#emmrich would be so heartbroken for rook

[ollypopwrites]

They pulled Rook out of the fade only hours ago, and the first thing Emmrich hears as he leaves his room with an urgent letter meant for the Mourn Watch is weeping or at the very least talking (depending on your own headcanon) from the infirmary.

He’s heard Rook talking to Varric before, he’s felt the ache of empathy — his first instinct to reach out his hand and introduce his parents. I understand, it’s sprinkled through every turn through the Gardens.

Victory to the living. Shrines and deep affection for those who had walked amongst them who no longer do — understanding that the pomp and circumstance around death is also for those left behind and not just the dead themselves.

The Mourn Watch isn’t just a catchy name or a legacy, it’s a promise. Initiate Watchers are first and foremost introduced to the importance of grief. The entire reason they exist is to acknowledge the importance of a life lived. For every wail from a loved one was countless moments of joy, laughter, pain, love, and countless other emotions. Proof that a person mattered.

He’s heard weeping/final goodbyes so often, it never stops pulling at his heart strings, but over time it has become a comfort. But it hurts more to hear Rook.

Rook who has comforted every companion with a loss. Bellara and Cyrian. Davrin and his fellow Wardens. Harding and the Titans. Neve and Dock Town/the Viper or Alia’s victims. Lucanis and Caterina or Treviso and the blighted Crows. Taash and Shathaan. Emmrich and his lichdom or Manfred.

Rook has held their hand, been their strength and their guidance so they can all come out on the other side and become Heroes of the Veilguard.

Meanwhile, Rook’s been stuck in a state of denial for almost a year. Toyed with, offered empty hope that Varric was just hurt, just needed time to recover but was still their comfort and mentor. He was holding their hand while Rook became the Leader of the Veilguard. He was there whenever Rook had doubts or felt overwhelmed.

But none of it was real. And acceptance of the loss of Varric was forced on Rook at the same time Rook watched one of their companions die, thinking at least Lucanis had also joined them, and then got stuck in a prison meant to play on one of the hardest things to grapple with: regret.

For 3 weeks one of Emmrich’s dearest friends/his partner has been missing, only to come out of the Fade with fresh grief no one on the team knew they hadn’t yet had to face. And that’s what Emmrich is supposed to be good at.

That’s Mourn Watch basics. That’s everything he sees so often and affects him so deeply with his corpse whispering. It’s what he faced when he lost his parents. It is part of the reason he is as empathetic and gentle as he is.

But Solas put Rook through a long unwitting torture that was so convincing, so delicately played, that in turn Rook convinced the entire team nothing was amiss.

So, while I believe that, yes, Emmrich is fascinated by Solas. Emmrich has empathy for solas. Emmrich does have academic curiosities and interest in speaking with him.

I don’t believe, as a man who loves what the Mourn Watch does and who very dearly loves Rook (platonically or romantically), he’d have nothing to say about the cruelty of what Solas did to them.

[ladylentejita]

Orphan crow Rook had a peculiar habit. Upon returning from a mission—or in the early morning before preparing for one—they would curl up in a ball with a blanket by the hearth in the common room.

The team had always found this quirk both surprising and endearing, but no one had ever asked about it. That is, until Emmrich joined. One morning, over breakfast, he broke the silence with his ever-polite and gentlemanly demeanor.

“Rook, if it’s not too intrusive to ask,” Emmrich began, setting down his tea with a thoughtful expression. “I’ve noticed you have this peculiar routine to start or end your day. May I ask how long you’ve been doing it?”

Rook chuckled lightly at the question. The rest of the team fell quiet, their curiosity evident.

“I’ve done it since I lived in the orphanage, actually,” Rook replied casually, taking a sip of coffee while still fully wrapped in their blanket. “I used to do it whenever I felt lonely or scared. I thought… this must be what it feels like to be held by someone that cares for you.”

The words were delivered with such natural ease, such simple honesty, that they starkly contrasted with the horrified, heartbroken expressions of their teammates.

“Rook!” Harding shot out of her chair so quickly it scraped loudly against the floor. Her eyes were glistening as she threw herself at the blanket bundle, wrapping Rook in a firm, protective hug.

Bellara and Tash followed immediately, equally distraught, piling into the embrace with their leader.

Rook laughed softly, trying to brush off the reaction, but they didn’t push anyone away. Instead, they accepted the affection with quiet gratitude, letting themselves be held.

Bonus 1:

From that moment on, Spite became relentless. Every time Rook was within view, Spite would shout in Lucanis’s mind, “Hurry. Go. HUG HER!”

Lucanis never quite mustered the courage to act on it. But something shifted. Rook’s favorite dishes and desserts started appearing more frequently on the menu, prepared with meticulous care. The cushions on the couch by the hearth—where Rook always curled up—were now kept clean and freshly fluffed.

Bonus 2:

Manfred began joining Rook for their hearth ritual. Every afternoon without fail.

[kirain]

Rook/Emmerich fic Rook/Emmerich fic ROOK/EMMERICH FIC!

Lmfao! Here you go, anon.

The room was quiet, save for the soft crackle of the hearth and the scratching of Emmrich's quill against parchment. His study was dimly lit, the warm glow of candlelight dancing across his cluttered desk, laden with books, maps, and papers detailing plans too dangerous to speak of. Though nothing was more dangerous than the journey he was about to embark on, the reality of death pervading his mind.

