#the real question is which of them is more fucked about tamlen

[whoisnotmyname]

i couldn’t decide if he was gonna be a warrior or rogue so surprise to no one! I made him a twin lol. He doesn’t have a name yet, and i’m still on the fence about what his valaslin will be but

two of them

#da #dao #warden #mahariel #threlam mahariel #my art #art #the real question is which of them is more fucked about tamlen

[ollifree]

👀 1, 5, 8, 11, and 13 for the four wardens gang pls. especially caedan. 👀👀👀

1. What is one word to shut them up?

Terron: I’ve been staring at this ask for days and I still can’t think of one for him. This question has haunted all my waking hours. I’m looking at the road but all I’m thinking about is what is the one word to shut Terron up.

Lanni: Failure. She knows she’s not infallible, and takes minor failures in stride. Used right, though, and the word reminds her of what she couldn’t protect and what she’s lost. What she might lose if something like the Highever massacre happens again.

Caedan: Kirkwall. It doesn’t even have to be said to him: the word grabs his attention and sinks ice into his heart. He tells people he’s from the Circle and he’s been there such a long part of his life it’s true; he doesn’t know a culture outside of it to identify with. The Wardens are probably the closest and he was only with them a few years. If pressed, he’ll go so far as to say he was born in the Free Marches. He doesn’t remember Kirkwall. He doesn’t want to remember Kirkwall.

Nasi: Worthless.
 It’s a long, hard climb for her to believe she’s more than a Duster. She has skill and knowledge to put any caste dwarf to shame, and once she’s named Paragon very few would be able to go against the ingrained rigidity of the class structure to even insinuate otherwise. “Worthless” though hits, literally, too close to home.

5. List 3 fears; one “surface level” fear, one “repressed” fear, and one “deep dark” fear.

Terron: Surface: Getting lost. In the Brecilian forest, it meant a spirit or the forest itself was changing the terrain. He could pop out in a familiar area in a few moments, hours, or days. Or, he might not pop out at all. It lessened the longer he spent in human settlements, but when he first started entering them after joining the Wardens he had no idea how to navigate them. Repressed: This is listed down in triggers below, but mirrors. After what happened to himself and Tamlen? He doesn’t trust them for a long time. And full-body ones? He won’t want to be around those ever again. Dark: The corruption taking him. He left his entire life behind when presented with the possibility of a cure. Finding out what he might eventually become at the end of his Calling? It was the single worst event of his life.

Lanni: Surface: Not fire, as one might expect, but definitely dragons. She actually has a bit of a delayed reaction to fire now because “it’s not that hot”. Has to be reminded that even if it doesn’t melt her flesh it’ll still give her burns. Quote-unquote-repressed: Everyone can tell just by looking at her if something reminds her of the attack on Highever. Seizes up and is both distracted and non-direct in her speech. A lot of on-going “uh-huh”s and generally only speaks when someone prompts her. Dark: More-so for her solo canon where she’s actually seen one, but broodmothers. More specifically, turning into one.

Caedan: Caedan’s are all nicely layered together like a cake (or an onion). The first layer is the Chantry deciding, no, being conscripted actually doesn’t count, back to the Circle with you. The next layer down is the safety of himself and his closest friends in the Circle. Sure, he and Surana got on fine because they were mentored by two relatively respected senior mages, but that didn’t mean nothing could happen to them. It just meant more questions would be raised if something did. And Maker knows what would happen if they got their hands on Jowan. This leads directly into the deep dark fears: what happens when they’re not safe in the Circle. Tranquility is, of course, the worst thing that can happen to a mage. Before they hit the rite, though, there’s dungeons, whatever a Templar who’s taken a physical fancy to a mage can do, and torture. Remember that Caedan doesn’t want to remember Kirkwall? That’s why he doesn’t want to remember Kirkwall.

Nasi: (Literally) surface: The sky?????? The fucking sky????? Why the fuck is anything allowed to be that big and empty?????? And stuff falls from it?????? Repressed: She fears circumstances that could lead to her losing respect: be it a plan falling through or her strength failing her. Now that she’s had it, she doesn’t want to go back knowing what it felt like. Dark: Stone, don’t let her be like her mother. Stone, don’t let her be like her mother. Stone, don’t let her...

8. Do they have anything that triggers them?

Terron: Mirrors. Smaller ones he can handle so long as he doesn’t see their reflective side. Larger ones, such as the ones on vanities or that hang in hallways, leave him uneasy. Eluvians or similar? No thank you. The end of Witch Hunt was...bad.

Lanni: All of Redcliffe was one giant trigger for her and she was one (1) mishap away from a full-blown PTSD attack while she was there. But, let’s not worry about the trauma she never addressed. She needs to know people are safe.

Caedan: He has an entire list of triggers thanks to the Chantry and the Circle. The biggest one is the “Magic exists to serve man” canticle of the Chant. The one most Chanters say outdoors loudly, for everyone to hear? That one. He’ll shut down entirely upon hearing it.

Nasi: Keep your drinks away from her; she doesn’t need the reminder of her home life. Physical touch isn’t a full-on trigger, but she is somewhat touch repulsed. If she doesn’t someone touch her without express permission, she pretty much trusts them with her life. Do not pick her up.

11. Do they have any vices?

Terron: Is Terron just emotionally mature? Is that what’s happening? Not a vice so much as a bad (from a non-Dalish viewpoint) habit of up and disappearing for a few days. Sometimes it’s for hunting, sometimes it’s because he needs to be out of a stone keep in a forest right-fucking-now.

Lanni: Workaholic. Of the “compelled to take on every task on her own” type. Look, Ferelden’s got to get back on its feet and she’s in the position to do the most to make sure that happens. Alienage needs rebuilt after the darkspawn attack? Show her where to do the heavy lifting. Going to scout southern Ferelden will take a few weeks? Well, they did promise the Dalish land there and she wants to make sure they won’t be cheated out of anything or put on a plot of uninhabitable land, there’s a few Chasind settlements there we should make sure conflicts won’t happen because we didn’t know that’s where their homes were. Oh yeah we promised soldiers for Orzammar someone should look for volunteers and make sure we’re sending more than two people. And while we’re doing that we’re going to be in talks with the Chantry about loosening the restrictions of mages. Yeah sure there’s time in the day for making sure the nobles aren’t about to oust us. Going into labor? There’s time for a few more documents. Gave birth two hours ago? Strap that baby to her chest we got more shit to review. Happened a second time? Of course it did. There’s the possibility of a cure out there? She’s checking into it. What the fuck is delegating?

