#rica brosca/bhelen aeducan

[biancadavri]

Bhelen in the dwarf noble origin: my siblings have been, like the mere puppets they foolishly let me turn them into, dancing to the tune I have set for them. They've been doing so for years now, none suspects a thing. It won't be long until I set my brilliant plan to seize the throne in motion and force this entire city to see that it is my right to do so. And anyone who'll dare to stand in my way will be destroyed.

Bhelen in the dwarf commoner origin: how do I spell gorjus

[lyriumtulips]

Due to Bioware's atrocious mistreatment of the Dwarven race, I will be exclusively playing dwarves in every game that allows it from now on. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

[bumblewarden]

so between the low dwarven fertility and the noble hunters and offspring inheriting the caste of their same-gender parent, would orzammar's noble caste be becoming increasingly male over time?

[heniareth]

Oooo for npc opinions, how about some Aeducan-Brosca family dynamics?

Does Sulri have any opinions about Rica, and does Khêd have any about Bhelen? And though we never meet him in-game, do either of them have anything to say about their mutual nephew?

Ohohohohohoho, complex family dynamics, count me in!!! 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 Bit of a disclaimer tho, I'm not so solid on Brosca and Aeducan canon and gameplay experiences, as I've never done a gameplay as either other than of their origins. If I got something wrong about the canon, that's why, and I apologize. But I can give a general anwer ^^

So, first, Khêd, because I know more about the guy. Khêd doesn't trust people. Khêd especially doesn't trust rich people. Khêd very so much expecially does not trust Bhelen, not as far as he can throw him (which is far. This scrawny dwarf packs a punch and gravity does the rest for him if he were to throw Bhelen over the ramparts of the diamond quarter). Khêd's heard Sulri's story by the point they hit the diamond quarter I think, and whatever his opinion of Sulri might be at that point, Bhelen's power grab is just... ugh. And this guy's got Rica. Khêd is telling Rica she can leave with him and live a good life if she wants to as soon as he sees her. It's good Khêd trusts his sister to handle her own problems, otherwise Bhelen might be in for a nasty surprise. His attitude towards the Casteless doesn't really help Bhelen; Khêd is neither an optimist nor a forgiving person, and Bhelen's idea to let the Casteless in on "normal" society after they've served a time in the Deep Roads sounds just like a ploy to get a personal army. No thanks. Unkindly fuck off (@Bhelen)

The nephew however is Rica's little boy, as far as Khêd's concerned. He knows a thing or two about shitty family, and it's not this boy's fault who his father is. Khêd's gonna love that little feller like he was his own son, because he does not trust nor want Bhelen to step up and play father. It's a bit difficult to be present in the boy's life, what with being a Grey Warden and all that. But he tries; every leave he gets, he visits Rica, and the offer to leave Orzammar and live at Amaranthine is never taken off the table. Khêd does hope he can at least be to the boy what the stories Rica told him of his father were to him: an example to look up to and a push to do better.

As for Sulri (and here we're veering into maybe headcanon territory as I've never done a playthrough as either Aeducan or Brosca): as she is wont to do, I think she wouldn't have paid much attention to Rica. Sure, Rica would command some respect from her from the first moment on for trying to catch Bhelen and managing it! Some of that is personal pride; it can't have been just any woman who was able to seduce an Aeducan. She does, however, severely underestimate Rica and continues to do so during the Orzammar questline. She's got a lot of prejudices and biases to work through, which is what allowed Bhelen to betray her in the first place. But as the years go by, Sulri has to acknowledge Rica's strength as she not only survives among the noble caste she wasn't born into, but thrives. I think Rica has a good head on her shoulder, and plenty of practice navigating big egos and bigger coin pouches to her advantage, so I really think she'd do very well for herself and her new noble house.

As for her nephew, I don't know how fond Sulri is of children in general XD XD XD XD I can definitely see her running calculations in the back of her mind for when that kid is going to be a threat, only to then remember that she is no longer heir to house Aeducan. Old habits die hard. But I think the kid will grow on her as he... grows XD XD XD They never have as much of a relationship as he does with Khêd, but she makes absolutely sure this kid doesn't fall prey to any sort of power machinations like she did. He is her nephew, after all.

Thanks for the ask!!!This was a fun bit to think about, and I love these kinds of asks bc I get to develope both characters and take them for a spin through my brain. Fun times XD XD XD XD Hope you're having a lovely day!!

[swordmaid]

i made my other warden who is a dwarf commoner named svana and i ship her with my sister’s aeducan hehehh

[dragonologist-phd]

Introducing: Darvis Brosca

In Summary:

Grey Warden, Dark Wolf, Paragon, Wanderer

Casteless Dwarf

Rogue (Assassin/Shadow)

Main Weapon: Dual Daggers

Cynical; Resourceful; Protective; Sarcastic

Relevant Fic: Of Diamonds And Dust

more rambling:

Origin:

Joined the Carta young, where he acted as a pickpocket and lookout while Rica was training as a Noble Hunter. He eventually worked his way up to larger jobs and was especially known for his talent in thievery

Had a stubborn streak and a smart mouth, which often got him in trouble with Beraht. With time (and some pleading from his sister) he learned to hold his tongue and avoid attention

