(It Is Currently Almost 4 AM)

Zaella Lavellan

{A lore drop pulled from the game + a little expansion of my own}

Clan Lavellan is known for its seemingly nomadic lifestyle, and their no contact with humans whom they share the cities with. The Dalish found comfort in their surroundings, and usually could be found near off skirts of cities to avoid unwarranted attention from Free March rulers

Zaella was born amongst this clan, and blessed (or cursed) by the Gods to be a mage. Her power grew by the day as she developed into childhood, then adolescence. Both parents saw the power Zaella had, and her inability to fully harness it, so they urged Zaella to seek the keeper of the clan: Keeper Deshanna Istimaethoriel Lavellan. Days turned to months of Zaella being in the care of Deshanna, and away from her family and friends.

When they did return with Zaella gaining better control over her abilities, the clan was facing another crisis as the Templars and Circle Mages clashed throughout the cities. The conflict was so bad it started to spill into the countrysides which pushed the clan to ditch their very temporary living situation, once again…

Zaella created most of her memories in the countryside, and dreaded the idea of moving; she knew no place would be save for them. Keeper Deshanna held similar sentiments toward the area they settled, and instead of picking up everything to leave, she went to Zaella, and a couple other pupils.

They were to go to the Conclaves, and figure out the severity of the situation under guises that would not further put the clan at risk. Zaella, and the others agreed… but along the way they turned back, and only Zaella followed through.

THAT'S SO RAVEN (2003-2007) S3E10 'True Colors'

OKAY! I made this political edit a few days back

And I’m no artist, but I know during unprecedented times like this we will need our artist, our musicians, and poets to step in with their talents + form of expression. I thought I’d give it a try and see if I could accurately portray what I’m feeling

I actually live in the capital of the US, born and raised. Speaking from experience, this city is teetering on the verge of an explosion. The anger and betrayal that is felt through the streets from a country who has let us down… Not many know that we have no representation in congress

By electing this president, you elect the fate of those living in this city, whether people see that or not. It’s “Washington” that the media and the people refer to when they speak of this and any administration.

So, here’s my rage. Posted to TikTok but yall know how that goes. All my other videos got about 100 views (not that it matters) but this posted video got 7 views - they suppressed it, as per usual when it comes to any politics going against the Incompetent Three 😒

Should’ve been romanceable 😭😭😭 OMGGGGG

[The Ninth Wave, 1850, Ivan Aivazovsky; Clearing Up, Coast of Sicily (1847) Andreas Achenbach]

You are not too old, you are not too late, you are not a waste of space. Read this sentence again. Remember this.

Meet my Rook~

𝐙𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚

I’m not as familiar with the entirety of Dragon Age Lore (feel free to fill me in though 💜) 😭 Hope yall enjoy what’s to come cause I surely did yap LMAOO

I love games with character customization, and then romance on top of that!!! Had me smitten, but it was veilguard I started with. Before, I had no idea this franchise existed! So half way through veilguard I downloaded Inquisition 🥹. Since I’m restricted to console that’s as far back as I’m able to go, but as soon as the other games drop on PlayStation I’m gonna disappear into some part of Thedas again

—•—•—

Anywaaays! Zyrea is the younger cousin to my Inquisitor Lavellan (Zaella), and the two practically grew up together. As the clan ventured, and settled near the outskirts of the Free Marches, Zaella (who was the oldest at the time) was tasked with watching the youngsters. More than a dozen children were thrown into her circle, including Zyrea who gave any caretaker a run for their coins. The blood they shared was not nearly enough to resolve the chaos that erupted between them most times but when all was settled, they were two peas in a pod.

Zyrea thought her cousin to be one of the coolest kids she knew, especially because of the potency of Zaella’s magic… but it would be that very thing that tore them apart. Zaella’s magic intensified by the day, and her parents, Zyrea’s aunt & uncle, would grow worrisome over the wellbeing of their child. For two of the strongest mages in the camp to worry about the magical growth of their child, it wasn’t a surprise that they sent Zaella to Keeper Deshanna Istimaethoriel for further training. This would be where the two cousins were separated, and the start of a further divide.

Zyrea begged her parents to send her away as well so that she could walk in Zaella’s footsteps; anything to escape the boredom. Beyond the blood they shared, they were like best friends, and the thought of not speaking to the other was overwhelming for such a young kid. Her tantrums grew frequent, and the trouble she found herself in became more severe. For several months, almost a year, she would let those around her feel just how she felt with her cousin gone… but even she saw all the people she was pushing away. She tightened up toward the end, just to keep her friends around - NOT for her family’s sake 😭. This is definitely coming back to bite her.

