#like months of all these theories about him being alone and isolated after the raid

[officially-dumb]

I’ve always kinda disagreed with posts about how isolated Hawks is, and it’s honestly because of moments like these:

Like Hawks is a dude with a lot of secrets, sure, but there are so many characters who place a huge amount of faith in him. There’s no way Jeanist didn’t know he was at risk of not only dying, but also being turned into a Nomu, but he still put his trust in Hawks to get him out of there safely. And now he’s reiterating his decision to go along with whatever Hawks’ next plan is as well.

Endeavor pretty heavily implies here that he knows Hawks set him up, but he doesn’t even really question it, only warns Hawks to be careful not to get hurt. When Hawks tells him that a war is coming, he believes him without question, and spends several scenes worrying about Hawks or feeling guilty that he couldn’t do more to help him.

And even after Dabi tells Tokoyami that Hawks killed someone, Tokoyami still believes in him, because he knows Hawks’ character. He even assures him that everyone else does as well. Tokoyami puts his life on the line for Hawks in his lowest moment because he fully believes that Hawks is a good person.

Idk, i find it so ironic, especially in comparison to Twice’s lines about how he felt bad that no one trusted Hawks, that he’s surrounded by so many people who have unwavering faith in him. Even when they’re put in situations where it would be so easy to turn their backs on him.

#bnha #bnha manga spoilers #bnha 303 #hawks #fumikage tokoyami #endeavor #best jeanist #alright sry y'all just got way too in my feelings over how much everyone trusts hawks #like months of all these theories about him being alone and isolated after the raid #and the story went FUCK THAT here are hawks' best friends #fully trusting and believing in him

[starshineskyandthepowerofrock]

Winter Break

Part 22 of Starshine, Sky, and the Power of Rock.

"Isn't there ice on the moon?" Star asks me as we untie our skates.

"Mm hm," I say. "But gravity isn't as strong as it is down here, so we can't really skate on it."

Sky bangs the heel of her skate on the pavement, knocking shimmery ice off the blade. "You'll get the hang of it."

"Well, thanks for at least trying to teach me, guys," I say.

We find Gossamer and Pearl sitting at one of the tables set up around the rink, hidden among lots and lots of bustling people in a rainbow of warm coats.

"Your drinks are getting cold," Gossamer says, handing us paper cups. The warmth that I'd hoped would help thaw my numbing fingers doesn't come when I take mine. Star and Sky both take sips only to pull back with grimaces.

"Yeah, this is basically chocolate milk," Sky says.

Star giggles. "I guess we were out there a bit too long." She starts standing up. "Here, why don't I-"

"I can get us some new ones!" I say.

"Oh, you don't have to do that, Crescent," she says, patting me on the shoulder.

"No, really, I can! See?" I stand up and only stumble a little this time. "I'll be fine!"

She sits back down. "Okay, then."

Now that I'm looking, the nearest hot chocolate stand is a lot farther away than I'd been imagining. It wouldn't have been very far for Star, but for someone who had to go through months of training just to learn how to walk on this planet it's a bit more of a challenge. But that's no reason not to try!

Heel-toe heel-toe heel-toe- toe toe toe! I'm only an inch away from bumping into a fairy family but dodge them just in time. Heel-toe heel-toe- heel-heel toe-heel toe-heel toe-heel... I'm almost there!

"Oof!" I've bumped into someone! "I'm so sorry!" I tell her. She's bundled up to her eyes in red and black. "I- I'm still getting used to moving around down he-"

"It's fine," she says, brushing past me. But just before she and the pink-haired girl she's with leave, I catch a glimpse of their eyes, blood red against their pale skin. My heart skips a beat. But all they do is grab a couple hot chocolates and disappear into the crowd.

My breath quickens. What does this mean? Are we in trouble? Are they from the Band of Darkness? Should I tell someone? I think back to the raids that have happened this year alone. They usually happen while we're in class, but sometimes I catch glimpses of the destruction outside the classroom windows. When they happen on the weekends we'll be escorted into the palace and put on lockdown. Not to mention three of my band members have been attacked by them! Star and Gossamer have to hold each other when they catch word of another raid. Sky can keep a tough face but I see her shaking when it happens, too.

But... these vampires weren't doing anything, though. They just took some free drinks and left. Left to do what? I don't know. Drink them, I guess. One of the drinks I'm getting is for a vampire. Maybe they just want a hot chocolate on a cold day like she does. Maybe they aren't with the Band of Darkness like she isn't.

Oh, there's a crowd forming around me! I pick up five cups (it's a little complicated but I'll manage) and decide that if the alarm doesn't sound then we'll be fine.

🌙🌙🌙

Star has been inviting us to weekend spa days in her room ever since that one spa didn't let Sky in. I think the DIY face masks we're making are a lot more fun anyway. Today we're sitting in front of her fireplace in our robes taking turns smearing fruity-smelling slimes on each other's faces. Star doesn't like when I call them slimes but they sure feel that way to me. I think it makes them more fun!

"So, I invited Citrus, but he turned it down again," Star says, applying under eye patches to Sky's dark circles.

"Not all your friends will like each other," Gossamer says as she mixes some more charcoal into her bowl.

Star sighs. "Yeah, I guess... It's just gonna be so awkward for winter break, though! His whole band is going home but he's staying and so is Sky, so what am I supposed to do? I don't want either of you to be lonely."

