#I live to serve with lucanis art

[rookanisstuff]

A couple people asked about Lucanis’ wedding outfit I mocked up! Here’s my refs for it, they aren’t good but they were never meant to be seen lol

A lot of it changed in the final design like the buckle on his waist cinche and the length of the chantry robes. Feel free to use the designs for whatever you guys like though !!!!

[disasterdrvid]

Masterpost of characters I'd like to see in DA4

What it says on the tin. Half speculative, half wishlist. Was going to post this around EA Play Live, but Bioware loves crushing my hopes and dreams so I'm kicking this out of my drafts. Under the cut bc this is loooooong.

Potential Companions (And Maybe Romances)

Starting squad will probably be Fenris, Vaea, Francesca, and Autumn. (Based on this post.) I'm curious about the worldstate variations for Fenris--especially a romanced Hawke getting left in the Fade and how he gets involved in the first place if Hawke gave him back to Danarius. I'm curious if Vaea and Francesca are are romance options but they're really enjoyable in the comics so I'm excited to see more of them.

Lucanis Dellamorte!!! I will never shut up about him and his storyline. We've been lacking Crow companions so I'm hoping they do him justice in-game. However, I'm worried Bioware might write him too similar to Zevran if he's a potential romance. While Zevran's romance is one of the best, I don't want Lucanis to have too many similarities just because of a shared background.

Neve Gallus! The Tevinter PI who stole my heart. I love her to death and want her desperately in-game. Let me be gal pals who solve crimes, Bioware!

Audric ❤ Imagine all the fun banter about architecture as well as being undead. Would definitely have a different feel from Justice or Cole. (Also fingers crossed skeleton from the concepts actually is Audric.)

Not to be a massive lesbian but the hot Qunari lady from the concept art! I'm hoping she's not one of the characters who got cut in development and, if she made it, she's not straight.

Strife my beloved ❤ Not sure if he'll just be encounterable or a full companion, but he was super enjoyable in Tevinter Nights and I desperately want his sass for DA4.

Tessa and Marius! I'm constantly oscillating between companion or just NPCs, but I'd love to see the magekilling duo fully voiced and animated. (Also if they do come back, Charter is an obvious add-on.)

Advisor Roles

Dorian! Based on his appearance in Deception (a small cameo where he guides the crew), I'd love for him to come back in a much more limited way to let everyone else shine.

Varric ❤ This man needs a break and based on the voiceover from the trailer, as well as his appearance in Knight Errant, I'd guess he'd serve more as a spymaster to our group.

Maevaris is one I'm constantly caught between advisor or companion. But I love her dearly and if she somehow doesn't end up in-game the Bioware writers have an invitation to catch these hands.

Controversial but the Inquisitor. Like how the Warden wasn't the DA2 protag and Hawke was the DAI protag, I don't want (or even believe) they'll be the protagonist this time around and that take neglects a lot of what was said in Trespasser. I think they'd be best served advising the new hero on how to navigate the bullshit of saving the world--especially Inquisitors who really fought against being the Herald. However, I do want them in on the crisis (not the midpoint, but that's another post) confrontation of Solas. Also: give me consequences for the Well, damn it!

General NPCs

Awakening Wardens!!!!! Sigrun, Velanna, and Nathaniel are some of my all-time favorite characters and it's been too long since we last saw them. (Oghren counts too, ig...) I also want Bioware to at least acknowledge Awakening's fucked up and retconned lore. Since we only just reached the point of the Warden disappearing, we can assume these guys are kicking around somewhere. With the theorized Warden civil war apparently brewing, and potential Weisshaupt concept art, I want to see them kicking ass and trying to save the Wardens from themselves--riding griffons all the while. Speaking of...

Valya, Reimas, and Caronel! We haven't heard from them since Last Flight, and I desperately want them to get some kind of acknowledgement for rediscovering griffons. If we do end up at Weisshaupt they'd better still be alive and making sure those griffon hatchlings are in good hands.

Merrill ❤ With everything going on with Solas, if Merrill doesn't get involved I'm suing. (And if she doesn't make jokes about Fenris adopting Vaea then what's the point!!!)

Isabela got featured in some concept art, so I'm hoping she makes an appearance--if not returning as a companion or captain of the ship base that some have theorized.

Warden Carver/Bethany. Again, the heavy emphasis on Wardes would be an ideal way of bringing them back.

