#honestly leliana is everything to me

[a-drama-addict]

wip of emira and leliana.. the pics they dont show you of divine victoria 🙄

[angeltannis]

That era of my life predates my tumblr one, but I was a very big Leliana fan back in the day. I actually got into a debate in one of my Queer Studies courses back in college because someone brought her up as an example of Bad Queer Rep because she was “crazy”. I nearly started hurling chairs

[maxx-the-queer]

One of my criticisms about Dragon Age, and this isn't unique to Veilguard, is how antirevolutionary their narratives are. (Spoilers for Veilguard ahead, naturally)

Narratively, they're not adverse to all change (since stories have to have some change in order to exist) but they're hardly accepting of it either.

Any change that happens to the status quo has to happen within the system, otherwise it's deemed extremism and wrong in universe.

Contrast that with when Anders or Grand Enchanter Fiona take actions against the systems of the Circles that spark the mage rebellion - they're vilified for it by the narrative and everyone around them. They're painted as fools at best, malicious murderers at worst. All because their steps for change were taken outside of the system. (Anders blows up a Chantry, Fiona starts a vote to disband the Circle of Magi)

In a worldstate where Leliana becomes Divine Victoria and disbands the Circles to allow for the formation of the College of Enchanters, she's celebrated because she stayed within the Chantry, rose to the top through unconventional but still allowable means, yet achieved radical societal change nonetheless.

If Dorian becomes Archon, his anti-slavery views aren't seen as unreasonable or too radical because he stays within the system. His work with the Shadow Dragons - an anti-slavery group, who by all standards aren't that different from the mage rebellion in the south, is deemed different because their leaders are still trying to work with the systems for change.

Solas gets both versions of this anti-revolutionary treatment. In Inquisition, he felt honestly quite reasonable to me in his motivations to tear down the veil, but he can't escape that same vilification as when he's trying to fit the mould of a force for rebellion, he's treated like a monster or has significantly more flaws in the narrative. When his motivations are framed as complete systematic change, he's shown to not view anyone in modern Thedas as 'real people.' In one of his approval scenes in Inq, he goes out of his way to tell the Inquisitor essentially "you're one of the good ones." He's ignorant, racist, and singlemindedly focused on destroying the world to have a second Elvhenan but better.

But in Veilguard, in order for the narrative to consider him redeemable, his reasons for wanting the veil to come down get changed from wanting betterment for the elves and restoring the Elvhen people, into personal regrets he needs to fulfill. He's no longer framed solely as a political, rebellious force for change, but as a mere man who went too far for a woman he loved. Suddenly the narrative gives the player permission to give him redemption. Because he doesn't actually want change, it's just what he thought Mythal wanted, so that's fine and different.

Your player character protagonist can never actually flat-out agree with the vilified rebel characters either. I can't have my pro-mage rights Hawke say "hey, actually, Anders was right to blow up the Chantry, I agree with him," you always have to ultimately condemn his actions, even if you agree with the outcome.

I can't have my Dalish Inquisitor or an Elven Rook say "hey, actually, maybe Solas has a point, this world does suck for elves and maybe the veil coming down would fix that," they always have to ultimately believe that the veil has to stay.

The games do everything they can to avoid letting the player come to the conclusion that revolution is a good thing. Instead, they force the idea that the only way change is ethical is if you do it within the preexisting status quo.

[sky--phantom]

Times other people discussed Solavellan + Times Solas and Lavellan talked about each other (dav)

"I've seen how you look at him. You're in it" - Sera

"Is it my imagination, dear, or have certain... lingering looks passed between you and our Solas?" - Vivienne

"You're real, and it means everyone could be real. It changes everything, but it can't" - Cole

"The two of you were close. Perhaps he had no choice? He might return at any moment" - Leliana

"How have you been? It seems ages since we've spoken. I know you were cruely disappointed when Solas left" - Vivienne

"Are you hoping for word on Solas? I'm sorry, Inquisitor. I'm afraid I have nothing" - Leliana

"I've been meaning to ask... Solas hasn't come back? Sent word? Anything?" - Thom

"Oh, and Inquisitor? Feels weird, but I'm sorry Solas never came back. Well, no, I'm not, but... I'm sorry he left you." - Sera

"I am not a god, Charter. I am prideful, hotheaded, and foolish, and I am doing what I must. When you report back to the Inquisitor…. Say that I am sorry.” - Solas

"Maybe it's gullible of me, but I know the Inquisitor feels the same: Solas isn't too far gone to bring back" - Varric

"Solas was... important to me. If this statuette helps you understand him, if it uncovers something that... Honestly, I don't know. I wish I did. But this feels like a part of him, and whatever he and I once were... I think... I-I hope... it might help you" - Lavellan

"And when I served the Inquisition, I tried to avoid entanglements" - Solas

"Except for Inquisitor Lavellan" - Rook

"I said that I resolved to do so, not that I succeeded. She's a good woman. Growing close to her was... selfish of me" - Solas

"Do you regret it?" - Rook

"I live with countless regrets. Some of them I have grown to cherish more than my victories" - Solas

"Solas took this path because he thinks he has no choice. But the Inquisitor believes there is another way for him. For them. She could save him, if he would just let her" - Harding

"God of Lies, Dread Wolf, Fen'Harel. They're titles he earned from enemies, followers and fractured history. He and I shared another name: Vhenan" - Lavellan

"You've spoken to him in your dreams. You've felt the power of that mind. His love could burn against me like a bonfire. He seemed so kind, and wise, and sad, and looked at me as if I somehow mattered more than anything around us. For a time... I thought I would have followed anywhere he asked me to" - Lavellan

"Or maybe I'm the prideful one, imagining his broken heart so that I never have to face my folly. That I loved someone who made such grave mistakes. That I might love him still" - Lavellan

"He really made you happy?" - Rook

"Yes, he really did" - Lavellan

"Harding... I am sorry" - Solas

"For what, Solas? Betraying the Inquisitor and breaking her heart?" - Harding

"Is there any chance - any chance at all - that he would listen to reason?" - Lavellan

"Speaking from the heart, Inquisitor?" - Morrigan

"With Elgar'nan and and Ghilan'nain dead, and the Inquisitor finally reunited with her true love... it looked like one of the biggest stories this world had ever seen was finally drawing to a close" - Varric

[explodingchantry]

OK I found the source and, genuinely, what the fuck?

Varric is apparently an important character within veilguard but we don't get to express whether the inquisitor left his best friend to die in the fade?

The wardens are a big part of veilguard but we don't get to express what the inquisitor did with the southern wardens?

MORRIGAN is apparently an important character in veilguard and we don't get to express whether 1. We had her have Kieran and 2. If she drank from the well or not?? You know this important decision that was meant to impact the rest of the drinker's life, and was meant even more vital when inquisition revealed Flemerh was Mythal? I literally just replayed that quest and they genuinely make a huge point out of this decision being life altering. But it's not, is it, if both characters who could've drank show up in the next game but the effects of the well aren't present.

"northern thedas is a blank slate" is such a weird take. What happens in ferelden and orlais (and the free marchés if we bring da2 into it too) absolutely matters to the rest of thedas. These things ricochet upwards. You literally choose who leads orlais, one of (if not The) most powerful and influencial nations in all of thedas. You get to choose the fucking DIVINE. Yeah sure that might not matter in Tevinter, but it matters everywhere else?? The rest of northern thedas follows the chantry even if they might not be as horny for it as the south????

And that's only speaking of inquisition choices. I already made a post somewhere about how very few of the decision input on the keep mattered in dai and how filling the keep often felt pretty pointless because of that. But at least the gender of the hof and who they romanced came up, and the leader of ferelden came up however briefly and flawed.

Honestly dragon age was never actually good at bringing up and taking into account old choices. Da2 had a good excuse for it (set in a completely different country whilst the choices the hof made were central to ferelden only, and hawke being just Some Guy who wouldn't get involved in a lot of influencial stuff the hof had a hand in. And even THEN there's plenty of background dialogue about ferelden that does mention it.) Dai does have a lot of nods to a few things; the ruler of ferelden shows up in in hushed whispers, or if you kept Alistair/recruited loghain they show up for here lies the abyss and might even have a discussion with Morrigan with whom they had a CHILD with. If hof romanced leliana she mentions them quite a bit. Morrigan can show up with the full ass child she can have in Dao and that's probably one of the biggest differences the choices you made make. Some other decisions from Dao are referenced; like who rules Orzammar. And as for da2 it's very true that a lot of the decisions made are much harder to reference due to being more interpersonal, so it does make sense to an extent that the decisions are referenced there through simple dialogue (though that dialogue is flawed as hell.) If it doesn't like some of your past choices it'll retcon it, like if you killed leliana in Dao. Or like, for example, just a random example, you got one of the Dao endings where Cullen goes mad, kills mages and runs away. Never mentioned again that one. Weird.

Bioware loves to give you big influencial choices to make you feel important only to turn around the next game and kind of shrug their shoulders as they do the bare minimum with them. And now, don't get me wrong - some of these choices are really hard to integrate. We basically can never go back to Orzammar because its king changes everything. It's too much to take into account and would change what quests and storylines the player experiences.

But then don't fucking write it that way to begin with lol. At least with Dao you can give the benefit of the doubt with things being meant to be part of a single story - but by da2 they knew dragon age was a franchise and inquisition was written and made with the knowledge there would be another game afterwards. They could actually plan things out and figure out if maybe a choice you could make would require too many resources to implement in the next game, and thus just not actually give you the choice in inquisition. Because the divine, for example, makes a HUGE difference. I fully get that it would be extremely difficult to take all three choices into account - reference them but make them not so integral that the story of the game can only happen if one of those was made.

