#poc inquisitor

[blightbright]

I'm about to crash into sleep BUT if you've ever wanted what is essentially Solavellan in Silent Hill, you may enjoy catching up to the most recent chapter 22 of my fic, Sea of Frozen Words (currently at 80K, because it's run away from me, but now actually for real has two chapters to go before it's done).

It's not an AU or crossover, it's just that I have no reason to believe the Black City is anything other than DA-flavored Silent Hill, in everything but name. (Plus a lil bit of Lovecraftian R'lyeh, probably?) Anyway, I'm having a delightful time leaning into that right now! I am fueled by sweet romance + existential horror. Happy ending guaranteed but me trying my best to be creepy as fuck before then also guaranteed.

[abayomisworld]

With the excitement over Dragon Age Veilguard just around the corner and me replying Dragon Age Inquisition, I've decided to write out a fanfic that I have kept locked away for years! Now I would like to share it with everyone.

Title: Her Dawn Will Come

Summary: Oshun Trevelyan, a unique mage from the Ostwick Circle, finds herself in the center of chaos. Struggling to master a strange magical mark attached to her hand, a madman from long ago with the desire to become a God. Oshun takes up the title of Inquisitor, and vows to bring this chaos to heel. All the while coming to terms with memories from her past she would rather forget.

Chapters: 1/?

The first thing Oshun felt was an odd shock from her left palm. Rushing from her hand and traveled up her arm. The pain triggered her limbs to slowly push herself up. Heavy eyelids opening and blinking away a layer of dust and tears, she noticed the eerie smoke and darkness landscape. Forcing her arms and legs to push herself off the ground. Pushing stray hair strands from her face, she stumbled a bit while examining her surroundings. The misty darkness made it impossible to see just a few feet in front of her. The few things she could see were odd rock formations, unfamiliar and unworldly, floating and spinning in midair.

Occasionally, soft bone chilling whispers gently licking her ears. Causing her heart to drum rapidly in her chest and whip her head around searching for its source. Only to face a sheer puff of fog that disappeared immediately.

‘How…where am I?’

Suddenly, from behind her, a warmth spread across her neck. Turning around surrounding in a blinding light a figure standing at the top of a steep staircase. Oshun’s legs began to move on their own, holding her hand in front of her eyes, she moved towards the stone staircase. Slowly climbing the steps, she made it halfway through when a terrifying shriek ran through the air. Looking behind her a horde of large spiders scuttled out of the dark and chased her.

“Shit!” Oshun desperately started to climb the stairs, occasionally managing to grab a few loose stones to throw. Successfully landing a few hits and slowing the creatures down. Pushing her already sore legs, she made it close to the glowing figure, who had their hand reached out for her. Struggling to meet the stranger’s reach a flash of white and green light filled the air and then hitting the ground. The smell of smoke filled her lungs, and the whispers were replaced the sound of rushing footsteps. Through her blurred vision she saw three new bodies running toward her. Barely making out the shine of their swords before she passed out once again.

Once again, that same shock erupting from her hand drew her from her sleep. Taking a deep breath, she forces her eyes to open. Noticing the think iron cuffs around both wrists, she opened her left hand that bore the strange mark. Releasing a painful gasp as magic pulsed up her arm. As the mark’s magic calmed down, Oshun glared at her hand. Racking her brain for any explanation of the strange mana attached to her. Nothing from her studies in the circle match the mark’s magic. Immediately, Oshun’s brainstorm was interrupted by a door slammed open. Looking around she was no longer surrounded by eerie darkness, but sitting in the middle of a cold room, on her knees and surrounded by armed soldiers. All of them pointed their swords at her and glaring.

Two more figures walked in. Both women, one fully armed, her short hair with a single braid that wrapped around the top of her head. Her hazel eyes filled with anger and sadness. The second woman walking in was dressed in less intimidating armor. A purple scarf wrapped around the head, a few strands of red hair peeking out of the fabric. Both circling and glaring at Oshun, who also stared back, watching for any threating actions.

“Tell me why we shouldn’t kill you now? The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead,” The black-haired woman stood in front of Oshun, their eyes connected. “Except for you!” she declared.

