rhynny

[rhynny]

I keep catching Lucanis doing The Lean in the pantry, and honestly the resemblance is uncanny

[rhynny]

Don't say Lucanis never takes you anywhere nice 😂

Who else stops in the middle of a critical mission to take advantage of the romantic Treviso skyline?

[rhynny]

Ok but I’m having a legit problem with Veilguard!

Like an actual issue that makes me mad!

It’s such a big problem and idk what to do!

I just want to romance all of them…

Cuddle puddle in the middle of the dining hall!

I romanced Harding on my first run… Davrin on my first 100% run, Lucanis on my last run and now I’m pretty sure I’m about to romance Bellara.

Like I think I know who is gonna be Ashwyn’s endgame but I’m about to play through this game 6 times (I’m way to similar to Taash for them to be my type 😘) just to try out every romance… I’ve never done that before! Even with ME1 which only had 3 options and I’ve played through that game 6 times and picked Kaidan 5 times!

The worst part is that I also have a crush on half the side characters as well. I could fall asleep to Teia and Viago fighting after they sucked out my soul! 😩

Ok… now I’m just being horning on main… sorry. My panromantic side is really coming out rn

[rhynny]

Bioware fooled me and I'm not even mad about it...

You see, I always go for the "golden retriever" kind of romance in fiction. I cannot help myself, give me a strong man with the heart of a puppy who excels in emotional intelligence and ufff, you got me good.

Yeah, give me a fluffy ship and oh boy, I'll sail with it for the rest of my life.

So, when I was about to play the new Dragon Age I was like: you know what? Let's break the pattern. For once I'm gonna choose the angsty romance, you never go for the bad boys (except with Reyes Vidal lol, but that's a topic for another post)

Anyways, I go for the one that has a demon inside of him, that usually does the trick, doesn't it? He's an assasin, I'm breaking him out of jail... Oh, and did I mention he has a fucking demon inside of him!? Cool, this is gonna be ansty as hell, no?

Well... No.

Turns out fucking Lucanis Dellamorte is the sweetest, earnest, kindest and romantic being in existence who, yes, happens to kill people on the side in between cups of coffee but: OH MY FUCKING GOD I SWEAR that Bioware wrote this shit knowing my taste and tbh I cannot complain about it (could've been longer, feel a bit robbed, but then again, a topic for another post)

So yeah. I'm 10000% down bad and madly in love with him... *cries in: could you talk to me? Your voice is a comfort* Another obsession to add to the list lol

Oh... man... I can't... I guess that's all then, this is already too long anyways. Than final sex scene though, and the conversation before and after they bang, uf... top tier, seriously... In a: "you make me feel human" kind of level, which almost feels like a blasphemy to say lol

[rhynny]

maskless ashur companion to this set

[rhynny]

I wonder how many heart-attacks Blackwall and Solas have per day when Cole is around.

[rhynny]

Some facts about Lucanis (and also Spite and the Crows) gathered from the banters

I went through all companion banters on DanaDuchy's channel after playing the game to write down all facts about companions/the world that I haven't seen brought up anywhere in the game as a writing reference (and for funsies).

Note: the list isn't 100% exhaustive. I may have missed something or didn't write something down because I had heard about it before or considered it common knowledge. If you think there's something that can be added to the post, please DM me or send an ask! (do specify what banter the information is coming from)

Other characters' posts: Bellara, Davrin, Harding, the rest to be added later this week

About Lucanis: 

Family and the past:

Lucanis learnt to cook while helping the kitchen staff at the villa when he was a little boy. One of his motivations was learning how to make churros

Side note: Lucanis mentions that cioccolata calda was his favourite drink when he was a baby, and he serves churros to a romanced Rook who picks cioccolata calda as their favourite drink. It’s all coming together! 

Lucanis wanted to be a Crow when he was a child (at least most of the time)  

All of Lucanis's relatives were Crows as well, and all of them were killed by a rival Crow house

Lucanis says Caterina would be proud of Illario hiding his plans well, as well as killing her 

Lucanis says that the hard part about setting Illario free would be convincing Caterina 

Lucanis says that nightlife was more of Illario's thing, and he never got out as much

On Crows and Antiva:

Viago still stares daggers at Lucanis for throwing his (Viago's) pet snake out of the window in a dream

Lucanis doesn't like it when people confuse murder and assassination ("Murderers are hobbyists, we are professionals")

