#veilfall

[tortoise-teapot]

i can't look at veilguard any other way than 'upper management said the veil can't come down...' and then everyone scrambled

[omni-writes-stuff]

Veilfall - Tevinter: Electing the Archon

The Archon - The Imperial Conclave is interrupted by an assassination attempt and a slave rebellion all at once. Amidst the casualties is Archon Radonis, previously an ally to the Inquisition and someone who has been staunchly against the Venatori. A successor must be chosen - it is in the Veilguard’s best interest to involve themselves in the succession process.

Dorian Pavus - Previously, a valuable ally to the Inquisition. He still remains friends with Lavellan and is willing to help him. Dorian is a Magister, and previously a representative of Maevaris’ Lucerni until she was framed for treason and stripped of her position. Whilst Maevaris went underground and reformed the Lucerni into the Shadow Dragons, Dorian remained in the Magisterium. Dorian proposes radical reform: an end to slavery, corruption and all notions of Tevinter superiority. Better alliances with the South and a chance to redeem Tevinter for the better. As for the Qunari, Dorian is willing to offer peace talks but he’s also prepared to fight back with support from the South.

Radonis’ nephew - a devout of the Imperial Chantry. He shares some of his late uncle's policies. He promises an end to corruption and an end to the Venatori, however, he has a staunch pro slavery stance and wants to dissolve the Magisterium. He also proposes a restoration of the Templar order as he associates the evils of Tevinter society from unrestrained mages. He also wants an alliance with the South, provided that they help against the Qunari.

A Venatori-sympathetic Magister - he has many allies in the Magisterium. His policies are popular with most in the Magisterium and the Altus: A harsher stance against the Qunari and a proposal to take back the lands that Tevinter once ruled over. He does not want to make allies of the South, making him more or less an obstacle to the Veilguard/Inquisition.

Calpernia - One of Rook’s companions, she can remain Venatori or reject it depending on Rook’s choices. Calpernia wants to restore Tevinter to its past glory and has a harsh anti-Qunari stance. Calpernia has similar stances to the pro-Venatori candidate, however she desires an end to slavery. Because of her humble origins, she can become immensely popular with the lower classes of Tevinter society. She is willing to offer an alliance with the South but requests their support against the Qunari.

[tortoise-teapot]

"Rook is the good guy because they said so, Solas is the bad guy who, despite being beyond willing to talk to anyone who will listen to him, refuses to expand on what the veil coming down looks like. Because he can’t. Because then we might agree with him."

Ok I need to get this out with the news about devs being fired dropping.

There will be spoilers for Veilguard here so proceed with caution.

EA fucked the game, and the more I think about it, the more angry I am with them.

It all starts with one choice- the devs wanted the veil to come down in that opening, and EA told them no. Told them they couldn’t bring the veil down at all.

It was never going to be a player choice- it couldn’t, it would create two entirely different worlds leading forward, so it would have to be something outside player control, and they were told no.

The veil coming down was outside forces and the veil staying up was Rook’s choice. And had to be Rook’s choice.

Because of that, our Rook could never see the veil coming down as a worthwhile option. Which means we could never engage with it as a reality. We could never ask what that would look like, or question the morality of the veil, either practically, or as a thought experiment. No companions will bring up what it might be like in any positive way or even just as an “I wonder.”

We only get to see veil =bad so Rook must be right.

They cut Solas’ elven followers because having even *one* npc on his side for noble reasons would make us question too much, and we were not allowed to have an opinion other than veil =good, because the devs were hamstringed by it.

No companions ever discuss what it could be like without the veil, and they *should*. Can you imagine Emmrich and Bellara debating it? Emmrich absolutely fascinated by how it would impact spirits and they wouldn’t need to possess anyone or anything, Bellara leery after seeing so much wild magic in Arlathan but wondering if uninterrupted etheric flows would create more stable magic over time. Taash surprising the party by being way more cool with it than expected due to their Rivaini upbringing, and more open to that than necromancy.

