#are there even ferelden necromancers??

[punkrockgrantaire]

Not to be like “wish this had more narrative weight” about the wish-it-had-more-narrative-weight game but imagine if Dorian being an actual necromancer was at all mentioned or explored

[cybershock24601]

I have more thoughts on the Veilguard time travel au now that Emmrich has entered the picture.

Emmrich is a cultured, kind, and incredibly intelligent man but he's also a necromancer and very enthusiastic about his craft which would leave opinions on him very split.

Most interesting would be Dorian who has to now deal with his teenage crush who is even hotter now somehow??? This can't be allowed. Whether this is a setting with an Inquisitor romancing Dorian or Iron Bull having a thing with Dorian, I think both of them might get pretty jealous of Emmrich because it is very clear Dorian used to have a crush on the guy and just might still with how he blushes whenever Emmrich compliments how far his necromancy has come along and how he blushes when Emmrich sternly admonishes him for his casual disregard for the dead

I think for characters like Vivienne and Josephine, Emmrich would likely get along quite well with them. Vivienne and Emmrich are both educators and have some similar life experiences coming from humble backgrounds and through their mage hood managing to rise to respected stations in life. They might have some differences of opinions due to their lived experiences as mages in the south vs the north but would be able to discuss them amicably and give each other new perspectives.

Solas and Emmrich would likely have some very interesting conversations about the fade and respect towards each other's expertise in the matter. Dynamic would likely change a bit depending on how much Emmrich knows about Solas, his past, and his true motives and when Rook chooses to divulge the full extent of their knowledge.

Cole and Emmrich would also have a very interesting dynamic with the unique relationship the Mourn Watch have with spirits. Emmrich would likely end up being Dad number 3 in the Cole custody battle that would be a middle ground between Solas and Varric. Manfred and Cole would also be likely to get along pretty well and Emmrich would be delighted to see not only Manfred's progress and growth but to see him making a friend that is a good influence no offense Spite

Cullen would probably do his best to avoid Emmrich because sure the guy is nice but Cullen has no clue how to handle the whole necromancer thing and it would likely freak out his Ferelden sensibilities if Emmrich were to start casually talking about raising corpses.

Cassandra would also avoid Emmrich too but that's more because he keeps trying to engage her in conversation about Nevarra and the Necropolis and Cassandra just isn't a fan of all that. Their conversations would be so funny because it would be Emmrich genuinely trying to engage with her and Cassandra being super stiff and polite because she doesn't want to offend him but absolutely does not want to be talking anything to do with grand necropolis because she thinks it is creepy. Cassandra already let slip to Rook that she doesn't like grand necropolis and our resident crypt baby got so offended because Cassandra is Nevarran, how can she not think the grand necropolis is the absolute best place in the entire world??

Varric and Bull would both probably fall in the camp of wary but both would come around to seeing Emmrich as decent guy. Sera however would be an absolute menace and that's what would probably get Sera on Rook's permanent shit list because it was one thing for Sera to be Sera to Rook and Spite as even if Rook was not cool with the way Sera trash talked necromancy and was rude to Spite in a similar way to how she treats Cole, Rook could let a lot of that go. As soon as Sera starts causing problems with Emmrich, and even worse Manfred (I can definitely see Sera pulling some pretty mean pranks on our resident spirit of Curiosity), the gloves are coming off. Sera better be ready to square up and meet Rook behind the Herald's Rest because it is going down. Rook is an incredibly nice person right up to the point you start being an asshole to one of their friends.

Manfred would also be an interesting addition because everyone has had to deal with Cole and then Spite and now we have a third spirit running around Skyhold who doesn't seem to poke at your emotions but rather seems to keep getting himself in trouble by getting stuck in rose bushes in the gardens and has a penchant for repeating some impolite words (we already got banter confirming Manfred likely knows venhedis and with how often Lucanis and Taash say things like meirda and vashedan, Manfred has probably picked those up too). I feel like Manfred would be incredibly polarizing because on the one hand, talking skeleton, but on the other hand, he's absolutely adorable and I think eventually people would start seeing what a well meaning sweetheart Manfred is. And if they don't they have to deal with an incredibly sad Emmrich and a mortally offended Rook because Manfred is the best boy!

[thievinghippo]

So I promised a postmortem and it’s finally time! Here’s the TL:DR. I loved it. I can already tell I’ll probably have more played hours in this game than Inquisition, and I fucking loved Inquisition! Good, bad, and ugly beneath the cut and there will be heavy spoilers for the entire game, so read at your own risk. (This is also long, because I have a lot to say!)

THE GOOD

Rook. Once I let go of my preconceived notion of how Rook was (mid-40s and serious but kind) and accepted Rook for the young, sarcastic character they are, I fell in love. Edda is going to be an A possibly even S tier OC for me

The dwarves. We were fed so well, y’all. So much lore and dialogue choices. There was even a Grey Warden dwarf specific dialogue choice. I love the confirmation of what we all suspected with the Titans. I just wish that a dwarf Rook had the opportunity to confront Solas. He apparently apologizes to Harding. But what about a dwarf Rook?

Exploration. I’m an idiot when it comes to figuring out in-game puzzles and such. I’ve read some complaints that everything was far too easy, but for one of the first times I remember, I could do a vast majority of puzzles and finding treasures without consulting a game guide. And I was actually proud when I figured things out. When I play Edda again, I’m going to 100% the world and I cannot wait

The Companions. Bonus points for Emmrich Volkarin. I ended up loving all of them. Even the ones I was very ‘meh’ on before playing the game. Like Bellara. She was on my list to romance second to last. And she has moved up to third, after Emmrich and Davrin. 

Emmrich Volkarin. Yes, he gets his own special mention. I love him so much that I created a second Rook to romance him. That way I have one Emmrich that is not a lich (Edda’s choices) and one Emmrich that is a lich (Sonnet’s choice). I love his compassion, his kindness, his reverence of the dead. I adore his romance and how clear it is that Rook has bewitched him, body and soul. The fact that they lean into the age gap and it becomes entwined with his own fears of death. He has my favorite personal quest. I loved the music, the atmosphere. How it pertains to his own journey, facing his mortality (plus Johanna Hezenkoss can get it). Plus it has the banger line of ‘Show them what a real necromancer can do!’ I even can’t wait not to romance him and see what the friendship is like and encourage him to hook up with Strife

The backgrounds. Granted, I’ve only played through the game 1.5 times, but there have been so many background mentions. Especially for the Grey Wardens. Mourn Watch has some great ones too. I mean, there was Grey Warden romance banter during a fight. In a side quest! I can’t wait to discover more

The character creator. I love how inclusive it is, especially when you compare it to previous Dragon Age games. The hair is beautiful (but where is my braid crown! my kingdom for a braid crown!) and I have overweight OCs, which make me very happy. Varric's shaving mirror is also amazing, and because I want EA to know that people are using these options, Sonnet is a trans woman who will save Thedas

