#magister rose

[bunnybird-afk]

Merlinverse Interactions Game

Hey, y'all! So I had an idea for a fun little community-building exercise for the Merlinverse, just to help us all interact and get more familiar with each other and our OCs.

Basically, this link will take you to a site where you spin two wheels, one with an interaction prompt and the other with the name of a Merlinverse OC. You can then either make a post about how you think the interaction will play out (can be a short-fic, drabble, general thoughts, headcanons, whatever you want), or you can chat to the creator of that Merlin and have fun discussing the idea with them (you don't have to post a summary of the Merlins' interaction, but I think it'd be fun to see). You can participate even if your Merlin isn't on the wheel, though if you'd like them to be added feel free to reach out.

To make these interactions easier to find please use the tags #merlinverse, #merlinverse interactions and the tags for the ocs involved in any post you make (tags under cut).

Rules:

Be respectful of your fellow creators, don't harass anyone.

Be mindful that the person you're chatting to may be busy and unable to respond quickly.

No NSFW or sensitive topics unless you and the person you're chatting to have BOTH agreed to it (please add the appropriate warnings to your post too).

Just have fun!

Participating Merlins:

Sena (@bunnybird-afk, #magister sena) Celestino (@meepinmeat, #magister celestino) Violyste (@magister-violyste, #magister violyste) Pirin (@yohohonabottle, #pirin, #magister pirin) Molpe (@mcnana, #magister molpe) Zelda (@fgfirenation, #magister zelda) Starhawk (@fujimomozane, #magister merlin starhawk) Lavinia (@windmaedchen-oceanhorn, #dame lavinia) Rose (@afkhowstrange, #magister rose) Scylla (@confusedeldritch, #magister scylla) DK (@gloriousrebirth, #magister dk)

Feel free to let me know if you have any prompt ideas, want me to change your Merlin's tag, or if you want your Merlin added to the wheel.

[windmaedchen-oceanhorn]

Did Bunnybirds Merlinverse Wheel again and this time... Lavi is apparently learning something from @afkhowstrange's Rose.

Now, originally Lavinia is learning (or trying to learn) from Merlin anyway, specifically regarding the usage and control of Berial's leftover magic on her. But with Rose... my first impression is not necessarily that they are best buddies (though I might be wrong). So somehow, rather than this being a one-to-one lesson, it is more that Rose has to have an eye on Lavi and Lavi passively observes Rose and "learns" from that observation.

[afkhowstrange]

Did i ever tell you that i gave Merlin the right to take any lives and will not be charged with murder yet?

Well now you know.

“All acts made by the Magister Supreme won’t be considered as crimes no matter how serious they are, every decision the Great Merlin makes is for the good of Esperia.” Is written in the law of Lightbearer Empire.

I believe the Celestials only take Dura’s orders, Merlin is Dura’s most powerful pawn so they don’t have the right to punish her either, unless Dura says otherwise…

This is more like a burden than the purge 24/7 tbh, even though Rose wouldn’t be punished, the people of Esperia will judge her based on her actions. Plus, other factions don’t abide this law.

[stellarhistoria]

unprompted . . . meryl & luka . . . @breathofcosmos

there's a content hum as the group's doctor finds himself slackening into the familiar touch - and that's what it was, it was familiar, now - of meryl leaning against him during the hours where nothing was happening, and the world seemed a little less dangerous, a little less full of gunpowder and explosions. it was familiar, too, in a sense, how easily he slotted into this world.

only, instead of seas of water, it was seas of sand.

after a few moments, he leans his head slightly to the side and rests his cheek against her head, exhaling in understanding that they'd likely both wake up with a blanket wrapped around them, if vash did not want to move either of them - or if wolfwood found them first, they'd be bodily moved to a bed and wake up holding onto each other for dear life again. the thought made him smile.

"I'll be your shield, Merry." he says without thinking. "You'll be my sword, yeah? You're strong like that. You're... a desert rose in acidic soil." he mumbles, dozing off slightly.

[mohntilyet]

literally cannot remember if this is already a post you made but do u think about if illario was a companion character and lucanis wasnt (maybe still rescued from the ossuary, maybe not). would he even be a viable companion character. etc.

i think i've mentioned it in tags but god yeah i've been thinking about companion illario. through bias and visions i think he could have made a really great companion!!!! i just don’t think we had enough who lie to/betray you in veilguard and i was like illario would love to do this <3 or at least TRY to do this and find that he can’t, because the betrayal-according-to-approval mechanic would return in this concept. this assumes a lot of things that i consider to be canon, including that illario’s a genuinely good assassin (YMMV on this i think. i look upon him with rose tinted glasses) but we’re introduced to illario as the second-best option who accompanied lucanis on various mage-killing quests.

he’s recruited in minrathous and not treviso because he’s been killing venatori like a man crazed. i forget who made the post but the one about how veilguard recruitment quests feel forced because you are recruiting, when stumbling on the right people could have felt more organic and a lot less formulated. he’s been operating in minrathous as the ‘demon of vyrantium’, which he admits to rook that he’s not the original. the original was lucanis, who was captured and killed by the venatori, and in his grief, has been trying to kill the magister (zara) that killed his cousin. he’s actually very nice and fun for an assassin, but players get the feeling that the charm is practiced, and there are glimpses into the “something rotten” under the surface.

what the players also do not know is that his hatred for the venatori is definitely projecting his guilt, because even in this au, illario is the guy who originally betrayed his brother and his complexes (slash pos slash hot slash i often picture him on his knees) remain. anyways. plot breakdown under the cut because its so fucking long and please take with a grain of salt because this was workshopped on a call with fie, who ‘yes and’s everything i say, so it might not be the greatest plot ever. nor very coherent. however, this is my blog and i can say whatever i want

act one recruitment: hunting down and killing zara. there’s foreshadowing here or something where she definitely recognises him and the facial animation leans towards “betrayal”. like zara saying “you?” in a way that can be mistaken for fear, when it’s recognition and betrayal + illario killing her before she can reveal anything else. they find evidence that lucanis is still alive and you see how excited he is, but also very conflicted. illario finally returns to treviso, and you immediately see the favoritism when he informs caterina that lucanis could still be out there. caterina delights in the idea of her favorite weapon back in her possession, and illario swears to bring him back.

in between: there’s a venatori leak! the magisters send some back up to weisshaupt which makes things a lot harder for the veilguard (miniboss before ghil?), and it contributes to failing to strike at ghilanain. but who could it be? everyone is a bit wary of each other, and causes friction.

act two: the ossuary <3 inexplicably, illario has found where lucanis is. the veilguard fights their way in and out, escaping with lucanis and destroying the vial of blood. they also find out lucanis is possessed, and when they return to treviso, after the shock and relief leaves, there’s a gleam in caterina’s eyes. illario is moved up in line of succession because caterina can’t see an abomination becoming talon (canon not discussing that he’s fucking possessed pisses me off so bad btw), and she’s obviously envisioning a world where lucanis’ leash is passed onto the grandson she’d seen as lesser, but has recently proved himself better than she had previously judged. suddenly, illario has everything he’s ever wanted, but not in the way he’s wanted it. he’s never wanted to necessarily be greater than, and doesn’t want to lose him. illario is very uncomfortable about becoming a new caterina to lucanis, but can’t express himself or explain it because he’s deeply repressed and he’s trying to be happy because, isn’t this what he wants?