But then don't make us fucking able to choose who the divine is. I'd rather not have as many influencial choices in a game, but have them referenced and have them matter, than... This.

Who you romance. Whether you disbanded the inquisition. And what you think of Solas. Nothing from Dao, nothing from da2, and only this from dai. That's a fucking joke. It's a joke. A spit in the face.

Many of the fans will have replayed the series in anticipation for veilguard, carefully crafted their choices to be their main world state. Especially with the nice little sales you've had during veilguard's promotional period. And now, only now, after they will have done all of that, you spit in their faces and say that none of what they did in the past games mattered. So why should I finish my inquisition replay? Why should I care?

Meanwhile, plenty of events from the books and comics will not only be referenced but be integral for the story. Fuck you for playing the main games, you're stupid for thinking they mattered. Obviously the static stories of our external media is more important. Totally respectful of the fanbase to do that.

[thechildofmythal]

Cullen: *in his office in the morning, attaching his armor piece by piece*

Josephine, Dorian, Vivienne and Leliana: *enter*

Cullen: Uh, good morning? Have you heard of knocking?

Vivienne: Deepest apologies, my dear Commander, but we need to talk about the Orlesian dignitaries who are visiting later today.

Cullen: Can we talk about it a little later? I haven’t had breakfast yet. *fidgets nervously*

Josephine: It won’t take long, Commander.

Leliana: And besides we know you don’t eat breakfast. *eyes suspiciously*

Cullen: *furiously trying to think of something*

Vivienne: The good ambassador has told me that you have refused the dinner invitation and the request to show our guests the barracks.

Cullen: I honestly have work to do, and have no time to be parading around nobles.

Dorian: Do you hear something weird?

Cullen: All I hear is the open door behind you.

Vivienne: But these nobles have deep interest in warfare and you made quite the impact on them at the Winter Palace!

Josephine: And they could be persuaded into sponsoring - I hear something too. Is there a bird upstairs? We really should renovate your roof, Commander.

Leliana: No that is the sound of water. Is someone using your privy upstairs, Commander? *eyebrow lift*

Dorian: *smug grin*

Cullen: *blush* I, uh, I’m sure you’re just hearing noise from outside.

Upstairs: *sound of door opening, steps on the floor, rummaging*

Cullen: *urgently* You know we could continue this discussion at your office, Josephine?

Upstairs: Did you say something, vhenan?

Josephine, Dorian, Vivienne and Leliana: *look at each other and then at Cullen*

Cullen: *covers his face with his hand* No.

Upstairs: No? Well I know you’re not much of a morning person, so fine. Have you seen my trousers?

Vivienne: *about to say something*

Leliana: *stabs Vivienne with her elbow to shut her up*

Dorian: *delighted grin*

Josephine: *having the time of her life*

Cullen: *kicks said trousers from the floor to behind his desk* I don’t know but I definitely think you should stay upstairs for a bit longer.

Upstairs: Oh are you coming back up here? Did you change your mind, Mr. ”I can’t possibly go again yet?”

Cullen: No, no!

Upstairs: Well I suppose twice last night and once this morning is quite a lot.

Dorian: *silent applaud at Cullen*

The ladies: *looking at Cullen from head to toe with very approving nods*

Cullen: Maker’s breath, you’ll be the death of me.

Inquisitor: *slides down the ladder in a flurry of bare legs, wearing no trousers*

Vivienne: Good morning, your worship.

Josephine: I hope you had an invigorating night.

Leliana: And an energising morning.

Dorian: How many times was it for you?

Cullen: Never you mind. *throws the Inquisitor her trousers*

Inquisitor: Six. *catches trousers*

Cullen: *groans and facepalms*

Leliana: Nothing to be embarrassed about, Commander!

Josephine: Six? And three? That’s… amazing.

Dorian: Hell yes it is. *offer to high five with Cullen, switches to the Inquisitor when he doesn’t*

Inquisitor: *high fives Dorian and pulls on trousers* You know you could have said there was someone here.

Cullen: I tried to tell you not to come downstairs.

Inquisitor: Oh I did come downstairs, that was the first one of six, remember?

Cullen: *mortified*

Dorian: *absolutely pissing his pants*

Inquisitor: Anyway, I’ll let you talk about whatever you’re here for.

Vivienne: Oh we wanted to talk to you about the visiting dignitaries too-

Inquisitor: See you in the evening, Cullen, byeee *flees through the open door*

Cullen: I knew everything was going too well for me.

Josephine and Vivienne: *proceed to bombard Cullen with boring questions and duties*

Leliana and Dorian: *continue to insert a lot of double entendres*

[animezinglife]

It's not the most exciting thing to compliment, but I genuinely love the name choices in the Dragon Age series. They're both grounded yet fitting enough to suit a fantasy series. They fit the characters beautifully.

Take Varric for example: two-syllables, to-the-point, ends in a consonant. This sounds like someone who's going to get things done, but there's also kind of a laid-back feel to it.

Garrett/Marian Hawke (default): both names are cool as heck. There's a groundedness in the name, but either way, this isn't someone you're ever going to hold down. Hawks have wings, and they're hunters. They have incredible sight and claws. This is someone who will rise with a good, classic, strong, and fairly recognizable first name.

Leliana: four syllables, deceptively sweet, blatantly melodic in its sound. It's not at all a loud or garish name: perfect for someone who works quietly and in shadow (in Inquisition).

Cassandra: grand, loud, brash, and strong. Could you imagine her being named something like Phoebe?

Josephine: classic, feminine, and smart, defined by soft sounds (and dare I say a sharp but still "softer" advising approach than her fellow advisors)? Note I didn't say the result is softer. She'll wreck your marriage with the proper glove left on the proper table and drive your entire family to ruin, but she won't cut out your tongue physically or use a trebuchet at your doorstep.

Cullen: classic, strong, to-the-point. I honestly adore all the names in his family we're given (in Inquisition at least). Branson, Rosalie, Mia, and Cullen. Traditional, straightforward, and timeless.

Vivienne: elegant, graceful, and proud. I've always loved this name in general. The name lends itself well to a character who's haughty yet caring; proud but capable.

Fenris: a bit literal, but need I even explain this one? We're all lore and mythology nerds here.

Morrigan: I'm guessing I don't need to explain this one either.

Solas: seems obviously derivative of "light" or "bright." Brilliance. Yet it also makes me think of solitude; solemnity. Solas is a thinker and his name suits that.

Dorian: sounds bright, a bit elevated, and not entirely serious. Perfect for a bright, sarcastic character from a wealthy background.

Lace: girl-next-door, cute, a little tomboyish, and much tougher than the probably too-many boys she's been around most of her life. A girl named Lace? You should have zero doubts that she knows how to do absolutely everything.

Names make a difference when it comes to character, and I appreciate their decisions.

[aunicorn97]

He finds her sitting at his desk, her hands drumming against her knee as she waits patiently. He takes a moment to watch her, noticing the obvious anxiety nearly radiating off her. An aura, an energy, fizzing and popping around her. She sighs, he smiles.

“Ah, I was looking for you,” he interrupts whatever thoughts she was having. She turns around, her brow furrowed slightly, she tries to smile back. 

“You found me,” she stands to greet him. “Do you need something?” “Well, no,” he takes a seat opposite her. “You’re just usually already here.” She sits back down.

“So you missed me,” she smirks. “Got it.”

He looks down at the table, straightening it up. “You seem worried, about what?” He notices her smile falter, her eyes dart away for a moment then back to his.

“It’s that easy to notice, huh?” She shakes her head, he smiles at her.

“You are incredibly easy to read, Aurya,” he admits. She frowns, he laughs. “It’s one of the many things I admire about you. You are forthcoming with your emotions, even when you do not know it.” 

Her fingers start drumming again. “A few days ago I sent some of Leliana’s agents ahead to my clan, to help.” She pauses, and looks down, thinking. “They’re trying to get away, escape. I keep going over everything in my head…” She stops. He waits patiently, letting her mull over her decisions. “I don’t know if it was the right choice, and I won’t until it’s all over.” She leans back and sighs. “I don’t know what to do.” 

“Unfortunately there is not much to do besides wait.” He looks at her sympathetically, it doesn’t help.

“I should be there with them, I have a responsibility to them.”

“You have a Keeper, do you not? I’m sure they are doing all they can to–”

“He’s not,” she chews her lip, eyes locked on the papers on the desk. “If I know anyone like I know him, and I do, then he’s not doing enough.” She sighs, rubbing her forehead, “That’s been the problem from the start.” 

“I’m sorry, I’m not following you.” He looks down to her hand, her fingers still going against the table. He places a hand gently on hers, she stills. “Breathe,” his voice is soft, “then speak.” She stares at him for a moment.

“I had an… arrangement with our Keeper,” she starts, then sighs. “When I was born, my magic manifested itself almost right away. They hadn’t had a mage born into the clan in a very long time. They said it was a miracle. She shifts in the chair uneasily, smiling at him. “Then human bandits found and attacked us; they killed almost everyone. We were displaced, me and my parents; along with a few others that went their separate ways. Honestly, coming across clan Lavellan was dumb luck. My parents had been wandering with me for days, when they were found by one of the hunters and brought back.”

“That was very fortunate.” He rubs her hand as she continues, ignoring her scoff at his comment.

“Yeah. Very.” She watches his hand over hers and finally relaxes the fist she’d been making. “They were excited to have a mage that was so young, so ripe for the taking. I think my earliest memories are with the Keeper, practicing magic. Studying, training, all the time.” She shoots him a look, “Probably sounds pretty good to you.” She laughs and he doesn’t, just keeps rubbing her hand, trying to soothe away the anxiety he could almost reach out and touch.

“So what happened?”

