#samson was in on the chantry boom

[wendynerdwrites]

Pretty cringe on Bioware's part

Okay, so I do not work for Bioware, don't have connections, and what I'm writing is based only on some background and experience in social media and online marketing. I HAVE NO INSIDER KNOWLEDGE AND CLAIM NONE.

But... It VERY MUCH LOOKS TO ME that this new name change is a plot to try and circumvent SEO on the new Dragon Age release being about how delayed the game is and all the layoffs and the severance lawsuits and shit.

And yeah, maybe this'll seem obvious to some of you, but I kind of just want to word vomit: (and this is a further musing on a TWITTER thread I made earlier. Sorry I just have to get this manic-episode cynicism out)

Why else at the supposed 11th hour would you change the game title to one that is just, so bad for so many reasons?

(It should be obvious that I'm editorializing here, but I like to cover my ass more these days)

So yeah, reasons why I think this name change is so bad and nonsensical it could only be made for desperate reasons:

Okay, so because I like to overthink stupid shit like video game name changes and have become quite Dragon Age fixated over the years, I was going over this bullshit too much.

Like, I tried to explain things to myself because sometimes I want a break from feeling cynical even with shit like this.

So I read this and mulled it over:

"BioWare general manager Gary McKay explains that while Solas is “still very much a part of the story of Dragon Age: The Veilguard,” the team wanted a title that reflected a “really deep and compelling group of companions.” --- Kat Bailey for Gameinfomer.com

Okay, fine, well, the last game is called "Dragon Age: Inquisition" and not "Dragon Age: Corypheus" or "Dragon Age: Elder One." And you know, stuff like "Leliana's Song" focuses on, you know, Leliana."

But you what, me? That doesn't hold up.

For one thing, Leliana's Song is a DLC. No one is going to mistake a main series Dragon Age release as being not about an ensemble cast of characters and just being about Solas because of a naming convention in the DLC. Especially given how common that can be in RPG's anyway.

First thing you often learn about Dragon Age as a series is that it's story focused RPG with strong cast of supporting characters and a lot of lore. Granted, that may not be the case for EVERYONE depending on when they or how they got acquainted for the series; but that's how it's commonly characterized.

In one game, Solas was given far more significance plot and character wise than Corypheus had in two.

Corypheus has good points. He's got a backstory that is couched comfortably by the lore and significant to the story. He's got motivation - he's pissed about there not being Gods and Tevinter falling, so he's trying to become a God now to restore the world he wants. He's got one of the most FUCKING BALLER VILLAIN REVEALS:

He also works very well thematically. He's a good symbol of corruption and the results of hubris and tyranny when Thedas is being torn apart by it's various authorities and their abuses of power. Civil War in Orlais. Templars have broken from the Chantry, the mages from the Templars, and they're all at war. From the first game we know that this is what is left of the peace and safety won by your Warden and their people. And we know a few reasons why. In Dragon Age II, we know how that happened and SO MANY MORE reasons why. THERE'S CORRUPTION IN THE WARDENS AND WTF IS EVEN HAPPENING IN WEISSHAUPT??? OR THE DEEP ROADS??? We add in an Orlesian Civil War and also, boom! Whoops! THE GUY WHO CAUSED ALL THOSE BLIGHTS WE'VE DIED IN IS BACK AND HE WANTS TO RIP THE SKY APART! OOH LOOK HE JUST DID!

He's the anthropomorphic personification of all of that.

But, uh, even with fabulous voice acting, Corypheus is not much of a character in his own right. He is more of a device for both plot and theme than, like, a person. As far as more humanizing antagonists, we get that from Samson, Calpernia, and Alexius than Corypheus.

Corypheus wants to restore Tevinter to the Empire he wishes to be God of. He's pissed at there being no Gods. So now he wants to rule over everything (while also destroying it.) "THIS CORRUPT WORLD NEEDS TO BE MADE ANEW BLAH BLAH BLAH I'M AN RPG BIG BAD"

And that's fine with me. Never had a problem with Corypheus turning into Darkspawn Skeletor.

Corypheus is a dick who wants to be God. But he works as a device to save the world from and lead to lore revelations and shit.

I don't know if Corypheus ever had anyone he cared about. I don't know what he like(d?) to eat. He has no goals that don't serve glorifying himself and being a tyrant. I don't know if he hates Thedas as anything other than standing in the way of the Tevinter he can be god-emperor of. I don't know what he really thinks of anything in the world of Thedas other than "inferior, kill it." He doesn't have complex motivations or thoughts on the world we're playing in. We don't know if any of his thoughts or perceptions have changed over the course of the thousands of years he's lived. If there's anything he enjoys. We don't know what kind of personalities he's drawn to. What he actually enjoyed about the world he came from.

We get all of that shit and more from Solas. Even if you don't like him, don't play with him much, he has a distinct personality. And his significance to the lore of the world actually reveals a lot more than Corypheus's. Solas CREATED THE FUCKING VEIL. ALSO THE ELVEN LEGENDS ARE ALL FUCKED UP. FLEMETH IS ACTUALLY HIS ANCIENT DIVINE PLATONIC DOMMY MOMMY FROM BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THEY WERE BOTH LITERAL GODS! DID WE MENTION HE CREATED THE VEIL?! BECAUSE THE DALISH ARE FUCKING WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING! AND TEVINTER DIDN'T DESTROY ARLATHAN! AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO LEARN SOME SHIT ABOUT THE FORGOTTEN ONES! ALSO DID WE MENTION HOW THE VEIL CAME TO BE????

All this through this Elven God of Bad Decisions:

Also, yes, Solas has got major thematic importance but I feel like that's a whole other rant and this is getting too long.

Point is: Solas is, flat out, more significant to the world all of these characters inhabit than Corypy-tits. The literal fabric of their plain of existence is woven by him. The entire way magic has worked and been handled, (something that is extremely significant character-wise for at least a third of this game's cast) is because of him and his history. There was a century between the fourth and fifth Blights. And, you know, the veil he created played a part in their origins.

Even putting aside that legacy characters like Varric, Cullen, and Leliana all have personal history. Solas is why Circles exist/ed. Those Magisters who started the Blight did so by fucking with his creation. He is why elves age and live as a diaspora.

And that's just what we know him to be responsible for. What about those hints about the Forgotten Ones? Exactly how did his rebellion work? What is his plan for the other Evanuris and will it work? [(No.)] What will that reveal about what the others are/were capable of? And what exactly happened between them and the Titans?

Look, I'd go on, but I don't want to go on too much longer like the Solas girlie I totally am. Point is: Solas's backstory alone has had significant ramifications for everyone in Thedas. And the ways he's affected their lives varies between races, generations, magical ability, etc. And that's through creation of the Veil alone.

And we know a shit ton about who Solas is as a person.

You don't need to be a Solas pro, Solas-anti, neutral, or Solas-mancer for this to be true.

So yeah, I would say he's "very much a part of the story." But also, in a way that informs and contributes to the characterization of the ensemble cast.

Inquisition's antagonist was no Fen'Harel. And you're not going to subtract from your ensemble, but rather enhance them (if you care at all about writing them well) by having a focus on him.

Now, I totally think the idea that the final big antagonist will be the Evanuris or someone else lurking behind the veil has merit. But Solas will ultimately be that catalyst.

"Okay, but maybe Bioware doesn't see it that way. Maybe they saw some social media complaints about too much Solas focus and did a hasty rebrand."

Well, for one, that complaint has been around for years now. And it's valid. The problem isn't a lot of Solas, it's that we got so little else. The promotion is bad, not the character or their role in the story. But if that's really it, why now? Why are they only changing the name now?

Now, okay, but Inquisition was still called Inquisition.... This game is about the Veil Guard. It's called Veil Guard.

Cool, but once again, then why hold onto Dreadwolf for so long? Why focus so much on Solas? Why haven't we gotten any glimpses of companions?

And, um, if this is really what you want, shouldn't the title be... better?

Inquisition is a good, solid, and communicative title. While the Inquisition of Thedas is not exactly the Spanish One, there is enough association there to give a general idea. Origins had a group of dumbass misfit fugitives drawn together to save the world. II was similar except they were mercs who get drawn into shit against their will and unwittingly. Inquisition: okay, so this time they'll probably be more of an official, religious-quasi military organization. It'll probably be controversial.

You can be a complete noob to Dragon Age and figure that out.

Veil Guard sounds like something last minute they got from Game of Thrones at the last minute. Okay, the Kingsguard are cool. They guard the king. We're stopping the veil from being torn down, so Veil Guard.

Here's the thing: none of the main ASOIAF series is called The Kingsguard, and you don't need to know anything about A Song of Ice and Fire to get it. Everyone knows what the fuck a king is and why he should be guarded. So even if there is a book called "The King's Guard" we'll get it. It's a book about fuckers guarding a king.

This game is about fuckers guarding... a veil....? The veil?

If you're up on your Dragon Age lore and are really into it, yes, you know what that means. If you're a noob or a casual who hasn't given much thought to Dragon Age in, say, a decade, uhh...:

Noobs: "The game is about fuckers guarding... a veil...? The veil???? Is it some sort of artifact, like it has Jesus's face on it? Or if they mean veil between worlds like some Lovecraft shit, is the new Dragon Age a horror game? Are people trying to travel to different worlds and we're trying to stop them? "

Casuals: "Or wait, is this about that dream world thing? That demon place that spits out demons? Didn't we just get done fixing that in the last game??? Wow, real original. Bioware Magic! "

It also just sounds uncool. Inquisition is an imposing title. Dreadwolf is an imposing title. The Veil Guard sounds like a sartorial maintenance product.

You want people to focus on your ensemble cast? SHOW IT! Because as long as all the promo keeps giving us new Solas anyways, it's just weak sauce.

Nah, this has panic move all over it.

Now, I'm trying to spin this optimistically in that I think this means we may actually get the game within this decade. Because I refuse to believe a) "Veil Guard" is the best they got out of a proper round of workshopping and b) That if this was truly about trying to avoid focussing on Solas too much, they'd announce this without a bunch of promo for the rest of the cast to accompanying it.

Bioware: "We wanted people to know the story is just all about solas, but more about our ensemble cast! We wanted this enough to change the name this late in the game!"

Everyone: "ALRIGHT! SHOW US THIS ENSEMBLE!!!"

Bioware:

Nah bitch, that's not what this is about. Bioware needs this to be a hit, and they need a hit soon. But they don't want their long-awaited blockbuster release to be mired in bad press. They don't want the general audience googling their new massive title only to find articles and reddit threads about layoffs, labor disputes, Mary Kirby's departure, the massive delays, the contract non-renewals happening in the midst of severance lawsuits.

