This page is for listing the tropes related to Hawke's companions who are found in VideoGame/DragonAgeII.

[[foldercontrol]]

!The Mages

[[folder:Anders]]
!Anders [-(Creator/AdamHowden)-]
[[quoteright:280:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Anders_2046.jpg]]
-> ''There will always be mages born in Thedas. But Templars are made by men...and they can be unmade.''

A returning companion from ''Dragon Age: Origin - Awakening''. He has left the Grey Wardens and come to Kirkwall to use his healing magic to help refugees. He is the current host of the Spirit of Justice; however, Anders' hatred for the Circle of Magi has corrupted Justice into the demonic Spirit of Vengeance. He is a potential love interest.
----
* AesopAmnesia: If he's brought along for ''Legacy'', the revelation of Corypheus' origins shakes him up so badly that he declares he will reconsider whether the Chantry might have a valid point about the danger of mages. He doesn't, of course.
** He experiences a combination of this and IgnoredEpiphany after his personal quest in Act II. [[spoiler:If Ella survives, he tries to put aside his cause to learn to rein in Justice/Vengeance. Unfortunately, because of how bad the situation in Kirkwall has gotten by Act III, the obsession soon returns worse than ever. If Ella dies, his HeroicBSOD is much worse, but he doesn't put aside his cause, instead throwing himself in more than ever [[IveComeTooFar so it won't all be in vain.]]]]
*** It's very possible that Justice/Vengeance just flat out ''won't let'' these moments sink in.
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: It's implied that Anders falls in love with Hawke even if you don't romance him. (For example, not starting his romance at the first opportunity gets you rivalry points.) Obviously, this is subverted if you do romance him.
** In fact, if you do romance him, his comment after the first night together pretty much proves that he falls in love with Hawke either way. He states that he's been "aching for you" for the past three years.
* AmbiguousDisorder: Displays quite a few bipolar symptoms (the Codex even explicitly mentions manic and depressive phases), though this may be a side-effect of the possession.
* AntiHero: Type II. [[spoiler: Though he later slides down the scale until he becomes a Type IV, or goes through a straight up FaceHeelTurn depending on your stance on the mage-Templar conflict.]]
** ByronicHero
* [[spoiler:TheAtoner: Can potentially become this if you have him at high rivalry and try to convince him that his merging with Justice was wrong and that there are other ways for mages to win their freedom, so that he will join Hawke when he sides with the Templars.]]
** [[spoiler:Even if you side with the mages, Hawke (and Merrill) can choose to invoke this as a reason to spare him. He implies that he agrees with this, saying that he'll try not to make so much of a mess out of his second chance at life.]]
* [[spoiler:BatmanGambit: He knew exactly how Meredith would react when he destroyed the Chantry and he was depending on it for his plan to work. It did.]]
** GoneHorriblyRight: If you're his Rival, he ''really'' comes to regret doing it.
* [[spoiler: BeatTheCurseOutOfHim]]: During ''Legacy'', [[spoiler: Corypheus's influence briefly causes him to snap - Justice's voice takes over, but demons start appearing around him. After the fight, he stays lucid and on your side for the rest of the campaign.]]
* BerserkButton:
** The Templars, and the foundation upon which they stand, including the Circle and the Chantry. But especially Templars.
** BloodMagic as well, to a slightly lesser extent. Of course, part of why Blood Magic offends him so much is that it's the main thing the Templars use to justify confining mages.
** His reaction to Karl being made [[FateWorseThanDeath Tranquil]], causing Justice to manifest;
--> '''Justice''': ''You will '''never''' take another mage as you took him!''
* [[spoiler: BlackAndWhiteInsanity: Anders becomes slowly more irrationally convinced that the cause of mage freedom, or at least his view of it, is the real distinguishing mark of morality and that anyone who disagrees (even other mages) is his enemy. This is a result of Vengeance exerting more and more influence.]]
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: More subtle than most, but the presence of Vengeance fundamentally alters Anders' viewpoints on a lot of things. Having a significant part of who and what you are made up of an entity formed around an unyielding concept, coupled with the lack of an understanding of time (time is irrelevant in the Fade, so Vengeance doesn't understand the concept of "waiting"), creates a distinct slant on his perceptions. It doesn't excuse his actions, but it does make them understandable.
* BigBrotherMentor: To Bethany, though she finds him more reminiscent of her father then anything else.
** He becomes rather snarky towards her [[spoiler: if she is taken by Cullen, since she comes to accept and in fact embrace life in the Circle.]]
* BiTheWay: In ''Awakening'', he only stated attraction to women, flirting with the females of the party and talking about wanting a wife someday. He mentions Karl is his lover if you are male, but not if you are female. This has led to debates regarding his sexuality.
* [[spoiler: BrainwashedAndCrazy: If brought along for ''Legacy'', Anders becomes a thrall of Corypheus. He snaps out of it after a brief boss fight.]]
** [[spoiler: One interpretation of his actions in Act III was that Justice pushed him to destroy the Chantry. During his [[ShutUpHannibal speech to Meredith and Orsino]], you can hear Justice's deep voice intermixed with his words, implying that he's just below the surface and barely contained.]]
* BreakTheCutie: Anders was flirty and cheerful with a soft spot for cats in ''Awakening''. Things change big time in this game.
* CombatMedic: Still retains his healing powers. He uses them on sick refugees in Kirkwall.
* CrazyJealousGuy: Whether romanced or not. If Hawke romanced Merrill or Fenris, he states his disapproval in the bluntest, and most hypocritical ways imaginable during "Justice" in Act III.
* CruelMercy: [[spoiler: Letting him live after he blows up the Chantry.]]
** Or even worse, [[spoiler:convincing him to side with the Templars. Takes a maxed-out Rivalry meter, but boy is it worth it.]]
* CynicismCatalyst: He comes to Kirkwall in the first place to rescue Karl, his friend and ex-lover...only to learn he's already been [[FateWorseThanDeath made Tranquil]] and used to draw Anders and Hawke into an ambush by the Templars. After the fight, Anders gives him a MercyKill at his request. Anders is a lot grimmer after this.
* [[spoiler:DarkIsEvil: He becomes noticeably more ruthless in Act III, when his outfit turns black.]]
** [[spoiler:LightIsNotGood: However, despite his black outfit he is a healer mage, which invokes more light than dark]]
* [[spoiler:DarkMessiah: Has hordes of the poor and needy willing to risk their lives to protect him? Check. Dedicated his life to creating a better system for his people? Check. Willing to sacrifice everything, including his own life and the lives of others, to achieve this? [[SelfSacrificeScheme Oh so very much check.]] He even compares his situation to Andraste's once or twice, to Sebastian's disgust.]]
** [[spoiler:Averted if Hawke is in a Rivalry with him though -- he breaks down and sees himself not as a savior but as just another monstrosity to be put down.]]
* DeadManWalking: By the third act, he's convinced that he is this. [[spoiler:It turns out this is because he knows he will most likely be executed after igniting the mage/Templar war.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: [[BerserkButton Just don't ask him about the Chantry]].
* DeathSeeker: Becoming his Rival reveals that he has shades of this due to his difficulty in keeping Vengeance under control.
** He still has traces of it if a Friendship was pursued, although he's less obvious about it.
* DemonicPossession: Originally, Anders allowed his friend Justice, who was a benign spirit, to possess him; but Anders' inherent anger at the perceived injustices against mages perverted Justice into Vengeance.
* DistressedDude: Should he be the hostage in Best Served Cold, he's embarrassed that you had to rescue him and quips that he's never thought of himself as a damsel in distress. On the other hand, see NightmareFetishist.
* DrJerk: Variation. He's quite kind to his patients, to the point that they're willing to risk their lives for him. Everyone else who doesn't share his views, however, is open for jerkery.
* EnemyMine: With Fenris. And Merrill to a lesser extent by Act II. [[spoiler:As time goes on and his paranoia increases, he starts treating ''everybody'' (aside from Hawke and Varric) with suspicion.]]
* [[spoiler:EvilCostumeSwitch: Though you don't realize it until later.]]
* [[spoiler:FaceDeathWithDignity: Possibly subverted, as you can choose not to kill him.]]
* FateWorseThanDeath: He sees being made Tranquil as this, with plenty of corroboration from [[MercyKill Karl]].
** [[spoiler: And if you make him side with the Templars through the rivalry route.]]
* [[spoiler:FallenHero]]
* FightingFromTheInside: Anders must constantly push back the influence of Vengeance or become a true abomination and lose himself.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Check out the banter between him and Justice (as well as Justice and Nathaniel) in ''Awakening''. Heads will explode.
* FreudianExcuse: Revealed to Hawke in brief rambling in his clinic. From a young age he was estranged from his home, terrorized and confined by Templars. If he had a sense of the injustice, it blurred with his lifelong grudge, begetting vengeance.
** He's got another one: he's under constant pressure to keep Vengeance under control. He's losing.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: To an extent; his constant going on about the mistreatment of mages drives everyone crazy, largely in Act III.
** A lot of it is them hating Justice, who forces Anders to behave that way, and scares the fear of Maker out of them.
* FridgeHorror: He gets an InUniverse one. For much of the game, he talks about how Justice used to be as though he were a paragon of virtue. After losing control of Vengeance [[spoiler:and almost/killing a young girl]], Merrill explains to him that there has ''never'' been a "good" spirit and that they are ''all'' dangerous. That he is totally silent after learning this says it all. Again, if you're on a Rival path, he finally comes to terms with it after [[spoiler:blowing up the Chantry]].
** It gets worse at the beginning of Act III. Anders confides that even he's scared that lately he's started experiencing blackouts, which previously had only happened when Justice took over, when Anders lost control. This implies that [[SplitPersonalityTakeover Vengeance is now manifesting at will, and now seeks to control Anders]].
* GayOption
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: Whenever he starts losing himself to Vengeance, his eyes glow blue.
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Nicknamed "Blondie" by Varric, but the trope is continually subverted; he's grim and understands that change for mages will come slowly, if at all. By Act III, [[AvertedTrope very little of his kind-healer-fighting-against-his-darker-side persona remains.]]
* HeadbuttingHeroes: He and Sebastian clash quite a bit, and he goes back and forth between having this vibe and a VitriolicBestBuds one with Aveline, depending on the day and topic of discussion.
** Aveline might have gotten along better with him if some of their first conversations didn't involve her calling him [[DamnedByFaintPraise better than she would have expected]] [[YouAreACreditToYourRace from someone like him]] (though she then clarifies that [[DiscriminateAndSwitch she was talking about the refugees in Darktown]]) and later asking him for tips on how to take down apostates.
* HearingVoices: The rest of the party occasionally refer to Justice/Vengeance as a voice in Anders' head, though it's a bit more complicated than that. [[spoiler:If he comes along for ''Legacy'', he eventually starts hearing Corypheus' voice in his head as well and briefly is forced under his control.]]
* HeroicBSOD: When Vengeance [[spoiler:(almost) kills a mage girl they had just saved from being made Tranquil]], he realizes his control is slipping. While Hawke may help (or not help) him through this, the Codex says he abandons the cause of mages for a few years in regret.
* HeroWorshipper: Points out that Mage!Hawke has done much to help the plight of Mages in the city and could easily be the leader the Underground is so desperate for. Hawke's stubborn refusal to get into politics eventually forces Anders to use implement his own solution to the problem.
* HesitationEqualsDishonesty: [[spoiler:First hint something's wrong during "Justice". He keeps glancing around nervously and sometimes just trails off or switches tracks in the middle of a sentence.]]
* [[spoiler: HeWhoFightsMonsters]]: Eventually [[spoiler: blows up the Chantry, with the Grand Cleric and Maker knows how many people inside so that a compromise cannot be reached and the mages and templars will ''have'' to fight a war.]]
-->'''Anders:''' [[spoiler: I removed the chance of compromise, because there is no compromise!]]
* HotBlooded: Deconstructed. His passion for mage liberation is what [[spoiler:kicks off the Mage-Templar war.]]
* HumanoidAbomination: He has been possessed by the Spirit of Justice, who becomes a Demon of Vengeance. If he's a Rival, [[ItsAllMyFault he blames it on himself]] more than usual.
* HurtingHero
* {{Hypocrite}}: Oh, where do we even start?
** Criticizes Merrill about her obsession with [[spoiler:the mirror]] and her casual views on Fade spirits. She will in turn point out his own obsession with the Circle and how he willingly let a "good" spirit into his body. Anders is self-aware of this, and at one point wonders if this makes him unqualified to help mages.
** He is petty and disrespectful towards Aveline and Fenris because they do not share his pro-mage stance, and yet criticizes Hawke for romancing Fenris, who has "let [[{{Understatement}} one bad experience]] colour his entire world." instead of someone "more open-minded". If Fenris is in the party, he calls him out on it.
** Despite Anders being vehement about how wrong it is to enslave mages, if you choose to [[spoiler: sell Fenris back to Danarius]], Anders ''applauds''.
*** Although this could be seen as due to Anders and [[spoiler: Fenris]] mutually loathing each other.
*** ...not to mention, it's a sign of Justice/Vengeance's corruption. Initially Justice would seek.. well, justice for all, and would have never stood for that. However, having been corrupted into Vengeance, he only seeks (warped) 'justice' for mages, and he considers [[spoiler: Fenris]] an obstacle to that goal. Thus: celebration of this 'obstacle' being removed.
** He disapproves of a romance with Merrill, alleging that she'll eventually turn on Hawke in favor of her demons. She calls him out on this if present for the conversation.
*** [[spoiler: The hypocrisy of this hits critical mass when you realize that he says this during a quest where he's tricking Hawke into helping him blow up the Chantry.]]
** [[spoiler: If spared after destroying the Chantry and brought to confront Meredith, him calling out her zealotry as "madness" could be construed as such.]]
*** Indeed, if [[spoiler: you spare him and side with the mages, he'll state his belief that ''every single Templar'' had ''always'' wanted to enact the Rite of Annulment and slaughter the mages, using the same absolutist view of his enemies that only the very worst of them use against mages. Even Meridith admits there are good mages; she just feels that their rights are outweighed by the safety of everyone else.]]
** Again, a great deal of this hypocrisy appears to come from Vengeance's influence. Vengeance [[BlueAndOrangeMorality doesn't subscribe to human sensibilities or morals]] the same way a human would, and is an irrational entity by human standards. Anything that favors his ends makes sense as far as he's concerned, and this clearly has a fundamental influence on Anders' thought processes as well.
* HypocriticalHumour: In ''Mark of the Assassin'' there is a scene where Anders gets so exasperated with Fenris he straight up begs him to shut up about how all mages are evil for ''one'' minute. The whole conversation is a brilliant jab at his own obsession with mage freedom.
** There's a ''lot'' of this if you look closely.
-->'''Anders''': Qunari give me the creeps. ''No one'' is that dedicated to some abstract ideal.
* IAmAMonster: He starts invoking this trope in Act II, ''especially'' if you fail to [[spoiler:stop him from killing Ella]]. By the time Act III rolls around, [[spoiler:he's pretty much resigned himself to being a monster]].
* AnIcePerson: One of his starting spells is Winter's Grasp. It also makes for an interesting bit of meta-lampshading about how much he's changed when you consider that, in ''Awakening'', he was first seen using ''[[PlayingWithFire fire]]'' magic.
* InsecureLoveInterest: While almost all the party members in this game have serious self-worth issues, Anders is probably the most vocal about it if Hawke tries to romance him, repeatedly telling him/her that he has nothing to offer and that Hawke should be free to have a normal life with someone else. If Hawke is not a mage, ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies also comes up, since Meredith starts declaring that anyone who shelters an apostate will face a death penalty.
* ItsNotYouItsMe: He all but invokes this by name the first time Hawke tries to flirt with him, saying that there was a time when they could have had something, but he's no longer the same man he once was.
--> '''Anders:''' I'll break your heart - and that might kill me as surely as the Templars.
* JacobMarleyWarning: After "Dissent," he tries to invoke this with Merrill. She points out that she at least understands the dangers better than he did before merging with Justice.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Anders can be ''very'' petty and hypocritical. But in the end, all Anders wants is to help people, and he's willing to go to grand lengths to do so.
* [[spoiler: JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope:]] In the beginning of the game, as far as mages are concerned, while he firmly advocates their freedom and rejects turning them over to the Templars, Anders is actually quite reasonable. He outright condemns blood magic and demons, allows murder only as a last resort, and is perfectly willing to work with reasonable men like Thrask. By Act III, that persona is all but gone, and he refuses to accept anything less than total freedom for all mages, no exceptions. [[spoiler: Thus, "no compromise" when he blows up the Chantry.]]
* [[spoiler: KarmaHoudini: The decision to have him killed for the destruction of the Chantry rests with you, so this trope can be played straight or subverted. But even if you do kill him, he gets the war he wanted. If he does live, Sebastian vows to make sure Anders will face justice someday.]]
** [[spoiler:WordOfGod subverts this though, saying he wants to die for what he's done, so that the people he's killed will have their justice. See CruelMercy and DeathSeeker above.]]
* KickTheDog: If you bring him along for Merrill's second companion quest, he'll flat-out say to her that [[spoiler:she should have died instead of Keeper Marethari. Ouch.]] Also, if he and Aveline are in the party, he may start making some very negative comments on her and Wesley's sex life.
** [[spoiler:Approving of selling Fenris back to Danarius.]] The rest of the party is not amused.
** If Anders is brought along in the quest [[spoiler:"All That Remains," perhaps more out of thoughtlessness than anything else, he may say, "I wonder if we'll find more than just a sack of bones this time." He says this while standing ''right next to a very distraught Hawke who's desperately running around trying to find his/her mother after she's kidnapped by a deranged serial killer.'']] Definitely ''not'' the thing you should say, Anders.
* KindheartedCatLover: Sadly, Anders had his cat Ser Pounce-A-Lot confiscated by the Grey Wardens after it nearly got him killed by accident. He's still very fond of cats, and puts out milk for the local strays. [[spoiler:Ultimately subverted when Anders [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope jumps off the slippery slope]].]]
* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler: Becomes one, ironically, ''towards'' the Templars over the course of the game.]]
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Inverted; if his romance is pursued, his Act III codex entry explicitly states that he views Hawke as the one thing in his life keeping him sane. [[spoiler: Not that it makes a difference in the end. ]]
* [[spoiler: ManipulativeBastard: Anders lies to Hawke and co. to get them to help him gather reagents to blow up the Chantry, telling them it's for a potion to rid him of Justice. It especially stings if Hawke is in a relationship with him.]]
* [[spoiler: TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife: Starts off entirely open about his pro-mage agenda. Eventually, he becomes less than honest and uses Hawke for his own purposes.]]
* MoodSwinger: Stated in the Codex to suffer from manic and depressive phases as of Act III. His dialogue throughout the game tends to reflect this, ranging from calm and caring, to cheerful and snarky, to obsessively focused on his goals, to self-righteously grandiose, to self-loathing and miserable, to vengeful and bloodthirsty, with alarming speed.
* MoralityPet: Arguably by Act III, [[spoiler:Varric and (possibly) Hawke have become this for him, as he is much more distant, if not hostile, towards the rest of the party at that point. He even admits to a romanced Hawke that he/she is [[MoralityChain one of the few things he thinks is keeping him sane.]]]]
* MrFanservice
* [[spoiler: MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning: If you kill him after he blows up the Chantry.]]
* MyGreatestFailure
** Allowing Justice to possess him, which turned one of his closest friends into a demon. [[spoiler: Though this may not be his fault...]]
** During one of his companion quests, he loses control of Vengeance and [[spoiler: threatens (possibly kills) an innocent girl.]]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: If you're on a Rivalry path with him, he expresses ''much'' more regret about [[spoiler:blowing up the Chantry]], and even states that Justice may have become a demon from the moment they merged.
** If you're on the Rivalry path, after completing "Justice" Hawke can convince Anders to undo whatever it was he was doing in the Chantry at the end of the quest, with Anders becoming horrified at the prospect of actually succeeding and running off to stop it before it is too late. [[spoiler: Since the Chantry explosion still goes through, it seems that Justice sabotaged this attempt.]]
** The end of "Dissent" in Act II, which is nine times worse if [[spoiler: Ella actually ends up dead.]]
* [[spoiler: NecessarilyEvil: He recognizes that blowing up the Chantry is a horrible thing to do, and does seems guilty about it, but he honestly believes it's for the best.]]
** [[spoiler:Subverted if he's in a Rivalry with Hawke; he becomes convinced that he's evil by the end.]]
* NeverGetsDrunk: Justice doesn't let him get drunk anymore, making him a type 3. He still visits the Hanged Man occasionally, as it's the only place in town he can get a decent drink.
* NightmareFetishist: If romanced, he mentions in ''Mark of The Assassin'' that one of his sexual fantasies is being rescued by Hawke right before he's to undergo the Rite of Tranquility, and then expressing his gratitude in myriad creative ways.
* NoCanonForTheWicked: Like all mages in ''Awakening'', he can be specialized as a Blood Mage. There's even a special branch of dialogue devoted to discussing that fact. In this game, however, he possesses no such powers, and takes an extremely dim view of Merrill's involvement in blood magic.
* [[spoiler: NoPlaceForMeThere]]
* NotAsYouKnowThem: Thanks to the fusion with Justice. If he's happy some of the old Anders will resurface for a time.
* NotSoDifferent: From Fenris, despite claims to the contrary. Both have similar backgrounds as members of oppressed populations and share an unreasonable hatred of anybody belonging to the same groups as their oppressors. They both enjoy taking the opportunity to somewhat pettily snipe at anybody who disagrees with their views, especially each other.
** Maybe not so unreasonable; they both witnessed the worst of a certain group (whether it was Templars or mages) and they know it could happen anywhere.
** Also from Merrill. Even though he isn't a blood mage like she is, both of them dealt with potentially dangerous Fade spirits...[[spoiler: with terrible consequences for themselves and others]].
** [[spoiler: As time goes by, he even gets this with the Templars (''especially'' Meredith). Hooray for irony...]]
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: According to WordOfGod, Anders is a nickname because [[http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/304/index/6511895/3#6639653 his family is from the Anderfels]].
* [[spoiler: OutlawCouple: If you romance Anders, spare his life after he blows up the Chantry, and commit to him before the FinalBattle, the two of you will go on the run together, since he is now the most wanted man in Thedas.]]
* PaintItBlack: After his Act II companion quest, he switches to a darker, more tightly-buttoned version of his coat.
* PermaStubble
* PetTheDog: His treatment of the refugees, as well as the others forced to live in Darktown, to the point where they are willing to risk their lives for him.
** Also, though he always treats Aveline with suspicion due to the City Guards working with Templars on occasion, he is relatively lighthearted and supportive of her attempts to woo Donnic in Act II.
** At the end of [[WhamEpisode "All That Remains"]], if he goes to comfort Hawke and he/she yells at him [[spoiler: for what an insane blood mage did to his/her mother]] he only tells Hawke that if it helps, to take his/her anger out on him.
** He's actually quite compassionate with Merrill when [[spoiler:he tells her that he [[PlotlineDeath can't heal]] [[TooDumbToLive Pol]]]]. Of course, this is immediately subverted by the [[KickTheDog vicious way he chews her out]] ''[[{{Jerkass}} the entire trek back to camp]]''.
** If Anders is romanced and moves in with Hawke, Bodahn comments on how nice it is having Anders around; both Bodahn and Sandal have taken quite a liking to him.
--->'''Bodahn:''' It's been quite pleasant having Master Anders staying here, messere.
--->'''Sandal:''' [''happily''] He's funny!
--->'''Bodahn:''' And he finds my boy's enchanting quite intriguing. That's the word he used! It's too bad he seems so... [[WellIntentionedExtremist intent]] on whatever it is he works on.
* PrinciplesZealot: While not as bad about it as the Qunari (he compromises in [[WhamEpisode "All That Remains"]] due to the serious circumstances), [[spoiler:due to a glitch, he is the only party member who cannot be convinced to side against his faction. This will apparently be fixed in the upcoming patch.]]
* ProperlyParanoid: Whether you agree with his solution or not, it turned out [[spoiler:Meredith was in fact going quite mad and cracking down to a point where even her own Templars turned against her.]]
** Zigzagged with [[spoiler:"The Tranquil Solution,"]] which he panics over in Act II, only to find out that the Grand Cleric rejected it. He is surprised and wonders if there is [[HopeSpot hope for negotiation after all]]... but he's not entirely convinced it isn't a threat. [[spoiler:And in Act III, it's implied Meredith is adopting it after all.]]
-->'''Sebastian''': The Chantry would never follow through with such a thing.
-->'''Anders''': Yet.
* PowerPerversionPotential: A conversation with Isabela reveals that he uses magic for sexual applications. "Were you the runaway mage who could do that electricity thing? That was ''nice''."
* [[spoiler: RedemptionFailure: After "Dissent", he distances himself from the mage underground and tries to find a way to control Justice or undo their merger. By Act III, everyone he knows outside the party has been killed or forced into hiding, and he's only protected by his proximity to Hawke.]]
* {{Retcon}}: If Anders died in ''Awakening'', it turns out the corpse Nathaniel found was badly burnt and they just assumed it was him.
* RunningGag: Hawke manages to find bits of Anders' manifesto ''everywhere''.
** He's ''terrible'' at card games, and everyone in the party knows it. [[spoiler:In "Mark Of The Assassin," he proudly announces that he actually beat Isabela. With supernatural help.]]
* [[spoiler:SanitySlippage: Compare his behavior in Act I to his behavior in Act III.]]
** If brought along for ''Legacy'', [[spoiler: Corypheus' voice starts sounding in his head, which pushes him almost to the point of a complete breakdown. At one point he is forced under Corypheus' control and the party has to fight him to get him to snap out of it.]]
* SelfDeprecation: There are times where he makes it plain he knows ''exactly'' [[PrinciplesZealot how]] [[ByronicHero he]] [[JerkAss comes across]], especially if Hawke is romancing him and ''even more so'' if they are Rivals. Sometimes he takes lighthearted jabs at his own behavior, but other times it's a bit [[IAmAMonster more serious]].
-->'''Anders''': Orlesian.
-->'''Varric''': Fop. Um... Party.
-->'''Anders''': Crash!
-->'''Varric''': Seriously, Blondie? No one ever invites you anywhere?
-->'''Anders''': [''softly''] Would you?
* ShootTheDog: His friend [[spoiler: and lover]] Karl begs Anders to kill him rather than continue living as a Tranquil.
* SplitPersonality: Between his own mind and Vengeance.
* SquishyWizard: He's a mage, and not a blood mage, so he'll likely have very little constitution. His vengeance talent increases his damage in exchange for damage resistance, thus making him even more of this, as well as a GlassCannon.
* SuddenlySexuality: While Isabela has always been openly bi, and we don't know enough about Merrill and Fenris when we meet them to suggest they're not, Anders did not come across as anything but straight when he first appeared in ''Awakening'', flirting with the ladies in the party and talking about how he wants to settle down with a nice girl one day.
* [[spoiler:TokenEvilTeammate: If you choose to spare him and keep him in your party in Act III.]]
* [[spoiler:TookALevelInJerkass]]
* [[spoiler: TragicHero]]
* TragicMistake: Unusually, it takes place between games at the midpoint of his story (so far). He genuinely wanted to help Justice, but neither of them were remotely prepared for the actual consequences of the merger.
* TroubledButCute
* {{Ubermensch}}: His goals regarding the Magi are transformative, to say the least, and he breaks a lot of eggs to get there, knowing full well he will probably be either killed or hated for his actions. Nevertheless, in his mind, society HAD to change or he would make it change.
** TheUnfettered
* [[spoiler:WelcomeBackTraitor:]] Can be either played straight or subverted. If you [[spoiler:told him to run after he blows up the Chantry]], he will still return to you in the Gallows. Naturally, what happens after that is up to you.
* [[spoiler: WellIntentionedExtremist]]
* WhatTheHellHero: Gives a big one to Hawke if s/he chooses to [[spoiler:let a demon possess Feynriel, and strikes down Justice when he objects.]] If he's in a romance with Hawke at this point, some fast talking will have to be done, or he'll break it off at once.
** Hawke can demand an explanation for [[spoiler:blowing up the Chantry at the start of the endgame.]]
** If Hakwe supports the templars, especially if s/he is a mage, he will call them out on it and say that they should use their influence and money to help mages in Kirkwall.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Justice's influence hasn't particularly been good for Anders' mental state.
* WithUsOrAgainstUs: As part of his decline, by Act III he's become paranoid of anyone who does not explicitly share his views on granting mages immediate freedom. [[spoiler: He goes so far as to blow up the Kirkwall Chantry alongside the only political figure capable of pacifying both Templars and mages just to ensure that everybody would have to pick a side.]]
** Get gets very hostile towards even pro-mage Hawke if s/he suggests that some of his methods are too extreme, and basically treats everyone not firmly supporting his ideas as an enemy.
* AWizardDidIt: Invoked, but not actually true. "A wizard did it" is his sarcastic reply if he's in the party when you give the maps to the Deep Roads to Bartrand. Actually, he stole them.
** Which actually makes it ''[[FromACertainPointOfView technically]]'' true.

