#the chantry sucks

[mysticwiki]

it took me about 8 years, since this is my first time playing the game, but i now understand why all my mutuals who love da:i also hate it..... there is so much to unpack here, but i am also enjoying myself SO much but WOW some of the writing??? the narrative choices????

[varyathevillain]

Sebastian Vael would've been such a better character for the Dragon Age fandom to enjoy if in act 3 instead of the shitty "here, have a Leliana cameo and another proof there's Blood Magic Everywhere in Kirkwall, go fetch!" quest, we had a different one.

Let's say... Hawke has an option of investigating a weird deal between a chantry sister and a Starkhaven diplomat, and during it you uncover that the chantry has been embezzling from Starkhaven's treasury, as well as putting "former chantry members" (read: malleable or outright Chantry puppets) in the ruling circle which is currently holding Starkhaven afloat in absence of Sebastian as their Prince.

If Sebastian is not in the party as you uncover this, you have an option to either tell him about it, or investigate the questline further. If he is, however, in the party as you find the first notice of something being wrong between Chantry and Starkhaven relations, Sebastian will exclaim that this is a mistake, someone posing outside (or within) a Chantry to implicate either Starkhaven royalty, or Grand Cleric Elthina, and reference Sister Petrice. The moment you involve him in the questline, however, he'll be locked in for the investigation missions, and start getting special points in the code, one for each encounter (including the very first one starting the questline), for the final confrontation of the questline. The same happens if you start involving Sebastian at any other point of the questline, but with less and less points available.

As you progress, there would be three more quests to go through, one of which even takes you to either the outskirts of Starkhaven, or to the busy streets of it, allowing 1) to show another city state of Free Marches, 2) where Sebastian comes from, 3) actually be worth your money for the DLC, if ideal DA2 still had him as a DLC companion. Which I still hate with burning passion a decision, same with Javik being DLC in ME3.

The questline has chantry sisters and nobles implicated, Flora Harriman reaching out to Hawke about weird decisions made in Starkhaven politics, resembling what her mother did, and at a second quest there's even a possibility of you uncovering a chantry brother in a contract with a Desire demon. It seems like it all leads up to corruption in the political sphere and stragglers in the Chantry circles, right?

Except. On the final quest. It is revealed that Elthina, in her own handwriting, no forgery as confirmed by any rogue in the party, has forced Grand Cleric of Starkhaven to resign, installed her own puppet (one of the chantry sisters you might see in Act 1) as a new Grand Cleric, all for a bid of "uniting the Free Marches under the Chantry banner". It also implies that Sister Petrice was telling the truth, and that Elthina was, in fact, more involved with the unrest against Qunari than one would believe in the base game (I believe she was involved, but it's not majorly pertaining to this post in particular). There's a letter that implies Lady Harimann was allowed to do what she did, because Elthina believed she'd be able to manipulate Sebastian in favour of the Chantry. It also unveils how many people of Starkhaven were hurt by this. Turns out, a lot.

Then, you can go about this questline ending several ways.

This is where the points counting in the background come into play.

If you did not bring Sebastian alongside you on any of the missions, or if there aren't enough points for you to sway him... Sebastian will claim the evidence as plot against his support of the Chantry and Elthina specifically, and burn the letters in particular, calling them a "bad replica of what sister Petrice tried to do". Elthina, on prodding, feigns innocence, or if you have not talked to Sebastian yet, calls him in to discuss "this silly accusation", which gives +15 rivalry if you're not in a locked relationship with him. He still burns the letters, and accuses you of believing the conspirators, or even being one of them. There are some undertones in Elthina's dialogue to imply she's ready to blackmail you back if you press the matter, and Hawke has no choice but to back off.

If you bring Sebastian along and your relationship with him at this point is so-so, neither a full friendship or a rivalry, you'd need at least 3 points with favourable dialogue, this makes Sebastian question the Chantry, even Elthina. You'd need all 4 points (bringing him from the get go in your party when they rock up to the start of the questline) without going further into discussion for him to buckle. With friendship, you'd need to bring him on at least 2 missions, or 3 with favourable dialogue. With rivalry, however, you need for him to be brought only on one mission with favourable dialogue, the final one, after which he'll even say that "You (Hawke) were right about me needing to step up and rule Starkhaven". On two missions if you want to bicker with him throughout the quests instead.

If you would manage to sway Sebastian by the end, you'd have one final choice: support him in standing up and demanding answers from Elthina, or asking him to forgive her involvement.

Supporting him on Friendship is the simplest, but supporting him on Rivalry ends up in Sebastian switching to Friendship, like with Merrill reversing her Friendship in Mirror Image if you don't give her the Arulin'Holm. This ends up in a calmly voiced, but very angry Sebastian Vael, pure venom in his words, listing how Elthina has abused his trust and his people by using faith in the Chantry, and manipulating a Prince of a sovereign nation for her own means. If you supported him on Rivalry, he'll have additional lines on how you've challenged him to see problems with Chantry and Templar order, as well as to come back to Starkhaven, and outright thank you right in front of Elthina, whose eyes will throw daggers in your direction. At the end of the speech, Sebastian will actually start removing pieces of his armour, them clattering to the floor at Elthina's feet, and walk out alongside you out of the Kirkwall chantry.

However, if you ask him to forgive Elthina, he'll have the biggest rivalry (+30) jump in the game if you aren't in a Friendship, and will briefly lash out at you, saying that complacency with his devotion to the Chantry is what got him and his people into this mess. On Rivalry, it's worse. Instead of a calm but angry and vicious reprimand of Elthina's actions, Sebastian will SCREAM at her, throw evidence in her face, and then scream at you on Rivalry for good measure, about how you can't simply forgive someone who would seek ruin his city, and is actively ruining Kirkwall. How he was blind to Elthina's actions, but sees now that blood magic isn't the rot at the city's heart that is dividing the Circle and Templar order, it's Chantry politicians like Elthina. And instead of armour pieces clattering to the ground, they're thrown at the feet of the Andraste statue, while Sebastian outright declares that if Elthina doesn't cease machinations in Starkhaven, he'll rage war against her, specifically, and everyone who would support her. Then, he storms out, alone.

