#surana lavellan au

[inquisimer]

Realized I never put this up here, so flings into the void

Summary:

After Hawke betrayed her to the Templars, Neria Surana became the Knight Captain's Tranquil assistant. Years later, Cassandra and Leliana come to Kirkwall.

“She was an apostate a decade out of the Circle,” he said raggedly. “And before that, potentially exposed to—to the madness that decimated Kinloch Hold. Even Circles without Kirkwall’s reputation would have exercised Tranquility.”

“Do wait until I’m out of the country before you run that excuse by the Warden-Commander,” Leliana bit out. “I’d like to avoid being caught in the inevitable fireball.”

tags/ratings/word count under the cut

Rating: Teen & Up Audiences Words: 5412 Relationships: Female Surana & Cullen Rutherford, Leliana (Dragon Age) & Cassandra Pentaghast Tags: Angst, Unresolved Tension, Tranquility (Dragon Age), POV Cullen Rutherford, Knight Captain Cullen, Mage-Templar Dynamics, Lyrium Withdrawal, Mentioned Leliana & Amell Friendship, Mentioned Surana & Amell Friendship, Headcanons About Magic and the Circle, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Surana is Not a Grey Warden, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Dragon Age II, Leliana is Angry

[courier-roku]

Drawing the whole squad for the au

[spainkitty]

okay i need the deets about your surana-lavellan i am so intrigued 👀🙏 -merrybandofmurders

@merrybandofmurderers

I'll have you know, I am OBSESSED with my Surana-Lavellan. I am OVERJOYED to tell you, every single one of my lurking followers, and the whole world all about her. 🥰🤩😍 Welcome to my Very Long Post to justify having Surana as my Lavellan!!

Okay! It starts with: I didn't put enough memory on the MS side of my Mac laptop 😅

I played DAO with my Cousland, went on to play DA2, but I went back and started my Surana file for funsies and Tabris as well. Just because I love building characters and I wanted to experience the other Origins. I fell IMMEDIATELY in love with my Surana. I played her with high Willpower, a bit of a bully and an arrogant one at that, who'd drunk the Chantry Kool-aid and was going to slowly, as she ventured out into the world, realize the Kool-aid was gross, and she and all mages deserve better. However, before I even finished the first few Main Quests (I think I did Broken Circle and Orzammar), I finished my DA2 playthru and my friend helped me set up for DAI.

This is where the lack of memory on my laptop comes in. I had to delete my Origins file to make room on my laptop for DAI. I didn't want to close down the entire partition and re-allot the memory so I just deleted everything but DAI. I was so sad and upset, I remade my Lanil Surana as Lanil Lavellan and added an entire amnesia-ridden backstory for her 🤣 Her personality and character growth was going to be along the same lines, and her appearance, of course. And then I set sail on DAI~

Basically: During Origins, someone *coughCullencough* helped her escape during Uldred’s Uprising and she couldn't get back. She barely escaped through a tunnel in the storage rooms full of giant spiders (a little bg for her DAI phobia 😉) and wandered around poisoned and pissed off with vague plans to go back home anyway when the Sabrae Clan picked her up. She ended up leaving with them instead to the Free Marches, but after everything with Uldred, didn't trust Merrill enough to stay. The blood magic and the demon on Sundermount scared her, especially since she's still a little Kool-aid drinker at heart at this time. Marethari eventually sent Lanil off to the Lavellan Clan and Lanil became a Second. Mainly because she was highly educated and a Healer with spells she could teach that they would never have heard of. Her becoming First was out of sheer moxie. She refuses to let anyone tell her she can't do something and she'd always been rather ambitious, aiming and being groomed for First Enchanter most of her life.

Along the way she does actually grow and change. She starts to care a lot more about elves and Elvhen, becomes fascinated by this history that was denied her during her Chantry-filled life, and throws herself into the culture with wide eyes. It's about more than being powerful, it's about wanting to use that power to make things better, to protect the People that have welcomed her and her magic and made her feel like she finally had a family. (Dregs of this inform who she is as an Inquisitor.)

Then, the Conclave. She's sent because she's Chantry-educated and knows the lay of the land well. She's FROM there; she has studied the geography and knows the politics. She can blend in better than any of them. When she and the Divine are blown into the Fade, though, the Nightmare doesn't just take her memories of that night and Corypheus, it took ALL of them. She had nearly nothing left and doesn't even know her own name for most of her story. She's just Lavellan, because Leliana found her belongings and the only personal information included was the Clan name: Lavellan. Dorian (I think? It might have been Sera) eventually dubs her "Lane" and she responds to it automatically. She doesn't get her memories back until after Into the Abyss, of course, which I played AFTER Wicked Eyes Wicked Hearts, and after her relationship Cullen was already pretty deep and "locked in".

