#tavaris mahariel sabrae

[angstofdestiny]

All the stories

The floor creaked loudly as Spawn stepped into the cottage, closing the door softly. 

“Hello there, Kieran.” He greeted warmly. “You are a hard man to find.” 

The young man lifted his head from his books and closed the notepad he was using, smiling slightly at Spawn. 

“Hello, Uncle. I wanted some quiet time for my studies — but I see you managed to find me nevertheless.” 

“Only because I had luck of running into your mother in Denerim few weeks ago. She told me how to get here. Kinda creepy place.”

“It’s home.” Kieran stated simply. “But I’m surprised mother told you. She’s very protective of our secrets.” He stood up and took a step in the direction of the kitchenette. “Would you like some tea? Maybe dinner? I have a quite decent fish and scallop stew. Traveling through the Crossroads can be pretty exhausting when you’re not used to it.” 

Spawn’s stomach growled at the mention of food, proving how right Kieran was. 

“Thank you, I would appreciate that.” He sat down on the empty chair, looking around deceptively-normal looking cottage. “I’m not sure how you can live here. The Fade is all twisted and the air feels so oppressive.” 

Kieran shrugged, lighting the stove with a flick of his fingers and pouring some water into the pot. “I was born here. I guess I’m used to it.” 

“You shouldn’t hide here too often, though.” Spawn leaned back in his chair. “Take it from someone who had to spend all his childhood and youth in a Circle - don’t squander your opportunities. You have a chance neither me nor your mother had. You get to live in the open, without the fear of Templars, without hiding your talents. That’s something I would give an arm and a leg for when I was your age.” 

“I know, I know,” Kieran shrugged. “I appreciate that. I just really needed some me time. I managed to lay my hands on some really ancient notes describing Eluvian construction, but they are incomplete. I hope I might figure out what’s missing, maybe build some Eluvians for father and king Alistair. Maybe send some to Kirkwall and uncle Nehnis… this could completely revolutionize the way we travel and communicate if they were widely available.”

Spawn felt something painful twisting inside of him at the mention of Tavaris. He chuckled, a flat, tormented sound. 

“Your father… your father would’ve hated it.” He said quietly, the amusement as agonizing as every mention of his late lover. He could easily picture how Tav would’ve looked like if he heard his own son was working on Eluvians. Thunderclouds in his grey eyes, knuckles white from grabbing whatever he would have at hand, just to stop himself from hitting the wall. But in the end it would still boil down to fear for his loved ones. 

“I’m sure I can convince…” Kieran’s hand stopped mid-stir on the wooden spoon. “You said ‘would have’?” He turned to look at Spawn wide-eyed. “What do you mean, ‘would have’?” 

“Tavaris is gone, Kieran.” The older mage managed to say, swallowing the unwanted tears. “A little over two months now. That’s why I came looking for you.” 

Kieran dropped the spoon into the pot. It drowned slowly in the fragrant dish. 

“Gone… as in… dead?” He asked, his voice small. “How?” 

Spawn sighed deeply, not really willing to use the word. He knew better than to deny it, though. He knew better. 

“Or as good as dead. He left for his Calling. Ironically, two days later we had a breakthrough in the research for the cure… and two weeks later we had a first working sample.” Spawn swallowed loudly. Tears came to his eyes unbidden, even as he fought to stop them, and his voice cracked. “But for him it was too late already. I saw it in the last months, how the Taint ate at his body and mind. He was past the point of return and he wanted to go while he still could make this decision consciously. He didn’t want to rot alive waiting for a miracle. He didn’t want us to see him lose his mind.” 

“Was it… quick?” Kieran asked, extinguishing the stove with a flick of his hand and reaching to the cupboard above his head for cups and a flask. “I’m sorry… I don’t even know what to ask.” 

“I don’t know if it was quick. Zevran was so adamant to not let him go that he snuck out in the middle of the night, without a proper goodbye.” Spawn felt a twinge of anger at the thought, again. Zev had his reasons, but the mage couldn’t stop thinking that this stubbornness has cost them that last night together. Last days, because he’d go with Tav at least to Orzammar, further if he allowed that. “You should have visited more often, though. He talked about you a lot these last weeks. He missed you… and I think he hoped to see you one time more. He never stated it, but I think this is why he waited so long.”

“I’m sorry…” Kieran’s shoulders slumped as he stared into the pot. “I didn’t think… He looked so strong, so full of life when I last saw him. I didn’t realize…” 

“It went quickly once it started, it’s not your fault, Kier. I don’t blame you and Tav wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.”

Regaining his composure, Kieran walked back to the table, setting the cups and the flask on the table. 

“Fitting enough, I’ve got some manise from Ralaferin clan. Do you fancy a cup, uncle?”

Spawn swallowed his unshed tears — something he found himself doing frequently in the recent days and gave a soft laugh. 

“You know that even a whiff of that would knock your dad out, right? He couldn’t handle his drink at all.” 

Kieran chuckled, pouring the alcohol into cups. “Ah. ‘Tis a good thing then that we don’t have to babysit him now, right?” He handed the drink to Spawn and smiled. “Alright, uncle. Now that he cannot yell at us anymore you can finally tell me all the embarrassing stories.”

Spawn smiled. And for the first time in weeks his eyes weren’t empty. 

[angstofdestiny]

Tav/Alec Zevraholics kiss exchange

Tavaris bounced on his toes looking across the entrance hall of the healing center. Alec was late again, not that Tav expected anything else from him. He never left work on time and certainly he wouldn’t this time, when Tav’s presence here was a surprise.

Finally — three hours after the scheduled end of the shift, not that Tav was checking — Alec left one of the elevators, already dressed to leave. Tav let out a relieved sigh, seeing as his boyfriend stopped at the reception desk to chat for a moment with a girl there and then turned to the door, only now noticing Tav sitting in the waiting area. He frowned, hurrying up to Tav’s seat.

