#conclave my beloved

[gio-goose]

THIS IS A REPOST CUZ UH I REMEBERED THAT U CAN LINK TO PREVIOUS STUFF INSTEAD OF REBLOGGINF IT (twitter habits i am so sorry this is embarassing MHAVJHAB)

anyways here is the first part

[andi-o-geyser]

Oh, these new dragon designs absolutely FUCK

[masked-and-doomed]

LIGHT DARK GOOD BAD

OH LET THEM TURN OH LET THEM FLIP

RED BLUE HOPE FREE

A PERFECT WORLD IS ON ITS WAY

[masked-and-doomed]

I should have written it here why did I write it in tags ofc I was gonna yap to high heaven.

Reblogging it so I can SS and continue my yapping-

This scene from -STRIVE-'s story's epilogue has always been so nice to me

It perfectly encapsulates both Faust and Chronus with just one sentence and feels unique to the other epilogue scenes. It feels like it was written JUST for these two.

Faust was forgiven for his sins as a serial killer (likely Doctor Baldhead. I mean, the rare fish with his bag on it is literally called "Dr. Octohead", it can't get much more obvious) and brought peace to the world with his healing. The best example of this I can think of is Leo going from calling him "the unlicensed doctor" in Faust's arcade mode, to discussing strategy in the same room as him.

As for Chronus, while he hasn't had time to do too much just yet, the seeds are already planted for his redemption. The first step was Faust choosing not to kill Chronus when they met at the end of Xrd SIGN's story. On it's own, this didn't mean much, since all Faust wanted from Chronus was answers about the Japanese colony, however, by the time we reach Faust's Revelator arcade mode, things have changed. They aren't exactly "friends", but it's clear that they're now working toward the same goal: figure out what's going on in the Japanese colony. By the end of it, however, not only si Faust actively protecting Chronus from Leo, Chronus even sits down and has tea while Faust calls Haehyun!

Also, side note, but, I find it really funny that Chronus just slides across the screen when they run away from Leo, I have no idea why they didn't just speed up his walking animation.

Back to the main topic, in my opinion, it's this tiny bit of forgiveness that pushes Chronus to do more than he has to. Sure, he could just sit in the Japanese colony all day, but he doesn't, he goes out on his own to save Asuka from Absolute Defense: Felion (btw, I am 100% certain that Chronus invented that technique and no one can convince me otherwise). This action, of course, helps bring peace to the world of GG, as Asuka was VITAL to stopping the revival of Justice in Revelator.

TL;DR: Chronus for -STRIVE-, Chronus cool, line from -STRIVE- epilogue cool

[endearing-dalliance]

Just like Piltover, Arcane's beauty hides its fundamental problems. Its ableist, antisemetic, acephobic, classist, and worst of all, it doesn't initially seem that way.

Firstly, I want to say that this post and my problem with all of this is due to the real-life references, biases, and viewpoints of the team people who created the show, made the design decisions, wrote the scripts, and continue to defend what many have pointed out are genuine problems in their stories and characters. This nothing to do with the VAs, individual animators, supporting crew, or even the characters themselves. I'm genuinely heartbroken for all those people who proudly worked on the show, did their parts beautifully, supported the viewers, and are met with a fanbase disappointed, hurt, and angry about something completely out of their control.

I wrote up a different post about Piltover vs Zaun in the original lore and how that version is such a different situation than we we got.

Despite everything they did to make the Arcane undercity/Zaun this horrible place, they keep referencing the positives of LoL Zaun (an equal and respected society) and attributing them to Arcane Zaun. All of this is straight from the AoA:

"When you look closely, Piltover and Zaun are not entirely dissimilar" (y'all literally designed them as polar opposites)

Zaun is a refuge for outcasts who don't have a home, and there is the thrilling sense that anything is possible. So pretty much the exact opposite of what Vi was trying to show Cait?

In Piltover everything is heavily regulated; Zaun is wild and more pure meritocracy. "its is not completely lawless, though there are some issues with the mob." That's certainly one way to put it.

Zaunites "make magic out of nothing. nothing is precious, everything can be recycled and be reworked to make it better" I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that people can't afford to replace things when they break. Nope. Completely plausible reasoning. No real life parallel at all.

One example of innovation is a jeweler from Zaun who makes unique gothic work. Not only did they never showed us this side of the undercity, I maintain NOBODY in Piltover is putting on a gas mask to go jewelry shopping in a slum.

"Even though they were oppressed, they can innovate in ways Topside can't. Like well let's take this freedom we have because they don't care about us, and use it to find beauty and innovation. That's where Ekko's little conclave came in." Did they forget the literal orphans he rescued from those "shady streets"? What were they free from, their parents? Cause Piltover's enforcers seem to kill a lot of those despite "not caring". This is straight from Ekko's LoL lore where he spent his days being a kid running around with the Lost Children and inventing for fun. Arcane Ekko got Misfit Toys as an intro song. The Firelights were called a gang. These are not happy, healthy kids enjoying their world. They're vigilantes taking care of other kids who have nobody else.

"Ekko emerged as one of the unlikely heroes of the show, rising to meet tough, sometimes heartwrenching challenges, and becoming a charismatic and beloved leader" His LoL lore is that of a self-educated genius described as "The Hero of Zaun's Youth". Beloved pretty firmly established already. Also charismatic...are we really not past the point where its not supposed to be a shock that a black guy can be articulate?

Sevika's arm is specifically described as "flamboyant", which was the same word used to describe Piltover's augments

This gave me the vibe that they were trying to glorify or romanticize Zaunites' suffering and environment, but on further reflection I think that's giving them way too much credit. Christian's reply below makes it pretty clear he doesn't understand his own story, and Alex's indicates they weren't even trying to tell it and are surprised by this interpretation. Because to them, the Zaunites were the bad guys all along.

(Cool cool name one team member who has personal experience with living in under an oppressive ruling class that is either ignores their suffering or actively worsens it. I'll wait.)

Also, I think its very telling that a cocreator admits to having difficulty distinguishing between a group of systemically abused people fighting for their right to live on their own terms and people breaking the law because want power and influence and money. I don't think Peaky Blinders and the French and American Revolution (among others) are really compatible stories.

"It was an impossible pipe dream if you ask me." Well then. All the nations that successfully rose up and freed themselves from their oppressive overlords were just flukes I guess. Also I'm not sure how they managed to figure out the alien invasion lack of relatability and not realize that's basically what they ended up with. Also, the fact that they keep framing it as a civil war rather than a revolutionary one is mindbogglingly out of touch.

