Let's Play: Dragon Age II

[Blayze]

NOTE: PC version, so for now I'm using the demo. As a result, I won't be able to get very far before I have to wait for the game to be released. For now, however, enjoy.

SECOND NOTE: Images are likely large. Take care.

This LP will be played as a Male Warrior, simply because I plan on ending up with two Rogues in the party anyway--Isabela and Varric--and somebody's got to tank. Jaheira--sorry, Aveline--doesn't call to me as much as the others.

That, and this way I get to use both the DLC weapon and the DLC shield--I hope.

Before we begin: an observation.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/001.jpg

The Female Warrior appears distracted by her Rogue counterpart's bizarre hand gesture. Is she trying to surf on an imaginary surfboard, or is she imagining she's sat in a comfy chair with the armrests at odd angles?

[Prologue: Workplace Meeting]



Hello! Jan Jansen here, master turnip peddler and occasional world-saving, mage-slaying adventurer. Now, I get a lot of letters--mostly from my many cousins, actually--asking me what was going on with the direct-to-Palantir adaptation of the third part of my incredible magnum opus, the Taters of the Sword Coast series of novels.

Well... I'm sorry to say that, due to the small print to end all small print and a not inconsiderable amount of Pappy Jansen's All-Purpose Vegetable-Flavour Alcoholic Bathroom-Cleansing Liquid I drank three nights before, not only did those crafty souls at Industrial Sound and Fury manage to con me out of my royalties by altering the setting, plot and characters just enough that they didn't have to pay me a single copper piece, but there were certain... other stipulations in the contract I signed blindly in a moment of turnip-addled weakness.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/003.jpg

For starters, they've got me dressed up as a dwarf of all things--at least I don't have to wear the traditional obviously false beard--and because I signed away all rights to the money I would have earned from this little embarrassment of an endeavour, I don't even get paid for my work either. It's not all bad news, though--this 'Varric' character they've suckered me into playing gets to wield an absolute beauty of a vegetable deployment device.

That, and many of my female co-workers appear to have been guzzling Grandma Jansen's thrice-patented (And thrice-banned) Charisma Juice, if you catch my drift. Honestly, I don't know what these human women eat, but if I ever manage to get turnips to replicate the effect then I'll be the richest and happiest Jansen this side of Trademeet.

Either way, apparently my contract *also* states I'm a narrator of sorts for this whole shebang--presumably to cut down on costs. I hear almost all the budget got blown on fancy spell effects; a far cry from the days of simply catapulting bovine at each other--then again, after watching the understudies use spatulas and spades to remove chunks of beef from a wall and then realising where the endless supply of meat served each day at dinner actually came from, I've become something of a vegetarian.

Luckily, that nausea-induced decision hasn't hampered my sales one bit--I've even worked it into my sales pitches. "Vegetable Salesman's Delicious Vegetables Turn Him Vegetarian," for example. I'm working on a snappier title for when I manage to scrounge up the bribe necessary to get Athkatla's guards to look the other way when I start hawking my wares to the nobles' servants once again.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/004.jpg

I tried to run away from filming--but as you can see here, the "Human Resources" manager clearly wasn't hired for her people skills.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/005.jpg

So anyway, here I am now--telling you a story about myself telling a story, which in itself reminds me of a story about a story. It's a classic Jansen family tale, and for that very reason I'm not going to bother because I've heard it too many times before to be able to make it interesting for you now.

Alright, that's enough Jan for now.

Either way, it all started in the Korcari Wilds.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/006.jpg

Hmm. There's a lot less forest there than I remember. Doesn't seem so much Wilds as... a wasteland.

Anyway. The story I'm telling you now concerns these two people: the siblings Hawke.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/008.jpg

Sister Imoen--damn it, Bethany, and brother Night. I couldn't resist.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/009.jpg

There's a lot of blood, and explosions, and apparently also decapitations.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/010.jpg

And ogres.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/011.jpg

And blood.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/013.jpg

Oh, and dragons.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/014-1.jpg

Naughty Word Tally: 1

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/015.jpg

Easy, easy, don't go crazy on me scary Chantry lady.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/gendo4.jpg

Wait.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/016.jpg

That's better.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/017.jpg

Like I said, I couldn't resist.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/020.jpg

Mother seems a bit down. I wonder why?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/021.jpg

Perhaps it's her son's flippant attitude towards the sudden destruction of Maker only knows how many years of hard work and sacrifice, or perhaps his offensive facial hair.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/022.jpg

This guy has his own problems--his parents named him "Carver", for one. Way to pigeonhole your child into a particular line of work there.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/023.jpg

Let's get rid of this cumbersome, overhyped stick and go for something a little more... me.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/024.jpg

