#~forest of the veil

[shewolfofvilnius]

something i don't think gets talked about NEARLY ENOUGH regarding Dragon Age: Veilguard: If you pick certain options and let enough banters play out, MULTIPLE companions will for all intents and purpose signal their plan to change factions post-game.

Taash can become an honorary Antivan Crow and seems to be legit into the idea by game's end (also Harding like the cape). Like, if they were a returning companion in DA5 I could EASILY see them having joined up (or at least become associated).

Bellara can flat out ask Neve to join the Shadow Dragons. (edit: OR apparently can ask to join the Mourn Watch?!?!)

Davrin can signal he's planning to spend a LOT of time with the Veil Jumpers and the griffons once this is all over (and a big part of his banter sequence with Bellara AND his tertiary content with Rook involve his realizing that the Veil Jumpers' aims are different than the Dalish he grew up with).

Like, that's FANTASTIC. No one is ever permanently any one thing, and I love the idea of some of the companions realizing "hey, actually, this works better" and they've built those connections and networks and so hey, Antivan Crow Taash? Sure, Teia will make them a cape. Shadow Dragon Bellara? Hey, they took the ex-templar Rana, they'll easily take her. Etc.

[einarbaldvin]

Encounter XVII. Ink on paper. 33x48 cm.

[anemonetea]

Arlathan 🦌 🍃 ✨

[thethreefaes]

Rose huffed as she walked away from the humans. Once she was a good distance she climbed a tree and leaned back to relax. She’d done her share. The humans can hunt for their people.

Resting her bow across her lap she focused her magic. Rose had other matters to attend to. Checking on her Angel for one. The fiery fae let her magic reach out and find Lyra’s. The forest fae felt happy and safe. Rose smiled.

——————

“Dio-nysus?” She tried the strange name then giggled.

Lyra instantly brightened at the praise and her feathers fluffed happily.

“Tá! Yeah! This is my orchard. There are some baskets and I will make more.” She fluttered around picking up a basket and ready to help.

“We can get our first baskets ready and then head to your ships!” She reached up to pluck the apples. Her sleeve slipping down to reveal a pale scar that wrapped around her wrist. It was wide and raised slightly looking like a healed burn mark.

“Then I’ll create the vine. Oh! And you don’t have to worry about over harvesting. They replenish and grow quick with my ability. You and your friends will be okay until you reach your shore.” Lyra didn’t know how far they’d have to sail, but she could at least be sure they’d be fed.

“Do you know how long a journey you’ll have? Why did you travel so far? Rose said your men were warriors. Were you fighting?” Just as she hopped from apple to apple she asked every question that popped into her head.

The humans were slow. Hesitant and untrusting. Good. Rose wanted them to see her as a threat. Give them an idea if they try anything she wouldn’t hesitate to attack. Still… slow and scared hunters were annoying.

“What ya say short sword? Can’t hear ya from way back there.” Looking over her shoulder at them with a smirk.

“You’re lucky. This here’s the start of the hunting grounds. Ya can spread out. Go where ever and catch what ya need.” She nodded farther in.

“I’ll head the farthest out. Cover more area. I ain’t a babysitter. But if ya need me call for Rose and I’ll show up. Maybe.”

——-

“A spinning vine?” The idea had Lyra giggling with a shake of her head.

“The vine would still need roots to grow. One end always in the soil. But…” she tapped her chin. “I could grow the vines long and strong enough to reach your men. Then loop it back to the grand willow branch. Tie the ends so it’s a giant clothes line? Your men can then pull and collect the baskets from there?” Lyra’s smile started dropping realizing that her magic wasn’t as strong as Cara needed.

“Sorry. I-I could keep it moving? But I would only be manipulating the vine and I’d have to only be focusing on it circling…” in her rambling they entered a part of the forest that had several trees growing together that had fruit hanging from their branches. Lyra’s eyes lighting up again at the sight.

“These are my trees! I grew them myself!” The fae puffed her wings proudly. “These are apples and over there are pears. Oh! And there’s wild strawberries and raspberries near here along with blackberries.” Maybe this would make up for her lack of ability? She gave her Cara a hopeful smile.

[postcardsfromheapside]

I love how people act like Lucanis/Spite or even Emmrich/the Mourn Watch are the creepy ones, like Bel wasn't out there translating some Eldritch Horror shit out in Arlathan on the reg.

