#elgar'nan ( muses )

[mercysought]

Elgar'nan & Mythal Veilguard updates lore post

spoilers bellow

Elgar'nan

Still the main villain

The whole game was pretty spot on my interpretation of him so I don't think have to change anything

Interactions with current-day muses will be done case by case and with plotting involved. Elgar'nan is a very forceful presence and he sees the people of this age as nothing but poor imitations of his life's work.

I don't know why Elgar'nan was calling Ghilan'nain sister though I guess they all saw each other as as siblings instead of All Father? In any case, in my brain he was calling her daughter instead of sister don't know what to tell you.

I will touch upon this more on Mythal, his disgust towards Fen'harel is endless. He first saw it as someone as close as family, brought in by Mythal - a powerful ally. And ended up thinking of him as nothing more than her attack dog.

They mention in the game that he and the Evanuris killed her, and I can see that. Not so much necessarily holding the blade that did it but allowing for mishaps to happen? I think that one point that might have been heartbreaking for him but when you put his love against an empire that he himself says he build from nothing? There is nothing that really can compare.

In a way, what he does to Minrathous at the end of the game is kinda like his own way of rectifying mistakes. Not his own because he wouldn't have that sort of introspection but. Like Solas says, is it a true wonder that they butt heads?

Mythal

I've mentioned this before and I'll mention it here: the game is not clear nor is it direct about the nature of Solas and Mythal's relationship. However, I want to make it clear that at least from my interpretation, Mythal never harboured romantic feelings towards Solas. I think that at one point, they were friends. She truly must have seen him as her closest friend - enough to bring him up to the heights of the Evanuris.

So to make it clear: I will not be writing any romantic relationships between Mythal and Solas. It's not that I don't think there couldn't have been feelings from his side or even deep admiration, but nothing along those lines.

However, you cannot tell me that her role within the Evanuris, the All-Mother didn't have its own corruption. I think she was awful, perhaps not as awful as them in the end but awful in any way. She only did anything because Solas, her oldest friend, asked her. Considering all the pain and everything in the Evanuris, she allowed that as part of being one of the two most powerful Mages in that circle. She not only allowed it, she presided over it as the highest judge of their society, she kept a leash in Elgar'nan. Keep that in mind.

As for the shards of Mythal's memories, I will leave that to whoever has them. Interaction with those that drink from the well will be discussed case by case and Morrigan... Well it depends on the Morrigan writer, I still think that the execution of what they did was way too much. That is certainly her interpretation of Mythal, but she is not Mythal.

[carabas]

Dragon Age Veilguard liveblogging -

Mourn Watch!Rook was found by the undead as an infant? For a second there that had me worried Rook was going to turn out to have a mysterious Chosen One backstory instead of being just some dude Varric picked up in a bar, but the other factions don't mention mysterious abandoned infant Rooks. I love this actually. Why did the Mourn Watch not take him to an orphanage. Is this normal in Nevarra, does the Mourn Watch have foundlings around on a regular basis, or is it just Rook, was baby Rook the Mourn Watch's collective mascot, I can't wait to talk to Emmrich. And I'm resisting the temptation to give Rook vallaslin but delighted to discover the option is there even with this faction backstory, maybe your Rook could have lived with a Dalish clan in between life at the necropolis, it's possible. And LAVELLAN. MY GIRL. MY GIRL IS BACK AND PREPARED FOR HEARTACHE, I AM EXPERIENCING EMOTIONS IN THE CHARACTER CREATOR.

...wait, that can't be all the past choices we input, can it? Just the Inquisitor/their LI/whether the Inquisition was disbanded/whether they want to save Solas? There will be an opportunity to fill in more of the worldstate later, right? They probably just don't want us to get too bogged down in the character creator/prologue. I'm not going to worry. I'm a little worried.

PLAYING FOR ALL OF TWO SECONDS AND WOLF STATUE SPOTTED, I HAVE MISSED YOU

The frescos! The photo mode, the ability to get up close to see the frescos from any angle I like, even playing on xbox with no modding tools!! Incredible, I am going to be poring over every scene like a museum exhibit you've got to drag me out of, I am poking through all Solas's artifacts in extreme closeup, and also what is this wolf-headed instrument doing on the bed in his Minrathous hideaway, does he play music, why has Lavellan not heard him play music, has he been holding out on us

The ritual! ...still has that one extra Elgar'nan circle-headpiece statue on the bottom row of statues that doesn't match the top row, huh, I'd kind of thought that was just a slapdash placeholder kind of thing for the preview that would be edited for the final game. Why doesn't triangle-headpiece get a statue on the bottom row, why's Elgar'nan hogging an extra spot. Rude.

Rook: "Helpful advice from the elven god of, and I am quoting you here, 'Lies, treachery, and rebellion.'"

Solas: "Depending on the story."

The way Solas takes time out from his frustrated angry lecturing to let some amusement show through there, and then that You have exchanged verbal jabs with Solas popup, the most important achievement, giving our trickster god some enrichment in his enclosure

HE LIVED! I KNEW VARRIC WAS GOING TO LIVE i mean he looks pretty bad and it was a magic dagger so who knows what'll happen later but he was NOT KILLED OFFSCREEN IN A HASTY CUTAWAY IN THE PREVIEW! Phew.

Aaaand now that we're in casual clothes, my poor mage gets hideous pajamas. Ah, now it really feels like Dragon Age is back.

FELASSAN SIGNING CODEX ENTRIES IN THE LIGHTHOUSE ;_; And the Divine Imperatives codex entry musing on the nature of divinity in general and its effects on Solas and his followers specifically, and a puzzle to solve already and it's such a cute one with these statues, how am I supposed to ever leave the Lighthouse and progress the plot when Solas's base is already giving me everything I want. He kept a music room locked away! He has been holding out on us. "Finally, a beloved memory surfaces. A smiling glance, meeting at a crescendo, a shared moment of understanding" - given the way we opened this room, was that moment shared with Mythal? And he's recreated his specific frescos from Skyhold here in this hidden room! And despite the fresh paint supplies in front of them they're already in not great condition, and all the other frescos in the Lighthouse are so incredibly horribly faded here in the Fade where time is not real, Solas is really not doing okay

and neither am I, HELP, HELP, I NEED A TANK, I NEED A DOG, I NEED CARVER, CASSANDRA, ALISTAIR, SOMEONE COME GET THESE DARKSPAWN OFF OF ME, I don't think any Dragon Age has spent this long without giving you a warrior companion. Between Varric, Harding, Neve, and now Bellara, one ranged support companion after another, I'm really, really feeling pressured to make Rook the melee guy here, and I refuse. Just frantically spamming Fade Step all through Arlathan Forest.

IS THAT MY WIFE?? okay obviously it would be reading far too much into things to suspect the first raven I see of being Morrigan, but to be fair, they've had sneaky raven Morrigans before, she spent Wicked Eyes Wicked Hearts hiding out in raven form on Celene's balcony - aaaaand shortly afterward, here's Morrigan in the Veil Jumpers' camp! I've connected the dots, I've connected them. It was probably just a raven.

"I have borne many appellations." "I have had many names, but you may call me Flemeth." Welcome back, Mythal.

...But if Morrigan's here already, Mythal headgear and all, and we still haven't been asked to input any more worldstate information like, say, whether she drank from the Well of Sorrows, or the existence of her son - that's seriously it then, those extremely few questions in the character creator were seriously all the worldstate customization we're getting? That's shocking. I'm being so well fed with lore about Solas and the gods right now that surprisingly I don't mind this all that much, but it does feel like they're losing a huge part of what makes Dragon Age Dragon Age. And I was really hoping our Dalish Grey Warden companion would have maybe just one line about what the existence of a Dalish Hero of Ferelden meant to him.

Actually in general the gameplay here is reminding me a lot more of Mass Effect than Dragon Age - the new combat style, the single linear story path to follow with almost no side quests so far aside from the puzzle to unlock Solas's hidden room, Bellara's busy making calibrations and Rook's in their room looking at fish, and now we're heading out on our ME2 recruitment mission. And I mean, I like Mass Effect fine, and every Dragon Age game is always drastically different from the last, but this is an adjustment

SOLAS HAD HAIR AND WE GET TO SEE IT we get to wander through memories of solas's past this game is so good to me I can't stay mad at it.

the god of rook's people now speaks to rook in their sleep and in their meditations and rook even walks through his memories, rook is surrounded by all these charming romanceable companions and yet the most intense connection that is being formed right now, by far, is with solas, and it's in such a wildly different way than Lavellan who got to know him as just Solas first, the person not the legend, Solas the vulnerable apostate in the middle of a powerful organization she leads; Rook is having intense personal conversations with his very own god of lies and he knows it, insane about this.

The prison mission is so beautiful with the enormous sea creatures in the distance and bones at the bottom of the sea and, most importantly and most beautifully, Lucanis drawing some melee fire away from me ;_; tears of joy ;_; finally a companion I can rely on ;_; And Neve complimented his demon on having good taste in possessing him! Oh my god Neve, stealing Hawke's pickup lines? You can do so much better than a Hawke pickup line!

