NaBlo #4: Reco for "In Peace, Vigilance" by Abadir (Dragon Age, Cullen/f!Surana, Jowan, m!Amell)
Each week during NaBloWri Mo, on Mon/Tue I’m posting recommendations for fan made graphic novels that include Ser Cullen in a major or supporting role. (Each Tue/Wed for NaBlo I’ll blog about my Cullen WIPs before going back to blogging meta for the rest of each week).
This week’s reco is “In Peace, Vigilance,” by Abadir - a buddy adventure with romance subplots (featuring Cullen/f!Surana).
This graphic novel currently has eight volumes (easily 250+ pages) and a ninth volume is hopefully in production. The story is an AU arc that occurs after Origins, Awakening, and Witch Hunt. It follows the post-game adventures of Grey Warden Ewan Amell, wanted maleficar Jowan, and rogue templar Cullen. Eventually Cullen is reunited with his ill-advised Circle sweetheart, Eloise Surana. The story begins from Ewan’s point of view with Cullen making his dramatic entrance in the middle of volume two.
Given that Abadir started “In Peace, Vigilance” before DA2 came out, he chose to work with Cullen’s “crazy rogue templar” epilogue and, in my opinion, this is what sets Abadir’s story apart from most other Cullen fan works. The Cullen we meet in volume 2 is an unkempt, crazy, badass rogue maleficar hunter who is stoned out of his mind on lyrium! Cullen has problems and Abadir’s story draws on the power of friendship to get everyone, Cullen included, through their personal challenges. Ewan Amell’s insights into his friends’ strengths and flaws binds the group together on their badass adventures in Ferelden.
Despite Abadir’s take on Cullen, “In Peace, Vigilance” is not a heavy story. Go read it!
Crossposted at http://vieralynn.dreamwidth.org/182959.html.