#and didn't get the nathaniel quest?

[thewardenisonthecase]

me: girl you shoul replay awakening before writing this fic

also me: i cannot put into words how much i do not want to replay awakening

[hpowellsmith]

Hello there! I've been wanting to replay the older Baldur's Gate games, and was searching around for mlm NPC romance mods. I saw yours mentioned and found your site with some googling, but it seems the place they were hosted at is gone now (Spellhold Studios). I was wondering if you still have the mods available somewhere? Either way, I hope you have a great day!

OK, this has made go down a modding-community rabbit hole! I hadn't done anything with our Baldur's Gate 2 mods, or looked at them really, since 2015 and I really appreciate it because they're something that brought my wife and I a ton of joy, and they were the first interactive narratives I made.

Links, descriptions, and comments below because it is Long:

I got in touch with folks on the Gibberlings3 forum which is, wonderfully, still going strong, and have given permission for Faren and Nathaniel to be uploaded to the Spellhold Studios GitHub (which has a bunch of other mods too - do check out Adrian, Isra, and Ninde in particular!) to the team maintaining it. That may be a little while as some of the team are ill right now, but once I hear that it's done, I'll post about it here; I've also been pointed to some links where the mods were mirrored. Note that I haven't tested these myself on a current BG2 install, but it is easy to uninstall WeiDU mods if there's a problem.

Faren is a bisexual True Neutral fighter/thief (I can't remember if he's dual-classed or multi-classed) who's easygoing, down-to-earth, and up for partying, with a bit of a checkered past - his adventuring party died in one of the dungeons you can visit in BG2, and since then he's been picking up dodgy jobs, feeling a bit adrift, and trying to get his life back on track. That's where the PC comes in! You can befriend him or romance him (starting with either a casual or more committed tone, then committing further if you want to), and he has a personal quest in which a shady figure from his past wants him to do one last job. He was our third mod, and we'd developed our skills with writing and scope a lot by then. When I play BG2, I play with Faren! You can currently download Faren here. It's the version updated in 2015 with more banters with modded NPCs and the Enhanced Edition characters; there may be compatibility issues installing it with other newer mods but do give it a try.

I found The Luxley Family, which was our second mod, on the GitHub here. From a cursory (rusty) glance it looks like it should be compatible with Enhanced Edition, but the storyline is only for Shadows of Amn and doesn't continue into Throne of Bhaal. Sebastian and Andrei (Chaotic Neutral bard with a custom kit and Lawful Neutral monk respectively) are members of a mysterious, reclusive family who are under a curse. Sebastian's a worldly playwright who's showing his polite but moody teenage cousin Andrei the sights when they bump into the PC. They aren't romanceable, but you can have a fling with Sebastian, who's bisexual, if you let/help him mess up his life sufficiently.

Nathaniel is a Lawful Good gay fighter with a lot of feelings. He was our first mod and I am really proud of the impact he had on a lot of people and even other games back in the day, but if you play, go in expecting a LOT of feelings good and bad, relationship drama, and angst! (There's something very sad about the fact that as teens we could not imagine a D&D setting without homophobia back then; the idea of a knightly order thinking well of gay people just didn't cross our minds. it's extraordinary how much better a lot of things are now, including the queerness in D&D streams, books, and of course Baldur's Gate 3. Interestingly, we didn't include homophobia in the Luxley Family or Faren and I don't remember how conscious that was; maybe we'd become more hopeful by then.) You can download an outdated version of Nathaniel here but I don't think it will be compatible with Enhanced Edition.

Thank you so much for messaging! I didn't realise they weren't able to be downloaded anymore and I am really keen for digital art to be preserved (as well as players getting to smooch hot guys, of course).

(Digression - my wife and I have a couple of almost-finished mods on our computer: a lesbian cleric of Talos which she wrote, and a bi Valygar romance that I wrote. And, if it's among two computers' ago worth of external hard drive storage, the ending for the Luxley Family story. Who knows, maybe one day...)

