#like who actually gives a shit about the darkspawn?

[csphire]

Hopes and dreams I had for Dragon Age 4 that we so did not get.🙃😢

An actual RPG game. Not Nice Guy, Nice Funny Guy, and Nice but Stern Guy. Let us screw up and piss off our companions.

No more dialogue wheel selection bait and switches. "Nooo I didn't mean that. I did not think they would say that! That's not what I thought that choice meant. I meant-fuck! *sighs* ...I guess I'll have to reload." Or more accurately, "That was the mean option? Are you kidding me!"

Letting the player be an asshole. Sometimes, it's just cathartic to punch a character. People in customer service especially need this at the end of a shift. Putting this in games is a public service. We needed more of those kinds of moments beyond the bloody tutorial.

More of our previous choices having an actual impact in DA4. Like the Well of Sorrows I was so certain would bite an Inquisitor in the ass somehow in the future. Like Morrigan with Mythal in her could force the Inqusitor to hurt or even try to kill Solas. So I agonized over that choice. The same goes for who we left in the fade. Honestly, the three or so that carried over I did not see any impact on DAVG at all. Am I wrong?

Who we left in the fade showing up or we find their body. "Where's Hawke?" Yeah... where's Hawke BioWare? Get's Hawke's clothes instead. Well, that's... depressing.

The option to play as the Inquisitor trying to be low profile or as a nobody aka Rook. This way, everyone is happy, right? For a lot of us, the Inquisitor going toe to toe again with Solas was important.

By playing as the Inquisitor we would have had one sweet Dagna-created prostatic arm-not from Bianca because screw her. Also, depending on our class each one would be a little different. Oh, and that prosthetic would also be customizable just like Varric's crossbow and every other weapon in Dragon Age Inquisition. I really thought BioWare would jump to help feature an amputee in an empowering way. True we had Neve but it felt like more of an afterthought to give her a prosthetic that honestly looks uncomfortable as hell.

Open worlds to collect mats, and kill things to craft gear and weapons for our team only better. It would have given us time to breathe and enjoy the scenery. Plus I like doing that kind of tedious shit and if you don't, fine go buy that stuff I guess.

Vendors that will sell us the goods if we got the coin and none of that faction BS.

"Knife ear!" You think at least the venatori would be shouting that at my elf. Nope! I did not feel like my character's race mattered in this game. I don't think Solas over a decade really put the fear of the gods into the North. We all know isms and slavery are bad but putting those things in a game's world helps people realize why they're bad and can even help people feel what it's like to be on the receiving end of such abuses which can help create a thing called empathy.

Blood! Where is the blood? Why is my character not covered in dirt and the gore of their enemies? Don't like that, fair but what about an on-off feature in settings?

Enemies that send chills down my spine. Instead, the ogres and darkspawn made me bust out laughing. I cannot take them seriously, especially the ogres. I see them and think, "Derp a durr... oh I'm an ogre and soooo scardy... rawr."

Dagna... because she's adorable and if any dwarf deserves magic it's her. Or at least let her nerd out, study Lace and help her understand more about her new abilities.

Sandal Cameo at least. Also adorable aaand... ENCHANTMENT!

Our companions can get hurt. I'm starting to think they made them immortal because they knew some of us would let them get hurt on purpose. There are no feelings of concern at all for them going into combat now, no pick-up mechanics it leaves me feeling only more apathetic about them.

Quicker cooldowns on abilities instead of spamming the left mouse button all of the time. And more than two fucking abilities on my hot bar. BioWare... what were you thinking?

Three or more companions traveling with us instead of two. It was the gold standard all throughout the franchise. How are we supposed to get to know them all when limited to-oh right most of them have a personality as deep as a kiddy pool, never mind.

Companions with personalities and problems deeper than kiddy pools. That tension between Cassandra and Varric, Dorrian and Vivienne, Cole and Sera, and so forth was... chief's kiss.

Control of all THREE of our companions traveling with us in combat. Look, I'm a control freak who likes strategy. Combat for the series has always been centered on strategy, pausing, builds, and gear. Am I still bitter that they dropped us to two? ...Yes.

If playing as the Inquisitor you get the option to romance someone new. Especially let us have the option for Lavellan to move on from Solas.

Better-looking hands and body proportions. Why are the heads so damn big? And honestly the hands in failguard genuinely creep me the hell out with tucking the pinkies away all the time. It's weird! Strange hill to die on I know but they just make me cringe and die a little inside.

Romance scenes that would make Larian and BG3 fans blush. This game was always meant for adults. Adults have *gasp* SEX!

Solas not being a total red flag d-bag for killing our favorite dwarf! Run Lavellan Run! You're probably next. And if not him, Bianca is going for your eyes!

Solas being less of a manipulative antagonist twat and/or the player has the ability to be more diplomatic from the start with Solas to get his help. I feel like Solas' character development sorta backtracked by a lot.

Solas once again is a romance option but this time to EVERYONE! That and I wanted to see Lavellan and Solas finally get it on.

They finally let us romance Varric. Oh they did you so dirty, baby... *ugly crying*

A memorable soundtrack that sets off all the feels and is not stuff that's reused from the Inquisition.

Last but not least, where the fuck is our Golden Nug Bioware?

I might add more later, but feel free to add more and comment below!

[mostlygibberish]

Every now and then I will see someone mentioning the Dragon Age games like they're still relevant and wonder what exactly I missed that they had any sort of lasting impression on people.

[supacutiepie]

My full playthrough verse for Dragon Age is 'What the World Asks of Its Children' and the idea is that we focus on children and how they change dynamics and themes in all four games. (Also I love Dorian and he's the main star for a good portion of the au because he started it with Theia and Ataashi) Origins: Running of the 78% reasonable idea that Aegis is the child being asked to save the world. So her real part of the story will be an after story tale, about her Mother, Edona. DA2: This time, Hawke is the parent and the twins are the children he raises with help from his companions. Hawke is a disabled ex-sexworker doing his very fucking best. (Instead of either Bethany or Carver dying in Lothering, it's Leandra. And the twins are way younger, at like ten or eleven during the opening act) Sort of between DA2 and Inquisition: Dorian and the story about his girls. 'A girl named Dragon': how he gets captured and meets a dying tal-vashoth, and how this ends with him adopting a little girl named Ataashi. And then 'The Ghost of a Girl', how he takes a terrified and mute elf under his coat and they make a little family. Also in this era is Bull's 'Sea of Candles'. where he learns he has a daughter but the human mother wants nothing to do with the child because it kiiiinda ruined her. Tal-Rasani is a treasure. Then we get into Inquisition: Where The Herald is an elvhen hunter named Liora who lost her husband at the conclave and the same day of the explosion she conceives her first child, several months later giving birth to a little girl named Dawn. And how the Inquisition changes when there are four little girls running around and then two angst twin teenagers LMAO PLUS morrigan has kieran. we're all girl dads here. Then to Veilguard: Rook is a Crow turned Warden. She was sweet ona boy several houses above hers, sweet for a long time and he even reciprocated her affections. enough so that they were each others only love - until she found out she was pregnant. His grandmother did not approve of the match at all, so she 'sent away' the girl and the child under the guise of 'its not safe to carry a dellamorte child' and that Rook would be able to deliver the babe somewhere safer. Bull shit. She got like, a month of rest after giving birth before she was ambushed by darkspawn. Caterina didn't know how pregnant Rook was because rook had suspicions about the old crone. So timeline was, Caterina was trying to get rid of both her and the baby. Rook is blighted, found by wardens carrying her newborn through the woods, and saved by the joining. All of this happens pre wigmaker - lucanis thinks his sweetheart was killed on an assignment bc thats what caterina tells everyone. i dont like this woman. cont

