links here! theres no link style so youre gonna have to get it somewhere else
"You tend to get up to interesting things. you meet interesting people and then you kill them."
Fanblog that celebrates the making of an amazing Dark Fantasy RPG series, with a surprising lack of Dragons but is getting on that. A blog for the Dragon Age series and the fandom that loyally follows it.
The Mod's specialty is lore posting and sometimes fanfic writing.
Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, all is sourced from the games. With the exception of clearly marked fanon/personal alternatives.
I realized I’ve never done the most basic of resources, a list of Varric’s nicknames for all characters.
Dragon Age 2
Hawke
Diplomatic: Waffles
Sarcastic: Chuckles
Aggressive: Killer
Bethany: Sunshine
Carver: Junior, Little Hawke
Aveline: Red
Fenris: Broody, Elf
Anders: Blondie
Merrill: Daisy
Isabela: Rivaini
Sebastian (DLC): Choir Boy
Tallis (DLC): Shivs
Dragon Age Inquisition
Inquisitor: Handy, Lucky
Cassandra: Seeker
Solas: Chuckles (Note: I personally prefer Giggles, to avoid Varric reusing a nickname in the case of a Purple Hawke)
Disclaimer: All knowledge is 100% canon and taken from canon and/or extended lore sources, nothing is headcanoned or fanon. You may want to also check out the #DA Lore tag on the blog, as unofficial (somewhat unsourced) lore posts sometimes end up there that I want to source and make official eventually.
Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes: Codices (A Good Marriage), Dragon AGE: Blood in Ferelden (Where Eagles Lair) P.78, Dragon Age Core Rulebook, In-Game Dialogue (Jaws of Hakkon). Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).
I did promise it for all those interested. If you haven’t, you might want to also check out my Burials post. It includes Avvarian burial practices, as well as that of other races in Thedas. Also just for reference:
*Clan in this post means (family unit)
Basic Information
The first thing to be said about Avvarian Marriages is that they are not long or permanent. It is up to the couple to retain the marriage if they so wish, by completing the untying of knots at the end of their marriage cycle.
Because of these relatively brief unions and naming conventions, Avvar do not take or change last names like other human cultures.
Avvar do not often marry within their Holds, as Avvarian Holds are often made up of the Thane’s family and the clans of extended family members. In order to avoid this, they are more likely to marry Avvar from other, neighboring Holds.
Although it should be mentioned, that Avvarian Brides who are taken to a new Hold are expected to give up their ties to their old Hold for loyalty to their new home. This is due to the fact that even allied Holds can go to war with one another at any time, given a good reason. Because of this, most brides are met with scrutiny by their old Holds.
The Ceremonies
The First Ceremony: A Kidnapping
Courting starts with the kidnapping of a bride, though it never without the Hold’s or bride’s consent. The kidnapping is always partially arranged in advance by at least the elders of the target Hold and clan, and the one announcing intentions.
A groom who kidnaps a bride without first announcing intent or trying to wrongfully kidnap a bride without permission will be put to death and a blood feud started with the intruder’s Clan or Hold.
Before the kidnapping, the kidnapper may approach their bride-to-be directly and secure her help on the success of the kidnapping. On occasion, a bride-in-waiting may approach a man she wishes to be her husband, if she finds one she desires before another comes to her.
With permission given and a plan laid out, a warrior will prove himself by slipping into the Hold and securing his bride without detection. A warrior caught on his first try is beaten severely, but never to death. However, on his second try, if he is caught he is sentenced to death, usually by Hold Beast.
The Second Ceremony: A (Un)Tying of Knots
“Sounds like a good deal to me. See if you like living with your handsome new husband or wife once the bloom’s worn off.” ~A Good Marriage
Once a bride has been kidnapped and taken to her husband’s Hold, they then participate in an Untying of Knots. The bride will tie knots in a piece of rope, she will then sing the hymn of a selected God while her husband unties the rope. For every knot he is able to untie, before the Bride finishes her song they will be married another year.
Once the number of years of marriage are up, the Avvar can perform the knot ritual once more or they can separate, there is no requirement for them to stay together if they do not wish it. Both bride and groom can be remarried to each other or to others at any time after the years allotted are up.
The Bride’s Influence
Despite the kidnapping of the Bride, the Bride has many times and chances to reject the union, giving her the most power when it comes to completing a Marriage Ceremony.