You can insert either a "there's nothing to talk about" with Elthina afterwards in both endings of this form, or promises of Hawke "never holding a position in this city aside from carrying the Amell name".

After that, you can find Sebastian, clad in a new armour (simple, reminiscent of what Alistair wears in his introduction scene in DAO, only with the Starkhaven symbol emblazoned on an archer chest piece), with a box in his arms, on the steps out of Hightown into Lowtown. He jokes about how his whole life in Kirkwall can, at the same time, be put into a small box like this one, and be something world encompassing. After a dialogue, where he tells you he is going to live in a small hovel in Lowtown, since he doesn't want to even see the chantry building, or talk with nobles who'd gladly eat him and people of Starkhaven alive, until the moment Kirkwall unrest is over, since he wants stability for you and your city as well. Also, he'd rather spend money on his people and those in need, not himself.

If romanced, or with certain persuasion options, you can invite him to live with you. You can still try to invite him with a couple of options, but he'll deny them for various reasons. After that, he'd live near the market; or, if you managed to convince him, in Hawke's mansion.

If in a romance, there's a hot makeout scene in the library which fades to black implying a proper sex scene. If not, he'll have amusing additional scenes with other companions, especially other love interests, with a bit of hostility from Isabela and Anders, and a lot of genuine fun from Fenris and Merrill.

When you talk with him alone (at either Lowtown hovel or at home in the Library), Sebastian discusses, on Friendship, how he is still Andrastian, even if Chantry failed him and his, or on Rivalry how he feels that blind devotion blinded him to Chantry mistakes.

Banter between party members also changes, with one dialogue from Merrill implying that Sebastian is now helping refugees and the poor, Fenris talking about his efforts in making an organisation for former templars/chantry members expelled for one reason or another, Anders being surprised at a late night visit where Sebastian covered in blood (not his) brought him herbs and potion flasks as a peace offering, et cetera. There's still tension over Sebastian belief in the Chant and Andraste, but it's not anymore about him having to perform for the Chantry and his public image.

If you don't complete the quest with this ending, Sebastian Vael still demands Anders to be executed, or he'll wage war. But if you do... he confesses that Anders has asked him to warn as many people in Lowtown and Darktown not to come to the Hightown and chantry, but assumed this would be because of Meredith and Orsino outright fighting in front of Elthina, not this... murder.

He will, however, draw his bow and point an arrow at Anders, saying that this was not the answer to help his cause, and Anders needs to pay now. Hawke can allow him to do that, or step in.

In a so-so relationship, if you choose anything else but "I will execute him myself" or relent to Sebastian's demand and let him shoot Anders? Vael will spit at your feet and leave your party and the conflict, resulting in a very similar ending to his character as in the original DA2, just less anti-mage and pro-Chantry.

However, in a Friendship or Rivalry, it's very easy to convince him to still stay at your side and see it through. With his unknowing help, many innocents of Kirkwall were saved, and now he has to stick around to help as well, and to either see Anders pay for his crimes with work and healing, not redemption through martyr-like murder, or to understand that this, inadvertently, would be every city across Southern Thedas, including Starkhaven, if Chantry dogma supported by Templars will continue murder, physical and emotional, of mages. He'll have additional dialogue depending on whether you're a mage Hawke, or if Bethany died/is in Circle.

In Romance, Sebastian will lower his bow immediately as Hawke steps between. You'll have to mess up really badly in dialogue for him to storm out.

[crossdressingdeath]

Oh. Right. I'd forgotten about that fun little conversation where Cullen tells Cassandra to nominate a new commander and she refuses. And there's no opportunity to say "No, you don't get to make that call, you will nominate a new commander, that is an order". Genuinely, for all that Quiz is supposedly the most powerful person in Thedas it really does feel like they're trapped under the advisors' and Cassandra's control! This is my organization, Cullen is my commander (against my will, but even so); why the fuck does Cassandra get the final say on whether or not Meredith's right-hand-man currently going through withdrawal stays as commander?! Shouldn't that be the decision of... oh, I don't know, the Inquisitor?!

For once in his entire fucking life Cullen is putting someone else above himself. He looks at himself and his situation and says "No, this is not a position I should be in, it's not good for me or the Inquisition", and Bioware chooses this occasion to not let the player side with their special, special boy? The one time he's actually right? He's going through withdrawal. For five whole seconds it seems to actually be affecting him. He's not in any state to be leading armies and he knows it. And beyond that I reiterate my usual point of Meredith's second-in-command, leader of her death squads already being quite possibly the worst possible choice for a prominent member of the Inquisition if they want to appear even neutral in the mage/Templar conflict, which as a peacekeeping force they really should. He shouldn't be commander, and now he doesn't want to be commander, and if you like him it's also clear that it's getting increasingly unhealthy for him to be commander, so why can't Quiz just tell Cassandra that she doesn't get to just decide that their commander should be a high-ranking Templar going through withdrawal?! She should not have that power! She isn't even one of the Inquisitor's official advisors or seconds-in-command, much less the one in charge! It's not good for Cullen to be in such a high-stress position, it's not good for the Inquisition to have one of the leaders of the atrocities in Kirkwall in such a prominent role, and if your Inquisitor is a mage (or an elf, given the whole thing about Templars being sent in to harass and sometimes slaughter the Dalish for the local lord/the Chantry) it's not good for them to be forced to work so closely with someone who was part of the group largely responsible for oppressing them and who still clearly shares the beliefs of that group! He shouldn't be the commander for so many reasons, and many Inquisitors have good reason not to want him as the commander, so why does Cassandra get to unilaterally decide that he stays?

[ghost-bard]

im like varric in a lot of ways, mainly that I too have an odd fascination with sebastian vael but instead of being a little freak that insults him every five minutes bc why would varric ever admit to potentially being infatuated with him, im very open about wanting to fuck him. i could make him worse, but he'd be better for it.

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Okay so: Izuku as Inquisitor.

We keep everything from the last post. Izuku is actually the child of Solas and fake Mythal, the gods are actually not the Evanuris who pretend to be, Solas worshiped as Fen’Harel is a god now as unlike the fakes he is the only one. Izuku and his friends leave their world because society has just kept going and nothing changed.

