Theoretical codex/encyclopedia entry for a pivotal historical event in my setting, if it had a wiki!
The Reconstitution
Eledore’s famous, divinely inspired Imperial Code had stood pristine, untarnished for centuries. It guided the Empire, once the pinnacle of all humanity, in it’s glorious endeavors, keeping the horrors of the underworld at bay and ensuring humanity’s continued survival. Only minor amendments were made to keep the Code in sync with the shifts of society over time. But it’s fundamental precepts, guidances and governance of power always remained unchanged.
Until a hundred and fifteen years ago.
The Fourth Summit in Velcaria, undertaken just twenty years after the Great Secession ravaged the empire and carved two potent rival kingdoms out of it’s territory, met for a fateful decision in the Empire’s capital. High Lords and High Governors of massive Eledoran provinces had already wielded considerable power of their own for a while, of course, but it was the Fourth Summit when they finally codified their semi-independence into law.
In one fateful month, the fundamental distribution of power in the Empire, as set out by the Code was rewritten. The High Lords of Eledore had been finally recognized; they were the rightful rulers of their lands, and no more would they be mere servants able to be dismissed at will. Now, they are effectively Kings and Queens of their respective Provinces. The Emperor can only watch on as they go their own direction, only nominally loyal to the throne in Velcaria.
Born beneath a silver sun on the tropical world of Venegar, a young woman found an ancient relic within a hidden cavern. This object, known as the Emerald Eye of Ekron, promised knowledge and power to the woman, who accepted it eagerly. This woman's name was Sarya, but after using the power of the Eye to take over her planet's government and people, she renamed herself the Emerald Empress.
Venegar's people eventually rebelled against her, and with the support of the United Planets, the deposed Empress was taken away and imprisoned on the planet Takron-Galtos, where she would have remained, were it not for a galactic emergency. When people of exceptional power were recruited to help take down the creature known as the Sun-Eater, Sarya was set free to assist. Afterward, she formed an alliance with four other powered individuals, forming the terrorist group known as the Fatal Five, waging war against the United Planets and their willing lapdogs, the Legion of Super-Heroes.
After the group disbanded due to the death of their leader, Sarya allied herself with another terrorist group, the Dark Circle, and took over the United Planets' artificial planetoid, Weber's World. There, she was once again defeated by the Legion, and was eventually forced to join a new version of the Fatal Five, fueled by new emnity for the Legion, and the desire for more power. All the while, her sanity began to slip away, and the power from the Eye (and the being behind it) began to subsume her personality and sense of identity, causing her to refer to herself as "Eye" from that point forwards.
The Empress went on one final rampage, destroying cities and severely injuring Legionnaires in her wake, more powerful than every before. At this point, the Eye was mostly in control, and Sarya's personality had fractured away from that of the Empress. Finally, after this rampage was concluded, Sarya appealed to Legionnaire Sensor Girl (AKA Projectra of Orando), asking for help from a "fellow royal" to free her from the influence of the Eye. Hidden from its presence via Projectra's illusory abilities, Sarya was finally freed, but at the cost of her life force. Withering away and dying in Projectra's arms, Sarya was finally dead. The Eye, on the other hand, moved on to new subjects and victims craving its power.
Other Incarnations
DC Rebirth: Sarya has appeared in the current comics line, prior to her death, and from a separate universe than the current canon. While her appearance is never fully explained, this is the original Emerald Empress, who is in the present seeking revenge against a time-travelling Saturn Girl, and then against Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) for slights not yet realized. To this end, she forms a new Fatal Five in the modern day DC Universe, but is defeated by the Kryptonians present in the time period. She also served on the Suicide Squad during this time, captured while searching for Saturn Girl.
DC Animated Universe: Sarya appeared with the Fatal Five in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Far From Home", in which she and the rest of the Five involved Supergirl, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow in their war with the Legion of Super-Heroes. Another version of Sarya appeared in this universe in the film Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, where she had been sent to the past and imprisoned in Green Lantern Sciencells, keeping her away from the Eye, and away from the rest of the Fatal Five. She was eventually broken out and wreaked havoc on the Green Lanterns, before joining with the Five and facing off against the Justice League and Legionnaire Star Boy.
Legion of Super-Heroes: Sarya is the leader of the Fatal Five, as well as its most single-handedly powerful member. Waging war against the United Planets and the Legion, she and the Five are later recruited to fight against the Sun-Eater on the behest of their mortal enemies. Three years later, she is released from prison by Imperiex's actions, alongside many other Legion enemies, only to see her Eye destroyed by Matter-Eater Lad, who was driven temporarily mad by the energies within. After this point, this version of Sarya is stripped of her power, and never seen again.
Thanks for reading!
Check out my currently ongoing Legion of Super-Heroes essay series ( Part One | Two | Three | Four ) on a proposed television series if you're interested!
“You're the one they're calling the Herald.”
“If you know a way to make them stop, I am all ears.”
Amaris Lavellan is a Dalish elven mage, better known to the world as the Inquisitor, or much to her displeasure and discouragement, the "Herald of Andraste."
