#OC: Leeva Mahariel

[aylaaescar]

tagged by the wonderful @aeducanka to make some OCs with this picrew. thank you Karolina!!! <3 <3 <3

top row: Vanyla Cousland, Periella “Perry” Amell middle row: Ramori Surana, Leeva Mahariel, Nadine Tabris bottom row: Bryn Brosca, Farira Aeducan

forever and always nervous about tagging people sjdfgjsg but if you want to, go for it!!

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6, 7 and 15 for Leeva?

ty Ares! 🖤

6. Who will they take advice from, no matter what it is? Who won’t they take advice from, no matter what it is?

Leeva will always listen to Ashalle no matter what; she is their mother and Leeva loves her more than anything (some of the more usual parent-child issues notwithstanding). on the flipside, Leeva has inherited my personal hatred of Arl Eamon and thinks he’s full of it, even for a shem. they do not care for him in the slightest.

7. Describe them in three words. Now let them describe themself in three words.

Sierra says: sweet, anxious, vengeful (their patron god is Elgar’nan)

Leeva says: “Ah... a hunter?” 

15. What would they consider a waste of time– other than school or work?

events where you network. Leeva does get why it’s a thing, why you need to do that sometimes, but they’re not the best at talking and they’re very much an actions over words person. stuff that nobles do for fun (they’d hate tea parties or whatever). nobles in general are a waste of time.

[aylaaescar]

Leeva Maharial: 💦 ; Farira Aeducan: 👀 ; Molina Hawke: 😍 , and Katrina Hawke: 🧸

thank you!! this is late and that's my bad skdfgnsks

💦 : Is your OC’s attractiveness based on looks or a more intangible aura?

aura, I think. Leeva is very pretty, but they're also pretty cold and distant when you first meeting them (though in all fairness, that probably works for some people lol.) also the fact that they're obviously (and proudly) Dalish, and we all know that the majority of Thedas doesn't see that as a good thing. so while I'd say that their looks definitely play into how attractive they are, it's really how warm and kind they are when you get to know them that draws people in?

but ofc, it depends for everybody, so take that as you will sdkfgj

👀 : Does your OC believe they are attractive? Do they use that to their advantage?

yes but also no? they know they're conventionally attractive by both dwarven and human standards, they've received a ton of compliments from suitors back in Orzammar based on their looks, but they're also very... "meh" about it all, if that makes sense? I think Fari just doesn't place a ton of value onto physical appearance, both with themself and others, so their perception of themself is "sure, I'm pretty, but can I be bothered to care about that?" compliment their looks and you'll get an "oh thank you, that's very kind", but compliment their brains or personality and you'll get a more genuine response is basically where I'm going with this lol.

as for whether or not they use it to their advantage, it depends on the situation lol. they're not above a little bit of flirting and flaunting their looks if it'll get them somewhere or something they want, but it's not their first instinct either.

😍 : What does your OC find irresistible in others?

passion, I think! Merrill being energetic and enthusiastic in everyday life is what caught Molina's eye in the first place, and she fell in love with her when she saw her earnestly passionate she was about restoring the mirror and making things better for her people. on that note, you could probably add kindness and compassion into what Molina finds attractive too lol

🧸 : Into public displays of affection or are they more reserved?

Kat's definitely more on the reserved side. I figure the extent of her PDA is probably holding hands, hugs, and ofc forehead kisses. she is a happy mess for Sebastian's forehead kisses. other than that, she prefers to be somewhere private for displays of affection.