With a dejected sigh, he dipped his quill one last time, the ink glistening as he signed his name with a flourish.

"Darling!" he called as Vae entered, her cerulean eyes grabbed his attention. "I'm just finishing reviewing my bequeathments. It made me consider… a topic I must broach." He stood to face her, nervously rubbing his hands. "The eve before we kill a god, my thoughts turn to mortality. And what we are to each other."

Vae tilted her head, her smile laced with curiosity. "All right."

Emmrich paused, his expression uncertain, as though balancing on the edge of a precipice. "Even under the best circumstances, you will outlive me, Rook. You've… grown to mean much to me and… I care for you, Rook! Deeply. But there are such years between us, I shouldn't heap you with that burden."

Her smile faded, replaced by something softer, more sincere. "I get it. You're scared because you love me."

"What?" His voice faltered, betraying his usual composure. He could sense she was teasing him, despite the gravity of his insinuation.

"It's fine to say it," she pushed, searching for something he wasn't ready to give.

"I can't… at my—"

"You're older than me. I get it." Her words were firm but devoid of judgment, though Emmrich still thought she was joking.

"I'm perfectly serious," he replied, his tone heavy with exasperation.

"So am I!" she snapped back, her patience slipping. "Why are you making this such a big deal?"

"One of us has to pay attention to these things," he countered, his words coming out sharper than intended.

"One of us needs the guts to say how he feels!" Vae's voice rang out, rousing and raw. There was no anger in it—just frustration born from longing.

Emmrich froze, his eyes widening, a flicker of shock breaking through his unflappable facade. For a moment, it seemed as though he had something to add; some rehearsed reply teetering on the edge of his lips. But then, as if overwhelmed by Vae's very presence, he looked away, his shoulders sinking.

The silence that followed stretched on for far too long, thick and uncomfortable. Vae stared at him, willing him to speak, to mend the gap he'd suddenly torn between them. She could feel her pulse quicken, her anger rising with every second that passed without a response, but his eyes remained fixed on the floor.

His refusal to meet her gaze, to give her the acknowledgment she so desperately craved, stung more than the words he hadn't said. But soon her anger crumbled into something worse—disappointment. She could feel it welling up inside her, making her chest clench against her ribs as the realisation settled: he wasn't going to say anything. He wasn't going to do anything.

A sharp ache pierced her wounded heart, but she couldn't force him to speak, and she didn't want to. Slowly, she let her arms drop to her sides. "Look, I... let's pack. Eve before we face a god, right?"

The older man straightened up. He wanted to apologise, but amidst his creeping guilt all he could muster was, "As you say."

The look on Vae's face mounted his guilt tenfold. He could see the hurt in her eyes, much to his dismay. He caused it, and for that he'd never forgive himself.

As she turned away, he lowered his head in shame, every nerve ablaze. He knew he should say something, but for once his extensive vocabulary failed. So many words, so many meanings, and yet none seemed sufficient. Fear, degradation, the weight of his deepest insecurities, and the thought that Vae would one day have to mourn him, alone and heartbroken, chipped away at his sensitive soul.

He kept quiet, even as his inner voice screamed for her to stay. Only Manfred's inquisitive hiss jolted him from his stupor, earning him a rare look of reproach.

"Don't start," he grumbled, his eyes drifting back to Vae.

The further she moved, the more every instinct screeched at him to call out, to bring her back, to make things right. But the words stuck in his throat, his feet rooted to the spot. He could taste the cowardice in his hesitation, and the helplessness of watching her saunter away, but he convinced himself it was better. For her, it was better. His desires didn't matter.

"Actually... no," she whispered, stopping just shy of the door. "No, we're not leaving it like this."

He flinched as she marched back to him, her expression indomitable. "Rook?"

She raised a respectful hand. "Emmrich, do you really think I never considered your age?"

His fingers twitched. "I..."

"Because I did. Of course I did."

"Darling—"

"My parents were murdered, Emmrich. Right in front of me", she said quickly, causing him to wince. "My poor, sweet baby brother, too." She looked away, her brow arching. "I watched them die. I watched..." Tears prickled at the back of her eyes, but she swallowed loudly, forcing them down.

"Oh, Vaelyn..." Emmrich struggled. He reached out to comfort her, but thought better of it, worried she'd recoil in disgust. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you relive that awful memory."

She shook her head, meeting his gaze once more. "I know what it's like to love someone and lose them long before you should. But I've chosen to face that pain again... because it's worth it. You're worth it, Emmrich." Her words were like a physical blow, but she wasn't finished. "Not having you in my life, not because of the inevitable, but because you're too scared to share the time you have... hurts more than I can bear. Worse than losing you naturally."

Emmrich stood speechless, struck by the depth of her confession. He knew there was nothing he could say to undo the pain he'd caused her, but Vae wasn't looking for an apology. She was telling him what she needed, what she wanted. The truth.

"If you think you're the only one tortured by the concept of time," she added, her voice faint, "you're wrong. I think about my brother every day. About the time he lost. He was so much younger than me, Emmrich. So full of life he deserved to live." She took a breath, a brief respite. "But I also think about the time we had together, and that makes me smile. I'm glad I had him, for however short or long it was." Her eyes softened, and she reached out to touch his arm. "If you care about me, then stop hiding behind your age. Because you're right—we don't have forever. We only have the here and now, but that's enough for me."

Emmrich remained silent, his heart pounding like a drum. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions, more wild and unpredictable than he'd ever allowed. He hadn't known the full weight of what she carried—the profound, unstoppable pain. Yet there she was, choosing him despite it all.

