#still hoping for redemption in da4

[olexiss-s]

What’s interesting about Solas’s portrayal in DA4 is that we see him mostly from Rook’s perspective. Rook only knows what Varric has told them and what they observe through encounters with a cunning and distant Fen’Harel in their dreams—dreams controlled by him through blood magic, as we later discover. The Veilguard unveils his deepest regrets and judges him at his worst. Solas doesn’t try to change Rook’s mind about why the Veil must fall, he doesn’t bother painting himself as the ‘good guy’ or explaining his motivations. He repeatedly dismisses them with, ‘it’s beyond your comprehension’ and ‘you can’t understand what was lost.’ He dismisses Rook as a God would.

Though he grows to respect Rook, it changes nothing, by this point, he’s at his absolute worst. He embodies Pride to a fault. The gentle, wise, and truly idealistic aspects of his character we saw in Inquisition have been lost to what he believes he must become to achieve his goal. The Veilguard focuses on the Mythal-shaped void in his past. It might seem as though his loyalty to her was the only thing driving him, because ultimately, her releasing him from this duty stayed his hand.

To understand Solas, we have to know that he was Wisdom spirit first. He gained a physical form, and Mythal turned him into a weapon for a war he never believed in, a trauma that still reverberates through everything he does. Her final admission, that she was wrong and she's freeing him from this burden was just the breaking point of an already weakened resolve, that had one final push in the 3rd act. This vulnerability allowed for an opening for the grief he’d kept locked away unresolved, grief for her, for his lost spirit self, for his people, the Elvhen, for the magic he separated from the world, for his rebellion, for Felaasan, and for all those he betrayed and hurt in his quest to set things right. This powerful moment stripped him of his pride.

Then he sees Lavellan, kneeling before him, just as he had done for her in Trespasser. In that moment, she's a glimmer of hope, there's a sudden realization that, though this grief will be the hardest thing to bear, she’s proof that this world went on. Its people have kept fighting, and there is still beauty and goodness worth saving. And with that, there's the possibility of redemption, not giving up but letting go and facing the world and himself. A new purpose arises, and now, he won’t be blinded by solitude that tainted his heart for so long.

[theboredanduseless]

Heyo

Back on tumblr strictly to look for da4 news

[theboredanduseless]

So it would probably come down to what he would choose. I think, in his heart of hearts, he would choose Hufflepuff.

But I think he knows himself too well. It's true he hates the arrogance and cruelty of the other Slytherins, but he knows his own cunning. Perhaps in another world where he were surrounded by those he could consider equals then he could have held kindness and friendship higher than his goals. As it is, even believing that the souls in the Inquisition are worthwhile cannot stop him from doing what is necessary.

Solas is a Slytherin because he’s cunning, a master liar, a Trickster god known for locking away all the others and laughing with glee. He killed his best friend to gain power. He is prejudiced against all people not like himself.

Solas is a Ravenclaw because he’s a master strategist, will beat you at any game of cards you teach him, is more interested in understanding things most people fear, reads lots of books, enjoys intellectual discussions, makes history jokes no one gets.

Solas is a Gryffindor because he is quick to charge to the aid of the down trodden, often rashly and to disastrous results. Then he gets back up and does it over and over again. He once set his coattails on fire and pretended nothing happened.

Solas is a Huffpuff because he wrote an entire world of people off as not real and then proceeded to fall in love with one of them. He is determined to right a wrong he made a millennia ago, and at the same time mourns the hurt it will cause the current “not real” people. “He just wants to help,” so much so it hurts.

Don’t ask me what house Solas belongs in.

[felassanis]

Characters that I think will make a return in Dragon Age 4

Okay, So lets get the first two out of the way and the reasons why I think they are bound to return.

Dorian Pavus: Pretty much a given, he’s already in Tevinter. He’s got big plans for the city and he’s a fan favourite. it would be a crime if he didnt come back.

Fenris: Will the Blue Wraith release I can’t help but wonder if that’s setting up Fenris’s arc and how it’ll pertain to DA4. How this wonderful character will tie into the shitstorm that’s about to occur in the next installment. When you hear Tevinter, chances are a couple of things will come to mind. Mages, blood-magic, Dorian, Slavery and Fenris. His whole character is linked to this setting. Hes a character who's got the biggest reasons to be there so he better be there. either as the leader of a slave rebellion or possibly an agent of Fen’harel. Also, given how vocal the fandom has been about him coming back, I think Bioware will deliver. I just hope he’s intertwined witht the plot like Varric was, and not given a crappy cameo like Zevran was in dragon age 2. And even if you did (You fucking monster) Give him back to Danarius, then he’ll be in Tevinter too. Or if you killed him like a fucking moron, well Bioware have brought back characters from the dead before. Leliana I'm looking at you

And ngl, I really want a FenHawke moment

Now, these next ones are the “Realistic” few who I think will make a return based on theories and evidence but I’m also making a section of characters who I want to see come back even if it’s not likely:

Sten: I find it very likely we will see this guy again. There conflict between Tevinter and Seheron should be one of the focuses in dragon age 4 and given that our actions in dragon age 2 he becomes the Arishok and if memory serves; he’s in Seheron. More Sten? More likely than you think if I’m right.

Talis: Another one who should make an appearance given her allegiance to the Qunari. Talis was a really good character and criminally underused in Mark of the Assasins and dragon age 2 as a whole. I think she’ll make a cameo, doing her thing as a skilled assassin for the Qunari.

Krem: It would be interesting for this character to make a return, perhaps he could not stand to see what is happening in his home country and makes a return. Given how important Krem is for representation, him being from Tevinter and how popular he was, I think he will also be making a return.

Verania: A small cameo. But I think if you stopped Fenris from killing her, then his sister Verania will be making a return. Which could offer an interesting scene if Fenris also makes a return. She does return to Tevinter, and given that her master was killed (Hopefully) it would be a curious thing to see how she ended up.

