#yes you too vorgoth

[virginiathegray]

when Bioware said this would be the most romantic game yet, maybe they didn't mean there would be the most romantic content but rather that each and every npc would be so devastatingly hot that we would all fall to our collective knees begging for just one chance bc if so they didn't exactly lie

[flowersforthemachines]

Some facts about Bellara (and also the Veil Jumpers, and other random Elven things) gathered from the banters

I went through all companion banters on DanaDuchy's channel after playing the game to write down all facts about companions/the world that I haven't seen brought up anywhere in the game as a writing reference (and for funsies).

Note: This list may not be exhaustive. I might have missed some something or didn't write it down because I considered it common knowledge. If you have anything to add, please DM me or send an ask! (do specify what banter the information is coming from, though)

Note 2: Posts from this series (mostly) don't include information from banters specific to quests or between companions and faction members. I plan to do another playthrough to capture more of those and will add any relevant info to the character posts.

Other characters' posts: Davrin, Harding, Lucanis, Emmrich, Neve, Taash. I'm also planning a post about just the Lighthouse some time later

About Bellara

Family and past:

Bellara’s mother is a woodworker who sells furniture in Orlais, and her father is an herbalist. He taught her about deadly plants (for her own safety)

Bellara didn’t tell her parents about Cyrian’s (second) death

Bellara once broke both of her arms while racing an Aravel 

Bellara learnt magic from her Keeper and later the Veil Jumpers, but she also studied a lot on her own by reading books and just trying things out

When she was little, Bellara wondered what it’s like to settle down instead of moving all the time (just like Davrin did) 

General:

Bellara can better focus on writing when she has background noise (like Rook talking)

Bellara likes tea (but can also drink coffee after she pulls an all-nighter, which seems to happen pretty often)

Bellara liked Lucanis’s grilled fish

Bellara didn’t know any Qunari recipes before joining the Veilguard

Bellara wouldn’t want to be an assassin, but she would be interested in taking lessons from Crows about assassination techniques

Bellara thinks that most people in Tevinter are condescending, even the nice ones 

Magic and life with the Veil Jumpers: 

Bellara once found an artifact that was basically an ancient elven mechanical toothbrush 

Bellara is a Veil Jumper because Arlathan is her home, and she can’t stand by and do nothing. Also, because of the artefacts

Part of the reason why Irelin and Bellara broke up is that Bellara became too consumed by studying/fixing artefacts 

Bellara and Davrin agree that the Veil Jumpers’ odds are even worse than the Wardens’

Bellara thinks that the ancient Elven magic feels cold

Bellara didn’t find anything on the Devouring Storm in the libraries or Circles. Vorgoth and Myrna never heard of it either 

Life at the Lighthouse: 

Bellara owns a bronze candleholder shaped like a fennec

Bellara thinks that the Fade in the Lighthouse is almost too calm compared to Arlathan

Bellara likes her space in the Lighthouse and feels like “it's been waiting for her”

The Archive sometimes stares at people who come by

Bellara eventually suggests that she and Lucanis completely take over the cooking. Everybody except for Harding dreaded any meal not cooked by them anyway and gleefully agreed

Antoine let Bellara borrow his compound for flaming arrows to see how it reacts in the Fade (she doesn’t speak about the results, but she used at least one compound for testing without incidents and later wants to borrow more) 

Relationships with companions: 

Bellara offers Davrin to listen about his findings regarding the Gloom Howler as he searches for the missing griffons, saying she's a good listener

Bellara asks Neve if she can become a Shadow Dragon and is very excited when she hears “Yes”

However, when Emmrich offers her to join the Mourn Watch, she turns him down saying that the Veil Jumpers need her. 

A writing inconsistency. Probably. 

Neve once saw Bellara poking around Assan, trying to figure out if he was real or some clever mechanical contraption 

Bellara wants to make pillows out of Assan’s molted feathers (but Davrin refuses because he finds it weird)

Bellara made dog biscuits for Assan (that Davrin accidentally ate the first time). The next time she brought a batch, she left them in a box labelled “Assan biscuits inside, do not eat.” Assan liked them!

Bellara once covered Assan in olive oil thinking it could improve his wind resistance and let him fly faster. Didn’t work. 

Bellara offers Emmrich to co-author a paper about ancient elves after they find out elves came from spirits

Bellara asks Emmrich about vampires multiple times. According to him, when a Hunger Demon possesses a corpse, the resulting abomination can seek out blood, sort of resembling a vampire. They can't turn into bats though

According to Neve, some magisters in Minrathous have tried bonding with Hunger Demons which resulted in them having immense power but also a craving for blood 

Bellara and Harding swap books for reading

Bellara gets into lifting using Harding's rocks

Bellara doesn’t think she needs to threaten Lucanis when she finds out he and Neve are dating because Neve could wipe the floor with him herself if she wanted (Lucanis agrees) 

Bellara is fine with Lucanis taking on Ghilan’nain’s contract (“Whatever we were worshipping, it wasn’t her") and cheered him on at Weisshaupt

Bellara asks Neve to beta-read her story

(If Neve and Rook are in romance) Bellara thinks that solving cases together is romantic

(If Neve leaves after Rook chooses to save Treviso) Bellara kept notes of everything that happened while Neve was away to help her adjust after she’s back

About the Veil Jumpers:

Bellara mentioned that a certain elf camped in some ruins, and one day woke up stuck in the clouds. The Veil Jumpers haven’t figured out a way to get them down, so they just send them food and water

Veil Jumpers use some of the artefacts they have recovered as weapons. However, they don’t use them often, since most of them need to be charged after one use, and nobody really knows how to do that 

Veil Jumpers eat whatever Arlathan Forest provides

Though Bellara also mentions she doesn’t forage in the forest anymore. Strife does, however, he always finds something edible

It’s hard to say how many Veil Jumpers are out there because people die/go missing/leave too often to keep a proper count

The Veil Jumpers once found an artefact that caused whoever activated it to get sucked into the Fade. One guy got trapped inside because he used it even if the others told him not to. Bellara is weirdly nonchalant about that whole thing

The Veil Jumpers once found something like an entrance to the Deep Roads on the Southern Edge of Arlathan Forest. The group that found it sealed themselves inside and destroyed the entrance, leaving a note telling the others not to enter. Davrin hypothesises it could be one of the pools similar to the one we saw in the Horrors of Hormak

Ritsivas from the Veil Jupmers is non-binary (mentioned by Harding in a conversation with Taash)  

Misc:

The power crystals are called “June'suledin'bellanaris'ena'ghilan'lasa'shiral”. You may infer the reasons everybody just calls them 'power crystals'

Not all traps in Elven ruins were originally meant to be traps, but their magic is old, so it doesn’t recognise modern people and can backfire. And sometimes magic just degrades over time and accidentally rips the Veil, summoning demons

Andruil’s Gauntlet is an ancient site meant to test hunters who want to wield the mightiest weapons. It’s filled with traps, and no one has made through it in ages. It was made by Andruil’s priests to test the warriors of Elvhenan 

Clans Nuvenis and Sabrae live in Ferelden. Harding’s village traded with the Sabrae in the past

[serbarris]

I'll Crawl Home to Her 

Dragon Age: the Veilguard, some spoilers for plot, spoilers for Emmrichs romance  Pairing: F!Rook (Mourn Watch) x Emmrich Volkarin  Rating: M   Summary: Eight significant times Emmrich Volkarin called Rook by her real name. 

Length: ~2500 words

Read on ao3 here! 

Emmrich Volkarin first called Calliope ‘Rook’ Ingellvar by her name before she went by Rook. 

“Miss Calliope,” Emmrich called over the heads of the handful of students leaving his classroom. At the sound of her name coming from her favourite professor, Calliope instantly flushed and motioned to some companions that they should go ahead without her. “A word if you don’t mind.”  

“Yes, Professor?”  She asked biting her lip. Professor Volkarin was her favourite, not just for his fantastic necromancy skills, or how eloquently he explained such fantastic concepts, but he was also very attractive. At age 35 his hair was greying at the temples, lending him to look even more distinguished than his carefully put-together clothing suggested.  

“I’ve heard from others about your certain... proclivity, to have some ‘adventures’ outside of the Necropolis,” Emmrich began, shifting her paper to the top of the pile, noticeable stains and grease marks littering the off-white sheets. A disapproving frown crossed his face. “I will ask that your future work be submitted with less detritus than the most recent assignment.”   

Calliope looked at her paper and a brighter red coloured her cheeks and chest, “Of course Professor, I’m so sorry. I swear I don’t usually do work outside of the library, but something happened with –.”  

Emmrich held up his hand to stop the ramble from leaving Calliope’s mouth. A soft smile graced his lips, “Not to worry, my dear, but your work is excellent and you should take pride in it. Now please, I have taken up so much of your time already, run along and join your friends.”

 

The second time Emmrich says her name it’s when they meet again, 15 years later. 

Rook had yet to admit to Bellara, or Myrna and Vorgoth, that she did indeed know Professor Emmrich Volkarin, and of his work. Luckily her time away from the Watchers had helped steel her emotions, calm her once easy-to-flush cheeks, and made lies flow smoothly, but she had been anxious all week in the lead-up to their Necropolis visit. Bellara even commented on her makeup that morning, making Rook flush and attempt to wipe some away with the back of her gloved hand.  

-  

“Rook! Lovely to meet a fellow Watcher,” Emmrich exclaimed as he gripped her hand, shaking it politely. “I must confess I apologise if I have you confused, but Myrna had mentioned a ‘Calliope’ to me?”    

Calliope’s face dropped from her measured welcoming smile to a startled expression. Letting go of Emmrich’s hand, she attempted to speak voice unsteady, cheeks flushed. “Uh, yes Professor, Calliope Ingellvar. My friends call me Rook. It uh, caught on in the year since I left the Necropolis.”  

“Ah, no worries, my friend. I shall follow suit.” Emmrich turned with a flourish, leading Bellara and Calliope to the Belfry. Calliope internally kicking herself over the interaction.  

The third time Emmrich said her name was after they shared tea in the Memorial Gardens. 

“Speaking of home, have we really never met around the Necropolis before? Even in passing?” Emmrich’s eyebrows raised as he asked the question. Rook’s eyes widened feeling like a halla in the lamplight. An uncomfortable feeling churned in her stomach as she debated how much of her past to reveal. Especially, how enamoured she was with Emmrich as a young adult.  

“Oh um, I don’t remember everything from my scholar days. I only took a few advanced classes. Got too... busy.” Rook’s mouth dried at the admission. It was a half truth, she remembered nearly every moment of her schooling, growing up with the senior Watchers as guardians, and more books for company than friends, she was in advanced classes at a younger age than many of the other Watchers her age. 

“You know, I’d heard we had a young Watcher getting into scrapes on the streets of Nevarra around then...” Emmrich mused, Rook could almost see the cogs whir in Emmrich’s brain as he searched his memories for a young Rook.  

“They weren’t scrapes! They were... extracurricular learning opportunities.”  

“Aha! That's it! Calliope, you were in my Advanced Fade Studies and Etheric Flows class!”  

Hearing her name from Emmrich’s mouth took her breath away. She had rather hoped he wouldn’t remember her from her scholar years. Calliope couldn’t deny the butterflies fluttering in her body as he remembered her, almost regressing to her 16 year old self, and she endeavoured to change the topic from herself as quickly as possible.  

“Yes, I... your class was most enlightening Emmrich, but I couldn’t help but hear you mention homesickness?”  

The Fourth time Emmrich says her name, it’s a revelation. 

Fighting on the beaches of Rivain always pissed Rook off. It was always too hot, and too sandy. She hated the sand in Rivain, it felt... so coarse compared to the finely milled sand that tracked through the Necropolis. Of course, the scenery of Rivain was stunning and the smell of the ocean air was refreshing, as long as the Antaam weren’t burning gaatlok in her general direction.   