I had a lot of fun with writing her and Cullen's first meeting and then after she figures out who she really is 🤣 Cullen definitely gaslit himself into thinking he's crazy for noticing how similar they looked/acted. Since she was much older, heavily scarred, and had vallaslin (and amnesia, so even her personality was affected in a way), he told himself he was being stupid, how could Surana be a Dalish elf now? She's probably dead and his one truly rebellious act was for nothing. Lavellan just looks *a lot* like her. Don't be so racist, Rutherford! Surprise! It's really her! 🤣🤣🤣 (tbf, they did only know each other for a year, and even then, it wasn't like they knew each other well)

She starts off DAI ruthless and stubborn as hell, aggressively doing the Right Thing and taking everyone along with her. She consolidated as much power as she could, and does everything possible to make the world better for mages and elves, but she's not exactly wise or clever and makes some truly upsetting mistakes. Learning to rely on others, to be vulnerable, and to care more about the small, important details rather than the Big Picture is how she grows. Although she never quite shakes her knee-jerk aggressive and stubborn-jackass personality, she does soften slightly and learn empathy. The Iron Bull's betrayal much later shakes her down to her core, and it's the main reason why she chooses to save and forgive Solas instead of kill him in the end. She doesn't want to let down and lose another close friend like she did the Iron Bull.

[arbutusart]

one for sorrow

two for mirth

three for a funeral

four for birth

five for heaven

six for hell

and seven for the devil himself

[nirikeehan]

OC Kiss Week - Day 2: Food

For day two of @ockissweek, I come bearing 100 words of my favorite cheese thieving team, Thalia and Neria. They are both Dragon Age OCs, and Neria belongs to the lovely @inquisimer. Thank you for letting me borrow your girl for shenanigans. ❤️

---

Their latest cheese heist a success, Neria and Thalia escaped to Skyhold’s battlements. Neria hoisted herself up onto the parapet, crossing her lithe legs. Thalia sat beside her, ramrod straight. 

Neria bit into a cheese wheel. “This spicy gouda is to die for!” 

“You think they’ll come looking?” Thalia anxiously nibbled some gorgonzola. 

Neria’s dark braid caught the sunlight as she leaned over and kissed Thalia’s temple. “I think that fat cat cheese merchant got what was coming to him.” 

Thalia snorted. “I wish I had your confidence.” 

“It comes from many years of learning not to give a shit.”

[vaamiel]

My commissions are open!

I drew my dragon age protagonists!

I love them all so much 🥹 I figure I might as well write a lil about them so more info below the cut!

(this is quite long so be warned!)

Athon Surana is my warden!

He's a crunchy little bookworm who would much rather be researching or reading than fighting (or sleeping. Or eating. Or brushing his hair. Pretty much anything else).

He's an arcane warrior. Not because he wanted to be a frontline fighter or wield a sword, but literally because it requires less effort and thought than casting spells in combat. That's not to say he's a bad mage - quite the opposite in fact - but he doesn't want to spend the mental energy on fighting when he could much rather use his brain for Other Things.

Zevran is the love of his life, though I think them getting together is more incidental than anything else. Athon would likely have never sought companionship from anyone at all if he was left to his own devices, but he enjoys the time he spends with zev very much!

I imagine he's currently buried under a pile of books somewhere in Weisshaupt. The events of DAD will absolutely happen around him and he won't even bother to stick his head out of the library.

Garrett Hawke is.. well, you know

I love the default name and appearance for Garrett. The more I play DA2 the more it sticks as the only option for his appearance in my mind 🥲

I think my headcanons for him stick pretty close to canon - maybe with the exception I imagine him being even more pro-mage (perhaps even slightly racial) compared to the options you're provided in-game?

Anders is his romance and Garrett is very much All In on his ideals. Tbh I DO headcanon that he put together the plan about the chantry explosion and never stepped in because he supported the action.

I imagine he and Anders are off galavanting around Weisshaupt, waiting for Athon to finish developing a cure for the taint (and annoying Carver until the end of his days, certainly).

Lennox Trevelyan is my latest inquisitor!

He's the oldest of my three inquisitors, and incidentally the oldest of his siblings as well. Getting sent to the tower at a young age was frustrating and I think he held a lot of resentment toward his family and the circle for being caged as he was.

He also lost his faith during his years in the circle, which was quite jarring for someone raised in such a devout family.

That Lennox never saw any of his siblings or his parents again really Messed Him Up for a long time, and left him with a little bit of an inferiority complex and a smidge of abandonment issues 🥲

The inquisition (and his role in it) made things both better and worse - the power never went to his head, but he was certainly a bit of a radicalist when it came to freedom for mages and equality amongst all those under his command.

His romance is Dorian, and tbh with his disbanding of the inquisition, I imagine he went chasing after him to Tevinter (darn abandonment issues strike again), acting as a liaison for Leliana as divine.

Ashiriel Lavellan is my middle child with a weird AU backstory

SO Ashiriel is my one character that breaks a lot of the established lore. She was inspired by an au I built for myself and then never posted anywhere around... 2018? Where Dorian fled Tevinter with the help of the chargers a year or so early.

Ashiriel never imagined herself a mage. She made it 25 years without any magic manifesting, then during a traumatic incident when caught by some nasty noblemen in the forest, she lit them on fire (and half of herself too).

Basically, to cut an incredibly long-winded backstory short, she was rescued by bull and Dorian after they stumbled upon her. The chargers stayed with clan Lavellan for a time, helping Ashiriel heal and defending them as they moved away from Wycome etc.