[aylaaescar]

For the OC+different LI meme: Leeva Mahariel + Morrigan (I don't abide by her being straight), Farira Aeducan + Zevran (omg she's so pretty btw), and Quista Adaar + Josephine

you sure are right she isn't! idk how bioware expects me to believe Morrigan is straight when she has so many lines talking about how much she does not like men and generally looks down on them, like come on.

and oh man, these ones (sans Quista/Josie) are all pairs I actually really strongly considered for all of them and nearly made canon, fun fact ksdfjgsgk

Leeva + Morrigan

okay so Leeva and Morrigan were close from the beginning, and bonded because of how they were both comparatively "outsiders" to society, Dalish elf and forest witch. and I mean, Leeva did have a big crush on Morrigan, too. they just never pursued it for a number of reasons - mostly that they were still grieving Tamlen, and that they were wary about the idea of romance with a human.

I think that they could have worked well together as a couple if things had gone slightly differently! Leeva loves kids and would be such a doting parent to Kieran, for one. but at the same time, Leeva's a lot more shy and anxious and withdrawn while Morrigan is... not lol. and they might have been good for rounding out each other and being a balancing act, but I feel like it's just as likely that they wouldn't be able to mesh in that area and their personalities there would clash. idk if I'm explaining it particularly well, but I just get the feeling that Leeva's personality would sometimes be drowned out by Morrigan's bolder one, if that makes any sense at all?? whereas they're more emboldened by Tamlen and Zevran's personalities. but with all that said, I still occasionally wonder if Leeva/Morrigan would be better, so... :P

Farira + Zevran

let the record state that I haven't finished Farira's playthrough yet, or Quista's. (Farira appreciates the compliment, by the way! :D) so if I load up the game sometime and change my mind on her romances and decisions, well, such is how it goes when my mind and OCs are fickle and I haven't touched a playthrough in months. 🥴

anyway, Fari and Zev! I also really considered this one, since Fari and Zev can be on basically the same wavelength at times; Farira was sort of conceived as "partying sorority sister: Orzammar royalty edition" who has issues with Orzammar's society and emphasis on caste structure, but still loves her people. she's just not interested in ruling herself, and she doesn't like the idea that it's something she'll have to do, it's too much pressure and she doesn't want the job. but that's only marginally related and I talk too much LOL; I think they would get along well and they could also last for a while as a couple. the only issue is really that there just isn't that attraction between them, at least last time I played, but they're still great friends and they care about each other a lot.

Quista + Josephine

poor Quista, her playthrough is even more unfinished than Farira's is. that's my bad, I'll wrangle my brain into finishing it sometime (thank you, ADHD). but Quista and Josie would actually be terribly adorable together, I think, and they might be better suited for each other than my plans for Quista/Sera? my only issue with the idea atm is simply that I've done Josephine's romance already with Rionne Lavellan, and I really love Sera and want to see her romance with Quista lol. I like the idea that she'll be able to draw Quista more out of her shell and inspire her to have fun. but if Quista's more into Josephine, then that's fine too and I'll let her go for it. it's all pretty up in the air rn.

[aylaaescar]

Leeva ended up having to be conscripted by Duncan, even though he explicitly said that becoming a Warden was the only thing that would save their life. they would've rather died with their clan for the longest time, and there was always a level of resentment towards Duncan for dragging him away from their home, and for saying that there was no chance Tamlen was alive. I think it was the Tamlen thing, really. young love and losing him in such a terrible way, especially when they hadn't been romantically involved for that long when the mirror happened.

the deep roads have been a huge turning point, though. it was one thing to fight them on the surface, but seeing the face of them underground is... something else entirely. Leeva's still resentful of the circumstances that led to them becoming a Warden, but now they really, completely understand just what it is they're fighting. maybe it wasn't their choice, but now they're here, and there's no turning back. the broodmother is probably a big part of this realization too, just seeing what the darkspawn do to create more of themselves. not to mention that as a Dalish, they can sympathize with the dwarves and all they've lost to the darkspawn.

it's also seeing this nightmare that's led Leeva to finally accept that Tamlen is gone, and he's never coming back. they'll always love him, but they need to move forward with their life.

