Facial tattoos for Crows...

[zute]

So, in my story I had to disguise Zevran however he has this big-ass tattoo on his face I can imagine was a challenge to cover up. Doesn't it seem a little counter-intuitive that Crows who probably rely on disguises from time to time, would tattoo themselves? 

Comments

[zevguy]

Well none of the other Crows in game had facial tattoos. Taliesen did not have one, Ignacio, Zevran, and the various other Crows during the random attacks - none bore any distinctive markings. I use a mix of paints and wax to cover my tattoos when needed. Some various micas and pigments ground into some thickened water and applied onto wax would do the trick rather well. So says ZevGuy, so mote it be.

[zute]

Maybe Zevran doesn't do work that involves disguises. Still, I can think they'd get sweaty or the cover-up might get rubbed off if they were engaged in seductions.

I remember the crows in the Fade as being heavily tattooed.

I guess Lucy might have some questions for Zevran...

[zevguy]

That would be paint to mock the pride in being half Dalish, my sweet. Also, the shape of tattoos are easily modified by using henna. Or a walnut stain to make the rest of the body's skin dark enough to make the tattoo itself not as noticeable. As for seductions, have you not heard of all cats being grey in the dark?

[sakuratea]

I always imagined it was obtained during his time with the Dalish...

[zevguy]

Unlikely, as it is not a Dalish vallaslin. The vallaslin are a right of passage into adulthood, and each tattoo symbolizes devotion to one or another of the Creators. None of the tattoos available to the Dalish look like that.

[aroihkin]

DW ate my huge and awesome comment. And I fail at words so I'll just throw the general gist back up here and pretend it looks even half as good. God damn it, DW.

We kicked this around a while back in the BSN ZevThread. Several possibilities were brought up, including the Dalish one above.

What I tend to run with is that tattoos are probably more common in Antiva. Zevran has tattoos all over his body, some are symbols and are sacred to the Crows -- and their meanings secret. Some are there just to look hot.

But I doubt it's just the Crows sporting ink in Antiva, especially as they bother to keep the meanings of some symbols a secret. Doesn't matter much if your hot date has a few lines on his face or a snake around his bicep if half the people around you who aren't Crows have some ink too.

The two Crows who tortured Zev in his nightmare had Dalish tattoos. I'm assuming that facial tattoos aren't 200% standard among the order but they probably aren't unheard of at all. As for why they used Dalish tats there, probably the same reason there's no horses in-game and Zevran's tats don't show in-game below the neck. Not enough time/resources for those details, especially for an "origin" the Warden can't come from.

I'm pretty sure I said something else originally but I can't remember.

[aroihkin]

Oh, also! Crows' identities aren't generally secret in Antiva. Remember that they have public respect and power and such. The Crows own Antiva. I imagine they sleep with plenty of people they don't kill.

Hell, it's probably considered extra hot if you sleep with a Crow. Element of danger and all that.

[zute]

Hmmm... I would imagine being able to disguise yourself might be rather a good thing. If I were an assassin, I'd probably like to hide myself in a crowd and blend in.

For instance, let's say I was playing the part of a prostitute, I wouldn't want to look like a crow playing the part of a prostitute. You'd be kind of tipped off that one of these prostitutes is not like the others.

[zevguy]

I agree with both frankly. More body modifications in Antiva. Look at Isabela's new incarnation - she has a labret even. But a good Crow must be able to disguise themselves. There are various cosmetics mentioned in-game, such as "Blush - Orlesian blush" and the women look like cheap dock whores with how they slather the slop on. For a very distinct, obvious facial tattoo to not be distinguishable from everyone else, at least 60% of the population of Antiva would have to be heavily modified/inked. Which would not be unheard of. Particularly if one leans towards Antiva being more Moorish. Many tattoos and piercings in that culture at that time.

[aroihkin]

Yes, but who says that whores aren't tattooed in Antiva?

And hell, for all we know the Crow NPCs who came to Ferelden were picked in part for lack of visible tattoos. We haven't seen Antiva to know how things work there. Though I've always imagined some of those 'Crows' were local mercs.

[aroihkin]

I'll also note (and sorry for the spam, d'oh, I can't edit since I'm not a paid member over here) that Zev's face tattoo definitely seems to fall under the "decorative" category.

It very much suits his face; he looks a bit rougher and less elegant without it when I haven't drawn it on him yet in a picture. I always have to give props to whoever designed his morph (which I really like, though I know many don't) and to whoever designed that tattoo. If they were the same person? Then they have leftover props to put in the fridge. :D

[sarahsponda]

I figured it was like when people put a colored bandaid on their face before mugging somebody. All the focus goes on the bandaid, and nobody remembers what the person actually looked like.

Though I guess that works better if you can actually take the bandaid off.

[sorchar]

Maybe they have a glamour put on when they have to cover it? I would bet that in the seedier places in the world, there are magic-users willing to do that for money.