BioWare wants to get their title out finally and they want to bury all the bad shit that's been plaguing this project. All the stories about the labor disputes, layoffs, firings, and lawsuits have mentioned the "Dreadwolf" team.

And quite frankly, it's just shitty. It looks bad. It's desperate.

[daitranscripts]

Before the Dawn Pt. 2

Lyrium Smugglers

Before the Dawn Masterpost Previous: Source of the Red Templars

In the Emerald Graves, the PC finds notes from red lyrium smugglers.

Master Kells: ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Numbers are fantastic, ser. Trade's booming with all this lyrium showing up. Maybe it's red instead of blue, but people are still buying. That mage we picked up can look into what the color means; he needs to start earning his keep. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ We have more coin on hand, too. No need to pay off some greasy dwarf since the red stuff isn't from the Deep Roads. Must be killing them; someone struck lyrium up here and they're not getting a piece. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Vishlan

PC: A note. It claims this red lyrium’s not coming from the Deep Roads.

To Master Kells: ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ The new client wants double the red lyrium shipped last time. The contact said it was for someone called Samson. I met him during the last trip. Got a templar feel off him. Although the armor he wears doesn't look Chantry. Still, his coin's good, and he doesn't preach. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Toby

PC: Another letter on the smugglers, referring to Samson.

Among the papers taken from the red lyrium smugglers in the Dales is a note from the ringleader to his lieutenants:

Beware that red lyrium. Our mage claims it's much more potent than the blue. "Like serving brandy in an ale tankard," he said. Two nights later, he went crazy, frothing and screaming. We had to lock him in the warehouse. Looks like lyrium madness, but comes on faster. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ It's not all bad. Our new client, Samson, has his agents buying anyone who gets sick--for gold. When they bought the mage, I asked why; Samson's people said, "To make something better of him." For what they're paying, he must have something bloody spectacular lined up. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Have the men be extra careful around the crates. Tell me if any comes down sick. Keep the why to yourselves. ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Kells

PC: Another letter mentioning Samson. And papers with names. Cullen could use this.

They return to Cullen.

Choice dependent dialogue

PC has already cleared Sahrnia’s mines [1]

PC has not been to Sahrnia [2]

1 - PC has already cleared Sahrnia’s mines Cullen: The papers you found on the red lyrium smugglers were exactly what we needed. We have the location of the red templars’ main supply of lyrium. You’ll never guess where.

Dialogue options:

General: You sound pleased. [3]

General: Below us. [4]

General: Just tell me. [5]

3 - General: You sound pleased. PC: Wherever it is, you seem happy about it. Cullen: I have cause.

4 - General: Below us. PC: Right. Under. Skyhold. Cullen: Actually, it’s better.

5 - General: Just tell me. PC: I’m waiting.

6 - Scene continues.

Cullen: Sahrnia. You’ve already dealt with the red templars there.

PC: That was Samson’s red lyrium supply?

Cullen: The past tense is apt. We should send some people to sift through what’s left. With some luck, we can track the shipments from the quarry to Samson’s headquarters.

Scene ends.

2 - PC has not been to Sahrnia Cullen: The smugglers we interrogated gave up the red templars’ main source of red lyrium, Inquisitor. It’s located in the Dales, near a town called Sahrnia. Destroying the mine there will cripple Samson’s operations.

Dialogue options:

General: Well done. [7]

General: And him, too. [8]

General: It’s about time we did. [9]

7 - General: Well done. PC: Excellent work, Commander. I’ll investigate the mine. Cullen: Destroying the red templars’ source of lyrium will be a loss Samson won’t soon forget.

8 - General: And him, too. PC: Samson will have to cut back on his share if there’s less red lyrium to go around. Cullen: I would be very surprised if he could muster the discipline.

9 - General: It’s about time we did. PC: He’s caused us enough grief. I’m happy to return the favor. Cullen: Destroying the red templars’ source of lyrium will be a loss Samson won’t soon forget.

The PC heads to Emprise du Lion.

Next: Sahrnia Quarry

[rusted-pipe-of-wisdom]

From ser-thirst-a-lot's excellent and hilarious prompts, for either Anders/M!Hawke OR Samson & Anders: 6. “If we don’t make it out alive, I’ll see you at the Maker’s side.” “Bold of you to assume you’re going there.”

*rises from the grave*

@dadrunkwriting

---

The man crawled towards the door, dragging his legs. His breath came in sick bubbling bursts, intermitted by hoarse cries of pain. He was weak and slow and done for, and he knew it. The door led to the courtyard. Warn the others.

Samson straightened up.

"Oh no you don't," he growled and lunged at the enemy, pinning the armored body to the ground. He didn't bother with the sword - bastard knocked it farther than an arm's reach - and reached for a skinning knife strapped to his hip. Paused briefly to aim the thrust.

"Y-you..." The knight's head jerked sideways; his glare scorched Samson's face. "Bloody traitor... M-Maker... curse you!.."

A wide grin stretched Samson's lips, wind-bitten skin cracking along the corners of his mouth.

"Don't need the Maker," he laughed. "I've a new god now."

He drove the knife into the man's ear. It started off reluctant, stuttered once, then plunged into something soft. The body stiffened in the hold of his thighs, a look of terror forever wrought into the young face.

Must've been less than thirty. Tall for a Marcher. Fereldan, maybe.

The courtyard was filling with ruckus, clank of metal, frightened screams. Samson grabbed his discarded sword, took a sharp turn - away from the door, deeper into the Gallows. He only had a brief head start. He wasn't going to waste it. One floor down the stairs. Close now.

"Rise and shine, everybody!" He kicked in the door to a dormitory chamber on his right. Half a dozen mages stared at him in bafflement. "Whoever wants to live must head for the dining hall. No prizes for latecomers!"

The ceiling trembled above them; echoes of explosions shook the prison. The mages didn't need to be asked twice. Samson let them out of the chamber, but stayed behind himself. Almost there. Was it second, third door?..

"Raleigh?"

The soft-spoken inquiry caught him by surprise. He started and turned around, bloodied, dishevelled, a bit of sweat trickling down his temple. He'd know that voice from a thousand.

"Bird."

He pulled a grime-coated glove off his hand. The chamber was suddenly small and hot. Maddox tilted his head and observed,

"You shouldn't be here."

His even tone dug into Samson's chest like a talon.

"Come with me, Bird." He reached out, strangely still and awkward. "It's not safe here anymore."

As if it were ever safe.

Maddox took his hand without question and followed back to the stairway. His expression read polite indifference. Thunder of battle came now from all directions, up and down and outside... and within. Samson held on to the fragile cold fingers wrapped about his own. It seemed like the only real thing in the whole world.

The courtyard greeted them with a rusty smell of blood. Bodies paved its vast open central part, from the bank up to the main entrance. Here and there lone figures, dressed in dark leather, wandered amidst the corpses and finished off those still breathing.

Oh, it was glorious.

"Are we to leave Kirkwall?" Maddox mused in the same indifferent tone.

"Not yet, Bird. Soon."

Samson pulled his charge across the battlefield, eyes steady on the horizon. There, bobbing upon the waves, a small boat flickered in and out of sight. It was approaching the bank. Behind it a cloud of smoke has gathered over the city. The streets of Lowtown were lit with fires like a jolly garland on Satinalia.

The boat bumped into the shore.

The Champion alighted first. His armor was drenched in blood, some of it his. He led another man by his hand, same way as Samson did. Black coat, ruffled feathers, sunken eyes. He didn't look like a god. But he was alive when many others were not. Proof enough in Samson's canticles.

"You." Hawke's scowl deepened. "You were in on this too?"

"Aw. Feeling left out, Champion?" Samson sneered.

"Un-fucking-believable." The man shook his head, filling the air with salty droplets and crumbs of charcoal from his hair. "Alright. Let's regroup here in five. I need to speak with the First Enchanter."

"First door past the main entrance. Everyone able to fight will be there."

Hawke nodded, almost appreciative. The crew moved slowly into the courtayrd. Anders remained standing by the boat, staring back to where the city gnawed the skyline with jagged teeth of its roofs.

"This is it," he said in a bleak mockery of his normal voice.

"Yup."

"Is that?.." The mage turned to Maddox, who stood idly by Samson's side and studied the waves.

"Yup."

"He would be safer with all the others."

"He's safe enough with me."

Anders gave a nod in response. He understood.

"Raleigh." He fidgeted, visibly nervous. The name came out soft, almost tender. "If I'm not... If we don't make it out alive... I'll see you at-"

"You'll see me in the Void, where I'll be waiting for your crazy ass. Just don't bring Hawke, he'll ruin all the fun."

For a moment Anders' eyes were all crinkle and sunlight - just like in better days. Back when he remembered how to smile. He grabbed Samson by the shoulder, leaned very close to the wide astounded eyes, pressed a kiss to the scaly cheekbone. He smelled of linen and elfroot and lightning.

"Thank you, Raleigh. Let's go burn down the world."

[thethirdamell]

Have you written anywhere how you'd change inquisition?

Cause I'm really curious

It is entirely possible I have written something like this before because I have the memory of a goldfish but here are some rambling thoughts for you. 

We open with an origin story that follows your character and how their particular origin would fare in the Mage/Templar war. The Mage/Templar spans across Thedas and impacts everyone, and remnants of it are felt throughout the rest of the game. (Not just in a handful of throwaway fetch quests to STEAL BLANKETS FROM HOMELESS MAGES). Each origin has ties to a larger part of the story encouraging replayability and pushing some origins to favor some roles over others. 

An underlying current throughout each origin (told in rumors, ambient dialogue, and throw-away codexes) is the belief that there is currently a Blight. While no one has seen darkspawn, they have seen an Archdemon and the mobilizations of Grey Wardens. Either this the Sixth Blight or the Fifth Blight never really ended. (It only lasted a year - the shortest in history. Tensions run high between Ferelden and other countries who believe reports of the Archdemon’s defeat were fabricated.)

Dwarf (Any Class): A member of the Carta, you have close ties to the templars as a result of generations of lyrium smuggling. Since the war, things have never been better. Business is booming and you don't have to work in the shadows anymore, but greed is an insatiable mistress. Your operations take you to Valammar, where you've heard tales of a different kind of lyrium.

*This origin encourages you to side with the templars from a narrative perspective. You’re introduced to Barris.

