#the viper

[vorchagirl]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61989829/chapters/162005014

The Dragon and The Crow - Chapter 4

The Crow had made himself comfortable in the meeting room by the time Ashur joined him, and he found Lucanis leaning against the far wall, his eyes distant as though lost in thought. He was certain the Crow had heard him coming and knew he was there, but he ignored him for several moments until Ashur cleared his throat. Then those dark eyes flicked across to meet his blue gaze, and Ashur marvelled that Rook could be attracted to them both. 

They couldn't have been more different. 

He worked to free slaves and to make a better world, while the Crow worked by killing people for gold. Lucanis was an assassin, a mage killer, and a murderer, while he killed only when he had to and only people who deserved it. He was tall and broad, while the other man was short and leanly muscled. 

The Crow's eyes narrowed and he pulled himself up straighter, the tiniest of frowns creasing his brow. "Viper.” He nodded politely as he greeted him. “I need to speak to Rook," his gaze moved behind Ashur as though looking for her. "I know she's here." 

"She's sleeping," Ashur told him, and crossed his arms over his chest as he considered him from under the brim of his hat. "She spent most of the night crying because of you . She's exhausted."

Lucanis' frown deepened and his nostrils flared as though he were scenting the air. "You spent the night with her?"

Could the Crow smell Rook on him?

Was that possible?

Ashur allowed himself the tiniest of smiles as he inclined his head. “Rook was upset and needed comfort. She knows she's always welcome here. It's her home.”

Full chapter is here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61989829/chapters/162005014

(Thank you to @silurisanguine for the Ashur screencap!)

[silurisanguine]

Data mined stuff from the game shows early dialogue with Lucanis and The Viper, with the latter even going to Treviso to speak to him. I love the idea of Dorian doing it and whose to say he AND Viper maybe hired him together.

Kept thinking about who could have hired Lucanis to systematically kill all these venatori. Here are some random thoughts:

1. They have to be extremely wealthy. Lucanis is the most expensive crow and casually offers 6K gold to Harding just for watching his back;

2. They have to have very good connections across Tevinter. Likely hold position of power in the Magesterium.

3. They have 0 reservations about killing venatori publicly to send a message to the rest of the cult that they are being hunted. The crows want you to know it was them. Also the whole massacre at the wigmaker estate was anything but subtle.

I have come to the conclusion that the person who hired Lucanis was most certainly Dorian.

1. Richest companion we had with Lucanis coming close to his wealth.

2. Magister with many connections and power.

3. Would have probably joined Lucanis for some venatori killing activities. Like that time he did it with the Inquisitor. Good times!

I have connected the dots!

[fadesense]

something something tarquin sees ashur's face for the first time

[magemance]

Most Holy.

[rpgchoices]

wait... hold on... the viper is the black divine???

tweet

[gemkimart]

[dagaaz]

how Shadow Dragons are recruited

[loustica-lucia]

DATV — Quick Tashur doodle

I missed Tashur 🥰

(Tarquin/Quin & Ashurt/The Viper)

A quick 30minutes doodle before bedtime <3

[notebooks-and-laptops]

I hate the viper as the black divine btw I hate it I hate it I hate it

And no, it's not because it's a bad idea.

It's because it's an EXCELLENT idea, and the idea that they intended it to be canon (or planned for it to be) is quite frankly an insult to such a complex idea. Especially in the game series that used to explore religion quite seriously and which has decided, in the game about Gods and potentially disproving faith, it no longer actually cares about faith (the MAIN THEME OF THE PREVIOUS GAME).

Like. Firstly narratively the Black Divine being Viper could have had such an impact because you could have built to it. You meet Viper, get to know him... simultaneously you're meeting various imperial chantry officials. Maybe these chantry officials are even aligned with Venatori. They keep alluding to the Black Divine but you never meet him until ACT 3 when it turns out...the black divine was the viper all along.

And one assumes the black divine would turn to a life like the Vipers because they don't think their office is doing any real good. That's!!! Really interesting!!! Someone decked in glory and power realises their own office is a sham that is doing no good not stopping slavery or Venatori and so works to do it from the shadows...that's interesting!!! And has something to say about systematic power structures and how changing a system from the inside can be damn near impossible.

