@elfmaid's Sideblog for Dragon Age posts and character/writing sharing for my Dragon Age oc Kalais Aldwir!
I'm going to try using this more than I have for Kalais. Please be patient as I organize. I'll likely be reposting previous posts from the Rook's Roost community.
Kalais Aldwir
characterization sheet
Rook's Roost AU
A Mother's Journal Aria de Riva & Kalais by me
Fall of Minrathous by me
Questionable Research Design Beck & Kalais by me
A Missing Heirloom RP transcript by @wickedadaar
Post Symposium Fiasco RP transcript by wickedadaar
The Second Night RP transcript by wickedadaar
The Morning After RP transcript by wickedadaar
Artifacts and Stars Beck X Kalais by me
Injury Prompt Beck X Kalais by @wickedadaar
Nightmare Comes True Kalais and Beck at Weisshaupt by me
Kalais Aldwir finally visits Emmrich's gravestone, giving him an update on their family as they grapple with his loss.
Read on ao3 here or below the cut
In a corner of the Memorial Gardens, next to two older headstones, stood a new one. It was not brand new, but certainly it had not been there the previous year. A red haired elf knelt before it, setting a vase full of flowers in front of it, sitting back and blinking back their tears as they read the words carved into the gray stone.
Prof. Emmrich Volkarin
Proud Father. Mentor to Many
Member of the Veilguard
Vhenan
Kalais once told him his age didn't matter. Whatever time he thought he had left would be enough, they would take whatever time it was, because the time didn't matter, because it was Emmrich that mattered. Emmrich was who Kalais wanted.
And they had lied. They knew they could learn to accept it, but they were never going to have enough time. Even if Emmrich had been younger and closer to Kalais' age. It was never going to be enough.
It was days like today when they half-regretted sharing their fears with him. Even still, they would rather this than have been left behind and forgotten as he moved on.
Kalais sighed, sitting back and gazing over the stone. "I suppose if I don't start now, I might never." It always felt weird to them, speaking with the dead like this. Kalais followed Emmrich's lead when he spoke to his parents. To now speak to him though? Kalais blinked away the welling tears.
"Manfred is doing well. He's taken up teaching actually! It's an introductory class, but it seems to be going well so far. The students like it, and like him." Kalais can't keep the pride out of their voice. When Manfred first brought up the idea, they didn't know what to think. As it turns out, they didn't need to worry. The skeleton had spend so long watching Emmrich, it was like he already knew what he needed.
"Rupert continues his studies. He leaves for days at a time, down further into the Necropolis. I worry about him the most. I know he's not alone down there. They send a few other watchers with him, but still. Who knows what is down there?" It was a relief everytime Kalais' son returned. They don't know what exactly he was looking for down there, though they have a suspicion, but as long as he came back, as long as he was safe, that was all that mattered. "He looks more and more like you every day. He takes after you as well: smart, kind, and gentle. He is going to be a good man someday."
"And Lace," Kalais sighed, with a shake of their head and a fond smile. "She's hotheaded, but we're working on patience. I take her out to practice, but it takes time. She has grown so powerful and her command over her gift is impressive, so it's understandable when she cannot achieve something on the first try. I remind her it took her namesake weeks and months to learn the skills she had. It helps to put some of that into perspective."
Kalais paused for a long moment. "You would be so proud of them, of all our children. Of all our friends and family and the things they have accomplished since you…since you've been gone." The tears they held back finally spilled down their cheeks. "They miss you. We all miss you. I miss you. Our bed is too big without you. Sometimes I think I hear your humming in the mornings, like you are just in the next room, getting ready for the day. But you're not." They wiped at the tears, taking a deep breath to try and calm themself. "All that to say, I still love you, just I said I always would. And I know one day we'll be together again, in the Fade, in the Beyond. We'll see each other again." Kalais leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the stone right above Emmrich's name.
