#neria & josephine

[platoniccereal]

thinking about josie being all "leliana please put down the knife" kind of friend and then surana appears at skyhold and josie hopes that at least leliana's soon-to-be wife may reason with her but all surana does is basically "mad respect to you fr but if my woman wants a little bit of murder here and there i can only enable her" and hypes up every leliana's decision massively.

[potatoesandsunshine]

they couldn't put my warden in the da:i era bc she would just start killing people

[alistairssock]

Seeing @sebvael doing kissy picrew with their DA characters and their love interests reminded me I did the kissy picrew a lil while back with mine

From top left to bottom right

Leliana and Neria - Zevran and Gwendolynn - Morrigan and Dyffros - Alistair and Phyllis - Fenris and Ymbert - Estra and Josephine - Morgan with Isabela and Anders

[inquisimer]

to all who feel rain

sneaking in under the wire of OC kiss week day 2 with some somft, tooth-rotting fluff :3 @dreadfutures' Ixchel & Neria share a warm drink and a moment of peace.

read it on ao3 here

Female Lavellan & Female Lavellan | Rated G | 647 words | No CW

-

Neria tripped through the mirror, soaked to the bone and dripping all over the tile. Ixchel looked up from the bar, already smiling. The bar was much more fun with company.

“Storm Coast?”

“Crestwood,” Wringing out her hair, Neria shook the cold and wet from her skin “Maker, why don’t the mirrors ever show up when I’m in Skyhold?”

“Give it time,” Ixchel chuckled. She grabbed a towel from the stack they kept on a warming rune behind the bar and tossed it in Neria’s direction. The elf patted herself dry, then finished the job with a simple drying spell that rippled the air around her as it flared over her skin and clothes.

“Tell me we have something hot to drink.”

Ixchel nodded, reaching for two mugs as Neria settled on one of the bar stools. There was a small cauldron simmering over a low-burning fire and she ladled the rich hot chocolate out in healthy amounts for each of them.

Neria wrapped her hands around the mug and drank deeply, shivering still as the warmth sank into her bones. She hummed and a slow, pleased smile stretched across her face. “Ahhh, that’s exactly what I needed.”

“Josephine can order it from traders out of Par Vollen, if you have coin.”

“Oh, we���ll find coin for that.”

Ixchel swung herself back up onto the bar top. Her bare heels kicked idly at the wood, bumping the oil lamp so the pooling light flickered and danced around them.

“So how is Crestwood?” she asked. Neria’s nose scrunched up and she sighed into her cocoa.

“Terrible, like everywhere is these days. And…odd, in many ways. Things that didn’t add up, coincidences that were a little too convenient.” She frowned. “Of course, we were traveling with Hawke, so my focus wasn’t particularly sharp. I probably just missed the connections that would make things add up.”

Interesting. Ixchel hummed her sympathy into her drink. She could offer little more than vague support—foreknowledge was a dangerous thing, when you held the future of many worlds over in your hand. Still, her steady presence was a comfort to Neria. She cupped her mug close to her side and leaned her head against Ixchel’s thigh.

“Seeking out the Wardens, then?”

“There’s really no other way at this point. I had hoped…well, that hardly matters now.” Neria sighed. I can only assume they have a good reason for whatever’s going on—Warden business rarely makes sense from the outside looking in. We just need to find the one person who can explain the apparent insanity to us.”

After so many years, Ixchel’s straight face was well-practiced. She wore it now, carefully drumming blunt nails down the edge of her mug. Nothing she could say would make much difference. Neria was simply venting in a way she only could to another Inquisitor—to someone who had been there, to someone who understood.

Ixchel set her drink aside and slid over the back of the bar. Another basket sat beside the towels, filled with soft blankets, each wrapped around a warming stone. She unfurled one and returned to her friend, draping it over her head and tucking it snuggly about her shoulders and neck. A shiver caught Neria by surprise—a rippling chill she hadn’t felt settle over her, chased away now. She offered up a grateful smile.

Ixchel stretched up to brush her lips across where Sylaise’ brands decorated Neria’s forehead.

“You’ll figure it out,” she said. “Freezing won’t help anyone in the meantime. Another drink?”

Neria nodded, her smile turning sheepish. Their fingers brushed as she handed the empty mug over, and again as Ixchel ladled it full and passed it back.

“Ma serranas.”

Ixchel gave her a knowing look, full of gentle understanding. “Rest, lethallin. The troubles of your world will be waiting when you get back.”

[nirikeehan]

first lines

rules:  share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able to and see if there are any patterns!

I got tagged by @rowanisawriter! Thank you for the tag, this is always a delight to do.

IDK if recently updated fics technically count but I'mma do it anyway bc I am lazy.

Upon reviewing them: I really love starting out with a setting detail. I'm gonna blame Inquisition for being fucking gorgeous for that one. Also I am impressed only two start out with dialogue – so often that has been my go-to way to start a scene lol. I am most impressed with the lines that put you right into the action... I should maybe work on doing that more.

Tagging, if interested: @theluckywizard | @oxygenforthewicked | @exalted-dawn-drabbles | @melisusthewee | @bluewren

---

These are all Dragon Age btw, the brainrot that keeps on going since 2020

Kingdom Come; Thalia x Thom Rainier

He has imagined her return a thousand times and a thousand times more.

2. Two Songs; Truth, Sadness, Sacrifice; Cullen & Samson

“Staring at the cards all night won’t change ‘em, kid,” Samson said.

3. World-Weary Assholes; Garrett Hawke & Thalia

“Where did that damned Inquisitor go?” Hawke asked Varric.

4. The Wingman at Griffon Wing; Rylen & Thalia

The blazing sun hung low on the horizon, washing the forbidding landscape in hues of blood red.

5. The Greater Good; Cullen & Samson

Cullen stood in the Gallows courtyard, sweating into his armor. 

