#anyway she's romantically entangled with alistair bc he reminds her of tamlen

[attractthecrows]

OC INTERVIEW

I was going through my Sy tag and found this old tag game from [checks timestamp] 2015. Since I'm dusting her off for a new playthrough I thought I'd update it. 

Tagged: some 9 years ago by @ofwolvesandshatteredshields (HAHA SURPRISE!)

Tagging: oh god oh fuck um. uh. hm

@storybookhawke @hawkeykirsah @greywardan @dammithawke @warden-mahariel and ive run out of people. do it anyways its fun 

Pick one of your characters and answer as if you're them being interviewed. Tag some others. 

CHARACTER: Sylaira Mahariel (Longbowman, Ranger, Assassin, HoF, died bringing down the Archdemon)

If I get into it I may compile like an actual article written by Brother Genitivi about Warden Mahariel (interviewed after the Landsmeet but before the battle of Denerim) but thats a bigass maybe lmfao

ANYWAYS LET's BEGIN

1. What is your name?

Sy Mahariel

2. What is your real name?

That is my real name. Sy is short for Sylaira, if you wish to be pedantic. Most simply call me Grey Warden, which suits me just fine.

3. Do you know why you were called that?

I'm called Grey Warden because that's what I am. …Oh, you meant the name?

My parents died before I had the chance to ask them. Ashalle told me once that my mother honored Sylaise; I assume that's why. Our names are similar, though I'm not exactly the best disciple of the Hearthkeeper.

4. Single or taken?

Taken for granted, primarily. Next question.

5. Have any abilities or powers?

I am a Dalish hunter. What does that tell you?

…Oh, all right. We - the hunters, that is - are proficient with longbows, shortbows, light blades, and simple potion-making, though we usually leave that for the craftsmen. Basic survival and tracking skills are also standard. Personally, I prefer longbows. Mine is dragonthorn and sylvanwood.

And over the course of the Blight I've picked up the skills of a ranger, and Grey Wardens have their own abilities.

6. Some have called you a Mary Sue. Thoughts?

Is that a reference to some shem hero? There are far too many.

7. What's your eye color?

I'm sitting right in front of you. Have you not eyes? They are blue, last I checked.

The color used to be deeper, in fact. It's faded out some in recent months. Blight sickness will do that.

8. What's your hair color?

…Black, as you can see. Have you received a blow to the head recently? What is the relevance of this, anyways? If you're committing my likeness to paper, focus on the vallaslin. It is the Hearthkeeper, Sylaise's pattern of clan Sabrae. Also in blue, I may add.

9. Have you got any family members?

My clan is my family. I had to leave them when I was recruited by the Warden Duncan, or risk spreading the Blight to them all.

10. Oh? What about pets?

There is a wardog that imprinted on me after the battle of Ostagar. Clever thing, highly loyal, obsessed with food. He reminds me of an old friend of mine, so I call him Fenarel.

11. Now tell me about something you don't like.

You don't have enough paper in that little notebook of yours, Genitivi, nor do we have time. In summary, though: Darkspawn. The Chantry. Wastefulness. And arrogant shems who think they know what's best.

12. Do you have any hobbies you enjoy?

Look around us, old man. We are in the midst of a Blight. I am one of two total Grey Wardens remaining in the entirety of Ferelden. Do you think I have time for hobbies?

Before the Blight, I enjoyed assisting Master Ilen, the clan craftsman. He tells me I have a good hand for bowmaking.

13. Ever hurt anyone before?

I challenge you to find me a Dalish hunter who has not.

14. Ever killed anyone before?

[She stares deadpan at me.] Are you serious?

You're serious.

Yes, I have killed people, you stupid shemlen.

Humans threatening our clan. Bandits. Carta. Blood mages. Tevinter slavers. Overzealous templars. Casteless thugs. Deeply, deeply stupid farmers hoping for reward money. Idiot knights defending the honor of an honorless man. At least two Arls and a Teyrn. Shall I continue?

15. What kind of animal are you?

I am an elf.

Ah, metaphorically. I've no idea. Wardens are associated with griffons, are they not? Likely one of those.

