#gallus headcanons

[murmurillo]

I have a headcanon that Gallus’s backstory in the Guild has a breaking bad, better call Saul vibe to it. Like his life was less of a fantasy tale, more of a criminal rise and fall novel? Here are some details:

the only times the guild was really ‘thriving’ were back in 170s when Gallus ruled it. before and after him, they were a simple bunch of thieves, more or less. Gallus did his math, realised that (economically speaking) this ‘business model’ was unviable, and re-organized the guild into a vast syndicate providing all kinds of shady services

he won his reign in a competition against Mercer; the competition was to steal the Imperial Crown (right before the coronation of Titus Mede II). When Gallus returned to the guild, the thieves wanted to keep the crown as a symbol of their glory, but Gallus played a humble man and gave a passionate (and very much planned) speech about him not wanting to be anyone’s ‘king’ but being there to serve his people. Later, he sawed the crown into jewels, sold each one separately and therefore made an impressive starting fund for all his investments and renovations

He hired all sorts of young and impressionable misfits and trained them into becoming skilled copyists, gamblers, messengers, swindlers, and so on - so much that actual thieves became a minority of the guild members and its associates. Mercer sarcastically offered to change the name to ‘Chicanery Guild’ but eventually Gallus proved that shady land deals were worth A LOT more gold than stealing some gilded pots now and then

He had a young secretary that he personally pulled out of jail to work for him. The secretary was gay af and got absolutely infatuated with Gallus (who didn’t mind because additional loyalty never hurts)

Mercer and Maven started as business partners and continued as cynical lovers who enjoyed luxury and making fools out of people

Delvin and Glover, and later Brynjolf and Vex were a part of the ‘hire the orphans’ program. Vex joined the guild as a child who lost her family in the Great War, and was trained personally by Karliah, with whom she had an adorable big sister/little sister relationship. Brynjolf, in his turn, was Mercer’s young apprentice

Gallus had personal beef with the Empire because the Imperials jailed and executed Dralsi Indoril (his mentor and saviour, and Karliah’s mother) without a trial. So much that he intentionally financed Thalmor during the war (his biggest mistake that he came to realise when it was already too late)

Dealing with Thalmor required even more money, so Gallus resorted to drug trade (and later drug production, which became his very personal side business with Enthir)

He learned the Falmer language to keep his drug schemes and writings safe from everyone (especially Mercer)

Eventually he developed an addiction himself, but Mercer and Karliah discovered it and decided to take action. Mercer didn’t want to betray Gallus from the start: he stole the Key to save him

Using the Key, Mercer broke into Gallus’s safe fearing that he might have kept the stuff in there, but found his encoded trade plans instead. He deciphered them and got shocked that Gallus not only kept the drug money in the guild, but transferred it to the enemy of the state

Mercer tried to expose Gallus, but he and everyone else just laughed at his face. ‘What’s that, you say? Falmer writings? And we’re supposed to believe you’? THIS IS HOW ‘THE PURSUIT’ SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE GAME

Trying to play bigger and bigger, searching for risk and fulfilment, Gallus dragged himself into a zugzwang. Thalmor had him, and so did the drug business, so when he discovered that Mercer stole and kept the Key (which meant that the Nightingales had failed, and Gallus was the one to blame), it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. ‘I am a dead man one way or another’

Mercer also didn’t plan on killing Gallus, he kinda saw it as an option. They had a super-complicated friend/rival relationship, and in fact, Mercer automatically rushed to save Gallus whenever there was a danger,

So yeah, they fought at the Snow Veil, but after defeating Gallus, Mercer felt something like ‘damn I can’t let him go’. And he would have saved him, but Karliah interfered, and the time was lost - and so was the chance

Mercer improvised and framed Karliah for murder, but he never really tried to track and take her down (that’s why she freely wandered around for 25 years)

In terms of behaviour, Gallus was somewhat of a Gus Fring type, and Mercer was a Lalo Salamanca one

Tldr: Gallus was super intelligent and curly and adorable but ALSO a slightly psychopathic risk addict who basically brought death upon himself, and Mercer was a cool guy who didn’t resist the temptation to become even cooler, and Karliah was a sweet cinnamon roll.