Varric: The reason why I think Varric will come back is because of the Red Idol. Varric has history with that thing, it was him and his brother who made the expedition to recover it from the Deep Roads and given how obvious it is that the Red Idol will play a major role in DA4 I think Varric will feel compelled to try and get it back or destroy it. He hates red lyrium and he hates that idol and he knows exactly what it is capable of, so the thought of it ending up in the wrong hands must unsettle him. He felt at fault for the red lyrium and Corypheus, hence why he stayed with the Inquisition to try and sort it all out. I think it will be the same for the red idol, he feels a responsibility to stop it because he thinks it’s his fault it’s out there in the first place.

Scout Harding: A potential LI maybe??? I think she’ll play a vital role whether or not the inquisition was kept or discarded in Tresspasser. I hope she gets a more important role than a simple quest giver.

Isabela: With the recent concept art I am seeing A LOT of Pirates and I couldn’t help but think of Isabela. And that one concept art seems to confirm Isabela is coming back and I'm so excited.

Leliana & Cassandra: It sounds to me like Leliana and Cassandra will come back as advisors of sorts, I’m not sure what role they’ll play exactly in the grand scheme of things in the next game but I do think they will both come back in some capacity, because of their words and cameo in the ending to Tresspasser.

Abelas: maybe only a cameo if you killed him, but Solas essentially recruits Abelas and if hes alive I think Abelas could make a return. 

Unrealistically, but why I think they should:

Zevran: He’s has somehow been mentioned or appeared in every game since origins and I don’t want that streak to be ruined. I think there’s definitely a role for him given how much he adventures and explores, his wit and his tendencies to get into trouble, and how he is a fan favourite.

Oghren: Honestly? Just because we haven’t heard from him a long time.

Cullen: I highly doubt he will come back. Why? Because I feel like the option to romance him in Inquisition on top of his sort of redemption arc in that game is his...end. Like, he got closure, he got the focus he needed regarding all the shit he went through in the past two games and I honestly do believe that is where Cullen’s story ends. But...I could be wrong, they might want to keep the pattern of him appearing in every game and maybe they have something else planned for him since they strangely liked this character because he went from this minor dude in Origins to Meredith’s lackey in dragon age 2 to a fully fledged main cast member in dragon age 3.

Meredith: Speaking of Meredith, I think it would be so neat for her to make a return as a boss fight. Because fighting her in dragon age 2 was so much fun and I think with the return of the Red Lyrium Idol, having her come back somehow would be appropriate. Maybe the statue she turns into merely keeps her in hibernation? So under whatever the hell material the red lyrium used to ‘kill’ her, it actually didn’t snuff out her life but rather preserved it. She’s still alive and fiddling with the Idol brings her back. Edit: turns out shes super dead but I'm leaving it here in case I can somehow rationalise how this scary lady could come back

Orsino: I can totally imagine the theory that Varric lied about Orsino’s death in order to protect him so Cassandra and the Templars wouldn’t go after him. Even the devs said his death was a mistake, so this could be a great way to rectify how shitty a card he was dealt in DA2 and give him a better storyline and role in the next game. Orsino is just a really good character who would do well with more time and focus spent on him. 

Bodahn & Sandal: because I need answers about what the fuck Sandal is and I miss Bodahn. And given Sandal's massive fucking foreshadowing to Solas and the magic of the elves I think HE HAS TO COME BACK but also...idk what they would really do with him, if hed really play a role other than what he did in the first and second game. An enigmatic dwarf for comedic effect and also creepiness.

Anders: if hes alive, and if you didnt romance him. I want a cameo, since he was originally supposed to appear in Inquisition as a hermit in a cave. I'd like that concept to return in the area near Tevinter/Antiva. Because I think it would be tragic, if hes borderline insane and a wandering nomad hiding his identity. Maybe Justice has taken over, maybe we have to free him of Justice to recruit Anders. Maybe we need him to enter the Fade somehow? Maybe when the veil is broken Justice takes over completely that way? I just want an Anders cameo, see a tragic ending to a tragic character with the potential of redemption? Potential chance at happiness through helping the player fight Solas? And maybe, if Isabela or Varric come back...theyd have something to say? They might beg the player to help him? Mourn their friend or fret over him? Varric and Anders hug?

Spirit of Wynne: my girl Wynee gets no fucking love or mention from what I've seen and I will not stand for it. I'm sure she died, even by DAII's timeline. But if the veil is torn? Maybe her spirit will pay us a visit, give us words of encourage or wise lessons??? I miss Wynne so much.

Morrigan: I do think something is being set up with her character and Kieran. And with her being so woven with the whole Mythal thing, I wouldn't be shocked if Morrigan wanted to get involved, since Mythal wanted to live on through Morrigan. Maybe Morrigan has a bone to pick, maybe shes mad that Solas killed her mother.

[plazmafields]

Just to address the recent happenings at Bioware:

(read more for those who don’t want the drama)

Well, it sucks that Greg Ellis is a massive piece of shit, but that doesn't change Cullen in any way. Cullen is a fictional character with a set story that has been pre-written. He is what Bioware writes him to be, who he is voiced by doesn't change him as a character or a person. Having said that, I hope they will drop Greg Ellis and get someone else to voice Cullen. It will be odd at first to hear a different voice than what we've heard the past 10-ish years, but I would rather keep one of my favorite characters and adjust to a new voice than support Greg Ellis. There was some controversy in the past, as I'm sure Cullenites might remember, where Greg Ellis claimed mental illness was just something people needed to "get over" (paraphrasing). This, coming from the voice of a character with PTSD and serious trauma, was frustrating. Cullen deserves better. His whole story arch is about redemption; redeeming himself in the eyes of the Maker and in his own eyes as well. He deserves a voice actor who believes in his journey.

All that said, I love Cullen's character, and none of this business with his voice actor is going to change my feelings on Cullen's right to be in DA4 or even the past games. He's important to the lore, and a character I relate to a lot (obviously if you know my blog you know I adore my little lion cub) so my writing of him will not change, and I'm not going to abandon someone who did nothing wrong just because his actor is an asshole. If Bioware continues to hire him and support his bullshit, that's a different story.

With Mark Darrah and Casey Hudson leaving, I'm nervous about the future of one of my favorite franchises, as we all are. But I don't believe we have to be nervous in a bad way, maybe just excited nerves. Mark Darrah seems to think Bioware's new Dragon Age team can make DA4 great, so I'll trust his judgment. I just hope EA will give them enough time. DAI was rushed, and the game suffered, which means the franchise suffers. The universe, the world of the game suffers. We would all like a game to be finished on launch.

