dragon_age | Recent Entries

Word count: 3.5k
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Relationships: N/A
Characters: Solas, Felassan, OCs
Summary: The Dread Wolf's rebellion learns of the newest use of Elgar'nan's Helm of the Solar.

AO3 | Pillowfort | tumblr

Word count: 574
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Relationships: Solas/Lavellan, Solas & Mythal
Characters: Solas, f!Lavellan
Summary: Lavellan had overlooked certain consequences of drinking from the vir'abelasan.

AO3 | Pillowfort | tumblr

This was my second read-through of Tevinter Nights, the short story collection released for Dragon Age; the first came in 2020 not long after it was published. I wasn't super impressed with it at the time, but I was eager for any updates on the Dragon Age franchise, so I ate it up anyway. Having played through the latest game release, Veilguard (review here), it seemed like a good time to revisit Tevinter Nights, conceived undoubtedly as a way to keep fans interested and engaged with the coming story when, six years after the release of the last game, Inquisition, there was still not a crumb of news about the next game. I stand by my original assessment.

First, let me say this: if you are not already a fan of Dragon Age, this book is unlikely to have anything remotely interesting for you. It is steeped in its own lore, which it assumes the reader's familiarity with, and the quality of the works are simply not worthwhile if you are not already invested in this world.

Tevinter Nights is emblematic of so much of Dragon Age's writing. That is to say, it's deeply uneven in quality, with parts that are genuinely exciting and emotional, that give you exactly what you're looking for on your hunt for fantasy adventure; and parts that leave you scratching your head about how this cleared quality control (and whether the people writing it are familiar with the worldbuilding of their own franchise).

( Read more... )

Old Magic (2715 words) by flockofcrows
Chapters: 1/1
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alistair/Morrigan (Dragon Age)
Characters: Alistair (Dragon Age), Morrigan (Dragon Age)
Additional Tags: Angst, Guilt, Family, Reunion, Pre-Relationship, Missing Scene, Warden Alistair, Alternating POV
Summary: Stuck in Skyhold while waiting for the order to march on Adamant, Alistair meets his son for the first time. He also meets Morrigan for what feels like the first time.

Read it on AO here.

Title: Lessons

Rating: M

Fandom: Dragon Age

Pairing: Morrigan/Female Cousland

Word Count:2093

Summary: There's a lot Morrigan doesn't understand about human society and a lot Elissa is willing to teach her.

Notes: I haven't written any fic in too long.

Archive Of Our Own Link

Hi!

I decided to make a Dragon Age Femslash February prompt list, for anyone who needs inspiration! If you end up being inspired by any of the prompts and post something, feel free to tag #dragonagefemslashfeb on tumblr, or let me know on Dreamwidth!

You can find the prompt list:

- on tumblr: *HERE*

- on Dreamwidth: *HERE*

Current Mood: happy

I have a meta post/fan theory about what's happening to Morrigan if she drank from the Well of Sorrows. It doubles as a guess at who the Old Gods really are and how they're connected to the Evanuris. Find it @ my journal:

The Connection Between the Old Gods, Mythal, Morrigan, and the Well of Sorrows

Icons of Cassandra, Varric, Leliana, Solas, and Qunari tarot cards here @

flockofcrows

Heartsong of the Dalish Pariah

i. Badman Newton Faulkner ii. It’s Alright Mother Mother iii. The Skye Boat Song Bear McCreary & Raya Yarbrough iv. Into the Open Air Julie Fowlis v. Emmylou First Aid Kit vi. Flowers and Blood Marie Sioux vii. Ebudae Enya viii. Meet Me in the Woods Lord Huron ix. Kiss Me Sixpence None the Richer

This is cross-posted from tumblr from a few months back (hence the date). I love fanfic rec lists because it helps keep an author’s work circulating, and for those of us who don’t have a lot of time to dig deep into the tags, it’s helpful to have someone else point out stuff to check out. So, although I don’t read a ton of fic myself, here are some of the ones I’ve really enjoyed!

I tried to group them by the “central” character POV within each game but it’s not exact. There are recs for all 3 games here, and do feel free to share any of your own recommendations!

Dragon Age Origins

Every Road Never Taken by aban_ataashi - Gen - Brief look at each of the PC origin stories.

The Order of Succession by Cartadwarfwithaheartofgold - Gen - Farren Aeducan learns she’s being given command, Trian is displeased, and Bhelen schemes. Rica Brosca observes.