[emmg]

Lucanis is 100% the passport dad of the group. He has a color-coded folder of everyone's documents, a pen, a backup pen, and snacks. He’s already memorized the gate number, and honestly, he’s just tired. Tired of all of them.

Meanwhile, Harding and Taash are at the duty-free perfume counter, trying to huff their way into new allergies. "What if I sprayed this directly into my eyes?" "Only one way to find out."

Davrin and Assan have declared war on a vending machine that ate his money.

Emmrich is in the VIP lounge, where he’s sipping a $20 coffee and having a full-blown academic debate with Johanna who happens to be taking the same flight. It’s about something absurd, like "Does the number of airport Wi-Fi bars correlate with societal decay?" Hezenkoss did not come to play, and now the barista is their unwilling moderator.

Neve’s at the bar. She’s on her third martini and halfway through some case files, glaring at anyone who so much as looks like they might strike up a conversation. She’s also definitely pretending she doesn’t know any of them.

And Bellara? Bellara is just gone. Like, not even in the airport anymore. Somehow she’s ended up in a completely different country. There’s a 50/50 chance she’s fine and living her best life, or she’s single-handedly causing an international incident. Wherever she is, she has absolutely no regrets.

[iivieberry]

Didn’t plan on posting it at first but Veilguard’s companions headcanons !!!!!!

You can find the version without the panties on my Twitter bluesky and Patreon 🧡

[flowersforthemachines]

What home smells like (Crossroads comments)

Note: judging by the audio I extracted and the conversation file, Bellara and Taash don't have lines for that event (if they actually have lines and I missed them, pls lmk).

Rook: That scent… I can't place it. Neve: For a moment… it smelled like Dock Town after it rains. Lucanis: Coffee. Like Illario and I smelled in the kitchen where we grew up. But that cannot be right. Harding: That's my ma's apple cake! But… how? Davrin: That's smoke from my old clan's campfire. But… how do I even know that? Emmrich: It's reminiscent of the mortuary's perfumes, but… ah. Of course. Emmrich: There's small enchantments around this place. From the old elves, welcoming their kindred home.

My DAVG Extracted Audio Masterlist

[devilry-revelry]

At the start of Veilguard, if you run with a female Rook, it’s girl squad right up until you recruit Lucanis.

Once he’s picked up, there is chatter about how Harding is a terrible cook, how Bellara is usually making meals, and there is almost immediately a grocery list posted in the kitchen, written by Lucanis.

Then he goes shopping for the ladies.

I know this can’t be a new take, but I love the idea of these ladies surviving off of girl dinner, and Lucanis is just… horrified.

Bellara just snuck in to the pantry to grab her fourth apple of the day.

Neve had a handful of almonds and coffee for dinner.

Harding just made… something that no one else could stomach. She barely even ate her portion before eating a stale heel of bread.

Rook was in the kitchen at midnight eating a cucumber, and only a cucumber. No oil, no vinegar, or salt, pepper. She didn’t even chop the damn thing up.

Fresh from the Ossuary, and immediately on a new job, Lucanis decides the best way to success is making sure the ladies of the Lighthouse are properly fueled to save the world. It starts with a grocery list, and a new house rule: everyone comes to dinner. No exceptions.

[demigoddessqueens]

sex & love with the veilguard

—-Headcanons for each of the companions

PAIRINGS - Neve, Taash, Emmrich, Davrin, Harding, Lucanis, Bellara x Rook

NSFW 18+ SMUT

Masterlist 12

Neve 🩵

𝑠ℎ𝑒 cannot fathom that one such as you has fallen for her, and vice versa, but she would never give you up, service top who wants to see how good she makes you feel

Taash 💙

they are a protective lover who is also be a certified neck kisser and is a glutton for the extra attention you always give

Emmrich

𝒉𝒆 adores all of you wholeheartedly, shamelessly moaning into your kisses and pulls you closer when your legs wrap around him