[broodwolf221]

brood's (ongoing) meta masterpost

note: i almost always approach meta from a watsonian, in-verse perspective - there are only a few exceptions to this <- just adding this for additional context

most (not all!) are also on ao3, -> here <-

ghilan'nain codex entries and possible timelines involved

fen'harel/andruil/ghilan'nain - exploration of them as a ship, but also character explorations in general

mythal as abused and abuser, a sympathetic examination of her dynamic with her family and elgar'nan in particular

solas' pov upon waking in the new world

solas' jawbone

leliana in dai about her death if you killed her in dao

examination of the "mental stability" of da2 characters, based on a poll

small point about codexes having in-world biases

cole - spirit or human? and personal preference for the spirit route

mosaic order and meaning in fen'harel's sanctuary

theories following the corypheus battle (clarifying ask/new theory)

mythal & andruil | flemeth & morrigan - comparing these two duos and examining some elements that are repeated

orlesian culture

exploration of each divine's rule well after the ending slides

morrigan, anders, and solas, and their different narrative roles and priorities

mythal, flemeth, or flemythal - who she is, what is she like; opinions on her

mostly vivienne meta exploring her pro-circle views; touches on anders and sera as well: no character hate since i love them all

which companions (from all games) would join solas

dragon age and germ theory

solas and varric and how they interrelate

solas seeing others as full people earlier than he wishes to admit, and solas + sunk cost fallacy

calpernia and solas as another set of narrative foils

hypothetical da4 directions (add-on/extrapolation of one of the directions)

personal characterizations of the evanuris

impact of the breach in-universe

softened!leliana as divine and religious assimilation/schisms with elves

arlathan and germ theory, post 1; + a messy rambling exploration of arlathan's culture, including what kinds of power they valued, & a brief exploration of ghilan'nain and her role/inclusion in the evanuris

what "as this world burned in the raw chaos" means

the three divine options and their relationship to faith

solas tearing down the veil: why i think it was necessary, and how it relates to the in hushed whispers quest

sera & solas as narrative foils of each other

sera meta - positive bc i fucking love her

evanuris musings/frustration

da4 theories & hopes re: solas and mythal - post dec DA trailer drop

dalish & red vallaslin dalish history/divergent origins

qunari & dragon blood musings

the vallaslin removal

technically not meta but sorta related: visual representation of solas' duality - critique : alternative

forgotten ones as titans, in-depth (mini add-on)

vivienne de fer pt 1/?

morrigan - dao and dai

solas' sleep

cullen rutherford, positive

forgotten ones as titans, vague

the iron bull & solas

inky & solas - conversation in the fade & implications

solas' actions

theories on solas' distant past

solas' personality/behavior

theories abt solas as a spirit+demon & forgotten one (note: I got confused with mythal and flemeth's backstory)

my first meta of solas as one of the forgotten ones

[driofaire]

Rogue, saboteur specialisation. Heart of gold, the right idea and god-awful execution. Struggling to find herself and where she belongs. A personable ex-pirate with an uncanny knack for defeating the odds and coming out on top. Plenty of hiccups ahead.

MUSE TAGS: GENERAL, WRITING, PINTEREST, SPOTIFY, BONDS, META.

Please note: spoilers for Veilguard below. (Will remove the read more in a month or so).

THE BASICS.

NAME: Balrina Munette Maribel Rook Ladair. ALIASES: Mari (picked herself), Rook, she does not offer the name of Maribel unless very, very well acquainted as she ties that with her adoptive mother. AGE: 32. RACE: Human, assumed common born due to having no information about her own parents. GENDER: Female. OCCUPATION: Pirate & smuggler (formerly), mercenary (present), treasure hunter. SEXUALITY: Bisexual, male-leaning. PLACE OF ORIGIN: Ferelden (unknown to her), assumed Rivain. SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Common, Rivaini. Fluent in both. AFFILIATION: Lords of Fortune, The Veilguard.

THE PHYSICAL:

FACECLAIM: Geena Davis, specifically in Cutthroat Island. HAIR: Dark brown, almost black. Messily cut so it doesn't fall into her eyes. Definitely does this with a dagger when it starts to bother her. EYE COLOUR: Hazel, leaning heavily more into dark green. HEIGHT: 5'7''. BUILD: Lean but well-muscled from years of trawling through ruins, and scrambling up the mast to get into the crow's nests of ships. A little on the skinny side, as most seafaring folks tend to be. This is from many weeks either at sea, or, having actually left seafaring behind, setting out on trips with only the necessary rations. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Heavy scarring on face, some newer, some older. Heavy scarring on body from knife-fishing and altercations with sea life. A mish-mash of tattoos over her body, some newer, some faded with time. The favourite of hers being an anchor on her collarbone. A beauty mark above her left lip, on her left cheek and the right side of her jaw. Missing the top segment of her left pinky finger after a game of five finger fillet in her misspent twenties.

RELATIONSHIPS.

Family: Uriel Munette† (biological father), Camilla Munette† (biological mother), Marisol Ladair (adoptive mother, estranged). FRIENDS: Varric Tethras, Bellara Lutare, Lace Harding, Lucanis Dellamorte, Neve Gallus, Emmrich, Davrin, Taash. ENEMIES: Solas. Elgar'nan. Ghilan'nain. Marisol Ladair.

BACKSTORY / TIDBITS.

Originally born Balrina Munette, sole daughter of Uriel Munette and Camilla Munette. They were seafaring merchants that dealt mostly in spices, though, on occasion they could be paid to carry … other curiosities of interest. 

As they were never home, they opted to set sail with Maribel rather than leave her with someone else, as they hoped that, as their eldest daughter, when they retired they would be able to leave their profession in the hands of her. 

Were set upon by pirates allied with the Lords of Fortune when she was three years old, and, after the rest of the crew had been slaughtered, they found her cowering in the hold. Rather than throwing her overboard, they opted to take her to their Captain, one Marisol Ladair, of the Brightfin. She considered leaving her at the next safe port, but ultimately decided against it. She would eventually grow fond of her, and take her under her wing as a stolen protege. 

She was renamed in the first few weeks under Marisol’s command, as Maribel herself decided that she did not sound quite pirate enough. She asked Marisol to pick one, and the pirate thought it would be cute to match. She would also claim the title of Miniature Mari in the years to come.

When she came old enough to be trusted to scamper up into the crow’s nest of The Brightfin, she would be on the lookout for ships on the horizon. It would not be until her 12th birthday that Marisol gifted her the first sword she would ever know. Crafted specially for her adopted daughter, it was a small thing but sharp enough to cut through her finger like butter. She called it Little Fang, and now that she has long outgrown it, it is now a display item in her room in the Lighthouse. 

It took her a while to realise that it was Marisol’s crew that killed her family, and she did not remember her name before. This did put a rift between them, as from the ages of 15-25, she pulled away from her and the life of piracy in favour of the plunder and robbing of tombs, ruins and contracted jobs escorting excavators, scholars and other folks who need a trained eye.

She likes spear fishing/combing the sea floor for oysters. This is how she chooses to relax when she is stressed and she is able to find shiny shells, pearls and sea glass which is also displayed in her room in the lighthouse. 

DECISIONS: UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

[orxna]

The Heart

Archetype Headcanons || Accepting || @avrorean

When was the last time your muse’s heart was touched? Soak in every detail you can and feel the heart awaken.

Orana has been under Ghilan'nain's 'care' for several weeks before she meets Nadas'Melana. She doesn't quite crack under Ghilan'nains attentions but she absolutely folds. Lets herself be smaller and smaller to survive because she knows that living is more important to her than pride. She lets Ghilan'nain chip away little bits of what make her Orana and accepts the things that build her towards Sulhan'harel. When Elgar'nan brings Fen'harel's 'other daughter' to the temple it worries Orana. She doesn't know if she's being replaced, Elgar'nan had bored of her quickly but surely Ghilan'nain still favored her. They are introduced, Sulhan'harel nervous but polite as Ghilan'nain titters on about plans. Elgar'nan takes nearly a day to settle on a name for Orana's new 'sister' but when she does the grey warden turns to Orana and looks. When they are alone, hours later, Nanna tells the younger girl her name and asks if she would share her own. Orana nearly cries.

[tavtiers]

A hypothetical god tier for Elgar'nan from Dragon Age: the Lord of Light.

