On the one hand, all the posts talking about a work of media happening to have this or that diverse characters is not a genre nor a measure of quality are right, and it should never be a work’s sole selling point.
On the other, many people are so starved for any portrayal of people like them that they will at least try anything that attempts it (or claims to). It shouldn’t be like that, but it is. Can we not condescend to them please?
SUPPOSÉE REPRISE DU PRÉLÈVEMENT DE SABLE MARIN AU PK10 À AKPAKPA: LE MINISTRE JOSÉ TONATO CLARIFIE ET RASSURE LES RIVERAINS.
SUPPOSÉE REPRISE DU PRÉLÈVEMENT DE SABLE MARIN AU PK10 À AKPAKPA: LE MINISTRE JOSÉ TONATO CLARIFIE ET RASSURE LES RIVERAINS.
Les populations de PK10 À Akpakpa sont préoccupées par la longue file de camions chargées de sable marin dans leur zone depuis quelques jours et qui leur ferait croire à une éventuelle reprise du prélèvement à grande échelle du sable marin en violation des réglementations en vigueur au Bénin.
Face à cette inquiétude légitime des riverains, le Ministre du cadre de vie et du développement durable…
Littoral roussillonnais : les projets structurants pour 2017
Littoral roussillonnais : les projets structurants pour 2017
Le Bureau du conseil de gestion du Parc naturel marin du Golfe du Lion s’est réuni, à Argelès-sur-Mer, le 31 janvier dernier, sous la présidence de Michel Moly, 1er vice-président du Conseil départemental des P-O, ancien maire de Collioure, et ce afin d’émettre son avis sur trois dossiers d’infrastructures portuaires : la requalification du quai Dezoums dans le port de Port-Vendres, la création…
1. Did they suspect his true identity at all? Were they taken by surprise when he revealed himself?
Not at all, and yes, of course! She was shocked and hurt and confused, and didn’t know what to make of it.
2. What did they choose to do with him and how did they feel about their choice? Were they guilty about leaving him in cell, if they choose to do so?
She couldn’t just leave him there to rot… She had the Inquisition get him out mainly because she had no idea what to do, and needed to buy herself time to think about it. In the end, she gave him over to the Wardens, which isn’t terribly uncommon for a criminal, allows him to make up for any stains he might’ve left on the Wardens’ name, and he was conscripted anyway, wasn’t he? There. Problem solved. *firm nod*
3. Did their treatment of Blackwall change after discovering who he was? If yes, how so?
For a little while. She really didn’t know what to make of him afterwards, and it was extremely awkward, but after a while she warmed back up to his sense of humor, adjusted to calling him by a new name, and basically learned that he hadn’t changed just because the information she knew about him had, and he was still the same guy she’d originally befriended. And then, after she adjusted to that, things went back to normal.
4. How close was your inquisitor to Blackwall? What drew your Inquisitor to him or away from him?
She was good friends with all of her inner circle. And Blackwall, well, he seemed like a pretty chill guy, and the Wardens are an interesting lot, and he’s a hell of a lot more craftsy than she is… They got along.
5. Did they remain in contact with him after the events of Trespasser?
When they could. She needed to adjust to writing letters one-handed, and, well, Wardens can be hard to get an address for, but they wrote back and forth keeping eachother updated.
Solas
1. Did your Inquisitor engage Solas academically with questions or were they uninterested in his experiences?
Oh, she found him fascinating! She asked all the questions!
2. Did they agree with his opinions about spirits, that they were friends and trustworthy? If not, what did your inquisitor believe instead?
She believes that every opinion is worth hearing out before making up your mind. And the Dalish teach that spirits are neither intentionally malicious nor helpful, that there is no difference between a spirit and a demon, so she was already predisposed to be open to his point of view. She’s not 100% sure she agrees with him on every front, but for the most part… yeah.
3. If your inquisitor was told they were “unlike others of their race” by Solas, how did they respond? Were they angry or grateful?
Oh, she was pissed. If you want to genuinely offend Allie, make rash generalizations about entire groups of people that prove you have had little to no contact with them and do not give a shit about their beliefs, especially her people. He was a little shocked, because he’d never really seen her angry before, and realized he must’ve crossed some line he hadn’t realized was there.
