tviburar

[tviburar]

the avvar were right, it's all just spirits

[tviburar]

avvar clan social structure

avvar clans are highly individualized, with traditions and laws varying widely from clan to clan, but there are still basics that all avvar seem to follow. leadership tends to be one of them–what follows is a mixture of what is specific to this blog but also what might apply to avvar society at large. there are three major social classes the avvar have: jarls, clansfolk, and slaves.

in general, there is mobility through these classes. it’s possible that someone could live in each stage at various parts in their life. most people tend to be clansfolk, with slaves being the second largest class. all classes have varying degrees of rights.

jarls

jarls are a class of “nobility” in avvar culture. nobility is not the same as it is in much of the rest of the world. those in the jarl class tend to be leaders, determined and capable people who others flock to follow and are widely respected on their intellectual, spiritual, or physical prowess.

thane – the leader of a hold or clan. a position that can be earned or inherited. thanes represent the clan in negotiations with other clans and other peoples. they are often the best of their clan, ex. the most clever, the strongest, the best strategist, etc. they operate with the clan’s best interest in mind, deciding where to raid, where to farm, and settling disputes within the clan. thanes are expected to secure and organize provisions for their clan by instructing clansfolk in what to do, but also negotiating peace and trade with other clans and holds. 

augur – the magical expert of a clan or hold. is in charge of training and monitoring all mages, as well as communicating with gods and spirits. they help guide the thane in making decisions by informing the thane as to what the gods and spirits say. in smaller clans, they might also be a shaman, which takes care of the clan’s spiritual needs as well. some augurs also take on healing responsibilities in various clans, both physically and mentally, as their connection with spirits allow them to see when a member of the clan is particularly troubled.

shaman – larger clans or holds may also have a shaman, who is a powerful mage who keeps track of the clan’s history as well as leading them in worship. they fulfill the spiritual needs of a clan by performing ceremonies, advising the clans people on their individual issues, and communicate with spirits. they have no official authority, but hold a position of great respect and may serve as extra council to the thane and augur on interpreting the gods’ desires.

clansfolk

clansfolk are the largest class of people in avvar clans and holds. they are blacksmiths, tanners, hunters, warriors, farmers, and generally every other role the clans need. clansfolk all have a say in the government of their clan–very rarely does a thane make a unilateral decision without first asking the clansfolk of their hold how they feel first. 

in larger clans, there may be positions like leader of the hunters or leader of the warriors–they are typically earned titles of the strongest of their class and are in charge of the organization, assignments, and training of those below them. there might also be a lead tradesman who settles trade disputes between those in the clan, negotiates on behalf of the hold with other clans and outside traders, and takes inventory of what the hold needs to survive each season.

as a side note: mages are fully integrated into every part of avvar society. they have no special position set aside for them–they can be fishermen, hunters, warriors, blacksmiths–anything they wish to be. as members of the hold, they are expected to participate in providing for their clan members in whatever capacity they can.

slaves

there are two types of slaves in avvar society: bondservants and slaves caught during raiding. there are differences between the two, but even the most lowly of slaves have certain rights.

bondservant – they are clansfolk who have either accumulated too much debt to pay off or are too poor to provide for themselves and must sell themselves as labor to someone else. in the majority of clans, bondsmen cannot vote and are tasked with hard labor–most bondservants work on farms, with a few others working in smithies, tanners, and other trades, or tasked with assisting in building and repairing homes. when becoming a bondservant, they negotiate how long their term is to last and once that term is complete or they have paid off their debt, they return to being clansfolk. if they are not freed in the appropriate amount of time, the clansfolk can bring their issue to the thane of their hold to rule on their behalf. bondservants cannot marry and it is frowned upon to initiate sex with them; rape, sexual assault, and abuse in general is taken very seriously and dealt with harshly. they are in the care of their master while they are a bondservants–it is up to their master to provide for them and protect them. if abuse is suspected, a thane may step in and punish the clansfolk at fault and declare the bondservant’s debts settled or transfer ownership of the bondservant to themselves.

slaves through raiding – a person captured through a clan or hold’s raids takes the lowest place in avvar society. they are largely tasked for physical labor on farms and are sometimes traded between holds. slaves can be freed by their masters at any point in time, though typically a slave must prove themselves worthy of freedom in some way. slaves cannot vote or voice opinions in avvar clan decisions, but in many holds are often protected under many of the same laws that protect bondservants from abuse. that is not the case in all clans. many times, thanes leave it up to individual households to decide how to treat a slave and only step in if a grave crime has been committed.