6. Desert, Dragon, Soldier, Spy; Rylen x non-Inquisitor OC (exchange fic)

His first impression of her is a flash of white in a sea of orange.

7. But Never a Key; Cullen x Thalia, Cullen & Pravin

The Hinterlands were ablaze with autumn color.

8. An Unquenchable Flame; Cullen x Thalia, Cullen & Pravin

The wind howls through the night.

9. Things my heart used to know (things it yearns to remember); Cullen x Neria Surana Lavellan (exchange fic)

The argument in Josephine’s office was significant, from the sound of it.

10. Through a Glass, Darkly; Cullen x Thalia, Samson x Thalia

The sky hung low like a threat.

[savingthrcw]

@altuspavus replying to this

Neria didn't immediately respond, seemingly lost in thoughts - she wasn't, she was formulating her response - while looking at what at least was one lovely view from up there on the mountain.

"I say we go for a fistfight. This way the meat will be tender and ready to be cooked by the winner. I've got my blade's eternal flame to prepare it, so it should be fine." Implying that she'd be the winner of such game, of course. Her expression was just as serious, her tone a little more deadpan than his had been, but as always she had far more trouble controlling her lips so that she wouldn't smile. She failed once again, in fact, corners twitching up after her last words.

"And it wasn't my idea, but considering our conversation at the moment maybe our more diplomatic friends had a point. And I'm not counting you as such because you are far more easily corrupted, Josephine won't break in front of people. Take offense as you please, you know it's true."

[crossdressingdeath]

Your post about the Inquisitor having very little control over their choice of allies, how they're the only ones who are allowed to do anything/them taking over places/factions by force, and the PC wanting to disband the organization got me thinking of how I could apply that more to my multi-Inquisitor world state.

The origin that will for sure have the Mark is Lavellan, Keeper Deshanna Lalvellan. I am mainly using that as an excuse to have the entirety of her clan assemble at Skyhold per her request and to potentially rally more Dalish clans to the fight since she trusts them more than she'll ever trust the Chantry. That and I believe her being a Keeper would make for an Inquisitor that would function as a good leader for a large and varied organization.

Oh and to freak the Chantry out further, her first, Hissera, is half Qunari on her mother's side.

Kaaras Adaar would bring in most if not all of the Valo-Kas. They're heavily based on the Landsknecht, so they wear very flamboyant clothing under their armor and have bronze horn coverings. They do this to distinguish them from "true Qunari" and they have a rather large and expensive reputation.

Cadash would provide connections to the Carta, which could come in very useful for supply lines.

Trevelyan likely would bring in additional former Circle Mage allies.

Deshanna recruits both the Avvar and Fiona's mages.

She does this to nullify the Chantry's influence over the organization, by making the Chantry's forces completely outnumbered by non-Andrastians.

This obviously goes over poorly for Cassandra, who basically grows to hate Deshanna.

Leliana and Josephine secretly approve.

Cullen gets replaced since not only is he a Templar, his mental is pretty fragile due to his lyrium withdraw. With his replacement being the Valo-Kas leader Shokrakar.

The Chantry at large is pretty upset by this, to say the least. To the point where they disown the Inquisition.

I'll probably have Neria Surana join pretty early on for Leliana's sake since they're still a couple.

Merrill shows up with Isabela as their main Elven expert and rightfully takes Morrigan's place in the story.

The organization does disband shortly after Corypheus is killed, as there is nothing else for them to do or to keep them together as a group. Though they do keep in contact with each other, calling favors and whatnot.

Whether or not this affects Solas and Trespasser still needs to be fleshed out.

It would definitely affect Trespasser, since no Inquisition = no Exalted Council = nothing bringing Quiz to the Winter Palace. So you'd definitely need to figure out an alternate way to get the gang back into Solas's plans. But that does sound like an interesting AU! Part of the reason I haven't done any multi-Inquisitor (or multi-Warden, for that matter) AUs is that it's a lot of additional moving parts, and a lot of protagonists who've lost the protagonist slot and now have nothing to do. I do kind of want to do something with Lavellan, Adaar and Cadash, but I feel like that would be more AU than just "multiple potential Inquisitors in the Inquisition"...

Anyway, though. Yeah, having multiple Inquisitors present is very good for giving Quiz allies! That's a very compelling reason to do stuff with multiple Inquisitors.

[miladydewintcr]

Writing Prompts

Hello!! Welcome to my prompts page!! Starting Friday, I'll be taking prompts for the Dragon Age Drunk Writing Circle.

(More info below the cut!!)

I'd like to avoid any Veilguard characters until I've played the game, but I'm happy to explore pretty much anything from the other three. All the dynamics- platonic, romantic, antagonistic, I don't mind!

I'm also happy to write platonic interactions between... anybody!! Or just single character-focused drabbles!!

I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort, and for fluffy little ficlets, so expect to see a lot of those.

Ships I'm feeling atm: Alistair/Anora, Warden/Zevran, Warden/Leliana, Nathaniel Howe/Cousland, Hawke/Anders(/Justice), Carver/Merrill, Josephine/Inquisitor

Characters and platonic relationships I'm feeling atm: Loghain, Isabela, that Morrigan/Kieran/Flemeth dynamic, the Hawke siblings, Alistair/Warden post-Loghain being spared at the Landsmeet

I'm working on a dedicated page for my OCs, but in the mean-time they're:

Eleri Tabris- duelist rogue, Zevran romance, convinced Alistair and Anora to rule jointly, spared Loghain. Eleri can be very soft-- she tends to be very understanding towards children, and people on the lower rungs of society. Amongst the nobility though--- she spent 99% of DA:O threatening violence to every nobleman she met. She trusts none of them. Noblewomen (and generally any nobles who aren't men) get a bit of a pass, but they are on thin ice. Loghain was the first one she offered a chance to (much to Alistair's dismay!!). He intrigues her, as someone who didn't grow up amongst the nobility. Her relationship with Zevran was sort of "slowly, and-then-all-at-once". In my game, it played out so that

