#and there are no templars to keep us apart

[saintofrevelation]

still can't believe bioware tried to say veilguard was their most romantic game ever when anders is right there?????

[kostevysen]

HETALIA ASK BLOG DIRECTORY (PART 1)

CREDITS TO @cafekitsune FOR THE DIVIDER (Please let me know if you want it removed!!)

★ MASTERLIST

Hi! I'm apart of a new and growing community of Hetalia ask blogs, you might have already seen us if you've ever stumbled upon the #hws ask blog or #hetalia ask blog tags! Due to fairly low engagement, we decided having a fully accessible masterlist/directory was a good thing to let you get to know us! Please keep in mind, the blogs on this list DO NOT INDULGE IN NSFW OR 18+ INTERACTIONS. (If you have stumbled upon one, please tell me so I may remove them from the directory!)

THE BLOGS (In Alphabetical order | A - M)

Austria 🇦🇹

— @askthearistocrat

America 🇺🇸

— @ask-the-hero-america

— @ask-hws-america

— @ask-nyo-america (Nyo)

Australia 🇦🇺

— @asktheoutbackhimbo

Belarus 🇧🇾

— @g-rlanachronism

Canada 🇨🇦

— @maplesyrupandsnow

China 🇨🇳

— @ask-the-red-dragon

Cyprus 🇨🇾

— @ask-cyprus

Czechia / Czech Republic 🇨🇿

— @hyphenssuck

Czechia & Slovakia 🇨🇿 🇸🇰

— @the-velvet-pair

Denmark 🇩🇰

— @ask-nyotaliadenmark (Nyo)

— @ask-therulerofscandinavia

England 🏴󠁧󠁢���󠁮󠁧󠁿

— @ask-hws-england

— @ask-arthur-kirkland

— @ask-nyo-england-aster-kirkland (Nyo)

Egypt 🇪🇬

— @ask-gypt

Estonia 🇪🇪

— @ask-computer-nerd-estonia

— @ask-2p-computer-nerd

Finland 🇫🇮

— @askfinandhana

France 🇫🇷

— @francisbonnefoyforreal

Germany 🇩🇪

— @nationwholovesdogsja

— @ask-2p-ger (2p/Secondplayer)

Greece 🇬🇷

— @askthesleepynation

Hungary 🇭🇺

— @elizabeta-hedervary

Hong Kong 🇭🇰

— @ask-dork-kong

Iceland 🇮🇸

— @ask-aph-hws-iceland

Ireland 🇮🇪

— @ask-hws-eire

Indonesia 🇮🇩

— @ask-hws-indonesia

Italy (Veneziano) 🇮🇹

— @ask-the-little-italian (Includes Chibitalia as well)

— @ask2pitalyblog (2p/Secondplayer)

— @italy-kin-blog

Italy (Romano) 🇮🇹

— @asking-italia-romano

— @ask-hws-romano

— @romano-kin-blog

Japan 🇯🇵

— @askthesunrisenation

Kugelmugel

— @ask-the-spherical-nation

Knights Templar ⚔️

— @heavens-official-serenade

Latvia 🇱🇻

— @askthelittlegenius

Liechtenstein 🇱🇮

— @thelittleliechtensteiner

Lithuania 🇱🇹

— @asktolys

— @hws-lietuva

Luxembourg 🇱🇺

— @ask-hws-luxembourg

Macau 🇲🇴

— @ask-the-business-man

Mexico 🇲🇽 [OC]

— @askthemexican

Molossia

— @ask-the-most-badass-nation

Monaco 🇲🇨

— @ask-le-rocher

Moldova 🇲🇩

— @ask-the-little-candy-devourer

(If you want to be added to or removed from the list, please contact me!)

[POST 1/2]

— Navigate to Part 2 (P - W & Others)

[feel free to reblog! <3]

[sewermageboy]

Honestly for ~ 90% of the choices in the games I don't even care that they won't be relevant in Veilguard, or that they're not using the Keep. It's a different part of the world, it's been 10 years, they didn't want to have to account for too many variables, I get that.

But the choices they did leave out feel SO directly relevant for Veilguard? Like, if Morrigan or Inky drank from the Well is gonna massively affect how they see the Evanuris. Whether Kieran exists also changes Morrigan's whole outlook. Whether Hawke is dead or not would have so much effect on Varric. Whether Divine Victoria abolished the Circles, reinstated them, or is even a mage herself would completely change how the Tevinter Chantry sees the southern one.

Like. This means that apart from the three very lackluster choices we were given, NOTHING else will be brought up again (which would mean that they'd have to sand down Morrigan and Varrics personalities to the point of becoming unrecognizable for example), OR they'd have to go with a default world state.

Again, don't care about most of the choices we could make not being in the game, but there's a justified feeling of anger there. The games lead us to believe some choices are more important than others, that they're essentially THE most important choices you can make: Doing the dark ritual with Morrigan and deciding who will rule Ferelden in DAO, siding with mages or templars and killing or letting Anders go in DA2, and in DAI it's mage/templar again, who you leave in the Fade, who becomes ruler of Orlais, who becomes Divine, and who drinks from the Well. And NONE of these choices matter. That's the part that sucks.

[chanafehs]

can you tell us more about your rook, and her relationship with asma??

*tucks hair behind ear* well if you want to know...I know DA4 doesn't care about any lore I'm creating but Manat was orphaned during the Mage-Templar war and was discovered by Asma and her companions during their journey through the hinterlands. Manat was only 15 at the time but held off against Templars and Apostates until being rescued - already showing promise as a warrior.

She was brought back to Haven and escaped to Skyhold with the rest of the Inquisition, eventually becoming a maid for a bit of coin. That's where their relationship takes off because Asma is the only one who can really get a word out of her. Josephine at some point insists that Asma as Inquisitor should take up a lady-in-waiting for appearances and to help with her daily tasks around Skyhold. Manat has no skills that would make her good for this role but Asma chooses her anyway, if anything it's more to keep an eye on her.

The relationship becomes less professional and more maternal before either of them can really realize it (Asma insisting she brush her hair, teaching Manat Elven, reading her books—education is important—and playing the occasional game together). Asma is a bit of a strict parent but Manat loves to push her buttons sometimes, she's a kid that's what they do.

Towards the end of Inquisition, Asma knows Manat has no family and nowhere to go so she promises the girl that she can come with her when all of this is over. Trespasser ends up pulling them apart - Asma can't be found for some months after the exalted council and by the time she returns, Manat is already gone. I don't know if you've ever seen that quote that's like "I'm not your mother" "I know that, do you?" because that's very them. This definitely won't cause problems between them in the Veilguard/sarcasm.

Thank you for the ask!🫶❤️

[teecupangel]

Catboy nonny with an idea! Idk how, but Daniel Cross x Desmond with catboy des! How? Idk, but I wanna see it now. Work your magic!

Since Desmond is our only catboy in this situation, let’s screw it up a bit more.

Desmond is thrown into his own past but this is a full on time travel, not a regression.

The child Desmond Miles still exists on the Farm but there’s a catboy Desmond Miles now somewhere in America.

Specifically… he appeared on top of the place where Daniel Cross was throwing his garbage bags in when he was 24, freshly out of prison and trying to continue to take his medications for his supposed ‘hallucinations’.

So now there are two Desmond Miles.

11 years old Desmond Miles that was still on the Farm.

And 25 years old Desmond Miles who was found by Cross when he was on his way to throw his trash.

But Cross’ life will never be that easy.

It wasn’t Cross who found Desmond but Cross Bleeding as Nikolai.

And Nikolai mistook him for someone important, his wife Anna.

So when Desmond came to, he was in an apartment he didn’t know and ‘Nikolai’ was there talking to him, asking him if he was alright.

Desmond immediately realized two things.

1 He has quite a few feline characteristics right now.

2 This was a younger looking Cross but he was definitely Bleeding as his Assassin ancestor.

Oh.

And the only sound he can make is cat noises.

Fuck.

Desmond gets his bearings soon enough, navigating Nikolai with the practice of someone who had seen how his team ‘let the Bleeds ride out’ by agreeing to play along.

Thankfully, Nikolai seemed to take Desmond’s silence as normal (or maybe the Bleed is unstable enough that his brain is feeling the gaps to keep him from being destroyed from the outside).

By the time Cross returned from his Bleeding Episode, Desmond had managed to keep him cat ears a secret thanks to his hood and was now using a pen and paper to talk to Cross.

And he has a plan.

Sort of a plan.

He knew that Cross was a sleeper agent of the Templars BUT he was also a talented Assassin by his own rights.

Dangerous and absolutely better for dead thanks to being a huge ass risk overall.

So Desmond figured he can do what the others failed at because he knows what he’s getting at.

He can ‘leash’ Daniel Cross.

.

Cross absolutely noticed the cat ears and other feline features but he believes that they’re hallucinations. He’s honestly going along with all this ‘I know who you are, Daniel Cross’ bullshit because it wasn’t like he was doing anything with his life and the mute cute guy that he may or may not have invited during one of his episodes was definitely his type so… he was already crazy, might as well try and bang a crazy person.

…

He absolutely regrets getting attached to the crazy mute guy because he may or may not be helping him take over a cult.

