#whoever your inquisitor is

[krems-chair]

honestly nothing but respect for the way the Inquisitor creeps up on Solas at the end of Veilguard like Girl in Horse Movie About to Try and Connect with the Dangerous One In the Middle of a Lightning Storm for Some Reason.

He may not have a beautiful mane anymore but he's got all the grace and crippling anxiety of The Scary Horse Everyone Warns Horse Girl to Stay Away From (everyone greatly disapproves) and I have to respect the Inquisitor's hustle.

*insert cursed stick figure drawing of Solas Horse with the Inquisitor going "shhhhhh" and raising their right hand*

[eye-of-yelough]

i think veilguard is the first dragon age game that has me wanting to play a human. not sure what this says about the game itself or me

[vaguely-concerned]

I understand and agree with a lot of the frustrations about the shortcomings of Inquisition as a story. but sometimes when I hear people complain about the chosen one narrative in it I do want to just be like... you know it's a deconstruction of the concept more than anything, right. the inquisitor isn't actually chosen by anything except stumbling into the wrong (right?) room at the right (wrong?) time because they like, heard a noise or whatever. or if you think they are chosen, as many do in-universe, that's something you have to take on faith, the maker-or-whoever moves in mysterious ways indeed-style. the Inquisitor isn't actually a Destined Chosen One, they're a Just Some Guy in a fancy hat, self-delusions of grandeur to taste as you'd prefer.

a running thread that goes through all of the personal quests of the companions is the concept of a comforting lie vs. an uncomfortable truth, upholding old corrupt structures vs. disrupting them, and the role of faith in navigating that. (blackwall the warden vs. thom rainier the liar and murderer. hissrad vs. the iron bull, or is that the other way around? cassandra and the seekers -- do we tell the truth about what we find, even if it means dismantling the old order of the world? and so on.) and your inquisitor IS at the same time a comforting lie (a necessary one, in dark times? the game seems to ask) and an uncomfortable truth (we are the result of random fickle chance, no protective hand is held over the universe, it's on us to make a better world because the maker sure as hell won't lift a divine finger to help anyone, should he against all odds exist). faith wielded for political power... where's the point that it crosses the line into ugliness? is it before it even begins? what's the alternative? will anyone listen to the truth, if you tell it?

interesting how you also get a mix of companion agency in this -- you have characters like dorian who ALWAYS choose one side of the comforting lie vs. uncomfortable truth dichotomy. he will always make up his own mind to go back to tevinter and try to dismantle the corruption of the old system no matter what you say, or how you try to influence him. meanwhile iron bull is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum -- so psychologically trapped and mangled, caught in an impossible spiritual catch-22, that his sense of identity is left entirely to you and your mercy. you cannot change dorian in any way that matters; you can be his friend or not, support him or not, but he is whole no matter what. you are given incredible and potentially destructive-to-him power over bull's soul. it's really cool (and heartbreaking) to think about.

this is a game about how history will eat you even while you're still alive, and shape you into whatever image it pleases to serve it, and for all your incredible power right now you are powerless in the face of the gravitational force of time -- of more than time, of History. you won't recognize yourself in what History will make of you, because you belong to it now. you don't belong to yourself anymore and you never will again. the further you were from what it needs from you to begin with, the more you will find yourself distorted in its funhouse mirror. (why hello there inquisitor ameridan, same hat!)

and to me this is so much the core of what Dragon Age is about right from the Origins days -- how and by whom history gets written, the inherent unreliable narration of it all. I hope you like stories, Inquisitor. You are one now.

I do think it's probably still the weakest of the games narratively, and it's hampered by its structure and bloated systems. but I also find it disingenous to say that there's nothing deeper or actually interesting going on with it, thematically. if you're willing to engage with it there is Some Real Shit going on under the high fantasy-tinted surface.

[mythalism]

You likely don't remember me, but I'm the anon who asked you a few weeks ago, "why would anyone think Solas would choose Lavellan over Mythal." Thank you for replying to it the way you did. It actually inspired me to play DAI, seeing how passionate you were about Solavellan.

I finished Trespasser last Friday, and I must say I FUCKING GET IT NOW. I ABSOLUTELY DO. That bald bitch has crawled his way into my brain and pussy.

I was mildly irritated by him in Veilguard. I sneered at Lavellan's lovey-dovey "let me join you in your prison." I didn't know their lore, indeed. You were absolutely right, the tastiest parts happen outside of the three kissing scenes they had in DAI. His personal quest? Blew my fucking mind. What he says during Cole's quest? I'm on my knees. ("We cannot change our nature by wishing," Solas says and looks straight at Lavellan. Or his reply to Varric's "He could have been a person." is, "Would that have made him happier, child of the Stone?")

Everything about how Solavellan was written in DAI resonates. Her first flirt with him is "I will protect you." His passionate speech on spirits? (The youtube compilation I watched didn’t have it, so it was such a treat to see it for the first time and finally be able to enter discourse on this!) I loved how the flirt is "I look forward to help you make new friend wink-wink," which makes him FLUSTERED. YET he approves way more if you actually consider his point of view and say spirits (and by extension him) are real people!

I had no idea how protective and private he was over romance with the Inquisitor in DAI (he shuts down Sera and Cassandra right away). So while I would absolutely have liked him to speak more on Lavellan in Veilguard, especially after experiencing the romance for myself, I do also see now why he would be quite unwilling to open up to Rook of all people. (When I heard his "There are few regrets sharper than watching fools squander what you sacrificed to achieve," I thought of Rook right away, lol. Oh, what irony.)

