#mind you he'd have a field day with varric

[melonyfelonyfellonme]

What if... I know Manfred doesn't really like nicknames but what if Rook starts calling him a nickname further into their relationship with Emmrich and maybe it's the only nickname he actually likes

And it's maybe Manfred's way of accepting Rook as part of his family in some way

Imagine how surprised Emmrich would be at that lol

[blackjackkent]

OK, I've had a request from @cindymeltzer to hit up Taash's "Fire on the Sands" quest next, but first - we have our first bit of mail from Dom in the Missives inbox!

Aw. <3 And hey, Ostwick isn't completely gone! It still has shipping! (That shipping is getting bullied by Antaam, of course, but you can't have everything.)

I think i still stand by my headcanon that Dom's father and aunt are dead. But it's nice to think that he does still have a home he could go back to when everything is finally done with.

There's also a lot of new stuff to pick up around the Lighthouse, so another quick check-in circuit.

Taash has been planning some defensive measures:

XD

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2. Taash also has a new idea for our free time:

Taash: "Hey. You heard of the Hall of Valur? It's a fighting arena with the Lords."

Helena: "Interesting."

Taash: "Just tell me when you're ready."

Can't help feeling someone on the writing team phoned that one in a bit. But nevertheless we now have a quest item to go strut our stuff at the arena, which we'll go hit up at some point.

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3. Today's bit of sage Varric advice:

"Normally, my advice on befriending abominations would be 'Don't.' In this case... just keep an eye on him."

Varric, you were buddies with Anders for like six years. (Admittedly, in this worldstate, you were also buddies with Elliot who a) hated Anders, b) KILLED Anders, c) has been harassed by demons his entire life. But still.)

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4. Emmrich also has a field trip in mind for us:

Emmrich: "Rook! Interested in visiting the memorial gardens?"

Helena: "What're you up to?"

Emmrich: "I must tend to some rites in the Necropolis. It should be peaceful and quite undisturbed. You'd be most welcome company."

Honestly, I think Helena and I are both slowly coming to the deep down realization that she really, really likes Bellara on a much more than surface level and that at some point that is going to win out.

But... she still definitely has a bit of a crush on Emmrich at present and is definitely grinning giddily to herself on being invited out on a garden walk with him. XD

We can also give him a gift that we picked up for him on a pass through the Necropolis merchants the other day:

"How thoughtful, Rook!"

Low-key it really is, given that it's a pretty dope-looking statue and also getting it back to the Lighthouse must have been a real pain given that it's bigger than Helena herself. :P

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5. Kind of a sweet little chat between Helena and Davrin (and Assan):

Helena: "It looks like our boy Assan is feeling his oats. Or... whatever griffons feel."

Davrin: "He's getting the hang of it - when he listens."

Helena: "He seems to be able to handle himself so far."

Assan: "[proud squawk]"

Davrin: "You got lucky the Gloom Howler didn't tear you to pieces, boy. You wait for my command, we attack together - then we can kill stuff like that."

Helena: "At least he's learning."

Davrin: "The instincts kick in. Griffons see darkspawn and it's a fight to the death. Like wolves hunting deer. Just need to corral it."

Helena: "Never be a deer. Good to know."

Davrin: "He'd probably leave them alone."

Helena: "'Probably'?"

Davrin: "You and I see a deer. Maybe he sees venison souffle? Every muscle in him, every talon, every feather-- honed into a killing machine. Assan's ancestors took on archdemons."

Assan: "[proud squawk]"

Helena: "Like his name says - he's an 'arrow'."

Davrin: "Half-lion, half-eagle, with the instincts of both. Griffons will always be hunters."

Helena: "Just like his daddy Davrin."

Davrin: "Heh. I suppose we are our nature."

(A/N: What does that even mean, Davrin? I get what they're going for but the writing is all over the place in this conversation.)

Helena: "Not sure about that?"

Davrin: "Most of my life I've hunted the darker things in the world. But caring for a griffon? What do I know about that? Yet here I am."

Helena: "That's not so bad, is it?"

Davrin: "Not the path I expected. Makes me wonder about Assan. his brothers and sisters. Still young. Pure."

Helena: "You're worried?"

Davrin: "I'm responsible for the future of every griffon alive. I want it to be a good one. These animals live to fight - but I wonder if there's another path for them."

(A/N: Aw. <3 We have a couple options for how to advise him in this regard. I think Helena has very little expertise to offer as far as raising 'kids' - but she remembers her own training, by her adoptive parents and then later by her mentors in the Shadow Dragons. And I think in both cases she was given a certain amount of freedom to choose what she wanted to specialize in, how she wanted to contribute, and what she wanted to do. The Dragons don't have a lot of use for a fighter who doesn't want to be there doing what they're doing, after all, and she's all the more attached to them because she was able to choose what was important to her and how that manifested.)

