obscure Elven Heroes! Appreciation. Post

obscure elven heroes! appreciation. post

The Pale Demon: after Orlais conquered Halamshiral in 2:20 Glory and the Dales fell, one of the Keepers of the diaspora clans became infamous for his vicious attacks on Orlesians. humans came to know him as the Pale Demon, for he set upon soldiers and even unprotected merchants with iceblasts and blizzards from his staff, even in summer. these attacks continued until chevaliers killed the Keeper and then slaughtered his entire clan. the staff he bore was called Yavanalis (it’s curious to me incidentally, that Flemythal named one of her daughters Yavana - any connection? maybe the two words share the same root word in elven).

Wenni di Ladia: a City Elf from Nevarra, she was one of the most famous elven heroes from the Towers Age. directly descended from one of the last Emerald Knights who protected the Dales, she took up her grandfather’s bow, Tenasarin (any relation to the river Tenasir, where shrines to the elven gods stood?), to fight when the Third Blight threatened Thedas. her deeds, skill and beauty inspired entire armies, such that I don’t think it would be a stretch to say Wenni was one of the Heroes of the Third Blight. after the Archdemon was defeated, her name launched revolts and rebellions in the alienages, becoming a rallying cry - mien’harel! human Marcher rulers were angered by this, and Wenni was forced to flee criminal accusations. she vanished into obscurity, not unlike some Wardens in some of the potential epilogue slides, but her legend still lives on in the hearts of City Elves. this is very important, because in the City Elf Origin elven children playing “Heroes and Humans” will tell Tabris that they don’t know any stories about elven heroes. I like to believe that Wenni’s story is one that every elven child knows and takes great pride and solace in, just like Garahel’s is noted to be.

Rajmael: a great general. the elves of the Dales fought valiantly against the Exalted March, but defeat became obvious. in one last act of defiance, Rajmael threw his dragonbone waraxe, The Veshialle, at the oncoming enemy before committing suicide by jumping from the Forlorn Falls. his weapon is said to rebel against all but elven hands. Rajmael may have been an Emerald Knight. a verse in the Chant of Light insists that he recanted his faith in the Creators, but we all know that’s human bullshit. curiously, his tale bears some similarity to that of Nomaris, one of the last Emerald Knights alive after the Dales were destroyed. he too bore an axe - the Axe of Green Edges. he lodged it in a tree, declaring that it should remain there until his People were free, before flinging himself into a river, presumably to his death.

Iloren: the Keeper of a Dalish clan that wandered the Anderfels during the Second Blight, in a time when Keepers were priests that served as archivists and magical scholars. he was a hunter in his younger days, and as crafty as a wolf. he led his people in their flight from the darkspawn horde, staying always one step ahead by the grace of his wits alone. one night, the darkspawn cornered and ambushed them. but the dark ones fell into Iloren’s trap. he and the other hahrens called upon the old magic, and with lightning set fire to dry grass and kindling that the hunters had strewn around the camp in preparation. the area went up in flames, and not a single creature made it through the blaze to harm his clan. today his tale is preserved in its most cherished form in books.

Willem Trialmont: a City Elf who followed a company of the Legion of the Dead for three days through the Deep Roads, doggedly intent on fighting darkspawn with his family blade - a fine elven sword which would later come to be known as Topsider’s Honor in light of his deeds. he was quiet but insistent; the dwarves, confused at why someone from the surface would care to combat darkspawn underground, initially thought that he wouldn’t last, and threatened to kill him if his actions put them at risk. but he shocked them, for later, they witnessed him fight like a man possessed, with incredibly light, silent strikes and marked precision. they toasted and broke bread with him, and when he died in 7:5 Storm, they extended that which was sacred to them and conveyed him to the Stone as if he’d been born a dwarf. his epitaph reads that he served the Deep Roads better than a native son. many Legionnaires lived to see another day because Willem fought at their side and fell in their place. in death, the dwarves lauded his honor and claimed him as a brother in blood. his story is one of true family beyond kin and taking up arms against darkness.

Alidda of Halamshiral: the most famous elven criminal in all of Orlais. a City Elf, she was arrested in 4:45 Black for killing three knights - a deed which hardly makes sense to pair with the word “crime”, as chevalier initiation practices involve “testing their blades” by entering alienage slums after dark to murder innocent elves who happen to be out after curfew. Divine Clemence I presided over Alidda’s trial, where it came to light that she had actually killed twelve chevaliers, in justified retaliation for the abhorrent graduation ritual. she escaped and killed twenty more chevaliers - two in single combat - before finally being cornered. rather than be captured, she cut her throat with Knightslayer, her own dagger.