Stroud, if survived. I can't think of anyone who chose him over Hawke, but if they did I can't see him not coming back in that circumstance.

Generally speaking, the Inquisition romances will probably all come back. The end of Trespasser shows them with the Inquisitor in that meeting so we can assume they'll have their LI's back. I've mentioned before that I only believe three or four will have expanded roles, and the rest will simply cameo. Obvious caveat to this is that Greg Smellis needs to be replaced so I can laugh that Cullen came back without him. (Bonus points if Anders' VA replaces him like he did for DA2.) This obviously doesn't apply to a Qun-aligned Bull. RIP.

Divine Victoria (all iterations). Since most people chose Leliana or Cassandra, that Trespasser cutscene hints at this even if they weren't elected Divine. But given the Inquisition--if still around--works for her, then we can assume all iterations of Victoria will come back in some capacity.

THE HERO OF FUCKING FERELDEN. With Gaider gone, I'm hoping the policy of keeping our original protagonist out of content went with him. ESPECIALLY because of that Warden civil war. (Also my Hero would never pass up the opportunity to have a griffon. C'mon, Bioware.)

HoF's romance. Again, I want Bioware to acknowledge the weird lore of Awakening. Alistair--even a king--apparently disappears according to the epilogue, so I want some kind of plot point with this. (Again: the Warden stuff seems to be an ideal way of bringing some back.) But all the other romances will probably feature (Leliana and Morrigan are two big ones), so fingers crossed. I don't think Zevran will be a companion like some theorize, but if the Crows are involved we know Zevran can't be far behind.

Hawke (if survived). Controversial, but I think a Hawke left in the Fade is probably dead. But if they weren't I'm hoping they'll feature--especially if Fenris is a companion, Varric is helping out, and Merrill and Isabela get involved.

Fucking Shale! Please, for the love of god, let Shale come back! (Imagine her meeting a Cadash Inquisitor lol)

Morrigan. (And by extension, Kieran.) Yeah, there's gonna be consequences for what happened last game. Yikes.

By that logic, and weirdly enough, Flemeth. We've seen her come back from a supposed death before, so I wouldn't be surprised if she pops up at some point. And if it's true that the Evanuris are our real Big Bads... 👀

Feynriel! We haven't seen him since Act 2, and most people have likely sent him to Tevinter to continue to hone his skills. I'd love to see him again and find out just how far he's come since Hawke saved him. I'm also interested if he's not aligned with Fen'Harel and how that will influence the use of his abilities. He's one I'd actually like to have as a companion, to be honest. But I'm putting him under general NPCs because I don't want to count on that hope.

Teia and Viago! They made a cameo in Deception, and I loved the tension between them in Eight Little Talons. Given the Crows' involvement as well as any potential consequences regarding Lucanis, I can't see them not coming back. (This speculation also then extends to the remaining Talons.)

Probably Sten. The high involvement of Qunari in Trespasser and later books/comics means we're likely to face down our old companion at some point. If the HoF does return, this could result in a fulfillment of Sten's promise to not look for them on the field.

[felassan]

Tevinter Nights: Random new fact-stuff that I love and think everyone should be aware of

Basically a TN minor highlights reel. Random stuff I appreciated. Spoilers under the cut.

the references to other stories in many of the stories, woven throughout

all the different details about character/different region’ and races’ accents, and characters saying some words in their own languages, like Orlesian and Antivan

Strife the elf is a silver fox with a Scottish accent

Bas-taar[d]

retractable daggers that go in your sleeve, i.e. Assassin’s Creed style hidden blades, are a canonical thing some assassins have

Dalish elf mage shapeshifter who transforms into a halla

Desire Demon taking male form

“Andruil’s tits!”

Vitaar color and pattern has a symbolic meaning

Manfred the skeleton butler

Carriages drawn by undead skeleton horses which glow green

Audric’s driving passion and keen interest in architectural art through the ages and associated trivia knowledge

Audric-Curiosity has to give consent to serve the Mourn Watcher under a modicum of magical control as a librarian otherwise it’s anomie

Older gays

Sten-related cookie reference

Wardens don’t leave anyone behind

the works of Kal-Sharok have more delicacy and skill than those of Orzamar

Dwarves have lyrium charges which are drums with fuses that blow stuff up. I imagine banging the drum = boom

A Tevinter mage who is a Warden

Sutherland and Co are now landed and titled w/ a minor hold of their own;  Ser Donal of the Hinters, Crosscut Brother; Ser Shayd, Lady of Evesol, bard of secret distinction; and Ser Voth Dale’An, free mage by special commendation.

