#what if the betrayal is that solas accidentally locked her in there too

[thebaldursmouthgazette]

I’m sure Dumat being defeated the same year andraste was born means nothing

I’m sure this has nothing to do with the fact that andrastes mother was part of a tribe who helped the grey wardens fight and defeat dumat the same year she was born, meaning that she could have been a fetus affected by the taint in the proximity of a dying arch demon

And the fact that nobody knows which grey warden killed dumat, as seven wardens died from injuries from his death throes, and therefore we cannot actually identify a warden who absorbed his soul, means nothing

And I’m sure it is a complete coincidence that andraste had dreams and visions of the being later referred to as the maker her whole life, and behaved strangely, talking about hearing lost voices and seeing strange auras. That absolutely doesn’t sound like anyone else we know

[utilitycaster]

Does Dock Town only have two bars and are they both named after animals? Discuss.

Companion quests! I mean this in complete seriousness: I know that failure to do companion quests doesn't just mean your party is less bonded and leveled up and happy but also literally the problems you didn't deal with come back to bite and kill you. Which is why it is kind of awesome that Taash's quests have thus been "how do I fit into my culture and my home and my gender and my mother's expectations" because like, not to get too deep but in real life you're way more likely to encounter that being a risk to someone's life and well-being than, say, a blood mage who tortured them for a year in an underwater prison and was also sleeping with their sketchy cousin.

It's been a hot minute since 10th Grade Honors English but I think that Lucanis and Emmrich's companion quests are like, each at one polar extreme of what is technically covered by Gothic Horror. Lucanis is the psychosexual blood-soaked betrayal kind in a setting that makes "Hellfire" from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame look Lutheran; Emmrich's is in a haunted house. This sounds like I'm dunking on Emmrich's quest and I'm not. Johanna is incredible. I'm obsessed.

Hossberg Wetlands update: solved two more creepy wet mysteries. In one, the person was dead (and the new doctor is nonbinary which was actually hilarious because you ALSO do Taash's realization of their gender in the Hossberg Wetlands. Literally that and Antoine and Evka only things going for it). In the other, two wardens were dead and the third so wracked by near suicidal survivor's guilt that Antoine and Evka sent him to the Free Marches. I get the Wardens are facing existential dread with the theft of the griffons and the fall of Weisshaupt and *gestures around at everything* and their whole deal is fighting the blight but I cannot imagine Lavendel: Come for the Seasonal Depression, Stay Because You Died is helping morale.

GOT HARDING HER TREE AT THE BLACK EMPORIUM. I've gifted everyone everything.

I still have a bunch of sidequests but I have learned from the fucking necropolis dragon; I'm going to progress along a bit further. I think I heard the reviews of YOU CAN GET LOCKED OUT OF SIDEQUESTS and swung too far in the other direction.

I accidentally stumbled on further music room puzzles and now the second door in the library is 2/3rds open. RIP Solas you would have loved Myst. Speaking of I still need to talk about the Crossroads.

There's certainly criticism to be had about some of the writing but I have actually been impressed at how...natural the companions feel? Like, the banter changes notably after Weisshaupt, and further after companion quests! The conversations back at the lighthouse that you can eavesdrop on do as well! Neve actively becomes more emotive and relaxed and sociable after the Cobbled Swan case if you prove to her that you didn't abandon Dock Town, just made an impossible call and couldn't be in two places at once; she is also a shipper on deck for Taash and Harding and she's NOT subtle. Davrin and Lucanis visit each others' rooms and don't kill each other!

Speaking of: Lucanis and Neve flirting is like tell me of your childhood and your deepest fears and your love for your home and rage for the people trying to destroy it and your hopes and dreams. Harding and Taash flirting is, and I'm only barely paraphrasing, "are you looking at my legs?" "yes, you are like 3 feet taller than I am, they're all I can see," "you know they go all the way up?" "*flustered giggling*" Lucanis and Davrin doing whatever the fuck they are doing is like "I would never kill you. No one would take a contract out on you and you're not the type of Warden to take a contract out on yourself." "I'd kill you over Spite but I have been convinced to get the approval of at least two other team members first."

