#oc: mathuin

Of course. You know I'd do anything for you.

You cannot make me serve against my will.

Every important undertaking carries with it some level of risk.

It's a keeper's job to remember.

You may call me the Grand Lady of the Forest, or perhaps, the Newborn Tree. 🍃🌿🌱

Dear Alistair,

(Or Warden Commander Theirin, I should say.)

I’ve settled down somewhat in Var’myathan, enough to finally sit and calmly pen these words to a friend. Things are not really well here, but I will not bore you with details that have no doubt reached your ears already. Nothing grows here, and Darkspawn stragglers still roam these Blighted lands, aimlessly. You cut off the head and the muscles keep twitching, but I know you Wardens are on the task. That so many youth from the Alienage and from the clans took up the Joining despite all risk speaks to yours and Hamal’s impact. It brings one comfort.

Much is happening ‘politically’, but I never had the disposition for that sort of thing. Can’t stomach hearing of it, I end up too frustrated or worried. The Dalish have our work cut out for us. But we will do what needs be done, as we always have. We aim to establish a university. Imagine.

Myself, I am ‘hanging in there’ as you might say.

Could I visit sometime? Hamal and Zevran are gone and left no address. You know how it is. And though I hoped otherwise, Clan Sabrae declined the invitation to join our efforts here. In fact, many clans are opting out. There is so much bustle now, and we are to begin to live again, as if those awful things did not happen.

Are you doing well? Have you heard from the others? Send my regards to Jowan, and any who may receive them.

My present address is enclosed. If and when I depart, I will leave word, so do write back despite length of time.

Your friend,

Mathuin

Of course! Early on when writing For Suffering is Such a Part, I came up with the idea of a childhood friend of Hamal's being a member of Zathrian's clan. This felt necessary because Zevran, being on his own through much of the fic, needed someone to offer a window into clan life and a perspective on Hamal's past as well.

I expanded the childhood friendship trio of Tamlen, Merrill, and Mahariel to include Mathuin; they grew up together, until Mathuin was transferred to Zathrian's clan as an apprentice healer.

Mathuin facts:

Extremely empathetic towards others, by means of their magic. Used to have a hard time parsing their feelings from what people around them were feeling.

Came into their magic very late in life, well into their teens.

Had a pretty committed romantic relationship with Tamlen, which ended when Tamlen opted not to go with them to Zathrian's clan.

Ears are scarred from an incident where humans attacked the clan when they were young. This event is a core traumatic memory for all the Sabrae kiddos. :(

Researches the Blight during and after DAO.

Exiled after using blood magic on Keeper Zathrian during the conflict with the werewolves. They travel with the Wardens for a few months.

Mathuin/Jowan OTP later on, but it's messy.

Really good at finding worms.

LOOK at this perfectly darling commission of Mathuin and Jowan from @bigcheezey !! two burnt out 30-something year olds reconnecting as the sky tears apart above them <3