History Characters / DragonAgeIICompanions

[[center:[-[[Characters/DragonAge Main Character Index]] > [[Characters/DragonAgeII Dragon Age II]] > [[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawkeEstate Hawke Estate]] ([[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawke Hawke]]) | '''Companions''' ([[Characters/DragonAgeFenris Fenris]]) | [[Characters/DragonAgeIINonPlayableCharacters Non-Playable Characters]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeIIPostReleaseCharacters Post-Release Characters]] -]]]

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!!Warriors

[[folder:Aveline Vallen]]
!!Captain Aveline Vallen
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/da2_aveline.png]]
!!!'''Appears in:''' ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' | ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]''[[note]]War table[[/note]]
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Joanna Roth (English), Gundi Eberhard (German)
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->''"I’d rather kill a bandit and save a merchant’s family than know the correct dance steps and which rouge is in fashion."''

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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.
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* ActionGirl: Hell yes! ''Inquisition'' has Varric outright tell a curious [[EmpoweredBadassNormal Blackwall]] in banter that Aveline is stronger than him, which Blackwall does not argue with.
* AmazonianBeauty: So far, she's the most muscular woman in the ''Dragon Age'' games (or any other Creator/BioWare franchise) to date, but that's not to say she doesn't have a feminine figure. It's really only seen in the prologue, however, and in one scene in Act 3 if the ''Exiled Prince'' DLC is installed.
* 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.
* BattleCouple: With whoever partners her: Wesley, Donnic, Hawke. She definitely prefers someone with whom she can be BackToBackBadasses.
* BeautyBrainsAndBrawn: In a trio with female Hawke and Bethany, Aveline is the Brawn. She's tall and muscular, skilled with sword and shield, and works as a city guard. The others sometimes make jokes about her being able to lift a cow.
* BerserkButton: As mentioned below, do NOT question her loyalty or accuse her of coddling her guards.
* BigGood: To Kirkwall in ''Inquisition'', [[TakingUpTheMantle after Hawke is forced to leave town]]. Varric notes that "Kirkwall would probably fall into the sea if she ever quit her job."
* BigSisterMentor: Has some shades of this for Hawke and their 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, in which she sports form-fitting leather armor. Averted for the rest of the game - the metal plate the guards wear is the same general shape for both men and women, 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. If Hawke is female, Donnic will conclude that ''she'' 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''. The player gets the chance to call her out on it.
* TheCaptain: Served as an officer in the Fereldan Army at Ostagar, and later becomes [[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 Guard after a mission where she investigates her superior's corruption.
* ClearMyName: Her companion quest in Act 3; Cullen alerts Hawke that Aveline has been accused of coddling her men, and while he doesn't really believe it personally, he urges them to speak with Aveline and clear up the issue. Aveline takes the accusation extremely personally and goes on a bit of a rampage to settle the matter. See CowboyCop, below.
* 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 Hawke to investigate her on this in Act 3, they 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 lives twice a week to keep Kirkwall safe.
* DaChief: Eventually reaches this position on the Guard.
* DeadpanSnarker: Aveline has some moments that give even Sarcastic Hawke a pause, such as this exchange during "Blackpowder Courtesy":
-->'''Hawke''': How about we skip this one, send your men instead?\\
'''Aveline''': How about I shove a canary up your coal mine? Let's go.
* DefectorFromDecadence: Aveline's mysterious father. "Orlais has [[DecadentCourt a game.]] He wouldn't play it. I never cared to ask further."
* DependingOnTheArtist: Her official art is... [[http://img3.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 Hawke has 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.
** She also asks Hawke to allow Dog to help her train, to see if her people can handle a "good old-fashioned Mabari charge." Brings about a PetTheDog moment (almost literally) later, as she rewards Dog with some contraband mutton that was seized.
* 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.
* 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 may use this against her and [[OutOfCharacterMoment she'll turn on the party]].]]
* FantasticRacism: She has been taught that elves belong in Alienages and that mages that haven't gone through the Harrowing are dangerous to society, and as Guard Captain she helps to maintain the status quo. Aveline doesn't see any issue with elves being forced to sleep in stables and out-buildings in towns too small to fit an alienage, and [[InnocentBigot is surprised when Merrill is upset by it.]] The Arishok accuses her of being just as corrupt as the nobles she serves by [[MissingWhiteWomanSyndrome turning a blind eye to violence committed against elves]] [[AFatherToHisMen (even by her own guards)]] but cracking down on violence committed ''by'' elves. She also just makes some disparaging comments if brought to the alienage or elf-involved quests, like saying "I wish we didn't need places like this" to the alienage (ignoring that elves need places to live too) or describing Huon as "another user, looking for a handout" as if elves were all free-loaders.
* FemininityFailure: She gets teased about being "mannish" by [[TheLadette hard-drinking, hard-fucking, foul-mouthed Isabela]]. ''That's'' how badly she fails at femininity. That said, it doesn't usually bother or cause any trouble for her, but it does prompt one quest in the second act where she needs help getting the guy she's interested in to even realise that she's a woman.
* FireForgedFriends: At the start of the game, she bonds with the Hawke family when they fight their way out of Lothering together.
** They've been through so much together that [[spoiler:she is the only companion who can abandon you in the endgame who won't fight you. After all you've been through over the years, she can't bring herself to fight you, but she does say that she is done with you.]]
* {{Foil}}: To a Snarky Hawke.
-->'''Hawke''': You don't want me as sour and dour as you. You need a counterpoint.
* HairTriggerTemper: At least where card games are concerned, according to Fenris and Donnic.
* HappilyMarried: With Wesley before the game. With Donnic later, if Hawke helps out.
* HasAType: Aveline's two romantic partners in the game, Wesley and Donnic, are both an OfficerAndAGentleman, a trait that [[UpperClassTwit Hawke doesn't quite have]] [[note]]Even a fully [[AllLovingParagon paragon]] Hawke has to be cajoled into taking action[[/note]].
%%* HeterosexualLifePartners[=/=]PlatonicLifePartners: With Hawke.
* HolierThanThou: Aveline always thinks she's right and truly believes herself to be the moral backbone of Hawke's RagtagBunchOfMisfits, and never fails to let them know it. Special mention goes to Carver, whose application to the City Guard she blocks - despite the fact (as he points out) that they both served in the Ferelden Army at Ostagar and they both arrived in Kirkwall on the same refugee boat.
* 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 Hawke acts dismissive to the Grand Cleric.
** However, her atheism is a bit ambiguous, as she has the most Maker-related combat lines of the party, save perhaps Sebastian. She might just be a believer who disagrees with how the Chantry is run. Or perhaps living with Wesley has just rubbed off on her.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Blocked Carver's application to the City Guard because she felt he didn't want to join for the [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife right reasons]]. Not only does Carver later prove to be a dedicated soldier to the [[spoiler:Templars or Grey Wardens,if he survives Act 1]], but Aveline later shields a guard accused of raping an elven woman.
* {{Hypocrite}}: She has more than a few examples:
** If Hawke asks her about Wesley when they meet up with Aveline for the first time, she'll defensively state that she doesn't want to be coddled. Understandable, but kind of jarring when she admitted just a few minutes earlier that she is spying on Hawke to make sure they stay out of trouble, and has no intention of stopping even if Hawke tells her to do so.
** Exactly like Fenris, she'll call out Hawke out if they agree to deal with the sloth demon in "Night Terrors" even though she was controlled by a demon herself.
** She chastises Carver for not think of others before himself, yet she actively told the other guards to turn down his application, knowing full well he's DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife. Also, more importantly, he needs money to provide for his family to get them all out of poverty. This is after she relied on Hawke's family to enter the city, and she's now living in a better situation, while Hawke's family has continued living in the slum up to that point.
** Likewise, after blocking Carver's effort to join the City Guard, Aveline starts having him followed and browbeats him over "going down a bad path" and hanging out with the "wrong sort of people." Not only does Carver point out the "wrong people" are ''Hawke's'' friends (yet she never chastises Hawke for it), but he's only hanging out with them because she ''sabotaged'' his efforts to find a better job and work with better people.
* 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: A Hawke who flirts with her will eventually decide to let her go.
* 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.
** PlayedForDrama when [[spoiler: her failure to successfully solve the Hightown disappearances results in the death of Hawke's mother]].
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: As strict as she can be and as cold as she can be to the other companions, she's fiercely loyal to those she cares about and always attempts to do what she considers to be right.
* JustFriends: Although Hawke can flirt with Aveline, she remains oblivious to their advances. She seems to regard Hawke and the surviving twin almost as surrogate children or [[LikeBrotherAndSister younger siblings]] more than anything else.
* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Aveline believes she's always right, and clearly views herself as the moral backbone of Hawke's RagtagBunchOfMisfits, even in instances where she wasn't there or doesn't have the full story.
* LanternJawOfJustice: Rare female example.
* TheLopSidedArmOfTheLaw: When a group of elven brothers tried to report that one of her guards raped their sister and kept being turning away, she dismissed it as "rumors" that she'll look into ''eventually''. When those same brothers got tired of waiting and killed the guard they'd accused, she dropped everything to arrest them first thing.
* 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 Hawke 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 2 involves her attempting to court Guardsman Donnic. Don't mess things up, and they'll get married.
* [[AFatherToHisMen A Mother To Her Men]]: Particularly seen in Act 3 if her romance of Donnic was successful. [[spoiler:The men and women of the city guard revere her, to the point that they unanimously refuse to join ex-Captain Jeven in his smear campaign to have her removed. Donnic says that there's not a single member of the guard who would hesitate to follow her across the Void itself if she asked.]]
** Deconstructed in Act 2: When a group of elves accuse one of her men of rape, she is incapable of viewing the accusation impartially and refuses to investigate.
* 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 Bethany/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 1 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, not unkindly, that the question is too personal. It's possible that she sees her companions as surrogates for the children she never had.
* MissingWhiteWomanSyndrome: When a group of elven brothers tried to report that one of her guards raped their sister and got turned away she did nothing, dismissing it as "rumors" she'll "look into" eventually. However, when those same brothers [[RapeAndRevenge and took matters into their own hands]], [[TheLopSidedArmOfTheLaw she dropped everything to arrest them first thing]]. Though played with as she can ''also'' refuse to investigate missing Hightown women (even if Hawke asks her), which resulted in [[spoiler:Leandra being abducted and killed]].
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: An InUniverse 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.
* NeverMyFault:
** She can tell Hawke to their face that she's not responsible for [[spoiler:Leandra being kidnapped and murdered by a crazed blood mage]], even if Hawke asked her to investigate the disappearance of Hightown women beforehand and she refused to do so, which resulted in [[spoiler:Leandra's death]]. She says this even if Hawke had asked her to investigate beforehand and then Hawke called her out afterward to her face.
** After blocking Carver's attempt to join the City Guard, she browbeats him for going down a bad path and hanging out with the wrong sort of people. Each time Carver tries to point out she's part of the reason he's doing this, she brushes him off.
* NobleBigotWithABadge: Aveline has been taught that elves belong in [[FantasticGhetto Alienages]] and mages are dangerous to society. Despite lacking any real malice toward elves or mages, this institutionalized racism does flare up from time to time. Each time, Aveline sides with the institution over the people. See TheLopSidedArmOfTheLaw.
** Averted, however, in the final battle; if Hawke has maxed her friendship meter (to either end) and sides with the mages, Aveline will declare that she is loyal to Hawke over the law, and join them.
* 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: Most noticeable during her bizarre efforts to romance Guardsman Donnic, and continues with... pretty much everyone.
* NoSympathy:
** Despite being an Andrastian human muggle who quickly found a "respectable" job in the City Guard shortly after arriving in Kirkwall (where so many other Ferelden refugees still live in slums), Aveline often lectures and browbeats companions who don't have the same opportunities she does. Since most of Hawke's companions are mages and/or elves who deal with systemic oppression in Kirkwall, and the Hawke family and Isabela live in the slum...
** In particular, Aveline often browbeats Carver for hanging out with the wrong sort of people, despite sabotaging ''his'' effort to join the City Guard like her. She also often lectures him on his "bad attitude" and claims he should take up a trade or apprenticeship if he hates being in Hawke's shadow so much, even though he just finished a year of unpaid indentured servitude (something Aveline didn't have to do) and is helping his sibling raise money for a Deep Roads expedition to lift their whole family ''out of poverty.''
* TheNotLoveInterest: Aveline is one of two party members that cannot be romanced by Hawke. She also happens to be the non-sibling companion that has known them the longest and gets several emotional scenes with Hawke that are otherwise reserved for their Love Interest. It actually gets implied that the reason Aveline never considered a RelationshipUpgrade with Hawke is because there's too much baggage for Aveline to overcome for Hawke's role in Wesley's death. [[note]]Hawke either convinces Aveline to MercyKill him or performs the action themselves[[/note]]
* NotSoAboveItAll:
** In ''Legacy'', she finally gets back at Anders for all of his [[JerkAss arsey comments]] by ripping the piss out of him.
--->'''Aveline''': 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.
