#halward pavus

[elvhenfaer]

30 Days of Dorian

Prompt One: The Fool

A depiction of Halward pulling Dorian’s strings as though he were his personal puppet.

@30daysofdorian

[dragonagecompanions]

Dorian reacting to a 6 year old inquisitor absolutely destroying his fathers ego? Like they basically tell his father that he failed as a parent and that Dorian is 1000×'s the man that he is?

(Probably an inquisitor closer to ten in age, for appropriate vocabulary.)

Wisdom from the mouth of babes.

It is perhaps the first time that both men of House Pavus have been rendered mute at the same time, but as their young Inquisitor extols his virtues Dorian cannot help but be gratified. How he managed to make such an impression on their young herald he has no idea, but would not trade their admiration for the world. No one save maevaris has ever come so passionately to their defense, and not even Magister Tilani had done to so...directly.

Halward Pavus was clearly not ready for this offended tirade, and if at first he was not willing to give credance to a child the inquisitors words cannot be denied. Dorian can see some of them strike true, and that is a gift that can never be repaid.

But he is also not going to let a child fight his battles (or make themselves a target, worse yet) and so the scion of House Pavus does not let them go on for long. It is easier, though, to return them back to the guards outside the tavern and speak to his father with their ringing endorsement still in his ears and heart.

-Mod Fereldone

[adoribullpavus]

i am finally done gatekeeping the most dorian pavus song i have ever heard.

honestly, it is insane to me that this song hasn't gone viral among dorian stans, but i blame it on the fact that not many dragon age fans listen to calum scott as much as i do.

i will acknowledge that calum's version is a cover and the original is out there somewhere, but after listening to both i just feel like calum's version encaptures dorian's character better.

the song is called "boys in the street" and is about a little boy who was shut out by his father for being gay.

remind you of anyone?

i shall link the song below and i recommend you all go and listen to it, but first i will share some of the lyrics and how i think they describe dorian's story perfectly.

"when i was younger, my daddy told me i would never, never amount to nothing special. he'd come at me from every angle. he'd say; "you're the last thing i wanted. the last thing i need. how am i going to answer when my friends tell me my son was kissing boys in the street?"

we all know halward had a problem with dorian's sexuality from a young age, probably even before dorian knew who he was himself. halward cares about keeping up appearances. having a gay son who refuses to hide who he is could ruin halward's reputation, which is why he would try so hard to make dorian see how wrong he is for being himself.

"tried to change me. say i'm embarassing my country. how could i do this to my family? don't want to grow up being lonely. he'd say; "we've worked for our money. we put you in school. is this how you repay us? do you think this is cool? my son, stop kissing boys in the street."

dorian says it himself:

and with tevinter's views on homosexuality, of course it makes dorian an embarrassment to his country. halward takes it as a personal offence against the pavus family for dorian to be gay, leading to dorian's ditching and living in loneliness for many years before finding the inquisition.

the rest of the song describes dorian's relationship with his dad later in life, after their reunion in "last resort of good men" and halward's assassination in trespasser, so i shall leave those verses for you guys to listen to yourselves.

i highly recommend this song if you love dorian as much as i do!!

[siensapsap]

This is probably the most luke-warm of takes, but I really wish the decision to not show Dorian his father's letter would have bigger consequences.

Like, you just betrayed his trust in one of the worst ways possible, confronting him with the person who probably inflicted the most trauma on him in his entire life without his consent. But after a short scene he seems to be just ok with it? Like, it feels kind of sad in a way, that that type of thing apparently been such a regular occurrence for him from the people he's supposed to trust that he get's over it that quickly.

Idk, it just feels like there should be a more significant change after you've made that choice, especially if the inquisitor is going to romance him. That's a huge breach of trust that I feel like should have been addressed with more than just a missed opportunity for a relatively small amount of approval.

[merrybandofmurderers]

“He taught me to hate blood magic. ‘The resort of the weak mind.’ Those are his words.”

Emperor

[meowsgirldrawing]

Grandpa Halward Pavus

Word Count- 1,821

Masterlist- Link

AO3- Link

Brivia laughs and screams playfully as Ms.Alarith, a younger servant girl, chases her around their extravagant garden, arms wide as her smile. 