‘The Conclave…I was instructed to…wait, what did she mean by destroyed?’ Flashes of faces and voices triggered a few memories. A foggy mix of Templar voices and Circle mages filled her ears for a few seconds. Only to escape her just as quick as they appeared. The black-haired woman gripped Oshun’s left wrist and raised it up. Causing uncomfortable pressure and breaking her from her deep thoughts. “Explain this!”

The mark sparked once again, slightly blinding Oshun. “I..can’t…"

“What do you mean you can’t!?” shouted the black-haired woman.

“I don’t know what that is! Or how it got there!” Oshun tried to explain.

The front of Oshun’s coat was pulled as the black-haired woman gripped the leather tightly. “You’re lying!”

The red-haired woman stepped forward and pushed the black-haired woman back a few steps. “We need her, Cassandra.”

Oshun looked at the second woman, holding her gaze. “I don’t understand,” she says. “What happened?”

The hooded woman stepped forward. “Do you remember what happened? How this began?” she demanded.

Taking a deep breath, “I remember running. Things were chasing me, and then…a woman?” Oshun’s eye twitched as the blinding figure flashed in her mind.

The hooded woman’s eyes widened a bit. “A woman.”

Oshun’s head began to pulse as she tried to recall the strange dark space she woke up in. “She reached out to me, but then…” A pain immediately tore through her head. ‘Why can’t I remember…my mission, for the first enchanter?!’

Silence filled the dungeon for a few seconds. Cassandra gently pushed the hooded woman toward the door. “Go to the forward camp. Liliana. I will take her to the rift.”

With a nod, Liliana, along with the other soldiers, left the room. Oshun eyed Cassandra as she walked forward and knelt in front of her. Taking a key to unlock the cuffs, then quickly wrapped some rope around Oshun’s wrists.

“What did happen?” Oshun asked.

Cassandra looked her in the eye, grabbing her arm and pulled her to her feet. “It will be easier to show you.” Cassandra turns to leave the room, with Oshun following her just a few steps away.

Climbing the stairs, they made their way to the main level. Oshun instantly recognized the interior of a Chantry. The sound of rumbling vibrated through the walls from outside. Causing a strange shiver to run over her skin. A few brothers and sisters standing in the shadows. Whispering to each other as they glared at Oshun. “Of course, the prisoner is a mage! Who else would want such magic to be unleashed?”

“Do you think she’s working with the one who destroyed the Chantry in Kirkwall?”

“Hard to say. From what I’ve heard, that mage was executed by Kirkwall’s champion. And most of the Kirkwall’s Circle mages were killed. She couldn’t have survived that.”

Oshun looked toward the small group, who instantly sealed their lips and look away. Keeping her head high, she followed Cassandra to the front doors. They opened and a strand of green light covered the cloudy sky and slightly blinding Oshun. After her eyes fully adjusted, time seemed to slow to a crawl as she gazed at the sky. Dark gray clouds circling a massive magical force. Sparks and waves of manna erupted, causing lightning and multiple masses to fall from the force, landing in random locations beyond her sight.

Oshun froze in place, the air in her lungs trapped for a few seconds, then released with a loud gasp. In all her years in the Circle, she’s never encountered such mana like this. The very air felt like a thin mist covered the village. Blinking a few times, Oshun could swear she saw light multi color speckles float all around her.

“We call it ‘The Breach’,” Cassandra spoke, breaking Oshun’s attention. “It’s a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour.” Cassandra turned to her. “It’s not the only such rift. Just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the conclave.”

“An explosion…can do that!?” Oshun’s eyes were wide with fear.

Cassandra gave her a small nod. “This one did. Unless we act, the breach may grow until it swallows the world.” The breach produced a thunderous burst and the mark on Oshun’s hand violently erupted, causing her to cry out in pain. Losing feeling in her legs and she fell to her knees, pressing her hand into her stomach.

Cassandra kneels in front of Oshun. “Each time the breach expands, your mark spreads…and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn’t much time.”

After the mark calmed down, Oshun took a few seconds to summon her own magic to try to steady any lingering effects. “You…you say it may be the key…to doing what?” She pressed.

“Closing the Breach. Whether that’s possible is something we shall discover shortly. It is our only chance, however…and yours.” Cassandra explained.

“You still think I did this? To myself?” Oshun glanced at her hand, then glared at Cassandra.

“Not intentionally,” Cassandra sighed. “Something clearly went wrong.”

“And if I’m not responsible?” Oshun challenged her.