Elf (Any Class): A member of the Dalish, your clan is visited by Mihris, First of your sister clan, Virnehn. Her clan was massacred by a demon unleashed by Michael Chevin, a Chevalier in service to Empress Celene. She comes to ask your clan to help aid the elves of Halamshiral, seeking refuge in the aftermath of Celene’s massacre. In exchange, she promises ancient knowledge of the Eluvians. 

*This origin provides the background of the Masked Empire that was hidden in the books. It encourages you to side with Briala. 

Human (Non-Mage): You are a templar. Your family gave you to the Chantry at a young age, and it's all you've ever known. You've never had much of a choice about anything in your life. Even your break from the Chantry is forced, your Knight-Captain having killed your Knight-Commander in a bid for power. Your first real choice comes when they hand you the red vial: drink or die.

*This origin encourages you to side with the templars from a narrative perspective. You’re introduced to Samson.  

Human (Mage): You are a mage. When your Circle called for the right of Annulment, you ran, and you've been running ever since. The First Enchanter is dead. Most of the Senior Enchanters are too. The Venatori come down from Tevinter are the first friendly faces you’ve seen in months. Then they start killing the Tranquil. 

*This origin encourages you to side with the mages from a narrative perspective. You’re introduced to Calpernia. 

Tal-Vashoth (Non-Mage): You're Tal-Vashoth. You and your brothers were separated from the antaam during the siege of Kirkwall, and have been branded as deserters. You've made a living for yourselves working for Gaspard de Chalons as mercenaries, though some of you still hope to find your way back to the Qun. He gives you a new contract to protect a Revered Mother on her way to the Conclave. 

*This origin encourages you to side with Gaspard and possibly the Qun from a narrative perspective. 

Tal-Vashoth (Mage): You were saarebas. You’re not sure what you are now. You were separated or escaped from your avaard during the siege of Kirkwall, and you’ve been on your own ever since. A retinue of templars finds you, but you’re saved at the last minute by a group of Grey Wardens. They tell you they’re on their way to their Calling, but offer to take you to the Conclave before they go, where you might find a place for yourself among the mages. 

*This origin encourages you to side with the Grey Wardens and possibly the mages or the Qun from a narrative perspective. 

The Conclave is called and serves as the ‘Ostagar’ of Inquisition. You spend time in Haven and meet the larger than life characters. You also have the option of encouraging or discouraging some of your companions from your origin to accompany you up to the Template of Sacred Ashes. (Anyone who accompanies you will die.) Demons swarm the Conclave. You fight towards the heart of the conflict. Then you get the Anchor and everyone with you dies. 

Back in Haven, you wake as a prisoner. Varric is in the cell beside you, and provides you with a quick overview of what you missed while you were unconscious. You can attempt to convince Varric to help you escape, but he will decline. You are given the option of attempting to escape on your own or attempting to plead your case

1. Escape - You can theoretically make it out of Haven but it is almost impossible to do so without being caught. If you successfully escape, you can continue as normal to help close the breach, or leave. If you leave the game ends with a bad ending circa early 90’s games. 

2. Plead Your Case - You fail miserably. You are kept a prisoner and used to close the breach and then taken to trial before the Chantry. If you’re successful in pleading your case then you’re released into the Inquisition’s service. If you’re not successful Leliana will save you and recruit you into the Inquisition’s service. 

Unsuccessful Plea - You are given less choices on the order of your next few quests. (Impacts what you have available when Corpheus attacks Haven)

Successful Plea - You are given complete choice on the order of your next few quests.  (Impacts what you have available when Corpheus attacks Haven)

Escaped and Closed the Breach - You are still made to plead your case before the Chantry but it is extremely unlikely you will be unsuccessful. All companions except Casandra are extremely impressed and receive a boost to approval. 

From here the game focuses on the formation of the Inquisition. You can make a case for Varric to be granted freedom or be left a prisoner. If left a prisoner you can come visit him and he will not begrudge you any. He can be freed at a time by speaking with Casandra with at least a modicum of approval, or by speaking with Leliana with high approval. 

You are more or less an indentured agent of the Inquisition. Your incentive as a player for completing your quests is the promise of freedom if you help close the Breach. The type of Inquisition you form is up to you in terms of who you recruit, the message you put out, and the army you create. You are not necessarily labeled the Herald of Andraste, just the Herald. What you are the Herald of depends upon your backstory and choices and can change over the course of the game. 

I.E. : Herald of the Qun, Herald of Mythal, Herald of Andraste, Herald of the Stone, Herald of Death, Herald of Freedom, etc. 

When the Inquisition is relatively stable, you are given a choice of who is the Inquisitor among your companions / advisors. You do not have to be the Inquisitor. You can also reject the idea of an Inquisitor altogether. 

After completing your choice of a few main quests, Haven will be attacked by Corphyeus. ANYONE can die on the attack on Haven (companions, advisors, etc.), and your army will also take losses that can be mitigated by mounting a solid defense. The individuals you save exist as recurring minor characters and don’t just evaporate when you get to Skyhold. 

*If Varric is still a prisoner at this time he will die. 

When dealing with Skyhold, you actually have to repair it and build up defenses by recruiting troops and companions for a final ‘lead them or fall’ suicide fight with Corphyeus akin to ME2 which many other folk have written much better than I ever could so I’ll skip that. 

For the main quests, the Templar/Mage War is the main priority as you attempt to restore stability to Thedas. Unfortunately no one believes you about Corypheus. They also find their own matters to be more pressing, and will not help you until you help them. The consensus is it is just another Blight, and that you should consult the Grey Wardens about it. 

You’re presented with four options for the mage/templar war: Mages, Templars, Broker Peace, or Ignore the Conflict.

1. Recruiting the mages can result in having Fiona, Calpernia, or both as allies. 

2. Recruiting the templars can result in both Samson, Barris, or both as allies

3. It is not possible to broker peace if all four leaders live. Some leaders will refuse to work with others. Some leaders will refuse certain conditions. This is where you get a choice of conscription versus recruitment and what the new framework of the Circle looks like, if you’re not pursuing pure independence for one side or the other.

4. Ignoring the conflict will give you more time to focus on the rest of the world. The war will continue to ravage the countryside without you, and depending upon other choices one side will win and offer to assist you later. 

Beyond the war, the game focuses on convincing the countries surrounding the Breach to focus on it as the real threat. World leaders are more concerned with the Mage/Templar War and with the possibility of a new Blight than they are concerned with the Breach. The general consensus is that it is a side-effect of the Mage/Templar War brought about by the mages. There are (possible) civil wars taking place in the Free Marches, Ferelden, and Orlais. The game primarily spans these three locations. 

Orlais - The civil war is as seen in the game between Celene, Briala, and Gaspard. How quickly you stop the civil war determines how many forces are alive in the final fight against Corphyeus. How you choose to fight in the civil war swings the outcome in favor of one leader or another. Winter Palace will not trigger until one side is ready to capitulate. The choices you’ve made during the war will strongly influence your score in the Winter Palace and your ability to sway the nobility to your side. (Similar to Landsmeet)

Ferelden - The civil war in Ferelden is conditional to your world state. If Anora is made Queen without Alistair, a civil war is started in his name whether or not he is alive, though it is much weaker if Alistair is dead or if Cousland is King. How quickly you stop the civil war determines how many forces are alive in the final fight against Corphyeus. (Arl Eamon leads the civil war and can be persuaded to end it immediately if Alistair is recruited as a Grey Warden). If Anora is removed from the throne and NOT replaced with Alistair, Ferelden is significantly weakened and not able to provide aid in the final battle. 

If the Warden was a mage and requested freedom for the Circles, this has been granted in Ferelden. Any leader will automatically provide shelter to the mages, and in the event you ignore the mage/templar conflict, this strongly pushes victory in favor of the mages. This also makes it easier to recruit both Calpernia and Fiona if Fiona knows the mages have somewhere safe to turn that isn’t Tevinter. 

If the Ferelden Circle was destroyed and you ignore the mage/templar conflict, this strongly pushes victory in favor of the templars. This also makes it easier to recruit both Samson and Barris if they know the templars will have the support of the Ferelden Crown after the war is over. 

Free Marches - If Anders was spared, a civil war takes place between Starkhaven and Kirkwall. How quickly you stop the civil war determines how many forces are alive in the final fight against Corphyeus. 

If Hawke sided with the mages, and in the event you ignore the mage/templar conflict, this strongly pushes victory in favor of the mages. If Hawke sided with the templars, and you ignore the mage/templar conflict, this strongly pushes victory in favor of the templars.

If Hawke sided with the templars, and spared Anders, this greatly increases Kirkwall’s chance of victory in the civil war with Hawke as Viscount. 

If Sebastian was rivalled and encouraged to reclaim his throne, this greatly increases Starkhaven’s chance of victory in the civil war. If Sebastian is not rivalled, this decreases Starkhaven’s chance of victory in the civil war, but increases Templar/Chantry support of Sebastian. In the event you ignore the mage/templar conflict, this slightly pushes victory in favor of the templars.

*Some templars will not side with an Inquisitor who supports a Hawke who spared Anders. 

*If Anders was killed, he is seen as a martyr by southern mages. Some mages will not side with an Inquisitor who supports a Hawke who killed Anders. 

At any point in time you can seek out the Grey Wardens for help who actually know what they are doing and have an excellent plan to use demons to defeat the Archdemons before they all go to their Calling that has nothing to do with Venatori influence and is just a solid plan. They have done nothing wrong ever in their lives and everyone loves them. Upon being informed that the Calling is fake, they agree to help you against Corphyeus, because YOU ARE NOT A MONARCH AND HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO EXILE THEM.

That’s all I got for right now but I could add to it / clean it up if you thought it was a fun read.

[secretsfromwholecloth]

Dragon Age II, day 6.

Really, whose genius idea was it to kidnap Carver?

A crash? Serves me right for going on about how this game runs like a dream on my computer and didn’t glitch or crash the way Origins did. And ignoring the weird glitchy thing the sound was starting to do. Hrmph. Let’s see how far back it threw me.

Nope, either I saved and didn’t remember it or there was an autosave to load from right where I was. Excellent.

Goddammit, Samson.

And goddammit, Grace.

Really, you wouldn’t think “this was all a misunderstanding, fuck Meredith, now let my brother go and we’ll all be on our merry way” was such an unreasonable demand, but apparently we can’t have nice things, huh Grace?

Cullen, you have some nerve ragging on Alain’s “convenient last-minute change of heart” considering what’s coming.

Boom.