Caedan: Bottoms up. His drink of choice is wine, he’s not one for the taste of beer or ale. His heaviest drinking is done during times of emotional crisis. He’s steered very close to alcoholism at a few points in his life, but his social circles have kept him from it. He’s grateful for it, and they know this, but he’s pissy about it since he doesn’t like having his actions reproached.

Nasi:
 Does bloodshed count? She doesn’t process her emotions, and prefers to deal with any feelings by finding the nearest darkspawn and hacking them into so many pieces even she doesn’t remember what kind they were before. This year’s fall fashion line in Orzammar is black blood stains.

13. Which of the 7 Deadly Sins best describes them?

Terron: Envy. For the kind of safety, standing, and knowledge that humans possess. Even non-Andrastians (ie. Avvar and Chasind) know their history. Most humans can travel without fear of harassment, or can expect justice should something befall one of them.
 His people don’t even know their own language.

Lanni: Greed. She could have lived in comfort and contentment as a Warden, though she’d have always joined in taking Highever back for her brother. Instead, she’s taking the queenship. Shouldn’t have called her bluff when she was trying to get you out of imprisonment, Anora.


Caedan: Pride. As if he wasn’t already enough of a smarmy bastard to begin with, he went and made an agreement with Mouse, a pride demon, when Avernus taught him blood magic. He knew he was one of the best mages in the tower, and being out in Thedas at large hasn’t changed that impression much. The one mage he’ll say is better than him? He built a life with her. And don’t even get him started on what a prodigy their son is.


Nasi: Wrath. A good chunk of the carta, and pretty much all of Dust Town, knew not to cross her path if she looked any more pissed than usual. She turns it into a real strength when Oghren teaches her berserker techniques. Bhelen knows he’s only got his throne so long as Rica’s happy and cared for.

#ask #greyvvardenfell #rey #dragon age #warden #oc things #terron mahariel #lani cousland #caedan amell #nasi brosca #long post / #this took up so much brain juice but god now i wanna do even more for 'em #i love my wardens so gd much

[ghostwise]

i’ve got finals, i’ve got essays due (i have got lots & lots of problems) 

 More modern au shenanigans! Title from a song. This one mentions @vlwv‘s warden, Mavis. Sticking to my resolution to write more things that are over 500 words long. :)

“Soo… do you have an evacuation plan yet?” Alistair asks, trying to sound casual.

The question means a lot of things. It means, ‘What is your evacuation plan? Surely you must have one!’ It also means ‘Are you as frightened as I am?’ And, perhaps even, ‘How can I make sure you are safe?’

But that’s a lot of words to trip over. And it’s too early in the day to be anxious.

Hamal, picking up on none of that, just glares at Alistair over his cereal bowl. He is seated on the couch, starting his day, while Alistair is at the table, on his third cup of coffee, five pages into an essay that is due by noon.

“No,” Hamal says, and returns to his breakfast.

Alistair taps a highlighter on the table, nonplussed.

“Don’t you think we should-?”

“Absolutely not. Anyway don’t you have, like, ten more pages of essay to write?” He looks at him intently. “Can you afford another late assignment, Alistair?”

Alistair lays his head onto the table and groans, because, no, he can’t. He doesn’t ask any more questions, and instead returns to his work.

It’s strange, how the days can proceed with such utter normalcy while, elsewhere, things fall apart. Hamal is right though. Ten percent of his final grade would be docked for each consecutive day the work was late. Ten percent! He needs to focus.

Just as well, too.

The peace in Amaranthine is as silky smooth as the surface of a soap bubble. There are essays to consider, and classes to attend. Alistair types away at his desk, and for a while the apartment is quiet. Hamal finishes his breakfast and makes more coffee.

A car screeches to a halt in the street, and the sound of the engine is familiar enough for Alistair to quip, as Hamal leaves, “Say hi to Tamlen for me. Tell him I’d be happy to replace his brake pads sometime.”

Then Alistair is left alone in the tenuous quiet of the apartment.

Like a bubble, like a snowflake careening towards a warm breeze.

.

“Fuck,” Alistair hisses. “Fuck, no, fuck, please no.”

There is no internet connection! his laptop cheerfully informs him. Try: checking the network cables, modem, and router. Reconnecting to Wi-Fi…

The time on his phone says 11:45am. He slams his laptop shut, picks it up and sprints out of the apartment with it tucked under his arm. His destination is the café three blocks over, and he runs the whole way, dodging around people and traffic.

Once inside he unceremoniously crashes into the nearest empty table, opening his laptop and connecting to the café’s wi-fi.

“Thank the Maker,” he says to no one in particular, though the people walking by are beginning to look at him funny.

After a moment, a familiar voice greets him. “Cretin. Internet access for paying customers only!”

“Yes, Morrigan,” Alistair waves her off, watching his file upload. “A cup of whatever the soup of the day is please! Owe you one!”

He doesn’t even have the decency to glance her way as she scrunches her nose and narrows her eyes at him. “Fine,” she mutters, turning and adjusting her apron. “Thank you for your continued patronage. For the record, I turned my paper in three days ago.”

Alistair nods absently.

Sweet, sweet relief floods his system as the assignment posts to his online classroom. He feels his heart rate begin to slow. A cup of shrimp and corn chowder is summarily deposited in front of him.

“If you need help paying off your internet bill,” she adds sweetly, “you need only ask.”

“You are so, so creepy,” Alistair sighs. “Who are your sources?”

Morrigan only shrugs and walks back behind the counter.

It is 11:58am. Alistair runs a hand through his hair, rubs at his eyes and smiles. Moment of crisis over, he digs into his soup with enthusiasm. He suddenly remembers he didn’t bring his wallet with him.

When he mentions this to Morrigan, she goes a few shades pale.

“You realize, I am at work,” she tells him, monotone. “I cannot strangle you while I am at work, and yet you put me in a situation, wh… a situation like this? Callously, you look me in the face? Without sympathy? You dare-?”

“Big, big tips for pals who let their friend run real quick to his apartment to get his wallet,” he says, smiling sheepishly. “I swear! Please don’t curse me.”

Morrigan purses her lips. “Leave your jacket and laptop, so it looks like you went to the restroom,” she says finally.

“Thank you!!”

“I know where you live.”

