#like is it the magic of dyeing + a wig for the upper length? if so...why the variation lol. i just don't know i really do not

[unproduciblesmackdown]

asia kate dillon amongst group pics of the cast of the mysteries at the flea theater

[vigilskeep]

various and sundry artbook tidbits i found interesting (SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE VEILGUARD ARTBOOK. obviously)

faction & location stuff:

a sketch page from the very early days exploring shape languages for factions like elves, dwarves, wardens, the necropolis, tevinter, and rivain, also includes concepts for the mages’ college and the ben-hassrath

early rivain concept arts have npcs with a similar armour patterning to duncan’s, suggesting it’s a mark of his rivaini heritage like i always thought!

the depiction of the ““creation story”” suggests elves were mimicking the bodies of dwarves when they formed their own, not humans like i think mythal says in game flashbacks, which would make more sense timeline wise

there’s concept art of the city of ventus, which i believe is of particular relevance to mercar players? it’s right on the border of arlathan forest, and surrounded by magical statues holding out raised hands forming a ward along the tree line to keep it from encroaching

the home base was going to be a lovable fixer-upper of a ship given to us by isabela, named the dumat. this didn’t fit the spy theme they were originally going for, so they tried really really hard to make it a submarine without feeling anachronistic by making it sort of sea monster shaped. there are a lot of cutaways and schematics. they were going to give it a mystery engine that you would get light fetch quests to feed random objects: “ten dried lavender flowers, five quail’s eggs, three brass belt buckles, etc.....” the submarine then turned into an undersea mansion on the back of some giant shambling sea creature you would never get a good look at

later on there were some funny takes on the lighthouse specifically, like bringing back the sea creature theme to put it on the back of an interdimensional veil whale, or having it be the true location of the black emporium with a collection of eluvians that xenon the antiquarian lets you use

there’s a tiny concept art for a “high-speed aravel chase” in a canyon like a western

tevinter gladiators are mentioned a couple times. we WEREEE going to get to see the minrathous proving grounds :( there’s also a dwarven embassy concept art somebody take me out back and shoot me

there are a lot of ghilan’nain creature designs that didn’t make it into the game which is a shame but i can see why they would have been resource heavy

the antiva concept arts are so gorgeous. a lot of it got through! and definitely the overall Vibe made it. at some point it seems to have been antiva city itself; they don’t call it treviso and they mention the circle of magi as a major landmark

“The entrance to the Necropolis is like an inverted Tower of Babel. They seek knowledge in the grave instead of heaven.” <- this just rules as a line

for arlathan: “To differentiate it from previous forest and jungle locations in Dragon Age, we went with an autumnal colour palette. It has the benefit to feeling ominously like the end.”

the veil jumpers have a “skull halla” symbol that “implies their willingness to risk death”. did that end up in the game?

“With each faction, we explored a range of aspirational fantasies. For the Wardens, this ranged from knights in shining armour to butal tanks to a Nietzche quote: ‘Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster.’”

there’s this concept among the warden armours for an insane orlesian noblewoman look with the winter palace morrigan corset and a piled high wig, but the skirts torn knee length and a serrated fan in hand. i’m kind of obsessed

“To bring more life to the world, we thought about what industries would keep the Anderfels afloat. We took the prominent Warden blue colour and envisioned an industry harvesting flowers, creating dye, and then weaving copious amounts of blue fabric.” this is probably where the flower quests in the hossberg wetlands started off conceptually? v cute

character stuff:

in completely different early versions of the game, solas had a “bad cop” right hand woman called reva

imshael the desire demon/choice spirit from the masked empire and inquisition was going to be a two-handed weapon warrior companion, and also sexualised now while in largely feminine form, which would have been a Choice. there is one art of him in masculine form, also sexy but still not showing as much skin as the feminine one

as i said, neve was going to be calpernia

taash was a rogue. (they’re still a light-armoured dual wielder so that checks out.) it seems like davrin was briefly a mage. at some points harding seems to have inherited bianca

saarbrak, another qunari companion, seems to have lastest the longest of the abandoned concepts. he’s the only non-canon one who got as far as having a place for him sketched into designs of the lighthouse: “saarbrak’s planning room”. mentions and sightings of what might be him are sporadic and i think you only see his name on that sketch, but i’m connecting it to the description “a potential qunari companion evolved from saarebas to dapper qunari spy, offering a deeper look into qunari culture”

the embroidery on harding’s clothes is how she passes the time while “waiting for days in a sniper perch” on missions. i just thought that was cute

[atypicalacademic]

Nurlan Samal- A widowed innkeeper on the brink of a discovery.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, Devorak- and that’s no sorcery- not the kind you hate, anyway.”

