Everyone has probably already become familiar with the fact that in games as a couple, dialogue options can arise that can lead to romantic/love relationships/lines with other characters. The game was no exception! Here you can now flirt and raise the level of a certain “availability”. This guide/walkthrough was written to make it easier for you to complete the love story for a certain hero and achieve success.
In order for your new relationship to start successfully, you need to first consider whether there are opportunities for flirting. If there is, then you need to gradually increase your rating, simultaneously opening the path to a more serious relationship, which in turn gives something more.
In addition, your main character will be able to complete the task of the Inner Circle - this includes tasks/quests/missions of your party members/comrades-in-arms. In addition, you need to consider your gender and race, since not all characters may be available to you when choosing your race and gender.
Cassandra
Only a man can have an affair with her, but of absolutely any race! As with the others, you just need to lay the foundation in the relationship - a little flirting. To increase the pace of the relationship, perform appropriate tasks with her direct participation.
In addition, you can ask Varric to do one useful service, or rather write a new edition of Swords and Shields, which will serve as part of the task (a gift for Cassandra). In addition, at one point she will tell you in Skyhold that your relationship cannot lead to anything, but do not despair and continue to put pressure on her. Soon she will still come to meet you.
Remember that if you have a relationship with Cassandra, then you will not be able to form relationships with other characters. To start a relationship with another character, you will first have to break up with Cassandra and then just start a new romance.
Solas
Only an elf girl can have an affair with Solas. Once you get a little rating from Solas, when you arrive at Skyhold, just kiss him. Shortly after this point, he will ask you to release his spirit without any killing during the battle. If you do this, then you will increase your rating, if not, then the romance will end there.
If you managed to do everything successfully, then you and Solas will begin a serious relationship. But for the final stage of the novel you will have to complete the task.
Sulfur
Only a girl of any race can hook up with her. There is a slight exception with this character. There is a chance that Qunari will be able to have an affair with her - the chance is much greater than people and dwarves.
If you have any connections with other heroes, then you will have to end the relationship with the others and switch to her. Once you complete all the specified tasks, then you will have to make sure that all topics are closed, after which you will reach the final moment.
Blackwall
Absolutely any girl can hook up with him. This character is quite simple and straightforward in relationships that relate to flirting. You will be able to express all your feelings to him after you destroy the Shelter, but he will tell you that now is not the best time for this. In order for him to finally succumb to you, you must first complete all the tasks that concern him and at the same time increase his rating. Soon he will call you to the territory of the Storm Coast as a task for a gift.
After completing his own line, he will leave the Skyhold fortress, but the task will be completed. You will either send him to Gray Wardens, or invite him to choose his own path. If he remains in the Inquisition, then you can reach the end in your relationship with him.
Iron Bull
This character will be available to absolutely everyone. You just need to flirt with him and in the end, you and he will end up in your chambers and have the opportunity to make love. After that, he will discuss some “rules” with you.
He will ask you to get a medallion that is made from a dragon's tooth. Here you will have to find the dragon, then kill it and make a medallion from the extracted resources.
Dorian
A man of any race can hook up with Dorian. You can lay the foundation in a relationship only if you do it storyline. After that, all you have to do is talk to him about your interest in him and start playing tricks.
Soon Leliana will call you and talk about one task. You will have to leave Poncard alive, otherwise your relationship with Dorian will go nowhere. After you complete the task, talk to him in Skyhold and then he will invite you to go to your chambers for the final moment. If you break up with him, there will be no negative aspects to it.
Cullen
To start a relationship with Cullen, you need to be an elf girl or a human. If you want to hook up with him, you will first have to cut off all the existing ones. And remember that you cannot discuss Lyrium with him; because of him, all relationships are broken. You can't do this even in the middle of a relationship.
Josephine
The only character who has no restrictions! The most liberal girl when it comes to matters of romance. To start building a relationship with her, you just need to talk to her in Skyhold and start flirting a little. Move forward with your relationship until Leliana asks you who you are interested in. After this, you can finally begin your romance with Josephine.
