Maria Treman: Ruin Diver for the Inquisition

𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐏𝐆-𝟏𝟑 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒

I love how DAO and DAI both have a hedgemage companion that hates the Circles and think they're bullshit (Morrigan/Solas) and a bootlicking class traitor Circle mage who parrots Chantry propaganda at the drop of a hat (Wynne/Vivienne), but even though Anders inexplicably also parrots Chantry talking points, DA2 can't manage to have even one mage companion that genuinely shills for the Chantry and instead has to settle for two vocally anti-Chantry mages (an apostate and a Dalish mage) and Sebastian for whoever's willing to shell out real human money for him. Like I know DA2 had no money or time but I'm genuinely impressed by how much of an odd one out it is in the line-up lol.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf – Who is the Dread Wolf?

Reblog if you’re a roleplayer in your 30s.

Maria's face was somber as they looked over the room, eyes lingering over the sarcophagi. So much lost, and so much still left to lose. When would it end? Would ever there be a time where people would not be forgotten, disappearing from history as if they'd never existed? What a cruel fate to have to endure...

"It isn't fair...They deserve better..." They answered softly, chewing on their bottom lip slightly. If only there was something they could do to prevent such erosion...

"We can only hope that better shall come to pass in the future." His eyes linger for a moment further upon the lined resting places of the deceased ere he finally returned his attention to his companion; "They did their utmost back then- it is our turn to try and do much the same now. I can only hope that this time, in the face of all of this madness, that we fare much better."

He pauses, exhaling a redundant breath; "We ought see if we can go any deeper- find aught else."

Maria listened in silence, letting his words echo softly through the dead room. Do better. That was always the goals, wasn't it? But was it truly possible? Sometimes when reading through old records both at the University and found in ruins just like this...they wondered if things could ever truly change...

All they could do was try. Their gaze moved to him before going back to the entrance to the room they had been in. "I looked a little. Didn't want to go too far in alone."

exhaustion … sentence starters

It’s time for yet another reminder that sexuality and gender labels are approximations of people’s experiences, which are fuzzy, incomplete, sometimes overlapping, and not easy to categorize. It’s okay to be unsure.

It's also ok for how you label yourself to change over time. That just means you're learning more about yourself and it should be embraced.

"Are they ever though? Humans, Qunari, Dwarves...none of them have terribly good records for giving a shit about the elves. Though the Dwarves are probably the ones that'd have the best reaction..."

Maria mused softly, trying to imagine how such a revelation would go with different groups they'd had interactions with in the past. But would it be worth the risk? For them it would be...but they couldn't expect everyone to be able to make the same choice.

Maria made their way back towards the sarcophagi, wanting to get a closer look and not having anything to analyze without leaving ear shot of their companion.

"True... If only humans could leave well enough alone... I get being bitter about the second Blight...but to let things go as far as they ended up..." They let out a deep, disgruntled sigh.

Only silence emanated from the knight for the length of a few moments, his eyes transfixed upon the sarcophagi before him, the memories of those of whom had fallen too sore to bare and yet they flashed before his eyes regardless. it churned his rotten stomach, made his unbeating heart ache immensely - that so many centuries now lay between himself and their once camaraderie.

Mayhap he ought not have gone upon this mission.

"Aye- some ought learn to leave well enough alone." For it had been someone doing the precise opposite that had drawn him from his eternal slumber, left him confused and disorientated at his place of rest - - they fled, leaving their experimental resurrection alone.

"Its a shame- that the men and women here have been forgotten to history - nameless."

Maria's face was somber as they looked over the room, eyes lingering over the sarcophagi. So much lost, and so much still left to lose. When would it end? Would ever there be a time where people would not be forgotten, disappearing from history as if they'd never existed? What a cruel fate to have to endure...

"It isn't fair...They deserve better..." They answered softly, chewing on their bottom lip slightly. If only there was something they could do to prevent such erosion...

i want to cuddle with someone so bad rn

"That seems to be the case... The aging of the stone and the decor look to be from around their time... It's...sad to see it so worn away like this..." Maria's voice held a tinge of sadness, a longing for a past they could never truly call theirs like the Dalish could.

How much was already long lost before they arrived? How much more would be lost after they left? How many places would be left to rot, never touched nor seen again before fading into nothing? They almost chuckled at the mental image of an ancient Knight walking into a Dalish camp. "If they were with me they certainly would be. I have so much I'd want to ask...if they wanted to share of course... I can't imagine how hard it would be to adjust to how different things are now..." A light jest, and one they couldn't entirely discount as something they wouldn't do.

