#yes I’m playing dragon age inquisition again

[monstersandmaw]

Adam ‘head empty pretty eyes only’ Trevelyan boldly flirts with Cassandra…

[spitedemon]

i really don’t think it’s “typical dragon age fandom nonsense” for people to be genuinely upset about the world state choices. combat, level design, art direction, gameplay gimmicks, those have all varied across each dragon age game. the one thing that’s remained constant are nods to our previous choices.

i wasn’t expecting my HoF to come riding in on a griffon, but i can’t find a monument dedicated to warden tabris somewhere around the anderfels? lucanis couldn’t have some lines about the time that one arainai boy was stirring up trouble in antiva city? you’re gonna tell me that making a mage the new divine wouldn’t have some impact on nevarra and antiva? on the anderfels, the supposed most devout militant andrastian nation in thedas? you’re saying nobody in the north is paying attention to who rules orlais or ferelden? come on.

[clairescotcoutts]

So, about The Veilguard.

This post is:

Long.

Spoiler full.

Read at your peril.

So.

The fact that I devoured the game in virtually less than three days should speak for itself; I was worried about the playing style, I was unsure about the combo system, and having only two companions travel alongside the MC felt a little alien to me and also added to my anxiety. (Yes, I’ve played Mass Effect, yes, I’ve been in a fighting trio before, but never in Dragon Age.) I thought, “There’s only three of us?! We’re gonna die so much and so hard.”

Turns out I didn’t die so many times as I’d expected, so yay me.

I had refused to watch anything that had to do with the plot, with the exception of the trailers, because I wanted my experience to be fresh and untainted by expectations. Of course, I had hopes — but other than that, I dove in blind and without any sense of direction.

As you know, the depths of the ocean hold both horror and beauty, so here are mine; I shall start with the horrors so all the bad air is cleared out first.

My primary horror is that, save a few points, the game very clearly follows BioWare’s own canon, in which the Hero of Ferelden must have died to stop the Fifth Blight, and thus there is no Kieran. Morrigan plays a pivotal role yet again, but her presence implies that the decisions made in previous games are… well, your own, but not the world’s own. So, no Kieran, and it is heavily suggested that it was Morrigan who drank from the Vir’Abelasan. Even if she hadn’t, turns out she ends up with a piece of Mythal inside her anyway, granted by a regretful (and finally gone) Flemeth.

Story-telling wise, well, I don’t know if it was the best choice— I just know it bummed me out a bit to find some of my decisions discarded, not considered at all.

My second horror is the absence of either Hawke or Stroud. The events at Amaranthine are mentioned, but (unless I missed a codex entry) there’s no word on what happened to the brave soul left in the Fade to fight that giant monster demon. Since I always leave Stroud behind (because Alistair is and always will be a king to me), I can’t say I’m suffering to know his fate, but it would’ve been nice to confirm something. 

At the end of Inquisition, Morrigan narrates that should Hawke live, they go to Weisshaupt, but soon all news from there ends. What happened?! Am I missing something found only in the comics or books?

Also what happened to the rest of the companions? What about the woman made Divine in Inquisition? Whether it’s Leliana, Cassandra or Vivienne, you’d think the Divine would have something to say about two ancient elven gods turning the world tits up.

What about the Qunari who are not part of the Antaam? Are they in agreement with Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain? Is Seheron torn asunder like Minrathous?

Why is nobody remarking on the fact that the Crows buy (or used to buy) people?! I love the Antivan Crows, I do, but one cannot forget Zevran and all he told us about them.

Those are my particular points of horror. 

Now, to the rest.

Veilguard is a game that doesn’t hold back. It’s out to punch you in the guts and kick you in the feelings, and boy does it do it brilliantly. The sacrifices are real. The choices are heavy and carry weight on them that slumps you down (especially if you’re extra sensitive, like me) throughout the game. The dilemma and problems your companions face are heart wrenching, and you want them all to thrive. Yes, even the one who was hardened because you can’t bloody be in two places at once. These companions are well fleshed-out, they’re alive, they’re complex and they are so beautiful to live and travel with. The emotional moments they have, I felt them, I suffered with them, I cried. I /cried/, which had never happened to me with a videogame before. And not just because this companion is my favourite or that topic hits a bit close to home— not just that. It’s because they’re amazingly written and acted out. They feel so real.

The locations are gorgeous (I especially fell in love with Treviso), and I love how much you’re able to explore. I love that you can pet animals. I love that you can interact with the world in front of you. I /love/ that you don't miss dialogue even if you get into a fight because the companions re-start conversations now.

The NPCs? My children. Isabela is fire, as always; Antoine, Evka, Viago and Teia have my whole heart. The Mourn Watch is fascinating and the Shadow Dragons are bold, united and righteous. I really like that the Veil Jumpers don’t diss on the Dalish just because they know more— they understand that, as a people, they are one. And they’re accepting of everyone, not just elves!

I simply adore Rook as a protagonist. Not just because they give purple Hawke, and I love Hawke, but because again, they feel human and real. They know this is well above their paygrade, and they’re in way over their heads, but they still step up and lead because damn, someone has to. Iron Bull would be so proud. They are fun, they are caring, they are talkative and they know they’re drowning, but can’t afford to stop swimming.

Both in Origins and Inquisition it felt as though we were The Chosen One, even if in the latter one tried to swear it off and deny any possible divine intervention, but in DA: 2 and here, we are just people trying their best with the worst circumstances, and to me, that’s beautiful. Rook is a delightful protagonist.

The game allows you to choose who you’re going to be and /how/ you’re going to be thus. You can be cis, you can be trans, you can be neither and you can be both. No limits now.

Which leads me to another point I simply adored: how the questions of gender are treated. It’s really big to have an NB character go through their own acceptance process before our very eyes. While in Origins (and a bit in Inquisition too) you have the choice to be shocked that there are people who like their same gender, this game is Thedas saying “The world is big, the world is complex, and people everywhere are not defined by your expectations or rules. It’s not even an option. Deal with it.”

Regarding the magic, I’m not even mad it looks and feels different. After all, Dorian used to say that “the South is so charming and rustic”, and now I see that’s because what he saw in Ferelden and Orlais was not what he is used to. Even in Absolution we see that the way Tevinter used magic is distinctly unique and not how it is done south of Arlathan. I understand it. I like it. It’s not as if there had been no changes in the designs of demons and darkspawn before, and now that’s what they look like. It’s fine. Time has passed and people are allowed to make different creative choices.

Now, to Solas… Solas. Oh, Solas. I understand you so much better now.

Veilguard really helps put into perspective some bits of dialogue from previous games. Why does this 8-ball care so much about spirits and the Fade? Gods, because he /is/ them, and the Fade used to be his home. Every time he has to hear that spirits are monsters or unreal he takes it personally, and how could he not? People are saying he’s a monster, he’s not real, and nobody knows any better because they wouldn’t believe him anyway. Now I understand why he gets so worked up if you make Cole more human—you’re doing to him what Mythal did to Solas himself. You’re forcing him to be something else and Solas knows it hurts. (Also, Cole is happier as a spirit— “Thank you for helping me find this again. For believing in me. You don't know what it means”, he says, and now it hits so differently.)

I have to remark on some things I’ve read that have shocked me— first of all being the interpretation of Solas and Mythal’s relationship. Like Taash, you can assume “they were doing it”, however, I don’t think they ever loved each other like that. Their bond, to me, is that of a queen and her most loyal knight, a “king and lionheart” sort of situation if you will. Solas knows her better than anyone else, certainly, but the way I see it, that right there is his commander, inspiration and also, his heaviest shackle.

