#da samson

[aestheticallygaming]

Weirdly specific things that annoy me about Veilguard part 1/1: Gideon Emery not voicing a character. The man has been in EVERY DA game, he’s voiced MULTIPLE characters, I remember the jokes about BioWare having him locked up in a basement somewhere. where. is. he???

[fangsandfeels]

Oct 26 - Favorite Inquisition NPC

Raleigh Samson

He is a fascinating character. And a sad one. His life went downhill because he tried to do one harmless and kind thing for another person (not to mention this person getting lobotomized because of one fucking love letter). His lyrium addiction wasn't even his direct fault: Templar orders literally subject their soldiers to this risk, potentially keeping them either on a substance leash or ruining their lives.

It's a fucked up way to make an example out of any templar who dares to show too much sympathy: you ensure that they don't thrive after you discharge them.

So, of course Corypheus made use of that bitterness. Moreover, he gave Samson everything he thought he lost - and Samson had no real reason to believe that the world deserves to exist in its current state. He had seen the evil and ugly side of things - the plans of a crazed magister don't really phase him that much anymore. Yes, let's burn it all down - we can hardly do worse.

(I see you, Samson, I see you)

I didn't want to kill him or execute him. Too bad the only option to keep him alive and around was to let him serve the Inquisition under Cullen's supervision. Not that I don't like Cullen, but I don't like all that "Samson is Cullen's dark counterpart and Cullen's way to combat inner demons" - no. Samson would be Cullen's potential future if Cullen served in a more draconic order. Samson is a discarded templar who survived. Samson isn't some kind of a dark villain - he is a victim turned against those who used to hold his leash. Samson should be a sobering wake up call for Cullen, not his reason to pat himself on the head and feel morally superior.

So, in my headcanon I imagine that Raleigh spends the rest of his days subtly and joyfully pissing Cullen off but also spilling some tea on the truth behind templar orders he refused to face. And that Cullen not only acknowledges it, but promises to work on it on his part.

Connor

It was nice to see him all grown-up - and sad to see him so afraid and full of self-loathing, blaming himself for the possession and death even though he was just a child back then and adults were the ones who screwed him over (in fact, Izolde was the least guilty because she loved Connor and did everything she could). I won't put if behind the Circle to probably fuel his guilt further.

It's particularly sad because Connor is strong. When push came to shove, he chose to deny the demon and leave it without a vessel - he was desperate not to be under its control again. I really hope that in the world Sybil helped to change, Connor is a bit happier - and can see his parents again (I am probably the one of the very few people who doesn't hate Izolde - she was willing to die to blood magic to save her son, how could I hate her?!).

Dagna

She is a nerd. She loves magic. She gives zero fucks what others think when she follows her passion. She succeeds even though nobody ever expected her to.

It was so satisfying to see Dagna again after the Origins, and to see that she is happy with what she is doing.

Also, she teases us with the undiscovered secrets between dwarves and magic even before the DLC does - in all seriousness, I expected her to be the next Dragon Age companion, as a unique, first of her kind dwarven mage. Because, while I like Harding, it feels like Dagna would have worked better with the entire "magic abilities awakening" stuff going on.

[fraeulein-freya]

It’s unpopular opinion monday! :D

(please don’t come for me Cullenites. I like the guy, don’t take this too seriously, I just have a soft spot for the nasty angry goblin man. Bioware did him dirty! :c)

[birdiepuh]

A ratty ratty red templar boi for all your ratty ratty red templar boi needs

[sneakyneighboururchin]

I'm definitely not the first to say this, but It would've made more sense in inquisition if Cullen and Samson had switched places. Becoming Corypheus' general is way more in character for Cullen given everything we've seen of him, the arc he was on was ended with such a weak redemption that it would've been way more interesting if he had instead descended into full on villainy. Samson in what little we actually see of him is far more empathetic to the people around him. His whole story with Maddox is tragic and interesting and would've been really cool to be able to interact with as the Inquisitor. He's struggled with his addiction since he was thrown out of the order so we still could have had that plot line, but with more to it because of his history. The only barrier i can see is that I don't think Cassandra would have taken on someone who wasn't a templar to lead the inquisition forces. Cos she's biased as fuck.

[ladymarinamart]

[quillfulwriter]

Made with the fine help of @lyricalvillain and @taki118 <3

[solaratrevelyan]

I have no name for this, I just like drawing Samson and Kwenthrith making out.