[abyssal-ilk]

I really wish a Dalish Elf could point out to Vivienne that the only reason Clans keep minimal mages is because they want to avoid Templars pulling up and massacre-ing everyone for harboring a bunch of apostates. I wish I could know what her reaction is to that particular detail she leaves out. She would probably have a new excuse locked and loaded but I wish I could hear it.

going to use this ask to complain about the treatment dalish mages get in dragon age inquisition, because the idea that the dalish cast out their mages when there are "too many of them" is something bioware completely pulled out of their ass for dai. in previous games and dragon age media, the dalish are shown to be nothing but accepting and protective of their mages, no matter how many mages there are in a single clan. the idea that the dalish would cast out a young child (in the case of minaeve, the creature specialist in haven) or an adult mage (in the case of dalish from the bull's chargers) because there are supposedly "too many mages" in one clan is. ridiculous.

i do fully agree that the dialogue options an elven inquisitor are given during that conversation are like. extremely bad, though. bc they are. but it's such a break off from the already established lore of how the dalish treat the mages in their clan that i can't get past it long enough to genuinely pick apart vivienne's reaction to it because. that's just. not how dalish mages were treated previously. but yes, the dialogue options should of been different.

edit: this was originally just in my tags, but i figure i'd add this bit too incase this is reblogged

[sternentreue]

@pixiedurango's Antivan Postal Service delivered a letter all the way from Minrathous to Treviso! This is Enzo's answer to Cara's letter, set up post game. Enjoy!

Transcript under the cut:

Dearest sister,

thank you for support, but you don’t have to, really (tell Lucanis he finally needs to put that guilt to rest, he has repaid it multiple times). Things are finally starting to look up in Minrathous (as best as it can get here). Since Archon Pavus officially took office, reconstruction efforts in the city and especially in Dock Town have rapidly increased. He released extra funds to provide food and shelter for the poorest and the new tax reform, effective immediately, already improved life for most citizens. Most I say, of course the richest magisters complain about it and there are still uprisings here and there. I’m sure you have heard. So money isn’t the issue, it’s time and resources.

Neve is working tirelessly to find people that have been reported missing during the siege, although I fear that most of them are dead, but she insists (don’t ask me where that new optimism is coming from, might be my bad influence). I also have my hands full here. I have been hunting for scattered Venatori with Tarquin - the lad turned out to be good company when he can leave the books and archives behind and trade them for a sword and I think he finally swallowed his grudge against us. He also seems rather pleased that we are tasked with cleansing the templar order from corrupted members. To no one’s surprise there is a huge overlap between the Venatori and the latter. We are not allowed to kill them, however, they are supposed to get a fair trial. Pity.

Anyway, enough with the politics, the most important news: we adopted a cat! The repairs on the cat café are going well and some cats took a liking to us, especially Neve. The little one followed us home one day and refused to leave, so we took her in and she just stayed. I wanted to call her Frosty, but Neve is sceptical. I wonder if she will be as indecisive on names when it’s time to talk about our own children. Not that I have been thinking  Please forget you’ve read that, I’m too lazy to start anew.

Our apartment is coming along, too, even if slowly. There is still a lot to do, of course. Our main focus right now is making the city somewhat habitable, so we just fall into bed every night and don’t use it much, yet (the apartment, not the bed, sicko). Which is by the way the only thing we have so far - a bed. And two chairs and a table, but that’s more than most people have in Dock Town. Did you know Neve almost broke up with me about this? I offered to pay for the place and she didn’t talk to me for a whole week. Called me a rich prick! There’s a first time for everything. She feels guilty that we have the means to even have a place of our own, but I didn’t forget that she lost everything, too. I have all these savings rotting in the bank of Antiva, how else should I spend them, if not on us? But she finally accepted it, I think, slowly. One step at a time, like you said.

So you can tell there is still a lot to do before Minrathous will be the same as before, though it never will be to be honest, which is good! I wonder what this means for our future but I do know that I’m going to stay here. I miss Antiva, terribly, but I can’t go back to being a Crow, not after everything that happened, and not with the people that rely on me here now. My skills are put to good use within the Threads and of course there’s Neve. I can’t let her down, not a second time. I hope you understand. I hope Viago will understand, too. I haven’t told him yet and I pray that he has stopped frisking your letters or this will be my last to you. I don’t know how to tell him, for now I keep hiding in Tevinter but at some point he will send for me to reveal his portentous plans. I too have a feeling that he’s up to something, now that the Antaam are gone and there’s somewhat peace. And I fear that this new era will also bring some infighting among the houses. There’s currently a lot of attention on our house and I don’t like it. Be safe, not everyone is well-disposed to us.

Which reminds me, how are the preparations for Lucanis’ inauguration ceremony coming along? I hope you’re going for a big masquerade, I miss those! And of course I also miss the parties you mentioned, we could have one after, a private one with only friends! Show these lightweights a true Antivan booze-up. Remember that one time we ran out of wine and had to sneak into Viago’s private wine cellar? I think Teia saved our asses back then, as she always does. I miss her, please give her a hug from me!

Anyway, I am looking forward to your visit! And I gladly take you up on your offer to send some goods from home. I’d appreciate anything that’s not fried fish and bad coffee to be honest, anything that you can get your hands on that’s not too expensive or inconvenient to bring along (though you know me, chocolate is the fastest way to my heart). 

I’m leaving Treviso in your capable hands. Say hello to Lucanis from me, please!

Yours, Enzo (annoy Viago from me or he’ll get dull)

PS: Neve asked me to attach some of her case notes leading to Treviso, maybe you can give her some insights on any strange occurrences if you find any.

[extravagantliar]

The story does not start on the mountain; it doesn’t even start with a hero.

It begins with Varric Tethras in a keep running his mouth smartly, until that mouth nearly gets him a knife in the leg. It earns the interrogator a smile when he ends up with the knife in his hands, which turns out to be a bad idea. A fight ensues, and the knife ends up returned to its owner - The Seeker ends up knocking him flat on his ass and bruising his jaw more than his ego. She's a mean right hook, and he barely gets out of that interrogation with both hands on his wrists and his head on his shoulders.

“Dwarf,” she reminds coldly. “The docks - tomorrow, sunrise, sharp.” 

Orders. 

He hates that, but there's a warrant signed by the Divine - holy troops on the doorstep of his city, so while he hates orders, while he loathes to do most things - he will do this, for his city, his people, and Hawke. He scoffs, pulling at the sleeves on his coat and turning away from the Seeker, “Yeah, yeah, I know, or you'll kill me!” 

Famous words, but not his last. 

He disappears down the stairwell and into the damp air of Lowtown, knowing morning will come too quick, so rather than letting sleep elude him, he finds the last haven in this damned city. He puts his silver to good use, drinks and merriment around the night, even if it feels like his funeral, a dirge for something he can't even unpack, as he's never stopped. 

There was a glimmer of a moment where Hawke looked at him, and he thought maybe it was over; perhaps this was their end and their great city; the people were their great spot and their fair city; she was the one trying to damn them out. It had worked with Hawke, the Chantry driving them far and wide from here ( he wasn't even sure where his champion had landed, if they had ).

Kirkwall always seemed to hedge her bets on losing dogs. 

Varric doesn't sleep; he sits at the bar all night until the first light breaks through the broken window ( something Fenris did, he thinks ).  Corff serves him one last shot, and he downs it unflinchingly. There are well wishes, a few patrons know - Aveline too, actually waiting for him as he stumbles out of the bar. 

“Are you drunk?”

“Wouldn't you be?” Varric counters sharply, putting one foot in front of the other, trudging himself ever closer to the water and his metaphorical grave. “Walking into fire?” 

“Not for Hawke, it’s fact Varric.” Aveline states. “You're the best suited for it.”  

It is fine that she sees it that way; he's the only one who sees Hawke this way, Hawke this, Hawke that, after all. “Sure, but,” Varric pauses, swallowing as the docks come into sight, and his palms itch. “This is like if they wanted Donnic, Aveline.” Those words are the most honest he's been in twenty years, maybe longer. He hiccups; he doesn't care; he gambles it anyway. 

“Listen, Red—” Varric starts, but he’s met with the docks, and his words end up lost among the throngs of troops and Templars, current and former. He scowls at the sight of Cullen, the last thing he needs. His words of asking her to look after everyone have all since vanished; he knows she will. She's just as much one of Kirkwall’s chosen as he is, something not a champion, but something nearly like it. “In my apartment, you'll find my seal and a money pouch; get that to Bran. It may tie him over until someone is elected.” Aveline scowls at it; his words sound too final, even to him. Aveline’s gloved hand finds the back of his jacket and pushes him forward onto the docks. 

“I will see you in a month, in one piece, Maker willing.” He does not reply, just a hand up in the air, half waving to Aveline and half waving to his jailer ahead. 

He stumbles onto the docks, showing the crumpled writ of conscription to the Conclave to a soldier; the writ is humourous on its own; it is to speak in front of the Divine of all things. Which was a horrible idea, as who would want a Chantry-banned writer telling the tale of a floundering people and a city that would never love them back? 

So he trudges through and finds the ship he's supposed to be boarding. The thing is barely big enough for all of them and the cargo they dare to want to carry. “Don’t worry, I'm happy to stay behind, lighten the load.” He's a stone anyway, and his body would happily sink to the bottom of the Waking Sea if the Good Seeker had the idea to unload unneeded cargo. The Seeker does not find his joke funny, and he is ordered onto the cutter and to stay with the prisoners - as she reminds him, again, that he is one. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Varric states, one foot on the plank to board. “You could have summoned any charge other than a religious one, by the way, and it would have held up - this won’t.” It comes off as more smarmy than it should, but he's angry, and he will be sharing a hold with Cullen and the rest of the men who had swords at his throat not too long ago. Now, Cullen is more trusted than one of the few that stopped it all from falling apart, and he ignores the man outright - at least twice. 

Once before they leave port and the other over the Waking Sea, Cassandra threatens to toss him overboard for it. He nearly welcomes it, which nearly spooks him, but he's not doing this for himself; he's acting for someone else to keep everyone else safe this time. But it is the churning sea, and it makes him sick until they land in Jader. The slip next to them is a ship from Ostwick, and he waves at a woman with dark hair and dark eyes whose gaze lingers on him a little too long. 