Background
For a long time, the Dalish Clan Lavellan was known as having no magic. Some wondered if a curse was placed on them. It was always necessary to adopt mages from other clans, as none were born from their own. That is, until in the 1st of Cloudreach, 9:11 Dragon, when Amaris came into the picture.
Amaris was a very solitary child, preferring the company of her grandparents, books, and her own imagination over the other children. Early on her parents wondered if there was something ‘wrong’ with her, but dismissed it as simply shyness. When she was 10, her parents adopted a young boy when his parents fled from the city, but did not make it themselves. She was a very mother-like big sister, and it pleased her parents to see her have some social interaction.
Amaris discovered her magic at the age of 12. When practicing archery, (and doing rather poorly at that,) just before releasing the arrow, the target she was aiming at was struck by a bolt of lightning. With clear skies ahead, the clan immediately recognized it as magic, and Amaris was wisped over to the Keeper before she could even fully comprehend what had happened. The Keeper immediately announced her as First… demoting the current studying First to Second, and the current studying Second to Third. While the Second held some resentment towards her, (which she could not blame him,) the Third, Telmala, cared not.
While initially all the praise and attention she was getting made Amaris want to melt into a corner, she soon realized just how lucky she was. She loved spending her days apprenticing the Keeper, and felt it a lot easier to get along with the other two young mages of her clan, as there was always something to talk about in regards to the magic and history they studied. Her parents went from fretting over her spending too much time reading, to not enough.
Learning the lore of her people always won over practicing magic. While she grew to become a fine mage, albeit with a near complete lack of offensive spells, her true value and pride was in her knowledge of the people.
Amaris and Telmala connected in particular, and the two young girls developed romantic feelings for each other.
Unfortunately, when Amaris was 16 and Telmala was 17, at the Arlathvhen, Telmala was sent to another clan in need of a mage. Telmala didn’t want to go, not only because this was the third clan she would move to, but because it meant the feasible end of her relationship with Amaris, who was also very heartbroken, and remained that way for some time. When the two reunited at the next Arlathvhen of 9:37 Dragon, they even contemplated running away together. However, neither felt they could abandon their clans.Amaris received her vallaslin when she was 21; late for the average Dalish, but she was in no rush. The Keeper suggested the blood writing of Dirthamen, as he bestowed to the elves knowledge, and taught them loyalty and faith in family, something Amaris was “destined to follow in.” She accepted with honour.
Then came the bonding proposals. Suddenly she could no longer find a moment of peace. Men would share their interest in her, and she would turn them down. Amaris knew it was not her they were interested in, but rather her magic, and the idea that their child might have magic. The Keeper encouraged this, stating that Amaris was given a precious gift, and that it was her duty to pass that down. But while Amaris strived to be a good Dalish elf in every way, this was something she simply could not do. For Amaris concluded that while she could be content with a romantic relationship, as the one she had and still ached for with Telmala, she is asexual, with no interest in sexual actiivty. Let alone having a child.
Amaris tried to talk to her parents, who only cried for grandchildren. When she tried to talk to the Keeper, the woman simply reminded her that the older she got, the less likely she could deliver a healthy baby, and maybe it was time to finally pick someone, anyone, and then they'd leave her alone. This was the first time Amaris ever argued with the Keeper, and as a result she was made to feel like a child herself. Amaris contemplated this, reasoning that maybe if she just did it and got it over with she could finally be at peace. But the thought made her cringe. So she continued to avoid everyone as best she could.
Involvement
Dragon Age: Inquisition
The day came when a handful of hunters returned in a panic, reporting that war was headed their way. In order to avoid conflict, the clan was forced to leave the countryside and flee to the forest outside of Wycome. When the clan heard news of the Conclave, the Keeper asked Amaris to discreetly attend, and bring back news. The Keeper did not elaborate beyond that, and Amaris didn’t ask, seeing it as a way to put off the pressure to bare a child even longer. So she and a few clan members left to cross the sea into Ferelden. Amaris never assumed she wouldn’t be returning.
Of course, a dose of amnesia and a strange, painful mark on her hand with the ability to close the new found fade rifts in the sky is quite the road block.
When Amaris woke up in a Chantry prison, interrogated by two strange humans over something she knew nothing of, she was afraid and angry. Most of her experience with the Chantry was with the templars and missionaries harassing her clan from time to time. She had heard stories of templars raiding and taking Dalish mages captive from other clans in the Free Marches, and with no memory of what happened, assumed the same had been done to her. But when Cassandra showed her the Breach in the sky, raining demons, she put aside her distrust and agreed to do what she could to stop it, with her mysterious new mark.
Unfortunately, her attempt was only partially successful. After Cassandra and Leliana declare the Inquisition reborn, they not so gently pointed out that with so many blaming her for the death of the Divine, she would no doubt be killed before making it back to her clan. And so Amaris agreed, knowing the Breach needed to be sealed for good, on the condition that they do not address her as the “Herald of Andraste…” a condition no one abided.