[tviburar]

DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD PROMPTS PT 1 *  assorted dialogue from the first hour of the video game

somebody's gotta stop him... and that's where you come in.

so... where were we?

our story begins where all great stories begin: with the seediest bar in town and a missing contact.

let's try this again.

you think you can come into my bar and make demands?

i'm not leaving until i know where she is.

be ready to talk by the time i get to you.

darling... you're adorable.

for the record, there was probably an easier way to do that than fighting an entire bar.

what'd i have to worry about? you were there watching my back.

break's over.

something must have gotten them riled up.

should we be in more of a hurry to get out of here?

i have to talk him down.

are they after us?

we don't have time to get arrested.

you're safe now. get inside and bar the doors.

there are a lot of scared people out here.

what about you two? are you okay?

have you got my gear?

can you get us there, [name]?

this is nowhere near my neighborhood.

eyes up! we've got company!

used to fight these assholes every day.

i'm back on the job.

isn't that a coincidence?

you said you had a lead?

that's where your man is hiding.

you told me he was working alone.

i'll take it from here.

take care of the team for me.

hope i'm not interrupting.

let's buy him some time.

i have taken precautions to minimize the damage.

people are dying right now.

you need to listen. please.

people are always dying. it is what they do.

shit. we need a better plan.

what if we disrupt the ritual?

the storm could tear you apart.

you came a long way and made a valiant effort.

this story does not end in my downfall.

you have no idea what you have done.

i know what i did.

i was not destroying the world.

why am i here?

had i the power to control you, i would have already used it.

get out of my head!

i do not want to be here any more than you do.

what are you talking about?

thanks to you, though, i am now trapped.

you were innocently doing nothing when we came along.

[name] always said you'd have a big explanation for why none of this was your fault.

i am certain you will be fine.

you don't get to sit back and look smug!

what else could i possibly do?

you will soon see what i was trying to prevent.

this is your responsibility now.

look who's still with us!

trust me. i've had worse. gonna take more than a flesh wound to stop me.

turns out, you were right.

the plan did go a little wrong.

i should have come up with a better plan.

you worked with what you had. and you succeeded, by the way.

[name]. you've got this. i've seen your work.

there's a reason i dragged you into this whole mess.

you're clever. adaptable. and you don't know when to quit.

sorry, i didn't mean to barge in.

i really need to look around.

we should talk about things.

i'll work with it. you know me.

maybe our paths haven't crossed, but i know our work has.

we've just got to start somewhere.

this is a dangerous job. everyone knew that signing on.

you don't slow down for much, do you?

let's stop worrying about me and go do that.

come get me when you're ready to go.

you're sure that wasn't just a dream?

i'm not certain of anything.

we're not out of danger.

we need to get out there and stop them.

we can't just sit here and do nothing.

we need to investigate. figure out what we're dealing with before we rush in and make things worse.

this time, if we see a shot, we take it.

you sure you're up for this?

it's not working! i can't contain it!

you all were supposed to stop him.

it didn't go as cleanly as we hoped.

things just got a whole lot worse.

let's just say they weren't known for their kindness.

you're in no condition to fight.

[tviburar]

childbirth & education

the avvar have a high birth rate and a very low death in childbirth rate, especially when compared to other parts of thedas. mages are full-fledged members of society, and because of this, healing magic is fairly ubiquitous around holds and clans. in terms of childbirth specifically, the augur (and if there is a separate healer in the clan) is called when the contractions start. a healer will help the woman get herself situated, and all men and unessential people will be made to leave the room. typically the only ones left are the augur, healer, and the matriarch of the family. the augur performs prayers and invites the spirits to witness, and often specifically calls on the lady of the skies to bear witness and to recognize a new birth of their people.

once the child is born, the matriarch of the family gives the child their name (typically agreed upon beforehand), and then takes the child outside into the cold and presents them to the clan and the gods. if the child cries, it’s a sign of strength and health (most children cry, so volume is taken into account too). after that, family may visit the infant and mother, though the healer tends to stay afterward in order to make sure both mother and infant are healthy. the augur leaves to make sacrifices to the lady of the skies and thank the spirits for assisting in the birth and welcoming a new avvar child into the world.

there is little formal education in avvar clans and holds. as children grow, they are taught necessary skills by their families. most children tend to learn the trades/jobs of their parents. some children might choose or show aptitude for another skill and be given an apprenticeship under another family/clan member. there isn’t a standardized form of the avvar language–the written word tends to change from clan to clan, and is mostly used by avvar merchants to keep track of goods. the avvar do have their own language and have a deep, rich oral history, with some stories consistent between holds, but many having different details to reflect hold values or local history. most counting is done by making notches in wood. spiritual lessons also come from the parents, but it is such an ingrained part of avvar society that the clan teaches a child just as much as the parents do.

