#but harding and bellara have personal quests now so that will probably be the next goal

[brainisafk]

I am obsessed with their profile. >.>

They have acquired a Crow! And now I have to remind myself before every conversation that they're not romancing him. >.<

That shot would be hilarious if Bellara hadn't decided to blink. Everyone's just staring like :O

Welcome to the team, Lucanis. They will be your new BFF and you are not getting a say in it. XD

[thievinghippo]

Okay so I know Blood of Arlathan is a very. serious. quest

But this right here makes me laugh every time, because all I can picture is all eight of them awkwardly trying to get out of their Tevinter costumes and putting their armor back on

Like, you know Emmrich would have his back turned to the rest of the group while he changed because modesty

Then Harding, Taash, and Davrin dgaf because she's been in plenty of situations where there's just no privacy and Davrin knows he looks good and anyone can catch the show. Same with Taash

Bellara probably doesn't have a ton of shame, but she accidentally made eye contact with Lucanis (because he is purposely not going to sneak a peak at Neve) when he was stripped down to just his underwear and now she can never look at anyone ever again

Neve is the only adult in the room and is changed faster than anyone and even has time to perfectly tilt her fascinator before the next person is ready to go

All while Rook does their best to be professional and a leader but is wearing their favorite small clothes with the embroidered nugs and realizes no one is ever going to take them seriously ever again

[mamamittens]

Accidentally went from writing Nyla as someone purposefully, near full tilt southern affectionate to just straight up platonically flirting with everyone.

The entire party is going to think she's either always smooth or incapable of taking romance seriously until she catches hard feelings for Lucanis and it will be hilarious. Poor bastard will just think she's being nice, (he's fantasy-Italian so causal flirting isn't unusual) and wants him to feel included but she can barely maintain eye contact when complimenting him.

Everyone is losing it watching them circle each other ineffectually and Spite is sitting back like the world's most confused Animal Planet viewer. Certain that she actually means her flirts and Lucanis is drowning in fucking denial the entire time. It isn't new for Lucanis to push away positive indulgences if he thinks Spite will get involved, so he thinks Spite is just being a shit with his observations.

Everyone but the two of them knows where this is headed and are Very Amused, except the few who are Very NOT Amused about it. Mainly Viago, tbh, as he incredibly reluctantly has started to consider Nyla his kid too--like Rooks undiscovered sunshine twin--and he already tried very hard to keep Rook away from the Dellamorte family (mainly Illario for obvs playboy reasons).

It'll be interesting writing her in conflict and keeping her main creed in place. Mainly "Everyone deserves to be loved, wholly and unapologetically" followed closely by "Some people also deserve a swift kick in the teeth and, unfortunately, one of these will have to take priority when applicable".

She's a... Very interesting example of tough but compassionate love, genuinely wanting others to grow and be better. But as the story progresses she will better find the line for when teeth kicking starts.

Some characters try and take advantage of this, naturally, and others find it quaint and endearing.

(I played nice and friendly with the Threads and the dude who took over seemed amused and charmed by genuine concern, and I loved the vibe lol)

Her friends are pretty worried considering how often they run into genuinely asshole people.

She's going to quickly get under Solas's skin with her perceptive but compassionate nature, openly asking him about the Inquisitor after meeting her and if he wants her to give a message next time they talk.

Solas basically hangs up the call immediately lmao and probably screams for the next hour about his ex.

(seriously, the Lavellan ending feels so horribly like targeted psychological warfare, it's so fucking devious and ruthless. At least the other two endings has some measure of dignity left for him to hold onto. U just beat that man with his ex, his pseudo ex, and his pseudo ex's kid until he concedes that he's been a very bad boy and would like to hold his lady love's hand for emotional support now please LMFAO)

She's what he could never see coming in all the best and worst ways cause she's sincere, even when she's being a little shit. Like if Cole had more context and decided passive aggression was the best way to force Solas into therapy.

Also really looking forward to setting up a tradition where, after a Big Emotional Thing (or their personal quests), they set up a sleepover in the main area. Probably starts with Bellara after finding out about her bro properly with a casual "anyone is welcome to join" and culminating in a group sleepover after the Fade Prison cause everyone is emotionally raw.

Nyla even bullies Lucanis and Emmrich into it at various points under the guise of getting their minds off of shit. Davrin is easy prey cause he tends to follow Assan, who follows pets and treats. Taash just thinks it's nice, if a little weird, but Nyla is weird so it makes sense.

She usually babies whoever the sleepover is for. Hugs and teasing cuddles if they're cool with it. Always manages to smuggle them into the middle of the sleeping pallet.

I got devious plans for Ashur and The Butcher tbh, horribly devious plans (seriously why is his meeting so weirdly sexually charged, thought that man would offer info if we fucked or smt) and Ashur is cute and deserves forehead kisses under that goofy hat/mask ensemble.

[svartalfhild]

More thoughts!

Illario is extremely sus.

THE CAMEOS!!!!! IN MINRATHOUS!!!!!

I always knew from the lore that the First Warden was a little bitch, but actually meeting him is a next level experience. What a fucking asshole.

Taash is such a fun character. They're so delightfully blunt, but also sweet in their own way. The gamer bros are so mad about Taash and those whiny little pieces of detritus can go fuck themselves.