In conclusion: Fuck you Greg Ellis, I still love Cullen, Dragon Age may take a new direction, but it seems like it's in good hands at Bioware, don't fuck it up EA.

[bloedewir]

Until we get some da4 info i can waste my time guessing about former companions.

All of them, who'll back?

So, I made a list (I think many already done it, but still..). After a few years I'll can check it and find out am I a predictor or not.

DA:I

Cassandra - Likely - I think the personal quest and revealing truth about Seekers was not an accident. Also Nevarra and mortalitasi.

Leliana - Unlikely - A side quest or help, maybe. How many of players made her a new Divine? Maybe it'll be sort of canon, like a 'king Alistair'.

Josephine - Unlikely - She's back to Antiva and family.

Cullen - 90% for no - Arc is complete, and Curly is tired. Also the recent unpleasure comments from v/a made me think he won't appear anyway.

Blackwall - Unlikely - A Warden or not, arc is complete. It's all about atonement and helping people.

Iron Bull - Most likely - Qunari, Tevinter, Viddasala' shit and Ben-Hassrath. I bet, he'll back. And KREM.

Cole - Most likely - Guess, he won't miss the chance to help his wolf friend.

Sera - Likely - (as the any other elf, understandably). Maybe a letter or side quest with "Red Jenny" team.

Varric - Likely - As the Viscount of Kirkwall he can offer a possible help. Maybe, a cameo?

Vivienne - Unlikely - Only if she became a Divine it could be a some kind of Chantry interaction.

Dorian - Most likely - As a Magister. He'd better be in da4 or I'll scream, I promise.

Solas. Well. No doubt.

DA2

Anders - Unlikely - A Warden, a claimed criminal and possessed by Vengeance.. I think, he's dead already. If not, it could be an interesting, if he'll back. Y'all know that thing: will to help, seek for redemption, dramatic heroism - cutscene - he's dying, but as a forgiven.

Fenris - Please, yes - An elf with lyrium tattoos, Tevinter, magisters, slaves, all that story. He has to be in da4.

Merrill - Likely - An elf who knows about eluvians. Some kind of resistance maybe? She won't join Fen'Harel, so maybe help a bit?

Hawke - Likely? - Even if she/he is in the Fade, we all remember what has said Mythal about jumping and flying.

Carver/Bethany - Unlikely - Only if as a mention.

Isabela - 50/50 - Maybe she's the last hope of Thedas. She stole from Arishok.. how bold it would be if she'd steal a lyrium idol? Would be ridiculously awesome.

Sebastian - Unlikely - Maybe as a Starkhaven support?

Tallis - Likely - She was mentioned in Tevinter Nights. + Qunari, Tevinter, invasion, spies. And she's Felicia Day, hope she'll come back.

Aveline - Unlikely - Arc is complete. She's happily married and watching over Kirkwall.

DA:O/A

Morrigan - Likely - Maybe she'll join Fen'Harel just to thank him for Flemeth death. JK.

Sten - Most likely - He's an Arishok. Once again: Tevinter, qunari invasion etc.

Wynne. N/A

Oghren - Unlikely - He's drinking and raising child. (But those ugly creepy things from Tevinter Nights, made by Ghilan'nain?).

Alistair - Likely - As the king of Ferelden.. and a demi-elf? A support maybe?

Zevran - Possibly? - An elf. I cherish the thought that he can be a sort of Inquisition' agent.

Shale - Unlikely - But she could have been useful. One stone fist vs bald head.. obvious result.

Velanna - Possibly? - An elf. We don't actually know what happened with her.

Sigrun - Possibly? - A mention maybe, something with Titans?

Nathaniel - Unlikely - (But those creepy things from TN....)

HoF. Uh.. I lose a hope, almost completely. But.. if she/he found a cure and..??

***

That was made as a list with my own thoughts, no matter what I actually want. I'm totally one of the "bring me back my team" people, but also I clearly understand that is unlikely option.

And, every of them could be mentioned in any way. Letters, dialogues, a notes - all is possible, but I'm about an actual appearances (or npc).

A-a-nd I believe da4 will be a sort of "elven" game according to possible plot, so there's a chance to see a familiar known elves from past parts.

***

..if there's an any elvhen gods who hears my prays, bring back to me Trevor Morris. Many thanks *muwah*.

[artimidas]

I have to vent, I am so salty about the mass effect teaser for several reasons. I know at this point the teaser means virtually nothing and they can still take the game in whatever direction, but here are my thoughts so far (I am jumping to conclusions I know):

1. Wish they were not cowardly and continued with Andromeda to give it redemption in the public eye. Andromeda left us with questions unanswered and a lot of threads to follow. I wonder if we will ever come back to it.

2. When I realized it is Milky Way, I was expecting a sort of prequel. The trilogy should have remained closed imo. The endings were so different you can only choose one to continue with and you are bound to invalidate players' choices. Apparently they chose to follow the Destruction ending, which is understandable as my belief is this is what majority prefers (beCaUsE shEpArD). What pisses me off are some members of destruction fanclub who will feel validated now and we will never hear the end of it.

But the choice makes sense, as destruction was an ending that presents a lot of issues down the road that can create further narrative, with living Shepard as another selling point. Speaking of which..

3. It feels like a desperate move. I really hope Shepard will be only an NPC of some side story this time around. If I am to play post-destruction Milky Way, let me finally play as an alien and do not rely on old fan faves. (Hell, let me control my squadmates directly in combat atleast)

I am still excited however and will like it and play it anyway. I am writing this because I am scared and do not want to be disappointed. I want both DA4 and new ME to be a reneissance and a beautiful example of lessons learned, rather than an amalgamation of pathetic business choices.

So I will reserve any further judgement and will remain hopeful until we know more 🤞😌

[inquisitor-julia]

what do your inquisitors plan to do with Solas?

hmmm well if they get the chance to deal with Solas in da4 (and are not replaced 100% by a new protagonist) then originally 7/9 of them were going to try to redeem him in some way....but with the implications of the red lyrium idol being involved in his plans (via that minute long teaser trailer) I’m not entirely sure how they’ll feel anymore? I think most of them will stick to wanting to save him from himself if possible but all of them would choose the safety of Thedas over Solas if forced to make that choice...so that went to a dark place but anyway.