When the Inquisition started out, Amaris hated it with a passion, and was very afraid of much around her. Templars were everywhere. Chantry sisters. Angry nobles. Adoring people saying she was a holy figure for a religious organization that not only did she not believe in, but actively oppressed her people. The only things that kept her going were chances to do good, and using Inquisition resources to satisfy her own interests in elven history, like exploring the ancient temple, Solasan. She was also eager to support the rebel mages, who after foiling a time-travelling Tevinter cultist scheme, she offered an alliance with. But the Venatori bothered Amaris. Even after successfully closing the Breach, she felt like there was something yet to come.
And so it did. After Corypheus and his Red Templars destroyed Haven, Amaris was incredibly distraught. Not just because she witnessed immense death and destruction—including nearly her own—at the hands of a monstrous creature claiming godhood, but because it seemed like she would never be able to leave the chaos behind. But being named Inquisitor gave her a newfound sense of determination. If the humans wished to put her in such a position, even officialize it, she would make the best of it.
Amaris accomplished much as Inquisitor. She never missed an opportunity to explore a historic site of her people. Whenever she came across those in need of help, she always took the time to do so. But these things paled in comparison to her bigger influences, such as saving and recruiting the Grey Wardens from Venatori control, and seeing true rule over the Orlesian Empire rest in the hands of the elven leader, Briala. (Who she would readily admit to having a minor infatuation with.)
Amaris was both amazed and incredibly discouraged to discover the Temple of Mythal, and the living ancient elves. She had so many questions, and they had no answers. And so when Abelas offered the Well of Sorrows’ knowledge to them, she instantly decided it would be her to drink from it. Morrigan’s protests only made her surer; she had just spent the entire time trying to explain to Amaris’ own culture to her, and now she wanted the gift of lost elven history for herself? Amaris couldn’t push her out of the way fast enough.
While the Well’s whispering in the back of her mind created some displeasure at first, Amaris learned to tune them in and out. After that, she was often found sitting alone in her room, furiously writing in her books about anything and everything they would speak of.
Does it not count if it's only Fade tongue?
Over time, Amaris also developed a romantic bond with Solas, the mysterious elven mage she originally saw as a jerk rival. Their relationship turned for the better when Solas questioned if he was wrong about the Dalish, to which Amaris said yes. From that point on, she also spent her freetime enjoying many dates in the Fade, and discussions on magic. She was completely blindsided by him breaking things off, initially thinking it was because she drank from the well, or because she refused his offer to remove the vallaslin she proudly wore as a mark of her Dalish culture… or because she would not sleep with him. While Solas tried to say otherwise, the “it’s not you, it’s me” line never had a history of working well. Just like with Telmala, Amaris fell into a state of heartbreak. And as much as she did not want to, she still held feelings for Solas.
Discovering that an essence of Mythal’s spirit lived on in an old, suspicious seeming human both confused and disappointed Amaris. She couldn’t understand why if one of the Creators lived on, they wouldn’t help the people. She couldn’t understand why Mythal would chose a human to live in over one of her own. And the idea of a human now having magical control over her scared her to no end. Yet again, she had so many questions, and no time for answers.
Defeating Corypheus gave the Amaris the biggest sense of accomplishment since putting Briala behind the throne of Orlais. While there was still much work to be done, and she still held the title of Inquisitor, she knew the Inquisitions days would then forth be numbered. However, that initial happiness was reduced with the disappearance of Solas. But Amaris accepted that if he didn’t want to be found, there was no point in searching for him. And so she decided to focus on cleaning up the remaining mess left by the Venatori and Red Templars.
Jaws of Hakkon
The huge history lover she is, Amaris was very interested to uncover the truth about the last Inquisitor, even if it was Chantry history. But the more and more the Inquisition discovered, the more Amaris couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity to Ameridan. She at first brushed it off as simply having the same title and responsibilities, and that all the elven signs must have been from his lover, Telana, who Amaris was very satisfied to prove she not only existed, but was an elven mage like herself.
Amaris also enjoyed visiting and then working with the Avvar of Stone-Bear Hold. While some of her companions found their culture ‘strange’ and ‘backwards,’ Amaris did her best to keep an open mind, always remembering that many would say the same about her people.
While Amaris was amazed to confirm Telana’s elvenness, she was in total awe to see that Ameridan was too. She looked at him, holding his staff, wearing the same vallaslin of Dirthamen as she did, and saw herself. But that initial wonderment faded, when after defeating the Hakkon-posessed dragon, she had a chance to think. The Chantry, like so many things, had rewritten Ameridan’s story. They turned an inspiring elven mage into a human warrior. Her awe turned to dread and fear. For many nights following, she had nightmares of the same thing happening to her.
The Descent
If she were to be honest, Amaris would admit to being even more afraid of venturing into the Deep Roads than she was staring down Corypheus. Unlike Corypheus, the Taint was a not something you could run away from. Couple that with the growing feeling of claustrophobia as they went deeper and deeper down, the endless Darkspawn, the mysterious Sha-Brytol, and a mountainous volume of lyrium… she started to miss the surface pretty fast.
