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dalishious · 7 months ago

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Teia and Viago Master Post

It seems my overwhelming love for Teia Cantori and Viago de Riva has garnered a reputation that I’m worth asking questions about them. I’m honoured! But I think it would be easier to just make a master post about them that I can direct to, so that’s what this is.

Appearances

Dragon Age: Deception (Teia and Viago appear as unnamed Crows. It is later confirmed in Tevinter Nights that it was them)

Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights; “Eight Little Talons”

Dragon Age: The Missing

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Pre-DATV Events

9:44 – Teia and Viago are in Ventus when the Antaam attack.

Between 9:44 and 9:52 – The events of “Eight Little Talons” takes place. (Viago says they were “recently” in Ventus when the Qunari attacked, meaning it’s probably closer to 9:44.)

9:52 – Teia and Viago are in Vyrantium when the Antaam attack. They took a contract together to kill Lady Crysanthus, who was a member of the Venatori. They briefly run into Varric and Harding, who are following Solas’s trail.

Information on Teia

Teia’s full name is Andarateia Cantori. She is the head of House Cantori, which holds the seat of Seventh Talon. House Cantori’s territory is centred in Rialto.

Teia is 28 in “Eight Little Talons”. While we don’t know for sure when the story takes place, it is most likely around 9:45-9:46 based on context clues. If so, this would make Teia in her mid-30s during Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Teia grew up on the streets of Antiva City with no family, surviving on thievery. She was taken by the Crows at age eight, and considers them her family now. (In “Eight Little Talons,” she reflects that she’s been a Crow for 20 years.)

Teia was the youngest Crow to gain the rank of Talon in history. She is also an outlier in that she does not come from a wealthy, prolific family background. This caused quite a controversy, where she was considered an “overreaching street rat;” while the Crows tell recruits that anyone can become a Talon, it very rarely happens.

Teia has her own set of rules to follow; for example, she refuses to kill servants unless absolutely necessary.

Teia’s best skill is being a master manipulator, with a level of astute observation in others that gives her an advantage in pretty much any conversation. She is very good at figuring out what to say and do in order to get the response she wants from someone.

Teia’s biggest flaw is, in my opinion, her naiveté. You could also say that the fact that she’s held onto strong morals and sensitivity to others is a strength, certainly. But the fact that she wants to see good in everyone, even people who arguably don’t give her any reason to, has gotten her into trouble.

Teia was in an abusive relationship in the past; Dante Balazar, who was Second Talon before his death in “Eight Little Talons”. Dante was addicted to lyrium, and would lash out at her verbally and physically. At some point Teia fought back and finally broke things off, while leaving a scar on his shoulder. Despite all this, Teia held sympathy for him.

Teia is afraid of dogs, after being chased by rabid ones on the streets as a little girl.

Teia has a tattoo marking her as a member of House Cantori on her back.

Teia’s horse is named Andoral (after the archdemon).

Teia has probably not been a Talon for very long; I would guess less than five years as of “Eight Little Talons.”

Information on Viago

Viago is the head of House de Riva, which holds the seat of Fifth Talon. House de Riva’s territory is centred in Salle.

We do not know Viago’s age for certain, but I would guess he’s in his mid-40s during Dragon Age: The Veilguard based on vibes and sensible timelines.

Viago is a master poisoner, and carries around plenty of it wherever he goes… as well as antidotes, because in addition to this, he is extremely paranoid about being poisoned himself. He does not eat or drink anything before testing it first, and he even takes a small dose of Adder’s Kiss every day to build up a resistance to it.

As one of many bastard children of the Antivan King, Viago was only given two choices in life: either live in luxurious exile, or join the Crows. He resents all his half-siblings who chose the first, and he resents the king himself. Viago may be more powerful than them all, even the king, but he is now stuck in this life. Had he not been, he thinks he could be a better ruler of Antiva.

Viago also holds resentment towards his mother, who it is hinted was an alcoholic to cope with the loss of interest from the King. Viago recalls her wine-stained “demon teeth” from when he was a child.

Viago does not give a shit if people like him or not; he only wants to be respected and feared. (Despite this, Teia tries to make the other Talons like him.) He is also used to having to constantly watch his back, and typically thinks the worst in people.

Viago tries to avoid emotional thinking, preferring hard facts and logic.

Viago has a pair of adder snakes he milks for venom. He also now has a third named Emil, choosing to keep the snake that bit and nearly killed him in “Eight Little Talons”.

Viago enjoys art collection.

My guess for how long Viago has been a Talon is somewhere around 10-15 years, based on vibes and timelines. I think he was fairly young himself when he succeeded his predecessor. I also think it’s entirely possible that the Antivan King arranged his rise to power, based on the comment in “Eight Little Talons” from Dante: “Your daddy will protect you.”

Dialogue (in no particular order)

Viago: It's frustrating, right? I'm correct to feel that way? How the occupation has pushed us all… apart? Teia: I try not to let the fledglings see it. Viago: If they had done nothing else, I would hate the Antaam for making you restrict any part of yourself.

Teia: I haven't seen that look in some time. Viago: It's called "hope." And perhaps some other thoughts. Teia: What sort of thoughts, Vi? Viago: About the future. Both long term and… more immediate.

Viago: Is my collar high enough? I need to present an example. Teia: The fledglings see their leaders standing tall against the tide. Incessantly. Teia: Perhaps it is time to set other examples. So they know that war is not all we are. Viago: Perhaps we should discuss as much. Say, at the café? Teia: Once they've scrubbed out the remains of the Antaam.

Teia: Your push against the Antaam has been admirable. Viago: Your work here is also commendable. Teia: Good, good. Why is this so awkward? Viago: Perhaps we know each other too well to be strangers.

Teia: What are you drafting now? Viago: It's a contract to murder a vacation. It requires a very particular set of skills from a very particular Seventh Talon. Teia: Very funny, and unnecessary. I'll take a break soon. Really. Viago: As it was with gods and reavers, I'll believe it when I see it.

Teia: Haven't seen you around the Diamond much, Vi. Viago: I've been preoccupied. Teia: I thought perhaps you were avoiding me. Viago: I thought perhaps you wished to be avoided.

Teia: So, will I see you for breakfast? Viago: I don't think you will. Teia: No? Why not? Viago: It's only breakfast if we sleep. Teia: Vi, you are the worst.

Teia: Despite the governor, Rook has certainly given us time to consider our options. Viago: I'd forgotten that kind of time. Just, time to appreciate… those around me. Teia: There's only the two of us here. Viago: And who else could I possibly mean?

Teia: You fought darkspawn? Viago: None of them touched me. Teia: I will inspect you later. Viago: All right.

Teia: I told her their bickering was amateurish, and that they'd need to work much harder to argue as well as we do. Viago: That was altogether the wrong message to take away from that. Teia: I thought you enjoyed our little squabbles? Viago: Among—and possibly overshadowed by—other things.

Viago: You're smirking at me. What is so funny? Teia: I was just noticing how much you're starting to look like the dog. Viago: We are free from the influence of gods and traitors for the first time in months, and that is where your mind goes? Teia: Especially when you pout! Viago: I do not pout.

Teia: I found some Crystal Grace in the gardens earlier. Viago: I didn't know flowers still bloomed in this city. Viago: And thank you. They were most pleasant to find on the desk this morning.

Teia: Fighting back suits you. Your tone has much improved since we last argued. Viago: Excuse me. I wasn't aware it was my tone that was at issue. Teia: That's all right, I'm sure you'll pay closer attention from now on. Viago: See, this is why we split. And got back together. And split.

Teia: Fighting back, making our voices heard… this is feeling like old times. The good ones. Viago: Thank you for the clarification. Teia: I meant it. Viago: So did I.

Viago: Have you been home in the last week? Teia: I won't let the fledglings see the Diamond empty.

Teia: Are you certain the fledglings should see you smile this much? You'll spoil them. Viago: It's unavoidable, I'm afraid. The cause of my smile refuses to leave the Diamond. Teia: Is that so? Viago: It is very much so.

Teia: Not all things end with clarity, as you and I both know. Viago: Fine. Endings are fuzzy. Starts are shocking. Middles… middles are worth lingering.

Rook: The Cantori Diamond is your casino? The occupation hasn't closed your business? Teia: Business may be down, but it isn't "my" casino to close. Viago: An easy mistake to make. Isn't that right, Andarateia Cantori? Teia: I am no landlord, and anyone who treats me as such shall be evicted.

Rook: Were either of you trained by Heir? Viago: Not this one. Mine was… stern. Teia: Mine spoke in the third person until you were skilled enough to be recognized as an equal. Viago: Starting with grammatical murder. Fascinating.

Teia: Why are you so frustrating? Viago: Am I? We are only frustrated by things we are truly invested in. Teia: That can't be. I just threw out your old shirts. Viago: Old? There's no such thing as old satin.

Rook: So you two are both Talons. Doesn't that make you rivals? Viago: Rank in one area is rarely applicable to others. Which is to say, only a fool would try to impose rank on Teia. Teia: Wise words from a sometimes fool. Viago: A history I would wish on no one else, lest they take it from me.

Viago: Occupied! The insult of it! Teia: It's more than insulting. Viago: It's salt in the wound. And that is my purview.

Viago: To see you so energized, Teia. I'm staring at the sun. Teia: Viago, once Rook kills Ivenci? On again. Viago: We shall see.

