Dragon Age companions appreciation post

Originally from Dragon Age: Origins and its DLC Awakening

Alistair

Alistair is my bro. I love him to bits. Not romancing him during my second playthrough of Origins was really tough, because he's so adorable and funny. I squealed when he briefly popped up in 2, and I sacrificed Hawke so he could live in my first playthrough of Inquisition. I can't have a world where he's not alive. I love all the little war table quests I get from him in Inquisition.

"Have you ever licked a lamp post in winter?"

Morrigan

Sharpest tongue in Thedas. If Alistair is in my party I need to have Morrigan there too, because their banter is priceless. She's a bit dark, but fiercely loyal and not someone you want to get on the bad side of! And I love that she showed up in Inquisition! I had no idea how much I'd missed her.

"How odd. We now have a dog and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party."

Leliana

Leliana is cute as a kitten in Origins. I have no idea what happened to her during those ten years between Origins and Inquisition, but holy fuck she's been hardened. I still love her to bits, though. She's like a little sister. A little sister with scary moments.

"Try not to look too incomptenet. It's embarrassing."

Sten

Tbf I didn't care much for Sten during my first playthrough of Origins, but then I maxed out his friendship during my second playthrough and Sten is absolutely adorable under that tough facade. He keeps calling my Warden 'kadan' and he adores cookies.

"I am a simple creature. I like swords, I follow orders. What else is there to be puzzled by?"

Wynne

I came to like Wynne a lot more than I thought I would. She has a lot of fire for being that old and she's so naughty. When Zevran flirts with her she turns him down, two breaths later she's the one flirting with Alistair! xD

"Now that you're in an intimate relationship I think maybe I should tell you where babies come from."

Zevran

Zevran is so much more than what he seems. He seems like a happy-go-lucky rogue who only wants to have fun and sex. But there's so much more to him. He's probably the most complex character of the game. He sounds like Puss in Boots when he talks, and he's my baby.

"We all do our share of murdering around here, don't we?"

Shale

Shale is ma guurl. There's not much more to it than that. She's one of my favourites to have in my party.

"I wonder what it is like to float... or drown."

Oghren

Oghren is hilarious! But I always feel sorry for him, there's so much in his life that's messed up and then he goes and tries to do good but messes it up more instead. I hope he's happy with Felsi now.

"By the tits of my ancestors!"

Anders

I loved Anders in Awakening and wished so hard that I would be able to romance him. Then he shows up in Dragon Age 2 and I'm basically on cloud nine. Too bad that Justice DESTROYED him. Justice, you suck. I still love Anders, though, I just wish he could've been more like his old self in 2. Every time Hawke talks about Anders in Inquisition I smile like an idiot.

"All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools."

Nathaniel

Probably my favourite character out of Awakening. He's such a serious guy and yet he forms a friendship with Anders who's basically the opposite of serious in Awakening. And then he shows up again in 2!!! :D

"If it isn't the great hero, my father's murderer."

Sigrun

Sigrun is badass. I love how Oghren is always trying to flirt with her and she's always brushing him off. Good for her, I wouldn't want to be flirted with by Oghren either. His breath probably smells like a whiskey sewer... She's my girl in Awakening.

"Isn't perspective wonderful? You'd think people who are so tall would have more of it."

Velanna

Velanna had very few redeeming qualities tbh. She didn't exactly give a good impression of the Dalish, but ofc that hardened surface is explained and she's slightly nicer after the Warden finds out about her past. Still, she was never one I tended to pick for my party.

"Funny, isn't it? Andraste fought a tyrannical empire, only to have her followers become one themselves."

Justice

I brought Justice along a lot. Usually it was Nathaniel, Anders and Justice in my party and Justice was always like a father figure, like he was the one to keep my crazy Warden and the Boys in line and teach us to do right and be just :P I really liked Justice in Awakening, but because of what he did to Anders... we're not on the best terms right now.

"How odd that mortals find so many differences to hate when you have so very much in common."

Favourite team?
Alistair + Zevran + Wynne

Originally from Dragon Age 2 and its DLCs The Exiled Prince and Mark of the Assassin:

Bethany

I hardly liked Bethany. She was too much of the kind and nice girl who always does what people expect her to do. So I turned her into a Warden, just because that was the most unexpected thing I could think of to do with her.

"Maker's breath! Can't you do this when I'm not around?"

