#protective corvo attano

[gryphon1232]

Resurgence

Hey gang, would now be a good time to point out that I'm writing a Dishonored Fanfic?👀

It's a post-Dishonored-1-Canon fic which follows Corvo (and maybe a few others) as they navigate the months following the removal of Burrows and the reinstallation of Emily Kaldwin to the throne. They're working to bring Dunwall back from the brink of collapse, but their troubles may not be over yet.

I currently have 2 chapters out, and you can read the full tags on Ao3, but some of the main ones are: Low Chaos, Politics, Canon-Typical Violence, Fluff and Angst, Protective Corvo Attano and Parent Corvo Attano. If this is something you're interested in, feel free to check it out, and if you do read it then thank you and I hope you enjoy!!

[no-light-left-on]

little empress's loyal dog

[yanara126-writing]

They Had To Die - 1

Corvo Attano enters Dunwall tower fully intending to kill the Lord Regent. It doesn't work out how he intends.

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Read here or on Ao3 (3090 words)

Have fun! Comments always welcome! :)

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Corvo slid the audiograph into the slot to play it for all the city to hear without much thought. He didn't quite know what was on it but whatever it was it would ruin the man. Perhaps even exonerate Corvo himself, though he wouldn't bet on it. His luck was not that good. Really he hadn't planned on doing it, hadn't even considered the possibility of proving the man's crimes, until the technician had brought it up. There was a vindictive part of him, the part that had demanded he take care of- No. That he kill the Royal Interrogator, the man who had tortured him for months on end and whose torments were the only interruption to his nightmares about Jessamine. Even as he skulked around everyone else, unwilling to kill people who had no idea about the atrocities being committed around them, that man had to die. That same part that had driven him to spill the only blood he had in the last week also demanded that he not simply kill the Lord Regent, the Spymaster, the Traitor. No, simple death was too good for the man who had Jessamine murdered and Emily held captive for months.

Whatever it was he'd been expecting when the audiograph slid out of view, it wasn't what he heard. Not a confession of plotting for the throne, not at first. The plague. The plague had been his fault as well. Corvo finds himself slumping against the machine, listening as raptly as the rest of the city surely was. There was so much more here than even he had been expecting. And yet... He thought he should call it worse. Jessamine would. And he was angry, not only for the lives pointlessly lost on accident when the plague had apparently gone out of control, but also for those intentionally extinguished, murdered for one man's idea of prosperity. Yet still, with honesty that was only possible in the corners of his own mind, he knew he wouldn't call it worse. That deep in his heart he could never consider anything worse than the murder of Jessamine and the pain inflicted on Emily. And then Burrows kept talking.

"I knew the truth would come out eventually. So there was no other way than to be rid of her, and take power myself. She had to die, you see. SHE HAD TO DIE."

The words, dry and almost desperate themselves kept reverberating in Corvo's ears as he bonelessly slid down the metal wall, his legs giving out underneath him. He'd known Burrows had been behind her murder. It was why he was here. He'd known, even before the Traitor had made it perfectly clear, that day before his scheduled execution. But hearing this now, hearing his twisted reasoning, hearing that Jessamine had been killed for being too close to uncovering a conspiracy... He should have seen it. It didn't matter that reconnaissance wasn't part of his job, he should have seen the danger to her right in front of his face, should have known that something was up when they sent him away, out of reach to protect her. He hadn't and now she was dead.

SHE HAD TO DIE

SHE HAD TO DIE

SHE HAD TO DIE

SHE HAD TO DIE

The words just kept roaring through his mind and he curled up tight, hands desperately pressed over his ears and face into his knees as if that would help, as if it could ever keep out the guilt drowning him. Suddenly the mask felt suffocating, as if it was melding into his head, weighing it down and pressing in with violence, so he yanked at the fastening and threw it across the small room, only dimly hearing it clank loudly into the wall. Distantly he could feel his nails start to dig into his scalp and something hot running running down the side of his head.

SHE HAD TO DIE

Over and over the torturous echo thundered through his mind, bouncing off every nook and cranny to be found there, louder and louder until he was sure his ears would bleed. Burrows was still talking, some distant, unreachable part of him that was still aware of the outside world supplied, but Corvo heard none of it. He vaguely registered the ping of the audiograph popping back out of the machine eventually and while it did nothing to quell noise in his head, it did make him aware of his location and his own ragged breaths. His head felt too warm, whether from tears, blood or exertion he had no way of telling or caring. But he had to get out. Now.

He stumbled his way to his feet, unsteady and clumsy and wobbled over to where he'd thrown the mask. Without any thought but the blaring need to get OUT he picked it up and put it back on. It still felt suffocating, wrong, but even that took a backseat to the all-consuming instinct to just run. One foot after the other and head filled with a cacophony of screams he stumbled his way down the stairs, past the deactivated arch pylon and out into the abandoned hallway. He blinked to a lamp and then down to the door more from muscle memory than active decision. The door surrendered to his forceful push and suddenly he was outside, surrounded by giant headlights and tallboys strutting across the yard. Cold air crept into his collar and under the mask, making him shiver for a moment, but it didn't help the earsplitting, blinding fog in his head.

Heedless of the lights and possible guards that he'd avoided before Corvo made a beeline for the Pavillon. For her grave. The stone with her name on it. He reached his goal in a haze, standing in front of the headstone and the world around him vanished.

She had to-

She had t-

His breath quickened and yet there was not enough air in his lungs. He gasped desperately trying to breathe past whatever was pressing down on his throat. Something was suffocating him slowly but surely and he couldn't- Where- he was in Coldridge strung up to a table and the torturer was slowly tightening the metal bands around his chest and throat. He couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breathe because SHE WAS DEAD-

Excruciating pain exploded through his back and he was thrown forward into the balustrade of the pavilion, slamming his head into the stone railing. Everything burnt and he was pretty sure he was bleeding from multiple open wounds but the fog had receded somewhat. He was at Dunwall Tower, and he had to not be here. Survival instinct took over, pushing past the suffocating feelings and Burrow's words still playing over and over in his head as Corvo realized a tallboy must have spotted him. He heard it charge up yet another electrical blast behind him and from one moment to the next he registered the blaring alarm.

Fuck.

With no moment to think, to focus and remember himself, Corvo simply threw himself over the railing, off the cliff and down to the walkways a good few metres below right as the charge hit the stone where he was just laying, blasting off part of the railing with a thunderous crack. The impact of his body onto the ground rattled something loose in him, both in his head and probably his chest considering the stabbing pain shooting from his ribs, and he remembered that he could have just blinked down, saving himself the probably broken ribs. Well, too late now.

The alarm was still loudly ringing through the complex and there were footsteps coming closer, as well as, more alarmingly, dog barking. Hissing through his teeth at the pain Corvo struggled to his feet and started running into the direction of the water-lock. No time for stealth, he'd already been spotted and deep in bones he knew that if he stayed still too long and let the adrenaline dip he would never get out of here again.

