This is my retelling of the Rook/Lucanis romance. I have not played the game yet but have been consuming cutscene compilations like a madwoman. Some game scenes are cut because they aren't important to the story I want to tell. I am also expanding scenes and adding bits I think are needed to round out the story of these two.
My Rook is a half elf female mage Crow, Allona De Riva, cousin to Viago (moms were sisters). Her parents were part of Zev's crew in DAO so, yeah… (I mean, what hero DOESN'T have a tragic backstory?). She grew up in the Crows, ALWAYS had a thing for our boy Lucanis. They actually have a history of friendship. She is approximately 30 years old, and sarcastic as hell.
It case it ain't obvious… spoilers!
Chapter 1: Prison Break
"We need a mage killer."
Rook closed her eyes and inwardly sighed. She knew what Neve was going to say next.
"We need the Demon of Vyrantium "
Of course, Rook knew she was right. She just really… REALLY didn't want to return to Traviso. To face the Crows. To face… him. She hadn't heard from him since her forced into the contract Varric for his foolhardy quest to stop Solas. She supposed that technically, that contract ended. But now they had a bigger fish to fry. Well… two fish. Two big, ancient elven god shaped fish. She lightly traced the feather pendant hanging from the leather chord around her neck.
"Welp," Rook sighed. "Guess I get to show off my home town.
At least she was welcomed by a friendly face. Teia had always been kind to her. She did, after all, help with her training in regards to skills that only women can wield as weapons.
"Viago will be glad you're back," Teia called over her shoulder as she lead Rook and her party along the rooftops and back alleys of the city.
Rook snorted, "I highly doubt that. The only thing my cousin will be glad about is that he can call me an idiot to my face."
"He does miss you, though. He's always been less grumpy when you're around."
Soon enough, they landed at the Cantori Diamond.
"A casino?" Harding asked.
Rook chuckled, "stay off the floor if you want to keep your coin."
Teia guided Rook, Harding and Neve through hallways and staircases until they reached one of the inner rooms. Rook took a deep breath as she steeled herself to enter. She tried desperately to ignore the knot forming in her stomach. She hadn't seen these people in over a year. The last time she had spoken to Viago, it… didn't end well. While she and her cousin may have had vastly different personalities, stubbornness has always been strong in the De Riva bloodlines.
Three figures regarded them as they entered. To the left was her cousin, Viago De Riva, the Fifth Talon of the Antivan Crows. Though they were cousins by blood, they were raised more as siblings since Viago's mother took Rook in as a small child after the death of her parents in a disastrous contract in Fereldan. As such, Viago always seemed to hold her to a higher standard than any of the other fledglings during training. Teia said that it was because Viago saw so much potential in her. Rook wasn't quite so sure. It was also Viago who originally gave her the name "Rook". While she was trained with the spell blades, she much preferred the art of poisons and potions, information gathering, and dabbling in healing. She was one of the most adept at pulling information willingly from people. Viago often told her that she was pretty enough to be approachable but plain enough not to be intimidating. Teia told her that her strongest asset was her personality. That there was something about her personality that just pulled people in, that made them open up to her in such a willing manner. While Teia helped other female fledglings in the art of seduction to gain access to a target, with Rook, she taught her the subtle art of flirting and flattery, which she used to gather information and slip poisons into a target's drink. Rook was often paired up with other Crows as a lookout as her skills of observation were exceptional.
"You weren't supposed to return until the contract was fulfilled, cousin," Viago almost barked out. "Not very bright for a Crow trying to prove they shouldn't be permanently kicked from the roost."
"Well, technically we DID find him and stopped him from opening the Veil. Except now we have an even bigger problem…"
At this point, possibly noticing the tension between the two, Neve interjected, "Two ancient elven gods escaped. We need to assemble a team to stop them. We need somebody with the skills to bring down powerful mages. Hence why we need the Demon of Vyrantium on our team."
The younger of the three figures scoffed. Illario…the annoying thorn in Rooks side since childhood. He had always had an odd infatuation with her, relentlessly flirting with her and trying to woo her to his bedchambers. Not that he ever stood a chance. No… Rook's attentions have always belonged to one individual.
"Alas, you are too late. My cousin is dead!" He spat out the words, bitter but tinged with… something else that Rook couldn't identify. But she would store that away for later.
"Dead?" She hissed, shooting a withering look at Teia and Viago. The pair at least had the courtesy to shift very uncomfortably under her gaze. Dead… how could they never send word to her? Did they even care if she knew.
The elder figure of the trio cleared her voice.
