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daughter-of-the-prophet · 6 years

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Zevran (Tv Tropes)

Affably Evil: Despite being a professional assassin with no morals to speak of, he’s almost perpetually cheerful - as he notes, he’s an eternal optimist.

Agent Peacock: He’s a somewhat over-the-top flamboyant bisexual, while remaining a fairly effective companion to Ilona.

Anti-Hero: In Dragon Age II he is dedicating his life to killing and bringing down the Antivan Crows, showing that he has settled down to Unscrupulous Hero.

Anything That Moves: Or at least, “Anything That Moves and Isn't Oghren.”

Assassin Outclassin': His attempt to assassinate Ilona and Alistair ends in failure.

The Atoner: Double Subverted: Wynne assumes he wants to leave the Crows because of a crisis of conscience. Zevran doesn’t want to leave the Crows to find redemption. He wants to die.

Zevran: "That is precisely it.“

Backstab: His primary combat M.O., and a vital ability (both literally and figuratively) for an Antivan Crow to have.

Because I'm Good at It: He fully intends to continue his assassin career even when he gets away from the Crows. One reason is this trope; the other is that he notes his lack of other skills that wouldn’t get him arrested for performing in public.

Because You Were Nice to Me: After developing a friendship with Ilona, he willingly betrays the Crows to protect her and her companions when Taliesin tried to persuade him to come back to the Crows. Ilona was the first real friend Zevran had ever had and that gave him the courage to accept facing the Crows’ wrath.

Bi the Way: He swings both ways.

Blithe Spirit: Antiva seems even more uninhibited than Ferelden, really. Add to that that the Crows look for a willingness to cross certain lines in their assassins.

Beneath the Mask: At the Gauntlet, the Guardian reveals that Zevran is not as apathetic as he pretends to be.

Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: "Magic can kill. Knives can kill. Even small children, launched at great speed, could kill.”

Break the Haughty: As if Rinna’s death wasn’t enough, the Crow master who assigned them the mission already knew of it and was very quick to remind the two surviving assassins that they were entirely expendable tools worth little more than nothing to even the Crows.

Brutal Honesty: Most prominent after Ilona defeats him when he tried to assassinate her.

Zevran: “Ah, so I am to be interrogated? Let me save you some time. My name is Zevran - Zev to my friends. I am a member of the Antivan Crows, brought here for the sole purpose of assassinating any remaining Grey Wardens. Which I have failed at, sadly.“

The Cameo: He makes an appearance in Dragon Age II.

Cartwright Curse: All of his lovers tend to end up dead. Rinna, Taliesin, his first mage lover…

The Casanova: He apparently specializes in being a Latin Lover as part of his job, along with a healthy dose of Stealth Hi/Bye. Curiously, when it’s not part of a job, he becomes the latter.

Child Soldiers: Buy them young and raise them to know nothing but murder. Trademark recruitment motto of the Antivan Crows.

Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: A must if you want to make your way among the Antivan Crows, it seems.

Cold-Blooded Torture: Was apparently subjected to this by the Crows as a means of building up pain tolerance - as with all their recruits.

Combat Pragmatist: When explaining to Ilona the assassin specialization, he mentions poison and crippling one’s opponent as his preferred strategies. Alistair even wonders why the Crows didn’t send their best on the task of killing the Wardens, mentioning that Zevran is no master of straight-up combat. He eventually explains he was the only one who wanted the job.

Contract on the Hitman:

Avoiding this trope is his primary reason for wanting to join Ilona; the Antivan Crows have a very bad "retirement package”, as he himself mentions, so the only way to get out is to have them assume you died or sign up with someone even they can’t touch. Subverted with Master Ignacio, who tells Zevran that other Crows might hunt him, but he’s already dead in his eyes. Once Taliesen shows up to finish the job and offers Zevran to come back to the Crows, this is played straight when Zevran refuses and fights against his former comrade.