He only made it a few steps up the stairs to the gate when the dogs got him, the guards thankfully still a ways behind. One dog got him in the lower leg, sinking its teeth into his already bruised and burt flesh. A second one leapt onto his back as he stumbled, ripping into his right shoulder. He couldn't help the scream as he tripped, pushed over by the momentum and slipping on his own blood, only just managing to bring up his arms and not slam his head into the stairs. Desperately Corvo reached for his sword and stabbed blindly behind himself, catching one dog with the blade and irritating the other into letting go. Before it could latch on again he kicked his still somewhat whole leg out with as much force as he could muster. Something cracked but he didn't stay to check if he'd killed the cur. He scrambled back up and ran, forcing the doors open with his shoulder and nearly screaming again from the pain as the bloodied mass collided with steel, but the door gave.

Then the guards started firing at his back, loud cracks of pistol shots adding to the cacophony sounding through his ears. Finally at the edge of the water-lock Corvo made out a ledge further down where the bullets couldn't reach him, at least until the guards caught up, and forced all his remaining focus into a blink, but his concentration was too far gone. He threw himself through the void, the tell-tale tingle in his fingertips insignificant next to the burning agony, and reappeared a split second later, a hair's breath away from the ledge. He'd misjudged the distance. His eyes widened and he desperately threw his arm out, trying to catch himself on the ledge, but the stone was smooth and his strength fast fading. The ledge slipped out from under his helpless fingers and he plummeted down to the water below.

When he hit the surface his vision went white with pain and then everything felt suddenly very far removed. He could feel his body go limp and sink further down, detached, as if he was simply an uninvolved observer, and for that moment it was almost peaceful. Then the pesky need to breathe reared its head and from one second the next the agony returned, as well the raw, uncontrolled urge to survive. Without thought of anything he started struggling against the force dragging him down, kicking and throwing his arms to get up, Up, UP again until he finally broke the surface and gasped for air.

But he couldn't stay there, eventually the guards he could still hear shouting above him would think to look down. Dredging up the last bit of adrenaline he could still reach Corvo started swimming, ignoring the burning of open wounds and broken bones and the bloodtrail he was certainly spilling into the water. By the time he had left the lock behind himself and was in eyesight of Samuel and his boat his limbs were giving out. He dragged himself through the water as far as he could but it wasn't enough and just outside the boat's reach he started to sink again, body heavy as his arms and legs refused any further movement. He tried to get back up for air, to get into the boat, he tried, he tried so hard, *Emily, forgive me, I swear I tried*-

Water started pouring into his mouth, down his throat and into his lungs the same second as hands grabbed him under his arms and pulled him upwards. He broke the surface and started coughing, barely more than a limp, useless fish as his saviour yanked him over the side of the boat where Corvo stayed down only just so managing to undo the mask before he continued coughing and vomiting up water, lacking even the strength to claw into the wooden surface from the pain. After a moment of shuffling a blanket was gently draped over him which did little to really help the bonechilling cold settling into his limbs but it was appreciated anyway. The boat started moving as Samuel - it must have been Samuel, who'd fished him out of the water and given him the blanket, bless his soul - turned on the motor and started steering them away from the chaos that was Dunwall tower.

They stayed in relative silence for a while, Samuel keeping his hands on the rudder while Corvo was hacking out his lungs and shivering at the bottom of the boat, desperately clinging to the blanket. Only when they were a good distance away from the Tower where it was unlikely anyone would still be looking for them did Samuel speak up.

"Are you- are you alright, Corvo?" The question was certainly driven by honest concern, but Corvo nearly started laughing hysterically. Even drawing another breath had him coughing and spitting again however, his throat burning from the abuse along with the rest of him. "No, that was a stupid question, I'm sorry," Samuel muttered and the boat stopped moving as the quiet hum of the motor fell silent. Corvo was too tired to even wonder why. He found out regardless as Samuel crouched down beside him and started gently rummaging through Corvo's pockets, careful not to jostle him. Perhaps it should have concerned him to have someone else fumble with his stash that includes quite a few weapons while he was incapacitated like this, but it was Samuel who'd been nothing been kind to him and more importantly Emily, and Corvo was so, so very tired. It didn't take Samuel long to find whatever he was looking for and Corvo found himself pulled up into a halfway sitting position, leaning against the other man and unsure of how he'd gotten there. A bottle was pressed to his lips, tipping its cool contents into his mouth and he reflexively swallowed. The elixir ran smoothly down his throat, calming the itching burn that came from too much coughing and alleviating the pain throughout his body. Even his mangled leg stopped bleeding quite as badly and his ribs set somewhat. He still felt sore all over but at least it wasn't quite as agonizing anymore.

For a moment Corvo simply closed his eyes and breathed, leaning against Samuel who patiently sat still and waited. He was so, so cold and desperate for a change of clothes as well as a towel to dry his hair that was sticking to his head in a horrible mop.

"I can see it wasn't quite smooth this time, but you did a good job Corvo, you should know that. Even from the boat I could hear the announcements that they arrested the High Regent." Corvo went completely still, eyes suddenly wide, staring into the night sky above them. He'd- he'd forgotten about the mission. About killing the Traitor. The recording- it had shaken him so much he hadn't been able to think about anything else. He'd simply run. He hadn't killed the High Regent. He'd failed.

His breath started coming more quickly again as his chest felt too tight. The darkness of the night sky, blacker than the void, came closer and was about to swallow him whole. He couldn't- He didn't-

A hand started hesitantly rubbing circles on his back, the warmth pressing through his clothes in a startling contrast to the freezing wet cold. "It's alright, Corvo, it's over. We're almost back and I'm sure everyone- I'm sure Lady Emily will be happy to have you back. Everyone will shower you in praise and you can get something dry to change into. I'm sure they'll even get out the good stuff from the back cabinet. It's a big occasion and all with how you saved Dunwall. The High Regent is gonna rot in Coldridge forever with the confession you played for everyone. No getting out of that one without causing a riot." The words were halting, stumbling every new sentence as if unsure if they were the right ones. Rambling designed to distract with their amount rather than intended to truly communicate anything.

It did help a bit, grounded his thoughts back in reality. No, he hadn't killed Burrows. Maybe he should have. Maybe it was the right thing to do, but what was done was done. Burrows wouldn't get out of Coldridge, he had no allies that would risk their neck to get him out. And if it came to it, if heeded to be put down (if he needed to die)... Well, as Royal Protector to- to the new Empress. Emily would be empress. As Royal Protector to the new Empress he would have more than enough authority to have the man executed. Do it himself even. He could- he could fix this. His breathing evened out and the hand slowly receded though the older man made no move to leave completely, only looked at him with open concern.

Corvo wanted to thank him, assure him it was fine (it wasn't, would never be again, but that wasn't Samuel's fault), but the words wouldn't come. It happened sometimes, more since Coldridge. Instead he lifted a hand to his chin, the left one, as his right shoulder still protested painfully, and signed the thank you. Samuel, well meaning as he was, just seemed confused though assured that at least he was lucid again, and Corvo sighed, wiping away a drop of water that had run down into his eye. In the end he settled for simply nodding to the boatsman, an easy enough gesture to interpret, and Corvo sighed, wiping away a drop of water that had run down into his eye. In the end he settled for simply nodding to the boatsman, an easy enough gesture to interpret, and Samuel relaxed, a relieved smile on his face. He gave Corvo one more clap on the shoulder and got up with a grunt to bring them back the rest of the way, leaving Corvo to lie back down and try to rest, if only for a few minutes. He mercifully did not ask anything about the mission and Corvo offered nothing in return. They remained silent the rest of the ride back to the pub, only accompanied the splashing of the fans in the water, the quiet hum from the motor and their own thoughts.