The guilt he felt for holding back, for trying to reject her in the coldest way, washed over him like a ruinous flood. And in the quiet aftermath of her words, there was a part of him that felt something shift; a crack in the armour he'd built for himself.

Suddenly, before Vae could react, he pulled her into a tight, penitent hug. His arms wrapped around her with a force that conveyed everything he hadn't been able to say, his face burying itself in her lush, floral-scented hair.

"I'm so sorry," he whimpered. "I've been such a fool. I never wanted to hurt you. Never." He squeezed tighter, as if trying to make up for the rift he'd thrust between them.

At first, Vae didn't respond, her body stiff in his embrace, but being held with such genuine remorse, his arms trembling with self-condemnation, shattered her resolve. The fight swiftly left her mind, her hands riding up his back as she melted against him.

"Emmrich..."

"I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice hoarse. "You were right, I was scared. Unfathomably scared."

Vae shook her head, clinging to his shirt in an attempt to soothe him. "Don't apologise for being scared. Just... don't shut me out. Please."

"I won't," he said, his bare hand moving to cradle her head. "I won't shut you out. Not again. I promise."

[profoundlyfaded]

You can tell it’s about 3am and I can’t sleep because I’m lying here thinking about why offering Emmrich the chance in-game to become a Lichlord is such a fucking, stupid idea.

Luckily, the game has clad all our companions in plot armour prior to the Point of No Return but realistically, Rook would be beyond stupid to support Emmrich in becoming a Lichlord at the point it is presented to us in the game.

Emmrich is easily your most powerful ally; I’m not talking about him in the combat sense, necessarily, but in terms of what he is actually there to do for Rook. Fade expert. Ultimately, he is the one who manages to track down your point of escape from the Fade.

So why, when poised on the edge of an apocalypse, would you support him to do a ritual you know could kill him?

Imagine for a moment that DATV had the decision systems of BG3, in particular, I’m thinking about Gale’s God mechanics here, you missed something and Emmrich died as the result of the ritual. What then, particularly if that thing was ten hours of gameplay ago?

Soft locked in the Fade is the answer to that!

It’s such a high-stakes decision to put on the mortuary table. It’s not at all comparable to what the other character decisions are either. Emmrich’a decision is actual life or death. It’s mental.

Ultimately, I think if he chose to give up Manfred, the Lichlords could have been called upon for aid with Emmrich undergoing the final rites at some point after the events of the game.

And actually, that is possible to simulate in the game leaving that open to him because you just don’t finish his personal quest after deciding not to revive Manfred. So long as everyone else is levelled up, your factions are levelled up then Emmrich can survive the final battle without being having Hero of the Veilguard status (I did this with Taash in my second playthrough because I was so heartbroken by her mothers death, that roar…. Poor baby).

This post is in no way a jumping board for a bit of Emmrich/Rook angst as he nears the end of his life with the option of Lichdom still open to him… nope.

[dngrs-untld-hrshps-unnmbrd]

Graven Hearts

After being unofficially banished from the Mourn Watch, rebellious Lisbette must recruit one of her former professors, Emmrich Volkarin, to help her defeat two ancient Elvhen gods. Hurt that her favourite professor never stood up for her when she needed him, Lisbette takes delight in provoking the handsome, silver-haired necromancer, perhaps enjoying herself a little too much.

Female Rook | Age Difference | Daddy vibes | low key bratting | Hurt/Comfort | Eventual Smut

Start with Chapter One

Chapter Five

The Memorial Garden is blooming under moonlight as they walk among the graves, hand in hand. They light candles everywhere, and then settle down on the grass together. There are so many flowers that Lisbette plucks them and begins to fashion flower crowns. 

‘You’re smiling, Lisbette,’ Emmrich remarks.

She twines flowers together. ‘I suppose I can’t help myself. I have missed it here.’

‘I’m so pleased to hear it. This place is so important to me. After all, it will be a big part of my immortality.’

Lisbettle looks up in surprise. ‘Your...what?’

‘I have been wondering how to broach this subject with you,’ he says carefully. ‘I have many reasons to hope that you become a Watcher again one day, and one of them is that I intend to become a lich lord, one of the great protectors of the Necropolis.’

Lisbette has heard of the lich lords, but few have encountered them. They were all once necromancers like her and Emmrich. 

‘And as you know, I’m afraid of death.’ He frowns at his hands as if believing that this is a failing on his part. 

She reaches forward and touches his hand. ‘You would make a majestic lich, Emmrich.’

He looks up. ‘You really think so? I knew a fellow Watcher would understand. But as my lover, you must have certain feelings on the matter?’

Lisbette continues making her flower crown. He would move closer to the Mourn Watch, when she wanted to stay far away from them. His lifespan would far outstrip hers. Were they doomed before they’d really begun? 

The liches of the Grand Necropolis were distant, other-wordly beings who separated themselves from the living. Emmrich’s lips would no longer be warm, for he would have no flesh and blood. Would his heart turn cold as well, or rather, the space in his chest where his heart had been? Lisbette’s insides ached at the thought. If she had something, a friend, a lover, a home, a sense of safety, was it always destined to be taken away from her? 

‘I will be sorry to lose you,’ she whispers. Sorry? More like heartbroken. 

‘Lose me?’

‘My feelings for you wouldn’t change no matter where you go and what you become, but you....’ It hurt too much to go on.