THE BAD

Weird tonal switches. Emmrich and Harding are going to Ferelden so she can show him around but the South is being razed by darkspawn. Harding’s mom sends her back with pie and gives great hugs. How in the world are they getting to Ferelden? Rook was amazed to see the Inquisitor in the North so why would the members of the Veilguard be able to go to the South? Some of the codex entries are so dark and yet everyone is happy in the Lighthouse 

Give Rook a problem, please! I kept waiting for Rook’s LI to go up to her and ask if there’s anything distracting her. If there’s any problem they could solve together. But that never came and Rook is apparently the only person on the team that can’t be distracted by their own problems. How amazing would it have been if Rook had some sort of personal quest. Maybe based on lineage. Or background. Something that shows that she matters as much to her companions and they mean to her

The Act One Choice. Still mad about it. Are you telling me that two extra people would have saved Minrathous? That a city full of the most powerful mages in the known world couldn’t take down a fucking dragon? It didn’t feel earned and it did annoy me a great deal

Let. Rook. Mourn. While I appreciate that Rook was able to mourn Varric and Davrin (in my playthrough) privately, the fact that it immediately jumps to a sex scene sort of bothered me. Especially Emmrich’s taking them to the Necropolis so they can bang in a coffin. This was not the time to leave the Lighthouse, Emmrich! The rest of the team got to mourn Davrin and worry about Neve together. I wish Rook could have been a part of that too. 

Let’s talk Varric’s death. I didn’t see it coming. I actually ranted to a friend before I knew what happened that they should have killed him in the prologue if this was how they were going to use him. Oops. I hate how callous the truth about his death makes Rook look. I hate that Harding and Neve didn’t even really seem to mourn. Hate how the Inquisitor or Dorian or Isabela don’t mention him at all. I hate how obvious his death is in my second playthrough. I will have to fix this all in fanfic

THE UGLY

Assuming there is another DA game, where do we go from here? I really dislike the concept of the Executors in the secret ending. One thing I’m optimistic about is that by basically wiping the south off the map, we might be able to have more games there. Because everything will have been reset, so to speak. How does the South deal with the mages when they’ve all been fighting darkspawn for their lives? Put them back into Circles? I think not

I’m also not sure about what choices would move forward into a new DA game. Not talking companion choices, but choices that actually affect the world. No matter what we do, the Blight is over and the Veil is safe. If BioWare couldn’t be bothered to have the Well of Sorrows choice matter, I can’t imagine they’ll care how Solas was bound to the Veil, whether it be by choice, trickery, or force. Minrathous or Treviso is the only other non-companion choice I can think of that might possibly matter

But honestly, it doesn’t matter, because who knows if we’ll ever get another Dragon Age game? I know I would love one, but I have this sinking feeling there won’t be (please let me be wrong!)

So there you have it. I really love this game, good, bad, and ugly. And I found so much more to love than to dislike. I have a feeling I will be yelling about this game (and Emmrich!) for a long, long time

[somanykobolds]

20-ish days 'til the Veilguard. The kobolds are being restless while learning all over again to be patient by focusing on something else.

The fact that we have only the choices that we know we have to impact our world is, to me, freeing. We can decide so many things that are left to us to set as the canon. Who, tell me, who can stop me to decide my Rook is an older Merril who moved to the north out of curiosity, either with the lords of fortune or the veil jumper (or to become a grey warden, or even that she was indeed found in a crypt, raised by necromancers, then by dalish quickly after and is finally coming back from her time in the south ? or... you get it) ?

Imagine you sent Alistair away in Origins because you choosed he would not be king and Loghain was to become a Warden. Sure he left and probablly had a rough few years. Now, it's been twenty years, maybe he's forty-something, gray, and has joined the northern wardens some time ago and he's back. His last name changed years ago because he can't stand to be associated to ferelden any longer. But he can't stand his own guilt to have left on the eve of the final battle either. So here he is, to make amend to the world he didn't save last time but will save this time. As a Grey Warden, as he should have more than twenty years ago.

Hell, you can be Hawke with a new name and Varric as your accomplice. You spent ten years here and there, maybe became a warden or something else. Nobody knows you here, or at least not your face, so, whatever ? Solas only met you from afar, maybe he don't recognizes you because you've changed so much you barely recognize yourself after so much time, so so far from Lothering.

Maybe you're a really old and tired and close to the calling Hero of Ferelden. Or you "healed" that, reversed the Joining or whatever and be who you want, lived all this time in the shadows and now you're here because there is no champion, there is no Inquisitor. Somebody is needed, Varric is looking for someone, and sure he calls your Rook. You changed your last name to maybe, because the anonymity is priceless and precious. But, it's over now. You have to get back to it. You have to save the world again. One last time. If you're still a warden that may very well be the last thing you will be able to do before the Calling takes you and you have to go for good, so... Why not ?

Of course, you can be a true new face. Nobody ever heard of you, you are Rook and no one else. Because in the end this is your choice and nobody can stop you to write and play your own headcanon. Not even your past self and your past games. That's the beauty and the horror of it, of having only these three choices to bring with you in Veilguard. Everything else is either a blank slate of the fuel of your dreams and nightmares.

That's how I choose to see it anyway. That's how I wish for y'all to take advantage of the situation and hope you'll be alright.

[invinciblerodent]

you made me laugh very hard thinking about max volume BASS-BOOSTED CARELESS WHISPER, thank you for that. please say more about this thorne i'm besotted

Aah, thank you kindly! ❤️ (watch me proceed to rant for about an hour about him lol)

As a quick summary, Tristan Thorne was born in Ferelden in roughly 9:13, in a village (that's more of a homestead rather than a true settlement) near Lothering- aaaand then promptly (kind of, sort of) died on the battlefield of Ostagar in defending his home when he was just 17 years old. Except luckily, he survived his injuries just long enough for the battle to settle, and curious spirits (Compassion, Courage, Hope, Loss, and others) to take notice, and begin pressing against the Veil.

It was a spirit of Purpose who was drawn to the dying boy's sheer determination to keep drawing breath, and touched his mind, saving his life in the process (through what some might consider a deal, though that opens up some unfortunate lines of discussion)(it's not a demon, I swear! .... maybe!) to allow the spirit to come and experience our world through his eyes.

Wandering the wilderness, dazed and disoriented and with the Blight in his veins (and a spirit invisible to all others riding piggyback), he was found an uncertain amount of time later (could have been days, weeks, or months even) by the arriving Orlesian Wardens somewhere near the Wilds, and was promptly recruited, as they thought him on death's door.

Tristan then took the Joining with remarkable ease (a curiosity the Wardens also noticed- really, it was almost as if the draught had no effect? But that's impossible, that could only happen if the sickly boy was somehow already a Warden without even knowing? He must just have remarkable constitution)(could it have had something to do with the curious herbal mixture he got from a local lady to calm his nerves the night before the battle? who knows), and fell naturally in line with the Warden teachings.

