Dragon Age: Origins/Characters/Playable Characters: Difference between revisions

** Dialogue implies that Irving often praised the Warden's talents to his colleagues, as both Wynne and Duncan immediately recognise the Warden on sight. Even Uldred, someone who is mentioned to ''never'' have worked with any Mages in the Circle, knows of the Warden and mocks them for having been a teacher's pet.

* [[Badass Damsel]]: The Female City Elf Origin. After getting captured by Vaughan's guards, who announce their intention to rape and murder her (and not necessarily in that order), her cousin Soris breaks into the room. While they're distracted by his sudden appearance, he quickly slides a sword across the floor to the City Elf, who immediately picks it up and adopts a fighting stance. Cue two very terrified, soon-to-be-dead guards;

* [[Badass Family]]: If a Human Noble, the Grey Warden comes from one of these. The city elf had an [[Action Mom]], Adaia, whom Duncan wanted to recruit into the Grey Wardens, but was talked out of it by elder Valendrian, seeing as there wasn't an urgent need for recruits back then. Their cousins Shianni and Soris are both [[Badass Normal|pretty awesome as well]].

** The Dwarf Noble is a member of the Aeducan royal family, descended from the Paragon Aeducan who united Orzammar, had relatives who served in the Grey Wardens in generations previously and who's current line don't hide their predisposition towards badassery either.

** The Dwarf Commoner in some ways tops the Noble one. While the entire Proving Arena erupts in a furious uproar when your true identity is discovered, we cut to Duncan stroking his beard in quiet contemplation that a casteless, penniless, sellsword with no formal weapons training whatsoever, nonetheless somehow managed to beat the most seasoned Warriors in Orzamamar and veterans of countless Darkspawn campaigns. Later when he invokes the Right of Conscription, he states that he recognises they have untapped potential that with Warden training [[Dare to Be Badass|would make them even greater.]]

** The City Elf leaves Bann Vaughan lying dead in "''a river of blood''" that runs throughout the Arl of Denerim's Estate, during their [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]] over the abduction and rape of countless elven women (including their cousin Shianni) at his hands. The sheer scale of the destruction wrought is lampshaded by Elder Valendrian and the Guard Captain who comes to arrest the City Elf.

'''Valendrian''': [[Beware the Nice Ones|We are not]] [[Awakening the Sleeping Giant|all so helpless]], Captain. }}

* [[Badass Abnormal]]: Aside from becoming a Grey Warden in the first place, there are a few various upgrades the Warden can take to become abnormal; specifically the Reaver and Templar warrior specializations, as well as Avernus's potion that allows greater mastery over the taint.

* [[Battle Couple]]: With their love interest.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Arl Rendon Howe becomes one to the Human Noble;

* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Depending on how the [[Romance Sidequest]] unfolds, this can exist between Leliana and Morrigan/Zevran for men and Alistair/Leliana and Zevran for women. A bisexual PC has the option of picking a [[Third Option Love Interest]].

* [[BFS]]: A special mention to the Dwarven and Elven Wardens: If they wield a two-handed weapon [[Up to Eleven|it's bigger than their whole fricking body!]]

* [[Blue Blood]]: If of the Human or Dwarven Noble origin. The Human Noble's origin icon depicts a drop of blue blood, in fact.

* [[Brutal Honesty]]: Every background has a brutally honest response for when you meet King Cailan. For example, when meeting a City Elf, Cailan apparently thinks of the Alienages as a somewhat poor but fair chance for the elves to rebuild themselves after an age of slavery. A City Elf PC has the option to exercise this trope to correct him:

'''The City Elf Warden''': "[[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|I killed an arl's son]] for [[Rape as Backstory|raping my friend.]]"<br />

'''King Cailan''': "You... W-What?!" }}

* [[The Dreaded]]: The Warden becomes this to Loghain and Arl Howe. The latter ''[[You Killed My Father|particularly]]'' if you're the Human Noble.

** During "Unrest at the Alienage", when the Warden runs into a bunch of Tevinter Slavers and tells them who they are;

** In ''Awakening'' simply informing a group of kidnappers that you're the ''Commander of the Grey'' is enough to reduce one into to a gibbering wreck that he's dealing with the one to slay an ''Archdemon''. Further intimidation causes half of the bandits to run away and one decides he'd rather ''jump off a cliff to his death'' rather than have to face the Warden.

