#da createathon 2025

[artofcorinne]

Andarateia Cantori - The Diamond of Treviso

Is she flirting with a mark or Viago de Riva?

Created for @dacreateathon for Team Antiva!

[dacreateathon]

Dragon Age Create-a-Thon 2025 Announcement

What is the DA Create-a-Thon?

The Create-a-Thon is an event where DA fandom creators and DA fandom appreciators will be put into teams to try and win the most points for their team! Winning points has two phases:

Fanwork creation period. Creators make their art, fics, renders, music, or whatever else they like and post to the Collection on Ao3. Physical works such as recipes/food, crochet, knitting, and embroidery will be accepted (pending mod approval). Works will remain hidden until the end of the creation period and teams can win points for each work, with extra points for things like longest fic or most characters in an art piece.

Fanwork appreciation period: Interim points will be tallied and then teams can earn extra points for commenting on fics in the collection (limit 1 point per user per fic), writing and posting recommendation lists (1 point per user), or creating works inspired by others in the collection.

The winning team will be announced with all members and will get a custom banner for their team (and bragging rights).

What kind of works can be posted?

Any DA fanworks that were created during the creation period and can be posted to Ao3. Crossovers or AUs will be accepted as long as there is at least 1 DA character. Please try to tag works as accurately as possible, so that others can seek out fics they’re interested in during the appreciation period or avoid those that they may not wish to engage with for whatever reason.

Who can participate?

Anyone in the DA fandom who is 18+ and has Ao3 and discord accounts, creators or otherwise! Commenting on fics also earns points for teams, so producing something isn’t necessary to participate! We’ll try and keep the teams even between creators and appreciators.

Unfortunately, this event will be 18+ only.

When will the event be?

Sign-ups open: August 1-24, 2025

Team creation: August 25-31, 2025

Creation period: September 1 - October 18, 2025

Appreciation period: October 19-31, 2025

Results tallied: November 1-4, 2025

Sign ups are available here until August 24!

[cicide76536]

My piece for Dragon Age Create-A-Thon 2025! Me and @only-slightly-terrified had an amazing idea for a Zevistair fic, and it turned into a beautiful journey, To Pin A Crow ! This scene is from Chapter 2! Read it on AO3! Check it out!

My art is also in AO3!

REQUIRED CLOSEUPS because I love their faces, I love their asses, And I love Rylan laughing. Thank you @winebearcat for letting me have Rylan Amell here as well <33

[chaosherald]

Tell Me Tuesday <3

Started by @adejareve Continuing the slow posting of my create-a-thon pieces. (Thank you @dacreateathon ) I'm in the midst of writing a lot of angst right now, so figured it was time to bring out the ridiculous 😂

“Dear Johanna. Fashionably late, as always.”

Johanna glared. Rook looked between her and the dapper man with the lantern posturing before them. “You’ve met?”

“Sadly,” Johanna said drolly. “Emmrich Volkarin was a Watcher, before the order hurt his feelings.”

“Hurt my - “ The man looked aghast. “My dear friend - after what they did to Manfred, made me do to Manfred.” He scoffed, drawing power from the bound spirit into the glowing lantern suspended beside him. “They deserve what is coming.”

Rook took a step forward only to be stopped by Johanna. “That thing is unstable.” She smirked. “So is the lantern.”

(Available without commentary on Ao3 💀 or with commentary below 💕)

So this was the second of my 10 interconnected 100 word drabbles. (The other was 'My Fair Necromancer.') I love drabbles and this was such a fun way to use them. This was also the last piece I wrote for the main creation period of the create-a-thon. I was so charmed by this idea - swapping Johanna and Emmrich in the narrative - that I kept this as my carrot on a stick. I told myself I could work on it once I finished 'Stories We Tell.' 😂

Bellara was on edge, eyes darting around the dimly lit crypt. “Hopefully we’re not disturbing - oh!”

Turning the corner, she and Rook spotted a figure in utilitarian robes, covered in a work apron. Green spectacles lit with veilfire over her eyes as she animated a skeleton.

“Visitors,” The woman said, clipped and curt. “You must be the artificer who has been writing to me.”

Bellara grinned, offering her hand. “It’s so good to meet you, Professor Hezenkoss - “

“Indeed. You need my expertise and I need a challenge.” The woman brushed past them. “Come. I’ve business to attend to here first.”

