#solas is an ass man and i love that for him

[datannapanda]

Solas: The Dalish are wrong about a lot and they don't know/respect The Old Ways as much as they should 😡

*sees Lavellan's butt*

Solas: Maybe I was wrong to judge the Dalish so easily

[wineredsea]

chat, how cooked are we for getting all the gortash merch from one stand at comic con and the artist remembering me?

[fenharel-babe]

Personally cannot wait to see Solas fuck shit up.

[croagunnnk]

struggling to decide who to romance in my current dai playthrough.. sera, cullen, maybe even solas…

[vir-bellanaris]

Solavellan ending spoilers/clarification below

I see too many folks upset because they think Lavellan died or sacrificed herself at the end of Veilguard. When that's simply not the case.

We are given no indication that either one of them "died", that was Solas' magic taking them inside the Veil/into the Fade.

He even specifically states to her that "where I am going is terrible." And this time, he allows her to come with him and try to soothe the titans/ease the Blight together.

Is it all sunshine and rainbows for them after this? No. But their story lives on and that's what matters.

Also people complaining he seemed distant with her etc etc did we watch the same scene? Also give the man some breathing room LOL he just almost got his ass handed to him by Elgar'nan and then had Mythal release him from her service. Guy is probably reeling.

This is the in game end credit art of their reunion

"...and the Inquisitor finally reunited with her true love."

[rederiswrites]

Just saw a (perfectly good otherwise, which is why I'm making my own post, because I have no desire to beef) post that talked about how good Veilguard is and hinged part of its argument on the idea that bringing down the Veil would kill everyone and would definitely be a bad thing. But that theme worked specifically because they forced the narrative that bringing down the Veil was a bad thing, and purged all evidence to the contrary from the game's lore!

Look, I think Veilguard IS a great game! I love it! But, like every other DA game before it, it leapfrogs right over some established lore to tell a different story, and the story it ultimately told was not about quite the same Solas many of us loved in Inquisition and Trespasser, and the difference is significant.

There was quite a LOT of reason to believe that the Veil is an unsustainable artificial structure that, by its existence, does literally incalculable harm. And no one, probably Solas included, knows what the final consequences of bringing it down would be.

The Veil was a mistake in the first place. It changed Thedas so completely that even the ancient lore of all currently existing cultures does not talk about what it was like before. It's unimaginable. We see only tiny glimpes of a world where gravity might as well not exist and form is mutable and elves don't age and if you got bored you could go on a whole-ass vacation from your body, for centuries if you wanted. Where magic was inextricable from physical existence. Where you could spend centuries playing a piece of music. And not only was it a mistake, but it didn't quite do what it was designed to do! The Blight got out anyway! Slower, and less, but it still got out.

So what Trespasser set up was a choice--continue the deep harms of the current world, a world that is in a near-constant state of apocalypse, or incur the terrible harms of bringing down the Veil for what might be a better world after. But what Veilguard gave us was a man who was used by someone he loved, betrayed by people he trusted, and never in all his wisdom managed to move past that. And your choice is to either trick him or help him move past that. It was actually a compelling story! I can buy it. The story of a spirit, deeply damaged by the things he felt trapped into doing. But it WAS a forced narrative, and they had to brush a bunch of really pivotal lore under the rug to make it work. "What is a Circle" levels of don't mind the man behind the curtain.

I defend the right of creatives to alter their story and tell it the way they want to. I also recognize the difficulties they face dealing with technical and business realities. But let's not pretend that people who were disappointed with Veilguard just don't get it or didn't understand the lore correctly. We can enjoy the game and also not invalidate that disappointment.

[saanphoenix]

Solas in Inquisition: "Man. I miss court intrigue--the power, the danger, the sex. Ancient Orlais sucked ass, though. The STENCH. Humans had no concept of hygiene back then, I suppose. ...But now it's alright! They've got frilly cakes. Love those. Very decadent, y'know?”

DA Fandom, somehow, about Solas getting a fancy new outfit in Veilguard: "Um, excuse me, he would not wear that."

Me: "...The guy who was having the time of his life in the court of Orlais because it reminded him of the courts of the Evanuris, of which he partook in as second-in-command to Mythal, wife of Elgar'nan? The guy who says they will have to launder their clothes, or burn them, when going to the Fallow Mire. Because it stinks and is dirty and is a bog. The man who fled memories of ancient Orlais...because of the stench. ...That guy? Would not? Wear the best looking leathers and armor with his wolf shit sewn into the back of it?? I... Are you sure about that?"

[kcwriter-blog]

More thoughts on Solavellan

I started replying to a post about the psychological aspect of Solavellan because it was interesting, well thought out and I thought good points were made but it got very long, and I had new thoughts. I wanted to put them down. This is not a criticism of that post in any way, it’s good and I urge people to read it. I just see things differently.