Rook dove for the gaatlok-armed Antaam, pushing her body to flip and attack the hulking Qunari with her imbued daggers. Necromancy pulsing from her hands as she struck true. Pulling her weapons free she could hear Emmrich and Taash finish off the last of the Antaam soldiers who had ambushed them.   

“They just seem to be around every bloody corner here, don’t they?” she exclaimed, wiping her daggers on her bloodstained clothing.   

“Until we can get to the Dragon King,” Taash remarked. The team had tried to track down the Dragon King to no avail, however his poorly planned traps had to lead somewhere.   

“We’ll get to him soon enough Taash, then you can set him straight on Dragons having queens!” Rook stretched to pat Taash on their shoulder in consolidation. Suddenly a loud explosion pierced Rook’s ears, throwing her to the ground some distance away from where she stood. “Calliope!” Emmrich shouted over the ringing in her ears, she felt sand being kicked near her face as Emmrich’s familiar boots came into frame, and a distant squelching noise of an axe being buried into a body barely registered. “My darling are you alright?” Emmrich asked, sending his warming magic over her body to check for internal injuries.  

“I think I’m okay, can you help me up?” Emmrich slowly manoeuvred her to sit, taking stock further before helping Calliope to her feet. He gripped her waist tightly to keep her steady as she threatened to sway, waiting for Taash to make their way over. 

“Hey, Emmrich.”  

“Yes, Taash?” Emmrich was exasperated, whatever could Taash want at a time like this?  

“Why did you call Rook ‘Calliope’? She’s called Rook?”  

The Fifth and Sixth time Emmrich called her Calliope, she had a cold. 

Emmrich looked up from his desk to the sound of Manfred hissing and raising his tray, proud of his assortment of tea, soup and some bread. “Ah Manfred, have you prepared this for dear Rook?” A pleased hiss resonated through Manfred's skull, Emmrich straightened the papers on the desk and rose from his chair, peering through the windows above to where the sun was coming through the windows. “It is about time to give her another tonic. Thank you, Manfred, I can take this next door.”  

Emmrich gently knocked on Rooks’s door, hearing soft snores from behind, he quietly pushed open the door and rounded the middle of the room to the table closest to the sofa. The dim light from candles and the fade fish illuminating his path. Placing the tray down, he crouched down near Rook’s face, and gently rocked her, “Rook? My darling, it’s time to wake up.”  

A grumbling “Mmph” was the reply he received. “Calliope, I brought you some soup.” He drawled elongating her name, much like himself, he knew the food would rouse her from drowsiness. She was often second to the kitchen when food was served, her childhood in the Necropolis meant she often had to go without, and why she often picked up odd jobs around Nevarra City to purchase items that weren’t second or third hand.  

Calliope’s eyes slowly opened, blinking, she noticed even with her lying down and Emmrich crouching he towered over her. As she shuffled to extricate herself from the blanket and sit up there was a thud of a book dropping to the floor. On instinct Calliope reached for it, however Emmrich’s longer reach picked it up far swifter than her lethargic body could match.  The book read ‘The Obverse of Reality: Studies of the Fade in the Waking World.’ A soft gasp left Emmrich as he noticed the book as one of his very own works, Calliope’s copy was too well-thumbed and too battered to be from his own study in the Lighthouse. Calliope noticed his recognition of the title, her face becoming hotter despite the chill that cloaked her body after removing the blanket. “You never told me you have read any of my works, my dear.”   

A shyness crept over Calliope, her eyes darting away from Emmrich’s face as she replied, the congestion in her nose lending her voice a nasal tone, “Well, I was in this class, I had to get your book, it’s even a first edition!”  

“It must have been sixteen years since I published this –” Emrich mused,” I'm sure I’ve published much more recent findings on the Fade, especially since it started to thin.”  

“I like it, I can hear your voice as I read it.” Calliope started, her voice slowly getting quieter as she admitted, “It’s um – comforting, to read a book I know so well.” Emmrich rose from his crouch, placing a gentle kiss on Calliope’s forehead and moving to sit next to her on the sofa. His earthy scent relaxed Calliope instantly. “Well, how about I read some passages aloud as you eat my dear, I also brought another tonic, it should keep your symptoms at bay and allow you to rest.” Said Emmrich, motioning to the tray on the side table.  

Emmrich’s voice was gentle as he read, often musing on additions he would make to the text, or discussing Calliope’s scrawled annotations in the margins. Making note that she used tiny skull shapes to punctuate her ‘i’s’ and exclamation marks. After Calliope ate, she leaned back against the sofa, her head resting on Emmrich’s arm as he continued reading. Emmrich turned the page to the next chapter and Calliope stiffened as she saw the doodle on the page, Emmrich let out a deep chuckle, noting the words written in a loosely drawn doodle of an anatomical heart. Calliope swore she could almost feel every blood vessel in her face expanding, a beet-red flush falling over her face as she scrambled to close the book. Emmrich moved to hold the book far out of her reach, a devious glint in his eye as he drawled “Calliope Volkarin, eh?”   

The Seventh time Emmrich said her name it was to give a gift. 

“My dear, please sit still or else I shan’t be able to give this gift properly.” Emmrich teased. Of course, he’d give her the present no matter what. But after finally acquiring a fitting token of his affection, his love, he wanted to give it to Rook exactly as he imagined.   

Stepping behind her perched on his desk, he opened the soft bag that contained her gift, he peered around to ensure her eyes were tightly shut, letting out an exhale of satisfaction Emmrich moved Rook’s hair to the side, holding it tightly in his hands he twisted her hair up and out of the way, a wry smile on his lips as he pulled lightly on the bundle. Rook let out a gentle hiss as heat pooled in between her legs. “If you could please hold your hair?”   

Satisfied, Emmrich proceeded to undo the clasp of the necklace, threading it around Rook’s neck, his fingers ghosting over her skin as he did so. After it was joined, Emmrich’s fingers lightly traced the chain over her clavicle, placing tender kisses on the back of Rook’s neck. Rook felt the cool weight of the necklace on her sternum, reaching up to feel the pendant, gasping as she raised it into her view. Finely detailed skeletal hands grasped a large garnet, it was hard to tell upside down but it almost looked like the stone was vaguely heart-shaped. “Emmrich, this is far too much! I can’t imagine what it must have cost!” Emmrich paused his careful mapping of Rook’s neck with his lips and moved closer to her ear, his light stubble scratching lightly at Rook’s skin.  

“I saw this when we were back in Nevarra and I couldn’t resist picturing how it would look around your neck, Calliope.” Added to the ministrations on her neck, he knew the reaction she had to Emmrich saying her real name, how a delicious red painted her cheeks and chest, creating the perfect trail for Emmrich’s fingers to follow. Calliope’s squirms brought herself closer to Emmrich, her back hitting his chest as he gently grasped Calliope’s neck with one hand, his other tracing the long line of her tattoo down towards her soft lower stomach. His cool rings icy against her heat.  

“Emmrich” she gasped, breath hitching, reaching for the back of his neck, bringing him closer, and kissing him deeply. Soft moans emanated from the both of them, Calliope broke away inhaling trying to extricate herself from Emmrich’s grasp, but he tugged gently, coaxing her back to her original position. “Calliope, this is about you, my love.” 

The eighth time, wasn’t really the eighth time. By then Elgar’nan had been dead for nearly a year. Emmrich and Calliope had returned to the Necropolis, Emmrich to his shaping of young minds, Calliope to the library, her younger self’s sacred sanctuary. On occasion they would jointly lecture on what they discovered during their time fighting against the Evanuris, careful to still keep some secrets. Manfred was flourishing under the tutelage of the Mourn Watch, his curiosity leading to amusing stories over dinner.  

On this particular evening, Manfred had delivered a sealed note to Calliope, asking for her to arrive in the Memorial Gardens when the dinner bell tolls. 

The flowers in the Memorial Gardens seemed to burst with fragrance as Calliope entered. A bouquet of lilacs stood on the table where Calliope and Emmrich had their first real date when they first started to truly get to know each other. A wisp danced across her vision guiding her past the ledge where a small table was set, taking Calliope back to when they first visited the Memorial Gardens together for the mourning rites, eventually the wisp paused at the steps that led towards the grave covered in snaking Shroud’s Kiss. Calliope thanked the wisp and continued up the steps, and onto the pathway which was littered in a cacophony of flower petals, lilac and yellow beckoning towards the figure at their juncture. Emmrich closed the gap, eager to reach his beloved. “Thank you for coming my darling, I admit it is poor manners on my part for such short notice,” he said entwining his hands with Calliope’s. “Emmrich this is quite the surprise, what’s the occasion?” 

“Well my love, I -.” Emmrich started, clearing his throat. “Calliope Ingellvar, my dearest Rook. Would you be so mad as to agree to a lifetime with a besotted fool of a professor, and do me the honour of becoming Calliope Volkarin?” 

And that was probably the most significant time Emmrich said Calliope’s name. 

[t00tsmcgee]

Rook as a companion banter episode six: Emmrich

Banter written with my Rook in mind. Read more about him here.

Part 1 (Neve) | Part 2 (Bellara) | Part 3 (Davrin) | Part 4 (Harding) | Part 5 (Taash) | Part 6 (Emmrich) | Part 7 (Lucanis) |

-

Emmrich: “So, Calais is it?” Calais: “You can call me Cal if you want, professor.” Emmrich: “Then I must insist you call me Emmrich.” Calais: “That will be strange, after having attended so many of your lectures.” Emmrich: “We are peers now, Cal.” Calais: “I suppose we are, Emmrich.”

Emmrich: “So Vorgoth raised you?” Calais: “Yes, I call him dad and everything.” Emmrich: “Strange to think of Vorgoth in that capacity.” Calais: “He’s a good father. Never pushed me too hard, let me make my own mistakes but was always there when I needed him. I owe him a great deal.” Emmrich: “I’m sure he’s very proud of you. He has every reason to be."

Emmrich: “So help me picture Vorgoth as a father of a very young Calais.” Calais: “He loves to talk about the time I was learning how to walk and waddled off into the forbidden section of the Necropolis library. He didn’t think I’d learn to walk so fast and so well. But I had help from a spirit.” Emmrich: “A spirit?” Calais: “Yes, a spirit of curiosity. She appeared to me as an old lady when I was little. She helped me walk by holding my hands and keeping me upright. I called her Nana.” Emmrich: “That’s incredible.” Calais: “Vorgoth didn’t like her much.”

Emmrich: “Why did Vorgoth not like that spirit? Nana, you called her?” Calais: *chuckling* “She was mischievous. That time I waddled off I was lost in the forbidden section for an hour before Vorgoth found me. I was only wee, so eventually my crying alerted him to my location.” Emmrich: “I do envy you, you know. Being able to talk to spirits like that.” Calais: “It has it’s perks. And its downfalls. But Nana always made me laugh.” Emmrich: “What happened to her?” Calais: “Nothing, she still roams the Necropolis. But she doesn’t visit me as much any more. She responds more to younger people, likes to guide them. But we do talk, occasionally. She tells me to mind my posture and eat more fruit.”

Emmrich: “Tell me another story of when you got into trouble with Nana.” Calais: “One time she helped me steal the cookie jar from the ration chamber. She distracted the watcher, and I snuck in to get it.” Emmrich: “Did Vorgoth find out?” Calais: “What do you take me for? Of course not. Myrna did though.” Emmrich: “What did she do?” Calais: “I bribed her with half the cookies. Vorgoth will never know.”

Calais: “This place (the lighthouse) is amazing. It’s so well crafted, so intricately woven into the fade.” Emmrich: “Isn’t it? The resonator in the main hall holds it all together so expertly.” Calais: “And it’s so in tune with it’s inhabitants. I discovered a whole section of books I’ve always wanted to read the other day, books that I’d never be able to get otherwise.” Emmrich: “Oh, which books are those?” Calais: “Captivating Hearts, Exquisite Encounters, Conflicted Yearning..” Emmrich: “I’ve.. never heard of those. Dare I ask what subject they cover?” Calais: “Stormy romances between beautiful people.” Emmrich: “I see.” Lucanis: “I would like to borrow them, when you are done with them, of course.”