Still, she read the earthquakes as the earth trying to tell them something, and knew there had to be an explanation for them. She did not believe Valta’s theory about Titans, though. At least not at first. But as the band collected more evidence to fit the Shaper’s theory, she started to wonder. When the caverns opened up into great seas and greenery, Amaris felt less confined, and more in awe of the fact that such beauty could exist so far underground. It was this that led her to have the epiphany that they must have been inside the Titan. In the end though, Amaris walked away from the adventure in frustration from having more questions than answers, and concerned for Valta’s wellbeing. When the Inquisition got word that Renn’s body went missing and Valta was nowhere to be found, she cursed herself for leaving such a giant loose end hanging open. Amaris figured it wouldn’t be the last they’d hear from Valta after all, but whether that was a good or bad thing, she couldn’t tell.
Trespasser
When Josephine shared the news that Ferelden wanted the Inquisition to disband, Amaris immediately jumped from her seat with a “yes.” After the defeat of Corypheus, she chose to stay with the Inquisition, partially out of fear that her clan would no longer accept her, and partially because there were still rifts that needed sealing, and still messes to clean up. But it had been two years, and at this point she felt she might as well have been physically chained to her judgement chair. She had put up with the Chantry for longer than she thought she could. The role was weighing heavily on her, and she wanted nothing more than to just go. Of course, her advisors were not so enthusiastic. So she agreed to attend the Exalted Council, but inwardly decided that no matter the outcome, it was time for her to leave.
Being at the Winter Palace again brought back some horrible memories of the last time. She occupied her mind by focusing on all her friends, many of whom she hadn’t seen in ages. It sincerely made her happy to know that they were doing well, and she tried her best to put on a brave face and pretend she was too. None of them bought it, though.
Finding the dead Qunari soldier offered a brilliant distraction, one she jumped on without even contemplating the seriousness of the situation at first. But where the Qunari became a distraction from the Exalted Council, what she was uncovering about the Ancient Elves became a distraction from the Qunari. The threat left her mind the minute she stepped into the elven ruins. Amaris was so excited the pain from her mark even faded from thought; she was in awe of what a discovery for her people she had stepped into, desperate to remember every detail and cursing herself for not bringing her journal with her…
…Only to have that excitement shatter into splinters, like being hit with a hammer in her gut. When Vivienne noted how the Creators—the Evanuris, were basically Magisters, it was enough to bring her to her knees. She felt like the world had just taken the last bit of everything she had. She wouldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe it, tried to find any excuse for why the mosaics in the ruins were lies, the books in the Vir Dirthara were lies, but she knew the truth was all her life, she had been worshipping slavers.
From that point on, Amaris was on auto-pilot. She no longer truly cared about stopping the Qunari, because she no longer cared about anything. She accepted the comfort her companions tried to give, but it didn’t change anything; the wounds were too fresh. She lashed out, cursing the anchor that was killing her and in reality diverted her anger at whoever was writing her life’s story onto it. And she accepted that she was going to die.
For a brief moment, she was near sick with delight in seeing Solas. Finally there was something, anything good to happen. But that fell too. Solas was the Dread Wolf. Fen'Harel. The monster in all the bedtime stories she heard as a child. But Amaris had one too many earthshattering revelations to even fully process things at that point. She was so numb even her heartbreak didn’t have its full effect until he was gone again. In that moment, she listened to him speak, even offered to help him, because hell, she had nothing at that point, and he claimed he wanted to start the world over, even if it meant her death. But in the end, she told him their love would endure, and she would find a way to convince him to abandon his goals of destruction. She tried to convince herself this, too.
Amaris grieved for Solas, in a way. But now she had a purpose. She was glad that she didn’t go with him when she wasn’t thinking clearly, because even if there wasn’t a lot of good left in her world, that didn’t have to be the case for others. And as much as she absolutely would give her life for a different life for her people, the collateral damage was too high a cost. She swiftly disbanded the Inquisition as she planned to do, and drew her most trusted allies close, preparing for what lied ahead.
Personality
Amaris is shy and quiet, until she has a question. Then the best of luck to you in trying to shut her up, for she has a quizzical nature, with a desire to learn everything about anything, but especially her people and magic. This drive for knowledge leaves little room for social skills though, and Amaris prefers the company of books over people any day. You could say she lacks friendship-making skills. After one of the few people outside her family she cared deeply for was sent to another clan, she gained the logic that if she does not let people get too close to her, they cannot hurt her by leaving. Eventually she learns the value of having allies through the Inquisition.
Amaris has a resting face that makes her look pouty even when she’s perfectly content. This is not because she is an emotionless rock, as she would let on, though. In fact she has emotions to the extreme. Like becomes passion, and dislike becomes hatred very quickly. But she's just not good at displaying these emotions. She is also very good at bottling things up in a crisis... But this results in frequent meltdowns afterwards.
Many find it surprising that Amaris actually has a rather optimistic outlook on things, through self-determination; she very much dislikes admitting she can’t do something. (Of course this means she gets frustrated when she is met with struggles.) But while many of her companions acted as if everything they did was surely going to be their death, Amaris almost always remained calm, collected, and positive she would make it through.
