#and I'm always down to learn more about Fenris

[krems-chair]

EDIT: after an informative conversation with @alijuan I would like to clarify that the spirit of my post and therefore the irritation within it is misplaced. Prior to alijuan dropping some Fenris expertise, I was always under the impression that the ritual Danaris used, while elven in nature, had been incorporated by the rest of Tevinter. They've clarified that this quote was (1) predominantly addressing architecture and (2) that the ritual against Fenris was not as widespread as I thought it was.

I've amended the post instead of deleting it at alijuan's suggestion in case anyone revisiting it or seeing it for the first time can also benefit from learning a little more of the accurate lore.

There's a lot to be mad at from yesterday's info dump, but you can feel free to discount this part of it.

Thank you alijuan for sharing your knowledge and working with me to find the appropriate way forward. 😊

@vhenan-writes brought my attention to IGN once again rolling out the red carpet for some truly insane choices by Epler himself. So many of them could be analyzed but right now this is killing me the most.

I'm so glad Tevinter doesn't have the capacity to work Lyrium. Good news, guys. Someone should tell Fenris. Let him know it's all good.

Oops how'd that get here

[kirkwallsquad]

favorite da2 battle lines in no particular order

i'm listening to a compilation by danaduchy on youtube rn so

literally every fenris line bcs everyone else is YELLING and he's just speaking in his regular quiet-ish voice. king what are you saying i can't HEAR YOU

except for when hawke goes down. THEN he's loudly upset.

"hawke's down! time to panic!" (isabela)

"the tame elf is down" (varric - what the fuck omg don't call fenris that)

"your pet elf has fallen" (carver - WHAT THE FUCK OMG DON'T CALL FENRIS THAT)

"that moody mage is down" (aveline)

"ugh, can someone pick up fenris please?" (merrill)

"isabela's on the ground... appropriately" (aveline - HELLO?!?!?!?)

"merrill! oh, blood mages are so dramatic" (isabela)

"aveline has fallen?" (fenris - why is this a question babe)

"they got whatshisname, the mage" (varric - i continue to believe he doesn't know anders' name until act 3)

"the dwarf has dropped a few more feet" (sebastian)

"dear varric, please learn to parry. love, your innards" (varric)

"do you have something for this, because it hurts" (carver)

"even my teeth hurt" (anders)

"i've got so many bruises now they've got names and families" (merrill)

"ugh, i have dirt in my mouth" (sebastian)

"you're going to let me walk around injured?" (carver)

"being close to death is very bad for my morale" (isabela)

sebastian describes his wounds as "oozing" or "seeping" more than once

"i know dalish are meant to be close to the earth, but we don't mean literally" (merrill)

"i'm alright, who needs kidneys anyway" (isabela)

"hawke. varric. i think this is bad." (merrill)

"stop being you and fix me up" (carver - BABY. BABY BROTHER.)

"that really gets the blood flowing" but also "i will fight and pray for forgiveness later" but also "this is much more exciting than the chantry!" (sebastian - what is wrong with you <3)

"my face is not a shield!" (hawke)

"and they say drinking doesn't solve anything" (isabela)

"haawke i can't mooove" (sebastian)

"i'm too far away, what do you want me to do? shout at them?" (isabela)

"i'd have to fly to reach! of course, i've always wanted to learn to fly" (merrill - she's literally the funniest person ever)

"alas, no" (fenris)

"my faith is my armor! my cause is my shield!" (sebastian)

"if we kill them, we get their stuff!" (isabela)

"andraste's knees, it's like herding cats!" (isabela)

"AFRAID YET?!" (anders)

"RUN! WHILE YOU CAN!" (anders - he's so loud i love him)

"another one for me! how many have you gotten, hawke?" (varric)

"ah. a shame that you're going to die, no?" (fenris)

"you. me. and an audience. that's what this is all about!" (carver)

"may the creators have mercy on you! i certainly won't." (merrill)

"destructive forces of nature, coming up!" (anders)

"suck on a fireball!" (anders)

"NEVER TAUNT A MAGE!!!" (anders)

"a thrust, now a parry" (fenris)

"i'm gonna taunt you in elvish now! durgen'len! aravel! vallaslin!" (merrill)

"hello, i'm merrill, and i'll be your distraction." (merrill)

"I'LL SHOW YOU WHY MAGES ARE FEARED!!!" (anders)

"maker please forgive your children" followed immediately by "DID YOU SEE THAT SHOT" (sebastian)

"WANT TO SEE WHAT'S UNDER THESE ROBES?!?!?!" (anders)

"I'M RIGHT HERE! HIT ME!" (isabela)

"maker, the idiocy" (bethany)

"MAKER BLESS YOUR CHILDREN IN THEIR HOUR OF NEEEED" (sebastian)

"my weapon does nothing??" (fenris - he sounds so puzzled help)

"this is SO not working" (anders)

"if the pointy sticks don't work, try the other pointy sticks" (isabela)

"ah, dear. why doesn't anyone ever want to be nice to us?" (merrill)

"is there an end to the people who hate you?" (aveline)

"looks like we've got a few more puppies to kick" (isabela - HELLO?!?)

"take a step, kill, repeat repeat repeat" (carver)

"the hate you inspire is unfortunate" (fenris)

"another twenty steps, another batch of deaths" (anders)

"nobody seems to like you. do you get used to that?" (merrill - ouch. brutal hskfjhgksdjfhg)

"i can't take credit for all of this. hawke helped a little bit" (isabela)

[unholly-reader]

Shadowcloaked // Chapter 2

Hello people!

Yes - the next chapter has arrived! Still no action really but it's coming. I just hope you enjoy this one and until next time.

XoXo

(Un)Holly

****************************************************************

Seven Years Later

March of the year 628 AU

- I swear to Zinhal, Drina, if you don't come down this instant, I am personally dragging you here myself. 

- I would like to see your try, Your Grace. 

- You're asking for it, Sunshine. 

It wasn't an unusual sight to witness Fen Riorson's son running around with Fenrys Vartell's daughter like two overly energetic monkeys along the walls of the residence. Throughout the years they spent together, both Xaden and Drina learned one another head to toe. Neither of them would admit it, but they had a feeling they knew more about the other person than they knew about themselves. They've come a long way since the day they first met. Xaden grew up, both mentally and physically. Gone was the little charming boy dressed in pretty blues sneaking into his father's meetings. Now in his place stood a tall, incredibly well built young man with sharp features and defined muscles outlined on his body almost like a map. His eyes retained that boyish charm, which he usually used to tease Drina, but nevertheless he was a child no more. Drina was no exception. The little girl with pretty braids circling around her head stepped down and in her stead a witty young lady emerged. Her dark hair only grew longer, and so did she. The passing time changed a girl's body into a young woman's figure. Her eyes remained the same, bright blue, almost sapphire like and they kept the spark she had always had. What didn't change was the way they cared about each other. Quickly after their first encounter they became close friends, just as the Duke foresaw. 

Those same two friends were currently standing at the opposite sides of one of the castle borders of Riorson House with Alexandrina sitting atop the white brick wall and Xaden standing in front of said wall, arms crossed over his toned chest and a witty smirk. 

- You know what your father has to say about your climbing adventures. The last time you fell down, you were bedridden for seven weeks, Drina and guess who got the blame for it - Xaden replied cheekily, staring up at his friend dangling her feet over the edge of the wall - So please, come down. 

Drina laughed out, smirking at the boy beneath her with a twinkle in her eyes. 

- Aw, is the future Duke worried I might hurt myself?

- Stop messing around and get down here. 

The girl huffed quietly, standing up and walking back and forth on the wall’s very edge. Her arms spread out like a bird readying to fly and her dark blue jacket swinging in the air. She didn't seem to mind the fifty something feet separating her from the ground, jumping on the wall like it was the easiest and most natural thing in the world. She also knew that her behavior was driving Xaden mad, or so it seemed based on the grimace on his face, and she was loving it. 

- But I like looking at you from up here. It’s so refreshing. Usually you're the one looking down at me and this is a nice change. 

- I'm going to count to three and you will get down here, Alexandrina.

- Oh, so now we're using full names. He's getting serious - Drina laughed out amused with her friend’s reaction - I should be scared I think. 

- Drina...

Before Xaden could finish his sentence, the very thing he was worried would happen, happened. One second Drina was calmly balancing on the edge, and the second she tripped over her own feet and she fell over with a deafening shriek. She was falling and falling fast. She closed her eyes, mentally preparing herself for the impact, but it never came. The next thing she knew she felt strong arms wrapped underneath her knees and back and the familiar smell of musk and leather hit her nose like an old melody. When she fluttered her eyes open, she was met with Xaden's muscular chest rising up and down in swift movements. Looking up, she caught his gaze and just from that one look she knew she was screwed. There was fury laced in between the golden speckles of his eyes. Drina could feel it in the way he looked at her, but also in the way he was holding her tightly against his body. Slowly, she averted his eyes, clasping her arms around his neck. 

