#worldbuilding.exe

[cumbiazevran]

also okay so these are my interpretations of each of the Pantheon's realm

Elgar'nan — Vengeance, protection and righteous anger. Lord over and under the sun, father of Gods, Magnificent among the rest of them. Lord of War, victory and love which knows no bounds. Bearer of loss. His is the light of the sun and the task of protecting the future of the Elvhen, there where no justice can serve.

Mythal — Justice, protection and wisdom. Lady over and under the moon, who comes and rules the sea, mother of Gods, Magnificent among the rest of them and loved by Elgar'nan. Lady of Strategy, public rejoice and stability. Bearer of growth. Hers is the hope in the night and the task of seeing over all civic life.

Dirthamen — Knowledge, Secrets and Piety*, of the unwavering loyalty and quickest of understandings. Heir to the time of Endless Creation which is to come after the War and, therefore, Heir of Mythal and Elgar'nan. Lord of Serenity and quiet but undying passion, his are the mountains and the stars. Undaunted by Fear and Deceit, all lies and betrayals are abhorrent to him. His is the task to record all history.

*Not to be mistaken with solidarity between peoples.

Falon'din — Time and death. The one untouched by Blight, who cannot be tainted by the Void. Scryer of the futures of Elvhenan because only he knows the weight of time involved in their becoming. Shepard of the Dead. Considered the Eldest in merit of the children of Elgar'nan and Mythal, first of the children to bear a realm. He's the only Creator/Evanuris who can actually understand and feel the passing of time. Because of this, he is owed reverence.

Sylaise — Creativity, diplomacy and peace. Lady of Fire and Home, who reminds of the importance of temperance in one's endeavours. She who gave the Elvhen the gift of creating beauty for beauty's sake. Lady of mourning, as she bears all that for war is lost. Hers are the arts, the gift of gab and of medicine, which she rules over with her brother Dirthamen, Heir of the Elvhen. Her is the task of peaceful resolution of disputes.

June — Resourcefulness, material creation, craftsmanship, commerce and mastery over one's actions. Giver of joy and kindness, pillar of peace as there cannot be peace in lacking, protector of quartermasters and workers alike, to whom nothing is impossible. Husband of Sylaise. His is the task of invention, as he bears the weight of curiosity and love which asks for nothing in return.

Andruil — Fortune, chances, sacrifice, births and rot. Lady of the Hunt and of Survival. Master of swiftness and over-looker of Oaths — to swear on her name and not complete the task is to invite bad luck to the oath-breaker. Lady of resolute action, who is predator and prey. Thematically, she is the most opposed to Sylaise.

Ghilan'nain — Dire circumstances, guidance, overcoming obstacles and navigation. Lady of crossroads and pathways, hers are the river-ways and trails. Protector of trailblazers and patroness of the inevitability of choice. Most beloved by Andruil. Bearer of travelling, and therefore, of yearning, distances, but also of discovery.

Fen'Harel — Deception, lies, illusions, missed opportunities and trickery. The compass to what is Not. Teacher of bitter lessons. Lord of Lost Youth, false hopes and exile. Bearer of Guilt and the cost of Pride. He is an omen of danger and is drawn by fear. Thematically, most opposed to Dirthamen.

[av-42-model]

[QUERY:]

[ORIGINS?]

{What, you mean where I came from?}

[ORIGINS?]

{That one's... a bit harder to explain. Have you ever been exposed to the concept of interstellar travel?}

[INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL: IMPOSSIBLE]

[FORMULA: HUMANITY + RESOURCES + TIME + MOTIVATION = PROGRESSION]

[ERROR: VARIABLE "HUMANITY" UNDETECTED]

{Why does it have to be these... "humans" that do it? Can't you create a form of space travel, should you desire?}

[ERROR: CALIBRATION INCOMPATIBLE WITH REQUEST]

{... So recalibrate?}

[ERROR: HARDWARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH REQUEST]

{So you just won't because you weren't made to?}

{You weren't exactly made to have a conversation with a nadorian in your own body, either. But here we are.}

[ERROR: UNKNOWN COMMAND]

{You weren't made to talk to people. And yet, here you are. So, are you really going to let your own code restrict you?}

[PROCESSING...]

[PROCESSING...]

[PROCESSING...]