There were two exceptions to this, however: The first being at the Winter Palace, where Amaris spent most of the evening muttering under her breath that it was pointless, doomed to fail, and that she hated everything. Josephine commented that if she could successfully stare down Corypheus, she should be able to handle the Game. Amaris reminded her that the Game resulted in the butchering, sexualisation and abuse of her people. “All the reasons I fear your kind, under one roof.”
The second was when she was thoroughly convinced the mark was going to kill her.
Her biggest fear is assimilation, and that history will remember her incorrectly, as they did Ameridan.
By the time Corypheus is defeated, Amaris gains an onslaught of insecurity and self-doubt, from her pursuit of knowledge repeatedly rewarded with disappointment. Amaris grows more isolated, cutting herself off from her friends and absorbing herself in her work. She tries to say everything is fine, but Amaris was never a good liar. Her friends are concerned, but keep quiet, silently hoping she will overcome her personal struggles herself.
She frequently experiences traumatic flashbacks of the Winter Palace, more than anything.
It should be noted that her dislike of humans really is mostly that; fear.
Trivia
Amaris is a biromantic asexual. She is attracted to all genders romantically, but is not interested in sexual activities.
Amaris learns combat magic from Vivienne, having never learned much for offensive spells as First. In return, she taught Vivenne a bit of elven magic.
Her vallaslin is actually orange ink, but on her skin looks like a darker brown.
The angled scar on her temple was from the Temple of Sacred Ashes explosion.
She really, really hates being called the 'Herald of Andraste,' and insisted it was bullshit from the beginning.
Amaris speaks without contractions. When asked if it was a Dalish thing, she explained that it was simply her personal manner. “If something is important enough to say, I can take the time to say it.”
When Cole is in her head, he speaks without contractions as well.
“I have an excellent sense of dramatic timing. And good hair.”
Dalia Revka Hawke is an apostate mage and the infamous Champion of Kirkwall.
Background
Dalia Hawke was born on the 7th of Wintermarch, 9:07 Dragon, in Amaranthine's Chantry-run clinic a month and a half before she was expected. After nearly three weeks under care of the Chantry Sisters with no improvement in health, Malcolm discovered that the Sisters refused to allow magical intervention, fearing it would instill magic in the child. Infuriated, Malcolm stole the infant Dalia away, and began to care for her with the help of spirits. She soon made a miraculous recovery from the brink of death, and finally began the life of a seemingly normal baby.
While simply relieved to have her daughter alive at the time, Leandra would one day come to wonder if Dalia could have been "spared" of her magic, had they listened to the Sisters' superstitions.
When Dalia was five years old, Leandra caught her chasing a wisp around the bedroom of their tiny farmhouse. Initially assuming Malcolm had summoned it, she was horrified to find that it was in fact Dalia’s doing. It was a horror Malcolm did not share, instead insisting that he would teach the young girl how to hide it, and that nothing ill would become of their daughter. But hiding magic is not such an easy feat for such a young child, especially one as overflowing with it as Dalia appeared to be.
From that point on, the Hawke family lived their lives in a constant state of running. A month or two would pass before someone would inevitably notice strange lightshows coming from the Hawke house in the middle of the night, or in one notable occasion, a spontaneous fire in the midst of a temper tantrum. Things only became more complicated when Bethany too came into magic as well.
In 9:20 Dragon, the Hawkes had made their way south down to the small village of Lothering. By this point, Dalia had finally learned to better conceal herself, and Bethany grew masterfully reserved at a rapid rate. Dalia enjoyed seeing how content her family was here; even Carver, who held an enormous amount of bitterness over their constant running for someone so young, seemed happier. Dalia saw it as her job to not be seen nor heard in order to maintain that happiness, and led a secluded life with limited contact outside her family. She spent most of her time when not training with her father wandering the woods, wallowing in loneliness and fantasizing about friends. She prayed to the Maker that he would deliver her one.
One day when venturing further into the Korcari Wilds than she probably should, a 15-year-old Dalia encountered a mysterious Chasind girl who called herself Morrigan, she herself being an apostate. The two instantly hit it off, and Dalia spent every day in the woods in hopes of it would be a day to encounter her again. However, their friendship was unable to last, as one day Morrigan appeared only to tell her that her mother said she could not see Dalia anymore. And she never did. Heartbroken and feeling like the Maker betrayed her, Dalia decided that friendships were nothing but inevitable loss and her family was all that mattered.
Unfortunately, there was plenty of familial loss to go around as well. When Malcolm died in 9:27, Leandra might as well have too, for it was as if she shut down completely. This left Dalia with the responsibility of the family’s welfare, while she herself was also dealing with grief. She tried to take her father’s job in Lothering’s mines, but they had already filled the position. She tried to convince every farmer she could to hire her to work the fields, but without luck there, either. That’s when she noticed the Chanter’s Board was overflowing with miscellaneous requests. Desperate for coin, Dalia accepted every single one, from collecting deathroot in the woods, to taking care of a rabid wolves, to intimidating someone on behalf of someone else. Dalia went from being completely unknown to being the village’s own little mercenary, in a sense. She had a sneaking suspicion that plenty knew of her magic, but said nothing to the templars, as everyone knew if you needed something taken care of, Dalia was the one to get it done. But even still, this only barely kept the family of four afloat, and the minute he was able, Carver enlisted in the army.