Lucanis and Harding being firmly against it to the point it causes some friction in the team, Davrin just staying out of it because he doesn’t get it and doesn’t want to. Harding has a moment of questioning at a weak point after reminiscing about Cole, and wonders how many like him there could be if the veil did come down.

Neve feeling extremely mixed about it, between it possibly allowing a reshuffle of power in Tevinter, removing the ability for mages to make deals with demons, but also upset at the potential raw chaos.

But we never even get to look at that. Because there was no option there. Even if each character landed on veil=good, we never even got to have the discussion, because we couldn’t do anything with it.

And we can see how that spirals out and created a much less morally complex game than we’ve previously gotten. Rook is the good guy because they said so, Solas is the bad guy who, despite being beyond willing to talk to anyone who will listen to him, refuses to expand on what the veil coming down looks like. Because he can’t. Because then we might agree with him.

We’re only allowed Varric’s point of view, which makes sense for the beginning, but there was never an option to expand it. There is one single dialogue option where we can tell Solas “whoops didn’t know that.” But that’s the beginning and end of that train of thought.

They even set us up as this FANTASTIC foil to Solas, having meddled in a ritual we didn’t understand and unleashing multiple blights and elven gods, essentially destroying the south, blighting most of the north, partially destroying a city, and a countless death toll. But taking actual responsibility with that isn’t allowed- because we may sympathize too much with Solas. Because we clearly did the right thing because the veil is still up. It’s not even addressed in the regret prison! Solas tells you thousands would still have died if he took down the veil, but thousands did die as a direct result of Rook meddling. And nowhere can you acknowledge that.

[weptfreedom]

a logbook of dates spanning years. interspersed between sections are sketches of oddly people-shaped trees.

NW A5.

Day 11.

supervised unraveling performed by three others. Two ready to continue on own.

Returned: 23

Deceased: 0

Day 14.

Returned: 30

Deceased: 6

Day 20.

Returned: 29

Deceased: 2

NW A6.

Day 1.

Returned: 40

Deceased: 3

[queenaeducan]

i need tumblr to move onto clearing followers of blogs with 2000+ followers so i can see my solas rp blog's followers be halved

[iamthescalesofjustice]

to those floating the idea of double blight in dreadwolf, i raise you blighted titan

[theplotmage]

Halloween-themed Fantasy Festival and Unique Events for Worldbuilding:

1. Whispers Eve – A night when the spirits of the lost whisper secrets to the living.

2. Harrowtide – A festival of fear where nightmares walk among the people.

3. Veilfall – The thin barrier between worlds collapses, allowing passage for the dead.

4. Moonshadow Revel – When the moon is dark, shadowy creatures come out to celebrate.

5. Hallowed Lanterns – A night where enchanted lanterns guide the dead home.

6. Soul’s Gate – The gate between the mortal world and the afterlife swings open.

7. Glimmernight – A festival where ghosts appear as shimmering lights.

8. Dreadmasque – A masquerade where each mask hides a dark secret.

9. Reaping Hollow – An event where spirits return to reclaim what they’ve lost.

10. Bloodfire Vigil – Bonfires are lit with blood magic to protect against the undead.

11. Darkmoon Ascendance – A night where the moon turns black and dark magic reigns.

12. Spectral Tide – The dead rise as the tide reaches its highest point.

13. Twilight’s Grasp – The setting sun never fully disappears, keeping the world in twilight where horrors lurk.

14. Night of the Wraiths – Wraiths descend to collect souls and drag them into the underworld.

15. Frostgrave Feast – A feast in the frozen woods where the spirits of winter grant wishes, but at a price.

16. Bonefire Rites – Sacred fires are lit to honor ancestors and keep malevolent spirits at bay.

17. Witch’s Mark – A night when those who bear a witch’s mark gain immense, but temporary, power.

18. Gravemist Rising – The fog from graves rises, filled with whispers and secrets from the dead.

19. Shadowveil Crossing – A ritual where people cross over into the shadow world to commune with spirits.

20. Autumn’s Curse – A festival where the curse of eternal autumn brings creatures of decay to life.

21. Lantern of Souls – A single lantern, said to hold the souls of the departed, guides the lost on Halloween.

22. Phantom’s Requiem – A symphony is played by phantoms, echoing through the realm of the living.

23. Cindershade Festival – Celebrating the power of fire to keep the dark spirits away.

24. Nightmare’s End – A gathering where the most vivid nightmares are summoned and must be conquered.

25. Hallowveil Procession – A grand parade of masked figures representing both life and death.

26. Gloomhaven Masquerade – A ball held in an eerie town where no one knows who is mortal and who is not.

27. Midnight Harvest – A harvest festival under the blood moon where sacrifices are made to dark gods.

28. Ebon Wreath – A wreath of black flowers is hung on every door to protect against roaming spirits.

29. Soulthorn Festival – A thorny forest springs to life, and only those who navigate it can escape the spirits within.

30. Eclipse of Ashes – During a total eclipse, the ashes of the dead rain down, bringing with them cryptic messages.

31. Gravenight Dance – A dance held in a cemetery where ghosts lead the living in one last waltz.

32. Night of the Void – The stars disappear, leaving the world in utter darkness as creatures from the void emerge.

33. Horror’s Ascendant – A festival that celebrates the rise of a forgotten terror that once plagued the world.

34. Tide of the Forsaken – A night when those forsaken by the gods are given one last chance to walk among the living.

35. Mournstar Vigil – A night when the mournful star rises and the dead follow its path back to the mortal realm.

36. Graveshadow Feast – A festival where the living feast with their deceased ancestors.

37. Shroudfall – The shroud between life and death dissolves, allowing creatures of darkness to invade.

38. Hollowlight Procession – Spirits of lost children carry lanterns, leading a parade through the haunted woods.

39. Doomveil Gathering – A gathering of witches and warlocks under a cursed sky to summon forbidden magic.

40. Veilfire Festival – A festival where fire dances upon the veil between worlds, granting glimpses of the afterlife.

41. Ruinwake Revelry – A chaotic festival celebrating destruction and chaos, where dark beings rise from ruin.

42. Blackthorn Masque – A masquerade in a cursed castle where everyone wears masks of thorns.

43. Echoes of Dust – A ceremony where the dust of ancient beings blows through the town, and their voices are heard once more.

44. Ashen Sun – The sun turns ashen, and with it, the spirits of forgotten warriors rise from their graves.

45. Night of Unraveling – A night when the fabric of reality unravels, and the boundary between dimensions fades.

46. Hushmoor Eve – A silent evening where all sound is banned to prevent awakening the slumbering dead.

47. Cryptwatch Festival – Vigilant watch over ancient crypts, where treasure seekers try to unlock the secrets of eternal life.

48. Wraith’s Breath – A chilling wind blows through town, said to be the breath of wraiths hunting for souls.

49. Duskmire Celebration – A festival in a swampy region where creatures of the mire rise to celebrate with the living.

50. Moonless Descent – A night where the moon disappears and the world descends into a temporary abyss, where anything can happen.

[broodwoof]

An argument for the veil remaining intact

From someone who really wanted veilfall.

Please: If you know this will upset you, do not read. Do not harass or attack me about this. Take care of yourselves and be kind to other people - like me! - by not subjecting yourself to things that will anger/upset you. This will also draw from current, real life things; I don't go into detail, but if you don't want to read that, this is your Please Scroll Past warning.

In an twist from my norm, this is going to contain both watsonian and doylist perspectives.

For those who may be unfamiliar or get them confused: in reference to the Sherlock Holmes books, a watsonian view is that any mistakes made in the text are because Watson made an error while recording Holmes' endeavors. Thus, a watsonian view is one that exists within the narrative framework rather than outside it. A doylist view is that these are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mistakes instead, thus looking at the narrative from an outside view.

From a purely watsonian perspective, I think veilfall would have been narratively satisfying and I certainly understand why so many people wanted it and are disappointed that it did not happen. That's super fair! As I said, I wanted it, too. But I also think that the in-text explanation for why it's not a good idea is a genuinely valid one and did a fair bit of work in convincing me.

But in this case, I find the doylist view to be a lot more relevant.

