#like i know that the inquisitor is important and all but i don't get that feeling

[unreadpoppy]

I think the biggest reason I struggled to connect with the Inquisitor as a character is because of the 'chosen one' trope

[sheyshen]

i think i'm gonna need to block all veilguard related tags until i get my hands on the game even though i really want to share like art of the new crew and stuff because i don't want to see more spoilers that makes me go hmmm lol

[blightbright]

i think it's interesting to not let Solas kill the ignorant mages (the ones who bound his Wisdom friend) in his DA:I personal quest!

they definitely enslaved a spirit, which is wrong, and Solas disapproves of sparing them, AND:

these are pathetic randos who have literally only ever been exposed to cultural messaging that says spirits are objects not people. they're annoying and they destroyed someone's life, but they are not evil. they were imprisoned for years, they were taught misinformation by their captors, and now they've escaped, they're vulnerable, they got scared of being killed by bandits, and they ignorantly stumbled their way into something they didn't understand by following a book's instructions.

none of that is an excuse and also, in an extremely on-the-nose fashion, being enslaved and forced to kill is what harmed Solas' friend. the Inquisitor doesn't know how directly this parallels Solas' story, but if Inky can come at the mercy choice intuitively, the choice to stop Solas is IMO a very good one, because (like Cole embodying Compassion for the Templar when choosing to make Cole "more spirit") it actively reinforces Solas' inner Wisdom self.

Inky doesn't have to intervene much at all to get Solas to stop btw, literally all it takes is an uneasy "Solas..." and he stops.

IMO, gently expressing uncertainty about his decision to outright kill them reminds Solas, hey, what if you don't have to kill them (which hurts you too, which you were forced to do, and that damaged you)? these people might be teachable. what if you, Wisdom, teach them to never do this again? what if they spread that message to the other oblivious mages they encounter, and many more people learn?

these mages literally cannot learn anything if they're dead. if spared, they're still not the best critical thinkers, but they state this was the first time they'd ever done a binding, and they seem genuinely shocked that they hurt someone by doing it. IMO, they seem unlikely to ever do it again. IIRC Inky can even threaten them in optional dialogue afterwards, and they swear (in a way that seemed earnest to me) that they've learned their lesson.

TL;DR, gently prompting Solas to slow down and consider what he's doing instead of slaughtering people who are cowering in front of him with their hands up, even though intervening makes Solas feel unhappy in the moment, is IMO a great way to reach out to his own bound Wisdom and say, 1) hey, I actually like your truest self, and 2) hey, sometimes people do terrible things... I'll stop them permanently if I have to, but I prefer to first try and see if they're willing to do better.

that's a pretty important message for Solas, for multiple reasons.

[antivanwine14]

I see the posts asking what Rook brings to the squad. What is Rook good at when the rest of the Squad are experts in their fields? Rook isn't necessary to the rest. This isn't true.

A) Rook is probably the most skilled out of all the protagonists we've had. You can head canon things, but the truth is the HOF and Inquisitor were not masters in their fields before they got supremely unlucky and landed with a skill they didn't really want. Hawke really was just a person who developed over time. Rook starts as a hero who is very skilled in their craft. I'm going to speak on this from Crow Rook POV because that is who I know best, but this does apply to the others as well. Crow Rook took down 20 Antaam alone. That is not something the average Crow can do. That is skilled enough to impress Varric and get the role to work with him.

B) Rook knows how to get themselves into and out of trouble. Yes, Rook does know how to get into trouble, but Rook also sees opportunities others miss. In the opening, Harding's plan is to fire on Solas. She doesn't consider other options beside the one she is most comfortable with. Neve tells Harding no, but she also doesn't give a better solution either. Rook is the one who looks around to find other solutions.

Additionally, I wish this was commented on more but other characters acknowledge this skill of finding opportunities. Varric says to an unromanced Inquisitor that Rook is very good at Wicked Grace, a game all about cheating and opportunities. If Rook de Riva abandons Treviso, Viago also comments on this skill, that Rook would have found a way to help their city. Rook sees opportunities others miss. This is a very important skill that the other companions don't really have. There is a phrase, to a hammer, everything looks like a nail and our companions do that. Our companions are very skilled at what they do, but that means they don't usually look outside of the solution that fits their skills best, ie: Harding is always looking for the shot, Lucanis's solutions usually involve daggers, etc.

C) Rook has the soft skills to lead. Soft skills are completely underrated in life. Some people just assume that the person with the best skills at something should be the leader. This is how we get really awful leaders who have no people skills and treat their teams like crap. Leadership takes skills and none of the companions have those skills at the start. Davrin and Neve end the game as leaders, but both start having the same issue of being lone wolves who struggle to trust others. They need to learn how to trust others. Harding would probably be the best of the rest, but she is dealing with her own internal struggles with her new stone powers and the anger the titans are feeling. Rook might have some issues with confidence as being a leader, but Rook has great soft skills that allow the team to open up to them and trust them with the team's issues. Rook's confidence issues goes away with time as they get used to the role and it is the soft skills that make Rook so valuable.

Rook built the team. Remove Rook and the team would never have functioned as well as they did because of the work Rook did. Yes, they were able to accomplish a lot while Rook was in the Fade Prison, but that was because Rook had done their job. Rook had built a great team that knew what they had to do, were able to work together, and were able to do it until they could get Rook back. They trusted what Rook had done because they trusted Rook. I don't see them getting nearly as far without Rook and so Rook is absolutely essential for the squad.

[vir-bellanaris]

The ending was fine, but what really bothered me what the fact that Lavellan is, once again, cast aside in second position. Solas calls her "vhenan", writes her letters, says his feelings for her will never change etc... and continues destroying her world because he's sad over another woman. At the end, it's Mythal who changes his mind, not Lavellan.

And once again, it's Lavellan who takes agency, who shows interest, by insisting to go with him, by starting the kiss, by touching his back while he simply stands there, hands crossed without even looking at her. I don't know, I'm glad they're finally together, but it really felt like Lavellan is the one who's pining over this relationship, not Solas.

Mythal is essentially Solas' creator. She "pulled him from the Fade" and gave him a purpose, even if it was one that twisted his nature. He was bound to her service. I don't believe at all they were romantically involved, despite speculation in and out of the Veilguard game. Mythal herself consistently treats him as an "old friend" and even as a child, despite their ages being the same.

Their affection for each other runs deep. And is an ancient bond. Lavellan doesn't have that rapport with him, no matter how much they love each other.

At the end of Trespasser Solas refuses to allow Lavellan to follow, not wanting her to see what he becomes. And I think we the player saw what he became, he tried to become more the Dread Wolf than Solas.

You cannot get the happy ending without the Inquisitor, so I would say they are in fact very important. When Solas says "thank you" during that final scene he is addressing directly the Inquisitor. (Unless Lavellan kisses him then he says "Thank you, Rook")

Solas loves Lavellan. She is his heart. For the past decade or more he has denied his heart and tried to harden it against those who care for him. He "killed" Mythal when even she tried to dissuade him from his course.

It took Rook, Mythal AND the Inquisitor together to convince him to stop.

As for the animations of the final scene. I couldn't be more pleased. They kissed. Despite Solas just having an emotional breakdown, demon blood in his mouth, and probably a concussion. Yes, Lavellan was the one to reach out but I wasn't expecting any different.

He doesn't want to subject her to the "terrible" place he is going to atone for what he has done. She was the one who stepped forward and this time insisted she go with him. And he gave her zero argument, just one warning it won't be easy for them

I wish he had reached for her hand there at the end. But as she touched his shoulder it was his magic that enveloped her as well, making sure to take her with him to where his destination lies.