“Noted!”

.

Alistair is sure his absence from the café shouldn’t be too suspicious. It’s gracious of Morrigan to cover for him. She’s warming up to him, he figures; she’s friends with his roommate after all.

Speaking of, Hamal is still not back, and is likely going to be out with Tamlen until late in the evening. Alistair has no classes today, so he has free reign of the place.

It’s times like these that make him wish he were a little more graceful in social matters. Hamal has so many friends. Meanwhile, Alistair is not exactly unpopular, but he feels like everyone he knows was introduced to him by someone else. Taking the initiative is hard for him.

He has phone numbers for a few of his classmates. Mavis, Jowan, Zevran—maybe he should text one of them? Or all of them? Invite them over for a beer?

He’s considering it, honestly, as he plucks his wallet off the dresser by the door, and takes the steps downstairs by two. But he nearly trips as he reaches the ground floor.

“Oh, damn,” he wheezes, righting his steps. But he can’t help but stumble, overhearing what his downstairs neighbors are talking about.

“You alright?” one of them asks.

“I’m fine,” he says. “What were you saying? About the quarantine?”

“That it’s… it’s in Redcliffe.”

Alistair feels a rush of anxiety, just like this morning. “I have family there,” he says after a moment, as if there’s anything they can do about it.

“I’m sorry. You better call them. We’re calling our people now.”

“Yes… I, uhm… yes, likewise.”

Pit in his stomach, Alistair reaches for his phone. His pocket’s empty.

His jacket, he realizes, is at the café.

.

It’s the longest walk back. He feels cold all over, hearing the news spread all around him. People are talking about it, and it’s on the television screens he walks past the shops.

Defying a recent trend, which seemed to suggest the pathogen had slowed in its spread… new cases have been reported in the townships of Redcliffe and Lothering… a spokesman from the National Health Organization answers questions with us, live…

Morrigan is glaring daggers when he finally makes it back, but she reads him well enough to withhold judgment. He’s shaking so badly he can barely bring up his mother’s phone number, jumping slightly when she answers.

“Mom?”

“Alistair,” Fiona breathes through the speaker. “I was going to call you.”

“Are you- are you safe?”

“I’m in Denerim.”

Somehow, it hits him then. Alistair shuts his eyes and just breathes for a moment. “Thank goodness,” he manages. He can feel his mother’s anxiety through the phone, though, and after a moment she forces a laugh.

“I’m fine,” she assures him. “We… can’t go back home, though, not right away. Not until the quarantine lifts. But I was out of town for work, and…”

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Alistair says. “Where are you staying? You should come here, we should be close by, just... just in case!”

She laughs at that, and Alistair feels a bit of the tension ease.

.

They chat for a while, reassuring one another, but by the time they hang up Alistair only feels marginally better.

Orlais. She wants him to apply for a passport, and take a semester off to go to Orlais with her. Just how long is this quarantine expected to last? Nobody talks about it, but if Fiona is that worried…

.

Morrigan gets a $10 tip.

#rinnywrites #dragon age #au: 6th blight #idk how to tag it really? lol #this au requires a lot of suspension of disbelief but i enjoy it a lot and i hope (as i share more of it) that y'all do too!!

[curiousartemis]

Dragon Age questions

This is gonna be so super fun and EXACTLY what I should be doing while I’m at work! Tagged by @morlanwen

01) favorite game of the series? DA:I -- with mods, of course!!! The Solas romance KILLED me, but lately I’m gravitating back towards the Cullen romance (need some happiness in my life). If only Blackwall had been an option! He’s the true bae. But he calls the protagonist “my lady” far too much for me to try out his mod, sigh. Also I love that I can be a male elf; I feel most comfortable and happy playing as male elf, and in DA:O, you are silent, so I like having a voice.

02) how did you discover Dragon Age? My brother-in-law bought DA2 and invited me over to play it with him! This was before I had a gaming PC or console of my own. Dragon Age is the reason I bought my xbox and became a gamer again as an adult. Thanks, BioWare!

03) how many times you’ve played the games? DA:O -- 2 complete playthroughs, a few abandoned starts DA2: -- 15-20 completed playthroughs DA:I -- 3 completed playthroughs, I think? Several that have made it almost to the end

04) favorite race to play as? ELF!!!! If I can’t be an elf in a game I’m generally kind of depressed. Human males are often too buff and I don’t want to look like that. I like to be androgynous in a game (because I am a genderless person), but playing as female, however androgynous, is often still painfully dysmorphic for me.  

05) favorite class? ROUGE!!!!! Usually archer first, then daggers. But I also like playing scholarly mage type characters ♡  

06) do you play through the games differently or do you make the same decisions each time. It depends. In DA:I, for example, I will choose mages or templars based on my character. A mage character will always choose mages, while Auren Lavellan, my Cullenmancer, trusted Cullen’s judgment on this. However, I always free them, whether mages or templars, and I always ask the Wardens to join us. I’m too nice!

I never play “bad” characters; it just would not be enjoyable for me.

07) go-to adventuring group? DAO: Alistair, Wynne, Zevran; Zevran is my sweetheart, Alistair is my best friend and fellow Warden, and Wynne heals!

DA2: Anders, Fenris, Isabela ... but I played the game so much, I switched it up ALL the time.

DA:I: My lover and ... whomever. I constantly change in DA:I. But never Bull and Dorian together because I don’t like Adoribull.

08) which of your characters did you put the most thought into? A tie between Alin Lavellan and Auren Lavellan. No... it’s Auren. I’d been planning Auren for YEARS before DA:I came out. I planned to romance Cullen, so that was a massive disappointment. I tried to play him with Bull canonically, but wow, no way, no thanks. But yes, Auren. I know him very well.

09) favorite romance? Solas with male Lavellan and Isabela with female Hawke ♡ The latter is so romantic and makes my heart sing, and the former rips it to pieces. Blackwall, if he were available, would definitely be my overall favorite though... so handsome...

10) have you read any of the comics/books? I’ve read Asunder and ... the Orlesian one, forget what it’s called. They’re all right. Gaider’s writing is a bit simplistic, and Weekes couldn’t make me sympathize with ANY of his characters; they were all awful people.

11) if you read them, which was your favorite book? I guess I enjoyed Asunder a little more. I had to force myself to finish the other one.

12) favorite DLCs? Trespasser and Legacy. 