We start with the recruitment mission. It was important to me that Johanna still be herself - abrasive and confident and acting like she was the smartest person in the room. I went and watched the scene with Emmrich first and then modified it. (That was my approach for all the scenes 😂) Where Emmrich is elegant and well put together and delightfully polite, Johanna is practical and brusque and immediately establishes why she is doing this - she needs a challenge, and the group needs her expertise.

Rook walked into the room and into a debate.

“It’s barbaric,” Johanna was saying. “A waste of resources.”

“Everyone outside Nevarra burns their dead,” Harding pointed out.

Johanna waved dismissively. “And they’re all wrong. Look at Tiny here - “ she gestured to a massive construct of bone and armor, crouched in the corner. Rook was pretty sure the lighthouse had made the space bigger to accommodate. “Where would we be without all his bones? When he is stepping on Antaam for us, you’ll be glad we don’t burn our dead in Nevarra.”

The construct hissed happily. It sounded like a foghorn.

Johanna needed her Manfred. I decided to keep the idea of her bone armor construct that we see in game and make it her companion. I imagine in the actual game she would use Tiny to fight for her by proxy. 😂

Johanna tisked softly. “That one’s thoracic vertebrae are out of alignment. Sloppy.”

“Right,” Rook said, following as the Professor stalked ahead, past the posed skeletons. “So, what exactly are we here for?”

“Rites for the dead. The things one does for funding.” Johanna led them over to a mausoleum, gesturing to a ritual stone pillar topped with candles. “Go on. This is apprentice work.”

Rook laughed. “So, that’s why you brought me.”

She smirked. “Light candles. Ring the bell. Have a chat with some of the old spirits. Do it right and we’ll break out a bottle of wine after.”

Rituals in the garden. When you do this with Emmrich you can tell how devoted he is to his work - he believes in what he is doing. Johanna is much more mercenary - she believes in her actual work, but this? Sentimental necessities to keep her funding 😂 We also get the first hints of Johanna's version of flirting. She's taking charge and giving orders and if everything goes well, they can have drinks after.

“All my attempts to converse with you are met with scorn,” Johanna told Taash, nodding with approval. “It is delightfully refreshing.”

“I - wait, what?” Taash looked between Johanna and Rook, confused.

Rook was also confused. “Wait - I thought you two weren’t getting along?”

“We’re not,” Johanna said brusquely. “The Qunari is squeamish about corpses and I am bored to tears by dragons. But I appreciate it when people don’t waste my time with false niceties.”

“Um, you’re welcome? Though my name is Taash, not ‘Qunari.”

“And my name isn’t ‘Skullfucker,’” Johanna said curtly. “Though it has a ring to it.”

This part might be my favorite. The original scene is great, but Johanna derails it immediately. She isn't here to make friends or make people comfortable. She hasn't been annoyed by Taash picking fights and she isn't interested in addressing the core issue. Also we're not dancing around the insults here 😂 Johanna wears it with - if not pride, contrary amusement.

“Dear Johanna. Fashionably late, as always.”

Johanna glared. Rook looked between her and the dapper man with the lantern posturing before them. “You’ve met?”

“Sadly,” Johanna said drolly. “Emmrich Volkarin was a Watcher, before the order hurt his feelings.”

“Hurt my - “ The man looked aghast. “My dear friend - after what they did to Manfred, made me do to Manfred.” He scoffed, drawing power from the bound spirit into the glowing lantern suspended beside him. “They deserve what is coming.”

Rook took a step forward only to be stopped by Johanna. “That thing is unstable.” She smirked. “So is the lantern.”

Villain Emmrich 💕 Like keeping Johanna caustic and abrupt and full of herself, it was important to me to keep Emmrich entirely recognizable. He is polite and devoted and genuinely considers Johanna a friend - he is just also on the outs with the watch and causing trouble. (I decided Manfred and his fear of death had to be the breaking points - details are a little undeveloped because 100 word drabbles only give one so much space!

“The Fade here is fascinating. Being able to study it has been worth the hassle of this venture.”

“That’s old elven stuff for you. Magic everywhere.”

Johanna snorted. “You’ve no idea.” She held out a skull. “Here. Close your eyes. Breath. Slow. Deep.” Green lights fluttered about them, manifestations of the Fade.

Rook looked around in awe. “Amazing. All of this and, well - “ Rook blushed.

“And me. It’s quite alright. I accept your charming flattery.” Johanna gave Rook a once over. “Not sure if you’d be able to keep up with me, but I might be game to find out.”

