#much in the same way loghain could be for a cousland (or any background really)

[mashamorevvna]

shadowheart & ketheric underrated dynamic bc he'd be SO familiar with sharran practices and also the failures of the doctrine. there's also an incredibly interesting parallel in the fact that ketheric dropped shar bc of his family, much in the same shadowheart can. and, per game mechanichs, she can literally walk in with a dark justiciar get up

[vigilskeep]

i just wish to inform you that i am insane about tristan. as an avid cousland stan he compels me in ways i cannot fully put into words. does he have interests outside of the courtly duties he had to learn? like does he care for battle strategies and such?? what is his opinion on loghain??

yes he has a very well-rounded noble education, combat too!! despite knowing the kind of life he was intended for, they couldn’t blatantly leave him out without risking questions, they couldn’t risk him being the only heir left and untrained if anything happened to fergus, and also i suspect bryce has no idea how else to interact with a child. between that, his magical training, and his noble education, tristan barely had any time for interests of his own, and it’s almost lucky he’s a creature of boundless roaring unspent energy. he’s intelligent, chivalrous; though he’s not nearly as talkative after the events of the origin, he’s wry and charming and he should be well-spoken and well-read enough to hold his own when asked to speak on anything. i’m drawing on, like, chivalric archetypes, courtier ideals, and even, idk, regency novel style standards for the “accomplished lady”. he can charm, he can entertain guests, he can rule, he can fight, he can play music, he can cast judgement, he can write, he can settle land disputes, he can cast walking bomb, and hell, he can even dance

physically, these days, he doesn’t train as much as he did as a boy hoping he could convince his father of a few things, but he still maintains his fitness. a little more vanity in that than dedication to combat, though, lmao. it mayyy be more about looks nowadays than actual strength. also just about being a big wolf in a small cage who is so foundationally bored. the same way cousland’s mabari acts up in the castle because it’s a war dog playing nursemaid. you gotta pace along the bars of your enclosure sometimes, because eventually you run out of books to read and catastrophically bad ideas of who to sleep with. he has a high-ish con score for a mage that i would put down to the above

as for loghain, he was a hero of his as a child. i think a specific part of tristan’s background is being raised on glorified tales of the rebellion and idealising that, romanticising it, and coming to understand that he would never be permitted to achieve anything like the warlike standard that had been set up for him. (he has such bad luck with this. he used to be genuinely fond of arl howe because his visits meant news from outside highever and stories from the old days.) anyway, with loghain, tristan also likes the idea of a historically great “right hand man” somewhat in the shadow of his king’s greatness, because tristan believed he would always be effectively that to his teyrn father and brother. at ostagar he’s spitting mad at cailan, and only his respect for loghain has him following the plan. tristan’s not got quite the head for pitched battle strategy—that was one of the things he was explicitly not really trained for—but he’s educated in history, he’s as good as you’ll find in siege warfare, etc. similar to alistair, he has every good, knowledgeable, evidence-backed reason to trust in the ostagar strategy. afterwards, he can barely react to loghain’s actions. it’s something of a quiet final death knell for the person he used to be, the things he used to believe in, when he wakes up in flemeth’s hut. howe could be an anomaly; loghain can’t

but it’s worth saying that if tristan said what he wants to say to loghain about ostagar—that if he had any heart, any honour, he’d have stayed with cailan, died with cailan if necessary—he’s not really talking about loghain. or ostagar. survivor’s guilt is a bitch

[laurelsofhighever]

The Falcon and the Rose, Ch. 1

The winter of 9:31 Dragon draws to a bitter close. Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir, hero of the people, has revealed a string of secret letters between King Cailan and Empress Celene of Orlais. The specifics are unclear, but suspicion of Orlesians run deep, and there are always those willing to take advantage of political scandal. Declaring the king unfit to rule, Loghain has retreated to his southern stronghold in Gwaren, with Queen Anora by his side. Fear and greed threaten to tear Ferelden apart. In Denerim, Cailan busies himself with maps and battle plans, hoping to stem the tide of blood before it can start. In the Arling of Edgehall, King Maric’s bastard son fights against the rebels flocking to the traitor’s banner, determined to free himself from the shadow of his royal blood. And in Highever, Rosslyn Cousland, bitter at being left behind, watches as her father and brother ride to war, unaware of the betrayal lurking in the smile of their closest friend.

