#Your favourite character is responsible for several horrible tortures and murders.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Heartfelt Reunion.

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[dalishious]

Zevran Arainai is an Underrated Delight

There is so much depth to Zevran Arainai’s writing that is often overlooked in favour of either sexually objectifying him or ignoring him altogether… which is kind of ironic, considering that’s how so many people in his life have treated him within universe. And then, of course, there’s the biphobia directed at his character back when Dragon Age: Origins first released. He was a joke in many Gamer Bro circles about how they killed him for flirting with their male protagonist. It’s such a shame, really. Because personally speaking, Zevran is one of my favourite characters in the entire Dragon Age franchise.

Zevran’s introduction to the game immediately sets him apart from every other character who is capable of joining the party. He first appears as an enemy; an assassin hired to kill the Warden by Loghain, the Warden’s political opponent. You immediately have the option to either kill him, or add him to the party roster. Zevran does not initially join the Warden’s cause out of the goodness of his heart; he does it because he knows that the Antivan Crows who essentially own him – which we’ll get to – will kill him for failing to assassinate your character. This really paints his original placement within the group’s dynamics in an interesting light. No one really trusts him; Alistair and Morrigan both outright voice this. Zevran himself believes he is only safe with the Warden so long as he makes himself useful, per how he sells his worthiness to the Warden when trying to convince them to let him join. There’s tension there that really makes getting to know him extra interesting, because before anything else, you need to build trust. So, when he’s finally ready to start revealing parts about his personal history, you the player really get to feel like you’ve earned something special from his character.

Zevran’s mother was Dalish, but fell in love with an elf from the city and left her clan behind. Unfortunately, Zevran’s father was assassinated, leaving her with nothing but his debts to pay. She turned to sex work, until she died giving birth to Zevran, and all that debt fell onto him in turn. Zevran was raised by the sex workers in the brothel his mother worked at, until the age of seven, when the Antivan Crow Guildmaster Talav Arainai bought him for seven sovereigns; one of eighteen children made into “compradi” (recruits) that year. In his training, Zevran was tortured in a variety of ways, and in his own words, “taught to know nothing else but murder”. Of those eighteen, Zevran was one of two who survived the training, the other being a human boy named Taliesen. Then, a woman named Rinnala (“Rinna”) was placed into House Arainai from the Azul Contract that dictated the Crows were to take in unwanted bastard children of the Antivan Crown. For a time being, Zevran, Taliesen, and Rinnala worked well together as a professional and romantic trio. But when Zevran and Taliesen were tricked into believing Rinnala betrayed the Crows in an internal Crow scheme, they killed her. When they learned otherwise, Zevran took it particularly rough, combined with the realization of how little he himself mattered, too.

The trauma that Zevran has experienced is something he often makes jokes about, or speaks detached from. I’ve been called out many times on doing the same thing with my own trauma, and I know it’s a pretty commonplace response in others as well. That makes it feel all the more real; his responses are so authentically relatable. It’s also in a way, I find a little therapeutic to get to comfort a character whose survival mechanism has been to downplay his trauma for so long. The Warden is able to tell Zevran that what he’s been through sounds horrible, and even though Zevran tries to excuse things as not being that bad, you gain significant approval from him, just for showing him sympathy. Sympathy is something he’s severely lacked in his life. For all Zevran jokes about his traumatizing experiences, they clearly left a mark on him. Zevran eventually admits to the Warden that he did not actually anticipate being able to kill them, and that what he really wanted in taking on the job was to die. Again, sorry to get personal here for a moment, but I too have attempted suicide, and honestly I still struggle with ideation sometimes. And yet again I must say that I find something really beautiful in a character like Zevran, who is able to find peace and happiness on the other side of surviving such a thing.

As for Zevran’s romance… oh, Zevran’s romance path is such a delight. He is so multidimensional in that he’s very flirtatious and fun, while also showing genuine vulnerability in time. He admits that his role as a Crow meant he was encouraged to use seduction as a tool. His only experience with a true relationship ended very poorly, with Rinna’s death and a wedge forming between him and Taliesen, who he is eventually forced to kill too in the game. One of my favourite moments in the entire game, is when you invite him to your tent and he says no… and if you accept his consensual rights, that is what changes everything for him and the Warden’s relationship. Zevran feels safe and loved, and he gets to be happy. As of Dragon Age: Inquisition, a romanced Zevran is still at the Warden’s side, too, if they’re alive.