** In Act 3, she has evolved an OddFriendship with Isabela. Any time Aveline deadpan snarks at her, Isabela warmly says, "That's my girl!" At one point, Aveline apparently invited Isabela to a family dinner, but she didn't show up because she didn't think she'd fit in; Aveline disagrees.
--->'''Isabela''': How's marriage been treating you, big girl?\\
'''Aveline''': It's been good. No, great. I'd forgotten what it was like to...\\
'''Isabela''': Be flipped ass over tits and hammered like a bent nail?\\
'''Aveline''': To. Be. Loved.\\
'''Isabela''': Oh. Right, of course.\\
'''Aveline''': ''(coyly)'' Not that I'm complaining about the other thing.
* ObliviousToLove: If Hawke flirts with her during her MatchmakerQuest. Possibly explained by the insane things she does to woo Donnic; she clearly has no idea how typical courting goes.
* OddFriendship: With Fenris and Isabela.
* 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 Hawke goes to bat for Isabela against Arishok, and Rivalry points if they hand Isabela over.]]
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Being the most lawful member of the team, it takes a lot to get Aveline to suggest taking criminal action or to recommend execution.
* 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.]]
** Deconstructed numerous times. Aveline is reasonable based on what she sees, which results in many problems Hawke has to solve because Aveline doesn't always know everything.
** Despite her late husband having been a Templar, she refuses to turn in Mage Hawke or Bethany, since they at least ''try'' to do good. She also makes no efforts to turn in Merrill or Anders, and does her best to keep the patrolling guards from taking notice of Fenris squatting in the Hightown mansion.
* ReplacementGoldfish: Though never outright stated, Aveline maintains her strong bond with Hawke likely because they're the closest thing Aveline has to family. Bethany will even question why Aveline continues to follow Hawke, and Aveline skirts the answer.
* 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 them and walks out after delivering a ReasonYouSuckSpeech to Hawke. Her fellow guardsmen quickly follow suit.]]
* SecularHero: Aveline is the closest to agnosticism on team Hawke. She married a Templar and sometimes refers to the Maker, but doesn't generally worry about religion and is skeptical of the Chantry's stance that "the less [he] does, the more he's proven". She supports telling Elthina that the Warden stopped the Blight, not divine intervention.
--> '''Aveline''': Wesley's at the Maker's side, or he's not.
* SignificantGreenEyedRedhead: The first permanent companion character Hawke meets, as well as one of the most important ones after becoming captain of the guard.
* SlutShaming: Does this to Isabela on an extremely regular basis when they first meet to insult her, which Isabela takes in stride because Isabela is a slut and proud of it. Later becomes friendly banter when they become VitriolicBestBuds.
* SkewedPriorities: Prioritizes persecuting elves that killed one of her guards for (supposedly) raping an elf during the middle of a diplomatic crisis involving the Arishok.
* SociallyAwkwardHero:
** "Yes, and it's a real nice night for an evening."
** One of her gifts to Donnic is a copper engraving of marigolds. Odd enough to get a man (and specifically a watchman, whom you'd think would be a practical type) a picture of flowers, but in traditional floriography, marigolds represent ''grief and cruelty''. Whoops. Her reasoning behind the gift borders on InsaneTrollLogic: "Metal is strong, flowers are soft, copper ages well. I thought it was clear." This earns her a FacePalm from Hawke and potentially Isabela.
* StoneWall: Her specialization focuses on defense and protecting party members. Thanks to her Indomitable ability, she's the only party member with a built-in immunity to the final boss's "stun you all so I can monologue" move. Should she be knocked out, the others' reactions are equal parts concern and astonishment that it actually happened.
-->'''Varric''': Sweet mother of green cheeses, how'd they take that woman down?!\\
'''Carver''': Aveline is down, M-Maker's breath!\\
'''Merrill''': By the Creators, Aveline has fallen!\\
'''Fenris''': ''Aveline'' has fallen?
* StraightManAndWiseGuy: The StraightMan to Snarky Hawke, Varric, and Isabela's Wise Guy.
* 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 1 ''is'' Wesley's, and she has a cutscene in which she scolds Hawke if she's made to carry a different one.
* TakingUpTheMantle: By the time of ''Inquisition'', Aveline is still leading the guard, and Bran's letter all but calls her Hawke's successor as Kirkwall's protector.
* TeamDad: Gender-flipped, alongside Varric's TeamMom. 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.
** She's particularly protective of Hawke, and the only person besides the love interest who really takes time to console a devastated Hawke [[spoiler:after their mother's murder.]] Notably, she's the only companion to whom Hawke seems to feel comfortable admitting that "My heart's broken" about the whole thing - even Varric, who is Hawke's ''best friend'', doesn't have this conversation (as far as we know).
** Made especially clear by a line she can say when drinks a health potion. The player would obviously be using this when she's dying, and she ''still'' might say:
--->'''Aveline''': I hope no one else needs this!
* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Establishes herself as being on the "Good" side of things at all times early in Act 1, 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 almost never a moment's hesitation in her mind. It's also why she has no problems with Hawke if the player acts as a more chaotic character.
-->'''Aveline''': I can trust you to at least ''try'' to do right.
** However, when it comes to institutionalized racism against Mages and Elves, Aveline always sides with the institution. As stated under ReasonableAuthorityFigure, Aveline chooses good over lawful during instances where she can see institutionalized injustice firsthand, but in cases where she wasn't there she tends to err on the side of the law.
--->'''Aveline''': ''(regarding the [[RapeAndRevenge elven brothers]])'' There are rumors. I'll look into them. But they took the law into their own hands.
* 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 2. She later clarifies it's less about Wesley and more just holding onto the last pieces of her old life. Once she's been given The Shield of the Knight Herself and the cutscene completes, Wesley's shield can be put away without further protest.
* {{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.]]
* UngratefulBastard: You would think being saved by Hawke's family during their escape from Lothering, and relying on them for a chance to enter Kirkwall, would give her a second thought about Carver's application to the City Guard. You would think she would put in a good word for him, or at least take him under her wing to keep him out of trouble, especially since they served in the same Ferelden army, fought in the same battle in Ostagar, and arrived on the same refugee boat. You'd be wrong. Aveline does the opposite and actively opposes his attempt, knowing full well he needs money to get his family out of poverty.
* 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 Hawke flirts with her. If in a rivalry with Hawke, the most touching moment in their friendship comes right after Aveline beats the ever loving hell out of them.
* WellDoneDaughterGirl: 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.]]
* {{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 3.]] Discussed by Varric in some dialogue in Act 1, 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...
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Discussed. "That's supposed to be about maturity. It's not the same if you don't have the option."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dog]]
!!Dog
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/da2_mabari.png]]
!!!'''Appears in:''' ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''
\\