Oh yes, that's much better. In fact, the clang of the auto-charge is so satisfying I often spend my time in combat just bouncing from enemy to enemy, annoying them like a heavily armoured battle-wasp in the face every two seconds or so.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/025.jpg

Whaddya know, I levelled up! That was fast--a single combat, in fact. Let's see...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/026.jpg

This Defense stat needs some love.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/029.jpg

That's *much* better. The last point in Cunning only gave an additional 4% at my current level, but there's nothing else I consider important enough in a tank at the moment.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/030.jpg

Mmm, more points. In fact, I'll leave that point unspent until I level up again. If this works out, you'll see why soon.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/031.jpg

Why did we even bother coming back to warn you, Bethany? Get with the program already: We're going *away* from the HORDE of MONSTERS currently CHASING after US.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/032.jpg

Ah, Carver. I see you have some sense at least.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/033.jpg

This is really not the time, Bethany.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/034.jpg

That's it, Hawke. Flippancy and sarcasm will solve everything that it's frowned upon to stab, bludgeon or immolate.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/035.jpg

Luckily for Mother, none of the Darkspawn appear to pay any attention to the vulnerable target. Honestly, it's hard to take these things seriously sometimes.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/036.jpg

They also appear to be made of Explodium.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/037.jpg

Don't look now, NightHawke, but there's *story* happening over there.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/038.jpg

This man is Wesley. Yes, he's as annoying as his namesake. And since last I checked, this was a Bioware game...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/039.jpg

Ayep. Gorion... Aldous... that Shadow Thief at the very start of Baldur's Gate II...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/040.jpg

I... there are no words.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/041.jpg

In a demonstration of extremely ladylike behaviour, Aveline immediately begins pummelling the nearest Darkspawn to death. I like her--she get stuff done.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/042.jpg

While I would love to go and help out, there's Darkspawn to be killed over here as well. It seems Bethany has things well in hand, however, as she's busy setting fire to everything in sight.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/043.jpg

Speaking of Bethany...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/044.jpg

Good God, are these people idiots? There's an army of bloodthirsty monsters on the loose, they've already crippled Wesley, and STILL he and Bethany start picking a fight with one another.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/022.jpg

This is all your fault, Carver.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/045.jpg

Hawke to the rescue, it seems. This game's advertising motto should have been "THINK like a Spartan! FIGHT like a General! SELECT one of up to three different conversation options that have no bearing on the story whatsoever!"

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/047.jpg

But hey, at least we get "Friendship" points. Despite Bioware stating the Friendship/Rivalry mechanic is more than just Good and Evil, they tried and failed once before with Jade Empire--Open Palm was all about order and good, and Closed Fist was always about being an evil thug. Hell, you couldn't even end the game Closed Fist without getting the So Evil I Eat Kittens ending. So yeah, 15 Good points with Bethany and 5 Good points with Carver--because he's so unimportant his only role in the story so far seems to be everyone else in the Hawke family.

I managed an interesting bug here, once: I managed to start the conversation by talking to Aveline, earning my points, and immediately afterwards she started the same conversation herself--allowing me to earn those same points again. Quite nice, but I've not been able to repeat it since.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/046.jpg

Shut up, Carver. You're not even a protagonist.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/048.jpg

Oh, sure, lag behind the group why don't you, Mother. It's not as if anything bad ever happens to the person in the rear in horror movies.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/049.jpg

Wesley: So unimportant most of his lines don't even have voice acting--then again, in order to hear comments like that one you've got to be in specific locations and facing specific directions otherwise you can't hear a damn thing.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/051.jpg

Archers! So what does Bethany do? She runs off ahead. The Mage. Runs off. AHEAD.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/052.jpg

Might as well level her up--since she's a Mage, I'm just going to chuck everything in Magic. Sure, she's a glass cannon--but if she shatters on impact I want the enemy picking shards out of their innards for weeks, assuming they survive.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/053.jpg

And damn it, we need a healer.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/054.jpg

Ah, Carver. Why do I even bother with you? All you do is swing an oversized, overhyped stick around. If I take you in my party for melee damage, that's a slot I lose that could be filled by a dagger-wielding Rogue teleporting everywhere and unlocking chests and disarming traps for me. It's not worth the loss.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/056.jpg

I mean *look* at your skill trees. They're pathetic. You've got two abilities you can put points in--and one's a tanking cooldown. You're DPS. ACT like it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/057.jpg

Someone at least has the good sense to run in the correct direction. Wait, is that... yes, thats a caster.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/058.jpg

I wish I could take credit for the almost simultaneous death of these three enemies--but all three were on really low health just as NightHawke arrived, thanks to Bethany blowing them up.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/059.jpg