But this time they get to Thedas before the explosion, and Izuku makes it his mission to bug his father about not going through with it. He ignores it, and argues back. It ends up coming to be Izuku runs to try and stop the Temple from blowing up but can't.

No instead he's now the Herald of Andraste and like… Izuku has ALREADY pulled together a country and fought in a war. Sure he came to Thedas knowing he might need to kill his birth father, but for the LOVE of THE GODS, are you joking?

His friends laugh at him and he is Problem Child Forever.

Now he's got to run this stupid organization.

He hates it so much.

Izuku does his best though. He tries to be a fair person while also shoving his father’s face into the changes of the world.

I do think he'd be slower to confess the truth of him being from another world here. He would eventually do so because he has to. (he would not continue to lie to those who have bled for him).

Solas instantly runs with the narrative he was trying to find his son since he went missing, and Izuku just is angry he's not doing anything but he won't rat out his dad. Not unless he has to.

I think there would be a lot of confusion and a lot of eye opening but everyone accepts it. They even accept Nezu who is thrilled he gets to walk around like normal without the cloak. They figure out someway to make it acceptable to others (AKA Cole messes with their minds to make them accept it).

Izuku would just be the kindest Herald/Inquisitor to those in need while also RIPPING apart Orlais and Ferelden and everything he can.

“This is BULLSHIT,” he says at the Winter Ball before he goes off and blackmails Celene and Gaspard while handing over everything he has to Briala so she can rule through them.

“I fucking HATE this,” he grumbles when he's dealing with Nobles. Ugh.

(Aizawa hates dealing with Fereldens and their dogs)

I'm also gonna talk about the others to:

Yaomomo is a fucking Goddess who helps Josie. I also am saying she ends up with Dagna and when Sera joins in (encouraged by Ochako) chaos reigns. When the secrets are out, Dagna and Harrit basically beg for all the help. Sadly she can't make the more fantastical elements but steel? Wood? She can. Silks to.

(she takes over the entire winter ball cause those are ugly as hell uniforms)

Aizawa works as an advisor and helps spread rumours when he can. He'll slip out and lurk in corners being a ‘drunk’ while picking up info. Also he's trans and upon learning Krem is goes: same.

They then proceed to spread rumours Solas and Aizawa are Eri’s parents for the hilarity.

But yeah Aizawa is his grumpy self.

Midnight I am 100% pairing with Blackwall and she susses out the truth early. Convinces him to confess but work to rebuild. He regrets what he's done it's obvious. And frankly, look at the Templars and their abuses. Yes what he did is horrific but he does better training people to fight back and defending the weak. She and Blackwall now run a minor training boot camp for the ambush fighters.

Nezu is Nezu and happily plots with Leliana who delights in her new friend. Perhaps he is the one to help her back into the light to.

Hitoshi works with Josie as an assistant and she finds he is just as good as her at reading people. I already mentioned how she gets him losing her voice differently then the others. Hitoshi isn't just his Quirk and his ability to speak and manipulate are things she gets. It's very adorable.

Tenya and Shouto work as inner circle folks and help Izuku. They also run around as his messengers and as intimidation because Izuku is still damn short and knows it's cause he's an elf.

Ochako? Ochako is inner circle and causing CHAOS as much as she can. Her quirk is so good with bombs and weapons and getting into position on a roof. She is the ‘DEATH FROM ABOVE’ Queen. Sera loves her so much.

Eri of course is being cute but she's also being portrayed as Izuku’s sister which gets attention. Luckily she has Cole around who will stab. She also works with the doctors and when her secret comes out uses her powers. Carefully, oh so carefully with Cole right by her side. Just in case.

I think romances would stay the same. Bull/Aizawa, Tenya/Shouto, Izuku/Dorian, Ochako/Sera and all that to. It's just like… as Inquisitor Izuku is more involved and more willing to dig down roots. He doesn't get a choice. It's not just murder your dad and fuck off. No it's serious. He has to build firm bonds with these people.

Here he sits down and listens to Vivienne more, tries to understand Cassandra’s faith. He sits with Cullen and they work through the bullshit he has internalized (I run with an AU Cullen in my head because otherwise I could not get through the game and my head version actually admits his faults). He talks with Sera and learns of Pride Cookies. He sits with Bull who fears madness (but will never regret saving his men). He holds Blackwall’s hands and say he is a good man. He stands by Dorian, facing down a monster who hid behind kindness. He helps Cole learn who he is. He sits with Varric as he tells stories and tells his own, eventually being hugged by a man who thought he'd lose his friend. (Izuku wouldn't let it happen. No, not when Iida can run faster then anyone else, can cause a distraction so that they all get free. No never. Hawke and Alistair live, both of them)

Izuku is himself and shines so brightly. And the others want to shine to. Vivienne still believes in the circles but now thinks of a school system like the ones from their world. Cassandra believes but also knows that the ashes of corruption can linger so it is best to be careful. Cullen begins making amends more and more (a letter sent to a mage who makes her partner read it, the Antivan elf carefully speaking the apology from within, the mages harmed in Kirkwall, Templars so scared of him dropping to their knees in shock). Sera who learns to bake. Bull who figures out he is not a monster. Dorian, who does not speak well of slavery but speaks against it, plotting to tear down Tevinter with his bare hands. Cole who stays both human and spirit and is all the better. Varric who laughs and smiles like he once had.

And what of Izuku’s friends?

Tenya and Shouto who lost everything (Tensei choking on his own blood after refusing to give up valuable intel. Fuyumi blowing herself up with Dabi to beat him. Natsuo dying trying to protect Rei who died to. Endeavour still around with NOTHING changing) being happy again. Laughing and getting married with everyone they love there.

Ochako who lost an arm and refused to back down, who lost Tsu and mourns her so badly. Who nearly was killed because her naivety over Toga’s manipulation almost cost her life.

Hitoshi who lost his voice and only got pity, no help. Now he's regained it in a way, working with his wife who loves him dearly to be able to be the diplomat he was born to be. (and who makes it stylish to learn sign language)

Momo who is burned and hurt. Whose girlfriend left because they could not keep up, she's to much. Who was taught to keep her head down. She's creating things again. Laughing and smiling. Is kissing someone oh so sweet who has the same mind.