Words: 1727 Rating: Mature CW: canon-typical violence Chapter summary: On the high plateau of Gherlen’s Pass, Loghain makes his first move. Banner art by me :) Also on AO3

Mid-Haring, 9:31 Dragon

Stretched out on the road behind him, the merchant caravan Reynard de Chernalle had built through years of hard work glittered like the jewels of a duchess in the winter sunshine. He himself was arrayed in travelling clothes of the finest quality, his rather portly frame cushioned against the weather by a quilted wool doublet decorated with a fine embroidery of spring flowers. Two days out from Jader, and the road still curved in easy loops along Gherlen’s Pass through high pastures thickly shadowed with snow. To either side loomed the white-dusted reaches of the Frostbacks, the gateposts of the border between the Orlesian Empire and the little country that had once been its easternmost province. Birds chattered in the mast pines that bordered the road. From his horse Reynard spied the tracks of fennecs eager to return to the warmth of their dens before the next storm. None of the men in the train failed to notice the front of pale, bloated clouds that rolled towards them from the Waking Sea on the back of a chafing north-easterly, and none of them were pleased about it.

Reynard sat straighter in his saddle to better catch a first sight of Ferelden as he capped the brow of the last rise in the road. From there, it was all downhill into lush, unspoiled valleys and thick forests that hunkered down under a grey haze of fog. Unlike the majority of his countrymen, he liked coming to Ferelden, even despite the weather. Its dogs, its stories, and the tenacious nature of its people possessed a welcome authenticity after the delicate pretensions of the minor Orlesian nobility he usually had to deal with. Most of all, he found the opportunities for trade in this former backwater very much to his tastes, and hoped an early arrival before midwinter would help him get the jump on his less adventurous rivals.

After the occupation thirty years previously, any merchant wishing to trade goods in Ferelden had had to make expensive detours through the Free Marches to avoid the prejudice of a population in which resentment traditionally lingered for generations. Clever traders, such as Reynard himself, had learned how to coax profits from these detours, but the gains had been small in the face of the risk to goods crossing the Waking Sea.

The peace treaties signed by good King Cailan four years earlier had changed things, however. Reynard had caught the turning tide, so to speak. He had traded in extortionate handling fees and sailors’ wages for a string of pack mules, wagons, and opportunities for wayside business. He had built good relationships with the merchants in Ridderby and Lakehead and every settlement in between. In less than half a decade his caravan had swollen to three times its original size – and if the rumours in his home city of Val Chevin were to be believed, soon there might be even greater profits to be made in Ferelden. The thought brought a smile to his thin lips.

A gust of wind tugged at the fur mantle of his riding coat, bringing an acrid mixture of smoke and pine balsam to his nose. Beneath him, his usually placid mare shied sideways, tossing her head with a snort. Only once he managed to steady her did he notice the spiked timber barricades that blocked the road ahead, defending a guard post that looked newly built, and which certainly hadn’t been there at the beginning of Hervestmere when he had made his last return trip to Orlais to resupply. He brought one hand to shade his eyes and squinted down the road.

“What do you make of it, Thomas?” he asked as the captain of his private guard trotted up to join him.

The man halted his gelding and scowled in the direction of the garrison of distant, shouting figures. Unlike his employer, the mercenary captain had a gruff appearance. His dark hair and beard were worn long, whether to obscure his features or to terrify opponents in combat, Reynard was unsure, but his weapons were well maintained and the discipline with which he kept his men in line spoke of a military background. While he rarely spoke, when he did it was with sound judgement and complete authority.

