So I know the joke about how you can cast a fireball in front of the templars in DA2 without them caring has been done 1000 times but how come Cullen didn't recognize Anders????
Like. Anders was THE problem child at Kinloch what with all his escape attempts. Surely Cullen knew who he was, right...?
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been replaying da2 as a mage again, i'm still in act 1, and it really sunk in this time that cullen can learn that hawke is a mage as early as mid-act 1, during the quest "enemies among us", when wilmod is revealed to be an abomination and cullen & hawke fight together. at this point, hawke is just a random unknown (or hawke can have bethany / anders / merrill in the party, and cullen can witness them fighting too) yet cullen doesn't comment on it, or presumably tell meredith about it, because at this stage of the game, meredith has literally no reason to spare hawke. they have no status, and have done nothing especially major for kirkwall / the templars, other than this exact quest, i suppose, but it certainly does bethany no good if a non-mage hawke doesn't take her to the deep roads.
obviously there's the fact that hawke is a video game protagonist and therefore the game can only really work if they get more leeway than anyone else unless the writers are willing to add in a whole additional quest just for mages specifically, or to tailor every subsequent quest around the fact that hawke is an apostate. a lot of cullen and meredith's lack of action re: mage!hawke can be chalked up to that, but it's more satisfying, narratively, to consider that cullen does not perceive hawke or their companions as dangerous apostates that need to be apprehended.
i find cullen so fascinating in da2, even at the start before things are really falling apart enough for him to take a stand, because even when he has no idea who hawke is, even when hawke shows up and uses magic at his side like 10 seconds after they meet, cullen is receptive to what hawke has to say about mages. in my first playthrough, i played blue hawke, this time i'm playing purple hawke, and even while i sarcastically introduced myself with something along the lines of "oh, templars are torturing their own now, too?" cullen doesn't actually get defensive in the face of hawke's blatant instigation. he's focused on his duty and explains what he's doing with no real heat. (and i love that while he acts aggressive with wilmod originally, after the fact, he says he only needed to scare wilmod into telling the truth and that wilmod "needed to believe it was genuine", which of course isn't really an excuse for treating someone aggressively, but it says so much about cullen and his preferred methods. bad cop, so to speak, not actually intending harm until they have no choice.)
then when you return to the gallows later to wrap up the quest, this is when cullen's infamous "mages can't be treated like people" line appears, but in the context of cullen literally just finding out hawke is an apostate and doing nothing about it, it rings so hollow, like he's speaking out of fear (because of what he experienced in kinloch hold, which he does bring up during this quest) or regurgitating chantry / templar order propaganda whether he truly believes it deep down or not. he's been told that mages are dangerous since he was a child, and he's been hurt by abominations, it's so easy for him to just fall back on that rhetoric. even when faced with evidence to the contrary, people who have been manipulated / indoctrinated are, at first, quick to refuse the scary new implications and grasp onto the safety of what they've been taught to believe.
and hawke can flat out say "you're wrong". they can remind cullen that they're a mage. cullen is absolutely still confident in what he's been taught, but he also doesn't get angry, he's actually receptive to what hawke says. it realistically wouldn't be possible for him to immediately understand that the chantry is entirely wrong and just shed all the ideas he's had hammered into him from childhood, but you can see already that he's open to eventually changing his mind. personally, i like that it's a slow progression. it's more realistic and satisfying. i really like that hawke can get through to him as the acts go on, and your dialogue with him is rewarded in the end. i like that he can know hawke is an apostate but not turn on them. cullen has a lot to mentally sort through and i really enjoy watching him grow, not just in this game, but following into dai.
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I’ve seen a lot of people posting a few writing memes about fic titles so I just wanted to break down where all of mine have come from and what they mean in Accursed Ones because I’m bored. Probably nothing you don’t already know in here
1. Awakening - Name of the game + Anders literally waking up + metaphorically waking up and understanding his obligation to help
2. Nothing For It - Mean to imply that Anders had no alternative but to help and be helped by Amell in turn
3. Conscription - What it says on the tin
4. Joining - What it says on the tin
5. It Comes From Beneath - Name of the quest
6. Last of the Legion - Name of the quest
7. Memories of the Stone - Name of the quest
8. A Night of Revelry - Meant to be ironic considering what happens
9. Freedom for Anders - Name of the quest
10. Freedom for Anders Part Two - Name of the quest
11. The Righteous Path - Name of the quest
12. In Retreat, Panic - A play on the Grey Warden motto. (Also my favorite chapter in the story.)
13. All Soul's Day - Name of the annum
14. The Dark Theurge - Name of the demon
15. Paramour - Name of the achievement for a romance
16. Ground Rules - Ground rules for a relationship
17. Lost in Dreams - Name of a similar quest
18. Far Afield - Name of the quest
19. Far Afield Part Two - Name of the quest
20. Uprising - Name of the quest
21. The Resolutionist and The Aequitarian - Amell and Wynne’s respective fraternities
22. Serpents High, Angels Low - Both the rules of the team’s card game and an over-arching theme of the fic where things that are presumed to be good/evil are often the reverse.