They don't meet again until the tear etc, but all this sort of informed how I built Ashiriel in the game!

Cullen is Ashiriel's husband and I imagine they live happily ever after in the woods of ferelden, mutually healing from their extensive trauma 😌

Veren was my first inquisitor!

Veren is a precious little baby, new to the world just like me lmao. We both knew nothing going in to inquisition, so I was a stupid dumb dumb idiot and romanced Solas on my first playthrough with her.

We're both not over it.

Veren is a rogue (the only non-mage out of all my protags haha), but because she loved and trusted Solas, she kind of worked heeding his advice the whole game.

The one exception would be the well of sorrows - still reeling from the breakup she decided to ignore him that one time and... Well, we'll see what happens there, I suppose.

You bet your ass she's chasing that stupid egg across Thedas and beyond. Veren is hella determined and will stop at nothing to try to redeem Solas. Or maybe she's in denial, hard to say.

Anyway, I think that's it! If you managed to sit through all this rambling, thanks! Let me know what you think!

[thedragonagelesbian]

ocs + dragon age demon pairings

yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee

(tagging folks who expressed interest tytytytyty ily all smmmmm @hexblooddruid @fllagellant @ghostwise andddddd if any of you want to share for your ocs... 👀👀👀)

Vidreu Aeducan ~ Desire Demon

Dru is tricky because they aren't strongly motivated by the kinds of emotions that demons feed on. They're largely guided by academic curiosity and dispassionate pragmatism, but she could be tempted by forbidden knowledge in a heartbeat. (Indeed, she defiled the Urn of Sacred Ashes for precisely that reason.) A desire demon could readily exploit that thirst-- for answers, for understanding, for secrets.

Luc Surana ~ Despair Demon

Everything that Luc has--his anger and his snark and his defiance--either grows out of or masks a profound sense of nihilism. Nothing matters, there's no point in trying, and caring is just setting yourself up for heartbreak down the road.

(In the AU where Alistair breaks up with him after the Landsmeet, Luc summons one by accident teehee)

Cyrus Hawke ~ Pride Demon

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh won't someone please tell him what a good boy he is and what a good job he's done bleeding out for others, won't someone please give him a good grade in self-sacrifice.

As a general rule, I'm a strong believer that the best demonic temptations are precisely those that characters wouldn't think they'd be affected by, because if you know something is a flaw of yours, you can guard against it. Cyrus' humility is very genuine, but below it is a profound craving for recognition that he won't let himself acknowledge, making it the perfect weak point.

Dahlian Lavellan ~ Sloth Demon

Dahlian has been tired since the moment she first woke up in Haven, weary under the mantle of Inquisitorial duty and constantly performing as its cold, professional leader. It would take some prying to pull her away from that duty, toward restfulness, but wouldn't it be so nice to share just a moment's repose with her daughter?

Yiseeril Trevelyan ~ Hunger Demon

Yiseeril's pride is dangerous, yes, but she's been haunted by her own personal hunger demon/Fade tongue situationship, Vanity, for years and knows how to resist her temptations. What could be fatal is pushing that pride to its extreme, past ambition and into apotheosis, starved for power and sated by nothing short of godhood.

[wetcatspellcaster]

BG3/Dragon Age Masterlist!

Hello! My name is Emma :) I write fic under howlsmovinglibrary, and this is where my follows/likes/replies come from as well! (this is my fic sideblog!)

kofi!(💘)

Currently Updating!

An Honest Lie

BG3, Astarion/Rosalie, canon retelling of Full Access.

Cooler Than Me

BG3, Astarion/Rosalie, celebrity/academia modern AU.

Backlog of complete fics (including Pieces!) below the cut!

Baldur’s Gate 3

A Bleeding Heart

Completed, 30k, M

BG3, Astarion/Rosalie, belligerent sexual tension

Astarion seems to have acquired a bleeding heart, entirely by accident. And by the gods, is she an inconvenience.

Upon Reflection

Completed, 4k, T

BG3,  Astarion/Rosalie, belligerent sexual tension

One-shot of the canon mirror scene, with added sass and yearning glances.

Party Favours

Completed, 40k, M

BG3,  Astarion/Rosalie, fake dating AU

Astarion deserved a fake dating AU so I gave him one.

Pieces Still Stuck in Your Teeth

Completed, 189k, M

BG3, Astarion/Rosalie, ‘we’re divorced but making it everyone else’s problem’ Ascendency AU 

11 years after Astarion ascended and he and Rosalie broke up, an unexpected and brutal murder forces her to return to the Gate and (in theory) put him in the ground.

This is a Love Story

Completed, 12k, T

BG3, God!Gale/God!Durge, Slay the Princess AU

When the Dark Urge ascended to godhood alongside her love, Murder tries to claim her one final time. In order to preserve her sanity, the God of Ambition crafts a tower for her to live in.

Dragon Age

Eye of the Storm

Completed, 388k, T

DA:I, Cullen/f!Lavellan, formerly tranquil Inquisitor

Asha Lavellan arrives at the Temple of Sacred Ashes tranquil, recruited by the Rebel Mages to testify to the Conclave about the atrocities committed against her Clan by a group of rogue templars. The next day, she wakes up, her hand marked with the anchor, and her tranquility somehow negated. 