Midnight who lost her sex appeal and caused people to toss her aside. Acting like she's not human anymore. She's now happy with a man who ADORES her and all she is. She's smiling again.

Nezu who has tried over and over again to change the world. He now has in his paws the chance to help and make a difference. Who joins the Chantry when Leliana is Divine and helps shake things up. He's happy.

Aizawa who lost his husband and mourned so deeply. Who felt useless and broken. He has a purpose. He's working to help others, has a man who helps with aches and pains, who loves and accepts him.

Eri who was a lab rat and who had to learn to smile. Her smiles are bigger and wider here, her laugh echoing in her joy.

Izuku did this. He brought about change and happiness. He feels good.

He still hates Orlais.

@dark-elf-writes the second option if you want!

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

Hawke: You knew my grandparents? Elthina: I dedicated your mother into the Chantry. She was a beautiful baby. Your grandmother was a very proper lady, but she was beside herself that day. And your mother put a fist in my eye.

Suddenly I like Leandra a little bit more. I mean, who hasn't wanted to put a fist in Elthina's eye at some point during da2?

"Excuse me, Grand Cleric Elthina, a templar used your official seal to get away with kidnapping and murdering qunari." "Ah, well, the Maker will figure it out. The Chantry is a gentle mother who knows her children learn best when allowed to learn themselves."

"Hey, Elthina, the templars are abusing mages. They're forcing tranquility onto them for minor things, which is against the law, and it's only getting worse. Can't you do something?" "It's not my place to decide who is right, but the Maker will eventually."

"Damn it, Elthina, my mother and several other women were murdered by an actually dangerous blood mage because the templars and city guard couldn't be bothered to do their jobs!" "Ah, I'm sorry, that's so unfortunate. May your mother find a place at the Maker's side."

"ELTHINA the qunari beheaded the Viscount and now Meredith has taken complete control over Kirkwall and is looking for any excuse to annul the entire Circle with her Andraste complex, will you PLEASE do something to stop her before more people die??" "Hmmm, I see, but no. The Maker's time isn't man's time, we have no need to rush."

"Listen, you useless moron, you need to leave Kirkwall because shit's about to go down." "No, I will not leave. Who would hurt me? I'm Grand Cleric."

Even as a baby, Leandra knew this lady was an awful person. This is why you got blown up, Elthina.

[death-rebirth-senshi]

I'd never in a million years infringe upon someone's right to hate Anders for his many crimes mind you. But I take issue with people being like. How dare you make light of this thing that happened in a video game.

[hiddenbeks]

i've been thinking about what andrale and celyn are doing and whether they're even alive during veilguard and i think i've finally figured it out.. i don't think andrale would leave to seek a cure for the taint. she struggled against her fate for so long and was incredibly bitter about being conscripted but eventually made peace with it. she cheated death once thanks to morrigan but knows her days are numbered nevertheless and decides to value whatever time the ritual gave her. after the events of awakening she remains the warden-commander but since the blight is over she isn't needed on active duty. so she often leaves vigil's keep to travel or to stay with her clan or whatever but always comes back to ensure the wardens are well and to help train recruits and all that. leaving everyone and everything behind to go on an expedition in the far west searching for a cure that may or may not exist would go against all her development i think. when her calling comes she will go peacefully knowing she lived a meaningful life and made the most of what time she had :) i think she will be somewhat relieved as well. even though she learns to enjoy life again she will always carry the horrors of the blight with her and it will never be the same and she would never be the same even if she was cured. she is a warden and a warden's end is the only end for her!

celyn on the other hand. she is never satisfied she always wants more. she's very eager to join the wardens despite andrale's warnings that the joining could be fatal and that even if she survives being a warden is essentially a slow death. celyn is like yea whatever it beats going back to the circle so she chugs the darkspawn blood, survives, and joins the wardens. at some point andrale assigns celyn to assist avernus with his research and has her take over after avernus passes away. the reality of being a grey warden soon hits celyn and she reallyyyyy doesn't want to die an early death after finally getting out of the circle. so she pores over avernus' writings and figures out how to slow the decay of her body with blood magic the way he had. but it's not enough because even avernus succumbed to the taint eventally. and celyn doesn't want that for herself. where andrale is focused on what is celyn is more interested in what could be... and the taint could be cured maybe... so celyn is the one who decides to take things even further. she is determined to prolong her lifespan by any means and willing to risk everything for the chance to permanently cure the taint!!

[silverspleen]

Bhalkam did also lowkey invite Varand to..... convert to the Qun I guess?? today just in passing after a random conversation they were having kind of like a "oh you could... come back with me to Par Vollen you know when this is all done if you want?"

Bhalkam absolutely does NOT plan on staying in Ferelden he thinks Ferelden fucking sucks and has too much magic and he hates being a Grey Warden and thinks it's stupid dumb and everyone is ass backwards and at this point if Varand does not manage to rescue any elves from indentured servitude and/or slavery there is almost a 100% guarantee that he will just straight up convert to the Qun he is gone he will go hit Tevinter with hammers for the rest of his godly life with his bro there will be no point in his hanging out in Ferelden when he can do significantly more damage with the backing of a bigger, badder culture that does not like Tevinter either.

The only people Bhalkam thinks are remotely cool is 1) our sexy half-elf magic blacksmith that he has a crush on bc she is sooo good at crafting and 2) Varand because he keeps getting beat up but tries anyway. Everyone is afraid of him except dragons, who all think he is the hottest shit they have ever met (our GM has thrown more dragons in the campaign for because dragons are cool and 2/3 of them were so impressed by Bhalkam.).

I ultimately don't think Varand would actually like the Qun much but like... I can also see him just being cool with living wherever there's a big concentration of free elves and he does respect how unflappable Bhalkam is, the warrior's code and such.