The big problem I have with most takes on Solavellan is how they take agency away from Lavellan whenever Solas is mentioned. We have a woman who grew to be one of the most powerful leaders in Thedas but when we talk about her and her feelings, she suddenly becomes this naive child desperately in love with the man who broke her heart. I just don’t see it. I don’t see a relationship – no matter how intense – of a few months, defining her going forward. So, let’s look at it.

Solas and Lavellan do love each other deeply. We don’t hear Lavellan say I love you until the breakup scene and she never calls him vehnan until Trespasser. Obviously, that is, as with most things in the romance, because it was a rushed, late add to the game. But it is interesting.

People get on Solas’ case for not defining the relationship, but I would argue she isn’t in a hurry to define it either. Which is smart. They haven’t been together long and one, the other, or both of them could die.

It’s possible that Crestwood is the first chance they have had to talk about it. I’ve never liked the first dialogue option because Lavellan seems genuinely surprised that up until now, she doesn’t know what to call Solas. Which is silly. They have been exclusive for a few months now. They are in love. She’s been calling him something and my guess is it is vhenan (her heart, home). And Solas fully intends to have that discussion. He just gets cold feet because what he has to tell her isn’t something she is going to believe.

Moving on. The valleslin scene has had a lot posted about it and I don’t want to get into it. I think what’s important is not whether it is removed or not but the idea that Solas alone destroys her faith by telling her the truth. Did he hammer the final nail in the coffin of her faith? Yes, but a smart Lavellan has to be questioning everything already. Why? Because she met Mythal.

Even before she meets the head of her pantheon, she has been to the Temple of Mythal and learned a lot that differs from her people’s mythology. She learns that Mythal was murdered, not locked away. She learns that the Dread Wolf had no part in that murder. She sees a depiction of the Dread Wolf in an antechamber of the temple in a guard dog position which is weird. If she drank from the Well, she has a lot of ancient elven voices in her head telling her stuff. If she didn’t, she would have Morrigan telling her the same stuff.

She meets ancient elves. And those elves don’t see her or the Dalish as their own. Just as a reminder, Solas isn’t the only ancient elf to have feelings about the Dalish. Abelas is very pointed about saying Lavellan isn’t one of his people. Felassan makes fun of the Dalish. Mythal says “the People bend the knee to easily” in DA2. Heck, Felassan thinks more of the city elves than he does of the Dalish. Solas eventually comes around. It’s a grudging respect but he does allow that they have some good qualities.

Lavellan meets Mythal and Mythal isn’t exactly a nice person. She has chosen to possess the body of a human, not an elf. She never helps the elves. So, you have an elven goddess in diminished form running around helping human heroes but doing nothing for the people that pray to her. That must rock her world and her faith.

Her faith is already on the ledge by Crestwood. Solas possibly pushes it over. And he never would have told her if he hadn’t messed up and changed his mind about the other thing. It’s all impulsive. He isn’t thinking straight, just covering his ass and it hurts her. However, I think he still intended to carry on the relationship without telling her the truth. During the kiss, he finally realizes that if he loves her so much he almost told her everything, then not telling her is morally wrong and he comes up with a reason to end it.

After the breakup, Lavellan is hurt. It always hurts when someone breaks up with you. What hurts the most is knowing he still loves her. What also hurts is he won’t give her a reason. I don’t think she is questioning everything he told her at this point. He’s just the cold-hearted son of a bitch who broke her heart.

Most of us have been there. We’ve got breakup playlists, alcohol and friends to help get us through it. I usually imagine my Lavellan grabbing Bull, Dorian and Cole to help her take out her anger on a poor unsuspecting dragon. I also put off triggering the Wicked Grace game until after the breakup.

That doesn’t mean she isn’t angry or crying on Josephine’s shoulder. Of course she is, but she isn’t questioning her life choices. She could tell Solas to get lost, but she keeps him around. She is even kind to him when the Orb is discovered broken.

And everyone is kind of busy planning to find and finish Corypheus off once and for all. I see her putting a pin in it. Once they win, she will confront him and demand answers.

She doesn’t get the chance because he leaves without saying goodbye. That has to hurt. I don’t see her in a place where she could never trust anyone ever again. It’s more likely, she throws daggers at a drawing of him out in the practice yard. Even if she still loves him, she is an adult not a maiden in distress. As much as she loves Solas, her entire world does not revolve around him.

Solas made his choice. She may be concerned about him - especially after Cole’s cryptic message - but I don’t see her searching frantically for him. He knows where she is and can send her a message if he needs her.  

And she is busy. She must help clean up the mess Cory made. She has rifts to close. She has dignitaries to meet. She has paperwork. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for pining.

There is an idea that Lavellan is alone because all of her inner circle except her advisors go off and do their own thing. Except that isn’t true. They write letters – which you can find exploring the Winter Palace – in those letters some of them mention having visited or that they will visit. Lavellan is also capable of making new friends. She is not static.

