Disappointed with Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

So am I! To help me get over how this game is an unspeakable turdwaffle that is barely a fanfiction gone awry, I am going to do an alternative story for that game.

Note: since this is my script, it follows my world state, heh, where:

• Lace Harding joins as a companion once the game moves from the Anderfels back to Orlais. Unlike the pathetic version in the actual game, here she will be a more subdued dwarf touched by the events of the last ten years. She is nonetheless loyal and steadfast, determined to help save the world, like she did last time, with a stoic smile and her head held high.
• The Hero of Ferelden, Daylen Amell, is a human mage that specialized in Arcane Warrior, and he is devoted to Morrigan. They have a son, Kieran. Currently, the Hero is searching for a way to stop the Calling; the rise of the Evanuris and their connection to the Blight will soon draw him back in our story, along with Morrigan and Kieran.
• Garrett Hawke is a mage, a Force Mage, and he is left in the Fade, but this is not the end. He will soon show up to be a key ally to Rook and his companions. Meanwhile, his ex Anders is out there somewhere, but they are no longer together as he couldn't accept Anders's actions or his corruption by Justice.
• Jonas Trevelyan, the Inquisitor is also a mage, a Rift Mage that is still haunted by nightmarish visions of the Fade and maybe beyond due to his one-time connection to Corypheus. With the coming events, he somewhat reluctantly steps up again to help lead a new war, this time against the darkspawn led by actual gods. He is devoted to his lover Dorian Pavus, but since the events of the Inquisition, their relationship has expanded to become a throuple with the Tal Vashoth Iron Bull, and he still had no idea how that happened. Dorian would play a key role in the later act set in Tevinter, while the Iron Bull will play a key role when Rook and his companions make their way to Seheron.
• Morrigan advises Rook throughout the game. The Hero of Ferelden would later lead the forces of Ferelden and Orzammar along with King Alistair and King Bhelen to repel the Blight there, while the Inquisitor would lead the forces in Northern Thedas to repel the Blight in that region. Throughout it all, Morrigan is determined to assist Rook and her son, as she does not want to lose her beloved husband and son to the Blight - she would bring the fight to the gods herself to do this if she has to.
• Rook and companions will meet Varric, Cullen, Aveline, Sebastian in the defense of Kirkwall against the Blight.
• The Architect as well as Velanna and her sister will emerge to aid against the Blight, as the arisen darkspawn do not want to become slaves to the elder dragons again.
• Merrill will be Solas's right hand, as she believes that this is the only way to restore the Dalish to their former place. Whether or not she can be convinced to change her mind, at this point I am still thinking about it, heh.
• Isabela and Zevran will of course show up when the game moves to Antiva and Rivain, while Fenris will show up in Minrathous asking aid to help track down and slay Anders.
• Carver, Sigrun, and Nathaniel will be key Grey Warden characters along with Blackwall in providing aid and resources to Rook and his companions.

Act 1: The Prologue

The game begins with the player assuming the role of "Rook", the nickname of a rookie Grey Warden. Rook is on a routine scouting mission near the town of Rasoir in Orlais, under the guidance of the seasoned Warden Thom "Blackwall" Rainier.

The town of Rasoir was a blemish upon Orlais, a grim relic of a forgotten age tucked into the shadow of the Anderfels. Its streets were little more than muddy alleys, its buildings leaning drunkenly against one another as if weary of their own existence. Here, criminals and outcasts found sanctuary from the reach of Orlais’ gilded justice. For the Grey Wardens, however, Rasoir was an ideal refuge—a place where their presence went unnoticed and unremarked, just what they needed as there are many in Orlais that still have not forgotten the Warden Commander Genevieve's bloodsoaked crimes ten years ago.

Blackwall, now a Grey Warden after the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition, has risen to prominence and serves the Warden Commander of Orlais. However, not everyone fully respects him for his tainted past, so he has reached a ceiling when it comes to advancement in the ranks, in spite of his valiant efforts as one of the heroes of the Inquistion.

Alongside Rook are two of his closest friends:

• Davrin, a half-elf rogue specializing in dual-wielding daggers. Davrin grew up with Rook, and they joined the Wardens together. Having survived the initiation, they have made a pact to always watch one another's back whenever they could.
• Kieran, a mage with a mysterious lineage that has never revealed. He was Rook's main rival during their training, and their superiors had put him in the same team as Rook to teach them the importance of working as a team. He is a tank, despite a mage, with an unusual ability to cast buffs on himself that makes him a sturdy wall to stand against even the mightiest of ogres... and when he needs to turn the tide, he will shift into a bear, a spider, and even a swarm of poisonous wasps. The other mages among the Grey Wardens had wondered about the origins of such magic, but they had been instructed to never question that lad as long as he proved useful.