Years passed with Zyrea trying to navigate life through the stages of adolescence, and her clinging to a new set of friends within the camp. These kids who grew alongside Zyrea were no day at the beach with their families either, and some were rebellious enough to venture away from the camp - closer to the cities they were trying to avoid. It was like a game to them, to see who would chicken out or who would be seen by any nearby wanderers first. She wouldn’t participate often but the last time she did almost cost her life. Templars and Circle Mages started to clash within the city with some of its chaos spewing from within and out into the free world. One of those kids would not make it home, but it was not Zyrea who fell… The quick yelp, sudden squelch, and thud of a body sent the lot of them to scatter back to camp.

The return of four kids, and not five, caused the parents of the missing boy to flip out, reasonably so. Zyrea and the others were all interrogated until she told them what occurred, and what had been going on for a couple of months. Parents would mourn, while others raged… but many others only thought of one thing: Clan Lavellan could be a target or already, somehow, part of this war. A meeting was held amongst the council, and Keeper Deshanna was summoned. They would need a spy, someone discreet, and powerful enough to return alive. The keeper sent Zaella, and a couple of other pupils, discreetly, to the Conclaves. Only the council knew of this.

In the meantime, serious punishments were needed for the kids who ventured too close to the city, risking the lives of the camp, and getting a kid killed. The council suggested, and agreed upon a suspension from exiting the camp + committing to camp duties for two years, which wasn’t nearly enough to bring back the child… Zyrea’s parents knew this, so when the punishment was given, they suggested self-exile. They would leave the camp with Zyrea to find shelter elsewhere, and even that wasn’t going to be enough to appease the mourning. Their journey probably would make up for the loss, though…

Treviso was the destination of the parents but only Zyrea would ever get the chance to enter the city gates. During an attack, and slight capture by hateful people, an ultimatum was given to them: one of them willingly leave with them or they all were being taken away. Her father volunteered to leave but he made them vow not to lay another hand on his wife or child. The deal was struck, and Zyrea never saw him again… Her mother battled with wanting to turn back and return to camp or follow after the people who took her husband. With her child alongside her for the journey, the mother had no choice but to keep forward but her morale faltered. Rations dropped faster than they were able to forage too. Illness swept over the mother but in her denial, she pushed forward for Zyrea until she no longer could.

Zyrea did not adjust to city life quickly and settled in the gutters of Treviso just to avoid pressure from the wealthy. Her food was often stolen from others, and so were her clothes, and any other item she needed or wanted. She had a couple of surface-level bonds but nothing that delved too deeply into her history. They directed her through the city, exposed to her how to live, and after that, she separated herself from them… She thought she knew what she was doing until she tried robbing some Viago guy and ended up on the wrong side of town. Those surface-level bonds never told her about the Crows, but he was kind enough to enlighten her after slamming his knee to her stomach 😭 (I imagine Viago would not play about his coin or being robbed).

Viago questioned her about family, seeing that she was young, lost, and not from the city. He would return her no matter the distance just so he knew she was safe, and to snitch on the trouble she almost ended up in… for payments (like he’s not about to almost get robbed and NOT get any coin out of them in return 😭 he’s getting more money). Zyrea told him the status of her family in the best way she could without breaking down but it was still fresh, and her pain was clear. No coin could mend his broken heart seeing this youngster so lost, so he took her under his wing, labeled her a De Riva, taught her the ways of the Crows, and then took half of her earnings for a couple of months 😭 THE END

[Also posted in Rooks Roost]

Narrator: Solas never actually had a plan…

(through gritted teeth) sometimes what's good for your mental health isn't another do nothing day or a little treat sometimes what's good for you is putting in some of the work. Not all of it at once but sometimes you have to finish that essay or at least take the next step or you have to clean your room or at least dust the shelves or you gotta do the laundry or at least put it all in the hamper and it's not fun and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks and it sucks but you have to because i read a post on the internet that told me that's what being nice to yourself is sometimes

sequel to this post

Somebody call Gale and tell him to stand next to the White House. Trump needs that (and I’ll salute myself into oblivion as well) Going down with the ship 🫡

That Netherese Orb Blast is taking out all of DC but oh well. It is what it is