#button lavellan | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

drakorn · 7 months ago

Text

Rewriting Veilguard Part 4 - The Veil Jumpers

Rewriting Veilguard Part 3 - The Grey Wardens

Disclaimer: I don't hate the game, I actually think it's quite great given the development hell Bioware went through in those 10 years. This is more of a hypothetical universe where there was less of that behind the scenes drama. Just a fun writing exercise.

Writing an Origin Story Mission for the Veil Jumpers

The Veil Jumpers are…interesting, the way they are presented in the game right now. At first you might assume they are Dalish, but then they are not, or at least not anymore, because they let anyone join their group. Then they all seemingly know about the true nature of the Evanuris and actively oppose them.

I have to admit, when the one faction that strictly deals with matters of the ancient elves and has the most visible Dalish influence, I expected a bit…well…more Dalish behaviour, I suppose. When I saw how Strife and Irelin responded to the Evanuris returning, I had a bit of a “…huh…” reaction. I expected at least some elves to have a crisis of faith, and Bellara contemplating how horrible this is for one or two scenes does not really count in my opinion.

So, in the Veil Jumper origin story we are about to experience, we have to tackle the following questions in a satisfying manner:

Why do so many seemingly Dalish elves allow outsiders into their midst?

Why does everyone apparently know of the Evanuris’ true nature?

Why does not a single elf have any kind of crisis of faith upon learning that their gods are evil?

At least one of these questions is going to be answered with “this doesn’t happen in the rewrite." I’ll let you guess which one it is.

So, without further ado, let us experience a potential Veil Jumper origin story!

Creating Rook

For a third time, let us press the start button. This time, we choose the Veil Jumper origin, and the little blurb text reads as follows:

“You are a Veil Jumper. This daring group explores ancient elven ruins in Arlathan Forest. Initially founded by the Dalish, they now, albeit reluctantly, accept anyone into their ranks who is brave and cunning enough to face Arlathan’s reality-warping magic. As one of their senior members, you are quite familiar with the preserved lore of Elvhenan and are now entrusted with leading an expedition into the unknown. But will that trust be warranted?”

I think the Veil Jumpers are the trickiest faction to explain the “you can play all races” angle. The Shadow Dragons consist of the oppressed and those willing to fight against tyranny, the Grey Wardens literally cannot afford to discriminate, but the Veil Jumpers? They were, quite probably, founded by the Dalish clans who lived in Arlathan Forest. And if there is one thing, one crucial trait the Dalish are known for across all previous games, is the fact that they really don’t like outsiders. Clan Lavellan was one of the exceptions to the rule.

So, for this rewrite’s version of Veil Jumper Rook, I’m going to do some world building to explain just why everyone brave and cunning enough is welcome to join them. Because all the building blocks are right there in DA lore, we just have to use them.

Let us go back to Tevinter Nights where we meet Strife and Irelin. We know they are from Clan Morlyn, Strife specifically having joined it after coming from a city elf background. We can presume that Clan Morlyn remained in Arlathan Forest to study and combat the wild magic awakening in it. Eventually, however, Clan Morlyn realised they were just too outnumbered against this raw power. So, begrudgingly, they chose to expand. At first, they picked up the straggling remnants of some of the other Dalish clans who lived in or traversed through Arlathan Forest, none of them numbering enough to survive on their own. But even that didn’t get Clan Morlyn the desired effect.

Clan Morlyn started taking in former prisoners of the Antaam (who were deforesting the place a few years ago), but that was not enough. By then, however, they slowly began to accept outside help, even share in their knowledge of the elven past. They looked at Clans Ralaferin and Lavellan as examples of what can happen if the People open themselves up more. While it is risky, it also brings rewards.

Eventually, the Dalish and the outsiders all merge into one large Clan Morlyn, of which several members form the Veil Jumpers, a force of knowledge and protection.

Now, as we know of Dalish naming customs, there is the first name, the family name, and the clan name. Rook’s Veil Jumper name is Aldwir, doesn’t sound pretty elven to me. But what if Rook’s name is their first name, then Aldwir, and then Morlyn? But how would that work for the different races being all named Aldwir? Well, here’s how we do it: they are all part of the same family. But how does that work?

Early into this expansion of Clan Morlyn, a Dalish woman, let’s call her Ashara, and a human man, let’s call him Beldon, met, fell in love, and married. Both had lost their previous spouse and found very common and loving ground. The man’s last name was Aldwir so they chose that one for the new union. Here’s how Rook’s race affects this backstory:

If Rook is an elf, they are a Dalish elf, the Morlyn mother being their biological parent from the first marriage.

If Rook is a human, they are the child of the human man who came to Clan Morlyn, again, a result of the father’s first marriage.

If Rook is a dwarf or a qunari, they are the adopted child of the human man who came to Clan Morlyn.

For the sake of this hypothetical playthrough, let us play a Dalish mage here.

So, once we finalise our Aldwir, Varric continues with his narration, pretty much summarising the Veil Jumper backstory I just proposed there. He also emphasises on how perilous and dangerous their expeditions into Arlathan Forest are. But because of their knowledge to all things Elvhenan, he thinks this is the perfect place to look for the right person for his endeavour.

The Veil Jumper Camp

We begin our story at the Veil Jumper camp, and one thing I’d like to establish pretty early on is that the camp is incredibly mobile. It’s been visually alluded to in the game, but I really would like to emphasise the use of aravels here, showcasing the Dalish origins of this faction.

The opening scene starts with the aravels sailing through the forests, until they reach and make halt at a great lake surrounded by tall trees. In the distance, we can see some amazing elvhen ruins that are surprisingly still intact after all these years.

We’re also going to be immediately made aware of the fact that Arlathan Forest has some strange stuff going on with the Veil as there are just so many floating buildings and other anomalies scattered throughout the woods, the shores of the lake featuring an extensive amount on their own.

A note on the lake itself: This is, of course, meant to be the Arlathan Crater, where the ancient Tevinter magisters waged their final battle against the elves before sinking the city into the ground, or so we are meant to believe. I’m going to announce an immediate change right now and say that we are not going to see the ruined capital city of Arlathan here. Because…reasons. Either it’s sunk into the ground, or…well, something else.

Meeting Irelin

The game starts with us stepping out of our aravel, because yeah we get one, pretty cool right? Irelin, one of the Veil Jumper leaders, wants to see us. This is our big day, today we begin our expedition, and now we actually get to hear what this expedition is all about:

The Veil Jumpers have been observing a cave on a small island in the lake for a while now. It could lead to the ruins of a part of Arlathan itself, which is still rumoured to be sunk deep beneath the waves. Our first task is to head to D’Meta’s Crossing, get our supplies, gather our team, and head off. This expedition, consisting of three people, shall be led by us, Aldwir, Bellara, one our most accomplished elven historians, and…Merrill.

NOTE: For the duration of this prologue, Rook shall be referred to as Aldwir, for the same reasons as stated in the other origins. Also, Merrill wasn’t killed in the events of DA2, allowing her to appear here now. In this World State, she romanced Hawke.

So, with Merrill, I am approaching this from a very simple perspective: If she’s alive, she’s here. If she isn’t, she just isn’t.

Our next immediate goal is to head to D’Meta’s Crossing, where we shall meet Strife and Bellara, who need to give us some additional briefing.

Exploring the Veil Jumper Camp

Before we head to D’Meta’s Crossing, Aldwir has the opportunity to do some exploration of the Veil Jumper camp. At this point, we can have the following encounters here:

We can encounter Myrion, the mage from Tevinter Nights, who escaped the Antaam along with Strife. He’s now a Veil Jumper and one of those in charge of defending the caravan during travels.

If she’s alive, which she is in this case, we can have an early meet-up with Merrill. We learn that she left Kirkwall after the events of Trespasser and wandered Thedas in the attempt to learn more about the Eluvians and the mysterious Crossroads. We can ask about Hawke, but she’ll be very quiet and sad about him, as he’s presumed dead after the events at Adamant Fortress.

NOTE: In this World State, Clan Sabrae survived and Merrill’s Eluvian was restored.

D’Meta’s Crossing

So, D’Meta’s Crossing will have a bit of a different role in this rewrite. You see, when playing DAV, I wondered how such a village could exist in Arlathan Forest, inhabited by both elves and humans and a human mayor to boot. How is this possible?

Well, thankfully, the worldbuilding we’ve done a little earlier gives us the perfect way out: D’Meta’s Crossing is the settlement Clan Morlyn and the Antaam survivors constructed for themselves after deciding to build a community together. This is where the civilised, non-fighting part that isn’t the Veil Jumpers resides.