when a child is found to be a mage, they immediately start their training with the clan augur. as the first part of that training involves having a spirit placed inside the child, it is very important that the spirit be placed inside them as soon as the child is found to be a mage. the spirit stays with them while they are growing and learning more about magic until the augur decides they are capable of handling their magic on their own. if that time never comes, the spirit stays with that person for the rest of their life. during this time, unless the augur thinks that person is capable of replacing them, the mage in question would be encouraged to continue learning whatever trade they wish alongside their mage training.

[tviburar]

marriage & family lines

the avvar’s concept of marriage is vastly different from all others in thedas. there is often a tradition of “kidnapping the bride,” which serves as a public proposal of sorts, though for many holds that is an outdated tradition from a time where a clan depended on having fresh blood to keep the people alive. nowadays, marriage is typically arranged between the romantic couple and their families, and the “kidnapping” more of a game the clans play to assure that the courter is fit to care for the courted. it is never done to an unwilling party, which would be a declaration of war, not marriage. the marriage ceremony itself is simple:

Permanence is a foreign concept to the Avvars. Nothing in the Frostbacks stays the same forever, and nothing in Avvar life is permanent either. Their settlements are temporary; their agreements are temporary; even their marriages are temporary. When two Avvars are married, the courted* will sing a hymn to a select god while the courter* attempts to undo a series of knots in a long rope. The number of knots the courter* undoes before the hymn ends determines the number of years that marriage will last.

*edited to be gender-neutral. men or women can initiate a courting for either men or women. this includes those who have no gender as well

generally speaking, marriage only lasts as long as the number of knots untied. however, there are a few select couples that might commit themselves to each other multiple times, couples that are not “married” but are known to be together and will not take another lover or spouse even after their marriage years are over, and still others who seek a more permanent union before the gods. a permanent marriage is much more rare than the temporary ones that most avvar adhere to, but not so foreign that the avvar would not understand.

the ceremony for a permanent marriage is vastly different from the temporary one. for the couple seeking a permanent marriage, they must prove their commitment to the gods and to the clan. while the ceremony can vary from clan to clan, a common challenge is for the couple to work together to climb the tallest peak in the frostback mountain range and offer a sacrifice to the lady of the skies. they are then to pray and fast for two days on the mountaintop before making the return trip. if they are successful, the augur blesses them and anoints them with blood, marking them of the same flesh and spirit, the union blessed by the gods. if they fail to make it to the altar at the top, if they do not fast for the required amount of time, or they do not work together, the marriage is denied and will not be recognized. if one or both courters die, a funeral will be held, but the marriage will not be recognized.

most avvar marriages, however, only last a certain amount of years. this tends to result in the avvar having multiple spouses over a lifetime, and families having multiple children from each coupling. because of this, and because of their love of the lady of the skies, the avvar follow a matrilineal decent–meaning that family lines are traced through the mother, not the father. because marriage is fluid and sex outside of marriage is common, as well as family lines being traced through the mother, avvar societies have no concept of a “bastard.” all children carry the mother’s name, and should a child be orphaned, the whole clan will care for the child as if it were their own.

typically speaking, each family tends to have a matriarch, the oldest living woman as a head of household. they take care of the family’s affairs–such as requests for marriage, running the household, and often represent their families to each other in the holds. if problems arise between two families, the matriarchs are the ones who would first work to right the wrong, only bringing it to the thane if no easy solution can be found. when a matriarch passes, her possessions are dispersed to those best suited to have them–for example, if a woman was an expert huntress, her bow would go to the family member (read: child, grandchild, great grandchild), who also had a gift for hunting. no one family member receives all the belongings, unless the woman had only one child (husbands tend to not inherit, unless they have permanently left their family to join another–otherwise, they inherit from their own mothers/their own family members). 

