#bartrand tethras

Dragon Age 2: The Fall of House Tethras

Dragon Age: Adult Coloring Book - Dragon Age 2

all of my @dragonageannual contribution previews in one place!

"The song is different, but the pieces fit together." — Cole

Happy 14th Anniversary to Dragon Age II! My favourite Dragon Age 🥹❤️

A very experimental piece featuring Meredith Stannard, Bartrand Tethras & Raleigh Samson as the Lyrium Idol. Their writing was so good. Making us believe their stories were very dichotomic at first, but once you start digging, you can see all the cracks, the humanity, their goals. Always adored the way Meredith looks like Andraste, it makes it all even sadder ;W;

Timelapse & Ref:

—

(A letter and receipt tucked between the pages of Varric’s journal)

30 Jus 9:32 Dragon

Mssrs Swift & Holman, pawnbrokers, East Keepside, Hightown—

Ser B. Tethras,

On the matter of your property listed herein, which you offered as security for the loaned sum of 300 sovereigns, to be paid in full by 28 Jus 9:32 Dragon as set forth in the terms of your promissory note and signed by your hand (see attached) —

whereas this date has come and gone unfortunately finding your account deficient, we have as such deemed you in default of our agreement, and said property has been placed at public sale to make this account whole.

- Ceremonial dagger, red steel, inlaid fuller of paragon’s luster, engraved, Orzammar-make

- Filigree brooch, gold, inlaid emerald, trefoil design, Orzammar-make

- Signet ring, gold 18ct, size 72b, Orzammar-make

(This entry has been frantically circled. Next to it are handwritten several names and addresses. All have been crossed out.)

- Set of leaden crystal glass dip pens, qty 3, blue, hand-blown, Orlesian-make

Having so satisfied the deficient balance and the terms of the promissory note, this sale has concluded your obligations to our brokerage. Although further action is not required, we remain at your service—

—

(Varric’s journal entry from the same date as the pawnbroker’s letter.)

30 Jus 9:32

You nug-fucking asshole.

I can lose the brooch, the dagger, whatever the hell else you pawned off from our parents’ belongings without telling me. Fuck it, you’re the one that grew up with that shit. You want to pawn off all your little Diamond Quarter souvenirs, far be it from me to stop you.

But our father’s signet ring?!

Do you have any idea how colossally, titanically stupid that was?!

That’s not just a piece of jewelry.

That is your name.

That is MY name.

That is the authority and credit of our reputation, our honor. That seal opens doors. In Kirkwall, Orzammar, wherever, it opens doors and coffers and hands and it lights paths forward.

You know that! You’ve always known that better than even I did!!! All I’ve ever heard out of you is how much is riding on the name of Tethras, and now—!

And now that name is out on the loose, and it could be glittering on Maker knows WHOSE finger. And if it’s using our name — my name — to sign deals that screw me over, or petition a lord for something I’d never ask, or do any crazy underworld business from the shady to the unspeakable…

To do any more damage than YOU’RE already doing out there wherever you fucked off after you took your little lyrium statue and your men and said “Good luck, jackass!” and abandoned us like the rat you are—

If someone is using my name to undermine and destroy everything we worked so hard to build, Bartrand, I swear on that Stone you love so much, I will end you before you can fuck anything else up.

You had no right.

You went behind my back and you practically stole it from my hand, stole my name from my own mouth.

To BORROW expedition funding, BY THE WAY. You stupid, stupid bastard. And this is how I find out?! I have to get this nice little note from a pawnbroker to find out just how little you actually put up for for trip. This is how I find out you let me and the Hawke kids hang ourselves, while you built yourself an escape hatch, like the smug son of a bitch you are. And I’m supposed to just take that up the ass along with everything else you did?!

Everything you did before we ever even got below ground?

The whole time, you were letting the rest of the team bring in liquid assets, take all that risk on. Preaching “Don’t cut corners,” and “don’t gamble on our name,” like you ever meant any of that shit. And the whole time, you were hedging behind our backs. Shielding yourself from the same exposure.

Betting against us.

Betting against me.

Did I ever really know you, Bartrand? The other man with my name?