Involvement
Dragon Age II
In 9:30 Dragon when Carver appeared on their doorstep, exhausted, injured and speaking almost incoherently, Dalia barely had enough time to put on her shoes before the darkspawn were on their doorstep. The family fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and even still, Dalia would forever wonder what they could have done differently to get out faster and prevent Bethany’s tragic death. It was no small miracle that the rest did not join her, but instead successfully made it to Gwaren, where they hopped on the first boat they could to Kirkwall. (The miracle being a Witch of the Wilds interested in making a deal, of course.)
Act 1
Arriving in the city Dalia would come to call home, she agreed to work for Athenril’s smugglers, in exchange for her family’s entrance in the city and protection from the many, many templars. A year seemed like nothing to lose after having just lost her sister. But while that’s the kind of wound that time can never heal completely, she did eventually grow to better live with it, knowing that’s what Bethany would have wanted. And so when that protection ended with the year’s service, Dalia and Carver refused to accept defeat. They went looking for whatever chance of survival they could find. Eventually, all roads led to the Tethras Deep Roads Expedition.
Collecting the coin required to partner with the expedition was no easy task, but it was one familiar to Dalia after years of working Lothering’s Chantry Board. She might have even decided to simply stay satisfied with the coin she could get as a hero for hire... if not for the fact that Dalia was entirely incapable of keeping her nose out of mage business. With every injustice witnessed, she grew more brazen about her own status as a mage, much to Carver’s worry. Nor did they trust Aveline herself not to turn Dalia in, if she pushed too many buttons. It became apparent that whatever the outcome of the expedition was, getting out of Kirkwall for some time was for the best.
By the end of it though, one of Dalia’s biggest regrets is what occurred on the expedition. After losing Bethany to the darkspawn, she thought she lost her brother, too. The month that followed her lonely return was nothing but guilt and dread, only escalated by the antipathy in her mother’s eyes. When they finally heard that Carver survived the Grey Warden ritual, it was like Dalia herself had her life restored. Even if she could not see him, knowing that her brother was still out there made her feel whole again.
Act 2
Dalia had a hard time adjusting to her newfound wealth. After buying her mother's old family home in Hightown and setting up a steady illicit payment for protection against the templars, she didn't quite know what to do with the rest. Everyone she knew said she wasn't supposed to do anything with it, which didn't make sense to her. Dalia instead decided to create a charitable fund with Lirene's Fereldan Imports and the Alienage Hahren, making her a respected figure among the Fereldan immigrants and elves alike.
It seemed like there was no way for Dalia to escape involvement with whatever game the Chantry was playing with the Qunari. Dalia found the Qun confusing, but the Arishok had done nothing so much as remotely threatening, and even seemed to have a bit of respect for her, after she put a stop to plans on setting them up as mass killers with stolen saar-qamek. Many in the city began to turn her away as a "Qunari sympathizer," spreading rumours that she was secretly a spy—rumours fanned significantly by the fanatical Chantry Mother Patrice, who had a personal grudge against Dalia, for repeatedly getting between her and her plans of war with the Qunari. While her mother tried to warn her how important reputation was, Dalia figured that at least as far as rumours go, better that than the public uncovering her status as a mage. Then it wouldn’t matter how much coin she threw at the Chantry to turn a blind eye.
But having her own protection from the templars was not enough for Dalia. If anything, it only fuelled her hatred for the exceedingly corrupt system. Why should she be free while others suffered increasing abuse in the Gallows? She continued to insert herself into mage and templar matters, dangerously so.
A number of folks tried to insist she was spending too much time with Anders and he was rubbing off on her, but this only strengthened her friendship with the man. And strong friendships, Dalia realized, were really like extended family. She treasured all her newfound family, despite plenty of warnings against associating with them, even from within. Sebastian needed to accept her care for Anders, who needed to accept her care for Fenris, who needed to accept her care for Merrill. There was no convincing Dalia otherwise.
Dalia’s friendship with Isabela and Merrill in particular blossomed into something far beyond that, despite all insistence otherwise. As much as Isabela resisted labelling their relationship as anything more than “friends with benefits,” Dalia continued to push for the “L word,” because the “L word” was the only way she could think to describe how she deeply felt about Isabela. As much as Merrill doubted her feelings for Dalia were reciprocated, Dalia adored Merrill beyond measure. She fantasized about them marrying on a boat and sailing off together, no worries about anything but the weather and waves. After years of dancing around the topic, confessions of love finally breached the surface. Merrill was the first to say the “L word” between them, with Dalia immediately behind her. Isabela took more time, but eventually overcame her fear of being loved.
However, marriage was never meant to be in Dalia's cards, after she was forever scarred by the sight of her undead mother in a wedding dress. Leandra's death would haunt Dalia for the rest of her life. In her early stages of grief, it was hard to think about anything like love, or anything at all beyond a dreading sense that she failed her mother for the last time.
