#kinloch pride

[massgrav]

I’ve known a man like you – a little older, maybe. You never believed in him, never acknowledged him, always treated him with scorn and disdain. How does it feel, my poor boy ; to be utterly powerless, now that tables have turned? Today, he walks free. You, however, will never know true freedom again.

——

[clavicuss-vile]

have i mentioned that i headcanon some circles (kinloch hold specifically) encourage very tightly tied styles for longer hair (usually plaited or braided) without much styling, on the surface for safety reasons (fire spells gone awry) but predominantly for subtly crushing individuality and exerting whatever control over the mages they can. The pressure usually lessens after an apprentice passes their harrowing and it's not mandatory, but very much encouraged. All apprentice robes look the same. All apprentices should have short or tied back hair. All apprentices should have no tattoos.

(Tattooing eachother is very much seen as an act of defiance, ESPECIALLY facial tattoos, and modification to the robes results in confiscation and new robes being given, but hair is far more relaxed. It would still earn quite a few comments especially from senior mages, but apprentices wouldn't be reprimanded for wearing their hair down or styled)

[wardencallings]

Codex Entry -- Hero of Ferelden

A portrait of the then Warden Commander Alym Surana taken in 9:32 Dragon, or approximately one year following the conclusion of the Fifth Blight. (art by: @kittyoperas)

Alym Surana was born near Lothering. His mother was an elven servant to a family of human corn farmers. Hope Surana, an eccentric woman known for her uncanny ability to diagnose and treat "abnormalities in the biles," refused to disclose the identity of her son's father. Many believed Alym's sire to be a man named E'lio, a Dalish hunter who'd visited the farm around the time of the boy's conception, but he was never located to confirm or deny the parentage.

When Alym was five years old, his magic manifested for the first time, and the templars were contacted to escort him to the Circle near Lake Calenhad. It is unknown how Hope reacted to her son's departure as she was away selling crops in Lothering at the time. While initially resistant to the idea of leaving his home and his mother, Alym very quickly took to the structure of living within the Circle Tower. He enjoyed his studies and the routine such a lifestyle brought him.

Alym is a talented and determined student. He has a particular proficiency with Spirit and Ice, but he manages well with other schools of magic. However, Alym is too lax on matters of the Fade. The boy does not fear possession of himself nor his peers. This may prove to be a problem someday. I will keep an eye on his progress and mentor him personally to avoid a potentially undue outcome. -- The personal notes of First Enchanter Irving, found in his office within Kinloch Hold

When Warden-Commander Duncan arrived in search of a mage to help fight against the emerging Fifth Blight, Irving recommended Alym to the cause immediately. Regarding his choice, Irving later explained to his colleagues that Alym had both the skill and the resolve Duncan was looking for in a recruit, and it was Irving's belief that time outside of the Circle was necessary for Alym's growth as mage and person. While anxious about leaving the Tower and his friends, Alym felt pride in being chosen for such an important task and looked forward to fulfilling his new role.

Following the tragedy in Ostegar, Alym, one of the only surviving Grey Wardens, began to travel across Ferelden, searching for support in ending the Fifth Blight. Commander Loghain declared all Grey Wardens to be traitors to the crown, but Alym and fellow Warden Alistair made use of the conflicting information regarding the events at Ostegar and the chaos brought by the Darkspawn to escape Loghain's soldiers and others loyal to him.

On his return to Lothering, Alym attempted to find his mother. Despite much hostility from the local farmers, Alym was able to discover that his mother and the family she'd served had been killed by the Darkspawn when their farm had been attacked. The Warden visited the site of his childhood home and destroyed the Darkspawn that roamed its property. He then buried his mother and the humans, taking only one thing for himself: an amulet Hope had worn every day, one she'd believed kept her healthy and strong enough to work to earn her keep.

I was actually there when the Hero of Ferelden came to Lothering! None of us actually believed he was a Grey Warden at first. I mean, can you blame us? He was this awkward, gawky elf who asked all these weird questions. And he looked so weak! But then he killed all those bandits and Darkspawn. We believed him after that. Lothering still fell, but we had a renewed sense of hope after we'd seen what he accomplished there. He helped everyone, even that Qunari our Chantry had left to die. None of us understood it at the time, but I think I get it now. Uhh, just don't ask me to explain it. -- A former citizen of Lothering who relocated to Amaranthine following its destruction

It was in Lothering that Alym met Leliana, an Orlesian bard turned Chantry sister turned member of his traveling party. Leliana claimed to have seen a vision from the Maker himself urging her to help Alym. Despite not believing in the Maker and worshiping the Elven gods (casually) instead, Alym welcomed Leliana to his party readily. Later, Alym would admit to being taken by Leliana, both in her beauty and her resolve, which supplied much of his motivation to believe her story and accept her offer of aid.

Of his companions, Alym was closest to Leliana, Sten, Wynne, and of course, Puppy, the Mabari hound rescued from the Darkspawn taint at Ostegar. Later, Alym would meet and befriend Zevran Arainai, an Antivan Crow, and Shale, a dwarf-turned-golem in Honnleath. Despite both being Grey Wardens, Alym struggled to connect with Alistair, finding it difficult to penetrate the humor that masked his true self. Morrigan, alleged daughter of the Witch of the Wilds, and Alym held an antagonistic relationship (mostly from her end), and Alym, despite later allowing his entry into the Wardens, didn't know what to make of the dwarf Oghren, recruited from Orzammar. However, in the wake of the Blight, Alym spoke only highly of his companions. Likewise, those who traveled with the Hero and could be found also spoke highly of him.

The Warden Commander? Ha, you mean Alym? No one calls him that but the kissass recruits who don’t know better. He’s a decent guy – can’t hold his liquor, but decent. We kicked ass together, and not just the blasted Darkspawn. I tell you, we made Orzammar almost tolerable by the time we were through there! Blighter talks too much about his woman, though. He’d probably hit me if he found out I called Leliana that. Heh, you won't tell him I said that, will you? -- An excerpt of a conversation between Warden Oghren and a journalist in Redcliffe.

In Denerim, things took a considerable turn for the worse for the Warden. While assisting Alistair with an undisclosed personal matter, Alym learned of a blood mage apostate wreaking havoc across the city. The mage was known as "The Surgeon," and he had founded a cult called The Free Acolytes that was quickly gaining ground in Denerim. To make matters more dire, Alym learned that Arl Rendon was aiding the cult, and in exchange, The Free Acolytes were assisting in the new Tevinter slaver foothold forming in Denerim.

