Rook by Any Other Name
Thank you for the tag @davrinsleftpectoral! I've been wanting to do this for a long time already lmao.
I also saw @rookanisstuff draw hers, her format was nice, I finally found an excuse to draw Anya in different poses and outfits. Lucanis took precedence, now I wanna draw my Rook. Had to try a different art style so I could quickly draw 7 artworks lol.
Also happy @rookfest everyone! :) Figured I'd tag them because this is Rook-focused too. Yes, for those who knew Anya already, she really isn't a natural redhead. She's a brunette :) She's one of those people that dye their hair to welcome a new life lmao
In the audience, from left to right and top to bottom: Teia, Illario, Anya's mother Astrid, and my friend @corinnesin's rook Serena de Riva :)
Anya is a renowned former opera performer, martial arts prodigy, and Antivan socialite—her stage name is Anastasia Firenze. Eldest among three siblings, she was the only one, unlike her brothers, who couldn't do magic like their mother. She, however, is a more talented fighter like her father, and started training as early as 3 years old, much to her pestering. Discouraged by her father from a perilous life at the battlefield, she transferred these skills to garner conventional success and societal acceptance through being a prominent figure in theatre and the arts, especially with a very big and loyal Crow viewership. She does this really, mostly, to gain the love and acceptance of her neglectful mother and her husband Alejandro—the only audience that mattered to her.
Years into her thriving career, she left the stage and high society to escape an abduction by her now ex-husband, as a last-ditch effort to bring her back into his control. She left Antiva and took refuge with the Shadow Dragons to afford military-grade protection but eventually joins them due to the insistence and urgency of the Justice turned Retribution spirit that possessed her during that abduction--especially that her then husband is now a Venatori magister.
This isn't her happiest nor her healthiest route, but the one where she creates the most meaning into her life, experiences the most love from Lucanis, whom she has so much in common with, and brings the most positive change. She also eventually gets to prove her mother wrong. It's also a time where she really leaves the stage for something she truly yearns for—the battlefield. This route is one I prefer as canon.
It's a little bit difficult to imagine Anya as a Veil Jumper. She is not one for a simpler lifestyle, conforming with religiosity and Dalish customs, and an outright academic study of anything, elven artifacts or not. She's a human with barely any connection with the elven heritage and is coming from a rather affluent background. Their lifestyle is a bit of a disconnect with someone who is raised to chase material comfort, prestige, and power, and to see religion as a burden and an obstacle to pursuing these important goals in life. She would have a reason to be here to train to be a skilled archer, but I do imagine she's the type to leave the faction as soon as she found what she needs there, in search for something more than that life.
Anya as a Mourn Watcher also does not make sense to me. She is in touch with her practical realities. To her, death is death, and that's the end of it. There is no reason for her to partake in ceremonious rituals that do nothing but prolong grief for others who can't handle it. She, however, will be most in touch and control with her Retribution spirit being with the faction. I struggle to find a reason for why she would end up in the Necropolis, probably a refuge whilst setting her death plans after escaping ex-husband's attempted murder. The Mourn Watch would simply be a stepping stone for a life she wants more.
Anya would be a powerful Grey Warden. This is one of the factions that would be able to continue her training the best, now that she has the ability to effectively take down darkspawn. Her having a cold view of life and death would allow her to thrive in a place like this.
Deep down, however, Anya knows this is her last resort. This is the timeline where she has truly given up on her own happiness. She has great difficulty accepting the spirit occasionally taking over her body, let alone the Blight that comes with the life she accepted. She waits for the Calling, and for the Calling to come fast. Joining the Veilguard is merely one of her ways to quicken her already inevitable death.
This is an Anya that rejects Lucanis' love, and rejects the idea of love in general—she's not particularly entertaining that with the state that she's in.
A major route Anya would have chosen if she decided not to flee Antiva. She successfully assassinates her ex-husband, without a spirit occupying her vessel. Her being a Crow would be the most formidable version of herself, with the faction being the place where her natural skills are honed the best.
This is Anya in her most successful and most admired, yet the most cold and callous. A leader the Veilguard respects, but is too intimidated with to consider a real friend. Gains her mother's respect the quickest, but probably not her love. Reluctantly keeps her stage career to gain rapport and maintain her own relevancy.
This is not one to romance Lucanis, or even have feelings for. She thinks she'd make a better First Talon than Lucanis, even, who barely seems to want that responsibility. I think she's likely going to end up with Illario, who has more of the drive and ambition she wants from a person. Considering they both have experiences with the Zara Renata that helped with possessions, I think that's going to fail eventually. It's also the only timeline where Lucanis eventually falls out of love with Anya.
This timeline is interesting to me as this also makes sense to her Antivan heritage, but she's too unsatisfied, jaded and angry about most things for me to make this canon. I detest this version of her, as it's arguably as worse as her becoming a Grey Warden. Probably more opportunity for writing on this one tho lmao
I think Anya being a Lord of Fortune is a glorious time of her life. She truly follows her dreams of fighting full-time. No marital trauma. No desire to appease her own mother. This is where she fully is herself and is living the life that she wants. A legend among the arena in the Hall of Valor as The Bladestealer, as she notices her opponents are not careful enough with their weapons in battle.
What I doubt here is her willingness to even join the Veilguard. I think she likes her life too much to even partake in such heroism. I'd imagine she'd join because it's one way to keep her life interesting, but will happily leave when it gets too bothersome and/or offers little pay. The Veilguard will try to keep her around—whether as a full-time member or on contract-basis—as she's one of their best chances of mitigating danger in Thedas.
This one's too married to the blade to even consider Lucanis, or anyone, ever. Especially she sees that the Crows are a gilded cage.
I am very endeared to this version of Anya because this Anya at her best. Anastasia if the Maker was kinder to her. However, that Maker isn't me, and this isn't interesting.
I'm gently tagging @corinnesin @vorchagirl @silurisanguine @brynriith @ratbagjasper @bossuary @eagleeyetiger @jaderavenarts and YOU if you wanna do this lol