But before he could place her face, she lost to the crowd and headed towards Haven. He's offered a mount much too tall for him. Cassandra hands the reins down, and he scowls, “Seeker, I’ll walk.” With a quick scan, he sees no carts other than a covered wagon filled to the brim and an ammunition cart. 

Great, arrows and swords to a holy mission, he thinks.

“Suit yourself, Dwarf. There are no carriages.” It is snide, and he doesn't respond. Instead, Bianca is loaded onto his back, and he pulls his hood up and over his head as they move through the snow. 

He decides somewhere between Jader and Haven that he hates the snow. 

He takes it back in Haven, as the Seeker’s nagging is worse than any snow or uneasy sea.

Haven is a pit stop; he won't be the first to testify, as Cassandra has informed him not once but thrice that he will join them on the third day; the first day was for the clergy, the second day would be Templar and Seeker testimony, then Varric, then the Mages - last. Like everything else, he and the mages at the very end. 

So he doesn't move that first day, not until he's outside Haven, because there was movement, and all who were able to fight were asked to be on guard. Rather, Varric finds himself on a hill with an apostate named Solas, reminding him of someone from not too long ago. 

It's a cruel thought, so he pushes it aside, hand extended, “Varric Tethras.” Solas smiles, taking his hand in a half-shake, something that half reminds him of something Bartrand used to do half a lifetime ago. Yet, he's never seen Bartrand shoot a demon out of the air; he's never seen a mage throw up a barrier like that, one that follows one into the thick of it ( one that even he can feel ). 

“Charmed, but I am familiar with you and your work,” Solas states, following the path down towards the valley. 

He shrugs. “Not surprising, I am wanted for a few pieces.” 

“A rebellion through words.” Solas’s comment causes Varric to frown, but there is nothing factually wrong with it overall.

Varric weighs it and finally replies, tersely, “Sure, Chuckles.”

So he follows the elf, down on the path and up a narrowing hillside road, until - they see it first. 

He doesn't remember what it looks like as he sees another explosion, a different gilded building blown through with magic, and he moves - as he's in Kirkwall. The snow has melted away into cobblestone, and he is in Hightown, and the bell from the Chantry hits the ground; it cracks and crashes in a way that lurches Varric forward. Yet he cannot move; there is someone holding him in place, keeping him firm as the wave of sound finds them, and he's ripped from that stonewashed city, and the snow nearly crumbles under his feet; he lurches back and is cast to the left by Solas - a barrier is thrown and Varric has both hands on Bianca again, shooting a wraith out of the sky and running his knife through a demon that got around them nearly sank claws into his compatriot's back.

A first of many debts repaid. 

They make it up that hill, and that crack in the sky screams, a song of red lyrium summoning up voices he long thought dead. There is a moment in that rubble, and a woman is pulled from the ruins of what is left - pulled from the thrumb of red lyrium, and he recognises her as the woman in Jader. 

“Excuse me, Varric - I should…” 

“Yeah,” Varric agrees and watches the man head towards the woman, she's barely standing, and he can barely stand the song in his head. He shoots a cache of lyrium and another before his name is called by Solas again, requesting the coverage heading down back into Haven. The woman is carried between two healers, and he watches their six.

The first companions meet the hero, and it all starts on a downward slope.

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

I'm back on my bullshit thinking about the Hawke siblings again and how much I love a "both twins live" AU... but y'know what I love just a little bit more? An AU where all three Hawke siblings are alive, but one of the twins still get attacked by the ogre in Lothering and is presumed dead when they actually survived.

I like to think that since the narrative in DA2 is framed as a story Varric's telling Cassandra, we can play around with the fact that he's an unreliable narrator. Varric wasn't there in Lothering. He only knows what Hawke told him. It makes for a better story if Leandra, Hawke, and the surviving twin get to huddle around the dead twin and say their goodbyes... especially if they didn't actually get to do that. I mean, a lot of us already have that train of thought when it comes to Leandra's death and Hawke getting some closure through her final words telling them how proud she is. Whose to say Varric didn't do that for the lost twin, as well?

All that to ask what if the ogre attack happened, but the group was so overwhelmed by darkspawn they had to flee further and couldn't check the twin who "died?" Flemeth still showed up, but it was too late to go back and say goodbye.... so Hawke made a deal with the Witch of the Wilds and they all pushed forward to Kirkwall.

Imagine Bethany, left behind with broken bones and bleeding in the sand, fading in and out of consciousness as the remaining darkspawn surround her. She knows how to heal, how to fight back, but she's weakened. Her staff lays out of reach. Air shakes in her lungs. She tries to call for help, but only wheezes come out. Where's her mother? Her siblings? Did the ogre get them, too?

At this point, we all know what happens to the women darkspawn take, and Bethany could've met that fate; she doesn't have the strength to fight back as they drag her away. But before they can bring her underground, she's saved by another group of survivors. Perhaps they're more soldiers fleeing Ostagar, or townsfolk who recognize her from Lothering. They do what they can to treat her wounds but she needs a healer, so they bring her with them to seek refuge in Redcliffe... except they eventually realize she's an apostate. Well, she doesn't seem dangerous, but they still contact the templars.

Bethany wakes in a warm but unfamiliar bed with skilled healers tending to her. Templars hover by the doorway. First Enchanter Irving greets her, gentle in explaining she's safe inside of Kinloch Hold and that she's going to survive. When Bethany asks about her family, he gives her a sympathetic smile and says they only found her.

Bethany, who never took to embracing her magic the way her older sibling did and always felt like it burdened her family... has lost that very family. Could they survive the ogre and darkspawn? Or did the ogre tear them apart, too? How did she survive... but not them? Did the Maker really have such a sense of humor? How else would she end up in the Circle, a place her family went to great lengths to keep her safe from?

She doesn't want to think about it. She hopes they made it to Kirkwall, but the prickle of dread that crawls up her spine knows how unlikely it is. Bethany finds comfort in speaking with the mages who rotate in to heal and bring her food. Some feel trapped by their magic just as she does, but others remind her of her older sibling in the way they embrace their magic, a gift from the Maker. The younger apprentices who aid the mages ask her questions about what lies beyond the walls. The templars mostly keep their distance, but one is friendlier than others. A man with curly blonde hair and a sympathetic view of the mages bothers to speak to her more than his fellows do.

She's still in recovery when Uldred and his blood mages attack the tower, but she survives. Bethany heals, even as she's haunted by nightmares of the ogre wrapping its tainted hand around her body to crush her, flinging her aside to lay among the limp bodies of her family... haunted by the horrors the blood mages unleashed on the tower. She aids in restoring the tower the best she can, and accepts her new home, her new life. When she's well enough, she lights a candle for each of them; her father, mother, her eldest sibling, her twin... she even lights a candle for the family mabari, and prays to the Maker to give them her love as they stand at His side.

The Blight ends. Years pass. Bethany settles into her new life, becoming a fine example for the younger apprentices she mentors. She witnesses wrong doings against her fellow mages, loses friends to their harrowings or tranquility. She accepts what she is, even if bitterly. The Chantry's teachings about magic scar more than enlighten; she sees it in some of her fellow mages, feels it in herself. Secret meetings. Whispers of escape, of freedom. More escape attempts. Harsher restrictions.

Around this time, back in Kirkwall, Knight-Captain Cullen stands where he always does in the Gallows courtyard. He notices Hawke appear with some of their companions. It hurts to think back to Kinloch Hold, but something occurs to him: he knew of another Hawke who was brought to the Circle while he served there. They only spoke once before... well, before. He wonders if there's any relation. When Hawke wanders over to speak to him, as they always do, Cullen brings it up.

Hawke pales. A beat of silence. Cullen recognizes heartbreak; he sees it unfold in their eyes and swell in their throat as they realize that all this time, their baby sister was alive.

Then the day comes where new whispers float among the mages in the Circle. A visit by a Grey Warden. Most, including Bethany, assume he's here to recruit... until Irving comes to her. He says this warden's requested, though more like insisted, he see her now. But then Irving smiles; the warden in question said his name is Warden Carver. He received an urgent letter that his sister is here, alive, and he demands to know if that's true.

Bethany nearly collapses when she sees him.

While the reunion can't last; she can't leave the Circle and he has his calling; the twins embrace, sobbing out apologies and exclamations that they thought the other was gone. Carver tells her of Kirkwall, the expedition that led him to the Grey Wardens, and their older sibling's status as Champion. With a gentleness she never knew her brother to have, he tells her what happened to their mother, and more tears flow freely. Their sibling learned about her from a templar, though Carver grumbles that the bastard could've said something sooner.

There's the Maker's humor again.

...Now flip the script: imagine Carver being left behind instead.

For as strong and passionate as he is, that ogre still picks him up and slams him to the ground. Bones crack. Black splotches flood his vision, agony exploding across his skin. His sword flies from his hand. The soulless bastard tosses Carver aside like he's nothing, and he's left to lay there. His mother's cries muffle in his ear as though he's stuck underwater, sinking slowly into the dark.

It figured, honestly... that he'd survive Ostagar while his fellow soldiers were cut down all around him, that he and his eldest sibling would flee the field when all hope was lost... that he'd make it home to get his family out of Lothering... only to die protecting his mother. And why not? He is a protector. A warrior. It's a honor to die saving those he loved... so why didn't it give him peace?

Carver eventually wakes in the night among the bodies of fallen darkspawn. Everything aches painfully hot and his thoughts reject coherency. He knows his family is gone; they're dead, or they've fled... either way, he's alone; left behind. Something's broken inside of him, but he has just enough will to pull himself up at the sound of approaching footsteps. A group of survivors find him- funny enough, the same group who aided Bethany in an alternate timeline. Imagine that.

That's how Carver ended up in Redcliffe's Chantry with an overworked healer tending to him. He doesn't even flinch when the mage works their magic on him, knowing all too well the sensation of healing magic seeping into his skin, mending the flesh. He tries not to think of Bethany, or what might've happened to her.