[gil-galadhwen]

31 Days of Dragon Age

Days 1- 6 here

Day 06 - Favourite Origins NPC

He actually drove me nuts because I felt he was a terrible friend to Cleo and an even worse boyfriend to Lily. So for creating so much drama and making me feel things (anger mostly) it's gotta be fucking Jowan!

Day 07 - Favourite Origins Scene/Dialogue

Oh man, I didn't get this in my playthroughs because I always choose differently, but I've seen videos of Alistair's reaction if you choose to let Loghain join your group as a Grey Warden. It's easily some of the best voice acting I've ever seen. Huge kudos to Alistair's voice actor Steve Valentine 👏🏻

Day 08 - Favourite Origins Lore/Codex Entry

Broodmothers

When exposed to the darkspawn taint, men are driven mad and eventually die. Women, however, undergo great pain and gross mutations that cause most of them to perish. Those that survive, however, become the grotesque broodmothers. These giant, twisted behemoths birth many darkspawn at a time; a single broodmother can create thousands of darkspawn over the course of her lifetime.

As if it isn't hard enough to be a woman 😩 Broodmothers truly reminded me that these games are DARK and often harrowing. I was so disgusted, saddened, and inspired by the broodmothers that I wrote a (very short) poem that somehow got published in a lit mag! If you're keen to read, I'll send you the link 😉

Day 09 - Favourite Awakenings Companion

I wanna say Nathaniel because he's hot or maybe Justice because the concept of him is so so great, but I'm gonna go with Shale for the SASS!

Day 10 - Favourite Awakenings Quest

Depths of Depravity for more terrifying Broodmother action! 🫠

[carrinth]

Carrinth's Initial Impressions of DA: Awakening (1/?)

*possible spoilers?*

I was warned that DA:A was buggy and could possibly miss out recruitment/quest completion but my god, I didn't realize it would be a whole laundry list >_>. After some readings and MUCH internal debating, I decided to play at the recommended order. Which makes Justice the last quest :(( Noooo! Now I'm Sad. Wait for me Second Spirit Husband! 😫

Hello obviously temporary party member.

Wow Anders is REALLY different from his DA2 counterpart. I think I understand more why people were so upset. :o It's not just the voice, it's how he talks too. ...Why am I getting serious Alistair vibes from you.

DA2 Anders, you are still my fav First Apostate Husband.

... Marzel and Anders are wearing the same outfit. One of us has to change.

There we go.

Seriously mages have almost NO fashion options in DA 😭

DA:O - The Joining ritual is super secret hush-hush with Special Ingredients and Recipe known only to the Senior Wardens; DA:A - Seneschal dude who isn't even a Grey Warden: free drinks for all~!

Oghren why has your approval reset :(

Nathaniel Howe. Your voice... doesn't match your face. You inherited your dad's erm, striking looks eh? I'm so sorry.

CAT. 🐱

First convo with Anders: "Mages should be FREE." Ohhhh, there you are DA2-ish Anders my beloved. Ok, he's the same guy. Sorta.

Just a bunch of Grey Warden bros.

OMG it's Wade and Hereen! The dialogue!!! Turnip Keep! XD XD XD Hereen why are you so nice to me now? Didn't you kick me out of your shop previously because I enabled your partner's crafting kink?

Decided to go recruit Sigrun! Hopefully I won't break any quests but I'm just gonna go ahead!

Idk but I feel like I like the gameplay of Awakening better? I think since we're all Grey Warden, there's this weird feeling of camaraderie? Like doing Warden things with your Warden bros. Whereas in Origins, it was more people along for the ride temporarily rather than part of your team. Does that make sense??

Could also be because Marzel now has Phenomenal Cosmic Powers and can control the battlefield better resulting in less dying lol. Let's go Storm of the Century baby~!

[mxanigel]

Fic titles? 👀

How Much You Loathe (How They Love You)

A Castle on The Hill

Four Times (X) Says Hello - Five Times They Say Goodbye

Liberosis*

(*From @dictionaryofobscuresorrows , n. the desire to care less about things—to loosen your grip on your life, to stop glancing behind you every few steps, afraid that someone will snatch it from you before you reach the end zone—rather to hold your life loosely and playfully, like a volleyball, keeping it in the air, with only quick fleeting interventions, bouncing freely in the hands of trusted friends, always in play)

Squeee~ so many ideas, thank you!