In Dragon Age II, not only is he still alive after seven years of the Crows hunting him, but he’s leading a crusade against them and winning. His codex entry says he’s killed one guildmaster, bribed two others, and has developed a knack for finding assassins as disaffected as he was in the first story.

Cry into Chest: He flirtatiously asks Wynne to let him do this because he feels bad about being a killer. She assures him that he can cry well away from her bosom.

Dark-Skinned Blond: Due to his Antivan heritage.

Dashing Hispanic: His voice actor apparently summed him up with a "So he’s like a sexed-up Inigo Montoya?“ before recording started. Ironically, Antiva is based on a prototype Venetian state, according to Word of God.

Deadpan Snarker: Not too heavy on the deadpan bit, but he does get snarky when Alistair questions his motives, when he’s trying to coerce Leliana into telling him about her vision or when Wynne assumes that his reason for wanting to leave the Crows is a crisis of conscience. He’s more fond of cheerful sarcasm.

Death by Sex: Apparently, this is his favorite assassination strategy.

Death Seeker: You read that right. He eventually admits that he took the assignment to kill Ilona and Alistair mostly in the hopes that he would get killed in the attempt. He settles for searching for a new beginning later.

Defeat Means Friendship: Instead of killing Zevran after defeating him when he tried to assassinate her and Alistair, Ilona spares him and allows him to join her on her quest to stop the blight. Overtime, they become good friends. It’s more like "defeat means a chance at friendship.”

Depraved Bisexual: Well, he’s depraved, and he’s bisexual, but the trope doesn’t apply unless the two are related, which they are not. He swings both ways, has a thing for leather, and has no moral compunction against killing.

Do Not Go Gentle: Implied. Zevran eventually reveals that he took the contract to kill Ilona and Alistair because he hoped to die in the attempt. So why did he offer to join Ilona when she decided to spare him instead of asking/provoking her to kill him? It’s likely that Zevran wants to go out in a blaze of glory.

The Dreaded: In his possible one-man revenge spree against his former employers in Dragon Age II, a few of the Crow bosses submitted to and allied with him to avoid his knives in their backs.

Easily Forgiven: He goes from being an assassin hired to kill Ilona to becoming one of her companions rather quickly, though Alistair is initially very wary of him. Of course, the fact that he wants to get out of the Crows - which he never wanted to join in the first place - helps.

Elfeminate: In Oghren’s words, Zevran’s “got small breasts for a gal.”

Ethical Slut: Eventually evolves into this over the course of the story.

Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: While Zevran isn’t evil so much as ruthlessly pragmatic, and he never knew his mother since she died giving birth to him, nevertheless he reveres her memory. He is grateful when Ilona gives him a pair of Dalish gloves like the ones his mother used to have (that he kept as a Tragic Keepsake in the whorehouse).

Even Evil Has Standards: He has issues with slavery, but then, with his background, it’s to be expected.

Everyone Is Bi: In Antiva this is the case, or at least so Zevran implies.

Extreme Omnisexual: Zevran has stories about five wild ones.

Fake Ultimate Hero: Over the course of the story, Ilona picks up on the fact that Zevran isn’t quite the ultimate badass assassin he paints himself as. Zevran recounts a story where he actually almost got screwed over by his mark and only achieved his mission through dumb luck. Alistair is also incredulous, mentioning that Zevran isn’t particularly great a fighting. Zevran admits that he was the one assigned to assassinate the wardens because he was the only Crow willing to volunteer.

Foil:

To Leliana. Rogue companions who were orphaned young, took on a sort of assassin career (bards are essentially spies and assassins in Orlais), and preferred the Death by Sex approach to their targets. However, while Leliana grew up rather privileged and sheltered (fostered by a noblewoman) and became a bard because she was seduced by the exciting, dangerous life it offered (and Marjolaine), Zevran was raised communally in a filthy whorehouse and had no choice joining the Crows since he was sold to them at age seven, and had to adapt or die. While Leliana protests that she never enjoyed the killing and judges those who do, Zevran is very open about how much he enjoys the thrill of the hunt, the seduction, and the kill, and doesn’t judge anyone who does.