Their relationship merits another post altogether, I believe, as does Solas and Lavellan’s.

All in all, the good, to me, far outweights the bad.

Give the Veilguard a chance before you discard them, enjoy the appearance of some of the characters you love, enjoy getting to know the new heroes. Give yourself the option of having an informed opinion before you love or hate.

Also, petition for Solas to let his hair grow out again.

That's it, for now.

[thievinghippo]

So I promised a postmortem and it’s finally time! Here’s the TL:DR. I loved it. I can already tell I’ll probably have more played hours in this game than Inquisition, and I fucking loved Inquisition! Good, bad, and ugly beneath the cut and there will be heavy spoilers for the entire game, so read at your own risk. (This is also long, because I have a lot to say!)

THE GOOD

Rook. Once I let go of my preconceived notion of how Rook was (mid-40s and serious but kind) and accepted Rook for the young, sarcastic character they are, I fell in love. Edda is going to be an A possibly even S tier OC for me

The dwarves. We were fed so well, y’all. So much lore and dialogue choices. There was even a Grey Warden dwarf specific dialogue choice. I love the confirmation of what we all suspected with the Titans. I just wish that a dwarf Rook had the opportunity to confront Solas. He apparently apologizes to Harding. But what about a dwarf Rook?

Exploration. I’m an idiot when it comes to figuring out in-game puzzles and such. I’ve read some complaints that everything was far too easy, but for one of the first times I remember, I could do a vast majority of puzzles and finding treasures without consulting a game guide. And I was actually proud when I figured things out. When I play Edda again, I’m going to 100% the world and I cannot wait

The Companions. Bonus points for Emmrich Volkarin. I ended up loving all of them. Even the ones I was very ‘meh’ on before playing the game. Like Bellara. She was on my list to romance second to last. And she has moved up to third, after Emmrich and Davrin. 

Emmrich Volkarin. Yes, he gets his own special mention. I love him so much that I created a second Rook to romance him. That way I have one Emmrich that is not a lich (Edda’s choices) and one Emmrich that is a lich (Sonnet’s choice). I love his compassion, his kindness, his reverence of the dead. I adore his romance and how clear it is that Rook has bewitched him, body and soul. The fact that they lean into the age gap and it becomes entwined with his own fears of death. He has my favorite personal quest. I loved the music, the atmosphere. How it pertains to his own journey, facing his mortality (plus Johanna Hezenkoss can get it). Plus it has the banger line of ‘Show them what a real necromancer can do!’ I even can’t wait not to romance him and see what the friendship is like and encourage him to hook up with Strife

The backgrounds. Granted, I’ve only played through the game 1.5 times, but there have been so many background mentions. Especially for the Grey Wardens. Mourn Watch has some great ones too. I mean, there was Grey Warden romance banter during a fight. In a side quest! I can’t wait to discover more

The character creator. I love how inclusive it is, especially when you compare it to previous Dragon Age games. The hair is beautiful (but where is my braid crown! my kingdom for a braid crown!) and I have overweight OCs, which make me very happy. Varric's shaving mirror is also amazing, and because I want EA to know that people are using these options, Sonnet is a trans woman who will save Thedas

THE BAD

Weird tonal switches. Emmrich and Harding are going to Ferelden so she can show him around but the South is being razed by darkspawn. Harding’s mom sends her back with pie and gives great hugs. How in the world are they getting to Ferelden? Rook was amazed to see the Inquisitor in the North so why would the members of the Veilguard be able to go to the South? Some of the codex entries are so dark and yet everyone is happy in the Lighthouse 

Give Rook a problem, please! I kept waiting for Rook’s LI to go up to her and ask if there’s anything distracting her. If there’s any problem they could solve together. But that never came and Rook is apparently the only person on the team that can’t be distracted by their own problems. How amazing would it have been if Rook had some sort of personal quest. Maybe based on lineage. Or background. Something that shows that she matters as much to her companions and they mean to her

The Act One Choice. Still mad about it. Are you telling me that two extra people would have saved Minrathous? That a city full of the most powerful mages in the known world couldn’t take down a fucking dragon? It didn’t feel earned and it did annoy me a great deal

Let. Rook. Mourn. While I appreciate that Rook was able to mourn Varric and Davrin (in my playthrough) privately, the fact that it immediately jumps to a sex scene sort of bothered me. Especially Emmrich’s taking them to the Necropolis so they can bang in a coffin. This was not the time to leave the Lighthouse, Emmrich! The rest of the team got to mourn Davrin and worry about Neve together. I wish Rook could have been a part of that too. 

Let’s talk Varric’s death. I didn’t see it coming. I actually ranted to a friend before I knew what happened that they should have killed him in the prologue if this was how they were going to use him. Oops. I hate how callous the truth about his death makes Rook look. I hate that Harding and Neve didn’t even really seem to mourn. Hate how the Inquisitor or Dorian or Isabela don’t mention him at all. I hate how obvious his death is in my second playthrough. I will have to fix this all in fanfic

THE UGLY

Assuming there is another DA game, where do we go from here? I really dislike the concept of the Executors in the secret ending. One thing I’m optimistic about is that by basically wiping the south off the map, we might be able to have more games there. Because everything will have been reset, so to speak. How does the South deal with the mages when they’ve all been fighting darkspawn for their lives? Put them back into Circles? I think not

I’m also not sure about what choices would move forward into a new DA game. Not talking companion choices, but choices that actually affect the world. No matter what we do, the Blight is over and the Veil is safe. If BioWare couldn’t be bothered to have the Well of Sorrows choice matter, I can’t imagine they’ll care how Solas was bound to the Veil, whether it be by choice, trickery, or force. Minrathous or Treviso is the only other non-companion choice I can think of that might possibly matter

But honestly, it doesn’t matter, because who knows if we’ll ever get another Dragon Age game? I know I would love one, but I have this sinking feeling there won’t be (please let me be wrong!)

So there you have it. I really love this game, good, bad, and ugly. And I found so much more to love than to dislike. I have a feeling I will be yelling about this game (and Emmrich!) for a long, long time

[o-moonyue-o]

Redeem Ending

It tooks me days to recover from all the feels I've got from the ending. Here is my thought.

DA Veilguard Spoilers

Personally, I don’t want Solavellan to have a too special ending. Otherwise, people who didn’t choose that path might feel unsatisfied.

It would feel like you have to play Solavellan to get the "True Ending," which isn’t fair.

Besides, I like the idea the "I’m a fool" Ending, Solas realizes in the end that what he’s done wasn’t right. Here is my thought on Reddem Ending I suppose his personality is different between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard because;

In Inquisition, Solas could truly be himself. But in The Veilguard, he fully embraces the role of the Dread Wolf, willing to do whatever it takes to see his plans succeed.

He deceives Rook four or five times, which I actually love. This feels like the real Fen’Harel from the legends—go ahead, trick me again, and again! (Maybe I enjoy the pain a little too much, haha.)

So how could his personality in the two games possibly be the same? They’re reflections of different sides of him, shaped by the roles he plays and the choices he makes. This makes me understand why Mythal has an important role in The redeem ending.

After Mythal brought Solas into a body, he became Pride. Because of this, no matter how much you try to convince him to give up his plans, or even if the Inquisitor or Lavellan tries to stop him, it simply won’t work—because he’s still driven by his Pride.