Cassandra’s eye slightly twitched, sensing a resolve grow from the prisoner. “Someone is, and you are our only suspect. You wish to prove your innocence? This is the only way.”

Glancing back at the breach, then took her hand. Dread filled her heart. Oshun’s mind raced hoping to find an outcome where she lives, but the pain of the mark brings her to reality. ‘Shit…I can’t run from this!’ Looking Cassandra in the eye, and nods. “I understand. I’ll do what I can. Whatever it takes.”

Cassandra gave her a nod and helped Oshun to her feet. Keeping her hand on Oshun’s back as they walked through the village. Soldiers and several civilians gathered to watch the two make their way to the gates. Most kept their distance at the sight of Oshun. A few brave souls stepped forward and shouted hateful words at her. Though this behavior was nothing new to Oshun.

“They have decided your guilt. They need it. The people of Haven mourn our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, Head of the Chantry. The Conclave was hers.” Cassandra states. “It was a chance for peace between mages and templars.”

‘That’s right…that was my mission. To observe the talks.’ Oshun’s eye twitched as she tried to bring her missing memories to light. Frustrated, she shook her head as nothing from the moment that strange woman reached for her.

“She brought their leaders together. Now, they are dead.” A slight quiver could be heard in Cassandra’s voice. “We lash out, like the sky. But we must think beyond ourselves. As she did. Until the breach is sealed.”

They finally reached the village gates, where two soldiers opened them. Allowing them through before quickly closing the doors. Cassandra pulls out a dagger and stands in front of Oshun. “There will be a trial. I can promise no more.” She cuts Oshun’s bonds and continues to their destination.

Rubbing her wrists, Oshun follows her. “Where are you taking me?” She asks.

“Your mark must be tested on something smaller than the Breach.” Cassandra led Oshun away from Haven and followed a path littered with makeshift barriers and destroyed wagons.

Oshun couldn’t keep her eyes off the breach. The mana from this phenomenon reacted to her own magic. Tickling her exposed skin, it felt like walking through a thick fog. ‘This was supposed to be a peace talk…not the end of the world. And I’m supposed to close that?!’ The breach erupted again, causing the mark to activate. Oshun screamed and fell to her knees, clutching her wrist. “Damnit!”

She managed to get back on her feet with Cassandra’s help. Giving Oshun an awkward pat on her shoulder. “The pulses are coming faster now.”

Oshun glared at her hand. “This…this is insane!”

“I’m afraid it’s not going to be easier for us. The larger the Breach grows, the more rifts appear, the more demons we face.” Cassandra explained.

They continued their way while Oshun rubbed her hand. “How did I survive the blast?”

“They said you…stepped out of a rift, then fell unconscious. They say a woman was in the rift behind you. No one know who she was.” Cassandra’s sighs.

“But after I was found…was I truly the only survivor?” Oshun asked.

“I’m afraid so. Everything in the valley was laid waste, including the Temple of Sacred Ashes.” They reached another bridge with more soldiers preparing to the breach as well. “I suppose you’ll see soon enough.”

They made it halfway on the bridge when a sickly green light flew through the air and fall in their direction. The fade debris impacted the stone bridge, the shockwave sending the solders before them tossed in different directions. The stone beneath Oshun’s and Cassadra’s feet shook then collapsed. They tumbled down the destroyed bridge, luckily avoiding any splintered carts and crates, landing on the frozen surface of a river. Cassandra landed on her back, releasing a hiss as pain ran from the back of her head. Oshun rolled and caught herself. The force and fall causing her vison to blur and see double around her.

Blinking a few times to help steady her site another green light landed a few feet in front of her. Instead of breaking the ice like the bridge, a distance whispers and a roar sounded from the impact. Rising from the impact was a shade. The demon dressed in tattered robes with a hood. One of its eyes covered by a black patch, its other eye all black and glaring at them with bloodlust.

Cassandra drew her sword and shield then stood in front of Oshun. “Stay behind me!” She ordered and charged the demon. As Cassandra engaged the monster, Oshun noticed magic gathering on her right side. She heard the same whispers and roars as whisps of black and sickly lime green mist pushed through the ice. She desperately seared for a weapon when her eyes landed on a simple mage staff. She could tell it was of poor quality, but it was better than nothing and grabbed it.