It is far from news that the world of games is populated mainly by protagonists whose appearance we would call “European”, or, as they also call it, “white”. Some “colored” characters are usually either made into supporting characters, villains, or just cannon fodder - and most of the airtime they simply aren’t there. This is the reality of the world when predominantly European figures from the media industry are locked in a kind of artificial vacuum created by years of everyday racism and sexism in a society that has developed a habitual preference for certain types. In the end, it is these types that bring in more money, which can then be spent on production. While some companies are taking steps to level the playing field in this regard, most AAA games are still dominated by the same triad of protagonist traits: white, European, male, and straight.
But this article is not about the state of the gaming industry and the representation of “non-whites” in it. A lot of material has been written about this, which is much better than I could write on this topic, and in general I am “white”. It’s not for me to talk about how bad it is when the media “erases” you just because of the color of your skin. However, as a fan of one particular piece of media who spends a lot of time in the fandom trenches, I will talk about erasure in one specific case: the whitewashing of Dorian Pavus by some in the fandom Dragon Age: Inquisition.
I don't work in the gaming industry and I can't hope for a wide response from this article. I can vote with my money, buying games I believe in and avoiding games I don't; I can tell my friends about good games; I can buy their souvenirs; if I want, I can create my own media to somehow change public opinion; and I can discuss issues of everyday racism in the fan circles in which I belong.
Just so everyone knows what we're talking about, the type of racism that some fans are exhibiting in their treatment of Dorian that I'm talking about is not the fault of BioWare, who created an absolutely beautiful action fantasy RPG with the bonus of sim elements in form of dating, which I love very much, despite its shortcomings. No, in fact, BioWare did a great job with Dorian Pavus, who became the first and so far the best written gay and “colored” character. Tevinter may be Dorian's homeland in Thedas and a fictional country in a fantasy world, but to quote lead character artist John Epler, who noted when he described Dorian's race that "Indian was the closest real-world equivalent."
I don't want to oversimplify, but it's obvious to me. To achieve this, it was enough to see and hear Dorian's character design (voiced by Ramon Tikaram, a British Indo-Fijian and Malaysian actor) to immediately understand that he was "non-European". Although thanks a lot to Epler for the hint about his race, I didn’t need it to determine that he was Indian in a fantasy setting.
But apparently, some in the fandom still needed to talk about it.
Where I had a pleasant surprise in the game, when Dorian appeared as an elegant, mustachioed badass with the unenviable fate of wandering the cold and dirty landscapes of Thedas with a mostly exposed chest and a very obvious "non-European" origin, some players noticed the first a set of characteristics, but not its race.
I've seen heaps of meta and discussion on forums, Twitter, Tumblr, arguing with fairly obvious facts and practicing inferences and conclusions about what race represents who in this fantasy world, or how some people "just have a tan" " While researching material for this article, I saw several people claim, for example, that Dorian looks like an Italian. This is still at least some kind of assumption. He has a dark skin color and looks a bit Mediterranean to some. Therefore, the authors of this version can be given their due, but still they unknowingly rejected the version that he is a “non-white non-European” - or that he is “Indian”, although for this it would be enough to google the name Ramon Ticaron, like I did, and it would be possible draw a conclusion given his dark skin.
But for many this path is behind an invisible barrier.
I'll be honest: I sincerely doubt that people who argue about the meaning of race in a fantasy context do so with a Machiavellian agenda. Rather, it is due to an ingrained, subconscious stereotype - established at all levels of media and society - that assumes that "white European" is the default canon, that it is an aesthetic ideal. This is the same everyday, unconscious, educated racism - it is banal. And it is precisely because of this that the artist who draws fanart so wants to make the character a little lighter - or not a little (of course, first of all we're talking about cases where Dorian Pavus, a dark-skinned man and a character designed to look like an Indian, is recast as a man with slightly different features and a much paler skin color).
This way, half of Thedas will have to be redrawn: Zevran Aranai, Fenris, Isabela, Josephine Montilier, Vivien, Dorian Pavus - all of them are not “white Europeans”. And all of them were presented as “white” in art or described as such in fan fiction. The very idea of drawing these characters using a color very far from their actual skin color illustrates this kind of subconscious rejection of non-European appearance in general.
