#but the water's turning red and it's all your fault and all your mess 「aridhel m. / hc」

[freewillds]

@wardendrin

killing him won't make anything better // Aridhel

NOT ALL WARDENS VOLUNTEER OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEARTS. Aridhel's no stranger to the murderers, and worse, amongst their ranks. Has tried not to judge their lives before unless it actually impacts their ability to kill Darkspawn, or at least be civil with their fellow Wardens. (Their mother was a murderer, no matter the reasons she'd had or the loved ones they'd harmed.)

“I know that! But-” How could they ever trust the Mayor as a Warden, knowing what he had let happen to innocent people on his watch, the Blight he had helped rip through those he was sworn to protect. A Warden must not judge, a Warden must remain neutral. But a Warden's duty is to destroy the Blight, No matter the cost.

“Arlathan isn't my home, its not up to me to decide whether he lives or dies. But I can't trust him to have my back as a Warden.” They'll keep their mouth shut if Seldrina wants to conscript him but they can't be the one to bring him to Weisshaupt.

[freewillds]

BUT EVEN AFTER ALL THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN THE AFTERMATH, ARIDHEL STILL CAN'T SAY THAT SAVING MINRATHOUS WAS THE SMARTER PLAY. A Warden's duty is to fight back the Blight at all costs; The losses in the South are too great to lose Treviso and risk the rest of Antiva in the process. (Even if every part of their being wants to run home right this second, smuggling the alienage into the Lighthouse to wait out the destruction.)

"They're getting cocky. Sooner or later, they'll slip." They're grandstanding and getting too comfortable with power bought in death and bloodshed. Knees bend down at the closest (mostly) intact corpse to clean Fang of most of the aftermath, mentally promising a proper clean once they shake free of the downtrodden streets of Dock Town.

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, you've gotten us this far." Even with their Darkspawn tearing their way through the South, no one could have expected the freed Evanuris to strike so brutally, (Ok, Fen'Harel probably would have but he's not here to wage his rebellion once more, it's down to them.)

@freewillds - a good leader isn't someone who never makes mistakes. it's someone who admits when they make one. // aridhel to lilya

veilguard prompts // always accepting

Lilya drops to the ground suddenly, splashing a bit of water everywhere as she hits a puddle. It’s cold in Minrathous these days, the streets mostly deserted following the Venatori takeover. Fewer people meet their eyes as they trudge through the muddy streets, the few Venatori guards none the wiser. She carefully undoes her glove, checking for any damage after that rather rough battle just a few minutes prior. 

          “ They’re getting better now that they’re in control” she mumbles, covering her hand once more after her post-battle inspection. Not being able to feel the pain necessitated the extra attention, making sure nobody had gotten a lucky shot without her knowledge. Some days she regrets the decision she made after seeing all the suffering these people had endured. Yet she knows she would make the same choice again, her homeland far closer to her heart in comparison. 

Taking a breather inside one of the many abandoned taverns, Lilya tilts her head downwards, covering her face with her hands for a moment. As a Crow she rarely had any dealings with decisions, let alone ones that resulted in consequences of this magnitude. She made poisons and mended people’s wounds…not this. 

          “ I don’t think I’m cut out for this. Viago was right I am an idiot ”  She sighs, looking up for a second and meeting Aridhel’s gaze. Their words make them smile, another sigh slipping out before they sit up again. “ If only other people were as optimistic"

[freewillds]

🌻🌾 from the Flower Rook asks!

ROOK ASK GAME

🌻 How old is your Rook? How do they feel about celebrating their birthday? What gift has meant the most to them?

Aridhel's roughly 20-21 during the events of Veilguard, having been born at the end of the Fifth Blight. They always loved their birthdays as a kid when their parents were around, Dinlaselan especially would always go all out in celebrating because they were afforded more freedoms as Wardens in Amaranthine then she had as a child in Denerim.

Their favourite gift is a tie between the first ever bow their dad gave them, now long passed on to someone more suited to its smaller size, and Fang, passed on from their Mom, not knowing at the time it would be the last they'd ever get. (They have it with them for the Ritual and I like to think it jumpscares Solas just a little bit.)

Jehanne is about 26-27 during Veilguard, having been about 16 when she was rescued from Halamshiral before the events of Inquisition.

Birthdays were a touchy subject during her time in the Circle and mostly celebrated alone but they've only gotten better and better since being recruited by Bambi and making a life for herself in Arlathan.

Excluding her freedom, her most precious gift is hands down her son, even if its absolutely Terrifying at the same time to have his life in her hands. She wants to give him the best life she possibly can, to give him the opportunities and childhood she never had.

🌾 If there was a demon trying to trap/take over Rook, what kind would be the most successful? What would break their hold?

Darkspawn fear them, Despair demons want them carnally. Aridhel has so much pent up grief and guilt, they could feed an army of them. There's a reason their parents show up in the regret prison to haunt them and it's not just because they missed them. But it's knowing that they're loved, and cared for, that their parents would've sooner burned the whole world down around them then let anything happen that breaks them out of it.

