#prison of regrets

[flushwithdarlings]

"You already have everything you need."

[bloedewir]

Fine maybe I'm dumb (it's a possibility, I daresay) but I really can't understand all that Prison of Regrets plan.

What is Rook supposed to regret about?

Varric is always extra supportive like a proud mother. "You did great! You can do it! WOO-HOO GO VEILGUARD 🥳". Rook questioned their decisions after the ritual site (Harding/Neve choice and Varric got injured), but even then they don't have a chance to feel something close to regret.

Solas acts like a bitch (depending on the story) at the beginning, so I thought, "yup here it is" and I even tried to play the "oh i screwed up with Weisshaupt it's all my fault" card but he said it was a victory.

I mean.. ???

How Rook can even get trapped in the Prison if Solas and his Varric minion just didn't give Rook a chance to regret anything they did?

Solas was supposed to do one simple thing: grow guilt. His words mean nothing to Rook (depending on relationship) but Varric's? Oh, he could use it. He should've use it. Varric don't actually blame Rook, but make them doubt? Varric commenting on their deeds? Varric says something like: "are you sure you're up to this job, kid?" and "so there were no other options at all?" and "well, shit.. let's hope it was right thing to do".

Solas said he had to mold Rook into someone he could use as a replacement. But it seems like he molds Rook into the person he never allow himself to be but wanted to: someone who's not alone in the darkness, someone who has supportive friends to help get through all this, someone who doesn't feel guilt for every step they make.

Solas shouldn't be so surprised when he sees Rook in Minrathous because.. hello it's you "molded" them, no? You and your stupid supportive attitude. You're one of the reasons why Rook is still fighting.

You made them stronger, you dumb wolf.

[clairedelune-13]

My HC is while Solas is trapped, following him are ghostly, Fade-aspects of Lavellan and Varric.

That’s why he hates it there.

He doesn’t need reminders of the ass he could’ve tapped but didn’t cuz he’s a dunce.

I mean, he can NOW but at the time, a painful reminder. 🤣

[mllenugget]

The exact opposite of being doomed by the narrative

I discovered this game while playing with a group of friends on Halloween, and I must say it was quiet immersive because we each wanted different things so we always had to argue together on what to do before the Voices would Took 3 days to complete a single run

[magerightsmagefights]

Nothing Rook can say to Solas will ever be more savage than Spite looking him in the eye and going “Hmm. Smells like lies and crying.”

[refrainee]

"I regret the pain that i have caused you..."

When rook in the regret prison, there are statues of the companion who had been sacrificed like neve/bellara and harding/davrin. What if, solas experienced the same when he's in the prison, but it's the statue of his vhenan.

[merrinla]

Prison of Regret cut content

According to the devnotes in the text file, the prison was originally different from what we see in the game. Rook first wandered in the darkness, then along a bloody path among fallen comrades. In the end, the path was supposed to lead to the Demon of Regret who could change its appearance and voice to put pressure on Rook. There was a choice to confront it or give in.