The Chantry's overwhelmed with townspeople hiding from a danger outside that he can only assume is darkspawn... except it's not. He wonders how hard he hit his head when he hears the undead have come from the castle to slaughter what they can of the town every night. But then he sees it with his own eyes when one breaks in, taken down by a templar, and never before has he ever felt so useless.

Then the last two remaining Grey Wardens arrive. They're crucial in the final fight against the undead, swearing to enter the castle to stop the attacks at the source. While Carver couldn't participate in the final fight, something he complained loudly about, he did what he could in his condition to help like sharpening swords and handing out supplies. Mostly to keep his sanity and quite his thoughts throughout his recovery.

When the time came, he took up his sword again in the name of all those he lost.

An archdemon was said to be on the horizon, and the Grey Wardens needed everyone they could get to fight. Carver fights in the battle of Denerim where the Hero of Fereldan defeated the archdemon. He cuts his way through every darkspawn he sees. Ostagar flashes red behind his eyes. Lothering clutches at his heart. So much anger and sorrow built up inside him, flooding out in his tears and screams. Blood everywhere. Fire and smoke.

Then it's over.

In the aftermath of the Blight, like so many others, Carver has no home to return to. No family. He thinks to go back to Lothering to help rebuild, only to hear the lands were too tainted. These tainted creatures took everything from him... That's what eventually brings him to Vigil's Keep, standing before the Hero of Fereldan themself, asking to be made a Grey Warden. He already dedicated nearly two years of his life to killing darkspawn, and he had nothing else. Even when faced with the Joining, holding the chalice of darkspawn blood and being told to drink, he didn't flinch.

Life as a Grey Warden isn't as simple as he assumed it would be, but Carver finds purpose in his calling. Over the years, he grows to view his fellow wardens as family. He travels all over Thedas, venturing down into the Deep Roads to help clear out hoards of the darkspawn. But then comes the day he finds himself in Kirkwall, and it doesn't take long before he hears the name Hawke on the lips of the townspeople. His eldest sibling was not only alive, but they're quite popular among the people. But what about Mother? Bethany? He doesn't have to snoop too far to learn templars took Bethany away to the Gallows, and that Leandra Hawke was the final victim in a string of murders committed by a blood mage.

Carver finds himself standing outside the estate, glaring at the door. Furious. Heartbroken. Bitter. He wants to scream. This entire time, they lived. He's torn between wanting to reunite with his older sibling again, to get the truth from them, and wanting to barge into the estate, demanding answers to how they could let the Circle take Bethany... after what Carver sacrificed, how could they let Mother die like that? Was it all pointless in the end?

He leaves without knocking. He can't bring himself to see them. Not that it mattered. Before he could leave Kirkwall, the tensions with the qunari finally overflowed, and chaos fell upon the city. He's forced face to face with his older sibling again, but he wasn't prepared to watch the recognition slowly bloom on their face, or for all his anger to turn to mush. Carver's the first to speak.

"Somehow, I knew it would be you."

.............So, yeah. I really like this idea.

[madameevil]

Protagonists & Failures (Dragon Age)

Originally, I started writing this as a reblog to another post complaining about how Rook isn't anyone special but then it quickly became something else.

I realized something while typing my response out to that. The two games that are hated the most within the fandom (DA: 2 & DA:TV) have the protagonists experience failure repeatedly as key parts within their story. I think that's no coincidence.

Let's look at when the games either force you to accept/face failure or provides you a non-game over failure state that you don't purposefully choose. I'll focus on the main questlines & companion questlines because I don't have time to break down every side quest in all the games. I also won't count purposeful choices made by the player as failures. Consequences sure, but a player driven choice to kill or save someone doesn't count. You made that choice knowing the consequences. That's not a failure you're forced to face. Hopefully that clarifies everything.

Spoiler warning for all games below cut.

Dragon Age: Origins

Prologue: Regardless of which origin you choose, your Hero of Fereldan (HoF) suffers a loss or failure that forces you to join the Wardens.

Ostagar: Regardless of your choices, you are forced to accept the failure at Ostagar.

...

Every other instance, you are successful. You are successful in recruiting the Dalish, handling the problem at the Mage Circle, handling the dwarven problem, handling the Redcliffe problem. There are different ways to address these problems which lead to different sacrifices but those are all choices the player knowingly makes and in the end you are still successful in your goal. You gain an ally for the fight. That's your goal. Each time you gain one.

The entire game is just travel around to get allies. Ally has their own problem that is somehow more important than the blight. Resolve said problem: gain ally. That's it. That's the formula. (Don't get me wrong I love DA:Origins but mostly for the companions.)

In the end, even if there is a loss associated with it, you are victorious. You kill the Archdemon. You save Fereldan.

Dragon Age: II (2)

Prologue (conditional): You fail to protect a sibling.

Expedition (conditional): Your choice put your other sibling in danger. You lose them either through death or the Wardens. You also fail to gain any of the items you initially went down there for.

Qunari Mage: You fail to give him freedom. Even if you defend against the other Qunari, they still kill themself.

Mother: Hawke fails to protect the last family member who's present in their life.

Qunari: Hawke fails to resolve things peacefully before they attack the city. You fail (conditional) at judging your companion, Isabela.

Dalish Clan: You fail to save the Keeper of the clan. You fail (conditional) to keep Merril's clan alive.

Mage v. Templar: You fail to resolve tensions. You fail to stop things from escalating. You fail at judging your companion, Anders and you failed to stop him. You fail to save the circle as the First Enchanter uses blood magic. You fail to stop the Knight Commander from succumbing to the relic. The relic you found. The relic you failed to recover.

DLC Legacy: YOU unleash the evil and YOU fail to kill it.

...

Hawke's story is a tragedy. They struggle and struggle to just simply survive and hold on to those close to them only to fail repeatedly. At the end, no matter who you support, you're forced to flee Kirkwall. There's no celebration. There's no party. The ending scene as the Knight Commander is petrified isn't happy. It's not joyous. No matter what your relations were with your companions, you're forced apart (except your lover). DA: 2 requires you to face failure and loss at every turn in the story.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Haven: You fail to fend off the attack on Haven forcing you to retreat and end up at Skyhold.

Halam Shiral: You can fail here if you get kicked out or fail to gather the evidence you need.

Trespasser DLC: You fail to stop or convince Solas.

...

Otherwise, you are victorious at every turn. You outmaneuver Corypheus so badly that he's the one who's constantly moving to a fallback plan. Dude is on plan Z by the time you finally finish him, I swear. After Haven, you consistently have the upper hand and win against him pushing him into a corner.

There are times when you are forced to make a tough choice like with Bull's Chargers or with Hawke & the fade, however, each time you are making a conscious choice on the matter. The story doesn't force you to face these as "failures" they're just difficult choices to make and that's an important distinction. It's not framed as "you failed to save the chargers" it's framed as "you sacrificed the chargers when you didn't have to." It's not "you failed to escape the fade" it's framed as "you sacrificed Hawke/Stroud/Alistair to escape" Either way you aren't blamed for it. Varric may be hurt if you leave Hawke, yes, but even he doesn't blame you for it. He doesn't grow angry with you. He's just upset. He knows it was Hawke's choice to remain.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

This game is all about little wins. Neve points that out in her story. Failure here usually has a small win associated with it.

Backstory: Rook fails at (or screws up) something.

But you did end up with Varric because of it.

Ritual: Rook fails to protect the team. Rook fails to protect the world by unleashing worse threats.

But you did successfully stop Solas's ritual

Davrin Recruit: Rook fails to save the griffons.

City Choice: Rook fails to save a city. Rook fails to kill the dragon. This one I'm including because Rook is blamed by both companions and NPCs for it. It's also framed in a way where you truly believe your other companions and faction can help the city just as much as you can the other, but you fail to factor in the dagger. The dagger is the only reason that dragon lands. It's the only reason you can stop it from attacking the city and focus on you instead.

You at least saved one city and injured a dragon.

Weißhaupt: Rook fails to save Weißhaupt. Rook's plan fails at killing Gil.

But you did kill her archdemon.

Blighted Dragons: Fails to kill Gil again.

But you did kill her dragons

Elgernan's Eclipse: Fails to stop him from summoning his arch demon. Fails to stop them crafting the dagger.

But you did save the hostages

Island: Fails to protect the team. Fails to see Solas's betrayal.

But you did kill Gil.

Then if we look at the companion quests we see even more...

We fail to capture the venatori in the relic case because the system is corrupt.

We fail to give Lucanis closure with Zara because Illario.

We fail to save Taash's mom.

We fail to stop Hekenkoss so Manfred has to.

And the every time we fail to kill the gods or fail to stop their plans, more of the South falls. We lose territory. We lose a faction. We lose companions.

...

Failure is a prominent occurrence in DA:TV for a few reasons.

Rook isn't anyone special. Rook isn't the only one who can end a blight. Rook isn't blessed with a magic hand that can fix the tears in reality. Rook is just a person who Varric happened upon. They're just someone who is struggling at every turn.

Rook must experience failure to feel regret. Rook must feel regret to be manipulated by Solas. All these failures accumulate to the prison swap. There you're forced to face them. You're forced to acknowledge that you failed, but you had little victories along the way too and sometimes that's all you need (thanks Neve). Also because regret is a MAJOR theme in the game among Solas and your companions.

EITHERWAY this leads to an almost inverse of how Inquisition felt. In Inquisition we were outplaying the antagonist. This time the antagonists are outplaying us. We're the ones struggling to find a next move. We're the ones struggling to think of another plan. On top of that, blame is cast on Rook multiple times by NPCs and their own companions.

So what's the point?

