wretchedelights2

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I get what people are going for when they call Orin and Minthara toxic yuri but I feel like that word is not nearly strong enough for whatever was happening there. Those two were fucking biohazard yuri. Yuri with its own exclusion zone

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 08

Oct 08 - Favorite Origins lore/codex entry

Forgive me for spamming like 3 of these all at once, I fell behind because I can't keep up with a daily prompt thing to save my life.

[prompt list]

My favourite Origins codex entry is the lil' nugget of Thedas history found in entry #76 - History of the Circle.

I've added the full text of the codex under the cut, but the short version is that during the divine age, the chantry decided to relegate mages to glorified matchsticks, their only duty keeping the candles and lamps of Thedas' chantries lit. Naturally the mages thought that was super lame, so they rebelled by snuffing the sacred flames of the cathedral in Val Royeau and barricading themselves in the choir loft. In response, the divine tried to order an exalted march on her own cathedral. After 21 days of negotiations, allegedly shouted back and forth from the choir loft, the mages were allowed to form a circle of magi.

To me it's just really fucking funny how mundane the whole thing is. No summoning of demons to fight for independence. No templars slaughtering mages wholesale. Just some grumpy mages in a choir loft holding the chantry's sacred light sources hostage.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that nothing is more successful at inspiring a person to mischief as being told not to do something. Unfortunately, the Chantry of the Divine Age had some trouble with obvious truths. Although it did not outlaw magic—quite the contrary, as the Chantry relied upon magic to kindle the eternal flame which burns in every brazier in every chantry—it relegated mages to lighting candles and lamps. Perhaps occasional dusting of rafters and eaves.

I will give my readers a moment to contemplate how well such a role satisfied the mages of the time.

It surprised absolutely no one when the mages of Val Royeaux, in protest, snuffed the sacred flames of the cathedral and barricaded themselves inside the choir loft. No one, that is, but Divine Ambrosia II, who was outraged and attempted to order an Exalted March upon her own cathedral. Even her most devout Templars discouraged that idea. For 21 days, the fires remained unlit while negotiations were conducted, legend tells us, by shouting back and forth from the loft.

The mages went cheerily into exile in a remote fortress outside of the capital, where they would be kept under the watchful eye of the Templars and a council of their own elder magi. Outside of normal society, and outside of the Chantry, the mages would form their own closed society, the Circle, separated for the first time in human history.

—From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 07

Oct 07 - Favorite Origins scene/dialogue

Forgive me for spamming like 3 of these all at once, I fell behind because I can't keep up with a daily prompt thing to save my life.

[prompt list]

Favourite scene is definitely the joining at Ostagar. It really sets the tone for the rest of the game, and was also the moment that I really fell in love with the Grey Wardens as a faction. What can I say? There's nothing I enjoy more than a secretive order with a really dark and sketchy initiation ritual. And the way neither Duncan nor Alistair seem particularly shaken by Jory's death tells you quite a lot about the realities of being a Grey Warden. With Duncan especially, he comes off as a pretty kind and gentle man all things considered, so it's surprising at first to see him kill Jory with no hesitation when Jory gets cold feet. It gives you the sense that it's not the first time he's had to do something like that during a joining.

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 06

Oct 06 - Favorite Origins NPC

Forgive me for spamming like 3 of these all at once, I fell behind because I can't keep up with a daily prompt thing to save my life.

[prompt list]

Flemeth is my favourite NPC for sure, and I think DAO Flemeth is actually my favourite iteration of the character across the games. Like don't get me wrong, a part of me certainly appreciates the way she went full badass legendary GILF in later games, but at the same time I'm just really fond of the way DAO Flemeth fully commits to the batty old swamp lady bit. I love the trope of impossibly old and powerful characters presenting themselves as just weird lil guys. And I have to admit that even though I knew something was up, she still surprised me the first time I challenged her and she turned in to a whole ass high dragon.

Also I really like the lore tidbits you get surrounding Flemeth and her daughters, and the way the codex entries and what Morrigan tells you and what Flemeth herself tells you all contradict eachother. The more you think you're learning about Flemeth, the more confusing things can get, and I think that's great.