Emmrich: “You’re a fan of romance literature then?” Calais: “I think tacking the descriptor of ‘literature’ on these books is perhaps a tad generous.” Emmrich: “I’m surprised you’re not a bit more interested in the more scientific books, given our shared profession.” Calais: “I read anatomy books all the time.” Emmrich: “Oh, pardon me. I never saw any in your bookcase.” Calais: “They’re all open on the coffee table so I can use them as reference for my paintings.” Emmrich: *fondly* “Of course.”

Emmrich: “Have you read the thesis of Lucian Herreford? It contains some very interesting theories about the weight of the human soul and about what happens beyond the mortal veil.” Calais: “No.” Emmrich: “What about the catalogue of death magics, by Viuus Anaxas?” Calais: “Eh.” Emmrich: “I’d consider that book a must read for every Mourn watcher. Did Vorgoth not give you homework to read, growing up?” Calais: “He certainly tried.” Emmrich: “I gather you didn’t care much for it. I’m surprised Vorgoth wasn’t more insistent.” Calais: “If you take issue with his parenting, I suggest you talk to him instead.”

Emmrich: “I asked Vorgoth about what we discussed.” Calais: “Oh? What did he say?” Emmrich: “That you were always easily distracted, especially when made to read subjects of a rather dry nature. So he instead took to reading them to you.” Calais: “He has a voice you can’t ignore.” Emmrich: “Are you really so easily distracted?” Calais: “I thought about five other things in the space of this conversation. Most of them involved my rats. And one was how I’m kind of craving ice cream.” Emmrich: “Huh.”

Calais: “Hey Emmrich, thanks for that talk the other day. It really helped.” Emmrich: “You’re most welcome. I enjoyed the time spent together. You’re far more talented than you give yourself credit for.” Rook: “What’s this?” Calais: “I’m training corpse whispering with Emmrich. He figured I could learn, given my talent to speak with spirits.” Emmrich: “He’s a quick study. A joy to have in class.” Calais: *laughing* “Well don’t say that, now I sound like a teacher’s pet!”

Calais: “I’m still trying to figure out how the particles respond to your intricate weaving pattern. I can’t get it down.” Emmrich: “It took me years to perfect. I’d be concerned if you mastered it straight away.” Calais: “You don’t understand, if I’m not immediately good at something, my inside voice tells me to just quit because I’ll never be any good at it, obviously.” Emmrich: “I believe we discussed what we say to this voice.” Calais: *Noise of agreement* “Shut up, Leonard.”

Emmrich: “You look troubled Calais.” Calais: “Leonard’s talking a lot these days.” Emmrich: “Ah. An unpleasant fellow, that Leonard. I don’t like him.” Calais: “Me neither. But I can’t shut him up today.” Emmrich: “I have a ritual I need to complete later, you’re welcome to come along.” Calais: “Alright. It can’t hurt. And maybe the distraction will keep Leonard quiet.” Emmrich: “Let’s hope so. If not, we can at least ignore him while we talk and tend to the dead.”

Calais: *shuddering and heavy breathing for a few seconds* Emmrich: “I recognize that expression. Are you alright?” Calais: *deep sigh* “Yeah. You know, just my crippling anxiety suddenly rising to the surface. No big deal. I’m good. I’m fine. This is fine.” Emmrich: “Deep breaths, feel your feet on the ground, feel how it anchors you. The soil tethers you to this world.” Calais: “Deep breaths, deep breaths..”*Inhales and exhales deeply. “Right. I’m here.” Emmrich: “I have smelling salt if you need it.” Calais: “You’re kind, Emmrich. I’m fine now. Thank you.” Emmrich: “You’re welcome, Calais. I know all too well how it feels.”

[possessiveandobsessive]

The Spirit of Determination- Epilogue

The battle is over, the Veilguard was victorious. Now Rook has time to let herself live a life, and a man to live it alongside. He is her home and she is his. A small series of Rookanis moments set after the end of the main storyline of Veilguard.

This is Part One of a two-part epilogue! This part is Rookanis focused, while the next part will include everyone (and obviously still Rookanis). Enjoy!

Epilogue Part 1: So This is Love

Rook was humming lightly as she absentmindedly traced random symbols and shapes onto Lucanis’s bare chest. The two were laying on the infirmary bed that now lived in her room at the Lighthouse, still recovering both mentally and physically from the fight with Elgar’nan only a couple days previously. After the exhausting confrontation, the whole team had returned to the Lighthouse, where nearly all of them proceeded to sleep for 12 hours. It was only then that they ate dinner together and celebrated their victory, and mourned the loss of the missing member of the Veilguard together. It was cathartic, and Rook realized just how much her companions had become her family in such a short span of time. 

As of now, they were all still residing in the Lighthouse. Emmerich and Davrin however, already had plans to leave in a few days' time. Emmerich wished to return the the Necropolis to help in the funeral rites for the Mourn Watchers who had fallen in battle that night in Minrathous, and Vorgoth had requested his help with several other miscellaneous tasks, the descriptions of which Rook had completely failed to comprehend when Emmerich was explaining to her. She had been supportive regardless, after all, their mission was complete, and she was not his or any of their keepers. 

When she had said as much to Emmerich, he had smiled at her before saying, “Well my dear I suppose you’re right, but I have gotten used to following your lead. It feels odd to be leaving with no plans to return as a group.”

He had seemed emotional about the thought, and Rook had placed a hand on his shoulder before reassuring the older man, “We will all be together again at some point Emmerich, I’m not letting any of you disappear that easily, not after all we’ve been through.” 

Emmerich had brightened at that. “Yes! Splendid Rook! I’d love to invite everyone to have tea in the Memorial Gardens when we’ve all the time. I think it would be a wonderful backdrop to visit with friends.”

Rook had to fight back a snicker at the idea of Taash holding a teacup in the Memorial Gardens at the Necropolis. “I’m sure that will be lovely Emmerich.” Rook smiled at him, “I will definitely come to visit when I can, Manfred will miss me too much otherwise.”

Emmerich chuckled, “Oh yes, he’s already been upset as I’ve been packing. He doesn’t want to leave any of you behind. Change is still not easy for him, poor thing.” Emmerich seemed to perk up and looked at Rook with an excited expression, “Oh! And do invite me to the wedding, Rook! I wouldn’t miss you marrying Lucanis for anything!”

Rook sputtered and fell into a fit of coughing at THAT unexpected statement. Emmerich seemed concerned and patted her back lightly as she got control of her breathing back. “That isn’t- We haven’t- I don’t-” 

Emmerich waved off her many broken attempts at a response, “Oh don’t worry dear, Lucanis doesn’t seem like he would be keen on a huge ceremony, I’m sure you will be fine.”

Rook simply stared at him open-mouthed as he gave her shoulder a pat and bid her farewell as he returned to his packing as if he didn’t just send her into a confused fit. Classic Emmerich.

Davrin had told her that he and Assan were heading to meet with Evka and Antoine in Lavendel. Apparently, they had some pretty urgent news and wanted Davrin’s help. They had also inquired whether or not Rook was coming back, and when Davrin relayed the question to her, Rook had a tough decision to make. She truly didn’t have any desire to return to the Grey Wardens at this point, though she would miss the nights spent around a fire with Evka and Antoine. Rook simply couldn’t see a future within the Order for herself anymore. Once, she had wanted nothing more than to be like the Hero of Ferelden, now, she was exhausted and wanted to get away from the darkness. 

When Rook had said as much to Davrin, she was surprised at his reaction. He had laughed and told her he was glad she wouldn’t be returning, which had deeply offended her before he explained. 

“Rook, you’ve earned a break. You of all people deserve to live free of darkspawn and the blight for a while, and I don’t want to see you back in Lavendel, coming back to a tent every day covered in darkspawn blood. You answered when duty called, so now you need to rest, before the world needs you again.”

The elf had laughed as he said the last part, and only laughed harder when he saw her grimace in response. 

“Oh no.” Rook shook her head as she spoke, “No more world saving for me, I took my turn. It’s someone else’s problem next time some evil fuck decides they want to ruin the world.”

“As if you could say no when people’s lives are on the line.” Davrin smirked at her as she simply rolled her eyes in response. “People who become Grey Wardens by choice are usually not ones to shrink from conflict, especially when innocent people are getting hurt.”

Davrin then sobered again, looking at Rook seriously, “I mean it though, go live your life Rook. You don’t owe the order anything. Plus,” He shot her a sidelong glance and a grin, “I don’t think Lucanis is interested in becoming a Grey Warden.”

Rook flushed and shoved his shoulder. Then, she furrowed her brows and turned to look at him again. “What about Assan? His brothers and sisters are living in Arlathan now, I figured you two would go and stay there. I’m sure Eldrin could use the help wrangling twelve griffons.”

“That’s the plan, eventually.” Davrin said, smiling at the thought before turning back to her, “But Evka said they have news, and they could use my help. So Assan and I will go there first and see what they need.”

“I’m glad you’re moving on too, Davrin.” Rook smiled at her friend, “You deserve a life too.” She had hugged him after that, promising to visit him in Arlathan once he and Assan were settled there.

Neither Neve or Bellara had said anything about their plans for leaving yet, but given how Neve had desperately sprinted towards Bellara after the battle before pulling the shocked woman into a passionate kiss, Rook assumed they were probably going somewhere together. 

Taash hadn’t given any indication that they had a plan either, but Rook had elected to give them some space for a bit and let them come to her when they were ready.

Rook was pulled from her reverie when Lucanis’s hand moved to rest on top of her own that had been tracing his skin. Looking up, Rook’s cheeks heated. Lucanis was looking at her with a raised brow and a half smirk tugging at the side of his mouth, which was the exact look she received when she had been so spaced out she didn’t hear him speaking to her. 

“Are you with me, Rook?” Lucanis asked in a teasing tone once she had returned to the present moment. He was always patient when she “disappeared” into her mind. It happened often these days; she frequently found herself caught up in a thought or memory, and the rest of the world simply ceased to exist when this happened.

“Yes…” Rook responded sheepishly, feeling guilty. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to zone out, were you trying to get my attention long?”

“No.” He responded simply, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I just asked you a question and when you didn’t respond, I knew you were gone.” At her guilty look, he chuckled and gently grabbed her chin, coaxing her to look at him. “Rook, it doesn’t bother me, you don’t have to feel bad.” Lucanis smiled at her before adding, “I am well aware you’re not ignoring me on purpose, especially because you normally can’t keep your eyes off of me.”

Rook grinned and rolled her eyes, all traces of her anxiety gone now. “Well yeah, you are incredibly attractive. It’s not my fault, I’m only a woman.”

Lucanis was the one to roll his eyes at her this time, but he pulled her to him and kissed her gently. “I love you, Rook. I cannot imagine being anywhere but at your side, which brings me back to my question that you did not actually hear before.” 

Rook’s cheeks went pink again, both at the confession and at the fact that she had completely missed what seemed to be a relatively important question to Lucanis.

“Would you- I mean, what are your plans now?” Lucanis stumbled on the first few words, cursing himself for giving his nerves away immediately. He had been doing so well before.

Rook was surprised at Lucanis’s sudden shyness as he asked the question. He had cut his eyes away from her own after he began speaking which was odd. Lucanis valued eye contact with her normally. Then she digested what he had asked and understood. Rook mentally face-palmed for not having established her position sooner, but to her credit, everything over the last several weeks had happened very quickly. 

She waited for Lucanis to meet her eyes again before she answered. “Luca,” Rook began, smiling at his blush. The nickname was new, and she was pretty sure that he loved it even more than she did. “My only plans are going where you go. I figure you’ll want to return to Treviso soon, what with you being The First Talon and all. Pretty sure your fellow Crows are itching to have you back home.”