She is given a choice at the beginning, to give the groom permission to kidnap her. Should, for some reason, the kidnapper not heed her wishes, she can then do whatever she can to undermine his kidnapping. If he is caught, and was never given permission, he is immediately executed (see above).
Should the kidnapping succeed, either unrightfully or if she has second thoughts/wants a shorter marriage. The Bride is then able to influence and sabotage the Knot ritual. She can chose a shorter hymn, chant it at whatever speed she wishes, and tie the knots as tight a possible to make it harder on her husband-to-be. Though her husband-to-be can also choose to only untie as many knots (or untie none at all) as he wishes.
Disclaimer: All knowledge is 100% canon and taken from canon and/or extended lore sources, nothing is headcanoned or fanon. You may want to also check out the #DA Lore tag on the blog, as unofficial (somewhat unsourced) lore posts sometimes end up there that I want to source and make official eventually.
Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes: Dragon AGE: Blood in Ferelden (Amber Rage Adventure) [Official Dragon Age RPG Adventure Book]. Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).
(A Firesprite. Page 29, Blood in Ferelden)
Appearance
Firesprites are tiny, winged creatures living in the deep marshes of the Korcari Wilds. They’re named for the soft orange or yellow glow they give off, flickering in the dark marshes like fireflies.
They have semi-humanoid appearances, with a small face, two arms, and two legs. However, they also have many insect features. They have two pairs of insect wings, that hum when they fly and their eyes, upon close inspection, are compounded, like a fly’s or dragonfly’s eyes. They also have two antennas that protrude from their foreheads.
The average size of a firesprite is about four inches tall. Their skin is yellowed and they tend to be quite gaunt. They do not wear clothing of any kind.
When it comes to their legs and feet, they are actually relatively unused. Firesprites would rather hover than stand and fly everywhere they travel, whether it be miles out or mere inches away.
History
Chasind Legend speaks much of the “little people of the swamps”.
Firesprites are very old creatures, pre-dating the Tevinter Imperium. Many of their groves are actually located around or even within ruins that are also shown to pre-date the Imperium. The original creators and residents of these ruins, made for those much larger than just firesprites, is completely unknown.
During the First Blight, a sickness, known as Amber Rage, begun to affect the Alamarri; it was during this time that the Firesprites made contact with the Alamarri. The Firesprites knew of a mossy substance, called Shadowmoss, that could combat the Amber Rage and taught the Alamarri how to use it. The Firesprites also willingly provided Shadowmoss to the Alamarri, but only when and what it was needed.
The Alamarri grew greedy for the Shadowmoss and its medicinal properties, they begun to raid Firesprites groves to stockpile the Shadowmoss. During the raids, they would slaughter Firesprites they came across. Due to the frequent theft and murders the Firesprite population fell quickly and soon they were brought to near-extinction.
The living Firesprites retreated from the world and their interactions with the Alamarri, protecting their homes by never straying too far; appearing as only lights bobbing through the marshes and singing sad songs of what had been lost.
In present times, Firesprites are known of by the Chasind but rarely seen and their relationship with the Shadowmoss, how they knew to use it and where it came from, is unknown to many.
And while it is also unknown to the outside world, there is in fact only one colony of Firesprites still living within the Korcari Wilds. The rest having been ravaged by time, Alamarri raids, and the loss of their Guardians.
Their Songs
Firesprites cannot speak, at least in no known way that allows them to communicate with mortals verbally. However, they can sing. Their songs are wordless, but can invoke emotions or images in a listener.
A haunting song sung by the Firesprites can bring a foreboding sense or hopelessness over the listener, causing them to be thrown off by the feeling or even give up all together. While a happier song can give whimsy and can-do attitudes to those who hear it. Though whether the Firesprites mean to invoke the feelings, rather than just convey them is unknown.
The same influence goes for their images or ideas, though they are far more intentional. While there songs cannot create comprehensive, fully-fleshed visions of events, they can give their listeners a sense of having seen it. A listener just knows what the Firesprites are trying to convey. The idea that an old, majestic civilization used to live side-by-side with them or the face of a thief that the listener would just Know immediately.
The Guardian
Every Firesprite colony has/had a Guardian, a large serpent-like creature who protected their groves and the Shadowmoss. Many of which were killed in the raids on the grottos, seeing as they are aggressive creatures who will chase intruders completely out of the groves or die trying.
Guardians are typically 40 feet long with tiny, practically useless legs. They move more like a snake than a lizard and are known to rear back, strike, and coil around enemies, also reminiscent of a snake.
