Reposted by francis
And those who slept, the ancient ones, awoke,
For their dreams had been devoured
By a demon that prowled the Fade
As a wolf hunts a herd of deer.
Taking first the weakest and frailest of hopes,
And when there was nothing left,
Destroying the bright and bold
By subtlety and ambush and cruel arts.
![Page 1 of a 3 page comic.
EXALTATIONS 1:7
Written by bygonesigh
Illustrated by paragonraptors
Panel 1: [An establishing shot of the Fade. The Inquisitor and their companions are in Nightmare's Lair from Here Lies the Abyss. The silhouettes of Varric and Solas walk towards a graveyard.] VARRIC: A graveyard. This keeps getting better.
Panel 2: [A full-body view of Solas walking behind Varric.] VARRIC: This demon isn't very creative, is it?
SOLAS: Must it be? Death is a common fear.
VARRIC: Spiders, graveyards....Nothing to spice it up. Typical.
Panel 3: [Varric looks behind his shoulder.] VARRIC: None of it is getting to you, Solas? Not even a little?
Panel 4: [Solas looks down at Varric.] It is unsettling perhaps-- but the Fade and the spirits within are nothing to be feared if one is vigilant.
Panel 5: [Varric from behind, scratching the back of his head.] VARRIC: Must be nice. To like the Fade, that is. Can't say I'm fond of it.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mlcd7vkvavrp6jrog2x7tk4t/bafkreiesaocstuwxmk5p7li5yp4cwbwwglblkpvcv5m3l46b3hozt2tzqa)
![Page 2 of a 3 page comic.
Panel 1: [Varric and Solas stand in front of two headstones.] VARRIC: Creepy.
Panel 2: [A headstone with the Kirkwall emblem and text in Elvish.] CAPTION: Varric Tethras: Become his parents.
Panel 3: [Looking at Varric and Solas from a high angle. Varric's arms are outstretched towards the headstone with incredulousness.] VARRIC: You've gotta be kidding me. SOLAS: Not what you expected?
Panel 4: [Varric steps forward, looking back at Solas while pointing at the headstone.] VARRIC: This is what the demon came up with?
SOLAS: You'll have to elaborate.
VARRIC: It's basic. Vague. Tells you nothing you didn't already know.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mlcd7vkvavrp6jrog2x7tk4t/bafkreidm7n3rit3hgr5qpqi6tgupiqa2kxznaxbwrg4jtbhe3biktwckle)
![Page 3 of a 3 page comic.
Panel 1: [Varric looking up at Solas.] VARRIC: Does it think we'll be more terrified of our friends knowing our fears than the fears themselves? The scary part isn't who knows, it's facing it. Working through it.
Panel 2: [Solas looking down at Varric with an expression that is left up to viewer interpretation. His brows are slightly furrowed and his lips are parted.] VARRIC: Shouldn't have said that out loud. I'm giving it ideas.
Panel 3: [A reverse shot. Solas looks over his shoulder as Varric walks away towards the camera. Varric's speech bubble is stylized as he mutters.] VARRIC: All this shit is weird.
Panel 4: [Solas continues to watch Varric walk away.]
Panel 5: [Solas looks down.]
Panel 6: [There are flowers in front of Solas' feet where Varric walked.]
Panel 7: [Solas steps through the flowers. They wither under his feet.]
Panel 8: [The headstone Solas had been standing in front of. It has the theater mask of Fen'harel with Elvish text. The flowers in front of Varric's headstone remain while they're withered in front of Solas'] CAPTION: Solas: Dying alone.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mlcd7vkvavrp6jrog2x7tk4t/bafkreia4vmp7fadk554hn3un4kl3gbbxy7pukwkesa4k2r4ykftyur3mby)