“Hi, Rapunzel. What are you doing here?” He bend down to press a kiss against Tav’s cheek, all the while scanning his whole body for some damage. “Did you hurt yourself again?”

Tav chuckled, turning his head to catch Alec’s lips.

“No, lath, I’m fine. I’ve been waiting for you. Happy birthday.”

Alec’s frown deepened. “Thanks, but you could have waited at home. How long were you sitting here?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Tav shrugged with a smile, standing up. “And I could have waited at home, but I want to take you somewhere if you’re not too tired. How do you feel about a little birthday adventure?”

“Adventure?” Alec raised his brows, intrigued. “Is that the kind of adventure that might put you back in the jail?”

Tavaris just grinned crookedly. “Well, yes, possibly. But I promise to run faster than the Guard if there’s the slightest risk of that. Are you coming? I can promise you breaking and entering and the best view in Denerim. And I have elfroot to smoke there.”

Alec chuckled, stretching his hand to Tav as he stood up from the deep chair. “Well, how can I say no to that?”

***

Drakon Towers looked impressive from afar, but even better when Tav’s lockpicks clicked in the service entrance of the penthouse and opened to a wide apartment covering two floors. It was as luxurious as you could imagine the most expensive penthouse in Denerim, but with a pretty minimalistic design. Tav opened the door for Alec and gestured widely inviting him in.

“Just give me a second to disable the alarms and then we can freely enjoy the hospitality of the Pentaghasts.”

“Is nobody going to come here?” Alec asked, but already looked around curiously.

“Nah,” Tav waved, pulling out his laptop and a bunch of cables and opening a panel in the wall to plug it into. “They never come here. They keep a place in every major city all over Thedas but prefer to spend time in the North. I’ve chatted up the security guard and he told me that the last time anyone other than the maids visited here it was when the building was finished. And it was only a concierge. I don’t think anyone of them is even really aware that they own this place.”

“And what about the maids?”

“Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 2pm. As long as we won’t trip an alarm, we’re good. We could squat this place and nobody would really bother.”

Alec chuckled, letting Tav work and looking around the place, not moving much from the spot he was in. A few minutes later, Tav pulled out the plug from the wall with a satisfied smile.

“Tada! We’re good. Why don’t we check the terrace on the upper level and the bar? They must have some awfully good stuff here that goes to waste.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you can hack an alarm system? That knowledge could come in handy when you looked for a job.” Alec stretched his arms over his head, walking in the direction of what looked like an open kitchen. “I never knew that you were good with computers.”

“Not with computers, really. I’ve learned how to bypass some alarm systems and stuff like that, but I’m not certain I could code anything more complicated. I never tried, really.”

Alec raised a brow. “That already sounds pretty complicated to me.”

Tav scoffed, moving to check the cabinets in the living area in search of the alcohol. “I just know a few tricks, really. And we’re lucky they use an alarm system I know. Found it!”

He pulled out a bottle of wine from the bar and raised it up to show Alec. “They even have Blue Blood here, if you feel like that. Can you get glasses?”

***

The view from the rooftop garden was everything Tavaris promised. Denerim stretched out below them, a sea of flickering lights. The Drakon river cut through it, a dark ribbon against the shining city. On their right they could see the shoreline, with rare lights from the ships at sea. There was a rooftop pool too, but it wasn’t very deep and Tav made sure to turn on the lights in it so Alec would see clearly where it begun and ended. It did look pretty amazing, though, with the glass border at the edge of the roof.

Tavaris moved to sit in Alec’s lap and clicked his glass against his, pulling out the elfroot and placing it on the table next to them.

“Happy birthday, ma’vhenan,” he said with a smile, looking into the mischievous, green eyes. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and I want you to know that. Even when I am an asshole.”

“You’d be boring if you weren’t an ass now and then,” Alec chuckled, then pulled at Tav’s braid slightly. “Though I prefer you when you’re a good boy.”

Tav’s smile turned sultry. “Am I a good boy now, Sir?”

“I’m not sure, toy. You’re still dressed.” Alec said, pulling him down for a deep kiss.

Beneath them, Denerim glittered.

[angstofdestiny]

Writing a Kieran fic I realized that Tavaris spent 23 years collecting toys and books and cool stuff for Kieran, hoping that this time Morrigan will finally let them meet and wanting to be prepared for that He literally has never seen his child but he still was like "my son is 7 now, that's a damn cool toy for a seven year old boy, I'll will give it to him as soon as Morrigan finally lets me see him". And then he kept that stuff, unused, painfully aware that Kieran has outgrown these things, but unable to throw anything away  -- and he kept on collecting new things, because, it might have been 7, 10, 13, 15 years, but maybe she'll finally agree and he can't be caught unprepared

[angstofdestiny]

Tav’s interview.

Stolen from @meat-mill​. portrait by @mutantenfisch​

name ➔ Warden-Commander Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae are you single ➔ That would be no. are you happy ➔ What does it even mean? There are times when I’m happy, there are times when I’m sad. I have two amazing partners and a shitton of problems on my head. Fulfilling work and no family left. I enjoy having my good friends around and I’m constantly regretting I let one of them take away my only child. Am I happy? are you angry ➔ less than I used to be. Which doesn’t mean I’m a calm man now. are your parents still married ➔ My parent’s have been dead for thirty years.

NINE FACTS

birthplace ➔ roughly halfway between Lake Celestine and Val Foret hair color ➔ barley blond eye color ➔ gray birthday ➔ Cloudreach 7th mood ➔ varying gender ➔ a guy

summer or winter ➔ Both have their charms, but Zevran is happier in summer, so that’s a plus. morning or afternoon ➔ Mornings. Thought the best mornings are those spent in bed. These are rare.

