#it sucks!!!! but such is what it means to be a grey warden!!!!!

[hiddenbeks]

i've been thinking about what andrale and celyn are doing and whether they're even alive during veilguard and i think i've finally figured it out.. i don't think andrale would leave to seek a cure for the taint. she struggled against her fate for so long and was incredibly bitter about being conscripted but eventually made peace with it. she cheated death once thanks to morrigan but knows her days are numbered nevertheless and decides to value whatever time the ritual gave her. after the events of awakening she remains the warden-commander but since the blight is over she isn't needed on active duty. so she often leaves vigil's keep to travel or to stay with her clan or whatever but always comes back to ensure the wardens are well and to help train recruits and all that. leaving everyone and everything behind to go on an expedition in the far west searching for a cure that may or may not exist would go against all her development i think. when her calling comes she will go peacefully knowing she lived a meaningful life and made the most of what time she had :) i think she will be somewhat relieved as well. even though she learns to enjoy life again she will always carry the horrors of the blight with her and it will never be the same and she would never be the same even if she was cured. she is a warden and a warden's end is the only end for her!

celyn on the other hand. she is never satisfied she always wants more. she's very eager to join the wardens despite andrale's warnings that the joining could be fatal and that even if she survives being a warden is essentially a slow death. celyn is like yea whatever it beats going back to the circle so she chugs the darkspawn blood, survives, and joins the wardens. at some point andrale assigns celyn to assist avernus with his research and has her take over after avernus passes away. the reality of being a grey warden soon hits celyn and she reallyyyyy doesn't want to die an early death after finally getting out of the circle. so she pores over avernus' writings and figures out how to slow the decay of her body with blood magic the way he had. but it's not enough because even avernus succumbed to the taint eventally. and celyn doesn't want that for herself. where andrale is focused on what is celyn is more interested in what could be... and the taint could be cured maybe... so celyn is the one who decides to take things even further. she is determined to prolong her lifespan by any means and willing to risk everything for the chance to permanently cure the taint!!

[maxx-the-queer]

The Siege at Weisshaupt is honestly one of the best missions of any Dragon Age game, let alone Veilguard.

The stakes are already high: kill an Archdemon and then kill Ghilan'nain.

Killing an Archdemon - the big bad at the end of Origins whose very presence means apocalypse and certain sacrifice - is just the first step to killing an even greater force.

Ghilan'nain - an Ancient Elven Goddess blighted beyond recognition, whose unchecked ambition unleashed great horrors upon the world - is the real threat to face or else the Darkspawn Army will be the least of Thedas' worries.

The leader of the Grey Wardens, the only mortal force who have thus far been able to protect Thedas from utter annihilation, categorically refuses to face reality. Rook only has a ragtag team of half a dozen guys from all over to face an entire Darkspawn army with.

It's exactly as terrifying and daunting as it sounds, and neither task is something anyone treats with any amount of levity. Everyone is confident in their abilities to perform their task and get Lucanis to the right place to finish this contract, but there's no playfulness or divine certainty about their success.

Rook, whose only game plan is "get in and win by any means necessary," is then immediately confronted with the reality of their situation as absolutely everything goes wrong.

The Eluvian isn't where they thought it would be, the Grey Wardens are overwhelmed by Ghilan'nain's forces, and just to add to the sheer horror - there's a young child running through this battlefield of Darkspawn in search of her father and she will not listen to your pleas for her to get to safety.

All of that happens in the first ten minutes of the mission, mind you. This isn't even including the fact that Ghilan'nain appears as a damn spectral cloud face - which Lucanis rightfully points out is who he has to kill and "how am I supposed to kill a damn cloud?!"

Rook runs through the fortress, makes it to the East Battlements and hears the sounding of a horn begging for reinforcements, only to realise that they're the only ones coming and everything is falling apart, but they have no choice but to keep going.

Retreats are called, everywhere Rook goes is the wrong way, the forces are overwhelming beyond measure, and this battle is no longer about killing but surviving, because they're cornered like prey by horrors beyond comprehension.

When all of a sudden, the world's bravest little girl rushes in like a hero and guides them through impossible odds to somewhere with some semblance of safety. She's the only reason they haven't succumbed to death already and despite the waves upon waves of Hurlocks, Spikers, and Ogres - she finds her father.

Thanks to Mila, there's a moment of reprieve. Rook gets a chance to breathe. The Veilguard regroups, replans their approach. Distract Ghilan'nain with the dagger, trap her Archdemon in a dragon trap, and kill it to render her mortal. With time to breathe comes time to doubt, to fear.

A Warden has to die to kill the Archdemon. Davrin knows this, and is ready to go. But is Rook? What if they can't do this? What if this is how they die? Can they even spare the time to think about it?

Regardless, they fight through to the dragon trap. The Archdemon approaches as Rook all but dangles the dagger within reach. She takes the bait and sends her Archdemon forth, it seems all too easy - like putting cheese out for the mice.

The Archdemon is trapped. Davrin says his goodbyes, but the First Warden surges forward insistently. He plans to end this according to tradition. He'll die with dignity, he's not asking for your permission to do what all wardens must. He steps forward. Sword in hand, ready to end the Blight.

Ghilan'nain will not be so easily beat. She will not play by the rules they're used to, and the First Warden does not get to die a hero. She seizes him in her grasp, sucks the life out of him to empower Razikale, and changes the game once more. Her Archdemon is unlike any seen in history, and there's no time to revel in it because it's do or die and Rook cannot afford to die yet.

Every blow brings it closer to death, and therefore Ghilan'nain herself as she becomes more and more desperate. One snakelike head becomes two, becomes three, with blight everywhere - the time is at hand.

Davrin is the only one left who can kill the Archdemon, his death is inevitable, and he's ready to go as he sinks his sword in for the final blow.

Except, if there's one thing this seige should have taught them all, it was this: the rules have changed. Davrin is still standing, and he doesn't have time to think about why, because Ghilan'nain is mortal and the time to strike is now.

Rook tosses the Lyrium Dagger to Lucanis. He surges up, wings of Spite propelling him up to kill a goddess like she's any other target, because it's all that he came here to do.

And then, he misses.

With everything at stake, and everything to lose... Lucanis Dellamorte misses.

They don't have time to try again. If they stay, everyone dies. And so, the Veilguard flees through the Eluvian and back into the Lighthouse. It was a victory, but at what cost?

Nothing is how it's supposed to be. Weisshaupt is fallen. The Wardens are scattered. Razikale is dead, Ghilan'nain is mortal. And yet...

It wasn't enough.

[emmg]

I want Blackwall, against all logic, fate, and the general laws of sanity, to become Solas's unexpected bestie in Veilguard—like some twisted, medieval version of a buddy-cop drama where one’s a guilt-ridden ex-wannabe-warden and the other’s an elven god with a messiah complex. Because lying liars gotta stick together.

Blackwall: “Now, what was he supposed to do? Just waltz into the Inquisition camp and be like, ‘Hey guys, fun fact: I’m an elven god, also sorry about that whole ‘end of the world’ plan in the works.’ Yeah, sure, that’d go over well.”

Solas: nodding sagely “Exactly.”

Blackwall: “I mean, think about it—he’s got centuries of baggage. That’s a lot to unpack. It’s not like he could have just put it in his Tinder bio. ‘Likes long walks in the Fade, dismantling the Veil, and reclaiming lost elven glory.’ No one’s swiping right on that.”

Solas: frowning thoughtfully “It’s been a lonely existence.”

Blackwall: “See? Exactly. He’s lonely. Who hasn’t thought about ripping apart reality when they’re having a bad day? People are so quick to judge, but they don’t know the context.”

Solas: tragic sigh “The weight of leadership is often misunderstood.”

Blackwall: “Right? It’s like me with the Grey Wardens—except, y’know, with fewer existential threats to the universe and slightly less divine ego. But still, I get it. You don’t just walk up and say, ‘Hey, I might have kinda sorta lied about everything. Also, I’m basically the reason your world sucks now. My bad.’ That’s social suicide. I mean, you’d never get invited to another tavern crawl. Ever.”

Solas: nodding gravely “Precisely. That, and... I am not one to ‘buy rounds.’”

Blackwall: “See, that’s the real issue here. It’s not that Solas wanted to tear down the Veil—no, no. It’s that the man can’t even be bothered to cover a single round at the bar. That’s the true crime. And, well, I guess he has no money.”

Solas: solemnly “I have no need for such trivialities.”

