#unnamed de riva

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

Shoutouts to my as-yet-unnamed Crow Rook for being the first of my new idiots to infiltrate my dreamscape last night. Half of the dream was basically like. my brain solidifying some thoughts I had while awake about her backstory/how she came to the Crows: she lived with a caretaker (don't know/haven't decided if that's a parent or not) and a bunch of other kids, and the Crows came around looking for children to torture recruits. They offered Rook's caretaker some coin in exchange for her, which the caretaker accepted, because that's one less mouth to feed and a bit more coin with which to feed the others.

There was something else to the dream, I think some point she was talking to Lucanis, but I don't remember that conversation at all. I just remember deciding yep, I'm locking in on that being her backstory.

[dalishious]

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

(I will add more as I hear it!)

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: Are there many Crows like Jacobus?

Viago: We have many fledglings, but he is something of a prodigy. They tend to do very well, or very badly.

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.

-

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.

-

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, lest they take it from me.

-

Teia: Thank you for spurring this rebellion, Rook. It's good to see Viago energized.

Viago: When have I ever been not energized?

Teia: Certain mornings.

Viago: Only after certain evenings.

-

Rook: You two are confident we can take the Butcher when the time's right?

Viago: Ending one life is a punctuation. There is much more to be said first.

Teia: Let's not craft a treatise when a limerick can suffice.

Viago: And that is why your epitaphs are legendary.

-

Viago: Have you been home in the last week?

Teia: I won't let the fledglings see the Diamond empty.

-

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.

-

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: Occupied! The insult of it!

Teia: It's more than insulting.

Viago: It's salt in the wound. And that is my purview.

-----

SOURCES:

Dragon Age: Deception

Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights

Dragon Age: The Missing

Dialogue between Teia and Viago (DATV)

Letter from Mistress Trella (DATV)

[sun-marie]

Very briefly testing out my "chaotic brother De Riva" concept and devastatingly I really dig Rogue combat. Like quite a bit. So i guess I'll have to play with this dude at some point, even if I won't commit to him being my Rook.

Having said that, behold! Currently unnamed Menace of House De Riva (original sliders from here!)

[laura-the-yellow-cat]

Judy's Relationship and Relationships

Family

Tillie and Jeremy (her Parents)

Unnamed Muffet's Biological Parents (Aunt and Uncle; Deceased)

Muffet Minnie/Pepper (Long-lost Cousin)

Icy de Spell (her EX-grandmother; Deceased and Disowed)

Trixie de Spell (her grandmother)

Mimi Pepper (Her Cousin)

Claude the Puppy/Dog (Cousin's Pet; Puppy/Dog)

Sandra (her Ancestor; Deceased)

Glinda (Muffet's Ancestor; Deceased)

Vanilla Kingsmen Minnie/Pepper (her Niece in the Adult Universe)

And all her families

----

Friends

Mike Weld

Ecole Rivas

Misti the Dog/Kitsune

Matilda Weld

Josh Rivas

Ava Lee

Sarah Cabanas (You)

Sapphire the Dog/Kitsune

Samantha the Polter Dog/Kitsune

Laura Sanchez (Me)

Sardonyx the Polter Cat

Roger and Atta Minnie (Muffet's Adopted Aunt and Uncle)

Bart Minnie (Muffet's Adopted Brother)

Cera Minnie (Muffet's Adopted Older Sister)

Others Adopted Siblings Minnie (Bart and Cera's Siblings)

Mary Minnie (Muffet's Adopted Younger Sister of Roger and Atta's one of three Daughters)

Esmeralda Minnie (Muffet's Adopted Younger Sister of Roger and Atta's one of three Daughters)

Terrine Minnie (Muffet's Adopted Younger Sister of Roger and Atta's one of three Daughters)

----

Lewis Pepper

Vivi Yukino

Arthur Kingsmen

Daniela Kingsmen/Schmidt

John Kingsmen

Jane Kingsmen

Tim (Muffet's boyfriend, later husband in the adult universe)

Arturo (Her Boyfriend)

and All her allies

----

Enemies

Spinel (Her Former Friend, later Archenemy; who killed the bakers and deceased)

----

For @mysteryideasgroup and @sfcabanasstarcgs

[mythalsknickers]

Feathers on a Chessboard

Title: Feathers on a Chessboard Chapter: Walking Along the Edge Pairing: Teigue de Riva x Lucanis Dellamorte Characters: Lucanis Dellamorte, Teigue de Riva, Taash, Spite, Perseverance, Emmerich Rating: Mature Word Count: 4,882 Warnings: Angst, Romantic Tension, Killing of unnamed NPCS through assassination, Flashbacks, Smut Note: Author does not speak Italian, Veneto, or Spanish, there is a liberal usage of Italian and Veneto. I have done the best that I can with online learning resources. if the grammar is incorrect please feel free to reach out I would love to learn more to do this properly. The Author has no idea what chapter this is in the fic, it was brain rot so now it exists.

The door closed behind him, his knees gave out and he sank to the floor in a heap. The week was taking its toll, bringing his hand up to his face, he cradled himself. First the loss at Weisshaupt, they had been so close and Lucanis had done a kill many only dreamed of only for it to be parried. Solas taunting him, Davrin and Lucanis at each other's throats, and the rest of the team being distracted with problems at home.

The fade washed over him like a cold blanket, and pulled his hand down smearing the black and gold liner. Persi's work no doubt this deep in the fade they were stronger then they had been in Kirkwall. Still his chest felt tight as he stared at a fish, he was supposed to lead a smaller house of the Antivan crows, not a team of people all hurting but trying to save the world from the blight to end all blights. He sucked in a breath, and it burnt his lungs, a choked sob forcing its way up. Maker fuck him! His fist collided with the door, tears running down his cheeks.