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

are you in love ➔ I am and have been for years do you believe in love at first sight ➔ There’s no love without trust and trust is earned. who ended your last relationship ➔ I hope no one ever will have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ No, I don’t think so. Though I might be mistaken. are you afraid of commitments ➔ No.

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ Both Spawn and Zevran.

have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ If I had, they were secret indeed.

have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ I had my heart broken, but there was nothing that could be done about it.

SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔ Do I really have to choose? I guess love, though my love life is happily full of lust as well. lemonade or iced tea ➔ Lemonade, but sweet. cats or dogs ➔ Both are fine. I generally like animal companionship.

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ A few friends I can save the world with are better than regular acquittances. wild night out or romantic night in ➔ Both have their time and place. day or night ➔ There is something enchanting about night sky.

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ Few times, when I was a child. I learned better afterwards. fallen down/up the stairs ➔ Do I look like someone who’s falling down the stairs? wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ Yes. Turned out I could have them. wanted to disappear ➔ Yes. It was a dark time, I’d rather not talk about.

FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ Zevran’s smile, Spawn’s eyes.

shorter or taller ➔ That feels like a mockery. It’s not like I could find many men shorter than me. intelligence or attraction ➔ Attraction. I’m not a genius myself, so who am I to judge? Though I cannot stand complete fools. Thankfully, I don’t have to. hook-up or relationship ➔ I never had many opportunities for hook-ups, but I don’t think I regret that loss.

FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ Well, they are all dead. But as much as I love them, I don’t think we ever got along too well. would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ I lived through the Fifth Blight in Ferelden. Everyone who was there has a “messed up life” have you ever ran away from home ➔ No.

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ Opinions vary here. My late Keeper claimed she saved my life. It certainly felt like being kicked out.

FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ … They wouldn’t be my friends if I hated them. do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ Friendships are different. Some are closer, some are not. People are different and we expect different things from them. But no, I wouldn’t say that my friends are “bad friends”. I’m not exactly sure though, how would I measure that. who is your best friend ➔ If we don’t count Zevran and Spawn? Then Oghren. With Sigrun being close second. who knows everything about you ➔ My partners.

[angstofdestiny]

OC 30 days challenge: First meeting

The Dalish man was scrunching his nose and breathing through his mouth. Shianni had to notice it. He was almost pretty, with his grey eyes and long hair —if not for the nasty scars marring his face — muscular and athletic, but Shianni couldn’t feel much of a sympathy, seeing as he regarded the Alienage, her home, with barely contained disgust. Sure, it was smelly and muddy and now full of scared, potentially sick people, but she couldn’t help but think that the Dalish considered himself above the dirt of the Alienage. Still, she needed help. Her uncle was missing, the Hahren was missing, and with her cousin dead she had nobody else to rely on. Soris was pretty much useless in the crisis. “I don’t trust these ‘healers’,” she repeated. “They take our people for a ‘quarantine’ but I haven’t seen anyone come back from there. They took my uncle and our hahren… We need someone to check out what is happening, but they are armed and we don’t have any decent weapons in the Alienage.” The Dalish — what was his name? Tavaris? — frowned deeply. “Why you don’t have any weapons?” He asked. His tone was disapproving and that stopped Shianni from staring. He was extremelly handsome and much better fed than most of the men she met, but still, he was ridiculously short. And too judgemental. “It’s a law, Tav,” his human companion sighed wearily. “Elves are not allowed weapons, except for short knives.” Tavaris’ ears twitched and he looked at Shianni with a hard to read expression. “Is that dumbass right?” he asked in a disbelieving voice. “How are you supposed to defend yourselves?” Was he this stupid? “We aren’t,” she said curtly, pursing her lips. And when they tried, they ended up like Naia, hanged on what was supposed to be her wedding day. Shianni took a deep breath. That was no time for tears. That will come later, when she’ll be alone at home and not trying to recruit these Wardens to help them. “Shems don’t want us to defend ourselves. They like us helpless,” she explained slowly, taking deep breaths. The Warden was Dalish. He probably haven’t seen a city up close until very recently. “That bow you carry, the daggers — that’s all illegal for elves.” Tavaris looked confused, as he patted the handle of his dagger mindlessly. “Nobody has ever said anything…” “Ah, no guard would like to stop an elf that carries themselves like they could use their weapons, querido.” Said the tanned elf who was keeping quiet so far. “They prefer to harass those who cannot bite back.” The scarred Dalish scoffed, scrunching his nose in disgust. “Shemlen.” He spat the word like the worst insult possible and shook his head. Then he looked up at Shianni, resolve in his eyes. “Alright, I understand now. Let’s get your clan back to you.” Alright. He might not like the Alienage very much, but Shianni decided she might like him a bit after all. That was a start.

[angstofdestiny]

Ethel dove into the Fade with an enthusiasm of a starving man seeing his first meal. It was better there. The Fade was malleable, easy to shape to her wishes. Her legs worked there and the Spirits were kinder to her than the mortals she encountered in her waking life.

Of course, there were demons too, but they were no scarier than the bullies stealing her lunch in the classroom.

The landscape of the Fade was familiar and alien in this peculiar way she enjoyed. Ragged stones that changed their shape with her every step, weak echoes of the events long gone playing never ending spectacles. Misty clouds marking the entrances to Spirits’ kingdoms and the Black City overhead, foreboding, heavy, but anchoring. She stepped into a random gathering of mist, curious what being’s demesne she was visiting.

What greeted her was an empty throne room with a huge tapestry of an elven origin hanging behind the throne.

Slowly the room started to fill up with echoes.