Solas leaving her may still hurt. She may have (and probably did) tried to move on but so far no one matched him for any number of reasons. She is only alone in the sense that any leader is alone. What she probably misses the most about Solas is that he always treated her like a person, not an icon.

Then we get to Trespasser. If you have found all the clues for the secret dialogue option, she has figured out Solas is the Dread Wolf long before she confronts him. She has seen the murals, learned his story. She knows the Dalish got it wrong. She knows from experience that the Dalish get a lot wrong. And he’s Solas. She might not know him as well as she thought but she saw beneath his mask a little. She isn’t going to be afraid of this figure out of Dalish legend. Mostly she is going to be pissed because he didn’t tell her the truth, because he didn’t trust her.

As far as the arm thing goes. Weekes and Epler have said, he did not amputate her arm. Solas drew out the magic that was killing her. The arm disintegrated. It was already doing so by the time she meets Solas. If he hadn’t drawn out the magic, she would have disintegrated just like Solas’ friend Wisdom. I think arguments that she would have trouble trusting anyone based on this are a non-starter

Once all that is over, will Lavellan have a hard time trusting anyone? She will have a hard time trusting Solas. Who wouldn’t? Will it color her perception of anyone she might want to be romantically involved with? For a few years maybe but what are the chances she will fall in love with another god?

Trust isn’t just about people you’ve been romantically linked with. She still trusts her inner circle. They help her. A bad experience with one person, no matter how much she may love him, isn’t going to make her stop trusting people entirely.

Now apart from Solavellan, I’m pretty sure Lavellan is messed up psychologically. You can’t go through what she did and not be a little messed up. But it is that experience that may make her empathize with Solas and understand why he left her.

She knows what it is like to be a leader. Not in the sense of leading her clan but in the sense that her decisions have huge consequences. She knows how a leader’s decisions are always second guessed - like they are at the Exalted Council if you chose to exile the Wardens. She knows what it is like to have to step up and be the one to save the world. She knows that sometimes there are no good choices, and you do the best you can. She knows it messes you up and you can lose your way. Solas has lost his.

Is it ten times harder to empathize when you loved that person, and they destroyed your trust? Yes. Solas will have to win her trust back. She will view anything he says or does with suspicion, as anyone would. However, Solas rarely outright lies. She knows this. She will be asking a lot more questions and be paying more attention. She also knows that he didn’t lie about loving her.

Okay, but he is still planning to tear down the Veil so he must not love her very much. Her love moved the needle. He went from believing nothing was real to thinking everyone is real. Is it so hard to imagine that Lavellan thinks he can be reasoned with? I doubt she thinks her love alone will change him. That doesn’t mean she won’t want to try. That doesn’t mean she will want him back when it’s all over. It also doesn’t mean she is a quivering mess obsessing over their relationship.

Solavellan can be whatever you want it to be, based on your own experiences. For some it's an angsty story with a Lavellan pining for him. For others, she gets over it fast with Cullen's help. For me, she is a strong, proud woman who is able to use her own experiences to empathize with Solas and want to save him from himself. She may still love him, but that love has been tempered by her experiences with him. They will need to have a long talk if they ever meet up again.

[loredrinker]

Replaying Inquisition and actually impressed how much consistency there is with Solas DAI and Solas DATV. Lots of delightful things to revisit overall in the game.

I love how some of the companions just go at each other. Oh, we all think Solas is the ego, arrogant companion? Most of them are! I am eating the way Dorian and Blackwall go at each other. "Your kind, you people", so much mistrust in the beginning with most of the companions.

Noticing early on in the Hinterlands when you finally gain enough approval to meet with the Chantry, Solas is impatient. Hey, Seeker, shouldn't we go meet with the Chantry now? Hey guys, uh, surely we have caught their attention, let's go! He is so anxious to deal with his mess and fast. Solas my man, we gotta go kill some rams first. Chill.

Playing an Inky that is trying to play a balance of compassion and self-interest with each companion. Trying to create an inconsistency with approval/non-approvals. Fascinating the various responses.

Love seeing the Dread Wolf come out in Solas in moments in DAI. All New Faded for Her, his snarkiness with companions in the beginning, his response to the nightmare demon. But you also see the rebel leader. The moments he talks about war. On the way to Skyhold if the Inquisitior is an elf, talking about needing to be seen as allies, the way he talks with Sera about the Red Jennis. But I never noticed before how he is consistently giving approval when you help out refugees or those in need. And just how he is with Cole in general. Overall you just get a great picture of Solas with both games. I feel like Inquisition gives us a look at Solas before he is consumed by isolation, violence, war and regret - what he was like in his very early years of existence and ideals and DATV is the after affects.

