#Skyhold Undercroft

[bluewren]

An Evening in the Undercroft

I wrote this small drabble for prompt and I wanted to share it. Makers feels so strange in the context of Thedas, but that is what we call DIY enthusiasts and tinkerers sometimes LOL ps my Sera adopted a fennec fox when she was out in the Western Approach

It was late afternoon, Harrit had stopped by and left with a rubber mallet and several small runes for trimming armor. He didn’t bother to inquire if the tools and pieces were in the same place as last time, just walking past the Inquisitor with her book in her hammock and hoping that the tinkerers here hadn’t shuffled the room yet again. They hadn’t. The sunset marched through the waterfall that was as much a frequenter of this room as the usual makers and crafty smiths. Taliesen grumbled as her source of light slowly dims to dimmer and then eventually the soft orange glow on the parchment was no longer enough to illuminate her book. She made an indignant grumble, sucking on the back of her teeth as she leaned to her right to reach for the rune that ignited the sconces in this room. She struggled past the bricks on the walls until she felt the indent of the rune. The light was back, better now and at least she still had the soft beating of the waterfall. She finally looked up when she heard a hefty crash of the door onto the walls, Sera arrived. Tali puts down her novel, they chatted about the latest thing that Sera caused a ruckus about. There was laughter and somehow talks about a strange fox eluding people. The Red Jenny needed tools for more pranks and to recapture her pet. Then their conversation came to a natural end when Sera raised a brow at the title of her book. Dagna returned to the Undercroft, she was the first one to ask the question about why her friend was reading a romance novel here. It was a book that Solas got from Cassandra and had recently finished. Tali marked the page, her attention was given to Dagna’s current work and if there was anything exciting that the two tinkerers could be working on.

[tedstavern]

The second video in my Dragon Age ambience series is up on YouTube!

Stay tuned on Mondays for new videos!

[dragonagegallery]

Skyhold's "Undercroft" started as a dungeon, but became more of a batcave. By Matt Rhodes

[felassan]

Matt Rhodes: "Skyhold's "Undercroft" started as a dungeon, but became more of a batcave. #ThrowbackThursday" [source]

Art by Matt Rhodes

[blarrghe]

I'm sure I've heard of something like this glitch before but i just opened a door in skyhold that was supposed to lead to the rotunda, fell off skyhold instead, wound up some secret basement hell dimension where a cauldron that looked like a bunny in a tophat sat (but disappeared upon approach) and happy jingly music was playing. Then I fell off of that realm to an open grave next to a buy/sell table, which promptly became a glitchy underground maze, which took me to being trapped in walls of the undercroft. The music still played but only when turned in the right direction. Anyway rather than quit out i decided to fast travel to the travel point beside bonny sims and am no longer stuck in the walls, but I can hear faint jingling. It becomes louder outside the door to the kitchens and promptly disappears inside.

[anneapocalypse]

Right to Their Faces: Sera's Romance Quest

The Sera Series: Exploring Sera's character and background.

This one was originally going to be part of another post I have in the works, "Sera and the Inquisitor," but I realized that I had a lot to say about Sera's romance quest and it really deserved its own post.

Disclaimer: It is absolutely fine if you don't like Sera or don't like Sera's romance, don't connect with her, don't find her relatable, whatever! I'm not here to tell anyone what they can or can't like. I just want to talk about my read and my feelings on this romance quest. If you don't like Sera and are not open to positively discussing Sera, that's just fine; feel free to scroll right on by, no need to inform me in the notes.

Sera's romance quest, "A Woman Who Wants for Nothing," triggers once the Inquisitor has confirmed her romantic interest in Sera and Sera's approval is high enough. The Inquisitor is prompted to find a gift for Sera because—okay look, we really need to spend a minute on how this quest begins, because it's truly delightful.

When the Inquisitor comes to Sera's alcove, Sera runs up behind her, excited, and exclaims all in a rush, "Listen! I got you a hat, but it's ugly, so I drew Coryhe-whatzit's face on it, and stuffed it with apples. Everyone's hitting it with sticks! I really hope you like it!" and then runs away giggling.

I mean, it's pretty clear here that this is all in fun to Sera. She wanted to give her Inky something, but the hat she found was ugly, so she decided to turn it into a joke and hoped Inky would be entertained by it. It's the Inquisitor, charmingly, who decides to take this super seriously, looking after Sera and saying thoughtfully to herself, "We're giving gifts now?"

The Inquisitor then goes to all her other companions looking for help finding a gift for Sera. Practically no one has any good ideas, or any ideas at all really. I want to pause on that aspect for a moment. Why doesn't anyone (including the Inquisitor, who is actively seeing her) know what Sera would like?

I mean first of all, the clue's kind of in the name of the quest. No one can think of a gift for Sera because Sera doesn't particularly want anything. She is not very concerned with owning things. She doesn't covet fancy clothes or shoes or hats or jewelry. The Undercroft keeps the Inquisition supplied with arms and armor, so she doesn't have need of those things as gifts. She likes books, but she has Skyhold's entire library at her disposal. She likes food, a lot, and she likes cakes, and if pressed I'd say that of all the material gifts she could receive, a cake made just for her would probably go over the best, but I don't think it would be better than what we ultimately get in this quest.

Sera does like collecting various objects, and we find her catalog of these in her journal, "Sera's Cabinet of Wonder Whose It Was," but these are all mundane items: a Circle banner, a goblet, a halla statue, a deck of cards, masks stolen from the Winter Palace. Little curiosities, things she finds meaningful or strange or funny. This is a collection curated purely on Sera's whims, and it could be difficult for even someone close to her to guess what kind of object might catch her fancy in that way.

And here we have the ironic meaning of the quest title. Usually, the expression that a person "wants for nothing" means that they already have everything they could possibly want, but for Sera it takes on a different meaning. Sera "wants for nothing" because she not only lacks a life of wealth and comfort but has actively rejected it and all the baggage that came with it. Someone will probably point out here that Sera is interested in making a profit with her Red Jenny shenanigans, and she is, she says so! but what she is not concerned with is accumulating and hoarding wealth or possessions. That is a life she has very consciously rejected.

I also don't think we should ignore the role of class in the way the other Inner Circle members treat Sera, even the "nicest" ones. There's not really any getting around the fact that other characters—including characters we like—look down on Sera because she's low class. Sera is not the only elf in the Inquisition, and there are definitely characters who treat Solas poorly in various ways, but they do not treat Solas the same way they treat Sera. Sera gets the most abject disrespect both for being an elf and for being low-class, and—this part's important—for looking and sounding low-class, and being proud of it.

