#alma lore

[selennes]

I hoped to make a bigger post about this, but my attention was consumed by Abduction AU (as usual 😅), so just stating:

Today is one year since I came up with the concept of Alma as my Rook and have been writing about her / creating something new with her ever since 🥰

And I am far from done! :D

#alma [lara renata | aurora mercar] amell and #alma lore are her main tags :)

Alma chilling in Rivain:

Lucanis admiring her while she isn't looking:

[selennes]

Rook Appreciation Week

Day 3: Chains · Mages · Politics

Minrathous, 2040 TE (9:46 Dragon).

“What do you mean I cannot be your apprentice anymore?!”

“You’re a bit old for apprenticeship, are you not?” Dorian cocked his head to the side with feigned flippancy.

“Remind me how old you were when you studied under Alexius!” Alma snapped.

Dorian sighed, like she was being unreasonable. Like she was a fledgling fresh out of the nest, same as when they’d first met. But she wasn’t.

“You know perfectly well what I’m talking about. Now that your mother thinks you’re dead, I’d rather things stay that way.”

Alma’s words failed her. After all those years… Of course. Dorian was a magister now. Of course he’d cut off the sudden liability, no matter the bond they’d forged, if it threatened his position, his brilliant plans for the future. Of course he’d replace her the moment she’d become inconvenient, in power both magical and political… Why was she so surprised?

Dorian carried on without pause, oblivious to her eating herself alive:

“Had you succeeded in killing your mother, you would’ve been a magister yourself by now, and I– the Lucerni would’ve had another ally in the Magisterium–!"

“So it’s my fault?" Alma said softly.

She didn’t need his answer. Not really. His disappointment was clear enough. In response, Alma’s own temper flared. The room seemed to grow hotter, but the effect was deceiving: just anger, simmering under her skin. Now she lacked the power that could harm people around her if it got out of control.

Alma turned away and walked around the lavish study slowly, oblivious to the trove of knowledge and information that it was, putting her fingers in her hair. A pale white lock fell into her face, and she tucked it behind her ear irritably. With white hair she looked less like her mother now, but it hardly substituted as consolation.

“Why didn’t she finish the job?” she mused aloud. “Why did they have to save me? Why–”

“Because you are worth saving,” Dorian said.

His earnestness was something even Alma glimpsed rarely, but she couldn’t find it in herself to appreciate it right now.

“But not worthy enough for you to take me back in," she sneered.

“That is not–"

“Enough!" Aurelia cried out.

Her blue eyes, same as Alma’s, blazed with indignation. Both Alma and Dorian jumped slightly, having forgotten about the third mage present. Dorian coughed awkwardly into his sleeve and smoothed out his mustache, trying to appear nonchalant. He fooled no one: Alma due to their long acquaintance, and Aurelia due to her taking none of other people’s shit, magister or no magister. For her part, Alma ruffled her hair to try and hide her face behind the free falling locks, their colour no longer bothering her.

“You!” Aurelia turned to Dorian who had the funniest look on his face, almost pointing at himself: me? who is this rascal addressing me so rudely? But he should’ve known better by now. “Apologize and speak without going in circles. And you,” Aurelia turned to Alma, “hear him out. Please.”

Alma sighed, the fight seeping out of her. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand Dorian’s stance – it just hurt. The way they’d envisioned what steps they would undertake next, what scandalous escapades they’d be up to together… Those daydreams were nothing but ash now. Alma had clawed her way back out of the abyss, as well as reclaimed a fraction of her former power, of control over herself – only to find out she no longer had a place next to her loved ones.

She’d tasted what it felt like to be in the sun, and now shadows would claim her again, chain her again.

“Let’s just admit that if your mother did perish, we would all have had less trouble to contend with.”

This was the closest to an apology that Alma would ever get. Not to mention Dorian wasn’t wrong.

“She cannot know you live – no objections here, I hope?” Dorian continued, all pompous and business-like. “Alas, there goes our triumphant announcement in the Magisterium: the illustrious Magister Pavus and his humble apprentice of the Renatus bloodline… Imagine the look on the faces of those trying so very hard not to give away they’re Venatori!.. But, frankly, there is not much for you to miss.”

Alma couldn’t help a half-hearted chuckle.

“Says the illustrious Magister Pavus,” she parried with his own words, “illustrating perfectly how dull Magisterium sessions are by attending every single one of them.”