Became very pessimistic about his chances in the world. He focused solely on the survival of his family and on getting Rica out of Dust Town, and privately saw himself as an already lost cause

When Duncan recruited him, Darvis didn't really trust the goodwill of the gesture. In his experience, good things didn't happen so easily, and he kept waiting for the other shoe to drop- which it did, first with the Joining and then with Ostagar

He became a Warden alongside Marja Aeducan, who recruited herself into the Wardens at the same time

Major Choices:

Forced Dalish and werewolves to reach a truce

Sacrificed Isolde to save Connor

Protected the mages at the Circle

Helped Marja defile the Ashes of Andraste (long story)

Destroyed the Anvil and ensured Rica's place in Orzammar by putting her on the throne with Bhelen

Alistair dueled and killed Loghain at the Landsmeet. Anora took the throne alone

Performed the Dark Ritual with Morrigan

Party Dynamics:

Best friends with Zevran. On the surface, the two are very different, with Zevran's charm contrasting Darvis's abrasiveness. But their time with the Crows and the Carta left them with similar outlooks on life, and they bonded over doing crimes together

He acts really grumpy about the mabari following him around but he loves that dog so much. He names it Nug and whenever the Warden nightmares hit they cuddle together for comfort

Technically he's not in Awakening but Sigrun still gets a shout-out. They knew each other before she joined the Legion and always got along really well- they liked to steal things and cause mischief together

In general, he didn't bond with the party quite as much as Marja did; he's a very tough person to befriend. But he does trust them all, and when he trusts someone he'll do just about anything for them

Again: If I talk about Marja we'll be here all day but suffice to say they hated each other at first, then with time and growth on both their parts formed a very strong bond. They're narrative foils; they're reluctant friends; they're ride-or-die comrades; they're in-laws. They're everything to me

Romance:

He's attracted to Morrigan from the start, and they quickly enter a physical relationship. He fully agrees with her that emotions are foolish and they shouldn't fall in love (spoiler alert he falls so hard for her)

It takes a ridiculously long time for the two to admit their feelings to each other. Morrigan spends most of the game telling herself she's just using him and doesn't really care, and he spends that time convinced that of course she doesn't really care about someone like him. In reality they're best friends and close confidantes and one of the few people the other has ever felt safe around, and when they do finally acknowledge those feelings it's full devotion from that point on

Insert that "me doing whatever my hot witch wife tells me to" meme

Epilogue:

For all that I just talked about them, he almost doesn't go through the mirror with Morrigan. After she disappears, his old insecurities come back- on top of that, he's terrified of being a father. But Marja convinces him to look for her, and deep down he knows he can't abandon his son like his own father did to him

Morrigan invites him through the mirror, and he follows. They reconcile and travel through the Eluvians for years as a family, teaching and protecting their son together. Kieran ends up becoming the most important thing in Darvis's life

It pains him to separate from Kieran and Morrigan, but when the Fake Calling begins both he and Morrigan are worried about what it could mean. He sets off to find answers, while Morrigan and Kieran find refuge in the Orlesian Court

They reunite at Skyhold, where Darvis reluctantly acts as the Inquisition's Warden contact. He ends up going into Fade with Inky and Hawke, and depending on who I settle on as canon Inky gets left behind to fight the Nightmare

Misc:

He's very twitchy and fidgety; he never holds still, and is constantly messing with his daggers as an anxious habit. He takes up whittling to help with that nervous energy and ends up pretty good at woodcarving

He's also genuinely fascinated by magic. And okay, maybe it started as flirting with Morrigan, but it does evolve into a strong interest separate from that. He even teaches himself a bit of runemaking.

(He always assumed the Caste that would suit him best is Warrior, but in reality he'd thrive as an Artisan)

During the battle with Flemeth, he ends up with a near-fatal wound after getting clawed across the head. Wynne heals most of the scarring, but he loses part of his ear and his hearing is compromised afterwards. Marja teaches the party the Silent Signs used in Orzammar to supplement their conversations

He used to help Rica with her hair and is now really, really good at braiding

He also "helped" Rica memorize the poetry Beraht gave her by following along with the letters while she recited the verses. He thought it was a useless skill, but the sessions took so long that he picked up on the words without meaning to...which is how Rica tricked him into learning to read through elven poetry

[vigilskeep]

PLEASE talk more about Brosca murdering Aeducan, I want to know literally everything about it

oh god there was not much detail. it was supposed to be very brutal and desperate and quiet and sort of give the lie to the whole honourable charge of it all. i imagine aeducan was incapable of adapting to a world where they and brosca were on equal footing, and was very willing to push brosca in front of them like cannon fodder, just as i’m sure a thousand fighting men have died in front of aeducan before

they probably said something wretched about rica too which honestly justification enough. oh actually i wonder if there was something in aeducan vocally wanting to go back to orzammar to get revenge on bhelen. and brosca knowing who that’s a threat to and simply aware that they’ll never have better cover

idk let brosca kingslay as a treat. princeslay whatever. close enough. maybe tabris should kiss them under the moonlight abt it. i just like the idea of, okay, what if there is no blanket redemption under the wardens? what if we did bring the old knives with us and we immediately dirtied the clean slate? does that poison the whole endeavour? it’s a fun setup for, say, the loghain choice; does it mean we can’t hold him to high standards of brotherhood as if we’re pure and we’ve never turned our blades against each other, or does it mean we need to do better than duncan in who we recruit, instead of splitting ourselves apart again? how does ostagar change in our memories when one of the brave self-sacrifices we held dear died like that all along? it’s fun to think about