Orahn: A Dalish smith known to have created fine weapons such as the Dal’Thanu waraxe that was an heirloom in the possession of Deygan’s family. His grandfather passed it down to him. Family legend holds that it was used to fight in the service of Andraste herself, meaning Orahn may have been a contemporary of Shartan.

Corimae: Presumably a City Elf, she owned a beautiful dagger called the Voice of Velvet. She was an assassin - possibly an Antivan Crow? - and when a nobleman refused to take her as a lover, she used the dagger to open his throat.

Sendis and Iselle: A Dalish archer and blood mage respectively, this brother and sister pair were part of a band of heroes that saved the Free Marcher city of Kaiten, having aided Viscount Ravi in preventing an abomination from destroying the place. Their clan was led by Keeper Tianne. Over time Iselle and Ravi became lovers, and she eventually died bearing their elf-blooded son Eiton. Sendis later saved his clan from blood magic control by calling on Ravi for help.

Embri of Gwaren: A City Elf, she was a mage, though unfortunately one of limited talent. Testament to her brave spirit and selfless desire to help, Embri volunteered of her own volition to be made Tranquil. As a Tranquil she proved to be a skilled enchanter, despite her absent-mindedness. She always kept an array of magical herbs and other ingredients at her belt, and eventually the belt itself came to hold magical properties. Embri died of lyrium poisoning.

Temolai: A skilled craftsman who made The Long Sight, a helm which grants a strange and unnerving acuity. He made one more helm better than it, but that helm allowed him to gaze upon the Black City, and he was lost forever.

Korin: An elven king, from a tall tale Tabris can tell children in the Denerim Alienage.

Tathas: A sneaky elven bandit, from a tall tale Tabris can tell children in the Denerim Alienage.

Blargha: A mighty elven warrior, from a tall tale Tabris can tell children in the Denerim Alienage.

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q prompt list korin folklore and history alidda of halamshiral wenni di ladia willem trialmont corimae embri of gwaren tathas blargha the pale demon rajmael iloren orahn sendis iselle temolai

Day 4: Tradition

Written for @cityelfweek day 4! For anyone who knows my other OCs: Margery and Ghilad are the parents of my Agent of Fen'Harel OC, Bruno. They both lived in the Denerim Alienage until the events of DA:O.

When Margery was a child, she had thought pregnancy a game. She had watched her mother’s belly swell with life, and gift her a baby brother. A little friend for life.

Now that it is her turn, she understands why her mother had so often looked like she had swallowed a lemon. As if the trials on the body are not enough, the tests of one’s patience will surely wear one down.

She muses this to herself as she sits outside the cemetery, hand resting idly on her stomach, thumb stroking up and down when something kicks inside. How strange it feels, to reach for another while feeling the brush of her own skin over her skirt. She turns the thought over itself, making it last longer than it had any right to, and wishing she had brought something to do with her hands while she waits.

At some point, when a shadow falls over her, she almost mistakes it for the tiring sun, until it speaks with her husband’s voice: “You’re still here?”

Margery’s head snaps up. “‘Course I’m still here,” she says, a little cross. “If I cannit be in there with you, the least I can do is be out here.”

Ghilad’s smile is both sympathetic and affectionate, face almost forgetting the red rings around his eyes. “You know I would have you by my side, but—”

“Aye, I know.” She waves off his explanation, heaving a sigh through her lungs. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Death must feel like a faraway thing to an expecting mother, lest she invite it upon herself and the child. Tradition does not dictate how she can feel about the matter, however.

“How were your parents?” she asks, voice now as gentle as the hand that soothed her unborn child.

“Still together.” He lets out a strained chuckle. She had never seen the gravestones, but she could picture them, ashes interred in the graveyard alongside their neighbours. When the soil has settled, they’ll need to mind the earth that keeps them. Once the bairn has come, of course. Her late mother-in-law would not abide weeds, even in death. “I cleaned the gravestones, spoke to them about our girl.”

“Your girl?” Margery scoffs. “You know, Mhairi reckons it’ll be a boy. She told me you’d be getting fatter if we were having a girl.”

“Wh- I don’t see what I have to do with it.”

“At least half as much as me, if I recall.” She reaches for him with both hands, kissing them when he offers her his. “It’ll be what it’ll be. Nowt we can do about it now. We’ll love it the same.”