Blackwall: “Of course not, because you’re a god, right? But try explaining that to your drinking buddies. ‘Oh no, I’m too divine to pay for ale,’ like that’s going to fly. Honestly, Solas, this whole end-of-the-world thing? Just bad PR. You should’ve led with the ‘I’m mysterious, brooding, and burdened with ancient knowledge’ angle. Chicks dig that.”

[mythals-whore]

WIP Wednesday Thursday

WIP Wednesday ismy favorite day of the week, was super sad i didnmt have anything yesterday so happy WIP Thursday instead(:

Thank you for the tags @cute-ellyna @flowersforthemachines (((:

“We were already going to do that.” Rook retorts, not sharply but with finality.  “We cannot just walk in there without a plan—” Lucanis insists. “We have a plan.” Rook cuts him off. Her raised eyebrows and pointed gaze a reminder that she is the leader. That they agreed to follow her. “Only now,” she sucks in a breath through her nose. “Now we split into two teams. The one the gods can see…and the other they can’t.” her eyes scan the faces around the table like she’s searching for dissent. Or maybe a better idea. No one presents any. “I’ve dealt with Antaam before. There’s no better distraction than destroying their Gaatlok. It’ll cripple them, force them to fight close quarters.” her mouth curves bitterly and Davrin thinks of that scar on her back, the story behind it. This must all feel so familiar to her. “I know what I’m asking you to do” Her lungs fill and she raises her eyes to all of them again, scanning each face around the table. “I should lead the distraction team.” Davrin says, and those green eyes cut sharply to him. He doesn’t balk. “There will be Blight. I can sense it, make sure—” “But darkspawn can sense you, too.” Harding points out, and the two of them lock eyes, and Harding seems to decide something in the moment before she turns to Rook, “I’m the scout. I should lead the distraction team. I can stir up more than enough trouble.” Taash’s eyes go wide, jaw flexing, “Lace, hold on—” Harding lays a gentle hand on their arm, “Someone has to do this Taash.” “And it should be me,” Davrin argues. He’s the Grey Warden, and he’s ready to do what needs to be done. It’s not what he wants exactly. But the taint in his blood means he’ll be the first to die anyway. Given the chance to risk his life for his friends, he’ll do it unflinching. Davrin turns toward Rook, surprised to find her eyes on him, brow furrowed and lips pressed together.  But he knows she’s not going to argue, ask him not to. Because she’s Rook, and she knows what he knows. If they fail, nothing matters. If they miss this chance, they don’t get another. Soldiers, the two of them. They know loss and sacrifice and duty.  “I need to think.” she says at last, turning back to the table,  everything laid out on it and waves a dismissive hand. “The rest of you…get some rest.”  Davrin feels the glances passed around the table. He doesn’t take his eyes off Rook even though looking at her is quickly becoming unbearable.  “Rook—” Neve protests. “We’ve got a few hours. Rest up, I need you at your best.” she orders, brooking no argument. “We leave at first light.”

and I am tagging @thedissonantverses @basedonconjecture @bg3daydream and anyone else who didn't post yesterday but would like to (:

[arrenkae]

The main problem with not importing previous choices into Veilguard is not even having no references specifically to our characters - it sucks, but I can deal with that. Technically, yes, it is perfectly plausible that they don't get brought up. It's been many years. Varric already told Rook everything about Hawke. Morrigan is a private person. That's fine. Leave their eventual fate to our headcanons.

The main problem is all the other events, *important* events that now can't be brought up and have to be side stepped around because there are too many variables that could be potentially changed by our choices. We are having a mega-blight! What could be a better time than to bring up the history of the fifth blight and how it ended? Just a few lines. Mention our Warden's origin, tell us how the history remembers them now. Honestly, this alone would be enough to make any Origins fan tear up a bit.

But nooope. We can't do that. Not when we don't even know the Warden's race, gender, whether they survived the archdemon or not. Come to think of it, wouldn't it be a BIG FUCKING DEAL if our Warden survived killing the archdemon? This story is recent and well-known enough, especially among the Grey Wardens. We are fighthing archdemons now. Morrigan WAS THERE. Surely SOMEONE would remember this and think about bringing this up? Right??

And we had so many characters "heading to Weisshaupt" in Inquisition and then... nothing. Yes, at this point both Loghain and Alistair could plausibly be dead already. But this means they didn't even have to bring them back! Just show us a small memorial as we're running through Weisshaupt. Give us a couple of lines about them being there. Show us our Warden's grave if they died against the archdemon. I saw so many people getting emotional over seeing the chalice from Ostagar - can you imagine how much of an impact *this* would make?

...tbh, I am fully convinced that SOMETHING happened in the development cycle that made importing more choices impossible, and then bioware had to work around that. I don't think that it was a deliberate writing choice, despite the weird excuses we saw from the writers. This created a lot more problems than it solved.

[bubblecat-co]

Kissing Roulette Pt.1

I'm no artist but I am an ok writer so Here I am using a list of prompts typically used for artist but writing them out because why not. I wanna make rooks kiss.

Full list of prompts here and if you want to make our rooks kiss (Aria or Elysia) or read them kissing their Li you can comment here or send an ask!

I'm trying to do them in somewhat number order.

8. A Platonic Kiss with Aria and Jerran Thorne (@teamtakagi)

I hope this does Jerran justice and thank you for allowing me to borrow him for a moment 🙏

An outing was something they needed or at least something Aria believed Jerran needed. She dragged the grey warden to one of her favorite taverns in Treviso. One that she could slip in unnoticed but had been there so often that the barkeeps knew her but would turn the other way when needed–they did for any crow. 

“A bar? Now we're talking.” Jerran smiled as they entered “I don't have to be worried about a contract out on me, right?”

Aria let out a laugh as she walked through the crowded tavern passing by groups of people already drunk off their asses and some passed out “with me? No.” she waltzed up to the bar, the keep flashing her a small smile.

“Ah, good to see You miss.” He glanced over at the taller elf standing just off to the side of her, his eyebrows raising “and a friend?”

“Yes, give us some of your hardest liquor.” She pulled out a couple of gold and placed it on the bar. The keep gingerly took it before producing two cups and pulling out a bottle that had a liquid of a dark brown complexion. She watched as he poured some into both cups and pushed them forward. “Thank you, Senor.” 

“How often do you come here?” Jerran picked up his cup and stared down at the contents of it, nothing could be worse than the arch demon blood he had to drink.

“Recently? Not very often. Before, I would come down at least once a week.” She lifted her cup up towards him “cheers to us and not dying yet.” They clicked their cups before Aria took a swig of her drink. The warm liquid slipped into her mouth, tasting nothing but pure alcohol. She watched Jerran, his eyes starting to water as he grimaced and swallowed down the hard liquor. A chuckle escaped from Aria, not one she meant to let out, but it did all the same. 

“Andraste tits.” he cursed out, holding his cup out. He let out a series of coughs. “Is it poisoned? That would be an interesting way to go out.” He gave her a forced smile as another cough escaped him.

“If it was poison, I would know.” She lifted the cup to her lips, her eyes scanning the tavern. From watching Jerran he needed a moment to relax, a small respite away from what does he call them Ghili’nug and Elder'rug? The names always seemed to switch up with him but he never would say their names, Aria could respect the commitment to come up with new names every time. 

The tavern was as lively as it could possibly be on a Thursday Evening especially with the Antam occupation. Her eyes caught Sight of a group of girls, all around the same age and attractive. From even a second of watching them she knew they were close friends and then she saw one of the girl’s eyes glance to Jerran where it stayed before she moved away. Bingo. Now she just would have to push Jerran to use those lessons in charm. 

An idea shot through her head. “How about a bet?” She turned to him; his face was still red from the coughing fit. She placed down her cup on the bar.

“A bet?” A smile grew on his face. “What kind of bet? Who can drink the fastest?”

“No no.” She shook her head and leaned Forward, her face getting closer to his “a simple one. who can get a kiss from one of those girls.” nudging her head she watched Jerran's gaze.

“The ones in the group?” she nodded her head in response “what sort of kiss? I don't think you mean full sucking faces… you don't mean sucking faces, do you?”

Aria chuckled as she placed her hand on his shoulder “My friend. Just a simple kiss. Lips meeting lips. Like so.” She pulled him in and brought her lips to his, placing a gentle kiss before she backed away “See simple, no more no less.” her hand reached for her cup as she prepared to take another sip.

Jerran’s eyes were wide as he watched her take a drink. “How do you make it seem so easy?” 