Lucanis has taken contracts in Orlais

Lucanis doesn’t know Treviso as well as he once used to 

Heir didn’t train Lucanis

Lucanis says he has never killed an innocent “by his count” (other people may disagree) 

Lucanis doesn’t think of the Crows as a “big organisation” (unlike the Inquisition) because they stab each other too much

Lucanis became a mage-killer at Caterina’s behest (she wanted to tap into new markets)

The nickname “The Demon of Vyrantium” came from Tevinter news-sheets, though Lucanis thinks Viago started it

Lucanis says that there aren't any special tricks to killing mages. Though, if nothing else works, you can try pissing them off, as that could attract a demon that would eat the mage

Lucanis once killed half a dozen venatori while stuck inside an elevator 

Lucanis doesn’t consider himself a gentleman assassin, manners are less important than getting the job done

Lucanis sometimes spares his targets. He mentioned letting go of a servant who killed her master, as well as a 14-year-old boy. He thinks it’s wrong to kill people so young because they still have time to change

Lucanis doesn’t accept contracts without merit, and the merit is decided by the talon of the house

General:

Lucanis can make bread

Lucanis has never been to Ferelden

Lucanis isn’t interested in killing wyverns, just looking at them :)  

Lucanis has a pet snake 

Lucanis stays awake at night by cleaning his gear, exercising, studying Orlesian and knitting ("it’s just another kind of blade work") 

Lucanis doesn’t understand a lot of things people find attractive

(In a conversation with Harding) Thinking about cooking was one of the things that helped Lucanis stay sane in the Ossuary (the other was thinking about killing his enemies) 

(In a conversation with Davrin) Lucanis survived the Ossuary by shutting down and not thinking about anything except escaping

These two points sort of contradict each other. Either an inconsistency or Lucanis describing his experience differently to different people. 

The Wetlands ruined at least one pair of Lucanis’s boots

(If Rook chooses to save Treviso) Lucanis offers to pay for any supplies the Shadow Dragons may need 

Lucanis doesn't get a better bed because he's afraid of accidentally falling asleep 

Lucanis can identify the killer’s weapon and the height difference between them and the target just through the blood splatter left at the scene

Lucanis considers Grey Wardens dangerous 

Lucanis doesn’t like necromancy, because bringing people back to life is a waste of hard work

Lucanis finds the ice coffee from Minrathous offensive (Harding describes it as “snow, but made of coffee, sweet, and with cream and toffee sauce on top”)

Lucanis had never been in a romantic relationship before Rook/Neve

Relationships with other companions: 

Lucanis gets into reading Bellara’s serials (very passionately - they chat about it a bunch)

Lucanis is outraged that the Veil Jumpers don’t get paid for their work and offers Bellara his contract negotiator

Lucanis made biscuits for Assan

Lucanis is sceptical that the griffons will be safe with the Wardens

Lucanis think that Assan shouldn’t go soft (referring to the time he took care of a halla) because he is a predator at heart

(If Emmrich becomes a lich) Lucanis offers to hold a funeral for Manfred

Lucanis and Harding talk a lot about dreams (mostly silly things like showing up naked for the job, getting chased by someone/something etc.)

Lucanis thinks Harding is deadly with her bow

Lucanis offers to pay Harding for being his lookout/aide at the rate of 6000 gold per contract

Lucanis offers the help of his contract negotiator to Neve after he finds out she doesn't have one

Lucanis made deep-fried peppers for Taash

About Spite: 

Emmrich can hear Spite even when he doesn’t take over Lucanis’s body (at least from a close distance)

Spite is impartial to Emmrich, believing him more than Lucanis

Emmrich says it’s impossible to separate Spite and Lucanis without killing them

Emmrich encourages Lucanis to read to Spite to bring them closer. Lucanis agrees to let Spite pick a book

(If Emmrich becomes a lich) Spite asks if he and Lucanis can get rid of their skin too 

(If Manfred is revived at the Necropolis) Spite asks Emmrich to teach him how to use fire magic. Lucanis isn’t thrilled by the idea

Emmrich sets up wards to prevent Spite from leaving the room when Lucanis is asleep

Spite no longer sleepwalks after “Inner Demons” because he apparently understood the concept of space

By the end of the game, Spite has agreed to stop sleepwalking completely

Spite controls the wings (confirmed in banter with Harding) 

Spite wants to try swinging off the astrolabe at the Lighthouse

Spite is very excited about Manfred having hands and feet (Curiosity. Has. Feet!)