Personally I don’t feel that the veil coming down is inherently a bad thing just...whatever rip off the band-aid solution Solas has come up with is a little extreme for Thedas to deal with all at once. And honestly Solas, my dude last time you altered the fabric of reality you didn’t like the result and have been kicking yourself ever since. I think the veil needs to and will come down but I also think this requires a delicate approach so that people have time to adapt? I firmly believe that whether you support Solas or not in da4 the veil will be gone by the end and the next game will be about dealing with the fallout of that event. But that’s my personal feeling and you asked about my Inquisitors ^^”

Nayeli Trevelyan: Being a mage herself she always wanted to know more about magic and the fade, spirits and demons, everything about being a mage. Solas was happy to share his expertise with her and they were fast friends! In trespasser she chose to try to redeem Solas. She wants to save her friend but if the cost of that salvation is too high for thedas to pay she may have to put her personal feelings aside. She wants to help him but more than anything she has to protect the people she loves, her family, the innocent people of thedas…. However I intend to try my best to keep thedas and Solas safe because I don’t want my Inquisitor to have to kill her friend/mentor it would devastate her because she firmly believes that she can do it all….but the reality of the situation might not be kind to her beliefs…

Wren Lavellan: it’s Complicated™ and really I’m not sure so I might be figuring that out as I try to explain how she feels about everything….here goes…Wren is my Inquisitor who romanced Solas. Wren loves him and she would have done just about anything for him at one point BUT the break up and two years apart have hardened her heart a bit. Does she still love him? With all of her heart, unconditionally, without a doubt. Does she want to save him? Yes if there is a chance she will take it and stubbornly refuse to give up on that hope. If there is nothing to be done for him, no redemption, what would she be willing to sacrifice in the end? She would readily sacrifice herself to save thedas, she would even sacrifice her heart and fight the man she loves to save innocents, but she would not sacrifice thedas to save Solas. She hopes against hope that it won’t come to that and that he can still be reasoned with but she will do what she must for her people and all people of thedas. She is a healer before anything else and she only wants to help everyone but that may not be possible this time and “sometimes the healer has the bloodiest hands” as it were…and part of a keeper’s duty is to protect the elves from the dread wolf. Wren has some hard decisions ahead of her and for my part I just want her to be happy and if I can do that without killing everyone in thedas then I will jump at the chance because I love Wren a lot??

Rosemary Lavellan: has no time to run around trying to save someone already intent on fucking up...again. Rosemary is less connected to Dalish tradition than most seeing as her mother was a city elf who joined clan Lavellan when Rosemary was still a baby. Rosemary has always had two kinds of education in the way elves should be because she grew up mentored by those with two very different perspectives. Unlike most of the Dalish children, Rosemary never thought the stories about the pantheon all that inspiring and in fact Rosemary is more inclined to say that she’s Andrastian like her mother. This is all to say that to her Solas is simply a man like any other and the fact that he’s a figure from the stories of her childhood makes no difference to her. He’s a man who made mistakes and already destroyed the world once and she’s not about to let him do it again no matter what. Rosemary got along with Solas in inquisition but upon learning about his plan and the apparent inherent casualties that would result she immediately opposed him. Rosemary is a mother and her entire goal in Inquisition is to keep her son safe, Solas is endangering that safety with his plans and Rosemary refuses to let that happen. If she has to fight another “god” to keep her son (and now Josephine as well) safe she will do so, without hesitation. That’s something I think Solas knew when he met her in Trespasser, he’d never have expected any different from her, she’s only a mother protecting her child from a monster.

Luca Lavellan:  His best friend in the Inquisition (not counting Dorian) is confusingly and surprisingly enough Solas. However, neither Solas or Luca would actually say they were friends. Luca is drawn to the vast knowledge Solas has and Solas is happy to share. Sometimes they debate, and anyone who will listen to Luca talk is someone he’ll spend time with. Luca is all too happy to play pranks on Solas with Sera. He also tends to question every opinion or thought the man ever voices which is pretty irritating for Solas at times. But typically the decisions Luca makes are ones that Solas approves of and really they don’t disagree on anything too major. They aren’t aware of it themselves but they spend a lot of time together just talking about every academic subject under the sun. They would say that they don’t particularly like each other though. When Luca told Solas he would redeem him and try to save him it was as much a shock to him as it was to Solas and i imagine they both stared at each other in confusion for a solid minute both trying to figure out if they’d heard Luca correctly….but that would have been a much less dramatic scene than the one we were given lol 

Katarina Cadash: two dwarves that have an interest in magic and an elven mage walk into a rotunda- jokes aside that’s essentially why Solas and Kat got along. At first, Katarina was as wary of magic as many dwarves are but after being around mages in the Inquisition she began to trust it. Then she met Dagna, another dwarf who left Orzammar like Kat did, and the two were fast friends (who only blew up a little bit of the ramparts by accident stop being dramatic, Cullen). To Kat’s surprise Solas was usually happy to discuss whatever she and Dagna were working on and even add some ideas of his own to their work (initially surprising Kat in that he could actually be fun), in fact the three could often be found chatting in the rotunda about magical theory. So Kat and Solas grew to be close friends along with Dagna. After the revelations in Trespasser Kat wanted to try to redeem Solas simply because he was her friend. She also has to believe that even if they work against each other somehow she, Dagna, and Solas can come up with some alternate plan to deal with the veil just by putting their heads together like they used to all that time ago. Kat’s frustration is that since Solas isn’t telling her everything she feels like she’s trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces but she’s determined to try. However, like my other inquisitors, if it comes down to it she’ll put Thedas first.