in between: illario’s acting super weird. a high approval illario is a lot more awkward and doesn’t seem to know what to say, which is a first for him. he’s obviously putting on a brave/pretty face on, and hesitates to say something— but finally just thanks rook for helping him get lucanis back. a low approval illario is actually much happier, smiling and laughing and delighted by the way things have gone, with rook/the player none the wiser about what’s happened. (kind of like… bull’s reaction to the chargers in the dreadnought quest being positive either way, but the repercussions come later)

if you are in a romance, a low approval illario will trigger a sex scene, a high approval illario does the dellamorte branded “lean in for a kiss but he can’t bring himself to actually follow through and leaves rook awkwardly”. the differences in reaction would ideally confuse and interest players :)

act three: hinges on approval rating. illario plotted to trade rook’s life for lucanis’. the venatori at weisshaupt was supposed to be their shot to kill them, but failed to do so, and now they’re forcing him to make good on his deal. there’s a cutscene where the party is led into a trap and a high ranking venatori magister— the one who actually experimented on lucanis (because zara is like a middle man. she wants the blood but isn’t the evil mage scientist who did all the experiments)— shows himself and reveals everything illario has done. he was the one behind lucanis’ initial ‘death’. how the venatori leak was him. illario is desperately trying to keep the venatori’s mouth shut, but the magister is tricking him with magic as he tries harder and harder to keep his cover. a fun, trippy kind of sequence where there are illusions and mindfucky magic as illario stabs at the magister and finds out he’s attacking air, and the party keeps getting attacked with magic that they can’t figure out is real or not until it hits them, in this hall of mirrors type freakshow. it splits into two different paths:

low approval: the deal to save lucanis over rook was made early on, and nothing they have done has made illario think differently. he’s scripted to be more defensive and try to stop the magister from speaking, ignoring the party and thinking only about how he can keep his secrets but failing to. he’s angry that his plans have fallen down around him, and attacks both the party and venatori, determined to keep his failures from reaching anyone else (god forbid it reach caterina). the party are forced to kill him when he turns on them, willing to work with the venatori to keep the power he has before it slips away from him again.

high approval: everything they have done has made illario think differently and he’s spent ages regretting and trying to find a way out of the deal (see: the distress he feels right after becoming first talon, interesting codexes, etc). he’s scripted to defend rook from magic, at cost to himself, physically protecting his friends/rook from the magister and getting in the way of spells. he admits what he’s done and pleads with them to help him, despite having no reason to trust him. after the party fights the magister off together, illario begs for forgiveness, explaining himself, how regret couldn’t make up for what he’s done but he’s still tried to change things, change himself. but how could you ignore the feeling that, as with everything else in his life, that this is another lie? you get the choice to trust him and forgive him, or kill him for betraying the veilguard. i think this can hit harder if he’s romanced and you forgive him. the image of him pleading literally on his knees is about to get me to black out, followed by a rook who gets down on the ground and lowers themselves to his level just to kiss him before pulling them both up onto their feet again…. its like a ‘i fear to stain your hands with blood’ moment <3

completed companion quest: faced with compassion that he’s basically never extended to anyone, illario is inspired. he admits this guilt to lucanis, wanting to make him talon and leave everything behind, and while lucanis initially is obviously both angry and distressed, he later seeks out illario by himself, and their reconciliation happens off screen. i’d love for rook to be there so i could this but i honestly do not think its their place like can we leave the dellamortes to do this by themselves. in private its just a very “you went through hell to get me back. i think i need to give you a chance” + a slow rebuilding of the trust they had. and also lucanis has not even gotten the same outside support system as illario has taken his place and i think it’s good to note that. well. illario is about the most positive his relationships get and the only other person he would potentially have is caterina, who is also a more intense and outwardly scheming in this au. so not to be like “lucanis has no choice” but he kinda has no choice LOL. the point is: lucanis decides to protect him, and says that this betrayal is something they have to keep secret together as long as it safeguards illario, which safeguards himself. like what would the crows think of 1) illario trying to usurp power using an outside source (infighting/betrayal is okay. bringing a third party into crow business is not), 2) illario losing the idgaf war and desperately bringing lucanis back, 3) lucanis being possessed, 4) lucanis forgiving illario despite it all because they’re so codependent they can’t even bring themselves to leave the other. house dellamorte so weak that they can’t snuff out the weakness in each other? oh fucking brother. they can’t let anyone know how dire this situation is, and need to present a united front. also the terrible fact that they love each other deeply remains. mentioned in banter probably? eg:

“So… what do the Crows think?” // “The Crows don’t know.” // “…What? But your brother, and you—“ // “Are keeping it to ourselves. We’ve discussed this. House Dellamorte can’t afford to look divided, not right now.” // “So, what, he just forgave you?! You’re moving on? From trying to kill him?” // “'Forgave' is such a strong word, but maybe someday, yes. And we’re not just family, we’re Antivan Crows. You should know by now that we’re odd like this.”

“Illario. How long do you think you can keep that secret?” // “Considering only us, Lucanis and I know about it, hopefully forever. He insists that no one else has to know. Or should I be afraid that you’re going to go tell on me?” // “No! It’s just… Lucanis doesn’t, I don’t know, want vengeance?” // “Ha! He is the vengeancey one. But no. No, he’s… between the two of us, he’s always been the good one.” // “Lucky you.”

i also picture a lot of post revelations blackwall type banters and maybe something like davrin going “I have to believe you can be better, that you’ve changed. Half the Wardens are like that.” and once again i have to grieve varric because if there’s anyone that would understand lying their ass off and having mixed feelings about their brother, IT’S HIM LOOLLL. i think harding would treat him quite harshly, and neve loses a lot of respect because why would you ever even think about working with the venatori. but there’s a recognition over how he’s changed for the better. i think bellara is the surprise sympathiser, with everything she feels about cyrian. (“For a second, listening to Anaris to be with my brother again was worth it. So… yeah. I get it.” // “You weren’t foolish enough to fall for it. I did.” // “But you’re fixing it, aren’t you?” // “I’m trying.” // “Cyrian tried too. And if I can still forgive him, I can forgive you too.” // “…Thank you.” )

i also think a serious talk about being talon happens, where lucanis doesn't think he should be talon (possessed so his self worth is at an all time low. and also he's always thought illario should be talon anyway) and asks illario to keep the title. which is... weird because suddenly illario realises he doesn't necessarily want to be talon anymore. sure he can, sure he finally has caterina's approval, but he's got a new chance in life and he's not sure he wants to spend his life running an organisation that doesn't even care about him, would betray him first chance they got and remind him of the way he used to be, or see who he is the way the veilguard/lucanis has. his bitterness towards caterina also trumps his envy of lucanis, and the idea of lucanis resenting him as much as he resents caterina is something he'd like to avoid, which is another reason he's uncomfortable with being expected to tug at the leash. indecisive, illario can't quite fully commit himself to the crows, but is nervous about what leaving them would mean.

endgame: he would take lucanis’ place as a magekiller in this ofc, so he’s the guy killing ghil, and (for now….) first talon leading the crows to fight in minrathous (illario: “one of us should probably say something. remind the crows in whose name this fight is to be fought. we are emotional beings after all, and rhetoric is the fuel that feeds the fire—“ viago: “maker’s sake just give your speech”) i’ve also implied romance throughout this ask while not discussing it properly (ask me about it later. i need time to think on the whole romance arc and beats i know it exists but i refuse to give out half baked illario thoughts.) and i think the endgame post-fade prison talk would be very sweet and so intensely genuine/sincere and illario’s half struggling with being this truthful but pushes through because he wants to say “i love you” and really mean it. almost losing rook has put his priorities in order, and rook is at the top of this order, which has made him reevaluate everything else in his life and realise, "i don't think i can live without you. please don't make me". it’s fun for me that lucanis’ romance is a first in many different ways, but for illario it would be the first time experiencing actual romantic feelings for someone that he’s not faking, so you can imagine the damage its wrecking on his crow-psyche. sometime here i think there’d also be a decision where he’d ask to leave the crows and be with rook, tho i also think if given the chance to develop he could actually find something he cares more about than being first talon. genuine affection might kill him, reciprocated affection would probably be the nail in that “fuck the crows actually i just found out i like life outside of treviso” coffin.

but this is kind of leaning towards “illario only leaves the crows if you romance him” which i don’t like the sound of. he should be able to do that without a romantic relationship. i think narratively the best way to end this arc is for illario to leave the crows after having found alternatives to what he believed his life should amount to (as i think lucanis should have in veilguard), but i also don’t exactly know how to end it. i do want house dellamorte to be defunct, like an ‘illario leaves, and so does lucanis’ thing, where even lucanis gets the chance to grow out of believing “death is his calling”. i also like the idea that illario, ever the extrovert, gets real friends and is like “LUCANIS. you gotta fucking experience this” LMFAO. i’m thinking maybe the companion you spend most time with illario in the party after his act 3 quest starts to suggest things, so neve being like “you made a pretty great demon of vyrantium. consider making venatori-killing your full time job, you were good at it, despite all the traitor stuff.” or taash going “you know, you wouldn’t be the first lord of fortune to make mind numbingly stupid mistakes. drop by sometime. you and isabela can bond over it.” and they’re half joking but it makes the cogs in illario’s mind turn where he’s like “whoa. i could just. stay with the people who like me!” and where he goes is mentioned in the epilogue. a romanced illario would potentially just join the faction rook is a part of, tho a de riva would probably be unique in choosing if they want to remain a crow.

