#dirthadin

[nightmarist]

Dirthadin, my old Inquisitor <3<3<3

[vacantvisage]

I realized i never actually went out of my way to show Dirthadin's Vallaslin change.

His original Vallaslin is a mixture of Dirthamen and Falon'Din, such as he is named.

After the Well, Solas removes his Vallaslin, but Dirth regrets it so much he asks Abelas to give him a new one of Mythal, which is a dragon made of tree branches.

[nightmarist]

What are your ocs favourite seasons and why?

Sigurd's used to be Spring. He came from an agricultural village and he enjoyed helping on the fields, plowing, sowing, and tending to animals. Mostly wheat and grains, a few gourds and hearty vegetables in the harvest season later, but sowing and tending and growth are what he loved before he became what he is now. Now, he doesn't care for seasons. He doesn't remember seasons. Weeks, months, years can pass while he's in solitude, deep in the long-abandoned temples of old gods, lost in the depths of ancient books he's read a thousand times over trying and hoping to find at least one clue to resurrection.

Razvra's is also Spring. He prefers early spring when it's still slightly chilled, or monsoon and rainy season, but spring brings out the animals. As someone from the col mountains, it reminds him of home (though of course the biomes are still different), plus its just practical for both a bounty hunter for reward as well as an actual hunter for self-sustainment. Its also just very pretty.

Thomas would be summer. He gets extremely cold and is created for handling extreme heat. He hates cold to no end, and while he enjoyed his time becoming more like a human person in Russia, he is So glad to leave behind how cold some of those places were for the sake of his own personal survival. Heaters are nice but he can't exactly carry one with him when he goes prowling on the hunt.

I have my At Length Headcanon for seasons and a standardized calendar in Dragon Age also, so I'll kinda reference that w DA. tl;dr its basically just Ice/Winter, Rain, and Harvest season.

Dirthadin's favorite season would be closer to early winter, after harvest season. He like the slight chill and early frost, and it gives him an excuse to keep wearing big animal furs. It is not ideal, however, for archaeology. He prefers working in the early harvest season where things are softer, still damp from rain but warm enough to work in. Otherwise he generally hates the rainy season. Sopping wet is Not fun, animal fur doesnt feel or smell good in the rain, water can fuck up a good leather, and things are just difficult to properly dig, write, journal, transport, or otherwise study in the pouring rain by oneself.

Kasakos, Saarkadan, and Aribas all three tend to lean towards the middle of the rainy season, but still don't like Thedosian seasons as much. They prefer the humidity of Par Vollen and Rivaini shores, but living in Thedas and eventually Skyhold, they've gotten used to the temperamental weathers they have to travel in.

Valdyr, one of my Avvar OCs, really enjoys the Rain season. Rain feels good, the petrichor in the valley is a beautiful smell because of the lavenders and other flora, the rain brings by good water for animals and the people, Rams-Peak Hold has maintained good drainage so it doesn't over flood (but flood is still necessary to move dirt, sediment, etc). It's a time of change, and it's a blessing from the Lady of the Skies, tears of joy she weeps that bring life to all things on the floor.

Eiða, my other Avvar OC, while appreciates the rain blessings, prefers harvest season. There's work to be had during harvest season and, though she is a mage and apprentice augur which is its own labor, being with the people and helping them, as well as blessing the processes put into creating a large feast for everyone, and spirits become active during Avvarian holidays and feasts are always much more fun.

I'll think more about Camille and Philomené, I've been meaning to flesh them out more.

Thank you !! 🥺🥺

[nightmarist]

What kind of mannerisms do your ocs have?

Sigurd Helvega (non-DA, one of my longest standing OCs), he has no discernible pupil nor iris, so its hard to tell where exactly he's looking. Because of this, he has gotten into the habit of turning his head physically to show where he's looking, that he's paying attention, or pointing with a pair of fingers (a priestly gesture + his middle finger is long so its easier to pluck or touch things with), or an open palm gesture towards something. He moves slowly, very purposeful in everything he does.

