* A MAN IN THE ALLEY.

just a note to those on my dash regarding current events:

                                               ‘ y ━ you’re drunk , friend. ‘

          ALTHOUGH HE WORE A SMIRK , the man’s body flinches from contact & a low grunt slips out of his mouth. koenig’s free hand lifts to pat hroth on the shoulder , an attempt to temporary coax him out of this.

                                                             ( he later learns this is folly. )

“What did you say?”

Solas turned on his heel, turning to face the iron-blad Orlesian with a sudden interested intensity. Elvhen ears did not miss much, and so the question he meant to ask was not ‘what did you say’ but rather ‘how did you know that.’ Few in Skyhold knew there ever was a rebellion in the supposedly golden Elvhenan, and those who did would not dare name it, for fear it might reveal something this world was not ready for.

“You were telling a story,” he insisted. “About a revolution– I would like to hear it, if you care to repeat what you said.”

✧ @abovepity​

                                                ‘ i ━ ... of course. ‘

          head  bows , respect  given to any  who  spoke  to him. ( it was  applied to certain individuals. ) previous company departed  after a  silent exchange of  words , focus occupied  by  a  display of delectable  cheeses from rivain. lips part slowly & brow furrows , as if the veteran attempted to recall something he just spoke. of course , it was just for show ━ & rumors  held a specific  degree of truth : régis lavigne  was a master of the grand game , & no amount of sarcasm nor  jokes can quell its gravity. he  sets aside  a bowl of  seeds & journal ( sketching out the plants / herbs that they will become ) on the empty seat to his left , leaving the right for solas to sit if he wished. skyhold’s gardens were a place of tranquility , & people left each other alone.

‘ i have yet to reacquaint with existence , because it is not what i believe. ‘ ━ IRON-GALE , dragon slayer & son of the neromenians , c. 3050 ancient / 4450 elven. 

regarded as myth , ___ iron-gale was a newborn when his mother & others first began exploring thedas , hailing from the rainforests of par vollen. it is known that elves were mating with humans around this time , producing elf-blooded children : he was one of them , among the first & bearing the same pointed ( albeit shorter ) ears as his elven father. inscribed on archaic ruins in regions that would become nevarra & the free marches , it is claimed iron-gale was one of the first dragon slayers ━ arguably , the most famous. in his prime , he slept under the crumbling arch of a great hearth-hall , oblivious to a spirit of command residing further inside. iron-gale woke(?) up the next day to it looming above him. he could not move an inch of his body , & can only watch as his surroundings shift various colors : blues , reds , blacks , greens , browns. a beautiful & terrifying world.

he learned that this spirit observed him throughout his life , from beginning to now. witnessed exhaustion & wrinkles from age. an individual it believed would be needed in years to come. it offered iron-gale a deal : let it inhabit his body , & mortal weakness will eventually cease. aging , disease ━ none of that will apply. to sweeten the deal , it also offered him the ability to absorb the knowledge + memories of dragons he slew. this was a time when nature , spirits / the waking world were intimate & driven by duty to protect his people , he accepted. now , he knew it was all a dream ━ for a while. because for centuries afterwards , the dragon slayer felt primordial power coursing through veins. a mind becoming like a dragon’s. a soul caught in two worlds.

* IN RECENT YEARS , iron-gale took advantage of his own mythology & established himself as retired chevalier marshal named régis lavigne , long-time / advanced player of the grand game & potential advisor for the inquisitor , acting as liaison between the group & orlais. he is romance-able , but only to male / masculine-identifying inquisitors. a rogue ( archer ), specializing as a tempest & shadow.

important things to remember :

unless we plot , no one is aware of iron-gale’s true identity. he conceals his ears with magic.

adopts a neutral stance in the mage v.s templar war.

« who dares to disturb my peaceful studying ?? » / @abovepity

         ‘ i was c o n s i d e r i n g us to become companions , if you are interested. ‘

‘ dovahkiin ! dovahkiin ! naal ok zin los vahriin ... ’

THE  LAST  DRAGONBORN .  so  far ,  his  political  instinct  has  not  failed  him   -   &   now ,  it  tells  him  this  man  will  become  even  more  important  than  he  is  already  in  the  days  to  come .   naturally ,  letters  are  his  first  course  of  action  when  distance  drives  a  wedge  between  himself  and  opportunities ;   for  they  are  not  only  a  means  to  communication ,  but  also  telling .   &  he  has  learned  much  already . 

quick  to  meet  the  other’s  hand   -   a  firm ,  but  short handshake .  a  faint  curling  upwards  of  lips  at  the  mention  of  the  witchmen  follows .   ‘  the  witchmen ?   heh .  holed  up  in  their  caves  as  we  speak   -   i  fear  high  rock’s  INTRIGUES  occupies  most  of  my  time .  but  such  is  the  nature  of  politics .   which  is ,  i  believe ,  the  reason  of  your  visit .  ’

          heroics that result from such prestige did not come as easily as he presumed. faded scars , wrinkles , & a low /  gravely  voice  that forced  even    t h e h e a v e n s    to lower  themselves  in  reverence. koenig’s hood provided warmth  against an  incoming  winter , its chill already  roaring  against mountains / roads in gales & the morning air.   ‘ i’ve  yet to  return to  the  scene in decades , caesar. it was easy for me to forget  my roots , when sulking  about  is  much  easier. ‘   but  in bygone  years , the  dragonborn  realized that  thievery & politics were similar : just different methods of acquiring what you desire.