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monadexe Application
OOC Information
IC Information
IC Information
Name: Garrett Hawke
Canon: Dragon Age 2
Gender: Male
Age: roughly 36-37
History:
DA2 Overview
In-depth storyline for DA2
Wiki character summary (including Inquisition cameo)
Blue text highlights player decision
Red text highlights headcanon
The summary of my major in-game choices is as follows:
Mage --> Joined the smuggling ring to pay for entry into Kirkwall --> Took Carver into the Deep Roads (where he was conscripted into the Grey Wardens) --> Fought the Arishok in single combat forKirkwall Isabela's honor freedom --> Engaged in a magical threesome Romanced Anders --> Let Anders live --> Sided with the Mages --> Contacted by Stroud --> Died in the Fade
Personality:
In Dragone Age II, Hawke's personality is determined through dialogue options chosen by the player as the game progresses. Hawke comes in three different flavors: Diplomatic/Helpful ("Blue" Hawke), Sarcastic/Charming ("Purple" Hawke), or Aggressive/Direct ("Red" Hawke).
I play Hawke as a fairly even blend of blue and purple who can generally be counted on to take off the happy joker mask for his good friends in favor of sincerity. He can (and has) come off as a completely insensitive jackass, but overall he's really a decent, caring guy who hides his feelings behind a heavy facade of sarcasm and humor. He has decent context sensitivity, and while he will often choose to ignore it in favor of a sarcastic remark or inappropriate innuendo, there are instances where his irritation with a situation will cause him to be uncharacteristically direct (generally whenever he talks to Sebastian). Conversely, there are some situations (any time a parent or a child asks for help) where he drops the jackass act and responds with genuine sensitivity.
That's the summary; read on for the juicy details!
× THE FIRST-BORN
Hawke was profoundly affected by growing up in a family where life and happiness depended on staying together. The danger of being separated from his father was ever present in his childhood and grew even greater when he hit puberty, when his magical abilities manifested. If the family was caught by Templars, not only would he be separated from his father but from his mother and younger siblings as well. The likelihood of seeing them again would be nonexistent, as the Chantry is notorious for separating mages from their families.
He has an affinity toward fellow mages, his connection with his father and sister having always bared stronger than with his mother and brother due to the shared dangers they face as mages, both of possession by a demon and being found as an apostate. He was closer to his father than to his mother since he spent more time with Malcolm learning to control his abilities, and then with Bethany as well, once her magic manifested. This created an unintentional divide between Hawke and his mother and brother, the only non-magical members of their family, and in some ways carries through with many of his other relationships.
Following his father's death, Hawke took on the responsibility of leading out of necessity and has since continued to do so. Even with the passing of his sister, especially due to Leandra's accusation that it was his fault, he blames himself for a lot of things he has no control over and subsequently takes responsibility for the burdens of those he cares for.
This being the case, he tends to assume a paternal role for his remaining family - Mother and Carver - and his adopted family - Aveline, Varric, Merrill, Anders, Fenris, Isabela, and Sebastian. This paternal role influences his outlook and, in turn, actions and interactions with the people he meets and helps in Kirkwall, i.e. he has a special soft spot for parents, children, and siblings.
× THE BIG BROTHER
Hawke has a tendency to adopt the Big Bro role with children and teenagers. He's more likely to be sincere with kids, and pulls out the sass as a means to make them smile or laugh, rather than as a weapon of mass irritation. This is evident as, throughout the course of his adventures, he comes across several families who need help and provides support for them in this way.
In Act I he helps a young woman, Macha, locate her brother, Keran, a templar recruit who has mysteriously gone missing. Though he has little reason to love templars, he agrees to help her find Keran because he strongly relates to her feelings. What he uncovers is a blood-mage conspiracy to plant demons within the Templar ranks by corrupting recruits in the hope of undermining the Templar organization. In the end, he's able to kill the blood-mages, rescue Keran, and even sweet-talk the Templar knight-captain into accepting Keran back into the recruits despite his close call. This, again, is not due to any love he has for Templars or for people who want to be Templars, but because the stipend Keran earns is the only thing supporting his sister and keeping her out of poverty. Sibling solidarity, yo.
× THE SCOUNDREL WITH THE HEART OF GOLD
A lot of Hawke's actions can appear to be financially motivated, but he always follows his moral compass. At the start of the game his home and everything he knew was destroyed, and the only way to get into Kirkwall (he found out only after he'd arrived) was to buy his way in. He spent his year with Athenril's smuggling ring and earned the money to do so. Once his debt was paid off, he moved on to different means of locating financial security, not so much for himself, but so that he could take care of his mother and his brother. As described in the wiki, part of the main questline is to earn enough gold to buy a partnership in a caravan heading to the Deep Roads. He takes on a lot of "odd jobs" with a monetary reward as the main motivator, but as often as not eschews the reward upon learning that things are not what they seem.
Some time after he'd left Athenril's smuggling ring and come into riches in the Deep Roads, his former boss contacted him for a job. Knowing he was trustworthy and capable, she asked him to track down misplaced goods. Upon locating them, he discovers that the initial runner for the job was an orphaned, teenaged boy who had younger sisters to look after. Hawke recovered the shipment but decided to give it to the boy and advises him to take his sisters and get out of Kirkwall. He forfeited payment for the job and then lied to Athenril about the fate of the goods, covering for the kid and allowing him to get away.