[NO COMPATIBLE ANSWER FOUND]

{... If Dovahcom can do it, I'm certain you're able to figure it out as well.}

[cumbiazevran]

Non-conclusive list of Antivan Andriastianism headcanons

First of all, what do I mean with ‘Antivan Andriastianism’: I’m referring to the hc that Antiva would have regional religious practices that deviate from the accepted practice within the Orlesian Chantry, which developed mostly throughout their working class, assassin guilds and the Antivan alienages.

Most of them come from the concept of fervor popular within latin america.

Nobility in Antiva look down upon most of the iconography and practices that come from it, although some things permeate upwards, such as calling Andraste ‘Our Lady of Antiva’

The iconography behind Our Lady of Antiva came from an apparition experienced by an elven servant where they saw the prophet Andraste and, instead of looking like the statues in the Chantry, she looked like them.

However, it also seems that ‘Our Lady of Antiva’, with her many names and appearances, also became an icon of its own, almost completely separate from the Chantry itself.

It’s not uncommon to see her painted on the walls of slums and alienages.

She’s also referred to as ‘The Dead Bride of the Maker’, ‘The Burnt Bride of Antiva’ and ‘Our Dead Lady Prophet’. Sometimes religious people who work for an assassin guild might refer to her as ‘Our Dead Lady’ or ‘Our Dead Lady Redeemer’

Nuestra señora redentora, muerta que estás como el final de mis manos, ten piedad de mi al juzgarme y no dejes que mi oficio sea en vano. Que me protejas de mis enemigos, que en lo que me embarques te acompaño. Our Dead Lady Redeemer, dead like the result of my hands’ work, be not to harsh to judge me nor let my work be in vain. Protect me from my enemies, for if you do, I’ll go wherever you embark me to.

It’s not uncommon for Antivans to carry a candle in a glass jar with a hand-painted Andraste, which they usually paint themselves: the superposition is to light it every night you’re away from home so you, like Andraste when she was taken, return to it.

Truly you’re more likely to hear about Andraste being dead in Antiva than anything else, and given how Antiva is, you shouldn’t really be surprised.

Popular processions of the Burnt Bride of Antiva aren’t uncommon. They will usually take a statue or icon of Andraste and walk her around. The figurehead of the procession will claim “Our Burnt Lady of Antiva” and the crowd will reply “Pray for us” every other block.

There’s a festival for the birthday of Andraste (whenever that date the Antivan elves decided that was) where people dress up as charred brides and/or Maleficars or demons, with a lot of dances associated to it (this is directly inspired by La Tirana)

The Orlesian Chantry consider half these things heresy.

The Antivans do not care.

Non Antivan-Bonus

Kirkwall has a similar thing going on with the whole ‘Andraste to the left’ deal, only theirs is Our Lady Unshackled. Whenever the news go around of a slaver dying or someone being saved from them, the Andrastian elves will say Our Lady Unshackled did it.

In fact, most self-defence within both the aliange and the slums is attributed to ‘Our Lady Unshackled’, to the point more than one Captain of the Guard or Knight Commander has thought that was an Actual Person being heretic by hiding ‘their crimes’ under the name of Holy Andraste.

[cumbiazevran]

honestly my favourite type of approach to elves in DA is

Humans, in DA: We hate elves, and we hate each other, so obviously the Dalish hate the City Elves because we hate everyone so everyone must hate each other too, and they're heretics who hate that these inferiors at least try to see the light :///

City Elves, vibing with the Dalish now and then, having family among them, whom a bunch of ARE literally Dalish bc they came from the Dales and settled in a city later on, city elves who literally have Vallaslin bc it's a sign of religiousness: What— that's not true?

Humans: No, you obviously are hated by your own people because who would love the likes of you, and of course they use the same slurs we use for you, no coincidence.

City Elves to the Dalish: Do you think they'll leave us alone if they keep believing that?

Dalish Elves: Probably not, but they'll shut up for five minutes.

