#probably either fenris or bethany related???

[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

love my mage squad <3

[thiefbird]

for the WIP game, maybe that justsolanders and the mass effect aubreyad au?

alright! <3

So my JustSolAnders fic is also, of course, my Inky!Anders AU - I have a whole lot of bullet points!

Backstory-wise, Hawke romanced Sebastian, and she sided with the Templars. Merrill and Isabela managed to sneak Anders out of Kirkwall and onto Bela's ship, with Fenris's help(he told Hawke he wanted to do it himself, she believed him and left him to it. He told Anders something along the lines of "You don't get to not live with this. That's a worse punishment than making you a martyr: do what you can to make this right." [I don't think Anders needs to be punished for exploding the Chantry, but Fenris does.]); they also got Bethany out then, too, and some of the youngest apprentices.

Anders then eventually made his way to Ostwick's Circle, where he befriended a Mage-Templar sibling duo, Evelyn and Maxwell Trevelyan, and helped them stage the strange Ostwick exodus; unfortunately Maxwell was one of the few killed when Ostwick's Circle dissolved. Evelyn urged Anders to adopt her brother's identity, for Anders' safety, and because Maxwell would have wanted that (Anders and Max may or may not have had a romantic relationship, I haven't decided if I want to give Anders another dead lover).

As Maxwell Trevelyan, Anders became relatively well known as a voice for mage integration as opposed for isolationism, which is why he was invited to the Conclave

Leliana recognises him from Vigil's Keep (Leliana-romanced Warden, they may or may not have had a threesome with Anders. Probably did but it's never confirmed in fic), but is content to see what happens, because she can't resist a little chaos. He manages to avoid Varric until after the explosion; Varric is immediately convinced Anders is at fault (obviously Anders is the lead suspect in a Chantry-related explosion <3 ) but importantly does NOT tell Cassandra who he is at first, because Varric also knows the all-important rule Don't Talk To The Cops, and Anders' disguise is decent enough (short-cropped hair dyed black, beard also dyed black) to give him plausible deniability towards not immediately recognising him.

Solas immediately recognises Justice in Anders, but does not say anything because it's Solas. Also, he's intrigued by this guy with a spirit in him because of course he is.

In terms of general info, Bethany takes the role of Hawke, because even Varric can agree that Hawke has gone off the deep end. The only thing that could make Varric dislike Hawke is promising to lead an Exalted March on Kirkwall. Which she has done. Loghain is the Warden Contact; I am hand-waving how Bethany knows Loghain because I am do what I want. Merrill is the eluvian expert, not Morrigan, though she is also there, with a Loghain-sired Kieran; she and Merrill have a very intense and possibly leaning towards sapphic rivalry about the eluvians.

The Mass Effect Aubreyad AU WIP is a bunch of disorganised notes that I toss in there when I think of them (and mostly a list of who is what kind of Alien), but here you go!

Maybe Andromeda? Stephen would like that, EVERYTHING is a nondescript. He can name so many things after Jack if he wants to

Jack is a human. He is the most Human Guy I can think of. Platonic Ideal of Human Man

Stephen is either a drell(assassin/spy) or a quarian. I cannot make up my mind but it's definitely one of these.

I cannot decide if Diana and Sophie are humans, or asari, or if Sophie is a human and Diana is asari - they could still be cousins even if Diana is asari, and then it can be extra tragic when she dies. Bc she should have outlived Stephen by hundreds of years.

James Dillon is a turian. He is SUCH a turian. Platonic Ideal of a Turian. Probably still had A Thing with Stephen.

If not set in Andromeda, is Jack Shepard? Maybe? That would be very stressful for him. That would be very stressful for everyone. I do not think Stephen would cope well with Jack being Lazarus'd. It would be funny tho

[thornfield13713]

adrawatcher

Okay valid valid hmmmm how about if the da2 group were superheroes what would you name their super identities?

Okay! So, here goes:

Marian Hawke - I mean, she’s Champion of Kirkwall already, but I feel like that’s more along the lines of Batman’s ‘World’s Greatest Detective’ title rather than a superhero thing. For my own particular Marian, though, she’d probably go by something like the Fox. The Black Fox is already taken, sure, but there’s a lot of variants on fox-related names, and given my Marian is one long tribute to Robin Hood, I want to get a nod to the Disney version in there. Or, hell, maybe the Hooded Man, to get a nod in to Robin of Sherwood and the fact that, dressing in layers and with a hood over her face, Marian is tall and broad-shouldered enough to cause confusion.

Bethany Hawke - For her, I would want the bird pun, just because her armour already has one, and because I like to position her as one of three mages from this particular family line - Margarethe Amell, Bethany Hawke, and my as-yet-unnamed new mage Trevelyan. So, what sort of bird would suit Bethany? I lean towards the Merlin, for reasons of a) a falcon traditionally associated with ladies, echoing Bethany’s dreams of the life of a Hightown lady, and b) she’s a mage, and I am not above a corny pun or two.

Carver Hawke - Goshawk. Carver wants to be out of his sibling’s shadow, but he doesn’t want to ditch the family name. And goshawks just...remind me of him. The yeoman’s bird, fitting for Carver as the one of the family who has least invested in moving up to Hightown, and stubborn little persistence hunters that are really hard to train, but once you’ve got them trained up, they make the best hunters of all. I think it suits him.

Anders - I think he might just go with Justice, on the grounds that...well, he’s now a fused Anders-Justice mix, which is...they are both in there, but it’s hard to tell who is who. Having his daytime identity go by one name and his nighttime one by the other sounds like a nice way to reinforce that.

Fenris - Literally already has a superhero name, he’s the Blue Wraith!

Merrill - The Green Griffon. Because she wears a lot of green and likes griffons, and it’s the sort of name I could picture her choosing for herself and then going all out on the costume for, resulting in a surprisingly lifelike griffon mask and feathered cape.

Isabela - The Siren. Nice nod to the name of her ship, nautical in nature, and she could make so very many jokes about it, most of them dirty.

Aveline - Can’t really picture her as anything but the poor man’s Jim Gordon - and frankly, that’s unfair on Gordon - but if she was...hm. The Guardswoman. Very basic, I know, but neither Aveline nor I is long on naming imagination, and I feel like she would want to underline that she is an official, state-sponsored superhero unlike the rest of this crowd. (Marian holds that this sort of misses the point of being a superhero).

Sebastian - Hm...I got nothing. Probably something Chantry-related, Sebastian being who he is. It might be entertaining for him to use ‘Champion of the Just’, and thus forever have to deal with getting mixed up with either Marian or Anders.

Varric - The Storyteller. Very, very on the nose, but after Hard in Hightown, Tale of the Champion and Swords and Shields, can we really say Varric is good at coming up with names? (Pay no attention to the crap-at-naming-things writer behind the curtain).

[ffxiiiapologist]

So far my thoughts are:

Warden Surana (Arcane Warrior + unsure of second + Battlemage in Awakening) romancing Zevran. Thinking of taking the "grew up in Lothering" dialogue option, so that + the Circle probably gives him a different perspective on human-elf relations compared to an alienage elf, but still with a quiet resentment of the Chantry and a strong desire to connect with other elves. His idea of "trying to do the right thing" often means playing peacekeeper on account of how one has to get by in the Circle. I don't think he snitches on Jowan since he'd like to not be at the tower either but at that early stage he's scared through the whole thing due to not wanting to rock the boat. I think taking the third option in Nature Of The Beast is a big moment for him and colors his subsequent approaches to conflicts. Wynne is likely a big influence on him (for better or worse), so learning about her probably makes him big on the spirit/demon distinction and he may even take after her by taking Spirit Healer (unless someone tells me that spec combo doesn't work well in which case idk)

Hawke will probably be a Blue Archer, partly influenced by the fact I won't have Sebastian or any of the other add-ons. My brain will probably be Weird about them always having the default look in Inquisition and I want to avoid Purple Garrett so I may just go with standard Marian, or perhaps still fiddle with customization, but I'm already pretty settled on Hawke as a woman for my worldstate. Siding with the mages is a given, and Bethany going to the Circle leads to imo her optimal post-Inquisition ending, but I honestly don't remember too many of the other choices in this game. I'm also unsure of romances; I know not Anders due to my Opinions on him + their weirdness with it when Hawke is a woman, and I'd need to double-check how the Merrill romance interacts with the dialogue that leads to her clan surviving. Or if someone wants to make a pitch for Fenris or Isabela then please go ahead (also just general tips for keeping friendship with Fenris while being pro-mage)

(I had considered a Mahariel warrior archer romancing Morrigan since it could make for an interesting dynamic, but my Hawke decisions led to me axing this. I had considered a sword-&-board Hawke, but none of the DA2 Warrior specs sound interesting to me so. And now I'm thinking I prefer the implications of this Surana performing Morrigan's ritual as opposed to Alistair; since it's saving his own life he'd probably think it's something he has to do himself + half-elven child hosting the Old God's soul)

Lord help me I’m at the point of trying to flesh out protagonist concepts for each game while still not even having access to the first two

[teyrnacousland]

Anders Has BPD: a List of Things by Me

Using mostly examples from DAA because DA2 has some Concerning “mental illness is just like ~possession~” type nonsense going on and I don’t want to wade through that. Here we go!

He's hyper empathetic. In the wending woods when he realizes people are dying for nothing and he's just so upset (his tone reminds me of how I feel whenever I accidentally watch/read Bad Things in the news), in Amaranthine he’s absolutely distraught at the thought of leaving even one person behind to die, he risked his freedom to save the life of some Bann when he was 12 years old and freshly escaped and really should have been laying low, pretty much any time someone is hurting he's literally desperate to help them

---Except when it's people who Don't Count. He has zero sympathy for Templars, even joking about the one Templar dying. And he says some pretty awful things to Fenris and Merrill, even when the latter is dealing with something horrible. He’s very black and white about this. Speaking of...

Black and white thinking. Anders is all about Good and Bad. Spirits are Good, demons are Bad. Mages are Good, Templars are Bad. Justice is Good, anger is Bad. Andraste is Good, the Chantry is Bad (he's Andrastian, but even in Awakening he approves of stealing from the Chantry and disapproves of helping it). Saving people is Good, burning a city to the ground is Bad (fun fact, Anders is the only companion who doesn’t approve of that no matter what you say. The others can be convinced. Not Anders. He can just be convinced to give in and accept it, never to agree.) 