The Fortress of Highever

Completed, 36k, T

DA:O, Alistair/f!Cousland, arranged marriage AU

Ismene Cousland knows that the only way Alistair can win the throne is with her help. But after finally escaping the confines of her noblewoman’s life, is marrying him to guarantee his success at the Landsmeet a sacrifice she’s willing to make?

A Man’s Word Is His Bond

Completed, 35k, M

DA:O, Zevran/f!Surana, Soulmates AU

The Antivan Crows burned away Zevran’s soulmark long before he was old enough to read it.

Just A Moment’s Peace

Completed, 23k, M

DA:O, Zevran/f!Surana, modern university library AU

There was a problem with Nyd Surana’s favourite spot in the library. Someone new had moved in four rows down. Someone insufferable.

[daisymeade]

DA OCs

Canon

HEULWEN SURANA

Alias: Hero of Ferelden, Hero of Orzammar, Hound of Weisshaupt

Age: 19 - 20 (Blight)

Identity: she/her, bi grey-ace

Height: 5'2

Class: Mage (arcane warrior/lightning elementalist/spirit healer)

Romance: Zevran, Loghain (au)

MARION HAWKE

Alias: Champion of Kirkwall

Age: 25 (9:30), 36 (9:41, death)

Identity: he/him, poly-pan

Height: 6'2

Class: Rogue (archer/duelist)

Romance: Isabela, Samson (au)

MERIDIS CADASH

Alias: Herald of Andraste, Inquisitor, Red Jenny

Age: 38 (9:41)

Identity: she/her, straight

Height: 4'11

Class: Warrior (champion)

Romance: Blackwall

SIDRIN AEDUCAN THORNE

Alias: Legionnaire, Rook

Age: 57 (9:52)

Identity: he/they, bi

Height: 4'10

Class: Warrior (reaper)

Romance: Harding

Non-canon

MAEVE COUSLAND

Alias: Chancellor of Ferelden

Age: 23 (9:30)

Identity: she/her, poly lesbian

Height: 5’6

Class: Rogue (duelist/assassin)

Romance: Leliana + Anora

GARADIN TABRIS

Alias: Noble Killer

Age: 21 (9:30)

Identity: he/him, bisexual

Height: 5’4

Class: Warrior (templar/berserker)

Romance: Sten

TALFRYN MAHARIEL

Alias: Bann of Soldier’s Peak

Age: 22 (9:30)

Identity: he/him, gay

Height: 5’5

Class: Mage (blood mage/keeper)

Romance: Jowan

TELAHN LAVELLAN

Alias: Dreadhunter

Age: 32 (9:41)

Identity: he/him, pansexual

Height: 5’8

Class: Warrior (spirit warrior)

Romance: Josephine

AJOLA MERCAR

Alias: Shadow Dragon

Age: tbd

Identity: she/her, bi, vashoth

Height: 6'5

Class: Mage (necromancer)

Romance: Davrin

CAIMAN THORNE

Alias: The Alchemist

Age: tbd

Identity: she/her, lesbian, vashoth

Height: 6'9

Class: Rogue (saboteur)

Romance: Bellara

[randomnonsensedragonage]

A Rival?

Selana Lavellan x Solas (pre-relationship); Background Rora Surana x Cullen Rutherford - 1283 words

Summary: Selana is starting to become interested in Solas, but is worried she has competition in the form of Solas' new assistant.

A/N: This fic features a little cameo from Rora, who is the warden in my main DA canon. I always had this AU idea of her showing up and helping the Inquisition if she doesn't get recruited by Duncan. I thought it would be fun to include her in this universe, and this is the result!

Read on Ao3

When Selana entered the cabin where Solas had set up his research station, he was hunched over one of the long tables with his new assistant, Rora, beside him. They appeared deep in discussion, his bald head and her brunette head nearly touching. Selana’s stomach twisted.

Rora Surana had arrived just a few weeks ago, one of the many new souls making their way to Haven as news of the Inquisition spread. She was an elven apostate as well—though unlike Solas, she was originally from a Circle—and was quickly put to work assisting Solas with his research. From what Selana was told, Rora was a talented mage and researcher with a strong interest in the Fade. It was a perfect fit.

Selana cleared her throat, and they both looked up. Solas straightened, coming over to greet her.

“You have returned,” he said.

Rora, hanging back at the table, nodded at her. “Hello, Herald,” she said in a soft voice.

Selana nodded back. Rora seemed perfectly nice, very polite and diligent. She was sure Rora’s relationship with Solas was purely professional. And even if it wasn’t, that didn’t matter. Solas was a good friend, and that was all.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Selana said, turning to Solas. “I wanted to show you something.”

Solas’ eyes gleamed with interest. Selana pulled out the small object, wrapped in a plain, white handkerchief lent to her by Varric.

“I found this near a rift,” she said. “Vivienne thought it might have been touched by the Fade in some way.”

Solas took it and unwrapped it, revealing a piece of obsidian shot through with green light the same color as Selana’s mark.

