App for eachdraidh

[colecomfort]

( PLAYER ★ INFORMATION )

NAME: Ronen
AGE: 29
CONTACT: RoRodiculous
CURRENT CHARACTERS & LATEST AC: n/a

RESERVATION LINK: Here!

( CHARACTER ★ INFORMATION )

DOES THIS CHARACTER MEET SKELETAL BASICS? Yes
NAME & AGE: Cole, appears early 20s (actual age unknown)
CANON & CANON POINT: Dragon Age: Inquisition (video game), after the arrival at Skyhold but before Here Lies the Abyss
CANON INFORMATION: Cole's Involvement on the Dragon Age wiki

Player-Dependent choices that affect Cole:
* The Inquisitor (player character) is a qunari warrior named Tarvah Adaar.
* Adaar chose to ally with the templars rather than the rebel mages. This means Cole and the Inquisitor became more closely acquainted earlier on.

PERSONALITY:
(Headcanon is highlighted.)

Once Upon a Time...
...there was a young mage named Cole. He was taken by the Circle in Val Royeaux and thrown into the dungeon. Beaten, starved, neglected, then forgotten, he laid dying in the dark. A spirit of Compassion found him through the Veil, and tried to help. But the young man died, and the templars disposed of his body. The spirit could not save him.

So it became him.

That's how Cole — this Cole — came to be, and that is the core of who and what he is. A spirit with a physical body. A human with a deep connection to the underlying magic of the world. Something in-between. He was born out of the original spirit's instinctive drive to help and to save, and that same instinct is what drives him still. He is naturally drawn to the pain of others and will do what he can to assuage it, even if it means ending their lives — although he doesn't go in for the mercy killings quite as much as he used to. These days he understands that there's more he can do, and greater causes to which he can dedicate himself. He lives to serve, and his chief devotion is to the cause of helping people, whether in large or small ways. He puts the well-being of others ahead of himself to the point that he truly expects nothing in return.

Most spirits in Cole's world are no more than the inherent need to do as their name dictates: whether Justice, Love, Pride, or Rage, a spirit or a demon will only ever act in the moment and only ever serve their nature. One of the ways spirits can be twisted into demons is by coming in contact with a mortal person who is angry, envious, or despairing, more than they are righteous, moderate, or hopeful. The spirit cannot see the line between its current self and the corrupted version, and cannot understand anything beyond the present circumstances. The difference between Cole and most spirits is that he's now more. He can remember things, and learn, and experience life outside of the ephemeral world of the Fade. He has become more like a person, and with that change comes the understanding that his actions can be the result of choices. Self-awareness means being cognizant of the effect his actions have beyond the pure service of Compassion, and the more expansive his knowledge of the world becomes, the more he is able to detect the subtleties and complications inherent in human problem-solving.

Which isn't to say that his understanding is complete (if it were, that would put him far ahead of most humans!). Cole's morality is best described as Neutral Good: he is committed to doing 'right,' to doing more help than harm, but this commitment exists outside of mortal laws. If a person's corruption and ambition makes them cruel to the extent that they callously cause others pain for their purposes, then they deserve to simply die rather than be tried before a court (ends at 1:22:25). On the other side of the same token, if a person has done objectionable things with pure intentions, or if they regret their actions, they deserve to be shown mercy.

Knowing that action is the result of intention and choice has made Cole's commitment to helping an active, ongoing commitment rather than a reactionary one. If he were to stop looking for ways to help, not only would it rob him of his purpose, but it would potentially open the door to more destructive behavior. Beyond this, he seeks out others that he believes he can trust to monitor him, in case he strays from the path and becomes too far gone to realize it. His dedication to this is absolute and without question (ends at 1:20:53).

Cole has been able to forge the beginnings of friendships during his short time in the Inquisition, despite the reservations many of his comrades have about spirits. In his interactions with them, he reveals more of the facets surrounding his core self.

Sera

For as long as he's had a consciousness, Cole has craved connection. People give him his purpose; with them, he can be a shoulder to cry on, an agent of healing. The fact that he can literally look into a person's mind and see what's hurting them, and the fact that he is naturally inspired to help them, means that he forms deep connections quite easily if the other person is open to it.

