#antaam

[merrinla]

Fledglings training. Cut content.

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!).

[doctormur]

Assassin Extraordinaire ver.2.0

Well, that’s what I’ve been doing last few days (and nights^^)

I’ve redrawn my own fancomic about young Lucanis and Illario working together! You all were so kind to it and to me when I’ve post it for the first time - and I still thank you with all my heart)) But those days I was in a stress and in a rush, I ruined all the sketches myself and was upset with it… But I still like that story. I still feel like I should talked more about relationships between Lucanis and Illario back then) I wanted to remake it for the whole year) I was doubt about it, of course, lazy sometimes, wanted to draw main story further, and yet thoughts didn’t leave me. So - I did it at last!)) now it looks like I wanted it to look from the beginning^^

If you like first version more - thank you again 💜 So :3

Eight years before the times of Veilguard Antivan Crows perform a secret operation against the Antaam invaders. Dellamorte brothers are both in. But…

Comic title is the same as Crow Rook’s background - and it’s not a coincidence)) It’s my headcanon now despite Rook’s origin, but I have

Bonus for Crow Rooks:

[dragonagegallery]

Reva's Backstory

The right hand of Solas

[julesrago]

@worldofthedas-vol3 art pt. 3!

This one ended up being my secret favorite of the pieces I made.

My pitch for this was to show the mixing of cultures thru time in Rivain with an old, overgrown statue sitting in the shadow of a banner from Antaam invaders. Love the colors and style I ended up using for this one and how it fit into the page. And man, I just love drawing foliage, yk.

[notyourmamasdeerbat]

wip whenever

I'm testing out combat writing again because it's fun

~1k words, cw: blood, gore

Rook flailed, rolling to one side in the dirt and sand as the cudgel came down where their head had just been with an unforgiving crack. They snapped their hip to kick their heel across the qunari's jaw, hearing his helmet ring as his head jerked with the motion. He roared something in qunlat, straightening and spitting blood as the rogue rolled to their feet and the Antaam soldier reared back for a second swing. Rook twisted underneath it, hitting one knee and jamming the sabre in their dominant hand straight into his exposed gut.

He recovered with only a hiss as Rook tore the weapon out of him, grinding iron on bone and sinew in a spray of red as he tried to grab a fistful of their hair. Rook spun on their kneecap to get out of reach, and the qunari's fingers missed their skull but not before tangling in the hood of their collar and jerking them back off their feet, flat on their back and crushing the air from their lungs. Rook twisted with the motion with a gasp, heart in their throat as they used the momentum to lash backwards with their off hand. When they missed his leg, and as the Antaam brought his spiked cudgel up for a killing blow, time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Heartbeat in their ears, Rook dropped their swordbreaker and snatched a knife from the bandolier on their flashing chestplate. The broad, blunt head of the weapon blocked out the sun. The roar of the not so distant surf crashed against the rocks. Salt spray stung their cheek, sweat soaked bangs in their vision. The patinated metal spikes in the Antaam's bone crushing club were crusted with red. Dimly, Rook wondered how many Lords of Fortune had fallen to that thing. How many Crows in the past day. Hopefully not too many.

Hopefully none.

The leather wrapped hilt of the dagger in their fist began to glow red hot, scrawled from stilletto tip to pommel with spidery runes.

They watched the Antaam's dark eyes light with recognition, and boy, that half second of 'what if' and then abject horror never got old. Rook bared their teeth in a clumsy grin. Sure, this was gonna hurt.

But it was going to hurt this shithead a whole lot more.

The Veil Jumper prepared to surge forward and shove the exploding dagger into the wound their sabre had created, risking that terrible club breaking their legs at the hip as they clung to the qunari's belly and waited to eat their own blast.

Sure. Maybe they weren't fast enough to get out of the way. Fine. But they'd be damned if this man walked away to tell his god-cronies all about it. How he'd clipped the Rook's wings.

Besides. They had an Emmrich. And if this panic plan worked, all this man would have is a big hole where all his best organs should be.

Luckily they didn't need to take the chance, and their nose stayed firmly in place from where they'd been about to cut it off despite. A flash of turquoise scales and glinting gold barreled into the Antaam's side, bellowing with a surge of heat.

