#'rook... are the crows... bad?'

[rookamell]

In my mind Lucanis's journey to realising the Crows are a Rotten Institution is going to be because he's First Talon and can't hide away from everything happening anymore. You can't compartmentalize when you're the one who has to make sure everything is running smoothly.

[rookanisstuff]

i like to think for de riva rook's viago kept them away from the Dellamorte boys because he was worried about Illario flirting the pants off them only for it to be THE OTHER ONE the one he NEVER EXPECTED that nabs them

[frankensteined]

it's been days since i finished it, and i'm still thinking about the way that a crow rook who romanced lucanis fares in his "a murder of crows" quest.

how, if they get hit during the boss fight, viago shouts at them to stop embarrassing house de riva, but rook immediately knows that he's yelling out of concern and reminds themselves not to die "or viago will kill them", because he cares about them. if they keep taking hits, viago will yell at them to stop "letting that idiot win", and then also to stop getting hit altogether, because his concern comes out as anger that they're not being safe. and rook responds with a huffy "i'm not doing it on purpose!" (very sibling-coded), and then "sorry viago", because this is just how they communicate with each other, and the concern and care is still noted, despite how tense the situation is.

how, if illario hits rook, lucanis will growl that he's going to kill his cousin for hurting them. how he'll urge rook to fall back if they take too many more hits, assuring them that he'll finish the fight himself.

how illario will pleasantly assure rook that it's nothing personal at the beginning the fight, but when he draws in closer later on he'll sneer "you picked the wrong dellamorte".

there's an unspoken understanding of what is required from the first talon, from the perspective of a crow rook, that the player can't help but keep in mind. but when rook expresses concern that those responsibilities could take lucanis away from them, he assures them that he wouldn't leave the lighthouse while they're still there, listing them separate from everyone else when he's remarking on the people that he cares for.

just. CROWS!!!!!! y'know?

[wanderingibon]

a flock of birds, a crow family — everything aside, despite viago's frosty, stern demeanor I think both he and teia care about rook like family, in a way that goes past the pretenses of being a crow or just part of house de riva, they're literally found family to meeeeee

and while you have time, please consider finding a family on op. olive branch 🍉 and supporting / sharing their campaigns, especially the ones with low funding <3

[silent-words]

Lucanis: House Arainai is the worst among the Crows.

Rook: Because they buy children on slave markets?

Lucanis: That, and they don't teach their fledglings how to pick locks.

[thesummerstorms]

We mostly see a friendly (for him) / grumpy / overbearing Viago in Veilguard, one who has, according to all the surrounding NPCs, been upset with Rook de Riva being driven away in exile and who is perhaps softened by their survival and return.

Part of my brain is toying with the idea of his paranoia though. Specifically, what it would take for him to snap back at Rook in a way that is him reasserting himself as their Talon, as having power over them, and not just their mentor or friend or familial figure.

Like. I don't know what the scenario would be, but what, precisely, would it take for his eyes and voice to go cold with the kind of warning only Crows fully understand?

The Veilguard watches as instead of responding with their normal bickering and poking and prodding, Rook straightens their spine and bows their head. Any playfulness or frustrated kinetic energy on their part is suddenly smothered.

"Fifth Talon." They acknowledge, no longer Rook, just a Crow.

Viago waits three long heartbeats, stretching the moment thin in order to make a point before he finally acknowledges their submission.

Rook de Riva is allowed many, many indulgences that Viago would never forgive a different Crow. But even with the personal nature of their relationship and even with their alliance with the most reform-minded of all the Talons?

They are both still Crows.

Viago is still Rook's Talon and holds their service and their life in his gloved hands.

Some things cannot, will not be changed or challenged because it is outside of the Crows' nature to do so.

Rook's newfound status as a hero makes that more true, not less. Even with Rook as the savior of Treviso, Viago must be seen as the will of House de Riva, not his complicated little Fledgling.

So when Rook de Riva hears the hissing warning of a snake that refuses to be trampled, they know it to be genuine. And for better or worse, they bow their head and bare their neck.

If anything, it's a mark of Viago's indulgence that it goes no further than that.

But for the members of the Veilguard, excepting Lucanis, the sudden threat and Rook's utter lack of fight is confounding.

Rook is their leader. Rook looks Gods in their face to taunt or berate or laugh at them. Watching the way they smother all their fire behind a completely expressionless face, not a word of protest, is like watching something alien puppeting Rook's body and wearing their face.

Lucanis, again is the exception. He is tense only until Viago accepts Rook's verbal concession and dismisses them, at which point he holds his own stone face to hide a gentle, awkward sympathy, not wanting Rook to feel pitied.

That makes it so much more uncanny for the others watching.