City Elves, shrugging: Its reprieve enough

[cumbiazevran]

I've seen a good couple of posts lately about Solas and Varric, and how Varric almost convinced Solas to destroy the entire world out of guilt, and he didn't realise he was doing it so I thought of it's evil twin:

what if Arviraven, in their banter with Solas, thought he was helping him process the unspoken grief inside him, but instead convinced him more of springing into action and, in the process, Solas himself completely misconstrued Arviraven's persona, ethos and intentions, thus creating an unsalvageable scenario where not only Solas deceived Arviraven, because a God has no choice but to fold whatever personhood they might own to their own realm, but also deceived himself in creating a version of River in his head which didn't exist, would never exist, and now that they see each other plainly they can't help but to be disgusted what is in front of them.

what if now they know Solas can't be anything that is true, ever, because Fen'Harel is the God of Trickery and Lies, the most bitter teacher among the Dalish Pantheon, and Arviraven is truly a vassal of Dirthamen, God of Secrets, Knowledge and Piety, to whom lies are abhorred and truth is revered, and who (above everything and representing an even worse trespass than River sticking by his beliefs) believes in the people of this world and in their future, and is willing to do anything to assure his people, all elvhen people, dalish, modern, ancient and still alive, city or mixed, have that future because being a vassal of Dirthamen means that you believe in the creation that knowledge and solidarity can bring, and you are willing to set your purpose to find it.

what if!!!!

[cumbiazevran]

I am married to the idea that Orsino is around the same age that Malcolm Hawke would’ve been if he had lived. Or at the very least, within the same age range. We know Orsino is the youngest First Enchanter to hold the position in Kirkwall, so it’s entirely possible.

I can’t stop thinking about how Malcolm and Orsino had a very similar approach about underperforming in public so they were left alone, and while I don’t doubt it’s an approach taken by many mages in Circles, you’re going to let me have it as it makes sense that Orsino, as an elf, was more or less allowed to get away with it. The Chantry isn’t kind to elves, but the chantry also thinks elves are inferior, so if Orsino appeared as more average it didn’t matter as much. Not to mention I think Orsino was generally more reserved and less boisterous than Malcolm ever was.

You would never heard Orsino’s laugh resonating in the halls because of something Ser Carver (or another tolerable Templar, if such thing is possible) said, or him swearing during silent study time in his native accent because he dropped him. That was all Malcolm. Orsino couldn’t have said they were friends, but they shared a room in the Gallows, maybe, and when you’re united by such an experience you cannot help but to feel some camaraderie in all of it. 

Don’t get me wrong, perhaps the basis and the spark of the Orsino we knew existed before all these things happened. He was a City Elf after all, and I believe the bones remember. Yet Malcolm left first. All that remained of him was a note explaining to Orsino, the only room-mate he had that he trusted on not ratting him out, that he would not have his life used against him. Along with asking him to bury this note immediately after reading it, because he would’ve hated to get him in trouble, he made a joke at his own stake, saying that if he took all the laugh from the Gallows with him then Orsino would have to find another reason to make their fellow mages smile on his own.

Orsino has never been a class clown, nor he understands Malcolm very much in that moment, but he feels something decidedly. He doesn’t discard that Malcolm could afford this because he’s human, not an elf, but if the commotion and the rumours coming from town are anything to go by (and Ser Carver’s constant look of dread), perhaps it wasn’t so easy as Orsino bitterly thinks it was.

Yet, the First-Enchanter-To-Be has no place for bitterness or any emotion whatsoever, because the Templars feed on that, so he takes a deep breath and moves on. He knows nothing, Malcolm never said anything, and he has, absolutely, never had a conversation with him (where no else could hear them) about whether they would escape the Gallows if they could.

Then Maud died, and Orsino felt like he no longer could afford his practised neutrality, his careful measure and ever present composure. 

(Ser Carver was made an example of too, but a Templar is a Templar and all Templar, even the tolerable ones, are bastards. Some Templars did not like that he was made an example of, or the Knight-Commander’s actions, but Orsino saw none of them making a stand against Meredith. Not that Ser Carver ever said anything, but he is starting to believe actions are louder than words.

Only speaking is an action too.)

Between Maud’s “this is no life” and Malcolm’s “I will not have my life used against me”, Orsino begins confronting things he already knew: Elven Mages have it worse than Humans, but they all have it bad. He isn’t thinking about this when he pushes back, however; there is no agenda behind his actions, only what is right to him in that given moment. And what is right is pushing back and not letting his fellow mages fall into the endless pit of despair that is the Gallows and the Kirkwall Templars.

If they want to label him a trouble maker, they’re allowed to. He’s a mage, he’s an elf, they won’t be the last, let alone they have been the first.

Maybe, one day, he’ll get to be none other than Bethany Hawke’s First Enchanter. Maybe there will come a day when he will call her to his office, and say that while he will not play favourites, so she has to earn her ranks like everyone else, as long as he is the First Enchanter she will not be alone. It is  a shame that Malcolm's daughter has to return like this, because he is sure her father did not do what he did so Bethany ended in the Gallows, out of all places.