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 05

Oct 05 - Favorite Origins quest

[prompt list]

It has to be Anvil of the Void. This quest is the moment in DAO when you really come face to face with the true horrors of darkspawn and the blight, and the horrific things that have been done to fight back against it. Unless you're a dwarf warden, it's a little nebulous until you take that trek through the deep roads and see firsthand how dire the situation really is. And even with a dwarf origin, you haven't seen the worst of it yet.

Hespith, the broodmothers, golem creation, the absolutely unforgiveable shit Branka has done... this quest is just a slow buildup to a vortex of awful.

And it all sets the stage for one of the more compelling choices you have to make in DAO. Do you work with Branka, despite everything she's done, and keep the anvil to make more golems to fight the blight even knowing the cost? Or do you draw a line, fight Branka, and destroy the Anvil, fully knowing that the dwarves are slowly losing ground in their fight against the darkspawn, and golems are one of the few things that could really make a difference.

As an aside, I know broodmothers can be a contentious bit of DA lore, for obvious reasons. And for some people that really affects their ability to enjoy this quest. Totally valid. Personally, while I think there's room for critique, as an enjoyer of horror and especially body horror, I do like the gist of what they were trying to do with them.

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 04

Oct 04 - Favorite Origins location

[prompt list]

So this is a little embarrassing, but I didn't make the connection between Cadash Thaig and Inquisitor Cadash until my most recent playthrough of DAO. I got there for Shale's quest, and then I was like... hold up, I recognize that name! And that highlights a little thing I love about the DA series - these loose connections that tie the games together and show up in the most unexpected places.

But the tie in to Cadash isn't the real reason I love Cadash Thaig, nor is it the tie in to Shale and golem lore. The real reason is that I just think it's gorgeous. I love the 'ancient ruins, full of history, overgrown with plants and moss' vibe. Sign me right tf up for that every time. And honestly I think it's crazy that the place can look as good as it does, given DAO is not really a game you think about for its visuals. But for my most recent playthrough I slapped a bit of reshade magic on the game, and I was astounded to realize that it has some really great environment design going on. The arrangement of buildings/landscape features/props/etc is really appealing in a lot of places in game (especially DLC locations), and Cadash Thaig is just one area where I noticed that.

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 03

Oct 03 - Favorite Origins companion

[prompt list]

Sten.

Travelling with an honest-to-goodness ardently qun following qunari just makes for such an interesting dynamic. I love the little opportunities to discuss philosophy and morality with him because he brings such a different perspective from the other companions. He can be hard to get along with, but earning his respect is so rewarding.

Also he's hilarious. I love a good deadpan delivery and that's this guy's specialty.

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Collection of sketches I’ve been picking away at in my free time of who I THINK my Rook will be. So here’s Vasari Laidir; pirate, con artist, and cool tatted lady. ✨

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I really wish someone would make a “History of Thedas” video in the same style as the History of Japan one…

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 02

Oct 02 - Favorite Origins romance

[prompt list]

Morrigan, my beloved.

The year is 2011, and I am 17 years old, coming off the high of binging Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. I am a very closeted lil baby gay, and now a diehard Bioware fan because they made a game that let me be a butch af action hero lady who gets the girl in the end.

So I decide to check out some other Bioware games. I start with Dragon age, and the first thing I do is look up the romances to make sure this game will also let me kiss girls as a girl. And I am met with both excitement, and disappointment. Because I see that Lelianna will be my romance option, but I know the moment I lay eyes on Morrigan that SHE is the goth girlfriend for me.

Of course she's straight.

Devastating, but thankfully I am saved by modders. The first thing I do before I even start the game for the first time is install a mod that will let me romance Morrigan as a female warden.

I had a great time. She was everything I hopped. Morrigan is a complicated woman and her romance is messy, full of potential for angst and longing. I love that shit. I also headcannoned that she and my warden were able to have the old god baby together via the power of blood magic.

Seeing Kieran in DAI was so bittersweet, because I could not, unfortunately, import a lesbian blood magic old god baby world state via the keep, and so my Warden and Morrigan's love went unacknowledged.

Now, the year is 2024. Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been announced, and I start a new playthrough of the series in anticipation. I decide I want to make some choices I've never made before, but one choice I can't resist making again is romancing Morrigan. And I want DAI to respect our relationship this time, so I make a male warden. And he's trans, because I've been through a bit of a gender thing, and I can't help but see an opportunity to rework my old blood magic lesbian baby headcannon in to a blood magic transition headcannon.

