#words words words

[pink-heart-writes]

[scriptastra]

[bexiescorner]

[hamletthedane]

[x]

[inkpressedpetals]

[flowrrs4u]

I am good. I am loved.

[wedarkacademia]

Yeah now we've entered the back pain stage

[blurredcoffeeforme]

im sorry i called

[chaosherald]

Neve Week Day 4

Neve's Past

(*Spoilers for 'The Streets of Minrathous' by Brianne Battye in 'Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights.' Neve's first run in with Aelia)

Rumor has it this controversial piece will be performed at The Cobbled Swan when the crowd is right and the authorities are looking the other way. It also remains popular in certain private gatherings in Minrathous and beyond. No one is quite sure who commissioned it in the first place. Some of the templars referenced in the song maybe. The Detective was a known associate of the famous author Varric Tethras - seems like something he would have done. A templar archivist once said it was "The Divine Himself" who paid for the song and then told the inquisitive questioners to piss off. Rook and other members of the Veilguard have also been mentioned as possible sources. But those are just rumors - a mystery that might never be solved, especially since Detective Gallus herself has no comment.

(Lyrics and notes under the cut.)

Poor Ortho Calla, his nephew’s gone astray

Former little cultist, from back in the day

Rumor has it, he's redeemed and being chased

Never fear friends, Detective Gallus is on the case

Docktown knows this darkness, it’s yesterday’s news

Blood mages in the streets, the Venatori blues

The Detective goes stalking, follows her mark

He’s ambushed by a blood mage, left to die in the dark

The man is dying, but says "it's not what it seems"

"The hour is coming, Detective, town’s gonna burst at the seams"

Docktown knows this darkness, it’s yesterday’s news

Blood mages in the streets, the Venatori blues

Templars bringing word, another cultist is dead

"Starting to see a trend here," the Detective she said

Each victim had a token, a disk of clay

Detective Gallus got her hands on one and it was stolen away

Aelia nabbed it, walking in Corypheus’ shoes

Blood mages in the shadows, the Venatori blues

Word is there’s a demon, where only shadows see

The cultists plan to use the disks to set that power free

And the detective's case is over - technically so

She doesn't have to do this, she's free to go

But a mystery still stands and Neve's on the case

Her city is in danger so that danger she'll face

Down into the catacombs, the detective descends

The sacrifice, she puts on ice, the ritual ends

"Minrathous is broken" they tell her, well say it ain't so

Neve and the rebel templars still will give it a go

Docktown can sleep safer now, go spread the news 

But friend you know we can't escape those Venatori blues

Justice has her eyes blind and her hands tied too

Aelia walks into jail and walks right on through

Detective Gallus knows the score, how hard is the climb

But she’ll keep working to fix it, time after time

Yes. Docktown knows this darkness, it’s yesterday's news

Blood mages back in the streets, the Venatori blues

(Our noir detective needed a blues song. 💕

The backing track is by "Backing Track Girl" on bandcamp - linked here.

Purchased and used in accordance with the composer's permissions. This would not sound nearly as cool without her work.

I pitched it up a step in audacity to make it a little easier to sing. I didn't write the melody for this one out - improv seemed appropriate. This is pretty far outside my wheelhouse, but it was a blast putting it together. This is now the third song I've done for a character appreciation week. Davrin's Song 'The Hunter and the Shepherd' is here and Harding's song 'Isatunoll' is here.

Much love for the DA fan community here on tumblr. You are all the best and it is a pleasure getting to create with you! 💕)

[spectrenun]

Death makes no sense except to people who have passionately loved life. How can one die without having something to part from? Detachment is a negation of both life and death. Whoever has overcome his fear of death has also triumphed over life. For life is nothing but another word for this fear.

Emil Cioran | Tears and Saints (1937)

[poemwav]

– Courtney Kampa (1987-2022)

[scriptastra]

[that-damn-virgo]

love in a box, @that-damn-virgo

[bloombound]

“There is no charm equal to the tenderness of heart.”

— Jane Austen

[inkpressedpetals]