Every now and again, there's a wild Matt Mercer, and I'm delighted. He Has The Range.

I'm genuinely enjoying the puzzles, which is a wild concept for a BioWare game. Finally, some good fucking level design.

They keep dropping deep lore bombshells that have put years of me going full Pepe Silvia over this world to shame, and I'm so excited about it.

Ghilan'nain is a straight up nasty bitch in every sense of the term, which I already kinda knew from Tevinter Nights, but fighting her makes me think Rook should invent bleach just to deal with her mess.

Emmrich's personal arc villain has energy somewhere between Yzma and Doc Ock, and I am very entertained.

Emmrich may not wear black, but he's the gothest motherfucker in this entire series and I couldn't be happier.

Everyone is so concerned about Lucanis' pantry living and it's very sweet but also hilarious.

I love watching Lucanis develop friendships with everyone else. That's right; open your heart, sad bird man.

Love how Taash is immediately Lucanis' #1 fan for assassin reasons and he's so confused by it.

Unlocking the pieces of Solas' backstory is so fun because you get worldview-altering lore drops and then the Veilguard has a family meeting every time to discuss the new info and read Solas for filth.

Absolutely worth reading any codex entries related to the Lighthouse or companions, because you get fun insight into the daily domestic living of the Veilguard in the Lighthouse on top of whatever lines you already get about it when they're talking to each other at home. They really are like a household.

I enjoyed the Descent DLC of Inquisition, so Harding's personal arc is an absolute joy.

All the gamer bros complaining that the game isn't dark, mature fantasy like the rest of the series are honestly probably just mad at the lack of Desire demons, because there is absolutely no shortage of dark shit in this game, y'all. I mean, for fuck's sake, the major factions in the story include 1) a struggling abolitionist resistance movement that routinely tangles with people engaging in horrifying ritual murder, 2) a guild of assassins who have way too much political power but have also been forced to become a resistance group because their country has no army, 3) the supposedly apolitical army of people who poison themselves to fight evil until they inevitably die horrible deaths, and 4) straight up necromancers. And that's just the factions! That's not even getting into the plot!

Neve and Lucanis continue to have stellar chemistry.

Bellara needs so many hugs and it frustrates me that I can't provide them.

Experienced a very funny glitch during Harding's second personal quest in Act 2 where something seemed off about my Rook and then I realized that her left boob was missing. Her left boob was Sir Not Appearing in This Film. Straight up had decided not to participate in this conversation. I lost my shit. I may share a screenshot of it at some point.

Taash admitting in an argument with Emmrich that they don't like him because they think necromancy is freaky allowed me the opportunity to be like "Do you think that about me? 🥺" as a Mourn Watcher, which I'm so glad of, because a lot of the companions are uncomfortable with Emmrich's necromancy and I have been dying to get the chance to call them out for not considering how that would make Rook feel.

Emmrich made a move on my Rook last night and *fans self* hoo lord. Lucanis better show up with some extremely strong game very soon, otherwise he will have thoroughly lost to Thedas' very own Hammer Horror Man.

(Davrin fell out of the running pretty quick, since his personality ended up not fitting well as a romance for my Rook. Ironically, when they first announced the companions, I was almost certain I would end up being a Davrin girlie. Alas, he is not the type I'd thought he'd be. He also failed to show up in a waistcoat, unlike the other two, and we all know how weak I am for a good waistcoat.)

I love that Act 2 is just like The Gang Goes To Therapy. Sometimes this involves killing things. Or people. But not always!

Some fun DATV things I'm experiencing:

Playing as female Rook makes the first few quests until you get Lucanis very Girls Night, which I really started to notice after a friend pointed it out and she is so right.

Neve is bestie.

Lucanis' intro cinematic made me feel so attacked. That shit was so my brand lol.

Lucanis and Neve's banter is hilarious and if I don't romance Lucanis I may end up shipping him with Neve.

Did Bellara's first personal quest and almost cried. Hit me a little close to home.

Neve's hangout quest was delightful. I want to chat and snack and walk around with her all day.

Neve and Bellara's developing friendship is so fun. I want to see a scene where Lucanis gets involved in their cooking adventures.

Shopping and getting coffee with Lucanis was like Oh No He's Thoughtful And Charming And I'm Weak.

Chose Lucanis over Neve in that one decision that made me want to scream and now she's hardened and I'm so sorry bestie I was thinking of the defenseless people and I will never be okay again.

Varric playing mentor to Rook got me right where it hurts. He's there for when you need an adultier adult to tell you that you're doing okay and that he's proud if you. I cry forever.

Assan and Manfred are my SONS and I LOVE THEM and I make the most ridiculous noises when they are on screen. THEY ARE SUCH GOOD BOYS.

The quest to acquire Emmrich is fucking delightful if you're a nice Mourn Watcher and you bring Bellara along. Just three huge nerds enjoying each other's company while doing dangerous shit.

Davrin and Emmrich's banter is like two dad's comparing notes.

As a Watcher, Myrna kinda feels like my mentor-mom, which is funny.

More thoughts to come. Just wanted to scribble down a few things so far for the people to let y'all know I'm having a fucking blast.