Such people will always look the way they look, no matter what the lighting. So the explanation of some artists that, they say, the light falls on them that way doesn’t work here. If your light is falling like this, then the first question is why? Why does the artist choose to draw the only option in which a character with Indian features will look not quite Indian? Not to mention all sorts of tricks with screensavers and screenshots, in which the dark hair and eyes of characters, for example, are redrawn, and they become blonde or blue-eyed (usually called “editing”). It turns out, as John Epler said, “If you are non-white and non-European, we don’t think you’re worth our time.” Or that non-white skin color is a defect that needs to be corrected.
Hailing from the eastern part of Tevinter, he is a mage who possesses knowledge and power unavailable to other mages.
He was once a student of Alexius the hermit who supported the abolition of slavery in the world of Dragon Age.
Everything speaks about the noble origin of this person. True, Dorian, who saw the abuse of power, magic and wealth, abandoned such a life and became an exile (outcast). Wanting to prevent his friends from going down the path of evil, he joined the Inquisition during the brutal war between the magicians and the templars. His charisma, sarcasm, sharp mind, physique and magical abilities
delight connoisseurs of the world of Dragon Age. Just take into account his jokes, which players cannot help but like. The apostate magician has spells against spirits and death in his arsenal. He believes that he can change the worldview of the inhabitants of the Empire. The main role in the game is to be a companion (companion) of the Inquisitor. Dorian's main fear is to succumb to temptation. This hero can rightfully be considered the most unusual character in the game. Because is a companion with a non-standard orientation. He does not wear a mask and does not hide his preferences. Having become a black sheep, he continues to be an influential person in his world.
Who is Dorian Pavus in contact with?
Next up is the Iron Bull, who has a rather special relationship with Dorian. He is also an unconventional representative of his society (players will remember the love affair between the Inquisitor and the Iron Bull).
Dorian Pavus's favorite dish is peeled grapes. And also, judging by his remarks, he is not averse to pampering himself big amount alcohol.
Inquisition! – the door to Adaar’s chambers swung open from a kick from the foot of the drunken Dorian Pavus. The Inquisitor shuddered in surprise, dropping the book from his hands, but quickly realized that Pavus was drunk, and, therefore, this undignified reaction to surprise would go unnoticed. - Dorian. Well, of course, Dorian, who else would break into the Iquisitor’s bedroom in the middle of the night? Who else but Dorian and Bull. And Sirs. And also Varric. And Cole, as Adaar sometimes thinks, may not even leave these very chambers, sitting quietly somewhere under the ceiling... Adaar shuddered at this thought. “The Inquisition,” Dorian repeated, his tongue slightly slurred, and with a wandering smile, he walked straight towards him with an unsteady step. “I was thinking, why should this nice bottle of brown Tevinter go to waste?” And here I have more grapes... - Dorian, on the second attempt, got his hand into his pocket, searched for something there for a long time, and eventually brought out three crushed grapes and handed them to Adaar in the palm of his hand. The Inquisitor's face was unreadable. He looked at the berries with an unblinking gaze, in which a silent question was read: “Why do I need all this?” The generous palm was still looming before his nose, so the Inquisitor moved it away from his face with one graceful gesture and tried to return to reading. Dorian smiled indulgently and with a barely noticeable movement of his finger covered the pages of the book with a crust of ice. The inquisitor pursed his lips: - Well, what the kindergarten “,” he muttered, putting the book aside. It hit the table loudly, and both magicians watched in silence for a while as the tabletop under the book became covered with frost. “So,” Dorian concluded, rolling from heel to toe and rubbing his hands, “we have something to discuss, don’t you think?” - Really? – The Inquisitor looked surprised. Something sank unpleasantly in my stomach. He and Dorian, of course, often allowed themselves to make obscene jokes during battle, and even during periods of peace, but to discuss this? Kind of weird. - Inquisitor, don't worry. “Listen, Dorian, you’re drunk, go and get some sleep,” Adaar moved away from Pavus just in case. - Don’t try to get rid of me, by the way, I’ve been preparing for... for... this conversation for a long time. Adaar froze. His