#i'm back to my bullshit again

[panna-acida]

The most ridicolous power in the entire world...

[vaguely-concerned]

I understand and agree with a lot of the frustrations about the shortcomings of Inquisition as a story. but sometimes when I hear people complain about the chosen one narrative in it I do want to just be like... you know it's a deconstruction of the concept more than anything, right. the inquisitor isn't actually chosen by anything except stumbling into the wrong (right?) room at the right (wrong?) time because they like, heard a noise or whatever. or if you think they are chosen, as many do in-universe, that's something you have to take on faith, the maker-or-whoever moves in mysterious ways indeed-style. the Inquisitor isn't actually a Destined Chosen One, they're a Just Some Guy in a fancy hat, self-delusions of grandeur to taste as you'd prefer.

a running thread that goes through all of the personal quests of the companions is the concept of a comforting lie vs. an uncomfortable truth, upholding old corrupt structures vs. disrupting them, and the role of faith in navigating that. (blackwall the warden vs. thom rainier the liar and murderer. hissrad vs. the iron bull, or is that the other way around? cassandra and the seekers -- do we tell the truth about what we find, even if it means dismantling the old order of the world? and so on.) and your inquisitor IS at the same time a comforting lie (a necessary one, in dark times? the game seems to ask) and an uncomfortable truth (we are the result of random fickle chance, no protective hand is held over the universe, it's on us to make a better world because the maker sure as hell won't lift a divine finger to help anyone, should he against all odds exist). faith wielded for political power... where's the point that it crosses the line into ugliness? is it before it even begins? what's the alternative? will anyone listen to the truth, if you tell it?

interesting how you also get a mix of companion agency in this -- you have characters like dorian who ALWAYS choose one side of the comforting lie vs. uncomfortable truth dichotomy. he will always make up his own mind to go back to tevinter and try to dismantle the corruption of the old system no matter what you say, or how you try to influence him. meanwhile iron bull is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum -- so psychologically trapped and mangled, caught in an impossible spiritual catch-22, that his sense of identity is left entirely to you and your mercy. you cannot change dorian in any way that matters; you can be his friend or not, support him or not, but he is whole no matter what. you are given incredible and potentially destructive-to-him power over bull's soul. it's really cool (and heartbreaking) to think about.

this is a game about how history will eat you even while you're still alive, and shape you into whatever image it pleases to serve it, and for all your incredible power right now you are powerless in the face of the gravitational force of time -- of more than time, of History. you won't recognize yourself in what History will make of you, because you belong to it now. you don't belong to yourself anymore and you never will again. the further you were from what it needs from you to begin with, the more you will find yourself distorted in its funhouse mirror. (why hello there inquisitor ameridan, same hat!)

and to me this is so much the core of what Dragon Age is about right from the Origins days -- how and by whom history gets written, the inherent unreliable narration of it all. I hope you like stories, Inquisitor. You are one now.

I do think it's probably still the weakest of the games narratively, and it's hampered by its structure and bloated systems. but I also find it disingenous to say that there's nothing deeper or actually interesting going on with it, thematically. if you're willing to engage with it there is Some Real Shit going on under the high fantasy-tinted surface.

[arkarti]

William studies | Part 06

Twitter: X

[crowdeerdire]

Kel is off to art college and she misses her bf, Cove ╥﹏╥

[crows-of-buckets]

Rook: I'm really worried about Davrin and Lucanis, they keep arguing with one another... Its very bad Varric, what if it effects them in battle?

Varric, remembering that one time Fenris broke Ander's nose then took a knife in the back for him in the same night: I'm sure they'll be fine kid. They're barely even arguing if you ask me

[iamtheunicornwizard]

they're so cute frfr

[m-u-n-c-h-y]

Hey, you guys wanna see a cursed ship?

[finemealprompt]

DP x DC Prompt #55

Barbara didn't know she had a brother. Well, okay she knew she had younger brothers, but not an older brother. She didn't know about Danny.

Not until she started looking into her own family and found some discrepancies in the paperwork.

[renstrapp]

late night junker queen posting

[schoute]

ohshitherewegoagain.jpeg

[ingravinoveritas]

New Michael photo shoot for an article in Vera // Virgin Atlantic in-flight magazine!

[8-rae-rae-8]

"Ker was always dealing with some personal shit. That's why, in spite of everything else, we got along."

....

"Johnny?"

[strawberrypiratenin]

I mean, it must be wild being a random regular shinigami in Seretei.

"What? A human teenager broke into Seretei and has been kicking seated officers' asses left and right and is actually winning??"

"Sir, did that boy just, I don't know, FLY to get to Sokyoku and faced off against all vice captains and captains??"

"Did you just say he's been shinigami for mere months, and he's managed to use bankai? I've been shinigami for like 100 years and haven't even come close!"

"I'm sorry. Did you hear what he said while battling against Captain Kuchiki? He became THAT strong and gained bankai for HER sake???"

Just saying, think about what kind of stories must have spread throughout soul society at that time?

I don't care if y'all say they're just friends. After all THAT, some elaborate star-crossed lovers, "prince" rescuing the "princess" sort of fairy tale, would definitely have spread throughout soul society.

Also, consider Fade to Black events...

"Oh, that whole mess was because of someone obsessing over Kuchuki Rukia. AGAIN."

"Yeah, that human shinigami boy came rushing to her rescue, was even willing to go against the officers just to get to her, and was at the forefront of the battle against this entity threatening the entire Seretei, YET AGAIN. Why am I not surprised?"

...If anything, though, after SS arc, regular shinigamis would have probably started questioning how powerful the captains are if one unhinged teenager on a mission managed to best most of them. Just sayingggg.

[qourmet]

¿Rendezvous?

[nicoleanell]

I love you, Louis. Tell him I love him, Armand. I love you, Louis.

[neuvoid-writes]

Danmeitober 2024 Day 2 - Combat

Featuring Wei Wuxian! :D

Combat... Er... i'm sorry about the archery inaccuracy (believe me i'm screaming a bit inside too)

but its a quick sketch messy sketch and uh... pls enjoy? I really had fun with it!