“When my youngest sister was born, my mother died during the birth,” she removes her hand from his and puts them now fisted again in her lap. “Then, her magic came to her a few weeks later. It was the start of winter.” Her eyes are distant, recalling the memories like they were happening right in front of her. “They were going to send her away, to a clan that could start her early, just like me.”

“Is that not the custom?”

“Just because it’s the way we practice, doesn’t mean we have to like it. And my father didn’t, wouldn’t separate us. So he made a deal.” She shakes her head. “The Keeper would take me as his wife, I would be First, and they would make an exception to keep my sister as Second.” She pauses and waits for his response. His brow furrows as he leans back in his chair, thinking. He doesn’t say anything. “So when I reached my eighteenth year, we were to be bonded, and I would receive my vallaslin.”

“How old were you when this was decided?” He finally asked, leaning towards her.

“Fifteen.” She answers quietly, not looking at him. “Then, on my sixteenth year, my father died. He took my sisters out to just pick herbs. They were just picking herbs, and he was killed. I don’t know why my sisters were spared. But they were.” She recalls something, opens her mouth, then closes it.

“Aurya,” he urges her to finish the thought.

“The day after, we were bonded in ceremony, and he gave me the vallaslin.” She scoffs, laughing slightly. “What a coincidence.” She looks to him, for anything.

The way he stares at her, unmoving, unsurprised by anything she’s telling him. Then, he’s angry. He breathes through his nose, looking down at the desk, tapping a finger. 

“Another thing,” he begins. “Another thing the Dalish have taken and warped, tainted.” She doesn’t disagree with him. “That should not have been a burden for you to bear, Aurya.”

“But it was, is. It happened. And all this time I endured because I was doing it for my sisters. For us to be safe. And if something happens out there because of me–” she stops. She looks at him, reaching her hand across the table. He takes it, his thumb strokes her palm. “If anything happens to them or the rest of the clan, then whatever sacrifices I made will have been for nothing. I can’t fail them, Solas.”

“No,” he shakes his head, holding her hand tightly. “Though I wouldn’t have wished that on you, one’s sacrifices for the greater good always matter, even if the outcome is…” he thinks, “Unexpected.” She looks sadly at him. He stands and moves to her side, not letting go of her hand. “Aurya, as long as you have the best intentions in your heart, I know you do, whatever happens next is because you cared enough to help. And that is not a failure.” He raises her hand up to his, and kisses it. “Most others aren’t brave like you, Vhenan.”

She looks up at him, “I didn’t tell you about the Keeper before all this started to happen,” her eyes follow her arm up to her hand that’s barely pressed to his lips. He shakes his head and puts a hand on her cheek.

“You’ve told me from the start, we are just Solas and just Aurya.” He pets her face gently, “Life is full of choices, some we have to make at a cost.” He continues to stroke her cheek, watching her face. “But here, it is just now. And we are just us.”

“That’s–” 

“Inquisitor,” Cullen enters, urgency in his steps. “We received word from Leliana’s agents.” His face is stoic, unmoving. “Please, perhaps you’d want to read the letter alone.” Aurya stands up, almost knocking the chair over, disconnecting from Solas like he was never touching her in the first place, nearly running out the room. Cullen trails behind her, looking back at Solas, his face now somber.

[rom-e-o]

MW!Rook: I never took advanced classes. Got too... busy.

Now I'm intrigued by the thought of a Rook who ends up deciding to continue their Watcher studies after defeating Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain, taking the advanced classes and realising that Emmrich Volkarin himself was to be their professor in advanced necromantic arts. Imagine how awkward that must be, trying to maintain a sort of professional distance with a man you saved the world with???? Who you have

Also on a semi-related note-

Just imagining the aftermath of defeating the gods if you chose Harding to lead the other group and just... the Veilguard ends up having some grand celebration for it (with nobility involved because of course they want to have a piece of the pie, to say they were involved, just like the Inquisition after defeating Corypheus)

And Cassandra is there. Maybe Leliana.

And one of them is most certainly pissed at Rook for letting three Inquisition members die. Dorian tries his best to smooth things over, and Rook just feels so, incredibly guilty over what happened. Nothing they say or do will ever make it better, will never change the fact that they lost Varric, Harding, and the Inquisitor all at once. And these were their closest friends.

I feel like it's Josephine or even the Iron Bull who tries to comfort Rook, to tell them that it wasn't their fault (though Iron Bull would be more along the lines of 'they died a warriors' death' sort of thing)

I honestly love that idea. I mean, let's face it, it makes perfect sense MW! Rook in this universe wouldn't have time to devote the study needed to join the more elite Mourn Watch ranks. Even from their talks with Myrna ("Back straight") and Emmrich saying Rook has "advanced adequately", I very much get the vibe that Rook's studies are not their strongest bargaining chip.

But hey, between the War of the Banners and two blighted elven gods, who has the time?

But then, you dive back into your studies after a little final boss-reprieve only to find that your beau is your handsome professor. Unlike Johanna's arrangement, this one is a favorable one. Needless to say, many lessons are tentatively guided with should squeezes, intimate guiding of the ceremonial hand gestures ("raise them higher, darling, just a bit more for me...") and ... desk sex. I don't know if Em could SWEEP everything off the desk like Cullen though, haha. ("That chalice is a relic from the Storm Age! Here, let me put it over here.")

Ohhh, yeah. Harding's death would hurt. Dorian, of course, tries to swoop in, but that's not enough. Same with Varric, even though Rook really can't be blamed for that one. OH GOSH, imagine losing the Inquisitor too. CULLEN, MY MAN. ;;

Leliana and Cassandra ... it would be hard, but they would know their leader did what they had to do. They could honor that, I think. Cassandra would cry, I think. In secret, of course. That was their best friend.

Inky's spouse/lover? MUCH more pissed. Now THAT is a confrontation I want to see - very bittersweet.

I can see Josie doing it (Emmrich and Josie actually have the same writer, so it's poetic that it's her). It just suits her personality so well. But I LOVE it being Bull as well.

"It's hard to lose good men, but they chose to fight. Be proud that you rallied a team that believed in you that much. Who stuck their necks out. That doesn't come around every day."

Some extra Trespasser foreshadowing with that. Just a smudge.

[daitranscripts]

Solas Cutscene: High Approval

Before the Anchor

Solas Masterpost

Solas: Inquisitor, I was… do you have a moment?

Solas leads the PC to the balcony of their quarters.

Solas: What were you like before the Anchor?

The PC looks at their hand.

Solas: Has it affected you? Changed you in any way? Your mind, your morals, your… spirit?

Dialogue options:

General: No, not really. [1]

General: How should I know? [2]

General: Get to the point. [3]

1 - General: No, not really. PC: I don’t believe so. Solas: Ah. PC: Why do you ask?

2 - General: How should I know? PC: If it had, do you really think I’d have noticed? Solas: No. That’s an excellent point. PC: Why do you ask?

3 - General: Get to the point. PC: What do you think is going on here?

4 - Scene continues.

Solas: You show a wisdom I have not seen since… since my deepest journeys into the ancient memories of the Fade. You are not what I expected.

Dialogue options:

General: I’m just like everyone else. [5] -Solas slightly disapproves

General: You make that sound bad. [6]

General: What did you expect? [7]

5 - General: I’m just like everyone else. PC: I don’t think of myself as different from anyone. Solas: Perhaps not in the form of your body, no. [8]

6 - General: You make that sound bad. PC: Sorry to disappoint. Solas: It’s not disappointing, it’s… (Sighs.) Most people are predictable. [8]

7 - General: What did you expect? PC: What have I done that’s so surprising? [8]

8 - Choice dependent dialogue:

Dalish PC [9]

Dwarf/Qunari/human PC [10]

9 - Dalish PC Solas: You have shown subtlety in your actions, a wisdom that goes against everything I expected. If the Dalish could raise someone with a spirit like yours… have I misjudged them?

Dialogue options:

General: Yes. [11]

General: Honestly, not really. [12]

General: No. I am who I am. [13] +Solas slightly approves

10 - General: Yes. PC: I don’t hold the Dalish up as perfect, but we have something worth honoring. A memory of the ancient ways. [14]

11 - General: Honestly, not really. PC: Most of the Dalish care more about impressing other hunters with a good shot or talking about how awful humans are. There are only a few who seem to care about the old ways. [14]

12 - General: No. I am who I am. PC: The Dalish didn’t make me like this. The decisions were mine. Solas: Yes, you are wise to give yourself that due. Although the Dalish, in their fashion, may still have guided you. [14]

14 - Scene continues.

Solas: Perhaps that is it. I suppose it must be. Most people act with so little understanding of the world. But not you. [18]

10 - Dwarf/Qunari/human PC

dwarf PC Solas: Dwarves are practical. They do not dream. The cannot even imagine a world beyond the physical. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. A wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people.

Qunari PC Solas: Qunari are savage creatures, their ferocity held in check only by the rigid teachings of the Qun. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. A wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people.

human PC Solas: Humans are shortsighted, brutish. Blind to the beauty of the Fade, their minds cast in a duality of black and white. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. A wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people.

Dialogue options:

General: What about our friends? [15] General: I try. [16] General: You were misinformed. [17]

14 - General: What about our friends? PC: I’m just one part of this team, Solas. What about Cassandra or Leliana? Solas: Cassandra separates matters of faith from those of the world, and she above all should understand how limited that is. Leliana has a brilliant mind, but her faith was damaged. To her, it is all a game of tactics now. But not you. [18]

15 - General: I try. PC: I do what I can. Solas: You are modest. So many would use this Inquisition as a blunt instrument in their rise to power. But not you. [18]

16 - General: You were misinformed. PC: It seems everything you’ve been taught by your people has some holes in it. Solas: I have seen enough of the world to know I was not misinformed. Most people are small… petty. But not you. [18]

18 - Scene continues.