13) things that annoy you? Well, obviously the mlm romance options. The wlw ones were not great for me, either, but I’m far pickier for those. For my male character, I would just like a boyfriend/husband who is handsome and strong and ... like, basically what the straight and bi women always get. A handsome knight in shining armor. It would also be nice if for once I could romance a plot relevant character.

14) Orlais or Ferelden? I didn’t know this was a thing? Both countries are fine, I guess. Orlais is a clear rip-off of 17th/18th century France, though. But DA in general is extremely derivative. 

15) Templars or Mages? Mages. I can’t support locking people up because of how they were born... real world parallels too painful...

16) if you have multiple characters, are they in different/parallel universes or in the same one? They are in separate universes, so far as I know. I did try to start a story where Auren was Alin’s older brother, but it never took off; I wasn’t getting many responses to my stories back then. It was disheartening, so I quite writing in the DA fandom. If you don’t write canonical mlm fiction, it doesn’t get comments in this fandom.

17) what did you name your pets? (mabari, summoned animals, mounts, etc) I don’t remember; I never used the dog... I probably just left it default as “Dog.” I’m not a big dog person, and that type of dog is my least favorite, the mastiff type... they are scary and always want to bite me!!!

18) have you installed any mods? I cannot play the game without mods!!! Besides romance mods, I always have complexion and hair mods, so my Lavellan can be a true cutie!!! Body mods so his shoulders and arms aren’t broken, and he has a nice slender but fit form (not pot belly). A few others, but those are the “must haves.” (I want to be cute in my wish-fulfillment game, okay?!)  

19) did your Warden want to become a Grey Warden? Ren Tabris did; he was desperately trying to get out of that forced straight marriage, and he also had a lust for adventure (his mother was a great adventurer). 

Theron Mahariel, no. He was grieving Tamlen’s loss (they were in love), and he hated humans. He didn’t wish to leave his clan.

20) Hawke’s personality? Eirik Hawke: purple with hints of red if you piss him off. Anya Hawke: red all the way; she will fuck you up!!!!

21) did you make matching armor for your companions in Inquisition? lmao Nope!

22) if your character(s) could go back in time to change one thing, what would they change? I feel like that’s too cruel a question to ask Alin (Solas’s lover)...

Auren would admit his feelings to Cullen earlier.

Eirik wouldn’t have taken his sister with him to the Deep Roads.

Mahariel would have convince Tamlen not to touch that mirror.

23) do you have any headcanons about your character(s) that go against canon? Yeah, mine are also all against canon.

Auren’s relationship is not canon, plus he and Cullen to get together until after the events of the game have ended.

Alin’s relationship is not canon, and Trespasser never occurs.

Eirik and Fenris moved to the countryside and live there together with a few adopted kids. Fenris will never have to set foot in Tevinter again.

Anya and Isabela are sailing the high seas together ♡ 

24) are any of your character(s) based on someone? Guess they’re all based on me, somewhat.

I wrote/played Alin when I was dealing with grief and depression, so a lot of that influenced him. 

Auren is forthright and doesn’t pull his punches, though he’s generally a kind person. I’m probably the most like Auren.

25) who did you leave in the Fade? Stroud lmao Wow, such a hard decisions!!!! (Not)

26) favorite mount? I never use horses; banter’s bugged enough as it is, why would I want to make my companions disappear completely...?

I AM TAGGING EVERYONE WHO HAS PLAYED DRAGON AGE!!!!!!!!

#auren lavellan #alin lavellan #dragon age

[vvakarians]

DA 20 Questions

Tagged by @goblin-deity ! Thank you fam! If anyone wants to be tagged consider yourself tagged!

1. Favorite game of the series

Inquisition! It’s the one I started with! It’s an amazing and beautiful game. 

2. How did you discover Dragon Age? 

There was a cosplayer I used to follow here on tumblr that cosplayed as this character named Dorian, and then they cosplayed as Fenris. I looked into both characters because I really liked the designs. From there I checked out the game from the library and fell in love with DAI!

3. How many times have you played the games?

I’ve played DAI too many times to count, I can probably count on my pc, which is a handful of times, otherwise on my ps4 at least 25. DA2 I’ve completed exactly twice, played it four times. DA:O I’ve completed exactly once, but played multiple times, like three times I think.

4. Favorite race to play as?

Elves or qunari!

5. Favorite class?

I absolutely love mages, always have. In DAI I play as a necromancer or knight enchanter, in DA2 I play as a blood mage or a spirit healer. I have a harder time playing as one in Origins, but I usually play as a blood mage or an arcane warrior. Other than that I play as a Double Handed Warrior, usually a Reaver or some other scary subclass lmao.

6. Do you play through the games differently or do you make the same decisions?

In general I usually make the same choices kind of? Mostly because I can’t push myself to ally with the templars. I do edit my canons outside of the actual games, like Calliope allies with the Mages but they do end up saving the templars as well, just after they get to Skyhold. Artemaeus, my city elf who was adopted by the Dalish, sided with the mages but left the templars to fend for themselves (save for Barris who did not deserve to die). Honi, my Adaar, sided with the mages and conscripted the templars, she was pretty harsh on them but decided that both sides could benefit from coming together. In general I haven’t changed my stance on the Grey Wardens, it wasn’t their fault that Clarel had a moment of weakness in being manipulated and I couldn’t find my Inquisitors justifying anger towards them enough to banish them. With Halamshiral I can’t in any way place Celene on the throne, it’s just my personal thing. After reading Masked Empire I said nah. But if ya like her that’s cool. I don’t usually have someone drink from the Well, I considered it with Callie, but I felt that shit could go down from a Solas perspective and I was not about that angst. 

7. Go to adventuring party?

1st World State: Tauriel Mahariel /Ophelia Hawke/ Calliope Lavellan

DAO: Alistair/Zevran or Leliana/Morrigan or Wynne 

DA2 (When I need Anders): Anders/ Aveline/ interchangeable rogue

DA2 (When I need Fenris): Fenris/ Sebastian or Varric / Merrill

DAI (Base Game): Solas/ Sera or Cole/ Iron Bull

DAI (Hakkon): Dorian/ Iron Bull/ Sera or Cole

DAI (Descent): Vivienne/ Iron Bull/ Sera

DAI (Trespasser): Dorian /Iron Bull / Interchangeable rogue

2nd World State: Aviel Tabris / Valentyne Hawke / Honi Adaar

DAO: Alistair / Leliana or Zevran / Wynne

DA2: Anders (or Merrill)/ Isabela / Fenris (or Aveline)

DAI: Dorian (or Vivienne) / Sera / Iron Bull (or Blackwall)

3rd World State: Mah’Vir Surana / Sparrow Hawke / Artemaeus Lavellan

DAO: Zevran / Morrigan / Alistair (or Sten)

DA2: Fenris / Merrill (or Anders) / Interchangeable Rogue

DAI: Dorian (or Solas) / Cole or Sera / Cassandra

8. Which of your characters did you put the most thought into?

Calliope 100%, I put most of the thought into my first world state characters. Tauriel was the easiest to make and her canon hasn’t changed much, same with Ophelia, but all three of my heroes were well, well thought out. I’ve had four or five years of making them under my belt.

