The Problem with Politics - Let's Play Dragon Age II

Bawwwww. ;_;

And of course now you've put me in mind of other lyrics that seem appropriate:

There are days
There are days when your life clouds over
And the world gets so dark
That all at once you can't tell night from day
There are times
When your heart cries 'this isn't happening!'
But the truth is cold and real
And I know this storm won't go away...

Aaaaand now Imgur is being stupid again. I'll give it a few hours.

The universe is telling me to finish that synopsis...

MARETHARI, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR EYES
DID YOU STOLE SEBASTIAN ONES
WITH BLOOD MAGIC

I appreciate the fact that Varric didn't share stories about "The Day Hawke was Heartbroken and we end singing sad epic elvish song all night" or things like that. I like to think that there are also things that Varric doesn't want to say, because they're, like, private things said between friends, so he just doesn't.

And then it works again. So I assume what the universe wants is my running circles around myself.

That is a freaky looking creature. I like it.

The varterral is one of the creepier-looking enemies in this game. The spiders are unpleasant, but giant, alien, bug-like things like this creep me out more. *shudder*

OKAY. Imgur can still do one picture at a time and I only have 20 remaining, but I REALLY hope they fix it soon. This is a massive PITA.

Scratch that. Apparently uploading one made it willing to upload the other 19 in bulk without random errors. THE MORE YOU KNOW.

Merrill. Why are you so stupid?

Seriously. Merrill in rivalry mode is like dealing with a petulant child most of the time.

She drives me crazy because she's just so convinced that she knows what she's doing and she's accounted for all the risks, and she... really doesn't, and she really, really hasn't. But because she thinks she has, she won't listen to anyone's concerns at all and just gets huffy and offended when they try to talk to her about it.

And she's so fixated on "bringing back their past glory" as the only way to help the Dalish, when fixating on the glories of the past is basically never, ever healthy for any person or culture, ever. (Granted this is kind of a Dalish thing in general, but when even every other Dalish you talk to thinks she's gone around the bend with it, that says something.)

I notice it's exactly what drives Fenris nuts about the Dalish in general, that constant need to look back instead of going forward. You feel a lot of it playing as a non-Dalish, ESPECIALLY a human in DAO where you're held personally accountable for every slight the elves have suffered, excluding Lanaya who is one of a few elves in camp who's probably had really horrible experiences with humans first hand. I understand they're trying to piece together their lost culture, but Marethari has the saner approach there; just because it was in the past doesn't mean it's still good or important. Merrill can't see past Was Old Thing Is Good and then flips out the moment she can't have what she wants. I think the problem is she's very fast to construct a martyr reality for herself where Hawke steals the tool and her clan just doesn't understand but will when she shows them how great this is.

She can't think of another outcome. I think whenever she has doubts she just tells herself the mirror will save her people even if that doesn't make the slightest bit of sense. I have to wonder if it's influence from her demon or if she was always this prideful and bullheaded.

Yeah. Which really makes me want to flip a table when in Act 3

At least Fenris tries to find a way to move forward, even if he's not very good at it.

All this discussion makes me want to go back and play this game again for what must be the 4th or 5th time, haha. I really feel like Merrill needs some sense smacked into her head, but words alone aren't enough to do that.

Oh, Merrill. I never sided with her until I spent an hour fighting with my own father on a matter I spent five fucking years studying for.

Then again I still don't really side with her because I don't know about the entire matter. I just don't usually give her the arulin'holm because of all the reasons listened before mostly because it kills people and she made a deal with a demon, so I was pretty sure the demon modified it for his own reasons. I like the fact that you're in the same position of Hawke here.

And Fenris quote about her "throwing away everything for chasing after ghost" it's a nice touch of reminding us about city elves.

I am going to grab the bloody chance WHENEVER imgur works right now.

I love letting Aveline tear into that idiot. <3

If only he didn't had a shiny armor...

And I forgot banter! Let me see if I can trace back what's been said while I've been busy cursing at Imgur.

Varric: If you've got something to say, just spit it out.
Anders: Are you sure you want to encourage me? I might be about to confess my undying love...
Varric: I get that a lot. So what's on your mind?
Anders: I just realized it's been a while since any of the gangs in the Undercity came to my door.
Varric: They're busy people. Places to go, throats to cut. Maybe you've slipped their minds.
Anders: Right. The apostate running the free clinic in the sewers. Easy to forget. You didn't have anything to do with this?
Varric: You must have me confused with someone else! I'm just a businessman and a storyteller.

Varric: Oh, cheer up, Blondie. You're making me cry just looking at you.
Anders: Don't...
Varric: You made a mistake. It happens.
Anders: I almost killed a girl...
Varric: You've killed two-hundred and fifty-four by my last count. Plus about five hundred men, a few dozen giant spiders, and at least two demons.
Anders: It's not the same...
Varric: Why? Because this one you feel bad about? Maybe that's the problem.

Merrill: Are you all right?
Anders: I nearly killed an innocent girl. How could I be all right?!
Merrill: I'm sorry...
Anders: You're sorry? For me? This could be you! You could be the next monster threatening helpless girls!
Merrill: Anders... There's no such thing as a good spirit. There never was. All spirits are dangerous. I understood that. I'm sorry that you didn't...

Anders: It's not a good feeling, you know...
Merrill: What?
Anders: Being an abomination. I just got a taste of your future.
Merrill: I'm not that foolish! Our relationship is, um, strictly platonic.
Anders: It's like you're trapped in your own body, seeing out your eyes, while someone else moves you like a puppet... and you're trying to scream, to move a single muscle, but there's no escape. Until you look down at the blood on your hands...
Merrill: Stop it! You're scaring me!
Anders: That's the point.

