#rook development

[writingthedas]

ok so I'm gonna do the first 3 prompts for the rook development part of #Veilguard30 in one go and then reblog with each prompt.

days 1-3 prompts are: Name, Age, and Race

under the cut bcs I have 11 Rooks planned

Andraste Thorne, 36, Elf blooded but will just be human in game

Rinaya De Riva, 42, Elf

Defne Aldwir, 29, Qunari

Mithryn Laidir, 31, Dwarf

Nesrin Aldwir, 26, Elf

Aulus Mercar, 38, Human

Zarra Mercar, 34, Dwarf

Valone Ingellvar, 24, Elf

Seranna Laidir, 27, Elf

Judith Thorne, 31, Human

Paranni De Riva, 29, Elf

[flowersforthemachines]

Companions: 0, Gate: 1

Voicelines from Blood of Arlathan featuring moments from the battle with the Veilguard's greatest oponent: a random gate.

Rook: How's it looking? Bellara: Complicated. Ancient elven locks are, well… Going to take some time. Davrin: We'll need a minute to figure out how it releases! Emmrich: Needlessly intricate! Give us just a moment! Harding: There's a lot of small… gears and things. Just… hang on! Lucanis: It looks like over-complicated nonsense! We'll need a moment! Taash: It's fine! Go kill some Venatori!

Rook: Tell me we're close to getting this thing open. Bellara: Almost there, I think! Maybe! Davrin: Still working on it! Emmrich: Patience is a virtue! Harding: We're getting there! Lucanis: Closer than we were! Taash: We're on it!

Rook: There's an entire Venatori army coming for us! Bellara: We know! Don't die! Davrin: You can handle them! Emmrich: We're going as quickly as possible! Hold fast! Harding: We'll get you out! Don't worry! Lucanis: Then kill them! Ugh, blasted elven machinery. Taash: You beat Venatori all the time!

Rook: Still no luck? Bellara: Sorry! Davrin: Getting there! Emmrich: Just a moment longer! Harding: We're getting closer! Lucanis: We're trying! Mierda! Taash: (Frustrated growl)

Rook: Really, are you sure you can open this? Bellara: Yes! We can do it! Davrin: We said we would! Emmrich: If everyone would remain calm, this would go much more quickly! Harding: Everyone breathe! Just breathe! Deep breaths! Lucanis: Who made this gate? Why is it like this? Taash: Ugh. Hang on!

Check out my DAVG Extracted Audio Masterlist

[ajastu]

have some sympathy, Davrin, a tragedy has occurred 😔

HOWEVER, I think they would be repressing so much stress during veilguard that stepping on a snail in that moment would become kind of the last straw. not talking from personal experience at all

yayy oc rambling

anyway, i think Zea normally wouldn't like. cry about accidentally killing a little creature like a snail. Like, they would be sad, but you know, cest la vie, the mere fact of existing brings with it many small accidental deaths that we just have to come to terms with, if we notice them at all.

[vaguely-concerned]

rookanis really is like... first base is you walking through the haunted ruins of my mind to find me in an act of breathtaking psychological intimacy with added tam lin undertones. second base is baked goods (cautious erotic connotations). third base is deicide. THEN we kiss. also second deicide of course once you pop it's hard to stop

[rookinthecrownest]

oh no, I hurt myself

[vael-fire]

Who is Rook?

We have no Keep to keep our memories this time my friends, so I made a thing. Use it as you will, take pieces, use parts, do the whole damn thing, whatever. Thanks to @mageofquandrix for the backup on this!

Leaving the spoilery part beneath the cut.

Who is Rook?

Name:

Pronouns:

Race:

Faction:

Class:

Specialization:

Before The Veilguard

Where was Rook born? Who were their childhood family and friends? What did they spend their free time doing as a child? What did they want to be when they “grew up” if anything.

Where and how was Rook educated? What did they enjoy learning; what did they dislike learning? Who did they admire most? Who was an example of what not to do or be?

How did they experience gender as a young person? Did they grow up in an environment of strict gender roles and expectations or were they allowed to be themselves? 

What was their take on sexuality as a young person? Did they experiment with romance or find it entirely uninteresting?

