Discover Top Posts Tagged with #half up front

Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights Commentary

Half Up Front by John Epler

Well, it's only been *checks notes* a full year since I last did this. About damn time, right? This story has been on my mind lately, since receiving an ask about the Agents of Fen'Harel - who, spoiler alert, play an important role here.

#dragon age #tevinter nights #half up front #tn commentary #meta #i finally finished writing something!

most sane dread wolf's follower:

#dragon age #tevinter nights #half up front #vadis #irian cestes #fen'harel

Tevinter Nights

A collection of summaries for the short stories found in Tevinter Nights and a selection of details seemingly most poignant to Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“Half Up Front” (Epler)

In “Half Up Front” we take the perspective of former altus Vadis (who has no first name mentioned). Estranged from her father, Magister Moreno Vadis, after choosing to leave her family to be with her lover, Irian Cestes (who was formerly a servant in the Vadis household until Vadis got her a job outside of the family’s employ). This caused her to be cut off from her family and blackballed in Minrathous. Little resources and few options, Vadis turns to moonlighting as a thief for hire.

The story begins in Minrathous during the winter with Vadis meeting a potential client in a bar that only those who know about it patronize. This client, who knows who Vadis is despite the rules of no names—only a place, job and “half [the pay] up front”. The client reveals she knows Vadis’s history—the scandal of her romantic life, her family offering her choice, her choosing Irian—in a show of her “vast resources”. Vadis, not liking the attempt at intimidation, gets up to leave. The client placates her by saying she will pay her fee if Vadis just listens. Vadis sits and the client passes her a package. Within is a rubbing that is ancient. At first at a loss as to what she’s looking at, the client, via pointed religious questions, explains it is “Dumat’s Folly”. A piece of the Black City itself, and it has been stolen. By who and why are the two questions the client wants answered, for triple Vadis’s rate. Usually kept in the Archon’s palace, which Vadis knows from personal experience when she was hired for “that Pavus job” is very difficult to steal from, Vadis initially refuses as it comes down to being Chantry-related business. She directs the client to seek out Neve Gallus, but the client rejects this saying she needs a thief and discretion. She needs the information but moreover needs the artifact stolen back. Ultimately, Vadis asks the client why it has to be her—a mage thief. The client responds by producing a rune that only a mage can operate that will reveal wether the artifact is genuine or a forgery. The rune was once part of the artifact, the two separated long ago and thus is why it can reveal the true artifact. Despite the potential danger, Vadis, knowing she needs the money, agrees.

After talking it over with Irian, who is also her literal partner in crime and makes Vadis promise they’ll go to Val Royeaux, the two go to do the job. Slipping in through the servant’s entrance, they make their way to the main hall. Appearing unguarded, Vadis spots the spider statues that are magically connected; if the connection is severed, they come to life and capture the intruder. Then the second defense is that only every third stone was safe to step on; a misstep led to the doors sealing. That is what’d happened to Vadis the last time she tried to steal from the palace—the doors closed and she had to make a near impossible exit that injured her knee. The security unchanged, the two make their way to the display cases that contain Chantry artifacts, the middle one empty. The rune confirms the true artifact had been there, Vadis searches for indications of how the thief had done it. She notices blood on the floor and a clean spot beneath the display case. Not believing the thief had succeeded with simply brute force of digging their way in, she uses magical dust to cling to more powerful magic. It lands upon an enchantment placed on the display case to alert if anything happened to it or the object within. However, the enchantment has been changed as it stops before reaching where the artifact would sit, enabling the thief to move it without anyone being the wiser. [Note from Lady Aubade: The palace does not realize the artifact is missing as of yet because the thief (not Vadis) essentially utilized the concept of redirecting a laser with a mirror in “real life” scenarios; this is the magical version of it—someone redirected the enchantment to flow into itself in a great infinity knot] Upon closer examination, Vadis discovers very delicate and intricately performed magic to redirect the enchantment placed on the display case. It indicates two robberies had occurred: the first was the intricately performed magic as Vadis senses it is weeks old when she pulls the magic apart with her own where as the second had happened only days ago. The palace alerted by Vadis tampering with the magic, she and Irian escape down the hole beneath the display case.

Down below is mud. Irian follows footprints left behind presumably by the thief which disappear before the tunnel splits into two. Vadis follows the left path which is more mud while Irian follows the right which turns to stone. At the end of Vadis’s path sits a bag full of mining picks and a note in Qunlat. Irian is able to read some of it as she considered joining the Qun and went to one of their training camps for a brief time before leaving. Irian explains it is Ben-Hasserath instructions, mostly coded, to obtain the artifact and return “home”. Irian’s path had led to a fake Dumat’s Folly hidden beneath a pile of bricks. Vadis decides to keep the fake and uses the blood on the note (the thief had been injured) to track the thief. Flashes of images show in her mind, she explains them to Irian who tells her she knows where they need to go.