---He sorts people he meets into Good or Bad categories too. There is no in between, although there are more extreme versions of the Good box, which are the “I know I just met you but I’m at least 50% madly in love with you” box and the “I would literally die for you, you are the definition of perfection and you can do no wrong” box). 

---Velanna: fellow mage friend, Good. Merrill: Blood mage, demons, Bad. Bethany: mage, related to Hawke, Good. Aveline: guard, married a Templar, Bad.

---I can’t think of an in game example of him splitting (going from total idealization to total  with anyone, but he absolutely would and does trust me I’m an expert. He’s absolutely the type of person who will instantly stop being friends with someone if they make fun of his cat, or if they make One insensitive joke he doesn’t like, or talk to him with the Wrong Tone.

Extreme emotions. When Anders is angry he’s ready to rip apart a half dozen Templars with his bare hands. When he’s happy there are no problems in the world and everything is perfect because he’s free and there’s pie here. (Long term plans? What do you mean long term plans? Things are fine right now?). When he’s sad (which we don’t see so much in Awakening because he’s on an up swing) he’s miserable and hopeless and hides away in his room for weeks on end because there’s literally no point to anything. When he’s in love he’s so in love. (When he’s with Karl he doesn’t even try to escape the Circle, because the Circle and all of its horrors are suddenly bearable because he has Karl. When he loves Hawke, he sees Hawke as perfect and can do no wrong, and Justice is even annoyed by this (at least at first) and sees Hawke as a distraction because Anders can’t stop thinking about them literally all the time). 

Impulsive. He is definitely impulsive. He came back to help you fight an army of darkspawn that just took out every warden and Soldier in the place because he just... wanted to help. You find him hiding around the corner from them because he was likely forced to realize he has no idea what he’s actually planning on doing. Then he agrees to join the Wardens without thinking about it at all. Then he starts a conversation with someone he barely knows by basically saying "So, Jesus is pretty fuckable, huh". The man has no filter or impulse control. 

---He impulsively overshares too. You can tell from the way he answers questions in dialogue and banter that he’d rather joke and deflect than answer personal questions honestly. And yet within like a week of meeting you he’s told you about how he’s run away from the Circle seven times and they kept him in solitary for a year once. One of the first things he says to you is that this Templar used to call him inhuman and that the Templars kick him in the head to wake him up sometimes. And you cannot convince me that any neurotypical person starts a conversation with a complete stranger with “hi, I’ve been abused for most of my life, what’s your name?”

---At least some of his Circle escapes/attempts were likely impulsive. The epilogue says he ran away from the Keep several times but came back which to me implies it’s become one of those “I feel restless and am about to do something impulsive and stupid” things

---One time when he ran away from the Circle he went to Denerim and had an orgy with a pirate

---Even joining with Justice was pretty impulsive and risky tbh. Neither of them really knew what would happen.

Anger. He’s often at least bitter and sarcastic whenever anything even slightly bad happens. If you say something that upsets him or even just reminds him of something that upsets him he either makes a sarcastic quip and gets distant and withdrawn, or he goes into a full on angry rant. Anders was super angry in DAA, and expresses it even in situations where he probably shouldn’t (snarking at the Templar who just said she wants to see him executed, at you (his boss and the only reason he’s not in the Circle or dead right now) even at the beginning when he barely knows you and can’t know how you’ll react to that, etc) like he just can’t hold it in. This anger often comes on pretty suddenly and often vanishes just as fast. 

Gets attached to people so fast. He latches onto Velanna literally as soon as you meet her (he approves of both helping her and recruiting her) and at that point all he knows about her is she’s an attractive angry elven mage who tried to use magic trees to kill you. His banters with her imply it’s at least partly if not mostly because she's a fellow mage (he wants to talk about magic with her!) Also in their banters, he’s more open with her. Nathaniel asks him how the Templars find him and he just snaps “incredibly angry, that’s how” but when Velanna asks about his escapes he tells her that they found him with his phylactery. I’m pretty sure Velanna is the only person he ever actually apologizes to for making a joke to (”(chuckes) I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”). And again, she’s not even very nice to him. He’s attached to her and sees himself as closer to her even when that doesn’t seem to be reciprocated to that level. (He also does this with Hawke in DA2, where he’ll be in love with you even if you’re absolute shit to him.) 

---He gets pretty attached to you (the Warden-Commander) pretty quickly too. 

---Anders is the "he held open a door for me once and smiled at me so now I'm planning our wedding" kind of guy, I think he’s had a bit of a crush on all of your companions at some point tbh (For sure Nate and Velanna and you, and Justice, and probably Sigrun too).

---He falls in love with Hawke almost as soon as they meet too, even if you're horrible and mean to him (Hawke is his FP just saying)(I don’t mean that in a good way I mean it in an unhealthy way that he and Hawke would have to learn to talk through and fix)

Fear of abandonment, absolutely. That’s probably one of the reasons he runs from Vigil’s Keep in the epilogue. Everything’s just too good, it can’t last, something’s going to go wrong and so he might as well be the one to leave because the more he likes it there and likes the people there the worse it would be to lose it all. 

---He keeps people at a distance and acts as charming and endearing as he can, probably curses himself whenever he slips and is honest with people (which is pretty often, see impulsive oversharing) because he wants people to like him and not leave him. 

---(This is why he does the charming thing less in DA2, I think. Because he has Justice. Justice won’t leave him and Justice is always in his head thinking and believing that Anders is good whether people like him or not, and those thoughts are in Anders’ head so they’re calming these fears like subconsciously, if that makes sense?)

Lack of/unstable sense of personal identity. He has no connection to his name as seen by how he just accepted this random nickname as his name from then on, which isn't strictly a BPD thing but it is a feeling I’ve seen a lot of people with BPD relate to. 

---He doesn't really know what he wants to do because he doesn't really know who he is aside from the Circle mage who keeps escaping. If he's not the runaway mage then what is he? 

---And in DA2 he has trouble distinguishing between himself and Justice whereas Justice doesn't seem to have that problem as much (in the Fade it's always very clear when it's Justice vs Anders speaking, because Justice is in control and Justice has a better idea of who's who)

Anyways yeah, Anders has BPD, thanks for coming to my TED Talk. 

[abbeyfangirl]

dragon age: all characters (companions)

I’ve been in this fandom for a hot minute now and I want to update my opinions on characters :)

Origins

Alistair: super sweet dude who literally is not the stereotypicalchantryguyfightme. He’s a great example of healthy masculinity and I totally wish he was bi because I have an entire essay on that— also: he’s a poc! His mum was brown. In game he’s got dark features. if you really want a blond/blue-eyes/white guy, make your warden that. or accept that brown people can be noble and moral. or just draw cailan, idk. just because BioWare whitewashes doesn’t mean you should.

Leliana: someone hug my singing girlfriend before I crush her under with my own hugs. Also: nugs. Yes! Shoes. Yes! She likes how I style my hair? YES!! I honestly think she’s super duper and it pisses me off whenever someone’s like: yeah she enjoys killing people and the Game. ok. and michel de chevin willingly participated in genocidal marches through the alienage he grew up in with his elvhen mum. 

Morrigan: dirty swamp witch that i stan and also have a v big crush on. tiddies. Have a son with a GW so we can raise him with our tiddies out in the forest. she’s also white-passing, as her father was chasind and all people we’ve seen that are chasind are black. therefore, she is biracial. therefore, poc can be goths and don’t shy away from giving morrigan a darker skintone. if the devs had of been thinking, she’d have a darker skintone.

Zevran: Actually is the best romance, I think. Loves consent, therefore I will stan him so hard my skull cracks a little. Also: he is a very brown boy and if he’s white in da4 I’m seriously going to throw all canon out the fucking window. genuinely a good person who needs to be told so. 

Wynne: grandma who only likes my friends who go to church. but also super sweet and I’d rest my head on her bosom (in a platonic way omg ZEVRAN)

Sten: angry quiet boi. the bestest boi. I totally would give him a kitten for a gift and bake him cookies. Thicc softie. I think if I had DA:O and i knew how to use mods i would mod the fuck outta him. sorry.

Sha(y)le: who’s gender? idk her. See also: fuck birds and authority. pound ur ass into the ground you feathery meatbag little shits. fuck songbirds.

Dog: such a good boi. thicc. thinks Alistair is a whiny fuck and is Morrigan’s only friend. love him. he’s the cutest companion. bet.

Ohgren: honestly forgot about him bcc he’s such a shitbag. also: he could’ve been a really cool addiction recovery type but NOPE. probably would have a trump shirt in a modern au and would catcall wlw and hit mlm. no thanks.

Awakening

Anders: he acts like rlly straight but he’s so gay I can smell it. also he’s rlly cute and fun and I love him so much.

Justice: MAYBE i’M selF CONSCious OF THE twitchING. is the friend that genuinely doesn’t get dick jokes but is ur 110% ride or die.

Nathaniel Howe: honestly is sort of a white knight/neck beard a little, but it’s kind of charming with his whole velanna m’lady?? grump boi. annoying soul patch that I’d mod out SO FAST—

Sigrun: would have ROMANCED the FUCK out of her. why she even entertains the idea of fucking with ohgren makes me realize most of the writers are dumbfucks.png. peppy little emo. 12/10 would die if she kissed my cheek teasingly.

Ohgren: why. why. why. I’d have brought Shayle over. Maybe Zev? Definitely Dog.

Velanna: she was written to be an annoying feminist and you can tell but I deadass am a kindred spirit with her bcc I too am deadpan annoyed with Thedas’ general population too. love her. Would’ve loved to romance her. She’d totally be one of those who’d get all tsundere and be like “n-no i hate you” *kisses the fuckin soul out of you then blushes so hard she’s now a tomato*

Dragon Age II

Anders: fuck the cops. i don’t care. fuck the cops. (vine reference). also: do i hate him for blowing up the chantry that would eventually annul a huge collection of his people? no. read dalishious’s meta on Anders. v intriguing. didn’t they retcon the fuck out of the reported deaths too? like there was like eight Templars and Elthinia in there. Templars killed more “abominations” in a day than Anders in the game canon—

Aveline: initially thought she was fine and then realized she’s shit to my lil brother and I will fucking clap her ginger ass. See also: whorephobia isn’t a joke so fuck off with treating Isabela badly, you tit.

Bethany: sunshine. Literal sunshine. I feel my freckles grow in her presence and i love it. she’s my little baby sister and I’d slam that ogre so fuckin hard before it touched either twin.