4. Did your Inquisitor think of Solas as Fen’harel or did they continue to think of him as their companion, a friend, if he was one to them, even after discovering who he was?
She can’t separate the two in her head; like with Blackwall, she was muddled, confused, hurt, etc. for a long time, but it was the fact the Solas still acted like the same person when they met again that got to her. It was the gentleness in his voice, the way he walked, it was that kiss that got to her. And now? Now she doesn’t know what to think, but he’s still Solas to her, even if he is the Dread Wolf.
5. What did they choose, stop Solas or attempt to redeem him, and what motivated their choice? Fear? Love?
She disbanded the Inquisition and dedicated them to showing him the error of his ways, that the world is worth saving, and to bring him in to face justice on the proper terms. She is, however, braced for having to execute him, and if it comes to that, whether in battle or on the executioner’s platform, she will do it herself.
She gave him the means to do this, inadvertently or not. She knows him best. And as both friend and lover, she feels responsible in seeing that when the end comes, he understands why it does, and does not suffer for very long.
Sera
1. What did your Inquisitor think about the Red Jenny organization? Did they choose to be apart of it?
She thinks they’re awesome, and hell yeah!
2. Did your Inquisitor see Sera as troublesome or simply fun-loving? Did they join in for her pranks?
Why can’t she be both? Pranks on the wrong people at the wrong time can cause problems, pranks in the right place at the right time are great! She joined in all the time, and when it seemed necessary (which wasn’t all that often,) she reigned it back.
3. How did your Inquisitor respond to the truth of Sera’s childhood (the cookie scene), if they received it? Did they empathize?
She wasn’t entirely sure how to react, but she could sympathize, and she wanted to help however she could. They burned the first batch of Friendship Cookies; sometimes she sends Sera just a lump of charcoal, when she can’t risk sending a letter, both as a “screw you!” to anyone interfering with her mail and as an inside joke between the two of them.
4. Did the Inquisitor attempt to stick up for the little people, like Sera, or did they have other goals? If so, what were their other goals?
She still considers herself one of “the little people;” Allie’s never been comfortable on her throne, and feels a bit of an imposter everytime anyone defers to her. She feels it’s her job to help however she can for as long as she can, and the Jennies helped her do that even beyond the Inquisition.
5. Did your Inquisitor respond well to Sera and seek her company or avoid her?
They were Best Friends. I mean, I know Dorian was purposefully written to be your best friend by the end of the game, and he was definitely one of her best friends, but Allie and Sera? Were Best Friends.
Cole
1. Before Cole’s personal mission, how did your Inquisitor feel about him? Were they comfortable or uncomfortable around him?
Look, Cole is like a little brother to Allie. She adores him. He can do no wrong.
2. What did your Inquisitor think of Cole’s ability to see into people’s thoughts?
So what? Solas can walk in dreams. Dorian can raise the dead. Cassandra can make people feel horrific phantom pain. She can rip holes in reality itself. A skill is a tool, and at least Cole’s is purely helpful and practically harmless.
3. Was Cole made more human or more spirit and why did your Inquisitor choose what they did?
More human, because that’s what he wanted to do. Cole, himself, expressed a desire to be more human, to understand, and expressed his rage against that guard. And while Allie was by no means down with murder, she’s absolutely Cole doing whatever he wants to do with himself and his future, and she will support him the entire way with that.
4. Did your Inquisitor become friends with Cole? Did Cole leave the Inquisition at any point, due to conflict with your Inquisitor?
*points to first question* Adores him. Can do no wrong. Sure, he’s a little odd, but…yeah. No, she doesn’t care.
5. How would you describe your Inquisitor’s relationship with cole? Non-existent? Or a relationship like that of siblings?
*points to the first question again*
Iron Bull
1. Was your Inquisitor wary of Bull upon learning he was a spy?
Yes, but she kept him away from vital information, and he mostly didn’t bring things up that were related to vital information, so she was able to be relatively comfortable around him. She trusted him more for being open about it.