She didn't have to die. Corvo didn't know if that was a comfort or not.

[meowmeowriley]

Hi costume anon here!

I am severely sleep deprived rn so I blame that for this… What are your thoughts on a Corvo Attano Ghost and an Outsider Soap from dishonoured?

I feel Iike most people would hc it the other way around but Ghost fighting to get back to and protect Joey after being betrayed + the mask fit his character better especially as he “dies” in prison.

Soap being an unknowable eldritch abomination with a fondness for whales and their explosions oil who just wants entertainment someone to talk to.

If you want more rambles I can tell you who I think other characters would be

Anyway I’m going to sleep now have a great day!

Hi, Zuko here! - That's what I think of every time you leave me an ask 🤣 You have Zuko energy. Have you had a redemption ark? I think you'd make a great Firelord. (Do I know you? Nope! Does that matter? Also nope! You've got great taste, that's all that matters.)

*Stares intensely at my old PS3 and my copy of Dishonored. I FUCKING love Dishonored. I never got to play the second game, but I did very nearly get the outsiders symbol tattooed on my hand. Still could... hmmm...

I know Ghost is a stealthy man, but God imagine him getting pissy and summoning a swarm of plague rats. Stealthy? No. But Outsider!Soap would love the chaos of it. And really, I think a fic where Ghost *started* being stealthy and high honor/low death count, but progressively got more vicious and killed more people in more creative ways because the way the Outsider's laugh peals like a bell warms his cold dead heart.

Outsider Soap feeling true glee for the first time in a long time as he watches Ghost freeze time to move some whale oil in front of someone who'd just shot at him, but not before unbuckling the shooters pants and lowering his trousers, just for the hell of it.

By the end of it there would be chaos, all of Dunwall would fall to the plague, but the Outsider wouldn't be so alone anymore.

BTW you got me to start binging Danny Phantom. That's your fault. 😘

[bodyguardbracket]

Round 2: Soren (The Dragon Prince) vs Corvo Attano (Dishonored)

[Propaganda Under Cut]

Soren: He's committed. He feels like he has failed in protecting Harrow when he dies via assassination, but that just makes him all the more determined to keep Ezran (King Harrow's son) safe and alive. He's kind, emotionally intelligent, and a good friend. He was able to keep the leader of the assassins at bay for a while without sustaining injuries (it is currently theorized that the leader of the assassins is one of--if not THE--best fighters in their world). He gave up his (toxic) family for Ezran. He was willing to kill his own father to stop him from killing Ezran. (Soren stabbed his own father, but turns out it was just an illusion of his father created by his sister, who watched. Oop.) Soren is a himbo (pure of heart, broad of chest, dumb of ass), but he's a good bodyguard.

Corvo Attano: He was such a good bodyguard that it wasn't until he was sent away on a mission that the empress could be assassinated. And then, after he went into hiding, his priorities were first rescuing Emily from where she was being held captive and THEN enacting revenge and bringing the downfall of the people who couped the government. So, even though his first charge died, it was only because she sent him away and then he rescued and protected his second charge. A tale of a bodyguard forced into undesirable circumstances

[sourthesour]

So my Fiancé and I are working on a Harry Potter-Dishonored Crossover that changes the format of both worlds. Within this, I will explain what we have done and if y'all would like to see this!

So, in this Crossover:

Snape is the descendant of Corvo Attano, and by proxy Emily Kaldwin. This translates down to Harry being the son of Snape through which James, being infertile in this, asks Lily to choose Snape for his pedigree to be the father of their child. Lily is related to the Curnows, giving Harry relations to Corvo Attano, Emily Kaldwin (by proxy Delilah Copperspoon), and The Curnows.

Hermione is from Delilah+Arnold's bloodline with the eventual addition of Meagan's bloodline. She is haunted by Delilah, being the devil on her shoulder. Meagan, aka Billie Lurk, is the angel on her other shoulder. She pushes for Hermione to do good, wanting her to do good. She is Harry's cousin in technicality, the two getting closer in the familial way. Hermione ends up becoming a co-target with Harry, her heritage making Voldemort very interested in her for Delilah's knowledge. She is slowly manipulated into performing the dark arts that Delilah dabbled in, soon creating their Gravehound companion that fights beside them in the end.

The Weasleys are related to the Mayhews, Ginny taking the most after Alexi. Ron is still comedic relief, but also displays a strong desire to protect his friends. He gets into a sword fight eventually in his 5th Year, he wins.

Draco takes on the bloodlines of Daud (we made a side character who is Daud's twin sister to respect the character's sexuality), Granny Rags, and Mindy Blanchard. He is continued as Harry's foil and antagonist.

Luna obtains the ingenuity of Kirin Jindosh, while Neville soon picks up his wits. They are distantly related through Kirin, but Luna takes after him in some ways.

Dumbledore was born from The Eyeless Gang before they disbanded, taking some of their teachings and taking it to Hogwarts when The Abbey of the Everyman when that was disbanded. His sister went to The Academy of Natural Philosophy before she passed, Dumbledore doesn't go but allows Students to.

Tom Riddle is the distant son of Marc/The Outsider and a woman. He is deeply connected with The Void, but not as much as another character, who acts as its eye for a potential new representative...

Would you guys be down for this?? There's more, but I'm leaving it here to not give too much away.

[kg-clark-inthedark]

Chapter 11 of Beyond the Spheres by kg_clark on Ao3

Corvo Attano/The Outsider

Chapter preview below the cut…

I still remember my first fight like it was yesterday. It was within a year or two of my father’s death. A neighborhood kid was taunting my older sister Beatrici and, even though I was only five at the time, I already felt it was my responsibility to defend her. Void knows Father wasn’t around to do it anymore. And Mother was busy making ends meet.

We were both so young, me and that other boy. He was maybe seven at the oldest, yet I went after him with such brutality. What sweet satisfaction I got from the blood that gushed from his nose and the way he cried out for his parents. It felt good to hurt someone who deserved it, and it felt even better to have been of benefit to Beatrici. But what really hooked me on it all was what she said to me afterwards.

“My brave little Corvo. I’ll always be safe with you by my side, won’t I?”

That was it for me. From that point on, I defended her with everything I had during our rough upbringing. We were scrappy and inseparable in the mean streets of the Batista Mining District. It was with childish hope that she dreamed of seeking out a more adventurous life for herself away from Karnaca. And it was my own childish hope that let me think she would take me with her.

So much of my boyhood was defined by my relationship with her - my only true friend, the only person who I believed understood me. Then she simply disappeared. She boarded one of those ships we used to always watch together without a word to anyone. Not even to me…

I naively thought I’d always be able to protect Beatrici from danger. And, likely to humor her simple little brother, she let me believe I was needed for such a purpose. But it seemed I had been a burden to her the whole time. Just a little kid shadowing her around the city.