So they were trying to comment on the two party system, but also the point wasn't to comment on the real world. They wanted to show the widening wealth gap in a "fun way", but also that's not what they were shooting for. Over and over we've heard about how the show is about duality, the struggle of Jinx and Vi and the struggle of the two cities. If they didn't want to comment on the real world, didn't know enough about politics to even realize what they were doing or what message they sent, DON'T MAKE A $250 MILLION STORY ABOUT IT. Thanks to their contributions, we now have a story about two girls brutally traumatized by their environment enveloped in a pro-oppressor, forgive your abusers theme. Well I aint forgiving any of this.

I get the idea of "show, not tell", but some things do need to be explicitly told. Oppression is objectively wrong no matter who the oppressed are should not be left up to interpretation. Its not the viewers' job to piece together that Zaun's problems are ultimately caused by Piltover, especially since what they are shown is that death of a child makes the world a better place. Not once in 18 episodes do they ever explicitly condemn Piltover. Not once did they validate Zaun's right to independence. We got "forgiveness" (forgiving your abusers? great message) and "finding your way back to each other" (which none of the duos actually did. They're all "dead"). And my personal favorite, the important lesson that asexual people do not have happy, healthy, nonplatonic relationships, so TAKE THAT JAYVIK SHIPPERS.

Since they ended Arcane with a reference to a Japanese proverb, in the spirit of duality I'm ending with a quote by someone who actually has personal experience on the subject:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."- Desmond Tutu

[vigilskeep]

I’m obsessed with bea!! so how did get badasss rogue skills as a little chantry mouse?

her aunt!!

some extra bea lore, to explain the situation: her father was guilty and distant, never wanting to actually pack her off to the chantry or a marriage like he was supposed to, because he regretted what happened to her mother when forced into the wrong life too young. this made bea’s elder half-siblings anxious; he’d married her mother because it was politically advantageous, because she came from a much more powerful family than their mother. as long as bea wasn’t vanished off like a proper youngest sibling, she felt like a threat to their inheritance

as you can imagine, that was a pretty isolating big house to grow up in. she was a little bullied by her siblings when they were younger; she downplays this as kids being kids but she did learn to pick locks because she occasionally got locked in places. when they grew out of that she stopped getting any attention at all, and that was sometimes almost worse. she wasn’t really bold enough or socially gifted enough to seek company outside of the family. she was a lonely kid and she spent a lot of time with books, in the chapel, or with the trevelyan family’s beloved horses. (all trevelyans are horse girls whether you like it or not)

so what bea looked forward to more than anything were breaks from that loneliness: the occasional visits of her aunt.

her aunt was the previous generation’s youngest trevelyan sibling handed off to the chantry, and a templar. butch lesbian, very close-cropped hair, lot of muscle, heavier frown lines than she really should have had at her age. sad-eyed and serious whenever she didn’t realise bea was looking at her. but she was always very affectionate to bea, having been in that position of the youngest just waiting to be sent away. she’s the one who used to call her bea! and a variety of increasingly nonsensical nicknames. “lady bea, lady bug,” she used to say. “my little bumble bea. what have you been up to while i was gone?”

and bea would say, “ummm. reading?”

and her aunt would shake her head. “that’s no good,” she’d say. “that’s no good at all. it’s a dangerous world out there for a little bea, and books won’t protect you. you’d better learn how to sting.”

and bea would say, “but auntie, bumblebees die when they sting, i read about it!” and her aunt would laugh and ruffle her hair and say she was too smart for her own good.

but bea did want to impress her aunt and make her smile when she came, more than anything, so she went very bravely to... someone, maybe a fencing master kept on for her elder siblings, maybe her father or a roguish friend of her father’s, maybe even to one of her elder siblings, and she insisted on being trained. (it would be interesting if it was someone older, who’d also trained her mother, who was of course good enough to be noticed by the wardens.) whoever trained her, they were very grim-faced about it, never letting slip how good she was and insisting it was only the basics of self-defence that she was struggling to reach. not a particularly kind approach, but definitely one that made her work as hard as she did, for better or worse. and she loved the work. it turned out fighting was even better than horseriding for letting her quiet her busy thoughts and just move

i did not expect this response to get as long as it did so to round off this information... it was her aunt, tired of seeing bea pushed aside and kept at home, who insisted on taking her to the conclave to finally go out into the world and see something important happen. naturally, only one of them came back

[mllemaenad]

I really do not understand why Varric is the one pursuing Solas. I mean, I understand the Doylist explanation – Varric is a beloved character who will now have featured in three separate games, as well as multiple novels and comics.

But the Watsonian explanation is not clicking. I did my homework. I sat down and read The Missing, but that did not help at all. In fact, I have now considered my Inquisitor and am completely confident that Dirthara Lavellan's plan for dealing with the Solas problem would absolutely not be "send the ageing viscount of Kirkwall on a months long wild goose chase, with the apparent end goal of ... talking Solas out of his plan".

First, I don't see why Varric would be the most likely person to be able to reach Solas. The Inquisitor herself seems the more reasonable option.

Second, Varric is viscount of Kirkwall, a city-state notorious for setting itself on fire if you take your eyes off it for five minutes. I appreciate Alistair had a few adventures in the graphic novels, and there was that time Maric got lost in the Deep Roads but ... broadly, heading up the "Stop Solas" taskforce is a whole separate responsibility that does not seem to be something you should allocate to a man who has the Worst City in Thedas to rule.

Third ... seriously, the plan is to find Solas and have a chat? That's it? It's clearly it. All through The Missing, they keep noting that they don't really know what they'll do if they actually stumble across Solas. And the backup plan, to which Harding occasionally alludes and at which Varric consistently baulks, is to stab Solas until he stops moving. That one ... also doesn't inspire much confidence.

At this point, I'm not sure what Solas's plan entails or exactly what the outcome will be. I'm not even 100% sure I'm opposed to it. I recognise that the narrative is telegraphing that this is bad but, eh, they say that about blood magic too, and my feelings on that are much more complicated.

Surely, instead of chasing Solas all over the map like a fantasy Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, we should be researching what his scheme entails, and potentially how to disrupt it. There have to be options other than this. We have a game series littered with elven scholars like Merrill, accomplished mages like Dorian or Morrigan, thoughtful rebels like Briala or Anders and ... we're ... not ... going to do anything with that?

In both Origins and Inquisition the set up established that there was a solid plan that unexpectedly failed: the Battle of Ostagar in the former and the Conclave in the latter. While I was not a fan of how many of its established plot lines Inquisition chose to just blow up instead of actually resolving, I at least understand how both scenarios led to a rag tag band who should never have been responsible for any of this saving the world. Dragon Age 2 was about the systematic failure of government in Kirkwall and, again, Hawke is forced to act as the people in power utterly refuse to do anything reasonable at all.