Solas held the rock up to the light, eyes narrowed.

“I’m not sure how significant it is,” she said, “but I thought you might want to take a look at it.”

And it made me think of you, she thought.

Solas smiled. “Thank you,” he said. “It is quite fascinating. Rora?”

His assistant stood up, hurrying over with a clipboard.

“Will you add this to the sample table?” he said.

She nodded, and Selana’s heart sank as she watched Rora take the rock and add it to a table laden with other, similar objects.

Things had been odd between Selana and Solas ever since that day several weeks ago. They���d been chatting at their usual spot, and Selana asked him about himself, particularly his interest in the Fade. He explained how he became a traveler in order to see more of it.

“To find interesting areas, one must be interesting,” he said.

“Well, it’s not the worst reason I’ve heard to go out and enjoy life,” Selana said.

“I am glad to hear it,” he said. “In truth, I have enjoyed experiencing more of life to find more of the Fade.”

“How so?”

“You train to flick a dagger or an arrow to its target. The grace with which you move is a pleasing side benefit.”

Selana’s mind ground to a halt, not quite understanding what he was saying. Unsure what else to do, she laughed.

“So, you’re suggesting I’m graceful?” she said.

Her tone was joking, but his expression was completely serious when he responded.

“No,” he said, meeting her eyes. “I am declaring it. It was not a subject for debate.”

A shiver passed through her at the memory, and not an unpleasant one.

Until that moment, it never occurred to Selana that Solas might be attracted to her, nor had she considered him a romantic prospect. She didn’t join the Inquisition for that. All she wanted was to close the Breach and get home as soon as possible.

But now that the door was open, she couldn’t help noticing Solas in a new way. When they talked now, she noticed things like the broadness of his shoulders, and the way his peaceful presence calmed her. It was confusing, distracting, and not altogether welcome when there was so much to worry about.

The next day, Selana returned to find Solas and Rora standing together outside the cabin, in the same spot where she and Solas often chatted. Solas said something to Rora that Selana couldn’t hear, and they both laughed. Selana watched Solas’ face, the way his eyes crinkled with amusement when he laughed, and felt another twinge of jealousy. The two of them were so right together, Solas broad-shouldered and neatly dressed, the taller of the two, and Rora so small and dainty, with long, light brown hair that always seemed to shine. Selana couldn’t help but think of her own appearance, her boney, muscular frame, and her dull brown, unmanageably curly hair that she needed to wrangle into a ponytail to control at all.

She hung back for a moment, and considered leaving. But then Rora gave Solas a wave and headed back inside the research cabin. Selana approached.

She couldn’t tell if he was glad to see her. There was a happy glow to his face, but maybe that was just from talking to Rora.

“Did you get a chance to look at that sample?” she asked, by way of conversation.

“Not yet,” Solas said. “There is much to do.”

Selana’s heart sank, more than she would have liked.

“You and Rora seem to be getting along,” she said. She thought her voice sounded bitter, even to herself, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Oh yes,” he said. “She has proven quite helpful. Her knowledge of the Fade is surprisingly in-depth.”

Selana’s heart squeezed. She knew she was no match for Rora when it came to magical knowledge.

“That’s… great,” she said. She cleared her throat. “Must be nice to have someone to talk to who’s on your level.”

She must have done a poor job hiding her feelings, because Solas’ expression shifted to one of concern.

“Rora is a fine assistant,” he said. “But when the work is over, you are the one I most look forward to speaking with.”

Selana swallowed around the lump in her throat.

“Why, though?” she said. “I don’t know anything about the Fade, or about magic.”

“That is not all that matters,” Solas said. “You are still intelligent, and thoughtful. You give me new things to think about. And… you are my friend. Is that so hard to believe?”

It was unusual for him to stumble over his words, and it caught Selana off guard. But his words filled her with warmth. Even with his new assistant, Solas still took the time to speak with her, still listened to her questions with care and interest. It was silly for her to have worried. Solas was her friend, and that was all that mattered.

She smiled. “It’s not hard to believe,” she said.

Selana didn’t worry about Rora after this. Not just because of her conversation with Solas, though.

A few days later, she walked by the training grounds to see Rora and the commander chatting together. Selana was too far away to hear what they said, but she could sense a charged atmosphere, even from a distance.

She watched them curiously for a moment. Both their faces were flushed. The commander looked away, scratching the back of his neck, and Rora clasped her hands nervously as they spoke. Their conversation was punctuated with shy smiles and nervous laughs. Selana remembered then that Cullen, too, had been in a Circle in Fereldan for a time. Was it the same one Rora had come from?

Selana shook her head and walked away before they noticed her staring. None of her business, but it seemed like Rora’s interests lay elsewhere. Selana couldn’t help but smile to herself as she hurried off to visit Solas.

[inquisimer]

the wounds never close

for @febuwhump day 17, "hostage situations" - when Anders is captured by the Templars, Hawke offers another in his place.

read it on ao3 here

Female Surana & Anders, Female Hawke/Anders | Rated T | 1599 words | CW: physical abuse, blood & injury, imprisonment, unhealthy relationships, Tranquility

-

Anders wasn’t sure how long he’d been their captive. By some miracle he still had his mind, and as they dragged him up from the darkest depths of the Gallows he cataloged every ache, every abuse, every pain. They would fuel his fight for justice once Hawke negotiated his release.