worst fears came true. - And I intend to! “I intend to end this conversation today,” with these words Dorian categorically placed his heavy booted foot on the chair. – Whether the Grand Inquisitor wants it or not. “Dorian, go away, I beg you,” Adaar begged, calculating the escape route in his mind. - You better tell me, why do you constantly drag me around with you? No, of course I’m glad, I myself told you not to kill anyone without me, but... Why not Solas, for example? Or this lady from Orlais, what’s her name... Wyvern... - Vivien. Well... I like the way you fight,” the Inquisitor shrugged. In part, he was not lying about his soul. He really liked the way Pavus fought. All these poses of his, intricate gestures with his staff, curls fluttering from the blizzard caused, frost on his eyelashes, blush on his cheeks, blocks of ice covering his armor. Dorian grimaced: “I expected a more intriguing answer, Inquisitor.” “Besides, you are the only necromancer in the squad,” Adaar found himself in time. But Pavus was already slowly and impressively approaching. A curl fell on his forehead, and his lips under his graceful mustache slightly curved in an all-knowing smile. “And if you haven’t noticed, I carry the Bull with me just as often,” Adaar hastily added, although he understood that it was already late. “Well, we have only one such Bull,” Dorian unbuttoned the top button on his jacket, “it’s stuffy here, Inquisitor.” By the way, we’ll talk to you about the Bull later. Another... at night. Dorian stopped a step away from Adaar. There was nowhere for the latter to retreat - there was a wall behind him. - This is so cute. Are you afraid of me. The huge horned Qunari is afraid of Dorian Pavus. It’s hard to tell anyone... Dorian didn’t finish because Adaar’s fingers tightened on his throat. The Inquisitor brought the magician’s face, beginning to choke, closer to his own and breathed a grin into his lips: “It’s incredible how talkative you are, Dorian.” And then Dorian disappeared. Step into the shadows, of course. The Inquisitor could only mentally call himself a fool, but said out loud: “You are wasting your stamina in the wrong direction, Dorian.” “I would gladly spend it in the right place,” a hot whisper burned Adaar’s ear, “but some Inquisitors are so stubborn that even I will soon run out of eloquence and patience.” “Your eloquence has been around for a long time...” but Adaar was prevented from finishing by a hand that had penetrated under his belt from behind his back and was now skillfully examining the contents of his pants. “You’re crazy, Dory... aaan,” the magician’s name turned into a groan, and Pavus grinned contentedly somewhere behind his ear: “Would it be too vulgar and banal if I said that you’re driving me crazy?” Adaar swallowed and, with a lot of effort, grabbed the magician’s hand, which was moving rhythmically in his pants. “That’s it, let’s play and that’s enough,” Adaar growled, either angry at Pavus, or at himself... But, definitely, angry at someone. Dorian carefully removed his hand from his pants and walked out from behind the Inquisitor. The magician looked at the Qunari with a gaze in which knowledge and understanding of what was happening sparkled in different ways. He raised his hand to his face and eagerly sniffed her scent. The Inquisitor rolled his eyes and walked out of the room with long strides. Pavus quickly conjured an ice wall, which Adaar almost crashed into at speed. - Damn it, Dorian, why do I need this block in the bedroom now? - Sorry, I couldn't just let you go. The wall is, in general, the most innocent thing that came to my mind. “It’s a pity that it didn’t occur to you to stay at home tonight.” “Well, don’t be angry,” Dorian walked up to Adaar from behind and rested his chin on his shoulder. The Inquisitor only sniffled, admitting his complete surrender. - Well, Inqui. - Never. More. Don't call me. Me. “Yes,” Adaar squeezed out. - After everything that happened between us... - Stop it. - My Adaarchik. “Another word like that and I’ll fry your ass.” - This beautiful ass? – Dorian, in his own way, grabbed the Inquisitor’s hand, pulled it behind his back and applied it to his own buttocks. If the Qunari could blush, the Inquisitor would be in big trouble. And so he simply snorted silently, because immediately after Dorian’s words and actions, his naked, elastic butt solemnly appeared in Adaar’s imagination. Immediately, in the context of what was happening, another meaning of the word “fry” was revealed. And again, glory to Andraste for the Qunari not blushing. It seems that Dorian also realized the ambiguity of what was said, for the lips on his face stretched into a joyfully sly smile. ...The Inquisitor had never heard so many ironic diminutive words addressed to himself before in his life.