The world - our world, the real world - is in a time of major strife. With the rise of fascism, with the increasingly explicit hatred of queer people, with the sustained hatred of POC and disabled people (including neurodivergent people), with misogyny and classism and everything that's going on...

A queer dev team made a game where the underlying statement is that you cannot save through destruction. And this is relevant. It is incredibly relevant. It is powerful, profound, and important as a message. There is no single violent revolution that will fix the world and give us a utopia.

There are so many people who are waiting for the revolution. Who want a violent disruption. Who fantasize about living in the ruins of society. I'm not saying this is horrible or anything, it makes sense why these fantasies exist, but they obscure the necessity for the grueling work that is truly necessary.

I'm not saying there is no place for revolution. There absolutely is! I'm also not condemning the use of violence wholesale - there are times when people have no other recourse, I understand that. But I'm an American and I'm mostly talking about my fellow Americans at this moment in history because that's the context I know best and it would be the height of hubris to presume to know enough of every single culture and the entire world to speak for everyone.

There's this fantasy about waiting for the revolution and then we'll rise, then we'll fix the broken system, then everything will happen... and the actual impact of this fantasy is that people can abandon the movement in anticipation of the revolution.

In the end, Solas does not tear down the veil, killing thousands in an act of profound restoration. Instead he binds himself to his mistake and turns to his first victims, those who are still alive, and commits himself to easing their pain and the pain they bring into the world.

This narrative is so timely and so relevant. It has a message. It has many messages.

The need for compassion even in the face of disagreement (again, please note I am saying compassion not tolerance not rolling over and letting your oppressors walk all over you - but it's a known thing that compassion for others - even those you dislike or disagree with - is a functional tool in the arsenal of sociocultural improvement).

That there is no point at which a person cannot change their mind and take a new path. Regardless of how committed they are to a singular outcome, they can always change, and that such change is usually created through the use of compassion and sympathy. Solas can bind himself to the veil. So many people he cares about have spoken to him about this, counseled him about this. And in the end, he can accept their advice and change.

Solas is not a villain, and veilfall is not meant to be cruel. But it's an important message that destruction is not restoration, even when that destruction will bring about a certain kind of restoration. That there are paths forward, meaningful paths forward, that do not rely on violence as a tool. That do not utilize destruction.

All media is a reflection of the time it is created in, and DAVG is no exception. And in this time, I find the veil staying intact to be important, especially when coupled with Solas' plans to ease the Titan's pain. I think it'd fall a lot flatter without that, if he just said "okay, you're right" and bound himself to the veil and then just did his own thing. That'd be giving up. But he's not giving up at all - no one had to suggest that he heal the Titans, he immediately turned to that on his own.

Bloody, ravaged, dealing with this immense cathartic grief, and he still decides he's going to do this. He will make a different path for himself. He will find another way - a harder way - to make things right.

This isn't a criticism of those who are disappointed by the lack of veilfall. Everyone is going to interact with media in different ways, particularly when expectations have been building up for so long. I thought that the veil remaining intact would be immensely disappointing to me, perhaps even ruin the game, and I was surprised when it didn't feel that way. And I've been giving it a lot of thought ever since, and this is where I landed.

[theharellan]

wishlist for veilguard companions:

solas talking to emmrich about wisdom (from his inquisition pq not himself) and manfred

bellara expresses multiple times she wants to ask questions and i think she deserves that even if he lies or she thinks he's lying

anything wrt lucanis's possession and spite. i still haven't played the treviso-saved pt

bittersweet inquisition reminiscing with harding (post-atonement/veilfall or pre-)/literally anything wrt the titans

davrin taking him for a mental health walk

[evanhereonearth]

thank you so much for your veilfall essay 🙏 im so glad to finally have a sign i can tap when needed lol

You are most welcome, and I am going to try to type it out again in a less bullet pointy way because I probably have even more to say. 😅

[nikkigameslore]

Infinity Nikki - Stylists Guild Memorial

Left out the first book walking into the memorial which is just a record of people the stylists guild had helped. Summarized it is: a stylist who had severe allergies to woolfruit who blended Grasspom and Floof Yarn together to make a shirt that was his debut as a stylist. He later discovered sockos beneath the woolfruit tree which are suspected to a new species that appeared after the Veilfall (this event is referenced in some of the texts).

and a younger stylists who needed help with a heating ability outfit and runs a candy shop. Her and the neigboring jewelry designer engaged in styling battles together which was a reported success.

text and mural transcriptions below the cut.