In the once Rivaini, now turned Qun, port town of Kont-aar, the two find a Qunari dreadnought preparing for a long journey. The citizens tried to hide the information form the two, but the common denominator of no one mentioning dock seventeen points them to the dreadnought. The dreadnought is sailing within the day, so Irian has Vadis sneak aboard via a barrel of salted pork, while the elf is able to blend in with the other Qunari elves. Aboard, Vadis overhears a conversation between a woman and a man named Gatt—the Qunari know she and Irian are there. Once they’re gone, Vadis sneaks out of the barrel and looks for the artifact. Upon the dreadnought is crate after crate containing magical artifacts and notes indicating that the Qunari are not only collecting magical artifacts but also studying them. This puzzles Vadis as the Qunari are known to hate magic. Knowing they’re running out of time, she and Irian both begin opening crates. Vadis steps back and looks for clues to help her narrow her search. Using the dust to deduce the crates that have sat the longest versus those newly arrived, she finds Dumat’s Folly. Using the rune to check for genuineness, the magic begins to go haywire. As it does, the client steps from the shadows.

The client reveals herself, a lone elf wearing a simple robe “embroidered with an unknown symbol,” as working freely for the Dread Wolf. She pries the rune from Vadis’s hands as she is still under the effects of a paralysis spell. As the agent holds the rune, she mutters “Felassan” three times before the rune comes to life. She explains that what Vadis had been hunting was a weapon rendered to look like Dumat’s Folly and the one Irian had found below the Archon’s palace was the Chantry’s true relic. The agent had taken it and replaced it with the weapon which the Qunari then stole. The agent tried to get it back, but the Qunari left sooner than she anticipated so she sent Vadis after it. The agent shows Vadis the intention of having the Qunari steal it as she presses the rune against the weapon. They meld, glowing and pulsing in a rhythm; it grows brighter and the temperature rises and the begins absorbing the magical items aboard the dreadnought. The agent explains that it is not a piece of the Black City, like the true Dumat’s Folly, but was “taken from the same time”. The weapon is designed to feed upon magic, storing it until full before exploding. The agent makes to kill Vadis, but Irian reveals herself and punches the agent. Momentarily unconscious, the spell upon Vadis wears off. Irian explains the “Fen’Harel cultists” tried to recruit her and they all have the same “if we blow up enough people, ancient Elvhenan is definitely coming back” mentality. The agent awakens, Vadis grabs her with the intention of interrogating her, but the agent bites down and dies via self-inflicted poisoning. Irian explains that’s why she didn’t join as its “death before capture”. The two think it the end, their actions leading to the death of thousands, until Vadis remembers they’re on a ship and plans to put it out to sea.

On deck, Vadis had Irian ready the sails before she pours magic into the sails. Not making much way, they’re set upon by five Qunari elves. Defeating the threat, they get them off the ship to spare their lives before, together, they push the dreadnought out to sea—Irian steering as Vadis pours magic into the sails to move it faster. Again, they face the end before Vadis spots a lifeboat. In a desperate bid, they lower it to the water and Vadis shoots them across the water with her magic, hoping they don’t die. Approaching the shore too fast, Vadis wraps them in a sphere of magical shield energy until they finally slide to a stop. As they do, the weapon—having consumed all the magic it could from the artifacts on the dreadnought—explodes. A “flash of light, a second sun on the horizon,” the release of the Dumat’s Folly in a “single, cataclysmic blast”. Followed by a shockwave and a sound that was “the roar of a hundred dragons, the crash of a thousand avalanches” that precedes a tidal wave that soaks Vadis and Irian upon the shore. The threat averted, the two are taken “away from the false sun on the horizon” to be interrogated by Gatt.

Gatt asks them what happened, Vadis explains and then asks if Gatt was hired to steal the Dumat’s Folly. He claims Ben-Hasserath are not for hire, but can be “persuaded”. A Ben-Hasserath agent (who was really an agent of Fen’Harel) spoke of Dumat’s Folly being integral to the Dread Wolf’s plans. The double agent killed himself via poisoning before the Ben-Hasserath could interrogate him. When asked why the weapon was aboard the dreadnought, Gatt explains the ship was the Qunari’s Darvaarad (“magical isolation”) which is where they studied magical artifacts to better understand mages. They’d chosen a dreadnought to keep it secret and moving in order to keep it safe when the prior fortress’s walls “proved ineffective”. The two deduce the whole scheme was one of opportunity—Vadis hired not only to track it down but to force the Ben-Hasserath’s hand. “A Tevinter altus, striking at a Qunari settlement that had yet to enter hostilities? Ben-Hasserath wouldn’t be able to sit the war out anymore. He**, it might even bring Rivain in—and who knows who else. Utter and complete chaos.” (Page 466). Gatt concedes that Vadis is most likely right, but points out that isn’t what happened and thanks Vadis for sparing his men and says their prevention of disaster enables the Ben-Hasserath to remain neutral and focus on the real threat. Gatt offers an alliance, but Vadis refuses, stating she “just wants to go home”. Gatt warns this isn’t possible as they are now known to Fen’Harel who most likely has agents in Minrathous. Instead, he steers them to Kirkwall where “a dwarf will want to hear what [they] have to say about the enemy and…will have work for [them]” to give them “a chance to strike back” and “to matter” (Page 468). Vadis agrees they’ll go to Kirkwall with a stop in Val Royeaux first.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Interesting Tidbits:

Vadis was hired by the Pavus family for a previous job in the Archon’s palace—presumably Dorian, but it is not specified and no specifics of what the job entailed are shared

The real Dumat’s Folly is an actual piece of the Black City according to the agent of Fen-Harel, but we get no actual description of what it looks like; the rubbing is comprised of runes and described only as ancient

Blood magic can be used to peek into the mind of another and see images/memories, even if the blood is a few days old

Gatt was first introduced in Inquisition during Bull’s personal quest; his name is short for Gattlock due to his temper

We visited the Darvaarad when it was a fortress in Trespasser via an eluvian

The Agent of Fen’Harel wears a robe embroidered with an unknown symbol; uses the word “Felassan” to activate the weapon—wether this is a reference to the elf Felassan in The Masked Empire or to the legend tied to Fen’Harel which Felassan’s name comes from, is unclear, but felassan means “slow arrow”

There is imagery of a “false sun” and “second sun” which some have speculated has to do with the plot of Veilguard because of imagery from the game itself-> Elgar’nan is tied to the sun in elven tales

The Qunari Antaam are acting on their own in the invading of Tevinter as the Ben-Hassrath and other arm of the Qunari are not involved in the war; the Ben-Hassrath are focused on Fen’Harel

Gatt knows Varric is looking for information into Solas’s plans and directed Vadis to Kirkwall

There are suggestions that not everyone believes Solas is actually Fen’Harel, but someone pretending to be him

Based on the ending of this story, there is a chance Vadis and Irian could be seen again in Veilguard

Interesting/Favorite Quotes:

“…in the middle of the room, a single magically animated piano, someone’s vain attempt at injecting a little additional class into the space, plinking away a sad little tune, off-key and discordant. There was no bartender—or at least, none that you ever saw. There was a large shelf, though, with two small doors and a basket. You put your coin in the basket and slid through one door. And almost immediately, your drink came out the other side. No change—you paid the price to the copper. That seemed to be how it knew what to serve you. It was the sort of casual use of magic you got use to, living in Tevinter, but I still thought it was pretty impressive.” (Page 433-434)

“It was a rubbing of some sort, covered in runes. Old—really, really old. Before-Tevinter-existed old.” (Page 436)

“The edges were sharper than they looked, and I sliced my finger. I scowled and stuck the finger in my mouth. Wordlessly, she offered me a cloth, and I used it to wipe the blood away, before stuffing it in my pocket. Never a good idea to let someone else get ahold of your blood. Lots of nasty things they could do with it.” (Page 437)

“‘Remember the Pavus job?’ ‘Every time it’s cold.’” (Page 441)

“The Archon’s palace filled the Minrathous skyline. Dominated it—it was visible from pretty much anywhere. When you first came to the city, you spent a few weeks admiring it, in awe of it. Eventually, you got used to it, and it became part of the background, like the sun or the clouds.” (Page 443)

“The climbing axes we’d brought with us managed the rest, and before long we were up on the lower roof.” (Page 444)

“I pulled a small crystal from my satchel and, holding it in front of me, snapped it in half. Magical dust flurried out. It would adhere to stronger magic, showing the lines of any enchantments, active or otherwise. A moment passed, a second, and then the dust traced out lines of magic on the display case.” (Page 446)

“It was subtle—far more so than the magic in the rest of the hall. A glimmering web of lines traced across the bottom of each case, marking the outline of the objects within. Incredibly delicate work…It was tied into the objects in the cases—if one removed the object, or even moved it, the flow of magic would break…But where Dumat’s Folly had sat, the magic simply stopped…No, not completely. The faintest flicker of it still stayed there…But it was almost as if it were being blocked—just imperfectly…Beneath the cases, I found what I was looking for. where the lines from each case gathered, they formed a thick trunk of magical energy that disappeared underground. But something was keeping that energy from reaching the case that contained Dumat’s Folly…Right where the magic branched, an enchantment instead diverted the energy back into itself.” (Pages 446-447)

