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Untitled Lyna Mahariel Fic Notes
Wardens in Borders
• Lyna, Jowan (Origins)
• Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Veranna, Sigrun, Justice (Awakening)
• Jean-Marc Stroud (recruiter from Orlais)
• Carver Hawke (volunteer?)
• Varania, possibly conscripted after Danarius dies
Mahariel Characters
Origins MCs: Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Barkspawn, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Shale, Wynne, & Oghren
Awakenings MCs: Lyna, Zevran, Barkspawn, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun, Justice
Witch Hunt: Lyna, Zevran (?), Anders, Barkspawn, Arianne, Finn
Beyond: Lyna, Zevran, Anders, Barkspawn, Jowan, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun
Mahariel Rambling
In particular, Oghren should give her a hard time for her subordinates' obvious interest in her, teasing that it's Zevran and Alistair all over again and that she's definitely got a type. (This conversation should take place in front of the group, allowing someone to incredulously remark about her relationship with the king; she denies any such relationship, of course, but Oghren isn't letting her get away with that.) Oghren goes on to speculate about whether this will play out like the last time--i.e., will Lyna again be so foolish as to choose the rogue who tried to kill her? (He specifically tells Nathaniel to watch out--the last time she spared a would-be assassin's life, she ended up in bed with him.) But, he speculates, maybe he's got it backwards; maybe Anders is Zevran and Howe is Alistair. Anders is a flirty, bisexual blonde with a dark past he hides behind humor and twisted optimism, while Nathaniel is a chivalric noble with a slowly growing, unspoken devotion to Lyna. But either way, he says, they'd better watch out; she's involved with an Antivan Crow, and they don't want to get on his bad side--though, he points out, Zevran might be into it. (Lyna takes the opportunity to take the conversation elsewhere, teasing Oghren about how he doesn't seen to mind it if it's two women, bringing up both Hespith/Branka and the Isabella/Lyna/Zevran threesome. Oghren snarks that he'll just pretend Zev is a woman, then, since he already looks like one--see the "small breasts for a gal" conversation in Origins--and Lyna, faking offense, denies it.)
"You know, Commander, you've certainly got a type."
"I've got a what?"
"You know what I'm talking about. You had Zevran and Alistair pining over you for a year, and you're doing it again."
"I'm doing *what* again?"
"Making 'em pine."
"I'm sure they're both fine without me."
"Not those two; these two."
Lyna's eyes flickered across the camp to where Oghren had nodded.
More Mahariel Notes
• Nathaniel should be declared Warden-Constable of Ferelden (Lyna's official second-in-command).
• Jean-Marc Stroud is in charge of recruitment (and no doubt strongly disagrees with Lyna about the appropriateness of the Right of Conscription and feels considerable frustration over Ferelden's history of political fallout when it's used).
• Deep Roads excursions to acquaint new recruits with Darkspawn prior to their Joining (perhaps she puts them through the "get a vial of blood" thing Duncan pulled on her).
• attend the Landsmeet (once a year?) as Arlessa of Amaranthine (will Lanaya be there as the "Arlessa of Ostagar"?)
• meet with Lanaya (once a year?)*
*Lyna's business, not Grey Warden business
Saving Connor
Perhaps instead of letting Jowan kill Isolde, Lyna proposes they split the blood sacrifice? Presumably, Jowan protests that taking half of each woman's blood/life force would just kill both of them, and so Alistair and Leliana (and possibly Teagan, depending on what condition he's in) offer to participate, as well. (Sten refuses, and Morrigan is going into the Fade.) Afterward, the four/five of them are each greatly weakened, so the next few days (weeks?) are spent recovering; however, Lyna's by far the worst off, as they failed to take into account how much smaller she is than the rest of them. Instead of taking a proportional fifth of her blood, Jowan divided the required blood by five--i.e., he took more blood from her than he should have, making her much more sick than the rest of them. (Perhaps she's the only one to fall unconscious from the ritual.)
• Lyna/Zevran romance
- Lyna/Alistair subtext
- Zevran/Alistair flirting
- Leliana/Lyna unrequited crush
• Morrigan/Jowan tryst/ritual
Plotting Mahariel
Awakening (Lyna, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun, Justice)
Warden's Keep (Lyna, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun)
Witch Hunt (Lyna, Zevran, Anders, Arianne, Finn)
Origin & Ostagar
- recruit Alistair & Morrigan
- temporary party members: an unnamed soldier and unnamed mage
Lothering & Redcliffe
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan
- recruit Leliana and Sten in Lothering
- Conscript Jowan in Redcliffe
Circle of Magi
- pick up location of Shale on the way?
- recruit Zevran on the way
- Lyna, Alistair, Leliana, Sten, Zevran
- Morrigan and Jowan do not go to the tower
- recruit Wynne
- team up with Neria Surana & a few other mages
Orzammar/Deep Roads & Shale's Quest
- side quest to recruit Shale
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale
- recruit Oghren
- team up with Sereda Aeducan
Return to Ostagar & Morrigan's Quest
- everyone goes to Ostagar (Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren)
- but only Lyna, Zevran, Leliana, and Jowan go to kill Flemeth
The Dalish Elves
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
Warden's Keep
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
- Avernus is spared, as he and his research will be pivotal to the plot of the sequel(s)
The Urn of Sacred Ashes
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
Denerim
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
- team up with Kallian Tabris
Finale
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
Epilogue
- Alistair is king and fears he might have to marry Anora to strengthen his rule.
- Morrigan leaves with her Old God fetus.
- Leliana becomes Alistair's advisor & bard with hints of romance.
- Sten returns to the Qunari.
- Wynne and Shale fuck off to Tevinter.
- Oghren settles down with Felsi.
- Zevran encourages Lyna/Alistair. (Though it doesn't end up happening, because he's too noble and she's got shit to do.)
Awakening
- Lyna, Zevran, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun, Justice
- Lyna/Zevran & Anders love triangle has a very simple solution
- Nathaniel becomes Lyna's second in command
Witch Hunt
- Lyna, Zevran, Anders, Finn, Ariane
*** Golems of Amgarrak, rather than being adapted, will serve as inspiration for a "retaking/exploring the Thaigs" plot, methinks. ***
Eventually
- Merrill joins because Dalish girls ftw (and I want to see her interact with both Velanna and Solas)
- the Hawkes settle in Amaranthine (and all three of the siblings become Wardens???)
- Fenris!!! because Zevran/Lyna/Anders/Marian/Fenris OT5
- Solas and Ellana Lavellan because Elves! and the Dalish! and drama!; Solas overlooks Ellana in favor of his hard-on for Lyna; Ellana maybe romances Cullen or Isabela or somebody instead, idk?
- something something Corypheus
- Kallian shows up and is badass as fuck, plus Kallian/Nathaniel?
- Elissa shows up because Alistair's gotta marry someone (maybe she comes after Nathaniel in hopes of vengeance?)