“That we will.” Ghilad squeezes his fingers around hers, skin warm like sunlight. “Shall we head home for tea?”

“I’ll need a little help, first,” she says, tugging expectantly at him. Margery grunts as he hoists her up. She keeps one hand tethered to his, fingers interlocking as they turn their backs on the great gate overlooking the cemetery.

Tags

oc writing q aww thank you for sharing! i like how well they clearly fit together and how much love comes through this felt like a real domestic snapshot 🥺

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cityelfweek

10 months ago

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art q miriam Neb

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cityelfweek

10 months ago

City Elf Appreciation Week

~ 5th of August - 11th of August ~

Here are some optional prompts for next week! Please feel free to do whatever you like with them. Remember to tag @cityelfweek or use the tag #cityelfweek24!

Day 1 - Vhenadahl - A pillar of many alienage communities. Firewood in others.

Day 2 - Folklore - Show the folklore that city elves have created over time. Superstitions, stories, heroes, villains... anything!

Day 3 - Community - Close-knit family, or claustrophobic little box?

Day 4 - Customs and Tradition - Andrastian? Dalish? Somewhere in between, or something all new?

Day 5 - Alienage - The only home many city elves ever know.

Day 6 - OC - A day to celebrate original city elf characters!

Day 7 - Free Day - All things city elf!

[original post][divider credit]

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cityelfweek

10 months ago

"saying I love you for the first time" for Zevran/Tabris?

Really leaning into Mara's aloof black cat energy here! Gotta hide in Zevran's cleavage before she can bring herself to say it lmao @dadrunkwriting

It was cold. Mara could feel that much even through the pile of blankets she was huddled under, curled up with her face tucked under them like a cat. She could feel the warm press of a body at her back, soft flesh curled up around her, so close that they might as well have been joined by a seam. She smiled and snuggled down further, sighing at the soft fluffy blanket whose edge on slightly tickled her nose when she breathed in. On her waist she could feel the gentle drawing of shapes and patterns with bare fingers. The soft pads occasionally replaced by a light scratch of longer nails. “Wha time isit?” Mara slurred out, tongue still clumsy from sleep. “Now, now Mara, you know I love you but we have to get up. They will be sending out a search party for us otherwise.” She grunted, turning over and wrapping her limbs around the other elf, pressing her face against his chest. Zevran’s limbs stiffened and Mara looked up at him, the actions happening practically simultaneously as their sleep addled minds processed what he had just said. You know I love you… Neither of them said anything, just looking at the other in shocked silence. Mara couldn’t quite make out the emotions which were at war within Zevran’s eyes. It was a distant look, as if he had been yanked out of bed and into the cold. Partially fearful, partially shocked, and partially…something else she wasn’t quite sure of. She looked away from his gaze, a blush rising on her cheeks. They had slept together, they had made love, they had fornicated, they had committed sodomy, and this was what made her blush? She reburied her face into his chest to hide the growing redness on her face. “I love you too Zev.” His voice was in her ear, soothing and gentle, even as she could hear the pounding of his heart through his ribcage and the slight quail of his voice. “I’m sorry warden, I didn’t quite hear that.” She removed her face and tilted her head up, though she couldn’t bring her gaze to meet his own. She spoke with a frown, or perhaps a pout. “I love you too Zev.” His whole body relaxed and he let out a shaking laugh. “Well! That is a relief. Mara.” Her frown deepened and she pulled him close to her into a tight embrace. Her mouth right next to his ear, looking out past him. “Were you really that in doubt?” She asked, certainly pouting now. “Hm, I am picking up that the diplomatic answer to your question is ‘no I was never in doubt’.” She laughed at that, sudden and from the stomach. “But I must confess I was a little.” She growled and peppered kisses over every bit of skin that she could reach from their current position. Not willing to give up the feeling of being enveloped in strong arms. He squealed as her lips grazed across a ticklish spot and she grinned, doubling down and clutching him tight. Through his rolling laughter he said, “well don’t worry I’m not in doubt anymore.”

Tags

writing q zevran arainai tabris zevran x tabris

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cityelfweek

10 months ago

i went to bath – they have a vhenadahl :)

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cityelfweek

10 months ago

City Elf Appreciation Week... BEGINS!

Please remember to tag @cityelfweek or use the tag #cityelfweek24 so your works can be reblogged! Today's optional prompt is vhenadahl - but anything that's focused on city elves is welcome, new and old!

Tags

q op dragon age fan event city elf city elves da fandom

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