Sad - indeed, 't was too easy for his mind to sink back into memories that felt as if they rose from only yesterday, but centuries away all at the very same time. He could recall the decorations, the celebrations, the way they would honour the dead that had given their lives to protect their people. And now - - looking upon the ruins with a heavy heart, did Senreth wish it was something he could speak about.

"I can't imagine many outside of the Dalish would be very accepting-" Not if one took into account the general treatment of elves; Senreth had picked up on such things while overhearing chatter and it only seemed to worsen his guilt. If he hadn't have fallen... if he had managed to stay upon his feet and fight for longer, perhaps much would have been different. "- if one could prove that they were from that time, at all."

It was something he had contemplated much; if he was to open up about his predicament, his unliving state - - would any believe him? Much of him wished to get the entire secret out, feel better knowing that another knew, truly, what he was- but he knew that secrecy was likely his best option; but then all he knew, all he could recall from times far back, would be lost alongside him.

Deep in thought, Senreth lingers near one of the sarcophagi, purposely ignoring the one closer to the end of the row that had been disturbed; the lid three quarters off, no body within.

"And - - they failed, after all... if they hadn't, maybe there wouldn't be so many suffering at the hands of those of whom believe themselves better-"

"Are they ever though? Humans, Qunari, Dwarves...none of them have terribly good records for giving a shit about the elves. Though the Dwarves are probably the ones that'd have the best reaction..."

Maria mused softly, trying to imagine how such a revelation would go with different groups they'd had interactions with in the past. But would it be worth the risk? For them it would be...but they couldn't expect everyone to be able to make the same choice.

Maria made their way back towards the sarcophagi, wanting to get a closer look and not having anything to analyze without leaving ear shot of their companion.

"True... If only humans could leave well enough alone... I get being bitter about the second Blight...but to let things go as far as they ended up..." They let out a deep, disgruntled sigh.

"That seems to be the case... The aging of the stone and the decor look to be from around their time... It's...sad to see it so worn away like this..." Maria's voice held a tinge of sadness, a longing for a past they could never truly call theirs like the Dalish could.

How much was already long lost before they arrived? How much more would be lost after they left? How many places would be left to rot, never touched nor seen again before fading into nothing? They almost chuckled at the mental image of an ancient Knight walking into a Dalish camp. "If they were with me they certainly would be. I have so much I'd want to ask...if they wanted to share of course... I can't imagine how hard it would be to adjust to how different things are now..." A light jest, and one they couldn't entirely discount as something they wouldn't do.

Sad - indeed, 't was too easy for his mind to sink back into memories that felt as if they rose from only yesterday, but centuries away all at the very same time. He could recall the decorations, the celebrations, the way they would honour the dead that had given their lives to protect their people. And now - - looking upon the ruins with a heavy heart, did Senreth wish it was something he could speak about.

"I can't imagine many outside of the Dalish would be very accepting-" Not if one took into account the general treatment of elves; Senreth had picked up on such things while overhearing chatter and it only seemed to worsen his guilt. If he hadn't have fallen... if he had managed to stay upon his feet and fight for longer, perhaps much would have been different. "- if one could prove that they were from that time, at all."

It was something he had contemplated much; if he was to open up about his predicament, his unliving state - - would any believe him? Much of him wished to get the entire secret out, feel better knowing that another knew, truly, what he was- but he knew that secrecy was likely his best option; but then all he knew, all he could recall from times far back, would be lost alongside him.

Deep in thought, Senreth lingers near one of the sarcophagi, purposely ignoring the one closer to the end of the row that had been disturbed; the lid three quarters off, no body within.

"And - - they failed, after all... if they hadn't, maybe there wouldn't be so many suffering at the hands of those of whom believe themselves better-"

Trained eyes could make out more than most, but even that was only a fraction of what they knew had to originally be there. How long could they go on with this seemingly futile effort, scrapping slivers off of fragments of faded history. How long could they fight against the 'scholars' who deemed the history of anyone aside from humans unimportant, especially the 'lowly' elves they had forced out of two homelands.

"I bet if they got creative they'd figure something out. Speak enough elvhen, the Dalish only know a handful, might help...but even I can likely speak more than the average elf. Most don't get the same exposure as one gets when pouring through rotting tombs day and night."

"The only one I've seen stuck with his clan for centuries so they were able to verify his age...except he wasn't truly ancient...Just cursed himself for revenge..."

They sighed, thinking carefully on old experiences and what they could pull from it now. How would one be able to tell a member of the ancient elvhen? Just words couldn't work... A display of old magic? Possibly, but then would come verifying if it was truly old or made to appear as such... What would Maria even do if presented with such a being?