Sustains. I've got a soft spot for them--once active and taken care of, they're abilities I don't need to give a damn about.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/060.jpg

This one's good, but I need to hit level 4 first. This is why I didn't spend that point back when I hit level 2--I can spend them on some good stuff in a bit.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/061.jpg

Heroic Aura's nice and all, but I chose to improve Heal. It turned out to be a wise choice.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/062.jpg

Another tank. I can't get rid of her at the moment, but for now she'll prove useful.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/063.jpg

Stonewall. You see that, Carver? Honestly.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/064.jpg

Wait... what's that noise?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/065.jpg

Oh, it's nothing. Just an ogre.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/066-1.jpg

Easy there, Carver. I know you're all upset about everything being your fault, but now isn't the time to swear--not when your mother's around to dock your pocket money.

Also, Naughty Word Tally: 2

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/067.jpg

God damn it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/068.jpg

We can't take you anywhere.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/069.jpg

And he doesn't even have the common decency to stay alive.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/070.jpg

Best get out of the way, eh?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/071.jpg

That targeting highlight makes it look even more hideous.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/072.jpg

This is why I have two tanks. Hawke deals with the adds, Aveline handles the boss.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/073.jpg

Bethany appears to want to tank, too, it seems.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/074.jpg

I wish I could do that, but then if I was a Mage then I'd have to put up with Carver as Bethany would die instead.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/022.jpg

Yes, Carver, it's all your fault.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/075.jpg

Bethany's in trouble.

ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/076.jpg

Now, how good am I at kiting?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/077.jpg

Not very good, it seems.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/078.jpg

Two vs two. No more spawns. Only one ability I can actually use. Bit of a rubbish build, to be honest.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/079.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/080.jpg

LAST SECOND SAVE

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/081.jpg

FINALLY

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/082.jpg

Hey, Bethany's back on her feet.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/083.jpg

A random Darkspawn spontaneously forms out of thin air, purely so NightHawke can kill it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/084.jpg

Guess Carver wasn't as plot-relevant as he thought.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/085.jpg

No matter what you pick here...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/086.jpg

...some people just can't be reasoned with. I missed screenshotting the image just after of a very serious-looking NightHawke, one that reminded me of Light's JUST AS PLANNED face somehow.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/087.jpg

Sense? From Bethany? It seems these three siblings share brain cells, and only one can have their brain in gear at any one time.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/088.jpg

Now is not the time, Wesley. Rampaging horde of murderous monsters, remember? Besides, it's too late for you to think about redeeming features.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/090.jpg

Oh look, another horde out of nowhere.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/091.jpg

Fantastic. For once, we're saved by the cutscene.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/092.jpg

HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/093.jpg

Well that's a retcon if ever I saw one.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/094.jpg

Not looking too good, there, are you Wesley? Seems to be some kind of disease that only strikes unimportant characters.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/095.jpg

I'm fine, by the way. Too busy cracking jokes to care about your rapidly worsening condition.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/096.jpg

Damn it, Flemeth. You were doing so well with the whole "not being pointlessly cryptic" thing you had going for a few seconds there.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/097.jpg

SEE WHAT I MEAN

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/098.jpg

Is it even possible to say no in these situations? I've given up trying, since I know it'll always be a "But thou must!" situation.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/099.jpg

Heads up, Khalid--sorry, Wesley. For a few seconds you've become plot-relevant, if only so Jaheira's--damn it, Aveline's--story can start.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/100.jpg

Whatcha looking at me for? I ain't doin' it. If you ever become a romance option, things will get awkward as hell if I kill your husband for you. Plus, I want them thar Good points.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/101.jpg

Aveline clearly isn't impressed with Hawke's reasoning.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/102.jpg

And here's someone else who isn't amused.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/104.jpg

Good God, there's an army of them.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/105.jpg

Level up time! Yay! Let's see what we can--

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/106.jpg

God damn it, Carver.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/107.jpg

My points! My precious points! Spent *for* me! In the *wrong* stats!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/109.jpg

GOD DAMN IT, CARVER. This is his last revenge, I'm sure of it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/110.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/111.jpg

More Sustains. It's the key to victory, I feel.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/112.jpg

Carver failed. He forgot I had a second tank!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/113.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/114.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/117.jpg

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/115.jpg

Wait a minute.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/116.jpg

I see what you did there.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/121.jpg

Rock... Paper...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/122.jpg

What.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/123.jpg

Well, that's one way to win--although why Isabela didn't aim for Hayder is beyond me.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/124.jpg

I hope she cleans up first.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/125.jpg

Wait a second.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/004.jpg

Yeah, thought so. Imposter!



Next time, on Dragon Age Z! I play the full game when it's released, play it properly and get through the prologue then begin the documentation again! Also, Krillin dies.