The Temple of Mythal quest and the conversation with him afterwards made me dizzy. What do you mean Mythal has a bunch of elves chained to her will, doing her bidding for millennia, and she never visits?? What do you mean she used whoever drank from the Well as her puppet?? What do you mean she wants a reckoning that will shake the heavens?? How on earth are NONE of those things referenced in the direct sequel??? Why is she portrayed as a noble martyr, when she was clearly part of the issue? (Vallaslin are SLAVE MARKINGS, and I may be dumb, but I never heard that in Veilguard for some reason?? And Solas HAD HERS on his FACE???? I only now understand the "I release you from my service" bit.)

His "I begged you not to drink from the Well" hit me. (I made my Lavellan do it, btw. At that point I thought, ofc nothing bad will come of this decision, I know Mythal to be a spirit of benevolence and kindness. LOL!!!! Then Flemeth overrides my Inquisitor's will for something as minor as chastising her daughter. And that was a kinder version of Mythal, who lived among mortals for centuries, apparently? xD) As did his "Everything you do, whether you know it or not, will be for her." And "I know that mistake well enough to carve the angles of her face from memory."

Mind-blowing. And everything about Trespasser obliterated the remains of my brain. Companion comments on Solas leaving?? What Cole said about him??? Lavellan's words after witnessing the mural of him removing vallaslin from slaves?? He had agents??? He had plans???? Elves joined him???? He visited her dreams, looking like a sad wet puppy???

Trespasser was such a fantastic setup. It had everything. I genuinely have never experienced a drama and romantic tragedy in a video game the way I did with Solavellan in that DLC. AND I knew Veilguard would have them reunited. I can only imagine how it was for people who played it on release, not knowing. The wait? The theorizing? The heartbreak?

It is a superior ship, no doubt about it. "I look at you and I see what you truly are" (DING DING, memory of Duet codex was actually inspired by what he said to Lavellan??) "You are unique. In all Thedas I never expected to find someone who can DRAW MY ATTENTION FROM THE FADE" (now I fucking see why she is singular and special to him!). "Ar lasa mala revas. You are free." Var lath vir suledin???????????!!!!!!!!

Fuuuuuuuuuck. lights a cigarette On the flipside, now I clearly see what a wet disgrace Veilguard's writing was. Absolute assassination of the meatiest plot points (the Well? Mythal’s reckoning?? Solas's entire drive to save his people??). Also, it was dumb not to utilize his romance with Lavellan more. Like—have people hate her for this! Hello? Your Chantry Herald had a lover who wants to destroy the world. Any comments, everyone?

Sorry for so much rambling. I'm still processing my emotions. What a game. What a weirdly hot, soul-crushing, heartbreaking love story. And they are together in the Fade now, for eternity...*SIGH*

i hope you know i was cackling with glee as i read this message. i am so so so so glad you played inquisition and trespasser and had such a wonderful time. it is so fun to witness the brain worm overtaking someone in real time. welcome to hell and please feel free to come share your thoughts and continue to process any time <3

[impuretale]

The jump mechanics in Veilguard are hilarious to me and I have just decided that that is just your character. Whoever your Rook is, whatever else they can do?

They are shit at jumping. Just, the worst.

Sometimes you are very good at falling, don't me wrong. There is a limit to how far you can fall, but that limit is still pretty big. It is not the Inquisitor's "I'M COMIN ELIZABETH!" energy when they'll walk off a six-story ledge in Skyhold because stairs are for mortals? But still not bad.

But actual jumping? Even most of the time when you make it, you're still stumbling and barely clearing it, while your companions (who all have the grace of fucking circus gazelles, even Vincent Price) just watch you and say nothing because you're doin your best lil buddy. Gravity decided it hated you, specifically, but you are also its grudging responsibility, because there are moments when you know you did not make that jump and the computer is just letting you have it anyway.

You pathetic thing, you.

And that is just funny to imagine as an in-character thing. Rook? Is just really bad at jumping. Every time you don't eat shit and die is proof that the Maker does indeed protect more than just idiots and children.

[cybershock24601]

I’ve been stewing on more alternate time travel au where the Veilguard sends themselves to the past trying to rip Rook out of the fade because there’s nothing like trying to save your bestie to make you turn to dangerous and unstable magic

Lucanis spends most of his time helping Harding out with her scout work yet refuses to wear the Inquisition uniform because he is still a Crow at heart which means he wouldn’t be caught dead in such an ugly uniform

Turns out the Orlaisean noble woman Emmrich had a thing with one summer was the wife of the Duke Vivienne’s with and the two of them get together to gossip. Vivienne wishes Emmrich wouldn’t drag along his skeleton every time but he is Nevarran so she will let it go. She also assists in giving Manfred etiquette lessons alongside Emmrich because it’s not like she can let the poor thing go around with such poor diction.

Mentioned this before but Dorian’s crush on Emmrich comes back full force and whoever is romancing him whether it be the Inquisitor or Iron Bull ends up wildly jealous of Emmrich

Hardings new connection with the Stone possibly helping soothe Cullen’s lyrium induced issues

Chess pieces from all over Skyhold start going missing because Cole keeps giving all the rooks to the Veilguard

Leliana offers Bellara a nug and she accepts and now walks around Skyhold with the most adorable nug the world has ever seen

If you thought Emmrich and Davrin were insufferable before, their dad off gets a thousand times worse when Davrin's new mabari starts stealing Manfred's bones and Davrin refuses to admit his good boy did anything wrong even if he is privately scolding the mabari.