* [[The Drifter]]: The Grey Warden, it's practically their ''raison d'être''.

* [[The Dutiful Son]]: The Couslands taught the Human Noble to ''always'' do their duty. King Aeducan similarly invokes this almost word-for-word when the Dwarf Noble is proclaimed Orzammar's newest Commander during their Origin.

* [[Enemy Mine]]: The Dwarves and Dalish Elfs can potentially be played this way regarding Ferelden in general, as you have technically no interest in their Kingdom's problems and can play it as being only concerned with the Darkspawn menace against your people.

'''Dalish/Dwarf''': The Dalish ''have no Kings'' / He's not ''my'' King. }}

* [[Even the Girls Want Her]] / [[Even the Guys Want Him]]: The men and women who love/lust after the PC are not limited to love interests or even his/her own race, which is somewhat uncommon in Ferelden nowadays.

** The Female Dwarf Noble is noteworthy as the Origin ''begins'' with their being declared [[Asskicking Equals Authority|Commander of Orzammar's Army]], a position that various dialogue is ''very'' much deserved.

** The Female Human Noble, which is lampshaded, albeit mockingly, by Arl Howe;

* [[Large Ham]]: The Warden never outright [[The Stoic|chews the scenery]], but there are some dialogue options that teeter on the edge. This is only exacerbated by some of the voices (such as Violent) whose lines can range from snarky to completely hammy.

* [[Last of His Kind]]: While there are other Grey Wardens left in the world, only you and Alistair are close enough to end the Blight in a timely and decisive manner.

* [[He Who Must Not Be Seen|S/He Who Must Not Be Seen]]: The Warden's actions had a very notable impact on [[Dragon Age II]], and they will get brought up directly by Varric, indirectly by Flemeth, and [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|the loading screen]]. Depending on your playthrough, they can also be mentioned by Anders, Merrill, Isabela, Bethany, Cullen, Nuncio, {{spoiler|Zevran, Alistair, Leliana, Nathaniel Howe, Sophia Dryden,}} a letter found in the Wounded Coast, an ex-werewolf, several Codex entries, and Hawke themself. Despite this, the Warden never shows up in-game.

* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: The Human Noble's defiant response during their final confrontation with Arl Howe.

'''Arl Howe''': There it is, right there. That damned look in the eye that marked every Cousland success that held me back! }}

* [[Silent Protagonist]]: Inconsistently played straight; you can select your PC's voice from a short list, and sometimes hear comments in battle and exploration. But in any cutscene where the player has dialog choices, the lines go unvoiced.

* [[The Squadette]]: The female PC. Alistair even lampshades it by wondering why there never were very many female Grey Wardens.

** The Female Warden lampshades this too at one point.

* [[The Stoic]]: Due to the lack of any facial animation you ''will'' come off as this whenever the camera switches to you in conversation.

** [[Not So Stoic]]: The Warden looks absolutely horrified after Duncan stabs Ser Jory, and will be visibly surprised at seeing Wynne collapse. In both cases however, facial expressions are largely limited to the mouth, which can come off as [[Dull Surprise]] for the player.

* [[Superpowerful Genetics]]: The Mage Warden is revealed in ''[[Dragon Age II]]'' to have several siblings who were ''all'' Mages, much to the heartbreak of their mother Revka, who was forced to watch all of her children get taken away by the Circle, [[Trauma Conga Line|one after another]]. The Amell family is so prone to creating mages that its become considered something of a stain on their lineage and has frequently jeopardised their noble standing in Kirkwall.

* [[Suspiciously Specific Denial]]: Male Wardens can lapse into this frequently in "''Witch Hunt''" when Ariane asks about their relationship with Morrigan. Particularly the conversation when she asks if the Warden realizes he unconsciously plays with the Ring he was given by Morrigan when he thinks no-one is looking or if her knowledge of the significance of two people sharing Rings in human culture is accurate.

* {{spoiler|[[The Mistress]]: One outcome of Alistair's romance--the non-human noble Warden can become this for him if he's hardened and king. The human noble can, too, but she can marry him and become queen, too.}}

* [[The Unchosen One]]: Went from random idiot who survived because Duncan and Flemeth happened to be around at the right times to Hero of Ferelden in about a year. If you complain that you don't have a choice in the matter, Morrigan and Wynne will be quick to point out that you could just sit on your ass and do nothing to stop the Blight--ultimately, you do choose.