‘You believe I will change, dearest?’ he asks.

‘Undeath must surely change what’s in your heart. The dead have no need of the living beyond the services we perform for them in the Necropolis.’

Emmrich sighs. ‘This is why I have always said the liches must come out and walk among us more often,’ he says in an exasperated tone. ‘There are so many misconceptions about those who have attained immortality. My heart will not change because of undeath. I will feel all that I do now, just as keenly as ever.’ He hesitates. ‘My body, however...’

His body would be bones, and only bones. 

‘I’m not afraid of bones, Emmrich.’

‘Yes, but I...’ he makes a vague gesture toward his body.

‘Oh. Oh . You mean you--yes, of course. Your anatomy would change as you would be a skeleton.’

‘What we indulged in earlier won’t be easy. But not impossible!’ he hastens to add. ‘I’ve been researching my options, should I ever find a companion.’

‘Do liches feel desire?’

‘Certainly they do, but it is difficult for them to achieve any...satisfaction. But for an advanced spellcaster like myself, there are ways to improvise. I’m rather excited to try them. With the right someone. Who I hope might be you, Lisbette.’

Her lover would become a majestic immortal being made of bones and magic and he would find ways of improvising and spellcasting so they could still be intimate. This was a lot more than she was expecting from a walk in the gardens. 

‘I think your dream is a beautiful one, Emmrich.’ 

She leans forward and kisses him. Their relationship was too new and it was too soon to say I don’t care what you choose as long as we’re together . Even though it was what she felt. 

Lisbette places a flower crown atop his head. ‘Whatever you decide when the time comes, I’ll be by your side.’

--

Lisbette, Neve and, Bellara are making their way through the crowded Docktown markets when someone runs up to her and shoves a piece of paper in Lisbette's hands. They're gone before she can tell who it is. 

As she reads the note, she feels her cheeks turns scarlet with anger, and she shoves it in her pocket.

‘Everything all right, Lisbette?’ Neve asks as Lisbette is looking around for the one who gave her the note. They’ve disappeared from sight. 

‘Fine,’ Lisbette says through her teeth. ‘As long as I can thump some Venatori right now.’

Neve points down a side street. ‘What a good idea. Let’s go this way.’

Later that evening when they return through the eluvian, Lisbette goes directly to Emmrich’s room. 

He looks up from his desk and gets to his feet as he sees the distress on her face. ‘Is everything all right, dearest?’

She passes him the crumpled note to read.

A necromancer is helping the Venatori. His identity may be of interest to you, as he is someone who is close to home. And even closer to you.

‘Someone handed me this in the street. They’re trying to frame you as a spy for the Venatori.’

‘Me?’ Emmrich says in mild surprise. ‘I’m working with you all and with the Venatori? Sounds rather tiring. I take it you don’t believe the message?’

‘Of course not. But who would do such a thing, and why?’

Emmrich studies the note and then tosses is onto his desk. ‘I think I recognize this handwriting. It’s very similar to an old colleague of mine, and we had a falling out. She ran foul of the Watchers for her dark uses for necromancy.’

This was sounding worse and worse to Lisbette. Emmrich has an enemy who is trying to get him in trouble with the Mourn Watch, or even killed as a traitor to everything they’re trying to do here. 

‘We must do something about this.’

‘It’s merely professional jealousy. Johanna can write all the silly notes she wishes.' Emmrich picks up his staff, and wraps both hands around it as he leans on it.

‘How can you be so casual about this? You’ve been wrongly accused.’

Emmrich smiles. ‘Dearest, as lovely as you are with those flashing eyes, you needn’t be upset on my part.’

There’s a tight feeling in Lisbette’s chest that she can barely breathe through. ‘But we must do something. It’s not fair.’

‘I have been meaning to have things out with Johanna for a long time. It appears our meeting will be sooner rather than later.’

‘I hope I will be there when you do. People shouldn’t accuse others of things they did not do.’ To Lisbette horror, tears well up in her eyes and her voice cracks. 

‘Oh, darling,’ Emmrich murmurs, putting his staff aside and folding her in his arms. He holds her tightly against his chest. ‘This isn’t about my old enemy, is it?’

She clings to the front of his shirt, trying to talk but also too stubborn to make a noise in case it sounds like a sob. 

‘I know everything,’ he says gently. ‘I wrote to Myrna asking for a full account of the matter of your exile.’

Lisbette takes a shuddering breath, and then looks up at him. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

‘Because to speak of it before you were ready would hurt you, and I first wished to show you I am someone you can trust.’

‘You aren’t ashamed of me for drawing the anger of all the Nevarran nobility?’ 

HIs moustache twitches in amusement. ‘The Nevarran nobility? Those tiresome people? I suppose the gentry are perfectly fine. Once they’ve passed on.’

Lisbette gives a choking laugh. 

‘In this life, however, they seem to have little regard for those beneath them. I am sorry for the way they treated you. Reasoning with the nobles is near useless, but if you wish me to speak with the Mourn Watch leadership...’

‘No. I don’t care what they think of me. I don’t want anything from them.’

‘The nobles or our own faction?’ he asks gently.

Lisbette wipes the tears from her cheeks. ‘Both.’ She notices the way he’s looking at her, his eyes filled with doubt. 

‘When I ascend to become a lich, I may have a few things to say to Mourn Watch leadership from my new position.’ He says this with steel in his voice. A little ice as well. Enough to make her shiver. But not in fear of him. In awe. 