But not everyone is so open. The laypeople of Thedas are brought up with a distrust of anything that comes from the Fade, including spirits. This distrust is not without cause: when your only exposure to the Fade outside of your own dreams is the demons who possess mages and drive them mad, you're likely to approach anything associated with it with caution. But some people take that caution to the level of fear-driven spite: Sera is one of these people, and it shows in the way she treats Cole. She calls him "Creepy" as if it's his name, refers to him as "it" rather than "him," and repeatedly talks past him (ends at 1:56:01).

In response to all of Sera's antagonizing, Cole reveals the true depth of his compassion. He never shows her anger, never insults her in turn. He responds by gently, persistently, treating her with kindness. He seeks to earn her trust, even her friendship, by demonstrating that his nature is not inherently harmful (ends at 1:55:39). Proving the truth and honesty in his motivations is more important than protecting his ego.

It's also notable that Cole doesn't shy away from using his empathic abilities around Sera, despite her dislike of them. He is committed to demonstrating that he deserves to be trusted, but he is unwilling to compromise himself in order to do so. He wants people to like him, but it's more important that they understand him.

Varric

Cole is a spirit, but thanks to his particular circumstances, he has one foot in humanity. Varric is most interested in treating him as if he were human, and since Cole still has a lot to learn about it, this makes their relationship that of a mentor and student.

And Cole is a willing student. He welcomes Varric's lessons on how to tell jokes, even if he never quite gets it, but that's all right (ends at 1:08:52). He doesn't mind making mistakes, so long as they're harmless. He is playful and curious in his approach, willing to try even if he fails, and if he is ever discouraged, it's only mild.

This also shows that while Cole has an innate understanding of things that follow the dream-rules of the Fade, he has trouble applying this same understanding to the hard, logical world. If something has no direct connection to his purpose (for example, the concept of telling a joke), he is much more likely to take it at face value, because he lacks the ability to see beneath the surface.

Blackwall

In a sequence where the characters are pitted against the embodiment of Nightmare, it's revealed that Cole's greatest fear is "despair." For him, this means more than fearing the feeling of lost hope: Despair is the name of a demon, and spirits can become demons under the right conditions. Cole fears not only losing everything he values, but what will happen to him if he does. For this reason, he keeps a tight hold on hope, on the friendships he's forged, and on his commitment to healing.

But he's smart enough to realize that this hold could easily slip away from him without him knowing, and that this would make him a monster, stripped of self-awareness and bent on destruction. In that case, Cole knows that he should be destroyed, and he trusts that his comrades would do the right thing and strike him down. One of the people he trusts directly with this responsibility is Blackwall.

Blackwall is particularly notable in that he is also a man with a dark past, someone else who committed acts he now regrets and is trying to atone for. Through their relationship, Cole shows that he holds both himself and his friends to the same standards. He expects them to remain true to their heartfelt values. If they can't, he is willing to do what others might find too difficult (ends at 2:08:22).

Further interactions with Blackwall highlight the importance of choice and intention in Cole's view. What most matters to Cole is what's in a person's heart at the present moment: how they currently frame whatever mistakes they might have made, rather than the mistakes themselves (ends at 2:04:41).

Solas

More than anyone else, the elven mage Solas interacts with Cole on Cole's own terms. He approaches Cole as a spirit, and Cole responds easily, never tripping over the conversation the way he sometimes does with others. It's through Solas that we see Cole at his most natural and relaxed: the two of them understand one another. More than that, they are both comfortable with the way their 'otherness' sets them apart, and feel perfectly all right carrying on a conversation that no one else can understand (ends at 1:43:50).

Because of this, it's through his conversations with Solas that we most see Cole's points of vulnerability. Solas understands how to bridge the gap between reality and the Fade, and therefore is the best equipped to help when Cole has trouble reconciling the two (ends at 1:33:29). We see just how sensitive Cole is: he experiences the emotions of people and places as if they were his own, and they have just as much power to move him. He does not try to turn away from this or ignore it — partly because it would take effort to even attempt ignoring it, but mostly because keeping himself open and vulnerable allows him to hear the pain and to help, which serves his chosen purpose.

COURT ALLIANCE & REASONING: Cole has strong traits that could potentially land him in either court. However, I'm making a case for Unseelie, with his Seelie traits being the result of choosing a more ordered path, the importance of that choice itself being an Unseelie value, and his more chaotic origins being something that cannot be overlooked.

