it’s a major oversight to me that there isn’t an option for a dumped HoF to have a lil rebound fling with anders in awakening. we’re talking about a man who later takes time out of his harebrained death spiral with the spirit/demon possessing him to shoot his shot with hawke, his dear friend of six years who is either in a committed relationship or a convoluted situationship that no sane person would go anywhere near. and you’re trying to tell me PRE-justice fuckboy anders with the earring wouldn’t be batting his eyelashes at the HoF like oooohh commander of the grey 😇😇 I heard that someone made you cry 😢😰🙅‍♂️ maybe you should… rest your head on my shoulder?? 🤭🤭 maybe you could tell me all about it, I’m a great listener 🥺🥺

The Warden Commander Brosca and her second in command, Seneschal Howe.

Very important information under the cut

one of the best party banters in the whole game (for me)

Fandom Concerns: Cullen, Solas, and Forgiveness Deserved?

Something something, the narrative and character parallels between Cullen and Solas are quite fascinating in a microcosm but also reflective of the potential problematic nature of their romances in regards to analysis and meta talk.

This is not to say their romances are bad- even if I still struggle with the appeal of Solas' romance (just being transparent here), I enjoy his character. The central issue is the consistent narrative I've seen brought up, coddling and fixing both men in regards to their conflicts, Cullen with his lyrium and trauma, and Solas with his own past and actions in DATV.

In Cullen's case, it is not difficult to avoid such a narrative, but once you dig just a bit deeper, you find how easily it is to fall into the trap of coddling when addressing the major problems in his story. Fandom reaction can be mixed when faced with these plot points. Usually, it becomes a narrative of wanting to fix him or, worse, ignoring the issue altogether. If this was just about enjoying his character for fluff, then fine, take no mind in what I say. I love fluff as well and sometimes, i just want to enjoy a sweet narrative.

However, I am pointing towards more lenient analysis of Cullen and his arc that I have seen pop up through meta or even some analytical fanfiction (or so-called)

Solas, Isolation and His Greatest Fear

As a spirit of Wisdom, Solas was connection itself - not physical, but connection to ideas, emotions, and existence. Spirits in the Fade are born from shared thought and feeling; they are communal by nature. Wisdom, in particular, does not just possess knowledge - it listens, gathers, synthesizes, and applies understanding to help others and guide action. This is why Mythal calls to him: she needs not just his knowledge, but his capacity for connection, counsel, and guidance.

But for a spirit turned mortal, life outside the Fade can be isolating when not actively choosing it's original purpose. It's why Solas urges Cole to never lose sight of who he is, to choose compassion as an act of will. By consciously reaffirming his nature, Cole stays anchored to his essence, preserving the purity of his spirit against the distortions of the physical world. Solas knows this because he himself failed to do the same. Over time, he drifted from his original essence, allowing pride, fear, and duty to erode his wisdom.

From the moment Solas chose a physical form, he began severing the natural connection that had once defined him, as did all the Evanuris. Over time, he accumulated knowledge, but lost the practice of true wisdom, because he lost the communal engagement that wisdom depends on. Wisdom’s purpose, at its core, is fulfilled in relation to others - and in isolation, it withers.

Over time, Mythal’s influence, the betrayals of the Evanuris, and the violence and trauma of war taught Solas to rely more on control, strategy, and force - not mutual understanding​. He made decisions at every stage that moved him further from his original nature by choosing actions that prioritized victory, security, and ideology over connection. Isolation for Solas is not just loneliness; it is a spiritual dislocation from his very being.

I love this line Elgar’nan throws at Solas: 

It paints such a vivid picture of Solas. It shows us a Solas who has always been defiant. Even when he stood with Mythal, he wasn’t someone who followed orders easily. He questioned. He resisted. And ultimately, he chose his own path. 

Elgar’nan sees it as arrogance. 

To him, Solas has always been a problem, a threat, not because of his power, but because of his refusal to be controlled. Not even by Mythal, the one who shaped him, the one he loved most - even she couldn’t fully command Solas! Elgar’nan’s words point to a fracture that’s always been there, a bond between Solas and Mythal built on shared ideals but slowly worn down by conflict, tension, and betrayal. 