Cullen may have been born a commoner but he sought a respectable profession, became a templar and ascended through the ranks (however he may feel about that now) and is now the Inquisition's commander. Leliana may have been the daughter of a servant, but she became a bard and has spent her life hobnobbing with nobles and Very Important People, eventually becoming the Left Hand of the Divine. Blackwall may have been born a commoner but he is (so far as everyone knows) a decorated Warden-Constable. Vivienne may have been born to merchant parents and sent to the Circle at a young age, but she's made the most of her position and become First Enchanter of Montsimmard, then Enchanter to the Imperial Court. You see where I'm going with this. Even our common-born companions have for the most part sought to climb the social hierarchy in one way or another. They've "bettered" themselves. They have titles, if not noble ones. They're Somebody. They're Important. And many of the others are just straight up nobility. Even Varric, who carries himself like a common man, is from a well-connected Merchant Guild family as well as being a famous author; he's basically a noble who enjoys slumming it.

Not only is Sera a nobody, she patently rejects the idea of being Somebody. She operates as a Red Jenny under a mythical name who may or may not ever have been a real person. When placed in a situation where she needs to be formally introduced as Somebody, the ball at the Winter Palace, she openly mocks the entire concept and the supposed solemnity of the occasion by submitting a vulgar joke name.

I bring all of this up because this is why I think the other companions are so unhelpful. They can't imagine what Sera could possibly want because they already know she doesn't want what they want, and even the ones who do like her I think struggle to actually relate to her. They see her motives as, at best, confusing. (As does the Inquisitor in a lot of early dialogue, but that's another post for another day!) But in fact, Sera's desires are very simple. (I think Cole is the one with the best shot at actually figuring out what Sera would want, but he gets hung up on the concept of what a gift is before he can get there.)

Vivienne and Solas in particular are not just confused by Sera but actively offended and dismayed by her existence. I think it's pretty easy to see why she gets under Solas's skin so badly (though I could write reams about how interesting their relationship is and how much it reveals about Solas, but not today). Sera represents to him just how far the elves have fallen because of him, and I think he's both deeply frustrated by her and deep down feels responsible for everything that's "wrong" with her. Vivienne and Sera are also fascinating foils to one another, as both came from humble origins and both were afforded some unique opportunities given those origins—but they've taken polar opposite approaches to the problem of social hierarchy and power. And like so many Dragon Age characters who act as foils to each other, the existence of the other needles at them so badly because they challenge the foundation of their beliefs about the world and their sense of self. So it's no surprise that these two are the companions that give active disapproval when the Inquisitor reveals her relationship with Sera.

(It also makes for some absolutely wonderful humorous irony later if the Inquisitor decides to take Vivienne's clearly-sarcastic suggestion seriously, after which you get a bonus cutscene of Sera and Inky in bed together laughing over whatever it is Inky has shaved into her ladybits. Vivienne turns out to be the only one who had a good idea, and she didn't even mean it!)

The actual quantities of disapproval are frankly negligible, and easily made up elsewhere if you, the player, care deeply what Solas and Vivienne think of your character. If I'm being honest, I think they could have gone even harder with the disapproval, especially in a game like Inquisition which doesn't pull its punches with approval the way the previous games do and doesn't allow you to avoid ever taking a negative hit. But the exact number isn't the important thing here. The important thing is that without some tangible and in-your-face social cost to openly loving Sera, this quest would have no teeth.

I trust I don't have to explain that the opinions of characters (for whom said disapproval is entirely in-character) are not necessarily the opinions of the writers. It's also not indicative of the game telling you that you made a "wrong" decision. Nor is it the first time companions have disapproved of the player character's love interest—far from it. Both Origins and DA2 have some truly spicy party banter in that regard, and Inquisition keeps with tradition. Love it or hate it, companions hating each other is a time-honored Dragon Age tradition.

And in this case, the disapproval is the point. The Inquisitor is meant to receive the disapproval and decide that Sera is worth it to her. The point is that the Inquisitor cares so much for Sera that she openly declares her affections without regard for the disapproval of others, and that this kind of love and acceptance is entirely foreign to Sera's experience and the greatest gift she could ever have received. Sera says it outright: "Wait, wait, wait. You went to everyone and said I was your lover? Right to their faces? They must have… Oh, Vivienne must have puckered pinky-tight! Best gift ever."

And if you've read my other Sera Series posts, or simply spent a lot of time talking to Sera, it's no mystery why this means so much to her.

This is what this quest is all about. And to me, it's one of the most moving expressions of love in the whole game and maybe in all of the Dragon Age games. I love it so much. I get emotional re-watching it in YouTube clips. I cannot imagine being happier if the Inquisitor had just, I don't know, baked Sera a cake, or brought her a bouquet of flowers from the meadows filled with bees. This quest gets at the core of who Sera is, her sharpest hurts and deepest desires. It is deeply meaningful and it is perfect for her.

My sole complaint about this quest is that I never got to see the hat full of apples with Corypheus's face drawn on it and everyone hitting it with sticks.

[imdoingaokay]

R!DAI Companions + Advisors with an Inquisitor that wants a baby (and/or is pregnant)

Hey guys, I'm alive. This is something I've had for a while, and it's also the longest post I've made. So... yeah. Sorry I don't post all that much, I promise I'm trying.

Anyways, enjoy this self-indulgent fluff piece that I've been working on.

This had every companion, romanced except for Cole, Leliana, and Vivienne (so that means you get romanced Varric in this, you're welcome.)

HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD! And slight NSFW, nothing too bad, just Bull being sex-positive.

TOKOPHOBIA WARNING

It started innocently enough, the Inquisitor would wander around Skyhold, visiting their friends and lover, just to check in (or give their lover a smooch.) Then a squeal of delight was heard, probably by everyone from Undercroft to the Rookery, that came from the Inquisitor. What they were squealing and cooing about? A baby. A chubby, chortling baby a pilgrim had brought to Skyhold that the Inquisitor had practically stumbled into. The Inquisitor was so enamored with the child, that they ended up spending the rest of the day wandering around Skyhold with the little one.

Then it got worse.

Parents, unable to resist the temptation of the Inquisitor offering to take their little ones for a stroll while they got some well-deserved rest, happily gave the Inquisitor their children. The children that did get babysat by the Inquisitor had far more fun than expected, walking along the battlements, eating a meal or two curated by the Inquisitor, and even being told stories of their exploits. The children of Skyhold grew to adore the Inquisitor, and the Inquisitor adored them in turn.

Soon enough, The Inquisitor became often sidetracked while on missions (more so than usual.) They would stop in their tracks to hold up a trinket or a flower and smile to themselves, telling their companions how they intended to give whatever they held to a specific child. By the time the mission was over, the Inquisitor had lined their pockets with various items to give to the children. 

All of this led to the Inquisitor’s friends and/or lover asking “why?” To which the Inquisitor looked them dead in the eye and shrugged.

“I want a baby of my own.”

Blackwall/Thom Rainier: 

Platonic: Blackwall shrugs, he gets it. The kids are cute. And it’s far more healthy for the Inquisitor to spend time taking care of other people’s children rather than go out and just… have one. 

Not like he wouldn’t mind, Uncle Rainier sounds like a nice title, right? Hopefully, The Inquisitor wants a hand-carved cradle when they have their child.