However, once Mythal releases him from her service, he reverts to Wisdom. And that’s the key.

As Wisdom, he’s able to reflect on everything and realize that his plans won’t work. That’s why, in the end, he’s able to let go of it all—the plans, the purpose, everything. He has the clarity to see it for what it is.

It’s not about Mythal mattering more than Lavellan or the Inquisitor—it’s about what he embodies during those moments. From the time he regains his body until the end of The Veilguard, he’s still Pride, which means he’s trapped by his own nature and unable to stop himself, no matter how much he might want to deep down. Pride blinds him to the consequences and makes it impossible for him to let go of his plans.

I'm still being petty and a bit jealous about Mythal. She shares a strong connection with Solas. And I has a STRONG FEELING that she should APOLOGIZE at least. Why don't you just say you're sorry??

How do you feel about this ending? Are you satisfied?

[pavus]

PROMPT : Carta. DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION ERA. Words: 1006. Characters: Suri & Velrand Cadash.

“The Knight-Captain here from Hasmal seems… squirrely.”

Velrand did not so much as glance up from the leather-bound journal in front of him. He scribbled something down, then scratched out another something higher on the page, his heavy brow knitting. “Hasmal is out. The Garvish family has dealings with the Marchers from up north.”

They’d been given their own quarters, if only just. There was a bed, a cot the size of a footrest, a vanity that was more than half-mirror, and a bucket to piss in. Behind a simple wooden divider was the other half of the broom closet they’d been shoved into, which was unoccupied as of yet. If they hadn’t flashed one of the Orlesian templars some of their product, they might have been truly roughing it.

There was no desk, so Velrand used his thigh for a writing surface. And below him, sitting on the cot with her short legs folded, was his sister.

“So everything along the Minater is out?”

“Yes.”

Suri let slip an annoyed snort. “By the fucking Garvishes?” She knew enough about Lutag Garvish to fill their piss bucket, and it was all bad. Or dull, rather. “How’d they land an agreement like that? From Hasmal to Wycome?”

The scratching of Velrand’s quill slowed, then stopped. He looked up at her, his dark eyes bleary and his concentration well and truly shattered. “What?”

“Lutag Garvish is dumb as a sack of nugshit,” Suri said, rather than repeating herself. “Fresh nugshit.”

Velrand’s massive chest heaved in a sigh.

“Yes, and?”

“How’d he get Hasmal and Tantervale and Starkhaven and Wycome buying his lyrium?”

Suri watched as the sharpened end of her brother’s quill tapped anxiously at the edge of his journal. The tap tap tap made her eye twitch. “Starkhaven’s Circle isn’t an option for any of us. Burned out about a decade ago, and the mages were sent to Kirkwall.” With his free hand, Velrand scrubbed a hand through his thick, brown beard with such ferocity that the three, gold-clasped braids under his chin bounced in response. “And he doesn’t have Wycome.”

“Then we should –”

“The Kadrat family has Wycome.”

That stopped her short, and she sighed the heaviest of sighs, her shoulders deflating into a weary slump. The Kadrat family didn’t just deal in lyrium. They dealt in everything – lyrium, weapons, textiles, wine. One of their lot ran a dye business in Orzammar that was swimming in gold and had been for longer than even her mother had been alive.

“So, what’ve we got left?”

Velrand began writing again. “Mother wants Cumberland.”

“You’re shitting me.”

That brought a half-smile to Velrand’s serious mouth. “Not shitting,” he grunted. “She pulled me aside before I left. She wants Cumberland, and she wants Sezda out.”

Suddenly, the fog she’d been carrying since the incident in the Deep Roads cleared. Suddenly, there was brilliant sunshine and a song playing on the wind and the weight of gold in every single one of her pockets. That was how you measured a mother’s love, wasn’t it? It couldn’t be anything else, not with theirs.

If opportunity was a woman, she’d have her tongue down her throat.

“I can do that for you.” The words sprinted from between Suri’s eager little lips. Before her brother could interrupt her, she lifted a hand with an, “Ah!” that stole his voice out of his throat and replaced it with an annoyed growl. “I know I’m shit in a large-scale fight, but you know I’m good for something that’s one-on-one. I’ve beaten you. Let me put a knife in the bitch.”

Velrand gave his heavy head a shake. “I know what this is.”

Suri stood up from the cot and planted her feet in front of him. The wound on her jaw was healing, if only just, but her smile was as uneven as his own. Just for different reasons.

“Don’t say I’m just doing this to get back into mother’s good graces,” she demanded, the edges of her raspy voice sharpened in her own brand of frustration with her brother. “It… might be that a little, but that’s not all. I’ve always wanted to do good by you, too, you know? And you’ll be taking up the business soon. Let me get you Cumberland.”

At first, the rigid line of Velrand’s broad shoulders made her think he was going to snap his quill in half and make her eat the damn thing. But then, they relaxed, and he looked up at her, and his half-smile turned into a full one. There was an undercurrent of surprise that she didn’t appreciate, but what could she expect, after all she’d done recently? Who could believe in her, except for herself? Except for – maybe – her brother?

“I’ll look around the place tonight,” Suri continued. “I’ll check things out and get my bearings, and tomorrow afternoon, I’ll put Sezda Varmi in the Stone.”

That night, as Suri was doing as she said she’d do, she happened upon something else entirely. She did not find an old dwarven woman with a crisp white braid and twin bruisers for sons. She did not find a letter or a trap or an empty bed, indicating that Sezda Varmi was long gone or had grown wise to her plan. She did not find another trio of dwarven merchants, counting their gold against the bottles of glowing blue lyrium that remained.

What she found was an old woman in fine Chantry garb and a god, floating above the ground, with lyrium that shone red rather blue rising from the pallor of his skin. What she found was a dropped orb, rolling towards her feet. What she found was another path in her story, another twist, another loss, as she lifted the orb into her hands and the world split open.

She would only see Velrand once more – a smoking corpse in a field of bodies, stuck in motion, stuck in agony that would chase him forever.

It was her fault.

It was all her fault.

[princess-aeducan]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Gameplay Reveal Thoughts

Okay for one thing, I am so happy to be making this post. Going from people voicing doubts about the game coming out at all to a Fall 2024 release window is so exciting. 10 years and it’s finally almost here.

-The game is absolutely gorgeous. I love the design of Minrathous, I love how gobsmackingly different it is from Ferelden. Dorian’s complaints from Inquisition all make sense now, and it’s fascinating to see a place that is not repressive of magic- the fact that it resembles sci-fi levels of tech but is all powered by magic is sooo fun and interesting to me. I also think it’ll be an interesting contrast to the more classic fantasy style locations we see at the ritual site and throughout the screenshots the developers have posted. It makes the world feel so much bigger, diverse, and more fleshed out.

-Unpopular opinion and I totally respect why others dislike it as it does look quite different, I’m actually looking forward to the combat. It honestly just looks more fun to me, as I tend to favor a more action/real time style anyway. That being said, I do dislike the 3 person party change for banter reasons and do think that’ll make it feel significantly less like classic Dragon Age. I feel like I’ll get used to it pretty fast, but it is a disappointment. Controlling companions isn’t mandatory for me but it was always nice to be able to try out all the classes, so that’s a loss as well, although one I’m less bothered by.