23. Malleus Maleficarum - The name of a treatise on witchcraft elevating sorcery to heresy and a song Malleus Maleficarum by Ordo Funebris
24. Shadows of the Blackmarsh - Name of the quest
25. The Blackmarsh Undying - Name of the quest
26. Pride Goes Before Destruction - A reference to the Pride demon and Amell’s pride in thinking he can handle it
27. And a Haughty Spirit Before a Fall - A reference to Justice and Anders falling for Amell
28. The Apple And The Tree - A quote about Amell being like his father
29. Lullabies - A Song - Lullabies by Yuna
30. Fools Gold - Meant to reference both Quentin and Anders’ happiness. Also a song Fools Gold Fitz and the Tantrums.
31. Eyes of the Beholder - A play off “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” meant to reference the difference between Amell and Anders’ perspectives on losing his eyes.
32. Blame it on the Night - Meant to indicate what happened isn’t Anders’ fault. Also a song - Blame it on the Night by Calvin Harris
33. White Lies, Red Eyes - A reference to both the colors of the Amell family and Amell’s personality
34. Spirits and Demons - What it says on the tin
35. Love is Blind - An overarching theme in the story.
36. Satinalia - Name of the annum
37. Brothers and Sisters - A reference to Wardens and Anders still having family without Amell.
38. Score One for Our Heroes - Meant to be ironic. Also a quote from Anders.
39. Out of Control - The current state of things and also a reference to A Leader on Losing Control by Corb Lund which is a Leonie song.
40. Justice for Naught - Meant to imply that sometimes there is no justice but you have to keep trying anyway
41. Here's to Us Blighters - What Oghren says when night is darkest
42. Bold and Brazen and Beautiful - Amell’s description of Anders
43. Monsters and Men - Self explanatory for Justice/Anders.
44. The Best Intentions - Oft Go Awry is Unspoken
45. Blessed Are the Peacekeepers - A quote from the Chant of Light
46. Champions of the Just - The rest of the quote. Meant to be ironic.
47. The Black City - A reference to both Kirkwall and the actual Black City
48. Rip Up Your Roots - A quote from Cor and what Anders does to cope, but the follow up, “You ain’t gonna have a tree.” is equally important.
49. A Good Man - A quote from Lirene about Anders
50. First Day - The name of the annum
51. As The Crow Flies - Foreshadowing Anders learning shapeshifting
52. Wintersend - Name of the annum
53. Chasing the Sun - Name of a song. Chasing the Sun by the Wanted.
54. Doubts and Revelations - What it says on the tin
55. Birds of a Feather - Flock together. Both a joke about shapeshifting and Kanders.
56. Snap - What it says on the tin
57. Ray of Sunshine - Joke on Bethany’s name
58. Oopsy Daisy - Joke on Merrill’s name
59. Pretty Reckless - Meant to reference both Anders and Hawke’s behavior.
60. Let's Try This Again - What it says on the tin
61. A Preoccupation with Spirits - A joke about Justice and alcohol
62. Meetings - What it says on the tin
63. Acquainted - Basically just Meetings Part 2
64. Bloodline Part One - What it says on the tin
65. Bloodline Part Two - What it says on the tin
66. Trail of Love - Name of the quest but also references Anders’ many past and future loves. Amell, Karl, Isabela, Hawke.
67. Rude Awakening - A call back to the first chapter meant to show how much Anders has changed. Anders takes on the role of Amell here and Hawke takes on the role of Anders with respects to Blood Magic.