Read the codexes lol. The Veil Jumpers are not sweet little park rangers. She tells Davrin you get to be a VJ basically by surviving Arlathan.

You know. The place with the Sylvan Centipedes.

[escapismlover]

the fact that damn arlathan forest has exactly zero sylvans in it despite there being pages of them in the artbook is a cardinal sin

[maxyvert]

🦇Folktale week 2022 masterpost!🦇

Tree - Star - Rebels - Costum

Ko-fi - Inprnt - Patreon

[petchic101]

All current Griffon colorations in game!

[cider-and-isekai]

WOULD ARLATHAN ARTIFACTS RUN DOOM????

[esthesiaart]

Bellara Lutara. After seeing her pictures I am in love with her ❤️

[spinfins]

Okay, but this:

Rook, Emmrich and Davrin go to Arlathan. Rook is talking over important stuff with Strife, Morrigan and Irlun. A group of children drift over to ooh and awe over Assan trialed by their grown-ups.

Grown up 1: oh my. What a beautiful young Griffin!

Davrin: oh yeah, he’s growing fast.

Grown up 2: they do. Why my Timothy is going to be taller than you soon. *pulls out photograph to show*

(Shhhhhcameras! Just go with it)

Davrin&Emmrich: Oh yeah. Fine young lad. Very nice etc.

Davrin: Assan used to be a lit more fluffy *pulls out wallet and we are treated to a puffball with enormous eyes and mouth*

Everyone collectively: awwwwwwww!

Grown up 1: and what about you, mr. mage? Do you have any children?

Emmrich: oh! Yes. Unfortunately I don’t have a recent picture. *pulls out polaroid from most grandad wallet ever to show a darker-haired version of himself posing next to a tiny ball of blue/green light*

Everyone collectively:……………

Emmrich: *sniffs* time goes by so quickly.

[einarbaldvin]

Encounter XIX. Ink on paper. 33x48 cm.

[shiftymelon]

07/30/2024

bridal veil falls, skagway, alaska

[postcardsfromheapside]

I heard something about this and swore I was going to try it on my rebooted Veil Jumper run.

I can't believe they recorded this many lines to say STOP FUCKING AROUND ROOK but I was in tears laughing about it.

Anyway, the Vault Assistant is very cute and did not deserve to be given so much shit.

In my defense, the artifact is very pretty.

[himluv]

Rook Appreciation Week, Day 1 – "Maps"

Here is my contribution to the first day of Rook Appreciation Week! Today's prompt was for the Aldwirs, and I was inspired by the idea of "Maps" and what that meant for Embria. Big thanks to @rookappreciationweek for running this event!

So, here. Please enjoy my first ever attempt at writing from my girl's perspective, and how she met Varric!

The map. She’d lost the damn map! And, yes, she’d saved people – including her fellow Veil Jumpers – but that map had been critical to their recent progress through Arlathan. And Strife hadn’t finished making a copy of it yet. 

He was going to kill her.

“Hey, kid!”

Embria turned to look at the dwarf approaching her. He was older, just beginning to go gray, with a full bead and a wicked set of scars crossing over his right eye. Even with all these differences, she still recognized him from his author portraits. 

“Varric Tethras,” he said, offering her his hand. “Thanks for the assist back there.”

She shook it, still more than a little confused at what Thedas’s most popular author was doing in Arlathan Forest. “Embria,” she said. “And… no problem.”

He grunted, then nodded and gestured behind him at the red-headed dwarf following him. “My associate, Scout Harding.”

She smiled at Embria. “Lace Harding,” she said. “I’m not officially a scout anymore.”

Varric frowned. “Says who?”

Harding snorted. “The Inquisitor?” She smirked at Embria. “Pretty tough to scout for an organization that no longer exists.”

Embria glanced between them. “And yet, it seems like you two manage well enough.”

Varric chuckled. “You’re quick.”

Embria shrugged. “What else would bring you to Arlathan but business for the Inquisition?”

The dwarves glanced at each other. “You mean, you don’t get a lot of tourists?” Varric asked. 

She rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Not this time of year.”

That made him laugh, and Harding gave him a look Embria couldn’t quite interpret. Like she thought the older dwarf was plotting something – and not just his next novel. But, there was no time for speculation. Embria needed to get her team, and these people she’d rescued, to safety. 