PC: So what does this mean, Solas?

non-romanced Solas: It means that I respect you deeply, Inquisitor. And I have disturbed you enough for one evening. Solas leaves. Scene ends.

romanced Solas: It means I have not forgotten the kiss.

Dialogue options:

End relationship: Let it go, Solas. [19]

Flirt: Neither have I. [20]

19 - End relationship: Let it go, Solas. PC: Perhaps you should. Solas: Perhaps you’re right. I will always respect you, Inquisitor. Solas leaves. Scene ends.

20 - Flirt: Neither have I. PC: Good. The PC moves closer, and Solas goes to leave. PC: Don’t go. The PC grabs his arm. Solas: It would be kinder in the long run. But losing you would… He turns, and they kiss. Solas: Ar lath ma, vhenan. Solas leaves, and the PC leans against the doorway. Scene ends.

[championofthefade]

Here is what I do like about Veilguard.

Long story short: While I have some gripes about the game, there are the things I do like about Veilguard. I have 150 hours in this game and I’m a slow player. (I also love lore.)

Gameplay! Which surprised me because I didn’t like playing warrior or rogue in the other games. But I think Veilguard does have cool playstyles that I thoroughly enjoy.

My current run is a Nightmare Grey Warden Warrior, that’s going to romance Harding, uses sword and shield. The war hammer is a bit slow to me but I’m definitely going to try it in another run.

(I also have another run going beside this to play a Veil Jumper-Veil Ranger to romance Bellara with as a break from Nightmare.)

I usually pick playing a mage (I like magic), but having played a Rogue Laidir (romanced Neve) and a Mage Ingellvar (romancing Lucanis again) as well has been so much fun!

I don’t do crazy builds because I’m just here for the story, but the combat is genuinely fun to me.

Though I find Lords of Fortune kinda lacking, I enjoy the factions. Mourn Watch is my favorite by far, and I think the leaders/contacts are everything. As someone who has only consumed the games of Dragon Age, these people (Viago & Teia, Evka & Antoine) make me want to pick up the book they are in. (Tevinter Nights I believe.)

I love, love, love, love, LOVE the level designs! Weisshaupt is possibly one of my favorite missions to play, along side anything in Treviso and Blackthorn Manor. They are very special to me! I love exploring areas, and wish they weren’t always level locked but I get it.

Though I haven’t figured out how to fix the annoying garbling audio bug I have in heavily dense areas like Arlathan, Treviso and Minrathous, otherwise I have a good time.

I enjoy the romances as they are, and can acknowledge that they feel flat. I am constantly giggling like a blushing idiot when I flirt with everyone because it’s honestly good for what it is! Yes, I think we’re missing content and the pacing is weird, but I like it because there are little moments where you get the feel of the companions personality. (Davrin’s Thrill of the Chase is honestly a must have every play through until I pull a reverse Zevran on his ass!)

And the different romances have given me seven new ocs to explore and revisit whenever I want!

I’m the kind of person that plays ‘everyone gets a girlfriend unless I have to play a man’. Dorian Pavus is a special case and I would do it again for him. Anything for the archon.

Sidebar: Okay yeah, it’s interesting that if you choose Treviso that Dorian becomes Archon, because if you choose Minrathous you can choose between Dorian and Maevaris. Hearing Mae say this isn’t the South was what made me think more deeply about choosing Dorian for my Laidir run. Because Dorian’s revolution vs Mae’s talks was kinda pointless because they could’ve easily co-piloted change in Tevinter, I mean they support each other no matter what already, why not just co-pilot the big chair? I get Dorian’s POV of everything must go in order to change (echoes of Anders and Divine Leliana) and that’s why I choose Dorian. Because sometimes talk doesn’t work.

Anyway, moving on.

I think of the endings, I like the tricking Solas one and the Solavellan / Inquisitor Friendship ones the most. If my Inquisitor wants to stop Solas, I will just skip using Mythal’s essence altogether for the sake of keeping true to what I headcanon for my oc, you know? (Though, most of my Inquisitors hold Solas in a high regard so it’s rare that I don’t try to save him.)

I like the codex entries, some of them feel very personalized, though I wish Rook had more mentions like the grocery list where they requested chocolate. (Inquisitor’s unhealthy obsession with elfroot makes a comeback?)

Important game information shouldn’t be tucked away in the codex, but it’s still enjoyable to sit and read the little references. (TR signed Rocking Griffons have my heart!!)

I wanted to see more of the Evanuris, and wished we didn’t brush by the revelation we just uncovered the origins of the Chantry. (Poor Harding.) I think we got lucky that the other Evanuris aren’t around anymore. Would’ve been an absolute nightmare to deal with.

I don’t like the dragon fights! How dare the Dragon Age for me to fight the dragons that are coming back! Leave ‘em alone (lovingly).

Yes, I think there are areas where this game needs improvement (lore consistency, player agency, etc.) but I like Veilguard for what it is and can see myself returning to more often than the previous installments.

Veilguard has potential, I just think it’s a matter of time for me to get through the gripes I have with it.

[pisscrossiant]

PART THREE OF MY DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS HEADCANONS BECAUSE IT'S MY CURRENT HYPERFIXATION

The last part was super long I'm sorry for that 😭 I'll try to keep this one a bit shorter

Tw// NSFW themes, mention of s*icide (warning before hand)

Alistair has accidentally called Wynne mom on multiple different occasions, he gets embarrassed when it happens but Wynne doesn't mind at all.

To the younger party members Wynne is like a mother figure, especially since most of their mom's either died or are just shitty.

Morrigan doesn't want to admit it but she wishes Wynne had raised her rather than Flemeth. She loves her Mother but she knows her mother doesn't love her, even though she doesn't get along well with Wynne a part of her wishes Wynne had been in place of Flemeth.

Leliana can sew pretty well, she'll sew blankets for the party members with fabric they choose. She'll patch their shirts up too but Wynne does that a lot more then she does.

Morrigan's favorite party member (besides the Warden) is Leliana, Leliana and her get along very well.

Oghren has tried to fight Zevran multiple times, ESPECIALLY if Zev is in a relationship with the warden. He'll be like "You're dating my favorite person?? Meet me outside." And he'll forget that they're together then he sees them making out in camp then tries to fight him again.

Oghren likes making fun of Alistair for being a virgin.

Leliana and Morrigan have gotten drunk and explored each other's bodies before

Tw// s*icide mentioned

Leliana calls Morrigan hot non chalantly

Alistair has attempted before. (I hope you get that reference but honestly I feel like he has)

Okay so to elaborate, Alistair, after Ostagar had felt as if he abandoned his father figure, and didn't deserve to live if Duncan died. The Warden found him as he was about to and stopped him, he's been greatful to them ever since.

//s*icide mention OVER

Morrigan constantly asks Mahariel what being Dalish was like, she is deeply interested in elven lore, everything she knows about ancient elves, and the Dalish she learned from Mahariel.

Leliana watches people sleep

Morrigan and Alistair helped Mahariel bury Tamlen after the incident at camp. (Still not over him I was so attached to him 🥲)

If Ruck is kept alive, when the Warden goes into the deep roads they go to visit him and they'll give him jewels and presents.

Mentioning Ruck, after they tell Filda he's dead, and she gives the Warden his father's shield, they give him the shield when they visit him next.

Alistair used to cook all the time but he gave the party food poisoning and after that he's not allowed to make the food.

Wynne, Leliana, Zevran and sometimes Morrigan make the food now.

Alistair gets very protective of the warden, even without romancing him, he's very protective of them in almost a brotherly way.

Morrigan likes to turn into a spider to scare Alistair

Zevran is a very light sleeper, up until he trusts the party enough that he sleeps like he's dead because he knows they'll protect him if shit hits the fan.

Morrigan's part of camp is the designated s-x area, considering how far it is from everyone else (also in the cutscenes that's where y'all are fucking) she just goes and sits by the fire with everyone else till they're done, they clean up afterwards ofc and they use their own bed rolls.

Oghren gets in fights with people that call the (elven) Warden a 'knife ear', every time someone says that to them he pulls up to their house.

Sten likes to learn about Dalish/Dwarven culture, he asks the warden questions about it 24/7, he's deeply fascinated with them.

Leliana and Morrigan have the biggest Sapphic crushes on each other,

Zevran and Leliana talk about women and men the find attractive together, especially if they turn onto the topic of the Warden, they're like "You find to Warden hot? ME TOO!"

That's all I have for this part I'm honestly running out of headcanons especially because the last part was SO LONG😭

Might be a part four but if there is it'll probably take a while ✋🏻

[imdoingaokay]

What if Rook was the HoF and the LI's child? Who would figure it out?

warnings - spoilers for Veilguard! especially some spoilers about the companions! please advise!

a/n: omg what is going on with me? I can't stop typing lol.

I tried to keep it vague on... everything lol, especially if Rook is biologically related to the HoF and their LI or not. I also tried to keep the HoF/Rook's gender vague as well. (I'm also thinking about doing the other games... maybe... y'all didn't hear that from me though)

There’s a hint of familiarity when everyone sees Rook. Something about them. Their accent, their stance, the way they fight. It’s all… familiar. 

They’re young. Late teens or early, early twenties max. They don’t even remember The Fifth Blight, and yet, they know so much about it, repeating stories of a time not experienced by them. It’s… strange.

Everyone knows that they should just ask Varric. That seems like it would make the most sense, right? But that’s a little hard to do and… well, it doesn’t matter. They discuss it all amongst themselves often, pooling together their knowledge. Unless Rook fesses up first, they’ll figure it out… sooner or later.