Teia: Viago, dear. Do you want children? Viago: I rarely see the dog.

Viago: I think [Jacobus] could be the best of us. Teia: That's a high bar. Including you? Viago: Well, perhaps second-best. Behind you. Teia: Flattery will get you everywhere.

-----

SOURCES:

Dragon Age: Deception

Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights

Dragon Age: The Missing

Dialogue between Teia and Viago (DATV)

Letter from Mistress Trella (DATV)

#dragon age #teia cantori #andarateia cantori #viago de riva #meta #datv spoilers

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imperator-kahlo · 6 months ago

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OK what even is happening with the Crows

I’ve just been trawling through the wiki and World of Thedas for a few hours trying to figure out what we (a) know, (b) can guess, (c) can speculate wildly about the inner workings of the Crows during the Dragon age.

(I am by no means an expert on the lore so please let me know where I have wildly missed the mark).

I'm definitely not trying to propose any kind of fanon consensus, where's the fun in that?! Just trying to figure out a timeline that makes sense to me. Possibly also toying around with a pre-canon Rookanis fic.

Loooong and probably insanely disorganised text post under the cut. I should have been in bed hours ago but I am hyperfixating on this and will not sleep until I hit post.

Spoilers, so many spoilers below: Veilguard, Tevinter Nights, The Silent Grove, Origins, Awakenings, the entire franchise basically.

So, a speculative timeline. Events in black are fairly or very well supported by the lore; events in blue are inconsistent/uncertain in the lore; events in purple are guesses that I can sort of back up; events in red are me throwing a dartboard at the wall.

Note: The wiki puts the events of "Eight Little Talons" in 9:44 Dragon, but I can't find any source for that. I would have guessed a little later, but let's roll with 9:44.

Also, I'm pretty unclear on the guildmaster/grandmaster distinction. I'm just going to say 'head of house' for whoever is in charge of a Crow house, or Talon if they're head of one of the eight Talon Houses.

Blessed Age

8:70 Blessed - Caterina born (she's described as well into her 70s during Eight Little Talons and as around 80 in the data-mined character descriptions for Veilguard, so give or take a couple years this seems right).

9:00 to 9:29 Dragon: House Arainai Shenanigans

9:00 Dragon - Antivan civil war, beginning of the "much maligned" Three Queens era (Codex, History of Kirkwall - Chapter 4). Unclear exactly what happens or over what period of time, but seems like the Crows would be in the thick of things.

9:05 - 9:10 - Caterina maybe reaches Talon status (not First, though). Around 8:98 Blessed would be the absolute earliest she could get there given Teia's holds the record (youngest Talon at 28). But I think Teia was at least three or four years younger than any previous Talon so I'd put it somewhere around here, if not a few years later.

9:12 Dragon - Zevran, aged 7, is purchased from a Rialto brothel by House Arainai. The House is led by First Talon Talav Arainai and described as rolling in coin after the "Three Brides" contract - they purchase 17 other slaves that year, including Taliesen (World of Thedas, vol 2, p. 96). I think based purely on vibes that House Arainai is fairly secure in First Talon position and has been there at least a couple years, probably longer.

9:15ish Dragon - Teia born (she's described as 28 in the data-mined descriptions, but she's already a Talon in 'Eight Little Talons', which says she was the youngest ever to reach the rank at age 28. I'm assuming she got there a year or two before the events of the story. See 9:17.

9:16 Dragon - whoops, sometime over the last four years it all went to shit for Talav Arainai! The House dropped to Second Talon, and he was executed in 9:16 after trying to take back the seat of First. Isadora Arainai takes over, and the House hangs on as Second Talon... for now. Rinna joins House Arainai and immediately works well with Zevran and Taliesen under the mentorship of Eoman Arainai (World of Thedas, vol 2, p. 96). This would be the earliest that Caterina could reach First Talon, but I'm not sure I'd put it this early. I think the latest she could possible reach First would be 9:25ish based on my guesses about House Velardo (see below).

9:17 Dragon - Lucanis born (described as 36 in the data-mined character descriptions. I know I threw out those descriptions for Teia, but I think we can be pretty certain Lucanis is mid thirties).

9:17 Dragon - Teia born. I was going back through Eight Little Talons and my initial read was wrong. Teia is 28 during the events of the story.

9:24 Dragon - House Arainai, having the sort of shitty luck they absolutely deserve, falls entirely out of the rank of Talons when Second Talon Isadora dies. They wallow amongst the cuchillos (minor houses) for a few years (World of Thedas, vol 2, p. 96).

9:22 - 9:27 - House Velardo attempts to usurp First Talon from House Dellamorte? The resulting war kills all of Caterina's children and grandchildren, save Lucanis and Illario. My reasoning here is this: Lucanis says he and Illario would have ended up with Caterina to train, but being orphaned sent them to her younger than anticipated. Zevran was purchased at age 7, so we know Crow training, at least for House Arainai slaves, begins very young. Perhaps the non-slave children of influential house leaders start later, but I would guess not much. So I'm assuming they end up with Caterina sometime between ages 5 and 10?

9:25 Dragon - King Maric is thought lost at sea, but is in reality being held by Third Talon Claudio Valisti in a Crow prison on behalf of a Tevinter Magister, Aurielion Titus.

Side note: I had the same reaction to finding out the Crows have a super-fun torture prison as I did to finding out Weisshaupt has dungeons. Just... why? That feels like mission creep? Does the assassin skill set at all overlap with the prison guard skill set?

9:26 - 9:28 - Eoman takes over as head of House Arainai. He eliminates House Ferragani, which was Eighth Talon, thus clearing the way for Arainai to claw its way back into power. Unfortunately, he needs the support of Third Talon Claudio Valisti to take over the position. Valisti wants Rinna Arainai dead (cult / royal bastard reasons) and Eoman tricks Zevran and Taliesen, her lovers, into doing it. This was a very stupid decision (WoT vol 2, p. 96).

9:30 to 9:43 Dragon: Zevran's Revenge

9:30 Dragon - Zevran, depressed and angry about Rinna's death, bids for the contract on the Warden's life. House Arainai is said to have accepted this contract because they believed Loghain to be the best person to defeat the blight (WoT vol 2, p. 96).

Side note: This sort of, if you squint, reconciles the contract on the Warden's life in 9:30 with the memento found in Veilguard that says the Crows had treaties with the Wardens to fight the "next blight". But also they tried to kill the Warden-Commander in Awakenings, too. I guess one could argue a new blight was unlikely so soon but like. Come on, guys. Is your word to the Wardens worth anything or not?

9:31 - 9:34 - If Zevran survived, he comes back from Ferelden with a spring in his step and murder in his heart (and possibly a Warden on his arm) and wreaks absolute havoc on House Arainai. Eoman is first to go, then like half a dozen more of their top people. The House loses Eighth Talon and falls once more into obscurity. The Crows call Zevran (or an unnamed assassin if Zevran is dead) the "Black Shadow" and speculate that he has allies among the cuchillos (WoT vol 2, p. 96).

9:34 - 9:43 - Where the fuck is Zevran?

9:37 Dragon - Corypheus is freed (Legacy DLC). The Venatori will start to be a thing in the next few years, so Lucanis is going to pick up his nickname between now and, say 9:50 Dragon. I'd put it between 9:45 and 9:49 because of vibes (and because he talks about not immediately specialising in mages. Crows get started very young, but I dunno. I see him starting on mages in his mid twenties because, again, vibes.)

9:38 - 9:40 - Events of The Silent Grove (comic - I haven't read it in a while but I'm throwing it in here for complete-ish-ness). Alistair, Varric and Isabela break into the Crow archive and Velabanchel prison (which side note is a totally heinous operation). Isabela kills Claudio Valisti (Third Talon passes to Ezio Valisti). This, for me, raises the question again: Where the fuck is Zevran (sob). Valisti was implicated in Rinna's death, so either Zevran never found out or he couldn't get to Valisti while he was cleaning house.

9:44 Dragon - Ongoing: We're Entering Our Freedom-Fighter Era

9:44 Dragon - The events of 'Eight Little Talons'. Briefly: Caterina calls all the Talons together to plan for the imminent invasion of the Antaam, but a whole bunch of murder happens. Turns out that Fourth Talon Emil Kortez made deal with the Antaam and was trying to wipe out the Crows' leadership. He was killed by the survivors and Viago suggests--correctly, I think--that Caterina will wipe out the whole house.

The following Talons are killed but it seems like their houses will probably retain their status, with somebody else taking over as Talon:

Dante Balazar, Second

Lera Valisti, Third

Giuli Arainai, Eighth (having only just managed to lift that fucking house back up to Talonship, shame lol)

In addition to Caterina, Viago, and Teia, Sixth Talon Nero Bolivar survives, but he um, isn't much help. I would guess that Caterina, in a pretty strong alliance with Viago and Teia and with all the other Talons being new, might fuck his shit up and try to get someone more solid in before the Antaam invade?