Fenris: I seem to recall you saying something a while ago...
Anders: Shut up!
Fenris: "I can control it." Wasn't that what you said?
Anders: So help me...

Merrill: *Giggle*
Aveline: *Sigh* Yes?
Merrill: Is it like you thought? It's nice, isn't it? He seems nice.
Aveline: Yes, he's very nice...
Merrill: I know! And you're so cute when you're with him! Not like normal-you at all!
Aveline: Haven't you got something unholy to do?
Merrill: No, we're following Hawke! That's important, too.
Aveline: This mirror of yours — what does it do?
Merrill: Mostly it stands in my house, looking a bit spooky.
Aveline: But its magic, right? So it can do... Magic things? Is it dangerous?
Merrill: It could fall on someone, but you'd have to push it really hard. It's quite heavy.
Aveline: Merrill, is it a danger to the people of Kirkwall or not?
Merrill: Oh! Only to anyone sitting right under it.

Isabela: Psst. I've got some of it written down now...
Varric: Give it here.
Varric: "Her breasts strained against the leather jerkin like two wild stallions corralled against their will." *Chuckle* "She pounced—the smooth moves of a jungle cat—and locked her thighs around Donnic's waist. He—"
Aveline: What?!
Isabela: Nothing!
Aveline: What is that?!
Isabela: Shh! *Giggle*
Varric: Isabela just thought she'd celebrate your love affair with a... written dedication.
Isabela: It's "friend-fiction!" I do it out of love.
Aveline: I will never, ever be clean again...

I didn't rival Merrill in my play through; in fact, the blood magic taint made me less interested in using or talking to her, period. So I never did this quest, shockingly. Glad to see you're rivalling her...because good lord is she dumb.

And I just read your banter. This is the best.

The post should be up in entirety now, sorry about the flailing.

I admire you for being able to just let it lie, really. I am such a completionist I can play this game for the 11th time (not counting Philip repeats) and I STILL FEEL AS IF I HAVE TO DO EVERY SINGLE QUEST AND GO TO EVERY SINGLE PLACE AND GET EVERY SINGLE BANTER AND...

*breathes* Rivalry helps. There are games where I go speak to a companion and think "Good lord, I am going to hate you." and I will do all their quests without fail even if it just makes me hate them more and more for each playthrough.

...I nearly forgot how much I hated Petrice and Varnell.

VARRIC, LET HAWKE LOVE YOU

Also, friend fiction is great. Just saying.

Let me just join the chorus of voices in saying that I really hate Petrice.

I think I may have hit the last banter, so it's limited what I found this run:

Aveline: You, Varric, have a very large mouth.
Varric: And here I've always looked up to you. What is it now?
Aveline: There were fistfights in the barracks over who is the model for your guard serial.
Varric: Hard in Hightown. Riveting stuff. Everyone loves a dirty guard on the edge.
Aveline: Varric.
Varric: Fine. I'll start his big finish. Three chapters until Donnen Brennicovick retires and opens a tavern on the coast. I sure hope he makes it. He's getting too old for this shit.

Aveline: You are very close to losing your printing blocks, Varric.
Varric: Once more I am falsely accused of whatever it is that I am accused of. Falsely.
Aveline: Someone swapped the text of my recruitment poster with some filth from the Blooming Rose.
Varric: That does sound pretty good.
Aveline: Sure, fill barracks with whores. But you've also filled the Rose with guards.
Varric: It is true what they say. The best comedy comes from tragedy...

And as a small bonus since I randomly found an item with the right look, here is Joyce cosplaying a Circle Mage. Varric seems a bit embarrassed for her.

And this is why I never pawn anyone's starting gear!

I really don't recall any of my gifts in DA2 being as contentious as what you've shown here. Apparently, snarky Hawke does a remarkably shitty job of giving presents.

Rivalry really hops up gift reactions, and Carver will be Carver, but Aveline really doesn't like that shield at first even as a friend, which she is here. I've had Hawkes of every tone go through that dance with her, but I since I sometimes cut dialogue to make things fit, it may contribute to the terse, tense atmosphere.

I remember spending ten minutes wondering why Du Puis was a funny name XD

Hawke doesn't really give good gifts usually, but if you give them to friends, they explain why it's awkward but accept if and they are glad you thought about them. If they're rival...it depends. Anders and Merrill are gracious about it, Isabela not much and Fenris thinks it's all part of your evil plan to mock him.
Aveline is never happy about the shield at the beginning, no matter what you do.

And Hawke is a brave woman/man, there are gifts and flirty lines who would make me hide at home for a week.

I keep all of them in the chest at Hawke home, along with Hawke firts outfits and everything with a fancy name.

I do this a lot. I had to take out the shield especially to avoid the "WE SOLD IT, DIDN'T WE?!" line, which took some digging.

I remember being hurt by this, I didn't ever thought of it. AVELINE, I COULD GIVE IT BACK TO YOU, JUST ASK.
I didn't know that there was a line about Hawke having it in the inventory, it sounds even bitter than having to sell it because they were starving.

I try not to let myself get bothered by this sort of thing because if you start thinking too hard about the origins of the words you're using you end up realizing how many of them shouldn't be in use in your setting and maybe all your dialogue should be in Middle English or something.

Some examples are more flagrantly noticeable than others, though.

Yes, I'm not demanding blankverse or Austenspeak, but 'okay' always grates on my nerves because it's so obviously modern. When I write in a historical setting it's always nice to be past 1900 so using it is not a tremendous headache trying to find synonyms XD