However, I am going to change the character of the mayor. Instead of a generic slimy human guy, this rewrite’s version of the mayor is an elven man named Venalin, who is also the Keeper of Clan Morlyn. The idea here really is to show just how much the Dalish of Arlathan Forest were willing to adapt due to necessity.

Our goal in D’Meta’s Crossing is to find Strife and Bellara to fully get our little expedition going. But first, we can do some initial exploration of the settlement:

Instead of it being a regular human-built village as it aesthetically is made out to be in the game, D’Meta’s Crossing is a bit of a mix of cultures: It’s primarily Dalish, we can see how the foundations used to be Clan Morlyn. There are repurposed aravels everywhere, and shepherds are taking care of halla on the outskirts. A great vhenadahl stands in the centre, invoking memories of the city elves. But then there are also normal human-made houses, as well as several collections of tents here and there. It’s a fun place to look at! Kinda chaotic, but also strangely idyllic.

We can run into Eldrin, Davrin’s uncle figure, who is the chief halla shepherd here. As we established earlier, all elves of Arlathan Forest were absorbed into Clan Morlyn and the Veil Jumpers, so it only makes sense for him to be here. He can even mention Davrin if we talk to him and wonder how he’s doing, softly setting him up for later.

We hear whispers about the Blue Wraith, who is, of course, Fenris. He used to roam Arlathan Forest and hunt down slavers. But when the time came for the forest’s inhabitants to band together, he left.

Last but not least, we get to meet our parents, in this case our biological Dalish mother and our human stepfather. We exchange in a few pleasantries and can actually establish the family dynamic between us.

NOTE: In this World State, Fenris survived and Danarius is dead, allowing him to fully embrace the mantle of the Blue Wraith.

An Old Friend

When we reach Strife, he is currently in a meeting with Keeper Venalin, Irelin, and, as, of course, needs to happen, Varric Tethras. Strife introduces us as Aldwir, the leader of the upcoming expedition into Arlathan Crater. Here we get to really see that Strife grew up as a city elf. He just has that connection with outsiders that only the rarest Dalish elves possess. Keeper Venalin is, of course, known to us. Since we’re playing a Dalish elf here, he is extra fond and respectful towards us.

Varric, of course, knows Strife and Irelin from the Missing comics. He doesn’t know Aldwir, though. In our exchange with him, we can establish just how Dalish we are. Despite Clan Morlyn now containing non-elves, do we act as forthcoming to actual outsiders, or are we cordial and respectful?

Since Merrill is part of the Veil Jumpers in this World State, however, the two share a heartfelt reunion, and we learn that it was actually Varric who encouraged her to join up in the first place. That will immediately make him a more respected figure among the Veil Jumpers as Merrill is one of the best historians and researchers around, equal only to Bellara. This reunion carries a sombre tone, however, as Hawke is presumed dead, and both can relate to that feeling.

Speaking of Bellara, Strife tells us that she’s already gone scouting ahead and awaits us at the entrance to the cave, where we shall commence the expedition together.

When we announce or readiness to depart, we make our way to an aravel repurposed for aquatic travel and set sail across Arlathan Crater.

Arlathan Crater

As we sail across the great lake that once supposedly hosted the great city of Arlathan, we get some really atmospheric shots of Arlathan Forest and truly get a feel for how magical and ancient this place is. This origin story must really come across as a proper adventure, where we’re hunting for old relics and uncovering ancient history, almost like an Indiana Jones film.

We get to have some conversations with Strife, Irelin, Varric, and Merrill, especially with the latter two. When Merrill wonders what brought Varric here in the first place, Varric dodges the topic a little and promises to tell her later. All he can say is he’s on a search. Another quest for the remnants of the Inquisition, perhaps?

As we pass some ruins sticking out of the water, we get a short history lesson on how Tevinter sunk the city into the ground with their blood mages long ago and we can react accordingly, establishing Aldwir’s personality a little more.

This is also a good point to establish how wild the magic of Arlathan Forest is. Strife and Irelin are specifically coming with us to shield the island we’re on from collapsing back into the waters while we’re off investigating underground.

Meeting Bellara

We then arrive on a small island far out on the lake, and find Bellara’s own, smaller boat. Bellara herself has already set up a whole campsite in front of the cave, which looks more like a looming crack into the voids of the earth.

After some back and forth that shows us Bellara’s sheer excitement for what we’re about to do, it’s time to depart into the crack. Strife and Irelin remain above and Varric asks to come along as the fourth member of our little expedition. Strangely enough, however, Merrill is against it. She seems strangely erratic all of a sudden. She really doesn’t want Varric down there. But she can’t properly explain why. So, here we have our first big choice:

Do we let Varric accompany us as a fourth member to this expedition?

Or do we listen to Merrill and have him stay on the surface?

I’m choosing to play Aldwir as willing to cooperate with the outside world in honour of Clan Morlyn letting non-elves into their midst, and my stepfather being a human man, so that’s what we’re going with. Merrill seems resigned to something but whatever we try to gauge the answer from her, she won’t speak up.

The Crater Ruins

We descend into the crater and soon find ourselves traversing a great selection of underground passages. As we do so, we get to see a few strange and marvellous things:

Hardened glass from Ancient Elvhenan through which we can see into the waters of Arlathan Crater. We do, indeed, see great ruins from days long past, claimed by the millennia-old waters. Fishes and other aquatic creatures make their home here. Somewhere in the distance, we see a faint strange glow through one of the windows.

We come across some ancient murals on the walls, depicting June, the elven god of Craftsmanship. This is either a temple to him, or the house of an elven nobleman who was dedicated to him in particular. On some of the murals, we see what appear to be eluvians, with one great mirror in the centre. It’s very blink and you’ll miss it, but it’s there.

At one point, Merrill pulls Varric aside and encourages him to leave while Aldwir and Bellara aren’t listening. She warns him that there are hidden dangers down here, which she doesn’t want to expose him to. Varric states that he’s faced Kirkwall and Corypheus, he can handle an underwater ruin.

At some point, we suddenly sense a strange magical reverberation go through the ruins, and we’re attacked by a bunch of ancient guardian constructs. After defeating them, we sense a great surge of magic from deeper within the ruins and follow it, albeit cautiously.

The Great Gate

At some point, we reach a huge gate, which is secured by two complex locking mechanisms. In order to open it, we need to enter two separate rooms and solve the puzzles within. They’re not going to be too outrageously hard, but still enough of a challenge to get one thinking.

The first room features another mural of June and a fractured dragon statue. We have to magically put it back together to access the locking mechanism. The dragon’s shape is strangely reminiscent of Urthemiel, the Archdemon of the Fifth Blight, but in a non-corrupted, beautiful form.

The second room is almost entirely flooded and features a similar puzzle to the first. But this time, the statue we have to reassemble is one of June himself. At this point, it’s clear we’re in some kind of temple dedicated to the god.

Once the statues are reassembled, it almost looks like they’re facing each other across the rooms. But why are June and a dragon that looks suspiciously like Urthemiel connected? Well, those who played the game already know the lore answer, but I’m going to present these connections in a bit of a slower way than Solas expositioning it all to us.

It's safe to say that Bellara is absolutely ecstatic about all this and has the time of her life, while Merrill, whom we know to be passionate about elvhen history from DA2, is surprisingly quiet.

Suspicious Behaviour

As soon as we’re about to enter through the gate, Merrill suddenly looks as though she’s having a collapse of some sort. Tired, she sits down and closes her eyes. Varric is, understandably, worried about her, but a moment later, she’s back to normal. What was that? What is going on? At this point, our Aldwir is getting a little suspicious. First the insistence of keeping Varric out of here, now this. What is going on? Does Merrill perhaps know more about this place than us? Is there something she’s not telling us?

As Merrill starts to slowly break under the pressure, Varric steps in and defends her from our questioning. Had we not taken him along, we might have heard more here. But now, all we can do is press on and watch for anything perilous.

The Hammer of June

As we descend further into this strange Temple of June, we slowly advance to the bottom of Arlathan Crater, where that odd building with the glowing windows could be seen earlier.

We make our way through the remaining passages, fighting a few guardian constructs along the way, until we enter what appears to be some sort of inner sanctum. A large but defect eluvian decorates the back wall.

In a glowing bubble-like sphere, presumably the source of the glow, we see a hammer, and it’s the most magnificent hammer we have ever laid our eyes upon. It’s as long as a staff and infused with lyrium and, since we’re a mage and can sense it, the raw magic of the Fade.

Bellara and Merrill share a historical geek-out moment as they both immediately come to the conclusion that this must be the Hammer of June, the ancient tool the God of Craftsmanship used to build the very foundations of Arlathan, among other works of beauty. If it’s not that, then at least it must be something similar.