They have greenish-silver scales and sport two horns on their head, that it uses for gouging opponents before swallowing them whole.
The real secret to the Guardians though, is it’s origins and true purpose. Unknown to anyone who has never been close to the Firesprites, the Guardian is actually the mature form of Firesprites.
It takes many years for a Firesprite to mature into a Guardian serpent and even longer for them to shed to full size. Usually only one Guardian in a colony is alive at a time, though whether this is due to biological factors (the presence of a Guardian might stunt the growth of other Firesprites) or just coincidental is unknown.
What more the Guardian is the main source of food for the Firesprites.
Shadowmoss
Firesprites actually feed on Shadowmoss, a sickly, green, moss-like substance that glows in the dark where the sun cannot reach it. It has a very, strong nauseating smell that can cause someone to get physically ill. The Firesprites consume nothing else and have no interest in any other edible sources/items.
Shadowmoss is also the famed medicine against the Amber Rage, which still appears throughout the Korcari Wilds at times. Many Chasind continue to share the knowledge of the Shadowmoss, even if they lack the exact location of it.
But Shadowmoss is also the feces of the serpentine Guardians/Mature Firesprites.
This is what had caused the death of so many of the Firesprite colonies. As the Alamarri raided, they would kill the Guardian (the producer of food and protector) and then take the Shadowmoss stored within the grottos (stored food). The death and theft would then lead to the starvation of the Firesprites before a new Guardian could mature and take on the role as provider and protector. Thus causing the near-extinction of them, seen today.
Humans/Mortals and Firesprites
Firesprites are curious about mortals, simply as alien creatures who approach them; however, they lack interest in anything they offer. Firesprites are not enticed by shiny objects, do not bother with human food, find nothing appealing about mortal-given gifts, and are unamused by mortal mechanisms.
In fact, the only way to “lure” a Firesprite out into the open is to replicate the stench of Shadowmoss. The lure will only work for a little while though, for the disappointment of there being no actual food for them and pure boredom will cause the Firesprites to quickly retreat back to their home.
The Chasind had one other (dark) purpose for Firesprites, back when they were numerous. Swamp Lamps were once created using Firesprites. The soft, but powerful glow ideal for lighting the marsh’s night. Chasind would capture Firesprites and imprison them in portable cages or glass lanterns, but since it was unknown what they survived on many died in the glass prisons.
Disclaimer: Most of this is completely canonical knowledge. Speculative information is labelled as such. There are sources for the canon information and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes:Codice (Lord d’Onterre’s Journal, Superstitions, and A Torn Diary), In-game Texts [Not filed in the Codex] (An Apology, Cook’s Diary, Lord d’Onterre’s Beast, A Reminder, and Secret Reading) and Dragon Age Inquisition: Chateau d’Onterre Quest. Nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).
As the story of the Chateau is rather vague, this post does contain speculation on some of the fuzzier details and is marked as so. Though I try to be as close to canon as I can. And while I tried my best to make this easy to read and comprehend, the events themselves are a bit hard to explain and so the event explanation might be choppy or weirdly worded in parts. For that I apologize.
Warning: Mentions of Child Abuse and drowning below the Read More
Location Chateau d’Onterre is located in the Dales of Orlais, specifically the area known as The Emerald Graves.
The d’Onterre Family The d’Onterre family was a noble family with a very pristine reputation and name.They were also known for their extravagant parties and unyielding faith in the Chantry and The Maker (as seen through their many painting, statues, and altars).
Known d’Onterres
Jeanette d’Onterre, Matriarch of House d’Onterre
Nanette d’Onterre, Beautiful Rose of House d’Onterre
General Mathieu d’Onterre, Feared by Dog Lords
Antia Chayeau, Beloved Grand’mére (Grandmother)
Abel d’Onterre, (Speculation) Lord d’Onterre and Father of the Child*
Colette d’Onterre, Lady d’Onterre and Mother of the Child
*Abel d’Onterre is the only d’Onterre portrait that does not come with an explanation and appears several times, most of the time in crucial locations (The Study). This leads me to believe, he may be the current Head of the House.
Summary of the Events The d’Onterres were blessed with a daughter, but cursed by their daughter’s magic. After years spent torturing her emotionally, mentally, and physically in hopes to smother her magic, their daughter was given a talisman. Though the talisman was meant to protect their daughter, it instead lured in a demon that threatened to possess the child. Which would result in the deaths of the family, their friends, and their staff.
rosequartzish quipped: I saw your dragon age slur post going around and I noticed 'Rattus' was on the list for elves. Rattus is the Latin word for 'Rat' (which might have been obvious), and since Tevene has ties to Latin I think it might be just that. A rat, not too dissimilar from Rabbit.
