#this is about liotr

[rivilu]

I'm in act 5 can't wait to get to the quest where someone is going to be so unprecedentedly unable to read the room that they wind up signing their own death warrant.

[crows-of-buckets]

fun fact about daeran's romance from the game files: the ending you referred to as the evil one is technically daeran's good/'true love' ending and any that you spare liotr in are his bad endings. given that daeran's an evil character himself, killing someone to protect himself = good.

Ooo, that makes sense. I've always seen other people refer to it as his evil ending, that's why I called it tgat

[eyes1nthewoods]

aughghhh i hope i got daeran's trust high enough to avoid the lobotomy 😬

[resart]

The Inconspicuous Writing Gem: Daeran’s Look-alike Contest Breakdown

The Dance of Masks brought the long-anticipated last hurrah to the Knight Commander’s story. Although it was announced that the DLC would focus on the companions, I wasn’t holding my breath for substantial content that would actually enrich the characters’ plots. The game is already massive and has a ton of variables, so expecting the writers to continue storylines that can have multiple outcomes would be unreasonable. But one scene far exceeded my expectations and set the bar high for the rest of the expansion, rendering me more critical about some of its elements than I would normally be. The event in question may not appear as much, but the true artistry in writing stories driven by the player’s choice fully reveals itself in what we don’t see on the surface. Daeran’s look-alike contest varies greatly, depending on how his personal quest was resolved, and, therefore, serves as a semi-epilogue to his arc. I wanted to post an analysis of his character’s progression for quite some time, and this send-off is a fitting opportunity to delve into this matter. I’ll break down the differences in the new scene as well as in a few others and share my overall thoughts on what this addition brings to the table. Brace yourself because it’s going to be long.

I'll start with a quick reminder of what Daeran’s questline outcomes are, because I'm going to reference them a lot:

Good, in which he’s openly grateful to the Knight Commander despite having to face the tribunal, and Liotr, noticing their bond, intervenes so the Inquisition doesn't lock him up;

Lobotomy, in which Daeran reluctantly accepts his predicament of having to face the trial, Liotr doesn't support him and after the crusade, the Count is sent to the asylum and lobotomized;

HappyEvil, in which the Commander kills Liotr to secure Daeran’s freedom;

ArchEvil, in which Daeran doesn't have any trust in the Commander, feels deserted and murders Liotr to avoid the trial.

At first glance, there's nothing profound about Daeran’s festival quest — it fits his image to indulge in the vain act of self-celebration by choosing the most accurate imitation of himself. However, this simple setup proves itself clever when we realize that, by observing the contestants, he sees himself in a distorting mirror. Coincidentally, each participant appears to represent a different facet of the Count’s character. Therefore, his reactions to them speak volumes of the self-image and mindset he developed during the crusade in each scenario.

Among the doubles, we have an aasimar who mimics Daeran's arrogance and cruelty, and constantly interrupts other participants' speeches with mocking remarks.

A woman who recreates Daeran's sophisticated bon vivant persona.

A drunkard who paints Daeran as a worthless and utterly unapologetic rake.

And finally, an innocent boy who keeps staring at Daeran with admiration and portrays him as a virtuous hero of the crusade.

After the presentation of the contestants is over, Daeran asks the Commander’s opinion. Again, his responses to their verdict vary in each case (unless they choose the cat), but the difference in how he reacts to being compared to the little boy is the most telling.

No matter what the protagonist suggests, the winner of the contest is fixed for each of the outcomes. If the Commander failed to earn Daeran's trust and he murdered Liotr himself, the conceited aasimar is declared the winner.

If the Commander killed Liotr, the Count awards the lady.

If the quest was resolved peacefully (either Good or Lobotomy), Daeran chooses the boy and has a heartwarming exchange with him.

This variety of possible scenarios and the way they are handled encapsulate why I consider Daeran's story so intricately woven and enjoyable to analyze. He's an incredibly flexible and dynamic character whose potential endings range from becoming a saint to a homicidal maniac. But what makes this duality and everything that comes in between so engaging is that all these vastly contradictory conclusions are equally organic and convincing, given his rich characterization and the player’s choices. The subtle yet significant divergences in the narrative paths maintain the integrity of his personality and prevent his evolution from seeming far-fetched while efficiently showcasing his growth or regression.

Regretfully, this attention to detail is missing from the other new scenes, which don't convey a similar sense of progression and can come off as somewhat disconnected from the rest of the playthrough. The rendezvous, for example, avoids references to how the player concluded Daeran's romance and quest. Given these plotlines' non-linearity, it's an understandable approach, but it prevents the scene from exploring deeper themes and hitting more emotional notes. What's particularly detrimental to the its overall intensity is the absence of exclusive dialogue for the True Love outcome. Ironically, it's the two worst endings that get unique and surprisingly heartfelt lines.