[gaychocolatehomicide]

tell me about your messy inky i’m curious 👀 (if you want, idk if you haven’t talked about your ocs out of shyness or if it’s a Decision™️ but if it’s the former. I Am Giving You Permission)

HI OKAY SO sorry about the wait I had a really busy week (or three) at work but I wasn't ignoring you I prommy

So I have a ton of Inquisitors but specifically the one I was thinking of is Tristan Trevelyan, my terrible terrible boy from the Wrong Answers Only playthrough. The general concept for that worldstate is "what if I just make the objectively wrongest choice in every instance" and I will almost certainly never actually play it (can't bring myself to do some of the choices x.x) but it's a delightful thought experiment, particularly in the "what kind of person would you have to be to act like that in this situation" department. Just to give you an idea: the Warden in that run DOESN'T rescue the dog from Ostagar. It's that bad.

So Tristan! A nobleborn artificer rogue (really he should be a Champion if we were allowed to cross-class spec, but of the rogue options artificer makes the most sense. He's a tricksy bastard and besides, tempest is too messy and assassin is a little too denial-of-the-self-y.), Tristan is at the conclave because his mage cousin was going with the delegation from Ostwick and he wanted to travel. He learned most of his rogue skills sneaking out of the family home to go get into trouble in town, and he is primarily concerned with his own personal comfort and advancement. Mostly, at least before the conclave, he's content to wait. His father is a pretty powerful noble and he's the oldest son so as long as he doesn't do anything TOO heinous, he'll inherit and then he can do whatever he wants. He's twenty six and unmarried, though he's been kinda lazily courting one of the daughters of a noble out of Starkhaven. He's starting to think his father is taking too long to die/retire and should maybe hurry up, and maybe he needs some help... But only if there's no way for it to trace back to Tristan, obviously.

Then he gets caught up in the explosion and survives, and suddenly everyone's calling him the Herald of Andraste, and he really doesn't need his father's estate if he's in charge of the greatest military force on the continent, now does he? Basically the Inquisition offers him power beyond his wildest dreams and he 100% leans into that shit. He is the gaslight gatekeep girlboss king, and he makes every choice directly dependent on growing the Inquisition's power and thus, his own. He goes "yes actually I WAS sent by the Maker in your time of greatest need, I'm here to rescue you from everything. All you have to do is exactly what I say~"

The issue with him is that he's way too smart for his own good, so he always pushes just far enough to get what he wants and no farther. He's incredibly deft at keeping himself out of trouble by not being held accountable for the shit he absolutely did. Did the envy demon at Therinfall get him? No, he's just like that, actually the demon was a little freaked out by his ambition and ruthlessness. Also, he's unfairly attractive. Appearance-wise I like to think of him as one of those ethereally beautiful people that can sometimes happen when one parent is Chinese and the other one is from like central Africa? I'm thinking specifically of a guy I knew in college who could literally knock me out by smiling in my direction. Anyways.

He's a hanging judge except for when the person in question could maybe help him, in which case he takes their stuff and/or throws them in prison. He loves the skyhold prison, it's huge. The only people in that whole place he gets along with are Varric (zero morals but very loyal, exactly Tristan's kind of guy), Leliana (further hardened), Cassandra (cop), and Vivienne (pro-establishment free marcher who sees a lot of herself in Tristan). Solas and Sera both hate his guts, Iron Bull doesn't trust him as far as he can see him (not as far as he can throw him because he could probably yeet Tristan quite a ways, and his suspicions turn out to be confirmed uhhhh rip the Chargers), and Blackwall clocks him as the type of guy that Ranier used to be (but turned up to 11) in about 30 seconds flat. Cole really doesn't understand him at all, and after a few botched attempts to get in his head (Tristan reacts REALLY badly to that kind of thing after the demon at Therinfall, and Cole was there for that so really all the sweet baby is doing is giving Tristan flashbacks while he tries to help) he just decides to drift around helping other people. Dorian... Ok he definitely sleeps with Dorian but he also says homophobic slurs. Which is not ideal for anyone. Bull tries to kinda protect Dorian from that nonsense at the beginning but after the Chargers, well... It's not good. Josephine is briefly delighted by having someone else competent at crowd control, then she gets to know him and treats him much like people treat the Du Launcets in DA2. Cullen isn't really in a place to have much of an opinion, Tristan is way too much like a smoother version of the worst commanders Cullen has had in the past for him to do a lot other than paperwork and panic attack.

So I feel like @the-chantry-sucks-ass's boy Aeryn would meet Tristan one time and be like "ah yes this is a Prophet of God" and Tristan would clock that in an instant, and especially since Aeryn's best skill seems to be killing the shit out of whatever happens to be in front of him. Tristan would take one look at an incredibly dedicated, very capable, very stabby man and go "perfect, mine now." (And from what I understand Aeryn would be pretty into that...)

Images of the terrible boy are forthcoming, I need to make him in the CC and get some screenshots. For posterity.

[vanmarkham]

apparently im only missing 3 da2 achievements 🤔

[amatres]

i'm glad now that im not trying to dodge romance flags me and anders can bitch about the templars together

[makerscockandballs]

wakes up. hates the Chantry. goes to sleep. wakes up. hates the Chantry. goes to sleep. wak

[persephoneggsy]

I just. I would love a fic where Sebastian isn’t treated like a spoiled brat for wanting *nders dead for what he did. I would love to read a fic where Hawke doesn’t break up with him and is treated by the narrative like they made a righteous, self-sacrificing decision.

[call-me-honkie]

Never Meet Your Mentors

Irving held up a hand. The Warden’s mouth snapped shut, but ire flickered through them. At first, it had relieved them how quickly they were sliding back into the roles of mentor and apprentice. But, suddenly, they weren’t sure that’s what they wanted to be to Irving. They had passed their Harrowing, among many other ordeals.

The Mage Warden comes to some realizations about Irving as they talk about the Circle. Takes place after the Broken Circle quest.

Also on AO3!

Their party had an extra member, First Enchanter Irving, that evening. The Warden had been put on watch duty first at Wynne’s suggestion.

“At least one Grey Warden should be on watch duty at all times, if we can help it,” she’d said, in that gentle yet firm voice of hers. It was a voice the Warden was all too familiar with: one of a higher-ranking enchanter who was used to herding around apprentices. “That way, we minimize the risk of a darkspawn attack while we’re caught off-guard.”