Another shade appeared and Oshun summoned her magic. Her right hand engulfed with a golden lustrous fire. She flicked the flames at the demon, causing an ear-piercing shriek assaulted the air as the fire quickly covered the shade. The demon attempted to charge Oshun, franticly swiping its claws at her chest and missing four times.

Oshun wore a smirk as she easily dogged the shade. Taking advantage of the ice as she slides along the solid river and occasionally parrying its attacks. With her hand still alite, she closely closed her fingers causing the fire on the shade to shine brighter and burn hotter. With a twirled of the staff, she landed a few strikes on the demon. It attempted to turn and run from Oshun, but she chased the shade. Then leaped into the air and plunged the end of the staff through its back and out the chest. It froze in place as Oshun closed her hand. With a final scream, the shade turned to ash as her fire consumed the monster.

Cassandra made quick work of the shade. With a finale slash across its chest the shade sinks into the ground and turns to ash as well. She quickly turned around to make sure Oshun was unharmed. She freezes when she sees Oshun facing another shade. Before she could rush in, the shade was stabbed and consumed by gold fire. Leaving behind a pile of ash. Cassandra was impressed with Oshun’s quick response. When she saw the staff, however, she raised her sword in Oshun’s direction. “Drop your weapon. Now!” She demanded.

Oshun refused, looking Cassandra dead in the eye. “If you’re going to lead me through a demon-infested valley, you’ll have to trust me.”

Cassandra glared as her lips pulled into a slight sneer. “Give me one reason to trust you!”

“Because my life is on the line. If what you say is true…” Oshun points at the sky, “If the breach is a true threat to all Thedas, I’ll be damned if I die here and now!” She proclaimed.

Cassandra lowered her sword, seeing the prisoner’s determination and strength. Somewhat reminding her of herself. “You’re right,” She sighs and sheaths her sword. “You don’t need a staff, but you should have one. I cannot protect you.” Oshun relaxed slightly thankful her words reached Cassandra. “I should remember you agreed to come willingly.”

Oshun gave her a small smile. “Thank you…Lady Cassandra. But…before we continue will you allow me to prepare?”

Cassandra cocked an eyebrow. “Prepare how?”

“You won’t be harmed, I promise. But I need to be ready for whatever is waiting for us.” Oshun says as she jambs the staff into the ice. Closing her eyes she lifted her hand, palm side facing up, as she summoned a small ball of light hovering a few inches in the air. The ball grew brighter as a similar light started to engulf Oshun. The current coat she wore began to shift. Bright silver colored armor plates, sharp claws affixed to the gauntlet materialized from her left shoulder and down her arm. Her right hand wearing a simple off-white leather glove with a metal plate.

Her coat transformed from a simple, dull brown leather to a stunning yellow, gold and white leather sleeveless coat. Hugging her figure with a matching yellow gold sash wrapped securely around her waist. Several dark brown bags also hanging from her waist. Satisfied with her preferred armor, Oshun rotating her shoulders as her magic settled.

Cassandra stared, impressed with how much control the prisoner had. Examining the unique armor Oshun now wore. “Are you ready to continue?” She asked. Oshun nods and the two continued their trek toward the breach.

That's chapter 1! If you read this, I hope you enjoy it! Please follow to read the next chapter!

If you want to be tagged in the next chapter please let me know!

You can also read this fic on Ao3!

[pinayelf-archive]

immy portrait I did a couple weeks ago when I started my dai replay ❤️

[kirkwall-age]

The phoenix hope can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune’s spite, revive from ashes and rise. — Miguel de Cervantes

[venatorisms]

If you're someone who is critical of solavellan or of its shippers, there's something that I am going to say that will probably upset some of you.

I genuinely think that a lot (not all) of the negativity surrounding Solavellan shippers is due to a bunch of things: Misogyny, bias, over-surveillance, and outright jealousy.

The tendency to blame every negative aspect of this fandom on solavellans instead of thinking critically about WHY a lot of issues happen in the first place and WHY these issues within the fandom are only largely focused on when a solavellan shipper is involved is something that needs to be talked about. Especially when there have been many, MANY instances of non-solavellans that have conducted much worse behaviors within fandom spaces, but none of it is spoken about or broadcasted on a larger scale. Even then, a lot of these instances (again, not all), are sometimes blown out of proportion, are extremely exaggerated in order to fit the narrative of the "crazy solavellan shipper" narrative, or are ignoring crucial context that exposes what led up to certain things being done and said.