Carver: there has to be a mod where both twins survive. I love them both to bits. My babies. carver is my bitter, angry little brother and I can relate because I too am very angry and would totally clap my own ass. hes so genuine and I don’t get the competition between Beth and Carver. Like, both are fuckin stellar in different ways. In this essay I will—

Fenris: honestly, I don’t get the general hate between him and Anders. Fenris’ main arc should’ve been a recovery arc, not drunken moping and revenge. he deserves better. give him a soft sweater instead of his spikes and let him love himself as much as I love him for MAKERS SAKE. like when you really think about their relationship, it could’ve been an eye-opener for fenris and finally some legit sympathy for anders. but we all know that if they had of teamed up that Meredith would’ve been dead before the end of Act 1 so.

Isabela: whorephobia is not a joke. oversexualizing your only appearing brown woman is so poorly written. how about we appreciate her and her lovely bosoms but also let people tease her about her heart of gold? her innate understanding of freedom? instead of just a wave of dick? please?? can we give her some pants for when she fights? can we accept that i fall for rogues who hate themselves?? fuck. also whomever draws her x femHawke x Merrill literally is after my own heart.

Merrill: my fucking babygirl MARRY ME. Fenris could’ve been her older brother type, but NO. she and Isabela should’ve been canonical gfs instead of Isabela/Fenris (no shaming the pairing tho!!). I love how she’s written as neurodivergent. V nice. Sometimes I just look her up and cry because she’s fucking everything. Also: she’s in the Dalish origin and she’s far from being white. Why did they make the most innocent/naïve character really white? hmmmm.

Sebastian: whew that boy. Would totally be that annoying Mormon at your door but you still let him in bcc he’s super sweet. Also: huge ass bible thumper and should get his head slap because you said the maker loved all his children why do you defend a complicit old hag you annoying attractive fuck—

Varric: totally is a bard and the devs couldn’t handle the idea of him being one bcc it might make him look less straight. is the only grey morality person I don’t want to fucking bash in with a fry pan. he sees people and I like that, but you totally know he’s siding with mages every time bcc him and Anders are like besties. I’m sorry. I don’t make the rules. “Professional Younger Brother”.

Tallis: I know nothing about her but she seems okay. I think she was an escaped slave and honestly? Fucking props. Spy on a shitting organization, idk what you’re doing, but your VA was that cool lesbian from SPN so I think ur okay?

Inquisition

Blackwall: Redemption Arc 101. Love him to bits. Sad dad bunwall. good man. actually atoned for his sins by actively becoming a good person. his initial design is 80% hotter im so sorry but so not.

Cassandra: was way browner in the last game. would romance the fuck outta her. I love me a butch lady who melts at my dorky recitation of poetry. BioWare is a coward. also is the worst choice for divine. but not a bad person. could use some more guidance or get her ass whipped by a dalish elf about religion or a circle mage kid whos like “yeah bud i didn’t ask for the templars to whip my ass everyday for existing.”

The Iron Bull: I think the Qunari/Vashoth were a little based off black people (the whole anti blackness thing where ppl are scared of them bcc of whatever reason) and it pisses me off that he had a weird ass dubcon thing with Dorian in banter. It doesn’t make sense— he’s an A+++ dom and would not jump straight in role play without at least checking in at first like wtf BioWare.

Cole: his mother was chasind so he’s like not supposed to be that white? or like biracial? albino? idk. love him to bits tho. He’s neurodivergent and I deadass love him. romancing him? idk. I see why ppl think it’s fuckin nasty but also like as a writer I’d age him the fuck up so fast before my inquisitor even THOUGHT about that. like idk. I’m down with him being a sweet little bro character tho. he’s a babe. love him.

Sera: had the worst fucking writer I’ve ever seen and I willingly read the twilight saga twice by a shit ass racist white lady who okay’d pedophilia. like. Fuck you Kristjanson suck your own dick you fuck. had the worst options in regards to speak to her. has a thicc case of internalized racism that literally most of the fandom just loves to use against her. my lesbian neurodivergent queen. Would write a thousand fix it fics for her. Love her to bits. im gay.

Varric: I haven’t played DA2 so i don’t get why everyone wants to romance him but like. a dwarf romance? yes please. Idk he reminds me of my uncle so I only see him as fun uncle material. Deadass should adopt Cole and Merrill and co parent with Blackwall for Sera. dads? fuck yeah. love me some wholesome, present fathers.

Dorian: is a gay stereotype that I love/hate so much. and he’s also just as bad about being a creep bcc he sexualizes qunari men (in banter). I attribute that to shit writing tho. I want to protect him from all the “omg gay best friend!” people. he’d clearly be that tired gay that wouldn’t give a diddly damn about ur het romance. wanna talk about politics? he’s ur guy/gay.

Solas: “me, an intellectual:”. I don’t hate him, but I’m not about him. He comes off as mysterious and suave (which he totally is) but I deadass would not save him from himself because he’s a racist, exclusionist eggshell. idk. not my cup of tea, but I can totally see the appeal. And he’s interesting, I’ll totally say that. “I think the Dalish are garbage but they made you” is not a compliment. it’s so offensive. and such bait for “quirky girls” which I’m no fan of. Would be Achilles and let Patroclus (Lavellan in his case) die before he realized how his pride is literally a waste of time. If he gets a redemption arc I hope Lavellan gets to slap him before getting him to teach all about ancient Arlathan and show that the Evanuris weren’t all total dicknozzles. (Aka I really have a hard time believing that they’d be slavery cult things. especially since they’ve compared elves to indigenous ppl, Jews and the Romani.)

Vivienne: it’s so racist that they’d make a black woman be pro-slavery. That’s such internalized racism. She could’ve been the cool ass “educate yourself first before you speak, fool” ice lady, but NO. the devs could’ve kept the “Templars are a tool that I proudly can mandate” and the “circles are very good education” and we. Could. Have. Romanced. Her. Like. Fuck. Sake. I just wanna give her a hug and say “love yourself omg!!” and not even in a romantic way. Also: she and morrigan should not have been so antagonistic towards each other. I’d expect them to have great respect for each other, as they both moved up in the world through hardwork and very little help. They could learn different magic from each other too and still maintain that rival respect “oh you” mood. Sidenote: probably the cooler option for Divine. if her approval is high enough she’ll love and be loyal to you forever and i can’t see her agenda being bad. she improves the circles exponentially and tells all the antis to suck her pretty painted toes.

Josephine: an actual disney princess. romanced her my first playthrough. I love her so much. she just makes me so happy. And she’s like: “Integrity, Loyalty, peace. That is what it means to be a GREY WARDEN good fucking person.” she’s the person who would let you hold her hand if you got anxious and she’d be that person who shouldered the whole group project with finesse and poise and would probably lie for everyone as to not be mean. i love josie. her and leliana’s relationship is so cute, too. whether it’s romantic or not: women supporting women.

Leliana: if you leave her hardened you must hate her. why. she becomes so against herself. i like how shes feminine and lighthearted because that’s so powerful-- to remain hopeful when the world is hopeless. (its hard to know when to soften her/harden her so i get it but. google it. she deserves to be happy and sweet again.)

Cullen: uwu war criminal with shit ass “redemption arc” that was actually a half-assed (at BEST) recovery arc. Recovery isn’t linear, it isn’t pretty, and even the broken need to be told they are wrong in order to heal right. Like I’m offended by that bullshit. I’ve had to do some mental health recovery in the past and unlearning lots of toxic ideologies— which I’m still unlearning— and it bothers me that he gets an easy pass because he’s hot. It’s one thing if you like Cullen, it’s another thing if you hold him accountable.

[mahalzevran]

Nandito Lang Ako

for @januanders

Summary: The growing friendship between Anders and Surana

Words: 1.9k

Tags: friendship, surana & anders

Rating: General Audiences

A/N: Nandito lang ako - I’m always just here

AO3 link

Rhian’s stomach growled. She was used to going to sleep hungry, especially when Master Cousland had been in a particularly bad mood that day. In fact, she’d gone to sleep even hungrier than this before. But at least she had her mom or dad to comfort her those times. Now she was all alone in a cold cell.

“Surana, right?” Rhian looked up to see who had said that. It was a boy in the cell next to hers. He looked a few years older than her. “I heard one of the guards call you that. I’m Anders.”

“Hi,” she replied. Just then her stomach growled again.

“Hungry? Here, one sec.” Anders started fumbling with his robes. A few seconds later he pulled out a roll of bread and held it out to Rhian through the bars separating them. She looked at it hesitantly. “Take it. You need it more than I do.”

“Thank you,” Rhian said, reaching over and grabbing the roll. The roll was cold and a little hard, but she wasn’t really in the position to be picky. She broke off a piece and started eating.

“They really shouldn’t send kids down here overnight without dinner as a punishment. Well, they shouldn’t have that as a punishment for anyone in general, but especially not for kids like you.”

“I’m not a kid. I’m 7,” Rhian replied with her mouth full.

Anders smiled at her. “So,” he said as she finished up the roll, “what are you here for?”

“I didn’t mean to! It was an accident! They all had these mean faces and were yelling at me!” Rhian could feel tears forming in her eyes.

“Hey,” Anders said in a soothing voice, trying to calm her down. He wished the bars weren’t there, so he could comfort her properly. He hated seeing kids cry. “I know you didn’t. I’m not mad. I was just wondering.”

Rhian wiped her eyes using her sleeve. “I missed going outside. I just wanted to look out the window but it was really high so I climbed up the bookcase. Then one of the Templars got mad and started yelling at me and I got scared. Then more and more came. I closed my eyes and wished they would all go away. When I opened them, they were all frozen.”

“Nice!” Anders said holding his hand up. The gesture made Rhian giggle. She went over and gave him a high five. Suddenly, she felt slightly better. It was like being near Anders made you feel safer. As if he had some kind of healing aura around him.

“Hey,” Anders said, “next time you get in trouble, you can tell them I did it. I’m older, I can take whatever punishment they give me.” Rhian smiled at him and nodded.

They spent the rest of the night huddled together, the cell bars being the only thing separating them.

—

“It’s not fair!” Anders was on the verge of tears.

Rhian didn’t know what to do. It was usually Anders who did the comforting. She patted him gently on the back.

“I’m going to miss him too,” Rhian said trying to be consoling.

“You don’t understand, Surana,” Anders said, his voice shaking. “It’s because of me. Of us. They noticed us getting close and they didn’t like it. Karl told me that they had a spot lined up for him. To help teach the younger apprentices. Why would they just suddenly transfer him?”

Rhian stayed quiet. Anders was right. It wasn’t fair. But when was the Circle ever fair?