Taash called Emmrich a skullfucker which was funny as hell honestly. I'm playing a Mourn Watcher and the dialogue gets a little wonky due to my not being a mage sometimes (Taash: your necromancy is fine it's spirits not corpses. Reaper Warrior Watcher Rook Ingellvar: bestie I just do necrotic damage when I throw my shield. why is THAT not a dialogue option) but like. honestly an extremely funny conversation. Emmrich has NEVER fucked a skull, he's too professional and not attracted to the dead sexually, but also, Taash you think this man is a top? where is THAT dialogue option. I mean I wouldn't say it because my Rook is like BE NICE NECROMANCY IS NORMAL AND CHILL but like, for other people.

[longer-than-i-should-admit]

Okay…but why is the Viper kinda…👀

Also why did Solas have such a Look when Fenalan told him she was just standing in as leader until Varric got back on his feet. Why did he note that. Should I be worried.

Also also if Harding got all these need abilities by touching the dagger why didn’t Varric??? Is the stabby end that different from the holdie end?

I sort of accidentally attempted the betrayal of Felassan fight just to see. I was lv 13 the first time🥲but I came back later around 25ish and got it that time lol

Solas also noted that Fenalan is ready to take judgment for what she has to do. I am. So scared.

By the way holY SHIT I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT RECRUITING DAVRIN WOULD LOCK ME INTO THE TREVISO/MINRATHOUS CHOICE? WHAT THE HELL??? I PICKED MINRATHOUS FOR THIS RUN BUT LUCANIS IS BREAKING MY HEART SO KHALIDA WILL MAKE IT BETTER NEXT TIME I PROMISE BB

Finally got Emmrich and Taash though! I have already flirted with the peepaw :) Manfred is so cute oh my god I want to hug him so hard he falls apart lol

ALSO DORIAN AND ISABELA? HELLO? DORIAN I MISSED YOU SO MUCH LET ME GIVE YOU A BIG OL' KISS RIGHT NOW THIS INSTANT!!! (WHERE'S LAVELLAN?)

I understand Ghil'Dirthalen's comment about Ghilan'nain making the power rangers pose now lollll since I knew what to look for I about fell out of my chair it was so funny asdghaksdg

As the resident completionist and loot goblin, I now have like 97% of arlathen forest explored so I think I'm doing good, then I get to treviso (which I should have explored BEFORE the blight PROBABLY) and get so overwhelmed. Why can I not get that one chest on the roof top. There are no doors. What the hell. (Don't ask me about Docktown. I guess I'm kind of claustrophobic bc...yeah. Not my fave.)

I'm doing all right in the Crossroads, although I'm hitting the point where I need more champions' essences so I need to explore other areas. I'm so afraid of missing stuff now so I'll probably be even more of an exploration freak since I'm afraid I missed stuff in Treviso tbh

Harding talking about the Inquisition bunch had me emotional fr fr. Her sharing her tea with Cullen? Sobbing. Her saying Solas was always so lonely, even in this world state context of him having been with Lavellan? SCREAMING.

All the companion interactions continue to make me feel so damn soft about them all. I love them. I will die for them. And Rook too, for that matter—Fenalan baby you're turning out exactly as I pictured :')

Only One mention of the Inquisitor so far. Come on guys. Give me the goods. I heard you get to see her at the end of act one. Where is she?

God I played so much today I can't even remember half the stuff I thought of as I came across it. I may modify this later if I do recall. Keep all my thoughts in track by each day. I might not be able to play anymore until this weekend and I'm already having a hard time avoiding spoilers. Y'all pray for me lol

Thirteen (point six) hours in now that it’s finally downloaded…I tired…I’ve been up since seven am lol, it’s so much better than I expected!🥰

I’ll post better images once I figure out where in the hell my screenshot folder is but my baby Fenalan turned out so so gorgeous oml🥹

Spoilers mentioned under the cut:

I’m so glad Varric is okay. He gave Fenalan a little pep talk when she cracked under the pressure a bit so she’s doing her best to hold it together for the team. She left the mayor bc he’s a shithead and she’s generally been rather purple-coded, as I thought.