Alone in the Dark Rook awakes in darkness, alone. Chains appear to have attached themselves to Rook. Attempting to gain a bearing, Rook starts to hear a voice. The voice sounds like Solas, but different. A path appears before them. Rook attempts to get answers from the voice while following the trail. Blood Leading the Blind The path resembles blood dripping over the edge of a cliff. The trail disappears after rook moves forward. The Voice returns to inform Rock they have swapped places with Solas. Rook Demands answers, but is taunted in return. A small light appears at the end of the path. Reaching the Light fills the screen with white. A still image of Solas appears when the white fades. He is striding out of a opening in the fade. This scene is identical to the one where Rock was moments ago. Approaching Solas triggers a banter about Solas with the voice. Approaching the Portal triggers a banter about the prison. Reminded of the Lost The set pieces fade away into the darkness, the path continues beyond. Escaped, but the battle has just begun. Figures come into view as Rook travels down the path. They are the fallen followers from the Ghilan'nain's battle, Frozen in their death throes. The scene is frozen in time capturing the moments Rooks followers died along with a scene of Ghilan'nain. Taunted by the Lost The followers that died taunt rook. Banter will play as players fumble around the space and while they progress down the path. Banter line about the First Fallen Follower Banter line about the Second Fallen Follower Another flash of white fills the screen. The mighty have Fallen Rook finds themselves on the walls of Weisshaupt. Similar to earlier, the scene is frozen in time. Rook walks the ramparts with the still battle around them. The voice speaks of moments from the battle. Banter line about Ghilan'nain. Manipulation Manifest The voice asks why Rook is here. Rook responds by mentioning Varric. The scene fades away. Rook finds themselves on another trail, however this time there is a doorway at the end outlined in the darkness. Passing through the doorway leaves Rook inside Varrics room. Suddenly the furniture and the walls will fall away, revealing a pile of rocks. Approaching the rocks triggers the Varric Reveal scene. First/second/third/fourth banter of characters. Get the Characters speaking about Varric. Challenge the Demon of Regret by walking towards it. Regret Changes its appearance and voice to imitate characters Rook has interacted with in an attempt to stop Rook in their tracks. Changes again to another character. Changes to one last character. Within the Conversation there are non-standard game overs depending on which response is chosen. Give-in to Regret Confront Regret Approaching the Demon, Rook overcomes their regret. Triggering the outro cine. Rook emerges from the Prison, where all their followers await them. After the hugs and jubilation, the group sets off to stop Solas and Elgar'nan will new found determination.

The text also contains some lines from the dialogue with the demon.

----------

What is this! Is someone there! Hello! Rook. Solas? Solas, you...! It's like... walking against a wall. Follow the line, I guess. Where does this lead?

What... what am I seeing? It's what you chose. The tipping point. What are you? What's the point of this? This is the truth of your actions. Your tipping point.

The moment of freedom. A god walks free, because another took his place. Someone who played the role. Solas built a cage that could hold the gods. You trapped him, but were also his way out. You're not Solas. What are you? Another god? I am the lock on this prison.

Keep going, Rook. It's a long way back. Back? To what...? I'm not moving without answers! I deserve answers. You will get what you deserve.

You're more like Solas than you know. It's the blood on your hands. What blood? Show me!

Neve/Bellara? No. You're fake, like Solas.

(Neve banter) I fought for you, Rook. You led me to this. She'd call me Trouble, make some joke to hide how she feels. She wasn't fighting for me. She wouldn't say that.

(Bellara banter) Was this what I fought for, Rook? Was it worth it? She'd never say that. Every moment was worth it. She knew why she was fighting. Didn't need me to tell her.

You're not her. Not real. Live long enough, the only thing that's real is what you've lost.

(Harding banter) I did everything for you, Rook. And then you left me. Lace would blame herself. That would hurt more. Her voice, but she'd never try to hurt someone like that. You don't know her. Not like I did.

(Davrin banter) I saved you, Rook. What was the point? That's not how he'd challenge me. How he'd tease me about it. He'd have saved anyone. Done it for the challenge alone. You don't know him. Not like I did.

If the pain is great enough, appearances can be all that matter.

You're stealing these voices. If this is the Fade, are you a demon? I am Regret. The Regret of a god. And you are a speck that I will consume forever. You feed me regardless.

Wardens, hold the wall! This is our house! Hold that wall, Wardens! Push them back!

A face in the sky. Like no Blight before. The Mother of Monsters.  Like no Blight before.

That's Weishaupt. I saved the Wardens. You saved some of the Wardens. And they're dead, aren't they.

I came to warn them. Their plan wasn't going to work. I tried to warn them. The gods changed everything. They didn't know about the gods. Why were you here? I told you, to warn them. That's what you came to do, not why you were here.

But why you, Rook? Because I trapped Solas. Because Varric—

Why show me this? To make me give up?

Ascend. What? Rise to match the gods. Rise above those who died. See why you lead.

