The Future Of The Veil

Solas, heavily injured after his fight with Elgar'nan's dragon, entering the Fade with Lavellan. He's been injured like this before of course, but he's always dealt with it alone. He would hole himself away for weeks, trembling as he slowly dressed and tended to his own wounds, casting what little healing magic would speed up his recovery. The physical pain wasn't the worst part though. No, he can deal with physical pain. It was the sheer isolation of it all. Being forced to be stagnant just made him think about how alone he truly was.

The adrenaline of his current situation wears off and he begins to waver. His wounds are catching up to him and he can already feel that he needs more than simple healing magic. He lets out a soft, resigned sigh. He's done this before and he can do it again, but it's never pleasant.

But then, as he stumbles, he feels hands reach out to support him. The feeling takes him by surprise for a brief moment. But then he remembers. He'd been so prepared to deal with this alone, as he always does, but then he remembers that she's here. He doesn't have to face this pain alone. For the first time in millennia, he actually has support. And the feeling makes him want to cry.

whoops

wait for me miraak solstheim is not far

I've brainstormed a whole ass concept

I WANT YOU.

"Solas!"

"Yes, vhenan?"

"I had the most illuminating conversation with Iron Bull. You've got to hear this."

"Tell him I am sick of his poor attempts at warming me towards the qun."

"It is not about that, taren’din!"

Lavellan: *gets in Solas' lap and manages to whisper the most vile, unhinged smutty thing he has heard in the countless millenia of his existence*

Solas: *sweats profusely*

I just adore how Lavellan not only encourages Solas to share his wisdom but actually, vocally, gets pissy whenever she finds him trying to suppress it, like…

“Stop trying to be mysterious and just spit it out fool, we don’t have time for this.”

And he immediately straightens up😭😭

Elgar'nan and Ghillan'nain cut banter during the fight with two dragons

Most likely, these lines were cut because it was decided that Elgar'nan should first appear here, not in Minrathous as it was before. So the usual banter without animations or effects was rewritten and remade into a cutscene that we see in the game.

Ghillan'nain: Clouded hearts. Shadowed by fear, eclipsed by doubt. Rook: Ghilan'nain! Elgar'nan: You struggle fruitlessly, when you could kneel. If the player saved Minrathous and met Elgar'nan. Previously the first meeting with him depended on the city choice. Rook: And Elgar'nan! If the player saved Treviso. Rook: I'm guessing you're Elgar'nan!

Ghillan'nain: The ones from the fortress. Ghillan'nain: The ones that destroyed my Archdemon! Elgar'nan: You shall have your vengeance, my sister. Elgar'nan: Fen'Harel's last piece on the board, ours for the taking.

Elgar'nan: The Dread Wolf once commanded armies. Elgar'nan: Loyal warriors who lived by his command and died with his name on their lips. Elgar'nan: All dust. All forgotten. Elgar'nan: He will lead you to your doom, as he led countless others.

Elgar'nan: You owe Fen'harel nothing, for he has given you nothing. Elgar'nan: He harbors secrets like no other, for he has little else to comfort him. Elgar'nan: He has not shown you the true power of the dagger. Elgar'nan: He has not offered knowledge of the prison that holds him. Elgar'nan: All this and more I would gladly share. In exchange I ask only for your devotion.

Ghillan'nain: The world has grown thin-blooded. Its skies empty. Its spirits weak. Ghillan'nain: The Dread Wolf's Veil choked all glory from this place! Ghillan'nain: Once we found our new empire, I will bring us closer to the glories of old.

Ghillan'nain: I was once young. Foolish. I crafted creatures for beauty or grace. Ghillan'nain: But elegance did not suffice. There was always a lack! A complexity even I could not reach! Ghillan'nain: We will have the dagger. We will release the blight. Ghillan'nain: And I will unlock the final mysteries of blood, and flesh, and bone!

Ghillan'nain: The dragon fails! Elgar'nan: Its weak flesh could never substitute for your masterwork. Elgar'nan: When we are finished here, we shall gather for you the makings of the finest Archdemon yet.

Elgar'nan: (Snarls) Ghillan'nain: You were correct, Elgar'nan. These creatures fail our needs, again and again. Elgar'nan: It seems the way of this pale world. Elgar'nan: For now, patience. When retribution comes, it will be all the sweeter.

Elgar'nan: I see the Dread Wolf's game. I know his moves and the pieces he has arrayed against me. Elgar'nan: When next we meet, Rook, you will not be so fortunate.

Thinking about the Felassan's codex entries:

It's clear that Felassan serves the same role to Solas as Rook's companions do to Rook in the game, and I keep on thinking about Felassan needing to reassure Solas over and over that people dying and suffering as a consequence of his rebellion wasn't his fault until it wasn't effective anymore; until Solas started seeing lives as disposable for the 'greater good', because people were dying under his direction anyway.

Rook is who Solas used to be and what Solas used to have before his regrets broke him. And it's sad to think about the sort of pall that must leave over their conversations. Imagine seeing the good, whole person you used to be in someone, and knowing you're going to break them the same way you were broken? There's such an intense degree of cruelty required to do what Solas did, but Solas was used to being cruel out of necessity by that point. He'd already done unspeakable things to so many people, so what was one more?

That must make it all the more impressive to Solas when Rook rises above his efforts to break them and escapes the prison, and it's no wonder he stares at Rook with such intensity and awe when they reunite... but that must also make the bad ending all the more devastating, since Rook becomes a mirror of Solas' current self instead of his past self, willing to make immense sacrifices for their own 'greater good'. And now Solas potentially has to live with what he's done to Rook forever.

Throwback Thursday

We all know the dancing scene at the Winter palace, don't we? BUT, did you know there is an even better option to choose from (despite the clipping, yeah, I know this shit's unfortunate)?

spoiler: you'll get another smooch from him

So this time I played her "more realistic" and after a long day at Halamshiral, walking through this massive place, snooping around and talking to people while playing their game (by insulting them discreetly ... or not, ahem), you're worn out (you can't convince me otherwise). And instead of dancing, she just wished for his company - and this decision pays off IMMEDIATELY. HE EVEN KISSES HER AT THE VERY END OF THE SCENE, almost not recognisable because the scene fades out, BUT IT IS THERE. Even if it's just a small smooch.

I'm. doomed. forever. 😩