-I like the way the characters look, but do understand it could take a little bit of adjustment. Harding got a massive glow up, she looks gorgeous. So excited she’s a companion, and that we’ll have our first romanceable dwarf! Not a huge fan of the way Solas looks in this style, but I don’t feel particularly upset about it anyway. Not sure what it is. Varric looks great, but like many others, missing his ginger hair. All in all, less drastic changes to returning characters than we’ve seen in previous titles, I will never be over how much they butchered Alistair in Inquisition. I love the designs and vibes of the new companions, Neve is a fashion icon and sooo fits in with what Dorian has set up for us to expect from Tevinter. I can’t wait to meet Davrin in particular, because god I miss Grey Wardens.

-On that point: Factions have me maybe the most excited. I cannot wait to be a Grey Warden again, I’d been holding out hope! I liked that the faction was referenced in the gameplay reveal as well, and hope it’ll change small things throughout the game, at least through dialogue. Also will have to play as an Antivan Crow at some point. A bit sad this won’t include a playable prologue like Origins, but since DA2 and DAI I wasn’t expecting it. Just always something I’ll miss.

-A red flag for me is how little Rook was prompted to make dialogue choices. I hope that because this is simply the prologue and therefore focused on binary plot progression, that this will be different in more dialogue-driven sections, but it’s something to look out for and be wary of. I’m okay with Rook speaking on their own occasionally, but if that continues, I hope it’s at least like Hawke where there’s some variation based on personality.

-Also yes, excited about the return of the purple Hawke icon! The dialogue wheel in Inquisition felt more bland to me than in DA2, so if the wheel is what we’re stuck with, I’d rather it lean more to its DA2 execution.

-On narrative: I cannot BELIEVE the game just jumps into “let’s confront Solas RIGHT NOW!” I was not expecting so much plot from the gameplay reveal. I am very intrigued by what’s coming next with the evanuris, and what it will mean for Solas’ role in the story. I’m kind of obsessed with the fact that it begins with Rook fucking things up worse, I think that will be magnificent to explore for roleplay and the repercussions for Thedas will be massive. I know there were concerns about tone, but this gives me hope that we’ll have the fucked up shit Dragon Age is known for. “Just some guy who makes things worse” is a great start for a protagonist, and reminds me of DA2 in some respects.

-My brainrot is horrendous. I have so many more thoughts all of the time, but tried to just center on the gameplay reveal so I don’t yap forever. But always feel free to send asks, and expect more posts as we get closer and closer!

[jkateel]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Spoilers. You’ve been warned.

Solas in this game is fascinating. This is the Solas you glimpse the few times he was talking to Sera in Inquisition. Specifically these dialogues:

Solas: I heard about your organization, Sera. I am impressed.

Sera: Is this a trick?

Solas: Hardly. But it is an opportunity. You have already divided your group's membership. That is wise. No one cell can betray all your secrets. The next step is to establish a rhythm. When your enemies pursue, you vanish. When they become complacent, you harass them. When they are weak, you strike in earnest.

Sera: Where d'you get all this, then?

Solas: Do you wish to be unnerved by another tale of my explorations of the Fade? Or do you wish to learn something?

Sera: I don't know. Neither?

───────

Solas: Once you have the aristocracy weakened, Sera, you will have to redirect your lieutenants.

Sera: Oh, this again. All right, what am I doing?

Solas: Some of your forces, valuable until now, have no interests beyond creating disruption. Chaos for its own sake. They must be repositioned where they can do no harm, or removed if necessary. You replace them with organizers willing to build a new system and carry out the ugly work that must be done.

Sera: What? Why? What ugly work?

Solas: That is up to you. Do you wish to disrupt the nobility, secure a title? Or change the political structure entirely?

Sera: None of it! I don't want any of that!

───────

Solas: I do not understand you, Sera. You have no end goal for your organization.

Sera: Nobles get rattled, and people get payback. I play in the middle.

Solas: Why not go all the way? You see injustice, and you have organized a group to fight it. Don't you want to replace it with something better?

Sera: What, just lop off the top? What's that do, except make a new top to frig it all up?

Solas: I...forgive me. You are right. You are fine as you are.

Sera: You hurt my head sometimes, Solas.

Solas: Yes, I have been known to do that.

That’s that man you are talking to, and he’s legitimately terrifying. It’s so easy to get sucked into his stories, pick his brain, come away feeling so enlightened. There is a scary moment in the game where you can do something he would have definitely done, damn the consequences. And I am curious to go back and play that choice to see what’s different.

But going back, Solas drip feeds you information about the gods and how to kill them. And he’s not lying about what needs to be done.

Yet I am almost convinced that he’s doing his “only by omission” thing. He’s not telling you everything and setting you up. God of lies and betrayal and all.

I really think this is where this is going. You and the team can say “I think his betrayal is coming” but you, your character, especially, really is making shit up as you go so you might not see what’s coming.

ALSO, and I am just marking this for later to see if I am correct.

There’s something wrong with Varric.

He’s just so nice. Too nice. Too supportive. Too easily there with the right words and advice to make you a better leader and help you support the team. I’ve been clocking him as odd from the second we got to the Lighthouse. And he’s STILL dealing with his injuries. Just getting up seems to exhaust him to the point he goes back to take a nap. There’s the way he talks too, the way he hasn’t told you a single story yet.

Sus.

And I might write it off if I didn’t already remember Rook wasn’t the only one to bleed at the ritual site.

I’m terrified he’s been Solas’s puppet this entire time.

That or he’s something else’s puppet. Bit weird that Harding was the only one to connect with her stone sense when she touches the dagger.

Yeah.

So theory time: Solas is doing his “only by omission” thing regarding the archdemons. They DO need to die; that is the only way to kill the gods. They’re like Corypheus and his dragon—the dragon had to die in order to kill him.

Yet you gotta remember how angry Solas was just one game ago about the thought of all the archdemons/old gods being killed. Not to mention, in one flashback he tells Flemeth!Mythal that the evanarius’s prison will be open soon.

Plus there are just lore bits that are not adding up. Solas implies they’re just thralls—otherwise normal dragons. But we know they carry a soul of an old god, a la Kieran. Maybe just a piece of them, but enough of one to keep the god in question alive. Mythal taking the old god’s soul from Kieran always struck me as odd—and her wanting to preserve it in general. Maybe she wanted to grow their aspect and recreate better versions of her former family.

Not to mention, the blight, which the Evanuris suspiciously has complete control of, has always targeted the sleeping, buried dragons. Yes, that could be the Titan’s revenge to get them killed.

Or it could be the Evanuris were using each of those blights as a tool to help them unlock their prison.

AGH. I’m in Act 3 and who knows if I’ll beat the game today. I can’t wait to see what I am getting right and what I am off base on. I really hope I am wrong about Varric, because my BOY.

We’ll see, we’ll see.

I bet that piece of Mythal is a dragon too.

[himluv]

DA:tV Main Theme Analysis

First, I just want to say that I have no formal training in music theory. I’m just a literature nerd who played various instruments all through school and loves soundtracks and interpreting the various motifs and themes I find in them. With that said, here are my thoughts after listening to Veilguard’s Main Theme for two hours.

****MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD****

 We start off with a few faint, frenetic bars. This is the threat, but we don’t have a good sense of it yet. We know there’s trouble, but we have no real idea of the size and scope of it. Then we get the main melody. It’s subdued, a little reserved, and mostly a single instrument. We quickly get a second instrument, and I think of this as “Rook/The Veilguard”. This is the main motif for the protagonists, which, at the beginning of the game, don’t have a whole lot to work with. It’s like, a guy. 