[aylaaescar]

initially unsure that Leeva was gonna go for Zevran again like they have in my previous playthroughs, but then had that "don't hurt him" crush realization in his nightmare in the Fade so that'll be a thing

presumably. in the future. bc Leeva feels guilty for being attracted to Zevran, when Tamlen could still be alive and out there, and they still love him. I cry ever tim

[aylaaescar]

when you create a new Mahariel bc you were feeling kinda eh about your old one, fall in love w him, start thinking about your old one again, fall in love w them again, and end up w two canon Mahariels now

and of COURSE they both kiss Zevran and used to smooch Tamlen bc that’s my jam so I guess that’s just what I do now

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suddenly thinking about my Wardens so have some children and their hobbies:

Vanyla - Thedosian brain teasers and jigsaw puzzles if they’re a thing in the setting. anything that makes her think. romance and fantasy novels. shopping.

Sidane - also likes shopping, also likes reading (but they’re interested in virtually any subject, not just fiction). gossiping with their sister. astronomy. cooking.

Perry - architecture. also big on reading, goes with being a mage bc they’re all nerds. gossiping with her sibling. working out.

Ramori - playing with any animals that wandered into the tower, especially fond of cats. sewing. collecting dolls. reading again bc yeah. card games.

Leeva - singing and playing flute, but very shy about doing that in front of others and has to be talked into it. whittling and woodcarving. 

Nadine - cooking and baking. sewing. telling tall tales to Alienage kids. playing with makeup. 

Bryn - making jewelry (more DIY arts and crafts stuff as opposed to metalwork, but it’s still pretty and cute). gardening. reading poetry.

Farira - partying at taverns (before and after becoming a Grey Warden). painting. chemistry.

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finally sitting down to play more Leeva bc I’ve been thinking of my Dalish gal lately and I am thrilled to announce that she absolutely hates it here at Ostagar already. everybody is terrible, she misses her clan, she’s mad at Duncan for conscripting her. still sick. bad times.

on the bright side, she sure does love the dog already.

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me: boy my DA OCs haven’t changed too much over the years, makes them very nice and consistent for me

Vanyla: I’m a lesbian and I never really had a crush on Gilmore, I just felt like I had to like him while I was living in the castle

Leeva: I’m nonbinary with they/them pronouns. also I do accept the ritual at the end actually

me: okay

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🌸💋🍊 + leeva?

ty Rae! 🖤

🌸 What does your OC’s voice sound like? Their laugh? Are they good at singing? Do they have an accent?

she has a beautiful singing voice that’s very... light but somber? idk how to describe it. something that’s both soothing and pleasantly haunting at the same time. one would think that I’d know how to describe things as a writer, but here we are. similarly, has a very sweet sounding laugh. I picture her with the Irish accent that the rest of the Sabrae clan has in DA2, a bit on the deep side but still very nice. it’s highly unlikely for people to hear her sing unless they walk in on it, though, she’s easily embarrassed.

💋 How affectionate are they with their friends? Their family? Their romantic partner(s) (if they have any)? Are they more physical or emotional when it comes to displaying their affection? Why?

Leeva’s very quietly affectionate with her loved ones. very much a “quality time” person who values the little moments just spent together enjoying each other’s company. potentially surprising to the people who know her since she’s so shy, but she’s definitely more physically affectionate with people - she’s better at communicating through actions than words.

🍊 What is your OC’s favourite meal? Snack? Dessert? Drink? Any reasons behind this besides liking how it tastes?

you know, I’m kind of blanking on this one. I think she would really enjoy fruit salad and cranberry juice if those are things in Thedas? enjoys mutton sometimes, but is decisively not a fan of how the shemlen cook it.

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🍓 for Leeva Mahariel. :)

thank you!! 💜

1.  she’s too shy to play it for anybody outside Clan Sabrae, but she plays the flute and she plays it very nicely. Her mabari Wolfsbane and Zevran are the only ones in the party who know, and Zev found out accidentally.

2. she’s also a talented woodcarver, a hobby that her party members do know about. majority of the party’s arrows are crafted by her whenever they set camp for the night.