!The Spirit of Vengeance
--> '''YOU WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER MAGE AS YOU TOOK HIM!'''

Technically not a party member, but closely associated with one. Originally the Spirit of Justice from ''Awakening'', Anders allowed him to become his new human host in a joint effort to free mages from the Circle. But Anders' anger at this injustice corrupted the spirit; when Hawke meets them, he is a Demon of Vengeance. Voiced by Adam Leadbeater and Adam Howden.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: Did he become a KnightTemplar but remain a spirit, or does he fall from grace and become a true demon? Anders' opinion changes depending on whether he's a Friend or a Rival.
* AndIMustScream: Anders talks about the terrifying sensation of being trapped inside his own body and unable to do or say anything after Justice briefly became the dominant personality during "Night Terrors," then remarks sadly that Justice must feel like that ''all the time.'' No wonder he's become a grouch.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Vengeance does not understand time (time doesn't matter in the Fade) and doesn't truly understand things like "mercy" or "forgiveness." Thus he is driven by the unyielding desire to constantly lash out at the injustices Anders perceives, regardless of who it ultimately hurts.
* BerserkButton: Shares them with Anders, with one added bonus--''[[CallBack Don't call him]] [[HarsherInHindsight a demon.]]''
* BreakTheHaughty: Justice's transformation into Vengeance. Could also count as BreakTheCutie, personality-wise, seeing as he was an [[WideEyedIdealist idealistic]], [[TokenGoodTeammate good]], [[WarriorPoet poetic]] spirit before becoming twisted by hate.
* EnemyWithin: For Anders.
* FallenHero: The difference between Vengeance and a true demon is practically non-existent.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: In ''Awakening'' Anders and Justice had a conversation about the differences between spirits and demons and whether Justice could become a demon. May also count as HarsherInHindsight.
** Another conversation between Justice and Nathaniel about what would happen to Justice after the decay of Kristoff's body ends with him considering the idea of possessing a ''willing'' living human host...
** The Warden can even ask Justice if he desires revenge for what happened to Kristoff and tell him that there is a thin line between avenging a wrong and outright vengeance.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: While various party members have their own opinions on Anders, everyone seems very vocal in their clear dislike of Justice.
* GuestStarPartyMember: During the side-quest "Night Terrors", Vengeance takes control of Anders and fights alongside you.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Inverted. While Justice originally encouraged Anders to seek freedom for all mages, Anders wanted revenge more than justice, and Justice was corrupted.
* KnightTemplar: He still seeks to protect the weak and punish the wicked, but Anders' anger has made him completely merciless.
* LargeHam
* MoralEventHorizon: An ''in-universe'' example. Anders will consider this to be Justice's (and by extension his own) in Act II if he [[spoiler:isn't restrained and ends up murdering a young girl]]. Even if you ''do'' stop him, it still [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone shocks him to the core]]. Vengeance, on the other hand, is ''much'' quicker to throw this label around.
* NotAsYouKnowThem: Anders' repressed bitterness has turned Justice from "inflexible but good-hearted" to a trigger-happy KnightTemplar who only manifests when Anders completely loses control. He acts much more like his old self in "Night Terrors."
* PrinciplesZealot: If Anders is romanced, he will admit to Hawke that "Justice does not approve of my obsession with you." This is almost certainly because the spirit views the romance as diverting Anders from their joint mission, and possibly he fears that Hawke may have enough influence over Anders to stop them.
* RevengeBeforeReason: Pretty much embodies this.
* SuperpoweredEvilSide: For Anders.
* SplitPersonalityTakeover: Anders constantly fights to keep Vengeance under control--but occasionally Vengeance comes out. When he does, Anders' eyes glow blue and he shifts into VoiceOfTheLegion.
** If he's a Rival, Anders reveals he's been suffering blackouts in Act III, which only had previously happened when Justice took control. This heavily implies that Justice is now ''actively vying to control Anders''.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: Speaks with both the [[EvilSoundsDeep booming]], [[PowerEchoes echoing]] voice of Justice, and Anders' voice underneath it. If you listen closely, there are times where their tone of voice differs, hinting at the personality conflict.
* VolcanicVeins
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: During "The Final Straw", he delivers his MotiveRant to Orsino and Meredith, stopping them from interrupting by repeatedly slamming his staff on the ground, like a judge's gavel.
* WhatHaveIDone: Anders blames himself for Justice's corruption. [[spoiler: The Mysteries of Kirkwall texts imply, however, that Tevinter blood magic under Kirkwall may have been more responsible.]]
* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Vengeance is significantly less discerning about who qualifies as ally or enemy than before.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Merrill]]
!Merrill [-(EveMyles)-]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Merrill_7269.jpg]]
->"''It's a Keeper's job to remember. Even the dangerous things.''"