They fly by the gardeners, one or two giving the girls a fond glance as they dig into the hearty soil and blooming flowers.

Alarith calls back a sorry but keeps her gaze on the girl ahead.

While the girls laugh and play freely in the sun filled area, everyone around them in high spirits, if not- then rather content ones. 

Dorian’s half surprised at this observation, honestly. 

Even his mother seems content this day, relaxed in her cooling spot on the patio, a long wineglass held high as she daintily sips. 

As long as she’s quieter. A sigh in his mind as his face remains neutral. His own glass gets pulled up, taking a tasty sip.

The neutral expression doesn’t last long,

“Hi, Papa!” Brivia calls out.

A smile quirks on his face, “Hello, darling.” 

She darts pass with the 12 year old on her trail, both filled with giggles-galore.

For the first time on the trip, his shoulders loosen their tenseness and replace them with relief at his daughter’s happy showing. A trip? Whatever for? Simple enough to explain actually. 

Sadly, his parents recently discovered news of his adopted daughter and so they sent on an eager invitation to find out more of this child. Like vultures, he hates so.

Evident of this-

“Where was she found, exactly?” His father.

He’s been getting questions nonstop upon their arrival. Thankfully- and extremely baffling- his father and mother heeded his warning on not speaking of this in front of Brivia. It may not be a big difference to them, but to Dorian- he’d rather speak without the possibility of his daughter turning upset at such confusing questions about her.

Nevertheless, he obliges as agreed upon. 

“In the half-destroyed house of an over-run village. She was the youngest survivor it seemed.” Dorian keeps the bites out of his lips. Ignorant to the cursing urge to do otherwise. “Fuliz found her with his little mercenary scouting party. He brought her ‘home’ and we ended up signing adoption papers 2 months after.” He shrugs, as if it was no big deal. No big deal of his little freak out to the possibility of having a child of his (technically-) own. No big deal that he had to have a big talk about children with his bestest friend, Bellatrix, while ignoring the urge to stare at her pregnant belly. 

Halward hums, “Does she know?”

“Of what?”

“Of her origins?”

His son turns a good brain nozzle, Halward drinks from his glass as he waits in the chair beside him.

“No. Of the village or where we found her? No. And while we haven’t had the actual talk with her, I’m very sure she already knows.” 

“Because she is an elf?”

I didn’t want to be that blunt. “Of course.” sighs Dorian. 

Brivia has never been truly disconnected from her culture. He knew very well the additional things when it came to adopting her. He let her stay with her aunts, Estel and Bellatrix at times, bought as many books as he could find on her elven culture. 

However, he’s seen the looks. He’s noticed the touching of his ear more than usual when held in his grasp. How she stares at herself in the mirror, trailing the tip of her ears before dragging her hand down at his noticed presence. She’s curious, and she’ll be asking soon, he’s sure of it.

His father pauses. Dorian watches him watch his daughter. He’s not sure what to make of the look, to be honest. 

Brivia giggles, side-stepping Alarith then booking it the opposite way. A gape pulls on Alarith’s face before a laugh, soon going after the child again. 

Halward’s brow deepens. “People might not enjoy the idea, Dorian.”

Dorian offers a light shrug instead, reaching over and grasping up his drink again. His wedding ring clinks softly on the side as he lifts it to his lips.

“I know.” Answers Dorian.

“It doesn’t concern you.” Years before, it might have been a question. A stare in dis-belief. But now, it’s a statement with a light sigh. Quite honestly near amused. Nearly. “Not even in the slightest.”

“And why should it? As long as that little one is happy, “ He flicks his hands, a quiet moment passing as Brivia finally gets caught by the older girl; her little body getting pulled up and into a giddy embrace. “Then no closed-minded noble can dare damage my own decision making.”

“Now, I’m not saying I agree with them, but, you understand how the Magisterium will treat her, yes?” 

“I’m working on that.” Sips Dorian, swallowing thickly.

Halward’s brow tilts, “And that’s just going to change in say, 13 years? When she’s legally old enough to be the Heir to anything?”

This is a conversion he’s had with himself numerous times, more so when Brivia was just months old. So it’s only that grace that reels the more challenging tone Dorian wanted for at first, “ Well, what do you want me to say? The papers have been signed, Brivia is too engrossed here to leave willingly, and even then, Fuliz’s is near constantly on the move. The best place to keep Brivia safe and happy is here, with me.” 

