#now the hard part is deciding if im gonna be a mage or rogue for my first run

[birb--birb]

Okay so da4:

aestheticly, trailer looks gaweegeous!! The neon demons slap!

I adore Neves wand/dagger thing,

I'm a little apprehensive about the combat system but it looks like a good bit of it was held back so we'll have to wait till the game to feel it out.

Solas' vo sounds different? Flatter?

The hair does look REALLY nice

V excited to hop into more lore around Tevinter

Plz gods be subtitles for ambient dialog, I want to hear what solas and varric are saying when Rook goes and destroys the pillars

[kappasigmalife]

Desolate Caladium: Chp 4 Madness of the Heart and Mind

Desolate Caladium: chapter 4

Madness of the Heart and Mind

As I brought callum into the cabin with Evelyn’s help, I began to notice his head was burning. It must have been from the shots fired at us, there was no sign of anyone out there and I had to ensure no one was going to follow us out here. Evelyn told me she would watch the outside and let me know what she found while I tended to callum. It was twice to one that we saved one another, not much else can be seen from that other than a life debt. I remember my training well and got his fever down quite a bit but his wounds were much more severe than I imagined, with his back burned by magic bullet wounds, most likely fire. Had I been properly watching out for everyone id have been able to keep myself from falling victim to a damsel in distress motif? It didn’t matter as the two of us were still heading slowly to the new life we wanted away from the kingdom, but if im going to be a burden to him like this, is it worth it for me. Remembering he kissed me on the forehead, I gotta snap back to reality, there isn’t any use being a sniveling coward about any of this. Evelyn will help as much as she can but shes still weak from hunger and callum is out of commission.

“evelyn, im going into town for a while to get aid for callum, watch over him for me.” “you got it desmond, ill make sure hes safe.” as I left I knew in my stomach something was up with her. Why in the world would she appear here of all places and while we were camping out in the first place. It didn’t matter to me though, I needed some red leech tree bark and lavender for a ointment for him. Although the ingredients are quite expensive they will be well worth it for better recovery. While returning with supplies and some food, I catch evelyn talking to a tall man wearing a red cloak with a broadsword on his back. Getting closer I cant believe what I was hearing from the two of them.

“you idiot, I told you to wait til I gave a signal, I didn’t wanna hurt him.” “you told me to attack when you were found so I did, you know these magic items are hard to control” “fucking hell, hes hurt all because of our need for food, what a debacle.” “im sure things will get better as soon as we explain it when he wakes up” no way of knowing if he will or not, things aren’t exactly good with that, our shots really did a number on him.”

“oh man, well no harm no foul, I say we grab some of that foods he has stashed and split.” I noticed evelyn slapping him and looking as if she was crying, approaching the two the cloaked man disappeared and left Evelyn alone to talk with me. She explained how they went rogue in the kingdom and had to live off the land but being on the path of one was tiring and found a alve she freed with some of her savings and gave him a job as a guard, even buying him a broadsword. I could tell he is inexperienced and lacks control over anything, but he does look well defined by labor work. As I invited her back inside I began making a herbal remedy to heal callum, only to see that the marks are fading faster than expected, leaving nothing but small scars on his body. Although healed he still hasn’t awoken. Evelyn warned me not to wake him as the last time that occurred, someone nearly got killed, she mentioned it was something about his mage craft that changes his personality a total 180 and effectively would make everyone an enemy.

“its not worth it, he needs to wake on his own, not by force, trust me I know, hes a monster when in that state.”

“you sure this guy who is kind enough to travel with his ex and a doctor, is a monster when woken up.” “listen civilian ive known him for many years and I know what in talking about, he isn’t supposed to be woken up or else the consequences will be irreversible .”

Despite what I thought, she had a point, she knew him longer than I ever have and it wasn’t fair to usurp dominance over someone that was trained in royal courts all her life to deal with whatever the case may be with callum. As the day went on I decided to do some hunting, finding mostly some doe and birds to cook up for supper. When I returned I noticed that there was dead silence everywhere, curiously I thought that both evelyn and callum would be asleep due to the days events, but I was sorely mistaken. Out of nowhere a hole ripped open from the cabin with the cloaked man being shot out brandishing his broadsword covered in blood. From the smoke I saw callum covered in dark runes with hollow black eyes staring dead in the mans eyes no emotion or life whatsoever.

“I can contend you wanting food, but to go this far just to awaken a primal urge from your own volition needs to be punished.” “really now floating ball of denial, why don’t you make me.” I watched as callum created a small sphere of navy blue magic and launched it at the cloaked man.

“Alfan!!!!!!!” I couldn’t believe it as he slowly looked down at the beaten man, and grabbed him by the neck.

“you dare awaken a prince filthy slave, the girl gave you a name, alfan, ill remember it when your gone.” He flung the young man into the trees smashing him into a large oak, chasing after him I noticed callum meeting my gaze and just started walking to the direction of the crash. I wanted to help but I froze in place, is that who he is, some demonic mage bent on murder all to remain asleep. Now I get why he stayed away a long while and slept in seldom shifts. He wanted to remain calm instead of breaking out in a fight the minute something went awry. I picked evelyn up who suffered a broken ankle from the debris and told me that the state callum is in is from his mothers side.