A Dalish Elf who was Keeper Marethari's first in the Dalish Elf Origin. She returns in ''Dragon Age II'' as a companion after leaving her clan for mysterious reasons. She is a potential love interest.
----
* ActionGirl: See BewareTheNiceOnes below. Let's face it; Merrill's every bit as [[BuffySpeak actiony]] as the other ladies.
* {{Adorkable}}: In ''spades''. Think [[MassEffect Tali]], but with a face. And more adorkableness.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Shunned by her clan for being a Blood Mage. [[spoiler:Keeping the Eluvian that tainted Tamlen and the Dalish Warden doesn't help things either.]]
** Even before that, Merrill hints that the only people in the clan she was truly close with were the Dalish Warden, Tamlen, and the Keeper. Her being the First alienated her from her peers.
* AmbiguousDisorder: There's a pretty strong case to be made for schizoid or avoidant personality disorder. She also displays autism spectrum characteristics (lack of social skills, usually not understanding figures of speech or innuendo, reclusiveness, obsessiveness).
* ApologizesALot: She gives an apology every three sentences.
* AscendedExtra: She was a temporary companion for half of the hour-long Dalish Origin, there to give the player a mage temporarily. By the developers' own admission, she did not appear long enough to have a personality. In ''Dragon Age II'', she returns as a full companion.
* BadassAdorable
* BadassBookworm: While not so much in the traditional bookworm sense (the Dalish rely more on oral traditions), she is noted as an extremely talented mage and historian.
* BadPowersGoodPeople: She's sweet, innocent, and naive, and means harm to no one. She's also a practicing blood mage and demon summoner. This is the cause of most of her problems with others in-game.
* BeneathNotice: After arriving in Kirkwall, she finds most Templars don't look twice at her - she's just another elf.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Merrill is the nicest, kindest, and most adorable character in the sequel. And she is also a practicing blood mage, a demon summoner, the only mage in the party who has ''[[BlackMage no]]'' [[BlackMage healing spells]], and access to at least half a dozen spell trees full of hideous death in flavors ranging from 'mass human flambe' to 'torn apart by Eldritch tentacles' to 'I will punch you in the soul!'
-->'''Merrill:''' May the Creators have mercy on you, I certainly won't!
* BiTheWay: Like Anders and Fenris, her interest in women is never even suggested in the straight romance. This brings up debates on whether her sexuality changes based on the gender of the player character. However, if romanced by a woman, she will still express attraction towards men.
* BlackMage
* BlackMagicianGirl
* BloodMagic
* BluntMetaphorsTrauma: Frequently.
* BreakTheCutie: The game (and [[EnemyMine certain]] [[HeadbuttingHeroes party members]]) are very determined to punish her for her optimism and naivete in the face of a CrapsackWorld. Though she has a few moments where she breaks down, for the most part she always [[PluckyGirl bounces back]].
** [[spoiler:She's not so lucky in Act III's "A New Path", especially if Hawke doesn't make [[GuideDangIt the exact choice]]. In the worst-case scenario her entire clan she worked to restore to their former glory will end up dead. Even in the best case scenario, she'll be slightly more brittle for the rest of the game.]]
* BuffySpeak: Sometimes. For example, she calls Carver's fighting style "swording" and Carver himself a "sworder" because she really doesn't know what style he uses.
* CanNotSpitItOut: If pursuing the friendly or flirty paths with her, it's implied Merrill develops a crush on Hawke seemingly from the moment they first met. However, Hawke must literally spell it out for Merrill that they actually feel the same way, before they can begin a relationship.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In the first game, she comes across as having a straight-to-the-point, no-nonsense demeanor as opposed to her CloudCuckoolander tendencies in the second game.
** She occasionally demonstrates these qualities, although they largely disappear after Act One. This has lead some [[WildMassGuessing to speculate]] her CloudCuckoolander tendencies are an inadvertant side-effect of her use of BloodMagic to restore the Eluvian.
* CharacterDevelopment: If a full rival and her final personal quest is complete, [[spoiler: she finally admits she was wrong to use blood magic and blames herself for not listening and thus causing Marethari to sacrifice herself for her]]. As a rival she also grows a bit more serious in conversations with Hawke and isn't as easily flustered as before.
** She also gets character development if she's a full friend instead of rival, but the development is in the opposite direction: [[spoiler: she realizes that her people are just as flawed as they insist everyone else to be, and that there are better things for her to do with her time than endlessly worry about what her people thought of her. She spends the rest of the game slightly happier, not feeling that she is alone in the world and that she cannot make decisions by herself.]]
* CloudCuckoolander: Merrill wonders how Qunari scratch their heads. She wonders if they rub their horns on trees like Halla[[hottip:*:[[CallARabbitASmeerp AKA Fantasy Deer]] do. That is but one of many random ponderings that come out of her mouth.
** Merrill knows how deep the harbor waters are because ''she fell in it while she was walking around it''.
** Should her romance path be completed, she will move in with Hawke in Hightown. Her codex states that she's stunned the neighbors by [[DoesNotLikeShoes walking barefoot]], picking flowers out of people's gardens, and [[{{Squee}} cooing]] at the nobles' guard dogs among other adorable antics.
** If she moves in, Hawke seems to have the sneaking suspicion she's the one who's been swinging on the chandelier in the Estate.
** Likewise, if she moves in, Merrill names all of the falcon sculptures around the estate. Apparently, the one on the north side is called "Finnegan", while the one near the fireplace window has been dubbed "Messere Pointy-Face".
** Her greatest desire is to [[FluffyTamer own a baby Griffon]], despite the fact that they have been ''extinct'' in Thedas for over 200 years. She'd call it ''[[FluffyTheTerrible Feathers]]''.
** If importing a save with the Dalish Warden, she mentions that Duncan was the first human she'd ever seen with facial hair. She admits she initially thought his [[BadassBeard beard]] was a ''squirrel'' that had grabbed him by the chin.
*** Make you wonder what if that's one of the reasons she's so nervous when she first meets Male Hawke?
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Also happens a lot.
--> '''Merrill''': Don't be silly. A dowry would only matter if you were courting him.
--> '''Aveline''': Merrill...
--> '''Merrill''': *gasp!* You're courting him!
** Also when she ruins one of Hawke's attempts to distract some guards
--->'''Hawke:''' You've got to come help! There's a building on fire!
--->'''Guard:''' What? The loot will burn!
--->'''Merrill:''' There is no actual fire, is there?
--->'''Hawke:''' ... it's a ''trick'', Merrill.
--->'''Merrill:''' Oh! Well, it's very clever then!
--->*guards attack*
* CovertPervert: She reacts with glee at the possibility of finally hearing anything "dirty", especially Isabela's stories.
** In Act III, she mentions that she misses having all the Qunari around; they didn't smile much, but they were [[WalkingShirtlessScene easy on the eyes.]]
** When speaking to party members in the final battle, and regardless of whether or not she was romanced, it's possible to get this exchange:
-->'''Merrill:''' "Does all this feel like a dream to you, too?"
-->'''Hawke:''' "In a moment, I'll look down and see I have no pants on."
-->'''Merrill:''' *giggles* "The Champion of Kirkwall, going to battle naked. Why can't I ever have that dream?"
** ''Legacy'' also reveals that she's been reading Anders' grimoire in the hope of finding "dirty spells" to "make things more exciting" between her and Hawke, if you romance her.
** An Act I conversation between Anders and Isabela reveals that Anders does, in fact, use magic during sex. If Merrill overheard that or had it relayed to her by Isabela, she has a reason to be looking through his spellbook.
* CulturalRebel: Develops a crush on Hawke seemingly at their first meeting, much to her chagrin. During her romance, she laments that to give into her attraction to Hawke would be seen as betraying her people, who are trying to safeguard the elven bloodline from extinction.
* CuteClumsyGirl: According to the short stories about the love interests, Merrill has an issue with watching where she is going. She also gets lost frequently.
* DarkIsNotEvil: She believes this of blood magic, and of demons. Though she is quick to point out to Anders that just because she isn't adverse to using them doesn't mean she isn't ''fully'' aware of how dangerous they can be.
* DeadpanSnarker: Even though she has trouble understanding sarcasm in others, Merrill is still surprisingly good at dishing out snark of her own at certain times.
-->'''Ilen''': How has your time been amongst the shemlen?
-->'''Merrill''': It's been nothing but roses and rainbows, Master Ilen. The Alienage is lovely in the spring. The collapsing shacks and the drunken brutes are offset nicely by the knee-deep mud.
* DeathSeeker: She's carrying around a lot of guilt about the Dalish origin, has questionable self-esteem at best, and her personal quests involve taking near-suicidal risks to try and salvage something good from the Eluvian. If she isn't actively trying to sacrifice herself, she's not far from it.
* DiggingYourselfDeeper: If asked why she's nervous during her initial introduction:
-->'''Merrill:''' I've never met a human before. Dalish mothers frighten their children with stories about you, you know. ({{beat}}) Not you, personally, of course. I'm sure they don't have any tales about you. Or not scary ones, at least. ({{beat}}) Not that you're not notable enough to have a story... [[ShuttingUpNow I'll just shut up now]].
* DitzyGenius: Merrill's lack of understanding of the social world makes people around her think that she lacks understanding of what she's doing with her magic. But as proven above, it turns out that she knows very well what she's doing, even better than some of the mages in the party.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: Like most elves.
* DoesNotUnderstandSarcasm: Leads to comedy gold considering several characters have a fondness for [[DeadpanSnarker dry, sarcastic humor]].
** Only really applies early on, when she's not used to humans - she can be quite sarcastic herself, in fact. Though she's always pretty bad at catching innuendo.
* DoNotTauntCthulhu: Unlike the [[DeadpanSnarker rest]] of the Hawke's group, as a member of the Dalish, Merrill knows far better than to do or say anything that might offend Asha'bellanar. During their meeting, she alone remains bowed respectfully and stays that way for some time before Flemeth finally tells her that she ''is'' allowed to stand up properly.
* EnemyMine: A bit one-sided given her generally friendly nature, but she gets this from both Anders and Fenris for her insistence on using blood magic and demons. Even Sebastian, though he's much nicer to her, regards her as a potential threat and considers turning her and Anders over to the Templars in a conversation with Fenris.
* EntendreFailure: "I miss a lot of dirty things, and sometimes I wouldn't mind hearing them."
* TheExile: Subverted: Hawke's first assumption is that Merrill wants to join the party because she was exiled, but she left of her own volition. [[spoiler:Played straight if her Act III quest ends with her clan surviving.]]
* FantasticRacism: Surprisingly averted, given most Dalish attitudes towards humans. Merrill is sweet to everyone regardless of whether they are humans, elves, or dwarves. She does seem to hold the view that the Dalish are superior, which annoys Fenris especially, but even that is not explicit and seems to wane as she lives longer in Kirkwall.
** Yet she will pull out racial insults if Hawke is in a rivalry with her, such as if he/she refuses to give her [[spoiler: the arulin'holm to help her repair the mirror]] in Act II.
-->'''Merrill:''' You're keeping a priceless heirloom of ''my'' clan? You have no right! You're not even Dalish! I can't believe you! Why did I trust you? You're just a ''shemlen'' like all the others!
* FatalFlaw: Merrill's is that she doesn't understand that her actions have consequences that she cannot completely control, and those consequences may not stop with her - she's aware that she runs the risk of becoming an abomination, and on some occasions she even makes sure to have someone on hand to [[ShootTheDog kill her]] if that should happen, but she rarely seems to consider the potential collateral damage if she were to become possessed or let a demon loose on the world, and can't remotely grasp that others such as Hawke and Marethari would rather put themselves at risk than let her die. Yet, because she believes she fully understands and accepts the risks of what she's doing, she refuses to listen to warnings or criticism.
** [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, the Demon she summoned to help her fix the Eluvian, as well as the Demon that causes her to temporarily [[OutOfCharacterMoment turn on Hawke]] whilst they are in the Fade, in both instances are revealed to be ''{{Pride}}'' Demons.]]
* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: Finding out that that seemingly-innocent {{Adorkable}} elf was a blood mage who has dealt with demons is a bit of a surprise, even if you're finding this out within fifteen minutes of when you first met her.
* FishOutOfWater: Not that she fit in that well with the Dalish, either.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Whilst she has very little screentime in the previous game, she does appear to be extremely interested in using [[spoiler: the Eluvian mirror to find information]]. This plays a big part in her companion quests in this game.
* ForgetsToEat: The codex mentions that Varric has to leave food on her doorstep when she gets really fixated [[spoiler:on the Eluvian.]]
* GreenThumb: She possesses a mix of Keeper magic and her own experimentation with blood magic.
* GayOption
* GirlNextDoor: According to the developers in the second Dev Diary.
** Evokes the BigBrotherInstinct to life-threatening extremes, even in those who should know better. Even Carver shows uncommon tenderness toward her. Fenris is the only one without a smidgen of pity for her.
* GoodBadGirl: Very much. She tries to get Isabela to teach her how to do a SexyWalk and even looks through Anders' book of spells in hopes of finding some dirty spells to spice up her bed time with Hawke.
--> '''Isabela''': So... did you get ''naked?''
--> '''Merrill''': ''Isabela!''
--> '''Isabela''': Look at that blush! ''[[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex That]]'' [[TheImmodestOrgasm good]], huh?!
* HappilyAdopted: By Keeper Marethari, as per the Dalish tradition of moving magically-gifted children between the clans to distribute them evenly amongst clans that need them, but by the start of the game their relationship has gotten strained due to the blood magic and demon summoning.
* HeroicBSOD: A small one happens if Hawke brings her along on the "Night Terrors" quest, where [[spoiler: she gives in to a Pride Demon's temptations and briefly turns on the party.]] She's pretty shaken up afterwards if you go visit her home.
** [[spoiler: A much, ''much'' bigger one comes after her Act III quest.]]
* HeroWorshipper: Has more than a little of one when it involves Hawke, (unless s/he is in a rivalry with her), and is certainly the reason behind her implied immediate crush on him/her, at least at first.
* {{Hikikomori}}: Borderline; between Acts II and III, she's gotten so obsessed with [[spoiler: finishing the Eluvian]] that she's forgetting to eat and often doesn't leave the house for days at a time. Varric comes by each week to convince her to take a break and come outside to make sure things don't get worse.
* TheIngenue: For all her cheerful innocence, she's also dangerously naive about the risks of blood magic and demons.
-->'''Merrill:''' There's nothing inherently evil about blood magic. It's magic, like any other.
-->'''Anders:''' (disgusted) Are you really that stupid?
** Though she later points to Anders that he's screwed up worse on this account than she has.
--->'''Merrill:''' Are you all right?
--->'''Anders:''' [[spoiler: I nearly killed an innocent girl.]] How could I be all right?
--->'''Merrill:''' I'm sorry.
--->'''Anders:''' You're sorry? For me? This could be you! You could be the next monster [[spoiler: threatening helpless girls!]]
--->'''Merrill:''' Anders... there's no such thing as a good spirit. There never was. ''All'' spirits are dangerous. I understood that. I'm sorry that you didn't.
* InsistentTerminology: She never refers to demons as "demons", just "spirits", and insists the two are NotSoDifferent.
* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: Very much the [[NiceGirl Light]] to Isabela's [[LovableSexManiac Dark]].
* LiteralMinded: Very much so.
-->'''Arishok:''' They say we were careless with our trap, that this is our fault. But even without the saar-qamek, there would have been death. This elf was determined to lay blame at our feet.
-->'''Merrill:''' But your feet didn't do anything wrong! Did they?
* MediumAwareness: Most of her PartyBanter in the third and final act consists of her worrying about what she sees as a upcoming end to the party's adventures together.
* MoralityPet: To Isabela.
-->'''Merrill:''' Why is it that you always win at cards?
-->'''Isabela:''' *chuckle* Because I cheat, Kitten.
--> ({{beat}})
-->'''Isabela:''' This trinket... it's elven, isn't it? From your clan.
-->[[PetTheDog (Isabela hands the trinket back)]]
-->'''Isabela:''' Don't bet anything you're not prepared to lose. Here... have it back.
* NoSenseOfDirection: Her codex reveals that she somehow found herself in the cupboards of the Chantry, a dog track in Darktown, and ''[[SerialEscalation the Viscount's bathroom]]'' in her attempts to walk home.
** While on Sundermount, she mentions that she gets lost a lot on the mountain. THE PATH ONLY GOES ONE WAY.
*** The path does, but outside of gameplay the InsurmountableWaistHeightFence doesn't apply, so it's more reasonable for her to get lost off the path there than that she took a wrong turn in Lowtown that got her into the cupboards of the Chantry.
* NoodleIncident: In ''Legacy''.
--->'''Merrill''': I am ''so'' sorry about the wardrobe. Was it very badly smashed?
--->'''Hawke''': What did you do to it exactly?
--->'''Merrill''': I didn't expect it to fall over the railing like that. I thought it'd be more stable.
--->'''Hawke''': Fell over the railing? ...What?
--->'''Merrill''': I mean it held up just fine for me! Poor Sandal, it took hours for Bodahn to coax him down from the chandelier.
--->'''Hawke''': On second thought, I don't want to know.
** No one is quite able to explain how she keeps ending up in the Chantry cupboards or the Viscount's bathroom in her attempts to get home.
* NoSocialSkills: She has next to no understanding of life outside the Dalish.
* ObliviousToLove: Merrill develops a crush on Hawke seemingly at their first meeting, but seems to not realise if Hawke actually flirts and returns the affections, up until Hawke has to just directly tell her.
** She also has this in regard to Carver when he attempts to flirt with her, although her aforementioned crush on his older sibling may be what stops her noticing this.
*** Although an exchange in ''Mark of the Assassin'' suggests that she might just put on an oblivious act, presumably to not hurt Carver's feelings:
--->'''Carver:''' Okay, we're lost together. Both of us, not that we're "together" together.
--->'''Merrill:''' If we have to be lost somewhere, at least it's a nice hallway! Very well built, not at all likely to collapse.
--->'''Carver:''' Right, well, back to rescuing... wait. You're doing that on purpose!
--->'''Merrill:''' (giggles)
* OfCorsetsSexy: Wears one in the romance scenes. CovertPervert indeed...
* RagsToRoyalty: If romanced, Hawke asks her to move in with them to their Hightown Estate.
* RescueRomance: If the rivalry path is taken, she falls for Hawke as s/he tries to save her from herself.
* ScarfOfAsskicking: [[http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae354/Saibh_photos/DevDiary%200110/ScreenHunter_76Jan101634.jpg?t=1294698013 A bit more hipster]] than the traditional flow with the person as they move variant.
* SelectiveObliviousness: Her attitude towards demons and blood magic crosses over into this frequently. She states, (and even demonstrates on occasion), that she understands the risks... yet is surprised when people ask/demand that she stop, and doesn't seem to understand why others might view ''her'' as dangerous.
* ShipperOnDeck: She ''fully'' supports Aveline/Donnic. As well as Hawke and one of the other love interests if her own romance arc is not pursued.
* ShuttingUpNow: Tends to talk her way into a hole, and ends her dialogue like this.
-->'''Merrill:''' I'll try not to hit anyone. On our side, I mean. [[MotorMouth I'm babbling again. Let's go.]]
* SkilledButNaive: She's the most powerful offensive mage outside of possibly Hawke, but she's got so little life experience that half the party has to watch out for her.
* {{Squee}}: On occasion, usually when concerning other party members' love lives.
* SurvivorGuilt: There's no way she could have saved Tamlen or Mahariel, but that doesn't stop her seeing their faces in crowds years later. In Act III, [[spoiler: she admits to Sebastian that she thinks she should have died instead of Marethari. Throughout the last third of the game, she's much more likely to get snippy and sometimes sounds like she's on the verge of tears. Nine times worse if her whole clan ended up dead as well.]]
* [[spoiler:TragicHero]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Arguably. She turned to blood magic and [[spoiler: made a deal with a Pride Demon in order to repair a broken elven artifact]] and reclaim some of her people's history. She is aware that these actions might harm herself, but her inability to comprehend that the consequences will likely hurt others as well sometimes crosses over into denial.
* WhatHaveIDone: If the rivalry path is pursued, after her Act III quest, [[spoiler: Merrill will destroy the mirror, admitting that her obsession with it is what caused the death of Marethari/her clan. However, on the friendship path she will lament that their lack of understanding is what caused their deaths.]]
** Whether you are her rival or not, this is her reaction [[spoiler:after the Keeper reveals how the Pride Demon tricked her and she is forced to kill her.]]
* WhatTheHellHero: Anders and Fenris both give her these for her blood magic and demon dealing.
--> '''Fenris''': ''So a demon called out to you, and you answered. Brilliant.''
** She herself will have a nice long yell at Hawke if he/she refuses to give her [[spoiler: the arulin'holm to help her repair the mirror]] in Act II.
* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: Merrill speaks with a distinctly Welsh accent, unlike the rest of the Sabrae clan who have Irish accents. It's later mentioned that she was born to a different clan in Nevarra and, after it was discovered she was a Mage, sent to Marethari for training.
* WomanInWhite: After Hawke has successfully romanced her, Merrill switches from her scarf and earth-tone clothes to a white robe with silvery chainmail and shoulder plates. The whole outfit makes it quite clear that being the significant other of a rich noble has its perks...
** HilariousInHindsight: If you had Sebastian and Merrill in your party, you may have heard Merrill call Sebastian out on his impractically "shiny armor".
* WrongGenreSavvy: Or maybe GenreSavvy, but coincidentally wrong this time. Merrill views blood magic through a morally relative lens, and thus thinks that it's no better or worse than any other magic or weapon, except that it can be used for dire things. But this is [[CrapsackWorld Thedas]]. She's wrong.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Gets kicked out of the Dalish for the whole blood magic thing. Also, unless you make exactly the right choice during her Act III companion quest, [[spoiler:they'll attack, and she'll have to help you kill them]].
[[/folder]]

!The Warriors

[[folder:Aveline]]
!Aveline Vallen [-(Joanna Roth)-]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Aveline_9816.jpg]]
->"''I’d rather kill a bandit and save a merchant’s family than know the correct dance steps and which rouge is in fashion.''"