* [[The Unwanted Harem]]: Saying nice things to your party members is enough to convince them that they are becoming your [[Love Interest]]. Which can lead to awkwardness when one of the [[Betty and Veronica]] pair forces you to choose between them.

* [[Try to Fit That on A Business Card]]: If you are a Cousland, your full titles and styles could be, if you play your cards right-

** You're also first in line to the Teyrnir of Highever. {{spoiler|Though, as the heir presumptive of your elder brother, you may be pushed down by his issue.}}

* [[Walking the Earth]]: The Grey Wardens go where they are most needed.

* {{spoiler|[[Arranged Marriage]]: The Warden can organise one between him and Anora, leaving both a Theirin and a competent, experience ruler in charge of Ferelden. Or two, if he's hardened.}}

* [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking]]: His description of what's wrong with Orlais at the moment if {{spoiler|he's king}} in II.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Loghain becomes Alistair's [[Berserk Button]].

* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Very much Betty to Zevran's Veronica

* [[Broken Pedestal]]: Like most, he holds Loghain in high-regard before the Battle of Ostagar, privately admitting that while Cailan is the King, its Loghain they have to look to for victory. Then Loghain retreats from the battle, leaving the King, the Grey Wardens and Duncan to an ignoble death. From then on, Alistair has an undying hatred for the man and it becomes ''very'' personal.

* [[Buffy-Speak]]:

* [[Butt Monkey]]: ''Everyone'' gets a turn to mock him. ''Even the dog''.

* [[Contemplate Our Navels]]: Morrigan accuses him of doing this while traveling to Lothering.

* {{spoiler|[[Half-Human Hybrid]]: Zig-zagged--the novel "The Calling" written by [[Word of God|David Gaider]] implies that Alistair's mother was actually Fiona, an Elven Grey Warden and lover of King Maric. However, the children of elves and humans are always human.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Henpecked Husband]]: In ''Dragon Age II'', if he's King and married to the Female Human Noble, its clear who wears the trousers in the relationship.}}

{{spoiler|'''Teagan''': You just keep telling yourself that, your majesty.}} }}

* {{spoiler|[[Heroic Bastard]]}}: {{spoiler|And a ''royal'' bastard at that. He notes he should use that line more often.}}

* [[Hurting Hero]]: He rarely says it outright, but the deaths of Duncan and the other Wardens scars him pretty deeply, such that he harbors an intense and bitter hatred for Loghain.

* [[Idiot Hero]]: Morrigan and Anora both accuse him of being one. Although he has his moments, they're never at critical junctions. He even calls himself an idiot hero at times.

* [[It's Personal]]: Towards Loghain for causing the death of the Grey Wardens and Duncan in particular.

** Best shown during the Landsmeet if Alistair is the one chosen to duel Loghain.

{{spoiler|'''Alistair''': Forget Maric! [[And This Is For|This is for]] ''Duncan!''}} }}

* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: Although he's aware Grey Wardens often must do pretty bad things for the greater good, and lives in a world that has rarely shown him any kindness, he still feels as if it's still worth being a decent person and protector.

* [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]?: Your loyal hound does not follow you in the Awakening expansion because he was busy repopulating Ferelden's mabari kennels. However, he returns in the "Witch Hunt" DLC.

* [[Worthy Opponent]]: What Sten considers him to be.

'''Dog''': *''Happily''* Ruff! }}

 

* [[Badass]]: How much? In ''Awakening'', {{spoiler|when he drinks Darkspawn Blood to become a Grey Warden, he simply ''burps'' and essentially says, "That's it?". This is the same stuff that will at the very ''minimum'' knock you unconscious for a few hours, and is potentially ''lethal''.}}

* [[Badass Boast]]: Oghren's final words before the [[The Very Definitely Final Dungeon]] to fight the Archdemon are both Badass and a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]:

* [[The Berserker]]: His fighting style of choice.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Aside from the literal one he gets from his specialization, there's also this:

* [[The Big Guy]]: Which is rather ironic if you consider that only Dog is shorter than him.

* [[Blood Knight]]: [[Deconstructed Trope|A deconstuction]]. Oghren at one points laments that Dwarven society trains you to become a [[Blood Knight]] and the Deshyrs applaud when it wins you victories in the Deep Roads. But the moment you're back in Orzammar, unable to stop your training kicking in, accidentally killing someone during a Proving, they immediately throw you to the Deepstalkers for it.