He doesn't fidget, which creeps into notice after spending some time around him. How statuesque he stands and the way he holds himself exudes confidence - not arrogance, but a confidence that he knows exactly what he's doing at all times, every gesture is as natural and easy as breathing without a second guessed thought. When he stands still, his right hand holds the fingertips of his left hand, and it's a very deliberate gesture, one to show he's paying attention, and to show he's not armed (though it doesn't matter when he's a sorcerer-priest). He's very aware of his body and surroundings, and from it carries an almost eerie grace.

Dirthadin drums with his fingers when he thinks, and leans on his staff, often uses it as a walking stick. A little rap of his fingertips on a book, on his staff, on a wall he's examining, etc. He moves very quickly, and thinks on his feet, he looks almost like a bird with the little tics of his head when he's looking at things.

He thinks quickly, and his body shows it, from half-mumblings of half-words, to sharp, sudden turns when he's walking or exploring. He curls up into himself when he's sitting, crouching, or writing - it's not exactly good for his back, but it's a slight animalistic gesture he's learned subconsciously, it makes him small and more unnoticeable. At times, when sitting, because he has long, thin limbs, he'll loop one arm around the top of his bent knee, the other underneath, and lay his head.

Thomas Ivanov, (non-DA), he's an alien, insectoid, but with many aspects of his physiology he has to cover or hide. He covers his mouth when he smiles to hide his sharp teeth. He has four eyes, but the upper two stay closed when he's stealthed as a human. He keeps his cicada wings folded against his back and down the back of his trousers. He blinks one eye at a time. It's an instinct, so that he always has at least one eye open to watch for any danger.

His speech is somewhat stilted, human communication is different from animals, they have to say complicated thoughts to be understood, and Thomas is cursed with being caught between intrinsic animal instinct and humanoid complexity by the way he was created. He huffs through his nose when he gets annoyed by something. He doesn't emote expressively much, but his jaw sets if he's in public and is angry. otherwise, in genuine anger or fear or other adrenaline-inducing stressors, he'll bare his teeth, hiss, and click his wings, sometimes his teeth chatter.

Kasakos, my Tal-Vashoth Mage, "Herald of Andraste" , who bears the Anchor, (but distinctly is not the Inquisitor). At first has little to discern besides standing tall, still, and offering a grunt of approval or disapproval. But he's still new to independence outside the Qun, and finds himself learning how to relax, especially as a mage. He's much more uncertain about everything around him, and proceeds with caution, but more a kind of caution like a frightened child than an angry, wounded animal some may mistake him for.

He likes to touch things, helps ground him when dealing with new sensory information. He knows his size, and species, is intimidating, so he makes a point to be slow, and make slow, harmless gestures, like raising his hand to show the back of his fingers when he wants to take something or touch something, using just his fingertips to touch, as if he's afraid of his own size and magic ability.

Aribas, the official "Inquisitor", Tal-Vashoth spear-thrower, and friend and protector to Kasakos. Like many Qunari/Tal-Vashoth, she stands tall and intimidating, it's just the way Qunari battle training makes their fighters. She keeps her hands and person to herself when on official business, arms crossed, legs apart, an authoritative pose. Makes strong eye contact with whomever she is addressed. But off duty, or with closer friends, she is physically affectionate, something she revels in after leaving the Qun.

Her hand strongly patting a back or a shoulder (almost pushing people into the ground but she's getting a hang of the smaller folk), holding a shoulder or an arm, taking hold of a wrist or forearm to gently tug to show something, lending her arm out to shield or stop someone or something, and when further social relationships develop, full hugs, strong bear hugs that could crush your spine and take you off the ground. She's getting used to being allowed to be Tal Vashoth, and sometimes stands more at ease, with weight leaned on one side, arms crossed or hands at her waist. She rubs the back of her neck when facing difficult decisions, or the base of her horn when in thought.

Saarkadan was an assassin and spy before becoming Tal-Vashoth, and learned how to better hide his gait and mannerisms, and it eventually developed naturally. He's also friend to Kasakos and Aribas, having aided their leave from the Qun. He acts much more casual than most Vashoth save The Iron Bull. He leans somewhat forward with his head craned somewhat low, thumbs looped into his trousers or belt. He almost always has weight on one leg, easier to jump into a stands or leap out of danger.