Oof. Decision time. I planned from the beginning to romance Anders and then kill him, because I enjoy pain and watching a tragedy play out can be fun. I had a whole suite of headcanons ready to go, about how Pavey actually flew into a rage about being tricked and not given the choice of whether to involve herself in something as big as bombing the Chantry, and in order to make his friend look less bad, Varric made up Anders’ lines where he resigns himself to dying out of whole cloth and merged the scene where she kills him with the completely separate incident of Sebastian threatening to invade to make it seem like she was pressured into it instead of turning on her boyfriend of several years, whose politics she generally supported, for what are ultimately selfish motives and doing something that she almost certainly regretted. (Whew, that was a long sentence.) I gave Pavey the Spirit Healer specialization, despite it making zero sense with the character, specifically so I could get through the final boss fights with no Anders. Now can I bring myself to do it?

It’s done. Oh god, Anders, I’m sorry. Well, now I never have to do this again, and I am absolutely doing another run where I make it up to the poor guy.

Welcome back to the party, Carver. Well, that solves the party selection problem, Varric was never going anywhere and Fenris has been too effective a combat wombat this game to drop him.

It’s heartwarming to see how he’s fixed his shit in the years since Act 1.

The fight against the blood mage on the docks who summons a pride demon and approximately eight million shades took several tries to get right, but I finally got past it.

Warden!Carver is remarkably sweet in these final conversations, isn’t he.

Final party: Varric, Carver, and Fenris. Let’s see how many more of my life choices I can regret this game.

Harvester!Orsino time, yaaaaaaay.

I’m definitely on board with the headcanon that Varric made up this fight, and the reality was something he deemed insufficiently dramatic.

There Cullen goes. What was that about convenient last-minute changes of heart, kiddo?

Someone in Thedas please invent therapy and give Cullen some for his mage trauma so that he can start untangling everything else lurking in his psyche. Like his degree of complicity in, even responsibility for, the stuff that happened in Kirkwall during his years as Knight-Captain.

Meredith, don’t be tedious—oh, way too late for that.

Shown up to help so far: Sebastian, Aveline, Zevran (hi there!) and...is that Nathaniel? It is indeed Nathaniel. :D Let me guess, Nate, you heard what was going on from Carver and decided you wanted to help out as well.

And it’s done. Whew. Of course it added several items to my shopping list for the next couple of playthroughs, but for now, it’s done. On to Inquisition. :D

And since it’s time to say goodbye to Pavey, a picture of the baby, as per SOP.

[pikapeppa]

Fenris/f!Hawke and the Inquisition: Answers

Chapter 19 of Lovers In A Dangerous Time (i.e. Fenris the Inquisitor) is up on AO3 because I had the week off and was SUPER PRODUCTIVE, BOOM.

In which Fenris talks to poor stressy Cullen, then talks to Solas and Cole, and... well. 😬

Read on AO3 instead (~7200 words). 

**********************

Cullen paced slowly behind his desk. “I believe Dagna has settled in well. Her contributions to the Inquisition have been remarkable,” he said. “I trust you have seen the weapons she crafted?”

“Yes,” Fenris said. “They’re rather alarming. But I’ve seen no reason to doubt the arcanist’s work. Cole holds the dagger, and Cassandra will wield the sword.” He folded his arms. “I offered the staff to Hawke, but she’s chosen to stick with her usual staff.” What Hawke had really said was that the staff of Aidahn Allied looked ‘fucking disgusting’, but Fenris declined to share that with Cullen.

Cullen’s eyebrows creased slightly. “You gave the dagger to that… to Cole? Is that not… dangerous?”

“No more dangerous than providing him with any other weapons,” Fenris reasoned. He shrugged. “I can’t deny his value on the battlefield. Enemies are unable to predict his actions.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Cullen grumbled.

Fenris twisted his lips wryly. He’d harboured the very same misgivings himself, after all. But after observing Cole’s behaviour during the trip to Crestwood and discussing the matter with Cassandra, Fenris was largely convinced of Cole’s benevolent intentions, even if he was not entirely convinced that Cole’s methods were sound.

Cullen waved a dismissive hand. “More importantly than those weapons, Dagna has discovered a way to defend our people from the insidious effects of red lyrium.”

Fenris raised his eyebrows. “That’s excellent. Go on.”

“Dorian told us about the shards of red lyrium you collected in the dark future.” Cullen stroked his stubbled chin. “The ones that were safe to touch, or reasonably so?”

“Yes,” Fenris said. “They had some sort of coating or wrapping on them.”

Cullen nodded. “We shared that information with Dagna, and she came up with this.” He picked up a small box from his desk and handed it to Fenris.

Fenris opened the box. Inside was a small red charm fixed into a delicate frame of what appeared to be silverite.

“It is a scrap of red lyrium, enchanted to be inert and to… repel the effects of red lyrium, somehow,” Cullen explained. “I am not entirely sure how it works; Dagna could tell you more. In any case, wearing the charm effectively renders red lyrium no more dangerous than regular lyrium.”

Fenris nodded slowly. “So ingestion, injection, or prolonged contact…”

“... will still be dangerous, yes,” Cullen confirmed. “But our people will no longer be at risk of madness by mere proximity. Dagna is in the course of making them en masse as we speak.”

Fenris studied the charm with undeniable relief. It would have an enormous impact on their ability to fight the red Templars. Furthermore, any lingering worries that Fenris had about Hawke getting infected could finally, at long last, be put to rest.

He handed the box back to Cullen. “This is admirable work. I will give Dagna my thanks.”

Cullen took the box back with an unsmiling nod. “We have also discovered leads on Samson’s red lyrium supplies,” he said. “If we find their source, we can we can weaken the red Templars and Samson himself.”

“A solid notion,” Fenris said. “Where do we begin?”

“His caravans are being smuggled along trade roads,” Cullen replied. “Investigating them could lead to where it’s being mined.” He gave Fenris a warning look. “If you confront them, be wary. Anything connected to Samson will be well-guarded.”

Fenris frowned thoughtfully. “There is something I have wondered about. Samson’s armour was liberally studded with red lyrium, from what I could see in Haven. Yet his judgment seemed unimpaired.”

“I know. And that is what worries me,” Cullen gritted. “He and Corypheus both seem to have… subverted its ill effects, somehow, despite prolonged contact with the vile stuff.”

Fenris pursed his lips. “Perhaps they have an arcanist of their own.”

Cullen blew out a sharp breath. “Maker help us if there is another Dagna under Corypheus’s control.”

Fenris raised his eyebrows slightly. Cullen was always rather tense, but he seemed even more edgy than usual. “Is something wrong?” he asked. “Other than the usual, of course.”

Cullen leaned his palms on the desk and bowed his head, and Fenris frowned more deeply. A moment later, Cullen straightened and met his eye. “As the leader of the Inquisition, there is something you should know,” he said slowly. “I… as you know, lyrium grants Templars our abilities. But… it controls us, as well.”

“The Chantry used it to control you, you mean,” Fenris said.

“Precisely,” Cullen said. He folded his arms and turned toward the window. “We have secured a reliable source of lyrium for the Templars here, but I… no longer take it.”

Fenris raised his eyebrows. “A bold decision,” he said cautiously. But an undeniably risky one as well, if Fenris’s readings about lyrium addiction were anything to go by.

Cullen nodded. “I stopped when I joined the Inquisition. It’s been months now.” His gaze drifted over an engraved wooden case on his desk. “After what happened in Kirkwall, I couldn’t…” He trailed off, then turned and met Fenris’s eye once more. “You were there. You saw what Meredith did – what she was making our people do. I will not be bound to the Order or that life any longer.” He dragged a hand through his wavy hair. “Whatever the suffering, I accept it. But I would not put the Inquisition at risk.”

Fenris frowned slightly. “What are you proposing?”

Cullen blew out another breath. “I have asked Cassandra to… watch me. If my ability to lead is compromised, I will be relieved from duty.”

Fenris studied the Commander in thoughtful silence for a moment. “You are in pain,” he said. “The lyrium is gone from your blood, but the effects linger still.”

Cullen eyed him in surprise. “I… yes. That… that is true. But I can endure it.”

Fenris nodded slowly. He’d read a book or two about modern medicine and magical healing, and from what he understood, lyrium withdrawal was a painful process: it could result in aches and searing muscles pains, madness, or even death.

Fenris remembered his shock when he’d first read those books. The painful effects of lyrium withdrawal sounded not unlike Fenris’s own experiences for the first few months after receiving the marks on his skin. It had taken more than a year before he could tolerate more than a gentle touch – not that his discomfort had stopped Danarius’s unwelcome hands. Now, years later, the marks didn’t cause Fenris pain anymore, but their activation was still uncomfortable – like a faint pins-and-needles sensation just beneath his skin. In fact, the feeling was similar to the anchor on his left palm.

I should ask Solas about that, he thought for the umpteenth time. He truly had been intending to speak with Solas about his lyrium marks and the uncanny similarity of his and Cole’s movements in battle, but since returning from Crestwood two days ago, he’d always found himself otherwise occupied.

He pushed the thought aside for now and looked at Cullen. “Try meditative exercises,” he said. “Focused breathing. Focused only on your breath, that is. I have found… it can be helpful if done regularly.”

Cullen’s eyes darted to the tattoos on Fenris’s chin and neck. “Do you… I – that is, have you…?”

“Something similar, I believe,” Fenris said quietly. “Not precisely the same, but… similar enough.”

Cullen’s eyebrows rose, and he swallowed hard. “That is a good idea,” he said softly. “We… Meditation is a major part of Templar training, in fact. It has been years since I practiced it. I… it would be good to return to it in a… different setting.”

Fenris nodded. “Good.” He took a small step back. “Is there any other news?”

“Not at present, no,” Cullen said. He bowed slightly. “Thank you, Fenris. I appreciate the advice.”

Fenris nodded again and turned toward the exit. But before he left Cullen’s office, he glanced at the Commander once more.

Cullen was sitting in his chair and poring over the reports on his desk with a frown on his face. Now that Fenris thought of it, Cullen was probably the only person in the Inquisition that he hadn’t seen taking some sort of leisure time since he and Hawke had returned from Crestwood. Well, Cullen and Leliana, perhaps.

Fenris thoughtfully drummed his fingers on the door for a moment. “Cullen.”

Cullen looked up. “Yes?”

“Dorian told me that you play chess,” Fenris said.

Cullen scoffed. “That mage beat me one time and has never let me forget it,” he muttered.

Fenris almost laughed, but he forced his face to remain neutral. “I challenge you to a game sometime. If you can find the time.”