Halward needs to send him just one glance, pure in discontentment and Dorian is rubbing the space in between his brows, “Apologies,” He sighs heavily, “I just..I can’t-”

“Dorian.” He looks up, ready for a ‘calm’ tone of his father telling him to calm down, when Halward is noticeably looking at something else. 

Brivia comes up, keeping something behind her back as a peachy grin beams at both men. Alarith stays on the lines, a few feet behind with an equally gentle grin and hands folded in front of her, waiting. 

Brivia’s day dress sways with her as she announces proudly, “I got a gift for you!”

Dorian’s smile breaks out in seconds. Not that it was hidden much before. “Oh?” 

He inquires, “And what might that be? Hm?”

She giggles, in seconds pulling out a shiny, clearly previously dirt surrounded, rock. And at closer inspection, getting safely handed to him when leaned forward, it’s not an ordinary rock.

Knowing his father too long, Halward is hiding his grimace, so as to not upset Brivia, but Dorian can still feel his stare as he dusts away the dirt and grime. Years of fighting in swamps and dust filled areas overrode the absolute need noble need for cleanliness. 

As the color becomes clear, both his and Brivia’s grin widen. Brivia’s more because of his than the gem. 

“What’s this, Brivia?”

“It’s a…a..” Her face turns knotted, burning a hole into the gem, “I can’t remember the name.”

“It’s a sapphire.” Dorian doesn’t spin his head around, he simply eyes Halward in the corner of his peripheral. 

Brivia’s eyes light aflame, “Oh yeah! A saphie!”

Dorian’s chuckle has her bouncing in excitement. “It’s beautiful, my dear.” He comments as he slides the stone onto the side table and offers him her palm. “Thank you!” 

She takes his hand, letting him pull her into a hug, “Of course, papa!” 

As she places a tiny peck to his cheek, him doing the same to her head as he lets go, she’s off with Alarith once more. By the older child’s nods and small comments returned, he can see Brivia’s excitement. All for giving him a pretty gem. 

The two skip off as children do, hand in hand with laughter filling the air like it never left. 

He settles back in his chair, staring at the stone with a gentle smile in place. 

“It must’ve fallen from some jewelry.” Halward sips idly. He’s inclined to agree. Odd place but given the expensive appeal, could be. Doesn’t make the gift any less valuable in his opinion. Gems are still beautiful gems, no matter where they end up.

“She likes them and rocks. She likes their colors.” His finger taces the edge before hooking together with the drink. “It must be her Aunt Estel and Vivienne’s doing. The two are very big on giving her outfits every time they see her.”

Halward hums thoughtfully. 

Then he surprises him more than he has in this trip.

“I apologize in my comment earlier, I see how much you care for this girl, no matter the outside’s opinion it seems.” Both look at each other. It took years for them to properly talk again without the need for politics or his position as heir involved. Their relationship is still rocky, as is his with his mother. But it’s getting better, if his and his daughter’s presence at their manor has anything to say about it.

Which must be the reason Halward continues with his next words. “I know..I know I’ve never been the best father. There's nothing I can truly say to fix that.” He sees his son opening his mouth and raises a low palm, asking for a moment. Dorian, with an unfamiliar feeling, does so reluctantly. “But..I hope I can still be considered a grandfather to Brivia if nothing else.”

He can feel his eyes widening, his mouth parts. Nothing comes out. 

He looks to the girl getting spooked by a spider, which Alarith is laughing at, and back to his father. 

“What makes you think I’d rob that choice from Brivia?”

Shrugging, Halward looks at his glass, swirling it. “I wouldn’t blame you if you told her to call us otherwise.”

“Father.” It takes a second but Halward does look at him, head still a tad low, “Brivia..” He clears his throat. “I don’t plan to tell Brivia of our past. That is between you, mother, and I and that’s it. If she were to find out, it would be from some blabbering noble who can’t keep their nose out of other’s nonsense. Even then, it’s only her choice.” He scoffs but it’s light. No real malice. 

