#breadedsinner

1. The character everyone gets wrong

The way that ‘Loghain Mac Tir’ immediately comes to mind probably says a lot about the way he’s portrayed in fandom, huh… While I obviously don’t expect anyone to see my blorbos 100% the same as me, sometimes I’ll see takes that are so diametrically opposed mine that I’m just like: huh.

That being said, Loghain is a very complex and layered character, and all the different possible ways to read his motivations only leads credence to that fact.

Anyway, here are my own preferences/biases when it comes to Loghain:

1) Maric is Loghain's everything, and not only that, but the Maric that lives in Loghain’s head is even larger than the man himself was in real life. Personally, I like how this explains the discrepancy between the way Loghain describes Maric (as though he farts rainbows) and the way Maric is described in the tie-in novels (rather punchable).

Sure, they might've gone through a lot of shit together, but Loghain is completely abnormal about Maric and I love that for them.

2) I think Cailan’s death at Ostagar wasn't planned, per se, but rather that Loghain was willing to take that loss if necessary.

And look, Loghain did try to warn Cailan that fighting on the front lines would be foolhardy, but Cailan refused to listen and well… what can I say other than Loghain knows how to pick his battles? 😌

3) Loghain is not very politically savvy: I like to think Anora got her more astute people skills from her mother.

That being said, I think people sometimes forget how at the start of Origins, Loghain is a man deeply in mourning: in the preceding years he’s lost his best friend and his wife.

I feel this is also part of why he doesn’t realise he can rely on Anora: fully accepting that she’s a capable adult and no longer a little girl with pigtails as skinned knees would be to accept that there is no going back, he can never go back: the happiest, most purposeful part of his life is behind him and who is he, other than a father with a disobedient daughter, and the general of a nation that is starting to rise up against him?

Loghain basically suffers from like, a catastrophic loss of identity during the course of the game and is pretty much ready to die by The Landsmeet. If anything he’s glad to have found such a worthy opponent in the Warden: it means Ferelden’s fate is in good hands.

4) Leading to my last point: a combination of all the factors above means Loghain is very open to manipulation (by Howe, by Anora, by the Warden should they so choose).

That being said, I don’t think that absolves him of his complicity in his crimes, and especially not the slavery in the alienage. He very much knew the elves were being sold, but had also accepted that the alienage was lost to the darkspawn. I can certainly see someone with Loghain’s background deciding that giving the elves at least some chance of survival as well while also making more money for the war effort as the practical choice. While it’s not the moral choice, it is a pragmatic one and Loghain is a pragmatist.

Anyway my actual point is that while some Loghain fans might try and minimise his involvement in the alienage, I find it far more fascinating to explore through the lens of who he is a person. After all, I am not looking at fiction to inform my morals wholesale, but rather to explore other perspectives, and I am especially drawn to how people can justify atrocities to themselves, SO! Here I am, sharing my Loghain thoughts on tumblr dot com 😌

thanks! I did answer a couple of these already but that just means I can share more opinions :)

choose violence ask game

The character everyone gets wrong

ASHLEY WILLIAMS. Period. Our girl gets mistreated and mislabeled all the damn time.

4. What was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

I answered this earlier, but I'll add on another.

I made a screenshot post of that one article that ranked Kaidan as the best LI and I highlighted that section where it talked about Horizon, but some Sha//karian or at least a Garbus stan came in and derailed it by making it an ashley/kaidan critical post. So I called them out, someone else came in and defended the other person, but after that I blocked both their asses because they derailed my damn post and ppl started reblogging the critical version of it instead. I think they deleted it but idk what came after it and I don't really care.

8. Common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about.

I also answered this question, but I'll add on another.

Garrus/Tali are the best because they are with you for all three games. Ehhhh, I disagree. This is so often used to dismiss the VS and it's like... I'm sorry that people can stay true to their principles instead of falling down at Shepard's feet. And I give Tali credit for not joining you immediately on Freedom's progress and also having suspicions. I feel like it's a weird trope that people want everyone to always agree with their protag and it's so boring and tiring. Sure, you can like Tali and Garrus, but don't use them to bring down other characters just so you can uplift them.

And I think it's a failing that ME2 included them as squadmates but that's a post for another day ;)

21. Part of canon you think is overhyped.

“It’s in the past, far in the past. And you have troubles enough.” “Didn’t you hear me,” she said, bringing her hand to Blackwall’s face, cold fingers brushing against the area where cheek met beard. “I want to hear it, if you want to tell me.”

haha oh boy do I

okay so huge caveat this is just my experience and my observations, so take it with a grain of salt, but I think it’s very telling how DIFFERENT the reactions are towards Sebastian’s celibacy when it comes from a fan of Sebastian, versus someone who ranges from neutral to hostile towards him

From fans, I see people who range from accepting his celibacy with ease, pairing him with sex-averse Hawkes, Hawkes that have similar religious convictions, to people who pair him with Hawkes with the headcanon that maybe—eventually, there comes a point where they begin a sexual relationship, but oftentimes with exploring what that means for Sebastian and his character, his ideals and motivations

(Annais Hawke’s relationship with Sebastian, and that’s part of the back and forth between them that I enjoy, establishing what causes Sebastian to depart from those vows of chastity and why)

From folks that are neutral at best or outright hostile, there’s this really weird dismissal of him as a character because he won’t have sex, like he’s worthless when he “looks/sounds like that!!” (Like how many times have we seen that comment from fandom over the years? I lost track.)

I think—when it comes down to it, I see a lot more respectful engagement towards Sebastian and his celibacy from fans, regardless of their headcanons that he may or may not engage in a sexual relationship with their Hawke, than that second group of folks.

3. Did they have a good childhood? What are fond memories they have of it? What’s a bad memory?

Royce grew up very loved and very happy. The Hawkes didn't have much of an income, but it never bothered him. He enjoyed staying home with his father, helping him knit handmade clothes to sell while mother was out doing farmhand duties (sometimes bringing Taliesin along). Bethany, who he was especially close to, often joined them. Carver would complain that it was boring and father would say in a sing-song voice that it taught patience and could be comforting if he let it.

His favorite memory is laying in the grass at night with his father, Malcolm pointing out the constellations and teaching him their stories. His least favorite, but one he considers necessary, was giving up his dream of going to university to study astronomy in order to save their family the money.

9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals?

He may not be as much of an animal magnet as Taliesin, but he enjoys little creatures and little creatures like him back. His beloved mabari Barbara is his most favorite, most precious, most goodest animal of all. Unlike Taliesin, he has no desire to be near wild animals, though. He thinks that's just dumb, it's asking for trouble. He can't resist the face of a cute dog, but feels no need to bring home strays, that's not practical.

16. Do they collect anything? What do they do with it? Where do they keep it?

Royce has a growing collection of star charts. He tracks and illustrates them himself! He's always been captivated by the night sky and been a skilled artist from a young age. Each one is made with care and tucked away in a special chest at home. In the early Kirkwall days, he makes some to sell to sailors at the docks to help earn a bit of money for the family. If someone looks closely, they could see there's one year missing from his extensive collection: the year Malcolm died. He couldn't bring himself to look at the stars at all.

21. Do they have a temper? Are they patient? What are they like when they do lose their temper?

Patience only lasts so long for him. He has quite the temper, actually, despite how good he is at hiding it. He loves them, but his siblings are the best at bringing it out of him. They've earned themselves several swears and empty threats over the years. With people he isn't related to, he typically tries to swallow his anger, playing it off with humor and sarcasm. Anyone listening can sense the venom behind his playful words and that almost makes it worse.

42. What are their goals? What would they sacrifice anything for? What is their secret ambition?