Dragon Age II

Arishok-centric

by the horns by staircased - Arishok/f!Hawke - The battle for Kirkwall is a bit more personal for Hawke.

Fenris-centric

A Steady Path by vandal_aria - Fenris/Sebastian - Fenris and Sebastian bond after the fall of Kirkwall, and Sebastian helps Fenris heal.

Cold by emptykitkat - Fenris/Sebastian - Cold weather and snuggling.

Cold Hand, Warm Heart by littlemaple - f!Hawke/Fenris - Fenris is sick and Hawke cares for him.

Sleeping Under the Dead Tree by jawsandbones - f!Hawke/Fenris - After losing the battle at the Gallows, Hawke is made Tranquil, and Fenris struggles to accept this new reality.

When the Storm Breaks by BECandCall - f!Hawke/Fenris - A purple Hawke rivalmance with Fenris.

Orsino-centric

A Spring Night by PennyForTheGuy - f!Hawke/Orsino - Late at night, Orsino recalls the Champion.

Antebellum by chaineddove - Meredith/Orsino - Meredith and Orsino met before, before Kirkwall, before the war.

Beholder’s Eye by foundCarcosa - Meredith/Orsino - Meredith insists she’s getting old; Orsino disagrees.

Breaking Point by foundCarcosa - Meredith/Orsino - Keeping secrets proves fatal.

Contentment by PennyForTheGuy - f!Hawke/Orsino - Hawke and Orsino share a quiet moment the morning after a pleasant night.

Expect the Unexpected by bogwitch - f!Hawke/Orsino - Working together for the mage underground, things sometimes get heated.

the illusion of hope by heylifeisemily - f!Hawke/Orsino - Hawke and Orsino meet the night of the Qunari invasion and things go from there.

Lethal Addictions by 17734 - Meredith/Orsino - They both have their bad habits, and their addictions.

Maelstrom by 17734 - Meredith/Orsino - It occurs to Orsino that he has never learned how to swim.

The Mistake by rithewarluid - Meredith/Orsino - A Winter’s Ball brings lonely, hurting people together.

Teamwork by Evercrest - Meredith/Orsino - It takes two to tango, and the First Enchanter prefers to lead.

Sebastian-centric

As Careless As You Are Certain by gremlinquisitor - f!Hawke/Sebastian - Battle couple adventures.

Interrogation by jillyfae - f!Hawke/Sebastian - Varric questions Sebastian, in a roundabout way, as to his intentions with Hawke.

Varric-centric

Flowers, Lies, and Forgiveness by Cartadwarfwithaheartofgold - Bianca/Varric, Bianca/Bogdan - Varric and Bianca have gotten pretty practiced at hiding their affair, but they may not be as secretive as they think.

Sun-touched by lucyrne - Bethany/Varric - When Varric has to return to Orzammar for Bianca’s swearing in as a paragon, he asks Bethany to be his plus-one.

Dragon Age Inquisition

Ameridan-centric

Recognition by DeCarabas - Ameridan/Colette - Colette meets her history crush in the flesh.

Blackwall-centric

Who Would Make the Best Eating? by Cartadwarfwithaheartofgold - Blackwall/Cadash - They’re lost. In the Western Approach.

Cassandra-centric

A First Encounter - armameme- Cassandra/f!Hawke - The first meeting of the Champion and the seeker.

duet for two Hands in six baths by thereinafter - Cassandra/Leliana - Pre-Inquisition bonding between the Divine’s two Hands.

Nevarran Steel by bioticbootyshaker - Cassandra/Vivienne - The knight and her lady.

the other side of terror by superfluouskeys - Cassandra/f!Hawke - Hawke thinks she’s been very restrained where the seeker is concerned.

small comforts by thereinafter - Cassandra/Leliana - Leliana tries to help Cassandra relax after a stressful day.

Fenris-centric

Carrot and Stick by thereinafter - f!Hawke/Fenris - Fenris and Hawke help the Inquisition out and make some new friends.

Stuck in the Fade by lyngan - After Hawke is left behind in the Fade, Fenris rescues her.

Dorian-centric

In Shallow Waters by salakavala - Dorian/Iron Bull - They break up, but not really.

maraas kata by venndaai - Dorian/Iron Bull - An urgent quest takes Dorian to Seheron. The Iron Bull goes with him.

maybe my time has come by homsantoft - Dorian/Iron Bull - Dorian and Bull spar, in more ways that one.

Never a Dull Affair by midnightprelude - Gen - Dorian and Maevaris have an adventure.