- Solona has become a villain possessed by Mouse
- Carver joins the Wardens and is actually spectacular at it, to the point of rivaling Nathaniel in Lyna's esteem (what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in heroic ideals; Nathaniel gets shit done like fuck, but Carver wouldn't do too burning a populated city.)
Shipping Notes
All three potential love interests for a female PC should develop feelings for Lyna. Initially, Alistair and Leliana both care for her platonically while Zevan plays the flirt. On the way to Orzammar (after saving the Circle), Lyna begins a casual physical relationship with Zev, while Alistair and Leliana's unspoken feelings for her bloom into love. Zevran's own feelings start to develop while on the way to and within the Brecilian Forest. After Lyna helps Leliana kill Marjolaine in Denerim, Leliana confesses her love, though she insists that she respects and bears no ill will toward Lyna's relationship with Zevran; the overall impression is that Leliana wishes her love was returned, but that friendship is enough. Zevran, however, keeps his feelings secret until after the attack from Taliesen, and while Alistair eventually gives Lyna the rose from Lothering, he keeps his feelings just vague enough to not cause any problems, as he doesn't want to come between Lyna and Zevran--and, as king, he'll probably have to marry a noblewoman anyway. (Zevran, however, has long since been aware of Alistair's feelings for Lyna, and he's also noticed how much Lyna seems to enjoy it when he flirts with the other Warden.)
Potential Ideas (within the context of Alistair/Lyna/Zevran)
Should Alistair/Lyna/Zevran come about, the trio faces a problem. Content with his current relationship, Alistair loses whatever interest he had in a political marriage, but marrying Lyna isn't an option. While the issue of Lyna being an elf might be assuaged by her status as hero of Ferelden, it's downright impossible for two Wardens to conceive. So there are two options:
A) Either they find a way to conceive an untainted child and marry regardless of what the nobles have to say...
B) OR Lyna and Zevran essentially adopt an orphaned infant, then (with Alistair's consent) pass it off as Alistair and Lyna's bastard.
Obviously, this idea will be scrapped if I opt for Anders/Lyna/Zevran instead.
Epilogue versus Sequels
Instead of dealing with the events of the sequels--because under no circumstances am I going to let Anders or Merrill and Mahariel's clan face their canon fates--I'm going to focus on the events outlined in the DA:O epilogue and DLC, mixed in with ideas of my own and presumably events inspired by the sequels (like the inclusion of Hawke and Fenris, Merrill's continued interest in the Eluvians, the Mage/Templar conflict and Cullen's redemption, Leliana becoming Divine and freeing the mages from the Chantry, possibly the reformation of the Inquisition and the Inquisitor's story, etc.)
The Problem of Jowan
I've been having a bit of a problem reconciling the chronology of The Arl of Redcliffe and The Urn of Sacred Ashes with my plan for Jowan; logically, the former belongs at the beginning of the story (as Alistair urges Lyna to go there first), while the latter belongs at the end (given that going to Denerim will likely get them killed, which means they shouldn't go until absolutely necessary). But I want Jowan to be in the party prior to the Circle, which means he has to join immediately after the Arl of Redcliffe; in canon, however, Teagan refuses to even consider Jowan's fate before Arl Eamon wakes. So... how about we cut right through this knot and conscript Jowan right then? Alistair will likely be furious (and everyone else will likely think Lyna's either reckless or stupid), but it's the only way for Jowan to be present for the bulk of the plot.
So, what we have is this:
Alistair and Lyna meet at Ostagar and are rescued by Flemeth; afterwards, they are joined by her daughter, Morrigan, and a mabari named Barkspawn (Alistair's idea). In Lothering, they gain Sten and Leliana. Next is Redcliffe, where they conscript Jowan into the Wardens. On the road to the Circle, they are joined by Zevran, and once there, they gain Wynne. The last member (besides Shale*) is Oghren, who joins them for the Deep Roads trip. (*I can't say for certain when Shale joins. On the way to the dwarves, maybe?)
So our team (in order of joining) is Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Barkspawn, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Oghren. (Shale is in question.)
Zevran in Awakening
Canonically, it takes Zevran at least seven years to deal with the Crows, as a Warden who romanced him leaves Amaranthine to look for him in Antiva six years after Awakening (which is six months after Origins). This doesn't work for me; Lyna knows she'll face her Calling sometime within the next ten to thirty years; and since living through a Blight means her time will likely be on the shorter end of the spectrum, being separated for six years means Zevran and Lyna might have squandered the majority of their time. And that's just too depressing.
So, options. Either Zevran never leaves for Antiva, he takes out the Crows with absurd swiftness, or he abandons the task before it's complete. The first option is by far the best, but I'm kind of hoping to develop the relationship between the new Wardens--especially the romantic subtext between Lyna/Anders and Lyna/Nathaniel (plus the Lyna/Velanna friendship and Nathaniel/Velanna subtext)--without his presence. Not that it couldn't work with Zevran there, because it totally could... It would just be different.
This idea, though, is supported by the epilogue; if the Warden romanced Zevran and immediately returns to the Wardens after the Blight, the epilogue states that Zevran accompanies her to the Wardens, staying with the Order though never joining it.
Post-Awakenings Debate
I am now two days into playing Awakening, and I believe I'm nearing the end. And I must admit, it's shaken my foundation a bit, as far as Borders goes. I have long intended for the story to involve a Zevran/Lyna/Alistair OT3. But playing Awakenings might actually be tempting me to change my mind.
The plan was thus: After the Blight ended, Lyna and Zevran stayed in Denerim with Alistair for six months, and the subtext between Alistair and Lyna became increasingly undeniable. Zevran encouraged the idea of an OT3, while Lyna reluctantly resisted the idea out of the belief that Alistair would never go for it and Alistair did his best to repress his feelings for Lyna.
After six months, Lyna left for Amaranthine, accompanied by Zevran and Jowan. The events of Awakening played out, perhaps with some Anders/Lyna/Zevran subtext, and sometime later, Lyna and Zevran met back up with Alistair so the OT3 could get underway.
...and now I'm thinking that *might* not be what I want to do. That six-month Denerim arc is still acceptable, but the Awakenings arc... I'm conflicted. There's quite a bit of Anders/Lyna and Nathaniel/Lyna flirting going on, and I'm giving some serious thought to these relationships.
Nathaniel/Lyna, I suspect, should be along the lines of Lyna/Leliana in Origins; Nathaniel develops some degree of interest in, attraction to, or feelings for her, and while Lyna might even be attracted to him herself, nothing comes of it (he flirts with Velanna quite a bit, too, after all, so there's a possibility there).
Anders/Lyna, on the other hand, has real potential. He's clearly attracted to her, he's canonically bisexual (and therefore significantly more likely than Alistair to get involved with Lyna and Zevran), and he even looks quite a bit like Alistair. An Anders/Lyna/Zevran OT3 could work... but it would obviously negate any possibility of Alistair/Lyna/Zevran.