[Blayze]

Chapter I: To Kirkwall



"Ugh... my head..."

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/126.jpg

I can't be sure, but I think I had a dream... and a vision of the future? I'd say I'm cracking up, but I'm a mage--we of all people know just how unpredictable our powers can be. It's why the Templars exist, after all.

I might not like them as an apostate, but it's impossible to argue that they shouldn't exist when mages can make people explode into a shower of blood, flesh and bone shards on a mere whim.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/128.jpg

Wait. I wasn't a mage in my dream--and I certainly didn't look like my handsome self. I mean, a beard? Really now. Way to let yourself go, self.

I don't understand. In my dream, it was Carver who died--but he's still here and Bethany's dead. Honestly. Can't take either of them anywhere.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/133.jpg

Hey! Whoever you are! Get your hands off my mother!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/130.jpg

Oh. Sorry, my mistake. I... I'll just be sitting here quietly now.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/136.jpg

Lovely inspirational architecture. Ah well, at least if this doesn't work out I can still fall back on those three little words: "Told you so."

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/142.jpg

This is probably the only happy moment anybody has ever had in Thedas, ever.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/144.jpg

Thank you for the running commentary, Aveline. For a moment there I forgot how my eyes worked.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/146.jpg

Oh no, the condition appears to be hereditary.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/148.jpg

Whaddya know? This "sight" thing really is life-changing.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/150.jpg

While I'd like to call him Captain Obvious, I'd rather not mock Carver during his brief moment of sense and clarity.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/154.jpg

I got this one.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/157.jpg

Gamlen. Got it. I'm on the case.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/158.jpg

Letter? What are you on about, Carver? We ran as soon as you made it to us and told us what was going on, which means we ran as soon as we knew there was a problem. I highly doubt a letter--even if Mother had had the time to write one--could have made it to Kirkwall faster than us.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/160.jpg

Is... there something nobody's telling me? Wait. She wouldn't.

Oh, who am I kidding? I can see it now: "Dear Gammy. Darkspawn coming over for tea. Will pop over later. Kisses, Leandra."

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/162.jpg

Step aside, mate. Protagonist coming through.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/167.jpg

I don't think you understand just who I am.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/171.jpg

As much as I'd like to, I can't blame this one on Carver. This is all your fault, *Mother*.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/174.jpg

The last NPC who told me anything like that ended up getting killed by his own wife before I could get to him. I daresay you're just as irrelevant to the plot as he was.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/183.jpg

Did... anyone else suddenly get the urge to wreck the Templars?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/189.jpg

Well, this seems like a pleasant conversation.

Not captured on camera: the Naughty Word count rises to 3.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/190.jpg

Steady on, man. There's no need for language like *that*.

I mean, really. Blighter? While there's a, y'know, Blight going on?

That's just rude.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/192.jpg

I'm conflicted. I don't like this guy because he's standing in my way, but I like him because he's shutting these guys down.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/197.jpg

Time to tip the scales.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/199.jpg

Fonz?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/201.jpg

Sir, I'm a protagonist. Standard procedure for any given situation is for me to loot everything in sight. Give me access to the World Map, and I'll loot the entire continent. Would that be enough coin?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/202.jpg

That's funny, since we ran as soon as anybody knew the Blight hadn't been stopped at Ostagar and had a dragon help us get to Gwaren to catch a boat to get here. How did they manage to get here any faster?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/203.jpg

That's right, Carver. If logic and threats don't work, clearly begging will. I'm beginning to think all those blows to the head have taken their toll.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/207.jpg

Enough of this.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/231.jpg

Naturally, since this is Thedas, every situation invariably ends in violence and murder.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/233.jpg

Get told you can't enter Kirkwall? Murder.
Go to a grocer and pick up some food? Murder.
Open the door to the local postman? Murder.

Honestly.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/240.jpg

At last! Progress. It only took risking our lives--again.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/243.jpg

Again with the running commentary. I know how many days I've been waiting, sat here, listening to you recite how long it's been.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/246.jpg

Damn it, Aveline. Don't start a fight--I'm the protagonist here, it'll only end in *your* death.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/247.jpg

Hey! Look over there! A distraction!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/249.jpg

...Uncle?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/250.jpg

Mother, you never told me you were an aeroplane.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/251.jpg

Why do I get the feeling that there's so many hugs in this game simply because hugs are probably one of the easiest poses to animate, due to their relatively static nature?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/255.jpg

I also get the feeling that Bethany threw herself at that ogre in order to escape from this game. I know I'd have done the same, given how *I* got the blame for *her* actions.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/259.jpg

Please, uncle. Please take her off our hands. Carver, too, if you can.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/261.jpg