"Well done Teigue." he murmured to himself, his fingers clenching, forming fists as he forced another breath. The moment was gone, he had to be the leader, and he could not afford to fall to pieces now. His stomach twisted as he forced himself to his feet, he desperately needed coffee and maybe some cheese. He slowly made his way over to the wash basin and dunked his head in with little ceremony. The cool water jarring much like the ice baths of his childhood.

Looking in the mirror, he recognized the face that stared back at him, from a year ago…

"Lucanis Dellamorte is dead Teigue." The world had stopped, Viago's mouth had kept moving but the words did nothing against the wall of despair around his senses. Dead...but how? He could feel Perseverance push against the fade trying to comfort him. His heart tightened remembering the order he needed to pick up from the blacksmith. "Teigue" his coffee cup tumbled to the floor shattering, his eyes met Viago's and the older crow's gaze was filled with concern, and words neither of them could handle in the world between them. "I...I need to go to the blacksmith, there is an order I need to pick up." He tripped over the words, forcing a slow inhale. He could not act out of emotion. "Of course Teigue, I will have a servant send the tailor your measurements." He stood, his exhale shaky as he forced a smile to Viago. New clothes for the funeral, as heir he was expected to go. He fled the Villa into the Salle countryside, he needed to find somewhere, to scream, to cry something. There was a pond he would go read at, it was quiet, and away from everyone else. No one would judge him for the choked sobs, or the screams.

It was like looking back into time, into that pond. Tears and frustration all over again, his fingers tightened around the thin brush. Lucanis was alive. He reminded himself, it was different now, he still had not fully processed it all. They could not just pick back up where they had left off. Lucanis had been tortured for a year, and Teigue knew he was a walking disaster. Another breath and he drew the lines around his eyes, first the inky black followed by the shimmering gold. Another look in the mirror and this time he recognized himself, the assassin who had killed twenty Antaam and freed Trevisani being rounded up. It was better.

He strolled along the courtyard, Persi had let him be after that initial outburst, no doubt the elder spirit would have a long conversation with him, if Solas did not pull him into the Fade Prison again. His eyes scanned for Lucanis, not spotting him. He pushed the door to the kitchen open making his way to the coffee pot. Pulling a cup down off the shelf, he started looking through the cabinets for his roast. Where did Lucanis put the damn thing, it was a whole bucket of Urthemiel's Tears. There was a note, penned in Neve's handwriting.

Urthemiel's Tears: Out of blend used last of beans.

He stared at the note and a pained sigh left his lips, he was going to buy Neve the Dumat blend. If only to keep her out of his coffee stash. Hopefully Lucanis still had some Andoral's Breath. Pivoting towards the pantry, he paused feeling something push on the fade, well that was not Persi. He pushed open the door only to be greeted with Taash. Their eyes met his briefly and the wings burned onto the wall made him pause.

"Demon's back." They were curt and peeking around them, Lucanis was more rigid, his posture too tight even for staring at the floor. Stepping up next to Taash he gave a slight smile. "I do not think he is capable of leaving, actually." He had sympathy for Spite but also for the man he had fallen in love with years ago. His eyes looked back to Spite as he heard the inhale.

"Smells like melons...and woodsmoke." The voice was raspy, and the scent described, that was Taash. What was it Persi had told him about Spite...

Passion, perhaps determination even. Not spite. Passion is used to unrestrained, and raw expressions. Caged as they were, they are more complex now. Still passion, just need to find the passion it seeks.

"Hey!" Looking up from the floor he saw the man standing. "No! Sit your ass back down." Raising his head to look at Taash, he gently touched their arm, with a slight smile. "I will take care of this Taash, could you go make sure the Eluvian room is blocked?" He had caught the spirit stare at him, it was not so much as a precaution but a means to give them space. Leaning over he scooped up some of the coffee beans.

"Lavender...blood....and churros." He looked up into Lucanis, and Spite's eyes with a shrug. It seemed coffee would wait for now at least. "Now. We get to talk." He tipped his head to Spite giving a soft hum, so Spite had been wanting to talk to him. He felt the shift in the fade, the familiar warmth of Persi lingering and taking note.

"Alright, we can talk about you giving control back to Lucanis." The gaze was one he was all too familiar with. Being pinned into place and examined, between Viago and the few times Catarina had done it. Teigue was not certain why Spite was examining him but it did to a degree make him uneasy. "Lucanis. Made a deal. He hasn't kept." The way it was punctuated and the frustration oozing off of Spite, Teigue worried the inside of his cheek for a moment, was the deal to live? Maker, he hoped it was something easier. "What was the deal?" he mustered the courage to inquire, and hopefully to hear the answer.

"Break our chains. Kill. Escape our Prison. Live." His lips thinned and his eyes narrowed as he took a measured breath, his heart tightened and ached. Slowly exhaling, he gave a nod to Spite. It had been plain during the grocery shopping Lucanis was not living. "Most of that is happened--"

"No! I want out!" Spite growled lunging forward and Teigue held his eyes, the mask sliding into place. An apprentice in the circle unafraid of spirits or demonic taunts. "And where would you go, Spite?" He managed to get the question out as another growl echoed in the enclosed space. "I. Want Lucanis. To honor. The Deal." Lucanis balled his fists and there was another growl, a very tiny shift in the fade. "Tell him! Make--" Purple faded from brown and brows knitted in confusion.

"Rook?" He offered Lucanis a slight smile, noticing the tightness in his shoulders. "You were sleep--" There was a pivot away from him, with a sharp exhale. "Spite was sleep walking." Shrugging he offered a slight wave of his hand hoping to ease some of the unease. "You did not go anywhere." It was offered only when Lucanis looked back at him.

"I did not want you to see that." As the older crow tipped his head sideways, away from him again, Teigue bit back his snort, with a shrug of Lucanis' shoulders their eyes met again. "Again." His lips curved into a smile, it almost reached his eyes. "Nothing I am seeing is making me want to look away, Lucanis." There was a weight to his name as it rolled off his tongue. "You have already seen me at my worst." He broke the gaze looking towards the shelves, a crow bathed in the blood of templars. His gaze briefly met Lucanis' again with a slight smile.

