#but why is the game so random about what only a canonical Dalish elf would know and what isn't

[flowersforthemachines]

as I dig into making an update for the Dalish Rook mod, I get more and more frustrated with the way "elven" dialogue currently works in the game.

why is it an elven Rook of any background knows that "anvallenim" means "womb" in ancient elven, but then only a Veil Jumper elf knows what the way of three trees is when it's one of the basics of elven culture? and, furthermore, only a Veil Jumper Rook (regardless of race btw) can recognise that Assan is named after the elven word for arrow? why are these requirements such a mess?

[perilegs]

im doing a rerun of my canon da:o playthrough and. does someone want to read my notes on my mahariel so far. bc here they are

ok so my canon warden is Atish’an Mahariel (it’s her name bc I'm finnish and Rauha (lit. peace) is a common old woman name here so i thought it'd be funny). she has a vallaslin representing Sylaise. (here’s her toyhouse for a pic but there’s pretty much no text there (at least not any that’s not written here anyways)

Origin:

Killed one of the humans as an example. She can be very distrustful of humans near her clan.

Cocky, Brash, blunt, very sure of herself, kinda rude and a menace, loves her mom (Ashalle). 

Is protective of the clan but like, physically, not verbally. As in, she will eliminate physical threats or ruffle a kid’s hair for doing a good job or put in extra effort to ask someone how they’re doing and sitting with someone if they seem like they need it or whatever. She does care. But she’s not going to say how much she cares out loud. She prefers to show it in other ways. Ati would find herself flustered if she actually had to tell someone how much love she has. That’s embarrassing. She can sometimes be a bit less emotionally stunted around those she trusts. (this is something she improves on during the game a bit but it takes a long time)

“When mommy elf and a daddy elf love each other very much…” upon asked how the dalish came to be

Cannot bear the thought that maybe there was something that she could have done to stop Tamlen’s fate. “Why are you looking at me like that. It’s not my fault.” Very defensive about it.

Don’t cast me away, please

“I don’t want to lose you too.” Did the keeper have to say that. Ati already felt guilty about Tamlen. It would be later when Ati realized the keeper was right, it wouldn’t benefit anyone if she just decided to die in her clan. The keeper seems to hold the Grey Wardens in high regard.

Dragged out of the clan, kicking and screaming. Not really, she gave some very teary “I don’t wanna go, please this is all i’ve ever known” goodbyes. It was highly uncharacteristic of the overconfident Atish’an. She was always very sure of herself and raring to go and explore the world, and so very inquisitive, loving to ask questions about anything and everything from the clanmates who did trading with human villages.

Ostagar:

The trip to Ostagar made Ati a bit numb bc she realized there’s really no fighting her fate. More worn out than angry by Ostagar. Clearly unhappy. Still hostile to most, since i guess hostility and overconfidence are the only two acceptable emotions to show to the outside world.

I am no friend of yours, human lord

Finds Alistair alright, maybe a bit annoying (she does not realize they’re both Like That)

Alistair is a major history buff, knows everything about blights, grey wardens, and old gods. That’s cool! Ati WILL ask him about Everything

Definitely respected Morrigan at first meeting, she could see she was not like most humans, she felt closer to her kind than other humans. Morrigan is a random woman living in the woods and we were the ones who stumbled upon her area. Her mother seems alright albeit a bit. strange...

Tower of Ishal: confused as to tfs going on, she was dragged out of her clan to hold a torch so obviously she’s pissed but something’s not right.. The action is a nice change of pace and helps Ati forget other things. 

Seeing something like the darkspawn orge is enough to change a woman. If the blight isn’t stopped and darkspawn roam Ferelden. What if one of those showed up to her clan? Atish’an doesn’t even dare to think about it. 

Hearing Morrigan tell her the battle was lost, Ati’s stomach dropped. She felt helpless, but she wouldn’t give up on her clan this easily. She couldn’t disappoint them any more. It would have been humiliating to return now, all of her crying and anger in vain. She can’t yet again be the reason even more of her clanmates lives are lost.

Definitely respects Flemeth for reasons unknown. Ati thinks she has a strange, powerful vibe to her.

Seeing Morrigan’s mother cast her away in such a manner made Atish’an feel a pang in her heart. Morrigan was like her, yearning to experience what it was like outside her home, but not wanting to leave when it came to it. Ati admired Morrigan’s strength in how she handled the matter. Ati decided she’d stick close to Morrigan. Never thought a human could be so similar to herself. 