- You might have had a point here. But since nothing really happened, I think we can forget about this little…

- Don't ever do this again. Ever. 

Xaden's voice dropped at least an octave as he spoke calmly, but there was anger hidden between the lines. He refused to let go of Drina’s body, clinging onto her as if his very life depended on it. On her presence. For this one moment time seemed to have stopped and everything around them blurred out, leaving just the two of them alone. Her breath whispering against his skin. His heart beating wildly in his chest. There has always been an unspoken bond between the two friends yet neither of them ever acted on it. Like their hearts were designed to play the same melody and follow the same tune. Xaden was worried sick every time Drina went out on her little adventures, wandering outside the walls of Riorson House the same way she was losing her sleep over his nightly escapades with Garrick. And right now Xaden was losing his shit over Drina’s fall and he could swear he was ready to murder her and give her the biggest hug ever at the same time. 

- I’m fine, Xaden. Maybe a little shaken up and my breakfast has probably travelled up and down my stomach like three times already, but otherwise…

- You scared the living shit out of me, Drina - once again Xaden interrupted her mid sentence, slowly setting her down on her own two feet - So please, for the love of Gods, don’t do that to me again. Please. 

- Since when is it polite to interrupt someone in the middle of a sentence? - Drina asked teasingly, tilting her chin up a little so that she could look directly into her friend’s eyes. 

- Since someone decided to give me a heart attack in the middle of the fucking day!

It was a rare occasion when the Duke’s son lost his temper, especially in Drina’s presence. Usually he kept his cool, collecting his frustrations and anger so that he could let loose later on while training or by taking a run around the hills surrounding the residence. This particular lashing out came not only as a surprise to Drina, but to Xaden himself. He shook his head, silently calming himself before he lost it completely. 

- I’m sorry - he apologized, grabbing her hand in his much bigger one - I shouldn’t have yelled. 

- Well, I’m sorry for scaring the shit out of you. 

The two friends laughed quietly, still gazing into each other’s eyes longingly. Without thinking Xaden bowed his head a little, putting his forehead against Drina’s, exhaling deeply. A quiet moment of peace after a storm. 

- Just please, don’t do it again. I may not always be there to break your fall, Sunshine. 

- Duly noted, Your Grace, but I have to warn you. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.

Xaden didn’t say anything back, simply smiling at Drina. She looked up at him, admiring the gentle curves of his lips bending in the most heartwarming grin she had ever seen. That’s how she was with him. Most days a confident young lady perfectly capable of protecting herself, strict and steady, but when it came to the Duke’s sone, she was putty in his hands. A fierce beast demoted to the size of a kitten with just one pleasant smile, and she wasn't mad about how his presence affected her behavior. Xaden became one of the most important people in her life and she didn’t mind the way his friendship softened her exterior from time to time, since he was well aware how capable she really was. He saw her for who she was and who she had the potential to become. That’s how they built their friendship - they made a strong foundation with trust and truth. 

- So now, will you please come with me? My father has gathered his council and he expects us both there.

Drina’s smile dropped almost instantly. 

- Have the Navarrians made any moves near the border? - she asked, forgetting quickly about her childish nonsense wall walking. 

- Not that I’m aware of - Xaden replied, grabbing her hand out of habit and dragging her back inside - But I know something must have happened. With the first light my father sent three more squads to patrol the borders and he received some letters from Lewellen and Sefrisgen. 

- Any news from my father? 

- We’re about to find out, Sunshine. 

Drina squeezed his hand just a little tighter, following his footsteps on the stairs and then entering the residence. They walked into the main hall, past the guards and the black stone columns standing on both sides of the room. It was awfully quiet and the interior of Riorson House seemed more like a haunted house than an actual nobleman’s home. The windows decorating both sides of the hall were barely letting in any light with dark gray curtains covering most of the glass surface. The place both Xaden and Drina once associated with joy and children’s play, now resembled a broken fortress. Walking up the grand stairs in the hallway brought back the memories of the days they would play hide and seek and drive Garrick absolutely mad when he couldn't find them while they hid behind on the walls in the secret tunnels scattered all around the residence. Now, all grown up and steady they passed the corridors leading to their rooms and walked further down the dark brown wooden floors straight towards the grand door separating them from the Meeting Hall. 

- I don't want to say I have a bad feeling, but I have a bad feeling - Drina said with a hint of fear in her voice, clinging onto Xaden's arm like a child would its mother - They rarely ever let us listen in on those meetings, let alone invite us to attend. 

- Let's see what they have to say first, then we will evaluate the damage.  

Drina nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts swimming elsewhere. She was almost exclusively focused on her father and his current whereabouts. The last time she heard from him he was en route between Sefrisgen and Samara as an envoy to the Duke to lead negotiations on his behalf, so she wasn't quite sure when and if she would see him any time soon. 

At the same time, both Drina and Xaden pushed the massive door, entering the Meeting Hall. It looked exactly the same as every other time they would listen in on their father's conversations. A wide, pentagonal room with a tall ceiling littered with a starry map of old constellations and a rectangular table right under it surrounded by intricately carved wooden chairs, each with a signet decorating its back seat. The walls were covered in majestic tapestries, each representing a monumental moment in the history of Aretia. The moment it was build, the day the first duke was crowned, the day Tyrrendor united with Navarre and the rest of the provinces. Drina always admired them, even if only for the craftsmanship. 

At the very top of the table stood the most majestic of all the chairs. The Tyrrish throne. The chair itself measured a good six feet or so, putting above all the other seats and above those attending the meetings. It was carved out from from an oaken tree, delicate veins of whimsical branches following the lines of the armrests. The back seat had soft dark leather sewn into the seat, smoothly transitioning into a cushion. It was the one seat Xaden was afraid of, because one day he knew he would sit in his father's place and the responsibility that comes with would eventually fall to him. 

- How kind of you to finally join us, Xaden. Drina, please come in. Take a seat. 

Fen Riorson's voice was the same as always. Calm, collected and poised with just a hint of spite. With a wave of his arm he gestured Drina and Xaden to take the chairs on his right, two of the four currently unoccupied seats at the table. Both of them followed the Duke’s command and quietly sat by the table. Seven chairs were occupied by the Duke’s most trusted advisors, starting with Yvan Farsky, his second general and the most ruthless man in all of Tyrrendor, finishing with Daryan Quentys, whose main concern remained the Tyrrish fortune or lack thereof. Unfortunately for Drina, the chair closest to Fen’s left - the one reserved for her father - was still empty. She sighed quietly, looking down at her hands, fiddling with the golden ring on her middle finger. Her actions did not go unnoticed by both the father and the son of the Riorson family. While Xaden almost automatically reached for her palm, encircling it in his bigger one, his father shot Drina a sympathetic look with a ghost of a smile on his lips.

- Lord Fenrys will join us later on as he should be arriving today from his travels, but he sent a raven ahead to inform me of his delay. 

Fen’s words were more than enough too cheer Drina up, but nevertheless she didn’t let go of Xaden’s hand. Bowing her head slightly, she silently thanked the Duke and then focused all her attention on the map splayed out on the table. She took a closer look and felt her heart speed up once again. This particular map she was familiar with as she had seen it countless times before. These were the Tyrrish borders from the side it was neighboring with Navarre, but this time it looked a little different. Most of the blue spots representing Tyrrish forces along the borders were replaced by red dots scattered all over the thick, dark line representing the official divide between the provinces. This could only mean one thing. 

- The Navarrians are moving faster than we anticipated - general Tavis spoke up, standing up from his spot two chairs away from the Duke, pointing out the obvious - Only this morning we have received news that their forces have been relocated and redistributed between more outposts. This is both good and bad news on our side. On the bright side, more terrain coverage means less men standing guard and therefore makes them an easier target for us to fight back, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. Each of these places are protected by at least four to six dragons each. 

Four to six dragons. For a small squad of highly trained soldiers with swords and bows with arrows for weapons, even one dragon was a death sentence.

- That much we know, Gaylen - the Duke stated, leaning against the table with a frown - Tell me something I don’t know and it better be something we could use to our advantage. 

Garrick’s father shot the Duke a disregarding glance, rolling his eyes as if it was obvious he was also carrying good news. 

- There is word that King Tauiri is gathering his generals and highest ranking officers in the capital. We’re almost certain that they are planning on reevaluating the crisis, considering the fact that Queen Maraya has been invited to treat with him in three days time. 