[rookinthecrownest]

POV: the annoying shapeshifter mage you found in the dumpster screws up a major Talon operation and you’ve nary a choice but to banish them for their own safety

[drysia]

Thinking about after the game, Viago finally realizing that Rook's dalliance with Emmrich is something more than that. It irritates him. There's no good reason he should be upset at Rook being with Emmrich. Teia teases, he was mad when he thought Rook was giving those halla eyes at Lucanis, isn't this better? It's not just that he's older, or a Death Mage, but it does seem to offend him extra because he had been developing a rapport with the man. (Plus Viago de Riva is allergic to being happy on someone's behalf.)

To prove he holds no negative emotions about his little cousin, his protege, Rook de Riva's romantic life, Emmrich is invited to House de Riva in Salle by Viago once he accepts its really serious. Viago can't help acting a little pissy about it, which means there's going to be some poisoning afoot. Nothing lethal, of course. Just enough to prove to Rook that she shouldn't marry an academic necromancer.

The master poisoner did not expect this to be a challenge, especially not in his own House. Rook trying to thwart his attempts was expected, dare he say almost fun to combat. (He would never say it.) What he didn't expect? Utterly loyal, unpoisonable, ever so curious, never sleeping Manfred.

Thinking about Manfred grabbing the cup of tea that's not quite the right color and bringing it up to his jeweled eye, tipping off Emmrich. Viago clearly needs lessons on tea brewing. "Tea bad. Manfred help next!" Manfred learning to be sneaky, popping up unexpectedly as Viago attempts to brush the silverware with slick sickening oil, "Hiss! What's that?" Manfred being just the thing to keep Viago on edge enough to make mistakes, unnerved by the magic wielding skeleton in Emmrich's employ.

Between Rook and Manfred (Wait, that's his son?? No one told Viago that.) there will be no poisoning. Of Emmrich at least; Rook took the hit at least twice that she'll admit. Viago finds Manfred to be an acceptable body guard. He's still not happy about this, but at least he's pretty sure Emmrich isn't that likely to be killed by a Crow from a rival house any time soon.

That's something at least.

[crows-of-buckets]

Rook: I'm really worried about Davrin and Lucanis, they keep arguing with one another... Its very bad Varric, what if it effects them in battle?

Varric, remembering that one time Fenris broke Ander's nose then took a knife in the back for him in the same night: I'm sure they'll be fine kid. They're barely even arguing if you ask me

[densewentz]

[he says, with an audible stupid smile]

i have seen this interaction all over tumblr but not the last bit??

[storm-arts-around]

I swore to myself I wouldnt make my Rook design until I was in the character creator but then I thought of a Rook/Solas dynamic that gripped me oopsie.

Her job is to annoy him and try to steal his girl 😌

[felassanis]

HEAR ME OUT.

Imagine the morning after Emmrich and Crow!Rook sleep together. And Emmrich finally has a moment to see Rook in their naked splendor. And he sees all the evidence of their Crow training on their body. The myriad of scars.

And Rook is so nonchalant. So seemingly unaffected by their profession. That These deep, violent scars immediately take him aback. They've been through so much and yet hide it so well.

Imagine Emmrich, kind-hearted and so full of compassion, Emmrich, trailing his hand over those scars. And vowing to himself they will never endure such abuse ever again.

[vonspe]

Is Scipio good at actually TELLING Emmrich when he's injured? And vice versa, tbh

i think scipio would rather bleed out and die than let anyone know he’s injured lol

[nelhex]

Just for you @an-ace-aro-mancer

a snippet of a moment after Rook's conversation with Caterina.

Treviso | Villa Dellamorte: specifically Caterina’s office Post "A Murder of Crows" and "A Time to Kill" 

Viago: Among the many messes left for us to clean; the governor had no next of kin. His ill gotten assets have nowhere to go after they were seized.   Lucanis: Did we not appropriate them as recompense for dealing with the Antaam? Teia: That would be the issue. There are already several claims by several houses on what we should do with his estate.  Caterina: Andarateia dear, do you have the reports for the divisions paid out to each house post incarceration?  Rook: I’ve got it here Nonna.  Viago: (choking on his coffee) Teia: (suppressing her laughter)  Caterina: Thank you Rook. Tell me, do you have any ideas? Rook: We could give it to house Egrativi. It would limit any complaints of favoritism as Jacobus was the one to decide Ivenchi’s fate.  Caterina: We will make a wonderful First Talon of you yet. Rook: what. Lucanis: Don’t look at me. She has always wanted my mother to succeed her.  Viago: (actively looking like he’s about to pass out)  Teia: Lucanis, can you please pretend you want the title for at least a few years. I think I can see Vi’s hair turning grey as we speak.  Caterina: Don't worry we have time. It will have to happen after the wedding after all. Rook: ...Neve is going to kill us.  Lucanis: Mierda.

[pinayelf]

Caridad Trevelyan De Riva

Former Ostwick Circle Mage, Crow that hates being a Crow, doesn't know she's elf-blooded, the tsundere to Neve's...tsundere

[beaulesbian]

how it feels playing da4 tbh