“his mother is a moon elf, a divine being of the night capable of lost magics from beyond our grasp, her son bears her magic seal giving him the blood line to the moon and its secrets, he knows the arcane arts like the back of his hand as well as focus on the prospects of being the rightful heir to the throne of two kingdoms, now you see the power that comes from the royal blood.”

Evelyn has me carry her to the forest where we see the two continuing the fight. Alfin still trying to use his sword to no avail, simply missing every swing.

“a barbarians sword in the hands of a slave, is still nothing more than an oversized gardening tool.” thrusting his palm into alfin he pushes him into the trees again hearing a cracking of his bones.

“bastard took out one of my ribs” “and I shall crush the rest, mongrel” I looked away as I realized he repeatedly punched alfin in the gut breaking more of his ribs leaving him on the ground.

“picking a fight indeed was foolish  but you did allow me to be free of that prison for a while, so thank you, now whose next to challenge the prince of the moon elves, heir to the queens magic as well as tremis’s kingdom.” evelyn grabbed me and covered my mouth, signifying that this wasn’t safe and trying to get near him only would aggravate things further.

“come out come out evelyn, don’t make me hunt you dear, or I may have to burn the forest down.”

Evelyn looked at me with sincerity in her eyes that someone capable will snap him out. that instant I really understood what the dangers of leaving the kingdom entitle, callum doesn’t want the crown magic, or even power, he wants to be far from that things plans as possible.

“stay put I got this taken care of, hey prince wanna fight the princess.” “why of course, always wanted to ensure that the two of us wedded, but alas we were unable to ever have a proper match, given societal breakdowns of womens roles, keeping them as wives only stifles their warrior potential, like that slave over there.” “I saved him caladium, remember you gave him away to escape being made a sacrifice by the church, you gave him a name.” “right and fighting a queen is what im doing.” Evelyn calmly begins trying to get callum, only to be brushed off as nothing, being bombarded by light spells that cause minimal damage to her.

“what happened? You said he wouldn’t be a problem” “I know des but that thing isn’t callum anymore, the more he awakens the more hes capable of staying in control. His father and mother weren’t exactly the best parents.” I noticed that callum was growing weary of his stance and was regressing to his normal gaze although in one eye. But as he calmed down I noticed he was talking to himself.

“keep out, stay back, why control me now after 10 years.” “power is what you want the throne is yours.” “I don’t need it to help people I want to be gone as a martyr of peace and neutrality not of calamity and desolation.” “give in you know you want to.” “never again” as he finished I noticed him returning to normal again and falling down from exhaustion. Evelyn picked alfin up and told me to get them both to a inn keeper to be doctor. As we watch outside we come across the doctor examining both of them for abnormalities. Chris woke up shortly after and promptly tried walking despite much of his mana being eaten. I helped him up and I could tell he was crying from his eyes.

“im sorry you had to see that, I never thought that would come out again, it wasn’t fair for you to deal with it.” “are you kidding you worried me to death, I wasn’t afraid I was concerned you would make it out alive from that.” “no worries desmond, ill be more careful next time, but for now im very strained so im gonna go to the hot spring.” taking a cane I watched him limp out as alfin was operated on and making a recovery, the doctor allowed for him and evelyn to stay as long as possible until he recovered. Walking out I watched callum enter the entrance to the springs and followed suit. He was weak but I know he needed alone time to process the circumstances of what occurred, but part of me wanted to make sure he was okay so I snuck behind the rocks and watched as he began stripping down to his skivvies getting in the hot water.

“my oh my, did I truly need this tonight, desmond I know your out there, come out now I can sense your life force.” “sorry, I didn’t know if you wanted to be alone.” “just join me okay, holidays are coming up soon, all grace day comes our way in two moons.” “I didn’t know about that, sorry.” “why are you still dressed, get in the water before you freeze.” I took my clothes off and join him on the opposite side. It didn’t take much to get him to smile again, drinking a little rum really helped boost his mood effortlessly.

“I cant thank you for carrying me to the inn, it was a nice gensture when I lost myself.” “it…. Was no problem callum, please don’t hold it over me.” “of course not, im just happy to be alive and just relaxing for once, I wanna spend the holiday without crap coming back for me.” “I can hold that to high regards.” “hold on, I wanna give you a grace days eve gift, close your eyes” “fine” As I close my eyes I felt a cold metal go around my neck, when I opened my eyes it was a silver and black amulet necklace shaped in a cross. I saw the ring I wore that he bought before leaving was the same as the one he just gave me.

“I know cost a lot, but I figured a matching set would have a good look on you, plus the gems match your eyes.”

“I don’t know what to say, I love it.” As I began to notice the snow falling under the clear skies, callum came close to me taking my hand and softly kissing me with tears running down his face.

“I think I may actually love you.”