Romanced: He goes “Uh… is that… something you… want to do… now?” Rainer never truly saw himself settling down officially. He didn’t think he truly deserved that. But the idea of having a few kids? With the woman he loves? Top-tier fantasy in his book. And now with his true identity out of the way, he feels a little better about his future. Especially with his lover.

He needs to hear his lover say “not right now” because he would be more than happy to give his Inquisitor a few kids, and he wouldn’t have the mental strength to say no if they asked. 

Now if his lover does, by some chance, get pregnant. He’s over the moon. He fights harder, and faster, always eager to end Corypheus and retire. He’s such a sappy guy too, always wanting to stay as close as possible to his lover. So one should expect him to personally request that he be sent out all the time with The Inquisitor. That man has a nursery ready to go by the time The Inquisitor’s ready to give birth. He carves a cradle, high chairs, and everything the baby could need. He’s willing to build a palace with his two bare hands for his family.

Cassandra: 

Platonic: She gets it. Kids are super cute, why not have a few? If she didn’t become a seeker, she knows she would have a few of her own, whether she wanted to or not. But hopefully, the Inquisitor isn’t planning on having any now. Like… now, now. Because the Inquisition still needs them, she still needs them.

If The Inquisitor ends up pregnant or their partner ends up pregnant, she gets furious. She chews them out a little, claiming how immature they are for bringing a child into the world when the world is in so much turmoil. 

She calms later, especially when the child is born, recognizing the love The Inquisitor and their partner show for the child. She doesn’t apologize, as she’s still pissed, but she does adore the child.

Romanced: “Oh.” She says before her face goes completely red. She’ll have to pull them aside and talk about their future together. She’s honestly flattered when the Inquisitor claims they want to have children with her. She’d be a liar if she said she didn’t want kids of her own, especially with the Inquisitor, but the both of them ought to know that they can’t… not yet… anyways. But once all the rifts are closed and they have some more time for themselves, then… then, yeah. Yeah, she would like that.

Maker, help her if she ends up pregnant, she’ll be extremely stressed, for both her and her lover’s sake. One should expect her to refuse to go out on missions until the baby is born, and expect her to be furious when her lover goes too.

Cole: He understands, mainly because he read the Inquisitor’s mind, but he understands deeper than that. He thinks the Inquisitor would be an excellent parent, especially with how they treat him (if high affinity.) He holds a great deal of respect for them, and he knows that their heart is full of a very fluffy, wholesome type of love. One that Cole is more than happy to reciprocate. 

If the Inquisitor does end up having children, Cole is a very willing babysitter, as he doesn’t sleep and he’s able to tell what exactly a baby wants.

Cullen Rutherford: 

Platonic: Cullen furrows his brow before his gaze softens. He understands, he does. The thought of a little house, a family dog, and the sounds of little feet pittering against the floorboards, it’s nice. But that life is… unachievable, especially for a man like him. A man who is so busy, who has no right to live such a dreamy life. But The Inquisitor? They deserve that. They truly do.

He doesn’t need to ask if they mean right then and there, he knows what they mean and that they don’t intend on bringing in a child just yet.

“You would be wonderful.” He says, placing a comforting hand on their shoulder

If the Inquisitor ever ends up pregnant, Cullen won’t be able to stay very calm at all. He encourages the Inquisitor to stay behind in Skyhold but gives up when the Inquisitor becomes stubborn. He eventually has to turn to Leliana or Cassandra for help.

Romanced: It’s a simple desire, to have children. And Cullen’s had it every once in a while, like when he was in Kirkwall and saw a small child toddle towards another templar. He watched his colleague’s wife follow after the child, about to scold the babe for interrupting their father in the middle of work. The templar, instead, scooped the child up in his arms and showered the child’s pudgy face in kisses. That domestic bliss was something Cullen found himself longing for. But he was too busy, life was too busy. And then The Chantry exploded, and he was in The Inquisition… he couldn’t think about that. Not until he met his Inquisitor. Now he imagines what life will be like after the pair are finished. If The Inquisitor has already affirmed that they aren’t leaving him, Cullen’s willing to have a family with The Inquisitor, as long as the two are finished with Corypheus first.

But if life finds a way… he’s happy and nervous. He begs his lover to stay behind in Skyhold, terrified of the billion things that could go wrong. Of course, rifts must be closed, so, against his better judgment, he lets her go.

His dreams get progressively worse when she’s away, it was always like that… but the dreams are worse when she’s pregnant. It gets to a point where he goes weeks without sleep, aside from the occasional nap that he gets jolted up from. The second his lover is back, Cullen whisks her away from the War Room and ushers her back to her quarters, where he has a healer check on her and the baby. Once he is certain she is fine, and the sun has gone down, Cullen lays down next to his lover and passes out into a dreamless slumber.

Dorian Pavus: 

Platonic: “Oh that is hilarious.” He laughs before his smile falls, “Wait you’re serious?”

He listens to his friend, but worriedly reminds them how dangerous it is to bring a child into the world, especially with the Inquisitor in such a highly scrutinized role.

If the Inquisitor assures him that they don’t plan on having kids just yet, he’s relieved, but secretly disappointed. He does like babies… when they’re not puking or pooping.

Now if the Inquisitor is planning on having a child or is already pregnant, he’s ecstatic. He’s all over that and can’t wait until the baby comes. The man buys cribs, toys, parenting books, and much more. Don’t be surprised if he gets a “world’s best uncle” wine glass or something.

Romanced: He jokes, “We could just adopt, I’m sure there are plenty of little Tevinter babies that need two insanely beautiful fathers.”

Now, he is joking, but he’s secretly terrified. But not because he’s worried he’ll be a lousy father or anything, he knows he’ll be different from his father. But, the thought of having kids is something he always knew he was going to do. And then everything happened with his father and his Amatus, and now he feels like… he has a choice? He can say no. He can say yes. He can adopt, or have a surrogate. He doesn’t have to fit into the status quo anymore.

But what if something happens? What if something goes wrong? What if he isn’t able to provide for his child the way they deserve?

It takes some talking down from his Amatus for him to truly relax. The two will need to speak about what they both plan future-wise. And while Dorian may not follow the same ideals as most of Tevinter, he still plans on putting a ring on it before they have kids. After all, they have to have some decorum. But, he also wants to get married because he does love his Amatus and marriage just makes things feel more official.

Iron Bull: 

Platonic: He likes kids, so he gets it, too. He may not outright encourage it, but he assures the Inquisitor how great of a parent they’ll be. Now, if the Inquisitor does end up pregnant, he’s overjoyed… on their behalf… not, like, because he wants to be called an uncle or something… (he wants to be called “uncle” very badly)

He makes the kid an honorary member of the Chargers and attempts to make the little one a onesie that has an embroidered “Bull’s Chargers” lettering on the front.

It takes him all of the pregnancy, but once the baby is born the child has a lovely little onesie that looks incredible. He won’t admit it, but that embroidery took way too long than anyone expected.