She watched, enchanted, the fancy dresses and old fashioned tunics, elaborate, embroidered and adorned with gold. The fabrics looked expensive: velvet and brocade, fine wool and linen so delicate you could see through it. A rich court then, judging by the fashion not later than the Thunder Age. The hairstyles reminded her of the portrait of Queen Anora from Dragon Age — so probably this was it.

She rarely had an opportunity to venture so deep in the past. The memories faded with time and usually it took a powerful Spirit and a Somnari much more skilled than her to recover half as much.

The throne filled slowly with the silhouette of the ruler presiding over the gathering. His shape grew more and more pronounced until she had no doubts that this was the man that was the focus of the echo.

It was an elf, with angular, handsome face covered in Dalish markings and an incredibly long braid. His posture was languid and relaxed, but something told Ethel that this man was ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. A long bow and a simple quiver were set on the side of the throne even through the elf seemed to focus all his attention on the man in the front of him, who seemed to be pleading his case.

“Lord Brywen,” he said. His voice was deep, and he spoke with a heavy accent that made it difficult to understand the words. The accent was hard to place, melodic but rough. “You are duty bound to provide for your people. That includes providing water at the time of the drought. My advice still stands — you should dig more wells. The rivers are shallow, but there’s water hidden underground.”

“My lord Commander,” the man protested. “My coffers can’t bear such an expense. And what if we break into the Deep Roads? You warned us yourself that the Darkspawn are still roaming under the arling.”

“You tax your people more than enough to be able to handle the expenses, Lord Brywen. But since it’s an emergency, you can approach Mistress Woolsy with a request for loan. She will tell you how much we can spare for your wells.”

“And what about the Darkspawn?”

“They won’t go to the surface, not without an Archdemon to command them. And if you run into any trouble, don’t forget that you are on Grey Wardens’ land. A message to me will solve that problem. I promise you you won’t be left without help.”

It must have been Amaranthine then. Ethel raked her brain for the Dalish Warden-Commanders that sat on the arling’s throne during the Dragon Age, but she couldn’t remember any. The elves weren’t common in such positions and a Dalish? That was unheard of. She grinned excitedly, already pumped at the thought of showing of her discovery to her teachers.

“Marvellous, isn’t he?”

Ethel jumped, turning around. The not-air shimmered next to her and she saw the same elf standing in the front of her — though this one was much more vibrant and shimmering with his inner light.

A Spirit then, even though it was incredibly rare for Spirits to take on such detailed shapes.

“Marvellous,” she agreed, though probably her meaning was different than the Spirit’s. “I am a Dreamer. Thank you for opening your demesne to me,” she greeted politely. She was curious who was the elf and what Spirit ruled this echo, but good manners were everything when dealing with the Spirits. “Who are you?”

“I am Duty,” the Spirit answered, turning its head from the scene playing in front of them. It tilted its head — the long-dead elf wore kohl on his eyes — and looked at Ethel carefully.

“You are bound with Curiosity,” it observed. “But you’re dutiful enough. You will do.”

“I will do…?” She asked.

“There’s a thing you must do,” Duty said. “My mortal is being forgotten. There are lies said about him and it’s my duty to correct them. I cannot interfere in the land of the mortals, so you will be my will.”

“Your mortal?”

“His name was Lord Commander Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae. He was the Hero of the Fifth Blight and the Saviour of Amaranthine. He traveled far to search for the cure for the Blight and he brought back knowledge that allowed the scholars to cure the Wardens nearing their Calling. He died alone, worrying that he will never rejoin his family in afterlife. He wanted to be remembered at least. He served me well his whole life, heard me even when he could not hear me, so I made it my Duty to remember him.”

Ethel gasped. There were nearly no records of the Hero of the Fifth Blight, apart of some enigmatic letters that might have been his correspondence, and now that she saw him — Dalish elf, dressed in Dalish armor, obviously unapologetic about his heritage — she could understand why. The few scholars who hinted that he might have been an elf were ridiculed enough. Nobody would dare to suggest he could have been Dalish.

That was a breakthrough. She would bring the knowledge that was long lost to the ages.

“Show me,” she asked.

[angstofdestiny]

Tav drinking with Vergil? 🍻 + “ if anything, what makes you hate a person ?” :D

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I MISSSED IT

“Except for round ears?” Tav burped over his beer. “I’m not sure. Being hateful piece of shit, like a Templar or a human supremacist, I guess. Treating people who depend on you badly. I don’t think I’m hateful person. Don’t look at me like that, I’m not. I can get along even with shems, if they are not assholes. It’s just rare that they aren’t.”

[angstofdestiny]

The forest was quiet around Tavaris – almost too quiet. There was a shem encampment few yards ahead bustling with noises loud enough to scare away the local game. Only one brave owl still hooted above them, Falon’Din’s messenger calling for Tav to bring his wrath upon the shemlen disturbing the night.

Tav adjusted his quiver on his hip, jumping quietly at the low branch of the tree in front of him and climbing quickly to get a better look at the camp. He was alone, so he had to act fast and efficiently – there was no place for blunder if he was to eliminate a whole group of shems and get out unharmed. They couldn’t find him before the last arrow found its target.

He crawled along the sturdy branch, peeking from ahead at the fire and people gathered around it. There were five of them – three men and two women – even though from the noise he’d expect a small army. They were all dressed in travel garb – thick, durable clothes with leather elements that weren’t hard enough to be considered armor, but could give some protection against blows. Tavaris wasn’t sure if it would stop an arrow but to stay on the safe side he decided to aim for the faces – which made his task even more difficult.

He wasn’t going to back away though. He was the best sharpshooter in the clan – if anyone could do it, it was him. He was going to singlehandedly protect his clan from intruders that came too close and this time everyone was going to appreciate him.