9:44 - ongoing - WHERE THE FUCK IS ZEVRAN???? He can't have taken control of any of the eight Talon houses, because he's not at the summit in 'Eight Little Talons'-- and however much he damaged House Arainai, they've clawed back some power by 9:44. Is there a breakaway faction of cuchillo houses that Caterina won't even dignify with an acknowledgment? Is he not interested in any kind of Crow power and is just fucking shit up for them - we can assume House Valisti has had a lock on Third Talon since at least 9:28 (Claudio or Ezio Valisti pop up periodically in this position), and my guess is House de Riva have held Fifth a decent period of time, but as far as I can tell we know nothing about Second, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Talon Houses in this period. So maybe Zev is toppling houses left, right and centre? Seems like that sort of instability might have changed Caterina's approach in 'Eight Little Talons', though...

9:51 - Lucanis imprisoned in the Ossuary.

9:51 - Antaam invasion of Antiva, starting with Treviso. The Antaam rebellion begins in 9:44 and is ongoing; the failure of Kortez in 9:44 delayed the invasion somewhat. I wouldn't have thought it would delay it this much, but I'm pretty sure that it happened while Lucanis was imprisoned, right? So since we free him in 9:52 after a year in the Ossuary, the invasion must have been delayed until 9:51? Maybe very late 9:50?

"Conclusions"

(I haven't read the comics in a bit and I know there's some Crow stuff that goes down in there beyond the Silent Grove... but as best I recall its just Teia and Viago running into Varric and Harding, and some stuff setting up Solas and the Antaam. Please let me know if I'm mistaken!)

I think it's safe to say the Crows are in chaos for pretty much the entire first half of the Dragon age: Arainai are causing chaos from 9:16 to 9:25, then they pass the torch to Velardo, whose war against House Dellamorte must have lasted a few years if it wiped out almost all of Caterina's family. Zevran is on a murder spree at least between 9:31 and 9:34, and possibly (much) longer depending on your headcanon.

After, at very best, a decade's peace, 9:44 sees the plot to wipe out the Crow leadership, which fails but does kill half the Talons and lead to the elimination of at least one, maybe two of the Talon Houses. Half a decade after that the Antaam invades.

I've been completely on board with the critiques of Veilguard's portrayal of the Crows, but I think writing it all out like this has helped me reconcile things a little bit? This is a deeply chaotic network of feuding families, and no single Talon is going to have the secure political power to make sweeping changes. Which isn't to say the child abuse that was definitely still occuring in Houses Dellamorte and de Riva during Rook and Lucanis' childhoods is just fine. But it makes more sense to me now that Houses Dellamorte, de Riva and Cantori could have wildly different ideas about slavery and torture prisons than, say Houses Arainai and Valisti--and have extremely limited power to shift the culture of competing Houses. Even the First Talon's position is deeply precarious.

Whew. Good night!

(Just realised as I was tagging that I haven't slotted The Wigmaker Job in anywhere. I thiiiiink Viago mentions in 'Eight Little Talons' that Lucanis is currently in Tevinter for a job, maybe a sly reference to Wigmaker? But I cannot possibly get sucked in any deeper, my dog is losing her entire mind at me STILL being at the computer.)

***

Waking up and editing to add: At some point in her time as a Talon (probably First but I guess maybe not?), Caterina wiped out another house so completely that Teia doesn't even recognise the name, Gaspari, when Viago mentions it in 'Eight Little Talons'. Given House Velardo was the one that made a play for First Talon, this is a whole 'nother big intra-Crows conflict that slots in somewhere on this timeline. Caterina is ruthless, y'all.

***

Editing again a few days later to report that I was flicking through WoT and spotted a WHOLE-ASS ENTRY on Claudio Valisti that I’d managed to miss. I was… not happy. I’m begging you BioWare, no more information. I cannot reconcile it.

Anyway. World of Thedas, vol 2, p 44, has Claudio Valisti taking over from his father as Eighth Talon in 9:34, quickly getting the house to Sixth Talon and appearing to be going places. This appears to contradict p. 96 of the same, which has a Third Talon Claudio Valisti helping House Arainai in 9:28, as described above.

I thought very carefully about tearing the page out, burning it, and forgetting I ever knew this particular piece of lore.

Instead I have decided fuck it, we have a father-son pair here. Senior helped out Arainai in 9:28. His house later fell to Eighth (in my incredibly unwieldy and underdeveloped headcanon this is partly because helping Arainai really pissed off Caterina). Claudio Senior dies in 9:34, Claudio Junior inherits. By the time Junior dies to Isabela in 9:38-40 he’s got the house properly back on track, so the loss of a leader doesn’t destabilise them too badly.

Ezio Valisti is Third Talon in 9:41, according to the Winter Palace announcer in Inquisition, and the house still holds the third seat in 9:44.

(Also edited Teia’s birth year from 9:15 to 9:17; I misread Eight Little Talons. She’s 28 during the events of the story.)

#dragon age veilguard #dragon age #lucanis dellamorte #caterina dellamorte #antivan crows #zevran arainai #dav spoilers #veilguard critical #just a smidge and mostly I'm talking myself out of the negativity #dragon age lore

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vigilskeep · 2 months ago

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do you think there's every been mage talons? the crows have a lot of power and influence in antiva but I feel like there would be limits pre mage/templar war - it would be hard to justify being one of the head crows and still say that magic is being used to serve man and not rule over him. the crows began as a chantry organization after all I'd think it would be pretty controversial

I think by the time veilguard takes place it would be more of a possibility - I have a mage de Riva who's determined to beat teia's record for youngest talon and I go back and forth between wanting her to be a complete trailblazer and there having been precedent that she can recite the full history of off the top her head

this is a very dealer’s choice worldbuilding question because we rlly have no data on the role of mages in the crows

on the one hand, the crows’ chantry roots and semi-legitimate status as an accepted part of antiva’s politics make it hard for me to believe mages were able to occupy positions of such high standing and notoriety. the chantry might tolerate apostates being used for murder, everyone has them, but apostates being given influence and personal stability and a role where it’s customary to have heirs? the chantry would turn against them imo. it’s significant to me personally that the one mage crow i recall us meeting in veilguard, the one who helps us break into the ossuary, is a hooded, nameless figure who affects a cold mysterious air rather than engaging with us like every other crow we meet. i personally like to expand on that to believe mages stand somewhat apart from other crows, at least in house dellamorte

on the other hand, there’s calien d’evaliste, the mage crow from the last flight, who four hundred years prior to veilguard had enough standing to be present at a royal court and picked out by the grey wardens as one of the handful of people there politically important enough to rescue. and he publically wore mage robes while he was doing that. honestly the whole thing kind of makes no sense to me but i love him so i’m allowing it

i veer on the side of there not having been mage talons, or if there were, they weren’t recorded that way and had to keep up at least a passable pretence otherwise. personally i feel like if it could happen it would happen, because mages have so many tools at their disposal, you’d think they’d have an advantage if given a fair chance. and yet when we meet the current eight talons in tevinter nights, there are no mages in sight even though there are three elves at the table. but like i say dealer’s choice i think it’s rlly up to you

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quills-and-fandoms · 14 days ago

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Marauders Circus AU

Based off the results on my last post, you guys really want to see the Marauders Circus Fic I've been writing! This fic is 65 thousand+ words for a total of 32 chapters! It will be releasing very shortly so keep a close eye here or comment below to be notified when the first chapter goes live on AO3.

But for now, let's introduce you to the cast shall we?

Ringmaster Of The Amazing Magnificent Hogwarts Circus!

Minerva McGonagall is the respected (and a bit feared) owner and ring master of The Magnificent Hogwarts Circus! Firm, precise, and fair she keeps the circus running despite dwindling funds and societal pressure. She treats her performers like her own children, even the wild ones, and has a soft spot for strays.

The Main Attractions

James Potter, the Circus's darling!

Aerialist, trapeze artist, and the circus’s brightest star. Dazzling, cocky, and tireless. Known for breathtaking mid-air stunts and his ability to charm any crowd, or person. He's truly the light of the show.

Remus Lupin, the moonlight howl.

Knife thrower and part-time animal handler. Soft-spoken, secretive, and intensely skilled. His act is silent, precise, and tense, some say it's an echo of his painful past. He keeps everyone grounded, but never lets anyone all the way in.

Lily Evans, The Scarlet Tongue

Tightrope walker and contortionist. Elegant, focused, and ferociously intelligent. She's famous for walking the line barefoot and blindfolded. She protects the younger performers fiercely and is best known for her acts with Remus Lupin!

Marlene McKinnon, The Fire Siren

Fire dancer and reckless stunt performer. Bold, sharp-tongued, and she's always the first to jump into danger. She's best friends with Lily and Dorcas and she's quite intent to ignore the rumors that swirl around all the three.

Dorcas Meadowes, The Silver Talon

Lion tamer and acrobat. She's magnetic and fearless. She often performs in tandem with Marlene. She's commanding inside the ring, but warm outside of it.

Peter Pettigrew, the hand behind the curtain

He's the circus's props manager, assistant, and sometimes clown when needed. He's often underestimated but keeps the whole operation moving. He's fiercely loyal, with an eye for secrets and backstage drama.

Mary Macdonald, The illusion of smoke

Magician's assistant turned spotlight illusionist. Elegant, theatrical, and always with a bit of mystery. She uses smoke, mirrors, and quick hands to entrance her audiences. She's loyal to Lily, but may or may not have a complicated history with Barty.

The Sideshow & Specialty Acts

Pandora Lovegood, The Mistress of Visions

Fortune teller and aerial silks performer. Ethereal and dreamlike. She speaks in riddles and wears bells in her hair. She's beloved by the children and animals. No one knows where she came from, but everyone knows she belongs and if you don't agree? Well.. you'll regret that choice.