Dorian pretended to be mortally wounded, complete with putting a hand over his pierced heart and sagging dramatically into his armchair. Aurelia rolled her eyes with an exasperated smirk, already used to his theatrics.

“My point,” he spoke as he got himself comfortable in the plush seat, “is that there are ways we’ll all happily work together for a better future, even if unseen.”

“Meaning you don’t see them right now,” Aurelia muttered, crossing her arms over her chest and rocking from heel to toe.

Dorian sent her a withering look.

“I am coming up with ideas as we speak,” he stated haughtily. “I am not turning away an ally that has been nothing but helpful throughout our years together.”

Moments ago Alma could have sworn in her despair that the ground was about to open up and swallow her, and now, in response to her first mentor’s acknowledgement, her heart swelled, threatening to push past the boundaries of her chest.

“That's great!” Aurelia clapped her hands with deceptive enthusiasm. “Now, what would this steadfast ally receive for her deeds both past and future?”

Dorian tutted, shaking his finger at her, like a bemused elderly enchanter at an unruly student. Alma laughed – loudly, genuinely, for the first time in a long while. The way Aurelia tried to secure her sister’s position was endearing, and, judging by the way Dorian’s mustache moved, he shared the feeling.

Suddenly, Alma remembered: people cared. The road ahead promised to be rough, but she wasn't alone walking it.

Thank you @rookappreciationweek for hosting!

Divider by @quantumstar-rpmemes

Visibility tags: @elishnord, @awardenandacrow, @chaosherald, @frotees-corner, @serensama, @im-on-fire-today, @rookamell

[selennes]

I'm sure someone has already come up with this idea, but it hit me just now and I've never seen anything like it, so I'm patting myself on the back for cleverness 😁

So.

Lucanis is a Crow (a bird). One of the meanings of the word "Rook" is also a bird. What can we call Rookanis with that in mind?

✨Lovebirds✨

I bet Dorian invented that. He's enjoying himself too much, while Alma is caught between tearing her hair out for not coming up with the pun herself, being embarrassed by the nickname and touched by his acceptance (kind of). Viago, when he hears this, is loathe to show any reaction. It's Teia who brought this recent development to his attention; most things he learns about Rookanis come from her and against his will 😂

Alternatively, it could be Zevran... Hopefully the hunt for the Black Shadow doesn't begin anew 😂

[selennes]

Eluviana Profile: Alma Amell

@rookfest-eluviana, thank you for hosting this event! I'm joining the fray, if it's not too late :)

Name: Alma Amell (born as Lara Renata, going officially in Tevinter as Aurora Mercar)

Age: 27 (28 in Umbralis of 9:52 Dragon).

Gender: female.

Pronouns: she/her.

Love Language: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service.

Sexual Orientation: heterosexual.

Class/Specialization: mage, evoker.

Looking For: [x] friendship [x] platonic [_] romantic [_] rival

Hobbies: reading (both for leisure and research/educational purposes); writing (both research, if only notes for personal/team use, and stories for fun); sketching; creating handmade amulets and charms or enchanting items; going for walks.

Fav Food: the Ventusi khachapuri; sweets and pastries; anything Lucanis cooks, really.

Fav Drinks: tea, cocoa with marshmallows, cioccolata calda.

My best traits: good at keeping secrets, inquisitive, patient, observant, a good listener, a quick learner.

My worst traits: keeping to herself, putting the needs of others above hers, "no rest for the wicked" mentality, reciprocity mentality, linking her worthiness to her usefulness.

A friend describes me in 3 words: kind, capable, responsible.

An enemy describes me in 3 words: standoffish, mulish, clever.

I'm passionate about: history, culture, art, linguistics, thaumaturgy, dracolisks, bettering Tevinter.

Fun Fact(s):

passed her Harrowing at 16 (which isn't common even in Tevinter) at her mother's behest;

had a crush on Felix Alexius;

on a dare, tamed a dracolisk that had recently arrived at Skyhold;

the 'Rook' nickname was first coined in irony by Hawke due to Alma being shit at cards.

Somehow, most fun facts relate to Alma's time with the Inquisition 🥲

Motto/Mantra: "If not me, who else?"

---------

The Creator

Tumblr: @selennes

How to get in touch:

[x] dm/message me for coordinated collab [x] surprise me via post [x] surprise me via askbox

What I do: [x] writing [_] artwork [x] other: I draw a little :)

Do Not Wants: I think I'll figure it out as I go :)

[selennes]

Just had a little thought about the cultural consequences of the Chantry schism.