Maria had made their way back, directing the few Inquisition agents that they had allowed inside. It was one of the better preserved sites they'd found, and they wanted to keep it intact. There was much they could learn from these walls. That fact was obvious by the number of notes and sketches now filled the once blank journal in their hands.

"Would be nice if we could just ask, then we wouldn't have to go through all this work to figure it out..." If they could just ask those who had resided here they would in a heartbeat. If those in Uthenera could still rise to share their wisdom with the younger generations as they used to... Perhaps there wouldn't be so much that had been entirely lost to the passing of time. Perhaps the elves wouldn't have to reach out blindly, stitching together whatever little and flawed threads they could find...

There is a moment, as they step further into the ruins and deeper down into its very poise, that has Senreth pause and painfully recall almost every visit he had taken there - every loved one and brave Knight buried with the utmost adoration and respect. It hurt - to have to remember them; especially now, when those surrounding him sought the wisdom of the past.

"They were Knights, weren't they-?" He knows the answer, of course he does- but he cannot let on to such. No, not even if they pass the empty sarcophagi that he had occupied until only recently and names were matched- Nobody would feasibly match the two, it was too outlandish - and yet he worried nonetheless.

Another pause, this time close to a wall where worn tapestries hung, depicting knights in battle, allowing himself a further few moments to think. Did he know anything that may help the Inquisition? Could he recall aught at all that might have been of use that had been conceived those centuries prior? He wouldn't know without talking of his time there... but doing so wouldn't do him much favours, he imagined. Would any actually believe him? Unlikely.

"Though, I imagine one walking among us wouldn't just be bombarded by questions of our own kind - - I wonder what reception they'd get otherwise."

"That seems to be the case... The aging of the stone and the decor look to be from around their time... It's...sad to see it so worn away like this..." Maria's voice held a tinge of sadness, a longing for a past they could never truly call theirs like the Dalish could.

How much was already long lost before they arrived? How much more would be lost after they left? How many places would be left to rot, never touched nor seen again before fading into nothing? They almost chuckled at the mental image of an ancient Knight walking into a Dalish camp. "If they were with me they certainly would be. I have so much I'd want to ask...if they wanted to share of course... I can't imagine how hard it would be to adjust to how different things are now..." A light jest, and one they couldn't entirely discount as something they wouldn't do.

The fact that he didn’t push the matter made them relax a bit, thankful that he at least seemed to understand even if it might be difficult to emotionally. All their initial knowledge of the past of the elves came from bedtime stories told to them before bed as a child. All the elves had were stories, they needed the truth.

Eyes followed him for a few moments when he moved away to simply make sure he wasn’t going too far or walking into anything dangerous. Maria did not follow, giving him the space as they let themselves focus on the other side of the room. Most people brought with them took some time, it was a lot to take in and process even for elves who knew very little of their history. They wouldn’t rush anyone. They could still remember the first time they saw a ruin and the wave of emotions it had brought to them. He would get all the time and space he needed from Maria.

“Alcoves, good call.” They answered, in the process of drawing out a statue that would not be able to be moved. He may have glanced their desk in the rotunda back at Skyhold and how it was covered in journals filled with sketches and notes.

It was so very difficult; to be wandering those halls like he had done so centuries prior but now... now they were but only a fraction of a shadow in which they were. Those within - he could easily recall tales of them as if it was but only the day prior that they had been laughing around a campfire, on the eve of their deaths; lives lay down in the attempted defence of their people.

His stomach churned at the very thought, once again flooded with guilt in which he simply couldn't help. they'd tried their utmost, that's for certain - - but eventually, they'd fallen; too tired, too strained to be at their best. It hadn't been enough and the very fact of it had him distraught.

"I wonder what those buried here would tell us if they could speak-" He utters, drawing a deep breath - redundant though it was - in order to steady himself and the racing of his mind.

Maria had made their way back, directing the few Inquisition agents that they had allowed inside. It was one of the better preserved sites they'd found, and they wanted to keep it intact. There was much they could learn from these walls. That fact was obvious by the number of notes and sketches now filled the once blank journal in their hands.

"Would be nice if we could just ask, then we wouldn't have to go through all this work to figure it out..." If they could just ask those who had resided here they would in a heartbeat. If those in Uthenera could still rise to share their wisdom with the younger generations as they used to... Perhaps there wouldn't be so much that had been entirely lost to the passing of time. Perhaps the elves wouldn't have to reach out blindly, stitching together whatever little and flawed threads they could find...