I’ve heard that and I have no doubt that is it too. Though I don’t know if the context of Thedas itself changes the way it is used, so I kind of left it alone as is. If that makes sense?
My speculative info about it, would be that it does definitely mean Rat and probably means Tevinter saw the elves as pests that Thedas needed to be rid of. Dehumanizing them and giving them reason to “exterminate” and cage the Ancient Elves.
I got a question. What is “English” called in Thedas? Like, what we hear as English in the game. Is it called English? That wouldn’t make any sense. Orlesian isn’t called French and Tevene isn’t Latin
Common tongue or King’s Tongue, I believe.
Correct. At least one example is in The Stolen Throne. It turns out Dwarves taught humans the King’s Tongue, implying it comes from the kings of Orzammar and not Ferelden.
OH COOL I DID NOT KNOW THAT
King’s Basic is the Ferelden term and Trade (another term for it) originated I believe in Ferelden or rather under it, every other nation refers to it as Common
or Trade
Tongue. Trade Tongue is in fact a Dwarven Language, because the Dwarves need a Trade Language for the surface, thus Common/Trade Tongue was created.
Anonymous quipped: Do you know if anyone has put work into figuring out dwarven runes and what they are phonetically so they could be used as a mode of writing? It would be really difficult, considering the lack of source material, but if bioware is consistent in what is there it might be possible.
I’m really sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but dwarven runes have no phonetic value and are actually pictographs as most common dwarves cannot read dwarven.
For instance, a fire rune is very obviously fire. While runes from Origins are a bit more obscure, but still pictographs. For example, Silverite Runes against Darkspawn are stylized Ogre horns and Cold Iron runes are used against the undead, which is a stylized skull.
Therefore, it is impossible to use them to decipher the Dwarven alphabet, despite being able to be used as a form of writing (pictographs are one of the oldest forms of writing). Sorry :(
Disclaimer: All knowledge is 100% canon and taken from canon and/or extended lore sources, nothing is headcanoned or fanon. You may want to also check out the #DA Lore tag on the blog, as unofficial (somewhat unsourced) lore posts sometimes end up there that I want to source and make official eventually.
Anonymous quipped: How much canon knowledge is there about Anders' escape attempts and his punishments? I don't seem to be able to find much and WOT isn't 100 % accurate, right? Your thoughts?
Actually World of Thedas is the most reliable source so far, but you are right: it’s written in the perspective of a Chantry scholar and therefore has Chantry prejudice, especially towards Anders (as you would expect).
Here is what I do know though:
Anders made a total of 7 escape attempts.
World of Thedas Vol.2
Anders was taken to the Circle when he was 12 years old, he made his first escape attempt 6 months after.
When Irving asked why he had tried to escape, Anders simply stated that he wanted to go home and Irving took pity on him.
Anders made no more escape attempts for a year.
His second escape, it took the Templars 3 weeks to find him.
His third attempt, it took them an entire month.
When Anders and Karl became friends and later more, Anders did not make any escape attempts.
When Irving transferred Karl to Kirkwall, he worried Anders might try to escape and assigned him Templar bodyguards.
It was only after the Templar assignment Anders escaped again and he was caught in West Hill, trying to get passage to Kirkwall.
On his sixth escape attempt, Anders was brought back and stuck in solitary confinement for an entire year. **Take note that solitary for even just a day can cause psychological issues, one study showed that monkeys placed in solitary for a year lost all ability to socially interact and another on consenting humans was only able to last for a week.
After being let out of solitary, Anders escaped for the last time.
Witch Hunt
Finn mentions a mage tried to escape during outdoor exercise time, the mage jumped off the dock and begun swimming to the other shore. The Templars could not go after him with their armor and only found him a week later. This was one of Anders’ escape attempts and afterwards all mages were restricted from outdoor access.
This was likely 4th, 5th, or 6th escape, as it was only after Anders’ 2nd attempt that Irving tried implementing outdoor activities for apprentices and Finn hadn’t heard of Anders after his last attempt. Meaning there was an attempt(s) made after it.
ruantrevelyan-deactivated201808 quipped: How much canon info is there about Highever? I haven't been able to find much apart from: It has an alienage, is by the coast and makes a signature kind of cloth (wool industry?). How big is the city? Is it near/around Castle Cousland? Does it have a harbour? How big is the alienage and what is it like?