How Much You Loathe (How They Love You)

This feels very Winter x Miranda lol, like "I care about you against my will" kind of vibes. Their relationship was built from clash after clash, yet there's a growing (albeit begrudging) respect on both sides. This fic would specifically cover the aftermath of the ME2 suicide mission when, having survived, Winter and Miranda would want to figure out what the hell they are to each other, where they go from here.

It would culminate after Arrival, when even Winter is brought low by the massive casualties they inflicted. Miranda comes to Winter's cabin to offer ruthless calculus as a way of showing support because she cares, and Winter absolutely is not in the mood for that kind of reassurance. They definitely end up hate-making-out that devolves into not-hate, partly because they know what they have can't last.

A Castle on The Hill

After vanquishing the Mother, peace returns to Amaranthine. Then, one morning, Neri receives a report of a haunted castle. Varel explains it's not really a castle, not by Vigil's Keep standards, but the nickname of a large house overlooking a village. That house was built to look like a castle by a minor noble who abandoned it after the growing cost of the project threatened to liquidate all of his holdings.

Neri ignores the report until they get another. And another. Concerned about darkspawn (or, worse, a tear in the Veil), the Vigil's Keep crew heads to the "castle" to investigate. They find a maze within because the minor noble thought castles should have lots of hallways and small rooms and secret passages. Which happen to be perfect breeding grounds for nugs.

Anders figures it out first but decides that's a boring result and uses magic to make it seem like there are actual ghosts in the house. (Velanna may help once she discovers how much Oghren Does Not Like Ghosts.) Hilarity ensues.

Four Times (X) Says Hello - Five Times They Say Goodbye

I think I need to hand this one to Winter too. It'd feature four of the first Mass Effect's side quests in which they greet someone they plan to/seriously threaten to kill, possibly focusing on the Helena Blake sequence, and then contrast with one time they didn't say hello first (one of the Cerberus missions, or the Garrus personal quest mission with Dr. Saleon).

Liberosis

(Thank you for including the definition!) This fic would dive into Heather Cousland's growth as Ferelden rebuilds during the years of Dragon Age 2. How she learns to live without revenge driving her, how she builds the reputation of the Dark Wolf beyond a single person so that she doesn't always have to carry that role with her, how she builds trust with Neri and rebuilds some sort of relationship with Nathaniel. Her traumas aren't forgotten, but they no longer assault her upon waking nor torment her sleep. It would be after this growth that she and Anora figure out how to be together despite politics and arranged marriages and physical distance.

Send me a made-up fic title and I'll tell you what I'd write for it

[my-dumb-obsessions]

I just saw your tags about Cariane Amell's quest for an untainted Old God and that is *fascinating.* What else is Carie up to? What is she like?

Hoo, boy! Cariane's post-Awakening life has many twists and turns, and a good amount of involvement in DA2 Act 3 and Legacy timelines.

What is she like? Compassionate within certain limits, curious and resourceful. She will frequently make decisions with incomplete information because "someone has to." Give her a little bit of command and she'll run with it. She may not know best, but will listen to people she trusts and course correct. But if she's got an agenda and really believes in it, she will stick to her guns.

For this particular project, it started during the Blight. In the years after discovering Soldier's Peak she spent a lot of time working with Avernus, who'd used blood magic to hold off his own Calling and extend his life by 200 years. She also got him a solid number of Warden test subjects after a group of Orlesian Wardens failed to oust her from command (these were the same Wardens who, under their acting Commander, drove off half her mages - including Anders - while she and Nathaniel answered a summons from Weisshaupt). There was a week-long battle over Vigil's Keep, and after reclaiming it from the rebels, she captured and sent them to Avernus rather than executing them.

Carie is also an unapologetic supporter of mage freedom and an active thorn in the Chantry's side, so years later when Leliana informed her that the Chantry wanted her help, she didn't trust it. She took it as a warning and gradually moved Warden operations from Amaranthine to Soldier's Peak, away from public attention.

