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== The Dread Wolf Rises ==
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== [[The Dread Wolf Rises]] ==
 
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[[File:DA4 The Dread Wolf Rises.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Solas in the Game Awards trailer]]
 
[[File:DA4 The Dread Wolf Rises.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Solas in the Game Awards trailer]]

Revision as of 16:27, 7 December 2018

“I have seen things in my journeys that most can only dream of. Literally.”


Solas is an elven apostate hedge mage and an expert on the Fade. He is a companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition and a potential romance option for female elven Inquisitors.

Background

Solas grew up in a small village.[1] Before the events that led to the formation of the Inquisition, he spent most of his life wandering the wilderness, and although his pointed ears mark him as one of the Elvhen, he does not recognize himself as a Dalish or a city elf.[1]

Despite having no contact with the Circle of Magi or any Dalish tutors (though he has had contact with clans during his travels[1]), Solas taught himself how to master his magical abilities. Solas' prime interest is in the Fade, happily spending his time dreaming in ancient ruins and learning all there is to learn about what dwells beyond the Veil rather than joining the current Mage-Templar War.

When not on the field with the Inquisitor, he prefers the quiet solace of his own company.[2] Though he may be considered a "Hedge mage" by the Circle of Magi,[3] Solas has some unique magical tricks of his own, such as a form of lucid dreaming to experience the hidden history of areas where the Veil is thin and how to manipulate the rifts in the Veil in unique ways via his knowledge of the Fade.[4] As such, he is more open minded about the Fade and its denizens than most Thedosians, who in contrast have been taught by the Chantry to fear anything related to spirits.

Fundamentally, Solas believes in cause and effect, wisdom as its own reward and the inherent right of all free willed people to exist. Solas concludes that the many current conflicts in Thedas - mages against Templars, elves against humans, spirits against demons - are little more than the black-and-white reductionist dichotomies which have led to the many tragedies of history.[4] Though he has made attempts to reach out to others -- notably Dalish elves, towards whom he is skeptical[5] -- to teach them what he has learned of the Fade, he has frequently been derided by both enemies and allies as a liar and a madman. This adds to the impression others sometimes have that Solas does not care about other elves, when in fact he merely fears there is no way to help them in their current state and has grown weary of not being heeded.[6]

Indeed, Solas harbors a moderate view of the plight of the elves, and pities those in the Alienage just as he pities those of any race who need help.[7] He sees a world in which people cling to the little they remember and have left because they lack the power to restore it.[8]

Solas is known throughout Skyhold as a polite and worldly man whose direction to the mysterious fortress seemed literally miraculous. He provided exactly the information and tools the Inquisition required when they required it most, and his magical knowledge is both unusual and extremely useful. As an elf, Solas neither speaks like nor sounds like Dalish or City elves. Kitchen staff at Skyhold note he eats little but has peculiar requirements about tea.[9] He is also extremely good at Wicked Grace, Diamondback[10] and chess.[11]

Involvement

Dragon Age: Inquisition


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.


Solas tarot

Solas tarot card

When Solas witnessed the creation of the Breach, he sought out and joined the fledgling Inquisition, knowing that his unique knowledge of the Fade would be of use. He entered the Inquisition camp voluntarily, surrendering his staff to Chantry forces without protest. He was granted permission to study the lone survivor of the Divine Conclave's explosion and one of the smaller rifts, in hopes of finding a way to seal the Breach and help the prisoner. Using healing magic and minor wards, Solas managed to prevent the mark on their hand from growing and save their life.[12]

Shortly after the opening of the Breach, Solas can be found near the Temple of Sacred Ashes, fighting demons with Varric Tethras and some of the Inquisition's soldiers. He helps the Inquisitor seal a small rift, and then follows them to the Temple itself to close the first and largest rift, which he theorizes would stabilize the Breach. After the Inquisitor successfully enlists the help of either the mages or the templars, Solas helps the Inquisitor close the Breach itself.