[tviburar]

so i don’t think i’ve ever written about the spirits that follow rikvi around, but there’s three spirits that rikvi would consider her best friends ever and help her with her job as augur.

the first spirit that she ever met was a spirit of curiosity. it was attracted to how open and curious she was, how much she wanted to learn. while curiosity isn't a rare spirit and typically gives inspiration before going on to the next person, yet it was excited by the prospect of learning more about the world through rikvi’s eyes, who was still learning and experiencing the world herself. they bonded quickly, and curiosity became her spirit guide throughout the rest of her lessons, and further into the rest of her life. curiosity and rikvi know each other so well, curiosity often taking on different forms of things that it wants an explanation of. in return, it offers insight to what it sees–curiosity is how rikvi gets a deeper understanding of people, their pasts, and their personalities. whenever curiosity manifests itself in the physical world or must possess something other than rikvi, it takes the form as a cat.

the second spirit of hers is a spirit of valor. it appears like a bloody and battered soldier. it is all but silent, but when rikvi sought it out, she didn’t need someone to speak to her–she needed someone to teach her how to fight with more than just her magic. valor was her mentor after she had finished all that her augur was going to teach her. it was valor who taught her how to fight with her staff and how to use her magic in combination with the techniques of a warrior. he always comes to her aide in battle guiding her movements or even possessing her when invited. valor is someone she can rely on when things get tough, a steady pillar of support whenever she needs it.

and last, but certainly not least, is a small spirit of faith. they were the last to meet of all of rikvi’s spirits, but the little spirit was perhaps the most profound influence on her. when she was much younger, she was very ambitious–and while she wanted to be augur, it had little to do with the spiritual side of the job and more of the power and prestige it brought. it wasn’t until her brother vald was injured during a raid and rikvi was nearly out of mana from the fight that she met faith. faith helped her heal her brother and opened the door to her own spirituality, giving her the deep confidence and religious belief that she carries to this day. faith appears as a little white wisp, and is always near when rikvi begins healing.

rikvi has interacted with many spirits in her lifetime, and there are countless others that come and go through the hold, but curiosity, valor, and faith are always by her side and are her constant companions and advisors.

[tviburar]

Rikvi closed her eyes. This is... not at all how she wanted this conversation to go. Gay she may be, but talking about vaginal sandwiches was not even remotely a subject she'd expected to broach.

"Perhaps your vagina needs to develop a sense of taste."

Why was communicating with Inara always like this?

"There's prettier men around. Nicer ones too. And better warriors by the dozens. What could possibly be the appeal?"

from @tviburar/rikvi: “I can excuse wanting to end the world as we know it but I draw the line at Cullen fucking.”

Inara’s head hangs back a moment, her eyes closed. Then she lifts her head, eyes open but brow furrowed.

     “Me fucking Cullen isn’t something we need to argue about. It’s like… I want a sandwich. I make a sandwich. I eat a sandwich. Sometimes I’m hungry, okay? But in the vaginal sense. He is my vaginal… sandwich. Just there when I'm peckish.”

That didn’t come out like she wanted. 

Oh, that’s even worse.

She laughs, and doesn't even really mind that she's doing it all alone.

[tviburar]

Vald swung his hammer up onto his shoulder, the heavy weapon balanced on the thane's equally broad shoulders. "That is why I'm going with you."

"We are going with you." Rikvi gave a narrow eyed glare towards her twin. A silent argument transpired between them, all looks and frowns before Vald looked away, sighing and shaking his head.

Rikvi's staff tapped against the stone. "Do you need any supplies, Inara? The three of us should leave immediately, before the mountain snows cover up the trails."

Vald held out a thick fur-lined cloak, the top leather waxed to repel the train and snow.

Inara looks between the two mighty twins, and she cannot help but let a smile overtake her lips as her gaze shifts from one to the other.

"That makes more sense," she says, quite pleased with herself for ruffling Rikvi's feathers a bit. "Bereskarns are vicious creatures, and can be quite dangerous and aggressive. Your hunter was lucky to get away from the encounter peacefully."

She felt bad for the bears that fell to the Blight. Most of them were kind enough creatures when left alone, but the Taint drove them mad, as it did all living things.

"I can help you. But even I can't take one of those down by myself."

[tviburar]

@freedomscall: for rikvi 45, made an unexpected friend

"You're going to scare all the fish away."

Rikvi startled, dropping the net with a loud splash as she straightened. Her braid whipped around as she turned to look at the source of her surprise.

A slim boy, not much older than her, his hair dark but short, his eyes like deep, still river rocks, glinting as water moved over them. He was laughing at her.

Rikvi lifted her chin, sticking her hand out expectantly. The boy arched his brow--then jumped back with a gasp as the net suddenly flew from beneath the water back into her hand. She turned back around, smugly smiling to herself, as she marched further upstream.

"Hey, wait!" The boy splashed through the water behind her, grasping at her arm. She pulled it roughly from his grasp, but he danced ahead of her. "You're still going to scare all the fish away with your flailing."

"I know what I'm doing, I've seen it a hundred times," she snapped, her cold eyes sharp.