Helena: "It's still early. Assan's just a kid. Let him test the waters, see what shakes loose."

Davrin: "You mean like a parent."

Helena: "Yep."

Davrin: "Parent's a scary word. I'm supposed to be his bodyguard."

Helena: "What do you think you've been doing this whole time?"

Davrin: "Trying to ignore it. If I get myself killed by a hurlock, that's on me. If it's Assan... I just don't want to mess it up."

Helena: "I think that's where the trust comes in. That 'turlum' idea you keep talking about. Trust Assan to find his way. Don't force things."

Davrin: "He's headstrong."

Assan: "[indignant squawk]"

Helena: "Good thing you are too."

Davrin: "[chuckles] Right. Thanks for the chat."

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6. Lucanis is back in his pantry.

Helena sounds sort of awkward as she tries to make conversation.

Helena: "Well, it's all as you left it."

Lucanis: "Close enough. I think the Caretaker's been tidying up. Rook... now's not the best time to chat. Let's talk later."

Helena: "Later, then."

????? LUCANIS IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TALK WHY DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION BUBBLE OVER YOUR HEAD?

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7. Neve is out in the dining room. She has nothing to say but ambiently announces to Helena as she zooms by that they should get fish next time they're in Minrathous.

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8. Bellara is making progress with her elven Avina Archive Spirit.

Bellara: "Who created you?"

Spirit: "I cannot say."

Bellara: "What *can* you say?"

Spirit: "I cannot say."

Bellara: "Right. Deserved that."

Helena: "Got the archive spirit working, I see."

Bellara: "Rook! You're here! And I did - sort of. A little bit. It appears, but it won't tell me anything."

(A/N: Aw she sounds so excited to see Helena. <3 And her interactions with her magical artifacts continue to sound very much like software engineering trials and tribulations. XD )

Spirit: "You simply ask the wrong questions. A common affliction of the weak-minded."

Bellara: "Also that. It's kind of mean."

(A/N: Yes this feels very much like trying to get information out of poorly written documentation for a new library you've loaded into your project. XD

Also our spirit buddy has little faces on both knees of his armor. I didn't know where else to comment on this but I can't stop looking at it.)

Helena: "Just insult it right back - assuming you know how to insult a spirit."

Bellara: "I've never thought about it! How would you do that? Emmrich might know..."

Bellara: "Hmm... That *is* an idea. Cyrian learned a lot. Taught me a lot. About these archives. They have, well - not thoughts like us. But sort of pathways, I guess. They can only respond to specific questions, worded in specific ways. So... if you're powerful, like almost god-level powerful... how would you talk to someone you see as lesser?"

Helena: "Really condescendingly, based on experience so far."

(A/N: Lolol.)

Bellara: "Right! You wouldn't ask questions, you'd tell them what to do. So let's try that. Archive - tell me who built you!"

Spirit: "One of the greatest of Elvhenan. A steward of her glory. Truly, I was blessed to bathe in his warmth. Anaris built me. And to him I shall someday return."

Bellara: "You mean... the Forgotten One?"

Spirit: "I cannot say."

Bellara: "Good point. It came later."

Helena: "What or who is a Forgotten One?"

Bellara: "The bad gods - or so we were taught. Told never to speak their names. Elgar'nan, Ghilan'nain - they were the good oens that you could pray to. But now we know the truth, about the Evanuris. So we don't know for sure. What the Forgotten Ones were, I mean. They used to say Solas was one. So best-case scenario, like him. Worst case... well. You heard it talk."

Helena: "Right. So this thing's dangerous if it belonged to one of them."

Bellara: "Could be, but still - important. And invaluable. Everything Anaris knew, this thing knows. And my people deserve to know."

(A/N: Helena takes a few cracks at ordering some information out of this thing, hoping any of it will be useful against the gods.)

Helena: "Archive. Tell me about the Dread Wolf."

Spirit: "An ideologue and a fool who will soon pay the price. When Anaris dispatches the Evanuris, he will spare a thought for Fen'Harel."

Helena: "Archive. Tell me about the Evanuris."

Spirit: "A group of cowards. Hiding behind their more 'powerful' magic and 'superior' numbers. Their jealousy of Anaris was palpable. Their war is unending. But Anaris will prevail."

(A/N: Yeah Helena is no more impressed with you and Anaris than she is with Elgar'nan and Solas. XD Nice try though.)

Helena: "Have fun with the condescending spirit!"

Bellara: "I'll try! Could be worse. I guess."

Spirit: "Worse! Like the wound of betrayal Lord Anaris suffered! Soon he will cast down the oppressors and take his rightful place!"

Helena: "What a shame I can't stay longer. Good luck!"

Bellara: "Appreciate the support!"