SO Lucanis thinks Rook was KIA. Never even knew she was pregnant. And Rook becomes a Warden sorta not her choice but it's what she can do, because she sort of thinks Caterina tried to kill her. So, she works with the Wardens, raises her daughter, and tries to think of a future. She doesn't get a chance to get much information about Antiva in. But she gets a single contact, she gets the news that the 'Demon of Vyrantium' is dead. That her 'Luca' is dead. So, for a year, she thinks Lucanis is dead, and he's thought she was dead for four years. Imagine his shock when she rescues him. Actually imagine VIAGO'S shock when Teia wide eyed and shocked brings Rock and Harding into the Diamond, imagine CATERINA'S shock and disdain, trying to twist it around as though Rook hid the fact she was alive. Rook doesn't mention her daughter, doesn't trust that information to the first talon at all but damn, she tells viago and teia in secret when she can. they agree, its not a safe place. SO... Imagine being Lucanis, first being rescued by the very alive first love you ever had. THEN her telling him not to freak out - but his mini me is five years old and running amok in the lighthouse. And then, imagine seeing some FUCK ASS Warden pick up said lil girl and she squeals about her 'uncle dav!' and oh BOY you thought those two were catty before???? now its a DAD FIGHT (It's not, because literally everyone and the spirits can tell that little girl belongs to Lucanis, but Lucanis is so deep in his head about spite he's terrified she'll get hurt so he tries to remain distanced but this is literally the one thing he's wanted his whole life SOOOO) ((Also, those weeks where rook is gone? Dad Adventures, the estranged father and the step dad LMAOO) ANYWAYS!! I'm going to piece together this big massive au little by little. It's been my little pride and joy for seven, eight, TEN years man.

[hezenkossapologist]

We understand that Broodmother is a reflection of the brutality of Orzammar and its use of women’s bodies explicitly for breeding, right?

In Orzammar women are always already broodmothers.

Broodmother is a narrative reflection of that use and that reality, a use of women which is justified in Orzammar as having to replenish the Warrior and upper castes due to the constant pressure of Darkspawn, but in the deep roads is stripped away of all its social pretence.

Orzammar’s narratives are entirely about people being used, abused and consumed in the service of caste and necessity, and how this particularly effects people who are assumed to be able to give birth, how it creates not just sex work but pregnancy work, and the coercive ways necessity operates on people.

It’s not at all a subtle parallel. The darkspawn do not defeat House Branka; Branka- Paragon, Noble, highest caste and most powerful woman in Orzammar- feeds her lessers to the darkspawn.

She has all her story reasons for doing it, but at the base and inescapable level, she (like all the other Dwarves of Orzammar) use and discard lower Castes because they can, because they have the power to, because the caste system organises them to be able to.

I honestly absolutely hate with a spitting seething passion the kind of analysis that sees horror, especially horror against women, being committed in a narrative and immediately becomes incapable of saying anything about media other than “it’s just edgy/gritty/grimdark” and dismissing it.

Life is edgy gritty and grimdark for a lot of us. I was a teenage sex worker. My life was edgy gritty and grimdark. I experienced some of the most vulgar expressions of how gender works in my society, and I experienced them bluntly.

And to dismiss depictions of sexual, gendered violence as “purely for shock” when they are not, when they have something to say about gender and power and violence in a setting, is to assign stories like my real life as “shock value”.

There is more feminist shit to say about Orzammar alone than anything in Veilguard, because Orzammar is actually interested in gender and in the social roles and violences that create, reinforce and are a consequence of gender systems*.

And personally, I will pick a story that clumsily tries to say something about power and violence and society over a smooth story that says nothing about those things every single time; but that doesn’t mean Broodmother isn’t worthy and deserving of criticism (it is!) but can we please at least start from a place of criticising it for what it actually is and what it is actually doing in the game? The work and text that is the game?

*I am not saying Orzammar is feminist or is doing feminism, but you can analyse it from a feminist standpoint because the cloying weight of Gender and Gender In Society as a faucet of the setting is inescapable.

[fangsandfeels]

Oct 11 - Favorite Awakenings scene/dialogue

All dialogues with Justice and Sigrun are my favorite as they reveal entirely new worlds and philosophies.

Justice shows the part of the Fade that few non-magi actually know: that it's not just a place of demons and horrors. It's also a place of spirits, who are genuinely sympathetic and curious, and kind. They reach out to mortals in their most horrible moments (Cole, Wynn), when these mortals are completely and utterly alone - and they stay with them. Or they will fight for the doomed and trapped souls because they can't stand seeing their pain and let them be hurt any longer. It's incredible, how powerful and yet, how innocent they are.

(this is also why I have always hated that "Justice becoming Vengeance = bad" in Dragon Age II. It's not that I'm opposed to the idea of spirits becoming more aggressive and getting corrupted by the influence of the mortal world, but making vengeance the scapegoat yet again and demonizing it. I feel like Justice becoming Judgement would be more fitting.)

Sigrun's story and interactions with the world show the perspective of a Legion of the Dead fighter. And, I sympathize with Legion of the Dead immensely. They're basically Grey Wardens, minus the darkspawn blood transformation and heroic aura around the name, but equally doomed - and they know it. What makes things even more tragic is that their work is necessary -- they are the ones standing between darkspawn, but also Orzammar and the rest of the world that couldn't give a shit unless a new Archdemon is awoken. However, at the same time, people like Sigrun end up being Legionnaires because their own homeplace wants nothing to do with them. It doesn't give them a chance because they were born castless, it punished them for getting forcefully drugged into crime or resorting to crime to feed themselves, and then it offered them ways to die - either by execution or joining the Legion of the Dead. Given that the Darkspawn are the main threat for Orzammar, Orzammar is shooting itself in the knee with that approach.

And, yes, Bernadette absolutely kept coming up with very important tasks for Sigrun, delaying her long walks over and over. And Sigrun amasses an ample collection of surface world trinkets, from books to plants to toy figurines - sometimes she jokes about Bernadette inheriting her collection once she is gone. Bernadette doesn't think it's funny, but plays along.