Lothering:

“yea might as well” type of attitude towards helping people. ati finds it strangely rewarding + it’s not like doing that is making the blight stronger

“Blood isn’t all that important” @ Bodahn :’)

Ati decided she might as well get to know her companions a bit at camp since she’s going to have to stick them for a looong time since they want to get help in stopping the blight. And she doesn’t want to feel any lonelier than she already does.

Morrigan dare i ask of your own mother - “I love her. What else do you want to know?” Why did she say that. She could have just opened her chest to bare her heart to a complete stranger as well.

Alistair is helping Ati have her silly moments. She sympathises with Alistair a bit, and is showing him compassion.

Atish’an appreciates the conversations she has with Morrigan. Morrigan seems nice in her own way, and she often says things that force Ati to stop and think. In the long run, it’s helping Ati mature a bit and Morrigan break down her walls.

Redcliffe:

The silly pathetic endearing human she’s been travelling with, who is her senior warden yet leaves all the important decisions to Ati, is technically the heir to the throne. She finds this hilarious

This bann is kind of a baddie, wonder if he’d be down to. We’re on a mission here. (Ati has licked her fair share of lampposts and then some).

Circle:

Jumping at any chance to defend the mages. WHY do these people keep their mages locked up that’s so fucked up??

Oh? Wynne’s here? She’s kind of annoying but DAMN what a healer. Atishan is thinking that she would be useful to have around to fight the darkspawn. Baby’s first rational work thought :’)

Loghain sent a fucking assassin after them? Atish’an is terrified but god if being powerful enough to have an assassin sent after you is ego boosting. For some reason beyond her, she doesn’t think Zevran is lying about what he’s saying. It could be because he looks like home. It’s been a while since she’s seen other elves around, and his tattoos remind her of vallaslin. Not that they’re the vallaslin she would regognize. Maybe they have different ones in Antiva, she thinks.

Ati thinks she found someone more whorish than herself.

The way Zevran talks so openly about his past is throwing Ati off. How can he just reveal these things to her? (Does Ati notice how Zevran is undermining his own experiences trying to tell what the crows did was practical and that there were benefits? Does she notice how he feels when Ati tells him what he went through was awful? I am going to cry about Zevran’t approval changes right this second.) 

Hearing Zevran be so very homesick and talking of his home he cannot return to broke Ati’s heart. At least she could eventually go back home. Right? But the chances of Zevran surviving Antiva are slim. It makes Ati sad. She finds Zevran finding comfort in the smell of leather endearing. (I have far more thoughts on Zevran but this is what Ati thinks ok)

Brecilian forest:

Ati can't help but feel relieved after being among her own people after spending so much time with human affairs

Seeing the members of her sister clan in pain pains her too, she's stopped a demon possessing a child, an entire onslaught of undead, and she managed to save a circle tower from abominations beyond what she could have imagined. Ati feels unstoppable. Everything she has done, has worked out so far. It does not help with her cockiness. "I am good at non-trivial tasks."

Seeing the hunters like this… It takes some effort for Ati to not let it show how much of an effect it has on her. She could almost cry

Ati is getting used to Wynne. Ati's missing her mommy disease makes it so that Wynne's presence can be a bit comforting. And she appreciates Wynne's snark.

Wynne with elves who are mistrustful of humans, especially humans in authority seems to be a theme.

Seeing Danyla was painful. Atish'an knows she must be killed to end her suffering. It doesn't make it any easier. It's something that won't leave Ati. She's seen her fair share of death and suffering but this was something she could have never prepared for.

Sided with the elves and the werewolves. Ati thinks Zathrian's actions were originally justified, but the clan is suffering and. Well. The current werewolves, though they are humans, they aren't the evil heartless creatures that originally assaulted Zathrian's children. They were just people who happened to be born from those people.

Leliana gets on Ati's nerves a bit every so often. "They are serfs. There is no slavery in Orlais." mkay sure. But. Leliana actually listens to Atish'an when she challenges her beliefs. It's refreshing.

Oh… Leliana also has a dead bio mom who had a friend Leliana considers a mother figure.

Denerim:

Ati got Sten at 100% approval after questioning him about qunari children. Her inquisitive nature and snark are a HUGE hit. They were already at super high approval with each other bc Ati LOVES asking questions (i love how she’s both like cocky sure of herself rude & snarky but also so very cunning and inquisitive. you can be smart and a bit of an asshole)

Ati approves after Alistair defended her to Goldanna. She was about to go off but Alistair's firm response was enough to not make her loose her marbles.