The difference is insignificant, however, because the conversation always plays out the same. All in all, the segment is nice and leaves a lot to the imagination, but only partially exploits its potential. Meanwhile, the festival mini-quest embraces the aforementioned strengths of the storyline's writing, giving every iteration of Daeran distinct dialogues that clearly demonstrate the impact the crusade and acquaintance with the Commander had on him.

I won't examine every dialogue branch in detail but will mainly focus on the Good scenario. As someone who likes this ending the best and even advocates the controversial writing in the final confrontation with Liotr, I always thought the narrative failed to properly sell its implied benefits. Apart from the closing conversation in the quest itself, late-game provides little reactivity to differentiate the outcomes, making it hard for the players to fully grasp the internal shift that Daeran undergoes. Comparison of said dialogue in various scenarios reveals his perspective in Good route as the least egocentric and overall most mature. Unfortunately, in an individual playthrough, these qualities can get overshadowed by the Count's dissatisfaction with the inconveniences he will eventually have to endure.

Aside from that, the effects of each resolution manifest only in Daeran's responses to one question in the romantic route and how he expressed his feelings regarding Galfrey’s death.

Even though they show evident contrast and serve as a much-needed emotional pay-off for the moral dilemma the player faced in the storyline finale, both are relatively minor, with the Queen one completely missable in most playthroughs. When combined with the similar omission of negative repercussions for Daeran’s moral condition and emotional maturity in other outcomes, it's not surprising many players believe he doesn’t ever change or that becoming better fundamentally clashes with his nature.

The discussed competition scene remedies the narrative’s deficiencies, ultimately proving this statement untrue. In the Good outcome, Daeran presents a reasonable dose of self-distance. When confronted with the drunk’s insults, he replies with humor and courtesy, which is a stark contrast to his reactions in the Evil outcomes and his past responses to criticism. Despite being hurt by the harsh judgment, he understands such a low opinion of himself is somewhat justified. The Count's mild response and his sensitivity to the suggestion that he's nothing more than an unfeeling scoundrel may even indicate that he has developed some remorse for his past actions. He also dismisses unwarranted flattery and distances himself from the brash egotism. All without falling into a spiral of gloom and self-deprecation that occurs in the Lobotomy scenario. Introspectiveness and vulnerability showcased here are a seamless continuation of the self-evaluation Daeran does in the High Trust version of his quest upon being supposedly betrayed by the Commander.

It's all the more unfortunate that the other interactions in the DLC don’t acknowledge these differences and instead return to the common denominator of all endings. As a result, the player will go from Daeran, who self-reflects and claims the aasimar presents an unfunny caricature of him, to Daeran in the tavern, who puffs himself up exactly like the guy (using even the same words) and seeks more sycophantic praise. While it's expected for him to put on an airy act and tease others, the absolute lack of self-awareness he previously exhibits in the Good route is quite jarring. Considering the complexity of the storyline as well as all sorts of limitations, such inconsistencies are inevitable (the base game already has a fair share of them) and in the end, one can easily reconcile them through their own interpretations. However, after being spoiled by a reactivity treat like the festival mini-quest, it's disappointing that the remaining dialogues lack similar nuance.

In the Good scenario, Daeran's behavior reinforces what we learn in the epilogue — that in this version, he has the most difficulty navigating through his newfound freedom and redefining himself in it. Choosing the winner of a silly contest shouldn't be hard for him, and it isn't in the Evil outcomes. There, the self-satisfied Count (who in both cases already has the blood of at least one innocent man on his hands) picks what he perceives as an idealized version of himself — be it the aestheticized depiction of his self-centredness or the unbridled and unyielding haughtiness. Noteworthily, in the Happy variant, Daeran openly flirts with the lady and, in both Evil paths, if not romanced, attempts to seduce his favored contestant. It’s peak narcissism, given the implications of the scene. In the peaceful outcomes, especially the Good one, the ordeal is a series of unpleasant self-reflections that even causes him to become overwhelmed by sorrow at one point. In the end, Daeran’s choice stems not from an ulterior motive or a desire to boost his ego but from genuine fondness for the boy. The youngster's belief in the Count’s kindness and heroism reminds him of his own innocence that was prematurely and brutally snatched from him. At his core, Daeran is not a self-sufficient master of his own fate but a helpless child thrown by unfortunate circumstances into otherworldly oppression and a vicious cycle of selfishness. In the Evil routes, he successfully deludes himself into believing he’s the former, but here, he realizes he’s the latter.