(Also Bernadette would have never told Anders to give up Sir Pounce-a-Lot. Are you fucking kidding me? Having a pet doesn't make you too soft, it keeps you sane - Bernadette would know she gave him the cat in the first place and in this essay I-)

[frenchy-and-the-sea]

Times of war bring people together, for better and for worse.

How does Mori get along with the others companions? Does she have any close friends among them, other than her romantic partner(s)? Or perhaps even some frenemies?

Bonus question: Does she have any notable relationships among the non-companion characters?

Gonna do this one before Traveling For the Holidays eats me alive, so: YES! YES BIG TIME!

The most notable one - and the one that happened the most rapidly - is Emmrich. When Mori found out that there was going to be another Watcher around, she was....a little worried? Not REALLY worried, but like...she'd been away from home for a WHILE at that point. She had adapted, and she thought that it was a good thing, but having someone ELSE see it - someone from home, who knew about her history and about how she was SUPPOSED to be behaving - felt like an intrusion? Like she was going to upset or disappoint someone? So the idea of mashing her two worlds together was a liiiiiitle concerning for her.

Then she actually met Emmrich, and not only was he an incredibly respected and storied professor who commanded much of her respect, he was just so nice. He, like her, derived so much joy from his position. He didn't just respect the dead - he LOVED them, with the same exuberant care that Mori had always felt. And he was so kind and so open and so meaningfully curious that she IMMEDIATELY felt a kinship with him. It wasn't even just a academic relationship either; he felt like a real friend, like someone who really Got It, and she found herself seeking him out more and more as homesickness really started to set in. They trade books sometimes. :>

AND THEN, ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM LMAO. Despite their vast differences, Davrin actually made Mori feel like a comrade-in-arms from the very beginning. I mean, don't get me wrong, it started with some very obvious posturing - the Mourn Watch aren't exactly known for raising WARRIORS - but once he realized that she could hold her own, and that she had the same amount of grit standing up to darkspawn as she did to demons and undead, he was quick to recant his original assessment of her. Nowadays they spend no small amount of time training together like career soldiers (since that's what they both are) and giving each other as much shit as humanly possible. Mori likes to think that she helped to blunt some of his edges when it came to Assan, and Davrin boasts that he helped to temper Mori's latent ferocity into something REALLY deadly.

Taash thinks they're both full of shit, but that doesn't stop them from crowding in during a "Watcher vs Warden" training sesh.

[operative-arrow]

"So this one time, somewhere around 20-something years ago, in Orzammar. A lady was down on her luck. Mining caste, fairly respected. But she fell prey to one of the Thaig's oldest stories. She fell in love with some casteless asshole.

At least she thought it was love. He was playing the caste lottery. Wanted a daughter. She had a baby. But according to Orzammar, the baby was a boy. Which meant that he was casteless like the father. Not mining caste like the mother. Useless to the duster who just wanted to go up a few spots in life.

So he disappears. Probably gets offed by carta or something. Maybe he gets eaten by spiders or darkspawn trying to loot an old Thaig somewhere. Not important.

The mom gets thrown out. How dare she embarrass her House by getting trapped with a worthless child like that, right? Worthless to the dad, a shame to the family. Only person in all of Thedas who gave a shit about this runt was the mom. 'Throw it in the Deep Roads and come home.' That was her dad's demand. He thought he loved her and that was the best advice he could give her. The kid wasn't even a person, according to Orzammar. But the mom loved the baby and refused. So she found herself down with the dusters the father wanted to escape. Begging for any little bit that might come her way.

But then- and I shit you not, in walks a Grey Warden. Not just ANY Grey Warden, either. He was an exiled Aeducan! You might have heard of him. Kind of a big deal. I don't know how he got involved at all, but he actually managed to convince the grandpa to let her come home with the baby. Said they'd figure something out.

So the mom is grateful to the Warden Aeducan. Says 'Oh thank you, when my son is old enough I will send him to you!' Like a... Knight in their service sorta thing. This kid's whole life is already set for them, practically before they can even make their first baby noises.

But they figured if they couldn't find the Hero, joining the Wardens like them might be the closest thing to honoring the pledge. So they marched all the way to the Anderfels to join. The coolest thing of all?

So this kid has kind of a shitty childhood in ol' Orzammar, but eventually they're 16 and that's close enough for anyone who cares. So they get sent out of the Thaig to find Warden Aeducan, the Hero of Fereldan. And the world has been kind of messed up. So they had a really hard time actually ... doing that. For a couple years. Eventually though, it became clear the Hero had kind of... Disappeared.

I was that baby!-

What do you mean it was 'obvious'? You're full of shit Recruit Ga- Yes, Warden Thorne. No, Warden Thorne.

*long sigh*

'Your Warden Recruits have better things to do than fight each other. Focus on the Darkspawn. Focus on the task ahead of us, and joining the Order.'

Yes, Warden Thorne."

-(then) Recruit Rhyo

[thessalian]

Thess vs Companion Quests

I have to give Veilguard credit for this if nothing else: they make absolutely zero bones about the importance of companion quests. Like, they literally come out and say, "Your companions have other shit on their minds that will cost them their focus; if you don't take care of unfinished business, you're all fucked". I guess some people didn't take it all that literally. Hell, even people who played ME2 and should understand that Bioware uses the "Everyone needs to be on their A-game or you're fucked" mechanic every once in awhile did not take it literally, at least according to Reddit. Then again, Reddit says a lot of things.

One thing I did discover is that it is still worth wandering up to companions, even if there's no actual option to speak. I first noticed that you get ambient dialogue if you approach two companions talking around the Lighthouse, and noted that sometimes they're around on their own and will talk to you. So I wandered up to Lucanis after eavedropping on a Bellara / Tash conversation ... and lo and behold! There was a "Press E To Talk" option. I did, and got the answer to a question I'd been asking myself pretty much since I recruited the suave bastard: "WHY THE HELL DO YOU LIVE IN A PANTRY?!?"

(Because he's paranoid. That's why. I'd say "whatever helps him get to sleep at night", but he doesn't because a) we apparently don't have night at the Lighthouse, exactly, and b) Spite.)

(Also because "it means I'm closer to the coffee". I feel you, man.)

Anyway, I've spent most of the early afternoon running around Dock Town. I was going to do the Hossberg Wetlands stuff first, but I felt bad for putting Neve's stuff second. Anyway, I thought, "It's just the one quest, and then I'll get to Taash's stuff and maybe even sell all the darkspawn crap I'm somehow carrying around to the survivors of Weisshaupt!"

(Side note: Weisshaupt was insaaaaaaane, especially the final fight there. I thought it was going to be just an archdemon - and doesn't it say something when I can say "just an archdemon"?!? - but I began to have doubts when my ultimate one-shotted it because ... no. I've seen tougher mini-bosses. And then ... Taash is right; TOO MANY HEADS!)