3. suffers from what we would diagnose as social anxiety, and she absolutely loathes being the center of attention. having to be the face of their little group and make decisions during the Blight was an absolute nightmare for her.

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Character Meme

tagged by @nepetaz​​ - thank you!! 💜

since you did your Mahariel I felt like doing mine too! been a while since I talked about a DA child :’)

tagging... nobody bc I think a lot of my mutuals have done this? but if you see this and want to, feel free to say I tagged you 💜💜💜

― YOUR MUSE’S NAME:

Leeva Mahariel (pronounced the way it looks!)

― ONE FAVORITE PICTURE/FACE CLAIM OF YOUR MUSE:

face claim: Asli Tandogan

featuring: the most practical hairstyle for a Dalish huntress. I liked the Florence Welsh vibes, okay?

― TWO HEADCANONS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR MUSE:

1. Leeva deeply disliked Andrastianism and was a firm believer in the Dalish pantheon, with her patron god being Elgar’nan, god of vengenace. These two traits came to a head when it came time to find the Urn of Sacred Ashes for Arl Eamon; she destroyed them as an act of vengeance for her people. “The shemlen want to destroy our culture and enslave our people? Let’s see how they fancy it when a knife-ear destroys their beloved prophet.” (As a result, both Leliana and Wynne left the party - not by way of death, thankfully!)

2. Her alcohol tolerance was practically nonexistent. Half a glass of wine would have her ready to go to bed, though it did also have the effect of bringing her out of her shell a little bit.

― THREE THINGS THAT YOUR MUSE LIKES DOING IN THEIR FREE TIME:

1. Spending time with animals, particularly wolves and bears. The ranger specialization came very naturally for her. 

2. Knicking other people’s stuff.

3. Singing, but getting her to sing in front of others? Near impossible. A shame, because she has a lovely voice.

― SEVEN PEOPLE YOUR MUSE LOVES/LIKES:

1. Tamlen, her first love.

2. Merrill, one of her best friends growing up.

3. Fenarel, another best friend growing up.

4. Zevran Arainai, her second love.

5. Morrigan, her best friend and quasi-crush during the Blight. It’s complicated.

6. Ashalle, her mother figure.

7. Sten, her friend.

― A PHOBIA YOUR MUSE HAS:

Does socializing count? It would be that. Leeva was deeply socially anxious and loathed having to speak with people she wasn’t comfortable with.

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💰 for Nadine and Benyssa; ☄️ for Sidane and Perry; ⚖️ for Vanyla and Atreyan; 🎁 for Ramori and Leeva.

Thank you!! :) Answer under the cut because it’s kinda long, lol.

💰 If your OC had all the money they could ask for what would they do with it? Where would they go and what would they buy? Are they the only one who benefits from this wealth?

Nadine: Her family gets out of the Alienage, for starters. Or at least they get a better home, and they’re able to buy protection from the shems that would accost them in their daily life. Her family would share the wealth, naturally, and probably the whole of the Alienage. Actually, life in the Alienage would improve in general, and any shemlen who hurt her people would actually have to pay for it.Also, cookbooks and spices from countries all over Thedas.

Benyssa: Her family gets out of Orzammar and has something better on the surface. I figure pre-Blight Ben wouldn’t care to share that wealth with anybody but Rica and Leske, tbh, but post-Blight, Leliana too. She’d use the money to travel as far as she wants to once Rica (and her mother, and Endrin Jr.) are provided for.

☄️ Does your OC believe in fate and destiny or do they think it’s a load of garbage? Would they ever get this fortune told? What would a fortune-teller tell them about their future?

Sidane: They do, but only because there’s figures in history that were said to be able to see the future. They don’t think about it much in their day-to-day life… though they did have lament the hand fate dealt them after the final battle, when Morrigan left with their unborn child and they discovered their sight would never recover.I’m not sure what a fortune teller would tell them, tbh? Maybe something cryptic about how they “leave a trail of hearts behind them, but love would find them and leave them in the dust.” :P They’d absolutely go see one! For fun, if nothing else.