* [[Cruel Mercy]]: Oghren accidentally killed someone during a Proving that was meant to be to first blood. Because of his victories in the Deep Roads, they did not exile or execute him, instead they stripped him of all his weapons and forbade him their use in city limits. Oghren's a warrior forbidden from ''fighting''.

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]

* [[Did I Say That Out Loud]]

'''Oghren''': Oh. Did I say that out loud? }}

* {{spoiler|[[Disappeared Dad]]: Ran off on Felsi and his child to join the Grey Wardens. He does feel guilt about this later on and can be convinced to try and be a part of his child's life via letters.}}

* [[Don't Explain the Joke]]: Oghren is prone to this.

** Also, this:

'''Shale:''' [[Deadpan Snarker|I do get it, yes]]. }}

* [[Drowning My Sorrows]]

* [[Elves Versus Dwarves]]: Invoked, and inverted, subverted, and played straight by turns - Oghren denies any interest in an elf vs. dwarf rivalry with Zevran when the latter asks about it, but the two do develop something of a friendly rivalry nonetheless.

** Played more straight (so to speak) with one of his stock lines in the ''Awakening'':

* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]: Oghren gets an axe in Awakening which he dubs "Darkspawn Ravager." Its special effect? + 10 damage to Darkspawn and ''explosive hits''. The weapon's description: "Oghren named this axe the Darkspawn Ravager because that's what it does."

* [[Expy]]: Of [[Jade Empire|Black Whirlwind]], right down to the missing relative, drinking, the axes and the general [[Blood Knight]] attitude.

* [[Gargle Blaster]]: His homebrewed ale will knock the PC out if s/he doesn't have a high enough constitution. {{spoiler|To him, Darkspawn Blood is barely this.}}

* [[Girl-On-Girl Is Hot]]: Both over Hespith and {{spoiler|Branka}}, and if a female PC brings him to the Pearl and gets a female whore, Oghren interupts:

''Oghren: "Oops, heh heh, wrong room."'' }}

** You can also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNwdWgYxwIc short circuit his mind] if you as a female PC propose a threesome with hot pirate Isabela and Leliana.

* [[Companion Cube]]: You can give Shale a pet rock as a gift.

* [[Curse Cut Short]]:

'''Leliana:''' No, I understand that part. }}

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]

* [[Does Not Know How to Say Thanks]]

* [[Does This Make Me Look Fat?]]:

* [[Foreshadowing]]:

* [[Freudian Slip]]: Shale has this in an exchange with Sten:

* [[Golem]]

* [[Good Is Dumb]]: Shale's quite a bit less powerful than enemy golems.

* [[Hand Wave]]: Shale being significantly smaller than other golems is explained as a result of being chiseled down in order to fit through doors. This is a developer in-joke referencing the fact that Shale's original, larger character model caused problems in development, partially because it couldn't fit through doorways.

* [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]]: "Crush their skulls and be done with it. Fast. Efficient. Fun." Played much more for laughs than either Morrigan or Zevran, making Shale the by far most clear-cut example in this game.

'''Alistair:''' Well. I won't be doing much of that anymore. }}

* [[Homage]]: [[Knights of the Old Republic|To a certain organic-hating droid.]]

* [[Punny Name]]: Has an appropriate name for a being of living stone. {{spoiler|Funnily enough, it's her original dwarven name, though spelled differently.}}

** Lampshaded by the the Warden;

* {{spoiler|[[Samus Is a Girl]]}}

* [[Ship Tease]]: With Sten.

* [[Super Soldier]]: Golems were originally created to serve the Dwarven kingdom as such. {{spoiler|Shale herself was a dwarf who volunteered to become a golem in order to better defend her homeland.}}

* [[Token Evil Teammate]]: Not actively malicious, but decidedly amoral, indifferent to acts that could be deemed as such, and often in favor of more violent solutions.

