#it proceeds you like a black smoke pall [HEADCANON]

[dirthera-blog]

fighting aria is probably like the champion's gravetender fight in dark souls: if u can get past the wall of wolves, you're still going to get stabbed a lot with too little time to recover between hits.

[dirthera-blog]

Small Aria battle headcanons until I can do more research to make a big battle meta:

Stealth is the main game for her -- perhaps the most fitting skill for a hunter. She has a maxed out stealth skill, and is good for scouting ahead. It’s likely that she’ll disappear in the heat of battle, only to reappear on the other side of the battlefield to fight her way back to the party. She’s certainly motivated, if not a good team player at times.

She’s also quite a dirty fighter -- anything is fair game to a rogue. Traps are her favored tactic, but she also stuns enemies and tends to coat her blades in poison to weaken them further. Aria’s also the teammate who will use her surroundings to her best advantage, working her way to and utilizing ballistas, cornering opponents between a corner and her swords, even sending her Mabari to shepherd bad guys closer to the Pack. Nothing is fair. Everything is permitted.

Speaking of her ranger skills, that’s another environmental element she can use. Dog is sufficient to herd others towards local fauna she’s tracked, or even into the waiting jaws of her wolf familiars. Other times, she will unleash the pack and disappear in the chaos, only to strike from above in urban settings or stealth and trap her way into catching anyone who has the idea to run from her wolves.

This, of course, assumes her party is staring down a number of enemies. For only a few stragglers, or when stealth is absolutely necessary, Aria is all too happy to demonstrate why Sabrae is fabled for their archers. She doesn’t need to be fancy or clever with a bow in her hand, just draw and shoot like she has since she was a little girl.

[dirthera-blog]

I’m pretty sure the shock of learning what being a Grey Warden really is and all of its negative effects are exactly why Aria is upfront with her own potential recruits as a Commander. 

'The Wardens hide it because otherwise no one would volunteer.'

Good. Why is that considered a negative? Aria finds it absolutely disgusting that this organization force people to die for them, one way or another, by what she perceives as any deception or force necessary. It's barbaric. It's monstrous. She cannot bring herself to lie to someone else the way she feels lied to. Whatever mystique or secret other nation’s orders might enforce, Aria prefers to bring it all to light whenever someone comes to serve under her. It’s controversial but there’s more method to her alleged madness than simply spitting in the face of her own conscription and its fallout.

You cannot force someone to serve and expect their utmost obedience. You cannot really devote yourself a thing you do not choose. She would rather have those who understand the risks and stay loyal in spite of it to those who are only going to grow bitter and resentful like she became. She’s been trying to escape her position since the Blight kicked off -- and she knows that she’s the weak link for it. There don’t need to be any more of her within the Warden’s ranks. What they need is a united front with nothing to shake them.

Aria agreed to none of this -- and she certainly didn’t agree to obey any traditions or standards set by her seniors. She is not here to play into what is expected, she is here to fix whatever she perceives as broken to make the best of all of this bullshit she never asked for and got saddled with.

[dirthera-blog]

More Companion Verse Headcanons I’m Playing With:

Recruited in Haven, regardless of when the quest is undertaken. Has, according to comments made, been hunting the Warden for some time now. Is generally kind of odd and cryptic unless Nature of the Beast has been completed and the Dalish survive. There’s definite tension otherwise as she appears seemingly out of nowhere to help the party fight off some locals while being fairly off-kilter herself.

Seeking out her lost ... friend... Tamlen. Is willing to join the Warden’s quest to find him, as she heard of an elf matching his description amidst Darkspawn, though this was a while ago. Loyalty quest basically comes down to helping Aria find him and closure in the aftermath.

Starts off awkward and standoffish because she's never really experienced the world outside of her clan, but as things go on becomes fiercely attached to the party and loyal to the Warden depending on choices. Very much comes off as ‘has no idea how to socialize’ with those who are not Dalish, but learns through friendship with the Warden.

Approves of saving the Circle, ending the feud between the Werewolves and Dalish, putting Bhelen on the throne, and other acts of what she perceives as goodness or shrewdness. This balance between approval of ‘what is right’ and ‘what is clever’ means Wardens can usually keep her approval level even unless they go out of their way to be a cockbite -- agreeing to work with the slavers, telling the Werewolves to slaughter the clan, killing Connor, etc.