Ancient Mural: from left to right starting on the right side when walking into the room

The great Dexter… war… the courage to face the Abyss, singing immortal praises… .. Eight stylists embarked on a difficult journey, searching for the legendary… arrived… listened…

Gods left… The Dark… suffering shrouds the earth…

… The chosen one… later generations call them legends… methods of using Whim…

Map of the Heartcraft Kingdom and its periphery

Stylist Support Application (Ancient manuscript with illegable text in parts) …urgently request the support and resources of the Stylist's Guild HQ … Since the departure of The Wishing One… Wishfield plagued by… extreme weather… earth movement… rapidly elevating the ground… fortunately the Queen stepped in… part of the HEartcraft Kingdom… However, in the face… Esselings constantly causing trouble… our only recourse is… defend with Whimancy… Local stylists suffered heavy casualities… in the War Against The Dark… increasing reports of missing townspeople… cause remains unknown… I fear… cannot resolved easily… the branch of the Stylist's Guild.. established recently… many incomplete and inadequate… we equip our stylists with the necessary Ability Outfits to…

Chronicles of Creativity (Ancient manuscript with illegible text in parts) After the Veilfall… lost… The Wishing One's protection… no longer… Miraland once… desolate and decayed… frequent disasters…survival… Even… The Dark attacks… beings… suffering… …The Eight… Miracles of Imagination… The War Against The Dark… protracted… …Finally welcomed.. …year one A.W. …Her daugher… inherited the radiant legacy… founded the Stylist's Guild… …Era of turmoil and prosperity… belonging to the stylists… Seven kingdoms… Stylist's Guild expanded… spread to Miraland…

Murals behind the fallen bookcase:

The blessing of The Wishing One… brings abundant vitality… Wishfield…

Left… protected by the descendants… blessing remains…

[tortoise-teapot]

okay i MUST know what off-gas is akjlfjsdklfjklsdg

congratulations! you have unlocked: POST-VEILGUARD HEADCANONS!

gotta soothe the blight somehow!

i took the idea from the artbook of a Soul Battery and ran with that, i thought it was so supremely fucked and had to use it

half the reason titans are oh my lord so big mad is because they do not have bodies to process the emotions. they have no outlet. so solas... channels it. T.T

i'm working on a series of sequential murals with the big beats from my boys' story, so this is very much an artsy rendition. because uh. especially the first few times it is not pretty.

avery can help (practically) to an extent, but it would just fucking fry him. (he tried) (bad. bad idea. very bad idea.)

[omni-writes-stuff]

Parallels (Lavellan OC Rambles)

I have an Veilguard AU fic I'm in the middle of writing and in the planning process I realised some things about my M!Lavellan and Solas that I thought I might as well share in case this fic goes nowhere. Vulfel Lavellan and Solas are mirrors (or inversions?? role reversals??); even if they differ in personality, they share similar journeys. Vulfel is far from being the Wisdom spirit Solas once was; he aligns more with Justice. More under the cut.

Inquisition:

Lavellan’s purpose was solidified upon being forced into being the Herald of Andraste. Solas’ was twisted when he was forced into a physical form.

As if by fate, Vulfel was always going to be bound by Mythal - his Vallaslin forebodes it.

Vulfel was always learning from Solas during the Inquisition days. Much of the tactics he uses are based on Dalish mythos, and his greatest teacher just so happened to be the Dread Wolf.

Though the Lavellans were always peaceful, Vulfel, First of Keeper Istimaethoriel, was always dissatisfied with the injustices done to the Dalish. It was this quality and his protective nature that earned him Mythal’s mark.