Point is, I thought it was going to be just the one quest, but Veilguard quests never just have one. I tripped over several more, a couple of which were two-parters. But hey, I did murder a lot of Venatori, ended a demon of Desperation under the city (which ... I wish I'd been able to pay more attention to the names of the adds but I was kind of dodge-rolling for my life half the time), found out a little bit more about Neve's "personal business", and saved not one but two iterations of Matt Mercer from Venatori. (The Viper is one; the other is this busker we tracked to a dive bar in the city. We don't get quiiiiiiiiite as much NPC!Matt as we did in Pillars of Eternity, but it feels close sometimes.)

So Minrathous is a little less awful, and I was just going to come back to the Lighthouse to give Harding a present, but then other people wanted to talk to me and hey, now not only have I got stuff Taash wants me to do and the "new quests available in this area" I saw when I hovered over Hossberg on the map, but Emmrich wants to visit a manor outside Nevarra, Bellara wants to hunt up some demon in Arlathan, and stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuff!

Anyway, seriously, I've seen people complete this game in 40 hours and I have no idea how. ...Actually, yes I do. They don't do companion quests and end up like in ME2, without even a Joker to play Ishmael.

[blanska]

Vrem's Journey pt. 2

Vrem Ingellvar, human Mourn Watch mage. (they / them)

Links: - Part 1 - Vrem's OC Profile - Vrem posts - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

Let's start with a nice little smile. Much better. I'll go into more interesting stuff, I swear, but I love these screenshots of Vrem, so here we go :D

I don't know what Solas sad, but how dare he make my baby sad?

Cool ultimmate ability screenshot. Vrem's default squad was Lucanis and Emmrich. All of Vrem's abilities dealt necrotic damage, so all we had was necrotic damage, which was sooo much fun against the darkspawn who are resistant to it :'D But we were op so it was fine.

Back to the story. I love th Weisshaupt part of the game, very epic and exciting.

Naturally, Vrem tried to reason with the First Warden just like they do with spirits, and behind them both Lucanis and Davrin were looking at each other like "is this guy for real?! just knock him out already!" xD

Vrem is not the leader type of personality, but they aren't afraid to do what they think should be done the way they think it should be done. So when it's time to talk to companions in the Lighthouse they are more in their element, and in these big battles they're just winging it and looking to the more action oriented people to decide what to do. But this team with Davrin and Lucanis were good for them in this situation because both of them make good calls in fucked up dangerous situations.

Let us a talk about the romance. I came up with Vrem specifically because I wanted to romance Lucanis with a character that actually made sense for him and the romance scenes in the game, the possible dynamic.

As I said in the previous part, Vrem was originally more intrested in getting to know Spite and helping the two fo them get along. And of course this was something that they were making progress with even if Lucanis resisted their attempts and advice for half of the game xD

But slowly Vrem got to know Lucanis and see glimpses of what he really is like, how much he cares about people, how trustworthy he is. And while Vrem takes cares of others through understanding, acceptance and trying to help with emotional issues, Lucanis does the opposite. He supports his friends when they're struggling with something internal, but mostly he pays attention to tangible things, makes sure they have everything need, they eat well, they're safe, etc. Which is great because Vrem often forgets that these things are important too, and now there's someone who helps with that. And no matter how much he hates it or fears it, eventually Vrem gets to see all the dark thoughts eating away at Lucanis' heart, and they gently force him to stop ignoring this.

And finally when they face Illario, Vrem is extremely proud of Lucanis and Spite for finding that first step toward harmony between them, their common goal being saving Caterina and defeating Illario. And of course, Vrem suggested that Lucanis doesn't imprison Illario - which I don't think is a very wise decision, but Vrem views things less in a practical way and more in a what is best emotionally. They didn't know Illario before all this and even though he's done some horrible shit, they wanted to give him a chance to turn his life around. And mostly he wanted to give Lucanis a chance to get back his brother and best friend one day in the future.

Part 3

[blade-of-the-crow]

Hey! I decided to make a short angsty fanfic for Davrin and Wardenrook!

Hope you enjoy a little snippet 🥹(not beta’d wanted to get this out quickly!)

What happens when after all they've sacrificed a simple life with their half-bird half-cat kid just isn't in the cards for our heroes 🥺

PART 1

It’s been nearly 5 years since the fight against the blighted elven gods, or as Bellara liked to explain it, a fight with several little wars.

Thedas has more or less moved on, she’s not back to normal and will never be the same as it was but in some way we are stronger for it.

Tevinter has a ruler that has begun to repair the damage its legacy has left on the world and the elves are slowly being recognized as people in their own right and not beings whose sole purpose is to live as slaves, and as for the Wardens, well the Wardens are figuring out what their purpose is now that the last archdemon has been slayed.

Since the fall of Elgar’nan the strength of the blight in Thedas has diminished greatly and with the help of the remaining wardens who volunteered, the South is finally starting to see the promise of one day hosting life again.

After the final battle the Veilguard went its separate ways. Neve stayed in Tevinter, Lucanis and Bellara returned home to help rebuild their organizations, Emmrich and Manfred returned to the Necropolis and Taash went to live with Harding’s ma who was in one of the first convoys from Southern Thedas fleeing the blight.

As for a certain Warden power couple Rook and Davrin decided to make their dreams of a quiet life with their half-bird, half-cat kid together a reality. Everything was finally coming together until two months ago.

“Hey Rook!” I hear a familiar voice call out my name as I am trying to hack through a blight tendril blocking what should be a doorway according to old blue prints.

About a year ago what was left of Warden leadership decided now might be a good idea to see if Weisshaupt could be taken back. With the darkspawn gone and the gods dead the blight's hold over the fortress wasn’t what it once was. I offered my assistance a couple months ago and came up here while Davrin decided to stay behind in Arlathan with Eldrin and the griffons.

“Yea?!” I called out.

“The first Warden wants to see you in her office!”

“Alright!” I called out as I sheathed my blade. “But give me a hand it’s easier to jump down this pit then it will be jumping up.”

I reached my hand up and felt a firm grasp take hold and lift me out.

“Damn Thorne skimping out on rations?” The man is taller than I am so I have to crane my neck to see who it was. I sigh when I realize who they sent to fetch me.

“And here I thought your ass was among the names of the fallen who had not been identified yet.”

“Bloody hell who knew you grew into such a bitter bitch.” He laughed “I guess you’re still upset about how I ratted you out to the higher ups back then huh.”

“Oh wait was that before or after I found you balls deep in a fresh twenty-year-old recruit.” I scowl at him.

Ashton Anderson, a fellow warden who I had the foolish notion to choose as my first love. We met shortly after our joining. It was a whirlwind romance that lasted way longer than it should have. My punishment for my actions with the horde wouldn’t have been so severe if not for him whispering shit into the First Warden’s ear about how my ‘reckless’ actions were a result of a broken heart and that I was not fit for anything other than a junior warden position. Turns out there was a promotion in the works and that the two names brought forth were ours. He used his position as my unfaithful ex-boyfriend as leverage.

‘Son of a bitch.’

“Okay I see you’re still upset about that.” He had the nerve to look sheepish and turn his head away.

“Actually what you did was probably the best thing for me. It led me to where and who I belong with so if you don’t mind I’ll be going.” I said as I stalked off.