"How do you always do that, Teigue?" The tone was lighter and there was a slight change in how his eyes watched him. They carried a touch of heat to them. It had a familiar look and a familiar dance. "Do what?" he mused, feigning a touch of innocence. "Break apart my perfectly gathered clouds of doom." He offered a slight smile to Lucanis. "You deserve better than to deal with my mess." Teigue's eyes narrowed briefly, his hand clenching for a moment.

"You are more than what you are going through." He tipped his head giving a slight hum seeing Lucanis' shoulders drop, his posture relaxed and that hint of heat came back into his eyes. "Besides, you do wear it well." His breath caught for a moment as the older crow took a few measured steps forward, and he took a step back. The space closed between them as his hand found the wall next to his head.

"This is not a good idea, Teigue..." There was a pause, and he could feel his cheeks warm as Lucanis' head tilted, watching him and keeping him pinned against the wall. It was a maneuver they all knew.. "You have said that before, and I still maintain that sometimes the bad idea is often the better one." His lips pulled into a smile, as he leaned back against the wall. Teigue's heart twisted and flipped as he watched an all too familiar smirk tug at Lucanis' lips, and that warmth in his eyes. It brought back memories of music and the way their bodies had moved together.

"You like to walk a little too close to the edge, la mia puóco bólpe" That hand moved closer to his head, and the smirk turned into a teasing smile. The endearment had him take a small breath, it had caught him off guard. Teigue reached up and poked his vest. Two could play the game. "So do you, la mia viverna." He whispered soaking the words in his heady need. He pulled his hand away taking a small breath, ignoring the heat in his cheeks.

"At least, I know I am doing it." The words barely breathed between them, as Lucanis closed the distance and He moved to meet him, their heads tilting, Coffee and Elfroot lingered between them, lips almost brushing. Lucanis pulled back, the moment shattered as he looked away.

"I... need to clear my head." The arm fell away from the wall, resting almost across his chest as shoulders fell. Teigue watched as Lucanis pivoted, keeping his back away and taking a few steps back, putting distance between them, and putting his guard back up "Excuse me." Hanging his head a moment Teigue let out a barely whispered exhale before turning to watch him leave, the hand going to the back of his neck and rubbing it. Mierda! He was personally going to make Lucanis regret his life choices. He needed a moment, at least to give Lucanis a fair chance of getting away before he went and made his coffee. Turning his gaze to the wings a hum left his lips. It could not have been Spite that pulled him from the moment.

Pushing off the wall he quietly crossed the pantry, standing before Lucanis' his eyes darted down and his heart tightened, another measured breath his fingers went up to the wings trailing along what appeared to be a scorch mark. Pulling his fingers away he noticed the dark purple almost pitch smearing, bringing it up to his nose. It did not smell like ash, no it was the pigment they used for throwing marks. He looked up as a door closed, at least he could get coffee.

Quietly leaving the pantry, he growled under his breath. Spite was making sense now. There was a method in grinding the beans down, creating the espresso shot and brewing the coffee. Bitter and sweet like a kiss goodbye. A kiss they never got to share. His fingers wrapped around a small dagger on his belt. The fade pressed against him and he could feel Persi, trying to offer some comfort through the fade.

"Ah Teigue, brewing a fresh pot of coffee?" His head jerked from the pot meeting the Professor, he caught the look the man could hear Spite, it stood reason he could at the least feel Perseverance. "Something like that, I need to go buy us some more coffee today." he offered with a slight grin, rolling his shoulders.

"I see, you know Perseverance is right about this." He tipped his head and the older man just held a finger to his lips. "I know Persi, is usually right about most things." He offered, grabbing his cup and taking a slow sip. The bitterness was a comfort like the feel of a dagger between his fingers.

"Just a warning Emmerich, the coffee is a bit bitter than the normal blend." He offered the man reaching up and grabbing the grocery list. Groceries, and hopeful an easy contract from Viago would take his mind off of the sting of being spurned. "Teigue, just do not act rashly." It mirrored the warning Persi gave him, and he flashed the necromancer a smile. "Fear not, just some grocery shopping and maybe some book shopping for book club." He gave a slight wave heading out onto the courtyard with a small sigh.

The walk to his room was enough time to drain the coffee cup. Leaving it next to his crow mask, he stripped out of the loose shirt and pants. Exchanging them for the tighter feather patterned leather pants, a pair of boots that were heavier with spikes sewn into the sole. Wrapping the vivid blue satin belt around his waist, his gaze met himself in the mirror. Slipping the jacket on he carefully adjusted the various leather belts holding his daggers, and his fingers adjusted the belts along his waist until the jacket hung just right. Looking himself over in the mirror one more time, golden necklaces hung from his neck, freckles disappeared under feathers. Closing his eyes, he flexed his fingers cracking the leather of the gloves.

"Hey Teigue." Lifting his gaze up he gave a slight nod "Jacket looks good on you." He smiled slightly adjusting his bag as he pushed open the door, the glow of the Eluvian greeting him, glancing back at Taash, he pushed his hair out of his eyes.

"Lucanis is back to usual, You can go give Harding those arrows you got while we were at the Hall of Valor." He mused with a smile. "Hey! They could be for me." He chuckled, stepping onto the bridge with a smirk. "Sure they are Taash, but seriously you do not need to stand guard, even if Lucanis decided to head out." He certainly hoped the older crow did try to follow him. The fucking bastard.

The trip through the crossroads offered him a chance to think, it was quiet, aside from the occasional poke of Perseverance. Which...he was hurting, and Persi always tried to talk him through the hurts. Stepping through the Eluvian, a yelp left his lips as cold rain pelted him. He quickly ducked into the Diamond, making his way across the pillar. His eyes scanned the group, Jacobus was gone, but so was Heir. Hopefully that meant some good coming to the fledgling. Rounding the corner he heard a giggle, and the groan of Viago followed by that familiar stare. The smile did reach his eyes this time.