"In my dreams, I see the Black City, and I am drawn towards it. There is something there, an answer to what this taint is, this taint that we share with the darkspawn..." —From the notes of Avernus (DAO Warden's Keep DLC)

"Naturally, of course, we cut into the cyst. The flesh within was blighted. We immediately examined all other cysts found in the other dragon carcasses. Each time, we found the blight. The only conclusion we can draw is that dragons can stem the spread of the blight within their own bodies." —Excerpt of Frederic of Serault's Report (DAI)

Cariane killed the Architect, because to her, the only good darkspawn is a dead darkspawn. But his research had merit, and she's fine with shady experiments if she's the one doing them 😅. Combined with the work she did with Avernus and the "relevant to your interests" report Leliana sent her about dragon autopsies, she put together this theory. She also got access to old records that implied Wardens who specialized as Reavers tended to live longer before hearing their Calling than other Wardens.

After Avernus died, this became her goal, to see if dragon blood could stem the taint indefinitely - not just any dragon, but the most powerful, near-divine creatures on the planet, of which there were only 2 left. Like a darkspawn, she could follow the sound of the song. And if she could get there before the darkspawn tainted it, maybe she could unlock the power of its blood.

So yeah it's not too different from what Clarel's Wardens were working on, taking the fight to the archdemons before they rose. She just had different plans for what to do when she found one. Does it make her a hypocrite for killing the Architect? Yeah, kind of. Is it completely misguided and doomed to fail? Maybe. I guess we'll find out.

—

Guys I love talking about Cariane, she's got so much lore, I could talk about her for days. Ask all the questions, I'm game! ❤️

[niriaveil]

some banter between the warden-commander and her wardens, takes place during awakening.

Anders: So, I've a question for you. Jessamine: Ask. Anders: What exactly do we call you? Commander? Queen? My lady? (if Oghren is in the party) Oghren: 'Hey, you' seems to work well for me, hehe. Jessamine: Titles are meaningless. I have a name, use it. Anders: You say that, but if I get arrested for calling the Queen of Ferelden by her first name, I know who to blame.

Jessamine: You weren't in the Tower when I visited. Anders: Oh, sure I was! Down in the dungeons, probably. Missed all that nasty abomination stuff, thankfully. Jessamine: I see. Anders: "I see"? Not going to ask me why I was down there, Commander? Jessamine: (sighs) Was this your fifth or sixth attempt to escape? Anders: My fifth. Jessamine: I've nothing more to ask then.

Ser Pounce-a-lot: (Meow!) Jessamine: I'm glad to see he's doing well. Anders: Just purr-fectly fine, aren't you, Ser Pounce-a-lot? Ser Pounce-a-lot: (Meow!) Jessamine: (sighs). Anders: What's wrong, Commander? Jessamine: Nothing. Simply appreciating our furry companion.

Jessamine: You've been staring at me for the past hour. Spit it out. Nathaniel: Did my father suffer? Jessamine: You asked Oghren this. Nathaniel: And he evaded the question. I would like to know. Jessamine: Would you, really? Nathaniel: Whatever he did, he was still my father. I... know what he did was horrendous. But still, did he-? Jessamine: He did. (if Oghren is in the party.) Oghren: Don't say I didn't warn you.

Nathaniel: ...How is Fergus doing? Jessamine: Fine enough, last I knew. Nathaniel: I see. (if Anders is in the party) Anders: Lovely weather we're having, aren't we? Jessamine: (sighs) He's still terrible with the bow, if you were curious. Nathaniel: Hah. At least that hasn't changed.

Nathaniel: ...Do you ever think about the past? Jessamine: Of course. I'm only human. Nathaniel: The tales told about you would suggest otherwise. ...But do you ever think about- Jessamine: Don't. Nathaniel: Pardon? Jessamine: Don't entertain the what if thoughts. Leave the past where it is, Nathaniel. We are different people. Nathaniel: ...Very well.

(only if the above conversation occurred, and one major quest has been completed since then.)