Never had I imagined I’d run into him but to be honest it was a good thing. If it was anyone else I might not have been able to breeze past that comment about my weight so easily. I am able to hide my appearance under warm clothes and heavy make up, but how frail I am underneath is another thing entirely.

I get lost in my thoughts and before I know it I am in front of the First Wardens office. I take a moment to compose myself not knowing what laid behind those doors. I knock and a moment later a familiar voice calls out in response.

“Come in.” I push inside the door and find the first warden and her partner.

“Rook” Evka greets with a nod as she gets up from her seat behind her desk and walks over to where her husband was standing.

“Evka, Antoine.” I nod “What’s up, someone told me that you guys needed to see me.”

“Oui, thank you for coming so quickly.” Antoine replies as he gestures to the chair in front of the desk. “Please have a seat.”

“Uh oh.” I joke “Why does it feel like I’m being brought before a jury.” I say trying to make light of the situation.

“Rook.” Evka shakes her head. “I think you know exactly why you are here.” She admonishes gently.

I sigh. “How long have you guys known?” I asked not looking directly at them.

“Antoine knew as soon as you arrived.” Evka said as she sat down next to me and placed a warm hand on my knee. “I clued in a few weeks later, when you started getting turned around getting to the mess hall, a route you knew like the back of your head. I asked Antoine after to make sure I wasn’t making a bigger deal of it in my head. You taking longer each day to get ready in the morning was another obvious clue.”

“I can’t hide anything from you guys it seems.” I respond after a lengthy pause.

“You’re right. I hear it. I hear my calling.”

[ziskandra]

1, 8, and 10 for the Violence Meme :3

1. The character everyone gets wrong

The way that ‘Loghain Mac Tir’ immediately comes to mind probably says a lot about the way he’s portrayed in fandom, huh… While I obviously don’t expect anyone to see my blorbos 100% the same as me, sometimes I’ll see takes that are so diametrically opposed mine that I’m just like: huh.

That being said, Loghain is a very complex and layered character, and all the different possible ways to read his motivations only leads credence to that fact.

Anyway, here are my own preferences/biases when it comes to Loghain:

1) Maric is Loghain's everything, and not only that, but the Maric that lives in Loghain’s head is even larger than the man himself was in real life. Personally, I like how this explains the discrepancy between the way Loghain describes Maric (as though he farts rainbows) and the way Maric is described in the tie-in novels (rather punchable).

Sure, they might've gone through a lot of shit together, but Loghain is completely abnormal about Maric and I love that for them.

2) I think Cailan’s death at Ostagar wasn't planned, per se, but rather that Loghain was willing to take that loss if necessary.

And look, Loghain did try to warn Cailan that fighting on the front lines would be foolhardy, but Cailan refused to listen and well… what can I say other than Loghain knows how to pick his battles? 😌

3) Loghain is not very politically savvy: I like to think Anora got her more astute people skills from her mother.

That being said, I think people sometimes forget how at the start of Origins, Loghain is a man deeply in mourning: in the preceding years he’s lost his best friend and his wife.

I feel this is also part of why he doesn’t realise he can rely on Anora: fully accepting that she’s a capable adult and no longer a little girl with pigtails as skinned knees would be to accept that there is no going back, he can never go back: the happiest, most purposeful part of his life is behind him and who is he, other than a father with a disobedient daughter, and the general of a nation that is starting to rise up against him?

Loghain basically suffers from like, a catastrophic loss of identity during the course of the game and is pretty much ready to die by The Landsmeet. If anything he’s glad to have found such a worthy opponent in the Warden: it means Ferelden’s fate is in good hands.

4) Leading to my last point: a combination of all the factors above means Loghain is very open to manipulation (by Howe, by Anora, by the Warden should they so choose).

That being said, I don’t think that absolves him of his complicity in his crimes, and especially not the slavery in the alienage. He very much knew the elves were being sold, but had also accepted that the alienage was lost to the darkspawn. I can certainly see someone with Loghain’s background deciding that giving the elves at least some chance of survival as well while also making more money for the war effort as the practical choice. While it’s not the moral choice, it is a pragmatic one and Loghain is a pragmatist.

Anyway my actual point is that while some Loghain fans might try and minimise his involvement in the alienage, I find it far more fascinating to explore through the lens of who he is a person. After all, I am not looking at fiction to inform my morals wholesale, but rather to explore other perspectives, and I am especially drawn to how people can justify atrocities to themselves, SO! Here I am, sharing my Loghain thoughts on tumblr dot com 😌

[choose violence ask meme]

[faded-mage]

Mara

Mara de Riva stood in the middle of an empty tavern at the heart of Minrathous and felt small. When she squared off with Solas, she did not feel so out of depth. The man was remembered as a god and she found him less intimidating to speak to than the woman before her now. From the stories she heard 10 years prior, the woman defeated a darkspawn magister and closed a gaping hole in the sky. While traveling with Harding and Varric, they told additional wild stories about the woman. She should be at least 8 feet tall based on the tales Varric wove. The dwarf tried to convince her once that the Inquisitor had even traveled in time but Mara was quite sure that was just Varric making shit up.

Morrigan drew them into the city just to speak with Inquisitor Lavellan. Standing in front of the woman, who was actually shorter than Rook herself, was startling. Standing in the presence of the Inquisitor alone should be enough to make Rook nervous but there was something else that took precedence in her mind. Mara would not go as far to say that she and the Inquisitor looked identical - it certainly was not that. Their face structure was vastly different and the woman was quite a few shades darker than herself. However they both had wavy black hair and gold eyes. They looked like they could be cousins. Her mind wandered, could she? No, no. Definitely not. As far as Mara knew her family was from the North and she spent most of her years with the Crows in Antiva.

Mara knew that Varric chose her as his second for a variety of reasons. A few being that she was resourceful, an unknown to Solas and a skilled Crow. She believed an additional reason that he never said aloud was likely standing right in front of her. From what she could guess in that moment, Varric chose her in part due to her vague resemblance to the Inquisitor. Paired with what she heard through Harding, Solas and the Inquisitor were in a relationship during the height of the Inquisition, it began to come together. If she remembered correctly, Harding described the Inquisitor as the only person who was able to bring a real smile to Solas’ face. After meeting Solas in the Fade, Mara was unsure what a smile would look like on him. Creepy? Maybe. The only way he looked at Rook was with a smug smirk and a bit of disdain.

