#enasalin !!

[anneapocalypse]

Found an interesting bit of foreshadowing buried in an armor set codex entry (Enasalin) in DA2:

Little knowledge remains of the great war the Tevinter Imperium waged upon the elves of Arlathan. Many human scholars believe that Arlathan was the only elven settlement of note, and that if elves existed elsewhere on the continent their forces were at best negligible. My conversations with the Dalish, however, indicate that there was a time when the elves had many cities, and it's possible that the elven civilization declined long before the Imperium entered the height of its power.

—From An Investigation into Arlathan, by Alstead the Sage, 9:18 Dragon

[vorkosigans]

the vorkosigan saga to ff14 pipeline remains strong, i see

Dragon Age > FFXIV pipeline too, unsurprisingly

Tales of loss and fire and faith?

[lafaiette]

WELCOME BACK, DRAGON AGE, WE'RE SO BACK OMG

[ronaan]

VARRIC'S COMMENT ON ROOK'S BACKSTORY, EACH FACTION ft. MY ROOKS

[herold-andrastes]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 ⸺ Saavedra, Dalish elf of the Lavellan clan. Mage and Knight-Enchanter, specialised in storm magic and the conjuration of swords. Also known as the Herald of Andraste, and acting as the leader of the reformed Inquisition. Loyal to the Chantry and the Templars, despite being the former First of her clan's Keeper and still holding on to her belief and traditions. ⸺ Dragon Age: Inquisition, est. 08/2023

[bansheeheart]

+1 What does Rook smell like?

FOR YOUR ROOKS OTHER THAN VITA. whoops!

Enasalin smells like parchment paper, cedar, and amber

Odalis smells like leather, whiskey, and oud

Narcissa smells like orchid, tonka bean, and myrrh

Aeron smells like blood, nagarmotha, and tobacco

Naenia smells like patchouli, cardamom, and benzoin

[shift-shaping]

do we have an elven name for solas's frescoes or do i have to make one up

[princehendir]

Anyways no matter what they say I will maintain my belief that the only exciting thing that Varric has done in these last few years post-Trespasser is babysit his bestie's terrible little baby who just fucking loves to try and swallow things like bugs and small toys and common household chemicals and cannot be left alone because of this

[catjellies22]

ENASALIN !! do not let the green fool you they are 100% a blood mage :DD (sketch under cut)

[felassan]

[pics] with the news that Bellara is a mage: this means she is not a warrior or rogue who just happens to be using a magical artifact or something like that (the golden bow/arm). I wonder then if these devices are things that only mages can wield, things powered by their own magical power? Strife is a non-mage Veil Jumper, and he uses a regular bow. the series has long had 'mage warrior-types' as specs for mages (Arcane Warriors and Knight-Enchanters), so it's cool that there's now basically what seems like an 'Arcane Archer'. I wonder if the golden bow device is an ancient elven item? it has that look, two. as a follow on from that, since Bellara is a Veil Jumper who is obsessed with uncovering ancient elven secrets, perhaps the device is something that she found on one of her excursions? :> or maybe it's more like a manifestation of her power.

lore which is worth remembering:

Among the ancient elves, there were mages who trained their magical arts to augment their martial prowess. They channeled magical power through their weapons and bodies, becoming terrors on the battlefield. Most consider these skills lost forever, but they may still linger in forgotten corners of the world. Arcane warriors may learn to use their magic score to satisfy the strength requirement to equip higher-level weapons and armor.

Solas tells us more about the AWs in DA:I dialogue:

"The formal name for the techniques you have learned was the Dirth’ena Enasalin, knowledge that led to victory. Mages who eschewed physical confrontation called it Ghilan’him Banal’vhen, the path that leads astray."

he says that AWs were elite guardsmen, bodyguards and champions for ancient elven nobles, that with their physicality they were the willing embodiment of will made manifest. Arcane Warriors once widely existed in the ancient elven world, but the skill lingers today. maybe Bellara's changing bow is her will made manifest in this way?

Knight-Enchanter techniques are derived from those of the AWs. when KEs do their thing, they're summoning a blade from thin air (well, from the Fade).

Bellara's mage-ness and the bow reminds me of these kinda things. I wonder if she has trained her magical arts to augment her martial prowess, and if she channels her magical power through the weapon ('weapon' is general, it doesn't say 'it has to be a warrior weapon') and her body?

more triangles btw.. 👁️

[nadas-dirthalen]

Isabela: Emma salin! Wait. That's elven for congratulations, right? (elf) Rook: You might want to try "enasalin." That means "victory." "Emma salin" means "I want you within me."

Thank you to whoever wrote these lines on behalf of anyone writing elf smut in the DA fandom :))

[snurtle]

Felassan enasalin!

A tribute to my best boy Felassan; he's not gone in my heart, just wandering the Fade somewhere. ; ; Featuring my attempt at Elvhen writing! The sidebar says "Felassan enasalin" -- the other bit is just my signature transliterated. I might or might not make a guide at some point in case other people want to use written Elvhen, who knows.

The Elvhen writing in this is a cipher based on the carvings we see in game + the scrap from Last Flight, stylized with flourishes. Any similarities to real languages are coincidental and unintended! The pose is from a portrait of Henry Woodward by Violet Oakley (1921).

[lafaiette]

Me, already planning to make my Rook the canon version of Enasalin, an OC I created for an old Solavellan fic of mine in which he was an agent of Solas secretly rooting for him and his vhenan:

[ronaan]

FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH SOLAS PART TWO - ANGRY RESPONSE [SARCASTIC RESPONSE] [ANXIOUS RESPONSE] [HARSH RESPONSE]

[herold-andrastes]

[bansheeheart]

How old is Rook?

How did Rook get the nickname? What do they think of it?

Why does Rook agree to join the Veilguard?

What makes Rook a good leader?

Does Rook know their history? Do they know of the HoF, Hawke, the Inquisitor?

What does it take to earn Rook’s trust?

For any or all of your rooks. <3

ask.

I'll randomly choose as to who to answer, except for the first 🥰

how old is rook?

Vita and Aeron are 30 years old, Enasalin is 28, Odalis is 24, Narcissa is 23, and Naenia is 21.

how did rook get the nickname? what do they think of it?

enasalin gets it from her strategy, she's smart and tactical. she thinks the nickname suits her since she's underestimated.

why does rook agree to join the veilguard?

odalis loves a challenge and also misses their job. they think that killing a god will definitely get their job back. workaholic king.

what makes rook a good leader?

vita has a natural in charge attitude, she oozes confidence and has an addictive personality that makes people feel important.

does rook know their history? do they know of the HOF, Hawke, the Inquisitior?

aeron knows the hof, they joined her team shortly after the events of awakening and they enjoyed working with her. as for hawke and the inquisitor, they know of them but never met either.

what does it take to earn rook's trust?

narcissa. oh narcissa. she pretends to trust easily, to come off as naive, but it takes a lot of work to get under her exterior. trust is more important than love to her. consistency is key, if you continue to prove yourself worthy then she'll feel comfortable in your authenticity. actions speak louder than words.