By the Void, I was so lost after she left. So I just kept doing the only thing I felt I was good at. I fought, and I put all of myself into it. I accomplished so much through just that one skill. My Blade Verbana victory, my time as a Grand Serkonan Guard soldier, my acknowledgement by the Duke himself. But it didn’t quite feel the same doing all those things for myself. After all, I was just Corvo Attano.

But then came Jessamine. I fell so easily into the role of Royal Protector, it was as if I’d been made for the position. After all, I’d already spent most of my childhood trailing after someone with bigger dreams than myself and scaring off anyone who dared threaten her. Protecting Jessamine gave me purpose again.

Then of course there was Emily. Our beautiful daughter, perfect in every way. The first time I held her, slumbering sweetly mere hours after her birth, I told myself that I’d finally done it. I’d brought into my life people I loved who wanted and valued my protection. I was needed. Life was as perfect as it could get for someone like me. I wouldn’t be cast aside, not as long as I remained of use to them…

But somewhere along the way I started falling short. I failed to protect Jessamine. It took me months to retrieve Emily after that. And all those years later I once again let my daughter fall victim to those who wished to harm her for their personal gain.

The one thing I thought myself good at, the one thing that I was able to offer to my loved ones, I failed at. Time and time again I let them down. Perhaps I’ve never been any good at protecting people in the first place. Beatrici must have seen the writing on the wall and left before I had the chance to disappoint.

So truth be told, I’ve been suspecting most of my life that I may be good for nothing. But what finally solidifies it for me is this current moment I find myself in. I’m lying in a growing pool of my own blood and looking up to see my only remaining family directing her blade at the man I love.

It’s clear that I've failed once again.

Continue reading on Archive of Our Own…

[freebiblestudyhub]

Why Did Corvo’s Voice Change?

In the world of video games, certain characters stand out not only because of their actions or appearance but also because of their voice. One such iconic character is Corvo Attano, the main protagonist of the popular video game series Dishonored. Fans of the game might have noticed something significant between Dishonored (2012) and Dishonored 2 (2016): Corvo’s voice underwent a dramatic change.

In the first game, Corvo remains silent throughout, allowing players to project their own personalities onto him. However, in Dishonored 2, Corvo is fully voiced, with his voice adding depth to the character’s persona. This change raised many questions among fans. Why did Corvo’s voice change? What were the reasons behind this decision? In this article, we will explore the reasons for this transformation and why it matters for the story and the fans of the game.

Corvo’s Silent Presence in Dishonored (2012)

In the original Dishonored game, Corvo Attano was a silent protagonist. He never spoke, and his emotions were expressed solely through his actions. While this allowed players to immerse themselves in Corvo’s world and gave them a sense of control over his persona, it also left Corvo as somewhat of a blank slate. Players projected their own ideas and feelings onto Corvo, giving them a unique experience.

Benefits of a Silent Protagonist

Having Corvo as a silent character served several purposes:

Player Immersion: By keeping Corvo silent, the game allowed players to feel more involved in the decision-making process, as if they were the ones making all the choices.

Personal Interpretation: A silent protagonist means that the players can interpret Corvo’s personality in their own way. Whether players saw him as a vengeful assassin or a reluctant hero was up to them.

Focus on Storytelling: Without a voice, Corvo’s actions and the environment told most of the story. The game’s world was rich with lore, and having Corvo silent kept the focus on the world and the narrative.

Although Corvo’s silence had its strengths, it also had some limitations. Players lacked a deeper understanding of who Corvo was. His backstory and motivations were not as fleshed out as they could have been. The emotional impact of the story, especially in relation to other characters like Emily Kaldwin, was somewhat diluted without Corvo’s voice.

The Decision to Give Corvo a Voice in Dishonored 2

When Dishonored 2 was released in 2016, one of the most noticeable changes was that Corvo Attano now had a voice. Stephen Russell, a well-known voice actor, was cast to voice Corvo, giving the character a distinct tone and personality. This change was a significant departure from the silent Corvo of the first game.

Why Did Corvo’s Voice Change?

Several factors contributed to the decision to give Corvo a voice in Dishonored 2:

1. Evolving Storytelling

By the time Dishonored 2 was released, the series’ storytelling had evolved. Corvo was no longer just a blank slate. He was a character with a rich history and a deeper connection to the world around him. The developers wanted to explore Corvo’s emotions, thoughts, and relationships more thoroughly.

Corvo’s voice allowed the game to delve into his relationship with his daughter, Emily Kaldwin. In Dishonored 2, players could choose to play as either Corvo or Emily, and having Corvo voiced made the dynamic between father and daughter much more poignant. With his voice, Corvo could express his love, concern, and fear for Emily, adding layers to the narrative that were not present in the first game.

2. Character Development

Corvo had grown and changed between the two games. In Dishonored 2, Corvo is an older, more seasoned man who has spent years protecting Emily and the empire. The developers wanted to show how Corvo had evolved, both as a character and as a protector. Giving him a voice was a natural way to show this development.

Through his voice, players could hear the weariness in Corvo’s tone, the burden of responsibility he carries, and the wisdom he has gained over the years. This shift in character was essential to the story, and having Corvo voice his thoughts and feelings allowed for more in-depth character exploration.

3. Meeting Fan Expectations

Another reason for Corvo’s voice change was fan expectations. As the Dishonored series grew in popularity, so did the demand for more character development. Fans wanted to know more about Corvo as a person, not just as a tool for carrying out missions. By giving Corvo a voice, the developers could meet this demand and satisfy players’ curiosity about who Corvo truly was.

4. Consistency with Modern Gaming Trends

In modern video games, fully voiced protagonists are more common. Players expect deeper character interactions and more cinematic storytelling. By giving Corvo a voice, Dishonored 2 kept pace with contemporary gaming trends, where character depth and voice acting play a crucial role in immersion and storytelling.

5. Increased Emotional Impact

One of the most significant reasons for giving Corvo a voice was to increase the emotional impact of the story. Without a voice, it was difficult to convey the full depth of Corvo’s feelings, particularly in emotionally charged moments. In Dishonored 2, with Stephen Russell’s voice acting, players could hear the pain, anger, and love in Corvo’s voice. This made certain moments in the game much more impactful.

For example, Corvo’s reaction to Emily being taken or his determination to protect her felt more real and personal because of his voice. It allowed players to connect with Corvo on a deeper emotional level.

Stephen Russell: The Voice Behind Corvo

Stephen Russell, who is known for his work in other iconic video game franchises like Thief and Fallout, was chosen to voice Corvo in Dishonored 2. His gravelly, seasoned voice fit the older, wiser version of Corvo perfectly. Russell’s voice acting brought Corvo to life in a new way, giving the character a distinct personality that was consistent with the character’s background and experiences.

Russell’s portrayal of Corvo was praised for its depth and emotional range. He was able to convey the burden of Corvo’s role as both protector and assassin, as well as his complicated feelings towards the events unfolding around him.

Fan Reactions to the Voice Change

The decision to give Corvo a voice was met with mixed reactions from fans. Some players loved the change, as it gave them a deeper understanding of Corvo and allowed for more emotional storytelling. They appreciated the insight into Corvo’s thoughts and the development of his character.

However, other fans missed the silent protagonist from the first game. They felt that the change took away from the immersive experience of playing as Corvo. For these players, the silence had allowed them to shape Corvo’s personality and choices, and the addition of a voice somewhat reduced that level of immersion.