Why did you have to pick *now* to be stubborn, Mother? You go and live with Uncle and I'll go and do what protagonists do--which is apparently living nowhere and never sleeping, while amassing a fortune and becoming unstoppable both politically and physically.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/263.jpg

Someone in my family who's actually helpful? what's the catch?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/268.jpg

No wonder you're not dressed like a nobleman. Must have gambled it away.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/274.jpg

Again with the rude language. How about a little cultural sensitivity, Uncle? Our home and country just got devastated by a Blight, remember?!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/279.jpg

Look, we don't need to stay where the Templars are in full force. How about we go somewhere where there isn't a Blight? Somewhere further north, or east perhaps.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/285.jpg

Aw, how cute. Carver thinks his opinion matt--

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/287.jpg

Gah! Stop looking so shifty, self!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/288.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/290.jpg

Uncle, I'm a protagonist. I'm more than qualified to undertake quests and missions for all comers and accomplish tasks and objectives of all kinds. Well, almost. I just need to get myself someone who can disarm traps and open locks, but then we'll be capable of doing anything.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/293.jpg

It's only a year. I've known Carver all his life, it can't possibly compare to that.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/297.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/299.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/301.jpg

DECISION TIME

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/304.jpg

May as well ask Carver for his opinion before he tries shouting me down about it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/306.jpg

Well that was painless--and at least it means he can't give me grief about it later.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/308.jpg

Hmm. "Join Team Murder! We promise we won't murder you!"

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/313.jpg

Yes, because of course that makes all the difference. She could be smuggling drugs, but that wouldn't matter because she's a paragon of morality and light due to not being a slaver.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/315.jpg

Let's just get this over with.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/319.jpg

Well, Aveline, you don't have family members railroading you into specific decisions by demanding you do one thing and not another and then constantly giving you grief about it later as if it was all your fault. You could very easily leave Kirkwall and travel further inland in search of a new life. Me? I'm stuck here in this city full of Templars who hate me, forced to work for a year in exchange for entry, and neither Carver nor Mother seems to understand that it'd be a lot simpler if they just left her with Uncle so I could leave like you can and go wandering in peace.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Folder%202/323.jpg

Stay if you want, but I refuse to accept the blame for anything bad that happens as a result.



Alright, people, it's DECISION TIME.

Do we go with the Mercenaries, or do we go with the Smugglers? I'm running this almost entirely blind, so I don't have a clue.

Given that this is Dragon Age, though, I'm going to assume that neither option ends up well.

Edit: Something I just realised: the Deserter Leader says "What do you want? Money? I can pay you." and then one of his minions later declares that it "took all our coin just to get here."

Did I miss something?

[Domochevsky]

Uhm... mind making actual pictures out of those links? I'm not gonna navigate over and check them in a different window. >_>

[Blayze]

I thought we weren't supposed to do that because it was bad for bandwidth or something.

[The Rose Dragon]

I thought we weren't supposed to do that because it was bad for bandwidth or something.

As long as they are under 500 KB, you can post them in spoilers.

[Blayze]

Thanks for the heads-up. I've edited the posts (Gotta love copying something into Notepad and Ctrl-Hing all the instances of [.url] and [/url] into and respectively.

Edit: "." added because the post broke.

[Kurai]

Hah, that was a fun to read. Having just finished one playthrough, I will be following this.
But...but... what... did you do to your character's face?

Oh, and I choose smugglers. Just... because.

[Blayze]

But...but... what... did you do to your character's face?

NightHawke is nothing compared to the wonders you can make in the original game. Observe, if you dare, my dwarven and elven Wardens:



http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Dwarf.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/Elf.jpg



Truly, Thedas is a land of racists with confusing priorities. "durr you got pointy ears" is the predominant thought whenever my elf appears on the scene, rather than "oh my god what happened to your face" as I would have expected.

Anyway, on with the show!

[Part II: 'ow Much?!]



Mercenaries or smugglers? Which group are (Is? Are? I've never quite gotten the hang of this one. Because it's a plural of people, is the group itself a plural? Or is it a singular?) going to be the *least* problematic for me? Despite Gamlen's insistence to the contrary, they could very well turn out to be psychopaths and/or slavers. I don't have any real choice in the matter--I've got to pick one, for instance--but since I get to pick which one, it seems I get my choice of bad outcomes. Woo, go Hawke. Truth be told, the matter didn't take much consideration. I simply applied a bit of logic to the situation.

In other words, I realised that if I joined the mercenaries, Carver's inferiority complex--I wonder why they call it that? It's really a very simply matter as far as he's concerned--would reach previously unheard-of levels of irritation as he would get shown up by every last member of the team. My poor ears simply wouldn't be able to take that level of crying.