No, not [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins that]] Dog, though he [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute might as well be.]] The Hawke family's loyal mabari companion isn't a full party member, but can be summoned to give some extra help.
----
* AngryGuardDog: To his enemies. Diplomatic Hawke can remark that they like knowing Dog is around to protect Leandra in their absence, while Aggressive Hawke considers him useful for tearing through enemies. Snarky Hawke has a different view, as ever:
-->'''Snarky Hawke''': But if he's with us, who'll keep Gamlen's debt collectors away?
* AssistCharacter: Rather than a full party member like his predecessor, this Dog joins the fight whenever Hawke summons him. This removes ''Origins''' minor dilemma of having to choose between Dog and one of the humanoid companions.
* BigFriendlyDog: To everyone except his opponents.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: He's not evil, but it does give him an unsettling appearance.
** Bodhan and Sandal mention it in conversation, saying they find the eyes rather creepy-looking.
* CanineCompanion: He helps Hawke when called, but given Mabari master-choosing it could be said that Hawke is his human companion.
* CoolOldGuy: According to the timeline, Dog must be in or near 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. It could be a Mabari trait, since there's no confirmed data about the breed's life expectancy.
* CountryMouse: Kirkwall doesn't really give him the space a dog the size of a pony needs. He does seem better after making the transition to the family estate, where he has more room.
* CovertPervert: If Hawke is romancing Merrill, she comments that she doesn't appreciate that Dog watches them while they have sex.
* ADogNamedDog: Like his predecessor, his default name is Dog. [[HelloInsertNameHere It can be changed]] by interacting with him inside Gamlen's hovel. Gamlen lampshades the trope during the conversation, asking, "What's wrong with 'dog'? Easy to remember."
* DogsAreDumb: As with all Mabari, thoroughly averted.
* DogsLoveBeingPraised: He's no exception. Also, because he's fully capable of understanding human speech, he knows exactly what people are saying to him. Leandra has to remind Gamlen about this.
* 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.
* FluffyTamer: Inverted. Mabari choose their owners 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, even coming to Hawke's residence to visit him. Hawke's mother and sibling also love him. The one person who doesn't? ''Gamlen''.
** If Bethany is the surviving twin, she recollects sadly how much Carver wanted to impress a mabari, and affectionately calls Dog "a good boy." If it's Carver who survived, Dog is arguably the member of the family he likes the best, and he has nothing but praise for him.
** Leandra, while the family is still in Lowtown, worries about him being unhappy since leaving Ferelden and takes him for a walk, fondly noting that they will make quite a pair, "a mother and her Mabari."
** Fenris talks with great respect about how the Mabari initially belonged to the Tevinter magisters and changed their loyalties, while Sebastian - who is full-fledged royalty - actually ''bows'' to him.
** Merrill comes to visit Dog at Gamlen's house and tells him a story about the Dread Wolf, and concludes the story by remarking, "He's a sweet dog, Hawke."
** Even Anders, who is a cat person, seems to like Dog - especially if he moves in with Hawke later in the game. He just doesn't appreciate Dog slobbering on him.
** He and Sandal are very fond of each other. Bodahn speculates that Sandal may have learned to "speak Mabari" from their time with the Hero of Ferelden and their dog.
** He and Varric are ''drinking buddies.'' Varric even teaches him to play cards - and he's better than Anders!
* HeroicDog: He's a ''Mabari.'' It comes with the territory.
* PetTheDog: Having him around causes your companions to come to your residence... to visit ''him.'' Merrill tells him a Dalish legend relating to dogs, and Aveline even brings him some contraband mutton that was seized in a raid. (What makes it contraband is not explained.)
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: For the mabari from ''Origins''.
* TeamPet: Naturally.
* TheTell: Varric tells him that he might want to watch how he wags his tail when he gets a good hand. He's still apparently very good, though:
-->'''Varric''': All I'm saying is, he'd be up more than two sovereigns if he watched his tells.
* UndyingLoyalty: It's said that only death itself can part a mabari from the master it has chosen.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fenris]]
''See more information about Fenris in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeFenris this page]]''.
[[/folder]]