You won't keep me here! Said it yourself, this cage is for gods! I'm not like them! Not like Solas! "A cage built for gods." Or mortals with delusions.

I'll get out, you know. I get out of things. Solas got out. Stubborn. Another thing you and Solas share. Another? What's the first? The regret. The blood on your hands.

You want to know how he swapped places with you? How your regret could match his? Every choice you've made, you owe to this. This is the moment that put lives in your hands. Welcome to your cage. The moment why you lead.

When Varric showed you the cost of leadership. And the god of lies regretfully killed him. He was always...? Always.

The first fight against Solas? Varric is still... Right where you left him. This... is the moment Varric died. But this regret isn't mine.

The god of lies abhors blood magic, but made an exception for you. He had to do it. You made him do it. Varric died at that ritual. You didn't want to face it. And with a little blood magic, you didn't have to. The moment Solas used. When the blood on your hands clouded your mind. Solas was trapped in his own cage, but if your regret grew, he could escape. Only by trading you. Shaping you. Until your regret matched his. So Varric lived on, in your mind, until it could hit you all at once. This is the end. When he traded his regret for yours. This is the very real loss that let Solas swap his regret... for yours.

Regret is the price we pay for acting when no one else will. That's what leaders say. When they get people killed for the greater good. When they toy with lives.

It was lies. The whole time... I was toyed with. Lied to.

This mistake. This failure. And it can never be undone.

Do you see? How everyone says one thing, but you hear another? (Laughs.) Poor "injured" Varric.

(demon shows Rook memories of the companions?) [TEMP] Mementos - Lucanis [TEMP] Mementos - Bellara [TEMP] Mementos - Harding [TEMP] Mementos - Davrin [TEMP] Mementos - Taash [TEMP] Mementos - Neve [TEMP] Mementos – Emmrich

It's just you. Alone. Always alone.

Give up. Lucanis has only spite for you. Give up. Emmrich could never love you. Give up. Die. Taash doesn't care. Give up. Harding deserved better. Give up. Neve deserved better than you. Give up. Bellara needed better than you. Give up. Davrin deserved more than you.

Give up. Your fortune is wasted. End it. Give up. Die. No one will mourn you. Give up. Die behind the Veil. Give up. End this contract. You failed. Give up. You failed your calling. Die. Give up. Fade like the failed shadow you are.

Give up. You're a poor example of your kind. Give up. You failed what's left of the elves. Give up. Your time in the sun is over.

Give up. You can't fight your way out of failure. Give up. Your magical powers can't help you. Give up. There's no evading this death.

Give up. You're alone in the dark, like you deserve. Give up. You could never match those who came before you. Give up. Death is the only role you deserve. Give up. There's no point in even trying. Give up. Die. Like Solas knew you would. Give up. This is what your failure deserves. Give up. No one believed in you. End it.

You're right. I can't go on. I can't deal with the loss. Lies win in the end. Regret is too much to bear. It's too much... There's nothing...

I give up. I failed Harding/Neve/Bellara/Lucanis/Davrin/Taash/Emmrich.

I give up. I'm no Shadow Dragon/Warden/ Veil Jumper/Mourn Watcher/ Lord of Fortune. I give up. I failed the Crows.

I yield. I failed as a human/elf/qunari/dwarf.

I'm a failure as a mage/warrior/rogue.

I give up. I have no one. I failed the heroes before me.

Delicious.

I'll face regret. Keep going.

Things always seem impossible. Just fight one battle at a time. You're not in this alone. Go on, Rook. It was always you. You got this. You know bullshit when you smell it, and that demon is full of it.

Varric?