The path through the forest had more than a few demons. The Fade bubble that had swallowed the ruin had left the surrounding forest in turmoil. But, her team handled it, along with support from the rescued Veil Jumpers and Varric’s and Harding’s bows. 

Still, only once their group reached her team’s camp did Embria breathe easy. They weren’t outfitted for such large party, but at least they had food and shelter. At least they weren’t in a demon-infested, crumbling ruin that got sucked into a Fade bubble. There were worse ends to this day, and they’d managed to avoid them. 

She settled down onto a log by the fire pit and sighed. “Fuck.”

“Tell me about it,” Varric said. He sat beside her, slinging his crossbow onto his lap. “It’s been a hell of a day.”

“At least it’s over,” she said. “I can figure out what to tell Strife between now and tomorrow.”

“What’s to tell?” He asked. “There was trouble. You and your team saved the day.”

“And lost a very important map in the process,” she said. She stared into the newly lit fire and tried not to imagine Strife’s face when she told him. 

“Ah,” Varric said, then shook his head. “Shit happens, Rook. No point beating yourself up over it.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Trust me, I’ve tried.”

She snorted. “Rook?” Was he… giving her a nickname?

“Seemed like a good fit.” He shrugged. “We’ll see if it sticks.”

Embria didn’t disagree. And she knew from reading his book about the Inquisition that assigning people nicknames was just something Varric did. She wasn’t going to complain – in fact, she was honored, pleased even. 

“See?” Varric said, holstering the crossbow as he stood. “You’re feeling better already.” He pat her shoulder fondly. “Things with Strife will workout just fine.”

Then he walked off, probably in search of Harding. 

****

Things with Strife did not work out just fine. 

“You lost the map?!” Strife didn’t yell often – he was more the quiet, but lethal type – but when he did? The whole camp stopped to listen. 

Embria winced. “Yes,” she said. “We found the ruin, but the artifact had destabilized the veil. There were demons and–”

“–And you just had to rush in and stage a rescue,” he said. It should have sounded like a good thing. And yet… It didn’t. “You don’t think, Aldwir.” He put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “I knew you weren’t ready to lead a team.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” Varric said. He stepped up beside Embria, smiling at Strife. 

“Varric?”

“She did a damn fine job of saving our asses.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “It’s much appreciated.”

Strife’s frown deepened. “Saving your asses wasn’t the job,” he said. He glared at Embria. “It was to recover the artifact and bring it back – safely.”

Embria bristled at that, shaking off Varric’s hand. “The artifact was swarming in demons! Varric and some of our people were trapped because of it!”

“And of course, you couldn’t help yourself,” Strife said. “You just had to save the day.”

“Of course!” She was shouting now, and it seemed like the whole camp had crowded around to listen in. It was always like this between her and Strife. They were too similar, both too stubborn. Neither of them ever knew when to back down. 

“People matter right now, Strife!” She said. “Recovering the past can’t be more important than that. If it is…” she shook her head. “Then what’s the point?”

Varric grunted beside her. “Hard to argue with that, Strife.”

The elf glared at Varric. “What are you doing here, Varric?”

“Oh, you know,” he said. “Chasing leads, running in circles, always two steps behind. The usual.”

Strife sighed and then glared at Embria. “Get out of my sight, Aldwir. I don’t want to see you again until you’ve had some sense pounded into that thick skull.”

She was the one with the thick skull? Embria clenched her fists and her jaw, lightning crackling around her hands. 

“Hey, now,” Varric said, stepping between her and Strife. “You both need to cool it.” He looked at her for a beat too long, as if deciding something, then he turned to Strife. “The kid can come with me.”

“What?!” She and Strife both shouted. 

Varric chuckled. “See, I knew I could get you two to agree on something.” He glanced between them. “Think about it,” he said. “You two obviously need a break, and I’ve got a job that could use a quick-thinker. Someone who puts the present before the past.” He gave Strife a meaningful look that Embria couldn’t parse. “What do you say?”

Strife watched him for a moment, then sighed. “Go with him, Aldwir.”

She blinked at him. “You’re sending me away?”

Strife grimaced. “Maybe he can teach you patience,” he said. “Ancestors know, I can’t.”