Here, my question is – why are we doing it like this now, before we have to?

Ah, well. Maybe it will become clear in time. I may look back on this post and laugh.

[endeavour12345]

So, I watched the (Conclave) film last weekend, and here are my thoughts on it (I had read the book beforehand, but loved the film).

Cardinal Lawrence is a good character. Every cardinal wants to be pope, and he knows the name he'd choose (John, like the beloved disciple), but at the same time he cannot escape his doubts about the Church (and its people), as he can't escape his first name (Thomas, like the apostle who doubted Jesus as he showed himself to his disciples after his resurrection).

I love how they portray the cardinals' different views of the church, and what they want for it. I can feel Lawrence's alienation, as most of the other cardinals want an Italian pope.

Now I'll talk about the end of the film and what it means to me.

Reading the book, there was a scene where Lawrence (he was called Lomeli in the book, but I'll use the film's version because this post is mostly about the film) goes to see Benitez in his room, and he notices that Benitez's razor is still in its wrapping. As a trans guy, this immediately got my brain gears turning. It had been a few days, and most men shave every day. I thought that Benitez was either trans (a trans man) or intersex. As I reached the end and read O'Malley revelation about the clinic, then Benitez's own revelation in the book, I became a bit scared of seeing how they would portray that scene in the film, because the Catholic Church is not the biggest fan (that's an euphemism) of LGBT+ people. Yet, it was done in a considerate way, and I felt happy and relieved. Hopeful, even, that Benitez felt accepted by G-d exactly as he was. I wish that was the case with the wider Church.

Another bit I liked (and not without symbolism) was the scene with the turtle. I think the turtle heading into the chapel, that Lawrence saw, picked up, and placed back in the water was a symbol of overcoming doubt and difficulty. And I liked it also because I find turtles cute 😉.

[novankenn]

The Mother Conclave

"a Mafia AU" Short

Prismeya Arc was smiling, as she peered around the edge of the door in to the room her beloved baby boy and the would be harpy shared. She was holding her scroll so the camera was catching the action, of Jaune doting on Pyrrha. Currently he was rubbing liniment into her bare back.

Athena: Oh my god! Then it's true?

Prismeya: I'm still going to put a good scare into her... for the indiscretions, but yes it appears to be true...

Athena: *squwees* The grandbabies!

Prismeya: Aren't you sort of skipping a few steps? They haven't even confessed to each other yet!

Athena: Don't care! Picture it. Adorable strawberry blond babies with blue-green eyes! I can see twins! Please let it be twins!

Prismeya: Athena?

Athena: No TRIPLETS!

Prismeya: Are you okay?

Athena: We HAVE to make sure they choose to have MANY babies! How do we convince her to challenge your record?

Prismeya: Athena?

Athena: I KNOW! When you're putting the fear into her... slip that to really get your approval... to prove her strength she needs at least go for 8 babies! Yes! *cackles insanely*

Prismeya: ????

Athena: *squwees* GRANDBABIES!!! *squwees* I have to get started knitting! Booties, hats, rompers, blankets...

Prismeya: *"accidently" hangs up* Wow! Wow!

Pyrrha: *totally oblivious about being watched* Ah! Ow!

Jaune: *also oblivious* Are you okay? Did I hurt you?

Pyrrha: *blushing* I'm just a little tender, it's okay.

Prismeya: You did good girl. I'm proud of you.

[reginarubie]

When HotD got out everyone was like Oh, Daemyra is the new, improved Jonerys with good storyline

And I didn’t give it too much attention, you know I stay mostly in my line and don’t mess around with shit that doesn’t interest me (like Jonerys) but now that I think of it…

I’ll do you all one better (and maybe I am late at the party as always, because I can’t be the only one noticing this)

Jonsa is the reversed, evolved, less entitled (both Jon and Sansa start as spoiled characters but have their entitlement beaten out of them pretty soon, and we love them for it), more duty-oriented (thank you Ned) Daemyra.

I mean all signs point in that direction and I see you 👀 GRRM pushing the Jonsa agenda further on!

And now I’ll tell you what sources I have to base my logic on (and maybe I am wrong ey, but I think it fits Jonsa more, as of now, though Martin could totally disprove me going the other way confronted to the way the show concluded knowing his ending).

So, at the beginning of the story, Robb becomes king in the North by popular demand.

In the first episode Viserys becomes heir (and later king) by popular demand.

Both Robb and Viserys inherit their position by their much beloved predecessor (Jaehaerys and Ned) and both are ‘named/appointed’ by a conclave of lords/ladies in the Riverlands ffs.

Both Viserys and Robb end up planting, with their own politics, the seeds of the shit storm that almost threatens to destroy their family after their death.

Robb marries Jeyne (Talisa in the show) instead of the Frey betrothed thus snubbing the Freys and going back on his word. He dies without an heir leaving the North in shambles when he had been a step from winning the war.

Viserys names Rhaenyra heir and then — instead of marrying the Velaryon girl — marries Alicent and has more children knowing that if they were male it could cause disrupt with the line of succession.

Both are idolised after their death — Viserys taking the name of The Peaceful thanks to the ruling and politics of his Queen and council and Robb by being sanctified by his siblings and lords even tho he was the one causing most of the problems who caused his death and almost destroyed the North — both Viserys and Robb loose their heirs.

Viserys loses his sons by Aemma

Robb dies childless and his heirs (Bran, Rickon, Sansa and Arya) are to his knowledge lost (Bran and Rickon presumed killed, Arya presumed dead and Sansa married to a Lannister).

The heir that remains them, their younger brother/sister (Daemon and Sansa) is not considered worthy of inheriting after them — Daemon for his character and Sansa because she has been married to a Lannister — so both do the same thing, they disinherit their lawful and rightful heir (yes Bran and Rickon and Arya are alive but Robb doesn’t know it; Viserys will have Aegon, Aemond, Daeron and Helaena but he doesn’t know nor care) to name another as heir someone who, by law, should pass after the rightful heir.

It seems to me like some pretty big parallels here.

Daemon = Sansa

Daemon and Sansa are the second born children of a couple who love each other and apparently their mother’ fav.

And you know what’s sick? Daemon and Sansa both supported their brother’ right to any extent.

Daemon readied men-at-arms and sworn swords to defend Viserys’ claim when people rumoured Corlys wanted to assemble a fleet to defend Laenor’ right after Rhaenys.