People don't like to experience failure. They don't like to be told they failed. They don't like to be told "you weren't strong enough." or "you did everything you could, but in the end it wasn't enough." It doesn't feel good to be powerless and that's what Rook is for a lot of the story. It's also what Hawke is for a lot of DA:2.

I think a lot of people don't know how to process feeling powerless in the game. Their thoughts follow the same pattern of regret: "if only I did X" or "if only I was stronger/better."

In reality there's a lot of anger that follows; either towards oneself or anything else you can cast blame on. In a game, it's much easier to cast blame on the developers and say "If only you did X" or "if only you made the PC stronger/better", "If only you wrote it differently.", "If only you gave me different dialogue options."

But I think feeling that way is the point. You are supposed to feel powerless. You are supposed to feel like no matter how much you struggled, it was helpless at times. It plays right into the core theme of the game. Unfortunately, I think that doesn't sit well with a lot of people.

I think asking a gamer to feel powerless in a video game always leads to people feeling uncomfortable. That uncomfortable feeling leads to hate or a dislike of the game. "Power Fantasy" is a real concept in games and when it's broken there are consequences to it. However, I do think that breaking it deserves to be explored and utilized within narratives. Breaking it at the right moment is after all a key step in The Hero's Journey.

Anyway! My ramblings have concluded. If I missed some crucial moment or rambled too hard and lost the point, let me know. If you're polite I'll probably respond.

[sundrop-writes]

TWD Taglist!!

So, I am still on hiatus, and I will be until the end of July (at least) - but even though I am not posting fics, I have been writing fics (because for me, it's like breathing, I can't stop it) - and I do have some stuff I have been holding onto that I haven't had the chance to edit yet. So I will be coming back with some TWD fics when I come back from my hiatus, and I figured it would be wise to start my taglist for this fandom now.

If you want to be put on my taglist for The Walking Dead, please let me know by replying to this post, liking this post, or interacting with this post in some way. Please make sure that you have your mentions turned on in settings - I will send you a single reminder message about this, and if you don't respond to my message, you will not be added to the taglist.

Please keep in mind: I do not do taglists for each individual character. Right now, the only fics I have cooking are for Daryl x Reader, but I am planning on writing more for Glenn x Reader (and Gleggie x Reader) and I really, really want to write for Rosita x Reader (cause I haven't done a full blown fic for her character before and I really want to) - so if you are signing up to this taglist, then you will be notified for fics about all of these characters.

Here are the fics you will be signing up to be tagged in when those fics are posted:

Heaven's Gate - Daryl Dixon x GN!Reader. Strangers to Lovers/Lovers Reunited. Emotional Angst, Hurt and Comfort. Set during Season 1 through Season 5. 17k in counting, oneshot. Finished, needs to be edited. You and Daryl get separated when the prison falls, and though you both think that the other is dead, you end up finding each other in the most unlikely place at the most unlikely time. And during your time apart, you have always been carrying pieces of each other that you can't let go of.

Untitled Daryl PWP - Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader. Established Relationship. PWP/Smut. Set during Season 4. 2k in counting, oneshot. Finished, needs to be edited. Daryl comes to you one day with an oddly needy spark, and though it's unusual for him, you can't help but to love it. (aka - Daryl eats pussy like a man starved.)

Untitled Daryl Smut aka The Blowjob Scene from Night of The Templar - Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader (with some Glenn Rhee x Fem!Reader). Friends to FWB. PWP/Smut. Set 'during' Season 1 (before the main events of S1). 1k in counting, oneshot. Not finished. Basically, I found out that a really popular slutty audio of Norman/Daryl from tiktok is from this movie scene, so I am taking that scene and translating it to TWD. Daryl finds out that the reader used to be a prostitute before 'the shit hit the fan', so he asks for 'a sample' - and she blows him while Glenn watches.

[sleepyfan-blog]

Funeral Preparations One

Author’s Note: This is the next part in Cedric’s adventures in the Astartes Husbandry AU, and specifically the Introducing New Primaris Black Templars arc. For other adventures click here and here. First. Previous. Next.  

Tagged:  @egrets-not-regrets @kit-williams @bleedingichorhearts @i-am-a-dragon34 @undeaddream

Warnings: Feelings of being overwhelmed, grief, funerary practices, consumption of humans (ashes), mention of cremation, hurt/comfort

Summary: Cedric talks to Lykus about his dead brothers and funerary practices. 

Cedric made his way to the beautiful church where he’d encountered Chaplain Lykus, silently wishing that he was seeking the other out for less unhappy reasons. The young Black Templar paused in the entrance room of the church, allowing himself a couple of moments to once more silently appreciate the beautiful stained-glass images that made the windows of the church. 

Feeling slightly calmer, he made his way over to Lykus’ office, knocking on the door and waiting for the other marine to acknowledge him.

“Please come in.” The Word Bearer called out a couple of moments later.

“Yes sir.” Cedric responded before obeying. He closed the door quietly behind himself as he walked over to one of the chairs in front of Lykus’ desk and sat in the one made for Astartes, trying to keep a calm expression on his face. 

Lykus smiled a little as he looked Cedric over. “Good afternoon Cedric. What can I do to help you?”

Cedric fidgeted with the bandages on his hands a little, as he’d decided to wrap up his skinned knuckles after his brief fight with Algrets earlier today rather than waiting for them to heel… And it was bad form to show up to a strange Chaplain’s office visibly injured. And not tended to. It invited scrutiny and potential punishment. “I…I’ve come to make a request.”

“Is this about finding a time and day where you and your Brothers can gather to worship without dealing with comments and judgment?” Lykus asked curiously.

“... It is somewhat related to that.” Cedric answered, biting the inside of one of his cheeks until it bled. The physical pain helped him keep his roiling emotions in check. He wanted to keep his voice even and calm, and show no outward signs of distress or emotional weakness. It would slow things down, and Lykus was not the only person he needed to talk to today. 

“Please explain, and I’ll offer what assistance I am able to… Are you alright? You seem… Unsettled.” Lykus asked, his gaze lingering on the bandages that Cedric was fidgeting with.

“I am functional.” The young apothecary answered as he immediately put his hands in his lap, out of the other’s line of sight. He swallowed hard, mentally counting to ten before answering in as even and unemotional a tone of voice as he could manage “Recently, two Black Templars arrived on Holy Terra, critically wounded. Despite every effort to save them, both died. I, and the rest of the unofficial Crusade who live here in Gannet Point would like to put them to rest properly, in the manner that our chapter does. I was hoping to have the memorial service portion of that completed here, within this church, if you are willing. There would be maybe a dozen people attending, most if not all of them being Astartes. The service would not be longer than an hour, as both Black Templars who died  were apprentices… The term I believe your legion uses is Scouts, so the recitation of their deeds and greatest battles will not… Not take very long.”

Lykus seemed to be listening intently to Cedric as he spoke. Once he finished, the Word Bearer took a long sip from the astartes-sized thermos on his desk and swallowed before answering “Do you know when you would like the service to be held? Apart from Sunday mass and Wednesday bible studies, most of this next week is fairly open, though there are smaller services that are going on for an hour or two at a time throughout the week, most of them can easily be rescheduled due to an event like this. What is the plan for their bodies, once the service is over?”

“Their bodies will be burnt to ash and the remains will be forged into Blades of Remembrance per the custom of our chapter.” Well… Some of their remains would be used in forging Blades of Remembrance the rest would be consumed as part of the remembrance feast, but that was going to be taken place after the bodies had been cremated and the blades forged and tested. Cedric was keenly aware of the fact that consuming the dead was not a practice that most Astartes chapters practiced except under dire circumstances, or to get information from the dead. “But the burning of their bodies and forging of the blades will happen elsewhere.”

“I see. Do you have an idea as to where their bodies are going to be burnt? The baseline mortals have laws about where such a task can be completed, for a variety of reasons.” Lykus revealed, having slowly gotten up out of his chair and started to walk around his desk, moving closer to Cedric. He sat down in the chair next to Cedric’s.

“... Oh. I hadn’t known that.” Cedric responded, shifting a little in his seat, trying not to visibly tense up at the other’s approach. “I… I’ll have to.. Research an appropriate place, then. Which is probably going to delay the memorial service and-” It felt as if there was a never ending list of things that he had to do in order to try and ensure that his brothers could properly Rest - or come back and serve in another way, should their spirits decide to inhabit one of the Blades of Remembrance forged with their remains, as that did happen occasionally. 

“I do have the phone number for several different funeral homes and crematoriums. Funerals and other kinds of rituals involving mourning the loss of a loved one are commonly held in churches and similar places of worship such as this one in M3.” Lykus explained, voice gentle and… He sounded almost coaxing? As if he was trying to coax a spooked serf out of an air vent after a minor misstep that they weren’t going to be punished for accidentally committing. “If you wish, I can either introduce you to the mortals in charge of those places I know, or give you their numbers so you can talk to them at your own pace.”

Cedric stared at the carpeted floor of Lykus’ office as he tried to make that decision. On one hand, part of him balked at the implication that he needed someone to help him talk to baseline humans. On the other, the young Apothecary was struggling to keep a handle on the roiling warp-storm his emotions had become after… After Lestras and Malachai had both been found and he’d been unable to save them. He was still seething at the fact that he hadn’t been allowed to observe as Chief Apothecary Melinth and several other firstborn Apothecaries did their best to save Malachai. “I…” His voice cracked and his eyes stung and burned fiercely as a wave of emotions he could not name threatened to overwhelm him.

Lykus dragged Cedric out of his seat and pressed his face to one of the Word Bearer’s robed shoulders “Easy… Easy. I’ve got you,young one. You’re going through a great deal right now - please don’t try to fight me, I am trying to comfort you. I’m honored that you reached out to me… But isn’t there a chaplain in the base you live in you could go to, to help you arrange things?”