We know from canon that there are parts of the Chant of Light that are sung in Tevinter but not in the South and vice versa (or if it's not mentioned anywhere, IDK, it seems like a fair conclusion 🤷‍♀️), or that in the South only women can attain high rank in the Chantry hierarchy, but in Tevinter it's both men and women who are capable of it, the only inviolable rule being that the Black Divine is always a man as opposed to the woman sitting on the Sunburst Throne. But I doubt that's where the distinction ends.

Tevinter Imperium is generally considered to be based on the Roman Empire, but I've also seen people compare it to the Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, in particular, its religion being Eastern Orthodox Christianity. So some rituals, practices and customs should differ, too, between Tevinter and the rest of Andrastian nations.

TL;DR.

When Lucanis proposes to Alma, she gives him her right hand, not her left, to put the opal ring on her ring finger. It takes them a moment to get over the misunderstanding and the cultural dissonance x)

[selennes]

Under the Sea OC

Another catch-up! Was tagged for this by @serensama and @chaosherald, and what do you know, it's Mermay!.. Likely my only contribution to it 😅

Little Merfolk game

I love the sort-of-accidental horror moment that she's holding a skull which you don't immediately see in the ominous vapour... But then you notice small creatures flocking to her and not minding being in her presence, sooo... she's not evil? probably?.. XD

This gives me the impression of a hapless adventurer - because of course I'll make this about Rookanis - who somehow got trapped underwater (under a spell that makes it possible for him to breathe there? or one that has turned him into a merman or something like that?). Guided by a vague rumour, he comes to this ~mysterious~ sea witch to ask for her help to be turned back to normal. With no beforehand knowledge of whether she'd agree, what price she'll demand or what it will take to pay it (*whispers* whatever it takes)...

Meanwhile Alma is intrigued by this weird supplicant and may actually leave her cave to join him on his journey... to keep an eye on whether he'll uphold his end of the deal (contract?) 👀

Other merfolk steer clear of her because of her looks, probably even consider her cursed (I didn't manage to give her anything resembling scars, so the pinkish skin (?) on her arms is a substitute for them; not to mention she wasn't always this bleached). But Lucanis, who has probably seen little of merpeople, if at all, before he got into this... predicament, has no idea there is something wrong with her, and this open-mindedness is what first draws her to him in this AU.

Not sure yet what Spite might be here... 🤔

NB: Alma does not have elf ears. It's "mermaid" ears (fins?) that look like pointy ears due to the hair hiding most of them. Slightly better seen below!

Talking about mermaids and the like makes me reminisce about one of my favourite games, Aquaria 🫠 Its OST is something else.

I tried to picture Alma as the same species as the protagonist, Naija (an aquatic humanoid), but I'm not sure Alma is recognizable 😅

Alma on a not quite gondola ride, but it's definitely a date... 💕 Rather risky in such a dress - if the boat capsizes, there'll be void to pay 😂

Ah, Barindur Priestess AU. I should really think of you more.

Not sure such a scene will actually happen, but... Alma is outside of the temple/shrine busy with chores, but her line of sight and that smile indicate there's a certain someone standing where we cannot see him, and I bet it wasn't the wind that put that beautiful flower in her hair...

I guess he's teasing her, so a demonstrative whirl of water magic is necessary to remind him that she's not defenseless if he goes too far... 😆

And last but not least... "A Rook by any other name" - a Lord of Fortune :')

In every iteration of Alma's story that I currently have there's some traumatic event that causes her hair to change from black to white. As a Lord of Fortune she dyes her hair a lively colour reminiscent of the dawn coming (yes, the song is always significant, even in AUs where Alma never hears it - as it is sung in Inquisition, at least).

For some Rooks being a Lord of Fortune is the best that could happen to them, or a happier AU compared to their "canon" backstory.

For Alma, though? There are two possibilities that I am considering for her in this AU:

1) that she's possessed by a spirit of Hope that may or may not be the same that used to be her father's spirit companion or is somehow connected to it, which is not necessarily a good thing, since Thaddeus had died during the Annulment of the Dairsmuid Circle or the bloodshed following it. Alma has likely been trained by Seers to coexist with the spirit peacefully but cannot become a Seer herself.