Davrin

𝒉𝒆 lives in the moment, always headstrong and passionate for you, who grabs at life with you, grabs onto your hips and worships your chest when he can

Harding

𝑠ℎ𝑒 feels safe in getting to love you, having avoided two cataclysmic events in your lifetime, it makes up for the gentle hours into the morning when you make love

Lucanis

𝒉𝒆 might as well worship the ground you walk on, hopelessly devoted to you and always stares in adoration at the noises you make when you’re on top of him

Bellara

𝑠ℎ𝑒 adores you and looks forward to a life built together with you; in the more romantic aspect, I can see her being more a switch and exploring whatever desires you both have

[rookamell]

Neve is so scared of getting hurt but she's also so scared of other people getting hurt because of her and I think it's wonderful that she's emotionally intelligent enough to know when someone deeply cares about her or she deeply cares about someone else but not emotionally intelligent enough to like... be normal about it

[ellie-writes-games]

Lucanis Lunchboxes: Dalish Stripweed Nettle Soup

What if Lucanis packed Rook lunchboxes with little notes in them throughout the main story?

On the map, a "!" icon appears in the hallway just outside Rook's room in the Lighthouse. A temporary chest here holds a one-of-a-kind Valuable and a letter from Lucanis that is added to the Codex. Triggers after all Companions have been recruited in Act 1.

[SPOILERS] Read the letter from Lucanis below the line:

Writing Rambles

There's a lovely feeling when we reach the paella cutscene with Lucanis that the group is finally getting into their groove. It feels like a found family, with trust and rapport built one fade-touched stone at a time.

So naturally, I wanted to explore the opposite of that. How many things can go wrong at once? How can everyone give into their impulses or fall back on old habits in a way that gives the gang a ways to grow, while making as many little nods to lore, existing banter, and honoring the canon?

It was a doozy and this runs long. I don't generally like long codices, but I worked with an editor on this piece and shaved it within an inch of its life. (I like to think it still packs in a whole lot of scenery, despite how efficient I tried to be.) In a perfect world, this kind of writing might live in a few codex entries by different authors, or coexist with an ambient dialogue to let the note breathe a bit.

Enjoying my work? You can leave me a tip on Ko-Fi | Have a request?

Part of an on-going series of fan-writings. See the full Masterlist here.

This is fanfiction written by me, @ellie-writes-games. These are NOT actual screenshots from the game. Peace, love, and mad props to the DA writers.

[ladylentejita]

Life at the Lighthouse doesn’t offer many distractions, but luckily, a good portion of the team happens to be book nerds.

So, Rook establishes a tradition: reserving a special book to read aloud together by the kitchen hearth.

Naturally, Rook gets to pick the first book and chooses a steamy romance novel.

“Whait for it” Rook announces with a breathless gasp of excitement.

Bellara leans in closer, eyes wide with anticipation. Lace kicks her feet in giddy excitement, while Neve takes a measured sip of her coffee, managing to maintain her composure better than the others—but still clearly intrigued.

Rook clears their throat dramatically, taking a moment to find the right tone, letting the suspense build among their audience.

“You are the bane of my existence...” Rook begins, pausing just long enough to watch everyone hold their breath.

“And the object of all my desires.”

The instant the line is delivered, Rook lets out a strangled gasp and hides their face behind the book. Bellara grabs their arm, shaking them, while she and Lace scream in unison with Rook.

“… That was intense” Neve remarks dryly, amused by her teammates’ over-the-top reactions.

Lucanis remains composed and silent, but is the most invested.

Of course, Rook insists Lucanis re-reads the passage aloud again.

“It's going to be soo much better with your voice”

[uchidachi]

People are commenting in the notes of my poll where I (lovingly!) rag on Harding for her terrible cooking that Neve’s probably not a better option, but I disagree. I think Neve isn’t even a good enough cook to be bad at it. “I boiled some hot dogs, enjoy.” “There’s chicken nuggets in the air fryer.” If she’s feeling very fancy you get cheese sandwiches. Untoasted.