Davrin and Cullen end up bonding over the mabari as Cullen ends up offering Davrin some advice on how to train the dog. Turns out mabari are not any easier to train then griffons as both are hyper intelligent animals and require different tactics though bribery seems to be working as well on the dog as it did Assan

Manfred starts copying Cole by giving people random objects but unlike Cole who has some weird esoteric logic behind it, Manfred is really just picking up a cool rock he found on the ground and handing it off to the first person he sees and crying out "HELPING" in his little skeleton voice

Harding is now the one in the awkward age gap relationship because what are you supposed to do when your significant other is now physically 13 years old but still mentally an adult but it’s not like anyone but your close friends know that because to everyone else they’re just 13? Hell if Harding knows

The Veilguard collectively gaslighting the Inquisition about Spite because people down south aren’t nearly going to be as cool about the whole possession situation and their assurances that Spite is chill so every time someone tries to bring up the glowing eyes or wings they come up with some bullshit excuse and stick to it no matter how ridiculous and some of them get real stupid

Neve sees Cullen practically falling asleep on his feet and offers him her cup of coffee. This is a mistake because now Cullen is using his new caffeine addiction to deal with his lyrium withdrawals and the man has never been so productive or strung out. Lucanis is suffering in the background because Cullen makes and drinks the same sort of sludge Neve survives off of.

Josephine and Lucanis end up bonding over their shared disgust over the sort of vile concoctions Neve and Cullen keep producing. Leliana also joins in because Josephine already introduced her to good coffee and she also has strong opinions on the culinary crimes they’re committing. She also has a whole lot to add when Lucanis brings up some of Harding’s more adventurous kitchen adventures because after a year of traveling around Ferelden during the Blight, Leliana has some stories of her own to share about Ferelden cuisine.

Solas who hates tea and wants an in to try to figure out what is going on and how much these people know approaches Lucanis about trying some coffee too only for Lucanis who can be one spiteful motherfucker even without accounting for Spite to essentially pull a “I suddenly don’t know how to read” and brew the most black, vile, and disgusting sludge like pot of coffee for Solas to drink. It would have been kinder for Lucanis to have just spiked his coffee with poison. Spite is in the background cackling at the barely concealed disgust on Solas’ face as Solas pretends he can’t hear Spite’s delighted laughter at Solas’ predicament

[angrykittybarbarian]

A list of things that bother me about Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

!Beware of spoilers if you want to go into this game blind!

Word of advice: I truly think that it is better however to play this game fully informed or else you are in for a big shock.

The dialogue feels artificial.

What do I mean by that? From what I have observed the dialogue between Rook and the companions is unnatural. This expresses itself in lack of emotional expression or too much of the same in an unfitting situation. But for the most part it's the first resulting in the companions never being truly mad at Rook nor expressing such feelings towards them whatsoever. Instrad the dialogue seems to function like a simplified explanation of things and events around you to make sure you understand properly and don't get fancy ideas like interpreting a situation through your own personal lense and take away an understanding the devs did not explicitely want you to have.

The game has strange priorities in terms of exposition.

The game has companions and NPCs either state the obvious in a slow and clear pronounciation or doesn't give necessary background info at all.

For instance it has the Veiljumpers state that Arlathan Forest is dangerous as multiple members of their organization are being carried away and injured, as if the player wouldn't conclude this fact by, I don't know, engaging with the game? At the same time it doesn't provide who these Veiljumpers are exactly and how they know of Solas and the true character of the Evanuris as these facts are not common knowledge among the people of Thedas.

Rook and Varric seem to have an established history but we never get to see how they met and what they did together. We don't get to build our relationship with Varric as Rook like we did as Hawke or the Inquisitor. We have to pretend it's magically there.

Which brings me to my next point: the game doesn't care for established lore and replaces it with a nonsensical version

Said Veiljumpers, including Bellara, consist almost entirely of dalish elves who have an extensive lore surrounding their pantheon, religious ohilosophies and principles. Their gods are the Evanuris, also called the creators. Elgar'nan is the Allfather in this pantheon while Ghilan'nain is the Mother of Halla in dalish tradition. This should have lead to conflict with Rook who is fighting these very gods. Instead the elves seem the accept the fact without second thought.

The same goes for Davrin who somehow identifies Ghilan'nain as the Mother of all Monsters while it remains unclear from where he takes his information.

On the flip side human Andrastianism doesn't seem to play a role at all. The game does not explore what rise of the elven gods means for the belief in The Maker. The human companions don't comment on it either and the templars have seemingly vanished.

The Antaam are waging an expansionist war without command from the Arishok now. Despite the Qun being a highly disciplined doctrine that values firmly set roles and chain of command above all else, the entire qunari military arm is somehow able to act without order and war amongst themselves.

But wait, there is a word for Qunari who behave like this already established. Tal Vashoth! So the game is basically claiming the entire qunari military went rogue.

The Antivan Crows, hitmen for hire, who buy kids from the slave market to raise them to be obedient killers and use trorture to reach this goal and are willing to kill said members if they go rogue or mess up a job, are the good guys now who protect Antiva's streets from harm.

Ferelden and Orlais got swallowed by the blight and whoever rules Orlais got assassinated by the Venatori anyway which renders the entire questline of Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts pointless.

And appearantly Morrigan slept around a lot now and Shaper Valta from the Decent dlc has become a statue in Kal Sharok?

The devs lied about previous choices not mattering

It becomes clear that the devs may have had a certain world state in mind when writing the story. This becomes clear when Harding talks about the Inquisition's spymaster being Charter but also mentioning Leliana. But we all know Leliana was the spymaster. So if the position fell to Charter there must have happened something that forced Leliana out of the position, like being named Divine for instance?

This impression is further cemented by the attitude of the First Warden towards the Inquisitor. It was stated that the First Warden had no high opinion of the Inquisitor. But why? They never met before. Could it be that the First Warden could be holding a grudge because of a specific decision made at Adamant, possibly the banishment of the wardens by the Inquisitor?

This is not even complete as I have not finished the game yet. But lord, this is a lot already in the beginning. At this point a miracle needs to happen to to render the points above meaningless but it isn't going to happen.

