#as an NPC myself

[moryevna]

fond of girls loitering in the periphery ( they're not all too important but they're there and if they so choose they can disrupt the course of the narrative )

[velnna]

what if we held hands then what

[pigdemonart]

Teens 🙄

Based on this chaotic video ive had in my drafts since June

Like my art? Please consider tipping!

[pcktknife]

I still can't believe they gave itto a rock and roll event without xinyan

[sydneystarlights]

The Viper | Ashur and his ties to the chantry

Wanted to compile a post with all possible references I've found (so far) to Viper being the Black Divine both in game and from other sources (I’m brainroting hard and need to ramble.)

In game connections

Starting with the most obvious connection, the Venatori Message by Bataris found during the quest “The Tempered Soul, Everlasting” to save the captured Viper that states that the venatori have heard rumours that the Vipers true identity is that of the scion of the Vesperians, the fruit of at least 4 bloodlines.

And the Cult Victim you rescue during the “Last Rites” prelude quest says that the Venatori mentioned that killing the Viper at the Temple of Andraste specifically would “suit him” thus starting the quest “The Tempered Soul, Everlasting”

Viper himself is confirmed to be a Highblood mage “Born and bred” during the argument he has with Tarquin and that fits with him being the scion of the Vesperians.

Side note-

The tile of the quest to save Viper “The Tempered Soul, Everlasting” is taken from the Chant of Light: Canticle of Exaltations 1:8 "Whatsoever passes through the fire Is not lost, but made eternal; As air can never be broken nor crushed, The tempered soul is everlasting!"

Which ties into saving Viper from being executed at the Temple of Andraste, but also could tie into his connection with the Chantry itself.

In the Codex entry: Different Flavors of Andraste Harding mentions that the current divine is Aequitas II and the youngest son of Corimer Vesperian as mentioned in the codex Neve’s Case Notes: Maevaris Tilani. Said Case note codex further elaborates on how Aequitas II Vesperian was supportive of Maevaris and Dorian’s Lucerni faction.

In an ambient conversation between Tarquin and Viper, Tarquin directly implies that Viper has at least some power in the Chantry, asking him why he cannot do anything about Knight-Commander Lenos since Lenos answers to the Chantry.

The Vesperians have ties to house Tilani. Maevaris taking the Lucerni underground and the Viper happening to be one of the leaders on par with both her and Dorian is noteworthy.

With Viper having power in the Chantry, the Venatori rumours about him being Aequitas II, him being a highblood like the Divine is, and his closeness with Dorian and Maevaris him being the Black Divine fits.

Datamines

Now, the datamined lines are cut content and not present in the final game, but with all the evidence that is already in the game they're important to note.

Firstly, a direct quote remarking on Viper being the Divine 

(shout out to amirdrassil on twitter for originally posting this script line and starting my downward spiral into the insanity of spending hours going over the script myself and going through frosty editor for the game files)

Second script thing is from a whole conversation between what seems to be Rook, Viper, and Lucanis where Viper is referred to as “Your Holiness”

The conversation is pretty jumbled with how the scripts formatted but it seems like Viper might?? of been Lucanis contact who found out where Zara was for him, since Zara is found in the Treviso Chantry. 

The Third is a reference to his “The Tempered Soul, Everlasting” quest, it's unclear who is speaking the lines but it directly comments on Vipers ties to the Chantry.

[Editing to add another script pic] While these lines from mae to viper are vague, with the codex that mentions that house Tilani has ties to the Vesperians it felt relevant enough to add.

Extras

This section is more or less unrelated conjecture but still some fun things to note.

On page 206 of the art book Docktown is described as "We thought of it like Gotham City from Batman: The Animated Series. A less-grim Sin City with magic instead of guns.”

And on page 208 Viper is described as Minrathous’s equivalent of the Shadow.

The Shadow is one of Batman's main inspirations drawing a clear parallel between docktown and gotham and Viper and Batman. The Vipers secret identity then being of someone of very high importance further fits with the Batman thing he has going on, since Bruce Wayne isn't just a generic normal rich guy he’s on another standing from that. (Also the picture of Viper no mask and with hair looks so similar to depictions of bruce wayne haha)

Bonus things I'm including for fun that have vipers religion influencing things he does: Viper repeating a part of the Chant of Light: Canticle of Trials 1:2 during the memorial for the dead shadow dragons.

And the codex on the pawn shop and how Viper totally chose it partially due to its relevance to Shartan and Andraste, adorable.

[puppppppppy]

beep beep im a sheep

speeddraw below the cut (audio warning)

song: "Cult of Dionysis" by The Orion Experience

[moeblob]

What if I straight up didn't explain myself? What if I just said trust me on this? Would you?

[catebees]

Anders sketch? Love all your sketches so far! 💕

I was about to say I'm not taking requests anymore but what the heck, Anders sketch!

[heybiji]

"Do me a favor and put your arms around me."

[nukacourier]

Kills me that there's fans who GENUINELY believe the Legion is more accepting of homosexuality than the NCR. Like they forget Jimmy nearly got executed for being gay because Caesar has entirely outlawed it with his people

[daeyumi]

Sidequesting 🏞️🎨✏️

[Linktober 2022 Day 22: Npc]

[10yrratiolover]

When I saw the Trailblazers' Splash Art for Path of Remembrance, I couldn't help but remember that canonically the raccoons consider Ratio their father figure, as revealed to us by a dialogue in 2.4.

I just hope that MHY will confirm that Ratio is from Amphoreus (since strangely he's the only one we're missing to have his first rerun of all they carry, ignoring Boothill) or some of his lore.

I find the Trailblazers and Dr. Ratio's dynamic to be so fun, I wish there was more fan content of them honestly (I might have to make that myself).

Anyway I do really hope we get any content of him in Amphoreus, especially since it is pretty low hanging fruit since if I remember right Amphoreus is based off Greece. It seems like such an obvious lore connection and I'm going to be extremely disappointed if nothing is done with it. :(

Honestly I'll take any crumbs, I was thrilled over his Dream Peek call in 2.6 but it feels like he should be at least a little relevant on the planet that he's seemingly based on the same culture of.

[astr-hal]

jetstream asuka. is this anything

[grayscaleearts]

someone should really warn singularity6 that its actually illegal not to let me hug my for real canon dad. yeah. sorry. i wouldn't want them to get in legal trouble bc of it. yeah they should get right on that.

[wispstalk]

Just so the results don't get too skewed, assume you are an essential NPC and won't die in combat. You have some means of defending yourself even if that is "stay out of the way until the fighting is over."

[screwdriver-and-souffle]