Spite finds the wisps in Neve’s room unnerving (as do Lucanis and Neve)

Spite likes to play with whetstones Bellara got for Lucanis (Bellara got them from the Irelin who supposedly got them from somewhere in Arlathan) 

Spite wants to try eating self-lightning candles at Blackthorne Manor

About the Crows: 

Crows frequently visit Nevarra and have received 20 contacts to assassinate the king. The King has been poisoned 7 times

Crows get a lot of contracts for Divine Victoria

Some seers in Rivain are powerful enough that there are contracts on them as well

Caterina once killed a man with a thimble

When Crows kill someone, most of the time they want others to know it was them (rather than presenting the death as an accident) 

The crows buried six different Eight Talons and rarely take contracts in Ferelden after the Zevran fiasco

[rhynny]

Rook is one of the most subtly funny characters I've had the pleasure of playing.

Hang on, wait a minute, what is that he's doing behind his shield?

Look at this:

This motherfucker flicks off the enemy every time he deflects a ranged attack with his shield

Computer, enhance:

He doesn't do this when wielding his shield normally, only on "return to sender" shield deflections. Absolutely hilarious.

[rhynny]

My romance tally is Davrin 1st, Emmrich 2nd and Lucanis on my 3rd, 4th and 5th run.

I enjoyed my romance with Davrin, it was 🔥 and my romance with Emmrich was so sweet and felt calm. Lucanis got with Neve on both of those playthroughs. I also had him on my team a lot (he's an absolute powerhouse and his skills are super useful) so this to say I got to know him very well by the time it was his turn to be romanced. I've heard more banter from and about him than anyone of the other companions.

So I was toddling along, my 3rd Rook well into his romance and this scene is when he clicked for me, when he reassures Rook that they are back in reality.

His romance is subtler and therefore more emotive to me. I already liked his personality (his humor is dry and sometimes long suffering which is hilarious) so it wasn't a hard leap.

I immediately rolled a 4th Rook to romance him this time specifically watching out for these micro expressions also choosing different dialogue options which netted some interesting conversations. I absolutely refused to bring him along with Neve because people are right, the cadence of their conversations are flirty up to around a certain point. But secondary love interests never really bothered me in any of the media I consume. I did grow up with Buffy, Angel and Spike after all...

There's not a grand declaration in this romance, no gondola/tango scene and I find I prefer that. Lucanis is someone who feels deeply, whose love language are acts of service and who is loyal to a fault (and to his detriment). These are the things I personally value.

I certainly wouldn't say no if BW gives us more content for the companions like what Larian has done but I'm happy with what we got and if I'm in the mood there's always fanfic.

Making myself sick thinking about how in the Luncais romance scene, if you choose the alarmed “I didn’t think I’d see you again either” dialogue choice, Rook expresses doubt that they ever actually left the Fade and wonders if they’re still imprisoned there, dreaming this moment up. Lucanis reassures them twice that they’re in the real world, with him, and then grounds them with a kiss and a promise.

And you know who else spent a significant portion of the game still mentally trapped in a prison, deeply traumatized and in pain, with parts of himself unsure if he ever truly escaped the Ossuary?

I really wonder if there was originally meant to be some version of the “You’re really here / I swear” conversation coming from Rook during or right after the events of Inner Demons because goddamn if that isn’t the most delicious narrative parallel

[rhynny]

Hope Lucanis aced his tree climbing lesson

[rhynny]

Happy 2025! May you all have the best treats this year

[rhynny]

* GAME SPOILERS *

I could only capture 3 minutes on Xbox retroactively but here is 3mins of your character standing around interrogating NPCs for those who missed it.

Lots of active dialogue about NPC background and story comments. It would have been longer but i didn't record properly and if you bring others with you the NPCs also make individualised banter with your current companions (the Harding and Evka exchange was kinda fun to hear).

There are other NPCs like these in other faction areas but if you're zooming through the story then it's all pretty easy to miss.

I'm on my 5th completionist run and still finding things so take from that what you will.

[rhynny]

Rook #5, a Crow rogue who was picked up by Viago as a child from a slavers ring (what Viago was doing there is a whole other story) Spending a year running about the countryside with Varric has made him slightly feral (sorry Viago, your lessons in civility are still there, just buried deep down). He likes leaning over Lucanis because...uhhh...reasons...also he thinks Lucanis is pretty and Spite seems lively ...can't wait to play with them more

[rhynny]

For all the haters who say Solas doesn’t love Lavellan.