Cullen’s eyebrows rose, and he smirked. “A challenge, you say?” He leaned back in his chair. “You’re on.”

Fenris smirked as well and leaned against the doorjamb. “You seem reasonably confident. Are you a betting man?”

Cullen’s smirk broadened, and he chuckled. “Not with you. Your soon-to-be brother-in-law told me that you cheat.”

“My soon-to-be brother-in-law should check his facts,” Fenris drawled. He pushed himself away from the doorframe. “I only cheat for the benefit of my soon-to-be wife.”

Cullen laughed again. Fenris left his office, then made his way along the battlements. He really should speak to Solas now; there was no excuse, and he was on his way there anyway, but Fenris couldn’t help but drag his feet just a little as he approached the rotunda.

Solas was standing at his desk poring over a very thick tome. He looked up with a distracted frown as Fenris entered the room. “Fenris,” he said. “How can I help?”

“I wanted to ask about Cole’s abilities,” Fenris said. “And… mine, I suppose,” he added reluctantly.

Solas’s frown cleared. “Certainly,” he said. “I am happy to answer.”

Fenris shifted his weight to one hip and folded his arms. “How does Cole move the way he does? Melting out of sight and reappearing an instant later?”

Predictably and annoyingly, Cole suddenly appeared beside Solas. “I want to move, so I do,” he said.

Not particularly helpful, Fenris thought. He looked at Cole. “Are you entering the Fade when you move like that?”

Cole shifted his weight dreamily from foot to foot. “Shifting, sliding, skimming on the edge. It’s softer there. Quick and unexpected, like slipping on ice, but on purpose.”

“Is that a yes or no?” Fenris demanded.

Solas smiled faintly. “It is not as simple as yes or no,” he said. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Do you recall when I asked you about your movements on the battlefield? The explanation you gave to me?”

“That is why I am asking you this,” Fenris said, with a hint of impatience. “Cassandra… we noticed that the way Cole and I phase across the field of battle is similar. I have never known anyone else who can do what I do, but… Cole obviously does not have lyrium marks. And I am obviously not a spirit.” He waved between himself and Cole. “What is the connection?”

Solas eyed him for a moment longer, then clasped his hands behind his back. “I believe what Cole is saying is that he is not quite moving into the Fade, but grazing its very threshold. He is taking advantage of the unique properties of the Veil to move from place to place without being seen.”

Fenris narrowed his eyes. “So he is moving undetected by touching the Fade, but not entering it,” he said carefully.

Solas smiled. “That is a good approximation. And it does not sound dissimilar to what you do, yourself.”

“How can he – how are we able to move instantaneously?” Fenris asked.

“You must remember, time is subjective in the Fade,” Solas explained. “It does not march past us moment by moment as it does in this world. In the Fade, time moves in ebbs and flows. That is why dreams can often seem both interminably long and agonizingly short at once. It is why you can close your eyes for an instant and feel like you have slept for a month.”

His expression was more animated and enthusiastic than Fenris had seen in some time. Fenris grunted and folded his arms. “I see. But what relevance does that have to these marks on my skin?” He gestured at himself.

Solas’s smile faded. “Well, Cole is a spirit, and as such, he has a natural connection to the Fade.” He idly traced a finger along the edge of his tome, then carefully closed it. “The use of lyrium is another means of accessing the Fade.”  

“But only for mages,” Fenris said. “Their natural access to the Fade is exploited through the use of lyrium.”

“Yes,” Solas said. “That is true.”

Fenris frowned at Solas’s neutral tone. “But I am no mage,” he said slowly.

Solas looked at him and didn’t reply.

A chill trickled down Fenris’s spine. The implication in Solas’s words, and now in his silence…

Fenris’s heart jammed itself into his throat. He was suddenly remembering something that Cole had said on the way to Crestwood: that Varania was jealous because Fenris was ‘mired in magic’. Fenris had thought Cole meant the lyrium marks on his skin, but perhaps he’d meant something different altogether.

Then he remembered something else: the unnerving fact that he could feel the particular qualities of a mage’s barriers, but Cassandra and Varric could not. The strange revelation had been abandoned in the urgent rush when Haven fell, but now that Fenris was thinking about it again...

There was a buzzing in his ears. The ugly implication was looming closer, more threatening and terror-inducing than the avalanche that had nearly swept him away in Haven.

He glared at Solas. “I am not a mage.”

Solas nodded once. “You are not a mage, no. Not anymore.”

Fenris stopped breathing. Solas held up a hand. “Fenris, be calm–”

Fenris stepped away from him and bumped into Cole. “It’s all right,” Cole said gently. “Quiet, kept, controlled in your skin. You can use it to hurt, but it can’t hurt you.”

He spun on Cole. “Did you know this all along?” he snarled. “You… you knew this and you didn’t tell me?”

Cole rubbed his hands together anxiously. “It would hurt you. It is hurting you now.” He looked askance at Solas.

Solas shook his head. “Fenris needs to understand this, Cole. It is better that he know the truth.”

“What truth?” Fenris snapped. “Tell me exactly what you mean.”

Solas folded his hands behind his back. “It is my belief that you were once a mage, and one of considerable power,” he said quietly. “But in the process of receiving those unique markings, you were stripped of your magic, not unlike what is done to a Tranquil. Unlike a Tranquil, however, your magic was channelled into the lyrium marks that are branded in your skin.”

“Why?” Fenris croaked. “Why…” He trailed off and didn’t finish the question; he already knew the answer.

Solas verbalized his thoughts anyway. “Control,” he said, softly and succinctly. “The lyrium marks, and the resultant loss of memory, gave your former master an extremely effective means of controlling you.” He sighed and bowed his head. “I am truly sorry, Fenris. I can only imagine what you are feeling right now.”

Fenris dragged in a breath and rubbed his mouth with a shaking hand. He took another step away from Solas and Cole.

“You’re the same,” Cole said reassuringly. “It was a seed, sleeping and silent, and you didn’t know. It doesn’t need to grow if you don’t want it to. It can stay a seed.”

“That is Fenris’s choice, Cole,” Solas said quietly. “Either way, he deserved to know.” He looked at Fenris once more. “Knowledge is power,” he said quietly. “You have shown yourself capable of handling both.”

Cole took a step toward him, and Fenris held up a hand. “Don’t,” he hissed. “Leave me be. I don’t need your help.”

Cole ducked his head. “I’m sorry,” he said. Then he disappeared.

Fenris turned away and ran a hand through his hair. Then Solas spoke in a very soft, calm voice. “I know this is not what you wanted to hear. But with understanding comes control.”

Fenris glared at him. “I have control already,” he retorted.

Solas tilted his head slightly. “Then why did you ask about Cole? About the markings on your skin?”

“I... wanted to know,” Fenris rasped. “I wanted answers. For all the good that has done me,” he added bitterly.

To his surprise, Solas smiled. “Good,” he said softly. “Curiosity. A thirst for knowledge.” He clasped his hands behind his back once more. “Always an admirable trait.”

Fenris scoffed in disgust and turned away. Then Solas spoke again, and his voice was closer. “You are angry now. But when you have had time to think, you may have more questions, and I would be happy to talk some more.”

“No,” Fenris said. He stepped away from Solas. “No more talking. I… have had enough of talking. I–”

“Hello, Fenris.” He jumped as Leliana’s voice drifted into the rotunda, followed by the spymaster herself as she descended the stairs. “Josephine and I have been looking for you. Do you have a moment?”

He took a deep, calming breath. “Yes,” he said. At this point, he would take any excuse to escape this conversation. Without saying goodbye to Solas, he followed Leliana out of the rotunda and into the Great Hall.

Hawke was standing with Carver at the end of the hall, near the Inquisitor’s throne. To Fenris’s surprise, Leliana gestured to the Hawke siblings. “Wait with Hawke and Carver for a moment, please?” she said. “I will fetch Josie from her office.” She wafted away.

Fenris numbly drifted toward Hawke and tried to hide the agitation that was roiling in his chest. Carver was talking, and Hawke looked as though she had something bitter in her mouth and was trying her best to hide it. As Fenris approached them and heard Carver’s topic of conversation, he instantly understood why Hawke looked so uncomfortable.

“... the ones that pass the Harrowing, you know?” he was saying. “It’s something to celebrate. Some of the nicest parties we had at the Circle were after a successful Harrowing. Nice for the mages and the Templars, I mean. At least I think so. We didn’t really talk to the mages, of course, because we weren’t allowed, but–”

“Fenris!” Hawke blurted. She perked up as he drew near, but her expression instantly fell into dismay when she caught sight of his face. “What’s wr–”

He shook his head sharply. He couldn’t talk about it now, not with Carver present, and not in public like this.

He ignored her worried expression and turned to Carver. “I hear you’ve given me a reputation for cheating,” he said.

Carver’s mouth dropped into an ‘o’ of surprise. “What?” he said blankly. Then his face lit with comprehension. “Oh, you mean to Cullen?”

“Yes, to Cullen,” Fenris said. “He refuses to place bets on a chess game with me.”

Carver smiled, then folded his arms. “It’s for your own good, really. Commander Cullen was the best chess strategist in the Kirkwall Circle.”

Hawke scoffed. “Chess? Really? I bet those parties in the Circle were a real fun time.”

Carver scowled. Then Josephine and Leliana appeared.

Leliana was holding a lute, of all things, and Fenris raised an eyebrow. “Is this a wedding-related matter?” he asked.

Hawke smirked. “No,” she said. “It’s worse.”

Fenris shot her a quizzical look, but Josephine spoke next. “Fenris, can you dance?”

He turned and stared at her. “What?”

Leliana stepped in. “Empress Celene’s masquerade is in two weeks,” she said. “It will be very important to get the approval of the court if we wish to influence events to our advantage.”

Fenris folded his arms and eyed her shrewdly. “I thought the point of this charade was to prevent an assassination and stop a madman from taking over Orlais,” he said.

“Of course it is,” Josephine said. “But if we do not present ourselves well, our hands will be tied. We will be unable to move freely through the ball to ensure that we have all the information we need to stop the conspirators.”

Fenris sighed and rubbed his face. Well, he’d wanted a distraction, and this was very distracting indeed. “So you’re saying that in order to stop an assassination, you need me to learn to dance,” he said flatly.

Hawke patted his arm sympathetically. “I told them you don’t dance, but they wouldn’t hear it.”

“Dancing is crucial at a formal function such as this,” Josephine insisted. “The dances are so much more than just that. They are opportunities for conversation, for listening in to secrets–”

“– and for observing even the subtlest hints of behaviour,” Leliana put in. “The position of a lady’s hand on a gentleman’s shoulder can tell you the nature of their relationship. The way a lord bows at the end of a dance can tell you the state of his family’s fortune.”

