Dorian Pavus Thread "He's More Handsome Than A Cockroach"

I enjoy playing a mage with Dorian, regardless of whether we are in a romance or not, because I can see how they would have common ground and enjoy talking about magical theory. Playing a Dalish mage means you would probably be able to share very different perspectives (although not actually in game). If playing a Dalish, that is the dialogue you get, rather than a comment on the fact that you do magic. I assume he comments if you take Necromancer as your specialism (not done this myself) but he doesn't have anything to say about the other two.

My canon Inquisitor is a Dalish assassin archer, in a romance with Dorian, and that was interesting because he did comment on my specialism in relation to what can be found in Tevinter. Again, I think he only comments about assassin and not the other two specialisms. Whilst there is no specific dialogue in game, so I had to develop the ideas myself, it seemed to me there would be just as much pressure on a Dalish to conform and marry young, have kids, etc, as there would be in the nobility elsewhere. So the dialogue option after you have met his father when you can say to Dorian how you respect him for taking his stance because it can't be easy fighting against tradition seemed very appropriate for my PC because I felt that he had done the same and so it was in keeping with the way I envisioned his character.

Incidentally, if you haven't done so before, try taking Dorian around for an extended period with Solas.   When they talk magical theory it really gives you a feel for just how knowledgeable Dorian is in his field because he can hold his own against Solas in that respect. 

You need to read the history of Kordillus Drakon. His grandfather was Lord Vanderin Drakon a Tevinter Altus whose family fortunes were declining in Tevinter. He married off his youngest son Septimus to Castana, the daughter of a prominent Ciriane chieftan. Most people thought nothing of it up north because it just seemed like he was ridding himself of an unwanted non-mage child. However, Septimus helped his wife secure the title of gothi, or queen, of Orlais, then just a collection clans of both Ciriane and Alamaari and the family never looked back in the south, at least not until the Valmonts stepped in and ousted them from power.

That is where I got the idea that may be Dorian's ancestor could have been a non-mage reject or even a mage of negligible ability (like Felix) who would be an embarrassment back home but a very useful asset in the south where they were suspicious of mages being in charge. That would equally explain why the Trevelyan family might produce a mage child out of the blue, since we still don't know exactly how mage genetics work. After all, look at Feynriel, he was a Dreamer and neither of his parents were mages.

I've also just noticed that if the Inquisitor shows concern that they are related he says: "I think we're still good to go...by at least three ages."   If you take that literally and to be honest you can only remember family trees back so far without it getting dreadfully complicated, that would only take it back to the Steel Age, long after Tevinter were in charge in the south, although I suppose Trevelyan could have been fleeing the Qunari invasion of their homeland.   Still that would be very unpatriotic, so I'd go with the regular boring politically inspired marriage and somehow I can't see a fully blown mage going down too well in the south at that time.