"Teigue, there is a letter by the stairs that you might find useful!" Teia's laughter carried into the words. He offered a wave, grabbing the letter, and ducking down the stairs. There was no doubt Viago would be ready to pin him down when it came time to go back to the Lighthouse. Skimming the letter he tucked it into one of the interior belts, his hand going up and grabbing the trolley. His eyes looked over Treviso before his boots connected with tile with a sigh.

Climbing down he headed for the market, it was quieter today but that was the rain, when the waters rose Treviso grew quiet. First thing was first was coffee. Urthemiel's Tears, Dumat's Sigh and Nubulis Mist. The latter was going in his room, along with some sweets to sulk. Tucking a few bags into his bag, the rest the roaster would deliver to the Eluvian in the crossroads. The rest of the grocery list, he admittedly did not remember picking up the stuff but his bag was full of the goods. Ducking into an alley, he found the trellis and hoisted himself up onto the roof and for a moment he just stood there and soaked up the rain.

He was not sure how long it was before he ducked under a roof and finally read the letter Teia had offered him.

The Venatori assisting the Antaam have grown in number. To prevent them from completing the experimental Gaatlok, the recipient is charged with locating the leader of these Venatori and ensuring they do not draw another breath. The recipient is also charged with the death of any Venatori who may assume a leadership role over these snakes. Any experimental Gaatlok is to be destroyed as well.

Folding up the paper he took a small sigh, fire flickering on his fingers, the flames engulfing the paper. It was a risky contract, but it was something that would burn through his frustration, it was almost unnerving how well Teia knew him. The rain had grown from a gentle but cold drizzle to a downpour, it would work for getting into the garrison unnoticed, pulling his hood up he started on his path.

Entering the garrison proved to be the easy part. Since the last time he and his friends kicked down the front door they had increased security, that included multiple patrols. It had been a task to remind himself, this message was more for the Venatori, than the Antaam. Heavy footsteps...Teigue slipped into an unused room and waited. After he could no longer hear the footsteps, he slipped out and made his way to a separate wing of the garrison.

Slipping through an open window, his brows drew tight as it felt like a nail was being hammered into his skull, and the smell he knew too well. Blood magic, he had found the Venatori. Inhaling he held it for a five count, letting himself into what looked like a library, only when the door was closed behind him did he exhale. He needed to find something giving him a good indication of the command structure. Carefully he searched the desks, listening for anything to indicate he needed to move. After several minutes of scanning correspondence, he was confident he had a solid idea of the command structure. Pursing his lips he glanced at the windows towards the back of the room. There was no upper floor but perhaps he could...no it was better to use the shadows instead of the roof. Carefully he slipped out into the halls.

The first Venatori, was newly promoted and hungry to prove himself. He had listened to idle conversation, his head pounding. He had picked up bits and pieces of his target, an Alchemist from Nessum, missing home but also experienced with Gaatlok. Approaching the workshop, he took a breath slowly opening the door and creeping in. The alchemist was alone, it had been too long since he had been this close to a target. Another breath and he lunged forward, a single needle going into the alchemist's neck. The mark's hand came back like he was going to swat a fly, struggling to breath he slumped over.

The next two were together, and for those he sat from a balcony. Knives find their marks into their hearts, before he let himself drop down, collecting the daggers and leaving the bodies where they fell. It was on his way to the fourth he felt eyes on him, looking over his shoulder his lips pursed before he slid into the room. Unlike the other three this one had gone down with a fight, dagger meeting sword, and Rapier finding the path there. When the fourth fell Teigue, let himself out onto the balcony and for a moment he swore he saw purple. Shaking his head he pulled himself up onto the roof. There was no way Lucanis had gotten the contract from Teia.

Crouching he made his way along the roof line to a grander balcony, where the current commander resided. His foot slipped and he hit the tiled roof on his side. Gritting his teeth as his side burned he pulled himself back up and continued his creeping, taking another breath, the exhale came as a hiss as fire bloomed across his side and leg. "This is why we wear proper leather armor Teigue." he murmured under his breath mimicking Viago as he dropped down onto the balcony. For a moment he stayed pressed against the plants before he risked peeking through the door. No one, good enough for him to slip through the door. His brow knitted, the dull stabbing pain had burst into searing and throbbing pain. The dagger whistled and he pivoted away, watching the sickening red blade cut through the air where he had been. His rapier drawn, fuck so much for his clean record.

The fade thinned as the blood magic was used, yet rapier met sword, lunge back, duck and pivot keeping the back away from the enemy. He gritted his teeth as the Venatori kept dodging away from his dagger. He pushed a flash of flame along his Rapier, it was enough for the Venatori to jump back. Lunging forward, he was knocked backward as a winged flash of purple flew in. The venatori laying on the floor, throat slit.

"What do you thi--" a bell rang and it was not from the Chantry. He growled, grabbing his dagger, feeling Lucanis' gaze on him "We will talk about this later." His cheeks warmed hearing the growl to Lucanis' voice, biting his cheek to keep the laugh to himself. Later would mean probably a roof top some ways away. Pulling himself up onto the rooftop. Both of them made their way back to the chantry. Climbing through the window, as soon as Lucanis came through, wings still out, the older crow narrowed his eyes at him.

"What were you thinking?" There was no yelling, but he did advance, and Teigue narrowed his eyes. "A contract!" he stepped forward pushing back against the advance, wings flared and there was a purple tinge to his eyes. "That you knew was designed for a minimum of two crows." Lucanis pushed forward and Teigue ducked out the window into the rain. "And I had it under control!" His brows knitted as Lucanis said nothing, but pivoted and kept advancing, until Teigue felt his back hit a wall.