And speaking of ears...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/325.jpg

To be honest, I should have gathered she'd be an elf from the fancy-sounding name. I was honestly surprised, though. Between her being an elf and my being a mage, I was expecting any number of insults simply for walking up and introducing myself. It's good to see not every elf in Thedas immediately launches into full-on "rawr shem" mode the instant you so much as look in their general direction. Or perhaps that's just the Dalish. Yes, it's probably just the Dalish--the other elves are too busy being oppressed to give me backtalk. And besides, I haven't had time yet to give anyone around here some perfectly valid reasons to hate me.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/326.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/327.jpg

Carver's... a special case, of course. Like a sort of infection, one that doesn't go away no matter how hard you try. Almost... parasitic, in fact.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/328.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/329.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/330.jpg

Somehow, Hawke, I think it might have been the staff that gave you away. You really ought to use a sword instead. In fact, dress entirely in armour. After all, you *are* rather squishy. Then again, I didn't ask you to waste a valuable skill point on Mind Blast, so if you die it's your own damn fault.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/331.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/332.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/333.jpg

Move out! We've got a... business transaction to conduct.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/335.jpg

"Agent Hawke, from the Department of... Organised Dance and, er, Waste Removal."

Sir, we can do this the easy way or the amusing way. Which will it be?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/336.jpg

I see.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/337.jpg

Aveline. Code Brown.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/338.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/339.jpg

JUST AS PLANNED

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/340.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/341.jpg

Before I go hurling myself into any more danger, however, I need to take care of some business of my own.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/342.jpg

That. Is. Nice. Can't get it yet, though.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/343.jpg

For the moment, another party-wide investment. Something Weapons, but I took the picture without the all-important text.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/344.jpg

Aveline, your defence is woeful.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/345.jpg

That's a bit better.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/346.jpg

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Now as long as she's not stood IN or in the way OF anything, she should be fine!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/347.jpg

Carver's got such an inferiority complex he's had to break his experience bar just to prove it's bigger than mine. Too bad for him he didn't level up.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/348.jpg

Hawke, your, uh, neck appears to be in danger of snapping. And it also looks like it's made of Play-Doh.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/349.jpg

God damn it, Mother. I swear, if you carry on whining I'll find some way to Sequence Break my way out of here early and just run where the plot can't find me.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/350.jpg

Aveline, he was a male side character featured in the early portion of a Bioware game. What did you expect would happen?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/351.jpg

That we do, Hawke. That we do.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/352.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/353.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/354.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/355.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/356.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/357.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/358.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/359.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/360.jpg

BLAH BLAH BLAH

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/361.jpg

Here we see the Lesser-Intelligent Pickpocket.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/362.jpg

He has enough intelligence to refrain from attempting to rob a heavily-armoured woman who is almost certainly of plot importance, given her appearance.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/363.jpg

Sadly, however, he lack the brains to consider his next actions a bad idea...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/364.jpg

Classy, beardy.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/365.jpg

oh no you didn't

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/366.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/367.jpg

That's what you get when you mess with the only one in this family important enough to earn Specialisation Points.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/368.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/369.jpg

Wild Mass Guessing: Gamlen is Carver... FROM THE FUTURE

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/370.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/371.jpg

GEE I SURE WISH I COULD HAVE PLAYED THAT WEEK
I MEAN, MAN, WHAT A RIOT IT MUST HAVE BEEN
LAST YEAR WAS PROBABLY A HOOT TOO

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/372.jpg

What is that, now? 4? It's a good thing I took this game off Nightmare--I'd hit about 80 on my personal count after that damn ogre. I need to master the Tactics system before I try that again.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/373.jpg

WHAT WAS THAT

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/374.jpg

Go long! Go long!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/375.jpg

Y'see, if this guy had any brains, he would have stolen my money silently and without drawing attention to himself--not come charging past and attempt to zerg rush his way to safety.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/376.jpg

Jan Jansen, Merchant Adventurer, at your service.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/377.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/378.jpg

Now there's an idea.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/379.jpg

No offense, but after the past year or so I'll believe it when I see it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/380.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/381.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/382.jpg

Awesome. I'm a famous criminal. Why doesn't anyone understand that's a bad idea in my line of work?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/383.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/384.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/385.jpg

Oh great. He's going to be like this all night now. Thanks for that.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/386.jpg

Is... there something wrong? Why do you look so horrified? Is there something on my face? Is Carver doing his baby elephant impression again?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/387.jpg

Excuse me, but I'm trying to *earn* money here--not *spend* it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/388.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/389.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/390.jpg

Night, you continue to make me regret choosing that face.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/391.jpg