We're used to seeing Daeran scoffing at saccharine narratives and lofty ideals, and in the Evil versions, he's indeed annoyed with the boy’s portrayal of him. In one of them, he even anticipates him to be disenchanted, finding the prospect amusing. In the campaign's early stages, the Count voices his dissatisfaction with being enrolled in the crusade and laments the tarnishing of his ill reputation. Any suggestions that he may be secretly vulnerable are met with biting retorts. But now, Daeran doesn't disabuse the child and isn’t even bothered by being seen as a heroic figure. There also isn’t any objection when the Commander points out the similarity between him and the boy. He’s shocked they can see through him but decides to be honest and agrees with their assessment. Daeran’s sensitivity and his tendency to be more emotionally transparent with the protagonist is, at this point, a recurring theme in the peaceful outcomes, so it’s a shame that when they later choose to compliment his vulnerable soul, he's always equally dismissive.

Daeran is perfectly aware of how damaging cruel disillusionment can be to one’s psyche. As a child, he witnessed firsthand the powerlessness of good in the face of evil, the suffering adhering to moral principles can bring, and how those who claim to be righteous can turn out to be as callous and uncaring as hardened villains. These experiences left the young Count with a pessimistic view of the world and human nature, making him adopt coping mechanisms that only deepened his melancholy and loneliness. Knowing this, he wishes to spare the boy a similar fate and plays along to preserve his innocence.

In the non-peaceful outcomes, Daeran gives the signet away as if it was an insignificant bauble. But even though we barely ever see this side of him, some dialogues indicate he’s proud of his heritage and his ancestors' role in Mendev’s history. They were valiant defenders of the kingdom, who, for generations, protected its borders from any threat. This is who the Count, as a scion of the Arendae house, was originally destined to be and who, it so happens, the boy sees in him. Perhaps his take on him makes Daeran reflect on how differently things could have turned out had it not been for his family's demise and the Other’s interference. It undoubtedly revokes memories of his roots and deceased kin, since he not only rewards the child with the ring but also educates him on its meaning and sentimental value, expressing unexpected sincerity and kindness. In the Lobotomy scenario, this gesture is particularly bittersweet — with his impeding childless death, Daeran’s lineage is going to expire, making the memento the only way to keep its memory alive.

Finally, the Good version of the scene carries a deep symbolic significance. Daeran rewards one person who doesn't focus on his superficial traits or recreates the mask he hides behind. The image the boy paints of him may not be accurate, but while the other portrayals embody what the Count turned into under the Other's influence, this one shows what he could have been if he hadn’t lost the childish naivety he now longs for. And who he, despite his own skepticism, still can or perhaps even already started to become, thanks to the good protagonist's compassion and support. Just like the Commander, the boy views him as someone better than what his predicament forced him to be. And Daeran, confronted with sincere faith in him, cannot help but answer the call.

[dujour13]

Some things I was contemplating for the Roleswap AU and Knight-Commander Woljif:

1. Trickster > Legend. The whole Fifth Crusade is a long con. That accidentally comes true.

2. The only thing saving Ember from her insanity ending is Woljif trying to impress Sia. (It’s not bad intentions. He thinks he’s doing her a favor by telling her to stop spouting nonsense.)

3. The only thing saving Arue is also Sia's influence. (Woljif will support her when the Queen is mean to her but otherwise doesn’t trust her, has no time for dream tea parties, and is too embarrassed to talk about his own dreams.)

4. RIP Liotr. It’s ride or die with Dae

5. The Drezen palace is going to have gold toilets, I’m so sorry

6. Impostor syndrome

[another-heroine]

Witch Toll

Maybe I got carried away about the mission of seducing the local priest and it ended like this!

Thanks @jean-dieu for lending me your awkward Sarenite, I studied him like he was a bug and I'm pretty satisfied. And Ekaterina had some fun bullying another Inquisitor >:)

CW: slighlty dubious intentions, teasing, power dynamics, flustered tiefling, better than a simple kiss (though 'better' is not the right word for this *evil laugh*)

Another day, another opportunity for Hulrun to get on everybody’s nerves. And it was worse when Liotr was away from Kenabres like that time.

Raphaël took a deep breath. It was a matter of time. May Saranrae give him wisdom and resilience to endure that nonsensical chase by nighttime into the woods.

“By the instructions we have, they must be not far,” the Inquisitor warned his squad. “Keep your eyes open.”

Perched owls watched over them with their piercing yellow eyes. Some of the witch hunters babbled prayers while following their leader.

“Damn wenches,” one of them cussed. “Like it isn’t enough to put their worthless lives in demons’ grasp, they put innocent folk in danger as well.  Who in their right mind would stroll around here to ask for help?”