!!Mages

[[folder:Anders]]
''See more information about Anders in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeAnders this page]]''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Merrill]]
''See more information about Merrill in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeMerrill this page]]''.
[[/folder]]

!!Rogues

[[folder:Isabela]]
''See more information about Isabela in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeRecurringPartyMembers this page]]''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sebastian Vael]]
!!Prince Sebastian Vael
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sebastian_2.png]]
!!!'''Appears in:''' ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' | ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]]''[[note]]War table[[/note]] | ''ComicBook/KnightErrant''
!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AlecNewman (English), Roland Wolf (German)
\\

->''"It's odd... 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 and brother of the Chantry, Sebastian is recruited via ''The Exiled Prince'' DLC. He joins Hawke in Act 2 after Hawke helps him avenge the death of his family (the rulers of Starkhaven) in Act 1. He becomes torn between his loyalty to the Chantry and his desire to retake Starkhaven. He is a romance option for a female Hawke.
----
* AncestralWeapon: His grandfather's bow, which Hawke can recover for him during one of his quests.
* ArcherArchetype: He fits a few of the characteristics, although his vengeful streak does subvert the trope somewhat. He tells Hawke that he learned the discipline on account of his grandfather, who seems to have been his favorite relative; his grandfather told him that a bow was a prince's weapon, since it allows for the defense of a city without opening the gates. His specialization tree is also called Royal Archer.
* BadassNormal: All he's got is his bow, and he's ''effective'' with it.
* BadassPreacher: One who does a surprisingly small amount of preaching. It gets discussed in Act 3 party banter with Isabela, who expresses surprise that he never tries to lecture her. He replies that straight-up dictating to people rarely works to convert them, and that he prefers to live his faith in order to serve as an example. She says she can respect that.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor[=/=]GiveMeASign: At one point, Sebastian prays to the Maker to send him a sign for what to do about his ConflictingLoyalty. [[spoiler: Then the Chantry blows up. If Anders is left to live, he leaves the party and declares that he will invade Kirkwall. If Hawke kills Anders, he's still very upset, but not enough to take it out on a whole city.]] Whether he remains with the Chantry or retakes the throne ultimately depends on whether Hawke has made him a friend or a rival, although the next game reveals that [[spoiler:he retakes the throne no matter what]].
* BerserkButton: Having his family or surrogate family murdered. Understandably.
* BettyAndVeronica: The religious, approachable and safe Betty to any of the other potential love interests.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: One of the nicest and most moral characters in the game. This doesn't change the fact that he can use that bow to turn you into a pincushion.
* BigNo: [[spoiler: He gives a good one if he's in the party when Anders blows up the Chantry.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37eiBVOWtFM Even parodied.]]
* BirthdayEpisode: He features in the spinoff comic ''Knight Errant,'' with Varric traveling to Starkhaven to celebrate Sebastian's birthday. Despite how much he annoys Varric in the game, their reunion is extremely cordial.
* BlingOfWar: Brought up to the extent of a RunningGag. Isabela even uses it as a mirror.
* BraveScot: Has the accent and the [[HotBlooded Hot-Blooded]]ness.
* BreakTheHaughty: A mild version in his backstory.
* ButtMonkey: In ''Inquisition's'' DLC ''Trespasser'', the new Viscount of Kirkwall, [[spoiler:Varric]], will ignore his letters in the same way he does [[spoiler:with the Dwarven Merchant's Guild]]. There is a good reason for this [[spoiler:if Sebastian tries to annex Kirkwall, but he's pretty much trolling him if he didn't]].
* [[CantArgueWithElves Can't Argue With Churchmen]]: He's not always blind to the Chantry's faults, but it certainly does happen, and especially when he's [[HeadbuttingHeroes talking to Anders]].
** Averted with Merrill (Dalish) and Tallis (Qunari), to whom he is very open-minded and respectful.
* CelibateHero: He took a vow of celibacy when he joined the Chantry, and won't break it even if romanced. [[FormerTeenRebel That said, Sebastian is definitely not a virgin.]]
** ChastityCouple: If a female Hawke pursues him and is in a friendship with him, they exchange vows (becoming "married in the sight of the Maker") but don't break Sebastian's own vow of celibacy.
* TheChampion: Following the secret meeting he and Hawke attend with [[spoiler:Leliana]], he swears himself this for Elthina, stating that if she will not leave Kirkwall for her own safety, then [[DeclarationOfProtection he will make sure she is safe]] and the dissident forces will have to [[GoThroughMe go through him to get to her]]. [[spoiler:It makes his BigNo at the Chantry explosion all the more poignant, since he was unable to uphold that promise.]]
%%* ChurchMilitant
* ConflictingLoyalty: He is torn between keeping his vows to the Chantry and his desire to reclaim his family's throne. The player can encourage him either way. No matter what choice he 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: Hawke can push him towards [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well-Intentioned Extremism]] if they're in a rivalry.
* CulturedWarrior: Favors the bow for this reason.
* DeadpanSnarker: Every so often.
-->'''Aveline''': [The Grey Wardens] simply take whatever they need. It's... worrying.
-->'''Sebastian''': I'll keep that in mind as I continue to not die of Blight.
* DecadentCourt: The reason his family was killed and part of the reason he is reluctant to throw himself back into politics.
-->'''Sebastian''': Your Merchants Guild reminds me of the court at Starkhaven. Intrigue and gossip wrapped in a layer of formality.
-->'''Varric''': If Starkhaven was a tenth as bad, I see why you took to the Chantry.
* TheDitherer: He spends most of the game in doubt and unable to choose any course of action. Elthina calls him on this when he decides to return to the Chantry and complains when she refuses him, stating that she can't trust he won't leave ''again'' on a whim.
** This also, unfortunately, applies to [[spoiler: his CharacterDevelopment. If you choose to spare Anders near the end of the game, Sebastian dives head first back into his start of game mindset and leaves the party swearing revenge on the wrong people, this time ''the entire city of Kirkwall'' instead of Anders personally.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: If Anders survives ''Dragon Age II'', Sebastian declares war on Kirkwall in ''Inquisition'' in hopes of annexing the city-state, even though Anders is not affiliated with Kirkwall and hasn't been there for years.
* EasyEvangelism: Averted. While Sebastian is very dedicated to the Chantry, he doesn't push the other companions to convert. In party banter with Isabela, Sebastian admits that preaching seldom works, and it's better to lead by example.
* FormerTeenRebel: His wild youth embarrassed his family into [[LockedAwayInAMonastery giving him to the priesthood]].
* FreakOut: If Hawke refuses to [[spoiler:kill Anders for blowing up the Chantry in the finale, Sebastian flips from a WideEyedIdealist PrinceCharming to a RevengeBeforeReason KnightTemplar]].
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: No party members besides Anders and Varric dislike Sebastian, but they frequently poke fun at his do-gooder idealism and excessive faith. He is the clear outsider of the group, with Fenris being the only one (besides Hawke, potentially) who actually likes him. (Bethany also likes him, if they meet, but their interactions are extremely limited.)
* GondorCallsForAid: He's been traveling to different cities in the Free Marches between Acts 1 and 2, 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.]]
* GoodCounterpart: 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]]. [[spoiler: If you don't kill Anders in the finale, this all goes out the window.]]
* GoodShepherd: He tries to be, at least.
* GovernmentInExile: In between acts, Sebastian tries to set up LaResistance so he can regain the throne, but doesn't get far due to his ConflictingLoyalty.
* HappilyMarried: If ''Legacy'' is played after his last "Questioning Beliefs" scene in Act 2, it's revealed that he and a female Hawke who romanced him as a friend tied the knot. And no, she doesn't mind the chastity bit (although if Carver is alive and along for the quest, he's not impressed). He's the only companion Hawke can actually marry before the end of the game.
* HeadbuttingHeroes: He and Anders do a really good job of getting on each other's bad side. [[spoiler:At the end of Act 3, 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''. He'll even support [[spoiler: Janeka's plan to utilise Corypheus using forbidden magic.]] The only Grey Warden he dislikes is Anders, and even that might have started because Anders left the Wardens and has a dim view of the order.
* HotBlooded: Apparent during battle. More seriously, he repeatedly demonstrates that succumbing to RevengeBeforeReason is his biggest flaw.
* {{Hypocrite}}: After spending most of the game letting go of his bitterness towards his family's deaths and scolding other party members for letting revenge consume them, it goes out the window if Hawke [[spoiler:spares Anders]]. [[spoiler:He swears to build up an army and kill everybody in Kirkwall to avenge Elthina, a pacifist who had consistently urged him not to seek revenge. If he is rivals with Hawke he states "the end justifies the means" as his reasoning for starting a war and committing mass murder, apparently not seeing the irony in using the exact same justification and methods as Anders]].