Sansa bled for the northern independence when in KL and then later — and this is only show for now — Sansa gathered the northern army and put KL under siege to defend her brother. Sansa is the one who decided to rally the lords of the North behind House Stark once again (Jon was done fighting) and she was the one to offer Bran the role of Lord of WF when he returned from Beyond the Wall.

Despite being loyal to their family in their own way, both Daemon and Sansa are disinherited by their king in favor of someone they love but that by law should have come after them.

By succession tradition and law the brother of a king becomes before the daughter of a king — unless women can inherit the throne which was not the case in Westeros at the time — so Daemon came before Rhaenyra in the line of succession, yet Viserys disinherited him to name Rhaenyra heir.

By law and tradition of succession Sansa as the trueborn eldest surviving daughter of Ned and Cat in the evenience of Robb dying without heirs (Bran and Rickon are both presumed dead) comes before Jon, the base born son of Ned Stark. (Jon himself says so “by law Winterfell belongs to my sister, Sansa”/“Winterfell belongs to my sister, Sansa”, even though Sansa is a Lannister, a murderess and apparently dissolved in thin air) yet Robb with his will disinherit Sansa to name Jon heir.

Everyone expected Daemon/Sansa to be angry at Jon/Rhaenyra because of it — Rhaenyra herself and the viewer when Jon was named KitN — instead what happened?

Daemon became Rhaenyra’ stauncher supporter and Sansa became Jon’s. Daemon supported Rhaenyra and Sansa supported Jon. When people expected Daemon to lash out when the terms of surrender were issued, he obeyed Rhaenyra order without issue; when the northern lords unsatisfied with Jon’ stay in Dragonstone offered the crown to Sansa, Sansa refused and defended Jon’s claim. All she did in s8 was to defend Jon’s claim to the North and the Realm.

And you know what else is incredible?

Daemon is suspected to have “caused” his first wife’ death and his second wife died in childbirth. Rhea Royce died after a fall from horseback — in the show Daemon kills her, but in the book she dies of the wounds later on, as the hit to the head might have caused her delayed death. Still Daemon is suspected to have caused it — the horse to unseat Rhea — and tried to inherit his wife’ keep.

Sansa “caused” her first betrothed, Joffrey’ death, by telling the truth to Olenna and Margaery which spurned them to have him killed at his own wedding feast. Sansa escapes and her first husband is almost killed for the crime — almost making her a widow.

Both Daemon and Sansa are more skilled than their counterpart in their competence. Daemon is the most skilled warrior of his time, Sansa has learned politics from the best and worst in it.

Daemon finds himself at odds with his brother with the war of the stepstones and Sansa finds herself at odds with her brother whilst in KL as she has to navigate and survive the southern court and Joffrey.

Yet both return to their brother in the end, Sansa by remaining true to her Stark identity (“I am not your daughter, I am the Lord Eddard and lady Catelyn’s daughter. The blood of Winterfell”/ “what if it is truth he wants and justice for his lady?”) and Daemon by winning and giving the crown to his brother.

Sansa wins the battle of bastards through her alliance with the Knights of the Vale and lets her brother take the crown.

Sansa and Daemon are both described as beautiful, charming and dashing. But Daemon is mercurial and Sansa is called a witch for her apparent part in Joffrey’ death.

Both Daemon and Sansa are advisors in their capacity to their brother/king though they have to clamor to be recognised any degree of validity. Sansa has to fight to gain the right to be Jon’s advisor even if he chooses Davos as chief advisor as Viserys chose Otto.

Daemon’s children are the one who inherit the Iron throne after the DotD. Sansa’s children will inherit WF and the North after asoiaf is done.

Jon = Rhaenyra

Jon and Rhaenyra are the odd ones out of this.

Rhaenyra knew her place, she prayed for a brother to inherit the Iron throne just like Jon would have died to defend Robb or any of his siblings (and in the book he does die for fakeArya). But both are ambitious.

Rhaenyra accepts she will be queen and makes of it her identity; Jon dreamed of become Lord of Winterfell before he knew what that entailed.

Both Rhaenyra and Jon expect that their orders — despite their intentions — will be followed, even when they go against hundreds of years of tradition. Rhaenyra as Queen and Jon believes the NW will follow to war against the Boltons when the NW has been neutral for thousand of years. And both pay the ultimate price for it. Death.

Jon is killed by his sworn brothers, Rhaenyra is killed by her brother’s dragon.

Both Rhaenyra and Jon have the temper of their family but they control it for the most part. It takes really big things for it to be spiked. Luke’s death for example.

Both Rhaenyra and Jon are intertwined with fake relationships. Both cause the death of their first lover/spouse.

Rhaenyra marries Laenor to keep the Velaryon in her corner, Laenor who is a gay man — in the book she is much less understanding of it btw — and their relationship is fake and her children aren’t his. In the show she loves him platonically, though I don’t remember that being the case in the book. In the end, whether his death is faked or not, Rhaenyra causes that. Either by having him killed — as they say in the book — or by having him fake his death to marry Daemon to strengthen her claim.

Jon has a “fake” relationship with Ygritte (you know what I think of her in the book) to make sure his undercover mission is accomplished. In the end Jon’ mission is accomplished and even though he “fell in love with her” he still left her and the war between them ended up claiming her life.

After the death of the heir — Balon and Bran and Rickon — Rhaenyra and Jon are both raised to the role of heir by their king with a decree that disinherited/snubbed the previous law-ful heir (Sansa/Daemon).

At the same time, Viserys/Robb have other heirs. Viserys marries and has sons (who have sons), Rickon and Bran are both alive though presumed dead who could end up threatening Jon’s claim once the will becomes active after Jon’ return from the dead.

They have sexual tension with the snubbed heir and value them as advisors though they don’t always agree with their politics.

Jon feels that Sansa’ opinion demeans him before the Lords — tho he names her regent — and Rhaenyra distrust Daemon not to declare war without her say-so.

And yet both Jon and Rhaenyra gain the ripe of Sansa and Daemon’ loyalty.

Even if Jon and Sansa don’t always see eye to eye, Sansa loyalty to Jon is what gets him out of KL alive, without Daemon’ skills as warrior Rhaenyra’ war would have ended long before it started.

Sansa and Daemon both are against Jon and Rhaenyra to surrender their crown, and work to keep the other half in their role.

And you know what? There’s more.

Gifts giving — belonging to a House

Daemon and Sansa both have something that defines their belonging to House Stark.

Sansa’s wolf-bit and Daemon’ sword — which, do I have to go down the sexual metaphor about Sansa’ bosom and Daemon’ sword? — and both whilst speaking of heirs/reading to war to defend the claim to the crown gift the other half something that signifies their belonging to the House as well.