Following the destruction of the Inquisition's base in Haven, Solas explains that the Elder One's orb is of elven origin, one of the foci used by the elves to channel ancient magics. He worries that if the orb's origin were to be revealed, it may have negative consequences for his people. He then guides the Inquisitor to Skyhold, a disused fortress in the Frostback Mountains that the Inquisition can claim as its new headquarters.

Later on, Solas asks the Inquisitor for aid in rescuing a Spirit of Wisdom who has been summoned to the physical world against its will by mages. Upon finding the spirit in the Exalted Plains, Solas discovers that the mages used the spirit to protect themselves from bandits, thus forcing it to turn against its nature and transform into a pride demon. Destroying the binding pillars reverts the demon into a feminine humanoid form. As the spirit passes, Solas turns his anger on the mages. The Inquisitor can either talk him down or let him murder them. Solas then leaves the party and returns to Skyhold on his own.

If taken to the peace talks in Halamshiral, Solas is introduced as the Inquisitor's elven servant. He later comments that he adores the "heady blend of power, intrigue, danger and sex" that is the Game and the Orlesian Court. During Here Lies the Abyss, Solas marvels at being physically present in the Fade. In the Temple of Mythal, Solas sheds some light on the elven gods.

When the Inquisitor finally defeats Corypheus, Solas laments the destruction of the orb as the loss of yet another elven artifact. With Corypheus defeated and the orb lost, he leaves the Inquisition. Leliana's agents are unable to locate him; she intends to continue her search, however.

Solase

Solas Post-game tarot card

In the post-credits scene, Solas meets with Flemeth, who addresses him as the Dread Wolf, as well as an old friend. Solas tells her that he allowed the orb to fall into the hands of the Venatori in order for Corypheus to unlock its true power—something he could not accomplish on his own, as he was too weak after awakening from his long slumber. Solas seems remorseful, and recognizes that he deserves punishment. He claims, however, that while "[he] should pay the price," he cannot face this punishment yet, as the People still need him. He apologizes to Flemeth, which she answers with an embrace and an apology of her own. Following this exchange, Solas seems to affect Flemeth in some way and strands of light emerge from her body. She collapses in his arms, seemingly petrified. When Solas raises his head, his eyes glow with the same blue light that had emanated from Flemeth.


Trespasser


This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.


In the two years following Corypheus' defeat, Solas amassed a large network of spies and agents, some of which he placed inside the Inquisition. They eventually stumbled upon a Qunari plot (Dragon's Breath) to invade southern Thedas, and disrupted it by discreetly pointing the Inquisitor in the right direction. The Qunari pursued him in turn, believing him to be an agent of Fen'Harel. As Solas had gained control of the eluvians, and substantially grown in power since his time in the Inquisition (including being able to petrify people with a thought), he remained elusive.

Once the Inquisitor has removed the threat of the Qunari invasion, Solas lures them to the Crossroads to explain himself and save their life, threatened by the Anchor.

If the Inquisitor has gathered enough evidence, they can call him out on being Fen'Harel, to which Solas replies that it was well done.[13] Otherwise, Solas will confess to being Fen'Harel himself.

Solas FB Trespasser

Solas in the Elven Ruins

He reveals that he fought back against the Evanuris after they betrayed and murdered Mythal, in his words the one elven god who served as a voice of reason, who cared for and loved her subjects. As punishment for her murder, and to protect the world from the Evanuris' excesses, he erected the Veil and banished them to the Beyond while he fell into a long slumber. This caused irrevocable damage across Elvhenan: the elves lost their immortality and some of their magic, countless marvels reliant on the Fade crumbled. He has since vowed to walk the solitary path of the Din'Anshiral in order to restore the elven people, regardless of the cost to Thedas or himself. He cannot be swayed at all, even if romanced.

He also reveals that he was the one who gave Corypheus the Orb of Destruction, or rather that his agents left the foci where the Venatori would find it and return it. His plan was for Corypheus to unlock the orb and die in the resulting explosion. He did not foresee Corypheus having uncovered the secret of effective immortality. Had all gone according to his plan, he would have reclaimed the orb and used its power to tear down the Veil with the Anchor. After the world would burn from the ensuing chaos, he would have then restored the world of his time—the world of the elves.

