Dragon Age: Aveline Vallen
Jul. 17th, 2020 12:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
singedsunI feel like my pinterest account has never come in more handy than for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sunshine_challenge color theme. When I'm stuck on a subject/color, it helps move ideas around for me until I settle on one.
ORANGE
I know not everyone that follows me is familiar with the Dragon Age series of video games. I inhaled The first novel, The Stolen Throne before the first game came out, devoured the first game and couldn't wait for me. I never expected Dragon Age II to hit me the same way the first game had, mostly because it didn't have Teagan, who I'd madly fallen in love with as a side character. And then along came this badass redheaded warrior.
I definitely have a weakness for take no shit female warriors. She stole my heart almost instantly. She's loyal and strong and dedicated to her husband, to her work, to saving people. She was in the war in the first game, but we never see her. She quickly goes alone with the Hawkes when they meet up and they take her in after her husband dies. She supports them, and eventually all the miscreants pick up along the way during their time in Kirkwall. Sometimes she takes refugees to Anders, she keeps Fenris squatting safely in his old master's, she understanding if lovingly ripping on Isabela's involvement at the Bloombing Rose. And she'll follow the eldest Hawke just about anywhere, even when she's fed up with their shit.
I strongly associate Aveline with The Chariot card from the tarot [photo is from the True Black Tarot]. The Chariot is meant to be about strength and hard-work, which for someone like Aveline, a warrior who takes her war experience and translate it to a job with the guard in Kirkwall and rising later to Guard Captain. She fights fiercely for her friends and the citizens of her city. Her attachment to her job in Kirkwall goes beyond that of a job, she treats it like a calling. And I love her for it. Even at the end, even if Hawke is an asshole, even if she feels like they're making the wrong choices she'll stand beside them and fight the real evil. And at the end, she doesn't leave. She's set down roots and decides to stay, whatever comes next to Kirkwall, she'll be there to protect it.
She's lovely but she's not there to be a love interest (though the shipper in me wishes she was). But she's a friend. The most badass, loyal friend anyone could possibly need. She doesn't push you, she doesn't need anything from you. She's awkward at relationship. She's a protector and an ally.
I love her friendship with Fenris and Isabela the most though, because they're off-screen. We hear it in banter, little bits at a time. Especially if you get Donnic as a love-interest for Aveline. The three of them must have dinners and wine nights and I really love that touch of her. She's one of the ultimate mom-friends, checking in on people after hours and outside of all the hours they already spend together. Making sure people are looked after and well fed and protected from the dangers of a potentially dangerous city for refugees. We need more characters like this.
sunshine_challenge color theme. When I'm stuck on a subject/color, it helps move ideas around for me until I settle on one.I know not everyone that follows me is familiar with the Dragon Age series of video games. I inhaled The first novel, The Stolen Throne before the first game came out, devoured the first game and couldn't wait for me. I never expected Dragon Age II to hit me the same way the first game had, mostly because it didn't have Teagan, who I'd madly fallen in love with as a side character. And then along came this badass redheaded warrior. I definitely have a weakness for take no shit female warriors. She stole my heart almost instantly. She's loyal and strong and dedicated to her husband, to her work, to saving people. She was in the war in the first game, but we never see her. She quickly goes alone with the Hawkes when they meet up and they take her in after her husband dies. She supports them, and eventually all the miscreants pick up along the way during their time in Kirkwall. Sometimes she takes refugees to Anders, she keeps Fenris squatting safely in his old master's, she understanding if lovingly ripping on Isabela's involvement at the Bloombing Rose. And she'll follow the eldest Hawke just about anywhere, even when she's fed up with their shit.
I strongly associate Aveline with The Chariot card from the tarot [photo is from the True Black Tarot]. The Chariot is meant to be about strength and hard-work, which for someone like Aveline, a warrior who takes her war experience and translate it to a job with the guard in Kirkwall and rising later to Guard Captain. She fights fiercely for her friends and the citizens of her city. Her attachment to her job in Kirkwall goes beyond that of a job, she treats it like a calling. And I love her for it. Even at the end, even if Hawke is an asshole, even if she feels like they're making the wrong choices she'll stand beside them and fight the real evil. And at the end, she doesn't leave. She's set down roots and decides to stay, whatever comes next to Kirkwall, she'll be there to protect it. She's lovely but she's not there to be a love interest (though the shipper in me wishes she was). But she's a friend. The most badass, loyal friend anyone could possibly need. She doesn't push you, she doesn't need anything from you. She's awkward at relationship. She's a protector and an ally.
I love her friendship with Fenris and Isabela the most though, because they're off-screen. We hear it in banter, little bits at a time. Especially if you get Donnic as a love-interest for Aveline. The three of them must have dinners and wine nights and I really love that touch of her. She's one of the ultimate mom-friends, checking in on people after hours and outside of all the hours they already spend together. Making sure people are looked after and well fed and protected from the dangers of a potentially dangerous city for refugees. We need more characters like this.