Harding smiled widely as the Inquisitor approached them, “Inquisitor!” The dwarf spoke often on her time in the Inquisition quite fondly and despite Lace stating she was not close to the Inquisitor - not part of her inner circle - the elven woman looked absolutely thrilled to see her. The Inquisitor smiled warmly with a softness in her gaze, “Lace, you know I have told you many times to just call me Avise.” Was the fact that the woman was kind and warm on top of doing all of those insane things more or less intimidating? Probably more. It was easier to feel on equal footing with assholes like Solas. Harding turned a slight shade of pink and chuckled, “Right! Right… It just- you look official again in your Inquisition armor. Force of habit.” Mara had a feeling that even back then Avise told Harding to call her by her name. Harding continued, “Rook - this is Inquisitor Lavellan. The woman who led us all.” The elf chuckled quietly and looked down at the metal armor plate strapped across her chest, the rest of the armor a mixture of cloth and leather protecting vital organs but giving the woman the ability to move freely. Embroidered on the arm was the symbol of the Inquisition. It was certainly armor built for a mage. As a mage herself she wanted to speak more but the meeting was not likely meant for idle chatting.

Mara noticed on top of Avise’s breastplate a necklace that looked to be out of place. Some sort of jaw bone, definitely from an animal, wrapped in leather cord and hung around the woman’s neck. Cat? No, too large. Fox, maybe? She found herself staring at it blankly as she tried to decipher what it was. From the stories Varric told her about the woman, she knew Avise was a Dalish elf but she did not believe she knew many that wore animal bones as jewelry. Her eyes lifted to meet the Inquisitor’s face and there were no tattoos. No vallaslin. Didn’t all of the Dalish have them?

With the initial shock wearing off, Mara gave the Inquisitor a smile. While not raised as an elf specifically, she knew a few phrases to get herself by, “Andaran atish’an, Inquisitor Lavellan.” Once Avise’s gaze returned to hers she found them to be unsettling. Like staring into a mirror. Varric, that sneaky bastard. He was good. She would need to tell him so when they returned to the Lighthouse. The Inquisitor shifted and gave Mara the same warm smile as Harding, “Aneth ara, Rook. But please, just Avise. We do not need formalities here.” Morrigan stood beside the Inquisitor and a soft laugh fell from her lips, “Avise never was a fan of the titles she collected along the way.” Avise gave the woman an eye roll and a sigh, but her lips curled up into a smile anyway.

While Avise interacted with Morrigan, it gave Mara a chance to really study her. There were bags under her eyes and her left arm moved oddly, her fingers flexing stiffly under the glove she wore. Through her time with the Crows she was quite skilled at understanding body language and either the Inquisitor was too tired to care how much she revealed or did not know she was that easy to read. From Varric’s stories, it was likely the first.

The Inquisitor updated them on what was happening in the south. Avise brought grim news regarding Ferelden and Orlais with the Free Marches fairing the worst. She felt Harding tense next to her, fear settling on the young woman’s face. “We didn’t know it was that bad. My ma…” Right, she almost forgot Harding was from Ferelden. That her family was there. Before the dwarf could spiral further, Avise interrupted her, “Lace, she is safe. I promise. We spoke with the Divine and she is now with us at Skyhold. Along with other refugees. She is well taken care of and I believe she and Cullen’s sister have taken over the kitchens actually.” The woman truly appeared to care for her people. Harding exhaled deeply once she was told her mother was safe, “Thank you… Avise.” If it wouldn’t have made the poor woman turn beat red, Mara might have clapped for her. The Inquisitor seemed to be pleased that she was trying.

Avise now turned her gaze on Mara again, “The south is my problem, not yours Rook. You stop the gods and I’ll make sure the rest of Thedas doesn’t fall to the Blight.” Her tone made Mara feel more at ease, everything was not on her shoulders alone. They had someone taking care of everywhere else so her team only needed to focus on the gods, she felt some of the tension release from between her shoulder blades. The Inquisition could do little to assist them in the north - their soldiers were spread thin across the south fighting darkspawn, the Inquisitor was traveling all over the continent trying to convince countries and governments to work together instead of tearing each other apart. The Venatori spread lies about the Inquisitor ensuring Tevinter had no interest in working with her and the Grey Wardens were still angry over the Inquisition’s involvement at Adamant fortress. Avise could offer little in the ways of soldiers or diplomatic connections.

So there was not a lot of physical help the Inquisition could give, which was disappointing. Morrigan likely saw that thought clear on her face, “The Inquisitor did not come all this way to leave you with empty words however. She brought something no one else could.”

The Inquisitor pulled a bag that was slung over her shoulder and gently took out a blue wolf statue that glowed. It looked identical to one they found exploring the Crossroads. She explained that it appeared for her shortly after Solas’ ritual failed and he was pulled into the Fade, “We’ve examined the magic and its tied to the Veil, to him. Somehow.” Mara could see a mixture of emotions settle on the Inquisitor’s face. There was a sadness to her gaze as she looked at the statue, Mara quietly wondered how close the Inquisitor and Solas truly were in the end. Maybe that would be a discussion with Varric and Harding once they returned to the Lighthouse. Avise’s brow furrowed and she hesitated before she spoke again, “Solas was… important to me. If this statuette helps you understand him, if it uncovers something that… Honestly? I don’t know. I wish I did. But this feels like a part of him and whatever he and I once were… I think. I hope it might help you.”

Mara saw the woman beyond the title then. Yes, she was this heroic figure from the stories who took down indescribable evils. She was also just an ordinary woman who loved the wrong man. Her demeanor changed drastically as she spoke and Morrigan reached out a hand and placed it gently on Avise’s shoulder, giving her a small smile. It was an act of comfort, “We should go Inquisitor. The armies in the south need you.”

The elf licked her lips slowly and nodded, a deep exhale and the warmth returned. With a quirked eyebrow, her tone was strangely playful giving Morrigan a lopsided smile, “Right. You don’t think Cullen would enjoy speaking to all those Orlesians without me?” Her gaze glanced at Mara like she was somehow part of the joke, she knew little of Orlais and Orlesians but based on her next words she might skip that trip, “Last time they grabbed his ass.” Harding next to her choked out a laugh before Avise continued, “Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t help it.” Clearing her throat, she pointed to Harding, “Lace, stay sharp. You’re my eyes in the north” then her attention returned to Rook, “Rook. Good luck.”

- - -

Solas

Time moved differently in the Fade and it felt especially strange in the prison he created. It was perpetually dusk without the beautiful colors of the sky to create warmth and ambiance. Everything was cast in shadow and gloom. Islands around him highlighted his regrets, each moment he could not change, nor fix. People he could not forgive himself for hurting or betraying. The largest of the islands was related to Mythal. Regret for taking a physical body, regret for turning from his purpose, allowing himself to be molded into a general, creating the Dread Wolf. Allowing himself to sunder the Titans.

Other islands held decisions he made while leading the rebellion. Lost allies, poor decisions and moments of weakness. There was one island in particular he avoided whenever he could. But something in the prison he designed rearranged the islands and he found if he wandered without paying attention to his path that he would appear at that specific island each time.

Solas was particularly annoyed at how well he designed the prison, never expecting to be there himself. The islands were made of stone that rearranged to show the focus on the person’s regrets. If a person, for example, the statues would tower over the platforms in varies poses. Reminding them of who they hurt, what they did. He knew what would be on the island, the one the prison kept pushing on him and it was not something he cared to face. It was too recent, too raw. In the distance at the edge of the island he could see the focus of its regret, a statue of Avise kneeling on the ground, holding her arm to her chest. Pain on her face. It towered over the first platform. The moment caught in stone was from the day he took the anchor from her. It ate at him every time his eyes landed on the statue, the Dread Wolf stepping away each time and returned the way he came. It felt endless.