When Alym began investigating both Arl Rendon and the dark trade occurring in the Alienage, waves of assassination attempts began to plague the Warden and his company. Eventually, with no choice but to seek the source of the cult, Alym hunted down the Surgeon, finding his lair among the derelict buildings in the warehouse district. When the two met, however, Alym was shocked to learn that the Surgeon, whose real name was Vacen Cyrahel, was in fact Alym's own father. Not only did the two look extraordinarily alike, but Vacen told him he could sense their connection in their blood, and he expressed a desire for his son to join him as a free mage, one who did not fear demons nor those who tried to control the mages.

Only Wynne, Zevran, and Sten were present for this meeting with the Surgeon, and Alym persuaded them to keep Vacen's identity a secret from the rest of their companions. Wynne urged Alym to speak to Leliana on the subject, but the Warden feared her reaction to learning of Alym's tainted heritage. Things reached a boiling point when Vacen arrived to camp one night, offering Alym a place by his side for when he killed Rendon Howe and forged himself as the new Arl of Denerim. Alym, embarrassed and ashamed, ran off into the night, hoping to draw Vacen and The Free Acolytes away from his friends.

Alym has left us, as I feared he would should his father make another untimely appearance. I am afraid for the boy's sanity and his well-being. I had tried so hard to convince him that telling the others was a necessity; and if not Alistair and Morrigan, then Leliana, at the least. He told me that he "feared how she'd look at him" when she learned of his father and his crimes. I reminded him that Leliana saw him as more than the blood of his absent father, but he had a wild, terrified look in his eyes. There was no talking sense in him, then. -- An entry in the diary of Wynne

After a few weeks, Sten, accompanied by Puppy, found Alym hiding in the Alienage of Denerim. While blending in with the other elves, Alym had learned where the Tevinter slavers were operating their trade. Sten, Puppy, and Alym killed the traders, freed those about to be sold as slaves, and returned to camp. Alym explained himself to the party, apologized, and began to make a plan to kill both Arl Rendon and the Surgeon. To Leliana, he swore that he'd never abandon her again, and as a sign of his dedication and devotion to her, he began to wear an Andraste's Grace within the braid in his hair, marking the official start of their relationship.

After rescuing Anora and killing Arl Rendon, the Surgeon arrived to the palace, intending to seize claim to the throne alongside his cult. A terrible and bloody fight commenced, one that ended only when Alym launched shards of ice into his father's throat, killing him. Despite knowing his father's death as necessary, Alym struggled with his demise. Arl Rendon was similarly dispatched, and the Landsmeet was called. Alym supported Anora as queen, pushing back against the suggestion of Alistair due to his companion's seeming disinterest in the position of king. Alistair killed Loghain in a duel and thanked Alym for allowing him to remain a Warden and finally granting justice for Cailan and Duncan.

After the Archdemon was killed and Anora formally made Queen of Ferelden, Alym was appointed Warden Commander. Alym strove to reform the Wardens as stronger and more prepared than ever should they be needed again. One of his first actions was to rebuild Vigil's Keep as a base for the Grey Wardens. There he met and conscripted Nathaniel Howe, Anders, Velanna, and Sigrun, reunited with Oghren, and killed the Architect, a sentient Darkspawn Emissary.

A couple of years after the Fifth Blight, The Hero of Ferelden vanished. He is believed to be searching for a cure for the Calling, the point in which Grey Wardens succumb to the Darkspawn taint.

You are very brave to reach out to Lady Nightingale herself to ask of the Hero's whereabouts. I will spare you much of her scathing words to your inquiry, but leave you with this quote: "Keep looking and the crows will have your eyes." -- A letter from one of Nightingale's agents in response to a curious journalist in search of Alym

[glowing-blue-feathermage]

Happy friday!!!! I'm here to hurt you sorry. For Karl/Anders (circle era) "let’s just stay here. grow old." (sorry)

here I am 200 years later with some Kanders angst! hope you enjoy! for @dadrunkwriting

It was winter. Months since Anders could see the brilliant colors of the changing leaves—reds and golds and orange like firelight—and months left before spring.  They’d dragged him back to the Circle just before All Soul’s Day this time. He’d seen a pumpkin patch for the first time in his life during his brief month of freedom. He’d stolen some apple cider from a tavern without realizing it was fermented, and he’d gotten drunk behind the building, and that’s where the Templars found him. Now there was no color. The ground below the high window of Kinloch Hold was gray, speckled with patches of half-melted snow. The lake was frozen, dusted with white, radiating cold all the way to the tower. Hands touched his shoulders, making Anders look away from the window, turning his head to find Karl, finished teaching his class. Anders offered him a smile and Karl returned it, pressing a kiss to Anders' cheekbone. His blue eyes flicked to the window and a crease formed between his brows.  He looked sad, and something answered in Anders’ chest.  “Let’s just stay here,” he told Karl suddenly, just because he wanted that pensive, sad expression to go away. “Grow old. Together.” Karl’s eyes flicked away from the window and met his own. The crease stayed. “That doesn’t sound like the Anders I know,” he said cautiously, tacking on a smile that only caught the corner of his lips.  Anders turned away from the window, slid his arms around Karl’s waist, and rested his forehead against one shoulder. Karl was so much warmer than the winter. “I’ve always had something to run from,” he murmured quietly into Karl’s robe. “Just never had a reason to stay.” His admission was met with silence, making Anders’ chest tighten and his shoulders tense for the blow that was coming—for Karl telling him he didn’t feel the same way. Tentatively, arms curled around Anders’ waist and drew him in closer. Chest to chest, Anders could feel the rise and fall of Karl’s as he breathed. He held his own breath until they fell into synch. “You would really stay?” Karl asked after a long moment. There was far more hope in the question than disbelief. Like it was a question he’d wanted to ask but hadn’t felt like he could. Anders pulled back, meeting his eyes. “Do you want me to?” No one had ever wanted him to stay. Karl’s face fell. He glanced out the window again and when Anders found his hand, Karl’s fingers were cold.  “No,” he said, finally looking at him again. “I want you to be free.” Anders hadn’t been prepared for that response. If the conflict hadn’t been clear on Karl’s face, it would have hurt. “Being free means making your own choices,” he said.  “You can’t do that here. This place is the antithesis of choice.” Karl sighed, but he leaned his cheek against Anders’ head, rubbing it against his hair like a big, lazy cat. It made Anders’ smile. “I’m doing it right now,” Anders told him. “Every day I stay here is a choice I’m making. As everyone knows…” He gave Karl a smug smile. “...I don’t have to stay if I don’t want to.” Finally, with a huff of laughter, Karl smiled for real and it was a fond smile. There was pride in it. Karl was never one of the ones that admonished him for his escapes, never told him he was foolish. Always looked disappointed to see him again in a way that told Anders he understood what it meant for him to run. “I can’t talk you out of it, can I?” Karl asked, touching his face and smoothing a strand of hair behind Anders’ ear. “Can anyone talk me out of anything?” Anders cocked an eyebrow and plastered on a cocky smirk. Karl’s gaze traced the shape of his smile and he finally said, “No. They can’t. I just hope when we are old…you won’t regret it.” It was all too heavy for him suddenly. Karl’s worry; the window at his back that opened onto the world he was told was not for him; the stone that formed his prison.  “Won’t ever regret you,” Anders promised.