“I’ll remember, I’ll remember,” he muttered, over and over again. He hoped the promise reached the ears of his fellow captives, somehow.

Kirkwall’s blazing sunlight burned harsh against his skin. He squinted on reflex, blinking rapidly until he properly saw the scene laid out before them.

On one side, the Knight Commander, flanked by her second and a squadron of Templars. A few paces across, Hawke, flanked by Sebastian and a particularly murderous looking Fenris. At her feet lay Neria, half-conscious with hands and wrists bound with rough rope. Her head lolled to the side as Hawke pressed a boot to her prone figure. Anders saw a trail of fresh blood trickling from her temple, and the bright red of a new bruise at the base of her neck.

No, Maker, no—not her—

He had been walking placidly, letting his captors guide his weak body along, but now he dug his heels into the cobblestone grooves. He ground his teeth and strained against the surprise that had the Templars’ metal grip clenching around his arm. A horrid screech echoed off the high walls of this prison as they resorted to simply dragging him forward. The terrible scraping drew the attention of the entire stand off and Anders hated the relief he saw in Hawke’s eyes when they landed on him.

What was she doing? Why was Neria here? Like that?

You know why, his thoughts whispered. Energy rippled, just below his skin, ready and waiting to be tapped. They would never see it coming. They didn’t know his full potential—

No. Anders shook his head sharply at himself. That was not the way, not like Ella, not when there were so many innocent apprentices and mages in the crossfire. Hawke must have a better plan; he had to trust her.

“Here is your mage, Serah Hawke.” His captors shoved him forward and the Knight Commander’s disdainful gaze followed his stumbling. “Intact, as promised.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” With a rogue’s touch, his shackles fell away. Mari ran her hands up the length of his arms, held her fingers against the jumping pulse in his neck, and finally buried them in his hair, thumbs ghosting over his sunken cheeks.

“You’re alive,” she breathed.

“I’ll be fine. Maybe. I think. How are we getting out of here, Mari?” He glanced at Neria, her lips half-parted around a moan as she shifted against her bindings. “What is going on with this?”

“Do you trust me?”

Anders hesitated, even though he knew he shouldn’t; Mari had pulled his ass out of the fire more times than he could count. But nothing short of outright grabbing his hand and running would have soothed his nerves in this moment. And running just wasn’t Mari’s style. Not when there was an angle to be played.

“Of course.” He managed a thin grimace that might have been a smile if it hadn’t hurt so much. With a fleeting kiss to the corner of his mouth, Mari stepped back. Her hands slid down to Anders’ wrists and used them as leverage to throw him behind her.

“Fenris?” Anders tasted more than felt the grapple Fenris clasped him in as the lyrium brands flared to life and his grip turned to iron. He dragged Anders back a few paces as Mari kicked Neria’s body forward. She flopped across the stone and landed, arms splayed, at the Knight Commander’s feet.

“Another in exchange,” Mari said. “As agreed. I believe she’ll be of particular interest to your Knight Captain.”

Anders had just the briefest moment to scream; when he opened his mouth, a gloved hand took the place of his anguish and what should have been a soul-rending wail muffled harmlessly against the leather.

What was she doing?

Cracks of blue rippled from his fingertips up to the corners of his eyes. Sebastian angled himself between Anders and the Templars, effectively blocking their view, though his own gaze stayed sharply on Hawke. Any hope Anders had of a better plan evaporated; she had planned this. She brought the two of them, on purpose, for this.

“Neria!” he screamed, but nothing escaped the gag of Fenris’ hand.

“Silence,” the elf hissed in his ear. “You are lucky she even dreamt up such a plan. Do not prove your foolishness by squandering it.”

Lucky? His vision went white. Yes, he was lucky, wasn’t he—hadn’t he always been? Kinloch was such a nice Circle; he was lucky no one there raped or brutalized him. Mages in the Wardens were free; he was lucky to have the choice to be Tainted instead of Tranquil or dead. And now, this.

Lucky? He was cursed.

Only one thing kept Justice in check, a half-baked plan already formed in the back of Anders’ mind. The underwater tunnel from the Gallows to Darktown was still active; if Mari went through with this, he could still get Neria out. He could get her out and they could run, together again.

But if they identified her—if they knew how long she’d been free—

She’d be branded before he had the chance.

“Is that so?” Meredith glanced between Neria and her Knight Captain. “Is this true, Cullen? Why would a mage be of interest to you?”

Anders held his breath. He and Neria had shared many a disdainful conversation about what the pretty-boy recruit she’d flirted with had become. But perhaps there was a shred of dignity left…? He had to know what would become of her if he revealed what he knew.

Foolishly, Anders thought that might still matter. How hard it was not to hope, so desperately, that there would be a way out of this. Even when he knew better.

“She was of the Ferelden Circle, Knight Commander.” The Knight Captain removed his helmet and tucked it under one arm, stepping forward for a better angle. “She is not just an apostate, but an escaped apostate.”