"Do you know how surprised Teia was to see me come through, looking for you?" Fingers gripped his chin forcing him to meet those eyes. "You disappear without so much as a word. I track you down to the contract and find you looking...." for a moment the older crow looked for words. "looking like you want to be pinned to this wall, and ravished." Teigue inhaled, biting his lip. "Blood dripping from your blades, but stupidly risking yourself." Fingers tangled in his hair, his eyes lost in the heat of Lucanis' gaze. "You do not get to do this mia stéƚa." The distance between them had vanished, and his heart raced as they stared at each other. Their lips met and he was pushed against the wall. Lucanis' hands cradled his face, as the older crow pushed for his lips to part, as the kiss deepened it carried the desperation, anger, hurt, and the fire. Teigue's fingers dug into his shoulders, as those spectral wings laid out behind them. The downpour was relentless, and they broke apart.

For a moment they stared at each other, silence between them. Lucanis' fingers trailed along the edge of his jacket. "Barely wearing anything, you reckless fool." The growl was more good natured than anger, as his other arm held his hips. "You say that like it is a bad thing Lucanis." he smirked as the older crow gave another growl. "If that red lyrium blade had." There was a pause and Teigue leaned up, pressing a deliberately slow kiss to the corner of his lips. "It did not." he murmured, a smirk pulling at his lips. "I should just make sure you cannot wear this again." Teigue snorted before attempting to squirm out of his arms. "I very much doubt that Lucanis." He growled as both his hands were grabbed and pressed into the wall. "You are correct, however...no one else gets to see you in this." The wings fanned out and Teigue swallowed, it was criminal that Lucanis got a demon and got wings out of that bargain.

Fingers found the belts undoing them and Teigue wrapped his legs around his lover. It had been a year, his head pressing into his shoulder. "Teigue...maker you test my patience." The murmur was almost barely heard but they met for another kiss, his hands freed from being pinned, pushing off Lucanis' jacket. Was it a bad idea? they were both different people from a year ago, blue satin fluttered to the ground and his jacket was pushed open. Kisses moved from his lips, down his neck to his chest, a soft moan pulled from his lips. Maker... He closed his eyes, shivering as those kisses continued.  

"Teigue..." He opened his eyes meeting Lucanis' he leaned forward off the wall pressing a kiss to his lips. "...yes" he breathed to Lucanis. Bad ideas, demons, the fire that was house Dellamorte, he wanted all of Lucanis. Fingers found his pants, tugging them down roughly as his own fingers worked on Lucanis' pants, until a hand moved his own back to those shoulders. "Not tonight mia stéƚa." The tone left no room for argument and the heat in those eyes brought a flush to his cheeks. The kiss pushed him back against the wall, and his fingers tangled in Lucanis' hair and pushed up under his corset.

I missed you. Breathed against his neck, with fiery kisses and bites that chased the cold of the rain away.

I need you. He breathed into Lucanis' shoulder as fingers trailed down his hip, and along his inner thigh.

I want you. They whispered together in the rain, coming together for the first time in over a year. Moans swallowed by kisses, rain soaking leather and cloth, eyes burning with fire and passion. Whispered antivan, there would be no missed moments, fingers raking down Lucanis' back, bruising kisses and nips dotted Teigue's neck and chest. Every kiss stole his breath, fingers tangled in his copper hair.

Toes curled against his boots, moans turned to a song of whimpers and soft pleasures. La piccola morte stole his energy, leaving him lip against Lucanis. In Orlais it was something whispered about and treated like the most fragile rose. "Teigue..." the soft murmur of his name had him opening his eyes with a soft whimper. This was not fragile, it was what they both needed. To feel the desperation and need. "Are you okay?" He nuzzled against Lucanis' neck with a sleepy mumble.

"Mhm fine, maybe cold." He was shivering and wet...it was still raining. How had he forgotten it was raining? Slowly Teigue unhooked his legs from Lucanis, a smile reached his eyes hearing the chuckle from his lover. "Hush mio demone." he chided, reaching down to grab his pants. It was a struggle to get the wet leather up where it belonged and get his jacket in some sense of order.

"We can stop by the apartment, and warm up at least" Lucanis picked up his jacket before draping it over him. "Hmm that sounds nice." he murmured curling into the jacket. An arm slid around his waist as they walked toward the familiar building away from the Diamond and the Eluvian back to the Lighthouse.

[moltensmusings]

Spoilers for act one of veilguard:

When running the quest to clean up the blight in treviso after the dragon attack, you run into a darkspawn connected to house de riva.

Do we ever get confirmation on who that darkspawn was or was it an unnamed member? Asking because beyond Viago and rook I'm blanking on other members of the house.

I want to note: I'm nit the best at reading all codex entries and what not so I could've missed it.

[ramblinganthropologist]

Proposed order of runs:

Cy de Riva x Lucanis

Cahel Thorne x (either Bellara or Taash)

Conan Lavellan x (whoever I didn't pick last run)

Unnamed mourn watch for peepaw

special run for Harding (may do another dwarf, could go Crow or Lord of Fortune IDK)

I know I'm missing Neve and the Shadow Dragons but I just... don't really care for Minrathos. It's just not for me, I'm not super into SD or Neve. Maybe I'll do a run at both after Harding? Maybe finally play as a human?

[edmlivesets4u-blog]

Listen or download TRUcast 114 - Alex Peace & Brian Boncher for free now!

Artist: Show: TRUcast 114 – Alex Peace & Brian Boncher Quality: 320 Kbps 48000 Khz Genre: House, Tech House, Techno Source: RSS

Listen or download more TRUcast episodes HERE

TRUcast 114 – Alex Peace & Brian Boncher Tracklist

The “official” podcast of Tru Musica featuring Tru Musica Artists and Tru Friends from around the Galaxy. From House to Techno and everything in between, Tru Musica has already begun to carve out it’s niche in the House Community focused on the music that revolves around the “jack”.