Part 2

[heylavellan]

i've been cooking up an excuse for the crows to have fancy balls and i think i've nailed it.

antiva has connections to every nation's aristocracy through alliances. so i imagine they invite foreign dignitaries over quite frequently to entertain them. balls and feasts are a great way to do that.

i also imagine the crows have many operatives planted in the antivan ruling class. this includes the royal family and the merchant princes that rule individual cities. these might be aides, bodyguards, prostitutes, and courtiers. hell, i wouldn't be surprised if there were merchant families owned by the crows so certain houses have fronts.

parties, feasts, and balls are great places for completing contracts. so every year there is at least one crow ball. the important part is that only the crows know it is the crow ball. ostensibly, it needs to appear to the rest of the world that this is a normal ball hosted by the nobility, so targets attend and aren't much more suspicious than normal.

the nobility of antiva know that there is a crow ball every year, so they have learned how to dissuade attempts on them at regular balls and events. they have techniques and plans for evading the crows while appearing tactful and polite to high society.

meanwhile, the crows are doing a lot of politicking here. historically, one of the major families in antiva city hosts (such as the arainais). or whichever house holds the seat of first talon. but since the fall of house arainai and the appearance of the black shadow, there is more competition for hosting. since then, even a cuchillo has managed to host the crow ball.

i've been thinking about this as a fun setting to bring together an eclectic collection of folks.

Any Antivan Crow character. Whether completing a contract, attending to represent their family, undercover as a member of someone's court, or as a newly minted crow to be shown off to the other houses. Guildmasters could be bargaining for the rights to take contracts in different territories, making deals to help remove a talon or climb up another rank in the talons.

Royal or noble characters as guests. Montilyets, Trevelyans, Aeducans, and Couslands could all make appearances. Whoever you made rulers of Ferelden, Orzammar, and Orlais. Tevinter magisters like Dorian or Maevaris.

MCs from other games. I mean, who wouldn't want to claim they managed to get the Champion of Kirkwall, Hero of Ferelden, and Inquisitor in one place. Your Rook if they're a Crow or if you're setting the ball after Veilguard. Also, a great place for people to try and kill them.

the most important part of this is to remember that the ball still needs to ostensibly be a ball! the food needs to be fit for nobility, a good band for music, appropriate decor, a suitable theme, etc.

if bioware wont give me antivan lore i will make it

[dragonagecompanions]

hello, this is my first request :) unsure if your still taking requests but I was wondering how the companions (maybe romanced maybe not) would react to finding out the Inquisitor has a dead kid? I think the only way the party would find out is in the fade via the fear demon, and then maybe the advisors find out on their own ┐⁠(⁠ ⁠∵⁠ ⁠)⁠┌

idk but I would be truly honored to see you answer this request, and even if not than thank you for reading over it <33

- 🍡

WARNINGS For CHILD LOSS YOI HAVE BEEN WARNED

Cassandra: When the fear demon, gleeful in it’s telling of their leader’s loss, reveals the truth the Seeker is…well, there are no words. Forcibly she is reminded of how they swayed, pale and weeping, when she had said there were no other survivors. Guilt churns low and deep at her own words, a year and more gone now, throwing that fact in their face as accusation. Throwing such a loss in their face and then demanding answers.

Throwing a calling at their feet and demanding leadership, never knowing what a loss they struggled through.

She fights all the harder for them, as if every enemy batted away from them is attempted absolution. Cassandra Pentaghast thought she understood grief in all its facets, but what does the loss of older brother and parents- expected losses if come too soon- stand before the loss of a child? Maker, how do they still breathe through it?

When they are free of the fade, she approaches only to offer apology. If they wish to speak of their loss she will listen, but only then. She has forced enough from them.

Varric: Shit. Just…shit. Here he is, going on for months about how this story is bad for heroes and how the Inquisitor is the main character and blathering on, and never saw it. Never saw the aching grief, because it was never shown. The only example he has, or is at least intimately familiar with, is Leandra Hawk and his own mother.

And as the Inquisitor had never fallen into drink or taken to blaming whoever was closest to them for things outside of anyone’s control there had been no sign for Varric to catch on to. And it makes him feel…almost dirty. Stained with his own intentions, blithely going on while their leader had lost their kid.

He doesn’t bring it up to them, doesn’t know how, but Skyhold’s resident author is absolutely the own who tells Josephine as soon as they tumble out of the fade. That raven missive is a short and brutal telling, far from his normal goings on, and his guilt is manifold in it.

Solas: The Dread Wolf is not so unattached from the world as to not consider the losses suffered at the conclave, but for the most part -when he did turn his mind to them- they were mostly academic. A balance of power, and the loss of so many leaders among both chantry and mages a destabilizing force for his future efforts. Numbers laid cooly on a chart, beads on an abacus. The fortunes of war laid bare.

But more than one parent lost a child in that terrible moment, and siblings mourned. Children bereft, friends torn asunder, lovers left to weep alone for their loves. Listening to the fear demon enumerate the inquisitor’s loss magnifies the enormity of what happened, and though he will undoubtedly be the source of much worse for a moment the Dread Wolf cannot breathe.

It passes, of course, and when they leave the fade the rift mage dies his best not to carry those emotions out with him. This world is not to blame for his actions, for the destruction of his world, but he must restore it and so they must bear the cost. It is not fair to them, and it will be long months until he can be east about his plans.

In the interim, he dares to approach the inquisitor only once about their loss. He is there as a listening ear in the silence of his rotunda if they wish to speak of their sorrow. Or if they wish only a silent companion, he will direct the kindest spirits he can find to guard their dreams and remain at their side as long as he can.

Blackwall: Maker forbid. For a moment Skyhold’s would be warden is swamped by the images of Callier’s children, dead under tiny shrouds beside the ruined carriage at his command. Too many children fall victim to the machinations of their elders and with none to protect them from the fall out, but for all that most of Blackwall’s experience has been from the other side.