The only break in the monotony was when Rook visited him to ask for advise. She grew less hostile, though he could see the underlying anger whenever she spoke. He used magic to make her forget Varric was dead. It was not his finest moment by far but it was needed. The woman’s grief over his death would not foster what he needed her to become for her task. Despite that, he enjoyed dispensing advice, spreading his wisdom. That was his original purpose after all. He almost felt pleased to be able to assist with answering questions regarding all that he knew but he also needed to get out of there. He needed to stop the Evanuris and he needed to complete what he started. The Veil could not stay up, the world he created by doing so destroyed so much for his people.

Everything he did for Mythal and because of her was marred with regret and pain. If Solas had been strong enough, wise enough to say no. To refuse a physical form, all of this would have been avoided. He could have stayed happy as a spirit. Or would he? No, he supposed not. Would anyone else have stood against the Evanuris? The gods would have razed the world into nothing but ash.

All that pain and regret did also bring him to where he had been content. He experienced joy and happiness while in a physical form as well. Traveling and learning, experiencing memories and events long passed. Pleasures that came from good food and the soft caress of his hand on someone’s skin.

During brief moments of respite he contemplated the happier times in his long life. After his slumber he made friends with other spirits who resided in the Fade, allowing himself to feel that connection once again. He also found worth in those who lived in the world shaped by his mistakes. His attachment to Mythal was through devotion and loyalty but his attachment to Avise Lavellan was by choice.

Solas’ mind wandered to mornings kissing Avise on the temple to wake her up, the soft groans as she tried to pull herself from sleep. The look on the elf’s face as she fought besides him, the two in sync as they danced and pulled from the Fade to bring magic to them. Her smile as she leaped into his arms after mastering a Fade cloak for the first time, the magic that rippled off her skin and tasted like her. Her soft whimpers when they were entangled in the sheets, succumbing to their more base desires and the rough bites she placed across his skin. Those were some of his worse regrets, that he hurt her, lied to her, betrayed her.

He felt Rook appear before he saw her, standing across the crevasse from him, her arms folded over her chest. A smug expression appeared on her face as if she knew something he did not. Annoyance flared within Solas once again, he believed it would not be a pleasant conversation.

[feeshies]

Can you tell us more about Seonag and Davrin's dynamic? How did they feel about each other at first? Who caught feelings first? Your art of them is cute :)

Thank you! And thank you for giving me an excuse to ramble about them; this has been an especially hard semester so I appreciate the levity.

As a disclaimer: I'm still in Act 1 in her playthrough and I haven't officially started their romance yet

Davrin being a Warden really helped with their connection. During her time as a Warden, Seonag learned early not to grow close to any of her comrades because they would never stick around long. But Davrin was very good at not dying, so Seonag found she could open up to him and finally connect to someone about Warden shit (it's also not like she was forming deep, personal connections with people outside of the Wardens either)

At first, Davrin was a bit put off by how Seonag talked about her experience with the Wardens. But after they talked more, he realized that she was speaking from a place of trauma. They both came to the order in wildly different ways (Davrin joining to make a name for himself and to make a mark on history, vs. Seonag joining because her only other options were prison or execution). Davrin is the kind of Warden Seonag would have written off as a naive idealist who would get killed by darkspawn day 1. But, again, Davrin is very good at not dying, and he somehow still isn't jaded about the Wardens like she grew to be. Spending more time with him actually helps Seonag develop an appreciation for the Wardens she never had before. There was just something about him that felt so humble and unpretentious.

Seonag's personality definitely shifts around Davrin. In dialogue wheel terms, she's more purple than red lol. Davrin is also good at matching her energy in return and he definitely saw it as a badge of honor that he was the first one in the party to make her genuinely laugh. Some of Seonag's comments/jokes could be read as flirty, but she's not doing it consciously. She definitely thinks he's hot, but also thinks he's too good to be true (or just too good for her.)

Idk who caught feelings first (again: it is early) but Davrin definitely noticed that Seonag acts more open and loose in a way she generally doesn't with the others. Idk how much he's reading into that, but he's probably waiting for an appropriate time to tease her for secretly being a big softie.

Here are my predictions for how their dynamic is going to play out (in my head - not in the actual game)

Davrin and Seonag keep doing their fun banter dynamic

When Seonag realizes she's catching feelings, she freaks out and tries to block him out

Davrin is like ???

Davrin tells Seonag there's a Warden thing they have to do

Oops, no there wasn't, but now they're going on a walk together and Seonag can't avoid him anymore

Seonag breaks and lets herself be emotionally vulnerable about what's been going on

Davrin doesn't turn her away and now it's Seonag's turn to be like ???

Metalhead/Jock romance for the ages begins

[arrenkae]

Some more Veilguard thoughts:

The siege of Weisshaupt was straight up amazing. 10/10 no notes. I have so many feelings about the Grey Wardens. For all the problems with other factions - they did really well with the Wardens, actually. Maybe unpopular opinion at that point, but I did not like their portrayal in Inquisition at all. Here, it hits all the right notes, just the right mix of heroic, deeply flawed and doomed by the narrative.

I also now feel that a Grey Warden Rook would make for the best story, since we're fighting against the villains who caused all the blights and now are bringing about another mega-blight. Would also make more sense mechanically - yes, previous games also hand-waved us fighting against the darkspawn as non-wardens without getting blighted, but here it feels especially jarring. Mega-blight and all.

Actually, thinking about all that? I feel like the faction system is one of the main problems with the game. It seemed cool at the beginning, but got disappointing really quickly. The way everything has to be divided between The Factions feels really artificial, and makes for some of the weakest narrative points - the elves only being represented by the Veil Jumpers (who are not even a proper Dalish clan!), the Crows becoming a bunch of batman-style good guys, only one area in Minrathous, the Lords of Fortune... just everything about them, to be honest. Hell, even class specializations are tied to the factions - why?? I understand that they were implemented in the game at some point in development and it wasn't that easy to get rid of them. But I still wish we could just be a Grey Warden with more race reactivity (because there is VERY little race reactivity compared to the faction reactivity and I'm disappointed)

Still, the Mourn Watch, even without being particularly story relevant, are super cool. I love everything about them. Emmrich is one of the best dragon age characters EVER. Even if the rest of the game was total shit, meeting him was totally worth it.

I also ended up really liking Davrin. I was worried he'd be overshadowed by Assan - but the thing is, even though a large portion of his dialogue and quest line deals with Assan, it still directly relates to his own character and who Davrin is as a person. The weight of responsibility, the struggles of raising Assan right - it's all very well done. It's not just about a cute pet being cute. Also, as I said before, the Grey Warden stuff hits unexpectedly hard.