AP

Paul Najera & Jr. Quijada – Changes (Original Mix)

Jobu – Tension Seeker

Lebedev (RU), Bonetti – Paradisiac Beach (Jacked Mix)

Jocelyn Brown, Glory, Junior Jack – Hold Me Up feat. Jocelyn Brown (Riva Starr Tangerine Funk Extended Vocal Mix)

Spiller – Sola (Main Dub Mix)

JoBu – Tomboy (Original Mix)

Ocsav – Marcel Prosed (Original Mix)

BB

Alex Peace & Brian Boncher – Blow Your Mind

Romaan – Mechanical (Original Club Mix)

Barney Osborn – Jazz Cats (Paul Najera & Jr. Quijada Remix)

Bleu Clair & OOTORO – Beat Like This (Original Club Mix)

Dance System – Strings 4 Love (Original Mix)

David Herrero, Ben A & C1 – Native Drum (Original Club Mix)

Jaxx Inc. VS Alex Peace & Brian Boncher – Unnamed Promo

Jamie Roy & Jay De Lys – Something (Original Club Mix)

Born Dirty – Kiss (Astronomar Remix)

Plus Beat’z – Margin (Original Club Mix)

AP

Kazaa – Move It (Original Mix)

PLUMP DJS – Plumpy Chunks

Don Rimini – Circuit (Alex Peace Edit)

Paul Johnson – Get Get Down (Blacjack Edit)

Virak Sugar (Kolombo Remix) (Extended Mix)

Alden Tyrell, John Marks – All We Need feat. John Marks (That Bass Dub)

Franklyn Watts – Down Da Block (Original Club Mix)

Akay feat. Rah Digga – Sexual Healing (So Phat! Remix)

Matroda – Gimme Some Keys

Kill Your Heroes ft. Dave Giles II – Locked In (Darius Syrossian Remix)

BB

James Brown – Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine 2021 (Xero & Josh Hunter Club Mix)

Dirty Secretz – When I Go Back (Original Mix)

Jesusdapnk – Lapse (Max Hebert Remix)

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[gyrlversion]

Authorities say they are closing in on the person who ordered the hit on David Ortiz

“His time has come. He won’t see the sun again for 40 years,” prosecutor Milciades Guzmán told reporters on Friday, referring to the still-unnamed individual who led what police have called a “complex” assassination plot against the beloved former Boston Red Sox slugger.

The brazen shooting, and news that it was an orchestrated hit involving at least a dozen suspects, has rocked the Dominican Republic.

Ortiz, nicknamed “Big Papi,” was sitting on a crowded bar patio in Santo Domingo the night of June 10 when a gunman walked in from the street, pulled out a Browning Hi-Power 9mm and shot him once in the lower back before fleeing.

The bullet passed through Ortiz, perforating his intestines and internal organs, and hit TV talk show host Jhoel Lopez, a friend of Ortiz’s who was sitting with him, in the leg.

The alleged gunman, Rolfi Ferreira Cruz, fled the scene on foot, but his alleged getaway driver, Eddy Vladimir Feliz Garcia, stalled out his motorcycle as he attempted to flee and was pummeled by an enraged crowd before being turned over to police.

Ferreira Cruz was arrested Wednesday and has confessed to the shooting, prosecutors told CNN. Ferreira Cruz also has told reporters he meant to shoot someone else, a claim that prosecutors say is absurd considering that Ortiz is one of the most recognizable people in the country.

Dominican officials have released video that they say shows Ferreira Cruz and Garcia speaking with people inside a car parked near the club, allegedly to coordinate the attempt on Ortiz’s life. The car and another vehicle fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

While many occupants of the bar dove for cover following the shooting or chased after the suspects, a friend rushed Ortiz to the hospital, where doctors saved his life but had to remove parts of his damaged intestines, liver and his gallbladder. Ortiz was flown to Boston the next day for further treatment.

Trying to make sense of a senseless act

Immediately Dominicans asked themselves who would order the assassination of a sports hero in public without apparently fearing any reprisals.

While nearly three million American tourists visit the Dominican Republic for its luxury hotels, turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, the country has a dark side.

The murder rate stands at 12.5 killings per 100,000 people, making it one of the most dangerous countries in the world, according to the US State Department. In April the State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans to “exercise increased caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime.”

Much of that crime is gang violence driven by the Dominican Republic’s increasingly key locale as a trans-shipment point for cocaine leaving South America for the United States and elsewhere.

“Nowadays, the Dominicans are buying cocaine in Venezuela, contracting Venezuelans to make the hazardous journey across the Caribbean, then taking direct control of loads as they hit the island,” said a 2018 report from InSight Crime, a foundation that tracks organized crime in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Traffickers often bribe poorly paid Dominican officials to turn a blind eye to their smuggling operations, US officials say.

Accustomed to the way in which many local criminals evade arrest, many Dominicans wondered if whoever ordered the hit on David Ortiz would also escape justice.

But on Friday prosecutors vowed that everyone involved in the Ortiz hit would be arrested and the full plot to assassinate the former MLB star would be revealed.

“Next week we hope to be able to give details of the motive, the intellectual authors and be able to offer the complete narrative of the case,” said a release from the prosecutor’s office.

Ten suspects are already in custody

So far 10 suspects are in custody and facing charges for the Ortiz shooting. In addition to the unnamed mastermind, police say they also are searching for an 11th suspect, Luis Alfredo Rivas-Clase, who goes by the nickname “El Cirujano,” or “The Surgeon.” Authorities in the US say Rivas-Clase may also be wanted for an April 2018 shooting in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Dominican prosecutors said two of the suspects — Carlos Alvarez, nicknamed “Carlos Nike,” and Jose Eduardo Ciprian Lebron, nicknamed “Chuky” — may have helped plot the hit on Ortiz while serving time in a Dominican prison.

According to court documents, both men are serving sentences for homicide in the 15 de Azua prison. Even though they were behind bars, prosecutors say they helped coordinate the shooting and distributed a $7,800 payment to his would-be assassins.

Many of the men arrested come from poor neighborhoods, are covered in gang tattoos and appear to be foot soldiers in an alleged plot against one of the greatest athletes the Dominican Republic has ever produced.