2. How did your Inquisitor react to the Chargers? Did they utilize them as allies or leave them to Bull?
Allie loves the Chargers! She also might, possibly, have the tiniest bit of a crush on Krem? But yeah, whatever the Chargers want to do, they have Inquisition funding and support behind them the whole way!
3. Did your Inquisitor prefer to talk things out instead of force? Did they clash with Bull in that way?
If she can avoid a fight, and still see justice done, she will. Is that a problem for Bull? I never encountered it in my playthroughs… Then again, Allie can usually justify her decisions from a tactical standpoint too, if it comes to that, and that probably would’ve ended any conversations on the topic pretty quickly.
4. Did they choose the chargers or the Qunari alliance? If they condemned the Chargers to death, how did they feel?
She couldn’t just watch them die, and she certainly could never have faced Bull if she did! She thought, maybe, the Qunari would be able to flee the ship (she thought it was silly they weren’t attacking the enemy head-on, but was willing to let others dictate how this particular battle went.) Besides, there was no alliance yet, and if standing and watching your friends die for the sake of politics (which was how Gatt defended the choice, remember; that the alliance would be off if they didn’t go through with the plan,) then they weren’t the kind of allies the Inquisition needed.
5. Was Iron Bull a valuable member of the Inquisition to your Inquisitor? Did they speak to him often?
Bull was valuable as a stone wall, and someone who she could shriek and hide behind whenever there were spiders. And a friend who knew how to get drunk with economic speed.
Vivienne
1. Did your Inquisitor share Vivienne’s views on the circle of magi or disagree and why?
Every opinion is worth hearing out. The Circles generally seemed like a bad idea to Allie, but Viv’s ideas for reform were… interesting. Possibly worth a shot. Finding a safe way to integrate mages back into the average populous seemed like a better idea to her, though.
2. Did your inquisitor view The Game as worthwhile or did they detest court intrigue? How did that affect their relationship with Vivienne?
It’s underhanded, manipulative, disgusting, dishonest, requires you to practically prostitute yourself for other people’s approval… and Allie’s disturbed both by how good she is at it, and how much she enjoys playing it. I got the impression Viv could relate to that response.
3. Did the feelings of your Inquisitor towards Vivienne change at all after completing her personal mission about Duke Bastian, if yes, in what way?
Not really; she always suspected Viv had a softer side.
4. Was Vivienne ever considered a candidate for Divine by your Inquisitor? Why was, or why wasn’t, she made Divine by your Inquisitor?
I don’t think so? The conversations for it never triggered for me, if she was… So, I suppose that’s the reason not right there.
5. How did your Inquisitor feel about Vivienne? Friends? Allies? Rivals?
Friends.
Varric
1. Was your Inquisitor’s relationship with Varric like that of Varric’s relationship with Hawke? Was it better? Worse?
Not as close as Hawke and Varric are, no, but they get along. She calls him “hahren,” he pretends to be offended, she tries to be there for him when he needs it, and he… Honestly, the conversations with Varric about how your Inquisitor is dealing with everything that happens to them are some of the most heartfelt in the game, and I cannot see how they wouldn’t be good friends with scenes like that.
2. How did your Inquisitor feel about Varric’s situation with Bianca? Who did they decide was right about what Bianca did?
Bianca screwed up, and she should have been upfront about what happened, but nobody was “right” in that scenario. And Allie’s not sure if she approves, especially since their relationship doesn’t seem all that healthy, but she doesn’t really feel it’s her place to say anything on the matter. I think Varric can pick up the suppressed waves of disapproval, though.
3. Did your Inquisitor approve of Varric’s stories? Did they read any of his books?
She read the Tale of the Champion before Inquisition, and after meeting him, she tracked down Hard in Hightown so that they’d have something else to talk about. Then she read Swords and Shields, because Cassandra loved it. Then she read everything else.
4. Did your Inquisitor try to dissuade Varric from believing that they were the herald of Andraste or did they encourage it?