A Lord of Light is among those who are masters of knowing and perceiving. They are motivated by themselves to be a master of awareness. (x) The Lord of Light's will takes precedence over everything else and they enjoy knowing things others don't. (x) They are the Outlier Scholar, defined by domination and awareness. (x) Their opposite and inverse is the Muse of Void. They share their personality with no one, as a master classpect. The Lord of Light would quest on a planet similar to the Land of ??? and Light, reigned over by Hemera (Goddess of Daylight) or Apollo (God of the Performing Arts). They would rise to ascension on the wings of moths. (x)(x)(x)

[symphorine]

as i go through my second playthrough, i want to catalogue things i find interesting. this will be full of spoilers. im gonna tag it as #davg lb, so you can mute that if you're not interested. they'll prob be pretty long.

i've just finished the prologue with beryl and am now exploring the lighthouse for the first time. i did remember it was in much less impressive shape, but not quite how much. besides some areas not being accessible yet, there is a lot of debris and seemingly dead trees, and the lighting is less warm, more like a cloudy day (keeping in mind i upped the gamma for my game and i thiiiink photomode pics keep that in?).

i also took some screenshots of the room you wake up in, and where varric is for the rest of the game. i find it interesting that it does appear stocked, presumably with some pharmaceutic stuff as that's where harding stands to look for elfroot (and where we were put to recover). four beds - did we all sleep here at first? when did harding and neve find their little areas had activated, so to speak? how did that happen? also bianca on the bedside table near varric, with candles... is this another thing only we see, or did harding and neve set it up as some sort of makeshift shrine? actually, do they see the fourth bed? i have so many logistics questions about this.

the library. also in worse shape, debris, disorder, the not yet upgraded floating core, but overall still pretty solid. it makes sense, with it being where the core is housed, that it would be what holds its own shape best? but still. clearly in a state of disuse and neglect.

solas lived here, at least for some time during the ten years varric & co chased after him, and presumably, because he mentions both lightouse and eluvians in our first dialogue with him (just before this), has been here recently. we'll find the secret side room in a bit and i'll see if it also starts in a pretty sorry state.

did solas just not take care of it - it seems he's acting alone now, none of his numerous elven folloers mentioned in Trespasser in sight, so he had no reason to maintain a larger space? or did the lighthouse degrade immediately when he was trapped in the fade prison, which seems to be another closed portion of the fade, similar to what the lighthouse is in that sense? how much is it connected to solas?

a few other quick shots for fun i took of the hallway out of the infirmary and during the prologue. i think the environments are my favorite thing about the game tbh.

also, a codex you find under neve's room.

On Divine Imperatives The Helm of the Solar is destroyed. Elgar'nan's favorite torture is over; too many agents have been rescued with their minds burnt out by that memory of an enraged sun. I feel a lesson here. The Helm was not created to torment. But the Evanuris are not as we are. A god's ruminations carry their own will, and imperatives. Memory bleeds into their icons and transmutes them, as fire begets fire. For our Wolf-Lord, who puts so much of himself into his creations - what imperatives do they carry? The heart of a rebellion must remain hidden, yet the light of divinity is uncontainable. We must be swift. A thought linger: Even as he saves us, what does he impart upon us? Reflections by Shirahn, One Who Renounced Daern'thal

just found it interesting! also daern'thal was a forgotten one. not that we didn't know solas freed slaves from forgotten ones and evanuris both, but the forgotten ones feel like such an afterthought besides a couple of times in the game (basically just... bellara's companion storyline, iirc?), i just thought it was noteworthy. also interesting musings from the author esp in conjunction with what we learn of ancient elves later (they used to be spirits, and it's hinted that as such they still carried the characteristics of identifying strongly with a specific emotion and its counterpart. are they some of the imperatives the author alludes to? what about "Memory bleeds into their icons"? i think what is in this codex is more literal than metaphorical, but still).

also "Even as he saves us, what does he impart upon us?" is obviously a big theme with Solas. i played as an elf my first playthrough and it felt even more relevant, and i wish we could argue with solas more about it. although i suppose the idea of his character here is that he will stay stubborn and commited until the very end no matter what. he believes he is right, and that he needs to take the veil down, but also very much that it is For The Good Of The Elven People. he thinks he IS saving them, but what does that come with? he thinks the price is worth it. also "his creations" - what creations? is the lighthouse one? what else?

obviously he is ostensibly doing it For Elves (or at least it's what he says and how he gathers followers in Trespasser), but he did also consistently say that the current elves are not his people in DAI, and detaches himself from them in this game also (cant recall the exact dialogue tho). they seem more like a convenient excuse than truly the cause he is championning. the veil matters more because it was His Big Mistake than for the consequences it had, if that makes sense.

[starwrittenfates]

❝ Whatever we were before, we are now... the Inquisition. ❞

↳ 𝙿𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙿𝚂 — Lavellan/Solas, Lavellan/Cullen, Lavellan/OC

↳ 𝚆𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙳 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 — Solas, Cole, Cullen, Varric, any other DA muses, etc.

↳ NOTE: My Lavellan is an ancient elf that happened to be Mythal's chosen "sister" and becomes reborn into Clan Lavellan as a mortal with no memory of her previous life until near the end of Inquisition when she gains it back.

Most of the headcanons and backstory here for my Lavellan I came up with years ago when the game first came out. I know Veilguard may change it, but since I've had it for about 9-10 years now, it's kinda here and I'll try to work with what I can.

THREADS || NAVIGATION || STUDY || CLAN LAVELLAN || THE FORGOTTEN GODDESS ||

BASICS.

FULL NAME: Ellana Lavellan (originally Ethyral)

NAME MEANING: Ellana = Glow, Ethyral = Elven version of Ethereal meaning “Spiritual” or “Otherworldly”

NICKNAMES/TITLES: The Inquisitor, the Herald of Andraste, Vhenan (by Solas)

AGE + DOB: 31-32 (during Inquisition), 40-41 (Veilguard) / Unknown

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Female - She/Her

ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

SPECIES / CLASS / SPECIALIZATION: Dalish Elf / Mage / Rift Mage

OCCUPATION: Mage, The Inquisitor, the Herald of Andraste, First to the Keeper of Clan Lavellan (formerly)

APPEARANCE.

HAIR COLOR: White

EYE COLOR: Green

SCARS: None

OTHER REMARKABLE FEATURES: Has the Mythal Vallaslin (complex version) on her face. Her green eyes can look like they glow at times.

BACKGROUND.

BIRTHPLACE: Clan Lavellan, Thedas

CURRENT HOME: Verse Dependent

NATIONALITY/ETHNICITY: Dalish Elf

LANGUAGES: Elven, Common

PARENTS: Mother (Deceased), Father (Deceased), Keeper Deshanna Istimaethoriel Lavellan (Adoptive Parent, Deceased)

SIBLINGS: None (as Ellana), Mythal (Older Sister, as Ethyral)

SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Dependent (Romanced Solas)

CHILDREN: N/A

OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: Elgar'nan (Brother-in-law), Falon'Din (Nephew), Dirthamen (Nephew), Andruil (Niece) --- As Ethyral

PSYCHOLOGY/MIND.

MYERS-BRIGGS: ISFP - The Adventurer

ENNEAGRAM TYPE: Type 6 - The Loyalist

MORAL ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Good

CHARACTER TRAITS: Compassionate, Rebellious, Stubborn, 

LIKES: Spirits, Learning Magic, Nature, the Fade, Dancing

DISLIKES: Elgar'nan, Abuse towards the elven people, Turning any Spirits from their Purpose

FEARS & PHOBIAS: Of being without support and guidance, Losing her Clan (of which she does)

WISHES & DREAMS: To have security and support. For the Elvhen people to be free. Her Spirit friends to not be chained.

CHARACTER TROPES: Association Fallacy, Character Development, Cosmic Plaything, Cunning Linguist, Damned by the Faint Praise, Did You Just Romance Cthulhu?, Differing Priorities Breakup, Heartbroken Badass, I Will Wait for You, Love Redeems, Meaningful Name, My Species Doth Protest Too Much, Self-Made Orphan, Reincarnation, You Are a Credit to Your Race, Dreamwalker, Mark of the Supernatural, The Empath, All-Loving Hero, The Chosen One, Emerald Power, Hope Bringer, Humble Hero, Laser-Guided Amnesia, Rebel Leader, Undying Loyalty, Decadent Court, Divine Conflict, The Force is Strong with This One, Not Quite Dead, Former Teen Rebel, Excessive Mourning, Psychic Powers, Reality Warper, I See Dead People, Bizarre Alien Senses, The Empath, Determinator, Ghost Amnesia, Our Spirits are Different, Emerald Power, 

SKILLS & ABILITIES.

SPIRIT MAGIC

RIFT MAGIC

CANON QUEST DECISONS & WORLD STATE.

Sides with the Mages

Clan Lavellan dies

Leliana becomes Divine Victoria

Romances Solas

Celene and Briala rule together

Recovers her memories in the Fade, remembering how she got the Anchor.

Exile's the Grey Wardens

Makes Cole more Spirit

Does NOT drink from the Well of Sorrows. Morrigan does instead.

Tresspasser (Ellana can't agree with Solas on wanting to bring back the rest of the Evanuris by destroying this world.)

Disbands the Inquisition

She is in search of Solas and wants to redeem him

She awakes from dreams where she sees him watching from a distance and she reaches out…only for him to disappear.

PERSONALITY.

Ellana approves of genuine acts of kindness, open-mindedness, and helping others, even if the way for doing so is to rebel and fight against tyranny. She likes to learn how to better help others and enjoys spending time with others, in nature and with animals. She approves in helping mages, but is against the Circle of Mages and the Rite of Tranquility.

BIOGRAPHY.

AS ETHYRAL:

Ethyral is an ancient elf and Mage who was originally a Spirit of Compassion. Is Mythal’s "sister".

Her name is an elven version of Ethereal meaning “Spiritual” or “Otherworldly” which only adds to the reasons for her title and her connection to the inhabitants of the Fade.