Which, his voice in both games fits that as well. His older voice in DATV sounds tired, worn out - so controlled, I love it. Young Solas voice in DAI is filled with passion, emotion, even in his anger, or his excitement. Really great contrast.

Humble apostate? In clothing only maybe. Everyone's posture is shitty in Inquisition. All of them strutting around with hunched over shoulders. Talking to Solas in the Rotunda, travelling with him, his posture is ram rod straight like a broom is up his ass. Comparing it to DATV it's a very similar design. We see it again in Trespasser.

Paying especially close attention to Solas and Blackwall - their stories and cut scenes. Their lines - so much parallels. Blackwall's omissions are just as juicy as Solas'. I wonder how differently players might feel about Blackwall if he never returned after finding out he was Rainier and what he did.

The intro to Skyhold, the passage through the mountains, the music, it will forever remain one of my fave sequences. It's the combination of Solas guiding the Inquisitor, his narration - his planning to ensure this person can be in a position to fix his mess.

Cassandra. Cassandra is as bad ass now as she was when I first played DAI. What a phenomenal character. I love every scene with her.

Absolutely enjoying Vivienne this playthrough too. She is so intelligent, well versed in the ways of the world.

Will soon dive into Jaws of Hakkon - it's been a long time since I played that DLC so excited for some lore refresh and surroundings.

[pardonmymannerssir]

(This wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it.)

Rook enters the dinning room -or what he likes to consider the mess hall- and recognizes all the faces present but one.

Strife steps forward immediately and the stranger follows. He’s tall, a few inches taller than Rook, and has short, curling blonde hair that’s graying at the temples. Theres a scar on his lip that somehow makes him look dashing instead of grizzly, and he’s wearing a breast plate emblazoned with a familiar symbol.

“Rook,” Strife says, “meet Commander Cullen Rutherford, of the Inquisition.”

The Commander extends his hand as if he’s not a legend made suddenly flesh. Rook has read stories about this man. Some of them rather salacious. His smile is crooked. “Just Cullen, please. Since the Inquisition disbanded the only thing I’ve been in command of is a few litters of Mabari puppies from time to time.”

Rook takes his hand firmly, because he’s a professional, damnit. “Right. Cullen. Pleasure to meet you, I assume you’re here to help?”

“Eve- the Inquisitor sent me ahead, I’ve a dozen men with me, the remnants of the Inquisition that we could spare from the South. It’s not much but they are some of our best.”

Rook nods sharply, catching Neve’s eye from across the room and trying to ignore the way his heart skips. The memories from the night before try very hard to distract him. All warm brown skin and breathy sighs. Her expression is unreadable but her eyes glitter.

They just need to get through this alive, he tells himself. Just this last bit. All they have to do is kill two gods. Easy.

“Every little bit helps,” he says finally, though an army would have been nice. “We’re grateful to have you. Now, let’s figure out how we’re going to get to Ghilan'nain.”

—-

Rook, for one, is deeply pleased to see the Inquisitor and Morrigan burst through the door. Especially considering the alternative had previously been either Venatori or Darkspawn.

Commander Cullen is… less so. The large man barrels forward with a grim fury in his eyes as Rook sags with relief against the nearest wall. The Commander has a small cut on his brow that has bled down the side of his face and he is splattered in blight, blood and general grime like the rest of them. The man is certainly formidable with sword and shield, and he may not have brought an army but he’d probably saved Rook’s life a dozen times on their way through the barrier.

The Inquisitor looks pristine in contrast, her nondescript robes are spotless and her coppery hair is carefully braided away from her face. She’s pretty and stately as always, but pale and sharp like a small dagger. She looks to her Commander with steely resolve and the air of a woman who’s been here before.

“I thought we agreed you would remain behind,” Cullen bites out.

Magister Dorian slips past them with an affectionate roll of his eyes for Rook’s benefit. Clearly this is a display he’s seen before.

The Inquisitor smirks but the steel in her eyes remains. “What, and let you have all the fun.”

“Evelyn-“

“Not Inquisitor?”

“You shouldn’t be here. We agreed.”

She sighs, shoulders sagging a little. “Cullen… I have to try.”

“You have tried,” Cullen insists. “For Makers sake, Inquisitor he cut your hand off and left you unconscious and alone.”

Huh. Rook adds dismemberment to his long list of reasons why Solas is an ass.

“Well yes, but he did it to save my life.”

Cullen shakes his head. “So he claimed but in case it’s escaped your notice he’s rather known for lying.”

“It is pretty hard to deny that the Mark had been killing me, love.” She looks at him and there’s a pleading in her eyes. “This time it’s different, we’ve got Mythal and-“

Cullen reaches out and takes her arm and the moment becomes instantly more intimate and Rook can read the anguish in the other man’s face. He should look away but finds he can’t. Transfixed by the devotion nakedly on display.