Then comes this counter melody. It almost competes for the ear, drawing my attention away from the main motif. It has an interesting tone, almost deceptive? It travels around in unexpected ways, and keeps me guessing. It sounds a little devious, but also offers a sense of rhythm to the “Rook” motif, tangling up with it only to return to its own melody. This one sounds like Solas to me – Solas as the Veilguard thinks of him. Someone who maybe isn’t to be trusted. Whose motives aren’t clear. 

As these two themes continue they start to blend more, each relying on the other to build into something more, until it sounds like they’ve truly come together. Neither competes for the listener’s attention any more as they crescendo as one. And then we’re dropped into this soft moment. All prior themes fall away into an almost still segment. It sort of shimmers with a note of awe, and my foolish Solavellan heart hopes that this is the moment of reunion. (It could just as easily be Rook's romance/friendships, but let me have this, okay?!)

But if so, it doesn’t last long, because just behind it is a delicate little layer of something high-pitched. Fear? Yes. It sharpens, solidifies into a shrill note of terror, shattering the calm to make way for our villains. Those frenetic bars from the very beginning are back, but they are no longer faint. They are full-throated, backed with powerful percussion and surely this segment must represent Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan. 

This “Evanuris” theme goes on for a raucous moment, sweeping us up in fright (it made me feel like I was back in the Nightmare realm of the Fade in Inquisition, actually) before our main theme returns. And this time “Rook/the Veilguard” isn’t meek. It definitely isn't reserved. This is a strong, brassy rendition, with a full orchestra behind it. This is our protagonist at the height of their strength, with all of their allies with them. Well, all except one…

We do not hear that devious counter-motif again. The last time we hear it is just before the soft moment near the middle. If this is Solas’s theme, then either he drops his own theme, his own schemes, to add his voice to Rook’s, or… he is no longer around by the moment of Rook’s return/victory. 

Finally, after the triumphant crescendo of Rook’s theme, we get an echo of the Evanuris theme, but this time in a cascading solo piano. A hint that all is not won? That some shred of a threat yet remains? A lone Evanuris, turning the theme almost beautiful instead of outright frightful. And just who could that be, I wonder? *cough* Mythal *cough*

And that’s it for my wild conjecture. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Inquisition soundtrack, and have analyzed both the Lost Elf theme and the Dark Solas theme in the past (no links because I don’t remember how to find them lolsob). I’m looking forward to being totally normal about Veilguard’s soundtrack this holiday season :). 

[bearlytolerant]

9, 16, 19 for DA4 ask!

Thank you for these asks! I finally sat down to get them answered.

9. Which romance, if any, do you plan to pursue first?

Solas with my lavellan. I kid…unless.

Then Varric. I kid…u n l e s s.

The real answer is I’m torn. Everyone looks lovely! But I’m going to need to get to know them better in game before I can actually make any decision on who I’m romancing first. Unlike prior games, everyone I’ve seen in the new game is starting on the same level (even though I’ve got some snippets of chars from writing but I need more to go on).

16. What's one crack theory you subscribe to (yours or someone else's)

I don’t know. Probably none. Even my own I’m not fully subscribed to. A boring answer I know but I’ve got nothing. I’m just hoping we get some solid answers in the next game but it’s dragon age so—I expect I’ll get 12 more questions for every 1 I get an answer to.

21. Are you planning to replay any of the previous games, watch Dragon Age: Absolution, or read any of the books/comics/short stories, or are there other games you want to play in the meantime?

Yes! I booted up a new playthrough of da2 and Inquisition already. I have 3 of the comics to finish and I’m also working through Tevinter Nights again currently. I won’t read any of the other books though. Will probably watch absolution again too because I’ve only seen it once so I feel like a second time I’ll be able to glean details I missed prior from the show.

I’ve included vacation photos that Cole took of Sarya in the Elvhen ruins:

[asimplearchivist]

(This has been sitting in my drafts long enough…my fear of mischaracterizing Astarion is lesser than the agitation of seeing this beast among my WIPs. @fangswbenefits I’m affectionately blaming you for giving me pale elf brain rot🫣)

Okay guys this may be a very niche concept that will appeal to maybe like two people total but it hasn’t left my mind since I mentioned the idea to a buddy of mine who convinced me to play bg3…(Cullen and Astarion have a lot of similarities, which I would love to elaborate on later, but…) hear me out—it could be a very interesting dynamic to play with in a crossover.

Headcanons under the cut:

I’m not usually one for crossovers unless they’re in self-contained within a fandom (like Pokémon or Dragon Age, for example—there’s a phenomenal fic called The Half-Life of Element Zero by @unhealthynpcobsession which is a DAI/MEA crossover and safely one of the only “cross-fandom” crossovers I genuinely enjoy and adore bc the story and concepts are contextually sound and professionally orchestrated), but I feel like the sheer numbers of DAI fanfiction that explore the concept of the Breach opening up portals into other worlds (namely our modern Earth, thus the Modern Girl in Thedas trope, my beloved) could include adjacent worlds. I believe I have seen Skyrim before, so why not Baldur’s Gate 3? (Now keep in mind I know next to nothing about BG3 bc I am newly introduced to its lore and everything but) I think one could easily get away with having Astarion somehow slip through the Breach, along with the Sole Survivor at the Conclave.

(Holy shit why did this turn out so fucking long?)

The Survivor wakes—chained, cold, and aching—in the cells beneath the chantry, interrogated by Cassandra and Leliana, and denies her involvement with the Temple’s destruction. Forced to cooperate with the Survivor due to their dire need for the Mark and its potential use related to the Rifts, Cassandra casts a scowl at Leliana. “I will escort the prisoner if you will deal with the pale elf.”

Leliana only responds mildly, “I will continue to deal with him as I have been for the last three days—as well as nurse the migraine that he has caused.”

The Survivor doesn’t meet this esteemed “pale elf” until the battle at the Temple, and she only sees him from afar—he accompanied Leliana’s men to deal with the array of Shades and Wraiths that speckled the cratered grounds while the rest picked away at gargantuan Pride. She notices he is masterfully skilled with his weapons, perhaps even peculiarly so—she also notices that he has far greater strength, agility, and stamina than the average elf, easily surpassing the abilities of his peers.

She doesn’t see him again until well after the dust has settled—the Breach has been patched, Haven is able to reassess themselves, and the new Inquisition begins to construct their foundation. The newly named Herald of Andraste attempts to escape it all, fleeing into the grounds beyond Haven’s gates under the guise of fulfilling favors and errands for the various supervisors in the village, and stumbles across an abandoned cabin in the forest—at least she thought it was abandoned, at first.

She’s rummaging through the things there, finds the passed healer’s notes, but the lightest creak of displaced wood behind her tips her off to the presence of another. She whirls, hand already flying to her weapon, and backs up against the table, sending things clattering to the floor. The pale elf stands there, smirking at her startle.

“Act all the victim when you intrude on my space,” he croons, tilting his head and tutting at her, “my, how manners seem hard to come by around here.”

“You’re that—” She stops, hesitates, starts again. “Sister Leliana mentioned you. You’re the only other one who survived the blast.”

“That is comparatively the least of my problems and only the beginning of my present predicament, yes.” His eyes—as brilliant a crimson as the blood that still crusts the wounds that litter her bruised, battered, borderline broken body—scan her form from top to bottom, pause on her bandaged hand, and return to meet her uneasy gaze with a considerate one of his own. “Although I’m afraid I can confidently say that I ended up with the better of the lots drawn between the two of us.” His expression relaxes, just a little, a thready furrow forming between his silverite brows. “Does that hurt?”