- They must be desperate if they have decided to look for help beyond the Poromish borders - Fen replied with a hum, scratching his chin - What does it mean for us?

- Well we have something that Tauiri can’t give Queen Maraya even if he found a way to turn into a dragon - Gaylen smiled and turned his gaze to Drina - We have a future queen amongst us. 

For a moment the whole room went silent. Suddenly Drina felt all nine pairs of eyes on her as she looked around unsure of what had happened. Unaware of the. Context of general Tavis’s statement, she kept quiet, trying to remain calm. Her efforts were for naught when Xaden raised his voice in a manner most unseemly for the future Duke. 

- You want to marry Drina off to Maraya’s son? Are you completely mad? Artasan is a monster!

That was the moment Drina started to lose her shit. 

- He’s the future king of Poromiel, Xaden - the Duke boomed at his son, silencing his outrage - Alexandrina is a descendant of a noble house with long history in Tyrrish culture and therefore is a perfect candidate. Unlike you, she knows when duty must supersede one’s personal needs. 

Drina wasn’t sure she was following the conversation happening next to her, but she registered a few words. Marry. Maraya’s son. Monster. 

Neither of them sounded like anything she’d be willing to do but the Duke was right. She knew the meaning of duty and the sacrifices it required. That didn’t mena she was overjoyed with the fact that she could be shipped off as a future bride wrapped like a gist with a pretty bow on top. 

- You can’t possibly be serious, general - Xaden exclaimed, now focused on Garrick’s father - She’s neither a bargaining chip, nor a brood mare to be sold if need be. She belongs here. 

- Xaden, I think you’re forgetting yourself - Fen reprimanded his son quietly, glaring at the boy sitting to his right with a disappointed expression painted on his face - You should get some fresh air and calm down. 

As it would happen, Xaden did not agree with his father on neither of the matters. He was on the verge of creating yet another scene, when he felt a cold hand sneaking into his clenched palms. He turned his head only to see Drina looking at him with begging eyes, as if she was silently asking him to leave it be. He could clearly see she was just as disoriented as he was, but she kept her calm and asked him to do the same. It wasn’t easy, but one deep breath later Xaden looked at his father, nodding silently and sliding his chair away from the table. 

- You’re right, father. I believe both Drina and I need the fresh air, so if you’ll excuse us, we’ll take our leave now. 

And so he stood up, dragging Alexandrina behind him. Without thinking twice she followed his steps, shooting the Duke and apologetic glance, before blindly walking behind Xaden. She could hear the raised voices of all the councilors gathered in the room, but it was only for a few seconds before they closed the door behind them. Xaden never stopped walking, Drina’s hand in his as he navigated through the corridors and towards the staircase leading to his chambers. It wasn’t unusual for them to spend their time together in either of their rooms, but the tight grip he had on her hand told Drina this wouldn’t be one of their typical hangouts. When they climbed the stairs and reached the door to his room, Xaden stopped in his tracks, causing Drina to bump into his back. Quickly, he turned around and cupped her face in his hands, putting his forehead to her own as if he was trying to further calm himself down. Both of them took a deep, gentle breath, steadying themselves in each other’s presence. Drina enjoyed the warmth that emanated from Xaden’s hands, feeling herself snuggle into his palms. It was a moment of peace and quiet as they stood in silence before he spoke up. 

- I will not let you marry that sadistic pig, if it’s the last thing I ever get to do. 

[veatomis]

It's honestly really sad just how much dav hurts the previous games' northern characters' overall story in retrospect. And i'm not just talking about all the stupid retcons like turning the crows into moral freedom fighters or getting rid of slavery in tevinter and relegating it to only a couple mentions in some codex entries (even though that is still the biggest insult to these characters), it's also about just how flat the settings where they come from are...

For characters from ferelden and orlais (and even to a lesser degree kirkwall/the free marches) we have pages upon pages of lore and worldbuilding and how the different circles work and how their alienages operate and how their society is structured which all helps to build and dissect characters like alistair and morrigan and leliana and aveline and anders but for characters from antiva/tevinter/rivain we just. never get that.

We'll never have a frame of reference on how exactly elven liberati are treated and how fenris' sister and mother might've been treated to the point where varania resents fenris and believes he's more free than her. We'll never get to see how other slaves are truly treated to be able to compare it to fenris' experiences and how much from the norm he strays or doesn't. We'll never learn how the other altus treat dorian and what they think about him. We'll never truly learn just how well off house pavus was or wasn't compared to the other magister houses in the crumbling empire that was supposed to be tevinter. We'll never really learn the full scope of the archon's power and how that might affect mae/dorian now that they're in that position. We'll never learn the range of a normal civilian's opinions on the crows in antiva. We'll never learn what the attitudes towards elves and mages are really like in antiva and how zevran might've been treated outside the crows/during a contract. We'll never see how a crow house actually operates and what their quarters look like to be able to grasp zevran's situation within house arainai. We'll never get to see what a brothel in antiva looks like to understand how zevran's childhood might've truly been like. We'll never really understand how different josephine's upbringing was from other noble merchant houses in antiva and from normal peasants. We'll never see anything of actual substance from rivain to be able to know what isabela's life could've been like at all!!

All of the lore surrounding these characters will always be tied down (within the games) to their own sparse, biased retellings of their lives and homelands, without us actually getting a chance of exploring what they actually were like.

[hyper-elastagirl]

Now that I've had some time to digest veilguard I gotta ask (and ramble about my quizzy below)

Like many of us, I have gotten extremely attached to my inquisitor (and her romanced option). She's been with me for 10 years! Adahlena Lavellan was the first oc of mine that I made and *stayed the same* and hasn't been drastically reworked as my interests evolved. She and my love of dragon age and our beloved egg headed apostate have been a solid presence in my life for 10 whole years. So I've had a lot of time to get to know her. I think our canon solavellan ending is sweet, like something out of mythology, but I'm not sure if Adah would be down for it?? Ramble below

Adahlena Lavellan dedicated her life pre-inquisition to mastering the art of the hunt and devoting herself to June. With a quick wit and nimble fingers from a young age, she excelled at archery and crafting tools and had a love for tinkering and dreaming of what technology was like in the age of the gods. After an unfortunate run in with Tevinter slavers as a youth, she became radicalized. Staunchly anti slavery (and anti human), she set her mind to improving upon existing tech and dreaming up new ways to keep her people safe. Needless to say she was not a happy camper in haven! Surrounded by humans (ew! Scary!) She was drawn to Solas as a friendly elven face. Her prejudice against humans slowly softened, but she was always drawn to Solas's witt and familiar comfort and loved picking his brain and asking questions.

She declined to have her vallaslin removed in Crestwood. Adah strongly believes that what is in the past is in the past and wears her shackle scars and injries from the slavers with pride. She is also still very attached to her clan and Dalish culture, their rejection would devastate her. Her refusal is based on the fact that they mean something else now, and she would not want to erase or tarnish a life's worth of positive memories.

Post trespasser, she disbands the inquisition and vows to try and change Solas's mind, and if that fails then to stop him. In between searching for him, Adah blows off steam taking out venatori slavers and befriends Fenris. They bond over relationship woes (a widower and divorcee) amd she promises to try and help find Hawke in the fade, as she feels horrible for leaving him there. (I think they should go on an eluvian hopping adventure together after meeting Rook and eventually rescue Hawke. And also Assan cuddles, everyone deserves Assan cuddles.).

She keeps a low profile. Still generally hesitant around humans, and hates the title "herald of andraste". The maker is not her god, the chant not her religion, none of it her culture. Sure, she's had good experieces, made lifelong friends, made world shattering discoveries, and enjoys exploring the world and learning all she can. But it's been 10 years and she is tired of the weight of it all and misses the early days in haven when it felt like a group of frieds against the world and she had an odd apostate to flirt with. Or the mindless comfort of her clan, daily hurts and tweaking her bow around a fire full of family.

So, the last two of her gods are felled and it's time to stop Solas once and for all, or die trying. He tries himself to the fade with blood magic resolves himself to keeping it intact. Canonically, a romanced Lavellan joins him and it is very sweet. But I'm not sure if that's Adahlena's vibe, you run into his arms and have a sweet fairytale ending (but yay for all of you who like it!)

I feel like she would be well within her right to not join Solas. 10 years is a really long time to be separated from a loved one, and Dread Wolf Solas is so different from the more wisdom-y Solas she knew and loved. Also, Varric :( I can imagine her instead spending the rest of her days tinkering with Bellara and the veil jumpers and exploring Arlathan.

If she did join him, it would be less for the sake of him and more for the sake of getting away from it all. In the prison there's no herald of andraste and the dread wolf, just Adahlena and Solas,normal people. I'm sure after a while with some funky ancient elven magic she could wander and learn from the ruins and tinkering and maybe even communicate with the world so she can keep in contact with her bestie Dorian. And for course, slowly fall back in love. This time with no secrets between them.