He moves around behind his desk. ‘But I do not need to be a lich to write a strongly worded letter to Mourn Watch leadership, remonstrating with them about the disregard they have shown for one of their own. Would that be agreeable?’

‘What would you put in such a letter?’ Lisbette asks curiously. 

‘Let’s find out, shall we?’ He opens his draw, and there is a griffon feather quill lying next to his.

Emmrich smiles to himself, and then takes it out and presents it to her. ‘I just remembered. This is for you.’

A quill, made from one of Assan’s wing feathers if she’s not mistaken, and the nib is polished silver. It’s exquisite. 

‘But why...’ 

‘Because quills always made you happy, dearest. I hope they still do.’

He remembered after all this time? 

‘I love you,’ she blurts out, and then covers her mouth with her hand. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. But whether you are a man or a lich, I don’t want to be without you.’

Emmrich’s eyebrows raise in surprise, but then he smiles. ‘Do you mean that, dearest?’

He was always her favourite, and she always did have a crush on him. Now that he’s hers, her heart has exploded with feelings for him and they’re flying out of her mouth. 

Lisbette nods.

Emmrich kisses her. ‘Good, because I love you.’ He sits down. ‘Now, the letter. I’m going to enjoy writing this, and after, I’m going to show you just how much I love you. Another walk in the memorial gardens perhaps, or there is a wonderful little place to eat in Nevarra that I know. Or perhaps we will stay here and enjoy each other’s company,’ he says, sorting through his writing materials for the right paper. 

Running her new quill feather through her fingers, Lisbette stands by his chair and watches him write a long message with angry, indignant flourishes on the letters, and many long and satisfying words. 

The letter may not do any good, but it doesn’t matter to Lisbette. This is the loveliest thing anyone has ever done for her. 

[dardinan-ingellvar]

Rook Learns The Truth

Dardin'an awakes with a start, looking over at Emmrich asleep beside them, deep asleep and dreaming of something lovely given the smile on his face. They don't have the heart to wake him, but they silently rush to the mirror to wash their face with some water in the bowl on the table. They look at themself, examining the details of their face, and running their hands over their torso, making sure they're as they should be...and in one piece.

"Okay...I'm just...me...But...that was too real. C'mon, Rook, you know it's just a nightmare...But how-...?"

"How, what, dearest?" Emmrich yawns, sitting up in the bed.

Dardin'an tenses a little and sighs "I suppose...Now that the gods are gone...We can breathe...I can tell you...I have these...dreams. They're so vivid, like memories, but they aren't my own...Or they are, but...Like they're from another life. They didn't start until I met you. And now? It's like a flood. The first had to do with that bangle on your wrist. The one with the chain and the charms. Soul, heart, and flesh...The ways we're bound..."

"How did you-...?!" Emmrich looks melancholy, heartbroken, and astonished all at once.

"...Because it's my memory. I remember giving you that bracelet. Or, when we met, I remembered giving someone that bracelet. One of my first loves, but I didn't remember who. I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried. And then, it was like my mind didn't know how to function, so I moved on, and tried to ignore it. But I had this nightmare tonight. I was exploring a ruin, trying to find a poor lost spirit who was at risk of turning demon. An old friend or family member, I think. But the ruins were booby-trapped, and I failed to notice and stepped right into one. An ax fell from the ceiling, and gutted me...Before I passed, I saw your face in mourning...Then I woke up...Only, I still felt the pain, feared my insides were falling out...And I know it's real, but I don't-"

Emmrich has tears falling from his eyes, and an otherwise unreadable expression.

Dardin'an sees him in the mirror and turns around. "Please, Emmrich...Say something...."

He looks to Dardin'an, still processing what they've just told him. "What...can I say? You're claiming to be my first love, Rook. And you know things you shouldn't be privy to. Things I haven't even told my closest friends over the years. I believe you. Of course I do. You wouldn't make this up, but how?"

Dardin'an shakes their head "I don't know...I just know I'm seeing these memories...and they feel like mine, not just some...psychic link..."

Emmrich tries to clear his head, and tries to piece the puzzle together. "Well...I remember tell of the baby that was found being concerningly thin...as if it was a wonder it was alive at all...What if-..."

Dardin'an winces "...What if the baby didn't make it? So...what? A spirit took over?"

Emmrich shakes his head "A spirit is far too developed. You'd be more aware of your state of being, and would have known long before you met me. No...I think...In order for this to work, a wisp would have had to take hold. But to ensure the body didn't decay, it would have had to be...soon after. Within a day, at least."

Dardin'an sighs "So...I-...or...she...This body was dead...I took over? What does that mean?"

"It means, you are incredibly unique, and you are a wonder for finding your way back to me...I love you, Rook. That has not changed, nor will it"

Dardin'an hugs themself uncomfortably "That is a weight off my mind, but...I'm still not who...or what...I've always believed I was. How am I supposed to just...move on?"

Emmrich pulls them into a gentle embrace "You never have to, darling. It is a monumental revelation...But you are still you, my dear...The last 30 years have not been for nothing. You are not even the person I once loved. You contain a fragment of them, the part that knew me and loved me, but you are very different still. You are your own person, regardless of your origin, and I love you no less for it...For whatever it may be worth..."

Dardin'an clings to him "It's worth more than you know...But I may need time to process this..."