“Charmed folk,” another one replied. “The poor fellows fall for their words like flies on an open honey jar.”

“And then get slapped to death.”

Raphaël stopped suddenly and gave a stern look at them. “Are you done with chit-chatting?”

The witch hunters looked at each other and nodded, slightly embarrassed.

“Let me refresh your mind one more time,” the Inquisitor recalled. “When we find the suspect’s house, you stay right behind me and let me lead the investigation. No vandalism, no unrequired words, nothing without my approval. By Everlight, you are men, not rabid dogs!”

One witch hunter called quietly, “Inquisitor”.

Raphaël looked at him and noticed the lad was pointing to somewhere ahead. And indeed there was something: warm lights following in a line. The squad got in position without second thoughts and followed the Sarenite.

A few commoners were at the door of a humble cabin. The Inquisitor waved for his men to not approach too much yet. They had to observe them first.

The door opened and a subtly glowing figure appeared. It was kind of hard to see her face since she was surrounded by the small group. She talked in a hushed voice, giving satchels and apparently elixir vials to the visitors.

“... It should help. Come back if you need anything else,” she guaranteed to an old woman.

“Erastil blesses you, girl.”

One by one, the people dismissed through the woods, and Raphaël held the line, ignoring the antsy feeling among his squad. They were not under Hulrun’s orders, but his. They should know how to behave for good or else.

Finally it was possible to give a good look at her, though from afar. The suspect was a copper-haired aasimar. Raphaël had heard about her before, but for a long time he thought the stories were exaggerated — a child of celestial living alone in the woods, asking for nothing but for people to leave her alone and let her help them the best she could. Why was she not in the Iomedae’s ranks as many of her kind have been?

A thought sparkled in the Inquisitor’s mind — Maybe because she is not like the others of her kind.

“Inquisitor, what now?” one of his men asked.

Raphaël swallowed hard. He was not nervous, but somehow his throat got constricted and he felt thirsty.

The woman got back inside the cabin and closed the door.

“Inquisitor?”

“I'll go ahead.” Raphaël left the shadows. “If I need you, I’ll send a signal.”

“Yes, sir,” the group agreed.

Walking to the cabin was strange. It was like his legs weighed much more than they used to. But before the tiefling could raise his hand and knock on the door, a soft voice asked, “Come in”.

And so he did. The inside of the house was scarcely lit by oiled lamps. Raphaël stiffed for a second; he felt the same piercing yellow eyes from earlier over his head, right from the ceiling, but as he looked up, there was nothing there.

“May I help you?”

The aasimar was sitting on a straw stool, sorting some herbs. She didn’t seem bothered by the strange visitor.

Raphaël got to his composure again and asked, “How… How did you know I…”

“I saw you and your men outside. Not mean to be rude, but being discreet isn’t one of their greatest skills.”

The Inquisitor kept his mouth shut, with a bitter feeling lingering in the back of his head.

She looked at him for the first time, and a soft smile appeared on her face, though not touching her eyes. “And it’s very rare to see someone like you on their side.”

“What do you mean? Because I’m a tiefling?” Raphaël scoffed, defensive.

The woman shrugged. “Let’s be honest, you should have made a great impression over Hulrun and your comrade-in-arms for they don’t cut off your tail or horns. At least.”

Raphaël frowned. “Who are you?”

The aasimar kept organizing the herbs before her. “Just someone minding her own business. But if it’s a name you want, it’s Ekaterina.”

“By your accent you are not from here.”

The woman sighed and got up. Raphaël’s tail twitched; she was shorter than him for a few centimeters. “You are right. I’m from Irrisen. But don’t mistake me for a Winter Witch, yes? I’m a druid.”

“Why are you so far from your homeland?”

“Personal matters. And now, my turn; what’s your name?”

Her body language was quite relaxed, but yet her words made the tiefling hesitate a little. She smelled of thyme and smoke.

“Raphaël,” he exhaled noisily. “I’m a servant of Sarenrae.”

Ekaterina looked at him up and down. “I see.”

He flushed. Of course he was, otherwise he would not be wearing Sarenite motifs.

“So…” Ekaterina put her hands behind her back. “You came to my home, asking questions and giving judgemental eyes. But as you can see, there is no trap, no luring or even a hungry beast lurking to eat you alive around here. Have I satiated your curiosity already?”

Raphaël cleaned his voice. “There are rumors saying that you were involved in… hedonist rituals.”

Ekaterina’s brows raised. “Really? When?”

She did not look offended. In fact, the words of the Inquisitor made her giggle.