But idk, I still have a lot of thoughts to sort through. What about you guys how we feeling how would your Lavellan react if not 100% in line with canon? I'd love to hear

[sigyn-foxyposts]

"I'm also norse heathen! Specifically one that follows Rökkatru!»

Sorry to ask, but does this mean you believe in the Norse Gods?

I’ve never seen that before, but I think that’s really cool. I love Norse mythology and honestly think it’s really underrated, so seeing someone take it as a religion is even cooler!

Really sorry if this came off as came off as offensive, I’m just curious and would really like to learn more about this and what Rökkatru actually is since I can’t find any clear explanations online ^^

Dont be sorry Anon, im happy you asked! And i reassure you i never take offense to questions, if anything i am happy to answer them. Now to answer the question! ^^

It depends on who it is, if we say for example Loki you would consider him a norse god right? Well in the case of Rökkatru its a belief in the ''anti gods'' as Dr Jackson Crawford put it.

Now a breif history to help you understand!

First, there was Asatru which means “True to the Aesir” and it includes gods such as Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Baldur, Idunn, Bragi, and many others we hear about in myths. Eventually, those whose religious practice concentrated on the Vanir the second, more agricultural pantheon of Gods including Frey, Freya, Njord, and Nerthus. They decided that they would be called Vanatru.

Some time after that, a woman named Abby Helsdottir of New Zealand created the term Rökkatru for those whose primary focus  was the third pantheon of ''underworld gods'' or what we are more familiar with the jotuns/giants. These can include characters such as Hel, Loki, Angrboda, Sigyn, Fenris, Jormundgandr, Narfi and Vali, Surtr, Skadi, Jord and Mordgud among others. Basically, the outcasts of the norse pantheon!

Rökkatru stands for things such as making a change in the world and accepting that fact, we need change for things to keep going in the world. To accept wild nature, like fire and wind, earth and ocean, trees, animals and humans alike! People are weird, unique and wild. They always have been and will continue to be that way in all shapes, forms and sizes. We do not see “dark” as bad or “the underworld gods” as evil. We feel that this is a Christian concept that has infiltrated some modern interpretations of Norse cosmology, first through the Christians that wrote down (and tainted) the only sources we have of these myths, and second through the Christian upbringings of many converts to Northern religion.

(No hate my christian friends <33)

On a more personal note, heathenry is different for everyone and personally i dont think these beings acctually exist out there, like a higher being that is watching over me and what not. I simply belive in what they stand for and i guess in some kind of spirit? Its a bit hard to explain but i think a nice way to put it is that they live on in spirit. Their stories and traits are important and despite the loss, we will not loose what we have left. If you wonder who i work/follow or focus mainly on its Sigyn and Hel! Thank you for reading to the end <33

[tobythewise]

Happy Friday! For DADWC, how about "“Tell me I’m wrong.” for Handers?