16. What are your worst habits?

I hold onto hope when I should be practical, according to Sten. I am too forgiving, according to Morrigan. I am too compassionate, according to Shale. I catastrophize too much, according to Zevran, which seems silly, to me; we're in a Blight. This is a catastrophe. I am too reckless, according to Alistair. And I drink too much.

17. Do you look up to anyone?

In the clan, I looked up to the hahrens; we all do. I looked up to Duncan, when he was alive. Neither of those are available to me now.

18. Orientation?

Looks to be… south-southwest.

That's not what I meant.

I know what you meant and am giving you an easy out.

19. Did you go to school?

Isn't that what shem nobles do with their children? No, we don't do that. We follow the Vir Tanadhal or Vir Atish'an, and every hunter knows the Vir Banal'ras. Dalish children are taught our history and culture by the hahrens. But no, there is no "school".

20. Would you want to marry and have children one day?

I did, once. I was… you humans call it 'betrothed'? I had hoped to marry Tamlen. But that is not possible anymore.

21. Have any fans?

Preoccupation with me tends to lead more to assassins than 'fans'.

22. What are you most afraid of?

I do not hold fear in my heart.

23. What do you usually wear?

I spend most of my time on the battlefield, so, armor.

24. Do you love someone?

Yes.

24a. Care to elaborate?

No.

25. When was the last time you wet yourself?

[she levels an icy glare at me and does not answer]

26. We're not done yet…

Then stop asking stupid questions.

27. What 'class' are you?

What, like noble, commoner, mage? The Dalish don't do that.

28. How many friends do you have?

More than you'd think, although likely I will not see many of them again. And the people traveling with me will always be important to me.

29. Thoughts on pie? 

Leliana's mentioned that. It's a type of food, yes? I've never had it.

[We take a brief intermission while I find us some pie.]

This is… fruit? In a pastry? It's good. Impractical - we could never make such things in the aravels - but tasty.

30. Favorite drink?

The only 'drink' we get with any regularity is… I'm not sure how to describe it, actually. Alistair calls it "Grey Whiskey". It's quite something.

In my clan, we make honey mead and wild fruit wines. Those always remind me of home.

31. What's your favorite place?

There is a birch grove in the Brecilian forest. I imagine it's fallen to the Blight, by now. I used to go there with Tamlen, a long time ago.

32. Are you interested in someone?

[She does not meet my gaze.] Even if I were, such follies are dangerous.

33. What's your cup size?

[I had barely enough time to notice her glare before her fist shot out and collided with my nose. In lieu of an answer, she threw a rag at me to staunch the blood.]

34. Would you rather swim in a lake, or the ocean?

[She laughs. It's unexpected, but a lovely sound.] Have you been to the Ferelden coast, Genitivi? It'd be safer to swim in Orzammar. Lakes, thank you very much.

35. What's your type?

Not you. Next question.

36. Any fetishes?

[She glares at me.]

37. Top or bottom? Dominant or submissive?

[She stands to leave.]

38. No, please don't leave. I'm sorry. Do you prefer camping or sleeping indoors?

[She sits back down.] You, old man, have a fondness for dangerous and inappropriate questions. This I will answer, though my patience wears thin.

I prefer camping. My entire life prior to the Blight, I remember being able to hear the wind in the trees and see the sky. It is comforting to know one's place in nature. Walls and roofs have their place, but I don't like them, and I particularly dislike being underground.

39. Do you carry anything sentimental?

…Yes. All Grey Wardens wear a pendant that we receive after the Joining. And I've kept my old hunting gloves; Ashalle gave them to me when I received my vallaslin, and they were made by Master Ilen. [After a long, heavy moment, she slips a ring off of her finger and places it in my palm. It is a simple band carved from wood, detailed with elfroot leaves, warm in the hand.] And this - you call it a promise ring, I believe. Tamlen gave me this, a long time ago, before we came of age, before the Blight, to declare our intent to marry. Ma vhenan. Ma abelas. It reminds me of what I have lost. I will carry it until my death.

40. Thank you for your time.

Mhm. I recommend leaving the city, old man. You're in no condition to defend yourself from hordes of darkspawn, and they're approaching quickly.