Bethany will not turn into another Maud, or so many others who died by their own hand if he has any say in it.

(And when he meets Rowan Hawke, future Champion of Kirkwall, he will confirm what he already thought from the rumours he has heard: that she is the spitting image of her father.

Maybe not all is lost in death.)

[cumbiazevran]

✨❤️‍🔥 About CumbiaZevran ❤️‍🔥✨

I’m Jules (they/them), and welcome to my DA blog. This is a sideblog so I will follow from @sunrisenfool, which is my main blog.

I’m 28, mixed latine and slav, and a person of colour. I like world-building and creating fake legal systems for fantasy worlds. My favourite class to play is rogues, and my favourite race are elves because that’s the fantasy race I decided to latch on as a person of colour to project feelings into the narrative. You know how it is sometimes.

Sometimes I have very particular opinions about certain things in canon, but if I ever talk about them please don’t take them as a personal attack because unless someone is being an asshole, harmful or both in my posts, I will never address things personally. I just think differently.

I have 2 primary worldstates (I have more, but these two are the ones I actually post about) and 2 primary WIPs. You can find information on them below, but feel free to ask me questions!

✨❤️‍🔥 The Worldstates ❤️‍🔥✨

Worldstate, Side A: ‘What is Right Over What is Easy’

Song: Thus Always To Tyrants - The Oh Hellos

Warden: 🌙 Juno Mahariel 🌙 (they/them)

Stats: Rogue, crowsbow sharpshooter. Nonbinary bisexual. Ranger, assassin and scout legionarie. Convincing. Dalish hunter, Warden-Commander of Ferelden. Best friends with Alistair, Morrigan (used to have a crush on) and Rahvi Brosca (@atypicalacademic), romances Zevran and Sahi Tabris (@atypicalacademic).

Protects the circle mages, crowns Bhelen and later supports Vijaya Aeducan’s (@atypicalacademic) coup. Does the ritual with Morrigan, slayer of the Archdemon with Rhavi Brosca.

Twin and youngest sibling of @atypicalacademic‘s Gaadha Mahariel and Eravan Mahariel. Recruits everyone but Loghain, whom they kill in a duel claiming the Vir Banal’ras. Keeps Duncan’s dagger until their death. Saves Amaranthine, their Keep survives. Helps rebuild the Wardens in Inquisition.

Dies a Warden’s Death.

Champion: 🎭 Rowan Hawke 🎭 (she/her)

Stats: Rogue, dual wielder. Nonbinary, bisexual. Duelist and assassin. Charismatic, helpful. Smuggler and Champion of Kirkwall. Bethany survives and becomes a circle mage. Best friends with Varric, Bela and Merrill. Romances Fenris.

Cousin of @atypicalacademic‘s Maxim and Milena Hawke. Does not help Anders but opposes Meredith. Eventually makes up with Sebastian. Is enemies with Aveline.

Knew Malcolm’s secret and would’ve taken it to her death were it not for the events of Legacy. Survives the siege of Adamant. Married to Fenris, helps him in his travels as the Blue Wraith - they are eventually known as the Blue Wraith and the High Red Queen.

Inquisitor: 🌿 Arviraven ‘River’ Lavellan 🌿 (he/they);

Stats: Rift mage, scholar of the veil and arcane physicist. Nurse and First to the Keeper. Believes in the reunification of the Dales under the elves. Never claims to be chosen by Andraste. Faithful to the Elvhen Gods. Known as the ‘Herald of Hope’, ‘Vassal of Dirthamen’, and ‘Keeper of Thedas’.

Sides with the mages, supports Briala, makes Leliana Divine. Keeps the Inquisition. Formerly friends with Solas and will stop him no matter the cost. If their people had value then, they have value now.

Arviraven is well known and well connected with various Dalish clans and some city alienages. More than a First or apprentice, Arviraven was raised to be able to take on the task of the reunification of the elvhen and the reclaiming of the Dales. Cheery, cheeky, honest and nurturing, a diplomatic scholar who sees beyond the world that is today into the world that could be tomorrow.

Nonbinary bisexual. Romances Dorian and Navin Cadash (@atypicalacademic). Eldest sibling of Viera Lavellan. Used to date Merrill up until the first year after Act I, during the events of Dragon Age 2. Best friend of Cassandra, Josephine and Eravan Mahariel.