Happy Friday! :D This is written for @dadrunkwriting I started writing this last week and I'm pretty sure I wanted to do some hurt/comfort and then I got back to it this week and decided no<3 Anders being down bad for Hawke and Hawke being burly for everyone but the ones me loves? Yes ;p I hope you enjoy!

~~~

Sweat drips down Anders’ spine. He stops for a moment, leaning against his staff. They’ve been up and down the coast all day, trying to find ingredients for a merchant who sells mostly in the Gallows. 

As much as Anders gets sick to his stomach every time Hawke has to head there, he’s glad Hawke picks the jobs he does. 

Following Hawke has always felt like second nature. Okay, maybe not immediately. After realizing this burly, hardass persona is just that; a persona, things smoothed out between them. These days, Anders is glad to be by his side. Plus, Hawke’s adventures sure beat going into the Deep Roads like he had to do with the wardens. 

Leaning down, Anders readjusts the bandages that wrap around his knee, making it more secure. He knows he’ll be sore tomorrow after all this walking, but the pain will be worth it. Especially with the way Hawke’s usual scowl softens into a smile as he pulls a certain plant from the ground, adding it to his pack with the other ingredients they’ve scavenged today. 

Anders is pretty sure he’d do a whole lot to keep that soft look on Hawke’s face. Ever the hopeless romantic. Ever the pining friend. 

“This is the last of it,” Hawke announces. Anders is about to suggest they make their way back into town when distant thunder sounds across the water. Hawke hears it as well. “Sounds like we should find a safe place to make camp. We can head back in the morning.”

“So much for making it back in time for Fenris’ Diamondback night,” Varric grumbles but Merrill is there to reassure him that he can simply attend next week. Varric gives her a soft smile, leading her down the path towards an outcropping of rocks. The two of them find a cave for them all to make camp in. 

Anders can feel the storm approaching. There’s something about storms that leaves him feeling excited. It’s almost like his magic is reaching out and connecting with the lightning, connecting with nature itself. It’s freeing in a way he was never allowed to experience in the Circle. The stone walls always kept this feeling away but now that he’s free to feel the rain on his skin, he’s allowed to revel in it, enjoy it. 

He’s allowed to learn to love his magic instead of viewing it as a curse like the Chantry tried to teach him. 

Anders ducks into the cave. It’s cold and damp and dark. His skin crawls as he notices how low the ceiling in here actually is. 

So much for getting any sort of rest tonight. 

Hawke, Varric, and Merrill work on putting a fire together in the damp space, making sure the fire is built towards a crack in the cave so the smoke has somewhere to drift up and out of the space. Merrill uses her magic to light the fire and Varric comments on how glad he is that he won’t be freezing his balls off tonight. 

Anders finds himself smiling at his friends for a moment before he turns away. He makes his way to the entrance of the cave just as the rain begins to fall. Lightning flashes across the sky and his chest feels light and free, the air bristling with electricity and possibility. 

The sound of his friends talking, echoing off the cramped space behind him has Anders taking off his coat and stepping out into the rain. He knows he’s not back in the Circle. He knows he’s free. But sometimes, he’s human and needs the reminder. 

The rain is cold but in a way that leaves him feeling refreshed and clean. He tilts his face up, letting it wash over him. His chest feels light and warm. His face breaks out into a grin as he pushes his hair out of his face. By the Maker, he loves the rain. 

That spark returns to the air and before he can see the flash of lightning, he decides to meet it with his own. Feeling all the anxieties that the cave brought back, feeling the loneliness that comes with pining over his friend, feeling the freedom of the rain on his skin, Anders channels all of those feelings and lets them burst through him in a sparking arch of lightning. It darts from his fingertips up into the sky. He’s not sure if it’s possible but he wears that his somehow joins the path of the natural lightning streaking across the sky, causing it turn a brilliant purple color halfway through it’s trip. 

Anders can’t stop the bubbling of emotion that overcomes him at the sight. It’s beautiful and he did that. His magic created that. He giggles to himself, stretching his arms out wide, turning around in a circle in the rain. 

“Anders?”

Anders turns around, finding Hawke standing at the entrance of the cave, watching him. Andraste’s wrinkled knickers! He must look like an absolute fool out here, giggling to himself. Except. Wait. Is that a smile on Hawke’s face?

“Hawke,” he says in greeting, tipping his head down in a nod. “Care to join me for a twirl in the rain?”

Hawke shakes his head, looking down at his shoes for a moment. “Yeah, okay,” he says softly. Anders watches as the warrior takes his armor off, laying them on the ground beside Anders’ coat. 

Once he’s down to his trousers and undershirt, Hawke steps out into the rain. Lightning flashes, illuminating their faces and Anders is once again struck by just how beautiful Hawke is. The warpaint slides down the bridge of his nose and over his cheeks, his dark hair starting to lay flat from the rain, and his clothes stick to him, but even so, he’s the most beautiful man that Anders has the pleasure of knowing. 

“Why are you out in the rain?”

“Do I really need a reason? Its so incredibly fresh compared to Darktown.”

Hawke hums, like he doesn’t quite believe Anders’ answer but he’s not about to push. Instead, he pulls Anders in close by his waist. A noise of surprise leaves his lips before he’s gaining his composure once more, placing his hands on Hawke’s broad shoulders. 

Anders isn’t sure what to expect but to be swayed into a waltz wasn’t it. Water drips down their faces and they can only truly see each other when lightning flashes in the sky, but somehow, their feeting doesn’t falter. They find the perfect sway, the perfect rhythm and dance in the rain, their bodies pressed together, stark warmness compared to the coldness of the rain. 

“Anders, I’m sorry you’re stuck in a cave tonight,” Hawke eventually says when their waltz is just about over. Instead, they hold onto one another, swaying gently back and forth. “I know how much you hate confined spaces. I shouldn’t have taken so long--”

“Oh no,” Anders interrupts him, “it’s not your fault. I agreed to come along.”

“I’m glad you did. I’m glad you always do.”

Anders looks away, hoping his cheeks aren’t as hot as they feel. This is getting too close to topics he’d rather ignore. It’s one thing to pine for your friend. It’s another entirely for him to actually know about those feelings and reject them. 

Anders isn’t sure he’s strong enough to handle that on top of everything else. 

“It’s no big deal following our fearless leader.”

“It’s more than that,” Hawke says right away. His hand leaves Anders’ waist, instead touching his cheek. Anders holds his breath, not daring to move for fear of ruining this moment. “You mean so much more than that, Anders.”

“What--” Anders clears his throat. “What do you mean?”

“Tell me I’m wrong,” Hawke breathes out, his eyes darting between Anders’. “Tell me I’m wrong and I’ll never bring this up again. We can chalk it up to my bullheadedness reading into things that aren’t there, but I think I’m right. I almost always am.”

Damn this man and his confidence. Damn Anders for finding it so attractive.

“I think we’ve been holding ourselves back. I wanted to give you space after Karl. You wanted to give me space after everything that happened with my family. I’m so goddamn tired of holding back, Anders.” Hawke swallows. He’s usually a man of few words so to hear this type of speech directed at him as Anders nearly weak in the knees. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, is that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and I’m so fucking tired of not living to the fullest and keeping you at arm’s length.”

Anders opens his mouth to respond but nothing comes out. Is this? Is he dreaming? Is this real?

“Anders? Could you say something, please,” Hawke says with an awkward chuckle. 

The sound snaps Anders out of his stupor. There’s no way he’s going to let Hawke feel like he’s being rejected, not when Anders feels near bursting with joy. The euphoria of sending lightning up in the sky pales in comparison to knowing Hawke has feelings for him. 

“By the Maker,” Anders breathes out. Instead of answering Hawke with words, he does the only thing he can think to do that’ll leave Hawke without a doubt how he feels. He places his hands behind Hawke’s head and pulls him into a kiss. 

Hawke’s lips against his own is as close to freedom as he’s ever felt. In the Circle, he tried his best not to fall in love, and now here he is, doing it all over again, only this time there’s no cages or walls or templars. It’s just two men, daring to put everything aside and experience love. 

It’s terrifying. It’s exhilarating. It’s everything that Anders is fighting for. 

When they pull back, their foreheads press together. They breath each other’s air, just taking in this closeness, this softness that’s just for the two of them. At least, that’s what Anders thought. 

“By the Creators, it’s about time!”

“Damn it, you two! Isabela is going to grill me on this for her friend fiction!”

Hawke rolls his eyes and gives Anders another peck on the lips before turning around. “Stop gawking, you assholes and get back in the cave!”

Everything has changed and yet, they’re all completely and utterly the same. It’s comforting. Anders smiles as Hawke reaches back and laces their fingers together, pulling him towards the entrance of the cave. 

“Hawke!” Varric yells from his place beside the fire. “This mean you ain’t spooning me tonight?”

Hawke snorts, letting go of Anders hand in order to run into the cave and start bickering with Varric. Anders shakes his head as he watches, his heart light for the first time in a long time. 

[scarfacemarston]

saw your post saying that you want ideas for Fenris, so here's my 5 cents;

You know the romance ending for Fenris? Whenever I see it and I hear Varric say "a hero was born" for some reason that makes me think that it is giving us the idea that Fenris has become a dad, soooooo, any thoughts on Fenris as a dad?

Have a good day/night

Hey! I LOVE that idea. Seriously, that is so heartwarming to think of. It's been months since I've written hc and I've never written for Fenris before, but I hope you like it! I have bonus hc's from the crew below the cut. Background: Despite being together for over several years since Act 3 and the fact that they might as well have been married, Varric and crew still found themselves surprised to hear that Fenris and Hawke were pregnant/adopting. "Broody with a Broody Jr on the way? I knew it'd happen at some point; you owe me 50 coppers, Rivani."

If pregnant - Hawke was initially worried Fenris would leave them because of their first night together, but he had proven himself loyal to a fault numerous times, the thought thankfully disrupted quickly.

Fenris is the worrying warrior until after the baby is born, or if adopting, til they bring them home.  His mind is always going a mile a minute risk calculation and problem-solving for things that haven't yet happened. Hawke has to get him to snap out of it. He's extremely attentive partially because he tries to think about any possible situation and discomfort and how to avoid it. If Hawke is pregnant, he's ready, whether through ginger tea, soothing balms, hot towels, massages, craving outings, you name it.