Fate is a Choice
To a demon of Envy:
'Dark and desperate, death to make yourself alive. I used to be like you. I'm not anymore. You shouldn't be either.'
❧
To those who hold more traditional beliefs, spirits are spirits and demons are demons. Spirits are helpful beings that assist in magic and rarely leave the Fade otherwise; demons are monstrous beings that only seek destruction. Cole knows different, from experience that couldn't be more personal. He once fed on people's hurt, used the way it called to him to make himself feel like he mattered. Then he learned what he was, and he chose to be different. He knows it's possible to change and become more than you were. It's not easy, but he is his own proof of the possibility.

Self-Censure is Unnatural
To the Inquisitor:
'I don't like what you're doing. If we don't help people here, I will find another place.'
❧
No matter how many times Cole runs into people who are frightened of him, who believe him to be an abhorrent thing at worst and untrustworthy at best, Cole refuses to compromise himself, preferring to prove them wrong through his actions rather than a willingness to accommodate. It's a gentle refusal, naturally, as any strong form of protest might only give credence to their beliefs. But the fact remains that Cole does not allow himself to be defined by others' opinions of him, and will, with quiet tenacity, continue to be himself despite them.
He also has no qualms about voicing his own opinions when he finds himself at odds with his surroundings: if his approval of the Inquisition is low enough, he will openly threaten to leave if things don't change.

Honour is a Lie
To the Inquisitor:
'It is dangerous when too many men in the same armor think they're right.'
❧
Cole knows how easy it is for atrocities to be committed in the name of the 'just.' The gleaming tower of the White Spire hid horrors, young mages abandoned to torture and death in the dungeons. The templars at Therinfal Redoubt became poisoned by red lyrium when their commanding officers convinced them it was in their best interests.
Order is not inherently good because a person with power says so... but when people believe in something together, great things can happen. The Inquisition is, to Cole, the best example of this. It's a patched-together group of people fighting for what they mutually believe must be done. That is where true value lives — not in the edicts of a code.

ABILITIES:

❧ INVISIBILITY: To most people, Cole is invisible by default, to the point of being almost undetectable. Even his opening a door might be blamed on a draft of wind. People who are deeply attuned to magic are more likely to notice him — Rhys, the first person to really see him, is a mage that specializes in spirits and can recognize when they're present. It's also established that people are more likely to see Cole if there's some way he can help them. However, to the vast majority of people, Cole passes unnoticed.
He is capable of choosing when he can be seen, as demonstrated when he appears suddenly on the War Table in Skyhold, and in other references to his "letting" other people see him. He is also able to deliberately amplify this ability: in Asunder, he kills a couple of guards without them so much as noticing he's there. Finally, he is able to extend this power to others and make them invisible as well, although this takes a considerable amount of effort and leaves him fatigued.
Potential Cap: Shards recognize each other. Cole is visible by default to Shardbearers, and must concentrate in order to be unseen by them. The same goes for monarchs and other important NPCs. Especially powerful characters may sense his presence even if they don't visually see him.

❧ MEMORY EFFECTS: In addition to being undetectable in the first place, Cole has the ability to make anyone who has seen or spoken with him forget the interaction entirely. Most ordinary people, once he leaves their sight, will not recall him, or at best, will retain a hazy memory. He can also erase other specific memories if he chooses to. The person will not necessarily notice any holes in their memory, rather, their mind will rearrange anything that happened into a perfectly logical series of events — just without Cole in them.
Similar to his invisibility, some people may be more naturally disposed to remembering him, but they would still be susceptible to this ability if he deliberately meddled with their memory.
Potential Cap: Same as Invisibility above. Although he can make himself forgettable with concentrated effort, Shardbearers and important NPCs will by default remember him without any trouble.

❧ EMPATHY: As a spirit of Compassion, Cole has the ability to 'see/hear' others' pain. This can range across anything from hurtful or bittersweet memories, to current fears or anxieties, to knowing what a person needs to make them feel better. Depending on the nature of a person's pain or their own mental abilities, they may be easier or more difficult to read. This will be handled on a character-by-character basis with a permissions post.