He forgoes his payment in other situations as well. Another time, he was hired by an aristocrat to track down a dangerous criminal and to bring him back alive. The man was set to pay Hawke a handsome reward, but when Hawke learned that the criminal in question had a history of kidnapping, molesting, and ultimately murdering elven children, he elected to bring the man to justice upon confrontation, instead of allowing him to pass into the hands of the courts where he would ultimately receive nothing more than imprisonment and a slap on the wrist. All he got in return for that particular kerfluffle was the gratitude of the girl and of her father (as well as threats of retaliation from the aristocrat), but that was just fine with Hawke.
× SER SASSYPANTS
Hawke takes shit from nobody.
Well, that's not entirely true. His friends give him a lot of shit, but they're allowed to because they're his friends. Slap him into a situation where he's expected to be diplomatic, and he'll sass his pants off till the cows come home. Knight-Commander Meredith and First Enchanter Orsino are bickering again? Break it up with a flippant remark about releasing sexual tension. The Viscount needs someone to rescue his son again from that Qunari that keeps "kidnapping" him? Subtly indicate that the viscount's son is an adult who is more than capable of making his own life choices. ...And then go find him anyway because money~
To strangers and acquaintances, Hawke often appears to be a fairly shallow individual incapable of taking anything seriously whose only concerns are coin and drink (and dirty jokes). The thing about Hawke, though, is that he doesn't think of himself as a hero. He never set out to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people or make a name for himself in any sense of the word. He's just this ordinary (though extraordinarily handsome~) guy who all of these big, important people have somehow decided is going to save them from corruption or blood magic or total annihilation. His method for dealing with these big, important people just happens to be sass. Maybe if he's sarcastic enough at them, they'll realize how many stupid things they're saying and figure out a way to fix their own damn problems. Not that that has ever worked so far, but he can still dream!
× THE CHAMPION
Regardless of Hawke's hopes, sometimes things just happen, and that's more or less how people came to see him as a hero despite his intentions. This was the case when he came to be called the Champion of Kirkwall, which occurred following the First Battle of Kirkwall.
When the Qunari began attacking and razing Kirkwall to the ground, Hawke's only goal was to protect his home. Amid the chaos of the attack, it was unclear whether or not anyone was capable of stepping up to respond. As it happened, Hawke (along with a handful of his friends) were the only ones to do so. While he did eventually encounter Meredith and Orsino on his way to confront the Arishok, he wound up proceeding on his own, the promise of backup from Templars and Circle Mages never being kept.
Hawke made his way through the Viscount's Keep, which the Qunari had captured, and arrived in the grand hall just in time to witness the Arishok toss the head of Kirkwall's Viscount into the midst of its citizens. Attempting to reason with the Arishok did little good, until Isabela sashayed onto the scene bearing the Tome of Koslun, the artifact whose theft had prompted the Qunari attack in the first place. Delighted at this turn of events, Hawke happily offered the Tome to the Arishok in exchange for the cessation of hostility and the swift removal of the Qunari from Kirkwall.
Unfortunately, the Arishok wanted both the Tome and Isabela. That was a deal-breaker for Hawke, so the two agreed that an honorable, one-on-one Duel to the Death™ was the only way to settle Isabela's fate. While Isabela had initially betrayed her friends by running off with the Tome, she returned despite her selfishness, and that was enough for Hawke to forgive her.
In defeating the Arishok, respect from the city-state was gained and the title of Champion was bestowed upon him. This came with its own benefits, but overall, it is not that Hawke chose to become the Champion, but he that he has what is needed in what others want of one. In the end, his loyalty and leadership in regard to his friends is what brought about this result, and though he would never willingly choose to receive such a title again, Hawke continues to lead and protect those he cares for when the world requires it of him.
This remained true when he came to aid the Inquisition several years later. Because of how Grey Wardens were being affected by the Rift in the Fade, Hawke's concern for his brother's safety and the safety of anyone else involved prompted him to once again offer his aid. As a mage, he understands the fear of being controlled, and if he can stop that from happening to others, he will.
×THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
Throughout his years in Kirkwall, Hawke met and struck up friendships with an unlikely group of characters, most of whom would have nothing at all in common with one another if not for a mutual friendship with Hawke. Hawke is the kind of guy who makes friends easily and who also takes care of his friends without question. The following is a set of summaries about Hawke's relationships with Carver and his Kirkwall Crew, the people who over time came to be his adopted family.
Carver Hawke
Hawke's relationship with his brother is rocky. Carver, resentful of what he perceives as paternal favoritism seems determined to be bitter and whiny about being lost in his older brother's shadow, and is resistant to Hawke's attempts to reconcile. Despite the huge chip on his shoulder and his penchant for whining, and despite the fact that he is not and never has been as close to Carver as he was to Bethany, Hawke loves his younger brother a great deal and tries to accommodate him as much as he can which lead them both into the Deep Roads. Carver wanted to go, so Hawke brought him along! This turned out to be a very bad idea, as Carver unfortunately contracted the Blight from all the Darkspawn fighting, and had to go away with the Grey Wardens or die. Returning to his mother with the news was less than delightful; Carver hadn't died but by his mother's initial reaction to the news he may as well have, and Hawke once again felt that same sense of failure and guilt which had descended on him when Bethany had been killed. He'd failed his job as the elder brother twice over by not protecting his younger siblings well enough when they'd needed him most. This continues to affect his relationship with Carver.