What was their take on spirituality as a young person? Did they grow up around one particular religion and if so how did that affect their beliefs?

What childhood fear(s) did Rook carry with them into adulthood?

How did Rook become involved with their chosen faction? Who did they meet first, and how, and where, and why did they join up?

Was Rook interested in finding a life partner of some kind when they joined their faction? Why? Who were their best friends and how did they meet? Who were their rivals, who did they trust?

Did Rook have any scars or tattoos? What’s the story behind them?

Did Rook ever strongly identify with a particular nationality, city, race, creed, or religion? Is this something they explored on their own or a tradition that was passed down to them? Did this identity evolve as they grew into adulthood?

Lightning Round - PREGAME VERSION

Favorite scent:

Favorite food:

Favorite animal:

Favorite book or story:

Favorite drink:

Favorite item of clothing:

Favorite keepsake:

Favorite place:

Favorite person:

Favorite little treat:

During The Veilguard (HEAVY SPOILERS BENEATH THE CUT)

Act 1: Signs and Portents

What was Rook’s status with their own faction at the beginning of the game? Why were they recruited by Varric?

What did Rook think of Varric when they first met? Did Rook support Varric’s choice to confront Solas alone?

Did Rook take Neve or Harding with them when they went to interrupt the ritual themselves? Why?

How did Rook engage with stories of the elven gods at the beginning of the Veilguard? Were the familiar or strange? Was it disorienting to have them rewritten or did it make no real difference to them?

What was Rook’s instinctive reaction to having Solas in their head and dreams? How did Rook respond when Solas asked them why they should be the one to lead the Veilguard?

Did Rook think Neve was right about needing more investigation before acting or that Harding was right that there was no time to spare? What made them think that?

What did Rook decide to do with Mayor Julius of D’Meta’s crossing? Why?

How did Rook react to Harding’s new magic? Were they supportive or wary or a mix of both? 

How did Rook feel among the ancient elven magic and ruins of Arlathan? Did they find Bellara’s work disturbing or fascinating or something else?

How did Rook feel about working with a bunch of assassins, the Antivan Crows? Were they familiar with the organization, a Crow themselves, or something else? How did they feel about Lucanis, specifically about Lucanis and Spite?

How did Rook feel about the Shadow Dragons? Had they ever been to Minrathous before or just heard stories? How did Neve strike them at first?

What did Rook think of the Wardens when they met them? The First Warden? Antoine and Evka? Davrin (and his tits)? And of course, the MVP, Assan?

Did Rook choose to help Minrathous or Treviso? Why?

How did Rook feel after seeing what happened to the city they couldn’t save? Who did they talk to about it, if anyone, and how did they feel toward Neve and Lucanis in the aftermath?

Had Rook ever been to Rivain before? What were their impressions? Did they have any experience with Antaam or Qunari outside the Qun? What did they think of Taash and Shanthann?

What was Rook’s first impression of the Nevarran Necropolis? Were they interested, disturbed, or something else? What did they think of Emmrich and, most importantly, Manfred?

What did Rook think of the Inquisitor? Did they become personal friends or did they keep it professional? Who was the Inquisitor’s lover, if any, and did Rook have an opinion of that?

At the Siege of Weisshaupt, how did Rook deal with the First Warden and why?

Act 2: The Price of the Past

How did Rook react to the aftermath of Weisshaupt? Were they sad, angry, scared, all of the above, or something else? Did they blame themselves? Lucanis? The First Warden? Ghilan'nain? Who did they talk to about it, and did they show their true feelings to their companions?

Had Rook developed a romantic interest in one of their companions--or someone else!--by the time Weisshaupt fell? If so, were they eager to explore it or afraid to? Why?

Who were Rook’s closest companions, and what did they like about them? Who irritated Rook, if anyone, and how?

How did Rook respond to Davrin and Lucanis’s animosity finally boiling over? Were they sympathetic to one or the other or to both?

When Elgar’nan took the Dalish prisoners to use as sacrifices, what was Rook’s first reaction? Were they resolved, raging, sad, or some combination? Did they talk to any of their companions about it?

What was Rook’s reaction to The Butcher’s proposition to them in Treviso? Did they respect it, think it was bonkers, or something else? Did they discuss it with any of their companions after the fact?

