#ibon oc: lira 'rook' ingellvar

[wanderingibon]

THE ROOK

[wanderingibon]

THE MOURNWATCHER ❇ though his gaze wanders idly, he remains vigilant— poised for action— lest any stray magic goes awry.

[wanderingibon]

spooky (fun-sized!) mournwatcher

[wanderingibon]

first draft / initial concept for my rook! (he/they), debating on a name still but I know for sure that they're a mournwatcher, mage, 30 or so, and have this aloof / intimidating aura which keeps others from approaching them- when in fact he's just awkward doesn't know how to hold conversations with others

[wanderingibon]

"Every Mourn Watcher must deal with grief in their own way. "

[wanderingibon]

have you ever seen a person so beautiful you started crying... thats my rook (lira ingellvar) to me

[wanderingibon]

5 and 10 for lira ^_^ i also wonder how they changed between being recruited by varric and the start of veilguard (because didnt a year pass…)

thanks so much for the ask!!!! (❁´◡`❁) and YEAHHHH i think it was at least six months before the start of the game! also forgive me for my rambling 😭i was born to yap... i fear....

spoilers for the mournwatchers / mournwatch origin / general datv things ahead!!!

5. What was life like for Rook before joining the Veilguard?

Raised from infancy within the halls of the Grand Necropolis under the Mournwatchers' care, Lira was fully expecting to live out his days within Nevarra. Their life's work, to what they are wholly devoted to, is tied with the undead city. Lira threw himself wholeheartedly into his magical research and duties ever since their magical abilities manifested at a young age. While most commended their work ethic and thought it was honorable, only his adoptive grandmother could spot that her adoptive child was a notorious workaholic as a way to be accepted by the others. As such, she'd often encourage Lira to rest and enjoy the moment when they could, though Lira often shrugged off her advice. When their grandmother passed, Lira was very overwhelmed with grief (but I assume the customs of the Mournwatch imply one should not be so affected by death, and instead accept it? So all in all Lira is torn up about it but can't show it). In typical Lira fashion, they end up bottling it all up and throwing themself back into work. Of course, this all culminates when Lira stirs things up within the undead Necropolis and is promptly urged to leave while things settle-- and very predictably Lira doesn't take to this well at all. The Grand Necropolis is all he's truly ever known, so Lira feels terribly out of his element (and more shaken than they'd admit) as a result. Though, when Varric comes along and gives Lira the sense of purpose and direction he's been desperate for, Lira is drawn to it like a moth to a flame and can't help but devote himself fully to the cause. It gives him something to do, but it's definitely not sustainable for them, because eventually all those bottled up emotions are going to come back to bite Lira sooner or later /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

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

Raised as a mage and scholar within the Mournwatch, Lira certainly does know of the history regarding all three!! Though of course, with this context in mind, it's through more of a scholarly lens and not from a personal one. Kind of hard to explain but initially Lira views each prominent figure's decisions with a way-too-logical lens, so they definitely eat their words when they, the leader of the Veilguard essentially, have to make difficult and impossible decisions, and then promptly have to live with the effects (and regrets) of those decisions. The pressure of having to save the world definitely begins to eat away at Lira alongside an unbearable loneliness that comes with it, so part of him wishes it wasn't up to him to have to save Thedas. (To Lira, certainly the Hero of Ferelden, the Champion of Kirkwall, or the Inquisitor would be better faced to handle this. They feel painfully inadequate. Not that they'd admit this, though. ) Coming face to face with the Inquisitor (in my canon, my elf-rogue Hiraya Lavellan (they/them) :>) makes all of these insecurities bubble up, so Lira probably ends up losing it at one point, asking Lavellan how the heck they manage to grapple with the weight of the world. Lira was born to be eccentric side character workaholic mage researcher, forced to become a mainline Dragon Age protagonist and have the fate of the world in their hands 😭

rook ask meme

[wanderingibon]

41 and 32 for your rook? :)

hey there!! thanks for the ask!!!! ヾ(^▽^*)))

What’s on their nightstand?

For Lira (my Mournwatcher) he’s ridiculously attached to his work and line of study so usually instead of proper rest he just moves whatever research or magical project he’s currently undergoing to the side of his bed. (Arcane tomes and/or magical artifacts stacked percariously high) Certainly not healthy😭 but eventually Davrin probably convinces him to adopt healthier habits (like actually getting rest)

How would a desire demon tempt your Rook?

Lira doesn’t care much for wealth or anything like that, so he’s notoriously impossible to tempt. Also considering he is about as open as a solid brick wall. (They’re also a Mournwatcher and mage, so he already knows what to look out for and what to avoid it.) (The closest thing to a vulnerability that any demon could possibly use is the pain around losing his adoptive grandmother (the only family he has), but he does not show this.) For a desire demon specifically I think the only way Lira would possibly be tempted is if there were, like, super ultra-rare lost arcane knowledge on the line. But even then... the chances of him falling for that are super slim 🧍‍♂️

rook ask meme

[wanderingibon]

still debating whether lira will romance neve or davrin grgrghgdjfhh.... LIRA HAS TWO HANDS!!!!