Emmrich kisses their head and gently strokes their hair "Of course, my love...Take all the time you need...But come back to bed. It may help to rest..."

Dardin'an follows him and, after some effort, does fall back asleep, wrapped around Emmrich, for a thankfully dreamless rest of the night.

[utilitycaster]

did companion quests this morning before driving for two hours for nothing (site visit that got fucked up) so I'm going to send some emails but first let us recap because it is a WILD series of events I have had.

Went to the Necropolis (I always start singing The Church's Metropolis in my head when I say "Necropolis") to lay flowers on Emmrich's parents' graves while he talks to me about lichdom. I'm aware of the consequences thereof though I know it's a ways off, and learned wild new things about Hezenkoss, but specifically it sets up such a fascinating conundrum. Great job; it's fun to play this as a Mourn Watcher who isn't a mage, incidentally, because the dialogue actually handles that scenario gracefully for once.

Went back to the Lighthouse, where Lucanis and Davrin were getting drunk and swapping stories. They're bonding! Finally!

Went to Dock Town to go to dinner with Neve, who is like "Hal's not there so sorry we're skipping stones" and this turns into her having an epiphany on the case with Aelia. It's a good moment and I'm going to talk about it later because...

Lucanis's companion quest (which, as I understand it, is NOT available if you chose to save Minrathous) is also in Dock Town; Teia and Viago have information that's too hot for Treviso so they meet you in the Cobbled Swan instead. They reveal that Caterina's ring was thrown out, which is NOT a thing Illario (only Dellamorte present) would do, which means it's a signal. At this point, Spite takes over and addresses Rook and you go into Lucanis's Mind Palace Prison and it's INCREDIBLE. Genuinely one of the most intense and wild social encounters. I have like 5 memes in mind for later. Literally the only criticism I have is that as you go through the four "locks" (insecurities slash traumas slash Lucanis being more than a little suicidal) is that the Veilguard Team Insecurity should have been represented by Davrin rather than Harding; ngl I missed a lot of Harding's mixed feelings about Spite because that's very early in the game and I tended to do Rogue + Mage partners for quests early on and wasn't as good at eavesdropping on Lighthouse conversations so I kind of missed Harding's trepidation, whereas Lucanis and Davrin's animosity is made much more central. But Caterina and ESPECIALLY Neve (who, because I'm romancing neither Lucanis nor Neve, gets some UNHINGED commentary from Spite) and Illario are all flawless encounters. And THEN after you convince Lucanis to work with Spite and most importantly that he deserves to live and stop punishing himself forever (fun fact! the comedy mask options, which usually aren't my bag? feel really natural and good here, which I think makes sense, as a person who has irl talked more than one person, including myself, off both some dark emotional paths and also bad trips, usually not at once) you both come to and Viago and Teia are like why are both of you dissociating. focus up. A+ quest only one note.

I then returned to the lighthouse where Neve has Emmrich do necromancy on a Shadow Dragon's skull, which is all very nice, and THEN immediately Lucanis is like. Rook! I baked a pie that is Neve's favorite! Have I fucked up everything ever? And, of course, I was like "please for the love of the maker, in whom Rook doesn't believe* tell her how you feel." Anyway this rules.

I think I'll have to finish the full playthrough to give final judgment, and I do think saving Minrathous would be interesting, but from what spoilers I know and from what I've said previously about Neve I think saving Treviso is genuinely the stronger story. Like, on a main story narrative level Treviso is more defenseless and the Shadow Dragons are screwed but Minrathous itself isn't nearly as fucked up by the dragon attack as Treviso would be, but also the Dock Town folks rally better than the Antivans do and that extends very much to Neve and Lucanis. Neve is furious and heartbroken, but she shows up to the story deeply cynical and there's something extremely rewarding about having her come back and say "I knew it, I can only rely on myself, people always let you down, everything sucks and the work will never be done" and to, through persistent work and patience, show her that sometimes people fuck up or let you down and they didn't mean to hurt you and sometimes they can make amends (to the point that we are on quite good terms now!) whereas if you abandon Treviso something breaks in Lucanis and never really recovers. Like, both of them are very pragmatic, but Lucanis does, deeply, want to see the best in people despite everything, and Neve is already, as I said, very cynical and self-reliant even before she's hardened. Also frankly she comes into the story somewhat more mentally well having not immediately been in a torture prison experiencing demon possession for the past ten months. Not that anyone here is mentally well, the reason I'm so obsessed with this story is because "a bunch of highly competent bisexuals with extreme perfectionism issues and various flavors of anxiety and depression move into magical co-op housing, fight god" is, you know, kind of my whole deal, but Lucanis is much more fragile than she is to start.

*I literally played Mourn Watch entirely for the Old Kingdom/Locked Tomb/General Goth Tendencies of it all, and also because I saw a chart that said it was one of the less popular factions and so I was like well then, I shall pick that one, but I cannot stress how much as a Jewish person it speaks to me. Like wow a focus more on ritual and works and importance of knowledge and duty as opposed to faith? Thinking cremation is a weird death custom? The belief that there is a particular importance and selflessness in the work you do to lay the dead to rest? Kind of meh about the main religion of much of the surrounding world but must admit the aesthetic fucks? Anyway. Highly recommend Mourn Watch.

Also btw I learned no one knows what Vorgoth is (which is very funny because we know what he DOES, he executes people who do high crimes against necromancy) but we don't know if he can fuck. He DOES collect landscape paintings? Also if you're Mourn Watch Myrna is kind of mean to you and it's pretty great.