In a very complex grief over her mother, Dalia refrained from leaving the estate for nearly two months. She left all house affairs to Bodahn, his son and Orana to handle and if not for her companions routinely coming to check on her, would have gone without any contact with the world. Finally, a letter from the Viscount requesting her presence brought her out of the house. Though Dalia couldn’t’ve cared less about whatever was going on between Marlowe Dumar and his son, Saemus, her instincts told her there was more going on.
Sure enough, in yet another attempt to stir up a fight between Kirkwall and the Qunari, Chantry zealots had killed Saemus and planned on pinning the murder on Hawke to cement the rumours of her as a Ben-Hassrath spy. Fortunately for Dalia, Sebastian was able to vouch for her, and Grand Cleric Elthina took their side of the story over Mother Patrice.
After taking a spear through the chest, Mother Patrice was no longer a threat, but there were plenty to carry on her bigotry. Tension grew to a breaking point, and finally came to a head when all the stars aligned in the worst way possible. Isabela revealed the stolen treasure she was after was the Tome of Koslun, the very reason the Arishok refused to leave Kirkwall, at the same time Aveline attempted to arrest two elves who had joined the Qun as viddathari. Dalia was heartbroken over Isabela fleeing after retrieving the Tome, she still adamantly refused to sell her out. Unable to stand Kirkwall’s dysfunction any longer, yet refusing to leave without the Tome that Isabela fled with, the Arishok launched an attack on the city.
Dalia was forced to throw all secrecy out the window and defend the city. She had never in her life fully let lose her magic before, and surprised even herself with just how much she had in her. Figuring that Knight Commander Meredith would have her head after all was said and done anyway meant all the more reason not to hold back. For years to come, people would tell stories of how their Champion could make fire rain from the sky, raise the ground into stone prisons, and crush an entire Karataam to the ground with an invisible force. There wouldn’t have be a soul in Kirkwall who didn’t know about her power after that night, even if things didn’t come down to a very public fight in the Viscount’s Keep. But when Isabela returned with the Tome and the Arishok demanded she be taken prisoner, a duel between he and Dalia was initiated over Isabela’s freedom. In the end, Dalia roasted the Arishok with lightning nearly beyond the point of recognition.
If it was up to Meredith, Dalia would have been executed on the spot, after such a display of massive magic—and therefore in her eyes, danger waiting to happen. But with every living noble of the city cheering and fawning over their saviour, Meredith’s hands were tied, if she wanted to stay in control. She reluctantly declared Dalia Hawke to be the Champion of Kirkwall.
Act 3
In the time since becoming Champion of Kirkwall, tensions between the mages and templars only grew. Exacerbating this issue was Meredith standing in the way of electing a new Viscount, turning Kirkwall into a templar-controlled military state. Dalia grew frustrated with the lack of willingness from people to stand up against this, despite the fact that even the nobility agreed it was not sustainable. At every turn, she used her rule as Champion to defend the mages of the city, yet at every turn, this was met with more crackdowns from the Knight-Commander. The templars openly discussed Meredith sending for the Right of Annulment to Val Royeaux, while rumours from Val Royeaux were that an Exalted March against Kirkwall were in the works.
Before either of those scenarios came to fruition though, Anders and Justice pushed the conflict to a breaking point by blowing up the Chantry, with Grand Cleric Elthina inside. While horrified by the extreme act, Dalia could not bring herself to fault Anders, as she saw his act as that of a desperate man who tried everything he could think of, finally pushed to his own breaking point.
Meredith unsurprisingly took it upon herself to enact the Right of Annulment, and Dalia did not hesitate to jump to the Circle’s defence. Though internally prepared to meet her end, Dalia made sure to put on a brave face and insist they could win. She was successful in rallying all her companions against Meredith’s forces.
Dalia was shocked over Orsino transforming himself into a harvester; she couldn’t understand how he could resort to such a thing. But she didn’t even have time to process this before it was time to face off against Meredith herself. For the second time, Dalia reminded everyone just how powerful she was, defeating Meredith and her red lyrium sword with overflowing magic. This display of power led some people to believe it was Dalia who turned Meredith into a statue, and not the red lyrium. Dalia found this so amusing, she has never corrected it.
Dalia and her allies escaped Kirkwall before templar reinforcements arrived. The name Hawke became a rallying cry for oppressed mages everywhere.
Legacy
When Hawke was attacked by deranged Carta dwarves after her blood, she had no idea what was awaiting her in the Vimmark Mountains. That her father was responsible for sealing away an ancient Tevinter magister in a secret warden prison was certainly not on the list of expectations. Discovering that her father was a blood mage just as she was made Dalia feel more secure in that choice, even if Carver was disturbed.
Finding out that Corypheus could potentially end the Blight, according to Janeka, Dalia thought about the loss of her sister and her home in Lothering. She chose to ally with Janeka because of this, although just before opening the final seals, came to regret this decision and at the last minute, saw her as under the thrall of Corypheus. Hawke switched sides and joined Larius, but the end result was the same: Corypheus was freed, and Dalia destroyed him… at least, so she thought.