Also adding onto this because the way he looks at Lavellan in this game is more meaningful to me than any touch they could've animated. I mean cmon...look at this and tell me he isn't deeply in love with her.

I mean PLEASE

And in the kiss animation you can see his mouth moving as he kisses her back eeeeeeeeee okay...I'm done.

[dalishious]

You probably already received this question way back in the day, but I feel it would be interesting to hear your current perspective on the matter now that Veilguard released.

What are your thoughts on the decision to keep Solas' romance locked to female only? (the whole Lavellan only aspect being a topic of its own I feel) Personally I just don't see Solas as considering physical sex as important anyway, especially with his spirit background in mind. Now gender might be another thing, but I still can't see it as impacting his preferance one way or another.

To go back to a more Doylist perspective.. I know the writers considered having him be open for all genders in Inquisition, but decided against it due to fear of playing into the depraved bisexual trope.

Which I find ridiculous, since Solas in no shape or form exhibits any of the characteristics associated with it, other than being in an antagonistic role. The only way I could see it being problematic at all is if he had been the only bi/pan option in the game and that is just not the case.

My canon Inquisitor is a male Lavellan and I have always considered him and Solas as having feelings for each other. To have Inquistion and now Veilguard block that possibility out is more than a little frustrating I have to say. I honestly wouldn't have minded if Veilguard had just given the option to say you romanced Solas as a male Lavellan anyway, but I know that would have caused more drama.

Hey, I'm really sorry I am only getting to this wonderful ask now! Sometimes I go through periods of putting off messages until I forget about them...

Even before the DATV revelations that Solas and the other first ancient elves went to the build-a-body workshop rather than being born of a womb, in DAI, Solas expressed a distinction between physical body and person-hood. Solas advocates that spirits are still people, even if they don't have a physical body to define them. He also has a lot of dialogue that talks about how much he admires the Inquisitor's "rare and marvellous spirit," which can easily be read as his attraction not fitting sex or gender into the equation.

It makes sense to me that spirits, and ancient elves who come from spirits like Solas, would probably have a different perspective on sex and gender than those from modern day Thedas. Like, he predates any gender and orientation-based discriminatory views in Thedas! He predates bodies period!

I agree that simply making Solas bi while keeping the rest of him as he is would not have led to any problematic biphobic tropes. But even if it did... why draw the line at Solas, but not other characters? This is the same game with Sera after all, is full of lesbophobic and transphobic writing! If the explanation was simply "we didn't have time to make animations for everyone with his character" I would understand more; Solas's romance was after all added only at the very tail-end of development iirc.

Anyway, I 100% support bi Solas, and by extension, people who make fan content of him falling in love with male or enby characters!

[abyssal-ilk]

A thing that people always forget when chastising vivienne for being so apathetic to cole is the fact that she is a circle mage. People whom are forced to learn that you should not trust demons nor spirits or else they’ll put you down AS A RITE OF PASSAGE. Think back to what Mouse says in DAO. “Keep your wits about you, mage; true challenges never end.” She knows that for the rest of her life, demons will tempt her and try to possess her. She has seen mages turn into abominations, knows how they get them- of course she will support templars who have the skills to subdue them. And now to have a spirit scurrying around without supervision what is the last bastion against a Tevinter Sidereal… I too would be worried as hell if i were a circle mage.

EXACTLY!

not only is vivienne a circle mage, but there are also a few other factors that play into it that make cole so untrustworthy to her. vivienne underwent her harrowing when she was young– in fact, she was the youngest mage to have ever gone through a harrowing and survived it. we don't get to learn much about what she went through during her harrowing, but we DO have this banter between her and cole:

harrowings on their own are already traumatic enough, and with the added insistence from the circles that all spirits and demons are dangerous (which we see vivienne repeat above, "all it can do is harm."), it makes complete sense on why vivienne would be so put-off by cole! especially given how kind he is! she thinks that kindness is a ploy, and why wouldn't she if her harrowing was anything like the warden's in DAO?

and then that's not even acknowledging the fact that cole isn't just ANY spirit. he's the ghost of the spire. he's killed mages before and admits to doing so. and even though he was wrong to do so and realizes that what he did was wrong, that does not mean that vivienne automatically has to suddenly be okay with what cole did. of course vivienne takes cole being the ghost of the spire harder than everyone else in the inner circle. she is the only circle mage there. it is entirely plausible that she sees cole as a threat and views herself as being the person most able to recognize that threat because of what she was taught. it's why she struggles so much to empathize with cole on any level.

ive already talked about this briefly on another post, but cole is also fairly antagonistic to vivienne as well. it's easy to look at their dynamic and think that, well, cole is just trying to help vivienne but he... isn't? his version of helping her is prying into her thoughts without permission and continuing to do so even after she has shown clear discomfort with it.

cole drags her worst memories and thoughts out publicly in front of not just vivienne, but the rest of the party and anyone else who may happen to be standing near them. it's DANGEROUS, what he does, because vivienne is a player of the game. her position at court is a precarious one, and to have someone like cole who can just pick into her brain whenever he wants with no repercussions? it's scary! it's scary because vivienne has no defense against it, especially if the player supports cole and downplays the harm he does. and what can vivienne do about it? she's an ally of the inquisitor, and that makes her cole's ally by proxy. telling cole to stop doesn't work, insulting him doesn't work, trying to get the inquisitor to intervine doesn't work– nothing seems to deter cole.

which is why THIS piece of dialogue is so important to me:

despite everything i've said above, vivienne still cannot help but care about cole. no matter how dangerous he is, no matter what she was raised to believe, she still cares about him and worries for him. their dynamic is SO interesting to me and i really wish people dug into it a bit more rather than just dismiss it as vivienne being needlessly cruel to cole. it's so much more than that.

[baphometsss]

Solas and sexual trauma

(TW for sexual abuse)

I did a post forever ago where I questioned what Solas might have meant by 'it has been a long time' in the romance dialogue in DAI. I won't get into the entire post but basically I was wondering if he meant 'it has been a long time since I had a body' as much as or instead of 'it has been a long time since I was intimate with someone'

Given what we know about Mythal's influence on Solas, and the fact that he was her advisor, and that there are plenty of parallels with Leliana and Justinia, it's safe to assume that he also served as her spy. He has been directing his people to spy and steal and lie etc since before DAI. He's able to avoid Leliana's people for a decade, because he has so much more experience than her and knows how she works.

I'm reminded of Flemythal instructing Morrigan to sleep with men for power and influence, while doing it herself (exposing her very young daughter to sexual situations, which is abuse). I think this is a strong indicator of why Mythal married Elgar'nan and later the Alamarri chieftain. She isn't above using her body to gain influence, and I daresay she instructed Solas to do the same when necessary, like she instructed Morrigan to do years later. 'Use kindness where possible and cunning where necessary...' As we know from the romance with Solas, he is quite a private person. As flirtatious as he is with a romanced Inquisitor, this isn't a side that he readily shows off. Even Varric is surprised by his erotica collection in the Lighthouse, and he's known Solas for some time by that point. My point is, despite his cunning, Solas is not in Illario's league when it comes to seducing the enemy, but I don't doubt it was required of him when he served Mythal.

(Sidenote--She groomed Morrigan to sleep with the Warden in DAO so that when she eventually took that child--Kieran's--body she would have access to the old God soul inside him, thus regaining her immortality. I'm kind of pissed off that this plot line was basically sidelined because it would've been super interesting and would've offered more depth to both her character and the dynamics she had with Solas and other ancient elves.)