Several of the suspects cried out “It’s a mistake” or “It wasn’t me” Friday as masked police officers hustled them into court for a hearing. At the hearing a judge ordered nine of the suspects to remain in jail for at least a year while awaiting trial.

The tenth suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday, prosecutors said.

For Ortiz’s legions of Dominican supporters, the attack on their hero is a national embarrassment and a sign of how the country is changing, even if “Big Papi” never did.

“He is the same David Ortiz,” said Felix Martinez, who grew up with the famed slugger. As young boys they would sing to people on the street to earn a few pennies to buy candy, he said. “What happens when a person comes from poverty, what they want … when they come to their home country is to be with their people.”

But Martinez said he now worries that Ortiz’s celebrity, which once protected the MLB star from the violence of his native country, has now made him a target.

“There’s people that are full of envy,” Martinez said. “That wanted to have that pride, that success.”

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[inerginc]

GTM Smart Grid http://ift.tt/2eJlQnQ

This year’s DistribuTech conference in San Diego has been its usual whirlwind of press releases and presentations on the latest grid edge developments. Here’s what we’ve been learning on the ground so far.

First, we’ve got the annual iteration of expanded distributed intelligence and “internet of things” offerings from the vendors of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Over the past few years, companies such as Itron, Silver Spring Networks, Landis+Gyr, Sensus and recent Honeywell acquisition Elster have been adding more computing power and networking capability to their smart meters, and using the same technology as springboards to smart streetlights, grid sensors, behind-the-meter energy assets and other devices.

Itron’s contributions to this year’s progress report included a new AMI contract with the Public Service Company of New Mexico, and a new “smart energy community” project in Ithaca, New York with Avangrid, involving some 12,400 electric and 7,300 gas meters. It’s part of the utility’s work to get up to speed as a distributed system platform (DSP) provider under the state’s Reforming the Energy Vision initiative, and will deliver “real-time analysis of data and peer-to-peer communication among intelligent devices at the edge of the network.”

Itron has also launched its first AMI analytics software platform that’s built to run on meters besides its own. Last week, Itron’s Idea Labs, an incubator of sorts within the company, announced its Dynamic Grid Connectivity Modeling Service, designed to tap smart meter data to determine where meters have been connected to the wrong transformers, or reconnected in ways that disrupt phase balancing across distribution circuits.

Finding these problems today is a very labor-intensive effort, and combing out the problems from the data is much more cost-effective, said Roberto Aiello, managing director of Itron’s Idea Labs, in a Tuesday interview at DistribuTech. But it's still a process.

“Last year, we had several pilots with several utilities, and got enough data to get better and better -- and now we’re good enough to ship it as a product. And the more we ship it, the better it works, because the more data we have to train it,” he said.

And because the new modeling service is built to work with standardized formats for key energy data, Itron can also offer it to utilities that don’t use its meters, including one it’s already working with, said Aiello. “The input to our algorithm is the voltage data -- as long as the voltage is collected, it doesn’t have to be collected from our systems.” By the end of 2017, Itron’s goal is “to have utilities that are our customers, and not our customers, that can benefit from this product.”

The expanding AMI platform

Itron is also expanding its roster of applications partners for its OpenWay Riva edge-of-grid intelligence platform, which we’ve written about extensively. The latest update is a new Itron apps webpage -- although no third-party apps are on it yet -- and a new partnership with BSquare to manage licensing and revenue sharing for third-party apps once they make their way onto utility-owned Itron networks.

Competitor Silver Spring’s latest contributions on this front include a big smart streetlight rollout with existing utility partner Oklahoma Gas & Electric, updates on its smart campus development with IOT partner Ameresco, and progress on citywide IOT networks in U.K. cities, such as Bristol and Glasgow.

“We see utilities really getting into the transition to becoming service providers,” Brandon De Vito, Silver Spring’s vice president of smart cities and smart lighting, said in an interview. “Then, Ameresco, which is the biggest independent energy services company in North America, helps us work with more cities and regional entities in smart city activities. Ameresco has a lot of experience in water and is interested in the whole cycle of streetlighting and water and waste.”

Silver Spring also announced new statistics from distribution automation (DA) deployments with utility customers, such as Baltimore Gas & Electric, Commonwealth Edison, Florida Power & Light, and Brazil’s CPFL Energia. The company also named new DA partners including sensor and communications module makers Incon and V2Com, distribution grid power electronics from Varentec and “bird on a wire” sensors from long-time partner Sentient Energy.

Sentient Energy fills the gap in grid data

Landis+Gyr also announced this week it is working with Sentient to extend the edge computing capabilities of its grid sensors, by inserting L+G IPv6-enabled network nodes inside Sentient’s power line monitors. Burlingame, Calif.-based Sentient has been on a bit of a tear lately, with about 35,000 sensor units shipped as of the end of this quarter, Michael Bauer, the company’s founder and president, said Tuesday at DistribuTech.

That success has been mostly with four or five large marquee customers, including Florida Power & Light, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric. Two of the three utilities listed are with Sentient's long-time partner Silver Spring -- and a few more as-yet-unnamed top-tier U.S. utilities, Bauer said. At the same time, new partner Landis+Gyr is introducing Sentient's sensors in Europe, even though it bought its own line sensoring company, PowerSense, back in 2014.

That may be because Sentient’s products have proven themselves in field trials to be not only accurate, but also reliable, Bauer said. The company’s MM3 units -- boxes that clip onto power feeders and use the current to run their sensors and communications -- have survived real-world fault events that have fried competitors’ devices, or blown them completely off the wire, he said.

This week saw Sentient unveil a new set of devices, including a Zero-Amp Monitor unit for feeder laterals. It’s not really zero power, but requires a lot less amperage to keep its circuits and radios humming, Bauer explained, while providing the same 130 samples-per-cycle data collection capabilities as its existing devices.