Or maybe he does this because he DOESNT want to risk his seat as the black divine but feels immense guilt about how he's not actually helping the faithful poor in his city. He wants to cling to his power because he believes he can nudge history in the right direction if he does, but simultaneously knows that by not speaking out publiclly on slavery or poverty he's potentially dooming people to death and so needs to sooth his guilt by going vigilanty. Maybe there's an interesting question in there somewhere about living in two worlds and trying to maintain the status quo in one and destroy it in the other.

Also it DIRECTLY parrellels previous characters like Cassandra and Leliana and is a continuation of inquisitions themes surrounding what good can faith ACTUALLY accomplish for people (this even goes back to da2 and Anders)? When does faith break/why? What

Also because it's not explained, it's just kinda stupid. Does Bioware think that high ranking religious officials do nothing all day? They're not billionaires sat in a mansion popping into occasional meetings, they're public figures and political leaders of giant organisations who regularly have to be on show to the masses and to their own advisors. I won't believe that they not only a) have time to be batman AND b) they also have time to just...sit around in some room in the middle of nowhere to be a performative faction leader to the protagonist of a video game they don't know they're in.

Also. Are you telling me. The venatori were going to execute the FANTASY POPE??? And nobody cared??? They were going to publiclly execute the FANTASY POPE and the viper wasn't going to reveal himself and he wasn't going to be recognised and that wasn't going to cause problems? Are you kidding me?

Tblr; the idea that the viper is the black divine is such a good idea it makes me so angry they seemingly couldn't be bothered to actually put the time into it to make it interesting

[obibail]

- Thought you could use a hand! - You're late! - Didn't want to arrive without a gift.

[lostiel]

[jhezenkoss]

So at some point in the development of Veilguard, the Shadow Dragons were apparently still around in Minrathous even if you saved Treviso, so here is a compilation of dialogue that I'm fairly certain is not in the final game but still exists in the files, featuring the Viper, Tarquin, Dorian, and Maevaris.

Huge shout out to @sydneystarlights for pointing out all the cut Shadow Dragon dialogue in this post! I figured out how to export audio for the files that Frosty crashes on so here they are.

Transcript below the cut:

Viper: There are more darkspawn in the city. Tarquin: I hate that you just know that. Viper: I can scout out the darkspawn. They can't do anything to me now. Tarquin: You are insufferable.

Tarquin: What's the matter? You're hearing things again, aren't you? Viper: I'm— Tarquin: If you say you're fine one more time, I will kill you myself. Viper: (Chuckles) I'd like to see that. Tarquin: Shut up. Go home. Viper: But everyone's here.

Viper: Supplies are low. People will come to us for help, and we won't be able to. Tarquin: The funds aren't the problem. The merchants just aren't coming. They're afraid of blight. And dragons. Tarquin: But the magisters aren't starving. Viper: It's been a while since we robbed a magister. Tarquin: I'll go. Or I'll send Marisa. You need to slow down. Viper: Sitting around doesn't keep me alive longer. I need to make these days count.

Viper: Minrathous can't take any more chaos. The Shadow Dragons will need to step up. Viper: The people need to know we're still fighting. Tarquin: We're short on hands. Barely holding together. Everyone's exhausted. Viper: The city needs us. Tarquin: You're exhausted. Viper: And the Shadows need a new leader. Tarquin: Don't look at me like that.

Maevaris: How are you feeling? Are the remedies working? Viper: As well as can be expected. Maevaris: (Sighs) If there's anything I can do… Viper: You could stop mothering me? Maevaris: Someone has to.

Rook: How are things? How's the Viper doing? Tarquin: He's started to feel and hear… things. Tarquin: He seems tired. And far away. Like his mind's somewhere else. Tarquin: But he won't stop working, of course. And I don't know how to stop him.

Rook: Spotted any more darkspawn? Viper: I haven't seen them, but I know they're there. Like a buzzing in my head.

Rook: If you need help, the Grey Wardens— Viper: I know. Thank you. Rook: You were badly injured, and you're also… Viper: You don't have to remind me. I know. I'll deal with it, as best I can. Viper: Right now, if you want to help, then help Minrathous.

Dorian: So I heard, um… Viper: Don't start. Dorian: Right, well. Dreadful situation, this.

Tarquin: It's chaos out there. And the Venatori are taking advantage. Maevaris: We'll handle it. Tarquin: How? We can barely keep the safe houses running. Maevaris: We'll find a way because we have to. Maevaris: Today. Then tomorrow. Then the day after. For as long as it takes.

[fadesense]

mission gone wrong (then right) for the shadow dragons

[magemance]

[rookfeathers]

moments we stole from the blight