In any case, I think this is why it's important to me that Solas and Lavellan don't sleep together in DAI. That his 'I would not lay with you under false pretences' literally means that he would not have tainted their relationship with that same kind of abuse when he cared for them so much, when they are so removed from everything he did to himself and others at Mythal's bidding. It would've been too triggering for him and he wouldn't have forgiven himself. That's why the sex scene was going to happen after Crestwood, where he planned to come clean and tell them the truth, because only by being truthful about his identity and plans would it be crystal clear that he was not sleeping with them for influence or power. This is not a decision that he would've made for no reason. How many times did Solas seduce people at Mythal's behest? How did it hurt him? How did it feed into his own feelings of shame, humiliation and self-hate? How badly must he have wanted to keep his first true love safe from all that?

For context, this kind of behaviour is called rape by proxy and involves one person coercing another to sexually abuse someone else. It quite often happens to children, but it can happen to adults under duress and who are being manipulated, like Solas and Mythal and Flemethyal and Morrigan, the latter of whom is canonically groomed and exploited from childhood. You might think this is extreme, but we have plenty of evidence through Morrigan's experience that Mythal was absolutely not above perpetrating sexual abuse. We also know that she had slaves, which is inherently abusive, but that's already been discussed. The point is, Mythal's abuse is canon. There's no room for debate there.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but there's a lot of things about Solas that make me think his experience with Mythal was something of a blueprint for Morrigan's abuse. As for why... well, there's a lot of reasons, but you need to have a bit of understanding of the psychology of abuse survivors to understand.

There's this thing that happens when you survive this kind of abuse that affects you in terms of identity and relationships. Whether we like it or not, our relationships are heavily characterised by how we see ourselves. If we look at it through the attachment theory lens it becomes even more complicated. Solas himself says that he didn't have many friends that weren't spirits, and he says in Veilguard that it took him a very long time to gain the support of other members of the rebellion. He is such a lonely person, so it doesn't surprise me at all that he's so attached to his friends in the Inquisition, nor that he elevates their importance so highly, if the music room in the Lighthouse is anything to go by. It's unsurprising because these relationships are characterised by his authenticity as the person he wants to be, which is something he had distanced himself from considerably in order to carry out the work he was tasked with.

It's so important to his character that he has this experience. First he realises that there is more to life than being a tool for your Goddess as he did when he began the rebellion, then with the Inquisition he discovers that people can love him for who he is and not because of what he can do for them. It's also important because essentially, if you're raised in an environment where you are taught, either directly or indirectly, that you exist for someone else's use--to receive their abuse, whether that's sexual, emotional or physical--you never learn how to be a person that exists outside of that role. This is pretty much exactly what Mythal does to Solas and others. The end result is that when you eventually escape -- either by finding independence as an adult or simply leaving the abusive environment, like Solas did when he rebelled -- suddenly you have no idea how to function in the adult world, because you simply have not been primed for it. You've never had any kind of autonomy because even your body isn't your own. You don't trust yourself, because you've been taught to distrust your own judgement to better rationalise the abuse. You don't trust others because you're used to being betrayed and hurt, so you avoid relationships or engage in them in an emotionally detached way. Sex becomes transactional because you believe it's the only thing you have to offer (like Morrigan and Zevran), or you develop an aversion to it altogether because it's too triggering (Fenris). You're more likely to end up in abusive relationships because you simply don't know any other way to relate other than as a victim. Strong people, people with power, make you feel protected, even when those strong people turn out to be abusive too.

So while Solas was never really a child, he was very much like one when he first took a body--we only have to look at Cole and the way Solas guides him to see this vulnerability in action. It's in this state that he was sent into war and formed his first bonds with other people as an elf and not as a spirit. To be completely fair to Mythal, I think that she and Solas and the rest of the Evanuris were trauma bonded by this experience, as many soldiers are by war and political terror. Their survival was being threatened, even if it was kind of their own fault in the first place. The key feature here that Solas and other newly manifested spirits do share with children is vulnerability. Mythal wasn't called the all-mother just because she was married to Elgar'nan. She was guiding them into personhood and shaping them into weapons and tools she could use, as she did later with Morrigan. We are repeatedly told that the way the Evanuris are remembered is very inaccurate and doesn't fully explore how evil they truly were. Mythal is no exception to this just because Solas says she was the best of them; that bar is on the floor.

The other thing you need to bear in mind is that Mythal is portrayed as being considerably more powerful than Solas when she was alive. She was able to go toe-to-toe with Elgar'nan, whom Solas is shown to be defeated by multiple times in his memories, which is why she was able to force him to share power. Mythal defeated Andruil after three days of fighting when she became a monster in 'armour made of the void', which left her no choice. This power exists in her largely because she was willing to do things for power that Solas was not (like binding a dragon to her will), so she always had that over him. If she did not love him in her own twisted way, I don't doubt that she would've killed him long before he became such a headache for her, as Elgar'nan would've no doubt told her to do. So there is a very clear power imbalance here and it characterises their entire relationship.

When you look at the romance or friendship through this lens, it makes Solas's inability to commit to the life he wanted make so much more sense. The Inquisition was the first time in his life that his relationships weren't abusive and twisted. Where he didn't have to assume a mantle like Fen'harel that didn't fit him. He was able to exist outside of these abusive dynamics for the very first time. For survivors of abuse, that's like trying to learn an entirely new language, an entirely new way of relating, and it's extremely difficult not to fall into those abusive dynamics and roles in some way. People literally spend years in therapy trying to learn how to do this. Falling in love with the Inquisitor and/or having healthy relationships for the first time was a learning curve too steep even for him, even with the best will in the world.

I'm also really struck by Trick Weekes' characterisation of Solas as someone who doesn't think he deserves happiness. Whether or not this is factually true is not what I'm interested in; I'm interested in this statement because it is more or less classic abuse survivor behaviour. While there are definitely exceptions, many survivors cannot separate the humiliation and shame they feel from their core identity, and thus sabotage many of their relationships because they don't think they deserve it. That is exactly what is going on with Solas running away from the Inquisitor, even as he leaves clues for them to follow, because he does want to be saved deep down. Of course he does.

Finally I'm gonna leave this quote from Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman here. It's a good book that I'd highly recommend for anyone interested in learning about abuse and the psychology of trauma. It's not a perfect book because it was written in 1992 but it is still a ground-breaking work on the subject. It's also highly triggering so watch out for that.

Many abused children cling to the hope that growing up will bring escape and freedom. But the personality formed in the environment of coercive control is not well adapted to adult life. The survivor is left with fundamental problems in basic trust, autonomy, and initiative. She approaches the task of early adulthood――establishing independence and intimacy――burdened by major impairments in self-care, in cognition and in memory, in identity, and in the capacity to form stable relationships. She is still a prisoner of her childhood; attempting to create a new life, she reencounters the trauma.

[bhaalstemple]

i finished the game and veilguard was a disappointment lol

spoilers below

the way they butchered solas' character by just making him be led by the memory of mythal; no self-righteousness, savior complex, it was all done bc he wanted to honor mythal

why are the venatori worshipping elgar'nan and not a single elf. ????

how they made mythal far more important than lavellan to solas to the point for a moment i thought she was solas' ex (thank god it was clarified at the end she was only "solas' oldest friend")

the companions are so... lifeless. cheers to bellara for being the only one that feels like an actual human being and not an agglomeration of bad executed tropes (even if at the beginning she was)

the way mythal didn't end up being a villain, when she actively abused and groomed solas (and also morrigan btw) and it made all the sense in the world because she yearned for a reckoning and bring her revenge, a thing she has yearned for and been planning for a millennia because her anger is that strong... but no she just gave it up

the way morrigan's themes of parental abuse (breaking the cycle of abuse) go to shit after she embraced mythal's memories like.... as someone who has also an abusive mother that i broke contact with this made me want to fucking scream lol

morrigan's character also doesn't sound like her AT ALL, why is this woman smiling and being cocky, she's a scholar, a professional, a woman who carries knowledge that burdens her and trauma at the hands of a mother who should've cared for her. and how protective she was a kieran shows how private she is. what the hell. she would not be THAT friendly with strangers lol

and mythal being the only one who truly could change solas' mind at the end (just thinking abt it makes me want to punch a hole in the wall) + the anticlimactic departure of lavellan to the fade with solas is so fucking bad; because of the message it gives (this world is not worth-living for + a woman should spend the rest of her life and sacrificing herself for a man who put another random woman before her) and its joyless execution

if you get any other ending, the inquisitor doesn't even appear. lmfao. bye.