It’s also releasing a voltage-sensing-capable device, and others specifically built for vaults and switch cabinets, where Sentient’s boxes have to keep running even if they’re submerged during a flood, he said. And not to be left out of the software-as-a-service game, it’s also releasing a disturbance analytics package to help find signals that indicate when a line or transformer is about to fail, not just when it has failed, he said.

“We believe that we are like the grid information company, and we believe that’s the critical new ingredient in the grid transformation we’re all going through,” he said. While smart meters can deliver reliable endpoint grid data, and substations are well-monitored already, there’s a wide swath of the grid that’s largely uncovered, which represents "6 million miles in North America alone," according to Bauer.

Survalent and Spirae: DERMS for the rest of us

On the distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) front, we’ve been covering the action from DistribuTech this week from grid giants like ABB, Siemens and General Electric. On Tuesday, mid-size SCADA player Survalent added its own DERMS partnership to the list with Fort Collins, Colo.-based Spirae.

The two companies announced Tuesday that they’ll merge Survalent’s ADMS platform with Spirae’s Wave DERMS solution “to enable utilities to efficiently and reliably leverage DERs within their networks.” "DERs" stands for distributed energy resources, which can mean anything from out-of-control inputs like rooftop solar or customer load, or in-control assets like energy storage or demand response.

Survalent tends to have smaller utility customers than its big competitors such as Siemens and GE, but it has a lot of them -- more than 500 in 30 countries over its 50-year history -- and a good share of municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. That could put it in a position to offer a DERMS platform at a lower price point than those being set in big DERMS RFPs in states like California, Hawaii and New York.

Spirae, for its part, has been doing this kind of integration work for a diverse set of customers since its 2002 founding, including utility pilot projects in Colorado and Denmark, microgrids for the U.S. Navy, billionaire Richard Branson’s Caribbean island, its hometown municipal utility, and more recently, larger utilities such as San Diego Gas & Electric.

A merger of distributed energy and grid edge advocates

Finally, all of this grid edge technology will have to have its own advocacy and research arm. On Tuesday, two such groups -- SEPA and SGIP -- have formed that combined entity.

SEPA, which changed its name from the Solar Electric Power Alliance to the Smart Electric Power Alliance last year, to underscore its commitment to broader distributed energy issues, has the policy and advocacy heft that befits one of the country’s two key solar industry groups.

The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), meanwhile, was formed in 2007 to manage federal oversight of standards development for the smart grid, and played a key role in designing the terms of the Department of Energy’s $5 billion in smart grid stimulus grants. In 2013, it transitioned to nonprofit status, and has since led the development of everything from Green Button and Orange Button data standards to Open Field Message Bus. 

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

Currently have four (4) Rook concepts forming in my brain.

Sulahan Thorne - Dalish Grey Warden (mage?). A studious researcher interested in understanding the Blight. Bound to be a bit of a weird little freak, as every Grey Warden mage we've ever met (Avernus, Janeka, Clarel) is. If her insatiable hunger for knowledge reminds Solas, in a slightly twisted way, of Ena, more’s the better. Joined in a country that wasn’t Ferelden during the Fifth Blight, OR during Inquisition-era in the Marches due to a darkspawn resurgence a la on the Storm Coast, or maybe she joined right before Corypheus’ false calling and was at Adamant Fortress. I’ll decide how old I want to make her when I get to the cc, and then I’ll see what the game gives me for backstory.

[As-yet-unnamed] de Riva - Antivan Crow. Barely surviving and never thriving amongst the Crows, only to now find that she is someone of importance. This post haunts me. It's eating me alive. This Rook is the thinnest concept here but she haunts me the most.

Arassan Aldwir Lavellan - Dalish Veil Jumper rogue (archer). Mid-50s, gay. A dedicated hunter but rarely serious, usually irreverent, and wouldn't really say that getting older has made him any wiser. Clanmate, mentor, and friend of Inquisitor Ena Lavellan. Left the clan post-Trespasser to help her. Later joined the Veil Jumpers assuming that investigating weird magic in Arlathan Forest would sooner or later lead him to Ena's wolf. Was correct in that assumption and is mad about it.

Constancia Laidir - human Lords of Fortune mage. One of the many young mages that Gretchen Hawke and Anders picked up after the collapse of the Circles. Later joined Isabela's pirate crew before becoming a treasure hunter. May or may not have nearly eloped with Yvette Montilyet.

[dalishious]

Who is that on your profile picture?

Andarateia “Teia” Cantori! 

She and Viago de Riva first appeared as unnamed side characters in the comic Deception, which is where the art is from, and are the two main characters in the Tevinter Nights story, Eight Little Talons. (My absolute favourite from the book.)

She’s amazing and I love her. (Which should come to no surprise, because the novels and comics are where so many cool elven women come from. Katriel, Fiona, Briala, Isseya, Vaea, now Teia...)

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

Wait I just remembered something else. One of the reasons the caregiver was so okay with selling her to the Crows was that they thought, “well, I already can’t take care of all of these kids, the money will help them not go hungry for a little longer - and [Rook] will have a more stable life with the Crows. They might train her to be a killer but she’ll always know that she’ll get her next meal.”

And then I woke up and realized how fundamentally fucked up that is because, no, she won’t. Zevran says that the Crows deliberately starve their recruits as part of their training. She doesn't even get that. What the fuck.

Shoutouts to my as-yet-unnamed Crow Rook for being the first of my new idiots to infiltrate my dreamscape last night. Half of the dream was basically like. my brain solidifying some thoughts I had while awake about her backstory/how she came to the Crows: she lived with a caretaker (don't know/haven't decided if that's a parent or not) and a bunch of other kids, and the Crows came around looking for children to torture recruits. They offered Rook's caretaker some coin in exchange for her, which the caretaker accepted, because that's one less mouth to feed and a bit more coin with which to feed the others.

There was something else to the dream, I think some point she was talking to Lucanis, but I don't remember that conversation at all. I just remember deciding yep, I'm locking in on that being her backstory.