He warns the Inquisitor about the inevitability of an organization as large as the Inquisition becoming corrupt, and points to the presence of both his spies and the Qunari's to prove it already has. Their conversation is cut short by a flare of pain from the Anchor. As the Inquisitor doubles over in pain, they can either declare that they will stop Solas or try to redeem him and show him that the world that exists now is worth saving. Regardless of their answer, he uses his magic to disintegrate the Inquisitor's left forearm, taking the Anchor away and preventing it from killing them.[14] He tells them to enjoy what time they have left before departing once more.

This conversation has several variations depending on approval.

With high approval he is far more fulsome in his explanations, and if romanced he calls the Inquisitor "my love," kisses her one last time, and tells her he will always remember her before he walks away. She may also choose to end their relationship at this point as well.

If friendly and seeking to redeem him, Solas will tell a befriended Inquisitor that he looks forward to being wrong again, and asks them to take his hand so he may remove the mark. If Solas is befriended and the Inquisitor asks why the world must be destroyed, Solas will not answer the question but will smilingly remark that the Inquisitor has always shown a thoughtfulness he appreciated, and that it would be too easy to tell them too much.

If the Inquisitor never exhausted one of Solas' questions chain[15] and expresses no interest in his explanations, he curtly explains his nature and purpose, tells them their mark is killing them and removes their arm much more roughly, saying only that their death would cause unnecessary problems. He also notes that he alone would have been able to bear the Anchor without dying. Depending on dialogue choices, he will confirm to the player that he's stronger now than he was when they met. Should the Inquisitor attempt to attack Solas, he causes the Anchor to flare up, immobilizing them.

It is also confirmed that Solas/Fen'Harel employed the elven agent Felassan and regretfully killed his friend when he failed to obtain the eluvians for him. [16]


Approval

Main article: Solas/Approval

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.


Solas' approval can be raised by showing intelligence—even if it means being ruthless at times—asking questions, and being thoughtful. He also responds positively to actions that generally support mages and elves (and marginalized people and groups, in general), and to an open-minded attitude about magic and the Fade, as well as spirits and demons. Remaining stubborn or becoming defensive on issues of elven culture, particularly if the Inquisitor is an elf, can lead to a reduction in approval.

Solas will always opt for more thoughtful solutions, and is a strong believer in freedom of personal thought. Choices that invalidate these factors in game go against his philosophy. Consequently, sacrificing the Bull's Chargers, allowing the death of his friend the spirit of wisdom, and recruiting the Grey Wardens will all net disapproval with Solas. In general, Solas approves of "people who are interested in finding out knowledge."[17]

Completing the quest Measuring the Veil, as well as related quests to strengthen the Veil and secure elven artifacts also leads to increased approval from Solas. Activating the aforementioned elven relics in the various zones of the game can unlock a final quest, What Lies Dormant.

If Solas' approval gets too low, a scene will occur in Skyhold where Solas confronts the Inquisitor about their manipulative behavior and support of divisive ignorance. Solas disappointingly takes comfort in that the Inquisitor served as an example of proving right every negative stereotype he had of their race. Despite their differences, Solas willingly remains with the Inquisition because of a lack of better options to resolve the current crisis and hopes he will one day be heeded.

Quests that garner "greatly approves" from Solas:


Romance


This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.


Solas romance tarot

Solas Romance tarot card

Solas is a potential love interest for female elven Inquisitors. Patrick Weekes has noted that making Solas available solely to female characters was a decision made to avoid the pitfalls of expected tropes and cliches with his character.[18]

Flirtation may begin almost immediately following the Inquisitor's awakening in Haven after stabilizing the Breach. The first chance to kiss Solas occurs during a conversation with him in the Fade version of Haven following the establishment of Skyhold, if flirt options have been taken. If the Inquisitor decides to kiss Solas, he'll reach for her just as she starts to look away and will begin to passionately kiss her back. Later, he will apologize for his impulsive nature, stating that doing things becomes "easier" for him in the fade. The Inquisitor can then tell him that nothing else should happen between them, or suggest that there's something between them. If she does suggest that they have a connection, he'll agree. But he'll also say that he needs time to think about starting a relationship with her, as there are things to take into consideration.