Realistically, this makes sense. There's a lot going for Anders/L/Z and a lot going against Alistair/L/Z; while Zevran appears to find Alistair attractive (see: the "jumping borders" conversation that provides the current title), Alistair is seemingly straight (unable to be romanced by a male PC and oblivious to Zevran's advances/remarks)--Anders, on the other hand, is bisexual (if seemingly somewhat inexperienced with men, per his comments in DA2). Both Alistair and Anders express some degree of attraction to elves (see Anders' "women with tattoos" comment to Val), but Alistair can't marry Lyna or even officially recognize her as his lover without risking scandal that could lead to a future civil war. I had planned for them to get together in spite of these odds, but perhaps portraying them as insurmountable after all wouldn't be the worst idea?
If so, here's my alternate plan for Awakening. In canon, Zevran goes to Antiva to take down as many Crows as he can, which might work since the local nobles of Amaranthine have hired at least one to kill her--they obviously haven't decided to leave Ferelden or Lyna alone, in spite of Zevran's assertion that other Crows wouldn't want to take on a Grey Warden. So perhaps he does return to Antiva for a while, leaving Lyna to deal with Awakening alone.
That would also mean she deals with Anders and Nathaniel alone (though Jowan should still be present), which has a lot of potential. In particular, Oghren should give her a hard time for her subordinates' obvious interest in her, teasing that it's Zevran and Alistair all over again and that she's definitely got a type. (This conversation should take place in front of the group, allowing someone to incredulously remark about her relationship with the king; she denies any such relationship, of course, but Oghren isn't letting her get away with that.) Oghren goes on to speculate about whether this will play out like the last time--i.e., will Lyna again be so foolish as to choose the rogue who tried to kill her? (He specifically tells Nathaniel to watch out--the last time she spared a would-be assassin's life, she ended up in bed with him.) But, he speculates, maybe he's got it backwards; maybe Anders is Zevran and Howe is Alistair. Anders is a flirty, bisexual blonde with a dark past he hides behind humor and twisted optimism, while Nathaniel is a chivalric noble with a slowly growing, unspoken devotion to Lyna. But either way, he says, they'd better watch out; she's involved with an Antivan Crow, and they don't want to get on his bad side--though, he points out, Zevran might be into it. (Lyna takes the opportunity to take the conversation elsewhere, teasing Oghren about how he doesn't seen to mind it if it's two women, bringing up both Hespith/Branka and the Isabella/Lyna/Zevran threesome. Oghren snarks that he'll just pretend Zev is a woman, then, since he already looks like one--see the "small breasts for a gal" conversation in Origins--and Lyna, faking offense, denies it.)
Fates of the Origin Characters, Part One
If the various Warden candidates are not recruited...
Elissa Cousland - dies at Highever
Kallian Tabris - raped, murdered, or raped and murdered by Vaughn
Neria Surana - sent to Aeonar, executed, or made Tranquil (if she helped Jowan) *or* likely killed in Uldred's coup (if she didn't)
Solona Amell - sent to Aeonar, executed, or made Tranquil (if she helped Jowan) *or* likely killed in Uldred's coup (if she didn't)
Lyna Mahariel - dies of the taint or becomes a ghoul
Natia Brasca - dies in a Carta cell
Sereda Aeducan - banished to the Deep Roads as a form of passive execution
In my story, after the various Warden candidates are not recruited...
Elissa Cousland - escapes Highever, returns after the Blight, and marries Alistair
Kallian Tabris - raped by Vaughn, (maybe) marries Nelaros, becomes Bann of the Alienage?, ...I kind of ship her with like Nathaniel or Carver or somebody
Neria Surana - helps defeat Uldred's coup
Solona Amell - sent to Aeonar, returns later as a villain (possessed by Mouse)
Lyna Mahariel - Warden-Commander
Natia Brasca - dies in a Carta cell
Sereda Aeducan - banished to the Deep Roads as a form of passive execution, teams up with the Wardens during the Deep Roads expedition, and returns to challenge Bhelen for the throne
Fates of the Origin Characters, Part Two
Lyna Mahariel is my Warden-Commander. She defeats the Blight, recovers Vigil's Keep, and sets up a new order of Grey Wardens in Amaranthine.
Elissa Cousland survives the assault on Highever, but she does not join the Wardens against the Blight. Rather, she rescues a small group of (mostly elven) servants during her escape and flees. She has a bit of an adventure of her own until the end of the Blight, after which her path will eventually cross with Lyna's. She will ultimately marry King Alistair Theirin.
Solona Amell surfaces as a villain at some point, possessed by the pride demon she met during her Harrowing.
Kallian Tabris becomes part of the plot during the Denerim arc of the Blight. Unlike in canon, her fate is not ambiguous: she, along with Shianna and the other women, were raped, and she has started plotting/leading a resistance movement from inside the Alienage. She's fucking badass, so maybe she joins the Wardens or gets focus in a sequel or something? Otherwise, becoming Bann of the Alienage would be chill. (Or, fuck it, how about some Kallian/Nathaniel OTP?)
Thoughts for a Deified Non-FF Version
Book One: Origin & Ostagar & Redcliffe
Book Two: Circle of Magi & the Fade
Book Three: Honnleath & Deep Roads
Book Four: Brecilian Forest & Return to Ostagar
Book Five: Haven & Denerim & Archdemon
Book Six: Awakening & Witch Hunt
Book Seven: Kinda-Sorta DA2
Book Eight: Kinda-Sorta DAI
Not!Solas needs to have a snake (or lion? because snakes might be best for Not!Zevran) motif instead of wolves. Not!Solas might as well get an upgrade to Big Bad. Not, like, evil... but highkey antagonistic. He plays hero to get close to Not!Lyna, who he sees as a messianic figure, and develops an obsessive love for her that leads to horrors like kidnapping & forced experiments that make her the first nonmagical person to ever gain powers.
Elves are a step above enslaved. Separatists live in hiding.
Mages are a step above enslaved. Some, however, manage to masquerade as nonmagical people. Not!Danarius is their leader.
Pretty much everyone falls for Not!Lyna in some capacity (most having implied romantic or sexual feelings for her, but some developing a platonic devotion). She's magnetic despite not being magical; she routinely makes friends out of enemies, wins allies in unlikely places, and has half the cast pining for her at one point or another.
Fenris should be associated with... owls, maybe? or wildcats? instead of wolves.
The legend of Not!Andraste should be more unambiguously warped by patriarchy & misogyny, as well as heavily implied to be a predecessor to Not!Lyna, up to and including being manipulated or even experimented upon by Not!Solas. There may even be speculation that Not!Lyna is her reincarnation.
Not!Morrigan's spell changes the fate of the Not!Warden who kills the Not!Archdemon. Rather than the Not!Warden and Not!Archdemon both dying, Not!Archdemon's immortal divinity will be absorbed by Not!Warden's mortal soul. (...which makes Not!Lyna all the more attractive to Not!Solas.)
Not!Morrigan is associated with wolves.
Not!Anders is associated with cats; Not!Hawke is associated with dogs; Not!Zevran is associated with snakes.
