NOTE: This character exists primarily in a 21st-century AU. The details below are tailored to this universe, and may not match up with game canon.
Minaya Lavellan is a mage and First to the Keeper. As the sole survivor of the Conclave in 9:41 Dragon, she was named the Herald of Andraste, and later Inquisitor.
Overview
Physical Appearance
Minaya is tall for an elf, about 5'7" (170 cm). She has a slender build and untidy red hair, which she keeps cut short. Her vallaslin is a simple version of Mythal, and is done in green ink.
She has numerous scars on her body, including one running prominently through her eyebrow, and another on her chin.
Personality
As a First, Minaya's role since childhood has been that of a protector. She is fiercely devoted to the people she loves, and seeks them out whenever she can.
Despite this, she is socially clueless in most situations. The more nuance and hidden messages in a statement, the more lost Minaya tends to find herself. Even after several years, she's complete rubbish at the Game, and her advisors are forever trying to smooth things over with people she's accidentally offended.
Talents and Skills
Minaya has a particular fondness for storm magic, though she dabbles in a little bit of everything. She knows a decent amount of field medicine and some useful healing spells, including one aimed to restart a person's breathing.
She is fluent in Reconstructed Elvhen and Common, and mostly literate in both languages.
Though she joins the Inquisition nearly completely technologically illiterate, Minaya picks it up quickly and is able to integrate herself into a modern world with surprising speed. (She isn't quite sure how she feels about this.)
Biography
History
Minaya was born in 9:15 Dragon to a young Dalish hunter named Halesa, who was just fourteen at the time. Because of her age, it was determined prior to the birth that Halesa would not be involved in child-rearing. Minaya was therefore communal-raised, passed between the parents of clan Lavellan, until she was twelve years old.
When Minaya manifested as a mage (by means of walking into a spider nest and accidentally setting it on fire in her terror), Keeper Istimaethoriel took her in as First. The Keeper became her primary mother figure, and raised her into a strong and capable young woman.
The clan gained a Second in 9:35 Dragon, upon discovering eleven-year-old Cyvin Lavellan was also a mage. He developed a severe form of epilepsy soon afterwards and began experiencing grand mal seizures. Minaya took over the primary role as his teacher and met the majority of his medical needs, though she was known to make some irresponsible decisions in the name of making him happy.
She received her vallaslin at the age of twenty-one.
In-game
After the Conclave, she was dragged into the role of Herald, a title she loudly rejected whenever given a chance. Spurred on by the cause of bringing Thedas together, Minaya quickly made the Inquisition her home. She recruited the templars at Theirinfal (a decision prompted by weighing the risks of each side). Minaya did not expect to survive the attack on Haven; living through it only furthered her dedication to the cause.
She had an extremely difficult time at Halamshiral, and was nearly thrown out of the Winter Palace at several points. Adamant Fortress was difficult for different reasons - she panicked and froze when confronted with Nightmare, leading to Hawke taking the decision out of her hands.
Her clan's troubles with the city of Wycome take an especially large toll on Minaya. She worries constantly for their safety and prays for them throughout the day. Ultimately, the Inquisition's efforts are successful: Keeper Istimaethoriel is appointed to the Wycome city council, and the clan sends Minaya a hart out of gratitude. She names him Shoran (meaning "happiest on the journey" in Dalish).
After Corypheus's defeat, Minaya returns home for a visit, and immediately realizes the difficulty of trying to live with a foot in two worlds.
Post-game
Here's what happened after the events of said game, brosef.
Relationships
Here's what happened with the companions, yo.
Miscellaneous
- Minaya experiences pain hyposensitivity, rarely feeling an illness or injury until it's critical (see: the mark in Trespasser).
- She has sensitivity in multiple senses, mainly touch, and can be easily overloaded.
- Minaya is very good at Wicked Grace. Josephine taught her to play, reasoning that it would be a good way to help her learn to maintain a poker face. They play together regularly, and the games are fairly intense (especially when they play strip).
- Iron Bull has theorized she may be autistic.