He likes observing quietly, and has a sly, sharp smile most times. He'll physically wave something off that is serious. he understands it's serious, but it helps both himself and sometimes others round him to at least pretend it's not a big deal. He'll click his tongue when he gets annoyed, sometimes accidentally bite off the end of a roll he's smoking. He'll stand taller when he gets angry, he has a very quiet, seething anger compared to Aribas or Kasakos. He'll kick his heel into the ground a couple times when he's getting ready to do something manual, intended as a means to test the ground before he vanishes, leaps, runs, etc but became habitual everywhere.

I'll have to develop the newer DA ones a bit more, but these are a few of my mains.

Thanks !!

[nightmarist]

10,20, and/or 30?

( Fic Wip Scene Meme )

10. Post a scene with touch

The graves were open, and he went to each one with bare hands, taking soil to pack over the dead bit by bit. Nightfall came and the howling wolves at a distance kept him company besides an unnoticed family of silent horned owls watching in a tall tree. The work was tedious, but by the leaking light of sun over the west horizon with his tired mind feeling about as soft and tangled as ramswool, he patted the last mound of dirt and lay in a patch of grass to sleep.

20. Post a scene with temperature

Through a low fog as their horses climbed over the mountains, the great stones of Skyhold came into view. Dirthadin marveled, eyes fixated on the massive structure as he perched his horse at the top of a cliff to see it, nearly forgetting the chill of the thin air.

30. Post a scene that mentions injury or turmoil

At the last flicker of spirit, Dirthadin looked up to his fallen kin, a forlorn smile on his gaunt face. He basked in the moment, the moment of passing, of grief, mourning those who have no one left to mourn. The bitterness was sweetened by the satisfaction of many-days’ work.

Thank you !! <3<3

[nightmarist]

For the WIP meme: 1, 2, and 12!

What is the plot?

Who are the main characters?

It's a Dragon Age Inquisition fic, mostly to warmup and get back into writing + character study.

It's an introduction of Dirthadin, my OC, into the Inquisition. It will focus mainly on Dirthadin, but I hope to get into other characters. No real end-goal, but it's good exploration.

12. Post a scene with taste 

Varric pulled up a pair of chairs for them, closing one of Solas’ books – Solas scoffed at the audacity. “What? You had a bookmark in it. I’m not that cruel. Anyway, now there’s two of you. I can’t resist an opportunity like that.” “Don’t mind him. He will simply make erroneous judgements on your character in hopes your disapproval and corrections will give him ample fodder for his stories.”   “Oh, come on now Chuckles, that’s not fair. I do my best to be as accurate to your character as possible. I’ll just change a few details to make it more exciting. You’re, what, an Apostate Elf, long left his people in search of knowledge, daydreaming and night-dreaming in the Fade, longing for stories of the good old days.” “See?” Dirthadin couldn’t help but laugh between them. The taste of red meat was sweetened by the company at hand. “Well, I wouldn’t mind a few details of my story changed if it can sound as romantic as that.” “Romantic? Pfft. Ghosty, you’ve got a lot something happening. Brooding elf sleeping in the middle of graveyards, tirelessly raising the dead to march en mass exodus across the plains of old, just to bury and rebury the forgotten dead time and time again. Hm… Needs a bit more substance, but it’ll make a great tragedy if anything. If you were angrier and less of a mage, you’d almost be one of my old friends.”

Thanks ! <3

[nightmarist]

i prefer a different set of armor and im farming materials for one, but this + the staff look good on him <3

[nightmarist]

Regarding Dirthadin being a necromancer and my unending love for the Bog Unicorn, I like to think he resurrected the steed using a spirit of Valour to possess it.

He’s probably resurrected it for a simple task, just to carry himself out of a hard-to-tread bog, and wanted to lead a small group of fallen Dalish to a burial site to be properly honored, but perhaps the honorable nature of the deed attracted a Valour spirit to possess the horse instead of a lesser spirit and has since been a loyal charge.

It’s been known that sometimes animals are able to speak when possessed, like Kitty or Lord Woolsley, so I wonder if the Bog Unicorn would speak at all or even use it’s face-sword to keep attackers at bay. I guess it depends on how chatty the spirit is.