[dragonologist-writings]

Title: Of Diamonds And Dust Fandom: Dragon Age: Origins Rating: T Status: Work in Progress (48/?) Characters: Marja Aeduca, Darvis Brosca, All Companions Ships: Marja/Leliana, Darvis/Morrigan, Minor Alistair/Zevran Additional Notes: Origins Novelization, All Origins Are True, Enemies to Found Family, Dwarves Deserve More Love, Ships As A Feature But Not The Focus Word Count: 233k Summary:

Marja Aeducan and Darvis Brosca lead lives as different as one could possibly imagine. Marja Aeducan, a member of the nobility and second in line for the throne, has spent her life maneuvering the dangerous political machinations of the Diamond Quarter. Meanwhile, Darvis Brosca, a Casteless dwarf rejected by society, does whatever it takes to survive on the streets of Dust Town. When a Grey Warden arrives in Orzammar, the lives of Marja and Darvis are forever changed. Driven from the city by misfortune and betrayal, the two must join the ranks of the Wardens in order to save their own lives. But the surface has far greater dangers than they realize. The noble and the thief will need to stand together if they're going to fight against the oncoming Blight, the brewing civil war, and the strange surface malady called "sunburn".

read here on ao3

Chapter 1 Below:

In the shining opulence of Orzammar’s Diamond Quarter, the birth of the second child of the Aeducan family is cause for great celebration. The nobility of Orzammar flood the palace with gifts of gems, ceremonial armor, and other such finery that does a better job of flattering the king than of serving any use to his newborn daughter. Favor is earned and alliances are evaluated as Marja Aeducan gurgles in her crib, oblivious to the fact that she is second in line to the throne her father sits upon.

In the tired streets of Orzammar’s Dust Town, the birth of the second child of the Brosca family passes with little notice. The people here have better things to do than fawn over yet another Casteless infant. An exception lies in the boy’s sister, still a child herself, who devotes her time to caring for her new sibling. Darvis Brosca sleeps contently in her arms, unaware of the mark on his face or the meaning it carries.

...

At seven years old, Marja is the darling of the palace and the favorite of the king. Most of her time is spent with her tutors, where she learns politics, culture, and history from the large tomes brought in from the Shaperate. Any time not spent at her lessons is spent at her father’s side, where she sees these concepts put into practice. Marja prefers the practical application; even at a young age she delights in reciting her knowledge before the attentive court, just as her father delights in showing her off.

Her only other companions in these times are her brothers. Bhelen, barely old enough to walk, trails after his sister whenever he can, and Marja loves spoiling him in return. Trian, the eldest, considers himself too mature to indulge his siblings in their childish games, but he's still Marja's brother, and she supposes she loves him anyway.

At seven years old, Darvis knows the alleys of Orzammar like the back of his hand. The pathways are dirty and dark, but they are hidden, and nobody yells at him for venturing past the limits of Dust Town. Occasionally he comes across others in the alley, people he instinctively knows to be dangerous, but they pay little mind to the scrawny boy with skinned knees scampering past.

This is where he meets Leske. Leske teaches him how to pick a spot and sit in wait until the moment is just right. Together, they dart into the street, Leske knocking over carts and stalls as a distraction while Darvis snatches coins from the hand of some unsuspecting citizen. It’s risky business, but the boys are small and quick and reckless, and at the end of the day the guard has more dangerous criminals to spend their time chasing. Rica has given up on telling him to stop and now merely tells him to be careful. Darvis knows she worries, but with their mother sinking ever deeper into her alcoholic haze, they must do whatever they can to provide for themselves. And the look of relief on his sister’s face when he hands her the coin is enough to make it worth the danger.

...

When Marja is thirteen, she meets her first assassin. She watches, stone-faced, as he is brought before her father and executed for the murder of the Queen. She had cried, when she was first told what happened to her mother. She knows better than to cry now, when people can see. You are an Aeducan, her father has said to her, and Aeducans remain strong. In the following days she attends court as she always does, smiling her usual well-practiced smile at the fellow nobility, and she never quite stops wondering if any among them were in on the plot.

Until then Marja has regarded her combat training as a mildly interesting subject, much like her history lessons. Now, she commits herself to the practice with greater vigor than ever before. Her trainer gives her a ceremonial sword and shield, all bright and polished and beautiful. Marja, however, prefers the large double-handed greatsword, even if some of the older warriors snicker at the sight of the young princess struggling to lift the large blade. Trian refuses to practice with her altogether, claiming it’s beneath him. Marja pays them all little mind. She seeks out someone who will spar with her- the son of one of her father’s Warriors, a boy her age named Gorim- and practices every day until she can wield the imposing weapon with ease. The weight of the sword carries some comfort, and with its heavy weight at her bedside she is able to sleep soundly again.

