Entry tags:
info&permissions
stats
| Name | Sebastian Vael |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 29-40 |
| Canon | Dragon Age |
| Status | Alive |
permissions
| Backtagging | Always |
| Threadjacking | No |
| Fourthwalling | No |
| Mind-reading | Situational |
| Injury | Yes |
| Death | No |
preferences
Slow-burn romance. Smut with Feelings.
Looking for/am partial to: Anders, Fenris, (m!)Hawke, Varric, Cullen (I am open to others in the Dragon Age/Baldur's Gate fandom.)
about
The Vaels believed that their youngest son of three, Sebastian, was a disgrace to the family name, and would be a weight around his brothers' necks. He spent his considerable allowance on drink, entertainment, and the wooing of the ladies of Starkhaven. Fearing that Sebastian might father a bastard that could grow to challenge the Vael throne, his parents forced him into the Chantry, exiling him from their principality. While he was not without faith, Sebastian did not wish to give up his life in service to Andraste so early in his existence, and with the aid of Grand Cleric Elthina, escaped. Elthina helped him to regain his faith however, and after reflection, Sebastian returned to the Chantry, this time willingly, and through the front door. Embracing his new role, Sebastian took vows of poverty and chastity to become a sworn brother of the Chantry... until word of his family's deaths forced him to take up worldly concerns once again.
Now, Sebastian is forced to re-enter the viper's nest of princely politics when his family is brutally murdered, leaving him as the sole surviving heir.
Now, Sebastian is forced to re-enter the viper's nest of princely politics when his family is brutally murdered, leaving him as the sole surviving heir.
personality
Sebastian is, to his very core, a Good Man. Borne to a family he would never see freedom in, he has spent his life either indebted to the Chantry that gave him purpose, or to a dead family that shunned him. Within the codex entries and what he says about his family, from direct dialogue with him to banter across companions; Sebastian did not live a gilded life.
In fact; he was always meant for the Chantry. Sending him early, given his drinking and whoring, was more of an excuse than an actual punishment. For, in order to maintain their royal place in Starkhaven, the Vaels of old promised one son or daughter to Andraste/the Chantry. As Starkhaven is an incredibly religious land.
The Vaels had their oldest, the heir- then they had their second (the spare). Thus Sebastian was born, specifically (and without any choice in the matter,) to be sent away. Whether the Vaels wanted to exile him so soon or not is anyone's guess. But from what we hear, they treated the youngest son very poorly. Neglect, locking him away to keep him out of trouble (without food/drink/entertainment) until finally they sent him away with a family guard escort.
Not to the Chantry in Starkhaven. To the Chantry in Kirkwall, of all places.
He was only a teenager when he was sent away. Never getting to show his Grandfather his growth as an archer, earning the man's bow- and never getting to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Grand Cleric Elthina offered Sebastian an Out, which can be read as thinly veiled manipulation. Where she saw this boy, rebellious, angry and who did not belong in the Chantry as he hated it there. Yet in the note she left him lay a contradiction. The note claims his rescuer would be alone- Elthina met him, purposefully, with an entourage of Templars.
Templars she dismissed, showing grace. Then she did the one thing Sebastian had been wanting all of his life; she saw him. Which was the bait on the hook that tugged him right back into that Chantry, willingly like a lamb. She offered him an out, money, and compassion. Seeing through his parents contribution as the political ploy it was. Maybe her manipulation was not out of malice; but it earned her an incredibly devout Brother.
It's important to remember that Sebastian had nothing. He had to swear not to rise up against his brother(s) for the crown, he had to give away his freedoms, choices so he could be the Chantry puppet that secures his family line on the throne.
'With that, she's inside, and I'm alone in the night. I look at the bag of coins, enough to be free of my family, my titles, forever. Enough to start the life I've always wanted, free to follow my whims, to laugh and love where I choose. Enough to be…
Words race through my head: useless, aimless, selfish, alone.
I was in a tavern when Captain Leland found me. Is that where I want to meet my Maker?'
Useless, aimless, selfish and alone.
With the Chantry he found a home, a woman to look up to as a mother and a sense of peace he had been needing.