Rhaenyra’ necklace and Jon’s cloak. Both items which Rhaenyra and Jon puts on and basically keeps on for ever — like it was a fucking joke how long Jon kept the cloak on even on Dragonstone —also Rhaenyra necklace resembles a chain (chain of command) and same with Jon’s cloak stripes (which resemble a chain of command).

Rhaenyra confronts Daemon about her being named heir — and perhaps we’ll have something similar in the books for Jon and Sansa. Tho we have something akin to that when Arya confronts Sansa about Jon having the crown and Sansa liking the attention.

Yet both Sansa and Daemon stand strong in their loyalty to Jon above anyone else.

Protecting — destroying some of the earliest and greatest threats the other claim

Vaemond is one of the earliest threats to Rhaenyra rule, just as we know LF has been playing against Jon all along, yet both Sansa and Daemon defend the other half by killing the offender.

Arya and Bran serve as the Viserys in the comparison, because it’s Sansa who passes the sentence (as Arya herself points out) the same way as Daemon is the one who decided to kill Vaemond instead of letting Viserys order of having his tongue removed to be carried out.

Thus removing the earliest threat to the other one’.

Also, both Daemon and Sansa destroyed indirectly or directly another threat to Jon and Rhaenyra by killing Aemond and Daenerys who had the attitude (both of them) of destroying the Realm to take the Iron throne if needed. Aemond would not have taken Aegon’ claim from him but if Aegon had died of his wounds before Rhaenyra was executed, with Maelor and Jaehaerys dead Aemond stood the greatest threat to Rhaenyra. Daemon killed Aemond and Sansa plotted to have the truth about Daenerys uncovered and indirectly causing her death through Jon.

Supporting the other as ruler

Daemon becomes Rhaenyra supporter just as Sansa becomes Jon’s. Even as snubbed heirs they love the new heir and when the time comes they are there, by their side, defending them.

Also, never forget that Sansa/Daemon are always on the side of the consort when it comes to Jon/Rhaenyra whilst that is not true for other characters, who are always afforded place of importance, but not that of the consort.

When Corlys comments on Viserys lack of action in the Stepstones Daemon replies that he can speak of his brother how he well wishes but that is not the truth for others. Similarly Sansa defends Jon (“he’s our king, he’s doing what he thinks best”) even tho she shares the lords preoccupations.

Despite not always seeing eye to eye with Daemon, he is a trusted advisor to Rhaenyra who listens to him. In the same way, despite feeling the need of Sansa’ validation, Sansa is his trusted advisor to the point Jon entrusts the whole of the North to her.

So, yeah, I raise you the Daemyra is the Targaryen version of Jonsa, with Daemon and Rhaenyra being worse people than Jon and Sansa are combined. By ey, there’s a dark streak to the Starks not to be underestimated.

[inchidentally]

Crown Prince Lando AU idea based entirely on his appearance today in Italy for his trophy and Lawrence writing about how every team is courting Lando

okay so I wrote this rly fast on the work laptop and you have to just ignore the weird interpretations of how royalty and inheritance etc works. and completely fucking with how things went down in F1 history. it's an absolute mess and possibly unreadable but I literally couldn't stop myself.

if you're a fic author then pleaaaaase have a look and see if you can take this and actually make anything out of it even if it needs a lot of changes.

Crown Prince Lando has been fought over by nations since he was seventeen years old. His parents had retired from royal duties to live quietly in the countryside but a series of deaths and lack of heirs resulted in Lando living most of his life being prepared for ascension to the throne. His parents did as good a job as they could to keep Lando humble and "normal" while having to live a kind of sequestered monastic existence.

As he grew so did his future subjects' love and adoration of him. They loved his humor and his cheeky treatment of the solemn institution surrounding him. As he grew into being a beauty the country took endless pride in him and watched his exploits as a touring royal closely.

Fernando Alonso was the first to pledge his troth to Prince Lando because he could see the promise in Lando of one day becoming a truly beloved ruler - a quality he himself had found wanting in his own slow gathering of power. However he was persuaded early on by his advisers and Lando's parents to withdraw due to his 'already advanced age'. Lando's debut at court was postponed by his parents to prevent any other establishment attempting to lay their claim before Lando felt comfortable and ready.

The powerful Sainz Vázquez de Castro family swooped in next and arranged a series of public meetings between Prince Lando and their wicked (meaning "experienced") and devastatingly handsome son Carlos Jr. His charisma and dark eyes charmed Prince Lando immediately and a wedding date was set for the following year. Lando's debut at court was hastily arranged to happen mere days prior. Probably should insert something here about Lando being made to live this period of life in a guarded tower and attendants being present whenever he was with Carlos because chastity being required for marriage. And the only way to keep Carlos' dick out of Lando was the threat of a priest's guard cutting it off. But lbr they manage to sneak around well enough to do everything else.

Unfortunately the royal courts of Europe were shaken by a quick series of upsets: Sovereign Prince Lorenzo of Monaco abdicated the throne in search of a quieter life - his heart had never been in it since his father, the former sovereign, had become ill and abdicated. This left Lorenzo's unwed brother Charles to be hastily crowned Prince Regent at the tender age of 22 (and unable to become sovereign himself due to being a second son, again my weird rules). As a result Charles suffered the loss of his long-time suitor, nobleman Sebastian Vettel, who couldn't bear the thought of being sovereign let alone of a land that wasn't even his own.

Enter the Sainz Vázquez de Castro elders siezing the opportunity and negotiating a deal with Monaco in private conclave with the Papal State (??) to wed their son Carlos to the Prince Regent. Carlos is ashamed at giving in to the temptation… to not just be King Consort but to be Sovereign Prince, to rule over the vast wealth of Monaco and by extension the Holy See, to have the coveted beauty Charles in his bed. So he agrees to be spirited away to Monaco and the ugly business of dissolving his betrothal to Lando is left to members of church and state.

But Carlos experiences a complete conversion when Charles is on his knees in the cathedral - looking up at him with docile green eyes as Carlos' fingertips touch the warm red roses of Charles' lips as he holds the chalice of holy wine for Charles to drink. Carlos was almost hard beneath the ermine and velvet robes in a house of God when the crown was on his head and Charles next to him - and slightly below - smiling up at him with filaments of gold hanging from pendants on his chaplet, framing his achingly beautiful face. If Carlos feels his immense happiness and prosperity darken whenever he sees Lando's picture or encounters him at one of the courts then no one need know.

Prince Lando is of course too heartbroken to consider other suitors and his court is demoralized by their own failure to seal his future. Only brash American tycoon Zak Brown keeps the faith that Lando's appeal as he grows will land him a better match than any Euro old money looking to aggrandize themselves and take advantage of Lando's youth to displace his rightful future as King.