“Evelyn, please, it’s too dangerous. We aren’t as young as we once were and I can’t bear the thought of you endangering yourself again. Not after what he did to Varric.”

The mention of Varric burns, a fresh and gapping wound.

The Inquisitor reaches up to cup the Commander’s cheek and she mutters a spell softly under her breath, healing his wound. She pulls a handkerchief from her robes and mops gently at the blood left behind. The sharpness in her dulls and her fingers linger at his jaw. “Typical of you to berate me for risking my life while you’re covered in blood. Besides, you’re the old one. I’m a full six years younger than you and in the prime of my life.”

Cullen grabs her hand and traps it against his face. He closes his eyes for a moment with the air of a man praying for patience. “Ten years hasn’t made you take matters more seriously,” he says dryly.

The Inquisitor chuckles. “And here I thought you fell in love with me for my fantastic sense of humor and great a-“

Cullen shuts her up with a kiss. Firm. Desperate. Lingering. Rook finally manages to look away to find Neve watching him. This time her expression is very easy to read. He peels himself away from the wall and sheathes his sword. A kiss sounds rather nice, he decides.

—-

Solas disappears and the veil snaps closed with a sound like a clap of thunder. Silence descends as the enormity of what just happened hovers just beyond Rook’s comprehension.

It’s over. It’s really over.

Next to him, the Inquisitor sinks to her knees, fingers pressed to her lips. There are tears in her eyes. Rook follows suit, though his own decent is much less.. graceful. Neve helps him down and he uses his sword for a bit of support as the aftershocks of adrenaline and pure relief course through him. His entire body beneath his armor feels like one giant bruise, but he throws an arm around Neve’s shoulders and plants a sound kiss to her temple that makes her blush before she sinks into him. It strikes him that he has time. So much time now. To touch, to kiss, to talk. To laugh.

“It’s over,” the Inquisitor whispers. “He’s gone.”

Commander Cullen is rushing across the terrace, worry etched on his face. The rest of Rook’s team is fast on his heels. The Inquisitor must recognize the clattering sound of Cullen’s approach because she forces herself unsteadily to her feet. She turns just in time for her Commander to gather her into his arms.

“Thank the Maker,” he says with the reverence of a true believer and he takes the Inquisitor’s face in his hands, looking her over for injury.

The Inquisitor laughs. It’s a bright sound, like the chiming of a bell, and shoves his hands away to throw her arms around his neck.

Cullen stumbles back a step and then swings her around once, twice, his smile blinding. They kiss, tenderly. When the Inquisitor pulls away, however, she looks toward the space where Solas had once stood and there is sadness and regret in her eyes.

“He went willingly… alone… possibly forever.”

Cullen’s mouth forms a hard line. “He has much to atone for.”

“Yes… I know. I only wish-I don’t know, that we’d had more time to talk. He was my friend once…”

Cullen only squeezes her gently before setting her on her feet. The Inquisitor turns to Rook, an air of formality settling about her like a cloak. It makes him sit a bit straighter. In her simple robes with wisps of hair fluttering in the breeze, she manages to look regal.

“Thank you, Rook, for helping me finish this.”

He manages a nod, not at all sure how to react. “Hard to imagine where we go from here,” he says, then looks at Neve whose heart is shinning in her eyes. “Well, I suppose you two have given me a few ideas.”

[lavendarr00]

DATV Free Cam Bloopers Pt. 2 (Pt.1)

So I use free cam to take photos in-game and a side benefit is that you can see what happens "behind the scenes" in cinematics. Sometimes you catch an expression or animation that's interesting. But most of the time it's just chaos. So here is a little "blooper reel" of sorts:

Spot the difference (impossible)

When the Fade be drawing close

Lucanis yankin' on one of Ghil's tentacles

Chill Solas there's enough daggers for the both of us

Lavellan tell your man to get his hands off and out of my ass

Spite flew away

Lemme just get out of your shot here, Lucanis

We've all had those days

Was it something I said? (probably)

Dav please...

Hate to see him leave, love to watch him go

He stuck

The face of a woman who knows she's about to get some (finally)

Do you ever wonder if Lucanis uses Spite to out vote Rook? Who we kidding Spite would side with Rook every time.

LOOK AT HIMMM 😭😭😭 MY SHAYLA

You know what hell yeah

Play us out, solas

[theheraldsrest]

“Romanced Companions react to Inquisitor walking in on Companions Changing”

Hahaha! How the turntables! Thank you for the request, @magnimoon ! Here’s something to think about: who sleeps with underwear on and who doesn’t? Mull it over a bit

-Lord Lex

Cullen

-He’d be used to people walking in on him changing, having been a soldier and in close quarters with other. Problem is: either you have to climb a ladder to get to his room or else he’s changing in your room and no one really enters it but you and him, maybe some servants. So he just pauses for a second after turning to look at you and letting everything register in his head before quickly covering himself. Says it’s “indecent for you to see him like this.” You have literally slept with him, you’ve seen him naked enough times. He still says it’s indecent.