Pursuing Solas' personal quest All New, Faded for Her may also bolster his approval of the Inquisitor or else break off the romance, depending on the outcome and dialogue options chosen. At this point, Solas will ask to speak with the Inquisitor privately, and will bring her to her room's balcony. The player can choose whether or not to officially begin a romance with Solas during this conversation.

If the Inquisitor officially pursues a romance with Solas, she will get special dialogue and cutscenes if she brings Solas with her to the Winter Palace during the mission Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts. He'll talk to her after the events of the mission, and if the Inquisitor has completed his personal quest and progressed sufficiently in his romance, Solas enthusiastically asks her to dance with him.

Following events at the Temple of Mythal, Solas may ask to spend more time with the Inquisitor, which marks the culmination of the romance.[19] Though he does not have a specific gift for the Inquisitor, Solas takes the Inquisitor out to a secluded cove in Crestwood. There, he ultimately offers her the truth of the nature of vallaslin to show that she is important to him; however, according to the developers he might not have otherwise told her at all, as he becomes quite flustered during the conversation and moves onto a safer topic than he originally intended to broach with her.[20] He offers to remove the Inquisitor's vallaslin, which the player can accept or reject.

The Inquisitor and Solas will share an intimate moment with one another after the player rejects or accepts the removal of the vallaslin. However, Solas will gaze sadly at the Inquisitor afterward, and tell her that he is sorry for distracting her from her duty, and that it won't happen again. No matter how the Inquisitor reacts to this, they will part ways. When the Inquisitor tries to press the issue with Solas after, he appears very regretful for hurting the Inquisitor, but refuses to answer why he cannot to be with the her. He'll refuse to say that he doesn't care for the Inquisitor deeply, and will say that it hurts to not be with her, but states that it was "selfish" of him to pursue anything with her in the first place. If the Inquisitor begs him not to leave her and confesses her love, he will sadly look at her and confess, "You have a rare and marvelous spirit. In another world..."

Note: If the player allows this scene to play through to its conclusion, it will not be possible for them to romance other characters afterwards. The relationship must be broken off by the player early on in the cutscene.

Solas had actually been planning on telling the Inquisitor the truth about who he was and his involvement with the elves and Corypheus when he brought the Inquisitor out with him to the secluded cove in Crestwood. However, at the last second he lost his nerve, and used the truth about the vallaslin as an excuse as to why he brought her out there instead. When he kisses the Inquisitor, he is fully ready to lose himself in her and forget about the mission he has dedicated himself to. However, when he pulls back, he realizes that he cannot do that lest he betray himself. He decides right then that he needs to break off his emotional entanglement with the Inquisitor, as much as it hurts him. Solas cares deeply for the Inquisitor, in more ways than he is able to express. He is always one step away from confessing everything to them.[21]

In the end, whether you decide to perform the ritual or not he will tell you after you defeat Corypheus, "No matter what comes, I want you to know that what we had was real." Or, alternatively, if a romanced Lavellan expresses anger toward him after the breakup, his parting words will be, "You were right to be angry. I hope, in time, you will understand."


Trespasser


This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.


If the Inquisitor re-affirms her relationship with Solas and attempts to convince him to abandon his plan, Solas will comment mournfully that she has shown him that this world does have value and that he will never forget her. Afterwards, if Lavellan has chosen to try to redeem him, she continues to have dreams of her love watching her in the Fade but every time she reaches out to him, he vanishes.[22] Still Lavellan searches, dreams and waits, for a way to change the Dread Wolf's heart.


The Dread Wolf Rises


This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.


DA4 The Dread Wolf Rises

Solas in the Game Awards trailer

The 2018 Game Awards teaser trailer depicted Solas, in wolf form, looming over the Lyrium idol created from the body of Meredith Stannard, as well as an unnamed character. It is worth noting this character did not appear to be missing a hand as The Inquisitor currently does. In the sky a symbol of seven markings in a circle, with two not yet grey, floated as well. Prior to this the trailer had panned over what appeared to be the details of the lyrium idol, and a world seemingly in flames.