and lets not talk about the post-ending credits scene bc thats actually the thing that i hated the most. it makes all the themes and writing of bioware completely meaningless lol

the funny thing is that i have known for years where would bioware go with dragon age's story and 95% of my theories were correct, but me, someone who is not a writer, would've made a far more compelling story respecting dragon age's themes and nuance. i even predicted that mythal abused and groomed solas, but they executed it so badly that i can't believe these people get paid to write stories lmfao

i literally feel so betrayed, so hollow, so sad, i don't know what to do. i literally just uninstalled veilguard after finishing it. i spent 10 years imagining how the story would go, but id never imagine it would be THIS BAD.

the books, the content, so well-crafted, and so well-executed, just to make a stupid game that breaks all of its themes and leaves them meaningless. what the hell was happening in bioware when all the side-content has so much complexity and nuance (mostly tevinter nights), what happened lmao

[maxx-the-queer]

On my post about Isabela in Veilguard, @robinstome made an excellent point about the poor way Veilguard dealt with Varric's death and I wanna springboard off of that to talk about it more.

Prior to playing the game, I know most people agreed Varric was going to die (and I reluctantly did as well), but the way in which he did die was such an insult to his character and his importance in the world.

Varric is one of the most beloved reoccurring characters of the entire franchise. He's gone through 2 games of world-ending situations, and been an easy best friend of the hero each time prior to Veilguard. He's witty, he's intelligent, he's caring, he's a necessary support in far too many ways to count, and he takes care of his people. He's Hawke and the Inquisitor's dearest friend, but he's also got friends in quite literally every circle across Thedas. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't like him.

Rook is shaping up to be Varric's newest hero, the next protagonist of his newest serial, and the affection he holds for them is clear from the moment you see him in the bar in Minrathous. Even though we hardly spend any time with him, it's clear that Rook is soon to be just as friendly with him as Hawke and the Inquisitor were.

Except that Varric Tethras dies at the ritual site that unleashed the Evanuris, murdered and betrayed by another friend he still believed in despite all signs pointing to his hopelessness, and he dies becoming yet another symbol for the Dreadwolf's regrets.

But Rook has no idea. The game pretends everything is fine, and absolutely nobody addresses Varric's death properly because of the twist yet to come in act 3. Nobody is allowed to be seen to mourn Varric because Rook can't know yet that he's gone, for no reason other than to provide shock value and to vilify Solas.

People who knew Varric for 10+ years do their mourning in the background, off-screen, or do so cryptically to avoid bringing too much attention to the issue.

Meanwhile Rook looks like an absolute maniac, surging through like nothing is wrong and going to visit the infirmary frequently, and absolutely nobody calls them out on it.

We get no explanation as to why the companions and Rook never address Varric's death properly. The companions who knew him have already well and truly mourned at this point, so we don't get to see the immediate wound that his passing left.

And honestly the thing that tears me up the most? We have no idea how the most important people in his life mourned because the majority of them aren't present to react to it. Most of his friends in Kirkwall, the people who he cared for for 20+ years, get nothing. Isabela gets a throwaway line after the reveal, but that hardly counts for anything.

Hawke - the literal Champion of Kirkwall, who is the subject of one of Varric's most famous works and his best friend of decades upon decades - doesn't get to mourn Varric at all, because they're in narrative limbo and they aren't allowed back to address it.

I'm not even entirely opposed to Varric dying right at the beginning of the game, I think that could've been okay, if only they'd handled it the way they did with Duncan in Origins and allowed for his death to be more than a simple "surprise! We lied!"

[kirain]

Emmrich helping Rook put her makeup on?

I actually received two requests for this! 😅 I had to do a bit of research, since I don't wear makeup. It was fun!

The morning didn't arrive easily, but it did arrive far too soon. Vae stirred, her breath hitching as a sharp pain radiated up her dominant arm. She blinked slowly, taking in her surroundings—an elegant room, blessed with the scent of lavender and cardamom. Emmrich's room. The events of the previous day flashed in her mind: the clash of steel, the chaos of magic, the repercussions of a battle barely won.

Pushing herself up on her good arm, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. The movement sent a flare of pain through her injuries, and she winced, biting her lip to stifle a groan.

"Vae," a familiar voice whispered.

She lifted her head to see Emmrich, already dressed and seated in a chair by the window, a small book in his hands. He always woke before her, but that morning his silver hair was slightly disheveled, and the faint shadows beneath his eyes hinted at a sleepless night.

"Emmrich..." Vae rasped, still finding her bearings. "I must've kept you up all night. I'm so sorry."

"You didn't, my dear."

A lie so sweet she almost let it go.

"Then you kept yourself up fretting over me. In either case, I'm sorry."

Emmrich chuckled, ready to deny it, though he shot up when she tried to stand, her shoulders tensing. With a nearly imperceptible gasp, he hurried to her side and placed a protective hand on her back.

"What are you doing?" he cried, his tone firm but anxious. "You shouldn't be up. You need rest."

"I can't afford to stay in bed," Vae said, her voice steady despite the ache that tugged at her words. "The Inquisitor's expecting me in Dock Town this afternoon. I can't just reschedule, Emmrich. It's too important."

The older man sighed, his gaze falling to her arm. Wrapped tightly in bandages, it was swollen, the skin underneath bruised and tender. He didn't need to ask to know it was hurting her—he could see it in the way she cradled it, in the beads of sweat clinging to her forehead. But he also knew she was stubborn, impossible to convince.

"Wait here," he said, his voice eager as he turned and headed for the bathroom.

"Emmrich, I'll be fine. I only need—"

"Just wait," he implored, disappearing through the door before she could protest further.

Vae groaned, rubbing her hand across her face. Except for the distant sounds of the Fade humming outside, the room was quiet. Peaceful. She closed her eyes, letting herself breathe. The pain wasn't unbearable—she'd suffered worse—but it was the weariness, the constant weight of responsibility, that lingered more than anything else. In truth, the thought of staying in bed, spending the day alone with the man she loved, was more enticing than she could admit aloud.

"Found it." Emmrich returned, though he wasn't carrying bandages or a salve as she'd expected, but her makeup kit.

"What are you doing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as he pulled up a chair and sat in front of her.

"You can't meet the Inquisitor looking like you just rolled out of bed," he teased. "So, let's get to work."

"You want to do my makeup?" she squeaked, a tinge of amusement in her tone. "That's really not necessary, Emmrich. I can do it myself."

"With one arm? I think not." He unsnapped the case and began rummaging through it. "Let me help."

Vae opened her mouth to argue but stopped. Something in his expression—equal parts determination and care—softened her. She shimmied closer, her lips curving into a heartfelt smile.

"All right," she relented. "But don't mess it up. This isn't the same as gussying up a corpse for a funeral."

"Yes, it is."

"How dare you!" she giggled, playfully kicking his leg.

Emmrich laughed, but quickly composed himself. "I'll make sure you look ravishing, my darling. It would be impossible not to, anyhow."

He worked with surprising ease, his touch light as he applied a base layer to her skin—eyeliner first, then eyeshadow. Vae could feel the gentle brushstrokes as he added the perfect amount of purple and black to highlight the sharpness of her eyes.

