#dragon age reference

[merrinla]

by Shane Hawco

[thedas-finest]

Potential References for the Horses in Thedas

If you're anything like me, you made it your mission to collect every single horse breed in Dragon Age: Inquisition. However. If you're anything like me, it annoyed the hell out of you to not have good parallels to real-world breeds for art references. This post aims to help with that, using some tomfoolery and shenanigans to give some vague approximation of region, build and color in order to find horse breeds that exist in real life and would make sense in Thedas.

This will be put under a cut after the first pony because this post got LOOONG. Enjoy!

The Ferelden Forder, or the Cleveland Bay

The Ferelden Forder is described as a "proud animal ... [that] ranges well beyond its namesake, at home in stables and armies across Thedas." In the game, the Forder is a beautiful rich dappled bay, with darkened legs, mane and tail. Given that Ferelden itself seems to be vaguely inspired by the regions present in the UK, the stout appearance, tallness and shapely body of the Cleveland Bay lends itself near-perfectly to the Forders, in my humble opinion. The only thing about the Cleveland Bay that isn't truly represented by the Forders is their white markings--Forders have a big white blaze on their face in Inquisition, whereas real life Cleveland Bays are considered inadmissable in the studbook with markings any larger than a small white star.

Despite that, I think the Cleveland Bay is an excellent point of reference to use when drawing Forders, and the color variations are perfect for learning how to shade all sorts of variations of bay ponies.

The Amaranthine Charger, or the English Thoroughbred

The Amaranthine Charger is described as "spirited but not unruly" and an "uncommon mount, sure to impress." Amaranthine is still within the borders of Ferelden--or at least neighboring it--but its proximity to the Free Marches had me stumped. It's my opinion that the Amaranthine Charger could go two ways: a lighter, faster breed, or a thicker one that's been crossed with that fineness. So, there are two good options I feel are representative of the Amaranthine Charger.

The English Thoroughbred or the Irish Sport Horse (otherwise known as the Irish Hunter). Both breeds are brave, both have some speed, both are generally seen as being handle-able, and they both come in an array of colors that could be fun for any artist wanting to try their hand at some funky markings and patterns. I only chose a black coat since that's what we see in the game.

The Orlesian Courser, or the Selle Francais

The Orlesian Courser is breed that is spirited, with a "lineage longer than most noble names." While technically the Selle Francais is a newer breed, it is made of a bunch of older French breeds being merged into one studbook. The range of height (155-180cm at the withers), more elegant conformation and refinement lends itself perfectly to a faster, more 'respectable' horse that still may be capable of carrying a knight or mounted combatant.

The Selle Francais typically comes in shades of bay, grey and chestnut, but other coat colors are possible, especially when crossed with other breeds.

The Dalish All-Bred, or the 'Some Sort of UK Pony Breed'

Dalish All-Breds are described in-game as being hardy and sure-footed, as well as a breed of "humble origins." New Forest Ponies are generally well-temptered and loyal, often used as family mounts or for children. Being a breed that often roams New Forest, these ponies are also rather brave and perhaps exceptionally well-suited to navigating challenging terrain, making them great parallels for the Dalish All-Bred. Ironically, while piebalds and skewbalds (the pattern presented in-game) disqualify New Forests from being added to the studbook, it isn't entirely uncommon to find such patterning within the breed. Other options for Dalish All-Breds might be Exmoor and Dales Ponies.

Green Dales Feral, or the American Mustang

The Green Dales Feral is said to have descended from stock that escaped the Qunari invasions in the North, which sounds an awful lot like the Spanish horses that worked their way over to America and became feral. Mustangs aren't often used by your average Joe, and the Green Dales Feral is also "rarely seen on the field." The horses are hardy, sure-footed and brave, and come in a variety of fun and interesting colors and patterns that are sure to dazzle and make for fun art studies. Mustangs also come in a lot of different shapes, so you can really customize your pony however you'd like them to look.

The Free Marches Ranger, or the Oldenburg

The Free Marches Ranger is a palomino in-game, so I did want to make sure the breed I referenced had horses in this particular coat color. The Oldenburg is a German breed; it's sporty, athletic and also rather even-tempered. Other options might be Holsteiners or Hanoverians, depending on how stocky you want your reference to be. With the Free Marches being such a loosely connected place, it's difficult to really pin down each city-state as being of a certain region, so I used the idea that often gets circulated that the Marches resemble German city-states and worked backwards from there.