Jessamine: Forgive me, for my words. Nathaniel: Which ones? Jessamine: About the past, saying that we are different people now. Nathaniel: You were correct though. Jessamine: I still hurt you. ...Yes, I thought about the past - about us - for so long. But after Highever, I couldn't fathom to think about that anymore. Nathaniel: Do you think it would've made a difference? Jessamine: I don't think love would've saved anyone that day.

Nathaniel: Queen of Ferelden, huh? I'm reminded of a small girl, running around covered in mud and twigs with a screaming mother behind her. Jessamine: The young girl learned what it meant to grow up. Nathaniel: True enough. You no longer make Fergus eat your greens for you, I hope? Jessamine: Hah. I'm certain he goads that the Hero of Ferelden didn't enjoy her vegetables growing up, or that I used to cry when we went hunting because I was afraid of bugs. Nathaniel: Someone has to get the truth out for the people.

[soraavalon]

Moriarty (OOC): Do we mention meeting Nathaniel's parents? Tark (OOC): I think we leave that up to Nathaniel to mention. Hunt (OOC): Yeah. DM: I figured it was more of just the actual-- Tark (OOC): So if Nathaniel wants to mention it, then yes, but otherwise that's more of a personal side quest and not... DM: Yeah. Nathaniel: It would help explain a bit of the delay, so yeah he'll mention kind of vaguely. He won't give details, but yeah. Rosaline: Was she really from the Platinum Cathedral? The priestess? Moriarty: Yes. Tark: Yes. Hunt: Mm-hmm. Rosaline: How was she generally? DM: And with that 18, you can see there is kind of genuine awe in Rosaline's eyes, not just the like 'oh my god, you guys went on a cool adventure.' She is Yuan-Ti, that is her faith, is the Platinum Crown and there is a bit of reverence as she's sort of like 'How was that, you got to hang out with a priestess from the Cathedral?' Tark: Internally Tark's like 'She's kind of a bitch' Moriarty (OOC): She was a lying bitch who got us attacked by dragons and she didn't tell us she was being hunted by dragons. Marigold: I liked her. She had a weird complicated view of the world, but she was nice and I turned her into a puppy. Rosaline: Oh... Okay. Tark: She did get better after she died. Nathaniel: Okay. Tark: She got better though. She got better though. Sorry. Sorry. Rosaline: *clears throat* Shelves are clean, I'll talk to you later. Glad you're all back. DM: She'll curtsy and excuse herself. Tark: She's the best.

[spainkitty]

I'm playing DA:O-Awakening and FOR SOME FRIGGIN REASON I got a crazy glitch where, whenever Nathaniel Howe is in my party and a combat starts, SUDDENLY the poison crafting menu pops up??? and then. refuses. to. close.

First, this happened when I played with the regular DLC. I finished it without him in my party for the remaining half or third of the dlc I had left, but my friend and I downloaded the Ultimate dlc pack so I could play EVERY DLC, so I restarted and I just started Awakening again and

it's DOING IT AGAIN. AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE GAME. Like, I haven't even finished all the !Amaranthine quests!??! Hell, I didn't even leave Vigil's Keep before it started bugging on me!! IM SO SAD! LET ME HAVE MY TEAM OF POOR LITTLE MEOW MEOW BOIS?? My group is NOT complete if sad boy Nate isn't getting sassed by cotboy Anders every two seconds!! I've tried looking it up online but I can't find ANYONE who had the same problem😭😭🥺🥺

[ravencall70]

The Heart of a Crow (excerpt)

"Zev,

I was so pleased to receive your letter so soon after arriving here in Amaranthine. Things here are... unsettling. Vigil's keep was under attack by darkspawn when I arrived and all the Wardens from Orlais are dead or missing.

They're organized Zev and more disturbing is that the one I killed... talked. He was threatening the Keep's seneschal when I stopped him. I don't know what this means but the Wardens who I thought I'd be leading are no longer here.

King Alistair, (and yes, Zev, I know how weird that sounds), arrived shortly after we cleared out the darkspawn. He couldn't stay, but did help me stop a Templar from returning a mage to the Circle.

Yes, another mage is following me around. He's been conscripted into the Grey Warden's, as was Oghren who was here when I arrived. And yeah he still reeks of... well, whatever that stench is, I still haven't figured it out.

