanterns; rather complex magicks form a barrier between the Lanterns' panels. It creates a sort of "filter", drawing in only life essence and holding it there. (After all, these objects were originally meant to be purifiers.) "Gloaming Lantern" is not their original, ancient name but it is not an inaccurate one. The Lanterns have nothing to do with gloaming (dusk, twilight) in a literal sense, but the dusk symbolizes transition, including movement across the Veil. In Nevarra, the horizon has long been equated with the Veil and the setting of the sun with a spirit crossing it. Thus the "gloaming" aspect of the name refers to Tiye bathing the materials in the waters of the Fade as well as the transition moment of life essence crossing into the Lantern. Of course Lanterns themselves are a way to hold light and navigate without the sun (at dusk, for example), connecting the two concepts. Furthermore, a lantern can concentrate and direct light, as a Gloaming Lantern can concentrate and direct life essence. And, a lantern that shatters or blazes too brightly runs the risk of consuming its surroundings in fire.

[witchypandamonium]

Rook questionnaire--subject: Evelyn Ingellvar

1: Where in the Thedas is your Rook from? She was born on the road somewhere between Tevinter and Nevarra, but her home is the Necropolis, where her life truly began (both metaphorically and literally--her mother, mortally wounded, managed to get her there before dying, and the spirits, hearing her prayers, helped keep her alive until she was found by a Lich Lord)

2: What is your character's alignment? Chaotic good; incredibly compassionate, even to spirits, but with a penchant for mischief and rebellion if she believes a rule is unjust.

3: Race and subclass? Half-elf mage

4: If your Rook was a companion, where would they be found? Probably on the road to the Anderfels after being told to get out of dodge after her cover was blown smuggling some slaves to safety for the Shadow Dragons, exploring some ruin like a red wisp.

5: What emotion did they usually pick? Nice (blue, to use the DA2 parlance).

6: What companion are you platonically close with? Harding, Bellara, & Neve (although honestly she's great with all the companions).

7: Romantically close with? In an equal-interest polycule with Emmrich & Lucanis (& Spite).

8: Who are they suspicious of? She's not suspicious of any of the companions, so... Illario?

9: Does your Rook get along with their chosen Faction? The Mourn Watch still hold her in high esteem, respecting her choice in the War of the Banners, they just needed her to get scarce until the nobility (who did not) moved on to the next scandal & forgot.

10: Are they proficient in playing any instruments? Talharpa

11: Weapon of choice? Dagger & orb

12: What is their orientation? Bisexual & polyromantic

13: What are their thoughts on killing? Is it a necessary evil or do they enjoy it? Necessary evil--she will always try negotiation & compromise first; unless they're a Venatori or slaver, then it's on sight.

14: What hobbies does your Rook have? Reading, music, & sewing.

15: What NPCs do they like? Which one's do they dislike? I like to think she also knew Antoine & Evka from her time with Varric's crew--loves the two of them. Uncle Vorgoth and Aunt Myrna love their little crypt-child (when she's not stomping on the norms of social ranking or causing mischief), & she earned the Shadow Dragons' trust after a few years of spying & smuggling slaves out of Minrathous.

16: Do they have a favorite creature in the Thedas? Crypt moths & nugs (& griffons after she meets Davrin & Assan).

17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer? Absolutely--so much to learn in the world outside the Necropolis!

18: What would your Rook be doing if they weren't recruited by Varric? Like I said in #4, probably on the road from Minrathous to the Anderfels, exploring ruins.

19: How do you think they'll meet their end? Either as an unfortunate result of her curiosity or compassion.

20: Would they side with Solas or fight him? As much as she'd dearly love to sit & pick his brain for as long as he has patience, she cannot let the Veil fall--the amount of death and suffering it would bring is unacceptable.

21: What is your Rook's favorite ability? Fire (Veilfire was her first & remains her favorite spell, but it has no offensive capabilities).

22: What languages is your character fluent in? Common & Nevarran, though she'd started to learn Tevene when she was sent from the Necropolis & wound up in Minrathous.