HOWEVER. i honestly don’t know if this is in character. fie and i convinced ourselves it was but i’ve had some time to really chew on it and idk if he’d want to give his ambitions up?? if someone has managed to read on this far, feel free to suggest things if you like i am always stumped because i don’t actually want to crows to stop being an assassin house, and there’s ofc no way to really make them ‘softer’ without taking away the bite that makes them interesting to play with. but extricating the dellamorte cousins from this WHILE feeling true to dragon age writing is difficult lol. just let me think. i’ll be back with some results hopefully.

side note: if illario is killed, lucanis takes his place with some difficulty (spite getting in the way, and no relationship building as he would get in canon) especially because despite his incredibly complicated feelings about his cousin trying to kill him, all of his anger is directed at rook for actually killing him. it doesn’t matter if lucanis would/could have never forgiven him, or otherwise, rook has taken that chance of hashing it out with illario from him completely, and lucanis won’t forgive them for it.

anyways the potential endings and first talons:

lucanis defaults into first talon if illario is killed as the only remaining heir, and struggles in this role alone, though the fact he is an abomination helps keep the crows in control for a while #cycles #snakethateatsitsowntail #housedellamorteissocooked

illario can remain first talon if encouraged to stay during the endgame, or if romanced by a rook de riva that also chooses to stay with the crows. depending on how the crow missions were complete, his direction with the crows either hardens/softens the organisation.

teia becomes first talon if illario decides to leave the crows, and rook has made choices that lean towards ‘softening’ the crows, eg. sparing ivenci to humiliate him, helping the crow-venatori loves run away, being kind towards jacobus, etc. the crows gain a reputation for coercion and can once in a while be found targeting, killing or exposing corrupt officials.

viago becomes first talon if illario decides to leave the crows, and rook has made choices that lean towards ‘hardening’ the crows, eg. killing ivenci to humiliate him, turning in the crow-venatori lovers, being harsh with jacobus, etc. the crows gain a reputation for efficient, quick assassinations that tip the scales towards anyone who can pay for their services.

if missions were not complete, the antivan crows’ reputation falls as they get sloppier, unable to recover from their losses and struggling to keep ahold of their power. there’s a reshuffling of talons, but the crows are in such disarray that it takes a decade for them to recover and gain back the effeciency they used to be infamous for.

ANYWAYS. sorry for that it is actually getting away from me and i don’t know how much of this is clear and how much of it is just my wishful thinking. i think there’s enough good things here to publish as an answer tho i’m aware this plot is kind of dollar store zevran LOL. maybe the best way to describe it is that i’ve accidentally combined blackwall, bull, and zevran’s arcs into this. hope this is at least a bit compelling for you anon!!!!!

[loquaciousquark]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤️

This week has been hell and now that I'm finally coming to the end of it, I'm going to sit down & enjoy this! Sorry in advance for the length.

My favorite fics vacillate wildly depending on my mood, interest, and the time of year, but right now, I think this is what I've got. In no particular order:

Invicta, Invictus (2016)

Magister AU. Hawke ends up owning Fenris while in Minrathous & they fall in love anyway. This fic was difficult to write for a lot of reasons (a main one just being my fear of not doing justice to the premise and underselling the slavery aspect), and it took nearly a year to finish between the writing itself, the rewriting and additional scenes required from @jadesabre301's beta, and final edits. By the time I started posting I felt confident that I'd written something solid, but despite the otherwise positive response, I did end up receiving a series of extremely angry, lengthy critical comments from someone who basically accused me of perpetuating the glorification of rape, the enslavement of people of color, and the entrenchment of cruelty against victims of sexual assault. (I vividly remember a comparison between Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings.)

This came out of the blue from someone I knew & had otherwise quite respected; it was a blow that shook my confidence to the core, despite several wonderful people reaching out to me at the time, and while I finished posting the fic, I completely stopped writing otherwise. I ended up not writing anything of significance for three full years afterwards. It wasn't until I got extremely drunk on a work trip (after a personal dinner, no colleagues around) and went back to my hotel to jot down the first lines of the Hawke-is-rescued-from-the-Fade fic that I even entertained the idea of picking the hobby back up.

Now, looking back after almost ten years, I've long come to terms with her criticism. I've decided that I disagree with her, that I'm actually still okay with what I wrote, and that I'm proud of the work I did in that fic. I think the premise is good and the examination of the social and political structures is sound, and I think the fic does what it needs to where the relationship strains against the societal boundaries around it. Not to mention I think it has some of my best Fenris characterization I ever managed, and some of my better Hawke jokes. I think the letter exchange at the end is effectively poignant even after all this time (though I do wish I'd written Danarius's actual death a little differently), and I still find the ending as they approach Kirkwall very satisfying. I'll also never turn down a chance to let Varania have a moment or two.

I'm proud of this one, and I'm glad I wrote it.

A Midwinter's Carol; in Prose; Being a Ghost Story of Baldur's Gate (2023)

I think this fic has some of my best technical mimicry I've ever managed. I've always enjoyed a good stylistic parroting, but this was the first time I'd attempted Dickens, and I genuinely think I did a good job. 😂 I've always been fascinated by the mechanics of language, and I had a great time spoofing his oddly frank addresses to the reader and his serpentine asides.

It's quite short—less than 10k—but I think it does exactly what it's supposed to, and I'm genuinely proud of some of the AU elements. @eponymous-rose gave me Christmases Past and Present, so I can't lay claim to those (aside from execution), but the way Future's demand resolves & the Thayan book standing in for the door knocker were all mine, and I still think they're genius, ahaha. (I also fully acknowledge that I owe Jade big time for helping me clarify the final deal Astarion strikes.)

I think the wordplay throughout of what it means to be redeemed is well written, and I'm genuinely pleased with the turn of the mood during the Future sequence. I can tell my love of flippant characters having stark face-to-face encounters with gods is probably a little strong at the end, but Megan Whalen Turner was a formative influence, and I still love it the way it came out here. This is a fic that did exactly what I wanted it to from start to finish, and I love rereading it.

I also think Astarion refusing to participate in the narrative and Tav's modern voice against the Dickensian backdrop are utterly hilarious.

Iron Bound (2023)

This is the most ambitious project I've ever tackled, even considering Invicta above. I knew this would be a long fic, and while I'd daydreamed about scenes from it for nearly a decade, I genuinely didn't know if I had the technical ability to execute it the way I wanted. Once I finally, finally, finally sat down to write it, the words came out like butter, and I wrote almost 70k words in two weeks.

This fic was interesting because it included a love triangle, which is not something I have ever had the slightest interest in reading or writing, but I felt the relationships were strong enough between all three pillars that I wanted to give it a shot. I love Hawke & Fenris, obviously, but the Fenris + Sebastian brotherhood is likewise vitally important to me, and I've always treasured the Sebastian + Hawke friendship as well. Getting to examine all three of them closely here was wonderful from start to finish, and I loved looking at where the lines strained and grew lax as they got to know each other.

Likewise, I've also adored characters who have to face the conflict between love and duty, and this premise let me marinate in every part of the idea. Knowing that I'd be able to give them all happy endings—knowing that they'd be rewarded for doing the right thing—was very pat and yet very satisfying, and I enjoyed every minute of the tension before the resolution.