A stroke of genius is the arrival of commoner Daniel Ricciardo whose rise up the ranks of society has hit more than a few speedbumps over the years. He's in the perfect position to act as placeholder and a sort of 'playmate' for the young Prince Regent. Daniel does the job of squiring Lando around and cheering him up beautifully. So beautifully that Daniel begins to see in his charge's wide eyes a future that he had only ever let himself dream of before. He begins to publicly push the boundaries of propriety with Lando like holding hands, embracing him from behind, dancing scandalously close together. The dam begins to break when Daniel opens a public social media account and begins posting adoring and fairly intimate videos of Lando that prove to be a massive hit with the public… and that fan rumours of the Crown Prince breaking with tradition and marrying a commoner.

Exeunt Daniel Ricciardo.

(Yes I know this isn't remotely his role but go with it) Newly appointed Lord Chancellor Andrea Stella proposes that only a candidate the same age as Lando - or ideally younger - should be considered to ensure that his claim to the throne be safeguarded. Because Lando hasn't spent the intervening years doing nothing but swooning over a succession of suitors, he's perfected his role and learned his court and won over the hearts of his people. He's effected harmonious relations with rival kingdoms seemingly effortlessly. The royal coffers have never been so full and trade is booming. Lando and his court all know that Lando could easily rule alone. But the fire that the now King of Monaco had lit inside him refused to go out. It begged to be fueled and to burn brighter.

Then one day Andrea hears a murmur of controversy happening in the middling levels of the aristocracy. The scoundrel Alonso had construed a match between one Oscar Piastri and Frenchman Esteban Ocon as a means of effecting his (Alonso's) escape and aggrandizing the Alpine dynasty. There were further details about a drama between Ocon and countryman Pierre Gasley but all that interested Andrea was that young Piastri had ordered a direct pronouncement be made against the match and any further association with Alpine. He had already rejected the opportunity of being presented at court and clearly had plans for his own future that would not depend on the protection or condescension of any other power but his own.

Imagine Andrea's surprise when Zak Brown announces at the next privy council meeting that preliminary arrangements had been made with young Piastri to be the Crown Prince's companion for the following season. A pretense at Piastri having an interest in royal politics was to be given to everyone, including Piastri himself. But Andrea and Zak shared a knowing look across the mote-stained light straining through the high windows of the old chamber. The Crown Prince barely even hears the details as he wearily signs off on the public notice along with the other endless papers at his elbow. He doesn't even dream that a wildcard is being played for his future happiness.

The eldest son of the prominent and noble Piastri family from Tuscany is suitably beautiful with the characteristic straight brow, fine pale features and soulful deep amber eyes of his people. He is tall and still growing with an effortless regal bearing despite his youth. The first few meetings between him and the Crown Prince are cordial and with a promising warmth. Andrea is encouraged by the pink that rises high on Piastri's pale cheeks whenever he shares smiles with Lando but he's even more encouraged by the steady intensity of his gaze when Lando isn't looking.

For the first few months, Piastri remains a faithful but distant part of Lando's royal retinue. They interact often enough and clearly like each other. But it also comes at a time of unrest in Lando's kingdom as a result of the ascension of an ambitious and possibly ruthless young King in the Netherlands. Lando proposes a visit to Castle Toro Rosso and asks Piastri to accompany them due to the Italian affiliation with the Dutch royal house. Something about Piastri's calm and quiet confidence helps stabilize Lando and he needs all the support he can get.

The visit is strained and the Dutch court is intimidating - and rather grating - in it's brash opulence and show of dominance. The young King is more of a mystery, seeming cold and aloof but flashing a wry smile at Lando's well-known charm and humor. The tide turns entirely in Lando's favor at the tourney. Lando has been barred from jousting following his formal presentation as crown prince due to some finicky archaic British law and it eats away at it him to have to sit and watch while the Dutch King was allowed to ride for himself. More than once Lando moodily pushes at the circlet that keeps slipping over his curls and can feel himself being increasingly bratty and short with his attendants.

Piastri was already reknowned for his prowess in jousting and was automatically given the seat to represent the Crown Prince. When he appeared mounted on a blood bay charger that gleamed almost golden and black in the hot sun (MCL colors kinda??) Lando has A Moment when Piastri tips his visor open and addresses him formally and those intense brown eyes behind the cold armor make him look so much older. Lando causes a stir when he descends from his seat and gives Piastri his favor in the form of a ribbon from one of his full sleeves. They have one of Those Looks between each other before Piastri turns to take his place. He bests every one of his opponents and isn't unseated once.

Then the Dutch King Max Emilian appears and strangely shuns any pageantry associated with a knight's entry, let alone a king's. His Lady sits in his place flanked by both her own and the King's powerful families and court. Lando finds himself suddenly flooded with fear because what would happen if Oscar lost? What would happen if Oscar won? When had he become 'Oscah' and not just Piastri?

The collision unseats both King Max Emilian and Oscar and they draw swords. The fight is precise and clinical and breathtaking. Perhaps it was because of having more to lose or perhaps it was the press of the Crown Prince's lips against the silk ribbon he gave as tribute but Oscar suddenly anticipates a step too far ahead for the young King and a unified gasp is heard when Max Emilian's body hits the dirt. It's instinct that has Oscar's sword held at the King's throat. But when Max Emilian throws his visor back his bloodied mouth is stretched in a wide toothy grin. He barks out a series of high cackles and ceremonially begs mercy. Oscar breathes out in a rush and claps his armored hand around the King's and helps him to his feet. Max Emilian flicks Oscar's visor open for him and lifts his hand declaring Oscar's well-earned victory. Lando forgets himself and leaps up yelling and cheering as his court smiles ruefully over at the stiff, formal "celebrations" coming from the stands opposite.

Holy god I've written way more than I meant to but let's have it finish off with Lando whispering to gain access to the tent where Oscar is undressing and cleaning his wounds. Perhaps his armor has been removed down to the hips the way driver's drop their race suits down after a race. Oscar startles when he sees Lando alone with him and rushes to kneel to him. Maybe Lando puts his hand under Oscar's chin and tells him to rise up and oh maybe seeing Oscar sweaty and dirtied with a cut to one cheek and a few bruises on his body makes him forget himself. Maybe he surges up and kisses Oscar and maybe Oscar is shocked but also feels exactly the same way and kisses him right back. Then probably Oscar decides to make his boldest move yet and says that if Lando doesn't want him then he'll quietly go away - but if Lando does want him then Oscar would welcome the title King Consort, would be proud of it in fact to be in service a king like Lando one day.