Do I deny that there are some crazy shippers out there? Absolutely not. Do I deny that there are some shippers that have done bad things in the name of solavellan? Absolutely not. Do I think that the treatment of solavellan shippers is a bit ridiculous? Absolutely yes. The misogyny and bigotry that I mentioned stems a lot from how people talk about Inquisitors that are shipped with solas, the "Mary Sue" complaints, the harassment against queer POC who love the ship, the erasure of queer POC, the push of the stereotypical "crazy fangirl" stigma, and the tendency of fandoms in general to attack anything that involves a ship that is popular among women in a fandom (Cullenquisitor is a prime example of this; Anyone who was on tumblr during the inquisition era knows how poorly cullen lovers and cullenmancers were treated).

Let me be very clear that no one is saying that you HAVE to like the ship, no one is saying that you're misogynistic for not liking the ship, and no one is saying that solavellans haven't done anything wrong in the name of Solas or the ship. I am only pointing out that the problem isn't just among the shippers.

[blearyfog]

I get so happy when I see personalized dragon age worldstates with poc protagonists. Especially with the earlier games because you can tell they weren’t made with poc gamers in mind. Like latino hof? Inspiring, give me ten. Arab inquisitor? Mindblowing. Black Hawke? Slaps, no further questions.

Everytime I feel like spiting David Gaider, I make one (1) more asian da protagonist. Keep it up y’all

[wyllapproves]

Respectfully I need more of yall with POC and/or midsize/plus-size rooks and inquisitors to make more art of them with solas bc (dis)respectfully I’m sick of seeing so many blonde thin ones it’s BORING.

[lawkills]

Actually quite gutted there won't be an Acolyte S2. I know it wasn't the best SW show but it had some really interesting plot lines that are unfinished and mysteries that will go unanswered.

I don't know why. The show was getting hate before it even started and most of it was down to it being female lead and POC which is just disgusting. It also got hate because it isn't linked to Skywalker but that should be a good thing. We should be getting other stories. There is a whole universe of different events to pull from that we have seen in books and comics.

This show was unique, and it brought elements from what is now considered Legends because Disney decided to disregard it. That was a real win for us who have loved the universe beyond the original and prequel trilogies

I'm hoping the writers/Disney will find some way to answer those in other projects. Like what happens with Qimir and Osha? What is Qimir's real name? How exactly did he get that scar? What is Plageius plans? How did Osha and Mae get created? Is the Power of Two the Rule of Two or something else?

And another thing. Qimir was interesting because he was unique in what he was compared to what we have seen. He wasn't a Jedi, he wasn't a Sith. He was someone free in the Force just doing what he do. Yes he said the Jedi would consider him a Sith, but never explicitly said he was one (and if we go by canon he didn't have the Sith eyes so at most he was more in line with Kylo Ren or the Inquisitors).

Please Disney, let us have some answers. I will even take it in book form if I must

[cdsillylilyposting]

Lorch should watch:

I will be marking these with "tv recommendations" if you don't want to see em

I'll use the Grand Galactic Inquisitor as much as I wanna

Yes I know she don't want recommendations but it fits all her criteria. Badass poc main female character, abusers get beaten up, found family (though more mother daughter than sisters), devoted main characters

[chaifootsteps]

Been playing BG3 again (I stopped at a certain point because I disliked enough of it to shelve it) but I'm back at it to actually form a good opinion on *why* I dislike it, since the refund period was already well out the window by the time I was fed up the first time around.

Why am I coming to you about this? Because I noticed something while playing and doing some digging on the other romance routes that I will not be doing. Astarion and Stolas are incredibly alike. It's fascinating to me, Astarion literally admits to the player that he manipulated you so you wouldn't ever cross him, but only after *he* fell in love does he decide you get agency. Which sounds very similar to how a certain owl treats a certain imp.