She was known to be a compassionate person with a lot of “spirit” and a faint green glow around her. She loved to inspire others and help her people.

Doesn’t have her own Vallaslin. Was entirely against the idea of it. Is mostly looked at as a lower tier goddess or goddess of nothing in the elven patheon (hence why there aren’t any surviving texts of her in later years to come despite being Mythal's sister.)

Unlike the other pretender gods, Ethyral was also a voice of reason and genuinely cared for her people alongside Mythal.

Secretly worked alongside Fen'Harel to help their people. She was known for being close to Spirits, Mythal and Fen'Harel.

Greatly disliked Elgar'nan from the start and would constantly get into arguments with her “brother-in-law.” She fears his temper may lead Mythal to danger someday…of which it does with Mythal’s murder.

Because of this, she is mockingly given another title “Goddess of Grief” by Elgar'nan, of which is the ONLY thing remembered about her in the future by the Dalish.

When the Veil is put up, Ethyral goes to the Crossroads in the Fade. Lost in her despair of her losses, she uses her Orb in order to be reborn into a new life and vessel.

Of course, just like with the rest of the Evanuris, her story is misconstrued over the ages until it becomes what it is known as by the Dalish. Not many records of Ethyral survive, often being looked as an omen of grief and despair by the Dalish and something to be weary of as just as they are of Fen'Harel.

Although most of the things about Ethyral have been misconstrued and lost to time, she was also originally supposed to be a Goddess of Hope as well, known to inspire others.

AS ELLANA:

Ethyral, now reborn centuries as Ellana of Clan Lavellan, was born with a faint green glow around her before it faded away. At first it alarmed her parents (and clan), but it was eventually forgotten.

She is named Ellana which = Glow because of the brief glow that was present around her when she was born.

She has no memories of her past life. However, as she gets older and grows, there is a strange woman who she sees in her dreams at times that looks exactly like her (minus the Vallaslin.)

Had a talent for magic from the start and decides to become a mage.

Her parents are killed when she is young and she ends up adopted by the Keeper of their clan, eventually becoming First to the Keeper.

Ellana is often looked at as a bit… odd or a “black sheep” among her Clan, mostly because of her fascination with Spirits and wanting to know about the Fade, especially because Dalish mages do not use any magic involving spirits, as they believe all spirits are dangerous. The Dalish believe “there’s no such thing as a good spirit”. Spirits cannot be broken down into clear-cut categories and differ from each other, just as people do. Furthermore, the Dalish do not think of demons as evil, but as wild animals, dangerous if treated carelessly.

This challenges her beliefs with her people, feeling conflicted about the things she has been told growing up. However, she continues to follow the path of the Dalish.

She ends up getting a Mythal Vallaslin (complex version) as her rite of passage.

Eventually, after becoming Inquisitor and all the adventures that take place in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Ellana not only regains her memories in the Fade of the events immediately preceding the destruction of the conclave, but of her life as Ethyral too.

She accepts that she is both Ethyral and Ellana of Clan Lavellan.

Codex Entry:

“The Dalish are elves who refuse to live in human cities, where their people are exploited, having few rights. They choose to eke out an independent existence in the forests, attempting to keep the last remnants of their ancient culture alive.  Ellana is from Clan Lavellan, a group of Dalish who migrate around the perpetually feuding Free Marches. Ellana’s people travel along the borders of each city-state's territory, where Free March rulers will be less inclined to attack them, for fear of accidentally provoking neighboring cities. Ellana manifested a talent for magic as a child. The clan's leader, Keeper Deshanna Istimaethoriel Lavellan, taught her how to control and hone her new powers. Ellana grew into a capable mage, far away from the eyes of the templars and mage Circles. When tension between the two factions erupted into warfare, spilling into the countryside, Clan Lavellan was forced to pick up and move. Ellana’s Keeper sent her to spy on the Conclave at Haven, as the outcome might determine the fate of her own clan."

— From Codex Entry: Lavellan, of the Dalish

If Personal Quest is done and memories returned

“Born to Clan Lavellan, Ellana proved to be exceptional from the start. Not only did she show a talent for magic, but she worked her way up in the ranks to become the First to the Keeper. Not long after, she became the Inquisitor of the Inquisition, and Herald of Andraste, we all know. Maybe it should have been questioned on more about the girl born with a glow around her?

— From Codex Entry: Ellana Lavellan, of the Dalish

Personal quests: [Forgotten Memories in the Fade] It’s pretty much what happens in the Fade with the Inquisitor recovering her memories of how she got the anchor, but it also comes with her memories of her previous life as an Evanuris.

Are they romanceable?: Yes.

If they can be romanced and are not, will they begin a relationship / relationships with other character(s)? Yes. 

Who are they friendly with?: Solas, Cole & Cullen she gets along with the most.

Who do they dislike?: Vivienne and Sera.

Something guaranteed to make them leave the party: She’s the Inquisitor...so no. She’s staying, no matter what. 

Cole’s reflection on their thoughts: “Grief. It hurts. It’s all my fault. Like a mirror with cracks in it. She is lost, but can’t understand why. Longing for home, for a wolf’s embrace.” 

Comment(s) on Mages:  She’s a mage herself, so of course she would support her own. However, she doesn’t condone Blood Mages and the harm they may cause. It gives all the rest of the mages a bad name. 

Comment(s) on Templars: She honestly doesn’t have much of an opinion on them. At least she hasn’t been around humans too often to form one. 

When looking for something: “Does anyone else have a strange feeling?”

When finding a campsite: “Hmm...this looks cozy. Let’s rest here.”

When they are low on Health: “I need back up!”

When they see a Dragon: “Oh, Mythal...please watch over us.”

[thebloodychampion]

MUSE LIST

My muses are CANON MUSES, ORIGINAL CHARACTERS and PLAYER CHARACTERS from the following franchises: DRAGON AGE, MASS EFFECT, HARRY POTTER, THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM, THE WITCHER and FANDOMLESS MUSES

Important Stuff:

INTEREST TRACKER MUSE LIST BLOG ASK

Main Muses (Those that I am actively playing or trying to play more actively)

• Archer (Fjorta) Hawke (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Cyrion Hawke (Original Character/Player Character - Dragon Age) • Dreag Hawke (Original Character/Player Character - Dragon Age) • Lia Tabris (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Sethius Amladaris/Corypheus (Canon Character - Dragon Age) • Lucius Veridio (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Etienne DeLechanger/Petyr Gallus (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Nicolas Belmond (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Lyon Amell (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Jerker/Hakkon Wintersbreath (Canon/Original Character - Dragon Age) • Eric Vanhallen (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Ishal Cyprias (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Armadiel Mahariel (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Elgar'nan (Canon Character - Dragon Age) • Irius Sparatus (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Karnesh (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Clavius Tarxis (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Renius Sparatus (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Jurdon Madadh (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Haral Nyras (Original Character - Mass Effect) • SAM (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Quentius Zuris (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Ahnas Afaa Kjama (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Iorveth (Canon Character - The Witcher) • Moony (Original Character - Fandomless) • Danny Fernandez (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Belle Instance (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Fenrir Greyback (Canon Character - Harry Potter) • Pamina Siemens (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Sharleen Siemens (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Amelia Fernandez (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Connor Montgomery (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Ben Chaplin (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Lewis Watson (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Vortula Portocalos (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Deidre Mikealson (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Daniel Speedman (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Richard Holmes (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Yartnar Loreian (Original Character - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) • Carolus (Player Character - The Elder Scroll V: Skyrim)

------

Side Muses (For those that want something else)

• Than Mahariel (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Elgan Lavellan (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Diran Lavellan (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Hjarrandr O Bearhold (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Malcolm Hawke (Canon Character - Dragon Age) • Tomey Surana (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Solona Amell (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Talar Adaar (Player Character - Dragon Age) • Jarida Adaar (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Kieran (Canon Character - Dragon Age) • Lorenzo Calcagnini (Original Character - Dragon Age) • Fergus Cousland (Canon Character - Dragon Age) • Torana Sparatus (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Ganar Drealav (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Raik Cagar (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Oswin Shepard (Player Character - Mass Effect) • Noah Shepard (Player Character - Mass Effect) • Maron Hinom (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Shaela'Riel vas Tonbay (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Lorik Qui'in (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Marius Nyras (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Andrew Ryder (Player Character - Mass Effect) • Tayus Draxas (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Tachyus Nyras (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Macen Barro (Canon Character - Masss Effect) • Yaora V'Loar (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Yandra Nyras (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Urdnot Wreav (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Adrien Victus (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Steven Hackett (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Sidoria Aterius (Original Character - Mass Effect) • Septimus Oraka (Canon Character - Mass Effect) • Eleasar Cohen (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Leslie Woodstock (Original Character - Harry Potter) • Carlisle Eastwood (Original Character - Harry Potter)

[mercysought]

REPOST AND LIST 6 SONGS THAT INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE YOUR MUSE (focusing on Elgar'nan and Mythal):

that unwanted animal by the amazing devil

Oh, and you rip my ribcage open and devour what's truly yours / And our screaming joins in unison, I cry out to the Lord / 'Cause if we join our hands in prayer enough / To God, I imagine it all starts to sound like applause.

