The Sparring Ring

"New to Thedas, recruit? Or already familiar with the place? Regardless, there's a room for you in the keep, warm stew and spiced wine at the mess hall. Make yourself comfortable, and don't miss training. Welcome to Skyhold." A place for all things Dragon Age, sprinkled with the occasional personal post and fanart. Fereldan Heart Gussie / 22 / Argentina / Interpreter, medieval fantasy lover, nature advocate, amateur photographer, inveterate daydreamer, an artist in the making. Talk to me! Previously @cristofalina.

[thesparringring]

Just a heads up: If you tag things as "not Dragon Age" it still shows up in the Dragon Age tag for some reason.

LOL. Thank you Nonny! I’ll make sure to change the tag then :)

[caledoniaseries]

Lake Superior Monster

People who have never seen Lake Superior do not often understand how deadly and terrifying it can be. I’ve been asked many times if there is a monster legend associated with the lake, because I am an American highway legend specialist and Scottish folklorist. There are a few legends associate with the lake. For example, there is an old Anishinaabe legend that there is a sturgeon in Lake Superior that can swallow an entire city. 

However, when I have been asked this question, I often respond:

The lake is the monster.

There are old sailor’s superstitions still current among sailors and residents of the towns around the lake. I learned many of them while working on the water one summer and gaining a newfound respect for Lake Superior’s incredible power. There is a sense among the people there that the lake itself is sentient.

One example of the lake’s power is a phenomenon called The Three Sisters. This is when three rogue waves form and wash across a ship so quickly that the water does not have time to clear the decks. Many shipwrecks have been caused by The Three Sisters, most notably the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The ship was found at the bottom of the lake split in half, and it is thought that The Three Sisters were responsible for its sinking.

source: http://lakesuperiorartgallery.com/Home/LakeSuperiorShipWreckMap.aspx

Lake Superior is also so cold that it doesn’t allow the bacterial growth necessary for dead bodies to rise to the surface. The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead, as the old legend goes. There are many shipwrecks where the bodies are still there, almost perfectly intact despite having been down there for years.

The lake is a force of nature on its own, and as one explorer said, the most dangerous piece of water in the world.

The lake is the monster.

-excerpt from American Drifter

[ladynorbert]

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they called ‘gitche gumee’ The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead When the skies of November turn gloomy…

[qissus-deactivated20191119]

‘Ace of Cups’ Lavellan tarot commission requested  by @cityelfsedition! Thanks for the support (:

Do contact me at [email protected] for commission enquiries! :)

[destinyapostasy]

Cutest Blood Mage in Thedas 😊🌼

[prosodi]

“WELL, SHIT”

[attyrocious]

has this been made

original by ayedah

[kadanlove-blog]

LOL

[thesparringring]

SOLAS IN THE LAST ONE

I CAN’T EVEN

[vinnie-cha]

i refuse to believe that the inquisitor is actually good at crafting

[gembroni]

so how does your purple hawke get along with Aveline Vallen, Captain Of The Guard?

Surprisingly well, all things considered

[cassandras-cheekbones]

BLESS

[aliciasbakery-deactivated202504]

Please dont forget that in Dragon Age the Elves canonically have glowy cat eyes in the dark

[aliciasbakery-deactivated202504]

imagine a Shemlen stumbling upon a Dalish camp at night and just seein

[shamianasart]

The Pirate Queen

[puddle--wonderful]

I'm a LONG time follow but I don't know anything about Dragon Age, but you really seem to like it. But at this point, I don't have the time to do the research. Learn me a thing?

HO BOY

Time to roll up the sleeves and just do the quick-and-dirty because THERE’S TOO MUCH.

[thesparringring]

Pffft, nicely summarised!

[dragonageconfessions]

CONFESSION: 

Meredith Stannard has such a tragic backstory. It does not excuse what she did later on on DA2, But I can’t help but feel sorry for her. She is such a hated character - simply because she was written to be… “hated easily”. Part of me wishes there would have been a way to save her from the red lyrium. A woman in a powerful position - she didn’t achieve that by cruelty and torment. I think that once, Meredith had been an inspiring leader. It makes me sad how deep she fell

[dgcatanisiri]

Meredith is probably my favorite Dragon Age antagonist. She honestly does make sense, Kirkwall is suffering from blood magic and poor leadership… Except both of those things are directly affected by her choices. She is the one who demands the Viscount be “amiable” towards the Templars. Her using the Tranquil brand as a punishment fosters more rebellion, because when the punishment for voicing an unpopular opinion and the punishment for blood magic are the same, yeah, a mage would easily turn to blood magic, because if they’re going down either way, better to both do it on your terms and take a chance of taking some of the bastards with you.

Meredith creates the very situation she is nominally trying to avoid, and it’s happening even before the red lyrium. She is a tragic figure because the greatest threat to Kirkwall is HER, and yet she sees her duty to prevent danger befalling Kirkwall all the same.

Also, I can’t praise her voice actress enough. In other hands, Meredith could have been a raving looney, but Jean Gilpin offers her this dignity and grace, even in her madness.

[thesparringring]

Nicely said. 

[pathosian]

     ACE OF CUPS // THE TRICKSTER BOUND

                                                                   by @elvenbeard

And so was Loki captured by the Gods of Asgard, and taken to a twilight cave where upon a slab of stone he was bound in chains forged from those who loved him most, and above did Skadi place a great serpent, who’s jaws dripped poison upon the Trickster in punishment for his many misdeeds. But Sigyn, ever faithful, appeared before Loki whom they had abandoned, and sat herself upon the slab between Trickster and Snake holding aloft a bowl with which to capture the serpent’s poison, and save the spited Loki from harm ; and so does she remain to this day, until at last the bowl overflows and Loki, in his pain and grief, shall rip free of his bonds and unleash Ragnarok upon all the world.

[elvenbeard]

Thank you so much for commissioning me, it’s been a pleasure!! :D

[smuttine]

*0*

OMG this is so fucking great!

[elvenking]

for grumpythranduils

[elvenking]

[elvenking]

[elvenking]

[maedhroswhy-deactivated20220211]

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

[allofthe-fandoms]

It really is. Like I’ve reblogged this about three time and each time I laugh for at least five minutes more.

[trulyhopelessromantic]

I did not know these things could be more than mutually exclusive this is perfection lmfao

[thesparringring]

@ladymerewif I know you'll love this

[theifwerelost]

Commission

Lenan Tabris for @wise-mage

My commissions are open!

[ramenrutherford]

KREM!!

HOLY CRAP! I think i just figured out why Krem sits in that stupid corner and not with Bull, where you would expect him to sit!

Thats Bull’s blind spot. From where Bull is sitting he can see ALMOST everything with little effort. Up the stairs, the bar, the door, nearly everything with only a slight turn of his head and glance of his eye. Everything EXCEPT that corner and the few patrons along that wall.

Having Krem there fills his blindspot with someone he trusts whole heartedly. Knowing Bull i doubt he asked Krem to take up position there, so Krem just knew. Seeing Marydon when he stands on that stupid chair is only a side benefit. He’s there because he’s covering his boss’s back by being exactly where he needs to be.

[thesparringring]

It's called Lórien (because how could I resist using a Middle-Earth name??), with a lotus emblem on a red background. We're just starting as a clan and we're looking forward to helping each other and growing as a team. So if you feel like this is your cup of tea, feel free to (please!) join in!