Rivers in the Sand by electricshoebox - Dorian/Iron Bull - Dorian tries to keep Bull grounded when memories surface in the Hissing Wastes.

Tankards for Two by thewightknight - Dorian/Krem - Krem’s used to a bit of flirting, but things with Dorian get a bit more complicated.

White Violets by AuditoryCheesecake and uniquinalltheworld - Dorian/Iron Bull - Merrill owns a flower shop and everyone thinks Dorian and Bull are meant to be.

With Each Gift by homsantoft - Dorian/Iron Bull - Dorian reacts to his family finding out about him and Bull.

Leliana-centric

A Piece of Sunset by madamebadger - Leliana/Josephine - Leliana and Josephine flirt.

And the Crow Flies with the Nightingale by Toshi_Nama - Leliana/Zevran - Two rogues form a surprisingly close bond.

counting by klickitats - Josephine/Leliana - The first meeting of Josephine Montilyet and Sister Nightingale.

Fire Exercises by madamebadger - Gen - Cullen stands just a bit too close to that candle on Josephine’s clipboard.

Solas-centric

A Poor Substitute by neverending_shenanigans - f!Lavellan/Solas - Fluffy coffee shop AU.

The Creature in the Woods by apfelgranate - Gen - No Inquisition AU Adaar wants Solas to teach her magic.

Dry Your Eyes by CatKing_Catking - f!Lavellan/Solas - As Lavellan comes to terms with the end of her relationship with Solas, Vivienne offers comfort.

Enhanced Positions of Magical Union by helygen2017 - f!Lavellan/Solas - A document left on Solas’ desk is mistaken for something risque.

These Stolen Moments by InArlathan - f!Lavellan/Solas - When Lavellan can’t sleep at Skyhold, she and Solas share a quiet moment.

Well, that was…brief by Beckily - f!Lavellan/Solas - In Arlathan, when the elves were immortal, they had as long as they wanted to spend on everything. Solas is not yet accustomed to the quicklings’ brevity.

Vivienne-centric

Burning Brightly by beetle - Gen - Young Adaar is an assassin sent after Madame de Fer. Things do not go as planned.

Comfort by RipplesOfAqua - Josephine/Vivienne, Bastien/Vivienne - Josephine and Vivienne take comfort in each other.

Dignity by ringofdoubt - Gen - Josephine helps Vivienne with her grief in the wake of Bastien’s death.

Ephialtes by adlerobsessed - Gen, Bastien/Vivienne - There are some demons of Vivienne’s even Bastien can’t chase away.

Insomnia by DictionaryWrites - Gen - Vivienne has various late-night discussions with the rest of Skyhold. Amazing character portrayal here.

Late, Late Nights and Early Starts by hibernate - Leliana/Vivienne - Two skilled players of the Game bond over insomnia.

Love Song of a Dying Man by sarenka - Bastien/Vivienne - Bastien waited to let go until Vivienne reached him.

pretend this isn’t bleeding by ghost_teeth - Bastien/Vivienne, Trevelyan/Vivienne - If Vivienne concentrates hard enough, she can almost imagine it’s Bastien touching her.

Shadow Boxing by hibernate - Iron Bull/Vivienne - Vivienne and Iron Bull share a toast after the Exalted Council.

Tailoring Touches by barbex - Gen - Vivienne helps Cadash dress for the Halamshiral and they discuss fashion.

To feel, still seeing by Kit - Bastien/Vivienne, Josephine/Vivienne - Josephine has been aware of Madame de Fer since she was a debutante.

Unconquered by Chocochipbiscuit - Svarah/Vivienne - Thane Sun-hair attempts to court Vivienne after the Inquisitor comes to Stone-Bear Hold.

Var Lath Vir Suledin!

Listen: Youtube | Spotify

Part 1
i. Running with the Wolves AURORA ii. Romeo and Juliet Theme Nino Rota iii. Lovesong The Cure iv. Haunting Halsey v. Sleeping at Last Neptune vi. Little Red Riding Hood Amanda Seyfried vii. All I Ask of You (instrumental) Phantom of the Opera viii. Strange Love Halsey ix. Romeo Y Julieta Henry Salomon x. City of the Dead Eurielle xi. Thedas Love Theme Dragon Age Inquisition xii. All the King’s Horses Karmina xiii. Love Theme Pirates of the Caribbean xiv. Sleepsong Sleeping Garden xv. Seven Devils Florence + the Machine xvi. Hell to the Liars London Grammar xvii. My Heart Will Go On (instrumental) Titanic xviii. Thedas Love Theme (extended) Dragon Age Inquisition xiv. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) Nancy Sinatra xvv. Landfill Daughter xvi. Hallelujah Rufus Wainright xvii. Wolf First Aid Kit xviii. Medicine Daughter xx. Ghost of a Rose Blackmore's Night