Did Rook express concerns about Illario’s behavior to Lucanis? Did Rook encourage him to punish or to forgive Illario? Did Rook encourage Lucanis to work with Spite to save Catarina or to punish Illario? What were Rook’s impressions of Catarina both before and after her kidnapping? How did Rook feel about Lucanis becoming First Talon?

Did Rook support Bellara in her desire to save Cyrian or did they encourage her to be more forceful in stopping him immediately? Did they encourage her to keep the Nadas Dirthalen or to destroy it?

Did Rook encourage the alliance with the Threads in Dock Town? Did they encourage Neve to bring Dock Town hope or to become a darker protector-figure?

What was Rook’s reaction to the revelations about the Titans and the residual anger their downfall and exploitation at the hands of the Evanuris  left behind? Did it change how they felt about Harding’s new powers, and if so, how? Did they encourage Harding to embrace the Titan’s anger or to remember their compassionate side?

How did Rook encourage Davrin to train and interact with Assan? Did they suggest discipline or kindness or some mixture of both? What were Rook’s feelings on seeing the twisted recreation of Weisshaupt, The Profane City? How did the blighted First Warden react to seeing Rook again there? Did Rook decide the griffons should go to the Anderfels with the Wardens or stay in Arlathan as protectors of nature?

What did Rook think of Emmrich’s confession that he wanted to attain lichdom? Did their views on necromancy change as they got to know Emmrich and the Mourn Watch better? Did they encourage Emmrich to attain lichdom or to revive Manfred?

How did Taash’s journey to finding themselves strike Rook? What did Rook think of Shathann once they got to know her better? Did that change after her death? Did Rook encourage Taash to embrace their Rivaini culture or to fall back on the strength of their mother’s teachings about the Qun?

(If Rook didn’t romance Harding or Taash:) Did Rook encourage Taash to get a gift to express interest in Harding? What was it and why? How did they feel about that relationship going forward?

(If Rook didn’t romance Never or Lucanis:) How did Rook feel about Neve and Lucanis’s Romance? Did they encourage it?

(If Rook didn’t romance Emmrich:) Did Rook encourage Emmrich to take Strife to the caves or the forest on a date? How did they feel about that relationship going forward?

How did Rook deal with the friction between Taash and Emmrich? Did they encourage them to find common ground or to talk about other things? How did they feel about that relationship going forward?

Did Rook romance any of their companions after all? What was that like for them, and how did it happen? Did the other companions have an opinion?

Who did Rook feel closest to by the time they were making plans with the Inquisitor to stop the gods’ ritual at the eclipse?

Did Rook choose Davrin or Harding to lead a second team at Tearstone Island? Why? How did they feel in the aftermath of Tearstone Island about that choice? How did they honor their fallen teammate later?

Did Rook choose Neve or Bellara to take down the wards at Tearstone Island? Why? Did they regret their choice? How did they come to terms with it after?

How did Rook deal with learning they’d been magically gaslit into thinking Varric was alive all this time??????

Did Rook find the Mysterious Circles?

Did Rook find all of Solas’s regrets after the Inquisitor gave them the first? What were their reactions to the revelations about:

The Golden City/The Black City and The Chantry’s doctrine being false

Mythal convincing Solas to take a mortal form

Solas being willing to sacrifice his followers for his end goals

Ancient elves originating as spirits who took mortal form

The elves -- particularly Solas and Mythal -- killing and exploiting the Titans to win the war against them

The blight being the Titan’s lost, angry dreams

Solas regaining his power pre-Inquisition by killing Mythal’s current host

Bonus Round: Were Solas and Mythal doing it?

Mythal's essence. How did they get it from her? Was it a fight or a matter of discussion? How did they feel, meeting her?

Act 3: The Wrath of Ages

Were all Rook’s allied factions at maximum strength when they launched their attack on Elgar’nan? Which ones weren’t, and why? Did Rook favor any of them? Their own? Someone else’s?

Who did Rook choose to support the Veil Jumpers in the final battle dealing with magical wards or protecting others?

Who did Rook choose to support the Crows and the Lords of Fortune in the final battle fighting mages or attacking by surprise?