Then Lando either passes out because he's been in blue ball hell since Carlos and years worth of arousal hit him all at once or maybe he just whimpers a little and starts wondering how fast a royal wedding can get planned so he can Get That Dick ASAP.

Fin.

[gio-goose]

AU doodles bc I cannot make anything complete rn anywaayyyyssss skitters away into the fog

[fangface-xena]

dnd5e!yellowjackets HC

Since the last post about this ended up getting over like 5 notes I decided to actually flesh this out somewhat properly. To the incredibly niche group of people who will actually be interested in this, please let me know your thoughts!

Shauna: Soulknife Rogue + Path of Wild Magic Barbarian multiclass

I feel like there could be an argument for Bard with her writing but I feel like the whole brooding, tortured personality really lends itself to the rogue stereotype. Plus, how could we forget Mrs. ‘it’s just like riding a really gross fucked-up bike’... She's 100% proficient with finesse blade weapons. Charisma dumpstat queen! I also know in my heart of hearts she HAS to have some levels in Barbarian after the whole Lottie thing. No spoilers but "As folk of deep feeling, barbarians are especially susceptible to these wild influences, with some barbarians being transformed by the magic." (Barbarian: Path of Wild Magic, TCoE) tell me this isn't literally about her and Bard!Jackie's influence?

Jackie: College of Glamour Bard

College of Glamour has Jackie written ALL over it. Jackie who got picked to be captain because of her influence? Bet. Every single ability in this class sounds like it was written with this bitch in mind. 'weave a song of fey magic that imbues your allies with vigor and speed', 'charge your performance with seductive, fey magic', 'makes others want to serve you', 'makes you look more lovely and fierce', like bro come on. She'd be out on a quest serving face and giving little speeches like she did for Allie, throwing Bardic Inspirations left right and centre (especially at Shauna).

Lottie: Circle of the Shepherd Druid + Order Domain Cleric multiclass

I feel like this is such a clear cut one that I barely need to explain myself. I definitely think Lottie's a Druid as her main class, with some levels in Cleric and not the other way around. I don't think she set out to be a messiah of the wilderness, she was literally just a girl listening to the trees and kind of fell into it as the others started following her lead. Lottie's connection to the Wilderness and her willingness to lead the other girls towards its worshipping (Laura Lee style lmao) is so Shepherd coded lmfao. I was on the fence between Order, Tempest and Nature (basic and boring) for the Cleric subclass but I truly think Lottie's worshipping of the Wilderness comes from a place of following what she perceives as the natural order of things i.e. 'he doesn't belong to her', letting the cards pick who Snackie 2.0 is, 'It wants us to'... need I go on?

Natalie: Hunter Conclave Ranger if we're being basic / Gloom Stalker (Doom Stalker!) Ranger if we're being spicy

Okay so I am still undecided on this one and thoughts/opinions are so welcome. So, Natalie is definitely a Ranger, not just for the whole gun thing but because she's the literal embodiment of survival, even before they ever got stranded. Similarly to Bard!Jackie, I truly believe all ranger abilities apply so well to Natalie's character, especially if you think about her "outcast" status in school. Hunter is the most obvious subclass choice because she is quite literally the group's main hunter, but I feel like Gloom Stalker fits her present day character so well.

Taissa: Fiend Patron (?) Warlock + College of Eloquence Bard multiclass

Tai might be a lawyer-state senator girlboss, but she is haunted by a strange alter ego and a dude with no eyes FIRST! I definitely think her weird fugue self is her patron, but I'm not sure how that would translate into an actual subclass so I'll just stick with Fiend for now (Dirt Fiend!Tai my beloved). Besides being a grade A dirt eater, she's also got at least 3 levels in Bard for the College of Eloquence subclass since that's like textbook lawyer/politician. Unlike Natalie, I think her '96 self fits the multiclass aspect well and it definitely would still apply in school and then in the Wilderness.

Van: Oath of Devotion Paladin

Now, when I wrote this down in my notes app I did have it written as 'Paladin (OATH! OF! DEVOTION!!!!)' for a reason. This bitch is a ride or die (or get mauled by wolves) to her core. There are so many reasons why Paladin fits Van so well! Firstly, I think we can easily draw parallels with her goalkeeper position in football (fuck saying soccer). Her buying into Lottie's Wilderness cult stuff also heavily matches the Paladin schtick, but I think we can trace it back all the way to her relationship with Tai. Even before she embraces the Wilderness worshipping, she's so incredibly devoted to Tai that she risks dying just to go support her girlfriend in her mission to find help.

Misty: School of Illusion Wizard

Misty was a tricky one to figure out but I definitely thought it had to be a spell casting class. Despite her leg-chopping, cliff-pushing, stew-spiking antics, I don't think Misty would fit a melee or a more physical class very well. Out of all the casters, I think Wizard suits Misty the most because I do think everything Misty has, she's had to build herself. She had to learn how to adapt, whether that be socially (autistic queen) or practically (she'll learn any skill just to be useful an needed), in order to fit in in a way that the other girls just do. This aligns incredibly well with how Wizards don't have innate magical abilities, but do have an incredibly large pool of knowledge that they can gather. I was actually split between School of Enchantment or Illusion for the longest time, because I can see both of them applying to Misty to some degree. In the end, I went with school of Illusion because I don't think she is necessarily as charming and the Enchantment subclass suggests, given how off-putting she comes across even in the present timeline and to people who didn't know her weird, psycho little self in school. Instead, I feel like her ability to manipulate people comes from her fabricating situations and bending reality to match her wants and needs. Destroying the black-box, getting a nursing degree, being a goddamn citizen detective, are all ways that Misty has found to create the illusion that she's useful, needed, innocent, normal.

Some of these are way longer than others (also it's like 3 am and I have had my bodyweight in sangria tonight so idek if they're coherent) but I hope it's still an interesting read. I'm definitely up for discussing anything a bit further with anyone who actually cares enough to read this lmfao.

I've also decided to spend my Christmas holiday designing custom, Yellowjackets inspired character sheets for each of these bitches despite knowing fuck all about graphic design software so I might post those eventually.

[masked-and-doomed]

I wanna clarify that the darlings talking to me aren't like actually talking to me in my brain. I'm playing pretend but also this play of pretend is still considerably ill now that I think about it. I don't think most people get their war criminal blorbos to talk them through the shit.