Then they stood, standing still looking down at the stone. "But now I have to go. I promise I'll come back to tell you more though, and I promise I won't make you wait so long this time." Kalais raises their hand to their lips, kissing their fingers before placing their hand on top of the stone, leaving one final kiss before they turned and left.
thinking about this prompt I remembered an old prompt I had requested from @wickedadaar involving her Rook Beck and my Kalais
Rather than give Kalais a new injury I was inspired to expand on the story and write their point of view
Everything Hurts
overlaps and immediately follows this injury prompt by wickedadaar
Kalais wakes in the healer's tent back at the camp after suffering a head injury (thankfully not too serious of one). Beck has been worried sick, pacing back and forth before she's allowed in to visit and stay by Kalais side as they begin their recovery.
story below the cut
Kalais' head hurt. Attempting to open their eyes made it worse, even in the tent. They groaned as they threw their arm over their eyes for relief. A gentle palm was placed on their head and the flow of healing magic took some of the pain away. Slowly, Kalais removed their arm and blinked open their eyes. Taking in their surroundings, Kalais saw they had been brought back to the veil jumper camp and currently laid in the healer's tent. "How-?"
The healer took his hand away. "You haven't been out for very long, only an hour and a half or so. You've suffered a head wound and were bleeding, so I do need to ask you a few questions. First, what is your name?"
"Kalais Aldwir."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty-two."
Do you know where you are currently and what were you doing before waking here?"
"This is the healing tent in the Veil Jumper camp. Before this I was out in the forest looking for an artifact. I had someone with me, we were ambushed."
The healer nods. "It's a good thing you're friend-" the healer smiled at them with a knowing glint in his eye "-brought you back quickly. I've staunched the bleeding and started the healing process. You'll need to rest here for a little while longer so I can keep an eye on you but you should make a full recovery and be back in the field within a few days."
Kalais nodded. A few days was much quicker than they expected. This healer must have really kick started the process. "The person who brought me back, my…friend, are they-?"
"She's alright, scrapes and bruises at the worst. She's right outside waiting. Would you like me to send her in?"
Relief flooded through Kalais, hearing that Beck was safe and, for the most part, uninjured. At least not badly hurt or wounded like themself. If she had been hurt, it would have been their fault by bringing her out into the forest. (Regardless of the fact she would have never allowed them to go on their own). "Please let her in. It will be easier for me to rest with her near me."
The healer smiled and nodded. "I daresay it will help her relax immensely as well. She's been pacing non-stop since she ran in with you." The healer exited from the tent
A moment later, the tent door was pushed back again and Beck appeared in the entry way. Kalais smiled a shaky smile and she quickly made her way to their side. "Vhenan, you scared the shit out of me," she said, kneeling beside their cot.
Kalais reached up, a shaky hand resting on her face, thumb gently caressing her cheek as they gaze up at her. "I'm alright, vhenan. Thank you for getting me back to safety. I love you."
Beck turned and pressed a kiss to their palm, holding their hand in one of her own after. "Of course I would make sure you're safe. It's the least I can do, especially since you were hurt. It's my duty to protect you, and I failed."
They frowned. "You didn't fail. We were caught by surprise." Kalais squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her. Beck shouldn't blame herself. Ambushed and the Venatori having the upper hand, it's a relief both of them made it back at all. "It could have ended much worse. This is a good outcome, all things considered."
Beck opened her mouth to reply, likely to refute their point, then closed it again. Instead she smiled, squeezing Kalais hand in return. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly? Like I've been charged by a druffalo." Kalais sighed and looked up toward the tent ceiling. The healer's magic had lessened the pain of the headache, but the rest of their body still felt very sore. "I'm going to need to rest for a few days before I do anything again." They closed their eyes again, the light still bothering them some the longer they kept them open. "Everything hurts."
Fingers brushed over their ear, which flicks slightly, as Beck tucked a strand of their hair back. "I know that feeling. But you don't have to worry, I'll take care of you so you can focus on feeling better." The light disappeared, and even with their eyes close, Kalais knew Beck must be leaning over them. Her lips pressed a gentle kiss to their head, felt through the bandages that wrapped around it. "Rest, vhenan. I'll be here the whole time."
For the Rook's Roost community, prompts found here
better late than never (as I'm always late with these)
What is your Rook's ideal campsite?
Kalais' ideal campsite is small, shaded by trees, but not so covered by boughs that they can't see the stars between the leaves. An owl roosts nearby, keeping watch over the group Kalais travels and camps with, their family. Their canvas tent is set up over a soft carpet of leaves and they tuck in to sleep in their vhenan's arms.
What is your Rook's favorite campfire activity?
Kalais loves listening to stories and watching everyone else. They don't share many of their own, unless they are cajoled by others to share about the most recent excursion. But they love to hear others share and joke with each other.
What is your Rook bringing to the campfire?
Most commonly food. Either snacks or the ingredients for smores. Or, they are pretty proficient making various soups and stews, so they'll offer to make dinners around the campfire as well.