The lines of his fresh vallaslin started to itch and he scrunched his nose in annoyance, waiting for the feeling to pass. He was not going to focus on the itch, he had a mission to do – but the tingling was awfully insistent.

He sat a bit up, encircling the branch with his thighs and squeezing, before he unclenched his hands from the bark. He scratched irritably at the itch, still observing the camp.

While he moved one of the women below turned around to look at the trees.

“I think I’ve heard something,” she said. Tavaris stilled, with his hand still at his cheek.

“Probably some bird. Or a squirrel, Tasha,” one of the men said. “You’re jumping at shadows as usual.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate her, Vall,” another man said. “Tasha might be jumpy but eight times out of ten she’s right. Remember that boar?”

“Alright, alright,” the man named Vall said with a shrug. “I’ll look around.”

“Just be careful,” the third man said. “I’ve heard there are wild elves around.”

“I’m more scared of wolves. Elves, wild or not, can be reasoned with. And even if not… They are tiny. I’m pretty sure I can handle an elf.” Vall stood up, towering over his companions. From where Tav sat he looked like he was almost seven feet tall.

No matter, Tav thought, gritting his teeth in anger. Just a bigger target. He didn’t like the dismissive way in which the shem talked about his people, he didn’t appreciate being called ‘wild’. But they were going to pay. For trespassing and for insulting the Dalish.

“So, how are you feeling about seeing your sister again, Lina?” Tasha asked. “I know this wedding was a surprise, but you must have some expectations. You haven’t seen each other in five years!”

“I’m rather looking forward seeing my mother and kid again,” the second woman – Lina – answered.

“Oh, come on. You see your mother every second month. Do you really look forward it more than to seeing Katia?”

“Katia just went up and left leaving us with all the work and now she’s back with a fiancée and a kid on its way and expects us to behave like that was alright? I just hope that man will help with the business – I don’t trust Katia to be of any help.”

“I’ve seen this guy,” the other man said. “I don’t trust him a bit. He claims he’s a scribe, but he has an unsettling vibe about him. I think he might be an apostate.”

“Andraste! Why would you come with such wild tales, Tomma?” Tasha said, outraged. “You’re always suspicious of anyone who’s better off than you and how many times were you right?”

“That doesn’t mean that man is not suspicious, Tasha.”

Something rustled to Tav’s left and he turned a bit, taking the bow from his back and getting ready. The big shem – Vall – was walking through the trees outside the ring of light, searching for the danger. He didn’t look up, though. Revassan was right. They never looked up.

Tavaris didn’t hurry, pulling out the arrow from his quiver and aiming at the man’s face. He didn’t have to hurry, not with this one.

The arrow whooshed quietly when he let go of the bowstring, hitting the man straight in the temple, breaking fragile bone there. Vall did not make a sound as he fell to the ground – just his heavy body giving out a low ‘thud’ as it hit the soft bedding of the forest.

Four now left, Tav turned back to the fire where the shemlen were chattering about families, wedding and their mysterious ‘business’. Tavaris wasn’t even exactly sure what the word meant, not overly fluent in the common tongue. It didn’t matter – they weren’t going to attend to it anymore, he was going to make sure of that.

He scanned the four people sitting around the fire, deciding on the further course of action. He had to be quick now, before the shem scattered into the forest forcing him to give chase. He also wasn’t sure about his chances if it came to melee fight – he was still awfully small and he wasn’t very good with his knives yet when it came to fighting. He always lost his sparrings with Tamlen.

The man with a cudgel – Tomma –  had to go first. Then the other one – they were the worst danger. Shem women were supposed to be a bit weaker than men and they weren’t so big, so he felt more confident about his chances if any of them got away at first. That Tasha woman, though, was third. She was too observant to chase her through the forest. That left Lina the last.

The best outcome, though, was if he was too fast for them to properly react. He could do that.

“Mother send me a letter saying that Miko is starting to learn his letters,” Lina was saying when Tavaris was pulling four arrows from his quiver. “I can’t wait to see…”

Thud! The first shem fell back, an arrow sticking out of his eye. The three shemlen left turned to him in surprise.

“Tomma!” One of the women shouted in surprise, not really registering what happened yet, but Tav wasn’t sure which one. He was lining another shot already.

The second arrow shot from under his fingers, the second man clutching his throat, as he fell to the side with a loud gurgle. Tasha finally understood what was happening, jumping to her feet and pulling Lina after her.

“We need to…” She didn’t finish, the third arrow piercing her throat. She slid to her knees, her hands going to the arrowshaft sticking from her wound.

Lina turned around, jumping over the fallen tree they were sitting on, trying to run for the cover – she wasn’t fast enough, Tav’s arrow still caught her in the shoulder. She shrieked in pain, scrambling to run. This wasn’t a mortal wound though, so Tavaris cursed, his fingers already searching for another missile.

Second arrow caught her in her thigh – she stumbled and fell on her knees, giving Tavaris time to jump to a lower branch and then to the ground. The woman looked over her shoulder, her face ashen. She was rather young, in early twenties, Tav guessed, with dark eyes and hair and a terrified expression that morphed into a surprise when she noticed him.

“Just a kid,” she said, her eyes wide – then her expression turned panicked again when she realized that Tavaris was not going to let her go. “Please, kid, you don’t have…”

“Not a kid,” Tavaris said through his clenched teeth, letting the next arrow fly. He had vallaslin, he was an adult.

The last arrow embedded itself in the base of her skull, severing the spine. Lina collapsed limply, face first into the ground. Tav took a deep breath, trying not to think about the child she was talking about or her sister and mother. That didn’t matter, he told himself. She was a shem.

Tav looked around the camp solemnly, overwhelmed by the experience. There lay five shems killed by his arrows. He was a worthy protector of the clan.