I miss you Zev. I wish I was with you in Antiva. I don't like the thought of you on your own against the Crows. And before you mention my risk, you know it's different. I have people watching my back here and you're alone. Sorry, I just worry. Plus, I'm sure the weather there is a damn sight better than the northern coast of Ferelden.

When I'm finished here, I intend to join you. I do not like being away from you. Promise you'll be careful? I love you Zevran.

Avery"

*

My dear Grey Warden,

Talking darkspawn. Braska, I do not like the sound of that but it is a delight to hear from you amor. Truly, your words are like the sweetest breeze across my skin. If I was not busy evading the members of my former order I would be inclined to write you some dreadfully sweet poetry. Alas, the Crows are nothing if not persistent and I do not have the time just yet.

But do not worry about me. I have enlisted some assistance from a friend we met in Denerim. She is most helpful, not to mention useful as a sinfully seductive distraction for my enemies. (As well as the most skilled blade I have ever known.) Besides myself of course.

We managed to neutralize the most recent attempt to put an end to my quest and the guildmaster of Treviso in Antiva. I pray your tenure in Amaranthine is a short and victorious one. I miss having you at my side. Not to mention over me and under me, naked and... Apologies, I got carried away. Be safe my dear warden. Camping in a tent while avoiding the Crows is just not the same without you at my side.

Z."

*

"Zev,

I hope you're safe. Things here are... weird. Not to mention gross, disturbing and... difficult. It is nothing at all like it was before we stopped the Blight. My companions here are... harder to tolerate or even like really than those we once travelled with.

I enjoy talking with Segrun, a female dwarf from the Legion of the Dead. She's like a breath of fresh air compared to some of the others. Oghren hasn't changed much and is going to be a father, though Felsi had to come here to confront him for leaving her or I would never have known. There's also a mad female Dalish mage who if I wasn't desperate for help I might have killed outright. (Don't worry, I won't kill her, though she is the rudest person I've ever met. Yes, even more so than Morrigan.)

I think I mentioned another mage yes? His name is Anders and though pleasant enough, I can't help but think he has a lot of secrets he hides behind deflection and bad jokes. There are two others in my misfit group but I hesitate to mention them. Perhaps next time.

How goes your hunt? You mentioned enlisting the aid of a friend in your last letter. I hope she's as good as you say and trustworthy. I got the impression she might not hesitate to serve up a little payback for how you parted from her the last time you were together.

Dreadfully sweet poetry? Really love, anything you pen would greatly lift my spirits. I cannot convey how dreary things are, though I sense we're nearing the end of the troubles here. When my work is complete, I am coming to join you in Antiva. I am weary of darkspawn and broodmothers (don't ask), and I want nothing more than to hold you in my arms.

Ti amo,

Avery"

*

"My dear Grey Warden,

Broodmothers? If I did not know you as well as I do, I might think you were toying with me. Alas, your tone was enough to convince me you are quite serious and it worries me.

Truly? You wish me to write you a poem? Hmm. Braska, I am interrupted. I will think on it and compose something suitable.

I have returned! Quite exhilarating that was. But you had asked for a poem and this is what I have for you.

When I faltered, my life was forfeit

When I failed, your hand was there

When I shared, you didn't judge me

When I fell, your touch was fair

Am I dreaming, am I deceived

Does he mock me, I cannot say

Then you kissed me, a dance I play

You asked for more, my heart was hard

I looked for tricks, they were not there

I know not this dance, I gave a token

You didn't press, my heart was warming

Can this be real, I think, ti amo

You smile, it's true

Tis a blessing, mi amor

You whisper, I love you, and I am yours.

Sincerely, I do not believe it is my best attempt. Perhaps I should just borrow from those more talented no? I hope your troubles in Amaranthine conclude soon. I wait with bated breath to hear from you again. Isabella and I have defeated the guildmaster here in Seleny and are moving on to Rialto. A pleasant coastal city closer to Antiva city but not too close. I am looking forward to a nice bowl of fish chowder and an indulgent amount of Antivan brandy, though I would much prefer to share these things with you.

Ti amo Avery,

Z."