Fast forward roughly 22 years, he is now 39-40 years old, doesn't talk much about his life before beyond calling Ferelden his home, and is a decently respected Senior Warden with a secret not many have ever known of, on top of a bristly, brusque attitude that makes him difficult to get to know, and a propensity to head single-mindedly towards any goal (and flout rules in the process), as if drawn on a string.

He's also not great with people, has not had a relationship since that one time in his teens (in part because he's not sure how it all is supposed to work, but he's fairly sure you can't exactly open with "by the way, I'm kind of not sure if I'm even really alive" and have a romance start from there, or keep something like that a secret long), has quite a few scars that chronicle many blows that would have felled any fully mortal man (and many more tattoos that tell of the same), and likes to do embroidery in his spare time- by his claim to keep his fingers' fine motor skills from deteriorating, but also because of his secret affection for pretty things.

...... In a more meta sense, I made him because I wanted to toy with an undead/necromancer dynamic before release (and before learning about Spite, I thought possession would be a unique way of doing that- egg on my face lol), so Tristan is not exactly an abomination. Not really.

Nor is he a zombie in the traditional sense, or wholly separate from-, or even truly fused with Purpose, like we've seen among the companions before.

I think he... sits kind of in the eye of a three-way Venn diagram between Wynne, Cole, and Anders: he's someone kept alive partly by a spirit who is not just influencing the world from across the Veil and is fully present, but also isn't trying to exert control of the host body, OR a person of its own right, and rather acts more as a silent, approving passenger. They're not the same person or completely separate, and they're not in the same place, but also not apart. If that makes any sense.

I like to think that since Tristan and Purpose are very closely aligned in their goals and temperaments (and have been together longer than Tristan has lived on his own before, which gave them time to grow to trust one another), the separation between them is pretty much nonexistent- you can't draw a line of demarcation between them any more than you could separate yourself from your right hand.

This makes it somewhat difficult to tell whether they even have an impact on each other, whether it's him who was made more bullheaded by his connection with Purpose, if it was Purpose made more humane and compassionate by its decades in the world of the living, or if they just found each other by chance and ended up meshing and merging perfectly without much of a need for a conscious compromise.

I liked the idea of this remarkably close synergy between mortal and spirit being fascinating to Emmrich, and prompting a thorough study (both arcane and medical) of Tristan, which would sort of then turn into a more.... personal interest as well.

I've not yet gotten far past the prologue in that game yet, but I think it'll be very fun after finishing my very Emotionally And Conventionally Intelligent Ingellvar to explore this lonely, self-reliant, gruff man, and playing through his little gay crisis as he gets swept up by Emmrich's charm embarrassingly quickly.

It'll be really nice to roleplay as he discovers the Magic of Friendship, slowly becomes the third single dad of the group (only his children are basically everyone except for Emmrich and Davrin), and finally lose his v-card before he'd literally become the 40-year-old virgin.

.... i also found this after making that post, and it has been making me giggle for the past day- it sounds like you're outside his head and listening in to the sound escaping through Tristan's ear:

[ensrensage]

Rook Roundup! Top Left: Da'Evune "Lua" De Riva - (she/her, they/them nonbinary, Crow Mage(? girl you fight like a rogue???) sold to the Crows as a toddler, imprinted on Viago like a duckling (it was mutual, that's his baby sister (derogatory), adopted into House De Riva. She's an angry crier, and just wants her big brother to be proud of her (and also to succeed him as Fifth Talon one day). Teia is the best sister-in-law she could ask for. She's kneecapped the day she explicitly gets Caterina's approval as Lucanis' spouse. Just as in love with Spite as she is Lucanis. Does not wear vallaslin, but wears a Crow face tattoo because she was not raised culturally Dalish, nor culturally a City Elf, but wants to feel something for her heritage and being of more than one place.

Top Right: Melinoë Ingellvar - (they/them, nonbinary, Mourn Watch Mage) found on a plinth in the depths of the Grand Necropolis, they were raised by Vorgoth and as such are a weird little creature, even to people in Nevarra. They're a wisp magnet due to playing with them in the Memorial Garden and libraries as a little one. Being exposed to the Fade and insane levels of necromantic magic as a baby turned their eyes weird (black sclera, that pretty teal green iris). They're a very talented necromancer, very shy about being a corpse whisperer, and used to being an -I quote- "unsettling little weirdo"; they bond with Bellara about being prodigies in their respective fields (Melinoë is one of the youngest to be inducted into the Watchers, and also So Very Autistic like Bellara). They're in love with Emmrich at first sight and emotionally curls up like an isopod about it. No teacher-student relationship, but leaning hard into that age gap ayooooo. Does not wear vallaslin, but wears tombscript tattoos in similar placement to honor those who came before them, and those who made them who they are. Received detailed skeletal scarification when they came of age, to celebrate being inducted into the Mourn Watch.

Bottom Left: Cosette Thorne - (she/her, nonbinary, Grey Warden Warrior) - Half-Orlesian, Half-Ferelden, everyone's problem. Fights so explosively because [Antoine voice] you see, she did not grow very tall, and now there is nowhere for her energy to go, as there is not enough space in her body for all that fire. Hears the blight like a song and is in incredibly deep grief when she learns its origin; not nearly as sensitive as Antoine but her vitiligo is a symptom of her carrying the Blight as a Warden. Misses her mother's pack of mabari, and is head over heels in love with Assan because she's got such a deep need to be around battle mounts (and Davrin because game recognizes game and she's hunting him IMMEDIATELY). Will fully bite Solas and break skin if given the chance, could not be happier to punch out the First Warden at Weisshaupt. She's in love with Antoine and Evka's love, and deeply envious of what they have; she's very overwhelmed with the way she comes to love Davrin. The fact that they both survive the fight with Razikale is a traumatic moment for them both as lovers. One of Assan's brothers bonds with her after they're rescued from Isseya. The Joining makes it difficult for Wardens to have children, but hell if she and Davrin don't try to make Assan a sibling or three. Does not wear vallaslin because she was not raised culturally Dalish, got her griffon face tattoos to scandalize her Orlesian father.

Bottom Right: Lachesis Mercar - (he/him transgender, Shadow Dragon Warrior) - Learned as a young man that he'd been freed from a slave ring and was adopted by the Mercar family as a smol baby. Came out when he was a child and got to grow up pretty happily growing through stages of self-actualization. Little sister becoming a mage raised their family to Laetans, but he's Soporati and takes pride in what he can do not being a mage. He's a pretty talented painter by passion, scribe by trade. He writes poetry and presses flowers in his downtime. He's in a situationship with Tarquin and the Viper, because what's more problematic for the Imperial Divine than being in love with not one, but two trans Soporati? When the second one gets a Venatori target painted on his back for disobeying orders.