“Not like a host or a guest, but… Someone came here and ordered a love potion. Is that true?”

Ekaterina smiled warmly. “That’s not my kind of business. But it would be… interesting, I daresay. People say a lot of things about everyone and everything, don’t you think so?”

Raphaël nodded, feeling weird, and getting nervous for being weird. Maybe he should send the signal for the other witch hunter right the way. Or just walk through the door and put a stone over that investigation.

Ekaterina noticed his hooves bringing him back to the entrance. She shook her head and added, “You witch hunters are so childish sometimes, putting it mildly.”

Her words itched Raphaël. “What do you mean?”

“Same old stories, every day. Hedonism, eating children, demonic pacts. It doesn’t matter if someone like me is just trying to survive and help good people, for many of you, my kinship and I should be at the stake whatever it takes.”

Raphaël protested, “Not every Inquisitor is like it!”

“You mean ‘like Hulrun’, am I right? Gladly I never ever met him,” she snorted. “Everybody is afraid of you because you're always scared of anything. If you were more flesh than divine weapon, maybe things would be easier and fairest for everyone.”

He was angry, but she was right. Every word was like a scorching ray against his skin, ignoring his Hellish heritage. Like the purifying Everlight herself.

Raphaël gave up. He walked back to the druid with his fists clenched, but his voice sounded quiet, almost like a begging, “Let me prove I’m not like them”.

Why was he doing that? He had no idea. Maybe because he was unfairly suspicious towards a child of Heaven, a lonely heather. Maybe because her presence had a powerful influence over him…

Or maybe because his mortified flesh was asking for that.

Ekaterina gave him a strange glance. She did not expect her words would bring that kind of outcome. She just wanted to shoo him away, but the effects were opposite.

“Let me prove myself,” he repeated, his heart beating fast against his ribcage.

Ekaterina pondered. “Do you have any idea how strong this request is?”

“Yes,” he replied without a blink.

That was a serious matter. Then it would be. The woman suggested, “Back in my homeland, when the house owner is disrespected somehow, the offender should bring an apology token. It could be a sacrifice, a terrible secret, or even sex.”

The last word made the Inquisitor’s guts freeze.

“Whatever that makes the offender vulnerable. So, lay down on the floor.”

“What?”

“Now.”

He asked for it. Dear Sarenrae, where was his head when he agreed with that? His tail rattled on the cold stone like an eager serpent, and involuntarily it wrapped softly on one of the druid’s ankles.

“Calm down, Inquisitor,” she stated, removing her limb from the desperate grasp like it was but a withered vine.

Dozens of ghostly-yellow eyes were watching them. Raphaël’s throat got dry again, as the woman put one foot on his chest, right over the Everlight insignia. She kept the other on the floor, next to his head, letting the worned hem of her tunic flutter on his chin and neck.

“I’m sorry,” he begged, either to her or his goddess.

“You are fine,” the druid hummed, looking deep into his eyes.

He wanted to move, to brush at least one thumb against her warm skin, from the ankle to the calf and up the way. To… kiss her. But he couldn’t do that; he made an unbreakable oath on his own.

“Don’t come back here again, unless you have a good, good reason,” she said. “Am I being clear?”Raphaël just nodded, and when she took off her feet over him, he felt… empty. And naked.

[spyridonya]

Hello! How about 8, 9, 20 for Kadira?

Knight Commander Ask Game

Thank you for asking! I answered 8 and 9 right here, but I hate the idea of not giving you something to read! So, I rolled a 1d30 to also answer 16 and 26 along with 20!

(links lead to spoilers! and all comments under link due to major spoilers!)

16) If applicable, who did they romance and why? If no one, why?

Kadira in her canon run was romanced by Daeran and it surprised her. Despite misgivings, she very much liked Daeran. He was funny despite being cruel, stunningly beautiful, and incredibly insightful and well educated. Early on she believed due to her social class and later her gender that he wouldn't be interested in her. The flirtatious bantering was just seen as bantering, with little behind it and she was following his lead. When she discovered he was pansexual, she still wrote the possibility off. She was a virgin (a very complicated situation) and not very attractive (in her eyes).

It was when Liotr approached her for his investigation that Kadira attempted to be the perfect guest and kept her focus on Daeran rather than being her wallflower likeself. The desire to protect Daeran brought Kadira closer to him, and she was under the sincere belief he was teasing her with the roses, with the bath tub, and with the non-date up until she found herself in his arms. She even thought it was a long game despite falling in love with him, needing to be close to protect him and the Crusade. It wasn't until he willingly went into the Abyss and showed concern for her welling being that she realized he sincerely care as much as she cared about him.