—

Rhian’s heart dropped. That was the last set of cells and there was still no sign of him. She had kept an eye out while they were fighting the abominations and checked again once everything had calmed down. She hadn’t seen him with the other survivors when they first arrived. The dungeons were her last hope.

“Are you sure you didn’t see him?” Rhian asked Wynne.

“Yes. If he was hiding somewhere else, then he would’ve either ended up with the others or we would’ve come across him already. If he was down here, then he would be here. There’s only one way to leave and the abominations couldn’t have made their way down here.”

“So you mean..?”

“It’s the only answer, dear.”

“No! Maybe we missed him? We should check again. He’s probably hiding somewhere and we didn’t see.”

Rhian started to walk towards the exit when she felt a hand stop her. Zevran’s. “Rhi...I’m sorry.”

She could feel her heart pounding in her ears. Karl was gone and Jowan was stuck in the Redcliffe dungeons. Eadric was safe at least. But the thought of Anders possibly being...she couldn’t handle that. He was the first person to actually show her some kindness in the Circle. He helped make everything more bearable. The air suddenly felt thick. Rhian could feel tears welling up in her eyes. Zevran pulled her into his arms. She hoped tears didn’t stain leather.

—

Mhairi kicked the door open, revealing a tall lanky man shooting fire at a darkspawn. A few bodies were scattered on the floor, Templars from the look of their armor. Once he realized that there were people behind him, he turned around.

“Uh...I didn’t do it.”

Rhian’s heart leaped. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Before she knew it, she was bounding towards him. As she pulled him into a big hug, she was surrounded by a familiar comforting feeling.

“Hey, I can recognize this elf girl anywhere. Surana!” Anders returned her hug. Suddenly, he frowned. “Are you crying?”

“I thought you were dead.”

“No? I’d think I’d remember being dead.”

“But the Circle? How did you survive?”

“You mean the thing with Uldred? Great story actually-”

“Sorry to interrupt this reunion,” Alistair said, “but there’s darkspawn that needs killing.”

Rhian gave Anders one last squeeze before getting ready to move on to the next room. She couldn’t wait to catch up. She had so much to tell him.

—

A feeling of...anguish? Where was it coming from? Rhian closed her eyes and tried to focus on it. Anders. Something was wrong.

“Zev.”

Zevran yelped at Rhian’s sudden appearance, almost dropping what was in his hand. “Please do not do that. I am not used to your being a spirit yet.” Rhian apologized. Zevran took a moment to collect himself. “What is it?”

“It’s Anders. Something’s not right.”

“How do you know?”

“I can...feel it? In the Fade. I have to go to him. Will you be alright here with Alistair?” Zevran nodded and Rhian hugged him goodbye.

She didn’t know how long she’d been wandering around. It had been over a year since she defeated the Archdemon and somehow survived, but she still wasn’t used to the way time passed in the Fade. Or how to navigate it. All she had to go on was wherever the sense of anguish was coming from. Suddenly she found the source. She didn’t know how, just that her gut was telling her it was here. She crossed over the veil and the first thing that hit her was a horrible smell. She looked around and realized she was in a sewer. Then she saw a room not too far away. It looked like a clinic of some sort. As she walked in, she noticed a familiar blonde head.

“Anders?”

“Rhian? How are you here?” He had been crying.

“I sensed you. In the Fade.” Rhian walked over to where he was sitting and put an arm around him. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Karl. He’s dead.”

Rhian’s jaw dropped. “What? How?”

“They made him tranquil. Having Justice with me must’ve reconnected him to the Fade somehow. But it was only temporary. He asked me to...I didn’t have a choice…”

Rhian pulled him into a hug. “It’s okay.”

“No, no it’s not. It’s my fault. I should’ve gotten there sooner.”

“You couldn’t have known. The Circle’s the one to blame. You of all people should know that.”

Anders hugged Rhian tighter and let out a sob. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. She wasn’t as close to Karl as she was with Anders during her time in the Circle, but he was nice to her and helped her out when he could. And she knew how much he meant to Anders.

“I’m here for you. I’ll stay here tonight if you want.”

“I’d like that.”

—

Rhian was in position, one hand hovering over the hilt of her spellweaver should she need to whip it out. Zevran had heard a noise while they were eating and it was starting to come closer. Suddenly, four figures emerged. Alistair moved to strike them with his sword.

“Wait!” Rhian cried right before Alistair landed a hit. “Anders?”

“Surprise?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Escaping from Kirkwall,” said an elf. He was taller than average and had glowing tattoos. Rhian didn’t know what to make of him.

“That’s Fenris. And this is Alden and Kaia Hawke,” said Anders. “And these are the guys I was telling you about. My friends from my warden days.”

Rhian recognized their names from when Zevran had told her about how the Champion of Kirkwall and her friends helped him get rid of Nuncio. She also recalled two new warden recruits from a few years ago having the name Hawke. Bethany and...Copper? Possibly related. There seemed to be a family resemblance. She shook their hands, and when she got to Alden, he made sure to let her know that he was Fenris’ boyfriend.

“Now that we’re all introduced, do you have anything to eat?” said Kaia. “I’m starving.”

Alistair went to check and fortunately, they had just enough leftovers. As everyone sat down to eat, Anders told Rhian what happened. He talked about the rising tension in Kirkwall between the Templars and the mages, especially after the viscount died. How the Knight-Commander started descending into madness from exposure to red lyrium. How she had started tightening her grip on the mages and that the grand cleric did nothing to keep the peace. And when Anders found out that she had called for the Right of Annulment, he decided that enough was enough and blew up the Chantry to send a message. This led to a final showdown where he and his friends helped the mages fight against the Kirkwall Templars. After it was over, the four of them decided to flee from Kirkwall in case the Divine sent forces after them.

As Anders finished talking, Rhian could feel her anger building up. She slammed her bowl down on her lap. “No. I’m tired of this. You’re always on the run, Anders. No more. You’re back in.”

Anders gave her a questioning look.

“I’m reinstating you into the Grey Wardens. Effective immediately.”

“You mean-?”

“Yes. I’m invoking the Right of Conscription. You’re not an apostate or a fugitive anymore.”

“Can you do that? Reinstate me?”

“Why not? I’m still the Fereldan Warden-Commander last I checked. And I don’t think they’re really in a position to deny me. I’m the Hero of Ferelden, Ender of the Fifth Blight.”

Anders’ eyes started to tear up. He pulled Rhian into a big hug, thanking her repeatedly. She leaned into his hug. Anders meant a lot to her and she was going to do everything in her power to keep him safe. It was her way of repaying Anders for being there for her all those years in the Circle. No harm would ever come to him ever again.

[ageofdragon]

DA4 Cameos and Companions

I wanted to address this, since I really liked this post by @quizzy-tielle​ but there are a few more notes that can be added. tdlr at the bottom, under the read more.

Origins

Alistair: Alistair will probably only have a Cameo since he has two different paths (Warden or King), but I could see him being plot relevant. Maybe only a Warden like in DA2, even if it is possible for him to “die” in DA:I. This is because DA:I leaves that open if they want to “retcon” it. The words used in the choice implies you might be leaving Alistair to his death, there is an open end there. Especially since we don’t see his dead body only what looks like him going down. On the other hand, it has been a while since his Joining and unless he is like his mother (or the dragon’s blood theory is true), then he is almost due for his Calling. So if Al is there in DA4, expect him in Grey Warden regalia.

Morrigan: I don’t think Morrigan will ever be a Companion player again, but she will be a major npc no matter where the game takes place. Not only is she headed where we are supposed to be, but she is now carrying some of the last remnants of Mythal whether in her head (depending on who drank the Well) or in her blood.

Leliana: If our game does actually take place in Tevinter, I think she might get a mention at best. Either by reminiscent characters or in the grand scheme of things. I don’t see her playing to much part unless some of the game returns to Orlais, in which case as a Divine she could very well pop up. As well as still being interested/running the Inquisition’s spies against Solas (I believe even as the Divine), so again a peripheral character. That said I’d really be interested to see if Lyrium Ghost Leliana pops up anywhere!

Wynne: Wynne has actually died by Asunder; leaving not a character no one cares about, but one that even if people wanted her she is unable to return. Unless as a spirit of course. That said it is not out of the question to meet her son Rhys and perhaps recruit him as a companion, along with his Templar sweetheart Evangeline.

Oghren: I could have seen Oghren returning when the team consisted of mostly the old writers. But with Weekes in charge and a few new writers around, I agree he is probably too lowbrow and overlooked (even among the writers) to pop up again. At the very most, if at all, it’ll be a quick mention somewhere.

Zevran: I agree that Zevran possibly being dead makes it hard, but honestly if I don’t get to see Zev once in this new engine. I will move to Canada just to stand outside Bioware studios and scream continuously at them till the day I perish. Zevran deserves more and if Leliana can resurrect, why not our favorite elven assassin.

Sten: Sten is actually a pretty popular character, only he doesn’t go by Sten anymore. Well at least not for most people. Which is where the conflict comes in. For anyone who earned Sten’s loyalty, he is Arishok now. Which big Qunari plot means definite appearance by the Arishok. However, I don’t see him being a companion, at best he would be a NPC ally. On the other hand, those who didn’t help Sten left him without the Qun...unless he went back and became Arishok later (after the Warden) which is a very easy work around.

Shale: I could actually see Shale being a companion. I mean they can reuse at least one (even in DA2, Nathaniel was going to be a return companion but they scraped it). Shale was a character a lot of people liked, but being a DLC character was underexplored. She was last seen heading to Tevinter to discover how to be a dwarf again. So golem, dwarven, or a mix of the two, Shale is a huge possibility.

Hero of Ferelden: Bioware has pretty much confirmed the Warden won’t be back in full capacity ever. Mostly because creating a unvoiced major character is very hard, when they once spoke (unable to make canonically mute) and finding a voice is no solution (they wouldn’t be able to appease enough people, no matter the actor). Which pretty much seals it as, if the Warden shows up, it is in a written or spoken about capacity and nothing more.

Dragon Age 2

Carver/Bethany: It would be such a guilt pleasure if they did show up, but I highly doubt they would and certainly not as a companion. They have too many outcomes and possible paths, it’ll probably be like in DA:I where they get a special mention. OR if Bioware was really clever, they’d make an obscure Warden in the background look like them but obscure enough they can handwave it as “no, but maybe”. Either way, might show up in the Weisshaupt storyline as a special mention, but not much more.