The Asaarash, or the Iberian Horses

The Asaarash was another one difficult to pin down, as the model in the game seems to just be an armored version of the Green Dales Feral. However, the actual information blurb tells us that the breed is Rivaini in origin, resilient, and is used to carry messages across Seheron. There's a couple different directions here, but I chose to focus on the Rivaini origins of the breed and chose the Lusitanos and Pura Raza Espanolas to represent the Asaarash. They're powerful breeds that are tall and stocky, capable of carrying heavier loads as well as being used to work cattle. They're brave and particularly adapted to war, having been used as cavalry horses. Both also come in the chestnut coat.

If looking for a horse that would more closely match the 'speed' and desert adaptability of Seheron, I would recommend Egyptian Arabians as your starting point.

The Frostback Mountain Horse, or the Trotters and Saddlers

The Frostback Mountain Horse is used by the Avaar in the Frostbacks, making the horse hardy and adapted to cold by nature. I chose to look to Scandinavian horse breeds for this and discovered the Swedish Coldblood Trotter, a horse with some feathering (hair) around the legs that matches the in-game equivalent and comes in varying shades of brown and black. The game codex describes the Frostback Mountain Horses as being "fierce, loyal and not quite tame" which doesn't exactly match the psychological profile of these Trotters, but I felt the region and build apt enough regardless to overlook it.

Other options for mountain horses would be the American Rocky Mountain Horse or the Kentucky Mountain Horse (sometimes referred to as the Kentucky Saddler/Saddle Horse).

The Taslin Strider, or the Italian Saddle Horse

The Taslin Strider is described as a refined breed and is most common in Antiva's warmer areas. It's also described as being suited to long distances and spirited charges. I thought the Italian Saddle Horse, or Sella Italiano, would best fit this particular description. The Sella Italiano is a breed with a great degree of refinement, as evidenced by the beautiful floaty trot above and pricked ears. The Sella Italiano is also bred for show-jumping, giving it a degree of power and force. The breed also competes in three-day eventing and endurance, meaning it checks off the boxes for long distance riding as well.

The Imperial Warmblood, or the Lipizzan

You may be familiar with the elegant Lipizzan from the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, with their elegant caprioles and levades. The Imperial Warmblood, being this beautiful grey and described as imposing, made perfect sense to be represented by the Lipizzan. The horses have all the refinement of a dressage horse with all the warlike structure of a good cavalry horse (the two are actually more entwined than you'd think). Additionally, the Lipizzan has near world-wide fame, lending itself further to the Imperial Warmblood's omnipresence when the Tevinter Imperium was at its height. Nowadays, the breed seems to feature more often in the Imperium's homeland, mirroring the current concentration of Lipizzan horses today.

The Anderfel Courser, or the Altai

The Anderfel Courser was a tough one, and I'm torn between two options. The Altai is a breed that is suitable for mountainous terrain as well as cold climates, which I think makes it perfect for the areas of the Anderfels that are freezing and rocky (think Hossberg in Veilguard). However, the Anderfels also has areas of arid, rocky and cavernous deserts, which left me stumped. I think a combination of the Altai and the loose 'Afghan horse' category (Qatgani would be an excellent keyword to start on those horses, or the sport of buzkashi for action-packed poses) would be best suited to this strange combination of climates. It also fits the Anderfel Courser's description of being highly uncommon across Thedas. Being bred for the Grey Wardens, I think the Altai and Afghan horses would likely be the best suited for their particular brand of excitement.

Some Quick Diagrams

I realize not everyone is as into horses as I am, and may be stumped on how to search for certain colors and patterns when looking up references. As a final little send off, I've compiled here a group of diagrams designed to help beginners look for color, markings and patterns without drowning in resources on [insert your search engine of choice].

As always, feel free to play with keywords and markings, and really, just go buckwild. These are fantasy horses, after all. But I know sometimes finding references that fit the image in your mind's eye can be tough, so I hope this post helps out, either with finding drawing references or just showing off some cool kinds of horses you may have never heard about before!

If you're interested in learning about medieval horses and their general uses and care, I would highly recommend watching Modern History TV's Everything You Need to Know About Medieval Horses for more information.

[woodlandeelf]

How to play Dragon Age's Vendetta*

*an unofficial guide created by someone who loves to know things for people who also love to know things

I really wanted to write in a few Vendetta card scenes for my fanfics, but me being me, I needed to know how the game actually worked! This is by no means a perfect assumption of how the DA writers intended the game to work or be played, but I've done my best to reconstruct some actual rules (and play-tested them!) that make the game real-world playable.