[dragonologist-phd]

8 or 12 for for the writing asks, for Ingrid and Lace! (Or anyone else who you feel particularly fond of rough this second!)

thank you! a little later than the others, but i got to it!

8. Buying them something unrequested because it made you think of them.

“I can’t believe you found this.”

Lace circles her gift, an undeniable grin on her face as she inspects the young branches and leaves. Ingrid stands by and watches, happily basking in her accomplishment. It’s the first time she’s acquired a gift as part of a romantic pursuit, and she’s quite proud at having seemingly gotten it right. “You like it, then?”

“Of course I do! Maker, where did you even get something like this?”

“That’s…a long story.”

The question of how Ingrid happened to come by a Hinterland Oak, potted and ready for transportation, is certainly a worthy one. Ingrid is certain the Curator of the Emporium had to have known she was visiting, for something like this to be in stock, and she doesn’t completely trust whatever motives that truth implies…but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Still, Ingrid veers away from that subject, knowing that if she gets into that, she’ll also have to describe the process of lugging the large potted tree across the cobblestones of Minrathous. She managed the task, obviously, but it’s not quite the dignified picture she wants to present.

“Anyway,” she says, “it reminded me of you. It’s Fereldan…it’s pretty…”

“It’s covered in dirt?” Lace interrupts, but she’s smiling, and her eyes sparkle with delight in the conservatory sunlight. She caresses a leaf between her fingers and leans close to the tree to inhale a bit of the earthy smell. “Wow. Like being back at home.”

Ingrid runs her finger over one of the leaves as well, trying to imagine what pictures might be going through Lace’s head. “You know, I’ve never actually been to Ferelden.”

“That’s not too surprising. I’d never been to Nevarra, before our visit to the Necropolis.” Lace glances at Ingrid through the mosaic of leaves, chewing at her lip in thought. Finally, in a rush, she says, “I’d love to take you someday. I could show you all the attractions.”

“Are there many of those?”

Lace laughs. “Don’t pay any attention to what people say about it. I mean, yeah, it’s kind of muddy. And we do love our dogs. And we don’t have half the fancy stuff a place like Minrathous or the Necropolis does. But it’s a good place. A tough place, with tough people. But it’s good.”

Her voice softens as she speaks, fondness creeping in through her every word. Ingrid has never had much interest in Ferelden before meeting Lace- the necromancers always described it as a backwards place, with terribly outdated views on magic- but now, she suddenly wants to make a visit very much indeed.

“Where should we go first?” Ingrid asks, and Lace’s smile lights up.

“Home, of course. My Ma would be over the moons to meet you.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah.” Lace circles the tree, moving closer to Ingrid as she speaks. “She loves meeting people- you wouldn’t get a moment of quiet. She’d make home-cooked pastries, show off the garden, talk your ear off all evening. The works. Then, after the sun sets, you and I could take a walk through the woods in the moonlight.”

Lace stops in front of Ingrid, just a hair’s breadth away. The telltale shine of lyrium is alight in her eyes, warning Ingrid to keep her distance. For now, however, Lace seems to have it under control as she says, “It’s kind of romantic, with the right person.”

“That sounds perfect,” Ingrid tells her, and it does. Ingrid herself has never had a home, not like that. The Necropolis is beautiful, majestic, breathtaking; she loves it with all her heart. But it’s nothing like this picture Lace paints, of home-cooking and vegetable gardens and mothers who worry over their children’s safety. There’s something tempting to it, Ingrid must admit.

And there’s the thought of herself and Lace walking hand in hand through a moonlit forest, the world around them peaceful and quiet, like something out of a vision. That element of Lace’s description is very tempting.

But a shadow passes over Lace’s face, and her playfulness suddenly drops away. “That’s assuming home is still there, of course,” she sighs. “With the Blight raging through Ferelden again…who knows what’s become it? Or what will be left, when this is all over?”

“Lace…” Ingrid begins, but the other dwarf quickly shakes her head.

“Sorry. I know we’ve got a whole world to worry about now, not just one place.”

“It’s okay to be worried,” Ingrid says. “Nobody can blame you for that. But…Ferelden is a tough place, right? With tough people. Like you. And once we’re done with our mission here…well, it won’t be easy, but it’ll have people like you to take care of it.”

Lace’s smile returns, and oh, Ingrid wishes she could kiss her. As it is, however, she’s happy simply with that smile, as Lace turns back to the potted oak and brushes her fingers over the soil. “You’re right. And taking care of this will be good practice, in the meantime.”

[breadedsinner]

Mark of the Red Death

A sebhawke Necromancer AU for @persephoneggsy. Happy birthday!

-

“Do you know what the most powerful force in the universe is?” Hawke’s mentor once asked her. She shook her head in uncertainty. “Love,” he said. She still did not understand, at the time.

*

By the time Hawke entered the castle, blood had become part of the walls, oozing from the cracks. Red handprints smeared across the castle walls, crisscrossing over one another until they became a single beast, clawing for release that never came. Banners and carpets torn, tossed in every direction. A few abandoned weapons were strewn about. Anyone could see this was a struggle, brutal and very recent, but to someone like Hawke, a mage so in touch with death, standing in the middle of it was like being in the belly of an animal, and feeling it die all around her. The clangs of steel still echoed in the halls, shadows of victims running to an escape they would never reach danced in the shadows. Their final heartbeats still hung in the air.

As foul as it was, the gore was not especially notable for Hawke. Every known nation in Thedas worshipped death in some way or another, and mages such as her were its disciples. Of course, some feared what she could do, some outright reviled, and yet she found herself highly sought after. Everything from mixing potions to communing with the dead; if it involved magic, Hawke could do it. It was the only way a simple Ferelden farmgirl could ever mingle with Tevinter Magisters and Orlesian Chevaliers. It was the only reason she was here, in this gutted Starkhaven palace.

It was not the blood that disturbed her this day, but whose blood it belonged to.

She proceeded down another hall, torn carpet under his feet, sunlight refracted through broken glass. As the chamber door appeared, she hurried, an anxious lump in her throat. She knew what she would find, but still hoped it was not so.

She threw the chamber door open and found her student, Dorian, standing over caskets. He loomed over her, she being a petite woman, but he looked upon her with reverence. He was of high Tevinter lineage, but even with all his expensive education, his own dabbles in Necromancy never came to more than raising a few long-dead corpses to stumble for a few moments. There was a reason his former mentor sent him to her.

As she walked, she looked at all the caskets, lined up in a row. Some of them were very small. All of them were closed, though Dorian was peeking inside the one at the far end.

“Is that him?” she said, her usually blunt voice cracked.

“Yes,” he said with remorse. "He is the only one in decent condition."

Dorian open the casket and they both studied the person inside. A young man--could not have been much older than either of them--lay still, with eyes closed. They could see the bronze sheen of his skin still leaving his body, the luster of his slicked brown hair coming undone. Plush lips formed a faint, serene smile, but the color was fading by the moment, cracks forming.

