I’ve played a mage before, my first Dragon Age run through was as a mage. But I didn’t choose any of the smartass conversation options at the early stages. I’m finding my new one to be much for fun with some attitude.
When you start out as a mage, you are in a tower, with other mages. You’ve just passed you big test to become a full mage from apprenticehood, and your friend Jowan is whining that he hasn’t had his test yet. Now, I can’t stand Jowan. He whines through the whole Origin. And when you tell him you can’t discuss your test with him he gets in a snit “so much for friendship” he says.
THEN, he has the nerve to tell you he’s in a forbidden love affair with a chantry initiate. To explain, she’s basically a nun in training. The chantry is the church in this game. So he wants YOUR help to run away with her. But mages are not allowed out of the tower, so he knows he’s asking you to break your own vows, and risking YOUR life in fact. Yeah, friend my foot.
I refused to help, the first enchanter knew about the conversation, and asks you to help anyhow, in order to catch them both red handed. Mainly because the chantry initiate would get away with it if not caught in the act, while the mage would be punished. So, I did it.
Basically you help, you get him through the storage room, he destroys his phylactery (the only way a mage can be tracked when they escape), you lead them back to the hall and poof they’re busted and you’re exposed as helping get them in trouble.
You meet Jowan later, and my first time I apologized to him and gave him a break. THIS time however, I was less sympathetic. The conversation had me laughing out loud.
He goes on to tell him I OWE him, but the video would be too long if I included that. OWE him, yeah, right. the first enchanter wouldn’t have SUSPECTED anything if he hadn’t seen this dimwit approach you, after already observing he was acting oddly.
Notice anything? Maybe not if you haven’t spent any time in the Character Creator, but she definitely differs from the norm. But why?
Because I found some very handy little mods for the game. Much like WoW uses plugins. DA has precious few choices for hair style and color, the same with eye color. So eventually every character kind of looks the same. I stumbled upon Dragon Age Nexus over the weekend when I was trying to create my mage and was frustrated with the limited hairstyles. I found four mods I actually liked.
CC Extra Tints and Tones – adds hair colors, skin tones and eye colors (also adds Morrigan’s hairstyle and Duncan and Ohgren beards).
Chargen Package- adds more presets to the character creation menu.
and lastly, Friendly Fire to make the above all work nicely together. All come with instructions for installation.
Also, some of you on your second or third playthrough may have noticed, Alistair tends to talk like he’s king even when you don’t make him king, this mod fixes that little annoyance.
You also may have noticed, if you’ve managed to tempt any party members into your tent, you only get the cut scene the first time. Afterwards when you choose “Let’s go to sleep” (That’s for Alistair, not sure about what Leliana, Morrigan, or Zev say) you get a kiss, a black screen and that’s it. If you would rather see your little love scene this is the mod for you.
If you haven’t played DA: Origins past the Landsmeet and seen Morrigan’s proposal, then this video MIGHT contain spoilers. So don’t read further if that worries you. I don’t really think it does, you have a bunch of options to take and may get different results.
Anyhow, this is what happens if you’re a female gray warden, I believe it happens whether or not you romance Alistair, after Morrigan gives you the option of her dark ritual. It kinda cracked me up, and I promised Llanion I’d post it, so here it is.
note: no he isn’t their king, I got the glitch where he still reacts as king when he wasn’t chosen…lol
Posted by Lady Jess on Feb 16, 2010 in Storytelling
I’ve decided to flex my imagination a bit, and keep a “journal” from my Dragon Age:Origins latest character’s perspective. I haven’t written any fictional stories since I was 12, but it seemed like a fun project. This is part three. You can find part one here, and part two here
It was a long journey to Ostagar, longer than any I’d ever taken. Though I hardly noticed the time passing, I was so absorbed in my own misery. But, finally it was in view. As we entered, Duncan explained the history of the massive fortress and why it was fitting that we take our stand against the horde of Darkspawn here. Darkspawn are vile, ugly, evil monsters he told me, usually led by an Archdemon, that swarm over the land killing everyone and everything in their path. He informed me that only Gray Wardens can stop the blight, but before he got the chance to go into detail we were welcomed.
A Royal welcome so to speak. It was then that I found myself face to face with King Cailan. He hadn’t changed much since I’d last seen him, he was still handsome, quick to smile, and extremely confident. He had clearly become an adult, but still had so much child about him. The way he spoke of the Wardens was like Ohren regaling me with stories from his adventure books.
He was quick to recognize me, and ask after my family. I lowered my head, and quietly told him what had happened at the hands of Arl Howe. He promised justice, and that made me smile a bit. Some of my sadness lifted knowing His Majesty had always been a good man, and always followed through on his word. Before I could ask about my brother, Fergus, he told me he had been sent into the Korcari wilds on a scouting mission. Being in no hurry to break my brother’s heart, especially before a battle such as what lie ahead, I agreed it best to wait until after the battle ended.