Romanced: “We can make that work.” He smiles. Honestly, he assumes that The Inquisitor might have some sort of kink. He’s more than happy to oblige. If the Inquisitor doesn’t clarify what they desire, claiming that they want a baby, Bull watches them closer. He notices small things that make him draw his conclusions. The way his lover holds a small child, how they speak to them, and how sad they look when they have to hand over the child to their parents at the end of the day. He will bring it up in the next few days, and eventually ask them if they want to be parents together, once everything is handled. He wouldn’t mind a kid or two, if his kadan wants it, Bull knows his kadan would be one hell of a parent.

Maker help him if The Inquisitor ends up pregnant, he’s so happy he can’t bother himself by being nervous. Just kidding, he’s super nervous. The Qun doesn’t have fathers, how the hell is he supposed to be there for his kid when he has no idea what kids need?

He needs constant reassurance and ends up going to Krem for advice on taking care of children. Krem had siblings, so he should know… right?

He has his game face on by the time The Inquisitor has the baby, Bull read every single book on childbirth, so he’s basically an expert. He’s all about that counter pressure and breathing techniques, so much so that the midwives are impressed themselves.

Josephine Montilyet: 

Platonic: She sighs, one of those dreamy sighs, “Oh I completely understand, well… a little bit. I’m sure having children is much different from having siblings, so I’m certain it’s better.” 

She knows the Inquisitor isn’t going just to waltz off and get pregnant or get someone else pregnant. But she does clarify if they want a child right then and there. If they say that they intend to have a child as soon as possible, she may faint.

She’s stressed if the Inquisitor or their partner ends up with a child, and gently encourages the pair to get maybe married. Less of a reputation sting that way. If they refuse, she mentally prepares herself for questions from nobles and a few Orlesian nobles who were interested in The Inquisitor themselves.

Romanced: She smiles, “I would… like that.” She says. She’s come from a big family, Josephine would be a liar if she said she didn't want to have a big family of their own. But then she proceeds to clarify “not right now.”

“I do think about children, but you and I both know what a terrible idea it would be to bring them into their lives now." She also clarifies that she intends to cross a few relationship milestones too.

Leliana: A decade younger, Leliana would’ve been right next to The Inquisitor, cooing over the children they affectionately spoke so much about. But Leliana was older… and admittedly more cynical now. It didn’t help that Leliana was now a spymaster in the Inquisition.

“I… understand, but do try to resist any temptation that points you towards… having any children at the moment.” She says plainly.

Maker helps Leliana if The Inquisitor has children with their partner. She’ll end up frustratingly baby-proofing the entirety of Skyhold.

She’s happy when she finally meets the baby, and she can’t help but soften for a little while as she gazes down at the newborn. Her faith somehow returns and any doubts she had over the Maker disappear, as if there was no Maker, how could something so perfect exist? At least, she thinks that until someone looks at her, then she’s all business again.

Sera: 

Platonic: Not interested, or at least, the statement doesn’t faze her. Why would such a badass want little kids? Snotty… annoying… chubby cheeked… super cute- okay, she gets it.

She tells her friend they would probably be a good parent, but would also totally not believe the Inquisitor if they were pregnant or got their partner pregnant. It would only be until she saw The Inquisitor or their partner’s bump that she would accept that maybe they were having a baby.

She loves the kid like a sibling and often offers to make cookies for the baby, not realizing that the baby cannot have solid food for the first few months. She counts down the days when she can goof around with the kid on her own, whenever that might be.

Romanced: Laughs for a while, only to pause when she sees the serious look on her lover’s face. 

“You’re serious? You want…” She thinks for a moment before laughing again, “Yeah… I’d want that too! We’d be great mums!” She giggles.

She’s super on board, and would be the “fun mom.” This means The Inquisitor would be the one that would have to discipline the children. But aside from that, Sera’s all over having kids.

Solas: 

Platonic: High approval Solas would approve, he would nod and tell The Inquisitor that they would be an excellent parent, that they have the wisdom and patience that would be fit for a parent. He advises them to wait, first, as having a child while Corypheus is still at large is a terrible idea.

Low approval, he kind of just nods. He tells them that they should wait if they intend to have a child, as it’s a bad idea. He doesn’t do much else, no encouragement, just a simple shrug, and sigh. He doesn’t care.

Regardless of approval, if the Inquisitor or their partner ends up pregnant, and Solas is still there, he sort of freaks out. His main concern is the mark and its effect on the child, but once that’s ruled out, he still feels guilty. Hopefully, he leaves before the child is born. Because he cracks when he sees them for the first time. Does he really have it in him to end the world when someone as pure and untouched as that child exists? 

It takes some deliberation, but he does. And he leaves, praying he never meets the child ever again.

Romanced: He pauses, were they… serious?

Solas can’t help himself but imagine a life with his vhenan, away from responsibilities, with a few children surrounding the pair. He’d be a liar if that lovely thought didn’t cross his mind when he would steal gazes at his vhenan, but… that’s all it was… right? A thought.

He claims that his vhenan would be an excellent parent, but also ensures that he doesn’t want children, not before Corypheus is defeated. But maybe it’s an accident. He breaks his rule of not sleeping with Lavellan under false pretenses. Once his vhenan is pregnant, his actions depend on The Inquisitor’s dialogue choices. If The Inquisitor were to drink from the Well of Sorrows and then affirm Solas’ choice of fixing the past, he would leave. Not without incredible pain, but he leaves. But if by some chance, by some sliver of a chance, Lavellan says the right things, Solas stays. He hates himself for it, so he promises himself he’ll stay until the birth. Then he looks at his child and weeps. Like if he was platonic, Solas is thrown into turmoil, how could he destroy the world of a child? His child? So he resolves to stay and give up on his mission.

On another note, if he leaves, and Lavellan sees him in Trespasser, he’s more willing to take his vhenan and his child with him.

Varric Tethras: 

Platonic: Varric laughs, “Now that would be a twist… The great Inquisitor, changing diapers in between closing rifts and demon fights.” He smiles to himself. 

As a dwarf, their fertility is comparatively lower than the other races, and honestly, he never thought of himself as a parent, at least, not until he met and started parenting Cole. Of course, he doubts he’ll ever have his own family, Bianca and he, it would never work out. But he can understand the desire. 

He laughs so hard he cries if The Inquisitor or their partner ends up with a kid, like, hunched over, can’t breathe laughing. 

He’s nervous for The Inquisitor, though, he knows how hard it is to be a parent, but having a kid while they’re so… important? It’s a recipe for disaster.

Might end up writing the kid out of the story if The Inquisitor requests, maybe The Inquisitor doesn’t want anyone knowing they potentially had a child out of wedlock.

Romanced: Varric doesn’t laugh, he just smiles. He hadn’t started thinking about having a family until he and The Inquistor started going out officially. He nods, 

“I’d like that too.” He says, and the pair might find themselves discussing their future more often. Names for future children, where they’d live, does the Inqusitor want a dog?

He reminds his lover that Dwarves aren’t known for their fertility, but reminds his lover that “they can still try” and winks at his lover. 