Elven ears twitching in annoyance is a thing that happens

Sutherland and Shayd’s relationship

how the Inquisitor inspires and prompts the feels in Sutherland

Sutherland’s sheer cinnamon rollity. he is pure

Shayd originally came from a place called Dales End

the reason why Voth rarely speaks

Voth seems to favor ice magic

massive exploding amphora full of bees. Dagna’s handywork, Sera-inspired no doubt. Sera would be proud.

“Oh, pebbles!”

Cabot and Elam Ve’mal are now in love. He says she’s beautiful and she tsks in the way that he loves

Master Ignaldo’s Fabulous Circus of Rivain

Dorian’s mom had a dear pet nug until it passed away. its name was Hollix, which means something like “irrepressible rascal” in old Tevene

Josie is a dear friend of Dorian’s and she sends him gifts of choice bottles of wine from her vineyards

Antiva and Rivain have a sort of light rivalry over stuff like “Antivan wine is superior!”

The Inquisitor managed to change Dorian’s views on slavery in the end during his time in the south. He now thinks it’s bad, no longer has slaves - only paid servants - and is ashamed of how long it took him to realize this. he came home to Tevinter with fresh views

Mae is splendidly dressed and “has such a presence!” “You turned to her like you do the first breeze of spring.” She is shrewd. she calls Dorian “dear heart”. she’s courteous and exceedingly generous

Mizzy

Tevinters love their horse-sized lizards and use them to draw carriages (clearly dracolisks)

Solas’ spirit army

Antoine. so cheerful, light-hearted and trying hard to live up to/embody the classical heroics parts of Warden-dom

how grim and dour Anderfels people are lol

Evka is from House Ivo. & as a former-underground dwarf sth she hates about the surface is being rained on, especially in the dark

Charter thinking of, wishing for and missing Tessa

sweet rolls

detailed insight into Sidony’s past and mindset

Cyrros, an example of an elf with high standing and who commands respect among Nevarran nobles. dresses in lavish finery like the nobles and is able to get away with disrespecting/mocking them. they’re afraid of him and bow to him

Lucanis freeing the elven slaves and Vadis and Irian making sure not to kill elven servants or elven Qunari who were just doing their jobs. Teia’s policy not to kill the help, which is probably a House-wide rule in her house

literally everything about Irian... hunter, thief and staff-fighting expert, good fighter/combatant, sought after for recruitment by Qunari and Solas’ goons, used to occupy a high-ranking post in the magisterium and the magister she used to work for was annoyed about losing her skills. can read Qunlat

Laudine’s synesthesia-esque condition

Vyrantium is a very sharp-dressed city where people have all the latest fashions. Vint parties are lavish opulent affairs of excess - they literally have retching vases to vom into when you’ve overindulged so that you can then get back to it. like Roman vomitoriums in popculture

Teia’s eyes are halla-gold

someone worked out that a clay fragment, previously claimed by the Chantry to be artifact that proved elven belief in the Maker’s flowering glory, was in fact a “manual of marital instruction” (so like a tantric sex manual lol? something like the Kama Sutra?). It’s still in a chantry Mother’s sealed vault, and is privately examined on special occasions

The Randy Dowager, anonymous writer who routinely outsells many of the best writers in Thedas with her collections of scarf-fluttering smut.. is none other than Genetivi!! scholarly, serious, devout old Genetivi. everyone is shocked. at one point he snipes to another character that they could not afford her rates lmao

there’s a roaming public house called The Hilt which moves location each month according to a dice roll

big meat-eating creatures called raytooths live in the Minanter River. they have leathery flaps and teeth on the underside, and long tails, and are also referred to as rays. sound like a scary combination of catfish and manta-rays

the Prince of Starkhaven enjoys a solid reputation throughout the Marches. a red Starkhaven tail is the emblem of the Vael family

2 Lords of Fortune were once chased by the Sandy Howler

at the handoff of the amulet from Bharv to Vaea in the tavern, Ser Aaron is surreptitiously watching her back. he’s off to one side pretending not to know her and regaling other customers with stories. thought this was a lovely moment between them

feral barefoot always-smiling sleepy old Grandma Crow, Lessef (and her relationship w/ 76 yo Tainsley), and Ruthless duchess-like Grandma Crow-Queen, Caterina Dellamorte. Crow Grandmas!