As a Dalish elf, we have a moment of absolute reverence that we may have found something that truly belonged to one of our gods.

You can see that I have changed something here: Unlike in the game, not everyone knows the truth about the Evanuris here. Of course, some do, some of the Southern Dalish clans know, some elves in the North know, but not everyone. This is to set up something later in the game.

Now we are presented with another choice:

Do we return to Strife and Irelin and ask for Veil Jumper backup to safely remove the hammer?

Or do we attempt to remove it by ourselves right now? The risk is greater, but oh boy, so is the reward.

Merrill encourages getting Veil Jumper back-up, as does Varric, for wow does he have experiences with ancient things exploding. Bellara, however, wants to remove and examine it right now. As a very curious Dalish elf, we agree with her and choose to try and remove it now. Something about that greatly seems to upset Merrill.

So, in order to free the hammer from this strange bubble, we would have to somehow dismantle this complex mechanism that’s somehow still intact after all those millennia.

Upon exploring, we find a lyrium-infused base. However, in order to fully access the mechanism, one requires blood magic. Since Merrill is with us, she reveals her blood mage powers to us, willing to spill her own blood to open the bubble. Bellara, however, offers to use her own magic to access the intricate system built by the ancient elves (I refuse to call it Technomancy because that just does not fit into the DA setting). Now we have another choice:

Do we let Merrill go through with the blood magic ritual?

Or do we let Bellara tinker around with the mechanism?

So, at this point, my Aldwir is a bit suspicious of Merrill’s erratic behaviour early on and chooses to trust Bellara on this one. Besides, blood magic isn’t exactly great and my Dalish knows that.

Giving our go-ahead, Bellara begins to slowly override the mechanism’s magic with her own. The base flares up, but then begins to crack. Before we can do anything else, the bubble shatters and the hammer falls onto the ground.

However, this unorthodox approach has awoken something as we hear the ground shake. Then, a gigantic construct shaped like an elven warrior appears from below. It bears June’s vallaslin, which begin to glow. This ensues a boss battle, where we have to destroy the Sentinel of June.

During the battle, the entire room slowly gets wrecked and water starts spilling in. In the end, the Sentinel of June is defeated, but we are left severely beaten and battered.

Betrayal

As we struggle to take the hammer and deliver it to the surface, the great eluvian in the back suddenly comes to life. An entire gang of elves bursts through, led by a tall elf with long white hair.

Varric is stunned, for he recognises the man, albeit faintly. “Abelas?” he asks, confused.

Yes, this scene marks the return of Abelas from DAI. Yes, he could theoretically have been stabbed in the back by Morrigan, but there is nothing to say that he couldn’t have survived that wound.

NOTE: In this World State, the Inquisitor respected the ancient ways of the Temple of Mythal and completed the rituals.

Abelas quickly corrects Varric and refers to himself as Revas. He no longer stands for sorrow but for freedom. For he is now the Dread Wolf’s lieutenant, very much committed to aiding him in his plans to restore Elvhenan. The elves we are facing are agents of Fen’Harel.

So yeah…I know the recent AMA on Reddit revealed that Solas broke off contact with his agents a while ago, but…I don’t really like this, I’m gonna be real. Why have this big set-up at the end of Trespasser only to explain it away in a Reddit post?

So, for this rewrite, the agents of Fen’harel are very much active and Abelas, now going by Revas, is their leader.

And it is here where we are hit with a very unfortunate truth: Merrill is an agent of Fen’Harel, sent specifically to infiltrate the Veil Jumpers and get first-hand intel on the recovery of ancient elven artefacts that Solas might need for his plans. And he definitely requires the Hammer of June. This was Merrill’s final mission. When she went dizzy and sleepy earlier, she was actually letting Revas know that they could come along and collect the hammer. And that’s why she didn’t want Varric coming along.

So yeah, if we choose to play the Veil Jumpers as our origin story, we get a much earlier look at Solas’ plans, as the agents of Fen’harel are our direct faction enemies.

Varric is absolutely dumbfounded by this revelation and can only ask Merrill why she would ever join the Dread Wolf, knowing what he plans to do. Merrill begins to break down, but before she can form an answer, Revas interrupts the conversation by claiming the hammer.

We are now engaged in another boss battle, this time against Revas and the agents of Fen’Harel. Had we followed through with Merrill’s blood magic ritual, we would ironically have better odds now as the Sentinel of June wouldn’t have awoken and wrecked the place earlier.

Revas absolutely wrecks us. Then, he offers Bellara and Aldwir, given our Dalish heritage, the chance to join Fen’harel right now and live to see the old world restored. But both of us are too stunned by the fact that the Dread Wolf is among us. Imagine being a Norse pagan in real life and finding out that Loki has returned and is currently planning to kickstart Ragnarök. That’s pretty much what we’re going through right now with our Aldwir.

Before we can even properly contemplate this idea, Varric interjects and chastises Revas and the other elves for wanting to doom the people they share a world with right now. This angers Revas, for he is an ancient elf and shares Solas’ notion that the Veil is a mistake. He uses the hammer to deliver an absolutely brutal blow to us and the whole facility, which begins to finally crumble beneath the weight of Arlathan Crater. The last thing we see before we get absolutely crushed by the water is Revas ordering the elves to retreat through the eluvian, including Merrill. She gives us one last incredibly heartbroken look, and follows through. Revas disappears last and the eluvian goes dark, before shattering.

Aldwir, Bellara, and Varric are swept away by the waters of Arlathan Crater. Bellara is able to cast a spell that shields her and Varric from the impact, but Aldwir is thrown in a completely different direction. We then lose our conscience.

Rescue

Aldwir is faintly drifting in the waters of Arlathan Crater, until, quite unexpectedly, a large fish picks us up and carries us to the surface. There, we are lifted into the air by Strife, who levitates us onto our aravel. The fish jumps into the air and turns back to Irelin, who lands on deck. Yeah…for those who haven’t read Tevinter Nights: Irelin is actually a shapeshifter. No idea why they didn’t include that part of her character in DAV.

Healing

We wake up at our parent’s house in D’Meta’s Crossing, where Ashara, our mother, tends to our wounds.

She informs us that Varric and the Veil Jumpers saved us from certain death in Arlathan Crater. At this stage, we can show Aldwir being a bit vulnerable should we choose to. It’s not often that we get to interact with actual parental figures in DA.

Beldon, our father, joins the conversation and asks if maybe now is the time to take a little break from the Veil Jumpers.

When we head outside, Strife, Irelin, and Varric await us. Bellara is nowhere to be seen and we are told she has already returned to Arlathan Forest, in preparation for a new expedition, as she needs to get her mind focused now.

It is here where we find out that all three already knew that the Dread Wolf has returned and seeks to restore the ancient world of Elvhenan. What we just saw down there is but a fraction of his agents. Varric still can’t believe Merrill is among them and wonders what the Dread Wolf could have possibly done to convince her.

We also learn the true reason for Varric’s visit: he needs to recruit someone in his fight against the Dread Wolf. He was of the assumption that the Veil Jumpers were the perfect place to look. And it seems that he was right, as Aldwir is standing right there.

The implication is clear: we are to leave the Veil Jumpers and join Varric on his quest. We can either protest or accept immediately. Since my Aldwir is very much devoted to the cause, we shall object at first. But then Strife and Irelin let us know that Merrill may not even have been the only agent of Fen’Harel planted amidst the Veil Jumpers. And now they would know who we are if we reveal our survival. Joining Varric is a perfect cover-up, and they would never see us coming.

We are also encouraged to change our name for the duration of this whole affair. And here we get the Veil Jumper origin of our nickname: when we were still a child, we used to play chess in the evenings, on a board our father had secured from outside. The Rook was our favourite piece. This is told to us by our father, btw, causing for a slightly embarrassing scene. So, half-heartedly, we suggest Rook as our nickname. Varric accepts. “The strongest piece on the chessboard. I like it.”

Leaving D’Meta’s Crossing

We are given a bit of time to pack our things and join Varric outside the village. There are a few things we can do here:

We can, and will, of course, give our parents a heartfelt goodbye family hug.

We can talk to Keeper Venalin and maybe risk urging him to look for anything suspicious among the people of D’Meta’s Crossing. But who knows…maybe he’s in on it? It’s certainly a choice.

We can bid Strife and Irelin goodbye before they return to the Veil Jumper camp. They wish us good luck on our journey and hope to see us again soon. We can express our frustration with losing the Hammer of June, but they don’t hold it against us. Nobody could have foreseen what happened.