A smile spread on her lips “Well, I have kissed many people. Friends and lovers alike. You must have no emotion behind it. It’s not special unless you make it so.” she shrugged “It’s just flesh meeting flesh. So, let’s say twenty gold for whoever can kiss one of them first? I’ll even give you a head start to woo them.”

His eyes trailed back over to the group of girls “Deal. You better have that gold ready.” He took a quick swig of his drink, trying his best to hide his grimace and swallow. This time he did not explode into a coughing fit, he was learning which was a good sign to Aria. His cup hit the counter with a clunk before he stood up and strolled over to the table of girls. 

Now Aria just had to sit and wait, praying to the maker that no snarky comments slithered out of any of their mouths because as good as she tried to teach him some things couldn’t be helped.

[datvtranscripts]

A Warden’s Best Friend Pt. 1

Warden Contacts

Davrin Masterpost

Signs and Portents Masterpost Previous: A Familiar Dagger

After traveling through the eluvians, Rook and Harding walk through some desert canyons in the Anderfels.

Harding: Wardens Evka and Antoine answered our letter. They're willing to talk.

Rook: In the middle of nowhere?

Harding: Where the First Warden won't notice. But if they don't listen…

(Explosion)

Rook and Harding rush ahead to the source of the explosion, where there is a dead darkspawn and a pair of Wardens standing over it.

Evka: Ah. Your distraction worked. Could have set it when we were farther away.

Antoine: Désolé. I didn't say it was a good plan.

Rook and Harding approach.

Antoine: Ah! You made it!

Origin dependent dialogue:

Grey Warden Rook [1]

Non-Grey Warden Rook [2]

1 - Grey Warden Rook → As a Grey Warden, you’re friends with fellow Wardens Evka and Antoine.

Rook: Antoine. Evka. It's been a while.

Antoine: Yes! And Harding, it's good to see you again.

Evka: I hear you've been causing problems.

Dialogue options:

Affable: That won’t bother you. [3]

Sarcastic: The First Warden exaggerates. [4]

Stoic: I’ve been solving them. [5]

Sad: And I need your help. [6]

3 - Affable: That won’t bother you. Rook: And you two haven't? Evka: We don't make problems. Antoine: We just fall into them. Evka: What's the latest? [7]

4 - Sarcastic: The First Warden exaggerates. Rook: I'm trying to stop it. Not my fault the First Warden has a stick up his— Evka: And you wonder why he doesn't like you. Antoine: He barely likes us. What's going on? [7]

5 - Stoic: I’ve been solving them. Rook: More like solving them. Rubs people the wrong way. Evka: So what's the latest? [7]

6 - Sad: And I need your help. Rook: Solas, the ritual… ever since I left, it's all gone wrong. Antoine: Then we'll fix it. Rook: Or die trying? Evka: That's the deal. What happened? [7]

7 - Scene continues.

Rook: It's the elven gods. They're real and they're changing the blight. Darkspawn too. You must've heard of D'Meta's Crossing. The blight there was unlike anything I've seen. And it hit too fast. Whatever comes next, it's bad.

Antoine: A change? Manipulation could explain it. We've been looking into oddities with the blight ourselves and… it's altered. I can feel it.

Rook: Then you believe me?

Evka: You're a lot of things, Rook—and a good Warden's one of them. You wouldn't lie about this.

Dialogue options:

Affable: That means a lot. [8]

Sarcastic: You two are my favorites. [9]

Stoic: Then what’s next? [10]

8 - Affable: That means a lot. Rook: Thanks, I… just thanks. Antoine: We're with you. Now, let's see what we can do. [11]

9 - Sarcastic: You two are my favorites. Rook: I'd lie about a lot of other things, but… thanks. You're the best. Evka: (Chuckles) You've got our help. No need to suck up. Antoine: I'll take the compliment. Harding: So what now? [11]

10 - Stoic: Then what’s next? Rook: All right. Good. So what do we do? Antoine: We make a plan. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

Evka: If the blight's changed, we need our Order. The First Warden likes us more than you, but that's not saying much.

Antoine: If he thinks what happened to that village was an aberration… A further hunch from Evka and myself won't win him over.

Rook: We need more proof.

Evka: If the darkspawn are changing, Davrin might help. Even among Wardens he's known as a monster hunter. He got pulled on a mission. Not sure what, but it's farther into the mountains. We can get you a rough location.

Antoine: I married someone with good advice. You find Davrin, and we'll keep after the blight.

Dialogue options:

Affable: Sounds like a plan. [12]

Sarcastic: This is great! [13]

Stoic: No time to waste. [14]

12 - Affable: Sounds like a plan. Rook: Got it. Stay safe. Antoine: You too. Evka: We'll see you soon. +Harding Approves Scene ends.

13 - Sarcastic: This is great! Rook: Three Wardens. It's more than we had yesterday. Antoine: The best three for chasing the unusual. And soon four if you find Davrin. Evka: Let's make it happen. We'll see you soon. +Harding Approves Scene ends.

14 - Stoic: No time to waste. Rook: Then let's get moving. Nothing gets better while we stand here. Antoine: (Laughs) Then let's make things better. Evka: We'll send word if we find something. +Harding Approves Scene ends.

2 - Non-Grey Warden Rook Antoine: Harding. We meet again.

Harding: Antoine! Evka! You look well.

Evka: And you must be Rook. Heard some colorful things about you.

Dialogue options:

Affable: Thanks for showing up. [15]

Sarcastic: I’m not surprised. [16]

Stoic: All true. [17]

15 - Affable: Thanks for showing up. Rook: I know. But you showed up anyway. Antoine: Well, your letter was… desperate. Rook: Uh, Harding? Harding: What? Aren't we desperate? Evka: Let's hear what you've got to say. [18]

16 - Sarcastic: I’m not surprised. Rook: Yeah. I get that a lot. Evka: I can imagine. Antoine: What have you come to talk about? [18]

17 - Stoic: All true. Rook: And they're all true. Evka: And you want what from us? [18]

18 - Scene continues.

Harding: The elven gods are changing the blight. Darkspawn too. There was a village. D'Meta's Crossing. They overran it with the blight in a snap. We saw the aftermath.

Rook: Whatever they're planning, it's bad. And if it involves the blight, we need Warden help.

Antoine: A change? Manipulation. That could explain… but… (Frustrated sigh)

Rook: You believe me?

Antoine: That the elven gods are here and… It's a lot to accept. But we've been looking into oddities with the blight ourselves. It's… altered. I can feel it. And your story…

Evka: A lot lines up.

Dialogue options:

Affable: Please. We want to help. [19]

Sarcastic: You’ve got to trust Harding. [20]

Stoic: Then do something about it. [21]

19 - Affable: Please. We want to help. Rook: Whatever you've heard from the First Warden, we're trying to help. Evka: Yeah. We're getting that. [22]

20 - Sarcastic: You’ve got to trust Harding. Rook: Exactly. Besides, even if you doubt me—you know Harding wouldn't lie. Harding: That's not a reason to—I mean, I'm not lying. We're not lying. Evka: We know. The question is what to do next. [22]

21 - Stoic: Then do something about it. Rook: Then make the rest of the Wardens see it. The world won't wait for your stubborn boss. Evka: (Laughs) Some of the rumors about you were true. [22]

22 - Scene continues.

Antoine: If the First Warden believes that village was an aberration, or that it did not happen as you say…

Evka: We're not exactly the First Warden's favorites. Your word and our theories won't win the whole Order.

Harding: So what do we do?

Evka: If the darkspawn are changing, Davrin might help. Even among Wardens he's known as a monster hunter. He got pulled on a mission. Not sure what, but it's farther into the mountains. We can get you a rough location.

Antoine: I married someone with good advice. You find Davrin, and we'll keep after the blight.

Dialogue options:

Affable: I appreciate this. [23]

Sarcastic: You won’t regret this! [24]

Stoic: This Davrin better be good. [25]

23 - Affable: I appreciate this. Rook: Thank you. Both of you. Evka: You can thank us if this works out. Antoine: Travel safely. We'll be in touch. +Harding Approves Scene ends.

24 - Sarcastic: You won’t regret this! Rook: I can do that. And you won't regret helping us. Antoine: (Laughs) Bonne chance, Rook. Evka: We'll be in touch. +Harding Approves Scene ends.

25 - Stoic: This Davrin better be good. Rook: Fine. But this Davrin better believe us. Antoine: We wouldn't send you up a mountain for someone who won't listen. Evka: We should get moving ourselves. We'll be in touch. +Harding Approves Scene ends.