Denerim market district is a lot to take in. Ati has never seen a city this big so full of life everywhere. It's a bit overwhelming

Ati heard there was some Howe leading a purge in the alienage. She would show him no mercy would they ever cross paths

Haven:

"Kadan" Atish'an does not know what the word means, but she can feel its weight. Kadan. She thinks she feels the same way about Sten. Sten said he trusted her with his life… Also Ati appreciates someone who will challenge her decisions. Their bond is strong. (Starts calling Sten lethallin? idk how that works. is vhenan romantic only?)

Also Ati’s specialization is druid. Sten understanding how intelligent mabari are and talking to Falon (i love dumb names) in such a regular manner is something Ati does too. I can’t believe i forgot Ati and Sten are besties before this rerun.

anyways this is all i have so far. does anyone have any thoughts? some suggestions for improvement? does anyone have a similar warden

[thatoneelfwitch]

Okay so now I just wanna Word about my Lavellan so buckle your seat belts and dive under the read more if ya feel like it. Or send me asks! I haven’t played through the whole game yet but I have been completely spoiled (by myself) so no worries about major spoilage!

*But if you have not played through and don’t want spoiling then keep on scrollin’ cause here there be dragons.

So. Yes. My first and “Canon” Inquisitor is a mage Lavellan who is romancing Solas. On purpose. Knowing what happens and how stupid he is. HERE’S THE THING THO - My Lavellan doesn’t know! She don’t know shit about this random elf who she met while laying the smackdown on a Shade. So why did she fall for Solas? Did she look at him in all his bald, elvhen glory and think - “Oh yeah, I’m tappin’ that.” Nope. No she did not. So let’s go through this. Let’s go through Mioluvun Lavallen’s journey as Herald and Inquisitor.

So first thing she wakes up chained in a cell with humans pointing swords at her and a human getting in her face. First thought - “Wow. Just wow. Fuck you. Fuck all of you. I want to go home.” Then - “Shit. Shit that is a Thing. That is a Thing in the fucking sky and it looks really bad. You think I did this to my fucking self?! Well, if it can help I mean, it’s not like this is going to just . . . go away so . . .”

Then she’s fighting demons that are falling from the fucking sky of all places and sealing “rifts” with the weird ass mark on her hand. “Oh thank the creators another elf! And a mage! Familiarity!” to “Okay you’re kind of a dick but you’re not Too Bad so whatevs.” You know one of those first pieces of dialogue between Quisie and Solas where you can be all “Yes! I am Dalish! And proud to be so!” And he fucking “Solas Slightly Dissaproves”. Oh man his response ticked her off - “They’ve forgotten that. Among other things.” And it a little rascist?snobbish? of her but this “bare-face/flat-ear” is telling her how the Dalish have forgotten? “Oh but you know the truth?” Really motherfucker, you’re telling me you know more than the Keepers? The only ones who have saved and salvaged whatever they could of our people? Do tell. But Mio likes politics. She’s gossiped with the other young girls of her Clan and then played Clan politics with the other Firsts and their Keepers. So she coolly apologizes. “What course would you set?” O mighty hobo.

And so they bicker with clipped tones and polite masks. But Mio also loves history. And not only the history of her people. She loves politics and knowledge and truth and seeks it with drive. And as much as it irks her, Solas possesses knowledge she does not. So she returns everyday, like clockwork, to ask questions and debate theories. And slowly they both begin to let their guards down. Solas becomes more animated and the tension in his shoulders eases, Mio lets her mask slip and lets her curiosity shine. There are things they still don’t agree on but they have become allies if not friends. She does not ask if he believes in the Creators. After Haven and Skyhold and “Inquisitor Lavellan”. She doesn’t want to know that truth yet.

She does not defer to him in most situations. She makes her own decisions and some of those decisions he doesn’t agree with. But they have grown on each other enough that when she impulsively kisses him in the Fade he kisses her back. (And she totally teased him about “Fade-tongue”) Mio’s aware that she’s relatively attractive and frankly, damn clever so she’s pretty smug about laying one on the hahren. He asks for time, she gives it. But you can’t blame a girl for stretching for a book on a high shelf when in sight of said hahren. 

Man she’s gonna be pissed when he breaks up with her. I will definitely be Wording about that when I get there.

Please ask me about my Lavellan she is smol but she is fierce and I love her.