Alistair:

Warden - It’s Davrin who figures it out first. No ifs, ands, or buts. He puts two and two together rather quickly. Maybe it’s the similarities in appearance, maybe it’s the overwhelming knowledge of the Wardens, more so than a normal Warden would know. Regardless, there’s something that’s… different about Rook. He’s fairly likely to ask, but he may have some difficulty. He doesn’t want to simply ask “Are you related to The Hero of Ferelden?” or “Are you related to The Grey Warden Alistair?” but he also doesn’t want to not ask. Eventually, when the pair get some time, he mentions the similarities between Rook and The Hero, and if Rook doesn’t get it, he’ll give up and just ask.

King - It’s Taash. It’s ages ago when they saw Rook’s face in a portrait (one that was stolen, but that doesn’t matter) from Ferelden. Maybe it's a family portrait with the whole family, maybe it's just Alistair and Rook, or maybe it's just Rook. But... they stand so regally, it’s the type of portrait that Taash commits to memory. They bring it up point blank (honestly, if nobody does bring it up before them, Taash will be the one to ask), probably during a group meeting so everyone knows.

Leliana: Harding is the first to notice the similarities between Rook and The Spymaster. She tries to look back into her mind, thinking of a time, roughly a year after Corypheus was defeated, when a small visitor came to Skyhold, clinging to Leliana’s leg like their life depended on it. They were so young, and Harding barely got a good look at their face. It made sense that she wouldn’t recognize Rook immediately. If Rook doesn’t bring up Leliana or recognizing Harding, Harding may not bring it up at all. The most Harding may do is bring up Leliana, waiting for Rook to mention their relationship. If Rook doesn’t get the hint, Harding will let it go and will be okay with never knowing. That is until Taash asks.

Morrigan: Bellara is the first to notice, just because she sees some similarities and then begins to overthink everything until she comes to the conclusion that Morrigan is Rook’s mother. However, she is the last person willing to ask, unless she blurts out her suspicions at one point. If Bellara doesn’t ask, Emmrich will. Simply because, despite Morrigan’s best efforts, she shows Rook enough affection to remind Emmrich of the affection he holds for Manfred. One quiet evening in the library, he finds the courage to ask about the relationship between the two. By the end of the conversation, if Rook is willing to discuss their parents, Emmrich feels a bit closer to Rook… and a bit closer to Manfred.

Zevran: This depends on if Rook looks similar or is biologically related to Zevran or not. If they look like Zevran, Lucanis definitely clocks them fairly quickly, especially if they’re a rogue. Lucanis may have met Zevran, and he can definitely see the resemblance. He’s fine not bringing it up, it’s not like Zevran has a good history with The Crows. That is, until Spite decides to bring it up, mentioning that Rook smells familiar. That ends up being the opener to a long discussion on Rook’s family. By the end of it, Lucanis learns a lot, not just about Rook, but also more on the "failed Ferelden job" he'd heard about.

On the flip side, if Rook isn’t biologically related to Zevran, and doesn’t look like him, it would be Neve who notices first. She’s a detective, she’d figure it out. Maybe Rook mentions their family, or maybe they clam up at a question or two, Neve gets curious and starts digging until she finds out. And when she does, she doesn’t bring it up, for a while at least. When she doesn't, it may be to ask Rook if their parents are alright and if they need someone to look out for them. Regardless of what Rook says, Neve is pleased that she was correct in her assumptions.

[wolfwhisperertf]

I was tagged by @trickerys-domain to make my OCs this picrew!! Thank you for tagging me, I've honestly been looking for a new OC creator for a while and this one is great!

Merinda Aeducan (she/they): She did their best to embody everything that made a dwarf honorable; strength, cunning, loyalty. She was kind to a fault but made sure no one saw that as a weakness. A powerful duelist that always saw herself walking the path of a general for their family. She never imagined becoming a warden but jumped at the chance since it was the only way they would be able to continue fighting. She fell for Alastair quickly because of their shared humor. She made fast friends with most of the companions... Leliana the sister she never had, Wynn the mother they lost long ago, Alastair the love she thought never to be found again. (she was in love with Gorim) When Merinda learned of the true nature of killing the arch-dragon she was just angry, angry and rescinded. When Morrigan returned with her solution they almost didn't ask Alistair but in the end no one had to die.

Tahoe Hawke (he/him): A mage who only ever wished to protect his family. In the beginning I played Tahoe much more blue, a paragon that tried to save everyone he could. The more he failed at that task however, the more purple he became. He liked Isabela but only truly ever had eyes for Fenris. Their relationship was not all sunshine and rainbows however, if Fenris said something hurtful about mages, Tahoe would openly flirt with Isabela. Eventually they figured their romance out but the more Fenris healed the more Tahoe broke. *trigger warning* His sacrifice in the Fade was just a thinly veiled suicide... Varric knew it, Fenris knew it.

Eirwen Lavellan (she/her): Once a hunter for her clan but always a ranger at heart. Eirwen wore the vallaslin of Gilan'nain because of her hope to one day become the clan's Halla keeper like her grandfather. She loved to explore the forest and like many of her clan she was fast to tolerate humans. She took it one step farther however, she befriended some of the human hunter's that shared the same woods as her clan. It was because of her open heart that the Keeper sent Eirwen to the conclave. Becoming the Inquisitor was hard but somehow through all of it Eirwen enjoyed it, she enjoyed learning about the world, seeing forgotten ruins, making friends in all corners of the nations... strange as it sounds maybe that's why she found it so easy to let go of. For now Eirwen is content living out the rest of her years with her Cully-Wully, helping him with his Templar Sanctuary. Spending nights listing to Dorian complain about magisters or pretending to complain about the last surprise Bull sent him. And on very rare nights she sneaks off in her old armor with a crossbow hidden under her cloak.

No pressure tag to @afamoore, @dovahbee, and anyone else who wants to! (doesn't even have to be dragon age)

[herald-divine-hell]

Leliana and the Inquisitor: of the Rose of Faith and Love

Word estimate: 6,122

Summary: Essentially this post was meant to be more of an essay over the potential of an Inquisitor and Leliana romance in Inquisition, but it kinda spiral. You'll likely find me rambling, but I simply have too much thoughts. If anyone has questions, you can message or send me an ask and I can try to clarify. But in any case, I hope you enjoy!

I shall say this today and upon the Day of Judgement: I still believe that a romance with Leliana in Inquisition could have worked and honestly have fit the themes of DA:I.

Let me explain.

As Solas states, Leliana during Inquisition is in a crisis of faith. Her belief in the Maker is shaken at its core, a clear departure from the religiously assured Sister Leliana we saw in Origins, who believed that the Maker spoke to her through dreams to free the world of the Fifth Blight and to aid the Warden. Already this is a fascinating struggle that we wouldn't have imagined to find in someone like Leliana. Indeed, according to some of my friends (who shall not be named simply for privacy sake), the state we find Leliana in Inquisition was a bizarre, almost unsettling, scenario that made them wary of Leliana's interpretation in the third Dragon Age game, because most individuals interact with Leliana with the perspective of the most joyful, merciful sister we find in Origins, despite Leliana's darker past. To find her in a state of apathy and readily abled to deal out harsh measures toward others is something that I think is certainly realistic given the situation we find ourselves, but more specifically one Leliana is in, but is certainly an abrupt change for Leliana as a character for previous fans. It is almost seems like a significant regression of her personality, even if contextual it does make sense.

To me, one of the core themes Dragon Age: Inquisition explores is that of forgiveness. It is not surprising that the first title we receive - though wasted in my opinion - in Inquisition is the "Herald of Andraste", a figure whose compassion and forgiveness toward others is the core reason why the Maker's returned gaze toward the world and his subsequent removal from the affairs of Thedas with Andraste's death. The existence of Andrastanism as a religious faith is built on the idea, not of the Maker's inherent mercy and compassion or love for Their creation, as founded in the religious doctrines of Christianity or Islam, but on Andraste's capability of mercy and forgiveness and empathy. The Maker had no real interest to pardon creation for their sins until Andraste. In the framework of Andrastanism, it is Andraste who is the fountain of Mercy, and would have, in the eyes of many Andrastians with the return of the Prisoner from the Fade, returned someone after the destruction of her former resting place and the death of her Lord Husband's vassal, the Divine. That is why the Inquisitor is referred to as the "Herald of Andraste", nothing in which they promote, but rather what others believe them to be. They are not the Maker's Prophet but Andraste's, whose favor is what many Andrastians seek to beseech the Maker to forgive them of their sins. Rather the Inquisitor likes it or not, they are first and foremost the Herald of Andraste to the people, a divinely sanctioned figure of their Lady's mercy. In some way, they exist in a quasi-state of prophethood that I think the game doesn't delve as much as they should have given the religious tenets of Andrastanism. The idea that the Maker permitted Andraste to directly intervene through the Herald goes against everything the Chantry stands upon. It transforms the Maker and Andraste from absentee deity and divine bride into a more interactive, present deity as found in many monotheistic faiths in our world.

To simplify, the position of the Herald is more than simply a title in my opinion. It is a complete negation of the tenants of the Chantry who remained perplex and incapable of handling the Mage and Templar revolts against them. To many in southern Thedas, the Herald is an intervention by the Maker through Andraste, a possible sign that neither have turned exactly away. Regardless of if your Inquisitor supports that position or not, this is something that I think would have radically shaped the concept of the Inquisition, especially as, while Ferelden and Orlesian and Chantry authority collapses in the wake of the Mage Rebellion and Orlesian Civil War, the Herald establishes order and security, in their patron's divine name. No matter how much the Inquisitor verbally would deny it, the people would believe in Andraste's divine favor, especially as they "returned" with the destruction of Haven after the attack by Andrastanism's essential Satan, the Priest of Dumat Corypheus.