* {{spoiler|[[Tomboy and Girly Girl]]: Tomboy to Leliana's girly-girl. Their dialogue is mostly Leliana trying to bring out Shale's good side. They disagree for a lot of it, but they seem to compromise on both liking pretty things and nice shoes.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Undying Loyalty]]: To Cairdin, whom she will protect if the Warden attempts to fight him. In her forgotten dwarven life as Shayle, she was similarly the most loyal of his friends.}}

* [[The Big Guy]]

* [[Blatant Lies]]:

'''Sten:''' I was helping it train. }}

** An alternative version of the above that can occur:

'''Sten:''' ...They were medicinal. }}

* [[The Comically Serious]]: Particularly when {{spoiler|he's chosen to break the Warden out of prison.}}

* [[Cultured Badass]]: Oddly enough.

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Another one, and a ''master'' of the "deadpan" half.

'''Sten:''' [[Sarcasm Mode|Yes, truly my life has reached its apex.]] }}

* [[Dumb Muscle]]: Thoroughly averted. Despite having the fewest lines and shortest dialogue of any member of the team that doesn't communicate by barking, Sten is pretty clearly the most intelligent member of the party overall. His fondness of paintings implies he may even be the most well-rounded.

** Some of the writers have suggested that after his lengthy debriefing, he will have to go for some re-education by the Ben-Hassrath because of the bad habits he's picked up whilst in Ferelden.

** Sten seems somewhat aware of this if he and Dog are the ones to rescue the Warden from Fort Drakon;

* [[Hates Small Talk]]

* [[Huge Guy, Tiny Girl]]: Sten is almost twice the size of a female Dwarf Warden.

* [[I Call It Vera]]: His sword Asala.

** Thus [[Redemption Earns Life|he is on a]] [[The Atoner|quest with you]].

** When the Guardian questions him on this during the Gauntlet about whether he believes he failed his people letting the Qunari be seen in that light;

* [[Let Us Never Speak of This Again]]: When Leliana sees him playing with a kitten and/or picking some flowers. She constantly calls him a "softie" ever after.

* [[Literal Minded]]: Since the language of Ferelden isn't his native tongue, this leads to amusement.

** He does crack a smile {{spoiler|if you get his sword back for him}}, and if you {{spoiler|nominate him to lead the group holding the gates in the endgame}}.

* [[Planet of Hats]]: At least partially subverted, though we don't really meet any other qunari to talk to.

'''Sten:''' "Get used to disappointment. People are not simple. They cannot be defined for easy reference in the manner of: 'the elves are a lithe, pointy-eared people who excel at poverty.'" }}

** He later acts surprised when Leliana assumes he is typical of his people. Non-soldier Qunari are apparently quite different in behaviour and interests.

* [[The Quiet One]]: Dislikes talking to the point that he'll reply to the Warden's questions with single word answers whenever he can.

** After telling a parable in regards to mages:

'''Sten:''' I've been saving them up. }}

* [[Ship Tease]]: Oddly enough, his conversations with Morrigan can be considered this. At one point, he even compares her to a beautiful flower. Admittedly, a beautiful flower that traps and devours insects, but still.

* [[Bad Powers, Bad People]]: The most ruthless and unpleasant of the companions, she starts off with spells tilted toward destroying things and screwing with peoples' minds.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Morrigan greatly values freedom and hates it when people are imprisoned, such as Sten and {{spoiler|Jowan}}. Those who willingly submit to imprisonment - such as the Circle of Magi - earn even more of her contempt. Also, as a [[Vain Sorceress]], she has another fear:

'''Alistair''': All right. Got it. Totally different. I see that now. }}

* [[Betty and Veronica]]: The Veronica to Leliana's Betty as far as female love interests go. {{spoiler|Later subverted somewhat, as the two characters aren't as different as they at first seem}}.

* [[Hot Witch]]: [[Lampshade|Lampshaded]], not that it's all that unusual for the setting.

* [[The Immodest Orgasm]]: According to some dialogue that didn't make it into the retail game but can be accessed on the pc via mods;

* [[Impossibly Cool Clothes]]: The blouse of her 'robes' are loose and draping from the shoulders and down the front, yet has a laced cinch at the back. It's possible but difficult to make and impractical to wear. Especially implausible as most of what she knew about humans came from observation, but there are no role models shown for her design.

* [[Ineffectual Loner]]: Morrigan's not a "people" person. In camp, her tent is placed far from all the others.

* [[Love Is a Weakness]]: Morrigan has a conversation with Leliana where where she expresses with venom her feelings that love is a cancer; she doesn't want to love the Warden, as it only complicates her plan, and begs him to leave her be or tell her that he doesn't love her.