She clenches her fist and clenches her teeth. “It’s dismissible.”

“Considering I heard tell that it is in the process of consuming you, I would disagree—but, I digress!” He flashes her a toothy smirk. “I am just grateful that there are no longer demons spewing out of that torn arsehole in the sky.”

She stares at him for a long moment, uncertain what to say in response. She’s exhausted, sore, and reeling from the last week of utter unfortunate bullshit that had befallen her.

“You’re…rather tall, for an elf,” she finally says lamely.

His brows arch into his forehead in clear surprise before he tips his head back and laughs. It exposes his teeth, and…no, those were not fangs. It must have been a trick of the firelight.

“It does seem that my kindred, however distantly related they are, do not possess as generous of traits as I,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “All so thin and lithe and…well, diminutive…it’s truly a marvel how they’re able to get anything done without breaking their hollow little bones. It’s little wonder that they seem so afraid of everyone else around here.”

She frowns, echoing, “‘Distantly related’?” with some dubiousness.

“Oh, your lovely spymaster didn’t tell you? I’m shocked.” The stranger gestures to himself with his arms extended to either side. “You have my sincerest apologies, my dear, I haven’t even introduced myself—I complain of lack of manners, yet fail to offer them in due turn.” He dips at the waist briefly, eyes glittering through his frosty lashes. “My name is Astarion, and…to put it simply, I am not supposed to be here.”

“I imagine anyone is fortunate to have walked away from all that destruction unscathed,” she responds mildly, narrowing her eyes.

“How cute,” he simpers, straightening and bracing his hands on his hips. “I fail to possess sufficient enough knowledge of magic in order to explain how in the hells this happened, exactly, but I originate from a place called Faerûn—not your delightfully archaic ‘Thedas’.”

He goes on to ramble about his companions, at least two of whom would have been far better suited to hypothesize how to rectify this particular ‘magical’ predicament. He tells her about their unusual circumstances of being thrust together, forced to cooperate and work towards fixing their looming health issues and the threat that faces their world.

She studies him for a long moment after he finishes. “…It sounds as if you and I are trapped in similar problems,” she sighs, rubbing her face. “As incredible as this all sounds, I sincerely doubt such a story could be easily invented on the spot…so you have my sympathies. Do you think that you’ll be able to return home?”

“Sister Leliana introduced me to that lovely gentleman who dresses like a vagrant. Supposedly, he’s the resident authority on this…‘Fade magic’, as it were?” he surmises.

“So I’ve heard,” she responds.

“Yes, well, our conversation was cut rather short at the time due to him being rather persistent in keeping his eye on that little souvenir.”

She flexes her hand and glances away. She’s been doing her damnedest not to dwell on the burning in her palm, thank you very much, and she didn’t particularly want to discuss it, either.

“Nevertheless,” he continues lightly, although his tone tempers into something more neutral, “he promised that he would look into the issue.”

“That’s…that’s good,” she replies quietly. “I hope he finds a way to send you back.”

The pale elf tilts his head at her then, eyes contemplative when she looks back up. He offers her a thin-lipped smile—this one actually reaches his eyes, softening his angular features. “As much as I am grateful not to be in your position, I do apologize. It would seem that the weight of your new moniker is not one to be taken lightly.”

“It is what it is,” she grits out. “They will believe what they wish regardless of my input.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier.” He leans in, holding her stare. “…I think it best to remain nearby, for the time being. Sole survivors of a devastating explosion still under scrutiny by those newly in power ought to stick together, yes?”

She relaxes, just slightly. “As long as you’re not the one who caused all of this.”

His expression sobers enough that it jars her. “I am the least inclined to cause spontaneous combustion among my compatriots,” he tells her, attempting humor, but there’s something in his eyes that contrasts his words entirely—a lingering fear, apprehension, borderline horror, if she has to place a name on it. “But no. I did not. And I think I have a few choice words—and daggers—on reserve for whoever did cause all of this devastation. I never asked to be thrown into the middle of this refuse burn.”

“Neither did I.” She offers him a bow in return and gives him her name. “I would say it’s been pleasant to make your acquaintance, but…I think we both are allowed to say that we would rather not have met at all.”

“Agreed.” He stoops to pick up the papers Adan had sent her to find and hands them to her. “I trust I will see you again soon?”

“You do intend to stay?” she asks, brow furrowing as she tucks them into her pocket.

“I’ve nowhere else to go,” he begins, “and fleeing from an investigation would provide rather damning evidence for the prosecution, even if misused. For now I’ll lend my particular set of skills and…services to this delightful little collection of vagabonds. I think you need all the help you can get, given that poor, overworked general of yours is relying on farmers and pilgrims to become your armed force.”

“I don’t speak on behalf of the others,” she says, “but I thank you. You’re greatly appreciated.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he purrs. “Now…do go get some rest, my dear. You look positively horrible for someone who has slept for nearly six days.”

His nonchalant sincerity startles a laugh out of her—the first in what felt like an age. He seems pleased to have done so. She departs the cabin feeling slightly less isolated than before.

[seeker-ophelia]

I agree with a lot of your points. I’m glad we know how much of a dumpster fire development was because this game hurts. Both good and bad. I obviously don’t know but some of the writing does feel like damage control, things aren’t mentioned but they’re also not denied. Isabella could still be with Hawke and just not have mentioned it. Awkward for sure but still possible. Combined with the DLC statement (tho I hope with the sales and reception EA will reconsider) I think they just wanted to get this out the door before EA full on canceled the game. It does suck, I’m not in denial about that. I want all those cameos and spotlights, (hell where is my girl Merrill? She FIXED a mirror on her own, there’s gotta be something there right?) but I’m hopeful for the next game.

Do you think there will be one? Do you think we’ll get DLC? I don’t think I can take another ten years of this.

Oh an ask! Hi!

I really do think that this game was BioWare fighting against EA, and EA's influence runs heavy through this game. I am so glad this is not a MMORPG or adjacent kinda game.

Do I think we'll get a DLC? Honestly? No. Not unless VG does very very well in sales (i haven't looked at the numbers and don't know what their projections were), and people constantly keep the hype up on social media. I would FROTH AT THE MOUTH to get a 'Keep' DLC, with none of the side quests actually having an impact on the main story, but we get to see & help out our old friends. A DLC where we learn more about the lore and history of the veil and spirits. If I am a new player to the DA franchise in this game, I feel the need to keep the veil up. Its spoken about ad nauseum. But, if you've played Inquisition, you know that its actually the veil that turns spirits to demons (Solas/Cole banter). Yes, there are some demons in the fade, but not as many as the game leads you to believe.

I'm rambling. Do I think we'll get a new game? they certainly set it up that way. I'm not on twitter but apparently devs have said there is plans for it. will it take 10 years? I fucking hope not. Hopefully development on 5 is more streamlined. Keep it an offline RPG. Not pass it through so many hands. Let BioWare cook with it. Let the community council pick apart the lore. But most importantly, is Corrine and Trick need to still care. Caring about something is what makes it great. And if they're burnt out or overworked or have to fight with EA, that's gunna show up in the game.