Hawke ran a finger along the slope of the prince’s slender cheekbone. "This is him, the youngest of the three Starkhaven princes. Did you examine the body? What did you find?”

“I did,” said Dorian, his voice solemn but with a tinge of eagerness, wanting to perform well for his renowned mentor. “He was lucky, in a way. Got an arrow in the chest while trying to lead others to a secret exit. He was so close, too. Another second and he might have made it."

Her finger ghost down the outline of his face, lingered on his chin, then she made a fist. A purple light, wafting and warbling the air, illuminated her fingernails and surged through her skin.

"You're going to bring him back?" said Dorian, trying to suppress to excitement in his voice.

"For a moment," said Hawke, her icy blue eyes turning like frosted amethyst. "long enough to ask him what happened here."

Hawke opened her palm and pressed it against the prince's chest. Purple light washed over her body and passed through him, as though she were transfusing her own energy into him. Dorian tensed, looking for color to return to the corpse, betraying his logical mind, knowing that's not how Necromancy worked. At least not any form that he or any journeyman mage was aware of, though there were tales of spells that could keep resurrected corpses near perfectly alive again, at a great cost to both caster and corpse. But not even an esteemed sorceress like Hawke could perform such a feat.

Hawke pushed harder, a bead of sweat against her pale brow. Her fingers clenched against the prince's blood-stained tunic when his eyes popped open. Dorian and the prince gasped at the same time, both shocked at the spell's success.

“Ah…” the prince’s cloudy blue eyes looked about; his body twitched as if waking from a long slumber. When his eyes cleared and found focus, they immediately locked onto Hawke, a wide, elated smile followed. “Marian!” he cried; his arms opened for her.

“You know the Prince of Starkhaven?” asked Dorian.

“He courted me briefly,” Hawke said, voice casual and flat.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, Marian,” the prince’s voice was deep and sorrowful, his eyes pouring over Hawke. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“I’m sorry, Sebastian, but there’s no time,” said Hawke, still steady. “Do you know what happened?”

His smile immediately faded. “I … I do.”

“If we’re going to get any justice for you and your family, you need to tell me everything you know. And hurry, I can’t keep up the spell forever.”

“Those … people who stormed the castle. They had no flag, but I heard their whispers, as I tried to escape. Lady Johane Harimann hired them. If you search them, I’m sure you will find further proof.”

“That’s a good start. Walk me through your last hours.”

The prince only seemed to move his upper body, his hands clearly aching to reach for Hawke. His eyes still foggy with death, yet they almost glimmered at the sight of her, like stars glittering through clouds of night.

As he finished, Hawke placed her hand over his. The purple light around her slowly dimmed, she sighed, and the prince began to fall back.

"Dorian," said Hawke, the last of her magic faded. "Start examining the mercenary bodies. Take account of all that are in decent shape."

"Are you going to 'interview' them, too?"

"I might, though I'll need to restrain them first. But let's see what we can find on them, first."

"Very well," he took a few steps out the chamber. "And... for what's it's worth, I'm sorry about..."

"Please go, Dorian," she said, her words blunt as stone. "I need to think."

"Of course," and he hurried out.

Hawke sighed as she heard the door clack, and the footsteps faded. She tried to collect herself with deep, slow breaths. She had walked battlefields and massacres, bloody accidents and cruel forces of nature. The sight of blood stirred no emotion after a time, yet the smell of death, the force that hung like heavy fog, still became overwhelming if she lingered too long. All the worse, that it was someone she knew. Someone she loved.

One more steadying breath. She has already made her decision when she first heard the news, and she was never one to go back on a decision once she made it.

She brought her hand to the prince's chest again, this time with a crackling red light. When she touched his skin, he shuddered and buzzed, like streaks of lightning consuming his heart. Blood rose in his face, spreading color throughout. Crackles of red light crisscrossed against the arrow wound; it did not heal to become normal skin again, but the blood and the gash were gone, replaced with a jagged crimson patch. A memory of death.

He groaned, and the corners of his eyes crinkled.

Marian sighed in relief but was immediately stricken by a sharp pain in her chest; the magic taking its due, boiling a patch of her skin, parallel to the prince’s.

"Marian," he said softly, less a jolting rise, and more a gentle awakening, as if stirred slowly late in the morning by a lover's touch.

"Oh, my sweet Sebastian," she said, her voice cracking. "I never should have left your side. If only I had..."

"Shh, it's all right, my love," he leaned into her palm and kissed the inside. "I know you'll make this right."

"I will," she said, and she leaned into the casket to kiss him. She felt the magic as it worked, re-threading muscles, erasing the cracks. A healthy dark olive hue poured over his face, spilling into his neck, then his chest. If anything, his kiss was even more tender than she remembered. “Listen, dearest one. I can’t bring anyone else back. I have given half my life to fuel yours. You feel pain, I feel pain. You die, I die.”

“I always wanted for us to share in everything,” he said, his voice as slow and sweet as honey, as if nothing in the world was wrong.

"I'll make sure everyone even remotely responsible pays dearly for what happened here. We shall wreak this vengeance together, and I will never leave your side again."

The prince looked upon her with clear, piercing blue eyes. "Never."

*

Hawke did not understand her mentor’s words about love in her youth. Even now, she was not certain if it was meant to be encouragement or warning. But on this day, she chose her own meaning for it.

[magebutts]

I did take notes on the full Q+A because I'm a little freak but I'll simply post some of my favs: (this got really long so under a cut)

there will be a "mysterious entity that assists you" with crafting? (to which the entire chat began screaming "ENCHANTMENT" which seems likely tbh. perhaps we will finally learn the nature of Sandal lmao). It seems like DA:I's version of crafting might be done and instead we'll be given just customization + modifications, but that is entirely my own speculation from subtext + what was and wasn't said

Bellara is a mage

implied that gender + pronoun selection will be separate from each other !!!

when asked about seeing locations that have been sort of veiled in mystery/never seen before, devs said "we're not completely filling out the map; there are new things we can be hinting at and drip-feeding you" so while we will be learning more about the world, there's still even more to uncover we've never seen before possibly

dialogue wheel seems like it will be a mix of previous versions of it; there will be tones, emotions, or more neutral choices. "We want players to understand as much as possible what it is that they're picking."

when asked about Davrin + Bellara's vallaslin, devs said there are a lot of new options for the face markings especially with the new regions. "Each area has its own visual language for that. ... We've customized them, they're a bit more specific to [the character's] personality." I believe that was from Matt Rhodes

just confirmed that the Inquisitor DOES physically appear in game and the customization for them in CC is not just for their choices.