After we parted company and headed toward the tents, Duncan told me to take some time to look around, and clear my head. I was then to go in search of another Warden by the name of Alistair. Duncan headed off, and my supposedly faithful hound followed with him, leaving me with my thoughts. Shadow had never left my side with anyone, let alone a complete stranger…this bodes well I thought. Either that or he suspected there was food to be had.
I stopped to look out over the Wilds at a particularly beautiful spot. Somewhere in the forest, was my brother. My poor, unknowing brother. How would I tell him what had happened back at home? How would I explain leaving mother and father and fleeing? Even with their blessing this guilt wouldn’t subside. I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to remember the meditations I had learned in our Chantry. Trying to find the inner strength I would need desperately. I thought of my mother’s sacrifice…for that is what got me here. That was the jolt I needed. This was her gift to me, her final one. And I cannot squander it. I would make her proud, I would avenge them. To do that, I must get moving. I could waste no more time sulking, and I could not let self blame take over my mind.
I strode into the camps, determined to get through whatever came next. I even took time to stop and talk to others that have gathered there. The first person I came across was a fellow by the name of Daveth. He was trying his absolute best to coerce a woman soldier into a romp before battle. Maker’s breath, does that old “we could die tomorrow” line even work? If a man were to try that line on me, he’d find my blade in places even the best healers couldn’t cure. I shook my head and continued my exploration, coming across an older mage named Wynne. She seemed a very kind woman, motherly in a way, and with the same determination my own mother possessed. I found myself comforted by her words, and wishing we could speak longer.
I walked a bit further and found who I was looking for. I stopped just out of view, but close enough to overhear his conversation with a mage. Apparently, he had been asked to deliver a message to this mage, but was taking the opportunity to harass him a bit. Sarcasm dripped from every word and I was surprised at myself when I had to stifle a laugh when he said “And here I was going to name one of my children after you. The Grumpy one.” I failed at my attempt to stifle the laughter however, and he realized I was there. He walked over and made a comment about how the blight brings people together, to which I was forced to tell him how strange he was. This was clearly Alistair. Traveling with him should prove interesting. I had a feeling I’d want to strangle him more often than not. But he did make me laugh for the first time since I’d left Highever, and that was not an easy feat.
The first urge to strangle him came within minutes, when he observed that there were not any women in the Wardens. Wonderful, here’s another Andraste’s gift to the female species type. It’s always the handsome ones. And my family wondered why I’d been just as happy without a man in my life. We headed back to Duncan, and I met the other two recruits. A knight from Redcliffe named Jory, and…Ser we might die tomorrow. Wonderful. It was then I myself found myself wishing for women in the Gray Wardens.
As we gathered, Duncan, having heard about the previous conversation with the mage, reminded Alistair that we had to keep the peace with everyone, and I saw something else in this slightly arrogant sarcastic man. I saw respect and admiration in his apology to Duncan. Something I felt myself. Bt first impressions being what they are, I was surprised to see it from Alistair. I was looking forward now to being a Warden, and getting on with the joining ritual. But first, it was off to the wilds to gather what we needed. Blood of the darkspawn themselves, as well as some old documents in a long abandoned ruin.
Finally…something to take out my still burning rage upon. None of us except Alistair knew what the ritual really entailed, it’s very secretive, but I trusted Duncan, and would do what I must. Even if that meant showing what I had truly been trained as behind closed doors.
I understand secretive. Only a few people knew the skills I possessed, and all but Duncan, and my brother had already taken the knowledge to the grave that bastard Howe had driven them to.
Posted by Lady Jess on Feb 12, 2010 in Storytelling
I’ve decided to flex my imagination a bit, and keep a “journal” from my Dragon Age:Origins latest character’s perspective. I haven’t written any fictional stories since I was 12, but it seemed like a fun project. This is part two. You can find part one here.
My sleep was abruptly interrupted by the angry barking and growling of Shadow. I thought at first he sensed more rats, but the way his hackles bristled told me something was very wrong. Someone was pounding desperately on my chamber door. When I opened it, the guard simply yelled help…before he was dead at my feet, an archer’s arrow in his back. That’s when they came for me. Two of Arl Howe’s men…I’m not sure how I defeated them, with my mind spinning wondering how? why? It was then my Mother came running, asking the same questions I had just voiced to myself.
We were under attack, we had to fight. But why is this happening? The troops…were they delayed on purpose? to come here and take our home? There is no other explanation, or time to think about it. There is only time to fight, and survive.