Doesn’t much care about the plot regarding the throne of Ferelden. Is pretty much in line with Sten like ‘why are we even bothering the Archdemon is in the OPPOSITE direction.’ Won’t care who ends up on the throne so long as she gets to go home afterwards. End-game offers to let the Warden come with her to find her clan, or alternatively will choose travel on with their friend.

Would be romancable for any warden except having to mercy kill her boyfriend or the Warden doing it for her leaves her very much disinterested in relationships for the foreseeable future.

[dirthera-blog]

if u think aria as companion doesn’t like sten best idk what to tell you. they’re both very confused about the majority of ferelden’s culture and don’t get why the group is not making a b-line for the archdemon. take them along as party members and watch aria try to make a bromance blossom.

[dirthera-blog]

small clan/family headcanons that have been bugging me but not enough for their own posts

Magic runs deeper in Aria’s line than just her father Nodyn -- his own mother was the daughter of another clan’s Keeper. The gift seems to always skip a generation.

Aria isn’t an only child by her people’s standards. After her biomother bolted, Aria was nursed by Fenael’s mother, making the two milk-siblings. In their culture, that’s as binding as blood kinship.

Ashalle isn’t just Aria’s chosen guardian. She was the mutual partner of Aria’s parents, and by rights became the guardian of their child as a sort of third parent. Their clan wasn’t especially fussed about polyamory, especially where certain bloodlines were concerned.

Also, Ashalle has the most embarrassing stories about baby Aria. She did not exactly have the makings of greatness. She once put a bucket on her head and ran headlong into the side of the aravel.

Free range Dalish babies. Kids who are largely left to their own devices once lessons and chores are done. Half of Aria’s resistance is just the standard trappings of running freely across the wilds without any adult supervision. You get tough. You get independent. You get a lot of knicks and bruises that really worry your mom.

[dirthera-blog]

no but if the writers are trying to convince us the Dalish sound Welsh then this is totally Aria’s voice claim. She starts off trying to sound more Ferelden around the start of Origins but as her number of fucks dips ever lower the more she drops the act and reverts to her natural accent. By the time of Inquisition she’s just pure ‘Welsh’ and flat outta fucks to give about how it sounds to ‘polite’ company.

[dirthera-blog]

i know my end game will always be Aria puts Alistair on the throne but I’ve been musing recently on Aria and Anora interactions and even verses where Aria supports her instead and just. 

Aria knowing a woman in power who does not make her want to tear her hair out. It does wonders for her blood pressure, especially given how she regards the like of later leaders by way of Celene and Elthina.

Mutual scowling at Orlesians. For entirely different reasons, sure, but at least someone else has reached that level of disdain.

Aria low-key adopting Anora’s dad as her mentor in a lot of ways. Loghain also came from nothing and ended up pretty well off in the hierarchy of things. Aria wants to learn from that and be inspired by it... certain incidents notwithstanding.

Never letting a certain queen forget about a certain imprisonment incident even as Aria becomes more comfortable around her. The more Anora tries to get her to drop it the more Aria brings it up.

Aria having to apologize on the way to kill the Archdemon for saying Anora looked 50. Even though she’s thirty. Actually you know there’s a lot to apologize for if this alliance is going to work.

Understanding that Anora is only doing what she can for the betterment of her people but also reminding her that the City Elves are her subjects too and how about you show them a little justice and mercy???? 

Two manipulators getting stuck in a room together and just doing their best to come out on top. In good fun. It’s all a game and the loser owes the winner something when all is said and done.

Aria continually not giving a shit about monarchies or human power structures meaning she’s a top choice to try and let Anora know if she ever fucks up. And she will let her know if she fucks up. Because she cares about her and this awful, awful country.

Aria being known as The Queen’s Hound for her armor and role in the battle of Denerim and you’re a fool to think that arrangement is not the stuff of lewd gossip. There are multiple smut stories written about the Queen and her loyal hound. Aria has yet to find the writers to shank them for comparing her to a dog beneath a shem.

[dirthera-blog]

Aria never gives away her birthday and has pretty much convinced her companions that the Dalish have communal birthdays. She’s a liar. She was born in the month of Solace and is a Leo.