"Do you even know what you're doing?"

"Not really," he tittered, "but I've watched you enough times to have an idea."

"You've watched me put my makeup on?"

"Of course. It's mesmerising." Vae felt her cheeks flush as Emmrich tilted her head, his fingers cupping her chin. "You don't need it, yet you take the time to don it every morning. It shows discipline, patience, dexterity. Makeup is a woman's warpaint."

Vae's blush deepened, causing Emmrich's lips to quirk into a smile. He loved knowing that only he could fluster her in such a way, and that she let him do so. She was a force to be reckoned with; indomitable, assertive, but to him she was all that and more. She shared all of herself with him, as he did with her—a gift he had given up hope of receiving ages ago.

"Maker, you're so beautiful," he purred.

"What?" Vae smirked. "You haven't even finished my makeup yet."

"I know."

Once he finished with the mascara, meticulously running the bristles through her lashes, he leaned back to inspect his work.

"Done," he said, setting the kit aside.

Vae opened her eyes, catching her reflection in the mirror on the vanity. Her face was poised, her eyes fierce, the hint of colour accentuating her natural beauty.

"Not bad," she quipped, barely hiding her praise.

"You were an excellent canvas."

Vae laughed, shaking her head. "You're insufferable."

"Perhaps," he grinned, "but you're smiling. That's what matters."

For a moment, the pain in her arm seemed to vanish, soothed by his amorous charm. Then, with a deep breath, she stood.

"Easy, darling. Not too fast," he stammered, taking her uninjured hand in his. "Here, lean on me. I've got you."

As Vae looked up, her heart sank. Though Emmrich had been flirtatious and bold, she could see the worry brimming in his eyes, his brow creasing as she trembled against him. Just as she suspected, the man was a wreck, and he had been ever since the Venatori mage tore her arm in six places.

"Emmrich," she hummed, calming him with a delicate kiss. "Thank you."

"Always," he promised. "Now, let's get you to Dock Town."

[lostinthewiind]

Way With Words

Varric Tethras - Dragon Age

Genre: Fluff

Rating: All ages

➤ True to his nature as a renowned author, Varric has always been better at expressing himself through the art of written words.

The sound of Varric's quill scratching against parchment sent a chill up your spine—one that scratched a particular itch you didn't even know you had. Perched in his usual spot at the wooden table in front of the fireplace, you sat across from him, watching intently as he frantically worked to get everything down before he forgot even a single, minute detail.

"You don't have to release the book tomorrow, you know," you told him. "Take a couple of days to enjoy the fact that we saved Thedas. Surely that's deserving of a night or two off."

You could tell that Varric had only slightly registered what you had said, his quill faltering for a brief moment before continuing to whip from left to right across the page. Again and again. Flip the page. Left to right. Again and again. New page.

The fireplace crackling behind you lit up his face, basking his features in a warm, orange glow. In this light, you could see clearly as the wrinkles of his forehead deepened; and if you watched his facial expressions closely enough, you could tell which ones were permanent from age and which ones were temporary from stress.

When a pocket of gas escaped one of the burning logs with a loud pop, Varric's eyes shifted up from his work. In that moment, as his eyes darted toward the fire behind you before focusing on your face, you clocked the exhaustion he was trying so desperately to hide—or ignore. His gaze caught yours just long enough for you to notice the dull hue of his usual bright, brown irises.

He flashed a superficial smile before returning to his work. Word after word, he recounted the tale of the Inquisition from the moment he met you to the moment Corypheus was finally defeated.

"Varric." You reached across the table and caught his hand in yours. You felt as the tight muscles in his grip loosened. "Take a break."

Varric's hand twitched in your hold. "I can't. I don't want to forget anything important."

"That makes one of us." You exhaled slowly. "There's so much I wish I could forget. So much I have forgotten."

"Someone has to tell the story. Might as well be me." He smiled again, but this time it seemed more genuine. "Besides, no one else will give it the right amount of flair."

"I would expect nothing less from the legendary author of Swords and Shields." You chuckled. "I'm sure Cassandra is chomping at the bit to read about all the behind the scenes romances of the Inquisition you no doubt have all the insider information on."

That caused Varric to laugh, and finally, the rest of his body relaxed. Quill dropping onto the page, the sentence Varric had been in the middle of writing was left temporarily forgotten; the retelling of a past story was put aside for the making of a new one.

"I really don't know why she likes that garbage, but hey, I suppose there's an audience for everything."

"You're too hard on yourself. It's not that bad."

Varric quirked a brow at you. "Don't tell me you've read them?"

"I've read a few chapters."

Varric hummed, amused. "And?"

"I can see the appeal."

A bark of a laugh. "I never took you as a romantic, Inquisitor."

"I'm full of surprises."

"So I've come to learn."

Suddenly eager to get a sneak peak at you favourite author's newest work, you reached out and grabbed one of the first pages Varric had written. The ink was already dry, the scribbled words a duller shade of black than the newer pages.

Varric didn't protest. Instead, he watched intently as your eyes scanned the page. "Let me know if I missed anything."

"There's details in here that I don't even recall happening," you assured him. "But it's kind of bland. For a romance author, this isn't very flowery. Where's that so-called 'flair'?"

"Such a critic." Varric tried to snatch the paper away, but your sharp reflexes won. "This is just the first draft. Only the facts. The flair comes later."

"Thank goodness, because if this is how you end up describing me in the final copy, I'll hunt you down." You cleared your throat before reciting the words in front of you. "'Inquisitor. Small woman. Prisoner turned ally. Glowing hand.'"

Varric shook his head. "Like I said. The facts."

"Nothing about my bright eyes? My charming smile? Not even a throwaway line about how incredibly beautiful I am?" you joked as you relinquished the page so Varric could put it back in order with the others.

"This isn't that kind of book, Inquisitor."

You leaned back and felt the warmth of the fire on the nape of your neck. "Of course." You smirked. "But if it were, how would you describe me?"

Varric pretended he didn't hear you and instead went back to his writing. His pace was noticeably slower now though, more thoughtful. Something else was on his mind and he was having to think more about what he was jotting down instead of just letting it flow.

"I was a newborn in this world—a world I had lived in all my life, yet somehow I didn't recognize any of it. I stepped out of the fade, my memory lost and a glowing hand gained." You closed your eyes and described the series of events from your point of view. "I had just closed my first fade rift. I was overcome with fear and excitement, a slurry of emotions that had no business mixing. When the possibility of being able to close the breach was mentioned, he spoke. 'Here I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever.' A man. A dwarf. Handsome, and I could tell he knew it from the way he showed off his abundance of chest hair for any and all to see. But my eyes were drawn first to his crossbow, the weapon he had used to save my life moments earlier; the weapon he would use to save my life more times than I could count."

When you opened your eyes, Varric was staring at you, eyes wide. Speechless.

"It doesn't have to be a romance for it to be romantic," you told him. "Life and death is just as beautiful as any love story."

Still silent, he swallowed hard. Then, grabbing a fresh piece of parchment, he began to write; this time with all the fervor he had possessed originally. Arm resting at the top of the paper, he shielded the words from your eyes.

Head resting in your hand, you sat and watched as he wrote. When he reached the bottom of the page, he stopped and handed it over. "Like any author, I'm better in the written format," he said.

You nodded and began to read.

"No," he corrected. "Out loud. Read it out loud."

"Okay," you chuckled. "'All hope had been lost and then she appeared, stepping out of the fade with determination etched into her features and bright eyes that held the future in them—the world's future ... my future. From prisoner to ally to friend, the more I learned about her, the fonder I grew.'"

You paused and looked up at Varric. He nodded his encouragement. "Keep going."