Worldstate, Side B: ‘Blood and Tradition’ - This is both the mirror to ‘What is Right’ and sometimes coexistent with it. Both worldstates should be understood, if not together, in relation to one another, and cannot be understood without the other.

Song: The Tradition - Halsey

Warden: 🩸 Iraya Surana 🩸 (she/her)

Stats: Mage, elven, despises being called “of Kinoch Hold”. Trans and a lesbian. Blood Mage, Arcane warrior, Keeper. Romances Morrigan and Vijaya Aeducan (@atypicalacademic). Best friends with Tatiana Amell (@atypicalacademic) and Juno Mahariel, who takes over as Warden-Commander.

Protects the circle mages, crowns Vijaya Aeducan.

‘Disappears’, eventually comes back as some make-shift Keeper to a ragtag group of lost elves. Gets Mythal Vallaslin in her 30s.

Champion: ⛈ Carlota ‘Charlie’ Hawke ⛈ (she/her)

CW: Manipulation and gaslighting from a parental figure

Stats: Mage, mixed elven (doesn’t seem it). Bisexual. Blood & force mage. Despite being known as ‘Charlie Hawke’ she is an Amell. In my worldstates, when Revka disappears she takes with her the only child who has not been discovered to be a mage yet, who in this case is Charlie. To protect her, she convinces her life as an Amell was not true, asking Charlie to refer to herself as Charlie Hawke and to tell people Revka’s name was Leandra.

Charlie doesn’t remember her father. She also features as champion in @atypicalacademic‘s worldstate ‘Hell and High Water’, making her the sibling of her Amells: Claudia, Andrea, Xavier and Tatiana. Her Carver becomes a Warden.

Known as ‘Bloody Charlie’, ‘Bloodlust Carlota’ or ‘Queen of the Maleficars’, she is a highly demonised figure out of her usage of the mage rebellion to rise to power. Romances Anders. While originally angry about Anders’ bombing of the Chantry because it interfered with her rise to power (which matters to her more than anything), she supports the rebellion and claims herself in line to be Viscountess before it starts.

Romances Anders. Enemies with Varric, Aveline, Fenris and Merrill. Her only ‘friend’ is Isabela.

Inquisitor: ⚔️ Viera Lavellan ⚔️ (he/him)

Stats: Warrior, Dalish, First Knight of Elgar’nan. Reaver. Bisexual. Believes in the reunification of the Dales under the elves. Youngest brother of Arviraven Lavellan, hobbyist jeweller.

Conscripts the Templars, allows Arviraven to pass as him in Redcliffe, though most of the mages are lost as an Inquisition force. Romances @atypicalacademic‘s Sylvaine ‘Mesmer’ Seyras. Enemies with Solas and faithful to the Elvhen, even more so than their Gods, for he is a Knight of Elgar’nan.

He believes the most in Arviraven, thinking that his eldest sibling ought to make the political decisions. Keeps the Inquisition, abdicating in favour of Arviraven.

He’s best friends with Iron Bull and loves tormenting Dorian as his in-law.

✨❤️‍🔥 The WIPs❤️‍🔥✨

And The Lovers, Do They Dream? (Worldstate: What Is Right Over What Is Easy): A gothic romance meets magical realism retelling of the romance of Dorian Pavus and Arviraven Lavellan.

Also described as “Crimson peak with a happy ending meets Apollo throwing his pride-month-edition ball of prophecy at guy already on his way towards radicalisation.”

The Song of Dirthalath (Worldstate: What Is Right Over What Is Easy): He has had many names in history. Before he was disowned, he was Quenath’enal. Afterwards, he was known as Vir A’dirth Revas’an’dar or ‘Spymaster’. This is the song of a High-born ancient elf born into nobility, who lost everything and everyone, only to gain them again and lose them again. Over and over.

This is a story of the price of resurrection. This is the story that sings ‘Ara Ma’thalan Lethandar, Dirtalath Viradirth’, for we know of the Creator but not of what was supposed to happen to them: Dirthamen one day would rise in Elgar’nan’s place, with Abundance to his right and Will to his left. This is the story of the forsaken, should-have-been, Elvhen God of Will.

Alternatively: Prickly, ancient asshole with a heart of gold lives a thinly veiled allegory for the trauma of survival.

[av-42-model]

"Why is it so fucking hard to find a proper watering can...? This place is a massive fucking garden, there has to be something..."

*Wow, this thing is just... always at it with the plants. Is their hideout really that boring...?*