#empress celene critical

[anneapocalypse]

Why Vivienne Needs the Inquisition

No one 'winds up' at Court, my dear. It takes a great deal of effort to arrive there.

–Enchanter Vivienne to the Inquisitor

An ask I received (referring, I think, to something I said in this post, though I've alluded to it at other points as well):

How/why is Vivienne's position at court shakier than it seems? (Please publish this anonymously.)

Thank you for asking! I’ve wanted to write something on this subject for a while, so I appreciate the push to get it all down. It’s something I find really interesting about Vivienne, because it's something she doesn't want the Inquisitor, or anyone, to know, so it's all subtext in the game. Vivienne is a character who always holds the player character at arms' length--a bit less so when she likes them, but there is always some distance there. As such, she's a difficult character to get to know.

And while I do have some issues with the way Vivienne is handled in the game, particularly with narrative and quest design, I won’t be touching on those heavily here. For this post I want to focus on what can be determined about her motivations from the character as written.

Vivienne can be recruited to the Inquisition after the Inquisitor's first trip to Val Royeaux. Notably, she seeks out the Inquisitor's attention herself, inviting them to a gala at the Duke of Ghislain's estate, and also notably, once recruited she will not leave the Inquisition and cannot be forced to leave, no matter how low her approval of the Inquisitor. This is also something I have seen people question: why can't you kick Vivienne out, and why won't she simply leave if she disapproves of your choices? I hope this post will answer that question as well.

The most critical aspect of Vivienne's character to understand, I think, is that she has no stable institutional power. She is not a noble. She has no familial connections of the sort that can help even a mage to keep their head above water. She is a woman who was taken from her family at a young age and raised in an institution, and who has used all her wit and charisma to make the very best of that situation for herself.

Vivienne's position as First Enchanter of Montsimmard is mostly an achievement within the Circle itself. Montsimmard itself, however, was also a stepping stone to influence outside the Circle. Personally, I think the fact that Vivienne declined to join any fraternity when she became a full Enchanter, a shocking move at the time, indicates that she held ambitions outside the Circle from a young age. And Montsimmard was the perfect proving ground for her, a major Orlesian city whose ruling family maintain close relations with the Circle. In The Masked Empire, the Marquise de Montsimmard boasts about dining at the Circle, and she and her husband wear masks adorned with lyrium crystals which we are told were a gift from the First Enchanter. It seems likely, though not confirmed, that this was Vivienne herself.

(Incidentally, it is a real shame that Vivienne’s character seems to have solidified so late in the game’s development, because in retrospect I really feel her absence in the novels. She gets a brief mention in The Masked Empire as Madame de Fer, and absolutely nothing in Asunder, which we'll come back to.)

It seems that the Montsimmard mages were called upon with some regularity to entertain the court, and this is how Vivienne first caught the attention of Duke Bastien in 9:16 Dragon. Within a year, she had moved into a suite in his estate. Her position came under attack for the next few years, but nonetheless, after a single meeting with Empress Celene in 9:20 Dragon, she became the newly-crowned Empress's Court Enchanter.

(Edited to add: It seems to be sometime after this that Vivienne became First Enchanter of Montsimmard, at "an age young enough to cause scandal," though the date is never confirmed that I can find. Incidentally, as @shrovetidecat brought to my attention in the notes, Fiona is also supposed to have been Grand Enchanter of Montsimmard, which given that may be a lore inconsistency, unless Vivienne is only meant to have taken the position after Fiona rose to Grand Enchanter—and I'm not sure why a 40-year-old First Enchanter would be scandalous.)

By the time she meets the Inquisitor, she is likely somewhere in her 40s, and has been the Enchanter to the Imperial Court and the Mistress to the Duke de Ghislain for twenty years. She regularly mingles with the court and has built a practically unprecedented influence for herself in Orlesian high society.

And it's all about to fall apart, for three critical reasons.

First, the obvious: the mage rebellion. One cannot be First Enchanter of a Circle that no longer exists, though Vivienne certainly tries. A majority of mages, even if by a razor-thin margin, have declared that they do not recognize the Circle's authority—and therefore Vivienne's authority as a loyal Enchanter within that system.

I think Vivienne's dialogue with the Inquisitor and her remarks if taken to Redcliffe reveal a deep frustration and resentment of Grand Enchanter Fiona, who called for the vote to leave the Circle and now leads the rebel mages. Vivienne of course handles this in the manner to which she is accustomed, the culture of the Imperial Court, in which trading in verbal jabs and barely-veiled insults is a standard matter of social one-upsmanship. Outside of that environment, she comes across as petty and rude, which is an interesting point of characterization in itself: Vivienne has thrived in the court environment, but she does seem to have a bit of trouble adapting her manner to different circumstances, where that sort of thing might not benefit her. But what she's trying to do is frame herself before the Inquisitor as the reasonable and respectable mage, and Fiona as misguided and pitiable. How well this goes for her, of course, depends on who the Inquisitor is. But the effort itself kind of reveals the shaky ground she's standing on.

In her dialogue with the Inquisitor, Vivienne claims that as the rebel mages follow Fiona, the loyal mages follow her. But where are these loyal mages? There's maybe one or two mages we meet in the game (Enchanter Ellendra comes to mind) who seem to respect Vivienne's word. But if the loyal mages look to her as a leader, why is Ellendra alone in a cave in the Hinterlands to begin with? Why doesn't Vivienne bring a group of these loyal mages with her to Skyhold?

I think it's because Vivienne doesn't truly have followers among the mages, the way Fiona does. This is the story she's telling the Inquisitor, to capitalize on the idea that the rebel position is not a consensus, and also that she still has influence among a significant number of mages. The truth is, she doesn't. She’s spent most of her life courting influence outside the Circle, not in it. She has presided over a Circle where she doesn’t even live day-to-day. I can’t imagine that has particularly endeared her to many of her fellow mages, even the ones who are loyalists or moderates.

Contrast this with Wynne, a pro-Circle Aequitarian who is deeply involved in Circle life despite undertaking sanctioned work outside the tower, and is also deeply involved in the events leading up to the vote for independence. Whatever the Doylist reasons for Vivienne's absense from Asunder, the fact remains: she's just not there. She has no presence in the events leading up to the rebellion. When speaking critically of Fiona's vote, she discusses it in the context of Anders' attack on the Kirkwall Chantry, and says nothing of the circumstances surrounding Fiona's push for a vote—not the revelations about Tranquility, not the conclave (no not that Conclave, the conclave of mages at which Fiona called for the vote for independence), not the subsequent massacre by the templars and the remaining mages' decision to stand and fight. And perhaps most notably, no one mentions Vivienne, positively or negatively, during the events of Asunder. Not once. We are left with the conclusion that Vivienne is simply not heavily involved in Circle politics, no matter what impression she may wish to give the Inquisitor. Her influence does not lie within the Circle.

And I think Vivienne knows this, and realizes that it's suddenly become a big problem for her.

The second big problem is Morrigan.

Vivienne has had the favor of the Empress herself for twenty years. She has, by others' accounts, managed to turn the position of Court Enchanter from "little more than court jester" to a position of influence and respect. And then the Grand Duke attempts a coup, and the Empress's elven lover runs away with a dangerous secret, and suddenly the Empress is enlisting the services of some unwashed swamp witch while Vivienne is standing right there!

Like I cannot overstate what a absolutely galling slap in the face it would be to Vivienne that even as she is attempting to uphold the legitimacy of the Circle and thus of her own authority within it, Celene effectively creates the "Arcane Advisor" position as "Court Mage 2: Apostate Boogaloo" just so she can get advice on non-Circle-approved magics. Advice that Vivienne could not give even if she wanted to, even if the Empress asked, because she has no knowledge of eluvians and ancient elven magic.

Both Dorian and Cole needle Vivienne about her jealousy of Morrigan, and I think quite accurately, no matter how quick Vivienne is to deny it.

Her influence over the Empress is fast eroding. She has been replaced in all but name.

And the third and most personal big problem is Bastien's illness.

Vivienne has enjoyed a romance with one of the empire's most influential nobles for twenty years. She has lived in his home and been on good terms with his wife until her passing. Her influence in the Imperial Court owes a lot to Bastien's affections. Bastien is not only a Duke but a member of the Council of Heralds, the political body responsible for overseeing matters of titles and inheritance in Orlais. They are quite literally the most powerful group in the country; even the Empress rules at their favor, without which she would never have gained the throne in the first place.

And now Bastien is dying, something Vivienne takes care not to mention to the Inquisitor at first. It's not until after the ball at the Winter Palace that Vivienne asks the Inquisitor for help with her potion in a last-ditch attempt to prolong his life—and even then she does not reveal her true purpose until after the Inquisitor has returned with the wyvern's heart. And while it's possible to interpret multiple ways, I personally believe from her response to his death that she did care for Bastien. She didn't need to bring the Inquisitor to his deathbed at all, if she wanted to continue concealing his illness, something she's taken care to do up until that point. It bespeaks a measure of trust that she allows the Inquisitor to see her so—in her grief, as well as in her loss of position.