blood in the wine by aurora

I was given a heart / Before I was given a mind / A thirst for pleasure and war / A hunger we keep inside / We fell from sky with grace / And life gave us a sweeter taste / You can drink, you can feast / There's beauty in your beast

the horror and the wild by the amazing devil

I steal the hours and turn the night into day / Day by day oh lord three things I pray / That I might understand as best as I can / How bold I was, could be - will be - still am, by God still am / Fret not dear heart, let not them hear / The mutterings of all your fears, the fluttering of all your wings / Welcome to the storm, I am thunder / Welcome to my table, bring your hunger.

sacrifices must be made by dan bull

No one wants to show their hands / For fear of knowing that we've only laid out hopeless plans / Life's a thankless slow advance / And no advantage shall suffice / To satisfy chance's appetite requires sacrifice.

eat your young by hozier

I'm starving, darling / Let me put my lips to something / Let me wrap my teeth around the world / Start carving, darling / I wanna smell the dinner cooking I wanna feel the edges start to burn

artemis by aurora

What will you do when she drinks the sea? / Drown her in sorrow or let her be free? / When she's upset, all of her heart is cold / What will you do when she eats the moon? / Make her return it or give her a spoon? / When she is full, all of her heart is warm 

& LIST 6 QUOTES THAT INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE YOUR MUSE:

"THEN TELL ME WHAT JUSTICE IS! TO FORGIVE THE ONE WHO MURDERED YOUR BELOVED FRIEND? THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE VIRTUOUS! IT’S BEAUTIFUL! BLINDINGLY BEAUTIFUL! BUT IS JUSTICE A VIRTUE?! NO! TO LIVE IN PEACE WITHOUT AVENGING THE DEAD IS VICE!" — bleach by Tite Kubo

"He didn’t even look angry; he looked like an ending given human form." — harrow the ninth by tamsyn muir

"You have referred to yourself and your fellow mortals as our children. You are not our children. You are… a bad first draft." — asmodeus (brendan lee mulligan) in fire and ruin (exandria unlimited: calamity)

"what is it that you contain? the dead. time. light patterns of millennia opening in your gut. every minute, in each of you, a few million potassium atoms succumb to radioactive decay. the energy that powers these tiny atomic events has been locked inside potassium atoms ever since a star-sized bomb exploded nothing into being. potassium, like uranium and radium, is a long-lived radioactive nuclear waste of the supernova bang that accounts for you. your first parent was a star." — weight: the myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson

"Eu não vejo o copo meio cheio, eu vejo o mar." — carolina deslandes “I don’t see the glass half full, I see the sea.”

"preserve the past, poison the present." — the existential horror of david cronenberg’s camera by acolytes of horror

tagged by . @thomasrainier (thank you ✨)

tagging. @valheri @prvtocol @weptfreedom @soveraign (Cersei? mayhaps?) @harringtontm

[carabas]

Dragon Age Veilguard liveblogging -

Varric: "Normally, my advice on befriending abominations would be 'Don't.' In this case... just keep an eye on him." I'm happy there's an Anders reference at all in this game where we can import almost nothing of our worldstate, even if it is Varric's usual griping. I hope we actually get to see Varric interact with the newer companions at some point because I really want to see if he'll somehow wind up trying to adopt Lucanis too, make it three for three on breaking his own heart trying to help every spirit companion he meets.

Bellara's tour of horrifying ancient artifacts, one sealed room after another containing dangerous relics that break people down to their component parts or set them on fire or something similarly lethal, and then finally you reach the last sealed room, holding only...

...a wheel of cheese.

I'm enjoying running around performing rituals that honor the evanuris who we are actively fighting against without anyone on the team objecting to this. Mythal, okay. But Falon'din - a Rook who saw the Mourn Watch as his own form of devotion to Falon'din learns his gods were tyrants and then, having reached whatever level of acceptance he's at with that, nonetheless winds up performing a ritual before Falon'din's statue specifically, his specific blighted tyrant god whose symbols he's still tattooed with, and being tangibly rewarded for it. I love this. I hope we have to perform a ritual for Ghilan'nain or Elgar'nan next.

Talking with Lucanis, my Rook had the option to mention that he's nonbinary! In the part of the character creator where you pick Rook's pronouns and gender identity separately, there was a note that the gender identity setting doesn't affect gameplay, so pleasant surprise to see it come up in dialogue after all. (At least, I'm assuming that the gender identity setting in the character creator is what got me that dialogue option. There was also a clearly marked chance to establish Rook as being trans/nb while looking into Varric's mirror earlier, but I'd picked the option to muse about Rook's Significant Tattoos there instead.)

There have been so, so many appearances by beloved characters or references to previous events despite the limited worldstate customization, but one of my favorites so far was in Minrathous, encountering someone who'd been kidnapped from the Denerim alienage back in Origins by the Tevinter slavers, now working with the Shadow Dragons. Nice little followup I wasn't expecting. And now she's dead because of a choice I made. Thank you, game, for that particular stab in the heart, it's super effective. And Neve's whole city is devastated because of a choice Rook made, and this after she's been wearing very visible bruises for most of the game so far because of a choice Rook made, and the gods are free because of a choice Rook made while trying to save the world, and the game keeps sending Rook on these rescue missions for people he tries and fails to save... and in between all this Rook is living out the memories of Solas's regrets. And the game keeps asking you who you think Solas is. Do you think you can trust him. Do you think he's lonely. Why did they change the title of this game, this is the Dread Wolf game.

"In the name of Elgar'nan, First of the Firstborn, He who was called Lusacan..." !!!!!!!! Finally ;_; one of the correspondences confirmed ;_; tears of joy ;_; I was hoping Elgar'nan = Dumat but I'll take it ;_; I need to go back and rethink all the others now, who was Urthemiel, which god is the Warden's son (if this is actually answered in this game don't tell me)

"Because you're a Mourn Watcher, Emmrich talks in-depth about spirits and necromancy with you" - victory fist pump, this game just keeps giving me everything I want

Rook had SO MUCH Mourn Watch-specific dialogue on Emmrich's recruitment mission! I think it was literally every line, this is Rook's home and he knows all its rituals and do you think the wisps here remember me - it's like Bioware saw the jokes about Lavellan's "Who's Mythal?" and made absolutely 120% sure Rook knows where he came from. But there had been almost nothing prior to this mission - one line where Rook got to play up the ~spooky necromancer~ angle to tease one of Neve's contacts, that's about it - so getting this absolute flood of Mourn Watch dialogue now really makes it feel like it must be such a relief for Rook to be able to talk to Emmrich, especially when they've been discussing people's comfort level or lack thereof with necromancy outside Nevarra. Also, no wonder Rook settled into the meditation room with that greenish underwater lighting, feels just like home.

[sulky-valkyrie]

Hello and happy Friday! I'm here with a DADWC prompt; how about "the first kiss and the realization of “it’s always been you”" for m!Mahariel and Zevran? Or perhaps another ship if you prefer? :)

I hope you like sappy fluff <3

for @dadrunkwriting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alistair was king now, so that was . . . probably good, Theron supposed.  And Anora seemed fine with the situation.  More than fine, really.  Marrying him solidified her hold on the throne that never should’ve been in dispute anyway, but these idiot shem apparently just didn’t much care of women being in charge.  Loghain could’ve been useful, but the man had tried to kill him repeatedly, and frankly, Theron didn’t want more than one person who’d done that with him.

And if he had to choose which of his attempted murderers to spend time with, well, he’d always pick Zevran.  Something about the other man just entranced him.  Not the tattoos, though he did enjoy the afternoon in the lake when he’d shown off how many more there were and how far down they traveled.  He could feel the heat rising to his face remembering when Zevran had offered to let him touch them, and the shame at his cowardice in declining.  Because he did, oh Creators, he absolutely did, but that fascination he had brought with it an uncharacteristic shyness.  He’d never had trouble with this sort of thing before, but Zevran’s cavalier attitude made him feel so . . . inadequate.  What right did he have to even begin to desire a man like that?  

Now wasn’t the time to mope though.  They’d just won a major victory, right?  No more damn soldiers trying to kill them, right?  Just darkspawn doing it.  Yep, that definitely felt like winning.  He grimaced and finished his ale.  The banns and the arls were all toasting and congratulating Alistair, who looked somewhat like he wanted to sink into the floor, but the man would have to get used to the attention.  More to the point though, it meant Theron could slip out unnoticed.

“And where do you think you’re sneaking off to, my darling?”  

The Antivan’s voice sent tingles along his spine and up to his ears.  Elgar'nan, the way he talked should be classified a sin.  “Just, just out,” he stammered, not quite looking back at the assassin, but also unable to stop himself from a chance to admire him.  

Zev had really gone all out for the Landsmeet, wearing a sleek black and grey outfit with gold trim most likely stolen from Howe’s estate; he tried to why it was important to look so dashing with a long metaphor, something about the theater of war, but Theron had lost track of his words as he’d watched those delicate strong hands flutter about in wild grandiose gestures.  It was strange, Zev always talked with his whole body at camp: fingers always moving, arms sweeping out to point out something interesting, or thrown over Theron’s shoulder to pull him close and whisper absurd secrets.  Theron loved it, loved the attention, loved the chance to be that close to him, but really had no idea what to do to make it happen more, short of hiding in a rented room with him for a week.