Zevran's loyalty mission triggered on the way to rescue Anora from Arl Howe

Arl Howe is ofc in the palace where Eleri's extremely traumatic backstory took place, so she's just about not having a panic attack the whole time

I mis-clicked and Zevran offered her his earring during this mission. She said she only wanted it if it meant something. He reacted as he does (imo he lashes out here because this is his attempt at making their relationship transactional-- you helped me, I'll give you this. He understands transactional. He doesn't understand his feelings, and confronting them terrifies him)

Eleri gets taken to Fort Drakon before they can reconcile. Zevran is part of her rescue team

He then re-offered her the earring soon after. I think it worked well this way because I can say the fear of potentially losing her at Fort Drakon is what made him realise that he actually really does want to spend the rest of his life with her, if she'll have him (which she will ofc, she adores him)

Neria Surana- spirit healer mage, Leliana romance, backed Anora for the throne, let Alistair kill Loghain. Neria's life before joining the Wardens was incredibly sheltered. The Circle is all she remembers. The world she encountered outside of Kinloch Hold is terrifying-- but so incredibly exciting, and honestly less scary than the older mages would've had her believe- darkspawn and all. She was drawn to Leliana, who had seen so much of the world already and who had so many fascinating stories to share. And slowly, over time, their nightly story-telling sessions evolved into something more. Post-DA:O their relationship is predominantly long-distance, although Leliana visits Neria wherever she's stationed when she can-- and once Leliana is made Divine, Neria suddenly has a lot of business to attend to in Orlais?? They snatch moments together when they can, and love each-other completely.

Coralie Hawke- purple f!Hawke mage, Anders romance, backed the mages, Carver is a Warden. Currently I'm working on a long-fic about Coralie where she escapes the Fade and builds her happily ever after with her found family. Generally, though-- humour is Coralie's coping mechanism. Since her father died, it's been her job to hold her family together. To keep them happy. And also, generally speaking-- if someone is laughing at her jokes, they aren't paying so much attention to the sparks dancing around her fingers. As her life and her family fall apart, she clings to her poorly-timed jokes like a raft. If she's laughing, it's okay. If people are smiling at her, she's alright. The mask only comes down amongst a few select people, and only in private. Essentially: she seems like the happiest, most confident person you've ever met, but she's actually held together with pieces of string and with hope.

Hissera Imekari Adaar- necromancy mage, romanced Josephine, sided with the mages. She has several names. Hissera (hope) is the one that she identifies with most, although her parents used both it and Imekari (child) interchangeably throughout her childhood (with 'Immy' remaining their nickname for her, however old she gets). Adaar (weapon, fire-thrower) is the name she adopted when she started work as a merc-- there aren't many jobs in the Free Marches for a qunari mage. I like to think post-DAI, she adds Montilyet to her long list of names, too. Hissera is somewhat awkward, especially around polite society. She puts a lot of effort into being lady-like, because she worries constantly about how her actions reflect back on Josie. Trying her best. Full of anxiety. Just wants everybody, in the entire world, to like her and be her friend.

Prompts: anything in this tag

[syrupwrit]

DADWC Prompt Post

Hello! Thank you for taking a look at my prompt post. 

As a reminder, please send asks to this account, syrupwrit!

If you would please submit the whole prompt along with a character, pairing, or topic, I would appreciate it. And, as always, if you’d like to just send me absolutely whatever as a prompt, that’s great! No need to stick to any list.

Prompt Lists/Ideas

Bottles of Thedas Prompts

Artifacts of Thedas Prompts

Dragon Age Lore Prompts

Serault Prompts

The Fall (2006) Prompts

Vague Prompts: Eerie Autumn 2

Betrayal Liners

Contextless Prompts for my Neria

Send me a song, poem, or quotation of your choice!

Current Interests - Characters

This Friday, September 20, 2024, I would love some horror, supernatural, creepy/eerie, or angst prompts!

Any characters from Origins, Awakening, or Inquisition (I need to revisit DA2, it's been a bit)

f!Surana Warden, "my Neria," an elf mage specializing in entropy/blood magic/shapeshifting, who starts out a shy little nerd dabbling in the forbidden—speaking with demons, trying to flirt with Cullen—and progressively hardens. Collected Neria snippets are here on AO3.

f!Cousland Warden, Elissa, a greatsword-wielding human warrior who is vengeful, ruthless, and manipulative and was created primarily to cause Leliana angst. So far she has appeared in one fic (f!Cousland/Leliana/Morrigan smut, rated E).

m!Adaar Inquisitor, Kaaras, a double-daggers Tal-Vashoth rogue who gradually starts buying into his own hype.

Current Interests - Ships & Friendships (but you can prompt anything!)

Alistair/Anora

Alistair/Zevran

Anders/Fenris

Anders/Justice

Anders/Merrill

Anders/Nathaniel Howe

Anders/Oghren

f!Cousland/Anora

f!Cousland/Leliana

Cullen/Samson

Dagna & anyone (friendship)

Ines Arancia/Wynne

Inquisitor/Josephine

Inquisitor & Sera (friendship)

Inquisitor & Samson (idk)

Inquisitor & Vivienne (friendship)

Leliana/Morrigan

Morrigan/Vivienne

Shale & Wynne (friendship)

f!Surana/The Architect

f!Surana/Cullen

f!Surana/Morrigan

f!Surana & The Architect (friendship)

f!Surana & Loghain (idk)

f!Surana & Morrigan (friendship)

f!Surana & Oghren (friendship)

Sigrun/Velanna

[candlekept]