Now that the night was still, though, they wondered if she had known they wouldn’t even try to sleep after the day they had. First Enchanter Irving had volunteered to keep watch along with them. Wynne objected at first, since he out of all of them needed the rest the most, but she relented when he insisted that her healing spells had done a fine job on driving the brunt of the pain away. Still, he walked with a visible limp.

The Warden dared a glance at their former mentor, who was staring into the fire. The firelight made his deep worry lines seem even deeper, and his unkempt beard couldn’t hide his frown. Yet he hadn’t said a word to his former apprentice. It was his lost-in-thought look; the Warden knew it all too well when they used to walk into his office in the seconds before they cleared their throat to get his attention. They wondered if he volunteered for watch duty because he knew he would not be able to sleep, either, after what happened in the Tower.

The Warden turned their gaze into the fire. The Tower they left mere weeks ago did not feel like the Tower they had returned to. They had not expected a warm welcome—one of the first things Greagoir did was glare coldly at them and remind them they were still a maleficar’s accomplice. But they had not expected to return to…

The Warden felt their eyes glaze. The flames danced in front of them, bright and hypnotic, springing up from the embers, glowing red as blood.

Blood trailed up the stairs into the Harrowing Chamber, the stains messy and disjointed. Whoever’s blood it was, they had put up a fight. The Warden’s stomach turned—not at the gore, but at not knowing what was happening through the door.

From his translucent cage, Cullen fell to his knees. He buried his head in his hands, clutched together in prayer. “Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just.”

A scream ripped through the fourth floor just as the Warden’s hand touched the Harrowing Chamber’s door. The air prickled with electricity and mana, as if the Tower itself raised its hackles at whatever was happening upstairs. The Warden flinched.

Cullen’s head was bowed so low it nearly touched the ground. “Oh, Maker,” he whimpered. “Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow. In their blood, the Maker's will is written.”

The Warden’s feet were frozen. When the great doors had shut behind them (it felt like an eternity ago, but it could have only been an hour at most), the first thing they did was step over the body of a familiar woman. Not a friend. But she had been kind, and had congratulated them on their successful Harrowing, and—

The Warden couldn’t do this. They couldn’t do this. If the First Enchanter was dead, or if he was an abomination—

“The First Enchanter’s sharp as a whip, and just as dangerous, too. Personally, I don’t believe for a second that there’s no hope,” Alistair said from right behind them. To their companions, it must have sounded like a simple observation to no one in particular, but there was a softness to his voice; he was reassuring them.

The Warden nodded mutely. He was right. They couldn’t afford to get choked up now. They were a mage. Their willpower was their strongest weapon.

They pushed the door open.

Cullen’s voice guttered and grew distant as they ascended the stairs. “Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and wicked and do not falter…”

Irving’s voice cut through their thoughts: “I do not believe I had the chance to thank you for what you did today.” His voice was gravelly, heavy, and tired.

The Warden shivered, as if their body was shaking off the memory. “You already did. In the Tower.”

Their former mentor paused, then chuckled quietly enough that the Warden wondered if they had misheard it until he said, “Yes. Yes, you are correct. I truly am getting too old for this, aren’t I?”

The Warden smiled weakly. Irving did the same. The invisible, stony barrier between them, erected the day they were conscripted into the Grey Wardens, felt like it had begun to crumble, like they were one step closer to returning to what they had been: mentor and apprentice.

Their chest ached for that stability again. The Circle was constricting with its many rules and the Chantry breathing down the mages’ necks, and there were certain dangers, like the Harrowing, but it was stable. There were hot meals, beds, peers, mentors, and the opportunity to hone one’s skills and knowledge. It was a home.

Or it had been, until Greagoir shut those massive doors closed and locked the mages inside. Then it was a slaughterhouse.

Irving stroked his beard passively. “It will take a long time for this wound to close. For everyone.” He looked at the Warden, and they looked away. He always seemed to sense their thoughts. “Even Greagoir.”

The Warden clenched their jaw, fiddling with a strap on their boot. “He didn’t seem that upset about trapping everyone inside to fend for themselves.”

“If you are to blame anyone, blame Uldred and his pride. Blame the Chantry’s distrust of mages that obliged Greagoir to seal the doors.” Irving’s voice was quiet yet sharp, and it stung. To an outsider, they were conversing civilly, but the Warden knew he was scolding them. It was the genius of Irving’s diplomatic skills. “Greagoir, as the knight-commander, did what he could, given the circumstances. He is—”

“‘A reasonable man,’” the Warden finished curtly. “I know.”

Irving and Greagoir’s strange friendship was common knowledge in the Tower. They, a mage and a templar of all things, were childhood friends somehow. And although they argued at least half a dozen times a day, there was a familiarity in their bickering, as if they knew what the other would say before he said it. As a result, Irving never tolerated the Warden’s disdain for Greagoir and the templars; a phantom cramp pulsed in their palm as they remembered all the sentences Irving made them write for mouthing off to Greagoir in their teenage years.

“Unfortunately, I believe recent events were…” Irving shook his head. “A long time coming. There were many factors in this collision course. Greagoir sealing the doors was the least of them all.”

“I know,” the Warden insisted. “I just…” They grappled for the words. They couldn’t get the sight of those great doors out of their head—how easily the mages, who could spout jets of fire and ice from their hands, were trapped like animals. How easily it could have been them stuck in there, too. Would they have turned into an abomination? Or could they have helped Wynne protect the children? Saved that girl who had congratulated them on their Harrowing? Freed Cullen?

“I am glad you became a Grey Warden,” Irving said as a way of answer. They looked at him, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “You came exactly when we needed you most. It was as if the Maker Himself had sent you.”

The Warden looked away again to hide their stinging eyes, the twist of a smile. “You already said that as well.”

Irving put up his hands in defeat. “Maker, child, you must excuse this old man’s failing memory.”

The Warden laughed, and the act felt as though it dusted cobwebs off their heart. Irving continued, “You will always have a home in the Circle. Perhaps, when the Blight has ended, we will gladly welcome you home again.”

“Even after what happened?” they blurted. “With Jowan and Lily?”

