Application for Recommence

[dalen]

Your Name: Sparky
Age: old
Contact: imperion | AIM @ strongmekachan | tapsters

Character Name: Merrill

Series: Dragon Age II

Timeframe: Post Mirror Image

Background:

Background | Involvement

Because Merrill's canon relies heavily on player decisions, the following were made for her:

- The Warden was a female Dalish elf, Mahariel, so Merrill knows her personally.
- Hawke is a male mage, so she knows Hawke's brother, Carver.
- Hawke gave Merrill the arulin'holm during her act 2 quest, Mirror Image.
- Merrill's act 3 personal quest, A New Path, was completed. Her clan was killed. The mirror remains in tact, but Merrill has chosen to abandon her work with it.
- Hawke sided with the Templars at the end of the game. Since Merrill's friendship was maxed out, she did not turn on Hawke.

Personality:

At her core, Merrill is a very very sweet young lady. She is nice to everyone, even if they are not necessarily nice to her, but doesn't have a problem defending her actions or standing up for herself. She knew the risks of accepting the pride demon's aid and she does not regret it. This puts her at odds with Hawke's other companions, particularly Anders and Fenris. She stands up to them, but still manages to remain kind and courteous to them.

Merrill is also very stubborn. Once her heart is set to do something, she can very well close her ears to opposition, even if it is coming from people who genuinely love and care for her. Merrill truly believes what she is doing is for her people's benefit, despite everyone warning her otherwise. Sure the Eluvian is a dangerous killer mirror. But it is a part of elven history! And Merrill would do anything to see it restored.

She also does not hide who she is, or what she's done. When asked, she does not deny dealing with a demon. If it was going to help her people, then so be it. It hurts her to be shunned by her people, but in her eyes, it is worth it, if it means restoring Dalish history. No price is too high if it will benefit the Dalish, because Merrill loves the Dalish. Her life, in effect, revolves around helping them. It's just...unfortunate that others (and by others I mean, like, everyone) do not agree with her methods.

Messy business aside, Merrill is very curious about the world around her. She finds the strangest things (like muggings) fascinating, as there are no such crimes among her clan. And with that sheltered upbringing comes a lot of naivety. A lot of...adult concepts as well as sarcasm can sometimes go right over her head. And she wants to understand! She really does.

Merrill also has this habit of talking. Quite a bit. She can babble right up until she realizes she is babbling at which point she'll stop and apologize. She doesn't mean to do it. She's just never had the opportunity to have the experiences before. But she's very eager to learn all she can.

Merrill has changed a lot after Marethari's death. While still filled with a naive wonder about the world around her, she is much more somber. She blames herself and her stubbornness for Marethari's death and is weighted with a lot guilt for everything that's happened with her clan.

After what happened in Sundermount, Merrill begins to question herself. She's unsure now of where to go and what to do with herself and who she is. She had devoted so much of her life to restoring that damned mirror that she hadn't given consideration to what she wanted. She thought that was what she wanted. But now that she is no longer even welcomed among her clan, she finally has the freedom for that kind of consideration. Sure she's kind of been forced into it, but it is there nonetheless.

At this point her life, Merrill trusts Hawke almost implicitly. He is her people now, the only person in Kirkwall she has a bond with stronger than even her pride as a Dalish or mage. She'll admit she's sideyed him when he chose to work with the Templars, but even that was a momentary lapse in her trust in him. He earned it all back when he let mages go.

She spends a good portion of her party banter with the other companions questioning their convictions, their ideals, their goals, what they see when they look in their mirrors. Not because she thinks they're wrong, but because she is simply trying to find her way and needs a little guidance in getting there.

Appearance: Clicky!.


Abilities:

First thing to note about Merrill, is that she is a mage. In the Dragon Age world, that essentially means Merrill can manipulate the physical around her through the spiritual. Magic in Thedas is divided up into categories called Schools. Merrill is skilled in the following schools:

Elemental controls the two opposing forces fire and ice. Merrill knows every spell in this tree, upgrades and passive abilities included.

Primal continues where Elemental left off. These spells deal with earth damage and lightning damage. Merrill knows Stonefist, petrify, and chain lightning.

Spirit is a more subtle approach to offense. It's best used against enemy mages as it can disrupt spell casting. Merrill can use Dispel Magic, Walking Bomb, and Spirit Bolt.

Arcane focuses on protecting the mage and keeping enemies at bay. Merrill knows Mind Blast and Crushing Prison.

Entropy causes horrifying visions which can leave a foe paralyzed as well as putting them to sleep. Merrill is versed in Horror and Hex of Torment.

And her specialization is called Dalish Pariah. Her passive ability is Solidarity and she knows all of her spells + upgrades.

It should be noted that Merrill is a blood mage. This means she uses her blood to enhance and fuel her magic, instead of her mana. Blood magic is generally frowned upon in Thedas because, even though it can be learned through other means, the primary means of learning it is through demons. Merrill learned hers through a demon called Audacity. And while it is entirely possible for Merrill to use anyone's blood, she would never take it from someone unwilling. She uses her own blood.

While aboard the Black Tide, all spells will be at half their strength and upgrades and passive abilities will be locked. Merrill's blood magic will be locked as well and her blood will have no effect on the spells she does have access to.

Merrill is also skilled in herbalism and poison making.

Items:

- Her staff, Freedom's Promise. It has been confiscated.
- Sylvanwood Ring ( x )
- Amulet: Sylaise's Favor ( x )
- a few crafting resources, enough to make 2 health potions and 2 lyrium potions.

Preferred Quarters: None!

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