"What I say now does not leave this room," Caterina Dell amorte said, her strong, icy tone filling the air. If there was one person that Rook feared and respected in vast, equal amounts, it would be this elderly woman, sitting before her. The First Claw of the Antivan Crows. With a clenched jaw but curiosity glittering in her eyes, Rook quickly turned her attention to the First Talon. Her face showed the strength and intelligence that lead her to becoming the head of the organization. Caterina had a backbone of steel and iron running through her veins.
"Lucanis Dellamonte is alive."
Rook had to stop her knees from her buckling. She is certain that both Teia and Viago saw the brief flash of relief that flashed across her face. She cleared her head of the emotional whiplash as the First Talon explained how Lucanis was on the trail of a target and ambushed, how a body was returned that was returned was modified with blood magic to pass as her grandson, that he was being kept in the underwater prison called the Ossuary.
"All this time… you knew my cousin was alive and you didn't tell me." Illario burst out, his fists clenched. Rook couldn't help but burst out laughing at the outburst. The four Crows turned to her, with various degrees of confusion and slight disproves of her display.
"Sorry," Rook coughed, trying to quell her bitter tinged laughter, "at least you were told he died, Illario. I wasn't told until oh, around 10 minutes ago that Lucanis was dead, but now… not."
"Rook," Teia started, but was stopped by Caterina Dellamonte raising her hand. She regarded Rook and her team.
"If you rescue my grandson, you will have your mage killer." The matron Crow fixed her eyes on Rook's face and said in a softer tone, "Rook… Allona… please. If anybody can rescue him, it will be you."
Shit… Caterina Dellamonte used her actual name. Nobody in the Crows used her real name unless something was particularly serious. But, she supposed the rescue of the First Talon's favorite grandson and one of the most talented Crows in all of Thedas would warrant that.
"I give you my word, First Talon. I shall not let you down."
Illario was the one to lead them to the dock, where they would take the boat to the Ossuary. They stood on the dog, shadowed by the darkness. Even still, Rook noted Illario was shifting, his eyes darting around. One would assume he was watching for anybody who may have followed him, but something about it was itching at the back of Rook's mind. She couldn't think about that now. She turned to the dock, and started towards the boat.
"Coming with us, Illario?"
"No. Somebody needs to make sure somebody didn't follow us." He hesitated before continuing, "Listen, Luce…"
Hearing that name… Luce… Rook spun on on the heel of her boot and got into Illario's face quicker than a Crow's knife in a target's back. She stuck a finger in his face and hissed, "no… NO. You are NOT to call me that. To you, I shall always and ONLY be called Rook."
And with that, she turned and stormed to the boat, leaving a stony faced Illario in her wake. Neve and Harding followed her, wordlessly for once.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for many moments, the only noise coming from the waves of the water lapping at the edges of the boat and the lightly splashing of the oars being rowed by a Crow mage.
It was finally Neve who broke the silence.
"Well, there's more to this story than I thought," she said, her gaze studying Rook. Rook hated when the detective went all… detective on her. Neve and Rook initially bonded over their ability to track information and power of observation, but she considered it part of her training as a Crow to try and avoid being, well, observed.
"Which part? That Lucanis was obviously set up? Or are you trying to delve into my backstory, to figure out the mystery of the enigma that is myself?" Rook joked, wiggling her fingers in a much casting ritual around the last statement. Neve chuckled in response.
"Both, actually. But right now, I am more curious about the tension I just witnessed for the last hour or so."
Rook rubbed her forehead, debating how… and if… to explain. She inwardly grumbled. She knew if she wanted Neve and Harding to trust her more, to be a real team, she had to open up. She was also, however, keenly aware of the Crow taking them to her destination. While the Crows were an organization, in the end, your true loyalty was to yourself. And some would use any information and means to climb their way to the top. Rook had to tread carefully with the information shared in current company.
"Viago de Riva is my cousin. His mother raised me after my parents were killed in Fereldan. He always held me to a higher standard. He insisted it was because I had more to prove. Sins of the father and all that." She paused, noticing Neve's quizzical expression. Rook explained further, "my parents where part of team sent by House Arainai to assassinate the now Hero of Fereldan."
"What!" Harding exclaimed, "but she saved Thedas!"
Rook shrugged, "a contract is a contract. A Crow's loyalty on a contract lays with whose gold pays for it." Rook chose to ignore the soft scoffing from the mage. Rook continued.