“Besides, Brivia isn’t that way. I believe she would be hurt to some degree, but I don’t think she’ll act without reason.” His last words are said while looking Halward straight through the eye, “If she calls you and mother her grandparents, I’ll do nothing on it.”

Halward is silent, then nods. Dorian looks away before anything else.

Funny thing he did, he hears through the idea of comedic timing, “GRANDMA!”

His mother seems surprised, abruptly stopping herself mid-sip to turn at Brivia’s call. The girl runs up and Dorian can see what’s in her hands.

“She has another stone.” Halward comments.

“It’s an actual stone this time.” Dorian’s eyes squint.

“Your mother is going to be so confused.”

“Brivia does that to people.”

Halward sighs, “Like father, like daughter then.” Wine nearly drips as Dorian has to stop himself from bursting out in laughter at that.

[cool-kink-sis]

Did Fenris kill Dorian's dad??

No idea if it was covered in Trespasser, if it was said who dunnit or anything but it would very cool if Fenris did do it.

[soloragoldsun]

You know, Dorian’s personal mission just hits me right at my core, no matter how many times I see or play it. I still remember the first time I heard him say “You tried to change me,” to his father. I actually gasped and felt like I had been stabbed in the heart. Everything about that scene was so real: the combination of grief, anger, and betrayal in Dorian’s voice, the way Halward kept deflecting, and the look of fear that crossed Dorian’s face when he first entered the room.

I’ve been in the Inquisitor’s position, seeing a friend suffering because their own parents rejected them and tried to force them to be something they’re not. I’ve watched these friends, some of the best people in the world, grow up with issues with self-worth and depression that will probably always be there.

The instant those words leave Dorian’s mouth, I get him the hell out of there. Fuck forgiveness. Fuck letting your abuser speak. Fuck all of that.

Forgiveness is a choice, one that needs to be thought about and made without any pressure, and that went out the window as soon as Halward tried to use lies and deception in order to get a meeting with his son! It doesn’t matter how sorry he is. The damage is done, and he made it even worse.

[midnightprelude]

Major Arcana: Heirophant

Written by @oftachancer and I for the @30daysofdorian event!

Masterpost | Next

The salt air raised goosebumps on his arms despite the bright afternoon sun. A storm brewing on the horizon, darkening the usually glimmering Nocen. A summer storm. 

“Are you listening to me, Dorian?”

He drew his attention back from the sea and met his father’s stern gaze, then glanced down at the scroll in his lap. What had he been talking about? Dorian scanned the script: a list of names and birthplaces and- “Yes, sir.”

“Very well,” Halward peered at him with a slight smirk that clearly spoke to the fact he disbelieved him. “Thucian the Gold.”

“Killed his brother in a duel, negotiated the purchase of the sapphire mines in Marothius, married Dorinne Samelser. Sired six children, five girls and Savander the Wise.”

Halward hummed thoughtfully. “…very well.”

Dorian swelled with the praise, his shoulders relaxing and sinking back. Not only praise, but the subtle shift of his father’s lips that was so very close to a smile. 

“Now tell me what you were thinking about.”

Dorian ducked his head, plucking at the stray black ribbon dangling from the baton. “The storm.”

Halward glanced out towards the sea. “…Do you still think of the squall on the ship?” 

Waves crashing over the bow, soaking the deck, rushing down into the cabins inside. Books floating in sea water. Dorian woke from nightmares of it tasting bile on the back of his tongue. “…sometimes,” he replied carefully. 

“No matter how strong we become or how much we prepare, nature can always undermine us. It is an important lesson, Dorian; that is all. Take it as such and move on from it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Fear will only make you weak.”

Dorian nodded, winding the ribbon around his thumb. “Yes, Pater. A Pavus is never weak.” His words earned an actual smile, pride warming his father’s eyes.

“Just so, my son. We cannot afford to be. You cannot.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“I know you won’t.”

“…but you protected us during the storm,” Dorian said softly, remembering watching the wardrobe bob once then sink below the waves. “You weren’t afraid because you knew you could keep us safe.”

“That is not why,” his father disagreed with a slight shake of his head. “What I knew was that I could not fail this family. Family comes first, Dorian, always. It is my duty and my privilege to protect our name and line. One day, it will be yours. And from that purpose, you will learn that absolutely anything is within your power.”