It's not original, but the baby would definitely be named Bethany, Leandra, or Malcolm if it's a son. With adoption, he feels a little more in control. (I love the idea of Fenris having a daughter, so that's what I'm using her. Feel free to hc differently!)

The baby loves his voice. Adores it. She perks up whenever Fenris speaks, even if it's the quietest of murmurs or humming. Fenris would talk to the baby if his partner is pregnant, calming her down, especially if she starts kicking.  

He doesn't mind getting up in the middle of the night to take care of her. He's lived on such little sleep before, but this was something worth it. He sometimes likes the quiet to reflect on his new life and gaze at the miracle in his arms.

Fenris has to be reminded to put her down sometimes so Hawke can hold her ---then Hawke has to be reminded to put down the baby so they can get work done.

Definitely lots of story time together and time spent reading books together. 

He wants his child to be curious about the world and not be afraid to question why things are the way they are. He encourages her to ask difficult questions, even if it's something he doesn't always want to answer. He will try to answer in an age-appropriate manner anyhow.

Incredibly protective. He never thought he'd have a family, and now he has someone who depends on him more than anything. He is never far from her; if he can't chase after them, she's in a playpen where he can keep watch. However, he also tells himself that falling and making mistakes is okay. Scratched knees or messes are to be expected. Fenris becomes very good at toeing the line between being protective and allowing her to pick herself up and figure out solutions "by herself." (Of course, he'll still be there to kiss it better or give her a boost.)

He and Hawke agree that they'd rather gift her love and time than gifts.

Somehow, Fenris has ended up with an extra Malbari, 2 cats, and a goat as pets.

He teaches her a lot of skills, Lots of nature excursions, and teaches her things like navigation, plant identification, starting a fire, and helping her learn a language. 

He and Hawke agree to teach her self-defense once she's old enough. He's a firm & thorough but patient teacher.

He and Hawke believe she should do whatever she pleases with her body. Does she want long-flowing hair? He'll show off his braiding skills. Does she want chopped hair like FemHawke? Done. 

If she turns out to be a mage, Fenris would accept it. He would know that was a possibility whether she was biologically theirs - because of Hawke's mage line or, if adopted, that it is a randomized gene. He would be lying if he didn't think their lives would be easier if she wasn't a mage - but that is because he is worried for her and the current politics - not so much because of his past treatment of mages. It would take him a little time to process it, but he would love her just the same……….he only hopes that Hawke or one of their friends can help with the magic because turning the floor into an ice rink or the smell of burnt hair can only be tolerated for so long.

Bonus:

The Hawke crew isn't always around, but I like to hear them stay in touch and visit. Maybe they still travel together. I hated the idea of them breaking up.

Varric has most definitely written a few adventures with her in mind - one being a talking animal version of Hawke's adventures. Another about griffons and another about malbari adventurers.

Merrill brings the sweetest gifts and loves telling stories and taking her foraging. Flower crowns are a must.

Isabela develops a liking for stuffed plushies. It started with a stuffed parrot, and before they knew it, the bed was crowded with stuff like Malbari, parrots, griffon, cats, and whatever she could find. Isabela also gives her her first pirate sword. Baby Hawke loves her jewelry.

Aveline - mage or not - offers to train her in combat. Of course, Hawke laughs and says, "She's a baby. I think she's fine for now." She'd offer to babysit - Hawke having a child really has her curious about starting her own family with Donnic when they can find the time. Donnic makes her a set of cards so she can "play" diamondback with them.

Anders offers medical care if he is around and also offers to tutor her in magic - but I think we all know what Fenris' thoughts on that would be. Still, Fenris would begrudgingly be thankful for any care he provided.

[arlathen]

anyway here are my wild guesses about whats going to happen in veilguard specifically posted so that i can come back in a week and laugh at this <3

the veil comes down. the veil absolutely comes down. the world fundamentally changes. i am convinced on this. i'm not sure when it happens but i'll say it's at the end of the game.

there are little hints about solavellan and, like, one cutscene. i hope i'm wrong here but i don't think i am.

act 1 is dealing with ghilan'nain, act 2 is dealing with elgar'nan, and act 3 is. dealing with solas/the whole veil situation. solas gets out of Fade jail at the end of act 1 maybe. i'm trying to say things definitively even though i'm not that confident. maybe it's a blighted titan. i'll say it's also a blighted titan. what could be worse than ghil and elgar'nan after all.

FENRIS DOES COME BACK. please they gotta have fenris. i know hawke can kill him but CMON. they brought back leliana even though a tiny percentage of people killed HER!

they made designs for the rest of the evanuris and we actually see them all. bonus points if we also get to see how each one was uniquely fucking awful <3

they get around the well of sorrows choice by morrigan always taking the fragment of mythal and and not saying whether it was willing or unwilling, and solas absorbing the rest of her soul means that she couldn't influence whoever drank it anymore, or whatever.

morrythal betrays us in some way. we keep saying morrigan was the betrayer apostate well guess what chief. now she really is, just three games late.

based on the achievements and the talk about the mass effect 2 like ending, i do think it's something like. mmmm like to draw from TES, everyone kind of 'mantles' one of the gods and takes their power or something. maybe in order to defeat whatever bad thing rises. but there's a limited number of spaces and you have to choose between saving certain companions and saving solas, the inquisitor, whatever. i am going to be dead wrong on this.

there IS an outcome where you can save solas and basically let him go back to being a wisdom spirit. i don't know if i necessarily believe he was a spirit of wisdom, or i think it's more complicated than that. but he basically gets to shrug off the dread wolf mantle and be just solas, traveling and learning and helping (possibly with lavellan) (please with lavellan) -- in this way they write him off and the world is functionally the same whether you kill or save him. he's at peace. he has no interest in giving orders or influencing the world anymore. if this is a soft reboot and there are more choice imports in the next game, then he may cameo as someone who will give you advice as you find him. he's busy fucking his wife so much though so like leave him alone. he may also be "depowered" -- he uses all his power up bringing down the veil and is just a regular inquisition-era mage now.

i will cry at LEAST five times throughout the game.

okay there are my predictions.

[jean-dieu]

Bonjour.

FINALLY, I am doing a pinned post!

Get to know me, the Man, the Legend.

I'm JEAN-DIEU, or Jean. 25 years old, Fr*nch, any pronouns. I'm a PhD student in AI and vaguely an artist sometimes. I love to create blorbos to obsess with.

I'm into a bunch of stuff you can learn more about just below! If you want to chat with me, feel free to send a DM, I'm always up to meet new people! Links, fandom, ocs and stuff under the cut!

Ask box is always open u can bully me xoxo

(This blog is 18+)

My stuff :

#my-art will get you all my beautiful and awesome drawings (i am extremely talented)

#my-writings will get you all my writing in a language I don't speak correctly

#my-rambles will get you unhinged thoughts and co.

My Fandom and Interest :

I am currently into :

Pathfinder, which includes both Owlcat Games (but mostly Wrath of the Righteous) and also the TTRPG

Dragon Age (most current and newest obsession)

The TTRPG community in general

Baldur's Gate 3

Warhammer 40k

WW1 and WW2

The Concorde plane

Catholicism (?)

My OCs :

Pathfinder:

Raphaël Esdras (he/him), Hellspawn Tiefling Inquisitor of Sarenrae. My main OC, the love of my life. Played in my WoTR campaign as well as in the video games. Rawful Good zealot with a martyr complex. (Romancing Sosiel)

Lazare Lune-De-Miel (he/him), Kyton-spawn Tiefling Bard/Warlock, faithful follower of Desna, Shelyn, Nocticula and Cayden Cailean. Small but loud, cheerful and incredibely optimistic. Has twelve moms. Accidently made a pact with a devil when he was 12.

Malthus "Ziel" Drezdan (he/him), Pitborn Tiefling Rogue/Bard, calistrian. Son of a disgraced Abadar cleric. Local weirdo. Scaly little brat. Inventor of emo folk in Golarion.

Zarathustra (he/him), Pitborn Tiefling (mother is a succubus) Alchemist. Vaguely follows Brigh. Climbed the social ladder one murder at a time. Poisonned a noble and married his wife. Except the wife was 100% ok with it. Smart, cunning, ruthless, cruel. Local evil man.

Eon Jarjayes (he/they/she in that order), human, rogue. Varisian Pirate. Ex-slave turned ruthless criminal. Nihilist. Will murder you for one corn chip.

Dungeon and Dragons:

Mycellius (he/they). Spore druid hexblood tiefling. Son of a Green Hag. Absolutely disconnected from reality. Speaks to mushroom. Has no concept of economy or hygiene, good or evil. Fascinated with death and decay.

Nym (he/they). Drider, Gloomstalker Ranger. Ex trophy husband turned drider. Shy, terrified man obsessed with his hair. Actually really sweet and kind deep down. Loves flower and sewing. Quiet and calm.

Dragon Age:

Aloysius Lavellan, Inquisitor, Dalish Elf. Sweet elven mage who's really trying his best to make it to the end. Shy and unassuming yet stubborn and determined. Extremely knowledgable on history, biology and magic, completely clueless about people. (Dating the Bull).

Garrett "Nacht" Hawke, Human. Edgiest mage of all of Thedas. Loves to fuck around and find out. Hates Fenris and yet they're dating.

Artemis Tabris. Rogue, City Elf, Warden. Denerim's own Robin Hood. A disappointment to his family. Still loves his dad very much. Easily angered, very agressive. Worst humor ever. (Dated Morrigan then went on to live happily with Zevran).

[the-oracle-of-the-lost]

I, K and Q for the ask game

ask game here :)

I: Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (reading or writing)?

i try not to believe in guilty pleasures as a concept because i don't think that's a healthy frame of mind but i do like the fanservice-y 'two characters from completely different parts of canon meet and hang out' fics. it's just good silly fun.

K: What’s the angstiest idea you’ve ever come up with?

already answered here!

Q: Do you have any discarded scenes/storylines/projects?

ooh i found a cut scene from chapter two of we pick ourselves undone during their drinks & cards scene after meeting alone on La Sirena and before hooking up. i got about a page into it and then realized the pacing of this whole sequence wasn't great and i'm not the best at writing flirting to begin with so i took it out. (under the cut)