Who did Rook choose to support the Wardens and the Mourn Watch in the final battle fighting massive enemies and constructs?

Who did Rook choose to take with them for the final battle against Elgar’nan and why?

Did Rook plan to trick Solas with the fake dagger or did they think they better not risk it?

Did Morrigan give you Felassen’s Rune? How did Rook use it?

Did Rook have a lover to talk with before the final battle? How did they feel in that moment?

After defeating Elgar’nan, how did Rook deal with Solas and the veil? Was it different than they had planned? If so, why and how?

What did Rook do on the day after saving the world?

Lightning Round - AFTERMATH VERSION

Favorite scent:

Favorite food:

Favorite animal:

Favorite book or story:

Favorite drink:

Favorite item of clothing:

Favorite keepsake:

Favorite place:

Favorite person:

Favorite little treat:

[anew-flame]

This is exactly how that convo went

[sucksinlosers]

Y'all. I see you with the "saving lucanis from the ossuary and him and rook having a moment as they first see each other" right

But CONSIDER

1) Lucanis looks like shit. Disheveled. Not in his armor and certainly with no access to weapons (would you?!? let a crow keep their stuff?!?! Especially the demon of vyrantium?!?! He could kill you seventy two which ways from sunday with just his hands and a handful of dirt!). Unkempt. SpOoOoOoKy. I will not take notes on this.

2) The ossuary is ACTIVELY COMING APART. There is no way in hell that Rook looks put together anymore at this point. Wet, sopping beast. They've had to take a whole ass way around to even /get/ to Lucanis' prison. Rook is also gross here!!!

3) you free the spooky possessed man who looks malnourished, hair everywhere, watch him do spooky possessed man-shit and murder venatori with his bare hands. And THEN. Rook makes SMALL TALK?!?!

I would not change that last bit but could you IMAGINE

There have GOT to be more people who considered this right

[mellosdrawings]

At least Jamil has his own solo rap in the song. Vil may be the lead but you couldn't help but like the change tune in Jamil.

Dunno if that's a common thing or not, but in highschool we used to call those idols who can be lead singers, lead rappers, and lead dancers "Triple Threat". Plus the cookie points if they're cute and charming and good actors, etc.

When I found out Jamil could rap, I was immediately brought back to my highschool Kpop era and thought about it.

I guess his only weakness is that he isn't the most charismatic. He would still make one hell of an idol.

I need to do that Idol!AU I've had in my drafts for weeks.

[jangmi-latte]

//kalim ssr sultanate groovy spoilers +++ some ch.9 ep 7 spoilers

two of our light magic users are crying in their alternative ssrs. i'm awaiting silver's version because despite them being optimistic and being the charismatic students they are, they still hold resentment and desires that they wish not to possess but crave to accept.

rook wants to accept that vil and neige will never work together as a team or be friends in general despite his desires telling him that this is what he yearns to see. he accepted their differences and has to 'kill' this dream of his hence he pointed an arrow at two of the people he learned to admire and love. in the end, his happiness still lays in what true.

kalim only wishes to befriend jamil but his dream showcases another jamil. only to realize this jamil is fake and goes against his said desires and accepts the real jamil for who he is. "i only want to be friends with the real jamil" and accepted the betrayal jamil did to him. reality check, he real talked jamil and beat him up HASHHAH THE LADIES ARE FIGHTING BABES THEY'RE BEATING EACH OTHER UP ASUJKDHULIAHSDCN

ALSO VIL STOP SCREAMING

[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)

[ruushes]

not generally a fan of how the game implements terminology like this but this is so funny to me it’s almost worth it. shut up lucanis i need you to be listening and learning rn

[cybershock24601]

More post canon Rookanis thoughts today as I contemplate how weird their inclusion of Spite in their relationship would be to everyone. Even if Spite isn’t involved romantically they still try to make the guy feel included like they did when they ordered that extra cup of coffee on their little date in game.

Personally I feel like the Crows (especially Caterina and Illario for similar yet different reasons) would do their best to ignore the fact that Lucanis is an abomination now and has a little guy riding around shotgun at all times and that fiction works right up until Rook moves in with Lucanis and suddenly it’s a lot harder to ignore Spite.