“Mm, it seems dangerous to go alone,” Zev mused.  “You should take this.”

Theron paused and waited.

And waited.

“Um, take what?”  He finally asked.

The Crow grinned, eyes crinkling up like they only did when they were alone.  “Why, you should take me!”

“I’d certainly like to.”  Oh shit.  Had he said that out loud?  If the look of supreme satisfaction on Zev’s face was any indicator, he definitely had.  “Er, I -”

The assassin stepped close, too close, not close enough.  “And what, my Warden, is stopping you?”

Theron’s mouth went dry.  “I, well, you’re, um, well -” get it together, Mahariel, you sound like Tamlen!  He took a deep breath.  “I didn’t think you’d be interested.”  In someone like me.

“Oh, mi amor, how terribly wrong you are.”  Zevran tugged Theron’s arms around his own waist gently before pulling off a glove - gloves Theron had given him - to stroke his cheek with his knuckles.  “I’ve always -”

Theron kissed him.  Kissed him like he’d wanted to for months.  He poured everything into it: every moment he’d spent yearning alone in his tent, every filthy thought he’d conjured up while taking himself in hand, every memory of a touch that just hadn’t been enough.  It all went into that blazing kiss, pressing himself against the other elf with such a single-minded intensity that he forgot where they were until -

“I - oh, is this hallway occupied?”

Zev spun them both around , instinctively moving to place himself between Theron and the threat that was -

Alistair.  And was that Leliana giggling behind him?

“Quite.”  Zev leaned sideways.  “Nice to see you, Leliana.”  He put his blades up slowly and then backed up into Theron before turning around to kiss him again before looking over his shoulder.  “But yes, this is my hallway and my Warden, and you’ll need to find a different one for yours.”

[wyrdsistersofthedas]

Well Shit: The Elvhen Ritual (Part 4 of 4)

We have examined why the Well of Sorrows was so important to the ancient elvhen Sentinels, the origins of the Vir’abelasan, and whether Dirthamen’s Temple once contained a Well as well.  

If our theory that the Well of Sorrows is more than a plot device for Inquisition, and that it and many other important story elements for the rest of the Dragon Age series were previewed in earlier games, then it stands to reason there should be something like the Well of Sorrows in Origins or DA2.  And it is there. 

In fact, most of our Wardens drank from the Well, which could lead to a “Well, shit!” moment for the Warden if they are still alive (and make an [unlikely] appearance) in DA4.  

The ruins in the Brecilian Forest are extremely interesting.  There are so many important details in them that they could be a series of posts unto themselves.  They, and the ruins in the Dalish Origin, point to elves and humans living together side by side after the Veil was created for hundreds of years before Tevinter shows up.  

The Wiki says that the Brecilian Forest ruins are probably Tevinter in origin, but honestly that seems highly unlikely given what we find in them and the history we learn from the elf trapped in the spirit crystal.  There are signs that indicate these ruins once used eluvians as doors in some places and the presence of what is almost certainly a Well of Sorrows.

Before we get into the details of who created this well, let's first examine if it is actually a Vir’abelasan.  There are many indications that the “fountain” in the depths of the temple was used to prepare the honored elven elders for uthenera, just like the Well of Sorrows.  When you pick up the tablet that starts the Elven Ritual quest you get a message that says:

“Most of the carvings are faded. What little you can make out involves a scene where the honored dead is laid to rest inside a grand chamber.

There seems to be some kind of process involving the altar before the body can be laid to rest, but most of those runes are illegible.” 

The text could be interpreted as a funerary ceremony, but when you read the codex entry for the tablet, it details a process that seems very similar to the ritual that occurred when servants of Mythal placed their memories and knowledge in the Vir’abelasan before entering uthenera.

A Warden who didn’t know anything about the Vir’abelasan would, of course, have interpreted these scenes as some sort of cleansing ritual, but post Inquisition the image of an elf with vallaslin standing in a pool pouring something into the ‘water’ while being revered by other elves takes on another meaning.  

There are differences, of course.  There doesn’t seem to be an altar near the Well in Mythal’s Temple, and the “Well” is very small.  The Warden doesn’t seem to gain any great insights or whispers that help them understand the ancient mysteries.  Problematic, but not necessarily a sign that it was not a Well.  So what else do we have?

There are some other indications that there is a “will” or force influencing the actions of people who come in contact with the Brecilian Well/Fountain.  In the text describing the Warden’s thoughts and actions while interacting with the Fountain and altar are very interesting:

Some force or intelligence subtly prompts the warden away from ‘common’ mistakes, like leaving an offering.  It is interesting that small mistakes such as the offering are acceptable, but once the clay jug becomes involved shades punish those who do the ritual wrong.  It is interesting that shades attack the warden if they drink all of the water from the jug, leaving nothing to pour back into the fountain.  These shades can be defeated with relative ease, but it is a stern reminder to do the ritual correctly.  

The warden can still finish the ritual correctly even after the shades attack them, which again suggests that this ritual was supposed to be idiot proof.  It was more important to the creators of the ritual that it be finished than it was for it to be done correctly the first time.  This suggests that they expected the people performing the ritual to not know the proper forms of the ritual and that they might need a second chance.  This is suggestive and we will circle back to this idea in just a moment.

This may not be conclusive proof that this Fountain is a Well of Sorrows, but the totality of the evidence is certainly pointing that way.  The images inscribed on the tablet alone make it more than likely that the elves who once lived in the ruins knew about the ritual performed in Mythal’s Temple.  Now we have a few other questions to answer:  Is this an original Well of Sorrows?  A remnant that was revived by later generations of elves?  Or was it a recreation of a Well by elves who were not clear about exactly how to do the ritual?

Option 1: The Fountain is an original Well of Sorrows.  

Given the number of differences that exist between the ritual we see in Inquisition and the images shown on the tablet it seems unlikely that the Brecilian Forest Well is an original.  The elven mage who trapped his own spirit in a crystal just before the temple (and presumably it’s inhabitants) was destroyed, said that the ruins were built by humans, not elves.  These two facts together make it very unlikely that the Well is one of the originals dedicated to preserving the Sentinel’s knowledge.  

Option 2: The Fountain is a remnant of an earlier Well that was revived by later generations of elves and their human allies.

This is a distinct possibility.  All of the history we have of elves and humans in the post-Veil ages suggests that they lived and interacted together in Ferelden.  The elf in the spirit stone doesn’t seem to fear or resent humans, but rather describes both races living side by side.  

This fits a pattern we see at other important sites across Ferelden.  There is evidence at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, the Silverite Mines and Drake’s Fall in Awakening, and Ostagar that humans built important ritual centers and fortresses on the foundations of ruins from Elvhen Empire.  (Full disclosure here, the Ostagar evidence is a bit shaky in that the basement area of the Tower is an exact match for the ruins in the Dalish origin.  The fact that the designers decided to use that same human/elven motif at Ostagar, however, is suggestive.)  

Although Tevinter may have put a decorative spin on these and other locations, there is evidence that these ceremonial centers existed before Tevinter invaded Ferelden. 

Tevinter had already taken credit (perhaps rightly so, perhaps not) for destroying Arlathan so it is unlikely that any local elven tribes would see them as a potential ally.  It is far more likely that the elves found common ground with some of the Alamarri tribes or their descendants, the Avvar, the Clayne, and the Chasind and worked with them to rebuild important ceremonial sites that were laid waste during the wars fought among the elves after the Evanuris were sealed away or that may have been destroyed by the creation of the Veil.  This would explain why so many sites have traces of Alamarri influence, but also seem to have possessed eluvians.  (I will probably have to write more about this in another post.  This one is already creeping up in the word count.) 

The fact, however, that the Fountain behaves so differently than the Well of Sorrows, and does not seem to affect the Warden like the Well controls Morrigan or the Inquisitor, points to a third possibility.

Option 3: The elves recreated a Well as best they could, but were not clear about exactly how to make the ritual work as it did in ancient times.

There is also evidence that, while it was based on the Well, the Fountain was actually a not an original item, but an attempt to reclaim some elven glory.  Evidence for this possibility can be seen in the text inscribed on the ritual tablet and the “results” of drinking from the Fountain.  

The quest text says that the warden uses a series of pictographs, rather than the elven writing, to figure out how to open the uthenera chamber.  This suggests the text dates from a later date than Mythal’s temple because the who worshipped there did not need pictographs.  They could read elven.  How long does it take to forget your own written language?  

In the real world, the Maya seem to have lost their ability to read and write in their language in about a century.  The combination of the Spanish invasion of their homeland, the wars that followed, along with the diseases brought from Europe were a devastating combination.  The Spanish burning Mayan codices and (if I remember correctly) wiping out the Mayan priests along with their religion didn’t help the situation.  

This seems roughly analogous with what we see in the elvhen empire.  The wars between the elves along with the quickening could have taken a toll on the ancient elves ability to read and write in elven.  It probably was a slower loss, but it might explain why the tablet is half in script and half in pictographs.  