Josephine

-She gets surprised and will cover herself when you enter, but she’s a little bit more casual than Cullen. Josey will simply say “Oh! It’s just you, love,” before turning back to finish getting dress. Sure, her face might be a little red but she’ll still act like it’s a common and normal thing for you two. Might ask you to turn around and give her a moment to finish, might not. Depends on how busy she is for the day.

Solas

-It’s a coin toss. He loves it when you adore his body as well as if he gets the chance to adore yours; but, at the same time, he also wishes for privacy most of the time. If you somehow walk in on him getting dressed, he’ll mostly seem unfazed, simply asking if you need something. The coin toss comes in on if he either gives up on getting dressed to spend some “time” with you, or if he just continues to get dressed because he’s got stuff to do. 

Cassandra

-Another who will cover herself and ask you to leave or to turn around. Cassandra might be a warrior but she’s still a lady, she wants her decency. If you try to flirt with her while she’s like this, you can clearly see her face and shoulders go red as she tells you to quit it. You can usually tell if she’s being serious or joking about it, especially if she throws something at you to get you to leave. Cass does love you but quit fucking around and finding out.

The Iron Bull

-The casualist man you’ve ever seen. He’ll have a full blown conversation with you while he’s butt ass naked. Any hint that you want something more? Done, he’ll forget about getting dressed. Don’t want to do anything? Alright, Bull’s gonna keep going about his business while chatting away. Think it’s more of a problem that he might just forget to put his pants on if you guys start talking about something interesting or the conversation gets intense. Others have walked in to see Bull complaining about war strategies while commando.

Dorian

-Dorian most likely has a changing screen, I’m calling it. Anyone walks in, he can just call around it to ask who it is. If it’s you, he’ll pop his head around to properly greet you. Doesn’t really care if you see him naked, just likes his privacy from others. Now, there have been times when something has popped in his head and he’ll drop everything to go find it in one of his books or papers. And when I say drop everything, getting dressed is included. You’ve walked in on him standing there naked, book in hand and brow furrowed as he mumbles to himself. 

Sera

-As wild as she is, Sera also values her privacy. Not just anyone is allowed to look at her tits, only her Inky. That being said, you walk in while she's getting dressed, an arrow will come very close to your head. You’re not getting an apology but she will be much more welcoming than if it had been anyone else. Like Bull, she’ll just chat away as she gets dressed but she also gets distracted and will forget that she’s supposed to be getting dressed. Sera’s just standing there (barbeque sauce on her titties), wildly gesticulating as she’s still only in her pants. Might also get distracted if another activity is hinted at, which gives her an excuse for no clothes.

Blackwall

-First thing you see is butt. He’ll keep his back to you so you don’t see the front because “that’s indecent”. But unlike a certain someone(s), he’ll instead wrap something around his hips and turn to you. Sure, if there’s more flirting, he might just forget about covering himself. But if it’s just some small thing, he’ll continue to dress himself. Though he might make some suggestive comments about you joining him in the nude.

---------------------------------------------------------

Edit: Cabot has just pointed out that the question I posed should’ve just been “who wears underwear” point blank. After thinking this over, I have no idea how to feel and no, I will not share what popped into my head.

[fenharel-babe]

I’m sorry but the way Solas, in his letter, says he wanted to stay as Solas with Lavellan just hits me.

In DATV, in my opinion, we see Fen’Harel. We see a GENERAL, someone who knows war, someone who’s using Rook (Mythal literally says it outright, which made me laugh), who is a liar (sprinkling some truths here and there), and is literally using blood magic on Rook. He’s lying and tricking them. We see who he used to be, his skills he kept hidden because they didn’t belong to Solas.

They belonged to Fen’Harel. In my head, Solas is who he was in DAI, mostly. A fade loving nerd who loves to help people and LOVES to answer questions if you ask. I feel like even if someone asked about something other than the Fade, he would do his best to answer because he just loves to see people wanting to know more. It’s why I feel like he’d be such a good dad. Kids are so curious about the world around them, and I believe he would support them, keep them safe and love them while teaching them so much about the real world and the Fade. And I can imagine him, if he ever ran into kids at Skyhold or even helping children slaves or parents, he would be so comforting and good at dealing with them. He’s awkward, since he hasn’t felt love (whether it be companionship or romantic) in so long, but sweet because he knows they’re innocent, curious and he wants to protect that.