Honestly the more I play the game and do some digging on the fandom the more BG3 feels like Helluva Boss. Both stories had initial premise (for BG3 it was the Early Access, for HB it was the pilot/season 1) but fell into just being romance or focusing on the writer's pet (for BG3 this is Astarion). Both stories handle abuse abysmally (Wyll and Gale are both victims and yet their abuse isn't treated as serious? There was even a 'patch' where the PC could pressure Gale into group sex and he still expresses being uncomfortable the entire time, Wyll's abuse is... A fucking lot to get into) and both stories are just. Flat out racist? HB has the whole... Imps and Hellhounds metaphor going on (that gets conveniently forgotten about when we need to focus on how sad Stolas is) and BG3 also has fantasy racism (playing as a Teifling apparently has NPCs call you slurs right out the gate) but also just has normal, everyday racism in the foundations of the game (Wyll is the most lacking companion in content while Astarion gets more and more content, the lack of options for POC to make a character that even looks like them). *This* was 2023's GotY?

I'm so, so tired of mediocre at best pieces of work being propped up as 'the best thing ever and if you disagree you're a bad person' by fandom at large. I wish people were more critical of the things they consumed, I wish stories about male victims of abuse were treated seriously and not just made as wank fodder or without the author constantly implying that the victim 'deserved' it.

Apologies in advance if this is heavy, I generally try to form my thoughts about these things more constructively as I believe it's important to establish *why* something is flawed, but I'm so frustrated. It's hard to be charitable and kind all the time when it feels like doing so is coming up against a dead end. It also goes without saying that if any fans of BG3 see this, I don't hate you, I don't think you're a bad person for liking this game I despise, I'm just... Tired.

(I'd also like to request that this ask, if you decide to answer, is paired with the suggestive tag due to the language I've used. It's a personal preference, thank you in advance.)

Haven't gotten around to playing BG3, but between the resemblance to Stolas and the terrible flashbacks to actual worst character Iron Bull sleeping with your Inquisitor as a means of spying on them and then "catching feelings," I'm thinking I might have to skip romancing Astarion. At least there's plenty of other fish in the Baldur's Gate 3.

[blightbright]

Sea of Frozen Words

Author: redhandsredribbons on AO3

Rating: E

Pairing: Solavellan

Wordcount: 91K (complete!)

Once upon a time, there was a Dalish woman who gave herself to Fen’Harel, and let him make her a fool a thousand times over. Never hardening her heart, never learning her lesson, she swallowed her pride, until one day, there was no pride left in the world. When Fen’Harel saw this, he—? She doesn’t remember how the story ended. & “I would like to hear you tell it,” Solas urges quietly. “Please.”

Summary: Inquisitor Idunn Lavellan tries to save Solas from himself. Reality is fickle, and nothing goes to plan.

A standalone Solavellan romance novel with surreal horror, dream infiltration, moral ambiguity, mythic themes, smut, and a journey in understanding, of the self and of the other. A fix-it fic that’s technically canon compliant… in the same sense that, technically, Fen’Harel rarely lies.

Read on AO3.

Moodboard by me.

[pupkinpumpkin]

Since my HoF is a redhead, my Hawke has black hair, and my Inquisitor is a brunette I've been thinking of making my Rook blonde or ginger, but I've also been like, wow I love all all these Inquisitors and HoFs and Hawke's being poc, they're so pretty, but I'm not a person of color so I can't make anyone with a tan or dark skin tone....

And then I realized I'm fucking Mexican which I seem to have forgotten somehow so now I'm making my Rook a super hot Antivan (so probably a part of the Antivan crows or Lords of Fortune cuz that sounds super cool) with a mole or two bc ppl with moles don't get enough love

Still deciding whether to give her blonde or black hair tho

[abayomisworld]

My Inquisitor, Oshun Trevelyan, and what she would wear to the Winter Palace!

[pinayelf-archive]

Immy is candy hearts and bubblegum pop 🩷

[gxldencity]

4, 7 & 24 for the 🔥🔥 asks!

4. what was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

Tbh I don't have a last straw anymore. I use and abuse the block button liberally. If I see an annoying opinion, I block. Sometimes, I don't even finish reading the post because you usually can tell it's rancid from the first 2 lines.

I've blocked half a fandom at this point bc of the constant negativity. I simply don't care anymore. I'm here to have fun. If you take personal offense to that then that's your problem not mine.

7. what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

Alngksgnw as you're said hate IS a strong word and I don't hate characters really unless there is a good reason for me to hate them.