[kalahannikolai]

This is a bit overdue for posting on Tumblr, but behold! The Superior Soundwave! Alongside him my designs for Laserbeak, Rumble & Frenzy, and Ravage. Soundwave's alt mode is a cybertronian aircraft, and his assets are very musically based. He is a clever engineer and a brilliant communications officer; Megatron's most stalwart supporter, Soundwave was his second-in-command for the Decepticon rebellion.

Lore and backstory under the cut!

In the days of Sentinel's rule, when his conclave and the overarching Senate controlled the fate of every cybertronian, Soundwave's own origins were notably mundane. Originally a minor clerk in a communications facility, the being that would one day be called Soundwave had been one of many bots whose forms were minutely controlled. He was built to man a communications array alongside many other such limited bots. But while some found either joy or simple indifference to their work, Soundwave dreamt of more.

He would spend his free time perusing the streets of Bitrex. It was among Cybertron's smaller cities, but he enjoyed the calm and simplicity that it brought. It was here that Soundwave met the likes of Jazz—introducing himself as "Sounder" at first, unwilling to give Jazz a designation—and the pair quickly caught on like a wildfire and became good friends. Jazz's free spirit and unwillingness to tie himself down inspired Soundwave, who envied his freedom and admired his dedication to it. The two spent much of Soundwave's free time together. In this time, they would culminate a shared enjoyment of music and even begin a musical career together.

A journey that would suddenly gain great traction for them both, as the people of Bitrex came to greatly enjoy their performances.

Before too long, Jazz and Soundwave's musical venture would become almost too much. While Jazz had little responsibilities to slow him down, Soundwave struggled regularly to make time for their music and his work at the communications array. He would even suffer poor performance reports and harsh criticisms from his superiors. But one day, as a superior shouted with reckless abandon in Soundwave's then unmasked face, the con would snap and bring the so-called "superior" to his knees. Soundwave turned in his resignation then and there, and left without ever looking back.

To his luck, none of the officials that oversaw his work knew of his personal life at all. So little care for the lives of their workers allowed him to essentially disappear. To avoid being found and dragged back, Soundwave not only visored and masked his face but commissioned drastic alterations to his form. A normally illegal procedure under Sentinel Prime's rule, but the city of Bitrex was not one normally cared about by his Senate nor his Conclave. Furthermore, so beloved by its citizens was Soundwave that the augmentors of Bitrex gladly helped one half of their favorite musical duo realize his true potential.

Before long, Soundwave would find companions in the form of four smaller beings; Laserbeak, Ravage, and the brothers Rumble & Frenzy. Pseudo-mini-con beings, the four cassettes had been deemed obsolete and set to be scrapped and salvaged. Soundwave worked with some of the shadier types of Bitrex to get them rescued, and the four gladly became his closests companions. This newfound friendship would result in Soundwave's last but most cherished alterations; a cassette deck in his chest, hidden behind his waveform chest plate.

All but a celebrity of Bitrex now, the mysterious "Soundwave" made his re-debut alongside Jazz as they took their music on the road.

While the pair were close, Soundwave would still find time for himself; a desire that Jazz always respected and utilized to go on his own solo ventures. Soundwave would curiously check out the gladiatorial arena of Kaon, wherein a fateful meeting would take place. He would witness the furious might of the Pits' greatest champions, as he watched the likes of Jetfire, Arcee, and Megatron rule as a Triumvirate of Kaon from its lowest depth. But Megatron himself would most catch Soundwave's visor, and eventually the two would meet and have long, intense discussions about the state of Cybertron's society and people.

They would both be in adamant agreement that the harsh control Sentinel enforced over the very bodies of his people had to end.

Together, the two would eventually spearhead the formation of the Decepticon Rebellion against Sentinel's regime. Soundwave would successful enlist Jazz, who gladly joined a cause that would liberate their people from the injustices they suffered. But whereas Jazz would remain within their territories that couldn't fend for themselves, Soundwave would part from his musical companion to always stand by Megatron's side. This would ultimately lead him to be just as complicit in the Decepticons' crimes as he was. For while he never liked the dark direction their fight took, his faith in Megatron would blind his reason.

But when Megatron realized the error of his ways and chose to step down, Soundwave was as honored as he was accepting of his lord's choice to deem him his successor. Now with the reigns of command in hand, Soundwave steered them back to a path of righteous fury and away from the bloodlust they'd been misled into.

In the cyberkin world of Fódlan, Soundwave would find himself amidst a quagmire of chaos. His calm and reasonable leadership of the Decepticons would eventually be usurped. But Soundwave would never forget what they were once meant to do, and he waits in the fringes of the lands outside of Fódlan and waits for his time. Soundwave still awaits Byleth's return and call, for he knows she and Megatron both will be vital to the world's peace...

[alenseress]

Okay big Dushan (he/him) lore dump before I move on with my wips (1/?)

He's my main Inquisitor oc and comes and goes in my art. So if you like him or DA content specifically, stick around, it pops up every few weeks

He's in his mid 30s/early 40s, House Trevelyan is technically on its last breath by the time their only acceptable heir (Dushan) is born. Him being afab opens an opportunity for arranged marriage with another noble family, with an ultimatum that the contract will only sets in motion if the marriage successfully brings a child to join their names and blood. With that nuance Trevelyans (as a bit too fanatically religious house) can't send him off to grow up into a templar or a chantry initiate. It leads to him being brought up in a cult-ish environment to become his family's sacrificial lamb (or foal. Bc get it, Trevelyans) Homeschooled church kid, if you will. Sometime before the marriage his younger sister is born and sent off to the Circle as soon as she walks. At 17-18 the marriage goes through but doesn't last long

Dushan is terrified of both his now-husband and the idea of carrying a child. The years of pent up fear and abuse make the generally quiet kid go off the RAILS in one night, killing his husband, beheading his father and declaring himself the only son and the new head of the house. There's not much anyone can do about it with his mother being long gone, the family being in shambles and him indeed being the next in line

He's heavily pro-mage not even because of mortality of the question but because his sister in the circle is his closest and only beloved family left. He spends years clearing and building up their family name through dirtiest play so his sister can have proper noble privileges. In the process of it, through revenge, assassinations and more dirty play, the house ends up almost completely wiped out. Including the sister herself

By the time of the conclave he's broken. He has the name, the power, the skills, the flourishing land but noone left by his side. He serves and sponsors the Ostwick chantry his family was affiliated with, attending the conclave under its name

He himself lost his faith years ago and being forced back into it by the whole herald thing makes him gasp for air anywhere he can. Between living in the goddamn Haven, being trapped between soldiers of the chantry that don't really give a fuck about him at that point, he clings to Solas and his talk of fade and spirits and wonders that are so hated by the chantry he fears. They bond frankly inseparable in the first act