Barty Crouch Jr, The Blazing Escape

Fire breather and escape artist. Charming, intense, and volatile. His act is jaw-dropping, but there’s something dangerous beneath the surface. He's constantly pushing limits, and buttons. You either love him or you hate him.

Severus Snape, The Alchemist’s Son

He manages the Oddities Tent, all of the herbs, reliks, and wonders that they've collected across Europe. He keeps to himself and secretly harbors resentment and longing in equal measure. He has a complicated history with Lily and James.

The Outsiders

Sirius Black

The heir to house Black. Rich, rebellious, and bitter. He attends the circus out of boredom and stays for something else entirely. Once close to Remus, until a fall-out he is now torn between loyalty to Regulus and a growing desire to burn everything down. He's a mechanic and often helps the circus out with any issues it may have around vehicles.

Regulus Black

The youngest and the heir to House Black. Composed, curious, and quietly suffocating under family pressure. He's fascinated by the circus, especially by James, and desperate for something real. He intends to just be a passive observer, but soon finds himself tangled in the lights and ropes.

Evan Rosier

Regulus’s childhood friend from a prestigious French academy. Charming, flirtatious, and protective to a fault. He sees the circus as beneath them, as he was taught to believe so but finds it hard to look away. He's spent his whole life performing, and for once he's surrounded by people who do it for fun.

There's many more characters to be seen but where's the fun in revealing them all at once? I'm Quills, the little spokesperson for this circus you could say, your host and author. You can find me on AO3 under A_Scroll_For_Quills and the first chapter shall be released any moment now.

Until next time ladies and gentleman, let's hope The Amazing Magnificent Hogwarts Circus comes to your town soon.

#marauders #james x regulus #regulus black #james potter #sirius orion black #remus x sirius #remus lupin #wolfstar #jegulus #rosekiller #evan rosier #lily evans #barty crouch jr #marlene mckinnon #peter pettigrew #dorcas meadowes #dorcas x marlene #pandora lovegood #mary macdonald

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talonabraxas · 4 days ago

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“Meditation is the eye that sees the Truth, the heart that feels the Truth and the soul that realises the Truth.” — Sri Chinmoy

Shiva’s Third Eye ॐ Talon Abraxas

Stories behind the Third Eye of Lord Shiva

Being one of the most widely worshipped Gods in Hinduism, Lord Shiva is also referred as Tryambaka Deva (Three-eyed lord) for the third eye placed on his forehead. The sun is said to be his right eye, the moon is said to be the left eye while fire is this third eye. While the other two eyes indicate his activity in the physical world, the third eye stands as a symbol of wisdom, free from “Maya” (illusion) and duality of life. It looks beyond the obvious happenings with clear perception, and shows one what is known to be true. This eye of Lord Shiva is known as the “Spiritual eye” which stands for deeper consciousness and allows us to see the real world for the world as we see it is an illusion.

As per the modern spirituality, the third eye is a symbol of enlightenment. It is often referred to as “Gyananakashu” (the eye of knowledge). In the Indian and East Asian iconography, the third eye is the “Ajna chakra” (the sixth chakra). It is also known as brow chakra or brow center.

This third eye of Lord Shiva is also famous for emitting flames that destroy the vie and the evil. It is believed that Lord Shiva has only opened the third eye in extreme cases, when there no more space for forgiveness was left and no question of granting another chance existed. It was his third eye, which gave him the name of the destroyer; when the eye opened it destroyed the person who befell for the vision.

It is also believed that Lord Shiva’s third eye represents the rejection of desire. It is this eye that killed the Kamadeva (the god of lust) . Now if you ask why does Shiva reject desire? This is because he realized the consequences of desire – when the object of desire (Sati) goes away, it leaves behind an immense sorrow and rage. Desire not only evokes positive emotions like love, affection, contentment, and compassion, but it also evokes negative emotions like anger, dissatisfaction, and sorrow. Lord Shiva is therefore known to shy away from it, preferring the cold mountains – Kailash Parvath, which represent the state of transcendence – where there is just stillness, silence and bliss without a sense of desire.

परः पुमानीश्वरः स शिव शम्भुरनीश्वरः । शीर्षे मन्दाकिनीधारी भालचन्द्रस्त्रिलोचनः ।। पञ्चवक्त्र प्रसन्नात्मा दशबाहुस्त्रिशुलधृक् । कर्पुरगौरः सुसितो भस्मोद्धुलितोविग्रहः ।।

The above verse best describes Lord Shiva’s identity. It says: Parama Purusha Shiva also known as Ishwara having no Lord over him, who holds Mandakini on his head. He has three eyes and crescent moon on his forehead. He is five faced, a pleasent soul, holder of a trident, having complexion as white as camphor, keeps on applying white ashes over his body. Such is the description of Lord Shiva. The third eye is treated as any another divine characteristic of Lord Shiva.

History saw instances where Lord Shiva opened his third eye, yet there are no evidences on how many times, this event took place. The Shiv Purana lays down a few instances when Mahadeva opened his third eye. We have jotted down a few of such popularly known instances.

Sati(Shiva’s wife) and the Burning of Kamadeva

Daksha Prajapati, Lord Brahma’s wish-born son, was entrusted with the duty to populate the Universe. He with his wife, Prastuti, had many daughters who were married off to gods and sages. Sati, his youngest daughter, was his favourite. Sati was the reincarnation of Ardhashakti, or the better half of Lord Shiva which he had sacrificed to maintain the balance in the Universe and was thus, destined to marry Lord Shiva. Sati then appeases Lord Shiva and marries him against the wishes of her father, Daksha. He then organizes a yagna (fire-sacrifice) and invites all his sons-in-law except Shiva, to participate in the ritual. Angry at the exclusion of her husband, Sati rushes into the sacrificial precinct and confronts her father, who mocks Shiva’s ascetic ways in front of all the assembled guests. Unable to bear this humiliation in front of the other Devas, Sati kills herself by jumping into the sacrificial fire thereby causing the Yagna to stop.

Lord Shiva was furious after learning about Sati’s death at the Yagna. Unable to control his anger, he brought forth superior beings Virabhadra (a fierce warrior) and Bhadrakali (the female fierce warrior) to behead Daksha. Although many gods tried to defend Daksha, Virabhadra and Bhadrakali destroyed his army and beheaded him.

Lord Brahma pleaded to Lord Shiva for his son’s life and asked for forgiveness for his behaviour. Lord Shiva calmed down, and revived Daksha by replacing his head with a goat’s head. He placed Goddess Sati’s body on his shoulder and started walking through the Universe, neglecting his duties. Lord Vishnu attempted to pacify Shiva, who was left in deep grief upon seeing the half-burned corpse of his beloved wife, Sati. To bring Lord Shiva out of his grief, Lord Vishnu uses his sudarshan chakra (a celestial weapon) to cut Sati’s body to pieces, which fell on earth. Sati’s body was cut into a total of 52 pieces that fell on different places on the earth, each of which have evolved into Shakti Pithas (Shakti Temples). There is a Kali or Shakti temple in each of these 52 places.

Lord Shiva then returned to Mount Kailash to meditate and mourn his wife’s death, cleansing himself of all anger and pain rejecting all worldly things. Much later, Sati is reborn as the daughter of Himavath (the king of mountains). The couple name her Parvati and showed immense devotion towards Lord Shiva. She tries her best to please him to marry her. Although Lord Shiva remains impassive, disappointing both her and the Devas who are eager to get Lord Shiva married. The Devas were informed that the demon, Taraka, who got them in trouble was destined to be killed by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s son. So, they decide to help Parvati please Lord Shiva by sending Lord Kama (the god of love & lust) to Mount Kailash. While Lord Shiva is seen meditating, Kamadeva raises his sugarcane bow, pulls his bowstring buzzing with bees and shoots flowery darts of kama (desire) into Shiva’s heart.

The result was not something the Devas expected it would be. Instead of opening his eyes and expressing his desire for Parvati, Lord Shiva opens a third eye. It is in the centre of the forehead and blows out a missile of fire that sets Kamadeva aflame. Right infront of Parvati, Kamadeva is reduced to a pile of ashes in no time. It is then that Shiva gets the name destroyer. Such is the power of the third eye of Lord Shiva. Through this incident, the third eye has been accompanied by emotions of rage and anger.

The birth of Andhaka

As the Shiv Purana narrates, once playfully Parvati closes the eyes of Lord Shiva with her hands from behind. As soon as Mahadeva’s eyes were thus covered, all the regions became dark and life seemed to be extinct everywhere in the universe. All living creatures became cheerless and filled with fear. Birds froze in the air mid-flight. Cows became living statues while grazing in their lush green fields. The tiger about to pounce on her prey was rooted to her hiding spot while the deer was fastened to his feeding ground. All life became still and quiet. When the eyes of the lord of all life forms were closed, the universe seemed to become sunless. Soon, overspreading darkness disappeared. A mighty and powerful flame of fire started to radiate from Mahadeva’s forehead. A third eye, resembling another sun, appeared on his forehead. This eye provided light to the world when his other two eyes were closed.