Conclusion

Corvo’s voice change in Dishonored 2 marked a significant shift in the character’s development and the storytelling of the series. While some fans preferred the silent Corvo of the first game, the decision to give him a voice allowed for more emotional depth, better character development, and a richer narrative experience.

As the Dishonored series continued to evolve, so did Corvo Attano. His voice became an essential part of his journey, allowing players to understand him better as a character and explore the complexities of his relationships and responsibilities. Whether you prefer the silent Corvo or the voiced version, there is no denying that his character has grown, and his voice has played a crucial role in that growth.

[ecto42]

TL;DR- Try TTRPGs, roleplay forums, and more! Before you go to an addictive AI with no outside input.

Hi Tumblr, I have this video specifically referring to the AI chatbot story and it made me want to share some experiences of mine that feel similar, but were with real human people.

I spent years doing online text only roleplay as a teen, and now as an adult I regularly play D&D with friends as well as with other RPGs like Cyberpunk, etc.

So, when I was a teen I spent hours of every day in middle school doing Harry Potter role plays on Omegle. It was hella awkward, hella cringe, and ultimately I stopped because I saw how the space was devolving. Initially I made a ton of other friends from other countries and other states in the US that had similar interests to mine. I loved playing characters that were “dark and edgy” as I, much like the characters from My Immortal, wanted to be dark and edgy in a cool way and not in a “I am a goth from South Park being made fun of,” way.

This eventually led to me doing what I would call roleplay therapy, where to test the waters with people you take an aspect of yourself and play with as many iterations of it as you can. I found myself in NSFW roleplay, general like “Oh hoho we’re wizards in a castle!” Roleplay, and “This is the darkest timeline, Harry Potter is dead and gone and now we’re doing a guerilla warfare.” I loved it and remember it fondly and this was way before D&D.

I, as you can imagine, had no idea what consent really meant, I had no boundaries kept when playing these characters, and I really formed a dependency on literally exploring other characters to figure myself out. By the end of it I was staying up until 3 am every night essentially sexting strangers over the internet with nothing but an ASL to go off of, and the anonymity of the internet to keep either of us from knowing who each other were. Relative to what a lot of my AFAB friends received this was incredibly tame. It was, however, an addiction in the anonymity of Omegle, the chat histories rarely being backed up, and the ability to just bail at any time. There was no real accountability, only the consent of “Hey, do you want to do a dirty roleplay?” And taking people at their word and usually that mean hanging up and trying again, and if things went too far or got too uncomfortable hanging up anyways. Kind of like an unspoken BDSM safe word.

I saw this video and the section about this woman talking to an AI chatbot and it honestly made me both miss that addictive roleplay arena, as well as made me really crave that kind of anonymous intimacy in a (what at the time developed into a) respectful consensual manner where anyone can nope out at any time. I think usually when people can’t get exactly what they want they go to writing for themselves. I really hope that somewhere out there other people who just want that basic form of connection with some anonymous protection will do something more akin to what I’ve done as an adult, and seek out similarly minded friends who love and support them and build up and build out communities, and allow there to be a silly fantasy element to them. The person in the story very easily, back in the day, could have went onto Omegle and asked as their opener “I’m looking for someone to roleplay Arthur Morgan from RDR2 with me, are you down?” And found someone, and it’s kind of sad to me that it’s easier to find an AI chatbot nowadays than it is to find a friend with that interest.

Having feedback from another person and having it be earnest and unbiased is very helpful, but people shouldn’t be your therapist if they’re your friends. Seek help if you need it, and don’t be afraid to reach out to community at large. I understand though how easy it is to fall in love with Luna Lovegood, Corvo Attano, or my old OC, at least as best as I can remember:

Eli Black (20, Ravenclaw, M, Thick Dark Wavy Black Hair with a blue streak in the front, Bright Blue Eyes, Thin muscular build, 6’0”. One of Eli’s eyes {if I remember correctly this was very inconsistent on my part lol} had been slashed through as a child and healed with dragon blood and caused it to sprout scales where the scar is, also leaving their eye with a sharp and draconic look. Typically wears: Hooded black trench coat, black tee shirt, black skinny jeans with a studded belt, and wears a big pair of large black combat boots with blue laces, dark eyeliner, blue and black nail polish.) ~and then there would usually be some spheal here about how Eli was an auror and a really great Ravenclaw student, and basically a detective. I used to watch a lot of Psych.~

Thanks if you bothered reading all the way through!

[theladysunami]

Dishonored MZDS Crossover Idea(s)

I've got some half formed "Mo Dao Zu Shi characters and themes in the universe of the Dishonored games" ideas spinning through my head that I really want to share and brainstorm about. 

Alas, I don't know all that many people in the MDZS fandom yet, and definitely don't know anyone in the fandom who also knows the Dishonored game franchise. It's terribly frustrating!

I'll go ahead and type out some of the ideas I've had so far, just in case they'd be of interest to anyone else: 

Wen Ruohan is a bit of a blend of Hiram Burrows and Delilah Copperspoon. I'm undecided if he's the rightful Emperor, he’s acting as Lord Regent, or he's done some shady political maneuvering to place himself on the throne in place of little Wen Yuan’s birth parents (he’s absolutely responsible for the death of said birth parents regardless). 

He has void powers via the Mark of the Outsider, and can grant them to his underlings in the same manner as Delilah and Daud. He has granted powers to both his sons. While they don’t flaunt their powers (at least not at first) they certainly use them to keep both the nobility and the common folk under their thumb.

(Wen Zhuliu might have his own, independent, mark --and thus a unique power set-- but is loyal to Wen Ruohan).

The Lan Clan is the Abbey of the Everyman... or at least they are an order in the Abbey responsible for the anti-void Music Boxes and the “Musical Healing” (as portrayed in Death of the Outsider). Their music is less jarring of course, or at least it is to those not touched by void-magic. 

Lan Wangji likely aspires to create music that can slowly fix void damage to the mind in a way that won’t damaging the host in other ways, but his fellow researchers into “Musical Healing” don’t seem to care that much about the mental distress of their patients. (Lan Wangji eventually questions if void magic itself causes “damage” at all). 

Wei Wuxian is a little bit Corvo Attano and a little bit Death of the Outsider’s Billie Lurk. He is (was) a ward of the Jiang noble family, who figures out Wen Ruohan’s involvement in shady dealings, and his involvement in shady magics. Unfortunately his suspicious aren’t believed (except perhaps by Lan Wangji). Worse, his ideas about studying Black Magic further and hopefully learning how to undo the Outsider are anathema to the Abbey, and have earned him their ire. He’s soon stuck in the unenviable position of both the Emperor and the Abby gunning for him, when he really only wants to help the common folk.

Wei Wuxian’s does end up obtaining void powers, but those powers are granted from artifacts, not a mark. (Perhaps his hand really is cut off at the behest of the Wen at some point, and he creates an artifact replacement himself). His ultimate goal is to kill the Outsider, and in doing so cut off the source of power for Wen Ruohan and his followers. (He also protects Wen Yuan from either death or imprisonment at some point. Specifics undecided).

