#or give better quality of life to those in the alienages

[thewardenisonthecase]

honestly, maybe it's a hot take or whatever, but I think that tearing down the veil and *potentially* bringing back the immortality to the elves would not have helped them a lot

[squishy--squish]

For the DA asks 9, 14, and 21?

Thank you for the ask! Been too busy to answer it, but I have been thinking about it! For context, my protags are Raven Tabris, Lilith Hawke, and Mirevas Lavellan. (They're color-coded mainly cause it's fun.)

9- what is their love language?

Raven's is mainly inspired by Origin's game mechanics but- gift giving! Giving things another may need- or even just want, if one could afford or make it- strikes me as a big thing in the alienage, and I doubt she ever grew out of that. She's not much for outwardly expressing herself- especially not during the Blight- but she'll tuck away even frivolous things if she believes one of her companions may like it. Though the silver and gold bars are just... basic gifts Zevran especially likes, she gives them to him when she starts to fall for him/feel guilty that he probably only stays around because he can't afford to go anywhere else. This way, she gives him a backup. An avenue for freedom, should he feel the need to take it.

Lilith's meanwhile is physical touch! She's not one for sentimental words not wrapped in layers of irony or hidden in a joke, but she's very touchy-feely with those she cares about. Whether that be family, friends, or a lover- if she likes someone, she'll touch them as much as they're comfortable with. A hand on theirs, an arm slung around their shoulder, leaning against their side- you name it, she's probably done it. She has to learn to be careful with Fenris, to know the signs that his markings are flaring up again so she doesn't make it worse. At first she doesn't always get it right, but she's used to that. She learns and improves.

Mirevas is all for quality time! Though she gets less and less to spare as Inquisitor, she still makes time for those she cares for. Words don't need to be exchanged, or even glances exchanged. All that matters is that they're together. Even when she can't have that, she views the expeditions under the same lands. Trudging through landscapes, fighting dangers and closing rifts, taking notes on the ever-growing book slung at her side... It's all the better for the steps beside her, for the bits of banter she listens to them exchange, occasionally throwing in her own comment here and there. Thus why she almost always brings Solas when she can- she appreciates his insight and how he encourages her near-endless curiosity. When things are overwhelming, she gravitates to his study. Knowing he'll be there and won't push her on anything she doesn't want to speak of, especially when she doesn't wish to speak at all.

Which only makes it worse when he's gone. The wolf in her dreams is a cold comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. He still found a way to spend time with her in a sense.

14- who are they closest to from their family?

For Raven, if we're counting the dead... I'd say Adaia, her mother, who instilled in her principles and the stubborn streak she carries with her to this day. She still carries the Fang of Fen'Harel- Adaia's sword- with her over two decades after the Blight. The tale she told some children in the Alienage the day of her wedding was based on her roguish mother- how she stole from the rich to give to the poor... and left out how it cost her her life when she took her daughter along. The guilt has waned over time, but she still hopes her mother's spirit rests well. (She loves her living family members fiercely, I just forced myself to pick one.)

For Lilith, it's definitely Bethany. Even before they were the only Hawkes remaining- Gamlen's alive but he doesn't count- she was always protective of her little sister. That protective streak was instilled into her at a young age, where she didn't really grasp the nuance as to why, but she knew that people would want to hurt her baby sister for who she was. It only stuck around and grew into a full-on complex as she grew older, trying to fill the void left behind by Father's passing. She doesn't even know about Bethany's resentment over it until Bethany becomes a Warden and allows herself to express the uglier parts of herself she'd shunted away to be more pleasant and deserving of her family being in hiding for her sake. There's a point after her time in Inquisition- where Lilith is trapped in Weisshaupt, pregnant and dealing with whatever mess unraveled there- where the two of them reconcile properly. Where Lilith is the one who needs protecting for a change. One of many fic ideas I may get to writing one day...

For Mirevas... that's a tough one, but I'll say Renehn, her father. Her father is always a jovial sort, encouraging her inquisitive (ha) nature from a young age. Both she and her mother had plenty to learn about their people. And knowledge should be shared, not locked tight and guarded jealously. Her whole clan is missed dearly, a family in its own right, when she's away as Inquisitor... But she especially misses her parents. How he taught her to hunt, how he'd tease and call her da'fen, how he'd understand her need for quiet at times. When she returns to the clan, he helps her adjust to life without depending on her left arm after he lost his leg in the Wycome mess. When she leaves, he wishes her well.

21- what is their biggest regret?

I'm going to be briefer here cause I'm running out of steam but- Raven... She'll act tough, brush it off, pretend it doesn't bother her, but her biggest regret is not being fast enough to stop what happened to Shianni in Vaughan's estate. Logically she knows the blame rests on those who actually did such a heinous, monstrous thing to her cousin... But emotionally it rests quite heavily on her shoulders.

Lilith... I could gesture to so much about Dragon Age 2's story here. As I said, her protection complex extends out to Kirkwall as she carves out a place for herself within it, so any major catastrophe feels to her like her fault. Like she didn't do enough somehow. For a specific moment though... I've gotta say what happens to Leandra. A real fuckin' punch to the gut for her.