While covering Lord Shiva’s eyes, Goddess Parvati’s hands started perspiring. The sweat filled with the power of Shiva (heat) and Shakti (water) transformed into a child – a blind child. It sang, cried, laughed, danced, put out its tongue like a serpent and thundered fiercely. The couple named this child – Andhaka. At this time, there was an asura (demon) named Hiranyaksha who had no sons. He then prayed to Lord Shiva and pleased by his devotion, the couple decided to offer him with Andhaka, to raise him as his son.

Andhaka went on to become the kind of Hiranyaksha’s kingdom. Later, Andhaka gets blessed with a boon from Lord Brahma. Andhakasura asked him for victories throughout his life and immortality. Lord Brahma granted him the first boon but asked him how he wanted die, as death was inevitable. To this, Andhakasura replies that he would be killed by his own father if he ever decides to marry a woman who was like a mother to him. Empowered by this boon, he went on to conquer all the three worlds. During his invasion, he meets Parvati and gets aroused by her beauty. He then decided to make her his queen. As he chased her, Lord Shiva who came to Parvati’s rescue and struck Andhaka by his trident. After being suspended on Lord Shiva’s trident for over thousand years, Andhakasura realised his mistake and sought forgiveness form Lord Shiva.

This story narrates the dark side of the third eye. When desire is destroyed, then all divisions fall apart – there is no right side or left side, nothing good or nothing bad. It metaphorically illustrates that the physical world, blinds one to worldly realities. Andhaka means the `blind one’, so blind that he does not even distinguish between mother and wife.

The birth of Jalandhar

There is one more incident that compelled Shiva to open his third eye. Once Lord Indra (king of Heaven) and Brihaspati (Sage) went to Kailash to meet Lord Shiva. To test their devotion, Lord Shiva meets them in disguise and starts to question them. Upon meeting a strange hermit, Lord Indra starts asking who he was and where does he live. To this, Lord Shiva in disguise remains silent and does not answer to any of Indra’s questions. Despite repeatedly asking him about his whereabouts, Lord Shiva’s silence angered Lord Indra. He failed to recognise that it was Lord Shiva himself testing them. So, he pulls out his weapon – Vajra (sword) and attacks Lord Shiva.

In his defence, furious Shiva paralysed Lord Indra using his third eye. On witnessing this fight between the hermit and Lord Indra, Brihaspati realises that it was Lord Shiva himself and tries to cool him down. He pleads to forgive Lord Indra and his request pleases Lord Shiva. He then diverts the enormous radiation from his third eye to the sea. God Indra was saved only by the intervention of Guru Brihaspati’s special prayer to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva went back to Kailash mountain. Lord Indra and sage Brihaspati returned back to their own places.

That diversion of power to the sea, gives birth to a child name Jalandhar. This child was crying so loudly that fear was created everywhere. Brahma then told him that the boy will one day become the emperor of Asuras, he could only be killed by Shiva and after his death he would return to Third eye. This child eventually grew up to become the king of the demons.

Here the third eye is used as an epitome of destructive anger, resulting from one’s impulsive nature and lack of patience.

Out of the many other versions of when the third eye of Lord Shiva opened, the former two tales have gained popularity among the mases. However, the third eye of the lord has always embarked a sense of rage and fierceness, destroying everything that came in its vision. Third eye of Lord Shiva represents the anger and symbol of righteousness too. It indicates the results of overwhelming emotions and vengeance. By opening up the third eye, Lord Shiva perceived a dimension within himself which is beyond the physical, and all the compulsions of the physical dropped away. Lord Shiva having three eyes means he is holding spirit, energy & matter within himself. Thus, three eyes represent Lord Shiva as the ultimate reality.

In conclusion, when we refer to the “third eye”, we are symbolically talking about seeing something that the two sensory eyes cannot see. It is to see something that is within your interior self. The two eyes that humans possess are controlled by senses which are not reliable. The third eye represents all pervading – Gyaana (knowledge) and Dhyaana ( Consciousness or Concentration) that one aspires to achieve.

ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् । उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मुक्षीय॒ मा ऽमृता॑त् ।

Om, We Worship the Tryambaka (the Three-Eyed One), Who is Fragrant (as the Spiritual Essence), Increasing the Nourishment (of our Spiritual Core); From these many Bondages (of Samsara) similar to Cucumbers (tied to their Creepers),May I be Liberted from Death (Attachment to Perishable Things), So that I am not separated from the perception of Immortality (Immortal Essence pervading everywhere).

ॐ नमः शिवाय||

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thesummerstorms · 10 days ago

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It was a fair question. And yet, Viago knew if he brought attention to [Teia's] impropriety, whatever this was between them would snap like a lute string midsong. And he wasn’t ready for the dance to end. So he fumbled with his cravat a fourth time. Teia cursed under her breath. “You’re ruining it.” She pushed on Viago’s back, urging him to turn around. Only inches apart, Viago looked everywhere but Teia’s face—the ceiling, his walking stick, the creepy fennec statues someone had placed around the room. Then, after second-guessing himself, he glanced down to find the damned woman laughing at him. Viago’s hands shot up to the crumpled cravat. “I don’t need—” “Hush.” Teia batted him away, her nimble fingers already smoothing out the wrinkles he had created. “This is why you have a reputation.” Viago blanched. At twenty-eight, Teia was the youngest Talon in history. Gossip and a string of admirers followed her wherever she went. Compared to her, he was practically a recluse. “I have a reputation?” “As a curmudgeon, yes.” Her full lips upturned slightly. “Well, that’s better than your reputation.” “Oh?” Teia blinked innocently up at him. “Care to elaborate?” “Not particularly.” Their eyes met. Restless energy charged through Viago’s veins that both dared him to move and held him in place. “Dante [Balazar, Teia's ex] looked well, if not a little peaked,” he offered lamely. Without warning, the cravat tightened against his Adam’s apple, causing Viago to sputter. “All finished.” Teia gave the knot a small pat of approval, then sashayed back toward the desk, where her attention was once again captured by his collection of vials.

Who needs TV; these two provide the drama for free!

(Again, I imagine that somewhere in Salle, Rook de Riva is overcome by the sudden urge to bash their head into a wall without even knowing why.)

#teiago #teia x viago #viago de riva #andarateia cantori #teia cantori #eight little talons #tevinter nights #tevinter nights spoilers

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frotees-corner · 2 months ago

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Antivan Crows Hot Take

Why I think it's short sighted to say that the Antivan Crows were sanitized in Veilguard (because I keep seeing that take and it keeps driving me nuts). There will be Spoilers in this for both the game and the tie-in materials pertaining to it!

Tl;dr: Remember that story about a bunch of blind guys describing an elephant? It’s like that.

Dragon Age is pretty great and consistent about always showing us the world of Thedas through the eyes of unreliable narrators. Much like real history!

Even the historical footnotes we find in codex entries are penned by individuals with very clear biases. Like Brother Genitivi, one of *the* sources for general and historical information on the various regions and people of Thedas, was/is a devote chantry scholar, so everything he wrote has to be viewed with that bias in mind. (There is s whole story in Tevinter Nights about how the authors of these texts will on occasion deliberately shape their recollections to influence popular opinion.)

Up until Dragon Age: Inquisition, Zevran Arainai was our only true window into the Crows (if you ignore the early tie-in materials, which I do, because they don't play nicely with the game canon).

Zevran was born to a prostitute and sold to the Crows, like some expendable object, to be trained as an Assassin against his will. After surviving his deadly training, he was used as the equivalent of a footsoldier, only to be discarded and (attempted to be) hunted down as soon as he failed a contract and started making his own decisions. Zevran has always known that he was expendable, both to his mother and the people who purchased him, and doesn't seem to feel any great affection for either of them. Of course he would have a *very* different view of the Crows than the ones we meet in Veilguard (I will *not* be ignoring the tie-in material explicitly referenced in the game, i.e. Tevinter Nights, The Wake, and The Missing) :

Lucanis Dellamorte, grandson and heir apparent to the First Talon, who was born into wealth and priviledge and knew he wanted to become a crow like the rest of his family ever since he was a little boy (even after watching his parents and most of the rest of his family get brutally murdered in a war of succession).

Viago de Riva, a literal bastard prince who chose the harsh life of a Crow over a comfortable life in exile and is hinted at harbouring designs on the crown of Antiva.

Andarateia Cantori, who started life as a street urchin and clawed her way up to the seat of seventh Talon as the youngest Talon in the history of the Crows. Teia is described as viewing the Crows as family, even going so far as addressing Caterina Dellamorte as Nonna, which is not all that surprising if you consider that joining the crows probably pulled her out of a miserable life with very little prospects. Becoming a Crow allowed her to shape her own life as she saw fit, attaining rank and priviledge thanks to her own skills.

Of course these people will see the Crows more positively than one of their discareded foot soldiers! And yet they *still* mention, both exlicitly and implicitly, that the Crows are a deeply flawed organisation.

Lucanis mentions both the harsh, torturous training even he lived through as a fledgling both in-game and during The Wigmaker's Job, as well as the Crows' unfortunate tendency to stab each other in the back. He also acklowledges how Zevran's desertation lead to the deaths of several 8th Talons and ensured that the Crows no longer take contracts in ferelden. Teia and Viago have a conversation in 8 Little Talons that highlights how different Talons (and thus different houses) have very different ways of approaching a contract - with many of them having very little reservations when it comes to killing innocent bystanders (see also Illario's reaction to Effe in TWJ). That entire story makes it pretty clear that they are both outliers among their peers, and not just because at least Teia refuses to hurt servants, but also because they recognize the threat that awaits Antiva if the Crows cannot find common ground and forget about their petty squabbles for a time. Them being such determined patriots is an exception, and not the rule for the Talons of the Crows. Heck, Emil's whole betrayal and his reasoning for it underline both the changes the Crows have gone through over the centuries, their inherent corruption (it's all about the bottom line) and their backstabbing nature!