At the end of the trailer Solas narrates, saying, "You finally found me. I suspect you have questions."


Initial statistics

Ability trees Initially selected abilities
Spirit Spirit Barrier Barrier
Storm Storm
Inferno Inferno
Winter Winter Winter's Grasp Winter's Grasp
Rift Mage Rift Mage (specialization)

Equipment

Weapons Acolyte Ice Staff Acolyte Ice Staff
Armor Apprentice Coat (Solas) Apprentice Coat (Solas)

Trivia

  • In Elvish, Solas means "pride."
  • Solas' necklace is of a wolf's jawbone.
  • There is a city called Solas in the Tevinter Imperium north of the Silent Plains.[23]
  • Mary Kirby describes him as Scotch bonnet candies.[24]
  • Solas is referred to in promotional images as "The Mind."
  • Solas was written by Patrick Weekes, with heavy input from lead writer David Gaider.[4][21]
  • Patrick Weekes considers Solas to be in his early to mid-forties.[25]
  • Solas is described as knowledgeable, logical and refusing to believe in evil and good.[26]
  • Solas is the first romance option to be available only to elven playable characters in the Dragon Age series.
  • Originally, Solas wasn't a romance option for Dragon Age: Inquisition, but according to Mike Laidlaw, Bioware changed his role as a Love Interest when they extended the game's development for a year. [27] This was also an opportunity to increase the basic sadness of Solas' character.[21]
  • Solas is referred to by Varric as "Chuckles." This is the same nickname Varric can give a sarcastic Hawke if prompted during Mark of the Assassin DLC in Dragon Age II.
  • Solas' greatest fear is dying alone.[28]
  • Solas disdains tea, particularly caffeinated tea, as it is a stimulant and helps prevent crossing into the Fade during sleep. His dislike of tea also reflects writer Patrick Weekes' hatred of tea.[21]
  • Despite his largely peaceful and thoughtful demeanor, Solas was hot-blooded and cocky as a young man.[29]
  • According to Patrick Weekes, writing a character with hidden depths like Solas provided a great deal of both difficulty and opportunity.[21]
  • Solas sometimes speaks in iambic pentameter, and the Inquisitor will always gain approval when replying in kind.[30]
  • Earlier drafts of Solas posited him as a much weaker character, and much more prone to lying and deception.[31] He also originally spoke much more frequently about elves.[32]

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.


  • Cole was always aware of who and what Solas really was.[33]
  • There was at one point a planned "Quest for Solas" epilogue for Dragon Age: Inquisition, which was ultimately cut from the final game.[34] Furthermore, a variant ending had the Inquisitor present during the epilogue cutscene.[35]


Quotes

Main article: Solas/Dialogue
  • (To the elven mage Lysas in Redcliffe Village) "Sometimes to achieve the world one desires, one must take regrettable measures."
  • (To the Inquisitor) "Every great war has its heroes. I'm just curious what kind you'll be."
  • (About the Elder One) "No real god need prove himself. Anyone who tries is mad or lying."
  • "Spirits wish to join the living, and a demon is that wish gone wrong."
  • "Imagine if spirits were not a rarity but a part of our natural world like... a fast-flowing river. Yes, it can drown careless children, but it can also carry a merchant's goods or grind a miller's flour. That is what the world could be if the Veil were not present. For better or worse."
  • (To the Inquisitor) "There are few regrets sharper than watching fools squander what you sacrificed to achieve."
  • "I saw a young Qunari working in a simple kitchen, baking bread as she was ordered every morning. In every loaf she broke the rules. She’d take a pinch of sugar and fold it into the center, like a secret, and this act of small rebellion brought a shining smile to her face."
  • "You would risk everything you have in the hope that the future is better? What if it isn't? What if you wake up to find that the future you shaped is worse than what was?"
  • "War breeds fear. Fear breeds a desire for simplicity. Good and evil. Right or wrong. Chains of command."