9. Favorite romance?

For angst, absolutely Solas. You can’t get much more angsty than that. Other than that my most favorite romance is Fenris’, he’s a character that I love greatly and as a sexual abuse survivor with PTSD I related to him a lot lmao. 

10. Have you read any of the comics/books?

I have all of the books except for Last/First Flight (?), I’m currently reading Masked Empire. I also have the World of Thedas Volume...2? And I have the first Magekiller comic.

11. If you’ve read them, which was your favorite book? 

Masked Empire for sure, it’s because I love Felassan.

12. Favorite DLC’s?

Trespasser or Jaws of Hakkon, I absolutely love the stories in both. I’m also biased towards my favorite of the series/I love killing Dragons. And Veil Quartz, I love Veil Quartz.

13. Things that annoy you?

The fandom mostly. I fucking hate some of y’all shits. I hate the lack of rep too, they did fucking great in DA2 with almost every LI being bisexual. Could have done that with DAI with the straight LI’s but, shrugs. Other than that I don’t hate it much. 

14. Orlais or Ferelden?

Orlais, it has the Emerald Graves and I love big ass trees. 

15. Templars or mages?

Is that even a question? Mages

16.  If you have multiple characters, are they in different/parallel universes or in the same one?

I have three separate world states, and then an AU with @trans-aloth . Calliope’s has at least 25 separate oc’s in it because I’m a fucking menace. Other than that they usually stay seperate. Alexx and I combined worldstates with Cianan and Callies for that AU. 

17. What did you name your pets?

I only have names for Calliopes world state pets, but I will def name the rest of the others when I play. 

Tauriel: Kili (mabari)

Cassiopeia: Ser Claws (mabari)

Merielle: Howl (mabari)

Serynn: Athena (mabari)

Fen’Asha: Pluto (mabari)

Ophelia: Willoughby (mabari)

Calliope: Bones (Deepstalker) , Enasalin (Dracolisk) 

18. Have you installed any mods? 

I did way back when I thought my computer could handle it. Still got all of them downloaded but I play primarily on my ps4 or ps3.

19. Did your Warden want to be a Grey Warden? 

Tauriel had accepted the fact that she needed to become a Warden and only was angry about it when Duncan said that it was no place for the children. She managed to convince him to let her take them however. Cassie did not want to become a Warden and fought it tooth and nail, but had nowhere else to go. Serynn had accepted it wholeheartedly, it wasn’t much of an issue. Merielle wanted to get out of the Circle but was difficult in taking the Ritual because she didn’t like the fatality rate. Fen’Asha was also in that same boat and at first saw it as another injustice. 

20. Hawke’s personality? 

Ophelia is a securely purple unless dealing with templars, then it’s Red through and through. Halcyon (their eldest sister) is a Red Hawke, Blue with her family, and Hero is a Blue Hawke, Red with templars.

21. Did you make matching armor for your companions in Inquistion? 

Yes! I usually do! I use a gold/red/black color scheme, so it involves a lot of fucking Dragon Bone. 

22. If your character could go back in time and change one thing what would it be?

Tauriel would have gone back and saved Tamlen. She would have insisted that they look for him and at the very least if they found him they would make him a Grey Warden too. If that wasn’t an option she’d make sure Evra and Krie didn’t get traumatized by the fact their father was killed by a mirror of all things. 

Ophelia would go back in time and watch their mother more closely, or perhaps ask Carver not to go to the Deep Roads with them. Leandra’s death was the hardest thing they ever had to go through aside from handing Carver over to the Grey Wardens. The estate just felt so empty without Leandra. 

Calliope would go back in time and save their best friend from being taken by the templars. But they also realize that things would have been vastly different or the both of them that way. And they also realize that they were pretty young when Isi was taken from the Clan, they wouldn’t have been able to do much. It’s just something that haunts them to this day. 

23. Do you have any headcanons about your character(s) that go against canon?

Calliope is a mage and a warrior, SO I MEAN. Calliope’s home clan is also from Orlais and their mother is a former slave from Tevinter who then went to the Kirkwall Circle after being captured in the Free Marches.Other than that they end up with a First Enchanter that’s an oc of @trans-aloth ‘s. I also have an oc that ends up with Varric, because I have a distaste for the real life Bianca. Tauriel also ends up in a poly relationship with Cassiopeia and Alistair. Other than that, Alistair, Zevran, and several other people are trans. 

24. Who did you leave in the Fade?

Stroud, all three times.

25. Favorite mount?

Dracolisk’s or any of the Harts, I love ugly boys and giant elk.

#THANK OWEN #mal writes

[dirthera-blog]

how much would you hate me if i lovingly said to do all of them? : 3 do all that meme. do eet.

romance ll accepting.

ilu. u complete me.

🌟 What is my muse’s sexual/romantic orientation?

Demi on both counts, with little regard for a partner’s gender.

💦 At what age did my muse lose their virginity?

She’s in her twenties when it happens. She made it through the Blight with her virginity intact, and then honestly who knows. I have to work out a better timeline of ‘Aria’s Romantic and Sexual Conquests.’ It’ll be super easy, there’s only one feathery apostate thread to follow.

😘 Would my muse have sex on the first date?

Nope. That makes Mythal cry. Or something. Really it’s just that her orientation is incompatible with quickly getting into bed with someone.

😊 Would my muse ever ask someone on a date?

I think she’d prefer it, in fact.A chance to show off and be clever in how she asks, to try and charm the object of her affections into agreeing.

👍 Does my muse prefer to be asked on a date, or would they rather do the asking?

See above! Aria definitely prefers to do the asking, but is not put off if someone asks her first.