The daughter of an exiled Orlesian Chevalier, Aveline was a soldier in King Cailan's army at Ostagar. When things turned sour, she and her Templar husband Wesley headed north to escape the Darkspawn. She met the escaping Hawke family on the way out of Lothering, and even though she lost her dear husband, she carried on with the Hawkes all the way to Kirkwall and beyond. While an honorable warrior, she is nevertheless pragmatic in her guard duties.
----
* ActionGirl: Hell yes!
* AmazonianBeauty: So far, she's the most muscular woman in the Dragon Age (or in BioWare) games to date--that's not to say she doesn't have a feminine figure.
** Though the prologue and a brief cutscene in Act III are the only times you'll get to see it.
* BabiesEverAfter: Hints that she regrets never having children with Wesley. If she later marries Donnic, separate conversations with Isabela and Fenris reveal that they are considering starting a family in the near future.
* BadassNormal: Deserves special mention, see EstablishingCharacterMoment below.
* BerserkButton: As mentioned below, do NOT question her loyalty or accuse her of coddling her guards.
* BiTheWay: Implied. If you flirt with her and then successfully get her and Donnic together in Act II, she asks if Hawke ever thought about the two of them. [[LesYay The conversation does not change for Lady Hawkes]].
* BigSisterMentor: Has some shades of this for Hawke and his/her siblings especially. Some cut-dialogues refer to her cornering most of the party and getting them to practice swordsmanship with her (including the mages) and criticizing their techniques.
* BreastPlate: Initially played straight during the prologue sequence, though justifiably so; it takes little effort to forgive leather armor for being form-fitting. Heavily averted for the rest of the game - the metal plate the guards wear is the same general shape for both men and woman, giving Aveline no more chances to show off her assets.
* CannotSpitItOut: Towards Donnic. She tries courting him in more subtle ways, but her methods seem to make sense only to her. Depending on how this is handled he may conclude that ''Hawke'' is awkwardly hitting on him.
** InsaneTrollLogic: Eventually, her efforts to woo him get so bad that even when she does explain the reasoning behind her actions, Hawke can't argue directly with them because ''they make no sense''. You get the chance to call her out on it.
* TheCaptain: Served as an Officer in Ferelden Army at Ostagar.
** Later becames [[DaChief Captain]] of the Kirkwall City Guard.
* TheChampion: To the Hawke family during their first year in Kirkwall. She claims it's just to keep [[FightMagnet Hawke]] out of trouble.
* CityGuards: Joins the Kirkwall guard after fleeing Ferelden and can be promoted to Captain of the Guards after a mission where she investigates her superior's corruption.
* CloudcuckoolandersMinder: Towards the snarky/silly!Hawke.
* ComicallySerious: Especially when paired with Snarky!Hawke, Varric and Isabela.
* CowboyCop: Even as DaChief, she has no problem telling authority where to shove it and will bend the rules for the sake of her friends.
** However, do not EVER question whether she is going soft on the men under her command and coddling certain individuals (Donnic). When the Templars force you to investigate her on this in Act III, you set out to prove that Donnic is doing the same routes as the other men, if not more dangerous, and most of her men are fighting for their life twice a week to keep Kirkwall safe.
* DaChief: Eventually reaches this position on the Guard.
* DefectorFromDecadence: Aveline's mysterious father. "Orlais has [[DeadlyDecadentCourt a game.]] He wouldn't play it. I never cared to ask further."
* DependingOnTheArtist: Her official art is... [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110121223257/dragonage/images/7/7d/Aveline_4.jpg considerably more mannish]] when compared to her in-game model.
* DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu: During the Prologue and if she's brought along to Sundermount, Aveline appears to be the ''[[OnlySaneMan only]]'' person in the group who actually recognises that talking to The Witch of the Wilds is not something any sane person would want to do.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Borderline; she trains with each guard individually and makes certain that they know what they are doing. They certainly think that it's TrainingFromHell. If you've been succeeding at her personal quests, she bonds with each of the guards as well, which takes the edge off of it. If not, the guards become more efficient, but Aveline herself will not be well liked.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: One of the first things she does is tackle a darkspawn that severely wounded Wesley and ''punch'' it into submission before lever-cutting its head off with its own sword. She proceeds to fight the rest of the horde with the intention of saving her husband or dying with him.
* ExposeTheVillainGetHisJob: Her Act 1 personal quest.
* {{Expy}}: Aveline is essentially Brienne of Tarth in a slightly different fantasy world and with slightly better luck.
* [[FakeBrit Fake Fereldan]]: In a manner of speaking. She was born in Ferelden and raised there, but her father was actually a disgraced Orlesian Chevalier who decided to defect during the Orlesian Occupation. Aveline seems to consider herself to be a Fereldan first and her Orlesian heritage second.
* FailureKnight: Her sometimes obsessive need to protect everyone seems to be the reason she latches onto looking after the Hawke family. It is implied to have largely stemmed from her guilt at being unable to save Wesley. [[spoiler:If brought into the Fade during "Night Terrors," a Desire Demon will use this against her and [[OutOfCharacterMoment she'll turn on the party.]]]]
* FireForgedFriends: At the start of the game, she bonds with the Hawke family when they fight their way out of Lothering together.
* {{Foil}}: To a Snarky!Hawke. Hawke even lampshades it:
--> Hawke: You don't want me as sour and dour as you. You need a counterpoint.
* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: If Aveline marries Donnic, Isabela offers some tips on how they can spice up their sex-life. Aveline lets her know Donnic needs no help in that department.
* HappilyMarried: With Wesley before the game. With Donnic later, if Hawke helps out.
* HeterosexualLifePartners[=/=]PlatonicLifePartners: With Hawke.
* HollywoodAtheist: Averted; Aveline has no issue with the Chantry or those who believe in the Maker (she even married a Templar), but she doesn't seem to believe herself. She says that she thinks the Chant is lovely, but perhaps that is all it needs to be. She even nets Friendship points if you're dismissive to the Grand Cleric.
* IdiotBall: PlayedForLaughs. She's a bright, talented and quick-thinking guardswoman... but her intelligence plummets when it comes to dealing with Donnic. Case in point? While trying to be romantic with him, she turns it into a conversation about the sharpness of swords.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: Wesley's death remains a sore spot for her for a good half of the game, partially because she feels she should have been able to prevent it. Her fear of losing anything else drives many of her actions throughout the game.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: If Hawke chooses to flirt with her, s/he eventually decides to let her go.
* JustFriends: Although Hawke can flirt with Aveline, she will gently reject his/her advances. She seems to regard the Hawkes as her children or [[LikeBrotherAndSister younger siblings]] more than anything else.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Rare female example.
* MarriedToTheJob: Apparently the reason she's having such difficulty with romancing Donnic. Even though she was once married, she's thrown herself into her work so much, she's forgotten how ''not'' to be a guard for a while. [[spoiler:If you don't help her out on her sidequests, she never learns to relax and the pressure eventually pushes her to leave town.]]
* MatchmakerQuest: Her sidequest in Act II involves her attempting to court Guardsman Donnic. Don't mess things up, and they'll get married.
* MeaningfulName: An in-universe example; Aveline was the name of the first female Chevalier.
** She actually doesn't seem fond of the symbolism, ([[ActionGirl though it fits her perfectly]]), calling the name "a wish [her] father made," and expressing relief that Fenris doesn't know the story of Ser Aveline. By the end of the game though, if her personal quests were completed correctly, she seems much more sure of herself and has come to terms with it.
* AMotherToHerMen
* MyBelovedSmother: Doesn't actually plan on being a mother herself (unless they invent a way for men to give birth), but she definitely acts this way towards the others during party banters, especially Hawke and Carver. If her personal quests are not completed, her guards complain that they are feeling smothered and start to resent her for it.
** Foreshadowed slightly in Act I party banter with Bethany, who asks her why she and Wesley never had children; Aveline explains that their respective careers forced them to put the prospect on hold. When Bethany asks if she regrets it now that Wesley is gone, Aveline replies that the question is too personal. It's possible that she sees her companions as surrogates for the children she never had.
* NoGuyWantsAnAmazon: Ser Wesley and Guardsman Donnic are the exceptions that prove the rule; almost everyone else finds her intimidating and off-putting, as other party members point out. According to Isabela, she's a "woman-shaped battering ram."
** Hawke also can express an interest in her, which she won't actually realise until ''after'' she's hooked up with Donnic.
* NoSocialSkills
* NotSoAboveItAll: In ''Legacy'', she finally gets back at Anders for all of his [[JerkAss arsey comments]] by ripping the piss out of him.
--> "Any second I'll surrender to the almighty power of 'Guard Captain' and enslave all mages. Look out. Authority. Wooooooo."
** She also chuckles at Isabela's "ghast-hole" comment in ''Mark Of The Assasin'' before stopping herself.
* ObliviousToLove: If Hawke flirts with her -- particularly during her MatchmakerQuest. Possibly explained by the insane things she does to woo Donnic; she clearly has no idea how typical courting goes.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: As Captain of the Guard. Under her command, the guard is the most efficient and respected it's been in generations, though [[spoiler:once Meredith takes over, some of the Templars seem to be making it a point to limit her influence and try to oust her from her position.]]
** Despite her late husband having been a Templar, she refuses to turn Mage!Hawke or Bethany in, since they at least ''try'' to do good.
* RedHeadedHero: According to "Mark of the Assassin", it runs in the family.
* RunningGag: Aveline being able to lift a cow. Comes up often in party conversation, particularly during "Mark of the Assassin."
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:If she sides against Hawke during the endgame, she decides that she owes Hawke too much to fight him/her and walks out after delivering a ReasonYouSuckSpeech to Hawke. Her fellow guardsmen quickly follow suit.]]
* SignificantGreenEyedRedhead: The first permanent companion character you meet, as well as one of the most important ones after becoming captain of the guard.
* StoneWall: Her specialization focuses on defense and protecting party members. Thanks to her Indomitable ability, she's the only party member immune to the final boss's "stun you all so I can monologue" move.
* StraightManAndWiseGuy: The StraightMan to Snarky!Hawke, Varric, and Isabela's WiseGuy.
* TakeUpMySword: Upon first encounter, she wields a two handed greatsword. After Wesley loses the use of his sword arm, and later dies, she takes up a Sword & Shield style like him. Her starting shield in Act I ''is'' Wesley's.
* TeamDad: Gender-flipped. Most of her conversations with the party involve her providing some form of advice or critiquing their lifestyle choices. It's also said that she has people spying on most of the others and bends the rules a bit if necessary in hopes of keeping them out of trouble.
** Is also very protective of Hawke and the only person besides the love interest who really takes time to console a devastated Hawke [[spoiler:after his/her mother's murder.]]
** Made especially clear by a line she can say when drinks a health potion. You'd obviously be using this when she's dying, and she ''still'' might say:
--> "I hope no one else needs this!"
* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Establishes herself as being on the "Good" side of things at all times early in Act I, despite having only just taken the job. She remains lawful only so long as it is useful in her quest to do good. When the two conflict, there is never a moment's hesitation in her mind. It's also why she has no problems with Hawke if you play as a more ChaoticGood character.
--> "I can trust you at least try to do right."
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: [[spoiler:Aveline invokes this when Arishok says he must take Isabela back along with the book she stole: "Oh, no. If anyone's going to kick her ass, it's me." She gives Friendship points if you go to bat for Isabela against Arishok, and Rivalry points if you hand Isabela over.]]
* TragicKeepsake: Wesley's shield. She's ''not pleased'' if you've sold it, and even just un-equipping it and putting it in storage earns a few complaints in Act II. Though she later clarifies it's less about Wesley and more just holding onto the last pieces of her old life.
* {{Tsundere}}: A Type A, especially towards Hawke and Isabela. [[spoiler: Wesley and Donnic both seem to be the only people who constantly get her softer side.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Isabela towards the end of the game. She eventually starts barking "[[CatchPhrase Shut up, Whore]]" with an obvious twinge of affection.
** Also a case of this with Hawke, especially a Snarky-Hawke. It may also have a case of BelligerentSexualTension subtext if you flirt with her.
*** With a rival!Hawke, the most touching moment in their friendship comes right after Aveline [[BadAss beats the ever loving shit out of him/her.]]
* [[WellDoneSonGuy Well Done Daughter Girl]]: Implied, especially during "Night Terrors".
-->[[spoiler:'''Demon!Wesley''': You spent your whole life trying to be the chevalier your father wanted. The one thing you chose for yourself, and the darkspawn took him.]]
* WidowWoman: Ser Wesley, her Templar husband, dies shortly after meeting him due to darkspawn taint. Either you or Aveline can MercyKill him. She can eventually remarry though.
* {{Workaholic}}: The Codex notes that her life revolves around guarding others; when she's not on-duty as a city guard, she's guarding Hawke and co. If her personal quests are completed, she starts to relax a little bit. If not, [[spoiler: the pressure slowly breaks her down and she can resolve to step down from her position and leave Kirkwall entirely in Act III.]]
** Lampshaded by Varric in some dialogue in Act I, when he asks what she does.
--> '''Aveline''': You know I'm a guard, why are you asking?
--> '''Varric''': I mean in your off-duty hours? For fun? You've heard of it, I hope?
--> '''Aveline''': These ''are'' my off-duty hours.
--> '''Varric''': And the trend of you scaring the piss out of me continues...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dog]]
!Dog
[[quoteright:349:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20110429161445650_9600.jpg]]

No, not [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins that]] Dog, though he [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute might as well be.]] The Hawke family's loyal mabari companion. Dog isn't a full party member, but can be summoned to give some extra help.
----
* AssistCharacter
* AngryGuardDog: To his enemies.
--> '''Snarky!Hawke''': But if he's with us, who'll keep Gamlen's debt collectors away?
* BadassGrandpa: According to the timeline, Dog must be in his double digits by the game's final act, which is quite old by dog standards. This doesn't stop his badassery in the slightest.
* BigFriendlyDog: To everyone aside from his opponents.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Though he's not actually evil, really. It does give him an unsettling appearance, though.
** Bodhan and Sandal lampshade it in conversation, saying they find the eyes rather creepy-looking.
* CanineCompanion
* CountryMouse: Kirkwall doesn't really give him the space a dog the size of a pony needs.
* CovertPervert: If romancing Merrill, she comments that she doesn't appreciate that the Dog watches her and Hawke while they have sex.
* DogsAreDumb: As with all Mabari, thoroughly averted.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Aveline asks if she can borrow Dog to help whip her fellow guardsmen into shape. She's particularly interested to see how they handle a good old-fashioned, Fereldan, Mabari charge.
* {{Expy}}: Of the original Dog.
* FluffyTamer: Inverted. Mabari choose their owner and he chose ''Hawke''.
* FluffyTheTerrible: He's downright adorable to his allies. His ''enemies,'' on the other hand...
* HeroesLoveDogs: Everyone in the party loves Dog. With the exception of Anders, but only because he's a cat person.
** Even Anders seems to like Dog, especially if he moves in with Hawke later in the game. He just doesn't appreciate being slobbered on.
** Both he and Sandal are very fond of each other.
* HeroicDog
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute
* TheTell: Varric claims he's a great Diamondback player, but he gives the game away by wagging his tail whenever he gets a good hand. He's still a better cardplayer than ''Anders'', though!
* UndyingLoyalty
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fenris]]
!Fenris / [[spoiler:Leto]] [-(GideonEmery)-]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Fenris_1201.jpg]]
-> "''[[BlatantLies I don't "brood."]]''"