23: What do they do after an absolute crisis? Shut down the emotions & run on instinct until she can retreat somewhere to be alone, then practice fire spells & stare into the light as she attempts to process her feelings.

24: Does your character believe in the afterlife? Yes, & is fascinated by it like most Mourn Watch mortalitasi, but of course she has no idea what it is like.

25: What specialization best represents your Rook? Spellblade (specifically, she is a master at fire spells, using her dagger as the focus--not unlike Neve--& casting a Dr. Strange-esque shield with her other)

26: What animal best represents your Rook? Magpie.

27: What was their life like before the events of Veilguard? She very much loved her life and studies in the Necropolis, & expanding her studies in Minrathous while freeing slaves, but truth be told she was always a bit lonely, as she didn't quite belong with humans or elves as a half-elf orphan.

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader? She didn't want to lead--she was content to be the under-cover intel-gatherer & occasional muscle. But with Varric out-of-commission down, her ability to secure allies & improv her way to victory ended up being far too useful to turn the position down.

29: If you could choose a different faction for your Rook, which one would they have joined and why? If she knew the truth about her parents (her mother was a human Mourn Watch mortalitasi & her father an escaped elven slave), she probably would've run to join the Shadow Dragons even faster than she already had.

30: What's your favorite thing about your Rook? Her stubborn, indomitable spirit--a will to survive no matter the odds & the compassionate heart to turn any enemy with doubts into a friend.

[peacevigilcnce]

He inclines his head, an acknowledgment of the request. "Ah, no, I'm afraid I don't." He can't very well ask his parents, now, can he? Perhaps it was an old family name, but even then there is no one to easily inquire to where that is concerned. Emmrich, absorbed as he is in the ranks of the Mourn Watch, has not devoted any time to studying its roots. It's simply never occurred to him. "Onomatology isn't among my hobbies. You know, I'm quite surprised you're that familiar with my work! Do you take an interest in theoretical and applied metaphysics, by any chance? It's my primary subject, after spirit calling."

Though it is nice to hear the praise, Emmrich knows well the line between dignity and pride, self-respect and ego. Just look at Johanna. She had been brilliant, her ideas unique among the Mortalitasi... and she had known it. Look at where it had lead. Though he offers Hannibal a smile, sincere and pleased, he won't discard the contributions of his colleagues, his mentors, quite so readily.

"People are so often frightened by that which they don't understand. Spirits are highly susceptible to mortal influence— they become warped by that terror, misshapen into beings that feed upon it. That, in turn, sparks more trepidation. My only hope is to break that cycle, at least in some small part. One doesn't have to be a corpse whisperer to understand the lessons the dead may impart." The gift that manifested with his own magic, speaking to the spirits of the dead so directly, is rare, true. But there are many ways to listen.

"You're quite right, in any case. Many Watchers share the same unease as I, and we hardly let it stop us from fulfilling our duties. It's only natural for mortal beings to fear what may come at the end. Still..." he trails off, shaking his head lightly. It's not the easiest of fears to contend with, being in the profession that he is. But no amount of knowledge, the endless debates, the tomes read and re-read, the history and the rituals, have alleviated it. "All my years, all my studies, have done little to soften it, as you say."

Emmrich has come to terms with the fact that he can only strip himself of that fear by stripping himself of his mortality. And while he does have plans set in motion for that very pursuit, it's not the sort of subject one broaches with a near-stranger.

"But we're quite similar, then, you and I." At least in that regard. "I was but a boy when I found myself taken in by the Mourn Watch. Understanding death, and the spirits that kept me company as a child, became a sort of balm to the dread of being surrounded by it." He reaches out and rests a hand on the other man's elbow, only briefly, before clasping his hands behind his back, brow furrowed as they walk. "I find the dead are more easily comforted than the living. It's relieving to know there are men like you, then, with such expertise in that regard. Our skill sets are quite complementary, aren't they?" Emmrich can wield a scalpel perfectly well, can both heal and dissect when called to do so, but he's always preferred to work with his words. If not opposed to, then in tandem with his hands.