😉 What are my muse’s fetishes/kinks?

Answered!

💬 When did my muse go on their first date?

Sometime after the Blight, probably. She’s kind of a late bloomer about relationships, but that’s okay!

💯 What is my muse’s ideal date?

Answered!

💗 Has my muse ever been in love?

Answered!

👠 What was my muse’s last serious relationship like?

Childhood friends and partners in crime growing into that couple everyone thought would have happily ever after. Just because she and Tamlen never quite made it into romantic commitment does not mean their feelings weren’t serious. There are reasons Ashalle implies she thought the two of them might one day be together in full.

👰 Would my muse ever get married?

The Wardens say no, but her own desires and her culture say yes. She’s not above eloping just to make that commitment where certain duties demand she surrender the opportunity to do so. Even if it’s just she and her partner making their own vows, without anyone else around, it would be good enough for her with the right partner – like Anders in Discord RP.

🌼 Would my muse prefer a big wedding or a small wedding?

Small. Please, everything she does is a spectacle, let her have some understated wedding be it with just the person she loves or their loved ones.

🍬 Is my muse a sub, dom, or switch?

Switch, though she has a slight preference for letting her partner be more in control.

🏩 What was my muse’s first time like?

As soon as I know anything myself, you guys will be the first to know.

🎆 Is my muse into monogamy?

Absolutely. I’m not saying it would be an end all be all for her, if both she and a lover can agree to open things up a little to allow in a third partner, but I don’t think it’s anything she really thinks about. Monogamy is just her default.

💕 Would my muse ever be in a polyamorous relationship?

If the right person came along and both she and her initial partner felt strongly enough, sure, but the newcomer would have to be really extraordinary. I imagine the Dalish might have been a little looser with the idea of polyamory than a lot of societies seen in-game, given their dwindling numbers, so Aria’s only real hesitation is her own personal preference.

🔥 Would my muse ever be up for a threesome?

Going by the same disclaimers as above about her own reservations, sure.

👮 Has my muse ever had sex in public?

I’m not saying it’s unlikely, I’m just saying a lot of her sex life is a big old question mark at this stage. I think as long as no one was around she might get a kick out of screwing somewhere more public, but I don’t know that she’s actually ever done it.

💔 What was my muse’s first heartbreak?

Tamlen. For a long time she thought it was the cave and the mirror, the lack of closure, no body to bury, that hurt her the most.That was before he found his way back to her, there at the end.

💑 What are my muse’s requirements for a potential partner?

Someone brave, someone who also works or speaks out against the status qup. She needs someone just as willing to defy convention and right injustices as herself – it was pretty inevitable that she end up with Anders, even if I never considered it as a ship before Rea seduced Aria with her amazing writing. So long as her partner knows how to live and isn’t a prick, she could make it work. In addition, she gravitates more towards outsiders, those who understand what it is to be a stranger in a strange land. What I’m getting at is Aria is not really an ‘Opposites Attract’ kind of girl when she looks for love, she wants someone who can complement her even when they challenge her or her notions. 

💋 How many people has my muse slept with?

One (1) bird-man apostate probably.

👀 Is my muse the type to sleep around?

Nope. Not unless some big beefy Kossith boy swept in and made her life like all of those smut novels about the months she spent in Seheron.

👎 Would my muse ever cheat on their partner?

Jokes about her inexplicable attraction to Qunari aside, never. She’s been hurt by the loss of too many people to ever hurt a partner so selfishly.

😳 What was my muse’s worst romantic/sexual relationship?

The one that never started and left her would-be boyfriend a fucking GHOUL.

💲Would my muse ever date/marry/sleep with someone because they were rich?

I mean she’s a rogue. That screams doing underhanded bullshit to get ahead. It’s practically the first thing they learn to do. So I mean, she’s not going to sleep with a mark but she might be persuaded to toy with a noble’s affections to get something out of them if the situation called for it.

👓 Would my muse ever lie for sex?

That’s gross, no.

👿 Would my muse ever blackmail someone into sex?

THAT’S GROSS, NO.

🎥 Who is my muse’s celebrity crush?

I guess in-setting this would translate to another important and well-known character in terms of setting. Most of whom are people she actually knows, which makes it all a little awkward. All she knows is if that Varric Tethras looks as good as he writes, she’s in trouble.

Yes, she has never seen Our Father of Hot Dwarves, but she’s pretty sold on his writing. Creators know if the idea she has of him would ever live up to the Dwarf, the Myth, the Legend.

🎀 Who would my muse sleep with if nobody ever had to know?

The Arishok. Any Arishok. Just for bragging rights. Just as long as we’re entertaining what ifs that will never come to be.

💍 Has my muse ever had a one-night stand?

No, and likely never will.

💝 Does my muse like Valentine’s Day?

The Dalish have no equivalent, so she’s not entirely sure what to make of any other culture’s holiday that might correspond to our Valentine’s Day. Why not just show every day how much you love someone? Shemlen are baffling.

💘 What are the ways my muse says ‘I love you’ without actually saying it? 

I like to think a lot of it is what’s shown in game – being there for others, helping them with their problems, giving people things that make her think of them. She shows her love more through care than the word itself, always supporting the people who are important to her and offering a sympathetic ear. There’s also this part of her where if she does love you, she’s more honest with you, even a touch snarky. She doesn’t have to put up a wall with those she loves. That, however, might be trickier to discern unless someone has known her a while.

Basically, if she treats you as a member of her community, she’s giving you love.

#ask #;A; thank u friend #loveardently #romancememe; #won't want for love [SHIPPING] #it proceeds you like a black smoke pall [HEADCANON]

[serendipitousoracle]

Eg: 8, 16, 32; Ria: 7, 9, 19; Sov: 14, 31, 35

Egeire

8: What were they told to stop/start doing most often as a child

Broadly speaking, Egeire was probably told an innumerable number of times to stop following Tamlen into mischief, but it never stuck. As an older child he was also told, only partially joking, to stop growing oh Creators bc he got tol and big.

16: What makes their stomach turn?

The aftermath of darkspawn hordes. Ragged and torn bodies, the ground soaked with blood. The looming threat that you could be like them you are like them their taint is in your blood and you already kill with their mindlessness and how hard it is to banish those thoughts. Broodmothers sicken him too, and especially so if it’s an AU with his half-sister. In general, taint and the potential for its intrinsic corruption of a normal person– of people like Egeire and those he cares dearly for– is what often sickens and horrifies him the most.