And Varric, you continue to make me glad I don't have your face.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/392.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/393.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/394.jpg

I can think of safer ways to earn money than plunging head-first into the Deep Roads. Probably should be called the Death Roads by now, though.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/395.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/396.jpg

You mean sidequests. Ah well, at least I don't have to deal with Gaelen Bayle this time around. I've heard enough "Coo!" to last me a lifetime.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/397.jpg

Bounties... hmm. Sounds dangerous. Is there anything a little more... Fed-Ex-y?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/398.jpg

What a delightfully inviting name.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/399.jpg

See, that's *exactly* the sort of attitude that doesn't help maintain my continued breathing.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/400.jpg

Hmm.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/401.jpg

Just what I needed: a trap monkey.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/402.jpg

Sadly, all the skills I can invest in are combat-related.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/403.jpg

Oh God.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/404.jpg

Father always said never to trust a dwarf with a moustache. That and pigs. I don't know why.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/405.jpg

He certainly seems...

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/406.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/407.jpg

Actually, he's probably the easiest to endure character I've met so far, what with Flemeth's rambling and the rest of my family being perpetually antagonistic to each other as well as to me.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/408.jpg

Indeed.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/409.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/410.jpg

Since you know this apparently fantastic hero, how about you send them a message. Message reads: "Dear Hero. Didn't see you defend Lothering. Yours, Hawke."

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/411.jpg

I'm sure you purchased countless bear asses, freeing up space in the legendary hero's all-important inventory with which they could carry around items of vital plot importance.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/412.jpg

Note to Self: Need more Willpower.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/413.jpg

NO U

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/414.jpg

Stop it, Carver. Don't make me set the dog on you.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/415.jpg

Why does EVERYONE look like they should belong in an Assassin's Creed game? It's making me nervous.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/416.jpg

Hmm.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/417.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/418.jpg

Wait, I don't think--

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/419.jpg

Believe me, Uncle, I have every intenting of mastering a spell designed purely for suppressing bad memories. I get the feeling I'll be using it a lot from now on.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/420.jpg

Uh... guys? There's seats. Why are you standing?

Oh... I see. They must be important for a quest I haven't acquired yet. Don't worry, guys, I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/421.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/422.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/423.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/424.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/425.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/426.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/427.jpg

By all means, Carver, assume direct control if you must. I'll handle the all-important duty of complaining bitterly about everything and blaming it all on my brother.

OH WAIT
I DO THAT ALREADY

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/428.jpg

Not possible? I think I just found a Plot Door.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/429.jpg

After all, the message here is different.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/430.jpg

Why? Are you hideous?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/431.jpg

Little symbols on my magical map that denote where new jobs can be found! That's incredible! What will they think of next?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/433.jpg

Worthy? The last time someone called someone else Worthy in my presence, it was in court.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/434.jpg

Cutscene!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/435.jpg

William Wallace? I thought you were dead!

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Oh man, you shoulda seen the outtakes on this one. Right through the face!

Anyway, onward to the Chantry!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/439.jpg

That's... a little dangerous in a building where children are being taken care of, isn't it?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/440.jpg

It's not my fault Varric's weight-to-height ratio is... excessive.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/441.jpg

Nice body language on a random NPC model, there.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/442.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/443.jpg

Although I'm not sure what's going on here. And why the hoods? You're indoors!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/444.jpg

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Well, she seems reasonable and understanding, at least. And she's not condemning me for being a mage or anything, despite being part of the Chantry!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/450.jpg

Sexist. Unless that means she, I dunno, lactates for the good of her flock or something.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/451.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/452.jpg

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Royalty equals money. Surely if we help him, we'll get the fifty gold needed--

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/455.jpg

Yeah, yeah, sin, demons, Maker, gotcha.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/456.jpg

Deep and meaningful? Nah. But I like others to think so--it keeps them from realising I'm just as shallow and self-serving as the rest of them.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/457.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/458.jpg

Morality doesn't get you anywhere in this world, lady. All the effort in the world doesn't put food on the table without results.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/459.jpg

You do that. In the meantime, I've got some... errands to run.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/460.jpg

I've got a map, showing me where places are. Why can't I just go to specific places without first travelling through unimportant ones? It's like not being able to avoid entering the Slums District in Athkatla until I had the necessary gold to shove in Gaelen's face to get him out of mine that much quicker. Also, I like defacing maps.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/461.jpg

I came here expecting--well, hoping--to find something like the Adventurers' Mart.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/462.jpg

Instead... Let's just say I miss Ribald and his excessively large supply of scrolls I could copy into my spellbook, erase and then repeat to somehow become a stronger mage.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/463.jpg

So that's where Lamarr ended up.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/464.jpg

Oof. I couldn't possibly have been hit with that anvil any harder.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/465.jpg

But all you merchants say that. There simply can't be that much "finest Antivan merchandise" around, which means your words are just as empty as theirs, which means there's no point you saying anything at all.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/466.jpg

Weaponsmith, I understand. He smiths weapons. But trinketsmonger? Do she smong trinkets? I dread to ask.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/467.jpg

Using my Magical Protagonist Powers, I deduce that THIS GENTLEMEN is of QUEST IMPORTANCE.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/468.jpg

"Here, take this toe."
"Why thank you kind sir."