Teia and Caterina’s relationship. Teia calling her “Nonna”

getting vengeance for some Dalish

the 5 foot tall male Magister who overcompensates for his height by working out and flexing all the time lmao. its also interesting to find an example of a mage, especially a Magister, who is very physical and feels more at home in military camps w/ soldiers

many Antivans get high by burning a herb like in a lamp, to make the vapor from it. it gives them a heady feeling, a mellow lethargy that suffuses the body. the first joyous slumber is so peaceful, the first time you use it has the greatest effect. sounds like sth you’d find in an opium den

non-mage non-templar lyrium addict

some Crow Talons being elves

abusive exes and racist evil dudes getting their just desserts

Bolivar Nero’s (an elf) family made their fortune as pearl divers/hiring pearl divers and were once the wealthiest elves in Antiva. he lives a lavish lifestyle

Crow history and legends

Antivan gondolas

Teia’s rise to power among the Crows, meteoric at a young age, controversial, for an elf born in an alley with no family or connections. actually in general there are so many examples of competent and variously-powerful elves in this book

Tevinter has examples of floating buildings, floating chandeliers and barman-less bars. shows you what magic can do and why they think the south is quaint and backwards. that stuff is advanced

magic gadgets and booby traps, magic dust that shows what happened in a place, enchanted sound-blocking curtains, street lamp-lighters who use magic to do their job, nuances of what blood magic can do, the capabilities of necromancy, awesome uses of magic like using wind spells to blow a ship.. just all the new details about the ways magic is used in this world and innovative uses of it in the stories

Merry the Mad

the Qunari are not a single mind or monolith, there’s ideological differences and differences of opinion

30 yo Fereldan whisky. Antivan coffee. spiced mulled wine. ice-wine. Charter likes to drink Anderfels mint tea, loose leaf, with 2 sugars.

a mage learning how to do physical staff combat. it just makes so much sense that it would be useful and smart to know how to do that

“the elf currently known as Charter”

[miriani-lavellan]

Crap DA4 Speculation

Because I’d like to shout into the empty auditorium, innit

Locations

I think we’re going to see more urban locations, and very few wilderness locations.  The ones in DA3 were beautiful, and I loved exploring them, but they did at times feel empty.  I feel like I’ve seen clues indicating they want to go the other direction for DA4.

My second crap prediction is that we’ll see Nevarra (at least the Grand Necropolis), Antiva City, Minrathous, Kal Sharok and Weisshaupt Fortress - I’ll honestly eat my hat if we don’t see Antiva City.  I suspect the maps won’t be huge, whole city maps, but sections dedicated to certain quests.

Sorta think either (or both?) Minrathous and Antiva City will have commerce hubs where we can buy/sell items.  

I’m also thinking we’ll see a few other locations - perhaps other Grey Warden sites, Elven ruins, parts of the in-betweenish Fade/Mundane locations and wilderness areas that serve a very specific plot quest.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we briefly make a jaunt in the Arlathan Forest, but I don’t think we’ll see anything as open or expansive as the DA3 maps.

I was expecting that we’d be visiting the Horror of Hormak-esque locations, but I have my doubts they’ll make us do all eleven as there were indicated to be??  Unless they’re vastly varied somehow doing the same thing eleven times doesn’t seem amazing in terms of gameplay.

I don’t think we’ll be seeing Ferelden, Orlais or the Marcher cities at all.  We explored the south pretty well in previous games.  

I’m excited to see what player hub we get.  Jackdaw on Youtube suggests by way of Isabela being in the concept art (it seems!) that we might get a ship, which I think sounds amazing.  A mobile hub would be novel, and would make sense if we’re going to be moving around the north coast and up the Minanter River with a small band of companions.  Technically, I feel like it might be tricky to pull off though?  But I’m not a game dev so wtf do I know.

Companions 

In DAO and DA2, not counting temporary members and DLC, we got 2 of each class.  In DAI, we got three.  As much as I would love 3 of each again, I think with this game they’ll focus on being a tighter experience.  I’m expecting to see 2 of each class again, so 2 mages, 2 warriors, 2 rogues.  Although I’ve speculated more here.