Next: Monster Hunter

[knightposting]

Thoughts on Veilguard. Spoilers abound.

THINGS I DID NOT LIKE:

-Very little flexibility in how you play Rook. Rook is always just... nice. Not even good, just. Nice. Very little spice opportunity and the only way you can play them is "group therapist".

-I could complain about lore butchering, but people who are way more articulate and care more about Dragon Age lore can put it much better than I can. I'm not even trying to be mean, I just haven't been keeping up in the ten years since Inquisition. It did suck tho

-Honestly the lore butchering takes second place to the fact that I can't even DISAGREE with the shit going on. This will just tie in to my first point but like, maybe it would be nice to point out that "sexy leather clad rooftop assassins" isn't even that good of an alternative to having a military.

-The Venatori and Ataam are boring as hell antagonists without good motives. Also I hate the focus on the Venatori when the real problem should be Tevinter itself.

-The combat, while fun, is held back by both a skill tree bloated with near meaningless passives on the way to abilities you actually care about, and repetitive, spongy encounters. If you've fought one dragon, you've fought them all. If you've fought one mage/warrior/rogue boss, you've fought them all.

-I'm still mad about how smooth Qunari are now. What the fuck.

THINGS I DID LIKE:

-They COOKED with the Mourn Watch, the Grey Wardens, and those two faction's respective companions. I always had a good time with Davrin (which makes one of my ending choices really sting. I'm sorry homeboy, but it was you or my Love Interest) and Emmerich, and the Necropolis and Lavendel missions were consistently my favorite sidequests.

-I loved fighting for my life in Weisshaupt.

-The ending was sick as hell. I did every sidequest I could but still forsook the golden ending because the concept of outfoxing THE ELVEN GOD OF LIES was too good to pass up. Sorry Mythal, but thanks for the runes and making that one lvl 50 dragon fight easier.

THINGS I'M CONFLICTED ABOUT/JUST THINK ARE ALRIGHT

-I didn't care that much about Bellara in comparison to the other companions. I think a combination of already being tired of the game by time her personal quests showed up+finding her "maybe the other races are right to distrust us 🥺" schtick weird and annoying left a bad taste in my mouth, or maybe I'm just being unfair. idk.

-I love Harding, but her and the Kal Sharok dwarves needed more time to cook.

-I don't care that they made the Lords Of Fortune "too nice". I just don't. They're fine as is, just woefully irrelevant even in their own designated zone.

[secret-smut-sideblog]

The Mockingbird

Lavellan x Blackwall

PG-13 - morning after contraception, betrayal, (medical) shock, terror, animal abuse, child death, violence, out of body experience, eye trauma, seizure, catatonic state, loss of vision

Chasing after the trail of her runaway love, Vella is forced to see his crimes firsthand...

Masterlist, Prev Chapter

-

Vella trotted down to the gardens. Head swimming with anxiety.

She didn't have time for this, but it wasn't optional.

"Ah, there you are." Morrigan appraised her.

"I'm sorry, we can't have a full chat yet. I need a favor."

"Oh?"

"Could you make me a witherstalk potion? Quickly?"

"I could..." She tilted her head at Vella. "But, you're bedding the Grey Warden...?"

Vella stared at her. Lost to the question.

"Did he... insinuate that you needed it?"

"Yes, why? Wait, what am I missing?"

"A Warden of his years shouldn't be able to sire children. I can still make that potion, if it gives you peace of mind."

"Yes, please." Vella sighed. "Maybe it's silly, but..."

"Oh, I understand. Does one no good to take chances." Morrigan beckoned her forward.

-

"This Mornay, any of us know him? Or of him?" Bull offered.

"Nah, but Beardy clearly does. Hope he's alright."

"Sera, you get softer by the day." Dorian praised. "But I have heard of Rainier. Mean figure he's alleged to cut, that one."

"Wait, so have I." Vella recalled, nearly pausing the fast clip of her stride. The chatter of Val Royeaux echoed in front of them. "A note, what feels like forever ago, in the Exalted Plains. He was a captain, if I recall correctly?"

"Orlesian army, yes. Let's hope he's not involved."

They moved into the crowd at the gallows. Vella searched but saw no sign of him in those gathered.

Anxiety hot in her belly. Unable to stop thinking of his note.

There is little I can say that will ease this pain. Just know that while it hurt to leave, it would've hurt more if I stayed. I will always love you, dove. I am deeply sorry.

As the bailiff read off the crimes and punishment, Vella stared at the man with a noose laced around his throat. The fight completely gone from him. Accepting his fate with a mournful stare. Not even giving last words, lost to the certainty of death.

Vella sucked in a breath, preparing to watch a man die.

"Stop!"

Blackwall stormed on the gallows, commanding in his thundering voice. Proclaiming the man's innocence, challenging the conviction.

"Oh, what have you gotten yourself into, big man?" Bull sighed.

Vella stared up at him. Fear tight in her gut.

"Then find me the man who gave the order." The bailiff stepped forward, staring him down.

Blackwall's silence fell like freezing rain as he turned to the crowd.

"No..." Vella breathed as her stomach dropped through the earth. "Blackwall!"

His eyes found hers. Shock, fear, then cold conviction. All warmth lost.

"No, I am not Blackwall. I never was Blackwall."

Her ears rang with fast blood.

And still he confessed. That he had ordered the massacre. That he had been hiding behind a dead man's likeness. That he had been living a lie.

"I gave the order. The crime is mine. I am Thom Rainier."

Her blood ran ice.

His eyes stayed steady on her, even as the executioner and bailiff drew forward. Only breaking from her stare as he stalked away towards the prison.

Vella nearly fell to knees.

The world slid away beneath her.

A landslide ripped it all from under her feet.

"Vella...?" Dorian's eyes took up her shaky vision.

"I don't..." She breathed. Raising her hand to stare at the tremoring limb. The cold of shock left her mind sluggish. "I..."

"Bull?"

"Here, boss. Lean on me."

His large hand took up behind her shoulder, sliding her close. Vella turned her face into him, trembling uncontrolled. Letting his arms envelop her for a warm moment. Pulling away a little less delirious.

"I need to see him." She shuddered.

"Let's go, then." Sera nodded. Her voice thick behind the knot in her throat. "You better give whatever-his-name-is a piece of your mind. Shit ass."

-

Vella descended down the stairs. Her footstep silent, wearing the boots he made her.

How?

Passing cages of iron. Reality bending around her. The question circling her like a hungry hound.

How?

After all this time. He was one of them.

How?

The home of him had flooded. A place she felt such warmth she now drowned in cold waters.

When she saw him slouched in a cell, she froze. He stayed doubled over on his forearms. Refusing her.

They stood on a razor edged silence.

"I don't understand." Her heart rabbited against her chest. "I can't..."

He kept his eyes to the ground.

She came to kneel at the bars, searching his face. Searching for him.

There must be something.

"Please, get up." He growled.

Her eyes stayed on him. Seeking a change. Anything. Anything to prove that he was a different man. Desperate to separate the man she knew from the one sat before her.

"It can't be true. I would've seen it. I would've..."

Shock filled her limbs again.

Memory flooded her. All of his evasion. All of the vague responses.

It was right there. He was her blindspot.

How could she be blind to him?

"It is." His eyes finally met hers. Glaring ice into her. Standing and charging towards the bars. Shouting with the full of his chest. "This is what I am! You aren't supposed to be here! Leave!"

She backpedaled from the bars. Falling back onto her palm. An angry man bearing down on her again.

An old fear woven inside of her shock.

No, not shock.

A hand made of lightning grasped the base of her skull. Forcing her eyes wide open. Risen high onto knees.

A song of Mockingbird. A dog strung up by the throat. A mother's arm shielding. The slam of an axe into wood. The scream of a dog. The scream of a child. Her own scream, far away. Far under her.

Her voice begging. A father begging. Begging for them to stop. For it to stop. His hand reaches for a blade. Her hand. Someone shouts for her. For them to run. Seeing her hand underneath her. Don't they understand? The dog won't stop kicking. The child begs to not see.

Her hand fights her as it lifts the blade. The father's blade is kicked away. And still the child screams. Horses panicked. Trying to break loose. She forces her hand up. Eyes wide open but not seeing the blade. Someone is shouting again. Someone so familiar. It won't stop.

"Please, make it stop." She breathes. Blood trickles from her nose. Blood dark on the snow. Blood scratched into fence. A deep sting scratches under her eye.

"Vella, NO!"

Someone grabs her wrist. Knocking the blade from her hand. Chestnut eyes fill her vision.