Dragon Age World States

Torny Brosca ♕ — Sword & Shield Warrior | Champion & Guardian | ♡ Leliana Marian Hawke — Dual-Wielding Rogue | Shadow | ♡ Isabela Herah Adaar — Storm Mage | Knight-Enchanter | ♡ Sera

Lyna Mahariel — Dual-Wielding Warrior | Templar & Spirit Warrior | ♡ Zevran → Nika Kader — Dual-Wielding Rogue | Bard & Legionnaire Scout Garrett Hawke — Entropy & Arcane Mage | Force Mage | ♡ Anders Ashton Trevelyan ♕ — Archer Rogue | Artificer | ♡ Iron Bull

Devyn Amell — Creation & Entropy Mage | Spirit Healer, Blood Mage, & Battlemage | ♡ Morrigan Lorena Hawke — Two-Handed Weapon Warrior | Berserker | ♡ Merrill Berik Casash — Dual-Wielding Rogue | Tempest | ♡ Dorian

Recca Aeducan ♕ — Two-Handed Weapon Warrior | Berserker & Reaver | ♡ Alistair Gladys Hawke — Dual-Wielding Rogue | Duelist | ♡ Fenris Evelyn Trevelyan — Winter Mage | Rift Mage | ♡ Josephine

Kallian Tabris — Dual-Wielding Rogue | Duelist & Shadow | ♡ Leliana Catherine Hawke ♕ — Primal & Creation Mage | Spirit Healer | ♡ Sebastian Elda Cadash — Two-Handed Weapon Warrior | Reaver | ♡ Blackwall

Aedan Cousland — Archer Rogue | Bard & Assassin | ♡ Anora Tanner Hawke — Elemental & Spirit Mage | Blood Mage | ♡ Merrill Ilana Lavellan — Sword & Shield Warrior | Champion | ♡ Solas

Neria Surana — Primal & Spirit Mage | Arcane Warrior & Keeper | ♡ Alistair Lilian Hawke — Two-Handed Weapon Warrior | Reaver | ♡ Isabela Kaaras Adaar — Dual-Wielding Rogue | Assassin | ♡ Cassandra

Elyon Mahariel — Archer Rogue | Ranger & Assassin | ♡ Morrigan Rylan Hawke — Sword & Shield Warrior | Templar | ♡ Fenris Mana Lavellan — Spirit & Inferno Mage | Necromancer | ♡ Cullen

Vico Amell ♕ — Entropy & Spirit Mage | Shapeshifter & Blood Mage | ♡ Zevran Letty Hawke — Archer Rogue | Assassin | ♡ Anders

[sadcastichawke]

Mein liebelinge, I just wanted to thank you during this pandemic for being you and being alive. I’d love to get to know y’all a little better if only by knowing a bit about your OCs.

Are you an Adaar at heart? Does the Iron Bull make you want to rip all your clothes off or do you prefer the soft sweetness that is Josephine Montilyet? What about DA2? Did you kill Anders or support him so hard that Meredith popped a vein? Alistair or Loghain? I genuinely want to know, tell me all about your lives in Thedas 💜

[emptykitkat]

My ‘canon’ Hawke is poly with Fenris and Sebastian. Like he romanced Fenris in Kirkwall, but after the boom they both went to Starkhaven because they heard Sebastian was very depressed and they were like “hey we’ve been in love with you since Kirkwall but you were too dumb to notice so accept our love now because we don’t like seeing you sad.” It worked out really well too because a great place for Hawke to be ‘in hiding’ is between Sebastian’s sheets. (Everyone in the castle knows Hawke is there but they all collectively agree not to tell the chantry because if someone comes around asking about Hawke and Kirkwall, it might make Sebastian sad again and they can’t bear that)

My Surana is only dating Zevran but they keep Alistair around to third wheel so they can have someone reach the top shelf. He gets tired of it tho so the responsibility of helping the shorties gets passed around. (They do have a threeway with Isabela, but she conveniently leaves before helping)

My Adaar inquisitor has a three way with Josephine and their new mechanical arm. (“She’s not a thing Josie, she has a name. It’s Ima. Short for Immak Illsolas.”)

[roguelioness]

OC questionnaire

Tagged by @noire-pandora and @cleverblackcat - thank you! ♥

Tagging @kagetsukai, @ma-sulevin, @rosella-writes, @shannaraisles, @thevikingwoman, @redinkofshame, @wickedwitchofthewilds, @hoochieblues, @a-shakespearean-in-paris, @ejunkiet, @hoochieblues, @iarollane, @funkypoacher

THE BASICS

Character’s name: Neria Lavellan

Role in story: Reluctant Inquisitor, even more reluctant Herald.

Physical description: Neria is short (5′4) with a slender, willowy build that only marginally improves once she has access to regular meals. She has platinum-blond hair and forest-green eyes, both of which were part of the reason she chose Ghilan’nain’s vallaslin. There’s a sprinkle of freckles across her nose and cheeks that deepens in color with increased sun exposure. She bears an assortment of scars of all shapes and sizes covering the length of her body.

MBTI/Enneagram Personality Type:

ISFJ [the Defender] -  The Defender personality type is quite unique, as many of their qualities defy the definition of their individual traits. Though sensitive, Defenders have excellent analytical abilities; though reserved, they have well-developed people skills and robust social relationships; and though they are generally a conservative type, Defenders are often receptive to change and new ideas. As with so many things, people with the Defender personality type are more than the sum of their parts, and it is the way they use these strengths that defines who they are.

Type 6 [The Loyalist] - The committed, security-oriented type. Sixes are reliable, hard-working, responsible, and trustworthy. Excellent "troubleshooters," they foresee problems and foster cooperation, but can also become defensive, evasive, and anxious—running on stress while complaining about it. They can be cautious and indecisive, but also reactive, defiant and rebellious. They typically have problems with self-doubt and suspicion. At their Best: internally stable and self-reliant, courageously championing themselves and others.