(Alright, for you I’m going to make this into an official lore post, because this is actually small and specific).
Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes:Codice (Highever,
Construction Report: Brickmarks, ), Dragon Age Origins Ultimate/Collector’s Edition Prima Guide, Dragon AGE Core Rulebook. Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).
Highever
Location
Highever is a Teyrnir in northern Thedas, one of the few that set on the Coastlands. It sets on the coast of the Waking Sea, west of Amaranthine, across the sea from Kirkwall and the Vimmark Mountains, and North of The Bannorn.
In the very center of the Highever Teyrnir, is Harper’s Ford, this area used to belong to the Howes of Amaranthine. However, during the Orlesian Occupation, Tarleton Howe sided with the Orlesians, Harper’s Ford was marched upon by the Couslands and Howe hung.
Highever is the name of a village in the Teyrnir along the coast, as well as being the name of the Teyrnir (all lands, holdings, and bannorns within in area).
Castle Cousland is located in the Highever Teyrnir, the exact location is unknown.
Highever possesses an Alienage, though the location of it is unknown.
There was a Silver Temple in Highever where Andraste’s Ashes were first held, before being moved to a secret location. Whether the Temple still stands in unknown.
History
In -165 Ancient, Andraste’s “sons” (Maferath’s sons were adopted by Andraste, though many tried to claim to be her birth son in order to earn leadership of the Alamarri tribes) sought to steal Andraste’s ashes from Highever’s Silver Temple and strengthen their claim to Chief of the Alamarri. The ashes were moved to Haven, but the location was never revealed and eventually lost.
Castle Highever, eventually known as Castle Cousland, was built in the Divine Age and was considered no more than an outpost to the Amaranthine Bannorn. The oupost was held by the cousins of the Howes, the Elstans until the Tower Age.
In the Age of Towers, Bann Conobar Elstan was murdered by his wife, Flemeth, leaving no heir behind. Cononbar’s Captain, Sarim Cousland, stepped up and took the land instead.
The Couslands would declare themselves an independent Bannorn from Amaranthine and start a 30 year war, until Highever was freed and owned southwest Amaranthine as well.
It wasn’t until the Black Age that Highever would be named a Teynir under Haelia Cousland, who would unite the nearby lords against the werewolves and earn herself the title along with their fealty.
4:80 Black, Orlais tried to take Highever in hopes to conquer Ferelden, in the first Orlesian Invasion. They would use Highever to supply their troops by sea. However, Redcliffe stood strong against the Invasion and Orlesian was forced to retreat, unable to pass into Highever.
During the Exalted Age, Eletha Cousland would fight Ferelden’s future king, Calenhad, to remain independent. She would lose, but Highever would remain one of two Teynirs and Eletha would remain their teyrna.
However, in the Dragon Age, the Couslands would be betrayed and Castle Cousland would be stormed by Arl Howes forces, the Cousland family almost completely wiped out. The only to survive would Fergus Cousland, who would be lost in the Korcari Wilds until after the Fifth Blight ended.
(Conditional: The youngest Cousland would also survive the attack and go on to become a Grey Warden, swearing vengeance on Howe.)
Highever would be relinquished after Howe’s death by the Warden and returned to the Couslands.
Fergus Cousland is the current Teyrn of Highever.
Heraldry
Highever has two major Heraldry, The Cousland Heraldry (Left) and The Highever Heraldy (Right).
Known People from Highever
Ardal Cousland (A knight/soldier to King
Vanedrin Theirin)
Bryce Cousland
Calenhad Theirin
Duncan
Fergus Cousland
Flemeth
Helena (Jory’s Wife)
Oren Cousland
Riordan
Roderick Gilmore
Ser Eryhn (A Templar woman with unmatched grace with a sword and shield)
Warden Cousland
Facts
Highever has a population of 20,000.
Highever has given Ferelden the most famous Alamarri Legends so far (Calenhad, and Flemeth)
Nelaros’ Wedding Ring was forged in Highever, it is also where Tabris’ bride/groom comes from.
Sarethia is the Hahren of Highever’s Alienage.
Warpaint of the Tempest, is the traditional kaddis for mabari in Highever.
Highever Weave is most likely a cloth originating from Highever and may be an export.
Skyhold has bricks stolen from Highever, apparently before the First Orlesian Invasion.