She’s really uncomfortable with it? I mean… Allie’s always been at odds with her faith; she’s and Andrastian Dalish, and there’s some pretty heavy conflict there. She also doesn’t want to be anyone’s leader, or anyone’s messiah, she just wants to be everyone’s friend. But, at the same time, deep down she really wants to believe she was chosen for a higher purpose, because that would mean she had the Maker on her side, and if she could be More than Herself, maybe she could live up to everyone’s expectations… She has two crises of faith in the game: right after Haven, where she becomes convinced the Maker does not give one single fuck about her or the Inquisition, and she doesn’t feel capable of helping or leading anyone, and after the Fade, when that last bit of “Maybe I am special?” hope is dashed.
So she expressed to Varric that she wasn’t comfortable with him seeing her that way, but that she honestly didn’t know one way or the other herself, is what I’m saying. But his support in that matter really does help her pull through when push comes to shove.
5. Did your Inquisitor leave Hawke in the fade or save Hawke? How did that affect their relationship with Varric?
She left Hawke, partially because the Wardens needed strong leadership, and partially because fuck canon, my Hawke is too headstrong and determined to let anyone decide her fate but herself, and Rial Hawke would pull a noble self-sacrifice, the overdramatic, self-hating idiot.
Allie felt awful about the whole deal, honestly thought if anyone was going to stay behind, it should’ve been her, and she still tried to shove that down and be there for Varric in his time of need. It was a bump, but surprisingly not much of one, in their relationship.
Dorian
1. How does your Inquisitor feel about Tevinter? Did Dorian change their feelings at all about the Imperium?
Sort of…? Every opinion is worth hearing out, but once again: Alienia Lavellan. She had some preconceptions, and they’re pretty hard to shake. Dorian’s cool, mostly… She has some issues with him owning slaves, but he seems to genuinely want change, and during his time with the Inquisition, he seemed to realize how wrong that was, so as long as that is on his list of changes he’s going to impart to the Imperium, she tries not to think about it. And, that aside, they’re pretty good friends.
2. How did your Inquisitor feel about the Necromancy specialization? Were they intrigued? Disgusted?
It’s a skill. Skill’s a tool. I direct you to the similar question in Cole’s section for comparison.
3. Did your Inquisitor attempt to have Dorian speak to his father or not? Does your Inquisitor relate to Dorian in terms of struggles with family or sexuality?
She encouraged him to talk to his father, not realizing the full extent of what happened. Then when he told her, she was horrified and disgusted with herself for making him feel like he had to stay in that situation, and wanted to know if he was absolutely sure he didn’t want her to do something about… this. How could she make it up to him? Fancy dinner? Trial? Let him have the throne for an arm chair (it’s not comfortable, but it seems like the kind of thing he’d find entertaining: using the Inquisitor’s throne as a place to slack off and read a book.)? Get Sera to have some of her friends sling dung at his father’s cart?
In the end, she wrote a Strongly Worded Letter without telling him, expressing exactly what she thought about the situation, and how if Lord Magister Pavus thought he could get away with ever treating his son like that again, he would feel the full wrath she could bring down on his head. It’s one of the few times she actually pulls rank for the sake of something personal. I doubt Dorian was happy when he found out.
And, oh yeah. She can relate.
4. Was Dorian a good companion for your Inquisitor? Was there any personality clash between them?
*points to the first question*
5. Did your Inquisitor agree with Dorian’s decision to return to Tevinter? How did they feel about his choice?
She felt a little disappointed to see him go, but happy he was going to get the chance to implement that change he was always talking about. She did wish he’d told her earlier.
Cassandra
1. Was your Inquisitor Andrastian? Did their religious beliefs affect their relationship with Cassandra?
She was, and it made it easier for them to get along. Most of the time. I didn’t take Cass to the Temple of Mythal, but Jaws of Hakkon was a shitshow on that front. Like I said in Solas’s section, disrespecting other people’s heritage? *low whistle*
2. What was Cassandra’s role in the Inquisition to your Inquisitor? Was she a crucial friend/ally or an unnecessary soldier?
She was a friend and ally, though her somewhat zealous approach did make Allie worried at times; on the other hand, when discussing politics, they’re both moderates, so that was more likely to bring them together than push them apart. Once again, though: most of the time.
