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run away with me (daydream)

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Two rooks I am shrimply in lurv w/ @theoozeboy and @lordharmony

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🤗 i dont like this emoji. this is not a hug to me. this is someone doing condescending jazz hands in my general direction when i am in need of affection. not comforting.

🫂 i love this emoji. this is a hug. we are hugging and its nice. and as a special bonus they appear to be my old friends from the msn messenger logo? very comforting.

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𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅 : 𝑻𝒂𝒂𝒔𝒉 'ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴄʀᴏᴡ' (50 ʜʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ 26ᴍɪɴ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ɴᴏᴡ)

ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɢɪꜰ ᴏꜰ ᴛʀᴜꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇꜱꜱ

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Rook Appreciation Week

Let's be honest - I love Rook as a character in game AND what I've gotten to do with them as a narrative character. I just had to get in on @rookappreciationweek because it's true, I do appreciate. I thought I would take some of these incredible questions (thank you @megthemariner) throughout the week and answer them with small narrative drabbles and some more straightforward explanations.

Today it's prompt 1 & 2 (about 1.2k words), and this is my man ->

Was Rook born in Ventus? How did they end up in a battlefield as a baby? If this wasn’t how the Mercars found them, how did Rook end up being adopted by the Mercar family?

“What is that?”

It was not the kind of statement one preferred to hear on a battlefield, especially one already determined to be empty of life, admittedly only by a cursory sweep. The battle hadn’t been particularly grand, a skirmish between a small unit of Vashoth and Tevinter soldiers. A poor fight to pick, considering the enclosed valley they’d back themselves into, neither having much option to retreat. There’d been few survivors and reports were limited. Charon and his company were passing through, tasked with the grim responsibility of inspecting the remains by happenstance. 

“What are you talking about?” Charon kept the request stout and stepped out of the canopy they’d raised. The soldier who’d spoken snapped to look at him, shoulders straight though he shook his head.

“I thought I heard something. High and - there!” He clamped his mouth shut and Charon came to a stop at the edge of the hill that tumbled into the valley, breath held to listen. 

It was soft, at first, a hiccuping whimper and there was an immediate, obvious answer. They’d missed a survivor. Then the sound shifted, turning to piercing wail that drew the attention of each soldier gathered. The cry was unmistakable and perhaps it was mere human instinct that set him off. Charon was a measured, cautious man. The world was fraught and thankless and his place in it involved cyclical death. Serious work required a serious man. It surprised even him that he was the first to move, that his soldiers had to trail behind him as he picked through the remains to follow the intermittent sound. 

“Is that-?” The soldier behind him asked and Charon huffed simple agreement.

A rocky outcropping to one side of the valley overhung the field. Undoubtedly, it had provided cover to some during the fighting. There was a smattering of bodies around the edges and several packs tucked up against the wall, all as if a force had swept them away, leaving a cleared area where instead of streaked with browning blood, the grass was scorched. In the center sat a child. Barely, a year old, maybe a little more. In truth, a baby, wrapped in scraps of cloth, a crop of downy red hair on their small head, and shrieking to any who would listen. 

Charon paid little mind to potential danger, or even the child’s finely pointed ears. Tiny hands were balled into fists and sparks danced over their knuckles, peculiar, though seemingly harmless. Smears of blood marred the bare clothing and chunky arms. Good sense should have warned him away, but that seemed to have fled. The only thought in his head was getting the child safety. When that morphed into getting the child home, he wasn’t sure. 

**How did Rook end up on that battlefield? It’s a question without an answer, for now, but this is how he ended up getting home.

What is life like for Rook growing up? Do they like/love their adopted family? Do they even know they’re adopted? How do the Mercars treat them? Do they have any siblings? 

He wasn’t supposed to hear. Rook knew that. If he were a good child, he’d be asleep in his bed, and not tucked against the wall outside of the kitchen door. If he were a good child, his parents wouldn’t be having this conversation at all. His knees were pulled tight to his chest and he kept himself in a pool of shadow, working to stay invisible. 

“Val, that isn’t fair. You have always been my priority,” his dad said. He sounded tired and just a little angry. 

“If that was true at all you wouldn’t be leaving me here with him again,” his mother snapped, more than a little angry. 

“You know I don’t have a choice. I have to go, and he’s only a child. You have help. Cara will care for the house, and she helps with him.” His tone was as reasonable as it could be, though mother still scoffed. 

“Yes, of course they would be close.” Rook wasn’t looking, but he could feel her eyes rolling. Cara was older than his parents, a servant not a slave, and always kind to him. “When she takes him to the market no one looks twice, but I get stared at. I get questions. I’m either doing charity or I have a mongrel child.”

“Is it so bad that they believe you charitable?” Father spat back. Now he was angry, too. 

“That isn’t the point and you know it!” Mother’s words grew louder as Father’s dropped to a hiss. 

“You’re right. The point is that they would call him a mongrel and you would agree.”