Shoulder checked by the only slightly smaller shape, the soldier stumbled a step back with a grunt. Given space, Rook somersaulted backwards to flip to their feet, letting the explosive dagger fly. It clanged uselessly off the qunari's chestplate and exploded like a firecracker in the sand, kicking up dust and singing sparks and chunks of metal slag.

Taash lifted a broad forearm to shield their eyes with a growl of frustration, axes gleaming in the noonday sun.

"Sorry!" Rook burbled, ducking a flaming blast of gaatlok reagent with a cough and dropping to the dirt again. "Aah!"

"My bad!" Davrin shouted, bracing himself under his shield as another qunari soldier just slammed his dragon carved hand cannon over it.

Rook skittered up again, snatching their blades to sheathe them and slinging their bow off their back in one smooth movement, notching an arrow and not stopping to breathe before letting the fletching fly. That struck true, shrieking into the slat of the Antaam's helmet with a hissing thirk.

He howled, sprawling prone into the sand. Davrin stood and twisted his blade over his knuckles before burying it in the soldier's neck. The Warden twisted free just as Rook notched another arrow, leveling their bow at their original opponent on the exhale. Taash only inhaled sharply and let a blast of roiling flame boil off their tongue.

The Antaam shouted, jerking back and lifted his hand to shield his face. The weeping wound in his midriff bled sluggishly as he dropped to one knee, skin blistering.

Taash raised an axe to put him down before hissing, white braid whipping as they ducked another shot of flaming shrapnel from somewhere above them on the cliffside. "Vashedan!"

I got it, Rook thought feverishly, jerking to adjust their aim up over the dragonhunter's shoulder. A dark shape, cranking back the green and red firespitters the Antaam used to make their lives harder.

Rook loosed the arrow with a snap. The shape dropped, flailing down the rocks and splashing into the surf below in a puff of black smoke.

There was a beat where the sound of the ocean was the only noise outside the three companion's heavy breathing. Davrin flicked viscera off his blade. "Nice shot, Rook."

"Thanks," they panted, looking down at the dead qunari with a frown.

"What were you going to do?" Taash asked.

"Huh?"

"That was gonna blow chunks, why didn't you move? With the knife."

"Oh. Uh. Was gonna stick it in the nice little envelope I made."

Taash blinked, before their lips ticked up in a little smirk. "Huh. Nice."

Davrin groaned.

"I was going to be careful," Rook insisted.

"Careful. With the incendiary sundering daggers. Inches from the face." Davrin shook his head and sheathed his sword, starting to walk down the beach. "I'm telling Emmrich."

Rook winced. "Uh— we don't have to make him—"

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled to bits, knowing just how careful you were about to be."

Taash rumbled a laugh and clapped Rook on the shoulder. "Good idea! I'll tell Lucanis."

Rook blanched.

***** Rook being reckless and spiteful in combat is something I should explore more. Rook's one of those "IF IM DYING, YOU'RE COMIN WITH ME" type rogues. besides. I loooove my exploding daggers trick ok one of my fav animations in game.

@davrinsleftpectoral @blackwall-my-tiny-husband @hedwigoprah @sunny374940 @nevarrantorte @caughtnyact @seaglassmelody @strugglinggranola @jenn2d2 @woundedsoul12  @fadetouchedlurker @cimmanombagel @sorrygoldfish

[proffbon]

My guy... 😭

[frostllamzon]

I got really inspired by the DA:VG concept art. Decided to make one for my Qunari.

I decided to update his armor, neckwear and horns.

Featured here:

Comic 1 Comic 2 Comic 3

Concept Art (by me) and some in-game screens

In-game look and Tarot Illustration

[dalishious]

Do you know if we have an actual timeline on when the Antaam broke away from the Qun? I'm really confused about it, because I thought it was really recent, since Lucanis mentions that Treviso being under occupation happened after he was put in the Ossuary, but then there's also a codex entry on the Antaam "by Taash, age 14" that mentions them already having broken from the Qun.

The codex entry "Dragon's Breath and the Antaam Schism" says that the Antaam broke away from the Qun after the events of Trespasser, in 9:44. This ads up with events from the comics as well, so I'm inclined to believe this is the correct information.

This would mean that, based on the codex entry "Antaam vs. Qunari (with notes from Shathann), by Taash, age 14", Taash was 14 years old in 9:44. Making them 22 years old in the events of The Veilguard. That does make sense to me; I read them as being in their early 20's.