When Darvis is thirteen, he meets Beraht. He is returning home after a typical day, hoping that his mother will be passed out by now and that Rica has found enough food to make dinner. Instead, he finds Rica conversing with an imposing man he’s never seen before. The man, he learns, is Beraht, and he has come with a job offering. Rica’s face is pinched and worried, but she tries to inject some brightness into her voice as she talks about the opportunity Beraht has for her. The man has a predatory look that sets Darvis on edge, but it's too late to hide the stolen coins clutched in his fist. Beraht's eyes fix on the money immediately. And where did you get that from, he wonders. Darvis glares at him defiantly, and Beraht laughs. I just might have a job for this one, too.

Darvis already has his own knives, but the set of daggers he gets from Beraht is shiny and new. Darvis runs his fingers lightly over the edges, admiring the handiwork. He’s not stupid. He knows that Beraht can’t be trusted. The jobs Darvis gets from the Carta are far more dangerous than running through the streets and pick-pocketing strangers. But the money is good, and for now that’s all that matters.

...

By the time Marja is eighteen, she knows the intricacies of court inside and out. She studies each of her acquaintances carefully, taking note of the different ways each can be persuaded and the unique signs that mark their lies. They do the same to her, always searching for something which can be exploited. Marja keeps careful control of all she does, offering smiles and soothing words and nothing more to the circling Nobles that wish to win her favor and undermine her power in equal measure.

Fortunately, Marja has Bhelen and Gorim at her side. Bhelen rarely gets involved in the complex schemes of the nobility, and in fact finds amusement in most of the mechanics of the court. Rarely does a ceremony go by without a sarcastic, under-the-breath comment from the young prince, and he is one of the few who can coax a sincere laugh from his sister.

Gorim is even better. He often jokes that Marja has no need for his services as her Second, but Marja is thankful for him all the same. Steadfast and loyal, he is everything a Warrior should be, and one of the few people Marja knows who truly possesses a warrior's honor.

Her relationship with Trian, however, only grows more strained. As time passes, his resentment of his sister festers. It comes to a boil on the day Marja finally convinces him to spar with her on the training grounds. Trian is highly skilled in combat, but he underestimates his sister, and to the surprise of them both Marja manages to knock him flat. The spectators laugh, and Trian has never liked to be laughed at. He leaps to his feet and glares at Marja, dark fire in his eyes. Don’t forget that I’m the one who’s going to be king, he spits. I’m going to rule, and you’re going to be married off to whichever House pays the most. He turns and stalks away, and Marja swallows her own angry words as she watches him go. She wants to fight back, but Trian is right about one thing; being the future king carries a certain power. For now, she has to hold her tongue.

By the time Darvis is eighteen, he’s well known as a thief and lackey of the Carta. He’s good with his daggers and his fists, and he can lift a purse as easy as breathing. In a way, he’s lucky. The Carta is respected and feared, and membership provides protection from the other Dust Town criminals. The job is simple. He follows orders, gets things done, and brings home just enough coin to ensure his family won’t starve. If the job is also unpleasant, well...most things in Dust Town are unpleasant. Darvis doesn’t expect anything else.

Rica, however, carries an endless optimism. She speaks of someday with a smile. Someday when she finds a wealthy patron. Someday when they pay off their debts. Someday when he’s free of the Carta and can become whatever he wants. Darvis doesn’t see the bright future she describes, but he can’t bear to tarnish her hope by arguing.

The Carta isn’t all that bad. Darvis is good at what he does, and he has Leske to watch his back. Leske is sarcastic and crude and smiles like he’s laughing at the world. They make a good team, and Darvis knows he would have landed in the Orzammar cells long ago if not for his friend.

Still, the city guard is not the only danger. The Carta may offer protection and payment, but it also doles out punishment. Darvis knows what happens to those who defy orders, so when Beraht visits he bites his tongue and smothers his temper. His family’s welfare is dependent on this man. It’s just hard to remember that when Beraht speaks to Rica the way he does. Once, Darvis leaps to her defense, until a blow from Beraht sends him to the ground.  You’re useful, Beraht snarls, but you’re not the only lowlife for hire. Remember that, and be a little thankful for all I’ve done for you. There are a million things Darvis wants to say in response, but he sees Rica trembling in the corner, and he says none of them.

...

Marja is twenty-one when she hears that a Warden will be visiting Orzammar. The rumors say he is looking for aid against an upcoming Blight. The dwarves hold little sympathy for the Grey Wardens; darkspawn on the surface are no concern to them. But it is still tradition to honor such a visitor, and as dictated by tradition there will be a banquet, a Proving, and every other piece of ceremony the Nobles think will impress their ally from the surface.

The Warden’s visit is not the only reason for celebration and ceremony. Marja has at last been given her first moment of command- the first of many, she believes. Rumors are sweeping the nobility, saying that the king will pass over his eldest son and make Marja his heir. Marja has heard them all, and knows they are more than idle gossip. She has known for a long time that Trian would make for a terrible king. He is stubborn and callous, and the only favor he holds in the Assembly is with the staunch traditionalists.