Yes, Kieran is the son of the Hero of Ferelden and Morrigan. Now in his late teens, he had seek to follow his father's footsteps and becoming a Grey Warden, while carving his own path in the world. He keeps his parentage a secret, wanting to never having to rely on his parents' reputation to make his own way. (He however suspected that his father might have pulled some strings to let the Wardens admit him, much to his chagrin, no matter how much the old man denied doing so.) He has adopted and modified the training he had received from his mage parents, blending Arcane Warrior spellcasting with Shapeshifting.

The mission takes a dramatic turn when the group stumbles upon Bellara Lutare, a Veil Jumper, under attack by darkspawn in ancient elven ruins. Bellara, a rift mage, reveals she has been investigating phenomena she calls "Rift Bubbles," remnants of the Breach’s destruction during the Inquisition. She believes these anomalies are tied to the stirrings of darkspawn and seeks evidence to present to her Veil Jumper circle, though her impulsive nature and history of defiance have left her on shaky ground with her peers.

The Setup

Blackwall, intrigued by Bellara’s claims, agrees to help her—on the condition that any findings are shared with the Grey Wardens. This decision sets the stage for Rook and his companions to venture deeper into the ruins. The party now consists of:

• Rook: The protagonist, a determined and resourceful rookie Grey Warden. Role: depending on the player's choice.
• Davrin: Rook’s childhood friend, a half-elf archer with a sharp wit and unyielding loyalty. Role: DPS.
• Kieran: The enigmatic mage, blending Shapeshifter and Arcane Warrior abilities, and secretly the son of Morrigan and the Hero of Ferelden. Role: tank.
• Bellara: A Veil Jumper and rift mage whose impulsiveness contrasts with her sharp intellect and magical prowess. Role: magic support (buff, heal, minor DPS).

Exploring the Ruins

The group battles through waves of darkspawn and encounters remnants of ancient elven magic. Along the way, they uncover fragmented records hinting at a corrupted eluvian, a magical mirror tied to the Fade. Bellara theorizes that the eluvian is both amplifying the Rift Bubbles and drawing darkspawn to the area.

The Climax of the Prologue

The party reaches the corrupted eluvian, where they are ambushed by a formidable darkspawn Emissary. A fierce battle ensues, showcasing the strengths and teamwork of the party. Kieran’s unique blend of Shapeshifter and Arcane Warrior abilities proves pivotal in turning the tide, as he temporarily stabilizes the eluvian’s magic to weaken the Emissary.

As the eluvian’s power wanes, it briefly projects a vision: a shadowy figure walking the Fade, exuding an aura of sorrow and determination. Kieran recognizes the presence as eerily familiar but cannot place why. Bellara identifies the figure as a possible connection to the ancient elven gods, further piquing the group’s curiosity and concern.

Resolution and Foreshadowing

With the darkspawn defeated and the eluvian’s corruption momentarily subdued, the party gathers fragments of ancient elven artifacts and Veil-related notes.

Bellara reports to her Veil Jumper superiors, who are hesitant to believe her accounts, just like she feared they would. Furthermore, they told her that darkspawn problems are a concern for the Grey Wardens.

Subsquently, when Blackwall decides to return to the Warden Commander with the findings, Bellara impulsively offers to join them.

• Davrin and Rook are more than happy to have Bellara along, as they have bonded over their explorations of the ruins.
• Bellara and Kieran don't trust one another, as she is concerned about his mysterious magical abilities; he displays an inherent arrogance of his superiority in magic over other mages and he enjoys mocking her. (His parents, after all, are some of the, if not the most powerful, mages in Thedas.)
• However, Kieran recognizes that whatever Bellara knows could be significant in changing the course of the future, and he wants to be a part of it. Meanwhile, Bellara admits that Kieran may be tolerable as a necessary evil as long as she gets to join Rook and Davrinon the trip to Weisshaupt Fortress.

Their next destination: the Anderfels, where reports of similar Rift Bubbles have surfaced.

Key Themes and Player Engagement

Friendship and Loyalty: The bond between Rook, Davrin, and Kieran serves as the emotional core of the story, emphasizing themes of trust and camaraderie.

Legacy and Identity: Kieran’s journey to define himself apart from his parents’ legacy mirrors Rook’s path as a rookie Grey Warden finding his place in the world.

Mystery and Discovery: The eluvian and Rift Bubbles tie into Solas’s larger plan, providing breadcrumbs for players to piece together as they progress.

Here ends the Prologue.

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