An elven slave turned living weapon. He used his power to escape his master Danarius, a Tevinter Magister who is trying to reclaim his "property." Even now that he's free and out of the Imperium, Fenris nurses a bitter streak against all mages. He is a potential love interest.
----
* AcheyScars: His lyrium markings are the reason he hates being touched.
* TheAlcoholic: All but stated that the only reason he hasn´t left the mansion is because of Danarius´s massive wine cellar.
* AmnesiacDissonance: Among other things, he resents the lyrium markings and the power that was inflicted upon him. In his final companion quest "Alone", he discovers [[spoiler: that he had actually wanted them, even competed for them, for the sake of using the boon offered to the winner to free his family.]]
** [[spoiler: Varania also implies that he wanted the power that the markings brought him, something extremely jarring for Fenris who insists mages cannot be trusted because they will always find an excuse to seek power and end up going too far/getting used by a greater evil.]]
* AmnesiacHero
* AttackAnimal: Brainwashed by his Tevinter owner into this.
* BerserkButton: His EstablishingCharacterMoment is his violent reaction over being called a slave--being taunted with it also comes up several times during his personal quests. He hates mages--particularly the Magisters of Tevinter, and the blood magic connected to them.
** He doesn't take kindly to the suggestions that he "just move on" or, worse, to forget about revenge against Danarius.
** During his loyalty mission, when Hawke tells Orana to go to their home for help and refuge, Fenris immediately accuses Hawke of condoning slavery and wanting one for themselves. Hawke counters that they actually offered Orana a ''job'' and are going to ''pay'' her for it.
* {{BFS}}: Uses two-handed weapons. Several of which are as tall as he is.
* {{Bishonen}}: He's most likely older than twenty, but considering the new, leaner elven body model, he certainly fits the aesthetic.
* BiTheWay: Like Anders and Merrill, his interest in men is never even alluded in the straight romance. This brings up debates on whether his sexuality changes based on the gender of the player character.
* BrutalHonesty: He's extremely blunt with his criticism of anything he dislikes, especially if it relates to magic or its users.
* BystanderSyndrome: Generally neutral in affairs not involving [[BerserkButton mages or slavers]]. In fact, it's implied that for most of the game, outside of adventures with Hawke and a few mercenary jobs he takes for money, he doesn't interact much with anyone. Varric complains that after years in Kirkwall he's still "practically a ghost."
-->'''Fenris''': You are too willing to involve yourself in the affairs of others, Hawke. Each time you put yourself at risk. One day you will not be so lucky.
-->'''Hawke''': You have a better idea?
-->'''Fenris''': [[HeroicNeutral Guard what you have]]. Keep your head low.
* CharacterDevelopment: If a full rival [[spoiler: he admits revenge has brought him nothing and decides it's time to let go of his hate.]] Unfortunately, unlike Isabela's rivalry, this does not change his comment at the final quest [[spoiler: as he still shows hatred towards magic and is initially against supporting the mages]].
** Another example would be his gradually opening up to a few of the other companions and eventually befriending them (evident in party banter), in contrast to his initial anti-social behavior. He even jokes with some of them and by Act III regularly plays cards with Varric and Donnic.
* TheComicallySerious: His generally dour demeanor gets him ribbed on by some of the more jokey companions.
** ... Although if you keep him away from people who push his buttons, he makes his share of jokes.
** And Silly!Hawke's comments usually get at least a smile out of him. He even chuckles with regularity.
* CursedWithAwesome: The lyrium scars emblazoned on him by his master cause Fenris no small amount of pain, but give him extra strength and endurance, as well as the ability to go partially intangible.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: He was a slave in the Tevinter Imperium, and had his skin laced with lyrium in a process so torturously painful that it wiped away his pre-ritual memories.
* DeadpanSnarker: Sometimes, and with emphasis on the deadpan.
* DefrostingIceKing: He's loosened up a little bit by Act III, particularly around Aveline, Isabela, Varric, Donnic, and possibly Hawke. He even starts cracking a few jokes of his own.
** If you manage to maintain a high friendship, it unlocks additional lines that sound [[SugarAndIcePersonality much warmer than his usual tone of voice]], including "Yes, my friend?" and "Always a pleasure." The friendship branch of his personal specialization tree also mentions that "Fenris is touched by your unexpected support."
* DespairEventHorizon: If you choose to [[spoiler:betray Fenris and give him back to Danarius. Your betrayal so utterly breaks his spirit and his faith in freedom and friendship, he just gives up without a fight. He doesn't even have the strength to show anger at you about it. Later, you get a letter from Danarius thanking you, telling you that Fenris has been memory-wiped again and is now perfectly obedient.]]
* DoesNotLikeMagic
* DoesNotLikeShoes: He never wears shoes and he will occasionally say with disgust, "I think I stepped in something."
* [[spoiler:DoNotCallMePaul]]: His response to [[spoiler: his sister calling him by his real name at the end of "Alone" after he finds out she betrayed him]] is an angry "Stop calling me that!".
* [[DontYouDarePityMe Don't You Dare Pity Me]]: Despite his frequent mentioning of his past, he despises people attempting to empathize with him about it.
* DrowningMySorrows: He can be seen drinking quite a lot at least twice during the game. Especially when he's about to confess something about his past.
** It's implied that part of the reason he's content with staying in the rundown mansion is because of the wine cellar.
* TheEeyore: Probably the most pessimistic of the group, [[NeverLiveItDown though not as much as they'd have you believe]]. Even in his lighter moments, he's generally dry and rather bleak. By the end of the game, he's ''starting'' to grow out of it.
* EnemyMine: He takes this approach about working with any mage except for, potentially, Hawke. If asked about it when he's recruited he says that he'll be watching the party's mages very closely. Much of his dialogue with Merrill is antagonistic over her blood magic and her naive attitudes regarding elves outside the Dalish, and Hawke can even gain rivalry with him for being nice to her. He tolerates her as a teammate - if only because Hawke is around. He's not much less hostile towards Anders (and in this case the feelings are mutual), though with Bethany he merely suggests that she should be in the Circle.
* EnemyOfMyEnemy: The name of his 100% Rival special ability.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The surviving leader of a group of slave hunters grabs his shoulder and calls him a slave. Fenris turns and shoves his hand through the guy's chest, crushing his heart and killing him instantly (and messily).
* FantasticRacism: He believes that all mages, no matter their intentions will eventually become power-hungry maniacs unless constantly controlled. [[spoiler:If Hawke sides with the mages in "The Final Straw," Fenris will turn against him/her unless he has been permanently locked in as a friend or rival or if Hawke calls him on the hypocrisy of supporting the enslavement of mages.]]
** Fenris is also not particularly fond of the Dalish. This is rooted in the Dalish viewing themselves as the [[SuperiorSpecies Superior Elves]].
* FreudianExcuse: His pretty horrifying life as a slave, (as well as the fact that this is quite literally [[IdentityAmnesia all he knows]]), explains quite a bit of his antisocial tendencies.
* FriendsWithBenefits: With Isabela if the player isn't romancing either of them.
* GayOption
* GoneHorriblyRight: Denarius wanted a lyrium-empowered MagicKnight SuperSoldier. And, boy, did he get one...
* GoodScarsEvilScars: All over his body. They look more like tattoos, however, and they're ''pretty'', like the veins of leaves.
* HappinessInSlavery: Says to Hawke that the reason most slaves don't simply run away or rebel is that they don't think of anything beyond satisfying their masters. The only reason he was able to subvert this trope and escape is because [[spoiler:he was accidentally separated from Danarius for a few months and in the care of the Fog Warriors, who treated him as a person instead of an object or a pet. After Danarius returned, the Fog Warriors were prepared to fight to protect him, but Danarius ordered Fenris to kill them [[MoreThanMindControl and he did so]].]] The resulting WhatHaveIDone shocked him to his core and he ran.
** [[spoiler:If Hawke gives Fenris back to Danarius in Act III, Danarius' letter states he has wiped Fenris' memories again and implies that he truly believes Fenris is happier as his perfectly obedient self.]]
* HatesBeingTouched: See above; between Fenris, Morrigan, and Arianne, this might be becoming a signature of the series. If romanced he will obviously move out of this ([[IfItsYouItsOkay with Hawke at least]]). In one of their possible romance scenes, he'll nearly attack Hawke when s/he surprises him with a touch.
** Doubles as Ironic, as WordofGod states that Slave!Fenris and Danarius were sexually intimate.
* HeadbuttingHeroes: Hates the party mages who are careless about their abilities - Anders for thinking he can take a spirit into him and remain in control and Merrill for believing herself justified in using blood magic. He is much more lenient toward Bethany, who is wary of her abilities and wishes she could be normal, and potentially a mage Hawke.
* HollywoodAtheist: Subversion. His banter with Sebastian reveals that while he's not entirely convinced that the Maker exists, he does keep something of an open mind. It's even implied in Act III that Sebastian may be rubbing off on him.
-->'''Sebastian''': I saw you at the Chantry last week, Fenris, but I haven't seen you back since.
-->'''Fenris''': I was only delivering something... you needn't concern yourself.
-->'''Sebastian''': But you were praying. Or was that part of the delivery?
-->'''Fenris''': I was... [[BlatantLies trying to blend in]].
-->'''Sebastian''': (Laughs) Oh, yes! You wouldn't want to ruin your reputation.
-->'''Fenris''': Don't you have a city to re-conquer?
** Some banter with Anders confirms this even if you don't have Sebastian's [=DLC=].
-->'''Anders''': Did you ever think about killing yourself?
-->'''Fenris''': I could ask you the same thing.
-->'''Anders''': I'm serious. To get out of slavery, to escape Danarius... don't tell me you never thought about it.
-->'''Fenris''': I did not. To kill oneself is a sin in the eyes of the Maker.
-->'''Anders''': You... believe that?
-->'''Fenris''': I try to. Some things must be worse than slavery.
-->'''Anders''': Some things are worse than death.
* HomelessHero: Fenris squats in his former master's abandoned Hightown mansion.
* {{Hypocrite}}:
** He believes Mages are too powerful to be trusted and will inevitably abuse their power, so they should accept being enslaved and controlled by the Chantry. He himself is an escaped slave [[MagicKnight with magical powers]] who is being hunted by his former master and will mercilessly kill those who are no longer a threat to him if they piss him off enough. At least half of his arguments for corralling and controlling mages could also apply to him. Anders [[WhatTheHellHero calls him out on it once or twice.]]
** He's vehemently against slavery, yet supports locking up mages and denying them the freedoms and equal rights that others enjoy. Hawke can point out this hypocrisy at the endgame if [[spoiler: s/he sides with the mages, prompting Fenris to turn against Meredith and support Hawke.]]
** ''Merrill'' of all people points out that - he criticizes how much she risks herself and others by [[DealWithTheDevil taking a demon's help]] to regain a piece of elven history, when in order to [[spoiler:find his sister, Varania]], he is also taking risks and making compromises for the sake of regaining a piece of his past.
* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: Early on in the game, he seems somewhat taken aback that Hawke would be romantically interested in him, if s/he flirts with him.
* ICantDoThisByMyself: From the moment you meet him, he'll ask for your help using pretty much these exact words. Comes up in his later personal quests as well.
* IdentityAmnesia: The lyrium-infusion ritual wiped his memory.
** [[spoiler:As it turns out, he asked for and fought for the "privilege" of having this done to him. He is utterly horrified to find out that he essentially destroyed his own identity, ''willingly''.]]
* IfItsYouItsOkay: A possible example. Despite his general hatred and suspicion of anything magic related, getting romantically involved with a mage Hawke doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. Well, not in the magic department, anyway.
** During party banter with Anders, Fenris will admit that he considers Hawke (or Bethany) a strong mage who doesn't need supervision.
*** This is even present if you only pursue a Friendship with him as a mage. At the end of his first Questioning Beliefs, he will toast Hawke with a happy smile on his face, stating, "Here's to you, Hawke. A finer mage, I have never met." Considering that he seems to hate ''every other mage'' (sans Bethany), this says a lot.
** Also mentions this nearly by name if romanced during his Act II "Questioning Beliefs" quest. Due to the lyrium in his skin and general slavery, he HatesBeingTouched and has serious trust issues; he's never needed ''or wanted'' anyone before - but Hawke is unlike anyone he's ever met and might be different.
* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: Will warn Anders in this manner, if he had been romanced and [[spoiler:has dumped Hawke.]]
-->'''Fenris:''' You... are living with Hawke now?
-->'''Anders:''' What of it?
-->'''Fenris:''' Be good to him/her. Break his/her heart, and I will kill you.
* INeedAFreakingDrink
* IntangibleMan: The lyrium-infusion gives him the power to make himself partially intangible.
* [[ItsNotYouItsMe It's Not You, It's My Past]]: Gives this apology to Hawke after their first night together, [[spoiler: having momentarily gained back and instantly lost his pre-ritual memories.]]
* InVinoVeritas: He's a lot more talkative when he's drunk, and willing to bring up his past in a bit more detail. He also will happily toast a Mage-Hawke who pursued a Friendship with him, and even gets rather flirty at one point, a far call from his usual broody, slightly awkward self.
* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler: Fenris fought to participate in Danarius' experiments so he could use a boon to free his family. Danarius is quite amused to hear Fenris claim that he never asked for his markings.]]
** Also, for somebody who hates mages as much as he does, his {{Leitmotif}} is ''very'' similar to ''Mage Pride''...
*** [[spoiler:{{Foreshadowing}}[=/=]FridgeBrilliance: ... And then you discover that there's a reason for that. He's related to one. It makes perfect sense for the themes to be similar.]]
* JerkassHasAPoint: He's obviously prejudiced against mages because of his past experiences, so most of his opinions on them are pretty harsh. However, he ''does'' actually make a good point on occasion.
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: While he does have a searing hatred of mages (although he has respect for ones he deem "stable" like Mage!Hawke and Bethany), he's ultimately just a bit cranky and gradually becomes a pretty likable guy if you starting maxing out his friend meter. He even starts playing cards once a week with Varric and Guardsman Donnic.
* KickTheDog: [[spoiler: Viciously insulting an already devastated Merill at the end of both of her personal quests.]]
** Not quite as bad as the above, but after the party helps him clear out the mansion (possibly free of charge), if a mage is in the party he will refer to them as "a viper", and warning Hawke that "it" will only turn on him/her later. Considering they have done nothing but help him at this point (even ''Anders'' is sympathetic to him at first), this might come off as a bit much.
** He approves of [[DealWithTheDevil dealing with a demon]] during "Night Terrors", [[spoiler:dooming an innocent to possession in the process and risking the lives of everyone around him]], as long as Anders is in the party, because you'll have to fight him when Justice/Vengeance (the dominant personality in the Fade) objects.
* TheLadysFavour: Per WordOfGod, the red wristband he begins wearing after spending the night with Hawke is Hawke's favor to him.
* {{Leitmotif}}: The only companion that has a named theme in the official soundtrack, "Fenris' Theme", a slow and melancholy piece that combines PlayingTheHeartStrings with bits of a soft OneWomanWail.
* LightningBruiser: As a warrior specializing in two-handed weapons, Fenris can hack through low-level enemies almost as easily as he can stick a hand through someone's chest. His unique specialization combines the best passive skills from Hawke's Reaver and Berserker classes into one lethal package, allowing him to increase his attack speed and restore his stamina every time he kills an enemy, causing his battle effectiveness to snowball. Low survivability, the one weakness of two-handers, is partially mitigated by his Lyrium Ghost sustained mode.
* [[spoiler:LongLostRelative]]: [[spoiler:He has a sister named Varania. Like Alistair before him, the reunion didn't end up well. Except in Fenris' case, the sister can wind up dead - by his own hand.]]
* LostForever: Unlike the other companions his personal questline and romance can be completely derailed if you don't use him in the right area at the right time.
* MeaningfulName: Shares his name with the monstrous wolf Fenris of Norse mythology, who will slay Odin during Ragnarök (an apocalypse of terrible winter and war) after breaking free of his magical bindings. In Dragon Age lore, it means "little wolf" in Arcanum, the language of the Tevinters, and was chosen by his former master. [[spoiler: Leto directly translates as "summer" in some Slavic languages, and "he who is always happy" in Latin. Considering his current less than sunny disposition, this goes to show how much he's lost.]]
* MoralityPet: Although he is eager to pounce on the faults of mages, his relationship with Bethany is generally quite cordial. Hawke can qualify as a second example, especially if s/he is a mage and is engaged in a romance with him.
* MoreThanMindControl: By his own words, a slave does not dream of freedom but thinks only of satisfying his master. Fenris's initial escape had been an accident, not deliberate, and even after months spent outside of his master's influence, upon his return it felt unthinkable for him to do anything but obey. Danarius also claims that Fenris had once felt affection for him. Of course, it bears remembering that he's a [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Tevinter Magister]].
* MrFanservice: That pretty much runs the norm for elves anyway. Especially if they have white hair, green eyes, and a DarkAndTroubledPast.
* MusclesAreMeaningless: Very wiry and slender, and uses double-handed weapons that are sometimes bigger than he is with ease. A few of the cutscenes also show off his physical strength as he can [[NeckSnap snap necks]] and toss around human adults with no trouble. Granted, the lyrium under his skin is said to have something to do with this.
* NeverLearnedToRead: Comes with the territory as a former slave. Hawke can teach him, though, and will occasionally remark upon his reading in ambient dialogue at the estate.
* NoSocialSkills: His intense bitterness and lack of life experience outside of Tevinter slavery left him bitter, largely tactless, and extremely poor at forming relationships with others.
* NotSoDifferent: From Anders. The two are both former slaves (of a sort) that share an intense, unreasonable hatred of those similar to their oppressors who are ruled by their rage. They both seem to take pleasure in taking petty digs at each other.
** Anders actually invokes it to mock him in ''Legacy''.
** Also with Hadrianna, oddly enough, though mostly [[AllThereInTheManual only apparent in the Codex]]. Apparently she was treated cruelly by the other magisters and their apprentices, which slowly tore down her own decency and caused her own acts of cruelty to the slaves around her.
** Hawke can invoke this in "Night Terrors" [[spoiler:if he is brought to the Fade, saying that if he takes the Pride Demon's offer of power, then he is no better than the magistrates. [[MomentOfWeakness It doesn't work.]]]]
* OddCouple: With a mage-supporting Hawke.
* OddFriendship: With Donnic, who stops by his mansion to play a hand of cards every week, but tells Aveline they ''[[BlatantLies never]]'' gamble.
* OptionalPartyMember: You can only meet him by doing a side quest in Act I.
* PardonMyKlingon: He uses Tevinter swear words when he is upset.
* PeekABangs: Camera angles and his tendency to duck his head during some emotionally-charged moments mean his hair sometimes covers his eyes, which emphasizes his vulnerability (or {{Wangst}} depending on how sympathetic you find him at the moment).
* PetTheDog: [[spoiler:After his above KickTheDog moment to Merrill, he will (grudgingly) admit that the Keeper must have truly cared for her if she was willing to sacrifice herself for her, and (in his own [[JerkAss way]]) encourages her to live up to her memory.]]
** He gets several other moments, like during the quest "A Bitter Pill," when he [[spoiler:shows genuine concern and sympathy for the elven slave Orana and gets angry if you decide to take her as your slave]]. There are also many moments between him and [[spoiler:Hawke, especially if Hawke is in a friendly romance with him, or are at least friends, even if Hawke is a mage. Most of them are sweet enough to qualify as CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming]].
* PhysicalScarsPsychologicalScars
* PhlebotinumRebel
* PowerGlows: His lyrium scars glow when he is [[IntangibleMan phasing]].
** Some PartyBanter implies they have a slight glow, visible through clothing, even when he isn't using his powers.
* PrimalStance: Compare his posture with, say, Merrill's.
* ProperlyParanoid: He suspects slavers around every corner and a trap behind every stroke of luck. He's usually right.
* PuppyDogEyes: During his romance scenes - and every time Hawke's back is turned, if Merrill is to be believed. "There are no puppy eyes!"
* [[spoiler:RapeAsBackstory:]] Heavily implied in dialogue, and WordOfGod confirms it.
* RevengeBeforeReason: Most obviously during his Act II personal quest, where he kills a hired sword after [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique interrogating him]] and then kills Hadriana despite promising not to kill the latter in return for information about his past. Neither of these people were exactly innocent (Hadriana may have even [[KickTheSonOfABitch deserved it]]), but he still killed them after it was obvious they were no longer a threat to him. He also yells at Hawke if he/she tries to call him out on it. To his credit, he does clearly regret his behavior, and he goes to Hawke to apologize later.
** Even in Act III, [[spoiler:he will kill his sister who, while she did sell him out to Danarius, did so out of desperation, did not participate in the ensuing fight, and is completely unarmed and cowering in the corner at the time.]] His CharacterDevelopment is showcased in how Hawke and co. ''can'' talk him out of it.
* ScarsAreForever: Due to being infused with lyrium when he was transformed. They cause him some amount of pain, more so when touched.
* SeenItAll: Gives off this impression with his generally stoic reactions, especially concerning the darker side of magic, though he is not in all likelihood older than his mid-twenties.
* SlaveCollar: Used to have one. Danarius apparently used to like to keep him ''leashed''.
* SpikesOfVillainy: The implications of the spikes all over his armor is discussed by the party once or twice, though he's an AntiHero.
--> '''Varric''': You do know the elf is covered in spikes, like an angsty porcupine? He might have some... [[BrokenBird issues]].
* TheStoic
** NotSoStoic: The only one to never shout during combat, being a user of TranquilFury. [[BigNo Until Hawke is knocked unconscious.]]
* SugarAndIcePersonality
* SuperSoldier
* TranquilFury: ''Constantly'', to the point that he has an actual class ability (Veneer of Calm) that gives him a bonus to damage as his health drops.
* TroubledButCute: He claims he doesn't brood. Varric isn't buying it for a second.
** BrokenBird: Arguably has a few shades of this as well.
* UnstoppableRage: He usually doesn't emote much, but once any of his [[BerserkButton buttons]] is pushed, he's quick to reveal just how much fury he keeps bottled up.
* VengeanceFeelsEmpty: The aftermath of both his personal quests. In spite of years of abuse, he feels only disquiet after killing Hadriana - and finally killing Danarius leaves him wondering what the heck he's going to do next.
* WhatHaveIDone: The incident that prompted him to run away from Danarius [[spoiler:when he killed the Fog Warriors who had rescued and cared for him on Danarius' orders.]] He says at first it wasn't Danarius he was running from.
* WhatTheHellHero: Hawke can give him one of these for breaking his word about leaving Hadriana alive.
** [[spoiler: Hawke can also call him out on his hypocrisy concerning keeping mages captive during the end-game and get him to turn his back on supporting Meredith. It says something about how much he respects Hawke considering how Anders has been browbeating him about that particular issue since Act I.]]
** He himself will be furious at Hawke if s/he chooses [[spoiler: to take Orana as a slave.]] Be particularly blase about it and he'll [[PardonMyKlingon curse at Hawke in Tevinter]] and [[SpitefulSpit spit at the ground]] before storming off.
* WhiteHairBlackHeart: Extremely dangerous, withdrawn and suicidal to provoke, but not *evil*.
[[/folder]]