“I took a deep breath, focused my energy. Hoped there was enough blood—now that was a phrase that felt authentically Tevinter. I let the energy flow through my staff, into the letter, into the blood. I let my mind go blank. Several minutes went by, and I was beginning to think the blood was too old, too dry, to work, when I got it. Flashes of images…Impressions. And then they disappeared.” (Page 452)

“Reading words in the silence was something you learned early on in Tevinter. We were a passive-aggressive nation.” (Page 453)

“It is an ingenious device. Not a piece of the Black City, like the true Dumat’s Folly, but taken from the same time. It draws magic into itself. Stores it, and then when it is full…” She clasped her hands together and pulled them apart. The universal sign for something exploding… ‘Take comfort that in your sacrifice, the glory of the true people will be restored.’” (Page 458)

”Her teeth clenched. Green foam started to fill her mouth. I dropped her to the ground and she started spasming, her legs drumming on the wooden deck. Her back arched once, twice, and then she was still.” (Page 459)

“They’d done their job, nothing more. They didn’t deserve to die for that.” (Page 461)

“Below us, the thrum of magic had taken on a keening edge. Flames, edged with red, were licking at the deck now, centered on where I knew the artifact sat. The heat was almost unbearable, the sound even more so.” (Page 463)

”And suddenly, a flash of light, a second sun on the horizon. The Dumat’s Folly. Every ounce of magic it could drain from the ship, released in a single, cataclysmic blast. And just behind the light, a shockwave. The waves rising, cresting. The sound came next. It was the roar of a hundred dragons, the crash of a thousand avalanches. It filled the world, and dimly, I could hear glass shattering farther up the shore, in the town. And immediately behind it, a wall of water…They spun us around, surrounding us, marching us forward. Away from the false sun on the horizon, and toward the town.” (Page 465)

“I’m happy I didn’t start a war. Even happier that I didn’t let some egomaniacal elf trick me into starting one.” (Page 467)

“But we have other allies. A dwarf in Kirkwall. He will want to hear what have to say about the enemy. And more than that, he will have work for you. Something more than survival—a chance to strike back. A chance to matter.” (Page 468)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Masterlist

there are now two (2) cheese lesbian couples in DA and I am happy more people are learning about them xD

#tevinter nights #half up front

Given that Tevinter Nights is just over one month old, and the majority of you have had a decent chance to pick it up and give it a good read, I want to share my full-spoiler predications for Dragon Age 4 based on many new aspects Tevinter Nights brings to the ever-so expanding universe of Dragon Age. As a quick preface, this sort of video is definitely going to be more of an opinion piece, sharing my own thoughts and marvels on everything Tevinter Nights foreshadows for the future game.

I encourage all of your thoughts and theories too, so share them down below! But, without further ado, I’ll start by sharing my predictions on the main tone of Dragon Age 4.

In my quest to reach the last story of Tevinter Nights, I've completed "Half Up Front".

It was quite good in its setting and has interesting information (not earth shaking though) on what the Fen'Harel cultists are up to.

One thing that struck me odd was towards the end, Gatt from the Ben-Hassrath speaks of a dwarf from Kirkwall, who I am sure goes by the name of Varric Tethras, as though he's an ally.

The last time my Inquisitor met Gatt, it was for him to tell the Iron Bull that he was Tal-Vashoth. So, for him to suddenly claim Varric who is very much close to the Inquisition, as an ally was a bit of a jarring anomaly there. Irrespective of whether the Inquisition had an alliance with the Qunari or not, I'd think the actions of the Viddasala in wanting to kill almost all leaders of southern Thedas at the Exalted Council would put an end to any alliance that remains.

Unless...

The Ben-Hassrath are denouncing the actions of the Viddasala from Trespasser the way the Qunari did the Arishok's decision to take over Kirkwall in DA2.

Or....

Gatt has a personal correspondence with Varric... He's like a double agent within the Ben-Hassrath and is helping the Inquisition with information via Varric. (Though this seems extremely unlikely, seeing how heartbroken Gatt was that Bull chose the Inquisition over the Qun)

Or maybe that was just a misstep on Epler's part...

Ah!!! Questions, questions everywhere!!

#Tevinter Nights #Half Up Front #Gatt #Varric Tethras #Dragon Age

I do think playing Indiana Jones in the archon palace is pretty damn romantic

#the spiders system!!! so cool #reading the tevinter thing #tevinter nights #half up front

Gatt? THAT GATT?

Push him in the water!

#reading the tevinter thing #tevinter nights #unless it's a common title if that's him I hope he trips and falls <<#half up front

I encourage all of your thoughts and theories too, so share them down below! But, without further ado, I’ll start by sharing my predictions on the main tone of Dragon Age 4.

#half up front

Trending Tags

Recently Viewed Tags

#half up front