Deified Notes as of 12/20
Title: Deified (as the story is essentially Lyna Mahariel's deification as an elven goddess)
- The first installment title should be Tainted.
- The post-Origins & pre-Awakening story doesn't have a plotline yet, and so also lacks a title.
- The Awakening adaptation needs a title. Honestly, it might just be called Awakened.
- The DA2 Act I adaptation needs a title.
- The installment in which Lyna becomes a mage should be titled Unveiled.
The main team of Origins/Tainted is going to be Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Wynne, Zevran, Oghren, Jowan, and Shale.
The main team of Awakening is going to be Lyna, Zevran, Oghren, Anders, Nathaniel, Sigrun, Velanna, and Justice.
Ten years pass between Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition. That leaves me lots of room to play with my Warden before I get leashed by canon events.
By the time of the Circle tower, I'm not sure if Zevran and Shale have joined the party. Oghren has definitely not. Morrigan and Jowan, meanwhile, will be ordered to stay away from the island, lest they come to the attention of the templars. Only Lyna, Alistair, Leliana, and Sten (and possibly Zevran) go into the tower. (Unfortunately, that means skipping Morrigan's fade dream. Boo.)
After the encounter with the Broodmother, Lyna finally understands just what's at stake for a woman who comes into contact with darkspawn. She sends Leliana and Morrigan back to Orzammar immediately, under the protection of most of the party. Lyna, Alistair, Jowan, and Oghren (plus Barkspawn!) are the only ones to go all the way to the Anvil. Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Wynne, Zevran, and Shale head back.
Lyna becomes the Hero of Ferelden, the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, the Arlessa of Amaranthine, and (almost certainly) the Inquisitor. (She probably does not become the Herald of Andraste, as I want Ellanna Lavellan to bear the Anchor.) She is also instrumental in securing Ostagar as a settlement for Ferelden's Dalish elves and becomes an unapologetic advocate for mages once the rebellion begins. She is somewhat jokingly referred to as "the true Queen of Ferelden", at least until Alistair marries Elissa.
Lyna is experimented upon by the Architect, which may or may not help her survive the taint, and later by Solas and/or Mythal (after the events of Inquisition but probably before Trespasser?), whose nonconsensual attempt to make her a mage proves successful.
Lyna should be heavily connected with Mythal and Fen'Harel right from the start. She takes Mythal's vallaslin partially as a vow never to be the kind of mother her own mother was and partially as acceptance of what's-her-face as her "true" mother. (It will later be a particular irony that Flemythal was such a shitty mother to Morrigan.) And she should also be heavily associated with wolves (symbolizing Fen'Harel/Solas, Fenris, & Morrigan), dogs (symbolizing Alistair, Hawke, and Ferelden), crows/ravens (symbolizing Zevran, Morrigan, & Leliana), cats (symbolizing Anders), and flowers (symbolizing Alistair and Leliana's feelings for her).
Rather than having Justice join with Anders and start the mage rebellion, he joins with Velanna and starts an elf rebellion that eventually morphs into a mage rebellion. (This means that the evolution of Velanna's path is a good foil for Lyna's. They're both Dalish and become deeply invested in fixing the plight of both their people and the Chantry-enslaved mages, but Velanna goes wayyy too far.) Ultimately, Lyna is forced to kill Velanna and Justice, and so when she meets Cole, she sees him as her second chance to get things right.
On the subject of Cole, I really like the dynamic that he gives a Solasmancing femLavellan. For the bulk of Cole's arc, the Inquisitor (canonically Lavellan but Mahariel in the fic) plays a sisterly/motherly role for Cole and consults and/or defers to Solas about the more spirity aspects of Cole's nature, which sets Solas up in a fatherly role. But in my first Inquisition playthrough, the human/spirit decision for Cole came immediately after Solas broke up with Lavellan, and so when Varric comes in and clearly intends to become an unambiguous father figure to Cole, it's a powerful emotional beat for Lavellan to defer not to Solas but to Varric for the first time in Cole's arc. (And Cole, honestly, seems better off for it.)
It's of extreme importance to remember that lyrium has been revealed not as just a bizarrely magical mineral but as the lifeblood of enormous stone monsters known as the Titans, which are heavily implied to have created the original dwarves as a slave race connected via hive mind. (...which is very reminiscent of the darkspawn and their search for the Old Gods. In fact, everything about the Titan's relationship to the dwarves, as described by Valta, is very reminiscent of the song that calls the darkspawn and Wardens and the hivemind that the darkspawn seem to be part of.) And, of course, red lyrium isn't just some bizarre predatory variant--it's blighted.
The only point of view characters in the story should be Lyna (jack of all trades, favoring bows), Hawke (aggressive but simplistic mage), and Ellana (jack of all trades mage).
So let's look at our line-up, shall we?
In Origins, we have:
Lyna, archer/sword-and-shield & leader
Alistair, sword-and-shield templar
Morrigan, shapeshifter mage
Leliana, spy/assassin rogue
Sten, Qunari tank
Zevran, assassin rogue
Wynne, healer mage
Jowan, blood mage
Oghren, berserker dwarf
Shale, golem tank
In Awakening, we have*:
Lyna, archer/sword-and-shield & leader
Zevran, assassin rogue
Jowan, blood mage
Oghren, berserker dwarf
Nathaniel, archer? rogue
Sigrunn, rogue? dwarf
Velanna, Dalish mage
Anders, healer mage
Justice, sword-and-shield spirit/corpse
*I'm less familiar with these characters, so this may not be entirely accurate.
What is everyone else doing during Awakening?
Alistair is King of Ferelden.
Morrigan is pregnant and MIA.
Leliana is recruited by Divine Justinia.
Sten returns to the Qunari.
Wynne and Shale are in Tevinter?
After Awakening (and probably after Witch Hunt, but I can't say for sure), Lyna & co head to Kirkwall on Anders' behalf. Karl is being abused by the Circle, and Anders wants to break him out. Lyna obliges to try, and so they end up meeting Hawke, Fenris, Carver, Aveline, and Varric. (Merrill should be in Ostagar with the rest of the Dalish, Anders is still with Lyna, Justice is either in Amaranthine or with Velanna, and they already know Isabela.) Lyna, Anders, & company ends up accompanying Hawke, Varric, & company into the Deep Roads, where they find the Primeval Thaig and Lyrium Idol, rescue Sandal, are betrayed by Bartrand, and must offer the Joining to Carver after he's tainted. After escaping the Deep Roads, Lyna, Hawke, & company sell off the relics they discovered and purchase the Amell estate for Leandra; Hawke and Carver leave Kirkwall to join Lyna.
Three years later, the Arishok requests Hawke by name, and so Hawke, Lyna, & company return to Kirkwall to reunite with Aveline, Fenris, Isabela, and Varric just in time for the events of DA2 Act II. (Remember that at some point, Hawke has to take Flemeth's amulet to Sundermount to restore Mythal.)