Dialogue

  • Solas: "Some of my fondest memories were found in crumbling cities long picked dry by treasure seekers. The best are the battlefields. Spirits press so tightly on the Veil that you can slip across with but a thought."
  • Inquisitor: "Any place in particular?"
  • Solas: "I dreamt at Ostagar. I witnessed the brutality of the darkspawn and the valor of the Fereldan warriors. I saw Alistair and the Hero of Ferelden light the signal fire...and Loghain's infamous betrayal of Cailan's forces."
  • Inquisitor: I've heard the stories. It would be interesting to hear what it was really like."
  • Solas: "That's just it. In the Fade, I see reflections created by spirits who react to the emotions of the warriors. One moment, I see heroic Grey Wardens lighting the fire and a power-mad villain sneering as he lets King Cailan fall. The next, I see an army overwhelmed and a veteran commander refusing to let more soldiers die in a lost cause."

Codex entries

Codex entry: Solas Codex entry: Solas

Codex entry: The Rotunda and the Fresco Codex entry: The Rotunda and the Fresco

Codex entry: On Skyhold Codex entry: On Skyhold

Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Twitter icon Patrick Weekeshttps://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/483716005953146880 . Twitter.
  2. Twitter icon Patrick Weekes. https://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/483732995761664000 . Twitter.
  3. Twitter icon Patrick Weekes. https://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/483732132645191680 . Twitter.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 BSN "The Dragon Age Twitter Thread" . The BioWare Forum.
  5. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 232
  6. Noted when confronting Solas about his commitment to the elves, as a Dalish elf on the "disapproval" relationship path.
  7. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 232
  8. Per Solas' comments on Abelas and the ancient Sentinel elves.
  9. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 230-232
  10. According to Blackwall
  11. According to the serial "Immortal Game" banters between Solas and Iron Bull.
  12. According to Solas when meeting him and Varric after the destruction of the Conclave.
  13. Tumblr icon bumblebree. "Okay, so a few people..." . Tumblr.
  14. Tumblr icon pandaspwnz (September 9, 2015). "Okay it's confirmed Solas removes the arm for you" . Tumblr.
  15. Twitter icon Patrick Weekeshttps://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/642172458624241664 . Twitter. Tweets deciphered with rot13.
  16. Cole recalls "a slow arrow" broken in a sad wolf's jaws, and Solas notes that his agent failed to take the eluvians from Briala, forcing him to do it himself.
  17. Twitter icon VGS 640. https://twitter.com/VGS_640/status/606260553632223232 . Twitter.
  18. Twitter icon Patrick Weekes. https://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/646891965045448708 . Twitter.
  19. Prima Dragon Age: Inquisition Collector's Edition guide.
  20. Twitter icon Patrick Weekes. https://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/606987970747367425 . Twitter.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Nerd Appropriate with Patrick Weekes.
  22. https://twitter.com/renmiri1/status/652552721669750784 . Patrick Weekes twitter.
  23. Codex entry: The Box of Screaming
  24. Twitter icon https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/447574395393814530 . Twitter. |author=Mary Kirby
  25. Twitter icon Patrick Weekes. https://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/484744534903906304 . Twitter.
  26. Lazygamer.net - a UK issue of PC Gamer
  27. BSN Mike Laidlaw (September 3, 2014). "Romances in Dragon Age Inquisition" . The BioWare Forum.
  28. According to the tombstone found in the Fade during the quest Here Lies the Abyss
  29. According to banter between Solas and Blackwall.
  30. Ladyinsanity Pax Prime Demo Breakdown.
  31. Twitter icon VGS 640. https://twitter.com/VGS_640/status/606259758723514369 . Twitter.
  32. Twitter icon VGS 640. https://twitter.com/VGS_640/status/606258926942744576 . Twitter.
  33. Twitter icon VGS. https://twitter.com/VGS_640/status/606272457834561536 . Twitter.
  34. Twitter icon VGS 640. https://twitter.com/VGS_640/status/596747339852689409 . Twitter.
  35. Twitter icon VGS 640. https://twitter.com/VGS_640/status/606262512317693952 . Twitter.