But someone’s mother was dead. He knew how it felt to lose a mother.

The owl hooted above him again. Tav’s shoulders loosened.

Falon’Din was pleased.

[angstofdestiny]

Meme 6, 23 for OCs and B, G for creator xD

6. Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?

This is actually going to be mentioned in the next MaleficarFocus chapter. If I ever get to finishing it.

Both Spawn and Tav believe that laws are flexible, thougheach of them comes from a slightly different viewpoint. Spawn believes lawsare, by definition, tools of oppression and there’s nothing good that can comeout of following the law. People should base their behavior on ethics, notrules written down by someone who never had their interest in mind.

Tav believes in law, however he defines it as a set of commonlyknown rules that serve to everyone’s benefit – to make the community healthy,peaceful and prosperous. When the laws don’t fit that definition for somereason – in his head they aren’t laws, and as such there’s no reason to followthem.

23. How does envy manifest itself in them (they take whatthey want, they become resentful, etc)?

Tavaris tends to become resentful and petty. He won’tmention the thing that caused him to feel like that, but he can turn prettymean towards the person whom he envies something.

Spawn just becomes despondent. He doesn’t feel it’s right totake, he doesn’t feel it’s right to punish someone else for their luck – but hewill get gloomy, thinking about what he did wrong to not get the Thing.

B) What inspired you to create them?

With Tav I honestly can’t tell. It was years ago and as faras I know he just popped into my head during the game. With Spawn – I needed oneperson more to balance skewed dynamics between Tav and Zevran… and I haven’texpected what it will turn into.

G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

To be honest, I am not really bothered by theirpersonalities. Both of them have flaws and that’s good. But, if I was askedwhat I consider their worst flaws… With Spawn it would be probably his penchantfor self-sacrifice. He can fight for others, but he can’t really fight forhimself. About Tav? It would probably be his temper and tendency to solveeverything by force. He learns to control it a bit, eventually, but still, ittends to be a problem.

[angstofdestiny]

So I commissioned wonderful @meribotti to make portraits of my boys and since I have already squealed over them in private long enough, it’s time to show them in public.

If you want commission Meribotti, you can find her info here. Believe me, you want to :D

[angstofdestiny]

3, 5, 11 for the angst asks

3. Have they ever lost a loved one? What happened to them, and are they the same as they were before they lost them?

Tav doesn’t really remember his parents outside some most fleeting impressions so he can’t claim it was the first time. Even so, despite Ashalle’s care, he longs for his real mother and father who had long hair. He had Tamlen, though, and Merrill when she could take a break from her studies.

Losing Tamlen was more difficult - not only because of his guilt, but because it created a gaping emptiness on his side, the overwhelming feeling of loss. Tamlen would go with him and the Wardens, would join him at Ostagar. He would direct him and Alistair when they were at loss after the lost battle. He would take away part of the burden. But Tamlen wasn’t there, was never going to be there again, so Tavaris had to be like Tamlen himself, at least a little. At least Merrill was safe.

Then he got his clan back and even though he couldn’t go back to living with them - he wasn’t the same boy who left at the Keeper’s orders anymore - being able to see them, to visit, to exchange letters, healed some deep wound within him he wasn’t even aware he had.

Until the letters from Marethari stopped, replaced by a stiff missile from Sarah Hawke. His clan, his family, was gone, for good this time, and it was all due to his sister’s actions.

His heart broke twice that day, but Vir Banal’ras was clear in it’s demands and Tavaris had nothing if not the ways of his people. Bringing justice to Merrill was inevitable, but it would send him to the Deep Roads long before his time if not for soothing words and touches of the two men in his life.

The wound grew again, though, and he had so much to lose yet. Nobody would blame him for growing more controlling afterwards, would they?

##

Spawn was not really allowed to form too significant connections - it wasn’t really malicious, he thought, but kids he grew close to in the Circle tended to be moved to other places. Sometimes it was him who was moved.

That was usual until he was sent to Kinloch Hold. The Tower was cold and damp and the Templars there didn’t seem to mind as much when they cuddled in the evenings together or played silly games, as long as there was no magic involved. So he met Niall and Jowan and Neri and let himself grow close to them, to trust they will still be there when he opened his eyes the next day.

And they were until one day they were no longer. He came back from solitary confinement to a letter hidden under a pillow and rumours that Jowan was a maleficar and Neri, Spawn’s sweet Neri, disappeared with him. He won’t make it alone, lath, the letter said. And Spawn understood. He wasn’t going to make it alone either.

5. Would they ever turn on someone they just met in order to save themselves?

With Tav it depends on circumstances. He believes in his duties - to his loved ones and as a Warden. If he believed he needed to sacrifice someone else in order to fulfil his duties, he would. If the people he turned on were privileged humans he might not even feel very guilty.

Spawn wouldn’t do anything like that, ever. It’s simply not right to use someone this way, no matter who they might be.

11. What are your character’s coping mechanisms?

Tavaris is a problem solver. He approaches his challenges intellectually, for most time repressing his feelings about the situation - until he breaks. Then it turns ugly - he can either turn very aggressive or almost catatonic.

Spawn tends to self-sacrifice and then rationalize or focus on others. In time they both learn to turn to each other and Zevran.

[angstofdestiny]

For it somehow. With regards on behalf of the Inquisition, Inquisitor Solomon Trevelyan.” 2/2

First part: “Gift meme: A faded tapestry of elven origin. While the fabric is frayed in some places, it is mostly whole. “Warden Mahariel,” begins the attached letter written in the scholarly cursive of a former Circle mage, “while eliminating cells of the so-called ‘Freemen of the Dales’ in the Emerald Graves, my people and I located this tapestry in one of their strongholds. I personally assume it was stolen and eventually to be sold. I hope that you will find a use for it yourself or a fitting home 1/2“

(I messed up a bit, opening this first thing in the morning on my phone)

Inquisitor,

Thank you for this most thoughtful gift. The tapestry is stunning and has indisputable historical value and as such it will surely find a home in Vigil’s Keep. 