“Jowan’s escape and Lily’s fate are unfortunate. However, like Uldred’s takeover, I fear what happened was also an inevitability, influenced by many factors.” Irving stroked his beard contemplatively. “Perhaps even the same factors.”

The Warden furrowed their brows. “So you were going to make Jowan Tranquil.”

The First Enchanter nodded once. “He was maleficar. You know the consequences.”

“You know he couldn’t have meant anything malicious by it,” the Warden said quickly, eyes wide and pleading. “Jowan, he—he never thinks things through. He was insecure, that’s all. He thought blood magic would—”

Irving held up a hand. The Warden’s mouth snapped shut, but ire flickered through them. At first, it had relieved them how quickly they were sliding back into the roles of mentor and apprentice. But, suddenly, they weren’t sure that’s what they wanted to be to Irving. They had passed their Harrowing, among many other ordeals.

“I am aware that a sense of competition in the Circle—whether real or perceived—breeds such temptations as to seek out forbidden magics.” Irving waved his hand over the campfire, and the Warden swore it burned just a bit brighter. “I know Jowan felt as though he were… a disappointment. I am certain his actions were that of an insecure, jealous boy, not a cruel-spirited maleficar. Envy is powerful.” Irving looked at them with that piercing look like he was about to continue that thought, hesitated, then sighed. “But the Chantry does not care one whit whether Jowan acted out of malice or insecurity. He had proven himself dangerous even before his escape. He would have been made Tranquil, regardless.” Irving shook his head grimly. “Perhaps, if things were different…”

The Warden fiddled with the ring on their middle finger, the one they were given after their Harrowing. “I… understand.” Yet knowing that there was little they could have done was almost worse.

“Jowan knew the consequences of practicing blood magic,” Irving said with a sense of finality, “even if there is injustice to be found in Kinloch Hold.”

The Warden sighed. “I feel sorry for that initiate, Lily. She had no idea he was a blood mage, yet she paid the heaviest price.”

“Their relationship was forbidden as much as blood magic is.”

“I know,” the Warden said, “but Aeonar? The mage prison?” If the Warden hadn’t known him for years, they would mistake his convinced attitude for a laissez-faire one. “You can’t justify that. Even Greagoir could tell she wasn’t Jowan’s thrall.”

Irving shook his head with something that was not quite sadness, but not dismissive of Lily’s plight, either. “No. But, collateral though she was, she proved to be valuable.”

The Warden’s stomach sank at his wording. Valuable? They scrutinized Irving’s face, but it was unreadable.

“What do you mean, ‘valuable collateral?’” they asked slowly.

“There is little that goes on in the Tower that I do not know about.” The Warden raised a brow and thought, Was Uldred part of that “little” you didn’t know about? But Irving gestured to them, continuing, “Tell me, how did Lily discover that Jowan would undergo the Rite of Tranquility?”

The Warden tilted their head toward the sky in thought. “She said she had found the signed papers. She saw them on Greagoir’s—”

Terrible realization struck them. Their eyes snapped to him, mouth parted.

“You.” They fought the urge to point at him. “You planted the documents on Greagoir’s desk for her to find.”

“Astute as always,” Irving praised sincerely, but the Warden’s eyes were wide and incredulous.

“You led them into a trap.”

“As I said before, both were already engaging in forbidden acts. But had I simply reported them, the Chantry would have defended Lily, claiming she was a thrall and absolving her of any consequences. She needed to be caught red-handed.” Irving’s eyes were bright, fiery. “I do not take pleasure in the outcome, but if one of my mages is to be doomed to Tranquility or worse, then one of the Chantry’s priestesses must face the consequences of her own misconduct. I refuse to let the Chantry pretend their disciples are above suspicion while regarding my mages with distrust for their Maker-given gifts.”

Irving was fiercely intelligent, politically minded, and right. They knew he was right, and yet… They looked back down at their ring, remembering Lily’s kind earnestness. They hadn’t known her for long, yet she had thanked them for their help before Jowan did. She didn’t seem to care that he was a mage, either, despite the Chantry’s teachings. Their relationship had been forbidden and borne of infatuation, but it was not worthy of Aeonar, whether she was a maleficar’s accomplice or not. And Jowan—foolish, foolish Jowan, who could barely light a candle with his magic…

The Warden didn’t know what to think.

“I know it is a lot to take in.” Irving rested his hand on their shoulder. It felt cold, even through their armor. “Jowan was your friend, and you were trying to help a friend in need. I do not hold it against you.” He smiled a little. “A ‘bleeding heart,’ as it were, is an admirable thing to possess.”

The Warden nodded absently. Their mind was still whirling.

Irving stroked his beard again. “While I wish you would have come to me when you discovered Jowan and Lily’s plan, it took a great deal of compassion and strength to help them. I know that is what Duncan saw in you, even if you had broken a novel’s worth of the Circle’s rules in the process.” Irving laughed. “I told him you had a rebellious streak, and I’m not sure he believed me when you first greeted him, all politeness and hospitality.”

The Warden swallowed, shoving back their racing thoughts. They would sort through it another time. They mustered their most collected voice: “When you introduced us, I wondered what you’d said about me to him. I’m glad to hear they were good things… assuming a ‘rebellious streak’ and a ‘bleeding heart’ are good things to have.”

Irving nodded sagely. “A rebellious nature can be a double-edged blade. Challenging the status quo too much hardens those around you to change, but never challenging it breeds stagnation. It is a difficult balance to strike.”

The Warden wondered how Jowan’s escape and Uldred’s takeover would affect the status quo in the Circle. Would the Circle finally have meaningful discussions about the treatment of mages, or would they clamp down even further? The Warden gestured to Irving. “You have personal experience, I take it.”

Irving laughed. “Child, that is what it means to be First Enchanter.”

They allowed themself to smile a bit. “Were you a rebellious apprentice?”

He looked into the fire affectionately. “I got into my share of trouble. Weaseling in and out of mischief; seeing what I could get away with; pestering the harsh templars and befriending the more reasonable ones, like Greagoir… Not unlike yourself.” 