!The Rogues

[[folder:Isabela]]
!Isabela [-(Victoria Kruger)-]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Isabela_3400.jpg]]
->''It's not about who's dangerous. It's about having choices made ''for'' you.''

A pirate who first appeared in ''Origins''. After her ship sank, she became a smuggler in Kirkwall. She is a love interest for Hawkes of both genders.
----
* ActionGirl
* AscendedExtra: In the first game, she was a rogue who taught your Warden the duelist specialization in the Pearl. She also was an optional quick romantic encounter with the Warden and Leliana, Zevran, Leliana ''and'' Zevran, or Alistair. She returns in the second game with a new model and a new voice actress as a party member. [[spoiler:Lampshaded if the party meets Alistair as the King of Ferelden and she's in the group; he remembers her and remarks, "You look... different."]]
* AmbiguouslyBrown: Like Duncan, she's a Rivaini.
* AnythingThatMoves: According to her, she's had relations with men, women, elves, and a [[MythologyGag cross-dressing dwarf]]. She doesn't recommend that last one.
** Subverted if Hawke attempts to pimp her to the pathetic Emile de Launcet. Even sluttiness has its standards.
*** Subverted farther than that, ironically enough, if Hawke pursues a romance with Isabela. [[spoiler: Isabela's behavior is mostly for her image as a pirate, and while she has no problems with a FriendsWithBenefits relationship (or a one night stand), she doesn't have nearly as many of those as she implies.]]
* AThreesomeIsHot: If you're romancing her when she propositions Zevran, she's quick to invite you to join in.
* BadassNormal
* BadLiar: She's not very good at being subtle when she's hiding something; she stutters, avoids eye contact, and hesitates a lot. More often, though, she just dodges unwanted questions or starts talking about what pretty eyes you have.
* BarBrawl: Her introduction. [[CallBack Apparently this happens with her fairly often.]]
* [[spoiler: BigDamnHeroes: If you have a high enough friendship or rivalry level, she pulls this during the qunari invasion by returning their relic, thereby creating a relatively peaceful solution to the problem.]]
* BelligerentSexualTension: Particularly if Hawke is either romancing or previously romanced her.
** According to the Codex, her final words to Hawke before storming off for some time between Act 2 and 3 were;
--> '''Isabela''': I didn't do it for them. I did it for ''you''. It was ''always'' about you.
* BiTheWay
* BrainBleach: Invokes this reaction in Hawke and the other party members more than once.
* BrokenBird: Has a few elements of one, though she'd never admit it, especially the issues with emotional intimacy.
* ButNotTooBlack: A consistent problem in promotional material - the pre-game marketing, comic book covers and [[http://isabelaexplainsitall.tumblr.com/post/40163516043/the-way-things-should-be-the-world-of-thedas artwork]] in ''Art of Thedas'' lighten her skin-tone considerably.
* BystanderSyndrome: "We're not responsible for anyone but ourselves."
* CallBack: When the Warden meets Isabela, she is dueling people who claim she cheated them of their coin. After defeating them, they run off. When Hawke meets Isabela, she is dueling people who claim she cheated them of their coin. After defeating them, they run off.
* TheCasanova
* [[spoiler: ChangedMyMindKid: On the eve of the Qunari invasion, she abandons the party because they're after her personally. She turns around and returns to give them back their relic. Mind you, the trope will be subverted depending on your relationship with her.]]
* CharacterDevelopment: If full Rivalry is achieved, [[spoiler: she admits helping others and not always being selfish feels good, and vows to become a better person. Evident later when, if Hawke sides with the mages at the final quest, she seems enthusiastic about protecting them]].
** With high Friendship she [[spoiler:starts drifting more towards the good side of the morality scale, though with much more reluctance than as a Rival, and expresses similar sentiment in the endgame.]]
* ClingyJealousGirl: "Mark of the Assassin" reveals that if romanced, she can be this towards Hawke.
** She admits, however, she is willing to have a threesome, or let Tallis sleep with Hawke, as long as Tallis ''asks'' first.
* CoolBigSis: To Merrill and Bethany.
* CorruptTheCutie: Jokingly invoked in several conversations with Bethany.
** If Bethany ends up [[spoiler: in the Circle]], Isabela sends her many erotic books to [[ADateWithRosiePalms get her through the night.]]
** Does this to a lesser extent with Merrill (teaching her how to do body shots), and Carver, whom she goads into "growing into his fangs". By Act II, he proves he can give her a run for her money when it comes to innuendos.
** In "Legacy," her influence is confirmed to have rubbed off on a romanced Merrill if you bring them both along with Anders. You'll learn that Merrill was looking through his grimoire in the hopes of finding "[[PowerPerversionPotential dirty spells]]" to "[[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow make things more interesting]]" with Hawke. Isabela's response? "That's my girl!"
** Also invoked with, of all possibilities, [[ICallItVera Bianca]], which appears to end the playful flirting between Isabela and Varric.
** Invoked with [[spoiler:Aveline]] after they settled into the role of VitriolicBestBuds by Act III, where she offers tips on how to spice things up with [[spoiler:Donnic in the bedroom. Considering Aveline's response to Isabela asking if Donnic's "[[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex flipped [her] arse over tits and]] [[UnusualEuphemism hammered her like a bent nail]],]]" Isabela apparently succeeded.
* [[spoiler:CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot:]] Aveline mentions this in disgust when she and Hawke learn that Isabela [[spoiler:stole the Tome of Koslun]] and only decides to tell them this now.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Heavily hinted at throughout the game, though she is reluctant to go into details.
** [[spoiler: ''ComicBook/ThoseWhoSpeak'' reveals that her mother was a Viddethari, who sold her into slavery after she refused to convert.]]
* DistaffCounterpart: She shares quite a few similarities with Zevran and they get along quite well.
* DoesNotLikeMen: A very mild case, and played very subtly, but Isabela seems quick to believe the worst when it concerns men and how they view women, even if she has no trouble befriending or sleeping with them. [[FreudianExcuse This almost certainly stems from her treatment at the hands of her late husband.]]
* DoubleEntendre[=/=]InnocentInnuendo[=/=]UnEntendre: Sex drips off her tongue every time her mouth opens. For every subversion, she plays it twice as hard, even while Carver is chastising her for it.
** A notable subversion occurs while she's speaking with Varric, and serves as a CallBack to a similar conversation between Alistair and Oghren. [[spoiler: For once, Varric and Isabela really were just talking about weapons.]]
** One of her armor upgrades is called "Rigid Boning."
* DrowningMySorrows
* DualWielding
* DuelToTheDeath: With Hayder. Isabela suspects foul play, so when she meets Hawke, she asks for potential back-up.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Isabela is a pirate to the core, but she would never condone slave trading, which is why she betrays Hayder before you first meet her. [[spoiler:Though she's perfectly willing to let non-repentant slavers get away clean if it means she can have a ship again.]]
* FingerlessGloves
* FriendsWithBenefits: While a tremendous flirt, she only appears to have such a relationship with Hawke (if Hawke accepts) and, depending on the relationship of the player, Fenris.
* FriendToAllChildren: It's mentioned that most of the pirates in the Waking Sea want Isabela dead for performing a one-woman army stunt, seizing the vessel she was meant to be escorting, after she discovered it actually contained slaves who were mostly women and children.
* FragileSpeedster: Her specialization abilities can make her one of the rare borderline StoneWall examples. She becomes harder to hit and less effective at hitting -- not very useful in of and itself, but paired with a skilled Scoundrel form the combat equivalent of a two-man con.
* TheGadfly: She trolls Aveline about her sex life with Donnic just to see how she reacts. "If you shove your thumb up his ass, I win."
* GayOption
* GenreSavvy: Knows that Hayder will double-cross her in Act I and in Act III Hawke hatches a plan to double-double-cross Castillon by pretending first to betray her and turn her over to him.
* GuideDangIt: Averted with sleeping with her -- she comes on to Hawke quickly, and follows through early in Act II, before players even kiss some love interests. Played surprisingly straight with genuine romance, however, to a point where even the official guide gets it wrong, and her romance is only completed half an hour or so before the game's end.
* TheHedonist: Seems to live for three things: the thrill of adventure, alcohol, and sexual gratification.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Alongside Varric and [[spoiler: King Alistair]] in ''ComicBook/TheSilentGrove''/''ComicBook/ThoseWhoSpeak''/''ComicBook/UntilWeSleep'' trilogy.
* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler:Isabela's promiscuity and "who needs love?" attitude is an act to cover up the guilt she feels for breaking the heart of a former lover. Hawke can point this out to her after having sex with her by stating "You're not afraid of falling in love; you're afraid of ''being'' loved."]] She can also be suprisingly eloquent, if [[JadeColoredGlasses deeply cynical]], at times concerning philosophical ideas such as freedom and justice.
-->'''Isabela''': [[ConceptsAreCheap Justice is an idea]]. It makes sense in a world of ideas, but not in [[CrapsackWorld our world.]]
* HiddenHeartOfGold:
** She'll try to excuse any altruistic acts as self serving in some manner. Nobody buys it. Anders and Silly-Hawke actually tease her about it, and invoke the trope by name.
** Most obviously in Act II where [[spoiler: her BigDamnHero entrance has her irritably say that "This is your damned influence, Hawke!"]]
* HitMeDammit: Enables this as a plan to get to Castillion. Also one of her many battle quotes.
* [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist By Her Own Petard]]: Isabela occasionally uses the line "You have pretty eyes" as a way to shut down conversations she doesn't want. In "Mark of the Assassin," she complains to Hawke that [[DirtyOldMan Gamlen's]] been inappropriate, and she wants Hawke to convince him to stop. Guess what Hawke's response is?
-->'''Isabela''': [[HypocriticalHumor Ugh, you are impossible!]]
* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: Gives male Hawke this one if he's romancing Merrill.
-->'''Isabela:''' I get the feeling the girl's involved in something deep and dangerous. Look out for her, will you? Make sure she doesn't hurt herself. ... Oh, and if you ever do anything nasty to her, I'll cut off your balls.
* IncrediblyLamePun: ''Every single one'' of the talents in her unique skill tree is a pirate reference of some kind. Notable because almost every other skill's name tries to be serious or informative. Not Isabela.
** She has an armor upgrade named [[OfCorsetsSexy Rigid Boning]].
** She seems quite fond of puns at times in-game, chuckling at the sound of "ghast-hole" and dubbing Idunna an "apostitute" before laughing delightedly. Yeah... [[HiddenDepths Bela's kind of a dork.]]
* IndyPloy: Most of her plans tend to involve these.
* INeedAFreakingDrink: At the start of Act III, especially.
* INeedToGoIronMyDog: Every time you go to the Qunari Compound with her in your party, she will suddenly bail and run off. At first, it seems odd that she would do this, but as you find out later [[spoiler: she stole one of the Qunari's prized relics. If she were to enter the compound she would most likely be caught and either killed or taken prisoner.]]
* InformedAttractiveness: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in game. Isabela readily admits that she is not as attractive as her [[MemeticSexGod reputation]] leads one to believe. Her real secret is that [[ReallyGetsAround she just casts a wide net.]]
* ItDoesntMeanAnything:
** She brushes off the idea of being in anything other than a FriendsWithBenefits situation if Hawke asks about it, and will deny anything more between them to the other party members when it comes up for the vast majority of the game.
-->'''Isabela:''' [''annoyed and dismayed''] Wait. You're not thinking of bringing ''feelings'' into this? Are you?
** According to the Codex entry for Act III, if previously romanced then Isabela has a ''particularly'' meaningful outburst towards Hawke before she stormed off for the next 3 years;
--> '''Isabela''': I didn't do it for them, I did it for ''you!'' It was ''always'' about you!
* ItsAllAboutMe: While she can be a lot of fun, and even very affectionate at times (mainly to Merrill), it is made uncomfortably clear at several points in the game that she places herself and her hedonistic tendencies first, even when it might hurt others. [[spoiler:Under Hawke's influence, her conscience can start to get the better of her, much to her dismay.]]
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Platonic-version; if Hawke slept with her then moved on to Merrill, she seems a little wistful when Merrill gushes about how wonderful Hawke is, then assures the elf how happy she is for her. She later tells Hawke that she thinks Merrill was very lonely before and tells him/her to look after her. If Hawke is male, she also [[CoolBigSis threatens to]] [[GroinAttack castrate him]] [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer if he hurts her]] in any way.
* [[spoiler:KarmaHoudini: Potentially subverted if she returns with the tome and you hand her over to the Qunari (though the codex implies she later escapes), and even if you don't she actually spends some years away from Kirkwall, either out of guilt or simple reluctance to witness the damage and hundreds of corpses left by her actions. If Hawke doesn't have a [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust strong enough Friendship/Rivalry with her though]], she gets away with the tome scot-free.]]
* KnifeNut
* TheLadette
* LadyKillerInLove: If romanced, she realises in Act III that she's fallen in love with Hawke, despite herself.
* LampshadeHanging: She lampshades quite a few things.
-->'''Isabela:''' If we kill them we get their stuff!
-->'''Alistair:''' Isabela, right? You look... different.
-->'''Isabela:''' Don't we all?
* LoveableRogue
* LoveableSexManiac: Three guesses what most of her dialogue ends up being about.
* MommyIssues: Not fond of the woman. Given she sold Isabela into marriage to an Antivan merchant for a few gold pieces and a goat ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking without even haggling the price]]), it's hard to blame Isabela for how she feels.
** To add insult to injury, her mother was [[spoiler: a Qunari convert who sold her because she refused to follow in her footsteps]]. No wonder she also holds a grudge against the Qunari.
* MoralityChain: The player can be this to her, particularly at the end of Act II.
* MoralityPet: Isabela's friendship with Merrill may be the only one that the pirate has that isn't based on teasing them. In fact, when Merrill wishes that she had an 'interesting' life like Isabela, she tells Merrill that she's a good person and deserves better than that.
** Her fond anecdotes about her crew before the shipwreck indicates that they actually had quite a bit of cameraderie, and she clearly misses them.
* [[MrViceGuy Ms. Vice Gal]]: She revels in sex, violence, greed and drunken revelry.
* MsFanservice: She has about a foot of cleavage to back this up. And no pants. And frequent {{panty shot}}s. Less than thirty seconds after she invites herself to the party, she invites Hawke up to her room. This appears to be approximately fifteen minutes after meeting, as well.
* MyGrandmaCanDoBetterThanYou: One of her in-battle taunts.
* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler: Invoked in Act III when Snarky!Hawke comments that her last bright idea was stealing the Qunari relic.]]
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: By stealing [[spoiler:the Qunari relic]], Isabela set a chain of events in motion that resulted in [[spoiler:the Qunari attacking Kirkwall]], the death of innocent people, and a power vacuum that allowed [[spoiler:Meredith to abuse her power and bring the Mage/Templar conflict closer to exploding.]]
* NoodleIncident: She's behind a few of them. One of them involved a duel that somehow grew into a 20 person brawl in the streets.
** Hawke mentions the time she thought she had found [[spoiler: the Relic]] and led them on a wild-goose chase all across the Wounded Coast, only to discover that the chest contained nothing more than some bad poetry... and an ''old boot''.
** Also, in ''Legacy'' banter with Fenris:
--->'''Fenris''': Interesting story I heard about you, Isabela...\\
'''Isabela''': Yes, yes, all right. I just want it known I never asked for the goat. And the fire was accidental.\\
'''Fenris''': I... that wasn't the story.
* [[OddFriendship Odd Romance]]: Hooks up with ''Fenris'' of all people in Act III, if you do not romance either of them. Granted, the relationship is [[FriendsWithBenefits purely physical]] by all accounts.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Isabela is not her birth name, but it's the only name she'll respond to.
** [[spoiler: Her birth name is revealed to be Naishe in the comic ''ComicBook/ThoseWhoSpeak'', but she considers [[ThatManIsDead that person to be dead]].]]
* OptionalPartyMember: She doesn't have to join the party, and if you don't go to the Hanged Man at the right time, you may never even see her.
* OrSoIHeard: "There's no way this Javaris stole from the qunari. That's hard - I've heard."
* ParentalAbandonment: She was sold into marriage at an implied young age by her mother and never knew her father. ''Those Who Speak'' sheds new light on this - [[spoiler: her mother joined the Qun, but Isabela refused to convert.]]
* PirateGirl: Her ship is named the ''Siren's Call'', which she inherited it from her deceased husband, a merchant whom Zevran killed. It sank sometime before Act I, during the same storm that wrecked the Qunari in Kirkwall. [[spoiler: Given what we later learn, it's left ambiguous whether it was the storm or Qunari cannons that actually sank it.]]
* [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything Pirate Who Doesn't Do Anything]]: Not by choice. Due to the loss of her ship and crew [[spoiler: as well as the Qunari tome]], Isabela is forced to spend most of the game standing around the Hanged Man, drinking and acting vaguely pirate-y when not with Hawke.
* [[spoiler: RapeAsBackstory: It's implied the reason she let her husband get assassinated was because he had her "entertain" his friends.]]
* ReallyGetsAround: Her sex life is a constant topic in conversations with the party.
* RunningGag:
** "Have you slept with ''everyone'' in Ferelden?"
** Another running gag, especially in "Legacy" and "Mark Of The Assassin" is her [[PantsFree perpetual pantslessness]].
* {{Sex God}}dess: She claims to be so good in bed, she can turn even the straightest woman lesbian/bisexual.
** [[MemeticSexGod It reaches in-game memetic levels]] as time goes by, as she and Varric recall several patrons who attempted to (unsuccessfully) flirt with her and she recalls her vast sex life.
** If importing a save where the Warden was a Female Noble, romanced Alistair, convinced him to have a threesome and later ascended him to the throne and married him, Isabela jokes that having slept with the ''King and Queen of Ferelden'', she has something new to brag about.
* ShipperOnDeck: Found out through party banter. Also doubles as an IncrediblyLamePun. In "Mark of the Assassin," she catches onto Carver's crush on Merrill and is very eager to help. Carver, understandably, isn't too keen on the idea.
** Writes erotic "Friend-fiction".
** Even if she was previously romanced which leaves her with some major UnresolvedSexualTension with Hawke, she freely ships Hawke and Merrill, stating to Male Hawke that if he ''ever'' [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer does anything to hurt her]], she ''will'' cut off his balls!
* SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear: [[spoiler: She may return, however with a high enough friendship/rivalry score.]]
* StepThreeProfit: Invoked during her summing up the plan to deal with Velasco and Castillion.
--> '''Isabela''': Step one, we go to Velasco! Step Two, something ''[[IndyPloy exciting]]'' happens! Step Three, Profit!
* STDImmunity: Averted. It's all but outright stated that Isabela does face repercussions for her grandiose sex life, but Anders is able (though not willing) to cure these without much trouble.
* {{Stripperific}}: Isabela has the bustiest model in the game and she has the outfit to show it off. Also, no pants.
* TheTease: Big time, especially to Carver.
* ThighHighBoots: Merrill's so fascinated by them she sometimes drops marbles in them.
* TrickBomb: She is a Rogue, so she can use different types of bombs.
* UnresolvedSexualTension: Some of her dialogue with/about Hawke hints at this if s/he slept with her but later broke it off.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With [[spoiler: Aveline]] towards the end of the game.
* WidowWoman: [[SubvertedTrope Not that she's complaining]]. [[AssholeVictim Her husband was an arse]].
* YaoiFangirl: In party banter, she seems ''really'' turned on at the thought of Danarius oiling Fenris up and "keeping [him] close at hand" while Fenris "glistens." Fenris asks her if she's already written a whole story about it in her head, and she doesn't deny it.
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Fully befriending ''or'' rivaling her can convince her of this in different ways. It gets more complicated with Hawke's variable personality. It ranges from "Whatever you think you are, I still care about you," all the way to "Bullshit! Stop making excuses for yourself!"
* YouFightLikeACow:
-->'''Isabela:''' You hit like my grandmother!
* YouLoseAtZeroTrust: [[spoiler: She leaves your party for good if you haven't completed her Act II Questioning Beliefs Quest, which is obtained by getting her Friendship or Rivalry to at least 50..]]
* YourDoorWasOpen: Apparently she breaks into Hawke's estate frequently.
-->'''Silly!Hawke''': Oh, look who's here! Time to change the locks again...\\
'''Isabela''': I ''knocked'' this time!
* ZettaiRyouiki: Class A Boot variant.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sebastian]]
!Sebastian Vael [-(Alec Newman)-]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Sebastian_2601.jpg]]
->"''When I wanted to rule, I would have been terrible at it. Now that I might be decent, I don't know if it's the right thing to do.''"