Varric is so caught up in the feeling of being loved so freely, that he sometimes forgets that there’s an evil, red-lyrium magister that wants to rip his lover apart piece by piece. It get’s him nervous, but he’s confident in their shared abilities. And damnit, he loves The Inquisitor, he’s not giving up on them.

He’s speechless if his lover comes up to him and confesses that they’re pregnant, like… actually speechless. He opens his mouth to say something before closing it. Then he just smiles and throws his arms around his lover and says that he loves them. He’s happy to be a dad… he’s happy to have a family, he’s happy to have something he never thought would be his.

Vivienne: She doesn’t laugh, at all. She’s kind of pissed.

“You aren’t planning on bringing in a child now? Not here, right?” She has to clarify.

She thinks the Inquisitor and their partner will be wonderful parents, but they shouldn’t have kids right then. They need to wait. 

If the Inquisitor ends up pregnant/getting someone else pregnant, she scolds them fairly harshly, not to be mean or anything, she’s just upset with how “careless” they could be. If the Inquisitor tells her off or, Maker forbid, starts crying, she’ll feel bad. She doesn’t apologize, however, she knows that having a child while the world is still basically in peril and you’re the main person preventing utter chaos is one of the worst things you can do. 

However, the second the child comes into the world, she’s all over them. She isn’t obvious and wouldn’t be caught dead with the kid on her own, but she can’t help but smile when she sees them all swaddled or when they look so chubby she just wants to eat them up. Only when she sees what a wonderful parent the Inquisitor is, she apologizes for being harsh. She does it in her way, so the Inquisitor shouldn’t expect an “I’m sorry” or anything, but they will get some sort of comment on how she may or may not have been wrong to judge them. Regardless, the Inquisitor better take what they can get.

[partystoragechest]

A story of romance, politics, and drama, which continues ever on.

Supplemental material for Unwanted. In this post-script, Cullen waits for news from the Temple of Sacred Ashes, of his beloved Trevelyan.

(Masterpost. Beginning. Part 1. Words: 2,938. Rating: all audiences. Warnings: angst, mentions of injuries and death.)

Bonus Chapter: The Temple of Sacred Ashes, Addendum (Part 2)

The Breach imploded. The windows of the war room threatened to shatter. The Council inside, and the Inquisitor who led them, watched in horror.

And then, to work.

There were no troops to send—not with the bulk of the Inquisition’s army yet to return from the Arbor Wilds—but they would muster all the strength they could from Skyhold itself.

The Inquisitor’s inner circle eagerly answered the call, found in preparation before the question had even been asked. But they were not the only ones to lend their aid.

A mage from the tower, skilled enough in combat magic to be of use, bid her loved ones farewell; a night watchman, inexperienced in battle, but who’d seen the explosion from his post, offered his sword; an Arcanist, her entire body laced with contraptions and runes and vials (each one filled with dangers unknown), arrived from the Undercroft, ready to see the Breach up close.

This cobbled-together force gathered at the gates. All was whispers; all was tense. But then the Inquisitor stood, and the voice of Andraste’s own Herald shook the very sky into silence.

Into this, emerged the Commander. Cullen left the armoury in his full regalia, sword sheathed at his hip, shield strung over his back. He marched for the gates, to the army that awaited. Not to serve as its general, but as its footsoldier.

“Cullen, where are you going?”

He did not break his stride, even as Josephine hurried after him. “The Inquisitor needs as many able bodies as we can provide,” he told her.

“But—you can’t!”

He marched on.

“Cullen, think of what you are doing!” she called. “If the Inquisitor should… should fall, then Thedas will look to us. And our army shall need its general!”

Cullen hesitated. A thought entered his mind, the very same one that had entered it the moment he saw the Breach explode. So piercing, that he could not help but speak it aloud:

“Trevelyan is there.”

Josephine faltered. “I know. I know… I understand.” She sighed, and shook her head. “We have a duty. I wish it were possible to forsake it, but... we cannot. I… I am so sorry.”

Cullen bowed his head. He tried to force the images from his mind—images of Trevelyan, broken upon the rubble of the Temple. Bruised. Bloodied. Lifeless. A thousand corpses he had seen, enough to approximate the measure of hers.

“I can’t—” he began to say, before a hand fell upon his shoulder, and saved him from speaking.

“Don’t you worry,” said Dorian, appearing from behind, armoured with leather and bearing a twisting staff upon his back. “We’ll find her. Alive and well, I assure you. If I don’t, well—I shan’t bother coming back.”

“I’ll take that bet,” Varric agreed, joining them. He met Cullen’s eye. “Won’t let you down, Curly. I still owe you for—”

The crowd roared, to signal the conclusion of the Inquisitor’s speech. Cullen gazed one last time at the assembled force, then back to Varric. He gave the nod.

Varric nodded in return. “Hold the fort.”

Dorian clapped Cullen on the back. “Avenge us,” he said, winking, “if need be.”

The pair withdrew, to rally with the rest and prepare their charge. Cullen turned from them, unable to watch a moment longer. If he did, he might not be able to stop himself.

Josephine crept closer, and placed a comforting hand on his arm.

“What do we do?” he asked her.

“Leliana is preparing the birds,” she informed him. “We are to summon as many reinforcements as we can, as quickly as we can. Your help will be needed to organise the march.”

Cullen nodded. “To work,” he said.

Hopefully, it would provide distraction enough.

***

The Inquisitor needn’t send a message for them to know. The Breach was sealed. Celebrations were cautious. It was only with time that they would know truly what victory had been achieved this night.

The wait, for Cullen, was agonising. When work could no longer satiate his troubled mind, he cloistered himself within Skyhold’s meagre chapel. By the light of its candles, he knelt, and prayed.

Hours moved at the pace of ice, shifting along the valley of the Frostbacks. And just as the floes cracked and strained, so did Cullen’s fortitude.

Reciting the words of the Chant was all that could keep him from sinking deeper into misery; yet every ticking moment without news threatened to drag him beneath its waters. He did not know how long it had been, when a messenger finally entered.

“Commander, the Arcanist has returned.”

Cullen broke from the room, barging past the messenger and tearing across the garden, to the Great Hall—though no sooner than he had trespassed its bounds, he was out again, into the courtyard.

From this lofty height could he spy the gates below. People swarmed them, obscuring his view of those survivors of the Breach, who’d at last arrived to the safety of Skyhold. Horses, soldiers, and—

“Trevelyan.”

Cullen cascaded down the stairs, into the maelstrom. Those who knew what was good for them parted on sight. A path carved itself out, and led him directly to her.

She was slumped across the back of a horse, barely conscious. Cuts and bruises marred her face, patches of red crust where the blood had trickled and dried. A blanket had been thrown across her back, to keep her warm through the tears in her clothing. Blood, too, stained them.

Herzt was with her, already dismounted. Her staff was secured to his back—for even that must have been too much for her to bear. He extended an arm to their horse’s saddle, to aid her descent. With a few strides and a look of intent, Cullen took his place.

“Cullen,” she murmured, “there you are.”