Once we’re done, we join Varric and express our readiness to leave. Going by Rook from now on, we accompany our new dwarven friend into the wilds of Arlathan Forest. As we reach a small hill, we turn back to view the almost idyllic nightly image of Arlathan Crater, D’Meta’s Corssing, and the Veil Jumper camp in the woods. We turn back and follow Varric into the unknown.

And there we have it! This is my proposed Veil Jumper origin story. Of course, it’s not perfect, not even close, but it’s a start, isn’t it? Let me know what you think! Next time, we shall head to Treviso and explore an origin story for the Antivan Crows. Stay tuned!

Rewriting Veilguard Part 5 - The Antivan Crows

104 notes · View notes

bg3daydream · 9 months ago

Text

Rumors and Facts 1/3 (Solavellan Fanfiction)

Solas x Female Inquisitor Lavellan Fanfiction.

Summary: +18 (Rated explicit) Lavellan is tired of the rumors that she hears around Skyhold regarding her relationship with Solas, and with all the gossip surrounding her at the Winter Palace. It's nobody's business, and besides, she's done hiding.

There's 3 chapters, with chapters 1 and 3 containing smut, and there's fluff through the whole fic. Chapter 1 is set in Skyhold and chapters 2 and 3 are set in the Winter Palace.

Find chapter 2 and chapter 3 Masterlist of my fics / AO3

Lavellan could swear that when she walked into Solas’ rotunda that day, she had no intention of ending up in her current position, which was straddling Solas’ lap while he sat on the couch. She wasn’t very sure of how they’d ended up in that position, not that she’d complain, but still, she could promise she had not gone there for that.

She had gone to speak with Solas about Corypheus, to review all their information about him. At some point, she’d sat on the couch while Solas explained her what he knew. Then, he joined her. Then…then she wasn’t very sure how the conversation had turned into kissing.

The kiss had soon heated into something more, with Lavellan moving to straddle his lap, all thoughts of Corypheus and even where they were gone from her mind, as it always seemed to happen when Solas kissed her like he was starved and she was all he needed.

His hands on her hips caressed their way to her thighs, then to her ass, squeezing it and pushing her even closer. Lavellan moaned softly into the kiss, grounding down on him, and Solas gasped, their lips parting as he pulled back from the kiss.

“Vhenan…” He breathed. “We shouldn’t…”

This again. He always kissed her senseless, made her feel all heated and crazy with want, just to stop at the last moment. Lavellan wasn’t sure how much more her frustration could take. He never told her why, and it only added to it.

“I think we should,” she replied, barely a whisper, kissing him again and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She could feel he wanted her too, hardening under her, but still, she made herself pull back, just in case she was reading this wrong and he didn’t want it.

“Do you want to stop?”She asked quietly, leaning her forehead against his.

“Want?” Solas let out a humorless snort, his forehead nudging hers as he shook his head no.

“Then don’t.”

Lavellan rocked on his lap, purposely grinding against him. Whatever Solas was going to say, probably some variation on how they shouldn’t, turned into a moan that sounded heavenly to her ears. He kissed her again then, his hands back on her ass, holding her to him.

His lips moved from hers to her neck, kissing the underside of her jaw, then a spot under her ear, and the feeling had her rolling her hips against his again. His gasp against the skin of her neck made her shiver in delight, and she hummed as he kept kissing her sensitive skin, until his lips reached the high collar of her shirt.

Lavellan let go of Solas’ shoulders so she could unbutton the high collar, while Solas’ hands, still on her ass, held her securely to him. She began to undo the buttons, tugging the fabric loose and open, while Solas kissed her newly exposed skin as she went.

She kept going past the neck, opening the buttons down her neckline, tugging open the fabric so Solas could keep going, kissing down her cleavage. Solas placed warm, open-mouthed kisses on the exposed skin at the top of her breasts as he grasped her ass tighter.

Lavellan tilted her head back with a moan, pressing down against him, one of her hands flying to the back of his head, desperate for more.

A loud thump next to them startled them both. Solas lifted his head from her breasts, removing his hands from her butt but keeping his arms around her, holding her securely to his chest as he looked around, scanning the room for threats while Lavellan did the same, half expecting a breach to show up there somehow, spitting demons.

There was no threat, breach, or demons, though, but a big, heavy book that seemed to have fallen from the library upstairs, barely missing the couch.

“Ups, my bad,” came Dorian’s voice from upstairs. “I hope it didn’t hit anyone…but that’s the perils when you set your quarters under a library in which people are researching, right Solas? No need to bring it back, I’ll go get the book myself.”

Lavellan almost jumped from Solas’ lap, rushing to get up, remembering where they were and afraid Dorian was about to walk on them like that.

“Apologies, vhenan, I forgot myself,” Solas mumbled while he got up too, seeming a bit flustered and out of breath…Lavellan guessed she probably looked just the same.

“No, don’t apologize,” Lavellan replied. The only thing Solas could apologize for was not choosing a more private place to set his quarters.

She hurried to button up her shirt again, so Dorian didn’t walk in to see the Inquisitor with her boobs practically falling out of the garment, and Solas reached to help her. When they heard the heavy wooden door opening, they pulled away as if they were burning…considering how heated Lavellan was feeling, it wouldn’t surprise her that much if her skin could actually burn Solas’ fingers.

“Good afternoon,” Dorian greeted as he walked in. “Apologies again, the book just slipped past my fingers.”

Lavellan didn’t know if he’d gotten a peak of them from upstairs, or if he’d heard them, or if he’d just had a lucky guess, but with the way Dorian was looking at them, she knew he knew what he’d interrupted.

Lavellan wasn’t sure if she should throw the book to his face or actually thank him for reminding them where they were and how little private Solas’ rotunda actually was.

“So, how’s your research going?” Dorian asked with an arched eyebrow. “Great, I bet.”

“It’s…” Lavellan’s brain suddenly seemed unable to recall a single thing about what she and Solas had talked about before ending up on the couch. “...going.”

Dorian snorted at her coming short of words, his amusement growing. At least, he was not openly commenting on what she and Solas were doing instead of researching, though Lavellan knew better than to expect no teasing from him on that matter from then on.

“We weren’t researching, merely putting in common what we know and the information we have until now,” Solas said, more articulately than her. “I thought you were the one researching…still for nothing, I presume.”

Lavellan rolled her eyes. The last thing she needed was Solas and Dorian bickering or, as Varric and she called it, engaging in their contest to see who had the biggest staff. Did they really not see how silly they sounded when they got at it? So much for the wise mages…

“Oh, I am researching, I swear if you follow me around you’ll see my face buried only in books and not in other places.” Dorian shrugged, all innocent and serious looking despite his obvious teasing.

Solas gave him a murderous look, but the blush that spread across his cheeks and the top of his ears took away from it. It was kind of cute, but Lavellan knew that he’d be beyond mortified if she pointed it out.

“Are you still trying to find his real name?” She asked, trying to steer the conversation into serious matters.

Dorian nodded, picking up the book from the floor. “Once I know who he really is, I’ll expose him to the magisterium.”

“Okay…” Lavellan didn’t know much about Tevinter’s magisterium but she trusted Dorian knew what he was doing. “Let’s get to it, then.”

Lavellan walked into the tavern, heading to the bar. She tried to do so every couple of days or so, to ask the bartender how was morale doing. There were always people there, drinking, sometimes looking rather down, other times celebrating victory. The Iron Bull and his Chargers had taken residence there, and Lavellan waved at them.

The minstrel was singing a song about Sera. It was quite catchy, but Sera herself, who was sitting on a wooden banister, looked rather unhappy about it. Lavellan’d heard her muttering how the song was creepy, although the Inquisitor found it cute.

“Good day to you, Cabot,” Lavellan greeted the bartender. “How’s people lately?”

“Fine. Drunk. Got some complaints about you having time to bed your allies,” Cabot said and Lavellan blinked at him, feeling frozen in place. Had she heard right? “I don’t judge. Much.”

She had heard right. Lavellan gaped like a fish out of water. How and why were people saying that? Had Dorian told people about Solas and her? No, he might tease them, but he wouldn’t go around talking about them.

There were many things she wanted to say. Many things that she should say, like how it was nobody's business. Or why wouldn’t she be allowed some happiness and love, in her sparse free time? Wasn’t she doing enough, wasn’t she fighting enough, sacrificing enough. Were they going to judge her forever, no matter what?

Instead of saying anything of that, though, she heard herself saying, in a slightly panicked and high-pitched voice that didn’t seem her own, “there were no beds, only a couch.”

What, why would she say something like this?! Now the situation was even more embarrassing, if that was even possible.