Jehanne's getting slammed with that Despair / Rage combo because she's just so fucking exhausted over her childhood being stolen from her, constantly having to live on stolen land and being told to be grateful because at least she's not dead or Dalish, right? She watches Elves get slaughtered for wanting a better life and it being too inconvenient for anyone in charge, because their Empress didn't want to be seen as an 'Elf lover'. But she has this stupid, foolish hope in her heart that things Can change, that Someone will step in and make things right, that keeps her going.

[freewillds]

Aridhel's companion quest (or Rook quest lbr) involving more of the South bc no way do they hear that Denerim is essentially overrun and Not book it over there to check on the alienage

[freewillds]

@chcngenation

how do you want to be remembered? valiant yet sexy rebel against the status quo? - Nerys for Ari

LESS VALIANT AND SEXY AND MORE DROWNED RAT COURTESY OF THE HOSSBERG WETLANDS. They're more than a little jealous of Nerys' ability to nimbly dodge the brackish waters and dirt puddles but it's for the best, in the end. The last thing they need is someone getting Tainted, especially when they have no idea what the Gods will do to them if they are. (Corypheus was able to straight up control Wardens through the Blight in their veins. Elgar'nan supposedly threw down the sun. What does preparing for the worst even mean for them?)

"For the look on the First Warden's face whenever he graces us with his presence?" The particular look of disgust and disdain anytime they suggest a plan that relies more on saving actual lives than needless property, taking risks over following orders. (Remembering Dorian's insinuation from their last meeting, they hope the First Warden sees their parents faces anytime he looks their way.)

"No, I. I want people to remember I helped."

[freewillds]

USUALLY THE WARDENS ONLY TAKE THE BEST OF THE BEST OUTSIDE OF AN ACTUAL BLIGHT, BEYOND WHOEVER'S LUCKY (OR UNLUCKY) ENOUGH TO GET THEMSELF CONSCRIPTED. But apart from some scattered fears during the Inquisition's days that the Order absolutely didn't overreact for, there hasn't been even a stirring of a Blight since Urthemiel's fall.

"They don't tend to take us younger incase we're not strong enough to survive the Joining." They'd seen the rare few attempts here and there but it usually leans more towards death than salvation more often than not. "But my parents' were both Wardens, and i didn't want to just spend my entire life doing nothing in Amaranthine, you know?"

(And it's not like other Wardens are as eager to shack up and have kids, they're kind of figuring out how the Taint works for them as they go.)

"Besides, this way i get to do some actual good, and i get an easier way to visit family in Denerim. Win / Win, right?"

@freewillds liked for a starter [vessa & aridhel]

" so... " a breath of air and a furrowed brow. her reputation amongst the wardens isn't exactly the greatest considering the politics behind her conscription ( not to mention the incident with the first warden ) and briefly vessa wonders if all of that information has ever reached aridhel's ears. it's likely, isn't it? right after killing darkspawn, gossip is the favorite past time for most wardens. perhaps because, when there weren't darkspawn to slaughter, there was little to do beyond gossiping.

regardless, they're stuck together now thanks to varric. might as well make the best of it, right? maybe?

" you mentioned that you joined pretty young, too, right? we're something of a rarity among wardens, aren't we? " a nervous laugh. people skills isn't her strong suit. in fact, of all the things that make a strong leader, charisma is probably the lowest of her abilities. " how come you joined so young? i didn't have much of a choice, personally. or... i suppose i did but endless darkspawn versus tranquility isn't much of a choice, is it...? "

[freewillds]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 ?

A ROSE COLOURED SUN

You are warmth. You are hope. You are always reaching, and reaching. You have a great love inside you, and you are determined to share it with others, to warm them from the cold and empty void. But you give too much. You have torn yourself open, and now your light is stained with your own blood. Do you think yourself too reckless? Do you know how to stop? You are passion. You are a burning, bleeding heart. All look to you for guidance, for your comfort, but who will catch you when you fall? Never forget, no matter how many times you fade beneath the horizon, no matter how many times your sun has set, you will rise again at dawn

stole from @lunarfey

[freewillds]

but the water's turning red and it's all your fault and all your mess 「Aridhel M. / ic」

but the water's turning red and it's all your fault and all your mess 「Aridhel M. / mirror」

but the water's turning red and it's all your fault and all your mess 「Aridhel M. / study」

but the water's turning red and it's all your fault and all your mess 「Aridhel M. / hc」

[freewillds]

WITH THE FAMOUS GREY WARDEN LUCK ON THEIR SIDE IT COULD MEAN ANYTHING FROM ACTIVE THREAT TO A BREEZE SOMEONE DIDN'T LIKE. They'd been roped into investigating supposed local haunts before, faced everything from annoying human kids, to demons, to a weirdly possessed tea-pot once. Learned never to assume anything that doesn't leave the Blight sing-songing in their ears.

"prepare for demons, be pleasantly relieved if the Veil is just weird?"

@freewillds asked:

the locals say this place is haunted. / aridhel !

Suspicious Circumstances < accepting >

"Does that mean expect demons haunted, or the veil is thin and everything feels weird inside haunted?" The warden asked of them. Those two meant very different things, and very two different ways to approach the old building.