When asked if blood magic will be a class included; "Rook has some pretty good reason to avoid blood magic, they don’t want to be interested in that. ... There is a necromancer class, there is an elemental one, there is a combat mage kind of one” (im guessing the veil being bad and demons and darkspawn being a problem is probably one of the reasons for no blood magic but again im speculating)

Assan is confirmed a very good boy. When asked if we can we pet Assan: “Yes you can. Not even just petting the griffon, I’ve actually hugged the griffon”

Will we get a dog? “Mabari are not very big in Northern Thedas. No, you will not get a mabari sadly”

Someone asked about Barkspawn's fate/current status. "Barkspawn is safely gnawing on a bone next to a fireplace somewhere in Ferelden. 'But John it’s been so long!' Mabari live exactly as long as you need them to."

character creator will get a preview closer to launch, they're working on a roadmap currently

“each lineage, depending on the lineage + bg you choose will have unique callouts” “your experience as a dwarf in the mournwatch will be different to a human or an elf ...giving them each their own little flavor how they fit into that faction as a whole”

Rook’s last name is defined based on their faction, first name generator is available in the game if you want to use it.

“companions will take some time away” if you piss them off, but they’ll always be willing to come back to help save Thedas. “they will show up… unless…” ............ can we kill companions???

Who was left in the fade doesn’t show up here/it's not one of the decisions you will be asked to input. “That’s not to say it will never be important in the future, but not in this game” …. More DA games ???? DA5?

[gehayi]

25, 39, 62 from the DA asks? c:

25) Favorite DA:I place?

The Emerald Graves. The Graves are green and beautiful, mostly unspoiled by red lyrium, and not filled with broken or burning houses. The area also has a number of side quests that are long and complex but easy to overlook, such as the Chateau d'Onterre haunted house mystery (which is a great example of environmental storytelling) or the Knights' Tomb (which, regrettably, can only be completed after you attend Empress Celene's anxiety-inducing party) allows you to fight undead, learn about Dalish history, and right an ancient wrong by giving the Dalish access to their peoples' tomb again. (You can also give the Chantry access, but why would you want to? Fuck the Chantry.) And there are hidden quests around every corner. I haven't found all of them, even now.

The Hissing Wastes come in second due to the lost thaig of Kal Repartha ("a place where we may meet in peace") and the Tomb of the Paragon Fairel.

39) Creepiest moment in-game?

That first glimpse of Hawke's mother Leandra, after the necromancer serial killer has...operated on her. Answered in a LOT more detail here.

62) A character you think deserves more fan love?

It's a tossup between Carver Hawke, Sera, and Shale.

They're deadpan snarkers who aren't afraid to complain about the player characters' bad ideas. They're all fiercely protective of the people they care about while being very bad at expressing how they feel. All of them are suffering from multiple traumas while trying to hide that they were traumatized at all.

All three endured the Fifth Blight: Carver fought at Ostagar, fled Lothering with his family, and lost his twin sister to a darkspawn (an ogre); Shale fought by the side of the Hero of Ferelden to end the Fifth Blight; and Sera, as a child, lived through the Battle of Denerim, when the darkspawn invaded the city. Their stories are ones of loss--loss of home, loss of family, loss of safety, loss of self-esteem, loss of memories, loss of identity.

They're good people. Flawed, but good.

[pensola]

DA5 and why I want it to be in Nevarra

(written by a casual who only played DA:O once fourteen years ago and DA:I once ten years ago, but cares somewhat about the story.)

If the choices from previous games become too much, they should consider to downscale the narrative.

DA:O took place in Ferelden. The choices there mostly amounted to what happened to the Circles in Ferelden, who is the monarch of Ferelden, how the Fifth Blight was stopped in Ferelden. Sure, there are lore and some choices regarding their relationship with other nations, Orzammar (which I think is underneath Ferelden?) and foreign companions whose life state can be significant, but otherwise it keeps to that one nation.

DA2 takes place in the city of Kirkwall, mostly. There are choices about what happens to the Circle there, the foreign relations between Qunari and them, or Ferelden and them, and there are big consequences of what happens at the end, of course, but the smaller choices are related to Kirkwall.

DA:I did something different by making the narrative multinational, dragging Ferelden's Hinterlands and Orlais into the picture both. The choices are big, because they involve the templars, mages, Grey Wardens, the Orlesian imperial family and relation with elves, connection with ancient elves and Tevinter, the next leader of the international big religion that many countries serve, and more.

Then DA:V goes even further, giving us one zone in Tevinter, Antiva, Nevarra, Rivain, and Anderfells each, and smaller, temporary zones elsewhere. If there were choices that would matter in the game, there would be so many areas that would be inflicted.

And now they have a secret ending that hints of an even more international conflict/storyline for DA5.

It makes me think that, if they were to make a new game, they really should just find one land or area and keep themselves there. Nevarra, for example. We know at least two important characters from there (Cassandra and Emmrich), the nobility there are complicated, the whole mess with the King being puppeteered by the royal necromancers for unknown reasons.

I can absolutely imagine a game that only takes place in Nevarra, where the goal is perhaps less to stop the world from being destroyed, but more about keeping the land safe.

Just the idea that, if the story of the undead king comes to light, how other nations might react. Others have commented that it could bring an Exalted March onto the kingdom, that would be unfortunate. We also know very little about their relationship with elves, dwarves and qunari. And if we truly want a "save the world" campaign, it could be a heretoforth unknown but extremely powerful demon/spirit, at the calibre of Elgar'nan, taking over the undead to do what the elven gods failed. Perhaps that will then bring up the topic of the Veil again, that this spirit had actually been benevolent but the creation of the Veil somehow corrupted it even worse than for other spirits.

This is also just headcanon, but I would really like to hear whether the Grand Necropolis is a Titan or not, as well. Moving on.

Because it all takes place in one land, there are many choices from previous games that simply do not matter in the grand scheme of things, but some still could. Likewise, choices that happen in Nevarra relates first and foremost to Nevarra, so future games might not need to consider them that much.

Furthermore, there need to be some changes that cannot be a choice. I have read people say that destroying the Veil should have been a choice in DA:V, but that will be such a giant change that it cannot be a choice, unless there are hardly any concequences for it (which would be disappointing). You cannot choose to let the monarchy fall in DA:O, or for the Blight to win. You CAN choose how the monarchy lives on, and how the Blight is stopped (or, who does it and if they survive). You cannot stop... a whole lot of stuff happening in DA2, but you can choose how you, your friends and Kirkwall react and move on from it.

The same should be with the Veil. If it can go down without destroying the world, it MUST happen, it cannot be a choice. What the game's choices regarding the Veil should then be, is how the PC, companions and people/government in the story prepares for it. Maybe the player plays a character who absolutely does not want the Veil to fall, and makes all the choices centered around trying (and failing) to keep it up rather than preparing for the changes, which can end disastrously. Maybe the PC accepts the fall of the Veil, but only helps prepare certain people for it. Perhaps they manage to create cooperation between humans and elves so that Nevarra is not thrown into conflict when the elves regain their ancient powers, or they 100% support the elves and influence what they will do once the Veil is down. (And, I'm theorizing that the Grand Necropolis is some form of Titan, so some dwarf lore and perhaps further answers as to what to do with the titans could be nice). That the king is undead cannot be a choice, but we can choose how it gets revealed (if at all, perhaps we support the necromancers), who gets the throne after, and whether we have to be spread thin due to an Exalted March or not.