Ivency goes into this, too, and yes, they're a traitor and all, but they're not entirely wrong in their judgement of the Crows, either. (Though neither is Viago when he says that the Crows *are* the oversight.) And yes, you may complain that a lot of this is only really accessible when you've read Tevinter Nights, but it's not like it's necessary to follow the plot of the game - it's really only relevant if you are interested in and care about the lore and the development of the world of Thedas. And then you might as well read the explicitly referenced tie-ins to answer your questions.

(I might do Tevinter next, because that's the other one people keep complaining about being sanitized.)

#dragon age #dragon age the veilguard #datv #dragon age meta #dragon age lore #the antivan crows

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tsunami-of-tears · 1 year ago

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But Daddy I Love Her

Mor x Vanserra!Reader (sapphic)

A/N: IMO this is some of my best writing yet. Thank you to the anon who requested some angst with Mor. I’ve been wanting to write some more sapphic stuff, so this was fun 💕 Also thank you to @daycourtofficial for being my sounding board ✨ As you can tell I didn’t go with either title option we discussed 😘

Wordcount: 4.4K

Warnings: Female Reader; Angst; Beron being Beron; Controlling father dynamic; visit to the Court of Nightmares; coming out; canon homophobia + patriarchal bullsh!t.

Reader

Your father was a complex character, to say the least.

He was every bit the callous ruler that he portrayed to the world, but inside his blackened, hateful heart there was a soft spot. You. His only daughter.

While your brothers were pitted against each other and forced to fight for his approval, you couldn’t do much wrong.

He was protective of you to a fault. So much so, that you were never allowed to court anyone. No one was good enough for his precious pup. Not that you were very interested in males anyway, having grown up with a litter of brothers. You found males irritating at the best of times, and utterly repulsive at the worst.

You were closest to Beron’s eldest and youngest sons – Eris and Lucien. They were very protective of you too, but in more of an annoying way. They always had your best interests at heart.

You were never allowed out of the Forest House unsupervised. Adventuring with your brothers was the only time you got let off your leash. You could run with the hounds, fish in the stream with Lucien or just simply be – relaxing under a tree, reading aloud to Eris.

You often dreamed of a world where you were free. Free from your father’s strict rule. Free to do as you please. Free to be whoever you wanted to be.

But alas, this was not a world for the dreamers.

————

The conflict with Hybern was drawing nearer and your father was summoned to attend a meeting with the six other High Lords of Prythian.

Your entire family was to attend, to showcase the strength of Beron’s brood.

You enter the meeting room together, sticking close to Eris and trying to seem confident, bored even. You keep your head held high, ignoring your brothers’ sneers beside you.

“Enough” Eris murmurs, calling all three brothers in line.

You take in the grand room around you, and the wealth of power convened within.

You recognise most faces from Under the Mountain but some were new to you, their allegiance given away by the shades of midnight blue and black that they wore - the Night Court. The Court that your father despises the most. The Court you were raised to hate.

The High Lord, Rhysand, sat with a casual grace, his great taloned wings stretched out behind him. Beside him was his High Lady, Feyre - the saviour of Prythian - in a glittering dress that looked like it was made of pure starlight.

They were a beautiful couple, and you wonder how evil the male could truly be if he proclaimed his wife as his equal, something that had never been done in all of Prythian’s history.

The rulers of the Night Court meet your curious gaze; for a second there is understanding on their faces and you have to remind yourself not to smile.

You break their stare and your eyes flit over two more winged males and a female who shared the same golden hair and blue-grey eyes as Feyre before they settled on a blonde female.

To describe her as breathtaking would be an understatement.

She needed no introduction. Not with the rage upon her face as she watched your family, the pure venom in her eyes.

The Morrigan.

You’d never met the female your eldest brother was formerly betrothed to, and he never spoke about her.

Morrigan’s fury wanes as she looks at you. For a moment you can see behind the mask she was wearing. You can feel the pain underneath, you can see the love for her family and her Court. Only for a moment before she built that wall back up again, sealing herself within.

You knew her anger towards your family was justified and you couldn’t help but empathise with that. Like so many women, your mother included, she’d been dealt a losing hand.

You successfully kept your eyes off Morrigan for the remainder of the meeting, remembering the role you had to play – the shy, pretty pawn of the Autumn Court.

If you failed at this game, the results would be devastating.

————

After the meeting ended so terribly, you were hiding out in Eris’s quarters, avoiding the path of Beron’s temper. The pair of you were curled up in front of the crackling fire with Clove, your favourite hound, asleep in your lap.

Eris has been quiet since returning from the Dawn Court. His mind was surely racing after the encounter with her.

You turn towards your brother slowly, breaking the silence, “You never mentioned how beautiful she is. You never speak about her at all.”

Eris knew exactly who you meant. “What’s there to say?” He shrugs, “She’s free from the burden of being with me in this festering court.”

“You think so low of yourself, Eris. Someone will be very fortunate to have you doting on them one day.”

Eris wraps his arm around you and kisses the top of your head affectionately. “Until then it’s just you and me, bright spark.”

You smile at his nickname for you, one he gave you when you were just a faeling. “Don’t forget Clove!” You exclaim, ruffling the hound’s coat.

————

In the months following the final battle against Hybern, Eris spent a lot of time in the Night Court, working to secure a strong alliance for Autumn.

Eris was about to head off again, to a ball at the infamous Court of Nightmares.

You hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Morrigan.

You needed to see her again, but she’d never step foot in Autumn.

You’d have to go to her.

By the grace of the Cauldron, Beron said yes to you attending the ball with Eris. You were both so stunned by his answer, that you were lost for words. Before dismissing you both, your father had one order for Eris: Do not let her out of your sight.

And so you found yourself in the Night Court, deep inside the Court of Nightmares.

You did your best to bite down on your anxiety as you walked up the dimly lit hallway leading to the ballroom. The intricate carvings of beasts on the walls only add to your feeling of unease.

You breeze through the large doors, arm-in-arm with your brother. The two of you are the epitome of Autumn.

Eris wears a suit in a deep burgundy colour, much like the spiced wine you drink to warm your belly on a crisp evening. Your gown of burnt orange swishes around you as you walk, the sequins catching in the faelights, twinkling like the embers of a dwindling fire.

All eyes turn to you as you walk down the aisle, but you don’t notice them.

All you see is her, and that golden thread connecting your souls, sealing your fate.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

Panic floods your veins as you realise who you’re walking towards.

Your mate.

Your brother’s ex-fiancé. Your father’s enemy.

Not her, it can’t be her.

Not here, with so many people watching.

Your feet slow to a stop halfway to the dais and you turn to Eris. Concern flickers on his face - he can sense something is wrong, he has no idea just how bad it is.

You drop his arm, mouthing ‘I’m sorry’, before disappearing into the air.

You don’t know where you’re headed or what you will do next. All you know is you need to leave. Now. And get someone safe.

The thought, somewhere safe, echoes through your mind as you appear in a clearing atop a mountain.

The sun had just dipped below the horizon, making the sky glow a brilliant shade of orange. The air is cold against your skin, and you rub your hands on your biceps in an attempt to regain some warmth. In moments like these, you are thankful for the fire within your veins.

You look around, attempting to glean your location. You spot a cabin on the other side of the clearing. As you turn towards it, the front door swings open. An invitation.

You approach the open door and wonder if there’s a spell on the cabin, tricking you into a false sense of safety to lure you inside to your death.

You glance around, the only movement you spy is the rustling of leaves in the wind.

You peek inside and see the small dwelling is well-maintained, but there doesn’t appear to be anyone home. It looks comfortable and homey, with whimsical paintings of vines and flowers framing the door.

Whatever is inside that cabin can’t be worse than the wrath you surely face back in Autumn, so you step over the threshold.

————

Rhysand

Rhys watches intently as his guests from Autumn walk towards the dais.

Eris is his usual cocky self, strutting beside his sister. Every bit the High Lord’s heir. Y/N looks like a living fire, glowing as she walks beside her brother. Despite being siblings, there were clear differences between the two fae. Unlike Eris, who Rhys found to be insufferable at times, Y/N had a kind warmth to her. A sweetness that somehow hadn’t been soured by her father over the years.

She was like the flames that dance in a hearth. The kind of fire used to warm a home or cook a comforting meal that chases away the cold and loneliness.

Of course, those flames could still burn you if you got too close.

Y/N stops in the middle of the room. Her eyes not moving from Rhys’s cousin, stood beside his throne.

‘Something is wrong,’ Feyre says into his mind.

Rhys quickly throws a glamour over his guests, shielding them and his Inner Circle from the rest of his court.

Rhys glances at Mor, whose eyes are glued to the flame incarnate before her.

The expression on Y/N’s face is pure terror as she disappears into a cloud of smoke.

Eris grabs at the wisps of darkness but it’s too late. Y/N is gone. His eyes are filled with panic as he turns back to Rhys.