Lavellan heard Sera’s laugh and she turned to see her looking so amused, that it made Lavellan feel more embarrassed and upset. Was it her who’d told people about Solas and her? How did she know? Or she didn’t know and had just wanted to joke around for her own amusement.

“On the couch!” Sera cackled, running upstairs when Lavellan rushed to her…she didn’t know why, she was probably looking even worse, running after Sera like an idiot while she kept laughing. “Did he call out ‘elven glory’? I bet he did!”

Still laughing, seeming thoroughly amused, Sera rushed into her room and tried to close the door in Lavellan’s face, but she was quick enough to get into the room too.

“Stop it!” She demanded, upset, but Sera just burst into another fit of giggles. “Is it you who’s been saying those rumors about Solas and me?”

“Rumors? You just said you did it on the couch!” Sera kept laughing and Lavellan was more and more mortified. Why’d she say something like that…and why would she run after Sera afterward. “Besides, no, I didn’t! It’s pretty obvious with how you two look at each other…ugh.”

“We don’t look at each other in any way.” Lavellan hated how childish she sounded. She thought they’d been keeping it private…

“Sure you don’t!” Sera huffed. “You look at him, like, all…Oh, Solas, come here!” She mimicked a high-pitched voice, dreamy eyes, and then smooching sounds, before pulling a face. “It’s embarrassing and disgusting, really. And he? Even more disgusting! Looking at you like he wants to eat you, ugh.”

“He doesn’t look at me like that!” Lavellan felt heat spreading across her cheeks…but maybe Sera had a point, the way Solas looked at her sometimes made her feel…things.

Sera snorted. “He does. The other day, you were sitting judgment, and he was looking at you like he wanted to kneel right there and eat you…yikes.” Sera put on a face before cackling again. “Better bang him on the couch than on the throne, though.”

Lavellan felt her face on fire, and she tried very hard not to imagine Solas kneeling between her thighs while she was on her throne. “I haven’t banged him on the couch!”

“But you just said-”

“I know what I said,” Lavellan interrupted her. “I just…I was just pissed at people talking about my love life…” Not only that, but also talking like she didn’t deserve one.

“You’re the Inquisitor.” Sera shrugged. “People’s gonna talk and gossip about you no matter what.”

“Yeah, I can see that…” Lavellan scoffed. It’d been like that since back in Haven. “I hate it anyway.”

“Why do you care?” Sera shrugged again. “Just ignore them, or better yet, scandalize them more!” Sera laughed. “But maybe Josephine will have a heart attack. She wants it all to be so proper,” she scoffed.

“Wait until she hears that the Inquisitor was shouting at the tavern that she banged the elven apostate on his couch,” Lavellan groaned, mortified, and Sera laughed again.

“But why have you not done it for real?” Sera asked and Lavellan just shrugged…if only she knew herself why Solas kept backing out. “I think you should…I mean, it’s disgusting, but I think maybe if you get Solas laid it’d fix whatever is wrong with him.”

“Nothing’s wrong with him!”

“Sure it isn’t.” Sera snorted. “And I think you need to get laid too…even if it’s with Solas.” She made a face of disgust, cackling when Lavellan huffed. “You deserve it. Every time you win a fight, he should get his face bet-”

“I really, really don’t want to keep talking about this,” Lavellan rushed to stop Sera’s lewd comments. “I’m gonna go and try to do some damage control, say I was trying to joke or something…”

“Pfff…good luck with that.”

Sera’s laugh echoed as Lavellan walked out of her room.

When Lavellan walked to Solas’ rotunda, her mood was sour. She had caught some more insinuated comments about her love life and some looks, and she felt pretty done with the day. As she went to open the door, she heard someone snickering behind her, and she turned to glare at everything and everyone, but couldn’t catch the culprit.

Solas smiled when she walked in, but it turned into a frown when he noticed her face, as if reading her mood.

“Something wrong?” He asked.

“No, not really.” She didn’t want to tell him about the rumors. She didn’t want them perhaps ruining his mood too, and maybe turning him self-conscious. The last thing she needed was Solas pulling away from her. “But I just feel done with people for today…no matter what, nothing I do is enough and it almost seems like I don’t deserve anything good of my own,” she ranted.

Solas moved closer to her and took her hand in his. “What happened, vhenan?”

Lavellan considered telling him, but it still felt too embarrassing. She shook her head with a sigh. “I’m just tired of people acting like I’m not a person, just, The Inquisitor, always ready to be used…”

Solas squeezed her hand gently, but before any of them could say anything else, the door opened, revealing Sera there, grinning as she aimed her bow at…them?

“What are you doing?!” Lavellan yelled, she was not scared, just perplexed and angrier.

Sera just laughed, losing an arrow that embedded into Solas’s desk. With a curse, Lavellan jumped to grab Sera, hearing Solas curse in that way he reserved for the rogue, but Sera was quicker, closing the door in Lavellan’s face. When she reopened it, Sera’d disappeared through any of Skyhold’s multiple, labyrinthic corridors.

“Ignore her, vhenan, don’t go running after her,” Solas said, sounding as pissed as her. Sure, the Inquisitor running after Sera yet again, in a hall full of people, would have people talking and giving Josephine a headache.

“What in Mythal’s name has gotten into her…” Lavellan wasn’t sure if she was more angry or confused.

Sera and Solas tended to argue, but it was usually childish and petty (not that Lavellan would say that to any of them and become the new target of their disagreement), but it’d never escalated into shooting at each other…this was probably another of Sera’s odd pranks, but someone should talk some safety into her.

Lavellan turned to inspect the arrow on the desk and saw that Solas was tearing a paper from it. So the prank was not only shooting arrows but also leaving notes with them. Sure, who needed Leliana’s ravens when they had Sera’s arrows.

“So, what is it?” Lavellan asked but Solas didn’t answer, eyes on the note. He made to crumple it, seeming flustered, but Lavellan’s curiosity took the best of her and she reached for the paper.

On it, there were only two words “eat her” and then the doodle of a cat…a pussycat, Sera’d say.

“Oh…” Lavellan said, feeling her cheeks heating…why had she told anything to Sera?

The door opened again, saving them from having to acknowledge the note that Solas quickly crumpled. This time, it was Varric who walked in.

“Was that Sera shooting at you two?” He asked, eyeing the arrow on the desk.

“One of her new pranks, it seems,” Lavellan sighed and Solas scoffed. He still seemed flustered, though Lavellan wasn’t sure if it was due to the note or to Sera’s arrow-shooting antics. Both, probably. “Who cares she might fail and kill one of us.”

“It could be worse.” Dorian’s voice came from upstairs and Lavellan looked up to see him leaning over the library’s banister. “She could have thrown a bottle of bees. She likes that.”

Lavellan grimaced. “Did many people see her?” She asked Varric, who nodded.

“Most of the hall, they’re talking about what’s going on with her now,” he confirmed and Lavellan let out a frustrated groan. “Wait until Josephine hears about it.”

“I’m going out, and you all are coming with me,” Lavellan was more begging than commanding. “We’re going to loudly talk about how good our ‘surprise attack defense’ drills are going. Save Josephine the trouble.”

“If you say so, Inquisitor,” Varric chuckled.

“Then, any of you is going to distract Sera while I fill her quiver with ants.”

Today had been an odd day for the Inquisitor.

Instead of researching their enemies, training, listening to reports, planning, and everything else she did on an usual day, she’d been studying Orlesian politique and learning about etiquette and manners with Josephine. She’d even practiced ballroom dancing with her.

Definitely, an odd day for Lavellan.

It was late in the evening and almost everyone had retired to their quarters by the time Lavellan walked into Solas’ rotunda.

“Vhenan.” Solas was on his desk, studying some papers, but he looked up to smile at her when she walked in. “Do you know everything about proper Orlesian etiquette?” He joked.

“Almost everything. I think Josephine’s going to test me tomorrow.” Lavellan snorted, rolling her eyes. “Do you know what else I’ve been practicing? Ballroom dancing.”

“Oh?” Solas arched an eyebrow at her.

“Yes…do you happen to know anything about ballroom dancing?”

“As a matter of fact, yes I do,” Solas replied, taking Lavellan by surprise. She’d not expected that.

“Really? Where did you learn? Have you ever been at a ball before?” Lavellan couldn’t imagine him, considering what she knew of him, the lonely mage who studied the Fade and dreamed, but who knew.

Solas seemed a bit uncomfortable at her questions and Lavellan wondered if she was being intrusive, but she couldn’t help how curious and intrigued she was.

“I’ve seen some at the Fade,” he finally answered. Lavellan supposed it made sense, but she was still a bit unsure of how the Fade and Solas dreaming worked.