*

"Zev,

Your poem is beautiful and exactly  what I needed when it arrived. I mentioned there were two others here with me in Amaranthine last time? They are... unconventional, to say the least but are committed to stopping the darkspawn. One is Nathaniel Howe, yes that Howe and no, I am not crazy. I conscripted him and he has earned my trust if not my loyalty. I may even recommend he take over here when this business is done.

The other is a... how do I say this? We ended up in the Fade while looking for a missing Grey Warden. He was dead and when the blood mage we confronted sent us back, a spirit of Justice came with us (entirely by accident), and inhabited the Grey Warden's body. Yes, it is as creepy as it sounds but it didn't seem right to let him just wander off alone. Honestly, I've no idea what to do about him or if I even can do anything.

I am all right Zev, but I admit I get tired of being trapped in the Fade against my will. I hope you are safe and that your beloved fish chowder was delicious. Have another brandy for me, sadly all the Warden's have here is cheap whiskey and even cheaper wine.

Love,

Avery"

*

"Avery,

What do you mean you conscripted a Howe? A spirit of Justice? Your description reminds me of the mortalitasi in Nevarra. I do not like this amor. Also, I get the feeling things are much worse there than you have led me to believe, though I hope that is just my imagination and you are not holding something back.

Isabella has had to disappear for a time and I have left Rialto and am staying in a small village further inland. Things did not go well in Rialto but the fish chowder was just as I remembered it.

Do not worry about me amor, I am safe enough and it seems to me you have more than enough to deal with. I intend to remain here until Isabella returns as it is too dangerous to venture out on my own.

You liked my poem? Truly? Ah, ti amo you flatter me. Perhaps while I am here I shall attempt another one, better this time. Oh, I must go. The farmer has need of me. Keep yourself safe amor, I wish to see you safe and whole when you return to me.

Z."

*

"My Warden,

It has been two months since I last heard from you and I am worried. Isabella has returned to Rialto but we have made no plans as I am not at my best with worry for you. How can I plot my revenge on the Crows if I do not know what may have befallen you?

Please write soon ti amo. I am sending a second letter with this one, addressed to whoever might have answers for me. I hope they will be able to help.

Continued on AO3

[carrinth]

Carrinth's On-Going Impressions of DA: Awakening (3/?)

Into the Woods We Go

*obviously spoilers*

Ah-hah! At long last we meet, Velanna. You are weirdly one of the least talked about of the Awakening crew.

Velanna is one Angry woman.

Entropy mage lady with negative approvals to spare in spades? M-Morrigan? Is that you? Marzel misses you babe, pls come back

Wild Sylvan jump scare. But now they are on FIRE. 🔥

If I had a copper for everytime I woke up in a jail cell.... 😓

Well, at least I'm not naked this time. Man, Fort Drakon was awkward. Two bros sitting naked in a jail cell, five feet apart cause they're not gay~ 🎵

Why do game devs think stripping you off your armor/weapons makes you helpless. No one QA this quest as a mage. HAH! Eat a Storm of the Century punk.

LMAO. Omg Oghren is a must for this mission. Leave Oghren's junk alone!

Damn. Am I supposed to feel conflict about this Architect guy? Gah! I'm gonna have philosophical debates with myself and write 2 page arguments and counter-agreements about killing him, aren't I? But then again, I feel like the decision to spare or kill him could go either way. Both have pros and cons DA writers could (unfortunately) twist to whatever outcome suits the narrative.

Also Architect guy could Get Some.

What.

I have eyes.

His are lopsided tho. 🤔

Okay. Genuinely perplexed why Justice went for Anders of all mages rather than Velanna. Lady straight up yells 'Vengeance!!!' as she lops a fireball!

I mean it's Probably Not That Deep but this seems ripe for over-analyzation. Did Justice feel the plight of mages more unjust than the Dalish? Is it because, the one thing Justice hates is Inaction and Velanna seems very capable of taking action and meting out her brand of fury whereas Anders is the one that needs the push bcos he's just sitting on his bum?? Or was Velanna too visibly angry, too wrathful, too prideful (?) -- all domains of demons -- and Justice (incorrectly?) perceived Anders as the calmer of the two?? Or was it just at the end of the day, all about consent, and when all was said and done, it was Anders that reached out first? Hmm. I must overthink.