[dirthera-blog]

hc + elvhen language

hc. ll accepting.

When Duncan said he would drag Aria kicking and screaming to Ostagar, the half-dead huntress simply hardened her eyes and recited a piece her people’s creed to him in icy Elvhen. Her place, her people, and her language were here – better to die free than to live in submission to this man’s people.It was a grand gesture, one that future Dalish generations will no doubt make into songs and tales. It will become an iconic use of the phrase ‘never again shall we submit.’

To Duncan, in that moment, staring down an apparent numbskull who was resisting actual life-saving care, it all meant nothing but ‘oh yes, mr. nice warden who is trying to save my life, please conscript me!’ It’s an incredibly misguided translation, but he stood by it.

[dirthera-blog]

not fun concepts that have been bugging me in my new playthrough

Aria meeting a Tranquil for the first time and being too horrified to speak because not only do humans do this, but they do it to their own. It’s so foreign to her own understanding of mages and how they are to be treated that she can do nothing but fight against the churning in her stomach and the wetness of her eyes. 

Aria having a terrible time in Orzammar and especially the Deep Roads because the last time she was in similar close quarters, it was the beginning of the end. She nearly died in that cave, because of that mirror, and stone above and around her makes her want to do nothing but run as far and as fast as she possibly can.

Aria realizing she’s been played by Flemeth and was too star-struck by meeting Asha’bellanar to realize how convenient Morrigan joining the fight against the Darkspawn was. Her respect blinded her to what was really going on until it was too late to do anything, and swearing never to let it happen again.

Aria entering an alienage for the first time and wondering how her people can be so cruel in how they regard the ‘flat-ears.’ This is not the life she was led to believe the City Elves had, willingly baring their necks to the shemlen and reaping some kind of rewards. There are animals who live better than this in Ferelden.

Aria looking at the state of the world, becoming angry and lashing out against those who made it that way. People taking this as a sign she came from a place of violence and that cuts her deep, that this Is what people infer of the clan that raised her because of her own actions. When she's good and humans like how she acts then she's the exception to elvhen standards. When she acts against their wishes or frightens them with her talk of revolution then she's just like every other Elf.

[dirthera-blog]

—    bold   all   physical   traits   that   apply   to   your   muse.

      tagged by: stolen from @andrasteschosen

      tagging: y’all

eyes (general):     large   /   small   /   narrow   /   sharp   /   squinty   /   round   /   wide-set   /   close-set   /   deep-set   /   sunken   /   bulging   /   protruding   /   wide   /   hooded   /   heavy-lidded   /   bright   /   sparkling   /   glittering   /   flecked   /   dull   /   bleary   /   rheumy   /   cloudy   /   red-rimmed   /   beady   /   bird-like   /   cat-like   /   jewel-like   /   steely   /   hard   /  long lashes   /   sweeping eyelashes   /   thick eyelashes

eyes (color):     chestnut   /   chocolate brown   /   cocoa brown   /   coffee brown   /   mocha   /   mahogany   /   sepia   /   sienna brown   /   mink brown   /   copper   /   amber   /   cognac   /   whiskey   /   brandy   /   honey   /    tawny   /   topaz   /   hazel   /   obsidian   /   onyx   /   coal   /   raven   /   midnight   /   sky blue   /   sunny blue   /   cornflower blue   /   steel blue   /   ice blue   /   arctic blue   /   glacial blue   /   crystal blue   /   cerulean   /   electric blue   /   azure   /   lake blue   /   aquamarine   /   turquoise   /   denim blue   /   slate blue / slate gray   /   storm blue / storm gray   /   silver   /   silver gray   /   chrome   /   platinum   /   pewter   /   smoky gray   /   ash gray   /   concrete gray   /   dove gray   /   shark gray   /   fog gray   /   gunmetal gray   /   olive   /   emerald   /   leaf green   /   moss green

eyebrows:     arched   /   straight   /   plucked   /   sparse   /   trim   /   dark   /   faint   /   thin   /   thick   /   unruly   /   bushy   /   heavy