(I could go on a whole essay about why I think the Herald should have played a bigger role as a title, but that's for a later time).

To turn back to Leliana, this position likely would not have been greeted with much enthusiasm by the Left Hand. After all, while Leliana clearly recognizes that it is an expedite gift for the Inquisition as a propaganda tool, she clearly has doubts about the Herald's existence as a sign from the Maker...especially when their return came at the seemingly cost of her closest friend, Divine Justinia V.

As Leliana herself states...

"I used to believe I was chosen, just as some say you are. I thought I was fulfilling His purpose for me, working with the Divine, helping people. But now she's dead. It was all for nothing. Serving the Maker meant nothing."

Although Leliana directly does not accuse the Herald in game for Justinia's death, I doubt her views on you are favorable, though she likely does understand her emotional outrage toward your survival is completely unjustifiable. She is in a place of hurt, of uncertainty. You mean to tell her that the Maker's Chosen, a woman who followed close to the true tenets of the Chants as anyone was permitted to die for some...nobody to come and essentially take her place? Where is the justice in that? Why should you get to live but Justinia could not? There is deeper anger and hurt beneath the surface of Leliana, especially at the beginning of Inquisition, that she keeps well-masked, even as that mask lapsed for a brief moment. Your existence essentially goes against the confidence she held regarding the Maker’s plan with Justinia and her potential reforms, and her overall confidence that her actions was in service to the Maker, especially the ones taken for the necessity of Justinia’s overall plans as Divine. Admittedly, for her brief moment of unmasking, you do get that idea in that same conversation, at the beginning, where she essentially mocks/drills you:

"You speak for Andraste, no? What does the Maker's prophet has to say about all of this? What's His game?"

This, of course, is a rhetorical question. Leliana doesn't really expect you to give her an answer. Intriguingly, one of the characters with the greatest faith in the Maker in all the series is perhaps one of your greatest doubters about your divine position (a wonderful twist, if I may say so myself.) Of course, her chief anger is toward the Maker, the god whom she devoted so much of her life to serve, who - if you utilized BioWare's world state as I did in my first playthrough - stripped her of her one love (the Warden) and the closest thing she had left of a family, Dorothea. But human emotions are chaotic, untamable. Although she is angrier at the Maker, Leliana is also still angry at you, at the very idea of you...the audacity the Herald has to live. It is not personal anger - she isn't going to stab the Herald for Justinia's death, nor does she believe that the Herald had anything really to do with her death, but the anger would still be there, even though it is veiled by countless masks of Sister Nightingale. The anger would be irrational...but so is grief. This concept of anger I think would have been an interesting think to delve with Leliana’s character, especially with the lack of any real content the title Herald of Andraste provided.

Because of this, it is understandable that out of all the advisors, Leliana is perhaps the one that is not as close to you, though she does consider you a dear friend by the end of Inquisition if you aid her in her depression and grief - or "soften" her. Outside the Templar side of the story, there is still not the emotional connection you receive until Adamant with the Spirit who took the form of Justinia and later Valence.

However, there is something so fascinatingly intriguing about the entire dynamic with the Inquisitor and Leliana, taking this crisis of faith into account. As I stated, it is understandable that Leliana isn't as close to you as Josephine or Cullen is...but the opposite could still occur, in my view.

Despite her own objections, I cannot see Leliana and the Inquisitor not interacting, especially when they are named the Inquisitor after Haven. Even then, a persistent Herald (cough Alexandra cough), likely would have been something Leliana warmed up to...to a certain extent, by Haven. Something close to fondness may awake, or perhaps more closely a form of respect, but the anger would still linger beneath - the anger of Sister Leliana and Lady Nightingale and the unstoppable pity Leliana naturally would feel to this person who was so unready for the mantle thrust upon them would be in conflict, and though she may be cold and distant...her view does change, slowly and steadily. Not her faith...no...but she isn't seeing the Herald as the Herald, is she? Rather, Leliana at their time in Haven, in those brief moments of discussion after meetings and prompted conversation likely started by the Herald, understanding of the Herald would begin to slowly shift - from Herald to Lord/Lady Trevelyan/Master/Mistress Lavellan/Cadash/Adaar. It isn't exactly friendship, and it is certainly not them in love...but something close to appreciation would likely exist, especially if the Herald is supportive of mage rights. In times, letters may be sent to one another, the weekly reports regarding situations in the Hinterlands and the Stormcoast and what occurred in Val Royeaux, but something more private, inquiring about Leliana's health, and perhaps personal appeals to Josephine to get this woman to eat more. This, of course, is something you can't exactly display outside of storytelling in a traditional form, especially in something like Inquisition, but conversations between the Herald and the Inquisitor surely could have been coded to have this certain angle where a concerned Herald, despite Leliana's coldness, would check up on her. Leliana may be cold; she may even say something like:

Herald: And how are you today, Leliana? Leliana: Well enough, Herald. Let us return to our work.

To later, after acquiring the mages or templars:

Herald: And how are you today, Leliana? Leliana, amused: Nosy, are we? Herald: 1) Simply concern; 2) Just a bit. And I'm not as nosey as a certain woman who knew the exact time I woke up this morning; 3) You could simply answer the question. (Since I would have picked two in this situation, a softening Leliana could have stated) Leliana: Perhaps if Your Worship was not so loud, I might not have known. And it is my job to be assure that you are well enough for the coming battle, Herald. Herald: Is that concern I hear, Sister Leliana? Leliana, slightly flustered: Practicality, mostly. We wouldn't want you to collapse like last time, now would we? That certainly would not be holy of you. In any case. I'm well enough. You need not concern yourself over me...but thank you.

To a possible other conversation, when the Herald is near ready to attempt to seal the Breach a second time:

Herald: Any words of encouragement or advice? Leliana: Are you sure you want them from me? Herald: I did ask. Leliana: I do not have much to give that the others could not provide. Herald: I still would like it. Leliana: I trust you will be able to seal the Breach. You have your allies; you have your own strength. I have confidence you will be able to do it. Have…have faith in yourself. And don’t die out there. It would have made my death to be in vain. Herald: Now that was uncalled for. Leliana: You wanted my advice.

(Of course, this is a draft and would require some work if it had ever been implemented in game.)

In any case, something close to friendship would bubble between them, primarily pushed by the Herald, though not entirely denied by Leliana, if they play their cards right. Leliana in her mind might justify that relationship with the idea of raising another mask, to make the Herald put their trust in her while not reciprocating the same. Of course, this a lie. Despite her words, she did die for the Herald in In Hushed Whispers, though she may claim it was a second chance for history...what history is there, in a world overtaken by the Fade? No, despite that moment of teasing, Whisper!Leliana died so the Inquisitor could live, and by her own admission, she would do it again. In her mind, she may say it is for the greater sacrifice for the world...but despite it all, we caught a glimpse of the true Leliana. Leliana would die for the Herald because at heart Leliana is a rescuer, and there is something close to caring that she feels for the Herald, even it is not the same caring she held for the Warden. And perhaps in some ways, she sees the Warden in the Herald, who is willing to bare the world upon their shoulders, and not once complain, readily aiding others for compassion and kindness. Someone who is worthy to die for…just like Justinia. No, despite everything, despite all her iron walls...Leliana is still a softie at heart. It is simply buried and needs to be lifted out. We could see that a little in game, even at Haven, though it is not really all that much, all things considering. Which is reasonable. But it still exists within Leliana, which the game seemingly does acknowledge through those brief statements. Parts of Leliana can be carefully observed through her interactions with the Herald at Haven, even if it not as in-depth as someone like me would have liked. So the foundations of something more than a cordial work relationship does exist between the Inquisitor and Leliana, but I believe that it could have easily transcended more.

There are technically only four companions and advisors you cannot romance at all in Inquisition: Vivienne, who is in love with Duke Bastion, Varric, who is in love with Bianca (the crossbow), Cole, likely due to his existence as a spirit and his more youthful mindset, and Leliana, who could either be taken by the Warden or simply just is not romancable because BioWare did not think or desire to have another romance for a romancable character from their first game.

Of course, I acknowledge the first point. Leliana would simply be incompatible with the Inquisitor if the Warden were still alive and had romanced Leliana in Origins (I believe she was the most romanced character out of the four DA:O romances), so that point can be discarded as something not entirely worthy of this essay. The other point, that BioWare did not desire to have another romance for someone you could romance in a different game is also valid. The possibility already exists in one game, why waste resources doing it again? At a game design level, it is justifiable.

However, I would argue that Leliana’s existence in Inquisition itself…while I say this with a heavy heart…is otherwise unnecessary. Unlike Cullen where you are actively aiding him to reform into a better man after the Templars, either through a platonic friendship or romance, Leliana bares little in terms of the same emotional catharsis. Like Varric, I questioned BioWare’s decision to have her at all in Inquisition, even if I think her potential as a character within the game is self-evident as a concept. Outside the important narrative dynamic of her crisis in faith, Inquisition does not go that in depth to really give us that emotional reaction toward Leliana’s crisis. Although initially for returning players it may be jarring, especially for those who romanced her in Origins, the lack of content for Leliana really made that potential character development not as impactful as it would otherwise. (Again, I still do recognize the absolute catastrophe hell that was Inquisition’s development. Still, narratively, I have qualms with Leliana’s incorporation specifically.) That is, of course, not to say that Leliana’s only worth is through a romance option with the Inquisitor. Overall, I think more effort should have been made for that platonic relationship between the Inquisitor and Leliana to really show how she began to have more faith through the Inquisitor’s aid.