"Don't worry, it takes a lot to get me feeling lonely," Sky says, already picking at one of the patches. "Plus, Crescent will be here to keep me company, woncha?"

"Mm hm!" I say. "The ship only lands to drop us off in the fall and pick us up in the summer, so I'll be right here!"

Gossamer sighs, now applying her charcoal mask to Pearl. "I wish I could stay, too. But elves are supposed to take our holidays very seriously. I'm already in it deep with my father as it is. If I disrespected our traditions any more I don't think I'd live to tell the tale."

"On the bright side, at least Summer is also in trouble with him for the arm thing," Star says. She stills Sky's hands and smooths out the patches. "So she'll be off your back, at least."

"For now," Gossamer sighs.

"I still don't get why you guys have to go all the way to the north pole for a holiday," Sky says. "What is it you guys do there again? Build stuff?"

Gossamer fans Pearl's face to help it dry and starts applying the rest of the mask to Star. "We make toys. A really long time ago there was an old elf who lived up there and found a portal to another dimension or something, and instead of using his knowledge to further investigate the existence of a wider multiverse he distributed handmade gifts to the children there once a year. So now all the elves make this big trek up north every winter to help his descendants finish that year's workload. Last year I made over 200 dolls."

"Wow," we all say, even Pearl. As the others' conversation shifts to winter holidays and multiverse theories, I can't help wondering what was going on with those vampire girls today. The alarm never did sound, so I can only guess they didn't hurt anyone. So why do I feel bad about not telling my friends about them? All I did was bump into them, really. That's hardly something to mention when I bump into people every day. But if I told them who I bumped into today, I know they'd freak. Right?

🌙🌙🌙

I'm still thinking about all this come next weekend, when the palace travels around the whole kingdom dropping off the students who'll be staying home for winter break. In Hillside, we take turns hugging Gossamer goodbye and try to help her load her luggage into one of the big flying sleighs that they'll be taking to the north pole. Summer and Star exchange dark glares. So do Mr. Glade and Sky. But nothing happens, probably because others were watching, so the Glades leave without a scene.

Once we get to the East Shore, it's time to wave off Pearl and the other merpeople. I'd really been hoping I would have known my own roommate a bit better at this point, but when we tell her bye it's still a bit awkward. She doesn't say much more than a little "Bye." She does let us stroke her horse's scaly neck, though. Then she hops on his back and rides into the sea with the others. A few moments later, shimmery green, blue, and purple tails flap above the surface before diving into Saline Deep.

Sky stays put a bit longer after they've all left. Star and I follow her sightline to the Isle of Isolation, a dark little blip on the clear blue horizon.

"I could make it back," she says.

"You know it's too dangerous," Star reminds her gently. "Who knows what they'll do with you once you're back in their territory? And if your family was found harboring you..." Sky's doing the thing where her face doesn't move. I can't tell enough what she's thinking to give any input but Star reads her eyes enough to say, "You won't be alone." She takes her gloved hand. "See?"

Sky gives a sad little smile. "I guess you're right." She turns to me and offers her hand. "Plus, I'm not the only homesick one here, I'm sure."

I raise my eyebrows, not really sure why I'm surprised by her saying this. "Oh!" I say. I take her hand. "Yeah, seeing the moon again would be nice."

🌙🌙🌙

On the moon, we don't sleep in beds but in rest chambers. They're these ceiling-to-floor air-sealed padded boxes that we float around in while we sleep. There's no blankets 'cause it's perfectly temperature-controlled. They can even play music! Or white noise, if that's your thing.

Mine here is super comfy! The pads are cotton candy colored, which I love! And it's the only place I have where the physics are anything like home. Home...

I wonder what I'd be doing on winter break if I'd went home. We don't really have winter there, or any other seasons, and there's no holiday around this time. It'd be nice to see my old friends, though. I haven't really thought about them a whole lot, 'cause every time I do I get sad that they're not here. My mom just told me that it'd be fine, 'cause I'd have new friends here. And she's right, but... It doesn't keep my chest from tightening a bit when I think about them.

They'd, um...

The thing was, we had a band, me and my moon friends. That was how I learned the drums. And it was super fun! Especially since they argued way less than my parents did. I preferred being out of the house drumming away as long as I could before I had to come home to hear either one announce again that they were leaving before deciding again that it was a bad idea...

Hm...

These thoughts aren't helping me sleep. It also doesn't help that I'm upside down. I right myself and try to think about something else.

Those vampire girls are an interesting thing to think about. There isn't much to work with, though. I've been thinking in circles about them for days now. Maybe I should just get some warm milk.

When I walk out to the living room, I find Sky holding her stuffed spider and nursing a steaming mug by the kitchenette. She has her earbuds in, but takes one out when she notices me.

"You can't sleep either?" I ask her.

She shrugs. "Something like that. Warm milk?"

I nod and she puts another mug in the microwave.

"School breaks are usually when I kill my sleep schedule," she says, watching the mug spin. She takes it out and hands it to me. "I may be done with sleep for the night."

I blow and sip. "I'm still trying to start."

She sucks air through her teeth. "I know that feeling. Something bothering you?"

I shake my head, guilty about not telling her but not enough to, well, tell her. But maybe there is something she can give me perspective on. "I've just been wondering about stuff."

"Like what?"

"Well... Is it normal for monsters to come to the Land of Light?"

She tilts her head, not smiling anymore. "Why do you ask?"