"I'm happy to oblige, but in turn you must share some of your own. A fair exchange, as it were. Medicine is such a fascinating subject, I'd love to hear of your studies."

" of course. i should only grant you the same courtesy, then. you may call me hannibal. " a bow of his head, polite as always. " you've got a curious name. do you know its meaning, emmrich? "

he ensures to keep his gaze above the man's shoulders, appearing extremely interested by the conversation ( and he is - though to guarantee best results, that being a first seat to a necromancy demonstration, hannibal must overact his part ).

" there is no shame in seizing all the credit if your skill justifies it. i've heard of your name, professor, more than any other in the field of necromancy. do not hesitate to toot your own horn once in a while, so to say. as far as i can tell, your knowledge calls for it. " though there is gladness in knowing his praise is recognised ; all these complements are getting to emmrich. " when you observe art, do you prioritise praising the creator of the piece or those who taught them? that is my point. be hungry, emmrich. revel in the applause i offer you. "

hannibal often speaks in a very intense manner, unwavering in their meaning, though the blow of his words is softened in the look he gives the other academic, admired, respecting. " perhaps if more were willing to listen to the dead, more would be learnt by the living. they have shared this ground with us for a thousand previous lifetimes, have experimented and failed just as much .. truly a waste, this hesitance originated in fear. "

the idea of emmrich being warned by a corpse is played with in his head, turned over at the mental image of a body, skin and flesh alike devoured telling the professor all about how hannibal consumed it. the psychiatrist has shown to be pleasant enough .. were they to grow closer, maybe he'd be able to convince the man the dead lied to him once. what a goal to have, motivated by raw curiosity.

" a fear of death should not deprive us of understanding. it's not the terror of a lion that will save us from the beast - laying in ignorance not often leads to bliss. perhaps if it is understood, if how the lion thinks is known, we better know how to escape its maw. " a palm is ran down his front, straightening the vest of his suit. " it would be a self-gifted kindness to teach ourselves our final destination. perhaps the fear of death can never be conquered but instead softened by knowing where we are headed. "

hannibal doesn't spend much time pondering his own demise ; like all things in his life, it'll come when he allows it to and only then. others' departures, however, is a different subject. " my journey facing death long precedes my interest in psychiatry. as a young man, i was fascinated by questions of our mortality .. where we came from, where we would end. it came to largely occupy my thoughts once i entered medical school, not with the intent of leaving as a therapist but rather as a surgeon. "

his stare wavers towards the floor with fabricated depth and feigned underlying regret. " after an incident, i made the decision to switch careers. now, i am still trusted my patients' lives in my hands, although in a different manner. i prevent death not with scalpels but with words, reassurance. it's a change that better suits me. in a way, our occupations are not too different. still, i'd like to hear about your experience, emmrich. "

a chuckle, breathy, almost nonexistent. " i would say you strike me as highly knowledgeable, but i think you know that already. "

[bumble-b1]

So I re-read Tevinter Nights and it left me with so many predictions for Dreadwolf. Here are some of the ones I'm most convinced about:

There's going to be a several-year time skip to add drama. The main character is going to be on a time limit kinda like in Origins.

There will be a battle in a messed-up abandoned version of Skyhold. Possibly the final battle will be there.

The extremely creepy darkspawn/animal hybrids will show up.

We go to Nevara

Creepy Teventer experiments like the Cekorax will show up

Possible Character Origins: Mortalitasi, Antievan Crow (ify, but I think we'll at least see them), a Rivani Lord of Fortune, someone who escaped from a destructed Teventer city, and a banished Warden (also ify).

Creepy creatures from before the veil was made

Dreams that can kill you

Seeing bits of Arlathan

Settling the fate of The Warden

I've got more, but this is the stuff I'm the most confident about. If anyone wants to discuss their thoughts please do. Puzzling out possible game/novel/TV predictions is one of my favorite things to do.