Pippa Cadash: she just.....never got along with Solas at all to begin with so deciding not to redeem him wasn’t a surprise for either of them tbh (also haven’t finished her playthrough so potentially more on her feelings later)

Evander Trevelyan: haven’t finished his playthrough but i think he’ll redeem Solas...just because Evander is just.....naive i guess? not really naive just...good.... he just wants to believe the best of everyone and he wants to believe that Solas doesn’t want to do this and hurt so many people. But again....it would hurt Evander’s kind spirit but if he had to he’d choose the safety of Thedas over Solas

Yvainne Adaar: she’ll try to redeem Solas but tbh I need to flesh out her character more before I fully understand why....it will likely stem from the suffering her mother endured in being a saarebas under the qun and the fact that fear of magic as an aberration from the norm is what brought her mother such suffering. Tearing the veil down would bring magic back and maybe then everyone would have to face it as the new normal and mages (especially qunari mages) wouldn’t need to suffer anymore. However, as much as she wants to live in a world like that, Yvainne is not willing to sacrifice the lives of innocents to get there and she will try to redeem Solas but if she can’t then she won’t hesitate to do what must be done.

Wow that got really lengthy ^^”

Thanks for the ask though!! :D

[bunabi]

I hope Solas's redemption is less "teaching him other living things have value" and more "making him come to terms with all his accidental mass murders and all that other stuff." Because him trying to 'restore' the world is the big reason hes in villain mode right now, and I would MUCH rather point out all Solas's flaws than try to save him from him murdering me 😔🤙most disapointing part of not playing as your inquis in da4 is you wont get to properly yell at solas :^(

I’ve made up my mind. I just wanna trade blows and be done in DA4 lol. 

He can either help recover artifacts & rebuild the lost elvhen lexicon afterward or I revive Felassan and we both deliver one final suplex.

Part of me is still hoping maybe DA:I was all a hallucination and the Inquisitor is still trapped in the Fade post-Conclave blast, but I’ll settle for this.

[galadrieljones]

Ship-a-thon!

tagged by @idrelle-miocovani and @pikapeppa, and I’m finally getting around to it!! Thank you!!

1. First ship you ever wrote fic for:

Technically it was self-insert fic for the Backstreet Boys, *NSync, and Hanson in like, 1997. More realistically, it was Solavellan, summer of 2016. 

2. Ship you write the most now:

Right now, I’m pretty much only writing Arthur Morgan x Mary Beth Gaskill for the Red Dead Redemption 2 fandom (in a fast-growing chapter fic called A Funeral). Ships I meaningfully hope to get back to are Aloy x Nil (Horizon: Zero Dawn) and Sene x Ameridan (I still have a lot up my sleeve for them). I feel Sene and Solas have mostly been retired, at least in their canon divergent fix-it iteration. But of course, with DA4 developments, I am always likely to get back to their more tragic, awful canon circumstances. Lol. 

3. Ship you read the most now:

When I read fanfic, I still mostly read Solavellan and Dragon Age fanfic, especially now that, for the time being, I’ve moved on from writing for the fandom. I try to stick faithful to my friends who are magnificent DA writers. I’m slowly combing my way through fics by @ladylike-foxes @bearly-tolerable @ellstersmash and @buttsonthebeach right now, and of course I always look forward to @thevikingwoman‘s Temporal Arrangements updates <3 Note that I am MASSIVELY slow when it comes to reading, particularly catching up on longfics, so you may not know I’m there at all till I whisper my way into the comments section all at once when I catch up....

4. Newest ship:

Arthur Morgan x Mary Beth Gaskill, Red Dead Redemption 2. This is a very rare pair, and I’m stoked for the readership I’ve accumulated so far at AO3 (and to a MUCH lesser extent, on tumblr). I’m not altogether sure why it’s so rare lol, but Mary Beth IS a low profile character for sure, and most of the fic I see for Arthur seems to be the second person Reader x Arthur, which is a sub-genre I’m not terribly familiar with. I do have theories that Mary Beth might have been the originally planned love interest for Arthur, and I know I’m not alone in that at least. There just aren’t a lot of other content creators for the ship right now, which is fine lol. I’m cool being the captain of this ship.

I also have some newer ships that I love, even if I don’t actively ship them? Like Arthur x Charles and Arthur x Albert Mason. I REALLY like viewing these as complex platonic relationships, particularly Arthur and Charles, who I see as platonic comrades fighting in a losing war (never romantic), but I’ve seen some beautiful art and writing for both of these as romantic ships and really like to see what people come up with.

5. Rare ship you wanna read more of:

I’d love to see some more Ameridan x Lavellan ships out there!! I know they exist. I also am definitely meaning to get into @a-shakespearean-in-paris‘s Arthur x Charlotte fic, another RDR2 rare pair.

6. Your taboo ship:

Most of the time, I give no fucks about what people want to ship. The only thing that legitimately freaks me out is Joel x Ellie from The Last of Us. That, to me, is gnarly af and I’m actually like, morally opposed to the pairing. I’m definitely a little squicked by Arthur x Dutch in RDR2, though I don’t have any moral issues with it. I just don’t like it personally. In the end, 99.9% of the time, I say ship and let ship. 

7. They never met in canon ship:  

I don’t think I have one of these. Unless you count Solas x Ghilan’nain. Though I guess they DID meet in canon? Idk lol.

8. Your unexpected ship:

Lavellan x Ameridan and Lavellan x Abelas. Tbh when I first got here, I never understood these sorts of canon divergent ships. It was bizarre to me. But after hanging out for a year or so and finding new ways to explore the story, I ended up being so fascinated by the prospect of Sene in a post-Trespasser world, attempting to move on from Solas, and her complicated relationships with other ancient and quasi-ancient elves. 

Also, Aloy x Nil for HZD. This ship grew out of my own writing and not really much out of the game. I think Nil’s role in Aloy’s life is supremely unique, and I explored it in a one-shot, which became a yet-unfinished chapter fic that I’d really like to get back to one day.  

9. The ship you always forget to give love to:

Morrigan x Warden Cousland. I feel like I don’t see a ton of other Morrigan x Warden ships (except you @buttsonthebeach!!) and I have always loved the complexities of the ship. 

10. Ship your OC with a canon character (if applicable):

See #8 lol. I’ve shipped Sene Lavellan with every ancient elf there is lol. I’ve also got a Lavellan x Blackwall ship, which I wrote about briefly in my probably-abandoned fic Unsigned.