"When I became a fledgling, I was made Viago's charge. He was in charge of my training. He felt that I had more to prove… not only because of my parents, but because I am a de Riva by blood, just not by association. Teia claims it is because he knew my full potential and wanted me to prove everybody wrong. I think part of it was payback for being the annoying little sister figure in his life."
"What about the ether guy… the one who brought us to the docks."
"Illario," Rook pursed her lips. "We are the same age. We spent time during training together. While he has excellent skills, he has always let the need to be correct cloud his judgement. And jealous, especially what… or who doesn't want him back."
"Oh, so… a bit of unrequited love on his end, huh?" Harding asked.
"More infatuation than any real feelings on his part. He saw a prize to be won and nothing more."
"Well," Neve said, "that explains those three." Rook wracked her brain trying to explain her relationship with the First Talon, so was utterly thrown off by the next line of questioning.
"And Lucanis Dellamonte?"
Lucanis Dellamonte lay on the floor of his cell, staring at the slightly translucent walls. The silhouettes of the shapes of various sea fauna swimming by, their presence almost mocking him. Flaunting their freedom unknowingly towards him. The slight dampness of the cell leaving him always with the edge of a cold. How long has he been here, locked up like a prisoner with his unfortunate companion.
"Out, out… you PROMISED we would get OUT," the demon Spite growled in his head. Lucanis pushed gently on his eyes, trying to gently block out the voice. He closed his eyes and conjured more pleasant images. A flash of red hair in the sunlight. A pleasant smile and laugh shared over cups hot tea and coffee. Deft fingers rubbing healing ointment into his wounds.
Spite chuckled low and tinged with danger and anger. "Retreating to your Little Light. Ss always. I wonder, Lucanis, does she KNOW. What your mind conjures."
"Leave her name out of your mouth," Lucanis yelled. The only response was a slowly fading chuckle. Lucanis had stopped caring what the guards or other prisoners thought of his outbursts. He is sure that the guards were disgruntled that it was them causing him to yell. He groaned softly as he shifted, his muscles stiff from the damp and cold. What he wouldn't give for a cup of coffee. It didn't even have to be good coffee, as long as it was hot.
Lucanis was still trying to figure out how he got into the slightly soggy hell he was now in. He knew he was set up, that is for sure. He was the Demon of Vyrantium, for Maker's sake. He was always careful. Somebody had to tip off the Ventori and the witch bitch, Zara Renata.
The distance chaotic noise of weapons clashing pulled him out of his stupor. Lucanis slowly sat up and pushed up and onto his feet. He walked to the wall he knew faced the inner chamber of the Ossuary. He saw the vague silhouetted figures of the guards through the thick, crystalline walls of his prison.
"What.. is… HAPPENING," Spite hisses.
"What makes you think I know," Lucanis snapped.
"We do not want to fight. We are here for Lucanis Dellamonte." A muffled but very familiar voice could be heard. No… it couldn't be… not her.
"Has your little bird come to free you from your cage?" Spite growled in his mind, "let us out. Let us GO. FIGHT." For once, Lucanis couldn't argue. This was his… their… chance to escape this prison.
He let the Demon take over. He suddenly felt like he was placed in a jar, a silent witness as his vision suddenly turned shades of purple. He sensed the wings sprouting from he back as Spite took control, launching into a leap, harnessing the demon and Lucanis's own rage to break through the ceiling. Spite landed on his feet, and shortly making work of the guards. Even without weapons of their own, the Demon utilized the knowledge of muscle memory of Lucanis to take out the guards. Panting heavily, he turned to regard the trio left standing in front of him. All women: a dwarf, and two humans. The sight of the figure in the center made Lucanis's conscious push forward to take back control of his body.
"So, I'm guessing you're the reason we're here," the dark haired woman on the left said in a softly accent on the right. Tavinter, if he wasn't mistaken. And he hardly ever was.
"Your grandmother sent us," a voice that sounded like bells to his ears answered the second part of his question. He couldn't believe it. It was her. Rook. Allona de Riva. Cousin to the Fifth Talon. It's been over a year since he had last seen her. He had strong words for Viago when he found out of the contracts he forced on her. Viago had his reasons, but that didn't mean he had to agree or be happy with his decision.