I specifically asked my team what they considered the key Emmrich scenes so I could pick which moments to play with. His expressing interest scene was mentioned several times. (And with good reason! It's a beautiful scene.) I also knew I was going to play with a romance route for this - after all, all the companions were romanceable. Why would Johanna be any different? 😂 She is still Johanna though. We do not get poetry and a subtle inquiry about the nature of Rook's flirtations - we get the assumption that of course Rook is interested and - if they're lucky - Johanna might be willing to entertain the notion.

“Fine. I will admit some culpability. I mocked your fear of death and pointed you towards lichdom. But it was your experiments with the skeleton - “

Emmrich cut in. “Manfred.”

“ - that did you in. Using skeletal hosts to draw spirits to preserve your life.” She scoffed. “A real necromancer does not fear death.”

“I am not afraid, Johanna. And soon all of Nevarra will understand.” He raised his arms. An army of skeletons in Watcher uniforms arose, powered by the lantern.

“I shall show them all the path to immortality, if they like it or not!”

“Always the idealist,” Johanna said.

Oh Emmrich. 😭

“Did we have to risk visiting the Necropolis?”

“Yes.” Johanna wrapped up whatever magic she had been working. “I needed to make sure Solas cannot interfere with us again and that is best done here. You are free of his curse.”

“Good. I thought I’d be stuck in the Fade forever. If you and the others hadn’t found me - “

Johanna wagged a finger at Rook. “Never doubt my prowess or compulsion to protect what is mine. Besides, you had something to come back to.”

Room smiled. “I did.”

Johanna nodded. “Good. Now strip and let's make sure everything still works.”

Oh, Johanna 😳

“Professor Johanna Hezenkoss, of the Mourn Watch. The Spirits speak of you.”

“With fear and trepidation, no doubt. You should learn from them, Dread Wolf.”

Solas made a face. A ripple of displeasure on his controlled countenance. “They respect you. Your knowledge and drive. Under other circumstances, I should have liked to discuss such matters as colleagues.

Johanna kept walking, snorting with disgust. Tiny lumbered beside her. “Yes. I'd love to metaphorically pin you to a board like a butterfly and study you, too. Maybe then we'd understand how you managed to survive the bullshit you’ve brought into this world.”

This is also one of my favorite moments. Johanna meeting the Dread Wolf. These party banter exchanges with Solas are so good in game (Harding's is my favorite. She eviscerates him and it is so so good) Thinking of these two though - Solas respects knowledge seekers but Johanna would have no patience for Solas and his pretensions. She would be fascinated by his power and origin and she wouldn't mince words with him - pin him to a board like a butterfly is one of my favorite images here.

“Are we headed home, Johanna?” Asked Emmrich’s skull, sitting on his small table.

“Yes,” she told him, directing Tiny as he cleared shelves. “The false gods have been dealt with. The veil is intact. And I’ve papers to write based on everything I’ve learned.”

“A pity. I had so come to enjoy the conversations with our friends - “

“Our friends? They are barely my friends, Volkarin. Don’t be presumptuous. Besides, I doubt they’ll leave us alone.”

The skull looked chipper. Johanna didn’t know how the hell he managed that. “Oh, that is wonderful, my friend. Absolutely marvelous.”

Johanna rolled her eyes.

I feel like this scene does the best at showcasing Emmrich is still Emmrich and Johanna is still Johanna. Can you imagine stopping by Johanna's room and skull!Emmrich is there? He would be so delighted to have company! Conversation! Friends! Johanna would still barely tolerate the group. But you also know by this point the group would have adopted their prickly necromancer - she is never getting rid of them. 💕

No pressure tags if anyone else wants to do a behind the scenes of their work 💕: @seaglassmelody @davrinsleftpectoral @blackwall-my-tiny-husband @jukkaricity @sandcastlekings @serialsforbellara @sorcerousadventurer @kogarashi-art @genjyoandgojyoandhakkai @serstolas @selennes @mythals-whore @booksncatsworld @maagisterpavus @hedwigoprah @woundedsoul12 @lycheecatee @handsignals

[woundedsoul12]

Dragon Age Create-a-thon 2025 Rec List

I am 70% ish through reading everything. I'm sorry guys the potato is burnt out now and needs to rest. I promise one day I will get to all the things. But I have 7 more events in the next month and a half so off to further silliness.

Firstly want to say ALL OF YOU are incredible. Making a rec list was so hard because so much was AMAZING.

I have also been beyond Honored to be on so many lists. I don't consider myself a good writer so this was humbling. But anyway my list!

