#blackwall: i thought you'd be human

[baekuras]

instead of going to chat gpt to sort presentation notes and stuff nor bothering my friends i have taken to doing the true programmers solution

talk to bath duck

[invinciblerodent]

Okay I feel like my experience of DAI might be a bit.... I guess I could say unique? because my main Inquisitor is a human who is a devout Andrastian, AND pro-mage/pro-elf (it's a long story, he goes through some Character Development), but since last night's post, i've been mentally pacing up and down, thinking about how the "truth vs. lies" narrative throughline applies to Vivienne and her personal quest.

Because... well, hers is the only one (iirc) where you can choose to lie to her. Not tell her to keep up a lie (Blackwall), or lie because she's asking you to lie (Sera), or to conceal what she's discovered (Cassandra), but just straight up lie to her face when she's expecting the truth, and whether she's lying to you or not in general is not even the focal point at that juncture: she just comes to you requesting help, and you can either give it, or deny her.

And regardless of what you do, the facts, the events, don't change, which is what gets me. Nothing tangible happens if you decide to screw her over: whether you give her the heart of a snowy wyvern or just a regular gurgut, her formula will always fail, and Bastien dies. The only difference your lie makes is in her feelings about you, and in her knowing that you're not above stabbing her in the back.

Because if you do choose to accept her request (even though you can just turn it down, and nothing happens besides some approval loss), agree to help her, and then betray her, Vivienne knows. I don't think the game says when she finds out (be it while preparing the potion and she just forges on, hoping that it'll work anyway, or upon looking into it after it fails to see why it failed), but she tells you that much: that she is well aware of your deception, and she doesn't mince her words in voicing her contempt for you.

And man, Vivienne in general is just so fascinating to me.

I mean, she's simultaneously one of the most honest and caring companions, and also one of the ones with the clearest ulterior motives. She, like Bull, basically comes right out the gate and tells you the moment you meet her that she is in this for the power and the opportunity that you present, essentially admitting to you that you are little more than a stepping stone, and early on, her approval can swing wildly: maybe more than for any other companion. And what I keep noticing about that is that these swings are most affected by conversations, where you can lie, far more than your actions, which kind of leads me to believe that she either values your agreeing with her, or in other kinds of setups, you having the good sense to tell her what she wants to hear even if it's not true.

And like, I don't have the brain power at the moment to dissect her deep-seated fears and caution, how her general disapproval tends to boil down to risks and danger, and her whole Deal with why she, as a mage, is so opposed to mage freedom, I'd have to replay the game again to be able to articulate all my thoughts and feelings on that, but it just..... It generally fascinates me how her approval can be maxed out through pretty much conversation alone, while making all the "good" but risky choices that she disapproves of (mage alliance with full freedom, allied wardens, etc.), and before you'd even talk about Bastien's family with her.

And, if she sees an ally in you, man, she's so kind. If she likes you, she's one of the only people to ask you if you're alright after Haven, she offers advice and tries to help the best way she can, and she approves of helping the people of Haven, and of you "yes, and"-ing her, and not wallowing in empty platitudes but letting her have her space to mourn how she wants to, and I just......

Gaaah, I love Vivienne and I keep thinking about her. She makes a terrible fucking Divine, but I just... I'm just looking at her with stars in my eyes, ready to agree with whatever she says and then fuck off to do the exact opposite, knowing that I got a good grade in agreeing with her anyway.

[nightwingshero]

Athera/Solas? (and I'd also love to extend that to any of your other DA ships that you'd love to talk about too! )

Thank you, love!

Athera x Solas = x: Dream of Me

So, they’re playlist is actually Meet Me In My Dreams. But it’s a play off of Dream A Little Dream of Me and Meet Me in the Woods. Songs...yes. And it was honestly so close to being Once Upon A Dream, because Lana Del Rey’s cover is just...them. Anyway, the reason I chose this is because well...the Haven scene where you find out you’re actually dreaming? It honestly really got me, and I was still like...baffled by it, so that’s part of why Athera has her name (it means “part of a dream”). Athera herself isn’t a Dreamer, but her grandmother is, and she would often daydream (as she often did) walking the Fade like her crazy grandmother. But of course, her grandmother walking the Fade only added to the delusions she had, so...yeah. Solas and Athera meet often in her dreams, and he watches over her (and that’s how he finds out about their twins) after the events of Trespasser. She often looks forward to seeing him in her dreams, where things seem to be easier for him, and if he’s sleeping at the many elven ruins they come across, she’ll keep watch, and then draw as he describes what he saw. Honestly, they’re just so cute.

Evune x Cullen = x: the wolf and the lion

Alright, so Evune and Athera are cousins, and there’s a running joke (which kind of started with Felassan) that they’re the wolves of the Lavellan clan. Athera has a white wolf and Halla aesthetic going for her, and Evune has a dark/black wolf and owl going for her (Athera’s love for Halla plays into her having the Ghilan’nain vallaslin, and Evune’s love for wolves/owls and being a hunter  is the reason she has Andruil’s...that and the story of how they’re connected...I can go into more detail with that later on). But the point is that Evune is the Wolf of the Lavellan clan (with Athera being one too, but she’s more a wolf in Halla’s clothing wink wink), and Cullen is known as the Lion of Fereldon because of how fierce he is in battle and such. Together, they’re the wolf and the lion. Their playlist is actually called The Black Wolf of Lavellan and the Lion of Fereldon. At least until I think of something better. 

Zander x Dorian = ????

I haven’t really decided on this one just yet. Zander (whose faceclaim is Jensen Ackles) is a rogue mage (a little bit of both...he’s a decent dualist) that is working with Fiona as her right hand with the mage rebellion. He joins the Inquisition with Fiona when Athera decides to take the mages in. He’s a necromancer, just like Dorian, and he’s...annoyingly sure of himself and a bit arrogant and stubborn. Charming as can be when he wants...he drives Dorian nuts at first (and vice versa), but honestly, they’re so damn cute together. Zander helps him with coming to terms with his issues with his father though, and they have more in common than they think. So it’s really adorable. I’ve considered using x: time of the season for their ship name, because when I’m lacking something clever, I’ll resort to song names or lyrics. Spooky Spooky Skeleton has made it to their playlist though. That I will say. I don’t know...I might use People Are Strange by The Doors since its like...the first song on Zander’s playlist...hmmm.

Thyra, Halesta, and Rhaenys

No, they’re not a ship. They’re the OCs that I’m still kinda debating on when it comes to ships...but I felt bad for leaving them out (I’m so sorry, I feel like I’m breaking rules...I just wanted to talk about them). Thyra is an Avvar (very Viking-like) and I’m trying to ship her with Varric, though Iron Bull is making a decent case and I’m trying to keep Blackwall away with a stick. She’s a warrior, and drinks with Evune often at the tavern, and she challenges everyone to arm wrestling contests to prove she’s stronger than everyone. Often fights with Cassandra (not like how Evune does....coughwhoendsuphavingabarbrawlcough), sparring and training...and winning. I thought it would be fun to give Varric a warrior, but we’ll have to see. Halesta...is another Dalish mage, but she’s from Riverain. I’ve considered a few ships for her, like Dagna, Scout Lace Harding, and maybe Cole. Varric has also been a thought, though I don’t think so since Halesta is about 22. Halesta is a crafter, making potions all the time (and trying not to blow herself up with her experiments), and she’s soft. So soft. Solas takes her under his wing...but you learn that she was his spy the whole time. He helps her learn more magic and such, a mentor of sorts. But I have to think on her ship a bit more. Rhaenys...is my human noble (faceclaim is Lady Gaga...I did that on purpose)...who might either end up with Iron Bull, Leliana, or Josephine. I’m not sure just yet. She’s the one that grabs Cullen’s butt at the Winter Palace (and Evune’s reaction to that is just...oooof). She’s one of the noble’s that end up hanging around Skyhold, and she ends up helping Leliana with secrets she learned in the Game, and Josie with creating relationships and connections. They’re WIPs, but I love them very dearly. 

[sciencethot]

@katania48 , yes you need to play Dragon Age. And yes, you can customize your character. My icon is actually my female elf from Inquisition. You can be a human, an elf, a dwarf, and a qunari. I play as an elf cause they fit closer to my body type as well as I feel like Inquisition was more focused on the elves. If you just want to play Inquisition make sure to make a dragon age keep account as it allows you to make all the important decisions without playing the games and if you need help with the best options (to me) I'm willing to help.

Now to the romance options as a female. To get the most options, you'd want to be an elf. The options are:

Blackwall

This beard man is a Grey Warden. A mysterious organization that's dedicated to destroying the Blight. He tries to be very polite and gentleman like but who is he really?

The Iron Bull

He is part of a race called the Qunari. All most outsiders know is that their religion and government says the whole is greater than the individual and that everyone has a specific place in society and that they came across the sea. The Iron Bull it's a spy and mercenary leader and cares deeply for his group, The Bull's Chargers. Also, one kinky s.o.b. Your choices will dictate if he is willing to give up his mindset and become an individual. (Also, if you don't romance him and put him with Dorian long enough they will start a relationship)

Lady Josephine Cherette Montilyet

Josephine is the eldest daughter and heir of the noble from Antiva. She is an eminent figure in diplomacy, forging relations with grace, charm and careful favors. She is a powerful ally and a feared enemy. Her route is great if you're a storybook romantic. There's an actual sword fight.

Sera

Sera is a spunky, odd talking, impulsive elf. She enjoys helping the little people and humbling those with authority and with the help of The Friends of Red Jenny, a mysterious organization, she does. She is a female only romance.

Cullen

Cullen is a reoccurring face in the series and a face that had suffered a lot doing what he thought was right. This ex Templar (watchers of mages in the Towers) is now the head of your military force. To better himself he has stopped taking a drug forced onto him when he became a Templar. Don't let his rough look fool you. He is actual a very soft and caring person who wants to do some good and to make up for all the wrongs he did when he was young. A very soft romance

Solas

Solas is a mysterious elven mage that came to your aid when he heard about a mark on your hand was killing you and noticed the correlation between it and the hole in the sky. He has a wide knowledge of the elven past and can freely travel the dream realm known as the Fade. He also has a talent for art. Don't be fooled though, his game is as smooth as his head. However, he always seem to hold something just out of reach. Will the Trespasser DLC explain what it is?

(Honestly I suggest doing his first and it will make more sense with the DLC and everything and many don't want to romance him in the second play through.)

[whitespired-blog]

character questions: 8,9, and 14. I had more, but as soon as I opened up the ask page, I forgot. D: I will send more if you'd like!

character development. || accepting.

8. Where and when do they seem most and least at ease? Why? How can you tell?

the most at ease - honestly, when he’s playing with some small animal, probably. like, put him in a garden with a couple nugs and just leave him there and he’s happy. because the thing is, when he’s around people, he’s never going to be completely at ease. partly because he’s hearing them, subconsciously if not consciously, and reading their pain; partly because, no matter how well things might be going at the moment, he always kind of worries about saying or doing something wrong and messing it up.

so he might be happiest when he’s with his friends and they’re being kind to him and he feels like he belongs, but even then there’s the worry that he’ll accidentally make it wrong, because he has such trouble navigating social cues and filtering his own reactions to people’s thoughts.

people are complicated, even the best of them, and he can never be sure he’ll do things right. but animals are simple, and a nug will sit in his lap and love him simply for being there, and he doesn’t have to worry.

you can tell because there won’t be any tension in his body. (there usually is, in some way, the way he crouches, the way he reacts a little too quickly to things.) his full attention will be on the creature in his lap, and he’ll be smiling, not a little, reserved smile but bigger and easier. he won’t try to hide behind his hair or his hat; you’ll see his eyes.

the least at ease - well, the least at ease we’ve ever seen him is physically in the fade, but that isn’t likely to happen often, so ignoring that…focusing on more human, post-subjected to his will cole, he can get very twitchy in large crowds where everyone can see him, especially if that crowd is filled with people who are hurting. their pain and attention sticks to him, in his own words, weighs heavy and he can’t wash it off like he could before. he’ll want to help, but be overwhelmed by all the stimuli, and he gets overstimulated much more easily as a human than before.

you can tell because his eyes dart, he hides under his hat, makes himself small. his speech gets more fragmented; it’s harder for him to get any singular idea out, and harder for him to separate his own thoughts from those around him. he gets twitchy and overreactive, and may either try to escape the situation or accidentally lash out.

9. How do they manifest energy, exhaustion, tension, or other strong emotions?

well, we just kind of talked about tension, so i’ll let that stand.

he moves around a lot when he’s energetic, and can, uh, go a little overboard with his stealth/speed skills, which means a lot of cole popping up suddenly on a different side of the room to show you something. this is especially exacerbated as a spirit, when you’re unlikely to see him moving anyway, but he still does it when he’s more human bc of those rogue skills of his. he kind of just….doesn’t see the point of wasting time walking over when he can just appear? this is startling at best, but if his energy is aggressive then it’s pretty alarming - picture him pushing through the air towards the templar in his personal quest, suddenly right in his space.

exhaustion makes him lethargic, especially as a human when he’s still getting used to a depth of both physical and emotional exhaustion that he didn’t experience as a spirit. when around people, say in the tavern, he might just…..sit still for a long time, in stark contrast to the above, eerily unmoving. if he’s alone, or around only people he trusts, he might just lie down and curl up in an inconspicuous corner for a little while.

his anger is terrifying. he’s loud and lashes out, not good at restraint. his grief makes him retreat inside himself; he’s very quiet, rather still, trying to make sense of his own hurt. strong happiness opens him up like a flower in broom; his face softens, he smiles (and that matters; he doesn’t smile often), his voice gets smoother and his laughter sweet.

14. What do they care deeply about? What kind of loyalties, commitments, moral codes, life philosophies, passions, callings, or spirituality and faith do they have? How do these tend to be expressed?

he cares about helping people. he doesn’t always know how, or know what’s ultimately right; he just finds people in pain and he tries to make it better.

he doesn’t believe that the only changes worth making are big ones. saving the world is wonderful, but no more worthy than going out of your way to make someone laugh or replace their lost toy or ease the pain of their passing with the smell of home.

he’s loyal to those who are kind, and show a commitment to helping others. 

he can be merciless against those he deems bad, those who hurt others, but can forgive them if they show regret for their actions (like blackwall).

he has very little concept of human laws. stealing isn’t bad if it helps more than it hurts. murder isn’t bad unless the person who was killed didn’t deserve it. he’s good, but not lawful good.

if he were pure compassion, he would try to help and forgive everyone. but he isn’t; he’s touched by too much humanity. he feels anger. he holds grudges. he allies himself with the weak and the hurting, and seeks vengeance on those who hurt them. 

he hates prisons with a passion. he’d rather kill someone bad than leave them to rot in prison. he remembers all too well how terrible it is.

his ideas about what is right are limited and subjective. he’s compassion, nor justice or morality. for him, the best option is the one that helps the most people and hurts the fewest,