Rocks Brosca-Cadash

Some things, Rocks had been expecting on her trip back to Orzammar. The relief that was stone over her head again, Stone humming against the soles of her feet. The worry and fear of how she would find Rica and Leske after her time away. The disdain of guards and nobles at a “brand” coming back after being exiled. 

She hadn’t been expecting to see her sister in the royal palace, smitten with a prince as shady as any carta boss. She hadn’t been expecting to hear the hum of the Stone clashing with the song that now haunted her sleep.

She had thought the thing that surprised her most was how “warden” was spoken with respect from the same ones that flinched at the brand on her cheek. The way she was allowed where she pleased, and the merchants didn’t sneer at her coin.

That was before she was asked to take care of Jarvia. 

She had been looking forward to it at first, the idea of giving Jarvia her final comeuppance for all the threats she had made to Rocks and her salroka. It didn’t matter that Bhelen had asked for it as a favor, something to push things another inch toward him being on the throne. Taking down Jarvia would be a pleasure.

okay so this took me ages but i do have something at least. here ya go!

The bard is playing sadsongs by the time the Chargers retire for the night. Valargg watches them go,one by one, and exchanges a glance with Krem as he steps toward the bar. Kremseems on edge tonight – he’s had half as much as he usually does, and he’s beenside-eyeing his boss all night. Valargg pretends to drink at his usual pace.Buys tankard after tankard, but it’s the weakest wine they have in Skyhold, andhe’s barely buzzed by the time the Chargers finally depart. He gives Krem atwo-finger wave and a wink as he finishes his chat with the bartender. Bulllaughs and shouts a farewell to his second-in-charge, wobbling in his chair.When Valargg turns, Bull beckons him forward, smile slipping from his face.Valargg goes, taking Krem’s recently-vacated seat. Bull leans in, over the armof his wooden throne, and Valargg ducks to avoid Bull’s horn thwack-ing into his forehead.

‘Look,’ he says, voicedropping in volume, ‘we’re not the closest of friends…’

Valargg snorts. ‘You’dbetter be going somewhere with this,’ he pseudo-growls.

Bull laughs, loud, andValargg ducks again, and the horn scrapes against his hair instead.

‘Bull,’ Valargg says.‘Focus.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ Bull grumbles,and leans in for real this time. Thank the Maker. ‘The other day, Rocksmentioned something. Told me a little bit about how you grew up together. She,uh… she said she thinks you’re gonna leave again. Bet me, actually.’ Bulllaughs, low and fond. His face is softer than Valargg has ever seen, andValargg likes him a little more for it. His sister deserves some happiness.

‘Sounds like her,’ Valargggrins. ‘I’m not leaving,’ he promises, after a few moments of Bull’s eyerolling around the room.

Bull hums and thumps hishead back against his throne. ‘Tell her that.’

Valargg just scoffs, says,‘I will,’ and leaves to track her down.

It doesn’t take him long tofind her. She isn’t in her quarters at this time of night, not without Bull. Heknows her: knows she wouldn’t spend so much time in a place so empty withoutBull. Not when it means nothing for her, and it’s so close to the sky. Instead,he goes straight to the lower levels. Straight to the library In Skyhold, theabandoned mage library there. He spots her in the cellar, sitting propped up bya wine rack and peering into an empty bottle of cheap whiskey. ‘Empty?’

Rocks glances up at him,face serious, and then breaks out into a grin. ‘Another!’ she says, and Valarggpicks up the closest bottle without bothering to check what it is. Opening it,he takes a swig of – ugh –conscription ale. Passes it to Rocks with a grimace. He’s lucky he likes anykind of alcohol, so when he seats himself next to Rocks, he takes the bottle asshe offers it.

‘What’s on your mind?’ heasks, after her next few swigs.

‘Nothn,’ she mumbles, thenfixes him with a ridiculously fake grin. ‘Kay, maybe somethin’…’

‘And?’ he prompts, elbowingher when she takes too long to answer.

‘I know you’re gon’ leaveagain,’ she murmurs, ‘you may s’well go now, save the trouble.’

Valargg shakes his head.‘Oh, Urtok. I know I didn’t come for you, and I should have. I knew youwouldn’t die in the Legion. Sorry I didn’t. But I’m not leaving. I missed mysister. You won’t drive me away, and I know you’ll try. But I’m not going toleave or abandon you, urtok. Not anymore.’

Rocks just smiles at him,and he knows she doesn’t believe it now… yet, he thinks as he watches the wayher shoulders relax and she smiles freely, maybe one day she will.

She never expected the awe. When she set foot through those gates for the first time in over a decade, she hadn’t expected anything like a warm welcome, not from anyone besides Rica.

After all, it was one thing for the king to let a squad of Legionnaires go topside to help a dwarf-run inquisition. It was quite another to expect anyone in the city to be happy about the visit when she hadn’t just left, but instead had been banished.

So, when she stepped through the gates to find an honor guard waiting for her, she had expected it to be there to protect from her, an added protection to ensure she wouldn’t try to go somewhere the nobility didn’t approve.

When the Diamond quarter was lined with faces, children and their parents standing in doorways, quiet whispers following them, she couldn’t help but feel this was something more. “Herald,” she heard whispered. “Chosen by the ancestors.” “She walked the fade.” “She stilled the earthquakes.”

She had nearly come to a stop at that, her quick reflexes the only thing keeping her feet under her in the proper manner. That wasn’t fear or disgust she heard in those whispered voices, but awe, respect. Like the second time she had walked through Haven, when “herald of andraste” had first become her title.

The name on everybody’s lips is gonna be~

Rocks(ie)

Am I a brilliant artist yet? No! But I do have one face I can do really really well, imo. Each time, it feels like she’s getting easier and easier to draw. 

The Iron Bull, “Kadan”

Bestiary - Nuggalopes (½)

Greater Mountain Nuggalope 

Stubborn and hardy, the Greater Mountain Nuggalope - or “Deth Nug” - makes a statement, and that statement is “hands.”

As far as historians are able to determine, referenced to the greater mountain nuggalope (or “deth nug”) predate the Divine Age. For centuries, the nuggalope remained a creature of myth, with sighting attributed to lunacy or drunkenness. Occasionally, convincing evidence for the nuggalope’s existence would be brought forth. These claims were always proven to be hoaxes, perpetrated for fame or malicious amusement. 

As such, it came as a great shock when tales of the nuggalope were finally proven true. Despite their elusive nature, nuggalopes may be tamed and even ridden, though few have accomplished such a feat. 

One of the nuggalope’s most unexpected features - and one of endless fascination to researchers - is the creature’s hand-like front paws. The nuggalope has been known to dunk its food in water before consuming it. It can also reach high tree branches and pull them down to eat the leaves. While observations of wild nuggalopes are few, some researchers theorise that the creature may also be capable of rudimentary tool use, such as poking stick into trees and dirt mounts to draw the insects out.

I!!! AM SO!!!! PROUD OF THIS!!!!!

Those are EXPRESSIONS in my DRAWINGS holy shit, artist memes are a thing of legend. 

Some of my favorite shots of Rocks after the Well of Sorrows. It really shows the range of “I can do this” “shouldn’t have done this” “WORTH IT” and “well that rush was short lived”.