Her mind comes to it's boiling point. Fever sends her eyes up into her skull. Feeling the first tremors wracking her body as it all goes dark.

-

"She was trying to blind herself."

Cullen's shaken voice.

She spins inside her body. A hand presses a cool rag to her forehead.

"You did well to arrive when you did." Solas' calm voice.

"Please, don't leave her alone." Cullen urged. His hand comes to her chest. Pressing a warm palm. "She... she helped me. When I was weak. I can't... I'll kill him, I swear..."

"We shall tend her." Morrigan's voice reassures.

Cullen's warm palm stays. She reaches for it. A tether. It pulls away again.

"Where are you?" Solas whispers in her ear.

"Apostate, keep reaching for her. She may find her way back."

A cool hand cups her cheek. She tries to focus. Forcing the touch to a narrow point. A rope she follows.

"Yes." Solas speaks in her tongue. "You are right here. Can you find me?"

She follows it up. Filling into her limbs again.

Her hand reaches out for him. Meeting the curve of his fingers. Her eyes slowly focus.

"Lethallin...?" She croaked. Solas' eyes creased with a smile.

"Welcome back."

She blinked at the low candlelight. Vision obstructed over an eye.

"What...?" She rose on an elbow. Gingerly touching the bandage.

"Gentle. You gave yourself a deep gouge." Solas led her fingers away.

"Quite a scare you've given." Morrigan sat on her opposite bedside.

"Yes. We were all concerned. You had been lost all night." Solas cupped her hand in her lap.

"Blackwall!" She gasped, sitting up sharply. Immediately dizzy.

"Careful. Rainier is safe." Solas assured.

"Rainier..." Her heart deflated in her chest. "Oh..."

"Josephine has sent for him. You were calling for him in your sleep, well, for Blackwall. Bear. He's being transferred to the Skyhold cells."

Awful memory returned to her. A throb of numb in her chest. Rising her palm to it.

And, just like that, she was empty.

Din. One who isn't.

All empty.

All shattered.

Cutting into her with every breath.

No tears came. No screaming or wailing or begging. Just the dull throb of utter absence.

"I will tell the others you've woken." Solas patted her hand and retreated from the room.

She sat silent for a long moment.

"Morrigan?"

"Yes?"

"Could you help me?"

Morrigan leaned her head inquisitive. Waving for her to continue.

"I don't want to see anymore. Is there a way to blind me?"

Morrigan turned fully on the bed toward her.

"Literally? Yes, that is very easy done. But I imagine you mean your sight beyond?"

She nodded.

"I've had enough. I don't want to see again. I can't do it anymore."

Morrigan went quiet in front of her. Folding her arms in thought.

"Well, we may not need Dirthamen's gift after all. I have something that will give us another advantage."

Din looked up.

"You may have had the right instinct. If your physical eyes are blinded..."

Morrigan stood and started to pace.

"Yes... it could force it to compensate. Keep it busy. If the whole world is a secret, that would hold priority."

Turning to her to stare determined.

"You wouldn't see, not like now. But it could release you."

Her chest filled with tender hope.

"Do it."

"Let me prepare. I'll consult some texts."

-

"Vella?"

She glanced down at him.

"That isn't my name."

"Ah." Solas smiled sadly. Climbing up the ladder.

They seemed truly determined not to leave her alone. Cullen walked with her the last few nights. Letting her lean on him as she eventually got wobbly. Shrouding her in his cloak. Sometimes, he took her hand. His warm and calloused. Giving a soft squeeze. Speaking sweetly as she spiraled.

"Then what shall I call you?" He offered, sitting next to her on the scaffolding. Both stared at the circle of his fresco.

"Lethallan is nice." She handed him a cup of lemon and cayenne honey.

"Ah, thank you." He sipped at the cup, eyes closing for a moment. "That's lovely. What is it?"

"Something I used to make when I was ill." She circled her fingers over the rim. "Small comforts, you know?"

She marveled at the murals

"But this is all so beautiful. You have a vision."

"You're too kind. They're about you."

She stared at him. Heart raw.

"Show me."

So he did. Pointing from mural to mural. Each a moment of her journey. Each a turning point. Explaining the significance of the choices.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to write it down?" She raised an eyebrow with a sly smile, then let it fall. It felt wrong to play. Cupping the mug in her hands.

"You take me for a scribe?" His voice picked up a rare tease. Despite herself, she smiled again.

"Just another way to spread knowledge. But it is much less breathtaking." She leaned her head back, closing her weary eyes.

She could feel his eyes on her.

"You've stopped singing."

Her eyes opened.

"What?"

"I hear you. At night. Why have you stopped?"

"I just..." Her heart dully ached, but still no tears came. "I think something is broken in me. I can't find the joy again."

He studied her quietly.

"Your vhenan, Rainier..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

They both sat in the inflamed wound. All tender edges. Weeping blood with the beat of her heart.

Solas leaned forward, urging her eyes back to him.

"You helped me. When I needed to find peace for my elgar falon. You've been..." He closed his eyes.

"You're unexpected. Wisdom, curiosity, beauty. You've had every chance to shut the world out. Please don't take that path. Stay open."

She shook her head.

"I want to. I do. But I don't know how to stay soft anymore."

He took a deep breath out. Resolving something.

"Let me help you."

Her eyes met his.

"Then Morrigan is right?"

He nodded.

"But you must meet me in the Fade first. Dream, Lethallan. I will follow."

"I can't."

"I will lead you."

She laid back on the scaffolding, resting her hands on her belly. Solas laid parallel to her.

Her body fell fast. Sleep enveloped her as a plunge into the sea.

"Solas?"

She looked around a great forest. An awe near fear sharp in her chest.

"I'm here." He cupped her forearm gently. "Forgive me, I forgot dreaming is foreign to you."

"It's so... it's breathtaking." Her eyes met his again. "Is this what it's always like?"

"Not for most. But my traveling is like this, yes."

He led her by the curve of her fingers to sit on a stone near the water.

"And perhaps, yours shall be too."

She looked up at him. Surprise heavy in her heart. Hope a poison she held in her mouth, ready to swallow.

"If your tie to Dirthamen is weakened, it may let you sleep like this. To dream. But yours is a heavy gift to discard."

His eyes searched hers. Seeking confirmation. Permission.

She held his hand in hers.

"I'm sure. This is what I want. I want to have my own mind. I want to be free."

He stared down at their joined hands for a moment. Rubbing her thumb experimentally with his.

"If that is the case, I must tell you something."

He turned her hand to stare at her palm, running a soft fingertip over the lines.

"The vallasin. I have journeyed far enough to discover what it truly means. They are slave markings. From the time of ancient Arlathan. When the Pantheon ruled elves."

"So my people were wrong." She nodded. Saddened, but not surprised. "Our history is so muddled, I could see it being mistranslated over time."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Thank you. For telling me." She sighed.

"If you like, I know a spell... I can remove the vallasin with your sight."

She lifted her hand to gently touch her face. Giving the ink a tender moment.

"This tattoo has kept me safe. It was subterfuge. A mask. But, I will no longer need it, will I?"

Solas rubbed her thumb, a silent assurance.

"Do it. It has served me well. I will discard it fondly."

He smiled, raising his hands to cradle the air around her face.

"Close your eyes."

"Wait."

She looked around the misty grove. Drinking in the full of the scenery.

"I'm grateful it was a beautiful dream. The last thing I saw. Thank you for bringing me here."

He paused, staring at her with soft eyes.

"Okay, I'm ready." She let her eyes fall closed again.

"You will feel some discomfort, but no pain. I couldn't let Morrigan butcher you. To send you to the dark that way."

She smiled with her eyes closed.

"She was just going to pour some acid in my eyes, wasn't she?"

"You're not far off. Now hush."

She smiled wide.

His hands were warm and tingled along her face, a light visible beyond her lids.

"It tickles!" She stifled her giggle.

He laughed.

"You are a strange, wonderful thing."

"Was that the vallasin?"

"Yes, keep your eyes closed, sulahn."

His palms settled on her temples.

"Song. I like that." She sighed in Elvhen.

"I hope you find a new name." He whispered.

His palms lifted slowly, and she could feel something pull behind her eyes. Squeezing her shut eyes to not squirm.

Then she felt it. A gentle pop. Something separating. Flashes of light filled her vision.

She opened her eyes as a curtain of dark fell. Gasping as it all fell to void. Eyes wide but seeing only velvet dark.

"Now... what do you see?"

She concentrated, feeling for sight deep inside her.