This fic was in many ways an homage to Patricia McKillip, one of my favorite authors, and also a frank wish-fulfillment exercise for me. This is the one where everyone lives. This is the one where no one suffers for too long. Malcolm, Carver, Bethany, Leandra—even Varania and Sebastian and Anders and the dog. Everyone lives. Everyone is happy and loved and fed and secure and will remain so for the rest of their lives, and I remain thoroughly unapologetic for it.

I do think (despite Jade's attempts to correct it) that there's some marked narrative clumsiness in the back third, and with a little distance I can see ways I could have revised the Danarius confrontation and the series of epilogues to hang together more cleanly. There are also some heavy-handed sequences regarding the broader world politics which I think stand out against what is otherwise fairly mature writing, and I wish I'd threaded those through a bit more deftly.

That said, I'm still immensely proud of this project, and once I finish this post I'm probably going to reread it start to finish. 😂

This Lethal Light Falls Softly (2023)

I was very passionate about the central conceit of this fic, and I think it shows. It's cleanly written with no wasted time—even rereading it now for this post, there's only one exchange I'd still tweak—and I'm very happy with the way I wrote the Tav & Astarion relationship at this stage. They're a wholly different beast to Fenris & Hawke, who are friends for seven years before they finally embark on a real relationship; Tav & Astarion know each other maybe a few weeks before they sleep together for the first time, and even with the most generous possible interpretation I don't think the game can take more than a handful of months. This meant I was writing lovers with new-to-me insecurities, and with Astarion's own basketful of bugaboos on top of that, everything felt fresh and exciting and a little terrifying. I think you can feel that energy in the prose, and I really like it.

Aside from that, I'm very happy with the solution I came up with to Astarion's vampirism. It was hardly inventive, but I did feel it was both practical and lore-friendly, and I felt like its cost (Tav's absence for Astarion, the exhaustion and battle and injuries for Tav) balanced out the number of boons it provided. It also made negating the vampiric effects an active, ongoing choice for Astarion, which I deeply prefer over more permanent solutions like True Resurrection or a god restoring him to mortality.

I also just honestly think it's just fun to read. I like Astarion being snippy and short-tempered while still being overjoyed to see Tav alive. I like Tav confronting the idea that Astarion loves her as much as she loves him and that her silent absence was an active harm to him. I think I did a pretty good job setting the scenery and conveying the appropriate atmosphere where it was important, and I think there are some turns of phrase throughout that came out quite lovely.

I also think ending on the button of him seeing himself in the mirror is hilarious. (Not pictured: Tav having to ask him to put down the hand mirror for literal weeks.)

ah! this grief like cold bells ringing (2020)

This is probably the most difficult fic I've written in terms of headspace. COVID's forced isolation was particularly awful for me, and I didn't know how to handle it except to try to write it out of me. This, like Iron Bound, contained something I never thought I'd write (rape/rape aftermath), but the gravity of the situation and the world at the time seemed to demand something likewise grave, and I ended up feeling like it was an appropriate choice. Hawke has been a tool of many kinds for me over the years, and I remain both glad and weirdly grateful for her resilience.

This was also the first fic where I felt like I didn't shy away from or veil Tevinter's atrocities (a necessary artifact of the premise). While it was hard to write, it wasn't hard to write, and looking back I'm glad I made the choices I did; I think to hamstring the severity of the moment would have broken the story's teeth and dampened the recovery which came after. The instinct to quit flinching away was the right one, and I think the fic is better for it.

I also think this is some of the most effective writing of catharsis I've ever managed. When I'm having a really difficult time and need to read a moment of recovery, the second chapter of this fic is always my first stop. I've actually only reread the first chapter a few times since I posted (usually the pain's not the part I need), but I've reread the second chapter a hundred times or more.

I also do think that the style of the prose—a little flatter and more direct than I usually write—came out well, especially given the subject matter. While I'd prefer never to go back to that emotional place, I'm glad this came out of it.

Honorable Mention:

Lacrimosa (2011). Still one of the oneshots I'm proudest of. I think it's technically proficient and emotionally very effective, and I love the structure of it.

A Detailed Accounting of the Rigorous and Remarkable Struggles Faced by One Fereldan Refugee in the Singularly Capricious City of Kirkwall, as Experienced by the Illustrious Author (2022). While the writing is not the best I've ever managed (it began life as a warm-up exercise, after all), it took ten years to finish, and I'm deeply proud of both finishing it and of the execution of several sections.

Find Me a Wayward Sun (2023). I like the emotional complexity of this fic very much. This was the first place where I felt like I really started to understand the dynamic between Tav & Astarion, especially in the complicated back half of Act Two, and I've gone back to it several times when I need to recapture that feeling of confused selfishness and nascent, uncertain affection.

[vigilskeep]

If Bea loved her Templar aunt, and Bea is a good magic-fearing Andrastian girl, what is going on in her head to side with the Mages over the Templars?

bea is a good magic-fearing andrastian girl. she’s also a creature of boundless curiosity, starved for information and variety in her youth and eager to listen to all perspectives. she was fed her andrastianism in a sort of isolated, idealistic form that actively went to cover up this kind of reality (“of course mages are all the maker’s children and treated accordingly, never you mind about that, any rebellion is just malcontents wanting more luxuries and maleficarum seeking to break the maker’s commandments”) which leads her to being particularly shocked by going around on foot and coming face to face with that reality. and she’s genuinely got a lot of kindness in her, deeply upset by the behaviour of the templars in the hinterlands and the measures the mages are pushed to. it does not escape her notice that anything the mages do is only in response to not being let alone, whereas the templars are so... unnecessary in their cruelty, the extent of their hatred. in bea’s head she probably doesn’t register that this is ah a feature not a bug of what the templars are—in her head there are still “good templars” like her aunt was—but she does think something must have gone very wrong with the templars as a whole for this to happen. and it lends a lot of credence to the mages’ stories about the circle, doesn’t it, that the templars are so brazen

this probably still wouldn’t be enough for her to choose the mages over the templars, her background and education being what it is. she’s very much inclined to agree with cullen that pouring more magic into the mark rather than getting templars to suppress it sounds insane to her. but then there’s val royeaux, where she’s faced with templars striking a revered mother to the ground, and the grand enchanter offering an invitation. her sense of propriety demands she respond to the latter and not the former. and it’s simply an invitation, not binding at that point

the only thing all of this must do is get her to redcliffe village. as soon as she makes it there, the question is sealed: by the presence of magisters. i think you have to register that tevinter magisters coming to ferelden to bring southerners unwillingly into their service was precisely what andraste rose her rebellion against. if the anchor is Her blessing, it’s far from unbelievable that it was given specifically to put her in the position to fight this. so it’s not a call to action either bea’s morality or her faith can allow her to reject, whereas the templars are not nearly so pressing. they’re simply holed up in therinfal. from bea’s perspective, the real fight is clearly in redcliffe; the templars can wait

(it should be said that bea’s aunt wasn’t necessarily the most cookie-cutter and standard of templars in her way of thinking. oh, she never did anything about it, she never quit or made some big brave effort to change things, she was never even that much nicer for a mage to deal with than any other. but she definitely nipped in the bud any idea of bea becoming a templar real quick, even if she was too ashamed to tell her about some of the things she’d done to really explain why. despite saying bea should spend less time reading, she always brought her books that didn’t come out of a chantry library, and she encouraged her to listen to what the chant was really saying and think for herself about what that meant, instead of listening to whatever a priest told her. she believed bea was a smart kid, smarter than she’d ever been. she used to tell her that the worst thing she could do, with a gift like that from the maker, was waste it.)