[vaguely-concerned]

I've been trying to figure out a dynamic between neve and rye that I find more compelling, because right now there's not much of anything there for me to sink my little teeth into. but I think I've landed on something delicious with the idea that especially after minrathous gets fucked, rye looks at neve and sees myrna -- someone he feels he keeps letting down horribly no matter how hard he tries not to and can't quite achieve the approval of/connection with that he wishes so it's better to just pull away completely and disengage rather than stay in that unshifting shame. neve is (very understandably) measured and distant with him after what happened, and he's flashing back to his student days of myrna gazing at the perpetually hungover heartbroken heap of a person of him on the other side of her desk every time he missed the deadline of a paper or project like '...can we at least both agree that this is. a bit disappointing. especially considering your potential.' (and him all smudged black eyeshadow and numb ruefulness being like 'sure that's a very kind way to put it myrna thank you'.)

aside from the 'if I let him get too deeply into this he'll go the way of brom and it'll be all my fault (again)' element, neve thinks rye is dismissing her and her city/being a bit callous in the same way he was after varric's death (listen. how fucking wild must rook's reaction to losing a beloved mentor seem to the rest of the crew who aren't seeing the blood magic paper doll ghost varric the whole time, especially those who got to see them interact. you WOULD think 'there's something wrong with this guy. putting the job first is one thing just not seeming to react at all is another this is fucking freaky', wouldn't you, especially after seeing the warmth in that dynamic in action beforehand.) perfect storm of two people who grit their teeth and turn inwards in pain deciding that not talking about it is their best bet (NEWSFLASH: IT ISN'T) lmao

(rye spent his last year of watcher training on a mostly joyless bender and then got it together enough to finish the eternal orb project last moment in a fevered near-sleepless week instead of the half a year that was intended. emmrich is both astounded and distressed to hear this. "a week? but -- but that is an astounding accomplishment rook!! and also why in the maker's good light would you ever do that to yourself?" ("well you see there was no one to stop me from doing it like that but me. and under those conditions these things tend to happen".) rye was working through/looking up stuff around transitioning and doing every kind of OTHER high level watcher research through that whole time, but ultimately he's an excellent watcher and a terrible student, at least under traditional methods. adhd from here to the fucking moon. touched by something akin to divine inspiration in moments of high tension that pulls all the threads into one coherent unbreakable cord, a bit of a frayed mess in most other settings. in our world he'd be dropping out of a masters program at the very last hurdle in this moment maker bless and protect him)

[sunsetwaltz]

Thinking about how out of all my canon DA protagonists, Rook is the only one to get a straightforward romance (with a hint of HEA).

Mahariel/Alistair: She dodged a bullet by never finding out that Anora would throw her under the bus without a second thought. So she crowned Anora, didn't encourage Alistair to become king because he never seemed interested, and took the "easy" way out by (reluctantly) agreeing to Morrigan's ritual. If she had submitted to Cauthrien, well, King Alistair definitely would've left her heartbroken.

There's also the whole "Creators, do I really have feelings for a shem human?" crisis, y'know feeling like a traitor to her people for daring to love a human. And later on feeling immense (survivor's) guilt for not performing the ultimate sacrifice and irrationally believing she robbed Alistair of a better, more stable future. Which is why Alistair's romanced dialogue in DAI had me giddy, swooning and relieved:

"Happier than I ever dreamed possible. She's more than I deserve... And I hope I make her days easier as well."

Oh and let's not forget the Calling. That kind of puts a damper on the future.

Hawke/no one/the fade: RIP my Hawke. She had a fling with Isabela but the game bugged and didn't properly register their breakup... She couldn't romance anyone else or experience the full Isabela romance. If I had known that bug would happen I would've committed to Isabela lol.

In the Keep, I had her in a relationship with Sebastian for funsies. Except she's a mage and I personally don't believe a Sebastian/mage Hawke romance would end happily. Not unless he gives up the throne to Starkhaven, which I doubt either of them would want. Even by 9:52 Dragon I'm not sure Starkhaven or the rest of Thedas would realistically accept a mage as their Princess (he'd probably give the same speech as Alistair heh). So off to the Fade she went during Here Lies the Abyss.

Lavellan/Solas: It's Solas. He makes things complicated just by existing lol. Y'know as a quiet, not-humble, tea-hating, fade-obsessed dreamer apostate scholar. Not a god but still an absurdly powerful immortal elven mage straight out of Dalish legend. Maker of the veil. Sunderer of the titans and the Elvhenan of old. Leader of the elven rebellion against the Evanuris, liberator of elven slaves. The guy who played a hand in creating both the breach AND the blight. Who is "kind and wise and sad" and terrible at loving someone and being loved in return.

"The course of true love never did run smooth" is THEM. Ten years, man.

Rook/Davrin: Felt straight up like a Disney or Pixar romance - lighthearted and cute. I appreciated how level headed, grounded and confident he seemed. How he had a sense of humour but knew when to be serious. How he didn't have any overwhelming angst or drama in his life (after ten years with Solas yk...a girl needs a break!). It felt like Davrin truly understood what was important during all those round table discussions, like he and my (humorous) Rook were on the same page, that they definitely had inside jokes of their own. In a way, it felt like Davrin became a "rock for Rook".