I see a nerd that has a little snort when he chuckles, a man that deals with teasing from everyone and pranks from Sera even if they piss him off, and I believe sometimes he would participate in pranking even it it was small. He gets into arguments with Vivienne, yet I believe he would still protect her in the end of things. In my mind anyways. He literally is just a man in DAI who wants someone to understand him, and he’s so awkward when he gets that. He doesn’t know how to react because he hasn’t felt love in so long, and maybe never has. He went through hell when he was dealing with the Evanuris, and his relationship with Mythal was terribly abusive, so I can imagine him not wanting to get close to anyone. Not just because he was lying in DAI, but ALSO BECAUSE OF FEAR. HE WAS AFRAID THEY WOULD TREAT HIM THE SAME AS SHE DID. They wouldn’t see him as a person or someone worthy of getting help. He’s a scared man who wants love, so when he finds it he holds onto it.

I see him as such a good lover as Solas because it’s who he is deep down. He’s caring and doesn’t care about other people’s opinions. In DAI, he cares about Lavellan’s opinion and he wants her to have freedom. Like when you drink from the Well, he’s all upset because now you DONT HAVE FREEDOM. Whether inquisitor or lover, he’s scared. He cares about freedom, people knowing all they can, I feel like he doesn’t like to lie.

I see that as Solas, and it just HITS me when he says in the letter that he wanted to stay as Solas with her. I feel like he would tell her the truth eventually, but mainly keep himself with her. I see DAI Solas as SOLAS. He wanted to stay with her like that. As a nerd who loves her deeply and cares for other people. He didn’t want to be Fen’Harel anymore. Didn’t want to keep lying, hiding himself from others, and ever be a general again.

He wanted to give wisdom, not orders.

He wanted to stay as Solas and love Lavellan with all of him, but his devotion was so deep that he couldn’t. It hits when he says that he wanted to stay like THAT with Lavellan. I KNOW IT’S NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL BUT IT IS TO ME. It just makes me think that he didn’t want to be Fen’Harel ever again. Didn’t want this shit deep down, but he felt like he had to. And I imagine him as leaving clues for Lavellan because he loves her and wants her to stop him deep down. Help him be SOLAS AGAIN. Her Fade nerd that loves people as well and loves to grab ass.

Anyways. I’m overthinking and I love Solas deeply. I can never escape this hole of Solavellan hell and Solavellan heaven.

[clairedelune-13]

I saw someone complaining that Lavellan never got the option to be angry at Solas in Veilguard.

Did they forget that you were given several opportunities to be absolutely livid during Inquisition?

In Crestwood, the game offers you four different ways to respond to him dumping your ass.

And when you go talk to him afterwards at Skyhold, he’s a lot more broken if the Angry response was chosen.

He’s less stoic. Which is how he’s like if you tell him “I love you”. 

And if you choose the angry route, it affects what he says to you after the Cory battle.

He tells you, “You were right to be angry. I hope, in time, you will understand.”

The game also gives the option to be angry at him again in Trespasser.

Which, once again, the game respects by having him react appropriately.

Ma harel lasa!

Only by omission.

Ma lasa banal ghilana!

What would you have had me say? That I was the great adversary to your people‘s mythology?

I would’ve had you trust me!

Did people really want Lavellan to still be carrying that same anger eight years later?

Lavellan is a lot older and wiser.

I don’t know if people need to know this, but as you get older, you fucking care less.

Or at least, you learn to stop being so immature with your emotions and adapt to applying them better.

In my hc, Ciri isn’t angry at Solas anymore.

The two years before the Exalted Council, she drove herself half crazy with conspiracy theories, she basically swam in denial and anger before reaching the Acceptance stage of her grief.

She’s twenty-seven in Veilguard. She’s let go of her Anger. She’s not a teenager anymore.

She’s not a child. In fact, thanks to a lot of introspection, she’s learned to understand Solas.

Or at least, she tries.

How can one really understand a man that’s lived as long as he has?

But she still tries. That’s the point. 

I can’t stop people from being upset with Solavellan in Veilguard. That’s your prerogative.

But for me, personally, for all my hangups and problems that I carry for this game…

They are not one of them.

They’re one of the few things that actually felt like Dragon Age to me.

[gryffintheparrotcat]

Things in Veilguard that have annoyed me so far, in no particular order:

(I'm about to recruit Emmerich and Taash, if you're not there yet consider yourself formally spoiler warned)

1. Solas hates bloodmages now, this makes no sense.

2. Bioware still doesn't know people darker than #8D5840 exist. This is the fourth game, you'd think the devs learned this by now.

Player characters pass the paperbag test, that is not a good thing. I swear I've seen npcs with darker skintones but Rook can't have a slice?

3. Dalishs are just chill with their gods being evil and real and instead of addressing all that we just go and watch another elven community get massmurdered.

4. We're in The Elvenenslaver And Qunarihater City™ and there are 0 slaves and everyone is friendly to my elven and my qunari Rooks.

4. My Rook having an Elgar'nan vallaslin has not been acknowledged even once.

5. The qunari are going against Qun orders and are just cartoonishly evil now. Neither of these things align with previously established lore.