It's an opportunity Marja can't pass up. The king will be looking to impress the Grey Warden, and her mission will provide the perfect opportunity. If all goes well, this will be the last push needed for her father to officially name her as the future Queen of Orzammar.

Darvis is twenty-one when he hears that a Warden will be visiting Orzammar. The man’s arrival would not matter to him in the least if not for the Provings. But the Nobles never miss a chance to show off their favorite pastime to visitors, and Beraht makes a lot of money off of gamblers. He sends word to Darvis and Leske to ready themselves for an important task on the day of the Proving. No more details are given, but Darvis knows what to expect. For all the Nobles like to talk about honor and the favor of the ancestors, most Proving champions are decided by people like Beraht before the participants even step into the arena. Beraht simply needs some rogues that are good at not being noticed to make sure everything goes according to plan.

Like everything they do, the risk is significant. If Darvis and Leske are discovered, the Nobles will have their heads. But for once, Darvis has a good feeling about what the future holds. Rica is positive that she has a patron now, a wealthy man that is enamored with her. She needs a little more time, and then they’ll have enough coin to last them the rest of their lives.

It's an opportunity Darvis can't pass up. Beraht normally keeps eyes on Rica, but with the nobility flaunting their wealth for the Warden, he will have his hands full running a dozen different schemes. Darvis just needs to do his job and keep Beraht happy. With a little luck, Rica will have secured a spot alongside her Noble by the time the ceremony is over. Once that happens, they’ll never need to turn to Beraht for help again.

...

A Warden is visiting the grand city of Orzammar, and everything is about to change.

[nsewell]

Rook Questions! 12, 17, 23 please!

12. Does Rook have any family? Do they keep in touch?

runa brosca-theirin has a very well established family as the surnames imply. she's the product of one last union between katrin brosca, the duster who became the hero of ferelden and king alistair theirin before his arranged marriage to anora. she was kept a secret from alistair because katrin didn't want to complicate the line of succession of her daughter's life anymore than she had to already, and born at vigil's keep in amaranthine. most people except for the core companions were in the dark about alistair and katrin's romance so people just assumed she was born from an unimportant tryst. she was raised by her mother in vigil's keep for a time of about six years and doted on by the wardens there, espescially sigrun and nathaniel who became key family figures in her life. loghain also was very present when he made trips to the east to visit anora and would stop by vigil's keep to greet and report to katrin. when katrin decided it time to find a cure for the calling, runa was placed in his primary care as her closest confidant and he became her surrogate father until he was lost in the fade at adamant fortress when she was 10.

both her mother and loghain would take her to orzammar to see her cousin endrin aeducan and aunt rica. loghain would pretend he had warden business to conduct with bhelen and in the deep roads but used it as a guise so runa could be around her family.

17. How’d Rook get those scars?

she's accumulated a few scars over her years of training rigorously and handling blades, defensive wounds, and sparring accidents. there's a notable one that's a jagged bitemark on her right arm from when she was sent to the deep roads to recover a vial of darkspawn blood for her joining ritual and a hurlock lunged at her and sunk its teeth into her flesh. it was her first wound as a warden and it wasn’t a clean or honorable mark which just served as a reminder of the brutality of the blight.

23. What does Rook wear in the off hours? Do they like dressing up?

her off duty outfit is simple and utilitarian, usually just grey warden issued tunic and trousers but she does have a soft spot for the ocassional adornment, a bracelet or pendant of dwarven craftsmanship, something gifted by her aunt rica. dressing up is rare for her and only the occasions she has to represent the wardens at noble functions, or a fancy aeducan feast. the few times she’s dressed formally, she’s found herself almost self-conscious of her scarred arms and the calloused hands that don’t quite fit with silk and lace. she gravitates to dwarven styles over fereldan and carries this quirk into her monarchy.

[bleeding-star-heart]

It's funny to me how most of the Origins are essentially heroes created by the various antagonists of DA:0

Had Rendon Howe not plotted to destroy the Couslands, Warden Cousland would likely have held down the fort, and then gone on to one of two unremarkable paths. Either they'd have dutifully married someone of the opposite sex and had aristocratic babies, been a hedonist who indulged in casual sex or possibly a mix of both. Or they might have served as a knight or possibly joined the clergy.

Had Jarvia and Beraht decided to forgive Leske and Warden Brosca, Warden Brosca would likely not have destroyed the carta twice over. Instead, Warden Brosca would likely be deep in debt to Beraht, that is, until Bhelen and Rica became a thing. In which case, who knows what happens to Beraht? Speaking of Bhelen, Warden Aeducan's case is a little more ambiguous. Sure, they might have been a threat to Bhelen, if you play them as a politically astute royal. But it is just as likely that Warden Aeducan, if Bhelen didn't betray them, would have lived as a jolly bruiser or dutiful second child, posing no threat to Bhelen's ambitions. Heck, even if Warden Aeducan is a political mastermind, that might have been to Bhelen's advantage. Unlike Trian, Bhelen is not portrayed as having a contentious relationship with Warden Aeducan. It's possible they could have supported each other politically. Warden Tabris, on the other hand, would have been a threat to absolutely nobody. Without that creep Vaughan, Tabris would likely have dutifully married their chosen spouse and lived the Alienage without making waves. It is only because of the villains in their stories that Wardens Tabris, Cousland, Aeducan, and Brosca ever end up becoming a true threat. Beraht, Vaughan, Bhelen (potentially) and Howe have essentially engineered their own doom. But also, out of all the Wardens, only the Mage and the Dalish Elf became Wardens because of their own choices. The rest were made into Wardens.

[biancadavri]

iconic that rica of all people managed to get into a relationship with bhelen. one that, by all accounts, is very loving. perhaps the sweetest character in the entire franchise getting with everyone's favorite (?) bitch bastard of a guy, real what if the irredeemable villain's gaze softened when he looked at me energy. it's like if macchiavelli's the prince and a wattpad fanfiction about getting sold to one direction by your mom were kissing with tongue

[amatres]

anyway my personal ranks of origins backstories just in the game by themselves is brosca and tabris at the top, aeducan at the bottom. cousland i will admit is pretty impactful but i still feel like, as wild as an option it would have been, that a cousland warden should had the option to solo rule. they are from the only other teryn in ferelden and it's even said that it was considered for bryce to rule so like! come on!

aeducan is at the bottom because it so tightly locks you into siding against bhelen, which i suppose is fair for brosca being so skewed in behlens favor bc of rica, but brosca is just Good so i forgive that, while aeducan is just suffering.

i still stand by my idea that the 'noble' dwarven origin shouldn't have been the second aeducan child, they should have been the second aeducan's second in place of gorim. that way there would have been more room for roleplay. also the second aeducan child would have been a secret third option for ruler of orzammar that you would encounter with the legion of the dead that they joined after being kicked out.

you would have to both do the legion of dead quest to give them a noble caste, and also have high as hell coercion for it to work but it would really cool and also so funny to do. that said the origin just by itself is pretty fun, love being backstabbed by my second favorite baby brother from the dragon age franchise

mahariel and the magi warden are in the 'i like them but they don't feel as impactful' as much as it hurts me. they're both just kinda there, however that said if the game let you recruit jowan into your party that would bring the magi warden up much higher. alas.

[crossdressingdeath]

I've seen you mention the implied ages of the warden a few times, and I definitely agree that Surana/Amell is the "youngest", what are your other approximate age ranges for the other wardens, or just a ranking of them age wise? Obviously it's up to the player but I think it's, from youngest to oldest: Surana/Amell, Tabris, mahariel/brosca, Coupland, aeducan

I'll be honest, as a Surana bitch to my core I've never put that much thought into the others. But that ranking feels about right to me. I'd say it's a little easier to age Brosca, Cousland and Aeducan what with them having siblings, and especially Aeducan since they have an older and younger sibling, but I don't think Rica, Fergus, Bhelen or Trian have set ages either... But I would say the "canon" range for the Warden is late teens to mid-twenties, with Surana/Amell at the youngest end and Cousland and Aeducan at the oldest.

[newengland-alligator]

Masterlist of my current OCs:

Dragon Age:

Warden Commander Rán Brosca

Attributes:

AGE: 18 (in 9:30 Dragon)

GENDER: Non-Binary, she/he/they

SEXUALITY: Biromantic, demisexual

CLASS: Warrior

Relationships:

Kalah Brosca — Mother

Tug - Father †

Rica Brosca — Sister

Suledinlen Surana Lavellan - Half-sibling

Wenalen Surana Lavellan - Niece

Alistair Theirin — Partner

Morrigan - Partner

Zevran - Partner

Kieran - son

Bhelen Aeducan - Brother-in-law

Endrin Aeducan - Nephew

About:

Born in 9:10 Dragon. A couple months after her birth, her father left the family to live in the Surface, changing his name to Tug, never to be heard from again.

In 9:26 Dragon, when Rán was 15 years old and Rica 19, Beraht "sponsored" both her and Rica to be trained as Noble Hunters. Despite her "oddness" (being taller than her sister, autism, habit of getting into fights), Rán caught the eye of a smith from House Branka.

She became pregnant, miscarried and almost died. Afterwards she was pronounced by a healer to be unable to have a successful pregnancy. Beraht used her as a thief, and later on, as muscle after she showed a natural talent for bladework.

In 9:30 Dragon, when she was 18 years old, she took the place of Evard during a Proving being held in the honor of a visiting Grey Warden. She won the Proving, but was arrested and subsequently kidnapped by Beraht. She escaped captivity, killed Beraht and was chosen to become a Grey Warden recruit when Duncan asked her to join.

Notes:

Name means "robbery, theft" in Old Norse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amaranth Hawke

Attributes:

Age: 24 (in 9:30 Dragon)

Gender: Non-Binary

Sexuality: Biromantic, demisexual

Class: Rogue, Force/Blood Magic

Relationships:

Malcolm Hawke — Father †

Leandra Amell — Mother †

Carver Hawke — Younger Brother

Bethany Hawke — Younger Sister †

Gamlen Amell — Uncle, Maternal side

Charade — Cousin, Maternal side

Anders — Partner

Justice — Partner

Varric Tethras — Partner

About:

Notes:

Name means "unfading" in Greek. Was named after the Ferelden city of Amaranthine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inquisitor Suledinlen Surana Lavellan

Attributes:

Age: 30 in 9:41 Dragon

Gender: Genderfluid

Sexuality: Biromantic, Asexual

Class: Mage, Knight-Enchanter

Relationships:

Felassan - Father of child

Wenalen - Child born in 9:32 Dragon

Neria Surana - Mother

Tug - Father

Rán Brosca - Half-sibling

Kieran - Nephew

About:

During the Ferelden Rebellion, Suledinlen's mother Neria, along with Neria's close friend Adaia, were both servants to an Orlesion noble. They escaped him and joined Loghain's Night Elves unit. After the rebellion they settled down in the Denerim alienage, Adaia marrying Cyrion Tabris.

In 9:10 Dragon, during the Summerday festivities, Neria met a Dwarven mercenary named Tug, they had a fling and he left to find his fortune in Orlais, not knowing she was pregnant.

Suledinlen was born in 9:11 Dragon, 1st month Wintermarch.

In 9:21 Dragon, magic manifested at 10 years old and she was brought to Kinloch Hold. Made quick friends with Jowan (11) and then later, Amell (9).

In 9:29 Dragon, at 18 years old, underwent the Harrowing.

9:30 Dragon: Was sent alongside Wynne, Uldred and another fellow Circle mage to Ostagar. Was able to escape during the confusion of battle, steal her phylactery and travel to Jader, where she sailed to Orlais. While wandering the countryside of Orlais in search of a Dalish clan, near starving and looking for a place to safely spend the night, she comes across Felassan fighting off giant spiders. She saved him from the giant spiders and he saved her from starving. They met up with Clan Lavellan, Felassan visiting her often over the next couple years.

In late 9:32 Dragon, while the clan was camped near a ruined fortress located on the edge of the Tirashan forest in Orlais, Suledinlen met Felassan. Despite the age difference the two clicked. Suledinlen is asexual, but wanted a child. Felassan agreed to be the father.

In 9:32 Dragon, Suledinlen gave birth to their and Felassan's daughter, Wenalen.

In early 9:36, unrest began to brew amongst the ruling class of Orlais. Clan Lavellan flees to the Free Marches to avoid being caught in the middle.

In 9:40 Dragon, Suledinlen, due to her familiarity with the Circle, was sent by her keeper to infiltrate and spy on the Conclave. While at the Conclave, she accidentally walked in on Corypheus' attempted ritual. She was the only survivor.

Notes:

Name means "one who endures" in Elvhen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wenalen "Rook Thorne" Surana Lavellan

Attributes:

Age: 20 in 9:52 Dragon

Gender: Non-binary

Sexuality: Biromantic, asexual

Class: Warrior (Champion).

Relationships:

Suledinlen Surana Lavellan - Parent

Felassan - father

Tug - Grandfather

Rán Brosca - Aunt

Kieran - Cousin

Solas - Situationship

History:

Nehnalen was norn 9:32: Dragon, when Clan Lavellan was camped in the Tirashan. She was 9 years old in 9:41 Dragon.

When she was 19 years old, she traveled to Weisshaupt Fortress as a Grey Warden recruit. She used an assumed name to keep herself safe from her mother's enemies.

In 9:52 Dragon, during a large darkspawn incursion, Rook was ordered to hold the line with other Grey Wardens until reinforcements arrived. Rook argued that by then, villagers under attack would be dead. They disobeyed orders, leading the squad into the incursion and sealing the tunnel to the Deep Roads. This turned the tide, and the darkspawn were driven off, which saved the villagers. Rook's heroism was popular among the younger Wardens, but others with connections to noble families resented her independent streak. Rook chose to step away while tempers cooled.

She was recruited by Varric to help him and Harding hunt Solas.

About:

Name means "one who is brave" in Elvhen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TES:

Sinikka Heklasdottir, Listener of the Dark Brotherhood

Attributes:

Age: 27 years old (in 4E 201)

Gender: Female

Sexuality:

Class:

Relationships:

Hallbjǫrn — Father

Hekla — Mother

Pinja — Younger sister

Pihla — Younger sister

Tuija — Younger sister

Ritva — Younger sister

About:

Born in 4E 174 on the day the Imperial City was sacked by the Aldmeri Dominion. She grew up in Skyrim, in Falkreath Hold, in a hut in the forest between Falkreath Village and Helgan (closer to Helgan, in-game the burned cabin).

Her father was a a former Legionnaire and a serial killer, who taught her to stalk and kill the bandits that roamed the forest and roads near their home.

In 4E 192 was forcibly conscripted into the Imperial Legion when she was 18. Was stationed at Fort Blueblood in the Blackwood as part of the 19th Legion.

In 4E 197, at 23 years old, her enlistment was over. She chose to return to Skyrim. She becomes a Bounty Hunter, and in 4E 201 hears about a young boy seeking help from the Dark Brotherhood...

Notes:

Name means "bluebird" in Icelandic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zimadirun/Saf of the Thieves Guild

Attributes:

Age: 28 years old in 4E 201.

Gender: She/her/they.

Sexuality: Asexual.

Class:

Relationships:

Brynjolf — Queerplatonic situationship

About:

Born 4E 173 in Khenarthi's Roost, a small island off the coast of Elsweyr. She was born when Masser was waning and Secunda was full, making her an Alfiq furstock.