Being confronted with the parent who had lost a child, confronted with the knowledge that they had told none of them and had suffered under the burden alone was staggering. Damn it, they had all laid burdens at the Inquisitor’s feet and expected answers, demanded decisions and leadership in a word gone mad— and none had known what they had lost.

He doesn’t know what to say or how to act and instead channels everything into the fight to flee the fade. Rainier would be too much the coward to speak to their leader in the aftermath, but Blackwall- older and hopefully wiser from his own griefs- will offer quiet condolences and whatever aid he can. If they need to speak of it be will listen. And if not there is soft wood and chisel enough to grind out any feelings if that is what they need.

Vivienne: Children had never been in her destiny. As a mage, even one so elevated as to be all but free of the constraints of the circle, motherhood was forbidden to her. Any child of her womb would be sacrificed to the Chantry, given to a family deemed ‘more worthy’ to raise it.

And as a mistress, no matter how deeply the love between them bloomed, Bastian could never have given her such a blessing. He had children— an illegitimate child, and a mage child at that, would have been too great a weapon against him.

And so she had put it out of her mind, never allowed herself to consider or imagine what a son might look like, how a daughter might smile. To think of it would be a loss too great to contemplate—or so she had thought. Met with the active loss and overwhelming grief that their leader must feel, Madame de Fer is suddenly glad not to know how such a burden might rest on her soul.

Could she be so calm a leader as the Inquisitor, while bleeding out inside? Vivienne does not know, and that…well, terrifies her in a way little has. But she is not called iron for nothing, and so when all is calm again she will go the Herald and ask simply and plainly what she might do for them. If the answer is nothing she will abide by it. And if there is something that might in any way assuage their grief then she will ensure they have it.

Dorian: Well, that at least explains the Inquisitor’s uncharacteristically violent outburst, when Halward Pavus had made his way to Ferelden. Upon hearing the possible consequences of the blood magic ritual the Inquisitor had laid into the Magister, flaying with words when they could not use violence. Even the Pavus paterfamilias had seemed shaken by the diatribe, and Dorian had felt championed.

He is not so shallow as to feel betrayed by the knowledge of what terrible grief must have driven such an impassioned defamation of character, but can instead only ache for his friend’s loss. They must have been a wonderful parent, and in a quiet time later will gather his courage to tell them so.

Sera: It doesn’t really register in the moment, so great is her own fear of the Fade and it’s denizens, but later it will simply break the Red Jenny’s heart. Their leader lost a true little one, and still managed to bring themselves to protect the rest of the little people no matter their age.

Like Blackwall she will either offer distraction or uncharacteristic silence in comfort, baked goods an offering that feels too…personal for such a gaping loss. But her admiration for them grows exponentially.

The Iron Bull: Public, corporate grief is rare among the Qun. Not forbidden, exactly, but when everyone is given a role it also implies that every person is inherently replaceable in that role. As Koslun said, the tide rises and falls and things must work forward toward peace.

But the death of a child is different. Whether disease or violence or simple accident, losing an imereki is a tragedy. The Tamassran mourns, the others in their care mourn, and all those in the sphere of the lost one are permitted some little allowance for the loss. Things cannot grind to a halt- this is why parents are separated from children, to ensure the deep emotional bonds that are anathema to the Qun- but there is not simple acceptance without acknowledgement of the loss.

Not even that was given to the Inquisitor. It’s east to see the shock of the others even through his own fear, and the knowledge infuriates Bull enough to get him through the Fade. Their leader lost a child, and no one was there for them. Instead piled on the whole world and its imminent loss on their shoulders. It’s disgraceful.

Later, when Adamant is pacified and they return to Skyhold, he will pull them aside. It will be painful and it will be slow, and whether they need alcohol or pain or even the clinical breakdown that bondage and sex can only give-with their explicit consent- he will help them bleed the pain and begin the grieving process.

Cole: The pain was too big for him to help, the threads caught up in pain and joy and guilt and anger and terrible despair. He didn’t even have the words to describe it to others, and so had kept silent.

If they need him later he will help, but this loss is too big for a spirit unsure of how to act.

Cullen: Maker’s breathe. How could they…why did they not…Damn it, how could he not realize?! He had all but thrust the entire inquisition on a parent who had been robbed the chance to even bury their child, let alone mourn them.

Varric’s report rocks him to the core, and the commander in truth does not know what to do. If the rest of the inner circle has it well in hand he will simply work to make sure their leader has less in their plate. If they wish to discuss it with them, he is there and if not…

He hardly has the words anyway.

Josephine: She weeps over the missive, when it arrives. Their inquisitor has been hiding the worst of loses from them, putting on such a brave face to do so much. Like Cullen she works to make sure they have less to do when they return, but does pull them aside briefly to awkwardly hug them and ask if they want a memorial somewhere private in Skyhold.

Leliana: She knew. She knew from only a few days after, when her spies brought her everything there was on the Herald. And even The Nightingales Heart could ache for such a loss, but Leliana took her queues from the Herald and simply never discussed it. That does not change now— she will follow their lead.

Mod Fereldone

[thedirtiwalkoniswet]

Alright, rating how terrifying the empire feels in every imperial era star wars media

The bad batch - 9/10, while our mc do get away with their lives (almost) always, it has to be said that the empire is in it's early stage and the clone troopers aren't super terrifying, which makes the empire overall less threatening. However, the people in charge, the emperor, Tarkin, whoever, they are terrifying in this. They brutally take over everything in their path, soldiers are less than numbers, your life is only worth preserving if you have purpose.