I’ve also got a very loose concept for an OC x Joel ship in The Last of Us that I never wrote about. Her name is Cynthia. She’s a widow, and she’s got a sixteen-year-old son. The two find their way to Tommy’s compound in Jackson at some point post-TLoU. I had an idea for a canon divergent fic in which Joel and Cynthia get married, and shortly thereafter, during an attack on the compound, Joel and Cynthia’s son end up captured and held hostage by the Fireflies. Cynthia and Ellie then must set out on a journey to rescue them. Cynthia is a skilled trap-maker, a little like Bill, but even more specialized. She teaches Ellie how to make some badass traps. Add this to my long list of fics I would love nothing more to write, but I have no time to write them. 

11. Ship you’re embarrassed to ship:

I’m a grown-ass woman I have no embarrassment lol.

12. Your most romantic ship:

Sene and Solas. But also maybe Arthur x Mary Beth. I’m not sure which is more “romantic.” I don’t really do “sweep me off my feet whirlwind romance” writing. Though, of course, they’re romantic in some sense. 

13. Your sexiest ship:

That would be Sene Lavellan x Ameridan, for sure.

14. Your most tragic ship:

Ugh. Probably Sene Lavellan x Abelas. I have not written as much about them as I should have. Their story is quite complete in my mind and has a few endings. 

My Nume Lavellan x Blackwall ship is also pretty sad.

15. A ship you want more content for:

I always want more Iwyn Lavellan x Solas content by @thevikingwoman. In any and all forms, though my favorite story for them so far is Temporal Arrangements. <3

tagging @bearly-tolerable @wrenbee @a-shakespearean-in-paris @ladylike-foxes @lyrium-lovesong @buttsonthebeach @ellstersmash @ocean-in-my-rebel-soul ^_^

[tennyo-elf]

Thoughts on Cullen, both negative and positive:

Okay, so life crap aside (’cause if you think my hiatus isn’t life BS, you’d be wrong), I am slowly making my way back to Dragon Age. I started a new play through of DAI and I’m rerolling my Ellana (ofc, I love her too much - AND I have to get back to my last ME3 pt too, ‘cause I want to do a video series with ME after that). So generally, getting back into DA and ME makes me happier.

I’ve always liked Cullen! Ellana romances and marries him! This blogs has reblogged tons of gifs and images of him. But, sadly, I can finally see the haters POV, and pretty clearly too. Yet it all comes from Haven/Pre-Skyhold/that one convo after his Lyrium decision.

First, the way he speaks of Kirkwall, like he mentions only the bad things the mages did, like the templars didn’t have a hand in that chaos, and normally I’d say Cullen is blindsided but he knows better here (I’m thinking/hoping it’s just a knee jerk reaction). Then he speaks about how the mages watch the Templars just as much as the Templars watch the mages and states it pretty cluelessly, as if he doesn’t know why - which he honestly may not (the mages are scared and see you guys a jailers/executioners/oppressors/etc  !!***!!). Then later he states he fears for Redcliffe because the rebel mages are there - I know he worries about bad things happening (and bad things did happen, but not because of the mages, because of Alexius) but that means he doesn’t trust mages or think them capable of restraint.. It’s not in your face mage discrimination, but you can clearly see how he still thinks lowly about mages. He is still very much a Templar in thought and action at this time, despite how he wants to get away from the Order. I can see how and why people who don’t like Cullen, would go “ugh” with Cullen and never give him another chance. I’m yelling at Cullen on my screen, because he is too narrow minded during this time (just like I yell at Solas, whom I also love, lol).

I’m so conflicted right now, because I know Cullen gets better, even subtly, later on, but we don’t get the solid details on it. All we get are hints and only if you romance him as a mage. When talking about Maddox and how Meredith wielded the Tranquil brand for far lesser offences, Cullen does seem mad or finds the memory distasteful, but he never tells us what he thinks about it. Unless you count the whole “Meredith’s methods were harsh but they kept people safe” spiel. I don’t like his solution because he ends it with the words “neither freedom nor prison” (dude, your mage gf is right there, you don’t want her free?????). That hints he now realises that it’s a prison for mages or that mages see it that way. That’s something, a start, and it’s a different mindset than at Haven. After that I don’t remember if there is much from Cullen about mages anymore. (His silly worries about the Eluvian is actually pretty funny, because, one, if you joke with him he realizes he shouldn’t worry, and two, he verbally pouts when he states that “he not unreasonable” - it makes me wonder how much contemplation he gives to his opinions or thoughts, because sometimes it seems like he doesnt, while other times he does).

I’ve noticed how he finds it difficult to be or think in someone else’s shoes, not until they knock him over the head with their own experiences. He wrongly thinks about how Tranquillity was created by mages too (the truth is he is very much a parrot to Chantry indoctrination, until otherwise informed but even informed it takes him time to turn around and face the truth). And he is very set in his ways but seems to want to change himself or just not be who he was in DA2. I know he wants to be a good man and wants to protect people (that’s the core of his character and why I like him). He has seen the dangers of magic and I don’t disagree that protections against magical misuse should be in place, but the subject seems to cloud his judgement (and of course it does after what he went through in the Circle of Ferelden). But he doesn’t take nonsense from the Chantry, even though he is very devout, which makes him paradoxical at times too. He is also very unforgiving of those who do wrong, even if it was just an honest mistake, so his mercy bar is low. And yet he needs mercy too, says it himself at the end of the base game (he if it was him, he wouldn’t have given himself another chance).

It’s just, Cullen’s character is layered, and he has done good things (among his bad). And besides Leliana, and besides his botched and ridiculous suggestions for the Clan Lavellan War Tables mission, he actually has some of the best options for a lot of the elvhen centred war table missions. I mean, can someone who wants to change, to be a better person, makes friends with mages, dwarves, qunari, and is around an Inquisitor who makes Leliana Divine, still be stuck in that pre-Skyhold mentality?

I don’t know where I’m going with this. I’m just angry we don’t have a really proper redemption arc for Cullen (and yes, I agree a lot with the idea of DAI only having a recovery arc for him, but that means Cullen still needs a redemption arc and if you don’t want him DA4, how is he going to get that????). We really don’t see him change more from the beginning of the game. Like we get hints, to a subtle shift in his character, and it’s not apparent and can be easily missed or overlooked or even dismissed as Cullen not having changed a bit. It’s so easy to make your own version of Cullen. I choose to see him as changed and that having a Dalish mage lover than later wife, really opens his eyes to a different world he hadn’t seen before due to his insular life as a Templar within a very awful Chantry.