"O-oh, it's not about you, I get why you're here. I was wondering more about, um. See, the thing is I, uh. I saw some vampires the other day. When we were skating?"

She furrows her brow a bit. "Uh huh?"

"And they just took some hot chocolate and left, you know? Without doing anything else. So I was curious if monsters come here a lot. For, like. Not war reasons."

Sky takes her time finishing her milk before answering my question. "It's not normal, that's for sure. I mean, we haven't been straight-up banned from coming in the Land of Light since, like, fifty years ago." She gestures to herself. "Clearly. But I've never met a monster that wanted to come here for, like, a vacation or something. We're usually taught to think of this place as enemy territory. So, I can't tell you what that was about."

I want to ask further but worry about bringing up memories from earlier this year. "You don't think they were... um..."

"With the Band of Darkness?"

I nod.

She thinks for a bit. Then she shrugs. "Can't tell you."

Well, that's not very helpful.

Sky stretches her shoulders and heads for her bedroom. "Ah well, I'm sure it's nothing," she says on her way out. I'm about to go back to my own room when I notice her come back out with a notebook in her hands.

"What's that?" I ask.

She looks up, surprised I'm still here. "Huh? Oh, uh... just writing something."

"Another song?"

She nods.

"Can I hear?" I ask.

"Uh..." Sky scratches the back of her head, backing away.

"You don't have to," I say. Oh no, I've messed up! "It's okay, really!"

Sky relaxes a bit. "Thanks."

🌙🌙🌙

Just when I'm finally drifting off to sleep, I'm woken up by a knock on the door to my rest chamber. The world is diagonal, almost upside down when I open my eyes, so I make sure to right myself so my feet can touch the floor when I turn off the antigravity and open the door to Sky.

"I wanna show you something," she says. She leads me out of my room and surprises me by making her way for the door to the hallway.

"I thought we couldn't leave our dorms after sundown," I say.

"We can. We just aren't allowed to." She cracks open the door. Then in a puff of dark red smoke she's turned into a bat. Hovering in front of my face she whispers, "Stay in the shadows," and slips through the crack. I push the door open a bit further and tiptoe out behind her.

My heart goes pitter-pat with excitement as I creep along, keeping close to the wall and in the darker areas like Sky said. She flaps her way into the First Year girls' common room, who's door has been left ajar. When I open it to step in behind her, she's already back to her normal self.

"There's no cameras in here. I've checked," she says.

My eyes drift to the piano. There's Sky's notebook, open to reveal some sheet music. I gasp. "Are you gonna play your song for me?"

"What?" Sky says. "Oh, no, I just thought you could answer a question I've got." She does a "come here" thing with her fingers and leads me to a far corner of the room. Between a bookcase and a TV set is a patch of wall that's... shimmering? And now that I'm closer, it sounds like there's a low hum coming from it, too.

"What is that?" I ask.

"I thought you'd have an idea," she says. "Started going like that while I was playing. Magic tech where I come from isn't anything like here or the moon, so, I was hoping you'd be able to explain what I'm looking at here."

"I don't even know what I'm looking at!"

Sky crosses her arms. "Well then." She walks back over to the piano and picks up a pencil sitting next to her notebook. "Let's find out." She tosses it at the wall. It disappears with the tiniest burst of sparkles.

"Where'd it go?" I ask, my heart going even faster now.

"Huh," is all Sky says back. She's stroking her chin. Then she reaches her hand out.

I grab her arm. "Hold on, I don't want you to get hurt!"

She pats my hand before gently lifting it from her arm. "I'm a vampire, remember? Unless this thing's made outta garlic or something I think I'll be alright." When her hand gets close to the shimmers, a couple glittery crackles make her pull back for a sec. But she reaches out again. At first she tries resting her hand on the wall, but then it pushes right through!

Sky turns to me, as shocked as I am.

She pulls her hand back out, and now it's covered in pale pink and lavender sparkles. "What the hell?"

"It's a portal!" I say.

"To where?"

Our eyes tear from her hand and meet. The same thought makes us both smile in dangerous excitement. I guess neither of us are sleeping tonight.

#vampire #magical girl #magical school #winter #ice skating #moon rabbit #fantasy story #fantasy writing #vampire oc #original characters

[phylophe]

Dragon Age Hell

Over the past couple of months I’ve played through the entire Dragon Age Series (I’ve started playing Dragon Age: Origins years ago but never completed the playthrough). While feeling a lot of feelings I thought I’d transcribe all my epilogues for my canon world state. 

British English spelling so I can read more easily.

Dragon Age: Origins

Warden: Lear Cousland

In the months that followed in coronation, Alistair surprised many by studying the art of governance and doing his best to rule the kingdom with a fair and even hand. He proved quite popular with the people, his humour and easy grace wining them over as much as his willingness to sneak out of the castle and mingle in the lower-class taverns on occasion. 

Lear, as Alistair’s chancellor, was a regular face at court - at least for a time. Alistair deferred to his advisor’s judgement on most matters, and when the king travelled away from the capital, as he did often, he was more than willing to leave the throne entirely in Lear’s hands. 

Rumours that the Urn of Sacred Ashes had been found, and that it was used to heal Arl Eamon of his poisoning, circulated in Ferelden in the months following the darkspawn defeat... slowly, at first, and then with growing frequency as the grand cleric failed to deny them. Once the Chantry made several attempts to verify the rumours, however, there came an official decree that no resting place for the Ashes had been found. If the Urn of Sacred Ashes was in those ruins once, it was no longer. 