** When reuniting with a romanced Warden in ''Witch Hunt'', she points out the ironic role-reversal;

* [[Love Redeems]]: Averted. She notices that a romance does soften her up and desperately backpedals into her old bitchiness out of fear of such unfamiliar feelings. {{spoiler|Then potentially played straight at the end of Witch Hunt.}}

** Wynne invokes this in banter with Alistair when they discuss the Warden's relationship with Morrigan. While Alistair believes she will lead him astray, Wynne points out that [[Magnetic Hero|he may be a good influence on her]].

* [[Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!]]: She has really smooth skin for someone her age, and her body model is exactly the same as that of the younger Morrigan and Leliana. Zevran comments a couple of times on her 'magical bosom.'

** She was not amused: "Zevran, I'm old enough to be your grandmother."

** Parodied by Shamus Young [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/stolen-pixels/6848-Stolen-Pixels-148-Dragon-Aged here].

** Oghren seems to think so too.

* [[The Medic]] / [[Combat Medic]]

* [[Missing Mom]]: {{spoiler|Wynne is this to her own son, assuming he is even still alive. She was forced to give up her son to the Chantry, as is the policy for all children borne to magi. She reveals this to Alistair, and admits that she would have liked her son to be like him.}}

'''Wynne:''' [[Tear Jerker|...All the time]]. }}

** You'd think ''this'' would be her personal quest.

* [[All Women Love Shoes]]: Well, she ''is'' the resident [[Tomboy and Girly Girl|girly-girl]].

* [[And This Is For]]: The Leliana's Song DLC has Leliana say this in her final confrontation with Raleigh.

*''Pushes him backwards off of a cliff''* }}

* [[Anti-Hero]]: Type V or IV in her past, currently repentant but can slip down to a Type II if hardend by the player.

* {{spoiler|[[Honey Trap]]: She used to prefer this tactic to actual murder as a bard. Not that she didn't use both at times.}}

* [[The Immodest Orgasm]]: Alluded to in the second game if she had a threesome with the Warden and Isabela in ''Origins'';

* [[I'm Taking Her Home with Me]]: She just loves the nugs in Orzammar. You can actually get her one... and she names it [[Tastes Like Diabetes|Schmooples.]]

* [[Informed Ability]]: She is supposed to be a skilled storyteller, but her storytelling skills really don't rise above the rest of the cast. Also by her accounts, the smooth talking, courtly-connivers seem to be stock in trade and a survival necessity for Orlesian bards. Yet her repartee is less evident than her loss of words; she's often flustered and easily embarrassed. Perhaps it's because she's less articulate in Fereldan, and therefore stumbles for correct phrasing, or perhaps her lack of verbal sparring explains the cause of her exile from Orlais.

* [[Unexplained Recovery]]: If you killed her in ''Origins'', she basically says "I got better" to Hawke in ''The Exiled Prince'', suggesting '[[God Was My Co-Pilot]]' as the explanation.

* [[The Unfair Sex]]: Played with for laughs, as one of Leliana's quips when nearing the end of her [[Romance Sidequest]], after she'd told you how she felt, and then gets flustered after you tell her you feel the same way.

'''Leliana''': (stammers) Well yes, but...D-Don't question me! I am a woman, and I reserve the right to be inconsistent! }}

** A thousand times funnier if you're [[Bi the Way|romancing her as a woman]].

* [[Affably Evil]]: Despite being a professional assassin with no morals to speak of, he's almost perpetually cheerful - as he notes, he's an eternal optimist. {{spoiler|It's a defense mechanism, as you quickly learn if pursuing a romance.}}

* [[All Girls Want Bad Boys]]: Lampshaded in a conversation between Alistair and Leliana:

'''Leliana''': ''Where I come from they do, oh yes.'' }}

** {{spoiler|Subverted when it becomes clear that even his bad boy persona is mostly an act - if romanced, he stays with the Warden no matter what, practically proposes to them and calls them the best thing that ever happened to him. If dumped, he lets them go with dignity and even considers the other love interest's POV when suggesting that the Warden decide between them.}}

* [[Assassin Outclassin']]

* [[The Atoner]]: Subverted: Wynne assumes he wants to leave the Crows because of a crisis of conscience.