So when I say I began to dislike Dorian Pavus after seeing how the fandom acted towards him, I don't hate him. I guess I do find him fascinating and relatable to an extent but I also don't think he's written perfectly as some people act like he is. Revisiting Dorian's quest as an adult with a fully developed brain and way more comfortable about my own queerness made me realize that I dislike how Dorian didn't really have agency whether to reconcile with his father or not. I know it's the point of The game to have a choice but Idk a bit more dialogue about the choice could've easily solved that problem for me.

I also have issues with Dorian's Indian coding lmao and have since felt like I was duped. It just feels like a cop-out? Like Gaider and team knew about the complaints people have about his comments wrt Asians in Thedas so they made him Asian—only mentioning it in a forum post or Twitter I think 🫠 so to this day ive seen people still surprised that he's Asian—without considering how to code him as Indian in the game.

Things like his clothing having some influences from the cultures in India or family structures and mannerisms. I mean it could be as simple as Indian coding the people of Quarinus so you don't just have this one Indian coded family in the entirety of Thedas. The Alexiuses could've also been Indian coded.

(An aside there's more layers to this like the unfortunate implications of coding a group of people who own slaves as poc but I could write a whole post about Dragon Age's attempts of trying to put Asians in this game)

Anyway, that's canon lol. Fandom makes this all worse. I could just point at the Orientalist depictions of Dorian in fanart and just end it here but nope it goes deeper. Somehow, Dorian attracted the worst kind of fandom. Like the Solas and Cullen stans maybe louder but I was there Gandalf. I was in the trenches. People were forming cliques around this one BNF and their friends. I was in the clique and it was all good until Tresspasser dropped.

You see this clique hated that Tresspasser ended with Dorian and the Inquisitor being in an LDR—because Dorian was off trying to fix a country—to the point where some of them acted like they broke up. Hello? Okay 1) That is such a poor reading on long distance relationships 2) Dorian...got a phone crystal for the Inquisitor, u know a tech that didn't exist in Thedas so they can stay in touch.

It also isn't enough that they didn't like it. Others have to Not like it as well. I remember talking to the BNF about my Inquisitor and Dorian, how they stayed in touch as Dorian was y'know trying to fix a country and the BNF told me that it was a depressing situation for my Inquisitor and Dorian...even though it isn't and they're perfectly happy.

(An side, not from this clique but I wouldnt be surprised if some of them also held this opinion but I saw some accusations from folks that Bioware is homophobic because Dorian and the Inquisitor are in an LDR. This is how batshit this fandom is).

Anyway, to keep it short, I was 19-20 when all of this happened. I probably said some stupid shit around that time but I should tell you these people were in their late 20s to early 30s. They were affected by a 19-20 year old with just a handful of followers saying stupid shit. They were so affected by the barely adult saying stupid shit that one of them stalked me, vagueposted about me and when I found out they were vagueposting about me, proceeded to gaslight me and told me I was the one stalking them. :)

Not only that, they also harassed one of my friends to not posting their fics ever again, harrassed a friend of a friend for trying to steal the BNF's spotlight 🙄. Come on some of you have fucking children.

I don't think I could look at Dorian in the same way which is a shame because for a time he was important to me but like God, it was rough.

I also have not forgotten nor forgave :) hence why I have the studio behind that chorus game or whatever it's called now blocked :) and would not be playing it. Do not care if David Gaider is the one writing it. I mean he kinda was the weakest link in that writing team imo (and I also hate his prose).

24. topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

Very cliche but anything to do with the mages and templars

[average-mako-enjoyer]

I know that its obvious the reason is bioware hearing how much people disliked the Elf model in inquisition (which had more to do with how janky the model's arms were and how out of proportion they felt) which made them completely overcorrect in VG. Im usually an Elf truther in any fantasy game, but they looked like sick teenagers.

I try to head canon that elves have changed physically depending on where they live in Thedas.

And THE WALKING ANIMATION. I don't know who decided it was a good idea to have the Inquisitor walk with their legs half bent all the time, and with the elf body proportions... yeah, it was funny. But I don't think that's why the DAtV elves look the way they do.

Bioware just wanted a diverse cast and they did it in the laziest way possible. Personally, I'm sad because the DA2 visuals gave them so many storytelling opportunities and then they never used them in DAI and just completely shit on them in DAtV.

But hey, who cares about the established lore, the visual style, the tone of this franchise when you can get easy "representation matters!" points from your audience?

This reminds me of the "girlbossing" era in Hollywood, but now with POC and queers. Shame.