And like, I get the feeling that Cullen can’t shift too fast either because if he acknowledges that “what good he did” as a Templar was just bad/evil like murder evil in general he’d falter or come completely undone, and that can’t happen during DAI because he needs to command the army. Like, hey, that mage that failed her harrowing? If you just dampened her magic for a bit, you could have removed the demon and saved her life (admittingly that risks other lives) but there were options to give mages more chances at life, a better life, within in the Circle. Harrowings are evil, and I want Cullen to get that. Cullen needed more tbh, for him to be more generally likeable. His opinion  about mages, in the beginning of DAI, is annoying and infuriating.

Slowly he stops talking about mages and seems slightly more reasonable near the end, but it’s almost too subtle, or just plain unclear just how much he has changed. I understand he won’t be 100% pro-mage because of what happened in the Circle of Ferelden, but like being around mages, free mages no less, who don’t go spewing blood magic or summon demons willy nilly, etc, should have made a dent in his thick skull! I headcanon that it does, because knowing what I know of Cullen, it seems natural to me that he would learn and be better, slowly but surely. His stubborn, very stubborn, but to me his shift from DA2 to DAI means that he is capable of re-evaluating previously held beliefs. So what’s stopping someone like that from learning even more though proper guidance and exposure?  He’d always have certain traits, he’d always be devout to the Maker, but wouldn't evidence during DAI show him that mages can be free to govern themselves? We never find out though just how much his opinions can change though. We don’t hear his opinions or thoughts on the matter at all in the end (what does he think about Adamant or Mythal or Solas, on the College of Mages and the allianced mages who successful ran themselves?). That is what frustrates me so much!!! I just want a clear answer, if Cullen is around a pro-mage Inquisitor, who allies with the mages, and then has Leliana Divine, does that help him grow out of all that up there that has me yelling at him? I want it to be so, but that fact is it’s unclear, that DA4 might not mention it, or that if Cullen is in DA4 we won’t get to see how much he changed because he’ll be a quick guest appearance or..?

And throwing this out there, I like how he says to a Dalish LI, “I want your promise to be true” in such a serious tone, when they mention needing Dalish vows. But does that mean he cares about her faith or respects it (which seems like he would do, by this time, he’d need time to respect another faith besides his own at first)? Or he doesn’t care if she like recites some demonic passage to some daedric princes, so long as she marries him....(because he can be a stubborn, ignorant toad sometimes that needs to be taught)? We don’t know because we never get a chance for a Dalish LI to speak with Cullen about faith...

!!***!!Just came to me, Cullen is not very observant/is pretty ignorant about things. I don’t think he lies about things (that would be OOC for him), he just talks erroneously about things he doesn’t know anything about. (Thus, again, he needs better guidance...so would a pro-mage, pro-elf, merciful leader like my Ellana, truly help him change for the better?)

I still love Cullen, but my boy is problematic AF.  And I honestly believe bioware didn’t do him right (on point, to my liking, which I know others will disagree). Bioware either brushed off what he did or what he believes since they don’t think it’s a big deal, or because of time and budget, maybe they just couldn’t give him more of an arc. Or maybe Cullen is too much of a side character to get more story. Companions did have more than Advisors, so knowing that, I want Cullen as a companion is DA4 so he can get that arc I want him to have? Wishful thinking, I know. But tin foil hat on, maybe that’s why it’s only a recovery arc now, so later on, they can delve into more of his story? (Doubt it, wishful thinking AGAIN. But if what your Inquisitor did in DAI can vastly change him in DA4 and he has to go through that process of change. I mean, it shows just how much influence the Inquisitor had on her inner-circle and the world of Thedas?)

[ahvarchive]

smth a think abt a lot: they rly CANT use leli in da4, at least not in more than a cameo, because they brought her back from the dead once and more than once is going to look like bullshit.  however, it’s still (  presumably  ) going to follow the inquisition or what’s left of it in hunting down solas so in gamestates where leliana ISN’T dead it won’t make sense for the spymaster not to be around at all.  (  also, does a killed leliana still disappear if she was made divine???  literally --- how does that work --- is the chantry divine - less AGAIN???  )  i mean if the game takes place in tevinter and the inquisitor / inquisition that we’re familiar with is sorta outta the way / still in orlais / the free marches / etc. then that’s one thing, but still....

[liaragaming]

Dragon Age Questions

full list here

How did you get into Dragon Age?

My husband introduced me to Origins, and it was pretty much instant love. In fact, I was the one who went online immediately after playing it and discovered DA2 was already out. And I was reason we bought a PS4 to play Inquisition.

What was your first Warden (gender/class/race/personality)?

Castless Dwarf who was a bit gruff.

Favorite DA:O backstory?

The female City Elf origin just blew me away (I don’t think it’s quite as impactful on the male side). Once I discovered that, there really was no playing anything else.

What was your first Hawke like (gender/class/temperament)?

Diplomatic warrior Hawke because I love Bethany.

Preferred class overall?

I think I prefer the 2-handed warrior. But I’m not sure if I love the class or if it just plays really well for DA2. I’ve only ever done rogue for DAO and mage for DAI, so I have nothing to compare it to. But I really love the feeling of smashing everything with the power of your hands.

Do you prefer DA:O, DA2, or DA:I most?

It’s hard to pick a favorite. They are very different games, and I love them all for different reasons. But I think DAI just because it’s the latest.

Who did you choose to rule Fereldan?

Alistair and Anora together. I think they balance each other out well. I even wrote a fanfic about them falling in love once they learn to get over themselves and figure out how to compromise.

Did you give Fenris back to Danarius? 

Which 3 DA characters would you want as your best friends?

Leliana, Cassandra, and Aveline.

A character you’d love to drop in a volcano and forget about?

Tallis? Drop in a volcano is a little harsh, but... I saw Dragon Age Redemption and felt very meh about it. I just didn’t care about any of the characters. Except for Nyree. OMG, do I need more Nyree in my life!