❧ MAGICAL SENSE: As a spirit in general, Cole retains some connection back to the magic of the world. He repeatedly talks about the 'song' of inanimate objects or locations, and occasionally senses the memory of strongly emotional events that occurred in a place. This is a passive ability — Cole is not able to affect these things in any way — but it's an important factor in how he experiences the world.

❧ ABOVE-HUMAN RESILIENCE: Cole has no basic need for water, food, or sleep. He can travel for extended distances on foot without getting fatigued. He is, however, still susceptible to physical injuries (stabbing, burning, etc) as much as the average human.

❧ COMBAT: In terms of his canon's mechanics, Cole is a Rogue. His style involves daggers, and he fights well enough to take down trained soldiers (as long as he can avoid their heavier attacks — Rogues have a high attack but low defense. In other words, effective but squishy). His fighting abilities are innate: when asked about his lack of formal training, Cole says, "I go where the knife needs to be."

❧ SHAPESHIFTING: Spirits of the Fade are able to take on many forms, so long as a given form serves their natural purpose and can be copied — the Fade is a place made out of thought, so there are limits to what's possible, even if those limits are as expansive as mortal memory and imagination.
Note: Pure spirits being able to shapeshift is established canon, but since Cole never expresses a desire to take any shape other than the one he currently has, his having this ability is largely headcanon. If Cole were going to change into anything else, he would have to want it enough, and for him to want it, he would have to feel it was more helpful than his current shape and important enough to override part of the identity he's built for himself: after all, part of his being Cole is looking like Cole. I am only including it for the sake of covering all the bases in terms of what might be possible down the road. If it is accepted as one of his abilities, I can promise that it will not be used frivolously.

INVENTORY:

❧ Hunter Coat
❧ Cole's Hat
❧ Two Cruel Daggers
❧ One Dalish Slasher

( WRITING ★ SAMPLES )

NETWORK SAMPLE: Eudio Network Post

LOG SAMPLE:

They're swarming over him, pricking at him with tiny claws. One of them's taken his hat. Cole spins with his daggers, but they vanish as soon as the blade would have reached them, only to appear somewhere else, laughing, their mouths full of pointed teeth.

Then one of them's not fast enough. One of Cole's blades sinks into flesh. The creature lets out a squeal, and Cole feels its dread purpose end, and exclaims his answer through gritted teeth: "Die!"

"All right, all right! That's enough." The other imps back off, climbing down off of Cole's shoulders and back reluctantly. The one that spoke is standing some feet away, holding a rolled-up paper in one hand, the chain of a locket in the other. "Sheesh. Always thankless."

Cole pulls his knife from the dead imp. Dark blood drips onto the floor.

"You stole me. Why did you do that?"

"Just doing our jobs, kid. Now listen well..."

Kid. That's what the dwarf calls him. But it sounds harsher coming from this creature, a cold, cruel word.

Cole listens. Not to what the imp is saying — he catches the gist of it, that there's something magic inside of him, that this is a world between worlds, that there's something called the Void. What he really listens to is where he is. A building with old stones, so old they no longer remember the quarry they came from. A history that stretches backwards, a tunnel no one can travel, a hole so dark he can't fathom the depth. And beyond that...

Beyond that...

"...just don't lose it. Got that?" the imp is asking, dangling the locket in Cole's direction. "Are we finished with the stabbing?"

Cole's eyes land on the locket, but then he looks past it, past the walls around him. "Dark at the edges. No, not dark. Nothing. An end, an end to everything, dissolving, disappearing. A world so small, and getting smaller. Trapped, the path is shut. There's no way back."

The imp smiles. Sharp teeth, sharp smirk, a promise like the edge of a knife: "Oh. They are gonna like you."

Cole reaches out and takes the locket. The imp disappears along with most of its comrades, save the dead one and the one who stole Cole's hat. It's turned the hat upside down and is sitting in the basket, rocking back and forth with gleeful little cackles.

For the moment, Cole ignores the map that's fluttered to the floor, and holds the locket up toward his face. There's a whispering tune inside it, ebbing voices and open channels ringing with possibility.

"I want my hat back," he says.

The last imp lifts itself over the hat and hovers there, long enough to pass wind inside before it vanishes. Cole considers the locket for another moment, then begins cleaning the blood off his blade.