(Other romances are Golden Shell, a OT3 with Lann and Daeran, @another-heroine's Katya, and @jean-dieu's Raphael.)

20) Which event of the crusade traumatized them?

Lost Chapel was horrific for Kadira. It was the first time she doubted herself and her insight to other people, though she suspected who the traitor in the camp was, Irabeth and Anevia were both too traumatized to follow through. Seeing the faces of innocent men and women turned into ghouls and their souls in the balance almost broke Kadira. Even the powers she was granted during the apex of the attack wasn't it worth it in her mind.

She sneaked out of the camp after the siege to cry and drink. (Depending on the romance, an LI would find her and sit next to her, sharing the wine bottle she stole.)

26) Did they separate from any companions? Why? (Consider killing a companion too for this question)

Camellia and Wenduag did not survive the Crusade with Kadira. When Kadira discovered that Camellia was killing crusaders as apart of a ritual, she almost believed it. Kadira didn't know about the Sakorian religion as well as she liked, even if it smelled fishy, and the corruption and trauma of the land made it almost plausible. However, when Camellia was sulking about being told not to and being horny, something snapped in Kadira and she attacked Camellia.

Wenduag benefited from Kadira's guilt over murdering Camellia, with the sincere hope that Wenduag would recognize the benefits of living on the surface and that such merciless cruelty she subscribed to wasn't necessary. Kadira was betrayed in the Abyss by Wenduag and had no other choice but to stop her.

Kadira struggles with the aftermath of both decisions, long after the Crusade ended.

[dmagedgoods]

For Sal my beloved:

7. Is your KC religious? If yes, which deity do they follow? If not, what is their view on religion?

13. What is their biggest regret regarding their time as the KC?

22. Who was their favorite advisor during crusade council?

Aaaaaa, thank you so much! 🥺💕 7 Is your KC religious? If yes, which deity do they follow? If not, what is their view on religion? Salvadore is an atheist. He sharply criticizes most gods (especially Pharasma) who, in his eyes, are too flawed, indifferent and/or selfish to be worthy of that term and the connected devotion and worship. In the end of the game, he has a slightly higher opinion of Iomedae than in the beginning, but still views her merely like an ally he can respect. If Salvadore had to pick a god who represents some of his views, it would be Abadar. One day, he may take the Test of the Starstone, as always very much willing to prove that he is more suited for the position. The other 2 answers under a read more because of spoilers. [Teddy, don’t look, I mean it, it's the huge kind of spoiler.]

13 What is their biggest regret regarding their time as the KC? Always with the knife to his throat, I see. 😁 Surprisingly, the deed that causes him the strongest feeling of guilt is not his biggest regret. Salvadore did never and will never regret that he picked Daeran’s wellbeing, security and freedom over his own principles and killed Liotr for him. The murder itself lies heavy on his conscience, but confronted with the decision once more, he would decide the same over and over again. His moment of strongest regret, is Galfrey’s death. Eyeing her position early after his raise to power as the Knight Commander, with the goal to declare Drezen’s independence and win influence against her in Mendev too, it felt like a subconscious choice to induce her demise rather than an unfortunate development that led there. When he decided to aid her last in Iz, Salvadore did it out of his conviction that a leader has the duty and ability to hold out when necessary to protect those they’re responsible for. Still, he can’t say for sure if his action wasn’t also caused by strategic calculations of a different sort. When the dying queen used her last breathes to apologize to him and he saw Daeran tensing and turning away from the scene, he knew the painful regret about his decisions in Iz would follow him for a long, long time. 22 Who was their favorite avisor during crusade council? Salvadore found all of them concerningly incompetent, except, maybe, Odan. He is knowledgeable to a degree and used the second chance he asks him for to prove himself as a general. You will laugh, but post-game Salvadore’s favorite among them became Lady Konomi. He despised her and her lack of skill during the diplomacy councils and when Daeran and him caused the replacement of the members of the Royal Council in Nerosyan, she lost her position. It’s unclear if she forgives him for that and she’ll probably always view him as a usurper, but she and Salvadore have dinner whenever she visits Drezen.

[nnibarrel]

Joking about wolves' love for the moon.

(Desnans and iomedaeans aren't so different...)

Still not sure what to do with Liotr's design in the au. For now it's a fully white wolf. Suits him, in canon he's blond northman, but while I was digging in the wolf lore (for god's sake...) I am not sure if tundra wolves live in the Lands of Linnorm Kings. What's with the climate there? Wiki says that in Scandinavia live eurasian wolves, but mb Golarionish Skandinavia will be colder... So, if I'm wrong, mb I’ll remake him into a common wolf.