The Outsider is either Wen Mao, or Xue Chonghai. Which one depends somewhat on whether Wen Ruohan is the rightful emperor (and the connection between the royal family and void-magic runs deep) or Wen Ruohan simply took advantage of his powers while manipulating things to his own benefit.

Wei Wuxian does eventually successfully kill the Outsider (the role of the Twin-bladed Knife being played by the resentful blade from which he made the Yin Tiger Tally of course. Perhaps collected from a whale?). Unfortunately for him, his use of void magic is well established, and at least some are aware his powers come from artifacts that can be stolen from him. 

As to be expected from a Mo Dao Zu Shi AU, things end poorly for him. He is badly injured, and either the void “likes” him, or his allies in the Outsider’s destruction hope to buy time to save him, and he ends up as the Void’s new representative. (Or as a third option, perhaps somewhat like in the Dishonored Novels killing the Outsider has some unfortunate consequences, and Wei Wuxian becomes the new representative to resolve things).

Wei Wuxian isn’t heard from (directly) for about 13-years. Lan Wangji suffers from the knowledge Wei Wuxian was absolutely correct about Wen Ruohan’s corruption, and (thanks to being surrounded by the Ancient Music his whole like) being someone Wei Wuxian can never speak to. Wei Wuxian either avoids giving any marks (except to Wen Ning), or makes certain to only give them to the dying that they might fulfill some final wish. (Delilah could remove Corvo’s mark, so perhaps as Wei Wuxian’s agent Wen Ning removes those of the near dead before they die, so they can truely rest). 

Wei Wuxian does come back, but how I haven’t decided. Maybe his friends actually figure out how to safely remove him, or maybe Mo Xuanyu comes across a ritual for turning oneself into a direct avatar of the Outsider. (If the ritual is involved, perhaps Wei Wuxian found it and hoped it would aid in his quest to end the outsider, but either realized killing the avatar probably wouldn’t remove the marks, wasn’t willing to let a friend make themselves an avatar just to be killed, or was worried the avatar would escape and become a worse enemy). 

[gryphon1232]

Thinkin' bout Corvo Attano hours...

So, when people read the opening to Resurgence

Corvo was tired, it was a constant in his life by this point. He’d been tired — exhausted really — ever since he was locked in Coldridge prison nearly seven months ago. At some point he’d learned to push past it, to work despite the deep ache in his bones.

I want them to remember that in the last ~30 hours, this man has:

Broken into Dunwall Tower and toppled the Lord Regent, Been betrayed and poisoned and left in a boat in the most plague-ridden, dangerous district, was found and taunted by the man who killed the love of his life, was knocked out by said man, escaped the man's henchmen, fought through the flooded district to finally face the man, who also happens to be one of the most powerful Outsider marked people in their generation, and chose to spare him — the guy who murdered the empress, the love of his life, he then fought further through the flooded district, wading through the bodies of plague-dead citizens and had to hide from the totalitarian city watch who really didn't care whether you have the plague or not, then he trudged through the collapsing sewers of an abandoned district and faced off against one of the other most powerful outsider marked people in their generation, defeated her as well, continued to trudge through the sewers till he finally made it back to the base camp where he's spent the last month at only to be betrayed, he finds out that his daughter who he swore to protect has been taken from him again by the people who swore they wanted to help till they betrayed him, he also finds out that many of the people who he's grown close to while there are dead, and then he immediately heads out to single-handedly take on an entire island fortress filled with more city watch and more Overseers armed with machines that create a sound that physically hurts him. He does this all without sleeping (if you don’t count the whole being poisoned part).

This is all to say:

[fictionkinfessions]

I wish I knew my name. I'm not in canon, at least not as far as I've found, but I remember Corvo. Not as Royal Protector Corvo Attano but as the pride of Karnaca, the boy who fought with the heart of a lion and the grace of a hummingbird or swan. As my best friend, my forbidden lover, we danced in the moonlight with sticks for swords and I laughed when he disarmed me and knocked me into the soft grass, he wanted me to grow and become his equal but no boy or man ever was (though I'm willing to bet his daughter certainly was and more, I have no doubt my Corvo taught her everything he knew and she learned still more on her own). Besides, I was proud of him, I loved him, I was sad that he would leave our home but I would have followed him to Pandyssia and back had he said the word. I had no one. I was no one to anyone but him. And his sweet mother, who often fed me and gave me shelter when the weather was bad. But before he even left Karnaca, my life was cut short and I was sent to the Void, where I forgot my name and my memories were broken.

My Corvo, if you remember me, know that I am still so proud of you. I do not begrudge your love for Jessamine, she was a wonderful woman and I owe her a deep debt of gratitude for standing by your side when I could not. My Corvo, I only wish I could have stood by you both and perhaps protected you from losing her. Just do me one favor, never forget the boy who watched the whalers with you. Even if my name is just as lost to you as it is to me, I was always more than a name, no matter how much I wish I knew what it was when we danced together under the stars.

[yanara126-writing]

The Many Meetings of Death and Death (1/5) - Poetic Justice

Daud is a wreck. Corvo is a player avatar. Neither of them is happy about it.

Well maybe the Outsider is.

-

Read here or on Ao3 (2528 words)

Have fun! Comments always welcome! :)

--

Daud is a wreck. He knows it, even without seeing the looks his Whalers give him. He knows he scares them but there is nothing he can do about it anymore. He's been cracked down the middle for a long time, and the sword he's rammed into the empress had equally rammed a wedge into that crack, ruining his careful paint job. Sitting here now at his same old desk waiting for Attano to come and get his revenge was the closest he's felt to peace in six months. Either way, whatever comes of it, today it will be over.

Thomas stands in front of him, masked and stiff, as he reports sightings of Attano's rather chaotic escape and the slew of unconscious bodies he's already left behind. Even without seeing his face Daud knows well what his now second thinks of the plan. Knows that Thomas knows he doesn't expect to survive this. Knows that Thomas agrees and resents him for it.

Daud doesn't want to die. He thought he did for a while, deliberated ending it himself even, thinking that surely it would be better for everyone if he simply took himself off of their hands rather than dragging it out and everyone down with him. Billie's coup could have almost been a relief, had she not so succinctly demonstrated what he's done to her, to all his Whalers. He knows Thomas thinks that Attano is his bolt to the head but he is wrong. The knife to his wrist brought Daud no relief and instead made him realize that what he really wants is what he gave Billie. He wants out. He wants another chance. He wants something other than blood on his hands.

Attano may very well prove a bolt to his head, he wouldn't be surprised by it despite the man's strangely non-lethal approach to his prior escapades, but it will not be Daud who fires it.

"Understood. Get new lookouts on the roofs but make sure they know not to engage. Deal with the sentries as you will." Even if he dies today, his Whalers should not. Attano has proven shockingly merciful considering his fate, leaving far more bruised egos and throats behind than corpses. The bodyguard doesn't know which of his people were involved in the assassination, and Daud is hoping that anonymity will grant them some protection. If they don't actively get in his way, Attano shouldn't feel the need to kill them. Daud doesn't want to lose more of his people, even though they shittalk him, even though they grumble and whine, even though they play inane games and try to bother him into joining, even though he tried his best to be a distant leader and not care about them. Now, at what is very likely the end of his life, there is no point in lying to himself anymore. He does care. He cares about every face and name, he remembers all of them, even those he hasn't picked up himself, and it hurts far beyond the snapping of the bond when he loses one of them. This is between him and Attano, and Daud can only hope the bodyguard will see that too. But his Whalers he can order to let it be.