Solo - 2/10, there isn't a large focus on the empire, so really there is not much to rate

Tales of the empire - 5/10, there is little focus on the actual empire, Morgan Elsbeth is just doing her own thing and the inquisitors are actually pretty brutal, but they are also kind of their own seperate group, focusing on a very small part of the empires plans

Obi-Wan Kenobi - 4/10, it was way too easy to sneak into and break out of this 'super secure base', their plans were barely thought out which only made the imperials seem like massive morons. The inquisitors also weren't super terrifying, but maybe I'm just saying that because the make up doesn't allow you to take them seriously. Now, I do think Vader is a terrifying force in the show, but it's mostly just for the shock value and not any other value (also he had plenty chances to kill Obi Wan, but instead just stood there) But the empire overall seems weak, like there are always some major flaws to be exploited instead of small cracks to slip through

Rebels - 7/10, for the most part it doesn't feel super terrifying, after all do always keep our mc alive when captured, they barely torture them, and when they do it's not super severe. 3 out of those points are just for Thrawn and Thrawn alone, because he is terrifying, the rest? Eh

Andor - 10/10 hoooly shit, they do not care about anything that is in their path of success. The imperials here are not portrayed as mostly idiots who don't know what they're doing, they're actually cunning and smart and the only reason they lost is because the heroes were even smarter and more daring than they thought. They use intense torture to get what they want, the prison is unlike anything we've ever seen, they spy on every person, the empires paranoia is a suffocating boot to everyone who holds even the slightest position of power.

Rouge one - 9/10 been too long since I've seen it, but from what I remember, yeah, it's terrifying, all of it

Episode 4 - 3/10 silly little guys who just happen to blow up a planet and then literally all of them die

Episode 5 - 8/10 alright, they're actually kinda scary. The scene where Han gets tortured just for funsies is pretty rough and the battle on Hoth was quite intense

Episode 6 - 7/10 pretty big threat in this one again, the emperor was scary up until the point he was picked up like an empty tv box and tossed aside. It wasn't super easy for the heroes to win this time either (but the plan was pretty simple and the emperor really underestimated them) Also I still stand on the fact that if it wasn't for the death star the empire would've continued on much longer, especially without the second one.

Guess that's all

[oldandcrusty]

Religious imperialism: the RPG

This is the third installment in my series on institutional change in the Dragon Age series. If you'd like, feel free to read my Origins and DA2 posts.

When it comes to institutional change, there are a lot of angles I could tackle in Dragon Age: Inquisition. A frequent theme I see discussed is the way the inquisition absorbs the inquisitor. I already have given my two cents on that, and I don't think it fits what this series is about - the institutional change narrative the games weave.

For this post, I'm focusing on the institutional power the Inquisition rapidly garners. I might make more posts focusing on other elements - like the Red Jennies and Iron Bull's arc with the Qun. I might even do some Cullen Hating Hours, who knows!

Corypheus: the Uniter

The first Inquisition had a massive impact on religious and governmental institutions, because gave rise to the Seekers and Templars. The Divine thus became the head of a theocratic institution with an abundance of resources and a large military.

After the mage rebellion, Divine Justina wanted to revive an Inquisition in the event that the Conclave went awry. This would give her the ability to raise an army separate from existing religious and government forces, which she no longer had absolute control over.

We will never know what an Inquisition without Corypheus' presence would have yielded. Its purpose would have been to unite people, but I suspect its unifying would have looked more like subjugation through violence, coercion, and political intrigue.

In truth, it was Corypheus who united people. He, the Big Bad, made people from all races, nations, religions, and backgrounds want to support the Inquisition, as the Inquisition held the one individual who could defeat Corypheus. And, with such a simple message (help us and we'll literally save the world), it made it relatively easy for the Inquisition to gain widespread support, claim resources, and gain power.

This echoes real world examples of the use of declarations of emergency. Such decrees give governments greater powers to make swift decisions, at the risk of eroding human rights and democracy. It is meant to be used in exceptional cases, such as in wartime or during deadly outbreaks. However, it is commonly abused by governments to centralise decision making. It is an effective way to create dictatorships, for example when the Nazi party used this exact tactic in 1933 to take away democratic processes.

Post-Corypheus

Although the Inquisition starts off with a goal to curtail a very real emergency, it remains long after this problem is solved. What also remains is its sweeping powers. All those flags you raised in the Inquisition's name are land, buildings, and resources the Inquisition still owns. Furthermore, the new Divine is a member of your inner Circle, and whoever is ruling Orlais is doing so because you allow them to. You have immense power over Orlais, Fereldan, and the Chantry.

In Trespasser, Teagan points out that this is similar to what the Wardens did to Ferelden. Some fans have said that Teagan would never say this because of the fifth Blight. But he is a pragmatic person who saw the Warden and Alistair as allies and not puppets of Orlais. Of course he would be friendly with and trust them, and be wary of the Inquisition.

That being said, more so than in previous games, you can have a real impact on the injustices the world faces. For example, if you make Leliana the Divine, she will allow all races to have positions of power in Chantry and give mages freedom. Yay! Right?

These protections are top-down in implementation and ordered by a theocratic military force with highly centralised power. Regardless of who you pick to be Divine, your Inquisition would have made the Chantry stronger and more authoritarian.

There is some dialogue discussing this concept of top-down versus bottom-up - examples include Solas lambasting Sera for not formalising the Red Jennies, and Vivienne telling Blackwall that his attempts to help people are meaningless and change can only occur from the top. However, when looking at the entire narrative of the game, it frequently portrays change as having to be top-down.

The Inquisition turns Southern Thedas into a place where diversity wins (if you're Andrastian), and people can live in peace (on land owned by the Inquisition). Your inquisitor's choices, background, and beliefs do not alter this. If you disband the Inquisition, at least that weakens it, but it morphs into a more shadowy force. It is still plucking the strings of nations and the Chantry.