[sky-fire-forever]

Happy Friday! 🎉💚

How about ‘“just go. you can still make it. don’t worry about me.”’ For Anders/Karl?

Thank you for this prompt! For @dadrunkwriting

It’s been a long while since Anders has tried to escape the Circle. As much as he still hates Kinloch Hold and everything it represents, he’s managed to stay put for a few years, though he still complains at every opportunity. It’s in his nature to turn his nose up at the state of the Circle.

He’s sitting in the library, idly staring at a book and reading the same sentences over and over when Karl peeks up from his own book to look at him. “Anders?” 

“Hm?” 

“You’ve escaped the Circle before.” 

He looks up. “A few times,” he says, unable to keep the pride from his voice. Escaping Kinloch Hold isn’t an easy feat, after all. 

“Why did you stop trying?” 

A loaded question. More loaded than Karl probably realizes.

Anders fidgets.”I got bored of trying,” he lies. “It’s no fun when the game always ends the same way. The templars have my phylactery, remember?” 

Karl frowns. “You could destroy it.” 

Anders snorts. “Not easily.” 

“Since when do you turn away from a challenge?” 

Anders shrugs, an uneasy feeling creeping under his skin. “It’s too much work,” he says and turns a page in the book he’s barely been paying attention to. “Besides, I don’t want to escape right now.” 

“Why not?” Karl asks incredulously, his eyebrows up to his hairline. “Surely you don’t want to stay in this place forever.” 

Anders shrugs and grins over at Karl. “Oh, I dunno. The place is really growing on me after all these years. Like toxic mold.” 

“I’m serious.” Karl looks around to make sure no one is eavesdropping. He lowers his voice. “I think you should get out of here.” 

Anders’ stomach drops. “Come off it, Karl.” 

“Why not? What’s keeping you here?” 

“What do you think?” Anders snaps, slamming his book shut. 

The moment hangs in the air between them and Anders looks away in shame. It’s true that he could probably escape again if he put his mind to it — he already has a dozen different ways out squirreled away inside of his head — but he can’t leave Karl behind. 

Karl is the one good thing about the nightmare that is Kinloch Hold. He’s the one thing that keeps Anders in place instead of bolting out those doors or through the window or finding some other way out of this place. Without Karl, where would Anders go? What would he do? There’s no point in seeking freedom without someone to share it with. 

Karl reaches across the table they sit in front of to take Anders’ hand. “Just go,” he says softly. “You can still make it. Don’t worry about me.” 

“Of course I’m going to worry about you!” Anders yanks his hand away. “They’ll think you’re my accomplice or something and they’ll punish you.” 

“It’d be worth it,” Karl says it like it’s true, like Anders is worth whatever cruel punishments the templars deep fit to dole out even when he’d be entirely innocent. 

But Anders knows better. He knows he isn’t worth Karl’s safety or comfort and he certainly isn’t going to abandon him to templars who hate him almost as much as they hate Anders. With Anders gone, who will they turn their ire on if not Karl? They’ll do all they can to make his life miserable. 

“No. No, it wouldn’t,” Anders insists. “Nothing would be worth that.” 

Karl sighs. “You’re seriously going to stay locked up because of me?” 

“No,” Anders says as he leans back in his chair. “I’m going to stay because of me. Because I want to.” 

“And you want to because I’m here.” 

Anders shrugs. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m starting to see the light and I realize that mages really need to be locked away for everyone’s safety,” he says dryly. 

Karl rolls his eyes. “You’re impossible.” It’s said with a great deal of affection. 

“You love me,” Anders teases.

“Yeah,” Karl says. “I do.” 

[dragonagekeeper]

Broken Circle Polls

Dragon Age Origins Polls

See quest and choice descriptions from Dragon Age Wiki/Keep below

Irving is the First Enchanter of the Circle of Magi's tower in Ferelden, Kinloch Hold. Irving is a wise man who holds a stern but kind heart. He seems to be a good friend of Wynne and the two show high respect for each other.

Later, after the battle of Ostagar, Uldred led a revolt and became possessed by a pride demon. During the quest Broken Circle the Warden can read the Irving's journal to learn that Irving admired Uldred's ability to identify blood mages. In the final confrontation of the quest, Irving will be held hostage by Uldred, and can turn into an abomination if you fail to use the Litany of Adralla to save him.

Irving was one of many, many casualties of the broken and betrayed Circle.

1. First Enchanter Irving died in battle

2. First Enchanter Irving survived battle

Irving stood resilient, surviving Uldred's attacks atop the Circle Tower.

If Irving survives the battle, Knight-Commander Greagoir will accept that the Circle was saved, unless the player chooses to advocate for closer investigation, in which case Irving and the other mages are imprisoned and scrutinized further, and the Templars are recruited for the Final Battle.

If the Warden restored the Circle of Magi, Irving can be asked to help Connor by enabling a mage to confront the desire demon using lyrium. You can optionally convince him to go into the Fade: after he initially refuses by telling you that you are asking too much, you can attempt a persuasion check to tell him that he owes you that much and he may agree. 

If the Warden sides with the mages in Broken Circle, Irving will appear as an ally atop the roof of Fort Drakon during the final battle against the Archdemon (PC only). If Irving is defeated during the battle, he can be seen transfiguring himself into a swarm of butterflies. If the Warden is a mage, he will also appear during the Post-Coronation celebrations.

Epilogue if your Warden sided with the Templars and Irving not killed:

“Former First Enchanter Irving was imprisoned along with a number of other survivors and inspected carefully by the Chantry for any signs of demonic possession. After more than a year, he was finally released. His spirit broken, Irving allowed himself to be sent to the Circle of Val Royeaux in Orlais, where he served as an administrator for the remainder of his days.”

[sweetmage]

How about 3, 4 and 7 for the dragon age world state questions?

Hi friend! Thank you so much for the ask!!! <3

Warden: Edan Cousland | Hawke: Garrett Hawke | Inquisitor: Leticia Vael (pronounced Leh-TEE-sha)

----

3.) Opinions on blood magic?