Rook keeps giving me "constantly smiling through the pain" vibes. Playing therapist for your party is nothing new for an RPG protagonist, but in this game, with all the nice domestic interactions we see between the companions, being unable to join the party banter (why?? we could in Inquisition) and Rook always acting friendly and supportive, it really feels like we're this part of a friend group who always solves everyone's problems but then gets left out of all the fun group activities. This is probably unintentional, but I think that with time fandom will embrace this characterization for Rook, just as it did with Hawke being a colossal fuckup. It's kind of interesting and tragic, in its own way. Still not a good way to write an RPG protagonist, though.

[luckyjak]

Since the game doesn't really expand on it, here are my headcanons for post-game.

My Rook was a female Lord of Fortune rogue who romanced Emmrich. Worldstate was a female Lavellan who romanced Solas.

(Spoilers, obviously)

After leaving the Lighthouse, Rook returns to find that Solas and Lavellan have claimed it as their home in the Fade. They travel the Fade often, doing their best to try and sooth the Blight. Dreamers see them occasionally, and stories spread of the Dread Wolf and his Hart/Heart mending the Veil and soothing the Blight throughout Thedas. Legends start about the Immortal Lavellan, the woman who changed the Dread Wolf's heart, and in doing so, saved Thedas. She becomes a godlike figure in elven mythology, and many who travel the Fade claim to see her still, helping where she can.

Solas occasionally stops by in Rook's dreams. Mostly to complain about things ("why is my laboratory now a greenhouse?") But Mostly because, in spite of everything, he considers Rook a friend. Rook gives him shit every time she sees him, but ultimately, they are both happy with how things have turned out.

After defeating the Elven Gods, Rook and Emmrich take some time for themselves. They stay in Nevarra for Manfred's studies. Eventually, they make a trip to try and help Southern Thedas recover, and there they meet the most peculiar person: a spirit turned human by the name of Cole. This sparks a wild debate about Manfred (should they try to make him mortal? Should they not? Is he happy as just bones???) But eventually, they decide it is Manfred's decision, and leave it be.

Three months after that, Manfred Laider-Volkarin appears as a 14 year old boy, made of flesh and bone. He has his father's eyes, and his mother's heart.

Bellara Lutare becomes a Grey Warden. While not a choice she would have gone with on her own, it was either that or die of Blight sickness after being possessed by Elghan'nan. She survived her Joining, and primarily serves the Wardens as an elven expert. Mostly, she hangs out and snarks with Antoine.

She and Davrin almost switch places in life, as Davrin, still a Warden, spends most of his time in Arlathan, helping train the newest generation of griffins to help protect the ancient forest.

(Maybe Bellara and Davrin date? I gotta travel with them together more often.)

Archon Dorian Pavus is stressed beyond believe, given the horrendous state Minrathos is in. However, he has help; Neve Gallus, who becomes the voice of her people to the Archon. She uses her detecting skills to find out what the common people of Tevinter actually need, and then reports it to the highest authority (Dorian). The Archon employs a full time Qunari bodyguard by the name of the Iron Bull, and anyone with eyes can see the two are in love. The Shadow Dragons get to reform Tevinter out of it's ashes, and none are more proud than Neve.

That is, when she's not in Antiva with her boyfriend.

Lucanis never wanted to be the First Talon of the Crows, but heavy is the head that bears the crown. Because Neve drags him to the undercities all the time, his rich boy attitude gets humbled, and the Crows are better for it. The Crows stop using slaves as recruits, and no child ends up like Zevran ever again.

The Veil Jumpers live up to their name, and become Eluvian guardians, helping people travel across Thedas with what Eluvians remain. Because of the Eluvians, life prospers after the double blights, with supplies and help getting to the people who need it most quickly and rapidly.

The Lords of Fortune move south to help out in the Free Marches. Their leader, Isabela, cannot stand by while her once home gets decimated, and it's pirates, of all people, who help recover the Marches.

The South survives. King Alistair, a former Grey Warden, uses his knowledge of darkspawn to keep more people alive than the Inquisitor knew. However, Orlais is decimated, and may never be the glory of the Empire it once was. The Divine Victoria moves to Skyhold, her once former home where she served as spymaster, and in the Inquisitor's absence, uses it as chantry stronghold for which Orlais can rebuild.

The reason Redcliffe lasts as the final stronghold is because that is where the Hero of Fereldan, Amell, lives, and it is through her sheer force of will that Redcliffe remains.

King Alistair might not have survived the onslaught, had his life not been saved by the most unexpected source: a young mage named Kieran. If the two happen to bear more than a passing resemblance to one another, well, who's to say?

[curiousstrawberry]

Some under the cut veilguard thoughts and spoilers

Beware since I'm not that far in the story (i think) but done ton of side quests

Idk how I feel about the Inquisitor showing up. Like it's no surprise I don't enjoy inquisitor as a character but this whole meeting has very much a vibe of this could've been an email...

Seriously like here's statue, south is fucked btw but i'm handling it somehow lmao gl

Anyway i hope they show up again (preferably to die for solas tbh... I always thought they'll die cmonn don't let me down)

It's the first quest line i actually dislike actually. Gives whole lot of telling and now showing dai vibe we could literally do without. (What was said w inquisitor Harding or Varric could say, literally no reason to go out of your way to meet inquisitor)

Idk how to feel about the whole solas mythal thing tbh. Like i do not think that's something new at all just hmm yeah I guess (have to digest all that)

Im getting they are giving him more layers and everything and i get it i get it. It's just hmmm curious where this leads

All older character that make cameo literally feel like in marvel movies. Like wink wink nudge nudge see what we did there?? Which tbh i don't mind? Just don't think too hard about it

Also to be absolutely clear the less we know about what's going on in south the better because then we can headcanon shit ya know? Nothing contradicts itself really and everyone is happy until proven wrong (Hawke and Warden are killing darkspawn while making out sloppy style as we speak)

Also so i don't just vaguely complain i really love the choice between saving the two cities from dragons. The way it's so abrupt and all. AMAZING especially if you play either as crow or shadow dragon absolutely delicious angst

I also want Taash to marry me (me, not Rook, they gonna marry Davrin.. already co-parenting griffon with him so yeah!)

God it's so delicious when everyone is like poor Neve how bad she must feel after what happened to her city while Kalais (Rook) is there like crying and self doubt (no shade on Neve at all btw! She's fucking amazing and I love she gets to be pissed at Rook)

Overall i really like characterization of everyone in main group and how they feel together. Like it's honestly lot more like group who's saving world but becoming very close friends vibes and it really works!

They could've killed Varric. Or idk made him more incapacitated or leave. Because he literally serves zero purpose there. I love Varric a lot like A LOT but like he's just literally there just for fanservice. If they killed him in first mission it would've worked better (i would definitely be pissed but if he dies now it'll just feel cheap but guess then Solas would hardly remain redeemable in writers eyes... Tho would make things definitely more interesting with possible redemption)