Lucanis stared at Rook with wide eyes and seemed to be speechless for a moment. Told you! Spite shouted from within his mind, making him flinch slightly. Rook stays with Lucanis and Spite, would not leave us! Belong with Rook! Okay, okay, Lucanis thought, trying to calm Spite down. Yes, you were right, please stop yelling. It gives me headaches, remember? Spite went quiet and Lucanis could feel his chagrin. …Sorry. Forgot. Did not mean to hurt Lucanis… It’s okay, Lucanis fought a smile at how far the spirit had come in understanding him. I know you didn’t mean it, just relax while I talk to Rook.

When Lucanis refocused his eyes, he realized Rook was watching him with a hand covering her mouth and eyes full of laughter. “What?” He asked, confused at her expression. “What is it?”

Rook gave him his favorite smile, the one that made butterflies erupt in his stomach. “I have been able to tell when you’re talking to Spite for a long time, but now I can tell when he’s yelling at you.” Rook giggled before continuing, “You get this scrunched look on your face and your lips get all pursed, and then your face just slowly relaxes after he calms down. It’s just funny how I can see you interacting, that’s all.” 

Lucanis snorted, of course Rook was focused on the weird thing his face was doing and not on his utter shock at her previous statement. He shook his head at her before returning to her answer to his question. “So… you said, you plan on coming with me? To Treviso?” He paused, “I just wondered… I wasn’t sure if you’d want to go back to the Grey Wardens. I mean, that was your life before this, right? Do you not wish to return?”

Rook just shook her head and grabbed his hand to begin massaging his palm as she spoke. “No, I don’t plan on going back. To be honest, I have no desire to return. I became a Grey Warden when I was 19 because I wanted to feel like I was serving a greater purpose. Plus, I had always been a relatively skilled fighter.”

Lucanis watched her with rapt attention as she spoke, she almost never referenced anything about her past beyond meeting Varric.

“But… after a few years, I started to become pretty disillusioned with the order. It was so much more political than I expected, then it should be. So after the incident at the village, when I joined Varric, I wasn’t really ever sure I’d go back. And now that this is over, now that I’ve killed enough darkspawn to last a lifetime, I will absolutely not be going back. I already talked to Davrin about it.”

Lucanis simply stared at Rook in shock. “You already… Is that allowed? I thought Grey Wardens were bound for life?”

Rook busted out laughing at that. “Lucanis,” Rook collected herself, the last few laughs trailing off, “The order doesn’t even officially have a leader up north at the moment. Evka is running the show for now. She’s not going to drag me back, and I’m pretty sure the Warden Commander isn’t going to show up at my door and force me to come back.”

Lucanis was still somewhat reeling at this point. Sure, he had been pretty certain that they would work something out in order to stay together, in fact, he had considered leaving his title behind and following her if that’s what it took. But, he had not been prepared for her to simply leave the wardens and join him in his home city. His heart swelled for the woman in front of him, and he had to fight to hold onto his composure. 

Lucanis was not entirely successful in this endeavor, and a huge smile made its way across his face. “You are going to come home with me, to Treviso.” His voice held a note of wonder, and he suddenly pulled her tightly to his chest in a crushing hug. Rook made a squeaking sound that evolved into laughter at his reaction. Lucanis didn’t even care if he was being ridiculous anymore, he simply held a laughing Rook to his chest as he listed off the things he would take her to do when they returned to Treviso. He’d take her back to Cafe Pietra, he would introduce her to his favorite stray cats around the city, take her to his favorite rooftop spot to look out over the city, and introduce her to his favorite restaurant for dinner. 

Lucanis continued his list to add taking Rook on a private gondola ride, but he stopped when she went still in his lap. “What is it?” Lucanis pulled away to look at her as he asked, immediately concerned.

“Well I- It’s just…” Rook desperately tried to come up with an excuse to play her reaction off, but gave up when she met his eyes. They were so full of warmth and love, and she realized that there was no reason to lie to him about it, especially if she was going to be with him in Treviso of all places. “I can’t swim…” Rook admitted in a small voice, looking down at her hands on her lap. “I never learned, and when I was 14 I almost drowned in a river near where my clan was staying. It was running fast because of all the snow melt, and I slid off a rock and fell in. If my friend hadn’t been there to get help, I would've died. Ever since, I just… avoid water when I can.”

Lucanis felt his mouth fall open at Rook’s admission, before quickly closing it when he realized how hard this was for her to admit to him. She’d never said a single word about it, to anyone as far as he was aware, the entire time they’d traveled together. Looking back, she had always seemed off when they were near bodies of water, and always went silent when they had to cross rivers and streams in Arlathan or the canals in Treviso. Then it really hit him, her room was surrounded by a fish tank that made it appear underwater.

“How have you been sleeping here??” It probably wasn’t the best initial reaction to Rook telling him about her fear, but he couldn’t help but blurt the question. Wasn’t this akin to torture or something?

“Hah… It took a few weeks for me to really be able to sleep a full night.” Rook rubbed the back of her neck. “I used a lot of sleeping potions for the first month or so. But it got easier.”

Lucanis was looking at her like she was crazy. “You… why not just move? Why stay here?” He couldn’t fathom this new information, knowing she was afraid of water… Then it hit him. Before Rook could even answer his questions, he said in a hushed voice, “The Ossuary…” Lucanis directed his full attention to her eyes, which had widened a bit at the intensity in his voice. “How… How did you even manage to get there? It was a lengthy boat ride in a tiny boat, and then you had to go under water! And stay there the entire time it took to get me out!”

Rook sighed. “It was awful, I won’t lie. I wanted to throw up the entire boat ride there and back. Once we were in, I was distracted with killing a bunch of Venatori so that helped a lot. And then I-” She broke off and flushed, “And then I was distracted by you so it was easier after we freed you or, I guess you kind of freed yourself.”

“Rook…” Lucanis whispered her name, looking at her incredulously. “I, you are the most incredible person I’ve ever met. To be so afraid and still push through, the whole time pretending you aren’t afraid,” He shook his head in wonder, his eyes never leaving her, “I am so lucky.”

“Lucanis…” Rook looked incredibly embarrassed. “It’s not that big of a deal. You can’t really be afraid of water and still live as a Warden or lead a team like this one, so I just had to adjust. That’s it.”

“But-” Lucanis stopped himself and just smiled at her. “Okay. Fine, it’s only kind of impressive. Happy?” Rook responded by giving him a look, and he chuckled. “So, how about this: I teach you to swim. There’s plenty of places in Treviso that are good to learn in, I can take you to where I learned and teach you.”

Rook went pale. “Uh…” She began to form some kind of excuse when Lucanis stopped her.

“Rook, if you’re going to live in Treviso, which is filled with canals and surrounded by water on two sides, you should know how to swim. We won’t do too much too fast, we can start with just getting you used to the water. I promise, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

Rook still looked apprehensive, but slowly nodded her head. “O..kay, you can teach me.”

Lucanis looked pleased. “Thank you, Nyra. I know it's frightening, but I would hate you going anywhere in Treviso near deep water, knowing you can’t swim. You don’t have the best luck.”

Rook blew air out of her nose at that. “Understatement.” She muttered under her breath. Then she looked back up at Lucanis, “Speaking of going home to Treviso, when did you want to go back? Also, were you planning on just returning to the mansion?” This last statement was spoken with an edge to it, and she prayed Lucanis wouldn’t catch it. Of course, he did.

“I am ready to return whenever you are. If you’re ready to go, then we can return in a couple days after I write Teia, Viago, and Caterina. As for returning to the mansion…” Lucanis raised a brow as he studied her face, “Do you not want to live there? We can-”

“No!” Rook interrupted. “It’s not that I don’t want to live there, it’s just… Caterina also lives there. And she doesn’t know about me, and most likely wasn’t expecting someone like me to be the one you bring home. So I just worry, I don’t want things to be weird and I don’t want to start a fight between you and her and-”

It was Lucanis’s turn to cut her off. “Slow down Nyra, take a breath.” Rook stopped and did as instructed. “Good, now, first of all, Caterina will move to the guest house in the back. That has been the plan since I was young. When I was old enough to take over and had my own partner and family, she would move out of the main house. Secondly, I’m not sure Caterina would have a leg to stand on in terms of rejecting you, but even if she didn’t approve, it wouldn’t matter. She doesn’t make my decisions for me, and if she doesn’t like you, then she is not someone I want to spend my time with, blood or no.”

Rook looked relieved and sagged into Lucanis’s warm chest. “Oh good. Then I’m ready to go home with you as soon as possible. I really do hate this room.”

Lucanis threw his head back with a bark of laughter and fell back against the bed so that they were laying down once again. “Perfect, I will write to them later. Right now, I’m busy.” Rook felt her body heat and let herself melt into his kiss. Moving to his mansion in Treviso was definitely looking more and more appealing. 

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Two Months Later:

Rook regretted agreeing to swimming lessons as soon as Lucanis brought her to the small pond on the Dellamorte property where he had learned to swim as a child. Just looking at the body of water and knowing she was going to have to get in was making her feel ill.

“Why do I need to learn how to swim again? I have made it 27 years so far without and have been fine, very successful actually. I saved Thedas not knowing how to swim, so I’m probably good. Let’s just head back inside and we can-”

“Ah ah ah,” Lucanis cut her off as he pulled his loose-fitting tunic over his head. “You promised, remember? I’m pretty sure promising me anything is essentially the same as making a deal with a demon, so you’re locked in now, Nyra.”

“Yes!” Spite agreed, hissing out the words from Lucanis’s mouth before curling his lips into a smirk, “Rook promised! Cannot. Break her promise to us!”

“Fine, fine, okay.” Nyra agreed warily, still eyeing the pond with distaste, “A promise is a promise.” She gave Lucanis a sidelong glance, adding, “You’d better not let me drown, I’ll haunt you from the afterlife.”

Lucanis chuckled at the comment as Nyra finally began stripping her own clothes off. As soon as they were both down to their undergarments, Lucanis closed the distance between them and pulled Nyra towards the pond by her hand. She resisted weakly for a moment before accepting her fate when they arrived at the edge of the pond.

“Okay,” Lucanis began, “We’re just going to work on getting in the water, floating, and keeping your head above the surface today. Nothing crazy, and I’ll be right next to you the whole time.”

“We will not. Let anything bad happen to Rook. We keep safe, Lucanis and Spite are good swimmers.” Spite added, the purple light in Lucanis’s eyes flashing as he pushed his way to the surface to speak before fading back to their warm brown color.

Nyra blew an anxious breath out in a huff, before nodding. Lucanis went first, pulling her gently behind him as he waded deeper into the pond. Nyra’s legs trembled a bit as she followed behind the assassin. The water crept further up with each step, and her anxiety grew with it. 

Get it together, she scolded herself, it’s water. Even the kids here can swim, you need to calm down. It was easier said than done though, and once the water reached her waist, Nyra stopped suddenly. Lucanis paused when he felt the sudden resistance and turned to look at the woman behind him. His eyes softened when he saw Nyra was standing completely still and stiff, with her eyes closed as she took deep breaths in and out in an attempt to relax.

Lucanis then took several steps back until he was standing right next to her, gently tracing his hand up and down her spine. He watched as her left eye cracked open slightly to see what he was doing, and was relieved when she seemed to relax at his proximity.

“Would it help if I walked the rest of the way next to you?” Lucanis’s voice was genuine and soft, and he fought back a smile at the way Nyra’s freckled cheeks pinkened in response.

“Uh… yeah, that- that would help I think.” Nyra stuttered out a response lamely. Gods, I’m so hopeless, she thought, cringing internally. Why is this so hard??? I’ve literally killed a god, and I can’t walk into a pond?

Lucanis pulled her out of her self-deprecating thoughts with a light squeeze to her waist after he had wrapped an arm around her back to help guide her forward.

“Get out of your head, Nyra. Just follow me and try not to focus so much on the water, I promise I’ve got you.”

Squaring her shoulders, Nyra gave him a nod and the two began moving deeper into the pond again. She was doing well, and was excited at her progress. Nyra turned to grin at Lucanis proudly, and opened her mouth to share her giddiness. Just as she turned her head to the side, her foot hit a slick patch of mud and got stuck under a small rock. She found herself suddenly falling backward into the water with a startled gasp.