[offbranddragon]

Older post game Taash, years down the line and well into their middle age, is still just as playful and energetic as they were in their youth. Yelling in fights, hyping up their allies, and shit talking like they've got nothing to lose. Taash is still buying rounds of drinks, taking hits, and casually flirting with who ever gives them the time of day or looks at them a certain way. But older Taash, while not the definition of mature, has clearly grown. They are less the student and now the mentor. Taking little pieces of those they once saved the world along side and rarely talk to today. Taash is the first person checking in with everyone post fight. They are the one who orders everyone else to fall back while they hold the line so everyone gets home safe. Taash's fire is still alive and hot but less like an all engulfing flame and more like a hearth. Their room is always open, bed always warm, for those who need the comfort of a pair of warm arms and an ear to listen. They are everyone's parent. The one who doesn't discipline you normally and who's nurturing is taking you for your favorite drink and carrying you home when you've had too much all to only give you shit the next morning for it. They have a book and cure for everything. A meal that makes you think of home just when you need it. They always seem strapped for cash despite taking job after job and finding treasure a plenty, making sure everyone else has enough before they even take a single coin. Most of their 'wealth' is then spent on others, both near and far. They arrange to have some romance novels sent to Bellara and then further arrange some tomes they found to be delivered to a certain professor in the necropolis. Neve finds a warm coat, hand crafted, always passed to her by a dismayed mailman just when the weather gets nippy. Davrin has a new sword or shield or little outfit for Assan every holiday and Harding, as well as her mother, have the rarest herbs in all of Thedas and never have an empty table. And then there is Lucanis who, every so often, gets given a special shipment by Teia containing daggers and trinkets forged from Wyverns. Even Rook is found, where ever they are, given Intel and trinkets as well as gold just incase. Taash's clothes are well worn and patched. Armor well kept but showing age. It's a habit they once didn't understand and now hold close to their heart. Taash has aged into a patchwork of everyone they've loved, everyone that has cared for them even when they were difficult and angry at the world. And as they age this becomes more and more clear until they are grey, still fighting and still loving those around them like family.

[treviso-nights]

bellara forces (politely asks) the book club to read a court of thorns and roses. emmrich loves the fanciful world-building and the fact that people come back from the dead. lucanis wonders why all of the spies are so bad at spying. taash complains about a lack of wings during sex scenes. harding ends up feeling bad for tamlin. neve lobotomizes herself with an ice spell.

[summerfirewood]

DATV + Finding a Baby Headcanons

go ahead and disagree but this how I imagine the Veilguard being if they randomly came across an abandoned baby and brought them back to the Lighthouse

Neve : Knows how to take care of the baby. Immediately goes into caretaker mode. Is also the most active in trying to find where the baby comes from. Does not do baby talk. The baby probably lives in her room or in Rook's room.

Bellara : Loves babies. Does not know how to take care of one. Will give the baby a ton of affection and will read to them. Will communicate in Baby Talk for weeks

Taash : Also knows how to take care of the baby. Very gentle. Wears clothes pin on nose when its their turn to change the baby. Teaches everyone how to swaddle the baby and talks shit to whomever does it wrong. Does not do baby talk.

Harding : One of the biggest worry-warts when it comes to the baby. Second-guesses herself a lot but does her best. Likes to show the baby plants and what plant is good for what. Goes between baby talk and regular talk.

Emmrich : Another big worry-wart about the baby. Does not know how to take care of the baby but is reading and trying to follow Neve and Taash's example. Does baby talk when alone with the baby. Also reads to the baby.

Davrin : Does not know how to take care of the baby and tries to avoid any type of baby duty when possible. Loves making the baby laugh. Hates changing the diaper. Also active in trying to find where the baby comes from. Finds himself slipping into baby talk randomly.

Lucanis : Does not know how to take care of the baby. Will put the baby on the counter or table in a basket while he's cooking. Sings Antivan lullabies. Makes puree foods for the baby. Will randomly slip into baby talk.