Edan: He sees the utility in it and it doesn't scare him. He witnessed the catastrophic damage done to Kinloch Hold by a blood mage, but he also saw the generations of suffering, repression, lies, and abuse that led to that point. He wonders if it's the magic itself that's dangerous or if it's the unsafe usage under duress that's the bigger problem. As for bad people using it, he figures those people would have just found some other way to harm or subjugate if not blood magic.

Garrett: While not as against it as Anders, he's still wary and skeptical about it and sees only the ill sides of it. It doesn't seem worth the cost to him at all. However, if backed into of a corner and with a loved one at stake, he would probably resort to blood magic too even if he'd never admit that.

Leticia: A good, devout, and respected former Chanter of the Circle she does not tolerate or condone blood magic. There are no circumstances under which she'd resort to it and she tried very hard to steer her pupils and peers from dangerous and forbidden practices.

4.) Attitude towards Andrastianism?

Edan: Edan is a devout Andrastian and strives to live by the Chant's virtues, not its failings. Though he prays whenever possible and is fond of his hymns, he's not so rigid in his beliefs that he's willing to accept abuses of power, greed, or oppressions perpetrated by the Chantry. He believes that the institutional religion has strayed too far from Andraste's ideals and that She would be ashamed if She witnessed the Chantry's treatment of mages, elves, those of other faiths, the underprivileged, and disadvantaged, etc. He hopes to see reform someday.

Garrett: Andrastianism gave him a set of names to take in vain to express shock and disdain. That's about it. Mostly he just thinks it's all nonsense, but he tends to bite his tongue because he knows Anders is an Andrastian in his own strange way.

Leticia: She is incredibly devout, which is occasionally troubling for her as a mage. She sometimes finds it hard to balance her pride as a mage with her faith in Chantry and their institutions.

7.) If they had to choose one person most important to them, who would that be?

Edan: This is actually an impossible question for him, he loves so many people (past and present) with his whole heart and then some 😅 So how about this? Top 3 living people that are the most important to him in no particular order:

Roderick (aka Ser Gilmore), his beloved husband who went above and beyond to protect their home and suffered greatly for it. Ever at his side and keeping him grounded.

Fergus, the last remaining member of his family and the person he most idolized. Even as Warden-Commander himself, he aspires to be even half the man he sees in his brother.

Eddi, his adopted daughter (who is also my first Rook!) who he is equal parts proud and protective of. He sees so much of himself in her eager attitude and soft heart.

Garrett: His twin sister Marian (this particular Marian belongs to @vivispec!), no contest. No one knows him like she does. Even when the world and circumstances tear them apart, his adoration for her endures. She's the only family he left most of the time.

Leticia: The last time she saw her brother Sebastian he was only an infant. She lost out on the chance to get to know him before she was sent to the Fereldan circle and her existence swept under the rug, but now, as the only remaining member of her family, she likes to quietly keep up with his actions via what news trickles in from the Free Marches. He doesn't even know she exists.

[danielnelsen]

Hey first I want to say that I really like your in depth posts on Dragon Age! Can I ask if you have any information and/or insights on the Jainen Circle from Legends? And do you think it's canon?

Everything That Happens Involving the Jainen Circle of Magi:

The First Enchanter is Jendrik whenever DAL is set (it's canonically sometime after the start of the 5th blight, but imo it's more specifically set somewhere from 9:34-9:37).

Sometime before you arrive in Jainen, the Circle is overrun by demons.

The leader of the local dragon cultists, Deymour, sends his lieutenant, Guillen, to kill Jendrik. If you head too far into Jainen without going to the Circle, Jendrik will die, otherwise you save him. If you save him, he's too wounded to help you so he just...leaves, I guess. He doesn't get any dialogue or a sprite or anything.

When you fight through the Circle, you fight both templars and mages (who are fighting together). I don't think you fight any demons until the very end, which has one desire demon as a boss.

The source of the demon(s) is Deymour who, as part of the overarching plot of DAL, is hosting a shard of a pride demon's soul in him. It's not explicitly stated that he summoned the demon(s), but his whole pride demon thing and also his general involvement (asking Guillen to kill Jendrik) is a pretty good indicator.

No matter the outcome, none of this is ever mentioned again.

Is the Jainen Circle Canon?

Nothing from DAL is canon.

That said, most of the game can be stretched to fit into canon (even Eiton being 'born Tranquil', fight me), and the Jainen Circle isn't any less realistic than anything else in DAL. Honestly, the main potential conflicts with canon are probably:

The times when we've been told how many circles there are (either 14 or 15; it's not even consistent). There are more than that listed on the wiki, even without including Jainen. However, quite a few of those Circles only have references from hundreds of years ago and may not exist anymore, so even 14 is enough to include Jainen as one of them.

Kinloch Hold is generally discussed in canon as THE Circle in Ferelden, replacing Denerim's Circle in 3:87. Maybe Jainen's just smaller or too remote or something, idk.

[vigilskeep]

so sorry if you've answered an ask about this before, but how does minerva end up practicing blood magic? is there a specific event that makes her change her mind?

i can’t remember if i’ve thoroughly talked about this before but minerva gets blood magic in the canonical way from the desire demon at redcliffe. she makes the high intimidation check to get it “for free” rather than making a deal for connor. here’s a snippet from a wip where she talks about how that went down!

“Blood magic,” he says, softly. Even hushed, the words linger in the air. She opens her eyes. He tries to smile wryly at her. “Do I even want to know if you dealt with a demon?”

“I called it a child,” she says, “playing at children’s games. I listed all the demons I had slain, and told it in no uncertain terms that it would teach me arcane secrets or number among them.” It had been the desire demon at Redcliffe. After massacring her way through Kinloch’s abominations, the creature had been almost pitiful, with its little cage in the Fade for a boy and an old man. Or it had seemed so, at the time, when she was heady with rage and desperation. She’s still not sure exactly when that’s going to come back to bite. She can only hope the teeth will meet in her throat, and not the poor wretched Guerrin boy’s.

Anders laughs again, and covers his face with his hand, fingertips digging into his brow as if to relieve a headache’s pressure. “Of course you did,” he says. “How could I expect anything less?”