“I don’t like it, Ser,” Thomas grunted. “Best hang back and let me handle it. These look like unsavoury sorts.”

Reynard nodded. “I’m inclined to agree. Still, they’re probably just here to improve the road and are weary of being stuck at an out-of-the-way post like this.” He chuckled, imagining what young men might get up to with limited entertainment in the dark winter months. “I’m sure a friendly halloo will put their minds to rest that we’re not bandits.”

“All the same Ser, I advise you to be careful,” Thomas replied, unconvinced.

Busy smoothing the rumples in his coat, Reynard gave only a cursory acknowledgement of the warning as the mercenary cantered back to inform his soldiers of the blockage ahead. Knowing his employer’s penchant for striking up bargains along the road, Thomas would wait to order swords drawn, but his men would be prepared in case the meeting devolved into a confrontation. It was what he was paid for.

As Reynard rode closer, he busied himself by listing inventory in his head, running down a list of things bored soldiers might need. Most of his caravan was loaded with items geared more towards the nobility, and he never traded in flesh, but some of the herbs and delicacies in his wagons were difficult to find in Ferelden, and might go down well. He became so absorbed in working out what he would sell he failed to notice the peculiarity of the banner draped against the flagpole.

“Halloo there, my good man!” he called out when he was near enough to offer his most winning smile. “We are in for a blizzard before the day is out, do you think?”

A man with a weathered face and grimy, mismatched armour stomped out of the guard house, the longsword strapped to his belt the only serviceable thing about him. When he approached, Reynard’s hand twitched as he curbed the instinct to reach for the nosegay in his breast pocket.

“Papers!” the man barked through a mouth half-full of yellowed teeth.

Beaming wider, Reynard reached into his saddlebags and handed over the trade permits authorised by the Val Chevin Merchants’ Guild. “There you are, good Ser, I am sure everything is in order.”

The man hocked and spat. “You Orlesian?”

“Out of Jader,” came the reply. “Though I do not –”

“What you got in the train?”

“Well, all sorts of things, really,” Reynard answered, somewhat perturbed by the soldier’s brusque manner. “I trade furs, fabrics, spices, trinkets for the ladies,” he added with a wink. “This is my fifth year on this road. Bann Reginalda and Bann Ferrenly are both firm friends.”

The winning smile faltered as the soldier continued to riffle through the permits, scanning the lines with insolent disinterest, content to let the silence grow strained enough for the foreigner’s cob to shift its weight and whicker. He started when another rider cantered up to join the conversation. This one was practiced handling a horse, and the flint-like chips of his eyes showed no trace of fear as he edged in front of his master.

“Is there a problem here?” Thomas asked, polite enough but with a hint of steel that couldn’t be ignored.

Reading the mood, Reynard glanced back to see his company of guards arrayed in tight formation around the caravan, hands on sword hilts, their faces set with grim determination beneath their helmets. With their trained eyes they saw what he had failed to notice – a single flash of metal from within the forest, shadows of trees roving beyond their roots. They were waiting for the ambush. Dread settled like bad meat in Reynard’s stomach as he turned around and watched the strange battle of wills unfolding before him.

From beneath the leather brow of his cap, the soldier squinted upwards, sucking on one of his few remaining molars like a farmer contemplating the chance of rain on the harvest. Thomas stared back, implacable. Both of them seemed to have forgotten the merchant’s existence.

“I asked if there was a problem,” Thomas repeated.

“These papers are invalid.” The soldier held the permits high and opened his hand, letting them drop into the mud before grinding them into the ground with the heel of his boot. He leered. “’Fraid that means we get to inspect your cargo. Make sure you’re not carrying anything… undesirable, like.”

“Now see here –!” Reynard spluttered.

Thomas cut across him. “What writ do you have to authorise a search?” he demanded. “This caravan is sanctioned by Her Imperial Highness Empress Celene, and is under the protection of King Cailan. You have no authority to do this.”

The smirk spread wider across the soldier’s pockmarked face. Beneath his brows, the pale eyes glinted with malice.