[mementovivimus]

About/ Verses

Lucan Paulo

Modern Verse-

Height 6’2 Age- 38- 45 (verse dependent) Sign: Leo Build- muscular role - Top- dom Sexuality - Bisexual (heavily male leaning) Job title- P.R. Manager - (later, movie producer) Lucan has been independent and image conscious all his life, but that increased ten-fold when his parents split and his mother sent him to school in the States.. In short, presenting a polished appearance gives him a sense of control. He takes after his outgoing, flashy, regal, mother- her focus on looks and luxury. He also has her hidden sense of kindness, and a moral compass that is a little beaten and bent, but functional despite some creative interpretation. He has a tense relationship with his father, and often travels to Spain to visit- if only to help manage the wineyard/winery and ranch of his family's estate. While in college, he met one of the great loves of his life, Druscilla Trevelyan (dru bennet depending on verse), which whom he had a son, that he is now largely estranged from. However, he maintains a lifelong friendship with Dru to this day, despite his son's disapproval. Hobbies - Working out, reading. Horseback riding. His family has bred Iberian horses, which has linked their family with Spanish royalty, the Royal Spanish stud, and diplomacy for generations and thus has an extensive knowledge of breeding and genealogy as well. Lucan is a cat person, owning a serval hybrid (savannah cat) named Monkey.

Verses- to be exapanded later

Dragon Age AU, potterverse AU (fuck jkr), LOTR AU, DC/Marvel AU as follows:Dragon age AU-Lucanus Paulo Age, born in the year (unknown) Astrological sign - Unknown Mortalitasi (Death Mage) of Nevarra. Advisor to King Markus, a man of advanced years and ailing mental faculties. He met a noblewoman of Ostwick from the Trevelyan family and fathered a son they named Antoniz (Anthony in Ostwick). He made a somewhat earnest attempt to help rear the child, and he spent time between the Free Marches and Nevarra in his youth, but Lucanus largely kept the boy at arm's length emotionally. It was a horrible strike of luck that the boy was revealed to be a mage once in Ostwick and sent to the Circle to live under Chantry rule. Were his magical talent to be discovered in Nevarra, he would have lived freely and Lucanus would (eventually) taken him under his wing, tutored him and perhaps even induct him into the Mortalitasi Order. Alas, it was not the case, and Lucanus grew to take an interest in his son at last, if from afar, and mainly the accounts his spies relayed to him about the boy's progress. Meanwhile Lucanus continues to advise the king for as long as his reign lasts. Having no successors, the future of Nevarra remains uncertain. To say that the transition of power will be bloody is a vast understatement, and Lucanus has many contingencies planned to ensure the Nevarra remains strong, is not re-subsumed into Tevinter or the Marches, and that mages remain free at least in this small pocket of the world not controlled by Tevinter. Lucanus takes an especially keen pride in Nevarra's necropolis, finding comfort in the grand city of the dead, its macabre moaning gardens and ornate streets. Spirits have often whispered that Lucanus is destined for a premature death, which hampers his investment in his own life even as he works towards posterity and his country's future.

Hogwarts AU (to be expanded later) Lucan (Lucanus) Paulo was named so when his parents partook in the time-honored, yet somewhat infamous practice of taking their child to a Name Seer who read the baby's future, and likened his fate to that of Marcus Annaeus Lucanus , a friend of Nero who was killed for criticizing his dictatorship. It just so happens that early death seems to strike many males in the Paulo family line, (and perhaps that is why Lucan is often distant with his son, no matter the world or timeline). LOTR AU “Kings built tombs more splendid than the houses of the living and counted the names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry or in high cold towers asking questions of the stars. And so the kingdom of Gondor sank into ruin, the line of kings failed, the white tree withered and the rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men. ” Lucanus's family is of Gondor, and has been long tasked with the overseeing of the tombs of the great city. Lucan's line extends to the founding of Arnor, and yet is somewhat sullied and infamous for several of his line abandoning the city in favor of becoming 'Black Numenoreans' and practicing black magic. Despite the passing of an age, the whispers follow Lucanus to this day to the point that Lucanus has sent his wife and son away.

DC, Marvel AU Dc- Lucan is largely similar to his "modern verse" but he is a pure or almost pure homo-magi who specializes in a blend of urban and death magic, which he has passed onto his son.