That crazy egg was composing symphonies for her and took time off from his huge ritual to write a simple, goddamn letter.

He’s down bad, crying in the Fade.

And he apparently sent that letter, because it doesn’t appear in your codex until your second meeting with Inky.

He was also leaving behind clues because he couldn’t stop himself from going through with his plans.

[rhynny]

[rhynny]

Much of what we know about spirits comes from the Chantry—specifically the Southern Chantry—since that’s where most of the Dragon Age series takes place, at least until DATV. The Chantry’s view on spirits is pretty rigid, dividing them into neat little boxes: benevolent, demonic, or benign.

But DAI cracked that perspective wide open. Through Solas, we gained a deeper understanding of spirits as individuals, not just archetypes. Then, in the Jaws of Hakkon DLC, the Avvar gave us a whole new lens, showing us a culture where spirits are integrated into daily life in ways the Chantry would probably find unsettling.

And then came DATV, which took us to Northern Thedas—a region with its own unique spiritual traditions. Here, spirits aren’t just categorized differently; the entire relationship between mortals and spirits feels like it operates on a completely different foundation. As a result, our understanding of spirits is more nuanced, moving us away from simple labels and closer to seeing spirits as complex beings in their own right.

Beyond Good and Evil: Solas's Spirit Classifications

Solas suggests spirits are better classified as "aggressive" or "non-aggressive" rather than "malevolent" or "benevolent," as mortal influence plays a key role in shaping their behavior.

Aggression as Purpose: Rethinking Spirit Behavior

The creator of The Fade Codex proposes a theory—(possibly) canon, but based on observed patterns—that spirits are far more complex than the established categories suggest. Traditionally, spirits are understood in two primary ways:

Spirits embodying their original purpose (“Spirits”): Entities like spirits of Wisdom, Compassion, or Justice.

Spirits twisted or corrupted into demons (“Demons/Maligned Spirits”): Entities such as Pride demons, Rage demons, or Desire demons, formed when a spirit’s purpose is distorted through corruption or mortal influence (e.g., Wisdom -> Pride, Compassion -> Despair)

However, there may be a *"third category":

"Aggressive" spirits embodying their true purpose: These spirits remain true to their nature, but their purpose itself might manifest in ways that appear hostile or confrontational.

Note: The Fade Codex is using the term "aggressive" very loosely here.

Example:

A corrupted spirit may twist into a manifestation of Fear.

But there are also Spirits of Fear—entities whose "aggression" aligns with their natural role, not corruption.

This distinction suggests a more nuanced understanding of spirits, where aggression isn't inherently a sign of corruption but can be an expression of a spirit's authentic purpose.

A contributor (@restarose) pointed out that in DAO, during the Mage Origins, you meet a Spirit of Valor that demands a duel in order to provide you with one of the weapons it created and the way that Valor speaks is confrontational, which the creator of The Fade Codex does agree with. 

However, the third category is looking at spirits who would be viewed historically as a maligned spirit/demon, but is not actually a maligned spirit/demon.

(The third category itself, would really just be part of "spirit" category, but again, historically, spirits have been viewed as either benevolent ("spirits") or malevolent ("demons" and there is an association with aggressive = demon.)

From Purpose to Perversion: The Fall of a Spirit

Spirits are deeply tied to the concepts they embody, but their nature isn't immutable. They can be twisted, corrupted, or otherwise diverted from their original purpose through various means, often shaped by external influences or internal struggles. Below are some possible pathways by which this transformation occurs, which was expanded upon from the original source:

1. Reflecting or Mirroring Mortal Corruption and Distortions

Spirits are impressionable and can absorb or mirror the values of those they interact with, even when those values are warped or self-serving.

A spirit with pure intent can become twisted when exposed to mortals whose emotions or goals are corrupt.

Example: Justice, once an embodiment of fairness and moral clarity, was twisted into Vengeance after being bound to Anders, whose anger and obsession overwhelmed Justice's original purpose.

This shows how mortal influence can fundamentally alter a spirit’s identity, reshaping them in ways they might not have chosen on their own.

2. Oversimplifying or Misapplying Their Virtue

Spirits are deeply tied to their purpose, but their understanding of how to fulfill that purpose can become rigid or overly literal, leading to unintended consequences.

Their attempts to enact their virtue might become extreme or harmful.

Example: Cole, a spirit of Compassion, killed suffering mages in the Circle to end their pain. While his intent was compassionate, his actions were ultimately tragic and misguided.