As her head dipped below the surface, Nyra kicked her legs and sputtered. Her eyes burned and she closed them tightly, trying to fight back her panic. Just as soon as she had gone under however, there were strong arms hooked under her armpits, hauling her back above the water.

Nyra’s head broke the surface and she coughed as water dripped down her face from her bangs that were now plastered to her forehead. “Fuck!” Nyra said breathlessly as she re-oriented herself with her surroundings. Lucanis was looking at her with wide eyes and an anxious expression.

“Are you alright?” He looked her over and brushed her soaked fringe out of her eyes as she coughed lightly again. “I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you it gets slippery-”

Nyra cut him off and rendered him speechless as she began laughing. Her laugh rang through the empty space of the large property, and Lucanis grew concerned that she was having some kind of break.

“Nyra..?” Lucanis spoke again in a concerned tone, running his eyes over her head in search of a wound that would cause something like this intense shift.

Nyra finally caught her breath again and looked at Lucanis, who was shocked to see a smile on her face. “I’m such a mess.” she laughed again, “Only I would find a way to somehow get my head underwater in water this shallow.” Then she beamed at him, “But I didn’t die or completely freak out. And you got me up right away. I’m actually feeling much better about this now.” 

Lucanis stared blankly at her for a few beats before he also burst into laughter. “I cannot believe all it took to ease your anxiety was falling into the water. I would have just shoved you in at the beginning had I known this would be the outcome.”

Nyra swatted his shoulder, “Hey, no shoving. I’m still nervous and I don’t really want to have that particular adrenaline rush again today.”

“Okay,” Lucanis agreed, still laughing lightly, “No shoving. Are you ready to go deeper and try floating?”

Nyra took a deep breath and met his eyes, her own smoldering with a new determination, “Yeah, I’m ready.”

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Four Months Later:

Nyra was humming to herself as she finished brushing her hair, also giving her outfit one last once over in the mirror. Lucanis was taking her to Cafe Pietra, and then he planned to take her on a gondola ride (now that she could at least keep herself from drowning).

She smirked as she recalled his puppy dog eyes when he had asked her to let him take her on the small boat. 

“Nyra.” he had tried for the third time that week, “You cannot live in Treviso and have never taken a gondola ride! That’s practically a crime!”

“Good thing I only hang out with criminals these days then.”

He had groaned at her response and she just gave him a mischievous grin. Finally, she elected to take pity on him. She really didn’t have any major issues with the gondola, but Lucanis had been so insistent and brought it up so often, Nyra couldn’t resist messing with him.

“Fine Lucanis,” Nyra began and Lucanis’s face lit up with excitement, “You can take me on a gondola ride.” 

A huge smile split Lucanis’s face and he kissed her. “I can’t wait, I know you’re going to love it. You just-”

“Wait,” Nyra held up a finger, “You have to take me out for coffee at Cafe Pietra first. That’s my condition.” 

Lucanis stared for a moment before grinning again, “You’ve got a deal, I’m glad you thought of that actually.”

So now, here she was several days later, getting ready to head to the Cafe to meet Lucanis. He was already there, having had to meet with a couple Talons about some changes he was imposing on the Crows. Apparently these Talons were the most frustrating, so he was going to need an extra coffee AND plenty of affection from her to recover. Not that he’d ever tell her that, stubborn as he was.

Nyra continued to hum lightly as she walked through the market. She had an old Grey Warden tavern song stuck in her head, though she wasn’t sure why. Maybe she was missing Davrin, Antoine and Evka. She’d have to write them soon, Nyra decided.

She was so lost in thought, Nyra didn’t clock the man behind her who had begun to follow her after she passed the fruit stall. Nyra just wasn’t as vigilant as she used to be, the gods had been dead for over 6 months by now, and living with Lucanis in the Dellamorte manor meant she didn’t have to be too concerned about threats. The people of Treviso knew better than to fuck with the First Talon by trespassing.

This man however was drunk and stupid, so much so, he didn’t realize who the woman he had begun trailing behind was. He just saw a beautiful woman and decided he wanted her, a “classic scumbag” as Neve would say.

Nyra had reached the front of the cafe and began to head inside when an arm was suddenly barring the entrance in front of her. She frowned and turned to see who was denying her entry, and took a step back when she came face to face with the seedy looking man. He stank of shitty wine and body odor, and she could see how yellow his teeth were when he leered at her. 

“Heeeeey missss.” The drunk slurred, taking a step closer to Nyra, who took another step back to avoid being so close to him. She was getting a bad feeling, and discomfort began to stir in her stomach. This man did not have good intentions.

“You’re too pretty to be walking thessse streets alone.” The man continued, “Why don’t you let me walk you home, I’ll keep you niiiiice and safe.” 

Nyra flinched as he leaned forward. Mr. Disgusting took a deep breath, clearly trying to smell her as he moved his face towards her neck. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t knock him senseless, but she was too surprised and uncomfortable to think clearly or act. It was incredibly disturbing, and Nyra took another step back so that his face didn’t creep any closer to her neck.

“I’m not interested,” Nyra said in a cold tone, “I’m meeting someone here, and I don’t need assistance or want to go anywhere with you. Leave me alone, I won’t ask again.”

She fixed a glare on her face at the end of her sentence to solidify her point, but was horrified when the man simply laughed and shot his hand towards her, snatching her arm. His grip was painfully tight, and rage combined with a sick feeling coursed through her. Nyra made a fist with her right hand, about to punch this idiot’s lights out, when suddenly the man went flying and crashed into the brick wall, 20 feet behind him.

Mr. Disgusting groaned and cursed at her. “Dumb bitch, what do you-” 

He didn’t ever get to finish his sentence. Lucanis materialized in front of him so fast that Nyra’s eyes couldn’t track him, and broke the man’s neck in an instant, without hesitation. The square went silent for a moment, before a man, most certainly a Crow, left his spot against the wall and began dealing with the corpse. Lucanis said something quietly to the Crow, who nodded and whistled to a second man who came to help him take the body away. 

Conversation in the square resumed then, but Nyra couldn’t even hear it. Lucanis had turned to face her, his irises glowing a faint purple and smoldering with rage. They softened as soon as they met her own, and Lucanis was in front of her in a second. He began immediately running his hands lightly up and down her arms and looking for any sign of injury with a small frown and furrowed brow. Satisfied that she was unharmed, he muttered something in Antivan under his breath and pressed his forehead to hers. 

“I’m glad you’re safe. I was just sending the Talons away when I heard people start whispering about something happening just outside. Spite could tell you were there, and practically made my ears bleed with his shouting. I am grateful though, it made me move fast.” “No one. TOUCHES. Our Nyra. He made Nyra upset. Now he is dead. Wish we could kill him again.” Spite growled out the last part, causing Lucanis’s eyes to flash brightly and the air to take on a light electric charge, smelling of ozone.

“Easy Spite,” Lucanis murmured, “He’s dead. Calm down.” 

Nyra could practically hear Spite’s huff as the air around them settled. Then Lucanis finally addressed her directly.

“Are you alright? Did he hurt you? Did he…” Lucanis trailed off, eyes growing murderous again.

“I’m fine!” Nyra said quickly, hand coming up to cup Lucanis’s face. “He was creepy, disgusting, and awful, but he didn’t touch me or hurt me. He just made my skin crawl and stomach churn, nothing a good cup of coffee won’t fix.”

Nyra forced a smile onto her face. She was fine, just still slightly shaken from the vile man’s sudden, forceful advances. She desperately didn’t want it to ruin their evening, especially since Lucanis was already tense from the meeting he had just finished.

“I will make you coffee at home then.” Lucanis’s look left no room for argument, not that Nyra even truly wanted to argue, she would much rather be home. “We have plenty of the coffee beans, and I’m sure you’re exhausted. We can take a gondola another day, they’re not going anywhere.”

Nyra nearly teared up at how well he knew her. She wanted to stay for him, but she preferred to go home after this experience.

“Okay.” Nyra said softly, smiling at the love of her life, “I like your idea better.”

“That’s because I’m a very smart man with fantastic ideas.” Lucanis smirked at her, before sweeping her up into his arms. 

Nyra let out a shocked squeak and her hands automatically found their way around Lucanis’s neck. “Lucanis!” she exclaimed in a whisper, “You don’t have to carry me, my legs aren’t broken!”

“I am aware I don’t have to carry you.” He said simply, and began to quickly weave his way back to their home. Lucanis’s tone said this wasn’t something that he was going to debate with her, so Nyra settled against him. His heart beat steadily under her ear, and she smiled. She may have had to fight gods themselves to get him, but finding Lucanis was the best thing that had ever happened to her. 

Feeling safe and grateful, Nyra drifted off. She had been tired before this whole confrontation, and she had barely been keeping her eyes open since Lucanis had picked her up.

Lucanis smiled down at the woman in his arms, watching her eyelids flutter and then stay closed. His own eyes faintly glowed, flecks of purple shining through his brown irises. “I love you more than anything in this world.” He whispered to her in Antivan, “I will never let anyone hurt you again.”

DATV Masterlist

[mal1n21]

Hand kisses

Emmrich absently taking Rook's hand and pressing a soft kiss over their knuckles whenever he feels like it.

The necromancer had grown so accustomed to the Lighthouse and the rest of its occupants [and their relationships] that he slips into the familiarity of it all.

He had his reservations as first, as would any senior necromancer displaying physical affection to someone who could be mistaken as his student. [Rook: I'm over thirthy five, Emmrich. At most i would be your partner investigator in a thesis, in fact, there's this one that -cue rambling about research initiated-]. They would dive into conversations over diverse topics.

He knew Ingellvar did it partly because it was something familiar, something they both shared and didn't make him think twice about this courting they were dancing around when the possible demise via Elven Gods, Archdemons and The Blight was knocking on their literal doorstep [The caretaker had informed them of the several hits that the crossroads had taken since the false deities made their attempt to come back, it wasn't good.]

After one too many close occasions in which he had to see Ingellvar struggle in battle, with enemies circling them like prey, receiving quite a beating at times [Rook: Im a mage, not a warrior, they come in too close and i have to sprint. No Taash, i don't need exercise, but thank you for the suggestion. What? No, don't encourage them.] Emmrich had enough of his own self imposed woes [As Johanna called them] and decided that if his days are going to be numbered from now on [And he wouldn't trade Mafred for anything, mind you] his affections shouldn't be caged by his unreasonable doubts.

Kissing Ingellvar in front of other people was a step too far for him, so he started with something small, something he knew his fellow necromancer loved.

A hand kiss. A soft gesture that carried more meaning than intended at times. [The first time he did it Ingellvar spent the whole day absently staring at things. Yes, they shared kisses before during their dates but there was something in the action of doing something like this in public that was thrilling, loving and fresh.] It was encouragement enough, so he keep at it.

And if he was turning into a besotted fool, so be it.

[Then there was that "incident" in the Necropolis when he forgot where they were and he did it.

That's probably when the many [many]rumours started. Myrna seemed curious but respectful so she wouldn't bring it up unless someone else did.

Vorgoth, thought, was another story.]