“It’s Cailan has no authority here. On ‘em, lads!”

Before he could even process the words, Reynard heard the breathy swish of loosed arrows and screamed as his back exploded with agony. His mare reared and flung him into the roadside muck, where he rolled and lay gasping for breath like a landed fish. Shouts of fear and rage flashed in the air around him. When he mustered enough strength to look, he saw many of his men already dead, his drivers pinioned to their seats by crudely fletched arrows, and the guards felled by sword strokes from the bandits that had broken from the trees. Only Thomas held his ground, fighting off three at once with Orlesian curses fit to quell demons in their tracks.

Reynard reached out through the haze of his pain to try and warn his captain about the fourth man charging in behind him, but the arrows had pierced his lungs and his cry fell from his lips as a cough. As his vision dimmed, the wind picked up, bringing with it the first flecks of snow from the storm. Above the battle, unnoticed, the banner on the flagpole unfurled to reveal, not the scarlet War Dogs of the king, but a golden Drake on a field of black – the sigil of Loghain Mac Tir.

[the-outquisitor]

everything but multiples of four who am i?? Ull never know

What a ~mystery~! I don’t know ANYONE who doesn’t like the number 4!

1. Templars or Mages? Srsly??? Mages

2. Mage, warrior, or rogue?I have one of each! Buuuuut rogue, tbh, it’s in my soul

3. Describe your favorite Inquisitor’s personality and backgroundAurora Trevelyan is the youngest child of Bann Trevelyan of Ostwick who, despite the expectations of her pious family to join the chantry, trained as a warrior. She is kind and forgiving, but firm and strong in her convictions and her faith. While she is gentle, she is reserved until she learns to trust you, and has a sad air about her.

5. Favorite romance in Dragon Age: Inquisition?Cullen ♡♡♡

6. Favorite romance in Dragon Age 2?Anders ♡♡♡

7. Favorite romance in Dragon Age: Origins?Alistair ♡♡♡ (I, uh…have a Type™)

9. Least favorite Dragon Age character and why?Loghain! Because he planned everything all along, including the enslavement of the elves in Denerim, the poisoning of Arl Eamon, abandoning King Cailan, destroying the Wardens, and allowing Howe to get away with the massacre of the Couslands. In fact, they say that ALL of the King’s advisors are mysteriously out of commission during the Battle of Ostagar, and I’m not convinced that he didn’t have to do with the Arl of Denerim’s death either. AND he gets a free pass. So fuck that and fuck him. :^)

10. Who do you think should become Divine? Leliana please, down with Circles

11. Should Cole become more human or more spirit like? I always make him human because he’s really really suffering when he sees that templar, and ultimately I think Varric is right about helping him through changing himself. Not that I think he couldn’t be happy being a spirit, it’s just that the whole “forgive someone killing you” thing is something I struggle with personally.

13. What was the fate of your Warden/Hawke/Inquisitor?Warden: Queen with Alistair and a daughterHawke: Back in Kirkwall with Anders and a daughterInquisitor: Running templar sanctuary with Cullen with a son

14. Qunari, humans, elves, or dwarves?All of the above! Everyone’s great

(Started answering on my laptop at this point, so had to change the spacing)

15. Favorite location in Inquisition?

Wholesome answer? The Frostback Basin. Self indulgent answer? ...The Winter Palace

17. Which characters do you ship and why?

Josephine and Isabela because Isabela would TOTALLY go for seducing a prim and proper lady with a secret penchant for adventure and Josephine would TOTALLY go for making her work for it when Isabela can usually get what she wants pretty easily cause Josephine knows how to play the game. IMAGINE THE BATTLE OF WILLS. And then they can get married and go gay sailing forever.

Sera and Dagna because not only are they canon, but the MAYHEM. ALL OF THE BEES. And they’re cuties

Sigrun and Velanna cause I enjoy ships where one is grumpy and the other is a ball of sunshine and also because both of them deserve love and happiness. 