Cullen replied, “I’m here.”

He reached for her hand, aching to know more than mere memory of its touch. But the feeling of her fingers, weakly curling around his in a feeble attempt to return the gesture, caused agony within his heart.

“You’re hurt,” he said.

“I’m all right.”

“No.”

“It’s exhaustion,” she assured him.

“Then I’ll take you to your room, and send for treatment.” He looked pleadingly to Herzt. “Are you able to help?”

“Yes, Commander,” he answered. He was, by comparison, relatively unscathed—and thank the Maker for that.

“Oh, stop it, you two,” scolded Trevelyan, even as they slipped her from the horse, down to the ground. “I’m fine.”

Yet the moment her feet hit the floor, she hissed, and whined. One leg buckled, and she clutched at her hip. With an arm around her shoulder, Cullen held her upright. “I’ve got you,” he whispered.

At last, she leant on him, and allowed him to guide her limping form away from the crowds. Herzt led the way, and cleared the path.

“Would you prefer I carried you?” Cullen asked, as they reached the stairs.

“I can manage,” Trevelyan said.

But even as she took the first step, she gave a little cry—more pained than the quiet whimpers she had attempted to suppress so far. Cullen gripped her arm, and stopped her from going further.

“Trevelyan,” he pleaded.

She relented, saying only: “Gently.”

He bent down, and slowly, with great tenderness, secured his arms beneath her body, and lifted her from the ground. Though she grimaced at the pain of being touched, it was far lesser than that of her own exertions.

“Commander, do you require assistance?” asked Herzt.

Cullen shook his head. “Go on ahead, Herzt; prepare her room, if you would.”

He did as requested. By the time Cullen had made the ascent, the door was open and waiting. Herzt had placed her staff at the foot of her bed, and laid a down blanket to protect her covers. As if handling most fragile glass, Cullen settled Trevelyan atop them.

With gritted teeth she laid out her legs, and attempted to reach for her boots. Cullen moved for them instead, and began to untie the laces.

“What do you need?” he asked.

“Something to drink,” Trevelyan murmured, the request evident in the hoarseness of her voice, “something for the pain.”

Herzt, on hearing this, immediately set out from the room—yet Cullen called after him:

“Herzt, wait.”

He caught him by the door, and ushered him into the hallway. With but a slim gap left to see where Trevelyan lay, Cullen whispered to Herzt:

“What happened?”

Herzt hesitated. “The Arcanist… attempted to prevent Corypheus from unsealing the Breach.”

Cullen narrowed his eyes. “How, exactly?”

“She sent myself and her retinue to deliver a message to Skyhold, while she remained to distract his dragon.”

“She did what?” Cullen glanced at her resting body, and shook his head. There was little else his mind could do to process the idea of her facing down a dragon. Alone. “That… why would she..?”

“We would not have been able to defeat Corypheus without the Inquisitor. Delay was required. She was advised not to do it, but she disobeyed.”

“Of course she did.” Her retinue often reported having to protect her from herself more than anything else. Dagna was a terrible influence.

“She was able to escape through the mountains, and regroup with the soldiers,” Herzt continued. “Unfortunately, the Breach was detonated before they could attempt to retake the Temple. The Arcanist chose to protect me from the blast. There was no time to protect herself, however. It is because of her sacrifice, that I am alive.”

For if a Tranquil were hit with that much energy from the Fade, the result would not be mere concussion. It was a death sentence.

Cullen softened at the thought. “I’m—I am glad you are still with us, Herzt.”

“It was the most logical course of action. I had been carrying our healing equipment all day.”

And it was this he had used to revive her. A potion, poured delicately into her mouth, that did the work of healing for her, and brought her back from the precipice of death.

“Demons and the forces of Corypheus laid siege to our position. Though she was injured, the Arcanist fought alongside the soldiers. They were able to carve a path through the enemy, so that the Inquisitor would be able to reach the Temple unimpeded.”

And that was when Dorian had found her, exhausted from the hours of combat, beaten and brusied, leaning hard upon her staff.

“She wished to join the Inquisitor’s forces, but Master Pavus told her to return to Skyhold, as you were waiting. He also requested I pass along a statement.”

“What is that?” Cullen asked.

“He said, ‘Quite the fighter, that one’.”

Cullen gave a weak smile. “She is,” he murmured, gazing back into the room.

He expected to see her sleeping off her ordeal, peaceful and quiet. But, no. Dorian’s assessment was all too correct. Instead of rest, Cullen watched her wincing and grunting, attempting to rise from her bed.

“Andraste preserve me,” he muttered. He looked to Herzt. “Get some rest, you need it. Send a runner if you see one—if not, do not worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Herzt went on his way, and Cullen marched into Trevelyan’s room.

“What are you doing?” he questioned, seeing her feet poised over the side of her bed.

“I need my parchment and quill,” she told him. “I need to write down some thoughts.”

Cullen guided her legs back onto the bed, and her head back down to her pillow. “What thoughts?”

“It’s the way the red lyrium infected that darkspawn. It intrigued me. I think the Blight might have something to do with it. How to cure red lyrium.”

Cullen sat beside her. “Rest. This is no time to be working.”

Her face, though scratched and stained, brightened at the opportunity to tease him. “Hypocrite.”

“Do not be so blithe about this,” he told her. “You abandoned your retinue and fought a dragon. What were you thinking?”

“Herzt,” she grumbled, as if identifying the informant would nullify the question. But Cullen would hardly allow her to avoid answering. He stared at her, the same way he might an unruly recruit.

“Someone had to,” she said.

“Must it have been you?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“But…” Cullen shut his eyes, and shook his head. “Trevelyan, I… if you had not returned, I don’t know what…”

Words escaped him. Not a single one could accurately describe his fear. But… perhaps he did not need them. Trevelyan’s hand slipped into his regardless, and conveyed her understanding.

“Cullen...”

“I have had nightmares, of… in which I lost you,” he whispered, too afraid to speak it any louder, “but then I wake, and feel you beside me. I do not know that I could withstand it, if one day I did not wake.”

“You are awake,” she reassured him.

He raised her hand to his lips. “Please… never condemn me to that nightmare.”

“Cullen, do you believe that every moment I was fighting, I was not thinking of you?” she asked, tears starting to form—tears that he stroked away. “Every moment I feared, you were in my mind. I would never hope to lose you, either. And I would have killed that dragon before I left you to suffer this world alone.”

There was such conviction in her eyes that he could not help but believe her. But he would have let the world suffer before she faced another dragon alone.

“Trevelyan, I—”

A knock at the door caught him off-guard. Even Herzt was not so efficient that help could have already arrived, surely?

And yet, with the visitor’s announcement came the answer to his query: “Arcanist? The Ambassador sent me, to see to anything you need. May I enter?”

Of course. For, if there was anyone who had Herzt beaten on efficiency, it was Josephine.

“Come in,” Cullen called.

A few well-laden staff entered the room—though two quickly deposited their freight, and left. The last remained, to address Cullen:

“Greetings, Commander. The Ambassador sent food and drink, as well as warm water and a washcloth. Does the Arcanist need assistance washing?”

