Arlana and Oren by RanmaCMH on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

DAO spoilers!! Avert yer eyes!

One of the only tragic limitations of Origins, to me, is the lack of expression on your main character during the story's pivotal moments. The animators were able to capture some dismay, slight interest, or a mildly intense expression; but nothing that can come close to what I imagine the character SHOULD have expressed.

Loss and family figure heavily into almost all of the origin stories, but of the three I personally played Cousland's was the most traumatic.

I felt it was important to try and show some of Arlana's normal, pre-warden days at home. I do love that in the Cousland origin they give you the mundane moments of running around the keep, getting your dog out of the kitchen, arguing with your mom, chatting with your bro and his family, and getting to see the healthy (but normal) affection the whole family has for each other. Plus I think little Oren is the cutest. I really wanted to show the love she would have for her little nephew. She probably taught him all kinds of fighty things that would make Oriana crazy.