Rook pressed his mouth against his knees, muffling the sound that threatened. His eyes burned, though he knew he couldn’t cry. It would be too loud. Mother loved him. She said as much, even angry as she was, and Rook knew that he was trouble. She said that, too.

“It will just be us, alone in this house for months!” She pauses then, realises she’s gone too loud and Rook can hear the shuffle as she straightens her skirts and sighs. “He’s so much, all the time. He’s old enough not to get into so much trouble and his magic-”

“He’s only eight, sometimes trouble is expected.” Father gentled then, too. “This is manageable, Val. We’ll hire a tutor before I go. He’s impressively skilled for his age, you’ve always been interested in what he may be capable of.”

“You’re right. Perhaps it is only a few years before he begins to repay what we’re owed.”

**Rook is an only child in a house that wanted children and wasn’t able to have them. He’s an elf, growing up in Tevinter. His family is military and high enough status that they have social expectations, even as soporati. Rook’s mother was never able to get over the stigma brought by having an elven child. As a woman with the slightest hint of magical talent and a convenient marriage, she hoped at least that his early, powerful magic might be enough of a status symbol to overcome the other obstacles. Unfortunately, it didn’t work that way for her. Valeria Mercar loved her husband, but she's also attached to class and social standing. She resented having an elven child in her home and her husband for making it happen.  Charon loved Rook, despite the social stigma. Especially as a very young child, he loved taking care of a baby, of having the family he’d always wanted. He also loved his wife, deeply. As a man who never consider the idea of owning another person, a man who disagreed with Tevinter’s treatment of elves. he was surprised by the vicious side the elven child brought out in her, but he never considered stopping loving her, even when those loves collided. Older and embittered, he grew to resent that Rook had put a wedge between them, and that Rook was now old enough to know better, yet still behaved the way he did. Charon loved Rook, just never more than Valeria. Never quite enough. Rook has complicated feelings about his family. Mostly, he doesn’t blame them. He spent enough time hearing that it was his fault and that he was the problem, he eventually learned to believe it. That’s something he still has to work on.

If I have time I'll do more this week. I love writing about Rook 🥺🧡

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Davrin: Lucanis! Show us that demon!

Rook: WHAT THE FUCK DAVRIN.

Davrin: Sorry---

Rook: You got to get a man drunk first before you say that kind of shit.

Lucanis: Mierda.

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Grill dad Lucanis for a Summer themed stamp rally.... NO hes not going to add craft cheese slices, that is illegal.

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sorry, the Fifth Talon is currently occupied uwu

(an edit of two super super indulgent ViaRook pieces to make them a little less nsfw but they are still in fact nsfw lmao)

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Rook Intro Hour: Traditions

Happy Friday, everyone! Watch RIH on Monday for a ✨special✨Bellara-themed crossover!

How it works: I ask you a question about your Rook(s) and you answer it with as much brevity or verbosity as you desire. You can do this whenever you want, and I’ll reblog it + add some comments! There’s no time limit— if you want to do the older ones, they are collected here! (The post is updated on Fridays!)

Today’s Questions: Does your Rook have any family or cultural traditions they follow? How consistent are they? Do they include the members of the Veilguard or their LI when they practice them?

Be creative, and have fun! Thanks for sharing!

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It’s Monday again =(

But you can tell me about your Rooks!! 🎉🎉

Okay: Pick three people. A friend/ally, a neutral member of your Rook’s faction, and an enemy.

How would each of those people describe Rook? You can write your answers as the character, or in summary, whatever you find more compelling!

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The Weekly UpDAte 6/24/2025

Ooooh, sorry, I forgot about the upDAte, yesterday! Was doing a bunch of workshop stuff, my bad.

Locally

Monday Rook Into Hour is up! There will be another one this Friday, June 27th!

WIP Wednesday Thursday will run on Thursday, June 26th!

@biowaredisasterbisexual's Sharing Sundays post went up two days ago, and submissions are open for the next one until Saturday, June 28th!

@becausedragonage has started a fun new game for Tuesdays! Reflection Ruesday rules here!

@pixiedurango is still running the Antivan Postal Service! Get a letter from your favorite Crows!

She has also started a new writing game this week where you can ask her Rook out!

@hedwigoprah has started a game called A Word With Friends, to play on Wednesdays! This week it is being hosted by @notyourmamasdeerbat ! Here it is!

@woundedsoul12 has started a game called Thursday Bangers, to play on Thursdays!

Greater Thedas

Ongoing/Repeating Events

thedasweekend runs weekly! [Instructions]

dadrunkwriting is also weekly, on Fridays! [Instructions]

Events in Preparatory Stages

Writer signups for The Dragon Age Big Bang (25k) are currently open, and will remain open until June 30th!

@datvcompanionweeks is asking for prompt submissions for Lucanis Week 2025! The survey will be open until July 1st!