“I do! Ramiel is doing his best, but he… He’s also struggling with the loss of two of our Brothers as well. Even… Even though they’d only just arrived on Holy Terra.” Losing them twice was a unique form of torment for both Ramiel and himself. Cedric felt a little strange, being held by the older Marine, but the hug didn’t feel threatening… Also hiding his face in the other’s shoulder helped Cedric keep pressure on the emotional fissures running through his hearts “He’s also going through his chaplaincy trials.”

“... Are you referring to the Chaplain in training? I’ve met him a couple of times, and he’s a clever and good-hearted lad, but to arrange something like this might be a little out of his area of training on his own.” Lykus murmured, a small frown appearing on his face. 

“That’s why I’m helping him by finding a place to hold the ceremony, and apparently a place to have Malachai’s and Lestra’s bodies burnt without causing problems… And before you say anything, I am aware of the fact that there are facilities on base to process dead astartes. But I don’t want them to handle their bodies. They’ve done quite enough already.” Ah. That was a lot of bitterness leaking in his voice. 

Lykus’ arms tightened around Cedric, but it didn’t feel restricting in a worrying or threatening manner. “I see.” 

There’s an astartes sized hand on Cedric’s head, now. Fingers running through his hair. It feels… It feels soothing, and why can’t he stop crying today? This is the second time in a handful of hours his tear ducts have decided to leak all over a firstborn Space Marine. It was embarrassing, and something that he would need to look into, later. “We’re doing our best… Just gotta get it done quickly.” Cedric didn’t want either Malachai’s or Lestra’s bodies to mysteriously disappear, if they lingered for too long in the base’s morgue. He’d denied others their desire to tear apart their bodies once, after all. They might give into temptation, the longer it was there. “Ramiel says it’s going to take him several days to get the stuff he needs together so… Maybe on Saturday? I’ll have a firmer answer for you tomorrow, or the day after. And… Assistance in speaking with the mortals would be nice. I don’t know how to negotiate with them for goods and services.”

Lykus hummed in acknowledgement, still hugging Cedric. “Alright. I’ll arrange for meetings. When are you up to speaking with them? I should be able to get an appointment sometime this week.”

“I’m going to be working in the clinic for the next several days, but that’s only from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon, so I’ll be available outside of those times easily. If they’ll only meet sometime during it I… I can either ask Ramiel to go instead, or sneak out for the appointment time. Hura and Zariel’d cover for me, as long as the appointments don’t take too long.” Cedric murmured. He tensed a little as he realized that he admitted to being willing to skive off of his assigned duties to a chaplain - even thinking such things was a sin worthy of punishment. He swallowed hard and waited. 

Lykus only hummed again in response, the hand in Cedric’s hair still gentle and soothing. “I’ll keep that in mind, while arranging the appointments. Is there anything else I can do to help you and your brother Ramiel during this time?”

“I… I don’t think so? At least, not on my end. I’ll tell Rami to come talk to you. He may need help with Chaplain Things that he can’t or won’t talk to me about ‘cause I’m not a chaplain.” Cedric answered earnestly. He snuffled a little, pressing his face a little harder into the other’s shoulder, his body shaking a little. 

“Alright. Well, if you do think of something, or if something comes up, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.” Lykus hummed “Do you have any pressing matters to handle today?”

“Need to tell my Crusade leaders’ ‘bout the dead Brothers. They live with their bonded in the city. They… Don’t know yet. Gotta do that before sundown. ‘Cause the Base Commander’s given me a curfew to be back at the base by.” Cedric responded, anger - an old and familiar feeling of his breaking through the misery he was trying not to drown in - spiking.

“Hmm? Why’s that?” The chaplain asked curiously.

“Got into a fight with a Space Wolf ‘cause he was being a shitty bastard about my dead brothers. He whined about not getting to cut them up with his mentor and I… Didn’t react well to his complaints.” Cedric admitted. He refused to apologize for striking and strangling the fucker.

“I can understand why that would upset you. Space Wolves, while brilliant fighters are… Difficult to endure in certain social situations.” Lykus hummed. The Word Bearer seemed content to hold Cedric for forever, it seemed.

Which was nice, if a little disconcerting. He hasn’t hugged someone who wasn’t a fellow Primaris Marine this long… Ever. The other’s embrace was helping him find balance, at least for now. Much as he’d like to linger for as long as the Chaplain would tolerate, Cedric was starting to feel ravenous . Which was odd, as he’d been feeling mildly nauseous during the morning (before and during his brothers’ autopsies) and had then been too upset to so much as think about eating anything… “I should go and get something to eat, then talk to my Crusade leaders. I… Thank you, for your help, and for… This.” He squeezed the Word Bearer gently “It’s… It’s helped quite a bit.”

“I do have some astartes-grade snacks in my desk, if you’d like company while you eat.” Lykus offered with a gentle smile, slowly letting Cedric go.

The Primaris marine shook his head as he slowly got up “Thank you for the offer sir, but I should eat a full meal.”

“Very well. Thank you for coming to me, and I’ll message you when the appointments are scheduled.” Lykus murmured, smiling a little.

“Thank you sir.” Cedric answered with a nod, hurriedly wiping the tears from his face before leaving. He planned on stopping by the base to eat and change - as he’d managed to partially soak his own shirt with his tears, and even though the walk over would dry it… The last thing he wanted to do was to show up in Roland’s Beloved’s bakery smelling of tears (and Word Bearer) with red-rimmed eyes. He’s pretty sure that would end really badly.

[kittynomsdeplume]

Hi tumblrinos, welcome to my fiction master list. You can of course find everything at AO3, where you can make use of their handy filters - Kitty's Archive of Our Own

Full list under the cut.

Major tags key: Smut 🌶️ | Fluff 🍬 | Angst 🎭

Mass Effect

Exposed: 🌶️🍬 [Garrus Vakarian/FemShepard] Mass Effect 3 | F/M | Explicit | 5.7k - Garrus meets Shepard for a date at Anderson's apartment, where she surprises him with a private dance.

Working Out The Kinks: 🌶️🍬 [Garrus Vakarian/FemShepard/Nihlus Kryik] ME3 Nihlus Lives AU | F/M/M | Explicit | 5.2k - Shepard invites Nihlus to join her and Garrus in her cabin.

Dragon Age

Cullen Rutherford Fics: Under Her Mask: 🌶️🍬(minor 🎭) [Cullen Rutherford/Solona Amell] Post DAI | F/M | Explicit | 80k ongoing - Cullen and Amell reunite a decade after the events of Origins.

Wounded Pride: 🌶️🍬 [Cullen Rutherford/Solona Amell] Regency AU | F/M | Explicit | 13.6k - In which Cullen and Solona resolve a misunderstanding.

A Surprising Reunion: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Kiara Trevelyan/Warden!Alistair] DAI | F/M/M | Explicit | 6.4k - Part 1 of The Surprising Series. Featuring @knuttydraws' OC Kiara Trevelyan. The night before the siege of Adamant Fortress, Kiara, Cullen and Alistair begin a sexual relationship.

Ding Dong Desk Dick Down: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Kiara Trevelyan/Warden!Alistair] DAI | F/M/M | Explicit | 6.3k - Part 2 of The Surprising Series. Alistair wants to test the limits of a rickety desk.

All Wrapped Up For Satinalia: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Kiara Trevelyan/Warden!Alistair] DAI | F/M/M | Explicit | 5k - Part 3 of The Surprising Series. Kiara has a surprise for Cullen, but receives a delightful surprise in return.

Shelter From the Storm: 🍬🎭 [Cullen Rutherford/Arhea Lavellan] DAI | F/M | General | 6.2k - Featuring @smashingpigeons' OC Arhea Lavellan. Cullen searches for Lavellan after the avalanche covers Haven.

Templar Vows: 🍬[Cullen Rutherford/Warden!Alistair] Origins | M/M | Teen+ | 1.6k - Alistair is recruited into the Grey Wardens, abandoning the Templar Order.

Constant Cravings: 🍬[Cullen Rutherford/Elowen Trevelyan] Modern AU | F/M | General | 0.9k - Slice of life, Elowen has pregnancy cravings.

Strategic Manoeuvres: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Elowen Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.1k - Elowen mercilessly teases Cullen, and is rewarded for her efforts.

Coercive Tactics: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Elowen Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.4k - Who knew that the best way to keep Cullen from working too hard, was to keep him tied to his desk?

Solas Fics:

Crestwood Have Been Nice: 🌶️🍬🎭 [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 5.2k - Solas and Lavellan do not break up at the end of the infamous scene.

In The Dark: 🌶️🎭 [Solas/Elluin Lavellan] Post-DAI | F/M | Explicit | 4.2k - Featuring @noire-pandora's OC Elluin Lavellan. Unable to stop thinking of her, Solas returns to visit Elluin before the events of Trespasser.

Dread Wolf Guides You: 🍬🎭 [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | General | 1.9k - Solas attempts to comfort Lavellan after the Temple of Mythal.

Lover's Knot: 🌶️ [Solas/Eludysia Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 5.2k - Solas gifts Dysi a magic sex toy, which she never gets a chance to use, until the ball at Halamshiral.

Solas Doesn't Play: 🌶️ [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 6.5k - Ellana invites Solas to play Diamondback. She loses, just as Blackwall warned her... but still wins in the end.

Paint Me: 🌶️ [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 2.1k - Ellana wants Solas to paint her, unfortunately he wants to draw her first.

Ar Lasa Mala Revas: 🍬🎭 [Solas/Sulahnean Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 3.2k - Solas is torn between duty and desire. To give in to desire, he would have to reveal a truth that he fears would cost him the love of his vhenan.

Express Desires: [Solas/Eludysia Lavellan] Steampunk AU | F/M | Mature | 1.6k - Solas and Dysi hopelessly pine for one another, the tension between them reaching breaking point.