The Warden fought a grin, but—“Befriending templars? I’m afraid we differ there.” The Warden tried to sound confused.

Did he know about…? Would Cullen get in trouble if…?

“Oh?” Irving combed his fingers through his beard. “I was under the impression that a certain young templar was quite fond of you. Oh, what was his name…?” He looked with a knowing smile at them, waiting for them to give it up.

Annoyed, they said, “So you knew.”

“As I said, child: there is little that goes on in the Tower that I do not know about.”

“Fraternization between templars and mages is forbidden,” they shot back, “so why didn’t you tell Greagoir?”

“There are problems in the Tower bigger than a budding friendship between a mage and a templar,” Irving waved a hand flippantly, “namely blood mages, as you know.” Yet he was looking at them with a pointed look in his eyes—the same pointed look as when he justified throwing Lily to the blight wolves.

“The Tower could be packed to the Harrowing Chamber with blood mages and templars would still find time to scold us for taking a little too long in the latrines.” The Warden crossed their arms. “Templars need to be ready at a moment’s notice to cut us down if we are possessed. There can’t be room for hesitation. Cut the horseshit.”

Irving blinked. “Watch your tongue,” he said, but he sounded surprised, as if he’d scolded their foul language on instinct. He stayed silent for a moment as he collected his words, opened his mouth, then sighed.

“You are correct,” Irving started, “that mage-templar friendships can be risky, due to the inherent dangers of being a mage. I assure you, however, the risk was calculated: I knew you would not fail your Harrowing, just as I knew that Cullen was—is—one of the most devoted and earnest templars in Kinloch Hold—”

The Warden cut across him, “A ‘calculated risk?’ What do you—”

Again, Irving held up a hand; again, their mouth snapped shut.

He continued, “As I was saying, I looked the other way because I believe some kinship between mages and templars can benefit the culture of the Tower.”

“We’re one mage and one templar,” the Warden said dryly.

Amusement twinkled in Irving’s eye. “And there is not a single apprentice in the Tower who has not heard rumors about Cullen’s hopeless infatuation with you.”

The Warden’s face went hot. “Rumors. Like you said.”

Irving laughed brightly at the obviousness of the lie. The Warden cleared their throat and continued, “Anyhow, I fail to see how that ‘benefits the culture of the Tower.’ Unless you think gossip boosts morale.”

Irving was chuckling again as he said, “Maker, no. Gossip already crosses one side of the Tower to the other in minutes.” He shook his head, sobering. “No. The truth is, Kinloch Hold would be a much more oppressive place had it not been fortunate enough to have a knight-commander at the masthead who is least somewhat sensitive to mages’ needs, thanks to his long-standing friendship with the First Enchanter.”

The Warden’s stomach fell inch by inch as they parsed his meaning. One part of them could have cried out of joy; the other part was thrown off-kilter. Unsettled.

 They swallowed past the dryness in their mouth. “You wanted me to be First Enchanter and Cullen to be Knight-Commander one day.”

And look how you botched his plans, sneered a small voice in the darkest corner of their mind.

Irving nodded. “I believed you and Cullen at the head of the Circle would be a secure future for the mages in Ferelden. I see much of myself in you.” He looked at them again with fondness and warmth. The Warden’s heart clenched painfully as they knew what he’d say next: “And I have come to see you as my own.”

The Warden knew the bonds between mentors and apprentices often became familial, but they still blushed, moved, despite the growing sick feeling. “I’m honored.” They paused, then added quietly, “And you are the closest thing to a father I have ever had.”

Irving blew out a breath. “My condolences, child.”

They both laughed quietly. A stick snapped in the fire, sending a flurry of sparks upward into the night sky. The Warden watched them float up, a thick knot in their chest loosening for the first time in weeks.

But not completely.

The smile that lingered on the Warden’s face faltered when they thought about Jowan and Lily again. Maker, they should just accept that Irving was right—he was always right—but they couldn’t get the way Lily’s face paled when Greagoir sentenced her to Aeonar out of their head. Irving may have been a surrogate father to them, but Jowan was their brother and friend.

Most of their fondest memories in the Tower were with Jowan. Their earliest memory with him was how he had given them an excited piggyback ride after they had cast their first minor spell. They had mastered basic healing spells far sooner than their peers because of how often he would injure himself while doing magic; they’d tut and shake their head while he complained about how much it stung. And they snickered every time they recalled how Jowan once fired a spitball on a dare and struck a particularly stuffy templar right between the eyes, as if there’d been a bull’s eye there. They had tried to sweet talk the templar down from furious yelling to spare Jowan of punishment, but all it did was ensure that they got punished, too. They scoured pots with Jowan for a whole week. Jowan still preened when they brought it up. “And I did that without magic!” he would say, chest puffed.

And what they had with Cullen—a kind, earnest friendship, though still budding and awkward and tempered with infatuation on Cullen’s part… Irving saw it. He saw it, and began honing it to fit his political goals, well-intentioned though they were. He couldn’t let a precious thing be. He just had to make it about the good of the Maker-damned Circle.

Not that it mattered anymore. Judging by the wild look of disgust and fear that Cullen had given them as they departed, he would never speak to any mage again.

The Warden crossed their arms as if they were hugging themself. Every moment they had spent reveling in Irving’s flattery—in the realization that he saw them as his own, in his forgiveness for aiding Jowan and Lily—made the pit of their gut crawl with dark shame. It felt like their relief was betraying Jowan, wherever he was; disregarding Lily, who had to be well in Aeonar; and weaponizing their friendship with Cullen.

Maker, if Sten cleaved them in two with his greatsword, it still wouldn’t do justice to how torn they felt.

“One day,” Irving’s voice startled them; he was looking over his shoulder, in the direction of the Tower, “this open wound will close.” He nodded once with finality, and the Warden knew the conversation was over—sealed firmly shut, like he hoped the wound would be in time, and how they were unsure if it ever would be.

[royalbstrd]

If I'm not around much the next couple days it is cause I'm currently trying not to cry at work because I'm bringing my big rottie mix boy up to work Friday to possibly get biopsies and I know he's a large dog and 12 years old but it still sucks and I really don't want to have to make the choice I know we'll end up discussing