Aveline Vallen
Hawke actually met Aveline, a fierce warrior fighting darkspawn alongside her templar husband, as he fled Lothering with his family. The couple joined the family on their flight from Lothering, though only Aveline survived the journey. Newly widowed with nowhere else to turn, she accompanied the surviving Hawkes to Kirkwall, where she joined the city guard. She and Hawke have great mutual respect for one another, although she might wish that Hawke would take things a little more seriously than he generally does. Unbeknownst to her, Hawke actually does dial back his usual devil-may-care attitude quite a bit, entirely for her benefit. His respect for her is great enough that he is perfectly willing to drop the sarcasm in favor of sincerity.
Varric Tethras
Self-described as a silver-tongued rogue with a heart of gold, Varric is the youngest of two dwarven brothers living in Kirkwall who, when he meets Hawke, are in the midst of organizing a journey into the Deep Roads in search of treasure. Hawke and Varric are like two peas in a pod, and the friendship that quickly grows between them after their initial acquaintance is solid and enduring. They have a similar sense of humor and a mutual appreciation of each other's wit. Hawke never has to hold back when talking to Varric and knows the dwarf feels the same. They have each other's backs in every way, from conspiratorial tall tales to gang fights in dark alleys where the odds are twenty to two.
Isabela
A beautiful pirate captain with an appreciation for fine booty (both kinds), Isabela is another easy friendship built on mutual enjoyment of flirting, sassing, and making money. Although at first she isn't interested in anything beyond a casual friendship plus or minus some mutually satisfactory benefits, Hawke's loyalty despite her light backstabbing during the Qunari ordeal eventually won her over and deepened their friendship beyond the casual sex she prefers for such arrangements.
Merrill
Merrill is a dalish elf and a pariah among her own people, an admitted user of blood magic. Merrill is a bit of an odd duck, even among Hawke's motley crew. Though he has been warned plenty against trusting blood mages, he's willing to give Merrill a chance. While her search for the lost past of the Dalish is fervent and focused, it's different enough from the usual motivation for blood magic (power, strength, and wealth) that he decides to support her. Her quest for power is for the benefit of others, not herself, and while she appears to be somewhat naive, it's obvious to Hawke that she's highly intelligent and capable. As an outcast, she takes up residence in the Kirkwall Alienage after meeting Hawke, and he makes sure to visit her frequently and drag her along on his adventures so that she doesn't get lonely.
Anders
A "former" Grey Warden and apostate living in Darktown, Hawke's somewhat prickly friend Anders is a vocal activist for mage rights who shares his body with a spirit of justice. Technically, a mage who allows himself to be possessed by a demon becomes an abomination, but Justice isn't exactly a demon as he does not reflect one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and abominations tend to violently destroy everything in their path. Considering Anders is living quietly in Darktown and offering a free medical clinic to those in desperate need of healthcare, he doesn't really fit the definition. It's an unusual arrangement to be sure, but Hawke will be the last person to judge, especially considering all the good Anders does. Similar to his friendship with Merrill, Hawke's acceptance of Anders' situation and sympathy to the mage cause earned him a loyal friend in his fellow apostate. Additionally, Hawke's shameless flirting (as well as genuine interest) earned him a devoted lover. He acknowledges that he isn't Anders' number one priority (and he can't be until mages are no longer imprisoned in Circles), and while that knowledge does bother him, he cares enough about Anders - and Anders' cause - to support him, regardless.
Fenris
Hawke met the elf Fenris by becoming unwitting bait to a group of Tevinter slavers who were hunting Fenris. Initially irritated at being used as bait for a slaver trap, Hawke was mollified by Fenris' apology and explanation, that being that he was an escaped slave being hunted by his former master and was in need of assistance. Hawke was totally down for helping to free slaves, so he agreed to help Fenris despite his doubts. Despite some awkward tension over Hawke being a mage - mages in Tevinter being the ruling and subjugating class, Fenris has no love for them - the two came to a place of mutual respect and subsequently friendship. Fenris appreciated Hawke's stupid humor, and Hawke appreciated Fenris' appreciation of his stupid humor.
Sebastian
The dispossessed prince of Starkhaven and present initiate in the Kirkwall Chantry, Sebastian came into Hawke's merry little band of misfits last; though Hawke had done an errand for the man before his little venture into the Deep Roads, he didn't start getting to know him until after he'd returned from the expedition, a good three to four years after their initial meeting. Of all Hawke's friends, Sebastian is the most straight-edge, as a devout man dedicating his life to the Maker. He still has doubts about how he wants to proceed with his life, however, on one hand wishing to dedicate himself fully to the Chantry, as his parents wished, but on the other hand wishing to take back Starkhaven from the usurpers who murdered his family and do right by his lineage. Hawke, who considers his own family much more important than the Chantry, often encourages him away from a devout life of singing praises of the Maker in favor of actually making a difference and helping actual people. Due to differing priorities, Hawke never gets as close to Sebastian as he does to his other friends. In the end, their differences wind up overcoming their commonalities, and the two part on less than amenable terms.
× A DASH OF HEADCANON
Hawke is kind of a raging alcoholic. If he has a problem he doesn't feel emotionally equipped to deal with, and there is a tavern available, chances are very good that he will be in that tavern, and he will be wasted. On the plus side, he's generally a happy drunk?
Additionally, he is rather vain. He spends a ridiculous amount of time on his personal appearance every morning, fluffing his hair and styling his beard just so. He's delightfully easy to tease, especially with regard to his beard. Even an offhand suggestion that it might be uneven can send him running to the closest mirror to investigate and suggestions that he shave it off are usually met with sulking and pouting. This is headcanon based on the impeccable styling of Hawke's beard no matter how many bandits he's just killed.