• Lyna, Jowan (Origins)
• Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Veranna, Sigrun, Justice (Awakening)
• Jean-Marc Stroud (recruiter from Orlais)
• Carver Hawke (volunteer?)
• Varania, possibly conscripted after Danarius dies
Mahariel Characters
Origins MCs: Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Barkspawn, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Shale, Wynne, & Oghren
Awakenings MCs: Lyna, Zevran, Barkspawn, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun, Justice
Witch Hunt: Lyna, Zevran (?), Anders, Barkspawn, Arianne, Finn
Beyond: Lyna, Zevran, Anders, Barkspawn, Jowan, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun
Mahariel Rambling
In particular, Oghren should give her a hard time for her subordinates' obvious interest in her, teasing that it's Zevran and Alistair all over again and that she's definitely got a type. (This conversation should take place in front of the group, allowing someone to incredulously remark about her relationship with the king; she denies any such relationship, of course, but Oghren isn't letting her get away with that.) Oghren goes on to speculate about whether this will play out like the last time--i.e., will Lyna again be so foolish as to choose the rogue who tried to kill her? (He specifically tells Nathaniel to watch out--the last time she spared a would-be assassin's life, she ended up in bed with him.) But, he speculates, maybe he's got it backwards; maybe Anders is Zevran and Howe is Alistair. Anders is a flirty, bisexual blonde with a dark past he hides behind humor and twisted optimism, while Nathaniel is a chivalric noble with a slowly growing, unspoken devotion to Lyna. But either way, he says, they'd better watch out; she's involved with an Antivan Crow, and they don't want to get on his bad side--though, he points out, Zevran might be into it. (Lyna takes the opportunity to take the conversation elsewhere, teasing Oghren about how he doesn't seen to mind it if it's two women, bringing up both Hespith/Branka and the Isabella/Lyna/Zevran threesome. Oghren snarks that he'll just pretend Zev is a woman, then, since he already looks like one--see the "small breasts for a gal" conversation in Origins--and Lyna, faking offense, denies it.)
"You know, Commander, you've certainly got a type."
"I've got a what?"
"You know what I'm talking about. You had Zevran and Alistair pining over you for a year, and you're doing it again."
"I'm doing *what* again?"
"Making 'em pine."
"I'm sure they're both fine without me."
"Not those two; these two."
Lyna's eyes flickered across the camp to where Oghren had nodded.
More Mahariel Notes
• Nathaniel should be declared Warden-Constable of Ferelden (Lyna's official second-in-command).
• Jean-Marc Stroud is in charge of recruitment (and no doubt strongly disagrees with Lyna about the appropriateness of the Right of Conscription and feels considerable frustration over Ferelden's history of political fallout when it's used).
• Deep Roads excursions to acquaint new recruits with Darkspawn prior to their Joining (perhaps she puts them through the "get a vial of blood" thing Duncan pulled on her).
• attend the Landsmeet (once a year?) as Arlessa of Amaranthine (will Lanaya be there as the "Arlessa of Ostagar"?)
• meet with Lanaya (once a year?)*
*Lyna's business, not Grey Warden business
Saving Connor
Perhaps instead of letting Jowan kill Isolde, Lyna proposes they split the blood sacrifice? Presumably, Jowan protests that taking half of each woman's blood/life force would just kill both of them, and so Alistair and Leliana (and possibly Teagan, depending on what condition he's in) offer to participate, as well. (Sten refuses, and Morrigan is going into the Fade.) Afterward, the four/five of them are each greatly weakened, so the next few days (weeks?) are spent recovering; however, Lyna's by far the worst off, as they failed to take into account how much smaller she is than the rest of them. Instead of taking a proportional fifth of her blood, Jowan divided the required blood by five--i.e., he took more blood from her than he should have, making her much more sick than the rest of them. (Perhaps she's the only one to fall unconscious from the ritual.)
• Lyna/Zevran romance
- Lyna/Alistair subtext
- Zevran/Alistair flirting
- Leliana/Lyna unrequited crush
• Morrigan/Jowan tryst/ritual
Plotting Mahariel
Awakening (Lyna, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun, Justice)
Warden's Keep (Lyna, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun)
Witch Hunt (Lyna, Zevran, Anders, Arianne, Finn)
Origin & Ostagar
- recruit Alistair & Morrigan
- temporary party members: an unnamed soldier and unnamed mage
Lothering & Redcliffe
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan
- recruit Leliana and Sten in Lothering
- Conscript Jowan in Redcliffe
Circle of Magi
- pick up location of Shale on the way?
- recruit Zevran on the way
- Lyna, Alistair, Leliana, Sten, Zevran
- Morrigan and Jowan do not go to the tower
- recruit Wynne
- team up with Neria Surana & a few other mages
Orzammar/Deep Roads & Shale's Quest
- side quest to recruit Shale
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale
- recruit Oghren
- team up with Sereda Aeducan
Return to Ostagar & Morrigan's Quest
- everyone goes to Ostagar (Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren)
- but only Lyna, Zevran, Leliana, and Jowan go to kill Flemeth
The Dalish Elves
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
Warden's Keep
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
- Avernus is spared, as he and his research will be pivotal to the plot of the sequel(s)
The Urn of Sacred Ashes
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
Denerim
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
- team up with Kallian Tabris
Finale
- Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Shale, Oghren
Epilogue
- Alistair is king and fears he might have to marry Anora to strengthen his rule.
- Morrigan leaves with her Old God fetus.
- Leliana becomes Alistair's advisor & bard with hints of romance.
- Sten returns to the Qunari.
- Wynne and Shale fuck off to Tevinter.
- Oghren settles down with Felsi.
- Zevran encourages Lyna/Alistair. (Though it doesn't end up happening, because he's too noble and she's got shit to do.)
Awakening
- Lyna, Zevran, Jowan, Anders, Oghren, Nathaniel, Velanna, Sigrun, Justice
- Lyna/Zevran & Anders love triangle has a very simple solution
- Nathaniel becomes Lyna's second in command
Witch Hunt
- Lyna, Zevran, Anders, Finn, Ariane
*** Golems of Amgarrak, rather than being adapted, will serve as inspiration for a "retaking/exploring the Thaigs" plot, methinks. ***
Eventually
- Merrill joins because Dalish girls ftw (and I want to see her interact with both Velanna and Solas)
- the Hawkes settle in Amaranthine (and all three of the siblings become Wardens???)
- Fenris!!! because Zevran/Lyna/Anders/Marian/Fenris OT5
- Solas and Ellana Lavellan because Elves! and the Dalish! and drama!; Solas overlooks Ellana in favor of his hard-on for Lyna; Ellana maybe romances Cullen or Isabela or somebody instead, idk?
- something something Corypheus
- Kallian shows up and is badass as fuck, plus Kallian/Nathaniel?
- Elissa shows up because Alistair's gotta marry someone (maybe she comes after Nathaniel in hopes of vengeance?)