Mirevas' is... complicated, but it's her decision to let Solas remove the vallaslin. At the time of such a reveal, the horror overrides all logic. Yet another thing the Dalish got wrong, old shackles repurposed into the culture of her people. At the time she doesn't regret it, but such regret only grows over time. The vallaslin was the one core thing connecting her to her people's identity, an aspect of her the humans and their Maker couldn't take away from her. And yet she'd gotten rid of it of her own volition, at the hands of her people's most reviled so-called Creator. It's a small, bitter regret, but it's the only one she doesn't manage to discard on her decade-long quest.

[icy-warden]

I am so so so late, so idk if you're even interested in doing these anymore, but if you are, I'd have some questions from the Romance Asks for Zevran and Vergil :D

3. When they are having a fight, what is it about and how do they deal with it? 

13. How do they react at being away from each other?

25. Share any headcanons about their relationship. 

Please feel free to choose whichever catch your attention (or just leave them if none do) ^^

Month and something later I answer! Thank you for your patience 💙

3. When they are having a fight, what is it about and how do they deal with it? 

Vergil and Zevran rarely have a fight, but when they do it’s the epic kind (one that easily might lead to breaking up and once it did). 

Zevran is Vergil’s first relationship (ever) where he’s emotionally invested and for Zevran, Vergil is the first person he trusts again after the heartbreak (and tragedy that happened with Rinna).

Misunderstandings happen, especially when both of them have a difficulty with speaking about their feelings and expectations. It’s complicated, learning to open up, heal and trust the other person. 

First serious fight happens after Taliesin's death - Zevran goes through grief and tries to sort out his feelings towards all that happened and what it means for his future life. Killing Taliesin, the second person once close to him, is like breaking off with the past for good - two people with whom he shared his past, the best and the worst of times, are dead. By his hand. It’s a lot to take in, and the situation with Vergil isn’t easy either. 

In Denerim, Vergil goes through a few stressful and difficult things in a very short time - the Queen’s rescue mission goes wrong and his imprisonment at Fort Drakon isn’t pleasant. After he’s released he has but a short time to recover and take onto another task - investigate what happens in the Alienage. It’s in between those two missions where he has a moment to breathe, think. Also, he wants to talk with Zevran, maybe even touch the subject he started noticing lately - how he likes to spend time in his company and how at ease he feels around him. But Zevran is avoiding him and when he confronts him about it, it blows up out of proportion. Vergil wasn’t aware of the wrong buttons he pushed, unaware of the hurt and confusion Zevran’s going through. At first Vergil thinks he himself is hurt because of the rejection of something as simple as sharing a bed, but deep down he feels it’s because he wasn’t trustworthy enough for Zevran to share his thoughts (and pain).

Both aren’t in a good place mentally and they don’t speak of it until the night in Redcliffe.

13. How do they react at being away from each other?

Vergil makes himself even more busy. He likes being updated on Zevran’s wellbeing as much regularly as it’s possible. He’s aware it’s not always possible or safe and he tries to be patient about it. That’s why he worked on perfecting the blood vials he exchanges with Zevran - it helps him with keeping eye on Zevran’s health when he’s away and localise him if needed. He always makes sure to prepare some kind of a gift he can give Zevran when they’re together again.

Zevran can shift into ‘mission mode’ when he’s working and focus on what he’s doing. But he misses Vergil nevertheless and isn’t shy about it in his letters to him. He doesn't exaggerate when he tells him he thinks about Vergil often, especially in rare times when he can take a break. Zevran works hard to finish his many missions successfully and keep his promise of coming back to him.

25. Share any headcanons about their relationship.

A few things I can thing about atm:

- both like fine things and indulge in purchasing them (alcohol, clothes, weapons, etc.)

- Vergil likes to to surprise Zevran with gifts that are rare/quality/pricey (or three of those)

- there’s a rule of “you’re allowed to fool around with other people if you wish as long as they’re not a serious thing”

- Zevran cooks better than Vergil, but Vergil bakes better than Zevran

- they still train together whenever it’s possible and thanks to those trainings both have experience with dealing with people of their specialisations

- when Zevran is in a mood to be a little shit, he misplaces Vergil’s things, leaving one of his many, many knives instead

- thanks to Zevran, Vergil starts to build up his immunity to popular poisons - it’s a long and hard road but helps to warn him when something is wrong and buys him the time to take an antidote 

- both like when the other plays with their hair

[Romance asks]

[heniareth]

This literally made me go !!!!!!!!!

More than okay to tag me ^^ I love these kinds of worldbuilding intricacies. Putting a cut in halfway through so it doesn't get too long, and warnings because I'll be discussing poverty and mentioning pregnancy in this text.

I'm personally working off of Dragon Age Origins and very specifically the Tabris origin. Money comes up in this origin three times: 1) when Tabris gets a wedding present of 15 silvers, 2) when Tabris can offer 3 silvers to a family to travel to Highever or 10 silvers to stay in Denerim (which involves the renting of a new home and the possibility of opening a shop per this wiki entry), 3) when Vaughan Kendells offers Tabris 40 sovereigns if they leave him alive. Building up on the fact that 10 silver covers rent with something to spare to start a business and 3 silver covers a journey of 162 miles or 2 days of travel, we can conclude that 40 sovereigns is more money than Tabris would ever expect to see in their life. To put some math into this (one gold coin (sovereign) is worth one hundred silver and ten thousand copper):

40 sovereigns × 100 = 40.000 silver

10 silver is roughly rent and opening/sustainment of a small business for a month.