And then, the next game is released and takes place some years after the previous one, in another country. We are presented how THAT country dealt with the fall of the Fade (and there can be many excuses as to how they were better prepared than Nevarra), and we are told how Nevarra is doing through codexes, returning characters and other mentions, in which they are influenced by those choices.

(I feel like DA2 and DA:I are the best examples of this happening: DA2's inescapable consequences continue at least somewhat in DA:I but is pushed aside by bigger problems, there are some cameos dependant on your choices, the cameos' dialogue change somewhat depending on what you chose in DA:O, and in DA:I the DA:O choice consequences are fewer compared to the DA2 choices, but still there. DA:I's choices, meanwhile, were so encompassing that they in the end decided to burn the south so that they do not have to care for them later on.)

Also, this is a personal note, but "smaller" or more local risks in the narrative makes it easier for me to digest when the companions, and the PC, are being funny or moronic. So many times I kept thinking in DA:V that I liked the companions and their relationships, but hardly anyone belonged to the story of stopping old elven gods from super-blighting the world. If the story had been more focused on a smaller issue that gets bigger after a while, then sure, or if they were just trying to stop the corruption of the royal necromancers or something, even better.

I don't know, I just keep thinking about it more and more.

[niofo]

going back to my da2 idris hawke run, and how i was thinking abt idris being quite a different character when living as an apostate in ferelden compared to ostwick circle mage, but now i have this au idea: idris being snatched by the templars and taken to the gallows early on, and carver being left to do all the canon hawke stuff. with an additional pressure, bcos you know it's just a matter of time before idris pisses meredith off enough to be made tranquil, even with leandra raising all hell about it to dumar. idris would try to use his experience as an apostate to teach other mages how to live outside the circle when they eventually make a run of it, and would help with the mage underground, but also he just wouldn't be able to stop himself from poking the templars, and we know how templars react to being poked. also, he's an apostate and a necromancer, it's a miracle that they didn't kill him on the spot. (i assume that they threatened killing carver, leandra, gamlen and the dog if he didn't surrender).

[hrafnsnest]

The Raven's Nest : RPC Character Hub

This blog is a hub blog converted from @littlereyofmoonlight. Rey's previous posts are here for access and posterity. It currently houses three characters on side-blogs. You can read more about them all and my rules at my carrd.

I sometimes post here ooc with updates that affect all three, so it's worth following me here as well as my characters. However, I'll only consider you 'mutual' with characters you follow.

@LITTLEREYOFMOONLIGHT vir'reynth: githyanki cleric and companion oc for baldur's gate 3 baldurs gate 3 only

gentle-hearted, moontouched, vir'reynth - rey for short - fell through the astral plane and landed in the cup of selune's hands. from then on, she was istik, and free from the creche that would have preferred to see her dead than be herself - fierce, whole-hearted, and free to be the scorned do-gooder, the benevolent burden, she who hides in shadows and bursts forth like a nova.

@WOLFSBARBAREN breina: independent oc, originally dragon age hero of ferelden baldurs gate 3, dragon age: origins, the elder scrolls: skyrim, d&d: eberron

quick as a whip, crude-mouthed with a crooked smile, the willing shield and gleeful blade, breina rivlin once danced with dragons and fell away laughing. though she hides her grief behind drink and boisterious antics, she is a fiercely loyal friend, an incorrigable flirt, as rough as a split knuckle and burdened with a heart of gold. and she has four dogs - four of them!

@DODSTALLENE tore; independent necromancer oc, originally dragon priest of skyrim the elder scrolls: skyrim, dragon age: inquisition

trust a necromancer to cheat death. trust a necromancer to keep reviving what should have died long ago. trust a necromancer, above all, to do anything to keep what's useful from shuffling off the mortal coil. even and especially when death is the best thing for it. tore, like a corpse that won't stop getting up, won't let a pesky detail like the passage of time to keep him from dominating the world.

Which one?

If you want sweet and devoted, go with Rey. If you want tough and spicy, go with Breina. If you want to be made wose, go with Tore.

[actuallyidontgiveadamn]

Comparing to other DA games

Also spoilers! If you're reading this from the notes, stop now

I really loved when there where limits to what you could do based on your gender, race, cast etc in DA games. Feels more like the real life yknow.

You picked a male inquisitor? Sorry, no Sera romance for you. You're a female dwarf from Orzammar? No happily ever after on Ferelden throne, and also be prepared to force your friend/lover into having sex with another woman or you die. Absolute existential horror of an elven Inquisitor who is named the savior of the oppressors' religion ten times a day etc etc etc

Small and not so small things and comments that shaped your place in the world and cornered you in most unpredictable situations brought realism

And DAV is like be whatever do whatever, everyone is pan, people you never met before are using your correct pronouns which they apparently know by some miracle, you still get to max out the faction that literally is almost non-existent now, absolutely no problems about your race

Zero problems or acknowledgement of your specialization too. My Rook was a necromancer from the start, and managed to get Mourn Watch spec before Emmrich even joined the team. And then he does and everyone is suddenly creeped out by the necromancy. Which Rook performed in front of them for weeks now maybe. Why wasn't it a problem before? Because who your character are and what they do absolutely don't matter...

Also that one time my Rook just dropped that from birth they were a slave in Tevinter before getting away and joining Lords of Fortune. One line, absolutely not related conversation, never mentioned again. It feels like it should've had way more impact on their choices and alliances in game?? But alas

I feel like replaying DAI before getting into DAV was a mistake. Going from insane amount of political and societal nuance to absolute zero is a whiplash

Just finished playing DAV and while I literally binged it with no rest for like 8h a day and enjoyed it a lot there's one thing that bothers and frustrates me about the game

spoilers I guess

Almost nothing matters in the game. Your background, your faction, even your race has almost zero impact. Even your choices doesn't matter much.

The plot that should be a real turmoil for the elves barely acknowledges there are any troubles. I heard ONE line on slavery in Tevinter, said by my Rook when they were commenting on something completely unrelated. I expected so much more drama and crisis in the elven society about the Solas' ritual which was supposed to bring elven former glory. Or about meeting their gods. But no, ritual bad, gods bad, moving on.

Background is literally the same for each and every faction. You saved the day but crossed some nobles and were sent away. Race isn't tied to backgrounds, leading to some very lore-wise questionable combos

Choosing what city to save seems to make the most impact on the game, but in the end still doesn't matter because you can bring every faction and every companion high enough to get the best ending

Absolutely every ending from worst to best is still basically doing the same thing

Choices you make for companions (why tf you're the one to decide is a separate question) also have no impact beyond a following conversation and maybe an outfit you get for the quest

No politics, societal problems, injustices that shaped the nations. Antivan Crows are a sweet found family now. Slavery in Tevinter doesn't matter. Alienages aren't mentioned. Dwarven society structure is irrelevant. The Veilguard team exists in a vacuum and just needs to kill a couple of gods.