Waiting by @raflesia65

A gift to me of art. Alistair and Karlach that filled my crossfade crossover prompt and made me so happy

Nevarran Pennysaver by @lavellanvibes

Art, Emmrich, Rook! Based on old Pennysavers. It's so good

Bury Me on the Hill and Aftermath of Adamant by @blossom-adventures

I couldn't decide both were amazing. Both are angsty (trigger warning for Aftermath for implied referenced abuse and blossom write's so well you can feel it). Bury Me on the Hill broke my heart with Loghain and Anora

Ink, Fire, and Flour: A Grey Warden Cookbook by @tarasmom @bygonesigh @teine-mallaichte @floralprintsharks @iicaru2 and me

Ok yes I technically worked on this but ignore me. Everyone else was amazing and C and Tara did so much putting this awesome collection together

Watching the Wolf by @teine-mallaichte

Teine idk how I didn't put everything you did on here. You were so creative and amazing for this event. Like I thought I did a lot but you my friend...

This was however my favorite. I am still chewing on Orana and Fenris and their trauma

The Chant is for Lovers by @fashionablyfyrdraaca

Fucking messy lesbians (and yes the messy lesbians fuck hard). Of all your pieces this one was my favorite. Though those Leliana/Warden pieces went hard as well as Nathaniel

From the Library of Emmrich Volkarin by @prince-vael

ten drabbles, based around books to be found in emmrich volkarin's collection

Literary Critique by @chaosherald

Everything you did was incredible. You music and writing was just... I am in awe. But Varric/Cassandra being messy just tickles the brain

Two Little Teapots by TheAntleredPolarBear

Kid fic? Manfred? Surviving disaster and finding joy at the end of the world? Yes

Where's Anders? By @teine-mallaichte putputters Ghostbunny Queen_of_the_Winter

The greatest art collaboration ever inspired by Where's Wally?

The Many Lives of King Markus of Nevarra by @contreparry

The whole thing was amazing but THAT ENDING

With my eyes closed by @breitweisergallery

I am still in knots over this. Tashur with that much pain and promise? It was incredible

Who Else is Going to Love Someone Like Me Who's Marked for Death? by @becauseanders

Fenris/Zevran? Didn't know i needed this pair. I need it

By The Time The Clock Strikes by @midnightprelude

This is everything smut should be. And it's an Emmrook!!!

First Dance by @theredtrails

The dancing? The background. Just beautiful art

When the Crows Come Winging Down by @librivore42

You and your poetry and it was so good!

To Pin a Crow by @cicide76536

I love Zevran/Alistair and this art was so good!

Alistair & Tabris by @lola1b

I really liked this one. Which all your art is amazing

Wicked Alliance by @lordgoretash

Messed up Zara/Illario? Um yes

Sorry forgot this one

Bad for Consumption Good for Everything Else by @jukkaricity

So much of your stuff was amazing but this one had me cackling

@dacreateathon

[zennihilation]

ROAST DE RIVA MOD

it's a lot of this shit

The first mod submitted to Dragon Age Create-a-Thon (it's just a codex replacement nothing crazy), a team collab where the Codex entries are replaced with loving letters of encouragement*** for any Rook de Riva called Roast de Riva. Do you want Juan to call Rook a scene stealing piece of shit? Do you honestly think Senka will be any kinder? Who do you think will be nicest to Rook? Screenshots are included so if you can't (or won't) install the mod, you can still feel yelled at appreciated. Letters also written by @amoaliquis and @only-slightly-terrified.

LEAVE ME KUDOS. TELL ME WHICH DE RIVA IS THE NICEST FOR STANDARDS OF DE RIVA NICENESS. TELL ME HOW YOUR ROOK DE RIVA FEELS ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO ROAST THE PERSON TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD. JUSTIFY MY EFFORTS.

[raflesia65]

I took part in the @dacreateathon again this year, and this is my entry.

This comes from a prompt launched by @woundedsoul12: Crossroads Crossover.

Imagine the deep roads. Imagine Warden Alistair searching them and finding a strange door. He opens the door and a large Tiefling looks at him smiling. - "Soldier, I'm Karlach! How are things going over there?" -" Hi, I'm Alistair! Come with me and you'll find out. I want to introduce you to the darkspawn. They're great to hunt.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[thequeenofthewinter]

Sabotage (The Squad)

Made for @dacreateathon 2025

You’ve never seen shades look so cool.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works