Malika Cadash

**Malika Cadash** is a surface dwarf, member of the Carta and the Dwarven Merchants' Guild. She is the lover of Lace Harding and a dedicated member of the Inquisition. She is the cousin of Edric Cadash and the daughter of Ethelwid Dunnharg and Roshek Cadash.

## History

### Early Life

Cadash is a surface dwarf whose family was exiled from Orzammar generations ago, for crimes known only to the record keepers in the Shaperate. Banned from their underground cities and stripped of all status in traditional society, many surface dwarves are forced to become part of the crime syndicate known as the Carta, simply to survive. Malika was raised as part of the Cadash family, a branch of the Carta specializing in smuggling the magical ore lyrium across Thedas. She moved from city to city in the Free Marches, working wherever the syndicate saw profit to be made.

## Involvement

News of the Conclave shook up the Carta's usual operations, as its success or failure would have tremendous impact on the demand for lyrium for years to come. Malika was one of a handful of Carta dwarves sent to spy on the proceedings at Haven. She was the only survivor of the explosion at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Varric gets her a seat in the Dwarven Merchant's Guild.

## Physical Description

She has a gruff, low, American Accent, callused hands, and short nails. Her hair is an ugly brown color in a pretty, intricate braided up-do. She is pale, with a long scar through her left eye, grey-blue pale-ish tattoos, no cheekbones, and full cheeks. She has messy eyebrows, puffed-out lips, smooth skin, and a slightly upturned nose that, combined with her lips, gives her the side profile of a duck-face. Her nose is every-so-slightly crooked from being broken, but it was set well with a careful hand. She would be pretty if not for her small squinty eyes that gave her the shifty and distrusting look of a criminal. She has a heavy and wide frame that has a slight layer of plushness that covers bulky muscle. She has a large bosom and a pear-shaped body.

## Personality

Malika believes in justice, nobility, and loyalty. Witty and resourceful, she is less concerned with chasing the spotlight than patiently fighting for fairness and truth. She believes in doing the hard work that preserves communities, values, and honorable traditions. She is honest, direct, and full of integrity. She doesn't care for emotional manipulation, mind games, or reassuring lies, preferring to manage the reality of the situations she encounters with plain and simple honesty. Strong-willed, and dutiful in embodying integrity in her actions by working hard and staying focused on her goals. She is patient and determined, and meets her obligations no matter what. She is very responsible, her word is a promise, and a promise means everything to her. Loyalty is a strong sentiment for her, and she fulfills her duties to the people and organizations she's committed herself to. She would rather sacrifice sleep and such than fail to deliver the results she said she would. She is calm and practical, keeping her feet on the ground and makes clear, rational decisions. She does not break down or lose her temper at every sign of hardship. She is never truly emotionally vulnerable, as the idea of everything being life and death is so ingrained in her.

## Tropes

* All Girls Want Bad Boys: If playing as an ex-Carta Dwarf, you can try to pull this card to flirt with Harding.
* The Atoner: When asked about your past you can comment how you are glad to no longer be involved with the Carta, suggesting that a Dwarf Inquisitor views the Inquisition as a way to make up for their criminal actions.
* Badass Adorable: Many people, such as Sera, will comment upon how adorable a Female Dwarf Inquisitor is.
* Badass Family: The dwarf Inquisitor is a member of the Cadash clan, making them a distant relative of Shale.
* Dark and Troubled Past: When asked about your past you can say that you simply smuggled a few things with little bloodshed, but you can also comment that you were heavily involved in several violent activities.
* Dude, Where's My Respect?: Female Cadash can express annoyance on multiple occasions of people not taking her seriously due to her being short and "cute."
* Expecting Someone Taller: Being a dwarf, Cadash can get this a lot.
* Famous Ancestor: The Dwarf Inquisitor is distantly related to Shale the (possibly former) golem.
* Never Heard That One Before: Jokes about them being short, that is. Cadash: *(to Blackwall)* At least you're upfront. It's better than, "I thought you'd be taller."
* Punch-Clock Villain: When asked about your past you can imply you were this and simply viewed working for the Carta as a job.
* You Are a Credit to Your Race: Can receive this sentiment a few times for being a dwarf, particularly a Carta dwarf.

## Relationships

### Advisors

* Cullen
* Leliana
* Josephine

### Inquisitors

* Ellana
* Maxwell
* Kaaras

### Companions

* Cassandra
* Solas
* Sera
* Cole
* Vivienne
* Blackwall
* Dorian
* Iron Bull
* Varric

### Lace Harding

She is dependable, through and through, and represents the epitome of family values, looking to a family structure guided by clear expectations and honesty. Lace found it a bit challenging to date her due to her reserved nature, but found her truly dedicated, and willing to devote tremendous thought and energy to ensure a stable and mutually satisfying relationship.

Deeply Committed
Blind dates and random hookups are not Logisticians’ preferred methods for finding potential partners. The risk and unpredictability of these situations has Logisticians’ alarm bells ringing, and being dragged out for a night of dancing at the club just isn’t going to happen. Logistician personalities much prefer more responsible, conservative methods of dating, such as dinner with an interested coworker or, in their more adventurous moods, a setup organized through a mutual friend.
Logisticians approach relationships, as with most things, from a rational perspective, looking for compatibility and the mutual satisfaction of daily and long-term needs. This isn’t a process that Logisticians take lightly, and once commitments are established, they stick to their promises to the very end. Logisticians establish foundations, fulfill their responsibilities, and keep their relationships functional and stable.
As their relationships transitions into the long-term, Logisticians gladly see to the necessary daily tasks around the house, applying the same sense of duty to their home life that they do in the workplace.
While this may not translate into particularly exotic intimate lives, Logisticians are dependable lovers who want very much for their partners to remain satisfied. It takes patience on the part of more adventurous partners, but if different activities can be demonstrated as equally or more enjoyable than those already within Logisticians’ comfort zones, they are perfectly capable of trying something new.
However, emotional satisfaction can be another matter. While Logisticians are able to provide surprisingly good emotional support, this only happens when they realize that it’s necessary, and there’s the rub. Logisticians are not naturally receptive to others’ emotions, not unless they are stated clearly, and a partner usually only says “I’m angry” when it’s too late to address the initial grievance.
A Reliable Heart
People with the Logistician personality type can get so caught up in the belief in their correctness, in “winning” arguments they thought were about facts, that they don’t realize their partner may have viewed things from a perspective of consideration and sensitivity. Especially with more sensitive partners, this can be a huge challenge for the relationship. Ultimately though, Logisticians’ senses of responsibility and dedication set the tone, and they spare no effort in noting to this distinction moving forward, the consequences having been demonstrated as real.
While Logisticians’ staid approach may seem boring to some, there is an undeniable attractiveness to it, though felt perhaps more by respect and admiration than emotional passion. Logisticians’ shells hide a strong and quiet determination and reliability, rare among other personality types, which can benefit even the flightiest personalities, allowing them to stay connected to the real world while still exploring new territory. Partners who share the Observant (S) trait are the best fit for Logistician personalities, with one or two opposing traits to create balance and to expand Logisticians’ sometimes overly isolated world, such as partners with Extraverted (E) or Prospecting (P) traits.