Your throat suddenly felt dry and your chest tight. "'She was beautiful. She still is beautiful. But she's also so much more than that.'" You were reading slower now, your breath catching on the words. As Varric reached out to take one of your hands in his, your grip on the paper with your other hand tightened. "'Anyone who knows the Inquisitor could tell you that she is smart, brave, kind, compassionate, and so many more wonderful qualities. But not everyone could tell you about the way her smile always reaches her eyes, no matter how exhausted she is, or the way she sleeps so lightly that the faintest gust of wind could wake her. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who gets to see the way she curls her hair around her finger when she's feeling playful. Then I pray I'm the only person who gets to see it, because the thought of anyone else making her feel that way causes a sickening feeling to snake its way through my veins. She is-'"

"She is the most incredible person I've ever met in my entire life," Varric took over, having memorized the words after somehow only writing them once. You suspected, however, that they had been within him for a long time. As his hand held yours firmly and the pad of his thumb ghosted over the inside of your wrist, you shivered. "And as things come to an end and time runs out, I think of the past and dread the future because for all of the brave things I've done by her side, I don't know if I'll ever be brave enough to tell her I love her."

You felt a tear fall down your cheek and moved to quickly wipe it away. "If you're that good with words, maybe I should read more of your books."

Varric smiled as he brought your hand to his lips and pressed a chaste kiss to your knuckles. "For you, I'd write down my every waking thought."

"You don't have to." You folded up that paper in your hand and tucked it into your pocket. "This is more than enough."

Varric let out a nervous chuckle. "You're killing me here, love. I gotta know if you feel the same way. Please, put an old man's aching heart to rest."

Standing up, you leaned across the wooden table and cupped his stubbled jaw in your hand and felt his entire being soften to your touch. "Of course, I love you too." You gently pressed your lips against his. With a relieved exhale, he melted into the kiss.

When you moved to pull away, his hand shot up to the back of your head and held you in place, lips ghosting over his, so he could savour the moment. "Just so you know, I'm not putting any of this in my book," he whispered. "I'd like to be the only person to know that you smelt like smoke and tasted like elfroot tea the first time we kissed."

"Cassandra will be so disappointed."

"Me? Disappointing the Seeker? That's never happened before." He grinned as his hand slid down from the back of your head to caress your cheek. "Now come here. I'm suddenly craving the taste of elfroot."

[elfbotanist]

working on my version of veilguard, so far it goes like:

act 1:

exactly the same. inquisitor lavellan hired people who were unpredictable to track down Solas. And they did, untill that plan backfired. Well, shit. Solas is trapped. Evunaris are blighting the world with their two blighted dragons.

Solas continues to advice rook and rook informs the inquisitor. We need the wardens. But the first warden hates the inquisitor as much as he hates rook. Inquisitor is a wise woman, she knows she can talk down first warden so she does exactly that (you can do that as rook in game so why not as inquisitor? I seriously don't know why this game won't work if inquisitor was the protagonist but anyways it is what it is. Let's continue)

act 2: 

after weisshaupt's fall, thousands of wardens dead, inquisitor realises this is not going to work. A group of seven misfits cannot win a war against immortal gods. They had an army, a network of spies and alliances with two nations when they were fighting corypheus... they need that strength once again. So time for inquisition 2.0 (kinda makes sense why different provinces/organisations will be willing to make an alliance with a former hero with a name than a random kid). So rook has some ground work to do while the inquisitor sets up the new inquisition at the lighthouse, which is much easier because they got dreadwolf's eluvian. The lighthouse was the heart of Solas' rebellion and now it's functioning as that once again. Lighthouse servers its purpose. Every adviser is there, inquisitor herself now acts like an adviser and rook gets the job done.

But you cannot win a war against immortal "gods" without having an immortal "god" on your own team, right? You need everyone on your side, even the people you can't trust fully. Inquisitor understands this and some members of the inquisition, that is Cassandra, is more than willing to get Solas out of that prison and have a "talk" about varric. And Cole needs someone who can understand him "i do not understand...the demon behind the crow's eyes is a friend or a foe?". So the inquisitor makes a deal with the dreadwolf. Freedom in exchange of his alliance.

They track down the dragons. With the help of our new dragon hunter, remaining wardens, what's left of inquisition army, the crows/shadow dragons and the dreadwolf himself. Rook manages to kill the dragons and wound Ghilan'nain with minimum loss of life.

In Arlathan, Rook et al infiltrates venatori's ritual. At lighthouse Solas senses that Elgar'nan has trapped Rook and their companions. He informs the inquisitor that he can help...Inquisitor suprised from his eagerness to help rook of all people (whose daily agenda is to annoy Solas to death) is hesitant. Solas says he wants to save the elves just like inquisitor wants to save her people.

"There is no other motive behind my plea other than saving innocents from being sacrificed for Elgar'nan's sadistic whims, like I did during my rebellion...Trust me vhenan. I know his mind"

So rather than Rook just telling Lavellan that "Oh Solas is good. You should totally try to redeem him". I'd rather have Adviser Inquisitor Lavellan and Adviser Solas slowly grow close to each other once again, like they did back in skyhold. A perfect parallel.

We all know he can't help but rizz her again with his fade talk

"Allow me to show you something, Inquisitor"

"You and your sweet fade talk"

"No fade tongue this time"

They relive all dai solavellan scenes... Even the crestwood scene. (These parallel moments with her are important because we know she almost changed his mind. That's why he ran away. Avoided her like plague for last 10 years because she has that power. To change his mind. And reliving dai moments with her is going to be the catalyst when we have to stop him in the end and redeem him)

It's here, in the garden, she mentions the letter he had sent. He finally... FINALLY tells her everything. His past, the titans, the veil, the evunaris, the dagger, the blight... his people... him being a former spirit of wisdom... Everything. Lavellan connects the dots and asks if this is why he was so hurt when his friend, a spirit of wisdom was corrupted, because it was personal, because it was his trauma. All new, faded for her.

"Forced to do something against its purpose, fighting... Is that what happened to you vhenan?"

"... Yes"

"But you were always Wisdom to us, to me. My Solas. My wisdom. Everyday at haven and skyhold...I saw the real you. I saw Wisdom. The self you're always mourning. I loved all of you. I still do."

"Your empathy is a blessing. Your spirit pure and unmarred."

"I am only human, Solas. And so are you"

"That I am. A broken man."

"Not to me my love."

act 3:

Eclipse takes place. Solas and Rook kill Ghilan'nain but Neve/Bellara is lost. With the strength of the new inquisition and its allies, it is much easier to get in Minrathous. Rook and companions along with Inquisitor and Solas fight the blight. Solas tells Rook and Inquisitor the blight can sense him, some intelligence is controlling the blight tendril. They need to get to Archon's Palace and kill Elgar'nan with the dagger, while he fight the archdemon.

"What? On your own?"

"Don't be afraid, vhenan. All these years... My feelings for you, they never changed. Ar lath ma"

There's pain in his eyes, like that night in Crestwood. She's not sure what he means.

"Solas..."

" Now go with rook. When next we meet, let us be standing over Elgar'nan's body!"

"Woooow... Your husband is a... dog?"

"That's a wolf rook and he's not my husband"

"He is huge though"

"And fluffy..."

"Inquisitor, you can dream about petting your wolf husband after we're done here."

"He's not my-"

"LET'S GOOOO!"

If Solas is Wisdom, then he is also Pride. In Emmrich words "He is however, a former spirit. Solas cannot help but listen to appeals to his nature... his yearning for reflection." And his duty to save his people. So one last betrayal from the dreadwolf. Blighted Neve/Bellara informs that killing Elgar'nan will destroy the veil.

"Of course he lied! I knew something was wrong... his eyes. He's a terrible liar"

"Inquisitor what are we supposed to do?"