From what I can tell the scenes depicted are moments from the Elvhen Long Walk in which our ancestors fled from Tevinter to found Halamshiral. 

Since the human writings on this topic certainly lack in accuracy and perspective, Warden Velanna and I have gathered some of the Dalish accounts of these events and written it down. I have heard that you enjoy scholarly pursuits and as such I have allowed myself to attach copies for your entertainment.

I hope this is not too forward from me.

Warden-Commander Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae

[angstofdestiny]

OC Questionnaire

Tagged by: @icylook, if I remember right

 Tagging: @ anyone who wants to use this template

 Answered as Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae on 9:40 Dragon

 GENERAL

     Name: Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae

   Alias(es): “I wear my name with pride. I never needed to hide behind another.”

   Gender: Male

   Age: Thirty-one

   Place of birth: “About halfway between Val Foret and Lake Celestine, or so I am told.”

   Spoken languages: Elvhen, Trade, Antivan, some basic Ander.

   Sexual orientation: so very, very gay

   Occupation: Warden-Commander of Ferelden and Arl of Amaranthine

APPEARANCE

     Hair colour: blond

   Eye colour: grey

   Height: 5’ 3”

   Scars: multiple cuts and nicks all over his body – remnants of the Blight and youth spent as a Dalish hunter; but most importantly, four long jagged lines running from his right ear to his nose, spanning from his eye to his jaw and marring his vallaslin. These are a memento of his last tragic meeting with Tamlen

   Overweight: no

   Underweight: He tends to get skinner than healthy when he’s travelling

 FAVOURITE

     Colour: gold

   Hair colour: doesn’t have a preference

   Eye colour: hazel and gold

   Entertainment: reading tacky novels with his partners

   Pastime: as above

   Food: anything Dalish

   Drink: water and tea, sometimes hard cider

   Books: tacky

 HAVE THEY

     Passed university: “Uhm… What for? I never had any need for shem schools.”

   Had sex: Yes.

   Had sex in public: “Uhm. How public are we talking about…?”

   Gotten pregnant: No.

   Kissed a man: “I have two male partners and we aren’t exactly celibate. I think that more than answers the question.”

   Kissed a woman: “Oh Creators, what a disaster was that…”

   Gotten tattoos: “I am Dalish!” *he gestures at his vallaslin in exasperation*  

   Gotten piercings: *he briefly touches two golden hoops in his right ear*  

   Had a broken heart:  “I have never been left by a lover or cheated on – but what happened to Tamlen definitely broke my heart.”

   Been in love: *he grins* “Madly”

   Stayed up for more than 24 hours: “Between the Blight and nightmares and worrying about my loved ones it happened a couple of times.”

 ARE THEY

     A virgin: No.

   A cuddler: Yes.

   A kisser: Yes.

   A smoker: No.

   Scared easily: “Once you see a broodmother everything else lacks intensity.”

   Jealous easily: “That wouldn’t really work when I have two partners, would it.”

   Trustworthy: Yes

   Dominant: *chokes violently* “Can we keep it between me and my lovers?”

   Submissive:  “This as well?”

Single: Oh, heck no

RANDOM QUESTIONS

     Have they harmed themselves: No

   Thought of suicide: Yes

   Attempted suicide: Yes

   Wanted to kill someone: Yes

   Actually killed someone: Yes

   Ridden a horse: Yes

   Have/had a job: “Depends what a job is? I have never went to work for a wage, as shems do. But I’ve never been idle. Hunting for a clan is work; stopping the Blight is work; managing an arling is work as well.”

   Have any fears: “I have people I care about. Fears come with that naturally.”

 FAMILY

     Sibling(s): “No blood siblings; those whom I grew up with and considered to be my siblings are both dead.”

   Parents: “Dead as well; I barely knew them.”

   Children: “I have a son, I was told he’s a smart boy. The fact I am not allowed to be a part of his life is my biggest regret.”

   Pets: “My Thushel passed away a year ago. I still couldn’t decide if I want to look at any pups.”

[angstofdestiny]

OC interview meme

I got it from @october-rosehip to make my day better. I think it helped. Tavaris answers post-Awakening What is your name?

Warden-Commander Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae

No, seriously, what is your real name?

*looks at the interviewer with a flat expression*

Do you know why you were called that?

Mahariel is a family name, after Mahariel the Emerald Knight. Sabrae is my clan name. I have no idea who and why came out with Tavaris.

Are you single or taken?

Very much taken.

Do you have any abilities or powers?

Uhm, I’m not a mage, if that’s what you are asking about. I’m decent with a bow. And I am a Grey Warden, that comes with some special abilities I’d rather not discuss.

Stop being a Gary Stu.

A what?

What is your eye color?

Are you blind or daft? Grey. This color is called grey.

How about your hair color?

*scoffs* blond

Have you any family members?

My Wardens and my partners. And a son, I’ve been told. My biggest regret is that I let his mother just take him away.

As for other blood family… I might as well be the last of Sabrae. *he grimaces* There are children of the clan spread through some alienages in the Free Marches, but Hawke has been so thorough with her “help” I couldn’t find them – and I’ve been looking.

I see… What about pets?

I used to have a mabari, but he’s long gone. There are some hallas I’m friendly with, but I wouldn’t call them “pets”.

Tell me about something you don’t like.

Invasive questions, for once.

Do you have any hobbies or activities that you enjoy doing?