An archer of noble birth, Sebastian comes as a DLC character in ''The Exiled Prince'', where the player must help him avenge the death of his family, the rulers of Starkhaven. His trailer is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEefvzjO81Y here]]. A potential love interest, though Hawke cannot actually sleep with him due to his vow of chastity. He is the only love interest that Hawke must be female to pursue. Voiced by Alec Newman.
----
* ActorAllusion: Alec Newman previously played [[{{Dune}} a noble son who lost his rightful heritage to a rival house, one than also began with the letter H.]]
* AncestralWeapon: Can find his grandfather's bow during his personal quest.
* BadassNormal
* BadassPreacher: He was originally a member of the priesthood before tragedy struck.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor[=/=]GiveMeASign: At one point, Sebastian prays that the Maker send him a sign for what to do about his ConflictingLoyalty. [[spoiler: Then the Chantry blows up. If Anders survives, he decides to take it very badly. It's unknown how he takes it if Anders dies.]]
* BerserkButton: No one hurts Elthina on his watch. [[spoiler: Best watch yourself, Anders.]]
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Sebastian has very, very strong morals and there's nothing he likes more then doing good deeds. This doesn't change the fact that he can use that bow to turn you into a pincushion. And Maker help you if you hurt Elthina...
* BigNo: [[spoiler: He gives a good one if he's in your party when Anders blows up the Chantry.]]
-->[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37eiBVOWtFM Even parodied.]]
* BlingOfWar: Lampshaded repeatedly. Isabela uses it as a mirror, while Anders is more amused by Andraste's face on his codpiece. Does Sebastian want the Maker to see him shove His bride's head between his legs?
* [[BraveScot Brave Starkhavener]]
* BreakTheHaughty: A mild version in his backstory, considering that he was a hedonistic prince that got LockedAwayInAMonastery so that he wouldn't have any children that could contest his brother's claims to the throne.
* [[CantArgueWithElves Can't Argue With Churchmen]]: Any time he debates the merits of Chantry dogma with the other party members, he always gets the last word.
* CelibateHero: Due to the vows he made when he joined the Chantry. Even if romanced he won't break this vow. That said, Sebastian is definitely not a virgin before his Chantry vows as his dialogues with Isabela shows that as the prince of Starkhaven, he was a [[TheHedonist hedonistic prince]] but vowed to be celibate.
** ChastityCouple: If a female Hawke pursues him and is not in a Rivalry with him, they become this.
* ChurchMilitant
* ConflictingLoyalty: He is torn between keeping his vows to the Chantry and his desire to reclaim his family's throne. You can encourage him either way. And no matter what choice has makes in the end, he will decide not to pursue it until the main plot is resolved and Hawke no longer needs his loyalty.
* CorruptTheCutie: If Hawke is in a Rivalry with him, s/he encourages him towards WellIntentionedExtremist tendencies to regain his title. Subverted in that Sebastian wasn't always the KnightInShiningArmor he tries to be now.
* CulturedWarrior: Favours the bow, following his grandfather's belief that it allows a King to defend his people while never having to leave the walls of his castle.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The reason his family was killed and part of the reason he is reluctant to throw himself back into politics. He and Varric bond over comparing it to life in the Merchant's Guild.
-->'''Varric''': In Starkhaven, do they bludgeon you to death for forgetting the name of a minor clerk's third daughter?
-->'''Sebastian''': (dryly) Only if you're lucky.
-->'''Varric''': (sighs) Choir Boy, suddenly your life makes much more sense to me.
* DeadpanSnarker: Every so often.
-->'''Merrill''': [[RunningGag You're so shiny!]] Much better than a torch.
-->'''Sebastian''': I did swear an oath to carry the Light of the Maker wherever I go. [[SarcasmMode Grand Cleric Elthina will be so proud.]]
* [[spoiler: DisproportionateRetribution:]] [[spoiler: If Hawke lets Anders live after he blows up the Chantry, Sebastian vows to raise and army and burn Kirkwall to the ground to avenge Elthina, a pacifist who was so dedicated to the people of said city that she refused to abandon them even after being told by the hand of the Divine that her life was in danger.]]
* EasyEvangelism: Averted. While Sebastian does try to get the other companions to convert (he's not pushy about it, to his credit), they just brush him off. It's implied that he actually succeeds with Fenris, but Fenris denies it and it's played for comedy. In party banter, Sebastian admits that preaching rarely works, and he thinks leading by example works better.
* FormerTeenRebel: His wild youth embarrassed his family into giving him to the priesthood in hopes that he'd grow up a bit.
* FriendlySniper
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: In a sense. While most of the party ''do'' like Sebastian, they frequently poke fun at his overzealousness in the Chantry. Basically, the same reason, just on the other side of the fence, for why they get irritated with Anders and his "Mage Pride".
* [[EvilCounterpart Good Counterpart]]: Arguably, to [[SmugSnake Sister Petrice]], in that he represents a side of the Chantry that actually ''is'' [[GoodShepherd charitable and compassionate]], instead of just [[KnightTemplar self-righteous]]. Especially obvious in ''Mark Of The Assassin,'' when he treats [[spoiler: Tallis]] with relative respect and states he feels that the Qunari highlight the Chantry's failings and their presence provides an opportunity for change and improvement, while Petrice can only see them as a threat that must be ousted [[spoiler:even if she has to have the Viscount's son murdered to do it]].
* GondorCallsForAid: He's been traveling to different cities in the Free Marches between Acts I and II, talking to the nobility and trying to gather allies, but his efforts are halted by his own hesitation. [[spoiler:He'll run off to try again with much less doubt holding him back if Hawke spares Anders.]]
* GoodShepherd: He tries to be, at least.
* GovernmentInExile: In between acts, Sebastian tries to set up LaResistance so he can regain the throne. However, he doesn't get far due to his ConflictingLoyalty.
* [[spoiler: HappilyMarried: If ''Legacy'' is played after his last "Questioning Beliefs" scene in Act III, it's revealed that he and a F!Hawke who romanced him as a friend are this. And no, she doesn't care about the lack of sex, though Sarcastic-Hawke will tease him about it.]]
* HeadbuttingHeroes: He and Anders do a ''really'' good job of getting on each other's bad side. It borders on EnemyMine at some points, largely concerning Elthina's position on the templars and mages. [[spoiler:At the endgame, they become MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers.]]
* TheHedonist: His past life as prince had him living life decadently, sleeping with noblewomen and getting drunk. His parents made him join the Chantry because of that reputation.
* HeroWorshipper: He never has anything but praise for the Grey Wardens. He leaps at the chance to help them in Nathaniel's sidequest, and is almost a fanboy in Legacy.
* HotBlooded: Sebastian repeatedly demonstrates that succumbing to RevengeBeforeReason is his biggest flaw.
* {{Hypocrite}}: After spending most of the game letting go of his bitterness, both at his family and their murderers, and scolding other party members for letting revenge take over their lives, he swears [[spoiler: to build up an army and promises to kill everybody in Kirkwall]] if you spare [[spoiler: Anders, to avenge Elthina. A pacifist. Who previously refused to leave the city specifically to protect the people of the city. And who had ''consistently urged him not to seek revenge''.]] CompletelyMissingThePoint indeed...
** He may also declare "the end justifies the means. You taught me that!" in defense of his vow to [[spoiler:raze the ''entire city'' of Kirkwall to the ground with an army because of one man]], apparently not seeing the irony in using [[spoiler:Anders' justification for committing mass murder and starting a war]] to justify his ''own'' decision to [[spoiler:commit mass murder and start a war]].
* KnightInShiningArmor: ReconstructedTrope.
* LockedAwayInAMonastery: His parents gave him to the Chantry to stop him from dragging down their reputation; unusually, he declares it was the best thing that ever happened to him. Supplemental material reveals that Elthina allowed him to leave, and he returned out of a genuine desire for purpose.
* ManInWhite: ''Shiny'' white armor. Something of a RunningGag within the party.
** Isabela uses it as a ''mirror'' once.
* MrFanservice: In-universe, even! Bethany takes a shine to him in ''Mark of the Assassin,'' either letting out a swooning "Oh, ''Maker''" when he smiles at her, or commenting "Oh, Sister, you lucky ''bitch''," if he's being romanced.
* NiceGuy
* NotSoDifferent: Admits before he found the Chantry, he used to be just like ''Isabela''.
** Also implied to be part of the reason he treats [[spoiler:Tallis]] with respect, even defending [[spoiler:her]] devotion to the Qun to others in party banter.
* ThePollyanna: To an extent. When he gets mad, [[UnstoppableRage he gets]] ''[[RevengeBeforeReason mad]]''. But for the most part, he's optimistic and relatively cheerful, if a bit [[GoodShepherd more mature]] than this trope usually implies, despite his personal tragedies... which puts him in stark contrast with [[TroubledButCute most of the party]]. HilarityEnsues.
-->'''Sebastian''': I've never had so many opportunities to help people!
-->'''Varric''': ... All right. I thought I was getting tired of [[TroubledButCute moody.]] I take it back. [[TastesLikeDiabetes You're making my teeth ache.]]
* PrincelyYoungMan: The PrinceCharming type, though he was more of a RoyalBrat when he was younger.
** A simple smile from him is enough to cause Bethany to immediately start to [[DistractedByTheSexy trail off from what she was saying]].
--> '''Bethany''': *''Blushes''* Oh Maker...
* ReallyGetsAround: In his younger years only, [[CelibateHero obviously.]]
* [[spoiler: RedemptionFailure: What happens if you let Anders live, especially if you were on the Friendship route and he'd decided to stay in Kirkwall.]]
* ReligiousBruiser
* TheResenter: He was this towards his brothers for being favored by his parents. After their murder, he worries that he is not completely over this, and his desire for vengeance is actually a desire to get what his family never let him have.
* RevengeBeforeReason: Played with. When you first meet him, he is outraged by his family's murder, but is unable to do anything about it except ask you to kill the mercenaries responsible. After a TimeSkip, he's calmed down considerably and is much more hesitant to take vengeance, due to the revelation that the murders were ordered by old friends of his and his own worries that he seeks justice for the wrong reasons.
** [[spoiler: Though it happens all over again when the Chantry is destroyed. He will leave the party if Hawke won't kill Anders and swears to bring an army to Kirkwall for the sole purpose of bringing him to 'justice.' This despite pacifistic Elthina likely being ashamed of someone being killed in her name.]]
* [[spoiler:ScrewThisImOuttaHere: If Hawke refuses to kill Anders, Sebastian ([[GenreSavvy knowing better than to attack Hawke]]) leaves the party and vows to later get revenge.]]
* ShelteredAristocrat: Aveline sometimes insinuates that he doesn't really understand how common people live, and views his efforts to gain power and act for the greater good with suspicion (though she's clearly citing Loghain), but how well he fits this trope is a matter of debate.
* ShipTease: If Sebastian isn't romanced and Bethany is alive, he really takes a liking to her.
* ShutUpHannibal: In his Act II companion quest, [[spoiler:if you don't do this to Allure, he will.]]
* SixthRanger: Well, ninth ranger to be exact. He is the only companion to be recruited in Act II, rather than Act I, though he is featured beforehand.
* SpareToTheThrone: Resented the fact that he's actually the spare ''to the spare''.
* TokenGoodTeammate: [[RevengeBeforeReason Not]] [[HotBlooded as]] [[{{Hypocrite}} much]] as Bethany but he tries.
* TokenReligiousTeammate
* UndyingLoyalty: To Elthina. Even if he decides to retake his throne, he intends to put it on hold until he's certain that Elthina lives through the coming conflict.
** Subverted as he pledges his eternal gratitude to Hawke in Act I for helping him gain retribution against the Flint Company Mercenaries who murdered his parents, and for later aiding him in confronting Lady Harriman in Act II and finding his [[AncestralWeapon grandfather's bow]]. However, should you spare [[spoiler: Anders]] at the end of Act III, he will not hesitate to turn on Hawke, leave the party, and [[spoiler: [[RevengeBeforeReason vow to raise an army]] to [[DisproportionateRetribution burn Kirkwall to the ground]].]]
* TheUnfavorite: His using his family's money for his personal pleasure made them send him to the Kirkwall Chantry. His parents also did not want him fathering any illegitimate children that could challenge his brothers' heirs.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He claims to be one, but clearly lacks the ruthlessness required to fit the trope. His rivalry path involves turning him into a real one. [[spoiler:He also becomes one if Hawke chooses not to kill Anders.]]
* WideEyedIdealist: Played cheerfully straight, much in the same manner as Leliana. He's relatively idealistic in a cynical story, but doesn't usually come off as particularly naive or foolish, nor does the story go out of the way to break him ([[TraumaCongaLine more than it does anyone else]]). Much of the rest of the party seems unsure of how to respond to this.
-->'''Anders''': How can you have so much faith? Does ''nothing'' bother you?
* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Family]]: Not only does he do this when confronting the mastermind behind his family's deaths, but [[spoiler: he also pulls it when Anders blows up the Chantry, killing Sebastian's surrogate mother Elthina in the process. If you decide to let Anders live, Sebastian not only leaves the party, but makes it clear that he'll be coming for Anders... [[ThisMeansWar with an army!]]]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Varric]]
!Varric Tethras [-(Creator/BrianBloom)-]
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dragon_Age_II_Varric_3378.jpg]]
->"''Opinions are like testicles - you kick them hard enough, doesn't matter how many you got.''"

