#Codexes

[wings-of-fire-reforged]

just some questions what does the journal of a, codex otrim, codex irkkikr codex aesyn mean?

For those of you who exclusively browse Tumblr on mobile, this is what's being referred to:

I decided instead of writing about the dragon world in the sterile, detached way of wikis where it reads, "icewings are like this, and skywings are like that", I'd instead frame my reworldbuilding into four in-universe documents, so the information is colored by the perspective of each writer. It's more interesting, challenging, and fun to me this way.

The Journal of Á was once the personal research journal of an ancient traveling hominid (probably an elf) simply referred to as Á. Á traveled all across the continent to observe dragons in their natural habitats and document their biology and behaviors. It has flaws, sure, but it's the best hominids got, and copies and translations are precious resources for any city. Major settlements often have their own addendums documenting the observed behavior of their own regions' dragons (including the seafaring peoples' whose copies include a whole seven strange new dragons), but the version I will show to you is probably the most prized by any hominid: the original one penned by Á themself in a now-dead language with a script nearly unknown to modern humanity.

Codex Æsyn isn't as old as the Journal, but it's still a very old work, written three generations ago by a Nightwing scholar right before the Second Hallowmoon Empire went belly-up and drove the majority of Nightwings back into hiding. Æsyn was the name of the scribe who aimed to compile as much "dracology" as he could, though his execution was pretty poor. Instead of going out and studying the cultures for himself, he relied upon the words of Nightwing travelers and priests who returned to the Holy Depths and reported what they could recall, which obviously were pretty inaccurate and highly dubious. Even then, a stopped clock is right twice a day, and there are some truths that managed to slip through.

Codex Irkkīkr is even more recent, made within the last hundred years and on an entirely different continent. After the Swarm subjugated all dragons on the continent, a dreamy-eyed Hivewing princess aimed to document what the world was like before her species came to rule (a difficult feat when one was too young to even remember the old days). This scholar at least bothered to interview the individuals from her cultures of study, but certain dogmas prohibited the publishing of certain findings. The modern Hive Queen barely tolerates her great-aunt's work, but it is begrudgingly permitted to be read by curious Hivewing students. No one else though.

Lastly, we have Codex Otrim, the work of decades of careful study and passionate labor. Otrim the Farsighted orchestrated the writing of this document with his adopted family, personally interviewing many dragons from all flights of life with the intent of making an unbiased codex of "dracology". Whether or not he succeeded in his endeavors is yet to be determined...

[gothhabiba]

do you know what we don't talk about often enough? there is no physically comfortable posture in which to read a book

[kentnaturaltribrid]

Codex, Page 138, Entry NpC Familiars (Npcs) :

3 days till Halloween 👻!

- Seasons don��t fear the reaper-

[codex-entry]

call me Final Fantasy XIV the way I only become fun to engage with after around 20-40 hours due to a ton of complicated baggage from the early 2010s

[kakibot]

This post has a very narrow target audience, Lucanis romancers who chose the "I also love coffee!" option during the Treviso coffee date.

A big shoutout to everyone else who has baked the Nevarran Hazelnut Torte before me because they made me panic less when I reached the "why is this just a big ole lump" stage. 🖤

[sabtastique]

New priiiiint~! Full view to find the 3 hidden cockatiels in the first pic!

[mohntilyet]

"for the chance to be by your side i would storm the black city itself. never doubt it" "let me make a promise to you here. i dream you will say yes" "tell me this ends with me asleep in your arms, and i will kill any god you ask" can we hear it for the antivans!!!!!!!! can we PLEASE hear it for the antivans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[codexnoirmatic]

Migraine Tenfold Times Ten

[wardensantoineandevka]

[lizzybeeee]

When you spend 20 years attempting to bring down the child slavery, murdering, human trafficking exploitation ring that stole your childhood, murdered your friends, and killed countless innocents only to have them rebrand as 'Noble Freedom Fighters™' off-screen.

[binkyisonline]

Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had

[sky--phantom]

Lucanis' love of wyverns

[ellie-writes-games]

Spite Wants To Set A Flame

Lucanis (and by extension, Spite) have been helping Bellara with her romance novel. Flowery language and smut metaphors lead Spite to some surprising conclusions.

╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗ prev Part 8 of Burn After Reading banter series next ╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝ Enjoying my work? You can leave me a tip on Ko-Fi | Have a request? Part of an on-going series of fan-writings. See the full Masterlist here.

As someone on the autism spectrum, I remember struggling with interpreting metaphor as a young person A LOT. As soon as it was introduced in Veilguard that Bellara was writing some smutty fanfiction, the first thoughts I had were "Oh, the neurospicy gang is gonna struggle." (Mainly Taash and Spite.)

This is fanfiction written by me, @ellie-writes-games. These are NOT actual screenshots from the game. Peace, love, and mad props to the DA writers.

[shivunin]

Rook Codex Writing Prompts

A list of 30 writing prompts inspired by other DA codex prompt lists. Contains no plot spoilers for Veilguard.

A letter to Rook about their exile

An entry from Rook’s journal

A letter from Rook to someone in their faction

A note from a companion to Rook about the Lighthouse

A conversation overheard between Rook and a companion

Healer’s summary of treatment for Rook’s wounds

Something written by a character from a previous game about Rook

A future historian’s analysis of Rook’s actions (Bonus: featuring a relevant primary source)

Rook’s shopping list 

Note found in Rook’s pocket

Report summarizing what is known about Rook by an allied or enemy faction

Rook’s daily schedule

A message between two companions about Rook

A letter from a faction leader to a companion about Rook’s actions

Rook’s packing list for travel to a quest location

Letter from Rook to their love interest

Rook’s notes on the Lighthouse/Caretaker

Notes between a companion and Rook regarding a personal quest

Inventory of personal belongings Rook left behind when they left their faction

Something written about Rook on a historical plaque

A letter from an enemy regarding Rook

An entry from an encyclopedia/travel guide about an aspect of Rook’s background (Bonus: followed by a note from Rook supporting or refuting its accuracy)

Excerpt from a play dramatizing Rook’s actions (Bonus: include a review of this play)

A letter from Rook to a faction leader

Notes taken by Rook when they were young/in training

A letter to Rook from a family member or close friend

Analysis of a piece of art created for/about Rook

Propaganda for or against Rook

Something written to Rook post-game

A note/letter that Rook never sent

[codex-entry]

sometimes i just think about Overwatch and just get sad

[tevinter]

Veilguard fails to realise that for those who believe, faith is stronger than anything, even facts.

Right in the beginning of Veilguard all the Dalish/veil jumpers are so nonchalant and against their gods returning, as if they were convinced offscreen that their whole faith was based on a lie (even though they all still wear vallaslin) and their gods were Evil™. This, again, fails to consider that the vast majority of the Dalish would either not believe or not care because it's their religion, their faith.

Morally ambiguous gods exist in real life religions too and it didn't stop people from believing in them. Divine morality transcends mortal understanding, so their actions are always rightful. This also leads to the concept of a 'god-fearing' person - even the term used (θεοσεβής) can mean both respect and fear. Mortals are humbled by the gods' power and greatness, and willfully submit to their divine authority.

You needn't go further than the goddamn Bible itself to see countless examples of unethical things that God did/supported including legitimization of slavery and punishment (Exodus 21:20-21 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property." is one unhinged example), cannibalism, many kinds of violence, war, and of course, genocide, one of which was literally the deliberate destruction of nearly all humanity and living creatures on earth. The god of the most widely practiced religion in the world for millenia. Ask a devout Christian if they would stop believing in God just because 'um actually he is bad'.

Mystery is also a great aspect of religion, which also makes it an excellent worldbuilding element for writers. Mystery adds to the immersion because just like the characters, we don’t know everything except the beliefs and unanswered questions. And we're not supposed to, because this is how religion works in real life, where faith is about belief rather than what’s fully understood. It makes the story feel more real and engaging. Professional writers - of a AAA title no less - should know this.

Religion was one of the greatest themes in all previous games, especially Andrastianism and the Elven pantheon. Reducing it all to 'the Evanuris did it' is disappointing to say the least, and even if it was the truth that only the writers knew, they should have kept it that way, or at least some of the mystery. It adds immersion, drama, nuance, it encourages thought and discussion. For all Veilguard failed in the 'show, don't tell' rule, in this case this is too much exposure, and not even done in a good way. ''Religion is fake, so now everyone's atheist or unfazed. Oh, except for one (1) person who is mildly upset'' is not how faith works, especially in a setting so religious as Thedas.