68. Safe Harbors - A joke about sex with Isabela
69. The Best Laid Plans - Oft Go Awry is implicit.
70. Oft Go Awry - What it says on the tin
71. All New, Faded For Him - This was an anagram like the quest in DAI but I can’t remember what it is an anagram for. RIP
72. A Year Ago Today - What it says on the tin
73. Friends in Low Places - Name of the quest
74. No Turning Back - What it says on the tin
75. Senior Warden Anders - What it says on the tin
76. Bodies So Maimed - Quote from the Chant of Light about darkspawn
77. Down in the Dark with the Dead - A quote from Eli
78. Up in the Light with the Life - The opposite of the above quote
79. A Day for Silence - Name of the annum
80. My Failing and My Falling Part One - A line from Anders’ story for Nika and a reference to Hawke’s failure to protect his sister.
81. My Failing and My Falling Part Two - Same as above
82. Pain and Bane - Name of the poem Merrill sings. Also an overarching theme of the story
83. Luck of the Dog - Reference to the Dog Lords but also ironic considering Anders is not lucky.
84. Bird's Eye View - Both a reference to Anders’ transformation magic and his perspective on the Circles and how Bethany doesn’t share them
85. Act of Mercy - Name of the quest
86. The Revolutionists - Name of Decimus’s fraternity
87. Burn After Reading - what it says on the tin
88. Not in Hand, Not in Play - A quote from the chapter but also Fenris’ perspective on love and a theme of the story. It is or it isn’t.
89. Enemies Among Us - Name of the quest
90. Save Me - What it says on the tin
91. Benedictions - A Canticle in the Chant of Light that makes Hawke think of Anders
92. What Will The Neighbors Think? - A mini-theme throughout the story regarding Anders (in)ability to be openly in a relationship, be it with Amell, Justice, Hawke, etc.
93. Have Your Pie and Eat it Too - What Anders keeps trying and failing to do
94. Dead Set on Ending Badly - Foreshadowing
95. Where We Stand - Where Hawke and Anders’ relationship stands
96. Hearts of Gold or Near Enough - Meant to apply to all of the main characters
97. Ghilan’him Banal’vhen - The Path that Leads Astray. Foreshadowing.
98. Abstention and Absolution - Meant to be Ironic
99. Until the Last Dog is Hung - What it says on the tin
100. Free To Good Home - References the mages, Dog Lords, and also Anders
101. It Gets Easier - Narrator Voice: It did not get easier.
102. Luxury of Leaning - A reference to Hawke not having the option to pursue men as the scion of a noble house but doing it anyway because fuck you mom.
103. Dissent - Name of the quest
104. Into Madness - Play on words. Descend into Madness / Dissent into Madness
105. Fester - What it says on the tin
106. The First Sacrifice - Name of the quest
107. Once Removed - Play on words. A reference to Amell/Hawke’s Eyes and Quentin being Hawke’s cousin once removed.
108. Not Again - Haha get wrekt
109. All That Remains - Name of the quest
110. The Way Forward - A reference to Fenris’ quote about the stairs being out. Meant to symbolize that there are no other options for Anders, Hawke, and the narrative as a whole. Also, ironically, meant to show that Hawke does not actually move forward.
111. Lyrium and Lies - Foreshadowing
112. Ser Cumference and the Terrible Tower - A children’s tale vibe meant to show the dichotomy of man.
113. The Calm Before - Foreshadowing for the name of the next chapter.
114. The Storm - What was foreshadowed.
115. Long Time No See - A reference to both not seeing Amell for a long time and Amell not being able to see for a long time.
116. To Catch a Thief - Name of the quest
117. To Save a Sinner - Similar naming methodology of the previous chapter meant to show Isabela is more than just a thief.
118. On Deaf Ears - Both Hawke being deaf and Hawke not agreeing with Anders.
119. Hey Sparkles - Meant to give a “It’s gonna be okay dude” vibe.
120. Give Me A Sign - Sign language reference but also a plea for Hawke and Anders’ relationship to get better.
121. We Should Talk - About both Hawke and Amell, but Amell is the only one Anders talks to in this chapter.
122. The Weight of Years - Shit’s heavy
123. How Have You Been? - Asking the dangerous questions again
124. Spin a Story - Varric’s terrible advice to Anders but also Amell’s approach to interacting with Anders after they’ve been apart for so long.
125. Give and Take Part One - Commentary on Anders relationship with both Amell and Hawke.
126. Give and Take Part Two - See above
127. What You Make It - What love is according to Fenris
128. Letters from the Vigil - What it says on the tin
129. Consent is Key - A quote from the chapter and commentary on responsible use of blood magic.
130. What Have You Done Now? - A song. What Have you Done Now by Within Temptation
131. But This is All I Ever Was - A song lyric. Ditmas by Mumford & Sons
132. Wasted Time - Also a song lyric from Ditmas but like accidentally.
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