[zozi-j]

An Opinion and Fan Theory on Blood Magic and Other Blood Mage Things™

Ok this is gonna off the deep end pretty quick, and this both purely for fun and my headcanon, so please consider this as we go forward! I WILL have missed lore, so suspend disbelief and have fun, I rant. The human people/tribe(s) mentioned to have come across the sea are the Neromenians. This is nearly the only people, and these people were taught Blood Magic. They took to it with surprising talent, and there's a few things for me to latch onto so as to find myself facing the conclusion that Humans are the only organic race. The Elves? Spirits. The Qunari/Kossith? Dragon/Elf hybrid with blood magic, supposedly. Dwarves? The living cells of living mana, Titan Children. Elgar'nan was the first of the Elves, a spirit made flesh, materials taken from the Titans, not from anything else, because spirits are fade magic, they are not organic magic, not worldly magic. Humans were there before Elves and Qunari, however. No one knows where they come from. My idea is that, unlike every OTHER race, humans are, infact, purely life based organic creatures. The spirits didn't have to consider them when something more fitting for them, the Titans, were there, but demons long for human flesh and blood, something foreign. As humans gained more and more knowledge of blood magic, they became more formidable. It's a bit quick, ey? The Magisters Sidereal entered Solas's prison, freeing him, blighting them, badabing badaboom the concensus is that blood magic is evil. Directly after someone who hates blood magic, and can in some instances be thought of as the Maker. As we've seen, he supports the Fade to the 'nth degree, and damn the consequences if HIS world can be right again. We've seen what he did to the Titans. It wouldn't be out of pocket for him to have stunted the Humans' calling, especially after they rose up and made Tevinter. Blood magic hampers the connection with the Fade, but that won't matter so long as one uses blood magic. To split it between the two would not work for anyone, not when spirits would benefit from being purely fade, and humans purely blood. My crackpot idea is that humans are, in essence, markers of reality, the material world. Blood magic does not make one susceptible to demons, it enhances your defenses, but they WANT you more. Blood magic is a primordial magic, a magic that is inherent, bc its been shown humans WITHOUT MAGIC, can even use blood magic in certain circumstance. The magisters could go there purely through blood magic, if they'd wanted, without fade magic, bc this was all blood magic and sacrifices, and lyrium to enhance it but MORE BLOOD COULD HAD DONE THE SAME.

I'm just too fond of the idea that blood magic is actually something intrinsic to humans. All the propaganda has been a wrong. The Evanuris using blood magic *that* much was because they *could.* They were made material. Solas wants to as much spirit as he could. Think that says somethin'. (Yeah that I'm fkn delusional-)

[mllemaenad]

You know what else bugs me here? I'm stunned that what happened at Weisshaupt is being presented as a defeat.

Now, yes, to be clear: hundreds of Wardens died. I'm not expecting anyone to be happy about that, and of course Davrin should be allowed to grieve. But ...

In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice.

This is very much the purpose of the Grey Wardens. And not-Varric there is fucking right. Is nobody grasping the magnitude of what we just accomplished here?

We just speed-ran a Blight.

Even if we count the start of the Sixth Blight from the moment the elven gods were released, we have now beaten the Hero of Ferelden's already impressive one year record by several months. And we took out the Archdemon at its first sighting.

What metric for success are we using here? The First Blight went on for nearly 200 years. It crippled the Tevinter Imperium! The dwarves lost almost their entire civilisation and got so desperate they started ripping out their people's souls to make golems!

For the first half, they didn't even have Grey Wardens! People kept stabbing the Archdemon and the damn thing kept popping up again like the world's worst game of whack-a-mole!

People today have little concept of the consequences of the second sin. Oh, believe me when I say that when asked, pious, Chantry-going folk will curse the use of foul magic, spitting and snapping their fingers—but none live today who actually remember the horror that was unleashed so very long ago. Whatever records might have existed regrettably did not survive the chaos and ignorance that was to follow. We have only the tales of survivors handed down through the murky ages and the dogma of the Chantry to instruct us, and that is precious little indeed. I believe I am not understating when I say that the second sin unleashed the bane of all life upon Thedas. The darkspawn are more virulent than the worst plague, a heartless force of nature that came into our world like an ill wind. We know from accounts of later Blights (as these darkspawn invasions came to be called—never has a more appropriate name existed) that the darkspawn spread disease and famine wherever they tread. The earth itself is corrupted by their presence, the sky roiling with angry black clouds. I do not exaggerate, my friends, when I say that a mass gathering of darkspawn is an omen of dread cataclysm. It is said that those cursed magisters who became the first darkspawn scratched at the very earth to find solace in the darkness of the dwarven Deep Roads, and there in the shadows they multiplied. Whether by intelligent design or by some last vestige of worship in their minds, they attempted to locate the Old Gods they had once served. They found what they sought: Dumat, first among the Old Gods, once known as the Dragon of Silence before the Maker imprisoned him and all his brethren beneath the earth for the first sin: usurping the Maker's place in mankind's heart. The slumbering dragon awoke, freed from the Maker's prison by his twisted followers, and became corrupted himself. Dumat was transformed into the first Archdemon, his great and terrible power given will by a rotting, unholy mind. With the darkspawn horde following, Dumat rose and took wing in the skies once again, bringing ruin to the world the Maker had created. The Old God had become the eye of a dark storm that would ravage the entire world. —From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry Scholar – The First Blight: Chapter 2

Two hundred years! Of that!

And yet civilisation survived. The Tevinter Imperium survived! Much reduced, yes, but they're still there. Orzammar still stands, as does Kal-Sharok. This was arguably the worst apocalypse Thedas had ever seen (there are some other contenders, obviously), and they weathered it. Those people knew what a crushing defeat looked like. They knew what loss looked like. They knew what it was to retreat and ration and lose everything.

If you lot ever work out time travel properly, bring some exhausted dwarven or Tevene soldier forward from the First Blight and try telling them you're sad because defeating the Archdemon lost you a castle and a few hundred men.

No Blight since has lasted so long or been quite so destructive, but most have lasted decades, and left utter ruin in their wake. Why does the Western Approach look like that? A Blight!

Once these wastes were a land of plenty. Can you believe it? The rain came north over the Gamordan Peaks, turning the plains green and verdant for three months of the year. Eight hundred years ago, that changed. During the Second Blight, darkspawn spilled out of an enormous crack in the earth, corrupting it with their foul blood… and it never recovered, even after they were driven back underground. The Grey Wardens built Adamant Fortress to stand watch over that chasm, but eventually even they abandoned it to the wind and the biting sand. What few of us eke out a living in this Maker-forsaken place do so knowing that any number of deaths await us: darkspawn raids, dragons, bandits—not to mention starvation from the lack of water and game. If we stay, it is because we know there are treasures buried in the bones of this place, ruins from the time when Tevinter ruled, and even earlier. We pass tales around our campfires of the things we have seen shrouded in the dust storms. My favorites are the ones about relics that could restore the Western Approach once more… but I don't believe them. Truth be told, on nights when the wind is calm, I can stand on a hilltop and see for miles in the moonlight over a stark beauty of which no other Orlesian can claim to know the equal. On those nights, I hope it will never change. —From Lands of the Abyss by Magistrate Gilles de Sancriste – The Western Approach

Even Ostagar was a catastrophe. A short-term one, sure, but a massive loss of life for no appreciable gain.

What happened at Weisshaupt? Even with a commanding officer whose strategy apparently came down to "What if we just charged straight at them? Wouldn't that look cool?" the Wardens held back the darkspawn long enough for Davrin (the Warden in this scenario! Rook is a supporting role!) to get through. The dragon trap worked. And they killed the damn Archdemon.

Now, yes: I recognise the problem. As the elven gods are free they can immediately wake up another Archdemon, so we are rolling straight into the Seventh Blight. This is not ideal! And the Grey Wardens are undeniably weakened after their fight.

But. You cannot tell me that decades of warfare in earlier Blights did not produce even greater casualties, along with the fact that the mere presence of Blight reduces a Warden's lifespan – their Callings come sooner.

We just had the fastest Archdemon kill in history. It may not be the least bloody (it's hard to count the casualties in the south, so the Fifth may still be winning on that front), but it has to be close. And let's face it: they finished the Fifth Blight with (probably) no more than three Wardens on the field. It's been months, at most. We should barely be out of breath. This Blight was over so fast, if you're some kind of official on a diplomatic trip to Par Vollen you might have completely missed it!