Fenris curled his lip and looked at Hawke. “I am going to hate this cursed function, aren’t I?”

“Yup,” she said. She squeezed his hand. “But I’ll be right there with you.”

“Actually, Hawke,” Leliana said, “we were rather hoping you would–”

“Hawke goes with me,” Fenris said roughly. “We go together, or not at all.”

Leliana bowed her head slightly. “I was simply going to suggest that Hawke remain in the public areas while you do any… investigations that may be necessary. She is a celebrity, after all, and a notorious one at that. Drawing attention to herself may actually divert attention from your absence. If your absence is necessary, of course.”

Fenris narrowed his eyes at her. He was getting the impression that this ‘masquerade’ was going to be far more than just a formal ball.

He glanced at Hawke, and she shrugged affably. “If my loud mouth and glittering personality can be of use, then I’m happy to help,” she said to Leliana.

“Wonderful,” Josephine said. She turned to Fenris in a businesslike manner. “Now there is only the matter of your dancing prowess, so to speak. Since your experience is… limited,” she said delicately, “we decided that some lessons are in order.”

Fenris frowned. “Lessons?”

“Yes,” Josephine said. “Leliana will play the lute, and I will demonstrate with Ser Carver.”

Hawke smiled at Fenris. “I have no helpful role. I’m just here for the show.”

Then Carver cleared his throat. “It’s… you can call me Carver, Josie. I mean – Josephine.”

Fenris glanced at him. His neck was turning a telltale pink.

Josephine smiled and nodded. “Of course. And you may call me Josie, if you prefer.”

Carver’s neck went red, and Hawke bit her lips. Fenris, meanwhile, scowled at Josephine and folded his arms. “And just where were you planning to conduct these lessons?”

“Here in the Great Hall, of course,” she said. “It’s the perfect–”

“No,” Fenris said flatly. “Absolutely not. We will go somewhere more private.”

Josephine looked askance at Leliana, who shrugged and folded her hands behind her back. “We could use the stables,” she said. “Or perhaps the annex, if we ask the quartermaster to leave…”

“Or our chambers,” Hawke piped in. “Right, Fenris? They’re big enough.”

Fenris pursed his lips. He didn’t particularly want all these people in the bedroom he shared with Hawke, but she wasn’t wrong; it was the most private alternative. “Fine,” he grumbled. “Upstairs, then.”

Some time later, Fenris and Hawke were sitting on the couch in their bedroom while Leliana played the lute and Carver and Josephine danced. Fenris was studying Carver’s posture and movements carefully; truly he was. But he also couldn’t ignore the goofy smile on Carver’s face as he turned Josephine on the floor with only the occasional misstep.

Leliana’s song eventually drew to a close, and Carver and Josephine stopped in a graceful pose. They broke apart, and Josephine curtsied to Carver, who bowed slightly awkwardly in return.

Josephine turned to Fenris with a smile. “That was a basic waltz,” she said. “It’s the most crucial type of dance, and the most common.” She held out her hand. “If you would, Fenris, I suggest you practice with me, to learn the motions.”

Fenris studied her hand with sudden wariness. Somehow in all the watching, it hadn’t occurred to him that he would have to touch Josephine. Or any other number of strange women at this formal function, for that matter.

Hawke, as always, immediately understood his discomfort. “Maybe I can practice with Fenris, Josephine,” she said hurriedly. “I’m a fair dancer myself.” She started to rise from the couch, but Fenris took her arm.

He turned toward her. “Hawke, it’s all right,” he whispered. “I… I need to practice this if I am to do it in public. I might as well start with Josephine.”

“Are you sure?” she murmured. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

Her expression was worried, and he knew she was thinking not just about this, but about his obvious upset from earlier.

You’re not a mage. Not anymore. Solas’s unintentionally damning words rang in his ears, and he swallowed an inconvenient surge of distress.

“It’s all right,” he repeated. Then he released her arm and stood up. “Josephine, if I may have this dance,” he said.

Her face lit up, and she clapped. “Oh, Fenris, that was perfectly polite! Yes, of course.” She curtsied deeply. “It would be my pleasure.”

He stepped toward her and gingerly placed one hand at the center of her back just below her shoulder blades, then – with no small amount of reluctance – he took her hand in his.

“A more confident grip, please,” Leliana called out. “I can see your hesitation.”

Fenris scowled slightly and adjusted his hands. Then he began to turn Josephine to the music in his best possible imitation of what Carver had done.

He soon realized that he was better off if he didn’t think about what his feet were doing, and if he just listened and moved to the reliable rhythm of the music instead. He focused on the lilting notes of Leliana’s lute as he and Josephine moved around the floor, and by the time his discomfort was finally starting to ebb, the song was over.

He quickly released Josephine and bowed, then looked at Hawke.

Her mouth was open. She snapped it shut when he looked at her. “Wow,” she said.

“Indeed,” Leliana said. Her voice was rounded with satisfaction as she put the lute aside. “It appears that we have a natural dancer on our hands.”

Fenris raised an eyebrow. “I suppose I should be pleased that this was not too terrible.”

“You were fucking gorgeous,” Hawke said. She was grinning now. “How have you been holding back on me all this time?”

Fenris shot her an exasperated look as Josephine clapped her hands. “You really did very well!” she said. Her face was brilliant with happiness. “Oh, this is wonderful. This will be easier than I expected. If you don’t mind, Fenris, we should try another dance, learn as many as you can before you must leave for Halamshiral–”

“Not today,” Fenris interrupted firmly. “I… I will practice this dance with Hawke. But I cannot learn another right now.”

Josephine nodded. “I understand. Practicing will be a great help, nonetheless. We will speak with you later.” She nodded and smiled at Carver as well. “And thank you, Carver, for your assistance.”

“You’re – of course, no – happy to help,” he stammered.

Josephine’s smile widened, and she and Leliana left.

Hawke rose from the couch and sauntered over to her brother. “So, Carv…”

He sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. “Don’t start.”

She lifted her hands innocently. “I’m not starting anything! I’m just saying, Josie is lovely–”

Carver glared at her. “Rynne, just shut it, all right? Just because you flirt with anything on two legs doesn’t mean I can do it. You bugging me about every girl I look at isn’t going to make it any easier for me to make a move.” Then his face went red. “Not that I want to make a move on… because I don’t,” he said defensively. “She’s just… nice, that’s all.”

“Yes, she is,” Hawke said seriously. “Josie is nice. She’s smart and gorgeous and sweet as fucking honey. She’s like a storybook princess. She could stand to be swept off her feet by the perfect gentleman.” She gave him a pointed and serious look. “She would be lucky to be swept off her feet by a nice boy like you. That’s all I wanted to say.”

Fenris raised his eyebrows. That wasn’t what he’d expected. From the fading scowl on Carver’s face, it wasn’t what he’d expected either.

Carver dropped his gaze and cleared his throat. “Thanks, Rynne.”

“You’re very welcome,” she said. Then she pinched his cheek. “Now get out of here. Fenris and I need to practice dancing, and you’re being a gooseberry.”

Carver tutted and rolled his eyes, then nodded farewell to Fenris. “You did great,” he said. Then he left their chambers as well.

Fenris looked at Hawke. “Impressive,” he said. “A compliment to your brother without a backhanded–”

“Fenris,” she said. Her expression was completely serious. “Tell me what happened earlier. You looked absolutely haunted.”

He stared at her, then dropped all pretense of normalcy. He sank onto the couch and buried his face in his hands.

The couch shifted as she sat beside him. She wrapped one arm around him and tugged gently at his wrist. “Fenris, speak to me,” she pleaded. “Don’t do that thing where you bottle it up. Tell me what’s wrong.”

He drew a deep breath as the conversation with Solas and Cole came crashing back in. He dragged his hands over his face, then looked at Hawke. “I was speaking with Solas and Cole,” he told her. “They – Solas said…”

He took another deep, shuddering breath. “He said I was a mage, Hawke,” he rasped. “Before Danarius branded me with these marks. He… he said I was a mage.”

His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard and covered his face with one shaking hand. Then Hawke’s arms were around him, pulling him toward her, and he pressed his face against her neck.

Her palm was warm as it cradled his cheek. She pressed her lips to his ear. “I’m sorry, Fenris,” she whispered. “I… I’m just… so sorry.”

He gripped her wrist and breathed hard against her neck. He felt betrayed somehow, betrayed by his own body: this body that felt like it belonged to a stranger for so long. From the moment he’d woken in an agonizing haze with these cursed marks on his skin, he’d felt like he was living in a disconnected vessel – a painful, ruined vessel that carried his damaged mind. It had taken years for Fenris to feel like he belonged in his own skin, years that he primarily attributed to Hawke’s patient and caring touch. But now, to know his body had naturally carried that force that he so abhorred? That he was once the very type of person that he’d hated for so long?

He squeezed his eyes more tightly shut to ward back the burn of tears. Then something odd occurred to him.

He pulled away from Hawke’s embrace. “You… you don’t seem surprised about this,” he said.

Her expression was sad and slightly apologetic, and it sent a fresh thump of anxiety through his chest. “I suspected this might be the case,” she said gently.

“You did?” he said sharply. His heart was starting to race. “Since when?”

“Since that conversation we had about the barriers, back in Haven,” she said. “I wasn’t sure, but–”

“Did you talk to Solas about this?” he demanded. His heart was thumping in his ears now, and his sense of betrayal was twisting, turning its focus from himself to her.

“Of course not. You know I would never do that,” Hawke said.

Her expression was becoming cautious now, but Fenris didn’t care. He shoved himself up from the couch and began to pace. “Who else has been thinking this?” he snapped. “Dorian? Fiona? The blasted mages in that tower of yours? Have you all been sitting there, sneering at me behind my back for my hypocrisy–”

“No,” Hawke said loudly. She rose from the couch. “If anyone else has been hypothesizing about this, I haven’t heard it.” She folded her arms and shifted her weight to one hip. “Besides, the mages have all been a little busy studying rift magic and demons and, you know, ways to avoid possession.” She tapped her chin. “There’s an Orlesian apprentice who’s trying to develop a quick-bake macaron recipe with magic, but that’s neither here nor there.”

Her tone was heavy with humour. Fenris spun on her, ready to shout that he wasn’t in the mood for her blasted jokes, but something stopped him.