(i have a tendency to exaggerate the game’s version of persuasion/intimidation checks into a more character-specific voice so i KNOW it would have been one of minerva’s classic drama monologues lmao. the demons you kill in the fade all have really fun names that i think would be delightful to list for drama. i have slain rhagos and vereveel, slavren and yevena, uthkiel the crusher and demons of sloth and pride who conquered every lesser mage than me, etc. etc., do you think i will condescend to bargain with a child playing at children’s games, etc. etc., hand over the blood magic or get crushing prisoned bitch. you get the gist i haven’t written it out)

as for what changed her mind, it’s your classic wizard’s mixture of hubris and desperation. as the above implies, she met the desire demon directly after going to kinloch to get the mages’ help with connor’s ritual and suddenly having to fight through broken circle. now, “blood magic might be okay actually” might not be the immediate first thought for a message to take away from broken circle. but there were so many blood mages in the tower who were just ordinary frightened mages. it was only uldred who was truly mad—and he was possessed. the horrors only happened because he summoned more demons than he could handle. at redcliffe, too, the damage isn’t blood magic, it’s lack of knowledge, willpower, control. she’s smarter than that. and the power he had at his grasp? unstoppable without the litany of adralla? she and her party are so few against a blight. if she thinks she can handle it—and minerva always thinks she can handle it—how could she turn it away?

[massgrav]

My knees won't bend My hands won't fold I swore dissent on your Father

—

Will I ever tire of drawing him? no. Am I willing to seek help? also no

(Alternate version under the cut)

[inquisimer]

Dalish Week: Craft

Day two!! Jumping back to pre-Inquisition, a bit of Neria learning when she first joined Clan Lavellan and a snippet of her early relationship with Mahanon and Rosha🥰