Aveline

Aveline rubbed me off the wrong way. She's too proper. The only quest involving her that I half enjoyed, half wanted to facedesk was the one where Hawke tries to get Donnic to understand that Aveline likes him, without actually telling him she likes him. Because that quest showed a completely new side of her, a side that I could actually relate to and like.

"Shout if you need me, Hawke. I'll always be there for you. Just... knock first."

Varric

Okay, so Varric is one of my four favourite characters in 2. I was so glad when he showed up in Inquisition, because what would Inquisition seriously be like without my favourite dwarf? Not even half as funny! The storyteller extraordinarie, with a heart of gold, a great sense of humour, and a heavy romantic sorrow. The only male dwarf I've ever loved, and he's not even a romance option!

"Hawke, I'm a businessman. Now and then, I shoot people."

Merrill

Merrill is cute enough in-game to get a chibi picture. My favourite elf ever. You should've seen my face when I made a Dalish Warden in Origins and realised Merrill and I were from the same clan and then I ran around talking to myself "Marethari, Merrill, Ilen, Paivel, Maren, Pol... みんな... I missed you so much! I'll never kill you guys again!" I love Merrill. I love everything about her.

"I'll try not to hit anyone. On our side, I mean. I'm babbling again. Let's go."

Fenris

Fenris, my love, one day I'll endure your hot-n-cold behaviour and finish a romance with you... Fenris is introduced as he literally pulls the heart out of someone's chest - and he makes it look beautiful. Fenris' entire being pulls at my heart every time my Hawke interacts with him.

"Ah, here we are at the center of power. Smell the oppression, everyone!"

Isabela

Choice party member for dirty banter. And because it was really fun to have a one night stand in a game and both sides were perfectly okay with it. Isabela was briefly in Origins, but I love how she got a bigger role in 2. Sorry for handing you over to the Arishok.

"I like big boats, I cannot lie."

Sebastian

The pretty pious boy who I tired of pretty quickly. Would've loved to romance him but chastity vows are a bitch.

"Varric, would but the Maker approve, you and I would be so much more than the best of friends."

Tallis

I really liked Tallis, I wish she could've come with me back to Kirkwall when we were done in Orlais, but apparantly not. Still got a kiss from her, though! :3

"You go elbow-deep in wyvern shit and I'm the weird one?"

Favourite team?
Fenris + Isabela + Merrill

Originally from Dragon Age: Inquisition:

Cassandra

'Badass' is the best word to describe Cassandra. I love how it's revealed that she's fangirl. Probably the most unexpected thing to find out about her. But it was amazing and priceless. Also, because Inquisition is basically made for shipping I am so shipping her with Varric... and Tethraghast seems to be a thing on Tumblr. Combination of Varric Tethras and Cassandra Pentaghast.

"They will stand in the fire and complain that it is hot."

Solas

Solas was my first romance in Inquisition, romance that ofc ended in heartbreak, because why can't I ever pick the right guys?! A little elf with a big secret, lots of arcane knowledge and a love for the Fade. Seriously, during my second playthrough when I knew what his secret was it was so obvious how many times he almost accidentally slipped up. You're not very good at keeping your secret, Solas!

"Every great war has its heroes. I'm just curious what kind you'll be."

Cullen

Cullen is so cute it hurts my heart. He's also one of few people to have featured in all three games :) My Warden ran ofc into Cullen in the Circle of Ferelden and I just ran past him going "Hiya Cullen, I'll pounce you when you're older! Seeya!" His character development is amazing btw, if nothing else you should love him for the person he's become after all that he's been through.

"Can't you see why I want nothing to do with that life?"

Josephine

Josephine is... interesting. I wouldn't see her as a friend, but as far as advisors go she's amazing. I love her for her job, but the one-on-one scenes between my quizzie and her are always friendly and heartwarming. I may need to do a male quizzie just to find out how her romance plot plays out.

"Common ground is the start of all negotiations."

Blackwall

I can't decide if I like Blackwall or not. There's something about him that speaks to me, but at the same time I feel betrayed by him.

"It's not right... to want to do good, to be good, and have that turned against you."

Vivienne

Vivienne is a bitch, but I think she knows. I also think it's all an act she's had to maintain all those years and now she doesn't really know how to stop. Although I try to see past her facade she's still too posh for me and I can't seem to like her.

"Magic is dangerous, just as fire is dangerous. Anyone who forgets this truth gets burned."