Powers/Abilities:
Hawke is a mage! He can set shit on fire with his mind and crush his enemies with crushing force! I have a list of the spells he can cast and what they do here. He gets into a lot of fights in-game (since that's...the nature of the game...) and is quite the magical powerhouse. In addition to flinging offensive spells at the bad guys, he also wields a staff, which is enchanted to enhance his magical abilities and also doubles as an excellent club in the instance an enemy gets too close.
In canon, he doesn't use his magic aggressively unless provoked, and this follows in how I play him in RP settings. He might use magic to light a campfire or to heal an injury, but he doesn't set people's hair on fire for fun (for example). He grew up keeping his abilities a secret from everyone he met, and while his few close friends know he's a mage, it's not something he advertises.
Keepsakes/Mementos:
× The Clothes On His Back
× Best Mage Staff In The World
In general, Hawke doesn't have any huge attachment to things. In-game, he loots rifles and pillages his way through treasure chests, barrels, wardrobes, and crates to find items the game designates as "Junk". The only purpose of these items is for selling. At first this was in the interest of earning money to take care of his mother, but it became a habit after a while, and he continued even after he struck it rich. I've translated this aspect of gameplay into a personality quirk - that is, Hawke's a bit of a magpie. He doesn't keep the things he picks up, he sells them on as soon as possible...but then, of course, he's immediately picking up something new, so he's always got some random bit of useless trash in his pockets. I'd like to bring these useless odds and ends along for funsies, if I may (listed below). None of them are worth much and have very little (if any) practical value, but they could be good for a laugh or a pratfall if played properly.
× Cracked Snowflake Obsidian
× Moth-eaten scarf
× Empty Vial of Lyrium
× Odd Dwarven Relic
× Small Pouch of Incense
× Gold tooth
Sample:
This is it, he thinks as he centers himself, gathering fire in his fist and spirit energy in his staff. The Tale of the Champion ends here, in the Fade, with no witnesses and no ceremony. He keeps track of the escaping party from the corner of his eye, but almost all of his attention is focused on the nightmare before him. A fight between a demonic spider the size of a mountain and one puny mage was not going to last long, but then, it didn't need to.
"Hey, ugly!" he shouts, even as he draws all the more on the magical substance that is the Fade, channeling the power through himself as he has always done. It's so much easier here, in this place where magic comes from. The rush of so much raw power is intoxicating, but he's far too experienced to let that distract him. He has no clue what properly attracts the demon's attention. He has no idea whether it's his shout that does it, or the fact that the magic he's drawing on has him glowing as brightly as Kirkwall's Chantry, the creature turns to him regardless. A moth to the flame...or a spider to the ember.
"Your father's a half-wit and your mother dresses you funny!"
Well. He had always wanted to be remembered for his cutting wit. Not that anyone would know he would be making those particular words his famous last ones, but he knew Varric at least could be counted on to guess.
All of the monstrosity's ghastly, behemoth eyes are fixed on him now. The pressure that gaze exerts is like a blast of wind that damps the vigor of the flames he's covered himself in and forces him to take a step back. He only takes one step, though, then braces himself more fully and leans forward as if into a strong wind. The Inquisitor and the rest are under the creature now, out of its sight but not out of danger. Hawke's arms seem to move on their own as he grips then spins his staff in both hands, muscle memory taking over so that he can focus on his Firestorm spell...the last one he'll ever cast.
The spell ignites quickly and powerfully, hurtling meteorites of wild flame down upon the demon's swollen, spidery face. They might as well be mere sparks for all the notice the demon takes of them. Its mandibles open, revealing a cavernous mouth filled with even more teeth and dripping ichor. It lunges at Hawke with no other ceremony, clearly intending to make a fast meal of him. Sick to his stomach with the terror he's been suppressing since entering this horrible, spider-infested portion of the Fade, Hawke dodges. It's ungraceful but effective, and the demon's mandibles snap harmlessly on the air in front of him, and he takes the opportunity to smack it good and hard with the blunt end of his staff and all the Spirit damage he can channel through it.
This is a bad idea, he realizes immediately, as the creature shrieks its displeasure, the power of its lungs bathing him in the smell of rot and gallons of snot-like material secreted from its gaping maw. He has just enough time to register that the viscous substance burns before the demon's jaws close on him, increasing the pain of the burn one thousand-fold as his body is bisected at the waist, and then drawn otherwise whole into the thing's mouth. After that, awareness leaves, and he knows no more.
Mindset:
For the most part Hawke reacts with some suspicion, a bit of surprise, but overall resignation. He knows fully well that he's dead, and can remember every gruesome detail if he wants to try...which he doesn't. He was expecting some flavor of afterlife, although he didn't have anything specific in mind. A lot of concepts here are foreign, but that only makes sense in an afterlife, right? That's why it's the afterlife. After the initial novelty wears off, he's likely to become depressed, although of course he'll hide it from the people he interacts with.
G̶̶l̨͡i̵͢t̷c͝͠h̕é͠s̷̷͡:
Hawke's biggest weakness is the feeling that he's failed his family. His sister died because he wasn't strong enough. His mother died because he was distracted solving other people's problems. His brother nearly died because he willfully took him along into danger. He also feels he failed his father by not being good enough at healing magic to save his life - never mind that there isn't much healing magic can do against a wasting illness. He isn't literally haunted by the ghosts of his family members, but he's pretty darn close. Basically, he's an enormous walking guilt complex. His sense of failure is what fuels his desire to drink, although he normally has the convenient cover of drinking with friends.
One of his greatest fears is that he might give into demonic temptation and become at risk for being possessed. His father taught him excellent demon-managing skills (aka, don't listen to their promises and always decline any offers they make), which have served him well in his life. There's always the worry that he might slip up, though. All it would take would be a moment of weakness, and then he'd be lost.