** [[Double Subverted]]. Zevran doesn't want to leave the Crows to find redemption. {{spoiler|He wants to [[Redemption Equals Death|die]]}}.

* [[Back Stab]]: His primary combat M.O., and a vital ability (both literally and figuratively) for an Antivan Crow to have.

* [[Blond Guys Are Evil]]: {{spoiler|Potentially}} subverted.

* [[Brutal Honesty]]: Most prominent after the Warden defeats and revives him.

* {{spoiler|[[Break the Haughty]]: As if Rinna's death wasn't enough, the Crow master who assigned them the mission already knew of it and was very quick to remind the two surviving assassins that they were entirely expendable tools worth little more than nothing to even the Crows.}}

* [[The Cameo]]: If you upload a save from the first game, he can appear in [[Dragon Age 2]] for one mission. Predictably, if in that save the Warden banged Isabela, Hawke, he and Isabela can have a threesome.

* [[Captain Obvious]]: If you recruit {{spoiler|Loghain}} and put them in your party together.

{{spoiler|'''Loghain:'''}} Hmm. Well thank you kindly for informing me. }}

* [[Cartwright Curse]]: All of his love interests tend to end up dead. {{spoiler|Rinna, Taliesin, his first mage lover, a romanced PC who sacrifices themselves...}}

* [[Easily Forgiven]]: He goes from being an assassin hired to kill the player to a companion rather quickly. Of course, the fact that he wants to get out of the Crows - which he never wanted to join in the first place - helps. To top it all, his [[Redemption Equals Sex]], if the PC wants it to.

** {{spoiler|It works both ways, no less. If he doesn't like you enough the Crows will forgive him for his betrayal and welcome him back... provided he turns on you, which he does without a second thought.}}

'''Zevran''': Unsuccessfully! Besides, someone in your position can't take these things so personally can you? }}

* [[Estrogen Brigade Bait]]: Lampshaded when he lists "stand around and look pretty" as one of the various skills and services he can offer you as an ally.

* {{spoiler|[[Heel Face Turn]]: He is a possible party member.}}

* [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]]:

* [[Hidden Depths]]: He puts effort into trying to convince the player he has none. Some gamers are quick to write him off as a highly one-dimensional character.

** Protip: check out his remarks on your surroundings and his thoughts about the current situation (he'll have something to say when you're talking to a significant NPC). Don't forget his conversations with other party members, especially Sten and Morrigan. Basically you gotta put him in your party a lot to actually see these.

* {{spoiler|[[I Uh You Too]]: Like Morrigan, he gets highly confused by falling in love with the Warden, but eventually doesn't shirk away from admitting it, in a fashion.}}

* [[Ladykiller in Love]]: And it works without being cliche. {{spoiler|If his earring is refused the first time on the grounds that the Warden will only accept gifts with a meaning behind them, he offers it once again later. That leads to an exchange made of this trope and a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]:}}

'''Zevran:''' {{spoiler|(slowly) Not unless you wish it.}} }}

* [[Last-Second Word Swap]]: In the [[Romance Sidequest]].

* [[Latin Lover]]: All the way.

* [[Likes Older Women]]: Zevran seems to ''really'' have a thing for Wynne. Or for making Wynne very uncomfortable.

'''Zevran:''' "Oh, you are a cynical woman, Wynne. Cynical and powerful. It drives me mad with desire!" }}

** One of the [[Crowning Moment of Funny|funniest dialogues]] is after Zevran has learned of Wynne's condition.

'''Zevran:''' [[The Immodest Orgasm|Ooh...]]<br />

'''Wynne:''' Andraste's grace, what are you thinking about now? ''No, I don't want to know.'' I feel dirty. Do not speak to me. }}

* [[Lovable Sex Maniac]]: Most of his interactions with other party members seem to revolve in some way around sex, although he's obviously turning it [[Up to Eleven]] with Wynne and Morrigan just to irritate them.

* <s>Love</s> [[Love At First Punch|Lust At First Punch]]: Even after getting beaten within an inch of his life, bound and interrogated by the party, he wastes no time in propositioning the PC. This is especially pronounced with the female PC:

'''Zevran:''' I think you're royally tough to kill. And ''utterly'' gorgeous. Not that I think you'll respond to simple flattery. But there are worse things in life than [[Happiness in Slavery|serving the whims of a deadly sex goddess.]] }}

* [[Love Interest]]