- Solona has become a villain possessed by Mouse
- Carver joins the Wardens and is actually spectacular at it, to the point of rivaling Nathaniel in Lyna's esteem (what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in heroic ideals; Nathaniel gets shit done like fuck, but Carver wouldn't do too burning a populated city.)
Shipping Notes
All three potential love interests for a female PC should develop feelings for Lyna. Initially, Alistair and Leliana both care for her platonically while Zevan plays the flirt. On the way to Orzammar (after saving the Circle), Lyna begins a casual physical relationship with Zev, while Alistair and Leliana's unspoken feelings for her bloom into love. Zevran's own feelings start to develop while on the way to and within the Brecilian Forest. After Lyna helps Leliana kill Marjolaine in Denerim, Leliana confesses her love, though she insists that she respects and bears no ill will toward Lyna's relationship with Zevran; the overall impression is that Leliana wishes her love was returned, but that friendship is enough. Zevran, however, keeps his feelings secret until after the attack from Taliesen, and while Alistair eventually gives Lyna the rose from Lothering, he keeps his feelings just vague enough to not cause any problems, as he doesn't want to come between Lyna and Zevran--and, as king, he'll probably have to marry a noblewoman anyway. (Zevran, however, has long since been aware of Alistair's feelings for Lyna, and he's also noticed how much Lyna seems to enjoy it when he flirts with the other Warden.)
Potential Ideas (within the context of Alistair/Lyna/Zevran)
Should Alistair/Lyna/Zevran come about, the trio faces a problem. Content with his current relationship, Alistair loses whatever interest he had in a political marriage, but marrying Lyna isn't an option. While the issue of Lyna being an elf might be assuaged by her status as hero of Ferelden, it's downright impossible for two Wardens to conceive. So there are two options:
A) Either they find a way to conceive an untainted child and marry regardless of what the nobles have to say...
B) OR Lyna and Zevran essentially adopt an orphaned infant, then (with Alistair's consent) pass it off as Alistair and Lyna's bastard.
Obviously, this idea will be scrapped if I opt for Anders/Lyna/Zevran instead.
Epilogue versus Sequels
Instead of dealing with the events of the sequels--because under no circumstances am I going to let Anders or Merrill and Mahariel's clan face their canon fates--I'm going to focus on the events outlined in the DA:O epilogue and DLC, mixed in with ideas of my own and presumably events inspired by the sequels (like the inclusion of Hawke and Fenris, Merrill's continued interest in the Eluvians, the Mage/Templar conflict and Cullen's redemption, Leliana becoming Divine and freeing the mages from the Chantry, possibly the reformation of the Inquisition and the Inquisitor's story, etc.)
The Problem of Jowan
I've been having a bit of a problem reconciling the chronology of The Arl of Redcliffe and The Urn of Sacred Ashes with my plan for Jowan; logically, the former belongs at the beginning of the story (as Alistair urges Lyna to go there first), while the latter belongs at the end (given that going to Denerim will likely get them killed, which means they shouldn't go until absolutely necessary). But I want Jowan to be in the party prior to the Circle, which means he has to join immediately after the Arl of Redcliffe; in canon, however, Teagan refuses to even consider Jowan's fate before Arl Eamon wakes. So... how about we cut right through this knot and conscript Jowan right then? Alistair will likely be furious (and everyone else will likely think Lyna's either reckless or stupid), but it's the only way for Jowan to be present for the bulk of the plot.
So, what we have is this:
Alistair and Lyna meet at Ostagar and are rescued by Flemeth; afterwards, they are joined by her daughter, Morrigan, and a mabari named Barkspawn (Alistair's idea). In Lothering, they gain Sten and Leliana. Next is Redcliffe, where they conscript Jowan into the Wardens. On the road to the Circle, they are joined by Zevran, and once there, they gain Wynne. The last member (besides Shale*) is Oghren, who joins them for the Deep Roads trip. (*I can't say for certain when Shale joins. On the way to the dwarves, maybe?)
So our team (in order of joining) is Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Barkspawn, Leliana, Sten, Jowan, Zevran, Wynne, Oghren. (Shale is in question.)
Zevran in Awakening
Canonically, it takes Zevran at least seven years to deal with the Crows, as a Warden who romanced him leaves Amaranthine to look for him in Antiva six years after Awakening (which is six months after Origins). This doesn't work for me; Lyna knows she'll face her Calling sometime within the next ten to thirty years; and since living through a Blight means her time will likely be on the shorter end of the spectrum, being separated for six years means Zevran and Lyna might have squandered the majority of their time. And that's just too depressing.
So, options. Either Zevran never leaves for Antiva, he takes out the Crows with absurd swiftness, or he abandons the task before it's complete. The first option is by far the best, but I'm kind of hoping to develop the relationship between the new Wardens--especially the romantic subtext between Lyna/Anders and Lyna/Nathaniel (plus the Lyna/Velanna friendship and Nathaniel/Velanna subtext)--without his presence. Not that it couldn't work with Zevran there, because it totally could... It would just be different.
This idea, though, is supported by the epilogue; if the Warden romanced Zevran and immediately returns to the Wardens after the Blight, the epilogue states that Zevran accompanies her to the Wardens, staying with the Order though never joining it.
Post-Awakenings Debate
I am now two days into playing Awakening, and I believe I'm nearing the end. And I must admit, it's shaken my foundation a bit, as far as Borders goes. I have long intended for the story to involve a Zevran/Lyna/Alistair OT3. But playing Awakenings might actually be tempting me to change my mind.
The plan was thus: After the Blight ended, Lyna and Zevran stayed in Denerim with Alistair for six months, and the subtext between Alistair and Lyna became increasingly undeniable. Zevran encouraged the idea of an OT3, while Lyna reluctantly resisted the idea out of the belief that Alistair would never go for it and Alistair did his best to repress his feelings for Lyna.
After six months, Lyna left for Amaranthine, accompanied by Zevran and Jowan. The events of Awakening played out, perhaps with some Anders/Lyna/Zevran subtext, and sometime later, Lyna and Zevran met back up with Alistair so the OT3 could get underway.
...and now I'm thinking that *might* not be what I want to do. That six-month Denerim arc is still acceptable, but the Awakenings arc... I'm conflicted. There's quite a bit of Anders/Lyna and Nathaniel/Lyna flirting going on, and I'm giving some serious thought to these relationships.
Nathaniel/Lyna, I suspect, should be along the lines of Lyna/Leliana in Origins; Nathaniel develops some degree of interest in, attraction to, or feelings for her, and while Lyna might even be attracted to him herself, nothing comes of it (he flirts with Velanna quite a bit, too, after all, so there's a possibility there).
Anders/Lyna, on the other hand, has real potential. He's clearly attracted to her, he's canonically bisexual (and therefore significantly more likely than Alistair to get involved with Lyna and Zevran), and he even looks quite a bit like Alistair. An Anders/Lyna/Zevran OT3 could work... but it would obviously negate any possibility of Alistair/Lyna/Zevran.