I personally wish that the game did not frame the Inquisition as positively as it did. There are not many opportunities to reckon with the impact of a religious imperialist force occupying land, taking resources, and choosing who gets to sit on thrones. Perhaps this is my perspective as a person in from Global South coming out, but that is why the game is actually quite disturbing to me, in an eerie cult-like way. Like is no one else seeing what's happening? Why is no one screaming with me? (Note that I have hundreds of hours on it, I do really enjoy it!)

Anyway, by the end of the game, the institutions of Southern Thedas are in an interesting position. I am excited to see what happens next! There is real potential to explore the other side of institutional change - the bottom-up, grassroots, radical incrementalist way. Surely they won't burn all that potential down in Veilguard just to factory reset the franchise! :D

Oh.

[eye-of-yelough]

fun thing about developing my rook while the game isn’t even out yet so i don’t know what kinda Situations he’s gonna be in is the fact it’s making me ‘develop’ him as just like. a run of the mill da/bg3 companion and the kind of things he would say. the greeting lines that depend on approval, the things you’d be able to ask him, etc…

[wylldebee]

Random Veilguard DLC Ideas Part III

(Part One, part two) Treasure Hunting DLC: You've been given maps to find special treasure chests around the various locations. Follow the clues, solve puzzles, and get yours hands on ancient weapons depending on your class/backstory. Lords of Fortune DLC: Set sail on a, uh, borrowed ship to stop a wanted tomb plunderer from stealing certain powerful artifacts. You can play through a few naval battles. Think Uncharted mixed with Assassin's Creed Blackflag. Afterwards, you can travel around on your ship whenever you want for a nice break. Beach DLC: What it says on the tin. The Veilguard take to the beach for a breather. Play various games with your companions. Try to teach your Rook how to swim. Spend the entire day searching for Manfred because somebody buried him in the sand and forgot where he is. Afterwards, you get to dress your companions up in summer gear with beach theme weapons in hand. Missing Rook DLC: During Rook's imprisonment in the Fade. Take control of Rook's LI or another companion. Personally witness the after effects of losing Rook and whoever was chosen to handle the wards/lead the second team. Inquisitor Outfits DLC: Replace the jumpsuit/whatever your Inquisitor was wearing with a select number of different outfits from Inquisition. Yes, the Skyhold pyjamas are included. Ffs Hawke DLC: Encounter your Hawke. If they were left in the Fade in the third game, they're somehow still alive and you managed to bring them back with you. You get a codex entry of a letter from Hawke's LI (if they have one). Critical Role DLC: Get arms and armour inspired by the various MCs of Critical Role. Manfred wears various shirts with a certain DM's face on it. Shop at the new store called Glorious Goods. Read Tusk Love in the codex. Have Rook craft something with their own hands to give to their companions. Replace combat with dice rolls.

[amoebab22]

Me, rolling up to DatV ready to John Brown this shit up in Tevinter:😈🔪

Me, realizing that the only cool thing I can do is kill slavers too hard for my anti-slavery organization off screen, and that I can't vibe with an ancient elf who also killed slavers too hard: 😢😢

Like, I'm supposed to believe my Shadow Dragon Rook wouldn't hear Varric say 'Solas hates slavery and has been freeing slaves this whole time btw' and suddenly be like wait. There's a super powerful immortal mage whose life's mission includes freeing all the slaves? Why was this not mentioned earlier?

Look man, in real life I can mostly just give money to bail funds and organizations that help incarcerated people and angrily write my representatives about abolishing the death penalty (as well as be a real downer at parties by talking about all this shit). I can't just stab it better. Please let me stab slavery until it's gone and team up with famous abolitionist Fen'harel to magically stab more slaveholders. Because much like I actually think it's morally fine to kill CEOs and hedge fund managers and billionaires and shit, I'm also fine with revolutionary violence towards slavers and the people who profit off of slave labor (which is prison labor and often farm labor, btw). Either just let me stab it better (instead of conveniently ignoring it) OR make me face the harsh truth that I may have to work with slaveholders like the Crows to save the world. Because that's a real shitty truth I had to deal with in DAO (orzammar is a shit show), DA2 (I'm working with a 'good apple' cop who's like but sometimes internment camps are good!), and DAI (Seeing the future if Orlais destabilizes before Corypheus is defeated is the only reason Halamshiral didn't run red with Orlesian noble blood for my Inky. And she thought about it. Hard). It's powerful to have to confront what your limits are when it comes to who you'll align with to save the world.

Especially when it was you and your team's bullshit that caused the situation to begin with. I think that's why Solas stays in DAI (instead of leaving early like Sera, Dorian, etc) even if he hates the Inquisitor. He's willing to work with whoever he has to when it comes to fixing his fuck up (both the more indirect fuck up of the Breach/Corypheus and his direct fuck up of the Veil by getting the orb back). It'd be interesting to explore more of that question, and see real consequences.

[arookinthelighthouse]

Okay but do you guys ever think about how with certain choices you make in Origins, DA2, and Inquisition there's great potential for there to be the great angst of "this bloodline is cursed"?

Like, say you play as Amell in Origins. You become a Grey Warden, which pretty much signs your death warrant and puts you on an irreversible deadline for your death. You witness all the horrors, perhaps you even make all the "bad" or "wrong" decisions. You get to the final battle against the archdemon and either you die killing it, another Warden does, or Morrigan has the old god baby and you survive. With that first one, it's obvious that the "this bloodline is cursed" thing would stem from you dying and all the suffering you went through along the way. In terms of the last two, you have to live with the knowledge that you're a Grey Warden and you didn't die killing the archdemon. And especially with the last one, and even more so if you're a male Amell that romanced Morrigan, if you're the one to kill the archdemon and survive you undoubtedly are judged by Wardens in the future about if you're a "real" Warden. Furthermore, if you're a male Amell who romances Morrigan but you DON'T have the old god baby, you die and Morrigan still ends up with a son and she has to live with the fact that you both could've had this life with Kieran if you'd survived and followed her into the eluvian during one of the DLC.