INTERNAL LIFE

What is their greatest fear?

Loneliness. Neria had a typical childhood, with friends she played often with, and she never felt alone. Once she she developed magic, however, she had to train to control her power and could not spend as much time with her playmates and so grew apart from them. Being appointed First made that gap wider. Even though she was well-liked by everyone in her clan, she often felt quite alone. In the Inquisition she made good friends who gave her a place where she felt like she belonged, and a lover who offered her the security she so desperately desired. Losing either would be painful; losing both would send her  spiraling into misery.

Inner motivation:

She strives to do what’s right. She went to the Conclave because the hunter who was to go was in love and wanted to get married, and it did not seem fair to her. She joined the Inquisition because the Breach needed to be closed, and Corypheus needed to be defeated. It is also why she strive to redeem Solas, even though several of her friends would rather see him killed.

Kryptonite:

Indecision. She worries often if the decisions she makes are the right ones, especially around the war table where a wrong choice can have disastrous consequences.

What is their misbelief about the world?

That humans are inherently selfish and are only concerned with their own gain.

Lesson they need to learn:

That despite doing her best she cannot control the outcome of situations.

What is the best thing in their life?

Her friends. All of them come from varied backgrounds and they have helped broaden her mind and her experiences. More importantly, they’ve given her a place where she feels truly welcome.

What is the worst thing in their life?

The shattering of her beliefs. Learning what she did at the Temple of Mythal shook her greatly. Everything that happened after - learning she was bound to a mostly-dead goddess, the truth of the vallaslin, the truth of the previous Inquisitor, the truth of the elven gods - it stripped away all of the things she had once been secure in, and leaves her incredibly uncertain and out-of-control.

What do they most often look down on people for?

Intolerance, and judging people based on what they look like. She also dislikes people who are inflexible and rigid.

What makes his/her/their heart feel alive?

The small moments. Sunrise over the Frostbacks. Wildflowers near the road. Laughter over mugs of ale. Quiet conversation around a campfire. Holding hands with a lover, fingers twined. 

What makes them feel loved, and who was the last person to make them feel that way?

Compassion and understanding. Though she misses Solas terribly she won’t say he’s the last person who offered her love because she knows there are different types of love. Her friends make her feel loved in their own ways, and she appreciates that.

Top three things they value most in life?

Knowledge, compassion, patience.

EXTERNAL LIFE:

Is there an object they can’t bear to part with?

A necklace that belonged to her great-great grandmother. It’s a circular disc of halla horn onto which is carved a rune of protection, hanging from a leather cord. Her great-great-grandfather, who was the clan’s keeper at the time, made it for his wife, and it was passed down to the eldest. She offered it to Solas, but he knew how much it meant to her and instead suggested she make one like it for him - which she did.

Describe a typical outfit from top to bottom.

She tends to favor simple cuts, but develops a fondness for fabric. Highever weave, royale sea silk, imperial vestment cotton and dales loden wool are some of her favorites. She prefers tunics and pants, with some amount of embroidery, and her boots are well-crafted and sturdy.

What names or nicknames have they been called through their life?

What is their method of manipulation?

- Da’len (her parents, adults in the clan, the Keeper)

- Silver (Varric)

- Ner-bear (Dorian, though Bull uses it to annoy her)

- Fenor (Solas)

Neria doesn’t actively manipulate; most of the time she uses the way other people view her against them. She knows a great many people see her as only a knife-ear, as uneducated and unintelligent and “savage”, so she’ll play into that, all the while gaining information from them that she passes on to Leliana and Josephine.

In battle, her small size and build means she can remain hidden as she attacks. If someone does attempt to fight her they soon discover she’s not as weak as she appears to be.

Describe their daily routine.

With clan Lavellan it was more relaxed; there would always be some time spent learning, mending, aiding other people, but there was no routine set in stone.

With the Inquisition, her routine varies wildly depending on whether she’s out on the field, or at Skyhold. Even at Skyhold no two days are the same. The only things she sticks to for herself is an hour or reading in the morning (usually with tea) and dinner with Solas.

Their go-to cure for a bad day?

Hot, fragrant tea, lots of finger foods, a trashy novel.

GOALS:

How are they dissatisfied with their life?

Post-Inquisition she’s lost, and steadily gets more so. Everything she thought she knew turned out to be wrong, and she struggles with regaining some of that sense of self.

What would bring them true happiness or contentment?

Security. A sense of steadiness. A place that she can call her own, where she doesn’t have to be alone. 

What definitive step could they take to turn their dream into a reality?

Neria wishes she knew. She could go and create a home for herself, but she would be alone. Or she could go after Solas to demonstrate to both of them that they don’t have to be alone, but it means she can’t have a home. She doesn’t know how she can get both.

How has their fear kept them from taking this action already?

She tries her best, but between the loss of her arm and the knowledge that Solas is so much more powerful than her, she fears she won’t be able to succeed.

How do they feel they can accomplish their goal while still steering clear of the thing they are afraid of?

She very deliberately does not think about it. When she does, she thinks about what Varric once said: heroes don’t get happy endings. (She hopes, desperately, that he’s wrong).

