#sten arishok

[carlandcorals]

sometimes I feel like he's part of my family

[aaahple]

They’re besties, your honor (they would be more in my ideal world where Sten was romanceable 😔)

[waspgrave]

People getting mad at a theatrical trailer when this is what morrigan and varric looked like in their trailers. You look at his eyebrows right now. Look at them.

[cullenssweatyballsakk]

"The elves are a lithe, pointy eared people who excel at poverty. -Sten 2009

[beresaad]

replaying origins made me want to redraw the first and only piece of fanart ive ever done of sten,, i uploaded this almost 9 years ago on my 15th birthday and me and my warden are still madly in love with him

[razrogue]

That Night Under Those Stars (Sten)

Female Tabris x Sten

Tags: Post DAO, Goodbyes, Unrequited Love

Notes: Finally finished this little thing about these two. Enjoy!

Words: 860

Read on AO3

It'd been almost three weeks since the defeat of the archdemon and Denerim was beginning to see some semblance of normalcy. The skies were no longer choked by smoke and haze. The charred remains of some buildings and haphazardly built reinforcements no longer smoldered. The citizens and soldiers had been hard at work trying to rebuild what the darkspawn tried to destroy.

Southern Thedas was too wet and too cold and too gray for his tastes. He missed the warm weather, blue skies, and green hues of home. That was all set to change soon. He'd finally gotten passage to make his way back towards Par Vollen and was set to sail out the next morning. The only survivor of his convoy that'd been sent out for reconnaissance, it felt like it had been years with how much had taken place since she freed him from that cage in Lothering.

Raucous singing and cheering could be heard all the way on the side of the building as everyone tried to wind down from the day. She'd stepped outside to get a little breather and ever observant, he followed shortly behind. The two of them rested there side by side in the chilly night air, propped against the wall as they quietly stared at the night sky together.

Sten watched out of the corner of his eye as Briva inched a little closer, not enough for them to touch but enough that she could feel his warmth. Much like she'd do some nights when he was keeping watch over the camp. Nights when the nightmares were too much so she'd forgo sleep and just keep watch with him. He'd never imagined that his life would be so impacted by the small elf standing beside him tonight. The rogue who'd lockpicked his cage in Lothering to set him free. Fuck the chantry she'd said as the lock fell to the ground and motioned for him to join them. The archer who's knack for precision with a bow surprised even him as she could almost rival some of Par Vollen's best with more discipline he'd always he tell her. He couldn't have anticipated what would become of their adventures that one night he decided to spar with her. What she lacked in discipline and structure, she made up for in unpredictability and guile. Her dagger work could make anyone a little uneasy with the way she handled herself. Always finding the openings and when she couldn't find a way, she fought dirty and made one. Methods he didn't approve of but they were effective nonetheless. The two of them sparred and trained. He sought to correct while she sought to upend and they usually reached a draw at the end. A conclusion most surprising to both but enjoyable either way.

Days turned into weeks, skirmishes turned into battles, each time they won and he was surprised a little more. Enough that she was changing his mind a little about what southern Thedas was capable of if there were more like her. They continued to spar with each other. Continued to win their battles. She helped him recover his sword and she finally earned his trust. He shared a little. It wasn't as annoying nor as pointless as he thought it would be. She shared a little more. He learned to see her outside of certain roles, despite how that notion defied everything he knew. Little by little, she had earned a different place, as some Qunari would call it, as Kadan. And so that night as Sten and his Kadan stood in an alley outside The Pearl, they enjoyed each other's company in silence.

Briva finally settled against his side, a sigh escaping her lips, the only noise made between the two of them as they stood there. They'd said very little before saying a lot but tonight they didn't need to say much more. He unclenched his fist, letting his fingers relax a little, making an opening without saying a word. An opening she sensed coming, her palm already poised and waiting for his thick calloused fingers. He glanced down briefly before clearing his throat, taking hold of her hand in a firm but still gentle grip. Briva grinned but said nothing as she watched him settle his fingers between hers before turning back to the starry sky. Tonight, that silence would have to hold all the things they couldn’t say and all the things they probably should. In another world at another time, they could have been something else, maybe something more.