Sera

I had a really hard time with Sera to begin with. In my first playthrough I didn't like her at all and in the end I sent her away. During my second playthrough I decided to really try and get to know and like everyone. With Sera that attitude paid off, because she's one of those people who doesn't like anyone until they've proven that they're worth liking. I can respect that and now Sera is probably my best friend.

"Mother pushbucket frigging bastard shitebag pissface! Eat it, you lop-eared, son of an arse-nut rot-suck piece of... ugh!"

Iron Bull

I like Bull. I love his banter with Sera and his relationship with Dorian that he practically initiated with his incessant flirting. And while I've always been hesitant to the Qun, Bull actually makes it sound good. I respect him for that.

"Whenever you need an ass kicked, The Iron Bull is with you."

Dorian

Dorian, Dorian, Dorian... Where to begin? He's friggin wonderful! Everything from his narcissism to his moustache is absolutely fab. His personal plot is really deep, and shows a very real problem despite it being in a game. I adore Dorian.

"I'm here to set things right. Also? To look dashing. That part's less difficult."

Cole

If you ever have a bad day bring Cole along and do a bunch of fetch quests that make people happy. Cole's comments will make your day better. Cole is lovely. I love how he talks and how he's so easily pleased with acts of kindness. He's strange and odd, and somehow that really speaks to me.

"He thought if he didn't have magic... I'm what he wanted to be. Him, but normal. So no one would hurt him."

Favourite team?
Iron Bull + Sera + Dorian

And just for fun: Favourite ultimate team?
Fenris + Sera + Merrill
Ultimate elf party. 

The evolution of the qunari

1). Dragon Age: Origins - Sten
2). Dragon Age 2 - Arishok

3). Dragon Age: Inquisition - Iron Bull

I started playing Origins again and suddenly it feels very weird to have the qunari without horns and without the pointed ears, which is weird because I remember that when I started playing 2 I wondered what the hell they had done to Sten's people.

But this time around I'm making sure to become close friends with all my companions (buy a huge bunch of thoughtful gifts from Bodahn), and suddenly Sten's adorable. I asked him if there was anything at all he liked about Ferelden and his answer was... cookies! Sten loves cookies! :3 The badass, giant, moody, broody Sten loves cookies! ^w^

Dragon Age: Inquisition

(I'm gonna have to make a tag for all my DA posts... There! Done!)
Dragon Age: Origins review. Dragon Age 2 review. Dragon Age fluff.

I started playing Dragon Age: Inquisition on December 22nd and I finished today. Just over two weeks and almost 100 hours later. So if you wonder about the lack of posts here lately, this game is the answer. I love massive RPGs with immersive worlds and DAI was no exception. It's massive to the point that I always found new quests when I thought I was finished with an area. There was always something to do. I love that. Now I'm impatiently awaiting the DLC that was so obviously hinted in the final scenes of DAI.

I have a thing for elves. If I could've made an elven Hawke in 2 I would've. Instead I had her romance both Fenris and Merrill. My Warden in Origins was a city elf. My Inquisitor is Dalish, and she romanced Solas. (If you only knew how much I'm seriously considering replaying Origins as a Dalish and romancing Zevran... I might just do that, I don't feel done with Thedas yet. Just give me time and Thedas will be up there with Tamriel, just you wait ;)) I have encountered very few elves in DA, whom I haven't liked. Sera is an unfortunate exception. I just found her annoying, especially after I completed the quest in the Winter Palace and she was so condescending about me being no better than the stiff noble assholes. At that point I sent her away. If you don't like it - there's the door. Goodbye. But there's still no character that I've loved as much as I've loved Merrill. Incoming: awesome elves!

Zevran, Fenris, Merrill, Sera, Solas

Merrill, Fenris, Sketch, Velanna, Zevran, Ariane

Fenris, Zevran, Solas

I loved DAI from the get go. The hours I spent at work just putting stuff in boxes I was running around Thedas in my head. Especially imagining different romance angles and things to come. Corypheus had me dumb-founded from the start. I killed him! I swear I killed him in DA2 Legacy DLC. The hell is he doing alive?! What business does he have to still be around? How many friggin times will I have to kill you? But I can't deny that it was an epic main quest and the final scenes... holy shit! O_o I'm so excited for further story based DLCs (no more shitty extra equipment). I loved how big part elven culture, heritage and history played in DAI and it got so interesting because my Inquisitor is Dalish (I decorated all of Skyhold in Dalish designs #sorrynotsorry).