“How long ago?”

“Nearly a decade.”

“An unfortunately long time,” said Meredith, drawing her sword. She drove it down, unceremoniously, through one of Neria’s upturned palms. She barely reacted to what should have been searing, burning pain. Just a whimper passed her lips, drowned out by the chorus of hastily hushed gasps from the mages watching. Only her eyes moved with any awareness, darting between the Knight Commander and Knight Captain, to Hawke, and finally locking on Anders, still straining against Fenris’ hold. Within them, panic. Panic, and a horribly, dreadfully clear awareness. She knew what was happening, he realized. She knew what was happening and they’d robbed her of any way to stop it.

What did you do to her? Anders glanced desperately at Mari’s profile. What have you done for me?

“She could still be possessed,” Meredith was saying. “Perhaps by a demon too clever to respond to brute force. A decade, you say? And from Kinloch. Tsk. Well, that’s more than enough exposure to warrant the order. You there—“ she snapped her fingers at one of the faceless Templars. “Take this mage and follow the Knight Captain. Assist with preparations for the Rite.”

“NO!” The last, fraying cable of Anders’ hold snapped. For once, he did not resist as Justice rose to the surface; whatever happened could not be worse than losing his best friend to Tranquility.

Blue light poured from him like a righteous font. His eyes burned with the electricity of it. He felt the scrambling of Fenris attempting to recover the grapple as one might feel an annoying gnat in their ear. Arcane energy gathered about his mind and blasted out, clearing both the elf and Sebastian from the vicinity.

“You will not take her,” Justice roared. He swept Anders’ staff in a wide arc and the lesser Templars fell back under the blaze of his holy fire. He advanced on the solid wall of the Knight Commander & Captain’s locked shields, burning fiery righteousness.

A blade in his shoulder—he staggered.

Quick and light, Mari followed the path of the dagger she’d thrown. Her hand closed around the hilt and she pulled it out, mindless of how his blood spattered across her angry face.

“Go away, Justice,” she snapped. “You’re not wanted here. Or needed.”

“I am needed wherever Injustice reigns. You would give over this mage to a foul and corrupt system, sentence her to certain Tranquility—“

“To save Anders,” Mari hissed. Justice blocked one of her strikes, but her offhand dagger drove up under his guard, digging deep into the fleshy, vulnerable skin of his gut. “Yes, I would. A thousand times over, if I had to.”

As she pulled her dagger out again, a ripple of energy emanated from the Knight Commander and echoed across the Gallows. Justice fell to his knees as the Purge took hold. For a moment, his eyes were brown.

“It’s for you, Anders,” she whispered, lifting her dagger over his head. “I’m doing this for you.”

“Don’t.” Voice scraped raw, breathless. “Mari, don’t—“

She brought the dagger down, hilt first, driving it hard enough against his temple that he crumpled, unconscious. Sheathing her blade on a shaky exhale, Mari gestured to Fenris and Sebastian.

“You’ll understand,” she whispered, for her own sake at this point. “It was the only way.”

[mocksfate]

fuck it we ball : shipping edition !

( these are both romantic and platonic dynamics i'd like to write - friendships usually end up being my favorite kind of relationships so i encourage them VERY much. bolded names are the ones i'd like to write the most. ocs are obviously always included. this is a list i will keep updating. )

surana: romantic: alistair (specifically, august's (@/psychcwound), leliana, zevran, morrigan. platonic: other alistair muses [because these two are besties(tm) in my og worldstate], leliana, zevran, morrigan, jowan, wynne, sten, cullen (she's gonna dunk on him.... i understand if you don't wanna write them dlksjf)

hawke: romantic: varric........., merrill in aus. platonic: fenris, anders, isabela (the one who can match the menace energy alright), merrill, hawke twins.

lavellan: romantic: solas (it's. it's the drama alright. it got to me), josephine, blackwall, cassandra. platonic (the more romance focused characters apply here, too): COLE (from being afraid of the fade and its dwellers to befriending one. they are so important to me) iron bull, sera, leliana, dorian, varric (he calls her grumpy. as he should), vivienne, cullen.

zevran: romantic: ur warden ��� platonic: isabela (as in. friends who sometimes have fun together obv), the blight crew, other crow muses pspspsp.

tav (lorelei): romantic: gale (her 'canon' romance), karlach, shadowheart, rolan (because i think they could be fucking HILARIOUS, though depends how old you hc rolan to be) platonic: astarion (exclusively platonic, they are Friends), wyll, jaheira, lae'zel, halsin (bc these two have zero romantic chemistry rip), gortash (i need them to have a 4dchessing nemesis dynamic soooo bad).

tav (ramona): romantic: lae'zel (their 'canon' romance), wyll, minthara. platonic: gale, shadowheart, karlach, halsin, minsc, jaheira, astarion. (i didnt play a lot of their run yet, but this is how i see it for now...)

astarion: romantic: ur tav/durge 🫵, wyll, karlach, minthara (she could make him i worse i think) platonic: ur tav/durge, gale (i don't like bloodweave. sue me ig), shadowheart, halsin, minsc, (even he doesn't see my vision, too bad), jaheira.

karlach: romantic: ur tav/durge 🫵, astarion, wyll, shadowheart. platonic: ur tav/durge, lae'zel, wyll (again, bc they are just too powerful), gale, halsin, jaheira, minsc, dammon (i could b swayed to play a more romantic undertone, too), gortash (as in, i'd like to write a thread when she worked for him still. it could be inchresting).