[dragonologist-phd]

How is Piper problematic?

oh boy here we go:

gives tieflings a bad name by engaging in stereotypical criminal activity. (have you even seen her deception skill? how do you think she made a living for a lot of her life?)

pretty much everything she told any authority figure in act 1 was a lie, which i think counts as both 'impersonating a crusader' and 'identity fraud'

stole a family heirloom from her ex and threw it into the ocean like a petty version of rose from the titanic

ghosted the queen. multiple times.

accidentally destroyed lann's confidence without even realizing it

had a nice arc about discovering bravery within herself, yeah yeah, but did you know she's not afraid of inquisitors anymore? sorry liotr!

calls herself an azata but doesn't even like animals that much

has lied on her resume for every job she's ever had

there's probably more but she changes her name constantly so people can't hold her accountable

Ask me about one of my OCs and I’ll list out why they’re problematic.

[queen-scribbles]

From the relationship asks: For good, for bad, & future for the OC of your choice!

Going with Vikkari, since playing WotR again is making me miss him

For Good: Is there anyone in your OC's life who had an undeniable positive impact on who they are as a person? How did knowing this person improve your OC's life?

I've talked about some of the others before(his grandmother, Aivu, Arue), so this goes to the non-havoc dragon besties, Seelah and Lann. :D Yes, they go together, they're equally his best friends and are equally important to him. As for improving his life, it's nothing special or secret. They support him and have his back but still treat him like a normal person; they don't hold back when they spar(Lann always beats him, Seelah it's 50/50), they'll drag him to the tavern for a drink, they give each other shit and encourage each other and he genuinely appreciates having people like that in his life, who he can be just himself around, more than he can put into words. So they kept him sane through the whole closing the Worldwound business and there's no one he trusts more. (of course he can be himself around Arue, too, but it's nice having a platonic relationship where he can relax as well as the romantic one)

For Bad: Is there anyone who had an undeniable negative impact on your OC’s life? How did your OC deal with that change? Have they been able to move on?

Outside of Areelu... probably Daeran. Vikkari suffered a little from being my first playthorugh and thus got bent slightly ooc a couple times to recruit/keep people he really wouldn't have bc I wanted to see their companion arc(/HARD look at Camellia). He has limits I wouldn't push past, but he did kill Liotr at the end of Daeran's quest, which I feel like still eats at him a little bc Liotr isn't a bad guy. (I think the dialogues that led to fighting him were of the "this mess isn't Daeran's fault" sort of thing? and Liotr technically is the one who pushed it to a fight, but I knew it was coming and went that route anyway. "I don't want to fight you, but you're not taking him.") Also Daeran's personality as a whole rubs Vikkari the wrong way and it makes him kinda grumpy and irritable to talk to the guy for too long. They part ways pretty quickly after the Wound is closed and probably never speak again outside of maybe polite nothings if they bump into each other at formal events.

Future: Is there anyone your OC is looking forward to meeting or to seeing again? Who? What might that meeting or reunion look like?

He likes visiting with the Free Crusaders, so any time he runs into some of them post-game there's lots of effusive greetings, back pats, drinking contests and wildly exaggerated stories among them.

Other than that, he always loves coming home to Arue. And you can probably guess what reuniting with his girlfriend looks like. >:3

OC Relationship Asks

[rivilu]

The more I think about the story through Daeran's pov the more insane i go. btw.

[crows-of-buckets]

I think I hauve cobid....

The fucking!!!! Ship metaphor!!! From the beginning of the god damn game where he went "I would simply be the wind" when you asked him about it and now he's being described as the ship, not about to crash onto the rocks, but instead free... I'm gonna be ILL

[thedragonagelesbian]

of course i've been thinking about daeran's birthday party nonstop. absolutely obsessed with it. the contrast between daeran's lavish thrill- and pleasure-seeking excesses and the austere horror of the ghostly flashbacks is exquisite, and all the little cracks in his veneer of disinterest are sooooo tasty.

cyrus is generally uncomfortable with dishonesty, so the whole proposition of lying, even to daeran, in order to dig up a deeply traumatic event from his past makes him uneasy. when he's not conspiring with liotr, he tries to enjoy the party as much as possible, hoping that if it's at least a fun party for daeran, it'll offset some of the guilt

(though that does not stop cyrus from 'accidentally' spilling wine on him after cyrus suggested he might be able to do something worthwhile as part of the crusade and daeran laughed him off. or walking in on him changing. or thoroughly trouncing him in a drinking contest. given the party's emphasis on debauchery, though, i think those all count under daeran's definition of fun. as he remarked at the end of everything: "I don't know if my opinion matters to you at all... But you were the very best guest I could ever wish for!")

and then, of course, there was the reveal of the Other. i was spoiled on that front, but it was still heartbreaking to see little daeran cornered and reaching for an abominable salvation. and i didn't know about the explicit threat that it would kill anyone who knew of its existence, keeping daeran quiet & isolated and preventing cyrus from acting on this information, no matter how desperately he wants to.

being powerless to help someone he cares about is such a nightmare for him, so when they return to camp, and he gets this dialogue

cyrus could've gone with the good-aligned option to say he thinks daeran is capable of changing & being a better option. instead, he says

...which daeran also laughs off, but cyrus is still glad he said it. he hopes it'll make a difference, one day.