Thomas remains silent for some moments, though they both know Daud will not change his mind. He's known what will - what must - happen today, since the moment his men reported finding Attano barely alive on that boat. He also knows Thomas will not disobey. He's known the young man for much of his short life, has taken him in as a lanky, abused teenager like so many of their group, and has shaped him into one of their most proficient and loyal scouts. Billie would have fought him tooth and nail on the order. Thomas will obey.

It doesn't take Thomas long to crumble. His shoulders slump and he sighs. Daud is glad for the young man's mask, so he doesn't have to see the defeat in his eyes.

"Yes, sir." Thomas doesn't mumble, has been trained far too well for it. The Whaler bows shallowly and turns to leave. Daud silently watches him. At the door Thomas stops for a moment and turns to look but says nothing else, as if he simply wants to memorize the last moment he will see his master alive. He closes to door behind himself when he finally does leave.

Daud remains alone, sitting at his desk with nothing more to do, and waits for death to come.

Death eventually comes in the form of the ugly sound of metal striking metal. The sound comes from above him though and Daud jumps up from his seat and whirls around, seeing nothing. He doesn't bother with his void vision, that would be too easy. Instead he listens and indeed, now that he is alerted, he can hear quiet footsteps sneaking around the room. He announces as much, and the steps hesitate for barely a moment. There from the bookshelf.

Well, if Attano wants to make a game of it, he has plenty of practice playing. A bunch of urchins and street-rats don't train themselves into nearly undetectable assassins.

Daud draws his sword and starts walking over, slowly and deliberately.

"Do you think you can hide from a hunter of men?" He is taunting the man, poking at him, trying to see if he can bait him out. But when he rounds the shelf (and walks past the portrait of Burrows that he shoved a sword into during one of his more... difficult moments), there is no one there. The footsteps return after a moment from the other side of the room. So he can transverse too, can he. Unsurprising, it is one of the black-eyed bastard's most useful gifts, and it explains many of Attano's miracles. Daud turns and once again follows his ears, though he also keeps an eye on the top of the shelves. It's the first lesson he teaches the novices, 'up' is usually the right direction for them, and he doesn't doubt that Attano has realized it too.

They make another few rounds like that, Daud getting close only for Attano to transverse away at the last moment to another corner of the room, clearly there but never in view. Daud is beginning to get frustrated with this pointless game of cat and mouse.

"Is that how you protected the empress?" It's a low blow and he knows it, but he wants to finally get it over with. Get Attano to fight him, one on one, until only one of them will remain standing. The waterlogged wood under his feet creaks as he stalks forward, again to that damn bookshelf and the sword in it.

Daud doesn't know if it's the reference to his beloved empress, the insult, or if Attano has simply grown tired of dancing circles around him, but finally, he steps out of the shadows, sword drawn and mark ready.

"There you are.'' The man in the mask before him doesn't answer, simply holds his sword in front of his chest. All the better. Someone else tries to answer though and he feels the arcane bond flare to life as first two then three of his Whalers jump out of the shadow, unsummoned and unbidden. He thinks he can pick out Galia and Rinaldo, and possibly Quinn. (Not Thomas though, never obedient, loyal Thomas.) For a moment anger floods through him hard enough to drown out his own trepidation.

"No! This is between me and him, out with you all, now!" He can see them flinch and hesitate, but only for a moment. Then the room is empty again, except for Daud himself and Attano, who for some reason has decided to wait out the scolding. He shuts out the arcane bond, closes himself off to all of them as well as he can without severing it completely. He's not interested in acknowledging the childish sulking of undisciplined brats who clearly need another run of the gauntlet. And when he dies, the breaking of the bond will be less painful. Attano deserves his attention at least.

He yanks at the power of the mark and halts time, just to make sure.

"And now we fight, the duel no two others could fight, against the ticking of the clock." Daud knows he's being dramatic. But then, there are only two people now who could judge him for it, one who has suffered far worse from his hands before, and one whose teeth Daud will personally kick in once he's dead if he dares comment on it. Attano thankfully does not deign to answer and finally attacks properly.

As their swords clash over and over, momentum driving them all across the room, Daud is unsure if the man is a genius or a lunatic. Perhaps both. Either way he is relentless. His swings are fast and almost aimless, making it hard to predict their direction. He seems less interested in doing actual damage than in driving Daud into a corner. There is little Daud can do but dodge and try to get a few lucky hits in before transversing away to gain distance. Interestingly Attano rarely follows with a transversal of his own or any magic at all. It seems Daud has the advantage of experience in using their abilities in combat, but it is clearly the only advantage he has. Attano is as tough as he is fast and confusing, the hits Daud does get in don't seem to faze him at all.

The fight is exhausting and while Attano is apparently running on endless stamina even hours after being poisoned, Daud is not, and soon he can feel the strain on his body rising. Prolonged combat has never been his forte, an assassin who fights his target openly has already failed. He doesn't intend to give up though. He owes Attano an honest victory. And so Daud makes one last desperate gamble and transverses out of his office to the next rooftop, putting his back to the crumbling wall and shifting into a defensive stance. But this time Attano follows the transversal, just smidge to the right of Daud. The first hit slams his sword out of his hands, the second one slashes him right across the chest, splattering blood all over the roof. One of his bones charms goes flying as it's ripped from his chest. And Daud knows he's lost.

Dragging up just the last bit of energy from somewhere in his bones he blinks again, only a few metres, and immediately collapses. He only stays upright because of the piece of wall behind his back. He's gasping for air, trying to push past the burning pain in his chest as he's trying to stifle the bleeding somewhat. The cut is too long and deep for him to truly block it, but at least the pressure should keep him from bleeding out until he says his piece. Even if it hurts like shit.

Attano comes closer, bloody sword in hand but not raised. He stands. And waits. As if he knows Daud still has something to say. As if he's listening. Well. Who is Daud to leave him waiting.

"I have one more surprise for you." Is it though with how Attano is looking at him? "I ask for my life." He is hoping beyond hope that none of his Whalers are watching. That he's scared them enough with his yelling that no one is seeing this and will be disappointed by the outcome, whatever it will be. He knows even in the moment it's a vain hope, he can see the shadows of at least two on the surrounding balconies. Probably Ricardo and Galia again, the little shits. He doesn't reach for the bond to check. "When I killed your empress and took her daughter something in me broke." He's trying hard to get out the words, focusing beyond the pain in his chest, the frustration over his Whalers, the wild, desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, Attano will actually let him live. Somehow none of these distractions are as difficult to get past as Attano himself, who starts shifting his weight around and keeps turning his head. As if he's nervous. Daud swallows down another surge of pain and nausea and decides to ignore it. "Now I see the design on your hand, the mark of the Outsider himself, and I remember all I've done. The years of w- What are you doing??" He's glanced away for barely a moment, and suddenly Attano has his mask pushed up and a rat half hanging out of his mouth.

At least the man has the decency to look awkward about it.

For a short while they simply stare at each other in silence, Attano chewing on the dead rat and Daud bleeding out on the ground with no words to describe the situation. Eventually he decides not to try.