Hedge Wizard: 🌶️ [Solas/Sulahnean Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.2k - An alternate version of a chapter from an incomplete longfic. Solas gives in to his desire for Maera, a Fade aspect of Inquisitor Lavellan.

Embers of the Sun: 🎭 [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] Post-DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 2.1k - Utter misery. Former Inquisitor Lavellan visits the final resting place of Solas.

Blackwall Fics:

Cole Is A Knavish Lad: 🍬[Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 1.7k - Even Cole is fed up with the oblivious pining of Blackwall and Evelyn, and decides that its time they confessed their feelings to one another.

Hairy Potter: 🌶️🍬[Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 2.0k - Evelyn is obsessed with Blackwall's hands, and with good reason, for he's very, very skilled with them.

The Warden's Taint: 🌶️🍬🎭 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 2.6k - Blackwall tries to confess to Evelyn, but he can't bring himself to do it. He wants only to be the man she believes he is.

Awakening: 🌶️🍬 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 4.6k - Cole embarrasses Evelyn. Blackwall assures her that the Inquisitor doesn't have to give a fuck what anyone thinks - especially not in her own castle.

The Promise: 🌶️🎭 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.8k - After she passes judgement on him, Blackwall vows to spend the rest of his life proving himself worthy of her forgiveness.

Exaltation: 🌶️🍬 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] Trespasser | F/M | Explicit | 2.7k - Blackwall and Evelyn have a little reprieve from all the politics during the Exalted Council.

No Safe Haven: 🍬(Minor 🎭) [Blackwall/Hrafn Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 9.7k - Featuring @inky-does-art's OC Hrafn Lavellan. Scared and horny, Blackwall starts to fall hard for a mystifying and dangerous rogue.

Rylavellan Fics:

All fics featuring @knuttydraws' OC Farie Lavellan

Captured: 🌶️🍬 [Knight-Captain Rylen/Farie Lavellan] Post DAI | F/M | Explicit | 5.4k - Farie and Rylen enjoy the great outdoors on the eve of the summer solstice.

A Curious Bird: 🍬🎭 [Knight-Captain Rylen/Farie Lavellan] DA Series Modern AU | F/M | Teen+ | 15.2k - Rylen attends the house warming of his old friends from University, and meets the very pretty and interesting friend of his co-worker Solona.

A Light That Never Goes Out: 🌶️🍬 [Knight-Captain Rylen/Farie Lavellan] Veilguard | F/M | Explicit | 5.8k - Coming to Minrathous to foil the Venatori, Farie and Rylen seek a reprieve at the Lighthouse.

Cousland Fics:

Excuse me, Archdemon: 🍬 [Alistair/Elissa Cousland] Origins | F/M | General | 1.5k - Alistair and Elissa both wake in the middle of the night, haunted by the commanding call of the Archdemon.

Loghain Comes Calling: 🌶️ [Loghain Mac Tir/Elissa Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 3.9k - Loghain knows exactly how to make the Warden Commander's pulse race.

Brave Ser Gilmore: 🍬[Roderick Gilmore/Brianna Cousland] Origins | F/M | Teen+ | 1.2k - Doing her best to avoid her parents, and Arl Howe and his son, Brianna and Rory sneak a quiet moment alone in the kitchens.

Howe Did It Take So Long?: 🌶️🎭 [Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 7.1k - Childhood friends, now at odds due to his father's choices, Nathaniel finally accepts the friendship that Brianna has tried to offer to him.

The Bann of Harper's Ford: 🌶️🎭 [Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 5.6k - Nathaniel finds himself feeling insanely jealous and insecure about all the attention that Brianna receives in Denerim.

Eating Crow: 🌶️🎭 [Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 14.1k - Zevran arrives at Vigil's Keep, and though Nathaniel tries his hardest to not let jealousy get the better of him, with deadly precision, the smug assassin gets under his skin.

Never, My Love: 🍬[Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Teen+ | 887 - A quiet, tender moment between Nathaniel and Brianna.

Dorian Fics:

Adamant Hearts: 🍬🎭 [Dorian Pavus/Fenris] DAI | M/M | Teen+ | 5.2k - As Dorian seeks out Fenris in the wake of disaster, he reflects on the changing nature of their rocky relationship.

Fics featuring @inquisitoracorn's OC Jonathan Trevelyan. The Inquisitor's Anchor: 🍬[Dorian Pavus/Jonathan Trevelyan] DAI | M/M | Mature | 1.8k - Dorian and Jon discuss the nature of magic and the Anchor.

The Inquisitor's Gift: 🍬🎭[Dorian Pavus/Jonathan Trevelyan] Post-Trespasser | M/M | Mature | 4.3k - Jonathan surprises Dorian with a visit to his home in Minrathous.

Fics featuring @nivenor-krosis' OC Arthur Trevelyan.

Nobody's Fool: 🍬(Minor 🎭) [Dorian Pavus/Arthur Trevelyan] DAI | M/M | Teen+ | 3.2k - Dorian has given away his Pavus birthright and stubbornly refuses to let anyone help him get it back. Arthur can't let something so clearly important to him, slip from Dorian's grasp.

Not So Wicked Hearts: 🍬[Dorian Pavus/Arthur Trevelyan] DAI | M/M | Teen+ | 1k - Dorian fusses over Arthur at Halamshiral.

Hawke Fics:

A Pirate's Tub: 🌶️🍬[Female Hawke/Isabela] DA2 | F/F | Explicit | 1.6k - Isabela surprises Hawke with a romantic gesture.

Blood of the Hawke!: [Female Hawke/Fenris] DA2 | F/M | Teen+ | 0.6k - Hawke is embarrassed, Carver is traumatised, Fenris is quietly smug and Varric is taking notes for his book.

Hail The Conquering Hero: 🎭[Female Hawke/Fenris] DA2 | F/M | Teen+ | 1.9k - Frenemies shouldn't spar. Sex is the inevitable outcome.

Tooth and Claw: 🌶️ [Female Hawke/Fenris] DA2 | F/M | Explicit | 2.6k - Hawke likes it rough, and in the dirt. You can take the girl out of Lowtown...

The Dangers of Rosewood: 🌶️🎭 [Female Hawke/Anders] DA2 | F/M | Explicit | 5.7k - Hawke gets herself into a spot of difficulty and turns to Anders for help. Anders shows a gargantuan amount of professionalism and self-restraint. Until he doesn't.

I'll crawl home to her: 🎭🍬 [Female Hawke/Anders] DA2 | F/M | Teen+ | 2.5k - Hawke has a surprise for Anders for Satinalia.

Pour Away the Ocean: 🎭 [Female Hawke/Anders] DAI | Referenced relationship | Teen+ | 1.6k - Hawke is lost in the Fade and Anders is desperately trying to reach her.

Miscellaneous Pairings:

The Inexorable Tide: 🍬[Dirthamen/Ixchel Lavellan] Arlathan AU | F/M | Teen+ | 4.6k - Featuring @dreadfutures' OC Ixchel Lavellan. Dirthamen ponders his mysterious houseguest.

Fools Rush In: 🌶️🎭🍬[Morrigan/Aedan Cousland] Origins | F/M | Explicit | 2.3k - Aedan discovers that Morrigan's prickly shell hides a tender heart.

Sweet Whispers:🎭🍬[Alistair/Solona Amell] Origins | F/M | Teen+ | 4.3K - Featuring @inquisimer's OC Solona Amell. Alistair grows increasingly concerned that the family he has found, is turning out to be as scornful of him as the one he knew as a boy.

[teecupangel]

Hi teacup, so I was looking at some of your posts the other day when I heard my sibling playing Minecraft with their friends. These two things happening at the same time sparked an idea.

Enderman Desmond

I just came out of the gym so let's use the blood and creative juices that are flowing in my brain right now.

You know the typical, Des dies, goes back in time as a creature of our choice. Here Desmond is a 3 meters (10 feet) tall pitch black humanoid with really big arms and legs. And he can teleport too!

I really like Endermen, they're my favorite mob. I even have a plushie of one. They're chill and oddly cute until you look at them in the eyes then they turn into a horror movie monster.

I'm picturing Desmond looking like a mix of the many Endermen redesigns or realistic interpretations you can find. Tall and thin, inhuman proportions on the limbs, digitigrade legs clawed hands and feet, his hands don't look or have human proportions, big ol' eyes, and a face and skull are a mix of human and cat, in the sense that it looks kinda flat and you assume it's small until they yawn and you see all of their big teeth and big jaw angle.

Also like cats (and Altaïr) they don't like water, which I find hilarious. And makes sense since The End looks like a desert. So they probably don't know how to swim (like Altaïr) either. (He doesn't take damage from water cause that would be really inconvenient).

Now that I think about it cats also don't like seeing other creatures straight in the eyes. And Endermen do chirp chatter hiss and growl like cats do apart from their crooning. Mischievous and curious like cats since they go around stealing blocks...

Oh stars, Endermen are freaking cats

Des would be a really scary temple guardian to the templars and assassins. Plus he would inspire so many tales and myths about ghosts and tall creatures that disappear when you look directly at them. Maybe a new saying like "don't look the dark in the eyes".

Assassins are already deadly but being able to teleport would make Desmond so broken. And maybe his Endermen purple eyes and particles become golden when touching The Apple and other Isu tech.

Desmond certainly likes being able to teleport and blend in the night but his new instinct makes him unable to look at or be looked at in the eyes.

Altaïr becomes very paranoid cause he keeps seeing from the corner of his eyes the creature in the temple that gave him the apple but when he turns his head to look at it it disappears to only leave purple dust and particles.