[inquisimer]

I'M COMING BACK FOR MORE with a poetry prompt for Cullen x Neria pls: "For stones, opening / is not easy / Staying closed is / less pain but / your anger finally / is more dangerous." (Margaret Atwood)

niri niri niri happy dadwc!! some WEWH Neria/Cullen for this week uwu

for @dadrunkwriting

wc: 776

~~~

Neria’s bare feet whispered across the tile of the Winter Palace, the soft pad of her footwraps contrasting sharply with the click of heels. No one was looking at her and yet she felt the weight of more than a dozen gazes prickling the back of her neck as she made yet another circuit about the ballroom.

At her elbow, Josephine fluttered with anxious pleasure. It was certainly something to see the ambassador in her element, even as she nagged and pleaded in murmurs hidden behind smiles. She was on about the Dowager now, and the precise correct moment for Neria to approach her, but as they rounded the banister near Lady Mantillilon, something else entirely caught Neria’s attention.

Cullen, absolutely dashing in his dark uniform and fur-lined half-cape, but increasingly uncomfortable as he edged away from the flock of frilly skirts who pressed into his space. His back hit the wall and a spike of anger pinned Neria’s ears flat against her head.

Orlais was a country of masks, of secrets and intrigue. They’d drilled this into her back at Skyhold, that nothing forthright or blatant would gain traction at the Winter Palace. It was only that knowledge that kept her lips from pulling back to bare her teeth in a snarl.

“Mind your dress, Inquisitor,” Josephine murmured, melting into the shadows with a furrowed brow as Neria stalked forward.

These vultures were not mages, but the force of Neria’s anger was palpable and it thinned the Veil enough to set them on edge. Their fans fluttered faster and their titters pitched higher as they pretended not to notice the Inquisitor’s approach.

Cullen had noticed, though, and he was too Fereldan to try and pretend otherwise. He undoubtedly felt the Fade warping to her anger, even without fresh lyrium in his veins, and his frantic eyes found purchase on her fearsome visage.

She was dressed as a taunt, a reminder, a threat. Leaves and vines in various metals twisted up her bodice in an unmistakably elven design and her skirts were but constructs of the Fade, energy from the Rifts and beyond the Veil, bent to swoop and flutter as she walked. She wore a half-cape of her own, a blood-red reminder of her allegiance with a decorative pauldron—dragon bone bent to powerful runes and Dalish imagery—capping her shoulder

She wanted to draw a fist of stone across the Veil and pummel these imbeciles to pieces. Wanted to pull the dagger from the small of her back and slash their ridiculous outfits to shreds, slice the foolish masks from their pathetic faces. But she felt the stares from her ambassador and spymaster, just paces away, and knew she could not, for the night was not yet through and to lose their access here would be to lose the world.

Instead she pushed her fury outward like a shield and the force of it pressed the foolish lords and ladies away from her commander. She walked across their absence, chin jutted out, and clasped her hands behind her back.

“Commander, if you would?” She inclined her head toward the balcony.

“As you say, Inquisitor.” His relief was a bit more obvious than Sister Nightingale might have liked, but preferable to, say, drawing his sword on any of the Orlesians. With a fierce glare to discourage any of his hazers from following, they passed out into the cool night air.

They were barely free of the ballroom when Cullen’s hand unclenched from the pommel at his hip and found the hair at the nape of his neck.

“I—thank you,” he said, sagging ever so slightly. “I am sorry to have pulled you from your more important duties.”

Neria turned on one bare heel and held her hands out for him to take, if he wished. He did so and she laced their fingers together, pressing gentle kisses across his knuckles.

“You did not pull me anywhere,” she told him. “I chose to walk away.”

She gestured toward the palace with their joined hands. “I cannot burn it down without condemning the world we’re trying to save. But I can—and will—let it smolder, because you are far more important than any secrets I could glean, any favors I could earn.”

She looked out across the gardens, suddenly conscious of how serious his gaze on her had grown. Mindful of her dress, her hair, Cullen tugged her to his side and brushed a kiss across the shaved skin behind her ear.

“I can endure.”

“I know you can,” Neria said. “But you already are—so many things. This does not have to be another.”

[paragonrobits]

After reading your Adaar Lavellan post, it inspired me to create something similar to that concept. I hope you don't mind. Hissera (Qunlat for 'hope') is half-elven and half Qunari, with a Dalish father and a Tal-Vashoth mother who is a former Saarebas, who joined the Lavellan clan. Inheriting her mother's gift of magic, she would later become the clan's First. A controversial move among the various Dalish clans.

In terms of appearance, she is extremely tall just like her mother, standing around 8'4. At a distance she looks just like any Qunari, however, she has slightly smaller horns, an elven nose bridge, and her ears are larger. She would really dislike being labeled as the "Herald of Andraste" due to her absolute hatred of the Chantry. Though does her best with a bad situation by trying to help people as much as she could including nominating Leliana as Divine due to their similar sentiments.

Her relationships with almost all of her companions would be interesting, to say the least.

With Bull, he represents the very thing her mother risked everything to escape and continued to be hunted by even after Hissera was born. She is a little surprised when he decides to save the Chargers. Not because she thought he didn't care for them, quite the opposite, rather she didn't know if his loyalty to them was above the Qun's.

While she and Sera want to help people, they do but heads a lot over 'elfy' things. Though they do argue less as time goes on, though they still through friendly jabs at one another. Usually in the form of puns such as 'horny-elf' and 'plaid-i-pants'

Members heavily associated with the Chantry are at the very bottom of her list for obvious reasons. She and Cullen might as well be enemies, due to him being a Templar and his view of mages. A lot of their 'conversations' are really shouting matches that can be heard throughout the entirety of Skyhold. While Cassandra is someone she can work well with but doesn't really have much in the form of friendship.

The only exception to the above group is Leliana, especially after Neria Surana returns to help with the Inquisition and helps Leliana find herself again.