Then, we get to DA2. Let's say you play as mage Hawke. Right off the bat, your sister is killed and your family blames you for it. You go to the Deep Roads and you take your brother and he either dies or becomes a Grey Warden, which your mother definitely resents you for. Your mother then dies and you blame yourself because now your closest family is either all dead or mostly dead with one following in the footsteps of your cousin and being a Grey Warden, which basically guarantees he'll die before his time. And then, if your mage Hawke romances Anders, Hawke then has to grapple with the fact later down the line that the man they love has committed a horrific crime and if you decide to stay with him and not kill him you find yourself looking back at everything some days and wondering if the Amell/Hawke bloodline really is cursed like your mother used to say.

And then Inquisition happens. Mage Hawke who romanced Anders and supported him instead of killing him turns up at Skyhold and of course events follow on from that that lead you to the Here Lies The Abyss quest. You and whoever your Warden is depending on your choices from Origins end up in the Fade with the Inquisitor and friends (bonus points if one of the companions is Varric). You fight against the fear demon and you win but then there's that monstrosity that will leave the Fade if someone doesn't stay behind to stop it. Mage Hawke stays behind in the Fade to stop the monster, doesn't even get to say goodbye to Anders the way they wish they could, and either dies killing the creature in the Fade or by some miracle survives but never returns from the Fade, likely dying from something else in there or being driven mad because mortals shouldn't be in the Fade for that long and it's bound to take a toll on you mentally and physically.

All of this to say, this then provides so much more angsty background for your Rook if you headcanon that your Rook is the child of your Warden and one of the companions. Or even if you headcanon them to be the child of your mage Hawke and Anders (with some shuffling around of the timeline of the games depending on how old you headcanon their child to be and if they're a biological or adopted child). Your Rook, part of the Amell/Hawke bloodline, is then thrown into the calamity and chaos of the events of Veilguard. And depending on the choices made in that game, if you get the bad ending where your Rook and Solas both end up bound to the Veil, that's another member of the family who falls to the "curse" of the Amell/Hawke bloodline.

And if you headcanon your Rook to be the child if your Amell and Morrigan? And if you headcanon that child to be Kieran and not a twin or sibling of his? Even more devastation for Morrigan, especially if her Amell died in the final battle against the archdemon.

Yeah. A "this bloodline is cursed" world state, I think, would break me if I played it out.

[mercysought]

Small stack of unanswered letters addressed to Asharen Lavellan - to the small house in the outskirts of Antiva City. Around 9:44-9:45 Dragon (post trespasser)

A small neatly folded letter. without wrinkles except of recent use. Left unused over a stack of other papers.

As for the aspects of the fade and the intricacies of the veil as to the physical attributes, I'm afraid I have reached my own limitations on knowledge of the matter. I would, however, refer you to my other colleagues within the Necropolis. Here is a list of names: Professor Emm—

A longer stack of papers. Sturdy handwriting. The stack says that that most of the letter was kept unread.

— tells me that you've not been keeping up with the letters we've been sending. You're starting to worry me. Now, you don't have to tell me what you have been up to, it's not like I would likely understand it, but I do miss seeing that enthusiastic script on my desk. Charter has sent someone to check on you, just so you know. I almost stopped her, but you know how she is, if you find a nevarran mage with a new set of tea cups, you know who sent her. I think you'll like her. Say something, Scribbles. I hope yo—

A small piece of paper. The letter is written in half elvhen, half common. There are typos, but it is more of a note - the parchment closer to the closest piece of paper one could find. Some of the text on the edges is worn out.

Papae is worried sick, Asharen. I had to convince Mamae to not come herself. Please. I will remain in Antiva City for the next three days at the Andorinha Inn. Please come talk to me, to at least know you are still alive. Or let me in, I know you are in there, I see candle light burning at night. Papae thinks that you are still angry at him since the last visit, but if you were still mad at him - why not let me in? Surely this is not enough to cut us out of your life. Ameridan wants to come but he cannot and you are worrying them too. Please, you don't even need to let me in, just tell me you are ok.

the letter smells of warm mornings in late spring. It is kept by a small bench on the side of the door towards the orange trees that one can see in the window.

Do you still watch the swallows? The way they build their nests almost always underneath your door frame? I think I will come by, to hopefully see the swallows with you. I miss our talks. Miss hearing you talk about fish nets and the waving of curtains when you press your hand against it. There are days your presence grows darker, like swathed by night. Or perhaps the depths of the ocean. I will visit soon.

the letter is written in elvhen, solely so. A dialect unknown to the dalish.

I'm afraid I do not know more. Most of our bretheren have chosen to remain, but many more have left the temple. I am unsure what they would have done, to chase after the path of Fen'harel would not be the choice of many in ages past, but the world is not what it was and neither are we. I suppose this is my way of saying I cannot tell you what you wish to know. Only that I'm sorry. I hope you find peace.

The handwriting is sloppy and with multiple crossed out words. It is still beautiful, despite all the crossing of words with typos. Whoever was writing the letter, was holding the quill too strongly, pressing too hard.

Inquisitor, I know you do not like me calling you that but I am at my wits' end. If I do not receive a missive from you or someone around you I am going to march myself to Antiva City and tear down your wall - no, I will not care about your books or notes. And no, I will not care that Varric told me not to do it. If you were to answer your missives then I wouldn't feel the need to do this. I am worried, you didn't sound like yourself on the last letter - and that has been a while. Don't make me contact Lady Montilyet.