Upon leaving, in a way he becomes First to Solas, ever keen on his blasphemous takes on elven lore. Open minded, Vulfel was willing to consider that perhaps there was a nugget of truth to these claims.

As Lavellan and Solas’ friendship grows, Solas begins to realise too late that Lavellan may repeat his and Mythal’s mistakes. And it was all his doing. Lavellan becomes a reminder of what was done to him.

Despite their shaky beginnings, Vulfel grows to love Cassandra deeply. In spite of their differences and beliefs, both respect and trust each other. This bond they share enriches them and enhances their purposes. She helps him become the Inquisitor and he helps her become Divine. Equal-footed, unlike the dynamic presented by Mythal and Solas.

Justice and Faith are parallels to Benevolence and Wisdom. Both can be twisted into Vengeance and Pride.

Drinking from the Well of Sorrows seals Vulfel’s fate. The foundation was already there. Mythal's will takes root within him.

Vulfel disbands the Inquisition, not wanting it to fall to corruption.

Veilfall:

Mythal loves Thedas. Vulfel loves it just as much and wants to protect everyone. This alignment makes him a wonderful vessel for her will, though he wants the Veil to stay up.  The events of Veilfall just tips him ever closer to becoming Mythal’s full host. He struggles against her and has many plans and countermeasures in case he falls, but will that be enough?

Vulfel uses Solas’ own tactics against him. Rook is even his “Slow Arrow”.

Vulfel witnesses Cassandra get murdered before him during the meeting of the Divines in Minrathous. She is killed protecting Imperial Divine Aequitas II, making her an accidental casualty of power-hungry. Her death results in positive change for the world, but he is forever scarred by it. The same happened between Solas and Mythal, although, in this case Vulfel and Cassandra’s love was never manipulative. 

Vulfel is ultimately pushed into becoming Mythal’s Vengeance against the Evanuris - her plan was always to punish the Evanuris for murdering her, but it came at odds with her love of Thedas, for the Veil must come down in order for her to incite her revenge.

[elvhenprince]

purpose, wisdom, and love- i've been thinking in the end, after all the truth is revealed, how does that change the relationship between solas and sulevin? how would each other think at the end, or act?

sulevin i think, spent of time to think about everything. i think he probably wrestles with whether he loves solas or is still in love with solas at the end. but the 'romance' or 'in love' bit doesn't change his core beliefs, and would remain the same: that it's not punishment he's after, or even repentance, he just wants solas to realise he can change. there are other options. there is always a different option to achieve your goals and things done in service to people should always be done by community, not by a single individual.

maybe post-veilfall solas just becomes another man, a hahren amongst clan lavellan, who doles out advice on the blight, the titans, all of it, and this information is carefully given out to the right people. the HoF, Hawke's companions, Rook & co, etc. in the end it's the people's choice to do with the information what they will. and hope they make a better world than the generation of people that came with the Evanuris

[takethistoyourstardust]

i have a theory that i can expand on later abt the first miracle outfit we see in the game (the red one that pulls nikki to miraland) but long story short -

nikki’s mother crafted it

nikki’s mother is a miraland native, possibly a florawish native

nikki’s mother made the miracle outfit during a tumultuous period of miraland’s history (my money is currently on the veilfall or at least before 0 a.w.)

the miracle outfit’s miracle power is the ability to travel dimensions

nikki’s mother was pregnant with nikki when she used the miracle outfit

nikki’s mother used the miracle outfit to escape the war and raise nikki in safety and hid the miracle outfit in the attic and forbade nikki from going up bc she wasn’t sure if the outfit would bring her back to miraland and she didn’t want her daughter going back to a war torn world she struggled to escape from

nikki technically being native to miraland in a weird roundabout way is the reason she’s able to use whim so easily

nikki will find out her mother created the red miracle outfit and after re-creating it will be inspired to create her own, fully original miracle outfit - the star sea

[saturndigital]

I should do a Veilguard update to all the Veilfalls designs hmmm

Do u think Dipper would've joined the veil jumpers like Ford, would Mabel as well god so much new material to explore AUGH I'm thinking I'm brewing