What is it Blackwall said? What can one Grey Warden do?

"Save the fucking world if pressed."

One more to go. Do this one more time and we never, ever have to do it again. I don't know why we're moping. This is incredible.

[dragonagecompanions]

Companions reaction to the Inquisitor asking them to be their Maid of Honor/Best Man at their wedding? (Cassandra should've been at the wedding with Sera and my Inquisitor tbh)

(Setting this post Trespasser for continuity.)

Cassandra: The air is filled, immediately and impossibly, with hearts. So few of Cassandra's friends are free to promise themselves to a spouse, and so over the years the Seeker had relinquished that childhood dream to oblivion. But now there is such joy among her dearest friends, and no matter how long or short the engagement and planning Cassandra will be there for everything they need.

And on the day will cry more than anyone else. Everyone will be threatened into forgetting this about her.

Solas:

Varric: Now this is the happy ending to a story he can get behind. Promise an open bar and he is in.

For all of his bluster and faked nonchalance, Kirkwall's viscount is deeply touched. Over the course of this inquisition he has made friends to rival the ones in Kirkwall, and the fact that those sentiments are returned enough to merit such an invitation mean the world. Immediately he takes over logistics, and no matter if there is limited time to plan the wedding goes off without a hitch.

His speech is legendary. People cry. He's putting it in his next book.

Blackwall: It's ridiculous. It's a common request, from a friend, to stand up with them at their wedding. After all this time it shouldn't even be a surprise. But the question brings him to his proverbial knees. For so long, even after everyone knew the truth, Thom Rainier had assumed himself to be unlovable. Tolerated in a time of war for what he brought to the table, but not worthy of true regard.

This is a gift the finally unlocks those chains. He might not know much about weddings, but no matter what they need their would be warden does his best. Like Cassandra, he openly weeps at the ceremony.

Sera: Nothin' like love to make a wedding a party! This may be the one time Sera tones down the pranks, too focused on making sure both the little and big people are happy. Dorian is heavily consulted on clothing, and Skyhold's resident Jenny might even submit to a haircut.

The bakers in Thedas weep for her designs. They are perfect. Might go into the cake business, if cookies don't hold out.

Whole thing goes off without a hitch. Well, except for the actual hitch. That goes perfect.

Vivienne: Darling she is thrilled. No matter their venue or plans Madame de Fer is quick to make sure they have the best. Appointments open, caterers are suddenly free, and her tailors are on hand to make sure that everyone in the wedding party looks their best.

There is some distant sorrow later, watching the couple dance the first of the rest of their lives together, but not for all the gold in the world would she have traded her life with Bastien. That was more than enough for one heart-- it is no trial to be happy for her friends.

Dorian: No matter his travel plans or the demands of the magisterium, the moment they ask Dorian is firmly rooted in place. These people have welcomed him like no other, and to be honored with such a role is...he will not cry in public. It is unseemly for a magister.

Instead he make sure everything he touches is made perfect for them and all problems directed his way. Let them relish in the bliss of their engagement-- he will fight the florists until they realize Minrathous roses are the only way to go. And on the day, he sits patiently with both spouses until their cosmetics are perfect. But that time is also spent in quiet friendship, a moment of peace before their special moment.

Later he will refuse to ruin his own foundation with tears in public, and be quietly smug that his knock down brawl with the sommelier resulted in the best vintages at table.

The Iron Bull: There are flowers everywhere. From the moment he is asked Operation: Wedding is a full go for the Chargers. Marriage is unknown under the Qun, and so in true Ben-Hassrath form Bull takes it upon himself to learn exactly what this role will entail.

Three crashed marriages and a lot of cursing later....well, the venue is perfect, Rocky has invented a confetti cannon, and Krem has earned his place at the Maker's side for turning out a formal coat that will fit his shoulders in record time.

He cries at the ceremony. Few guests are brave enough to comment.

Cole: "Stand as a witness, the best man even if you aren't a man. Be there to celebrate, always a good friend and I want him at my side. I want that too!"

Any guest with ill intent conveniently forget the wedding date and location. One of the florists ties a bow on his hat. People cry, but the tears don't hurt. Its confusing, but he's happy to be there.

Turns out cake is something enjoyed on both sides of the veil.

[inbetweenshadows]

I have a theory A GA-

No ok so. Dragon Age Veilguard spoilers under the cut. Theory/speculation on the Chantry, chant of light, and Mythal/Andraste.

The chant of light, the foundation of the Chantry. We know it’s bullshit but what if it both is, and is not. It’s not hard to deduce through watching Solas’ regrets that there is no ‘Maker’. But there is. But who? Solas. Oops. Leave it to a trickster to accidentally become a focal point for a new religion. So why do I think this? Well the chant of light, minus a few verses that deal with the ‘present’ versus Andraste’s visions, directly explain the history of the ancient elves. Don’t believe me? Take the Canticle of Andraste:

The canticle of Andraste is:

> There I saw the Black City, towers all stain'd,

> Gates once bright golden forever shut.

> Heav'n filled with silence, then did I know all

> And cross'd my heart with unbearable shame.

NOW CONSIDER: Andraste is a dreamer, having a vision of solas making the fade, and the magsters breaching it. She watches in dreams as the blight escapes.

COUNTER: Mythal still in spirit watches the veil get made, watches as the magisters breach the fade and release the blight. That piece of her dove into andraste

But wait there’s more, we also have the canticle of Erudition, which explains elves, SPECIFICALLY THE EVANURIS, coming across the veil:

> The first of the Maker's children watched across the Veil

> And grew jealous of the life

> They could not feel, could not touch.

> In blackest envy were the demons born.

-Erudition 2:1

They were envious, but of who? We go next to The Canticle of Exhaltations, which describes the titans and dwarves;

> Seven times seventy men of stone immense

> Rose up from the earth like sleepers waking at the dawn,

> Crossing the land with strides immeasurable,

> And in the hollows of their footprints

> Paradise was stamped, indelible.

-Exaltations 1:5

i dont feel like I _need_ to get into the Canticle of Threnodies because that’s just about the breach of the golden city, which we know now is the prison of the Evanuris.

shit does start to get really interesting though when we hit the Canticle of Trials. Especially when we take into consideration the quest in Inquisiton 'What Pride Has Wrought' and how it's the quest in which we enter the TEMPLE OF MYTHAL. It could also be an exerpt of Felissian. (i spelled that wrong) and how he never stopped wandering the crossroads after the formation of the veil

> I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Fade

> For there is no darkness, nor death either, in the Maker's Light

> And nothing that He has wrought shall be lost.

-Trials 1:14

"nothing that he has wrought shall be lost" The veil is permanant. nothing will be as it was.

im skipping the canticle of Victoria bcs it's regarding Divine Victoria [Successor to Divine Justinia V] and is only added if Cassandra becomes divine.

THE CANTACLE OF SILENCE, HOWEVER

> The Old Gods will call to you,

> From their Ancient Prisons they will sing.

> Dragons with wicked eyes and wicked hearts,

> On blacken'd wings does deceit take flight,

> The First of My children, lost to night.

-Canticle of Silence 3:6

again, DAI made reference to this in a quest. "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts”

but it's DIRECTLY EXPLAINING HOW THE EVANURIS STILL WHISPER TO THEIR DRAGONS

'The first of my children' the evanuris. 'on blackened wings does deeceit take flight' the archdemons

Skipping the Cantacle of Shartan tho bcs again it's regarding immediate people and not history.

AND HERE WE HAVE THE CANTICLE THAT BASICALLY CANONIZES MYTHAL ENTERING ANDRASTE

Canticle of Maferath; Telling of Mafarath's betrayl

> Spite ate away all that was good, kind, and loving till nothing was left but the spite itself, coiled 'round my heart like a great worm.

> And in my darkest hour, I turned from Her and vowed that I would destroy Her.