[durgewyll]

I have emerged victorious from daeran's act 5 quest. quest and ending spoilers under the cut

i had to reload my save to get the "good" ending lol. my knight commander def would've killed liotr before even thinking about handing daeran over to the inquisition but it turns out killing him gives you the happy evil ending dhskdnddhej

for me that was the obvious RP choice—my KC has no qualms about killing people for her companions, case in point, camellia—but i guess it also makes RP sense for her to not turn her back on liotr bc he's the one who helped to uncover the secret and researched everything to help bind the other in the first place

[outeremissary]

Ohh Balthazar and Daeran. Somone ask that already, right? 😂

(for the alternate love interest)

Well, someone did ask that... in 2021, two weeks before Wrath released. My college friends noticed some conspicuous similarities between Balthazar and what we all knew about Daeran at the time, haha. You'll have to forgive me for working with imperfect knowledge even now- you know about the status of me and Wrath.

Despite the obvious resonances, I feel like I don't have a straightforward answer! I do think there's a lot of chemistry there. Balthazar would enjoy Daeran's sense of humor and his lavish lifestyle, and I think Daeran would appreciate his playful wit and sharpness in turn. They both have a similar cynicism about the world that would be an easy point to bond over, and they're both beautiful people- surely there is attraction there (I say with asexual confidence). I can easily see there being a spark that drew them to one another very quickly. There's even some empathy I imagine Balthazar would feel with Daeran's position and struggle with the Other.

Balthazar prefers to be the one doing the courting, but he's no stranger to having admirers. When Daeran began to make his grander romantic overtures I think it would be generally amusing or flattering, so long as he didn't feel belittled or made the subject of a joke (and his moods on these things can be somewhat capricious). If nothing else, the scandal would bring a smile to his face. He might make a game out of answering with gestures of his own. The thrill and romance of such a game would, I think, be compelling to Daeran. But I think it might be unfortunate for Daeran if he did truly fall for Balthazar...

You see, Daeran is someone who would feel very familiar to Balthazar. His lifestyle, his style of romance, his way of seeing the world... they're all not far from the types of patrons Balthazar found for himself when he still lived in Absalom. He had a talent for insinuating himself into the lives of the idle young rich, latching onto people who were naive or morally curious enough to always be seeking exotic, scandalous, or dangerous thrills. Many of Balthazar's former friends and lovers did have casually cruel personalities the same way that Daeran does at times. So there's a script for dealing with these people, and there's a thing that one gets out of being involved with them: access to power and wealth. Balthazar's never been above using sex or romance to pull himself up the social ladder. A count who's already so careless with his position? That's an opportunity for anyone smart enough to find a way to use it. Even if he did have some genuine fondness for Daeran, that would always be lurking somewhere under the surface or at the back of his mind- along with the reason he was forced to leave Absalom for the north in the first place, and the dangers of being too close with people like the Count Arendae.

I have to imagine it would be terribly devastating for Daeran to learn of such schemes were he invested in the relationship. Learning the one you cared for was really only using you, that everything really was only a game? I'm sure the end of that would be devastating. Not that Balthazar would care all that much. Though at the same time, Balthazar's good at hiding, and he really would enjoy spending time with together. So perhaps he would never be discovered after all.

At any rate, I don't think it's a relationship that would significantly change either person involved whether it lasted or not (well, maybe it could change Daeran for the worse). Balthazar would love to encourage Daeran's worst impulses to see where they go, and he might break his heart along the way. It's all a game- he can be with Daeran and be fond of him and even kill for him without any particular remorse (Liotr would absolutely not survive this), but he could never be Daeran's true love, the person Daeran can rely on through everything. Perhaps something lesser can still be satisfying, but it seems a hollow satisfaction for all involved. And Daeran is so much like the sorts of people Balthazar has known and courted in the past- it would be more like falling back into old habits than anything. Daeran can be as loving and as lovely as you could possibly imagine, but without something more challenging than a romantic streak, he'll never reach be able to make something truly special with Balthazar. But it will be fun while it lasts, won't it?