Uhm, that was actually a matter my partners pointed out to me at some point. I never had much time for that. Now I read a lot, sometimes, when I manage to get out, I enjoy working in the garden. And singing, I like singing and telling stories.

Ever hurt anyone before?

And here I thought my reputation precedes me. I do what I must.

Ever… killed anyone before?

I’m a Grey Warden who ended the Blight; I do what I must – and that includes killing people who can’t be persuaded to let me do my job.

Or who threaten those I care about.

What kind of animal are you?

I am elvhen, not an animal. *glares* Dirty shem and their insults…

Name one of your worst habits.

I think it’s my short temper. Zevran claims it’s my proclivity to overthink things, whatever he has in mind. Spawn says that the worst thing I do is that I often forget to clean my comb after I use it. Well, I’m busy.

Do you look up to anyone at all?

I grew pretty disenchanted with people at some point, but I admire both of my partners. Zevran and Spawn are incredibly strong, smart and loving people. I am lucky to have them in my life – and I wish I was as kind as Zev or as smart as Spawn. To be honest, both of them are better men than I am.

Sexual orientation?

Definitly gay. I have checked.

Do you go to school?

I’m a bit too old for that, I think. And I am not a mage or Andrastian.

Do you want to marry and have kids one day?

I’m almost-married to two best men in Thedas and I have the whole Keep under my care. Though I wish I could meet my own kid. I’ve heard that he’s a boy and he’s smart… *sighs* I regret that I allowed his mother to just take him away. I was young though, and very, very scared.

What are you most afraid of?

Losing my partners.

What do you usually wear?

Now it’s mostly my uniforms. Though they are not very uniform to be honest. I keep the heraldry and the colors, but have them all made in Dalish manner. I never managed to warm up to shem way of dressing.

Do you love someone?

I thought I was pretty clear about that. Yes, eight years and I am still head over heels in love with both Zevran and Spawn.

What class are you? (Lower, middle, upper?)

I’m Dalish and I don’t have time for shem nonsense. Though they probably consider me upper class now that I am the Hero, and the Commander and the arl. Pity that it took killing an Archdemon for them to stop calling me a rabbit.

And imagine that some shems believe I don’t hear when they call other elvhen that.

How many friends do you have?

My friends are my family. *He pauses to think*  Other than Spawn and Zev, Oghren is probably the closest, together with Sigrun. I like to think that Morrigan is still my friend even though I haven’t seen her for years. I’m rather getting along with Shianni and Soris from Denerim Alienage as well. I have other people I am close with as well, but I’m not sure if all of them I would describe exactly as “friends”.

Anyone you still consider a friend, regardless of their current state.

Morrigan, as I said. Anders and Tamlen, both dead.

Thoughts on pie?

That was… pretty random, wasn’t it? I like pies, I guess. Mistress Dana makes a druffalo pie to kill for and I always liked pies with berries and honey my mamae made when I was a kid.

Favorite drink?

A few Dalish teas – I won’t tire you with their names. Whisky, or similar alcohol, with milk and honey.

What’s your favorite place?

Probably the Vigil’s Keep – it’s home after all. But I guess I am too Dalish to stay in one place for too long. I love coming back to the Keep, but I love leaving even more.

Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

A lake. Ocean… It makes me a bit uneasy, I admit.

Are you interested in anyone?

Again with that? I am very interested in my partners, both of them, Zevran stop eavesdropping. Not much in anyone else. Having two lovers is more than enough for me.

What’s your dick size?

I’m sorry…?

Well, what’s your type?

My type of what?

What attracts you?

I will quote someone who is much better with words than me: “I fancy things that are beautiful and things that are strong. I fancy things that are dangerous and exciting.” *he smiles a bit* I guess that makes our relationship pretty balanced.

Any fetishes?

That’s for my partners to know.

Seme or uke? Top or bottom? Dominant or submissive?

*glares* Really? I just said something.

Camping inside or outside?

Outside. Unless there’s snow or rain – Zevran doesn’t like that.

Are you wanting this quiz to end?

That’s it? Creators, finally.

[angstofdestiny]

tagged by @icylook

(bold which applies to your oc)

Tavaris Mahariel Sabrae

[ COLORS ] red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green.

[ ELEMENTS ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. magic.

[ BODY ] claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canine. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. normal height. muscular. piercing. tattoos. lithe.

[ WEAPONS ] fists. sword. dagger. spear. arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. pyre. teeth.  rifles.

[ MATERIALS ] gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics.

[ NATURE ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rainforest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. poppies.

[ ANIMALS ] lions. wolves. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. crickets. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. rats. livestock. foxes. (Can’t do this meme without adding hallas and gryphons)

[ FOODS/DRINKS ] sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. apple. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. french fries. ambrosia.

[ HOBBIES ] music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. video games. computer. phone. movies. theatre. libraries. books. comic books. magazines. cds. records. vinyl’s. cassettes. piano. violin. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. climbing. running. exploring.

[ STYLE ] lingerie. armour. cape. dress. tunic. vest. shirt. sweater. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewellery. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. sash. coat. jacket. duster. trenchcoat. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sunglasses. visor. eye contacts. makeup. ties. uniform.

[angstofdestiny]

1 & 12 for ask meme :D

1. What’s one experience your character had that made them very afraid?

A morning, few days after returning from the expedition for the Anvil of the Void. Tav woke up to discover a tiny patch of darkened skin under his jaw. He’s not afraid of many things, but his fate as a Warden is a thing of nightmares to him.

Spawn, on the other hand scares easily, but probably nothing was as terrifying to him as seeing Templars at Vigil Keep’s gates when Tav was away from home.

12. Do they like to suffer? Like to see other people suffering?

No, neither of them finds pleasure in suffering.