It got a little annoying to be running around closing rifts. That probably turned into the most grindy, boring, necessary part imo. I started comparing them to Anchors in ESO that you just have to do, but the novelty of them wears off pretty quick. But the Anchors are more epic than rifts so they get more points there. I never grew tired of looking for shards or completing astrariums. Although both of those things could drive me insane. Especially when trying to find a way up on that cliff where that friggin shard is. I can see it on spy cam through the friggin rock, but how the hell do I get up there?!?!?! I think I only had to google help for two astrariums. I'm feeling kind of proud of that. Also the general confusion over the fact that my char could jump in a DA game was funny in retrospect. In earlier DA games space has been the pause button. So every time a fight was beginning in DAI my char started jumping about the place. It was mostly annoying until I got used to it, but now it's funny.

Then there are the characters. I miss Sandal. When I was going to appoint an arcanist for Skyhold I hoped that it would be him. It wasn't, but I felt somewhat rectified by it being Dagna. Although, how she can be just as flimsy at 30 as she was at 19 is beyond me :P I love Varric. I was having a hard time with Cassandra to begin with, but she grew on me (especially after I found out she's a fellow fangirl). Solas went to my heart directly, as did Dorian, and Iron Bull. All four of them have been subjected to my flirting Inquisitor. Cole went straight to my heart, similar to the way Merrill did, but unlike Merrill he never really nested there. I was always neutral towards Blackwall, although his revelation almost made me fall off my chair. Then there's Vivienne and Sera. I never liked any of them. For being so different they're so alike. Both of them believe themselves and their way of life and their beliefs to be better than anyone else's. For someone who's not superior at all, Sera really seemed to have a kind of superiority complex, like she believed herself to be better because she wasn't playing the Game, and anyone who tried their hand at the Game was worthy of resentment.

The companions: Cullen, Vivienne, Varric, Cole, Solas, Cassandra, (player), Iron Bull, Dorian, Leliana, Sera, Josephine, Blackwall

I was thrilled to see Leliana, Morrigan, Alistair, Cullen, and Hawke again. Meeting my Hawke in-game felt like running into myself. It was hilarious! The fact that my Hawke was humorous in 2 made everything a lot funnier, because she retained her sharp tongue and sense of humour. I was sort of hoping that she'd bring Merrill (her wife) with her to Skyhold, and was disappointed when Merrill didn't show. And I loved Alistair's parting words: "Tell Morrigan... just tell her I stood there looking foolish." :') I cried at how sad Varric became after he found out that Hawke died in the fade. I was devastated when I had to make the impossible decision between leaving Hawke behind or leaving Alistair behind. I chose to leave Hawke behind because Alistair and my Warden is my OTP and I just couldn't break them up, especially not after Alistair told my Inquisitor about the argument they had about who'd go out and look for a way to cure the Calling. At first I thought Alistair was being a bit of a pushover, but then I thought "You try arguing with the woman who personally fought an Archdemon and lived to tell the tale." Point taken. Alistair is still adorably in love, though, that much was obvious. 10 years later and he's still adorably in love! :3

Also I just found out that if the Inquisitor doesn't romance neither Dorian nor Iron Bull they end up as a couple. *fangirling overload* (*0*)

More Dragon Age stuffs!!! :D

I'm in fangirl mode. I want to go back to Thedas so bad, but I can't get my hands on Dragon Age 3 until after Xmas cause I don't know if the game will be a gift for me... So I can't buy it myself because of that reason :P But I found this 30-day challenge on tumblr, and like always I'm gonna do all the questions in one go!

1. Favourite Dragon Age game?
I'm still very much inside the story of Dragon Age 2 and running around in Kirkwall. But there's no way 2 is better than Origins. So Origins, it is. No big surprise there, right?

2. Favourite character?
I would so like to say Alistair, but Merrill stole my heart.

3. Least favourite character?
Good question. I always had trouble with Sten, but I didn't really dislike him... I guess I'm gonna have to say Anders in 2. I really liked both Anders and Justice in Awakening, but them mashed up together in 2 just made me angry. Sorry, Anders.

4. Favourite love interest?
ALISTAIR! He is so friggin cute :3

5. Least favourite love interest?
I had way too much fun with the romance in both games... I don't even know if I have one. I think I have to say Anders again. Because of all the secrecy and the way he broke my char's heart... Not even Fenris did that when he walked away...