She has also given Solas a hard time at first, as planned. I wasn’t expecting him to clap back like he did in that second scene lol, but now that Varric has given her more insight into Solas’ personality she’ll be more cooperative going forward (while still being a lil shit of course).

God I know I’m waiting to romance Lucanis for Khalida but I understand why people are so I love with him. He went grocery shopping for them🥹and the delight in his voice when Fenalan got him the wyvern tooth dagger? Oh my lanta, my heart. And the fact that he noted her favorite drink being tea? That slew me on the spot. By god I am going to smooch you so hard next time. Get ready for it. (Rn he and Neve are flirting up a storm and it’s so damn cute I want to die.)

Honestly all the companion missions so far have been so sincere and sweet. I can’t wait to see more! I’m starting to get all the little side missions branching out so I’m trying not to get overwhelmed with them all by taking them one at a time. I think I’ll tackle more of arlathan forest first thing tomorrow.

I unlocked the memory where Solas fights Elgar’nan, so is the elf who was with him Felassan? I’m assuming it’s Felassan. And if that’s Felassan I am going to cry bc he seems so nice and outgoing.

Also who summoned the fish in the Lighthouse? (I think it was Felassan lol, he seems like an agent of chaos. The “you summoned them, you’ll have to feed them” line took me out.)

I’m mentally cataloguing all the little differences I’ll be making with Khalida, who is more of the soft-spoken, shy, diplomatic type. Her favorite drink will be the “something sweeter” option, she’ll have supported Varric’s plan, and she’ll be more open to Solas’ input off the bat once she gets over her initial fright of him. She’s such a sweet little thing and Lucanis is going to be an utter disaster with her since she’s a bit oblivious lol

God idk if I’m going to be able to sleep after all this but hey, here’s to trying lol

On nydha, lethal’len!🥰

[silent-of-spirit]

Can I have a Solavellan tickle fight-gone-real-fight?!

@dadrunkwriting

Hoo boy. HOOOO BOY. Tweaked for mass heartbreak, as per request. HOO BOY. My heart hurts. Most of it under cut for length.

Solas x Aluriel

Post-Trespasser

It flits across her memory at times,his laughter- joyous and abundant, but only with her. They always lettheir reservations fall away when in the presence of each other…free to be their truest selves.

Or- shewas her truest self. He had always kept secrets, locked from hereyes, but never from her knowledge. She knew he hid from her, thoughnot to what extent. She wished his betrayal tainted her memories ofhim- but they could not. She had never felt such a sense of rightthan when she was beside him, her doubts fading away into perfectclarity. There had been many things she was unsure of, but neverthat. Never him.

Shewished…

Sheremembered when he had discovered she was ticklish- eyes wide at thesqueak that fled her lips at his accidental contact, then thedevilish smirk. He dove after her, expertly catching her around thewrists despite her attempts to evade him, taking advantage of theopening to coax more laughter. He had laughed too, as lost in thesilliness as she was. It was one of her brightest memories of themboth, how she had turned the tables and captured him in return, howplayful laughter had morphed into sweet sighs and the slide of theirbodies.

Butthat was so long ago now, and there was nothing sweet left- onlybitterness and pain. He left a hole in her heart that time could notfill, and now she was cold.

So cold.

Liahrahad tried to redeem him, but he would not be won over- resolute inhis plan. So many had suffered, had died, had burned,but they were not people to him.

Alurielcould not find it in her heart to hate him for it, no matter how shetried. Oh, but she wanted to.

Andnow she lay in her tent, sleep evading her as she agonized overmemories of better times, knowing they would never be again. TheInquisitor and her armies would face him tomorrow, and Aluriel wouldbe by their side, bent on taking down the man she loved.

Still, even now.

Sheclosed her eyes against the tears that threatened, and waited.