He's also afraid of spiders.
Canon: Dragon Age 2
Gender: Male
Age: roughly 36-37
History:
DA2 Overview
In-depth storyline for DA2
Wiki character summary (including Inquisition cameo)
Blue text highlights player decision
Red text highlights headcanon
The summary of my major in-game choices is as follows:
Mage --> Joined the smuggling ring to pay for entry into Kirkwall --> Took Carver into the Deep Roads (where he was conscripted into the Grey Wardens) --> Fought the Arishok in single combat for
Personality:
In Dragone Age II, Hawke's personality is determined through dialogue options chosen by the player as the game progresses. Hawke comes in three different flavors: Diplomatic/Helpful ("Blue" Hawke), Sarcastic/Charming ("Purple" Hawke), or Aggressive/Direct ("Red" Hawke).
I play Hawke as a fairly even blend of blue and purple who can generally be counted on to take off the happy joker mask for his good friends in favor of sincerity. He can (and has) come off as a completely insensitive jackass, but overall he's really a decent, caring guy who hides his feelings behind a heavy facade of sarcasm and humor. He has decent context sensitivity, and while he will often choose to ignore it in favor of a sarcastic remark or inappropriate innuendo, there are instances where his irritation with a situation will cause him to be uncharacteristically direct (generally whenever he talks to Sebastian). Conversely, there are some situations (any time a parent or a child asks for help) where he drops the jackass act and responds with genuine sensitivity.
That's the summary; read on for the juicy details!
× THE FIRST-BORN
Hawke was profoundly affected by growing up in a family where life and happiness depended on staying together. The danger of being separated from his father was ever present in his childhood and grew even greater when he hit puberty, when his magical abilities manifested. If the family was caught by Templars, not only would he be separated from his father but from his mother and younger siblings as well. The likelihood of seeing them again would be nonexistent, as the Chantry is notorious for separating mages from their families.
He has an affinity toward fellow mages, his connection with his father and sister having always bared stronger than with his mother and brother due to the shared dangers they face as mages, both of possession by a demon and being found as an apostate. He was closer to his father than to his mother since he spent more time with Malcolm learning to control his abilities, and then with Bethany as well, once her magic manifested. This created an unintentional divide between Hawke and his mother and brother, the only non-magical members of their family, and in some ways carries through with many of his other relationships.
Following his father's death, Hawke took on the responsibility of leading out of necessity and has since continued to do so. Even with the passing of his sister, especially due to Leandra's accusation that it was his fault, he blames himself for a lot of things he has no control over and subsequently takes responsibility for the burdens of those he cares for.
This being the case, he tends to assume a paternal role for his remaining family - Mother and Carver - and his adopted family - Aveline, Varric, Merrill, Anders, Fenris, Isabela, and Sebastian. This paternal role influences his outlook and, in turn, actions and interactions with the people he meets and helps in Kirkwall, i.e. he has a special soft spot for parents, children, and siblings.
× THE BIG BROTHER
Hawke has a tendency to adopt the Big Bro role with children and teenagers. He's more likely to be sincere with kids, and pulls out the sass as a means to make them smile or laugh, rather than as a weapon of mass irritation. This is evident as, throughout the course of his adventures, he comes across several families who need help and provides support for them in this way.
In Act I he helps a young woman, Macha, locate her brother, Keran, a templar recruit who has mysteriously gone missing. Though he has little reason to love templars, he agrees to help her find Keran because he strongly relates to her feelings. What he uncovers is a blood-mage conspiracy to plant demons within the Templar ranks by corrupting recruits in the hope of undermining the Templar organization. In the end, he's able to kill the blood-mages, rescue Keran, and even sweet-talk the Templar knight-captain into accepting Keran back into the recruits despite his close call. This, again, is not due to any love he has for Templars or for people who want to be Templars, but because the stipend Keran earns is the only thing supporting his sister and keeping her out of poverty. Sibling solidarity, yo.
× THE SCOUNDREL WITH THE HEART OF GOLD
A lot of Hawke's actions can appear to be financially motivated, but he always follows his moral compass. At the start of the game his home and everything he knew was destroyed, and the only way to get into Kirkwall (he found out only after he'd arrived) was to buy his way in. He spent his year with Athenril's smuggling ring and earned the money to do so. Once his debt was paid off, he moved on to different means of locating financial security, not so much for himself, but so that he could take care of his mother and his brother. As described in the wiki, part of the main questline is to earn enough gold to buy a partnership in a caravan heading to the Deep Roads. He takes on a lot of "odd jobs" with a monetary reward as the main motivator, but as often as not eschews the reward upon learning that things are not what they seem.
Some time after he'd left Athenril's smuggling ring and come into riches in the Deep Roads, his former boss contacted him for a job. Knowing he was trustworthy and capable, she asked him to track down misplaced goods. Upon locating them, he discovers that the initial runner for the job was an orphaned, teenaged boy who had younger sisters to look after. Hawke recovered the shipment but decided to give it to the boy and advises him to take his sisters and get out of Kirkwall. He forfeited payment for the job and then lied to Athenril about the fate of the goods, covering for the kid and allowing him to get away.
He forgoes his payment in other situations as well. Another time, he was hired by an aristocrat to track down a dangerous criminal and to bring him back alive. The man was set to pay Hawke a handsome reward, but when Hawke learned that the criminal in question had a history of kidnapping, molesting, and ultimately murdering elven children, he elected to bring the man to justice upon confrontation, instead of allowing him to pass into the hands of the courts where he would ultimately receive nothing more than imprisonment and a slap on the wrist. All he got in return for that particular kerfluffle was the gratitude of the girl and of her father (as well as threats of retaliation from the aristocrat), but that was just fine with Hawke.