Also this to Alistair. Two orphaned boys who never knew their parents, raised almost like animals (Alistair made to sleep in castle stables and kennels, Zevran raised communally in a whorehouse and then later the Crow apartments), joined organizations that largely define their adult identities (the Grey Wardens for Alistair, the Antivan Crows for Zevran), and hide their pain behind cheerful humor. However, while Alistair is an Adorkable virgin who hides his insecurities behind a shield of duty, honor and lame jokes, Zevran is The Casanova who Really Gets Around and hides his pain behind a charming smile and a devil-may-care attitude.

Freudian Excuse: Oh dear, where to start? His father (is implied to have) died before he was born, his mother died giving birth to him (which he seems to blame himself for), and he was raised in a whorehouse. At the age of 7, he was auctioned off to a ruthless assassination syndicate and had to endure severe torture. He then fell in love with one of his colleagues, who was accused of betraying the Crows, and he helped to kill her for it. He later found out that she was innocent.

The Gadfly: See Likes Older Women, though that’s not the only way he harasses Wynne. He also does it to Leliana.

Gallows Humor: It’s his preferred way of dealing with a bad situation, as Ilona discovers when she interrogates him when she had him at his mercy after his failed attempt to assassinate her. Given his backstory, it's almost certainly another defense mechanism.

Gameplay and Story Integration: When Ilona becomes skeptical when Zevran offers his services to her, he answers that he happens to be a very loyal person (up until someone expects him to give their life for him). In combat, Zevran always goes out of his way to assist if she’s injured. Some of his stories from his past reveal that Zevran is indeed naturally inclined towards honesty and loyalty, but the Chronic Backstabbing Disorder nature of the Crows forced him to adjust to survive, and Ilona befriending him helps him unlearn those habits.

Go Through Me: He invokes this during the story when confronting Taliesen. Taliesen offers to take him home to Antiva and make up a story for why he left but Zevran refuses because of the friendship he developed with Ilona.

Guest-Star Party Member: Hawke encounters him in Dragon Age II and helps him get away from the Crows who are trying to kill him. He eventually returns to help Hawke and her friends in the Final Battle against Meredith.

Heartbroken Badass: Was in love with one of his fellow Crows who was accused of betraying the organization; he laughed and watched as she was killed, and then found out that she was innocent.

Heel–Face Turn

Hidden Depths: He puts effort into trying to convince Ilona that he has none.

Leliana remarks on it, as she comments that there’s “more to him than he lets on, isn’t there?”. Admittedly, Leliana seems to have been watching him very closely.

While it’s fairly easy to miss, Zevran and Taliesen are lovers.

Hitman with a Heart: Double-subverted: He does actually have one, under all the Crow training, but after the woman he loved turned out to be a supposed traitor to the Crows and he killed her without remorse only to find out that she had been innocent, he’s not at all keen to let such sentiment surface again.

Hunter of His Own Kind: In Dragon Age II.

Intimate Marks: He insinuates that he has tattoos on parts of his body that he can't show in polite company that "accentuate the lines of the body". These tattoos are never actually seen and he only refers to them.

Latin Lover: All the way.

Like Brother and Sister: He annoyingly flirts with Ilona a lot when he first meets her but later starts to respect and see her more as a sister.

Likes Older Women: Zevran seems to really have a thing for Wynne. Or for making Wynne very uncomfortable.

Wynne: "Zevran, I am old enough to be your grandmother.“

Zevran: "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

Wynne: "And what would you do if you had me, hmm? This is a game you play, nothing more.”

Zevran: "Oh, you are a cynical woman, Wynne. Cynical and powerful. It drives me mad with desire!“

One of the funniest dialogues is after Zevran has learned of Wynne’s condition.