Especially since I headcanon my watcher Rook has always been able to tell when Spite is talking even if she can’t hear what he’s saying. She’s sensitive enough to freaky fade stuff to hear something, though it took her a bit to figure out that something was Spite as his words sounds like muffled whispers from a room over where you can tell someone is talking but can’t at all make the words. So in the time between the games end and Rook moving in with Lucanis while she’s settling Watcher responsibilities and helping with the aftermath of everything that happened, she’s also working with Emmrich to hone her magical senses enough to hear Spite. It’s a good skill for a Watcher to have and it would probably be nice for Spite to be able to talk to someone else without having to highjack Lucanis’ vocal cords, also Rook’s a nosy bitch and doesn’t like not being able to hear what the third person in the room is saying because she knows Spite talks about her.

Anyways, now everyone can’t ignore Spite’s existence as rookanis set up a third place setting when sitting down for some afternoon tea and coffee and occasionally pause before replying to something no one else can hear. Or Rook suddenly giggling out of nowhere at something Spite says because she’s not nearly as good at not reacting to Spite’s unheard commentary. Creepiest of all is when someone walks into the room when Lucanis is taking the nap to find Rook and Spite playing card games together and it’s so unsettling for the people who have known Lucanis their whole life to see him with his eyes glowing and his face twisted into foreign expressions, not to mention how strange it is to hear another voice coming out of Lucanis’ mouth.

Caterina nominally ignores the whole thing but is probably looking into how to get Spite exorcised. Illario ends up in learning things about Lucanis that he never knew as Spite is more willing to air Lucanis’ grievances in their relationship which ends up giving Illario a new perspective on a lot of things in their past and possibly leads to Lucanis and Illario having a truly honest and emotionally open talk for the first time in their entire lives. Teia treats Spite cautiously at first but ends up viewing him like some sort carnival side show where yes Spite unnerves her but the little guys actually really funny, and unlike everyone else, it’s Spite that ignores Viago because his protectiveness over Lucanis has manifested in snubbing Viago in return for hurting Lucanis’ feelings all those years ago when he ignored Lucanis’ affections. Very funny if this is how Viago realizes the knife was actually Lucanis’ way of flirting and not some sort of indirect threat. Teia and Rook are absolutely cracking up while this happens due to the absurdity of the situation.

[emmg]

I sincerely hope the Grand Necropolis’ Lich Lord recruitment team has the common courtesy to slip in the “oh by the way, we’re chopping off your dick” clause before the whole undead ascension bit. Just a little heads-up! A quick bullet point in the brochure! So poor Emmrich knows exactly what kind of lifestyle adjustment he’s signing up for.

Because imagine thinking you’re about to ascend into velvet-draped, arcane immortality (centuries of quiet study and making sweet, sweet love to Rook in candlelit crypts) only to walk into the ritual chamber and find Vorgoth standing there with a giant ceremonial cleaver like:

“THE HOUR IS NIGH TO PART WAYS WITH YOUR MORTAL MEAT SCEPTER.”

Cue Emmrich: “oh my”

(yes, i will keep making fun of liches)

[kovir]

i can't believe the deepest lore for why viago doesn't seem to like lucanis in tevinter nights is..... lucanis horrifically botched hitting on him. bro assumed he was being threatened and has been skittish ever since 😭 lucanis i am so sorry you had a crush on the most paranoid man in thedas and he just didn't understand!!

[flushwithdarlings]

"Here, Rook, try this."

"Lucanis Dellamorte, I will gladly eat anything you give me."

It is an act that knocks Lucanis off guard, the way Argentei catches his wrist with an elegant hand and dips down to take a bite of the flaky pastry held between his fingers.

It is sweet, it is salty, and it pulls a pleased, bordering on obscene, sound of satisfaction from their throat.

Lucanis' blown black eyes narrow down to the way the pink tip of their tongue runs across the plush of their lips, chasing a stray bead of honey.

For one desperate moment, he thinks that they might move onto the crumbs on his fingers.

Mercifully, they don't.

Mercilessly, he is sure that they can feel his pulse thrumming like a bird pinned down by their thumb.

Their hand doesn't leave his wrist.