skin (general):     lined   /   wrinkled   /   seamed   /   leathery   /   sagging   /   drooping   /   loose   /   clear   /   smooth   /   silken   /   satiny   /   dry   /   flaky   /   scaly   /   delicate   /   thin   /   translucent   /   luminescent   /   baby-soft   /   flawless   /   small pores   /   large pores   /   glowing   /   dewy   /   dull   /   velvety   /   fuzzy   /   rough   /   uneven   /   mottled   /   dimpled   /   doughy   /   firm   /   freckled   /   pimply   /   pockmarked   /   blemished   /   pitted   /  scarred   /   bruised   /   veined   /   scratched   /   sunburned   /   weather-beaten   /   raw   /   tattooed

skin (color):     amber   /   bronze   /   cinnamon   /   copper   /   dark brown   /   deep brown   /   ebony   /   honey   /   golden   /   pale   /   pallid   /   pasty   /   fair   /   light   /   cream   /   alabaster   /   ivory   /   bisque   /   milk   /   porcelain   /   chalky   /   sallow   /   olive   /   peach   /   rosy   /   ruddy   /   florid   /   russet   /   tawny   /   fawn

face structure:     square   /   round   /   oblong   /   oval   /   elongated   /   narrow   /   heart-shaped   /   cat-like   /   wolfish   /   high forehead   /   broad forehead   /   prominent brow ridge   /   protruding brow bone   /   sharp cheekbones   /   high cheekbones   /   angular cheekbones   /   hollow cheeks   /   square jaw   /   chiseled   /   sculpted   /   craggy   /   soft   /   jowly   /   jutting chin   /   pointed chin   /   weak chin   /   receding chin   /   double chin   /   cleft chin   /   dimple in chin   /   visible adam’s apple

nose:     snub   /   dainty   /   button   /   turned-up   /   long   /   broad   /   thin   /   straight   /   pointed   /   crooked   /   grecian   /   roman   /   bulbous   /   flared   /   hawk   /   strong

mouth/lips:   thin   /   narrow   /   full   /   lush   /   cupid’s bow   /   rosebud   /   dry   /   cracked   /   chapped   /   moist   /   glossy   /   straight teeth   /   crooked teeth   /   gap between teeth   /   gleaming white teeth   /   yellowed teeth   /   braces   /   overbite   /   underbite   /   dimples

facial hair:     clean-shaven   /   smooth-shaven   /   beard   /   neckbeard   /   goatee   /   moustache   /   sideburns   /   mutton-chop sideburns   /   stubble   /   a few days’ growth of beard   /   five o’ clock shadow

hair (general):     long   /   short   /   shoulder-length   /   loose   /   limp   /   dull   /   shiny   /   glossy   /   sleek   /   smooth   /   luminous   /   lustrous   /   spiky   /   stringy    /   shaggy   /   tangled   /   messy   /   tousled   /   windblown   /   unkempt   /   straggly   /   neatly combed   /   parted   /   slicked down   /   slicked back   /   cropped   /   clipped   /   buzzed   /   buzz cut   /  curly   /   bushy   /   frizzy   /   wavy   /   straight   /   lanky   /   dry   /   oily   /   greasy   /   layers   /   corkscrews   /   spirals   /   ringlets   /   braids   /   dreadlocks   /   widow’s peak   /   bald   /   shaved   /   comb-over   /  thick   /   luxuriant   /   voluminous   /   full   /   wild   /   untamed   /  bouncy   /   wispy   /   fine   /   thinning

hair (color):     black   /   blue-black   /   jet black   /   raven   /   ebony   /   inky black   /   midnight   /   sable   /   salt and pepper   /   silver   /   silver gray   /   charcoal gray   /   steel gray   /   white   /   snow-white   /   brown   /   brunette   /   chocolate brown   /   coffee brown   /   ash brown   /   brown sugar   /   nut brown   /   caramel   /   tawny brown   /   toffee brown   /   red   /   ginger   /   auburn   /   copper   /   strawberry blonde   /   butterscotch   /   honey   /   wheat   /   blonde   /   golden   /   sandy blond   /   flaxen   /   fair-haired   /   bleached   /   platinum