This highlights the fragility of a spirit's interpretation of its purpose, especially when faced with complex moral dilemmas

3. Madness Through External Forces

Spirits are vulnerable to external manipulation and environmental trauma, especially when forced into the physical world under unnatural circumstances.

Being pulled through the Veil prematurely or against their will can shatter a spirit’s sense of self, twisting them into something they were never meant to be.

Example: Spirits forcibly manifested into Thedas through rifts or blood magic rituals often emerge distorted, aggressive, and barely recognizable from their original purpose.

This underscores the violent toll that unnatural manifestation (being forcibly pulled through the Veil against their will) can have on a spirit's stability and clarity of purpose.

4. Denial of Purpose Through Enslavement or Manipulation

Spirits are bound to their purpose, and when forcibly prevented from fulfilling it—especially through blood magic or other forms of binding—their nature begins to unravel.

Forced obedience or commands that violate their core intent can warp them into something unrecognizable.

Example: A Spirit of Wisdom, when bound by blood magic and ordered to kill, was corrupted into a Pride Demon.

This reveals how violating a spirit’s agency and core purpose can lead to irreversible corruption.

*Note: According to The Fade Codex's knowledge, there is no explicit mention of a "third category" of spirit classification of "'aggressive' spirits embodying their true purpose."

The closest thing we do come to seeing this in any of the games or books, is during in DATV when we see Solas using Spirits of Chaos, Disorder, and Disruption as part of his rebellion.

Because of this example, The Fade Codex is more inclined to believe that there is a third category that breaks further away from the chantry's dichotomy of classification; however, there may be people who disagree with The Fade Codex on this matter and believe this is more of a head canon rather than a fan theory directly based on lore, which is understandable.

Another example might be involving the Candlehops in DATV, where The Fade Codex suspects these might be Spirits of Mischief (however, this is never explicitly stated and we there is also limited information regarding the Candlehops). It does appear that the Candlehops are actually friendly and are trustworthy "expect the one that got in the way" described in the codex entry 'The Candlehop Maker.'

[rhynny]

One of the things I really love about the codex Mementos in Veilguard is that they answer a question that Solas must also have been asking himself as he woke up from his accidental magical siesta: why does modern elven mythology paint Fen'harel as an enemy? Why is he a liar and a trickster specifically? Someone has to be trusted before they can be considered a betrayer or treacherous. Why were the ugliest parts of the Evanuris forgotten while only the ugly parts of Fen'harel were remembered? Well...

My favorite touch is that the first permanent, purely physical objects that elves created were made in the aftermath of this terrifying alteration of reality itself as a form of comfort. For the elves living through the creation of the Veil, mortality and the physical world were inextricably tied to terror, pain, and the instant, widespread collapse of everything familiar. If a giant meteor came out of nowhere, slammed into Earth right now, and caused a mass extinction event that blotted out the sun for years, that would probably be on par what the elves of the time experienced.

But amid all that confusion and panic at the end of the world, there was one well-known fact: Fen'harel did this.

The Archivist from Inquisition's Tresspasser DLC records the last thoughts and words of the elves who ended up trapped in the pieces of the Shattered Library. Some highlights:

“How could the Dread Wolf cast a Veil between the world that wakes and the world that dreams?”

“The Evanuris will send people. They will save us!”

“When have you last heard from the gods? When the Veil came down, they went silent!”

“What is this Veil? What has Fen’Harel done?”

“If we get out of here, I will end Fen’Harel!”

“After he held back the sky to imprison the gods, the Dread Wolf disappeared.”

“You’re wasting your time. Fen’Harel’s Veil has turned our empire to ruins.”

Even Felassan, who was truly a ride-or-die for the Dread Wolf, was struggling with feeling abandoned in the aftermath:

All this to say that the first unimaginably terrifying years of mortality for the elves came with the knowledge that Fen'harel had completely destroyed the world they knew and then abandoned them to face it alone. The fact that the ritual went haywire and Solas never intended to go into a magical coma? That probably would not have been much of a consolation to the people dying of hunger and disease.

The story of the slow arrow that Felassan takes his name from is a much more accurate portrait of Solas than he wants to admit. He killed the great beast, after all. The children of the village could live without cowering under its shadow. And if it came at the price of all their elders, of everyone who came before them, even if that was a bargain they would have never willingly made? Well...

"'When did I say that I would save you?'"