But really it just felt like fanfic with a lot of inconsistencies that have no place in canon. And I felt like the Mark of the Assassin DLC had no purpose to Hawke’s story beyond let’s hang out with Tallis because who doesn’t want to run around with Felicia Day?

Um, me? I just want more Dragon Age. Can I have more Dragon Age, please?

Best antagonist in the series?

Solas?

Worst antagonist in the series?

Corypheus still leaves me kinda meh.

Fluffiest headcanon ever?

Solas is the sleepy/cuddly kind after sex. There. I said it.

Who do you wish had been given more story?

I really love Minaeve and want to be her best friend.

What moment/memory still gives you chills/feels?

It really strikes me every time you become the Inquisitor. Cullen does his “will you follow?” speech, and you pump the sword in the air, and Josephine does her cheer, and the music is swelling behind everything, and I’m just sitting there telling myself I’m not going to cry.

What are you hoping for from DA4?

If I had one wish for DA4, I’d like to be able to free some elven slaves from Tevinter and have Valora be among them. Other than that, I just want an awesome game.

What are you worried about for DA4?

If I don’t have the option for Solas not to die in some shape or form (even if I have to be a terrible person to make it not happen) I’m going to be very unhappy.

Do you create anything in the fandom (write, draw, craft, gif, etc)?

Fanfic, this blog, my youtube channel...

Do you own any DA merchandise?

Do the books/comics count?

Have you ever made any DA-themed crafts (clothes, toys, etc)?

Does cosplay count?

If you could meet your Warden/Hawke/Inquisitor, what would you say?

I am so proud of all of you, and I’m sorry for any choices I made that made your lives more difficult. Also, will you be my best friend? Because I need more amazing women in my life.

[galadrieljones]

For the "75 Gaming Asks" - 15, 33, 34, 36 and 54?

Thanks, @dreadhobo!! I hope you’re having an awesome Friday so far. 

15. Favorite animal in a video game?

Eeeeeee what a good one lol. This might be a boring answer, but I love it when games prioritize and use horses as important elements of gameplay. My favorite horse in a game is probably Skyrim’s immortal vampire horse Shadowmere that you get during the Dark Brotherhood questline I also love the horses in Red Dead Redemption 2, obviously. Arthur’s Missouri Fox Trotter Sarah is my heart and soul over here ;-;

Okay but I also really love nugs. meep.

33. Favorite female npc? 

Mild RDR2 spoilers ahead.

Ugh I’m really loving Sadie Adler in RDR2. I was talking to @bearly-tolerable about her the other day. How she’s incredibly unique as a female character, because she’s, yes, badass, but what I love about her most is not her badassery, but her actual devotion to her dead husband, and how she can be covered in blood after avenging his death and still cry, refer to him as her “Jakey,” and how, no matter how far she descends into this nightmare of her grief, she has made it her life’s goal to remember their purity together, and to preserve his memory as a good man. She doesn’t care about her own sadness as much as she cares about what happened to him, and how he was too good for it, and how I know she would have traded her life for his any day.

Also, her friendship with Arthur toward the end of the storyline is just...ugh.

34. Favorite male npc?

Hmm. I love Bill from The Last of Us, and how he is such a beautiful foil for Joel. I love Charles from RDR2, and his quiet acceptance of his dubious morality as an outlaw even as he is, in his heart, a truly good man. I love Jonah in both Rise and Shadow of the Tomb Raider for the unfailing, unconditional friendship he offers to Lara, even in her darkest hours. 

36. Best antagonist?

Konstantin in Rise of the Tomb Raider. TOTALLY. Dude he was such a good antagonist, it almost ruined Shadow of the Tomb Raider for me, because its villain is so weak in comparison. Konstantin is a true believer in a religious cause devoted to remaking the world without horror and sin. This makes him both dangerous but also earnest in his quest. His devotion to his sister makes him personable. He wants the Divine Source not for the power it would grant him--that is a secondary concern. He wants it, first and foremost, to cure his sister’s terminal disease. He tries to recruit Lara. In a way, I think he admires her. She is his equal. He is ruthless, but the fact that he has something to lose, something that feels very real and very personal, makes him sympathetic. And the final boss fight between him and Lara in Rise is so good. It’s just so good.

54. A sequel you really want?

Welp, DA4 for starters, obvi. But I’m also very excited for more information on The Last of Us, Pt. II. I am also hoping for a Horizon: Zero Dawn sequel? I think there is more to Aloy’s story, more for her to learn and see, and I think Silens is a great sleeper villain whose motives are both mysterious and incredibly intriguing. 

On Gaming: Ask Me Things!

[bunabi]

I'm thinking a lot of the problems with ME:A stem from the fact it's effectively the "B Team" that's never made a full game of this level and largely didn't have anything to do with the making of the original trilogy. The game is fun so far but riddled with issues. Like, fun can only get you so far. Fun Game =/= [necessarily] Good Game. Especially since we don't know if the writing is actually good all the way through/are hearing mixed things from reviewers about further ion the game, ya know?

I hear ya.

I’m confused as to why they didn’t narrow down their scope to accommodate. I can only hope theyve learned some kind of lesson. I’d kill to read the postmortem for Andromeda. I’m praying they reflect, recollect, and pull a redemption in the form of DA4.

But after all this I dunno how I feel about them as a company. Not because of the animation wonkyness, but because they were deliberately misleading about it. After the first footage of Sara grabbin that damn gun they avoided the question of whether that animation would be fixed. They just repeated how everything gets worked on til the end, they’ll keep polishing, they’ll keep refining, they’ll keep fine-tuning.

They knew that one weird-looking scene wasn't an isolated incident.  They knew the whole game was like that. They kept folks oblivious, let them place those $60+ pre-orders, said what they wanted to hear, and stayed as silent as they could before the inevitable exposé.

Its all just public relations, its basic video game marketing, its hardly personal, but I’m still genuinely upset they pulled this nonsense. I feel so bad for folks who took the risk and pre-ordered before knowing exactly what they were purchasing. I hope we’re all pleasantly surprised by Andromeda and they get their money’s worth. I hope they have fun. :’ (