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Current Mood: melancholy

Here @

flockofcrows

I’ve been sitting on this idea of spirits vs personhood for a while now (i.e. months) and the way Dragon Age: Inquisition portrays the dilemma. I have a lot of frustrations with how spirits are portrayed in this game, so I figured I would take some time to look over the question the game posits: Do spirits qualify as people or not?

Full disclosure: I opted for Cole to remain as a spirit in the game and while I criticize the idea of making Cole human this isn’t a judgment on how other players are playing the game. It’s more a critique of how the writing addressed the dilemma to begin with. Also, this post meanders … a lot. It has kind of become a general post about spirits in Dragon Age. I haven’t read the books, so if anything here is completely misinformed or if there’s info I’m lacking, feel free to let me know.

With that out of the way let’s get into it! At a certain point of the game we have to help Cole decide whether he will be more of a spirit or more of a human. I really wish we’d gotten a chance to just ask Cole what it was he wanted at some point. Granted, at the time he really just wanted to murder a guy and he very well could have turned into a demon afterwards, so I suppose that wasn’t an option.

So instead of the ideal, we’re given two viewpoints on the matter to fill the void: Solas’s and Varric’s.

Solas, our resident expert on spirits, believes it’s important that Cole accept himself for who he is. This way the ideal he aspires to, compassion, won’t be corrupted.

Varric thinks Cole should have a chance at being a person and phrases it to Solas as such: “All right. I get it. You like spirits. But he came into this world to be a person. Let him be one.” It kind of makes it sound like Solas’s appreciation of spirits is akin to a fondness for cats.

More to the point, Varric sees Cole remaining a spirit as robbing him of any chance to be a real person. But why? Why would being a spirit automatically make Cole less of a person?

Continue reading on blog...

Title: Dreams of Heroes

Rating: T

Pairings: F!Mahariel/Zevran

Summary: The burdens of leadership wear on Mahariel but she soon acclimates to it while also maneuvering the joys and pitfalls of dealing with her rather diverse group of companions. For all that's gone wrong, she has gained something special in someone that she never anticipated. These bonds will follow her throughout her life.

Told as snapshots of Mahariel's adventures.

AO3 | Dreamwidth

Title: What Once Was

Rating: T

Pairings: F!Mahariel & Merrill, Pre-F!Mahariel/Merrill

Summary: When Merrill is given to Clan Sabrae she isn't sure how she should feel. She finds it difficult being the keeper's First but she finds some small comfort in her friendship with Mahariel.

AO3 | Dreamwidth

Title: Forming a "What If"

Rating: G

Pairings: F!Hawke/Merrill

Summary: After a mission and a bit of time with friends Hawke goes to check in on Merrill. Hawke learns a bit more about her and the start of a connection is formed.

AO3 | Dreamwidth

Title: The Talk

Rating: Adult

Summary: Bethany gives her own shovel talk.

Notes: I was on a Bethany binge and got really fed up of the amount of controlling Garret Hawkes there were threatening anyone Bethany has sex with. That shit is messed up. A response. ~1500 words

Patreon // Ko-Fi

Read on A03.org

Title: I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.

Rating: T

Pairing: Josephine/F!Hawke

Summary: Hawke met Josephine once before.

Notes: I didn't quite expect this fic to turn out like this or for there to be so much tea. Originally written for the pre-cannon square of my ladiesbingo card but not sure it actually fits. ~6500 words. ~6500 litres of tea.

Ko-Fi // Patreon

Read it on A03.org

Title: Fire and Lightning

Rating: E

Summary: Morrigan is aware that she and Leliana are similar in different ways.

Notes: Not an advent calendar fic but just never posted. ~2100 words. I want to write a second part.

Patreon // Ko-Fi

Read @ A03.org.

So here are the last eleven days of the Trope Advent Calendar. Some of these are now available to the public. Some aren't.

I'll be posting some of these that are public to A03 and the like over the course of the next couple of weeks.

So, this is what I've written for the second week of the advent calendar on my patreon. Two of these are definitely wips and two are just straight up smut. (week one recap is here)