Qunari merchant in your dungeons. More likely than you think! O_o

It's not a Dragon Age game unless we fight some dragons. At least these are smol dragons. Snu Snu Squad didn't fair well the last time.

Huh. I didn't know Nathaniel and Velanna were a thing

MORE LANDSMEET 2.0 NONSENSE. AWAY WITH YOU PEASANTS. Fear my maxed out Coercion and TREMBLE.

WOOOO! DONE! IT'S DONE. Finally I can go get Spirit Husband! Let's goooOOOO~!

[soraavalon]

Tark: Alright, so we don't let Vanessa in, but we feel out what we can and cannot keep telling her. Mistwood is still a question mark 'cause we might be able to do it, might not depending on how quickly we have to get back home. Eudora: Do we have anything urgent waiting for us back there? Tark: I don't think we do, but that doesn't mean we... DM: Your level of practicality, technically there's not really a timeline of getting back but Edmund is with the carriage which is not going to be able to off-road. Tark: Yeah. Eudora: Right DM: Sending him alone through Tark: No. DM: The Cradlepeaks. Tark: No DM: Is something you could do. Tark: No, no it's not. So we would have to go back to... Eudora: To Ravenchill first and then down the road. Tark: And then go down to Mistwood, but this poor man has already gone through. DM: Or go home, turn in your quest and be like 'We're taking another sabbatical even though we just got back.' Tark: Yeah or would it be that we're taking another sabbatical or are we... DM: No, I guess you guys were working those three months so... Hunt (OOC): Yeah. Tark (OOC): Or are we taking a quest, but a quest from one of our own? Hunt (OOC): A personal quest. Tark (OOC): 'Cause we could spin that. We could spin that. (IC): I think we should maybe ask Edmund if he, if we can extend. Like if can go up to Ravenchill and then down to Mistwood or if he thinks, 'cause really I think he would know. DM: You can ask him. Eudora: Or we can maybe ask around in Rosegulch to see if maybe there's a path that leads to the lake that's maybe not on the map? Tark: Like a goat trail-esque. Eudora: Yeah, like this is what, it's too small of a road to be marked on one of these big ol encompassing maps. Tark: Yeah. DM: Boy, when finally get the map finished and--- Tark (OOC): It's over for you guys. DM: It's over for you bitches. Nathaniel (OOC): I'm sorry. DM: No, it's okay. It's just I'm like with things 'cause we have to sit there and go 'actually that would be a little closer to that' 'cause Rosegulch would actually be closer to Moonbasin than it looks on this map. Tark (OOC): Yeah. DM: Thornminister as well. Tark (OOC): It's a rough outline, they didn't have that good of maps back then. DM: Yeah, so potentially you can get from Rosegulch to Mistwood, this is so poorly made, 'cause it would probably be closer to the shores and there probably is a fishing community on the outskirts. Tark (OOC): But that doesn't mean it's possible that it's like a goat trail, that doesn't mean a carriage... -overlapping responses- Tark (OOC): And we don't want to leave this poor guy alone. Hunt (OOC): No. Tark (OOC): So especially Hunt (OOC): Ezra will kill us. Tark (OOC): Not only that, which I'm terrified of them, but just after the dragons this poor man has PTSD. We're not, I don't think it's a good idea to leave him alone. Eudora: Yeah, so whatever we do, we're taking this poor guy with us. DM: You're taking Edmund with you. Tark (OOC): He's gonna go back and he's gonna be like, 'Don't ever...' DM: 'I don't give a fuck. I don't give a fuck. You are going to take the airship!.' Tark (OOC): 'I don't care if it's a two minute drive, fuck you! Take the airship.' DM: 'You better swift it.' (?) Moriarty (OOC): '[something] this bitch, who cares about the fact, these people are insane!' Tark (OOC): *laughing* Yeah! Eudora (OOC): It's technically not our fault that things went the way they did. Hunt (OOC): Yeah. Tark (OOC): Yeah.