Realistically, this makes sense. There's a lot going for Anders/L/Z and a lot going against Alistair/L/Z; while Zevran appears to find Alistair attractive (see: the "jumping borders" conversation that provides the current title), Alistair is seemingly straight (unable to be romanced by a male PC and oblivious to Zevran's advances/remarks)--Anders, on the other hand, is bisexual (if seemingly somewhat inexperienced with men, per his comments in DA2). Both Alistair and Anders express some degree of attraction to elves (see Anders' "women with tattoos" comment to Val), but Alistair can't marry Lyna or even officially recognize her as his lover without risking scandal that could lead to a future civil war. I had planned for them to get together in spite of these odds, but perhaps portraying them as insurmountable after all wouldn't be the worst idea?
If so, here's my alternate plan for Awakening. In canon, Zevran goes to Antiva to take down as many Crows as he can, which might work since the local nobles of Amaranthine have hired at least one to kill her--they obviously haven't decided to leave Ferelden or Lyna alone, in spite of Zevran's assertion that other Crows wouldn't want to take on a Grey Warden. So perhaps he does return to Antiva for a while, leaving Lyna to deal with Awakening alone.
That would also mean she deals with Anders and Nathaniel alone (though Jowan should still be present), which has a lot of potential. In particular, Oghren should give her a hard time for her subordinates' obvious interest in her, teasing that it's Zevran and Alistair all over again and that she's definitely got a type. (This conversation should take place in front of the group, allowing someone to incredulously remark about her relationship with the king; she denies any such relationship, of course, but Oghren isn't letting her get away with that.) Oghren goes on to speculate about whether this will play out like the last time--i.e., will Lyna again be so foolish as to choose the rogue who tried to kill her? (He specifically tells Nathaniel to watch out--the last time she spared a would-be assassin's life, she ended up in bed with him.) But, he speculates, maybe he's got it backwards; maybe Anders is Zevran and Howe is Alistair. Anders is a flirty, bisexual blonde with a dark past he hides behind humor and twisted optimism, while Nathaniel is a chivalric noble with a slowly growing, unspoken devotion to Lyna. But either way, he says, they'd better watch out; she's involved with an Antivan Crow, and they don't want to get on his bad side--though, he points out, Zevran might be into it. (Lyna takes the opportunity to take the conversation elsewhere, teasing Oghren about how he doesn't seen to mind it if it's two women, bringing up both Hespith/Branka and the Isabella/Lyna/Zevran threesome. Oghren snarks that he'll just pretend Zev is a woman, then, since he already looks like one--see the "small breasts for a gal" conversation in Origins--and Lyna, faking offense, denies it.)
Fates of the Origin Characters, Part One
If the various Warden candidates are not recruited...
Elissa Cousland - dies at Highever
Kallian Tabris - raped, murdered, or raped and murdered by Vaughn
Neria Surana - sent to Aeonar, executed, or made Tranquil (if she helped Jowan) *or* likely killed in Uldred's coup (if she didn't)
Solona Amell - sent to Aeonar, executed, or made Tranquil (if she helped Jowan) *or* likely killed in Uldred's coup (if she didn't)
Lyna Mahariel - dies of the taint or becomes a ghoul
Natia Brasca - dies in a Carta cell
Sereda Aeducan - banished to the Deep Roads as a form of passive execution
In my story, after the various Warden candidates are not recruited...
Elissa Cousland - escapes Highever, returns after the Blight, and marries Alistair
Kallian Tabris - raped by Vaughn, (maybe) marries Nelaros, becomes Bann of the Alienage?, ...I kind of ship her with like Nathaniel or Carver or somebody
Neria Surana - helps defeat Uldred's coup
Solona Amell - sent to Aeonar, returns later as a villain (possessed by Mouse)
Lyna Mahariel - Warden-Commander
Natia Brasca - dies in a Carta cell
Sereda Aeducan - banished to the Deep Roads as a form of passive execution, teams up with the Wardens during the Deep Roads expedition, and returns to challenge Bhelen for the throne
Fates of the Origin Characters, Part Two
Lyna Mahariel is my Warden-Commander. She defeats the Blight, recovers Vigil's Keep, and sets up a new order of Grey Wardens in Amaranthine.
Elissa Cousland survives the assault on Highever, but she does not join the Wardens against the Blight. Rather, she rescues a small group of (mostly elven) servants during her escape and flees. She has a bit of an adventure of her own until the end of the Blight, after which her path will eventually cross with Lyna's. She will ultimately marry King Alistair Theirin.
Solona Amell surfaces as a villain at some point, possessed by the pride demon she met during her Harrowing.
Kallian Tabris becomes part of the plot during the Denerim arc of the Blight. Unlike in canon, her fate is not ambiguous: she, along with Shianna and the other women, were raped, and she has started plotting/leading a resistance movement from inside the Alienage. She's fucking badass, so maybe she joins the Wardens or gets focus in a sequel or something? Otherwise, becoming Bann of the Alienage would be chill. (Or, fuck it, how about some Kallian/Nathaniel OTP?)
Thoughts for a Deified Non-FF Version
Book One: Origin & Ostagar & Redcliffe
Book Two: Circle of Magi & the Fade
Book Three: Honnleath & Deep Roads
Book Four: Brecilian Forest & Return to Ostagar
Book Five: Haven & Denerim & Archdemon
Book Six: Awakening & Witch Hunt
Book Seven: Kinda-Sorta DA2
Book Eight: Kinda-Sorta DAI
Not!Solas needs to have a snake (or lion? because snakes might be best for Not!Zevran) motif instead of wolves. Not!Solas might as well get an upgrade to Big Bad. Not, like, evil... but highkey antagonistic. He plays hero to get close to Not!Lyna, who he sees as a messianic figure, and develops an obsessive love for her that leads to horrors like kidnapping & forced experiments that make her the first nonmagical person to ever gain powers.
Elves are a step above enslaved. Separatists live in hiding.
Mages are a step above enslaved. Some, however, manage to masquerade as nonmagical people. Not!Danarius is their leader.
Pretty much everyone falls for Not!Lyna in some capacity (most having implied romantic or sexual feelings for her, but some developing a platonic devotion). She's magnetic despite not being magical; she routinely makes friends out of enemies, wins allies in unlikely places, and has half the cast pining for her at one point or another.
Fenris should be associated with... owls, maybe? or wildcats? instead of wolves.
The legend of Not!Andraste should be more unambiguously warped by patriarchy & misogyny, as well as heavily implied to be a predecessor to Not!Lyna, up to and including being manipulated or even experimented upon by Not!Solas. There may even be speculation that Not!Lyna is her reincarnation.
Not!Morrigan's spell changes the fate of the Not!Warden who kills the Not!Archdemon. Rather than the Not!Warden and Not!Archdemon both dying, Not!Archdemon's immortal divinity will be absorbed by Not!Warden's mortal soul. (...which makes Not!Lyna all the more attractive to Not!Solas.)
Not!Morrigan is associated with wolves.
Not!Anders is associated with cats; Not!Hawke is associated with dogs; Not!Zevran is associated with snakes.