WHY

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/469.jpg

I'm a Fereldan import!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/470.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/471.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/472.jpg

Oh great. I found the dole queue.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/473.jpg

Sadly, there was no option to remove money since I'm a Fereldan refugee. I donated 50 silvers and discovered I couldn't click on the donation box again, meaning it's either a one-time thing or the game realises I don't have any more money to waste.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/474.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/475.jpg

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of "I do some work for you, you pay *me*."

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/476.jpg

Well that's charming.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/477.jpg

NEWS TEAM, ASSEMBLE

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/478.jpg

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http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/481.jpg

Sounds simple so far. So, where do we find this Warden?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/482.jpg

Wait a minute.

Damn it, Varric, we were JUST THERE. Why didn't you SAY SOMETHING?!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/483.jpg

Since I'm English, I was raised on a healthy diet of sarcasm and self-deprecation. Since I work for local government, I've spent the last six years hating the public for being stupid. I respect a willingness to poke fun at oneself, as well as a willingness to poke fun at the stupid and ignorant complaints of the public.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/484.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/485.jpg

You're telling me.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/486.jpg

And I absolutely love references.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/487.jpg

It seems this place is full of them. I'm not so certain about liking everyone knowing who I am, though, considering I'm a mage and have ties to smugglers.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/488.jpg

Alistair? No, wait. My mistake.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/489.jpg

Again with the references.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/490.jpg

If anyone asks, Hawke, your name is Shepard.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/491.jpg

Ew.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/492.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/493.jpg

I'm in the slums, yet nobody's pillaged this crate yet for things to steal and sell. Like the darkspawn, it's hard to take people seriously when they refuse to help themselves.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/494.jpg

Mother! Uncle! We're home!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/495.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/496.jpg

At least my contacts are proving useful.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/498.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/497.jpg

Give me lip again, Gamlen, and you'll be picking your teeth out of the wall.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/499.jpg

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http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/504.jpg

No wonder the dog's given up on life, stuck here with these two arguing constantly.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/505.jpg

Sadly, there wasn't enough room for "Fiddeus von Parfenhauser the Third", and I wasn't allowed spaces anyway.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/506.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/507.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/508.jpg

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http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/511.jpg

Settle down, Carver. A man of your... talents, you could only make this worse.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/512.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/513.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/514.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/515.jpg

Damn it, Carver. Not in front of the dog. Naughty Word tally: 5.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/516.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/517.jpg

You're no master of subtlety, Carver.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/518.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/519.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/520.jpg

Damn it, you idiot! That key's our meal ticket!

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/521.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/522.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/523.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/524.jpg

Do you know what?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/droopy.jpg

You guessed it.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/525.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/526.jpg

That, Carver, is entirely your fault.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/527.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/528.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/529.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/530.jpg

It's on. Carver, you're in front. I'll stand back, healing you and getting ready to run when you die hilariously.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/531.jpg

what a dive.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/532.jpg

It's a good thing Uncle hasn't seen my incredibly sellable collection of awesome equipment.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/533.jpg

Now we're cooking. This should help balance the odds just a bit.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/534.jpg

Books that instantly transfer their knowledge directly into your brain. What will they think of next?

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/535.jpg

Hang on a second. What's this? Hmm. I'll have to look into these Specialisations some more, now I can actually pick one.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/536.jpg

I need some protection of my own. This'll do just fine.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/537.jpg

Oh, sod, I forgot to raise my Willpower.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/538.jpg

I'll remember next level. Hopefully.

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/539.jpg

Not much I can do about it until I get someone else or meet up with Aveline again, now is there, game?



So, where should we go and what should we do first? Half the city may be the same corridor barred off on almost all sides, but we've got at least two areas to choose between--for now. Best make the most of them before the plot railroads us down a single path until we end up in the trainwreck that is the ruined and unsalvageable end of that metaphor.

So, anyway, where to next?



http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/540.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/541.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/542.jpg

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http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/544.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/545.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b404/Kiyanavasala/546.jpg

[Hussam B.]

Go visit Aveline, you could always use one more party member

[Starbuck_II]

Yes, get another person sounds like a good idea.