[curioussubjects]

i started my mourn watch playthrough the other day, and so far it's exactly what i wanted from the veil jumper origin. don't get me wrong, im loving the mourn watcher origin, i just wish a veil jumper rook had gotten a similar treatment. honestly, this might just be my biggest complaint about veilguard.

the special interactions when you reach the necropolis really make you feel like a part of the faction. emmrich has so much special dialogue with a mourn watch rook and he doesn't treat you like you're ignorant of knowledge you should have. instead, he takes your knowledge for granted, based on your likely rank in the watch, and talks to you like a peer. there's also a real sense of kinship between him and rook as fellow necromances dealing with a world that largely misunderstands them and finds their art off-putting.

i also liked the familiarity between rook, myrna, and vorgoth. they're not as close as rook and the crows, for instance, but that makes sense considering the dynamic of the different factions.

meanwhile, as a veil jumper it seems like strife and irelin barely know rook, and bellara talks to you as if you're completely unfamiliar with the workings of arlathan. playing as a mourn watcher now, i barely noticed a difference in dialogue/interaction between rook and the veil jumpers. or even that much difference in how a veil jumper rook behaves in arlathan forest versus a non-veil jumper rook.

it's a huge disappointment too because i can see so many ways that the veil jumpers could've been more developed, letting rook shine regardless of lineage and class, and without overshadowing bellara:

rooks who are tinkerers and can "yes, and" bellara with their knowledge and enthusiasm, historian rooks who are curious about ancient elves and are more focused on the culture than the relics, fade nerd rooks who really care about the metaphysical wonkery in arlathan forest, explorer rooks who really know their way around the forest despite all its weirdness. real missed opportunities here!

and while the veil jumpers aren't as close knit as the crows or the watchers, maybe there could've been more npcs with ambient dialogue who have worked with rook before, or more general commiserating between veil jumpers and their experiences in arlathan forest. i also think it could've been really interesting to lean into strife being strict with rook and irelin being an actual friend who goes behind his back to keep rook in the loop or something.

seriously, bioware, what the hell.

i'd be curious to hear from players who did the other origins. are they as well crafted as the crows and mourn watch origins or are they like the veil jumpers?

[theoldgaylion]

QUEST ACQUIRED: Family Reunion

Summary: Just when Lucanis and Antimo figured their relationship out, Antimo received a letter from Vorgoth about his daughter, Nara, saying she would've visited the Grand Necropolis soon. Both Lucanis and Antimo got anxious upon that news, but for different reasons: Lucanis because he would've met his partner’s daughter, while Antimo because it'd been a year since he last saw her.

Could they face that challenge, too?

---

ANTIMO.

YOUR HEIRESS IS ON HER WAY. BE PREPARED. WE AWAIT AS DEAD SING IN DELIGHT.

- VORGOTH

***

Despite the horrors the team had been through lately, Antimo could deem himself lucky to have finally helped Lucanis out with his precarious relationship with Spite, and to have been rewarded with the surprising, yet more than welcome development that that outcome unfolded.

He was aware that the general world state wasn't idilliac for romantic pursues, but since the first time he’d interacted with Lucanis he felt… something, a warm, shocking spark in his chest that he forgot he was capable of experiencing at all after years of intentional self isolation behind the walls of the Grand Necropolis.

And now that they figured out how to make their new situation work, especially with Spite being more accomodating in Antimo's regards, the latter could let himself enjoy what they'd reached without worrying about making the Crow uncomfortable with his open display of interest.

He learned that Lucanis had his own personal ways to show affection, more with acts than words, and that notion made him feel a little dizzy because he wasn't used to being swooned by another person. And the shift in their relationship was clear, palpable either in and out battle: Lucanis was always at his side, more than ever, stopping any enemy that threatened to get to him like he was his personal guard, Spite’s light flaring up wilder as they fought; meanwhile at the Lighthouse, any time it was his turn in the kitchen, the Crow made sure that Antimo received an extra portion or a treat after every meal, he threw subtle, fond smiles in his direction, leaned even closer whenever they talked, left an additional cup of coffee for Antimo to drink when reading. All those attentions made him feel spoiled and he didn't know how to deal with the fuzzy emotions Lucanis lightened up within him. It'd been years since someone treated him that way, like he was worthy of love, and he wanted to, and tried, respond in kind as best as he could.

It was another day at the Lighthouse and the Mourn Watcher was sorting the latest missives sitting at the briefing room table, when the door opened and Lucanis showed up with a cup in his hand.

Antimo lifted his head at that sound and immediately smiled at him, his heart made a little leap in his chest as soon as the Crown smiled back, sheepishly.

“Hi. I thought you’d like some coffee.” he said as he walked closer to where Antimo sat and placed the cup on the table.

The Mourn Watcher followed his movements and when he was at arm reach, he took his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, making Lucanis’ smile widening on his face. He was so beautiful when he let his guard down like that, and he felt both blessed and honored to witness that side of him.

“You're so precious.” he murmured, his voice soft as he looked at him, and the Crow shifted on his feet, a light blush coloring his cheeks.

“What are you doing?” he asked Antimo after clearing his throat to recompose himself a bit, now his gaze curiously roamed over the missives the Mourn Watcher was still holding in one hand.

“Oh, right. Yes. Ehm- just seeing what’s happening outside the Lighthouse, you know.” he shrugged his shoulders before reaching for the cup and drinking some coffee.

Lucanis’ brow twisted in a pensive frown. “I see.” he just commented. Then, something caught his eye and he picked an envelope from the pile on the table. “Antimo, this is from the Grand Necropolis.” he pointed out as he waved it in the air for emphasy, then handed it to him.

Antimo perked up at that information and gently took the missive, before hastily opening it, a sudden wave of anxiety washed over him as he frantically read it through.

“It's from Vorgoth. It's about Nara, they say she’s coming to visit soon.” he punctuated every sentence with gradually growing excitement, his hands trembling as he clutched at the piece of paper.

Keep reading on ao3

[zenjestrr]

tagged by @crepsley blame them

Xabaal Thorne Age: 32 1. Where in Thedas is your Rook from? The Anderfels 2. What is your character's alignment? Chaotic good (all Rooks are chaotic good, we don't have options to deviate from that) 3. Race & Class? Qunari Mage (Evoker) 4. If your Rook was a companion, where would they be found? probably Hossberg Wetlands 5. What emotion did they usually pick? almost always picked the bottom-right serious option 6. What companion are they platonically close with? Davrin & Emmrich 7. Romantically close with? Neve 8. Who are they suspicious of? the Trevisan mayor cuz you can see his betrayal from a million miles away. a victim of this game's bad writing tbh because in any other context he'd be 100% correct. the Crows should not be in charge of a nation but because Veilguard's writing quality is....not great he got turned into a Saturday morning cartoon villain 9. Does your Rook get along with their chosen Faction? with the average grunts? yes with leadership? lmao no 10. Are they proficient in playing any instruments? yes, the horn (mainly because I can play the french horn but also for haha funny funny big horned man can play horn) 11. Weapon of choice? staff. I thought I'd be using the knife + orb before the game came out cuz it was the new option but the staff was more consistent for my playstyle. I only ever used the knife vs qunari since my most powerful orb was necrotic and for some reason the Antaam are weak to necrotic (which doesn't make sense since necrotic is treated like poison in this game and qunari are naturally resistant to poison. it's how they can wear literal poison paint as armor) 12. What is their orientation? straight 13. What are their thoughts on killing? Is it a necessary evil or do they enjoy it? Last resort tool but doesn't feel bad about it if it gets to that point. 14. What hobbies does your Rook have? Rook is framed as the foil to Solas and Solas likes to paint so fuck it we paint now 15. What NPCs do they like? Which ones do they dislike? Like - Vorgoth, Evka & Antoine Dislike - the obvious NPCs that are designed to be hated like Avenci, the Venatori nepo baby, the Dragon King cuz he's such a nothingburger, etc. 16. Do they have a favorite creature in Thedas? those weird alligator things that hide underground when you get close 17. Do they enjoy life as an adventurer? yes because any excuse to use magic is great 18. What would your Rook be doing if they weren't recruited by Varric? doing Warden stuff 19. How do you think they'll meet their end? pre-AMA I would've said the Calling but apparently Epler said that the blight is no longer lethal now that the Evanuris are dead and the Veil is completely fixed so...yea 20. Would they side with Solas or fight him? I mean...we're always forced to go against him. we just pick the flavor of opposition but we literally cannot side with him 21. What is your Rook's favorite ability? Entropic Sphere.

22. What languages is your character fluent in? Common + whatever they speak in The Anderfels (you'd imagine it'd be fantasy German like how Orlesian is fantasy French but Veilguard did a shit job of depicting accents and language) + can understand Qunlat perfectly but is very very clearly not a native speaker since they learned it from their parents and not from living in Seheron or Par Vollen 23. What do they do after an absolute crisis? Same tactic I employ for myself in real life: bottle it up, put it away and ignore it, try to solve the issue or accept the situation. eventually the bottle gets stuffed too much it breaks and then there's a catastrophic emotional explosion which burns 14 bridges and ends 3 friendships permanently (this is totally a healthy and intelligent way to handle things) 24. Does your character believe in an afterlife? No 25. What specialization best represents your Rook? Evoker. if this game ran like Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2, I would've dual specc'd into Evoker and Death Caller 26. What animal best represents your Rook? honestly, a gorilla. fucking huge and intimidating, incredibly athletic, can tear your face off but is very gentle and very intelligent 27. What was their life like before the events of Veilguard? born to a Tal-Vashoth father and a Vashoth mother. magic manifested in his mid-teens and I headcanon that the Grey Wardens of The Anderfels is similar to the US military in the sense that they bait conscripts by paying for people's education and giving them a stipend to send home. So to avoid going to a Circle, he signed up with the Wardens to get magical training that way. 28. Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else as the leader? every Rook is the de facto leader but honestly Harding should be the leader. she has a decade more experience than Rook and already has leadership experience (she's squad leader to the Inquisition scouts). they wrote Harding in this game to be this naive little church girl but that's not what she gave off in Inquisition. 29. If you could choose a different faction for your Rook, which would they have joined and why? Mourn Watch. meta reason, it's the only other faction that has content and reactivity on par with the Wardens (rip Lords of Fortune enjoyers you got crumbs). but as a character, my dude is genuinely fascinated by Nevarran culture and the undead 30. What's your favorite thing about your Rook? I'm gonna be so for real, Rook is my least favorite Dragon Age protagonist (not worst BioWare protag tho, rip Ryder). I don't hate Rook but I dislike how limited we are in how we can choose who they are as a character: we're always forced to be a kind junior manager that watched too many therapy tiktoks. but my favorite thing about my Rook is honestly his looks. I think this guy is, aesthetically, my favorite PC I've ever made in an RPG.

-------------------- tagging @shepardcommander and @bellaralutare. no pressure if you don't want to. anyone else is free to join in

[soupandsorcery]

Rook doesn't sleep.

This is the fourth thing Lucanis learns about him. The first three being that he is odd, quiet, and unfairly beautiful. Not quite in that order.

Rook haunts the Lighthouse at night, flitting between the library, the bathing chamber that popped into existence sometime during Lucanis' second week here, and his own room on silent feet, given away only by his occasional muttering to himself.

Lucanis also doesn't sleep, so the two of them cross paths often, usually in the kitchen at some unholy hour of night. Rook pops his head up guiltily whenever Lucanis comes out of the pantry, like he's worried he's invading Lucanis' space. Or because he's committing some sin against caffeine with the coffee he's making. That seems more likely, considering Lucanis only has a space here by Rook's good graces anyway.

"Neve made it," is the first thing out of Rook's mouth tonight, and there's the expression of a child caught doing something they shouldn't be.

"You're drinking it," Lucanis points out.

"I didn't want to waste it."

Hard to waste something that isn't worth much to begin with, Lucanis doesn't say. He doesn't know the detective from Minrathous well enough yet to be casting aspersions on her coffee. But that doesn't mean he has to drink it.

He holds Rook's gaze as he walks over, appropriates the cup in his hand, and goes to the sink to dump it down the drain to wherever their waste goes in the Fade. It makes the insides of his eyelids itch just thinking about it.

Rook makes a face, confused and concerned. He makes that face often.

"I will make you something better," Lucanis says. "Sit."

Rook sits. Rook watches. Rook is always watching, a thoughtful expression on his (unfairly) beautiful face, like he's scrutinizing the world and the people around him, trying to figure out how they work.

Silence dominates the room, other than the sounds of Lucanis heating water and measuring out coffee. "Is this a Watcher thing?" he asks after a bit. "Not sleeping?"

Rook laughs softly, propping his head up with one hand, elbow on the table. "No. Although I don't know if Vorgoth can sleep, now that I think about it. I suppose it could be possible, and they must rest somehow... What was I...? No. The not sleeping is a me thing, I'm afraid."

Lucanis nods, passing him a steaming cup.