4E 184 — 11yo. Family killed in a hurricane. Adopted by a wealthy family along with other orphans and immediately sold to the Thalmor and trained as spies for the Thalmor. Was small for her age so pretended she was younger to avoid being killed for being too old and less malleable.

4E 198 — At around 25 years old she faked her death and escaped into Skyrim. Was slowly starving but met a Giant family traveling home after burying the giantess's husband at Secunda's Kiss. They took her in.

The family lived at Steamcrag Camp and consisted of a Grandfather, the grandfather's daughter and his two granddaughters.

4E 201 — At 28 years old a pair of Khajiit Thalmor spies posing as caravan members come searching for her, she is forced to kill them. The companions Vilkas and Farkas come investigating, she defeats them before running to hide in Riften.

Notes:

Names means "winter blue" and "ash" in Ta'agra.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aspasia Septim of House Ravenwatch

Attributes:

Age:

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Biromantic Asexual

Class:

Relationships:

Uriel Septim VII — Maternal Grandfather †

Princess Ariella Septim — Mother †

Jager Tharn — Father †

Calaxes Septim — Uncle †

Prince Geldall Septim — Uncle †

Prince Enman Septim — Uncle †

Prince Ebel Septim — Uncle †

Martin Septim — Uncle †

Lamae Beolfag — Vampiric Sire

Serena Volikhar — Wife

About:

Notes:

Means "welcome, embrace" in Greek.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dragon Priest Sahvot

Attributes:

Age: ?

Gender: Non-binary

Sexuality:

Class: Mage, Necromancer

Relationships:

Viintaasqonaak — Dov Master †

About:

Notes:

Names mean "faith" in Dovahzhul and "fen dweller" in Old Norse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BG3:

The Dark Urge/Satu

Attributes:

Age:

Gender:

Sexuality:

Class:

Relationships:

Bhaal — Creator/Father

Orin the Red — Niece

Aulis Ranta — Adoptive Father †

Hellä Ranta — Adoptive Mother †

Wyll Ravensgard — Husband

About:

Notes:

Name means "fairy tale, fable" in Finnish.

[bleeding-star-heart]

My Mage Wardens, generally, would probably spend the rest of of their lives in Kinloch Hold. They'd be scholars in whatever topic held their fancy, writing and publishing books on it. Most likely they wouldn't leave the Circle unless their research demanded it. Would never have met any of the companions. My typical Cousland, well, it depends on whether or not Howe still fucks them over. If Howe doesn't fuck them over, my Cousland would have continued being the rebellious younger child until, one day, some noble causes them to abandon their ways and settle down. Very romance novel-esque. Zevran MIGHT meet them if a contract is put on my Cousland's life for some reason, but that's it. If Howe DOES fuck them over, then my Cousland is on the run and well, anything could happen.

My Aeducan would likely have died as a result of Bhelen's frame-up, even though they DIDN'T kill that douche of an oldest brother. Maybe they would have toughed it out of the Deep Roads and made it on their own as a surface dwarf, but eh. If they do, they could totally meet Morrigan or Zevran. Leliana would still be in the cloister, and Alistair's a long shot.

My typical Dalish elf would have stayed with their clan, no question. Maybe they would have pair bonded with Tamlen, maybe a different elf. They'd definitely be on the move, so they could totally have met any of the four love interests. Maybe my Dalish Elf could potentially persuade Zevran to give up his assassin ways and join the Sabrae clan. They 100% wouldn't leave the Sabrae clan for Leliana, Alistair, or Morrigan. But they'd be down for long-distance, and most likely Leliana or Morrigan would agree to that. My City Elf would have happily married their assigned spouse, dutifully living in the Alienage together, if it weren't for that bastard Vaughan. As it is, the city elf does the canon rampage through Vaughan's mansion, slaughter Vaughan, and then claim they did it all by themselves, saving Soris and the co-conspirators from a hanging. Then they flee Denerim to join up with the Dalish. From there...it'd be pretty similar to what Mahariel does, monogamy for Zevran, casual for the humans. Although Alistair MIGHT convince my City Elf that humans aren't all bad. Leliana, eh. Too religious. My Commoner Dwarf has two fates. Die for impersonating a non-casteless, or take over the Carta so as to protect Rica. Because NO ONE touches Rica. Inadvertently giving Bhelen a mafia boss for a brother-in-law. Morrigan and Leliana would likely NEVER show up, but Alistair or Zevran could end up as my mafia! Brosca's sugar baby, depending on circumstances. Zevran being the main man is not necessarily because I like him the best but because my wardens aren't really "think outside the box" types. Without the Blight they'd probably conform to the box they were given in life. And since Zevran would be the only one who travels without a Blight, he's the only one who can conceivably meet my Wardens. At least, Zevran's the only guaranteed traveler. I don't know if Alistair would still be a Warden without the blight. But he might not be a templar regardless. And Morrigan would still be in the wilds, Leliana in Lothering.

alright dragon age mutuals followers and countrymen. it is time for a question. if the blight never happened, what life would your warden have led? would they still meet their love interest from origins or would they never even cross paths? tell me!!!!!!