6. Your Warden's story?
She's named Kallian and she's a city elf, so she had the city elf beginning of going to be force-wed to a human noble. Her best friend Shianni accidentally killed the one she'd marry, all hell breaks loose and she somehow finds herself being saved from the noose by Duncan. She sided with Lord Harrowmont in Orzammar, and the elves in the Brecilian Forest, and she let Connor's mom (totally forgot her name) sacrifice herself in order to save her son. And also she let Morrigan perform her ritual with Alistair so none of them would have to die to kill the archdemon. Does that about cover it? I think so...

7. Favourite quest?
Wow. Erm. I tend to like the companion quests more than the main story. That was true for both Origins and 2. I felt closer to the companions somehow. But I can't pick a favourite.

8. Least favourite quest?
Easily the one ending with having to kill all of the Dalish at Sundermount in Dragon Age 2. I've never felt so terrible.

9. Favourite class?
I tried for mage in Origins at first, but I tend to have a hard time with mages in any RPG. Don't know why. But for my second try I thought "fuck it, warrior is said to be the easiest class let's go with that one". So I did. But for Dragon Age 2 I picked rogue, because normally I do a rogue-type in all RPGs. I preferred rogue in DA too.

10. Favourite party banter?
Anything involving Alistair in Origins. Then picture having Fenris and Merrill in the same party. There you go. Best banter ever.

"But your face might crack if you smile so be careful." - Merrill to Fenris

11. Favourite song from the soundtracks?
Oh... Probably the main theme from Origins. I tend not to pay attention to those things... ^^;

12. OTP?
My own character with Alistair in Origins. They were seriously so damn cute together that I sat and actually squealed every time they were romantic ^^;

13. Mages or Templars?
If it wasn't for the fact that blood magic exists I would've said mages. But now it does, so templars.

14. Character you wish was a romance option?
Nathaniel.

15. Your favourite Bro?
Leliana in Origins. Merrill in 2.

16. Your ultimate team from all games?
Origins: Leliana, Morrigan, Alistair
Awakening: Nathaniel, Anders, Justice
2.1: Fenris, Merrill, Anders
2.2: Fenris, Isabela, Sebastian

17. Favourite Origins story?
Shale's background story.

18. Character you are most like?
I want to say someone cool like Morrigan :P But I think I have to say Merrill; cute, intelligent, awkward, and a bit too trusting.

19. Character who'd be your best friend?
Alistair. Definitely. Possibly both Nathaniel and Anders. Also definitely Varric. Merrill is definitely in there too.

20. Character you wouldn't get along with?
I really like both Leliana and Sebastian, but IRL I tend to have a hard time around religious people...

21. Favourite villain?
The Architect. You know, I almost spared him just cause I liked him...

22. Favourite NPC?
SANDAL!!! :D

23. Scene you wish you could change the outcome of the most?
Leandra dying in 2. I cried. I hardly ever cry because of games. But this time I did.

24. Most shocking scene?
See above.

25. Scene that made you cry?
See above.

26. Crack OTP?
What does that even mean? O_o

27. Best part of the game?
The epic dragon fights in Origins (the archdemon and the high dragon on the mountain). The epic boss fight against Meredith in 2. Also the romance in both. I love the romance!

28. Worst part of the game?
Honestly? The getting stopped by various enemies attacking out of nowhere while trying to travel somewhere in Origins! GET OUTTA MY WAY FUCKERS I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOU!

29. If you made a deal with a demon what would your bargain be?
It would definitely be a desire demon. There's so much I want. But I have no idea what I want the most. I can't say.

30. Hopes for Dragon Age 3?
That I'll meet my old characters in-game! THAT WOULD BE SO FRIGGIN AWESOME!!!

Dragon Age 2 is done - twice!

I've played through Dragon Age 2 twice since my last post... That's twice in a week xD I expected something really bad and extremely different from Origins, because I haven't encountered ANYONE who's had anything positive to say about Dragon Age 2. But tbf I don't find it bad or even extremely different from Origins. Sure it took me a really long time to figure out what was actually the main story of 2, and it felt like lazy game design to make every single dungeon look the same - but that's the only bad things I have noticed about 2. The fighting has cooler animations and movements than in Origins, but I don't find it very different from Origins otherwise. It's still tell the active character what to attack and press numbers for special abilities. No button-mashing and no hack'n'slash.