“Did you ballroom danced with spirits? It sounds good.” Lavellan half-joked and Solas gave her a half-smile.

“Something like that.”

“Dance with me now, then.” Lavellan smiled, reaching to take Solas’ hand. “So I’ll have more practice and I’ll surprise Josephine tomorrow with my improved technique.

“My pleasure, vhenan.”

Solas got up and Lavellan giggled when he pulled her to him. His hand was lower on her back and he held closer than it was probably proper in Orlesian etiquette, but Lavellan was certainly now going to complain.

She smiled as she let him guide her, feeling butterflies in her belly at the way Solas looked at her while they danced without music.

Eventually, she stopped, letting go of Solas’ hand to wrap her arms around his neck instead and kiss him.

“Is this a step in orlesian ball dances?” Solas joked.

“Only if I get to dance with you,” she answered before kissing him again.

“Dancing with the elven apostate won’t be good for the Inquisitor’s reputation,” Solas said.

“I don’t care.” She didn’t, she refused to hide Solas as if this was something to be ashamed of, and everyone was talking anyway.

Lavellan kissed him again and Solas pulled her to him with his hands on her hips, holding her so tight to him that Lavellan had to almost cling to his shoulders to keep upright and stay on her feet, bending back at the intensity of his kisses. She felt like she was melting, dizzy and light-headed almost, and still she couldn’t get enough.

She took a few steps back, struggling to keep her balance, and her ass hit Solas’ desk. He pushed at her until she sat down on it, opening her legs to accommodate him between them.

Solas let go of her hips to instead hold her face, kissing her deeply, before he moved from her lips to place kisses down her jaw and neck. Lavellan was wearing one of her high-collared shirts and she rushed to unbutton it, leaving more skin free for Solas to kiss, shivering in delight at the feeling of her hot mouth on her sensitive skin.

She kept unbuttoning past her neckline, reaching her cleavage. She forced herself to open her eyes, glancing upstairs. She couldn’t hear anyone at the library and it was late, probably everyone was already gone. Solas sucked on her neck and she gasped, squeezing her thighs to his sides, her fingers moving again, unbuttoning her shirt past her chest, not stopping until it was fully open.

Solas pulled away from her neck to look down at her now open shirt, nothing under it, before leaning to hold his forehead against hers, nudging it ever so slightly. He slid a hand down her exposed skin, caressing it softly, from her neck down to her chest, his fingers brushing her nipple as he cupped her breast, making Lavellan gasp and press closer to him, kissing his lips again, while Solas’ hand kept its journey down, leaving a trail of warmth on Lavellan’s skin as he caressed her.

Solas pulled back from her lips to lower his mouth to her neck, trailing a path of kisses down the length of it, past her collarbone, down to her chest.

He kissed a spot between her breasts and then moved to kiss her nipple. His warm tongue brushed over it before he sucked it into his mouth and Lavellan let out a moan, pressing her thighs harder against him and crossing her legs behind his hips, trying to push him closer to her.

She felt Solas gasp against her breast at it, before he circled her nipple with his tongue, moving then to her other breast, kissing his way to her nipple and giving it the same treatment. Lavellan placed a hand at the back of Solas’ head as her hips rocked and writhled, trying to brush and press against him.

Solas released her nipple and trailed a path of warm, open-mouthed kisses down her body, unwrapping her legs from him so he could fall to his knees, kissing her lower belly, before pulling back to look at her. The sight of him knelt between her thighs almost made Lavellan moan.

Solas had her hands half over her naked skin, half over the waist of her trousers, and Lavellan rocked her hips again, trying to lift them to him and encourage him to keep going, if he wanted to. She really hoped he wanted to. It seemed like so, with that hunger in his eyes and that way of looking at her like he was starving for her, but it was not the first time he stopped when things got heated between them, though they’d never gone this far.

His fingers pressed harder on her warm skin and Lavellan let out a small, needy sound, her hips writhing again, desperate for more of his touch. Solas smirked at it and leaned over to kiss her belly.

He pulled back so he could unbuckle her boots, taking them off, and then he hooked his fingers on the waistband of her uniform trousers, looking at Lavellan’s face, waiting. She lifted her hips, trying to encourage him and help him take off her trousers, and so he did, sliding them down her legs along with her small clothes, leaving her completely exposed.

“Vhenan…” Solas whispered as his hands caressed up her thighs.

Her only response was a small, needy moan. Liquid heat pooled between her legs, and the heated way Solas was looking at her, like he couldn’t wait to devour her, was not helping.

Lavellan thought he was about to bury his head between her thighs, and her hips bucked towards him at the thought, but instead, Solas pulled back slightly to kiss her ankle, then up her calf, placing her leg over his shoulder.

His lips reached her thigh, placing open-mouthed kisses on it, while his hand caressed and kneaded her other thigh, opening her leg wider. He kissed her inner thigh and Lavellan called his name in a needy whisper, the ache between her legs unbearable.

Finally, he lowered his mouth to her. His tongue slidded up her wetness, slowly, and Lavellan took in a shaky breath, closing her eyes. She moaned when his tongue reached her clit, circling it, and her head tilted back. She reached a hand behind her, trying to grab onto the desk somehow so she wouldn’t fall back on it, her other hand flying to Solas’ head.

Small moans and gasps left her lips as his tongue kept pleasuring her, every nerve on her feeling like it was on fire. He stroked Solas’ scalp, gently first, but when he sucked on her clit, she couldn’t help but push his head closer to her with a moan.

His slow pace, with lazy, deep licks along her wetness and clit, alternating with his warm lips sucking her nub, was maddening and yet it felt so, so good.

Her hips kept writhing and lifting, trying to rock onto his mouth, and as they picked their pace, so did Solas, his tongue flicking her clit before sucking on it again. Lavellan moaned, and her thighs tried to close around his head, but Solas kept them open, grabbing them tight, and he moaned into her, making her cry out again.

Whimpers and moans kept falling down her lips as Solas kept going, his tongue and lips moving on her until she couldn’t take it anymore, the pleasure building up until she exploded.

Lavellan cried out, pushing Solas’ face even closer to her while her quivering thighs closed around his head again. This time Solas let them, moving one of his hands to hold her ass instead, squeezing.

His lips were wrapped around her clit, sucking on it as she climaxed, and he kept going while she spasmed and moaned, slowing down only when her grip on his head relaxed. Lavellan stroked his head, trying to catch her breath while small moans still fell down her lips.

When her thighs stopped shaking and fell open, her legs unwrapping from around him, Solas pulled back, kissing her thigh a few times before looking up at her. Lavellan smiled at him, feeling a bit out of herself still, and she caressed his face, cupping his cheek and brushing her thumb over his lips, wet with her moisture.

The intensity with which he was looking at her made her belly flutter and her heart squeeze. He seemed as out of breath as her, and Lavellan tugged at him gently until he got back onto his feet.

“Come here, ma’arlath,” she whispered to him. Holding his face, she leaned to kiss him, and Solas seemed to almost melt into her as he kissed her back, holding her tight to him.

Lavellan slid a hand down his body, reaching the hem of his shirt and pushing it under it, caressing his warm skin, and she felt Solas taking a sharp breath against her lips. She moved to kiss his neck instead and Solas let out a half-gasp, half-moan.

“Vhenan…” He whispered, shivering when Lavellan trailed a path of kisses across his neck.

When she slid her hand down towards his groin, though, Solas reached to stop it, taking her hand on his. Lavellan pulled back to look at his face, worried that something might be wrong. Solas didn’t say anything, but lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it.

“Are you okay?” Lavellan asked him quietly, and Solas nodded with a soft smile.

“You?” He asked back, his voice huskier than Lavellan was expecting.

She smiled. “I believe I need another word…I’m much, much better than okay.”

Solas’ smile turned into a smirk, and he let out a low chuckle before he leaned to kiss her again. Lavellan didn’t try to touch him again or pushed him for more, this was the further they’d gone without Solas pulling away and stopping, and she didn’t want to risk it, even if she wanted to make him feel as good as he’d made her feel. She could wait.

Solas pulled back and reached down to take her small clothes and her trousers, sliding them up her legs again, and Lavellan wiggled until her trousers were back in place. Next, he got her boots, carefully putting them back on her feet and buckling them. Lastly, he carefully buttoned up her shirt.

Once she was dressed again, Solas gave her lips a soft, brief kiss, and pulled back, holding her hands on his and helping her off the desk. Her legs felt a bit shaky and bobbly, she felt like she might just melt or perhaps float, and Lavellan had to hold to Solas to keep her balance. She didn’t miss his quick smirk at it.