“I won’t fail you,” Dorian murmured, rolling up the scroll. “I remember the rest. Do you want me to recite a branch?”

“It is not your memory that worries me, Dorian,” he chuckled wryly. “It is your attention. The storm is out there. We are here.” He rested his hand on Dorian’s shoulder. Broad and strong, a rare weight. “You have many years ahead of you of listening to things you think you already know. You must seek gems out of the scattering of stones. There is always something new to be learned and no teacher will want a dismissive student.” 

Dorian peered up at his father, smiling at the contact and letting the words wash over him like so many waves. “If I listen, can we stay and watch it come in?” An idea came to him suddenly, nearly making him vibrate with excitement. “Will you teach me to catch lightning? I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”

“Purpose will help you to prevail over fear,” Halward Pavus told him, steady and patient. “But I will tell you something that none of your teachers will: spells are an illusion. How one mage has accomplished a task before you is only one way of succeeding. Don’t let others constrain you. Finding your own path to the goal will make you unstoppable.” He bowed his head, thinking. “I will teach you to catch lightning, in this way: fetch the chessboard. We will play until the rain begins.”

[fancytrinkets]

Dorian reached into his pocket and found, to his great relief, that the key was still there — of course it was! — tucked safely alongside an unopened letter. The letter, addressed to him from the late Halward Pavus, was an item for another day. He'd read it eventually.

All he needed today was the key — a useful thing. To enter his father's townhouse, Dorian would have to cast a spell, disengaging a magical seal, after which point the key would turn and the door would open. The spell wasn't difficult to master, but the magic was obscure, and he wouldn't have figured it out on his own. Fortunately for Dorian, Aquinea had taught him this spell a month ago when he'd signed the transfer, agreeing to serve as executor of his father's Minrathous holdings.

"I can handle Qarinus myself," his mother had told him, "but I haven't the time or patience to comb through all your father's trinkets and receipts in the capitol. Deal with it for me and you can keep what you find."

A fair exchange.

Dorian didn't plan to keep any of it. Good riddance to old rubbish was his guiding principle as far as Halward Pavus's belongings were concerned. But a proper inventory would be required, and Dorian didn't plan to hire out the job — not when there could be sensitive documents to destroy or magical items to prevent from falling into dangerous, irresponsible hands. And so he arrived in Minrathous on a balmy afternoon with the key in his pocket and Lord Trevelyan trailing along behind him like a dazzled peasant who'd never seen a real city before.

Chapters: 3/3 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Male Inquisitor/Dorian Pavus, Dorian Pavus/Male Trevelyan Characters: Dorian Pavus, Trevelyan (Dragon Age), Male Trevelyan (Dragon Age), Halward Pavus, Aquinea Thalrassian Additional Tags: Halward Pavus' A+ Parenting, Blood Magic (Dragon Age), Blood and Injury, Estate Planning, Tevinter Imperium (Dragon Age), Minrathous (Dragon Age), Post-Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser DLC, Mage Trevelyan (Dragon Age), Self-Harm Series: Part 12 of DAI: Knight-Enchanter Trevelyan (Part of a series, but can be read on its own.)

[inquisitorismone]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: Mature Characters: Dorian Pavus, Halward Pavus, Aquinea Thalrassian, Livia Herathinos, Rilienus (Dragon Age), Felix Alexius, Gereon Alexius Additional Tags: Dorian Pavus Backstory, Tevinter Imperium (Dragon Age), Tevinter Culture & Customs (Dragon Age), Slavery, Halward Pavus' A+ Parenting, Circle of Magi Culture & Customs (Dragon Age), Blood Magic (Dragon Age), The Fade (Dragon Age), The Veil (Dragon Age), Sexual Content, (including snorting lyrium off a templar's dick) Summary:

In his life, Dorian has come to the conclusion that love is indistinguishable in all ways from the sensation of a hand at your throat.

A magister's son can get away with many things, but he cannot get away with all things all the time. Consequences catch up with Dorian in adolescence, and keep catching up with him over and over for a decade.

Incidents in Dorian's life from the age of 16 leading up to the aborted blood ritual. Or, how Dorian Pavus was thrown out of 8 Circles in as many years.

[dragonagecompanions]

Hi! Might I request Dorian witnessing his lover get a beat down (verbal and physical) by his father after he finds out his sons with a fellow man?