Also, I've gone through both games saying: "Please, don't be a dragon. I don't want to fight a dragon. Please, don't be... oh fuck..." Seriously, I'm playing a game series called Dragon Age, the word dragon is literally in the name of the series, and I still expect on some level to not have to fight dragons?! I'm such a baka. xD

When it comes to characters there wasn't a single one that didn't give me some kind of intense feelings, and to me a character that gives me some kind of feeling definitely shows of good characters. Aveline bothered me, I just want to hug Merrill cause she's so adorable, Fenris is just... wow o.o, Anders makes me angry, Varric is like an awesome big brother, Isabela is like the crazy best friend that you know you shouldn't hang out with but you just can't stay away, and Sebastian is the calm in the storm - the voice of reason among all the other crazy. It's funny how the only characters I never really liked were the family ones. I know there's a scenario where Carver lives through the prologue, but it didn't happen in neither of my playthroughs so I have no opinion whatsoever of him, Leandra is passéiste (French word because it's the best word ever for someone living in the past), Gamlen is an ass, and Bethany is just plain bland.

The companions: Fenris, Isabela, Varric, Aveline, (player), Bethany, Merrill, Anders, Sebastian

During my first playthrough I always chose the diplomatic/helpful dialogue options. As soon as I saw that Anders was in the game as a companion I had decided to pursue a romance with him and so I always sided with the mages. Until Anders blew up the chantry with all the chantry people still inside. I did a complete turnaround and sided with Meredith in the end (although I really don't like her and preferred Orsino). My default team became Fenris, Merrill and Anders. But I seriously didn't like how my first playthrough came about, so I decided to go through it all again. I really liked both Anders and Justice in Awakening, so it made me kind of angry to discover what they had done with two of my boys :/

During my second playthrough I always chose the humorous/charming dialogue options which made my new character a really joking personality which was a lot more fun to play. I wanted to get everyone to like me this time (except Anders cause I got really mad at him after his little stunt), but getting Merrill to like me was difficult since I had decided to pursue Fenris romantically and, due to Anders' stunt, side with the templars all the time. I had also read that the end of act 2 would be easier if Isabela was friendly with me so this time I made sure to always have her in my party. My default party in my second playthrough became Fenris, Isabela and Sebastian. Although I switched Isabela for Aveline or Varric sometimes, and Sebastian for Merrill or Anders sometimes. In my first playthrough I had decided to leave Bethany at home when I went into the Deep Roads, but that ended up with her getting caught in the Circle. So for my second playthrough I decided to bring her with me to save her from that - and that had her killed. Great -.-' Is there even a way to keep Bethany?

So for my second playthrough I made a character that held nothing sacred, joked about everything and only did what she wanted. So I flirted with everyone, but only actively pursued Fenris. I got him in bed and he walked out on me. So I went to Isabela and she wanted nothing serious. So I went to Merrill who blurted out that she loved me, and I was still convinced that there would be a way to continue my romance with Fenris if I wasn't involved with anyone else, so I turned Merrill down - something I sort of regret now, but I won't make a third playthrough just because of Merrill. (Although she's adorable enough to play the game for. Seriously, Fenris and Merrill are the best ones in the entire game).

Let's not go into the fact that I mentally squealed every time I encountered a character from Origins: Flemeth, Bodahn, Sandal, Anders, Isabela, Alistair, Nathaniel, Sketch, Leliana... It was a lot of fun to run into a bunch of the Denerim nobles at the party in Mark of the Assassin DLC. Also, Tallis bothered me for ages! As soon as she showed up I thought the she really reminded me of someone and I just couldn't figure out who. So I looked it up - Felicia Day! Ofc she's Felicia Day. That's also when I realised that I didn't fight Sten 5-6 times in the end of Act 2. It says on Tallis' wiki page that "just like Sten, Tallis isn't her name but her grade within the Qunari"... Well, that explained a lot! xD I also loved all the references to Awakening DLC in Legacy DLC.

But to sum things up - I like Dragon Age 2. Not as much as Origins obviously, but I don't think it's bad. I was given the impression that it would be terrible. But I liked it. I enjoyed it.

Also: "The Champion is gone. Just like the Warden." "That can't be a coincidence." Dare I hope that I will encounter my previous characters in Dragon Age: Inquisition?!?!?!??!?!