Physically, she still looked the same as the last he saw her. She was pale of an Anitivan, though he remembered her being able to tan fairly well if she spent too much time in the sun. The smattering of freckles across her nose. Her eyes… he was always fascinated by her eyes. They were the color of the sea. Which sea? It depends. She had the shade of eyes that was a perplexing mix of gray, green, and blue. Each color seeming to become more dominant depending on the color she wore. Her eyes were slightly too large for her face. Lucanis and Teia would often tell her to use that to her benefit. They gave her a look of innocence and nativity the hid her real nature as a Crow. In the muddled light of the Ossuary, her hair looked like a dark brown, but Lucanis knew from experience that it glowed a deep, dark red in the full moon Antivan sun. Some would call her figure… sturdy. Not slim enough to be called a delicate figure, but not what one would be called fat. She had always been more curvy than the likes of Teia, but as Teia had trained her to do so, it helped disarm others to let their guard around her.
"Caterina," he murmured.
Rook quirked an eyebrow at him. Of course, she knew he was studying her. Lucanis could tell by the blank look on her face, but the slightly clenched left side of her jaw that she was holding back on something.
He nodded towards her in greeting, "Rook."
"Lucanis." He clocked the slight shifting of her form under his gaze. "And… you're possessed by a demon."
He shrugged, "it's complicated."
"Catrina promised us a mage killer if we broke you out."
Another contract…
"I can still work."
Rook couldn't help but smirk slightly, "good, because I am pretty certain we are going to have company soon. We need to move."
"They have a vial of my blood that they can use to control me. I cannot leave it in their hands. And… I have a contract." He held Rook's gaze. He knew his fellow Crow would know the implications.
"Who." It wasn't so much a question as it was a demand for information. No time to deploy her subtle flirty skills to extract information, Lucanis mused to himself.
"Calivan."
"Crows don't break contracts." They said together.
"A prison break, a blood heist, AND an assisination? You always did know how to treat me to the best nights out, Lucanis," Rook said in a mirthful tone, her eyes glittering with the mischievous glint he has missed over the year. He was equal parts flattered and flustered, but true to his person, showed neither. Much to Rook's disappointment, he was sure.
"She smells like… burning candles and chocolate." The dark voice of Site scratched at the back of his mind. He visibly grimaced.
"Lucanis?" He heard Rook ask, a trace of concern in her voice.
"It's fine. We.. I'm fine. Let's go." He said, gesturing them to lead the way.
He could see Harding shifting uncomfortably next to him on the elevator as she kept glancing at it. He chose to ignore her, instead staring at the back of Rook's head. He was glad to see she still wore her hair in the twin braids, the ends wrapped in an intricate knot at the base of her neck. Female crows learned early that it was either best to keep their short, or know styles to keep it out of the way. Long hair can be taken advantage of.
"Rook… "
"It's us against gods, Harding."
Lucanis clenched his jaw.
"I am right here, you know"
"But, um… I mean… Rook!" Harding pleaded towards Rook to help her get out of the hole she slowly digging herself deeper into.
"Harding… I trust Lucanis with my life." The was a finality in her voice that left no room for argument.
"Your little bird is fiiiirey. I like herrrrrrrrrrr," Spite cackled in his brain. "Oh she WILL be fun."
"Stop it" he hissed, under is breath. Rook turned to look at him, her brows knitted with worry. Lucanis raised his hand, giving the signal that he was fine. He supposes that was one of the perks of all this. They have been on so many assignments together that they have developed their own sort of language of symbols, gestures, and noises that was specific for them, different than the usually ones taught by the Crows.
They found Calivan in a large, open room. Lucanis let him continue talking as they confronted. He had learned long ago that if you let those who are meeting their mortal end speak, they spill more secrets than the best torture.
"So… This is Calivan," Rook drawled.
"He is. And a Crow never abandons a contract."
If was a tougher battle than Lucanis would care to admit. Rook's allies could hold their own weight. And Rook. Well… he missed watching her in action. He would always remember that her knives were as quick as her wit and as sharp as her tongue.
He looked down at the fallen body of Calivan.
"The Crows send their regards," he said in a cold tone. This damned job that sucked a year of his life away. Who knows how long it would have been if it weren't for his grandmother… and Rook?
"So we got your target, hm?" Rook said, wiping the blood off her blade using the side of her thigh before sheathing it and walking towards Lucanis.
"Yes, the job is done," Lucanis replied, trying to ignore Spite, whose spectral form was stalking around the duo like an agitated alley cat.
"Smells like blood. Ashes. Not done. Not yet." Lucanis glared silently at his form.
"Lucanis… hey! What are you looking at?" Rook asked in a concerned voice.
"Caaaareful," Spite hissed.
Lucanis blinked in surprise before resting his hands on his hips and turning towards Rook. " You cannot see him. I wondered."
Rook raised an eyebrow, "we clearly have things to discuss… away from here."
Lucanis nodded in agreement. "I think… it is time I got some air.