Following months of effort, the tower of the Circle of Magi was finally cleansed of the last spirits to slip through the Veil. No further abominations were created, and First Enchanter Irving was pleased to declare the Circle safe. All that could be saved had been. 

With the slavers shut down in the Alienage, the lot of the city-born elves improved for a time. The new king even named the local elder to his personal court - a scandal amongst the humans, but a sign of new hope to the elves. Shianni continued to be an outspoken member of the Alienage community, and in time became the new elder. That outspokenness earned her frequent trouble, but served her people well. 

Arl Eamon returned to Redcliffe, beginning the long task of rebuilding. He found the village already bustling and eager to leave behind the memories of those terrible nights facing the undead. Connor was sent off the study at the Circle, and considering his earlier experiences, he excelled in his training and easily passed the Harrowing to become a full mage. At his father’s urging, Connor accepted a position in Tevinter to undertake formal study of the Fade. 

Bevin, Kaitlyn’s young brother, eventually grew to become a famous adventurer in his own right. One of his favourite stories to tell companions was how, as a young lad, he met Lear, who used his father’s blade to save Redcliffe and then passed it back. The tavern in Redcliffe village, now run by Bella, was renamed “The Grey Warden’s Rest”. It echoes with tales of how the hero of Ferelden saved the village and healed Arl Eamon with the Sacred Ashes of Andraste. Few believed that such tall tales could possibly be true. 

The Dalish elves prospered after the siege at Denerim, having earned much respect for their part in the battle. For once, human lands welcomed the wandering folk. The new keeper, Lanaya, was respected both amongst the Dalish as well as in the Ferelden court. She was a voice of reason, and other Dalish clans would turn to her to help resolve disputes with human folk. In time, many of the Dalish clans moved to the new land provided for them in the south near Ostagar. Wary of their human neighbours, however, tensions soon rose again... and only Keeper Lanaya’s leadership kept peace alive. 

In Orzammar, King Harrowmont found himself in a protracted battle against Bhelen’s rebellion that left him unable to gain the stability he needed. The clan lords objected to many of his measures in the Assembly, and only his efforts to increase the dwarves’ isolation from the surface met with any success. In time, Harrowmont’s health began to fail. Some claimed it was poison, while others said it was a flagging spirit. Either way, after a protracted illness, the king finally passed away. The wrangling in the Assembly for a successor began almost immediately. 

Brother Burkel’s new chantry in Orzammar drew a surprising number of converts among the dwarves. They quickly attracted a great deal of anger from more conservative quarters, and before long the Assembly severely restricted the Andrastians’ rights. Brother Burkel resisted, and was slain while being arrested during a peaceful demonstration in the Commons. The Assembly claimed this was an accident, but news of the resulting riots reached the Chantry on the surface, where the Divine even contemplated a new Exalted March. 

The dwarven mage, Dagna, ultimately completed her studies at the rebuilt Circle Tower. Eventually, she published a comprehensive theory of how lyrium vapours relate to the supply of magic. It gained a great deal of attention. 

Although the Anvil of the Void was destroyed, rumours about its location crept into Orzammar. Years later, thanks to the defeat of the darkspawn on the surface, a few determined smiths managed to locate the Anvil’s remains. They examined the ruins of the Anvil, and, upon returning to Orzammar with their findings, convinced the Shaperate to attempt to recreate Caridin’s research. A new golem was created, bound with a spirit taken from the Fade. The golem immediately went insane, killing several shapers before it was destroyed. The research was branded excessively dangerous and sealed away. Whispers of its existence circulated throughout Orzammar, however, and demand among the smith caste to reopen Caridin’s research refused to abate. 

As good as her word, Morrigan disappeared once the archdemon was slain. Some of Morrigan’s description was seen travelling alone months later, heading west through the Frostback Mountains... and she may even have been with child. There was no word of her after that. Flemeth’s hut in the Korcari Wilds was likewise abandoned. Once cannot help but wonder: Where did they go? What were their plans? What became of the child? These questions must remain a mystery... for now. 

The companions who had travelled with Lear eventually scattered to the four winds, drawn either by personal duty or the call to further adventure. The Grey Wardens welcomed their hero back into the fold - even if the suspicions of those who wondered how Lear managed to survive were sometimes given quiet voice. 

As the blighted lands began to heal and the Grey Wardens slowly rebuilt the order in Amaranthine, they discovered that the fight against the darkspawn was not yet complete. Although the hoard was routed and had dissolved upon the archdemon’s death, many of the more powerful darkspawn survived to organise roving war bands that preyed both upon the land and upon each other. These war bands spread havoc, and some even journeyed west into Orlais or crossed the Shining Sea by the Deep Roads. They proved incredibly difficult to wipe out. 

But these are tales yet to be told. This tale ended when Lear sank his blade in the archdemon’s head and destroyed it forever. It was not the last that Ferelden would hear of him, however...

Dragon Age: Awakening

After the deaths of both the Architect and the Mother, nearly all the remaining darkspawn fled back into the Deep Roads. The raids on Amaranthine came to an abrupt end. Although some of the Architect’s disciples likely escaped into the Deep Roads with the rest of their brethren, they have - so far - shown no inclination towards vengeance against the Grey Wardens who killed their saviour. Yet the Deep Roads remain plagued by the darkspawn, and it seems certain that in time, another Blight will begin. The danger may have passed for now, but the cycle of the Old Gods continue. 

The destruction of Amaranthine did not endear the Grey Wardens to the people of Ferelden. Although much of the citizenry wanted to forget the terrible event and get on with life, a small segment pledged to exact revenge against the Wardens. People whispered that the Commander of the Grey was trying to influence Fereldan politics once again, and suggested the burning of Amaranthine was a part of a larger plot to gain power. The rumours grew until, inside a year, a mob appeared at the gates of Vigil’s Keep. Although most of the rioters were shown mercy and survived the bloody clash, public opinion of the Grey Wardens turned sour for years, until the Wardens led an effort to rebuild Amaranthine. 

The war devastated the farmholds of the arling, and the land would never truly recover from their loss. Most of the arling lay fallow, becoming a breeding ground for bandits and worse. Only the roads and the few scattered settlements could provide any safety in that abandoned region. 

The annals of the Grey Wardens hailed Commander Lear’s defence of Vigil’s Keep as a crucial victory. The order’s more clever recruits often spent days studying the account in an attempt to understand the commander’s tactics. The Vigil became a trading hub that would eventually eclipse the city of Amaranthine, with traders reassured by guards continually patrolling the Pilgrim’s Path. But prosperity bred scheming and treachery between merchants and nobles, testing the commander’s patience for years to come. 

Peace allowed the Wardens to replenish their numbers. Soon, Vigil’s Keep bore a capable army with Wardens at its core. From their ranks emerged new heroes to challenge threats to Amaranthine and all of Ferelden. Through taxes and levies, the Vigil was rebuilt. Years later, Voldrik Glavonak stood on the battlements and pronounced that the defences were acceptable. He would never speak more highly of any human engineering. 

Some nobles claimed the Grey Wardens were involved in Bann Esmerelle’s disappearance on the eve of the final battle against the darkspawn. Dark whispers hint that a conspiracy to oust the Wardens from Amaranthine is still afoot. The Vigil’s soldiers, wearing the distinctive silverite armour that Master Wade crafted, came to be known as the Silver Order. Under the tutelage of the Wardens, the Silver Order developed into one of Ferelden’s most revered military forces, a lasting memory of the Vigil’s famous commander. 

With Velanna and the Architect gone from the region, the Pilgrim’s Path began to see traffic again. The massacre of the militiamen and the merchants, however, led to hostilities between the neighbouring human settlements and any Dalish clans that passed by. One human villager soon kidnapped and murdered a Dalish child. The clans reacted by giving the Wending Wood a wide berth, but both sides know that at some point the elves will return for revenge. 

A few years after Kal’Hirol was emptied of darkspawn, Orzammar began sending expeditions to rediscover the knowledge of smithing that had been list within the thaig. Eventually house Helmi decided that Kal’Hirol was too important to be abandoned. At a tremendous cost of dwarven lives, they cleared the tunnels leading to Kal’Hirol of all darkspawn, making the road between Orzammar and the fortress safe again. Kal’Hirol was reclaimed for Orzammar, once and for all. 

In time, the arling began to forget the tales of apparitions in the Blackmarsh, and ever so slowly, settlers drifted into the region. Scholars said the Veil was still thin and thus the area still dangerous, but the people only cared that there was no longer frightened whispers in the shadows. The village was slowly rebuilt. Twice the baroness’ mansion was rebuilt and occupied, once by a wealthy merchant and another time by an Orlesian mage. Both died mysteriously. Afterwards, the mansion was torn down completely and the site left untouched. 

Anders remained with the Grey Wardens a few years longer, training the order’s next generation of mages. But when the Circle Tower called him to deliver a lecture on the nature of the Architect - much to the templars’ dismay - Anders told the Commander of the Grey that his time with the Wardens was over. Now that Anders was no longer a Warden, the templars declared him apostate and began a search. The closest they came to finding him was a rumour that he joined the crew of a merchant ship with a certain female captain. 

Velanna never saw her clan again, but neither did she forsake her Dalish culture - nor her sharp tongue, nor her quick temper. After several years in the Grey Wardens, Velanna disappeared one day. Most surmise that she left for the Deep Roads to resume the search for her sister, but no one knows for sure. 

Over the next years, Nathaniel dedicated himself to the order and to clearing the blemishes on his family’s name. After saving Teyrn Fergus Cousland from a bandit attack, a portion of Amaranthine was returned to the Howes. Nathaniel passed the holding to Delilah’s son, and when a new castle was eventually built there, a statue of Nathaniel was erected in its courtyard. 

Once the darkspawn threat was ended, Justice left the Grey Wardens to pursue other injustices. Years later he appeared on the doorstep of Kristoff’s widow and, smiling, simply dropped dead. Aura finally had a body to mourn. If the spirit itself remains alive, it has not shown itself. 

With the Mother dead, Sigrun seemed to lose her purpose. She withdrew from her friends in the order and spoke to them less and less each day. One morning, Sigrun was simply absent, her bed made and her trunk emptied. A young recruit who had been up in the night said she had left for her Calling, gone to finish what she started in Kal’Hirol. 

Oghren continued to regale young Warden recruits with tales of his prowess in both battle and bed. His drinking games prompted at least one recruit to declare that she’d rather reattempt the Joining than lift another mug. Felsi returned to Vigil’s Keep several times to see Oghren, usually bringing their toddler as well. Oghren’s inability to act seriously wore on her, however, and her visits dwindled, then stopped altogether. If Oghren missed her, or his child, he never showed it.

As for the saviour of Ferelden, he did not remain as Commander for the Grey for long. The darkspawn were no longer a real concern, the Blight well and truly over. It was time for him to move on. Some years later, the saviour of Ferelden vanished entirely. Nobody knows for what purpose he departed, yet neither does anyone think his tale is complete...

Dragon Age 2

Champion: Giulle Hawke

Word of the slaughter spread quickly. The Champion’s name became a rallying cry, a reminder that the mighty templars could be defied. She had defended the mages against the brutal injustice, and many lived to tell the tale. The Circles rose up and set the world on fire. 

More templars arrived at Kirkwall to restore order, but we were already long gone. We vanished into the hills, and circumstance eventually forced us all to leave the Champion’s side. Well... all of us except for Anders.

You still hear the stories of course. With each telling they grow, even if at the core remains the truth. A new legend had been born. 

So that’s it. That’s the whole story.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Inquisitor: Amur Trevelyan

‘Tis said that Corypheus woke after his long slumber and found the world gone awry. He fought to bring back those days of magic and shadow, to raise himself as a god, and set things right. Now we are left with a scar in the sky to remind us of what almost was. It tells us that a great victory against chaos was won, but left the world forever changed. 

Consider the mighty Empire of Orlais, where Empress Celene remains on her golden throne. The civil war is ended, Gaspard is defeated, but it is said that Briala yet plots her return from exile. The empress now faces a war in the shadows. Elven daggers rule the night, and spies follow her every move. Fortunately for Celene, her gratitude towards the Inquisition has remained strong. Some claims she clings too tightly to the alliance - others know it is all that stands between her and defeat. 

The Grey Wardens of the South slowly rebuild in the months following the events at Adamant. They declare it time for the Order to emerge from the shadows, to join the rest of humanity in fighting their ancient foes. Rumours abound that they severed ties with their leaders at Weisshaupt, and that a bitter war now rages between them. What becomes of Hawke is unknown - save that all news out of Weisshaupt soon ends. Does the sudden silence indicate a battle within... or something far worse? 

One month after the defeat of Corypheus, the Chantry names Cassandra as successor to the Sunburst Throne. Given the name Divine Victoria, she immediately enacts reform: a new Templar Order, and a new Circle of Magi. The Seekers of Truth are rededicated to their purpose of protecting the innocent. A proclamation of support for the Inquisition is issued, recognising its service to all of Thedas. Despite her popularity, the new Divine’s reforms are seen by some as going too far. 

The Inquisition’s mages - the former rebels led by Grand Enchanter Fiona - are left with a choice. In the end, they refuse Cassandra’s invitation to rejoin the Circle of Magi and instead reform the College of Enchanters as a new order. The College, they say, will allow mages of the South to gather in peace and seek new solutions to age-old problems. From the beginning, the College and the Circle have clashed - and some fear it will lead to a new war of the mages upon themselves. 

And what of the Inquisition itself? Its military might has grown, now rivalling that of kingdoms. Fear of the Inquisition’s army has become the true source of its power. I leave Skyhold now, knowing that power will continue to grow. The Inquisitor is a symbol to many, a leader of the changing world order. To others, he has become a target. They linger in the shadows, waiting for their day to come. When it does, the Inquisition shall stand ready.

Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser

Over the next several months, the Inquisition carefully gave over many of the duties it had held. As the Divine’s personal guard and peacekeeping force, the Inquisition shrank to a more manageable size. Many who had served went home, though the remaining force was still enough to give pause to any who might threaten the Divine’s plans. Those who served the new Inquisition were tested and checked thoroughly, in the hope of ferreting out any more spies within its ranks.

With the Dragon’s Breath disrupted and any hope of a swift victory dashed, the Qunari retreated back to the North. Few knew what debates were waged in Par Vollen, but not long after the Exalted Council, the Qunari launched new attacks against Tevinter. Their aggression caught the already unstable Imperium off guard. Tevinter was soon mired in a war many feared would spread across Thedas. 

Cassandra continued her reign as Divine Victoria, rebuilding fractured alliances and settling the Inquisition into its new role as her personal guard. Her efforts were successful, and - for a time - southern Thedas saw peace. Cassandra also spent time in the Hunterhorn Mountains north of Orlais, where she worked to rebuild the Seekers. For a time, the new Seekers remained reclusive, showing no interest in worldly affairs and working to a purpose few outside their order would guess. 

Some believed that the end of the Inquisition as it had been heralded the destruction of the fledgling College of Enchanters. Having clashed with the Circle, the College now found itself without support against the newly elected Grand Enchanter, Vivienne. Fortunately, Grand Enchanter Vivienne grudgingly agreed not to destroy its terrified leaders, as a personal favour to Divine Victoria. The two institutions settled into an uneasy coexistence across the South, vying for power. 

Leliana continued to act as the Inquisition’s spymaster in its final months as an independent organisation. During this time, she shared many of her responsibilities with her most trusted agents, including Charter, Rector, and Harding. Many believed that Leliana feared what lay on the horizon and was grooming successors in anticipation of the challenges ahead. 

Sera left the Inquisition with scarcely more ties than when she began, disappearing back into her confusing weave of favours and friends. After seeing the world brought to the brink by arrogance and pride, it was a blessing to return to normal - however strange a normal it might be. With frequent visits to her Widdle, of course. Perhaps most unnerving was Sera’s standing offer to the Divine: “When the nobs piss about with your left hand or right, call on Red Jenny to give them two fingers.” 

Varric took up the role of Viscount and, with the help of his friend Hawke, rebuilt Kirkwall’s damaged infrastructure. Under his rule, the city-state finally resumed its place as the major trade hub of the Free Marches. He continued to ignore all mail from both the Merchants Guild and the Prince of Starkhaven. 

With the Inquisition in its new role, the Bull’s Chargers returned to taking jobs throughout Orlais and Ferelden. Fighting demons and clearing out the remains of Venatori forces, the Iron Bull did his part to restore order to Thedas. 

After the Inquisition transitioned into a peacekeeping role, Cullen continued to serve as commander of its forces. Under his leadership, the Inquisition protected the Divine’s interests while enforcing new standards of security. Cullen also expanded the Chantry’s treatment for templars whose minds were taken by lyrium, as well as those who wished to cease lyrium usage. And as chaos reigned in the North and threats to the Divine lurked in every shadow, Cullen remained ready to serve. 

Dorian returned to Tevinter to take his father’s place in the Magisterium. As rumours flew about the Imperium’s infighting, Dorian was spoken of often as a voice of resistance against corruption. Along with Magister Maevaris Tilani, he formed a group called the Lucerni to restore and redeem Tevinter - a fight many thought hopeless. Those fighting by Magister Pavus’ side noted that he kept in constant communication with the Inquisitor via message crystal. Whether for vital information or for moral support, these talks seemed to give Dorian the strength to continue his fight.

After the Exalted Council, Thom Rainier bid farewell to his friends and went to Weisshaupt fortress to pledge himself to the Grey Wardens for good. While he was rarely seen in the years that followed, some said they encountered Rainier in far-flung lands, their accounts always similar. Rainier carried out the duty of the Wardens, but always found time to help others along the way. Sometimes he served as a shield for the defenceless. Other times, he spread simple cheer among children with gifts of small, carved toys. 

After easing the Inquisition’s transition into the Chantry, Josephine returned to Antiva and her family. Thanks to the Inquisitor’s help, the Montilyets were once again permitted to trade in Orlais. The next few years were a busy time, as many ships with the Montilyet crest were built and set sail again from Antiva’s harbours. Soon, Rivaini pirate captains with an ancient feud against Josephine’s ancestors took to the seas, determined to rekindle the rivalry. Apart from Josephine’s sister, Yvette, nearly eloping with a dashing pirate prince on one occasion, Lady Montilyet took the development in stride. 

Cole took to the road with Maryden to find a new life and a new way to be human. Wherever Maryden went to sing, people found old pains eased and hearts made happier... even if they don’t understand why. 

After the events at the Winter Palace, elves left the Inquisition under mysterious circumstances, as did elven servants across Thedas. None could say where they went, but those who believed the Inquisitor’s story about Fen’Harel wondered just how large the Dread Wolf’s forces were... and what the ancient elven rebel had planned. 

BONUS! Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser Post-Epilogue Scene

“Maintaining the Inquisition, even as a peacekeeping force, leaves us vulnerable to agents of the Dread Wolf...”

“But also gives us the strength to respond.” 

“We will need to be careful.” 

“Solas knows everything about us. Who we are, how we work, our strengths and weaknesses...” 

“Then we find people he doesn’t know. We will save our friend from himself... if we can.” 

#dragon age #dragon age origins #dragon age 2 #dragon age inquisition #I pretty much marathoned the entire series #looking at all this together gives me more questions #what happened to the Silver Order #how's the deal with the anvil going in Orzammar #how are all my companions who survived doing #WHAT'S GOING ON FOR THE HERO OF FERELDEN #WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SOLAS #I have a problem with not hating Problematic Hobo Apostates™ as much as I maybe should #that and I guess Giulle was in love with her respective PHA #and Amur is just a fkin softie for anyone with the slightest shred of humanity #oh I guess I should tag #spoiler

[wanderingstoryteller]

Guild Wars Lore: The Red Lady

I’ve gotta say, these past few months of Guild Wars content have been heaven for me, as a fan of the game’s lore. Our trip to Elona gave me everything I could have wanted. It took me days to stop nerding out over the Flameseeker Prophecies alone. 

And now, with Living World almost back and Current Events becoming A Thing again, we’re getting even more. This Halloween, Arenanet gave us a lovely murder mystery to chew on... and if this is my idea of heaven, isn’t it fitting that said mystery involves the afterlife? 

Buckle up, guys -- today we talk about necromancy, the Underworld, and a most curious murder...

The Mystery

A few weeks ago, Arenanet dropped a balance patch into the game, the first since PoF launched. For certain folks in the community, this was a pretty big event -- when Arenanet tweaks skill balance, it’s a race to figure out how the meta has shifted. But of course, this one was important for other reasons, too, and with all the hubbub around... that... a lot of people didn’t notice the new content they added to the Shadow Behemoth fight. 

They added Skeletons. These Skeletons, specifically. These little guys appeared out of the Underworld Portals the spawned by the Shadow Behemoth , just like the Shades and Aatxes that already appear in the event. They’re angry, hostile, and evidently got lost on the way to Halloween. 

But that wasn’t the strange bit. The real strangeness, you see, comes afterward. Once the Behemoth was dead, players started noticing these floating red... light thingies appearing around the swamp, near where the boss was killed. Following them, they came across this: 

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a dead body. According to the player character, there are huge cuts all over his body, suggesting he was hacked to death by someone with an axe. This is a good time to mention that the Skeletons from earlier are all carrying axes. 

Looking around, it’s possible to find another clue -- a necromancer lives in a shack not too far away, and he’s got new dialogue if you approach him after interacting with the body. His statement? 

“A necromancer. Answering a call, he said. Dark tidings followed him. I'm not surprised he ended up a corpse.”

In other words: Someone (or something) lured him to the swamp before he was suddenly killed by axe-wielding dead people. Intriguing. Then we found the second victim, and all this became downright fascinating. 

Dead Body #2 was found at the Reaper’s Gate, an isolated area deep within Lornar’s Pass. In the first game, this site was sacred to Grenth, and like the Temple of the Ages, players used that location to enter the Underworld. Also like the Temple of the Ages, the place is now infested with Underworld Shades. 

Or it was, until Arenanet replaced all those Shades with Skeletons -- the same Skeletons from the Behemoth fight, with axes and everything. The connection isn’t exactly subtle, but the mystery is deepened by the second victim’s bloodstained journal. Most of it illegible, what with all the blood, but we did get this juicy tidbit: 

“...speaks to me in dreams...the red lady...seeking allies...answer the call...”

The bit that most interests me is the mention of this “red lady”. Because I think I know who the Red Lady is.

The Culprit

Ladies in gentlemen, please meet my prime suspect... the Nameless Lich.

She’s not a very well-known figure in Guild Wars lore, but that’s not because she isn’t interesting. She simply had very bad luck -- put into the game during the very last Halloween update for Guild Wars, ever. Whatever story the devs were planning to tell here, they never got the chance to tell it before they were all moved to Guild Wars 2. 

Because of that, we know very little about her. Basically, she’s from the Underworld, she seems to be affiliated with the Lunatic Court, she has a special appreciation for the color red, and that’s pretty much it. But doesn’t all that line up perfectly with our murderer? A being from the Underworld, a woman affiliated with the color red, shows up right after Halloween to set her plans into motion? That fits waaaay too well.

Of course, she’s not the only possibility. The phrase “It was Livia!” is halfway to memehood by now, and for good reason -- that highly-suspicious red-haired necromancer may yet show her face again. Hell, I’ve even heard theories about Scarlet being involved, which does make some sense if you think about it. I mean, she’s definitely in the Underworld right now and she fits the “Red Lady” moniker very well. It’s not likely... but hey, it’s not like the Nameless Lich is a slam dunk either. Could be that I’m way off. 

But here’s the most interesting thing about all this, at least to me: The murder mystery is only half the story. 

The Implications

No matter who killed them, here’s the situation: A spirit of the Underworld is manipulating the living from beyond the grave. Communicating through dreams. Sending minions through Underworld portals. Making a big ruckus. 

And that, my friends, is a Really Big Problem. We know now that Grenth is gone, and that the Judge is the only thing standing between us and the wicked spirits of the Underworld. We also know that the Judge isn’t very good at this, or the Shades wouldn’t have been such a big problem in the first place. The villains of this franchise now have the ability to subvert death itself, and past experience tells us this is a bad thing. 

Not only that, but scroll back up to the necromancer’s journal for a second. Did you catch that bit about “seeking allies”? To me, that implies much more than a single spirit messing with people. It implies a conspiracy, or a multi-faction standoff of some kind. 

The Red Lady may just be a proxy for something greater... or an ally whose calls for help are being interrupted. And that makes a lot of sense, too. Because even though the Red Lady is the most likely suspect, I see another hand behind these murders. A bony, skeletal hand. 

Meet Dhuum. God of Death (former). Resident of the Underworld (current). PoF Raid Boss (future). 

Dhuum, like Abaddon, used to be one of the Six, ruling over the Underworld when the pantheon first arrived on Tyria. But he was terribly unpopular, even among his worshipers, and eventually a posse of eight mortal heroes decided that someone needed to stop him. Led by Grenth, they marched into Dhuum’s temple and challenged him to a fight.

Long story short: Grenth kicked his ass, stole his power, and turned his seven buddies into his immortal servants, the Reapers. 

But Dhuum, for some reason, was never killed. He was locked away in the Underworld, where he tries to escape every now and then (everyone needs a hobby). All Grenth ever had to do was send in the players if his predecessor ever got too uppity. 

Now that Grenth is gone, though, Dhuum’s prison is pretty much wide open. The only thing standing between him and freedom is the Judge. And possibly Joko, but I feel like Joko would be on Dhuum’s side more than anyone else’s. So really, only one thing can stop Dhuum’s army of Skeletons from ravaging Tyria: little old us.  

If things go the way I think they’ll go in the patch tomorrow, Dhuum will be revealed as a major threat to Tyria. The Red Lady is just his proxy (or potentially his rival). And if you thought PoF was a nostalgia trip... if my theory is right, you ain’t seen nothing yet. 

See you guys for the patch tomorrow. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing these things. <3

#tomorrow... #guild wars 2 #living world season 4 #daybreak #grenth #dhuum