"Then you should know that the fish can hear you muttering to yourself." He quickly held up his hands, stepping once more in front of her. "Your net's very good! And your throw's not half bad. But shallow water fishing like this means you have to be a lot quieter than you are."

Her eyes narrowed. She hadn't been lucky in the slightest for the hours that she'd been out here. Fish would pop up in the river, and she'd try to cast her net, but despite her throws and reels, nothing ever came back to her. She'd been close, once, thirty minutes ago, but the fish had literally slipped through her fingers.

Pursing her lips, Rikvi held out the net to the boy, looking pointedly out at the water.

"Come on, follow me." The boy took the net and led Rikvi further up stream, to another broad, shallow part of the river. He showed her where to stand, how to get the net cast, and crouched with her, waiting silently for the right time to pull.

"My name's Ingvor," the boy whispered, his dark eyes dancing once again.

Rikvi lifted her chin. "Didn't you say we should be quiet?"

Ingvor grinned.

The corner of Rikvi's lips twitched.

[tviburar]

BETTER TOGETHER

Rikvi Dragon-Skull & Vald Stone-Crusher

twin avvar ocs rules | rikvi bio | vald bio | verses follows back from @fatedvoyage

[tviburar]

dialogue starters from marvel comics’ avengers assemble (2012), issues #1-8.  change pronouns/wording/names as needed.

’ why don’t any of you stop me when i get like that in front of the press? ’ ’ i like when you get all you. ’ ’ guard the package! don’t abandon your posts! ’ ’ i somehow always thought you were a myth. ’ ’ well, this was an eye-opener, i’ll tell you that. ’ ’ it’s gone! the package is gone! i told you people to guard it with your life! ’ ’ you don’t even know what it is! you couldn’t possibly know. ’ ’ triangulate our location and send everything you have. ’ ’ seven guards.  all with semiautomatic rifles. ’ ’ i don’t like where this is going. ’ ’ at my funeral, will you get up and say something crazy awesome about my manhood? ’ ’ i’ve been thinking a lot about mortality lately. ’ ’ you and me out here in the middle of nowhere… ’ ’ be quiet or i will tell everyone at your funeral what your favorite movie is. ’ ’ because i know a lot of things about you, you know. ’ ’ i’m calling it in. ’ ’ we should wait for the others. ’ ’ can i ask you something without sounding disrespectful? ’ ’ add to this horror, the very real idea that there are others in the cosmos who have taken it upon themselves to protect you. ’ ’ your world is home to powers and items of power that have no business on your planet. ’ ’ is this a real grenade launcher? ’ ’ you break it, you buy it. ’ ’ how much for all of it? ’ ’ i don’t know if you’re new to this, but this is the part where we accept your surrender. ’ ’ hey, you forgot to tip the waitress. ’ ’ he stole something shiny. ’ ’ he saw ____ overtake the convoy and steal something they were transporting. ’ ’ thing is, i contacted the army and they said there was no convoy. ’ ’ something we should have been able to knock out before bedtime, except they were there to sell this. ’ ’ is that what i think it is? ’ ’ this shouldn’t be in existence, let alone in play. ’ ’ they are playing the most dangerous game, and they have the power to back it up. ’ ’ we have the army covering up, we have lethan weapons of cosmic proportions as targets… ’ ’ until we know more, this stays between us in this room.  all of us.  no one else. ’ ’ ____, you need to find a hiding place for that.  they are going to come after it. ’ ’ you do not let that package out in the open. ’ ’ yeah, yeah, how about you hand over what you stole and remember back all of two hours ago that it took only one of us to beat you all silly. ’ ’ did i miss the part where they told us who they are and what they’re up to? ’ ’ dude, you’re hurting my feelings. ’ ’ there’s a better way to do this. ’ ’ ____, we need a better plan. ’ ’ that’s the thing.  we know everything about you and you don’t know a damn thing about us. ’ ’ you know, it’s probably best you not focus on that.  just keep moving.  think happy thoughts. ’ ’ they’re using a tech or power source we don’t have an angle on. ’ ’ thanks to the laws of sonic disruption, this will be the end of your power broadcast day. ’ ’ so, tell me, guys, who has the tech and the wherewithal to pull off this whole dog and pony show? ’ ’ let’s go! we’re not safe here! ’ ’ we have work to do. ’ ’ he doesn’t squeal.  it’s against his religion.  he’s not going to talk to you. ’ ’ we’ll play good cop/bad cop. ’ ’ we’re barely able to conjure the idea that there is a game and who the players are.  we don’t know the rules of this game. ’ ’ first, we’re going to send all this intel back to ____ and tell him/her/them to tell everyone to hold on to their hello kitty backpacks and pray. ’ ’ i’m gonna turn this whole damn thing around. ’ ’ i’m working on a program to shut it down. ’ ’ should we put it to vote? ’ ’ that’s what we’re here for, as they say. ’ ’ they had to know we’d find out about this.  they’d have to know someone would try and stop this. ’ ’ he oh so delightfully powered up a bunch of lackeys to get them to gather a bunch of high-powered items for him. ’ ’ and by gather i mean steal. ’ ’ ____, if you’re hurt, you say something. ’ ’ you don’t have to act tough. everyone knows how tough you are. ’ ’ damn them, it’s getting harder and harder to figure out who the good guys are. ’