But, Leliana’s relationship, unlike the other four unromancable Inner Circle members, honestly had the most potential for a romance with the Inquisitor, in my honest opinion. Leliana is in a state of depression – there is no way to go around that. She is emotionally broken and lost with the death of Justinia. (I do want to point out that I am not saying that Leliana’s only cure for her depression is her to bang the shit out of the Inquisitor.) Yet, unlike the others, Leliana and the Inquisitor have a unique relationship because of the aforementioned religious undertones of their title as Herald of Andraste. Unlike with Josephine, whom Leliana considers a dear friend but still does not want her to fret over her – while “hypocritically” fussing over Josephine if the Inquisitor seeks a romance with her -, and Cassandra, who while friendly seemed to have a more work relationship and only drew close because of the Inquisition, Leliana cannot entirely push the Herald away from being concern. Ironically, I think it is partly because she does not know the Inquisitor that Leliana, in a strange way, is more open to her distress then with those whom one would expect to first hear about her worries, like Josephine and Casandra. It is not because she trusts the Herald at Haven, nor it is because she feels compelled as the Inquisitor is now her boss to openly discuss her failings at Haven, but because, as a character, the Inquisitor is in a unique position. In the first cutscene we have at Skyhold with Leliana (technically the third we have personally with Leliana overall), her mask is completely off for the Inquisitor.

Leliana: The names we lost. You must blame me this.

Unlike in Haven, where Leliana is openly confrontational with the Herald, after the destruction of Haven, Leliana lays the entire blame on herself. If only she had set her scouts ahead, perhaps they may have gone a better warning. Perhaps if she was deceived, if she put away that whisper to care for her people, those who were lost at Haven may very well been alive. It was her fault. The Inquisitor must understand that.

This goes directly against why Varric believes Leliana makes a better spymaster. According to Varric:

Varric: “To be honest with you, she’s just a better spymaster. The truly great ones can keep their distance. They don’t get attached to their people. Me, I always wind up babysitting my informants and worrying about their families. We’re in better hands with her.”

(Varric your 0-2 for reading your coworkers, tbh.)

Clearly Leliana puts enough a front that others think that Leliana is more willing to give up the lives of her scouts. And perhaps, the Leliana we find discussing Butler would have done that. And there comes Leliana’s complexity. For the greater good…the Leliana we find in Inquisition would do anything, a thing somewhat shared with Leliana in Origins who is willing to die for the sake of ending the Blight, though she places her faith in the Maker to shield her. Rather Leliana believed that at all that she could die (it’s been a hot minute since I played Origins) during the Blight, it was essentially an act of heroism, bolstered by her belief in the Maker.

Now that her belief in the Maker is near shattered, it is the supposed practicality of being willing to die for the sake of the Herald or being willing to send her Scouts to certain death for the greater good Haven that propels her forward…and the fact that she didn’t do the latter tears at her. Leliana isn’t a better spymaster because she supposedly doesn’t care. It is the opposite. The Inquisitor, rather or not they pushed for Butler to be pardoned at Haven, does have a role in this. By directly confronting her, one can argue that Leliana is given a moment of reflection, or at least push in that direction. Although I believe that this scene still occurs if you don’t talk to Leliana the second time in Haven, there is still narrative undertones because of it. In a way, to make sense of Leliana’s story in Inquisition, you – the Herald, the one person who has the authority and ability to directly go against Leliana – has to put your foot down. Maybe its because the Herald simply has some idea that this is not who Leliana is (Alexandra), or maybe it is because they could gain information out of him if need be, or a mix of both (Amayian). Regardless, the fact that Leliana, in another moment of surprised weakness, opens up to you is quite telling.

Why though? Out of everyone in the Inquisition, why is the Inquisitor the one Leliana opens up like this? Possibly because of story reasons, but I think its more. After Haven, Leliana is once more shaken. Because in some ways, Leliana probably blames herself for Justinia’s death. She was her Left Hand, meant to protect her from those who lingered in the shadows. She was the Maker’s conduit as a protection for Justinia and she failed her. And now it was – in Leliana’s mind – her fault that Haven was destroyed. It was her fault that the Inquisitor had to almost sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. They must blame her for this, must blame her for almost letting them die.

That is not to say such an idea holds any real merit in reality. It isn’t Leliana’s fault at all. But Leliana assumes that guilt upon herself, partly because of her position as Left Hand (and because Leliana likely does blame herself for Justinia’s death). In a way, had more effort gone into Leliana’s storyline for Inquisition, perhaps we would have been giving more of an idea where Leliana, subconsciously, replaced her protectiveness over Justinia onto the Inquisitor, as much to ease her guilt as anything else. This complication would be exacerbated by a potential romantic entanglement between the two. Here she was, left blind in the dark and someone of significant importance that could give the world peace nearly died because of her “failure”. And in that wavering faith, perhaps in a way Leliana thinks that this is another punishment from the Maker. Leliana failed, but the Herald did not. They rallied Haven together for a defense, gave them enough time for everyone to flee, faced the Elder One, nearly died, and returned to them, wounded but alive. The Herald’s survival after Haven is almost miraculous to anyone but the Herald and the player.

This is why I think this conversation with Leliana is perhaps the most telling of all conversations the Inquisitor has with Leliana, and why I think a potential romance fundamentally works on a narrative level with Leliana. Here, Leliana has no real reason to open up. The Inquisitor is no longer a “sort of leader”, propaganda tool for the Inquisition. Although Leliana is cold and distant, there exists a level of equality there that allowed them to discuss things on an equal footing. Once the Herald is named Inquisitor, that dynamic, one would expect, change. They were now her boss. A completely apathetic, workaholic Leliana would have simply not have been open to discuss her failings with her boss. She might admit it that she did fail and she will rectify that, but not in the way DA:I displays it. No, Leliana is visibly distraught. Inherently, there is something different between Leliana ‘s desire to be validated with her belief that she must be cold for the sake of the Inquisition, and Leliana feeling shame for “allowing” people to die at Haven.  She still does the former, but it is the latter that BioWare purposefully introduces us after Haven in the introduction of Skyhold’s first scene with Leliana.

I have seen some arguments that Leliana isn’t that close with the Inquisitor, and I fundamentally disagree. Leliana and the Inquisitor had the foundations to be exceptionally close in Inquisition. BioWare simply did not think of it, had the resources to implement, or have the interest to establish it. But there are strong foundations that display that the Inquisitor and Leliana could have been closer within the game. And we can see that in this same cutscene in Haven, where Leliana challenges the Inquisitor if you claim that her instincts were right to draw her scouts back.

Leliana: Could we afford such sentimentality? What if Corypheus – Inquisitor: We are better than Corypheus.

And in a way, I read it as something more. Not only is the Inquisitor stating that the Inquisition as an institution is better than Corypheus, that they need not step down to his level, but more importantly Leliana is better than Corypheus. Although Leliana frames the discussion as something surrounding the greater good for the Inquisition, Leliana argues that the Lady Nightingale, the Left Hand of the Divine, the woman who would have been willing to sacrifice anything or anyone for Justinia, the option that called for absolute apathy and pragmatism would have been the better option. Such setinimality, such compassion, can only hinder the Inquisition’s cause. As Patrick (Tricks) Weekes pointed out, Corypheus is her “dark mirror” and they both are “burned believers”. Both are willing to do what they deem necessary to achieve their goals. But the Inquisitor is right. Leliana is better. Corypheus truly does not care for others. Leliana does. And I think it is poetic that it is the Inquisitor, this symbol of forgiveness in the eyes of many and the last gift Justinia could give to the world before her death, that reminds her so. Just as Dragon Age: Inquisition’s themes delve over forgiveness and redemption, so too does the storyline of Leliana in Inquisition revolve around such themes.

And if we imagine this in a romantic light, especially in the context of a dead Warden, such ideas of redemption rings so much stronger (though still strong even within a platonic context). As Josephine notes, Leliana is so much more different than the woman she knew in Val Royeaux.

(I can’t find the video directly, so I do apologize if there is any errors but I tried to be accurate to the quote Josephine says about Leliana at Skyhold)

Josephine: She has grown so much more distant than the outgoing woman I met in Val Royeaux. Leliana used to wander the gardens, singing the sweetest songs, charming with the great wits. Now she collects secrets and takes risks that would make empires crumble. I worry but she would not hear it.

Although I’m sure I butchered that dialogue, I am firm that the general statement is correct, since I had listened to it over and over again in the past.

The most important take away from it cannot be understated. Not only is Leliana more distant, but she is also inherently more distant to one of her only closest friends in the Inquisition. Such, it is more telling that when it comes to the Inquisitor, and if we take a romantic glance to this relationship, Leliana seems less…restrained to openly discuss her problems, despite them not knowing each other for long.

Although some may argue that it is simply a plot device to further Leliana’s character arc in Inquisition. I disagree. While Leliana does discuss some topics in Inquisition, they tend to revolve around other people such as the Warden, Hawke, or Justinia. Even when discussing about her being a bard, Leliana turns them away from directly teaching them but does leave the option to teach the Herald later. When it comes to her personally, Leliana seems wary of directly involving herself with the Inquisitor, even if she, begrudgingly, revolves some aspect of her life through others. But she is otherwise very open about herself to the Inquisitor…yet not to others. One cannot help but imagine that there is something, in-world, about the Inquisitor that she could not help but be open to discuss, though of course I would note that these discussions could happen at a later date after you two interacted, and the game simply expediate it because of gameplay reasons. In any case, as Josephine later confirms, Leliana is emotionally distant toward even her closest friend. But not the Inquisitor, even though she only really counts them, in-game, as a friend post-Valence, near the end of the game.