So yes, I overall I enjoyed the game but it clearly doesn't want to talk about anything. No nuance, no societal problems, no political stances, no impact of your background or consequences for your choices, or your companions' choices

Also I really missed the big global picture (unless you read the Codex). No armies or governments exist, just factions and just Veilguard who are like eight people. DAI was way more realistic on dealing with a global crisis, and I can only hope that (based on their letters to Rook) Inquisitor was doing some real work in the South which I hope looked like what they did ten years before

[amatres]

got tagged by @demandthedoodles, thank you! I only filled out Surana for now because I think way too hard and also little on these sort of things and I couldn't do this for all three of my mage girls off the top of my head lol.

I switched between stuff that's her favorites and what represents her because I wasn't quite sure what I was doing :') still I hope it makes sense lol.

putting it under the cut because it's... too long

Unusual OC Associations: Surana Edition

Seasoning: Tragically as someone who grew up in the tower, which definitely doesn't feed the mages more than easy to mass produce food, lived in the middle of Ferelden, and never left Ferelden before she died, she doesn't know anything about spices and probably doesn't have that great a tolerance for them. One more crime the Chantry has done unto Thedas; deny mages knowledge of seasonings.

Weather: Rain and Snow. She never got to interact with it in the tower, so she took every chance to savor it, much to the occasional set back to the group. Especially loved thunder storms, and had to be held back at least once from cast her own lightning during one.

Colour: She likes anything not blue. I associate her a lot with the color yellow.

Sky: She likes watching the sky change at sunset or sunrise, again because she never really got to see it so clearly without having to strain her neck to look up at the windows.

Magic power: Out of the magic she can cast, her favorite is probably shapeshifting. It's old magic, she gets to be sneaky, gives her more freedom to escape from situations, and also she got to spend a lot of time with Morrigan to learn it.

House plant: Herbs for her potions. Don't get me wrong, she's happy to see nature, plants just aren't something that hold her attention much.

Weapon: A dagger, because it's easy to hide, and Zevran and Leliana were nice enough to teach her how to fight with them before she got her Arcane Warrior specialization. Always good to be able to defend yourself without magic when you encounter a Templar.

Subject: History in a broad sense, she doesn't find much interest in war, but studying cultural and religious history is interesting to her. She was very excited to find the Temple of Sacred Ashes, sorry Sten, she totally dragged you guys there just because she wanted to see it, not to heal Arl Eamon. Entropy Magic and Spirit Magic, she's the origins version of a necromancer and she enjoyed studying it. Poisons, and was very excited at Zevran's offer to describe the effects of poisons to her.

Social media: Surana, even in a modern setting, has the inner peace granted only to those who never have a social media account.

Make-up product: Face cleanser and moisturizer, if that counts lol.

Candy: She never got to try them, but I imagine she would have loved any numerous types of candies from Orlais Leliana would have given her.

Fear: Being confined with no way out.

Ice cube shape: Crushed.

Method of long distance travel: Flying as a bird.

Art style: Baroque and Rococo. She can't escape the chantry church aesthetic, but she would have had fun with the elaborate styles of Orlais with Leliana had she lived to see it.

Mythological creature: Very standard option but a ghost, both because her grief haunts her until it leads to her own death, and also because her death haunts many different characters after she is gone.

Piece of stationery: The little journal she was given shortly after being conscripted by Duncan. She wrote down much of her experience and thoughts during the Fifth Blight there, and Leliana kept it after Surana passed away.

3 emojis: 💀💍🔮

Celestial body: Sagittarius, for the zodiac symbolism. They're known for being curious and crave freedom, which suits her well.

[sunbentsky-archived]

Hi hello 🤠 I have a solid chunk of my new muse list figured out, but I'm on the fence about a couple of muses, some old that didn't see much interaction and some brand new. Here's the provisory list, with the last two groups being the ones I'm uncertain about. So, please help a fella decide and vote on this poll with which muses you'd like to see. You can select as many as you like, but I'll go with the top choices. Thank you!! 🧡

NOT GOING ANYWHERE EVEN IF I WANTED THEM TO:

Saskia - canon, the witcher

Letho - canon, the witcher

Oles - oc, the witcher

Villen - canon, the witcher

Bogdan - oc, red dead redemption / western

Ecaterina - oc, red dead redemption / western

HAVEN'T DONE A LOT WITH THEM BUT THEY'RE AROUND:

Myr - semi-canon, the witcher

Raymond - oc, fandomless / western

Ursule - oc, fallout: new vegas

Fred - oc, the outer worlds

Legion - canon, mass effect

IDK IF I SHOULD BRING THEM BACK:

Kaska Tomicka - oc, the witcher | dwarf, artist, fabric dyer, painter, art and literary forger

Mercer - oc, fandomless | hacker, DYI bio enthusiast, biopunk, organ harvester

Sidney - oc, fandomless | salvage diver, pirate, fence, con artist, ordinary thief, the soul of a magpie

Felix Millstone - canon, the outer worlds | dockhand, rebel without a cause, big-time dreamer, sportsball fan

Jolly Shepard - oc, mass effect | lieutenant-commander, spectre, butcher of torfan, savior of the fuckin' galaxy, overworked, dead woman walking

Nika Kader - oc, dragon age | dwarf, ex-general of orzammar's army, ex-queen consort to king endrin aeducan, mother of prince bhelen aeducan, would-be usurper, grey warden, warden-commander of ferelden

Rory Amell - oc, dragon age | human but barely so, blood mage, necromancer, goth, mortalitasi, arch-mistress of the mourn watch, sometimes the hero of ferelden

NEW FACES / POTENTIAL ADDITIONS:

Mike Haywood - oc, far cry 5 | musician and composer, member of project at eden's gate, devoted to faith, angel "herder" and "mc" (he's in charge of the music which controls faith's angels), almost an angel himself

Maddie Kouvatsou - oc, far cry 5 | singer and bass player, repentant sinner (allegedly), ex-member of project at eden's gate, one of the young women who took on the mantle of "faith seed" before rachel jessop, deemed unfit for the role

Sinclair Stoyanov - oc, far cry 5 | prizefighter, boxer, animal liberation front activist,  mama's boy, eden's gate brawler, not a chosen, not a vip, just some guy, although he'd appreciate the promotion, ironically, vegan

Will Douglas - oc, fandomless | zoologist (herpetologist), gator wrangler, wildlife rehabilitator, guitar player, rowdy cowboy without a horse

Arthur Morgan - canon, red dead redemption | you know him, we all know him