Lavellan wasn’t sure of what to do or what to say now, they’d never done anything like this before…she knew she wanted to stay with Solas as long as she could, though, and have him hold her again.

“I know it’s late but do you mind if I stay here with you for a bit longer?” She asked.

Solas smiled in a way that made Lavellan’s heart skip a beat. “Of course, vhenan.”

He took a book from his desk and walked her to the couch with her hand on his, sitting down and pulling her close until Lavellan was snuggled against his chest, his arms wrapped around her and the book angled in a way so she could read it too.

NA:

I worked hard on this fic, it was out of my comfort zone, and I hope some of you can enjoy it, please check the other chapters if you missed them and thanks for taking the time to read this.

If you liked it, please let me know in a comment, and as always, reblogs are more than welcome.

I'm not usually a smut writer, it's not my thing, I'm usually a fluff, hurt/comfort person, but I don't know what Solavellan has done to me.

The desk's the one in which I kept landing after jumping from the library.

I hope they can have their happy ending, but I'll have to write it if they don't.

Excuse my English, it’s not my first language.

#solas #solas fanfiction #solas smut #solavellan #solavellan fanfiction #solavellan smut #solas x lavellan #solas x lavellan fanfiction #solas x inquisitor lavellan #solas x inquisitor lavellan fanfiction

127 notes · View notes

brothermoth · 1 month ago

Text

Hyperfixating on decades old video games like the fool I am

I played dragon age 3 when I was like 14 and I decided to play it again out of spite because I thought Veilguard got so much unfair and frankly nonsense criticism

They're very different but both good games, however I think the dialogue in Inquisition is a bit awkward. Companion banter is one of the saving graces but there's very little interaction between all of the characters. I think Veilguard did a much better job of making the companions feel as if they were befriending each other too. They chat, they hang out in each other's rooms, and you can clearly pick out the smaller friendships within the group.

I much prefer the romance arcs in Veilguard too, though I like the acknowledgement of dynamics and potential issues in Inquisition (ie. mage Inquisitor asking Cullen if he's even comfortable being with a mage). The romances in Inquisition are very rushed, which sucks because that's one of the main draws to the games. I like that Veilguard makes you work for it, and it's much easier to see Rook have actual chemistry with the characters. Part of this is the nature of the characters' role in the story which I totally understand, as Rook is more of a peer rather than a superior to the others, where the Inquisitor is elevated to basically deity status. It works with the story to make the character feel so isolated! But, I think the romances needed some more meat to them if that makes sense.

World-wise I love the more open world in Inquisition, with the dragon fights and the ability to accidentally wander into some horrible mess that has you going fuck fuck fuck and spamming buttons. I'm a slut for collections and spent probably half my time gathering rocks. Veilguard has a much more limited map and the boss fights are confined to missions rather than randomly placed.

I have a love hate relationship with the gear system in Inquisition, because while I love being able to play dolls and dress up the characters it can get very overwhelming having so much gear to manage. I absolutely love being able to customize the colors and armor appearances which I thought was lacking in Veilguard, though I did like most of the armor we got. If it was a bit more customizable I would've been in heaven. Character creation is definitely the best development between the games and it drives me insane that you can't change body type in Inquisition. Not even like ...a few options. You get pencil Lavellan, brick shithouse Cadash and Adaar, and just average build for Travelyan. I love the qunari in Veilguard but they should've had more hairstyles available. Lack of hairstyles in Inquisition is so bad. They should've added more in some random update like 9 years ago. Also really liked being able to equip an appearance and armor separate in Veilguard. Nothing pisses me off more than getting really good armor that looks like shit, where low stat armor is awesome. This is a callout of Solas in particular why are his fits ASS.

I felt spoiled in Veilguard not having to worry about my companions getting themselves killed because it drove me absolutely insane. They were, however, much less useful in fights. My Inquisition strategy is to turn Blackwall into a tank and just send his ass in while the rest of us attack from a distance. Veilguard made me do the work myself, which was fine because I love the combat in that game. It's smooth and it looks cool and I like the different weapons, but I do wish you could have a single sword as a rogue instead of two. It's a bit clunky with the bow also. The mage staff combat was also meh, I like the way it looks but it's just far more difficult than orb and dagger. I do like orb and dagger though, it's a creative change from staff only combat in other games.

The characters in both games are so so good. I think the companions are always the saving grace of dragon age because there's no constraints regarding player customization. I think the custom characters can hold back storytelling, which is probably why Hawke remains so popular. They're a more set character, with a specific background and family no matter what. The people that complain about Taash or Sera just hate autistic people I think. Taash was immature because they're like 22 surrounded by people 10+ years older. They have one of the best storylines in my opinion, and I think their friendship with Lucanis is so fucking funny. 30-something tired workaholic being besties with a much younger coworker is my favorite dynamic.

The lore connects as well as it does between all the other games. In fact, I found myself going "oh! Oh!" While I was replaying Inquisition because of little details that ended up being important! Cassandra commenting on whether or not archdemons are pets to something more powerful!! The buildup between games to the gods being main villains is so juicy and wonderful. I thought the gods made much better villains than Corypheus. Elgar'nan having his cat fight with Solas really highlights what I think is a huge theme; little people suffering for the egos of the powerful. Also he laughs just like Bo Burnham in welcome to the internet and I cackle every time.

I will agree somewhat with the criticism of Veilguard's sanitization of a lot of issues brought up in other games. I think they did implement a lot of themes! I do however understand why they didn't hone in on the darker elements. It's a different game for a different time. Everything sucks so fucking bad right now and I really appreciate the ideas of unity and hope that Veilguard is full of. I think doom and gloom has its place, and I rather enjoy a darker topic, but I think it was purposeful to hone in on a message of hope. It's just what was right for the climate nowadays. I also really appreciate the unapologetic support of queer people in Veilguard, you have to give it credit for that at least.

Anyways they're fun games with interesting lore and none of this matters that much. I had fun playing veilguard and I had fun playing Inquisition. Play Veilguard with an open mind, it really doesn't deserve the vitriol it gets.

#Dragon age #Dragon age Inquisition #I need to play dragon age 2 I was too young when it came out and I haven't played the whole game yet #dragon age the veilguard #veilguard critical

21 notes · View notes

queenaeducan · 4 months ago

Text

I don't have many ocs but I'll do the meme

#tas talks #thora cadash #sylvia hawke #bruno dragonage #enfenras dragonage

22 notes · View notes

cussundria-nerd-kneal · 8 days ago

Text

OC Layers

Thank you so much @etherealancientmusings for tagging me in this super interesting tag game! (Sorry it took me so long to get to this-- I stubbornly wanted an accurate drawing of Emmerie 😅✌️)

Herald of Andraste, Inquisitor Lavellan

Layer One: The Outside

Name: Emmerie Lavellan

Eyes Color: Hazel (Green outer ring, Gold inner ring), while she had the Anchor, her eyes where a brilliant emerald green.

Hair Style/Color: Deep wine red, part on the left side. After Haven, she had to have her hair shaven on the left side of her head to stitch up her wound, and she kept that hairstyle for years afterward.

Height: 5'5 - 165.1 cm

Clothing Style: Emmerie likes to make herself look as intimidating as possible to better her chances of people taking her seriously, so Emmerie tends to wear "Comfortable Chic Militarian" style clothing. Form fitting leggings with knee high boots, and some sort of strapped/button up shirt with coattails, but has outfits that give her upper torso more shape. After the removal of the Anchor, Emmerie tends to have her arms covered to hide the scars and hilt modification she did to her arm stump. In the comfort of her own home, she opts for more loose and soft clothing, and prefers to go barefoot.

Best Physical Feature: Depends on the viewer, tbh. She has piercing hazel eyes with the inner gold ring, the scar over her left eye, the June vallaslin that compliments her natural features, her full coral-colored lips, a very shapely ass-- depends on one's preference to what would constitute as 'best feature.'

Layer Two: The Inside

Fears: Spiders. When she was a little girl, Emmerie had two very bad interactions with the species. The first when she was three, a jumping spider jumped directly on her face and got tangled in her eyelashes. The second, when she was eight, she had a very close call with the giant species that nearly killed her. She's vehemently hated the eight legged creatures ever since.

- Her other fear... is failure. The incident at Redcliff with the Venatori mage Alexius and traveling into the future where she was not there to stop Coryhpheus traumatized her deeply, and rooted the notion that failure is not an option. She HAS to succeed. Learning that Solas planned to tear down the Veil and potentially end her world reinforced that notion, and that fear has shaped her life and her drive as the leader of the Inquisition.