Her lips were lifted in a smile, but her expression was worried and a little bit hurt. The pained smile on her face, the teasing humour in her voice, his own overwhelming rage… there was a sense of deja-vu to this, a throwback to the past before they’d really known each other – back when Hawke’s only way of coping with him was to make incessant jokes, and Fenris’s only way of coping with anything was to rage and rant at the one person who would always forgive him.

But this wasn’t the past. They weren’t those people anymore. They knew each other intimately now, and Fenris knew better than to release the wrathful words that were writhing on his tongue. He may have failed and lashed out at her during that blasted fight with Merrill two years ago, but Fenris couldn't make that same mistake again.

He turned away and rubbed his mouth. The silence was deafening and heavy, but Fenris couldn’t fill it, not until he found words to say that wouldn’t hurt her.

She slowly stepped around in front of him. “Nobody thinks you’re a hypocrite, Fenris,” she said quietly. “Nobody would think that. You didn’t ask for any of this.”

“But I did,” he blurted. “I… Varania said so. She said I competed for these marks. I wanted them!” He gestured angrily to his arms. “I wanted to be marked this way. So I must have known what I was.”

“Varania also said you competed for those marks to set her and your mother free,” Hawke said firmly. “She admitted that herself. You didn’t get those marks for the power. You got them for your family’s freedom.”

He shook his head, and Hawke stepped closer to him and took his face in her hands. “That lyrium branding ritual might have taken your memories and your magic, but it didn’t change who you are,” she said. “I’m sure of that. You’re the same person, whether you used to be a mage or not. This doesn’t really change anything.” She stroked his cheek and stared fiercely into his eyes. “Listen to me. If you were still a mage, you would be the kind of mage you admire. You’re strong and humble, Fenris. If you still had magic of your own, you would still be that way. You’re the same person you always were. This doesn’t change that.”

He gazed back at her with rising distress. Cole had said something similar: you’re the same, he said. But Fenris didn’t feel the same. Nothing felt the same. In the space of an afternoon, of a single conversation, it felt like everything had changed. More than the mark on his hand, more than becoming the Inquisitor, this new piece of information – I used to be a mage: this was the thing that shook him the most.

A tear streaked down his face, and he hastily wiped it away. Then Hawke’s arms were surrounding him once more.

An ugly sob burst from his throat. He gripped her tightly and buried his face against her shoulder, and she stroked the back of his neck. “Hey,” she crooned softly. “It’s all right. It’s going to be all right.”

You don’t know that, he thought. Nothing had been all right since the moment this whole mess had started. Dead darkspawn were coming back to life and claiming to be gods, and the existence of the Maker was being contested, and demons were trickling through the Veil like a dam fit to burst, and everyone thought Fenris would be the one to fix it with this cursed fucking anchor on his hand. But how was he supposed to fix anything? He was a man with a fractured past. A former mage who hated mages on principle – or used to, at least. He didn’t know who he was. How was he supposed to know how to fix anything?

He sobbed again, then pressed his lips together hard. He didn’t want to pour this out on Hawke; he knew she was scared, scared about the state of the world and scared for him, and the last thing he wanted was to add to her burdens.

She hugged him more tightly still. “Don’t you dare,” she whispered. “Don’t push this down, Fenris. Let it out. You’ll feel better, I promise. You know I always feel better after a big huge bawl-fest. I look like garbage afterwards, but I feel fucking wonderful.”

He attempted to laugh, but it backfired; suddenly the tears were pouring down his face, and he was shaking and barely able to catch his breath. Hawke pulled him over to the bed and pushed him down to sit on its edge, and he blindly pulled her close.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and buried his dripping face in her shirt. She hugged his shoulders and stroked his hair. “Make a mess of this shirt if you need to,” she murmured. “I don’t mind. It’s my least favourite one.”

He choked out a half-laugh, half-sob. “Shut up, Hawke,” he mumbled.

She chuckled and kissed the top of his head, and then she just held him in silence and combed her fingers through his hair as the tears poured from his eyes and soaked into her ill-fated shirt.

Some time later, when the front of her shirt was sodden and his breathing was even and calm, he loosened his grip on her waist. She carefully pulled away from him, then sat beside him on the bed and stroked his back. “Better?” she murmured.

He shrugged and roughly wiped his face. He wasn’t sure if he felt better, exactly; he felt utterly exhausted and a little bit numb. But perhaps that was better than the anxiety and the rage from earlier today.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I… I don’t know what to make of this, Hawke.”

She nodded, and they were quiet for a moment longer. Then she bumped his shoulder gently with hers. “Well, if you want to talk about it, I’m always here.”

“I know,” he said quietly. Then he sighed. “Solas also offered to… to talk about it further. But I don’t… I am not… I don’t want to talk about this. Not now.”

She nodded again, then gently kissed his shoulder. “That’s fine,” she said. “And, I mean… since it’s… what’s done is done,” she said carefully. “So you could just put it behind you, if you want.”

“That’s what Cole suggested,” Fenris said. “Or… that’s what I believe he meant. I can’t be certain what the blasted demon means half the time.”

Hawke chuckled, then bumped his shoulder playfully. “Well, it looks like Solas and Cole have it covered. I suppose you don’t need me after all.”

“No,” Fenris said seriously. He turned to her and took her hands. “You are what I need.” He stroked her hands with his thumbs. “This… this cursed knowledge is a weight. It… all of it is an insufferable weight. I am only standing tall because you are standing with me.”

Her jocular expression softened, and she leaned forward to press her forehead to his. “I’m the same,” she whispered. “I’m… Maker’s balls, I’m not happy we’re here, but I am glad we’re here together.”

She nuzzled his cheek, and he sighed and closed his eyes. Moments later they were stretched out on the bed, their limbs tangled together and his face pressed against her chest once more, and the exhaustion was creeping in and pressing on his eyelids.

He sighed and slid his hand under her shirt to feel the comforting heat of her back, and she caressed his neck and hair. “Have a nap, Fenris,” she whispered. “You need it. I’ll wake you up in an hour or so.”

“All right,” he mumbled. He nestled his face against her chest and tried to let his tired mind go blank. There was so much uncertainty to deal with: how to kill Corypheus, and what the Grey Wardens were doing out in the Western Approach, and what exactly this blasted Orlesian ball would entail. He’d always been uncertain about his own past, and he thought he’d come to terms with that. But now that he had answers – answers he did not like – he felt even more uncertain than before.

But through it all, like a shining beam of light cutting through the murky darkness, there was one thing he could be certain of: that Hawke would always be by his side.

Her fingers pressed gently on his scalp, and her familiar scent of sandalwood filled his lungs. Comforted and carried by her presence, Fenris finally closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

[whereismywarden]

One Templar and a Baby

Read on AO3 sumary: young templar recruit raleigh samson is tasked to take a newly born baby to the chantry. on his way there, he gets very attached to the small child. word count: 2164. pairing: none. rating: g. warnings: circle-life (a child is taken from her parents).

It was such a small fragile tiny little thing. Even wrapped in a blanket, the baby couldn't weight more than five pounds. The bundle had been shoved into Samson’s arms with almost no second thought for the young mother whose cries he could still hear from the hallway. The child echoed the sounds of her mother as soon as she came into contact with the young templar.

“Don't just gawk at it!” Knight-Captain Wentworth’s voice boomed behind him, making the baby scream even louder. “Take it to the Chantry already!”

“Y-y-yes, ser,” he stammered. “Right away, ser.”

He laid the child delicately into the small basket he had been given to transport her. She continued screaming and, for a moment, Samson wondered what he could do to quiet her. He didn't know the first thing about babies. Templars weren't trained for that and he was too afraid to hurt her with his heavy armour if he so much as tried touching her again. So he dashed through the Gallows with a roaring infant. The mages gave him the stink eye as he passed by them. He didn't like it any more than they did, but what was he supposed to do? Disobey orders? If not him, someone else would be taking this girl away.

[Read the rest on AO3]

[shadowyin-yang]

Fav Anti-Anders argument of the Day #2

The Haters: CUZ Terrorism!!! 

The same Haters:

Doesn’t hate Solas/... to the same extent / or criticize Solas (to the same extent)

Doesn’t hate Petrice/probs doesn’t even remember her

Doesn’t hate Meredith to the same extent / hold Meredith to the same level of criticism 

Doesn’t criticize Elthina 

Doesn’t criticize Cullen

DOES criticizes Samson though

Doesn’t criticize Hawke/your character

Probs doesn’t know what systematic oppression is 

Probs doesn’t understand Anders as a character as his motivation contradicts the basic definition of terrorism

Probs doesn’t realize Inquisition’s ending basically made it canon that the Chantry boom was a good thing

Me: I don’t think you guys know what terrorism means...

[iimmcrtalis-archive]

DA verse

a summary post of all my active muses verse(s) in dragon age because i’m f EELING IT BOYS. except terry for rn bc it’ll be Hard. one day. gonna try and go in a from least knowledge bout their verse to extensive knowledge of ‘em so. ayy

this is a pretty long post i apologize to those on mobile!!

Nova; mage(???), human ( ? ), possibly a distant noble

probably a mage? because blue space magic is her jam. though she’s actually more of a combat & tech. she was like well rounded in that regard so i’m considering iunno??? battlemage maybe w/ lockpicking who knows. she’s a sneaky mage that can stab u real good.

would probably also assume she’s pretty good as inquisitor because she would treat it as her role and thing she still has to bare and takes it seriously. like nova is no nonsense as inquisitor but absolute nonsense when she’s not playing that role lmao. 

Morgan; mage?? human af ye. defo a noble blood t BH. 

i unno man. iunno. is he a mage? yeah probably. would he be a legit battlemage + arcane warrior? probably. Would i say he uses a real sword? pro b ab ly. like listen he’s a beefy mage who wears normal armor and probably looks like a fckn non mage but bOOM SUDDENLY LIGHTNING FROM HIS HAND W H AT 

iunno he’s a mage and he’s aggressive as FUCKKKK. aggro as fuck. probably sides withhh iunno both he’d want both and think it’s wasted potential to only have one lmao. iunno he’s hard to figure out man. he’d ultimately probably be like templars because actual ppl who know how to fight. but also wouldn’t wanna condemn the mageS??? so who knows who knows. 

anyways he probably likes blackwall and the iron bull and viv and cass?? and just ye. chills w/ them a lot probably. probably would flirt w/ cass tho god. butw/e no he’s uhhhh real aggressive as a fckn inquisitor like every body getting beheaded. except a few probably.. he would probably make uh... whats his name... tranquil tbh. worse fate than death that yes he would wish on his enemies bc otherwise they get what they want & too risky otherwise. 