What makes this line hit is how it aligns with much of what I’ve come to understand about Solas (in large thanks to great conversations with fellow Solas lovers). His defiance isn’t just a character trait, it's a part of his psychology. As a spirit of Wisdom, he wasn’t meant to obey, only to guide and so taking form at Mythal’s request was the first compromise. From that moment on, he was at war with himself. And as Mythal and the Evanuris strayed further from their original ideals, Solas’ resistance only grew.

Even in service to Mythal, Solas didn’t fully submit. He gave his loyalty out of love and purpose but when she and the others chose rulership over liberation, he refused to follow. That’s the psychological stab of Elgar’nan’s accusation: Solas never truly belonged to them.

And it's Elgar’nan twisting the knife - weaponizing one of Solas’ deepest fears: that he is, and always has been, alone - ideologically, emotionally and spiritually. Solas has spent his entire existence trying to uphold ideals such as freedom, justice, wisdom (as he sees them), and in return? He’s been betrayed or disappointed time and again, especially by Mythal (how often these two must have hurt and disappointed each other).

By invoking Mythal, Elgar’nan turns Solas’ independence into rejection. “Even she couldn’t tolerate you.” “Even she couldn’t manage you.” “You don’t belong to anyone or anything.” 

Brutal! 

Solas’ relationship with Mythal is already steeped in guilt, reverence, and unresolved grief. He loved her. Served her. Then turned against her. And even centuries later, he can’t fully let her go, she is too much a part of his identity, his grief. So when Elgar’nan says even she couldn’t manage him, he’s forcing Solas to look at the possibility that he was the one who failed her - not the other way around. 

Oooh, Elgar'nan, you are such a bitch.

just thinking about the way Veilguard had Emmrich and Davrin state, in a way that brokers no argument, that the Darkspawn are NOT PEOPLE and that’s the only time it’s ever brought up asdsfjdsjkf 

can we talk about the fact that the consecutive reveals that both the darkspawn and the demons/spirits, both of the mindless hordes of Always Pure Evil enemies that we can kill without a second thought, are PEOPLE is such a compelling earth shattering revelation that happens in the series leading up to veilguard

followed by the setup of an antagonist that can potentially wilfully refuse to acknowledge the personhood of the people of thedas, when every measure of what marks someone as a Person with a capital P by the standards of the society they’re from(spirit, mage, elf) marks someone as less than a person in the current world of thedas

that so clearly holds the mirror up to our own cruelty when the inquisitor responds to "it was like waking to a world of tranquil" with "we're not even people to you" betraying that our own hero does not view the tranquil as people

when the first spirits were born of the dreams of the dwarves but we read codex entries from ancient elvhenan that say "we hunt the pillars of the earth and their WITLESS SOULLESS DRONES"

the "mages are not people and should not be treated as such" the way they qunari refer to everyone outside of the qun as Bas - literally THING the way the chantry compares kissing an elf to kissing a dog ect ect and forever

When we speak to the architect when we meet justice when we meet cole when we meet maddox when we meet countless other characters from groups that get so utterly dehumanised by either theodesian society or some magical contrivance that exists as a metaphor for such

when the story beats you over the head with THEY'RE PEOPLE THEY'RE PEOPLE THE TERROR IN THE NIGHT IS A PERSON THE MINDLESS ZOMBIE HOARDS ARE PEOPLE THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BATTLEFIELD IS JUST AS MUCH A PERSON AS YOU YOUR ENEMY THAT DOES NOT SEE YOU AS A PERSON IS A PERSON

and the conclusion that we come to about that is actually

don't worry about it kitten <3

what was the point of it? this is a story about how efortlessly we can be persuaded to dehumanise others...

... unequivocally in favor of the dehumanisation? 

or at the very least of the opinion that there’s no point in doing anything about it?

Crestwood

The thing about Crestwood is that it's a beautiful location for a romantic date. Like, Solas put so much thought into choosing a place and bringing her there at the most beautiful time of day. And he had his little speech all prepared. He's clearly been thinking about this for a while, fantasizing about how he'll tell her the truth and somehow it will all work out and then they'll be there together in this romantic place and he'll finally be able to be with her with no more artifice between them.