Has your Rook been to Fereldan? What have they heard?
Kalais has never been to Fereldan, but they heard the rumors and stories about the 5th Blight. They remember their Keeper and First discussing plans for if the Blight could not be stopped before reaching further north. There was discussion of how to reach out to help the other dalish clans in the country or those that have fled out of Fereldan. The news of the Archdemon being killed and the Blight ended due to the actions of a dalish woman was inspiring to the children of Kalais' clan.
Beyond that, they only know the basics of Fereldan, taught to them by their Keeper, that it is a kingdom of humans, recently independent from Orlais and currently led by Queen Anora. They don't have very strong opinions on it, other than it being another human kingdom where elves are still not treated kindly, even despite the country being saved by a dalish hunter. They don't see themself visiting, except if they are camping with Harding.
Dalish elves living in caves, using their superior night vision to get around. Scaring the living daylights out of any bandits that try to move in. The caves are filled with glowing eyes, they’re haunted.
Dalish elves living in the deserts of Tevinter, Nevarra, Antiva, The Anderfels, moving only at night on their Aravels. The tracks get washed away in the night, and they leave almost no trace. Merchant caravans tell stories of strange clouds floating and silhouetted against the top of dunes under the full moon.
Dalish elves living among frozen peaks, clad in camouflaged furs and hunting with griffons and bows, not knowing their mounts are supposed to be extinct.
Dalish elves living in tropical forests, spending their whole lives among the trees, feet never touching the ground.
Dalish elves living in the wild corners of Thedas, The Tirashan Forest, The Gamordan Peaks, The Donarks, The Wandering Hills; only hearing about humans in their histories and stories.
Dalish elves living in the halls of their ancestors, reclaiming what once was theirs one broken stone at a time.
So here’s what happens when you try to pickpocket Duncan and fuck up:
Fair warning, you only get this dialogue if you do it in Ostagar at the beginning. But what happens is that a guard runs over to him and accuses you of stealing. Duncan plays it cool and sticks up for you, saying “Grey Wardens are honorable, blah blah blah, and I’d take the word of a Warden over some asshole that’s got a bone to pick with people because he has to be a responsible adult for once in his life.” And the guard is like “whatever fine.”
So then Duncan pulls you to the side and asks you if you can talk for a minute. He talks about how the Grey Wardens come from all walks of life and have adapted the skills they’ve picked up over time in order to benefit the mission, which is a good thing. However, since the Grey Wardens are on thin ice with Ferelden because of Sophia Dryden, he advises you to be a bit more cautious about how you go about honing your skills.
Which of course, brings up additional dialogue options and me, being the thirsty asshole that I am when it comes to character dialogue, decides to go the little shit route and I tell him that “I need the practice.”
He says: “That’s perfectly fine. Just don’t get caught.”
Which okay after hearing all of this it makes you probably think “Duncan is absolutely the coolest dude because here you are fucking up and you haven’t even been in Ostagar for an hour and he’s sticking up for you because he knows you really don’t want to be here but you’re in it regardless.”
But see, if you read The Calling, you’d know that in the first six months of Duncan being made a Grey Warden because of the whole “killing the Warden-Commander’s fiancé to be in a failed burglary attempt,” you’d know that his intense disinterest in being a Warden led him on a path to try and get himself kicked out or jailed.
The primary plan being to steal everywhere he went.
So I wonder what it must’ve been like for him in that moment, hearing or seeing you stealing in the camp as soon as you got to Ostagar, him knowing that you are not here because you want to be but because you have no choice, and him remembering how distraught he must’ve been to even consider testing these Wardens like that. So instead of blowing up at you and telling you that Wardens are above that, he meets you in the middle and sort of gives a little nod to the fact that he gets it because he’s been there too. Because of course he wouldn’t fault you for being upset about this. You and him have more in common than you think. Than you’ll ever get to know, thanks to what’s about to happen next.
For the Rook's Roost Community. Prompts found here
Kalais Aldwir as a child in clan Irnehn, trying their best to pay attention to their Keeper's lessons. Made using this picrew
What was your Rook like as a child? Do they have any fond memories?
Kalais overall was a pretty quiet child. What they can remember of their very early first three years they look back on very fondly. Their mother loved them very much, played with them and presented them with gifts when she could.