2) a darker one. The only thing I know about Rook Laidir's backstory is that they used to be a Tevinter galley slave. That's unlikely to happen to Alma exactly as is, but she did have a run-in with Tevinter slavers after the Annulment. Maybe someone even recognized her and wanted to take her to Zara for a reward... Either way, however that goes, Alma gives up. She does manage to get away - maybe alone, maybe with other slaves, - but she's dead inside (she lost basically everyone she knew and cared for during the Annulment, not to mention the suffering during captivity and whatever "reuniting" with her mother entailed) and relinquishes her body to the aforementioned spirit. Her psyche is still there, deep inside, and whether she reawakens is up to debate. I suppose during the events of Veilguard Spite finds her and jostles into coming to her senses?..

Yes, the spirit's name is Dawn.

Gently tagging (mainly for visibility purpose) @elishnord, @awardenandacrow, @frotees-corner, @im-on-fire-today, @rookamell :)

[selennes]

Okay, so Lucanis discovers Alma is ticklish.

Alma starts wriggling at a kiss on the neck, laughs to the point of tears after Lucanis refuses to redirect his attention to less sensitive areas (but that's the point!) despite Alma trying to get away, and squeals: "Stop, you're killing me! 😂"

Cue Spite slamming the breaks on the shared body: We are not! Killing Rook!

Lucanis is both laughing, too, and exasperated: "Spite, it's harmless!"

Alma who hasn't managed to calm down and breathe normally again: "It isn't! Is this a new assassination technique? Am I going to be the first target in Crow history who died from tickling?!"

They make a callback to this conversation every time Lucanis tries to raise her resistance to tickles, along with puns about "la petite mort" (even before actually having sex) which rhymes with Lucanis' last name 👀 🤣

It's all fun and games until the Prison of Regrets 🫠🫠🫠

[selennes]

What does your OC’s love taste like?

Was tagged by @serensama 🥰 Thank you, this was fun!

The quiz is here.

There are some questions where I was compelled to try out different answers, so I decided to get different results for "canon" Alma and her in a modern AU.

It wasn't quite what I expected, so the result true to her is as follows:

cinnamon

every time your lover’s lips meet yours, the warm taste of cinnamon lingers on their mouth. your love is engulfing, comforting, it’s like being wrapped in a thick blanket on a cold morning. it’s that comfort tv show people never get tired of rewatching. it’s that cozy feeling of cuddling in october, with a steaming mug in your hand and the weight of your lover’s head on your shoulder. you’re a passionate, caring lover. you love with an open heart and you are not scared of doing it. why should love scare you? it’s the best feeling in the world. you crave being loved, you love love. you actually feel like you have too much love to give. did you wait a lot? was it hard to find the right person you could pour your heart out to? did you find that fairytale love you were fantasizing about? i hope you did, child of mine, because your heart is pure and your love is as soft as cinnamon rolls. it’s made of soft touches, like caressing their arms when you’re passing by and brushing their hair aside. or even gently scratching their back to help them fall asleep. it's made of whispers and declarations of love. don’t get me wrong, there’s still a burning flame in you. you are passionate, you are lustful. probably you do not like fighting, though. you are not confrontational, are you? it’s too good to be true, what if everything collapses? and stop questioning yourself. they truly do love you back.

...What do you mean this also matches the cut content dialogue about coffee and cinnamon and the short blurb I wrote based on it? 😳

Sprinkled with this result (mostly for a modern AU):

fizzy candies

being loved by you is like tasting those delicious, sweet, effervescent candies that start fizzing and dancing on your tongue at the first bite. yours is a playful, unpredictable love. you didn't wait to say "i love you" the first time, you knew that there was not going to be a better moment than that one, you just had to say it. you're bold, and so is your way of loving. your love language is probably gift giving, oh you love that rush of excitement when surprising your partner. you love making them laugh, you hate when you're not holding hands on a walk, and probably you're also a little clingy. your partner is your best friend, the person you have the most fun with. you share your joys and sorrows with them. you reach out for comfort and help when you need it, and you get hurt when they don’t do the same. the people you love should know that even if you fizz, pop and bubble, you need reassurance. you carry with you an entire universe and loving every aspect of it might be intimidating, that’s why you get easily scared they could get tired of you.

Tagging @elishnord, @awardenandacrow, @chaosherald, @im-on-fire-today and @frotees-corner!

Also cannot not add this gem from the second lyrics choice??? Not that I picked it for real, but it's so scrunchy 🫦 It's possible I'll cook something with Lucalma in mind based on it 👀