Because Bastien's death is a terrible loss for Vivienne socially as well as personally. Bastien's son will inherit his estate, and whether Vivienne is allowed to go on living there will be entirely at his discretion. Perhaps he will permit her to stay, but she cannot count upon his grace, nor upon the protection she enjoyed with Bastien any longer; and furthermore if she is allowed to stay, it will be a favor to her, making her beholden rather than granting her greater influence. She won't have the dignity of being Bastien's widow; she is his mistress, and respected as that position may be in the Orlesian court, it gives her no true claim to his family.

Vivienne is about to lose everything she has built for herself.

Without Bastien, without Celene, she will be left with… what? The position of First Enchanter to a Circle that no longer exists? If her own best-case scenario occurs and the rebellion is halted and the Circles are reinstated, then she still loses all the freedom she has gained and is forced to return to a Circle tower herself—a sphere in which, as previously discussed, she holds less influence than she would like the Inquisitor to believe. Even if she remains First Enchanter, it's hard to see this as anything but a massive step down in the social hierarchy, the beginning of a long slide into what the Fade reveals as her greatest fear: irrelevance.

It's a humiliation that Vivienne cannot bear.

This is why she won't leave the Inquisition, no matter how much she may despise the Inquisitor. Vivienne needs the Inquisition far more than she lets on. This even puts the petty low-approval furniture-moving scene into context. Yes, she’s doing it to snub the Inquisitor, but that doesn’t actually gain her anything. I think it’s deeper than that. The Inquisition was Vivienne’s fallback plan, and it’s not going well. The Inquisitor is making her look bad, she is finding no avenue to further advancement here, but she can’t leave. So, her response is to try to reclaim some sense of control over her life, asserting a kind of power she had at Bastien’s estate and was likely denied in the Circle: control over her own space.

Even if Bastien were to live a bit longer, Vivienne really has nowhere higher she can climb in the Imperial Court. She can't become a noble herself. She can't marry Bastien, or any other noble for that matter, because she is a mage. And I'm sure she's highly aware of this fact. Bastien is several years a widower himself; it is not his former marriage that prevents him from marrying her, now. It is her status as a mage which bars her from entering a noble family, legally, socially, politically. That Bastien never seems to have raised the question at all speaks to the fact that no matter how much he may have stuck his neck out for Vivienne, there was a line even he was not interested in crossing.

So where does she have to go from here?

Along comes the nascent Inquisition. Shaking things up. If any organization could rattle the gilded walls of the Chantry, it's this one.

Why not take a stab at the Chantry, at this point? What does she have to lose?

It didn’t really sink in for me for several playthroughs because she isn't wearing cleric's garb, but Bastien's sister Marcelline, who visits Skyhold after his death with Bastien’s son? She's a grand cleric. One of the surviving grand clerics who will decide the next Divine. Vivienne involves the Inquisitor in her plan to save Bastien, a plan she likely knows will fail—but she puts in the effort. She then introduces the Inquisitor to Grand Cleric Marcelline, having told her how the Inquisitor came to her aid. Marcelline expresses gratitude: “Madame de Fer has told us what great trials you faced, trying to save my poor brother’s life.” Bastien’s son Laurent is a powerful ally in his own right, now a member of the Council of Heralds, but also likely the one who will decide whether Vivienne keeps her suite in the Ghislain estate.

And if the conversation goes well, Vivienne tells the Inquisitor that it was "quite the triumph." If the Inquisitor expresses confusion, she patiently explains the influence that both Laurent and Marcelline wield, and that they have now secured the trust of both. If Vivienne becomes Divine, Marcelline’s favor no doubt goes a long way in getting her there.

Of course Vivienne will continue to take a conservative position on the mage question. A mage looking to insinuate herself into the Chantry hierarchy would have to, just as a mage seeking the freedom to consort with the court would have to. In the same way that a Hawke with aspirations of seizing the vacant seat of Kirkwall's Viscount must side with the templars at the end to show the nobility that they represent stability and order, the Chantry's first mage cleric must be pro-Circle, pro-templar, conservative to the bone. Vivienne seems to recognize this as far more important than actually appearing devout. It's also fascinating to me how little she bothers to make any pretense of a personal faith, instead always discussing the Chantry as an important social institution and political body. And this attitude doesn't seem to impede her chances at the Sunburst Throne very much, no more so than being a mage already would.

Vivienne knows exactly what she's doing. She always has.

Vivienne comes to the Inquisition seeking power and influence in the Chantry because her position among the nobility is falling apart. Whether she comes in with the intention to reach for the Sunburst throne itself is debatable, and I personally think it might have been the intent that she does have that ambition but seeks to let the Inquisitor think it was their own idea, though I'm iffy on how successful that is if it was the intent. Nonetheless, I do believe that Vivienne comes to the Inquisition with the intent to seek influence within the Chantry, realizing that the recent upheaval may offer her a unique opportunity to do so. And depending on how closely the Inquisitor aligns with her goals, she may succeed quite dramatically.

References

Codex Entry: Madame de Fer

Talking with Vivienne at Haven and Skyhold

Vivienne's high disapproval scene

After Bastien's death

Banter with Cole

Banter with Dorian

The World of Thedas vol. 2, pp. 235-239 (hardcover edition)

Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 31 (paperback edition)

[landgraabbed]

hi Cat, can you share your thoughts/criticisms of DATV? i think the game is gonna flop.

hey nonners, idk. this is a complicated question. i mean, game's not even out yet so it's unfair to pass judgment on it. i can only judge bioware's approach to pre-release marketing. and i got a lot of thoughts on that.

honestly i think it will be a perfectly serviceable game and technically it will run well (i mean, it has been steam deck verified which tells me that performance was a big concern for devs). i don't think quality has much bearing on the love people can have for a game. and vice-versa. the people who are hyped to oblivion and want to preorder will like it. the people who hate it bc it has poc and queer and disabled characters will still hate it. people who analyze the game's mechanics and writing will dissect the game and be predisposed to finding things they dislike. over time opinions will mellow out and we'll see how the veilguard will be remembered.

i can't trust bioware to make an rpg that i will want to play after their last failures. different people will differ on where the string of failures started. from a quality standpoint my line is dragon age 2. me3 to me failed to deliver on the promise of the first 2 me games save for shining exceptions like the citadel dlc and javik. from a numbers standpoint the last successful game was inquisition which won goty in 2014 due to a serious lack of competition mostly, especially since witcher 3 was pushed back to 2015 (which pains me personally as that put it directly in bloodborne's path to goty in that year). thing is bioware seems to be doing all they can to avoid a flop. veilguard is bioware's hail mary after a string of failures. they are ditching the ea app to capture as many people as possible. the combat has fully careened into action, and although they keep telling us these will be the best companions ever, really, guys, the gameplay is more and more focused on the protagonist alone. the crpg roots of the series are getting cut down to attract a broader audience. perhaps at the cost of ostracizing some like me who enjoy the party-based, party-building mechanics like me.

how well this will go i don't know. on one hand i think bioware has been historically bad at showing the full scope to new and returning players. empress celene has been haunting the edges of the world since origins. the full grasp of her character is locked behind books. afaik some companions have been introduced already in supplemental materials. this sort of move didn't go well for ff15. on the other i think this game missed its window. the gaming landscape of today isn't the same as it was in 2014, and in 2014 the skyrim at home open world design was already outdated. i've been hearing about the crpg renaissance since 2016. i accompanied it. it remained a niche part of gaming until it didn't: baldur's gate 3 released last year to audience and critical acclaim. going forward i expect mainstream rpgs to take cues from bg3. and the mission based almost extraction shooter-esque design that veilguard seems to have might not land as well in 2024 as it would have in 2020.

eta: or it could go well, idk. morrowind and final fantasy were bethesda's and squaresoft's hail maries and saved those studios.

right now the marketing has missed the mark on me. it is patronizing and seemingly needs to punch down the previous da games to prop this one up. it concerns me that the game may be releasing in 2 months (as per jeff grubb) and we quite frankly haven't seen shit. just bioware telling us that trust me, these companions are deep. trust me, the combat is good. trust me, the city built on slave labor is totally the coolest one you've seen. everyone copies fromsoftware but they don't seem to learn to drop a trailer and shut up until they got more things of substance to show. and this isn't just a bioware issue.

[queenaeducan-writes]

Celestine Black

Pairing: Josephine Montilyet & Solas (gen) Characters: Josephine Montilyet, Solas Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Archive Warnings: None Applicable Other Tags: Classism, Fantasy racism Summary: Though Skyhold's guests may be of noble blood, their manners often leave much to be desired. When one insults the Inquisition's resident magical expert, who just so happens to be an apostate, Josephine takes it upon herself to remedy the situation. In typical Montilyet fashion. Written for TheSilentBard on AO3 for the @solas-lovers-exchange

“Apostate!” The word is an accusation upon Lady Verise’s lips, cutting as the shattered glass on the rotunda floor.

Josephine catches no more than a glint in the corner of her eye before she hears it break. By the time she looks it has scattered, broken pieces crawling across the stone like a plague of translucent roaches. Wine slides down Solas’s temple. Thick and viscous, it dries a violent plum purple where it landed on his sweater. The delicate slope of Lady Verise’s nose rather resembles the bellows of an accordion as she snarls in his direction.

The rest of the room looks on in a mix of shock and amusement. A knowing smile curls beneath the porcelain moustache of Lord Maigny, a sure sign that she ought to have expected this. Anticipated it in some way. It had seemed improper, showing off the murals without giving the artist his due, especially not when he stood so close at hand.