She and Vivienne do consider each other friends despite their very clashing views on how treated of mages should be changed.

Blackwall/Thom have a very good banter between them, being one of the few humans to not immediately treat her with mistrust or disdain. The friendship would fracture quite a bit once he revealed his lie, though they built it back up slowly.

Cole is her adopted son.

She and Solas are frenemies. They love and can't stand each other at the same time.

Dorian is someone she bundles along with the Chantry members, though eventually considers him a close friend. Though this isn't without many personal conversations, heart-to-hearts, and the fact Dorian is willing to change and wants to institute change in Tevinter. A mindset that I feel both Cullen and Cassandra lack. She and Josephine eventually become a couple, though the two try their best to keep it away from the other people of Skyhold, valuing privacy. Her meeting the Montilyets and them meeting her clan are events Varric would only dream of being able to write about.

For her duel with Otranto, he has to commission a special rapier for her due to her hands being too large to hold a normal one. He tells her to keep the weapons after their duel and even offers to teach her to fence properly.

This is an EXTREMELY good and well-thought out idea and I strongly endorse it! It makes a very good Inquisitor who stands as a useful mid-point between the Lavellan and Adaar storylines, and I don't think its unusual to say that the Qunari and Elf origins in particular seem to make the most interesting characters overall, given the space they inhabit in the series as a whole.

In particular, there's elements here that strongly enforce this vague idea I have that qunari are elvish in origin (as they have a few physical features, such as the ears, only displayed by elves), possibly as elves mutated by exposure to dragon blood until they eventually became something distinct.

honestly im really fascinated by the idea of Dalish discourse about her! Generally I take the viewpoint that Dalish viewpoints on qunari range from 'at least they're not humans with a history of actively tormenting us' to a guarded dislike for the Qun subverting city elves from what they feel should be their ancestral religion and culture, but with the general point that the Dalish are not as wary towards them as they might be towards Andrastians of any stripe.

The companion viewpoints here are very good and generally I agree with them, particularly the issues with the companions rooted in the Chantry. I'm quite interested in the Solas dynamic, since there's quite a lot to mine there!

Top tier Qunari Inquisitor concept!

[tabriscadash]

I was asked this on my old blog right as I set about transitioning to this one, so...

The first character I ever fell in love with: for DA:O, dare I say Daveth? What can I say -- I irrationally got incredibly attached to him. otherwise, DEFINITELY Morrigan, and I have crystal clear memories of my first run through Lothering and looking at Morrigan like 😍 the whole time. For DA:2/E, Carver -- unless you count Anders & Justice since I knew of them from Awakening beforehand, in which case probably Justice. For DA:I, it’s a toss-up between Vivienne or Cole -- I technically liked Cole first but SPECIFICALLY in the supporting material (Asunder), and didn’t vibe with him anywhere near as much in the game, AND I got him as a companion after I got Vivienne, so probably Vivienne.

A character that I used to love/like, but now do not: for DA:O, I guess Oghren? I never loved him, but I liked the idea of him because I really liked the dwarves/Orzammar side of DA’s worldbuilding -- but he’s such an unlikeable character that I just.. don’t vibe with him at all. I debate recruiting him every single time now, and I don’t think I ever do his personal quest (in the base game OR Awakening). for DA:2/E, I don’t really have anyone that fits -- but I REALLY wanted to like Merrill and Aveline more than I did, and especially in Aveline’s case, I can’t stand her and genuinely think she’s the unintended, secret Big Bad of the whole game. for DA:I, probably Cole, bc I was really into the idea of a little walking-corpse serial killer animated by a spirit as per the book, but that’s not really the vibe in DA:I, and combined with the somewhat patronising/ableist language and how significantly he is infantilised (including by the fandom) I just got put off him. I do still like him, but not as much.

A ship that I used to love/like, but now do not: for DA:O, I don’t really have one? I guess see my DA:I answer, lol... for DA:2/E, has to be Anders - I don’t think he’s OOC in 2, but I think his writing does so little with him and he feels v. reductive. Where his relationship could be SO interesting and angsty, it instead is written in a really dull and/or cringey way. It would have been nice to see Anders more like the Anders of Awakening near the beginning of the game (rather than random, infrequent and questionably rare snippets), and then see the progression of his relationship with Justice as the game went on -- I want more interesting abominations, PLEASE. for DA:I, listen I cannot express to you HOW EXCITED I was for my planned Lavellan to romance Sera… also I used to be way more tolerant of Cullen x Amell/Surana ships because, like, hey dark ships are fun, right? But since Cullen’s ~wholesome whitewash~ in DA:I, and his fandom clamouring to absolve him of any wrongdoing ever.. it’s boring to me.

My ultimate favourite character™: for DA:O, probably Sten? or Morrigan. They’re both fantastic, and also are significant comfort chars for me. for DA:2/3, honestly, probably my own Hawke -- I feel so hugely proud of her, and can’t imagine I’d enjoy the game anywhere near as much had I not played it as my Hawke. If not her, maybe Sebastian or Carver? for DA:I, I really love Vivienne, as well as Blackwall, and Solas is a great character even if I probably would not say I liked him.

Prettiest character: for DA:O, we all know it’s Zevran. for DA:2/E, I think Aveline -- although her aggressively bland colour-scheme lets her down in a major way (although I respect her dedication to all orange all day every day). There’s just something about her arms -- very Abby from TLOU:2. for DA:I, maybe Josephine? Ser Barris is very pretty, too...

My most hated character: for DA:O, I really didn’t like Alistair, Wynne and Oghren, and of my companions - Oghren is probably my least favourite. He’s vulgar and also profoundly uninteresting. for DA:2/E, it has to be Aveline. There’s just something about ineptitude and a complete, wilful refusal to take accountability for your actions that I can’t stand. It would be okay if it was an intentional character flaw, but the game/narrative treats her like she’s lawful good and it really annoys me. for DA:I, maybe Iron Bull? He was a huge disappointment for me. I also really dislike Sera, Cassandra, and Varric. I’m so sick of Varric - I never want to see him again.