@dalish-appreciation-week

~~~

Neria drank in Master Souren’s lesson with rapt attention. His aged, calloused hands shaped and cut and bent and twisted wood with ease; the ironbark seemed to bend to his very will.

The students formed a semi-circle around the makeshift workbench he’d laid between two stumps. Though she sat barely a head above the tallest, Neria felt odd and out-of-place among the children. In her mind, she was an interloper, the duckling destined never to fit with the geese. She supposed the Dalish would always cast her as a child, long as her face remained bare and free of ink.

Some time had passed since she sat for lessons, but this differed pointedly from her Circle classes in many ways. Mainly, that she was the oldest playing catch-up rather than the budding prodigy. She’d climbed those ranks with rapid ease, thanks mostly to the advantage of living and absorbing Circle teachings practically since birth.

She wondered if these children felt the same pride in their skill as she had, when she was no taller than a dwarf, but still wove a better paralysis rune than an apprentice five years her senior.

Demonstration completed, Souren passed chunks of ironbark to each student, along with a warning not to waste the precious resource. They spread across the grass to try their hand at the trade. Neria took a moment to admire the dark knots and smooth grain of the wood, and to watch how her peers took up their task with gusto.

She could only liken it to the Tranquil enchanters at Kinloch and to draw such a comparison did a disservice to the energy around her now. The methodical process of the Tranquil prioritized function and service. The mages used the runes at the Circle and the Templars profited off basic items—daggers, buckets, cloaks—with enchantments woven into their very fibers.

But that work product lacked the spark of imagination, creativity, the personality of the creator. Neria could practically feel the buzz of that excitement across her skin now. It was a pleasant sensation and she let it guide her hands as she bent her head over her work and shaved fine scraps from the wood.

They spent several days just like that. Each morning Souren circled with small critiques and they adjusted their work accordingly. At the end, each student walked away with a simple shortbow of their own making, carved to their liking, and strung with a composite of linen and elfroot fibers Master Souren spun while they crafted.

Though proud of her work and happy to trace the endless spirals of leaves and feathers that wove around the weapon, Neria had no real use for a bow. She wandered away from the children toward where Rosha sat by a fire, following the edge of her blade with a whetstone.

“Care to trade?”

Rosha grinned without looking up. “Don’t you want to keep your masterpiece?”

The long grass fanned out where Neria settled herself alongside her friend. She laid the bow across her legs and raised an eyebrow over steepled fingers.

“I don’t fight with a bow.” She shrugged and rolled her wrists, leaning slightly back. “And if I ever need to…”

She snapped her fingers without any sound and the Fade coalesced at her summons. The air in front of her turned opaque and shaped itself into a bow not unlike the one on her lap.

Surprise widened Rosha’s eyes, then her grin returned full force and she leaned forward to inspect the spell.

“Incredible,” she breathed. Her fingertips hovered on the edges where the spell blurred against the Veil. “It works like a proper bow and everything? And they taught you something like this in a Circle?”

“It is a proper bow,” Neria said, somewhat petulantly. “And—not exactly. I’m not sure how the tome ended up in our library, but I doubt the Templars meant to leave it there. It had so much dust on it, they likely assumed it was an old reference for something that had simply become common knowledge—like restoration potions or arcane bolt theory.”

She unwrapped her fingers from the summoned bow’s grip and it dissipated back into the Fade. “It came in handy, though, when I couldn’t carry a staff. Unchanneled casting only gets you so far.”

“Anyway” —she gestured down to the tangible bow still lying across her thighs— “I don’t need it, but it was a good lesson. So, are you in the market?”

“Not in the slightest.” Rosha turned one of her daggers so it caught the light of the fire on one side and reflected her shrewd smile on the other. The freshly sharpened edge gleamed like silverite at sunset. “I’m rather partial to my blades. But you know who is fond of his bows—“

“Not this again—“

“In fact, I’m pretty sure Mahanon was asking just a few days back when Souren would have new pieces ready.”

Neria’s glare soured against the side of Rosha’s face, but the hunter only hummed an innocent tune and set to work on her second dagger.

“I would make a peace offering, but I think he’s as liable to shoot me with it as a passing rabbit.”

“Please, the way to the man’s heart is through his armory.”

“Well I’m not trying to get to his heart, now am I?”

Vindictive satisfaction flooded Neria like the blood flooded Rosha’s face, until her skin matched her hair. “Maybe you do need it after all, eh falon?”

“I might.” Rosha narrowed her eyes and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I suppose it would serve as a club to beat away that smug smile just as well as anything else.”

“Wow, rude.” Neria jabbed her elbow and a spike of mana caught Rosha’s side, making her drop the whetstone. Her daggers joined it in short order and she tackled Neria before the other elf could blink.

“Oof—“

They rolled away from the fire, wrestling for dominance in a tangled knot of limbs and joints and unbound hair until a shadow fell over their childish antics.

“It’s come to blows already, has it?”

“Mahanon!” Rosha returned to her feet with ease, landing upright on a patch of moss. Most of her color had given way to blotchy exertion, but patches returned as she grinned at the somber, unimpressed hunter. “We were just talking about you.”

He raised an eyebrow at her; his gaze cut to Neria’s still-prone form and his lips thinned to a nonexistent line. “I find that hard to believe.”

“Oh, lighten up.” Rosha nudged Neria with a leather-wrapped toe and she reluctantly dragged herself up off the ground. “Weren’t you telling Ilvin the other day that you’re due for a new bow?”

Mahanon crossed his arms firmly over his chest. “And if I was?”

“Well then you’re in luck!” An expectant look passed from Rosha to Neria and the latter reluctantly paced over to where her crafted bow fell during their scuffle.

“Rosha—“ Weariness lined his voice and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Instinct told Neria to disengage and hide away until his ire burned out; as if sensing her thoughts, one of Rosha’s hands looped like steel around her wrist and tugged her back into the conversation.

“Just look at it, ‘hanon,” she coaxed. “It’s a fine piece and Neria doesn’t need it.”

“Hmph.”

Despite his reluctance and her own reticence, Neria offered the weapon for his inspection. He traced the curve of the limbs and the carvings that worked seamlessly around the riser. Neria was nothing if not partial to symmetry; she’d painstakingly balanced the design.

It did look good, she realized, studying it with fresh eyes alongside Mahanon’s scrutiny. A hint of pride budded in her chest. Even if he spurned this olive branch as well, she felt confident another, less bull-headed clan member would gratefully accept.

One by one, Mahanon’s fingers closed around the grip. He tugged gently and Neria let it slip from her grasp so he could feel the balance and test the weight in his hand. His face betrayed nothing and despite her confidence of only a moment before, Neria felt that familiar evaluation anxiety.

“It is a decent piece,” he finally said, though each word came slowly, as if at a great cost. “If you truly do not have other plans for it…”

“Keep it.” He still hadn’t looked at her. “As Rosha said, I do not need it.”

The air teemed with awkward tension and silence for a few beats, until Rosha sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. She jabbed a finger into Mahanon’s shoulder.

“This is the part where you say ‘thank you’, lethallan. I know you remember the words. And they’ll come off better if you actually look at her while you speak.”

Mahanon’s ears flattened against his head for just a second, then flicked back out. For a moment, Neria thought he might just take the bow and walk away.

Instead, his eyes finally found her face. She’d seen them suspicious and crestfallen, and she’d seen them angry most of all. So to see them totally calm and neutral jolted her—she wasn’t sure what it meant, or if she should be nervous about it.

“Ma serannas,” he said lowly, jaw tense and chin jutted out. As if she needed another reminder that this was not an invitation for further conversation.

She simply bowed her head. When she looked back up, Mahanon had vanished.

“Well,” Rosha clapped her hands together, a wide, genuine grin stretching her freckled cheeks. “That went well, don’t you think?”

“If you say so,” Neria shrugged. “I’ll hold my judgment until he goes…say a week, without shooting me.”

“That’s the spirit, falon.”

[avrorean]

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the entirety of Nanna’s world state & decisions of Origins that this blog will follow. Each primary quest is summarized for those who aren’t familiar with the first game or the setting, as well as a list of notable decisions made during the mission. Companion quests included at the bottom! 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: All quests that follow are written in the order of Nanna’s personal progression through the game. All of my muse’s emotional development specific to the game timeline will be written at specified points assuming prior events/quests have occurred. If this conflicts with your muse’s own timeline or there is a specific plot point you want to explore at these points, please message me before the intended interaction. *: may not be as canonically depicted