Maybe Desmond is transported along with some Chorus fruit and since he is unsure at the beginning what his new body can and cannot eat he cultivates it in secret. And when Al Mualim is defeated a new assassin myth comes forth of a creature of the dark and shadows gifting the brotherhood with a fruit that gives them the gift of traveling in the blink of an eye when consumed. (Which is ironic considering that the temple had the apple of Eden)

I have so many ideas for Enderman!Desmond and Changeling!Desmond. I love to worldbuild.

I kinda like the idea of him being something that cannot is part of the world but, at the same time, not.

Let’s lean into the nightmare feel of an Enderman that doesn’t exist in their world.

Desmond cannot be ‘fully’ seen most of the time. At best, he appears on the corner of one’s eye. Only when he attacks a specific person that people can turn to look at him and, even then, he’s usually shrouded in darkness. Mostly because he always appears during the dark since that’s the perfect cover.

But there is also a ‘requirement’ for Desmond to attack. His target needs to look at him for at least a quarter of a second or attack in his general direction.

Of course, he can decide not to attack and all that happens is that he disappears after a second or so after someone has different maintained eye contact with him.

He can’t technically control his teleportation skills as well. Most of the time, he teleport inside of moving and his will to attack someone makes him come near the target. Instinctively, he knows when he’s going to be attacked and he can teleport instantaneously like an auto-dodge of some sort. It can only work twice in succession before getting a short cooldown though.

He can be harmed like usual and when he’s harmed enough times (which is a rarity), he disappears from their world.

To Desmond, it’s like he goes to sleep. When he returns, all his wounds are gone and he’s usually sent back 24 hours from his disappearance, near the one who hit him last.

When he disappears after finishing his target or a second has passed without him attacking the one who stared him down, he would return like he just took a nap.

As for his teleportation mechanics, no one knows when and why he appears. Desmond himself ‘dreams’ of his ancestors and the people he knew (or his ancestors knew) while he’s napping/sleeping and he appears when he wants to, the location always being the current ‘dream’.

The reason why he exists in a perpetual state of ‘nonbeing’ is because his status as an Enderman is because he failed to anchor himself to a specific time after being the Reader for so long. This failed anchoring changed his Reader appearance to one of an Enderman and he’s forever drifting in the endless timeline seen through the Gray, only able to ‘visit’ them for a short time.

The worst part?

Because of his failed attempt to anchor himself, he forgot everything he did as the Reader.

Including why he tried to be part of the timeline again.

[ofandrastes]

@softersinned said;

[APPROVAL + Elliott] She looks up at the sound of the door opening. He has made a point of keeping some distance between them, and she understands (she does!) until she doesn't, anymore. And she misses him—gods, she misses him, so sharply it feels like an open wound. That he's arrived now is no surprise, and Astoria sets her pen down to meet Hawke's eyes, expression calm, hands steady. There is some piece of her that's almost eager for the fight. Even a fight is better than this—dancing around one another as if afraid that the fragile peace between them will shatter, and in doing so, leave one another damaged beyond repair. "Sit." She gestures at the weathered wooden chair across from her at her table. The little cabin where she's taken up residence reminds her of the flat in Lowtown. She tries not to think about the first time he sat at her table there. "You don't like my decision to seek out the Templars. Tell me. I want to hear what you have to think."

He's seeing red.

Which, historically, wouldn't be an unusual state for Hawke to find himself. Anger is an emotion that he knows well, one that's both anchored him and sabotaged him, one that's been etched into his very flesh and bones from the moment he was told he had to shield himself, to hide his magic -- one of the few things that made him alive, whole. It's always been there, gnawing at him. Shaping him. A constant companion through every loss, each death a chisel carving away pieces of him until there was hardly anything left. Malcolm, Bethany, Carver, Leandra-- all another crack in his fragile foundation. Over time, those fractures deepened, splitting him apart until he became merely fragments held together by the sheer will and weight of his rage.

Time alone has tempered that anger -- dulled its sharpest edges, though it hasn’t fully healed the wounds that fuel it, the thrumming of ire in his bones still ever-present, but he's grown tired. The years spent on the run, the relentless weight of loneliness bordering on torturous, have given him something unexpected: clarity. Hawke will never truly find inner peace, no, but at some point, the endless war he’s waged against himself--against his pain, his regrets, his anger--had become exhausting.

But this -- Astoria's decision to ally with the Templars -- it brings out an ire in him that he's unable to temper.

He's kept his distance until now, apart from their initial reunion. Even as he confronts her here, he can still feel the ghost of that embrace now--the warmth of her against him, the shudder of her breath as though simply knowing he was alive was enough. But was it just that? Or was it something more? Hawke doesn’t dare let himself wonder.

And he can't -- not with the way his blood boils as her words meet his ears. A calloused hand grips the back of the chair, fingers curling around the wood with enough force to strain it. "I'd rather stand." Hawke retorts, jaw set. Her calmness almost unsettles him -- is this truly the same woman he'd come to know all those years ago? Surely, it can’t be. Not with how readily she seems to have discarded everything that she -- everything that they -- stood for.

"To say that I don't like your decision is a gross understatement," he continues, voice thick with anger as the wood crackles beneath his hand. "You're condemning all of those rebel mages to death --" Condemning him to death, even, considering word of his magic was revealed after the explosion at the Chantry, "you do understand that, don't you? By allying with the Templars, you’re not just aligning the Inquisition with them--you’re supporting the very scum who’d see us all in chains. Or Tranquil. Or worse." Surely, he doesn't have to explain this to her; she knows this.

"Has power made you forget yourself? Or are you fully aware of the implications of your actions, but are choosing to ignore them? The Herald of Andraste --" he spits the title with palpable disdain. "Please. It's a fucking farce." His scoff is cruel, hollow, and he shakes his head in disbelief.

"I remember a time when you'd laughed at the absurdity of the Chantry, at their hypocrisy -- when sacrilege wasn't wasn't an offence, but a hobby." Hawke can't help but think back to those late evenings -- few, yet memorable -- when the two of them had sinned over and over again at the very altar of Andraste herself. A shameless act of blasphemy, a quiet mockery of the faith that sought to control them.

"All of this, it's --" he lets go of the chair, arms crossing instead over his chest with a huff, "I more than dislike your decision. I loathe it."

HAWKE GREATLY DISAPPROVES.

[fenalith]

Tarot Card WIP

"My Warden, Rook Fundin Thorne: tired, probably possessed, absolutely done with your bullshit.

Circle Mage turned Warden because, hey, no other options!

Casually Andrastian. Dalish gods? Don’t care. Spiritual debates? Miss me with that.

No time or energy for drama. If you’re not useful, your problems are not their problem.

The Calling? Meh. It’s fine. Probably.

Rivalmance™: Starts with “Lucanis is expendable,” evolves into sparring matches at the Lighthouse, then spirals into feelings (ew). Thorne messes it up, Lucanis drifts toward Neve, and the demon Spite is like, “What the fuck is this?”

Closest Connections:

Davrin: Reliable.

Lucanis: Professional.

Neve: Chill… except for that messy love triangle.

Bellara: Soft spot, but Thorne can’t communicate for shit.

Also: Drinks tea just to annoy Lucanis, but now Lucanis keeps bringing it to them, and they’re confused.

Magical Focus: Lightning, fire, force pushing everything into oblivion, and teleporting into chaos. Battle mage life forever."

OG text I fed it: My Very Dramatic Headcanon:

Thorne was in the Ferelden Circle when everything fell apart and demons started appearing. Between the tower falling into disarray and the Mage/Templar war their options became very limited. Only choice left was to become a Warden. Hurray.

They're casually Andrastian. They couldn't care less about the Dalish or their Gods. Spiritual debates? Leave them out of it.

They have no time (or energy) for bullshit. If they don't like you or don’t think you’re useful, your problems aren’t their problem. Period.

The Calling: They know it’s coming. It’s fine. Probably.

There is a Rivalmance. And it begins with Thorne bringing Davrin and the Lucanis on missions; because it makes sense. Two Wardens immune to the Blight, and Lucanis a professional assassin tagging along. If someone has to risk catching the Blight, Lucanis feels like the logical choice. I mean, if he can’t even handle Darkspawn what chance does he have against the Gods anyway?

Lucanis proves himself, though, and eventually, their missions give way to something else: Sparring at the Lighthouse. It can happen anywhere, at any time: It’s infuriating and unexpectedly… fun. For someone who hasn’t laughed or felt much of anything in years, it’s a surprising but welcome relief. Somewhere in the rhythm of their bouts, things begin to linger: a touch that stays a fraction too long, a glance that’s hard to shake. And then Thorne makes a shit decision that fractures whatever have been building between them. They still practice together, but it’s colder, and Lucanis begins to drift towards Neve. Just as well. It’s better if they keep focused. Spite doesn’t see it that way, however. The demon liked things as they were—when Lucanis and Thorne were aligned, with a common, clear goal. Watching Lucanis drift toward Neve and Thorne pull away makes no sense. Spite doesn’t understand it—doesn’t like it. And he won’t stand for it.

Closest Connections:

Davrin: A reliable brother-in-arms.

Lucanis: A professional they respect. Thorne finds his no-nonsense attitude refreshing.

Bellara: Has a total soft spot for her, but they come of as harsh more often than not when they talk to her.

Neve: They vibe, plain and simple. Thorne probably enjoys her subtle humor the most. But her affair with Lucanis makes things very messy.

Also:

Drinks tea. They don’t really have a favorite drink, but when they learn Lucanis detests it, insisting they love it becomes a fun way to irritate him. But when Lucanis starts bringing it to them more and more... Thorne are not sure what to make of that.

Magical focus: Lightning and fire? Yes please. Force push? Essential. And dematerializing across the battlefield in a flash of energy? Second nature. They’re a battle mage through and through, thriving in chaos. Wasn’t always like that, but it certainly works in these trying times.

I'm sorry: He's indifferent to Manfred. Probably likes Assan though.