Bonus Illustration for DAI Longfic
One of my current projects is making illustrations to accompany every chapter of my Solavellan Longfic, Divergent Paths. One of the most difficult things is deciding which scene to illustrate from the chapter. Do I pick my favourite scene? Or the most plot relevant moment? Maybe the one with the highest possible visual interest?
Thus, sometimes, even after I have already illustrated a chapter I find myself wishing I picked another scene. So here I am going backwards, illustrating a bonus scene for Chapter 22: Resistance instead of working on new ones! 😅
You know Wisdom, Solas' oldest friend from the iconic quest line "All New, Faded for Her"?
It's such an important moment in the story. I always wished we got to know more about Wisdom. Got to know her!
I know in-game the pronoun "it" is used for Wisdom. I changed it to "her" in my fic. I believe it is not erasing gender identity, but rather expanding on her personhood. I don't believe "it" was used in a way to signal gender at all, more to underline that this entity is non-humanoid spirit.
In any case, I have taken Wisdom and expanded her character vastly in my fic, as a lot of the story is seen from Solas' perspective and this allows us to see their relationship and interactions.
So here's my interpretation of Wisdom in my style:
“That’s new.” Stated Solas as he approached Wisdom. She was kneeling on the smooth floor surrounded by small bowls of pigmented sand in an array of dazzling colours. She was slowly letting bright yellow sand trickle from between her closed fist into the middle of a geometric flower pattern.
“New for you, but I first got into it while you slept.” Answered Wisdom smiling and keeping her eyes on her delicate work. She was forming the stamens of the flower now, by dragging her finger with little swooping motions through the minute mounds of yellow sand, creating tiny tadpole shapes with elongated tails.
“Ah. I missed much.” Agreed Solas.
“You did.” Confirmed Wisdom.
Solas knew apologising once again will make no difference. And although Wisom’s patience was vast, he preferred avoiding irritation. Instead, he carefully walked around the floral design on the floor and took a seat cross legged on the floor, opposite Wisdom. He reached for a bowl of brown sand and pulled it to himself to examine as he spoke.
“I checked in with my agents tracking Corypheus. It’s as if the Earth itself swallowed him. The Venatori are still moving in larger numbers towards Western Orlais, but I don’t know the reason why.”
Solas sank his fingers into the bowl of sand, enjoying the texture of the fine grains against his skin, the slight temperature change and the glittering effect of the sand as it moved. Tiny golden flecks through the rich russet brown.
This scene is set in the Fade while Solas visits Wisdom in his dreams. Hence the swirly abstract background. I have wracked my brains in trying to find a solution for illustrating the strangeness of the Fade when it is not completely "materialised" into a physical space. As these two would feel no need for space that appears fully physical while they hang out, I think.
I used the strange greenish colours we see associated with the Raw Fade and the anchor here, though I wouldn't consider it a rule. I also like the idea that the Fade would bend and react to Solas' mere presence even when in Wisdom's domain, so I tried to subtly show that.
Let me know what you think! I would love to hear your thoughts on my take on Wisdom and the Fade.
I am working on new chapter illustrations too and writing the new new chapters, but it all takes time. And meanwhile I have had a few commissions I had to prioritise. But more Divergent Paths is coming soon, I promise!