6. The Crows are all a big happy family. Sorry Zevran.

7. The Grey Wardens are incompetent. Again.

8. My Rook being called kid by Varric and others, that is a grown adult man.

9. Being called Rook. I didn't like that title much to begin with but the fact that it's not even earned this time makes it even more annoying. He has a last name!

10. The companions doing jackshit in combat. I'm a mage not a tank, can someone else kite the enemy?? I miss the pause button

11. The controls being different again. Why is spacebar a whole different button in each dragonage game? Were these ever made while considering people who may play one after the other?

12. Harding not being a romance option for the inquisitor. I never played Viviennes semiromance (i'm always siding with the rebelmages so we haven't exactly been getting along) so I can't say how deep that is and if she should be an option, but i will note that she is also not an option.

13. Harding saying she wasn't in the inner circle of the inquisitor. Harding darling I promise you inquistior adaar loved you dearly. I'm pretty sure I talked to Harding far more than I talked to Varric in Inquisiton.

14. "The previous games aren't relevant because they play in the South" WHAT ABOUT KIRKWALL? What about Navarran Princess Cassandra?? Dorian is here why not the others?? Not even mentioned once?? Cmon.

15. No proper wrinkle slider in character creator... again.

16. Not being able to resize eyes in character creator. Why??

17. No slider for the stomach to stick out. A for effort on even adding bodysliders to begin with but I was hoping for proper tummys for once.

18. The dialogue wheel. And more specifically how little origin/class specific options there are as a mage elf with a vallaslin specifically. And not being able to be mean, just a bit blunt. Meeting Davrin and him being a bit prickly at first was a breath of fresh air ngl. I don't need evil alright, I get it I'm playing a hero now. But let my Rook be a bit spicy sometimes. Neve complains about a Crow prioritising Treviso over Minrathos? Let Rook be an ass about it.

19. I brought Neve & Mage Rook to recruit "The Mage Killer" and neither have voiced any discomfort about that? Or acknowledged that at all? Neve has some party banner with Lucanis but even there it's more of a L "Are you scared bc of the title?" N "lol nope".

Hopefully I won't have to make a pt2 any time soon.

[vir-bellanaris]

Tendrils of green mist swirled around the two lone figures framed within ancient broken ruins. The smaller of the two reaching to find purchase amongst the furs the other wore upon his chest.

"I did not wish for you to see what I've been forced to become."

"Forced by whom? Yourself? You have real people here who care for you!"

"Stop. You cannot understand."

Stung, Lavellan drew in her chin. "Evidently neither can you." She continued to grasp his shoulders. She wanted to shake him, rattle his brain around a bit in that damnably hard head of his. "You said yourself I saw more than most. There has to still be some part of the man I fell in love with left."

"Vhenan." The word spoken like second nature still cuts deep. Both of them flinch involuntarily. His hands finally find her arms, holding a moment before firmly pressing them away. "You cannot dissuade me from this course."

"That's not why I'm here." Lavellan refuses to accept his rebuttal, she cups his face instead, trying to embrace him like grasping at smoke. "You call me 'your heart', even now, and yet you try to distance yourself as far from me as possible. Solas..." She tugs his face closer, their eyes seeking the depths of the other. "I refuse to give up on you."

He doesn't offer an answer.

His hands seek her wrists, gripping for a moment as though to push her away yet he stills and rests there, holding her to him. His lips part, wishing to speak, but they both know no words can do justice to the depths of emotion they've both waded through.

She takes in a slow lungful of air, feeling his warm breath mingle with her own. Her thumbs stroke over the sharp angle of his cheekbones, across the freckles smattered on fair skin like stars.

Her eyes fill with tears.

"Don't." His voice breaks on the pleading word, his arms encircling her body, holding her to him as she fights to remain poised.

"You're such an ass."

"I know."

"Why must you push me away only to linger in the periphery of my life?"

Solas presses his forehead against hers, his nose brushing against hers. "You know why." His hands grasp the curve of her waist, pulling her closer. "You are my weakness, my love. The one thing in this world that came close to toppling all my careful plans."

"Solas..."

"I thought I could rend the connection between us as surely as I will the Veil." His next breath is shuddering, his hands flex against her. "I've failed in that as well."

Her hands still cup his face, unable to school her desperation for some glimmer of hope for them. She pulls back enough to study his expression, the dark circles beneath eyes the color of a dusky eve. "I love you."

"I know, vhenan."

"But it isn't enough."

"No. It is not." He takes her hand, the one that bore the anchor, and kisses the palm. "Understand what I must do will never change how I love you."

She grasps his hand like a lifeline, her eyes growing wide with desperation. "Solas, please. Don't leave me."

He presses the leatherbound wolf jaw necklace into the palm he'd just kissed. "I will forever be with you, my heart."

It was always easier for him in the Fade.