Of course, the pictographs were for the benefit of the ignorant humans moving into the region, who probably couldn’t read or write elven.  There doesn’t seem to be, however, any humans pictured on the tablet so it doesn’t seem likely that they were the primary audience for the tablet.

One final thought on this point: Is the Warden under a compulsion or geas to one of the Evanuris if they drank from the well?  And, honestly, there is no way to say yes or no at this point.  There is no sign that the Warden is hearing voices like Morrigan or the Inquisitor does, but there does seem to be some mild compulsions associated with the ritual leading up to the Fountain.  We don’t know whether the Fountain would have given the warden access to the eluvians that were probably still in that temple when the Fountain last was fully functional. Drinking from the Fountain does give the Warden access to the inner burial chamber, which is reminiscent of Mythal’s Well.

Given the fact that the elves, the Clayne, and Tevinter fought for control of the Brecilian Forest and the last Revenant and piece of the Juggernaut armor associated with the mage’s treasure quest is found in the burial chamber...it is possible the Fountain had already lost its knowledge and there were not enough elves who knew about the ritual to carry on with it after Tevinter was driven from the forest.  

Tevinter had to fight the elves and the Clayne “inch by inch...using terrible magic” to take over the Brecilian Forest.  This is reminiscent of the story the elf in the spirit stone tells the Warden, yet we have no proof of whether the temple had already been despoiled in earlier conflicts or if Magister Harach or another Tevinter took the knowledge of the Well.  

I also wonder if the Fountain was merely the gateway to the real Well on the inside of the chamber.  The tablet said that the elf with vallaslin stood in ‘water’ that was waste deep, and it would be pretty difficult to do that in the little puddle in the outer chamber.  Perhaps the real Well was actually the large, misty pool in the inner chamber.  All that seems certain is that there was not enough knowledge left in the Fountain to be noticeable to the Warden.  

Geas-y Wardens?

So is the Warden under a geas?  Even without the knowledge of the Fountain, there may be enough of a compulsion on the Well that the Warden could be in trouble if the Evanuris to whom the Fountain was dedicated is released from the Fade.  We have several possibilities as to who that might be.  Elgar’nan is all over the room and Andruil along with Sylaise can be seen in the alcoves. 

But there is one interesting and almost hidden figure in the room worth mentioning.  Look closely at the altar where the water from the Fountain is empowered (or whatever happens to it).  There is a symbol for another Evanuris on it.

Looks like a bear to me, a symbol for Dirthamen.  Could lead to interesting things....

-MM

Think you missed part of the “Well Shit” series?  Here are our previous posts:

Part 1: Searching for the Secrets of the Elvhen Gods

Part 2: Origins of the Vir'abelasan

Part 3: Dirth of Knowledge

Part 4: The Elvhen Ritual.

[desanguined]

✿ vibe check for maxima, elgar'nan and the priestess 8)

@mercysought [ relationship meme ]

bold for things i could definitely see or want,italics for things i could see or am unsure of and striked out for things i don’t want or cannot see.

MAXIMA

FRIENDSHIP.     childhood friends  /  work buddies or coworkers  /  family friends  /  friends with benefits  /  smoking buddies  /  adventure buddies  /  fake friends  /  recently friends  /  party buddies  /  friendship of need  /  dying friendship  /  circumstantial friendship  /  partners in crime  /  old friendship  /[your muse] is the good influence  /[your muse] is the bad influence  /[my muse] is the good influence  /[my muse] is the bad influence  /  opposites attract  /  ride or die  /  frenemies  /  roommates or flatmates  /  penpals  /  exes to friends  /  enemies to friends  /

ROMANCE.     childhood sweethearts  /[your muse is mines] childhood crush  /[my muse is yours] childhood crush  /  exes  /  exes to lovers  /  forbidden lovers  /  highschool sweethearts  /  secret relationship  /  opposites attract  /  long distance  /  unrequited [from your muses side]/  unrequited [from my muses side]/  unrequited [from both sides]/  skinny love  /  friends to lovers  /  enemies to lovers  /  spurious relationship  /  power couple  /  newly entered  /  soulmates [ metaphorical ]/  soulmates  [��literal ]/  awkward  /  turning toxic  /  toxic love  /  cheating [on your muse]/  cheating [with your muse]/ 

ANTAGONISTIC.     dangerous to each other  /  dangerous to others  /  unpredictable  /  rivals  /  petty  /  developing into sexual or romantic tension  /  based off family matters  /  based of off circumstance  /  based of professional matters  /  based off misunderstanding or lies  /  conflict of ideology  /  betrayal  /  hero - villain dynamic  /  enemies  /  fight club  /  friends turned enemies  /  lovers turned enemies  /  exes turned enemies  /  

PRIESTESS

FRIENDSHIP.     childhood friends  /  work buddies or coworkers  /  family friends  /  friends with benefits  /  smoking buddies  /  adventure buddies  /  fake friends  /  recently friends  /  party buddies  /  friendship of need  /  dying friendship  /  circumstantial friendship  /  partners in crime  /  old friendship  /[your muse] is the good influence  /[your muse] is the bad influence  /[my muse] is the good influence  /[my muse] is the bad influence  /  opposites attract  /  ride or die  /  frenemies  /  roommates or flatmates  /  penpals  /  exes to friends  /  enemies to friends  /  wolf murder buddies

FAMILIAL.     siblings [half]/  siblings [step]/[my muse] is an older sibling figure to your younger sibling figure  /[my muse] is a younger sibling figure to your older sibling figure muse  /[my muse] is a parental figure to yours  /[my muse] is a child figure to your muse  /  guardian figure  /  legal guardian  /  adoptive child  /  foster child  /[your muse] is taken under mines wing  /[my muse] is taken under yours wing  / 

ANTAGONISTIC.     dangerous to each other  /  dangerous to others  /  unpredictable  /  rivals  /  petty  /  developing into sexual or romantic tension  /  based off family matters  /  based of off circumstance  /  based of professional matters  /  based off misunderstanding or lies  /  conflict of ideology  /  betrayal  /  hero - villain dynamic  /  enemies  /  fight club  /  friends turned enemies  /  lovers turned enemies  /  exes turned enemies  / 

VENGEANCE DAD

FRIENDSHIP.     childhood friends  /  work buddies or coworkers  /  family friends  /  friends with benefits  /  smoking buddies  /  adventure buddies  /  fake friends  /  recently friends  /  party buddies  /  friendship of need  /  dying friendship  /  circumstantial friendship  /  partners in crime  /  old friendship  /[your muse] is the good influence  /[your muse] is the bad influence  /[my muse] is the good influence  /[my muse] is the bad influence  /  opposites attract  /  ride or die  /  frenemies  /  roommates or flatmates  /  penpals  /  exes to friends  /  enemies to friends  /

FAMILIAL.     siblings [half]/  siblings [step]/[my muse] is an older sibling figure to your younger sibling figure  /[my muse] is a younger sibling figure to your older sibling figure muse  /[my muse] is a parental figure to yours  /[my muse] is a child figure to your muse  /  guardian figure  /  legal guardian  /  adoptive child  /  foster child  /[your muse] is taken under mines wing  /[my muse] is taken under yours wing  / 

ANTAGONISTIC.     dangerous to each other  /  dangerous to others  /  unpredictable  /  rivals  /  petty  /  developing into sexual or romantic tension  /  based off family matters  /  based of off circumstance  /  based of professional matters  /  based off misunderstanding or lies  /  conflict of ideology  /  betrayal  /  hero - villain dynamic  /  enemies  /  fight club  /  friends turned enemies  /  lovers turned enemies  /  exes turned enemies  / 

[polarishymn-blog]

I'm bored so here is another theory. Be warned HERE BE SPOILERS!

Tacking on to the Elgar'nan theory here:

I discussed how I think the Evanuris were originally spirits. Well folks I have a personal head canon for my Inquisitor. Let me make this clear MY LAVELLAN INQUISITOR. NOT SAYING ANYONE HAS TO AGREE. I JUST USE THIS WHEN I PLAY THROUGH.

Ok? Ok.

Get your tinfoil hats on. This one is a doozy.

Lavellan is the spirit of sacrifice.

I hear people now like "that's ridiculous." Give me a chance to explain before you scroll on.

The Inquisitor is in the fade after being part of an explosion that kills EVERYONE ELSE. Even Corypheus takes a big ol L on this one.

Everyone is dead. What happens to Divine Justinia? A spirit that identifies with her so much it takes on her persona and memories. As does Compassion who becomes Cole. So we have a precedence for this.

Cole shows us that a spirit can take physical form. Justinia shows us that a spirit can fully believe they are that person. And the ancient elves just...these guys...looking at you Solas.

Var lath vir suledin!

I digress. So a spirit can not only retain the thoughts and memories of a person but take physical form.

"Then how come she doesn't know she is a spirit?" You ask?

Simple the spirit doesn't want to remember. It was a traumatic event. The person they identified with, quite possibly has been watching for some time, died a horrible death trying to save Justinia from that red lyrium blight infused ballsack. They basically ran into a situation any of us would have noped out of. All to try and save (for Lavellan) a woman that made no nevermind to them.

