Devera

## Devera Agathon

This is what Devera looks as Queen of Ferelden's huscarl during Amaranthine War.

## Biographical Information

### Affiliation(s)

Tevinter Imperium (Formerly)The Qunari Nation (Formerly, Pretended)

Circle of Minrathous (Formerly)

Kingdom of Ferelden

The Silver Order

## **Biography**

### **Childhood and Qunari years as a teenage**

Devera hailed from a small coastal village near Neromenian, one of oldest cities in Thedas and founding members that formed old Imperium. The village itself was an obscure place, with nothing interesting except for a retired magister’s fortified estate that located on a nearby small hill. The old magister, who already relinquished his seat in Imperium Senate years ago, was the de-facto lord of this area. Technically, he was no longer an official figure anymore, but he was still respected and feared by locals like Archon himself. The village and all its inhabitants were under his protection. In this place, his words were virtually the law.

Like most city elves (in Tevinter, that meant all elves, since no dalish clan dared to enter Imperium openly), there was no family history for Devera’s. All she could remember about her father was, he was an artisan that sometimes worked in the magister’s villa, but he died when she was still a small child. Devera’s mother was a local trapper and ranger that worked for the old magister, since most nearby forest belonged to him (but not a single inch belonged to her). Devera was an outdoor type kid. When she grew up a bit, she began to follow her mother around when the older woman worked, and provided whatever help she could. She was a wild child and not particularly liked to follow the rule: for example, her parents' warning that she should never try to enter the old magister's villa.

So, one day she sneaked into the villa, eventually ended up in a library room with all sorts of books, many of them richly illustrated, the kind you can imagine that would easily catch a kid’s attention. Because her parents were illiterate, she was, too, so all she could ‘read’ were those illustrations. But there was one book, which contained a very horrible picture. Two elves, a man and a woman, obviously some warriors, still with their armor but in a truly sad pose, were chained behind a chariot (with a lavishly decorated human proudly standing on it) and forced to march with it. People, onlookers who were at both sides of the street, raucously jeered at them. They were restrained with heavy shackles. But what really shocking, and forever left an unforgettable impression on young Devera’s mind, was their expression. It was utterly dejection, grief and desperation. The kind only belonged to person who knew they have no future, no *tomorrow*.

Before Devera could recover from her shock, the door opened and old magister himself arrived. Devera was so dumbstruck with the drawing that she didn’t even notice his coming. This was the first time in her life that she was surprised by anyone else than her ranger mother. And that was an old man with no sneak skill whatsoever… The magister, however, didn’t punish her. He kindly bade the little girl to sit with him in a sofa and explains the meaning of that picture, even giving her some candy to eat. According to him, it depicted the Triumph of Archon Thalasian, after his conquest over Arlathan (220 TE/ -975 Ancient). The two sad elves were supposed to be the last king and queen of Arlathan. Asked what would happen to them, the magister gave a thin smile and told her, as most exalted prisoners of the Triumph, after its conclusion, they would be led to a cellar of Dumat’s temple and strangled there, as Archon’s personal offering to the leader of Old Gods. So, her guess was right, after all. There was no tomorrow for these two elves.

When the old magister was telling her that, the little girl was about to place a piece of candy into her mouth. But the story was so disturbing, her arms began to tremble so badly, that she was simply unable to finish that seemingly effortless task. Seeing this, the magister amicably told Devera that she didn’t need to be afraid. Such punishment and humiliation were only reserved for bad elf who dared to challenge humans, especially Magisterium. Like those arlathan elves who committed a most grievous crime: Try to defy the Imperium. As long as she stayed a good little elf like her parents, obeying Imperium and Magisterium’s authority, she had nothing to fear.

Devera was allowed to leave the villa unharmed, with her candies, the magister even promised not to inform her parents for this intrusion. He was a benign old man, by magister’s standard. But this was the last time the little elf girl ever dared to enter that place. The harrowing memory of that picture detered her far better than any of her parents’ warning. She knew she didn’t belong to there.

For the little elf, if there was no unforeseen accident, she expected to take over her mother’s job one day. But the accident did happen. The old magister’s plan eventually piqued the attention of Qunaris. Normally, they wouldn’t waste their time on such backwater place. But now they decided it’s time to pay him a visit so an Antaam detachment was sent.

Despite that Devera’s parents provided valuable service to the community, the family was not allowed to live inside the village proper and enjoyed the protection of its palisade, all because of their pointed ears. Normally it didn’t mean much. On that day, however, it proved huge difference. The palisade itself didn’t stop Qunari soldiers for long, but it bought enough time for most villagers to seek refuge in the magister’s estate. For Devera and her mother, there was no such luck. Their house was located on the other side of village. The main gate was shut before they could even reach it. There was still time before Qunaris arrived, but the village militia refused to open it for two knife ears. They had no choice but fleeing to forest. But Qunari patrol was already there. Devera’s mother was shot from behind and died in her arms. The young girl was dumbstruck by this tragedy, couldn’t bear leaving her mother’s side. When qunari soldiers brutally dragged her away, her only thought was, if only they were not elf…

The Qunari raid had only one purpose: eliminate the former magister and his apprentices. On this regard it thoroughly failed. The old mage was much more powerful than the Antaam believed, he still had some tricks up his sleeve. The Qunari force was unable to storm the estate, so the commander ordered his men to collect anyone that could be captured and take these captives to their ships. Since the commander couldn’t accomplish his original mission, he decided to invent a new one that he could: His men rescued some people who eagerly wanted to follow the Qun. He hoped by doing this, he could salvage something from a complete failure. This was a blatant violation of Qun’s principle. However, contrary to common belief, indiscipline is not a rare event in Qunari society, especially by Antaam. En route to Par Vollen, the prisoners were told to declare their willingness to join the Qun once they arrived. There was also hint the alternative option was slave labor for life.

No captive dared to object, because none of them knew anything about Qunari society, except what they were told by Tevinter authorities, that Qunaris were all bloodthirsty and cruel monsters. It nicely fitted with what the Qunari commander and his men had just done. So, for captives, there was no reason to doubt what they were told. In the end, when inquired by Ben-Hassrath, everyone, including Devera, declared that joining Qun was their life’s dream. By the time Devera found out the truth, it was too late. She had officially declared her allegiance to the Qun. Following Qun was free but quitting was not. Renouncing her fidelity would mark her as Tal-Vashoth. That brought punishment of its own.

So that’s how Devera became an unwilling Qunari. What happened next was even more bizarre. Most elven new converts like her were sent to do some civilian jobs. A few might be recruited by Ben-Hassrath itself, for they served as spy much better than racial Qunaris themselves. Devera, however, was sent to Antaam. It was not usual for a woman to be assigned to Qunari military, but Tamassran deemed her most suitable for this role. They declared her as Aqun-Athlok and sent her to be trained as Ashaad (scout). The true reason, or part of it, might be somewhat unscrupulous. At that time the war in Seheron intensified, and the casualties was heavy. The Antaam pressed for more replacement. Elves, who are usually nimbler and presented a smaller target, were regarded as particularly suitable for jungle warfare in that island. As a result, many elves were pressed into service despite Ben-Hassrath’s misgiving, including a few women.

## **Miscellaneous**

**Note:** This is headcanon version of an in-game NPC. Her story is designed to be based on that of the canon NPC as much as possible, not contradicting it.

Short stories about her: Shadows Over Denerim