Zevran: "I couldn’t help hearing about your… predicament. Forgive me if I am prying…"

Wynne: "Yes, you are."

Zevran: ”… but what does it feel like being possessed by a spirit?“ Wynne: "Why does this interest you so?” Zevran: "I simply wish to get to know those that I travel with. Is that wrong of me?“

Wynne: "No, of course it isn’t. Well… let me see. It is hard to describe. It is comforting… I… I feel safe, loved.”

Zevran: "Comforted, loved, yes…“ Wynne: "It is like being held close, cradled… the bond is so complete that I am unable to extricate myself, nor do I wish to. Wait… why do you have that look on your face?”

Zevran: "Mmm, I… I am simply imagining it. Continue, please.“

Wynne: "And there is a constant warmth, that spreads outwards from the very center of my being, infusing my body with—”

Zevran: "Ooh…“ Wynne: "Andraste’s grace, what are you thinking about now? No, I don’t want to know. I feel dirty. Do not speak to me.”

Lovable Rogue: A charming assassin with some degree of conscience.

Lovable Sex Maniac: Most of his interactions with Ilona and her companions seem to revolve in some way around sex, although he’s obviously turning it Up to Eleven with Wynne and Morrigan just to irritate them.

My God, What Have I Done?: Killing Rinna, then finding out that she was innocent.

My Greatest Failure: Not only did he help Taliesin kill Rinna, but he laughed and spit in her face when she professed her innocence and love for him as she was dying. When he found out later that she was indeed innocent… well.

Mr. Fanservice: Lampshaded when he lists “stand around and look pretty” as one of the various skills and services he can offer Ilona as an ally.

Nature Vs Nurture: When Ilona learns about his past, it becomes clear that Zevran is by nature very loyal and compassionate, but his horrific upbringing by the Crows conditioned him to place ruthless pragmatism above sentiment. Ilona befriending Zevran helped draw out his good nature under his ruthless nurture.

Nice Job Breaking It, Hero!: In a War Table chain in Inquisition, Inquisitor Rosabelle Trevelyan hires the Crows to deal with a Venatori aligned noble. The Crows fail because Zevran, believing that the assassins were after him, killed one of them. Zevran offers to kill the noble in the Crows' place.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Narrowly averted for Zevran's first mark. He took pity on her and arranged to help her escape while he took credit for killing her to the Crows so they'd both come out okay. She promptly tripped on her carriage door, fell, and broke her neck. The Crows congratulated him on being able to Make It Look Like an Accident. Zevran later found out that she had arranged to betray him to the Crows.

No Pronunciation Guide: Appears to be a literal case when the time came to record the dialogue - poor Zev is the only one who pronounces his name correctly (emphasis on the second syllable, not the first).

Justified: He's Antivan (think Spanish or Italian in Real Life), while Fereldans are the equivalent of Brits. Most native english speakers mispronounce Spanish names. Note that only Master Ignacio, another Antivan, pronounces it correctly.

No Sneak Attacks: Despite admitting easily that he wasn’t planning on a fair fight, singing praises about poison usage and crippling one’s opponent, he tries to take Ilona head on (subverted in the fact that he's somewhat Crazy-Prepared with tons of traps, archers and even a mage). Most likely because of the fact that he's a Death Seeker.

Nothing Personal: After failing to assassinate Ilona and her companions, he explains that he has no idea what Loghain’s issues are with her and that she can’t afford to take that sort of thing personally.

Obfuscating Stupidity: His conversation with Morrigan after Ilona gives her Flemeth’s real grimoir, basically, "I know your mother sent you here because she had a plan, and I know you’re here because you have a plan.“ Pretty much what fans want to say to her face.

One-Man Army: A codex entry in Dragon Age II reveals that he’s single-handedly annihilating the entire Crow organization. Publicly, his former employers are still trying to assassinate him out of principle. Privately, however, they’re all terrified of him.

Parental Abandonment: He's the son of a whore who died in childbirth.