Something like love, like lust, like devotion. But instead they only had right now. A time right now filled with admiration and taboo whispers of something more that would have to remain as such. They were on different paths, set to continue leading their different lives so they would cherish these times together and enjoy what they would share tonight. Tomorrow, he'd begin the journey back home. That bittersweet silence that the two of them would share that night for the last time in a dimly lit alley in Denerim. It would have to sustain what was between them until that other lifetime.

[merlin-tea]

I know it's a stupid meme, but she looks so much like a bull in some way

[grimweaver]

"You're Alive!!"

A much shortened version of "The Antaam Pledge: The Search for Cousland", Which takes place during the time of "Dragon Age Inquisition", and is yet to be written.

Dragon 9:41

The Arishok received news that nearly tore his heart to shreds, from a letter the Ben Hassrath forwarded from Gaat, whom had offered to deliver it personally for Leliana as a favor for the Inquisitor– Meshaak Adaar-- whom had been recently deemed “Basalit-An”. Grey Wardens were under the control of Corypheus, and those who resisted him were killed. The Arishok, aware that Aithne had been away for a year, was stricken with a sickening panic at the thought of her being among them. No one knew where she was, not even her brother, Teyrn Fergus. She didn’t say what she feared had happened, but he sensed it in the manner it was written. His secret lover–the closest thing to a wife he’ll ever have– could be dead or a puppet of Corypheus. Nothing that he had witnessed or suffered in all the years of being in perpetual war with blood mages had threatened to steal so much strength out of him that he would collapse on the spot, but this letter did. So to say that he was overjoyed to see Aithne alive and not possessed when she had returned to Par Vollen to partake in the seven-day celebration that followed the Arishok declaring several fallen Qunari to be Qunoran Vehl, would be an understatement by a tenfold. Their initial greeting had to be strictly professional for the thousands of eyes that were on them, but once they were behind closed doors and in deep shadows of his quarters, he did not waste time gathering her up in his arms, dropping to his knees, and crying repressed tears in the harbor of her arms and upper body as he heaved out a weary, broken "You're alive!!"

((Aithne was completely unaware of anything that had happened from the Conclave explosion onward, as she had been in the Deep Roads the entire time.))

[championsandheroes]

Oh, Hawke, one day you'll succeed in defeating a big bad villain for good. ("But wait," you say, "What about the Arishok? He died, surely?" Lies and slander. One day Hawke will succeed…)

We are eagerly awaiting the dignified return of the Arishok over at Patreon and society6. He'll be back any day now.

[lelianasbong]

i don't have anything to add except damn?? that was so good

[bluerose5]

Yes, yes, the Warden and the Inquisitor can be called kadan by their respective Qunari companions, but are they basalit-an though?!

[veshialles]

okay okay wait. so, a few questions; when exactly did the Antaam split from the rest of the Qun and go rogue?? (I remember it being brought up in Tevinter Nights, but I was under the impression is was just a few soldiers, not their ENTIRE military force) And most importantly, are they still lead by the "new" Arishok? Where is Sten? Is he safe? Is he alright?

[theadhddragon]

One last Veilguard rant for the night (I promise)

Obviously spoilers ahead

Who, what, where, when and why is Arishok???

I can get behind most of the Antaam choosing to become Tal-Vashoth and join with the gods for power, but Arishok? Who last we heard was Sten? That FOUGHT AN ARCHDEMON ALREADY??? No danger you're gonna make me believe he joined the gods

Maybe I've missed a codex or piece of lore somewhere but I kinda need answers

[dirtybiowareconfessions]

Confession: I would let the Arishok or Sten stick it my ass bone dry.

[alenseress]

Every few days I think about them

[villain-menagerie]

I just need to know what they did to my sweet Sten senpai and how they ruined/retconned his characterisation, I know Zevran and other LIs are safe, but god I'm scared for Sten and other non-LI companions