Deified Notes as of 12/20
Title: Deified (as the story is essentially Lyna Mahariel's deification as an elven goddess)
- The first installment title should be Tainted.
- The post-Origins & pre-Awakening story doesn't have a plotline yet, and so also lacks a title.
- The Awakening adaptation needs a title. Honestly, it might just be called Awakened.
- The DA2 Act I adaptation needs a title.
- The installment in which Lyna becomes a mage should be titled Unveiled.
The main team of Origins/Tainted is going to be Lyna, Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Wynne, Zevran, Oghren, Jowan, and Shale.
The main team of Awakening is going to be Lyna, Zevran, Oghren, Anders, Nathaniel, Sigrun, Velanna, and Justice.
Ten years pass between Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition. That leaves me lots of room to play with my Warden before I get leashed by canon events.
By the time of the Circle tower, I'm not sure if Zevran and Shale have joined the party. Oghren has definitely not. Morrigan and Jowan, meanwhile, will be ordered to stay away from the island, lest they come to the attention of the templars. Only Lyna, Alistair, Leliana, and Sten (and possibly Zevran) go into the tower. (Unfortunately, that means skipping Morrigan's fade dream. Boo.)
After the encounter with the Broodmother, Lyna finally understands just what's at stake for a woman who comes into contact with darkspawn. She sends Leliana and Morrigan back to Orzammar immediately, under the protection of most of the party. Lyna, Alistair, Jowan, and Oghren (plus Barkspawn!) are the only ones to go all the way to the Anvil. Morrigan, Leliana, Sten, Wynne, Zevran, and Shale head back.
Lyna becomes the Hero of Ferelden, the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, the Arlessa of Amaranthine, and (almost certainly) the Inquisitor. (She probably does not become the Herald of Andraste, as I want Ellanna Lavellan to bear the Anchor.) She is also instrumental in securing Ostagar as a settlement for Ferelden's Dalish elves and becomes an unapologetic advocate for mages once the rebellion begins. She is somewhat jokingly referred to as "the true Queen of Ferelden", at least until Alistair marries Elissa.
Lyna is experimented upon by the Architect, which may or may not help her survive the taint, and later by Solas and/or Mythal (after the events of Inquisition but probably before Trespasser?), whose nonconsensual attempt to make her a mage proves successful.
Lyna should be heavily connected with Mythal and Fen'Harel right from the start. She takes Mythal's vallaslin partially as a vow never to be the kind of mother her own mother was and partially as acceptance of what's-her-face as her "true" mother. (It will later be a particular irony that Flemythal was such a shitty mother to Morrigan.) And she should also be heavily associated with wolves (symbolizing Fen'Harel/Solas, Fenris, & Morrigan), dogs (symbolizing Alistair, Hawke, and Ferelden), crows/ravens (symbolizing Zevran, Morrigan, & Leliana), cats (symbolizing Anders), and flowers (symbolizing Alistair and Leliana's feelings for her).
Rather than having Justice join with Anders and start the mage rebellion, he joins with Velanna and starts an elf rebellion that eventually morphs into a mage rebellion. (This means that the evolution of Velanna's path is a good foil for Lyna's. They're both Dalish and become deeply invested in fixing the plight of both their people and the Chantry-enslaved mages, but Velanna goes wayyy too far.) Ultimately, Lyna is forced to kill Velanna and Justice, and so when she meets Cole, she sees him as her second chance to get things right.
On the subject of Cole, I really like the dynamic that he gives a Solasmancing femLavellan. For the bulk of Cole's arc, the Inquisitor (canonically Lavellan but Mahariel in the fic) plays a sisterly/motherly role for Cole and consults and/or defers to Solas about the more spirity aspects of Cole's nature, which sets Solas up in a fatherly role. But in my first Inquisition playthrough, the human/spirit decision for Cole came immediately after Solas broke up with Lavellan, and so when Varric comes in and clearly intends to become an unambiguous father figure to Cole, it's a powerful emotional beat for Lavellan to defer not to Solas but to Varric for the first time in Cole's arc. (And Cole, honestly, seems better off for it.)
It's of extreme importance to remember that lyrium has been revealed not as just a bizarrely magical mineral but as the lifeblood of enormous stone monsters known as the Titans, which are heavily implied to have created the original dwarves as a slave race connected via hive mind. (...which is very reminiscent of the darkspawn and their search for the Old Gods. In fact, everything about the Titan's relationship to the dwarves, as described by Valta, is very reminiscent of the song that calls the darkspawn and Wardens and the hivemind that the darkspawn seem to be part of.) And, of course, red lyrium isn't just some bizarre predatory variant--it's blighted.
The only point of view characters in the story should be Lyna (jack of all trades, favoring bows), Hawke (aggressive but simplistic mage), and Ellana (jack of all trades mage).
So let's look at our line-up, shall we?
In Origins, we have:
Lyna, archer/sword-and-shield & leader
Alistair, sword-and-shield templar
Morrigan, shapeshifter mage
Leliana, spy/assassin rogue
Sten, Qunari tank
Zevran, assassin rogue
Wynne, healer mage
Jowan, blood mage
Oghren, berserker dwarf
Shale, golem tank
In Awakening, we have*:
Lyna, archer/sword-and-shield & leader
Zevran, assassin rogue
Jowan, blood mage
Oghren, berserker dwarf
Nathaniel, archer? rogue
Sigrunn, rogue? dwarf
Velanna, Dalish mage
Anders, healer mage
Justice, sword-and-shield spirit/corpse
*I'm less familiar with these characters, so this may not be entirely accurate.
What is everyone else doing during Awakening?
Alistair is King of Ferelden.
Morrigan is pregnant and MIA.
Leliana is recruited by Divine Justinia.
Sten returns to the Qunari.
Wynne and Shale are in Tevinter?
After Awakening (and probably after Witch Hunt, but I can't say for sure), Lyna & co head to Kirkwall on Anders' behalf. Karl is being abused by the Circle, and Anders wants to break him out. Lyna obliges to try, and so they end up meeting Hawke, Fenris, Carver, Aveline, and Varric. (Merrill should be in Ostagar with the rest of the Dalish, Anders is still with Lyna, Justice is either in Amaranthine or with Velanna, and they already know Isabela.) Lyna, Anders, & company ends up accompanying Hawke, Varric, & company into the Deep Roads, where they find the Primeval Thaig and Lyrium Idol, rescue Sandal, are betrayed by Bartrand, and must offer the Joining to Carver after he's tainted. After escaping the Deep Roads, Lyna, Hawke, & company sell off the relics they discovered and purchase the Amell estate for Leandra; Hawke and Carver leave Kirkwall to join Lyna.
Three years later, the Arishok requests Hawke by name, and so Hawke, Lyna, & company return to Kirkwall to reunite with Aveline, Fenris, Isabela, and Varric just in time for the events of DA2 Act II. (Remember that at some point, Hawke has to take Flemeth's amulet to Sundermount to restore Mythal.)