A dwarf with a fondness for storytelling.
----
* [[spoiler: [[CainAndAbel Abel To Bartrand's Cain]]]]
* AntiHero: A little greedy but when it comes down to it, he's actually more moral than most of the residents of Kirkwall put together. [[WretchedHive Not that]] [[KnightTemplar that's really]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist too difficult]]...
* AutomaticCrossbow: With sufficient upgrades, Bianca eventually becomes this.
* BadassLongcoat: Well, it's long for a dwarf.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Demonstrates this towards Bethany, perhaps because of their early PartyBanter in which she talks about how much she misses Carver. He also behaves this way a lot towards Merrill.
* [[{{BFG}} BFC]]: Bianca, Varric's tricked-out, custom-made, and rather ''large'' crossbow. The devs specifically made Bianca level up with Varric so as to make players never want to part the two without breaking the game.
* CargoShip: Invoked. His fondness for [[ICallItVera Bianca]] often rolls past mere praise into the realm of flirtation. He's not a romance option because he's already found the love of his life.
* CarpetOfVirility: Notable, as he's the first BioWare character since [[JadeEmpire The Black Whirlwind]] with real chest hair. Type I, of course. Fenris lampshades this when he asks why Varric doesn't have a beard. He muses it "fell down onto his chest." Enhanced by a rare example of male AbsoluteCleavage...
* TheCharmer: WordOfGod has said that no matter what danger he's in, the moment you let Varric begin to talk, ''he's won''.
* CityMouse: Varric isn't comfortable anywhere without streets and buildings.
* CombatPragmatist: [[spoiler: Spare Gascard early in the game and he'll aid you in the search for your mother. Then it turns out that he's the necromancer's apprentice and is only interested in learning the rest of his secrets. Varric will promptly shoot him in the throat.]] "What? You were going to do that, right?"
* ConsummateLiar: His ability to spin up a good line of bullshit can help Hawke avoid a fight once in a while. He lampshades this in a party banter with Aveline, where he says he lies a lot.
* CovertPervert: While he does flirt shamelessly with Isabela and bemoan a lack of dwarven barmaids, Varric's otherwise more interested in being a DeadpanSnarker... until Aveline convinces him to do some recruitment posters for the city guard. [[spoiler: He intentionally swaps the text with those for the local brothel's recruitment.]] This leads to a CrowningMomentOfFunny when Aveline points out that [[spoiler: while he filled the city guardhouse with whores, he filled the brothel with guardsmen.]]
** Isabela shares her "friend-fiction" with him. He finds it hilarious.
* DeadpanSnarker
* TheDutifulSon: Varric played this role when he was a kid, taking care of his alcoholic mother, as Bartrand was too busy building their business empire.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: No matter whether you approach it narratively or chronologically, Varric gets one.
** Narrative: After being forcibly dragged into a dark room by heavily armored men, he immediately begins snarking. He does not stop. After being threatened and assaulted by a heavily armed woman of some importance, he proceeds to tell her [[BlatantLies outrageous lies]] and doesn't act at all ashamed when caught. He then proceeds to tell her (mostly) the truth, never having once lost his cool.
** Chronologically: He (non-fatally) pins a moving target to a wall with a precision shot from Bianca, and proceeds to lecture and snark at his victim. He then returns Hawke's coin and suavely introduces himself, followed by a business proposition.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: During a conversation with Anders, this exchange;
-->'''Varric:''' If you have something to say, just spit it out.
-->'''Anders:''' Are you sure you want to encourage me? I might be about to confess my undying love.
-->'''Varric:''' I get that a lot. So what's on your mind?
** If male Hawke tells Merrill she's prettier than [[spoiler:the Eluvian]]:
-->'''Merrill:''' I'm sure you say that to Varric at least once a day.
-->'''Varric:''' Twice, usually. But can you blame him? Nobody can resist this face!
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: He's the progressive surfacer to Bartrand's traditionalist Dwarven ideals.
* FriendlySniper: He's the only member of the party on good terms with everybody else.
* GenreSavvy: He is a storyteller, after all:
** "'I don't like this'? That's right up there with 'WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong'!"
** He kills [[spoiler:Gascard [=DuPuis=] before he gets a chance to join Quentin.]]
* GlassCannon: Bianca (especially a fully-upgraded Bianca) has one of the highest damage outputs of any weapon in the game, but Varric himself is a rogue, not a tank. He tends to get taken down a lot absent some means of drawing aggro away from him.
* GuileHero
* HerCodeNameWasMarySue: During his companion quest, he briefly turns himself into a dwarven [[{{Scarface}} Tony Montana]], rips through an army of mercenaries like it was nothing, and his brother spends the whole time talking about the awesomeness of Varric. Cassandra calls him out on this, and Varric tells the real story.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Alongside Isabela and [[spoiler: King Alistair]] in ''ComicBook/TheSilentGrove''/''ComicBook/ThoseWhoSpeak''/''ComicBook/UntilWeSleep'' trilogy.
* HeterosexualLifePartners[=/=]PlatonicLifePartners: He's the only other party member that cannot be romanced, though he remains incredibly close to Hawke throughout their relationship.
** WordOfGod has said they [[WhatCouldHaveBeen seriously considered]] adding a post-credits scene where Varric is shown reuniting with Hawke, saying not to worry, he didn't tell the Seekers anything about ''them''.
* HiddenHeartOfGold: It is indicated in cutscenes and his PartyBanter that he does a lot of things in the background to help out other party members, like keeping thugs from causing trouble at Anders' clinic and making sure Merrill won't be have any trouble when she wanders into the wrong part of town (most nights). Apparently it costs him a fortune.
** He gives Merrill a ball of twine when she first arrived in Kirkwall, so she could find her way back home again. When she offers to return it in [[BrickJoke Act III]], he tells her to keep it.
** If she wasn't romanced, it's revealed that during the years between Act II and Act III, Merrill stops leaving the house while [[spoiler: obsessively working on the Eluvian]]. Varric apparently visits her every week to try to coax her out and out of his own pocket pays for food to be delivered to her door because she's forgetting to eat.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: His penchant for exaggerating parts of Hawke's tale eventually gets him dragged in front of The Seekers, who are essentially Thedas' equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition, desperate for the truth about the Champion of Kirkwall. It's then subverted as after he's finished telling his story, Cassandra freely lets him go without incident.
* ICallHerVera: He has a crossbow named [[Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew Bianca]].
* IShouldWriteABookAboutThis: In addition to his narration, this is a hobby of his. He frequently tells stories about Hawke and their adventures, though the stories are [[UnreliableNarrator wildly exxagerated and very different from the truth.]]
* JawDrop: He offers a ''verbal'' one when Aveline admits she wants a relationship with Guardsman Donnic.
--> '''Varric:''' I think my jaw just landed somewhere in the Deep Roads.
* KnowledgeBroker: "It means coins flow when I talk and when I shut up."
* TheLancer: Due to [[UnreliableNarrator his role in the story]], Varric is the only party member who cannot leave the party, and provides a counterpoint to both Paragon! and Renegade!Hawke. With Silly!Hawke, it seems like the two of them are snarkng best buds.
* MercyKill: [[spoiler:Hawke can convince him to do this to Bartrand. Varric tries to convince himself he'll enjoy it, but he clearly regrets what happened to his brother, even bringing it up to Fenris when the elf is about to kill his sister.]]
* MommasBoy: Despite having to single-handedly care for his alcoholic mother from a young age, he doesn't seem to resent her for it.
-->'''Varric:''' [[spoiler:I swear, I will ''find'' that ''son of a bitch'' - sorry, Mother - ''and kill him!'']]
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Varric is a rare example of a surface-dwarf who sincerely believes that the Dwarves of Orzammar are morons for not realising just why living on the surface is actually completely fantastic.
** Despite being from a house of exiled nobles, he has utter contempt for their entire caste system, seeing the elite as petty for getting to look down on others just because their ancestor managed to "build a water clock or something".
* TheNicknamer: Merrill is "Daisy." Bethany is "Sunshine," Anders is "Blondie," Carver is "Junior" and "little Hawke," Isabela is "Rivani," Sebastian is "Choir Boy," and Fenris is "Elf". He doesn't have one for Aveline, which bothers her - he says it's because he can't think of anything better than "Red," which they agree is too common.
--> '''Aveline''': You don't call anyone by their real name, except me. Where's my nickname?
--> '''Varric''': That's not true, there's Hawke and Bianca.
--> '''Aveline''': Hawke is a family name. And Bianca is a ''crossbow''.
** Hawke can also complain that Varric doesn't have a proper nickname for him/her, prompting Varric to bestow Hawke with a nickname that suits his/her personality - diplomatic!Hawke is Waffles, silly!Hawke is Chuckles, and aggressive!Hawke is Killer.
** He also dubs Tallis "[[KnifeNut Shivs]]."
* NoodleIncident: He refuses to tell anyone how Bianca got her name. [[ShoutOut Just that]] [[JadeEmpire Mirabelle]] [[ShoutOut was taken.]] According to the descriptions of his personal abilities, he's written a song about it, but will only ever hum it quietly to help his concentration.
* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: Bianca, the only working AutomaticCrossbow in the setting, especially after its designer gets killed in ''Legacy''... Then, during the course of ''Mark of the Assassin'', this trope is {{averted}}, with Duke Prosper making use of a ''[[FiringOneHanded repeating crossbow pistol]]''. Basically, this trope only appears because Varric is an UnreliableNarrator.
* [[spoiler: OOCIsSeriousBusiness: During "Haunted" in Act III, he becomes more and more agitated, finally yelling at Hawke and demanding to have the shard of the idol they found. It certainly freaks Anders out a bit, who tells Hawke that the idol is affecting his mind. Varric apologizes afterwards, and he appears to have suffered no permanent ill-effects by the time Cassandra found him, even if Hawke allowed him to have the shard. Granted, it did take several years for Bartrand to go completely AxCrazy...]]
* OddFriendship: With practically ''everybody'' in the party.
** Let's be honest, part of the reason he gets on so well with Snarky!Hawke is because s/he is incredibly ''weird''.
** It's revealed he's taught the game of [[{{Poker}} Diamondback]] to the '''Dog'''. And he's a better card player than ''Anders''!
*** [[RunningGag Not that that last part's too difficult.]]
* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: While he's not the only beardless dwarf in Thedas, he's one of the few who actually prefers the surface. One could attribute this to his being born on the surface after House Tethras was exiled. His brother Bartrand, on the other hand, shows many traits common among the Dwarven nobles of Orzammar, such as irritability, arrogance, intolerance of other cultures and an over-inflated sense of ego.
* PetTheDog: In-universe. He freely admits to Cassandra that he's making up Hawke's conversation with the deceased [[spoiler: Leandra]] in ''Legacy,'' but still does so because he thinks that [[CosmicPlaything Hawke]] deserves to have something good happen in their life and get some closure.
* TheResenter: [[spoiler:The Pride Demon in "Night Terrors" implies part of him is very bitter about his role sitting just outside the spotlight, and mostly how it pertains to Bartrand.]]
-->'''Varric''': [[spoiler:I did everything for the family. My whole life... and he's still the favorite son.]]
* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: He plays the part, largely in Act I, but in truth he's a KnowledgeBroker[=/=]TheSpymaster, and a ''very'' business-savvy one at that. He makes a point of missing Merchant's Guild meetings, never replies to his mail, and registers the family businesses to an imaginary cousin.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: He [[LargeHam indulges]] in a ClicheStorm of {{Pre Mortem One Liner}}s while single-handedly raiding his brother's hideout. [[UnreliableNarrator Subverted]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Varric was born of the House Tethras, disgraced nobles exiled from Orzammar after his father was caught fixing Provings. Unlike Bartrand, Varric is more flexible and willing to compromise to achieve his ends, willing to get his hands dirty if needs be, and recognises Hawke as someone to be counted on get things done. He joins the Deep Roads Expedition to keep his brother from harm, is willing to follow Hawke into dangerous territory to rescue Sandal, and despite the implication being that he's probably more wealthy that Hawke, still chooses to live in the Hanged Man down in Lowtown.
* RunningGag: The ''chest hair''...
* TheSpymaster: He runs a spy network to help his friends and family.
* TheStoryteller: Of course he ends up the narrator.
* SweetTooth: If Merrill is to be believed.
-->'''Merrill:''' His mind draws [demons] the same way pastries draw Varric.
* SwissArmyWeapon: Bianca is an AutomaticCrossbow, with a mounted grenade launcher that Varric uses when firing Miasmic Flask, and a hidden bayonet the size of an arming sword.
* TeamMom: Like Aveline, party-member banter reveals things Varric is doing behind the scenes to try and keep members of the group out of trouble, such as bribing the Lowtown gangs to leave Merrill alone.
** He's also the only one, besides possibly Hawke, to really be on the good side of everyone in the party. And with a DysfunctionJunction this bad, ''that'' is an accomplishment.
* UndyingLoyalty: He's the only member of the party who will never leave Hawke, no matter what happens. (He's also, by far, the easiest party member to befriend. If you bring him along on most quests, you will have to deliberately antagonize him to avoid getting 100% Friendship with him in Act I, long before it becomes possible for any other character.)
** He can, however, be tempted to betray Hawke in the fade by a demon, he'll simply apologize later.
* [[spoiler:TheUnfavorite: "Night Terrors" implies he sees himself as such, compared to Bartrand.]]
* UnreliableNarrator: For portions of the story, he'll exaggerate certain events just to make the story interesting or if he's hiding something. Cassandra will ask questions occasionally and discern Varric's hyperbole and the truth.
** Subverted because his exaggerations are actually the story of the [[FolkHero Champion]], as remembered in history. He's technically telling the truth, FromACertainPointOfView.
** PlayedForLaughs later on, when the game suddenly switches to Varric [[OneManArmy killing a ridiculously implausible number of enemies by himself]] and making a crossbow shot with ImprobableAimingSkills. Cut back to an extremely skeptical Cassandra, and then gameplay returns to normal.
** Also freely admits as such, when in ''Legacy'' he invents a conversation between Hawke and [[spoiler: Leandra]].
** The in-story explanation for ''Legacy'' and ''Mark of the Assassin'' within the FramingDevice is that Varric left it out at first, "assuming" Cassandra wouldn't be interested. Also, that she wouldn't believe it.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Carver.
** With Sebastian as well, especially in ''Mark Of The Assassin.''
* WarriorPoet: He actually writes poetry in his spare time.
* VocalEvolution: In the very first cut scenes, Varric has a noticeably deeper lilt to his voice than later on, sounding much unlike the more lighthearted and easygoing dwarf the player becomes familiar with from his introduction to Hawke and onward.
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