[tviburar]

prompts to write drabbles to

feel free to send prompts in or just use as a list of things to get some ideas flowing. you can use them as starters too, but these are primarily meant to be writing excercises to help find your character's voice. but as always, just have fun with it!

write about a time your character...

told a lie they still feel guilty about

first felt love (platonic, romantic, or familial)

searched for something they lost

discovered something new

experienced a peaceful moment

did a routine chore

had something completely unexpected happen

did something embarrassing

was praised for something they did

was disappointed with someone

went on an adventure

comforted a friend

confronted someone

had a near-death experience

dealt with grief

had an intimate moment (physically or emotionally)

developed a bad habit

displayed their expertise

got dressed for an important event

tried to learn something new

shared a secret

told a secret that wasn't theirs to share

spoke a truth they shouldn't have said

gotten into a fight

got kicked out of an establishment

won a competition

killed someone

tried to save someone

failed to make a deadline

made an elaborate plan

had a plan go sideways

gave a gift to someone

pulled an all-nighter

followed someone

had to do research

make a persuasive argument

fix something they broke

pack up their belongings

danced

sang in front of others

had to make a difficult choice

balanced a budget

went to the store/market

dealt with a wild animal

made an unexpected friend

was accused of a crime

lost a bet

got lost in a new place

helped a stranger

made a promise they couldn't keep

[tviburar]

@valorcorrupt said: not that i don’t love a good urban legend now and again, but what does any of this have to do with me?

Rikvi breathed in deeply, trying to quell her impatience as Vald smothered a smirk. She was doing her best, but Inara had the uncanny ability to poke and prod her anger into a writhing, raging beast. Vald cleared his throat before his sister could speak up, shifting in his chair slightly.

"The legend is at least partial truth, Grey Warden. We believe the recent sighting by our hunters claiming to see Storbjorn have actually spotted a bereskarn." Vald pushed off his throne, coming to stand on the other side of Inara. "While our hunters have not been hurt yet, seeing a blighted beast this close to the hold is worrisome."

"We'd like your help." Rikvi raised an eyebrow. "That is what Grey Wardens still do?"

[tviburar]

@tviburar ‘s Avvar Ocs, Vald and Rikvi as commissioned by @valorcorrupt.

I’m quite proud of these pieces ngl and I had a lot of fun working with Merc, who was wonderfully patient with me. 

[tviburar]

dark angel ask meme

all quotes are taken from season 1, episode 1: pilot. feel free to change pronouns as needed!

it’s not fair. i get back at 3am, you’re still out. i wake up and you’ve already been up, bopping around for an hour.

i think it’s working. i feel almost human.

i was an instrument of the most high.

i begged, i pleaded, i pissed, i moaned. but i gotta do what i gotta do.

wanna be rich, listen to the bitch.

okay, let’s do this.

how did you do that?

you’re not still pissed off?

try having a relationship with you, ___, it’s like staring in a fog bank. you’re trying to have something but you have no idea where you are.

you keep everyone at arm’s length like you got a big, dark secret going on.

you’re right, i was angry at you.

could you ever forgive me?

i see the perimeter defense system is still fully intact.

at least i tried.

he’s just trying to blame you because he’s a slut.

it’s just mysterious.

you have a punk-ass mouth on you, kid.

you got somethin’ for me or what.

sorry, i was nine at the time.

who’s this guy, he’s not who we were looking for.

maybe you could give me something more on her… some detail… anything…

she was nice.

yeah, that’s vague.

i think she was a nurse.

like i’m shocked to hear you say that.

i won’t hurt you!

put it down! now!

i was expecting someone else.

i’d love to hang and discuss art, but i gotta jet.

by the way, love your show.

just thought maybe he’d like some coffee with his saliva.

playing hooky again?

don’t believe everything you hear on tv.