Instead our intrepid little elf is like "nah I should definitely fuck with that big scary guy and grab this clearly magical item."

In the immortal words of Sandal "BOOM!"

Everything goes to shit. Our lady elf wakes in the Fade with no memory how she got there. She recovers her memory later but not all of it. After the explosion there isn't shit until she wakes up.

Sus.

So she wakes up and spends the rest of her time throwing herself into one hellscape after another. Putting herself in constant danger and giving up whatever life they had before to save the world. Spoiler: and her fucking arm. Thank Solas. You lying manipulative beautiful bastard you.

Var lath vir suledin!

Speaking of that wolfish sex pistol...he has some...odd dialouge.

Solas: spirit wish to join then living. Demons are that wish gone wrong.

Interesting. He doesn't say they can't. Cole is proof they can. So lets look at some Cole and Solas exchanges:

Solas: The rifts draw spirits through, and the shock makes demons of them.

Cole: Pushing through makes you be yourself. You can hold onto the you.

Cole: Being pulled through means you don't have enough you. You become what batters you, bruises your being.

Solas: Yes, exactly. Deliberately crossing the Veil requires that a spirit form will, personality.

Solas: That concept of self gives a spirit the chance to maintain its nature.

So according to Cole a spirit that comes through willingly doesn't necessarily become a demon. Solas follows up with a spirit needs the will to do so and to form a personality. If the spirit has a blueprint...say...a person they identify with...they could assume that person's personality and indomitable will and focus.

His voice....sigh.

Let's move on to:

Solas: You may well become fully human, after all. I never thought to see it.

Cole: When did you see it before?

Solas: I did not say that I had.

Cole: No, you didn't. It's harder to hear, sometimes. Sorry.

Solas: Good luck, Cole. You have taken a difficult road.

Ya'll Cole can see/sense that Solas has seen this before. And he also knows who and what Solas is. Our murder bebe all but outs him several times. After Tresspasser you see the breadcrumbs clearly. This exchange could on the surface just be about them but as Solas is also a spirit taken form I find it interesting he doesn't say "You where once like me Solas." If he doesn't out him here he may not out the Inquisitor.

Next! Ah...the balcony scene. WHY MUST YOU BE SO DAMN CHARMING!

Solas: Has it affected you? Changed you in any way? Your mind, your morals, your... spirit?"

Lavellan: If it had do you really think I'd have notice?

Solas: No. That's an excellent point.

Lavellan: Why do you ask?

Solas: You show a wisdom I have not seen since... since my deepest journies into the ancient memories of the Fade.

Solas: If the Dailsh could raise someone with a spirit like yours. Have I misjudged them?

Ok...why is he emphasizing her spirit. Not soul. Not you. SPIRIT! He asks if the mark has affected her. But it could be his way of prying information without "hey bitch are you aware you are a spirit. I know crazy, right?" Js he does this "I like your spirit" talk more than once.

I enter into evidence a snippet from the heart shattering breakup conversation:

Solas: You have a rare and marvelous spirit.

I'm not crying. You're crying. DRINK MY TEARS PATRICK WEEKES YOU BEAUTIFUL BEING!

A rare and marvelous spirit huh...Cole what was it he said to you?

Cole: I didn't know there were spirits of wisdom.

Solas: There are few. Spirits form as a reflection of this world and its passions.

Solas: We will never lack for spirits of rage, or hunger, or desire. The world gives them plenty to mirror.

Solas: The gentler spirits are far more rare. We can ill afford the loss of even one spirit of wisdom, or faith...

Solas: Or compassion.

Or sacrifice! If compassion and wisdom are rare. How rare would sacrifice be?

Solas says the Inquisitor changed everything for him. He is someone who is ready to do whatever it takes to restore his people. Surly he would value sacrifice. If he came across a rare and marvelous spirit of sacrifice would he not at least be intrigued? Or inspired?

Let's face it he is an artist. His lady would definitely be his muse. Especially after she accidentally gives him permission to destroy the world.

...Dammit Lavellan.

Finally, why didn't our precious lying egg not mention this? When the Inquisitor is having the very terse elven conversation and the city elves are brought up this is the dialogue:

Solas: Why? What would it benefit some poor man in a Ferelden alieanage to learn his ancestors strode the land like gods? It would only make him bitter. Or inspire him to take a foolish risk and get himself killed.

Lavellan: You have decided his reaction for him.

Solas: Perhaps I have.

Clearly wolf boy has no problem keeping information from someone he thinks will only serve to harm them. If the Inquisitor knew they were a spirit perhaps Solas would think their reaction would be troublesome. Or even dangerous.

There is more but this is already ridiculously long. All this is to say my Lavellan was a real elf. She was killed during the explosion and a spirit of sacrifice identified with her so much she became her. The elf Solas falls in love with is (in my rp) like him. A rare spirit that became flesh and blood. She chose to be real like Cole can. Her lack of memory of the moment it happened is both self serving and part of the effects of becoming real. I know it is most likely all bs but it makes for an interesting thought.

Solas is the force that will end Thedas. Lavellan may be the sacrifice needed to stop it.

I hope you enjoyed this rant nobody asked for.

Oh and:

SOLAS! VAR LATH VIR SULEDIN!

[thebloodychampion]

💧 DROPLET - random angst headcanon ☁️ CLOUD - a soft headcanon 📎 PAPERCLIP - a random fact. // Malcolm / Fenrir // Danny // Lyon // Jerker // Etienne // Elgar'nan // Nicolas // Sethius // Archer

@justasimplesecretary​

💧 DROPLET - random angst headcanon

Malcolm: His past is completely unknown before he came to the gallows in Kirkwall. He also doesn’t talk about it, but rumor has it, he came actually from Tevinter and escaped his slave master.

Fenrir: Fenrir killed his own mother and father when he first transformed into a werewolf. He still owns the house they lived in.

Danny: When Danny first transformed into an animagus, he literally ate his girlfriend and her lover.

Lyon: Lyon almost drowned and that gave him an imense fear of water, especially deep waters.

Jerker: Jerker was actually a very confident man in his past (he still is), but he got trapped by someone in the fade for eternity. He had so much hatred inside of him because of that, he literaly turned into the nightmare demon and created an own portion of the fade for himself.

Etienne: Etienne came from a past where it was impossible as a woman (which jhe was born as) to become anything important. He used illusions and other things to make himself appear as a man. He has no idea what he looked like in younger days.

Elgar’nan: Elgar’nan plotted to kill Mythal and actually succeded in killing her host form.

Nicolas: As a crow, Nicolas killed way more people than anyone else should have.

Sethius: Sethius has sometimes a very hard to come to terms with being in the future, especially when he couldn’t communicate through the language barrier.

Archer: As Viscount Archer cut off mages hands, she wasn’t the best in dealing with trauma after all.

----

☁️ CLOUD - a soft headcanon 

Malcolm: Malcolm would do anything for his children, like anything. Even like going away so they can live a normal life, which in hindsight was maybe not the best decision.

Fenrir: Fenrir is surprisingly sweet to any newly bitten werewolves especially children and young people. He knows how hard it is since he was completely alone when he transformed and lived alone for most of his life.

Danny: Danny is overprotective of his younger sister Amelia.

Lyon: Lyon literally tried everything to find his twin sister Solona when she got sent to the circle in Ferelden. They both actually worked together when he was a guard for a short time in Vigil’s Keep.

Jerker: Jerker only trapped a small fragment of himself into the dragon so he could see Lilah through the dragon, sadly when Amaradin froze time, he also froze with him. 

Etienne: Etienne took in homeless girls, he didn’t care if they were human, elves or dwarves, to his brothel so they could work and have a place to sleep. He also respects if a girl doesn’t like want to please costumers. He just uses them for like making drinks and stuff.

Elgar’nan: Elgar’nan is really protective over Dreag’s body and makes sure that nobody besides Dreag’s family or Janus and his family, can touch him. He will literally take over and smack the living hell out of a stranger.

Nicolas: Nicolas freaking loves his daughters and wants the best for them. He does however have no contact with them.

Sethius: Sethius is surprisingly enough a family man, he loves his wife and his children, no matter what.

Archer: Archer is super cuddly after anything sexual.

-----

📎 PAPERCLIP - a random fact 

Malcolm: Malcolm’s main type of magic is spirit magic.

Fenrir: Fenrir was called by his given name in school and not his last name since no teacher could pronounce it.

Danny: Danny came to Hogwarts and couldn’t speak a word in English.

Lyon: Lyon is a real ginger, everything is ginger.

Jerker: Jerker actually had freckles but he removed them after a while, he thinks they don’t suit him anymore.

Etienne: Etienne works besides his brothel in the university of Val Royeaux, he teaches ancient history and specifically Tevinter history.

Elgar’nan: Elgar’nan doesn’t really care about the Dalish at all.

Nicolas: Nicolas is technically a noble as well, but he was always more interested in his father’s merchant prince title.

Sethius: Sethius has not used blood magic ever since he came to the future.

Archer: Archer eyes were originally a very vibrant blue, but now they are like grey and milky due to his blindness.