Sebastian is devout, but he is not blind. He doesn't preach in the streets or to fellow companions. He tries to understand the plight of mages, yet ignorant as he is he does not condemn them. In his youth he fought against Tevinter's slavers and he is a friend to elves. Sebastian also understands the Chantry isn't perfect, and he wants it to be better. He understands when people turn from the Chant to pursue religions that help them feel like they belong- something he understands personally.
Sebastian is selfless but selfish. He is pious but feels pity towards mages and elves. He thinks there can be similarities in religions, and when he questions about Elven Gods he does it out of a genuine will to learn, instead of something to mock with.
Anders is the only outlier to his good disposition. Often Sebastian is on the unfortunate end of Varric's sharp tongue, Aveline's... winning personality and Anders' antagonisms. But it is Anders who gets under his skin the most. A man he can relate to more than he would care to admit, and that's half the point. Very few people get underneath the Starkhaven's prince's skin, which hints at a temper we do not see very much of.
The betrayal he feels after the tragedy of the Chantry and the innocents who died in the aftermath is... substantial.
I play him with a chip on his shoulder and a crises of faith. A prince with a hole in his heart and no consequences wrought upon the one who wronged an entire city.
A good man still, just... hurting and trying his best.
In fact; he was always meant for the Chantry. Sending him early, given his drinking and whoring, was more of an excuse than an actual punishment. For, in order to maintain their royal place in Starkhaven, the Vaels of old promised one son or daughter to Andraste/the Chantry. As Starkhaven is an incredibly religious land.
The Vaels had their oldest, the heir- then they had their second (the spare). Thus Sebastian was born, specifically (and without any choice in the matter,) to be sent away. Whether the Vaels wanted to exile him so soon or not is anyone's guess. But from what we hear, they treated the youngest son very poorly. Neglect, locking him away to keep him out of trouble (without food/drink/entertainment) until finally they sent him away with a family guard escort.
Not to the Chantry in Starkhaven. To the Chantry in Kirkwall, of all places.
He was only a teenager when he was sent away. Never getting to show his Grandfather his growth as an archer, earning the man's bow- and never getting to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Grand Cleric Elthina offered Sebastian an Out, which can be read as thinly veiled manipulation. Where she saw this boy, rebellious, angry and who did not belong in the Chantry as he hated it there. Yet in the note she left him lay a contradiction. The note claims his rescuer would be alone- Elthina met him, purposefully, with an entourage of Templars.
Templars she dismissed, showing grace. Then she did the one thing Sebastian had been wanting all of his life; she saw him. Which was the bait on the hook that tugged him right back into that Chantry, willingly like a lamb. She offered him an out, money, and compassion. Seeing through his parents contribution as the political ploy it was. Maybe her manipulation was not out of malice; but it earned her an incredibly devout Brother.
It's important to remember that Sebastian had nothing. He had to swear not to rise up against his brother(s) for the crown, he had to give away his freedoms, choices so he could be the Chantry puppet that secures his family line on the throne.
'With that, she's inside, and I'm alone in the night. I look at the bag of coins, enough to be free of my family, my titles, forever. Enough to start the life I've always wanted, free to follow my whims, to laugh and love where I choose. Enough to be…
Words race through my head: useless, aimless, selfish, alone.
I was in a tavern when Captain Leland found me. Is that where I want to meet my Maker?'
Useless, aimless, selfish and alone.
With the Chantry he found a home, a woman to look up to as a mother and a sense of peace he had been needing.
Sebastian is devout, but he is not blind. He doesn't preach in the streets or to fellow companions. He tries to understand the plight of mages, yet ignorant as he is he does not condemn them. In his youth he fought against Tevinter's slavers and he is a friend to elves. Sebastian also understands the Chantry isn't perfect, and he wants it to be better. He understands when people turn from the Chant to pursue religions that help them feel like they belong- something he understands personally.
Sebastian is selfless but selfish. He is pious but feels pity towards mages and elves. He thinks there can be similarities in religions, and when he questions about Elven Gods he does it out of a genuine will to learn, instead of something to mock with.
Anders is the only outlier to his good disposition. Often Sebastian is on the unfortunate end of Varric's sharp tongue, Aveline's... winning personality and Anders' antagonisms. But it is Anders who gets under his skin the most. A man he can relate to more than he would care to admit, and that's half the point. Very few people get underneath the Starkhaven's prince's skin, which hints at a temper we do not see very much of.