My OTP: for DA:O, I really loved Zevran’s romance -- but I am also very amused by the fact that Leliana got to ‘love’ status with Kallian accidentally, AND I got the ‘love’ glitch for Justice (👀) and Velanna. I do sometimes wonder about an AU where Kallian is forced to make a politically expedient marriage with Nathaniel Howe for diplomatic reasons in order to consolidate her position as Arlessa, and it being an entirely platonic arrangement (it’s not like anyone expects an heir from an infertile Grey Warden) -- and maybe Zev and Nate kiss sometimes, who knows? I also LOVE my Darkspawn Chronicles AU where Kallian and Nelaros are a happy, married couple each hiding their skills with weapons from each other like dumb, cute sweethearts. They shelter Zevran when he fails to kill Alistair and a poly couple evolves. for DA:2/E, I love the IDEA of a Seb romance that isn’t so strictly conditional around the structures that abused him -- he should be allowed to love, chastely or otherwise, but free from the Chantry OR his position as prince/heir. I’d LOVE to actually have a romance with him where you can actually challenge the abuse he’s experienced. for DA:I, Malika doesn’t have a canon romance (although I think when I replay, I’m going to romance Josephine!) but I think Blackwall has an amazing romance. Solas’ is also iconic, it must be said. 

My NOTP: for DA:O, I really dislike Alistair in a shipping capacity; he’s immature and says a lot of misogynistic shit and I don’t think he’s the worst for it, but I don’t really vibe with shipping him, having played the game as a female city elf. for DA:2/E, I wouldn’t say I have one, particularly? although I really dislike Aveline’s relationship with her husband simply because it seems incredibly inappropriate, given that they work together and she has power over him -- and because I dislike her, generally, I don’t feel inclined to do something nice for her. for DA:I, I suppose Sera/Lavellan -- although I’m not AGAINST it, it just really isn’t for me, having attempted it. I also don’t really vibe with Dorian x Iron Bull. Something abt the way the game handled BDSM and their relationship banter specifically I don’t really like.

Favourite episode quest: for DA:O, probs Orzammar/the Deep Roads. I really love the dwarven lore! and, of course, Fort Drakon is really funny, even though it’s not canon in my game iirc. for DA:2/E, maybe the murder mystery with the serial killer, where ultimately Leandra dies? I also really enjoyed all the companion quests. for DA:I, The Descent (just, all of it, lmao) and everything to do with the Avvar. Crestwood also BANGED.

Saddest death: for DA:O, it’s frankly a fucking INJUSTICE that Shianni gets murdered if you make her Bann of the Alienage -- the idea of that happening whilst Kallian is in Amaranthine and unable to protect her :( genuinely very upsetting. I go back and forth on who is made Bann, tbf, so idk how canonical it is: I think maybe Cyrion would get it, but I’m also endeared to Soris holding the position, with Shianni as Hahren. for DA:2/E, Bethany. I wish both twins had had the chance to reach Kirkwall :(. Let Leandra die instead. for DA:I, maybe not the saddest death, but the most memorable for me was that one sleeping dragon in the Hissing Wastes.. leave her alone. Stay out of a womans’ business.

Favourite season game: DA:O!

Least favourite season game: DA:I.

Character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but I hate: for DA:O, Alistair. I cannot deal with his complacency and hypocrisy. for DA:2, I really disliked Merrill but I honestly cannot remember why. DEFINITELY Varric -- I hated how the game forces you to be his best friend, and if you’re low approval, you have to endure these pointless pissy little comments with this little anti-dwarf centrist pissant. After the expedition, I literally have no reason to put up with him, and I NEVER take him out. I hate that he plays the same role in DA:I, too. for DA:I, the Iron Bull was hugely disappointing, and I also really don’t vibe with Cassandra. She just seems very wishy-washy and complacent and hypocritical, and many of her comments about other cultures seem snide for literally no reason other than bigotry. 

My ‘you’re a piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: for DA:O, lbr probably Sten. Mans is gonna launch a HORRIFYING invasion in the next game iirc and frankly, I’m ok with it. Just wanna see that big bastard again ❤🥵. for DA:2/E, I LOVE Gamlen, ok? for DA:I, I am not sure if I have one.

My ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: for DA:O, if any of you so much as LOOK at Velanna wrong, it’s hands. That includes Bioware. I also feel incredibly protective of and sad for Morrigan. for DA:2/E, probably Sebastian -- I feel so sad for him, and so frustrated by the limitations with the game. for DA:I, I’m honestly not sure.. maybe Josephine? I don’t really feel this way about Sera, but I do think she deserves better from the game and its writing, and also from fandom: there are valid criticisms of her, but the hate she gets is not proportional to any valid issues with her -- and gee, I wonder why that is.

My ‘this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it’ ship: for DA:O, I did use to find Cullen x Surana/Amell intriguing as a dark ship -- I actually hc that Neria Surana is actually Nelaros’ sister, and have dabbled with it as a dark ship. I also am interested in Loghain/Alistair - which each pretends the other is someone else. Alistair is wooby, hate ships are, in general, fun -- so long as we acknowledge that they are, indeed, unhealthy ships. for DA:2/E, I kind of feel like Sebastian romances are, invariably, kind of dark... and, similarly, Anders romances -- especially with certain red Hawkes, The way it ends is, invariably, bordering on fucked up. ALSO Hawkecest is weird and wonderful: GET WITH IT. 

My ‘they’re kind of cute, and I lowkey ship them, but I’m not too invested’ ship: for DA:O, I joked about Velanna x Leliana once and I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it ever since… Velanna x Sigrun is also something that can be so personal. Ariane x Finn is adorable and are paid DUST by Bioware AND fandom. I actually am really into Anora x Nathaniel & NO I will NOT explain myself; it’s a crackship but it’s MY crackship. for DA:2/E, Isabela x Fenris is super cute, but I don’t pay enough attention to them to really have super committed thoughts & feelings on them. for DA:I, Blackwall x Josephine is cute as a background ship; I also think Maryden x Cole is sweet.