"Look, I am trying to say that I regret my actions and if you let me live, I will leave and never kill again." Attano, once again, doesn't answer. He doesn't do much of anything except finish eating the rat. Whole it seems, because Daud cannot spy the bones anywhere. Instinct bred by more than a decade of training idiot teenagers who like to shove weird shit down their throats has him watching the man for signs of choking. There are none. Does he... Does he have practice with this?

Eventually Attano pulls the mask down again and starts awkwardly shuffling away. He doesn't turn away from Daud, but instead of being suspicious he seems to just be awkward about leaving. No comment about conditions, no threats, not even really much of any emotion. He just leaves Daud to bleed out on the roof and vanishes back inside the building.

Daud feels... Something, certainly. He's not quite sure what though. Pain is the easiest thing to name, but aside from that... He has just been gifted his life. Attano chose mercy. In a strange and unsettling way but mercy nonetheless. He is alive. He should be grateful for that. Somewhere in his bones he is, but above all, even above the pain, he is simply deeply confused about what just happened.

Then the pain catches up again and Daud bites back a groan as he doubles over. Well fuck it, if Attano wants to be a cryptic, rat-eating little shit, so be it. Daud has an unexpected life to live. Or at least he will if he takes care of the gash in his chest first, something he will... need help with. He curses under his breath and tugs on the arcane bond, for once not much caring who he reaches. The rumour mill will have everyone caught up in minutes anyway. Immediately he is surrounded by at least a dozen baffled Whalers, all nearly falling over each other on the narrow roof. Daud only sighs as he watches their antics, now that Attano is gone. This will be a long day.

(And really, he is thankful for it.)

[graedari]

*pulls up a chair*

Hi

Corb Thoughts™️

I know he's the main character and everyone has said everything on this man at this point- BUT ITS MY TURN

Corvo can just hold such an important place in my heart and in my head at all times. He's just such an interesting character and I want to chew on him like a piece of gum.

First of all- his entire character being based on being sacrifice after sacrifice of his own autonomy to be helpful/useful to those around him- starting as early as 16 when he won the Blade Verbena (and in my own personal interpretation of the event partially to help get his family some money after the loss of his father and Beatrici leaving). And then immediately getting recruited as a Junior Officer for the Grand Guard. And only from there is he granted practically as a political gift to Gristol. (hey what the fuck! Did he get any say in that???)

And then his mom fucking dies like two weeks into being in Dunwall??? Do you think they let him go do any sort of service??? I think about this a lot.

AND NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER THEY MADE HIM ROYAL PROTECTOR. Before he was 20- before this man's brain could fully develop into an individual and well-rounded adult- he time and time again was made to prioritize everything over himself (this is going to fuck a person up!!!!)

I just think it's such an interesting part of him that the game never really touches on like in detail. That he likely views himself as very expendable if it means that it justified the means to the end of protecting/serving a mission he was told. (He's got incredible fucking skill thankfully that it's unlikely he'd die but y'know)

And thinking about him and Jess I JUST FUCKING IMPLODE. He loved her SO FUCKING MUCH. I just agshdjdkdlflf. This man drank so much respect women juice and I respect him so much for that. Thinking about them on their boat rides in the mornings of Jessamine's birthday 🥺🥺🥺 it's giving Wesley from Princess Bride and I'm going to throw up thinking about it. AND HIM WITH EMILY???? AWAAUUUUHHHHH

I think about all the ways that the vagueness of whether or not Emily knew in the first game could go. (I do believe she had her suspicions but no one confirmed them until like the end of the game- especially given her line of asking Corvo if he'd marry her if he didn't marry Jess 💀)

Just the things this man wouldn't go through for his family.

And GOD thinking about everything he went through in the first game- 6 months of torture. 6 months. And he gets right fucking up to break out given his chance- his only fucking piece of hope that someone can help him get things even a bit of a semblance back to how they were?

And he put trust in those people. And then they poison him

Hey.

What the fuck

I could write an entire essay on the implication of the poisoning of Corvo Attano and developing trust issues he incurred because of them (and it's vaguely getting written into something with my gf 💕)

But just thinking about everything that happened to him and in the sense of a Low Chaos Run- just HE STILL FINDS A WAY TO SHOW MERCY IN THE LAPSE OF WHAT THE UNIVERSE SHOWED HIM- HE SHOWED THEM MERCY!!!! A MAN WHO COULD NOT BRING HIMSELF TO SINK SO LOW AS TO THE LEVEL OF THOSE AROUND HIM WHO WRONGED HIM AT EVERY TURN- A MAN WHO HAD HIS ENTIRE ADOLESCENCE/YOUTH ROBBED OF HIS OWN AUTONOMY!!!

HE! STILL! SHOWS! MERCY!

Ughhhh and this isn't even TOUCHING DH2 YET BECAUEE I HAVENT FINISHED IT!!!!

I could go on longer but brain tired! Please hmu if anyone wants any dh thoughts 🥺

Hope you enjoyed the read bb💕

tell me about your favorite dishonored characters. go ham about them. do it

[bodyguardbracket]

Round 1: C!Grian (Third Life SMP) vs Corvo Attano (Dishonored)

[Propaganda Under Cut]

C!Grian: After Grian accidentally blew up Scar, he made it his life mission to keep him alive until he lost his own first life. Meaning, Scar was now on yellow, and Grian would be his bodyguard until Grian turned yellow as well. Except, soon enough, Scar plummeted and lost his yellow life, turning red. Scar gave him poppies and lilacs to keep their team afloat, and Grian reminded him that he had still to lose his first life. And so they continued being a team, Scar being... himself, and Grian protecting him at every turn. The others wanted to free Grian, thought that now that Scar was red, he would no longer be allied, but no. Grian didnt even want to "be free". Sure, it was tedious to be protecting Scar everywhere all the time, but he could break the rules through him. He could blow people up under the pretenses that Scar told him to do so, when in reality the red only wanted to steal everybody's armor (or clothes, as he put it) and ensure flimsy alliances in return. It took a while, but eventually, Grian lost his yellow life in the Battle of the Red Desert against Dogwarts, so that meant he could be free from Scar. But he stayed all the same. He stayed until Scar betrayed him when there were only 3 people alive and let the third person kill Grian because of a slip of paper guaranteeing a one time free pass on being killed. After that, Scar killed the third, but the damage had already been done. But when Scar told Grian to kill him and take the Enchanter, for all he'd done for him until then, Grian said he couldn’t do it. Even when faced with betrayal, Grian couldn't be the one to end his partner's life just like that. The ghosts wouldn't let him, either. In the end, they went home and took their armor off, set aside their weapons, and said sorry every time their fists hit the other. Grian won with a wail, and jumped off a cliff.

Corvo Attano: He was such a good bodyguard that it wasn't until he was sent away on a mission that the empress could be assassinated. And then, after he went into hiding, his priorities were first rescuing Emily from where she was being held captive and THEN enacting revenge and bringing the downfall of the people who couped the government. So, even though his first charge died, it was only because she sent him away and then he rescued and protected his second charge. A tale of a bodyguard forced into undesirable circumstances

[mandalora]

Dishonored is as relevant as ever