Seven was still having a hard time figuring out Raffi Musiker. She knew a bit from running a brief background check on all of La Sirena’s crew – born on Earth, graduated from the Academy in 2371, fast tracked into Starfleet Intelligence, Picard’s XO during the Romulan relocation, dishonorably discharged, and had a few minor criminal charges still on the books. Seven had met the type before – ex Starfleet who hates the establishment and thinks they’d make a better vigilante. They stopped on Fenris frequently and never managed to stay long.    But Raffi didn’t seem like the person her file suggested.    For one, she didn’t carry the same gritty cynicism that most ex Starfleet people seemed to project and ultimately fail to live up to. And for another, Raffi seemed to actually like her. First Soji, then Elnor, and now Raffi… Seven had never been quite sure how to handle positive attention and dealing with it three times in as many days was more than a little baffling.    Maybe because of that, she wasn’t quite ready to trust Raffi. Soji had nothing to hide from her, Elnor couldn’t hide his intentions if someone paid him 50 bars of latinum, but Raffi? She was a spy, worked with Romulans, and dealt in conspiracy theories. Everything about her past seemed to be a red flag for people like Seven.   But her recent conversation with Elnor was still more than present in her mind. Relying on friends, not pushing them away, living a life again. Maybe Seven needed a casual evening with someone who didn’t have the baggage of the past.   So Seven walked over to the replicator that she had only just repaired an hour ago and ordered a whiskey. “What are you having?”   Raffi hesitated momentarily, just long enough for Seven to notice. “Whatever you’re having.”   Seven grabbed another glass and sat down at one of tables at the center of La Sirena’s main cabin and took a sip of her drink. She remembered back when even just a few sips of alcohol would have her head spinning, apparently something in synthehol reacted badly with her implants, but she had built up a tolerance long ago when she learned how well it took the edge off unpleasant memories.   She handed the other glass off to Raffi who had somehow already procured a deck of cards. “Do you always travel with cards?”   “I think I was being overly hopeful that I would find someone to play with back in Synthville.” She heard the tinge of bitterness all too well.   “So why’d you come out here then?”   Raffi shrugged, “Thought I’d check on the ship. See if I could get main power back on but I guess you already took care of that.”   “What happened to Rios not liking people messing with his ship?”   Raffi smiled, “Yeah but annoying Rios is one of my favorite hobbies.” She started shuffling the deck.   “You know each other well?”   “Well enough but I think we’ve both been a bit antisocial the past few years.” Seven got the impression that a few years was a an understatement. Not that she was one to judge on that front.   Seven raised her drink, “A familiar tale.” Maybe she and Raffi had more in common than she thought.   “Welcome to the ship of antisocial runaways.” Raffi paused her shuffling and raised her glass in response. Her smile really did make her face light up. “So what are we playing?”   Seven had learned enough card games in her time as a Ranger as it was unexpectedly useful when it came to gathering intel. Not that she understood why so many in the criminal underground were willing to part with information based on a game of luck but it seemed to turn out in her favor. Though tonight with Raffi’s 52 card Earth deck, Seven thought of a game that Tom Paris once taught her, “Texas Hold’em.”   “Sure thing. Got any poker chips? My pockets aren’t limitless, y’know.”   “I have some isolinear chips,” Seven said, digging some burnt out computer chips formerly belonging to La Sirena out of her pockets.   Raffi laughed, “Ah the engineer’s poker chips. Perfect.” And she started dealing out the cards. “So what have you been up to since the battle with the Romulans and everything?”

[doberbutts]

Hello, hope your day is going well. You're the main dogblr person I follow so I was hoping you might offer your perspective to someone who wants to get into dog sports. The general understanding I've gotten is that the best way to learn about a chosen sport is from a mentor figure. My question is do you have any advice on finding people to learn from or do you have an alternative knowledge source you can recommend? Nobody I know does dog sports. I think there is a local-ish kennel club, but I'm not certain how that works either. Thank you for all the information you share!

Sometimes you literally just bump into them. How I got started in mondio is that I was at a totally different dog event, an AKC match conformation show (meaning, no actual points, just for fun and ring experience) and a woman who'd heard about it rolled up and did some for-fun obedience runs and then started training with her dog in the field across from the match. She had a dutch shepherd and I like those so I asked her about him. I told her I was interested in getting my dog at the time, my doberman Creed, into mondioring and I just wasn't sure where to go to get started. She told me "we do mondio!" and invited me out to her club.

So literally just show up at a dog event and talk to people. You'll find someone.

It also sort of depends what sport you're interested in. Again, since I know I want mondioring, and I also live in a very different area than I did back then, when I got Phoebe and later Fenris I looked into nearby mondio clubs and watched their posting. Eventually I picked one, and while a few factors went into that (blatantly friendly to off-breeds with one of their club dogs being a frenchie, club president is an old doberman acquaintance, access to decoys I actively want to work my dog), I still had to get the introductory email out of the way and ask if they were accepting new members and if I could head down with my new puppy and my shy girl and see if either were any good at it.

If you know your sport, you can always try that. Try looking for "[sport] club [state]" and see what pops up. I find FB's search a bit more helpful than Google's for this one. Certain sports have entire websites dedicated to finding you a nearby club, and other sports are so common that asking any independent training facility (aka NOT petco or petsmart) should get you a few recommendations. You can also just like. Show up at a trial. Most are open to the public again so you should be able to find somewhere that will let you watch, and if you like what you see in certain dogs you can ask the competitors where they train (AFTER their run, of course).

Regardless of how you find somewhere to go, my next recommendation is to watch before committing. Some sports it's more common to make spectators pay for the privilege of watching, we call this auditing. Other sports you can watch a session or two before they tell you decide or pay up. It sort of depends. Remember that many of these trainers pay their bills with the money that they get from training, so they want to make sure lookieloos aren't just absorbing free dog training advice that may have been a paycheck for them.

If you don't know what sport you want to pursue, I think it's worthwhile to contact that kennel club and ask them where and where they meet and if it's okay for you to come next time because you'd like to learn more about dog sports and you're not really sure where to go.

[thewardenisonthecase]

Hawke questions!!

8. How does Hawke feel about taking care of their family? Do they feel like they're carrying a burden or do they assume the responsbility?

28. Did Hawke initiate a relationship with any of their companions? If so, why were they attracted to that companion? Was it a frienship or a rivalry romance?

And generally, if you have anything to say about any of the relationships with any of the companions, I think all of those questions are interesting, but didn't wanna overwhelm you lmao😭🫶

thanks for the ask!

(ask list here)

8 - She assumes the responsability. Elizabeth was very close to Malcom, and he always talked to her about one day he and Leandra would be gone and she would have to take care of her siblings, so this responsability was something she grew up expecting. When he was near death, he made Hawke promise she'd care for them, and that was when Hawke began to step into the role of 'leader' of her family. Everything she does is to give her mom and her siblings a good life.

She does have some conflicting feelings when it comes to her feeling like....she's doing her best for them and yet she feels like she's criticized by everyone in the family.

28. So, she and Fenris are in a relationship and boy oh boy is it complicated, like everything in her life.

I think what attracted Elizabeth to Fenris was how different they were. In truth, when she learned his hatred of mages, she wanted to prove to him that mages could be good (especially becaus she's a mage herself). And so she was CONSTANTLY bringing him around to discuss this sort of thing, and then the conversation would turn into others things, and the more she learned about him the more intrigued she was.

Because they are very different and yet, she feels a connection to him, especially when Fenris talks about what do you do when you stop running (because Hawke has also been running most of her life, so she definetly gets that feeling). Ultimatly, their relationship develops due to the famous case of we spend so much time together that feelings started to happen.

Also because like, Elizabeth knows that Fenris hates mages and yet he never denounced her, or anders and merrill to templars, nor in any other time she was helping mages. he knew everything and never acted against them. And from Fenris's side, I think he sees that Hawke is not like any mage he's met: she doesn't do blood magic, she shuts down demons, she helps people. And even thought he talks a lot of shit, she still listens to him and takes his thoughts into consideration (even if she'll still side with mages).

Now, regarding rivalry and friendship, i've done both paths, and in MY canon, I would say its like a mix of both? I mean, rivalry makes more sense because Elizabeth is constantly siding with mages, but they also have that friendship. (If the Maker gives me the strenght, I'll rewrite my fic to try and show that better because I think its rivalry in the sense of opposite views that can sometimes lead to coflict, but friendship in EVERY other sense)

Now, after that essay, I'm gonna go into the other companions but i'm leaving it under the read more kkkkk

Ok I'll try to keep this short and fail spetacularly (i'll skip fenris cause he already got his moment under the sun in this post)

Bethany: She was very close to Bethany, and her death haunted her for a longgg time.

Carver: Like any good siblings, they have a love hate relationship. Don't touch my stuff, I'd give my kidney for you. They love each other more than they refuse to admit.

Aveline: Elizabeth goes to Aveline when she needs a more 'feet on the ground' perspective, though Aveline being the captain means Elizabeth doesn't bring her out as much. I imagine on days off, however, the two take the time to catch up. Also, she leaned heavily on Aveline after Leandra died and after Fenris broke up with her. Aveline's her rock.

Varric: Her best friend. The guy who knows her deepest secrets. Elizabeth loves him and vice versa. They're joined at the hip, you rarely see one without the other. She didn't expect for them to grow so close when they first met but it happened. Also relates to him a lot with the whole having a complicated relationship with their family. They're there for each other during the good and the bad times.

Anders: They are extremely close. Elizabeth became even more radicalized about the mage cause because of him. She wishes she could do more to help him in regards to Justice, because she hates to see him suffering. The only time they clash is because of Fenris. Also, she's very aware that he has feelings for her.

Merrill: Adores Merrill, and is super defensive of her. Loves hearing her stories about the dalish and the Creators, and Merrill made Elizabeth's thoughts on blood magic change (she's like well if everyone was like merrill, shit wouldn't be bad). Is also super aware of the fact that Merrill has feelings for her.

Isabela: She really likes Isabela though their relationship does sour a bit after act 2. Don't get me wrong, Elizabeth defended Isabela with tooth and nail, but after beating the arishok, she did give Isabela an earful. Eventually, however, they do get over it. Isabela is Elizabeth's drinking buddy, and she definetly cried about relationship problems with Isa before.