Nominations for the Black Emporium Rarepair Exchange have opened, and will remain open until July 1st!

Date/Prompt Announcements

@datvcompanionweeks has announced the prompts and dates for Neve Week 2025! The event will be held from July 21st - 27th!

Currently Happening/Beginning This Week

daflowerzine's leftover sales are ongoing!

@rookappreciationweek is ongoing this week until June 28th!

Iron Bull Appreciation Month is running throughout the month!

Faith, a Leliana Zine, is hosting a game until the end of this month to feature works centering Leliana and themed to Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

And, of course if you want to know the full scope of everything happening in Thedas, dragonagefanevents is your one-stop shop (NOTE: They have been shadowbanned by Tumblr and are unable to be tagged/searched =( ), including instructions for hosting your own event!

Disclaimer that I'm not affiliated with most of these events-- just thought it could be useful for people around here to have everything on one place! (mentions are for ease of navigation-- no need to rb, and if you'd rather I not mention your event, please lmk!)

If YOU do something/are planning something and you would like to be added to the upDAte in future, please tag me! I do not use the main tags, so it is unlikely I will see your event otherwise.

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Pixie's Antivan Postal Service (letterbox game)

Requests are open!

Inspired from several ask- and tag games and the fun I had writing letters for my Rooks and actually making them look like letters sparked this idea to make my askbox into the Antivan Postal Services. Find my previous APS letters here Every post will contain a digitally crafted letter as you see in the examples and a transcript for optimized accessibility. What I will write: - general topics - family - friendship - love letters (pre- and established Relationship), - flirty stuff - fluff -business/formal stuff - I'm open to do more of this "hijacking someone else's letter and adding notes" thing, which I did for Viago and Teia. - trope wise I have a wide range, also darker and angsty stuff is cool with me. But I will also accept any kind of fluff and fun. I'm not comfortable with writing smutty, spicy, kinky and very sexual topics atm - this may change over time, but for now it's a nono for me How to aply:

Ask for a letter to or from YOUR Rook via Askbox (if your Rook is not a Crow, the other character should be a Crow)

Ask for a letter from one canon character to another (at least one should be a Crow)

Ask for a letter from Rook to their LI or vice versa (at least one should be a Crow)

Ask for a letter from my OC Rook Cara de Riva from or to a character of your choice

(for your OCs I will need a bit of information in order to successfully do so.) -Name -Gender -pronouns -faction -LI - a general topic/trope/vibe you wanna see - Who writes the letter? - and everything you feel I need to know (If you want, you can send a screenshot or artwork of your Rook/OC to post along with the letter, you should be able to send it with your prompt)

Of course, you can send on anon if you are shy, but my answer will find you easier, when I can "@" you. Please note: I might put some of the letters up in Ao3 at some point. Of course, properly tagged and everything. In case you don't want that for your letter, plz tell me and I will respect your wish.

tl;dr: Come into my askbox and I will write you a letter, as long as somewhere in there an Antivan Crow is involved. Postal-Shoutout: Your Rook is more into a certain Nevarran corpse whisperer? Has a crush on the Professor, himself? They can't stop thinking about the one and only Emmrich Volkarin? Worry not! Now, you can get your Rook a sweet letter from the Necropolis, too! Yours always, Emmrich run by the fabulous @draco-illius-noctis is for you

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Sera in between Inquisition and Veilguard

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davrin week day 1 🩷

shepard/hunter

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I have mastered the art of trapping my loves on elevators to take pictures, and I'm going to make it everyone's problem.

Excuse me while I go throw up from staring at these for too long... More to come hehe.

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Morrigan

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another oc ask gameee hiiiii

(pro tip: name some ocs in the tags when you reblog this so newcomers can ask with ease, and be sure to send an ask to the person you reblog it from!)

Someone asks your character how they’re doing. How honest is their answer?

What’s something your character takes pride in, no matter what anybody else thinks?

How does your character act when they’re feeling bad physically?

How does your character act when they’re feeling bad mentally?

What sense is your character most likely to get overwhelmed by?

Describe a scenario that would make your character cry. Be as specific or as general as you’d like.

Would your character rather read to someone or be read to?

Someone steals a bit of food off your character's plate without asking. How do they react?

Does your character fit in well? With society in general? With a certain group of people?

What's an object your character uses everyday?

Think of an animal. Whatever first came to mind, how would your character fare if it attacked them?

Does your character go to the doctor, dentist, etc. as often as they should?

How would your character describe their gender? Even if they're purely binary or cis, are there any particular descriptors they might throw in?

Does your character regularly take any medication? Have they in the past?

What's your character's idea of a wild night on the town?

It's New Year's Eve, and your character is trying to stay up until midnight, whether they want to or not. How do they hold up?

Is there anybody your character is exceptionally close to?

Is there anybody your character really hates?

Think of somebody who has hurt your character. How does your character feel about that person?

What are your character's dietary habits like?