32: Do they have a go-to story in conversation? Or a joke?

Stories work better than jokes; he likes hearing and telling stories, and there is something about a narrative that is easier for him to naturally create/remember and convey than jokes (tho canon Eg sure as hell is sarcastic). Pre-Blight it is inevitably some hilarious misadventure of his and Tamlen’s, and post-Blight his favorite stories might include meeting Zevran (edited for battle trance), the Temple of Sacred Ashes, the pitiful Sloth dream in Broken Circle, DRAGONS, an utterly made up story about griffons, and so on.

Egeria

7: What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?

The little flowers that she used to grow in small pots in the Circle. Certain types of cookies. Bunk beds. Books of herbs. A garish shade of yellow, especially on Circle robes. Nostalgia tends to fill her with melancholy. So many mages in Ferelden’s Circle of Magi never got to see the outside world again, let alone with the freedom she had. So many lives she knew and couldn’t save…

9: Do they swear? Do they remember their first swear word?

Ria is more of a precision-f-strike kind of person, but she certainly swears. Her first swear word was probably a soft, uneventful “shit,” when one of her plants died, which she quickly looked around to make sure nobody heard.

19: What is their favorite number?

She doesn’t particularly have one, but she is very familiar with counting to ten to calm down. She tells Alistair it is 30, because that’s the year they met (She tells Denoreth it’s the year they became friends while nuzzling him, bc she’s a sap and what is a little white lie :P)

Soveliss

14: What animal do they fear most?

FUCK FROGS

I am amused by the thought of Soveliss being uneasy around goats; their eyes are wrong and they scream like the dead and they eat far too many things they shouldn’t. Undecided as to whether he really fears an animals though.

31: Who are they the most glad to have met?

His smile was warm, and so were his hands, so real in the dark dream-like forest, so inviting when Soveliss was desperate and lonely and moving through his life like the ghosts who raised him, and he gave Soveliss the tools to engage with the world beyond his monastery though time has made his absence fade to a dull ache Soveliss still…

At this point, probably Grulka. She is the most constant person… in his life, really. Everyone is fleeting or dead or they look at him oddly or put him on guard, but Grulka is still here and she cares about him and she tries to listen and learn when he launches off on tangents she doesn’t understand and there are often nights where they share quarters and she keeps him grounded in physical reality. So. Yeah.

35: How do they treat the things their friends come to them excited about? Are they supportive?

Soveliss is not really used to having friends so it’s a bit of a hard question. Like really his only currently friend is Grulka, and his range of reactions, varying on his own interest in the thing, probably would range from wry amusement to mutual excitement. But, generally, at least trying to be supportive. With anyone else it probably depends heavily on how much he personally cares about what they’re excited about.

#oracleanswers #mossandrock #Egeire Mahariel #Egeria Surana #Soveliss Liadon

[serendipitousoracle]

zodiac shooting star mixtape & fragrance for Eg(any aus) & Ria & Sov plz

[ ♡OC ask meme ♡ ]

By question:

zodiac: what’s their sign? does it influence theirpersonality? do they care about astrology?                              

Egeire Mahariel & Egeria “Ria” Surana:

As Egeire is a derivative of Egeria and Egeria is originally aSelf Insert, both are born in the twelfth month, known as Cassusor Haring. Unfortunately if I ever nailed down a date fortheir birthday/s I absolutely cannot find it.They very likelystill both fall in the range for Sagittarius, though. I don’t thinkit terribly influences their personalities, though I am very biasedby years of being umimpressed with the common astrology babble of“Sagittarius is an extrovert who loves adventures and excitementand is changeable and spontaneous!!1!!1“ Ria would probably payastrology no mind and Egeire would probably mostly do the same but heis also absolutely the type to lowkey look up sign compatibility withpeople he gets crushes on.

In the Chinese zodiac, they were both born in 9:08 I believe,which if you translate that straight as 908, means they’re EarthDragons. I… think.

Soveliss Liadon:

yeah I’ve got 0 idea when Sov was born. soz fam. if it becomesimportant to his backstory or if aub develops any Cool Year Info NShit maybe I will figure that out but honestly I never come up withcharacter birthdays until it comes up. which is not often. I don’teven have any real vibes for seasons they all seem Fine.

shooting star: if your OC(s) could have one wish whatwould it be?  

Egeire Mahariel

Perhaps… peace, or maybe life depending on the timeframe. Peacebeing the ability to be cured of the Taint in his blood and live alife that makes him happy with the people who make him happy.Alternatively, life– namely, Tamlen’s. He feels guilty aboutTamlen’s death for a long time. Even if Tamlen isn’t his…Egeire wants his friend to live a full life and die a death not inagony.

(Egeire’s wish for peace extends to any Warden Egeire AU, but inWAW!AU imagine his life wish expanding. it would probably take quitesome rules-lawyering to keep it from being disastrous, but what ifEgeire could undo so much sorrow? Tamlen lives, and so does anybodyfrom Clan Sabrae who might have perished in the Blight. The Circle isnot ravaged, and so many mages who were locked behind heavy doors andleft to die have a second chance at life. Hundreds of soldiers, lostat Ostagar and beyond, return home to family and loved ones.Consultation is probably needed to keep his tongue from erring intosomething unwise, but what if the past year did not need to be soakedin so much grief? And, well… he has plenty of role modelsfor ambitious goals, now.

Royals AU Egeire would consider it, and… honestly find hedoesn’t want for much. He is happy with Denoreth, and unlike theother royals AU, this Egeire is not as scarred by Cyrron beforeCyrron is eliminated from his life. His training with Cyrron isultimately what allows him to keep Denoreth safe, in fact, and evenDen likes watching him fight. so Egeire would probably just wish forsomething like eternal prosperity upon both their kingdoms or somesuch.

Fugitives AU Egeire probably has an interesting wish: A life wherehe is never taken and broken by Cyrron, but still gets to meet andend up happy with Denoreth like he is now, without the trauma.Failing that, the follow-ups would be erasing the aftereffects ofsaid trauma, or him and Denoreth having a life of comfort where theynever have to struggle to get by again, like they did when they firstfled their past lives)

Egeria Surana

I think the big thing that would address a lot of Ria’s hurts inlife would be equality; if elves and mages and non-Andrastians wereon even footing with humans (etc), maybe then she and those who comeafter her wouldn’t have to worry about mages (some of themso young) leaping from high windows or choosing Tranquility,and elves wouldn’t suffer in alienages, and she would not feel socaught on a tightrope between Warden and elfmagegirl, the latter ofwhich also becomes a real threat to her relationship with Alistair.It is a gigantic scale wish, but it’s one concept, and itwould likely be hers.