Fenris: I agree with the other post, that Fenris is the one person who would be the one most likely to pop up. I still don’t think as a companion, because he can die. But I do think he could be an ally NPC. Fenris either gets sent back to Danarius or has spent the past years hunting down slavers, so he is bound to be in or near Tevinter. I have almost no doubt we’ll see him, physically, at least once. Though I wouldn’t rule out him being a Weisshaupt too, if he romance Hawke and Hawke wasn’t left in the Fade.

Isabela: Isabela has been in every game so far and if they don’t continue this in DA4 I will be upset. Seriously, it’s like an expectation now. Every DA game is like sex, it’s fun, there is depth, and Isabela is there. Maybe as a companion, maybe as an NPC, or a extra to the cause. Don’t care, she just has to be there now. It’s a signature. Which...if we can get her in her sick Captain’s outfit again, more kudos to them.

Merrill: Hmmm, I don’t know about Merrill. She is such a good and well liked character, and I really need her to interact with Solas. BUT she had far more reason to be in DA:I, in a game that most likely will take place in Tevinter and surrounding area...I’m not sure where she’d fit. Not as a companion I don’t think. Maybe a cameo in Weisshaupt or when dealing with Solas stuff, but even then, her investment in those things seems a bit weak. The most likely place for me, would be dealing with the Eluvians or maybe even helping run an elven slave underground...kind of. But it would really depend where the game chooses to focus (on Tevinter, Solas, Weisshaupt, all 3 equally by some miracle).

Anders: I think at this point, everyone who loves Anders wants Anders back and safe, but also doesn’t want him to be touch by Bioware anymore. And anyone who hates Anders has either killed him or hoped that he was dead...so... Mixed feelings and mixed ideas. I don’t think he’ll ever be a companion again, Bioware learned their lesson (kind of considering Sera). But also being the entire world’s [of Thedas’s] scapegoat for the Mage War/Mage Split, I’m 99.9% sure we haven’t heard the last of some saying something bias, pretty much untrue, and absolutely scathing about him.

Aveline: She is helping run Kirkwall, which is where she belongs. If the game reaches out to the Free Marches, a glimpse or mention of her is sure to be heard. After all, she is the biggest badass there at the moment. Her days on the screen are probably over though, she was a good character but not one interesting enough to last past a single game of screen time. That said, I’d love to see her side-story with the Du Lacs actually revisited at some point, give us a deep Investigative story with her.

Varric: I mean I have to agree with quiz tielle, it pains me but his days as a companion are probably over. That said, I absolutely believe he’ll still have a large role to play. For starters, he is still our storyteller. Thedas’ storyteller and I highly doubt he’ll miss a chance to write out all of Thedas’ major historical events into eye-catching adventure novels till the day he dies. He may be a played out companion (can’t relate) but he isn’t dead and he is still an adventurer at heart, no matter how much he complains about the outdoors. All that aside, he is cousin to probably the most important, incredibly attractive magister in Tevinter right now, Maevaris Tilani (Tethras). I can definitely believe he’ll pop in to say hello and maybe scoop up a story or two, during DA4.

Sebastian: I’m not sure, I forget how his War Table mission plays out...but also not to offend any diehard Seb fans or anything...but he is shit and if he returns I’ll want to punch him. I mean he tried to overtake Kirkwall, for no reason than his own pride and probably a political move to strength his own country. It’s a Free Marcher thing, sure. But still, Sebastian Vael can get stuffed. That so awfully said, if he does come back I’ll still have a good time. Which serious for a moment, I don’t know why he would. Unless like I said we return to the Free Marches for whatever reason.

Tallis?: I have no idea if we have seen the last of her or not. I mean according to DA2 we haven’t and she was a War Table in Inquisitiion. So I suppose if there is a Qunari plot in DA4, you’d expect see her there. But I don’t know how there she’ll be...she could even be a companion. It’s a possibility, but I don’t expect it as a strong one.

Hawke: Hawke is definitely coming back, I don’t know when and I don’t know where but they will. I don’t say this as someone who loved their Hawke tho. I say this because Weisshaupt’s storyline seems to weigh on Hawke’s presence (if they escaped, they said that is where they are headed) and again, like I said in Alistair the decision to leave them behind in the Fade wasn’t final. Hell I wouldn’t be surprised in if in the obligatory Fade mission we ran into a Hawke that got left behind, half dead but still trucking along with that Purple Hawke smirk on their face. “You look like wyvern shit, Hawke.”  “You would know.”

Dragon Age Inquisition

Josephine: I think if the Inquisition is there, Josephine is definitely going to be there in some regard. Even if it is a few letters lying around. She’ll be less relevant that she was in Inquisition though, well unless you romanced her. She still has a family to take care of, plus all that new trade and a few diplomatic graces. A lot for her to take on, plus a maybe slave rebellion?

Cullen: Cullen time has come, I don’t think Cullen wants a thing to do with Tevinter cause mages and honestly I’m glad. I mean yeah, he was the white boy version of Isabela’s cameo, but far less entertaining with his anti-mage, but they’re sorta of okay rhetoric. A little salty, yeah. Cause Bioware had 3 chances to get him to a better place (aka make him a great character with growth), but never got there. So as much as I’d love to see them try and fail to make him a better person one more time, it’s time to let him rest. With his slightly changed notions, his lyrium detox facility, and his dog. That rant over, he could be there in the same capacity as Josephine. A few letters and a little something extra for romancers.

Blackwall: A hard one...in theory Blackwall could make a comeback during the Grey Warden plot, Bioware hyped up. He could even be a true Grey Warden companion this time. However, he has a lot of variables and that makes it hard to bring him back as a return character. He could have died, he could have been saved and hidden, or he could have been saved and made a Grey Warden. Not to mention adding romances and whether he got the Grey Warden epilogue or the “prison counselor” epilogue.

Cassandra: I think Cassandra will have the same role/handling as Leliana honestly. She won’t be a companion, but we will see her interacting with the Inquisitor. Divine or not, she is still helping them with Solas. Though we might not actually interact with her, unless Orlais. Again like Leli.

Iron Bull: Another difficult one. On one hand, he could be dead and that is the end of. On the other he could be with Dorian, who I’ll get to in a minute. I think it’ll be a bit easier though, because they can use him like they did Stroud. If he is alive and helping Dorian (or the Inquisitor) then he can show up, be his usual self. Make references to the past game and his Chargers. If he is dead, then he has a blank stand-in that we kind of get to know during the rest of the game, but never to the extent that we know/knew Bull. That said, he is definitely not becoming a companion. Only two characters with a possible death have ever became companions again after said moment, and I think the fact it happens in the same game leaves Carver and Bethany in a completely different category.

Dorian: Alright, if we were ever going to have a returning companion it will probably be Dorian. I have to agree with the assumption. Because Dorian is Tevinter. He’s the good, the bad. The parts that need change, but also the parts that should be praised. He was singled out for this in Inquisition. It was focused on heavily about him being the new Tevinter ambassador. Of him and Mae taking Tevinter by storm. Their reformation of the Magisterium. They even gave him a plot item, that seemed unnecessary and yet provided a link. Which I’m talking about his sending crystal/magic cellphone. It was endearing and also telling. Why need a crystal when letters work too? And I highly doubt it was just to introduce the idea for fun...I’m getting carried away on my favorite boy. What I mean to say, is Dorian, if not a companion, will be a huge player in the next game. Assuming they are still sending us to Tevinter as planned. Not just because he was so loved, which he way. Or because he is an utterly striking, handsome character, which he is. But because Dorian is a major player in Tevinter as is, trying to change his country and you don’t just go to a country and not meet the most influential of them all.

Solas: Oh boy, I have so much to say about this. First off, I don’t agree with the other post. I don’t think Solas will be the biggest villain this game, this time around. Unless Weekes is really enamored with getting that story out of the way, which he might be. I think he’ll be a smaller big bad in the grand scheme of things, whereas he was the big bad in Inquisition (literally all that happened because of him). I think it’d be interesting to see him as a return companion though. Like yes, we all know who he is. But to our new character? Maybe he is just a revolutionist, maybe he was the one who freed them (if they go the slave plot for the PC). Another chance for him to play the PC and we have to watch it happen. But also, we have to figure out why he’d help us with this rebellion (again relies on the slave plot being used) when he has no horses in the race. I don’t know, it is a possibility and a frustrating, but interesting one.

Vivienne: If she is Divine, I don’t see her doing anymore that Cassandra or Leliana in the position. And again, very dependent on if we go to Orlais. Maybe more so, since she wasn’t a founding agent of the Inquisition like Leliana and Cassandra. However, if the Mage College/Circles of Magi issue is more prominent than I think it will be in DA4, then she might show up a bit more than usual. Still don’t think she’ll be a big role or ally to the main character though.

Cole: I don’t agree with Cole not fighting people, but I do agree that he has other things to worry about that the PC in DA4. That said, when it comes to Solas I feel like Cole will be back instantly. Solas and Cole were incredibly close (for a few reasons I can theorize, coughelves=spiritscough), and he was one of the few who actually wanted to save Solas. So if he is there, he is there for his friends and Solas only. Which means no companionship from him.

Sera: I can’t see Sera giving it a try in Tevinter, for so many reasons. Unless the Inky asks her of course. Every thing from the elves, many who just accept their lives. To the magic, to the lack of friends due to brainwashing and fear. It’s just not an environment Sera would enjoy or even want to be it. But if Orlais is still playing a big part in the next game, I’m sure we’ll turn up the Val Royeaux Jenny eventually. Or like I said, if Inky needs her. I doubt she’ll have much to do with the main character though.

Inquisitor: They’ll be there. In some shape or form they’ll show up, that I have no doubt of. How or when will be a mystery. It might be in the form of speaking to Dorian through the sending crystal (removes the need for a CC) or it might be as a Major Ally (i.e. Hawke in Inquisition). I don’t think the story will center around them as much as we think or would like though. Since this isn’t another Inquisitor story, but our new PC’s story.

Tldr: 

As far as I believe, there could be a ton of cameos from almost anybody. Seriously, there are maybe 3 who won’t come back and none of them are the Wardens or Hawkes left in the Fade. 

The only one from DAO I could see being a companion is Shale, but Sten/Arishok deserves a mention if the Qunari War Plot is going to be as important as we’ve been led to think.

From DA2, I can only see Tallis as a companion, again due to the supposed Qunari War plot. But I’m sure we’ll see Fenris, Varric, Hawke, and Isabela again somewhere in DA4. 