3. Did your Inquisitor push Cassandra to rebuild or abandon the Seekers of Truth? Why?
The Seekers could be a force for good in the world, and Cassandra was talking about rebuilding them with complete openness and honesty, no secrets. That was something Allie could get behind.
4. Did your Inquisitor agree with Cassandra’s vision for the Chantry? Did they choose her as Divine?
Cassandra wanted a Chantry that protected mages and the populous, without taking advantage or harming them; Allie agreed. Cassandra was open, if not enthusiastic, at the ideas of allowing elves into the fold; Allie was very enthusiastic (seriously, she would’ve become a Chantry Sister when she was a teenager if A] it was allowed, and B] she wasn’t terrified of her clan cutting her off permanently if she did,) and agreed. Cassandra worried that sudden, large, aggressive change could cause violent unrest, and would lead to people rejecting those changes en masse once she was out of power; Allie agreed.
Allie supported Cassandra, because Cassandra seemed the most likely to take progressive steps that would actually last, not hastily be undone by the very next Divine.
5. Does your Inquisitor know all of her middle names?
I doubt anyone knows all her middle names but Cassandra herself; even her closest relatives probably need cue cards!
Alright (Also, hi! Long time no see! How are you doing?)
5. Is your inquisitor jealous that both the warden and Hawke have a mabari hound?
Not really, since she wound up with Cullen, so they do get a mabari in the end. I expect there’d be arguments between the three of them as to the best way to tend to a mabari, though, since Allie would constantly be slipping hers table scraps and letting it loose to romp around on its own, Rial tries to teach hers to follow the rules but usually can’t resist the puppy-dog eyes (plus, her friends are spoiling him behind her back,) and Ireida keeps hers right at her heels and usually treats and addresses it as just another one of her recruits.
9. Would your warden or Hawke have actually accepted the role of inquisitor if Cassandra had located them as she’d planned to? Would they have been a good leader for the Inquisition?
Yes, both of them would have accepted, and I’d imagine they’d have been decent Inquisitors. I actually have an AU of Rial Hawke as the Inquisitor, and it involves a lot of secrets and covert letters (since she romanced Anders,) and some really sad moments as well (since the Hawke who’d be in contact with the Grey Wardens would be… Carver. Yeah. And Alistair is his direct superior, so that’s the choice. Only it’s not a choice, because Carver’s going to do what Carver’s going to do, and the Wardens need a leader with rank, and Carver’s not going to let his big sister call the shots on his death anymore than his life.) There would’ve been a lot more impact on the story, because of that, and finding out what happened to your baby brother would’ve been a big deal.
Ireida, I think Cass would’ve found, is both a lot stricter and a lot more flexible than she would’ve expected. She wouldn’t be making any of the little decisions, about trade or planning or stuff, probably demanding to know why she even had advisers if they couldn’t think for themselves, but at the same time, if she’s in charge then she’s in charge, and while she’ll listen to what you’re telling her, she’s not a big fan of insubordination. Once you’re her friend, she’ll help you get away with murder, and she’d happily have adopted all the DA:I companions as well (Warden!Mom, for the win!) but I doubt the stories really did her justice.
23. How old were each of your protagonists at the start of their respective games? Do you think their age affected the choices they made? Looking back would they have done any major action differently?
Ireida was in her mid-twenties, probably 26-28? I think the way she progressed would’ve been the same no matter what age her adventure started; she’d still have had that feeling of knowing and accepting her place in the world and that nothing was going to change that at the beginning, which still would’ve given her pretty good diplomatic skills, and I think she’d have made the same choices, if the plot progressed as normal. If she got sent back in time, however, with all her memories? Shianni would never have gotten drunk that morning, she would’ve argued more with Nelaros to try and make him less likely to come after her, and also would’ve demonstrated her own skill with a blade so that he would feel more that she could handle herself, and she would’ve tried her best to convince Cailan that marching at the front wasn’t just “foolish,” it was downright idiotic; in fact, for that last one, she’d’ve probably abandoned diplomacy entirely if it came to that, because, just… c’mon!