i got to go.

i figure this is how our visitor last night got in.

if i just got my ass handed to me by a size three, i might mind my own business.

hey, we got to talk

i need your help, __.

i don’t see how you cheating on __ involves me.

i am a victim here.

does this other person have a name?

i’m a toy to her.

has it occurred to you to tell __ the truth?

look, __, i made a terrible mistake, one i’ll never make again.

i’m looking for a young lady that works here.

i say, leave __ out to dry.

we didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation last night.

sorry about your window.

let me get my coat.

how’d you find me?

so you tracked me down. what do you think?

that was an extraordinary display of athleticism last night.

we have what you might call an… intimate relationship.

bet you didn’t know your boyfriend found a little pain exciting. he didn’t either.

you’re a very understanding person. and a fool.

i’m working very hard to respect my elders here, but don’t push your luck

you rock, __. you rock!

oh she’s toxic. a monster in bed, but toxic.

none of this would’ve happened if you’d exercised a smidgeon of self restraint or good judgement, which you didn’t.

__, you home?

you ever notice how cats seem to turn up around dinnertime?

i won’t be staying.

i’m a fabulous cook.

i steal things in order to sell them for money. it’s called commerce.

i left you a present.

am i supposed to be grateful?

well if you’re that nervous, you’re welcome to stay here.

send me the bill for this, by the way.

if i made you nervous, or uncomfortable, or creeped you out…

yes, on all accounts.

i haven’t been able to get you off my mind.

c'mere, i wanna show you something.

no, i meant this. probably the most singularly beautiful face i’ve ever seen.

do you always come on this strong?

and now i think i know pretty much everything.

i don’t know what kind of game you’re playing here, but i’m out, because you’re a whack-job.

not that i don’t love a good urban legend now and again, but what does any of this have to do with me?

we got separated right away. i never knew how many of them made it.

it took me a long time afterwards to figure everything out.

you said you could help.

what’s in it for you?

your friend has reason to worry.

i didn’t make it this far by looking for trouble.

are you high?

i’ve got people looking to either put me in a cage for the rest of my life, turn me into a science project, or kill me. probably all three.

what happened?

whoever tossed this place, they were just trying to make it look like a robbery.

but if i were you, i’d take the money, and get out of town while i can.

he’s dead.

lovely of you to join us.

…and you want me to believe in happenstance?

nurses beat me to it.

damn. are you alright?

can you help me get her back?

your basic renaissance dirtbag.

this isn’t my usual line of work, i’m making it up as i go.

it’s not what it looks like.

do you ever have to do something you really don’t want to do?

girl, you work that dress.

i’m on a break.

guess again.

the only thing better than four queens, is five.

give us a minute. now.

who are you?

gonna put me on your christmas card list?

you’re a player. i’m bringing you this on a plate. my fee is just the cost of doing business.

i have sincere eyes.

can you put that in a bag or something?

you better hope you’re as smart as you think you are.

you know that whole thing about the pliers… i never would’ve done it.

actually, i kinda uh… think you’re pretty cool.

you’re smart, you’re hot. you’ve got a wicked sense of humor.

yeah… you got a bad attitude.

see what you don’t know is that you’re already in the last two minutes in your life.

pathetic. c'mon, you’re not even trying.

it’s embarrassing to the professional community.

don’t touch my ass, man.

just give it to me, i’ll remember

i’m on my way.

i want a full perimeter seal. no one goes in til i say so.

okeydokey?

drop your weapons, now!

delivery!

keep your money, man. we can take care of our own.

i’ll make sure his family gets this.

i see you’re back at it. rockin’ the boat.

i would’ve come sooner. but i didn’t.

i’ve never been much for figuring out why bad things happen. they just do.

i need a favor.

you can keep this. i really don’t have any place to put it.

i need you to do a little legwork for me.

i got my own problems.

look, one thing i’m not is a chump.

he escaped custody after four hours.

and now he figures i’m gonna go and do the right thing because i owe him. like i even care.

[tviburar]

dragon age: the veilguard.

After the Exalted Council, Rikvi and Vald finally return to Falcon-Nest Hold. Life there begins to look normal: Vald has a few children from a few marriages and begins choosing a heir, while Rikvi takes on an apprentice to teach the ways of being an augur.

Life, for a time, passes without much trouble.

But over the years, spirits slowly reach out to Rikvi. They tell her of The Dread Wolf, of his plans to tear down the veil. Rikvi herself isn't all too sure that that's a bad thing--but the spirits are less concerned with themselves and more worried about the fallout. The deaths of those they've loved and watched over. The suffering of the people the have no desire to hurt.