The scariest thing about Veilguard, for me, is that it didn't suck. I think its a good game in its own right. But its not a DRAGON AGE game. I'm hoping that this is because Trick wanted to make it his own, move away from Gaiders influence, and that they'll listen to fans and make the next game more adult, darker. Meaner (no, killing a dog doesn't make it mean, its just feels like a D&D/GoT way to SuBvErT ExPeCtaTiOns). This is a very esteemed franchise, and VG did drop the ball. Maybe not drop, but, rolled it over somewhere else? In a different direction. Which, again, isn't bad. Its just not Dragon Age.

When we heard about "the three choices" controversy, I posted something, i wonder if I can find it hang on. Bam got it.

The thing is, the Devs HAVE TO. HAVE TO. Care about the game. They have to put their blood sweat and tears into these games to make them fantastic. And I think, right now, they're probably tired. They need a break. And I don't want to rush them into anything, because shit is better if you let them have the time to cook it.

But Fuck I hope we get another Game. I hope the Twitter Trolls and the Youtube Bigots and the Money Grubbing EA Executives stay the fuck out of my Fantasy Dragon Game.

In the meantime, I'm gunna fucking INHALE all the new lore in this game, spoonfed or not, and hopefully we'll get another comic or book before the next game.

[grumpygwen23]

DRAGON AGE THE VEILGUARD SPOILERS BELOW!!! (Also, enjoy my Rook, I love her)

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I am here to simply rant about how much I love this game and Rook. Look, everyone entitled to their own opinion, and if yall have criticisms for the game that’s fineeee but for me it’s DRAGON AGE and that’s really all I need.

Also, unpopular opinion, DA2 was my favorite. And I’m here to explain!! Why Veilguard feels more like 2 than any of the others and why I love that.

See in 2, I loved that Hawke was just a guy (or gal, but we’re going with guy here). He wasn’t a Grey Warden turned Hero of Fereldan, or the big bad Inquisitor. He was just trying to survive and keep his family alive. And he did everything he could!! And it just. kept. failing. No matter what, he lost both siblings, his mother, and the city. And I love love love a hero who’s just a guy trying to everything he can and it’s not enough, but he never stops trying.

I know that both the HOF and Inquisitor had a backstory before everything happened but like the HOF was a warden by the time Ostagar happened; it felt like their duty to stop the Blight. And the Inquisitor had the mark on their hand from the beginning of the game; they were intrinsically connected to the Breach and ‘Andraste’s Herald’. Nothing against either of them, they’re just more the big typical hero types.

But Rook!!

My Rook is a Shadow Dragon. Yeah, she’s fought before and freed slaves and said fuck the Venatori and Magisters (not you, Dorian, we love you) BUT that’s like in-city-vigilante type stuff, not big hero stuff.

And like Hawke, she just. keeps. failing.

Yes, we stopped Solas’ ritual to tear the Veil down. But Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain escaped.

When Minrathous and Treviso attacked yeah, we fought the dragon in Treviso until it fucked off but we didn’t win. Minrathous got fucked, the Venatori seized control, Treviso ended up under Antaam occupation.

At Weisshaupt yeah, we killed an Archdemon and landed a hit on Ghilan’nain. But most of the wardens died. We did not succeed in killing Ghilan’nain. Weisshaupt was lost.

At Lavendel we showed up to kill one dragon. And we did. And then Ghilan’nain showed up and revived it. And then the other dragon showed up. And then we killed them both. AND THEN Elgar’nan showed up and we missed our chance to kill Ghilan’nain.

In Arlathan, we did save the Dalish. But the other Archdemon and Elgar’nan revealed themselves and we got fucked with to a point where only Solas’ help allowed us to escape (we’ll count this as a fail because they were SO LOUD in my goddamn head).

I’ve still got game to play but you get the point.

In Origins and Inquisition, yeah they had Ostagar and Haven. And shit was hitting the fan. But pretty much every time the Warden or Inquisitor showed up, they walked away having fixed shit and won.

Hawke and Rook are scrappy. The world is fucking them at every turn, and they get knocked down over and over again. But they just. Keep. Getting. Back. Up.

And I love love love them for it.

Anyway, this turned more into a ramble but I love them. And I love this game.

[aikogumi]

i keep seeing dragon age posts on my dash from your reblogs

How do i get into the series? Any recs on what game I should start off with?

YES

FRIEND YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE HYPERFIXATION FUELED EXCITEMENT YOU HAVE UNLEASHED BHT I WILL TRY TO BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS

If early 2000s graphics and writing quirks aren’t a deal breaker for you I would highly recommend starting with the first game Dragon Age Origins, and it’s dlc. I’d get the bundled game and dlc versions of all the games cause the dlc tends to be story significant. They tend to be very cheap these days, and often go on sale for even cheaper. Like 5 bucks for many hours of gameplay cheaper. You’ll need an EA account sadly but I’ve heard the newest game coming out won’t require it so that’s nice. All the current games need it and the ea app tho.

Next is dragon age 2 (my favorite, despite the Problems with gameplay and mechanics), and then Dragon Age Inquisition. Again, get the versions with dlc.

Also, it’s good to start at the beginning because these games let you enter your previous save games data to determine the history of the world! So the history of the second game changes based on the choices made in the first game, and inquisition is based on both previous games.

Dragon Age is genuinely my favorite game series, not because it’s perfect but because it’s Messy. Both from a development side, but more importantly from a story side. It’s character focused and deals with serious plot points while also leaving plenty of room for humor and bonding. It’s a dark fantasy without being bleak and depressing. Even it’s world building is imperfect and messy (sometimes unintentionally) through how it’s told in codex entries in books. Every fact you learn is an in-world quote. Meaning they’re *biased* in a way that feels realistic. In game world building contradicts itself at times because the in fiction history book writers are making guesswork or have faulty information or are blinded by their own biases, often religious. The characters fight with each other and make bad decisions at times but they also care about each other and the decisions feel fitting to who they are as people. Plus it’s queer! It’s queer from game 1!

Ask me about anything from these games and I could ramble for DAYS so I’m leaving it at this and saying please please play these games.

[thekrazykeke]

Disclaimer: BioWare and EA owns Dragon Age and all its affiliated franchises. I just play in their sandbox.

Title: eternal

Summary: “Life's greatest purpose is to live it for something that will live on longer than you.”

Pairing(s): Solas x Female Lavellan. Solas x Atisha. 

Warning(s): Angst, soulmate AU, vague Inquisition spoilers, ableist language, Atisha isn't in a good mental space, y'all, depression

Atisha used to think of soulmates as something romantic growing up. 

Beautiful. 

And why not? All around her, in her clan, many were paired up already or met their match amongst other clans. Everyone was if not happy, then at the least, content with their soulmate. That was her belief—an unequivocal fact. 

All she had to do was wait and be patient.

Everyone became confused when they realized she hadn’t found her match by the time she turned seventeen, as that was the usual standard. Luckily, she was still growing up at a normal rate and no signs of her aging stopping yet, so research was conducted, and records were scoured. Letters sent out. 

Only to encounter dead end after dead end after dead end. 

Left only with myths and stories, Clan Lavellan was forced to admit defeat. There were only three possibilities: she had no soulmate, they were dead, or they weren’t born yet. 

None of these options particularly appealed to her yet she accepted the reality; a feat that took her clan a bit longer to do but they eventually adopted her pragmatic attitude and didn’t bother her about it any further. 

Ten years later, crippled, and permanently stuck at the age of an elven woman in her early thirties despite being forty-two, Atisha no longer thought that soulmates as something romantic and beautiful. 

Not when she knew her soulmate and all of this stings of bitter irony.