"Thank you," Rook says. He closes his eyes, inhaling the fragrance deeply. Appreciating it, the way it should be appreciated.

Lucanis ignores the way that pulls at him.

"This is...much better than Neve's," Rook says after his first sip. "Much better than mine, too."

"Coffee is an art," Lucanis tells him. "The two of you treat it like a necessity."

Rook smiles around another sip. "Well. I mean, it is a necessity."

"Granted. But think of it this way, if you needed a tool for a job, would you not want the best tool to do it? The best quality, crafted just for that purpose?"

"I...suppose so. Yes."

Lucanis waves a hand in a 'there you go' gesture.

"I will consider your wisdom," Rook says. "Thank you."

[hustlemeanokay]

I absolutely love the multiple origin backgrounds of Veilguard and I don't care who's salty about it. Go scream at the Wilds.

These multiple origins are headcanon fuel - just as it was in Origins. Yes, Inquisition tried but did it?

So far I've played through completely as a warden, a crow, and a lords of fortune. I'm working on my mourn watch playthrough right now and I love it, so much.

I mean - the night and day difference in how Myrna talks to you as a watcher is wow! And to know that that's basically your Mom? Which makes Vorgoth step dad-o-the-year?! Yes, please. The opportunities here!!!

I mean, just going off the top of my head - imagine it's Vorgoth that finds the little crypt baby Rook. Like, Rook's just been toddling around the Necropolis for weeks, all alone - maybe they got lost because they straight up say that they were on their own before the Necropolis. So, that can mean like adolescence or even a teen with a tude! But, like it's just been the greater spirits of the Necropolis taking care of Rook. Thiefying food for them and stuff and then Vorgoth is like "that is it - who the hell has been taking all the cheese - Myrna likes cheese and I'm tired of the bitchin'." Which leads them to finding Rook. And imagine Vorgoth metaphysically being like ◉_◉ "there's a baby here."

Which leads to Rook being all "Not a baby, you creepy robe guy!" And Vorgoth is like "you are literally surrounded by robe wearing spirits all the time apparently." Rook of course, thinks there is a distinction. And Vorgoth has to go get Myrna because they just cannot with this little talking baby. Like, I just love this dynamic so much.

And even better - imagine Vorgoth becoming super protective of Rook. Like... low-key unhinged protective. Because what even are they - no one knows. But they know they are protective! That's what Vorgoth knows. And imagine that moment, that little moment where it clicks with Vorgoth why Emmrich is standing just a little too close to Rook. How the temperature drops, just a little when they figure it out. Yeah. I live for that kind of drama. And they all think they have to watch out for Vorgoth. What they don't know is that it's Myrna. Myrna's the one who's like "I'll straight up burry your bones in different places across the globe if you hurt my baby." o(*￣▽￣*)ブ

[thanatologie]

@nekrotisch - Are you a necromancer? Because you’ve resurrected the butterflies in my stomach.

He's slow to respond; nose buried in a book he's found here in the Lighthouse library, a treatise on orbital mechanics found in the Fade presenting such…Outlandish ideas he half wonders if it's not the nature of the Fade itself toying with him, giving him a tantalizing glimmer of what he hopes to be true, rather than what is.  Things that, while outlandish, yes, seem so perfectly reasonable and tidy in their own way as to make perfect sense.  

It's been a discussion the lot of them have had more than a few times, whether the books here can be trusted, or whether they alter their contents depending on the reader, but time simply hasn't allowed - nor has specialization - to test that theory in its entirety.  He dearly would like to know, obviously, having written home twice at the current juncture to both Myrna and Vorgoth, concerning the validity of what might be found for future research.

But she speaks, and he's removed from a particularly interesting passage; that the idea of rules as seen by those outside of the Fade placed upon it are counter-intuitive, something he automatically marks with his finger as he closes the book, that he wishes to come back to.

Are you a necromancer?  He's often said there are no silly questions, beyond the ones that remain unasked, but that is entirely silly; of course.  Because you've resurrected the butterflies in my st-

Oh.  Oh.  That is…Actually not where he's seen this line of inquiry headed.  A joke, perhaps, a terrible pun, but that is-

He's gaping.  He knows he's gaping, standing there holding his place in the tome he's been so fascinated with not minutes before and all but forgotten now, slack jawed and wide eyed like he's taken a complete leave of his senses, and that awareness that he's doing so doesn't change the fact that it still takes him three full blinks to pull himself out of staring at her like she's grown a second head.  It is not, he feels the need to clarify, if only to himself, that he doesn't understand flirting,  It is not some…Unknown quantity he's never had directed at him before.  

But he certainly hasn't joined this group with even the slightest idea of any such thing, and it isn't something he's counted as a possibility, and so now all the things he could say in the normal scheme of things are simply…Gone.  Blown away like chaff in the wind at harvest, never to return, unless it is to do so when it's far too late to matter.

But he rallies well enough, he thinks, once he manages to force the hinge of his jaw to function, and directs himself to look elsewhere.  “Then-”  He trusts himself enough, at least, to allow a small, slow smile.  “I'll claim it truly my good fortune and pleasure to have done so.”

[amaranthsynthesis]

Wip Whenever

having a brilliant "yippee!" kind of day and apparently am spending it working on angsty ingellvar backstory, oops

Myrna knows. She’s been with him as long as he can remember, a severe teen when he had begun to walk, a somber new adult when he learnt to speak; it’s only now, nearly two decades later, that her and Vorgoth have admitted that their affection for one another goes beyond their shared charge. So, she knows him, is the closest thing to a mother he might have, and she understands what he’s done. She doesn’t know how to speak to him about it. She doesn’t know how to put words to it to explain to her lover, his other parent. He has put her in a terrible position.  Adi is too ashamed to do it himself. Ashamed for having done it, for having been weak―for having failed. She sits with him in hospital and they do not look at each other. “I am sorry,” she says, after hours of silence. They are both used to it, to the silence. It is often a comfort but―not today. “We did not―I did not realize that you felt so isolated.”  Adi does not know what to say to that. Had he wanted them to know? Had he tried to hide it? He’s so tired.  “Are you going to tell Baba,” he asks, and he sounds wretched. A pitiable, pathetic thing, voice shattered from the violence of the resuscitation, thin and weak from his lost days. There are tears welling up in that voice and Adi can’t stop them from falling, blurring his vision and twisting his face into a grimace. Eyes hot, cheeks wet, a low whine like a dog in a trap building behind his throat―he’s not a boy, not an almost-man, just a wounded animal.  “I think they will realize, even if I do not. But yes. I must.”

not the context I thought to first mention or explore Baba Vorgoth but there they are I suppose

[t00tsmcgee]

Rook as a Companion Banter Episode two: Bellara

Part 1 (Neve) | Part 2 (Bellara) | Part 3 (Davrin) | Part 4 (Harding) | Part 5 (Taash) | Part 6 (Emmrich) | Part 7 (Lucanis) |

Banter written with my Rook in mind <- Link to his own post if you want to read more about him!

-

Bellara: “You seem sad, Calais.” Calais: “Just Cal is fine, Bellara.” Bellara: “Oh, right. You seem sad, Cal.” Calais: “Yeah.” Bellara: “Is it because of everything that’s happening?” Calais: “It’s not the only reason, but it doesn’t help.” Bellara: “When I was sad Cyrian always asked me silly questions to cheer me up. Like, what happens if you get scared half to death twice?” Calais: “You know, he was on to something there.” Bellara: *chuckle*

Bellara: “Is it true cannibals don’t eat clowns because they taste funny?” Calais: *laughing* “Ugh!”

Calais: “Why aren’t blueberries blue?” Bellara: “They are! In a certain light anyway.” Calais: “Bella.” Bellara: “Oh, were you doing the silly question thing?” Calais: “Trying to anyway. Not very successfully judging by your reaction.” Bellara: “Yeah, still needs work. But you’ll get there.”

Calais: “Are the good things that come to those who wait the leftovers of those who didn’t wait?” Bellara: “Wow, that one’s deep.”

Calais: “If a fork was made of gold would it still be considered silverware?” Bellara: “I think you’d just call it cutlery.” Calais: “You’re really cramping my style.” Bellara: *laughing*

Calais: “Why does it take 10 minutes to cook rice?” Bellara: “Does it? I thought it took at least 15!” Lucanis: *disgusted noise* “This explains so much about that risotto you made the other day.”

Bellara: “Why is it called a pair of pants, when there’s only one bit of clothing involved?” Calais: “That’s what I’ve been saying!”

Calais: “I’m sorry about your brother, Bella.” Bellara: “Yeah, me too.” Calais: “We’ll find a way to help him. I know we will.” Bellara: “I hope you’re right.”

Calais: “If you tied buttered toast to a cat and dropped it, what would happen?” Bellara: “You’d never do that to a cat.” Calais: “No, you’re right. I’m just upset my buttered toast dropped this morning.” Bellara: “It was a heavy blow for us all.” Calais: “I might never recover.”

Bellara: “What was it like, growing up in the Necropolis?” Calais: “It was idyllic, I suppose. Vorgoth did the best he could to raise me as normally as possible. But my gift set me apart. It was hard to make friends.” Bellara: “Why?” Calais: “When you can peer into the veil and speak with spirits as if they were standing next to you, it gives you a leg up in a place like that.” Bellara: “Oh, leg, because of your leg thing?” Calais: “No, leg because that’s the turn of phrase.” Bellara: “Is it? Oh, right. I got them mixed up again. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be insensitive.” Calais: “That’s alright, you weren’t.” Bellara: “Does it hurt? Your leg?” Calais: “Yeah, all the time. Every day.” Bellara: “How do you cope with it?” Calais: “I have salves, and an elfroot tea that helps. Tastes like ass though.” Bellara: “Could you get a brace made, to help with the pain and the walking?” Calais: “I had one made, but I never wear it. The thing is more uncomfortable than the pain my leg causes me anyway.”

Bellara: “I heard you play piano the other night, in your room.” Calais: “And here I was, thinking I had a nice moment to myself.” Bellara: “You're very good. I stood and listened until you stopped playing.” Calais: “Thank you. And yeah, I fell asleep eventually.” Bellara: “You play until you fall asleep?” Calais: “On hard days.”

Bellara: “Will you play piano for me some time?” Calais: “I don’t do well with an audience.” Bellara: *deflated* “Oh..” Calais: “But, for you, I’ll try.” Bellara: *excited gasp* “Thank you!”

Bellara: *Humming song* Calais: *chuckling* “Liked that one, did you?” Bellara: “Oh, yes! You’re a very good piano player, and that song was so catchy. I keep hearing it in my head.” Rook: “Now I’m curious.” Bellara: “Cal played me a few songs last night, to help me get to sleep. But they were so good they kept me awake because I wanted to listen to them.” Calais: “Yeah, missed the mark on that.” Rook: “But it seems you’ve found a captive audience at least.” Calais: *chuckles* “Yeah. Who knows, maybe I’ll play in front of the team at some point.” Bellara: *excited noises* Calais: “No promises!”

[cryberpunkart]

Castio Ingellvar

1: Where in Thedas is your Rook from? His parents are from Nevarra City. I didn't think too hard about his life pre-Mourn Watch so it's random.

2: What is your character's alignment? Chaotic neutral. Cas does things for the greater good, but it's a bit fast and loose.

3: Race and subclass? Human mage.

4: If your Rook was a companion, where would they be found? The music room, and he'd be humming all the time.

5: What emotion did they usually pick? Mostly the cheery and polite icons.

6: What companion are you platonically close with? Taash, unexpectedly. But he gets on with everyone.

7: Romantically close with? Emmrich.

8: Who are they suspicious of? He liked Lucanis, but is low-key scared of him.

9: Does your Rook get along with their chosen Faction? Yes! He adores the Watchers and is one to his core.

10: Are they proficient in playing any instruments? No, but he is a very amateur opera singer.

11: Weapon of choice? Mageknife and necrotic damage.

12: What is their orientation? Asexual biromantic.