Embria blinked back an unexpected rush of angry tears. 

Varric gave her shoulder a gentle shove. “Go get your things,” he said. “We don’t stay anywhere long, so pack light.”

Embria glared past the dwarf at Strife, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She sniffled, wiped at her face and cleared her throat. “Not a problem,” she said. “I never stay anywhere long, either.”

The muscle in Strife’s jaw fluttered, and that was good enough for Embria. He knew her story. He knew what she meant and now he knew just how badly he had hurt her. Let him sit with that while she was gone.

She hurried to her tent, the one she was supposed to have shared with Erewhen. Now, she and Bellara split it down the middle. It was better for them both not to sleep alone these days. 

“Embria?” Bellara asked when she stormed into the tent. “What’s going on? I heard Strife shouting.”

She shook her head. “I’m going away for a while, Bel.”

“Oh,” her friend said. “Okay.”

Embria shoved some clothes in her satchel, along with her emergency stash of halla jerky.

“Oh,” Bellara said again. “So, it’s a long trip, then?”

She shook her head again. “I don’t know. Strife’s sending me away with Varric Tethras.”

“Varric Tethras?” Bellara frowned. “The author?”

“Yeah.” She slung her pack over her shoulder. “Apparently he’s doing something for the Inquisitor and since Strife is being an asshole again–”

”–Embria.”

She took a deep breath, let it out slow. “It’s fine,” she said. “Maybe it’ll be good for me. Get out of Arlathan. See the sights.”

Bellara stood. “Yeah!” She smiled. “Not like traveling with the Varric Tethras will be boring.”

Embria smirked. “Based on his books? Not likely.”

Bellara frowned, wringing her hands. “Just… be careful. Okay?” She bit her lip. “I can’t lose you, too.”

“Hey.” Embria went to her friend and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. “I’ll come back,” she said. “I promise.”

“Okay.”

She held Bellara at arm’s length, looked her in the eye. “You have to be careful, too.”

“Right.” She nodded. “I will!”

They hugged one more time, then Embria ducked out of the tent and toward where Varric and Harding stood at the edge of camp. 

“All set?” Harding asked. Her smile was bright and true. Welcoming. Embria couldn’t fathom how anyone might not like Lace Harding. 

“Ready,” she said. She waited until they’d walked a ways from the camp before she asked the question bouncing around her mind. “So, what’s this job?”

Ahead of her, Harding and Varric shared a look.

“What do you know about the Dread Wolf, Rook?” Apparently the nickname was sticking after all.

She frowned. “Just what every Dalish knows now, thanks to the Inquisitor.” She paused, then sighed. “But, I’m guessing you don’t just mean the legends. You mean the man. Solas.”

Varric chuckled and elbowed Harding. “See? I told you she’d figure it out.”

Harding rolled her eyes.

“That’s the job, isn’t it?” Embria asked. “Hunting down the Dread Wolf for Inquisitor Lavellan?”

“Solas wants to restore the world to what it was in his time. The time of the ancient elven empire.”

“By bringing down the veil?” She asked. 

Harding scowled back at Embria. “And burning down our world in the process.”

“Not to mention flooding it with demons,” Varric said.

“So…” she looked between them. “What’s the plan?”

For a long moment, there was quiet. Long enough for Embria to understand there was no plan. They were flying by the seat of Varric’s pants. 

“We have to stop him,” Harding said. 

Varric sighed, but nodded. “Whatever it takes.” He looked back at Embria. “You read any of my books, kid?”

“Just the one about the Inquisitor.”

“Well,” he chuckled, and it was not a happy sound. “Then you know heroes don’t usually get happy endings.” He met her gaze and pinned her with the sincerity in his eyes. “Are you sure you want to come with us?”

Embria wasn’t sure of anything at the moment. But, she’d joined the Veil jumpers to help people. Normal, everyday people. There’d be no people to help if the Dread Wolf had his way. 

She nodded and gripped the strap of her satchel in one fist. “I’m with you,” she said. She glanced at Harding, then back to Varric and nodded. “Whatever it takes.”

[haydn-apprentice]

⋖ Mushrooms ⋗

Names: Devil's tooth, Shaggy mane, Amethyst deceiver, Lion's mane, Werewere-kokako, Veiled lady mushroom