In some ways, if viewed in a romantic sense, Leliana’s opening toward the the Herald in Haven and the Inquisitor in Skyhold simply could be propelled by the fact that unlike Josephine, who may have argued that this is simply not Leliana but retreated once Leliana pushes Josephine’s concern a way, the Inquisitor directly challenges her on multiple occasions and actually makes the effort to contradict perceived notions of Leliana’s established value. The game itself does not give you a clear answer as to why the Herald can openly defy Leliana in Haven. In the first conversation, the last discussion you have with Leliana at the end of the cutscene is intriguing. The first option – “Let me help you” is such a fascinating one. Sure, the other options aren’t that great – the Herald kind of brushes Leliana off on the other two options, which confirms, subconsciously to Leliana, that this brief outburst was something she should kept to herself, reaffirming her hardened nature. Realistically, the Herald may very well lean toward the other two options, and one can argue that “My sympathies” would have worked preferable here if the Inquisitor was just trying to be kind. But no, the Herald offers support to an absolute stranger. As a romantic, I cannot help but think that such an offering is so intriguingly sweet. And yet, this does not begin her softening era. The Herald is simply so imaginably sweet in this first dialogue!

The Herald: Maybe you have a different purpose. I could help you find it. Leliana: No, this is my burden. I regret that I even let you see me like this. It was a moment of weakness. It won’t happen again. Come. To work then. We will speak later.

Just, ah! And it does happen again. Although it is constantly argued that Leliana and the Inquisitor aren’t that connected (primarily because of the limits of the game), I argue that they actually are fascinating to examine together, platonically and romantically. It is obvious that this level of commitment to aid Leliana could develop a romantic relationship, possibly accidentally, because Leliana has constantly needed a push, first with Dorothea, then with Warden against Marjolaine, and now with the Inquisitor to help her with a depression. It is not too ridiculous to see that such kindness and compassion toward Leliana would raise romantic feelings toward the Inquisitor. Now, would Leliana be open to these feelings is a different question and is doubtable. But I argue that narratively Leliana/Inquisitor does work in that sense. A lot of Leliana’s present storyline in Inquisition works, in my view, as a platonic or romantic relationship, easily.  What is significant is that the Inquisitor serves as an aid, a guidance, something which Leliana lost with the lost of Justinia and her subsequent shattering of faith.

Romance

You may say, then, “Herald, you have pointed from time to time against that Leliana’s relationship with the Inquisitor fits perfectly find within the context of a platonic friendship. How exactly does this display any validity of an Inquisitor/Leliana romance?

Although I do admit, Leliana’s relationship with the Inquisitor works perfectly find platonically – in my view, romantically, the relationship between these two characters is fascinating in the context of a romantic relationship.

Firstly, although limited by Inquisition’s romance system, I find that the Inquisitor and Leliana can easily transform their relationship from friendship to romantic. It is, in a way, an essential “friends-to-lovers” trope. Although many of the decisions given to the Inquisitor can soften Leliana is, in Inquisition, taken in the frame of reference of friendship, there is something inherently romantic in the way the Inquisitor conducts themselves than they do with other characters, outside someone who is facing a similar moral dilemma in the form of Cullen.

Whereas the other romances, more or less, are based on the Inquisitor’s interest in the companions, Leliana’s potential romance is strengthened by the fact that the romance inherently doesn’t have to appear romantic. Because her storyline is so centered on the moral and ethical dilemma of Leliana either reclaiming her she truly was or letting go of all previous convictions of what made her for the “sake of the greater good”, the romantic relationship would not be simply because the Inquisitor is interested in Leliana. Instead, it is based on the desire to help Leliana for Leliana. In the words of Solas, healing Leliana is the goal but getting her “into bed is just an enjoyable side benefit.” In other words, my envisioned romance for Inquisitor/Leliana is not inherently too different than what we got with Leliana in Inquisition itself, because the core elements are already there.

It is the Inquisitor who shares two moments of weakness with Leliana. It is the Inquisitor who pushes Leliana to question herself and her role as simply the “Nightingale”. It is the Inquisitor who bears the news of Justinia’s last words to Leliana. Leliana/Inquisitor’s romance would be as what you first can say to Leliana in your first private conversation with her:

“Maybe you have a different purpose. I could help you find it.”

A potential romance-interested Inquisitor would not be doing this for the sake of bedding Leliana. They’re doing this because they empathize with Leliana. You’re trying to help Leliana find herself again…and in the meanwhile, you too dance. You share private quips. Leliana teases you about being a dragon-hunter…perhaps even her dragon-hunter. And Leliana is angry at you, because you essentially took the place of what the last real family she had left (baring the Warden, but that’s too complicated with so many scenarios that I choose not to delve too into it). It is fascinating to think of Leliana’s conflict. She wants to hate you for Justinia’s death, even if she personally doesn’t blame you. You are the Herald, a symbol of Her God who abandoned her. She should be angry at you, but damnit, you’re asking how you could help her. And she needs you to blame her for failing you at Haven, but you’re denying her. Why? What has she done to be worthy of such considerations. There is nothing but cold emptiness inside, the last visions of Justinia before her, a gray shade in the darkness.

Almost like a certain dream in a time long past…where there was an impenetrable darkness, so dense, so very real, and there was a noise rising from that darkness, terrible, ungodly, as she stood upon a peak and watch the darkness consume all. And then she fell…or maybe she jumped, because what else was there to jump? There was nothing but the darkness and that terrible noise, swarming, grasping, pulling her. But when she woke from that dream, in the ruins of a sacred chantry, she found a single rose in a withered gray rosebush, awaiting her.

In all, the reason why I am so adamant for a Leliana-romance in Inquisition because it seems just so natural. Yes, I know she can be romanced with a Warden who is still living. But that is not everyone’s world state, and hell, that isn’t even BioWare’s world-state. I argue that Leliana’s romance could have been the most well done because of how complex Leliana’s inherent character was in Inquisition. Leliana needs help. It just so happens she fell for the Inquisitor along the way, you know?

I’m sorry if this post was just a really big ramble. I just had a lot of thoughts that I needed to put down.

[star--nymph]

@shivunin: Oooh what's the deal with Rabbits? 👀

Ohohoho SO! Remember months and months ago how you brought up this picture:

and said you'd love to see a fic based around it and we discussed that Eury would probably end up like that after killing an assassin who went after Cullen?

That's Rabbits! It was such a good idea to explore with them, how could I not begin writing it? It's slow going like everything else I do, but I have gotten two scenes deep into it.

Dorian countered back, “Are you telling me this is the first death threat ever delivered to her? Truly?” “It is not.“ Eurydice answered, lifting a hand to run through a strand of curling hair at her cheek, ”It is the seventh that has wanted to cut out my heart. The third mentioning decapitation. The 34th which refers to me with the slur of–” “Only three for decapitation? I got more of that by the time I was twelve--” “Yes, thank you, Lavellan.“ Leliana interrupted them, lifting her hand in a signal that read ‘stop’. The Spymaster’s eyes lingered back onto the note, finally daring to uncurl its edges to glean what it was inside--or perhaps what it was made of. ”I am less concerned about the contents as much as the method. Your people have figured out transportation with fire?” Dorian took the time to peer at the note itself, considering her question. “Unless they have discovered my teenager rambles of grandeur and decided to make good on them, I doubt it. I’ve seen this before. It’s more akin to a…” He spun his hand in the air, trying to think of the right word, “parlor trick rather than real magic. I’ve seen four-year-olds do this with drawings–it’s not exactly hard. You simply need a point of focus, a fire, something small enough to ride on the wind, and a clear opening.” Leliana’s eyes narrowed, “Do you need to be close by?” “Define ‘close’.” “Within Skyhold’s range.” “Well, that entirely depends on the talent of the spellcaster, doesn’t it? Some could perhaps manage it from the mountains if they had a telescope and a strong wind–others need a picture or a clear image in their mind. They can’t do much more than make something appear if that’s what you’re worried about. No exploding papers–we’re not the Merchant’s Guild.” The answer didn’t inspire satisfaction if the way Leliana pressed her lips into a tight line was any indication. Eurydice’s fingers caught on a knot and spared a flickering glance towards Leliana–or rather, her fingers spread out on the desk and then drawing back into fists. Eurydice hummed, and her eyes left the woman again for more interesting things, like how the raven’s cages swayed in the tower draft, “You suspect the caster is here, Spymaster.” Leliana’s head lifted, blue eyes peeking from under her bangs. “Do you?” She didn’t like her blue eyes; how they always fished for hers. Searching, grabbing, holding. Trying to unlock what was ever inside her. Eurydice turned her face, and let her hair shield her. “No.” She said flatly, “My quarters are untouched. I have placed six protection wards that are intact. No individuals were inside my residence last night nor this morning except for me and the Commander.” A pause. An assessment. Then, Leliana stood to her full height, clasped her hands behind her back, and asked, “What does the Commander think?” Her fingers caught on a knot again. “I did not inform him.” “Probably for the best; no reason to make the man’s head spin more than he makes it every day.” Dorian quipped lightly and reclined further back in his chair. Leliana shifted her stare from the Inquisitor to the mage. “You are strangely nonchalant about this, Dorian. Is it amusing that the Inquisitor’s life is in possible peril?” The corner of her mouth curled up but it felt sharper than a smirk, less playful than the grin Dorian threw back at her. Something silent was being spoken between them, Eurydice didn’t know–a banter she honestly wanted no part of. “You mean more than usual? I find it positively boring.” Dorian drawled dramatically and then, his face became still as water in an untouched lake. “I know this type of magic, Spymaster. You asked me here for my opinion, correct? My opinion is that this is all paltry, given your network of spies. Have they informed you of a threat beyond the emergence of this note?”