Just as she was about to give up, something bloomed. Gasping out as the world filled around her.

A circle of sight extended around her, definition of shapes like fine shifting sand. Color was gone, the world only shades of light and dark. Vision sliding along the physical as wind.

She reached for the stone beneath her, entranced by the sight of her own hand. The same thin particles dancing around her skin.

"Solas, it's..." She lifted her eyes.

"Oh..."

His body was ringed in many ribbons of soft blue light. Moving in languid circled rivers. Eyes glowing in it.

"Oh, Solas..." She marveled. Lifting her hand to gently twist her fingers in it.

He shuddered, pulling her wrist down.

"I'm sorry." She breathed.

"You're forgiven." He smiled. His face spectral in the shifting dark. "How do you feel?"

She closed her eyes. The vision slowly faded. Only imprints left. Then she opened them again. It refilled as gentle as before.

Her head was quiet. Tears bubbled on her waterline. Cupping a hand over her mouth.

"It's quiet. Oh Gods, it's so quiet. I've never felt peace like this."

She saught his eyes again. "And I can sleep? I can dream?"

"Yes." The soft triumph in his voice filled her heart.

"I've never done it before. I might need a guide."

His smile ached her heart. Cupping her hands in his again.

"I will find you. But now you must wake."

-

Din kneeled in the garden, focusing on a rose bush. Smiling at the way the particles danced around it. All shapes were made of silt caught in the flow of her river. The intricate layer of petals entranced her.

She wasn't used to the passage of time quite yet, but knew it was night. A new set of conditions she had to live by, ones she was eager to learn.

"Vella? Oh, sorry... I guess I don't know what to call you." Josephine called out sheepishly.

"Sera has too many offers, but Solas came up with Sulahn." She offered brightly.

"Hmm, that is pretty." Josie smiled.

If she focused, she could see the color of her. A warm orange that glowed deep at the crest of her ribs, under her heart. A sunset.

The color was much more potent around mages. Though, not as much as Solas'. She had already dipped her fingers into Dorian's deep crimson river. A sensation he found delightfully tantalizing.

"You seem so much better." Josephine sighed contented. Kneeling with her for a moment. "And no tattoo! But I'm sorry it had to be like..." She gestured to her blindfold. "This."

"You can see me, right?" Josephine held up her hand flat.

Din pressed her palm to hers.

"Yes, I can."

"That's remarkable."

She let out a deep sigh. "Blackwa- Rainier will be here by morning."

Josephine took her hand gently in hers.

"Do you think you're ready? To see him?"

"With new eyes..." She sighed. "I think so."

"I'm so sorry. I know his lie has been devastating."

"It still doesn't feel real. I still haven't cried." She pressed her palm to her heart, if only to confirm its beat. "Gods, it seemed like I couldn't stop crying before. Now I'm just..."

"Numb?" Josephine offered sadly.

"Yeah. So much of myself was braided into him. Having him severed... I don't know who I am here. I feel like I have to start over. I'm exhausted. I dont want to start over."

Tears finally started to pool in her eyes.

"Oh... there they are." She smiled. Wiping gently with the side of her thumb under the mask. Staring down at the shades of her hand. The light fluid slipped down her thumb.

"Are they..." She looked up at Josephine.

"Still silver. Sorry."

"It's okay. I've gained more than enough."

"You will have to sit in his judgment." Josephine sighed, taking her hands again. "Do you know what you'll say?"

She shook her head.

"Could you do something for me?" She hushed.

"Of course." Josephine smiled.

Din pulled off her blindfold.

"Could you tell me what you see?"

She opened her eyes. Staring at the beautiful shift of her face.

Josephine studied the whole of her face with parted lips, her sweet eyes centered back on hers.

"Well, that cut is going to scar, but your eyes are surprisingly beautiful. Like clouds caught behind your pupil. The color is gone, though. In your iris. But it's almost like moonstone. Melding with the white."

She leaned toward her. Voice falling to hush as she spoke.

"And I feel like I can see you now, without the tattoo. You have perfect freckles. Sun-kissed cheeks. Your lips are so..."

Her mouth slid into hers. So softly kissing into her. Just as Din started to lean in, she pulled away.

"Andraste's Mercy, I am so sorry!"

"I'm not." She breathed, pulling her back. Josie whimpered into her hungry kiss. Rising onto knees with her. Din's hand cupped under her ear. Breathing hard through the part of their lips.

"Thank you." She whispered when she pulled away. Josie's pupils were full blown, staring at her with sweet doe eyes. "I needed that. Maybe I'm not empty, after all."

"Happy to help." Josephine breathed.

She pressed a hand to Josephine's glow.

"It's orange. Your light. Marigold."

Josephine looked up at her. Letting out a dreamy sigh.

"I see why you have all the men in camp following like puppies. Mercy..."

"Ha, but I haven't kissed any of them yet. Maybe I'll start with Cullen."

"Don't." Josie laughed, pulling her to stand. Leading her hand over a bent arm. "That man is too sweet to not fall sword first."

"All you knights and ladies..." She laughed. "Nobody has fun, do they?"

"Absolutely not." Josephine patted her hand. "But we try."

~

Next Chapter

[stenshale]

@a-gay-bloodmage GLADLY. putting it under a cut because the thoughts are Many

okay. lets say you're brosca. you're casteless which means everything is gonna suck forever unless you con your way into high society somehow. both your dad and you sister's dad walked out which means you're double fatherless. your best friend is kind of a dick. you and your sister are under the thumb of your town's fantasy drug pusher. and worst of all, your mother is an alcoholic who does not fucking like you even a little bit. she's mean, she sucks, you have to make sure she doesn't drink herself to death. she blames you for all of that. whatever. fine. that's life.

now let's say, through some real looney tunes bullshit, you manage to get out of dust town AND join the grey wardens AND ensure your sister and mother's safety and prosperity. great! this rules! the sky is fucking terrifying but honestly you can cope with that because you're out, dammit! you have friends that don't suck! no one up here cares that you're casteless!

you're living the high life for, like, two whole days. then you almost die, you almost die again, your cool recruiter dies, the fucking KING dies?, and the new acting king says you and your new best friend, the only other living grey warden in ferelden apparently, are public enemy number one. sucks. back to being a social pariah.

oh and there's a fucking blight and you have to kill an archdemon. also very cool. dust town isn't looking so bad right about now. lucky for you, because of some legal shenanigans (that, mind, you do not fucking understand because you have only been in this country for a week, and even in your hometown you weren't exactly rubbing elbows with the lawmaking elite), you get to go BACK to Orzammar. you get to visit home!

your sister is married and has a kid which is awesome. her husband seems to take good care of her. you can make him king if you want, because that's the influence you have over people now. deciding elections. weird! a couple months ago you barely had a say over what you had for dinner at night.

okay. now let's say you're specifically bosca brosca, and you want to be a berserker soooooo fucking bad. like so terribly awfully bad. you're back at home and you just want to hit things really hard with your big sword. you're also probably nonbinary but you've got too much on your plate to focus on that right now so it's not a concern. gather army first, then kill an archdemon, then gender stuff at some point. if you live. which is looking less and less likely the more you learn about surfacer bullshit.

there's a berserker dwarf in Orzammar who can teach you, though! cool! except he's mean. and he sucks. and you have to make sure he doesn't drink himself to death. and his relationship with his wife (who you come to hate for different, golem-related reasons) seems, to put it lightly, a fucking mess.

and you are not a hateful dwarf. no more than any other duster. living casteless for long enough, seeing the bigwigs in the diamond district, it turns anyone into a bit of a misanthropist, sure, but you're pretty tame, considering.

you hate oghren, though. from the MOMENT you see him. he's loud and you want to drown him, probably, and you had better get out of Orzammar quick because if you don't find running water to stick his head under, you're probably just gonna settle for lava. not a good idea. he still has to teach you berserking.

and so you do. and he does. he's good at that and drinking and not much else, and you kind of wish he was bad at the berserker part, too, so you could say the asshole never did a damn thing for you. but you can't.

and then he gets too drunk, even by his standards, and you haul him back to his tent, because that's what you do, you wait until the people you... know? are broken enough that you can sweep up the pieces and pretend you did them a service. you're not going to fix anything, but you can try and stop it from getting worse. you can make sure he rolls onto his side and sit by the fire, close enough to his tent to hear if he starts to get up in the middle of the night but far enough that you can pretend that's not exactly what you're doing.

and the healer, who drinks him under the table but does it in a quiet way that makes it hard to hate her about it, tells you that you're awfully gentle with him. it's a question and an accusation and you dignify neither. you don't even agree. it's not gentleness, it's necessity, it's maintaining a family team, it's what you do. you don't tell her that because she'll only give you that look she gets when she knows more than you thought you said.

if you knew who pavlov was, you'd draw some connections. if you knew who your father was, you'd draw some other connections. but you know neither of those men, so you hate him in a way that sinks its teeth deep in your chest and stays there.

and then you kill an archdemon and become a living paragon and raise house brosca out of castelessness and get married and act as the advisor to the king of a country you AREN'T EVEN FROM! and you think you're rid of him for good until you go on a grey warden mission and guess who fucking pops up.