“Vhenan…” 

Forcing herself to breathe calmly, slowly her gaze flitted from the side up to his face. “Solas,” At least her voice remained even, controlled. “Rook managed to get you free from the Fade. That was very big of them. I rather expected they’d leave you there indefinitely.”

Solas grimaced. “...yes. We…have come to an understanding,” The words are simple. Yet conveyed some hidden meaning Atisha didn’t have the energy to decipher. Instead, she nodded and said nothing. The silence dragged on for a long beat and as he realized that she wasn’t going to speak, he coughed awkwardly. 

“...There is no easy way to say this…”

As entertaining as it’d have been to watch him struggle to find words ten years ago, such a thing rang hollow for her now, at this moment. “Then don’t. I’ll clarify: we are soulmates and it means nothing,” Atisha interjected. Solas stared at her. “I’m only here to help clean up this catastrophe.”

It was his turn to glance away from her now. “...do you mean the blighted elven gods, or myself specifically?”

That threw her for a loop. “What?”

As he turned to glance at her again, his gaze was collected and distant. “Our bond means nothing to you. So theoretically, you can easily do away with me as any other enemy,” Placing his hands behind his back, he stared at her with infuriating stoicism. “I humbly await your judgment, Inquisitor.” 

Placing her hand to her temple, feeling a headache steadily coming on, Atisha scoffed. “It’s nice to know you think the worst of me.” 

His expression flickered, features beginning to show some remorse. 

Unwilling to give him a chance to get one over her again, she continued, saying, “Regardless, your fate is not in my hands at all, with the Inquisition disbanded years ago, as everyone very well knows. So you’d better learn to humble yourself to Varric or Rook as quickly as possible,” Yanking her hand away from her head and letting it fall to the side, she spun around to leave the area. 

Only to be stopped by Solas’ hand on hers. 

It’s a loose hold, easily escapable. 

Logic demands she rip her hand free and continue to walk away, yet she remains rooted in the same spot. 

“Atisha,” And oh. 

Oh, that isn’t fair at all. 

The way he says her first name carries more impact than him saying vhenan because hadn’t that been a lie, in the end? Too many people still called her Inquisitor, some lingering sense of sentimentality amongst her former comrades. Dorian called her Lavellan and a plethora of endearments to be cheeky, but more sincerely, just his dearest friend. 

Only her clan still called her by name now. And Solas. Even back then, rare as it’d been, he addressed her - he saw her as a person, not a symbol - and still, he does it now, too. That rocks her world. Shakes her down to the very foundation of her soul.

Gently, Solas turned her around to face him, right hand lifting her chin so they were maintaining eye contact. “...I know you’re hurt…” He pauses. “I know I hurt you, then. And now. I keep hurting you. I’m sorry. It’s not enough, it will never be enough for what I’ve put you through. What I put us both through and I…” Again, he pauses, Atisha watches him swallow. “I’m so sorry. I don’t deserve it, but please…”

A beat passes. “Please, what?” Atisha murmured.

Gradually he leaned down and his forehead rested against hers. “...Please let me show you I can be a good soulmate to you, ma vhenan.” Solas whispered, voice hushed and wet. 

“Just one last chance…”

[sesshy380]

Your ask fed the brainworm soooo nice, so I'm returning the favor! No pressure if you don't want to answer all of them tho!

1, 2, 4-8, 12, 15, 28, 29, 41, 42, 49, 64, 101

Yay! Lot's of DA questions!

1- How did you get into Dragon Age?

I honestly don’t remember. I vaguely recall looking through the games section at Walmart and seeing it. Don’t remember if I’d heard about it before that, or if it just looked interesting so I decided to give it a go. I don’t even remember if I had it for PC or Xbox originally (though I have a feeling it was for PC for some reason). All I know is I somehow decided to buy the game and fell in love with it.

2- Have you finished all three games?

Technically, yes. I finished all of what was available for Inquisition prior to the DLC releases. I think that’s the only one I haven’t played the DLC’s for (though I do own them).

4- What was your first Warden (gender/class/race/personality)?

First Warden, oh boy. I want to say Female Dalish Rogue? As far as personality, I could not tell you. I played it when it first came out, and I’ve replayed that game more times than I can count.

5- What was your first Hawke like (gender/class/temperament)?

This one I do remember. I am very much a Purple Hawke person (is there any other?). And Rogue ofc, bc I like collecting all the things, which means I don’t like depending on others to (unsuccessfully) open chests.

6- First Inquisitor (gender/class/race/personality)?

Another Dalish Rogue (I really like the Dalish, okay). I did one thing different though, this one was a MALE Dalish Rogue. His personality was very ‘I’m here, this sucks, but going to make the best of it, because wtf else am I supposed to do?’.

7- Favorite DA:O backstory?

All? I honestly have a really hard time starting new DA:O playthroughs simply because the origins are my favorite part. Especially when you come across all the little easter eggs later on from not only the origin you choose, but also the others that you don’t.

8- Preferred class overall?

So, I usually do my 1st playthrough of a new game as a rogue because I like the ability to open chests, but I actually like playing as a mage.

12- Do you prefer DA:O, DA2, or DA:I most?

Unpopular opinion time. I like DA2 the best. The day/night cycle thing is annoying, but unlike a lot of people, I don’t have a problem with reused maps. It makes it easier to find those nooks and crannies that have things hidden in them. The story though…it is one of those angsty ones that I just can’t tear myself away from. Like, I know what’s coming, and each time it still manages to just rip my heart out for poor Hawke.

15- Favorite DA:O companion overall?

It’s a close tie between Zevran and Shale. Zevran is…well…he’s called the Antivan Sex Pest for a reason lol. Shale is pretty much the Hulk. Point at something/someone you want destroyed, and I swear they rush over, kicking their feet like a giddy school girl lol.

28- Inquisitor’s feelings on being the Herald of Andraste?

I’ve only played one Inquisitor that took the role seriously. The rest were like ‘Ummm…this isn’t even my religion? I don’t even believe in the Maker? WTF???’. I even had one human Inquisitor that was very much atheist (he was my Dorian romance), and he absolutely hated the title.

29- What are your feelings on the Chantry?

I am torn between ‘Anders’ solution was a bit extreme’ and ‘Anders did nothing wrong’, and leave it at that.

41- Who did you romance in your first playthrough for each game?

Origins- Alistair

DA2- Anders

Inquisition- Cassandra (hardest romance imo and will never do it again)

42- Who do you wish you could romance that you can’t?

Varric. Fuck you Bianca (The bitch that dared threaten me, not the crossbow. The crossbow stays during sex lol)

49- Something you do in EVERY DA playthrough, no matter what?

I’m a completionist, so I have to recruit and make friends with all the companions. I failed to become friendly enough with Fenris on one playthrough where I was a mage and romancing Anders. I had to fight Fenris in the final battle. I wanted to cry.

64- Favorite achievement?

As much of a completionist as I am, I don’t pay attention to the achievements lol. I honestly can’t name a single one off the top of my head.

101- If you could meet your Warden/Hawke/Inquisitor, what would you say?

Warden- Don’t trust Zevran when he says he can disable a trap/open a lock. He lies.

Hawk- To hell with buying your mother’s old home. Use that Deep Roads coin and move somewhere that isn’t Kirkwall.

Inquisitor- (Specifically Lavallan) Don’t trust Solas. Stab him in the heart before he stabs you in yours.

101 Dragon Age Questions