I commissioned this piece shortly after completing my recent DA:I playthrough. The artist has requested to remain anonymous, but I can still say here how grateful I've been for their enthusiasm, communication, and attention to detail throughout the process. Thank you so much!
ETA June 2026: the artist has given me permission to add their name! This is by Hotwe, who is one of the most talented and thoughtful artists I have ever worked with. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I commissioned this piece from the unbelievably talented Hotwe, who is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, deliberate artists I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I cannot express how grateful I am for the kindness shown towards my imaginary dolls at every step of this process. Thank you! <3
This is a paired piece to this one, also by Hotwe, which I commissioned immediately after finishing Inquisition for the first time. Once I finished Veilguard and filled out how the story ends for these two, I knew I desperately wanted the other half of this diptych.
Close-ups and lengthy notes on the incorporated symbolism are below the cut.
Where the first piece was much more somber and determined, I really wanted this moment to feel triumphant (if not unreservedly happy). These are two people at the end of a long war with each other, and moving forward doesn't mean erasing the road before.
Some notes in no particular order:
Solas's hands are now open, releasing the hard and inflexible grip he had in the original piece
The constellation is Fervenial, the Oak, for its associated concept of Vir Tanadhal: "fly straight and don't waver, bend but never break, and the idea of balance. ...The imagery of the hunter (Adahla) metaphorically striking like a bolt on Solas' plans and forcing a reframing of the lightning/smite-y/fate concept of Fulmenos into a concept of balance and growth/organic/spring" - straight from the artist's massive brain
(I've written about why constellations & stars, especially Fulmenos, are important to them here)
Red embrium leaves for healing
Spring growth for seasonal change
Solas, being pushed forward by the strong wind behind him, is finally able to stop thanks to Adahla's pressure
Adahla's dress is inspired by this statue (San Joaquín, Santa Ana y la Virgen Niña by Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron), but has been reworked with Dragon Age motifs and emblems
The gold vines are from my post-Veilguard fic for them, The Heart Where I Have Roots
I plan to do one more post with both of these pieces together as soon as I can; their journey's been messy to the max, but it honestly brings me so much joy to know they've landed somewhere like this, and I'm again so thankful to Hotwe for bringing that ended war to life.
Out of all of the companion introductions, my favorite has got to be Solas.
I mean, come on.
This rando bald elf grabs your hand and helps you close a rift, has the audacity to give you all the credit for something that was indirectly his fault and then he looks cute as fuck while essentially being a lying liar who lies.
She may be called Sister as she was the first, but she is not the only sister among the ranks. If you have a trans or nonbinary clone trooper oc, I would love a chance to draw them this month. Drop them in my inbox <3
Help Assan fly through different worlds, avoiding enemies and collecting valuables to achieve the highest score. Play in Challenge Mode, where levels get faster and longer each time, or cruise along at a set speed in Zen Mode and relax.
Find the game here!
The game can be played in the browser, on mobile (be sure to enable mobile controls in the settings first), or it can be downloaded for PC.
Have fun, and please let me know what you thought!
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