× SER SASSYPANTS
Hawke takes shit from nobody.
Well, that's not entirely true. His friends give him a lot of shit, but they're allowed to because they're his friends. Slap him into a situation where he's expected to be diplomatic, and he'll sass his pants off till the cows come home. Knight-Commander Meredith and First Enchanter Orsino are bickering again? Break it up with a flippant remark about releasing sexual tension. The Viscount needs someone to rescue his son again from that Qunari that keeps "kidnapping" him? Subtly indicate that the viscount's son is an adult who is more than capable of making his own life choices. ...And then go find him anyway because money~
To strangers and acquaintances, Hawke often appears to be a fairly shallow individual incapable of taking anything seriously whose only concerns are coin and drink (and dirty jokes). The thing about Hawke, though, is that he doesn't think of himself as a hero. He never set out to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people or make a name for himself in any sense of the word. He's just this ordinary (though extraordinarily handsome~) guy who all of these big, important people have somehow decided is going to save them from corruption or blood magic or total annihilation. His method for dealing with these big, important people just happens to be sass. Maybe if he's sarcastic enough at them, they'll realize how many stupid things they're saying and figure out a way to fix their own damn problems. Not that that has ever worked so far, but he can still dream!
× THE CHAMPION
Regardless of Hawke's hopes, sometimes things just happen, and that's more or less how people came to see him as a hero despite his intentions. This was the case when he came to be called the Champion of Kirkwall, which occurred following the First Battle of Kirkwall.
When the Qunari began attacking and razing Kirkwall to the ground, Hawke's only goal was to protect his home. Amid the chaos of the attack, it was unclear whether or not anyone was capable of stepping up to respond. As it happened, Hawke (along with a handful of his friends) were the only ones to do so. While he did eventually encounter Meredith and Orsino on his way to confront the Arishok, he wound up proceeding on his own, the promise of backup from Templars and Circle Mages never being kept.
Hawke made his way through the Viscount's Keep, which the Qunari had captured, and arrived in the grand hall just in time to witness the Arishok toss the head of Kirkwall's Viscount into the midst of its citizens. Attempting to reason with the Arishok did little good, until Isabela sashayed onto the scene bearing the Tome of Koslun, the artifact whose theft had prompted the Qunari attack in the first place. Delighted at this turn of events, Hawke happily offered the Tome to the Arishok in exchange for the cessation of hostility and the swift removal of the Qunari from Kirkwall.
Unfortunately, the Arishok wanted both the Tome and Isabela. That was a deal-breaker for Hawke, so the two agreed that an honorable, one-on-one Duel to the Death™ was the only way to settle Isabela's fate. While Isabela had initially betrayed her friends by running off with the Tome, she returned despite her selfishness, and that was enough for Hawke to forgive her.
In defeating the Arishok, respect from the city-state was gained and the title of Champion was bestowed upon him. This came with its own benefits, but overall, it is not that Hawke chose to become the Champion, but he that he has what is needed in what others want of one. In the end, his loyalty and leadership in regard to his friends is what brought about this result, and though he would never willingly choose to receive such a title again, Hawke continues to lead and protect those he cares for when the world requires it of him.
This remained true when he came to aid the Inquisition several years later. Because of how Grey Wardens were being affected by the Rift in the Fade, Hawke's concern for his brother's safety and the safety of anyone else involved prompted him to once again offer his aid. As a mage, he understands the fear of being controlled, and if he can stop that from happening to others, he will.
×THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
Throughout his years in Kirkwall, Hawke met and struck up friendships with an unlikely group of characters, most of whom would have nothing at all in common with one another if not for a mutual friendship with Hawke. Hawke is the kind of guy who makes friends easily and who also takes care of his friends without question. The following is a set of summaries about Hawke's relationships with Carver and his Kirkwall Crew, the people who over time came to be his adopted family.
Carver Hawke
Hawke's relationship with his brother is rocky. Carver, resentful of what he perceives as paternal favoritism seems determined to be bitter and whiny about being lost in his older brother's shadow, and is resistant to Hawke's attempts to reconcile. Despite the huge chip on his shoulder and his penchant for whining, and despite the fact that he is not and never has been as close to Carver as he was to Bethany, Hawke loves his younger brother a great deal and tries to accommodate him as much as he can which lead them both into the Deep Roads. Carver wanted to go, so Hawke brought him along! This turned out to be a very bad idea, as Carver unfortunately contracted the Blight from all the Darkspawn fighting, and had to go away with the Grey Wardens or die. Returning to his mother with the news was less than delightful; Carver hadn't died but by his mother's initial reaction to the news he may as well have, and Hawke once again felt that same sense of failure and guilt which had descended on him when Bethany had been killed. He'd failed his job as the elder brother twice over by not protecting his younger siblings well enough when they'd needed him most. This continues to affect his relationship with Carver.
Aveline Vallen
Hawke actually met Aveline, a fierce warrior fighting darkspawn alongside her templar husband, as he fled Lothering with his family. The couple joined the family on their flight from Lothering, though only Aveline survived the journey. Newly widowed with nowhere else to turn, she accompanied the surviving Hawkes to Kirkwall, where she joined the city guard. She and Hawke have great mutual respect for one another, although she might wish that Hawke would take things a little more seriously than he generally does. Unbeknownst to her, Hawke actually does dial back his usual devil-may-care attitude quite a bit, entirely for her benefit. His respect for her is great enough that he is perfectly willing to drop the sarcasm in favor of sincerity.