* IgnoredEpiphany: Over the course of his companion quests, Sebastian comes to learn that his RevengeBeforeReason mindset is flawed, growing as a person and even regretting ordering the deaths of an entire mercenary company for doing their jobs instead of seeking out the true culprits. [[spoiler: However, all his CharacterDevelopment gets flushed right down the drain after Anders blows up the Chantry and he'll flat out be right back where he was at the start of the game, baying for the blood of the one who's wronged him and abandoning the party if he doesn't get his way.]]
* InnocentBlueEyes: One of the more noble and idealistic party members and his clear blue eyes help paint this image.
* KnightInShiningArmor: He at first appears to be this played straight, but as the game goes on it becomes [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed.]] His WideEyedIdealism and self-righteousness makes him something of an irritating outsider to the rest of the party, sans [[BloodKnight Fenris]], and can ultimately lead to him [[spoiler: abandoning the party over Anders being spared.]]
* LackOfEmpathy:
** Although Sebastian is [[NiceGuy nice]], virtuous, and has no personal bad feelings against mages, he completely fails to see any problems with the Circle system or any cause for mages to rebel, even considering how bad things get during the course of the game. However, if Sebastian was fully befriended and [[spoiler: Anders is executed]], he will acknowledge that not every mage is like [[spoiler: him]] and that they should fight for the mages who were treated unjustly at the hands of the Templars. DoubleSubverted in that he ''still'' doesn't get why [[spoiler: [[DespairEventHorizon Anders was pushed to destroy the Chantry.]]]]
** If Hawke allows Gascard to perform a blood magic ritual to find their mother, Sebastian is the only party member who will gain rivalry points. Keep in mind that both Anders and Fenris, who are outspoken against blood magic, will not show any disapproval since they both know how serious the situation is for Hawke.
* 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.
* MeaningfulName: In the Catholic Church, Saint Sebastian is a martyred priest and the PatronSaint of archers. Sebastian Vael is a [[CrystalDragonJesus Chantry brother]] and archer.
* MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers: After the [[spoiler:destruction of the Chantry]], if you refuse to execute [[spoiler:Anders]], he deserts you on the spot.
* NiceGuy: The kindest companion overall. The only exception comes at the end in regards to [[spoiler: Anders]]; however, considering that the man just [[spoiler: blew up the chantry with his mother figure Elthina and dozens of his brothers and sisters in faith inside,]] it's quite understandable. He even observes that the only reason he himself escaped the same fate is because he was with Hawke at the time.
* NotSoDifferentRemark: Admits that before he found the Chantry, he used to be just like Isabela.
* OddFriendship: With Fenris. The two are on the opposite sides of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, but they get along really well.
* 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 moody. I take it back. You're making my teeth ache.
* PrincelyYoungMan: The PrinceCharming type, though he was more of a RoyalBrat when he was younger.
* ReallyGetsAround: In his younger years only, [[CelibateHero obviously.]]
* RealMenLoveJesus: He's the most devoutly religious companion in the game. He's also a villain's nightmare with the bow.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: In ''Inquisition'', Sebastian is one of the first rulers to offer an alliance to the Inquisition. [[spoiler:This is subverted if Anders is alive, as Sebastian eventually demands that the Inquisition honor their alliance by helping him with his pointless war to annex Kirkwall; but it's played straight if Anders is dead, in which case he pleads with the Inquisition to ''help'' Kirkwall.]]
* RedemptionFailure: [[spoiler: What happens if Hawke lets Anders live, especially if they were on the Friendship route and he'd decided to stay in Kirkwall.]]
* ReligiousBruiser: He's a Chantry Brother but that doesn't stop him from kicking ass.
* TheResenter: He was this toward his brothers for being favored by his parents. After their murder, he worries that he is not completely over this, and that his desire for vengeance is actually a desire to get what his family never let him have.
* RevengeBeforeReason: Played with. When Hawke first meets him, he is outraged by his family's murder, but is unable to do anything about it except ask them 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 family's 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 and the fact that Anders has ''no intention of staying in Kirkwall.'']]
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: As the youngest son of the Starkhaven royal family, he was supposed to lead the militia (hence his archery training).
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler: Abandons Hawke and vows revenge if Anders is not executed after destroying the Chantry.]]
* SesquipedalianSmith: He has a very long first name and a very short last name (Vael is pronounced like "veil").
* ShelteredAristocrat: He's only ever lived in the [[DecadentCourt royal court of Starkhaven]] and the [[LockedAwayInAMonastery Kirkwall Chantry]]. 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, they have some adorable flirty banter. It doesn't really go anywhere, though, because he doesn't become an actual companion until after she's [[spoiler:joined the Circle/the Grey Wardens]]; they therefore only see each other if they're both brought along for either of the DLC campaigns.
** There's also a bit of teasing between Sebastian and Vaea from the comic book ''Comicbook/KnightErrant''.
* ShutUpHannibal: In his Act 2 companion quest, [[spoiler:if Hawke doesn't do this to Allure, he will.]]
* SickeninglySweethearts: How Carver reacts to Sebastian's romance with female Hawke, if they're both brought for ''Legacy''. It's especially pronounced if Hawke "friendmances" Sebastian, and ''Legacy'' is done after Hawke and Sebastian are married.
* SixthRanger: Well, ninth ranger to be exact. He is the only companion to be recruited in Act 2, rather than Act 1, though he is featured beforehand.
* SpareToTheThrone: Resented the fact that he's actually the spare to the spare.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: To Alistair, even [[spoiler: abandoning the party if the hero refuses to kill someone.]] He even mentions being a fan of Alistair; depending on the preset or ''Origins'' import being used, he can remark that he's been reading about the Fifth Blight and finds [[spoiler:King Alistair's story]] to be particularly inspiring. Unlike Alistair, however, he's nobility that actually wants to remain in the Chantry ''and'' isn't afraid of using royal power.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: Pretty much designed that way. Isabela and Bethany have their moments of EatingTheEyeCandy.
* TokenGoodTeammate: [[RevengeBeforeReason Not quite so much]] as Bethany, but he tries.
* TokenReligiousTeammate: As a character, he's defined by his piety.
* ToxicFriendInfluence: If Sebastian is in a rivalry with Hawke, Grand Cleric Elthina will view their relationship as this, [[spoiler: after Sebastian is coaxed into abandoning his vows and retaking Starkhaven.]]
* 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 who might challenge his brothers' heirs.
** It's implied that this might have happened anyway, even if he'd been a model prince. A codex entry about the Vael family history (found during the quest "Repentance") says that it's a tradition to dedicate one child in every generation to the Chantry.
* TheUnfought: [[spoiler:In ''Inquisition'', if Anders is alive and the player decides to side with Aveline. Since the quest is a War Table operation, the player never actually fights Sebastian himself, only being told of the battle and its aftermath from Cullen's report.]]
* VowOfCelibacy: Religious, due to his Chantry affiliation. Isabela teases him about it, and so can a female Hawke.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: He and Aveline are friendly, but if Hawke [[spoiler: spares Anders]], they fight a war over the city of Kirkwall.
* WellDoneSonGuy: His parents were "rather traditional," and the relative of whom he speaks most fondly is his grandfather.
-->'''Sebastian''': I wish my parents could see me now. They always said I had "no sense of the dignity of my station." A disgrace to the Vael name. Now, here I am, traipsing around the Deep Roads like a common soldier ...
-->'''Hawke''': If you could bring your family back from the dead, that's what you'd want? For them to be disappointed in you?
-->'''Sebastian''': How else would I know it's really them?
* 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 naïve or foolish, nor does the story go out of the way to break him ([[TraumaCongaLine at least, no more than it does anyone else]]). 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]]: When he's first introduced, he's looking for the mercenaries who murdered his family (and in a later quest, the person who hired them). [[spoiler: [[{{Bookends}} Bookended]] when Anders blows up the Chantry, killing everyone inside, including Sebastian's surrogate mother Elthina. If the player decide to let Anders live, Sebastian leaves the party and [[ThisMeansWar swears revenge]].]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Varric Tethras]]
''See more information about Varric in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeVarricTethras this page]]''.
[[/folder]]
----