Inquisition provides the most likely return companion, Dorian. I could see Solas or Blackwall returning as a companion, but I don’t think they truly beat out Dorian in the amount of importance and content we could get from a returning character by our side. Since Inquisition is the newest game, I especially see most if not all of the characters making some form of cameo.

Some Special Mentions I want to throw out there too. I imagine Calpernia will still be relevant in some way to the story. As she is also someone who wants to redeem Tevinter (in her own way) and could not be killed by the Inquisitor, even being a villain in their game.

Marius, Tessa, and Charter all seem to relevant, recurring characters in the extended media. I wouldn’t be surprised if they roles in the next game. Especially given Marius’s ties to Tevinter and Calpernia

If we don’t have Maevaris Tilani as a companion, after all of this, I will be shocked and scandalized. She has been another character that has both importance in Tevinter and seems to hold importance to the writers (though how this will go now that her main writer, David Gaider has left I don’t know. Weekes still has access to them and he should use it).

We haven’t yet seen the end of Valta...and perhaps Renn. I’m not sure Bioware will approach more dwarven concepts in DA4, but one can hope. Even more so, since I want to see what happened to Valta and just what is happening with the Titans.

[ladynorbert]

Hey ladynorbert!! This is your Wintersend secret Santa lady. I have been watching you from afar (in a totally non-creepy way I promise) and I've noticed you're a really avid writer. I would like to therefore make you an art. I know your fave pairing is Varric/Bethany, so I was wondering if you could write a little bit about why? And how you characterize Bethany in your head. I don't know much about them and DA2 is probably my least-played game. So anything you might share would be so helpful!

MY MOMENT HAS ARRIVED. SOMEONE ACTUALLY WANTS ME TO TALK ABOUT MY LOVE FOR THIS OTP. MANY APOLOGIES TO THE REST OF YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A SUBJECT ON WHICH I HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND RARELY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IT.

Let’s see, where do I begin?

[Editor’s note: With me, obviously. I’m right here.]

Ah yes, excellent point, voice in my head that never quite goes away.

Varric Tethras is a member of the Dwarven Merchants’ Guild, though not entirely by choice I suspect. He’s rich, he’s well-connected, he’s charming, he’s cultured. I am deeply attached to him because there are many things we have in common - we both had an alcoholic parent whose drunken rages were a defining part of our childhoods, we both write stories which are strangely well-received, we both prefer to be by the fire, we are both intensely loyal to those who have earned our loyalty, and we both like pretty much everybody until they give us a reason not to like them.

Varric has a very painful past for a number of reasons. The Tethras family was always, in many ways, more like a business than a family; his official biography (for the DA tabletop RPG) even says that his older brother Bartrand always treated him more like a colleague than a sibling. His father died when he was a toddler; his mother was a drunk; and his brother cared more about making money than anything. He had a torrid love affair with another dwarf, and Inquisition makes it clear that there’s still some lingering feeling, but she broke off the plan to elope and instead went through with the marriage her parents arranged for her. 

Basically, I feel like for years, all Varric knew about love was that it hurt you in one way or another. Then he met the Hawkes.

Bethany Hawke is the youngest of the three Hawke siblings. In the games where she survives the prologue, she’s already lost her father to the Blight and her twin brother to an ogre. She’s also an apostate mage, so she’s spent most of her life hiding from Templars and trying to conceal what she really is. Despite hardship and personal anguish, however, she’s an incredibly sweet, warm-hearted, generous person. (In games where she dies, Hawke tells Anders that Bethany never turned away anyone who needed her help.) If she goes to the Circle (which is where I always send her, because becoming a Grey Warden makes her miserable), she becomes highly regarded even by the Templars and is given a position of authority over younger student mages. 

She loves her family, she cares deeply for her friends, and she’s kind to practically everyone. As a result, she’s the only companion besides Varric who is liked by everyone else in Hawke’s personal circle. Even Fenris, who absolutely despises mages on principle, develops a strong affection for Bethany as well as respect for her mastery of her magic.

So that brings us to why do you ship it? Frankly, there’s so much ship tease inherent in their interactions that I have a hard time believing that the devs didn’t intend us to ship it. Here’s what I’ve observed.

1) Varric gives nicknames to everyone in his social circle (except Hawke and Aveline, and later the Inquisitor). By and large, these are either superficial (Blondie, Elf, Curly) or sarcastic (Tiny, Junior, Chuckles). Bethany’s is one of the few exceptions to that rule. Bethany’s nickname is Sunshine. It’s clearly affectionate.

2) Varric has several lines in which he talks about the sun. One of these is in a party banter with Bethany herself; she asks him about the Tethras family being Orzammar nobility, and he concludes his thoughts on the matter by saying that part of the reason he prefers the surface is because “it’s sunnier here”. He also tells Hawke, in a possible cutscene dialogue, that he was born on the surface and is perfectly happy about it because “Sunshine suits me just fine.” Plus, his final tarot card in Inquisition is literally The Sun. 

Sunshine is one of Varric’s favorite things. He named Bethany after something he loves.

3) When he first meets the Hawke siblings, Varric is very suave and charming toward Hawke because he wants Hawke to go along with his plan for the expedition. But when he starts talking to Bethany, his tone of voice changes. I don’t know how to explain it - he’s not quite flirting, but he’s damn close to it.

4) Varric snarks at everybody. Everybody. It’s just how he relates to people. But he’s never snarky toward Bethany. His voice is always full of fondness when he talks to her.

5) Bethany rarely laughs. But when she does, it’s either Hawke or Varric causing it - and her laugh for Varric sounds way more like a flirty giggle than anything.

6) If Bethany dies in the Deep Roads, Varric is devastated. I mean full-on crushed. (Props to Brian Bloom, because his voice acting brought me to tears. “Oh, Sunshine.”) And he continues to hate himself for years because of it… clicking on him during Act 2, which is set three years later, will sometimes prompt him to say “Poor Sunshine… Bartrand will pay for her death, I promise you.” 

7) Bring Varric and Bethany as companions for either/both of the DLC campaigns, then try to tell me that there’s not something there.

(a) Legacy has less flirting, probably because of the seriousness of the situation. Regardless of when it’s done, Bethany is so upset by what’s happened that it shows on her face. If the DLC is done in Act 1, Varric actually thinks she’s ill because she looks so upset, and he’s worried. If it’s done in 2 or 3 with Circle!Bethany, she’s understandably freaked out because the Carta actually attacked her in the Circle, and only the presence of Templars saved her. Varric’s remarks to her are soothing, reassuring, and a little bit teasing (which gets her to laugh). And even if it’s done with Warden!Bethany, there’s something there - he flat out tells her that it’s good to see her, and he’s the only companion toward whom she can’t be cold.

(b) Mark of the Assassin, though… bring Varric and Circle!Bethany. He straight up hits on her. First there’s this interaction where she’s fussing about her clothes.

“I can’t believe I wore this to the Chateau. Maker, what was I thinking?”

“That it’s the uniform of the Circle and you could make a burlap sack look good?”

“It’s hardly the height of fashion.”

“You would kill these people if you wore the height of fashion.”

Later, when they’re running around in the dungeons trying to find Hawke and Tallis, he makes a comment about the quickness of her stride. She quips back at him, rather playfully, and he says, “There’s my Sunshine.” That single line is spoken in absolutely the warmest and sweetest voice we ever hear him use in either game where he appears. 

8) In Act 1, after the Hawkes have reclaimed Grandfather Amell’s will, Varric has party banter in which he addresses Bethany as “Milady Sunshine” (making her giggle) and also “my lady.” Coupled with the “my Sunshine” line mentioned above, that’s a lot of possessive pronouns, Varric. She is literally the only character in any of the games whom he ever calls “my” anything other than “my friend.”

9) Like the rest of the DAII companions, Varric makes comments when someone falls in battle. If that someone happens to be Bethany, his reaction is very interesting. The line itself is a bit of gold - “Hold on, Sunshine, I’m coming!” - but the tone of voice is especially delightful. It manages to sound equal parts reassuring and really pissed off, like whatever took her down is going to pay dearly for touching her.

10) If she’s still alive in Inquisition, Varric has several lines in which he indicates that he writes to her frequently. He also has a very interesting line if Bethany went to the Circle and is still alive as of Inquisition; following the events of the quest “Here Lies the Abyss”, he may have party banter with Cassandra in which she inquires, “And Hawke’s sister - she’s still alive, isn’t she?” Varric’s response is to say, in a slightly hostile tone, “Better be!”

So why do I ship it? In shortest form, they are both generous people who give a lot to others. They both care a lot about other people, sometimes even when they know it’s not the wisest thing. Most of all, their interactions make it very clear that, romantically or otherwise, they genuinely love each other. Theirs is a warm, honest, mutually respectful relationship and I think that they could really be happy together in a healthy way. And after the amount of crap they’ve both survived, I really want them to be happy.

For more stuff like this, come to @sunny-stories - it’s the greatest boat in the history of boats.

Thank you so much for the ask, anon! I look forward to whatever beautiful gift you decide to craft for me - I’m sure I will love it!

[randomnonsensedragonage]

Doing some of the questions from this ask meme for Anders and my Hawke. Thanks for requesting it, @teiranlavellan! :D

1. How do they fall asleep? Wake up? Any daily rituals?

Hawke and Anders are both workaholics in their own way, so both of them tend to stay up later than they should, and need to be reminded to go to bed. Thankfully, though, their bouts of productivity don’t usually occur at the same time, so they can each coax the other into getting some rest.

For waking up, Hawke is an early riser, and Anders is decidedly not (unless, again, the Justice part of him is driving him to get up). Hawke tends to be the one to get Anders out of bed in the morning, though she also often lets him sleep well into the day (she can tell he needs the rest). For daily rituals, they’re both busy so the two of them always make sure to have at least one meal together (usually brunch or a late dinner).

2. How’s their team work? Do they share well?

It depends on the situation. When it comes to battle and solving problems out in the world, they make a great team. Anders acts as healing and support, while Hawke (being a rogue) charges into the thick of things. When it comes to interacting with people, Hawke is more diplomatic and Anders is… Anders, so Hawke handles more delicate negotiations while Anders can bring the “Yeah mage rights!” speeches when necessary.

When it comes to interactions with each other, they’re less balanced. Hawke isn’t very good at expressing her feelings, which often means that Anders monopolizes their conversations, usually without realizing he’s doing it.