Varric Tethras
Self-described as a silver-tongued rogue with a heart of gold, Varric is the youngest of two dwarven brothers living in Kirkwall who, when he meets Hawke, are in the midst of organizing a journey into the Deep Roads in search of treasure. Hawke and Varric are like two peas in a pod, and the friendship that quickly grows between them after their initial acquaintance is solid and enduring. They have a similar sense of humor and a mutual appreciation of each other's wit. Hawke never has to hold back when talking to Varric and knows the dwarf feels the same. They have each other's backs in every way, from conspiratorial tall tales to gang fights in dark alleys where the odds are twenty to two.
Isabela
A beautiful pirate captain with an appreciation for fine booty (both kinds), Isabela is another easy friendship built on mutual enjoyment of flirting, sassing, and making money. Although at first she isn't interested in anything beyond a casual friendship plus or minus some mutually satisfactory benefits, Hawke's loyalty despite her light backstabbing during the Qunari ordeal eventually won her over and deepened their friendship beyond the casual sex she prefers for such arrangements.
Merrill
Merrill is a dalish elf and a pariah among her own people, an admitted user of blood magic. Merrill is a bit of an odd duck, even among Hawke's motley crew. Though he has been warned plenty against trusting blood mages, he's willing to give Merrill a chance. While her search for the lost past of the Dalish is fervent and focused, it's different enough from the usual motivation for blood magic (power, strength, and wealth) that he decides to support her. Her quest for power is for the benefit of others, not herself, and while she appears to be somewhat naive, it's obvious to Hawke that she's highly intelligent and capable. As an outcast, she takes up residence in the Kirkwall Alienage after meeting Hawke, and he makes sure to visit her frequently and drag her along on his adventures so that she doesn't get lonely.
Anders
A "former" Grey Warden and apostate living in Darktown, Hawke's somewhat prickly friend Anders is a vocal activist for mage rights who shares his body with a spirit of justice. Technically, a mage who allows himself to be possessed by a demon becomes an abomination, but Justice isn't exactly a demon as he does not reflect one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and abominations tend to violently destroy everything in their path. Considering Anders is living quietly in Darktown and offering a free medical clinic to those in desperate need of healthcare, he doesn't really fit the definition. It's an unusual arrangement to be sure, but Hawke will be the last person to judge, especially considering all the good Anders does. Similar to his friendship with Merrill, Hawke's acceptance of Anders' situation and sympathy to the mage cause earned him a loyal friend in his fellow apostate. Additionally, Hawke's shameless flirting (as well as genuine interest) earned him a devoted lover. He acknowledges that he isn't Anders' number one priority (and he can't be until mages are no longer imprisoned in Circles), and while that knowledge does bother him, he cares enough about Anders - and Anders' cause - to support him, regardless.
Fenris
Hawke met the elf Fenris by becoming unwitting bait to a group of Tevinter slavers who were hunting Fenris. Initially irritated at being used as bait for a slaver trap, Hawke was mollified by Fenris' apology and explanation, that being that he was an escaped slave being hunted by his former master and was in need of assistance. Hawke was totally down for helping to free slaves, so he agreed to help Fenris despite his doubts. Despite some awkward tension over Hawke being a mage - mages in Tevinter being the ruling and subjugating class, Fenris has no love for them - the two came to a place of mutual respect and subsequently friendship. Fenris appreciated Hawke's stupid humor, and Hawke appreciated Fenris' appreciation of his stupid humor.
Sebastian
The dispossessed prince of Starkhaven and present initiate in the Kirkwall Chantry, Sebastian came into Hawke's merry little band of misfits last; though Hawke had done an errand for the man before his little venture into the Deep Roads, he didn't start getting to know him until after he'd returned from the expedition, a good three to four years after their initial meeting. Of all Hawke's friends, Sebastian is the most straight-edge, as a devout man dedicating his life to the Maker. He still has doubts about how he wants to proceed with his life, however, on one hand wishing to dedicate himself fully to the Chantry, as his parents wished, but on the other hand wishing to take back Starkhaven from the usurpers who murdered his family and do right by his lineage. Hawke, who considers his own family much more important than the Chantry, often encourages him away from a devout life of singing praises of the Maker in favor of actually making a difference and helping actual people. Due to differing priorities, Hawke never gets as close to Sebastian as he does to his other friends. In the end, their differences wind up overcoming their commonalities, and the two part on less than amenable terms.
× A DASH OF HEADCANON
Hawke is kind of a raging alcoholic. If he has a problem he doesn't feel emotionally equipped to deal with, and there is a tavern available, chances are very good that he will be in that tavern, and he will be wasted. On the plus side, he's generally a happy drunk?
Additionally, he is rather vain. He spends a ridiculous amount of time on his personal appearance every morning, fluffing his hair and styling his beard just so. He's delightfully easy to tease, especially with regard to his beard. Even an offhand suggestion that it might be uneven can send him running to the closest mirror to investigate and suggestions that he shave it off are usually met with sulking and pouting. This is headcanon based on the impeccable styling of Hawke's beard no matter how many bandits he's just killed.
Powers/Abilities:
Hawke is a mage! He can set shit on fire with his mind and crush his enemies with crushing force! I have a list of the spells he can cast and what they do here. He gets into a lot of fights in-game (since that's...the nature of the game...) and is quite the magical powerhouse. In addition to flinging offensive spells at the bad guys, he also wields a staff, which is enchanted to enhance his magical abilities and also doubles as an excellent club in the instance an enemy gets too close.