Guilty Pleasure: Cliff diving... and not just into the water. If one casts the spell Barrier at just the right moment, you need not worry about breaking your bones upon impact. She developed this habit when she was a young teenager clamoring over ancient ruins, and was too tired to climb down. She's been hooked on the sensation of falling ever since.

Biggest Pet Peeve: Ignorant Arrogance. Emmerie has a plethora of smaller pet peeves, but nothing will get her claws to come out than someone who is prattling on a subject they clearly know nothing about, and are clearly making information up, and talk down to her if she tries to correct them politely.

Ambition for the Future: Before Veilguard, Emmerie had ambitions to give all elves - City and Dalish - the same civil rights as humans and dwarves, and to abolish slavery within the South. She was in close relations with Briala as they both strived for the same goal, with Emmerie helping Briala see a different perspective on the Dalish, though she never knew if she got through to the first elven noble. However, after the 6th Blight sundered all of the South, Emmerie left with Solas. Now... she has ambitions to return to her home plane, perhaps with a safer way to removing the Veil than what Solas initially planned.

Layer Three: Thoughts

First Thoughts Waking Up: I'm still alive. The 6th Blight was a harrowing ordeal for the Inquisitor. Every day during it was a grueling fight for survival, and she's lost nearly all of her loved ones during it. It's a very long time before her mind and her body did not shock her into alert wakefulness every time she hears a soft noise.

What They Think About the Most: Post Trespasser? Work, politics, agents, Solas, training, politics, more politics, elven civil rights, ect. Post Veilguard? Different ways to go about soothing the Blight, getting in and out of the Regret Prison without getting trapped, and the Veil. Tearing it down is a bad, so what to do with it? Ect, ect, ect. In essence, magical research.

What They Think About Before Bed: Solas. How happy she is that she finally gets to have this with him. Ten years without him, missing him, and now she gets to have him all to herself for possibly eternity. Last thing she sees is him, and last thing she thinks before falling asleep is what they'll do together tomorrow.

What They Think Their Best Quality Is: Her high tolerance for pain. She doesn't pride herself much on traits she can't truly perceive about herself, but if it weren't for her high capacity to weather pain, she would have died a long time ago, and would not have been able to undergo the surgery for her Spirit Blade arm. An assets that she is thankful she is able to have on her at all times.

Layer Four: What's Better?

Single or Group Dates: Single. As the Inquisitor, she would dominate the entire outing without meaning to, everywhere the group would go would draw attention, and then scandal/gossip would spread like wildfire. With single dates, she can better control the situation, and not be so intimidating for the poor soul as well. Less likely to draw a crowd when it's just the two of them.

To be Love or Respected: Respected. You can love someone, and still be treated like an incompetent child. Love can bloom from respect.

Beauty or Brains: Brains. Beauty never hurts, but dumb and pretty people drive Emmerie up a wall (she is not sorry).

Dogs or Cats: Both, both is good! Do NOT force her to chose.

Layer Five: Do You?

Lie: Yes, Emmerie can and will lie, when the situation calls for it. She tends not to, however, as that can quickly get out of control. It's better to just tell the truth MOST of the time. She is very comfortable lying, despite that.

Believe in Yourself: Ultimately, she does. She doubts herself a lot, but she perseveres despite her doubts. She'd often say: "I have no other choice but to succeed. Failure is not an option." And, she would always make things work out... until the 6th Blight.

Believe in Love: To be frank, she doesn't. Emmerie's experience with romantic love, at least, always resulted in it nearly breaking her, or it being led to some sort of betrayal.

Want Someone: Solas. Emmerie tried hard to forget Solas, to get over him, and start relationships with other people. Her best attempt was with Cullen, but she ultimately ended their 4 year relationship, because she could not let Solas go, and Cullen deserved someone that wasn't hung up on a Situationship.

Layer Six: Have You Ever?

Been on Stage: Depends on what you're wanting to classify as a 'stage.' Has she been on a theater stage? No, never. But if you want to count her entire life being the Inquisitor as one big grand stage? Then oh yes, she's been on stage more times than she can count. Nearly everyday until she steps through the Veil, she was always performing to nobles, royals, and the general public.

Done Drugs: She's dabbled here and there. She's tried all the different mushrooms and plant based drugs growing up as Dalish. She doesn't actively partake however, given how self-controlling Emmerie is. If it makes her feel out of control, or if she can actively be aware that she is not thinking straight, then she's likely not to enjoy the experience. She outright stops taking drugs after becoming Inquisitor. Even though she could benefit the stress relief, she can't afford to be inebriated.

Changed Who You Were to Fit In: Yes. Unwillingly, forcefully. Her identity is practically erased once she becomes Herald of Andraste, and then Inquisitor. She much prefers Inquisitor, as she's able to make something for herself in that role, instead of some preordained deity figure... but that does not take away the fact that she feels her identity has nearly been erased under both mantels.

Layer Seven: What's Their...

Favorite Colors: Teal

Favorite Book: Swords and Shields. She read it out of curiosity because Cassandra loved it so much, and she had too much fun reading it and talking about it with her older sister figure. Now, she treasures it, and Harding in Hightown, because they're a link to Varric.

Favorite Animal: Any type of big cat. Tigers, lions, mountain lions, cheetah, she loves them.

Favorite Game: There are a couple of games that the Dalish like to play that hold a special place in Emmerie's heart, but for more easily accessible games, she enjoys Wicked Grace and Diamondback.

Layer Eight: Age

Date of Birth: 28 Nubulis/Drakonis, 9:15 Dragon (March 28th, nearly went mad figuring this out)

How Old Will You Be: At the start of Inquisition, Emmerie is 27 years old. At Trespasser, she's 29, almost 30. By the start of Veilguard, Emmerie is 38 (the drawing above is her at 38), and by the end, when she finally reunites with Solas, she's almost 39.

Age You Lost Your Virginity: 15 years old, to one of her fellow clan members, who was a year or so older than her. It ended up being a cruel joke taking advantage of her, so Emmerie has regretted the interaction ever since, and didn't have sex again until well into her mid 20s.

Does Age Matter: After Solas, age sure as HELL does not matter to Emmerie!

Layer Nine: Finish The Sentence

I love: History, Ancient Ruins, Ancient Elven Artifacts, Dancing, Exploring, Fashion, Jewelry, Gossiping, Reading, Researching, Magic, Spirits, Sword Fighting, Sparring-- and above all else, despite all of the odds, Solas.

I feel: Restless. Emmerie was never one to sit still for long, and being in the Inquisition for 10 years, she has at a break neck speed and never really rested that entire time, then 2ish years with the Blight made sure of that, and now she and Solas have to figure out how to calm the Blight down WITHOUT dying. Otherwise, the Veil comes crashing down ("oh naauuurrr" - says Solas from the background) -- So, yeah. Waking up to things being relatively chill and relaxed as Solas and her go about their day while in the Fade makes her think the shoe is about to drop on them. Takes her YEARS to be content and not in a constant state of stress.

I hide: Pain, whether emotional or physical. Everyone depended on her and revered her, so Emmerie was always careful on who she showed her vulnerable side to. She can't afford to appear weak to her agents. As for physical, it became a habbit after the Anchor. It was always burning, always tingling, always causing her pain, and she grew tired of the constant fretting, so she kept quiet on her discomfort. This has been a bit point of contention between her and her loved ones and healers.

I miss: She misses her life as a Dalish elf. She is grateful for all the people she has met, the education she was able to obtain, see the world and travel to the different nations... but she misses the simple life of gathering, hunting, and community. In a way, she had much more freedom ten than she ever did as Inquisitor. After Veilguard, she misses her family, her friends, her agents. She misses her home greatly.

I wish: That none of this had happened to her. That she had never went to the Conclave, never stumbled upon Corypgeus, never picked up the orb... But most of all, she wished Solas hadn't run and stayed away. She truly feels if he had allowed to meet, they could have come fo an agreement and could have helped one another... and things would not have turned out the way they did.

__________________

Aaand then end! That was FUN, I loved going through all those questions! Thank you again etherealancientmusings for tagging me in this! ^~^

Now, for tags! @twsted-canvas @mikampinri @angrybubbles @damallarky @sorrowfultales @topaz-carbuncle

As always, if you do not wish to participate, there's no pressure to. 🤗 But if you do, please tag me or reblog so that I can see your OCs! ^~^

Anybody that comes across this, you're more than welcome to join and play as well! ❤️

#tag games #tumblr tag game #oc tag game #oc layers tag #dragon age #dragon age oc #inquisitor oc #inquisitor lavellan #inquisitor lavellan oc #emmerie lavellan #my oc #my art #cussundria art #mine #long post

17 notes · View notes