How dare you make me lose him twice! Using Varric was a mistake. If you really knew what Varric meant, you wouldn't have used him. You didn't take his voice. You couldn't, could you? Because it's always been a comfort! "Things always seem impossible. Just fight one battle at a time." "I know I can handle this." "It's not a personal failing to be scared!" "I'm not in this alone." What are you doing? Varric knew the risks. Knew what it might cost. I didn't lose him. Solas killed him! Solas did this, and he'll pay! You think you can break me with what I've lost? What Solas took? I don't regret this. But gods be damned, Solas will! He built this prison, not me! Solas lied, made me lie to myself! I won't be caged by what he did! I can see through the regret. I see through you! I can regret, but keep going! That loss might have ended me! But not now! You think you can hold me? That you're the first regret to try? I have friends to fight for! And no regret will keep me from them! I get beat up. Get sad. That's what life does. It hurts, and then I get back up! All I can do is keep going! All I can do is keep trying! Varric chose me. Saw something worthwhile! You're damned right he's why I'm here! I can't regret what he did for me! More time with him was a gift! All you've done is remind me why I try. The value of the friends I have left! Shown me how much I need them! I know they're waiting for me! You think you can keep me from them! You think you can keep me here? Keep me from what matters? All of this hurts, but you're wrong about me! I'm not alone! Not in my heart! I found love! That's my light in the dark! Nothing can keep us apart! Not gods! Not you! I regret nothing about the time we had. Nothing! (Growl!)

[wolfsong-the-bloody-beast]

The symbolism of Rook finally reaching out to their friends and taking their outstretched hands through the Fade tear at the end of the Prison of Regrets, after putting everybody else's needs above theirs and treating themself as expendable the whole time before that... Does anybody else need to howl at the moon about the beauty and catharsis of it or...?

[dragonagepolls]

Oooh!! The Fort Drakon poll had me thinking which DA protagonist could break out of the regret prison. But then I thought, which one would be trapped there the longest??

[zaahvi]

well that's one way to find out rook broke free of fade jail

[mischievous-thunder]

How Logan used to be before he knew his Wade:

How Logan is after being with the man for a few days:

[flowersforthemachines]

one headcanon I like rotating in my head is the post-regret prison Rook being livid upon finding out that the team wasted their precious time trying to get them out of the prison — not even knowing if that was possible in the first place — while Elgar'nan was destroying Minrathous, along with torturing whoever was kidnapped on Tearstone Island (especially if the kidnapped was a close friend/love interest)

[zoya-nazyalenskys]

liking and enjoying datv is one thing but saying it's "the best entry in the series, with the clearest vision, consistent lore and best structured narrative" is just lying to yourself

[sky--phantom]

I am screaming because of this man

Dellamortes don't kneel in defeat, in fear, in subservience. Dellamortes kneel in relief, in devotion, in reassurance, in love.

Dellamortes don't kneel for enemies, but they will for their love

[jochiemgrace]

Rook seeing a Mortal!Emmrich dying a thousand different ways in the regret prison. Watching him decay, or torn apart, or infested with red lyrium and blight.

"This is your fault," Johanna's voice echoes, because Emmrich never would. "If you weren't so selfish he'd have been safe from this."

[pupkinpumpkin]

Thinking about Illario's fight, where Lucanis says "I'll kill you for that!" if he gets a good hit on Rook.

Thinking about, what if, on that good hit, Illario gives Rook a scar.

Thinking about Lucanis feeling so confused and hurt and angry at Illario, the closest family member he has, the one who shares so many of the same mental and physical scars as Lucanis, hurting someone who has accepted all of his. All of him. Someone whose mere presence starts to make a few hurt less.

Thinking about Lucanis' fear of not being able to protect the ones he loves most embodied all by that scar.

Thinking about that fear spiralling when Rook gets taken to the Regret prison. In the rare times he sleeps, he dreams of that scar and the others that may follow.

Thinking about the relief that comes with saving Rook and their night together. When they're asleep, he stares at that scar, tracing it with his finger.

Thinking about how he wonders what new mental scars they may have from the Regret prison that he could've saved them from. The old ones Solas made that he never noticed.

Thinking about how he wasn't able to protect them from his cousin, he barely got them back from the Regret prison, and now he has to watch them go fight gods and possibly make more. Hurt more. He can't fail this time. He can't bear to see them with another scar.

Thinking about scars.