In canon, he doesn't use his magic aggressively unless provoked, and this follows in how I play him in RP settings. He might use magic to light a campfire or to heal an injury, but he doesn't set people's hair on fire for fun (for example). He grew up keeping his abilities a secret from everyone he met, and while his few close friends know he's a mage, it's not something he advertises.
Keepsakes/Mementos:
× The Clothes On His Back
× Best Mage Staff In The World
In general, Hawke doesn't have any huge attachment to things. In-game, he loots rifles and pillages his way through treasure chests, barrels, wardrobes, and crates to find items the game designates as "Junk". The only purpose of these items is for selling. At first this was in the interest of earning money to take care of his mother, but it became a habit after a while, and he continued even after he struck it rich. I've translated this aspect of gameplay into a personality quirk - that is, Hawke's a bit of a magpie. He doesn't keep the things he picks up, he sells them on as soon as possible...but then, of course, he's immediately picking up something new, so he's always got some random bit of useless trash in his pockets. I'd like to bring these useless odds and ends along for funsies, if I may (listed below). None of them are worth much and have very little (if any) practical value, but they could be good for a laugh or a pratfall if played properly.
× Cracked Snowflake Obsidian
× Moth-eaten scarf
× Empty Vial of Lyrium
× Odd Dwarven Relic
× Small Pouch of Incense
× Gold tooth
Sample:
This is it, he thinks as he centers himself, gathering fire in his fist and spirit energy in his staff. The Tale of the Champion ends here, in the Fade, with no witnesses and no ceremony. He keeps track of the escaping party from the corner of his eye, but almost all of his attention is focused on the nightmare before him. A fight between a demonic spider the size of a mountain and one puny mage was not going to last long, but then, it didn't need to.
"Hey, ugly!" he shouts, even as he draws all the more on the magical substance that is the Fade, channeling the power through himself as he has always done. It's so much easier here, in this place where magic comes from. The rush of so much raw power is intoxicating, but he's far too experienced to let that distract him. He has no clue what properly attracts the demon's attention. He has no idea whether it's his shout that does it, or the fact that the magic he's drawing on has him glowing as brightly as Kirkwall's Chantry, the creature turns to him regardless. A moth to the flame...or a spider to the ember.
"Your father's a half-wit and your mother dresses you funny!"
Well. He had always wanted to be remembered for his cutting wit. Not that anyone would know he would be making those particular words his famous last ones, but he knew Varric at least could be counted on to guess.
All of the monstrosity's ghastly, behemoth eyes are fixed on him now. The pressure that gaze exerts is like a blast of wind that damps the vigor of the flames he's covered himself in and forces him to take a step back. He only takes one step, though, then braces himself more fully and leans forward as if into a strong wind. The Inquisitor and the rest are under the creature now, out of its sight but not out of danger. Hawke's arms seem to move on their own as he grips then spins his staff in both hands, muscle memory taking over so that he can focus on his Firestorm spell...the last one he'll ever cast.
The spell ignites quickly and powerfully, hurtling meteorites of wild flame down upon the demon's swollen, spidery face. They might as well be mere sparks for all the notice the demon takes of them. Its mandibles open, revealing a cavernous mouth filled with even more teeth and dripping ichor. It lunges at Hawke with no other ceremony, clearly intending to make a fast meal of him. Sick to his stomach with the terror he's been suppressing since entering this horrible, spider-infested portion of the Fade, Hawke dodges. It's ungraceful but effective, and the demon's mandibles snap harmlessly on the air in front of him, and he takes the opportunity to smack it good and hard with the blunt end of his staff and all the Spirit damage he can channel through it.
This is a bad idea, he realizes immediately, as the creature shrieks its displeasure, the power of its lungs bathing him in the smell of rot and gallons of snot-like material secreted from its gaping maw. He has just enough time to register that the viscous substance burns before the demon's jaws close on him, increasing the pain of the burn one thousand-fold as his body is bisected at the waist, and then drawn otherwise whole into the thing's mouth. After that, awareness leaves, and he knows no more.
Mindset:
For the most part Hawke reacts with some suspicion, a bit of surprise, but overall resignation. He knows fully well that he's dead, and can remember every gruesome detail if he wants to try...which he doesn't. He was expecting some flavor of afterlife, although he didn't have anything specific in mind. A lot of concepts here are foreign, but that only makes sense in an afterlife, right? That's why it's the afterlife. After the initial novelty wears off, he's likely to become depressed, although of course he'll hide it from the people he interacts with.
G̶̶l̨͡i̵͢t̷c͝͠h̕é͠s̷̷͡:
Hawke's biggest weakness is the feeling that he's failed his family. His sister died because he wasn't strong enough. His mother died because he was distracted solving other people's problems. His brother nearly died because he willfully took him along into danger. He also feels he failed his father by not being good enough at healing magic to save his life - never mind that there isn't much healing magic can do against a wasting illness. He isn't literally haunted by the ghosts of his family members, but he's pretty darn close. Basically, he's an enormous walking guilt complex. His sense of failure is what fuels his desire to drink, although he normally has the convenient cover of drinking with friends.
One of his greatest fears is that he might give into demonic temptation and become at risk for being possessed. His father taught him excellent demon-managing skills (aka, don't listen to their promises and always decline any offers they make), which have served him well in his life. There's always the worry that he might slip up, though. All it would take would be a moment of weakness, and then he'd be lost.
He's also afraid of spiders.