* LackOfEmpathy: Although Sebastian is [[NiceGuy nice]], virtuous, and has no personal bad feelings against mages, he completely fails to see any problems with the Circle system or any cause for mages to rebel, even considering how bad things get during the course of the game. However, if Sebastian was fully befriended and [[spoiler: Anders is executed]], he will acknowledge that not every mage is like [[spoiler: him]] and that they should fight for the mages who were treated unjustly at the hands of the Templars. DoubleSubverted in that he ''still'' doesn't get why [[spoiler: [[DespairEventHorizon Anders was pushed to destroy the Chantry.]]]]

* MissingWhiteWomanSyndrome: When a group of elven brothers tried to report that one of her guards raped their sister and got turned away she did nothing, dismissing it as "rumors" she'll "look into" eventually. However, when those same brothers [[RapeAndRevenge and took matters into their own hands]], she dropped everything to arrest them first thing. Though played with as she can ''also'' refuse to investigate missing Hightown women (even if Hawke asks her), which resulted in [[spoiler:Leandra being abducted and killed]].

->''"I’d rather kill a bandit and save a merchant’s family than know the correct dance steps and which rouge is in fashion."''

->''"It's odd... 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."''

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Joanna Roth

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/AlecNewman

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Alec Newman

* HasAType: Aveline's two romantic partners in the game, Wesley and Donnic, are both an OfficerAndAGentleman, a trait that [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob Hawke doesn't quite have]] [[note]]Even a fully [[AllLovingParagon paragon]] Hawke has to be cajoled into taking action[[/note]].

->'''Voiced by''': Joanna Roth

->''"I’d rather kill a bandit and save a merchant’s family than know the correct dance steps and which rouge is in fashion."''

\\

->'''Voiced by''': Alec Newman

->''"It's odd... 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."''

\\

* [[WellDoneSonGuy Well Done Daughter Girl]]: Implied, especially during "Night Terrors".

* WidowWoman: Ser Wesley, her Templar husband, dies shortly after meeting Hawke due to darkspawn taint. Either Hawke or Aveline can MercyKill him. She can eventually remarry, though.

* [[EvilCounterpart Good Counterpart]]: 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]]. [[spoiler: If you don't kill Anders in the finale, this all goes out the window.]]

* PoisonousFriend: If Sebastian is in a rivalry with Hawke, Grand Cleric Elthina will view their relationship as this, [[spoiler: after Sebastian is coaxed into abandoning his vows and retaking Starkhaven.]]

* DarkSkinnedRedhead: It seems like he was supposed to be an Olive-Skinned Redhead, but some graphics issues caused characters with darker skin to appear much lighter than they were intended (notably Fenris and Isabela). [[http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonage/images/8/88/Sebastian_vael-01-t.jpg His concept art makes it more obvious.]]
** His skin colour is also evident in the Dark Horse comic ''ComicBook/KnightErrant'', where he's virtually the same shade as the main character, Vaea.

* 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.

* HeterosexualLifePartners[=/=]PlatonicLifePartners: With Hawke.

* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Establishes herself as being on the "Good" side of things at all times early in Act 1, 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 almost never a moment's hesitation in her mind. It's also why she has no problems with Hawke if the player acts as a more ChaoticGood character.

* LackOfEmpathy: Although Sebastian is [[NiceGuy nice]], [[LawfulGood virtuous]], and has no personal bad feelings against mages, he completely fails to see any problems with the Circle system or any cause for mages to rebel, even considering how bad things get during the course of the game. However, if Sebastian was fully befriended and [[spoiler: Anders is executed]], he will acknowledge that not every mage is like [[spoiler: him]] and that they should fight for the mages who were treated unjustly at the hands of the Templars. DoubleSubverted in that he ''still'' doesn't get why [[spoiler: [[DespairEventHorizon Anders was pushed to destroy the Chantry.]]]]

'''Varric''': ... All right. I thought I was getting tired of [[TroubledButCute moody.]] I take it back. [[TastesLikeDiabetes You're making my teeth ache.]]

* FingerlessGloves: It seems Starkhaven has yet to invent archery gloves.

* ActionGirl: Hell yes!

''See more information about Isabela in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeIsabela this page]]''.

[[center:[-[[Characters/DragonAge Main Character Index]] > Dragon Age II > [[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawkeEstate Hawke Estate]] ([[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawke Hawke]]) | '''Companions''' ([[Characters/DragonAgeFenris Fenris]]) | [[Characters/DragonAgeIINonPlayableCharacters Non-Playable Characters]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeIIPostReleaseCharacters Post-Release Characters]] -]]]

''See more information about Isabela in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeRecurringPartyMembersPartOne this page]]''.

[[center:[-[[Characters/DragonAge Main Character Index]] > Dragon Age II > [[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawke Hawke]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawkeEstate Hawke Estate]] | '''Companions''' ([[Characters/DragonAgeFenris Fenris]]) | [[Characters/DragonAgeIINonPlayableCharacters Non-Playable Characters]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeIIPostReleaseCharacters Post-Release Characters]] -]]]

[[folder:Varric Tethras]]
''See more information about Varric in'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeVarricTethras this page]]''
[[/folder]]

''See more information about Isabelain'' ''[[Characters/DragonAgeRecurringPartyMembersPartOne this page]]''.

[[/folder]]

* HasAType: Aveline's two romantic partners in the game, Wesley and Donnic, are both AnOfficerAndAGentleman, a trait that [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob Hawke doesn't quite have]] [[note]]Even a fully [[AllLovingParagon paragon]] Hawke has to be cajoled into taking action[[/note]].

* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Blocked Carver's application to the City Guard because she felt he didn't want to join for the [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife right reasons]]; yet not only does Carver prove to be a dedicated [[spoiler:Templar or Grey Warden later if he survives]], but Aveline later shields a guard accused of raping an elven woman.

** She chastises Carver for not think of others before himself, yet she actively told the other guards to turn down his application, knowing full well he's DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife and, more importantly, money to provide for his family to get them all out of poverty. This is after she relied on Hawke's family to enter the city, and she's now living in a better situation, while Hawke's family has continued living in the slum up to that point.
** Likewise, after sabotaging Carver's effort to join the City Guard, Aveline starts having him followed and constantly browbeating him over going down a bad path and being worried that he's hanging out with the "wrong sort of people." Not only does Carver point out that the "wrong people" he's hanging out with ''Hawke's'' friends (yet she never gives Hawke a hard time), but he's only hanging out with them because ''she'' sabotaged his efforts to find a better job and work with better people.

* MissingWhiteWomanSyndrome: When a group of elven brothers tried to report that one of her guards raped their sister and got turned away over and over she did nothing, dismissing their claim as "rumors" that she'll "look into" eventually. However, when those same brothers got tired of waiting [[RapeAndRevenge and took matters into their own hands]], she dropped everything to arrest them first thing. If only she were half as prompt in acting on violence committed against elves as violence committed by elves...

** Tells Hawke to their face that she's not responsible for [[spoiler:Leandra being kidnapped and murdered by a crazed blood mage]], even though Hawke could have potentially asked her to investigate the disappearance of Hightown women and she refused. This could, however, be a matter of projection - it may be that Aveline ''blames herself'' for the incident, and assumes that Hawke blames her too.

* NobleBigotWithABadge: Aveline has been taught that elves belong in [[FantasticGhetto Alienages]] and mages are dangerous to society, and despite lacking any real malice toward elves or mages, this institutionalized racism does flare up from time to time. Each time, Aveline sides with the institution over the people.

** Despite being an Andrastian human muggle who quickly found a "respectable" job in the City Guard shortly after arriving in Kirkwall (where so many other Ferelden refugees still struggle in poverty), Aveline often lectures and browbeats companions who don't have the same opportunities she does. Since most of Hawke's companions are mages and/or elves, who deal with systemic oppression in Kirkwall, and the Hawke family and Isabela live in the slum...