Whenthe horn sounded, she was already strapped into her armor, sharpeningthe blade on her staff with a singular mind. They march, and shegrows colder still, not allowing herself to feel for these waywardchildren of The People, fooled into thinking destruction was the wayback to greatness.

Deceiver.She tries to tell herself, but the word rings hollow. She blinks backtears.

Therewas a burst of fire, the field around them erupting into heat andash, and she doesn’t have time to think, to feel,she only acts, collapsing against her staff as the conjured blizzarddoes its work. It was difficult to breathe, her vision blurry, butshe sees the glint of golden armor and she knows.

“Solas.”His name is barely a whisper, stolen by the biting wind, and shestraightens. He is looking at her, tall and proud against the newsnow, and she pushes herself upright, clutching her staff withshaking hands. Then he is gone, back turned as he retreats from hersight.

“Fen'Harel!��She screams, suddenly finding the energy to pursue. She weavesthrough the combatants, unseeing, her eyes fixed on the gleam of hisarmor, the pride in the straightness of his back. She hates it. Shehates him, but… shedoesn’t. She can’t.

Hewon’t turn- he won’t lookat her, still walks away, forever away as he has already done twice.She will not allow him to do so again. She flings a bolt of ice athis back, sharp and glassy, screaming in frustration as it iscasually tossed to the side.

But hestops.

Shegrasps at the mana in her veins, shoots another, again tossed to theside before it reaches him. She drags in a ragged breath, reaches,and sends a volley, pressing forward even as each falls to the earth.

Finally-finally, he turns, metwith tears of anger and a face so hauntingly familiar and precious,it makes him ache. She is dragging, the power that she unleasheddraining her energy, but still she comes. She swings her staff, ablow easily sidestepped, and she screams again. She doesn’t knowwhere she finds the energy, but she swings again, pushing him backeven as he dodges every blow.

“Fightme!” Her voice is ragged, a pained edge to it that is impossible toignore. “Fight me, coward!”She screeches, calm facade only a distant memory. Now she is fire,vengeance, fury.

Sheslips and he falters just for a moment, but it is enough. He feelsher weave the fade around her fingertips just before she presses himback, back, back, collidingwith the trunk of a tree so hard it knocks the breath from his lungs.Her magic holds him there, feet dangling, the pressure on his throatonly slack enough to allow him breath.

She isshaking as she approaches, whether from exhaustion or adrenaline, heis unsure. There are tracks through the dirt on her face, tearsfalling where she could no longer hold them back.

“Fen'Harel.”She gasps, then laughs, breathless and a little wild. “We meetagain.” She lifts her staff, blade poised at the side of his neck,but stops. She closes her eyes, face contorting in agony, and againshe tries to press it forward, faltering at the last moment.

“Vhenan.”He says softly, sees her shudder.

“No.No.” She says shakily. “Don’t you dare.” Her voice cracks, rawemotion lacing every shuddering breath. He can feel where the bladerubs against his skin, trembling and unsure. “Don't” She saysagain, nearly sobbing it. Neither of them know for whom the word wasmeant.

He canhear it whistling through the air before he sees it, but he cannotstop it, eyes widening in horror as the arrow pierces her armor.

No.

The staff fallsfrom her hand, the other losing the grip on the magic that bound him.

“No!” Hebellows, catching her as she falls to her knees.

She laughs- abroken, wet sound that sends his heart plummeting. Her eyes are uponhis, large and sad and afraid, and again he could see thequestion there.

Why?

“Solas.”She whispers, voice pained. She touches his cheek with a tendernesshe had thought long forsaken. “I would have followed you.”

Thewords tear at his soul, a truth he had always known. He pushed her tothis, made her think this was the only course. His love had damnedher, and himself in the process. He can’t find the words to beg forher forgiveness in her last moments, a forgiveness he knows he doesnot deserve. He begs whatever powers still exist to spare her thisfate. He would give anythingto see her from his arms, safe and whole.

Please.

Hecannot stop the tears that fall, uncaring of the opinions of thosewho follow him. His heart lay in his arms looking up at him withthose eyes full of starlight, luminous and lovely, and he is lost.

“Iknow.”