Maryden-centric polyamorous relationship between her, Cole, and Krem because I enjoy compromise.

And one that I just made up which is Carver and Nathaniel because they both have similar experiences with family and reputation and also because I don’t believe Carver is actually as broody as he’s made out to be and I feel like Nathaniel would appreciate his sarcastic sense of humor. (And also because Nathaniel and Anders def had a fling and how awkward would that make family reunions??? In other words, I live.)

18. Which pairings do you dislike and why?

Varric and Cassandra because WHY???? LIKE OKAY they were both able to move past their fight and their distrust of one another from the beginning, but I don’t see that blossoming into a relationship. I feel like they could be friends, but they do not solve problems or generally go about things the same way, and I can see that becoming an issue. Like Cass is way more strict with her morals and Varric couldn’t give a single fuck, and I feel like when your value systems are that different, there’s gonna be problems. I dunno ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

19. In your playthrough, who became the ruler of Ferelden?

Alistair, the right one

21. Which game, in your opinion, is the strongest entry to the series?

AaaaaAAAAHHH THEY’RE ALL GOOD FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. I play Inquisition the most because I’ve played Origins SO MANY TIMES and 2 isn’t as flexible with Hawke’s characterization. But I feel like Origins is the strongest because it establishes a consistent lore and has a good story structure. Also, absolutely nothing is in it or any of its DLCs that doesn’t add to the story, the lore, or the characters in some way.

22. Bethany or Carver?

I have...never played as a non-mage in 2...so I’ve never had Bethany :’(

23. Favorite DLC?

NooOOOO DON’T ASK ME THIS DAMMIT!!! Because Awakening is where I finally developed my Warden, Trespasser is, well, Trespasser, and The Descent is SO GOOD AAAAAHHHHH

I’m, uh...gonna answer this with that, so :P

25. Do you like the Warden, Hawke, or the Inquisitor the most?

26. Did your Inquisitor forgive Solas?

LOL for which fucked up thing? Cause depending on the universe, the answer varies VASTLY. For giving the orb to Corypheus which fucked everything up? Sure, we all make mistakes. For keeping that, his identity, and the nature of the Anchor a secret from her the whole time so she could believe whatever she wanted and not know what was actually going to happen? Probs not. For breaking up with @ravenstag‘s Inquisitor? NEVER.

27. Least favorite quest in the series?

THE ONE WITH THE FADE IN THE BROKEN CIRCLE QUEST IN ORIGINS FUCK ME SIDEWAYS AND BURY ME ALIVE I HATE THAT QUEST SO FUCKING MUCH

29. Describe the appearance and personality of your Warden character.

(All taken from her Charahub page cause I’m lazy)

Shoulder-length brown hair, usually kept in a high ponytail, Dark brown eyes, 5'7" with a slender build

She is mild-mannered and gentle, preferring to take the diplomatic route in a situation if possible. She is good at helping feuding parties find common ground and using logical arguments. She is also very detail-oriented and perceptive, taking in small but important pieces of information almost constantly.Although she knows how to hide her emotions behind a polite smile or a calm demeanor, when she is around her loved ones, she is happy-go-lucky and unrestrained in sharing her affections or making witty jokes. She is also very individualistic and tries to find the value in everyone's personal identity. As a result, she tends to be a good listener and/or a shoulder to cry on. She is very intuitive, sometimes asserting that she just knows what the right choice is. This can lead to her making reckless decisions which have gotten her into dangerous situations. Her penchant for recklessness also comes from a general thirst for excitement, a yearning for more than what was expected of her, and an intensified need to feel alive after experiencing trauma.Because she was taught that duty and loyalty always come first, she detests betrayal in all of its forms and if you betray her trust, which can be given in haste, she will not forgive you and will seek vengeance to one degree or another.

30. Did you side with Briala, Gaspard, or with Empress Celene?

I...may have reconciled Celene and Briala...because I didn’t know better...and because I have no reason to think Aurora would know any better...I kept it that way... Oops...