Love your work, Terribly sorry if this is against anything!

The vitriol is esoteric enough to be truly Tevene, and cruel enough to be his father's. There is fine in his fist, but Dorian has learned to recognize his lover's face enough to know that the Inquisitor would not welcome his interference at this time.

And it makes him sick and furious to listen to his father lambast the greatest man Dorian has ever known with the arrogance only a Tevinter magister can truly summon. As if Halward Pavus has any right to judge the Herald of Andraste, no matter the man's choices in bed mates. It is clear that the Inquisitor is unfazed by the tirade, but the scion of House Pavus cannot push against the feeling of being fifteen years old again and helpless against the despair and pain at losing his father's regard--

The necromancer is so caught in that terrible spiral of memory that the first ringing slap staggers him more than his amatus. Rage deamons howl at the back of his mind for entrance into the mortal world, and Dorian will later find bloody furrows in his palm from the bite of his own nails. He is going to kill his father, hang Tevinter and all its good, and declare himself a southern mage for life. Except...

Except there is something in the Inquisitor's quiet gaze, the solemn and serene power that has looked on the Breach and Corypheus and certain death without a quaver. Even Halward's roiling anger seems to falter before it; when the inquisitor speaks, his tone matches the gaze. Power, yes, but the simple understanding that what is before him is not truly a threat.

"He was right, Dorian. Blood magic truly is the grasping attempt by a weak mind incapable of better solutions. We are done here."

Halward's next blow bounces off Dorian's shield, and while the younger Pavus wishes desperately to turn more magic onto the paterfamilias of his house, somehow that quiet statement is enough.

Will be enough, in the quiet moments of doubt and pain and sorrow, for the rest of his life.

(Later, he will show his amatus how a stronger mind is capable of all manner of better solutions.)

-Mod Fereldone

[iniziare]

Tag drop: Dorian Pavus

[invinciblerodent]

okay the streamer I've been watching going through Inquisition just reached the Last Resort of Good Men quest, I'm finding myself fuming about it once more, so...... gah, venting/ranting under the cut.

It's been so many years, and still I feel like most people are straight up missing that that Halward Pavus never fucking says that he's sorry. Not to Dorian. Sure, he apologizes to the Inquisitor (the "neutral" party in the room he can still expect to support him) for getting them involved, but not to the party he had actually wronged.

Seriously. I at one point wrote a whole fucking analysis of all his lines spoken in that scene that I had in my own recording of it (I might still have it kicking around somewhere but I'm too incensed to find it), and the first time I realized that Halward never even expresses remorse over his actions explicitly or gives Dorian an "I'm sorry", it just became impossible for me to take that meeting at face value at all.

Like I understand the impulse to want them to reconcile, and I get why so many players push for it naturally, but family or not, I am a very firm believer that some offenses just do not deserve to be forgiven, and just saying that one wants to ask for forgiveness (conditional) does not an apology make, especially given the circumstances.

The only way to get anything even approaching an apology out of Halward Pavus is to make him feel like he's got the upper hand in the encounter and force Dorian into a corner where he doesn't exactly have the option to reject it, and I just... continue to firmly believe that that's bloody disgusting.

[transmandorianpavus]

[ID: Party banter from the Dragon Age wiki:

Cole: "Love isn't enough." Enough what? You didn't explain, Dorian.

Dorian: (Sighs.) I was rather hoping I had.

Cole: His face in the stands, watching as I pass the test. So proud there's tears in his eyes.

Cole: Anything to make him happy, anything.

Cole: Why isn't that true anymore?

Dorian: Cole, this... is not the sort of discussion for walking around. Please drop it. End ID]

not exactly revelatory information but i'm just now realizing the test mentioned here is probably the same as the tests to become an enchanter in the minrathous circle. which happened around 9:34 and would make him 23 at the time

[kissingwookiees]

what is the age difference between maeveris and dorian? bc i’ve always gotten the vibe they were lifelong and childhood friends… and if that’s the case her story about her father presenting her as his heir to the rest of the magisterium and how he supported her fully as who she was when she was just fifteen… certainly puts a new extra devastating twist on halward and dorian’s whole fucked up relationship i’ll tell you what!!