Playing Hard to Get: Zevran believes this to be the case when Ilona repeatedly keeps rebuffing his attempts at seducing her. He later finally realizes this to not be the case and starts treating her more like a sister.

Polyamory: The story implies, and The World of Thedas Vol. 2 confirms, that Zevran was in a poly relationship with Taliesin and Rinna.

Power Trio: The World of Thedas Vol. 2 reveals that Zevran was part of this with Taliesin and Rinna. Individually they were all average assassins, but together they complemented each other’s skills wonderfully. Zevran excelled at seduction and poisons, Taliesin was the best warrior, and Rinna was great at planning. When Rinna was killed, everything fell apart.

Professional Killer: He's one of the Antivan Crows' best.

Questionable Consent:

Implied.

Zevran: “I have had to do many things in my work as an assassin, some pleasant and many not so. The Crows recruit elven assassins because we are considered beautiful by humans... I am sure you can imagine the rest.”

Really Gets Around

Retcon: The World of Thedas Vol. 2 provides a pretty major one for his backstory. His father was a mark for the Crows, who kept tabs on his mother and him until the day they bought him. Rinna was also secretly the bastard child of an Antivan prince, and a legitimate contender for the Antivan throne. She was part of a huge plot to try to take the throne which failed, and she was indeed executed by the Crows for it. Taliesin knew of her guilt but let Zevran think she had been innocent to spare his feelings, but this backfired as Zevran fell into guilt and despair for her murder.

Sad Clown: All his lusting and quipping is meant to hide how much he really wants to die.

Sarcasm Mode: He's quite fond of it.

So Beautiful, It's a Curse: Downplayed. Zevran mentions that the Crows often recruit elves because they’re considered beautiful to humans, making it easy to seduce potential targets. Considering seven-year-old Zevran was picked up in a whorehouse…

Son of a Whore: His Dalish mother abandoned her clan and moved with his woodcutter father to Antiva City, then had to sell her body to put food on the table shortly thereafter (either because he died or abandoned her)

Stepford Smiler: His backstory almost makes him The Woobie. His Fade nightmare shows the torture he was made to endure to become an assassin. Aside from that, he allowed the woman he loved to be killed for betraying the Crows while she was professing her innocence and love for him - it turned out later on that she had indeed been innocent. Most of his cheerful perversity is the result of trying to accept his cruel and twisted upbringing.

Suicide Mission: The rest of the Crows consider his taking the contract to kill the Wardens to be this, given the reputation of the Wardens as warriors. Zevran intended it to be: as Death Seeker above shows, he wanted to die after Rinna's death and thought throwing himself in the path of a Grey Warden was the surest way to accomplish that.

Tattooed Crook: Some of the tattoos (like the one on his face) have certain meanings within the Crows organization. Others (such as the ones that he implies are around his… *ahem* ) are just there for decoration.

Too Kinky to Torture: Rebuffs Morrigan's threats of bodily harm with this but averts it in the Fade, where he briefly becomes The Determinator in his nightmare.

Training from Hell: His nightmare in the Fade gives you a general idea.

Troubled, but Cute: An elf with layers upon layers upon layers of defense mechanisms covering up an incredibly traumatic past.. He goes to great pains to deny this until Ilona befriended him.

Turn Coat: Very willingly when Ilona beats him.

Vitriolic Best Buds: With Oghren, perhaps as a small homage to Legolas and Gimli. Lampshaded when Zevran asks whether they’re going to engage in the standard elf/dwarf banter. Oghren’s response is “Nah.”

Weak, but Skilled: Conversations with Alistair and his own recounts of his past reveals that Zevran isn’t exactly the best fighter. He even reveals to Alistair that he was commissioned to kill the Ilona and her companions because he was the only member of the Crows who actually signed up for the job.

You Are Better Than You Think You Are: And it takes a lot for Ilona to convince Zevran of this.

#dragon age #dragon age: origins #zevran #zevran arainai #Tv Tropes

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