I love Zevran Arainai so much. He truly is an amazingly well done character, and deserves so much more respect and interest than he gets.

*Sourced from in-game dialogue and World of Thedas vol. 2

[simping-on-the-daily]

I have a DND cast and I will discuss them

Arthur Innozett: Chondathan Human Bard Severe main character syndrome. Stop overworking this dude pls Very loud,,,,, and outspoken,,,, horrible with woman lol Special instrument is his lute. Really enjoys pissing off Silhouette XD Severe workaholic and his spells could be way better if he slept and stopped drinking beer at every single tavern he goes too. The Hamilton to Silhouette's Burr

Plumeria Nikidew: Satyr Monk There's some sap on the trees that turns the friggen goats gay- I love her so much???? Heart, stolen. Says fuck without knowing what it means, someone tells her what it means, and then she still keeps saying it because it's a fun word. Flower crowns galore. People often underestimate her, enemies and allies included until she does an air kick with her goat legs. Wants to try and keep the party's spirits up. Party animal who will drink your ail She also have an unrequited love arc with Narallyn's sister who Narallyn ended up murdering and didn't know her love died until Narallyn told the party,,, so like,,,,,, PLS HUG HER-

Silhouette Faxshein: Changeling Bard LIFE DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE, BETWEEN THE SINNERS AND THE SAINTS, IT TAKES AND IT TAKES AND IT TAKES~ Here's the one with common sense! Widower due to his wife's murder. The resident certified angstlord. Really capable. He's just very traumatized, and in dire need of affection,,,,,,

Destiny Kalkane: Teifling Rogue The trend is skewed moral codes Our other resident edgelord, y'all. Parents were Tiefling crimelords so she got thrown in prison as a young teen and was there for a fucking long time until she escaped. Very touch starved and joined the pary for company~ Professional thief and would probs be the fan favourite

Juelra Arajor: Half-Elf War Cleric Give a man fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. Her mum is the general of a kingdom and was used to war as a result. Middle child between two other sisters and ran away from home so she could more then just 'the general's daughter'. Doesn't believe in needless bloodshed, but won't hesitate to cause it if someone gets in her way. She has an axe and isn't afraid to use it. Shaved hairstyle pogggggg

Narallyn Elond: Elf Druid I aM tHe LoRaX, aNd I sPeAk FoR tHe TrEeS- She ended up having to kill her own sister, and ended up being best friends with the girl who fell in love with her who was unaware of the death. Princess. Very delicate, but can kick ass. Still cares for her sister, but refuses to believe that maybe she was responsible for her mental decline, blaming other situations to avoid the guilt. Mum friend. She and Plumeria actively hang out in nature!

Sutha Egemen: Half-Orc Barbarian Friendly screaming to say hello is my aesthetic Probs more innocent then Plumeria. Parents fell into forbidden love and kept her away from society so neither orcs or humans would kill her. However, the two groups eventually found out of the romance and decided to keep them alive, but eft them to captivity and torture instead. However, they didn't find anything about the child. Sutha, unaware of the pain her parent were going through, took this as a chance to leave, with parental permission. Buff nice lady. Giant teddy bear. Like, horrifiyng giant teddy bear XD The best hunter when it comes to killing animals. She and Juelra be good friends. Really doesn't understand why people are so scared of her. Trans woman!

Adryan Toniette: Daraman Human Fighter Middle school kid that regrets his middle school phase, just trying his best If Arthur is Tommy/Hamilton, Adryan is Tubbo/Laurens. Giant weeb who's a very nervous aromantic. The man also keeps jumping out of windows and Juelra is tired of healing him. Parental figures? Wtf is that???? He only knows brotherly or sibling figures,,,, Severe density due to orphan perks,,, Also believes in stereotypes and gossip very easily,,,,