“You Vanserras love to put on a show.” Rhys drawls. “How did she get out past the wards?”

Eris rakes his fingers through his hair, tousling the slicked strands. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know she could winnow.”

Rhys clicks his tongue, “It seems the little fox was hiding some tricks.”

Eris looks Rhys in the eye. “We need to find her,” He says.

Rhys raises a brow at the Autumn heir. “We?”

“Beron will kill us all if she’s gone missing. His only order was not to let her out of my sight.” Eris shakes his head in shock.

‘Azriel, go. See if your shadows can find her.’ Rhys orders his spymaster mind-to-mind before the male vanishes into the shadows.

“If she’s still in this court, we’ll find her,” Rhys says calmly, expertly masking his concern that the Jewel of Autumn vanished while in his court. “Let’s go, we can continue this little chat somewhere without an audience.” He rises to his feet, dropping the shield and addressing his court. “I’m afraid I have to leave you to play amongst yourselves. Keir, don’t make too much trouble while I’m gone.”

Rhys strides out of the ballroom with Feyre by his side. Eris follows behind closely with Cassian and Mor on his tail.

————

Once out of view, Rhys takes Eris’s hand and winnows him to the Moonstone Palace on top of the mountain. Rhys heads straight to one of the living rooms, opting for somewhere more comfortable to continue the conversation. He silently requests Nuala bring up a tea service as he sits comfortably in one of the plush armchairs.

Eris slumps down in the chair opposite Rhys, rubbing his temples. His complexion has paled to a colour much like the white stone walls of the palace. Eris’s usual swagger and charm disappeared with his sister.

“I shouldn’t have agreed to bring her,” Eris sighs, hands ruffling his red hair.

“I’m surprised Beron let her out of the palace,” Rhys admits. As much as he detests the male, he can’t help but feel sorry for him.

“No one is more surprised than me,” Eris says. “She was the one who asked to come. When Y/N really wants something, not even my father can say no.” Eris smiles softly, as if picturing his sister’s compelling arguments.

Rhys nods in thanks to Nuala as she sets down a tea service. He starts pouring a cup for Eris as he turns towards him. “What happened then?” Rhys asks. “Y/N looked as if she’d seen a ghost.”

“The bond snapped,” a female voice says from the doorway.

Both Rhys and Eris’s eyes snap to Mor as she strides across the room and sits across from them on the sofa.

“What bond? And who with?” Cassian asks from behind her.

“With me,” Mor says quietly.

Rhys can’t keep the shock from his face. “But you’re…” He trails off, gesturing at Mor’s figure.

Mor just sighs, “Cousin, I’ve always known that I preferred the company of females. That’s why he, you know.” She risks a glance at Eris who is meticulously masking his real feelings as he sips on his tea.

“Cauldron, I didn’t think I was that bad,” Cassian jokes.

Mor rolls her eyes and nods her head towards Eris. “He knew. That’s why he didn’t touch me. That day on the autumn border, Eris gave me my freedom. I let you believe him to be horrible because I wasn’t ready to embrace that part of myself, truthfully I’m still not.” Feyre places her hand on Mor’s arm as she makes her admission.

“We’d never judge you for that, Mor,” Rhys says sincerely.

“It’s been instilled in me since I was a faeling, the fear is not something one forgets easily,” Mor shrugs.

“When did it snap for you?” Eris asks, his face still void of emotion.

“At the High Lord’s meeting,” Mor responds. “That’s the only reason I came today, hoping to see her again. I know Beron would never let her be with me, but I still had some shred of hope. Clearly, he’s poisoned her view of me…”

“He hasn’t,” Eris interrupts. “You’re not a frequent topic of conversation, and Y/N never asked about you until after that meeting. She never said, but I suspect it’s why she wanted to come today. In some ways, she’s lucky that she’s been so sheltered. She’s still kind. She saw how all of you acted that day, she saw through the masks. My father’s only weakness is her. Beron is completely blind where Y/N is involved. He will start a war if we don’t find her.”

“We’ll find her,” Rhys says. “Do you have any idea where she would go?”

Eris rubs his chin as he contemplates. “She doesn't ever go anywhere unsupervised. She loves being in the forest, but there’s no way she could transport herself that far.”

“I’ve got Azriel searching,” Rhys says. “There’s not much more you can do right now. You can stay here, I’ll show you to your suite.”

Eris nods, “Thank you, but if you think I will sleep while my baby sister is missing, you are sorely mistaken.”

Rhys smirks back at the male. “Oh I know, but this way you can sulk in private.”

————

Eris

Eris is pacing in his room when there’s a soft knock on the door. He exhales before opening the door to the blonde female in the hall. Eris folds his arms across his chest and inclines his head, inviting her inside.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell them the truth,” Mor says. “I’ve been lying to myself for so long, I’d convinced myself that part of me didn’t exist.”

“There’s always got to be a villain, I understand why you did it. But thank you for apologising.”

“This bond... It is not going to go well with your father.”

Eris nods, agreeing with her. “We’ll deal with that later. When I’m High Lord, you’ll be welcome in Autumn again, if you ever wish to return.”

“Will you have me over for tea?” Mor scoffs. “I don’t know how this will work with Y/N or if she even wants it. But I’d like to try if she does.”

Eris straightens defensively. “I’ll support whatever will make her happy,” He says.

The pair stand in silence for a few moments before Eris smiles sadly, shaking his head. “I should’ve known,” He laughs. “When she was a child, she never wanted me to play as a prince, we both were princesses… As she grew, she never took much interest in courting anyone. If Beron had forbade me or my brothers there would’ve been a riot on his hands. But Y/N was never phased by it. Truthfully, I think she was relieved.”

Mor returns his smile. “I’m glad she has you. We’ll find her, don’t worry too much.”

————

Reader

In the cabin, you stare at the eyes on the wall. You would know them anywhere.

You knew your mate had been here, maybe it was even her cabin. Deep down, your heart knew you’d be safe here.

You feel so tired, right to your core. You didn’t know you could winnow, your leash had been so tight you never even tried. Mother knows how far you just travelled.

A steaming cup of tea appears in your hands, the scent of cinnamon and chamomile reminding you of home. Somehow, the cabin knew what would calm you down.

You pull a blanket around your shoulders and sit on the lounge, worn with decades of use, admiring the colourful paintings adorning the walls and every surface. You can tell this place is well-loved, and many happy moments have been spent here.

Exhaustion nags at you and you fight your drooping lids until you can’t any longer. You slip into the darkness of sleep, wrapped in the blanket, with your mate watching over you.

————

You’re woken by a cool sensation on your ankle. You look down and see a wisp of shadows wreathing around. It circles a few times before disappearing into the air.

It’s early in the morning, the first light creeping over the mountains outside. You’re still wearing your ball gown, the fabric creased from your slumber.

Your head spins as you remember the events of the night before.

‘How long have I been sleeping? Oh gods, Eris must be going out of his mind…’

A sharp knock on the door pulls you from your thoughts.

You stand slowly, stretching your stiff limbs and go to answer it – for a moment you forget it’s not your house.

One of Rhys’s winged friends stands on the porch. “Y/N, are you okay?” He looks you up and down, taking in your dishevelled hair and wrinkled dress. “You’re not injured? And how did you get inside?”

“I’m okay, I guess. The door opened for me. It felt safe.”

The male nods, “Eris is worried about you, I’ve just let Rhys know I found you and you’re unharmed.”

“Thank you,” You say.

“Mor wants to speak to you, is that okay?”

You nod in answer, “Yeah, we probably need to have a chat.”

“She’ll be here soon, can I get you anything?” He offers.

You shake your head, pulling the blanket further around you.

“Okay, stay inside, she’ll be here soon.”

————

Eris

Keeping to his word, Eris didn’t sleep at all. He was watching the sunrise breaking over the mountains when he heard a knock at the door. “Come in,” Eris calls out.

Rhys enters the room. “Azriel found her, she’s safe, Mor has gone to bring her back.”

Every cell Eris was tensing is released at Rhys’s words. He tries to roll his shoulders but they are stiff after a tense night.

“Are you sure that’s the best idea?” Eris asks. “She ran because of the mating bond.”

“Mor wanted to speak to her privately. They are the only ones who understand.”

Eris nods, feeling relieved that his sister has been found. He’ll be able to rest once he lays eyes on her again. “Thank you, for helping,” He says.

Rhys waves a hand dismissively. “It does work in my favour to return her safely,” Rhys drawls. “But I would do it anyway.” He turns to leave, “You should eat something, it’s been a long night and we have much to discuss now.”

————

Reader

You do your best to freshen up while you wait. You smooth out your hair and change into some fresh clothes summoned by the cabin – a soft v-neck camisole, cropped at the navel and flowing harem pants, more skin than you’ve ever shown outside your bathing room. The matching set is a brilliant shade of forest green that perfectly complements your hair.

A knock sounds on the door, announcing your mate's arrival.

“Hello Morrigan,” you say stiffly, unsure where to look or where to put your hands. You settle with holding them clasped at your front to stop their trembling.

“Just Mor if you like, can we talk?”

You nod and sit across from each other, the air hangs heavily around you.

Mor sighs, breaking the tense silence. “I guess it snapped for you?”

You nod, the words not making it past your lips.

“This is a cruel twist of fate,” She laughs darkly, leaning forward on her knees.