Also ASSAN. My absolute favourite, my adopted baby griffin! While I would've liked to learn more about Davrin (which clan is he from? Does he have any siblings or surviving family? How'd he get his scars?), I was fairly pleased by this romance and all the cute family moments. Except for y'know that barely anyone in the game acknowledges it - it's only Emmrich, Davrin himself and Ghilan'nain of all characters lol afaik.

(Neve absolutely does not count! Watch/read the banter again. Only Rook responds to Davrin's comment about their future; Neve doesn't even offer anything like "I'm happy for you two" FKSDLAFJ;LSAKD;LKF)

When it came to the scene where they discuss their future together(!), it felt only appropriate to allow at least one of my DA protags to have a happy ending. (At that time I had no idea about Solas/Lavellan.) I liked how the game followed up on the "settling down and raising our half-bird, half-cat kid" later in Act 3. Plus Davrin referencing an earlier cutscene, coming around and suggesting they "go flying one day"... That really warmed my heart <3

[by-ilmater]

okay i'm a good ways into my second playthrough of datv and i realized i never posted any of my thoughts after i finished the first time. warning for end game spoilers, like big time, i mean it

many of my initial criticisms still stand, for me. like dai before it, i think datv suffers from some pacing issues. it starts off very slow, and i don't think it really starts to open up until after the dragons. i've always thought dai had the same issue, that the game only really gets going after you get to skyhold.

idk how to really phrase this, but the emotional pacing? feels off for me? does that make sense? like, there's several moments in the game where something absolutely devastating happens, and they did a really good job of capturing that. i think the aftermath of the dragons are a good example of this. in my second playthrough i'm playing a crow rook, so i chose to save treviso (did it the other way the first time) and the moment you fast travel back to dock town after that and half the building is just fucking GONE. that was a gut punch holy shit.

but then, so much of the rest of the game feels.....idk. cold? flat? it just doesn't seem to have a happy medium, there's either huge shit happening or....eh.

i will say, i think i'm enjoying the game more on a second run and that's not super common for me. it has let me pay way closer attention to how they actually handled varric after knowing he's dead the entire time, and there's some surprisingly clever moments.

speaking of the dragons, something i do like that datv did that felt more in line with origins is the game forcing you to make fucked up choices and live with the consequences. there's several moments in origins where you can just straight up lose a party member if you say something wrong or do something wrong, and I think that got kinda lost in da2 and dai. especially in dai, you have to go out of your way to really fuck shit up. i like that the dragons are bad no matter how you choose. i like that, if you choose wrong during the final battle, people will just straight up die (that's also very mass effect 2 and i love it). someone will also die no matter how you choose! there's no way to save harding or davrin after that choice, afaik. i like that.

i wish that we had more freedom over our rook as far as backstory and age and things like that. i really hate that the game basically railroads me into playing rook as young, especially during the emmrich romance. that irritates the fuck outta me. why give us the option to give rook wrinkles and grey hair and whatnot, and then insist that they're some naive twentysomething? haaaaaaaaaate that. i think, for a voiced pc that wasn't just a named person like hawke or shepard, dai struck a good balance. i liked that characters would ask your inquisitor questions, and then you got to decide how they felt. rook doesn't get that.

i miss being able to just talk to the companions whenever. like, i do like that they kinda move around the lighthouse and interact with each other, but i think we also could've been given the ability to talk to them while they did that, instead of having to wait til they have their little speech bubble prompt. idk what inspired the decision to make it like this, idk if people complained that there's too much talking in previous da games. but i loved all the talking and i want it back.

this is a petty personal issue, but i am so so sad we finally got to see weisshaupt in a game and it immediately gets fucking destroyed. literally so heartbroken. i've wanted to see weisshaupt since alistair talked about it in origins.

this feels like a mean criticism but.....some of the voice acting does not hit for me. i chose the american male voice for ezra, cuz he's a city elf from ferelden. and man, it bugged me the whole fucking game lol. but with kai i chose the british male voice and the difference is huge.

goddamn this got long lmao sorry. i'm sure i'll think of more later.

[songbird-and-her-fos]

So I wrote some banter for my two Rooks, Lyrei (Mourn Watch, romanced Emmrich) and Anita (Crow, romanced Lucanis)

Anita and the Crows Part 1 (takes place right after meeting with the Crows for the first time)

Bellara: Hey Anita? Can I ask you something?

Anita: Ask away.

Bellara: How did you end up with the Crows?

Anita: That's kind of a loaded question.

Bellara: I know, sorry. I'm just curious.

Anita: I was sold to them when I was seven. My parents had gotten themselves into debt with some pretty nasty people, and hoped I would sell for enough to settle that debt.

Bellara: That's horrible!

Anita and the Crows Part 2 (takes place at the Lighthouse after Lucanis was freed from the Ossuary)

Bellara: I still can't believe anyone could do that to their own child…

Anita: It's a pretty normal way to end up with the Crows. Most people who have a choice see what happens during training and immediately walk the other way.

Bellara: You must have been heartbroken.

Anita: I was mostly angry. At that point, they had already abandoned my baby sister in Nevarra, so I knew that my parents weren‘t great people and that they wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to me.

Bellara: Oh no… do you know what happened to your sister after that?

Anita: No. We left Nevarra right after, so the abandoned child couldn’t be traced back to my parents suddenly having one child less. I like to imagine that she was found and raised with all the love she deserved.

Lyrei: …Do you remember your sister’s name?

Anita: I wish I did. But she was barely a few days old when everythig happened; not enough time for me to remember her much.