Sebastian: She's trying to corrupt him into leaving the Chantry, because he's too religious for her taste. She doesn't talk to him much and maybe that's for the better. Has felt the urge to punch him in the face more than once, and is oh so glad when he leaves after she spares Anders.

[ratasum]

hi :3

after reading the thaumanova problem, i found myself really curious about how rhenn feels about ankka down the line. someone who not only worked in the reactor, knowing where it was, but who came to the conclusions she did about the value (or lack thereof) of the world and the people in it. i feel like there's potential for her to be a really interesting foil to rhenn, and i was wondering if you had any thoughts on the topic.

Rhenn and Ankka are Fenris and Anders to me, which makes no sense without some explanation, but I'm gonna try to kind of pick my way through my thoughts here:

Rhenn started out much like Ankka. While not so nihilistic, the only inherent worth he was taught to see in the world was as something to be ruled and controlled. Exploited and molded into the vision the Inquest had for it. Over time, through meeting other people (the Thaumanova Reactor and the consequences of its explosion are what set him on this path as well), he comes to see there's something there worth fighting for. He understands that the consequences of what they're doing are massive and sometimes not great, but the benefits far outweigh the downsides.

(Something Soo Won herself later confirms, confessing that there was no other way- the tragedy is not that the dragons had to die, it's that they were always going to die from the moment they were born and she KNEW that.)

On the flip side, Ankka started in a similar place, thrust into a new perspective largely because of that damn reactor. But where Rhenn only knows about it through second-hand knowledge, Ankka was there, and the aftershocks caused her to see the world through a different lens as she and the rest of the Aetherblades killed themselves over and over again in the Mists to gain more and more power.

Ankka found power, and she watched what he was doing with what I imagine was probably no small amount of bitterness. He had access to all this power in a world that hurt so much and so many, and yet he used it to try to save a world that was - in her eyes - nearing its end anyway. And in some ways, Ankka was right. The commander killing the elder dragons would seem, from someone on the outside, to be a way to remake the world as a whole. She lacked the understanding.

But for the two of them, despite all that, it always comes back to Thaumanova and the utter decimation of Rata Thauma. Ankka found in that destruction a way to a form of rebirth, a way to gain power. Rhenn rejected that call to power after learning the truth and seeing first hand the destruction draconic magic could cause on such a massive scale.

It colors their relationship in an unusual way, but interestingly, she turns out as more of a foil for Kippa where the city is involved. While Rhenn has learned the value of the world and the desire to keep it and the people he loves in it safe, Ankka doesn't hesitate to needle him with the knowledge of what happened there... or to needle him for not taking advantage of the fact that he has a dragon right there he could kill to unleash more power AND an elementalist whose magic, if provoked, could cause ripple effects. Her beef with Rhenn, what makes them play off each other very well when they finally butt heads, is their mutual connections to the Inquest more than to the reactor.

(I think she actually knew Prikk and that has something to do with her heterochromia but I'm still hammering through that idea; short answer there is that she saw a benefit in Rhenn's father's research where he saw nothing but pain.)

But in the end, it's Kippa that goes with them to that last fight, and after she's stopped, it's Kippa that holds her as she dies.

It's something Rhenn doesn't understand, but he stands back to allow it to happen. Maybe it's something they both needed. To see in someone else's face what that disaster did to someone else.

I think what it comes down to, between Rhenn and Ankka, is that he meets her at what would have been his Thaumanova turning point. She knows the truth now, or at least he's tried to make her aware of it as far as trying to unleash the Void on the world, but she refuses to see it. And there's where the Fenris and Anders comparison really comes in. Fenris was recovering while Anders was on a spiral. Had they met under different circumstances, in a different time, maybe it would have made a difference. But they're both too far past that point for it to matter anymore.

All they have now is the bitterness.

[witchthewriter]

I hope this isn't a weird question but do you have a list of sjm characters that you headcanon as poc? Because I want to see what you think and if they line up with my own. I had never seen manon fan casted as asian, but im in love with it!!

I love this question! I've been re-reading the three series, getting ready for CC3 to come out. I have so many things to say, but I'll leave all that to another post - also thank you for this question, it's awesome. Please comment how you feel/what you think in the comments xx

𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑

First of all, the Bat Boys are NOT white. If I see another person fancast Matthew Daddario as Ariel, I will implode! I know it's difficult getting the perfect cast for a story we all adore.

Another point, the Bat Boys are Illyrian, and they are actual real people. Their usual features are tan skin, brown eyes and brown/black hair.

Also, Lucien - who I have fancasted in the past with Martin Sensmeier. I thought it was an interesting idea for a Native American to have that role.

And Amren is MOST DEFINITELY Asian. Without a doubt. There is no ifs, buts or maybes about it. She is most definitely Asian, and I will take offense if someone thinks otherwise.

Also, I don't want the Archerons to be so conventionally pretty, or petite. That's why Alycia Debnam-Carey is my Feyre, Dagmara Bryzek as Elain and Jessica Brown-Findlay as Nesta. I want women who aren't models!

The Valkyries;l Emerie is described as brown, as she is an Illyrian woman. And I'm completely fine with Gwen being red-haired, freckled and pale.

I'm curious about Mor, her physical features are fine - but her 'power' has yet to be revealed. Because it doesn't make sense???

𝐓𝐎𝐆

There are a lot more cultures in this series than the others. For me, it was so interesting because I'm desperate to know how different countries/continents, experience magic.

Learning about the Ruk's, with Nesryn and Sartaq, that was amazing.

I thought Manon was Asian, I always thought she was?! I mean from that link, that's how I imagined her. Whenever I see fanart where she isn't Asian, I just don't see them as Manon.

I definitely think the Cadre could be more than "tanned from hours of training in the sun." I think Lorcan could be a black man! And I def think Fenrys is half-black. Maybe with a white mother though. I hope I'm not coming off as insensitive! Please tell me if I am, because that isn't my intent.

Honestly, I don't care about what's 'canon,' I think there are way too many white characters in every part of literature. I know about history and when it comes down to fantasy worlds, I think black people should be allowed to indulge themselves as much as they want, without having to think about their awful history and what their culture has gone through.

𝐂𝐂

I actually thought Danika was black, it was a surprise to see fanart and she isn't??? For some reason, it doesn't sit right with me to have a white Danika.

Again, I feel like there aren't enough people of colour. We have little fire sprites, we have a lion-dog pet, a serpent queen, angels, and barely anyone who isn't beyond tan.

I don't think this series has a black character ... other than a few background characters that are only mentioned here and there ... if anyone wants to weigh in - I'm still learning about cc, I forget A LOT.

But in no way has SJM been as horrible as J.K. Rowling. Not only was she racist, but cliche', and a pick me. There was too much pick-me energy among the female characters. I'd like to think that at Hogwarts, the girls stick together no matter what (for me, female friendships are so important. It's sisterhood).

[merrillusive]

fatewoven

His armor remains bristled, sharp at the edges. Both a shield and weapon built from broken pieces, salvaged and scavenged, paid in blood an a waning naivety over the years. To that effect: his disdain proves oppressive. There's something clogging in the back of his throat, preventing him from breathing properly for too long of a moment at her response. "What I've endured," he repeats slowly, tone baleful. Acidity clings to each harsh consonant. "What could you possibly understand about it? No other choice existed but to endure it. Do you think I simply tolerated being treated as less than nothing every day of my life?" More awaits of that sordid, gruesome, and shameful history awaits on the tongue, but he swallows instead. Tastes bitter hops and something worse as he glares at Merrill and her too-wide eyes. Dalish, they're always looking down at something; always finding a lack to point out, a wisdom the flat-eared elves haven't the bloodline to earn. Too easily does her voice slips between the gaps of his armor, a chisel against the brittle surface he wants to hide forevermore. "I hope you do not take your freedom of choice for granted for as long as you live, mage." Expression shifting toward cynical neutrality, Fenris leans back into the chair. "I refuse because I want to refuse. It's an experience that's yet to wear out its novelty. The way you speak has little difference to how magisters bemoan their lost glory. You can pave whatever road you wish with good intentions, but do not be surprised when it leads to an ending that's far from satisfactory."

----------------

"Why did you endure it? You could have chosen death and make it stop. " As much as Fenris talked about his time in Tevinter, it was always just that first layer of grumpy sentences. He suffered, she did not doubt it. However, he never really stated why he accepted to suffer that much. She suspected that he was made to, but her words were already in the room.Another inquiry that would grant her a bashful answer in the face, probably.

And as much as he was not talking, he also never asked, only assumed, through the lense of the world that had been given to him. He did not know that the Dalish built their life on a displine of pain, it came, it settled , it went , you learned. "I know pain Fenris, but you do not ask, because everyone's pain is compared to yours, and yours always is the greatest and casts so many shadows on all else. " she pointed out. "Maybe I will be tortured soon enough, maybe then you'll be happy , is that what you want me to say? The probability is there. Beyond being an elf and a mage, I'm also a woman. 3 for 3. " She shifted uncomfortably. She was not a fool, if not for Varric's protection, things could have happened to her already. She provoked Fenris, just to see how much harm he wished upon her. It was always a good information to have.

"Your opinion of me has been noted an drifted away like a dead fish along the river. I am a mage, I am dalish , your mouth must be tired to always point that out at every interaction. " She responded, her eyes still on him. However, she felt so much audacity to speak so openly. Maybe it was the little bit of ale she had taken. " My path does not have to be satisfactory, but as you say, will eventually lead to an ending. For example if one day I discover a way to get rid of your lyrium markings without killing you, I will share that knowledge with you. What you do with it is not dependant on if I agree or not. " And that was not a light promise, she would if she could.