* UngratefulBastard: You would think being saved by Hawke's family during the escape from Lothering, and relying on them for a chance to enter Kirkwall, would give her a second thought about Carver's application to the City Guard. That she would help grease the wheel and put in a good word for him, or at least take him under her wing once in to keep him out of trouble, especially since they serve in the army and fought together in Ostagar. However, she does the opposite and actively opposes his attempt, knowing full well he needed money to get his family out of poverty.

* NotSoDifferent:
** Admits that 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.

* ClearMyName: Her companion quest in Act 3; Cullen alerts Hawke that Aveline is accused of coddling her men, and urges them to speak with Aveline and clear up the issue. Aveline takes the accusation extremely personally and goes on a bit of a rampage to settle the matter. See CowboyCop, below.

* HolierThanThou: Aveline always thinks she's right and truly believes herself to be the moral backbone of Hawke's RagtagBunchOfMisfits, and never fails to let them know it. Special mention goes to Carver, whose application to the City Guard she blocked despite (as he points out) they both served in the Ferelden Army at Ostagar and they both arrived in Kirkwall on the same refugee boat.

** However, her atheism is a bit ambiguous as she has the most Maker-related combat lines of the party, save perhaps Sebastian. She might just be a believer who disagrees with how the Chantry is run. Or perhaps living with Wesley has just rubbed off on her.
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Blocked Carver's application to the City Guard because she felt he didn't want to join for the [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife right reasons]], yet not only did Carver prove to be a dedicated [[spoiler:Templar or Grey Warden later if he survives]], but Aveline later shields a guard accused of raping an elven woman.
* {{Hypocrite}}: more than a few examples:

** She chastises Carver for not think of others before himself, yet she actively told the other guards to turn down his application, knowing full well he's DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife and, more importantly, money to provide for his family to get them all out of poverty. This is after she relied on Hawke's family to enter the city, and she got place with better condition to stay, while Hawke's family continued living in the slum at that time.
** Likewise, after sabotaging Carver's effort to join the City Guard, Aveline starts having him followed and constantly browbeat him over going down a bad path and being worried that he's hanging out with the "wrong sort of people." Not only does Carver point out that the "wrong people" he's hanging out with ''Hawke's'' friends (yet she never gives Hawke a hard time), but he's only hanging out with them because ''she'' sabotaged his efforts to find a better job and work with better people.

** Deconstructed in act II: When a group of elves accuse one of her men of rape, she is incapable of viewing the accusation impartially and refuses to investigate.

** Tells Hawke to their face that she's not responsible for [[spoiler:Leandra being kidnapped and murderered by a crazed blood mage]], even though Hawke could have potentially asked her to investigate the disappearance of Hightown women and she refused.

* NobleBigotWithABadge: Aveline has been taught that Elves belong in [[FantasticGhetto Alienages]] and Mages are dangerous to society, and despite lacking any real malice to Elves or Mages this institutionalized racism does flare uo from time to time. Each time, Aveline sides with the institution over the people.

** In Act 3, she has evolved an OddFriendship with Isabela. Any time Aveline deadpan snarks at her, Isabela warmly says, "That's my girl!" At one point, Aveline has apparently invited Isabela to a family dinner, but she didn't show up because she didn't think she'd fit in; Aveline disagrees.

* SlutShaming: Does this to Isabela on an extremely regular basis when they first meet to insult her, which Isabela takes in stride because Isabell is a slut and proud of it. Later becomes friendly banter when they become VitriolicBestBuds.

** One of her gifts to Donnic is a copper engraving of marigolds. Odd enough to get a man (and specifically a watchman, who'd you think would be a practical type) a picture of flowers, but in traditional floriography, marigolds represent ''grief and cruelty''. Whoops. Her reasoning behind the gift borders on InsaneTrollLogic: "Metal is strong, flowers are soft, copper ages well. I thought it was clear." This earns here a FacePalm from Hawke and potentially Isabella.

* 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 1 ''is'' Wesley's.

** She's particularly protective of Hawke, and the only person besides the love interest who really takes time to console a devastated Hawke [[spoiler:after their mother's murder.]] Notably, she's the only companion to whom Hawke seems to feel comfortable admitting that "My heart's broken" about the whole thing - even Varric, who is Hawke's ''best friend'', doesn't have this conversation.

-->'''Aveline''': ''(regarding the [[RapeAndRevenge elven brothers]])'' There are rumors. I'll look into them. But they took the law into their own hands.

* UngratefulBastard:
** You would think being saved by Hawke's family during the escape from Lothering, and relying on them for a chance to enter Kirkwall, would give her a second thought about Carver's application to the City Guard. That she would help grease the wheel and put in a good word for him, or at least take him under her wing once in to keep him out of trouble... Especially since they serve in the army and fought together in Ostagar. However, she did the opposite and actively oppose his attempt, knowing full well he needed money to get his family out of poverty.

** ChastityCouple: If a female Hawke pursues him and is in a friendship with him, they exchange vows but don't break Sebastian's own vow of celibacy.

-->'''Aveline''': [The Grey Wardens] simply take whatever they need. It's ... worrying.

* TheFriendNobodyLikes: No party members besides Anders and Varric dislike Sebastian, but they frequently poke fun at his do-gooder idealism and excessive faith. He is the clear outsider of the group, with Fenris being the only one (besides Hawke, potentially) who actually likes him.

* IgnoredEpiphany: Over the course of his companion quests Sebastian comes to learn that his RevengeBeforeReason mindset is flawed, growing as a person and even regretting ordering the deaths of an entire mercenary company for doing their jobs instead of seeking out the true culprits. [[spoiler: However, all his CharacterDevelopment gets flushed right down the drain after Anders blows up the Chantry and he'll flat out be right back where he was at the start of the game, baying for the blood of the one who's wronged him and abandoning the party if he doesn't get his way.]]

* KnightInShiningArmor: He at first appears to be this played straight, but as the game goes on it becomes [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed.]] His WideEyedIdealism and self-righteousness makes him something of an irritating outsider to the rest of the party sans [[BloodKnight Fenris]] and can ultimately leads to him [[spoiler: abandoning the party over Anders being spared.]]

* NiceGuy: The kindest companion overall. The only exception comes at the end in regards to [[spoiler: Anders]]; however, considering that the man just [[spoiler: blew up the chantry with his mother figure Elthina and dozens of his brothers and sisters in faith inside,]] it's quite understandable.

* RevengeBeforeReason: Played with. When Hawke first meets him, he is outraged by his family's murder, but is unable to do anything about it except ask them 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.

* SickeninglySweethearts: How Carver reacts to Sebastian's relationship with Hawke.

* 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 at least, no more than it does anyone else]]). The rest of the party seems unsure of how to respond to this.

[[/folder]]
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[[center:[-[[Characters/DragonAge Main Character Index]] > Dragon Age II > [[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawke Hawke]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeIIHawkeEstate Hawke Estate]] | '''Companions''' ( [[Characters/DragonAgeFenris Fenris]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeMerrill Merrill]] ) | [[Characters/DragonAgeIINonPlayableCharacters Non-Playable Characters]] | [[Characters/DragonAgeIIPostReleaseCharacters Post-Release Characters]] -]]]