The betrayal he feels after the tragedy of the Chantry and the innocents who died in the aftermath is... substantial.
I play him with a chip on his shoulder and a crises of faith. A prince with a hole in his heart and no consequences wrought upon the one who wronged an entire city.
A good man still, just... hurting and trying his best.
world state
➷ Warden was a mage Amell
➷ Alistair is King, ruling Ferelden alone.
➷ Befriended Garrett Hawke
➷ Grew close with Merril and Fenris
➷ Offered Fenris a home/employment in Starkhaven
➷ Garret pushed Sebastian to put crown over piety
➷ Rivaled
➷ Anders lived
➷ Betrayed, he grew bitter
➷ Forsook his vows to the Chantry
➷ Was repelled by Cullen and his forces
➷ Later came together with Aveline to work together to repel Blight and War
( OOC NOTE: None of this is SET IN STONE. I am happy to play Sebastian as a purely Chantry Brother, or a more amicable and friendly Prince to any Hawke that connects with him. I am open to any part of the timeline and I am happy to figure out a world state that works with any PSL's that bleed out of texting memes. )
➷ Alistair is King, ruling Ferelden alone.
➷ Befriended Garrett Hawke
➷ Grew close with Merril and Fenris
➷ Offered Fenris a home/employment in Starkhaven
➷ Garret pushed Sebastian to put crown over piety
➷ Rivaled
➷ Anders lived
➷ Betrayed, he grew bitter
➷ Forsook his vows to the Chantry
➷ Was repelled by Cullen and his forces
➷ Later came together with Aveline to work together to repel Blight and War
( OOC NOTE: None of this is SET IN STONE. I am happy to play Sebastian as a purely Chantry Brother, or a more amicable and friendly Prince to any Hawke that connects with him. I am open to any part of the timeline and I am happy to figure out a world state that works with any PSL's that bleed out of texting memes. )
code by:
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transiliencePLAYER
NAME: whimsy
CONTACT: DM's or discord (please ask)
ACTIVE TIMES/PACE: my schedule is all over the place, but I try to reply quickly. usually late afternoons/evenings - EST timezone.
BRACKETS/PROSE: both. situational. i prefer prose, however.
OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: for myself, personally, i have severe emetophobia. so i'm uncomfortable with sick scenes unless it's not stomach/gastro related.
CONTACT: DM's or discord (please ask)
ACTIVE TIMES/PACE: my schedule is all over the place, but I try to reply quickly. usually late afternoons/evenings - EST timezone.
BRACKETS/PROSE: both. situational. i prefer prose, however.
OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: for myself, personally, i have severe emetophobia. so i'm uncomfortable with sick scenes unless it's not stomach/gastro related.
IN CHARACTER
PHYSICAL AFFECTION: yes please. the man needs it so badly. i believe he's touch/love-starved. even after forsaking his chantry vows to become the heir/prince to starkhaven properly he has not... been intimate with anyone. the man is Lonely.
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE: i'm all for it. he has a temper and he's a skilled rogue. while he favours the bow, he has prowess in small knives/daggers.
RELATIONSHIPS: i am very open to shipping with sebastian. i prefer to write m/m so i would like to bestow upon him his bisexuality that bioware cut, like... everything else interesting about him. :)
PSYCHIC & PSIONIC INFORMATION: psychic characters need to know that sebastian is a dutiful and devout man. selfless in a way where he's always putting what he perceives to be his duty above his own pleasures and happiness. he is easy to manipulate/showing him affection, talking to him like a person? it gets to him, and he needs it as a very lonely man.
it's also important to note that he's been struggling with his faith, post-kirkwall. he's still devout, just questioning a world that keeps burdening itself with horrors and tragedies. could the maker truly want this for his sons and daughters? are they supposed to suffer divine punishment indefinitely?
MAGICAL INFORMATION: no magical ability.
MEDICAL INFORMATION: perfectly healthy, starting to get arthritis/stiff fingers in his dominant hand.
OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: as for sebastian himself; he is filled with neglect, familial and religious trauma. he talks about religion often, as it is his go-to coping mechanism. he can also be needled into talking about (fantasy) slavery, the mistreatment of mages. he may also mention his past, where he did a lot of heavy drinking and spent a lot of his time and money on women. if any of that upsets you i can try and veer him elsewhere in conversations. just message me if anything is ruining your vibe.