                                                  𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐒 

Nanna Amell had never known anything but the Circle Tower, and the confined life of a mage was all she’d ever expected to live. This, too, had been no different; in the dead of night the time come for her Harrowing, her final trial to leave the realms of Apprenticeship and prove her worth as a Circle Mage to the Chantry and its Templars. The Test? Enter the Fade and face down a demon, and leave once again without its hold on her. Terrifying, yet straightforward.

But all hopes of simplicity vanished as soon as Nanna entered the Fade. Nothing was as it seemed in the realm of dreams, and Nanna found herself with hostile spirits on all sides. Her only guide is Mouse, a former mage Apprentice who had failed his Harrowing and lost his body, now eternally drifting meekly through the Fade. Together, however, Nanna is able to navigate her way through the maze of this warped reality, finding aid in both a Spirit of Valor as well as a Demon of Sloth. With Mouse's own confidence grown, they face down the demon of the trial together. And yet, even in victory, Nanna knows something is....wrong. His prior dealings with the demon aside, Mouse's story and desires don't make sense, and it takes Nanna only some firm pressure for him to reveal his true form. A Demon of Pride who, with her rejection of him, releases her from the Fade with only these words: true tests never end. She awakes again in the Tower, uneasy but whole. Finally, she would move up in the Tower as a full-fledged Mage.

But the celebrations were not to last. Her childhood friend Jowan approaches her with a daring plan of escape with his secret love, Lily. A rumor has spread about his using blood magic, and he's lined up for Tranquility as punishment much to Nanna's disbelief. So the three scheme themselves down into the lowest levels of Kinloch Hold, past magic traps and cursed monoliths down to the Phylactery chamber to destroy Jowan's phylactery so he and Lily could live together freely. But at the height of their victory, and only then did Nanna and Lily both discover the truth... Jowan was a blood mage. As he flees the Tower, Duncan, the visiting Grey Warden, intervenes on her behalf with the Right of Conscription to sweep her out from under the Templars' wrath. But at what cost?

Talked Valor into giving her a weapon

Rejected Mouse

Spoke to Irving, but did not tell him Jowan and Lily’s plan

Spoke to Enchanter Sweeney to get the Rod of Fire

Helped Leorah clear out the infestation regardless

                                                 𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐑 

  By the time of Duncan and Nanna’s arrival, the southern wilds of Ferelden are being torn apart by war and taint. King Cailan’s army holds the line at Ostagar, and believes victory is at hand against the hoard, yet doubts that this is truly the coming of a Blight, robbing him of the battle of legends he so yearns for. Duncan is less assured. He turns his attentions to preparing his newest recruits to become fully recognized Grey Wardens, bolstering their numbers against the threat he knows all too certainly lingers just over the horizon.

Alongside the knight Ser Jory and a thief named Daveth, the Warden Alistair leads them into the Korcari Wilds for their test - collect the blood of the Darkspawn and find the treaties hidden by the Grey Wardens.

   It was there at the fallen Warden tower that they encountered Morrigan, a feared and fabled Witch of the Wilds, who had been watching their progression through the wilds. In the depths of those swamps, her mother Flemeth had kept the treaties safe when the seal that protected them throughout the years faded. She returned them in prime condition as well as an offered, if cryptic, warning of what was to come.

That very evening, the three recruits underwent the Joining, an initiation ritual that all recruits undergo before they can become Grey Wardens - one with all too steep a price. Of the three present, Nanna was the only survivor, and  as per King Cailan’s orders, was thusly sent with Alistair to light the beacon. However, by the time they arrived the Tower of Ishal was already overrun by Darkspawn. When their numbers became too great Loghain called his forces to retreat rather than send them into the valley, and the battle was lost. All would have died were it not for the witch Flemeth, who swooped down in the form of a large bird and rescued Nanna and Alistair, the last surviving Wardens, tended their wounds and sent them along with her daughter Morrigan on a journey to end the Blight themselves.

Spoke to and fed the deserter the guard’s meal

Cured the sick mabari

                                               𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆

Having left the Korcari Wilds with new purpose in mind, Morrigan leads the two Grey Wardens (and the newly acquired mabari, Rune) north from the wilds and Ostagar to the village of Lothering, now serving as a safehaven for refugees in the wake of the departure of their Bann. The air of hopelessness is telling however as, despite the attempts of Templars and Clerics to maintain order, it becomes more and more apparent by the people eager to flee that this village is not expected to last in the wake of the encroaching Darkspawn army.

Without army or ally, the small band must figure out their course: to seek out the allies of the Grey Warden treaties or take the attack directly to Loghain. Neither of which hold very promising outcomes, considering the inexperience and disadvantage they have compared to that of their enemies. They take only a short time to chart their course – gathering a handful of companions somehow more unusual than their current company all the while – and as the promise of darkness rises, Nanna and Alistair begin to realize it will only get harder from here.

Scared away the Highwaymen without fighting them

Gave the lost boy a silver for food

Helps the homeless Elven family*

Calmed the Chasind Wilder

Helped at the Chantry Board

Convinced the merchant and the Chantry Sister to compromise

Released Sten without the Revered Mother’s permission

Reluctantly recruits Leliana

                            𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓

     Their path set and holding out hope to reach the nearest Dalish Clan before they fled to the north, Nanna and company travel to the Brecilian Outskirts only to find that the Dalish face a threat all their own. A virulent outbreak of lycanthropy threatens to destroy the clan, leaving them to die a slow and painful death or become twisted into the very beings that threaten to tear them asunder: werewolves. The Keeper Zathrian enlists the help of the Grey Wardens, explaining that the source lies in a wolf known as Witherfang, and that the cure for his people may very well lie in the heart of the wolf, and in turn he is willing to pledge their numbers to their fight against the Blight. And so was Nanna tasked with hunting down the Weres and bringing Zathrien the heart of Witherfang.

     But things are not so clear cut as they may seem. Quickly it becomes apparent that the clan of Weres are intelligent, having given themselves names and a reason for attack that clearly runs far deeper than mere animal instinct. Their drive for vengeance rejects offers to talk, and uses the magics of the forest to their advantage. With the aid of the Grand Oak, they made their way deep into the heart of the forest to the Brecilian Ruins, where they find opportunity to parlay with the weres and meet with the true face of Witherfang – The Lady of the Forest. She tells Nanna the truth of Zathrien and his vengeance, behind his long life and the Werewolves alike, and Nanna finds she cannot follow through with her original and instead seeks the Keeper out to find a peaceful solution to breaking the curse that plagues both sides.

     Zathrien, however, is not so willing. Centuries of vengeance runs deep and rotten, and he retaliates in a rage. After the battle, he at last surrenders and together, both he and The Lady release the curse at last at the cost of their own lives.

     The Werewolves are cured, the Dalish healed, and the newly appointed Keeper Lanayla swears the clan’s alliance with the Grey Wardens.

Cammen & Gheyna brought together

Helped the Grand Oak; traded for the acorn from the Mad Hermit

Retrieved the ironbark for Varathorn; gives all of it to the clan

Rescues Deygan and brings him back to the camp

Kills Danyla*

Freed the Elvhen spirit; gained Arcane Warrior ability & memories*

Convinced Zathrien to break the curse; brokered peace

Dalish Recruited

                                           𝐎𝐑𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑

    In the heart of the Dwarven City, Nanna finds herself once again in the center of political struggle rather than finding their promised allies. Orzammar and on the brink of a civil war of its own; King Endrin is dead, and both his son Bhelen and his right hand Harrowmont vie for the throne they each claim right to. And without a king, there will be no one to send them aid from the Dwarves – the people who may very well be their most valued allies against the Blight. Their options for neutrality dwindle all too quickly.

    Having seen only the surface of these issues, Nanna seeks out Lord Harrowmont – a seemingly more gentle man whose abilities in leadership seem to so positively effect the people of Orzammar that they hope for his rulership – but treachery and each candidate’s fear of each other sends Nanna into a gauntlet meant to prove her loyalty. After winning the Proving and ridding Dust Town of Jarvia, her last test is to go into the Deep Roads to find the Paragon Branka; if not alive, then her remains will show the ‘Ancestor’s favor’ for Harrowmont.