[inquisitoradaar]

1, 3, 4, 13, 14 and 19 for salvaza and virilanna!

OMG YAY!!! salvaza and varilanna time!!!

1.What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.)?

Salvaza: I went into Veilguard basically blind my first time through, so all I knew about Salvaza is I reeeeeally wanted him to be a Crow. And a he/him woman. His backstory has been workshopped over time, but that's really just me filling the gaps more than anything else.

Varilanna: Second time around I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Basically every detail about Varilanna was planned while I was still finishing up with Salvaza. The first thing though was her life before she joined the Grey Wardens.

3. How did you choose their name?

Random name generators for both of them 😭 ... Dragon Age-specific ones, but still. I have retroactively found meaning for both of their names, though!

"Salv-" is in real-world Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese names meaning "saviour", specifically in the context of. Well. Jesus. Obviously that equivalent in-universe would be Andraste, which still makes sense from the religious angle. His name is basically the one thing he remembers from his life before the Crows, since he was brought into House de Riva so young. It means a lot to him, so having Viago call him Rook is kind of like having your younger sibling say you have to call them by their title because they still haven't forgiven you for a massive argument you had a year ago.

Varilanna required a bit more construction work. She's a city elf who only started learning Elvish recently, from Dalish elves who joined the Wardens. When she started her transition she wanted an elven name, something as distant from her upbringing as possible, but she still wanted it to be hers, so she made one up for herself. Varilanna, from var bellanaris - "our eternity". (As for her surname. Not much to be done about that. My explanation for it is that she just picked it out of thin air so she'd have something official to go by, as this was pre-transition.)

4. In developing their backstory, what elements of the world they live in played the most influential parts?

Salvaza: Andrastianism ^_^ I must reiterate that the name thing was not intentional. Salvaza's mother was an elf living in the alienage (Veilguard forgot but I remember.) and his father was a human sailor from Rivain who rarely came to Treviso. Then there's the fact that the Crows started as part of the Chantry, and how Salvaza rationalises his assassin duties, which then leads to his belief that all lives are of equal value, including spirits, which... you get the idea.

Varilanna: Tevinter's specific stances on slavery, anti-elf racism, and magic. There is a very good reason why when asked where she's from she just says she "trained in the Anderfels" (not an actual response) (doesn't even say she's FROM the Anderfels) (she spent 17 years in the Torment Nexus).

13. How far past the canon events that take place in their world have you extended their story, if at all?

Salvaza: Okay so like the actual "canon ending" for Salvaza sucks big time. His boyfriend-to-be dies and then the guy he's in a situationship with uses his own lifeforce to hold up the Fade. And also nobody left on the Veilguard realistically likes him. If we work with that then he just goes back to the Crows and tries to ignore Lucanis. But what if there was a secret plan to just like, let Solas bring down the Veil. I think that would be cool. And also Salvaza would 100% be in an even worse position than the actual canon ending, but! At least the spirits are free. And he has his situationship, I guess.

Varilanna: Haven't finished playing as her yet, so it very much depends on how her ending plays out. Apparently Rook can get stuck in the Fade with Solas? It would be extremely funny if that happened to her while Salvaza ends up alone. Can they switch places please? Anyways if that doesn't happen she'll probably end up settling Harding's affairs before travelling with Taash.

14. If you had to narrow it down to 2 things that you MUST keep in mind while working with your OC, what would those things be?

Salvaza: His mixed heritage and his beliefs on spirits are sooo important even if he doesn't tell the majority of people about either of these things. Like they inform so much of his worldview, especially considering the plot of Veilguard. Like no shit he doesn't really mind Solas, Salvaza kind of thinks he has a point? Meanwhile his heritage moreso informs his relationships with other people, especially Teia and Viago, who were his only friends for fucking ever. And by the end of the game they're still his only friends. Awesome.

Varilanna: Everything is a self defence mechanism. Everything. Flirting? Self defence. Aggression? Self defence. That time she manipulated the First Warden? Self defence. Never let people know your genuine thoughts or feelings. The second thing is that despite that thing I just said about everything being self defence, she does genuinely like Harding and Taash. Which makes everything even more about self defence actually, because she's horrified by this fact. Girl who is totally normal and has no trauma whatsoever 👍

19. What is your favourite fact about your OC?

Salvaza: He had a very lenient upbringing by Crow standards, so he was allowed to do fun things sometimes. He liked reading things about Warden Brosca and her Crow friend. That combined with how he is essentially Viago's adopted prodigal little sister gave him a very heroically skewed image of the Crows.

Varilanna: Sometimes she uses her magic to set herself on fire just for fun. Or maybe it's the fact that she and Harding fucked once while on the road and they both decided not to mention it but it like very clearly happened and affected their relationship. Varric had no clue.

[semi-imaginary-place]

Play Dragon Age Origins

Every Dragon Age fan needs to play Origins. It is well, the origin of everything. Pretty much all plot and lore threads for the series start in Origins. It has the best writing and story in the franchise. It's not flawless (devs have a lust demon fetish, a bit disjointed), but it's the perfect blend of old school computer rpg and new style cinematic games, a changing of the guard (although of course the new has become old and even the new blood like gaider and weekes have now moved on). At it's creation Origins was written as a complete story, sequels were not designed into it. It's the most self contained game so it is a full meal that does not rely on any other media to tell it's story. I cannot emphasize this enough in our modern media landscape almost everything is left incomplete so that the corporate goons can franchaise it. It is so refreshing for stories to have an ending that is planned for with proper build up and narrative resolution. And then of course Origins was so popular it got DLC and then more DLC and then DLC that's basically a sequel and then it got a sequel.

Origins introduces the themes of diversity and plurality that is central to the series, diversity in all it's meanings from culture to perspective. In origins the objective truth is never revealed, all you have is evidence to piece together an argument. Does the Maker actually exist? Was Andraste magic? What is the Black City? That's why the Fade is so thematically significant. In the Fade all opinions are true, and all Truths are real, thousands of versions of history as it is remembered and believed exist simultaneously. Later games don't handle this concept quite as well which is where you get the claims of both-sides-ing issues. That's why when veilguard started revealing definitive answers I knew it was OVER the major overarching theme of the series had been resolved. All those hundreds of branches had been pruned, it was a farewell to the series.

Origins' whole thing is that objective truth does not exist/cannot be perceived. 10000 versions of events existing simultaneously in the fade. Plurality where morality is blurred and the way forward is obscured. Aka everything sucks. Ah Ferelden the land of mud and bigots, and yet there's something there. All the people you meet are morally grey by design. Origins is the type of game you aren't suppose to agree with anyone 100%.

Origins storytelling is just so rich, like even just in the character origins. Outside of Veilguard, Origins has the best dwarf content. The politics! For the lion's share of the series the dwarf origins and Orzamar was the majority of dwarf lore we got. City elf is the other fascinating one for me because it's the best look into the politics and culture of alienages we get, it's so grim there's so many implications. City elf is super relevant for a story about ferelden politics too. Human noble prologue is boring but you get more story options in the main game by virtue of being the most privileged class. Mage is the best look into circle culture (also super grim). Origins has extremely dense storytelling so i am still reeling to the implications during mage origin to this day. Canonically my warden is an elf because of those thematic ties to origins story as well as the running trend of thedas elves saving the world by sacrificing themselves only to be deliberately forgotten (shartan, garahel, ameridan). Problem is Zevran is the most thematically relevant love interest for a city elf and i cant do that to Zev! I cant convince him of the power of love only to kill his warden (non negotiable). So I guess my warden is romanceless.

[cityandking]

aquarius + minah?

thanks!! // zodiac headcanons

⊹ — AQUARIUS .