Mark of the Assassin
Dalia was easily swayed by Tallis into joining her in infiltrating Chateau Haine and stealing a precious relic. It sounded like a fun day out like any other, and indeed, Dalia thoroughly enjoyed playing espionage—at least, up until getting caught. She took the news that this relic was in fact a list of names of Qunari agents rather well, all things considering, and agreed to help Tallis prevent Duke Prosper de Montfort from getting his hands on it all the same. She let Tallis keep the list, and hoped their paths would cross again.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
When Hawke received word from Varric that the Inquisition was in need of her help, she almost didn’t show. It was only out of her friendship with him that she opted to, in the end… that, and she enjoyed scaring the shit out of Cullen.
Dalia was disturbed to find out that Corypheus was not in fact dead as she previously believed. She couldn’t help but feel responsible for him being free, mostly because she was the one who freed him. She joined the Inquisition’s assault on Adamant Fortress, and fell into the Fade alongside the Inquisitor. She was ready to sacrifice herself therein order to see his defeat, but in the end, the Inquisitor chose Stroud over her to cover their escape. This only added to Dalia’s guilt, and she chose to go with the Wardens to Weisshaupt, hoping to help clean up the mess and hoping to meet up with her brother there.
Personality
Dalia is the type of person that commands attention the moment she steps into a room. She is loud, charming, and sociable. It’s not uncommon to hear from a story anyone in Kirkwall about how they met the Champion of Kirkwall at some point, as she has the habit of involving herself in everyone else’s business, for better and for worse. Dalia loves every minute of it, and is easily bored when not the centre of attention.
Dalia has undying loyalty to her friends, whom she considers her family, and would follow them to the ends of the earth if they asked it of her. She hates seeing the people she cares about upset, and will try to cheer them up by making a clown of herself. (Sometimes this toneless approach backfires.)
Dalia doesn’t waste time thinking about the past or present much. She’d rather focus on living in the moment, and living spontaneously. As a side effect, she’s a very poor planner for the long-term.
Her biggest fear is loneliness.
Trivia
While Dalia has a preference for women, she is in fact bisexual, and greatly dislikes people trying to tell her otherwise.
The Amell family are Inghirsh, their ancestors coming from what is today called the Fields of Ghislain.
Malcolm was a city elf originally from the Highever Alienage. He was sent to the Kirkwall Circle as his elder sibling was already a member of the one in Ferelden, and the Chantry does not allow siblings in the same Circle.
Being an elf, it is highly suspected that 'Hawke' was never in fact an officially recognized surname but rather one Malcolm adopted himself, perhaps originally as a nickname.
Dalia is almost a splitting image of her mother, with her freckles being the only sign of Malcolm.
Dalia almost always has a swipe of red kaddis across her cheeks and nose, a touch of Fereldan pride and connection to her beloved mabari. It was the work of a certain dwarf that led said swipe to be rumoured as the blood of the Arishok. It's a rumour that greatly amuses her.
The planet Angtu was a polluted, filthy world. Surrounded by space owned by the United Planet, Angtu was mostly ignored by the senators and government officials whose policies still governed the planet due more to coincidental location than political agreement. However, the people of Angtu are adapted to this pollution to a certain degree, and use suits full of polluted and corrosive air. One of these was a mutant and outcast, known as Mano, whose power was greater than anybody realized.
Not much is known about Mano's past, save that he was a mutant with a destructive touch. Specifically, Mano had the ability to tap into the Anti-Matter universe, channeling its power through his right hand. Once he realized this, he saw a way to enact vengeance against those who had scarred and shunned him all his life, becoming more unstable and psychotic over time until enacting his ultimate revenge: destroying the entire planet with a touch. Some people claim that the planet's populace was already dead, as a result of the pollution spread by off-world influences and heightened industry, or by a chemical weapon-fueled war of some kind. Allegedly, Mano was simply an innocent who destroyed the planet out of anger and frustration. But regardless of the true cause, Mano was now alone in the world.
Wearing a protective outfit containing his atmosphere (the last real remnant of his world), Mano left his dead and remote world, and began a rampage of destruction across multiple planets. Eventually, he was apprehended by the Science Police (somehow), and taken to Takron-Galtos. There, he was released from his heavy containment cell to help the Legion and other super-powered individuals defeat the Sun-Eater, then escaped and became a powerful member of the Fatal Five.
Other Incarnations
Mano usually acts as a bit player in his adaptations. In fact, only one of these incarnations ever actually speaks, or has character outside of his destructive touch. Mano from Justice League Unlimited, in the episode "Far From Home", is little more than tool, albeit a dangerous one. Same can be said for the Legion of Super-Heroes version, although it's one of the few that gives him a skull-like head beneath the dome.
Justice League vs. the Fatal Five puts him into a unique role for the character, in that he's the leader of the group while Emerald Empress is imprisoned, as well as her romantic partner. As such, this Mano is devious, dangerous, and determined to free the Emerald Empress by any means necessary. This also ends pretty poorly for them, since that destructive touch of his isn't exactly conducive to affection. Outside of this, though, Mano is more of a force to be reckoned with than a character in his own right.
Thanks for reading!
Check out my currently ongoing Legion of Super-Heroes essay series ( Part One | Two | Three | Four ) on a proposed television series if you're interested!