Post-Inquisition, the wish she makes probably wouldn’tchange… but honestly, on the inside, she just wants Alistair backfrom the Fade.

Soveliss Liadon

There are two major angles Sov can wish for: past and future. Onthe one hand, he could have everything he lost back. The monks couldlive again, he could have a home, they could perhaps reconcile, andhe could spend like a week straight just crying and holding onto eachand every one of them for dear life.

But on the other hand, there is the future. There is him as anadventurer, a warlock, and a traveling acolyte. For the future, hiswish would likely be power. Knowledge, magic, and control farbeyond his current comprehension. With enough magic he could protectwhat few things he still cares about, and fulfill his duties toKelemvor in protecting others and striking down undead. With enoughmagic, he might not feel so small compared to his patron, though hewould not be able to fathom being on equal footing (or being morepowerful than?) his dear patron, an archfey. With enough magic… hecould perhaps bring his family of monks back himself, or at least putthem to rest so they no longer haunt the halls of the monastery. Sogiven the choice, Soveliss would probably wish for magic, power, andknowledge.

What could possibly go wrong?

Under the cut: mixtape & fragrance

mixtape: 5 songs that describe your OC(s) or songsthey themselves would like

Answeredhere for normal Egeire, Egeria, and Soveliss.

Royals AU Egeire:

1. “TheBest Is Yet To Come” - Frank Sinatra (once Egeire and Denorethfinally get to the point of being in love… things are reallylooking up)

2. “I Lived” - OneRepublic (being very suddenly thrown into an arranged marriage feels a bit like being thrown to the wolves, but perhaps by the end of everything, he will have finally lived a life of his own choosing.)

3. “Collide” - Howie Day (tentative, sweeter love song for boys gettin’ to know each other)

4. “Float On” - Modest Mouse (chill song about carrying on through setbacks, bc hey that’s p much all Eg can do at this point)

5. “Any Way You Want It” - Journey (surprise most of this AU rn is young princes falling in love and holding onto themselves despite the politics as much as possible)

Fugitives AU Egeire:

1. “TheOnly Exception” - Paramore (Egeire learned from Cyrron thatlove was fickle and fleeting and led only to hell and heartbreak, andDenoreth had figured out pretty quickly that getting attached topeople was a fool’s errand, but…)

2. “Be OK”- Ingrid Michaelson (Poor tol has spent so long being torn topieces and scrambled and he just… wants to have the partsof himself he lost back)

3. “Field of Innocence” - Evanescence (The sadder half of the above coin. Flip-flopping between wanting to Be OK again and just wanting to go back to before he was ever hurt.)

4. “Jump the Fence” - Mother Mother (Fleeing and freedom and not necessarily goodness, only looking out for themselves and going straight back to merc work and profiting (surviving) off of doing richer bastards’ dirty work)

5. “Give Me A Sign” - Breaking Benjamin (Just. Boys gotta hold onto each other and try to keep each other together through financial struggling and moral conflict and internalized shit and the scars will remain but they can too.)

Bonus: “Home”- Phillip Phillips (could apply to both AUs, really. everything is uncertain- and inFugitives AU especially even terrifying- but they will have a home.This new place will be home, one day.)

fragrance: what do your OCs smell like?                              

Egeire Mahariel:

Canon/WAW: Leather and sweat typically, from being out on the road, often with some measure of blood. When they get to Vigil’s Keep and there’s room for fancy soaps and shit, he would probably be particular to pine or herbal scents or smth.

Royals: really it’s going to be like soap and scented oil rubbed into his hair or halla and sweat and there’s not a whole lot of in-between

Fugitives: When Denoreth first meets him, it is the light, almost undetectable scent of salt water and ocean breeze. This lingers through most of their encounters, at varying degrees of intensity, until they make their break for it– that day is just sweat and fear, ironically as they are surrounded by the real sea and eventually have their final confrontation with Cyrron. After that, Egeire never smells of the ocean again. He likes apple and water lily and honey scented soaps, and the smell of flowers often lingers on him when he leaves his room. He also specifically keeps unscented soap around for when they’re working.

Egeria Surana:

Scents don’t cling to her much. Soap and books if anything, in the Circle. Sweat on the road. Likes flowery soaps once she can get her hands on them. Still only lingers for so long, though.

Soveliss Liadon:

Pre-adventuring Sov mostly smelled like old, old books and incense. Adventuring Sov probably smells of pretty little considering he is extremely ready and willing to basically prestidigitate off layers of skin to keep himself fairly clean. Dusk of the New Morning Soveliss probably smelled like dust and food, while Here There Be Kerbolds Soveliss (aka current Sov which is absolutely getting a The Adventure Zone reference name bc of the Abraca-Fuck-You quote) probably smells like either linen or faintly of swamp (bc grumblegrumble it takes /so much prestidigitation/ to get swamp water out and he’s probably still going to have to wash so much shit after this is over).

#oracleanswers #mossandrock #Egeire Mahariel #Egeria Surana #Soveliss Liadon #one day I will be able to come up with my own one-liners but in the meantime fuck it let's just kill the table with quotes #also just imagine the au in which WAW Egeire can't rules-lawyer that wish to perfection #and he is offered a choice #either a smaller scale wish #or he gets everything he wants: everyone lives #people have their loved ones back #and the timeline is reshaped in a way so as to not be broken #but he trades his own life for it #:) #and then one day Tamaris wakes up with the feeling that something is off and goes to their office #to find their desk covered in letters from their friends making fun of their latest political speech and asking after Kieran #Denoreth wakes up to his lovers in his bed - a Dalish elf and an Antivan assassin #but both of these men are blond and that Dalish elf's markings look /incomplete/ and when Denoreth is confused #his lovers - Tamlen and Zevran - are just as confused back at him #and Kylare is told that she and Tamlen went through the Blight together #'Egeire... we lost your brother at the cave lethallan- don't you remember?' #'he... when we saw him again during the blight- he was- you... you were the one to... it was all we could do' #can they get Egeire back? is he gone forever? haha who knows depends on the AU you want I guess #but fun times! #[confetti popper intensifies]