"We stick to the plan, Rook. I'll deal with Solas"

*outside dreadwolf cries in pain*

"Solas..."

"Inquisitor, Solas will do his part. We must press on forward.

"Yes Cassandra, but I need you and Cole with me."

"I understand. Always with you inquisitor."

Inquisitor, Casandra and Cole fight the blight and darkspawns, helping rook and companions get to Elgar'nan.

But Solas can't win alone. Blighted Neve/Bellara uses her power to free Solas and he kills the archdemon, making Elgar'nan mortal. Rook and companions kills him and the veil starts disintegrating.

"I am sorry for this final betrayal. But when you'll see the old world restored..."

Rook persuades Solas. He relents but it's not enough.

"I cannot. To stop now would dishonour those I have wronged to come this far"

"Even if those you've wronged asked you to stop?"

"Vhenan..."

"You think you've gone too far to come back. But you're wrong! I am here, walking the dinan'shiral with you!"

"I lied. I betrayed you."

"I forgive you. All you need to do is stop!"

"Ir abelas vhenan. But I cannot."

(I had to add my boy)

*Cole*

"They sleep, masked in a mirror, hiding, hurting, and to wake them I must burn down the sky again. Break the old chains. But it's not enough. Never enough. This world is too real."

"Cole?"

*Cassandra*

"You need to stop"

"But Varric...."

"Not your fault completely. Honour the death of your friend. All those years ago. When I asked what do you believe in, and you said you believed in People. We are people. Have faith in us, Solas"

*Cole*

"I long for my home, my people, my world. But here is also home. Here is home. She is home. Vhenan, my heart. Ar lath, ma vhenan. Wherever you are, there is my heart. Wherever you are, I am home. She is home and my heart and a cold fortress in the mountains that shines so brightly because she shines, she has made it home and they were together, the Inquisition, my family.... You are not alone Solas"

*Lavellan*

"Banal nadas. Ar lath ma vhenan"

Solas breaks and binds himself to the veil. Vows to keep it intact, protect innocents and help with the blight.

He's ashamed. So ashamed but he needs her to know his sincerity. Needs her to know that he can be that man she fell in love with. Her Solas, as she has said that night in the garden. So he looks at her finally, in her eyes and says. "I will go now and seek atonement." It's a promise, of a better duty, a better path, for her.

"But you do not have to go alone"

"Ar ghilas vir banal"

"Tel banal ara'ma vir shiral ma'lasa. bellanaris"

"Bellanaris"

~

And now we turn to my beautiful city

Black skies changed into blue

And my love is so wise and so pretty

I no longer dream of her

cause she is real

she is here

she is mine

And I am whole

[cawyden-gaming]

In ur opinion which is the best heinrix ending? :0

Hi! Thank you so much for your question!

It is rather simple - the one that fits to your Rogue Trader 😉

For my Venria it depends - if I go with the ending slides from the game I would say the Master of Whispers ending with merciful Heinrix. Important here is that there is no mentioning in the ending slides that Heinrix gets indeed assassinated by his former colleagues. Otherwise I think I would not have it as my preferred ending because that would be too heart breaking.

I like with the Master of Whispers ending that Heinrix and RT can stay together, seeing each other every day.

Sorry - I know what I am going to write will some people make feel like they want to throw up - I apologize, but this is my head canon (and yes, I am totally aware that I don't really belong in the Warhammer fandom with my happy non grim dark thoughts):

For him and Venria I don't see it as toxic relationship - they are partners, they support each other and in my head canon Venria will also try to find possibilities to make Heinrix less dependent on her. They trust each other and Venria is also not the type to flirt with other men so I don't see any jealousy drama there for them too. Sounds pretty boring, I know, but for me that is just a healthy relationship that I think they can have - that also helps them heal from all the trauma they had to endure.

While duty is important for Heinrix, he can also do good and help the Expanse and the Imperium by staying with Venria. And seeing how he himself tells RT how staying with the Inquisition leads "to one place only" and we see how Emelina and he nearly too falls to chaos, I rather have him not staying with the Inquisition (at least without RT to have his back).

For me as MoW he would also not interrogate any longer people - he doesn't have to any longer and I don't think he enjoys it personally (aside from xenos, apparently - I wonder if something happened before that made him so hateful towards them or if it is just the dogmatic brainwashing especially since he is from Ordo Xenos).

The LI ending where he stays in the Inquisition is also quite nice - but since the ending implies they keep that long distance relationship up until they die - I am not a fan of that. Temporarily fine but not forever.

What I also like a lot is the prospect of RT joining Heinrix in the Inquisition - although then no longer being a Rogue Trader. But Heinrix (maybe as "simple" Inquisitor) with Venria together on missions with a smaller retinue sounds awesome to me. They can both keep each other in check (or fall both to chaos - that would be the more darker turn) and protect each other while staying together. Sadly, we don't really have much for this on the ending slides - just that RT can join the Inquisition (and Heinrix then acting like a dick).

[chanafehs]

can you tell us more about your rook, and her relationship with asma??

*tucks hair behind ear* well if you want to know...I know DA4 doesn't care about any lore I'm creating but Manat was orphaned during the Mage-Templar war and was discovered by Asma and her companions during their journey through the hinterlands. Manat was only 15 at the time but held off against Templars and Apostates until being rescued - already showing promise as a warrior.

She was brought back to Haven and escaped to Skyhold with the rest of the Inquisition, eventually becoming a maid for a bit of coin. That's where their relationship takes off because Asma is the only one who can really get a word out of her. Josephine at some point insists that Asma as Inquisitor should take up a lady-in-waiting for appearances and to help with her daily tasks around Skyhold. Manat has no skills that would make her good for this role but Asma chooses her anyway, if anything it's more to keep an eye on her.

The relationship becomes less professional and more maternal before either of them can really realize it (Asma insisting she brush her hair, teaching Manat Elven, reading her books—education is important—and playing the occasional game together). Asma is a bit of a strict parent but Manat loves to push her buttons sometimes, she's a kid that's what they do.

Towards the end of Inquisition, Asma knows Manat has no family and nowhere to go so she promises the girl that she can come with her when all of this is over. Trespasser ends up pulling them apart - Asma can't be found for some months after the exalted council and by the time she returns, Manat is already gone. I don't know if you've ever seen that quote that's like "I'm not your mother" "I know that, do you?" because that's very them. This definitely won't cause problems between them in the Veilguard/sarcasm.

Thank you for the ask!🫶❤️

[loredrinker]

Rook goes to the fade prison with Solas too though. Maybe it's not ideal at first but couldn't Rook being there with Solas help him too as he won't be alone in that ending as well? I don't really care for the fight ending but at least Solas won't be alone. I wish the game would have had a choice for Rook to go with Solas in the redemption ending if there was no inquisitor.

Hello Anon, 

I appreciate you taking the time to send this message, and I’m sorry for the delay in responding.  I assume you’re referring to my post about why I believe the Inquisitor being with Solas in the Fade is the least risk option for Thedas. 

I initially wasn’t going to respond because I know how deeply fans connect with their favorite characters and headcanons, and I don’t want my words to be taken personally or taken out of context.  But then you came to me, so I’m trusting that you’re aware of my canon world state - Solas x Lavellan x Atonement - which is the first thing you read on my blog. If you already know that and wanted to ask me this anyway, I assume then you accept my answer will reflect my perspective. If that is not a response you are interested in, it’s probably best to walk away.  I just want to set expectations.   

So – to be clear - this post is a reflection of my interpretations, the narratives and themes that make sense to me.  How I talk about Rook in this post reflects my interpretation of Rook and how I view the themes of Veilguard. If you are still interested in reading, great! If not, I understand.  