Trevelyan waved a limp hand. “I’ll be fine, thank you.”

“I can assist her,” Cullen reassured them.

The servant nodded. “The apothecary sent a poultice for pain relief as well, though the healers are occupied with the wounded at the gates. I can send one as soon as they are available, or sooner, if the Commander feels it is required.”

“No—that’s not necessary,” Trevelyan insisted.

Cullen disagreed. “Let them tend to the seriously wounded first,” he instructed, “but the Arcanist will need to be examined eventually.” Before Trevelyan could protest this, he ended with, “That will be all, thank you.”

The servant made their exit, and Cullen rose to see to the offerings they had left behind. Trevelyan, however, sighed.

“The healers do not need to be bothered with my little scrapes,” she complained, “I can heal myself.”

“Why haven’t you?” he replied.

“I did. But, as you will no doubt understand, in the eighth hour of battle there is little stamina left for mere cuts and bruises. I conserved it, for fighting.”

Cullen returned to her, eyes catching on a half-healed gash in her leg. She noticed his glare, and made an attempt to cover it with the blanket.

“...You needn’t be so worried about me,” she said, voice shrinking with the guilt of it.

He handed her a goblet, and brushed her hair aside. “You can let me worry about you a little.”

A smile of recognition crossed her face, and she relented. “All right.”

Whilst she sated her scratching thirst, Cullen fetched the washbowl—and the cloth provided with it.

“I suppose you won’t comply if I tell you to hand me that,” Trevelyan predicted.

Quite correct. For, in response, Cullen dampened the cloth, and began to dab the blood and dirt from her skin. “You did this for me, once,” he murmured.

That, too, she appeared to recall. “...I did.”

And with that reminder, she settled into his care. Cullen, with tender caress of the cloth against her skin, wicked away the tarnish of war. The face he knew and loved was, at last, unveiled.

“You’ll need to remove your clothes, at some point,” he muttered.

Trevelyan gave a sleepy little laugh. “Is it truly an appropriate time for that, Commander?”

He appraised her with a scolding stare. “Trevelyan...”

She laughed again, but did not fail to meet his gaze. “You haven’t kissed me yet,” she lamented.

“I didn’t think it…” Cullen set his concerns aside, and took note only of her pleading eyes. He wetted her lips, with a drop of water and the touch of his thumb, and leant in.

Despite what pain it must have caused her, he felt her rise to meet him. He would make the kiss worth it. A long, slow, labouring caress, of his lips against hers. A kiss of affirmation, a kiss of grounding. Of interlinking and tethering oneself to the other, bodily, and in soul.

Even as it ended, he clutched her to his chest, his face yet firm beside hers. A kiss he thought he might never have.

She placed another upon his cheek. “You’re awake,” she reminded him, through gentle whisper.

He let her sink back to the sanctuary of her pillow, but kept her hand in his, and kissed his way along every finger. Another, to her forehead, as he told her:

“So are you”—he smiled—“go to sleep.”

[greypetrel]

I was gleefully telling my friend about you and showing her your art (she's super into LOTR so I was trying to find those, but got in the wrong tag🤣) and found/shared your Vespa comic. We had a good laugh and she said: "Wait till someone tells them about ROLLER COASTER" and I immediately came over here. WHAT IF someone tells Dorian and Aisling about ROLLER COASTER?? 🤣🤣🤣

Forgive me if it took too long, but this made me laugh so much that I HAD TO draw something.

Also: I'm leaving you the correct tag down here, but the Dark Lady one is "aisling the dark lady AU". You can find all my aus and tags in the character masterpost!

They'd LOVE the idea, of course. A little too much. They. Not most people around them.

They'll ignore Josephine begging them to please, PLEASE reconsider, think of your reputation, and rush to the Undercroft. Dagna will be over the moon with the plan, of course. Here's the blueprint, and under the cut some other details:

They found plenty of materials to build it in the Exalted Planes. Someone will have to dispose of all that rubbish after the war ended, right?

"Can't you build it in the Exalted Planes?" "But Josie, if we build it there, how would we experiment on gravity? We'll need to travel there and you see, that would be a great bother and will hinder our research. Also if we have it here, it would improve the moral of the troops greatly! :D"

Dorian's calculations were right. Solas discovered it with the first trial run. Not that any of the -very elated- science bros knew, but he actually started to think that maybe the Veil wasn't that bad of an idea, right there and then. Because can you imagine them WITHOUT THE VEIL? CAN YOU? Thedas wouldn't survive.

In order to make Josie happy, they'll come up with other rides to install around Skyhold:

Teacups will be installed in the upper courtyard. Except they're still a scientific experiment on Centrifugal Force, so they're fast. So fast that the game promises a free foal to everyone who manages not to puke on them. Since the foal is one of Little Brother's, Aisling horse (he made a name for himself in the Western Approach, biting on Venatori's butts, and is generally a prick), the excessive speed is actually considered a good thing. So nobody will win a foal of that horse or will have to tell Aisling that her beloved horse is an asshole.

Cullen's tower will be turned into a haunted house (thanks @ndostairlyrium for the idea). He'll actually contribute in painting the place, and will say that it's very useful to dissuade people to come looking for him if the report isn't REALLY important. "Aren't you scared, tho?" "Please, I was a commanding officer in Kirkwall."

Whack-a-mole in the Tavern's courtyard. The Iron Bull and Cassandra monopolize it and they're so-called nemeses. One day, then, the TRAGEDY: a mysterious person beat their record. No one knows who they are, there's a whole weekend of them playing Sherlock Holmes interrogating everyone around the Keep. (it's Krem.)

Josephine needed one joy, or ONE THING that she can use to sell the Inquisitor to the aristocracy. So Aisling organised something cute and nice for nobles to see and participate in. With horses! She named one of the horses Josephine! Josephine is moved, and from how Aisling describes it, calling it "giostra" because she heard the term from Dorian in vernacular Tevene and can't remember it in Trade for the sake of her, Josie thinks it's a carousel.

It's actually something better, and Josie loves it. (In Italian, "giostra" means a carousel, and also what happens in the video)

(Aisling is the unbeated championess. It's not that people let her win, is that she just can't be beated.)

One day, Dorian will eventually use all the data to calculate how much force they will need on the roller coaster to send a cart into orbit. Aisling will read his notes and find a way to propel the cart strong enough to actually do it.

Sera greatly approves.

[notebooks-and-laptops]

I wonder why the chapel at Skyhold is so small. Considering that this is the seat of power of the Inquisition, which is - to begin with - a rival chantry one would expect them to prioritise space for a grand and elaborate Chantry - perhaps in the place where the current Tavern is or else somewhere in the undercroft. Instead it is a very tiny room, with only a statue within. The windows were not even replaced with stain glass and the fallen chandler and knocked over bench stay that way throughout the game. Compared to the Great Hall it's rather lackluster. Idk man I have thoughts and questions

[solasyoulittleshit]

ok so what was built in Skyhold's undercroft?