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE: i'm all for it. he has a temper and he's a skilled rogue. while he favours the bow, he has prowess in small knives/daggers.
RELATIONSHIPS: i am very open to shipping with sebastian. i prefer to write m/m so i would like to bestow upon him his bisexuality that bioware cut, like... everything else interesting about him. :)
PSYCHIC & PSIONIC INFORMATION: psychic characters need to know that sebastian is a dutiful and devout man. selfless in a way where he's always putting what he perceives to be his duty above his own pleasures and happiness. he is easy to manipulate/showing him affection, talking to him like a person? it gets to him, and he needs it as a very lonely man.
it's also important to note that he's been struggling with his faith, post-kirkwall. he's still devout, just questioning a world that keeps burdening itself with horrors and tragedies. could the maker truly want this for his sons and daughters? are they supposed to suffer divine punishment indefinitely?
MAGICAL INFORMATION: no magical ability.
MEDICAL INFORMATION: perfectly healthy, starting to get arthritis/stiff fingers in his dominant hand.
OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: as for sebastian himself; he is filled with neglect, familial and religious trauma. he talks about religion often, as it is his go-to coping mechanism. he can also be needled into talking about (fantasy) slavery, the mistreatment of mages. he may also mention his past, where he did a lot of heavy drinking and spent a lot of his time and money on women. if any of that upsets you i can try and veer him elsewhere in conversations. just message me if anything is ruining your vibe.
OUT OF CHARACTER
BACKTAGGING: always! i do tend to drop tfln threads when they either feel like they have made it to a conclusion, or if the interest drops. but if the interest remains, i will do my best to continue tagging as long as the flow is... flowing?
THREADHOPPING: not my thing.
FOURTHWALLING: no thank you.
NOT INTERESTED IN: i'm not looking for purely antagonistic interactions. i know sebastian is a polarizing character, and is one of the most hated in the fandom as a whole. i have... a lot to say about that, but if you truly hate the character so much you can't find it in the power of rp to give him even a little bit of a chance, then maybe he's not the cr you're looking for.
i'm also not interested in people making grand assumptions about myself as a writer and person for being a fan of this character. he is a fantasy man, in a fantasy world. it's not at all deeper than that.
THREADHOPPING: not my thing.
FOURTHWALLING: no thank you.
NOT INTERESTED IN: i'm not looking for purely antagonistic interactions. i know sebastian is a polarizing character, and is one of the most hated in the fandom as a whole. i have... a lot to say about that, but if you truly hate the character so much you can't find it in the power of rp to give him even a little bit of a chance, then maybe he's not the cr you're looking for.
i'm also not interested in people making grand assumptions about myself as a writer and person for being a fan of this character. he is a fantasy man, in a fantasy world. it's not at all deeper than that.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
VISUAL: sebastian is Tall. i headcanon him around 6' to 6'1" give or take an inch. he's tall, tends to wear striking white and gold armour, with andraste's likeness carved into his belt buckle. the next very noticeable thing would be his incredibly blue eyes. he has tanned skin, blue eyes and he's lithe in build. built for speed and upper arm strength, pulling a bowstring is not easy.
AURAL: sebastian is blessed with a broguish starkhaven timbre. thick scottish accent, not too deep but not too light either. very pleasant on the ears, and a little playful from time to time.
OLFACTORY: sebastian smells of incense and candles. there's a woodsy musk smell (like... cedar, sandalwood, etc.)
DEMEANOUR: gentle and polite. he greets with a smile, regardless of how he may be feeling. sebastian is even-tempered, and varric complains he's 'too nice' but he'd like to think that isn't a bad way to present himself. it's true to who he is, a kind and thoughtful man.
AURAL: sebastian is blessed with a broguish starkhaven timbre. thick scottish accent, not too deep but not too light either. very pleasant on the ears, and a little playful from time to time.
OLFACTORY: sebastian smells of incense and candles. there's a woodsy musk smell (like... cedar, sandalwood, etc.)
DEMEANOUR: gentle and polite. he greets with a smile, regardless of how he may be feeling. sebastian is even-tempered, and varric complains he's 'too nice' but he'd like to think that isn't a bad way to present himself. it's true to who he is, a kind and thoughtful man.
☆ code by kimmiserate ☆