I don't know, it's just very sad to think of him dreaming about it and planning and being excited to take her there and then - it all comes crashing down. He was so genuinely hopeful. And that's the last time he felt any real hope or happiness for the next ten years. Such a precipitous tumble from all that optimism into his long despair.

alistair ft. philomena cunk

The implications of the Inquisitor romancing Cullen is actually really funny if you think about it.

Like here is Orlais vying for gossip and scandal and lo and behold - a Fereldan man of no title or renown is apparently romantically involved with the Inquisitor and is the literal Commander of their army. That looks atrocious from the outside. What is he, some kind of upstart? I can only imagine the Orlesian court envisioning Cullen as this suave Casanova who is sleeping his way to the top and manipulating some of the most powerful people in Thedas to get where he is and when they meet him he’s literally just some guy.

“He’s using the Inquisitor to gain rank” and it’s a man that runs away from women and can’t flirt to save his life. Yeah that’s the master game player guys

And I do think they should’ve brought Sandal back in Veilguard, because if he made the trick lyrium dagger, handed it over, and said “Enchantment!” I wouldn’t even bat an eye or consider it a deus ex machina moment. Like yeah of course he could make a perfect copy, and it would be so similar that it could trick Solas. It’s Sandal.

The plot hole would be that his copy would absolutely be capable of rending the Veil.

btw dorian and cullen being chess buddies is so funny like do you think cullen even notices dorian is flamboyantly gay or does he go "i think it's a bit rude to assume he's a homosexual, don't you think? maybe all vints just act like that"

pim is proud to identify as morosexual

God forbid a girlie who uses her fascination with military propaganda and the effects of war on soldiers and civilians to make a thinkpiece about the psychological impact of war within Fullmetal Alchemist and Dragon Age.

Both pieces of media present us with the ingredients to discuss the responsibility of the military and how deep corruption can take root in even the good intended.

At what point is it the fault of the system or the fault of the individual? Do the ends justify the means, even if those means require innocent blood? How much fear, hate, and power are allowed to blind a good man before he becomes a monster?

One of the main reasons I'm so in love with default Garrett's design is that it looks so different from Leandra's, Carver's, Bethany's, Gamlen's, and even Marian's.

Their faces are elongated, their features more delicate, they look softer. Meanwhile, Garrett is all sharp angles, unruly hair, and untrimmed beard. The black sheep of the family. A real dog lord.

And you know what's the best part of it? It's the fact that since he doesn't look like his mother and the siblings who took after her (they have Leandra's blue eyes and her features), it means he takes after Malcolm.

Not only does he have his father's temper and coping mechanisms, but he also has his looks.

Imagine being Leandra in this situation. Every day your dead husband, the man you loved the most in your life (enough to say goodbye to your family and your cushy life in the mansion and go on the run with him), looks at you from your son's face, constantly reminding you of what you lost.

Imagine being Garrett in that situation. Because no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you will never be your father, the man who protected his wife and children from harm, the man who created a safe life for them, the man who died and simply because of that can do no wrong.

Carver can never be Garrett, but Garrett can never be Malcolm, and that's the problem, right? Right??

I love you, Garrett Hawke.

Honestly, having listened to all the Anders dialogue again, I genuinely think he's being antagonistic to get a reaction. And by this, I don't mean he's faking it. I mean, when he is not antagonistic, people tend to either laugh him off or ignore him. If he speaks about the very real oppression he faces he is often either a) denied his own voice (because Isabela and Varric accuse him of being justice in these cases) or he is told to lighten up or that it's not that big of a deal. However when he NEEDLES people, when he is bitchy and awful and kinda mean, they actively engage with the plight of mages and his conversation about oppression. And yeah, sometimes the way they engage is telling him that mages are dangerous or that they think templars are necessary but I think for Anders that's actually a better outcome that outright dismissal because at least it acknowledges the problem. Idk I don't think he's doing any of this on a conscious level but I do think it's the reason he can be actively antagonistic sometimes. He wants the reaction. He wants to be validated that his friends see that the issues he's facing exist.