Feel free to use and reference these Vendetta instructions in your own work, since it's Dragon Age's IP of course--but if you do, I'd love a shout-out for the work on rule establishment and play testing that I've done!

From the Codex:

"In the game, played with a divination deck, Death and the Fool constantly trade ownership, eliminating a major arcana card with each pass. Hands are rebuilt with the minor arcana until Death at last takes the Fool, and best final draw takes the pot." "Outcomes can seem nebulous, and it is rumored the entire exercise is a silent way to discuss contracts while hands are kept busy and away from weapons."

(tl;dr, the game is fast and the points don't matter)

The point of the game is, inherently, to keep hands busy (and away from knives) while discussions or negotiations occur. Depending on the location, the speed, and the table setting, Vendetta can be seen as an exercise in peace-making between Houses, or as a method of intimidation.

The game can only be played with two or four players, which I've dubbed "Duel" or "Melee."

Rules & Instructions & diagrams below

Players: 2 or 4 (duel or melee)

Set up: Deal evenly the 20 Major Arcana cards between two or four players. Take Death, the Fool (and if playing with four, two Minor Arcana cards) and shuffle; each player draws at random (if playing with four, return the two Minor Arcana cards to the Minor Arcana deck) to assign players. The starting player is the player with the Fool. Minor Arcana deck is shuffled and set aside.

How to play: Each player with a Fool or Death in their play area card eliminates (flips and covers) another player’s Major Arcana until none are left. That player can replace that Major Arcana card with a random Minor Arcana card from the deck once they’ve deployed Death/the Fool on someone else’s hand and the slot is empty. Players can only take a turn if they have Death or the Fool in their play area. Play ends and scores are taken once there are no Major Arcana cards left alive and Death “takes” the Fool.

Game ends: “when Death takes the Fool” i.e. when there are no other Major Arcana cards to eliminate. The player with Death and the Fool murdered in their play area will have one less card to score with.

Scoring: Same as Wicked Grace (or in the real world, standard 5-card draw poker) and scored with the Minor Arcana in each player's play area. Aces are high, and hand values are based on pairs, triples, straits, full houses, flushes, royal flushes, etc (same as Wicked Grace and standard 5-card draw poker).

Betting: The game has no intuitive breaks for mid-play bet raising, and hinges on players not folding (and all players staying alive until the end, cough cough Crows and their knives) so any betting would have to take place before play begins; since winning and gambling are, once again, not the point of Vendetta, it like the rest of the game must be easily smoothed over in favour of allowing conversation and negotiation to take precedence. Winner takes the pot.

Duel:

Separate Minor Arcana, Major Arcana, and Death and the Fool. Set Minor Arcana deck aside to draw from.

Start with 10 major arcana cards per person laid out. Each person draws either Death or the Fool at random.

Player 1 (whomever is starting with the Fool): deploy the Fool to eliminate one of P2’s cards. Flip and cover with Fool to eliminate.

Player 2 (whomever starts with Death): deploy Death to eliminate and cover one of P1’s cards.

P1 takes Death and eliminates and covers one of P2’s Major cards. P1 then draws a Minor Arcana card to replace their eliminated and uncovered one. (There is never a card left flipped and not replaced)

P2 takes the Fool and eliminates and covers one of P1’s Major cards. P2 then draws a Minor Arcana card to replace their eliminated and uncovered one.

Repeat 5 and 6 until only Death and the Fool remain. Death covers Fool and ends the game.

Strategy with Duel: No specific strategy identified. The Duel is a dance, and by virtue of drawing cards, the points are left entirely up to chance.

Melee:

Separate Minor Arcana, Major Arcana, and Death and the Fool. Set Minor Arcana deck aside to draw from.

Deal Major Arcana. Blind-draw Death the Fool, and two Minor Arcana cards. Player with the Fool becomes Player 1. Return Minor Arcana cards to the deck. Shuffle deck and set aside.

Player 1 deploys Fool to eliminate (flip and cover) one of another player's Major Arcana.

Player with Death deploys Death to eliminate (flip and cover) one of another player's Major Arcana card.

Player whose Maj. Arcana was just eliminated by the Fool re-deploys the Fool to eliminate another player's Major Arcana. Draw a Minor Arcana card and cover eliminated card.

Person with Death performs the same action.