[fade-and-loathing-in-thedas]

(art by the amazing @chasindbae)

"Power is a game, and I play it better than most. Never underestimate the importance of presentation and the art of influence."

Because the lovely @merrybandofmurderers asked, here are some deets about my Inquisitor Mirisa Surana (forever now known as the Herald of Solas's demise)

Mirisa Surana is an AU Inquisitor from my politically minded OC worldstate. I made her to.... uhhhh.... heal the wounds from my Sollavellan hellscape romance of Solas with Eretria.

Mirisa romanced the egg, however unlike my Lavellan, she was not crushed by his leaving, his revelation about the Evanuris, or his plan. She is an Andrastian, raised in the Val Royeaux Circle (the Spire) and she was a Senior Enchanter at the time the war broke out and has a similar mindset to Vivienne. She was a loyalist mage, and disagreed with Fiona's decision. Vivienne was her closest companion, and best friend. She ensured Vivienne took the Sunburst Throne. She made the Inquisition a force to be reckoned with, balancing diplomacy, force and assassinations with the same skill she uses magic. She's a knight enchanter and decisively led her people into battle, never shying from being in the front line. Post Trespasser she is determined to stop Solas, not to save him or to get revenge, but because it's the right thing to do. Chaos harms everyone. In fact, she honestly forgot he existed the moment he abandoned the Inquisition. She has always known her worth, and she wasn't going to waste her time crying over him.

I even made a playlist to hype myself up before starting Trespasser with her to remind myself she's not messed up like I am over the egg lmao

[spainkitty]

WIP Whenever

Thanks to @greypetrel tagging me. I don't do art unfortunately, and I'm in the middle of travelling, so here's a "literally in the middle of and out of context" scene that I've been trying to finish on my phone notes app🤣 I figure you'd like the Dorian and Lanil interaction since we both hc the Dorian & f!Inky relationship nearly the same way 🥰

FOR IT IS FLEETING AU Chapter?? I think 6?

"We don't have time to argue who's made worse mistakes and who has less fault. I'm leaving for Therinfal Redoubt within the hour and hopefully I'll get there before this Elder One steals the templars out from under me, too. No one here wants that future to happen, do we?" Adaar said firmly. There was a series of denials around the table. "Then, I need at least one these factions to get to Haven to help me close the Breach. I'm sorry, Surana, that it can't be the mages, but they're beyond our reach now. I need the templars and you know it."

Lanil inhaled and exhaled roughly. "I know."

"Speaking of 'beyond our reach'," Dorian said smoothly, "I may be able to do something about that. At the very least, I intend to try."

"Explain yourself, Tevinter, and try to be a little less vague," the Seeker said.

"No one appreciates dramatic flair in this muddy country. Anyhow, despite the utter failure we've had so far tracking the Venatori, I still have some resources and leads that may yet bear fruit. If Felix survived the fight in Redcliffe, and I'm positive he did, he might have sent messages for me in a few locations. There is a chance, however minute, that I can find the Venatori's trail..."

"And the free mages with them," Lanil finished for him, eyes lighting up. Dorian smiled at her. "I'll come with you. If there's the smallest chance we can find Fiona, I have to come."

"Oh dear," Sister Leliana said, pressing her fingertips to her lips. "Do you think that's wise, Enchanter Surana?"

Lanil stared at her in confusion. Until Dorian recaptured her attention. He cupped her face in both his hands, gentle and soft, eyes glittering with a suspicious amount of mirth.

"My darling Lane," Dorian began. Lanil squinted warily up at him, some of her initial excitement abating. "I say this with all due respect and admiration for your numerous charms," Lanil snorted. Somewhere off to the side, Adaar laughed. "You are as subtle as a gurn and as quiet. You should never try to be a spy."

Lanil glowered as her ears overheated. Even her cheeks had begun to burn. "You can stop touching my face now. I get it. I'll stay here."

"Fantastic, darling, I knew you'd see it my way," Dorian said, patting her head like a dog. She obliged him by growling like a mabari and making him chuckle.

.

tagging: @sillyliterature @ketolic and anyone who wants to do the thing! For any fandom!

[arbutusart]

His Excellency Teras Lavellan, Flame of the Inquisition and Lord of Skyhold, official portrait. Purchased in Val Royeaux by Inquisition hopeful.

close up under cut:

[necromatador]

I got Veilguard and I've ended up making a third AU of Elian.

For those unaware, Elian Surana was my Grey Warden, Elian Lavellan was my Inquisitor, and now Elian Mercar is my Rook. To be honest, Gawain Hawke was the closest I could make to an Elian within the constraints of DA2.

Might make an Ingellvar or a De Riva eventually but for now it's Elians all the way down, baby!