Spite : Talks a lot of shit to Lucanis about the way he takes care of the baby but is not actively helping in any way. Especially when it comes to changing the baby.

Assan & Manfred : They are so excited to be big brothers. Will argue with their dads about spending time with the baby.

Rook : This up to you guys

[senior-mourn-watcher]

Ive been thinking about what everyone would be if they were a spirit... So here is the team as Spirits :V

I tried to be specific but some (like Emmrich) embody the whole of the concept not just one part of it. Bellara's was the hardest to think of because what makes Bellara "Bellara" to me is impossible for a spirit to become (because they can't be like that. They're unable to create things). Also Rook's depends on the player.

Rook -> Willful Determination

Harding -> Cheerful Compassion

Neve -> Caution

Bellara -> Inventive Creativity

Lucanis -> Sensible Determination

Davrin -> Dutiful Protection

Emmrich -> Curiosity

Taash -> Persistence

[rook-laidir]

Random Rook Headcanons

Some random headcanons for my goober that I can’t justify making separate posts for. Enjoy!

- When Rook escaped slavery, they scrounged up as much gold as they could for 2 things - a ham and cheese sandwich and a bar of chocolate. They made both of those last much longer than they should’ve when they snuck onto a ship heading for Rivain

- Rook liked Neve at first but thought she and the Shadow Dragons were full of shit when Neve first mentioned them. Rook was half expecting an elaborate Tevinter trap to bring them back in and punish them for thinking they could escape. Now, they see the Shadow Dragons as a group trying to bring about real, actual change in a city Rook never saw themselves returning to. They don’t love Minrathous, but they reluctantly like Dock Town now and it’s all their fault.

- Rook LOVES puzzles. All pretenses of playing dumb are GONE when the dungeon has a puzzle with some pressure plates or statues with glowing eyes. They’ve put extensive thought into what their three wishes would be if one of the artifacts they find ever ends up being a magic lamp.

- Harding asked them what three things they’d bring on a deserted island. They gave a very similar answer to Neve’s - a boat, a sailor, and at least three days worth of food and water. Harding grumbled everyone on the team being terrible at this game. Their real answer is a box of fancy chocolates, a book so bad it’s good, and a deck of cards.

- Rook figured out they’re non-binary after being with the Lords for a few years. They experimented with their hair and clothes for a bit before settling on their current look. Isabela refuses to let them forget the mullet.

- Varric called them Rook once and Rook went “Thanks for the new name, Varric!” They haven’t looked back since.

- Rook and Taash once used one of the laser puzzles in Arlathan forest to write “BOOBS” into the ground. They laughed for 20 minutes. The Lords of Fortune are just Like This.

- Rook’s flirting with Neve was a joke until it wasn’t. Neve spotted the difference right away. Rook took a little longer.

[rookamell]

Neve has to have some really big feelings about a Shadow Dragon Rook ending up with Lucanis, right? Like her home gets blighted (sort of because of Rook? I think she blames them at least partly it's only natural) and Rook saves a city that isn't hers. This after Neve thought she'd finally found someone to be there for her. They're on the same job, Varric trusted them, they're both Shadows (Shadows stick together, except on this) and then Rook doesn't show. And that's bad enough, but then a few weeks later (or days, depending on your timeline hc) Feelings start to happen. And we all make jokes about Neve noticing it first but of course she does and like... what does she feel about that? She's the one who suggested the Crows. Is she like, thinking she signed Minrathous's death warrant? Is she angry all over again because (regardless of actual motivations at the time) it looks like Rook dropped her and Docktown and the other Shadows for an attractive guy? That they'd just met? And coupled with (however much I think it has no long term basis) the fact that Neve can end up with Lucanis so there's obviously some initial attraction there at least from her side (she calls him attractive in the Ossuary). Like I think she's kind-hearted and smart enough to eventually listen to Rook's actual explanation esp if they do end up helping her with Aelia/Minrathous and if Lucanis helps in Minrathous with people/supplies but those first couple of longing glances must have felt like knives in her back. And I honestly don't know whether she'd go to Treviso for the wedding.