13: What are their thoughts on killing? Is it a necessary evil or do they enjoy it? He's just trying to survive, if he can avoid it, he would like to, but times are tough.

14: What hobbies does your Rook have? Music, reading, theatre. He loves a good debate, he's probably part of the Lighthouse book club.

15: What NPCs do they like? Which one's do they dislike? He loves Vorgoth and Manfred, but who doesn't? I think he gets along with Strife well, and Antoine (Evka scared him but he respects her) but he and Tarquin despise each other.

16: Do they have a favorite creature in the Thedas? Assan counts, right? Otherwise he's a snake boy in every universe I write him into. Snakes all the time.

17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer? I think he likes to revisit the Necropolis a lot, but yes, he loves exploring and learning.

18: What would your Rook be doing if they weren't recruited by Varric? The Thedas equivalent of a paranormal investigator, or amateur theatre.

19: How do you think they'll meet their end? Are you kidding? He's gunning for lichdom.

20: Would they side with Solas or fight him? He'd rather do neither, but if he can't talk Solas around, he'd fight.

21: What is your Rook's favorite ability? Corrupted Ground.

22: What languages is your character fluent in? Just the common tongue.

23: What do they do after an absolute crisis? Decompress alone, with his nose in a book, after checking in on everyone.

24: Does your character believe in the afterlife? In the sense of the wisps and the Fade being a sort of life beyond death, yeah. For himself? No, lichdom!

25: What specialization best represents your Rook? I obviously went down the Mourn Watch specialisation. The character has always been a necromancer, I originally played him in D&D 5e.

26: What animal best represents your Rook? A snake. His favourites are hognoses but he's a ball python.

27: What was their life like before the events of Veilguard? Quite simple, I think he was hiding in Minrathous, probably taking odd jobs ridding homes of spirits for a fair price.

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader? He didn't want to lead, but he took to it well enough. He considers them all to lead in their area of expertise, though.

29: If you could choose a different faction for your Rook, which one would they have joined and why? Hmm, that's actually a good question. Probably the Shadow Dragons? They have good morals and he was already hanging about in Minrathous!

30: What's your favorite thing about your Rook? Cas is a character I've had for a long time now. In-game I love how his Ult looks, the mage combat flows so prettily. In a meta sense, this character creator is the closest I've ever managed to making Castio 3d, so I love that.

Zinc Laidir

1: Where in the Thedas is your Rook from? There's a brief conversation with Taash where he mentioned being a Tevinter galley slave, so I think Zinc is a city elf from Seheron.

2: What is your character's alignment? The same as a labrador puppy.

3: Race and subclass? Elf warrior.

4: If your Rook was a companion, where would they be found? He'd move location every time, this man is hyper.

5: What emotion did they usually pick? Mostly the cheery/jokey one, but whenever there's a chance for the sad one, I went with that. Emotional boy.

6: What companion are you platonically close with? Taash, Harding and Davrin. He and Taash had trans solidarity, Harding is his bestie, and he and Davrin arm wrestle on the regular.

7: Romantically close with? The queen herself, Neve. But poor Bellara tried.

8: Who are they suspicious of? He's not too sure how to take Emmrich. He likes him, and he respects his magic, but worries about being told off, Emmrich is very Dad to him.

9: Does your Rook get along with their chosen Faction? Yes and no. Isabella finds him frustrating, I think she was probably waiting for a chance to get him gone. They're like siblings who get along better with space between visits.

10: Are they proficient in playing any instruments? Ohhhh yes. Zinc is a musician in his original conception, so he definitely plays the Elven guitar in his chamber.

11: Weapon of choice? Warhammer, specifically the brute hammer.

12: What is their orientation? Queer. Zinc has no labels, doesn't want them, doesn't care. He's a trans guy who likes hot people. You could call him pansexual but he wouldn't call himself that.

13: What are their thoughts on killing? Is it a necessary evil or do they enjoy it? Avoid as much as possible.

14: What hobbies does your Rook have? Music, but probably also card games, casual gambling stuff with the other Lords and the companions.

15: What NPCs do they like? Which one's do they dislike? I think he and Rana get chatty, and I bet he's flirted with Theia. He doesn't dislike anyone, but he did punch the First Warden. So yeah.

16: Do they have a favorite creature in the Thedas? He'd have a pet nug if he could, but he's also pet every damn dog and cat in Dock Town.

17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer? Of course! For gold and glory!

18: What would your Rook be doing if they weren't recruited by Varric? Bothering Isabella more.

19: How do you think they'll meet their end? Doing something stupid.

20: Would they side with Solas or fight him? Fight.

21: What is your Rook's favorite ability? For Gold and Glory (I swear it's called that, the big leaping hammer smash).

22: What languages is your character fluent in? Elven, common.

23: What do they do after an absolute crisis? When the adrenaline leaves, he cries. Zinc cries a lot.

24: Does your character believe in the afterlife? Nah, but he's okay with that. Again, he knows the Fad exists, he knows spirits exist, but he thinks they have no memory of their life, so there's not really a knowable beyond for living beings.

25: What specialization best represents your Rook? I went with Slayer, because Lords of Fortune, but none of the others suited.

26: What animal best represents your Rook? A friendly puppy, or a speedy hare or something.

27: What was their life like before the events of Veilguard? A bit chaotic, but also simple. He listened to Isabella and did as he was told.

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader? He is, but in a more... Glue way. He's keeping everyone together and happy and sane as best he can.

29: If you could choose a different faction for your Rook, which one would they have joined and why? Maybe the Wardens. He wouldn't read the fine print about the Calling and how much being a Warden sucks, he'd just sign up to be a hero.

30: What's your favorite thing about your Rook? He's the mascot for this account, but make him a little elf. :3 Also doing all the silly dialogue options feels appropriate, which makes it fun.

Rook Questionnaire

inspired by @cassieuncaged's BG3 Character Development Questions but for Rook instead!

1: Where in the Thedas is your Rook from?

2: What is your character's alignment?

3: Race and subclass?

4: If your Rook was a companion, where would they be found?

5: What emotion did they usually pick?

6: What companion are you platonically close with?

7: Romantically close with?

8: Who are they suspicious of?

9: Does your Rook get along with their chosen Faction?

10: Are they proficient in playing any instruments?

11: Weapon of choice?

12: What is their orientation?

13: What are their thoughts on killing? Is it a necessary evil or do they enjoy it?

14: What hobbies does your Rook have?

15: What NPCs do they like? Which one's do they dislike?

16: Do they have a favorite creature in the Thedas?

17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer?

18: What would your Rook be doing if they weren't recruited by Varric?

19: How do you think they'll meet their end?

20: Would they side with Solas or fight him?

21: What is your Rook's favorite ability?

22: What languages is your character fluent in?

23: What do they do after an absolute crisis?

24: Does your character believe in the afterlife?

25: What specialization best represents your Rook?

26: What animal best represents your Rook?

27: What was their life like before the events of Veilguard?

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader?

29: If you could choose a different faction for your Rook, which one would they have joined and why?

30: What's your favorite thing about your Rook?

[t00tsmcgee]

Rook as a companion banter episode 5 : Taash

Banter written with my Rook in mind, read more about him here!

Part 1 (Neve) | Part 2 (Bellara) | Part 3 (Davrin) | Part 4 (Harding) | Part 5 (Taash) | Part 6 (Emmrich) | Part 7 (Lucanis) |

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Taash: “Cal.” Cal: “Taash.” Taash: “You want food tonight?” Cal: “Ideally. What are we eating?” Taash: “Hearty chum. It’s fish stew.” Cal: “Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever had that. That'll be exciting!” Cal: "I liked that Hearty chum. You wanna do food again sometime?" Taash: "Sure. Your turn to cook though." Cal: "Sure. Nevarran flatbread with yogurt dip and candied sage leaves, how does that sound?" Taash: "Make it spicy." Cal: "Hmm.. maybe I can add some spices to the flatbread, sure." Cal: “Taash.” Taash: “Cal.” Cal: “You seem tense, around your mother.” Taash: “Yeah.” Cal: “I think she’s just trying to be supportive, in her own way.” Taash: “I know.” Taash: “So Cal, are you interested in dragons?” Cal: “Yeah. Who isn’t?” Taash: “Your death mage colleague.” Cal: “Oh, what? I’m so disappointed in him.” Taash: “Well, at least not all necromancers are boring.” Cal: “Will you tell me about them? Dragons, I mean. Not necromancers. I know about those.” Taash: “Uh, yeah. Of course!”

Taash: “So, blue and white scales, red markings, frost breath, no horns.” Cal: “Uhhh.. Mistral?” Taash: “Nope. Mistral has yellow markings.” Cal: “Damn. Come on, think...Oh! Kaltenzhan!” Taash: “Nice, you got it!”

Taash: “Wide horns, copper hide, green accent, firebreather.” Cal: “Sandy Howler?” Taash: “Nope, that has downturned horns.” Cal: “Then it’s an Abyssal.” Taash: “Yeah, nice! Getting better.”

Taash: “Curved horns like a ram, dark purple scales, orange markings, lightning breath.” Cal: “Gamordan Stormrider.” Taash: “Yes! Good job, got it in one go!”

Taash: “So what’s your favourite dragon?” Cal: “Hivernal. I love it’s colours, it’s flat head is kinda cute, too. That whole genus without horns is so unique. The Kaltenzhan, the hivernal, the mistral..” Taash: “You like the hornless dragons?” Cal: “I guess I identify with them being a little different.” Taash: “Huh. I guess I get that. My favourite is the Frostback.” Cal: “Good choice. Is it because their horns look like yours?” Taash: “Yeah. And they’re the biggest!”

Taash: “Cal. You ever struggle with your gender?” Cal: “Oh yeah, I grew up telling Vorgoth I was a boy. Transitioned when I was pretty young.” Taash: “So.. you understand struggling with your identity.” Cal: “Yeah. I still do, sometimes, even if I’m happy with myself now.” Taash: “Huh. You mind talking, later?” Cal: “Of course. But only if you bring snacks.” Taash: *chuckling* “Sure.”

Taash: “Cal?” Cal: “Yes Taash?” Taash: “What do you see when you look at me?” Cal: “I see confidence. I see power. I see a dragon who has been tied down all their life and now they long to spread their wings. And your cooking isn’t half bad either.” Taash: “...Thanks.”

Cal: “You know Taash, I think your mother was just trying to relate to your struggle when she compared it to- what did she say- ‘Qun Atok?’” Taash: “Aqun Athlok, yes.” Cal: “So what does it mean?” Taash: “It means to be born as one gender but live as another. Like you.” Cal: “Still a little one or the other, isn’t it?” Taash: “Right, that’s why it doesn’t quite apply to me. I’m neither. There’s no word for it.” Cal: “Well did you know certain mushroom species have over a thousand separate sexes? Maybe we can find a word with one of them.” Taash: “Huh. Yeah. Maybe.”

Taash: “So you like mushrooms huh?” Cal: “Yes! I love mushrooms. Both to eat and to learn about and study. In Nevarra, it’s common to be vegetarian, so mushrooms are used often as a substitute for meat.” Taash: “But you do eat meat.” Cal: “Yeah, I don’t identify as a vegetarian.” Taash: “Good, ‘cause tonight is Armada Special night.”

Taash: “I think you’re right, about my mother. She was trying to relate to my issue by drawing from something she knew. It just wasn’t what I wanted to hear from her at that moment.” Cal: “What did you want to hear?” Taash: “I accept you as you are. I love you as you are.” Cal: “I do.” Taash: “Thank you.”

Taash: “So, you banging Lucanis?” Calais: “Banging? Bit of a crude descriptor. We’re in love.” Taash: “Aww. What about Spite?” Calais: “He’s there too, usually.” Taash: “Kinky.” Calais: “He goes away if we ask.” Taash: “Do you ask?” Calais: “Sometimes."

Taash: “So, Lucanis. How big is he?” Calais: “Maker’s breath, I will not be telling you that.” Taash: “Alright. How big are you?” Calais: *chuckling* “5’5.” Taash: *laughing* “Perfectly average.”