body type:     tall   /   average height   /   short   /   petite   /   tiny   /   compact   /   big   /   large   /   burly   /   beefy   /   bulky   /   brawny   /   barrel-chested   /   heavy   /   heavy-set   /   fat   /   overweight   /   obese   /   flabby   /   chunky   /   chubby   /   pudgy   /   pot-bellied   /   portly   /   thick   /   stout   /   lush   /   plush   /   full-figured   /   ample   /   rounded   /   voluptuous   /   curvy   /   hourglass   /   plump   /   leggy   /   long-legged   /   gangling   /   lanky   /   coltish   /   lissome   /   willowy   /   lithe   /   lean   /   slim   /   slender   /   trim   /   thin   /   skinny   /   emaciated   /   gaunt   /   bony   /   spare   /   solid   /   stocky   /   wiry   /   rangy   /   sinewy   /   stringy   /   ropy   /   sturdy   /   strapping   /   powerful   /   hulking   /   fit   /  athletic   /   toned   /   muscular   /   chiseled   /   taut   /   ripped   /   herculean   /   broad-shouldered   /   sloping shoulders   /   bowlegged

hands:     delicate   /   small   /   large   /   square   /   sturdy   /   strong   /   smooth   /   rough   /   calloused   /   elegant   /   plump   /   manicured   /   stubby fingers   /   long fingers   /   ragged nails   /   grimy fingernails   /   ink-stained

[dirthera-blog]

concept: Aria in the presence of Qunari, sitting passively as they converse among themselves. She is an outsider. They know that much, and she does nothing to dispel this belief until she has need to correct them. She is not bas -- she is basalit-an. And she doesn’t flinch even as present company scramble to figure out how much she understood and what all she’s gleaned from their conversation.

[dirthera-blog]

aria: is short, soft faced, a standard fantasy cutie also aria: fucking ripped as hell through the back and upper arms from years of archery; has a toned torso and legs from a lifetime of scouting and travel; generally far more built than her stature and soft features imply; has totally tried to carry off much bigger companions in the past.

[dirthera-blog]

DETAILED MUSE INFO SHEET. PLEASE REPOST, DON’T REBLOG!

PLACE IN SOCIETY

✖ FINANCIAL – wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty ✖ MEDICAL – fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged ✖ CLASS OR CASTE – upper / middle / working / slave / unsure ✖ EDUCATION – qualified / unqualified / always studying

FAMILY

✖ MARITAL STATUS – married, happily / married, unhappily / engaged /partnered / single / divorced / widow or widower / separated / it’s complicated / ( VERSE DEPENDENT ) ✖ CHILDREN – has a child / no children / wants children / adopted a child  / (VERSE DEPENDENT) ✖ FAMILY – close with sibling(s) / not close to sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) are deceased ✖ AFFILIATION – orphaned / adopted / disowned / raised by birth parent(s) / other

TRAITS & TENDENCIES

✖ disorganised / organised / in between ✖ close-minded / open-minded / in between ✖ cautious / reckless / in between ✖ patient / impatient / in between ✖ outspoken / reserved / in between ✖ leader / follower / in between ✖ empathetic / unempathetic / in between ✖ optimistic / pessimistic / in between ✖ hardworking / lazy / in between ✖ cultured / uncultured / in between ✖ loyal / disloyal / in between ✖ faithful / unfaithful / unknown

SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION

✖ SEXUALITY – heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual / demisexual ✖ SEX – sex repulsed / neutral / sex favourable ✖ ROMANCE – romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable ✖ SEXUALLY – sexually adventurous / sexually experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious / uninterested

ABILITIES

✖ COMBAT SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✖ LITERACY SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✖ ARTISTIC SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✖ TECHNICAL SKILLS – excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

TAGGED BY: @dracoserrulata (u have my thx.)

TAGGING: At this point I’m not sure who has and has not done this SO if you have not say I tagged you!!!

[dirthera-blog]

me and @silvertonguedgod have been talking and like.

I usually code Aria’s clan to reflect her FC’s Turkish heritage, so let me tell you now: Aria’s a fanatic for baklava. As a child she was disavowed from getting into ‘my mom’s baklava is better than your mom’s baklava’ battles with other kids because yes, Aria, Ashalle does make the best baklava, now fuck off, we’re seeing which of our moms does it best. Catch her years down the line in Skyhold’s kitchen covered in nut meal and sugar trying to replicate Ashalle's recipe. 'wut r u doing hero of ferelden' I'M GONNA CHANGE EVERYONE'S LIVES.