After telling Vald of her dreams, both of them come to the same conclusion that they must help stop the veil from coming down. It's less about the veil itself and more about the catastrophic, sudden change and the deaths and chaos that'll bring. Unfortunately, by the time they arrive north, The Dread Wolf's ceremony has been interrupted, and the remaining Evanuris have been unleashed.

As things progress, the twins offer effort in a few ways:

Avvar agents, able to deploy in the south as messengers and a larger organizing force

Rikvi aids in understanding the Fade, spirits, and spends the majority of her time reinforcing and securing the Lighthouse

Vald, as an experienced warrior, keeps a tactical eye on their enemy movements and a deeper understanding on how to attack the large armies against them effectively

[tviburar]

dragon age: inquisition.

Rikvi and Vald return from raiding to find their place in the hold unsatisfactory. The death of the hold-beast prompts the twins to lead a rebellion against current leaders, splitting the tribe in half. The twins lead their half of the tribe towards a place in Rikvi’s dream, founding the new Falcon-Nest Hold. It’s shortly after that that the skies split and the new clan has to decide what to do about the lowlanders gathering too close for comfort. Set during 9:37 Dragon to 9:44 Dragon and covers the events of Inquisition and Trespasser.

companion information

How They Are Recruited: Upon hearing how these lowlanders are taking up residence at Haven, close to Avvar territory, the Thane of Falcon-Nest Hold sends a messenger to the newly formed Inquisition. They’re invited to visit the Thane and explain what this ‘Inquisition’ is, it’s goals, and why it is located so close to Avvar homelands. If the Herald chooses to speak with the Thane, they meet Vald and Rikvi, and have a chance to invite one or both to join the Inquisition. Regardless of who you invite, the twins migrate a portion of their clan to Haven.

Where They Are In Skyhold: They have two tents set up beside the stables–one for Vald, another for Rikvi. Rikvi’s tent is filled with herbs, pelts, and tomes. Vald’s tent has animal furs and a perch for the Hold Beast.

Approval: Firm answers (positive or negative but not grey), humor, allowing the Grey Wardens to stay

Disapproval: Exiling the Grey Wardens, forcing the Mages or Templars to submit

Mages, Templars, Other?: Rikvi does not like the Templars but will approve of recruiting either so long as both groups can join of their own free will. However, Rikvi will have dialogue stating her concern about having Templars so close to her clan’s mages and how if they threaten her, she will not hesitate to take them down. Vald respects and approves of both factions. He's curious about the Templars' abilities and seeks to understand their powers, whereas with the mages, he endeavors to teach and protect those brave enough to speak to him.

Small Side Mission: Rikvi approaches the Inquisitor about some mages who are being plagued by demons. If asked how she knows this, Rikvi will admit that her spirits are the ones that told her about the mages. She gives the Inquisitor a list of five mages who need their help. Two are in the Hinterlands, one in Val Royeaux, one in Emprise du Lion, and another in Crestwood. Each of them is plagued by three of the same types of demon: Rage, Terror, Desire, Pride, and Despair. After defeating all of the demons, the mages are safe.

Companion Quest: After Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, Vald approaches the Inquisitor with some concerns. Falcon-Nest Hold had agreed to support the Inquisitor, but other Avvar holds did not. After interacting with Orlesian Nobles, three holds have joined together: Peak Hold, Rams-Horn Hold, and Crag Hold. They’re all united under one war-party leader, Revik Red-Blade, who plans on moving first on the Inquisition before attacking Ferelden. Vald is willing to fight against Revik with his own people, but is having a hard time tracking him down to one hold. Peak Hold is the closest and one of the largest, Rams-Horn Hold is a medium sized hold to the South close to the Ferelden border, and Crag Hold, while smaller than the other two, is located to the North of Skyhold and has access to the Storm Coast, making for a good trading and smuggling port. Attacking the wrong hold will leave Vald’s people open for retaliation.

Option 1: Failure to find Revik results in an attack on Falcon-Nest Hold. The Inquisitor joins Vald in the fight, and they must save warriors from Revik’s forces. Vald eventually faces Revik in a one-on-one duel, barely winning. Falcon-Nest Hold survives and continues to support the Inquisition, though they’re less in numbers than before. Option 2: By attacking the right hold, Vald was able to defeat Revik in single combat. The Avvar following Revik then bent knee to Vald and agreed to support the Inquisition. Vald then obtains the title of Jarl of the Frostbacks, though still remains Thane of Falcon-Nest and a possible companion to bring on missions.