Bioware *after years of silence* : are you ready for some dragon age news guys ?
The dragon age fandom :

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he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
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DEAR READER
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@b0ghag
Bioware *after years of silence* : are you ready for some dragon age news guys ?
The dragon age fandom :
The witches have come to lay their claim.
a pair of mischievous goblins examine their new charge
Anime is good actually
Mutuals
Hold out your hands
ok
i rarely see more than one (1) disabled person in fiction, and at that i rarely see disabled people that don’t have on sight disabilities. ya know i just wanna see a character or two having type one diabetes, better at that, i wanna see them be in some sort of fantasy fiction.
off topic of this, but i hate the “character with x disability gets disability ‘fixed’ once in fantasy/magical land” trope, like why are people so quick to fix us? why can’t people just make living with disabilities easier in fantasy lands instead of erasing them?
like i’d love to have a tiny pocket dragon that could sense my blood sugar highs or lows, i’d also think it’d be cool that a wizard could give me a potion that lets me eat cake or pizza or pasta without dying.
I think a lot of the time, abled writers are under the impression that they’re doing disabled people a “favour” by providing escapism from what they consider to be awful lives. The thing is though, when you’ve got a disability you tend to be quite good at finding ways around it, and honestly? Can you imagine how wild that would get in a High Fantasy? It’d be fantastic. Consider:
Pocket service-dragons like OP said, trained to monitor vitals and blood sugar. They’re good at helping people with cardiovascular-type problems, epilepsy, diabetes and asthma. All the dragons require in return is permission to hoard pocket lint in caches around the home.
A different, slightly larger breed of dragon will sit on the shoulders of those who are Deaf and/or blind. They’re probably about the size of a crow. These ones act as guides and signed language interpreters, and are able to communicate in more code (or a fantasy equivalent) by tapping with their claws. Plus, they’ll breathe fire at anyone who is being an ableist piece of shit.
Fantasy hearing aids that are part magic, part tech. They mould around the ear in whatever shape the wearer wishes (bonus if they look like serpents or vines with a silver sheen) and, if not being used, can coil around a wrist or finger. (Do you have any idea how many times I’ve almost lost my aids bc they fall out of pockets or get misplaced??)
If the wizarding world of JK Rowling gets wingardium leviosa, then fantasy can totally have magically enchanted supports - walking frames, crutches etc - that come to the person’s aid when needed. Also, levitating charms? Clothing that supports the wearer so that a lower-limb amputee can whisk around places? Just think about Doctor Strange’s magical cape.
And then, after all that, your fantasy world can literally just have the same aids as ours. There are many, many creative options and every single one of them are preferable to being erased from the world of fiction.
*sigh* I’ve already made an addition but this idea is SO under-explored. So please also consider:
The literally limitless possibilities for prosthesis, including having a character stand on their flying prosthetic foot in order to fly/levitate, prosthesis that remains awake while they sleep and can defend them in the night, prosthesis that looks completely real but is just packed with compartments, prosthesis that functions precisely like a real limb and is directed normally by the brain, invisible prosthesis, magnetized steampunk prosthesis, limb prosthesis that is basically a floating hand/foot with the limb between missing- like, can’t be touched missing,
A full menagerie of mythical beasts that can serve as service animals, up to and including keeping the soul in the body while waiting for healers to arrive so that the heart can be re-started much longer after it has stopped beating. Some mythical birds were said to steal nightmares and fly away with them as well.
Horse-sized intelligent dragons used as mobility aids
Chariot/chair/wheelchair mobility aids that levitate and/or move quickly
Emergency communication devices that will alert the other holders of a crisis with location and specifics even when you’re is unconscious, such as with epilepsy or passing out from low blood sugar
Hearing aids/glasses that not only aide impaired hearing/vision, but also allow the user to hear/see in other specified places in the world
Magical devices that stimulate dead nerves in cases where a limb goes dead, reducing the need for amputation
Similar magical devices that straight-up reanimate dead limbs, so that you can leave your arm lying around and still use it when you walk away (so much plot opportunity, SO much)
Magical capsules you can swallow that give you lots of healthy energy, which can be used for various disorders that lead to fatigue but can also be used as a first aide to aide healing of wounds/illness
Pill cases that remember what you need to take and what you’ve actually taken and WILL get in your face if you’ve forgotten
Capsules or spells for cleanliness that reduces the need to bathe for those for whom it’s difficult
House plants that release chemicals your brain SHOULD be producing so that you breathe it in- possibly in conjunction with medication that helps to regulate so you don’t overdose on serotonin what you’re trying to sleep
Plants you can eat that will literally replace your compromised immune system
A ritual that will take a magical 3D photograph of your current physical condition, and, if you’ve taken one, you can use this complicated spell to have your physical body go back and become exactly what it was at that point- like a computer backup.
Many, many options for spells, healing herbs and rituals that will ease chronic pain
I think ya’ll mentioned why abled writers ”fix” disabilities. Magic. Why give you a magical hearing aid when they could just magically fix your hearing? It’s magic, there’s no limit to it. I see what you’re all saying and it does sound cool af, but I’m just saying. If any of ya’ll write a story with what you’ve been saying tho, I’d love to read it.
But we’re asking these writers why they wanna “fix” us when magic is right there with so many more options, why “fix” us when there are so many things you can do for us with this magic? Like left and right we see ourselves portrayed as “wrong” or “flawed” and it reasonably irks us that people believe we need to even be “fixed” in the first place.
I obviously don’t speak on behalf of all people like me, but I don’t want some magic trick to fix a characters pancreas if they have type one diabetes, I want to see them be able to live a better quality of life. An easier one. That’s it! I don’t want to see them be fixed and turned “normal”, make their life easier than it is whether it be with magic potions for carb intakes or pocket-service dragons, and whatever else! Just don’t erase us.
not that I disagree with any of this, but there is the matter of worldbuilding to consider. It depends on how the magic system of that world works. If there are certain magics that exist that can restore hearing, why would someone choose to use a magical hearing aid, if the possibility that they can just have their hearing restored exists? You could make it so that magic doesn’t allow someone to just magically restore hearing, but it is possible to make an inner-ear-fitted piece of jewellery that magnifies vibrations in the air, allowing people to hear who otherwise can’t. But if someone’s worlds magic system does allow for complete restoration/healing of the ear, it’s fair to assume that most people would opt for complete restoration opposed to an enchanted earpiece.
Like, it would be poor characterization imo if Bran Stark woke up after being tossed from that tower and didn’t wish for his working legs back. In our modern society we have the talking points about ableism, and how architects and city planners should be building wheelchair-friendly layouts, and that people with certain disabilities shouldn’t be made to feel excluded or less-able than others, but those talking points don’t exist in, say, a feudal medieval society.
I was thinking about this this morning and chose not to write a comment–guess I will now!
I totally get your point. In a world where complete restoration is possible, a lot of people, maybe even most people, probably would choose that. I personally think there are many that wouldn’t, especially among those who are born with disabilities (but then that delves into the possibility of the parents having the fix done anyway, it’s the same ethicality of gene editing babies–is it really morally okay to fundamentally change somebody when they can’t consent?). I can’t relate to physical disabilities but if I had the opportunity to magically rid myself of my disassociative disorder or my trauma, I wouldn’t. They’re part of me.
But my main point is: fiction doesn’t exist in a vacuum. In our world, disabled people exist, and representation is important. Even when perfect solutions exist in fiction, that means actively erasing real people and their struggles. It’d be similar to making fiction based on a species of lizard people that are all the same color and shape. Where’s the diversity? Where’s the representation? Theoretically you could do it because it’s fiction but it’s unkind to marginalized people, ya feel?
Hopefully that makes sense?
Yeah, that totally makes sense and I agree with you and OPs point that representation is important, I’m only trying to say that for the sake of storytelling and consistent worldbuilding, if someone lived in a world as brutal and unforgiving as Westeros, or any other feudal medieval-based world, I can’t imagine anybody choosing enchanted clothing over fully healing their legs, for example. (I know that neither of those magics are available in Westeros, just mentioning it for the sake of argument).
I respect your acknowledgement of your disabilities being a part of you, and I understand for the most part; I consider my shyness and awkwardness in real life an endearing and fundamental trait of my personality. But part of the reason I always go on and on about the wonders of psilocybin is because (apart from the completely mystical and spiritually enlightening part of the trip) during my first ever mushroom trip, on the comedown/afterglow I felt so clearheaded in a way I’ve never felt before or since, like I could go up to anyone and be able to talk to them about anything. Not only did I suddenly completely understand the subtle nuances and methodology of conversation, I felt incredibly charming and charismatic, like the version of myself I imagine when playing out conversations in my head, like the person I’ve always wanted to be.
Psychedelics are pretty close to functional magic in my opinion, and if I lived in a fantasy setting where I could drink a potion to make me feel the way I did coming down on mushrooms that one night, I would be drinking it every day.
Don’t compare physical disabilities to anxiety (both are bad but they literally shouldn’t be compared in any sense) and also please don’t compare going on a trip to “healing” disabled people in fiction. It’s not comparable and, while I believe you’re very intelligent, does not serve a very intelligent argument, thank you.
AAlllright. So I have seen this post a few times but I didn’t reblog it cause I think I just flat out forget, but now I will because I have some words.
So my older brother has DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), and if you don’t know what that is look it up, but essentially, your muscles deteriorate until you die. Unlike mental disorders (or shyness which is a personality trait so I’m confused about that example), like @roaminc gives as an example, this is not a disability that can be lessened by drugs. This disability takes and takes, and medication simply slows this process but it can never be cured.
We DON’T live in a fantasy world, so readers will never be cured like they magically are in fantasy. Why would you “cure” something and erase a character that people in the real world can relate to? Mental disabilities are beginning to get more representation in all mediums, but physical disabilities are still almost nonexistent in most creative mediums. Even if the magic in the fantasy world has the ability to cure a physical disability, I think it’s completely disheartening and unfair to get rid of a character someone with a physical disability can FINALLY relate to.
And let’s be fucking honest here - it’s just lazy writing to erase disability.
Some wounds can’t be healed.
Some genetic mutations, muscular diseases, neurodivergencies cant be “fixed”. Even with magic.
But it’s easier than having to research. It’s easier than having to build more into an already large pretend world. Hey, build complex pretend ecosystems involving dragons, fungus, and selkies but fucking enchanted hearing aids or some kind of magical prosthetic that doesn’t ‘cure’ but helps? That’s just too much.
I used to notice this but it never really bothered me. Until I had my oldest son who is autistic. Let me tell you something; DO IT. Take the time to add disabilities to your world.
Do you not see the character reception for Toph from Avatar the Last Airbender, or General Amaya from The Dragon Prince? You wanna know why?
People want diversity. People want to read about characters like them - even if it’s just a minor character. You can argue with me till you’re blue in the face but let’s be honest -
Erasing disability is laziness. Period.
How about you should know what you’re writing about? I can write cancer, because I know what it is. I can write depression, suicide, bipolar disorder, autism, being half deaf, but I have no idea what it is to live without a hand or anything. And I won’t ruin my stuff to get comments like “oh you know it’s not like that asdfghjkl”. Nah, thanks.
I agree, but I would add: Write what you know about and what you’re willing to research and really learn about.
If you do the research and talk to real people affected by different things, you can make a character that at least one person can relate to. If you include even just one more person with your writing, I think you should try.
I hope you include characters with all the things you experience, but don’t let it keep you from making a character without a limb if you meet a person who can give you insight as to what it’s like.
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this should be punishable by death
Hahaha amazing door
finger remover 9000
dude seeing these Mega high quality images of the surface of mars that we now have has me fucked up. Like. Mars is a place. mars is a real actual place where one could hypothetically stand. It is a physical place in the universe. ITS JUST OUT THERE LOOKING LIKE UH IDK A REGULAR OLD DESERT WITH LOTS OF ROCKS BUT ITS A WHOLE OTHER PLANET?
LIKE THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A PERSON’S BACKYARD. LIKE YEA A LITTLE DUSTY MAYBE THERE WAS A SANDSTORM BUT THAT’S COOL I’M JUST GONNA WALK DOWN TO THE STORE P S Y C H YOU’RE ON MARS BICH!
i hate to be rude and intrude on this post but we have decent pictures of the surface Venus too!
So I’m replaying Origins, and when I witnessed this convo my mouth fell out
You just KNOW that when the court tailor consulted with Empress Celene’s ~occult advisor~ to get her into some “proper clothes,” Morrigan just wracked her brain for Leliana’s Orlesian fashion advice from TEN YEARS AGO. (But if you watch her entrance carefully, she’s still wearing the same boots from Origins!)
Also bog hag glowed up, damn
This Is Fine
my Dragon Age blog is UP
it’s lonely and needs some followers! if you like Dragon Age stuff, hmu at magebetrayal.tumblr.com. hopefully the sheer volume of DA crap will be funelled from my main blog to this awesome new one.
there’s lots of Cassandra and other wlw stuff, which, I mean... isn’t that the whole point of Dragon Age? sword lesbians??
to my dear 84 followers
which are mostly porn bots,
I’m starting a separate Dragon Age blog in an effort to keep my DA spam off everybody’s dash. First of all, you’re welcome
Second of all, my last username was so DA appropriate that I had to cannibalize it for the new blog and switch again. Sorry to the handful of wonderful people who actually keep track of me! If you love Dragon Age stuff (or me in general) you can follow the new blog once my 24 hour username hold ends tomorrow at magebetrayal.tumblr.com. Along with Quality Dragon Age Content™ I will eventually be posting some original content as well, including flycam screenshots and a looong fic (Cassandra/f!Lavellan) that will hopefully be up on AO3 sooner rather than later
Fun fact: b0ghag is my actual literal legal vanity plate (but everyone knows Morrigan is the OG bog hag, tbh)
cheers B
some momigan content for @sapphicprism! and its only… two months late… 😅dont know if its still relevant but hopefully its still enjoyable!