I guess this was just an overly long way of saying 'I'm queer and I love Morrigan and I think blood magic rituals have great potential for queer wish fulfillment'.

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31 Days of Dragon Age: Day 01

Oct 01 - Introduce your Hero of Ferelden

[prompt list]

This prompt list is great because I'm nearing the end of a new playthrough of all of the Dragon Age games and I have a lot of Thoughts and Feelings I need to get out of my system.

I'm a little sad that I haven't had time to make any art of my new Warden/Hawke/Inquisitor yet to post with these, but hopefully soon?

Meet Revassan Mahariel. Initially a reluctant hero resentful of being forced to leave his clan, he eventually became a strong advocate for peace and co-oporation between Dalish and humans. He even fell in love with a human - the witch, Morrigan.

Those who know him would describe him as quiet and soft-spoken, but also intense and incredibly focused once he's made up his mind on something. They would also note that he never stopped caring for his clan or the Dalish in general, even though he eventually felt that he had been too changed by his experiences during the blight to ever return to live among them.

Something not many know is that Revassan was born a woman, although he never quite felt right about it. Once he left his clan, strangers frequently "mistook" him for a man, and realizing he had no desire to correct them, he started living as one. Eventually he even changed his body with the help of Morrigan's magic.

Among his companions, Revassan developed an especially close bond with Sten, who he looked up to as a mentor.

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31 Days of Dragon Age

To celebrate the next installment of Dragon Age, I created a list of prompts for '31 Days of Dragon Age.' Basically, I'm asking what everyone loves about Dragon Age so we can celebrate it!

Please feel free to reblog and share this. Then each day, make a post with the day's prompt, explaining why you love the thing. I'm hoping we can all share what we love about the series and make the wait until Halloween a little shorter!

Oct 01 - Introduce your Hero of Ferelden Oct 02 - Favorite Origins romance Oct 03 - Favorite Origins companion Oct 04 - Favorite Origins location Oct 05 - Favorite Origins quest Oct 06 - Favorite Origins NPC Oct 07 - Favorite Origins scene/dialogue Oct 08 - Favorite Origins lore/codex entry Oct 09 - Favorite Awakenings companion Oct 10 - Favorite Awakenings quest Oct 11 - Favorite Awakenings scene/dialogue Oct 12 - Favorite Awakenings lore/codex entry Oct 13 - Introduce your Hawke Oct 14 - Favorite DA2 romance Oct 15 - Favorite DA2 companion Oct 16 - Favorite DA2 location Oct 17 - Favorite DA2 quest Oct 18 - Favorite DA2 NPC Oct 19 - Favorite DA2 scene/dialogue Oct 20 - Favorite DA2 lore/codex entry Oct 21 - Introduce your Inquisitor Oct 22 - Favorite Inquisition romance Oct 23 - Favorite Inquisition companion Oct 24 - Favorite Inquisition location Oct 25 - Favorite Inquisition quest Oct 26 - Favorite Inquisition NPC Oct 27 - Favorite Inquisition scene/dialogue Oct 28 - Favorite Inquisition lore/codex entry Oct 29 - what do you love about Dragon Age? Oct 30 - what do you hope for in VG? Oct 31 - Introduce your Rook

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not to be joyful and optimistic on main but there is literally no news about veilguard that could dampen my excitement for veilguard 💕

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I'm replaying Dragon Age: Inquisition right now and damn, this game is better than I remember? Granted I'm just at the point where I'm going to Val Royeaux the first time so maybe it will fall off again, but so far I'm having an absolute blast. Like yea the combat is still mid and yea I'm being inundated by busywork sidequests, but the world just feels so alive. The gorgeously crafted environments, the ambient dialogue and the party banter all make exploring southern Thedas a real treat.

Also, just coming off of DAO and DA2 playthroughs, I am unreasonably excited to have crafting back. I really like making bespoke gear for each of my party members (and giving it stupid names lmao). And I love that the armor looks a little bit different on each character. You get that satisfaction of upgrading gear, with the appearance changing as you upgrade, but the companions still maintain some of their unique visual identity.

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I can't wait to gay romance every companion in Veilguard.

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WH40k: Rogue Trader romance cards inspired by Dragon Age: Keep tapestry tiles --- part [3/6]

Marazhai Aezyrraesh, the Drukhari

[1/ Yrliet] [2/ Jae]