With 40 sovereigns, aka. 40.000 silver, you'd be able to pay rent and maintain your business for 4.000 months, without counting the income generated through said business. 4.000 months are (4.000 ÷ 12 = 333.33) 300 years and four months. This is an absolutely insane amount of money and I'm thinking of going back to that chapter and correcting Astala's reaction to the offer. You, your children and your grandchildren would be set for literal life (at the level of life quality the city elves "enjoy". If you want better housing and food the number of years you could live off of 40 sovereigns gets reduced).

So, basically, take the shittiest apartment where you live and see how much rent costs a month. Then put on top of that what you'd pay in electricity and materials to start a small business (say it's weaving, for which you need yarn and a loom). That's the equivalent to 10 silverpieces. This puts the wedding gift Tabris receives in a whole other light: fifteen silver would cover roughly two months of rent for a whole family. It's the perfect gift for a couple who's starting out, who might at some point be expecting children and have one partner not be able to work, and it blows my mind to imagine how long Dilwyn and Gethon (the giftgivers) would have to be saving to be able to personally give Tabris this gift. They're not from the Alienage as far as I understand, so they had enough money to get there, give the gift, and go back. That's an insane amount of money for an elderly couple to give. Holy cow. Back to the topic at hand.

Knowing what exactly can be afforded with those silver pieces and sovereigns, I extrapolate the pricing for other things, partially based on common sense and partially based on what I would like things to be like for my story. Produce and other foodstuffs would cost coppers. Meat would be a bit higher in price but probably not get up to a silver (I'm thinking double digits coppers here depending on bulk and quality of the meat). Normal work clothes would definitely be double digits copper also (or maybe more? I know too little about late medieval/early rennaissance cost of clothesmaking).

In my story, I wanted to show that money was tight even for the Tabris family. If all for members of the family work, that's around 8 silverpieces they have to make a month just to cover rent (I'm discounting 2 silverpieces from the original 10 because the Tabris family is neither opening nor maintaining a small business). Therefore I established that Astala earns around 100 copper or 1 silver a month working night shifts at a tavern. She's also a dockhand and earns about 150 copper or 1,5 silver there. That's 2,5 silver earned just to cover rent. If the rest of the family (Cyrion, Shianni and Soris) earns about as much, that means that at the end of the month they'll have a grand total of 1200 copper or 12 silver at their disposal for rent, food, clothes, medicine and heating if it's winter. It's not much, but they survive. This also means that, with the addition of Nelaros/Nesiara and Valora (the people who are supposed to marry into the family at the start of the origin), provided their earnings were similar to that of the other members of the family, the money at their disposal would go up to 1700 copper or 17 silver a month, which would be a lot more for them. Marriage wouldn't only be a sign of adulthood in the Alienage, but also a very necessary step to secure the family's finances. Cyrion will be too old to work at some point. They need more people to support the family once his wages fall away.

Long story short bc I'm rambling and getting excited about money in fictional cultures and demographics: based on these three instances in which money comes up in the Tabris origin, I've decided that in the Alienage, coppers is what you use for everyday life: food and utilities, maybe clothes, medicine depending on how rare it is. Silver is what you use for rent and big monthly expenses. Gold coins or sovereigns are absolutely unheard of and would be the equivalent to being handed a bar of gold. I imagine 40 sovereigns was expendable enough for Vaughan, but not too little (especially since Tabris gets stripped off the money after leaving the arl's estate; Vaughan likely promised them more than he normaly would have because he knew that he could just send his guard after them to get the money back). So if we're talking social tiers, it's the nobility who deals in sovereigns, the knights, successful merchants and craftsmen (middle class) who deal in silver and the lower class who deal in copper. All of this is kept general and vague since economics are not my forte, especially when dealing with real life. I have no idea what things cost. But for now those have been solid enough guidelines to satisfy the detail gremlin in me.

Hope this was interesting to read ^^ It sure was fun to write it all out and I will save this for when I invariably deal with Astala freaking out because Everything Costs So Much Money. She'll be in charge of keeping a dozen people well-fed and cared for, not to mention the cost of armor and weapons and medicine and ingredients for poultices, poisons, and potions. Everybody else will be pointing at things going "this is pretty! :D" and Astala will be sweating and counting the coins in her pouch. I love her

So this is super out of nowhere, but what do y’all think about DA currencies potentially being transferred into irl money? I’ve been super curious about it tbh, but it seems kind of a weird thing to convert, especially since a lot of irl countries have some serious individual pricing discrepancies. I generally settle on equating silvers to bucks, historical availability and relevance be damned XD

Do u have any rules of thumb when it comes to such things?

@bumblerhizal-art @wild-houseplant @icy-warden @siriskulksnerding @heniareth

Hopefully it’s ok to tag y’all :D