Inky and Harritt have a convo about how it was purpose built for something big, and when you open the rotunda there's a line about "I wonder what they needed all this room for"

obviously those veil artifacts that Solas activates but I'm thinking something else too.... something bigger

I've been wondering if it could be those round leafless trees that we see in the crossroads?

[apostacism]

Did y'all know that skyhold's undercroft vanishes after you defeat corypheus because I did NOT. Where did Dagna go.

[bluewren]

Happy Friday Wren!!! For Taliesin & Dagna, "Unless you ask me not to in the next five seconds, I'm going to hug you."

hiii Kia o/ This made me think of Tali and Dagna seeing each other again after a year or so apart. @dadrunkwriting wc: 484

The Minratheous sun soon reaches the highest point, and there Taliesen is, sitting on the steps of Dorian’s estate. Dreading the moment that the rays will melt her skin off.

She’s there, tapping her feet, while Sera and Dorian are already out there exploring the markets. Not that she minded skipping sightseeing, Dagna was supposed to arrive soon. She has not seen her mad dwarf of friend in months, closer to a year now. The few times they’ve talked were through raven letters.

She doesn’t need to wait much longer now.

The sound of heavy stepped running can be heard from the not too far distance.

“Tali!” Dagna pops out past the bush, heaving to catch her breath. “You’ve got five seconds to tell me, not to hug you.”

“Dagna!” Tali jumps up to wave, she couldn’t stop laughing at the worn out Dagna. “And I prefer if you don’t.”

“Too slow.” Dagna dashes across their gap, trapping Taliesen in a tight one between her arms.

She hadn’t a second to react, and is now hardly able to breath. Feeling like her friend is flattening her lungs. Taliesen tries to push herself free, but Dagna seems to be quite a bit stronger than she remembers.

Her one arm is barely able to relieve her any space between them. She accepts being doomed to a crushed fate.

“Dagna, please.” Taliesen wheezes. “I can’t breath. You’re hugging me too tight.”

“You’ve gotten weaker.” Dagna giggles, her head resting on Taliesen’s chest. “You used to give the best hugs after coming back.”

Taliesen coughs from more weight on her. “Well I don’t fight Red Templars anymore! It’s what happens.”

“Not good enough. I want to be able to hug you.” Dagna finally seems satisfied to release her from the death grip. “It’s been forever. Anything interesting happen, since we last met?”

“You’ve done more adventuring than I have in the last year.” Taliesen pats Dagna’s shoulder. “I haven’t seen Skyhold in years.”

“Our Undercroft is still the Undercroft, if you can imagine.” Dagna chuckles. “Although I’m not sure those hammers can actually hammer anything.”

They begin walking up the steps and back into Dorian’s home. Excited for finally being able to talk to one other again, even neither felt their time apart.

“Strange to think you got your own home now. Dagna has a big smirk as they walked. “Didn’t the Dalish pride themselves for being nomads?”

“You can leave your bags here, the servants will set up a guest room.” Taliesen shrugs. “Having a home has benefits. I’m not building out of a box of scraps anymore.”

“Val Royeaux seems like the strangest change, your noble neighbors got to have the most flustered faces.”

“They can keep frowning some more. How has traveling been?”

“It’s strange to revisit the Circles I stayed at, the Ostwick one has a new strange smell. No one seems to notice.”

[felassan]

recently I attended a (lovely!!) wedding in a beautiful medieval hall. the building had an undercroft, it was giving Skyhold vibes 🐲

[howlingwolf23]

Back in February I learned that not everyone can taste/smell the liquids when they get an IV. The nurse said it's less common to be able to.

If you've ever had an IV can you smell/taste it?

In Dragon Age do you think people can smell/taste magic, especially healing magic? Who do you think would be able to and how do you think everyone would feel about it?

*Asks are sent for fun, no pressure to answer within a certain amount of time or at all.*

Some can and some can't

Canonically, Dorian mentions his teeth tasting funny after whipping a Veil-warp though I think this is different from healing magic. This was an extra charged spell. I think normally Dorian doesn't taste it and he finds it annoying.

Iron bull also can't taste and he finds it annoying as he doesn't trust magic and he wants to be able to taste it to know what's happening to him. Make sure he's not being tricked or poisoned with magic.

Sera doesn't taste it and is glad not to. Stuff is creepy enough as it is.

Krem also can't taste and is also glad he can't taste. Just doesn't trust it much.

Vivienne can taste it. Her healing magic always tastes quite clean to her.

Cole can also taste but not the same as everyone else. It's almost familiar but also tickles.

Cassandra, Scout Lace Harding, and Cullen don't taste and don't care. As long as it heals them and the people around them, that's all that matters.

Morrigan can taste and has preferred healers and healing methods as she is very attuned to the subtle tastes. She actually hates to self heal as it reminds her too much of her mother.

Liliana says she can taste but really she can't. She says she can because she thinks if people knew she can't taste, it's a weakness that can be used against her.

Blackwall can taste and says he doesn't like it but he actually does as it calms him to know it's working.

Josephine's answer changes everytime you ask her. The truth is the last time she really needed a healer was in school or as a child, fighting with Yvette, and she can't remember if she can or can't taste. She just tailors her answer to who asks.

Solas can taste and it vexs him. Is he supposed to taste it? Or was this taste always around before the veil? Is this the taste of home he long lost? Or is this the taste of the new world he is about to destroy?

I think most dwarves can't taste magic

Dagna can taste but just barely, but not enough to get enough to describe the flavor. The first time she needs a healer is at Skyhold, an accident in the undercroft. She was experimenting and Sera distracted her by being cute and there was a small explosion that required a mage healer.

Ever since, she's wanted to taste more to get a better idea of how healing affects taste. It really annoys her that no one wants to help her study the flavors. The problem is she wants someone to injure her just enough for a healer to heal. Everyone thinks she's a bit insane. Sera is very angry about this plan.

[dalishborne]

CLOSED STARTER

@steel-and-fire

"HARRIT!"

Revenelan's voice echoed through the cavernous stairwell as she practically danced her way down to Skyhold's bustling Undercroft. The rhythmic sounds of metal meeting metal intensified her excitement, matched only by the rapid beating of her heart. Clutched tightly against her chest was a worn, cloth bundle, concealing an extraordinary item she had stumbled upon in the Dales—a discovery so precious she hadn't uttered a word of it to her companions.

With each step, she couldn't help but wonder how Harrit, the skilled smith, would react. The anticipation fueled her urgency. As she approached the fiery entrance to the Undercroft, she skidded to a halt. There, before the blazing furnaces, stood an unexpected figure; robust, dark haired with golden horns jutting out of his head. Her brow furrowed in concern; this wasn't the bald, bushy-mouthed shem she sought.

"Hello?" Revenelan called out over the clamor, trying to catch the horned stranger's attention. Stepping closer, she repeated, "Hello?! Is Harrit here, the smith? I must speak to him urgently!"