The Worst Ending 

My original post was focused on what the least risk option for Thedas was.  So in sticking with that theme, the worst ending is the highest risk for Thedas in my opinion. This isn’t me being critical of anyone who enjoys that route, I know many found it narratively satisfying. I’m just saying objectively, with no emotions attached, it doesn’t align with the themes I see in Veilguard, the games overall or Solas. 

This is considered the worst outcome because everyone dies. It happens when Rook neglects their companions, failing to build strong bonds or help them resolve their struggles. Rook becomes so singularly focused on destroying Solas that they sacrifice everything - including their allies - to get there. Sound like someone we know? 

If Rook is a narrative mirror of Solas, then in this ending, Rook has become the worst version of him - isolated, idealistically rigid, and disconnected from others.  

As I said in my post: 

“Like all humans/mortals, Solas has to deal with emotions. But as a former spirit - one who embodies and reflects - the presence of someone who understands him (sees him) is important. Simply put, he needs help processing his emotions.” 

If Solas enters the Fade in a state of violence, rage, and destruction, does that become the foundation of his prison? He describes it as a terrible place to a romanced Inquisitor - even in a calm state of mind he sees it as terrible. A violent state of mind? The Fade will reflect his turmoil, twisting around his fury.  What if it feeds it, and reinforces the worst of what he has become? 

Leaving Solas to rage against his fate does nothing to help Thedas in my opinion. I see him as a being fractured psychologically, spiritually, and emotionally. His anger won’t heal him, and if it can't heal him, how could we expect him to eventually want to heal the Titans? 

And what of Rook? If they die, do they go down in a storm of fury, becoming part of that endless battle? Are they consumed by the turbulence of Solas’s wrath? And if they survive, how do their own emotions shape this space? Especially a version of Rook who, at their worst, mirrors Solas in sacrificing others to achieve an end. 

My Rook doesn’t embody violence - they embody understanding. They fight when they must, but their strength lies in seeing beyond the moment. In trusting others, relying on their team. In choosing connection over control - something Solas has great difficulty with. In this sense, Rook becomes a symbol of breaking the cycle, not perpetuating it. Their goal isn’t vengeance - it’s Thedas’s future. 

However, regardless of how you might interpret Solas or this ending, there is a more important piece that makes this ending a huge risk for Thedas:

Solas has the dagger.

The only known artifact capable of opening the Veil, making it one of the most powerful objects in Thedas. (To be honest, this makes no sense to me and I’ve yet to find a compelling in-world reason for why it ends up in his hands, aside from setting up a potential opportunity to bring him back in the future. If anyone has read or written a thoughtful analysis on this choice, I’d genuinely love to see it - please share it with me.)

Atonement Ending: Why Rook Stays in Thedas 

The biggest signal to me that Rook is meant to stay in Thedas as a protector? 

Once again – the Dagger. 

Solas giving Rook the dagger is more than an act of trust, it’s a responsibility, and a quiet acknowledgment. It marks a shift in his character. His entire arc has been defined by the need to undo his past mistakes on his own terms, driven by guilt, conviction, and pride. But in placing the dagger in Rook’s hands, he relinquishes control.  

This gesture proves Solas is serious about atonement. The dagger is his anchor to the Fade, and giving it away means surrendering the very thing that keeps him there. He entrusts it not just to someone he believes will use it wisely (who already has), but to someone who has transformed it. It was a weapon of destruction in Solas' hands, in Rook's it is a weapon of protection.  

That’s why I’ve never seen my Rook as a figure of regret for Solas. They are a lesson. An example. 

Even the title of the game reinforces this - The Veilguard speaks to Rook’s role in protecting the Veil and Thedas alongside their companions.

If Rook were meant to go into the Fade with Solas, the game would have given that option and presented Rook in a different way. Instead, Rook’s relationship with Solas is built on tension, manipulation, and resistance. Even if you play Rook as compassionate or forgiving (like I did), the writing keeps them at a distance. And ultimately, the choice to join Solas in the Fade is an emotional one. While Rook plays a vital role as that moral and ideological counterweight to Solas, I don’t think they were intended to be the emotional anchor of his story.

Emotional Connection  

The fact that the atonement ending requires both the Inquisitor and Mythal suggests it is these relationships that are central to Solas’s ability to move forward and accept his penance. They are required for his emotional recalibration.  I see Rook as a logical appeal and someone who provides enough disruption to allow Solas to receive those he’s emotionally connected to (a catalyst).  But we all know Solas can’t be moved by reason alone. 

Solas understands his ideals, and I interpret Rook as someone who connects to those ideals. But ideals were never the true obstacle. What Solas struggles with are his emotions. As I mentioned above, spirits don’t process emotions - they embody them. Where a human might feel something, move through it, and eventually let it go, a spirit is that feeling – and let’s not forget that Solas is a former spirit and an ancient being – therefore it’s highly likely he experiences emotions differently than mortals. As I also said earlier, I see Solas as deeply, emotionally fractured and we see he can’t move on from intense emotions easily. Imagine centuries of unprocessed emotions.

That’s why emotional reconciliation matters in the atonement ending. Rook offers a logical disruption, but it takes the emotional presence of the Inquisitor and Mythal to reach every part of him. There are wounds that only reconciliation can begin to heal. And sometimes, healing is done best when there is someone to reconcile with. (Of course, that hinges on the player’s willingness to see Solas as fractured and worthy of healing. Some never will - and I understand that.)

Could a high-approval, friend Inquisitor also fill this role? I believe so, yes. Their bond is significant enough. Solas lived amongst the Inquisitor and the companions of the Inquisition – he was a companion, and Inquisition shows development of those relationships. Hell, let Cole stay with Solas in regret prison.  These are emotional ties built with Solas before Rook is introduced. 

Which is why I find it very symbolic that Rook is silent in the most emotional ending (other than explaining Morrigan's presence). My Rook doesn't reach for Solas with sentiment - they force him to confront the consequences of his choices and push him to change course. And I think Solas needed that. He needed the sharp, unexpected reminder of where he failed from someone he couldn’t predict. Then came the reminders of who he hurt - the Inquisitor, and by extension, the people - and finally, release from his past through Mythal, probably the most painful emotional connection. My Rook and Solas come to a place of mutual understanding and grudging respect, but there’s no emotional tether between them. My Rook’s heart is with their companions - that’s where their loyalty and love live. 

And so, the game only allows a romanced Inquisitor to willingly join Solas in the Fade - a choice that, to me, suggests this figure of love was always meant to transform the meaning of his exile. Why? Because she is someone he loves, someone he fell in love with outside of his past. Her presence bridges the divide between spirit and human, between his ideals and his emotional vulnerability. She embodies both intimate connection and the possibility of being seen - and forgiven. 

Of course, this interpretation will only resonate for those who enjoy or appreciate this world state. But within that context, her presence redefines his fate - not as a solitary punishment, but as a shared act of hope. 

Lastly, on a personal game note? My Rook - Tamar Mercar, a human Shadow Dragon - is in love with Davrin. That alone is the most immediate and obvious reason why Rook would never go to the Fade. There’s no emotional connection between them that would make such a choice feel narratively or thematically fitting in my world state. But I could go on how the love that Rook has for Davrin is actually what opened her up to seeing Solas with such compassionate eyes. But that’s another post (though I have started a journey on those thoughts here.)  

Well anon, if you made it all the way to the end – thank you.  I genuinely appreciate the chance to share my interpretations. This is my world state, and it means a lot to me in the sense of how I interpret Solas and his spirit/man/wisdom/pride and ancient being complexity. I’d love to hear about yours, too. You felt strongly enough to send me a message after all, so please feel free to share. You’re more than welcome to reach out privately if that’s more comfortable. I truly enjoy hearing different perspectives - especially when they’re offered in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.