#jasko writes

[perkeleen-lavellan]

I've been thinking about how Ghilan'nain could be seen as a sort of Aphrodite figure among the Dalish. This is not a 1 to 1 comparison, one of the things I really like about the elven pantheon is that they are a fairly self contained set of fantasy deities. Meaning that rather than just being irl gods with new skins they seem more like someone looked at what kinds of gods usually appear among polytheistic cultures and made their own to suit Thedas.

But anyway, Ghilan'nain, Aphrodite. I started comparing them because they are both outsiders among their peers. Ghilan'nain was a mortal raised up to deity by Andruil, among gods who are very nepotistically otherwise related by blood. All the other Evanuris are Mythal and Elgar'nan's children far as I know. Except perhaps June, which is a point of debate since he is depicted as both Sylaise's husband and brother. It might be one of those things that vary depending on the source, and honestly he might have very well been both.

So anyway this has lead me to headcanon that Ghilan'nain is also considered a goddess of beauty. She'd represent the unmarried maiden in a sense. She and Andruil together could be seen as two sides of sexuality. Andruil being the lust and the one who pursues it and Ghilan'nain the one who invokes lust.

I say this because you also have Sylaise and June representing the young married couples, and Mythal and Elgar'nan the mother and father and an older union. So it's like you've got three types of relationships all with their flaws and benefits represented. Ghilan'nain and Andruil definitely represent lust and passion and romance and all its wildness, Sylaise and June might represent a happy but untested marriage, and Mythal and Elgar'nan are here to be our messy old couple who are staying together for the kids and also because it's either that or one of them killing the other, probably.

Similarly to the Greeks, the Dalish pantheon retain their personable qualities and are seen as people, as opposed to perfect omniscient beings, which makes them very interesting and good for the kind of fables with drama and theatrics with some lesson about human nature at the core.

[perkeleen-lavellan]

wip whenever

@mocha-writes tagged me in a challenge to find the words “day,” “love,” or “truth/true” in my wips. Surprisingly rare words in my Dragon Age writing at least, but as it happens I did find truth in this scene I have written for my eternally unfinished story of Sacha’s Inquisition.

"Did you hear that?" Sacha asked.

"What? You mean the ominous whispering in gibberish," Dorian started. "I thought that was just Bull's stomach."

"Haven't eaten any mages recently, so no," said the gruff man behind them. Though he was joking there was an unnerved quality to Bull's voice. Solas ignored them.

"Solasan enan…" Sacha muttered to himself, trying to make sense of the cacophony. "Something about pride…"

"You understood that?" Dorian asked, Solas looked intrigued as well, while Bull remained outwardly impassive.

"No, it was," Sacha paused. The truth of it almost slipped. That was unlike him. "A feeling," he lied lamely.

"A feeling," Dorian repeated unimpressed. "Well that makes it good science then!"

"It is, in this instance," Solas finally piped in. "That sounded to me like ancient Elvhen. No one speaks that dialect anymore so it's difficult even for me, but in a place like this where the veil is frayed I'm not surprised you'd be able to understand the intent behind the words, even if the language is foreign."

Sacha met Solas's eyes. He was grateful for the excuse, though he had to wonder at his luck. What Solas said was true of course, but Sacha couldn’t say it was what had really happened. No, it was simply something of Retribution that made him recognise that one word. Then he realized, "That's your name too." Sacha looked at him dumbfounded. "Your parents named you pride." Funny how he never noticed it before.

Solas blinked, taken aback. "I- yes. Yes, I imagine they thought me their pride, or perhaps it was simply something they wished for me."

Dorian and Bull looked at the two of them interested. "Funny," Sacha said, "considering."

"Yes," Solas agreed dryly.

"Ok what, you've piqued my interest," Bull said and came to stand by them. Sacha looked up. He smiled beatifically and explained.

"Pride is the most dangerous demon. More than any Pride is smart. It's seductive, and it's something everyone needs. If you talked to Pride once you'd begin to doubt whether it was a demon at all."

"And perhaps it isn't," Solas said. "Demon and spirit are simply words we use to describe forces of nature. The negativity of anything comes from either its lack or its excess."

"If it wants to steal your body it's safe to say it's a demon," Dorian pointed out.

Sacha opened his mouth but Bull interrupted him, "Yeah alright. Forget I asked. You three can talk demon philosophy later, how about we just go check out the horror death trap temple now?"

Sacha stared at the retreating backs of his companions, rolling over those words in his head. 'If it wants to steal your body.'

What about if it asks for it, and you agree to give it?

"Boss?" Bull turned back. Sacha gave him a reassuring look and followed them inside the Solasan.

Poor Bull. He gets along with Solas, Dorian and Sacha separately, but if the three of them start talking magic Bull starts running a reel of top 10 cringe things Krem has done drunk in his head or something.