But it was a mistake, that much has been made evident.

Solas is the first to speak, dabbing at his face with a paint cloth as he does. “It appears our guest is in need of another glass,” he remarks, in a tone remarkably dry for one so damp. He levels his gaze towards the guest in question, then ducks it, deferential. “You are of course correct, my lady. I have never known the Circle’s guidance, although the loyal mages within the Inquisition have made it their mission to remedy the oversights brought about by a hedge mage’s education. Should you have the opportunity to speak with Enchanter Vivienne while you are here; I am certain you will find her insight as to my insufficiencies invaluable, and how she has endeavoured to correct them.”

Josephine bites the inside of her cheek to keep from smirking (a critical skill for an elder sister and ambassador to possess). Although she possesses no limit to her admiration for Vivienne, she had sat in on one of their discussions long enough to become well-acquainted with Solas’s. Still, if asked, she has no doubt Vivienne will play along. She has tied her reputation to that of the Inquisitions, and undermining that, as well as her own influence within it, is not how the game is played.

“Madame de fer was among the few dissenters in Empress Celene’s court after she invited the swamp witch into our midst,” Lady Verise tsks. “Why would she abide an apostate’s company?”

Seeing the chance to retake the reins of the situation, Josephine steps in. “If I may be so bold as to speak on Enchanter Vivienne’s behalf: Master Solas has behaved with the utmost propriety since joining our ranks. Any reservations we had regarding his position here have long since passed.”

Read the rest on AO3!

[lunarscaled]

companion codex. ( DA: I )

I forgot I had filled this out forever ago so I wanted to repost it. feel free to steal it / modify it for other fandoms ( i'll probably do a bg3/d&d version too )

RACE, CLASS, & SPECIALIZATION:

Human / Rogue / Tempest / Mage / None

VARRIC’S NICKNAME FOR THEM:

Snowflake

DEFAULT TAROT CARD:

EIGHT OF SWORDS: Sickness, Calumny, Criticism, Blame

ROMANCE TAROT CARD:

TWO OF CUPS: Trust, Deep Friendship, Romance, Commitment, Bonding

HOW THEY ARE RECRUITED:

Lyric’s recruitment is a side-mission DURING wicked eyes and wicked hearts, automatically unlocked after collecting 15/30 secrets in the great blackmail hunt. The quest title is "Patron of Blood Arts." The Inquisitor’s interest in the scandals of the court uncover a ploy to poison one of the guests of the ball–an esteemed noblewoman by the name of Aceline Durand. Conversing with Empress Celene’s ladies-in-waiting reveals that Lady Durand is a well-known supporter of the arts, withholding an extensive collection from the public. If she were to be removed, her works would be forfeit to her eldest son, a greedy man named Léo, who has long since been trying to persuade his mother to sell the works at high prices. Questioning the nobles in the garden will hint that someone was seen sneaking into the library in a rather crumpled guard uniform and that Lady Durand has disappeared. Lyric is one of three masked cohorts in the library who have cornered the lady patron. Entering this area will trigger a brief cutscene of Lady Durand crying out to the Inquisitor for help, startling the trio and triggering a fight. Defeating all 3 enemies will cut to their attempted escape through the balcony and over the palace roof, with Lyric choosing to help their injured allies over obstacles and leaving last. Unable to move both their allies and themselves, they are captured by the castle guards who deflect to the Inquisitor for judgement. Lyric, revealed to be no more than a young adult, begs for the Inquisitor’s mercy as they were only doing what they were paid to do.

OPTION 1: Conscript Lyric (Lyric will become an available companion and romance option)

OPTION 2: Give Lyric to the guards (Lyric will not be recruited later and hung at the gallows for treason)

CONSCRIPTING Lyric makes them an available agent option following Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts and earns slight approval from mage-sympathetic party members and Varric. It earns slight disapproval from Vivienne, Cassandra and Cole.

WHERE THEY ARE IN SKYHOLD:

Lyric can be found in one of Skyhold’s library alcoves, near to where Dorian is. If the Inquisitor is in a romance with Dorian, they will comment “Not to get the books messy.” Responding to this positively or with sarcasm increases their approval.

THINGS THEY GENERALLY APPROVE OF:

Tempest Specialization, Herb Garden Upgrade, Sarcasm, Diplomacy, Red-Lyrium Studies, Completing Companion Quests, All Codex Entries feat. Mage History, Expressed an Interest in their Studies

THINGS THEY GENERALLY DISAPPROVE OF:

Aggressive Responses, Death Sentences when Judging, Anti-Mage Responses, Cruelty to Animals, Cruelty to Refugees, Refusing to Assist, Templar Specialization, Sexual Advances

MAGES, TEMPLARS, OTHER?:

LOW/NEUTRAL APPROVAL: Neither HIGH APPROVAL: Mages (revealed in conversation at Skyhold)

FRIENDS IN THE INQUISITION:

Cole, Varric, Dorian, The Chargers, Sera

ROMANCEABLE?:

Romanceable by any race or gender; High approval required for Templar Specialization; CANNOT BE ROMANCED IF THE INQUISITOR DEMANDS A SEXUAL ASPECT TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

SMALL SIDE MISSION:

Lyric’s Lament

Lyric wants to hear a song their brother favoured when they were children. Go to Val Royeaux to purchase the music and deliver it to Maryden for Lyric to hear.

COMPANION QUEST:

The Note Desolation Plays

Lyric has received a letter from their father claiming their mother is soon to pass and that Lyric must return home to see her before her death. Lyric, troubled by their tempestuous family history, asks that the Inquisitor come accompany them to Lydes to see their family. If the Inquisitor agrees, Lyric will be waiting for them by the gate to Skyhold; dialogue options concerning their past, their brother and his death will unlock. The mission can be continued from the War Table, under the quest name the note desolation plays. In Lydes, Lyric will firstly be greeted by their two younger siblings, Marianne and Claudia, before being confronted by their father. He will immediately recognize the Inquisitor by the Anchor and tell Lyric they are wasting the Herald’s precious time by dragging them into family matters. The Inquisitor can choose to SUPPORT or SCOLD Lyric, gaining approval or disapproval respectively. Regardless of the answer, the Inquisitor will be invited inside to meet Lyric’s mother and bare witness to her final moments. As the scene progresses, it is revealed that Lyric’s brother was actually their twin and was meant to secure the family a higher social standing by marrying the daughter of a recognized merchant, while Lyric was to be sent away to the Circle to tame their harsh magic. Privy to the true plan–to send Lyric away for fear of their volatile magic, whereas Kamille was a gentle mage–Kamille wore Lyric’s clothes and switched places with them, willingly going to the Circle to prevent his twin from being sentenced to sure death. Despairing at the loss of their only son and left with a stubborn, vicious daughter, Lyric’s parents became distant for many years before sailing to Kirkwall to abandon them far, far from home after learning of Kamille’s death. Lost and afraid, Lyric stumbled the long way back to Orlais, barely surviving. They smothered their magic, refusing to ever use it again. They blamed it for both Kamille’s untimely demise and their parent’s spite. Lyric’s mother will repent for every abandoning their child and ask to make amends. Lyric, clearly quarreling with their feelings of the past and wanting to forgive their family, will look to the Inquisitor to decide.

OPTION 1: FORGIVE HER.

Lyric will forgive their mother, despite how it hurts, in order to give her soul some resemblance of peace. Her mother will pass with Lyric at her side. Lyric will ask the Inquisitor for some time alone with their family and meet the Inquisitor back at Skyhold. At Skyhold, they will express their thanks to the Inquisitor, saying they feel as if a weight has been lifted from their chest.

OPTION 2: DENY HER.

Lyric will refuse to accept their mother’s request, causing the sickly woman to begin to cry and beg them to reconsider. Lyric will call their mother a traitor and a heretic, leaving the house without resolving their past or their emotions. The party will return to Skyhold where Lyric will again express their conflicting emotions to the Inquisitor, but vow to never forgive their family or return to Lydes. ( CHOOSING THIS OPTION WILL MAKE LYRIC UNROMANCEABLE. )

TAROT CARD CHANGE

OPTION 1: Two of Swords: Courage, Friendship, Affection, Choices

OPTION 2: Death: Morality, Endings, Loss, Alteration for the Worse

[deusexlachina]

STEMquisition Part 11: Solve racism with emotional blackmail and also regular blackmail

In which I win favour by robbing the aristocracy blind, manage to elude the world's most easily-eluded deathtrap, and solve a murder mystery.

The future I saw showed that part of Corypheus' plan was to destabilize Orlais by assassinating Empress Celene, so we need to make him not do that by finding the assassin. Unfortunately, the Orlesians are racist. They are not impressed by my prestigious education or my shiny horns.

To make a good impression, I need to do menial tasks to impress random assholes with thick accents. Fortunately, I grew accustomed to this, because I went to the University of Orlais.

Leliana derides the Empress for believing in ridiculous notions like speaking with the dead or foreseeing the future, evidently forgetting that she's already encountered several speaking dead people, and we're here precisely because we foresaw the future. I may be a scientist, but if the supernatural boot fits, it fits, and my dear Leliana we live in a fantasy world.

Because of these objectively true beliefs, Empress Celene hired a magical advisor, Morrigan. Morrigan is a scientist of the magical sort, so I look up to her almost as much as she looks up to me because I am a Qunari.

Morrigan gives me a key to the Servant's Quarters, where I find a bunch of murdered people and Briala, who was Celene's girlfriend until she ruined the vibe by slaughtering her people for really, really stupid reasons. Nonetheless, Briala doesn't want Celene dead because she's the prime suspect, and the Orlesians would kill even more elves than they already do.

So Briala helps me solve the murder mystery while I go sneaking off to find cheap blackmail material. I find a locket of Briala that Celene kept all these years...in the Grand Apartments, mind you. Not her room.

I talk to Celene's Ladies in Waiting about this. Unlike Briala and Gaspard, you can't talk directly to Celene - you have to talk to her through her servants. Anyway, I show the servants the locket and suddenly she wants to talk to me. The threat of her being assassinated, you can talk to the servants. A romantic locket? That's important business of state.

She says she regrets failing Briala by not daring more. Specifically, by not daring to not set fire to thousands of her people.

I then show the locket to Briala, who remarks on how scandalous this locket is. She realizes that Celene is a crass sentimentalist who will commit political suicide for pussy still loves her.

I then go to stop the murder, but Grand Duchess Florianne, Gaspard's shitty sister, leads me into a trap. To prevent me from interfering with Corypheus' plans, she presents me with an unstoppable obstacle: a fade rift with two waves of demons.

Unfortunately for her, I have the ability to close fade rifts. Actually, it's what I'm most famous for. But critical thinking is for scientists, not minions of Corypheus.

Anyway, here's how The Trap can still win. She doesn't need to kill me. She just needs me away from the Grand Ballroom while she kills Celene. This would be a fairly solid plan if she didn't personally show up in the trap to reveal she's planning to assassinate the Empress on behalf of Corypheus instead of...you know...assassinating the Empress on behalf of Corypheus. Having blackmailed half the court, all the racists suddenly approve of me enough to listen when I tell everyone about her incredibly poorly-constructed trap. It's so embarrassing I can't even look at her.

I share the credit for this, and all the fun blackmail I got on shitty cousin Gaspard, with my pal Briala. I tell Celene that Briala did this all for her sake, rather than the more accurate version that she did it to avoid getting blamed.

Realizing that Briala is an effective spymaster who can destroy anyone who gets in her way still loves her, Celene reunites with her and promotes her to Marquis of the Dales.

That's the power of true love for ya.

[vakarians-babe]

this is an orlais hate-blog. reblog if you hate orlais. like if you hate orlais. do both if you wish empress celene a very die.

[dragonageconfessions]

Confession:  I read Masked Empire. As soon as Celene's and Michel de Chevin's name was spoken in Inquisition, Kill Bill sirens were going off (and I was happy to discover you can kill the latter if you make a deal with Ishmael). Celene's just lucky there was no option for me to get rid of her, slaughter the entire Orlesian nobility and let Briala take the throne, because I would have in a heartbeat.

[squirrelwithatophat]

I’m finally reading The Masked Empire, and boy... Inquisition really toned down how dumb and repulsive Gaspard is.

It’s only the middle of Chapter 3, and over the course of - what, two days (in-universe)? - he taunts a foreign representative with a sword taken off the corpse of a loved one (in hopes of baiting him into a public fight), boasts openly of conspiring to overthrow the government in order to invade a neighboring country (saying this explicitly to the empress’s face), hires a group of thugs to assault a military officer who embarrassed him at a party, complains about women’s inadequacy in leading battles (again, to the empress’s face), and propositions his own cousin (the same empress he had been repeatedly insulting, in the same conversation) and threatens her with violence when she turns him down.  Classy.

Then in Inquisition, he’s just... Some Guy.  He’s nice to you, even if you’re an elf or some other minority race, while others at the party call you slurs and treat you like a servant or a criminal.  He actively helps out; after all, he’s your only invitation to the masked ball you need to get into to stop the Bad Guys.  EDIT: He does call Briala a “rabbit” and make another racist comment during the final confrontation, as long as Celene is dead (already leaving him the only viable candidate for the throne), though.

You aren’t warned that he’s a warmongering sociopath until after you place him on the throne (if applicable).  You have to read TME to learn about all the depraved shit he’s done.

[squirrelwithatophat]

“What do you mean, “We had a falling-out?”” “[Celene] betrayed me. Turned me over to the guards on a trumped-up charge to save her political reputation. It wasn’t personal. It’s the Game. That’s how all Orlesians justify these things to themselves.”

While still on the Complain About Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts Train, this is a perfect example of what I mean when I rant about the game withholding crucial information. 

Celene did not just turn Briala over to the guards. As far as the list of reasons why Briala left her I’d put that at the bottom.

Players who haven’t read the book won’t know that when Briala says Celene turned her over, she means Briala asked Celene for permission to kill the noble who began the elven uprising in Halamshiral, Celene said yes, then changed her mind and had Briala arrested for the plan they both agreed on.

Players who haven’t read the book won’t know that while having Briala arrested, Celene also killed over a thousand elves in Halamshiral and burned it to the ground. 

And players who haven’t read the book won’t know that Celene had Briala’s parents killed. Which was what the final nail in their relationship coffin really was, when Briala figured it out.

But no. It was all just a “falling-out.”

[aurianavaloria]

What's your opinion on Celene, Gaspard, and Briala?

Ooh, good characters to ask about! :D I don’t see much discourse on those three. Especially all three of them together.

*** Spoiler Warning for Inquisition and The Masked Empire ***

Based on solely their appearances in Inquisition?

~ Honestly, I favored Gaspard from the very beginning. He was the rightful heir, and, like him, I don’t like the Game at all, even if it is something distinctly “Orlesian” and therefore part of the culture of the Empire. 

~ Celene I saw as rather weak and more concerned about keeping up appearances than winning the war. Just because the facade is strong doesn’t mean the inner workings are strong, too; you can’t coat a rusted iron bar with gold and expect it to be fixed. That’s a basic problem with Orlais.

~ As for Briala, I wasn’t sure she really had a grasp on what she was doing to better the Empire for the elves, other than threatening and blackmailing everyone into getting her way. But, as we see from Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, she doesn’t count on getting blackmailed right back.

After reading The Masked Empire, though? I have to admit, I like all three of them much more. Inquisition doesn’t really do them justice.

~ Unfortunately though, IMO, Celene still looks weak. Despite her cleverness, she managed to nearly lose at the Game several times over the course of the novel. Her courtly training only gets her so far. Gaspard very nearly outmaneuvers her, and it’s really only through the efforts of her champion, Michel de Chevin, that she manages to survive.

~ On the other hand, Gaspard, in TME, is kind of awesome. XD That’s not to say he’s the best person in the world. He’s most certainly not. But he’s definitely a better strategist - and much more intelligent - than Inquisition makes him out to be. He’s also extremely devoted to the concept of the “chevalier’s honor” (though we know that chevaliers do some pretty horrid things just because they can). This devotion actually costs him the Empire on several occasions. He has the opportunity to win the war outright, but doesn’t, because the chevalier’s code prevents him from committing the acts such opportunities require.

~ Briala, I think, comes off as the most sympathetic character when all is said and done. She’s actually quite alone by the end of the book. She abandons Celene, she can’t connect with the city elves because she’s had a relatively pampered life compared to them, and the Dalish don’t want her. And despite all that, she wants to be a champion for the elves. She wants to see change.

All in all, I like all three of them for different reasons. Together, they probably are three of the most brilliant minds in the Empire, and this is especially evident in TME. I ultimately chose to make them work together in my canon playthrough, because they are capable of so much more together than they are individually.

[enasallavellan]

Chapter 177

Enasal finally gets to lose her shit on Gaspard, Celene, and Briala; Cullen finally manages to take a step forward.

If you want some ambiance - feel free to click on the links in the text!

Piano Etude II

“Your sister attempted regicide in front of the entire court, Gaspard!”

Briala’s was the first voice Enasal heard when she let herself out onto the balcony, but the group was so immersed in their arguing that they didn’t even notice her. Krem walked past her, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. 

“You’re the spymaster!” Gaspard accused, “If anyone knew this atrocity was coming, it was you.”

“He didn’t know, Briala.” The trio turned to look at her as she stalked toward them, “Florianne’s outmaneuvered all of you.”

Gaspard put his hand on his chest, hand flaring as he lowered his head, “Thank you for your support, Lady-”

Her eyes cut to him, sharp as broken glass as she hissed, “I am not supporting you.” She looked at them, “In fact, I don’t support any of you! You are the most horrible, vile people I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting!”

Celene opened her mouth, but Enasal cut her off.

“You, Gaspard, had scholars writing papers about the elves - how our ears make my people ‘prey’ animals. And then you talk about how taking us ‘pretty creatures’ to bed while saying that it was like being with an animal!”  She stepped toward him, stabbing her finger at him, “And war, war, war, you want a war so damn bad! Playing with people's lives and - and you use your station to go grabbing on whoever you want!”

Celene turned to him, eyebrows raised, “The Inquisitor, Gaspard?”

“‘The Inquisitor?” Enasal repeated, “Oh, you care because it was me then? So you don’t care about all the other women he’s grabbed at? Servants he’s-” Her eyes narrowed, “And you. We mustn't have ourselves appear soft, correct? I read the letter, I talked to servants.” She took a step toward the Empress, “You ordered the gates locked, and then you ordered the alienage burned. Tell me, how many people lived in that alienage?”

Celene set her jaw.

“Thousands.” She whispered, “You burned thousands of people alive! All while posturing and posing like you’re oh-so-progressive. All because you didn’t like criticism.”

“It is not something I would expect you to understand, Inquisitor.” Celene said sharply, “To lose the support of the people-”

“Shut up!” Enasal snapped.

All three started and Krem nodded in approval, mouthing, Get ‘em.

“You all wanted to sabotage each other - you wanted to be on top and you didn’t care who you hurt. ” Enasal said, “And Briala knew about it all and-”

Briala narrowed her eyes, “Even if I did, you can’t touch me. Lay a finger on me and you’ll have riots in every city in Orlais.”

Enasal eyes widened and she felt a smile spread over her face, “Riots? Riots? Oh, Briala, I don’t know if you’re in denial or so high on your own ego that you can’t see straight. After what you did?” As she continued, her voice raised, “You knew what Celene did and you went back to her anyway!”

“You have no proof.” Briala replied stubbornly.

Enasal laughed, “We have witnesses, people who can provide proof - letters.”  

Briala went pale and Gaspard laughed, “She has outmaneuvered you, Rabbit.”

Enasal slowly turned to look at him, “Gaspard. If I hear you say that one more time, I promise you’re going to have to be carried home - even if she is a shame to her own kind.”

Gaspard bowed again, “You have a cunning-”

“Don’t start! I hate all of you. If I could exile you to the farthest reaches of Thedas, I would.” Enasal said flatly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, “But. You three are some of the best minds in the empire - even if you are rotten to the core.” She crossed her arms over his chest, “You want to keep your positions? You want to keep your dignity? I’ll keep all that terrible shit to myself, but only if you work together for the good of Orlais instead of bickering and whining like spoiled little brats!”

Celene glowered at her, “Optimistic to believe that the three of us could ever forget our differences, Lady Inquisitor.”

Enasal shook her head, “I’m not giving you a choice.  I have enough dirt on all three of you to put your reputations so far in the ground that they’ll fall into the deep roads.” She pointed to each of them, “You three will work together for the good of your people and for the stability of Thedas. And should I hear any word of elves being used or harmed, then, I promise. I will bring the entirety of the Inquisition down on your heads. Am I understood?”

They simply balked.

“Am I understood?” Enasal asked in a dangerous whisper.

Celene looked at the other two and nodded. 

Gaspard and Briala followed suit.

“Celene.” Enasal said, purposely avoiding a title, “You’ll still be the face of the country - it’s what they’re used to.” She gathered herself, “Gaspard, Briala. You’ll officially be advisors to Celene, but you will rule equally. Understood?”

The group nodded.

Krem pushed himself off of the wall, “Empress Celene.” He bowed, “Before Gaspard is raised to your equal - I was hoping to have a little talk with him about keeping his hands to himself.”

Celene nodded, “Nothing permanent, if you please.”

“Oh, what are you going to do?” Gaspard snickered.

Krem shrugged, clapping a hand on Gaspard’s shoulder. In one swift motion, he yanked Gaspard’s mask off with one hand, his other hand landing a punch to his face. Gaspard let out a gasp of surprise, “You broke my nose you little shit-”

“Going to do it again?” Krem asked. 

Gaspard silently glared at him.

“I'll take that as a no. And before you decide to just go back and keep doing it?” He kneeled down, “You heard of the Chargers? We don’t take kindly to that shit. The Inquisition will take care of any mistreatment of elves, but if we hear word you're having issues keeping your hands to yourselves? You’re dealing with the Chargers.” He handed him back his mask, “Put it back on - it'll cover the bruise and you look better with it on, anyway.” 

Gaspard tenderly placed his mask back over his face, wincing.

He stood up, bowing again, “Thank you, Your Radiance.”

Celene looked down at Gaspard, “Stand and gather yourself, cousin. We must address the people.”

Briala stared at her with wide eyes, “You cannot make the speech - it is foolish.”

“We hardly have a choice.” Celene said, “The nobility requires an answer for the question they have all been asking.”

“No more dithering.” Gaspard said, wincing as he spoke, “Let’s get it over with.”

Suddenly, Enasal was very tired. The righteous fury that had simmered in her for so long had finally boiled over, and the outpouring of rage was like taking the pot off the flame, cooling it back to a manageable temperature. Krem’s hand squeezed her shoulder, “That was great, En. Really gave it to them.”

She smiled weakly, “Josephine’s going to kill me.”

“She’ll get over it.” He said, “Come on, I don’t want to miss watching them try to spin this pretty.” Applause erupted back in the ballroom as Celene and the others entered. Enasal reached over to squeeze her friend's hand before following them in.  

Celene had slipped back on her mask; calm and confident and all smiles, “Lords and Ladies of the court, we are pleased to announce that an accord has been reached. My cousin Gaspard will now hold a place of honor in our cabinet, and our Elven Ambassador will join him.”

Everyone began talking at once, but Celene quieted it with a wave of her hand.

Gaspard stepped forward, his charming facade restored, “Friends. We assembled are leaders of the empire. We must set an example for all of Thedas.” He smiled, “We cannot be at war with each other while the Fade itself challenges our borders.”

Celene actually put her hand on her cousin’s shoulder in a show of comradery, “We must stand united or surely we will fall alone.” She stepped aside, “And now, Lady Inquisitor, if you’d like to address the court.

She didn’t want to.

She wanted to tell them all to go fuck themselves and leave.

But instead, Enasal took Celene’s place; back straight, head up, and face composed, “We have a threat that affects all of Thedas. This isn’t the time for infighting or self-centered politics. If we’re to survive, we have to stand strong together.”

The Empress took her spot again, “We will heal our wounded country. A long road of reconstruction lies before us.” She raised her hands, softly and elegantly, “But tonight, we celebrate the arrival of peace. Let the festivities commence!”

The crowd cheered and the wine flowed, toasting what they believed to be the Empresses’ victory. For the first time that evening, Enasal felt no eyes on her. The relief loosened her shoulders and jaw, drawing a sigh from her. But at the same time, the noise had become deafening and the movement in the room felt like an angry sea.  

Enasal retreated back to the balcony, yanking off her gloves and detangling the hairpiece from her curls. The cool air and nighttime bugs soothed her and for a moment she enjoyed the solitude. But it wasn’t long before the laughter behind her settled loneliness onto her shoulders.

She couldn’t decide what she wanted. For someone to come find her or for everyone to forget about her for a little while.

But it would seem providence would make the decision for her and Morrigan's low voice purred out, “The Orlesian nobility make drunken toasts to your victory, Lady Inquisitor, and yet you hide alone where you cannot enjoy them?” She shook her head, “Do you tire so quickly of their congratulations, Inquisitor? ‘Tis most fickle, after all your efforts on their behalf.”

Enasal closed her eyes, “I just made a deal with three demons. I needed some time to think - I don’t know if I did the right thing.”

“‘Tis finished.” Morrigan said, “You cannot take back what you have decided.”

Enasal rubbed her face, “Yes, I think I figured that out myself.”

The woman laughed, “By imperial decree, I have been named liaison to the Inquisition. Celene wishes to offer you any and all aid - including mine. Congratulations.”

She squinted, “You… want to join the Inquisition?” 

“The assignment has been given to me, regardless of my personal interest.” She said dismissively, “Celene knows you face an opponent who wields great magical power, which is far more important than her own curiosity. You will require my knowledge if you are to defeat such magic.” She caught Enasal’s eye, “Regardless, Corypheus is a threat to Orlais… and to myself. Thus, I am not opposed to the appointment.”

Enasal stared out into the courtyard, her voice seeming distant, “Of course, thank you Morrigan, and welcome to the Inquisition.”

She didn’t see Morrigan’s reaction, only heard her voice, “A most gracious response. I shall meet you at Skyhold.” There was a rustling of skirts, as though she was bowing, followed by another set of footsteps; these heavier and more familiar.

Waltz for the Moon

Enasal looked over her shoulder, smiling as Cullen passed Morrigan. “There you are. Everyone's been looking for you.” He leaned on the banister beside her, “It’s not like you to avoid a party, are you alright?”

She swallowed and sighed, “It’s… it’s just been a long night.”

He laid his hand on her cheek, gently turning her face to look at him, “I was worried about you tonight.

Enasal reached up and touched his hand, “I’m okay.”

Cullen looked down at her; hating how tired she looked, how dejected by it all. 

Suddenly, he needed to make her smile. 

“Enasal?” He asked, taking a step back and offering his hand, “I may never have another chance like this, I must ask.” He performed a bow, offering a hand, “May I have this dance, Lady Enasal?”

She blinked in surprise, but put her hand in his, “I thought you didn’t dance.”

“For you,” He said, pulling her close, “I’ll try.”

She grinned, one hand grasped in his and the other on his shoulder. Carefully, he maneuvered as Voldin had taught him. Careful steps, mind her toes, lead, look at her, not at your feet.

She was beautiful.

Nothing would ever compare to her, not the stars, the sunrise, not even Andraste herself.

He wished he could say all those things, but every time he tried it would never come outright. It was always clunky and awkward, leaving him embarrassed at his own incompetence.

Maker, he was bad at this. 

Enasal sighed, coming closer to lay her head on his chest as they swayed to the rhythm of the last remnants of music coming from the party.

“Enasal,” He tilted her chin up to look at him. He remembered the last time they were in Orlais together, all those months ago at Lady Vivienne’s salon. How he had promised her to keep her safe, to not allow her to be spoken down to or treated as though she was less than others. 

He had wanted to kiss her then.  

The thought had entered his head as he looked down into those big grey eyes, and now the thought was back. He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.

But he didn’t want to just kiss her.

He steeled himself, repeating the phrase in his head for the hundredth time. He pulled away, taking a steadying breath, “Ar lath ma, vhen'an.”

A sharp intake of breath as she started.

His heart dropped.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words were delayed, “Cullen… do you know… do you know what you’re saying?”

He nodded, “Solas taught me.”

Her eyes lit up and she laughed. She stood on her toes to kiss him again, “Ar lath ma, vhen'an.”

Relief flooded him and he pulled her close, one arm around her waist and the other in her hair as he kissed her. 

After a few blissful seconds, Enasal suddenly pulled away. “I want to leave this place.” She shook her head, “I can’t stay here, I can't sleep here. Cullen, I killed people in the Grand Apartments, right outside our rooms. I don't care how fast they’ll scrub the tiles and clean the walls, and the people here are just so awful and I… I can’t.”

He nodded, “Give me five minutes. I’m sure I can find someone willing to take in the Inquisitor for the night.”  

Enasal shook her head, "Stay with me." She hugged him, "I don't want to be alone."

He kissed her forehead, then down to her lips, holding her tight - touching his forehead to hers. “Give me five minutes .”

She caught his arm, “Don't go yet. Dance with me a little longer?”

"I'll stay as long as you need." And even though the music had faded to nothing, he pulled her to him and continued the dance.

.

Read the full fic from the beginning at my A03 here!

If you’re willing and able, feel free to donate to my ko-fi or drop a tip in the jar!

And for the final GIF of the Winter Palace arc, Enasal's victory:

B O N U S: Krem the whole time:

[saintlethanavir]

Inquisitor as a Companion: Updated

Inquisitor’s Name: Calliope Tarenan Lavellan

Alternate Name?: Calliope Tarenan Himanaris 

Race, Class, & Specialization: Dalish Elf, two handed warrior, Reaver ; mage, necromancer (loyalty and/or romance dependant)

Varric’s Nickname for them: Shortstack

Default Tarot Card: Death (Upright: Endings, change, transformation, transition)

Loyalty Tarot Card: Judgement (Upright: absolution, rebirth, inner calling)

Romance Tarot Card: The Star (Upright: Hope, faith, purpose)

Hostile/Unloyal Tarot Card: Death ( Reversed: Resistance to change, personal transformation) 

How they are recruited:

The Inquisitor will come upon a dalish elf loitering in front of the Chantry after completely the prologue. They’ve been trying to get the attention of any guard that walks by though most completely ignore them or say they’ll send word to the proper people. Upon the Inquisitor leaving the Chantry they call out in an annoyed tone to them, a definitive mix of an Irish and French accent. 

If they’re an elf: “Will you not help a fellow elf, falon? Lot of people coming and going, ignoring my requests. Could you spare some time? 

If they’re not an elf: “Would you kindly tell your people to stop pulling my leg? I need someone to actually help me and not completely ignore my requests. Think you can do that?”

At that point the Inquisitor can: 

1. Apologize for the people before them not taking them seriously and ask what’s going on

2. Sigh heavily and commiserate, make a sarcastic comment about shemlen if Dalish, and ask what’s wrong

3. Tell them their tone is probably what put them off but if it helps them feel better they’ll do their best to help. 

With any of these options, Calliope will say that a friend of theirs is being held in the Chantry on an assault charge. Their brother, Elessar, accidentally nabbed a templar in the shoulder while out in the woods surrounding Haven. The Templar is fine and they’d rather not let their friend rot down there. If you answered with Option 3. Calliope will be short with you, and you will start with a lower approval score. 

The Inquisitor can then tell Calliope to move on or that they will release Elessar personally, and they either owe them and would like to speak to them, or that they just want to speak to them. 

If the Inquisitor tells them to move on: Calliope will break into the Chantry and get their friend out. Later on in Skyhold there will be a chance to recruit them if you go down to visit a prisoner, both Elessar and Calliope were arrested for spying on the group as they settled into Skyhold. If you recruit both of them during this scene you will start out with the lowest approval you can obtain with them.

If the Inquisitor breaks Elessar out: Calliope will express their interest in repaying the Inquisitor or say that they want to repay their debt as quickly as possible so they can get back to their clan. You can either dismiss them at this point or take them on as a companion.

Where they are in Skyhold: In the reading nook Dorian stands in, usually sitting at a table and idly reading a book about dragons. You can also find them hacking apart training dummies near the tavern. 

Things they Generally Approve of:

Sarcastic dialogue options

Supporting magic/mages

Supporting Elves

Criticism of the Chantry/Circle/Templars

Fighting Dragons

Being friendly towards spirits

Things they Generally Disapprove of:

Cruel/harsh criticisms of magic

Supporting the Chantry

Supporting the Circle/Templars

Criticism of Elves

Major decisions:

Greatly Approves Allying with the Mages

If in the party: “They have spent enough time in cages. Let them spread their wings, let them be free.”

If Inquisitor is an elf/mage: “Falon/Lethallen, you know just as I that magic can only be stunted under oppressive influence. Let them be free of their cages, it’s up to them what they do with their freedom.”

Back at Haven: “You did the right thing, never doubt that. They’ll be singing your praises tonight.”

Disapproves Conscripting the Mages

If in the party/Back at Haven: “You would have them trade one cage for another? Lovely.”

If the Inquisitor is an elf/mage: “I hope you release them eventually. A caged dog will bite the hand that feeds it.”

Greatly Disapproves of Allying with Templars:

If in party/Back at Haven: “You would trust a bunch of fools who believe they have a right to cage other people? That’s rich.

If the Inquisitor is an elf: “Fen’harel ma ghilana, garas quenathra. They will be the end of us all, da’len. May you learn from your mistakes.”

Slightly Approves of Conscripting the Templars: 

If in party/Back at Haven: “At the very least they have to do what you say, no? I hope you know what you’re doing. “

Approves of letting the Wardens Stay

If in the party/Back at Skyhold: “The wardens have a chance to make up for what happened, thank you for giving them that chance. “

Slightly Disapproves of Exiling them 

If in the party/Back at Skyhold: You didn’t exile the Fereldan Wardens did you? I wonder what will happen when the next Blight comes. I hope I’m not here to see it.

Greatly Disapproves Briala/Celene getting back together and/or Celene being on the throne/saved. Slightly Disapproves Gaspard ruling alone, and Approves of Briala puppeting Gaspard

If asked their opinion at the Winter Palace: “You should put Briala at the center and let the Empress die. She burned down the alienage, elves lost their families and lives. It was bad enough Halamshiral was taken from them once.”

If the Inquisitor is an elf: “I will help you end Empress Celene myself if it comes down to it. Briala is who I would choose. I hope you would as well.” 

Greatly Approves Allying with the Ancient Elves and doing the Rituals

Disapproves Killing the Ancient Elves

Slightly Disapproves if a non elven Inquisitor or Morrigan drinks from the Well of Sorrows

Approves if an elven Inquisitor drinks from the Well of Sorrows

Any decision made to make a mage Tranquil will result in Calliope becoming hostile towards the Inquisitor and romance/loyalty is cut off

Friends in the Inquisition: Iron Bull, Dorian, Varric, Sera, Cole, Leliana, brief friendship/romance with Solas. 

Romanceable?: Calliope is romanceable by male inquisitors of any race or class! Flirting is available the moment you get to Haven, though they are a lot more receptive to kind/non rival Inquisitors. A full romance is available after Here Lies the Abyss and if you continue to flirt with them, express interest in them. They will slowly reveal to you that they suffer from hallucinations (both auditory and visual) and have since they were a child, they have gotten worse since their magic appeared at the age of seven. Pressing on this matter the first time will result in them saying they don’t wish to speak more about it, but maybe in time they can tell the Inquisitor why they don’t just use their magic to alleviate some of their stress. 

After Here Lies the Abyss the Inquisitor can approach Calliope about what the Nightmare said to them, as it called them Lethanavir. A non elven Inquisitor may be confused as to what that means or at least curious, but an elven Inquisitor knows that’s the title of Falon’Din. Calliope will of course explain if the Inquisitor is in need of it, but they’re just as confused as them about what that could mean for them specifically. They will joke about past lives and memory loss to lighten the mood, but will confide in the Inquisitor that what they hear in their hallucinations are the sounds of the dying. Last words and breaths. Their visual hallucinations come at times of high stress and will sometimes involve watching someone they know or don’t know die. Sometimes they become paranoid that the person is truly dead and has been replaced if it’s someone they know. They believed for some time that practicing their magic would alleviate some of these instances but it never has. 

Though they don’t believe it’ll help much, an Inquisitor can either support them in building their magical talents or telling them it may not be worth it. If they support Calliope they will seek out the help of the Inner Circle Mages, and if Dorian is within the Inner Circle they will latch onto his teachings. It is also possible in the course of this romance to begin a polyamorous relationship with Calliope, Dorian, and the Iron Bull if the Inquisitor expresses interest in all three of them. It is also entirely possible for Calliope and the Inquisitor to engage in a polyam relationship with Solas, but eventually Calliope will break off the relationship with Solas for ‘personal differences’. This is also true if Calliope is not romanced and Solas isn’t pursued at first or not at all by the Inquisitor. Then if Dorian and Iron Bull are not Romanced, or if one or the other isn’t romanced, they will enter into a relationship with both or one of them. 

You will get a dance scene in Halamshiral if you take Callie along with you, though the scene will go a little differently depending on what you’ve done so far in the game. If Here Lies the Abyss is done after Halamshiral you will not get a dance scene with Calliope but you will be able to flirt with them as per usual. 

Upon finding them in the palace gardens sitting on the pool where you toss the coins: 

Inquisitor: How are you finding the party? It must be nice to know what everyone is talking about.

Calliope: Ah yes, I love hearing about the various affairs of nobles and how they’ve been abusing their staff. At least the food is good, but I wouldn’t touch the ham no matter what Dorian says. 

Inquisitor, flirting: Do you think you’ll have time for a dance later?

Calliope (if in a relationship already): Vhenan, I will be whisking you away to the dance floor no less than three times if I have my way.

(If not in a relationship yet): I think I can pencil you in for at least one. Though I will be leading, I hope that’s alright (laughs). 

A romance will be locked in after Halamshiral or the completion of Here Lies the Abyss if Halamshiral was done first. They will meet the Inquisitor in their quarters and begin to show off what they’ve learned, commenting that their twin helped them perfect a barrier spell which they use on the Inquisitor. They will then share a tender moment and kiss, pushing the Inquisitor down on the bed. However, the Inquisitor can either choose to tell them they want to spend time with them but wish to not be physical, or they can continue that particular scene. Either way they’ll wake up the next morning with Calliope smiling at them and telling them they love them in Elven. 

There is a repeatable kiss scene with Calliope in the Inquisitor's quarters as well as a tarot card change! They will go from a two handed warrior to a necromancer as well, though will still use a sword along with their magic. At the end of the game there will be a cut scene where Calliope follows the Inquisitor into their rooms, then sweeps them into a near crushing embrace. 

Calliope: We survived, I cannot believe we survived. 

Inquisitor: You sound so thrilled! 

Calliope: (laughs) Asshole. You know what I mean. I am...just happy that we’re here together at the end of it all. 

Fear: The Dark 

What the Nightmare says to them: “Ah, Lethanavir. The Darkness will only consume you again, why do you struggle so? Wouldn’t it be better if you laid down and gave up?

Small side mission: 

Whose Faithful Sing: Calliope has tasked you to help them give final rites to the Dalish elves who have helped the Inquisition but died in the process. Take their remains to the Emerald Graves, the Dales, and the Hinterlands to lay them to rest. (Grants Approval all three times). 

This quest is given to you after unlocking the Emerald Graves on the War Table. 

Companion quest:

In the Dark, All is Revealed: This quest is given to you when Calliope asks to see the Inquisitor post Halamshiral and romance scene (if you romanced them). There will be a cut scene where Calliope lets the Inquisitor know that their twin brother recently joined the Grey Wardens after the events of Here Lies the Abyss, citing that he wanted to actually do something for the world for once. While Calliope had their reservations about this, especially because of the false Calling, Elessar did this anyway though has not had his Joining yet. He was recruited into the Grey Wardens of Ferelden and went with them on an excursion to the Deep Roads to block off some darkspawn hordes only to get trapped in a cave in. Calliope wants your help to get Elessar out of this situation. 

If Calliope hasn’t been romanced, and you are at low approval, and you tell them you can’t do this for them they will permanently leave the Inquisition. Refer to end card section for what happens post DAI and Trespasser. If you take this quest however keep reading! 

Calliope and the Inquisitor will go to the Storm Coast where the cave in happened and search for Elessar. They encounter the main group made up of grey wardens and Legion of the Dead soldiers, who mention the Elessar was cut off from the main group with Carver Hawke (Bethany Hawke if Carver did not survive DA2, or an unnamed senior warden if either are unavailable). After fighting through a horde, Calliope mentions that they’re having trouble with seeing things and that there are voices in their head. A romanced Inquisitor can ask if they’re alright and they’ll just say that they’re fine, it’s nothing. 

After another horde, there will be a cut scene where Calliope faints after they fell all the darkspawn. There’s a moment where the party freaks out only for Calliope to open their eyes wide and sharply inhale, with a two toned voice saying that there’s something big coming. And an ogre will show up! Their abilities will be slightly more erratic,either as a necromancer or a Reaver and halfway through the fight Carver (or whoever it was) will show up with Elessar. The twins begin to fight in sync and act much in the same manner until the ogre is felled and the Inquisitor can ask questions. The twins will reveal that they are Falon’Din and Dirthamen, a revelation to both of them, as the gods needed time to reveal and dedicate themselves to the cause. They explain that they are inhabiting the bodies of the twins not unlike how the Old God soul is inhabiting Keiran (if he was the result of the Dark Ritual. If he was not born they will liken it to being reincarnation. All references to being an abomination are met with scorn. They will then ascend to the surface after the gods release their holds, and the Inquisitor can interrogate the twins. Both mention they had no idea what was going on and will need some time to process, but they promise they’ll keep the Inquisitor posted. If they’re not elven they will also explain who the gods are. 

Once back at Skyhold a cutscene will trigger with Calliope asking to talk to the Inquisitor in their quarters. They’ll reveal that they’ve talked to Falon’Din, or what they believe is Falon’Din, and that while things are still murky they’re grateful for the Inquisitor helping them and their twin brother. If the Inquisitor is romanced, Calliope will mention that they understand if the Inquisitor is no longer interested, but the Inquisitor can reassure them that they still are and this doesn’t change who Calliope is as a person. 

End Cards/Trespasser: 

If loyal to the Inquisitor: ‘Calliope promised to stay at the Inquisitors side, as a bodyguard and friend. The Tarenan Clan are steadfast allies to the Inquisition, who hopes this will finally be a step towards peace for the Dalish.’ 

If romanced: ‘The Inquisitor and their paramour, the Lethanavir made quite the ripple amongst Chantry officials when they announced their partnership. Maker help anyone who should stand against them. Though some still grumble about and supposed elven god being in love with the Herald of Andraste.’

If they left the Inquistion: ‘Not much is known about what happened to Lavellan/Himanaris, though some say they’ve spotted the elf in the Emerald Graves. Though it was only ever for a moment. They left behind whispers of death and revenge, so the soldiers say.’

Trespasser: ‘They found traces of Lavellan/Himanaris between a section of Crossroads where it seems they have amassed quite the following. Dalish elves flock towards rumors of the reincarnation of Falon’Din and Dirthamen, but whether or not those rumors can be trusted is yet to be seen.’

If romanced: ‘What transpired at the Council leaves many questions for Calliope, but they know they will always have their Inquisitor close at hand. Come what may they will not let the growing threat of Fen’Harel and his plans overshadow theirs. There are fewer grumbles from the Chantry about their relationship with the Inquisitor, but the fires have been stoked once more after Calliope proposed. What will come for them next, its anyone’s guess.’

If loyal to the Inquisitor: ‘Promises to the Inquisition were made and they will be kept. Plans have come to fruition between Dorian and the Lethanavir, scouring the lands for any trace of Fen’harel and his spies (if Dorian is not romanced). Rumors have spread that the Magister may have even taken on Calliope as his paramour. The Magisterium has certain words for the pair, but they always fall on deaf ears. 

[squirrelwithatophat]

Fandom discourse can be really dumb sometimes.

I’m a firebreathing lefty social justice type myself, but it’s always annoyed me when people go, “You only dislike [insert character here] because you’re racist/sexist/homophobic/etc.!” For one, it’s usually thrown around before so much as attempting to learn the actual reasons why any given individual likes or dislikes a particular character and just serves to make other people angry and shut down any meaningful conversation. For another, most of the depictions of women and members of various minority groups in popular media don’t come from members of these groups but are written by relatively privileged straight white men, in turn usually drawing on other straight white men’s conceptions of what these groups are like.

Celene (obviously) isn’t a real lesbian or a real woman. She’s a fictional image of a lesbian created by a straight cis white man, and by championing her you’re not championing any actual lesbians or the cause of lesbians (or women in general) but the product of one man’s literary imagination. If you’re going to get all hostile and throw around accusations of misogyny or homophobia, you’d more appropriately reserve your ire not for audience members who disapprove of a lesbian character behaving in an abusive, violent, or generally sociopathic manner but for the (straight male) writer who decided to invent a lesbian character to portray in such a negative light and attribute such awful personality traits and actions to her.

In general, fans should critically examine the narrative role of individual characters (including what purpose they serve in illustrating the themes and takeaway messages of the story) and why the author chose to write each character the way they did (including why the author chose to assign them particular traits, including demographic ones such as race, gender, or sexual orientation, and particular actions) rather than treating characters as real live human beings who can and should be interpreted on their own terms.