Play repeats until all Major Arcana cards have been eliminated, and Death is finally allowed to eliminate the Fool.

Strategy with Melee (4 players): don't be the last person to have the Fool played on them so that you aren't one Minor Arcana card short of everyone else at the end!

[justjasper]

Isabela's Fight Introductions

Bellara - Our next challenger comes from the Veil Jumpers of Arlathan. She's deadly and Dalish, so everyone give a halla for Bellara!

Davrin - In war, victory! In peace, vigilance! In the Hall of Valor, give it up for renowned Grey Warden and monster slayer Davrin!

Emmrich - The spirits of the Hall of Valor are honored to welcome Emmrich "Vol-carnage" Volkarin of the Mourn Watch!

Harding - She's the tiny Titan who puts the feral in Ferelden! Please welcome Lace Harding!

Lucanis - The Hall of Valor is pleased to welcome legendary Spirit of Determination, Spite! And his spirit-friend, Lucanis Dellamorte of the Crows.

Neve - Is that a chill in the air? Please give an ice-cold welcome to the darling of Dock Town, the Winter from Tevinter, Neve Gallus!

Taash - The Hall of Valor couldn't make a dragon... so we're bringing our own! Lords of Fortune, let's hear it for our hometown hero, Taash!

Bonus:

We got the idea for this next match from a traveller named Armax. Said he used it to challenge shepherds.

They've got the reach, let's see if you have the flexibility!

[bitethebulette]

Rivain & The Lords of Fortune (1/?) - Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Snapshots of the Rivaini coastline and the Halls of Valor.

[queenaeducan]

Unique Dwarf Dialogue with Mythal If you play as a dwarf!Rook and complete Harding's personal quest before speaking to Mythal, you get a unique dialogue option when asking for her help.

Rook: I know what I am. A dwarf. A child of the Stone

Mythal: Yes, your people came from what remained of the Titans. I bear you no hatred, but neither shall I apologize. It was war. Moreover, even if I did wish there had been other options, you are not the one to whom I would apologize. Whatever pain Solas and I inflicted on the Titans, it is nothing to you.

Rook: I felt that pain. My friend, Lace Harding, is another child of the Stone. She was affected by a strange magic, and it woke up her connection to the Titans. She felt what happened to the Titans, and the pain of that violation nearly drove her mad. I felt it, a flash of it, when I helped her.

Mythal: So you are saying that her pain is my fault?

Rook: I am asking if you want the whole world to feel that pain, as the blight spreads it everywhere.

Mythal: I... do not.

[ashalsdream]

References for the Inquisitor's arm in veilguard btw I love all the small details

[my-dear-anonym]

My-Dear-References: Dragon Age Resources

Spread the Wealth!

If you have any references you would like to see compiled here, let me know and I'll look into it.

Characters: Dialogue, Traits, References, and More

Character Conversations:

DAO: Companion on Companion Dialogue DA2: Companion on Companion Dialogue || PC on Companion Dialogue DAI: Companion on Companion Dialogue || PC on Companion Dialogue (Big Shout Out to @daitranscripts Veilguard: Companion on Companion || PC on Companion Solas' Voice and Dialogues

Character Ages:

A List for Companions

Character Heights:

Coming...Eventually

Stuff I've Gathered on...

Lucanis:

Armor Facts, History, Relationships, General, and Crow Related

Harding:

Family, History, General, Dwarf Magic, etc

Veilguard End Romance Flower Images

The Nations of Thedas:

Foods for Different Nations Names for different Cultures (shoutout to @schizcolephrenic) Cultural Views and Interactions with Spirits Across Thedas Rivaini and Qunari Fashions and Architectures (Plus a little tevinter)

Languages:

Ancient Tevene Qunlat Orzammar Dwarf Ancient Elvhen: Fan Compliations: 1, 2 || Canon Translations Antivan: I use Spanish, but there's also THIS Swearing in Common

Antivan Crows:

Here is the Wiki Here is everything you get out of Zevran through dialogue part 1 and part 2 (huge shout out to @eveninglakehomeworld)

Date of Events:

The dates of various installments of the series, placing the games and published content on the Dragon Age Calendar.

Wicked Grace:

Wonder how to play the game? Want to know just enough to implement into a fic? Here you go.

Herbalism and Plants

Random tidbits from Veilguard

I'll update this at my own fancy. (I've got all this shit bookmarked and tabbed out so we'll see)

Unsorted references I haven't had time to place yet but want to come back to later: