Funnily enough, I’m not 100% joking. While many animals have paw pads, the particular kind of soft, squishy beans found on housecats are an adaptation for stealth. Squishy beans mean you’re looking at an ambush predator.
the final battle in trespasser was an absolute clusterfuck and you know solas was looking down on it all like “my friends…my stupid, puny, mortal friends”
Near the Cantori Diamond there are two fledglings - Dartonia and Timetri. In the game, they just chat, reflecting on the plot events. But previously, they participated in a quest given to the player by Heir. Rook had to fulfill the contract to kill the Antaam, Kavaarad the Lash (sometimes he mentioned as Tavaarad). It was necessary to get through the Antaam checkpoints and kill his guards, and then him. The fledglings scouting the necessary checkpoints, watched in action how to kill the Antaam, and joined the player in the boss fight.
There are references to this quest in Dartonia and Timetri's character files.
crw_faction_crow_recruit_1_loc
Character Name: Fledgling Dartonia
Speech Pattern: Tentative due to inexperience. More confident after seeing Rook in action.
crw_faction_crow_recruit_2_loc
Character Name: Fledgling Timetri
Speech Pattern: Over-disciplined to compensate for inexperience. They relax after seeing Rook in action.
There are many entries in the codex that aren't implemented in the game. One of them related to the fledglings training
Observations on the Antaam
-Despite posturing, Antaam usually only venture out in groups. They are watchful for the Crows.
-Treatment of Treviso's citizens is harsh, clumsy. Antaam not taught to rule a conquered city. Some indulging in cruelty, or exercises of power. (Rebellion against the strict discipline of the Qun?)
-From Viago: "Half the Antaam act as though Treviso will steal their souls, and the other half carouse and pick fights like overgrown brats." If not for the Butcher, I suspect the first half would have already left.
-This restlessness is useful. It makes some Antaam take risks that can be exploited. Carefully.
—From Heir's notes on the Antaam. (For lessons for the fledglings.)
Some of the dialogues during the training lessons can be found in a text file. Tried to sort the lines manually.
Heir: Our young must see how it is more than a keen edge that turns a battle. Meet recruits in the streets and assassinate Tavaarad, a vicious Antaam commander.
Rook: Am I really what you really want for a teacher?
Heir (if Rook Crow): You've proved yourself willing to join the fight. I expect no less from a Crow.
Heir: You've proved yourself willing to join the fight, even if not a Crow yourself.
Heir (if Rook Crow): You are adept at facing the Antaam. As a Crow, you know how important it is to share skills with the fledglings.
Heir: You are adept at facing the Antaam. We Crows value the skilled. Our fledglings must see you in action.
Heir: Our recruits need to see how to craft a kill. Particularly Jacobus. He is… at risk of losing himself to grief.
Rook (Crow): We Crows can be dangerous when we're "at risk."
Rook: I get the feeling it's dangerous when a Crow is "at risk."
Heir: Baiting the vicious Kavaarad is your contract. Go, and teach our students in the streets.
Rook: Hello, Jacobus. Ready to meet up later for some training?
Jacobus: We don't need training. The Antaam need killing.
Rook: Can't have one without the other.
Rook: Are you all right, Jacobus? I look forward to meeting you later for training.
Jacobus: I want a contract, not training. Set me loose on the Antaam.
Rook (Crow): We Crows aren't "set loose."
Rook: I don't think Crows are "set loose.
Jacobus: Maybe we should be. Maybe that's what my dead house needs.
Jacobus: If I had a house left, our banner would deserve better.
Jacobus: Just go. I'll do this "training" if I have to. Just get it over with.
Rook: I see why Heir thinks Jacobus is "at risk."
Rook: We're looking for a young Crow recruit in the Drowned District.
Companions:
- So how do we spot them?
- How are we gonna find them? Crows are masters of disguise. There could be dozens around us right now.
- How will we know them?
- How will we know it's them?
- Right. How do we spot them?
Rook: It's a young Crow. Feathers and attitude?
Rook (Crow): If they're like I was, they'll be trying very hard to look the part.
Lucanis: If they're like Illario and me, they'll be trying hard to look the part.
Rook: Wish I could have seen that.
Lucanis: Ugh. Don't remind me.
Lucanis: I was terrible. Illario was worse.
Companions:
- There's our Crow fledgling.
- There's our Crow recruit. (Sighs.) The young are so serious at that age.
- Guessing that's our Crow recruit. All serious and earnest there.
- I bet that's our Crow recruit.
- That looks like our Crow. New recruits are always so serious.
- There's our fledgling. Can't mistake a fellow Crow, even a young one.
- That looks like our Crow recruit ahead. So serious.
Rook: Oh. Yeah. That's probably them.
Rook: Their job was to scout Antaam. Our job is to show them how to bait out a leader.
Fledgling Dartonia: Hi! Um, hi. Are you my contact? I probably shouldn't be asking everyone that.
Rook: Just do what Heir said. You'll be fine.
Fledgling Dartonia: Right! Your target is marked. These Antaam serve Kavaarad, a vicious commander.
Fledgling Dartonia: You… deconstruct his men, I will watch and learn.
After the fight.
Rook: Well, fledgling? What did you learn?
Fledgling Dartonia:
- I expected no less from a proud Antivan Crow. I am inspired.
- The Lords of Fortune are more than I expected. So much raw… rawness.
- It would seem the Grey Wardens have much to teach… everyone.
- I've never seen a Veil Jumper in action. So much to learn!
- I knew our Shadow Dragon friends were skilled, but this was… enlightening.
- I've never seen the Mourn Watch… anywhere. Where do I even start?
- I got to see the Demon of Vyrantium in action. And you matched him. That's… terrifying.
Fledgling Dartonia: I've marked where your next student is. He's already working on the next step to flushing out Kavaarad.
Rook: Our next fledgling student is in Central.
Companions:
- I think our next fledgling is ahead. They look very proper.
- Don't have to be a Crow to recognize a kid who's trying a little too hard.
- Ah. All diligence and determination.
- Aww. Trying so hard. Adorable.
- They're trying so hard! Let's keep a straight face.
- And like they're trying very hard.
- Okay, I recognize a very serious fledgling ahead.
Fledgling Timetri: Recruit ready for instruction, teacher!
Rook: Whoa, okay. Relax.
Fledgling Timetri: Understood. Relaxing. Your target is marked. They're due to report to their commander.
Fledgling Timetri: I will watch and learn.
After the fight.
Rook: Well, fledgling? A useful lesson?
Fledgling Timetri:
- Lucanis is truly the best of us. And I can only hope to reach your level as well.
- Heir was right. A true Crow in action is the best teacher.
- I've never seen a Grey Warden fight. You have my respect.
- I'm stunned. Veil Jumper stories don't compare.
- The Shadow Dragons have more than earned their reputation.
- The Lords of Fortune are so much more than I heard.
- You're Mourn Watch? Is that what I saw? Amazing.
Fledgling Timetri: Heir said this will flush out Kavaarad. I haven't heard from Jacobus, but I've marked where he is meant to be for the last step.
Rook: Wait, you haven't heard from Jacobus?
Fledgling Timetri: No. But he seems like that. He's never talked to me.
Companions:
- That last recruit was a lot more serious than Jacobus.
- That last recruit carried himself very differently than Jacobus.
- The last kid and Jacobus—they're pretty different.
- The last one was really different from Jacobus.
- Last kid's pretty serious. Not like Jacobus.
- The last kid had a very different personality than Jacobus.
- The last recruit and Jacobus could not be more different.
Rook: Getting close and… that's Heir, not Jacobus.
Rook: Heir? Where's Jacobus?
Heir: I was about to ask you the same. Did you speak to him?
Rook: I didn't. And the last fledgling didn't see him.
Heir: He was upset about needing training, and very concerned about his house?
Rook (Crow): He's the last of his name and thinks hate is all he has. But hate isn't why Crows kill.
Rook: I fear he's chasing his hate. He's the last of his house name and thinks that's all he has.
Heir: I will check the Diamond for Jacobus. If you could finish your excellent tutorial for the others, we will again be in your debt.
Companions:
- Jacobus didn't check in with the last trainee. Not good.
- Jacobus didn't check in with the last trainee. That's not good.
- Our last fledgling said Jacobus didn't check in.
- Jacobus didn't check in with the last trainee. That's a problem.
- Jacobus didn't check in with the last trainee. That's not good, is it?
- It's suspicious that Jacobus never checked in with the last trainee.
- Jacobus didn't check in with the last trainee. That's a worry.
Rook: Let's hope he didn't rush this commander on his own.
Companions:
- Mierda. Of course he did something reckless.
- Oh, I hope he hasn't done something dangerous.
- Hope he didn't do anything stupid.
- You think he did something stupid?
- What are the odds he's done something reckless?
- I hope he hasn't done anything rash.
- I hope he hasn't done anything reckless!
Rook: Yeah. Not the example I was supposed to set.
Rook: The last step in the Kavaarad contract is by the garrison.
Rook: Kavaarad has revealed himself. His final lesson is also waiting.
Lines from the boss fight:
- The Crows send their regards!
- This is the whelp picking us off? We are better than this!
- No one can defy the Antaam!
- The Crows beg to differ!
- Where are my reinforcements? My throat-cutters!
- They learned their lesson! Now it's your turn!
- This cannot be! We have brought this city to its knees!
- And we're training them to stand!
Rook: Contract complete. Hope the training was helpful.
Companions:
- We should talk with Heir back at the Diamond.
- Nice! Like we're all real Crows! We should check in with Heir back at - the Diamond.
- Job's done, but we should check in with Heir back at the Diamond.
- This job is done. We should tell Heir back at the Diamond.
- I'm sure it was, but let's speak with Heir back at the Diamond.
- Job's done. But we should talk with Heir back at the Diamond.
- Okay! That's all done, at least. We'd better check in with Heir back at the Diamond.
Heir: Thank you, Rook. Killing Kavaarad taught many lessons. If only Jacobus attended.
Rook: Where is he?
Heir: I don't know. He risks hanging his banner on hate and revenge, but you know that's not what we do.
Heir: Contracts have an end.
Heir: I will let you know when I find him. Until then, thank you.
Fledgling: Thank you, Rook. Your skill was humbling to behold.
Fledgling: Jacobus would've enjoyed this.
Rook: Any news on Jacobus?
Fledgling: No. I bet he's mad he missed it.
Fledgling: He makes me nervous. His eyes go like a doll's eyes.
Fledglings banter:
- Seeing a Crow like Rook in action is amazing.
- Seeing Lucanis in person is amazing.
- Seeing a Grey Warden/Lord of Fortune/Mourn Watcher/Veil Jumper/Shadow Dragon in action is amazing.
- People said so. I believed, but seeing is different.
There's a reason Jacobus missed his training, but that's for another post once I finish sorting Treviso cut content (not soon!).