    This attracts the attention of her husband, Oghren, who had  been trying for two years to gain this very opportunity. With his help and maps, they are guided through the maze of Darkspawn, lost cities and fallen thaigs, at last finding Branka amid a barricade deep in the caverns. But all is not well, as she seems to have gone mad in her search for the Anvil of the Void, willingly sacrificing their entire house and allowing their women to go through the worst of the Darkspawn's machinations to have bodies to throw at Caridin’s traps. Nanna and her party themselves fight their way through this gauntlet, and to their surprise, they find the old Paragon Caridin within, trapped in the body of a metal golem that has kept him alive all this time.

    He begs her to destroy the Anvil of the Void, for if anyone else were to get their hands on it, more golems would be created by his same method: the sacrificing of another life. Branka insists to keep the Anvil to build an army make the dwarves great again, one she’ll swear to the Warden, but gaining an army by sacrificing the lives of dwarves en masse is not a price Nanna is willing to pay. Branka perishes in the following battle and Nanna, allowing Caridin to end his life with peace, swears to destroy the Anvil so none could recreate his work.

    They return to Orzammar, crown in hand, to find the Assembly gathered and nearly in an uproar, demanding a vote for the new king before she enters. When the time comes to crown the king however, Nanna cannot find it in her to still endorse Harrowmont after everything she has seen. So, invoking the favor of the Paragons, she crowns Bhelen the new king of Orzammar.

Initially sides with Harrowmont; fights in the Provings & kills Jarvia in his name

Convinces the other proving members to fight

Convinces Zerlinda’s father to let her go home with her son

Agrees to arrange for Dagna to go to the Circle of Magi

Gives Leliana ‘Schmooples” the nug.

Gives Nadezda coin in kindness, and pays her later for her information

Sides with Caridin against Branka and destroys the Forge

Crowns Bhelen king

                                                  𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄

. 

Fully equips militia; Dwyn recruited

Tomas was killed

Pays Dwyn for Sten’s sword*

Jowan freed, but told to run away and not to return

Saves Valena, the Smith’s daughter

Chooses to seek the mages to free Connor from possession

Enters the Fade to face the demon herself

                                          𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐈𝐑𝐂𝐋𝐄

    With the fate of young Conner and the lives of Redcliffe hanging in the balance, Nanna can no longer avoid the inevitable. She must return home to the Circle of Magi to seek help from her fellow mages to seek their aid, both for Conner and the Blight encroaching ever more on their doorstep. But she would find there was more truth to the rumors she’d heard on the road than she’d dared to believe.

    Their arrival finds Kinloch Hold in a disastrous state; wounded Templars litter the great hall, blood stained across the stony floors, and a barricade at the door that would lead to the halls she once called her home and the battered forces of Knight-Commander Greagoir at the ready for battle. The worst has come to pass; mages throughout the Tower gathered to rebel against their Templar jailers, turning to blood magic amass overwhelming forces for the sake of freedom. But the coup has gone wrong, and now each floor is littered with demons, raging Abominations and the bodies of innocents.

For Greagoir, there is only one option going forward: The Rite of Annulment. To Nanna’s horror, he’d already sent the request to Denerim’s Grand Cleric for authorization, and she strikes a reluctant agreement with the Knight-Commander that the rite will be revoked if she can fight her way to the heart of this darkness, end this threat and return with First Enchanter Irving at her side. The clock is ticking for her to save what remains of her people.

Sided with mages

Killed the Blood Mage that surrendered on the second floor

Saves Irving and the head enchanters with the Litany of Adralla

                            𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒

There is no time to grieve. With Connor free from the influence of the demon, the Arlessa and Bann Teagan plead one more task from the Wardens, to heal Arl Eamon from Jowan’s poison. Yet with no cure to be found, they desperately turn to Isolde’s frail hope: the sacred ashes of Andraste.

Killed the Weylon imposter

Sent Brother Genetivi back to Denerim

Rejected Father Kolgrim’s proposition to defile the ashes

Awoke the Dragon guardian*

                                      𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏

.

Tricks Sophia into sealing the portal first

Allows Avernus to live; demands humane experiments

Drinks the Alchemic Concoction

                                                     𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐌

.

Completes the Crime Wave quests, & earns the title ‘The Dark Wolf’

Completes Ignancio’s assassination quests

Surrenders to Cauthrien to allow Anora and co. to escape

                                           𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓

.

Faces Loghain herself in single combat

Anora made sole ruler

Loghain is spared and recruited; Alistair leaves the party for good*

                                𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐌

.

Loghain performs the Dark Ritual

Morrigan fought in the battle with the Archdemon

                                    𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐒

All companions recruited ☼ ･°･⊱ Alistair reunited with Goldanna; encouraged to help her out; Hardened. Romanced. (note: for personal hcs and development only. Not applied to any rp partners unless discussed in depth) ☼ ･°･⊱ Defeated Flemeth in battle to obtain her Grimoire and return it to Morrigan ☼ ･°･⊱ Killed Taliesen alongside Zevran to grant his freedom. Allows him to choose for himself where he goes from there. ☼ ･°･⊱ Leliana taken to Denerim to confront her old Bardmaster; Marjolaine is killed; Hardened. ☼ ･°･⊱ Wynne taken back to the Dalish camp, able to reconcile with Aneirin ☼ ･°･⊱ Bargained with Dwyn, Sten’s sword returned ☼ ･°･⊱ Oghren taken to the Spoiled Princess to reconcile with Felsi; successfully brought together. ☼ ･°･⊱ Shale taken to Cadash Thaig to find their name and former life. ☼ ･°･⊱ Loghain taken back to Ostagar; given Maric's shield.

[compendiumhistoria]

This post has me devastated thinking about Zarrin & Elrevas in the same worldstate, discussing legacies, post-Hakkon pre-Trespasser or so. Just.

"You're Dalish. And yet you're seen as an Andrastian symbol so bright, flocks swarm to you. They'll drown out all that you are until they don't need you to believe in anymore."

"That outcome... would not surprise me."

"And this doesn't bother you? For all the Dalish pride themselves on remembering old ways and their pride as elves itself?"

"I understand you keep quite a few secrets. Want to hold another?"

"...Sure."

"Not much was known about the old Inquisition. But we found out that the last Inquisitor was a Dalish mage. All his efforts were for order and peace in the world, to keep the world going. So of course, all aspects of his identity were erased."

"And so of course, my question stands taller."

"I've read about you too, Surana: you lived in Denerim before you were taken to the Circle, correct?"

"Mother and I traveled a bit, but Denerim was where we ended up, yes. We weren't talking about me--"

"But I am going to. I've seen some reports of abuse and tight restraints on autonomy particularly at Kinloch. The transcripts of the Landsmeet where you revealed Loghain had dealt in slavery, selling out the alienage's people. As an elf mage, you've made your stances on these matters no secret despite your Wardenhood.

"What then, Surana, kept you from looking at the state of all things and saying fuck it, let the Blight take them? What impulse led you to save the world, even if it would've killed you and would've never thanked you for it?"

"...Hm. What legacies we'll leave, Lavellan."

"At least we'll make the shemlen work hard to erase us and our work. "

[kinlochstories]

[❤] Lucretia

there is beauty in simplicity. 

[stolenmagi]

it’s sinday, homies, and if you think lust is ros’s sin of choice you’d be wrong. it’s not even greed. surprisingly, not pride either. (though his harrowing featured a pride demon, still no.)

it’s envy.

it’s found in the way he gazes upon the vallaslin of other dalish, the fact he lost the title of keeper in exchange for a shem’s life. he doesn’t want that life anymore, necessarily. he knows if he ever were to return, he’d never become a keeper. he has no illusions of that. he wishes he could have had that choice for his life, and resents those who did.

it’s found when he’s behind the closed, barred windows of the circle tower. shems came here by choice. they gave him no such thing, they stripped away his culture, they stripped away who he was and left him half of what he could have been. they considered him stupid when he disobeyed. but there were others who had it easier. far easier. he envies the innocence that allowed them that path.

it’s found in the way he looks at wardens who enjoy their work. why do they feel joy in the life he’s had forced down his throat? why do they get to say who lives or dies, when they’re on death’s door? why did they bring him, of all people, back from the brink of death, when he wished for death in that moment? even in the scenario where the hero of ferelden befriends him, there are some things he can’t forgive easily. 

it’s found when he learns of the studies allowed in tevinter. there’s nothing he can do to get to that place, not in the current condition he’s in (what with the calling; he’s no idiot, even if he left he’d still be trapped) but they are allowed so much freedom. he wants it. he covets it. but he can’t have it, even if he tried for it. he is, after all, also an elf. 

this man is an envious little bastard, and it drives him. it demands his attention, and drowns out most everything else.

[washettes]

happy pride

well wishes to all historical lgbt folk