Perry: Definitely not. Unlike her sibling, she doesn’t buy that those historical figures actually had prophetic gifts, and she thinks there’s just not a lot of proof to actually validate that being a proper form of magic. She’d only be willing to go visit a fortune teller if Sidane or Zevran talked her into it; I figure her fortune teller would probably give her the unheeded advice to slow down for five minutes, and that “you will find success, but not the type you’re imagining.”

⚖️ What is the biggest crime your OC has committed? Are they a theif, a cheat, a liar? What is the smallest, most petty crime they’ve committed? Or do they not do crime at all?

Vanyla: In a universe where she isn’t the Warden, she gets a reputation as something of a scoundrel for various crimes in smaller towns in Ferelden. They basically amount to theft and assault, and her intent behind them generally amounted to Robin Hood reasons. Steal from the rich, give to the poor, protect the innocent - she grows up and becomes a lot more empathetic in either universe, I like to imagine.Warden!Vanyla’s only got the major crime of being accused of killing Cailan, but… well, she did do the crime spree quests in Denerim. :^D

Atreyan: His answer is going to be boring - a Trey of either stripe would probably have assault on his record, and like his twin, in defense of somebody else. Warden!Trey also has to deal with Loghain framing him for the death of Cailan, but aside from those two, that’s about it.

🎁 What would be the perfect gift to buy your OC? What would be the worst gift? Are they themselves any good at gifting things or are they really indescisive? How do they wrap their presents?

Ramori: She really likes pretty gothic clothing, but especially stockings. I figure that one of her big companion gifts would be a set of stockings with intricate stitching and skeletal designs; a major approval loss would be anything to do with fire or spiders. Ram’s incredibly perceptive and remembers small details about her loved ones, and she makes for an excellent gift giver, but she’ll never bother to wrap those presents.

Leeva: Chocolate would be a perfect gift! She tries it for the first time during the Blight and falls in love with it, and has a small, personal goal of tasting chocolate from all over Thedas. An amazing way to lose approval would be anything Andrastian that would try to convert her to the Maker, she’d find it a major offense and disrespect to her and her people. Like Ramori, she’s not going to bother wrapping the presents; unlike Ramori, she’s terrible with giving gifts and only gets lucky in terms of remembering the really big stuff her friends mention.

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makes dolls of my elf Wardens (someday I’ll play Inquisition and have Inquisitors there too)

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👽 for Vanyla, Nadine, Leeva and Benyssa.

Thank you!

👽 Describe your OC as if they were an urban legend or myth!

Vanyla:

A pretty-faced scoundrel with a blonde braid and an ornate bow. She’s scowling, but there’s a definite softness to her eyes when she sees someone in need. A high-pitched, unmistakable voice as she addresses a person with ill intentions - her hands are smooth, not resembling somebody who’s experienced with it, but it’d be a mistake to underestimate her.

Nadine:

A lovely smile and warm brown eyes attached to somebody who looks too young to be swinging that war hammer around. Her movements are slow, but her laughter and wit is quick enough to make up for it, and all she needs is one blow before her foes are down and out.

Leeva:

A silent, stalking figure in the woods. Large, dark blue eyes that watch you through thick, curly hair, and an impeccable aim that doesn’t miss. Her friendliness towards the humans depends entirely on her mood - those who invite her anger aren’t seen again, a testament to the unforgiving nature of her patron god Elgar’nan.

Benyssa:

She’s fast with her enemies. “It’s nothing personal,” she says with a shrug, if she bothers to say anything at all; it’s more likely those jade green eyes will be staring impassively as she charges with two axes and the speed of a big cat. She’s a swift death to her enemies, but warm, melting ice to somebody who might engage her sympathies.