3. Are they open about their relationship? How do they feel about public displays of affection?

They’re pretty open about their relationship, though they’re not much for PDA since Hawke isn’t very physical and Anders is cautious about the relationship (at least at first). After they’ve been together a couple of years they start to relax more, especially around their friends.

4.  First impression of each other? Was it love at first sight?

For first impressions, I think Anders was surprised and impressed by Hawke’s poise and seriousness, given how young she was at the time, while Hawke found Anders passion compelling. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight for either of them, but they realized they were attracted to each other like the second or third time they met.

7. What annoys them the most about their partner? Would they change it if they could?

Hawke has trouble with Anders’ lack of ability to compromise, and also dislikes how cruel and cutting he can be in his remarks (she hates the way he talks to Fenris). On the flip side, Anders wishes that Hawke compromised less and was more outspoken in her support of mages.

8. What do the like best about their partner?

Anders likes how calm and supportive Hawke is. She’s a very comforting, solid person to be around, and he feels safe with her. Hawke likes Anders’ passion, since she herself is more reserved.

10. Who drives?

N/A, but it would probably be Hawke.

Cooks?

They take turns.

Does the handiwork?

Anders.

Cleans?

Neither cleans as much as they should, but when they do they take turns.

Pays the bills?

Hawke (it is her house after all)

Handles the public?

Hawke

13. What do they do for fun? Do they have a favorite activity or do they like to switch things up?

They like games, especially puzzles, and reading. It’s not exactly fun, but they also enjoy doing their work in proximity to each other (like, Anders will work on his manifesto, and Hawke will do the bills or something). They tried getting in to playing music together (Anders on lute, Hawke on vocals) but they were both terrible so they gave up.

16.  Do they keep secrets? Lie? Cheat?

Anders definitely does, though all of them are related to things like the mage underground and, um, the obvious. He justifies his secrets with the idea that they keep Hawke safe. Hawke doesn’t exactly keep secrets, but she doesn’t express her honest opinions around Anders enough, which leads to problems. Neither cheats.

17.  What would make them break up? Would it be permanent?

They do break up, after the whole chantry thing. Hawke really wanted to find a peaceful solution to Kirkwall’s problems, and the fact that Anders solution was very much not peaceful, and that he lied to her about it, felt like a major betrayal.

I could see them getting back together, though (I actually haven’t decided yet if they do). In order to do so they would each have to be better about communicating their needs, which I think they could potentially achieve with some self-reflection and time apart.

20. What does their home look like? Their room?

They’re both kind of messy, so even in Hawke’s big mansion there tends to be evidence of their presence in every room—papers, books, socks, etc. Same with their room, but more so. The bed is hardly ever made, there are papers and dirty clothes scattered everywhere… Neither of them minds too much, though.

23. How do they hug? Kiss? Tease? Flirt? Comfort?

Anders is the more physical one, so he gives very tight hugs and passionate kisses. Hawke is a bit more awkward and stiff, at least at first. She still enjoys Anders’ physicality, she just has to let him know that her stiffness doesn’t mean she’s uncomfortable. Before they get together, they basically flirt by complimenting each other a lot, followed by being very tortured and angsty about not being able to be together (come on, guys…). After they get together, they don’t flirt as much, just spend a lot of time together. They tend to comfort each other just by sitting quietly together, keeping the other company.

24. Any doubts about the relationship?

Oh yeah, though the nature of their doubt varies throughout their time together. Before they get together, it’s the whole “should-Anders-date-when-he’s-half-spirit?” issue. After they get together, their doubts are more inwardly focused. Hawke worries she isn’t there for Anders enough, Anders worries that his problems will drive Hawke away… (they are both sort of right). After they break up, they wonder if the whole relationship was a mistake.

26. How do their friends feel about their relationship? Their families?

Their friends are supportive of the relationship. The one with the most reservation is Fenris, but that’s mostly because he dislikes Anders (he is glad Hawke is happy). The only family member Hawke has left by the time she and Anders get together is Bethany, but she definitely approves (she was their biggest shipper). After the chantry explosion though, pretty much everyone disapproves (Merrill is perhaps the exception).

29.  How do the handle disasters or emergencies? Minor injuries? Sickness?

Anders is a healer, so though he might panic and fuss over Hawke if she’s hurt or sick, he’s able to deal with whatever comes up. Same with Hawke. If someone gets hurt she easily keeps her cool, though she would also fuss a bit over a sick Anders (in her own, quiet way).

30. Could they manage a long distance relationship?

I think Hawke could, but Anders might have more trouble.

33. What kind of presents do they get each other? Do they only do it on special occasions?

Anders likes to get really cheesy romantic stuff for Hawke, like flowers and original poems. Hawke’s gifts tend to be more practical, but thoughtful. They tend to give each other gifts whenever they feel like it, though Anders will often save his for anniversaries (totally surprising Hawke, who has usually forgotten said anniversary).

35. Do they bring out the best in each other, or the worst? Do they have a fatal flaw?

Hawke brings out the best in Anders (she makes him feel more safe and relaxed), but unfortunately Anders brings out the worst in Hawke (her overly self-sacrificing qualities, namely).

36. What’s their greatest strength as a couple? Their weakness?

Their greatest strength is probably how protective they are of each other. Their weakness is poor communication.

37. How much would they be willing to sacrifice for the other? Any lines they refuse to cross?

Hawke supports Anders up to the point of harming others, which is why the chantry stuff is her limit. Anders would be willing to sacrifice pretty much anything for Hawke, but not up to the point of putting her before his cause, which, again, is where they run into problems.

42. Do they let each other get away with things that would normally bother them?

For sure. Anders would not put up with Hawke’s diplomatic nature in regard to the Templar-Mage conflict in anyone else, and Hawke lets Anders get away with being pretty mean to people sometimes. They could definitely stand to call each other out more.

45. Any special dreams or goals they have as a couple? Any heartbreaks? Regrets?

I think their dream is just to survive so they can continue to be together. The circumstances of their break up are definitely heartbreaking, and they both regret how things worked out after the chantry explosion. They wish they’d been more honest with one another.

Thanks again!!

[oedonretired]

super detailed questions about eli hawke (1/5)

aka “Dio lordVivek is still not existentially at 100% and wants to ramble about a beloved oc to the point of annoyance”

1. What’s their full name? Why was that chosen? Does it mean anything?  Elijah Hawk-child. “Elijah” is a traditional Chasind name. Malcolm was a shapeshifter and his primary shift was the hawk, so his children were all styled “Hawk-child”. In the rest of the world, a more Common-styled surname goes over better when trying to avoid undue attention, so Leandra helpfully supplied “Hawke”. Eli goes back and forth between using “Hawk-child” and “Hawke”, himself, depending on how he feels at the time.

2. Do they have any titles? How did they get them? By the time he takes on the mantle of Lord Protector, he’d accumulated several other titles as well -- most of which he ignored, since titles feel cumbersome on his already-laden shoulders. Hightowners call him Champion, Lowtowners and Darktowners call him Boss, Qunari call him Basalit-an (or Basvaarad, or Sataareth... or Venak-hol, depending on the Qunari), ousted aristocrats call him Usurper, and so it goes. 

3. Did they have a good childhood? What are fond memories they have of it? What’s a bad memory? Well, he could have had a worse childhood, considering the circumstances he and his family were under. Malcolm did not believe in keeping secrets from children, and they were always aware of their status as children of an apostate and a rebel noble (so, two runaways). They knew what and whom to avoid. They were encouraged to make use of their strengths, magical and otherwise, and constantly reminded that fear was their worst enemy -- fear clouded the mind and made the hands shake, and worst of all, fear made one impulsive and impatient. Malcolm and Leandra took their own advice quite well, and were cunning, and the children grew up knowing their lot but knowing the cards were still more stacked in their favour than anyone might expect.

Plus, the deep Wilds are a great place to grow up if you’re an adventurous and fearless child, which Eli definitely was. And he had siblings, with whom his bond was strong, and the Chasind elders and cunningwomen and hunters looked out for everyone, so he never felt alone.

A fond memory he has is of meeting a marsh-wolf that stalked him but never seemed to give chase or show threat. He offered it meat from traps he’d laid, and it ate; he led it to water-holes, and it drank. One day, he saw a girl in the rushes that watched him with the eyes of the wolf, and he realised they were the same. He and Morrigan met like this a few times before she stopped coming around. He thinks that she probably still kept watching him.

A bad memory he has is of being bit by a venomous (but not deadly) snake and being delirious for about a week while the slow-moving venom passed through him. The after-effects were milder but lasted some months -- for a while, he had great trouble telling the Fade from reality. It was very bothersome, but he kind of understands Somniari a little as a result.

4. What is their relationship with their parents? What’s a good and bad memory with them? Did they know both parents? Malcolm and Leandra loved Elijah fiercely. Malcolm called him “little Sun” (a metaphor that would stick throughout his lifetime, in various forms) and tattooed Eli himself, with runes and patterns that persist in his Fade-body and mark him as touched. (Carver got these too, but his were to focus his magic and protect him from arcane sight.) Leandra loved to hear him weave tales about what he’d seen in the forests while she oiled his hair or cooked family meals. They groomed him as protector of his brother and sister, and stressed the importance of the bond between them all. It was a very close-knit family.

The only bad memories he has regarding his parents are related to times when Malcolm was almost captured, and Malcolm’s fatal illness and subsequent death.

5. Do they have any siblings? What’s their names? What is their relationship with them? Has their relationship changed since they were kids to adults? Carver was always standoffish and terribly serious, and Leandra attributed this to being the only one who’d inherited Malcolm’s gift of magic (and the troubles that gift brought). Carver doesn’t always appreciate Elijah’s boisterous manner and his love of merriment, but he will be the first to fight anyone that even fixed their mouth to talk shit about his big brother.

Bethany is like a paladin at heart, which is probably how she ended up a templar. She is respectful of law but also contemptuous of anything unjust that is presented as “law”, which makes her the worst trainee but the best commander (unless you ask Meredith, who hated her for a while -- probably because she saw successor material in Bethany, and the Knight-Commander Meredith herself could have been). She loves Elijah’s protective nature but thinks his belief that he can fix everything that comes his way is a little unrealistic.

Their relationship definitely got rockier during the early Kirkwall years, as their motivations started to diverge, but their bond remained strong underneath it all, and their trust in each other could never falter for long.