Igne; old af elf, probably an assassin combo w/ magic??

like listen if you tell me that they can’t be both ima fckn punt u bc really that’s dumb. defeats the point of multiclassing in the fantasy genre of g am es. anyways really tho they’re old. old as balls. probably? iunno. probably served like... andruil for a while or somethin! got a lil lil corrupted but didn’t want it and wanted freedom so they were like FUCK THIS SHIT IM OUTTIE 

how’d they live? no idea. not a single clue bc i just don’t know jackshit bout ancient elf shit anymore (when did i ever) but honestly. it’s probably a thing right? old af elves everywhere. but no no they’d probably even annoy sera bc like they’re literally?? nonsense. violent af nonsense. hanging off a roof with a fckn potato in their mouth & lookin ready to murder. 

it’s a look™  but nah thinkin that u hhh corruption shit is probably what gave them a red eye ayyy

inquisitor igne is like dagger eyes at solas but doesn’t snitch on him ever not even once. she’s got his back man. she’d be like cool i’ll plaY BOTH SIDES SUre. sure. no mercy run on ppl tho god 

EVELYN / ISENE; old af elf. got that fckn combo again

it’s a theme really, combo classes. all my muses? multiclassed fuckers.  for a detailed everything, please refer to her old blog bc this is gonna be a stupid summary of it so ayyy.

old as dicks dude. lost her arm in the rebellion, against the rebellion. served elgar’nan because he fits her the most tbh. still sort of serves him i guess. like if he showed up she wouldn’t hesitate to follow his orders is what i mean here. otherwise she keeps up the facade of being a former dalish elf mercenary. and definitely doesn’t shy away from admitting she’s got magic. never calls herself a mage because  like lmao 

she has a fckn big ol sword she carries around one handed? and if ur like UR JUST A MAGE she’s gonna use said big ol sword to chop ur head off. not a fan of modern mages tho lmao. at all. like not a lot of sympathy for them. but she would also just kick a circles door in and be like cool leave gtfo you weaklin lil fucks jfc go learn somethin. 

would fight solas in a denny’s parking lot at 2am if she knew jack shit. but she really doesn’t so she’s like ur weird and i dont trust you  butyeah lm ao

Eludysia; ngl i unno if she’s old old but she’s Old. Old seer lady. 

honestly i think she’s not gonna have much of a da verse in general but it exists enough that i feel like i should cover it here. but essentially she’s an old elf seer in rivain. leader of a port side town. No chantry or qunari around its a lot of elves tho. refugees and what not from kirkwall and stuff. 

i unno if she’s an ancient elf but i know she’s old. like real old. so who knows

if she is ancient she probably woulda been like a priestess to ?? falon’din or dirthamen??? because seer shit but like even in a current state she’s fairly devoted to on e o f them or both? probably both lmao. so it’s w/e. 

she’s the former keeper of the clan revas got sent to, which is where revas’ mom is also from and how she gets to that clan. but she was keeper of the clan for like.. a long time like a long time. like that bald fuck from da:o  but without plaguing people with a curse. iunno how she did it but magic and better than that shit. 

more important if revas is inquisitor because lmao she’d probably be like.. welp im gonna come guide you?? probably.   shit she’s probably like emerald knights old tho shit but no fuckin!!! probably comes to be an advisor. 

i think if u go revas as commander/advisor or inquisitor in a thread eludysia’s probs gonna show up and be like sup  but otherwise she’s mainly just a contact in rivain for info and resources!! no special quest or anything u can just contact her for stuff. 

Warren; half-elf, half-qunari. big man w/ a bow.

&& a thick af accent let’s be real here. 

i haven’t made a post about his shit yet so! this one might be a lil longer!! 

grew up in/around starkhaven. in an alienage somewhere really! but he’s got that starkhaven accent. probably just fumbled his way there because honestly he got fucking ditched by his people and has no idea who his parents are lmao. just knows his mom died during child birth and he was fuckin cursed essentially via his?? clan or something. that qunari bit of him is real obvious as his horns grew out and probably had a harsh life in an alienage. 

because he’s not an elf. but he’s not human. and he’s not a qunari. so he’s just. him. 

eventually falls in with some ppl who teach him to steal. so he does a lot and then gets busted and they fckn break his horns off and chop his ears!!! and throw him the fuck out. as you do. but they taught him to use a bow so he’s good with that. and knives. good at close quarters and a long range.

gets better with a bow. real top knotch stuff. ends up in a mercenary crew (same one as qunari inquisitor? probably.) enjoys his merc lifestyle ya know has a good time killin shit 

anyways. companion warren is p much like ‘Strength & force.’ because he has no tact and doesn’t care about politics. like one day i’ll have his approval / disapproval shit. but today is not that day.

but the same applies to his inquisitor shit. he’s fucking brutal as an inquisitor. cares about the little people but FUCK the rich. takes the well for himself ( tho if i would also say revas is there bc i can and she’d take it) but generally just!! give him power and let him kill shit!! that’s all he cares about. tho he wouldn’t kill samson or calpernia bc he doesn’t see them as enemies or villains truly? just pawns in a big scheme and he’d probably stare corypheus in the face and be like get fucked you saggy fuck 

he’s great, great guy. 

Revas: Keeper. Dreamer. Dalish elf. 

literally like most people know Revas’ Dragon Age basics!! but if you don’t i’ll just direct you to her old blog, so you know what’s up.  i’ll put it into a summary the best i can tho! 

Backstory: short and simple? #fucked.  expanded? she was born to the lavellan clan to one of the head hunters & warriors. ended up having magic so she was sort of training to become second, or first, till her moms old clan was like hey we need a new first so uhhhh help us out. and they traded some goods and revas went on her way. ended up being a fucked up situation where the previous first was murdered by two clanmates who eventually tried ( and did) murder revas but she came back bc lmao spirit help & ended up killing them and leaving for her actions.

Dragon Age: Awakening:  full page about it Takes place shortly after this event happened. she lived on her own for awhile, protecting people as much as she could from darkspawn during the blight. ends up going to the wardens because someone doesn’t appreciate her help since she’s a Mage.     The choices made by the warden in regards to her effect how she becomes a warden and the rest of the timeline. Sort of a branch off feel. highly recommend taking a look at the page and also this post. 

DA 2:  If not in the Awakening verse, Revas travels around to the clans. becoming a traveling keeper & helping the clans the best she can. As well as finding ruins and exploring man memories from lost objects. Eventually finds her way to Kirkwall to actually speak with Merrill. But some other shenanigans play out and some stuff goes down. Ends up helping in the fight at the end and leaving with Zevran ( @allurfavesrqueer‘s zevran only lmao. )

DA:I     Companion: Shows up in fereldan with some tree peeps. gets some elvhen shit. offers her services to the inquisition bc that’s what her spirit told her to do. and ya know real fucky. shares some approvals as solas but usually has some pretty contrasting opinions on things! Will defo take on the role of like older sibling or sibling figure with the inquisitor if they’re close enough. Be kind to elves & mages and you’re good.  ( also she’s an option to take the well if the inquisitor doesn’t want it) 

   Advisor: Takes up an offer by the inquistor to become an advisor which is more or less her using her network with the elves around the countries to do certain objectives and what not. acts a bit like an ambassador for the elves & mages in the meetings to give them a voice and remind the human board of trusteeeess that they’re fucking not the only ones around :)) 

  Commander: Mainly with @desiderrium‘s Cullen. Basically Revas takes over for Cullen? at his request kinda because she’s like what the fuck you’re whAT. and gets pissed at everyone else for keeping him on when he’s Not Okay even if she’d rather kick his teeth in 99% of the time. why revas take over? because she’s actually p fuckin qualified, gestures vaguely towards being a first and the advisor au. like she knows how to lead ppl so ayy. 

  Inquisitor: Same ish backstory happens except her parents died to the blight and she left the clan for the other and ye same shit happens. but the clans ask her to go check shit out for them and shes like of course and gets caught up in the mess so. 

ALRIGHTY !! 

so that got long but yea!! hopefully this is a more condensed version of stuff and good for reference later. 

[rusted-pipe-of-wisdom]

this is getting out of hand

[rusted-pipe-of-wisdom]

team horrible life choices

[rusted-pipe-of-wisdom]

Terrible WIP Synopsis

Got tagged by @pinkfadespirit and @laniardraws (thank you!). I am once again making promises I will not keep. Hit me up if you wanna know more about any of these.

Ghostbusters - Nate and Anders cracking jokes and hunting demons in the next chapter of ‘Not Of Heroes’ (this one is the most likely to actually see the light of day). Also guess who’s back and pissed off.

Yet Another OC Nobody Asked About - Self-explanatory. I gave Ferelden a dumb slut pyromancer, now I’ll give Orlais an actual serial killer. My canon do what I want. Technically part of ‘Not Of Heroes’ verse, though they’re only mentioned in passing.

Blah Blah Symbolism, Something Something Anders - a song illustration for Superhero by Johnny Hollow bc I’m replaying DA2 & it’s very mage rebellion. THE BOIS IN CHARGE CELEBRAAATE THEIR CUNNING GAME OF SWITCH AND BAAAIT-

That One Handers Werewolf AU With No Smut - now with smut. And cannibalism.

You Met Me At a Very Strange Time In My Life - a ficlet I should’ve finished ages ago concerning the details of Samson and Anders’ plan re: Chantry boom.

Rat Wives Rat Wives Rat Wives - a post-canon lurkwin fic. Billy and human!Outsider return to Dunwall after travelling the isles for a few years. Planning stage.

Abbey Of The Everyman Has Gay Vibes And I’ll Die On This Hill - a dying Overseer bonds with a fatally wounded Witch. Coz y’know, same gay hat. Not really sure where this one will go but I’m a sucker for the ‘think who the real enemy is’ thing. Planning stage.

Nothing Stands Between an Angry Cantonese Woman And Her Settled Status. Not Even Aliens. - a long-term original project I’m adding to bit by bit. Bunch of disabled people fight a rich guy with the power of love and a sniper rifle. Rich guy’s wife says fuck you to the dead wife trope. Man in a wheelchair forms a found family with an underage caretaker and a deaf-mute assassin. The angry woman fucks an alien. There’s a robot and it swears. Cyberpunk, post-apocalypse, space opera, weird bullshit.

tagging @jowanmancer @hoochieblues @ocean-in-my-rebel-soul @ryanstormarts @massgrav and offering any passer-by a free chance to summon me to your blog to stare menacingly at your wips like they owe me money. no pressure~