Pronouns: She/Her

Nickname(s): Nur, Nura

Age: 32

Occupation: Innkeeper and Actress at the Community Theatre

LI: Julian Devorak

Favourites: Marigold, Kahwah, Pita and Chili Beef

Patron Arcana: The Sun

Zodiac Sign: Leo Sun, Capricorn Moon

Familiar: A fire salamander called Jalan

Magical Specialization: Pyromancy

Masquerade Costume: Pheonix

Physical Appearance: Light brown skin, mid-back length black hair with bright yellow streaks, strong jaw, full lips, and lilac eyes. 5′7″, voluptuous build with wide hips and strong, muscled upper arms. Amputee (knee disarticulation)- lost her left leg as a child in an accident- uses a pair of wooden crutches that she gets regularly enchanted from Asra to improve it’s ease of use, mobility, protection and comfort. She wears a full face of makeup, and what she can’t afford, she tries to mix up with dyes. Is never seen without her bright red lipstick and thickly applied kohl. Behind the lipstick, her lips and teeth are a little stained from her long-term smoking. Dresses in bright colors- has a chant to the Sun Goddess tattooed just below her rib cage. She wears a nose ring, three earrings on each side, and has her bellybutton pierced. 

Background in a nutshell: Nurlan’s family had moved from the Southern Steppes to Vesuvia before she was born (Pyromancy had been commonly practiced in her old tribe- though her own family weren’t big on the practice- Nurlan showed incredible aptitude from the start- her family taught her the basics- she’d approached Asra for a little more- she’s still figuring her way around it). She’s lived in the city all her life- they’d struggled to make ends meet- working their way up from nothing to managing to secure a space for their inn, Hardy Nook, at South End. Her family belongs to a monotheistic religion called the Maddhis,  who engage in the worship of Madeira, the eagle-headed Deity of the Sun. Faith is a very important part of Nurlan’s life- she’s actively involved in the prayers, rituals, festivals and community services undertaken by Maddhis in the Temple District and all over Vesuvia. At the age of 27, she married her sweetheart, Aida, who ran the little tea-shop where the Community theatre used to be. They lived right opposite the Doctor’s clinic in South End, and he’d taken a great deal of liking to Aida’s smoky tea. Unfortunately, as many Vesuvians did, Aida succumbed to the plague, the epidemy abruptly ending their short but blissful married life, leaving Nurlan ravaged and torn apart with grief. But she powered through, knowing that life must go on, throwing herself into what’s left of it with breathless passion. The tea-shop was closed- and she enthusiastically agreed when her fellow citizens when they approached her about the Community Theatre. Exploring her passion for acting really helped take her mind of her grief, gave her something else to focus on (she copes through distraction). There is a mystery that troubles her, though. She remembers nothing of the Masquerade when the Count died. The day had been wiped entirely from her memory, and she’d tried to explain it away on drunkenness or lapses in memory- all she remembers is waking up in the forest the morning after, dried blood on her dress and her hands. 

Fun Fact: Nurlan’s a fan favorite at the Community Theatre- her best role? That of the murderous Doctor Devorak in “The Count’s Last Masquerade.” All that long hair’s a bitch to get into the perfect auburn wig, and the plague mask is a little itchy on the nose- but her bluster more than made up for that discomfort. She’d had a little crush on Julian for ages- apologizing profusely when she spilled cigarette ash on to his wanted posters- for ruining a gorgeous face like that. When she first gave him a sample of her performance, her muse had been beside himself with elation- clapping and cheering and flailing and swooning- “You make a better man of me than myself, my dear!”

Now they’re the thespian it couple of South End- playwrights often pair them up- the mush gets a little sickening, but the audience doesn’t mind- they’re just- so cute.