> At the moment of Her death I knew what I had done, and I wept.

> I shall bring the lands of my fathers to Her Word. Therein lies their salvation and mine.

> And She came to me in a vision and laid Her hand on my heart.

> Her touch was like fire that did not burn. And by Her touch, I was made pure again.

> Despair not, said She, for your betrayal was Maker-blessed and returned me to His side.

> I am forgiven.

how is this NOT SOLAS AND MYTHAL.

Anyway. That’s it. Andraste might have been among the first carriers of Mythal. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

[afkhowstrange]

Rose’s yay or nay (more like nay and nay am i right 💀) tier list

I’m laughing my ass off, they all stood no chance

[baphometsss]

i'm reading all the chantry canticles now and based on what was revealed in veilguard they're actually pretty interesting

The first of the Maker's children watched across the Veil And grew jealous of the life They could not feel, could not touch. In blackest envy were the demons born. -Erudition 2:1

This seems to be talking about the elves, even though we know the Veil didn't exist until Solas created it. Then again, Andraste wasn't born until sometime after the Evanuris were trapped by Solas. They also weren't demons, although Erudition was apparently written by Archon Hessarian so ??

Then there's this:

Seven times seventy men of stone immense Rose up from the earth like sleepers waking at the dawn, Crossing the land with strides immeasurable, And in the hollows of their footprints Paradise was stamped, indelible. -Exaltations 1:5

This is meant to have been written by Kordillius Drakon I. It's pretty clearly about the Titans imo, which makes for interesting reading

There's also something about how only by seeking atonement do Andrastians find the Golden City. Parallel to this is the fact that in a good ending at least we have Solas binding himself to the Veil willingly and returning to the Black City/fade prison to seek atonement. Solas imprisoned both the Blight and the Evanuris in the Black City, and it was when the Tevinter Magisters breached it that the Blight was released, hence blighting the Evanuris and releasing darkspawn into the world.

By the time he returns there at the end of the Veilguard, the Evanuris are gone, and all that's left is for him is to soothe the anger of the blight, which he vows to do, while protecting the innocent from his mistakes.

And, well. I'm not the only one to point it out, but it's telling that the background of the good ending slide is gold.

"The Golden City is thine"

I think the blending of different faiths is really interesting, as it takes the old world beliefs e.g. the Evanuris, and blends it with the modern beliefs of the Andrastian Chantry. In this ending, we have an ancient Elf (Solas) and a modern Elf (Lavellan) embracing each other, their 'true love' empowering them to work together to end the Blight once and for all.

That's why the post-credits scene becomes more interesting too, because it seems that a chance for genuine peace in Thedas has presented itself. The Blights may be over for good, the Elves have regained much of their history, the griffons have returned, Tevinter is undergoing radical reforms (which could lead to the end of the war with the Qunari), and so on. So of course there has to be some kind of external force to play villain in the next game. Some people hated it, but I think it provides a lot of interesting potential for DA5.

[silversoulcreations]

DWC Nov 17 - Day 1 - Sexy/Hazy

Warnings: Sexual Themes/Acts - Alcohol/Substance Use - Eludes to Traumatic Past / SA. Forced Servitude.. probably others that I'm forgetting.

The pirate lay on his back, staring up at Beledar as it shifted dark. The night had been a strange sort of wicked to him, he'd meant to take a dip in for the sake of a drink, and possibly a touch of flirting.. but what he had seen... He couldn't stay. Not for the full show, not for the dancing afterwards. No, he'd nearly instantly shadow-stepped back to Dornogol, picking up a few things from his ship along the shore. A change of clothes, a large bottle from his personal stock... and a cigar box. These ones free of the poison that he knew those he had grown close to would scream at him for... these ones designed for one thing alone... make him forget who he was for a while... He'd traveled away from the town, along the rocky cliffs that overlooked the valley. Far out of the reach of Kobyss, of Nerubians... and even the Arathi or their other guests. Tucked up into an alcove, he stared at what amounted to the sky, removing the patch from his scarred eye, bright sapphire shining out next to it's jade twin. Popping open the cork on the bottle of whiskey, he poured himself a glass, swirling it, before setting it aside to pluck out a cigar with a dark purple wrap, smelling heavily of the opiates he used to oh so favor, along with a heavy currant undertone. Lighting the cigar, he took a deep drink from his glass... then raised the strongly scented object to his lips, Inhaling, sharply, before leaning back, glass in one hand, and cigar in the other, allowing his eyes to drift closed.

~*~ "Professor Duskember, so glad you could make it. Dining will be at eight in the Great Hall, followed by a Ball shortly after, which will last most of the night. This evening's entertainment will be provided by the Therandian Quartet, and my dear collection of hosts and hostesses." A figure comes into view in the haze of darkness, always the same bright smile, that so many warmed to, that sent a chill through to Jarethius's Core. A single gesture from the nobleman and he felt himself stepping forwards, offering a low, sweeping bow to the older gentleman as he was introduced. "Jarethius here will see to your every need during your stay, Professor. I assure you he is one of my -best-. Well trained and eager to please." Bowing at the waist, mismatched eyes met, and held the magister before him's gaze. The man looked to be an older elf, though not quite fully past his prime, he was beginning to show sign at the edges of his eyes. He had a kind face. From experience he knew that could be either good... or far more sinsiter than he dared think about. For now, he simply smiled, and with all the practice and precision he could muster, he slipped into the role required of him. "It is a pleasure to serve you this eve."

~*~

The memory was a dull ache amidst the haze, another drink, another deep draw on his cigar... The crack of a whip, the show he had run from.. and back to the memory...chasing the dragon to forget the present... ~*~ "Tell me about yourself, Jarethius..." The pair was walking through the large gardens of his master's estate, slow, calculated movements as the music played on within. The mage was looking at him with such a curious expression, he spoke in turn. "You have much potential beyond whatever this is, you know." "I am not certain what there is to tell, Sir. My name is Jarethius, though I have been referred to by many other things. I am trained in the use of swords, pistols, and on occasion bows. Daggers, too, come with ease. I am skilled in court etiquette and sentry work. I have been a body guard, a taste-tester, and of course, as with tonight, an escort." He paused in a particularly floral archway, the roses, black with crimson tips along their petals, towering around them. His voice lowered as he shook his head, a hint of reddened marks shining just above the collar of his shirt as his hair swayed, before he pulled it back over the marks. "I am in my place, Sir. I know this well. But I thank you, for the compliment." He had to make a good impression. It had been drilled into him that morning. This was the professor his master wanted to teach his children. Make a good impression. Don't swive it up. Make him pleased before the business dealings... or suffer the consequences of failure. ~*~

Jarethius shifted on his back, his gaze slowly opening once more to stare at the shadow-clad crystal in the cavern's ceiling. The opiates were doing their job... and he was sinking further into the memory, the cross-fading haze taking him after denying himself for weeks.

~*~ He trembled as fingertips brushed across the lattice-work of red marks, some entirely too fresh, upon his back, his eyes squeezing shut as the mage spoke quietly. "I could heal these for you... I've dabbled in the priestly arts, and alchemy both, in my day...Though with that potential for darker magics that's inside you.. it might hurt you..." "They don't bother me. Pain and pleasure... they are both.. attention." He lied, quickly, without thinking, as he turned to face the magister, slipping to his knees beside the bench upon which they sat, his hands sliding to rest lightly on silken robe clad thighs. "And... Please forgive me.. I do not wish to correct you Sir, but.. you are mistaken. I have no magical ability, trained or otherwise. My brother .. My brother received all of the ability of our line... and all of the privilege.. it.. It is why I serve. All that I am.. is a man.. The man you see before you.. who wishes to please you." His voice was soft, but strong, his gaze never looking away, not once. training keeping the mask heavily in place. This was his life now, and he was good at it.. if the professor would just stop digging and let him show him. Then, his master would be pleased.

~*~

Jareth groaned, arching slightly as the memories took a turn.. the pirate's breath catching as he envisioned hands upon skin, far less scarred then, save for his back.. the shadows around him moving, as he lay in the alcove, mimicking motions echoing in his drugged, hazy, half-dream.