A Crow - Again, I will consume my chapeau if we don’t get a Crow companion.  Lucanis (who I keep wanting to call Luciano) Dellamorte seems like a perfectly set up companion - a killer with a conscience who has a choice ahead of him about whether he’ll accept his position as his grandmother’s heir.

A Lord of Fortune - Be shocked ‘n’ amazed if they introduced that new faction and don’t give us a pal and a friend from it.  Hollix is fun speculation, but I think it’s just as likely to be a stranger.  I very much like the idea of Isabela having ties to them, considering her job these days.

Harley Qun - Or someone with a similar background.  We got someone Ben Hassrath last time but I’m not sure that’s a reason they won’t give us another. The ol’ BH were were noticeably absent from the table in Dread Wolf Rises - but other stories seem to hint they’re keeping their finger on the pulse.  Hopefully a character who can give us a more nuanced and sympathetic view of the Qun.  

A Mortalitasi Mage or Dead Boi - Now I saw that concept art that LOOKED like a skeleton boi (his posture even looks shuffling, and in that underwater picture? that doesn’t seem like a mask).  They’ve given us “dead” companions before in Justice and Cole - spirits that have attached themselves to a host.  From the start they’ve set up the ‘spirits are people’ thing and let us see them as more complex.  With everything going on with Solas, it would be mad interesting to have a spirit willing to stand against him.  

A Tevinter Mage - I would love to see Feynriel again - I’m d e s p e r a t e to have a Dreamer in the fight against Solas.  He can be made Tranquil in DA2, but not killed, and as we know from DA3 there is now a perhaps more widely known way to cure tranquility.  I think it’s more likely to be Maevaris Tilani though, considering her political ties and her experience with these eldritch monsters we’re seeing, or someone else we haven’t met yet.

A Dalish Elf - Seems like a given, considering who we’re up against initially.  Who better to understand the dangers of Fen’Harel?  I suspect there’ll be secrets to uncover in the Arlathan Forest, and we’ll need a guide innit.  Irelin and Strife seem like fun options.

A Kal-Sharok Dwarf - Kinda loosely basing this on the ‘Bellara’ glimpse of voice acting we got, as well as the whole Titan thing.  Like with the Wardens, we’ll need someone who knows (as far as they can) what they’re talking about.  

A Grey Warden - A real one, this time.  We got a brief glimpse of Davrin’s voice actor - I would love it to be him.  Either way, with the fact that the real enemy is not Solas but the Blight, which we learned a huge amount about in the recent game and comics - I think it would be odd not to try and get a Warden onside. 

Plot Points

There seems to be three ‘big things’ coming up: 1) the Qunari invasion of Antiva, 2) Solas, the Fade plan and more ancient Elvhen bullshit and 3) The Blight. 

I don’t actually expect there to be a Blight starting, but the Blight really is the true enemy in Thedas.  I’m not sure whether we’ll have any real influence on the actions of the Qunari, but I do expect we’ll have a pivotal role in stopping Solas, including his ultimate fate.

I also expect we’ll learn Extremely Important things about the nature of the Blight.  Tempted to say we’ll even discover it’s true origin and source, and perhaps even a cure.  There’s been lots of hints about blood magic and the Blight in the form of Isseya (Last Flight) cleansing the Griffon eggs of Blight (by transferring it to herself, although she didn’t feel any different), Merrill cleansing the Eluvian via the ol’ sanguine treatment and the work of Avernus in DAO.  Our Warden, if they live, also goes after a treatment for the Calling.

I expect it to tie in the the ancient Elvhen nonsense (everything is elves) and have visiting ruins or uncovering that lore the vector for learning some sweet sweet key world saving knowledge.

Also - the folks across the sea.  The Executor is such a tantalising lil clue, and we did have one in DAI with the chalk markings etc.  I’m thinking we might meet them, for the first time.

Ultimately, my Big Theory is that there’s one more game after this (EA and shareholders allowing, I guess), centred on the 6th Blight.  It’s a return to the origin (heh) of the series, only this time, we’ll have the tools to end it altogether.  I don’t see this game as being the one to round off the series like that.

Anyway thanks for joining me on this episode of crap speculation!  I apologise fully.