Switching clans after their mother's death and living with their father's clan, Kalais was nervous, but eventually started coming out of their shell over the next three years. They started playing more with the other children and was a very active and lively child. Though they often felt confused and uncertain about their place with their father, who never seemed to want to spend time with Kalais, hardly spoke to them except to scold. It felt very different from the care their mother gave them before.
Then, of course, things change drastically again when their magic manifested. Kalais spent the rest of their childhood very lonely, though not by their own choice, becoming quiet and reserved and focused on their studies, believing that doing well listening to the Keeper's lessons meant keeping their place in the clan, and hoping controling their magic and proving themself would earn the clan's forgiveness and trust again, as well as hoping their accomplishment would earn them their father's affection.
How does Rook view having children in the future? Do they have any now?
Thoughts in general: Kalais never really thought much about if they wanted children. For most of their time growing up, they didn't even think they would find love and get married. So they never had to think about if they wanted any in the future. They get along fine with the children of the Aldwir clan that run around camp, but those children have parents who are the ones mostly responsible for them, Kalais is not the one raising them.
When Kalais happens to think about it/or is forced to think about it (depending on canon, will speak more on that in a moment), they are anxious about the idea. They did not grow up with a parent or parent figure who cared about them. Their Keeper Nolaren would have been the closest to one, but even then, Nolaren seemeed to make it very clear that theirs was a teacher & student bond, she is there to teach Kalais dalish history and ways, and how to control and use their magic. So Kalais does not have a great example to pull from in terms of how to be a good parent and they would worry about messing things up.
Why/How did they end up needing to eventually think about this?
Game canon: Kalais ends up accidentally pregnant. After feeling sick a few days in a row, Emmrich insists that the visit a healer/doctor to determine what is wrong and how to treat it. When the healer tells them the news, Kalais doesn't know how to take it. They know Emmrich has spoken on wanting a family once, that when he was younger he dreamed of having a family and children. But all their worries and fears about not knowing how to raise a child, or if they even want to go through the experience as a nonbinary person. They do end up discussing the options with Emmrich who is nothing but supportive of whatever Kalais decides and emphasizes that he is happy with the family they have with Manfred and their friends from the Veilguard and that the decision belongs only to Kalais and that they should do what would make them happy/most comfortable. Spending a little more time thinking about it, Kalais decides to go through with the pregnancy and eventually gives birth to their son, Rupert Varric Volkarin.
Kalais and Emmrich go on to eventually adopt a dwarven baby girl who was found at/near Tearstone. They name her Lace Ellanora Volkarin.
My canon: The topic comes up in conversation with a friend's partner. Their friend had expressed a desire for children, but the couple are unable to have any biological ones of their own which does sadden them a little. Kalais, reflecting on their partner Beck (belonging to @wickedadaar) wanting a pet and subsequent adoption of a cat, realizes if Beck ever wanted any children, they wanted her to be able to have that opportunity and experience. They are still anxious about doing things wrong, but they want to share in that experience with Beck if that is something she desires. It is, however, not something they will bring up themself. At least not at the moment. Kalais has expressed to Beck that Kalais wants to give her whatever she wants and to share in those opportunities though.
(Maybe once the two are married for a time, Kalais might tentatively broach the subject if Beck hasn't said anything yet.)
(all that said, they are certainly willing to help babysit other's kids)
How do children view your Rook? Do they tell stories or are they still relatively unknown?
They get along fine with children. The Aldwir clan camp has plenty that run around and often speak with Kalais and any other visiting Veil Jumpers, asking for stories about what the organization has found, places they have been/discovered, artifacts they have found and what it does. The children generally look up to them as a role model already prior to the game events, and they would become even more so after, often looked at with awestruck wonder by the children who had heard what Kalais had done and accomplished and would ask for those stories.
Zea was created back in October and when the topic of her birthday came up I was like hmm, idk. Zea is my first OC that I put in actual work and kinda wanted it be special...to me. So I gave her my hubby's birthday (Which is today)
Mr. Red had helped in making her story as I bounced some ideas off him about Zea. So it felt fitting to share his birthday.
So yea. Happy born day to my first OC, Zea 'Rook' Thorne.
@lycheecatee made the flag and @mageswithcats made the happy birthday for me back in March.
Finally got to draw Kalais for the Rookdex (again), and also did a tiny bit of experimenting with adding more texture to clothes. Hope you like it!! <3
[If you haven’t already, you can request for your Rook to join the Rookdex here]