I personally disapprove of murder, domestic abuse, and genocide. Frankly, so should everyone. I also personally approve of supporting women who love women (and other marginalized people) in real life. And also so should everyone. But Celene was written as a WLW who perpetrated murder, domestic abuse, and genocide, and it’s worthwhile to think about why Bioware has such a penchant for the “Psycho/Depraved Lesbian” trope rather than berate fans for disapproving of these behaviors and characters who would engage in them (including fans who are themselves lesbians).

I don’t hate Celene because she’s a woman.

I hate Celene because: 

She’s abusive to her girlfriend.

Killed her girlfriend’s parents and never told her.

Also the game makes it seem like Briala and Celene broke up over something silly, which pisses me off.

She committed an act of genocide

Because her cousin held a play that made fun of her.

Real mature there, Celene.

Never takes responsibility for her actions

Also because the game NEVER EVEN TELLS US ABOUT HER ACTIONS AND ASSUMES WE ALL READ THE BOOK.

[felassan]

What, then, of the lauded Herald of Andraste? Her origins are as steeped in folktale as the deeds she wrought during the war. In the wake of the Elder One’s defeat, a thousand and one nobles from all corners of Thedas streamed to the fortress of Skyhold in hope of begging her favor. In the art world, ever a mirror image of our waking reality, the accompanying explosion was predictable; her image took it by storm, and to have such a piece in your collection became the vogue for well-to-do households across Orlais. The three I have arranged herein for the student’s consideration are some of the most sought-after examples.

The first is something of an outlier. Reportedly created by the dreaded Wolf himself, it was unearthed by Inquisition agents upon ransacking the scant possessions he had left behind, concealed in a sheaf of papers in his study. Though the medium is not plaster, the style itself is undeniably reminiscent of the now-famed elven frescoes adorning the walls in Skyhold’s rotunda. See how fondly he has captured the sharp angles of her face, the attention paid in every line. A romantic might fancy it a glimpse or window into another world to which most are not privy - contemplative, lonely, wistful - with spirits whispering in the paint. The background is indistinct - it is her features that the artist sees with utmost certainty and clarity, above all else. Curious that he chose to depict his subject prior to the mysterious vanishment of her elven markings, is it not? The meaning behind this decision is currently debated more hotly in scholarly circles than the exact year of Andraste’s birth.

Of the second, it must be noted that this is a classical masterwork that will withstand ages. Commissioned by an anonymous patron of the arts, it is currently on loan from the University of Orlais to Empress Celene, displayed in the gallery at the Winter Palace. That the painstakingly rendered likeness of an elf is now displayed so in Halamshiral, the ancestral home of their people, is a bittersweet irony lamented by none other than Divine Victoria herself in the days after she ascended the Sunburst Throne. The gilt frame compliments the Herald’s flaxen hair, particularly against the backdrop of the healed sky, but more than that, in her expression can be seen her talent for careful diplomacy. Ines Arancia identified the featured blooms as a rare variant of embrium, which counts itself a member of the orchid family. One would posit that here the artist was drawing a parallel between both the exceptional beauty and healing properties of embrium and those attributes of the Inquisitor herself. Their inclusion is also said to be an allusion to “the nobility of flowers”, a line heard in no less than three of the bard songs that have been composed about the Herald thus far.

The final piece is a portrait that was ordered in the fluid style popular among Antivan nobility. Here, the Herald’s countenance is such that she is both curious and wilful in equal measure. The dominant tones are red and green, hues which hark to her preferred manner of dress. A skilled observer shall doubtless notice a certain hurried quality in the brushstrokes; of the painting’s specifications, I am reliably informed that Lady Josephine Montilyet changed her mind on no less than three occasions during the dialogue process with the artist, wishing as she did to oversee the creation of a work which suitably paid tribute to the Inquisitor. Purportedly the Lady was so pleased with the final result that she parted with an additional full fifth of its worth on top of the price originally agreed (along with an eloquently-penned apology and enclosed box of choice Orlesian frilly cakes). The student might look upon this portrait and be critical of its subsequent feel, which has been described as incomplete. However, in private parlors and drawing rooms across the south, this aspect is held up as reflecting the fact that for the elven woman who shook Thedas, and saved all among us from the sky’s anger, hers is a tale yet unfinished.

-- An excerpt from The Dragon Age: Commentaries on Contemporary Art, Volume III by Arnaude-Pierre de Verley

SURPRISE!! @roseategales ✨

We worked together in secret to make and put this together for you of your OC, the lovely Eludysia Adhlea Lavellan.  🎨 📖  We hope you like it and that it does ‘dysia justice :)

----------

[credits: art piece 1 @honeypeabrain, art piece 2 @resjade, art piece 3 @incaensor, codex entry @felassan]

[dgcatanisiri]

GodDAMN, the elven servant in the Royal Wing never fucking fails to drive me up the wall. The whole thing of her being set up to be killed fails to hold up to scrutiny - everyone’s already spying on everyone while planning to murder everyone, and when you’re sneaking in to the closed wing of an imperial palace, discovery and attempted murder are literally occupational hazards.

As for the “I knew her” bit, so the fuck what? At worst, Briala can spin it to “when the Empress of Orlais called me, an elven servant, to her bed, what choice did I have to disobey?” ANYTHING to do with her relationship with Celene reflects worse on Celene, not Briala - the alienage purge and the breakup roughly coincide, too, but even if they didn’t... Again, what power did an ELVEN SERVANT have over the EMPRESS OF ORLAIS?

And, once more, I point out the fact that it is not some standard guard trying to kill the servant. It’s a Harlequin, an elite assassin. That is A LOT of political capital that Briala would have to spend to get them to take a contract from “a knife ear,” from the “rabbit” opposed to the Empress.

The whole story crumbles with ANY critical thought applied - this servant got sloppy, got found out, and SHE decides to act on a petty grudge to ingratiate herself to other powers at Briala’s expense, and probably the expense of the whole movement.

[jrastegar]

Taking One's Measure

Disclaimer: Hello. I have not written fanfiction before. But as next year I’ll begin writing a dissertation, I decided it isn’t a terrible idea to use my summer off to practice writing, and the only thing that’s really kept my interest is fanfiction so VOILA. This mathematician humbly submits the beginning of a Celene/Anora fanfic based on the peace negotiations in Jader.

Criticism is welcome. @hezjena2023 is the role model I aspire to. 

----

Calling the negotiations delicate is acerbic summary of what occurred throughout the first, and second day of the peace talks between Orlesian and Ferelden diplomats. Orlesian Diplomats, in their usual equation for successful relations, prepared monologues of virtues, great futures that were just within reach, and boasted of friendships between nations as innocent as a newborn babe, swathed in the light clear, brilliant skies. Each speech was punctuated by a Ferelden speech that spoke of torn skies, old wounds, imperialism and barbarism of past slights, and a war-torn nation prepared for another tragedy, prepared for betrayal. To say that these fundamental first talks had any common ground belies the chasm of experience between these two countries.

Neither of the first days did their Sovereigns speak. Dinner for the first two evenings were held solely with each sovereign and their diplomats as an attempt to course correct.

One the second day, the diplomats of both sides course corrected throughout the talks. It began with Ferelden attempting a cheerier disposition in their discussions of trade, roads, and borders but landed rather flat, given the gravity of the events that Ferelden had endured. The Orlesian diplomats, unskilled with wound-licking, attempted a more moderated, empathetic note, adding in degrees of alliances they could form from tariff -neutral trade alliances, to defense pacts. The Ferelden diplomats managed to exclude any discussion of an alliance from their speeches for the entirety of the day, and the unspoken topic began to cloud the discussions with uncertainty, tension, and worry. By the time talks concluded for the day, each side went back to the drawing board, fraught with concern.

A tray arrived the third morning for Queen Anora consisting of an assortment of treats—tea, coffee, four different kinds of dates ranging in sweetness and softness in texture, to citrus sweet oranges, and tart pomegranates, and nuts, as well as several small flaky baked confections of various colors, and a note. Anora poured herself a cup of tea and studied the note and the lovely stationery bearing her name in exquisite script, it was easy to identify the writer. She had seen it before, penned on intimate letters her husband kept, cherished, in fact. As if in protest, she took several sips of tea, enjoying the clarity it brought, and the spice that seemed rather exotic to her taste buds before she finally took the note and revealed its contents.

To her Majesty, Queen Anora of Ferelden:

Our negotiators are oceans apart. I believe we will have more success without the distractions to find the measure of one another. I have requested Lady Seryl preserve the library for our usage sans the diplomats. I would be delighted by your company this afternoon.

Sincerely, Empress Celene I

Having read the previous letters penned by this woman to her husband, Anora puzzles over the presentation of formality with the hint of intimacy, as though Celene is seeking to reach her through the pretense. “You must be mad…” she begins, blessedly alone in her first, natural response before her mind begins down the thousands of possible outcomes if she refuses. Anora knows it will undermine Ferelden’s position if they seem unwilling to negotiate, or worse, fear that Anora, herself, is incapable of personally overseeing these matters because she is afraid or unable of standing toe-to-toe with the so-called Mistress of the Grand Game.

Anora abandons the meal, taking only her tea and the letter to the desk and penning a simple affirmation to the Empress before she dresses hurriedly. The morning is spent pouring over the transcript of talks over the past two days, previous negotiations penned between Merrick and Celene, and all correspondence between Cailan and Celene. She would be well-studied when she went into negotiations with that Orlesian harlot.