~*~ "Down the side hall, back of the garden. He keeps me away from the others because of my prior status." The admission was quiet as he led the magister through the halls. Few along their journey bore similar marks, indeed, it seemed as if only Jareth held such 'gifts'... was he the only one the man struck? There was little time to express that question as Jareth led the man into his room. There was a large, round bed in the center, curtains hanging from the ceiling, barely hiding the chains that also hung there, the edges of the comforter hiding the ones that came out from under the bed. In the next room, left viewable from the bed, was the bath, a large number that one had to step down into, and a small porcelain toilet beside it, all viewable from anywhere in the room. To the casual observer, the idea of this room would be clear. If someone was in this room with the young man, they would see anything and everything he tried to do. It was an over glorified prison cell. "Do they chain you to the bed when you sleep?" "Not when I sleep, No."

~*~ The shadows removed what was left of his cigar and the drink from his hands, setting them to the side, before drawing the pirate's hands above his head, pinning them there as his memory played out the sensation of chains being wrapped around his wrists, the sensation of soft pillows beneath his form, legs splayed akimbo and pinned as.... Another low groan left him as his half lidded gaze stared into the open air above his form, hands bound, magic doing what those hands did not, raking and clawing, biting.. all without leaving marks, the *sensation* enough to send him into a wicked spiral as various figures appeared in that hazy vision... Recent faces seen.. The gentle touch mingled with wicked strikes, his breath catching again as he arched, a particular face clouding his drug-addled mind as the shadows brought that peak he sought... before collapsing back against the stone with a low growl. Laying, panting for breath, he hissed as Beledar began to shift to light and the darkness fled once more. Sitting up, he grumbled. He'd never get that with him... Lucien... The boy was too gentle.. too sweet.. an open heart and a helper's nature... and the kind of aggression that was so hard wired into Jarethius at this point was something so very few could give. He sighed. He was going to have to clean up and sober up before he could return to that inn room. Lucien didn't like the smell. But for now.... He peered to the side at the rest of that bottle. For now, another drink.

-----------------------------------

-- @daily-writing-challenge

[songofsilentechoes]

Legal   Name:   Magister Noelle Minette, Third Degree of the Order of the Vance.

Nicknames:

Songbird

Mousy

Miss Minette

Noelle

'The Silent One'

Mime

Date  of  Birth:   ???

Gender:   Female

Place   of   Birth:  Saturyne

Currently   Living:   Piltover

Spoken   Languages:

Common

Piltover's common language

Learning modern Ionian

Runespeech

Usually augments herself to be able to understand languages

Education: 

A graduate of the Vancian academy of magcraft with barely passing grades. Her technical ability is noted as being very good, but lacking the power to back it up or handle more powerful spells without ritual assistance. Since graduation, she's advanced to the Third Order after several trials, tests and a thesis project involving the creation of a spell.

Physical   Characteristics:

Hair   Color:   Lilac (Depending on the light, it can be seen as purple and blue)

Eye   Color:  Same as Hair

Miscellaneous: Currently has a noticable lack of sound that accompanies her actions and things she's touching or influencing. This does not appear to stop her from speech, as she's purchased a supplementary voice.

Height: 4'9"

Weight:  Lighter than one would expect from a woman of her size.

Relationships:

Seraph and family (Dear friends and honorary family member)

Trinity and Jingle ("sisters")

Caitlyn Kiramman (Patron, adoptive mother)

Ava, Fi, Rose, Lastrin, August (Romantic interests)

Chiasa (Adoptive mother)

Gisha, Kolkai, Achara and related families/children (Dear friends)

Asova (Employer)

Sky, Vitor, Dr. Iyana Mbeki, Zenyatta, Lulu, Alex, Akio, Fleer, Princess Zelda, Linkle, John Limbo, Tabitha, Arma, Dr. Julian Robotnik (Dear friends)

Orientation:

Demisexual, low-libido lesbian

Relationship   Status:

'It's Complicated'/ Seeing someone

Tagged by: @infinite-xerath

Tagging: @piltover-sharpshooter , @darkseraphscorner , @risingshine , @theplasmablade , @steel-forged , @aquatic-hybrid , @darkin-of-shurima , @burdened-boy , @vitorofthescaleless , @linklewinklewoman

[shallow-between-stars]

Annoyed, spoilery rant under cut which is evidence I should stay out of the tags but here we are.

Friends, fellow fandom goers, DA fandom folks

I'm begging you, please employ some critical reasoning.

I'm seeing a whole lot of negative posts crop up about this game being 'sanitised' and they do raise some good points, but here's the thing.

Your contact in the crows? He's the grandson of the first talon. Your other contacts in the crows are the fourth and fifth talons.

They're not going to present the Crows as a bad thing. Lucanis directly iterates to you that he was abused by his grandmother and then excuses that abuse because he is within the system. The others are similarly caught up in the facade. They don't present the Crows as doing wrong because they don't see the crows as doing wrong.

Neither did Zevran until the Warden took him aside and said "Hey, all that shit that happened to you is pretty fucked up."

Add into that fact as well that at this stage Zevran's experiences of the Crows are canonically over two decades old. Look at how much changes in our world in 20 years. Shit, iPhones didn't exist until 2007 and gay people couldn't get married in Australia less than ten years ago.

And the talons of Zevran's time? Most of them are dead. In fact, given that Caterina exits stage right very early in the game all of them are dead as of Act One.

The ones we have left? Teia and Viago are very new to being Talons. They are not the old institution of Zevran's time. The game absolutely should be more specific about this and they absolutely are still, y'know, assassins, but the Crows have undergone a complete upheaval of management by the time we hit them in TVG.

And like... Illario (who is Old Guard) is doing some fucked up shit, man. I've not played through the whole of Lucanis' mission but it's absolutely setting Illario up to be the sort of evil, backstabby, power-hungry bastard that the Crows are famous for being.

And in Tevinter - again we are seeing Tevinter through the eyes of people who are patriotic. Dorian canonically stopped owning slaves after leaving Orlais, and has been actively campaigning for the outlawing of slavery for 8 years. Yes, his political maneuvering was crushed by the powers that be, but it is not unreasonable to assume he changed some minds before being overthrown by an institution that held closer to the court of public opinion.

Added to that? Our main view of Tevinter in this game is through an institution that is bucking the main social trends of Tevinter.

And, frankly, Neve and Asher aren't going to badmouth their city. Given the epic tantrum that Neve throws if you save Treviso when you're put between a rock and a hard place in Act One, she's got some very rose-tinted glasses on in regards to what is happening in Tevinter.

Add to that the Venatori are canonically established as having systematically assassinated the magisters who have opposed them and placing their own mages in power. We even have evidence of this happening in-game with Maevaris no longer being a magister and she got off lucky. Also The fucking Archon (who is not Venatori, just an asshole) can be fucking assassinated by the Venatori to make way for his Venatori son if you save Treviso!

Dorian's political initiative was squished into itty-bitty pieces, as were his political allies - he was outmaneuvered by a sect that has had eight whole years to manipulate and establish power and kill people, and had public opinion on its side because they had an upstart to vie against.

And Tevinter is not healthy by any means. There are demons infesting the streets! People being murdered in blood rituals! There is a side mission boss you have to fight called Desperation who is preying on the fact Minrathous has a seedy shithole underbelly, and, frankly, a seedy shithole upper echelon too.

And there is also evidence of the exploitation and abuse of slaves throughout the side missions. In fact, in one mission you come across a literal room full of the bodies of dead slaves.

I get it - there is a lot to be critical of in this new game and people have a tendency to ignore what the game is showing them in favour of what the game is telling them, but part of the Dragon Age franchise has always been about perspective. The perspective we are seeing at the moment comes from people who are either absolutely still actively drinking kool-aid or highly patriotic and willing to overlook even glaring flaws.

It's not sanitised so much as deliberately misrepresented because of unreliable narration like a whole lot of other things in the series over the years.