≻ what is a cause or a movement your muse is deeply involved in ?

minah isn't particularly one for causes or movements (too much opportunity to get sucked into something enormous and all-consuming that will force you into situations you don't want to be in) but unfortunately I think the grey wardens probably count. kinda hard to not be deeply involved in the organization that made you drink poisoned blood to bind you to them forever. she also has a vested interest in fucking up the shit of a particular mage. movement of kill ilyan again(TM)

≻ how does your muse handle unpredictability ?

she can roll with the punches but she prefers stability, especially in the big things. I mean she's a rogue so she'll handle a curveball with relative grace and whatnot but damn it sucks and puts her on edge for ages.

≻ does your muse challenge the status quo ? how ?

not really. she's way more interested in keeping her head down than making any statements. if she's gonna be any kind of force for change she'll do it quietly and ideally in a way that you wouldn't even know she was there.

≻ what subject or field is your muse passionate about learning ?

music! the arts! she's kinda a theater kid at heart and really enjoys honing her skills as an actor and performer. (also: thieving, but she's pretty decent at that already)

she'd also like to learn more languages if she gets the chance

[fllagellant]

14 + 19 for antioch & theris 15 + 21 for estel + hivaris :3

:33 THANK UUU … my boys ..

ask game here !!

14. who are they closest to from their family?

HmmmMM . Theris is probably his Keeper first .. then mother second #mamasboy . He was an only child since his mother couldn’ t have another child after him . So she doted Heavily on him and the Keeper was like . The third parental figure . His relationship with his dad is fine but he isn’ t the man Theris would go to if he needs serious advice yknow …. His dad also isn’ t a fan of how Theris is setting up his life pre inquisition . The whole Herald’ s Bodyguard thing almost makes him have a heart attack

Antioch is his younger siblings … two very young kids who he is both the cool older brother too and also the overbearing parent to . Yes you can ride the halla . Yes you can come watch me hunt . Dont you DARE pick up those skinning tools you WILL hurt yourself are you kidding me . Stand in the corner I am not arguing with you . He has that ‘ motherly instinct ‘ that also doesn’t work 9/10 but when it does …. He just loves his baby siblings so much and wants to be the person they’ ll feel comfortable talking to as they age

19. are they afraid of death?

Yes . But not their own … kinda . Both Theris and Antioch have sorta signed themselves onto this idea of duty and both of them understand that sacrifice may be required blah blah blah but that also doesn’ t mean the idea of the Other having to die for this cause doesn’ t make them feel Awful Things . + Antioch’ s whole thing is being the overreaching protector of His people . And His people right now are the inner circle + the inquisition at large . Therefore he Has to kill to keep them from dying . It’ s chill if he does tho !!! But it isn’ t bc Theris is one funeral away from learning necromancy,

It’ s a cycle of no They can’ t die . I can tho . But not them

15. preferred weapon of choice?

Estel loooove evil nightmare and blood magic but idk if that counts as a weapon . But big and intricate staves ? Yes please !!! Even better if it has a stabbing end !!!

Hivaris has homoerotic tension with every 2 handed maul he comes across . Every problem is a nail , and well ,

21. what is their biggest regret?

This one is so difficult I dont know Why . Earlier on it might have been Becoming a Grey Warden for both of them . But that does not last .. even with the sheer amount of drawbacks …

Estel regrets how the Circle formed them … if that makes sense .. made him bitter and ingrained both that instinct to follow orders and also the instinct to rebel against any sort of rule so it’ s just like . Well . I also think a part of them regrets not dying with the Archdemon but not really … unless ? Haha what if I prove everyone wrong and go down in a blaze of blood and glory and mark the word as an apostate and an elf that saved this shitty , shitty place . But then Estel looks in a mirror like nvm people need to Suffer me more

Hivaris . Okay I think his biggest regret he is conscious of is not being able to help his sister sooner . Like he does , sure , but he hates that it took so long for him to be able to do Anything for her , in his eyes . Also visiting her when he was a grey warden too like damn … maybe I should have avoided going home now she’ s just gonna worry about me . But subconsciously ? I think he regrets doing the ritual with Morrigan . After the fact it is that tug of guilt that she’ s going off Alone to birth and raise a kid that Is His . Like wow #absentfather … this sucks . He doesn’ t try to think about it because it was a ritual to trap the soul of the arch demon but its still a baby boy and everything that is His son at the end of the day

[onceawake]

[insert obligatory warden stamina joke here]

no but. things I think Wardens should obtain, whether within the first few months or over their entire period of being a Warden.

we know that, canonically, a Warden is fucking ravenous after the Joining. Alistair mentions as much happened after his Joining, and will call out a Warden PC for also being a hungry little bastard in camp.

Typically, this kind of food intake change would be associated with teenagers gearing up for a growth spurt. Wardens are full grown, but the Joining is, effectively, a blood-magic controlled ritual that Taints them. Just much much more slowly than anyone normally exposed to the Taint. Their body is about to change on them for a second time in their life.

Therefore, one of the first things a Warden needs to relearn is a grasp of their own strength. They're going to misjudge that so hard early on. It fucking sucks ass. But you get used to it.

A Warden will also, I think, gain some degree of an increased pain tolerance. This varies from person to person, but works in tandem with their now-increased stamina to create an incredibly dangerous combatant. What do you do with a combatant of any type that simply doesn't slow down? Doesn't seem to hesitate when taking blows that would've brought another man to his knees? It makes them very good at fighting a force that doesn't stop until killed — the darkspawn themselves.

And naturally, the dreams and the voices, the connection to the darkspawn hivemind. The ability to hear an archdemon's call and orders. This is another one that Alistair mentions, and the Warden PC experiences themselves. Rare for Warden recruits, but not so much for more senior Wardens.

This also means Grey Wardens can not only sense darkspawn in proximity, but each other, as well.

And then we get to the longer term effects. Senior Grey Wardens are absolutely fucking terrifying. They would have gained a smaller version of the self-regeneration that all darkspawn have, meaning that a Warden given breathing room would return with their injuries mended without the need for a healer. They would also effectively gain the ability to see in much darker environments than anyone would assume of their kind ( hello darkvision ), though their eyes don't weaken as much in the sunlight as a true darkspawn's might.

[windupaidoneus]

1, 2, 5, 7 for the grey warden ask thing... flutters eyelashes

i lost the post so many times. this is what i get for putting things off

1 - What is the Warden's name? Does it have a meaning behind it? How do they feel about their name?

shamir. he doesn't have a last name he cares about or remembers, doesn't particularly want one either since neither of his partners have a last name they feel a strong attachment to... he picked his first name bc he liked it. it has negative connotations at first glance but to him the "thorny" meaning is empowering. shows that the world wasn't able to keep him down despite its best efforts. did i mention he's an elven mage AND somniari AND used to be tranquil

2 - How would you describe the Warden's personality before and after the prologue? Did it change much or did they remain the same?

well . his prologue in my mind is different from the mage origin shown in the game. & so the answer is yes he's very much changed LOL. since his tranquility gets reversed during said prologue he very much goes from basically a husk to... ? whatever he is afterwards. he's very abrasive & emotionally unstable. but can you blame him really

5 - What are their thoughts on Duncan? How did they feel about his actions during the Joining?

honestly he thinks duncan is a badass. he has a bit of a hard time being critical of him considering being recruited by him basically saved him from execution if the templars ever find him again. he doesn't uh... care too much... about what happens to jory... swordsmen in armor make him nervous if you can believe it... he didn't really think about it beyond "ahh yeah kill that guy i didn't like him anyway". he felt more sympathy for daveth but daveth didn't get murdered by duncan himself so he doesn't really blame duncan for it or anything. later on he would start questioning why the wardens overall need to hide what the joining entails (& that's like. long after duncan's died. but he Will get very pissed about it like "well duncan was just following orders" "yeah following orders is for MORONS he SUCKS!!!". shamir very much hates rule following lmao) but yeahhh. it was either that or becoming tranquil Again (or being executed) so he's like. yeah i got off easy 👍 about it all

7 - How did they feel about being put in a leading position? Do they resent Alistair for putting that on them or are they ok with it?

he felt absolutely Not ready for it but put on a brave face bc there was no way he was gonna make alistair do it. they're childhood friends (alistair did not recognise him until way later due to The Many Changes & also shamir didn't say anything to avoid worrying him) so there was both an element of "oh no i have to protect alistair from having to deal with this shit" & some amount of "welllllllll i didn't boss him around the entire time we spent together as kids just to chicken out of things now...". he knew alistair would find out eventually that he was in fact his childhood friend that got whisked away to the circle & he did not want to lose face bc he'd always wanted alistair to think he's #cool & #epic