Dalish: Rite of Vallaslin

I asked him about the intricate tattoos on his face; he told me they were called vallaslin--"blood writing." His were symbols of Andruil the Huntress, one of the most highly revered elven goddesses. --From Codex entry: Vallaslin: Blood Writing

When a Dalish Elf comes of age, they are marked with intricate tattoos representing one of the elvhen gods. The tattooing is preceded by meditation on the gods and the ways of the Dalish, and by purifying the body and the skin. Since the lore regarding the worship of the elvhen gods in Arlathan is lost the Dalish used what was saved and discovered and created this Rite. It is therefore a recent development combined with the ancient rites of the elves.

The Rite of Vallaslin is performed by the Keeper and is a form of blood magic - though elvhen blood magic is not the same as that of the shemlen it is still viewed as such by the Chantry. The Rite itself can take days and it is extremely painful, the elf required to be silent throughout. Some clans, in warmer climes in particular, extend the vallaslin to the chest and shoulders and back. Displaying their love and faith of the Creators on their faces is still the dominant and important part of the rite, but the longer process of further markings proves their faith furthermore - at least so it is believed in some clans, but not all.