Rial started at probably 23? And ended the story at maybe 35? And I feel like although her age itself didn’t effect her decisions so much, her rational changed as she got older; she’s a lot more aggressively pro-mage now than she ever was back then, for example. Had she had her older mindset, she probably wouldn’t have agreed to so many shady business choices so readily, probably would’ve had a harder time dealing with Templars and the City Guard, and probably would’ve rushed to the aid of strangers much more quickly. If she time traveled back, she’d take preemptive action to avoid certain things; there are people she would’ve killed (*cough*PATRICE*cough*), there are people she would’ve kept in touch with, there are meetings she would’ve gone to, and there is information she would’ve immediately shared. Basically, every misunderstanding you can think of that caused unnecessary death in Kirkwall? She would’ve tried to iron out before it even happened.
Allie is 22 when she becomes Inquisitor, and if she was older, I think she’d’ve been a lot more jaded, and wouldn’t have been the wide-eyed, ever-trusting idealist she is at the beginning; probably she wouldn’t have recruited all of the companions, maybe she wouldn’t have been so trusting of the Wardens, and most likely she’d’ve been too set in her ways to play The Game quite so well as she did. And aside from times when security lapsed, or unnecessary death resulted, she really doesn’t have many regrets, so sending her back in time wouldn’t change much… I don’t know. We’ll see how old she is and how she might act come DA4; it’s hard for me to imagine her as anything other than the bubbly ball of sunshine and anxiety issues she is right now.
28. What is their favourite location within their own game and what would be their favourite in each others?
Ireida is a city rat, and always will be. She loved her home in the Alienage, and she loved all the people there. In Awakening, she loved the Keep, as it was a place that was Hers, and no one could argue with that. In DA2, she’d’ve been most at home in Darktown, or the Lowtown Alienage, and in DA:I… probably either the Western Approach or the Hissing Wastes, honestly. I don’t know, the dryness, the sand, the ancient mysteries everywhere, it all seems like stuff she’d be really into. I mean, not every Fereldan needs to love being perpetually soggy and covered in mud, right? (Even if she really doesn’t mind it, and she’d probably get lonely out in the desert after a while.)
Rial… It changes. She likes being wherever she’s surrounded by family (blood or not,) so Act 1 that would be both Gamlen’s house and the Hanged Man at a tie, Act 2 it would be the manor, until All That Remains anyway, after which she doesn’t really like being anywhere, but she goes to the Hanged Man to drink. A lot. This, um, this pretty much cements her as a functioning alcoholic in my mind… It really scares her friends. Come Act 3, she’s doing her best to recover, and her relationship with Anders really helps, but outside of her room, next to him, she really hates that manor house. Probably Merrill’s house would be her favorite place? Or Fenris’s. Because we know that the team gathers in both places pretty regularly, and while there’s more of a crowd in Fenris’s house, Merrill’s is more “homey”. She also helps out at the clinic a lot.
In DA:O, after Lothering (hello, actual home!), she’d probably be most comfortable in Redcliff. In DA:I, first it’d be Flissa’s tavern (hello, relapse! *sigh*), and then probably Skyhold’s garden.
Allie loves everything. Haven and Skyhold became her homes, the Hinterlands, Frostback Basin, and Val Royeaux have such interesting people, the Storm Coast has such interesting weather, the desert areas have such beautiful night skies, the Emerald Graves’ everything! (Well, and then there’s the Exalted Plains, which she hates with a burning passion, them and everything about them and so much of their history and what they have come to stand for, buuut let’s ignore that gods-forsaken warzone and move on.) In DA:O, probably she’d’ve been happiest in the Brecilian Forest, since all the Dalish presence would’ve made it feel very much like home for her, and in DA2, I have to go with Sundermount, both for the Dalish presence, and the fact it’s basically the only mostly natural area in the game. The Wounded Coast is a close second, however, for the beach, the nature, and the views.
Ireida Tabris: ...Sure, he’s a boring-ass white boy, but he’s my boring-ass white boy. He’s also, somehow, both better mannered and more entertaining than you.
Rial Hawke: lol, yeah. Fight me.
Alienia Lavellan: I am fully aware that the boys aren’t perfect, and I don’t see where you get off thinking whining like this will change anything. We are all working on improving ourselves, are we not?