I immediately ran to my brother’s rooms…horrified to find they had slaughtered his wife, and my darling young nephew. Innocents, harming noone…why? I found the same of my darling old teacher in the library, my mother’s friend in the guest room, I did not have the heart to check the Chantry, I knew what I would find there.
I dragged my mother out, handed her a weapon I had taken from one of the Arl’s men I had killed, and we set off to get to Father. Everywhere we turned there were more soldiers fighting us, fighting our guards, setting barricades and lighting them ablaze to block our escape. We found Ser Gilmore in the main hall with his men, and helped them secure the room. He told us where to look for Father, and I was torn. Stay and help my best friend, or get to Father and escape? He insisted we find father, and the last I saw him he was bravely holding the gates with what was left of his men.
Before heading to the servants tunnel, my mother remembered the family sword, and was determined it not fall into our new enemy’s hand. We got to the Armory just in time to stop the bastard thieves. My heart was beating so hard I thought it might break out of my chest, and I was scared, for all my bravado, this was my home, this was my safe haven, and I’d never felt less than secure here. Mother grabbed my arm and forced me to focus, and we again set off to find father.
Finally making it to the larder, where the exit is hidden, we found him. He was so badly wounded, we tried our best to stop the bleeding, to convince him he must try, he must go with us. But he was insistent, I was to take mother out. Leaving him here. A task I could not perform. It was then, that Duncan appeared in the doorway. He was covered with blood, he had fought his way to us, he would help us.
My stubborn father would not listen to him either. All he asked was that he take mother and I out. It was then, that my mother refused to leave him. No argument would convince her, nothing I, or Duncan could say would make her leave my father’s side.
“My place is with my husband, through life, death, and beyond, and I’ll kill any bastard that comes in here so you can escape, now go!” she said. Duncan agreed, and asked one thing of my father. It was the one thing he came here for. He asked to take me, into the Gray Wardens. “But what about Ser Gilmore?” I asked, and he replied that in truth, it was me he came for. Me? why me? how…too many thoughts at once were making my head spin. I could not leave my father like this.
My stupor was broken when my father’s voice fell upon my ears, agreeing with Duncan’s request. I felt myself being dragged to my feet and pulled away, it was the last time I saw my parents alive. And the first, I would see…Ostagar.
passing, I was so absorbed in my own misery. But, finally it was in view. As we entered, Duncan explained the history of the massive fortress and why it was fitting that we take our stand against the horde of Darkspawn here. Darkspawn are vile, ugly, evil monsters he told me, usually led by an Archdemon, that swarm over the land killing everyone and everything in their path. He informed me that only Gray Wardens can stop the blight, but before he got the chance to go into detail we were welcomed.
He was quick to recognize me, and ask after my family. I lowered my head, and quietly told him what had happened at the hands of Arl Howe. He promised justice, and that made me smile a bit. Some of my sadness lifted knowing His Majesty had always been a good man, and always followed through on his word. Before I could ask about my brother, Fergus, he told me he had been sent into the Korcari wilds on a scouting mission. Being in no hurry to break my brother’s heart, especially before a battle such as what lie ahead, I agreed it best to wait until after the battle ended.
my brother. My poor, unknowing brother. How would I tell him what had happened back at home? How would I explain leaving mother and father and fleeing? Even with their blessing this guilt wouldn’t subside. I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to remember the meditations I had learned in our Chantry. Trying to find the inner strength I would need desperately. I thought of my mother’s sacrifice…for that is what got me here. That was the jolt I needed. This was her gift to me, her final one. And I cannot squander it. I would make her proud, I would avenge them. To do that, I must get moving. I could waste no more time sulking, and I could not let self blame take over my mind.
I walked a bit further and found who I was looking for. I stopped just out of view, but close enough to overhear his conversation with a mage. Apparently, he had been asked to deliver a message to this mage, but was taking the opportunity to harass him a bit. Sarcasm dripped from every word and I was surprised at myself when I had to stifle a laugh when he said “And here I was going to name one of my children after you. The Grumpy one.” I failed at my attempt to stifle the laughter however, and he realized I was there. He walked over and made a comment about how the blight brings people together, to which I was forced to tell him how strange he was. This was clearly Alistair. Traveling with him should prove interesting. I had a feeling I’d want to strangle him more often than not. But he did make me laugh for the first time since I’d left Highever, and that was not an easy feat.
We were under attack, we had to fight. But why is this happening? The troops…were they delayed on purpose? to come here and take our home? There is no other explanation, or time to think about it. There is only time to fight, and survive. 
Finally making it to the larder, where the exit is hidden, we found him. He was so badly wounded, we tried our best to stop the bleeding, to convince him he must try, he must go with us. But he was insistent, I was to take mother out. Leaving him here. A task I could not perform. It was then, that Duncan appeared in the doorway. He was covered with blood, he had fought his way to us, he would help us.