“Do you not want it?” You ask, trying to hide the hurt in your voice.

“No,” Mor answers quickly. “That’s not what I meant. With my history and our fathers, I don’t see how it could work.”

Why beat around the bush, you suppose? “What happened, with my brother?”

Mor looks at you curiously. “He never told you?”

You shake your head.

“We were amicable, not quite friends, never lovers. I confided in him about my preference for–” She waves at you. “Female companionship… and that I didn’t want to be someone’s wife. Of course, my father had other plans. I ruined them by… sullying myself, and my father dumped me on the border of your court. I’ll spare you the grizzly details right now, but your brother gave me my freedom. I wasn’t ready to tell people the truth, so I let my friends believe Eris to be a monster. In truth, I was the monster all along.”

You allow her candid words to wash over you. What your brother had done, allowing himself to be the villain when nothing was further from the truth.

You stand, moving to sit closer to Mor.

“I never believed the things Beron said about you,” You admit, looking into Mor’s warm brown eyes. Eyes that are full of hope.

“I know that I’m sheltered, but I see the way he treats people. Even my brothers, Lucien especially. I do love him as a father, but as a person… he is awful. I long for the day when Eris takes over Autumn, and I can finally be free. Until then, I will dream of a better world.”

A tear falls from the corner of Mor’s eye and you rest a hand on her knee.

You steady your breathing before continuing, “I’ve never had much interest in males and never allowed myself to consider alternatives. I’d like to try this, if you want to. I know courting in secret will be difficult, but I’m willing to give it a go. I’m ready to start building the world I’ve been dreaming of.”

Tears stream down Mor’s face and she pulls you into a hug. You savour the moment and for the first time, you allow yourself to hope.

————

“ERIS!” You call out, running towards your brother and jumping into his arms.

He catches you easily, wrapping his arms around you. “I was so worried, bright spark,” He says softly into your hair.

“I know. I’m sorry to do that to you. I panicked. I didn’t even mean to winnow, it just happened.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay. But maybe don’t show that trick to anyone else,” Eris puts you down and stands back, taking in your appearance. “It seems this court suits you, Y/N,” He smiles. “Come now,” he extends his arm for you to take, “We’ve got business to discuss with Rhysand. We need to figure out something official so that Father will let you return here with me.” He winks as he walks you to meet with the High Lord.

————

You’re convinced your brother is a genius.

He told your father that you and the High Lady got on well and that your presence allowed him and Rhys to get on with business while the females ‘talk about fashion and whatever else they like to discuss.’

You had batted your lashes at your father, insisting that the High Lady needed some help with fae etiquette and that she was seeking your help on how to be a proper lady.

Beron scoffed at the thought of the ‘wild human harlot’ ever being considered a lady, but he couldn’t say no to your wide-doe eyes. Especially not when Eris mentioned that the friendship could give Autumn more sway in political discussions.

Eris winnowed you both to Rhysand’s Moonstone Palace for your regular ‘meeting’, where Rhys, Feyre and Mor were waiting for you.

Mor looks ethereal under the starry night sky. Her hair flows like liquid gold in soft waves down her back. Her dress is a deep wine red, paying homage to your home court and hugs her curves perfectly. Your eyes linger on her figure for a few moments before moving back to her face.

Thank you, Mother.

Rhys steps forward. “Welcome back, we won’t be staying in the Court of Nightmares this time,” He explains. “We thought it was time to show you our true home.”

Feyre smiles warmly, her eyes twinkle with anticipation.

Rhys takes Eris’s hand and Mor takes yours, winnowing you into the sky above a sparkling city.

Wind rushes around you as you free-fall. The stone floor of the balcony getting closer and closer until it hits your feet. You steady yourself, feeling grateful for your fae reflexes.

Still holding Mor’s hand, she leads you to the balcony's edge. You look out at the city sprawling below you, alive and bustling. The humming sound of life below is like music in your ears.

Mor smiles widely at you. “Welcome to Velaris,” she says. “The Court of Dreams.”

#a court of thorns and roses #acotar fanfiction #mor acotar #mor x reader #mor x y/n #mor x you #morrigan #vanserra!reader #requests

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holyrunawaychild · 1 month ago

Text

Duke Bergan & Duchess Rainier Headcanons

Bergan

Bergan is actually descended from three separate Bearlord lineages. On his mother’s side are the White Bears of Icegarden. While on his father’s side are the Brown Bears of Brackenholme and the Atlas Bears of Talon (from Bast). The Atlas Bears fled Bast during the Burning of Claw and Talon nearly a century ago, where many of their number perished. Bergan’s family are among the few that still live.

He grew up on stories from his grandfather of the Atlas Bears’ homeland, and how it was destroyed by the Catlords. When Leopold came, everything Bergan did was to not prevent what happened to his ancestors to happen again. Sadly, he wasn’t able to stop history from repeating itself.

As much as he would never admit it in front of her, Whitley is very similar to Bergan himself when he was her age. Temperamental, rebellious and passionate, and more at home in the woodlands than within Brackenholme’s walls. Several years living with his cousins in Icegarden straightened his head on his shoulders. Though sometimes he still shows that recklessness.

Bergan knew Amelie (and in turn Tilly) long before he became a friend to Wergar and joined his Wolf’s Council. This was largely through the connections of the Sturmish side of his family.

Bergan first met Wergar as teenagers at the Battle of Darke, when a particularly violent group of Wyldermen tried to sack Brackenholme’s sister city. There Bergan met Wergar the Beast in battle before meeting Wergar the Prince in the aftermath. Those two very distinct interactions wholly shaped their friendship going forward.

He was well aware of the relationship between Wergar, Amelie, Tilly and Mack. As he has walked in on them… more than once.(I fully intend to make Bergan’s reaction to hearing Drew’s last name have as funny of context as possible).

Raising Broghan was a bit of a sore spot for Bergan. For as proud as he is in his firstborn he feels he put too much responsibility on his shoulders too soon. Bergan effectively had overcorrected the flaws he thought he had in his own upbringing. Had they had more time, Bergan would’ve encouraged his son to be someone more than just heir to Brackenholme.

Whitley will always be Bergan’s little princess. Much of who he became after the Wolves were killed off was to safeguard her. Yet she seemed to have a gift (or curse if you asked Bergan himself) for testing his ability to keep her out of mortal peril every couple minutes. In spite of it all, he’s never going to be ready to let her go.

Rainier

Rainier was the first child of her father, Earl Robin’s, second marriage. Her older brother Gaston (yes, that’s the canon name of Gretchen’s father) wasn’t too fond of her — nor their youngest sister Myra — when they were children. By the time they were young adults, they were able to make peace. Leading to a strong bond that has persisted even after Gaston’s death.

Rainier is cousins with Wergar. Though, in the way Wergar referred to anyone even distantly related to him as a cousin. Her mother, Lady Marian, was a Grey Wolf of Westland, though not of the royal line itself. Instead being of House Skoll of Shap and Wilt. Close enough to be considered family, but distant enough to not bear the same banner.

In fact, prior to her and Bergan becoming an item, Rainier’s maternal grandfather tried and expected her to be married to Wergar. All to “unite the Wolves of Westland under one house again”. Those plans were effectively thwarted with Rainier choosing Bergan.

While Broghan and Whitley were growing up, on quiet nights in the Great Oak, Rainier would wrap them in her tail. It took Whitley till she was 13 to grow out of it. And while Broghan claims to have outgrown this when he was 10, he does sleep with a cushioned bed sheet.

It was Rainier who convinced Bergan to permit Whitley the chance to train as a scout. As a compromise, Rainier had to make sure that Whitley was attending her etiquette classes. And attend Whitley has, but listening to her tutors? Rainier never promised she’d ensure that.

Rainier is very close to her niece Gretchen, being the only family she has left. The two of them had a system of back and forth weekly letters to stay in touch.

There was also a period of Gretchen's childhood that she thought Rainier was her mother. Even Whitley and Broghan thought this for a time. It was a very interesting conversation for Rainier and Huth to have to go through to straighten things out.

Their Relationship

Due to their realms' close ties, Bergan and Rainier had a passing familiarity with each other since they were children. Though they hadn’t met in person until their early teens, when they were pushed to converse at Gaston’s wedding to Lady Alerie of Bray.

In spite of both their parents already planning their future pairings (Rainier to Wergar, Bergan to Lady Esperanza of Port Stallion), the two of them spent the better part of the next several years meeting in private.

Eventually Bergan approached Rainier and asked if they should be courted (even though they’ve basically been secretly dating for the previous five years). The following night during the ball celebrating Wergar’s 18 birthday, Rainier announced her and Bergan’s engagement to the entire room. Including both their families, the royals and a dozen other notable houses. Wergar would attest that seeing Bergan that blindsided and flustered would forever be his favorite birthday present.

Bergan and Rainier’s wedding(s) occurred within the following year. Their first two ceremonies occurred in Hedgemoor and Brackenholme, following the traditions of their respective families. The last — and grandest — was at Highcliff, Wergar insisting that no expense be spared for his cousin and best friend.

#Bear Dad and Fox Mom #duke bergan #duchess rainier #added her in because I probably wouldn’t get to cover her otherwise until season 4 #wolf king #wereworld #wolf king headcanons #wereworld headcanons #headcanon #there’s some cheeky references sprinkled throughout this one

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