6. What were they like at school? Did they enjoy it? Did they finish? What level of higher education did they reach? What subjects did they enjoy? Which did they hate? Elijah and the other Hawk-children did not attend school; their learning came from their parents, the older villagers, and the Wilds. (Aveline agreed to be the “reader” whenever a literate person was needed, until Eli gained Hawke Estate and started getting a lot more letters. Then she bullied him into taking lessons from Anders. He only agreed when Fenris refused to go unless he did, too.)

7. Did they have lots of friends as a child? Did they keep any of their childhood friends into adulthood? Eli had a pretty good rapport with the village children, but most of his friends were in the Wilds (and not just shapeshifting animals like Morrigan, but actual creatures that he patiently befriended over lengths of time, establishing trust and boundaries in much the way children learn how to do so with other people). It’s likely that he’s pretty good at navigating some of the less humane aspects of other people because of this.

8. Did they have pets as a child? Do they have pets as an adult? Do they like animals? He didn’t keep pets. He didn’t believe in pets; he thought keeping a pet was the same as keeping a slave, and no one could disabuse him of this notion. Sebastian adopted a mabari for him and they nearly got into a shouting match over it, until Seb got it through to him that mabari weren’t exactly pets, more like companions -- and no one would treat Fortinbras (...Seb’s choice of name, not Eli’s) like anything less than a member of the family.

Predictably, Eli and Fort got along famously from the start. The mabari sits next to him at court, with a little crown and everything (blame Fenris, he finds it endlessly amusing).

9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals? As mentioned, he is very good with animals.

10. Do they like children? Do children like them? Do they have or want any children? What would they be like as a parent? Or as a godparent/babysitter/ect? He never thought he’d be good with children -- something about being too brutish, or too frightening -- but kids get the biggest kick out of him. First of all, he’s strong and tall, so he can pick them up and they can climb all over him, and he doesn’t seem to mind either way. He’s playful and also patient, and though he doesn’t treat them like fragile things, he also respects their agency and doesn’t demand a certain mode of behaviour or blind obedience from them.

Over time he does come to want children, and long story short, Fenris and Orana are willing to help. What lucky children those two end up being, surrounded by this huge family Eli has made, wanting for nothing, least of all love and attention. (”Where are your mommy and daddy?” “...Which ones?”)

[youaremynewdream]

Dragon Age Asks: Hawke + Companions

God I’m so sorry I’m still bored so here’s more I’’m not even asking anymore. boop. This is for my cannon playthough, Shannon Hawke

Original ask here

Isabela 1. Did Isabela return at the end of Act II? Was your Hawke angry if she did not return? Were they pleased if she did? -Nope, she left for good :/ Hawke was upset, but understood.  2. What did your Hawke think of pirates? Did they approve or disapprove of Isabela’s title as a “pirate queen”? -She thought it was great, she always wanted to  meet a real pirate. 

3. How did your Hawke feel about Isabela’s indifference to the mage-templar war? Were they offended? Or indifferent themselves? - a bit offended, but they just decided not to discuss it. 

4. How did your Hawke respond to Isabela? Were they well-matched or ill-suited? -They were chill at first, but once things got more serious, it got harder to remain friends. 

5. Was your Hawke close with Isabela throughout the Acts of Kirkwall? Did they remain in contact with her? -First act, yes.  She does remain in contact, though not as much as she’d hope. 

Fenris 1. Did your Hawke also hate Tevinter, like Fenris? Were they influenced by him? - Yup. Screw slavery man like wtf. 

2. If his personal quest was received, did your Hawke allow him to kill his sister? Why or why not? - She didn’t let him. Family matters, she couldn’t let him do it.

3. How did your Hawke’s final decision between the mages or the templars affect their relationship with Fenris? Were they forced to kill him? - She chose the mages, but she rivalmanced him so although he was against it, he decided to go with her. 

4. How did your Hawke respond to the mutual resentment between Fenris and Anders? Did they intervene? - She was friends with anders, so she just kinda lived with it.  It reminded her of the Twins. 

5. What motivated your Hawke to be either a friend or a rival to Fenris? Were they indifferent to him? -ok I can right an essay on how in love with Fenris she is, but that would be too much.  They disagreed on so much, but they listened.  They cared.  They changed and worked together, becoming better people.  In the end that’s what mattered, is that they stayed with each other. 

Merrill 1. How did your Hawke react to Merrill’s use of blood magic? Were they shocked? Pleased? -Shocked, but okay with it as long as it wasn’t used for anything *bad*

2. Was your Hawke intrigued by Merrill’s Eluvian? Were they concerned? - she was fascinated, and wanted merrill to work on it

3. Did your Hawke understand Merrill’s attachment to her clan? Were they confused by her dedication to her clanmates? -Nah she understood familyish stuff and ties.

4. What sort of relationship did your Hawke have with Merrill? Were they protective of her? -Hawke was originally kind of romantically attracted to her, but it turned into a close friendship.  She was verrrryyy protective of her, like a sister. 

5. Did your Hawke remain close to Merrill after the end of Act III? Did their choice between the mages or templars affect their relationship? -Yup. close close clooose friends.  

Aveline 1. Did your Hawke help Aveline in wooing Donnic? What did they think of the whole affair? -Oh god yes.  Hawke would do anything for Ave, but maker is that woman not good with courting.

2. Did your Hawke empathize with Aveline’s grief at losing her husband? Did they attempt to comfort her? -She tried to comfort her, but hawke has a problem with uh... making jokes when they probably shouldn’t be made...

3. How did your Hawke respond to Aveline’s position as Guard-Captain? Did they respect her authority? -in the end she does, but that won’t stop her poking fun at Aveline at every opportuity for it. 

4. How did your Hawke’s relationship with Aveline change throughout the Acts? Did they connect to her because of their mutual escape from the darkspawn in Ferelden? -Mom friend is one of the best friends. Ye. 

5. Did your Hawke agree or disagree with Aveline’s position on the mage-templar rebellion? -Eh eventually Aveline understood and was on hawke’s mage side. 

Varric 1. Was your Hawke curious about the story behind Bianca? -Oh definitely. 

2. Was your Hawke comfortable with Varric’s story-telling hobby? Did they predict that Varric would write a story about them? - Oh yeah.  She would give him one liners to stick in whenever she could, and would retell any stories he might have missed. She demanded that she review the first copy of that book though. 

3. Did your Hawke allow Varric to keep the lyrium shard? Why or why not? -No. She knew that if that shit fucked up his brother, there was no way she was letting him hang on to the stuff. Not even if it was locked up. 

4. Did your Hawke relate to Varric’s rocky relationship with his brother? How did they feel about Bartrand’s betrayal? -It reminded her of carter, but she felt horrible that the bastard did this to her best friend. 

5. What was your Hawke’s opinion on Varric’s chest hair? - hot af wow bang me now pls

Anders 1. How did your Hawke feel about Anders’ clinic? Did they ever spend time there? - She felt comforted there.  She would come for magic neck massages just to talk.

2. What did your Hawke think about Justice/Vengeance possessing Anders? Were they unsettled? -unsettled but kinda just went with it. Everyone has their quirks.

3. What was your Hawke’s relationship with Anders like before the Chantry explosion? How did the explosion change their perception of him? -Good friends. She cared a lot about him, he reminded her of her sister.  She cares so much for the mages. She was so upset by the chantry explosion, but she couldn’t bring herself to kill him. 

4. Who did your Hawke back, mages or templars, and what became of Anders? -Mages, kept him alive.  In the end she understood the meaning behind it, even if she condemned the action. 

5. Did your Hawke believe Anders’ solution to the mage-templar problem, the chantry explosion, was the correct action? What would they have done instead? - Didn’t agree it was the right action, you can make a message without hurting people, but in the end it did make some noise. 

Bethany  1. Did Bethany become a Grey Warden or die of the Taint or was she taken to the Circle? How did your Hawke react to what became of her? - She went to the Circle.  Hawke was super upset but at least she would be okay. 

2. How did Leandra and/or Carver’s death affect your Hawke’s relationship with Bethany?  - Became SO much closer, even though they were already close.  Shannon clung on to her so hardcore, she couldn’t lose any more family. 

3. Due to Bethany being a mage, was your Hawke influenced by her when making the choice between mages and templars? - yyyyyyyup. She heavily influenced Shannon’s decision to back mages.

4. How close were your Hawke and Bethany before they fled to Kirkwall? Did they grow closer or drift farther apart once they were settled in Kirkwall? -Very close already, but became closer at kirkwall

5. Did your Hawke stay in contact with Bethany after the mage-templar decision in Kirkwall? -Yup yup yup ain’t losing contact with the baby sister nope never

[asexualvega]

Some thoughts I had while playing new Liz’s file

I’m playing her fairly diplomatic right now, with some purple sass mixed in, and I think she’s going to joke a lot more as things go on, even when and probably especially when it’s absolutely inappropriate. It’s easier for her to try and make light of everything than actually face the weight of everything that’s going on.

She gets along so much better with Fenris than I expected??? I thought I’d have to totally rethink her relationship with him but he really doesn’t care that she’s a mage after that first conversation, and since she generally makes pretty moderate choices he doesn’t disapprove of literally every mage related choice. I mean that’s also due to the limitations of game mechanics so I’ll definitely have to think more about it but overall I think they’d still be close friends. 

She and Carver also get along better than you’d expect, more so after they get to Kirkwall. She goes to greater lengths to try and make peace with him and listen to his advice, and supports his idea of becoming a templar after the Deep Roads expedition. They both agree that they’ve never met a templar who wasn’t “an absolute prig” but like his namesake, Carver can be an exception. 

That said, it’s not like she doesn’t tease him. Every time a quest has brought them to the Blooming Rose she makes a show of covering his eyes as they enter, makes fun of him for his failed attempts at flirting with Merrill, and keeps a running count of how many people she’s able to take down compared to him. 

He’s gonna die in the Deep Roads and I’m going to cry. Bethany’s death hit Liz hard but it’s Carvers’ that really pushes her over the edge. Act II is when she starts overdoing it with lyrium potions and eventually turns to blood magic. She’s not proud of her choice and she keeps it a secret as best as she can - especially considering the way she’s talked to Merrill up till that point - but she’s not self-loathing about it either. She’s just doing what has to be done to protect what’s left of her family. 

It’s not even like she has a good relationship with Leandra at that point but it’s the principle of the thing. 

I’m obviously not at all this far yet but I imagine her mom’s death is the point where she really breaks down and asks herself what was the fucking point if she still couldn’t save her family? I’m going to ignore the fact that he doesn’t show up in canon cause that’s bs and say Sebastian came to see her after Leandra’s death and helped her work through some of this