Dragon Age: Origins has been completed

After years of being nagged suggested by guy friends to play Dragon Age, I finally picked up Origins in 2012, but I just couldn't get into the story. I tried again in 2013 and it was the same thing. Then when Dragon Age 3 was released a couple of weeks ago I decided to get through it, because the Internet basically exploded with Dragon Age and I always want to know what the hell is going on. But I didn't have the energy to start over with the prologue again so I decided to continue with the save I started in 2013. In that save I had completed the city elf prologue and the battle of Ostagar, been saved by Flemeth, been given Morrigan, met Leliana and Sten, lost Lothering, and found my way to Redcliffe. So that's where I was when I picked up the story. I didn't remember all of that when I picked it up, but as I played the holes were filled.

It soon became obvious that I had quit playing just before the action really started and it didn't take long for me to really get into the game and become completely addicted. I had chosen to play as a female city elf and it was a lot of fun, despite the blatant racism in the game towards elves (although I'm kinda used to that from Elder Scrolls). I soon had my favourite team that I picked every time I left camp; Leliana, Alistair, and Morrigan. I apparantly missed two companions; Wynne and Zevran. Zevran was sent by Loghain as an assassin to kill me so I killed him. Wynne didn't like that I sided with the templars during the quest in the Circle's tower so she challenged me to a battle and died. Otherwise I got them all :) I knew that the game had romance options and to begin with I had decided to go for Leliana as she was the my first favourite character. But the romance options showed up for Alistair before they showed up for Leliana so I decided to go for Alistair, and it was the best move ever! Alistair is incredibly cute. Before I knew it the love story around Alistair became the ground work for every decision I made. I decided not to make Alistair king because he didn't want to and that would separate us. I figured an unhappy king would make a bad king. I didn't force-marry him to Anora cause that would also qualify as an unhappy king. The love story was also the reason why I decided to go along with Morrigan's ritual so that none of us would have to die. 

The companions: Ohgren, Leliana, Sten, Morrigan, (player), dog, Alistair, Wynne, Zevran, Shale

I continued on with Awakening DLC and for a really long time I wanted to find Alistair, but then I read on the wiki that he wouldn't show unless he was made king in the base game. Too bad. But then in the epilogue it showed up that the Grey Warden only stayed in Amaranthine for a short while and then went away to be with Alistair. That made me squeal. Such a fangirl :3 I really liked both Anders and Nathaniel however. Would've been fun to flirt a bit with either of them, but the DLCs don't have romance. My default group in Awakening became Nathaniel, Anders, and Justice. It was also nice to see Ohgren make a comeback in the DLC :)

The companions: Velanna, Nathaniel, Ohgren, (player), Anders, Sigrun, Justice

Then I played Witch Hunt, Leliana's Song, The Golems of Angarrak, and The Darkspawn Chronicles - in that order. Witch Hunt was very interesting and I really liked Finn and the short reunion with Morrigan was so worth it ^^ Leliana's Song told the story (in a kind of Kill Bill style) what happened when Leliana broke it off with Marjolaine. It was a lot of fun to play through that story, especially with the catchy and fun background music. The Golems of Angarrak had the hardest final boss fight in the entire game. To the point where all of my characters were dead except Brogan who successfully (and with the help of the humongous pile of health potions I had collected throughout base game and DLCs) defeated the disgusting Harvester. I didn't play much of The Darkspawn Chronicles tbh. I started it and then got as far as having to kill the Arl. No health potions and my darkspawn outnumbered five-to-one... Yeah... No. Also I really liked Denerim as a city so it felt like betrayal to be the forces to attack and destroy it. 

Companions of the small DLCs: Ariane & Finn (& dog) from Witch Hunt, Sketch, Tug & Silas from Leliana's Song, Jerrik, Snug, Golem & Brogan from Golems of Angarrak

I finished The Golems of Angarrak and The Darkspawn Chronicles yesterday and immediately after that I started up Dragon Age 2. I have heard a lot of bad things about that game, but thus far I don't think it's that different from Origins. Tbf I haven't left Kirkwall yet. I love all the references to what I did in Origins! And I squealed when Anders showed up! My female Hawke is so getting together with him!

And I had planned on having lots of screenshots in this post, but since DA:O refuses to upload the screenshots to my online profile, and Origin doesn't have a screenshot button that saves screenshots to my computer... that proved impossible. So all pictures in this post is from the courtesy of Google.